Planning payback
The group decided to stay at the Pokemon centre while waiting to travel by ship. Green had gone with Lisa and Nurse Joy, to meet the city gym leader and warn him about a certain trainer. To say, Surge was disappointed by the trainer was an understatement. Turns out Damien had fought for a badge and ticket as well and won using only his Magnezone in the battle.
Green looked at him, "Only his Magnezone? No other Pokemon?"
Surge smirked wryly, "The only Pokemon he used were fully evolved ones. Not a pre evolution. That little devil was clever in hiding it."
Lisa frowned, "But... He can't get away with this."
Green bit his lower lip, "If he got a ticket from you, then he'll take part in the tournament right?"
Lisa blinked, "Of course. He can..... Oh! Oh! I get it."
Nurse Joy hummed, "Well, if he is caught in public then there is no way for him to deny it. It won't be easy though."
Green nodded, "We got to try at least."
Lisa grinned, "I'm in."
Lt Surge laughed, "We have a plan then. See you guys on the ship. And be careful."
Green nodded, "We will."
Nurse Joy led them back to the center where they re-joined Ash and Gary as they were playing with the young female fire type. She lit up when she saw Green making Litten snicker. She huffed at the feline Pokemon as she rushed to greet him. Delphox who had been watching over them looked at her trainer amused as he pat the young fire type. He looked at his older Pokemon and she grinned at him when she saw he didn't mind.
Delphox, -I may or may not have turned her into your fan.-
Green looked at her exasperated, "What did you tell her, young Lady?"
Delphox shrugged unrepentant, -A few stories of your heroic acts here and there.-
Green looked at the two boys, "And you joined in on it, didn't ya?"
Ash gave a cheeky smile, "We just told her the truth."
Gary nodded sagely, "That's right. You deserve the praise."
Lisa laughed, "Come on it's not that bad. She's comfortable with you."
Charmander just snuggled, -Delphox is right. You really are warm.-
Green sweatdrops, 'What have they been telling her?'
Nurse Joy smiled, "Well, it's time for the little one's check up. Green, if you could bring her with you?"
Green nodded, "Sure, Nurse Joy."
Gary, "We'll order dinner from Vermillion steak house while you are gone."
Green walked after Nurse Joy hollering, "Spicy and sweet roast with mix salad for me."
Ash, "Got it. What about you Lisa?"
Lisa hummed, "I always wanted to try the deluxe roast."
Ash, "One deluxe roast, got it. Gary?"
Gary, "Spicy roast for me with fruit salad."
Ash, "Alright then, one spicy and sweet roast with mix salad for Green, deluxe roast for Lisa, spicy roast with fruit salad for Gary and a slow roasted steak with sliced tomatoes for me. As for drinks, water and soda?"
Lisa, "Good enough."
Gary, "Yeah! We should call home and the others while we are waiting."
Ash nodded, "Red will want to know what is going on."
Gary snickered, "He's gonna pout he can't take part in the tournament."
Ash giggled, "Yup, but it's okay after Saffron, we are going to Rota to cheer for him in the Hero Festival anyway."
Lisa looked curiously, "Hero Festival?"
Gary nodded before launching into an explanation of the history of the first hero of Rota and the Festival. Lisa made an impressed sound but because she was going for her final badge and couldn't afford another trip decided to go next year. Ash pat her hand telling her to take part in the next Festival and they would cheer for her. Lisa perked up determined at that and decided to call home and add another destination to her future plans.
Ash giggled as he looked at his pouting older brother on the video phone who complained to the dark haired teen beside him, "I wanted to take part in the tournament too, Alain."
Alain sighed, "We could do it next year. I mean, I heard this tournament was a way to attract more tourist to Kanto and Hoenn? And it's a yearly event as well. This is the fortieth time it's being held I think."
Gary nodded, "Yeah! That's true. The first time it was between the gym leaders. The second time was trainers and has been since then. The prizes are quite good from what I hear. The winner among trainers get a mystery egg, the runner up gets evolution stones while the third gets high level potions. For non trainers, the winner gets six pokeballs which are three lure balls, two heal balls and one cherish ball, the runner up gets two lure balls and two heal balls, the third gets two lure balls."
Red whistle, "Those are some good prizes. Are you taking part?"
Ash nodded, "We wanted to learn what it's like in official tournaments, so yes, we are."
Alain grinned, "Make sure you have fun as well."
Green walked towards them, "Hey Red, Alain! Guess these two told you about the tournament and what is going on."
Alain smiled a little pink before nodding seriously, "Yeah, is she the one?"
Green pat the Charmander he was carrying, "Yup, this is her!"
Red, "Green! Kick his ass!"
Green smirked, "I plan to do more than just kick his ass. I'll make sure he never comes near another Pokemon again."
Lisa came back holding packets that held food, "And I'll help him. You don't need to worry. Also, pleasure to meet you Alain. I have heard a lot of good things about you."
Alain smiled shyly, "Nice to meet you too Lisa."
Red smiled, "It's late. So Good night everyone ~"
Alain, "See you tomorrow."
Ash, "Good night big brother, Alain."
Gary, "Sleep well."
Green, "Smell ya tomorrow."
Lisa grinned, "Good Night."
Once the video phone turned off Lisa turned to Green, "Why are all your siblings so adorable? Gosh ~"
Green laughed, "Guess I got really lucky. Come on, let's eat, we got a lot to prepare tomorrow and training."
