A/N: Here is the next chapter. The start of the Rookie Exams. I know I got it from Naruto, but a tournament is the best way to tell the story.

Most participants are C, B, or A class while some like Kira is S class. I won't tell what rank Ash is yet so find out at the finals chapters.

The Rookie Exams: Standard Elimination, Survival, Preliminaries, and a month later the Finals.

Ash will mostly use his Light Aura.

Ash will only use Dark Aura in secret for now on.

Ash's demon aura takes it's toll on his body so he will only use it as a last resort.

By the way Ash lives in a traditional Japanese manor with sliding doors, zen gardens, and a big backyard like Professor Oak's place.


The Rookie Exams Begins

Ash slowly started to open his eyes. His vision was blurry at first but after a few winks his vision became clear. The first thing he felt was something warm hugging his arm. He turned his head and found a sleeping Misty holding his hand. Ash observed his surroundings and found that he was in a Pokemon Center, but a room for humans.

Ash lifted his blanket to reveal he was wearing only his boxers. He then started to rub his eyes to adjust them in the light. Misty started to open her eyes as she felt Ash's hand move out of hers and when she saw that Ash was awake she hugged him like they haven't seen each other in years and was crushing him who was surprised.

"M-Misty your crushing me!" Ash said barely. Misty let go of Ash who began inhaling oxygen. Misty then hit him on the back of the head.

"OW! What the hell was that for?" Ash said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Shut up idiot! I was worried sick about you!" Misty exclaimed honestly with a raised voice.

"Well thank you for your concern." Ash said gratefully "By the way, where am I?"

"Your in the Pallet Town Pokemon Center. Nurse Joy said that some guy wearing a cape and red hair brought us in here apparently he found both of us knocked out." Misty explained. Ash remembered what Daitokuji said that a trust worthy person helped us. He then remembered that Misty witnessed the fight between him and the two demons and she now knows everything.

'How am I gonna live with the fact that Misty knows more about me?' Ash thought as he lowered his head. Misty seeing this put her hand on Ash's shoulder which got his attention.

"Ash is something wrong?" Misty asked worried about her friend.

"Yes. It's what happened last night." Ash said ready to talk to her about it.

"Ash thanks for saving me from those bandits even risking your own life to save me." Misty said with a smile. Ash got confused. Bandits?

"Umm, Misty can you run by the whole story for me?" Ash asked looking at her in confusion.

"Uhh, Ash did you forget that ordinary bandits attacked us out of nowhere when you walked me home. You and Pikachu fought them to save me and you got knocked out but Pikachu drove them off." Misty said

'Misty remembers something completely different and never happened. It's as though... wait a minute could it be?' Ash thought

"Hey Misty. Where's Pikachu?" Ash asked changing the subject

"Pikachu is fine Ash. He's resting in the Pokemon quarters of the center waiting for you to wake up for days." Misty explained

"Wait days? How long was I out." Ash asked

"Ash you've been unconscious for four days, a personal record for you." Misty said

"Wow! four days!" Ash said surprised he was in his mind for that long.

"Yeah but your fine. In fact Nurse Joy was surprised that after the fight you had no bruises and all you needed was rest." Misty said. Ash laughed nervously. "Well I can't get hurt that easily."

"And not only that the exams start tomorrow and you haven't registered for it yet!" Misty told Ash in anxiety

"Well I'll do that when I'm ready." Ash said nonchalantly

Misty groaned "One of the most important things to do and your not worried about not participating?"

"Nope."

"That's it Ash get up right now!" Misty said angrily as she took off Ash's sheet.

"Misty! Wait! Don't!" but was too late. Misty saw Ash in nothing but in his boxers. She was desperately trying to stop the blood from coming down from her nose. Ash had a great well toned body for a sixteen year old. Misty couldn't stop ogling the shirtless Ash.

"I tried to warn you. Now where are my clothes?" Ash found his clothes and put them on then turned to Misty and smiled.

"So Misty? Why are you so dazed?" Ash asked. Misty snapped out of it and turned away hiding her red face.

"You better see Nurse Joy about that. You always seem to have a condition." Ash said acting ignorant. A vein popped up on her forehead.

"Shut up Ash!" Misty said flatly. Ash just shrugged his shoulders.

"So Ash... I didn't know you worked out..." Misty said still hiding her face.

"Well Daitokuji-sensei trains me like crazy working on both my body and mind. I guess that's the reason I'm always sleeping in class." Ash explained

Misty giggled "Here I thought you were just horribly lazy but now I know your the complete opposite." she said glad for Ash's bad habit at the academy.

"Yeah, he also taught me how to use a sword and other kinds of weapons, the knowledge of all Pokemon move, and the use of the elements of nature. I got the hang of on all of them since I'm a quick learner." Ash explained

"Wow! I guess he's not just a weirdo after all." Misty said with a little more respect for Ash's guardian.

"Yeah but he has a habit of not telling me important things until I find out for myself." Ash said a little sad

"Well no matter. You can still solve things for yourself." Misty said encouragingly

"Thanks for the help. We really are best friends." Ash stated with a smile

"Yeah... best friends." Misty said with a low voice

"What's wrong?" Ash asked as if not already knowing

"Oh nothing." Before they can continue the door opened. Ash and Misty turned to see Professor Oak and a red haired guy wearing a cape come in.

"Hey Professor, I can't talk now I got to register." Ash said preparing to leave as to not explain what happened that night.

"Now hold on there Ash. The registrations can wait a minute." Professor Oak said

"What is it?"

"I didn't get the chance to congratulate you for graduating."

"Well thanks Professor."

"I also have bad new. The Pokedex you were suppose to get was destroyed in the conflict."

"The Pokedex? you mean like mine?" Misty asked showing her dark blue Pokedex.

"Don't worry about that. Sensei is already working on a special gadget for me." Ash said about to leave.

"Before you go Ash I need to talk with you. It's a matter of planetary security." the guy said

"May I get an introduction first?"

"Well I guess it's safe..." the man proceeded to take off his face mask revealing himself to be Lance the Legendary Dragon Trainer cape and all. Misty was shocked to see one of the Republic Armada's most powerful Elites right before her eyes!

Ash was surprised at this turn of events.

"Lance of the Republic Armada. What honor do I owe at this surprising meeting." Ash said respectingly

"Ash! Why are you so calm for? Lance himself is right in front of us!" Misty yelled in frustration at Ash's calmness

"Can everyone except Ash leave the room please? I need to talk to him in private." Lance said. They all nodded and proceeded to leave.

"Ash. I'm going to see Pikachu to tell him that you finally woke up. I'll meet you outside to center alright?" Misty said. Ash nodded with a smile. When Misty closed the door Lance crossed his arms.

"Ash, I want you to tell me exactly what happened the night four days ago. I don't know why your friend was giving me the wrong details about bandits, I thought she was lying on purpose to fool me but after having one of my Pokemon checked her it seems that her memories were replaced by someone." Lance said seriously.

'I thought so.' Ash thought. Ash then told Lance about everything except his identity as an Aura user and his demon self.

'This kid isn't telling me the whole truth, even if he was able to trick Tenzu into harming himself he shouldn't have been able to win. He should be dead or at least injured severely but there's not a single scratch on him. How can he fight two A level demons and come out unscathed?' Lance thought

"Ash do you have any idea how dangerous those two men were? And yet you fought them head on and come out with no injury whatsoever? Your not telling me the whole truth." Lance said darkly at Ash.

"Those two men are servants under the Republic's enemy Kendra, but she is no ordinary enemy. She is one of the three SSS class beings and is a threat to the entire Republic." Ash pretended to be shocked already knowing about Kendra.

