Journey To Improve: Conquest of Unova!

by Mar 'Darry' Darren

After his defeat to Tobias and reflecting on his past adventures, Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town decided to take his journeys more seriously. With some reunions underway, Ash learned about his updated Trainer status that just might help him in his desire to improve. He might even spark a strong friendship with a girl again, only deeper. Ash & Iris pairing

10. Ash vs the Champion!

JICU

Ash vs the Champion! The Duel of Pride Between Brothers?

Edited: 4/8/2015

Disclaimer: I don't own the Pokémon Anime.

"Pokémon" – Normal Speech

'Pokémon' – Thoughts

Pokémon – Flashback

Pokémon – Move Names

{Pokémon} – Pokédex

Previously on Journey to Improve: Conquest of Unova,

Ash still didn't say a word but sighed, "I know that you have helped us but what kind of friend will I be if I just forgave you all even after all you have done? Was all this, a week of good deeds, to fix years of crime and attacks? It is not that simple." Ash said and the trio had heavy hearts. "Yet you all have dreams like I do and I for one am not going to laugh, criticize or even hate you for it. People prefer to live as life gives them and thinks that we dreamers are just wasting our time." Ash added which was threatening to lower the mood until it digs into the ground. "But let them talk or laugh all they want because true dreamers never let that stop them from seeing their dreams are fulfilled or at least tried. That is all that matters to us and now I hope you do too."

That speech had left something unseen but Ash knew that the trio had touched hearts after being sent off in the best way to competent their past perfectly. They then left Nimbasa City, not even looking back; yet Ash was able to see them wave even in the great distance because he did the same with a smile.

"This is it Nimbasa City for real." Iris said as everyone had finally gotten their Pokémon back and went on with their daily lives. She was getting a little tired of false alarms and delays; Iris really wanted to go to Nimbasa City once she became Ash's girlfriend.

Speaking of which, the same raven haired trainer nodded. "Yep. Guys, we not leaving Nimbasa City for a while. I still have my Gym Battle to do." Ash said with excitement, after all he still had his Pokémon from the ranch while his local Pokémon were still waiting at Professor Juniper's own ranch.

They even ran into Bianca who had told them that she barely got her Pokémon back and she had recently caught one to use in her Gym Battle. After some begging, Ash reluctantly allowed her to have her Gym Battle first; he was grumpy about something but only Iris was able to hear what, she just squealed and hugged her boyfriend tightly while calling him cute and considerate.

Yet when they arrived at the Gym building, it was closed with a note near the doors. This is what it said;

Gone to my Fashion Show. Can't say when I will be back for Gym Battles. Sorry about that.

Elesa

Ash took in a huge sigh before turning to Bianca who wasn't happy about this turn of events any more than him. Then she took in a huge sigh as well before she had a look of realization and took out a magazine with the image of a female trainer. "I remember that Elesa is having her Fashion Show and it is not far from here! We should go!" And with that in mind, Bianca hurried to meet up with Elesa.

"What do you think guys?" Ash said, "We will have to follow Bianca and keep her from doing something she will regret as well as finally meet this Gym Leader we were told of." Ash added and his friends just wanted to see the fashion show as well so there was no contest. Once the gang had caught up with Bianca, they were in a huge hall packed to capacity with people either local or tourists.

They were all excited to see Elesa alright and they didn't have to wait long when an announcer had spoken out loud, "Alright, next up, we have a super model who's at the edge of Unova fashion, as well as the Nimbasa City Gym Leader…Elesa!" As soon as those words ranged in the room, the red curtains moved to reveal a very slim woman with a suitable fashion with huge yellow earmuffs that had string like ponytails that fall all the way down to her knees.

Girls squealed at the adorable fashion that Elesa was showing to all those eyes. Cilan and Bianca were in awe that they got to see the famous supermodel in action and Iris was beginning to think that she won't measure up to Elesa when her boyfriend just brought close while whispering about how silly she was trying to compare her 'wild' and 'untamed' beauty to the 'man-made' one of Elesa. Still, when Pikachu made his cry, Elesa then noticed them before jumping from the stands and right in front of the gang.

"Wow! A Pikachu and a very cute one at that!" Elesa finally spoke and everyone just couldn't believe that the supermodel, which they all adored for years, had finally gave her attention to a Pokémon.

"Hello to you too Elesa. My name is Ash Ketchum from Kanto and I wish to have a gym battle with you when you have the time." Ash had properly introduced himself which made Elesa chuckle on how 'cute' it made Ash look, much to the displeasure of Iris.

"That is sweet, you are very lucky to have a Pikachu that can shine like the sun! I bet he has a lot of admirers!" Elesa said with glee but instead she saw that Ash and Pikachu had a look that a mix of sadness and fore-longing.

"That barley even happens and Pikachu already decided on a mate. The only problem is that she and her trainers are miles from us now." Ash said and Pikachu nodded slowly.

"Anyway!" Bianca tried to diffuse the situation, "I will like to have a Gym Battle too! Ash even let me have mine first!" That really raised the mood around the fashion hall and Elesa just smiled at that.

"Very well. My Fashion Show ends in an hour so that is when I will be back at the Gym. Wait for me there!" Elesa said as she jumped onto the stage while the gang left the hall. After an hour precisely, they returned to the Gym which was something like an amusement park with bright lights, they were riding a roller coaster car that Iris seemed to be scared of but that was just an excuse to hold onto Ash who sat in the very seat next to her. Once the wild ride was over, Elesa was waiting for them at the end of the roller coaster, where the door leading to the battle arena was seen.

Bianca was getting more and more excited about this yet fate decided to be a little cruel as the battle between Elesa and Bianca was short to say the least. She brought one of her newer Pokémon, a snail-like Pokémon. Its gray shell resembled a knight's visor, with a coiling spiral of its shell further back. The shell had protrusions on the underside, which it apparently uses as legs. Its inner body was pink with a long, puckered mouth, and green markings below its eyes. Ash scanned it to be a Shelmet with his Pokédex,

{Shelmet, the Snail Pokémon. Shelmet can spit a sticky poisonous acid when attacking, and it can defend itself by closing its shell.} Yet despite all that, Bianca barely even defeated one of Elesa's Pokémon who was none other than a Zebstrika, the zebra-like Pokémon had finished them all off; not even with her Minccino and Pignite was able to bring it down.

It was a disappointment to say the least and Bianca was walking out, dejected that she had lost. Despite the fact that Iris and Cilan tried to cheer her up, Ash had a suspicious look on his face like he feels that there is something more to this than what Bianca is telling them. His answer actually came when a voice that was only familiar to Bianca himself.

"There you are!" Bianca was not happy at all to hear that voice and when everyone turned into the direction, they all saw a man in a regular suit that was calling out to Bianca. She explained that the man was in fact her own father, the same one who had kept her home like a princess and forbade her from becoming a trainer in the first place. "I have told you that things can happen if you are not ready and your match has proven yourself not fit to be a trainer. It is time for you to come home."

Stern as he may be, Bianca just hid behind Ash who signs that he is not happy with this. The man was shocked to see his daughter defy him but before that man could say another word, "Bianca is not going anywhere." Ash said with his own defying tone which shocked the man even more to the point of irritation,

"I don't know who you are but you have no business with my daughter." The man had said but Ash didn't budge,

"How dare you say that in front of her friends, the ones she was only able to make when you finally allowed her to become her own person." Ash said with an increasing temper, "Bianca clearly doesn't need her father to keep tracking her down and drag her back home only to let her go years later after the begging had tested your patience."

"How dare you! I am her father and I am merely looking after her like a father should do!" The man had yelled which only got Ash even more frustrated with him,

"No. A father does look after his only daughter but not forever. Bianca wants to become a trainer despite her flaws and that is all there is too it." Ash said in a stern tone that truly meant 'end of discussion'. The man was just about to blow like a boiling teapot.

"Then I challenge you to a Pokémon Battle!" He said and that got Ash curious. "If I win, Bianca gets to come with me back to home."

"And if I win, Bianca doesn't go home! Only then I accept your challenge!" Ash had said much to the shock of everyone else. Elesa was wondering why the trainer of such a cute Pikachu will do such things, Bianca felt warm around the cheeks about hoe Ash was willing fight for her own sake while Ash's friends just shook their heads at how willing the Kanto trainer was going to do such things for his friends.

"Fine then!" The man proclaimed so they were both led to a spare battlefield near the main one in the Gym. Since the man wasn't happy with Ash, he decided to show off his Pokémon. "Go Darmanitan!" Out came the Blazing Pokémon that Ash hadn't seen since the Battle Tournament in Nimbasa Town.

"Beheeyem! I need you!" Ash brought his latest Pokémon which was confusing his friends.

"Why is Ash using a Pokémon like a Beheeyem who had barely any time to train?" Iris asked which got Elesa and Bianca curious as well. Then the latter's father decided to make the first move,

"Flamethrower!" Darmanitan took in a huge breath and expelled a large stream of heated flames at Beheeyem,

"Psybeam!" Ash commanded and Beheeyem managed to match the flame thrower with a burst of Psychic Energy.

"Now Fire Punch!" Bianca's father ordered Darmanitan to coat his fist with flames and tried to strike Beheeyem physically. That is until Ash saw a perfect time to,

"Use Barrier!" Beheeyem had managed to set up a clear plane of glass that blocked the Fire Punch fully. "Psychic!" Ash told his Psychic Type Pokémon take a mystic hold on Darmanitan and toss it around like a rag doll.

"Arrgh! Flare Blitz!" Bianca's father had knew that within Psychic, a Pokémon can't move their bodies but even the most powerful users of Psychic can't handle a solid target and an intangible one at the same time so when Darmanitan got engulfed in fire, it also broke Beheeyem's hold on it.

"Heal Block!" Despite the incoming Fire Type Pokémon, Ash still commanded his Psychic type one to prevent Darmanitan from healing. "Double Team now!" Beheeyem moved so fast, he appeared to have cloned himself and successfully dodged the attack which had caused great damage to the Blazing Pokémon.

Yet, in the rubble, it turned out that Darmanitan had suffered so much damage that it reverted into an idol like version of himself. That was Darmanitan's Zen Form when it turns from a simple Fire type into a Duel Fire and Psychic Type until its health get improved.

"Prefect! Now use Rest!" Bianca's father had thought that he could use this chance to heal his Darmanitan but when it turned to sleep, nothing else happened. "What is going on!? Why isn't Darmanitan turning back from Zen Form!?"

"Shock Wave and then Uproar!" Ash gave out a duel command that Beheeyem had brought perfectly, with Darmanitan receiving more damage and forced out of its sleep state. After seeing the shocked faces, Ash smirked. "Don't think that I am the type of trainer to take an unfair advantage of an opponent who is so passionate about battling."

"Flame Charge!" Even as a statute, Darmanitan managed to gain speed and heat enough to be engulfed in flames.

"Barrier with Zen Headbutt!" Ash commanded and Beheeyem had charged with a Barrier as a frontal shield while the Cerebral Pokémon channeled Psychic Energy into his head. Darmanitan had ran into the Barrier that caused it to cancel Flame Charge due to the impact while receiving yet more damage. Yet the battle wasn't going to linger anymore when Ash halted his Beheeyem from anymore attacks. "That is it. The battle is over."

"WHAT!?" That cry had rang throughout the room, Ash was just about to win until he called off the duel like he was the referee.

"Are you going to back on our deal!?" Bianca's father argued as well but found himself flinching to Ash's scowl.

"I never agreed to it in the first place. You were the one who started this useless match in the first place." Ash said and the man realized that he was tricked into it but the raven haired trainer wasn't done. "This match wasn't to decide what your daughter does what in her life, she is old enough to do that herself and without having others decide for her."

"Then why did you face against me in the first place!?" The man wanted to know so Ash explained,

"It was to show you the great friends and companions that your daughter can meet once she became a trainer." Ash said and that caused gasps to emerge within the room, "People who accept her flaws as a person. Want to be there when she falls as a trainer and there when she becomes big in her own way. Being sheltered will just prevent your daughter from meeting real friends instead of people who want her for what is yours. Why do you want to break your daughter's heart all for your own over-protectiveness?"

The man was fuming until then pulled a 180 and started to smile. "I knew it." Now everyone was confused and so was Ash who just raised an eyebrow. "You are right. I have been overprotective but when I saw that my daughter had lost despite training hard to win, I thought that she will start to regret becoming a trainer. I wanted her to come home so she can start over again and as an even better trainer. That is until I saw you bunch who managed to help my daughter back on the path of a trainer. I wanted to see just how much you are willing to help Bianca and now I know."

Ash said nothing before he started to smile as well. "Now that is the real father that Bianca is so lucky to have, not the tyrant we have met not long ago. I have been wanting to meet the real deal."

Everyone was still not getting it until they decided not to dwell on this anymore and regroup with the two trainers. Bianca then hugged her father, overjoyed that he was looking after her while Iris embraced Ash for being so kind, bold and considerate to get into trouble all for a friend and let the real truth come to light.

