A Short Grand Tournament


	The Grant Tournament was held once a decade. It was a Pokemon Master 
tournament. One could expect to be invited only once in a lifetime. It was held 
in a huge stadium in Japan right on the coast, half of the stadium jutting out 
over the water. Many white pavilion tents were set up on the beach because there 
were not enough places to stay during the event.
	On the first day the stadium was full of people. There were thousands of 
spectators, many with their own Pokemon. Below, in the arena, there were 
hundreds of Pokemon Trainers registering their Pokemon. They came from all over 
the world and most had their own Dojo. Just about every known Pokemon appeared 
at the tournament.
	Among the registrants was a figure in black that stood out. It was not the 
color of his outfit that made him different. Black was especially popular among 
the trainers with Dark Pokemon. He was among the oldest competitors. He was much 
taller then the children and most of the teenagers. He had a pair of owls on his 
shoulders, Hou Hou. They made him seem like a giant. It was his third time at 
this tournament.
	They called him the Night Master. When he was ten years old, he vanished 
into a dark forest and was not seen again for almost a year. Many trainers went 
looking for him, worrying for his safety. They could not find him. When he 
reappeared he had the Hou Hou and used them the first time he went to the Grand 
Tournament.
	Most Trainers released their Pokemon one at a time during registration. It 
took a long time to collect and train these Pokemon. The Trainers were proud of 
them and wanted to show them off. The Night Master approached the registration 
table and handed in an envelope with a description of his Pokemon. Then he left.
	The first day of Pokemon battles was spectacular. Trainer after Trainer 
battled. The losers went home a little wiser and more humble. The winners gained 
another notch on their belt, another victory. The more powerful Pokemon did 
better as should be expected. Pokemon such as Charizard, Blastoise and Scyther 
ruled the stadium. Weaker Pokemon simply grew exhausted.
	This was a professional tournament. There were no angry words. Few went 
home crying. Few bragged outright about their victories. As the sun began so 
settle into the sea the field had been cleared of many trainers. Less then half 
the original number remained.
	“Night Master versus Rei, combat arena four.” The loudspeaker blared.
	Rei, barely fifteen, approached the large circle. He wore blue and had six 
master balls on his waist. He waited. Night Master was no where to be seen. Rei 
slouched and smiled thinking he might get a default victory without having to 
further exhaust his Pokemon.
	“Night Master to combat arena four.” The loudspeaker announced.
	Rei looked around to make sure he had not overlooked his opponent. Rei did 
not see Night Master anywhere around him. A murmur went through the croud. Every 
other Pokemon Trainer had appeared when called. This would be the first default 
victory. The talking in the croud increased.
	The sun settled under the ocean and the last ray of light vanished. Rei 
nodding, understanding. His opponent now stood across the combat area from him. 
The Night Master had arrived and no one had seen him enter. The great huge owls 
on his shoulders looked dark and ominous in the darkened battle ground. As per 
tradition, they did not use electric lights at night. The torch light left many 
shadows and the croud had to look carefully to even be sure the Night Master was 
there at all, in his black outfit.
	There was some discussion between the judges. After a few moments a judge 
picked up a microphone. It squelched loudly until he moved it away from a nearby 
speaker. Rei looked at the Night Master. Neither flinched at the loud noise. The 
owls closed their eyes in pain. Rei realized their weakness.
	“Ready. Begin!”
	Rei began with his Magneton. He had trained it to emit a sonic boom, an 
attack that had been very effective on many Pokemon with sensitive hearing. It 
had been difficult training this Pokemon because it wrecked a lot of his 
electronics. That is how it earned it’s name.
	“Go Circuit Frier!”
	Night Master lifted one shoulder quickly and one of the Hou Hou opened 
it’s wings and leapt into the air. The gust of wind blew out the torches and the 
combat area went dark. There was a terrible noise, a great screech.
	“Circuit Frier, lightening storm, now!”
	Rei paused for a moment. Some staff ran to relight the torches. Light 
slowly crept across the combat area.
	“Circuit Frier?”
	The poor magnetic Pokemon lay curled up in a ball in the center of the 
arena, shivering. No longer actively controlling it’s magnetic ability it 
accidentally pulled in loose change and metal pens. They made metal clanking 
sounds as they hit the Pokemon.
	“Enough. Circuit Frier return!”
	Rei lifted his Pokeball and the silver colored Pokemon vanished. Rei 
looked across the arena at his opponent. Night Master did not look like he had 
even moved yet. Both owls sat on his shoulders. Night Master nodded at Rei. Rei 
nodded, shaken but determined to win.
	This time he decided to use a stronger Pokemon, his Blastoise. Blastoise 
would not be particularly effective against the flying Pokemon but Hou Hou were 
not known to be particularity tough and the water Pokemon could certainly dish 
it out. If that failed, Rei had another Pokemon in reserve.
	The name of Rei’s Blastoise came from it’s service with the Fire 
Department near Rei’s Dojo. It seemed to enjoy putting out fires and had done 
very well against the many Charizards in the tournament. He hoped it would be 
enough for the Hou Hou.
	“Go Firestopper!”
	Night Master just looked at the Blastoise. Rei looked at Night Master and 
waited for the older Trainer to release a Pokemon. Night Master smiled. He spoke 
very slowly.
	“Go Shadow.”
	A great black shape erupted from Night Master’s Pokeball. Rei felt his 
heart grow cold with chill and fear. A cold wind swept across the combat area. 
The torches burned but the shadows lengthened regardless. People in the croud 
began leaving their seats and moving away from the combat area.
	Night Master closed his eyes and nodded. Rei realized it was a command and 
responded quickly. He spoke to his water Pokemon.
	“Firestopper, watercannon, now!”
	A great black fire erupted from the Dark Pokemon. It engulfed Firestopper. 
To the Blastoise’s credit, his water cannon held off the black flames, until 
they turned cold. The water froze trapping the Blastoise in a sphere of ice. It 
would die in minutes. It could not breath. Rei panicked.
	“Firestopper!” Rei ran out into the combat area.
	“Get back!” Hollered Night Master.
	One of the Hou Hou streaked across the combat area and knocked Rei back. 
Then it opened it’s wings and shielded him from the great hot blast of orange 
fire that erupted from the Dark Charizard. Although he could not clearly see it, 
Rei knew what it must be.
	The Hou Hou was burned and the Blastoise was expertly freed from the ice. 
It collapsed, stunned by the experience. It would be fine. The Hou Hou was badly 
injured. Night Master stalked across the combat arena and scooped up the injured 
bird. The black Charizard was already gone. When Rei looked again, so was Night 
Master.
	Rei sat on the ground. He looked around. There was another black burn mark 
added to this combat area and a small pool of water. Rei recalled Firestopper. 
This was his second defeat and he was out of the tournament. He could not 
believe how the fight had gone, how fast it had been.

