The Road to our Destiny

Chapter 67

The next day, Ash gets up earlier than everyone else to pick up his Pokemon from Nurse Joy and starts training. As he trains with his Pokemon, he notices that Charizard is feeling higher in spirits, clearly glad to have won Ash the battle against Ritchie. Servine feels like it could have done better against Zippo, but Ash cheers it up, saying not to worry about it and to just keep going. A little later in the morning, Ash and Pikachu see Ritchie and Sparky leaving the Pokemon Center to head back to his hometown, and the two of them wave goodbye to their friends. A couple hours later, Misty comes up to him and childishly orders him to come inside for breakfast. Ash wants to train more, but then his stomach rumbles, so he quickly follows Misty with his Pokemon following behind.

After breakfast is over, Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Misty, Brock, Holly, Clemont, Bonnie, Max, May, Dawn, Piplup, Iris, Axew, Cilan, Timothy, Coovers, and Electchu all leave to go back to the registration center to find out who Ash, Max, and Timothy are going to face next.

"Man, only 8 people left in the league already," Max says before turning to Ash, Holly, and Timothy. "And we're half of the remaining 8."

"Yup, we sure are," Ash says with a smile.

"At this rate, it's only a matter of time before some if not all of us have to face each other," Max says.

"And that's assuming some if not all of us don't end up facing each other today at the quarterfinals," Holly points out. "Or that any of us are going to win this round."

"Speak for yourself, Holly," Timothy says. "I don't see any of the other contestants keeping me from reaching the semifinals."

"You might if you go against me," Ash says.

Timothy smirks at Ash, and the raven-haired boy just smirks back competitively.

"Just make sure all of your Pokemon are ready for this, guys," Brock suggests. "You are competing in full battles from now on, after all."

"Oh please," Timothy says with a wave of his hand. "I've gotten this far many times, and Ash has too as I recall."

"You got that right," Ash boasts.

"Well then, my advice goes to just Max and Holly then," Brock says.

Max nods and says, "Admittedly, I haven't had a full 6-on-6 battle before, so I hope I'm ready for it."

"Me too," Holly says. "It hasn't been that long since I got a full party by capturing Beedrill."

"You'll do fine," Brock says, pitting his hand on Holly's shoulder.

Holly turns to Brock and smiling sweetly, treasuring the times that he's with her and not Lucy.

"I'm just annoyed that Giselle is still competing," Dawn says with an annoyed frown. "Did you see that pompous look on her face when she was battling last night?"

"I sure did," Misty says. "I'd like to personally wipe that arrogant smile off her face."

"Me too," May says.

Serena hesitates and says, "I'm not one for violence like that, but I would like to see her get knocked out of the tournament."

Ash turns to Serena and give her a toothy grin.

"Don't you worry, Serena," he says. "I still plan to keep my promise if I end up having to face her."

"So do I," Timothy says, giving Serena a wink.

The honey blonde girl smiles appreciatively at both Ash and Timothy. Before long, the entire group makes it to the registration center, and already a couple of trainers who are still in the tournament begin fishing for Magikarp. The office is rearranged so that there is only one large pool left to fish for Magikarp and find out who is competing against who in the quarterfinals. Ash, Max, Timothy, and Holly walk toward the desk to get fishing rods until Giselle cuts in front of them.