In the end, Bianca asked for time to train so she could challenge Elesa again and win. The Gym Leader agreed, just wanting to battle Bianca again when the girl is more ready. Everyone just knew that the trainer who grew up as a princess will do just fine now she finally was allowed to resume her journey, this time with more confidence and good friends in her life.

XXXXX

"Hello Elesa, I am here for my Pokémon battle." Ash said as he faced the Gym Leader/super model of Nimbasa City who nodded,

"Okay Ash. You may have saw me face against Bianca so I had to make some last minute changes to my strategies. I hope that isn't too much trouble." Elesa said while Ash shook his head,

"I have to think of such things myself as a trainer." Ash said as the super model showed them the shorter way to the battle field then last time. There,

"The Battle between Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and Elesa of Nimbasa City will now get under way!" The referee announce with both trainer and Gym Leader brace for the signal, "Begin!"

"Zebstrika! Your glow will shine for us!" Elesa decided to use her Zebstrika like before with Bianca. Ash then knew just the right Pokémon for this,

"Quilava! I need you!" Everyone was gushed at how adorable Ash's Fire Type starter Pokémon from the Johto region was. In the stands, Bianca was in glee to see it again while Iris was confused by the choice of Pokémon on her boyfriend's part and that Cilan was smirking.

"Flamethrower!" Ash decided to take the first move and it landed real damage and burns on the Zebra-like Pokémon.

"Very good Ash and now use Flame Charge!" Elesa commanded her Zebstrika to charge with increased speed. And yet,

"Take it and use Eruption!" Ash told his Quilava to charge and hit Zebstrika right on while not taking any damage! Elesa didn't have time to even gasp in disbelief when Quilava had started a force mimicking that of a volcanic eruption.

"Try a Double Kick!" Elesa tried to change tactics to get back in the game when,

"Take it in with Defensive Curl." Ash told Quilava to roll into a ball to lessen the damage, Quilava was only sent back rolling like a kicked soccer ball. "Flamethrower while turning!" His friends gasped as they recognized this move from the Nimbasa Town Battle Tournament. Zebstrika couldn't move out in time when it was hit by numerous Flamethrowers, one after the other. "Double Edge with Flame Charge!" Ash decided to give the last shot and Quilava delivered it by engulfing herself in flames and charged with some much energy, that she was hurt once the attack hit Zebstrika who could keep standing after that.

The referee was shocked but gave the verdict, "Z-zebstrika is unable to battle! Quilava wins! Will Elesa take out her next Pokémon?" The fans of Elesa couldn't believe that her first Pokémon had lost while the opposing Pokémon received very little damage. Yet Ash's friends were just glad to see such a great match once more.

"O-okay. Emolga, sparkle in the sun!" Out came the flying squirrel like Pokémon like the one that Iris trains. Ash knew that it was actually trained to use moves to match its electric and flying typing.

"Roggenrola, I need your help!" Ash decided to give this match to his first pure rock type Pokémon he ever caught as a trainer who had gotten strong from fighting wild Pokémon rather than trained ones.

"So you have a rock type huh?" Elesa said, she never thought that a trainer will think even further ahead to prepare for any duel type Pokémon out of her Electric types. "Use Attract!" Emolga winked and sent hearts towards Roggenrola,

"Protect!" Ash had counteracted the Attract by commanding his Roggenrola to protect himself with the famous protective dome of energy. "Rock Slide!" The Rock type then summoned rocks from the sky to threaten to land on Emolga.

"Oh dear! Dodge them!" Elesa yelled to her Pokémon who just managed to do so until,

"Sandstorm!" Ash then told his Roggenrola to cause a sandstorm which can make it hard for Elesa's Emolga to fly. "Stone Edge!"

"Discharge!" Elesa had told her Emolga who, despite the sandstorm, was able to unleash a wide spread burst of electricity that somehow countered the storms of rocks approaching the flying squirrel. Then the sandstorm subsided, making the chance for this match to end. "Aerial Ace!" Emolga then dived before charging at Roggenrola.

"Flash Cannon!"

"Light Screen!"

Those two orders were given off at the exact second and when the rock type unleash a stream of silver energy at Emolga who covered itself with mystic glowing energy that caused an explosion upon impact. When the smoke had cleared to settle everyone's nerves, both Pokémon were on the ground out for the count.

"Both Pokémon are unable to battle! Will Elesa please take out her remaining Pokémon?" The referee call over until she happen to notice on how Elesa is losing her cool as she had only one Pokémon left and Ash still had his Quilava along with a Pokémon yet not revealed.

"Fine then! Come out my Electric Queen!" Elesa took out her remaining Pokémon that had left Ash confused. It was a short, white, eel-like Pokémon with dark, oval eyes and a red, four-point star-shaped mouth. A wavy, yellow stripe runs along its body, which has a long fin membrane, giving it a tapered shape. Ash took out his Pokédex,

{Tynamo, the EleFish Pokémon. Tynamo usually lives in groups, and has an electricity-generating organ which discharges when in distress.} It looked like a fish alright and judging by how it is floating above the ground, it must have the ability Levitate which just made this Pokémon to have no type disadvantages! Still, for being in its original form, this Pokémon can learn very few moves which made Ash smirk.

"Frillish! I need you!" Ash summoned his own Pokémon that floats too. Everyone was wondering two things; one, that Ash who had be doing so well had decided to use a water type against an electric type; two, why is the Pokémon trying to squeeze the said trainer to death? "Okay, okay! Easy girl, we have a battle!" The Frillish then realized what she was doing and got back onto the battlefield.

"…um…Tackle!" Now everyone knew why Ash had chosen a Pokémon like Frillish, all Elesa's Tynamo. The Normal type attack had harmlessly phased through the ghost type Pokémon. Tynamo tried again and again, even faster than before but it couldn't land a hit on Frillish.

"Shadow Ball!" Ash commanded and Frillish had launch a swift ball of ghostly energy that pursued the fast Tynamo until something that was not seen had happened. The EleFish Pokémon was evolving this early in the match!

Ash never saw something like before and scanned the new Pokémon that appeared after the bluish glow.

{Eelektrik, the EleFish Pokémon. They coil around foes and shock them with electricity-generating organs that seem simply to be circular patterns.} After seeing that, Elesa then realized that she only kept Tynamo from evolving because she didn't want to say goodbye to its 'cute' appearance but after all those battles of pretty powerful Tackle attacks, it did want to evolve and not be so useless anymore. Speaking of the devil, the newly evolved Pokémon then launched a beam of lightning at Frillish who barely dodged it.

"So you have learned all those moves by evolving!? I can't wait to see what you have in store next!" Elesa said excitedly but Ash wasn't too happy with this and it wasn't because now Eelektrik can now harm his Frillish. His fears came true when Elesa took out a yellow greenish stone with a thunderbolt symbol inside it and threw into the EleFish Pokémon which caused it to evolve for the second time that day.

Ash just scanned it again with his Pokédex,

{Eelektross, the EleFish Pokémon. Eelektross's mouth locks onto its opponents, where upon it delivers an electric shock.} Ash then looked at Frillish who was nervous about this but somehow settled down once she saw that her trainer still had that confident smirk on his face.

"Now let's see some of your new moves now!" Elesa was still excited as well the other local girls but their hopes were trashed when this newly evolved Eelektross still used Tackle which still didn't work on the ghost typing of Frillish.

"Night Shade!" Ash still had his head in the game and commanded his Frillish to use an attack that uses a set amount of damage no matter what.

"Try it again!" Elesa had hoped that her new Eelektross will use its new move like not long before. It did and tried to land another stream of steady lightning at Frillish,

"Use Ominous Wind!" Ash commanded his Pokémon to unleash a ghostly gust at the electric attack which successfully had increased Frillish's attack, speed and defenses; it was enough to take the super effective hit. "Now Recover!" Frillish then took a stance and glowed in a healing light that had brought back enough energy to keep fighting. "Now Bubble Beam!" Even thought it was an ineffective move, Frillish had landed damage to the Electric type Pokémon; and then, EleFish Pokémon had fallen in shame and disgrace to its trainer.

"Eelektross!" Elesa hurried to her fallen Pokémon but Ash had gotten there first with both him and his Frillish looking at the Pokémon with looks of sympathy.

"I am sorry you had to lose like this, Eelektross and I can understand it. You thought that when you have evolved, you were stronger and more helpful but that doesn't always work and now that you have fully evolved, you can't learn anymore moves on your own." Ash said which caused the trainer and audience to gasp in shock with the exception of Pikachu who knew this moment a little too well. "You will have to learn it all by outside means when you could have evolved naturally and learned it all before evolving, some trainer make mistakes and this is one that no trainer should ever make." With that said by Ash, he stood up and looked at Elesa with a complete makeover; his expression was now of disappointment.

"I can't believe how you were so stupid with one of your Pokémon today, Elesa. I am very disappointed in you, that you let all this spotlight get in the way of your Pokémon's training." The fan girls were starting to protest but Ash ignored them to focus on Elesa. "Back home in the Kanto region, where I first started my journey, I met a gym leader who specialized in Electric types like you but his prized Pokémon, a Raichu, was poorly raised." Ash started so everyone had settled down to hear the rest, "That is because he had trained his Raichu to deal heavy damage but that was because he was too impatient. When his Pichu evolved in a Pikachu, he immediately used a Thunder Stone like you to fully evolve it into a Raichu but doing that had prevented that Raichu from learning any attacks that increase speed like Quick Attack or Agility. It was because my Pikachu was faster and more agile that I was able to beat him." His audience gasped at Ash's story.

"Now do you see why I don't bother trying to evolve my Pikachu when all I can do is have him touch Thunder Stone? I want him to train until his fullest Potential before attaining a new and stronger body. You never knew about that and now you have caused one of your own Pokémon to forever have so little moves and can't learn the other attacks that Eelektross were known for." No one spoken a word when Ash was finished until the referee decided it was the time to do her job,

"Eelektross is unable to battle! Frillish wins so the winner of the match is Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!" No cheers followed, everyone just had hearts too heavy; they never thought that Pokémon evolution could have such a dark twist to it. That was broken when Elesa arrived with a box in hand, she then opened it once she arrived near Ash.

"I understand my mistake and thank you for sharing your advice on the matter. Here is your badge as proof that you have won at my Gym." Ash had taken a good look at the badge labeled the Bolt Badge. It was shaped like a lightning bolt or a Pikachu or Emolga tail, with an orange crown sticking out of the tip.

Ash then silently took the badge and placed it to that it was the fourth from the left, meaning that only three are left for the count. Then the trainer had returned his Frillish to his Pokéball before turning towards Elesa again. "I can see that you want to make up, not to me but to your Pokémon and that is what I can accept. After knowing this much, you will defiantly be a better trainer." Ash finish with a smile that somehow made the watching women in the room to blush at how handsome it made Ash look.

Later, after Ash joined up with his friends and Pikachu, they were all outside the gym with Ash hoping to find out where the nearest gym is with the help of Cilan's electronic map until Elesa appeared again. "If you are looking for the gym, then the one in Driftveil City will the best for you."

"Driftveil huh? There was a prize full set of feathers at the Battle Tournament in Nimbasa Town." Ash then said, purposely leaving out that he had found it to not make Iris feel bad; she just hugged him once she had figured it out.

"That is the one but I just got word before our match today, telling me that the only bridge between Nimbasa and Driftveil in under construction so that it was take a few days to complete." Elesa then brought up but Ash didn't lose his smirk,

"That is okay. I wasn't planning of leaving Nimbasa City anytime soon anyways. We haven't seen the entire city yet." Ash said which made his friends gleam with hope and excitement, like they were begging that Ash wasn't fibbing. They just said a huge 'thank you' after Ash nodded.

XXXXX

Soon enough, the very next day, the gang had plans for staying in Nimbasa City for a little break and fun until they learned about Cilan's plan.

"I am telling you Ash! You must help me with the Stamp Rally! It is only found in Nimbasa City so it is now or never!" Cilan said while holding up a card that resembled a Bingo card and with his arm over Ash's shoulders; Iris was in the background, not convinced and neither was Ash. Cilan just felt like he was trying to place his arm on nothing and then saw Iris and Ash in the horizon.

"I am sorry Cilan! I promised Iris to take her on a date once I had my gym battle so that is where we will be all day! Have fun!" Ash turned to take Iris by arm, which she gleefully accepted, and walked towards the very first stop, leaving Cilan all alone with his own journey.

"You guys…" Cilan said in disbelief that he had to enjoy this all by himself. Later that day, the late evening, the gang were sitting on a couple of benches looking exhausted. Ash just took out a map that had all the sights listed and checked off counting the one on the bottom left corner.

"Wow! The entire Nimbasa City under one day! That was one wild date!" Ash said with Pikachu tiredly agreed while they both looked at Iris who was already asleep while using her boyfriend's lap as a pillow with her Swablu and Trapinch sleeping in her massive hair.

Then Ash turned to Cilan who was on the other end of bench, exhausted too but with a younger female trainer leaning on him with an Axew in her lap that had a bowtie on its tail. It was clear that Cilan had his own run in with a girl during that whole day.

Flashback Begins!