"She controls a whole army of Shadow Pokemon with Demons as generals, one of our men went to the Demon Realm once to spy on her... and he saw countless hordes of them at her disposal." Lance explained. He then turned to stare at the sunlight through the window.

"You were fighting Axel and Tenzu, demons who were once Shadow Pokemon who can take the form of humans. Axel was once a Shadow Glalie and Tenzu was once a Shadow Steelix." Ash did recall that Tenzu was weak to fire and Axel used Ice type moves.

"It's very hard for me to believe a rookie survived much less not get hurt and not only that there was that inhuman energy that you forgot to mention." Lance said suspicious of Ash.

"Well I guess I was lucky and I don't remember anything about an inhuman energy because I was knocked out before I guess." Ash lied the best of his acting abilities hoping Lance would buy it.

Lance didn't buy it and could tell that Ash was lying(years of experience helped) but had no proof to deny his claims so he let him go.

"Alright Ash I'm done. You can go." Lance said eying him suspiciously. Ash nodded and calmly walked out of the room.

'That kid couldn't have been the one to use that demonic energy, he's only a kid and plus only a rookie but even so I'm still a little suspicious especially since I felt a strange presence about him.' Lance thought before leaving the room.

Ash after checking out from the center came outside, but Misty wasn't there.

"Where's Misty? She told me she would be here. Oh well, might as well register for that damned exam." Ash said to himself as he headed towards the building where the registrations are being held. When he arrived he saw Misty already there talking to a group with three other people.

"Ooof." Ash said as he was tackled by a yellow blur.

"Pikachu! I see you're still fast as ever!" Ash said getting up

"(I'm glad you're alright Ash.)"

"Thanks, I'm glad you're alright too buddy."

"Wow! You and your Pikachu are really close!" a sweet voice said. Ash saw that it belonged to May.

"Oh yeah Pikachu and I are really tight right?" Ash asked Pikachu

"(Yup.)"

"Well I have something important to do so please excuse me." Ash said to May

"Important? Wait you're here to register too?" May asked Ash

"Yeah I was kinda in a fight and ended up in the hospital for four days. So what's your reason?" Ash asked May who was nervously laughing.

"Because my dumb Slowpoke of a sister forgot to register, I tried to tell her to do so but she kept on watching stupid love-dovey movies over and over again." Max said appearing with Brendan and Drew. May kicked Max in the shim and he started to jump up and down.

"That movie is NOT stupid! It's the best most romantic and most dramatic movie ever!" May said with her eyes sparkling making a dramatic pose, everyone sweat dropped and Max rolled his eyes rubbing his sore leg.

"So what are your reasons?" Ash asked looking at Brendan and Drew.

"We already registered a long time ago. We just came with May to go out to eat after she registered. You know just in case this is our last time together." Brendan said. Ash nodded solemnly knowing the exam is life threatening.

"Ash hurry up! You have to register!" Misty yelled waving at the counter. Ash then walked towards the counter leaving Pikachu to play with Max for a while.

"What happened to 'I'll wait for you outside.'" Ash asked Misty

"Sorry. I met up with May and the others and we started to talk and then began walking here." Misty explained and apologized

"It's fine." Ash said as he went to talk to the registration lady.

"I'm guessing you're here to register? You're just in time, all you need is your Trainer I.D. card." the lady said nicely. Ash did just that and the screen behind her displayed Ash's face along with his information(age, birthday, etc.). The lady pushed a few buttons looking back and forth from the card to the computer.

"Done Ash, you are now registered to compete in the Rookie Examinations." the lady said giving Ash his card.

"Now all you have to do is sign this liability form and you all set. The Rookie Exams will start at ten A.M. in Viridian City so don't be late." she said while giving Ash a sad smile as she handed him a white paper. Ash received the paper and read it over.

"Humph, we are not responsible for any injury or death that may occur to you and/or your Pokemon during the Rookie Exams. By signing this you hereby agree to this and entered at your own risks and if you don't sign this contract then you will not be able to compete." Ash reading the paper.

"How encouraging for us to sign this waver." Ash said sarcastically

"Ash, the reason why we have to sign that form is because we will be authorized to use our Kido during the exams." Drew said appearing behind Ash. Ash just shrugged and signed the form.

"Only rookies are taking this exam so why do we have to risk our lives so soon?" Ash asked. Brendan sighed and placed both his hands in his pockets.

"Because they want us to understand that as Pokemon Trainers we have a civic duty to protect the natural balance between Pokemon and Humans even if it costs us our lives." Brendan answered.

"There hasn't been any balance for a long time." Ash said to him

"Anyways, that's the reason we are going out today just in case this is our last time together...." May said with a sad smile. Everyone had thoughtful expressions and worry on there faces(Ash's for the other's sake). May perked up when she came with an idea.

"Hey Ash why don't you and Misty join us? You know to get to know each other better, you don't mind right guys?" May asked her group. Brendan nodded and Drew just shrugged like he didn't care.

"As long as I'm not paying." Drew replied. May rolled her eyes at Drew's emo attitude. May turned to Ash and Misty.

"So?" May asked waiting for an answer. Ash put both his hands behind his head.

"I'll go. It sounds like fun." Misty said. She turned her head to Ash waiting for his answer.

"Well... I don't know... Pikachu and I need to do some training." Ash said but then his stomach started to make a noise and everyone sweat dropped.

"Well if you insist then I'll join in too." Ash said happily

"Be careful Ash my sister has five stomachs when it comes to food especially ramen." Max said. May glared at Max but he ignored it.

Misty placed her hand on her hips.

Oh please. Ash is the same way. I think this moron here has a black hole for a stomach." Misty said

"Is that so? So Ash mind if we have a little food eating contest?" May asked with confidence.

"I'm up for anything that involves eating." Ash said just wanting to get something to eat.

"Then let's have a ramen eating contest." May told Ash with a grin. Brendan, Drew, and Max ran up to Ash and grabbed his arm with a freaked out look on his face.

"Ash! Don't do it! When it comes to ramen my sister is a bottomless monster! She won several ramen eating contest, everyone who has challenged her never ate ramen again! Don't do it Ash!" Max said warning Ash with a freaked out look.

"I have to. I haven't eaten in four days and I'm very very hungry." Ash simply said not caring about the eating contest. Max was not convinced, when it came to ramen his sister was just a plain eating demon machine. Brendan and Drew saw May eat ramen before and they pitied the fool who would have to pay for the meal.


Lance who was waiting for someone at the front of the Pokemon Center heard a loud noise. He looked up and saw a Flygon flying in circles with loud girl screams coming from it.

"Rui! Get off of me!" a male voice said as the Flygon flew like crazy towards Lance. Lance sweat dropped at the site no doubt it was Wes and Rui. The Flygon crashed with a screaming Rui holding onto Wes tightly that it suffocated him. Wes came off the Flygon wiping the dust off his clothes. Rui jumped off the Pokemon like her life depended on it. Rui's clothes were wrinkled and her hair was messy from the flight. She gave Wes a pissed off look as he called Flygon back into it's Pokeball.

"Wes! You idiot! I told you to fly slowly! You know that I'm scared of heights!" Rui yelled trying to fix her hair and dust off her clothes. Wes just put his hand on his face as he walked towards a grinning Lance. Wes told her to wait there and she 'humphed' but did what she was told.

"Ho-Oh, why did they tell me to bring her along" An Aipom is less annoying than her." Wes said to Lance with an irritated look. Lance just chuckled.

"So did you figure out just what the hell happened here?" Wes asked getting to business. Lance shook is head no.

