(A/n) I removed one of the poll choices to narrow the vote since she wasn't getting many votes anyways. Dawn is still winning by one vote. Remember, every vote counts! I will show the final pairing in a few chapters. As of now, Misty is paired with Tracey (sorry but there was only one vote for her) and Iris is paired with Cilan. (A/n)
"The battle Ash versus Lenora is about to begin! This will be a two on two battle! The first to lose two pokemon loses! Trainers, please choose your pokemon!" The referee announced.
"Infernape! I choose you!" Ash called out Infernape.
"Watchog! Come on out!" Lenora called out Watchog.
"Begin!" The referee called.
"Remember, Infernape. We need to lose." Ash said with telepathy for only Infernape to hear, before saying out loud. "Infernape, use Flamethrower!"
"Watchog! Dodge and use Confuse Ray!" Lenora called. Watchog dodged the weak Flamethrower blown at him and easily hit Infernape with Confuse Ray.
"Infernape!" Ash cried. He pretended to calm himself. "Use Dig!"
Infernape was confused and dug at thin air.
Ash groaned. "Never mind. Use Mach Punch!"
"Watchog! Use Thunderbolt!" Lenora called.
Infernape hit the wall with Mach Punch and was in turn hit with Thunderbolt. He fell to the ground, out cold.
"Infernape is unable to battle! Watchog wins!" The referee shouted. "Send out your next pokemon!"
"Infernape, you were great. Pikachu, you ready buddy?" Ash turned to the pokemon sitting beside him after returning Infernape to his pokeball. Pikachu ran onto the field. "Okay! Use Thunderbolt!"
"Watchog! Use Confuse Ray again! Then use Low Kick!" Lenora called out.
"Dodge and use Electro Ball!" Ash commanded.
Pikachu did so and knocked out Watchog with the Electro Ball (by accident, of course).
"Watchog is unable to battle! Pikachu wins! Send out your next pokemon!" The referee yelled.
"Herdier! Come on out!" Lenora released her Herdier. "Finish this quick with Giga Impact!"
"Pikachu, dodge it!" Ash called before adding to only Pikachu telepathically. "Don't really. We'll lose if that hits you."
Pikachu started running slowly to the side and was hit with the Giga Impact. When the dust cleared, Pikachu was out cold.
"Pikachu is unable to battle! Herdier wins! And the victory goes to Lenora!" The referee announced.
The completely full stands (Everyone in Nacrene City had heard about the deal between Lenora and Ash) groaned.
"Ash! Why'd you have to lose?!" Iris yelled.
"It's not the end of the world, Iris. We'll find another way to find him before Team Rocket does." Ash replied.
"True, but this would've been much faster." Tracey pointed out.
Lenora walked over to Ash. "Ash, can I talk to you privately?"
"Sure." Ash agreed and they walked into the other room.
"How did your friends know I knew who Shadow was?" Lenora asked.
"It wasn't me, if that's what you're thinking. Apparently, Tracey had a bunch of dreams about Shadow, and you saw who he was in one of them." Ash answered.
Lenora looked him in the eyes. "Everyone in Nacrene City heard about it somehow. It won't be long until Team Rocket comes after me in an attempt to find out."
Ash sighed. "I don't know what to do about that. I'm really sorry. Tell you what, how about you travel with us on our search for Shadow? We can protect each other that way."
"That's a good idea, but what about the gym?" Lenora asked.
Ash shrugged. "It's your choice, but whatever happens, please don't tell them who Shadow is. At least until we find him." He made air parentheses on the word 'find'.
Lenora nodded. "Give me until tomorrow. I'll talk to my husband about it tonight."
"Okay, but keep an eye out. Team Rocket could show up at any minute." Ash warned.
Lenora agreed. "Will do, and don't worry. If they come, I won't tell them who Shadow is."
"Thanks, Lenora. I appreciate it." Ash smiled at her and left to go join his friends, who were still mad at him.
Later that night…
"Ash! Ash, wake up!" Iris shouted in Ash's ear.
Ash awoke with a start. "Iris? What are you doing in my room?"
"The gym is on fire!" Iris responded.
Ash leaped out of bed and grabbed his pokeballs. "Watch over Hope! I'll be back!"
Iris nodded as Ash raced out of the room.
A few minutes later…
"Ash!" Cilan called as Ash ran past him and into the gym. "Ash! Come back!"
Ash ignored him, calling out his Buizel and telling him to use his water-type Counter Shield to douse the flames.
The attack managed to put out the flames, but also caused a lot of steam as well.
Ash started searching for Lenora and Hawes, coughing as he did so.
Meanwhile…
Lenora was almost out cold when she heard coughing other than her own.
"Over here!" She called.
She was surprised when not a firefighter but Ash stumbled into her view.
"Ash, what are you doing here?! Don't you know it's dangerous to run into a burning building?!" Lenora exclaimed.
Ash ignored her words, untying the ropes Team Rocket had used to bind her to a post.
"Ash, are you listening to me?" Lenora yelled.
"Where's Hawes? Is he nearby? We need to all three get out of here." Ash said, making it obvious that he wasn't listening to Lenora before.
Lenora shook her head. "Hawes is dead. Team Rocket shot him when I refused to tell them who Shadow was." Ash froze at her statement, tears threatening to break surface. "There's nothing we can do for him now and they left me for dead as well by tying me up with the gym on fire."
"This is my fault." Ash whispered.
Lenora placed a hand on his shoulder. "There's nothing you could have done, Ash."
"I could've healed him. That's the reward I got from Arceus. But I wasn't here. I was too late." Ash mumbled, losing his fight with the tears.
Lenora pushed him towards the closest exit. "It's too late now. We need to get out of here before we die too. Come on."
Ash obeyed and they stumbled out the back door, Buizel following.