The Announcer announced "Okay the Preliminary eliminations are over now the Group stage starts."
"The Groups are Fire, Grass, Water and Lightning all matches are elimination matches."
All the trainers nodded.
As the groups were divided Ash went into the lightning group.
And all the seven other A+ ranks were divided in twos per group with one in Ash's
Ash was skeptical about this coincidence and thought that the league did it.
Ash "Dexter next Match."
Dexter "Ritchie
Rank B"
Ash "Okay."
...............….
Ash was about to enter the lift he met a boy with a Pikachu on his shoulder he almost looked same as him.
He too entered the lift.
Ash "Which floor."
Ritchie "Ground."
Ash "Same."
Ritchie looked at Ash and extended his hand towards him "Hi I am Ritchie."
Ash shook his hand "Ash."
"You have a good Pikachu."
Ash "Yup he is my best friend and starter and your Pikachu is good."
Pikachu raised his paw and spoke "hello."
Ritchie "His name is Sparky."
Sparky "Hi."
Suddenly the lift got stuck.
Ash "Hmm what a pain."
Ritchie "Don't worry."
He then removed the cover of the circuit plate switched some wires and looked at Ash.
"Ash can your Pikachu help."
Ash "Yup." Ash modified Pikachu's Strength to B and Pikachu went towards Ritchie.
There were sparks around Pikachu.
Ritchie "Don't worry it will not pain."
Pikachu "okay."
Then Ritchie put two pairs wires on both Pikachu and Sparky's Cheeks and electricity passed through the wires and the Lift started and went down.
Ash "Thanks."
Ritchie "I had done it many times in our building as there are frequent light cuts."
And they started to speak.
...........................…..
Ash and Ritchie met Misty and Brock.
Ritchie was stunned "Gym leaders of Cerulean and Pewter."
Ash "Yup."
Misty "Who is he Ash."
Ash "A friend."
Brock "I think I have battled you."
Ritchie "Yup I lost that one but next time I came you were not their."
Brock looked at Ash and smiled "Someone took me with him on a journey."
Ritchie "Oh means Ash."
Brock nodded.
Ash "Who is your opponent.
Ritchie "A mystery trainer with a Charizard, Flareon Pikachu etc."
Ash was stunned "Then I am here."
Ritchie "What."
Ash smiled "The world is small"
Ritchie "We will meet in the battle I have to go."
Ash "okay all the best."
Ritchie "Let's Add our contacts."
Ash "Okay Dexter."
Dexter "Done."
Ritchie "Thanks"
Ritchie walked away.
Misty "Ash's First friendly rival."
Ash laughed and shook his head.
........................
Ritchie looked at his contacts.
"Contact : Ash Ketchum
Age: 10 years nine months
Rank : A +
Title : The Gym Destroyer
Destroyer."
Ritchie almost fell. "A+ rank but in his battles he never used his full strength and he is destroyer didn't he die."
Sparky "Pikapika"
Ritchie "He survived a legend attack."
Sparky's eyes shown "Pi Pikachu"
Ritchie "He must be hiding his strength."
Then he corrected himself "Nope his pokemons are strength but his experience is less so this tactic is used by many and If he had not told you about himself you may not even know when you have got into battle with a higher trainer."
...........................…
Lightning Group
Battle eighth
Announcer "Last battle of the first round of the lightning group Mystery trainer versus Ritchie."
Ritchie and Ash both came from the corners into the main Battlefield.
Judge "The rules are same three versus three."
Ash "Pikachu want to start."
Pikachu "Finally."
Pikachu then jumped from his shoulder onto the battlefield
Ritchie "Sparky."
Sparky then jumped from his shoulder and face Pikachu.
Ash looked at Sparky "B rank."
Thunderclouds gathered on the top of the stadium and lightning fell onto Pikachu and his aura rose.
Judge was startled but then he saw Goodshow indicating to keep his mouth shut.
Judge nodded.
Ash "Pikachu Start Extreme speed."
Pikachu blurred and rushed towards Sparky.
Ritchie eyes widened "He is different from before and too fast Sparky Protect."
Bang.
Sparky used protect at the last moment.
Ash "Magnetic levitation and Thunder bolts."
Pikachu then started to levitate in the sky and the thunderclouds rumbled and lightning strikes came falling down towards Sparky.
Ritchie "Shit Dodge and attack."
Sparky dodged the thunderbolt and attacked with his own but it got absorbed into Pikachu.
Ash "Lightning rod. Now end this Volt bomb."
..........................
Lance "What use psychic shields."
Agatha "Ash had controlled the power Lance."
........................….
In the Gym leader stands all the gym leaders shivered.
Misty "Is he planning to blow the stadium."
....................
Ritchie didn't know why he felt cold down his spine.
And suddenly a blast occurred
Boom.
It was a perfectly controlled volt bomb but still there was a crater formed in the center.
And Sparky fainted.
A person in the crowds screamed "That is the move of Destroyer just small"
..............................
To be continued.
50 power stones for an extra chapter
Next Chapter : Chapter 49 – Indigo league 4