"No, but I am suspicious of this kid Ash, apparently he was able to kill Tenzu." Lance said. Wes' eyes widened.

"Interesting, so did the kid tell you what Axel and Tenzu were after?" Wes asked

"He told me they were after the girl that was with him during the scene, I checked her background information and there is nothing particularly valuable about her." Lance said crossing his arms.

"So why would Kendra send two of her more powerful assassins to kill an ordinary girl?" Wes asked with his hand on his chin.

"I was wondering that myself, Kendra would never send two people as strong as them just to complete such a simple mission, that girl must be a threat to her if Kendra would want her dead that badly, it just makes me wonder what she's up to?" Lance said in a thoughtful expression. Wes stayed quiet for a while trying to figure things out. There was something about the girl that they were missing.

"Well Lance did you at least figure out about that other power?" Wes asked

"No I haven't. The kid told me that he was knocked out before it happened but I could tell he was lying, that kid is hiding something from me, I heard he's a rookie, so that means he must be participating in the upcoming Rookie Examinations." Lance said calmly

"Well that's a good thing because I came to tell you that both of us are going to be the proctors." Wes said with a grin putting his hand on a shocked Lance's shoulders.

"What?"

"Sorry it's not just us every member of the Armada is suppose to come to Poketopia. It's a matter of planetary security and they ordered certain Armada members to be proctors to this year's exams. The Pokemon Master himself may show up as well." Wes said seriously holding up order paper. Lance took them, read them, and sighed.

"Well at least I will be able to learn more about the kid." Lance said rubbing his temples.

"And that's not all. The other Republic planets are concerned about the huge amounts of energy they felt that came from this planet. I have never felt anything like that since the three SSS class beings. I'm guessing the huge amounts of malevolence I felt from whatever it was that it's not definitely on our side." Wes said with a semi look of fear and seriousness from his expression. Lance nodded his head in agreement. Then Wes' expression became pure seriousness which put Lance on edge.

"Lance we have reports of people saying they heard a talking Magikarp one time that made everyone worried." Wes said darkly. Lance nodded for him to continue. Wes paused for a moment turning his head away from Lance.

"It reportedly said " Prepare yourselves because the attacks of the Ancients is nigh." Wes said. Lance gave Wes a look of disbelief as he raised his eyebrow.

"You don't actually believe that Wes. It could be just somebody craving attention." Lance said eyebrow raised not convinced. Wes pulled out something from his pocket.

"You know about the Legend of the Chosen One? You know that fairytale that all the girls fantasize about well take a look at this." Wes said throwing the picture behind him which Lance easily caught. Lance's eyes widened. It was the Tablet of Legend shining a gold light and in the middle it said the words in bold "The savior has come. The Chosen One has been awakened." Wes slightly turned his face. Lance was in disbelief.

"The Legend was true! I can't believe it but wait that means-"

"Yes if the Legend is indeed true then that means the Ancient Demons of Myth will herald the return of the Evil One." Wes said calmly looking at the sky.


May was eating ramen like crazy. Ash was eating more slowly but kept his count at the same as hers. Max, Misty, Brendan, Drew, and Pikachu were watching with their mouth's wide as they sat and watched Ash and May eat twenty bowls every ten seconds. This was unreal, how the hell could anyone eat this fast and eat so much! Ash, May, and Max sat next to each other with Brendan, Drew, and Misty across from them watching in awe and disgusted.

Everyone else was watching in awe as these two teenagers scarfed down the food like no tomorrow. Some were cheering "go go go go go" the boys around May's age was cheering for the pretty brown haired girl to win while the girls wanted the cute black haired boy to win.

Ash and May had thousands of bowls in front of them towering more and more as they slurped down the ramen. May intending to beat him while Ash was having his hunger sated. They constantly asked for more from the horrified chef who was watching them.

After several hours of eating millions of ramen it seems May was finally slowing down but Ash kept going. Suddenly May turned blue and held her mouth like she about to throw up.

"Someone get her a bucket!" one of the chefs said. A chef ran over to May bucket in hand, held it just below May and watched as she threw up ramen in the bucket then rested her head with X's replacing her eyes.

The head chef grabbed Ash's hand and pulled it up like a referee does to the winner of a boxing match.

"We have a winner!" the chef said. Everyone clapped there hands still freaked out.

"Can I have some more?" everyone just looked at Ash like he was crazy. "What? I'm still hungry." they all just fell to the ground.

"Ash! That's enough or you'll eat this place out of business!" Misty yelled. Ash just said fine.

"I want a rematch Ash!" May said recovering from throwing up.

"I never recalled agreeing to the contest but if you insist then anytime." Ash said giving May a wink. May blushed slightly giving Ash a smile. Ash turned to Max, Brendan, and Drew to see that they were just plain stupefied with their mouth hitting the floor. Misty and Pikachu couldn't believe that someone could eat so much food.

"What?" Ash asked confused

"Y-you j-j-just b-b-beat my sister in a ramen eating contest!" Max stuttered with shaking his index finger pointing at the confused Ash.

"HOLY S! MAY LOST A RAMEN CONTEST! THE APOCALYPSE MUST BE HAPPENING! SNORLAXES MUST BE ABLE TO FLY! THE SKY MUST BE FALLING! EVERYTHING I KNOW AND WILL EVER KNOW IS A LIE! Max yelled running around in the restaurant. Everyone except Brendan and Drew sweat dropped.

Brendan has never even thought it was possible that someone could actually beat the ramen eating queen to a ramen contest! Drew was thinking the same lines as Max, he wouldn't be surprised if all balance was destroyed as they knew it!

'Well he's half right.' Ash thought at the weirdness

"Uhhh... What's up with your friends and brother?" May shrugged at the question. Pikachu seeing the craziness thunder bolted the three black.

"Thanks Pikachu, we needed that." Max said sitting back down. Brendan and Drew agreed as they wiped the dust off their clothes.

"Wow May! How can you eat so much and not get fat? Just where does all that food go?" Misty asked blinking. Drew gave a little grin.

"I think I know where all the food goes." he said drinking his soda. May glared at him.

"If you say it you perv, I'll give you the worst ass kicking you will ever experience!" May said giving Drew a hard glare. He was sweating bead as he innocently. Brendan decided to do the same thing to hid his blush Misty nervously laughed. Ash didn't exactly know what was perverted about what Drew was thinking about.(hint: her chest.)

"Anyways, what's the Hoenn region like?" Ash asked breaking the tension

Ash and May began comparing Kanto and Johto with Hoenn with May saying that the eastern regions were great but no as great as Hoenn but Ash disagreed saying that all regions were equally great. Misty, Drew, and Brendan just stared blankly at Ash and May while they talked and laughed like they've known each other for years. Max adjusted his glasses with a mischievous grin and Pikachu just ignored them while licking a ketchup bottle.

'Well they are certainly getting friendly with each other.' Drew thought glancing back at Brendan with on eye. Brendan furrowed his eyes a bit as he watched May have the almost too friendly conversation with Ash.

Misty began to remember Brock's words from the other day telling her to admit her feelings to Ash before its too late. Misty began to drink her soda in silence watching the two.

"Wow! So your first Pokemon is a fire type. Can I see it?" Ash asked excitedly. May pulled out a Pokeball out of her bag and released the Pokemon inside revealing it to be a Torchic.

"Torchic." (Hello) Torchic said with Ash understanding her. Ash just loved to meet new Pokemon.

The Torchic glanced at Pikachu who was licking a ketchup bottle and blushed as she stared at him. Pikachu noticed this and stopped licking it.

