Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 18

As we are moving into the Battle Club Tournament, we hear a voice, "Out of my way!" And much to my horror, Bianca has come and he crashes me into the fountain.

"It's you again, Bianca..." I mutter.

"Ash, are you alright?" Reisa asks.

"Why is it every time I have to get pushed into the water when I meet you..." I say.

"I'm so, so, sorry. I want to register for the tournament." Bianca says.

So it seems that Bianca is also attending and hasn't changed much. Six of us, Nate, Rosa, Reisa, and even Bianca, are attending this. And much to my surprise, we also find that Burgendy here as well.

"You're entering the tournament too?" I ask.

"My feelings are not for you, but for him!" She points at Cilan. "The time has come for some sweet revenge."

Cilan says, "Then are you a high-class connoisseur yet?"

"Not exactly, but I'll show you what a true Connoisseur is about." Burgundy says.

Stephan is also here, and he says, "Ash! Long time no see!"

"It's Stefan!" I say. "You enter the tournament too?"

"Well, you still don't say my name right... But you bet I'm in." Stephan says.

"All right." Then he also shows that his Blitzle has evolved into a Zebstrika.

"I thought I smelled a Dragon type." We are also surprised to find Georgia here as well. "I'm the first-class Dragon Buster. You may be a Champion, but I won't lose to the likes of you!"

And there's also Trip and Hugh. The two of them are also here, Trip though ignores us, but Hugh asks me if we see any Team Plasma around. Nate asks, "You're still chasing after Team Plasma?"

"Yeah... I can't forgive them..." Hugh says as we sigh.

And with another unfamiliar trainer, that's sixteen of us who're entering the tournament. The winner gets to win a badge and several feathers that are for boosting stats.

The first match is Rosa against Georgia, Rosa tries to use a Joltik to battle her, but Georgia's Beartic wins in the end. The second battle is Reisa and Eve, and Eve wants to use Krokorok to battle Reisa's Milotic, only to be defeated in the end. And Hugh also advances into the next round after defeating the unknown trainer.

Now it is time for me to battle Burgendy in the fourth round. I say, "Okay, it's about time."

"You may be an S-Class Connoisseur, it will be a great taste to defeat you right here and now."

"Look, all I want to do is win." I say.

She goes for Stoutland while I decide to go with Palpitoad to battle.

Palpitoad opens with Mud Shot, to which Stoutland counters with Tackle. Afterward, Stoutland then tries an ineffective Thunder Fang on Palpitoad. Cilan remarks on the critical mistake, but Burgundy was simply trying to catch Palpitoad before delivering a direct Ice Fang instead. However, before Palpitoad is completely frozen.

"Use Supersonic!" I say, and it causes Stoutland to let go and also shatters the ice. Stoutland replies with a Tackle attack and rushes in for a Fire Fang. However, Palpitoad sprays a Mud Shot directly in its opponent's mouth, causing Stoutland to start coughing in an attempt to clear the mud. With a jet of Hydro Pump, Palpitoad emerges victorious, allowing me to proceed to the second round.

The fifth round is Trip against Cilan, and Trip uses a Gurdurr to battle, while Cilan goes for Dwebble. It is a close match, but in the end, Cilan still wins by having Dwebble uses Shell Smash and then Rock Slide to flinch Gurdurr and defeats with the final Slash.