Master Challenge

Disclaimer : I do not own anything

Special thanks to CharmedmilliE- Karry master for letting me adopt the story.

Daniel Angeles/ revolution created by Black Falcoln

Roberto Degaldo created by Red Alfa

Silver/ Tabitha created by CharmedmilliE- Karry master

Kara-the-deaf trainer created by Dragonsrule18

Rei Kurosaki created by Artemis-no-subaku

Chapter 9: A Promised Battle

Ash and Tabitha spent the rest of the day talking and spying on Tobias from a third floor window. There was very little to gain from spying on him though. Tobias brought a lot of boxes into the house. "Well that was pointless," Ash said after Tobias stopped coming out of the house.

"Well you know what they say keep your friends close and your enemies closer," Tabitha said. "You can't get much closer then right next door."

"Yeah," Ash agreed. "What's up with Lance again? He is really our uncle?"

"For the millionth time no. I've just known him my whole life," Tabitha said. "So getting back to training tomorrow?"

"Actually my friends are going to be arriving tomorrow. Well most of them anyway so I'm going to head out to meet them and might bring them back here to hang out a bit. If that's okay," Ash said feeling weird just bringing people over to the house

"Its your house too. Do whatever you want. Just stay out of my room. I'll be training up here most of the day," Tabitha told Ash who nodded.

-PM-

The next day Ash walked over to the pokemon center and before he even got inside he was tackled by his two coordinator friends with hugs. "You've been working out," May said after the hug and Ash wasn't sure how to reply.

Pikachu jumped off his shoulder to greet Piplup and a Growlithe that had been next to May ran over to say hello. "When did you get a growlithe?" Ash asked remembering a time May and Drew had competed over who got to catch an Arcanine. In the end neither wanted to split up a family.

"A while ago. He's been a great addition to my team," May stated.

"I've caught more pokemon too," Dawn added. "Including an Aipom again."

Ash bite his lip remembering what happened to the Aipom he traded Dawn. After thinking it over he realized how much of a flip-flop Aipom had been. First Aipom loved him and wanted to be with him. Then it loved contest so wanted to be with Dawn. Then it loved Pokemon Ping-Pong and left Dawn to go after that dream. He had also heard that he had gotten tired of Pokemon Ping-Pong and moved onto pokemon dancing.

"Dawn I feel like I got Buziel from you and you got nothing in return. I'd like to make it up to you. I don't know if you'd have any use for a Tauros but I'd be more then willing to give you one," Ash told the girl who shook her head.

"No need to worry," Dawn said with a smile. "I couldn't just take a Tauros from you and besides not sure how I would use a Tauros in a contest."

"Well Ash, it seems every time I see you your with beautiful women," Ash heard a familiar voice and the three turned around to see Roberto standing there. "Is Silver around?"

"No, she's off training today but I can direct you to where she is," Ash added the last part after seeing a disappointed look on Roberto face.

"Thank you my friend but my uncle is coming in and I promised him we would do something today before the tournament officially starts," Roberto said taking his hand out from behind his back to show one white flower. "If this can't go to the beautiful trainer it was intended for it might as well go to a beautiful coordinator as congratulations for winning the grand festival." Roberto handed the flower to May.

"Thank you," May said with a smile.

"Your welcome now I must be…" Roberto stopped when he saw Brock not far off declaring his undying love for an Officer Jenny. "No," Roberto said shaking his head. "This can not be allowed." Roberto went up to the two and grabbed Brock by the ear dragging him away from the officer Jenny. Brock was shocked to see Roberto dragging him away and not Misty or Max. "You are giving a bad name to flirters everywhere. You need flirting lessons." Roberto told him as he dragged him away.

"That was unusual," May said as she watched Roberto dragging Brock away.

"Yeah," Ash agreed. "Anyway congratulations on winning May. Finally a Top Coordinator." May smiled.

"Thanks. It was a hard battle. Dawn almost had me," May admitted.

"And next time I will win," Dawn told the girl. "Kalos Grand Festival next year."