"Pi?" (What?) Pikachu asked. The Torchic snapped out of it's daze and turned away quickly it's face still red. Pikachu was puzzled but just shrugged and continued to lick the ketchup bottle.

'(What a weird Pokemon.)' Pikachu thought licking the ketchup. Ash understanding felt like his friend was also like him, May even though she didn't have the power to understand Pokemon like Ash knew what was going on as well.

"It seems my Torchic has really taken a liking to your Pikachu Ash." May said smiling at Ash. Ash stared at the two. Do Pokemon really take after their trainer? Ash just shrugged those thoughts and picked up Torchic. Torchic gave Ash a look as he picked her up.

"So this is the fire type Hoenn starter, do you know any fire moves?" Ash said but suddenly Torchic used ember directed at Ash's face. Even at such close distance Ash was able to avoid it by tilting his head to the side as the ember hit Brendan's face. Pikachu was laughing at the funny face of the trainer. May and Misty was laughing at him while Drew thought it was unlucky for him. Brendan was fuming as everyone but Ash laughed at him.

Pikachu came over to Torchic and gave it a pat on the back while still laughing.

"(That was a good one!)" Pikachu said to Torchic but seeing the "Magnificent" Pikachu talking to her fainted. Pikachu was confused and once again thought that this Pokemon was weird. May seeing this returned Torchic back into her Pokeball.

"That was pretty lucky for you Ash." Misty said

"Yeah it was wasn't it Mist." Ash said but then got hit on his head. "OW! Again with the head hitting!" he said while rubbing his head. Max snickered as a huge lump appeared on Ash's head.

"I told you to stop calling me Mist!" Misty hissed at him. Ash rolled his eyes. May giggled.

"I think it's cute that Ash gave you a nickname Misty. What's wrong with it?" May asked. Misty just shrugged her shoulders.

"I just don't like being called out of my name I guess, I don't know maybe it's an excuse to hit Ash's brain in hopes that it will work properly." Misty joked but with an indifferent expression before drinking her soda.

"What's wrong with the way I think?" Ash asked but was ignored.

"I know why don't you give Ash a nickname that he will hate." May advised

"I already did but he doesn't seem to mind." Misty said. May began to think.

"Why would I get mad over a nickname. It's so immature unlike miss attitude here." Ash said before drinking his soda pointing at Misty whose eyes were twitching. May came out of her thoughts and began to giggle. Everyone stared at May wondering what was wrong with her.

"I know! How about Ashy?" May advised with a mischievous grin. Ash almost choked on his soda and his eyes widened.

'Ah! Good Morning Ashy!' she said happily at young Ash.

Ash's eyes looked like they began to tear up but he stopped himself and the others didn't notice.

"WHAT!" Ash yelled getting the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Pikachu thought it was unlike Ash to be so emotional. Max, Brendan, and Drew were snickering at the nickname. Misty seeing Ash's reaction gave him an evil grin.

"I like them, good one May." Misty said snickering as Ash sighed sadly.

"Please don't call me me that Misty." Ash said, Misty raised her eyebrows up and down with an evil grin. Ash turned his attention to the snickering boys.

"What's so funny?" Ash asked, still snickering at the name responded.

"I don't know it just that Ashy-kun sounds like some kind of pet name!" When Brendan finished his sentence everyone at the table busted out laughing. Brendan hitting the table as he laughed.

"Oooooooh Ashy could you please satisfy me?" Brendan joked imitating a girly voice. Everyone laughed even louder and some of the people in the restaurant joined in the laughter. Ash seeing Pikachu laughing too.

"Pikachu you too?" Ash said to Pikachu. He ignored him and just kept on laughing. Drew pulled out a ten dollar bill out of his pocket.

"Hey Ashy I got ten dollars here! Five bucks each if you give these two fine ladies here a lap dance! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" the usual calm Drew joked pointing at May and Misty. Everyone laughed harder as Drew, Brendan, and Max gave each other high fives. May and Misty were blushing and Ash just had a look of disbelief. Everyone even the chefs were laughing at the jokes, Pikachu and Max were rolling on the floor holding their sides.

'Sigh. I can't tell them why I don't like to be called that.' Ash thought as he got up and left the restaurant with a solemn look.

"Let's go Pikachu. I don't feel like eating anymore." he said but Pikachu was still laughing so he just continued to leave.

After an hour the group found Ash sitting on a bench. They looked worn out from walking around. The sky was dark telling them it must be late.

"Hey Ash we were looking for you." Misty said to Ash.

"I was just looking at the sun set." 'Remembering the good old days, well mostly good anyways' Ash said and thought as he hid a ring in his pocket.

"Well that was fun we should do it again sometime... wait I know! How about we all go to the play based on the Legend of the Chosen One after the first parts of the Rookie Exams!" May said happily. Ash's eyes widened.

"A play for what?" Ash asked in disbelief.

"Don't you know? It's some stupid fairytale about three girls helping out a hero defeat some lame monster and find true love." Max said clearly not interested in the play. Ash's eyes still was wide. He's part of the fairytale.

"It's not stupid dummy! Don't mind him the play is really good. We should go unless we're all still together when this is over..." May said semi sadly

"Don't worry May! I'll make sure none of you guys are going to get hurt! I promise!" Ash said trying to cheer up May.

"Yeah don't worry we will watch the play when it's over." Brendan said following Ash. Everyone gave May a smile and she nodded.

"When does the play take place?" Drew asked. May pulled out a catalog displaying the play out of her backpack and read the contents.

"It says here the play should be coming to the Kanto region a week after tomorrow!" May said. Ash eyed the catalog wanting to know the details of the fairytale that's about his destiny.

"Hey May can I take a look at that?" Ash asked nicely. May said sure and handed it over to him. A picture of a handsome male actor was in the middle of three female actresses. The male was holding a red glowing sword just like the Z-Saber with both of his hands pointing it at the monster on the second page. The three girls was holding onto the hilt of the sword along with the male. Ash began to him with Misty, May, and Dawn replacing the actors.

"So Misty have you ever dreamed about being one of the Princesses of Light?" May asked with a dramatic pose. Max rolled his eyes not wanting to hear all the girly talk.

"No!" Misty said hiding her blush

"Aww come on Misty you can't lie to me. Every girl wishes they were one of the three girls who will marry a hero." May said see the blush. Misty sighed

"Well I use to but I don't believe in handsome princes or knights in shining armor fairy tales anymore." Misty responded

"Yeah your right it's just a legend but it's really romantic. I don't know I guess I'm a sucker for romance." May said sticking out her tongue and scratching her head. Ash just sighed.

'They don't know how right they are.' he thought (About wanting to become a princess.)

May noticed Ash was in deep thought.

"What's wrong Ash?" Ash snapped out of his thoughts.

"It's nothing." Ash said as he gave her back the catalog. May knew he was lying but she decided to let it go. Misty also noticed Ash's change in behavior.

"It's getting late May. I suggest we go back to the Pokemon Center and get some rest for the big day tomorrow." Drew advised checking his watch.

"Alright Drew go on without me, Max you too." May told Max. Max hated to have to listen to May just because she is older. He wished he was the older sibling and not her at times. Max mumbling something followed Drew back to the Pokemon Center.

"Yeah, it's getting late so I'm heading home as well. I wish everybody good luck in the exams tomorrow." Ash told them. Ash began to walk to the direction of his home with Pikachu on his shoulder.

"Ash you better not get yourself killed tomorrow! You made a promise for all of us to be alive remember!" May yelled loud enough for Ash to hear.

Even though Ash thought there's no guarantee of them all surviving he did make a promise.

"Don't worry about me, I promise that I will protect you all so we can come out alive." Ash said with a smile.

