Chapter 142: Round 1-Start!

"Hurry up, you imbeciles! We've already missed the opening ceremonies!"

"I'm running as fast as I can! Meowth's don't have very long legs, ya know!"

The trio ran into the stadium, nearly running over several other patrons in the process. Reaching a balcony, Jessie sighed in relief when she saw that the battles hadn't started yet.

"Phew! We made it just in time. Meowth, start the stream!"

"On it!"

Once the Rotomphone was in the air, the trio began speaking.

"Hello, Pokemon fans! Trainer Blast Off is back, bringing you live footage from the biggest competition of the year: The Masters Eight Tournament!"

"That's right, Sinia! And we made it just in time for the first match! Who's up first, Simon?"

"Would you look at that, folks! The monarch himself is up first against…Alain? Who's Alain?"

"I think I've heard of him. Isn't he the twerp that won the last Kalos League?"

"Who cares? All we need to know is that they're about to throw down!"

Meanwhile, Alain was on the phone with Mairin before heading out to the arena.

"Good luck, Alain! Everyone back home is rooting for you!"

Alain smiled, and raised an eyebrow.

"Everyone?"

"Well, mostly just me, Professor Sycamore, and Chespie. But we're cheering the loudest!"

"Chespin!"

Alain chuckled.

"Then that's all I need. I'll call you after the match."

"Good luck!"

With that, the call ended, leaving Alain alone to head to the arena. Despite who his opponent was, Alain was not afraid. There was only one opponent he wanted to face, and he wouldn't allow himself to fall until he reached them.

"I'm coming for you, Ash."

"And now, the first match of the Masters Eight shall begin! Both competitors are making their way to the battlefield now!"

In the locker room, the other six members watched from the TV screen.

"Say Steven," Cynthia spoke up. "You've worked with Alain in the past, haven't you?"

"Indeed," Steven nodded. "He's come a long way since then. I look forward to seeing how strong he's become."

"Oh? And what if you have to face him?" Diantha said with a smirk.

"A very real possibility, one I hope occurs," Steven concluded.

"Alright, go Alain! Go Leon!" Ash shouted, making Iris sigh.

"You have to pick a side, you know."

"I can't choose, they're both so cool!"

"Same old Ash," Iris sighed, and shook her head. "Still such a kid."

"I'm older than you!"

"Then why don't you act like it?"

The others laughed at the two's display, before Lance spoke up.

"Quiet, everyone, it's starting."

With that, everyone turned their full attention to the TV.

"And now for the moment you've all been waiting for, the first match of The Masters Eight is about to get underway!"

The crowd cheered as Alain and Leon appeared, shaking each other's hand.

"I look forward to our battle. Just remember, win or lose it's all about having a good time!"

Alain smirked

"I will. I just hope you remember that when I beat you and take your title."

The two shared a laugh before taking their positions, Dan the referee hovering down on Honedge to explain the rules.

"This will be a Full Six-on-Six battle with no time limit! Each trainer is allowed to switch out as many times as they like. In addition, each trainer is allowed only one use of Mega Evolution, a Z-Move, or Dynamax in this first round. Trainers, are you ready?"

"For a good battle? Always!"

"Ready!"

"Then let the battle begin!"

"Go, Weavile!"

"Rillaboom, I choose you!"

"Would you look at that? Looks like the champ's starting with a type disadvantage!" Meowth said, to which Jessie nodded.

"Such a pity," she said. "Such a strong looking Pokemon, only to be defeated first.

"Type advantages aren't everything, you two," James reminded them. "Let's see how the champ handles this setback!"

"Ice Beam, Weavile!"

"Protect!"

Rillaboom crossed his arms in front of him, forming a psychic barrier that stopped the Ice Beam dead in its tracks.

"Now use Drum Beating!"

"Dodge, then use Ice Shard!"

Weavile leapt into the air, avoiding as many of the vines erupting out of the ground before reaching freedom, spitting out many icicles out at Rillaboom, forcing him back.

"Bullet Seed, Rillaboom!"

"Ice Punch!"

Rillaboom recovered quickly, firing off a volley of seeds at Weavile, who weaved around them as best he could before jumping up, punching Rillaboom with ice-covered fists.

"High Horsepower, Rillaboom!"

Rillaboom grabbed Weavile by his head, and with one mighty swing sent him flying across the battlefield. When he hit the ground, he could barely bring himself to his feet.

"Finish him off with Wood Hammer!"

As Weavile recovered, he felt a large shadow fall over him. Looking up, he saw Rillaboom coming down, his drumsticks now a huge hammer poised to smash him into the dirt.

"Icy Wind!"

Realizing he had little hope of winning, Weavile blasted Rillaboom with a sharp, cold wind. But Rillaboom just powered through it, slamming his Wood Hammer down on top of his head and knocking him out.

"Weavile is unable to battle, Rillaboom wins!"

"What?" Jessie cried, slack jawed. "No way, how could Weavile lose?"

"That Rillaboom trounced him like he was a banana split!"

