The poor boy. I do feel so sorry for him. I mean, being questioned about whether he's a part of Team Flare?! That's going too far, Cilan.
Anyway, here's Chapter 10, and I DO thank all you fine folks who take the time to review, follow and favorite my story!

Chapter 10- Pokemon League Kickin' Off!

"Rahl, I am so, SO sorry!"

The white haired trainer took a step backwards, nearly falling over from shock. He certainly hadn't been expecting this.

Just after the signing up process, Rahl had made up his mind; he would tolerate the presence of the new folks and keep a certain degree of civility when conversing with them. Well, they were Ash's friends, he'd reasoned with himself, they couldn't be all bad.

But, just as soon as he turned the corner that would take him to Central Lumiose, Iris and the paler one- Dawn- had rushed up to him while spouting rivers of apology from their mouths!

He definitely hadn't anticipated that happening.

Their careless words still reverberated in his head, even as Iris and Dawn both stood in front of him, apologizing profusely.

"He looks scary."

"The company you keep, Ash!"

Rahl gritted his teeth. He wouldn't let spite overcome him. He was not a douche, after all.

But then, why wasn't he answering them?

"R-Rahl," started Iris meekly, almost like a mouse. The white haired trainer had been staring at her and Dawn for quite some time, looking almost shocked. "We r-really are sorry for jumping to conclusions."

The said trainer blinked, still mute. Dawn glanced at Ash and the rest behind her worriedly. Gary was looking a little sad, while Cilan was shifting from side to side uncomfortably, apparently felling guilty. Brock and Misty were looking concernedly at Rahl, as if to see how he was taking all of it. May and Max were looking extremely embarrassed, Max especially. The young boy was looking as if someone had noticed him playing with a Barbie doll...not that he had ever done so, of course.

Rahl took a deep breath.

"It's-It's fine, I suppose," he mumbled. "Yeah, I don't hold grudges, it's okay, you're forgiven."

Iris instantly hugged him. "Yay! You're the best!"

Axew squeaked appreciatively.

'What brought this on,' thought Rahl in mild amusement, looking pointedly at Ash. "Are all your friends this weird?"

Dawn grinned at him. "No, just Iris."

"Aha."

"H-Hey!"

The others laughed boisterously, Ash giving a discreet thumbs up to Rahl as if to say "Thanks." The other nodded back as Iris pulled away.

"I signed up for you," continued the white haired trainer, walking towards Ash. "We're both in the Pokemon League now, which is gonna start in-" he looked at his watch- "an hour."

"Ack!" gasped Ash, beginning to run towards the Pokemon Center. "We don't have much time then! Oh, I'll need to switch out some Pokemon and chow down!" Even Pikachu looked exasperated.

"Chow down?" questioned Rahl, easily keeping pace with the panicked trainer. "Ash, seriously. Calm down and think."

"Yeah," said Iris, running along with them.

"Don't worry Rahl," reassured Gary, who had caught up to them. "Ashy-boy's always like this."

"Oi, what have I said about that nickname?" Ash exclaimed.

"That you loved it, probably," commented Rahl.

Gary and Iris howled with laughter, as they neared the Pokemon Center. Even Pikachu was giggling, and Ash was doing his best to be angry, but couldn't help but laugh as well.

"That was a good one," he chortled. "Really good one, Rahl."

The said trainer smiled. "Well then, if no one minds, I'll make my transactions first. I don't have too many Pokemon, just fourteen at the max."

"Oooh, I wanna see your Dragon-types!" squealed Iris excitedly.

"Yeah, I too want to check out all your strong Pokemon," smiled Gary.

"Me too," panted Brock heavily, surprising them all. Apparently all the others had caught up to the trio after much effort. Especially Dawn and May, they looked like they'd ran a mile. Gasping and panting, they glared poisonously at Ash while wiping sweat from their brows.

Rahl sighed. "Get on those couches," he pointed to some fluffy pouffes and sofas lying patiently at a wall, "and order something. Be right back."

He booted up a PC and quickly switched out his Pokemon, keeping Venusaur, Manectric, Espeon, Carracosta and Infernape but switching Braviary for a Pokemon yet to be revealed, also arranging his various teams for the League. He hummed a beautiful little song as he did this, singing softly along to the tune.