	Later, when he went to eat dinner, Rei saw Night Master sitting alone with 
his owls. Rei got his food and sat down across from Night Master. The man was 
big and quiet but he did not discourage Rei from sitting, except for the 
presence of the owls. In fact Night Master spoke first.
	“You fought well. You had a good strategy.” Night Master said.
	“But you won.” Rei replied.
	“You have never fought Shadow Pokemon.” Night Master stated.
	“No. I have never even seen a Shadow Pokemon.” Rei said.
	“Few have. They are hard to find and only appear at night. It took me a 
very long time to befriend Shadow.” Night Master said looking out the window at 
the stars.
	“You didn’t just catch him?” Rei asked.
	“No. My Pokemon are only in Pokeballs now for convenience. Shadow will not 
come out into the sunlight.”
	“How do you catch Shadow Pokemon?” Rei inquired.
	“You must find a place in the forest where you can not see the stars or 
the moon. Then you must wait. Darkness can be scary. You must overcome your 
fear. It will grow and grow. When you are more afraid then you have ever been 
you will know that the Shadow Pokemon have arrived.”
	“If you are so scared how do you befriend one?”
	“You must be calm, overcome your fear, put it aside.” Night Master 
answered.
	“I will try.” Rei said, determined.
	“Then you will be the second one to have a Shadow Pokemon.” Night Master 
stated. “Good luck. If you do befriend one, bring it to my Dojo and I will show 
you how to train it.”
	“You would do that?” Rei asked.
	“Yes.” Night Master nodded.

