@Scytherwolf; @Soups;

Episode 79: Ring Masters

"Thank goodness no one else caught that cold..." Misty smiled as the group continued on a few days later. What had meant to be a rest day had taken a frustrating turn when Brock, and then Lyra, had caught a bad cold.

"I wouldn't want to be sidelined by a high fever and stuffy head myself." Ash smiled before stopping to read a signpost. "Rikishii Town, one mile..."

"According to Ethan, Lyra recovered just fine." Brock assured his companions as he read an e-mail from Ethan in his PokeNav. "Just knowing my music helped her rest comfortably means the world to me..."

"You're getting really good at the vina, actually..." Misty smiled. "Even the wrong notes sounded beautiful."

"Well, Sakura says you're supposed to tune it pentatonically, so there's really no such thing as a 'wrong' note." Brock smiled.

Just as the group rounded the corner, Tintri noticed a large arena in what he figured was the town square. [Whoa, check out this fight!] he gasped, pointing out the large crowd watching a group of Feraligatrs taking down a variety of equally powerful opponents.

Ash then spotted a familiar black haired man in ninja garb in the crowd alongside a purple haired girl with similar features to the man. "Look! Koga's here!" he called, pointing out the man to Misty and Brock.

Koga noticed Ash approaching and smiled. "We meet again, Ash-san...Aya told me about Misty's smashing performance in the Pokethlon...

"This must be the famous Janine..." Misty noticed the girl. "I've heard your powers of disguise are legendary!"

"Thank you, good lady." Janine smiled. "Although I have much to learn to master the Disguise jutsu, it is my favorite of the clan's powers to wield."

"Janine...this is the great trainer I told you about, Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town." Koga told Janine as he gestured to Ash.

"Nice to meet you, Janine." Ash smiled before making a grand gesture to Misty and Brock. "These are my companions, Misty..." Misty waved hello. "and Brock."

"A song for the ninja-hime?" Brock asked Janine as he retrieved his vina

Janine giggled, bemused that she would be called a princess. "Sure--I'd love to hear you on the vina, since there is a lull in the competition."

"I'm still learning, so forgive me if I make any mistakes." Brock explained as he put on his vina fingerpicks.

The crowd, the Feraligatrs, and the other trainers stopped to listen as Brock played "Moltres in the Summer Sky", thankfully mistake free. "I've never heard that one before--is that a new tune you mastered?" Ash asked as the crowd applauded.

"Yes...and you actually have heard it before...remember the Gekijou play back in Ecruteak? That was one of the interludes I played." Brock explained.

Misty, meanwhile, took a closer look at one of the Feraligatrs. "Wow, so this is what Dundee will ultimately become? I hope Ethan's ready for something that big!"

Koga happened to overhear Misty. "That Feraligatr is owned by a trainer named Raiden." he explained, pointing out a young man in training garb whose dull green hair looked almost black tending to the Feraligatr Misty was admiring.

"Our competitions are training for a Power type Pokethlon, which Sir Koga and the lady Janine are overseeing on behalf of the Pokémon martial arts society." Raiden explained.

"I haven't competed in a Power type Pokethlon yet..." Misty remembered.

"Each Pokethlete must compete in three events befitting their physical strength--the Block Smash, the Circle Push, and the Goal Roll." Janine explained, listing the different events on her fingers.

"In fact, if the rumors in town are to be believed, Raiden and his Feraligatr Ike are expecting to win this year’s Pokéthlon." Koga went on. "The competition is today, and is open to all tracks."

"Really?" Misty asked. "Where do I sign up?"

"There is still time to sign up, Nincada, but you need to have a Pokémon that is heavy." Koga cautioned. "That will help you a lot in this kind of Pokethlon."

[I wanna try!] Ami pleaded. [I can take on any old Feraligatr and win!]

"I don't doubt you are very strong despite your size, but this may not be the right time--you probably wouldn't pass the weight requirement." Misty explained to Ami. "Maybe next time."

[Okay...] Ami sighed, dejected.

"If you have no heavy Pokemon, I can lend you this Blastoise, who is named Yamaro." Janine offered as she gave Misty a Poke Ball. "He may be a little stubborn, but in the right hands, shows a lot of potential."

"Thanks." Misty smiled as she accepted the Poke Ball. "I'll do my best to lead him to victory, for you."

"In addition to a medal for their medal box, the winner will also receive a King's Rock and a year's supply of Pokéchow." Koga went on before directing Misty towards the sign up booth. "Sign ups are over there, if you wish to compete."

"Do I ever!" Misty smiled before hurrying to the line taking signups for the water track.

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"Nazo magiiro no jutsu! Pokethlon referee!" Janine commanded, transforming herself into a Pokethon referee, to the awed murmurs of the crowd, Misty, Raiden, a Golem trainer, and a Machoke trainer.

"Our first event today is the Block Smash." Koga explained to the crowd. "Each competitor will attempt to break a stack of ten cement blocks. The Pokémon must demonstrate its might by breaking through them as quickly as possible. Whoever breaks the most in one try, wins."

Oh yeah...this was the event that Tauros trainer came from behind to win! Misty remembered as she watched Raiden and his Feraligatr Ike easily break eight out of the ten bricks.

"Number 7, please approach the line!" Janine announced, snapping Misty from her thoughts.

"Okay, Yamaro...let's show your little mistress what you can do." Misty smiled as she led the giant turtle Pokemon to the stack of ten bricks. "Okay...use Water Pulse to break the bricks!"

[Why should I listen to you, redhead?] the Blastoise growled. [I only answer to Janine and Koga, and no one else.]

