21. Ash's Story Journey Version

Chapter 18 Destination: Coronation

At the Cerise Laboratory, Ash is looking at his Rotom Phone and he says, "There are over 10000? That's so many participants! That's making me fired up!"

"They are not called the World Coronation Series for nothing! They're insanely popular!" Serena says.

While they are chatting, Raboot just opens one of its eyes as he looks at them. Ash says, "That's fine! The more rivals, the more exciting! And there are more and more trainers who keep signing up after me!"

Ren looks at the phone and says, "I see...everyone starts in the Normal Class, huh? And above that is the Great Class, Ultra Class, and then the Master Class."

Professor Cerise says, "Everyone starts in the same line, your momentum greatly depends on whether you win or lose your first battle. The first battle is vital."

"I got it, let's do it, Pikachu!" Ash says as Pikachu agrees.

Serena says, "And how are you going to do it?"

"If I want to battle Leon again, then, first of all, I gotta enter the Great Class." Ash says, "In that case, there's only one thing to do! That is to win and win some more!"

Besides Ash, Gengar is fired up and Ash asks, "You're fired up as well? Gengar?"

Gengar nods, but Raboot just turns away from them, much to Ash's sadness.

"It looks like the best way to rapidly climb the ranks is to fight someone ranked much higher than yourself." Professor Cerise says.

"So basically, strong trainers?" Serena asks.

"I wonder if there are any participating trainers nearby..." Ash says. "And I hope they are as strong as I can find..."

"You can just look into it yourself!" Professor Cerise says. "Just search for Vermilion City."

As checks for the phone and then he finds a trainer, he says, "I choose this trainer."

He shows a female trainer with the number 2109 on it. Cerise asks, "Isn't that the substitute gym leader in Vermilion Gym?"

"Vermilion Gym? Wasn't Lt. Surge the Gym Leader there?" Ash asks.

"Exactly, but I hear he's out training right now, trying to refine his mastery over the Electric Type Pokemon." Cerise says.

"I see, it is just like how Clembot is to Clemont." Serena says.

"His substitute, Visquez, is quite formidable as well." Cerise says. "Are you sure you should start with such a high bar?"

"Of course, now I'm really fired up!" Ash says.

As Ash and Serena head towards the Vermilion Gym, Serena says, "By the way, you told me that you have challenged the Vermilion City Gym, right?"

"Of course. I got it from Lt. Surge after fighting his Raichu. It was my third badge in this region...and to tell you the truth, the first gym badge that I got not from pity."

"Not from pity? You got badges out of pity?" Serena asks, "That doesn't sound like you would do."

"What should I say? The first Gym I lost, but Brock still wants to give me the badge, Cerulean and Celadon are interrupted by Team Rocket and because I send them blasting, I got the badge. Saffron City is because I managed to make the Gym Leader laugh, and Viridian City was taken over by Team Rocket."

"So it is basically those three's fault that you didn't get your gym badges officially." Serena says while rolling her eyes.

After getting to the gym, they knock on the door, and then a strong woman comes out and she says, "Are you the one that requests the battle in the World Coronation Series?"