Chapter 30: Pseudo-Champion Level
3 days later, Stadium D
"Trainer Ash and Trainer Ivan please proceed to the battlefield." The host announces as the referee was already waiting in the middle of the battlefield.
Upon hearing his name Ash stood up, he was now wearing a white undershirt partnered with a gray jacket and white pants.
"Both trainers should now know the rules so please take out your respective pokemon and let the battle begin!"
Ivan threw his Pokeball in the air, "Empoleon let's do this!"
Ash also took out his Pokeball, "Let your vines be the guide that will pull us to victory let's go Bayleef!"
Bayleef landed on the rocky terrain and stared at Empoleon.
"A type advantage huh, Empoleon don't let Bayleef control the battle and use ice beam!" Ivan commanded,
Empoleon stood his ground and aimed an Ice beam towards Bayleef.
"Bayleef, dodge that ice beam and use Sunny Day."
Bayleef casually took a side step easily dodging the incoming ice beam and threw a ball of energy up in the air turning into heat energy that surrounded the battlefield.
Ivan frowned seeing this and immediately countered, "Empoleon, use Rain Dance to block the effects of Sunny Day."
Ash smiled seeing how quick-witted Ivan was but he still shook his head and said, "Use your Vine whip to stop Empoleon's movement then finish it off with Solar Beam."
Bayleef nodded and released 4 vine whips wrapping the limbs of Empoleon preventing it from moving, she then stared converging light into her mouth and shot it towards Empoleon head-on.
*BOOM!*
Dust was scattered everywhere preventing the audience and referee from seeing the outcome of the battle, a few moments later as the dust started to disappear they saw Bayleef making her way towards Ash while Empoleon was knocked out on the ground.
"Empoleon is unable to battle, the winner is Bayleef!" The referee announced and a round of applause resounded in the stadium.
"You did great Bayleef," Ash said while patting Bayleef's head.
Bayleef smiled and replied telepathically, "Master, how about letting Noivern fight the next battle?"
Ash thought for a moment about Bayleef's suggestion, they already won 8 rounds straight and the one he would be facing on the 9th is some unknown trainer while his opponent on the 10th and final round would be Iris.
"We can use Noivern tomorrow, either way, we already won 8 rounds so we are surely gonna go to the main tournament already."
After defeating his opponent Ash directly went back to his house and saw Noivern currently sparring against Lance's Salamance.
"Welcome back Buddy! another win today?" Lance greeted Ash as he saw him coming.
Ash smiled and nodded in confirmation, and asked when he got closer "How's Noivern?"
Lance turned his attention towards the sparring going on and said, "Your Noivern is tenacious he already fought against my Dragonite and Aerodactly earlier and still wants to fight Salamance, if he isn't tenacious then I don't know what to describe him anymore."
Lance was really impressed at Noivern, even though he can't fight his pokemon on an equal footing he can still push them back from time to time.
Upon hearing Lance praise Noivern, Ash was glad that Noivern didn't stop training in the last 3 years, or else he would have been left so far behind.
As Ash and Lance kept talking the sparring finally ended when Salamce smashed Noivern with a Dragon Tail sending him flying towards a tree.
"Okay, that's enough for today Noivern. If you keep on continuing fighting my pokemon then you will surely get injured." Lance said as he took out his Pokeball and returned Salamance inside.
Noivern shook his head while trying to stand back up, he clearly took a good amount of damage from Salamance's Dragon Tail earlier.
Ash approached Noivern and stretched out his hand to help him get up and said, "Stop training anymore, you will be fighting tomorrow's battle."
*Whistle!*
Lance whistled hearing this, he knew Ash's attitude and already knew about Noivern's past. Ash letting Noivern participate in a league battle proves that he acknowledges Noivern's strength and is confident in letting Noivern represent his team.
Noivern who just stood up with the help of Ash was stunned hearing this and started tearing up, he wiped out his tears and said telepathically, "I won't let you down, Dad."
Ash smiled and patted his head, "I know you won't, so go back and rest."
Noivern nodded his head and flew towards a tree to rest.
Sceptile who was near Noivern's tree glance at his companion and said, "You're really a brave kid to be able to come back and ask for Master's forgiveness."
Noivern who just closed his eyes turned his attention towards Sceptile who was casually leaning behind the tree and replied, "This is where I belong and those traitors will one day pay for what they have done."
Sceptile played with his toothpick and laughed, "You need to stop seeking revenge kid, don't be like Charizard who only knows how to take revenge. You are really lucky because it wasn't Charizard who found you first or else you would've been fried as soon as he saw you."
Upon hearing Sceptile talk about Charizard. Noivern shuddered he remembered when he met Charizard 3 days ago the latter immediately attacked him with a flamethrower and if it wasn't because of Bayleef protecting him, he would surely have gotten injured by that flamethrower alone.
"How come you guys became so strong in just 3 years? I also didn't stop my training so why are you a lot stronger than I am?" Noivern asked, he was really curious to know how his Dad trained them.
Sceptile put his hands behind his back and closed his eyes while replying, "You will eventually know the reason when Master starts training you, seeing your current strength I am sure that it will only take you a month of intense training with Master and you will be on par with us."
"That fast?!" Noivern asked in shock, he couldn't believe what he heard just now because Lance told him that he needs to train at least 6 months to be on par with his Dad's pokemon, and hearing Sceptile telling him that he only needs a month of intense training shocked him greatly.
Sceptile didn't reply anymore and slept making Noivern grumble in dissatisfaction, 'Why must you tease me like this? you can't even give me a clue tsk tsk." Noivern then closed his eyes and rest not caring about Sceptile anymore.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone