Challenge Pasio's Trainers: Part 1

Come on, let's battle already! Who's next?

N-not us! You're too strong! We wouldn't be any match for you!

How about me, then?

I heard there was someone high-spirited around!

(This person is different from the other Trainers I've battled so far...)

(But...)

(This is gonna be so fun!)

Sure... Let's battle!

Hold on a second.

I, Bede, will be your challenger!

Wow! Another strong-looking Trainer!

Whoa, hey! I asked first!

We'll take turns, OK? Me first, then you.

Excuse me, you don't get to decide everything. I saw her first.

Wait, does that mean we're gonna have a three-way battle? That sounds fun!

Huh?

Well, I've no problem with that!

Hm?

I haven't seen her around. Maybe she only recently arrived on Pasio.

She seems to really love Pokémon battles...

Reminds me of a few people I know.

This is legit incredible! You guys are both so strong!

Of course.

I was chosen as a Neo Champion of Pasio, so I am the most elite of all.

Neo...Champion?

It's a special title you can earn on Pasio!

The idea was to find folks other than Champions who could be role models for others to measure up against.

So if you enter certain tournaments and are judged worthy...

you're given the title of Neo Champion!

I see!

Also, there's nothing that says only one person can earn the title.

Hmph.

That sounds kinda like the Pokémon League in Paldea.

How so?

Well, in it, if you pass a special test called the Champion Assessment...

you're awarded the qualification of "Champion Rank"!

In fact, I reached Champion Rank myself!

I see! No wonder...

Well then, you're very lucky to have met an elite like me so soon after arriving on Pasio.

If you're a Champion, you must have struggled to find an opponent who's your equal.

Struggled? Well...yeah, a little!

Heh, not surprised!

But I did find someone! Someone I can battle on equal ground with...

And they're a precious treasure to me!

I see. Glad to hear.

Isn't it great to have someone you can go all-out against?

Yup!

So tell me, there are other strong Trainers on Pasio, right?

Yeah. They're not as good as me, but there are quite a few that have some skill.

Awesome! I'm so excited!

Battling solo can be nice, but here on Pasio, it's standard to battle in teams of three.

Interested in forming a team?

A team?! Oh, of course! Sure am!

Blue! Bede! Please team up with me!

Hate to break it to ya, but I can't.

Whaaa?!

I know who I'd like you to battle.

But for that to happen, I can't be on your team.

That means...

Heh, I'll be looking forward to when we battle again!

Smell ya later!

Wh, Don't look at me like that!

Sadly, I'm not free either...

Please team up with me!

As I said, I have other things to...

Aw, seriously? You're a Champion like me, right? Let's battle against even stronger opponents!

C'mon! Let's team up! Pretty please?!

Listen to what I'm saying! My answer is no!

Besides, I have yet to deem you worthy of the title of Champion...

I'm not gonna fold until you say yes! I want you to team up with me!

What a hassle... Fine, then! I guess I have no choice.

Yay! That's what I'm talking about!

Let's do this, Bede!

*sigh* If you're teaming up with me, know that I won't accept defeat.

We need one more person for our team, but...

Could I recommend someone?

Hm? And you are...?

My name's Cheren. I'm a teacher at the Trainers' School in Unova.

A teacher?! This is the first time I've met one outside of the academy!

I know a Trainer who loves battling that I think you'll get along with.

How about teaming up with her?

Let me introduce you to Hilda.

I think you're both probably around the same level when it comes to...

Enough chitchat. Let's get to the battle!

Yeah! Battling's the best way to get to know each other, right?

Ah! They just started battling!

They're very similar...

I'm so glad I found someone I don't have to hold back against!

Me too! It's been a while since I've gotten so into a battle!

Looks like they get along.

They had such a flashy battle, they're starting to draw a crowd...

So cool!

Must be nice. If I were good at Pokémon battling, I could fun like that...

But there's no way we can get THAT strong...

That's not true!

You don't have to be strong to enjoy battling!

The most important thing is to go all-out and give your opponent all you've got!

Exactly! No one starts out strong! We get stronger one step at a time!

Take the battle seriously, and give it your all!

That's the best way to enjoy a Pokémon battle!

Right?

Yup! Everyone can enjoy battling!

When you say it like that...

I feel like I can do it!

Great! Now let's all battle together!

Oh, I forgot! Hey, Hilda!