"Well, your mistress lent you to me, so will you please follow my directions?" Misty asked.

[No.]

"Water Gun?"

[No.]

"Hydro Pump?"

[No.]

Misty froze as she saw Koga and Janine discussing what to do. Great, I have a Pokemon that doesn't want to listen...and I don't want to get disqualified for a stubborn Pokemon.

Suddenly, she noticed the sapphire in her Mega Ring glowing. Maybe if I Mega Evolved him, he would listen to me!

She held her Mega Ring skyward. Rou iitsa ron selga vichiii...

Ash gawked at the watery burst of light on the field. "No way! Isn't using a Mega Evolution cheating?"

Janine, meanwhile, attempted to assure the Machoke trainer's same protest. "Mega Evolution is allowed in the rules--sometimes a Pokemon can perform it naturally in the heat of battle without being induced."

[This power...it's amazing!] Yamaro gasped as he admired his new bulky body.

He smiled at Misty. [Now I know you are a friend of my mistress...I trust you.]

With that, he fired a massive Hydro Pump, easily breaking all ten bricks! The crowd gawked in awe, and applauded Misty's quick thinking and the Mega Blastoise's power.

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"The next event is the Circle Push, an event that features all four Pokéathletes on the field at once." Koga explained to the crowd. "They must each attempt to stay inside of the circles projected onto the field, all while keeping others out. Whoever has the most points at the end of six rounds, wins."

Janine further clarified the scoring rules. "In the first round, there is one large circle worth 1 point. The second and third rounds have two circles each, one worth 2 points and one worth 3 points. The fourth round has three circles, one worth 2 points, one worth 3 points, and one worth 5 points. The fifth and sixth rounds have three circles each, one worth 3 points and two worth 5 points, with a perfect score of 70 points."

She took a few steps back. "Is everyone ready?"

Cheers filled the air at this. "Okay! Three...two....one..." Janine counted down before blowing a black referee's whistle to start the event.

"So everyone's trying to stay in the circle and pushing rivals out?" Ash wondered as he watched the chaotic pushing and shoving on the field.

"That's what it sounded like..." Brock mused as he watched Yamaro and Ike battle for a spot in a three point circle. "Misty and Raiden are only a point apart." he added as he watched the scores on the scoreboard inch higher and higher.

On the field, Yamaro heaved with exhaustion as the circles reconfigured themselves for the fourth round. [I can't...go on...much longer...] he wheezed. [That Feraligatr...is...very...]

"Yamaro, no!" Misty gasped as Yamaro plopped on the ground. "We've come this far, we can't give up now!"

She tearfully held her Mega Ring skyward. Rou iitsa ron selga vichiii...

"Again?" Ash was just as shocked as the Mega Blastoise emerged from the watery light.

Brock watched as Yamaro clashed with renewed strength. "I've thinking that what Janine said before was true...this Blastoise needs a little motivation."

He noticed that Raiden had edged Misty by one point on the scoreboard. "I have an idea as to how to motivate Yamaro..."

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"Okay, what's your big idea?" Ash asked as Koga explained the rules to the Goal Roll.

"Misty should know this event from the lake Pokethlon." Brock explained. "Remember how you sang 'Glory in Our Story to cheer her on?"

Ash grinned as the familiar introduction to "Glory in Our Story started playing over the speakers. "Yeah...what if we both were to sing it together? To motivate both Misty and Yamaro?"

"Let's do this!" Brock waited for the song's intro to finish as Janine blew her whistle to start the frenetic soccer-like match.

We all have a dream inside our hearts that we will follow to the end... he sang as Ike took control of the ball first.
When you make a wish upon a star, the power flows, inside of you!
Everybody listen to this song and sadness will just disappear! Ash sang as Yamaro stole the ball and scored the first goal of the match.
My wishes, dreams and hopes go forth into the world...

Come along and take my hand, come with me for the ride,
Together we will step through the door,
And see the light shining from our own heavenly land! Brock sang as Ike, the Machoke, and the Golem each scored a goal.

Come with me and we will see the wonders of the world!
All of the glory, is in our story! Ash sang, complete with Tintri and River cheering Misty on as Yamaro scored another goal.

As we make our way to heaven, take it step by step
And get the glory, upon the great stage! Brock sang as Ike shoved the Machoke away to score another goal.

We can go anywhere, so long as we're together
I truly believe it with all of my heart... Ash sang as Ike and Yamaro raced down the field, desperate to score one last time as the final seconds ticked away.
The cards here in my hand,
Show you the way...

As the boys finished the song, Yamaro managed to power past Ike and score a third gold, moments before the two minutes were up!.

"It worked." Ash smiled as Misty was announced as the winner of both the event and the overall gold!

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"Well done..." Koga smiled as he and Janine met Misty by the podium. "Here is your well-deserved King's Rock and the year's supply of Pokéchow."

"Thanks." Misty smiled as she accepted the crown shaped rock, then passed the boys the large box of Pokechow for safekeeping. "And here is Yamaro back--I think I motivated him a little." she told Janine as she gave back the Poke Ball with Yamaro inside.

Just then, Raiden caught up with the group. "No hard feelings, okay?" he smiled. "Although your Blastoise was a bit stubbron, just seeing you inspiring him was inspiring to Ike and me too. You clearly deserve all your prizes."

"I don't know, you and Ike were a real challenge." Misty smiled. "But I enjoyed it all the same."

With that, she and Raiden linked pinkies. "Let's meet again in the Grand Pokethlon!"

To Be Continued...