"Pika!" "(Yeah!)" Pikachu yelled. May nodded.

"I will hold you to that promise Ash!" May said. Ash waved goodbye but he could feel himself losing his hold on reality. Ash was shocked. He was having another Aura Future Sight vision.

Ash was in a forest that was full of large trees that covered most of the sunlight. Ash heard a scream behind him and saw that May was unconscious with a shay man and a woman standing near her body.

The man was wearing some red devil mask with samurai looking armor and red pants. The woman was a plain looking one wearing what seemed to be a red Chinese dress.(China doesn't exist in Poketopia) She had long black hair with a few red strands. The woman smirked as she kicked May's limp body revealing her front side.

"Mind if I do the honors Koetsu?" the woman asked, but the masked guy didn't respond. The woman pulled out a dagger smirking evilly. Ash looked on in horror as she lifted up the knife. Ash knowing that this was a vision did nothing. He looked away with a pained face as he heard the sound of flesh being ripped open. The vision faded and Ash was brought back to reality.

May, Misty, Brendan, and Pikachu wondered what was wrong with Ash. He was just standing there frozen like a statue. Brendan sweat dropped thinking that this guy was truly an odd ball.

"Uhh Ash weren't you going home?" May asked in the awkward moment. Ash gave May a sad look. He promised the girl that nothing was going to happen and yet damnable fate had to choose the right time to call for her death during the exams. Ash said nothing as he turned back to home.

'Damn! Now Kendra has decided to target May. I have to make a plan!' Ash thought

"See you later Ashy!" Brendan yelled with a smirk. Ash just ignored him.

"You like him don't you?" May said out of nowhere to Misty quietly enough for Brendan not to hear. Misty almost fell back in surprise at the randomness. Her face heating up.

"Don't be silly. I don't like Ash that way, we're only friends." Misty said nervously hiding her blush. May saw it and wasn't an idiot.

"Oh please Misty you can't fool me!" May said with a smirk. Brendan waiting for May was wondering what they were talking about to make Misty so nervous. Misty sighed.

"Is it really that obvious?" Misty asked

"Well maybe not to an idiot like him." May said pointing to a confused Brendan. Brendan not able to hear the conversation rolled his eyes.

'Girls...' he thought as he watched them giggle after pointing at him.

"I have watched a LOT of romance movies Misty. I know when a girl is in love and it's written all over you." Misty gave May a sad smile.

"But I don't know if he likes me the same way and I'm scared it might affect our friendship." Misty said looking down. May gave Misty a pat on the back.

"Ash is a special guy. You better tell your feelings for him or someone else is and your going to have to sit by and watch as Ash is happy with another girl thinking about what would have been." May said seriously. Misty sweat dropped. This girl has watched too many romantic movies.

"Brock told me the same thing a while ago."

"Well whoever Brock is he's a wise guy." Misty sweat dropped again. This girl had no idea. Him? Wise? Yeah right. He's too busy reading hentai magizines and sneaking into strip clubs.

"Well thanks May I will keep that in mind. Good luck in the exams tomorrow!" Misty said before running off.

'You better tell him your feelings... before I do Misty.' May thought expressionlessly. May motioned her body to go to the Pokemon Center but was stopped when someone caught her hand. She looked and saw it was Brendan's with a serious expression.

"Brendan?" May said confused

"We need to talk May."

"About what?" May said already having a good idea what this was about.

"Us." he said simply. May sighed.

"Brendan there is no "Us" anymore. It ended a long time ago. Can't we just be friends?" May said as kindly as possible. Brendan furrowed his eyebrows.

"I don't want to be friends May, I'm trying but I... I love you May and always will." he said. May pulled her hand out of his grasp and gave him a sad look.

"I'm sorry Brendan but my heart moved on and if you really love me then you would move on too." May said giving Brendan a hug before heading towards the Pokemon Center. Brendan stared at May's back as she walked.

'I don't think I can move on May....' he thought before following her to the Pokemon Center.


Dawn, Zoey, and Leona back at the Pokemon Center was in a room together getting ready for the big day tomorrow. Dawn was looking in a mirror brushing her hair. Zoey was reading the latest issue of Pokemon Coordinator magazine in the bottom bunk silently, and Leona just stared out the window watching the stars.

"So what do you think will happen tomorrow?" Leona asked everyone in the room.

"Dunno but with the death liability papers and all I can probably predict this tournament is going to be one to remember." Zoey said not dropping her gaze from the magazine.

"Humph death doesn't scare me. This will just be another tournament. The only difference is that it's a little more dangerous than the previous ones." Dawn said watching herself brush her hair. Leona stopped her star watching and looked at Dawn.

"But Dawn I've heard so many stories about how dangerous the Rookie Exams are and-"

"Don't tell me your scared Leona." Dawn interrupted placing her brush on the table. Leona frowned, ever since that damn Paul came into the picture Dawn became a major bitch.

Leona gave Zoey a look, she just shrugged and went back to reading her magazine. Leona still frowning decided to try and push Dawn's buttons.

"So Dawn what do you think about what that boy Ash said four days ago?" Leona said. Zoey slightly lowered her magazine knowing what Leona was trying to do.

Dawn stopped making adjustments to her hair and narrowed her eyes. Leona and Zoey could see her expression on the mirror.

"What about that hopeless loser?" Dawn asked returning to fixing her hair.

"About what he said about Paul being evil and only cares about himself." Leona said trying to hide her anger because of Dawn's arrogant attitude. Dawn stopped fixing her hair and gave Leona a glare.

"And your going to believe a fool like him?" Dawn asked with anger in her voice. Leona stood up.

"Yes Dawn we all do! In fact we've been worried about what might happen to you if you stick with Paul any longer! He's just using you for more power! He's a cold heartless bastard who doesn't care whether you lived or died!" Leona yelled at Dawn.

Dawn got up from the table and then released a huge amount of Kido and blood lust in the room causing Leona's eyes to widen as the gravity in the room became stronger. She fell on her knees finding it hard to breathe as she desperately tried to fill her lungs with oxygen.

"Dawn stop it! Your choking her!" Zoey yelled at Dawn seemingly not affected by the surge of power. Dawn stopped the Kido pressure and watched as Leona coughed from being choked. Zoey went to comfort Leona.

"Only the cold heartless warriors survived in this world, I will advise you not to speak to Paul in that manner ever again, you may be my friend but I have no problem in taking your life next time and Zoey won't be here to save you." Dawn said coldly walking past the two with her long scarf waving behind her as she walked.(Dawn wears a long scarf that makes her look more "sophisticated" giving a sense of power about her.)

"I'm going to head in for tonight." Dawn said yawning as she made her way to her trainer bag to pull out her pajamas as if what just happened didn't actually happen at all.

'Dawn why won't you let us help you?' Zoey thought as she watched Dawn pull put her pajamas while comforting a coughing Leona.


Ash finally arrived at his home wondering why it was so quiet.

"Daitokuji-sensei I'm home!" Ash yelled but no answer.

"He probably out somewhere again."

Ash then decided to go to his bedroom to get some sleep even though he slept for four days straight.

"Pikachu before we go to bed I want you to do me a favor. It concerns the exams tomorrow." Ash said to him. Pikachu nodded wondering what it might be.

"Pikachu you know those two girls we met May and Dawn?" Pikachu nodded.

"Well they like Misty will be targeted by the demons so we have to protect them as well." Ash said to Pikachu.

