Greetings, Mgunnels3 here, and welcome back to A Promise Kept Ash's Johto Journey. Let's get this first part/battle of the Whirl Cup going, shall we?
Chapter 69: The Whirl cup begins
"Human Speech"
"Pokemon Speech"
Ash and his friends had finally arrived at the fourth and final Island of the Whirl Islands. Both Ash and Misty were set on taking part in the Whirl Cup. The group noticed a massive group of trainers registering for the Whirl Cup.
"Wow, look at that line. My Uncle wasn't kidding that this tournament will be the biggest this year," Ash said to Misty and Brock, who nodded. "I wonder who else is going to be here for this tournament? I know Drew, Paul, his brother, Sakura, and both my Uncle and Cousin will be participating in this tournament," Ash said to Misty. The latter noticed that the trainer Ash faced in the Kanto League, Pete from the Third round from the Indigo League, was there as well as Misty pointed out to Ash.
"Well, Mandy and Pete are here as well, not surprising given that they had water types at the league as well," Ash said as he noticed that Casey was there with a Golduck, which Misty noticed. "So it seems like Casey has a water type as well? Let's get registered, and then we can scope out the competition before it all starts," Ash said to Misty, who nodded.
.
Misty and Ash got registered. All water types are allowed as long as it sticks to the water battlefield, so even Mantine can be a part of this tournament. As things were set, Ash registered all his water types, as did Misty. As both of them were now in the locker rooms, there would be a separate one when the tournament started. Most of the other trainers were in the audience.
"Wow, I must admit that this is one of the biggest amounts of trainers for this tournament," Misty said to Ash. "Wonder who else is here aside from what we saw earlier?" Misty said.
"Been a long time, you two," A female voice spoke out to Ash and Misty. It was Sissy from the Orange Islands. " Seem's like what Rudy told me you were going to take part in this tournament," Sissy said to Ash and Misty, who nodded.
"I'm hoping to have a real battle against you instead of the gym rules you have, Sissy," Ash said with a confident glare.
"That's a challenge that I will happily accept. Just remember that my team hasn't forgotten your win," Sissy said as she walked off. Ash sighed at this.
"So Rudy was right. She is taking part in this tournament. Shame he isn't, but we should be on our guard as to who else is here as well," Misty said to Ash, who nodded. The announcer begins to speak.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the annual Whirl Cup and the anniversary of when it all started. I hope you are ready for a fierce competition this year," the announcer said. Ash and Misty were watching the TV screen.
"Over 3000 trainers have gathered here from all over the world, from Kanto to Sinnoh. We welcome you. We also have a few special guests taking part in this tournament from gym leaders like Pryce, Clair, Sissy, Wallace, Juan, former gym leader David, and Crasher Wake. To members of the elite four like Prima and Champion Cynthia are also here," The crowd was in shock hearing this but knew that this would be an excellent competition.
"Now for how this tournament will go. There will be brackets for each group of trainers. Each Bracket's top eight best trainers will make it to the top 128 of the tournament. The first round is a 1v1 battle, but when will be a maximum of three Pokemon when you reach the top 128, but you are allowed to request the battle depending on how many water types you have," The ref announced.
"I figured that might be the case given that there are some trainers who might not have many water types like you and me, Misty," Ash said to Misty, who nodded as the group continued to listen to what the announcer said.
"The two finalists will have a choice between the following this year. The mystic water pendant or the marvelous dragon's scale, the choice is the two trainers who made it that far so let's get to the brackets," the announcer said as the tv turned to the big screen.
"Now for the first batch of trainers," the board reveals the first round for the first Bracket. Ash was in the first match and up against a young kid named Christopher, but Misty wasn't on there from the looks of the Bracket. The following trainers are Wallace, Prima, Sissy, Casey, and Gary.
The second batch of trainers for the second Bracket was shown. Misty was in this Bracket up against an older gentlemen name Todd. The following trainers are in her Bracket: Juan, Sakura, Crasher Wake, David, and Paul.
The third Bracket will have Harrison, Drew, Clair, and Michael, and the final Bracket had: Jackson, Macey, Pryce, Cynthia, Mandy, Tyson, Pete, Robert, and Katie.
There were more, but at the moment, those were the one's Ash either knew or knew about from TV as Ash was ready for the tournament's first round.
"Now will the trainers make their way to their retrospective locker rooms or be willing to watch out in the audience, as the first match will begin in an hour," the announcer announced.
"Well, I will head to the second locker room, Ash. Best of luck in your first match. From the looks of it, you won't be up against Casey or Gary before you reach the top 8 in your Bracket. Sadly, Sakura and I might be facing each other during the tournament before reaching the top 8," Misty said to Ash. The latter nodded as Misty took her to leave.
