AN: Well, this was originally an author note, explaining why I hadn't updated in almost a month. However, that no longer applies, considering that I've been updating on a pretty consistent basis. And, from now on, I'll be putting any extra information in my profile page.

So, I had to figure out what to change this to, and I decided that I could do one of two things: Either an Omake, or a promotion of a story. So, I decided to do both.

Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon. There, I said it. Happy?

TC: Very!

Promotion

Okay, we all know that Ash and Gary have been rivals since they were younger. But why?

It was explained that Gary and Ash had a fight over a pokeball, which they 'tied' in. However, what if Gary was just a little harsher and luckier? What if Gary had flaunted his knowledge a bit more and managed to get the entire pokeball?

What happens? That's what I seek to answer. The story won't be posted for a good while as of writing this, September of 2012, but look for it. Title: Nothing to Everything.

Pairing already decided. Challenge fic. Get ready, Kanto. Ash Ketchum is coming back from working hard to be better than anyone else.

Darker Ash, slightly based on Paul, Powerful Ash, and throwing aside most of canon for fun. No bashing, at most a severe disapproval of Gary. But Ash doesn't know that, does he?

Omake

Red stared at Ash from the other side of the field. Ash had requested that he be allowed to battle Red again after he went on a journey to seek out something. Red was using Pika, while Ash used Pikachu.

Red saw something off. Pikachu seemed to be overflowing with electricity, but Red discarded it. "Pika, thunderbolt."

The bolt of lightning raced towards Pikachu, before Ash smirked. "Pikachu, volt tackle!"

Pikachu exploded with power, the energy of a legendary pokemon flowing through his body. Overpowered, the thunderbolt yielded and Pikachu collided with Pika. Pika was blown back, knocked out.

Red had lost. And the universe exploded, because the concept of Ash beating Red was so impossible that the universe could not exist. From above, Arceus watched.

"Really? How did that happen? We made sure that Ash could never beat Red!"

His companion shrugged. "Well, we have two options. One, give up and die. Two, turn Ash's life into a videogame and see how well he does."

Arceus moaned, "But the first runs will be so boring! What're we gonna do?"

His companion produced a box of videotapes. "I salvaged Ray's tapes of funny legendary pokemon. And I have enough Buffy to last a lifetime."

"Buffy didn't go on for that long."

"I made my own tapes."

"Now this I have to see. Turn the kid into a videogame."

And so Ash was made a character in a videogame. After Ash died within five years every time, the two decided to replace Ash with somebody much better. And that story has been chronicled, by a talented author. Read that story, or join us and watch Ray's tapes.