Once the two trainers got off at the first stadium for their date, they got to see Small Court and Big Stadium where Iris wanted to see the match between the teams Gurdurr Eleven and the Darmanitans. Iris stated that she is counting on the Gurdurr Eleven to win so she dragged Ash towards to the game; he still didn't have an opinion about football so Ash just paid for the snacks she ordered. It turned out that the Gurdurr Eleven did win so Iris was in a very good mood and she then challenged Ash to a match in the Small Court.

During that time, Ash and Iris played tennis furiously. Ash was able to gain a good amount of points over his girlfriend who once accidently launched the ball into his face. Pikachu watched them with Swablu and Trapinch who wanted in on the date too. They had finished their match with a handshake that later turned into a cuddle fest once they get out of the peering eyes of the older trainers and Pokémon.

The next stop was the Pokémon Musical at the Musical Theater. Ash was excited to see something this for the first time. He just didn't count on the Pokémon preforming to ask both Ash and Iris to join them in uniform as guest performers. Still, they had fun and got to dance and sing in front of a crowd who loved the performance.

After a lot more stops like exhibits in museums and ice cream at a parlor, Ash and Iris had arrived at the Amusement Park where the famous Nimbasa City Ferris Wheel was visible anywhere. Iris wanted to ride for it so long that she forgot about Ash and Pikachu who quickly lost them in the crowd. That was then they saw it,

"Isn't that…" Ash said as he saw an "Axew?" It was standing near a railing looking lost, like it got separated from its trainer. Ash walked over towards the Axew who panicked for a moment, showing that it was owned by a trainer because wild Axew don't have accessories like a ribbon on their tails.

"Hey! Ash!" The said trainer then saw that his girlfriend had found him instead of the reverse and she saw the same Axew too. "Could that Axew be lost?"

Meanwhile, Cilan was on a roll with his stamps that are in order by number stations. "Yes! That is it for the Number 4 line! The next is the Number Five!" Cilan was amazed on how much progress he had made under such a short time until,

"Excuse me?" Cilan turned to see a young girl he somehow had found cute but kept it to himself. "Can you tell me how to get to the Amusement Park?" Cilan gave her directions to take Platform number 2 and take the third train spot to the amusement park.

"Thank you!" The girl ran off without even speaking of her name.

Meanwhile, Ash and the gang were taking the train hoping to find out where the Axew got separated from her trainer; Ash was able to find out that this Axew was indeed female with his knowledge of Pokémon breeding. The said Axew thought she had saw her trainer so the gang decided to take the train and keep a close eye on the trainer within the crowd of people that were already on the train. Yet, Axew ran off and tried to grasp on the woman she thought as her trainer but it was the wrong woman. That was the first mistake they made, and the next came the second one: Iris had brought out some of her own smaller Pokémon help too but the crowdedness of the subway train had instead caused those Pokémon to start a fight. The subway was a real mess.

While that was happening, Cilan was working on his card until he saw someone nearby and familiar; the very girl who asked where is the Amusement Park earlier. She then introduced herself as Erina and as a girl who gets things messed up so she got lost on the way to the amusement park. That told Cilan that he will have to take her to the amusement park this time since he had the time to spare.

Back to Ash and the gang,

"We're sorry sir!" Ash and Iris said to the conductor who was still not happy about what just happened.

"Fine, I will let you go this time but if it happens again, then I will have no choice but ban you and your Pokémon from the subway trains. Keep a better look on your Pokémon." The conductor then walked back into the subway that rocketed back into the subways.

Ash then turned to the Axew with Iris's Emolga along with Swablu and Trapinch who all flinched under Ash's gaze. "I hope you are satisfied that now we will have to go the entire way on foot now and unless you behave, then you will have to walk with us on foot too! Understand!?" Ash scolded the irresponsible Pokémon who all nodded so he went to a bench and took in a huge sigh, "Sorry about all this trouble on our first date Iris."

Ash had stopped to see an ice cream cone in front of him, given by Iris who just smiled. "You really should worry more about yourself for once Ash." She said while revealing a tray of ice cream cones for the Pokémon who simply ate them, still with guilt about their behavior from before.

"I will try Lily but it seemed that we are going in circles since the trainer is obviously not staying in one place." Ash said as he solemnly enjoyed his ice cream, he promised the lost Axew that they will find its trainer but they weren't even close.

"Maybe we should leave a note behind. That way when the trainer comes here, they will know that Axew was just here. We can even tell them where we went." Iris suggested and the said Axew was beaming with hope that it will work. So Ash took one of the stamp cards for the Axew to place a handprint on while he drew a picture of a Ferris wheel that looked so real.

That was a solid plan: go to the amusement park to wait for the trainer to see the clue left behind and fix this mess. Still, what the gang didn't count on was that Cilan had brought Erina along who recognized the Axew Mark and thought that it was hers. That will meant that she was closer to Axew until Cilan realized something; he had accidently lead her on the wrong train, going in the direction away from the amusement park!

Now, it was time that this lost Axew was about to lose hope all together; the nice trainers and their Pokémon had covered the entire city and waited at the Amusement Park for an entire hour and still her trainer didn't appear. That all ended when something had caught her eye, this time there was no mistake. She had saw her trainer and the same girl had spotted her, "Axew!" "Eww~!" The two had finally reunited!

"I am glad that we have brought you two together. You must have been through a lot of trouble the entire day." Ash and Iris looked to see the Subway Bosses along with Cilan standing behind Erina. "We were glad to find Cilan so we will make up for that favor we owned you in order to find where you were heading next and reunite this two together." Ingo said and Emmet nodded.

"Thank you!" Erina said to everyone who went through all that trouble to help both her and her Axew. That was until the clocks dinged four times,

"Oh no!" Cilan yelled and checked his stamp card and saw to his horror. "I haven't gotten my final stamp in time! I have failed!" All that running around had Cilan lose track of time so he forgot about the Stamp Rally.

"Don't worry Cilan!" The said trainer looked up to Emmet, "Since you wanted to help this young lady over such a silly game, we will accept a battle with you and young Ash if you wish." Cilan looked in with glee and turned to Ash who just shrugged before nodding.

Inside a special car that was designed to contain a Pokémon duel, Ash and Cilan faced the Subway Bosses who took out their Pokémon.

"Chandelure, Shine us through the night darkness!" "Eelektross, sparkle under the moon!" Ash and the gang recognized the Eelektross from Ash's Gym Battle so they knew that this one was different from the Eelektross that Elesa now owns. Still, that left the Pokémon that resembled a sentient chandelier. It had a striped, round head, and round, pupil-less yellow eyes. There was a ring of small, black spikes on top of its head with a tall, purple flame in the middle. From a black spike below its head, black arms curled upward. Finally, these arms were tipped with purple fire. Ash took out his Pokédex to get answers as he scanned the Pokémon,

{Chandelure, the Luring Pokémon and the evolved form of Lampent. Chandelure uses its dancing flames to hypnotize opponents.} Ash then smirked as he had the prefect Pokémon for this and nodded towards Cilan who nodded back.

"Yamask! We need you!" "Stunfisk, help us out!" Ash brought out his first Unova Ghost Type while Cilan took out his Ground and Electric Type Pokémon.

"We will take the first the move if you don't mind." Ash said, "Yamask, Use Ominous Wind!"

"Stunfisk, Thunderbolt!" The two trainers used their attacks so that Yamask will hit both of them with a ghostly gust of wind at Eelektross while Cilan had his Stunfisk launch a bolt of lightning at Chandelure.

"Now it is our turn! Chandelure, use Will-O-Wisp!" "Eelektross, use Acid!" The Subway bosses made their move which is what Ash had thought they would,

"Use Magic Coat now!" Ash yelled and Yamask managed to get into the way of the Will-O-Wisp and deflect it back, right into Eelektross who was about to use Acid.

"Stunfisk! Use Mud Bomb!" Cilan told his Pokémon to attack Chandelure with a super effective move.

"Hex on Eelektross!" Ash then used his own strategy and Yamask had landed a good amount of damage on Eelektross with its burn status doubling the power.

"We can't fall behind! Chandelure, use Smog and then Psychic!" Ingo commanded his Pokémon to do a duel move that caught both Pokémon after blinding Stunfisk.

"Eelektross, use Discharge!" A storm of electricity raced towards the helpless Pokémon and stuck them hard.

"Pain Split!" Ash took one last minute command which successfully caused all Pokémon to have the same amount of health and also caused Psychic to cancel due to the pain. "Shadow Ball on Eelektross!"

"Thunderbolt on Chandelure!" Both Pokémon obeyed their trainers and launched their last attacks that had done real damage; ultimately, Chandelure had collapsed with Eelektross still struggling the stand until the burn had shaved off any remaining health left. So, the Subway Bosses had fallen to Ash and Cilan for the first time in a while.

After the match, Ash and Cilan were dragged out of the train by Iris and, surprisingly, Erina too. "Cool that head, big boy." Iris spoke in a teasing tone, "We still have our date to do and we are not stopping until we see every sight of Nimbasa City!" Ash sighed,

"Yes Lily." Everyone knew that despite being a fierce trainer, Ash was like a slave to the demands and personality of his girlfriend. Cilan and Erina then looked at each other and blushed at the thought of being in a relationship too; sheesh, Ash is really making quite the impression on everyone he meets here in Unova.

Flashback Ends!

And just like what Iris had said, the gang along with their new friends had saw every sight the city can offer; they even spent a romantic time on the Ferris Wheel, which brings back to them exhausted on the benches with the boys wondering just where does the girls get the right to fall asleep on them even after what they said a few hours ago.

"Yeah Ash, but why isn't she letting go of me?" Cilan asked in which Ash silently snickered at Cilan's clueless nature; it reminded him on when he was like that.

"Perhaps you have found someone who for once had fallen for your personality. It can be a wonderful thing if you will respect it." Ash said wisely, he had actually learned a lot about girls from some female friends he had made over the years. "Just let her do what she wishes and see what comes next. It maybe something wonderful in the making, like a real close partnership."

Even though Ash was saying this causally, Cilan had been blushing the entire time; his head was just filled to the brim with the thought being Erina's boyfriend.

XXXXX

Now that their adventures were done in Nimbasa City, it was time to use the drawbridge to Driftveil City for Ash's fifth Gym Battle. But first, they saw someone familiar with the exemption of Erina who had decided to join the group; she said it was to help become a better trainer to her Axew and catch some more 'adorable Pokémon but Ash and Iris knew that was just an excuse to stay close to Cilan who had been her hero while they went on a date, Erina was even amazed at Cilan's battling skills.

"Hey!" Ash called out to, "Trip!" The same local boy turned to see Ash and actually smiled once he settled his eyes on the trainer that was helping him out as his friendly and wise rival.

"Hello Ash. I can guess you have already challenged the Nimbasa City Gym." Trip said and Ash nodded before simply taking out his badge case and showing the bolt badge resting in the fourth slot from the left, there was no doubt in Trip now.

But before anyone could say anything else, there was a scream in the air; not the type at something scary or gross but some doing something hey didn't approve the least. The trainers decided to check it out anyways, only to see that the Officer Jenny of Nimbasa City being harassed by an elderly man. Before it could escalate, Ash stormed down to the man and yanked him so far, that when the man landed; cracks formed near his head.

"Are you Alder?" Ash asked the man who revealed to be wearing a poncho like he was only with three Pokéballs attached to a string on each shoulder along with pants with jagged ends. Underneath was a short sleeved black shirt and on his feet were black sandals that were firmly attached to his ankles. Finally, he had the wildest red hair that Ash had ever seen, with shades of oranges and in the style of a bush in front while in a ponytail out back. "The Unova Champion?" Ash added while not even considering the bewilder expressions on his friends as a hint.

The old man laughed, "While yes, my name is Alder. And are you Ash Ketchum from Kanto?" Ash nodded before getting back to the point,

"Yes and all I have to say is that make the worst first impressions ever." That was very blunt and Ash's friends tried to make him take it back; Ash maybe a powerful trainer but there is a chance that he may not be able to match that of a Champion. "Just look at Trip, he looked up to you. And now years later, he is reconsidering his dream after seeing how you actually are; an old man who prefers to explore than be there for trainers who beat your Elite Four."

Alder still laughed, "Well sorry about that but you know I am an explorer and once your start, you can't stop." Then he turned serious, "To tell the truth, I never fought my way into becoming the Champion like you or Tripson are; they just asked me to be the champion since I was that strong."

"Still, I will like to battle one of your Pokémon with my Pikachu." Ash said and then yellow rodent got fired up in excitement for battling a champion's Pokémon. The others had gotten a little shocked that despite how skilled Ash was as a trainer and how powerful his very first Pokémon was.

"Okay then." Alder said which shocked everyone else, "It actually has been a while before any trainer managed to get past the Elite Four to challenge me. And after hearing how well your history as a trainer is as well as your Gym Battles here in Unova, I wanted to see just how powerful you really are." No one was able to take in any of this so they just remained silent while a nearby trainer eagerly volunteered to be the referee.