	This last dual of the evening was one that would be talked about for some 
time. Many Pokemon Trainers stayed up late that evening and discussed what 
attacks had been used. Some theorized that the “Dark Charizard” was using some 
kind of fear attack. Others insisted that the powers came from shadow. None of 
them had seen a black Charizard. Some insisted it was a Shadow Charizard.
	Morning came. Many of the defeated Pokemon Masters joined the croud to 
watch the others still competing. Many left. A number of them flew back home on 
their Pokemon when the sun rose. There were fewer people but the stands were 
still full. The order of competition was posted first thing and everyone 
gathered around to read it.
	“Night Master has to fight first thing!”
	“Ha, so much for his tricks in the dark!”
	Many Pokemon Trainers were relieved. Wind was not. She had to duel Night 
Master. She was not looking forward to it. Her water-based Pokemon would not do 
well against Night Master’s Charizard. She had narrowly beaten a Charizard 
during the previous day and her Blastoise was still smarting from the encounter. 
She put her hopes in her Pidgeotto.
	“Wind, Night Master, Combat Arena Six.” The speaker yelled out.
	Night Master appeared from the entrance and walked across the five combat 
areas to stand across from Wind. Wind felt very small. Night Master had his 
owls. He did not look as intimidating as he had the previous evening but she was 
still uncertain.
	“Begin!” A judge announced.
	Wind played her best Pokemon right away.
	“Go Winddancer!” The Pidgeotto appeared from the Master Ball and flew into 
the arena.
	Night Master smiled. Wind felt a chill. Night Master spoke softly.
	“Go Nyctea.”
	A large pure white Hou Hou appeared from Night Master’s Pokeball. It began 
to snow. That was where the cold came from. Nyctea and Winddancer blew wind at 
each other with any real effect. They scratched and clawed a little but the 
match was going nowhere and the flying Pokemon were getting tired.
	“Nyctea come back.”
	“Little One, go.”
	Night Master released yet another owl, a tiny little one. It was very fast 
and flew circles around the Pidgeotto, showing off. The two flew around and 
around. Finally the Pigeotto exhausted itself and Wind had to recall it.
	“Go Blastoise!”
	Night Master frowned. He raised his Pokeball to retrieve his tiny owl but 
Blastoise let out a great gust of water. He drenched the tiny bird and it fell 
to the ground. The great blue Pokemon thundered over to the small owl and 
threatened to crush it.
	Night Master hissed. An instant later Blastoise lay on the ground, badly 
scratched, and both of Night Master’s Hou Hou’s were no longer on his shoulders. 
Night Master scooped up the tiny owl. Wind hung her head in shame. She recalled 
her Blastoise.
	The judges conferred. Night Master had cheated by using two Pokemon 
against one. However the Blastoise had continued acting aggressively against a 
Pokemon that had been knocked out. They spoke for some time. It was an 
uncomfortable time. Both Trainers had broken the rules. The judges came out and 
spoke with the Trainers. The Blastoise was ejected from the tournament. It was 
not trained well enough yet. Night Master was to keep his Pokemon in their 
Pokeballs.
	“No.”
	The judge looked a little taken aback. “Pardon me?”
	“These Pokemon have never been in Pokeballs. I’ll forfeit the match 
instead.”
	“Very well.”
	Night Master turned and walked away.