"(I understand protecting Misty and May but Dawn I'm not sure I want to.)" he said

"Pikachu in order to set things right I'm going to need your help, I don't care about being Rookie of the Year. If any of the three girls or the others don't survive in the exams then all is lost for the Republic. The Separatists will take over or worse the Demons will destroy us all. If we fail then everything will end so we have to do this even if our lives must be put in danger." Ash explained

"(Don't worry Ash you can count on me.)" Pikachu said as he flared his electricity.

"Good answer. Now let's get some sleep. I want to head to Viridian City early." Ash said as he closed the lights and went to bed. Pikachu on the bed too.

All the rookie trainer turned in to get some rest for the big day tomorrow. All were thinking the same thing in there minds when they slept. "I'm going to win." but Ash thought differently. "I need to win."


Dream

Ash awoke in his dream sanctuary. He was walking around until he spotted the Z-Saber on a pedestal. He walked over to it and picked it up. Ash then used his aura to activate it and it's red energy blade appeared. He stared at it wondering what to do next

Then to Ash's surprise three other hands came out of nowhere placing their hands on the hilt of the sword. Ash looked up to see Misty, May, and Dawn smiling at him while having their hands on the sword. Ash was surprised but for some reason he felt happy as he watch the three girls smile at him. He gently placed his hand on top of theirs smiling back at them.

The Z-Saber started to glow bright red. The sanctuary emanating and even brighter light as the four teenagers smiled at each other.


Ash awoke from his dream suddenly. That was the most weirdest dream Ash ever had but for some reason he felt happy, complete, and felt like a huge weight was lifted from his shoulders. When he was in that dream he felt at peace. Ash felt something he thought he would never feel again. It was the most wonderful thing he had ever experienced. It was as though she was still with him now.

Misty awoke from the weird dream she had. She was smiling at Ash holding a sword alongside May and that blue haired girl Dawn. What kind of dream was that? She was so happy in that dream. She felt as though it was heaven. Misty thought that maybe that dream was trying to tell her something.

May awoke from the dream she had. May didn't understand it but she felt so much inner peace it was frightening. She was smiling lovingly at Ash who smiled back holding a sword with Misty and that rude girl Dawn. May knew from when she met him Ash was special for some reason and maybe this dream she had was confirming it but why was Misty and Dawn there? And what was that place in the dream?

Dawn awoke from her dream with mixed emotions. She was stunned, confused, angry, yet happy for some reason. When she was in the dream smiling at that boy she felt so happy it was sickening to her. It was like all her worries, loneliness, and darkness was replaced and gave her such peace and happiness like she died and gone to heaven. The feeling was so unexplainable. She furrowed her eyes. That dream gave her a taste of true happiness and she hated that dream for it. She didn't need such things in her life since her father died and slowly tears began to form from her eyes but she wiped them away. What did that dream mean and why the hell were those two girls and that fool in it?

The four knew that it was not some regular everyday dream to be able to feel such peace and divinity. After thinking about what that dream meant in vain except Ash who knew, the four closed there eyes at the same time hoping that dream doesn't come again.

But deep down they were hoping they would have that dream again.

Somewhere in Ash's mind Daitokuji was watching the event smiled.

'So their bonds are stronger than I thought. Very interesting.' he thought


Viridian City

Ash was currently sleeping while sitting up with his hand holding his face has he arrived at seven A.M. in the stadium where the exams were taking place waiting for it to begin. As time went on more trainers arrived and already the count was over a few hundreds. When Misty arrived she spotted Ash and walked towards him and wish him good luck, but she realized that he's sleeping in that weird way again.

"Ash how could you be sleeping at a time like this?" Misty yelled but Ash was still asleep.

"Hey Misty!" May yelled waving at Misty and she waved back. "Hey May!"

"Hey Ash. Ash?" May said looking at Ash. Misty sighed.

"Don't bother May, he's out like a light." Misty said

"How can he sleep like that?" May asked incredulously

"That's what I've been asking ever since I knew him." Misty replied

"Maybe he's just as lazy as Slakoth." Gary said. Misty glared at him.

"Would you keep that annoying tractor down?" Ash asked as he unintentionally insulted Gary.

Misty and May were laughing and Gary got angry and walked away.

"Finally you woke up idiot!" Misty yelled at Ash

"Well I'm here aren't I?" Ash said back

As the conversation went on Ash noticed there was a platform in the stadium where Lance and Wes was.

'Great. Now they'll be watching my every move.' Ash thought as secrecy was his key to his mission.

"Wow Ash! You sure do some weird things." May said thinking Ash is fun to be with.

"That's what I tell him all the time but he doesn't want to change." Misty said in annoyance

"Hey I don't tell you how to live your life." Ash as he tried to go back to sleep sitting up.

"Your so crazy Ash." May said giggling a bit. Ash looked at her with one eye open and gave her a funny smile.

"I know." Ash said with that crazy smile causing May to laugh a bit.

"Well well so Ashy did make it after all." Ash inwardly groaned as he recognized that voice. It was Brendan's with a snickering Drew.

"Now let's not get into an argument Ash." May said noticing Ash's expression.

"I almost forgot about that nickname. Thanks Brendan." Misty said with a grin. Ash did not like that name, it brought so much bad memories.

"So is that Ash?" Wes asked. Lance nodded. "Hmm he seems like just an ordinarily strange kid how can he be so suspicious?"

"So when is the so called experiment getting here?" Lance asked

"He's excluded from the standard elimination so he will automatically be apart of the survival test. League order." Wes said bored. Lance sighed

"Well that's not fair." he said

"So is him actually being in these exams." Wes said quickly. Lance nodded. He had a point, there is no way any rookie will be able to defeat the experiment

"How much time do we have left until this begins?" Lance asked crossing his arms.

"Eleven minutes." Wes said checking his watch. Lance sighed. Wes seeing Lance like this knew just what he needed. He took out a sake bottle out of a cooler he brought along. He took out two small glasses, filled them up, and gave one to Lance.

"Might as well, we're going to be in for one hell of a stressful ride." Wes said. They took a drink after cheering at the same time.

"By the way Misty, where's Brock?" Ash asked. She pointed to her left and there he was giggling while reading a magazine with a pink haired busty woman in the front.

"Yeah... that figures." Ash said sweat dropping. Then Ash decided to look around walking through the crowd searching for Dawn. He bumped into somebody and he quickly apologized.

"It's not a problem-hey wait a minute you're that boy who pissed off Dawn." at hearing this Ash looked and saw it was Leona and Zoey.

"And your her friend. Well I tend to unintentionally piss off people so it's not surprising. By the way, where is she?" Ash asked. They narrowed their eyes.

"Why do you want to know?" Leona asked. She thought that Ash hated the girl so why would want to know where she was?

"To make sure I can avoid her." Ash made up. They seem to have bought it.

"Well that bitch, Kenny, and that bastard aren't here yet. I could care less if Dawn or Paul is late." Leona said with anger in her voice.

'Hmm, something must have happened between her and Dawn.' Ash thought

"Don't mind her, Leona and Dawn kinda got into a fight last night and that's why we didn't come with her, I'm kinda mad at her too." Zoey said to Ash. Ash knew there was more but didn't press on.

"They're here." Zoey said looking at the door. Ash, Leona, and everyone else turned around when they heard the door open revealing Kenny trying to find someone with Dawn and Paul walking right next to each other slowly through the crowd. Ash hid behind the crowd as to not be noticed.

Kenny spotted Leona and Zoey and ran up to them.

"There you guys are. Why did you leave us?" Kenny asked them.

"Personal reason, no offense to you Kenny." Leona said with a hint of anger. Kenny raised an eyebrow.