"Your on," May said.

"Kalos doesn't do coordinating," Ash pointed out.

"Oh you don't know," May said. "Apparently they had something similar called preforming but there was no battle round and very few people not in the Kalos region got into it so Kalos decided to dump that and take on contest. There's going to be a couple of different rules incorporating rules from preforming into it and we want to win."

"Oh,' Ash said. "Contests are more interesting especially since there is a battle round. Good luck. Kalos has all type of great pokemon for contests. I'd suggest looking into a couple of fairy types." Ash had never said anything when he was in Kalos but watching Serena do the preforming thing had been kind of boring.

"Thanks," Both Dawn and May said as Misty and Max joined them. Max had a sour look on his face.

"I'm all registered," Misty said with a smile and then greeted Ash with a hug. "Don't think I'll go easy on you because we're friend." She added and Ahs smiled back.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Ash told Misty and then looked at Max. "What's wrong?"

"He's upset because he can't enter," May answered

"It's no fair I was so close. If it wasn't for that Silver I'd be in this and I would win," Max said. "I'm better then everyone." Ash frowned at this statement. Max was acting like a spoiled brat and then Ash realized Max usually acted like this.

"Not better then Silver," May teased him with a smile. "Just relax Max. You're clearly not ready for this yet. You will be some day."

"I am so ready. I can beat anyone," Max said. "Silver just got lucky twice. She's nothing compared to me."

"You are not ready," Ash said upset about the way Max was talking about his sister. "And T… Silver has a ton of talent. A lot more then you have." Ash had to stop himself from using her real name. "It clear you need a lesson taught to you and I did promise you a battle all those years ago. Get yourself ready and meet me at the battling field behind the pokemon center. I'm going to go switch out a few pokemon."

Ash ran into the Pokemon center as Brock appeared after his talking to from Roberto. "What's going on?" Brock asked.

"Ash and Max are going to battle," May answered as the group headed for the pokemon center battling field.

-PM-

"What's taking Ash so long?" Misty asked.

"Probably getting his most powerful pokemon. Wait until I take down his Charizard. Everyone will know I belong here," Max said. Ash and Pikachu appeared not long later. Ash looked at Pikachu and he ran off and onto Misty shoulder. "What are you doing? You need Pikachu."

'I'm not using him," Ash answered.

"But it's a full battle you need six pokemon," Max said.

"And I have six,' Ash said showing them his belt. "Actually I have 11 not including Pikachu. I have an expanded limit and since this is not an official battle I can bring them all with me and decide who I'm going to use as I go."

Max gave a look but nodded and Brock stood in as ref. "Choose your pokemon," Ash told Max and Max took out a Golem. "Interesting choice." Ash took out a pokeball and let Raichu out.

"Pi, pika," Pikachu cheered for Riachu from the side.

"Why choose a pokemon who has a type disadvantage?" Max asked, but Ash didn't answer.

"You have the first move," Ash said.

"Rollout," Max ordered and Golem used the attack heading straight for Raichu.

"Iron Tail," Ash said calmly when Golem got closer and Raichu used her tail and threw Golem away. "Follow up with Focus Punch." Raichu fist lit up and charged at Golem. Max ordered his pokemon to dodge but Raichu was too fast. Golem went flying away and was knocked out.

"Golem is unable to battle. Raichu is the winner," Brock stated. "Max choose your next pokemon."

"Raichu take a break," Ash told his pokemon even though she wasn't even sweating. He went to take out her pokeball but Raichu ran over to Misty who was surprised until Pikachu jumped down and the two sort of hugged.

"How cute Pikachu has a girlfriend," May said.

"I know someone who will be disappointed," Dawn said thinking of her Buneary.

Max smiled and sent out a Pidgeotto. Ash looked at the flying pokemon before taking out Riolu. "Yay I get to fight," Ash heard Riolu cheer as he punched air on the battlefield.