	The matches came to a close much sooner this day. There were less 
competitors. Wind looked for Night Master all day and could not find him in the 
Stadium. She returned later that evening when the sun had set and found him in 
the restaurant, by himself, with his owls. He nodded towards her.
	“He spends too much time in his Pokeball.” Night Master stated.
	“Who?” Wind asked, sitting down.
	“Firestopper. He is like a child who has been cooped up in the house too 
long.”
	“He is just too big to let loose all the time.” She said.
	“You do not trust him. You should.” He said.
	“But look at him, he’s so, well, careless.” She explained.
	“He is just young and eager, like a lot of these Trainers, like I was. 
Give it time and trust. He’ll sort out. You should let him out to run before he 
fights in a competition.”
	“He’ll be tired then.” She said.
	“Yes, but he’ll be focused.”
	Wind decided to change the topic.
	“Why owls?”
	Night Master smiled. “That is a long story. To say it simply, it began 
when I was a child. An owl flew into the power line near my house. It fell to 
the ground and I ran over and looked into it’s eyes. Since then, it’s been 
owls.” Night Master shrugged.
	“Did it....”
	“Yeah. Since then I have learned to care for them. I have learned their 
secrets and their strengths.”
	“I noticed that.” Wind said. “Well, good luck tomorrow. You know, if 
neither of us loose another match, we may have to duel each other again.”
	“I know. That’s all right.” Night Master smiled a smile full of wisdom and 
knowledge.
	Wind left, thinking about what the older Trainer had said.

	Dawn came. A new list was posted. Night Master was to fight Venom, a Team 
Rocket member with a taste for poisonous Pokemon. Many of the Pokemon he had 
fought had been knocked out for the rest of the competition. One competitor had 
to withdraw because all of his Pokemon were very sick. Venom was thin and cocky 
and arrived early for the match. He stretched his arms and cracked his knuckles 
out in front of him. He stood before combat area 1. He waited.
	“Begin!”
	Venom blinked, surprised. He had been watching the other side of the 
combat area. He did not see Night Master until Night Master moved. Suddenly, 
there he was, as if everyone else saw Night Master except Venom. That was 
exactly what had happened and Venom did not know why.
	“Go Vileplume!” Venom yelled quickly.
	NightMaster hissed. He stood still and watched. One of his owls moved. The 
battle was over very quickly. A badly scratched Vileplume lay in the combat 
area. NightMaster raised his eyebrow and revealed a half smile. Venom did not 
know if Night Master was actually surprised at the ease of the fight or if he 
knew that Venom had accidentally sent his untrained Vileplume out. The Vileplume 
was still alive. Venom had to suspect the later. Venom looked angry.
	“Go Toxin!”
	Gas spewed from his Master Ball. Venom held his breathe as the stench hit 
his nostrils. Night Master stepped back. This new Pokemon in all the vile toxins 
was virtually invisible. Green mists filled the combat area. The judges looked 
concerned and revolted.
	“Well?” Venom said, waiting for Nightmaster to release a Pokemon.
	“No.” Night Master said calmly.
	“No?” Venom asked incredulously.
	Night Master shrugged each shoulder and his owls took flight. Then the man 
smiled. He held up his hand towards the judges. First he showed four fingers, 
then three, then one, then four again. Then Night Master stepped into the combat 
area and disappeared into the mists.
	A single strike could be heard. It was loud and sounded like a hammer 
against wood. Night Master appeared from the venomous cloud. His eyes were 
watering badly but he was not coughing. He had held his breath. The judges 
flipped through a rulebook.
	Night Master paused to lean over and breath for a few minutes. He almost 
threw up. Finally he stood up and looked across to his opponent.
	“I suggest you go get that ugly little thing.”
	Venom’s jaw dropped. “You....., you....no, you didn’t. I don’t believe it. 
Not with one punch!”
	Night Master smiled. “Rule four three one four, a Pokemon Trainer may 
enter combat to prevent the death of his Pokemon.”
	“Your Pokemon were not in the fight!” Venom cried.
	“She was.” Night Master pointed to the owl circling above the slime green 
mists.
	“But....”
	“That is stretching the rule Night Master, but we will allow it. Venom, 
please remove your Pokemon from the combat area.” The judge said.
	“I can’t.” Venom stammered. “I can’t go in there!”
	“Match forfeit.” The Judge shrugged. He was no fan of Venom’s.
	Night Master walked away.

