Ash gave a huff as he got ready for the contest, he had taken Chikorita aside and explained about gym battles and contest performance. Chikorita had a curious look in her eyes when Ash explained it to her and was sat at the stands with Lucario, Eevee, Abra and Pikachu. She would observe the contest and gym battles first before deciding which route she wanted to take. She had only been with her trainer for a few days and her trainer had only started training and not decided on what career he wanted.
Chikorita mumbled, "Chiko chikorita."
Lucario pat her head, -I have no doubt your trainer would support you.-
Pikachu nodded, "Pika pika pikapi."
A lady with black hair and blue eyes appeared, "Hello everyone! Welcome to Jhoto's first contest for the season. I'm Musa, your hostess for the day."
Musa introduced the judges as the crowd cheered, "We have Mr Contesta."
Mr Contesta, "It's good to be here."
Musa, "Mr Sukizo."
Mr Sukizo, "Remarkable."
Musa, "Our very own Nurse Joy."
Nurse Joy, "Hello everyone."
Lucario muttered, -Nurse Joy's presence I can somewhat understand but those two.-
Pikachu sweatdropped, "Pi Pika!"
Abra, -Iss dat weird?-
Lucario, -They are in almost every contests.-
Musa, "Now let's call our first contestant."
Casey watched the performance in one of the screens fitted outside, "Wao! They are really putting their back to it, huh?"
Meganium, "Meganium."
Jolteon, "Jolt!"
Casey, "Let's do our best while cheering Ash on."
Pichu, "Pi pichu."
Musa, "Let's welcome Ash Ketchum next."
Ash entered the stadium as the crowd roared and cheered, the biggest cheer coming from his friends and Pokemon. Ash was wearing a necromancer get up fitted with crystal skull belt with fake dead leaves, cuff links that embroidered with bones, one skull earring on his left a pocket watch hanging out of his breast pocket and a mask designed as a Hollow mask. He may have taken inspiration from Bleach for the mask, it was eerie and cool after all and Zangetsu was his favorite.
Ash, "Take stage Phantump."
Phantump appeared inside an array of Will O Wisp, "Phaaaa."
The crowd was torn between being creeped out by the eerie atmosphere or cooing over the adorable Ghost slash Grass type.
Ash, "Start off with leach seed, astonish and magical leaf. You can do it."
Phantump nodded and concentrated on creating a large leech seed that would cause many vines to come out. He then used astonish on the leech seed and making it waver and flinch as if it knew there was some one there. Phantump then used magical leaf to cut the vines up, only for the leaves to have smaller leech seed inside it that sprouted into more vines.
Ash, "Phantom force, forest curse and finally solar beam."
Phantump nodded and used phantom force to disappear in the shadows of the vines before using forest curse. The forest curse usually adds grass type to the targets but Phantump was not battling at the moment and instead used it to boost his own Grass energy. As the timer almost ended Phantump appeared and used solar beam which he shot to the sky dispersing the shadows and creepy vines only leaving behind green sparkles and a very cute ghost type.
Phantump, "Phaaaa~"
Casey squealed, "Oh sweet Mew. That was mystifying yet adorable to watch."
Max, "That was cool."
Brock, "So that's what Ash meant with shadows and light."
Musa grinned on hearing the applause from the crowd, "And what a mystifying finish. Let's see what the judges think."
Mr Contesta, "The timing and flow was well done from grass to shadows to light. It was all done beautifully to highlight Phantump's abilities and nature."
Mr Sukizo, "Remarkable."
Nurse Joy, "Such a cutie Ghost Pokemon. You can't help but fall in love with them."
Phantump had already moved to snuggle in Ash's arms, "Phaaaa phantump."
Ash pat his back, "You were amazing, Phantump. I'm very proud of you."
Musa, "Let's see the score. And Ash gets... Thirty point, a perfect score. Well done, he is at the top so far."
Ash walked back to the trainers lounge, "Well, that went well for first introductions. I say we did a wonderful job, don't you."
Phantump cheered, "Phaaaa."
Lucario, -Do you want to go meet Ash or watch?-
Chikorita who was in the stands, "Chiko chikori."