"Bouffalant, let's go!" Alder took out one of his Pokéballs and out came was a bovine Pokémon with a large, dark Afro on its head. Two large, curving horns, each with two golden growths resembling rings, protruded from the afro. It had a shaggy brown hide that ends at its knees and doesn't cover its face. A large, gray nose sat at the end of its short, beige snout, and its yellow eyes were partly hidden by its hair. There were black tear markings directly below its eyes. Each of its beige legs had a single, gray hoof and its tail ends in a stubby tuft of fur.

Trip had sparkles in his eyes which was obvious to Ash that this isn't the first time that his Unova Rival had saw Adler or his Pokémon. He just took out his Pokédex,

{Bouffalant, the Bash Buffalo Pokémon. Bouffalant is powerful and destructive, wildly charging and head-butting everything in its path.} Ash knew that among Bouffalant, this one had to be much more powerful if it helped its trainer become the regional champion of Unova.

"Pikachu, let's do this." Ash proclaimed when his yellow rodent had took the place in front of his trainer. Everyone waited in suspense for what could happen in this battle between a Champion and a prodigy.

"Battle Begin!" The referee, aka the local Officer Jenny, lowered her hand and retracted back for a very good reason.

"Thunderbolt!" Ash took the very first move and Pikachu unleashed a swift striking bolt of lightning that caused an explosion which sent the buffalo Pokémon into the air. "Rain Dance!" That was really surprised everyone when Pikachu had glowed brightly which attracted rain clouds that strangely only fell on the battlefield. After seeing Sunny Day so much, this was very strange for Ash's friends indeed. "Thunder!" Ash then used a technique that he recalled from his late Johto adventures; Pikachu had unleash a powerful surge of lightning that hit its mark perfectly.

Yet when Bouffalant land, it was not even scratched just wet from the rain. That had really sent the trainers over the edge since they had either saw it with their own eyes or heard from the trainers at the Nimbasa Battle Tournament that the power of Ash's Pikachu was on the scale of a Legendary Type as the yellow rodent had fought even at a type disadvantage and still had victory in hand like when the match just started.

"Now that is what I am talking about Ash. Such power even in such a small body, your Pikachu is definitely Champion's Pokémon Material so let's see how it goes against a real one!" Alder said before turning to his Bouffalant, "Use Head Charge!" The Bash Buffalo then raced towards Pikachu with its afro glowing blue.

"Grass Knot!" Ash commanded his Pikachu who tried to trip Bouffalant but instead, the Buffalo like Pokémon charged even harder but Ash was still not worried. "Now Swagger!" Ash's friends gasped since this is the strategy that the raven haired trainer used back at Nimbasa City. And since that caused Bouffalant to increase its strength but got confused yet still tried to charge at Pikachu; it could only mean, "Double Team!" Pikachu was able to dodge that attack and caused Bouffalant to crash into the soaked fields.

Trip then noticed that the attacks had finally done some damage and yet the greatest was when Bouffalant had hurt itself rather than hitting Pikachu. "What happened? Bouffalant hurt itself in the confusion alright but I never thought that a Pokémon could be damaged that much."

Cilan smiled and explained, "Sure that is true but Swagger also increase a Pokémon attack power which works as a double edge sword as it can also increase the damage taken when a confused Pokémon fails to do a move and hurts itself. That is the Ash I knew since our Gym Battle." Iris nodded and even trip had to agree since this Battle also reminded him about his own battles with Ash in the past.

"Very good but don't you underestimate us! Earthquake!" Alder proclaimed and true to his word, Bouffalant managed to snap out of his confusion in order to shake the very earth which actually hit Pikachu! Everyone was shocked as they never saw Ash's Pikachu be hit before, especially not with a super effective move.

"Thunder!" Ash commanded his Pokémon who revealed to have taken barely any damage at all, even from an attack from a Champion's Pokémon! Not to mention how Pikachu was to hit Bouffalant with his attacks despite being in mid-air and not even looking in its direction; it was like the attack guided itself!

"Now that is true strategy and now Bouffalant, use Stone Edge!" Alder said before issuing the command and the buffalo like Pokémon had unleashed a storm of sharpen rocks at Pikachu.

"Use Agility with Iron Tail!" Ash told his yellow rodent Pokémon who used the enhanced speed from Agility to launch back the rocks with much greater force. "Now Volt Tackle!" Pikachu then engulfed its body with lightning and charged down to the ground where Bouffalant was staggering from the counter attack.

"Use Head Charge!" Alder told his Bouffalant who raced towards the incoming Pikachu with its glowing afro. The collision had caused an explosion that sent both Pokémon flying back, both were showing signs of exhaustion and injury which was a very startling sight for those who had seen either of them in battle. Yet for the trainers locked in battle, it was exciting and refreshing; to now that they are not invincible like other trainers had been calling them.

"This is great Pikachu. We hadn't felt this since Sinnoh." Ash said while Pikachu got up with a fixed look of confidence that also shined off excitement.

"This is the first time in a while that we were pushed this hard huh Bouffalant?" Alder said and his Pokémon agreed.

"Time to finish this Pikachu. First send an Electro Ball into the air." Ash said and Pikachu did so much to the confusion of the others watching, "Enhance it with Thunder Wave!" The yellow rodent had increased the power of the Electro Ball while keeping it suspended in the air. "Now use Iron Tail to send it flying!" Now it was clear and this time, Alder made his finishing move.

"Quick! Use Giga Impact with Megahorn!" Bouffalant had glowed with energy while channeling some bug type power into the shape of an oversized horn as the Bash Buffalo Pokémon charged at Pikachu and his ball of lightning. Time had slowed down as the two tyrants, big and small were about to meet with all their power until a burst of energy had erupted at the point they met.

Everyone was waiting with baited breath until the smoke cleared to show a shocking sight indeed; both Pokémon were on the ground, within shallow craters along the pavement, unable to get up with their injuries.

"…Ahem, Both Pokémon are unable to battle! The match is a draw!" Despite the protocol voice, Officer Jenny was still shocked as she never thought to see a Champion's Pokémon go down without the Unova League even starting.

Ash just kneed down to his Pikachu who was still conscious but too hurt and tried to move. Then Ash noticed the looks of shock and disbelief on all his Unova friends and smirked, "We sure did left an impression on them once they saw us battling huh Pikachu?" "…Pii~." Pikachu nodded with a weak chirp, "Seriously, they thought we can never lose." Ash added until he heard a roaring laughter and when Ash looked, he smiled to see Alder having his Bouffalant lick on the cheek affectively. 'At least Alder actually cares for his Pokémon, they care for him back.'

Then Officer Jenny had gotten a signal to her motorcycle so she went to see what was wrong. "What!? A wild Gigalith is running havoc in this part of the city!?" That had sent any passerby's into a panic and begun to run around in complete chaos. Ash wanted to know what this Gigalith Pokémon was but before he look it up in his Pokédex, he saw it instead.

It was a blue quadruped Pokémon, with various spiny, crystal-like red features jutting out of its body. Its limbs had gray joints and are topped with red crystalline features, with the two claws on each limb being similar features. It also had a red eye inside each ear. Several of the crystalline features were present on its face; three below its eyes, one in the middle resembling a crest, and other crystals to the sides of its head. Despite how menacing it looked, staring down Ash, the trainer scanned it anyways.

{Gigalith, the Compressed Pokémon. Gigalith's attacks, using the compressed energy from its core, are powerful enough to destroy a mountain.} The voice of the Pokédex had gotten everyone's attention to the Compressed Pokémon.

"Isn't that the same Gigalith that Officer Jenny was talking about?" Someone from the audience said and he later regretted talking so soon. That same Rock type then raged towards the crowd!

"Everyone evacuate now!" Officer Jenny took charge and pretty soon, everyone started running with the exception of herself, Alder, Ash and his friends. "What are you doing?"

"What is the real right thing to do." Ash said until he started to walk in the direction of the Gigalith; his friends had been through this before so they just gave Ash some faith. When the Compressed Pokémon was able to run into Ash, the trainer stretched out his hand and halted Gigalith in its tracks!

Iris beamed as she loved to see her boyfriend demonstrate his strength while everyone was still in shock or awe at the sight that a single trainer was able to stop a Pokémon that was strong enough to destroy a mountain according to the Pokédex.

"You are not yourself. You are in pain but no one help you." Ash started to talk towards Gigalith who was starting to settle down. "They just run like you are a monster. That can make anyone frustrated enough to do things like this for less." The rock type was now shaking, not from sadness or fear but for the same pain that started this whole mess. It then moved on of its four legs which nearly caused Officer Jenny into trying to hold him at gunfire until everyone saw the very source of the pain that the Gigalith was feeling: a very sharp thorn was stuck in one of its feet and with no fingers, this Pokémon has no way of getting it out.

Ash then turned to Alder, "If you are really the champion then this is your cue." The older man nodded before taking out the thorn which had settled down the Gigalith. That solved the mystery and the problem so Gigalith just nuzzled with Ash momentarily before leaving the city back home where there will no humans to be scared of it.

"All I have to say Ash…" Adler said to the gang who were about to leave, "Thanks for the match and you were right. I had been slacking off as the Regional Champion but it had been a while since any trainer actually wanted to battle with me. They were all just intimated by the Elite Four."

Ash, for once, smiled. "That is fine Alder but I sure hope you will realize that you have left quite the impression on Trip and that you promised him that the two of you will battle one day to become the next Champion."

"Well, it also helps to enjoy life too. Ha-ha!" Alder roared in laughter before leaving in his own direction to get his Pokémon healed; as well as trying to flirt with the local Nurse Joy. The trainers and Pokémon in company just sweat-dropped, wondering just how Unova has someone like Alder for the Champion.

XXXXX

"What is this town Cilan?" Ash asked and the said trainer nodded, knowing that it wasn't Driftveil City.

"It is merely the first town after Nimbasa City on the way to Driftveil City." Cilan explained which was hard as Erina was fawning on how 'clever' he was; the others knew that Cilan knew from looking at a map. Yet when they were going to pass through the town via an open spot in the towers and tress.

"Hey look at them over there!" Iris yelled and the rest of the gang turned to see a trio of strange Pokémon. They were mostly cactus-like Pokémon, with large ear-like extensions. These extensions feature dark green spiky arrangements at the base, yellow spikes further up, and flowers, with pink petals and yellow centers, at the top. It has a yellow spike on its head, yellow eyes and a spiky-looking mouth. Other dark green spiky arrangements adorn its neck, the wrists of its yellow-fingered arms, and base. Its base features further such green spikes arranged in a five-pointed star. There was this one that was half the height of the other, still Ash took out his Pokédex.

{Maractus, the Cactus Pokémon. When Maractus dance in rhythm, they sound like maracas shaking. They make their homes in dry desert-like areas.}

"Again! Let's try Over the Rainbow once more!" A boy had appeared in front of them as soon as the Pokédex was finished. At first, the Cactus Pokémon did nothing until the one to the left had started to sing loudly with the ones to its left following afterwards.

"They are using Round and with such good timing!" Cilan remarked and Ash nodded in agreement while Erina and her Axew were in awe that Cilan knew some much about Pokémon moves to recognize one while it is happening.

"Now the two of you use Petal Dance!" The boy addressed the Maractus on the ends to jump into the air while scattering petals in the air; it was a beautiful and wonderful sight to behold. "Now use Pin Missile!" The boy commanded and the Maractus launched white streaks from the thorns on their hands facing away from each other. Ash and the gang were enjoying this for every minute that passes but this great moment was about to turn sour when the boy turned to the shorter Maractus, "It is your turn now Tussy." The boy didn't notice that this Pokémon had a dreadful expression on its face with sweat dropping all around its body. "Over The Rainbow!" Still, this Cactus Pokémon tried to jump onto the two Maractus but couldn't make it and they all crashed down on the ground. "Oh no!"

"Are they okay?" Ash decided to make himself known to the trainer who noticed that he had an audience who had to see that big mess up.

"Yeah but we really just can't get his right and the Musical is tonight!" The boy yelled before realizing that he hadn't introduced himself. "My name is Toby and these are my Maractus. We were practicing for the Musical before you came and I am sorry that you had to see that!" Both the Toby and the Maractus bowed for forgiveness.

"Actually, I was going to give you some advice after seeing what went wrong." Ash said and the four started at him, begging to find out. "But before that, can you tell me about your act?" Ash then said nervously after seeing their faces, his friends just giggled on how willing Ash was to help others when they need it but not knowing what can happen for him in the end.

Toby explained that with the act from before, Tussy was going to jump on their hands and use Sunny Day to create a Rainbow from the light shining off the Petal Dance and Pin Missile. Ash said that he saw Tussy hesitate before its turn and it was completely out of sync with the other Maractus which causes them to crash and fall. That meant that the star of this performance is afraid of heights.

They tried and tried and tried all over again and again but Tussy still was afraid of heights. Toby didn't know what to do since they had an hour left to register for the Musical or they will have to wait another time in another place entirely. When everyone decided to take a break, Ash stayed behind for Tussy who was down in the dumps since its fear of height made it nearly impossible to do the 'Over the Rainbow' performance.

