Sumo Competition

The gang was still making their way to Olivine City. At the moment they had stopped in Rikishii Town.

"This is a nice-looking village." Misty said. "It also resembles what Japan used to look like four hundred years ago."

Just then something caught Tomo's eye. It was a big blue Pokemon that looked like a alligator.

"What's that Pokemon?" He asked.

"Wow, that's a Feraligatr, the final evolved form of Totodile." Ash said.

He looked at Feraligatr on the Pokedex.

"Feraligatr, the Big Jaw Pokemon and the final evolved form of Totodile. When it bites with it's massive and powerful jaws, it shakes it's head and savagely tears it's victim up."

"I can't wait for my Totodile to evolve into that." Misty said, dreamily.

"Neither can I." Ash added.

At that time Feraligatr was fighting a Nidoking, but neither of them were using attacks. What they were actually doing was wrestling with each other.

"It looks like the Pokemon are sumo wrestling." Ash said.

Just then Feraligatr tossed Nidoking to the ground, gaining a win. Then Feraligatr wrestled more Pokemon one after another; a Heracross and a Granbull

"Wow that Feraligatr is really strong." Misty said.

"Yean and after all that wrestling it's done, it looks like it wants to wrestle some more." Brock said.

Two men were with Feraligatr. The first man was Feraligatr's trainer named Raiden and the other was an old man named Shonosuke.

"You've done very well Feraligatr." Raiden said. "Let's take a break now."

"Your Feraligatr has become much stronger Raiden." Shonosuke said.

"I plan to win the King's Rock Shonosuke." Raiden replied.

Just then the gang walked up and introduced themselves to Raiden and Shonosuke. Raiden explained that in Rikishii Town they held a Pokemon sumo tournament, called the sumo conference, once a year.

"Trainers here train their Pokemon all the time like me to compete in the sumo conference." Raiden said.

Shonosuke explained that he was the director of the Pokemon sumo society. He also explained that Pokemon sumo wrestling involved two Pokemon battling each other using only their physical strength. The Pokemon had to be the heavy type to enter; otherwise no one could enter it. It was also forbidden for the Pokemon to use any attacks like Flamethrower, Ice Beam, Focus Punch, Thunderbolt etc. The winner would receive a King's Rock.

"Why have a King's Rock as a prize?" Ash asked.

"Because the King's Rock looks like a crown." Shonosuke said. "And it makes trainer and Pokemon who win it feel proud because of all the training they've done to gain it."

"Is it too late to enter?" Ash asked Shonosuke.

"No it's not. If you want to enter Ash, you can." Shonosuke said.

"But you've never entered a Pokemon sumo competition before." Misty pointed out.

"True, but when it comes to battles I'm always up for a challenge." Ash replied. "And anyway, I have a Pokemon that would like to enter. Besides I don't think that she would forgive me if I didn't let her enter something like this."

"You're probably right about that, actually." Misty said. Brock and Tomo agreed.

Misty, Brock and Tomo knew exactly what Pokemon Ash was talking about.

Ash and the others headed over to the Pokemon Center where everyone was registering for the Pokemon sumo conference to call Prof. Oak.

Ash informed him about the Pokemon sumo conference.

"Can you send Kangaskhan to me?" He asked.

"I understand Ash." Prof. Oak said. "So what Pokemon will you send to me?"

"Furret." Ash replied.

So Ash sent his Furret to Prof. Oak and Prof. Oak sent Ash's Kangaskhan to him. Kangaskhan and her baby were happy to see Ash again and immediately hugged him.

"I'm happy to see you too girls." Ash said.

He told Kangaskhan about the Pokemon sumo conference, which caused her to become excited as she loved to fight and then they signed up for the conference.

The Pokemon sumo conference was about to get underway. The Pokemon that were entering aside from Feraligatr and Kangaskhan were Golem, Rhydon, Blastoise, Lickitung, Heracross, Poliwrath, Machamp, Ursaring, Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Quagsire, Golduck and Granbull. Shonosuke explained the rules and what the winner would receive. Aside from a King's Rock, the winner would also receive a year's supply of Pokemon food.

"Now best of luck to all of you and may the best Pokemon win." Shonosuke said.

Soon the Pokemon sumo conference commenced. The first match was between a Ursaring and a Nidoqueen. The Pokemon charged at each other and were trying to push each other out of the ring.

"Pokemon sumo wrestling looks rougher and tougher than I thought it would be." Tomo said.

"Yeah and from the looks of things." Brock said. "Trying to push a heavy opponent out of the ring is pretty difficult."

In the end, Nidoqueen won the first match.

Raiden was next. His Feraligatr went up against a Golem.

"Golem is heavier than Feraligatr." Brock said. "So it may turn out to be difficult for Feraligatr."

"Don't forget Brock." Ash reminded him. "Raiden has trained his Feraligatr extensively for this tournament. So I wouldn't underestimate it yet."