Pikachu nodded, "Pikapi."
Abra, -Meema please.-
Eevee, "Vui."
Lucario nodded, -Brock we are going to join Ash.-
Brock, "Alright just stay together and stay safe."
Lucario nodded, -We will.-
Lucario herded his family out of the audience line and left quietly away from the boisterous crowd. He then went towards the back stage where Phantump was cooing and enjoying watching the rest of the performances on the screen. Lucario and the others shuffled towards Ash and Abra and Eevee chirped before jumping on him. Ash checked on the poke egg Lucario was watching over and took them to a less conspicuous corner in the back of the room.
Lucario mumbled to Ash, -Security is tighter around here.-
Ash nodded whispering back, "I know, I'm not surprised considering what happened a few days ago, that too right in the neighborhood."
Lucario leaned in, -I heard Faulkner's been pissed and been extra hard on the trainers who went to challenge him. I think we'll get a good challenge Meema.-
Ash sighed, "I don't blame him, especially since it happened in his home turf. He is no doubt getting a lot of flak at the moment from the others. Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy, the gym leaders and Gold seem to be the only one on his side. The Rangers refuse to comment on it claiming they have better things to do then dick waving like some people."
Lucario chuckled, -That shut a lot of people up for a while.-
Ash, "Let's give Faulkner a good battle. I think between Casey and I, that'll cool him down."
Lucario nodded and turned towards the screen where the last contestant and their Torchic were taking part. The Torchic was quite an adorable one with their fluffy feathers and that proud attitude.
Ash chuckled quietly, "That little Torchic is similar to Wigglytuff, aren't they?"
Lucario nodded smirking, -They are going to give their trainer a heart attack.-
Ash snorted as the final four were picked which included him and three other contestants, one from Jhoto and two were from Hoenn. He was going up against one of the Hoenn trainers and got up after patting Chikorita, who was sitting next to him. The Jhoto grass starter had been listening to Lucario and Ash's quiet talk while watching and had to agree with their assessment, while frowning at trouble they mentioned happened, probably before meeting her.
Ash got up seeing it was his turn, "Stay here and enjoy okay?"
Phantump nodded, "Phaaaa."
Abra, -Yes Meema.-
Eevee, "Vui."
Chikorita, "Chiko."
Lucario, -Show them who's best, Meema.-
Pikachu, "Pi pikapi."
Ash sweatdropped at the pompoms Pikachu brought out from nowhere but smiled, "I will."
Musa, "Let the first round begin, between Ash from Kanto and Harribel from Hoenn. Release your Pokemon."
Ash, "Take the stage Gengar."
Harribel, "Let's go Persian."
Gengar appeared using dark shadows to amplify the glow of his eyes while Persian appeared in a shower of pay day. Both Pokemon got a large applause, Gengar for the interesting appearance and Persian for the beauty. The two Pokemon were polar opposites of each other, one was covered in shadows while the other in light and when Gengar was playful Persian was aloof. It was like looking at night and day.
Musa, "My, my, what a pairing. Begin!"
Harribel, "Use sunny day followed by fury swipes."
Ash, "Rain dance followed by shadow ball."
Sunny day and rain dance met in the middle of the battle field creating a rainbow making the audience gasp and cheer. The contestants however frowned as their points went down because of it. As neither side could claim credit for it, both sides got a penalty instead, this new rule had come out five years back when two contestants fought for the credit over the effect. It didn't happen all the time but sometimes if it is timed right, you get a beautiful result instead. To avoid clash between performers, both sides looses an equal amount of points directly.
Gengar disappeared from view using the mist left by the rain as a cover making Persian narrow her eyes. Gengar then attacked using shadow ball hitting Persian who hissed at the surprise attack and glared at the ghost type Pokemon. Gengar smirked at the feline before disappearing again. Persian got up and shook herself annoyed by the attack, she then used power gem on the field. Ash was impressed by what he saw, Persian attacked using multiple fury swipes covering the field and one swipe hit Gengar. Gengar appeared close to Persian holding his cheek and staring at feline who glared at him.
Ash grinned, "Lick."