"Listen." Ash said to the Maractus who gave him the undivided attention he needed, "I know how much this meant to you and how hard it can be to believe that you are afraid of heights but you are trying to improve, that much tells that you are very good Maractus." Tussy wanted to hear more, "Most will just give up on trying to confront their fears even if they are tearing their lives apart. A lot of people I have met love to do one thing when things don't go their way, give it up." Tussy nodded, she felt like giving up since it is the easiest thing she or her trainer can do now.

"All I do is keep at it until I either succeed or drop while doing it, it is hard and someone had to do it. But not everyone can be the Maractus with a lead role in this performance. Only you can and that is why that through some way, you are going to succeed at what you want to do." Ash continued and as Tussy took it in, she noticed that Ash was carrying her in his hands; Ash then hoisted her into the air and threw up high where she flinched before nearly landing in the wrong positon. Ash did this for an entire half hour until of course, Tussy then saw something that caused time to freeze; the entire town under the setting sun with all the lights on, it was something that one with a fear of heights will never see. Tussy then realized what she had been missing because she didn't want to jump very high and took in a huge breath before landed into Ash's hand perfectly!

The two then smirked before running off to find the others and tell them to try it out again. Later, at the Musical, it was time for Toby and his Maractus. They all used Round in prefect sequence, then the taller two jumped up in the air while using Petal Dance and then used Pin Missile once they meet each other in the air. This time, Tussy was able to land on their arms and use Sunny Day, thus creating the Rainbow that awed everyone in the crowds.

After the Musical, it was no contest that the 'Over the Rainbow' was the winner of the Musical and even the other competitors had to agree; they could clearly see that the three Pokémon were preforming like they had connected together perfectly. Toby and his Pokémon said goodbye to the trainers who had helped him the entire time and even wished Ash good luck at the Pokémon in Driftveil City; Toby even shared the knowledge he had heard about the gym which specializes in Ground Types. It was enough to thank Ash who was able to help Tussy overcome her fear by simply sharing a few words and actually trying it out; that is a very helpful power to be sure.

XXXXX

Now they are on a trail to Driftveil City for Ash's Next Gym Battle, the gang had stopped at a local Pokémon center for a little rest. While they were doing that, Ash decided to share the spots where Pikachu loves to be scratched; it was a very cute sight and Iris and Erina couldn't help but call it cute that Pikachu actually trusted Ash to scratch him where he likes it the best.

"Is that a Pikachu!?" The lovable scene was interrupted when a young man with explorer clothes and a portable camera strapped loosely to his neck came and started to stare at Pikachu with glee and amazement.

"…Yes. This is my Pikachu." Ash saw after trying to process this situation while Pikachu just titled his head, sending this photographer crazy about how 'prefect' that pose was. From there, he just took pictures of Pikachu doing various poses nonstop until he had to halt in order to save some film.

"You have to tell me where you caught such a healthy and powerful looking Pikachu! Such Pokémon are rarely found in Unova!" The man begged of Ash who just chuckled,

"I never caught Pikachu, he was given to me by Professor Oak while we both were in Kanto." Ash said as the yellow rodent had gotten a little tired of his original pose that involved balancing on one of his fingers while the photographer gasped,

"You are from the Kanto Region?"

"Yes, Ash came all the way here from Kanto in order to challenge the Unova Gyms and Championship." Cilan said which couldn't help but make this man even more excited until he had realized that his new friends were told about his name.

"Sorry about that, my name is Robert and I am a Pokémon Photographer although I am just starting out." The boy introduced herself while the gang did their own introductions and then Robert took out a book from his pack that was revealed to contain pictures of wild Pokémon!

"You took all these huh?" Ash said, thoroughly impressed by all the pics since he recognized some of the Pokémon to be looking at the camera even though they were known to be rare and hostile.

"Yeah and just wait until you see this." Robert said as he took out a much older book that had dirt and dust all over it yet Ash took it after giving the first picture book to Cilan. Robert explained that these photos were taken by his grandfather who had inspired him to take Pokémon Photography in the first place. The pictures in this book were older too, with a brownish rustic tone to make them look so. They were still good until Ash happened to open a page with a picture that drove his friends over the edge.

"What!?"

"Impossible!"

They crowded on Ash who was getting a little uncomfortable with it and that his friends were keeping him and Pikachu in the dark. Erina wasn't so sure either and tried to get a good look too. That is until Ash noticed that the four Pokémon in the photo had different style and color fur and also that they were relatable to Deerling who change depending on the seasons.

"What is the meaning of this photo of Sawsbuck!?" Cilan yelled which got Ash's attention and peaked his curiosity.

"Sawsbuck…" Ash muttered as he took out his Pokédex and punched in the name which caused the gadget to speak,

{Sawsbuck, the Season Pokémon, and the evolved form of Deerling. The plants on Sawsbuck's horns change depending on the time of year, and people often use them to measure the passing of the seasons.} The Pokédex showed a brown and cream deer-like Pokémon with rhomboid ears and darker ear insides. Its eyes had light-orange markings that curve down to sides of its face. It also had a dark-brown nose, and it sports cream fur on its chin and sides of its face. Light-orange stripes rim its underbelly, and its back was decorated with white spots. Its limbs are slender and tipped with hooves.

Cilan then took the book that Robert had taken out earlier to show Ash four pictures of Sawsbuck, each with the same features of as each of the Sawsbuck in the antique photo. "Ash, Sawsbuck change appearance with the coming of seasons! Look here." Cilan pointed to a picture of a spring Sakura flower tree that was releasing its petals, the Sawsbuck in it had a tuft of cream fur appears on its chest, and its antlers were adorned with pink flowers. "That is Sawsbuck in the Spring…" Cilan then pointed to a picture of a riverside that had a fully green leaf tree nearby, this Sawsbuck's tail was pointing up, it had growing tufts of fur on the back of its head, and its antlers sported green leaves. "That its appearance in the Summer…" Then Cilan pointed to a picture of an arena with red brownish leaves floating from the tree tops with a Sawsbuck that sported a cream tuft of fur on its chest, and the leaves on its antlers were red and brown. "That is what it looks like in the Fall…" Finally, Cilan pointed to a Cliffside that completely covered in snow and the Sawsbuck in this photo had its cream fur turning white, tufts of white fur appearing on its chest and lower limbs, and its antlers were coated in white. "And that is what Sawsbuck looks like in the Winter."

"I see." Ash muttered, "So that since there could only be one season at a time…" Iris nodded while not even bothering to leave his shoulder,

"Yeah! It is impossible for all Sawsbuck of the four seasons to be in one place at the same time!" She said, without realizing that everyone in the Pokémon Center was staring on how cuddly she was with her boyfriend.

"If you say so Lily, the fact that this photo still exist means that it is possible." Ash said until he noticed that Robert was in his face,

"Yes! That is actually what my grandpa had said to me!" Ash nervously chuckled while Robert was still on a roll, "And that is why my dream is to find that same forest when my grandpa had taken that photo and capture the moment myself!"

Ash then smiled at the pure determination behind that voice and nodded. "That is a dream alright so let's help." When Ash had said that, everyone was hoping to know if that was true. After seeing those such expressions on their faces, Ash then walked over to the local Nurse Joy with a Photo in hand. "Can you tell us where we can find flowers like this?" Robert wanted to know what the photo was showing and saw that it was the other picture from the same forest as the mysterious one of the Sawsbuck.

"Why yes of course." Nurse Joy answered and then looked out one of the nearby windows showing a mountain covered with trees. "These flowers bloom here at the same time every year and that time is actually this month."

"Great!" Ash then faced his friends, "Looks like we have another adventure to share." They all cheered out for the word 'adventure'. Later, they were walking up the mountain while trying to think of a way to know where to find this spot since the only thing to use from the photograph is that the Sawsbuck had appeared at a spring that didn't appear on any map of this mountain.

"Maybe we should follow a Deerling? They always were the ones to find their way to their horde that are usually led by a Sawsbuck." Robert suggested and speak of the devil, a Deerling with the coloring of Summer had appeared. Then they tried to follow it up the mountain when a dense fog had rolled in.

Having been through these things before, Ash told everyone to hold hands so they don't get separated. Robert and Ash kept on chasing after the Deerling until it disappeared in the fog. But that wasn't the only problem, Ash had felt like Iris's hand had vanished from his grip; and when he turned around to look, Ash saw that only Erina and her Axew were still in sight while also confused. "Aww no! We got separated from Iris and Cilan!" Ash then shown a face in shock and panic that he usually doesn't show but only his Pikachu noticed that; Erina hadn't knew Ash that much and neither was Robert.

Still Ash had settled down, saying that when this fog clears then they will look for Iris and Cilan. He trusted them enough to take care of themselves so the group decided to camp out for the night to look for a hint that will lead them to the Sawsbuck in the morning. And so, while around the campfire, Ash had looked at the photos again; he still found them to be wonderful and well made, like they were taken by an expert if not a legend by the angles that give off the most about the Pokémon in the pictures.

"So you really want to find the same place that your grandfather had taken this picture Robert?" Ash asked and the same boy nodded, "You must have thought that it was the one thing that made your grandfather so skilled. Still, won't your grandfather actually approve of you running around on a mountain trying to outdone his greatest work?"

Robert didn't know what to think of this, "I am not sure but I hope that if I can prove to everyone that grandpa didn't fake that photo, then no one will ever laugh at him again." Ash nodded,

"That is real devotion to your grandfather but did all that ridicule really let your grandfather down?" Ash wanted to know and Erina wanted to know too. Robert just took in a huge sigh,

"I don't know Ash. I just wanted to tell myself that grandpa was not a liar and a fraud as a Pokémon Photographer. The thrill of being one was the one thing that made my Grandpa proud to be alive so I didn't want anyone to try and destroy all that." Robert said honestly, "Now that I am thinking about it, Grandpa did tell me something else about that photo. Something about how mysterious mountains can be and can fool others about time and space; he said that he was proud to see a wonder that can only be found on a mountain."

That got Ash thinking hard, about when he still got separated from Iris and Cilan even after holding hands with them. But he decided that it was late and he needed to think about this in the morning. That same next day, they had managed to find the same flowers they were looking for but it was at the wrong place to be from the photos that Robert's grandfather had taken. Then the same Deerling from before had appeared again but when they tried to follow, they had ran into some unfriendly Pokémon.

They were mushroom-like Pokémon with a large, light-colored Pokéball designed cap with warts. They had a huge gray, stem-like body, fierce looking eyes and a large pink mouth; on the arms of each one were two Pokéball-like shields. Ash scanned them,

{Amoonguss, the Mushroom Pokémon and the evolved form of Foongus. By swinging its Pokéball-like arms while dancing, Amoonguss is able to lure its prey.} Ash didn't have time to comment when the Amoonguss had started to spread a special type of powder into the air. Ash was able to save himself, Pikachu and Erina from the effects of the move that he recognized as PoisonPowder but Robert had to take in the move which sent him into a deep sleep.

Ash was tore from going on and completing Robert's dream or turning back to get some antidote. He was about to go for the second choice when Robert weakly begged Ash and Erina to take him to the spring by following the Deerling so that at least he will take his last breath here on the mountain where his dream was leading him to. After some heated debate what frighten Erina on how serious this situation was, Ash reluctantly carried Robert over his shoulder and led Erina to where the Deerling was.

Then the group had saw a Sawsbuck with the Deerling, both seemed to want to lead them to somewhere. That place happened to be a spring surrounded by flowers and trees, like the one in the Sawsbuck photo. Speaking of the devil, the same Sawsbuck with the pattern of Summer had cried out. It seemed to be like it was calling out to reinforcements but Ash, Erina and Pikachu were shocked to see that out of the trees, three other Sawsbuck of the other three seasons had appeared!

"This must be it Ash." Erina said, "This must be where that strange photo was taken." Ash nodded like he was trying to yank his head off. He then settled the asleep Robert down and tried to wake him up because there was no telling how long the Sawsbuck will remain in one place.

"Please Robert, wake up! We are here! This is where your dream is!" Ash tied to walk him up again and again but nothing seemed to work until the spring started to glow bright yellow that made Ash and Erina feel very warm as the light released sparkles into the air. Those same light settled on Robert and heeled his body of the poison from the Amoonguss.

"Ash, Erina? Where are we!? What happened!?" Robert said as he regained conscious and then saw what he had hoped all his life; all the four forms of Sawsbuck in one place at the same time. He hurried for his camera and was barley able to hold it still in his excitement when he had help from Ash to settle him down so he would take a good image of this sight.

Now it was time to start looking for Iris and Cilan, after the fog had cleared they were able to find those two trainers still looking for them. When Ash and the gang had caught up with them, there was something that had shocked them; while Ash, Robert and Erina spent the night on the mountain, Iris and Cilan had been looking for about ten minutes! It was like the fog had strangely affected time and allowed the three trainers to witness the sight that Robert's grandfather had years ago.

When Robert tried to show them what they had seen, the film had been clouded so Iris and Cilan couldn't see the picture of the four Sawsbuck. Ash just reassured Robert that people may not know about it but the latter should be proud to have the mountain choose him to witness its power that should never been understood by anyone; that is what keeps mysteries alive after all.

