"Hey, Torchic! Come with us!"

Torchic stopped to see Rainbow, then Lighting suddenly stopped.

"We'll blast and work hard!"

Her Ninjask and the rest of the Fire Pokémon agreed.

Rainbow held her hand for Torchic's request. Torchic stared at her bewildered of the kind of request she was giving her,

"Torchic come on!"

"Chic?"

"Nin!"

"You see, your way of giving it all you've got is awesome written all over you! I'd love to work with a Pokémon like you! So, what to say?"

Before Torchic could, Lighting made the choice.

"You two losers deserve each other. Both of you are pathetic!"

"Nobody asked you!" Bonnie yelled.

"Ignore her, kid," Rainbow told her. "Torchic and I will show how wrong Lighting can be!"

Lighting snorted with that response and continued walking away. Torchic looked back at Rainbow feeling teary about what she asked her, rather than forcing him. Torchic broke into a smile and nodded happily.

"Tprchic!"

Suddenly, an explosion occurred around the gang and their Pokémon! Everyone covered their eyes as they grew startled by the uncalled ambush.

"What's going on?!" Applejack asked.

"Somebody using Sludge Bomb and Seed Bomb!" Jaden said.

"But who?"

Then a certain group of laughing came.

"Compliments of Pumpkaboo and Sunktank!" Duke laughed.

Everyone looked up to see none other than Team Rocket as they grabbed Torchic in the chaos.

"Torchic, no!"

"Is that Torchic calling for Pikachu, I hear?"

"Calling for us might bring you more cheers!"

"On the wind!"

"Pass the stars!"

"In your ear!"

"Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace!"

"Dashing hope, putting fear in its place!"

"A rose by any other name is just as sweet!'

"When everything's worse, our work is complete!"

"Jessie!"

"Adagio!"

"Aria!"

"Sonata!"

"And its James!"

"Meowth, Clyde, and Duke, that's our names!"

"Putting the losers, in their place!"

"Team Rocket!"

"In your face!"

"Woobuffet!"

"Murkrow!"

"Alright, Team Rocket! What do want with Torchic!?" Ash snapped.

"There's nothing better than bringing some TLC to our hard luck Torchic like us!" James said.

"We'll smooth out the rough edges with our hard-edge tactics!" Jessie giggled.

"And a couple of clanks from the Soothe Bell and will be chilling!" Duke said sneering.

"That's not all! Join in us in the next sixteen minutes, Torchic! And we'll give you your own stanza in the Team Rocket motto!"

"Woobuffet!"

"Murkrow!"

Torchic struggles to get free from Team Rocket's trap.

"Poor Torchic!" Serena gasped.

"I've had enough of this! How about the rest of you?" Twilight asked and Pokémon nodded.

"Pumpakboo!"

"Sunktank!"

"Sick them!" Adagio and Jessie made their move to attack.

Both Pumpkaboo and Sunktank used Seed Bomb and Sludge Bomb to them dead in their tracks.

"Tor!"

"I think is going to be a good day!" Aria said.

"Full of fun, fun, fun! Gotta run!" Clyde grinned.

"Getting out while the getting is good!" Duke exclaimed.

"Torchic! Don't worry we'll get you out there!"

Torchic began to power up her attack.

"Oh dear, flaming rage?" Jessie asked.

"No! Torchic is stoking her Fire Spin to give our ballon a little push!" James insisted.

"Hey! It's nice to see a team player being nice for a change," Sonata said then look down only to see the smirk of the Chick Pokémon. "Or maybe not!"

Torchic shot Fire Spin at Team Rocket and their ballon! All of them scream as the ballon went boom.

"See? Torchic fits right in!"

"Yeah... like a fist in a glove!"

"Well, half a groovy day is better than none!"

"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket disappeared out of sight!

Torchic wailed as she began to the ground.

"Don't worry, I'm coming!"

Rainbow dived down and catch Torchic in her hands.

"Torchic, are you okay?"

"Torchic."

"Awesome Fire Spin!" Rainbow complimented then took a spare Ultra Bal for the Chick Pokémon to see. "So, what do you say, you want to come with us?"

"Torchic!"

"Okay, you ready?"

She threw the Ultra Ball in the air and caught Torchic inside, it shake for a few minutes then it stopped.

"You and I are going to sweet things together!"

The next day at the stadium...

Here we folks, our first of two semifinals are about to happen. Serena and Masquerade had ridden all to the final four but Twilight and Flurry Heart have shown trust and teamwork but one team to move on!

Serena, Masquerade, Twilight, and Flurry Heart took out Pokéballs.

"Flygon, Time for a battle!"

"Fennekin, center stage!"

"Pinsir, appear!"

"Flottete, it's you!"

Flottete and Flygon appeared on Twilight and Flurry's side and Fennekin and Pinsir appeared on Serena and Masquerade's side.

