[3rd Person's POV (Location: Stands at Ever Grande)]
The crowd roared in excitement as it was now the start of the top 256 trainers out of the preliminaries. Right now near the front row behind Ash who was currently about to battle was May, Max and Brock.
Max who was getting ready for the battle, searched for Ash's opponent on his PokeNav.
"Hey, so where did you go yesterday~," Brock asks with a sly smirk. The man knew when something was going on after all.
The man was a dating connoisseur people!
May who was spacing out suddenly heard this, widened her mouth but no words came out. After some more teasing Brock was able to find out the events that happened yesterday and immediately started to pry.
"He's like my soulmate, we immediately went to try out foods when we met up. It's like he read my mind..." She mutters with her hands on her cheek.
Max who heard got a side-eye and looked at his dazed sister.
"May isn't that what you said about Tyson? You really are a weirdo you know, he'd never want you."
Brock who heard this had to stop himself from putting his hand over Max's mouth and laugh.
Now wasn't the time.
"Just went out huh, I'd say you two would make the perfect match! He told me he's a battle server at the best restaurant in Kanto..." Brock says twisting some of his words. While not entirely accurate, he was trying his best to interrupt Max.
'I got you Sunny!' He thought with a small tear going down his face.
He was a real one.
It's only been two weeks since they met, but already has their friendship progressed!
On the other side of the stadium where the gang couldn't see Sunny and his parents. Was the clueless guy himself who had no idea about what Brock was plotting. Of course, if he knew the plan that was set in motion, he'd be the first one to stop it.
...
[POV Sunny Haruto]
It was now the top 256 with my notes using basic math, it would take 8 straight wins to finish at 1st.
Ash's first opponent was Domminick who quickly lost after a close battle against his Tropius and Swalot. Torkoal and Corpish swept the match, wth the highlight being Corpish using [Bubblebeam] inside Swalot.
This left me speechless if anything.
After this win was paired with another win which wasn't as interesting.
The top 64 battle though was more entertaining with Ash's last stand with Glalie.
Charizard who just took down Grovyle with a [Steel Wing], was now on the floor and was vulnerable. The face Pokemon who just made ice spikes prior, used them to bounce around.
Just when his opponent told Charizard to fly up.
That's when Ash struck and had Glalie use [Headbut] with full momentum, solidifying his spot on the main stage. Tyson didn't have a pushover of an opponent as well with him battling an Aggron and Blastoise.
Although he still won.
These battles solidified my will to be one of the contestants in the future. The roaring crowd gave me goosebumps every time an attack landed.
'This is where I belong.' I thought seeing the different battles occur.
Feeling my heart with my hand, it raced at the thought of participating.
I was becoming a battle junkie.
My initial confidence stayed the same at winning a similar event. While it was doable, I needed a heavy hitter. Using cannon Pokemon as seen in the anime would be easy to find but hard to catch.
The top 32 battle was close against Katie but Ash still pulled through with his speed demon Grovyle.
"Now this is interesting," I murmur seeing the top 8 matches on the board.
One of the first battles ended up with Morrison versus Tyson and Ash versing an unknown. Unfortunately for the fellow Swampert enjoyer, he lost to the Gary Sue as he didn't stand much of a chance.
His starter was weak to Tyson's starter, Tyson had a fully evolved pseudo-legendary and also had a puss-n-boots.
Ash also won his battle with the announcements soon taking place.
The top eight battle was still going to be Ash and Tyson!
My parents who didn't pay much attention to the battle themselves but more the looks of the Pokemon and who won, remembered something.
"So the Ash kid you talked about before, you've befriended him and now he's in the top 8." My father pieces together which took longer than I thought.
"Yeah, he's a strong trainer." I simply say not really sure how to speak to the stern man.
Looking at my phone I could see the current matchups with their respective registered teams.
Ash was going into this match with Pikachu, Grovyle, Swellow, Glalie, Corphish and Torkoal.
Meanwhile, Tyson had Meowth, Sceptile, Metagross, Donphan, Shiftry and Hariyama.
On paper, this didn't look too well for Ash, but we will see.
...
"The battle between Tyson and Ash will start. Send out your Pokemon, trainers!"
The arena buzzed with energy as the tensions started to rise. The clash between two friends created a different type of feeling in the arena with the crowd going wild. Unlike the carefree confident expression Ash was showing, Tyson was fully locked in.
No smiles, just focus.
"Go Glalie!"
"Go Sceptile!"
The both of them shout each throwing a Pokeball.
With this, the battle shortly started.
"Now [Ice Beam] Glalie!"
"[Solar Beam] now Sceptile!"
In an instant, both Pokemon started to charge up their attacks. Glalie with a glowing ball in front of it while Sceptile has a white ball in front, the back bulbs starting to glow.
The moves being released were directly in each other's paths as they collided.
*BOOM!*
A massive pillar of light and an explosion occurred as the sheer magnitude of the battle settled more. This was truly a battle between Titans and Tyson's starter was just itching to get into the fray physically.
Both trainers waiting for the smoke to clear, and a sudden roar vibrates through the stadium.
"SCEPTILE!" The Pokemon roars out.
The Pokemon's back was charged up with another [Solar Beam]. Unfortunately for Ash, he wasn't prepared and tried to counter.
"Glalie use [Double Team]!"
It was too late as the fully powered beam already hit Glalie.
0-1
'That is genuinely a rough start.' I wince at the downed guy.
