Jhoto

The next day Misty and Melody went to the battle arena that would be used to hold the double battles tournament. Ash however was suspicious about the sudden addition and called Gold about it. Gold gave a smirk and confirmed Ash's suspicions, though there were more then one reason. Ash looked around, nothing was out of the ordinary though he should have known the peace he and his friends were having would not have lasts.

Announcer, "Welcome fellow trainers, to the Whirl Cup tournament. The rules are very simple. You are to use only two water type Pokemon, no other Pokemon allowed. The battles will occur inside the arena, you will be disqualified if you fight outside. Also the winners of the double battle tournament will receive two bottles of Mystical Water, which means the first place holders receives four bottles, the second place holder will receive one each and third place two water stones."

The crowd cheered, Mystical water was very hard to find while Ash raised his eyebrow, was that wise to announce? He looked at Gou and Casey who were looking uncomfortable and worried at the amount of prizes they were announcing. The last time a tournament had announced such fancy rewards there had been an attack by Team Rocket. At least the spectators were excited and Ash nodded at his friends after sharing an understanding look. They would keep an eye out for trouble, though they hope nothing terrible happened anyway.

Announcer, "Now then, the High Priestess of the Sea, Maya, will perform a rite and unite the oceans."

Maya walked up to a podium and raised her staff, "Now, I will unite the water from across the world to become one and bless us us with luck in this tournament. Good luck!"

Ash looked at the staff, 'Is that aura?'

Lucario, -A water aura staff. Misty would be able to control her aura better if she had a staff like that one.-

Ash muttered, "I don't think we'll be able to borrow it though. I believe it's part of Jhoto's heritage."

Lucario, -Hmm.. Maybe we can figure out what items were used to make one for her.-

Ash nodded agreeing and watched as the glow in the staff fade slowly and that rang the beginning of the tournament. Ash wished Gou and Casey luck as he waited for his chance while Gou was heading to stadium twenty three and Casey to stadium thirty. Ash watched as his friends battled with their opponents in one on one fight and won their matches. After they were done there were more matches that occurred till the early afternoon past lunch time. Finally it was Ash's turn, he was one of the last ones to fight, after which the double battles would start. He was facing a trainer from Kalos named Raoul.

Referee, "Choose your Pokemon."

Ash, "Go Croconaw."

Raoul, "Go Frogadier."

Referee, "Begin!"

Raoul, "Water gun."

Ash, "Dance around it."

Croconaw jumped and twirled as Frogadier shot him with water gun. Raoul was a little surprised but then he smirked.

Raoul, "A performer, I see. This will be fun."

Ash returned the smirk, "Yes, fun and much more. Dragon claw!"

Raoul, "Trailblaze to dodge. Then use water pulse."

Frogadier moved from one platform to another using speed to dodge the dragon claw. The frog starter narrowed his eyes at his Jhoto counterpart, they were powerful, but he was not going down easily. Frogadier shot a water pulse at Croconaw only for Croconaw to dive into the water to dodge.

Raoul, "Into the water don't give him breathing space."

Ash grinned when Frogadier jumped in, "Got you."

Raoul blinked before cursing, "Frogadier!"

Frogadier looked around the water searching for his opponent but could not see him anywhere. He heard his trainer's call but before he could answer he was hit by a powerful attack which threw him out of the pool outside the arena. Croconaw grinned as he looked at him from inside the arena and danced in victory. Frogadier blinked in a daze then he realized what happened and cursed his opponent who laughed.

Referee, "Frogadier landed outside the arena and has been disqualified. Winner is Ash and Croconaw."

Raoul, "Unbelievable! I can't believe you."

Ash simply smiled, "Knowing the rules helps if you don't want to show your strength in the start."

Raoul eyed him, "Clever and I understand that logic. Frogadier, you alright buddy?"

Frogadier got up, "Roga roga."

The frog Pokemon was not hurt, which surprised him quiet a bit but then he realized they were not aiming to hurt. Frogadier looked at Croconaw with a glint and new found respect in his eyes. He then turned to his trainer who had a contemplative look on his face as well, it was not a bad idea after all in theory. But the execution would not be easy, especially the timing and planning, though he was impressed.

Raoul, "They must have planned that for a long time."

Frogadier nodded, "Roga."

Raoul, "Come on bud. Next time we won't be caught off guard like today."

Ash returned to the back stage as the announcer announced that the elimination rounds for the double battlers would be after lunch. Ash narrowed his eyes as he looked over the message Gold had sent him, as a Champion he had been briefed on certain phrases. Phrases that warned of danger and suspicious people around him, and now according to Gold Gonzalez was here. Ash took a deep breath to calm down and joined the others who were waiting by a lunch table.

Ash, "I need to talk to Brock. I'll be back."

Serena, "Why not bring him along? He has been running around before the sun even rose."

Chloe nodded, "Yeah, he can use a break before it gets hectic again."

Ash, "Good idea, may I bother you all to feed my kids till then?"

Gou, "Oh it's no bother."

Max, "They are well behaved anyway."

Ash looked around for Brock and found him talking to a trainer. He waited till they were done before approaching him. Brock was a little confused as to why Ash was there but took him to a secured room to talk in private without eaves droppers. He became alarmed after Ash informed him about what Gold sent him in his data package. The older man had been feeling a little tense after the awards were announced and now Team Rocket was being suspected of being in town.