"Twiliy, I know Serena is your friend but a spot for the championship is on the line."

"Don't worry, I never go easy on anyone, friend or foe," Twilight said.

"I suggest we defend first then we counterattack," Masquerade suggested.

"Got it!" Serena agreed.

Now then! Battle begin!

Semifinal 1 Serena and Masquerade vs Twilight and Flurry Heart

"Flygon! Dragon Pulse on Fennekin!"

"Floette! Use Moonblast on Pinsir!"

Flygon fired Dragon Pulse at Fennekin, as Floette did Moonblast on Pinsir.

"Pinsir, Revenge on Flygon!"

"Fennekin, Flamethrower on Flygon as well!"

Pinsir dodged the Moonbalst and took the Dragon Pulse for Fennekin then Pinsir smashed right into Flygon and then Fennekin's Flamethrower made contact as well.

Not Pinsir protects Fennekin from Dragon Pulse but delivers serious damage to Flygon and the Flamethrower just more insult to injury!

"Don't expect ganging on me will work, Flygon, Iron Tail!"

"Get in there with Vine Whip!"

Holy mackerl! Now Flygon and Floette have gang on Pinsir!

"Counter with X-Scissor!"

Pinsir met up with Iron Tail and Vine Whip with X-Scissor and both were blocked.

"Serena now's your chance!"

"Right, Fennekin, Hidden Power on Flygon!"

Fennekin fire glowy orbs at Flygon which did the damage.

"Now Flamethrower!"

"Intercept with Giga Impact!"

Flygon's Giga Impact overpower the Flamethrower and smashed Fennekin!

"Flamethrower again!"

"Stop it with Iron Tail!'

Flygon avoided the Flamethrower and send Fennekin in the air, then came down hard.

"Pinsir, Bind on Floette!"

"Dodge it and use Vine Whip on Fennekin!"

"And Flygon Hyper Beam!"

Floette avoided the attack, then Flygon took the skies and fired Hyper Beam at Pinsir, And Floette grabbed Fennekin with Vine Whip and hurled right into Pinsir who then got the full force of the Hyper Beam.

Both Flygon and Floette made their teamwork successful but did they defeat both Pinsir and Fennekin?

The dust cleared to see both Fennekin and Pinsir fainted!"

Pinsir and Fennekin cannot battle! Flygon and Floette are the winners!

And the team of Twilight and Flurry Heart wins and moves on to our championship battle!

"Alright!" Flurry Heart cheered.

"Great battle, Flygon! I'm proud of you!" Twilight hugged Flygon.

...

With Twilight and Flurry Herat moving on to the final round, one more will join them!

It's the team of Rainbow and Lighting taking the team of Jaden and Star Lily!

"Torchic, I want you to keep a sharp eye on what's going on?" Rainbow asked then Torchic got off her shoulder and watched.

"I may be friends with her, but I didn't this far to lose!" Jaden thought.

In the peanut gallery...

"It comes down to this, either Twilight will face Jaden or Rainbow," Applejack exclaimed.

"The tension must be high," Fluttershy admitted.

On the battlefield.

"Now, Swellow, let go!"

"Garbodor, Standby for battle!"

"Now, Magamr, out!"

"Swoobat, let's fly!'

"Quite the assortment of Pokémon," Masquerade smirked.

Let the battle begin!

Semifinal 2 Jaden and Star Lilly vs Rainbow and Lighitng

"I ain't taking it easy on Jaden! Now Swelloe Aerial Ace on Magmar!"

Swellow drew back before charging straight towards Magmar.

"Mach Punch, quick!"

Magmar prepared to strike with Mach Punch.

"Now Swoobat, use Air Slash!"

Swoobat shot a sharp orb of air, sending to Garbodor.

"Hyper Beam!"

Garbodor blasted Hyper Beam, destroying the Air Slash and almost Swellow before hitting Swoobat.

"Talk about power!"

"If that Aerial Ace would make contact it would be a knockout by a single blow!" Masquerade said.

Swoobat is unable to battle!

"You didn't have to hit Swellow, you know!"

"Your Swellow is too slow just like you!"

"I'm so sorry, Jaden!'

"Don't worry, Magmar! Fire Punch on Garbodor!"

Magmar ran toward Garbodor and delivered a massive Fire Punch as Garbodor couldn't dodge it.

"Why didn't Garbodor dodge it?" Bonnie asked.

"Just like Giga Impact, the user has to recover," Sunset explained to her

"Stay out of this, Dash! Garbodor, use Sludge Bomb!"

Garbodor fired Sludge Bomb at Magmar, then Magmar fell down.

Magmar cannot battle! The winners are Garbodor and Swellow!

And in this second battle neither Magmar nor Swoobat could do anything with Garbodor's fearsome power!

"Swell!" Swellow sighed in disappointment.

