Indigo League: Preliminary Rounds

After the opening ceremonies, Ashlyn found out that she had to pass through four preliminary battles on four unique battlefields (Grass, Water, Ice, and Rock) to qualify for battling inside Indigo Stadium. Her first battle was going to be on the water field.

"Since this field is a water field, I will use Tesla, Kingler, and Vaporeon." Ashlyn said.

"Those three are good choices." Misty stated.

The screen in the Pokémon center, where participants find out who their opponents are, showed that Ashlyn was against a trainer named Mandi, who kind of looked a bit of a magician.

Ashlyn grinned, "This guy is going to lose."

Ashlyn's battle with Mandi wasn't until the afternoon, so Ashlyn got ready for the battle. She phoned Prof Oak and asked him for her Kingler and Vaporeon. Ashlyn switched Blastoise and Alolan Marowak for them.

"I wish you luck Ashlyn, especially since this is your first time in a Pokémon league." Prof. Oak said.

"Thanks professor." Ashlyn thanked the Kanto Professor.

Delia was at the lab too and she wished Ashlyn lots of luck too, and she also said that she will be watching her on TV all the way.

Ashlyn felt ready after getting Kingler and Vaporeon from the lab. She found out that Gary had won his first battle on the ice field, but Ashlyn just concentrated for her first battle. Later on they met Mandi, but Mandi was a cocky, arrogant trainer and Ashlyn didn't like him at all.

"I look forward to beating you in our battle Ashlyn." Mandi smirked.

'If that guy thinks that he is going to win, then he's wrong.' Ashlyn thought, glared.

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Soon it was time for Ashlyn to battle Mandi on the water field.

"Ready Ashlyn?" Volkner asked.

"As I'll ever be," Ashlyn replied, "Let's go."

Ashlyn, Volkner, Flint, Misty, and Brock entered the arena together. Ashlyn took her place on the battle field and her friends took a seat behind her. The battle field was a water field all right; it was a big pool, with platforms. The judge explained the rules about each trainer using three Pokémon and such. He also explained about the rules of Pokémon battle loses; if the trainer recalled a Pokémon, or the Pokémon was knocked out, or the Pokémon fell asleep or refused the battle, those four things counted as loses. Then the battle began.

Mandi sent out his first Pokémon; Exeggutor.

Ashlyn knew that Exeggutor was a Grass/Psychic type, so she sent out Kingler to battle.

"Exeggutor versus Kingler, battle...begin!" The referee declared.

"Okay Exeggutor use Egg Bomb!" Mandi ordered.

Exeggutor fired multiple egg shaped balls towards Kingler.

"Quick Kingler, use Bubble Beam!" Ashlyn countered.

Kingler shot a torrent of bubbles at the seed bomb attack, cancelling the attack out.

"Use Agility!"

Kingler hopped on the platforms on the water field quickly, before appearing before Exeggutor.

"Now, use Metal Claw."

Kingler's claw become surrounded in a silver aura before it slammed its claw right in Exeggutor's face, making it fall backwards.

"Exeggutor, are you okay?!" Mandi called out to his Pokémon.

Exeggutor sits up slowly, one of its eyes closed shut, "Exeggutor... (I'm okay...)"

Before Mandi could say a command, Ashlyn beat him to it, "Use Crabhammer!"

Kingler's claw was surrounded a silver aura once more as it slammed the claw right into Exeggutor's face, knocking it out permanently.

The referee called it, "Exeggutor is unable to battle, Kingler is the winner!"

The crowd cheered for Ashlyn as Kingler jumped all the way back to his trainer, beaming with pride.

Ashlyn bent down, rubbing the top of her water Pokémon's head, "You were amazing out there, Kingler."

"King kingler (Thank you, Ashlyn)." Kingler smiled at his trainer.

Mandi returned his Exeggutor and sent out his next Pokémon, "Come on out, Seadra!"

"Sea (I won't lose)!" Seadra came out.

Ashlyn returned Kingler, "Tesla, let's go!"