XXXXX

Right now it was time for lunch and despite the fact they had two new mouths to feed, Ash was able to afford enough food to feed them all. Still, most of his Pokémon were not happy that they were left out of the last Gym Battle in Nimbasa City. Since Ash had sent his older Pokémon back to Kanto, it was time to use all Unova Pokémon this time. So the trainer had promised that when they are need, they will be summoned to fight in more Pokémon fights; right now, most of them like Dewott, Servine, Palpitoad and Tranquil were sparring with each other so that their skills don't get rusty before an important battle.

Meanwhile, Ash was in a spar with Erina between her Axew and Scraggy since those two are still chronically the youngest Pokémon in the group all together. Erina did want to become a trainer or maybe a Pokémon Connaisseuse like Cilan is. So far, Iris's Fraxure managed to teach Erina's Axew all the moves that he learned from Ash's Pokémon such as Duel Chop, Assurance and Leer.

After the match, Axew was pulled towards a small stream by Scraggy in order to clean up from the battle. Then a little harmless splash had turned into a little game that was like two human children playing together. Ash was proud that Scraggy had taken after himself to try and get friendly with Pokémon who are either around his age or unevolved while everyone else found it cute that two Pokémon could find a way to have fun in each other company.

Then they got a little too rough and they started to roll around until they collided with a Pokémon! They went on lie this until Scraggy halted them by running into a boulder that his back was facing. The trainer hurried to see what the Pokémon Scraggy and Axew ran into and recognized it as a Gothita from their mystery of the Disappearing Audino.

Scraggy tried to apologize but just understand why Gothita was starting at him without saying a word which was starting to creep him and Axew out. "Gothita! There you are!" Everyone turned to face a young woman of average height with black hair and little purple clothes. "What do you think?" She asked her Pokémon who finally turned and nodded which she did the same back, "Excuse but do you mind trading your Scraggy for one of my own Pokémon?"

Ash couldn't what was going on, "Why should I trade away my Pokémon to someone who just walks up to a trainer to ask that? Just how are you?" Ash was not happy about this; he only traded away his Tauros since he knew that he will never have the time to train them all and felt like giving them to trainers who can train them will make them even happier. The girl blushed in embarrassment that she had to walk up to a stranger and asked to trade away his Pokémon all because her own happened to fall in love with his; she didn't even know what Pokémon this was so she took out a Pokédex that matched the color of her dress (1).

{Scraggy, the Shedding Pokémon. Proud of its sturdy skull, it suddenly head-butts everything, but its weight makes it unstable, too.}

"So you are trying out for the Unova League too?" Ash asked but before Katherine could answer, her Gothita reached into her pack and took out a badge case that had two badges; the Basic Badge and the Insect Badge. "Impressive, that means you are approaching Nimbasa City for the Volt Badge" Ash said as he took out his own Badge Case, showing Katherine his four badges.

"Nice but I still want to trade for your Scraggy and here are my Pokémon!" Katherine was like a servant to her Gothita to be sure. Still, she revealed a Deerling, Darumaka and a Mandibuzz. Ash still wasn't budging as he personality didn't want to trade this early in his journey if he can help it; at the Kanto Swap Meet, he didn't just gave out his Tauros, he had to make sure that the trainers he was trading with were trustworthy and it took not a few minutes for any of them.

Instead, Ash challenged her to settle this over a Pokémon battle. Katherine used her Mandibuzz against Ash's Tepig who was more than willing to fight for one of his trainer's Pokémon. Despite the odds seemly against Tepig, the Fire Pig Pokémon followed his trainer and used his small stature for agility and speed that ultimately caused Mandibuzz to collapse on the spot.

Yet before anyone could try to debate, the sky was then covered in dark clouds and it started to rain! Katherine said that she knew about a mountain cabin not far from where they were so they found it just in time to barge in with their wet clothes soaking the floor.

"Whew! We made it before we can be soaked to the bone!" Ash said when the trainers actually got to the cabin when the rain was merely a sprinkle but as it kept raining, they cannot leave this area. So they decided to spend the night there, thankfully that they had brought their own sleeping bags and Ash somehow pulled pillows out of his own over sized bag; hey if Cilan can carry and bring out an entire table from his backpack then why not?

Ash and Iris obviously slept together while the Pokémon who were outside their balls had slept either on the floor or against the wall. Erina wanted to sleep next to Cilan since she still wanted to be sure that she will be near him when she needed him. Yet there were restless Pokémon among them,

When Gothita noticed that it stopped raining, she started to tip toe to Scraggy, to wake him up and convince him to sneak away for a midnight snack; she had hoped this will convince the Shedding Pokémon to go with her instead of Ash. Yet Erina's Axew was having a nightmare; she had dreamed that Ash lost that match with Katherine and he had to trade away one of his Pokémon. It turned out, despite the short time of being with Ash's Scraggy, Axew had viewed the Shedding Pokémon as a brother since Scraggy was the only one of the bunch that was around her age and that Scraggy wanted to play with her after every training session.

Scraggy himself wanted to have a sister after Iris's Axew evolved into Fraxure which made it impossible for the two to feel like close brothers since there was this age difference that came with the new look. Scraggy just didn't know that this Axew wanted to stay with Scraggy as his sister to the point that this whole mess was ruining any chance at getting her some sleep. Axew happened to see Scraggy and Gothita gone and she started to panic before seeing the two leave the cabin so she decided to follow them, to be sure that Scraggy isn't going to leave her for someone as spoiled as that Gothita.

Still, Axew wasn't subtle as she didn't notice Servine and Dewott opening their yes to see the Pokémon leaving. They also decided to check it out, to make sure no one gets into trouble. Once the three Pokémon have found Gothita and Scraggy, they were looking up a tree with ripe apples on the branches; Gothita acted troubled and unable to climb so Scraggy charged into the tree truck that dislodged the apples from the treetops.

Gothita then tried to offer an apple to Scraggy, to make an impression of being a more prefect Pokémon to be with instead of Axew. What they didn't know was that they had company in hiding, waiting for the right time to intervene before all this falls apart because of Gothita. But Axew couldn't wait any longer after hearing Gothita talk about a 'future with Scraggy' since the Shedding Pokémon was completely clueless about this; he could agree without knowing what Gothita actually meant! Axew barged in on them and tried to drag Scraggy back to the cabin but Gothita though that Axew wanted Scraggy all to herself, like the Tusk Pokémon had a crush on Scraggy as well.

Dewott and Servine couldn't believe that those two young and brash Pokémon were now pulling at Scraggy like a rag doll. They tried to break this up but then Axew lost grip on Scraggy and caused both him, Gothita and Servine to tumble down the hill and onto something soft and rather fowl smelling. It also wasn't happy after being awakened from it sleep since it was revealed to be a Pokémon that resembled a pile of trash spilling out of a large, torn garbage bag. It had a round, lumpy body that is mostly tan with blue and pink lumps. Its head has the appearance of the tied end of a garbage bag that has been ripped open and trails down like a cape. It also had two appendages that look like clumps of garbage coming from its head. Its large, round eyes have small pupils, and when it opens its mouth, its large, triangular teeth can be seen. This Pokémon had two long arms made of garbage that are held together with piping, and fingers also made up of piping material; it had one finger on its left hand and three on the other. Finally, it had flat, dumpy feet under its massive torso.

Servine was quick to shield them from the Pokémon who started to shoot chunks of poison at them! The Grass Snake Pokémon tried to use Sandstorm to block them like Ash always had her do but at that moment, Servine realized that she didn't know what else to do since she always waited for a command from her trainer. Scraggy tried to move in on the Pokémon while it was busy to use his Hi Jump Kick but due to the complexion of the Pokémon, the force was absorbed and didn't do much. Then the Shedding Pokémon decided to try out his Dark Pulse that did normal damage but this Pokémon was like a tank or a steel wall with feet so it didn't fall down at all.

Dewott and Axew arrived to see what was going on but before they could move to help, Dewott let out a yell into the air; he had hoped that Ash will hear that and come to help. With the luck of the gods, it did and Ash hurried with the other trainers to where the massive Pokémon was attacking their own Pokémon. Ash hurried to scan it with his Pokédex,

{Garbodor, the Trash Heap Pokémon and the evolved form of Trubbish. Garbodor can absorb garbage into its body. When battling, it fires poison from its right arm and belches poison gas.}

Ash then turned to Katherine, "Do any of your Pokémon know Aromatherapy?" Katherine nodded, "Then do it now!" Before anyone could ask what Ash had in mind, Katherine released her Deerling that unleashed a sparkling green-yellow powder from the flower at the Garbodor, causing it to glow in a bright green light and calmed down from attacking. This allowed Servine to release the Sandstorm and also allowed the Pokémon to rejoin their trainers.

"I understand why you asked Katherine to have her Pokémon use a move like that but your Pokémon could have easily taken out that Garbodor." Cilan said but Ash still scowled,

"We also could have easily awakened the entire forest too." That caused the trainers to gasp, "And not one of us came here to cause trouble. Let's just get back to the cabin and get some sleep?" Everyone nodded to that and returned to the mountain cabin.

After the incident with the Garbodor, the trainers were about to part ways to continue on their Pokémon journeys but one Pokémon wasn't happy. Gothita wanted to fight Servine over Scraggy!

"B-but why? Servine protected them from that Garbodor!" Iris demanded to know and Ash just shook his head along with Pikachu, no things were never change even in a different land entirely.

"Because that is within the nature of those who are spoiled. They are led to believe what they wished will be granted to them no matter what it was or how to get it. No one stopped them before so they believe that nothing will ever will. It has happened before Lily, it proves that neither Pokémon nor humans are above one another." Ash said with a disappointed and distant tone to his voice.

Yet there was no way to avoid this match so Ash accepted anyways and it was a very disappointing match to say the least as Gothita was arrogant enough to try and go against a Pokémon with real conviction like Servine; the end result was a total defeat for the Fixation Pokémon so Katherine lost both rights to trade with Ash. The make matters worse, Gothita had a real temper tantrum after losing and ran off, probably to look for something else to bend her trainer into doing. At Katherine remembered to say an actual thank you to the gang before trying to keep up with Gothita.

Today comes to show just what really happens when you pamper someone in an attempt to make them satisfied or in reality, convince them to stay with you instead of leaving when you can stratify them.

XXXXX

On the road to Driftveil City, the gang had come across a daycare center in the middle of nowhere but after seeing the various groups of Pokémon, obviously enjoying the place so they decided to check it out. That is until they arrived at the front door that a man had burst out and ran towards the back of the place so the gang followed him only to see some wrecked bowls, scattered food and scared Pokémon shaking behind trees or rocks.

"It's those two Pokémon again!" The man yelled at the wreckage, "Those Deino are starting to be a real menace!"

"Deino huh?" Ash said and punched in the name into his Pokédex,

{Deino, the Irate Pokémon. Because Deino never stops biting anything it can, it is dangerous to approach without taking precautions.} The Pokédex showed a small blue quadrupedal Pokémon with black fur covering its head and neck, concealing everything but its mouth from view. The fur around its neck had six purple spots encircling it, which resemble bruises. The hair on the top of its head takes the shape of a single small horn. It also had a short tail that appears to be bitten off.

"Oh!" The man finally noticed the trainers and started to bow pretty low. "I am sorry about my behavior! I never noticed that I had guest and with the New Pokémon destroying everything, I don't know what to do!"

"You can tell us where these Deino are the most." Ash said and the man and a look of realization before charging off again making the trainers shake their heads in disbelief before trying to catch up with him. Once they had found the man again, he was in front of two Pokémon that were exactly like the picture of a Deino from the Pokédex.

"Those are Deino alright." Ash remarked until his voice caught their attention, they then charged right into him!

"Ash!" Everyone cried out to him until they noticed something, instead of cries of pain they were hearing but laughter?

"Ha-h-ha! Okay, that tickles!" Sure enough, Ash was being cuddled and licked on by the Deino who acted like he was their parent or such. This allowed Ash to feed them which helped him realize that Dragon Types like Deino are real pigs, stuffing their mouths nonstop. After a while, the twin Deino slowly but surely get adjusted to the presence of Ash's friend since they can smell his scent on them.

Then Iris noticed a third Deino but unlike the other two, it was rather shy and preferred to hide in the bushes rather than rough housing with the other Pokémon. Iris tried to get it to come out yet the Pokémon will always move around the bush to hide. "May if we leave food around, Deino will come out to eat it." Cilan said and everyone agreed to try it and Bobby had placed a bowl, overfilled with Pokémon food that Dragon types like the best. Erina wanted to stay with Cilan, saying something about how a genius he is for coming up with such a good idea.

Meanwhile, the other Pokémon needed to be fed and the gang wanted to help so Bobby had given them a list of Pokémon food by color that matched the lids on top of the containers that were loaded onto a cart. It was a hassle but fun to have the various different types of Pokémon come for the food.

