Sudden Announcement

All of you, hear my words!

That's Lear on the screen, right? I wonder what's up.

We will be holding a Single Battle tournament for Trainers who have just arrived on Pasio.

Let the Single Master Challenge Cup begin!

Finalists will be able to challenge the leader of the team that won the first-ever PML!

What?!

Weren't YOU the leader of the team that won the first PML tournament?

They didn't tell you anything, Scottie?

Hey, I thought battles on Pasio were usually team battles!

If so, why is this tournament for Single Battles?

Well... Lear did say that it's for Trainers who are new to Pasio.

So maybe he wants them to give it their all in a format they're used to rather than force them into teams.

I guess Lear must've thought this through.

I'm new to Pasio, so I'm thinking of entering. What about you, Ash?

Of course!

Let's show everyone on Pasio how we battle, Pikachu!

Also...

This is our chance to have a serious battle with Scottie on a big stage!

We're gonna make it to the top and battle you, Scottie!

Oh, I'm not gonna lose, either!

Yeah! Let's see which of us gets to battle Scottie!

The Single Master Challenge Cup has begun!

Both Trainers can use three Pokémon!

The battle ends when either Trainer's Pokémon are all knocked out!

So, who's my first opponent?

I'm Rochelle from Lilycove City in Hoenn.

Pleasure to battle you.

I'm Ash from Pallet Town! Let's have a good battle!

We now begin the first battle of the preliminary round!

Both players, present your Pokémon!

It's finally starting!

I'm so excited!

They're Trainers new to Pasio, so they might become our rivals in the future...

Which means this is a great opportunity for us!

Yeah! Let's see what they can do, and cheer them on!

Sirfetch'd! I choose you!

Go, Salamence!

That's a tough-looking Salamence...

Are you ready? Let the battle begin!

Sirfetch'd, use Fury Cutter!

Salamence, use Dragon Claw!

Follow it up with Draco Meteor!

Dodge it with Detect!

It's not looking good against an opponent that's strong at battling in the air...

Sirfetch'd, return!

Let's go, Dragonite!

He has a Dragon-type Pokémon too!

Here we go!

Salamence!

Both Pokémon are using Dragon Dance at the same time!

You can't beat our speed when we're in the air!

Engulf it with Hurricane!

What?!

Now! Use Dragon Claw!

Agh!

You're up next, Glalie!

How about this? Use Powder Snow!

Oh? Dragonite is slowed down because of the cold!

Finish it with Ice Beam!

Dragonite!

Are you curious about the tournament?

Hmm... Well, you always did have a knack for sniffing out strong opponents.

I'm interested too. Shall we go together?

... ... ...

Sirfetch'd defeats Glalie, and Banette defeats Sirfetch'd...

Both Trainers have one Pokémon left!

They are both Ghost-type Pokémon who have a mysterious and tricky fighting style!

Both of them are good at battling using Ghost-type Pokémon's special characteristics.

It's gonna be a long battle, because it's hard to land a hit...

That might not be the case. Look at Gengar!

You're good... Let's finish this at once, Gengar!

Let's go big! Gigantamax!

Whoa!

Banette is no longer able to battle!

Therefore the winner is Ash, from Pallet Town!

All right!

Both Trainers have one Pokémon left!

Let's go, Flareon!

We're gonna win, Carracosta!

Uh-oh, a Water-type Pokémon? Not a great matchup against my Flareon...

But we won't give up till the end, just like Ash!

Right, Flareon?

Aww, man...

Guess I lost.

That was a great battle, Tina!

Definitely!

Let's enjoy watching the tournament together!

Is that the next opponent?

Alola! I'm Axel, from Hau'oli City!

I'll show you everything I learned in Alola!

Kommo-o, use Clanging Scales!

Seems like you don't like long-distance attacks, so we're gonna keep attacking you from here!

It won't be that easy! Dracovish, use Water Gun to make an opening!

Right now! Use Ice Fang!

W-with one blow?