Tesla jumped off Ashlyn's shoulder and hopped onto the platform looking eager to fight, "Raichu (Ready)!"

"Seadra versus Raichu, battle...begin!" The referee declared.

"Seadra, send that electric rodent flying with a Hydro Pump attack!" Mandi went first.

Seadra sends concentrated water through its mouth at Tesla.

"Use Agility to dodge." Ashlyn called out.

Tesla used Agility to get to another platform safely, dodging the hydro pump attack with practiced ease, which was easy for Tesla since she's been dodging water attacks during training.

Mandi gritted his teeth in anger and frustration, "Water Gun attack!"

Seadra tried getting Tesla with a water gun attack this time.

"Use the platforms to dodge again Tesla." Ashlyn countered.

Tesla once again used the platform to dodge Seadra's water gun attack as Seadra tried to hit Tesla multiple times.

"Use Electro Ball, Tesla." Ashlyn called out.

Tesla's body becomes surrounded in yellow electricity and multiple yellow sparks come off Tesla's body. All the electricity then condensed at Tesla's tail and formed into an orange-yellow orb of electricity with sparks of yellow electricity coming off it. Tesla then jumped into the air and flung the orb at Seadra.

"Dodge it, Seadra!" Mandi calls out frantically.

However Seadra was unable to dodge the attack as it hit the water Pokémon dead on. Seadra fell into the water, unable to move due to its body being paralyzed by static.

"Ah, no, Seadra!" Mandi cried out.

"Tesla, use Thunderbolt on the water." Ashlyn ordered.

Tesla released a powerful thunderbolt on the water, electrocuting Seadra until the water Pokémon was a brown color as it passed out from the pain of the powerful thunderbolt attack.

"Seadra is unable to battle, Raichu is the winner!"

The crowd went wild once again.

"And Seadra has been defeated! Another amazing victory from Ashlyn Ketchum!"

"Golbat, go!" Mandi called out his last Pokémon.

Golbat appeared, ready to go.

"Great job, Tesla. Return." Tesla hopped off the platforms and onto Ashlyn's shoulder. She smiled as Ashlyn petted her and then sent out a new Pokémon, "Vaporeon, you're on!"

Vaporeon appeared on the podium.

"Golbat versus Vaporeon, battle...begin!"

"Golbat, use Supersonic!" Mandi ordered.

"Dodge and use Icy Wind!" Ashlyn countered.

Vaporeon jumped onto another platform, dodging the attack. She blew Icy Wind towards Golbat and it dodged it.

"Air Cutter!" Golbat flapped its wings, releasing tiny cutters towards Vaporeon.

"Hail." Vaporeon summoned a blizzard of snow which stopped air cutter attack, "Ice Beam and then Iron Tail."

With Golbat distracted by the hail attack, Vaporeon fired an Ice Beam which froze Golbat into solid ice. Then Vaporeon's glowed a metallic color and slammed it on Golbat which sent it straight into the water. When Golbat resurfaced, it had swirls in its eyes.

"Golbat is unable to battle! Vaporeon wins!" The referee announced, "The victory goes to Ashlyn Ketchum of Pallet Town!"

"Yeah!" Ashlyn cheered and Vaporeon jumped into her arms, "Thank you, Vaporeon."

"Rai Rai (You were great, Vaporeon)." Tesla complimented.

Vaporeon nuzzled against Ashlyn's cheek, "Vap."

"You did it, Ashlyn." Brock said.

"That was awesome!" Flint grinned.

"You showed him not to mess with a girl. Especially one with a powerful Water-type Pokémon." Misty added.

"That guy didn't stand a chance." Volkner stated.

Ashlyn smiled, "Thanks you guys."

