The Test

The gang relaxed in a park. Todd wanted to stay with them a bit more to see more of their Pokemon. Ash was training his Pikachu, Cubone, Ninetales, Venonat, Doduo and Arbok. Todd and Tomo watched him from the sidelines.

"Hey Ash." Todd said. "I think you should take the Pokemon League Admissions Exam."

"What's that?" Ash asked.

"It's an exam that will allow you to be admitted into the Pokemon League." Todd explained.

Ash was a little uncertain about that; he enjoyed traveling and collecting gym badges. But he thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to check it out.

"Okay I'll try."

They went to the building where the exam was taking place. Ash walked inside and signed himself up. After filling out some papers he was ready.

"You have to leave your Poke Balls on the counter." The instructor said.

Ash did so and soon saw Nurse Joy in the building.

"I want to become a Pokemon master." She explained.

Team Rocket was in the building too; they decided that they could enter the Pokemon League and become champions.

Soon the exams had begun. The first test was about a person's knowledge of Pokemon. They had to answer true or false. Ash found this to be really easy because he studied Pokemon and traveling with them also helped. The next test was a lot trickier. It was about a person's ability to recognize Pokemon. That wasn't easy because there were some Pokemon that you couldn't recognize easily. Jessie went on a rampage and called the test a joke. The head instructor expelled her immediately. James felt sorry for Jessie and declared that he would try hard for her too.

After the test ended the scoreboards came up. Ash managed to get to the high scoreboard.

"I thought the visual portion of the test was impossible." He said.

James got the lowest score and hung his head in shame.

The last part of the exam was Pokemon battles. They had to battle the head instructor with three Pokemon. There were belts that held three Pokemon and you weren't allowed to see what Pokemon you received until the battle started. Ash and James picked up their belts and got ready.

James faced the head instructor before Ash. The first Pokemon James sent out was a Pikachu and the head instructor sent out Graveler.

"Use Thunderbolt." That didn't work on Graveler since it was part ground type.

James was frustrated and sent out his remaining Pokemon; an Ivysaur and a Charizard. The head instructor was enraged with James' cheating and expelled him.

Ash was up next. His first Pokemon was a Weezing and the head instructor's was Flareon.

"Flareon, Flamethrower." The instructor said.

"Weezing, dodge it." Ash ordered.

He then came up with a idea.

"Smog." He said to Weezing.

The smog exploded after being hit by Flamethrower and sent Flareon flying backwards.

"Now use Smokescreen." Ash commanded.

Weezing covered the field and itself in smokescreen. Flareon was unable to see Weezing.

"Now use Tackle." Weezing tackled Flareon, knocking it out.

*'One down, two to go.'* Ash thought.

The gang was impressed with Ash's tactics.

"Ash is amazing when he battles with Pokemon." Todd said.

"I agree." Misty added. "Even though we've been traveling together for a while, he's still full of surprises."

"Way to go Ash." Tomo cheered for his older brother.

"He's battling a lot better with Weezing than James ever did." Brock commented.

Team Rocket watched from the background and took notes on Ash's battling style.

Ash's next Pokemon was Arbok and the head instructor's was Jolteon. Ash remembered his own Arbok and Jolteon and knew exactly what to do.

"Agility." The instructor told Jolteon.

"Quick." Ash said. "Stop it with Glare."

Jolteon was paralyzed and couldn't move.

"Now use Poison Sting." Ash said.

Because Jolteon couldn't move, it wasn't able to avoid Arbok's Poison Sting.

"Now use Headbutt." Arbok headbutted Jolteon and knocked it out.

The head instructor was impressed with Ash's battling technique and sent out his last Pokemon, a Vaporeon. Ash's last Pokemon was Meowth. He was surprised; he ended up with the three Pokemon Team Rocket had.

"Okay use Screech." Ash commanded Meowth.

Meowth screeched really loud; so loud it caused Vaporeon to hold it's ears in pain.

"Now use Pay Day." Meowth's charm glowed and a flurry of gold coins hit Vaporeon.

"Use Scratch." Ash commanded, taking advantage of Vaporeon being distracted by the coins.

Meowth scratched Vaporeon's face really hard and made it faint. Ash had won and passed the exam.

Jessie and James were impressed by the Meowth's performance.

"Hey I'm better than that Meowth." Meowth said, feeling insulted.

"But you don't know Screech or Pay Day." Jessie argued.

Meowth hung his head in defeat and shame.

"It's true." He said miserably. "I only know Scratch, Fury Swipes and Bite."

"Come now." Jessie said. "It's time for payback."

The head instructor returned Vaporeon and congratulated Ash for his victory. He was just about to give an announcement to those who had passed the test, when a thunderbolt flew at him.

The thunderbolt was from the Pikachu that James had borrowed for the exam.

"Since we failed the test." Jessie said. "We'll take our revenge by swiping all the Pokemon here."

"Attack." Team Rocket ordered Pikachu, Ivysaur and Charizard.

"Attack them instead." The head instructor ordered and they complied.

"Even though these Pokemon are used for the exam." Ash said. "You're their real trainer, yes?"

"That is correct." The instructor said.

"Attack them as well." Ash ordered Arbok, Weezing and Meowth to attack Team Rocket.

"Send them flying with Solar Beam." The head instructor ordered Ivysaur.

After Team Rocket left, the head instructor handed out badges to those who passed the exam.

"With this badge." He said. "You can now participate in the Pokemon League."

When Ash got his he spoke to the head instructor.

"Honestly, I prefer traveling and collecting gym badges the old fashioned way." He said. "But can I keep this as a memento."

The head instructor agreed to his request.

After saying goodbye to the head instructor, everyone left the building. Ash and the gang were on their way to Cinnabar Island again.