(insert Assassination Classroom's Episode 24 OST, Tabidachi no Uta)

Rahl returned to the group, where he heard Cilan, Brock and Ash catching up with one another, Dawn and May arguing about Pokemon- something about whether a Piplup or a Squirtle was cuter and more suited for Coordination-, and Max chatting with Gary. Iris waved him over to a seat facing her, and he gladly sat there to talk as well.

"So, Rahl," questioned Iris, "have you gotten any cool Dragon-types on your team yet?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," answered the other.

Iris's mouth fell open. "I wanna see!"

Amusement flashed across Rahl's eyes. "You can guess, but no seeing."

"Why no seeing?" asked the Dragon Master.

"My rules, Iris," smiled Rahl.

Iris pouted, tossing Axew some Poffins to keep it busy. "Very well...is it a Flygon?"

"No."

"Druddigon?"

"Close, but no cigar!"

"Hydreigon?!"

"Nope!"

"JUST TELL ME!" screamed Iris, attracting several eyes towards her and the chuckling Rahl.

"No," said Rahl, struggling not to snort. Iris huffed and flicked a pretzel at him, which he caught and bit into.

Ash watched this exchange with mirth flashing in his eyes. He cleared his throat and announced, "Okay, guys! I've got something really important to tell you..."

"What is it, Ash?" Dawn and May questioned at the same time, startling each other a little.

"Well," said the raven haired trainer, "have any of you heard of 'Synchro-Evolution'?"

All of them frowned and shook their heads. Rahl was smirking a little, having figured out what Ash was talking about. Swallowing a piece of crunchy pretzel, he asked, "When did we start calling it Synchro-Evolution, Ash?"

"Calling what Synchro-Evolution?" asked Gary a bit impatiently.

"This," answered Rahl. "Infernape, go!"

The Pokeball burst open and released the Flame Pokemon who, upon being released, raised its fists in a fighting stance. Dawn went into a transport of delight on seeing a Sinnoh starter and promptly began to gush over it.

"You too, Greninja!" called Ash, flicking up a Pokeball that released the ninja frog, which folded its arms and gazed at the newcomers with an inquisitive expression.

"Wow!" exclaimed Misty, extremely pleased to witness such a fit-looking Water-type Pokemon. "Those Pokemon...they look so strong!

"Yeah!" agreed Max and Iris.

"We'll show you just how strong!" said Ash, grinning.

"Let's do this!" proclaimed Rahl.

"Fer nape!"

"Gre!"

"We'll get even, even, EVEN stronger!" roared Ash and Rahl at the same time, raising their clenched fists, their eyes glowing red. What shocked everyone was that Greninja and Infernape were doing exactly the same thing.

"LET'S GO!"

The next moment, the two Pokemon were surrounded in shining tornadoes of water and fire respectively. Max, May, Dawn and Misty all screamed while the rest just watched, frozen to their seats.

The triumphant twosome smirked, and the water and fire disappeared, only to reform as a giant blue shuriken on Greninja's back and a torch-like tail blazing with orange flames behind Infernape.

"...I have no words," whispered Brock. Gary looked awed, as did Cilan. The Connoisseur looked overwhelmed by the majesty of the two Pokemon, their power rushing through their bodies, the careless strength that was apparent in their shoul-

"The Pokemon League shall start in five minutes!" announced the clear voice of Nurse Joy through a large pink megaphone. "Please, go through the back entrance of the Lumiose Center to reach it!"

"Aww..." said Ash dispiritedly.

"Come on, Ash," said Rahl bracingly. "We'll show them our power in the League." Heartened, the two trainers recalled their Pokemon and jogged through the mentioned back entrance. After a few stunned moments, the rest of them got up and ran after them.

First off, I'd like to apologize for the lack of Amourshipping/Laserbladeshipping in this chapter.
I just thought of matching up Rahl with Iris and decided to kick it off in this chapter. For future reference, guys, I shall name this ship 'Infernoshipping', basing it off Infernape and Iris's love of dragons...which can turn forests into an 'inferno'.

Please, please R&R guys! Also, please tell me if you find the ship name dissatisfying through a review/PM, and give me a suggestion for a new name. Please do not abuse the name Infernoshipping, just suggest me your preferred name and I shall consider using it.

See you guys next Sunday!

-Nirgends101