Many of the ponies were shocked into silence at Celestia's announcement, including Ash as well as he stood there, staring shocked at Pinkie and Celestia, who smiled knowingly at him and he grinned back and shook his head amused.
Celestia smiled and looked over the ponies "The tournament will be held out in the labyrinth, which have been removed briefly for the purpose of this event. The contestants will be me, my sister Luna and the six elements of harmony. We shall all battle for the right to battle Ash as he is the best and therefor the champion of Pokémon in Equestria." Ponies listened rapidly and interested, most looked a bit eager to watch this event, having heard of the battle in Ponyville, while other more proper nobles looked a bit uninterested an quite shocked that the princesses could enjoy such barbaric behaviour as battles. Yet they followed the princesses and the elements of harmony out to the battlefield, very curious about this even if some ponies went home, not willing to watch this.
They soon reached the large area that had been cleared and many seats had been placed around the arena where the Pokémon should fight. Ash grinned at the sight of it all, feeling excited and happy that this was happening as the lack of Pokémon battles was going on his nerves a bit. Ponies began to find seats as Celestia moved into the middle and said with a grin "We will soon begin! First I would like to welcome the judge of these battles, who is a good friend of Ash Ketchum. I present to you Brock." As he stepped up with a smirk and many ponies clapped politely.
Celestia smiled over the ponies who had gathered, mainly ponies from the Gala, but also a few ponies, who had noticed the commotion and had joined the large group of observers "Now let the games start. We will have the fights in an order, starting by four matches with one against one. The next part will be two matches with one against one again. The semi-final will be the last fight with the endings winners of these matches and the winner of the semi-final will meet Ash in battle in the final."
Ponies were very excited as they looked forward to the first match between either the elements or the princesses and Celestia smiled once more over her ponies and subjects and said "To ensure a fair and honest choosing of opponents, I will cast a spell that will choose randomly between the names. This way will nopony be chosen to battle another on purpose. Do everypony agree to these terms?" The mane six and Luna nodded in agreements, eager to continue and start the matches and Celestia cast the spell and a random collection of letters began to change in the middle of the air and suddenly they stopped, spelling out the names 'Rainbow Dash' and 'Rarity' and Celestia, while feeling disappointed she would sit the first match out, grinned and said "Looks like the first match is between the elements of loyalty and the element of generosity." The ponies cheered loudly, a good part for Rarity because of her reputation for her dresses and the major part of the pegasi for their fellow pegasi.
A few minutes later was Rarity and Rainbow Dash standing in the arena, smirking at each other as Rarity said "I will not hold back Rainbow, even if you are my friend." To which Rainbow grinned and said "Bring it on."
Rainbow Dash was the first, and the fastest, to call out her pokémon, throwing the pokéball out into the field and yelled "Let's make it quick! Go Swellow!" as, with a white flash of light, the black big bird appeared with a serious look. Rarity smirked and collected her own pokéball with a smile and said "Please assist me my friend. I call you Flaaffy." As she called the pink pokémon with a white wool.
Twilight frowned at the scene from the contestant area and said "Rarity called an electric pokémon. Things don't look good for Rainbow at this point…" to which Ash smirked knowingly and commented calmly.
"Don't call defeat yet Twilight. Rainbow got spirit and that is something her pokémon will share with her."
"Start with agility! Make sure she can't get a hit on you!" as Swellow disappeared in the speed alone, now unable to be seen as Rarity looked around carefully, frowning gently as she was waiting for the moment to strike.
Suddenly Rainbow cried out with a grin "NOW SWELLOW! Hit her where it hurts! Use Aerial Ace!" as Swellow suddenly appeared and rammed hard into Flaaffy, making the pokémon cry out in pain as Rarity was shocked by the speed at first, but quickly recovered and called "USE THUNDERBOLT!" Flaaffy obeyed, shooting a powerful bolt of lightning towards where the flying pokémon was last seen, only to miss and hit the shield that protected the ponies.
"Use gust! Don't give her a chance to counter!" as Swellow suddenly appeared, flapping its large wings rapidly and suddenly a tornado was created, creating a harsh wind inside the dome as the entire group of wonderbolts was in shock. Spitfire herself gaping as making a tornado all by one creature alone was unheard of.
Flaaffy had trouble staying at the ground, clinging onto the ground as Rarity was trying to think of something, before she grinned and said "Idea!" as she smirked to Flaaffy and said "Fire a thunderbolt into the tornado!"
Flaaffy looked confused, but was not one to disobey at a moment like this and let out a cry as it fired a thick bolt of electricity into the twister, that immediately absorbed the electricity and began to crackly with the same thunder-power, shooting low sparks of electricity everywhere, something that caused Swellow to flinch and Rainbow yelled "SWELLOW! Get away from there!" but it was too late as Swellow lost control and was sucked into the tornado of electricity, causing it to screech in pain.