James just smirked.

"I told you so. The twerp there has his work cut out for him."

''Weavile, return! You did well, get some rest. Go, Chesnaught!"

Leon chuckled as Alain's next choice was sent out.

"So, it's a battle of grass types you want, huh? Alright then, we accept your challenge! Rillaboom, use Drum Beating!"

"Spiky Shield, Chesnaught!"

Rillaboom pounced, bashing on the shield Chesnaught had thrown up, powering through the pain. Chesnaught could feel the powerful blows even through his shield, but kept it up until Rillaboom stopped.

"Hammer Arm, Chesnaught!"

Once Rillaboom stopped to rest, Chesnaught took his chance, swinging his arm around to pulverize his opponent…

''Acrobatics, Rillaboom!''

Just as the punch was going to connect, RIllaboom leaped over him, using Chesnaught to propel himself into the air while kicking Chesnaught down with his feet.

''Pin Missile!''

Chesnaught grunted, launching a volley of needles from his body at Rillaboom, the Pokemon getting covered in a small cloud of dust from the impacts.

"Wood Hammer!"

"Spiky Shield!"

Rillaboom just managed to throw his shield up in time for RIllaboom to bring his hammer down, the force nearly embedding him into the battlefield itself.

"Now use Leaf Storm!"

While Chesnaught recovered from the brutal onslaught, Rillaboom summoned a whirlwind of leaves to buffer him about. Ordinarily this wouldn't do much, but the battle had already taken a great deal out of him.

''Acrobatics, now!''

''Needle Arm!''

Although the Leaf Storm made it difficult to see, Chesnaught could just make out Rillaboom bounding towards him. Knowing he was on his last legs, Chesnaught thrust his arm out to try and land one last punch, only for Rillaboom to leap over it and kick him hard on the back of the head, knocking him out.

''Chesnaught is unable to battle, Rillaboom wins!''

''Incredible!'' Lillie gasped. "Rillaboom took two of Alain's Pokemon all on his own."

''And from the looks of it, he didn't even break a sweat!" Chloe added. Hop just chuckled.

"There's a reason why my big bro is undefeated. Alain is good, I don't doubt that, but it'll take a lot more than that to break his streak.''

''Chesnaught, return! You did well, get some rest."

Alain took out his next Pokeball, closing his eyes momentarily to reflect on everything that had led to this point.

"I believe in you, old friend. Go, Charizard!''

Leon eyed the newcomer for a minute, before speaking to Rillaboom.

''Rillaboom, do you wish to continue?''

"Boom!"

"Alright then, bring it!''

"You're going to regret that decision. Charizard, Mega Evolve!''

The crowd aahed as Charizard changed form, flapping his wings defiantly at Rillaboom to challenge him. But neither Leon nor his Pokemon were intimidated by the show of power.

''Bullet Seed, Rillaboom!''

''Air Slash!''

Charizard took to the sky, easily avoiding the barrage of seeds shot at him before using his wings to create massive gusts of wind, battering Rillaboom and pushing him back.

"Don't give up, Rillaboom! Drum Beating!''

"Charizard, Flare Blitz!''

Charizard charged in, the aura of flames surrounding him burning any of the vines Rillaboom created to a crisp as he zoomed towards him, ramming into him with such speed that he nearly sent the Grass Type flying, though Rillaboom quickly recovered.

"Rillaboom, can you go on?"

"Boom!"

"Alright then, use Acrobatics!"

"Dragon Claw!"

Rillaboom began bounding towards Charizard, gracefully leaping into the air to strike, only to be rebutted by a swipe from Charizard's claws, knocking him out of the air.

"Fire Fang!"

Before Rillaboom could hit the ground, Charizard grabbed him in his mouth, flame biting into his fur and making the Grass type cry out in pain.

"Free yourself and make some space, RIllaboom! Drum Beating!"

Furiously, Rillaboom began pounding on Charizard's jaw, trying to break free. Charizard tried to keep his grip tight, but eventually had to let go, dropping Rillaboom to the ground and allowing him to bound away.

"Alright Rillaboom, time for the big guns! Solar Beam!"

Rillaboom concentrated, gathering as much energy from the sun as he could before Charizard struck again.

"Don't let him charge it up, Charizard! Flamethrower, full power!"

Charizard roared, sending out a massive torrent of flames at Rillaboom.

"Now, Rillaboom!"

At Leon's command, Rillaboom released all of his pent up energy out at Charizard, the two attacks meeting in the middle. For a minute, the two battled for control, but in the end Charizard's Flamethrower won out, pushing all the way towards Rillaboom and hitting him head on. When the dust settled, Rillaboom was out cold.

"Rillaboom is unable to battle, Charizard wins!"

"Would you look at that, folks? In an instant, Leon's first Pokemon is down for the count! Is this the beginning of a turnaround for Alain, or the beginning of the end?"

Despite the setback, Leon couldn't help but chuckle. This was the kind of battle he lived for, and he couldn't be happier.

"Now, we'll truly show the audience a champion time!"