Gengar laughed as he gave Persian a good long paralysing lick. Persian hissed as she realized she could not move at all. Gengar looked at her smugly as her points went down the longer she could not move.
Harribel, "Come on Persian! You can do it, I believe in you."
Persian growled as she got to her feet and attacked Gengar to scratch him, "PERSIAN!"
Gengar dodged dancing around the feline till the points hit zero, "Geng gengar geng."
Musa, "And we have a winner. Gengar wins the match and Ash is moving to the next round."
Ash hugged Gengar, "Great job!"
Gengar, "Geng geng geng geng gengar."
Casey, "That was awesome!"
Meganium nodded, "Ga mega."
Musa, "Now let's welcome the next two contestants who will battle it out for the finals."
Ash went back to sit with his Pokemon and watched as a Granbull fought against an Azumarill. The two were a close match and Granbull and his trainer won by a few points in the end. Ash looked at Granbull's trainer, really looked, she looked familiar. Her name was Tameo, he swears he heard that name before but couldn't put his finger on it. He figures it didn't matter, as he would be facing the Jhoto native in the end for the final battle for the ribbon. He half wondered how Grace, Harvey and Drew were doing.
Musa, "Let's welcome our final contestants everyone."
Ash walked up, "Name is Ash. Nice to meet you."
Tameo smiled, "Call me Tameo, it's an honor to meet you too."
Musa grinned, "Just what I like to see a friendly rivalry. Contestants take your places."
Ash stood at his place as he fingered his pokeball, 'Okay let's do this. Your time to shine.'
Musa, "Ready? Release your Pokemon!"
Ash, "Go Lapras! Show them what you have got."
Tameo, "Show them your majestic stride Houndoom."
Lapras shrieked happily as he appeared in a sparkle of shiny snow flakes, while the dark hound, Houndoom appeared in a blaze of firey inferno. Lapras barked a greeting at the flame canine and Houndoom tilted his head back in return to the greeting. Ash sweatdropped as Lapras shrieked playfully at the opponent.
Ash, 'I hope he remembers this is not play time.'
Musa, "Begin!"
Tameo, "Inferno!"
Ash, "Hydro pump."
Houndoom and Lapras attacked instantly creating a fog in the arena. Tameo cursed while Lapras used the environment to his advantage and hid himself.
Ash, "Now sing."
Ash, 'I sound like Ursula!'
Lapras started to sing and Houndoom started to feel drowsy despite trying to shake his head to stay awake.
Tameo, "Bite your tail. It'll cancel the effect."
Houndoom turned and bit his own tail forcing himself awake only to be hit by a hail. The dark canine grunted as he was pelted by ice balls before using ember to retaliate. Lapras moved away using ice beam on the field.
Musa, "Oh would you look at that? Lapras froze his side to make it easier to move aound."
Tameo, "Thunder fang."
Ash, "Keep skating and use water pulse."
Lapras dodged Houndoom again causing the opponent a loss of points but the dark canine did not stop attacking and followed the ice slash water type. Lapras meanwhile watched his opponent carefully and remembered Pikachu's training. He would have to time his attack before launching it. Houndoom jumped and Lapras saw his chance releasing the water pulse that hit Houndoom right in the middle. Houndoom was pushed back but true to their stubborn nature stood still.
Ash, "Final attack, shock wave."
Tameo, "Houndoom quick dry yourself!"
Lapras released a shock wave, a new move he had been learning and paralysed Houndoom half way he was dry. Lapras barked happily after sniffing the paralyzed canine who just deadpanned at the younger energetic Pokemon. Tameo noticed her points had gone to zero, it was very close though. Both she and Ash had very little points left after that match.
Musa, "And we have a winner. Everyone clap your hands for the first winner of this season."
Ash grinned as he got on stage and received the ribbon. It was light blue with white stripe down the middle. He half wondered if it represented the sky before pushing the thought away and turning to his Pokemon and showing the ribbon. The three of them had done really well for their first time and they deserved a treat.
[A. N.: This was fun to write.
I met my friend and spent a few days with her and she is alright. Thank goodness.
See you all next time.]