After the feeding chore was over, Ash was the only one left standing while everyone was exhausted. "Just how you do this every single day Bobby?" Cilan asked while the daycare center caretaker just smirked while rolling up his sleeve,

"How do you think Bobby got this big muscles?" He flexed to show that he was very muscular but to Iris, her boyfriend was still bigger than that since she got a feel of them. Erina had hoped that Cilan was at least that muscular.

After everyone decided to turn in since that shy Deino had budged an inch out of its hiding place, not even for the bowl of food, Ash said he needed to check on a few things and will be back to bed with Iris soon. He then grabbed Deino and forced it to stay in his arms which caused it to try and wiggle out of his hold violently until it became exhausted. "We are not trying to force you to do anything Deino but you need to eat so you can see your trainer again." Ash said to the Dark and Dragon Type. "We want to help you and you are making both hard for us and hard for you. Now eat." Ash released Deino who only had the energy to approach the food, still not trusting it until it decided that there was nothing to lose so Deino tried the food; pretty soon, it chowed down by swiftly, that was how hungry it was.

Ah also saw that all that food had caused the Deino to fall asleep, it spent who knows how long without food so it should be that tired after it finally ate. Ash then decided to make a bed out of twigs with leaves on top while he will join Iris like he said he would. Iris then noticed something warm enter the bed and barely opened her eyes to see her boyfriend looking down on her with love in his eyes.

"How about it? What did you think about that Deino?" Iris spoke with sleepy dust in her voice which made Ash chuckle.

"All we can do is hope that the trainer will arrive and pick this brave Pokémon up." Ash said before settling into the covers with Iris in his arms. And so, the trainers of the two mischievous Deino had arrived to pick them each of them up but still the remaining Deino was not picked up; it didn't recognize the trainer from among the crowds that came and gone every single one of those days of waiting.

Ash's friends were starting to believe that the trainer had abandoned this Deino was about to leave with Iris staying behind in order to see that this Deino finally sees its trainer up Ash was not keen on leaving anyone behind. He still insisted that since we promised to take care of this Deino, no one is going anywhere until the trainer arrives. They were agreeing on it until their patience was starting to run out until one day, a trainer was running towards the daycare center while out of breath.

"…Is…my…Deino still here?" That gave him away completely and he was scared to see glares from trainers and the daycare keeper. They then ranted about how he was going to abandon Deino while he tried to explain. He had said that he was training in an area that he called 'Chargestone Caverns' and had gotten lost but no one will take that better than an excuse.

"That is enough." A loud and strong voice had interrupted the ranting and everyone turned to see Ash carrying the same Deino out of the Daycare center. The Dark and Dragon type then saw the trainer and jumped from Ash's arms to greet the trainer who hugged it with tears in his eyes. Before anyone could comment on that, Ash spoke up again. "All I have to say is that you are a very lucky trainer."

"W-what?" The boy said as he looked at his Deino. Ash then continued,

"This Deino had been waiting for you the whole time, even with the other Pokémon trying to make him think otherwise because they felt like taking advantage of his nature." Ash then explained which made the trainers gasp in disbelief, "And yet your Pokémon still waited for days on end while trying to endure the harsh words of two other Deino who tried to make him feel bad since they knew that their trainers were definitely going to pick them up. That is one tough Pokémon and I bet it will make you proud for sure." Ash had finished with the said trainer and his Deino looking at each other which had caused them to realize that Ash was telling the truth so they hugged again, only deeper and stronger; with tears of happiness overflowing their eyes.

With such a touching moment, Iris had to release all those feelings by crying on Ash's shoulder. Trapinch and Swablu were also crying, Pokémon often take after their trainers in terms of personality. But that wasn't all that happened until both Pokémon started to cry loudly and turn all bright blue and that meant only one thing.

"They're evolving!" Iris yelled at the marvel of two young Pokémon glowing blue and changing form. Swablu morphed into its mature looking form that retained his blue body and cotton like wings but looked more like a Phoenix. This meant that Swablu had finally evolved into Altaria. Then Trapinch changed into something that Iris never seen before,

It was a dragonfly-like Pokémon. It has a small head with two yellow antennae and green bulging eyes with black oval-shaped pupils. Its mouth has two large white teeth protruding from each side. It has a skinny yellow body, four skinny black legs with slender feet, and four green, rhombus-shaped wings with black edges. There are similarly-colored rhombus shapes at the end of its tail.

Ash smiled at the sight and before anyone could ask what this strange Pokémon along with the Altaria, he scanned it with his Pokédex.

{Vibrava, the Vibration Pokémon. Vibrava is the evolved form of Trapinch. By flapping their wings, they create vibrations, emitting ultrasonic waves.} Iris tried to wrap her head around this and realized something,

"Flygon is the evolved form of Vibrava! That means that Vibrava is about to become fully evolved!" Iris had said while her evolved Pokémon had started to try out their new forms and Ash placed his arm over her shoulders.

"That is right Lily. The good thing is that Vibrava is also a Dragon type as well remaining a Ground Type." Ash had said so Iris just enjoyed the warmth of her boyfriend's arm until her newly evolved Pokémon had dog piled on her, clearly forgetting the difference in size of their new forms.

The trainer and his Deino were awestruck and didn't know what to say about this. "I-I thought that Pokémon like those two evolve through experience." He said in a very brief stutter and Ash smiled proudly that this moment was to be shared with such a trainer who was lucky to have a faithful Pokémon like the Shy Deino.

"That is true, battle experience can cause Pokémon to grow and evolve; but what most trainers don't know if that in battle, a Pokémon's emotions and feelings escalate until they trigger the energies form within that cause Pokémon evolution." Ash explained, speaking from pure knowledge and experience at seeing it in front of his own eyes. "That is how Pokémon can evolve through friendship as well as experience. You will remember that right?" Ash added, looking at the trainer who was starting at Deino, thinking about their friendship that beat even the ordeals of time; they could only imagine what else can happen if they increase their friendship, for both of them.

Meanwhile, Ash and the gang continued on their way to Driftveil City with that touching day well inserted in their minds. It was the wonder of friendship to say what this day meant to everyone who was there to enjoy it.

XXXXX

"Here we are friends! Driftveil City!" Ash said excited that they finally made it, the place where Ash will have his Fifth Gym Battle. It was big but Nimbasa was still bigger, with all sorts of buildings and a mountain the clear distance. With the help of Cilan's map, they were able to find the Gym which was massive like most Pokémon Gyms are.

Yet before anyone could enter, a huge man dressed in heavy clothing had exited out of the doorway. Ash had a feeling on who he was looking at, "Are you the Gym Leader of Driftveil City?"

"I am. The name is Clay and you are?" The man answered, like a really serious Gym Leader.

"Ash Ketchum. I wish to challenge you to a Pokémon duel." Ash said brief and to the point which got Clay to smirk,

"I see and I have bad news, I am too busy with my work to accept any challenges. Come back some other time." Clay said as he walked past the gang who weren't happy that they had to go through all the trouble between here and now, they will have to wait even longer for Ash's Gym Battle.

"So what can we do in Driftveil until I am able to challenge you?" Ash asked and Clay sighed before going into detail about the various markets and shops that can help them kill some time until his company was done with their latest vein of gold they found. That was what the gang did until they ran into someone with a Pokémon not one of them had ever seen before.

It had a large pink head reminiscent of a helmet that is curled in the back. Green stripes ran from its eyes to the top of its head, and there was a black star-like marking or hole on the front. Its eyes are hidden in a shadowed crevice in its head. The rest of its body was covered by a dull blue, cloth-like membrane with ribbon-like extensions at the top of its back. Ash scanned it with his Pokédex,

{Accelgor, the Shell Out Pokémon and the evolved form of Shelmet. Accelgor is much more agile once it evolves and loses its shell, allowing it to move like a ninja when battling.}

"Hello! My name is Charles and this is my partner, as you now know, Accelgor." The man turned out to be a local biker who trained his Accelgor in speed and agility that its kind were known for.

"So Charles, how do you evolve Shelmet into Accelgor?" Ash asked which surprised everyone as this is the first time they all had heard Ash interested in that stuff.

"You will have to trade your Shelmet with some who has a Karrablast. Only a trade between those two Pokémon can cause either of them to evolve and while Shelmet becomes Accelgor, Karrablast evolves into Escavalier." Charles explained with Accelgor nodding the whole way while Ash punched in the names into the Pokédex. This is what the two entries had said,

{Karrablast, the Clamping Pokémon. Karrablast live in forests and fields, and often hide in trees or grass when threatened. They can also defend themselves by spitting acid.} It appeared as a round, bipedal Pokémon with a primarily blue carapace that comprises a horn at the tip. Its black face had a teal patch on its forehead, a fanged mouth, and eyes with orange pupils and yellow scleras. Its ridged underbelly, or plastron, was yellow, and its stubby arms and legs were all black.

{Escavalier, the Cavalry Pokémon and the evolved form of Karrablast. Escavalier's body is protected by steel armor.} This Pokémon actually looked like an insectoid Pokémon with a head sporting the red horsehair crest of a knight's helmet, with a visor underneath it. Its shoulders had large, round metal ridges, from which its thin black arms extend. The arms were tipped with red-striped protrusions resembling jousting lances. Its face and torso were bare of armor, but its lower body as concealed within a swirled gray shell with a red spike on the underside, which was presumably the shell of a Shelmet.

"We will have to tell this to Bianca once we see her again." Iris suggested and Ash nodded,

"Also we need to find her someone who wishes to trade their Karrablast as well." Ash added.

"Anyways, why not I show you more of the City? I have lived here all my life so I know everything there is." Charles said and the gang decided that they nothing to lose but more time to wait until Clay allows Ash to challenge him. They noticed on how everyone seemed to know Charles as they will greet him by name whenever he passed by.

The moment was interrupted when a Ducklett had appeared to be stealing from one of the vendors and it crashed into Ash! He tried to seize the thief after chasing it down when he noticed that Charles is gone and want came next was a costumed man who wore a suit that resembled his own Accelgor. That man tried to pursuit the thieving Ducklett until his motorbike had ran out of gas.

Instead, the thief was stopped by a woman in her own uniform with a Timburr as her own partner. She introduced herself as Linda, a 'real' superhero that has a much better reputation than the 'Mighty Accelguard' that she addressed the first costumed man as. Ash wasn't impressed when he managed to overhear Linda speak about how Charles tried to be a superhero so he got a little suspicious when Ash recognized that Accelgor as the one that belonged to Charles.

Speaking of the devil, the biker arrived to inform the gang that there had been a lot of suspicious trucks near one of the warehouses that contained frozen food that some of the restaurants and market vendors to use for their merchandise so if there were to be stolen, the food businesses in the city will go bankrupt. And so, later that night, Ash and Company arrived at that same warehouse to see indeed a team of criminals stealing the food!

They then were joined by Linda who had followed the criminals she had a lead on for a few months. That was when the leader arrived with a strange Pokémon by his side and told it to use Ice Beam on the pile of boxes that the gang were hiding behind! This was no amateur thief to be sure and that also helped Ash take a better look at the Ice Type Pokémon. It seemed to have a large, white, rounded upper body with a swirled substance on top, making it resemble a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Its eyes were dark blue with small, ice crystals at the sides. This Pokémon also had a dark blue mouth, two ice crystals below its mouth, and stubby, limbs that resemble icicles. Finally, it had a pointed lower body that resembles a large icicle.

Ash just scanned the floating Pokémon that made Iris hide behind him out of her own faint but dormant fear of Ice Types.

{Vanillish, the Icy Snow Pokémon and the evolved form of Vanillite. Vanillish migrated southward long ago during an ice age, and now lives on snow-covered mountains.}

Still, Linda wanted to know a different thing altogether. "What kind of criminal just wastes his time with frozen food!?"

"Why are we doing this? It is part of our plan!" The man behind this robbery said. "With all this frozen food, all the Ice Type Pokémon in the Unova will come to me and with them by my side, I will conquer the world!"

Everyone present, even Charles and Accelgor sweat dropped at how ridiculous but effective this plan was. Like a different turn in a recipe that instead made something even more delicious or what Cilan had said.

The doctor then tried to flee with his henchman which successfully broken their stupor of disbelief. Charles and Accelgor then broke off from the pursing crowd that managed to find that the Doctor had a mask aright but it was in the shape of a Cryogonal despite the fact that he used a Vanillish as his only partner.

"Hey! I just happen to have little success in catching a Cryogonal!" Dr. Ferrara said with no regard to what anyone had to say about that, not even his own henchman. Speaking of which, those two and their boss then released their ice type Pokémon against Ash and company who released their own Pokémon fight along with them. Rock types, fire types, fighting types and such moves were used to and fro between trainer and trainer. In the midst of the confusion, one of the henchman managed to get his Pokémon to bring down an ambush on Linda with Icy Wind that was instead deflected by a Swift attack by,

"Charles! Accelgor!" Linda called out to the two heroes that were unmasked and yet they still fought side by side while Ash noticed that the villain was fleeing; Charles then revealed that he took his sweet time to block off any exit for the van with the help of Officer Jenny and the other police officers. He chased the Doctor down until Ash managed to catch him and tackle down the villain so he can no longer escape. Pretty soon, the Police managed to apprehend the villains and returned the stolen goods back to the warehouse where they belong until all that frozen food will be needed.