Please, team up with me!

Of course! No need to ask!

Yay! We have three people now, Bede!

It seems so...

All right! Let's battle with all our might!

Aww, we lost...

But...it was so fun!

Nice teamwork, all three of you!

They might be a better team than I thought.

So this is a three-on-three battle... It's so much fun!

Right? Makes you want to battle even more!

Let's go battle more teams!

My, my... I think my days are going to be busy for a while...

Haha... You'll manage.

Lear wants to talk to us? About what?

No idea...

Who's Lear? Does everyone know him?

He's the successor to the royal family that owns Pasio.

What?! Someone that important wants to talk to us?!

Have we been battling too much or something?

We did go around battling sync pairs all over the island.

Don't worry. That's not what I'm here to discuss!

Whoa!

You're Nemona, correct?

Y-yes!

I heard about you from Blue.

He said you're a very strong Trainer who recently showed up.

I welcome all strong Trainers to Pasio! And, at Blue's suggestion...

We've decided to hold a tournament for you all!

A tournament?!

I want you to liven up Pasio by battling on a grand stage against the strongest opponents!

Of course, count me in! I'll join no matter what!

Hah. So eager and energetic, just as I heard.

A tournament, huh...

Why don't we join, too, Cheren?

I was thinking the same thing.

I'm so hyped! We definitely have to win!

Of course. If we're entering, we have to.

I wonder what kind of Trainers we'll face...

I'm so excited!

Hey, you two. Come here.

On the day of the tournament...

It's finally started! Our first opponents are...

We joined to learn about Pokémon battling on Pasio, but...

Are we really gonna battle with this huge crowd watching?!

Who are these bumpkins?

They don't look like they've been onstage before.

It's more exciting when we don't know what our opponents can do!

I wonder how strong they are... I wanna find out!

Um, well then... Let's have a good battle!

Sorry, everyone. I invited you, and we lost...

Tsk... I need to up my game.

We couldn't help it. Their team was strong.

But everything's OK because we had fun, right?

Hmph...

Both of you had some fairly good attacks there.

You too! Nice work, teammate!

If we win the next match, we'll be in the finals! Our opponents are...

As I expected, you made it.

I've been looking forward to this! We're your next opponents!

What?! The organizer can battle, too?

Oh, yeah. That would be surprising to you, wouldn't it.

We're used to it by now.

Hahahaha! This is how I do things! Sorry, but you're not making it to the finals!

If you have a problem with that, just try and beat me!

No problem at all! But...

we're gonna win! We can't lose!

Is that so...?

Well then! Let's see how long that confidence lasts!

Oh no!

They're good! Seems they've done their studying.

Gah!

Hah, fine! I'll accept defeat this time!

Yay! We made it to the finals! Let's go for the win!

(I see... She's better than I heard.)

(But don't think you can win so easily on Pasio!)

Now it's time for the finals! If we win this match, we win it all!

You've teamed up with me, so there won't be any ifs. We WILL win.

Oh! Our opponents are here!

Blue!

Yo, Nemona!

Are the two next to you...?

Yup! These are who I'd like you to battle with all you've got!

They're strong opponents, fit for the finals!

Hm... They are worthy opponents.

I can agree with that, Bede!

Well, though imperfect, we are a team...

Both our team and Blue's will give it their all...

So let's have ourselves an awesome, fruitful battle!

Take this!

That stung...but you're not the only one who can hit hard when it counts!

Haha! That's the spirit!

... ... ...!

We lost...

We gave it our best...

And fought seriously...

Nemona...

Well, I think you did pretty well for yourself.

I...

Ha haaa! Hahaha! That was, like, the best match ever!

Thanks for the battle, everyone!

H-huh?

*sigh* I was worried over nothing...

That's the spirit! I'm liking you even more, Nemona!

We managed to win, but they were tough...

Yeah. Looks like we need to get even stronger.

... ... ...

This is the end of the tournament, and...

So, when's the next tournament?!

Yeah! We have to win the next one!

I can't let it end this way, either!

Don't you worry! I knew you were going to say that, so...

I've already prepared for one!

Your next opponents will be the Champions of each region!

I'm looking forward to seeing how far your skills take you, Nemona!

... ... ...

Haha... What, does that give even YOU a little pause?

No way! Never!

After all...

I've got so much excitement ahead!