He then noticed that everyone was looking at Dawn and Paul. The boys started to drool as they watched Dawn walk towards the crowd. Only a handful of boys controlled themselves or just thought that certain brown haired girl was better looking than her.

While Dawn and Paul were walking, Dawn felt someone touch her in appropriately through the crowd. Dawn frowned as she stopped walking. Paul stopped as to see why she stopped.

"Who touched me?" Dawn asked with malice in her voice. Everyone remained quiet.

"I did." a smirking red haired tall jock said. Dawn slowly turned to him.

'What is that idiot doing?' Ash thought knowing what's going to happen.

"You know you liked it. Why don't you lose the purple haired loser and co-" before he could finish his sentence Dawn punched him square in the face. He screamed as he flew towards the stadium wall at high speed.

'Damn it! Aura Agility!' Ash thought as he ran at high speed and caught the guy in mid-air before he crashed into the wall and died.

"You better go unless you don't want to live." Ash said to him before he kicked him in the ass and sent him sailing through the doors and out of sight.

Everyone except Paul(and Ash) was shocked! Everyone looked at Dawn in pure horror at what she tried to do if the black haired boy didn't intervene as she just stood there with her scarf flowing in the breeze.

'Great! That idiot made me the center of attention!' Ash thought as he felt killing intent directed at him. He turned around to see Dawn glaring at him.

"Can I help you?" Ash simply asked.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Future Pokemon Master." She said angrily at him remembering that dream.

Everyone got tense. May was worried about Ash, that girl is really scary.

"See what I mean?" Wes said watching everything.

"Isn't that the Princess of Sinnoh? I didn't know she was a rookie." Lance said before sighing. He could tell these exams are already going to be the death of him.

"I better make sure that kid doesn't lose his life." Wes said getting up but Lance stopped him.

"You're bored aren't you?" Wes asked

"Shut it before I allow Rui to come in here, I want to study this kid. I have a feeling that he's hiding something from us." Lance said watching the scene. At the mention of Rui's name Wes paled, just nodded as he sat back down watching along with Lance. Wes glanced at his watch, they had five more minutes.

"Dawn why do you stop to talk with this trash?" Paul asked wondering what's with the sudden strange behavior. Dawn glanced at him for a split second before turning her attention back to Ash.

"It has something to do with the argument me and Leona had last night that concerned him." Dawn lied. The truth was she could care less about last night or Leona's feelings, it's because of that "cursed" dream she had last night about him smiling at her, and her smiling at him. Ash knew it she was lying.

"Why are you poisoning my friends with lies about Paul? Answer now peasant" Dawn demanded.

'Did she just call me a peasant?' Ash thought

"Peasant? Who uses such an old term anymore?" Ash asked as he chuckled a bit.

"I'm simply pointing out that you are nothing but lowly scum compared to me, now answer me!" Dawn said coldly

"Whatever, I guess what I see is quite obvious to many people, except you princess." Ash answered in an insulting way.

"How dare you talk to me that way, peasant!" Dawn said coldly. Ash just didn't care what she thought about him.

"Dawn! Ash just wants to help you!" Leona said coming out of the crowd.

'Make it more obvious why don't you!' Ash sarcastically thought frustrated at Leona's words.

"Stay out of this Leona!" Dawn said glaring at her.

"No Dawn! Ever since your father died you wouldn't talk to us until you met that cold bastard in back of you! Paul made you into a self-centered bitch! I miss the Dawn that me and Kenny became friends with when we were young!" Leona yelled. Tears threatening to fall. Dawn said nothing but just stared at her.

"I told you to not speak to Paul in that manner ever again Leona." Dawn said calmly with malice. Leona couldn't believe it! All she cared about was what she said about Paul?

"She's just trying to help you Dawn." Kenny said also wanting to help her. Paul looked up interested in the conversation.

"Peasant! I want you to bend down to your knees and beg for forgiveness for how you disrespected me earlier or something bad is going to happen." Dawn said ignoring Kenny. Everyone gasped but Ash wasn't afraid. Misty ran up to Ash.

"Ash just do it! You saw how she could have killed that other guy with no thought! What makes you think she's not going to do the same thing?" Misty said trying to save Ash from being killed.

"Oh no don't worry, I'm not going to kill him, I'm going to do something much worse." Dawn said smirking. Paul smiled as well, he knew what she was going to do.

"No." Ash simply said ignoring Misty's warning. Dawn smirked even more.

"Very well, as princess of Sinnoh I hereby forbid you from entering the Sinnoh region." Dawn said smirking. Everyone's eyes widened.

"You might as well give up your that goal of yours, without going through all four regions you will never be qualified to go up in the ranks." Dawn said smirking.

Everyone was shocked! Everyone who knew Ash knew that it was his goal and now it was just stripped away just like that. That was cold, even Gary thought that was going to far. Ash just stood their.

"Well done Dawn. You hit him where it truly hurts." Paul complimented with a smile.

"Humph, it's not like he was going to actually make something of himself. I just did him a favor, I crushed his wish before someone else crushed it harder." Dawn said with a smile.

'Ash...' May thought. For the very first time in her life she wanted to kill someone as she looked at Dawn. But to everyone's surprise Ash started to laugh.

"Hahahaha. As if I ever wanted to go to the Sinnoh region in the first place." Ash said as he continued to laugh.

"What? But I just said you can't-" Dawn said but was interrupted.

"There are other ways to achieve my goal and besides if there are people like you and Paul in the Sinnoh region than I will never go there." Ash said. Misty had never seen Ash act like this before.

"Humph I don't care what you say, your just a loser." Dawn said as she walked off.

"GOOD! YOUR JUST LIKE ANY POMPOUS PRINCESS FROM THE SEPARATIST PLANETS! YOUR NOTHING BUT A SPOILED BITCHY PRINCESS WHORE!" Ash yelled in rage. Everyone's jaws was open gawking at Ash.

"Ouch. Being compared to Separatist nobility." Wes said watching his eyes widened. Lance nodded in agreement.

'The nut bag surely knows how to put on a show. i knew I should have brought popcorn with me.' Gary thought watching the scene. Dawn stopped moving and slowly turned around to meet Ash's glare.

"What did you just say, peasant?"

"You heard me." Dawn began to reach for her gloves.

"I didn't want to kill you but you just gave yourself a death wish." Dawn said putting on her gloves.

"You think that just because your lonely that you should be ordering people! Crushing their hopes and killing on a whim is just what any Separatist would do!" Ash yelled

"You don't know what it's like in that lonely darkness so you can't understand." Dawn said finishing putting on her gloves.

'I understand more than you could ever believe.' Ash thought looking at her like he was once was.

May focused Kido into her feet to run faster to help Ash. Brendan and Drew seeing this nodded at each other and did the same. They knew it was just a matter of time before everyone starts fighting.

Paul sensing people's Kido flare said nothing.

"S o what? A very wise man used to always say to me "The darkness comes before the dawn" as words to encourage me." Ash said ready for any attack. Dawn's eyes widened. Those words made her remember when her father said the same thing to her. The reason why her father gave her the name Dawn was because of that quote. He told her that before she was born he felt as though he was nothing, that he had no reason to live, working in darkness until she came. His world was in darkness, but when Dawn came light came back into his world and that's why she was given the name Dawn.

Dawn clenched her necklace as an image of her father came into mind. In a way Ash was like her father. They both never gave up on anything they do no matter the risks. Ash clenched the ring in his pocket remembering the promise he made to her to never give up and to help any innocent people who is a victim of cruelty. They both wanted to try to matter how impossible it was to achieve their goals. Then tears began to drop from Dawn's face.

