"So Ash, who do you have as your first opponent?" Brock asked, seeing the roster list.
"A girl named Dye from Nacrene City." Ash said, looking at his name. "It's great to see you again, how's Pokemon Medical School going?"
"Apparently not as good as your goals, Mr Champion Ash Ketchum." Brock chuckled.
"It's only a minor league title Brock." Ash said with a laugh.
"Still, I've seen you going through countless battles against regular and even ranked trainers, you're not the same kid who challenged my Onix with just a Pikachu." Brock said, thinking back.
"Can't believe you gave me a badge for that fight. Looking back no wonder Charizard and Primeape barely obeyed me, I barely earned any badges the right way." Ash chuckled.
"Either way, I'm glad to know I helped you get to being the trainer you are now, good luck in your match, looks like you're up first." Brock said, heading to the trainer stands.
In the stands
"So Brock, you and Dawn traveled with Ash for a while, has he always been, like this?" Rosa asked, as Brock joined the group.
"Care to be more specific on what you mean?" Brock asked.
"So into battling, I mean if he's not trying to help save the day he's focused on training for his next match." Elliot added.
"That's Ash for you, always eager to move onto the next challenge." Dawn said.
"He's been like that pretty much from the start of his journey, in some ways its inspiring that he keeps his goal so close to his heart." Brock pointed out.
"To be a Pokemon Champion?" N asked.
"Pokemon Master." Dawn corrected.
"What's the difference?" Rosa asked. "I mean wouldn't a champion level trainer also be considered a master?"
"You would think, but the thing is, Ash never said he's wanted to be a champion, he's always said his goal is to be a Pokemon Master, and even though I might not know what that means, Ash certainly does, and if I had to guess, so does Pikachu." Brock said, watching the duo walk out onto the arena.
"Alright everyone, welcome to the first match of The Junior World Cup, trainers at your ready! Begin!" Don George declared.
"Dewott I choose you!"
"Come on out Lilligant!"
"Dewott use X Scissor!"
"Lilligant use Leech Seed!"
Dewott rushed forward, using his bladed scalchop to slice the leech seed in half before using the second half of his X Scissor to strike Lilligant.
"Dewott's a water type, right? And that Lilligant it's a grass type." Dawn questioned.
"Just because he's at a type disadvantage doesn't mean you should count Dewott out." Elliot commented.
"When we first met Dewott he took out both Ash's Servine and our friend Hugh's Pignite at the same time." Rosa added.
"Wasn't doubting, just trying to follow." Dawn said watching the match unfold.
"Dewott use Ice Beam!"
"Lilligant use Teeter Dance!"
Lilligant began swaying back and forth, confusing Dewott and causing his Ice Beam to miss by a large margin.
"Dewott focus and use Return!"
"Lilligant use Mega Drain!"
Dewott rushed forward, using the pull from Lilligant's Mega Drain to increase his speed and force, slamming into the grass type, knocking them onto their back.
"Now use Ice Beam!" Ash called out.
Dewott flipped back, holding his full scalchop out towards Lilligant, firing a freezing beam at the grass type turning it into an ice cube.
"Lilligant is unable to battle, the winner is Dewott and Ash will continue onto the next round." Don George declared.
In the lobby between the stands and arena
"That was a good match Ash." Cynthia commented as Ash came into the lobby area.
"Dewott's a tough fighter, I never doubted him." Ash admitted. "I'm glad I caught you, I need to talk to you about what happened in Undella Town."
"Would you care to be more specific?" Cynthia asked.
"The ruins, I have a second piece." Ash admitted.
"You do, how did you find it?!" Cynthia asked in surprise.
"I didn't, my friend Jeb did, he's an aspiring archaeologist." Ash said. "And he's missing."
"What do you mean missing?" Cynthia asked.
"I'm not certain there's a problem yet, but he was supposed to meet me here with my Braviary once he escaped from Team Rocket." Ash admitted, still worried about his friend.
"And you're worried he's been captured, or worse." Cynthia thought aloud.
"Braviary is tough, he wouldn't go down without a fight, but Team Rocket, their boss is here and he's looking for whatever we opened." Ash revealed.
"I'll keep an eye on Professor Burnett and her piece, but what about yours?" Cynthia asked.
"My piece will be fine, they don't know I have it, at least I don't think they know." Ash responded. "But I have a feeling this will be coming to a head sooner than I'd like."
"Well then it's a good thing you have friends to help you." Cynthia said, looking on the screen as Brock and his Croagunk were fighting a trainers Maractus.
"Croagunk use Poison Jab!" Brock called out.
"Maractus use Energy Ball!"
Croagunk leapt forward, over the energy ball before striking Maractus in the center of its chest, poison spreading across the grass type quickly defeating it.
"Did, did you invite Brock and Dawn here for this then?" Ash asked.
"For the tournament, yes, for preparation for a battle against Team Rocket, no. Brock has plenty of experience as a gym leader, breeder, and now Pokemon Doctor, and Dawn has her knowledge with Pokemon Contests, we wanted the world Junior Cup and more like it to be open to all kinds of trainers, not just ones like you or I." Cynthia added, as Dawn's match began.
"Quilava come on out!" Dawn called out.
"Escavalier come out!" The opposing trainer called out.
"Quilava use Flamethrower!"
"Escavalier use Slash!"
Escavalier flew forward, one of it's lances slashing at Quilava before the fire type responded with a stream of flames, engulfing their opponent.
"Now Quilava use Eruption!"
"Escavalier use Iron Head!"
Plumes of fire shot out from Quilava's back, engulfing the Escavalier as it rushed headfirst through the flames, slamming into Quilava with the last of its energy before being knocked out itself.
"Yeah, you're right, they are pretty strong in their own ways." Ash admitted, seeing his old friends having easily advanced to the next round.
Authors Notes
No I'm not going over all the round one fights, this was mostly just background stuff, but the round 2 fights on will be covered. Also obviously big difference between Brock and Dawn, and Elliot and Rosa, Elliot and Rosa don't want to battle or have a career in it. Elliot is more interested in the logic behind battles, and Rosa is more interested in performing only. Where as Brock was a gym leader, and a strong trainer, and Dawn is an aspiring coordinator, which while is a performing position, does have a battle aspect to it.