Ash sighed, knowing that this battle would be a big one given that he is up against some heavy competition, and from the looks of it, he'll be up against Prima if he looks at the Bracket correctly in the match before the top 8.
"That will be a good rematch, that's for sure," Ash said with a smile. An hour passed as Ash and his opponent returned to the battlefield.
"Now for the first Match of the Whirl Cup," The announcer said. Ash and Christopher came out of the tunnel. "The first match is Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town vs. Chris from Cherrygrove City. Remember folks; the first battle is a 1v1 battle, so let out your first Pokemon," the announcer said.
"Check this out," Christopher said to Ash as he pulled out a Fishing pole with a lure ball on the end of the fishing string and hook, which impressed Ash. "Let's go," Chris tossed the ball into the pool of water of the arena, and it opened to reveal Kingdra.
"A Kingdra, huh? Perfect, Crocnonaw, come on out," Ash sent out his first Pokemon, who landed on the platform of the water arena. The two water types stared at each other, ready to participate in this battle.
"Kingdra vs. Croconaw, the winner of this battle, will move on to the next tournament round. Let the battle begins," the announcer said.
"Kingdra, use Dragon Breath," Christopher commanded his Pokemon, who fired the attack at Croconaw quickly.
"Croconaw, use Ice Beam now," Ash commanded him, who fired the attack at the Ice Beam as the two moves clashed. "Now, Ancient Power Croconaw," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who fired the boulders at Kingdra.
"Dragons Dance Kingdra, and then Quick attack," Christopher commanded his Pokemon, who sped up and swam quickly at Croconaw, slamming right into the water Pokemon, who was sent back to the water as Croconaw wasn't going to let that get to him.
"Use Slash now," Ash commanded his Pokemon, who slashed his claw right into Kingdra, sending it to Christopher and panting.
"Now Hydro Pump," Both trainers commanded their Pokemon as they fired the pulse of water towards each other the two moves were in a clash, but the damage on Kingdra was a bit too much as the Hydro Pump from Croconaw overpowered it. Croconaw's Hydro Pump hits Kingdra hard.
"End this Ancient Power now, Croconaw," Ash commanded him, who fired the attack right at Kingdra, knocking him out. Everyone was amazed by this as that match ended as fast as it started.
"Kingdra is unable to battle Croconaw win. Moving on to the next round of the first Bracket is Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town," the ref announced to Ash celebrated Croconaw roared in celebration as Croconaw started to glow. Ash was surprised by this. Croconaw is now a Feraligatr who noticed he was now in his last stage of evolution and smirked, turned to Ash, and smiled at Ash as the two left the arena.
"You did great out there, Feraligatr. Are you going to be okay now that you are fully evolved? You aren't turning into what I went through with Charizard?" Ash asked his water starter, who was confused.
"What do you mean, Ash? I won't be disobedient towards you if that is what you are asking?" Feraligatr asked Ash, who nodded as he sighed. "Don't worry, Ash; I won't do that to you. You've been a good trainer and took me in when needed. Then you lead, I'll follow, and don't think that Pokemon that fully evolve means that we will turn into a disobedient Pokemon Houndoom didn't," Feraligatr said to Ash, who knew what he meant.
"Sorry, just had to ask, that's all, and I was going to prepare for a way to offer a way to let you trust me as a trainer," Ash said to Feraligatr, who nodded in understanding.
"Well, you don't have to worry that, like Houndoom, we Feraligatr are loyal to a fault to their trainers. Especially to those who've raised them since they were a Totodile so that you won't have trouble with me, nor will Misty with my sister," Feraligatr said to Ash, curious about what he meant. "She may be stubborn, but she respects family values when it comes to being a starter, and like I was, she is close to evolving soon," Feraligatr told Ash, who now understood what he meant.
The tournament continued as everyone in the first Bracket made their way to the next part of their brackets. Ash will be up against Wallace in the next round, but it won't be until all the other matches are done, as Misty's Bracket was next, and she was the tournament's first match.
Misty was determined to make it through to the next round of the Whirl Cup. She made her way to the battlefield, and her opponent did as well, as the two were on the battlefield.
"Now for the second Bracket of the tournament, the battle between Misty Watterflower from Cerulean City and Todd from Cianwood City will begin. Remember that this is a 1v1 battle, and the winner will move on to the next round of your Bracket. Now, let out your first Pokemon," the announcer said. Misty and Todd pulled out their Pokeballs.