Feraligatr and Golem were trying to push one another out of the ring like crazy. Just then Raiden told Feraligatr to step back a bit; once Feraligatr did that Golem fell over a bit. Then Raiden told Feraligatr to strike; Feraligatr hit Golem hard on the head and then Golem collapsed out of the ring, giving Feraligatr the win.

"Wow." Ash gasped. "They both used their strength and weaknesses. That's what we have to do too."

After a few more rounds, it was finally Ash and Kangaskhan's turn. Their opponent was a Poliwrath. Kangaskhan's baby was sitting next to Brock, Misty and Tomo. Poliwrath charged at Kangaskhan to try and push her over, but Kangashkan grabbed Poliwrath's arm and tossed it out of the ring. Poliwrath's trainer and the referee were surprised by what just happened. Ash, Misty and Brock were surprised as well.

"I know Kangaskhan is strong." Misty said. "But that was unbelievable."

"Yeah, especially since Poliwrath would normally have the advantage over Kangaskhan." Brock said.

Tomo wasn't surprised at all. He explained that Kangaskhan used to wrestle with the other Kangaskhan back in the Safari Zone.

"Why am I not surprised." Misty said.

Raiden and Shonosuke were impressed with Ash's Kangaskhan.

Now it was the semi-final match; Raiden was up against a Blastoise.

"Wow, I can't wait to see what will happen with Feraligatr and Blastoise." Misty said.

Feraligatr and Blastoise were going at each other like crazy; pushing and tossing each other to try and get one or the other out of the ring. Then at last with one big push, Feraligatr managed to toss Blastoise out of the ring.

"That battle was sweet." Misty said.

Kangaskhan started to move her arms up and down.

"You want to battle Feraligatr, don't you Kangaskhan?" Ash asked. Kangaskhan said yes.

"We just need to win our match and then you can take Feraligatr on." Ash replied.

Ash and Kangaskhan's opponent was a Machamp. Like before, Kangaskhan easily tossed Machamp out of the ring like it was nothing.

It was now time for Ash and Raiden to face each other in the finals.

"I'm surprised that you and Kangaskhan have made it this far Ash." Raiden said. "But I won't be going easy on you here."

"I won't be going easy on you either." Ash replied.

"I can't wait to see the results from both of you." Shonosuke said. "Now it's time for both of you to give it your all."

Kangaskhan and Feraligatr were ready to fight each other.

"Don't underestimate Feraligatr Kangaskhan." Ash said. "It has fought in a lot of battles just like you."

The fight was now on and Kangaskhan and Feraligatr started to go at each other like crazy. Feraligatr started to charge at Kangaskhan, but Ash told her to dodge and Feraligatr kept on missing her.

"Sorry Raiden." Ash said. "But my Kangaskhan has improved her speed in the past."

"Then watch this Ash." Raiden said. "Feraligatr show them your speed."

Feraligatr charged at Kangaskhan again and started to try pushing her out of the ring.

"Stand your ground!" Ash shouted.

Kangaskhan stomped her left leg and then managed to push Feraligatr back.

"That Kangaskhan is impressive." Raiden said. "But this ends now. Let's go Feraligatr."

Feraligatr and Kangaskhan went at each other again; this time they tried to toss each other. Kangaskhan roared and stomped her feet again. She was stomping her feet so hard that the ground shook a little and Feraligatr was caught off guard by the shake.

"Now's our chance Kangaskhan." Ash said. "Push Feraligatr out of the ring."

With one big shove, Kangaskhan managed to push Feraligatr out of the ring.

"Kangaskhan is the new champion!" The referee shouted.

So Ash and Kangaskhan won the Pokemon sumo conference. Ash and Kangaskhan hugged each other, happy about their victory. The baby Kangaskhan joined in the hug too. Raiden congratulated Ash for his victory and so did Tomo, Brock and Misty.

"You were awesome big brother!" Tomo cheered.

"Kangaskhan was great too." Brock said.

"I'm happy for the two of you." Misty added.

Shonosuke declared Ash the winner of the Pokemon sumo conference and congratulated him. Next he presented the King's Rock to Ash for his victory and the year's supply of Pokemon food as well.

Ash was happy because the King's Rock was now part of his collection of evolution items. Nurse Joy presented the year's supply of Pokemon food; the Pokemon food was in a total of fourteen boxes.

"What should we do with the Pokemon food?" Misty asked. "I mean, we can't carry all of this with us."

"I know." Brock retorted. "We'll keep a few boxes for ourselves and give the rest away."

Ash, Misty and Tomo agreed with that plan. Before they decided what to do, Ash gave Kangaskhan and her baby some of the Pokemon food because they were hungry and they deserved it, and then he sent them back to Prof. Oak's lab.

In the end; the gang kept three boxes of Pokemon food, three boxes were sent to the Cerulean Gym, another three were sent to the Pewter Gym and the rest was sent to Prof. Oak's lab.

With the Pokemon sumo conference concluded, the gang said goodbye to Raiden and Shonosuke then left Rikishii Town to continue their journey to Olivine City.