"Just what the hell do you know! You know absolutely nothing about what I went through after my father died so don't you dare try to lecture me!" Dawn yelled tears flowing. Paul's eyes widened.

'Is she crying?' Paul thought with a look of rage.

Ash said nothing. Dawn's friends were amazed that Dawn was actually crying! She never cried since her father died!

"Your going to let this peasant get to you? He's nothing compared to you, you're a princess while he's nothing but trash, don't shed tears because of someone as lowly as him." Paul told Dawn. Dawn seemingly knocked out of her shock wiped her tears.

'That Confederate bastard!' Ash thought clenching his teeth glaring at Paul.

"You know I would probably have gotten annoyed at being called trash but I figured out something interesting about me a while ago and besides you don't really know who I am." Ash said smirking

"What? You figured out how much of a loser you are?"

"No, I'm not going into details but I do know that I can kick your ass." Ash said with a smile as if stating a fact. Paul didn't get what he meant by that.

"Say one more thing that insults me and Paul and your dead, peasant!" Dawn yelled in fury. Ash who wasn't afraid smiled. Everyone who was going to help Ash got ready. The crowd was literally sweating in anticipation.

"I do have one more thing to say." Ash said with a grin. Dawn cracked her knuckles. Everybody waited for Ash to insult Dawn again in anticipation.

"You're a princess right? Since when do princesses frown all the time? You should smile more like me." Ash said giving Dawn a funny smile, Misty should have expected him to do something like that. Everyone sweat dropped and how weird it was for Ash to suddenly be so casual. Dawn's eyes widened in anger and confusion.

"How dare you MOCK ME PEASANT!" Dawn roared as she ran at super speed at Ash with her fist ready to hit him. Ash just stood there not scared at all.

May, Brendan, and Drew reacted using Kido in there feet to stop Dawn and protect Ash.

'Dammit our reaction was too late!' Brendan thought in frustration trying to keep up.

"Ash!" Misty and Brock yelled in the chaos.

"ENOUGH!" a voice yelled that Ash knew would come. Lance and Wes appeared on the scene. Wes diffuse the Kido May, Brendan, and Drew were emanating and told them to stop. Lance caught Dawn's fist in one quick motion.

"Is this the behavior of the Princess of Sinnoh? And you stop provoking her." Lance yelled at both Ash and Dawn. Ash just said whatever but Dawn just glared at Lance before teleporting out of his grasp and near Paul.

Lance sighed. Teenagers these days.... Brock ran up to Ash to see if he was alright.

'They don't pay me nearly enough to do this.' Lance thought rubbing his temples as he and Wes went back up on the platform in front of the screen. Lance took the whole sake bottle and began to drink all of it.

"Alright it's only one minute left before we start." Wes told Lance amused at how much he was drinking. The sound of chatter could be heard throughout the stadium mostly talking about what happened.

"I'm sorry Ash about your expulsion from the Sinnoh region." May said sadly. Ash gave her a smile. Everyone was a little surprised that Ash was taking it well.

"Don't worry May, It's not your fault." Ash said

"How can you be so happy dweeb? Wasn't your goal just crushed?" Gary said in confusion. Ash shrugged.

"I'll just find a way around it besides there are other things that are more important than my goals." Ash said. Gary frowned kind of disappointed in Ash's reaction.

"How?" Zoey said to Ash. Everyone turned to her.

"How were you able to get to Dawn like that? I have never seen Dawn cry before since her father died nor become too emotional when arguing yet you made Dawn cry and your nothing but a stranger to her." Zoey asked. Leona and Kenny were thinking along the same lines.

"It's kind of hard to explain but what I needed to do was to find her true feelings. Everybody puts up a persona called a mask and you have to see through that mask to find what they are really feeling. Dawn puts up a mask of anger, coldness, and indifference so I needed to shake loose that mask by pressing on her buttons. That's why I've been getting her angry so that it would come off and what I saw is that Dawn is just a small, lonely girl who needs to be comforted." Ash said calmly. Zoey, Kenny, and Leona were stunned and ashamed. They only tried talking with Dawn so many times but it never worked and it just made her more angry. They knew Dawn since childhood yet Ash only just met her and he knows more about her than they ever did.

"It's time." Wes said looking at his watch.

"Let's just get this over with." Lance said grabbing a microphone. He stared at the hundreds of trainer.

"Hello everyone." Lance said but they weren't paying attention. Lance coughed into the microphone trying to get their attention.

"Everybody stop talking, we're about to begin." Lance said but they still weren't paying any mid and continued to chatter. Wes was chuckling behind him as a vein appeared in Lance's forehead.

SHUT THE HELL UP AND PAY ATTENTION MAGGOTS!" Lance yelled into the microphone. Everyone stopped what they were doing and paid attention to Lance swearing as he just broke the sound barrier.

"Now since I got your attention, welcome to the Rookie Exams, there will be four rounds in this tournament. First we will start with an elimination round, a one Pokemon battle with no rules nor time limit and if you lose you're out and won't advance to the next round. So your numbers will be cut in half, any question?" Lance said bored. Someone raised their hand in the crowd. Lance told her to go ahead.

"Are we having the exams here?" the girl asked. People were wondering the same thing. This one stadium would make the exams go on forever.

"No we're not, this is only a meeting place. The real exams are below us." Lance said. Everyone was confused. Below them? Wes pushed a button and to their surprise the ground in the stadium started to move. The trainers were amazed at how the stadium was just one big elevator.

"Now while we are waiting I should tell you that Rookie participants in only eight of you will make it to the finals that takes place in a month." Lance said into the microphone calmly as everything went dark when going below ground level. Lights on the walls turned on to shine light in the darkness. Everyone except Ash were stunned, only eight out of hundreds will make it to the finals?

"The exams will test your ability to battle with your Pokemon, your usage of Kido(except Ash), and your traveling instincts. It will also test how you react to different situations, and how well you maintain yourself physically, mentally, and your spiritual bond with your Pokemon." Lance said(Ash is very strong on all three accounts.)

"Now those of you lucky eight who makes it into the finals will be part of one of the most watched events of the year and will be representing your own regions, a lot of important people from different Republic worlds will be at the finals betting and analyzing the new Pokemon Trainer, so not only are you representing your prospective regions you are also representing Poketopia." Lance said as the crowd listened intently.

"And I'm pretty sure you guys already know that we are not liable for what happens to you guys, In a Kido battle you may kill your opponent but out proctors will try to stop as much bloodshed as possible." Lance said watching the mixed emotions of the rookies.

"Oh and one more thing. If we decide that you are not suitable to be a Pokemon Trainer we can invalidate your trainer license, and NO arguing or complaining because we don't want to hear any whining for your mommies you got it?" Lance said in a dark voice trying to intimidate the rookies. It worked as some of them gulped and slowly nodded. Lance smiled.

'This is kind of fun.' he thought

"Any questions?" he asked as the elevator stopped in a room filled with darkness. No one said anything.

"Good welcome rookies to the Vridian City Underground Battle Dome!" Lance said as the lights came on revealing a huge room filled with elevators that had numbers like A-3 and so on.

"This is amazing!" Brock managed to say in awe. Misty nodded in agreement but Ash didn't care. Everyone could not speak or move as they looked around in awe at the massive battle dome.

Paul who was slightly surprised saw that Dawn was glaring at someone. Paul followed her gaze and saw her glaring at a man with a goatee and glasses wearing a tuxedo staring at the rookie with contempt and coldness in his eyes.

'So Dawn's stepfather is here interesting.' Paul thought curving a smile.

"Now let us begin." Lance said with a smile.


Over 10,000 words. So tiresome. Only the rookies, proctors, and other officials are there.