FJ136

==Synopsis==
Justin advances to quarterfinals of the Silver Conference, and he must watch two of his rivals compete to join him in the Top 8.
==Summary==
Justin's Top 16 battle against Kaden continues. He has Kangaskhan on the field as his fourth Pokemon to face Kaden's Gliscor. Kangaskhan has released Rock Slide and Gliscor destroys the rocks with Metal Claw before striking Kangaskhan twice. Gliscor remains close and transitions into Sky Uppercut. Kangaskhan transitions into Outrage, pummeling Gliscor in kind. When Kagaskhan keeps attacking, Gliscor backs up and lands confusing Acrobatics. The two then strike each other with Power-Up Punch and Metal Claw, respectively. Kangaskhan falls over first, unable to battle. 
Justin calls on Gyarados next to face Gliscor, and the latter is weakened by Gyarados' Intimidate ability. Gliscor smashes his claw on the ground to use Stone Edge. Gyarados destroys in the incoming rocks with Hyper Beam, but now he needs to recharge. Therefore, Gliscor uses a second Stone Edge that explodes on Gyarados. Gyarados recharges and uses Aqua Tail, but Gliscor swerves out of reach with Acrobatics and lands a powerful blow on Gyarados. Gyarados consumes Gliscor in a Hurricane and then smashes it into the ground Aqua Tail. Gliscor gets up to use Metal Claw, but Gyarados blows it away with Hyper Beam, defeating the Fang Scorpion Pokemon.
Since Gyarados has to recharge, Justin recalls Gyarados as Kaden recalls his fallen Gliscor. Justin's sixth Pokemon is Murkrow and Kaden returns Arbok to the battlefield. Similar to Gyarados, Arbok has the Intimidate ability and weakens Murkrow. Arbok fires a Gunk Ghot into the air, and Murkrow dodges the attack before diving in to strike with Night Slash in a critical hit via Super Luck. Kaden orders Arbok to cloud the field in a Haze, but Murkrow stops the attack with Taunt before landing another critical hit Night Slash. Kaden moves to recall Arbok, but Murkrow traps it in a Mean Look. Murkrow uses Night Slash, and Arbok beats it away with Poison Jab. Arbok follows with Gunk Shot. Murkrow dives into the glowing garbage with Sky Attack, causing an explosion. Murkrow continues to power through and attack Arbok. Arbok prepares a counter with Poison Jab, but it flinches from the side effect of Sky Attack. Murkrow rams Arbok, who is soon declared unable to battle.
Kaden's final Pokemon is a Dragonair. Murkrow uses Taunt to seal any potential status moves. It then dives with Sky Attack. Dragonair endures the attack but ensnares Murkrow with Wrap upon contact. Murkrow cannot break free but begins to prepare Night Slash at Justin's order. Dragonair acts first and uses the proximity to connect a powerful Thunder. Being connected to Dragonair doubles the impact of the already super-effective attack, and Murkrow is defeated. 
Justin returns Gyarados to the battle under immediate threat from Dragonair's Thunder, which Gyarados dodges by slithering across the field. It attacks with Aqua Tail, which Dragonair matches with Dragon Tail. After some intense collisions, Gyarados blasts Dragonair at point-black with Hyper Beam. Justin hoped the attack would immediately knock out Dragonair, but the latter recovers and lands a Thunder in kind. Justin knows Gyarados will not survive another Thunder and gambles with Rain Dance. The tactic seems foolish because Dragonair's Thunder will become more powerful. Dragonair releases Thunder, but Gyarados counters with a superior Hurricane, which protects Gyarados. Gyarados then unleashes an enhanced Aqua Tail. Dragonair uses Dragon Rage, which fails to suppress Gyarados' attack. Dragonair leaps back battle by landing a Dragonair. Gyarados endures the hit to swallow Dragonair in an unavoidable Hurricane. The attack is too much for Dragonair to endure and it crashes, unable to battle. 
With Gyarados bearing the last word, Justin wins his battle and advances to the quarterfinals of the Silver Conference. After Justin's victory, he speaks to the crowd and an intermission is held. Per the order of the draw, Devon battle next. Unlike Justin who needed all six of his Pokemon, Devon only needs three to advance to the Top 8 and will face Justin in the next round. Justin watches the battle from the Pokemon Center as his Pokemon are healed. Justin recalls having defeated Devon several times, but they were only one-on-one battles. The dynamic is different when trainers have a full roster. 