The face Pokemon groaned in pain soon after and fainted. Now being down one Pokemon, Ash had to send out his second. After not so careful thoughts, he immediately sends out Torkoal which was a decent switch in with its typing.
"Torkoal use [Flame Thrower]!" Ash shouts not wasting any time.
Tyson who saw Torkoal about to move didn't hesitate and ordered Sceptile to close the gap. With its hands growing a [Leaf Blade] it dashed forward with precision.
*ROARR!*
The flames aimed at the Sceptile, swiftly missed as it used its agility to trick Torkoal. Ash seeing this went for his go to move.
As Sceptile got close to getting a hit, the Coal Pokemon hid in its shell as it sparkled using [Iron Defense].
The [Leaf Blade] hitting did minimal damage.
Soon after this, the Torkoal left its defence and let out a raging [Overheat], straight into Sceptile. With no way to dodge the Pokemon was left helpless as the full blast hit.
1-1
Tyson returning the fallen Sceptile to its Pokeball sent out his next Pokemon. Hariyama entered the fray as it sized up the small Coal Pokemon in front of it.
"[Flame Thrower]!" The kid from Pallet Town shouts as the Hariyama just runs forward.
To the audience's surprise getting loud gasps, the arm-thrust Pokemon simply swatted the fire away as if it didn't affect it. Quickly closing the distance Torkoal couldn't dodge a point-blank [Cross Chop]
1-2
This shook Ash a little but he quickly smirked.
The chaos was about to begin.
Cheers started to gradually get louder as the intense battle which felt different from the previous matches got them riled up. Even my parents were in awe of Pokemon battling and were cheering for Ash.
"Let's go Grovyle!"
The speed demon himself was now unlocked.
And he was on the hunt.
'Alright lets see this bastard who terrorised my Pokemon do the same to Tyson.' I darkly chuckle to myself.
Ash's wood gecko was on display with it already having experience with a past Hariyama. It was the best possible choice besides Swellow.
Swiftly, Grovyle went forward to close the distance.
Hariyama not one to slack off also dashed forward.
The two meeting near the middle each went for an attack, [Arm Thrust] and [Leaf Blade]. Grovyle taking advantage of its speed weaved an attack and quickly landed a hit.
*Boom*
"Hariyama!" Tyson shouts.
Ash not letting up remembering how Sceptile defeated Glalie wanted to go on the offensive. Grovyle letting its blades grow once again, ran into the dissapating smoke and another explosion could be heard.
This time it was louder.
*Boom!*
After a few more seconds on waiting, on the rocky field could be seen Grovyle over Hariyama's body.
2-2
Tyson swiftly sends out his next Pokemon.
"Shift shift!" The Shiftry announces as it lands on the battlefield.
Grovyle who was a distance away immediately started using [Bullet Seed]. The Shiftry dodging the initial hit, couldn't dodge the next onslaught as Ash tells Grovyle to track it.
The chip damage hurt the Pokemon's left arm as it grunted.
Ash who saw this got a glint in his eyes.
"Grovyle [Quick Attack], target the left side!" The speed demon hearing this, soon after dashed forward in a white light. The ground physically caved in a little as his footsteps were imprinted.
Shiftry unable to react in time gets hit in a similar position from his other injury, making him kneel in pain.
"Shiftry make distance and use [Shadow Ball]!" Tyson orders keeping calm.
Ash not letting up like against Hariyma, orders another [Quick Attack]. Shiftry now with another chance, quickly gets its attack up as Grovyle was now just another jump away.
Letting the [Shadow Ball] forward, it makes its way towards Grovyle.
*Boom!*
Tyson who saw this got a relieved look. The audience in turn all held their breathe wanting to see what happened to the wood gecko.
But the answer swiftly arrived.
Grovyle who took a quick back-step dodged the attack and was now in front of Shiftry.
*Smack!*
The wicked Pokemon was sent flying back at Tyson's feet and fainted.
3-2
'Damn, the future legendary slayer strikes again. My Ace must be better than Grovyle in the Sinnoh Conference' I seriously thought to myself contemplating.
There were many ways to achieve this, plus Sceptile's original growth is stunted by staying at the lab after the battle frontier.
"It's time to ramp it up!" Tyson announces as looks to his side. Meowth wearing his iconic outfit nodded at his trainer, swiftly leaping into the arena with vigor.
"Meowth..." It says in a hoarse voice.
Grovyle who heard its words squinted its eyes at the provocation. Unfortunately for it, its stamina was already getting low from its previous battles after exerting itself. This didn't stop it from attacking more though.
The wood gecko quickly ramped up its [Leaf Blade] and dashed forward. Meowth with its [Iron Tail] went forward to challenge it.
Both moves swiftly hit each other, cancelling out.
*Boom!*
"Woah!"
"Let go Meowth!"
"Blitz it Grovyle!"
The audience roared out getting even louder than before.
Meowth and Grovyle after landing back on the floor, soon had eye contact which increased the tension on the battlefield. Using the same moves the dash up to each other and share an exchange of moves.
Multiple hits were exchanged before Grovyle got the upper hand with its speed.
*Smack!*
One hit sent Meowth flying back hurt.
"Meowth are you okay!" Tyson shouts not showing any worry.
The scratch cat Pokemon getting up, visibly struggled as it needed to use an arm to lift itself from the floor.
'This wasn't like cannon at all...'