Rainbow gritted her teeth, trying to think of something as she yelled "HOLD ON SWELLOW! ENDURE IT! I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!" hoping that her faithful pokémon would hear her as Twilight, who was watching confused, asked "W-What is she doing?! Shouldn't she try to help Swellow out of there?!"
Ash shook his head "No. That is impossible in a twister like that. Rainbow is doing what is best. Encouraging her pokémon to fight on and endure."
"Come on Swellow!" Rainbow yelled, a bit nervous for her pokémon as Rarity looked a bit guilty for doing this to a living creature, but knew it would not be majorly hurt.
Rainbow finally had enough of this and yelled out "DAMN IT SWELLOW! I TRAINED YOU TO NEVER GIVE UP AND YOU BETTER NOT FAIL ME NOW!" there was a shocked silence, before a loud screech was heard from the tornado, before it explode from the inside out in a loud shower of electric sparks and in the middle was Swellow flying, sparks of electricity coming from its body as it looked down at Flaaffy and smirked. Rainbow grinned as well and said "Get him." With a blast of speed made from a quick attack, rammed Swellow into the stomach of Flaaffy, making the sheep pokémon cry out in pain and send backwards into the shield. Not yet out, but was close as it was breathing heavily.
"End it with a Take Down!" Swellow obeyed immediately and Ash raised an eyebrow as the bird flew down and rammed hard into the stomach of the sheep, making it cry out one last time in pain, before passing out instantly. Swellow was panting heavily, swaying on the spot as Brock called out "Flaaffy is unable to battle! Swellow is the winner!" the bird gave one last screech in victory, before falling over, unconscious as Flaaffy was.
Pinkie looked confused and asked Ash "but doesn't Take Down hurt your own pokémon a little? Why would Rainbow use that?"
"Because she knew Swellow could not endure more. So she made sure that she could get Flaaffy down, while getting the victory and at the same time make sure that Swellow would get the rest it deserved without having to battle again. She really cares for her pokémon it seems…"
Twilight nodded and asked as well "But how could Swellow win? It had a disadvantage with the type. Electricity is strong against flying as you told me."
Ash smirked and said "That is because Swellow is a higher level and the fact I believe that Rainbow have taught it to endure the pain of electricity, to overcome a weakness." Twilight looked a bit uneasy at this and Fluttershy was horrified of the tactic, yet not able to deny it worked wonders in the match and Ash continued to talk "If she hadn't done that, then Swellow would have been knocked out in the tornado."
"Would the two trainers please send out there next pokémon?" as the crowd was cheering loudly, excited to see more as they had been deeply impressed by now.
"Show your beauty!/Take her down! Sableye/Sneasel!" both of them called at the same time as Rainbow called Sneasel and Rarity had called upon Sableye, both of them bipedal small creatures with a black skin. Sableye was covered in diamonds and with rubies for eyes with a wicked grin, while Sneasel just looked cool with two long claws for hands as he smirked and got into a fighting stance.
"This could be interesting…" Ash said with a grin "Sableye. A ghost/dark type with no type disadvantage. Its only weakness is its lack of strength or defence, but that can be worked over with the right trainer. Sneasel is a dark/ice type and have type weaknesses, but it can pack a powerful punch."
The mares and the two princesses turned towards the match with new look at it, eager to see the outcome. Rainbow grinned as she said "Want the first move Rarity? Or am I too fast for you?" teasing her as Rarity smirked and said "We see about that won't we dear. Sableye! Use Fake Out!" Sableye grinned and disappeared, appearing again before Sneasel, who cried out in pain as he got hit on both sides of his head with the two powerful palms.
Rainbow yelled out "SNEASEL! USE SLASH!" But Sneasel flinched hard, making Rainbow ask "What is wrong Sneasel?!"
Rarity grinned and explained "Fake Out. A move that can only be used first time in match and makes the victim flinch. Allowing my pokémon to attack again. Sableye, be a darling and use Shadow Claw." Sableye grinned and ran for Sneasel, who glared but was unable to do anything as it cried out in pain. Sableye had hit it directly on the knee with the Shadow Claw, making Ash's eyes widen.
"She goes for weak spots!" Ash said with a grin and as he noticed the confused looks he explained "To make up for the lack of strength, have Rarity taught him to hit the weak spots and make every attack count. A brilliant strategy!" as the looked back at the fight, only to see the two pokémon furiously dodging and parrying the blows of the other pokémon.
Hits and kicks were exchanged as they didn't even use attacks anymore. Sparks were flying every time one of Sneasel's claws hit one of Sableye's diamonds on its body. The crowd were holding their breaths, in awe over the furious fight. The speed was incredible and the force was enough to blow away dust around the two pokémon as each blow found a place, both pokémon panting and sweating as they were determent not to lose. With one blow they were holding each other's hands and claws over their heads, glaring at each other as they nod and suddenly jumps away from each other. Sneasel's claws began to glow in a bright white light as Sableye's began to glow in a dark purple light.