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The next day, Ashlyn's second preliminary round match was in the Rock Field, battling a trainer named Jeramiah. So far Ashlyn had defeated Jeramiah's Electrode and Fearow, thanks to Lupa. She had sent her Marowak out to fight his Nidorino. Jeramiah ordered Nidorino to attack Marowak with Horn Drill, but Marowak easily clubbed Nidorino hard with her bone. Ashlyn then ordered Marowak to attack Nidorino with Bonemerang. Nidorino got hit by Marowak's bone three times and then fainted. So Ashlyn won her second preliminary round.

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The next day it was Ashlyn's third preliminary round match on the Ice Field. She was up against a trainer named Pete. His Cloyster and Dewgong were easily defeated by Ashlyn's Jolteon. He had sent out his last one which was an Arcanine.

"Arcanine, Fire Blast!" Pete ordered.

Arcanine fired a kanji-like Blast towards Jolteon.

"Dodge it Jolteon!" Ashlyn countered.

Jolteon dodged and the Fire Blast hit the ice melting it.

"Don't let up, Flamethrower!" Pete ordered.

Jolteon continued to dodge Arcanine's flames until she noticed that the ice field was melting.

"This is unbelievable. A whole field has been melted down to two little icebergs."

Ashlyn smirked, "Jolteon, use Iron Tail on the water!"

Jolteon slammed her Iron Tail into the water, sending the wave towards Arcanine, who panicked because it had nowhere to run. The wave hit Arcanine, causing it to fall into the water.

"Arcanine!" Pete cried out.

"Thunder Shock!" Ashlyn called out.

Jolteon let out her electrical attack towards the water and the field was covered in electricity.

Pete looked at his Pokémon, "Arcy..." He said.

Arcanine resurfaced with swirls in its eyes.

"Arcanine is unable to battle! Jolteon wins!" The referee announced, "The victory goes to Ashlyn Ketchum of Pallet Town!"

"Yes!" Ashlyn punched her fist in the air.

The crowd cheered loudly.

Jolteon jumped towards her trainer and stood in front of her, "Jolt!"

Ashlyn knelt down and petted Jolteon, "Great job out there, Jolteon."

Jolteon smiled at her trainer's compliment.

"Rai Rai! (You kicked butt!)" Tesla cheered.

"Just one more win, you'll be able to enter the stadium." Misty said.

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The next day was Ashlyn fourth preliminary round match and it was in the Grass Field. Before it was Ashlyn's time for her match, she and the gang watched Gary in his fourth preliminary battle on the rock field. He was battling a girl named Melissa and both of them were down to their last Pokémon. Gary's Nidoking was putting up a good fight against Melissa's Golem, but Golem defeated Nidoking with seismic toss. So Gary had lost in the preliminary rounds and had earned Top 32 in the Indigo League.

"I'm surprised with Gary's loss," Ashlyn said to Tesla, "I would have thought that Gary would have made it at least four rounds."

"There's no need to be nervous, Ashlyn." Volkner assured Ashlyn, "As long as you and your Pokémon work as a team, you'll beat your opponent."

Ashlyn smiled at Volkner, "Thanks, Volkner."

Volkner's cheeks turned pink as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "You-You're welcome."

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Later that day, it was time for Ashlyn's match. She was going against a trainer named Jeanette.

"This will be a 3-on-3 battle between Jeanette and Ashlyn Ketchum! Trainers call out your first Pokémon!"

Ashlyn went first, "Flareon, I choose you!"

Flareon appeared on the field, "Flare (I don't intend to lose)!"

"Hmph, in that case I'll choose you," Jeanette tossed her Pokéball, "Beedrill!"

"Bee (I'll sting you)!" Beedrill declared.

"Beedrill versus Flareon, battle...begin!"

"Beedrill, start this off with Tackle!"

Jeanette made the first move. Beedrill charged at Flareon.

"Stop it in its tracks with Fire Spin." Ashlyn countered.

Flareon opened his mouth and a spiraling red-orange flame is released from his mouth, hitting Beedrill head on, sending it backwards a little.

"Beedrill, are you alright?!" Jeanette asked.

"Bee (I'm okay)!" Beedrill reported.

"If that didn't work then try Twineedle!"