Charles was just apologizing for forcing his new friends to be involved in the entire mess for his position as the town's hero. Linda just reassured him that the Ash and the gang were more than happy to do as little as this to help a friend of theirs. She even said that she was no regretting giving Charles a chance to at least defend his city even if he can't be the hero anymore.

XXXXX

It was another day as Ash and the gang were training their Pokémon; Ash still needed to have his fifth Gym Battle. That was to be interrupted when Erina happen to look into a doorway and saw someone with the same height and wore the same uniform as Cilan but this man's hair was completely red instead of green.

"Who is that?" She spoke up and then everyone was looking in that direction

"Chili?" Cilan proclaimed after seeing his red colored brother for the first time in weeks but instead of at the gym, Chili was half way across Unova. Ash and Iris were wondering as well. "I was never told that you went on your own journey." Cilan tried to act polite despite his shock but Chili was in no mood for pleasure or greetings.

"Cilan, I challenge you to a Pokémon duel!" Silence reigned over the air as the gang tried to take in all this.

Ash then decided to speak up, "I thought you were one of the Gym Leaders at the Striation Gym? How can you leave the gym up to Cress? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the Gym?"

Chill just scoffed, "Cress can handle the gym all by himself. Anyways, I need to battle you so you can tell me what you have learned over your journey."

Ash didn't care for that but he had a good idea why Chili is out here in the first place, abusing his role as a Gym Leader; Cilan leaving was hard so why is Chili making this harder? "Are you sure that you are just tired of losing to challengers for their gym badges?" Ash made it known and Chili just scoffed again but Ash was able to see that Chili was trying to hide the fact that it was true. Cilan accepted the match anyways and despite the type disadvantage, Pansage won after prefect hits and the right time while using Dig. But what had really spoiled this was when Chili had a fit and yelled at Pansear for losing to a grass type which caused the High Temp Pokémon to run away in anger.

Chili then realized his mistake while under his temper tantrum and tried to chase after Pansear but Ash prevented him. "I think it is time for you to explain everything Chili and don't you dare leave anything out. Otherwise not one of us will be able to help you." Chili just nodded and sank down in shame.

"So it is just that Chili had a real bad losing streak?" Cilan repeated after talking to Cress over a video phone.

"Yes. It was really discouraging him and making Chili question his role as a Gym Leader. He believed that if he kept losing, it was because he was getting weak in his tactics with Pansear rather than the skill of the challengers." Cress explained and Cilan nodded, that was almost right on the mark on what Ash had theorized. "I tried to help him but Chili wouldn't accept on how 'blunt' I can be with my advice and he just left the gym to come look for you after hearing that you were near Driftveil City.

After that the gang went out for lunch, Chili was really eating it down which made Ash remember just bad were his table manners. "I don't see why you had to be so upset about this Chili, if you never lost then how do challengers earn their badges?" Ash had brought up and the two brothers had to think hard about it; if a gym was never beaten, then why would trainers keep coming to the gym?

"It's just…" Chili tried to bring out the words, "Don't you have any idea what it like to always lose and win for a change but no matter how hard me and Pansear tried, we never did win after Cilan left the Gym on his journey. You never lose Ash, how do you know about all this?" Chili was shocked to see Ash and Pikachu laugh at that last part,

"Never lost? In Unova I will have to agree but before Unova, I did lose even more than I ever won." Ash said in distant tone that shocked everyone, the trainer who never lost a match admitted that he lost all the time before Unova? "Anyways, I seen that match, you are using only fire type moves thinking that it always going to defeat your opponent. Pansage, for one, trained to learn more moves than that since Grass types have more disadvantages then Fire types or Water types. Maybe your Pansear should expand his own horizons by learning SolarBeam which can be used against all of his type disadvantages." Ash then finished and saw that Chili was thinking hard about all this.

"Thanks Ash. But right now, I need to find Pansear and make this up to him." Chili said and then Ash got up saying that he had a good idea where to find Pansear. And true to Ash's word, Pansear was on a branch in one of the trees that were outside the makeshift gym they were using earlier. It took a while since Pansear was stubborn but Chili was able to convince Pansear that all Chili wanted to do is help them both with their losing streak since Chili was worried on how discouraged Pansear could turn up to be once they kept losing.

And while Cilan was helping Chili and Pansear in learning SolarBeam, Ash went back to the local Pokémon center to use some of the public phones; this time, to do something he had meant to do for a while even after becoming a couple with Iris.

"Hello! Ketchum Residence, Delia Ketchum speaking!" Iris couldn't believe that Ash had a beautiful woman for a mother until the said woman recognized who she was talking to, "Oh Ash! You are looking even more handsome every single day!" Then Delia took a little darker tone, "Still it took you this long to phone your own mother. Didn't it?"

Ash then laughed nervously, "Yeah but a lot of things happened and I nearly forgot." Iris never had seen her boyfriend become nervous even after winning all his matches with calmness and even those times he lost his temper but not being nervous; it proves that even the king of the gods will have to fear his own wife. "Anyways, I have caught a lot of Pokémon and we even faced the Champion!"

Delia then took a much lighter tone, "No way! You really are raising up in the world! Still, have you…?"

"Yes I have Mom." Ash knew it by now and didn't want his friends to hear it. "Also I have someone for you to see." Ash said before turning to Iris and dragging her to face Delia, "Mom this is Iris, my girlfriend." Then both Ash and Pikachu ducked and covered their ears to the confusion of everyone before there was this squeal so loud, it nearly shattered the nearby willows.

"That is so adorable! My baby finally has a girlfriend and a very cute one at that!" Delia was in utter delight, with thoughts of a wedding and grandchildren running around the house.

"Um…thank you madam." Iris herself was nervous as she wanted to make a good impression on the mother of her boyfriend.

"No need to call me Madam Iris! I am not that old! Just call me your mother-in-law!" Delia said with excitement in her tone over the possibility of finally having a girl in the family for a daughter that will grant her with grandchildren to spoil.

"Okay…Mom…" Iris was still not sure whatever to call Delia, a complete stranger, as her mother since she was always an orphan for her entire life; no on in her village had her hair color or skin tone. After a little while of talking with Delia, Iris learned that she can be a little extreme with chores or a little overprotective with her only son but she was a very caring and friendly woman who had great beauty as a single mother or so it seemed; even Delia didn't know about where Ash's father was but that was to be the reason behind his dream as Pokémon Master that only Ash and Iris know.

After that pleasant talk with the woman who is awaiting for the couple to get even closer together, Ash decided to check on Cilan and Chili along with their Pokémon. When he saw that Pansear was able to use SolarBeam, Ash challenged Chili to a match in order to fully see where the two have gotten.

"The battle between Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and Chili of the Striation Gym will now begin! Trainers please release their Pokémon!" Cilan proclaimed at the battlefield, Chili chose his Pansear of course while Ash then decided on the best Pokémon for this battle; his Roggenrola! "Battle begin!"

"Pansear, use Lick and the Scratch Attack!" Chili wanted to make the first move and the Lick did managed to paralyze Roggenrola but the scratch attack barely even left a scratch.

"Nice that you had paralyzed my Roggenrola but don't you know that Normal type attacks are ineffective against rock types?" Ash brought up and both Chili and Pansear were surprised that they were so careless.

"Now Roggenrola, use Façade!" Roggenrola became covered in an orange aura for a moment. The Rock type Pokémon then charges at Pansear, dealing a lot of damage.

"Pansear, use Dig!" Chili said as Pansear disappeared under the ground of the battlefield just in time to avoid the worst of that Façade attack. And then, when Chili thought he had Roggenrola by the time that Pansear emerges from the ground after Dig, the Mantle Pokémon managed to dodge it.

"Flash Cannon!" Ash told his Roggenrola who charged up the silver Energy to launch at the already hurt Pansear so Chili was shocked that it was already time to end this since Ash pulled a real good move on Pansear. Thankfully that Paralyze cuts down a Pokémon speed so Pansear was able to counterattack.

"Fire Blast and then Fire Punch!" Chili finally got some strategy under his belt and Pansear successfully halted the Flash Cannon, to cause it to be released on Roggenrola himself. Also, Pansear was able to land a decent among of damage on the Rock type despite that fire type attacks only cause ineffective damage.

"Very good Chili! You are finally getting the thrill of a Pokémon!" Ash proclaimed before turning to Roggenrola who was somehow able to break through the paralysis. "Now Flash Cannon once more!" Roggenrola then launched a stream of silver energy this time, twice as fast now that it was cured of its status aliment.

Pansear knew that it was had no time to even make a counterattack and so did Chili, "Dodge it!" The High Temp Pokémon then managed to move out of the way of the swift and devastating move.

"Stone Edge!" Ash then told his Roggenrola to unleash its storm of rocks at Pansear who was determined not to avoid this and fight back.

"SolarBeam!" Chili then decided it was now or never and Pansear was able to use the grass type attack in time to intercept the move.

The moves of great power fought for control until the two attacks avoided each other and hit their targets at the same time. The smoke cleared with both Pokémon still conscious but in too much pain and exhaustion to even get off the ground. Cilan then made his verdict, "Both Pokémon are unable to battle! This match is a draw!"

After Ash returned his Roggenrola, he walked over to Chili who was frantically looking over Pansear. "All I have to is…" Chili and Pansear awaited it, "You really impressed me today, both you and Pansear." Now the two listed were confused as the match was still a draw. "So what you didn't win and yet didn't lose? You actually last against a Pokémon an advantage over you or will you prefer to have a draw in which you had the advantage?" Ash continued with a little light hearted words that made Chili and Pansear actually glad that the match was a draw against a Pokémon had type advantage over the latter. "You even learned a move that Pansear can use against someone who else had the advantage, to turn the match around like a Gym Leader usually does. That should mean a lot to you two after the trouble back at the Striation City Gym. You actually did the right thing, coming to us; wonders can happen when you do." Ash added and it made the pair smile at each other say they reflected on this day turned out to be.

Much later, after Chili received his Pokémon from the Pokémon Center, "Well Cilan, everyone, thanks for all your help. I will surely be a better gym leader once I return to Striation City." Chili said as he was standing, fully packed, in that direction.

"Sure Chili we are here to help in any way we can." Ash said with his friends nodding so the said gym leader smiled before turning to Ash,

"You were right Ash, whatever winning or losing, gyms are more about teaching trainers rather than giving them badges when they win." Chili said, with all those words said to him fresh in his mind.

XXXXX

"Alright! It is time for my fifth Gym Battle!" Ash yelled after so many more adventures to remember until they found the path back to the Driftveil City Gym where the next Gym Battle will take place. But no one knew that instead of a straight forward match, which never once happened after the one Ash had in Striation City, the gang will have to go against a trio of Legendary Pokémon for their lives. Let's just hope that Ash's Pokémon are trained well enough to combat the forces of nature in the solid Pokémon bodies.

End of Chapter 10

*Hello everyone! MircThomas19 here with at last the battle between Ash and Alder, the Champion of Unova! I hope you like the new tactic I had Ash's Pikachu use and remember what I had Ash say to Trip from the Battle Club, Ash is not battling to take Alder's place but to see where he really stands among the skill of Champions.

Sorry for the further delay but it seemed that school was starting to pile up on my mind and I have to wait for some of it to come back to my mind when I am working on stories.

I hope you don't mind me adding Erina from the Episode, "Lost at the Stamp Rally", to the gang grouping since it was a last minute decision. After all, I did have Iris's Axew evolve last chapter and I had to fill in for the roles of her Axew that appeared in Anime so I hope I don't bother you with this decision; I have to follow the original story line as close as possible or I will be creating my own. I am also thinking about adding another member to the group after a couple more chapters. Tell me what you think and I will try to make it respect what you have to say.

Another thing to note is that I counted how many episodes I included in my last chapter, ten episodes in one chapter! It also helped that I actually had barely any writer's block unlike the severe case while writing this chapter which is also ten chapters. Still, I actually broke my last record for how many words in a single chapter, around twenty-three thousand! Please forgive me on how long it took this chapter to be made; this is one of the reasons why.

All in all, have a nice day! While I can no longer predict how long it will take, I will try my best to make the next chapters as good as you want them to be. Have a nice day and a happy Easter!*

1. I noticed that Katherine had two Gym Badges with her in a badge case, they are only given to trainers who received a starter type and a Pokédex but we never saw either of them in the anime episode.

Team On Hand Listings:

Ash: Pikachu (Male), Tranquill (Female), Dewott (Male), Tepig (Male), Riolu (Female), Servine (Female), Yamask (Female), Scraggy (Male), Palpitoad (Female), Roggenrola (Male), Frillish (Female) and Beheeyem (Male).

Iris: Fraxure (Male), Excadrill (Male), Scolipede (Female), Altaria (Male), Vibrava (Female), Emolga (Female), Snorunt (Female), and Archeops (Female).

Cilan: Pansage (Male), Dwebble (Male), Litwick (Female), Stunfisk (Male) and Basculin (Female).