Ash, Silver, Pikachu, and Umbreon stood atop the Viridian City Gym, glaring at Giovanni, who had an evil smirk on his face. They were thinking on how they could take out the leader of Team Rocket. Then, Ash remembered something.

"PIKACHU, USE THUNDERBOLT ON GIOVANNI!"

"ASH, NO!"

"You really want your friends to die, do you? Well, so be it. Alakazam, drop them."

"GYARADOS, CATCH THEM!"

Serena and Espeon began to fall, but Gyarados emerged from the Pokeball and successfully caught the two. He put them on the ground and went back to listen to Ash's command. Giovanni clenched his fists.

"Alakazam, use Psyshock!"

"FLAMETHROWER!"

The Flamethrower disintegrated the Psyshock, as well as sent Alakazam flying. Silver looked at Umbreon.

"I need you to make sure Serena and Espeon are okay."

"But what about-"

"We'll take care of him. Just go."

"Ash, Umbreon is going to go down to check on Serena and Umbreon. Do you think you can tell Gyarados to take him?"

"Sure. Gyarados, please take Umbreon to the ground."

Umbreon jumped onto Gyarados and was taken to the ground. That left Ash, Silver, Pikachu, and Giovanni.

"I expected this from the boy..."

Giovanni pulled out a crowbar.

"But not from you, Silver."

With a surprising amount of agility, Giovanni rushed over and dealt a strong blow on Silver with the crowbar.

"Looks like it's time to teach you some discipline..."

"PIKACHU, IRON TAIL!"

Giovanni, however, saw it coming and blocked it. He then sent Pikachu flying with the crowbar.

"And just so you won't escape..."

He pulled out a button and pushed it. A large explosion occurred inside the building. Fire was everywhere, metal was falling.

"It's me and you, Ketchum!"

Giovanni had disappeared. Ash searched frantically for him, but he couldn't see him. He could see, however, Silver coughing up blood from the blow and Pikachu laying unconscious on the ground. He turned around, and Giovanni hit him full force in the jaw with the crowbar. Ash was sent flying, but he wasn't done yet. Ash staggered to his feet and saw Giovanni walk towards him.

"It's a shame you'll never live to be a Pokemon Master..."

Another blow, this time to the stomach, then to the face again. Ash's mouth was covered with blood and bruises, but he still stood.

"I'm not as easy to beat as last time, now am I?"

This time, Ash took a blow to his leg, which sent him to the ground.

"I will break you."

He prepared another attack, but Ash blocked the crowbar. Unfortunately, Giovanni just kicked him to keep him down. Ash was feeling pain that was worse than the battle in the Distortion World.

"I'd say one more hit should finish you."

He swung the crowbar back and landed a crushing blow on Ash's forehead. Ash was now blinded with the blood rushing down his face. He wiped it off, and got up. Giovanni feigned disappointment and was going to hit Ash again, but was surprised by Silver. He dropped the crowbar.

"Son...it seems you still haven't learned."

He then brought out and electric stick and charged it. He elbowed Silver in the stomach and not only shocked him, but also hit him with the stick.

"Gya-rados-use Flamethrower."

Giovanni turrned around, and saw Gyarados aim a Flamethrower straight at him. Giovanni avoided it, but Ash took the opportunity to escape. He picked up Pikachu, helped Silver up, and ran down the stairs with them. They managed to escape flaming debris and stone objects that fell down from the ceiling. They were almost at the exit. Ash ran ahead, but was met by Giovanni. This time, he had a knife in his hand.

"Ketchum...don't test me!"

"It's me you want. Let Silver go!"

"WHAT?! Ash! You do realize my dad is trying to kill you, right?"

"Yes, but it's my fight. I don't want you getting hurt. Plus, you're already hurt enough."

Silver proved Ash's point as he coughed up more blood, staining his entire shirt. He put his arm on Silver's shoulder.

"Get out of here. I'll meet you outside."

Silver staggered past his father and exited the building. Right after he closed the door, flaming debris fell and blocked the door. Ash looked at Giovanni.

"Let's finish this. PIKACHU, IRON TAIL!"

The Iron Tail landed a direct hit and sent Giovanni into the wall.

"Thunderbolt!"

Giovanni avoided this attack, though, and added to Ash's injuries with a slash across the face with his knife. Ash could still see, but everything was red. Pikachu cried out in worry.

"Let's see what you got, Mr. Champion."

He punched Ash into the wall. At this point, Pikachu was enraged, and while the Team Rocket leader had his back turned, he used Iron Tail, and landed it.

"You little pest!"

"Pikachu, use Iron Tail on *cough* the ground!"

Pikachu obeyed and made a mini ditch in the ground. In Giovanni's rampage, he ended up falling in. Nonetheless, he quickly got up. Ash wasn't done.

"Use Thunderbolt on the ceiling!"

Giovanni lunged at Ash, but he was quickly covered with debris. Pikachu jumped on Ash's shoulder while Ash stumbled through the burning building. They were disappointed when they found that the entrance was covered with debris. Ash fell on the floor, coughing up more and more blood. Ash was then kicked by an enraged Giovanni. His forehead was dripping with blood as well. Pikachu tried to attack, but was kicked into Ash.

"We don't have much time left, Champion. Either you die or I do. Or we could both go out. It's not me who's losing anything."

He walked over and smiled as he turned Ash over. Pikachu struggled to help. Giovanni took out his knife.

"Stop trying."

He brought it up. Ash gritted his teeth, tears were streaking down Pikachu's face.

"Never!"

He kicked Giovanni and Pikachu took action again.

"Quick Attack!"

Pikachu knocked Giovanni into a wall. As Giovanni was about to continue, he looked up and saw that the force of him being slammed into the wall made the large monitor on it fall. He helplessly watched as it fell on him, crushing him instantly. His knife fell to the ground. Pikachu was celebrating, but Ash was still vomiting blood. Most of his face was red with blood and populated with bruises, including that large scar inflicted by Giovanni. His partner ran over to Ash and tried to get him up, but to no avail. Pikachu started to cry, this time harder than ever as he hugged his trainer. The building was collapsing by the second. Ash returned the hug.

"P-Pikachu?"

Pikachu looked at Ash's face. Blood was streaming down. He dug his face into Ash's chest.

"Just close your eyes, Pikachu."

He saw the ceiling of the building get closer and closer.

"Just close-your-eyes."

The building had fallen.

TO BE CONTINUED...