They suddenly jumped towards each other, letting out a battle-cry as this was the last hit and the ponies knew it, nopony dared to breathe or make a single sound as the two pokémon met in the middle and clashed together. There was a flash of light and as it disappeared, were the two pokémon back to back, panting hard.
Time seemed to have stopped, not even Ash was taking his eyes off the pokémon. Celestia and Luna had eyes narrowed and Fluttershy was worried about the pokémon, but knew this was not the time. This was more than a fight of a simple tournament between the two. This was a fight to see who was the superior dark type.
Then the two flinched hard and fell to the ground and it took Brock a good few seconds to say "Both Sableye and Sneasel are unable to battle! This match is a tie!" and the crowd erupted in sheer yells in delight over the battle. They had just watched a battle that had more excitement to it than most battles between the guards of Canterlot.
"Now have Rarity lost two pokémon and the same have Rainbow Dash! After next battle, we will take a small break! Send out your third choice!"
Rainbow grinned excited, the adrenaline pushing through her like it did when she raced as she threw the next pokéball "KICK SOME FLANK SHELGON!" as the large endurance pokémon appeared, a pokémon that looked like a rock with four legs and confused many ponies.
Ash grinned as Twilight asked "That doesn't look very fast… Not a type Rainbow Dash would normally choose."
Ash replied instantly, again explaining some things to the ponies, who were desperate to learn about pokémon "Shelgon have a thing that Rainbow likes. He can take a punch like no other. He can take a large hit and can do well in a battle with a little thought of what you are doing."
Twilight nods with a serious look as Rarity called out her pokémon "Arrive to battle my beautiful lady." As she called upon a long beautiful snake like creature and Ash whistled as Fluttershy said "Whoa. It's beautiful. What is that pokémon?"
He smiled and said "The evolution of Feebas. The fish Rarity received from Arceus. For a Feebas to evolve, it had to feel truly beautiful. Rarity has done a good job with it."
Celestia smiled a bit, admiring the pokémon as the two battlers glared at each other. Both of them judging and silently waiting for orders. Suddenly, and predictable, called Rainbow Dash the first order and yelled out "Shelgon! Use Swagger and quickly follow by Leer!"
The pokémon obeyed instantly, albeit being a slow pokémon in this state of evolution he got the chance to attack and made his first move and attacked Milotic with a swagger, increasing her attack, but confusing her pokémon at the same time. This attack was followed by a sharp glare that lowered the pokémons defence while she was swaying back and forth on the top, dazed and confused.
Rarity looked worried at her beloved pokémon, the one she had worked so hard with and spent so much time with as she called "Please darling! Snap out of it!" but it was no help as Milotic kept being confused and Dash took this opportunity to call out with a grin "Use Dragon Breath!" the dragon pokémon obeyed and fired the purple flame towards the water pokémon, making it cry out in pain at a direct neutral hit. Rarity grinned as she saw it had been cured from the confusion from the attack and yelled "Use Water Pulse!"
Milotic obeyed instantly, firing a large ring of water towards Shelgon with a heavy power and Shelgon, who was rather slow, was unable to dodge it and Rainbow yelled "USE PROTECT!" to which Shelgon obeyed instantly, shielding himself in the small green energy shield which was hit by the water blast and Rarity gritted her teeth in annoyance "Again my lady!" and the water blast was fired again with a greater speed, showing Milotic was also frustrated.
This time the attack hit before Rainbow had a chance to call out Shelgon, blasting him back into the force field as he cried out in pain and glaring at the pokémon through the hole in the shell and Rainbow yelled "Use Dragon Breath again!" and the purple flame was fired instantly, heading towards Milotic who dodged in last second and Rarity smirked and said "Time to end this match my lady. Use Hail." It gave out a beautiful cry and fired an ice-blue beam into the air, before blasting against the top of the shield, forming dark clouds and suddenly it began to hail inside the dome, making Pegasi shocked that they could control weather as they could.
Rainbow gritted her teeth as Shelgon flinched every time hail hit him, being weak against ice and taking double damage from the hail as Rainbow said ""Try to stop with Ember!" worried about her pokémon as Shelgon fires a the flames in the air, melting some of the ice but not nearly enough to stop the hail in total and Rarity used this opportunity to finally call out "Let's end this! Use Ice Beam!" Milotic looked at the pokémon that was hurting from the hail and began to charge the large light-blue energy ball in front of her mouth, before she shot it towards the dragon pokémon and hit it directly, making it cry out in pain and sent flying back into the barrier with a loud slam and fell to the ground unconscious.
The ponies were silent for a second, before they erupted in loud cheers, excited and unable to believe the spirit these kinds of things brought upon them, when they first had thought it would be a barbaric thing to do. Brock grinned and yelled out "The winner of this round is Milotic and Rarity! We will hold a short break and return after that!"