The opponent is tired too! I'm counting on you, Salazzle!

Use Sludge Wave!

Hit them with another Water Gun, Dracovish!

We missed? It's fast...

OK, Dracovish. Rest up for now!

Let's go, Pikachu!

It looks fast, but not as fast as Salazzle!

Pikachu! Get the first hit with Quick Attack!

What?!

Don't let it get away! Use Electroweb!

Use Poison Gas!

Keep it up with Thunderbolt!

Thank you, Salazzle...

I'm not giving up until the end! Let's go, Tsareena!

How're you holding up, Pikachu?

Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!

What?

Heh. My Tsareena is resistant to Electric-type moves!

It's payback time! Use Trop Kick!

Pikachu!

You did great! We'll take care of the rest!

It's your turn, Lucario!

Pikachu and Dracovish are at their limits, so we have to finish it here!

Let's show them our bond! Lucario, Mega Evolve!

Give 'em a barrage of Aura Sphere!

Defend it with Rapid Spin!

Dive in with Bullet Punch!

Meet it with Trop Kick!

Haha! Even with Mega Evolution...

Now! Use Reversal!

What?!

Tsareena!

Reversal is an all-out attack that becomes more powerful the less HP the user has...

So you purposely took damage from our attack to make use of that effect?

I hate to say it, but I've lost.

The Trainer from Alola lost...

But Lucario was so cool!

Right?!

Now, it's time for the Single Master Challenge Cup finals!

The Trainer our challenger will face is...

I made it here as promised, Scottie!

Let's have a fun battle!

I'm counting on you as always, Dracovish!

Oh! I gave [EN:Gen Ref="255" M="him" F="her" ] that Torchic!

I guess they saw I don't like long-distance attacks...

Dracovish, use Water Gun!

Use Water Gun again!

Whoo! Go, go, Torchic!

OK, now I'm ready!

Dragovish, use Ice Fang on the wet ground!

Incredible! They wet the ground with Water Gun and froze it with Ice Fang!

Torchic can't move!

Slide on the ground to get closer!

Use Fishious Rend!

Torchic can't continue battling!

Aww, Torchic!

Now, who's the next Pokémon?

S-Solgaleo?

That Pokémon is...

What an impressive showing from the PML champion team's leader! What a matchup for the finals!

Let's go, Dracovish! Slide across the ground and use Fishious Rend!

Dracovish!

What tremendous power... But we're not done yet!

I'm counting on you, Sirfetch'd!

Dodge with Detect and attack with Fury Cutter!

Hang in there, Sirfetch'd!

It should be feeling the damage from Dracovish's attacks!

You can do it! We're almost there!

Go!

Both Sirfetch'd and Solgaleo are unable to fight!

What? At the same time?

Aww, I wanted to battle too!

The tournament is for people who have just arrived on Pasio, so we can't really do much.

But I'm sure we'll get another chance sooner or later.

Yeah, definitely!

Red?!

You can finish this!

Pikachu! I choose you!

Use Quick Attack, then Iron Tail!

Use Thunderbolt!

I'm not done yet! Go for another Thunderbolt!

Our Thunderbolts are equally matched... Then how about this!

I'm gonna show you what I've learned on Pasio, Scottie!

Let's go, Pikachu! Time for our sync move!

... ... ...!

Pikachu is no longer able to battle! Therefore, the winner is...

Are you sad you couldn't battle, Red?

Well... I'm sure you'll get the chance one day!

...I'll be waiting.

Congratulations on the win. That was an incredible battle, Ash.

I extend my thanks to you for promoting Pasio and enjoying the tournament.

Heh, thanks, Lear!

But haven't you forgotten something?

Huh?

We still haven't had that battle you promised me!

Of course... I haven't forgotten!

I'm gonna get battling as a team down pat and win the Masters Eight Tournament!

Let's go, Pikachu!

Ash may have been victorious at this tournament on Pasio...

But his road to becoming a Pokémon Master isn't over yet!