The group gave an affirmative and sat with the excited Pokemon around them and had dinner. The older Pokemon welcomed the young fire starter to the group making her feel safe and welcome. The group talked and planned and decided on asking Professor Sycamore who was invited to be a judge to help them. Green said he would talk to him and Gramps and check if there are more Pokemon trainers out there that needs to be watched. When Ash and Gary were tucked in for the night Green made two calls, one to the lab, the other for Sabrina. Although she usually avoided socialisation she was willing to help out her student who had become close to a younger brother for her.
The day before the trip was spent getting ready and checking Charmander's health. It was decided she would not be fighting yet, instead Green would let her sit in on the battles to observe the different styles his Pokemon used. Green would be using his Alakazam, Delphox and Pidgeotto who was ready to evolve any minute now, as main Pokemon during the tournament. Delphox had taken to babying the young fire type and with Wartotle helped in increasing her speed and resistance. Nurse Joy was a bit reluctant to allow the young fire type to train but the little spitfire was stubborn and wanted to join the training. Drowzee just watched them amused from where he sat meditating with Alakazam. Ash and Gary spent the day going to the forest near Vermillion city with Lisa joining in on the adventure. Gou and Chloe joined them around afternoon when they heard they would be around for a while longer.
Lisa, "You two are adorable and your Pokemon, are they from Galar?"
Gou nodded, "Scorbunny and my Nickits are from Wyndon. I helped in taking care of them when they were hungry and not feeling well. They decided to follow me and mom and dad brought me some pokeballs so I can catch them."
Lisa, "Awwwww! That's so cute and sweet. But aren't Scorbunny one of Galar's starters. You are really lucky to find one in the wild."
Scorbunny, -I may have been wild and free, but I don't regret following ma boi here.-
Swift, -Us neither.-
Gou grinned, "I got really lucky."
Chloe, "Dad actually gifted me Yamper on my birthday. I am not into battling much."
Lisa pat her head, "That's fine sweetie. Everyone has their own dreams and interest. I mean just look at your friends, all of them have different goals right?"
Chloe smiled shyly, "Right."
Lisa squealed before grabbing the two in a hug getting two squawks from them. Ash looked and giggled at their predicament while Gary openly laughed with the Pokemon. The group soon calmed down and searched around the forest and found a few berry plants and items. However this time instead of simply taking the samples, they checked the ground around the plants that were growing in the wild. After eating the berries as dessert they dug up some of the earth and replanted the seeds in it. Lisa gave a smile as she watched them do this for every seed and berry plant, it even caught the interest of some of the trainers passing by. They met up at the Vermillion steak house and had dinner together before Gou and Chloe were picked up by their parents.
The next day:
Green, "Alright everyone. Ready to show everyone who's boss?"
Ash, Gary and Lisa, "Yeah.!"
Pikachu, Eevee, Raichu, -Yeah!-
Alakazam nodded quietly and Green nodded, "Let's go."
Nurse Joy, "Good luck! You can count on my cousin, she's one of the Nurse Joys on board."
Lisa, "We will Nurse Joy, thank you for everything."
The group took a local cab to the sea port where they met up with Professor Sycamore who was waiting for them. The Professor greeted them and they boarded the ship together. It turned out Lisa was sharing her room with another trainer while Green was sharing his with Ash and Gary. The Professors and judges had their own private rooms on the ship.
Augustine joined them after checking the rooms, "I must say, when I agreed to be a judge for this competition I did not expect to become part of a scheme."
Green, "Sorry for the trouble Professor Augustine."
Augustine shook his head, "No! No! I'm actually glad you asked for help in this. From what we can tell our target has hidden his actions quite well. We will need to expose him in a way that he cannot deny it."
Lisa frowned, "I hope we can do it."
Augustine, "It would have been easier to have Charmander give her testimony but from our investigation, she was released and therefore a wild so."
Green looked at where the young Charmander was playing, "Once released a trainer holds no responsibility for the Pokemon. It doesn't excuse the abusive behavior."
Augustine, "No it doesn't. In fact just last year it was made a rule to ensure the Pokemon released is healthy at least before they are let go. It looks like no one is taking that seriously."
Lisa, "We better succeed in this. We can achieve two things if we do, one get that brat, two make trainers take the rules seriously."
Ash walked up to them, "Green, can we go and check the ship out please?"
Gary was behind him, "We want to check out some of the stalls here."
Green smiled, "Of course, but you must stay close to Delphox okay?"
Ash nodded, "We will."
Delphox, -I'll watch over them.-
Augustine released his own Pokemon, "Wait, Garchomp go with them."
Garchomp, -Sure, I don't mind watching over them.-
Delphox, -Thank you for agreeing.-
Ash and Gary grinned before leaving to look around the ship and the things that were available. The first day was the night when they announce the competition which would last for three days. The two looked around the lobby before entering the main hall only for their eyes to widen. The main hall was filled with people and Pokemon who were looking around as well and enjoying themselves. If there were many people outside there were more inside. The two grinned at each other before going towards a game booth to play and win a few prizes, they avoided the gambling spot as they knew Green would blow his top if he found out and Red would lose it as well. They played and enjoyed themselves till evening when they re-joined Green at the opening ceremony which started with a speech from Silph Co and Devon corps representative. They even announced that there was an extra prize for those who did exceptionally well. It had fired up every trainer to try their best in the coming tournament.