Beedrill charged at Flareon with the large stingers on its arms, aimed to attack.

"Protect then counter with Flame Charge." Ashlyn ordered.

A green barrier surrounded Flareon, blocking Beedrill's attempt to attack it again. Once Beedrill was sent flying backwards, Flareon's body became incased with flames as he charged at Beedrill, slamming into it as it rolled on the ground before fainting.

"Beedrill is unable to battle! Flareon is the winner!"

"Talk about hot! It looks Jeanette's Beedrill couldn't stand the heat!"

Jeanette returned her Beedrill, "You fought elegantly Beedrill, thank you. Now, come out Scyther!"

"Scyther (Who shall I cut)?" Scyther said.

Ashlyn returned Flareon, "You were great out there Flareon, nice work. Delphox, I choose you!" She called out her next Pokémon.

"Delphox (Shall you burn you to cinders)?" Delphox inquired with a smile.

"Scyther versus Delphox, battle...begin!" Scyther's pincers glowed brightly before charging at Delphox.

"Knock Scyther back with Shadow Ball." Ashlyn ordered.

A ball of black and purple energy formed at the tip of Delphox's branch before she hurled it straight at Scyther, getting as direct hit.

Jeanette frowned, "Use Swift!"

Scyther repeatedly slashed the air and it fired green crescent energy rays from its blades at Delphox.

"Counter that with Ember." Ashlyn countered.

Delphox pointed her branch forward as she fired multiple fire balls at the swift stars, cancelling the attack out.

"Finish this up with Hypnosis."

Delphox's eyes glowed red, then Scyther's glowed red before it started feeling drowsy and fell asleep.

"No, Scyther, wake up!" Jeanette pleaded.

"Zzzzzz." Was Scyther's response.

The referee called it, "Scyther is unable to battle! Delphox is the winner!"

"And Scyther goes down by taking a nap!"

Jeanette returned Scyther, "You were great Scyther, get some rest. Finally, show the world your beautiful radiance, Bellsprout!"

She called out her last Pokémon.

"Bellsprout (Its my turn now)!" Bellsprout said.

Ashlyn returned Delphox, 'Bellsprout, huh? Good thing I have just the Pokémon that'll be able to stop it in its tracks.' She took out another Pokéball before tossing it, "Muk, I choose you!" Out came the poison type.

"Muk (I'll do my best to win)!" Muk promised.

Jeanette covered her nose with her sleeve, "Ugh, such a disgusting looking Pokémon."

Ashlyn frowned at her rudeness, but didn't let it get to her for she had confidence in her Muk. She knew that Bellsprout has no chance at beating her Muk.

"Bellsprout, teach that ugly Pokémon a lesson with your Slam attack!" Jeanette commanded.

Bellsprout slammed its vine-like leg down on Muk, only for it to have no effect at all.

"What?!" Jeanette gasped.

Ashlyn smirked, "Care to try again?"

She gritted her teeth in anger, "Razor Leaf attack!"

Bellsprout launched multiple razor sharp leaves from the two large leaves on its stem at Muk, but once again, that had no effect as the leaves bounced off of its body.

"That didn't work, either?!"

Ashlyn decided that she had humiliated Jeanette long enough, "Muk, use Body Slam."

Muk hovered over Bellsprout before slamming itself on top of it, suffocating the grass type as it was trapped underneath it. Bellsprout tried to get out from underneath the poison type Pokémon, it struggled for awhile before it stopped moving entirely. Having sensed its opponent no longer moving, Muk removed itself from the grass type and saw it had fainted.

"Bellsprout it unable to battle! Muk is the winner! The winner of the fourth match is Ashlyn Ketchum!" The referee called it.

Muk came all the way over to Ashlyn who knelt down and petted Muk's head, "Good job, Muk. You really showed her that you shouldn't be messed with."

"Muk! (Thank you, Ashlyn!)" Muk smiled.

And so, Ashlyn has officially won all her preliminary rounds and will be heading off to the finals.