"Don't worry, buddy, you did your best and that's all I asked for," Rainbow said.

And then they were two, join us this late afternoon for the conclusion of Slackstack Tag Team Tournament.

Championship Battle

Twilight Sparkle and Flurry Heart vs Rainbow Dash vs Lighting Dust

In the stands, Jaden, Serena, and Masquerade joined the others.

"Sorry, if you or Serena couldn't make it to the final," Fluttershy said.

"It's okay, I was able to get used to Pokémon battling," Serena said. "What about you?"

"I made a good run, but Lighting's Pokémon was on another level," Jaden said.

On the battlefield...

All right from 16 tag battle pairs to only two and one of them will win the magnificent Soothe Bell!

"There is only one Pokémon I want to get the job done!" Rainbow threw Torchic's Pokéball sending Torchic.

"Huh? Torchic!?" Pinkie was surprised.

"I had a feeling Rainbow might do that," Clemont replied.

"Heracross, prepare for battle!" Lighting called Heracross to the field, as Heracross was ready for battle making Torchic grow worried.

"Don't worry, you're working with me!"

"If that's how want to play it. Espeon let's go!"

"You too, Meganium!"

Both Espeon and Meganium were out and were ready for battle.

"I can easily say the advantage goes to Rainbow and Lighting," Masquerade said.

Let the battle begin!

Championship Battle
Twlight Sparkle and Flurry Heart vs Rainbow Dash and Lighitng Dust

"We'll take the first move, Torchic, Fire Spin on Meganium!"

"Hereacross, Megahorn on Espeon!"

Torchic unleashed her Fire Spin and Hereacross charged with Megahorn.

"I thought they might do that, Meganium, Light Screen!"

The Light Screen blocked Fire Spin, and Espeon dodged the Hereacross pursuit.

"Brick Break!"

Hereacross moves forward and prepares to strike at Meganium.

"Counter with Tackle!"

Meganium went forward with Tackle before slamming Brick Break.

It's an even match between Tackle and Brick Break... but what this!?

The tackle smashed Hereacross into the ground!

Amazing! That Tackle took down Hereacross to the ground!

"Hereacross, get up!"

"Now, Solar Beam!"

"Solar Beam, doesn't it take a while to charge?" Bonnie asked.

"True, not if the weather is sunny which it is," Jaden replied.

"Quick, before Meganium has the chance to fire, Flame Charge!"

"I don't think so, Espeon, Swift!"

Espeon used Swift to send Torchic's Flame Charge off course.

"Go for it!"

"Right, Fire!"

Meganium fired the Solar Beam and both were hit by it and both panting die in the long wind of the battle.

"Lighting! If don't work together we're going to lose!"

"So what if we do?"

"I don't know about you but I'm winning this thing!'

"Don't be so confident, Rainbow, Espeon, Psybeam!

"Meganium, Razor Leaf!"

Both attacks hit Hereacross and Torchic, forcing them to skid back a little.

"Alright, enough playing around, it's time to finish this!" Lighting exclaimed as she put on her necklace with Key Stone in it.

"A Key Stone!?"

"Hereacross, show them your power Mega Evolve!"

A bright glow happened and suddenly Hereacross became its Mega-Evolved form.

By the stars of Gaia, in a desperate move, Lighting pulls out the big guns, Mega Evolution! Now, this should be interesting!

"Now, Megahorn!"

"Brace for impact, and use Psybeam on Heracross!'

"Use Razor Leaf on Hereacross as well!"

"Stop them with Fire Spin!"

Torchic shot Fire Spin which stops both Psybeam and Razor Leaf creating an explosion than from the smoke Mega-Hereacross came out and strike both of them with Megahorn and both were sent right into the barricade unconscious.

Espeon and Meganium are unable to battle! The winners are Hereacross and Torchic!

And there you have it, folks! The winner of the Slackstack Tag Team Tournament is Rainbow and Lighting!

"We did!" Rainbow exclaimed as she gave Torchic a big hug. "See, Torchic? You're the best!"

"Nice job, Heracross, you did good," Lighting and Hereacross fistbump.

...

Yes, there might've been scary moments, but I think this tournament has brought out something new and exciting in you both! So now, please accept the Soothe Bell.

The announcer handed them a sliver Soothe Bell.

"Thank you very much!"

And lets a big hand to all other Pokémon, who battled so hard during the competition.

Much later, Rainbow called all of her Pokémon out.

"Jolteon, Swellow, Crobat, Ninjask, and Torchic there's no better team I'd be with than all of you," Rainbow said.

The Pokémon replied happily, then Lighting walked over to her then tossed her Soothe Bell at Rainbow which she caught it.

"What was that for!?"

"You have it, I don't need it," Lighting said then walked away.

"Don't mind her. We're a team now!"

Next Chapter: Chapter 23-Heroes! Friends and Faux Alike! Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 3 Minutes