Chapter 1: An Unexpected Surprise!

Korrina returned from her jog with Lucario. She sat down near a bench.

"Hoo!" She sighed. "That was quite a run! Wasn't it Lucario?"

Lucario nodded.

Just then, Gurkinn ran over quickly. He had something in his hand.

"Grandfather?" Korrina asked. "What are you doing here?"

"No time to explain!" Gurkinn replied. "Follow me!"

Gurkinn just grabbed Korrina and Lucario and led them to a car that is on standby in front of an inn. He put the two inside the car, followed by himself. The driver roared the car into life, and began driving.

"Grandfather?" Korrina spoke up. "You're acting really strange today."

"I guess this is the time to explain." Gurkinn replied. "In all the time I've refereed all of your gym battles, I got prouder and prouder after every battle."

"Point being?" Korrina asked.

"Due to this, I have decided to give you a reward for your hard efforts." Gurkinn smiled.

"A reward?" Korrina said. Then, with a ding in her head, she cheered. "YAY!"

"Did you hear that, Lucario?" She cheered. Lucario smiled and raised its fist.

"So what's the reward?" Korrina asked.

"Wait and see." Gurkinn chuckled.

The car drove on for a long time. Korrina and Lucario actually fell asleep during the trip. When the car reached its destination, Gurkinn coughed into his mouth and woke up Korrina.

"We're here." He whispered.

Korrina rubbed her eyes, and stepped out of the car. Lucario did the same, only stretching when it got off the car. Gurkinn got a backpack out of the trunk. He tossed it to Korrina.

"So, what's the reward?" Korrina asked.

"See for yourself." Gurkinn chuckled. "Well, I'll see you in 2 days. Bye!"

"Wait, wha-?" Korrina started.

But before she could finish, Gurkinn got inside of the car, and that said car tore down the road with black tire marks on where it was before. That left Korrina and Lucario with a backpack on a sidewalk.

"Well… that… happened." Korrina commented.

Lucario shrugged.

"Alright, let's get that reward!" Korrina said.

And right as she said that, something loud banged their ears.

"It is neck to neck, everyone!"

Korrina fell out of shock. Lucario helped her back up, and they turned to the source of the yell. Both of them now realized where they are.

"We're in Lumiose City. At the Pokemon League!" Korrina yelled.

Lucario tugged her, and pointed at the screen on the stadium. It first cut to a shot of buff trainer with a Mega-Garchomp, and then it cut to a trainer that Korrina recognizes anywhere with a Mega-Gallade.

"AXEL!" Korrina screamed with joy.

"Alright, Gallade!" Axel yelled over the speakers. "Wrap this up with Ice Punch!"

Gallade made a fist, frosts emanating, and charged at Garchomp.

"Garcho, Dual Chop!" The buff trainer ordered.

Garchomp's blades glowed green, and charged at Gallade. The moves were met with an explosion. The smoke cleared up, and Garchomp was unconscientious, de-Mega-evolving.

"Garchomp is unable to battle! Gallade wins! Which means advancing to the semi-finals is Axel of Sunyshore City!" The referee announced.

"Alright!" Axel cheered.

"And with that, our last semi-finalist has been confirmed!" The announcer called. "Now we shall shuffle to see what the match-ups will be!"

The cards began to fly all over the screen. Ash, Sawyer, Alain, and Axel tensed up as they looked up at the screen. The cards soon eased up and aligned themselves next to each other. Ash was placed next to Sawyer, while Axel was matched up with Alain.

"And there we go, folks! The battles from now on will be on a 6-on-6 full battle!" The announcer called. "The first battle will be Axel VS Alain! We will see you tomorrow!"

Korrina got concerned. 'He's fighting the guy with that Mega-Charizard…' she thought.

Soon, everyone began to leave the stadium. Korrina searched for Axel. She found him with Ash and his friends.

"Alright… So I'll be facing Alain tomorrow…" Axel breathed.

"You'll be okay." Ash said. "You've gotten stronger. You can do this!"

"Hm…" Axel sighed. "I guess…"

"Come on, don't be like that!" Korrina spoke up from behind. Everyone turned to see her and Lucario.

"Korrina!" Axel said. He quickly walked over to her, but resisted the urge to hug her. "When did you get here?"

"I just got here." Korrina replied. "So, you made it to the semi-finals?"

"Yep!" Axel said. "I'll be fighting Alain."

"You can take him!" Korrina cheered.

"I guess." Axel sighed. "I going to have train pretty hard before tomorrow."

"I'll help you with that!" Korrina said. Lucario agreed by nodding a bit.

"Me too." Ash chimed in.

"As will I." Clemont said also.

Axel looked around. He liked this. Not only would training with Ash and Clemont be extremely helpful, but with Korrina being a moral support and training partner, he might be able to win this.

"Thanks guys…" Axel sighed. "I don't know what I would do without you guys."

Then, Korrina's and Lucario's stomach growled. They both blushed at the embarrassment.

"You didn't eat before coming, did you?" Axel asked.

Korrina laughed nervously. Axel put a hand on her shoulder. "Meal's on the house."

Korrina smiled. "Thanks."

Then the two walked off towards the trainer's village. Unlike the Lumiose siblings, Serena and Ash now know of their crush on each other. They were told about their crushes individually. They have decided to let take this at their own pace. They chuckled at the sight of the two.