	Night Master had one other match that day but it was against a young 
Pokemon trainer who had come up, by luck, through the loosing pool. It was a 
short match and Night Master won with his owls and apologized.
	Dusk crept across the stadium and then night settled in. Night Master sat 
in the cafe nursing a pop and some crackers to settle his stomach. His eyes were 
still red and he felt poorly. Venom entered to get his dinner and sat down at a 
table nearby. The two ate quietly for a while without even looking at each 
other. There was the soft crunch of crackers and slurp of soup and pop. Then 
there was nothing and both had finished their food.
	Venom finally turned and looked at Night Master. Night Master lifted his 
gaze from his empty glass, almost as if knowing he was being looked at. Their 
eyes met. They looked at each other for a long time. Minutes passed. They did 
not speak. There were no angry glares. They just looked at each other calmly.
	Venom shook his head. “I can’t believe it.”
	Night Master got up and walked over. He put his hand on Venom’s shoulder. 
The older man looked like a giant, especially with the owls on his shoulders.
	“Come to my Dojo.” Night Master said.
	“You have a Dojo? Where is it?” Venom asked.
	“It is in the dark heart of the woods.” Night Master looked hard at Venom. 
“What is your name?”
	“Michael.” He said quietly.
	“Michael, get rid of your poisonous Pokemon. Sell them. Trade them. Delete 
them. Then come to my Dojo. It is my invitation to you.”
	Night Master left.

	The Night Master stood by the shore and watched the stars. A great huge 
Pokemon splashed in the water before him. It was his Charizard. His owls were 
off somewhere. Most people enjoyed the beach during the day when it was warm and 
bright. He enjoyed it now. It was dark with only infrequent moonlight from 
behind the clouds. It was cool. It wasn’t cold. There was fresh air and Night 
Master enjoyed it. He fell asleep by the water’s edge. When he woke Shadow was 
gone, vanished back into his Pokeball and dawn was about to arrive.