Ash smiled at his hyper fighting type before getting serious again. A crowd was starting to form as they heard Ash was battling someone. "Your move," Ash said.

"Gust," Max commanded and Pidgeotto sent a gust attack.

"Hold your ground. Use iron defense," Ash told his Riolu who used the move to strengthen his defense and patently waited digging his feet in until the gust was over. "Not going to be that easy."

"Wing attack," Max said noticing Ash wasn't ordering an attack. Pidgeotto went to attack Riolu.

"Wait for it," Ash said to Riolu as Pidgeotto came to get closer. "Grab Pidgeotto and throw him to the ground." Riolu ducked as Pidgeotto got close and grabbed hold of his leg. He tossed Pidgeotto to the ground. "Thunder punch fast." Riolu reacted fast and hit Pidgeotto with a thunder punch before the bird could get back in the air.

Pidgeotto went flying right in front of Max. "Get up," Max begged his pokemon and Pidgeotto slowly got up but was clearly in no position to battle even after just one punch. "Return your pokemon," Ash said. "Your just going to get him injured."

"We won't give up. Gust again," Max ordered and Pidgeotto let out a much weaker guest.

"You asked for it. Quick Attack," Ash ordered deciding to go a bit easier on Pidgeotto not wanting to seriously injure the bird. Riolu speed at Pidgeotto who went to fly up but Riolu jumped up and hit him. PIdgeotto was down. Max returned his pokemon.

"I did it. I did it," Riolu celebrated jumping into Ash's arm.

"You sure did. Take a break," Ash told him going to get out Riolu Pokeball but Riolu ran off to stand with Pikachu and Raichu. "You give up?"

"Never, I will defeat you," Max said letting out his next pokemon a Poliwhirl.

Ash let out Pupitar. "Once again I'll give you the first move," Ash told Max.

"Water gun and keep it going," Max said wanting to over power Pupitar with his weakness.

The water gun hit. "Headbutt," Ash said not long later and Pupitar charged through the water to headbutt Poliwhirl. "Hidden Power." Pupitar used the move to deal a lot of damage as Poliwhirl was hit and fell. The pokemon slowly got up,

"Bubble Beam," Max ordered.

"Dodge and rock smash," Ash told his rock type and the pokemon moved fast dodging most of the bubbles but not all of them and used rock smashed on Poliwhirl before the pokemon could dodge. Poliwhirl fainted and the crowd that gathered started to clap.

"Is that really the same Larvitar we knew all those years ago?" Misty asked Borck.

"He's grown a lot being with Ash," Brock said. "But I think some things are still the same." Pupitar didn't look to thrill with the crowd and was happy to be returned to the pokeball.

"Three left," Ash said when Pupitar was safely back on his belt.

Max took out his Slugma. Ash nodded for a second before taking out his Sneasel. "Ash keeps on going for a type disadvantage," Dawn pointed out.

"And he keeps on winning," May also pointed out.

"Ember," Max said and his pokemon responded letting out small flames.

"Dodge, and use assist," Ash told his pokemon who dodged and used assist which let out a thunderbolt. "Keeping dodging and using assist." Ash ordered and Sneasel was fast enough to dodge all the embers and flamethrowers and kept using assist.

"What is Ash playing at? This looks like what you would do with Skitty," Dawn commented looking at May who shrugged. Finally Sneasel let out a high-powered hydro pump, which hit slugma directly nearly knocking out the pokemon.

"That's what he was waiting for," Brock said.

"Double hit now," Ash ordered after the hydro pump was over and Sneasel switched quickly from and charged at Slugma for a knock out Double Hit. "Nice job Sneasel," Ash said to his ice type after Max returned his Slugma. Sneasel nodded and gave a bored look like what did you expect but Ash could tell she was tired. "Return and take a rest." Ash returned his ice type and looked at Max. "Surrender yet?"

Max had an angry look on his face and sent Grovyle. Ash rolled his eyes. He didn't really expect Max to surrender but he was hoping Max would start to see he couldn't win and Ash knew from the look in his eyes he didn't see it. Ash sent out Swampert.