After Devon speaks to the crowd, another intermission is had, and another full battle is held before Declan and Andrew finally begin their match.
Andrew opens the battle with Aipom and Declan chooses Tyranitar. Upon emergence, Tyranitar unleashes a Sandstorm via Sand Stream, which buffets Aipom. Faster, Aipom deafens Tyranitar with Screech. Tyranitar's defenses are lowered. The Rock-Type counters a Stone Edge, and Aipom jumps on the incoming stones, using them to build momentum to land devastating Focus Punch. Tyranitar holds its ground and bites Aipom's tail with Fire Fang. Tyranitar then throws Aipom into the air and unleashes a Dark Pulse. Aipom acts fast and uses Swift to counter the attack. Tyranitar uses Stone Edge to have Aipom crash on rocks. Aipom is too nimble to be struck and weakens Tyranitar with another Screech. Tyranitar lunges with Fire Fang, but Aipom smacks Tyranitar in the face with Focus Punch. A final Focus Punch defeats the Armor Pokemon.
Declan recalls Tyranitar, and Andrew recalls Aipom to rest for a while. Declan and Andrew call out their second Pokemon simultaneously: Weezing and Meganium, respectively. Meganium immediately uses Reflect to bolter its team's defenses. Weezing fires a Sludge Bomb, which Meganium reflects with its vines. Weezing then uses Heat Wave. Meganium uses its vines to jump, dodging the attack then crash down on Weezing with Body Slam. While this is an effective tactic, Meganium is torched by a close-range Heat Wave. Weezing gets out from under Megnium lands a Sludge Bomb. Meganium recovers and builds energy for a Solar Beam. The time it takes to charge the attack leaves Meganium prey to another Heat Wave, but it endures the fires to blast Weezing with Solar Beam. The attack is not enough to defeat Weezing. Meganium releases a Vine Whip to ensanre Weezing but the latter defends with Smog to make Meganium's attack miss. Shrouded by a poisonous cover, Weezing unleashes a Sludge Bomb on an unsuspecting Meganium, defeating it. 
Andrew recalls Meganium for a new Pokemon, a Shiftry. Shiftry and Weezing clash with Bullet Seed and Sludge Bomb then Hurricane and Heat Wave. Hurricane mixes with the flames of Heat Wave and consumes Weezing in a fire tornado that burns it. Weezing recovers and poisons Shiftry with a cloud of Smog. Weezing then uses Smog to hide itself from view. However, Shiftry dissipates the poison cloud with another Hurricane, which consumes Weezing. Andrew commands a Shadow Ball to win, but Declan first commands Memento. The odd attack knocks out Weezing but casts a darkening effect on Shiftry. 
Declan's third Pokemon is Jolteon. Andrew commands Shiftry to use Bullet Seed, but the attack seems infantile. Jolteon dwarfs Bullet Seed with Pin Missile that strikes the poisoned Shiftry in a double effective blow. Jolteon then lands a Double Kick, and Shiftry pushes Jolteon away with Hurricane, which still does little damage. When Declan reveals the effects of Memento, it is too late and Shiftry is defeated by a Pin Missile.
To preserve the strength of this latter Pokemon, Andrew returns Aipom to battle. 
==Major Events==
*Justin's Murkrow is revealed to know Mean Look
*Justin defeats Kaden and advances to the Top 8
*Devon wins her Top 16 battle and advances to Top 8, and she is slated to face Justin
*Andrew is revealed to have captured a Shiftry
*Andrew and Declan begin their Top 16 battle
For a list of all major events in this anime, please see Major Events (First Journey). 
==Characters==
===Humans===
*Justin
*Andrew
*Devon
*Declan
*Kaden
*Johto Gym Leaders
*Indigo Elite Four
*Trainers
*Audience
*Civilians
===Pokemon===
*Eevee (Justin's)
*Murkrow (Justin's)
*Gyrados (Justin's)
*Kangaskhan (Justin's)
*Aipom (Andrew's)
*Shiftry (Andrew's)
*Jolteon (Declan's)
*Tyranitar (Declan's)
*Weezing (Declan's)
*Serperior (Devon's)
*Arkbok (Kaden's)
*Gliscor (Kaden's)
*Dragonair (Kaden's)
Category:First Journey