	The fourth day of the tournament began. There were only a few trainers 
left. The stands were still almost full and the croud watched with great 
interest. They wanted to see who would win. Only six competitors remained. Night 
Master might have fought Wind again but his lot came up to compete against 
another Team Rocket trainer. He called himself Black. Black was a cruel trainer.
	Night Master stood across from Black.
	“Begin.” Yelled the judge.
	“Go Wildstorm!” Black yelled, releasing a Pigeotto.
	“Go Nyctea.” Night Master said, releasing the small owl.
	Nyctea was much faster and could dodge very well. Wildstorm was hard 
pressed to get near the small Pokemon. Black looked on frustrated but oddly 
calm.
	“Wildstorm, self-destruct!” Black yelled with an evil voice.
	The explosion took out both Pokemon. The little owl flopped to the ground. 
There was no sign of the Pigeotto. Night Master frowned. The croud went silent 
and watched.
	“Every tournament.” He said darkly.
	Night Master entered the combat area and looked upon his owl. He glared at 
Black. Black smiled. Night Master reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. 
He opened it and removed a small star-shaped gem. Several people in the croud 
gasped with surprise and everyone started talking. Black did not recognize the 
item. Night Master took it with both hands and broke it in half over his dead 
Pokemon. Brilliant light flowed out. It consumed the bird. The bird became a 
thing of light, brilliant and impossible to look at. The light finally dimmed, 
but the bird was still make of light. It was larger now, different. It had 
evolved, but not as Pokemon normally evolved. Night Master truly knew secrets of 
the owl.
	“Enough Nyctea, return.” Night Master said quietly and the brilliant 
Pokemon vanished. Everything seemed darker.
	“Go Icequake!” Black yelled. A large Garados appeared.
	Night Master lifted one shoulder and one of his owls attacked. It raked 
the Garados but as soon as it was close Black yelled.
	“Icequake, self-destruct!”
	The explosion was huge and messy. Night Master did not flinch. His other 
owl took cover behind it’s master. When the smoke cleared the battlefield was 
empty of Pokemon. The judges looked angry. Black had done this before in the 
tournament. This was his strategy.
	Suddenly an Owl appeared in the area. It was un-injured. Night Master 
raised his fist. The owl vanished again and reappeared on the fist. This owl 
could teleport.
	“Shall we continue this?” Night Master hissed at Black.
	Black looked furious.
	“Go Blastoise!”
	A miserable looking Blastoise appeared. It had been poorly cared for. The 
fact that it was probably about to self-destruct probably had a great deal to do 
with it’s mood. Night Master nodded at the poor creature.
	“I will not allow another Pokemon to die.” Night Master said.
	“Ha! Do you give up?” Black yelled.
	“No. Do you?” Night Master said calmly.
	“Don’t make me laugh. Send out a Pokemon already!” Black retorted.
	“Very well.”
	Night Master withdrew an empty Pokeball. He held it up and concentrated. 
He held it for quite some time and the croud became silent. The ball began to 
glow.
	“Any time now old man!” Black spat.
	“Yes.” Whispered Night Master “Any time now.”
	He waited. A song could be heard. It was not a real song. It could not 
really be heard. It was there never the less. It was a song sung in the mind, a 
telepathic song. Night Master looked relieved. He whispered a single word, a 
name.
	“Mew.”
	Black’s eyes went wide with horror.
	There was a bright flash as the Mew flew into the stadium, entered and 
then left the Pokeball and appeared in the combat area. This was a formal 
indication to the judges that the pokemon accepted Night Master as its trainer, 
although it was clear that Night Master likely had little influence on the 
pokemon. Purple lightening danced around the arena for a few seconds and the 
Blastoise was paralyzed.
	“Blastoise, self-destruct!” Black yelled.
	Mew concentrated. The Blastoise could not self-destruct. Then the 
Blastoise vanished. Night Master held up his Pokeball. Mew was still in the 
arena. The Pokeball had a new Pokemon in it. It cracked with energy.
	“That’s my Pokemon!” Black howled.
	“No. Mew has switched places with the Blastoise. The Mew is yours.” 
Black’s eyebrows lifted when Night Master said that. Night Master added, “Good 
luck keeping or controlling him.”
	The judge examined the Pokeball containing the Blastoise. “He appears 
quite happy here and you have gained a Mew son. The switch is accepted.”
	Night Master left the combat arena. He did not check to see who would 
compete the next day for first place. Wind did check.

	The old trainer did not go to the cafe that evening. He went for a walk in 
the woods to clear his thoughts. He had much to think about. He would have to 
fight Wind again. He knew, although he had not looked. He also thought about the 
Pokemon that he had forced into an evolution to save it’s life. He did not know 
if the Pokemon would have preferred that evolution to death.
	Lost in his thoughts, Night Master did not see Black and several other 
Team Rocket members sneaking up on him. Perhaps though, just as with Wind, he 
did know but choose not to look. Each of the Team Rocket members had different 
Pokemon out and ready. The approached quietly.
	Night Master stopped walking.
	“You must think yourselves powerful because you belong to Team Rocket.”
	“You bet, old man.” Black said. “Get him!”
	“Perhaps not.”
	Night Master spoke and spun around. The forest came alive with birds. They 
came from every direction and landed in the trees all around. They were owls, 
hundreds of owls. Something huge and black stomped through the bushes with many 
smaller black forms. The Team Rocket members stopped. Some of their Pokemon fled 
back into their Pokeballs. Black looked hopelessly angry.
	“I did not come here to fight you. It would be no contest. Do you think, 
for a moment, I competed with the strongest Pokemon I have trained? I came here 
looking for new students. You are not going to be among them. Go away. Leave me 
alone. You do not belong here, in the forest.”
	The Team Rocker members left. Strangely some of their Pokemon stayed 
behind. Night Master looked at these Pokemon.
	“Pokemon near me are not bound by their Pokeballs. You are free.”

	Day five would be the last day of the tournament. There would be only one 
fight. It was to be Wind against Night Master. And that is another story.

Mark Charke
MCharke@aol.com
www.Charke.Ca