SM129: Difference between revisions

{{Ash}} and {{ashcl}} walk onto the [[Manalo Stadium]] battlefield, joining all the other [[Alola League]] participants. Among the contestants are [[Oluolu]], [[Master fisherman]], [[Mina]], [[Kahili]], and [[Acerola]], the last or which surprises the group with her presence. [[Jessie]] and [[James]] are in [[List of Team Rocket's disguises|disguises]], planning to get through the preliminary round by avoiding battle at all costs. The favorite to win, [[Ilima]], makes his way into the stadium, where he is greeted by his many fans, much to the annoyance of [[Tupp]]. [[Plumeria]] orders all of the {{tc|Team Skull Grunt}}s to not get in the way of [[Guzma]]'s victory.

{{an|Professor Kukui}} greets the League participants and crowd with a booming "Alola" through the microphone, before officially declaring the [[Manalo Conference]] open. [[Jīkyō]] takes over, announcing his role as the event’s referee. He introduces the Manalo Conference's official judges, all four [[Island Kahuna]]s: [[Olivia]], [[Hala]], [[Hapu]], and [[Nanu]]. Jīkyō calls for everyone to pay attention to the overhead screen, revealing that 151 contestants will be competing for the title of Alola {{pkmn|Champion}}. All contestants will be whittled down to the Top 16 in a series of [[Battle Royal]]-style matches. Soon, the participants all get into their starting positions, spanning the entire perimeter of the battlefield. The Island Kahunas all raise their hands and a countdown begins, with all {{pkmn|Trainer}}s calling out their respective Pokémon partner. Ash is feeling confident with {{AP|Pikachu}}, {{an|Kiawe}} selects {{TP|Kiawe|Turtonator}}, {{an|Sophocles}} with {{TP|Sophocles|Togedemaru}}, {{an|Lana}} settles on [[Sandy]], {{an|Mallow}} calls on {{DL|Recurring wild Pokémon in the anime|Shaymin}}'s power, and {{an|Lillie}} counts on [[Snowy]].  

The Battle Royal preliminaries continue on as 79 participants remain. Ash and Pikachu find themselves up against an intimidating {{p|Gyarados}}. As Ash prepares to call an attack, a {{p|Skarmory}} swoops in and lands a {{m|Metal Claw}} on Gyarados. Pikachu uses the opportunity to leap onto Gyarados and deliver a direct {{m|Thunderbolt}}, taking both Skarmory and Gyarados out of the running. Kiawe orders Turtonator to keep an {{alo|Sandslash}} at bay with a Flamethrower, though it continues to spin ever closer. Kiawe switches up tactics and calls for Turtonator to use {{m|Shell Trap}}. The manoeuvre catches Sandslash off guard as its claws directly contact Turtonator's spiny shell, setting off the Shell Trap and defeating the [[Pokémon category|Mouse Pokémon]]. A tense standoff between a {{p|Magikarp}} versus a {{p|Pyukumuku}} abruptly ends after an {{m|Electro Ball}} from [[Pikarla]]'s {{p|Pikachu}}, Bolt. However, Pikarla's victory is short-lived, as [[Jessie's Mimikyu]] knocks Bolt out with a {{m|Shadow Ball}}. Mimikyu rushes off towards another Trainer's Pikachu, leaving Jessie and James out of breath as they try to catch up to it.

Jīkyō announces that 65 participants remain, with plenty of intense match-ups still to unfold. A {{p|Talonflame}} swoops towards {{an|Gladion}} and his {{TP|Gladion|Silvally}}, though they evade the attack. Gladion throws a [[Rock Memory]] to Silvally, {{a|RKS System|transforming it}} into a type effective {{t|Rock}} Pokémon. Talonflame is quickly taken down by a super effective {{m|Multi-Attack}}, bringing the number of Trainers down to 59. Gladion and Silvally soon spot Ash and Pikachu sitting on the battlefield. The pair exchange stares before Gladion warns Ash of an incoming attacker, a {{p|Primeape}}, while a {{p|Clawitzer}} leaps behind Silvally. Pikachu leaps into action, using Thunderbolt to defeat the Clawitzer as Silvally lands a {{m|Crush Claw}} on Primeape. Gladion tells Ash to not lose in the preliminaries, and Ash offers him the same advice. The two [[rival]]s go their separate ways as they rush back into the melee, now with 47 participants left standing.  