"Leaf Blade go," Max ordered and Grovyle arms glowed and he charged at Swampert.

"Dodge and ice ball," Ash ordered and Swampert jumped out of the way of Grovyle landing behind the grass type. He powers up an ice ball.

"Dodge," Max ordered and Grovyle was able to almost get completely out of the way. The ice ball hit his arm,

"Again," Was all Ash said and Swampert fired another ice ball this time getting a direct hit and knocking Grovyle out.

May was shocked. "That was one of Max's strongest pokemon," May said. "He never stood a change." Max returned his Grovyle not saying anything but getting a little pissed.

"Good job Swampert," Ash told his pokemon as he returned him. Swampert wasn't Ash's most social pokemon so Ash knew he didn't want to hang around and watch but Swampert had become a very loyal and a very strong pokemon. One of his strongest water types. "Last pokemon."

Max let out his last pokemon a Gardevoir. "I bet this is the same Ralts we met all those years ago," Ash said thinking for a minute before letting out Dragonair.

"Moonblast," Max ordered and Gardevoir let out the moonblast.

"Dodge," Ash said and Dragonair dodge only taking mild damage. "Thunder wave." Dragonair sent out a thunder wave. It didn't seem to do much.

"Disarming voice," Max ordered but as Gardevoir went to send out the attack there was electricity around her and she couldn't move.

"She's paralyzed," Ash said. "Iron tail." Dragonair tail lit up and she went to hit Gardevoir. She scored a direct hit. "Again." Once again Dragonair got a direct hit sending Gardevoir flying and knocking her out.

"And that was his strongest pokemon," May said. "It's clear Ash is in a completely different league then Max."

Dragonair flew over to Ash and rubbed her head against Ash's arm. "Good job girl," Ash said petting Dragonair head and then looking at Max as he returned his pokemon. "You still think you belong in this competition. You don't. You're nowhere good enough to be in this competition. You could be some day but right now I'm sick of you."

"What?" Max asked shocked not believing his hero was talking to him like this.

"You think you're so good because you studied a lot about pokemon, but your not. I also started to realize what a brat you are. From the moment I met you and you said you would have won the Johto league if you had been in it instead of me you've been a brat. I can't remember all the times I heard you say May success was because of you or May's failure was because she didn't listen to you. You're not a brilliant pokemon master. You're a newbie pokemon trainer who's a brat and a sore loser. Silver is a lot better then you. So stop complaining about your loses to her and get better yourself or if you can't move on from a lost you better quit now because there will be a lot more loses before you win. Trust me I know and one more thing. Silver is a good friend of mine. She's like a sister to me. Don't insult her again because I protect my friends."

Max looked at Ash and then stormed away. "GET YOUR POKEMON HEALED UP TOO," Ash yelled after Max seeing he wasn't heading for the pokemon center and then Max turned around and headed there. "I'm sorry May. He got on my nerves."

"No, no need to apologize. That was awesome," May said. "Do you know Max told me I got lucky I won the grand festival and I should have failed because I didn't take his advice? He's been getting on my nerves too thinking he's so great. For the last five months me and him have been helping dad train for this competition and Max just been whining about how he should be in it and Silver got lucky and she has no talent. He stormed off like that every time we tried to talk to him about it and he got mad when me and Blaziken managed to defeat a couple of dad's pokemon but he couldn't. He needed that. Trust me."

"I agree too," Ash heard a voice and turned around to see Norman and his wife. "I'm afraid you are right about my son. Personally I think he would be a better pokemon researcher then a pokemon trainer, but he won't listen to me." Norman looked at Ash's pokemon. "Your pokemon are stronger then I remember. I hope we get to battle again some day if not in this competition then in another."

"It would be my honor sir," Ash said shaking Norman hand and then returning all his pokemon except Pikachu and Raichu. "Trip to the pokemon center and then you can all come to my house to hang out." Ash told his friends as he headed for the center.