Chapter 4 is up and it's my first battle to write and it's a bit one-sided but realistic. Please read and review.

Chapter 4

Everyone was having a great time re-uniting as they sat eating at tables that were set up in the garden for the occasion. As usual, Ash and May ate twice as much as anyone else.

" Whoa." Ash groaned as he leaned back in his chair. " That was great, huh Buddy?" He asked Pikachu. The Electric-Mouse answered with a happy squeak as he finished his bottle of ketchup. " I sure missed your cooking while I was travelling Mom." He asked.

" Yeah, thanks for all this Mrs. Ketchum." Gary added. Everyone then started pitching in thanks for Delia and Professor Oak.

" Now, now. No need to thank us." Professor Oak told the group.

" Yes, and please everyone, call me Delia." Ash's mother insisted.

" So Ash." Max stated, changing the subject. " You ready for that battle now?"

" Sure if you think your up for it." Ash said with a cocky grin. " Brock, you wanna referee?"

" No problem Ash." Said the former Pewter City Gym Leader.

As Ash and Max took their positions opposite one another by the lake, Brock stood on the sideline halfway between them and the rest of the attended party sat on the opposite side.

" I can't wait to see this." Dawn said excitedly with Piplup in her lap nodding vigourously.

" Yes, it should be a good experience for Max to battle a trainer of Ash's skill." Norman commented.

" Hopefully they don't push their Pokémon too far." Caroline added.

" Hopefully Ash will take Max down a peg." May muttered under her breath.

" Choosing Ash over your brother." Misty whispered into Mays ear. " He must mean a lot to you." May blushed while Misty and Dawn giggled and Brock began announcing the rules.

" This is a 1-On-1 Pokémon battle between Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and Max Maple of Petalburg City. This battle will go on until I deem one of the Pokémon unable to continue. Trainers choose your Pokémon."

" Well Ash, since I know how strong you are, I will be using my strongest Pokémon."

Max stated. " Grovyle, come on out." The Tree Gecko Pokémon appeared, put a twig in his mouth and smirked confidently.

" Hmmm..." Ash thought of which Pokémon to use in the battle and, eventually, he decided on a faithful friend. " Bulbasaur, I choose you." He said.

Bulbasaur ran on to the field happily.

" Bulba Bulbasaur." He exclaimed.

" Let the battle begin." Brock shouted.

Ash was about to call an attack, but stopped when he saw Max laugh.

" What's so funny?" Ash asked irratibly, irked by Max's lack of respect.

" Well Ash." He started, everyone in attendance groaned knowing a lecture was coming from the young trainer. " I thought someone with your experience would know better than to use a first stage evolution against a second stage." Bulbasaur was angry at this comment. He hated being underestimated because of his refusal to evolve.

" A Fire or Flying type would have been the best choice." Max continued.

" Hmmm..." Replied Ash with mock thought. " So would you prefer if I use Charizard, I mean he is the best choice."

Charizard caught on to what his trainer was saying and roared along with a flamethrower.

Max's face turned to shock and fear causing Misty, May, Dawn and Gary to laugh.

" Uh, on second thought, maybe you should stick wth Bulbasaur." Said the young boy from Petalburg.

" Thought so." Ash replied smugly. " You make the first move."

" Gladly." Max answered, his confidence returning. " Grovyle, use Bullet Seed." Grovyle responded by shooting several yellow, pebble sized seeds at Bulbasaur.

" Use Dig." Ash shouted, Bulbasaur then burrowed under the ground, much to Max's surprise.

" Bulbasaurs can't learn Dig." He said shocked at what had just transpired.

" Mine can." Ash said smugly. " Use Vine Whip to trap Grovyle." Bulbasaurs vines shot up from the ground and wrapped around the Tree Gecko Pokémons legs. " Now use Razor Leaf." Bulbasaur shot several leaves at Grovyle from a close range causing a lot of damage.

" Grovyle, get up and use Leaf Blade." Grovyle rushed forward with the leaves on his forearms glowing.

" Trip him up." Ash called to his experienced Pokémon. Bulbasaur extended his vines and wrapped them around Grovyle who face-planted. " Now, finish up with Solar Beam." Bulbasaurs bulb began to glow white as he gathered sunlight and converted it into energy.

" Try to get out of there." Max called to his Pokémon, but it was to no avail.

" Fire now." Ash commanded. " Bulbasaur retracted his vines and fired the Solar Energy at Grovyle. It struck him and knocked the Tree Gecko Pokémon clean out.

" Grovyle is unable to battle, Ash and Bulbasaur are the winners." Brock announced.

" Great job Bulbasaur." Ash acknowledged his faithful friend.

" Well done Grovyle, I'm proud of you." Max said as he returned his first Pokémon.

" You done well Max, a bit more experience and you can be a great trainer." Ash commended the young Pokémon trainer.

" Thanks Ash." He responded. " You sure have gotten a lot stronger."

" Well everyone, it's getting rather late." Delia said. " Everyone who's staying at our house follow me back." Brock, Misty, Dawn and Max set off after her and Ash was about to as well until he felt May grab his hand.

" I thought we were meant to battle." She said with her innocent eyes locked on his.

" I know May but it's getting late and I'm tired from travelling." Ash hated disappointing his protegée and said." But I'll make it up to you somehow, I promise."

" How?" She asked curiosly.

" I'll find a way." He responded with a wink.

May smiled at this and surprised him with a kiss on the cheek. She then turned to walk back to Ash's house.

" Hey, wait up." Ash called running to catch up to her after getting over his shock which caused him to freeze. He caught up with her and the two blushing teens walked back to the Ketchum Residence.

End of 4, but Chapter 5 will be up very soon. Thanks.