Brock, "Do the others know?"

Ash, "Misty, Casey and Gou know Team Rocket was sighted. The others, it'll be safer for them to remain ignorant."

Brock nodded, "Good choice, Misty is a future gym leader, Casey is well on her way to becoming Elite level and Gou has information that Team Rocket would kill to have."

Ash grumbled, "I hope we can solve this without any deaths."

Brock, "Me too! Now, shall we get some food?"

Ash sighed nodding, "Might as well try to eat something."

Yellow knocked on the door before opening it, "Hi there!"

Brock, "Yellow? Why are you here?"

Ash, "She's here to help."

Yellow nodded, "Yup, Brock you'll be teaming up with me to make sure all the competitors are coming in for their Pokemon's check ups."

Brock, "I see, you want to see if you can catch something through their history."

Yellow grinned, "Yes, if they don't come in, I think we can put them on the suspect list."

Ash, "They can't be that stupid, right?"

Yellow shrugged, "Eh!"

Brock, "Oh my sanity! Don't tell me."

Yellow, "We already have two suspects. A Elias Dozagu, at least that's the name he is going by and a Coraline Ganziya. I'm tailing the guy, you need to tail the girl."

Brock frowned, "Be safe."

Yellow, "Same to you."

Yellow smiled, "I'll be fine Brock. I promise."

Brock was about to protest but Yellow have him a soft kiss on his lips making Ash almost squeal and giggle. He bit his lips as Yellow smiled at Brock then turned to him and ruffled his hair telling him to be safe as well. Ash promised he would stay safe wishing her luck in her mission. When Ash turned back to Brock he was in a daze with flushed cheeks, probably unable to believe what happened.

Ash, "Brock! Brock ~ Snap out of it. Yellow is counting on you."

Brock, "Huh? Oh yeah, she is."

Ash chuckled, "I'm happy you two are doing well together."

Brock turned red, "Yeah, we are.... Anyway, won't the double battles start soon?"

Ash held a box towards him, "It will. I better go to cheer them on. Be careful."

Brock nodded and left taking the box from Ash and left the room. Ash smiled before he gave a sigh, things are going to get crazy soon it seems. Ash went to the next arena where the double battles tournament would be taking place. He saw the first four battlers were from Hoenn and Kanto. It looks like it would be a battle between the Ludicolo and Wingull from Hoenn and Poliwrath and Tentacruel from Kanto. Ash smiled as he joined the others in the audience and sat next to Max who beamed at him. Max was now wearing a poke egg holder where he carried his poke egg. Breloom was hovering over Max while watching the battles simultaneously.

They were both enjoying themselves while the rest of Max's Pokemon rested inside their pokeballs. Serena and Chloe were loudly cheering their favourite Pokemon on during the battle. They shouted even louder when Misty and Melody took the stage and the two girls waved at them. Ash noticed Misty had changed her looks a bit, instead of a yellow top, she was now sporting a green one and wearing diving goggles around her neck. Melody had changed her looks a little too, her hair was tied up in a neat and fashionable bun and she was wearing shorts like Misty but with a dark red top and wore a pokeball around her neck like Drake did. Their first opponents were from Sinnoh, a Coral and her twin brother Scarlet.

Ash, "I see they changed their looks up."

Chloe, "That's their battle outfits. It was Serena's idea. Not to forget it keeps the normal clothes from being ruined by stray attacks."

Serena rubbed her shoulder, "First time we trained Rapidash to use flare blitz, she kind of burned my shirt."

Ash sweat dropped, "Got too excited?"

Serena laughed embarrassed, "Yeah, but it's all good. She mastered the move."

Gou, "Nice. Oh they are gonna start."

Referee, "Choose your Pokemon."

Coral, "I choose you, Buizel."

Misty, "I choose you, Starmie."

Scarlet, "I choose Gastrodon."

Melody, "I choose Azumarill."

Referee, "Begin!"

Misty, "Rapid spin."

Scarlet, "Gastrodon use ancient power."

Melody, "Draining kiss."

Coral, "Whirlpool!"

Max, "Wao! Look at that."

Ash, "They are all very powerful, aren't they?"

Buizel was controlling a very powerful whirlpool as he used it to attack his opponent, Azumarill who jumped away. Starmie used rapid spin to fight against Gastrodon who used ancient power against him. The four Pokemon danced around each other using powerful attacks and dodging them. In the middle of the scuffle Azumarill hit Buizel with draining kiss. Buizel saw his partner become weaker and grabbed him before jumping into the water and looked him over to make sure he was alright.

Gastrodon was about to answer when Starmie attacked using thunder on the water at Misty's command. Melody grinned widely when their opponents had a shocked expression on their faces at the electric attack. Misty and Starmie had worked hard to master the electric attack and control it to the point of paralyzing their opponents. It was true that most people tended to forget some Pokemon were capable of learning moves of Pokemon types that had a type advantage against them.

Referee, "Buizel and Gastrodon are unable to battle. Starmie and Azumarill has won the match. Misty and Melody will move to the next round."

Misty high fived Melody, "We did it."

Melody laughed, "Yes, we did. That was fun, I can't wait to battle again."

[A. N.: Any plans for Valentine?

I'm planning on going for a barbeque night with my friends.]