"Totodile, come on out," Misty sent out her first Pokemon, who started to dance, showing off, which made Todd mad as this was the infamous Todtodile that caused many trainers to lose during their journeys.
"So you made your appearance, Totodile, to think that you show your face after you have beaten many trainers and gave me an embarrassment for my team," Todd said to Totodile, only for Totodile to laugh at that statement.
"I'm sorry, I don't know who you are. I don't remember the trainers I've been beaten in the past," Totodile said while waving her claw, showing she doesn't remember nor care about what Todd said, making him even madder.
"Why you and you think you can make me a fool by bringing her into this battle, missy? You aren't that bright," Todd said to Misty, who remained calm. She knew about Totodile's reputation.
"Totodile, cool it, will you? We can't get overconfident, or we'll lose the match," Misty said to Totodile, who nodded, understanding that part of her past was gone when she joined Misty's team.
"Humph, let's end this little spat. Qilfish, come on out," Todd sent out his Pokemon, a pufferfish known as Qilfish. Misty looked concerned.
"So Pokemon has shown itself to be a Poison/Water type pretty known here in Johto. We need to be on guard of this Mon," Misty thought as she had heard about this Pokemon from her sisters and knew its quills were poisonous. Totodile has heard of this Pokemon and knows she can't get too close to this Pokemon.
"Totodile vs. Qilfish, let this battle begin," the ref announced as Misty and Todd was ready to start this battle.
"Qilfish, use Pinn Missle," Todd commanded his Pokemon, who fired the quills at Totodile.
"Jump in the water and then use Surf Totodile," Misty commanded her, who barely dodged the quills and used Surf towards Qilfish.
"Shadow ball now, Qilfish," Todd commanded his Pokemon, who fired the poison attack at Totodile on top of the wave and hit Totodile square, sending her to the water.
"Totodile!" Misty said that as Totodile was swimming underwater in the pool, Qilfish also went underwater.
"Stubborn girl that Totodile is, ugh, use Shadow ball," Todd commanded his Pokemon, who fired the attack.
"Dodge it and then use Slash Totodile," Misty commanded her. She had to be careful about getting too close to Qilfish's quills and slammed her claw right into Qilfish, sending him back.
"Revenge now and poison sting," Todd commanded his Pokemon. Misty was surprised as this was a move she didn't know was a thing Qilfish slammed right into Totodile, sending her out of the water onto the platform water she was panting and showing signs of being Poisoned.
"Ugh, of all things that had to happen," Misty thought, now worried about Totodile. She was dancing, showing her spirit wasn't down even if she was like this. "Totodile wouldn't give, neither will I. Use Ancient Power Totodile," Misty commanded her, who fired the rocks at Qilfish.
"Hydro pump now, Qilfish," Todd commanded his Pokemon, who blasted the boulders only for one to slam right into Qiflish, sending it out of the water. Todd was surprised by this.
"Slash attack, Totodile, end this," Misty commanded her, who slashed Qilfish just as it was about to land into the water sending him back to the wall and knocking it out.
"Qilfish is unable to battle Totodile win and moving on to the next round of the second Bracket is Misty," the ref announced as Misty celebrated Totodile puffed her chest and started to glow, which Misty was surprised, but Ash wasn't. He was aware that this would happen.
Totodile was now a Croconaw but was about to pass out from being poisoned as Misty returned her to her ball to get Croconaw to the Pokemon center, which Misty did as the tournament continued.
Over the next day, the water tournament wrapped up the first battles of the four brackets, and everyone so far had made it through to the second round of the battles. In Ash's Bracket, Ash is up against Wallace, and Misty is up against Juan in her Bracket.
"Tomorrow's battles will be 2v2 battles, folks, and will be until the top 8 of the Brackets are up so that the tournament will continue tomorrow until next time. Get things ready for even more exciting battles," the announcer said as Ash and Misty were ready to face their opponents.
The first round of the Whirl Cup is finally over, and Ash and Misty are now about to face not one but two gym leaders of the same gym and region. What is in store for our heroes? As the Whirl cup continues.
Stay tuned.
Done and done. Sorry for the delay in this chapter. I was working with my collab writer on my other story, which I recommend you check out if you are AshxLillie fans and Yugioh ones. This is only the beginning of this Whirl Cup arc. If I miss others, you can let me know, but they will appear as the tournament goes on. This will be a long one as I will post both or a single battle in separate chapters for Ash and Misty, which might happen in the next chapter depending on how long Ash's battle goes. Also, my math might be off with this tournament's brackets but don't at me in the comments about it. That would be a thing. That said, it's Ash vs. Wallace in this tournament next. See you next time.