Well, shall we head off to catch the ferry?" Liam inquired.

Sashia nodded as she said "Mike's gone on ahead, said he's got a lot of training to do to beat the Kanto league champion if his Contest performance is anything to go by.

"Well, one of the two islands in Seafoam is inhabited by only Pokémon, it may be a good place for him to train." Liam said.

Sashia nodded as she said "Mike's gone on ahead, said he's got a lot of training to do to beat the Kanto league champion if his Contest performance is anything to go by.

"He's not wrong there," Shiranui agreed, "What he'll need is an adaptable strategy, the skill to execute it and a determination to win in order to defeat me in battle."

Once all player characters made it on the ferry, it took off toward Seafoam Islands. Once the ferry docked, Liam went first thing to heal up at the Pokémon Center before heading toward the Frontier Facility.

Shiranui healed up as well and was thinking about strategies against Palace Maven Spenser as he made his way to the Battle Palace.

At the Palace, The Frontier Brain, known as Palace Maven Spenser asked who was going to face him first, and that each trainer would be allowed three Pokémon.

Sasha nodded and gave Mike a call telling him about the island and not long after that a Dragonite would fly over head and land on the second island to train and battle.

"I'll go first," Shiranui answered.

---

"Shiftry, you're up!" Spenser sent out a Shiftry and Shiranui scanned it with his Pokédex.
Shiftry, the Wicked Pokémon and the evolved form of Nuzleaf. Shiftry is a mysterious Pokémon that is said to live atop towering trees dating back over a thousand years. It creates terrific windstorms with the fans it holds."
"Niwatori, it's ninja time!" Shiranui sent his Blaziken out and the battle was on. Both battlers ran into the forest with their trainers following and Scott informed the audience floating above in a balloon that all of Metallica Island was the battlefield, deploying a floating Poké Ball-shaped camera to help arbitrate the battle. The footage the camera captured was streamed to a tablet that Scott pulled out.
"Shiftry, Double Team!"
"Niwatori, Blaze Kick! Mega Ring activate!" Niwatori glowed a fiery red colour as he Mega Evolved. The Mega Blaziken swiftly caught up to Shiftry and delivered a fiery kick that left the latter with a burn. Several Shiftry appeared, all of which were leaping from tree to tree and Niwatori's Speed went up thanks to his Speed Boost ability.
"Shiftry, Quick Attack!"
"Niwatori, Aerial Ace!" The Shiftry copies disappeared from sight and Niwatori was hit, though the Mega Blaziken did not receive much damage. Niwatori leaped up into the trees and was leaping with the throng of Shiftry before slashing the real Shiftry for a lot of damage, leaving it on its last legs. The Mega Blaziken then jumped away in a different direction and Shiranui, putting his ninja skills to work, leaped up into the branches before following Niwatori. Shiftry was trying to pursue Niwatori, but could not find its opponent and to make matters worse for it the burn was taking its toll. A moving branch was the clue Shiftry needed as it conjured a Shadow Ball and threw it in that direction. By the time the Shadow Ball hit its target, Niwatori was already zeroing in with a Brick Break at the ready and the Mega Blaziken's attack struck home, knocking Shiftry out.

---

Both trainers along with Niwatori met up where Shiftry rested and Spenser recalled the fallen battler. "I have not seen a Blaziken move like that before," commented Spenser, "But this battle is far from over. Venusaur, it's your turn!" Spenser sent his Venusaur out and Shiranui stuck with Niwatori.

Shiranui knew all about a Venusaur's strengths and weaknesses having chosen a Bulbasaur as his starter for his first journey through Kanto. "What a Venusaur lacks in speed it makes up for with power and defence," he thought.
"Venusaur, Double-Edge!"
"Niwatori, Flare Blitz!" Both battlers charged at each other head-on with Niwatori cloaked in flames. At impact, the battlers were cloaked in dust and dirt and when it subsided, Venusaur was knocked out in one hit.

---

"Just one more Pokémon to beat and it won't go down that easily," stated Spenser as he switched his Venusaur for a Claydol. Shiranui pulled out his Pokédex and scanned the Claydol.
"Claydol, the Clay Doll Pokémon. Claydol is an enigma that appeared from a clay statue made by an ancient civilization dating back 20,000 years. This Pokémon shoots beams from both its hands."
"Niwatori, return; Kettobasu, it's ninja time!" Shiranui switched Niwatori out and sent out his Hitmonlee (Zoro in Illusion). "Kettobasu, start with Low Kick!" Zoro ran towards and tried to knock Claydol over, but Claydol used Teleport to get away. Claydol soon made a reappearance, using Rapid Spin and struck Zoro from behind; or so it thought. When the dust cleared, there was no Hitmonlee in sight. Claydol Teleported away and at its new location, spotted the disguised Zoro and launched a Psybeam. Zoro stood his ground and faked being hit when the Psybeam struck before using Taunt to temporarily keep it from teleporting away. Claydol tried to use Psybeam again and Zoro took the attack, once again faking being hit only this time he was on his back. Claydol charged towards the downed Zoro with a Rapid Spin and Zoro started glowing with a crimson aura, eyes glowing a bright cyan while getting back on his feet. Spenser and Shiranui arrived as Zoro sumo stomped the ground and a forcefield of crimson energy struck Claydol, leaving Spenser dumbfounded at seeing a Hitmonlee successfully use a Night Daze attack. Claydol pressed on with its Rapid Spin and landed a hit, causing Zoro to lose his Illusion.

