ET12: Difference between revisions

The chapter starts off with {{OBP|Ash Ketchum|EToP|Ash}} finishing the first round of the Novice Tournament at [[Indigo Plateau]], winning with his {{AP|Kingler}}, who evolved from Krabby during the battle, much to the surprise of the other trainer and the audience. Ash is later credited with the occurrence, though the narrator reveals the incident to have been a complete coincidence. The reader's viewpoint then shifts to an overhead view of the Novice Tournament's Stadium, and reveals [[Professor Oak]] and another man to be the two announcers for the Novice Tournament. [[Jessie]] and [[James]] can be seen wearing disguises as employees selling refreshments to members of the audience, suggesting that they perhaps have a nefarious plan in action. Returning to Ash, he is seen at a stand labeled "Pokéball Registration", suggesting that trainers are allowed to keep more than the usual six {OBP|Pokémon|species}} on site at the tournament, but are required to leave them in the care of League Employees when not exchanging them for battles. [[Gary]] enters the lobby, much to their mutual delight, demonstrating that in the time that passed between chapters, Ash and Gary have become friendly rivals, both striving for the same goal, but both respecting each other. Gary seems to have lost his condescending attitude along his journey, and now seems to respect Ash as an equal. They tease each other with lighthearted boasting, and Ash promises to cheer for Gary in his upcoming battle.  

Later, Ash meets up with {{an|Brock}} and {{an|Misty}} in a diner, where they reveal that they both lost in the first round of the tournament, to which Ash responds that "You two always criticize my every move, but it turns out you aren't anything special yourselves.". They advise Ash to avoid getting to confident, or he'll lose. Ash mentions that he has a secret weapon for use in emergencies, and just before explaining what it is, Ash realizes that {{ap|Pikachu}} is missing, and finds him with another similar looking Pikachu, the only distinguishing difference being a fringe of hair on it's head, at a trainer's adjacent table. The trainer, shockingly similar in appearance to Ash, introduces himself as [[Richie]], and his Pikachu as "Chuchino". He complements Ash on his earlier battle, marveling at the amount of calculations required to determine when Krabby would evolve into Kingler, though the entire incident was a coincidence. Searching for a compliment to return to Richie, Ash almost compliments him on his match (to which he did not attend), though is stopped just in time when Richie proclaims that he must leave for his upcoming match.

After the match, Ash stands alone in a forest glade and holding a single [[Pokéball]] and perhaps thinking about it's contents. Brock and Misty approach and guess that the Pokémon inside the Pokéball is his secret weapon. Ash admits that it is, and sends out the Pokémon, revealing it to be a powerful {{ap|Charizard}}. Brock and Misty are shocked and amazed, but Ash admits that the Charizard, which was originally a Charmander Ash caught [[EP011|in-between the earlier chapters]], will not obey him. Misty, not surprised, tells Ash that Charizard are very temperamental and difficult to control, and that it requires a high-level trainer with experience to control one. Ash explains that Charizard will temporarily obey him if he wields a lit "Flame Candle", which bears the same flame that symbolically represents the Indigo League, the flame from a [[Moltres (Pokémon)|Moltres]]. Brock remarks that such candles are very expensive, and that Ash's strategy could be very unreliable, and may be toeing the line regarding the use of props in League Tournaments. Brock advises against the use of such ploys and instead suggest Ash use Pokémon he's used too, to win the upcoming matches.

In Ash's second Tournament match, he wins using only his {{ap|Squirtle}}, matching Richie's accomplishment of a perfect match. Afterwords, Richie rushes up and praises Ash, saying "You da bomb!", to which Ash replies with the same. Brock remarks how Ash and Richie only met the day before, and are already good friends, and that it would be good for them to have a match against each other. Misty tells Brock that he's got it backwards, and that it would create tension in Ash and Richie's friendship if they had to battle each other. Brock replies that "It's a guy thing", and that male bonding thrives on the spice of conflict.