Pokemon: Alexandrite & Topaz

Chapter 43: Climbing the Ladder

"Rise and shine!" exclaimed Hikaru at the top of her lungs.

Kimyona woke up slowly but Sentoki was already up and dressed.

"Come on! It's the big day! We gotta give it our all today!" shouted Sentoki.

Kimyona eventually was wide awake. They went down and ate breakfast before meeting up with Subarashi and Jinsoku.

"You guys ready?" asked the excited Jinsoku.

"Of course!" replied Kimyona with a leap. As soon as they entered the stadium. Subarashi, who was behind the group, did a double take.

"What's wrong?" asked Hikaru.

"N-Nothing. I-I just have to take care of something," he said with a stutter.

"Okay. We'll see you inside!" shrugged Hikaru. The rest of the pack entered while Subarashi stayed behind.

"Yuki?" he mumbled as he ran.

Sentoki, Kimyona, and Jinsoku verified they're in and they went inside the competitor's room. Hikaru found a spot in the stands and Pichu perched on her head.

Twenty minutes passed and Subarashi showed up in the threshold of the competitor's room.

"Hey, where ya been?" asked Sentoki.

Subarashi made a letter "U" with his fingers. Sentoki nodded. After a few more minutes, an official entered the room and called them all out for the opening ceremony. There were hundreds of competitors from all around the world. Some came from other regions to participate in the event. The officials called out each of the competitors' names. After that, they went back into the competitor's room and the qualifying rounds began.

Sentoki, Kimyona, Subarashi, and Jinsoku watched the battles on TV anxiously, watching how the trainers command their Pokemon. Finally, Kimyona was called up. She walked onto the field and looked around her. People were cheering with excitement. Kimyona took a big gulp and went into her box. The other trainer came out from the other side.

"Hey! Kimyona!" shouted Hikaru.

"Huh?" she turned around. Hikaru was behind her sitting in a bleacher.

"What are you doin' here?" she asked.

"They said spectators can go on the field as long as they are on a competitor's team!"

The other trainer called out a Raticate. Kimyona responded with Machamp. Machamp stood there with his arms crossed, acting cocky. Raticate came at him with a Hyper Fang. Machamp simply grabbed Raticate, picked it up, and threw it onto the ground. Raticate recovered and attacked with Crunch attack onto Machamp's leg. Machamp used its other leg and used Low Kick, knocking Raticate off. Machamp fell onto one knee in pain. Raticate came back with Sucker Punch. Machamp caught its hand and responded with a Thunder Punch to its face, making the Raticate faint.

The trainer then called out Voltorb. Kimyona switched out with Venusaur.

"You're doing great! It's only a 3-on-3 battle for the qualifying rounds!"

Voltorb went with Electro Ball and hit Venusaur head on. Venusaur growled and responded with Razor Leaf. Voltorb rolled away but Venusaur quickly followed up with a Vine Whip. Voltorb was launched across the stadium and slammed into a wall. Voltorb came back with a Rollout. Venusaur countered with Take Down. Their heads clashed. Venusaur was getting the upper hand because of its massive size and weight. Voltorb was launched again but higher than before. Venusaur used SolarBeam and aimed at Voltorb as it fell. Voltorb tried to hit Venusaur with Swift but the attack disintegrated it and Voltorb was slammed into the wall again, fainted.

"Awesome! One more!"

Arbok was sent out! Venusaur was still on the battlefield. Arbok quickly came at Venusaur with a Poison Sting and got him in the leg. Arbok was still close to Venusaur so it used Tackle and Arbok backed off. Venusaur ran at it with a Takedown but Arbok quickly dodged it. However, Venusaur turned its body and hit Arbok with a Vine Whip. Arbok quickly used Crunch and bit Venusaur in the leg. Venusaur tried to sustain the pain and used Giga Drain. Arbok's health was getting taken away! Venusaur followed up with Take Down again and knocked out Arbok.

The referee yelled, "Kimyona has won the battle!"

"You did it!" cheered Hikaru with Pichu.

Kimyona was really proud of herself for making it this far and for beating her first opponent in the league. She went back to the competitor's room while Hikaru went with her. Many more trainers were called up and many other trainers' dreams of becoming a Pokemon master were crushed. Subarashi went up. He had a Charizard, Vaporeon, and Raichu. He defeated his opponent somewhat easily. A few more trainers were called up then it was Jinsoku. He had a Blastoise, Flareon, and Magnemite. Right after his battle, Sentoki was next. He took a big gulp and walked onto the field. Thousands of spectators were cheering as he watched them all. He took a step into the trainer's box.

On the other side, it was a girl. Sentoki can tell she came a long way for this battle. She also looked powerful by the look in her eyes. Sentoki turned and faced the flame of Moltres. He then turned back around and slipped on his shades. The girl used a Jigglypuff. Sentoki called out Emboar. JIgglypuff used Rollout and Emboar countered with Focus Blast. Jigglypuff was sent flying away! It smashed into a wall but was still able to battle! Jigglypuff used Disable and Emboar could no longer use Focus Blast throughout the battle. Jigglypuff used Rollout once again! Emboar used Rollout, too! They collided and it was a matter of strength. Emboar overpowered Jigglypuff due to its strength and power. Jigglypuff rolled away and used Disable once again! Jigglypuff used Pound and Emboar countered with a Body Slam; Jigglypuff got crushed by Emboar's tremendous size and weight.

Rhydon was next so Sentoki called out his star player, Blastoise. Rhydon immediately used Thunder on Blastoise! Blastoise had proper training and it knew the perfect defense. It quickly turned its body around and used Withdraw! Blastoise was still taking damage from the inside of its shell. It then used Water Gun to propel itself off the wall and smash into Rhydon! Rhydon and the trainer were stunned by what just happened. Blastoise popped out of its shell and it looks like nothing even happened to him. Rhydon used Hammer Arm and almost landed it on Blastoise's head! Blastoise quickly ducked its head into its shell and prepared for a Skull Bash. It unleashed the attack and Rhydon was shot backward onto its back. Blastoise took the opportunity and used Water Pulse to finish it. Rhydon fainted.

In the competitor's room, Hikaru told Kimyona," Sentoki is a really smart fighter.You try to nail a good hit on him and he makes his Pokemon do some awesome maneuver then the attack!"

Subarashi replied, "That means him and his Pokemon have a strong bond."

The trainer sent out Electabuzz. Sentoki replied by switching out Blastoise with Electivire. The Electabuzz looked dazzled. It tried to use ThunderPunch on Electivire. It caught its fist and nothing was happening to Electivire because of its ability: Motor Drive! Electivire looked straight into Electabuzz's eyes, recalling its past. Electivire used Thunderbolt and zapped Electabuzz. It then let go of Electabuzz's fist and used Dynamic Punch, sending Electabuzz away. Electabuzz used Thunder and still nothing happened to Electivire. The girl was not aware of what was happening. Electivire used Quick Attack and slammed Electabuzz head on. It then used Cross Chop and put an end to Electabuzz.

"Sentoki is the winner!"

Hikaru and Kimyona were clapping in the competitor's' room. The last of the trainers battled and there were only a few hundred left. The next round of the Pokemon League is the preliminary rounds!