Kiawe finds himself outnumbered by [[Mad Magmar]] and [[Mr. Electric]], as [[Viren]] orders his minions to teach the kid a lesson he'll never forget. Turtonator starts off with a Flamethrower, though the attacks fails to do any damage to {{p|Magmortar}}. Mr. Electric calls for his {{p|Electivire}} to use {{m|Thunder Punch}}. Turtonator, however, uses {{m|Shell Smash}} and easily avoids the attack thanks to its now-boosted {{stat|Speed}}, before battering both Magmortar and Electivire out with a single Dragon Tail. Viren is in shock as Olivia officially declares the pair unable to battle.

With 34 Trainers now remaining, the crowd's attention turns to Champion-hopeful, Ilima. Tupp and the other Team Skull Grunts watch in shock as Ilima has his {{p|Eevee}} unleash an overwhelming {{m|Last Resort}} attack, which defeats all of the Grunts with one hit. Ilima congratulates Eevee on the splendid effort, but is then immediately faced by Plumeria, who tells him not to get too confident for beating the Grunt. She tells her {{p|Salazzle}} to use {{m|Sludge Wave}}, but Ilima has Eevee use {{m|Quick Attack}} to leap over to Salazzle's position. Salazzle lashes Eevee with a {{m|Dragon Claw}} and follows up with a {{m|Dragon Pulse}}. While Eevee manages to evade much of the Dragon Pulse, a painful crack sounds from one of its back legs, indicating an injury. Despite this, Eevee is able to perform another Quick Attack to get away from another Dragon Pulse. With enough distance, Ilima has Eevee use {{m|Swift}}, striking Plumeria's Salazzle out of the competition. Plumeria, however, is not disappointed by her effort, admitting that she still came to the event to do what she needed to do. Eevee limps over to Ilima, but its condition instantly concerns him.

Twenty participants are still in the running for positions in the next round. A {{p|Kommo-o}} is the next to fall, with Guzma and {{p|Scizor}} revealed to be behind its defeat. Kukui watches from the grandstand, fearing Guzma's clearance of the preliminaries may jeopardize the future of the Alola League. The screen next shows that now 17 contestants remain, meaning that only one more Trainer is to be eliminated. Jessie's Mimikyu soon sets upon Ash's Pikachu. Ash seems to recognize Mimikyu, and Jessie runs in, almost blowing her cover in the process. Pikachu launches an Electroweb, which blocks Mimikyu's oncoming Shadow Ball, leading to an explosion as the attacks collide. James rushes onto the scene, ordering Jessie to abandon the battle against Ash's Pikachu so they can both get into the next round. Luckily, just then, Kiawe's Turtonator defeats another Trainer's {{p|Metagross}} with an {{m|Inferno Overdrive}}, reducing the number of remaining Trainers to 16 and thus concluding the preliminary round. Ash is left astounded that the preliminary round is now over. Mimikyu, however, does not care of this and is still set on defeating Pikachu. As is prepares to lash Pikachu with a {{m|Shadow Claw}}, Jessie [[recall]]s it back to its [[Luxury Ball]] just in time. Jessie runs over to James, greatly relieved to have just qualified for the next round. All of the qualifying participants are soon revealed, including Ash, all of his classmates, Jessie and James, Mina, Acerola, Ilima, Gladion, Faba, [[Samson Oak]], Guzma, and [[Hau]].

Overnight, the group stop off at the League [[Pokémon Center]] to have their Pokémon healed up from the day's intense matches. Ilima urges his Eevee to take it easy, though it seems disappointed that it needs to still recover. Shortly after, Jīkyō appears on the Center [[television]] screen to announce the next round's pairings. Ash and Faba will battle it out first, making Ash happy to be the first one to battle. The next pair is revealed to be Ilima versus Guzma, to which the [[Team Skull]] Boss responds with a satisfying smirk. The third match is Hau versus Samson Oak, and Hau is determined to win. The fourth battle is revealed to take place between Mallow and Kana, surprising the two childhood friends. As Sophocles learns that he'll be facing Mina in the fifth battle, he gets all nervous. In their van, Jessie and James followed the announcement as well, and are shocked to see themselves in the sixth pair, meaning that only one of them has the chance of advancing past the first round. The seventh battle is revealed to be between Kiawe and Acerola, making Kiawe express his usual fiery confidence. And finally, the eighth battle is to take place between Lillie and Gladion, making Lillie surprised that she's going to battle her big brother. Ash calls for everyone to give it their all, and his classmates respond back with a resounding cheer.

* Ilima girls