"That explains the last attack," stated Spenser.
"That's right," replied Shiranui, "Your Claydol is really battling my Zoroark."
"In that case; Claydol, use Hyper Beam!"
"Zoro, Imprison!" The Zoroark placed a mental seal on Claydol, causing Claydol's Hyper Beam to fail. The Taunt wore off.
"Claydol, Sandstorm!"
"Zoro, Fake Tears!" Zoro took the opportunity to turn on the water works and deliver a performance worthy of Poké Star Studios, causing Claydol to be flustered into having its Special Defense weakened. Claydol spun rapidly and a sandstorm blew in, buffeting Zoro soon after.
"Claydol, Earth Power!"
"Zoro, Night Daze!" Zoro started glowing with a crimson aura again and released a shock wave of dark energy. Claydol was hit and the damage was enough to knock it out.

---

Spenser and Shiranui returned to the Battle Palace. "Shiranui, for your skill in using the environment to defeat me in battle, I bestow on you the Spirits Symbol," stated Spenser.
"Thanks Spenser," replied Shiranui.

Liam went next. Smaug went up aginst Spenser's Venasaur. Both Pokémon stared the other down. Venasur used Razor Leaf, which was burned away with Flamethrower. Venasaur Next tried to use Stun Spore. Smaug burned the spores up. Smaug took flight. Smaug made a ring of fire. Venasur used Frenzy Plant, and successfully yanked Smaug out of the air. Smaug stood up, and was angry. Venasaur used Vine Whip, but Smaug having now overcome that fear grabbed the vines and used them to yank Venasaur in close for a Fire Blast. Venasaur, who was succesfully yanked due to ts surprise was KO'd.

---

Spenser sent out Claydol next. Smaug Mega Evolved and fired Solar Beam. Claydol was KO'd Immedeately.

---

Spenser sent out his final Pokémon, Shiftree. Liam recalled Smaug and sent out Jiriya. It was a battle of ninjas as the Pokémon kept up with one another under the bright sunlight, jumping from tree to tree. Shiftree made a set of blades out of X-Scissor, while Jiriya made a pair out of a pair of Night Slashes. There were loud sounds from the blades colliding, and a few leaves here and there fell down. The two moved faster than the eye could see. Liam had an idea. He admitngly only got this idea from his travels with Shiranui. It was a ninja trick, that Liam was curious if he could pull it off. Liam began to breathe slowly as he had his eyes shut. He began to attempt to focus in on Jiriya. By this time, the intense sunlight had ended. While this was something Liam had never put much training in, he found himself being able to focus in on Jiriya's location for brief moments, he was able to alert Jiriya to toss a Water Shuriken behind him. Shiftree dropped to the ground KO'd. Liam won the Spirit Symbol, with Spencer commenting that it isn't often he finds a trainer who has a deep enough bond with their Pokémon to sense where it is.

"Looks like my ninja training is rubbing off on you," stated Shiranui after the balloon landed.

"I guess so." Liam stated. "But, I was only able to sense where he was for brief instances at a time." Liam got out of the balloon as well. But, now it is time to switch gears and go for the contest.

"It's a start," replied Shiranui, "For now, we have a ferry to catch and a Contest to win."

"We still have the contest here to do." Liam said, since it didn't need a ferry to reach.

"That's right," said Shiranui. He had forgotten about the local contest in the rush of battling at the Battle Palace.

"Just two more and I can enter the Grand Festival." Liam said. "Let's go register."

Shiranui nodded in agreement. He needed three more ribbons before he qualified for the Grand Festival.

Liam stopped at the Pokémon Center to withdraw a Pokémon for the contest and registered. He went into the green room to get ready.

Shiranui did likewise and donned his traditional ninja outfit. He polished two regular Poké Balls that held his entrants, placed them into capsules and added a bubble seal to one and a star seal to the other.

Liam was Coordinator #4. He used a ball that had a flame seal on it. He tossed it up and Scarlet the Delphox emerged. Scarlet set up Light Screens over the stage. Psybeam was fired on to one of them, and it ricocheted off. It continued to do this and gave Scarrlet enough time to fire Mystic Fire in the opposite direction. The attacks collided and made a small fireworks show.

"Your Delphox has some good moves ay her disposal."
"Delphox is Remarkable!"
"you have put a great deal of care in rasing your Delphox."

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Total: 24