It was going to be a long walk to Vermillion City for a few certain individuals. Unsurprisingly said individuals were near the back of the group. Ash couldn't help be noticing two things: 1. Jazz was quieter than normal and 2. Starscream seemed to be avoiding Elita. I wonder why that is?

"Starscream…"

"What is it?"

"Why are you avoiding Elita?" Ash realised something must have happened; Starscream blushed when he mentioned Elita!

"She's an Autobot and I'm a Decepticon…"

"I think it's more she is a girl and you're a boy!" Ash seemed more amused; this clearly was making it worse.

"Screamer has a crush on Elita!"

"I do not!" That just made the others giggle more. Ash knew something was up; Starscream didn't pick up on being called his rather amusing nickname.

"Skywarp, what happened at the Haunted Tower?"

"NO! Don't tell him!" Luckily Skywarp seemed to realise that he shouldn't tell and so he kept his mouth shut.

They were slightly surprised to find after a bit more walking that there wasn't a city but a bridge.

"I thought you said there was a city as the next stop, Ash."

"Don't worry Optimus we just have to cross this bridge and then the next place is Vermillion City."

"This is Lavender Bridge!" said a voice behind them. That made them all turn around to see who it was.

"Misty!" All of them; including Ash seemed happy to see Misty.

"Misty, I have a question for you."

"What is it Elita?"

"Are there any other female gym leaders?"

"Yes there's Erika and Sabrina."

"It's good to see that there are enough of us girls to keep these idiots in their place!" Chromia seemed to be one that was definitely feminist.

"I think that male gym leaders a just as good as female ones; I should know I am one."

"Brock!" They all seemed happy to see Brock too.

"I have a suggestion!"

"Speak Shockwave!" Megatron looked impatient.

"I think that Ash and Brock should battle Optimus…"

"That's hardly a fair fight!" Jazz got annoyed

"I haven't finished explaining yet. I was going to say, and a partner of his choosing."

"I like that idea; how about it Pikachu?"

"Pika, Pi!" Ash's Pikachu seemed to like the idea too.

"I don't mind fighting either." Brock seemed to be willing

"I agree and I choose to battle alongside…" Optimus chose to wait a few seconds before answering

"Megatron!"

"What!" Megatron didn't seem to believe that for one second.

"Do you accept or are you a coward like your second in command?" I'm never going to be allowed to forget this! I must have the luck of the devil… Starscream didn't seem to be in a good mood.

"I'm no coward! I accept!"

"Then it is decided; Brock and Ash vs. Optimus and Megatron!"

"This battle will be two on two and each Trainer will use two Pokémon each. The battle will be over when all Pokémon on one side can no longer battle. Let the battle begin!" Shockwave had been the reason for the idea so he was the one to referee.

Ash was the first to summon his Pokémon. "Go Butterfree!" Ash's Butterfree looked eager for battle. Brock sent out his Pokémon next. "Go Onix!" Onix roared; it wanted revenge! "Go Beedrill!" Beedrill was the next to be summoned; he also looked eager. I hope this one does better this time… "Go Magikarp!" The others seemed surprised. This didn't look like a strong Pokémon… Ash commanded first. "Butterfree, use gust!" The gust knocked Magikarp into the air. "Onix use wrap on Magikarp!" Onix caught Magikarp as it fell downward and wrapped its coils around Magikarp. Magikarp was helpless! "Beedrill use twinneedle!" Beedrill looked at its master; it didn't know what to do! "Use twinneedle on Onix!" Beedrill then sprang into action and used its move. Onix didn't like the twineedles and let go of Magikarp. However Magikarp has swirls in its eyes. "Magikarp return. Go Charmander!" Every time I use that Pokémon, it struggles to last a single turn! Charmander seemed to be ready to battle. "Charmander use ember on Butterfree!" Butterfree didn't like the fire; it was flapping around a little bit too scared of it. "Onix use slam on Beedrill!" Onix aimed its tail towards Beedrill but Beedrill easily dodged out of the way. "Beedrill use poison sting on Onix!" Poisonous spikes flew at Onix and struck it square in the head. Onix reared up in a rage; it didn't like that! "Butterfree help Onix, use tackle on Beedrill!" Butterfree flew at Beedrill and the tackle knocked Beedrill back. "Charmander use ember on Butterfree again!" This time Butterfree collapsed with the force of the fire. "Butterfree return. Go Pikachu!" Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder and skittered onto the battlefield. "Pikachu use quick attack!" Pikachu dashed forward and hit the first Pokémon it came to; Charmander! The force of the attack knocked Charmander up into the air; just like Magikarp. "Onix use wrap!" They are going to use the same strategy to beat Charmander! Not this time! "Use ember on Onix, Charmander!" Charmander wasn't going to let Onix wrap him up too. The stream of embers from his mouth were going to stop that. Onix fell back with the hit. It didn't get up after that. "Onix return. Go Vulpix!" A small orange fox with a number of tails appeared from the pokéball. "Vulpix use fire spin on Beedrill!" Vulpix created a vortex of fire from its mouth which then started to swirl around Beedrill. Beedrill didn't like this it was trapped! However the fire stopped quickly. Beedrill had swirls in its eyes. "Beedrill return. Go Pikachu!" Megatron's Pikachu jumped onto the battlefield. It seemed to be slightly annoyed at having to battle. "Pikachu use thundershock!" Pikachu knew that it wouldn't really hurt the other Pikachu. So it shot the electric bolt at Vulpix, it didn't like that that hurt! "Vulpix use quick attack!" "Pikachu use quick attack too!" Pikachu and Vulpix ran forward at the same time and ran for the two Pokémon on the other side of the field. "Charmander use scratch when the Pokémon gets close!" "Pikachu use quick attack too!" This meant there were three Pokémon running towards the middle of the battlefield and one getting its claws ready for its opponent. The two Pikachus collided and flew back. They didn't seem to be too hurt. Charmander was hit before it could scratch Vulpix. However Charmander survived the hit and started to glow. Charmander's appearance changed then the glow vanished. "Charmeleon!" Charmander evolved into Charmeleon! "Charmeleon use fire spin!" Charmeleon spat a swirl of fire from its mouth, this vortex then began to swirl around Vulpix who seemed scared; it was trapped too! Vulpix wasn't trapped for long; it had swirls where its eyes were supposed to be. "Vulpix return. Ash you are going to have to fight both of them on your own."

"I can do this Brock! Pikachu use thunderbolt!" "PIKACHUUUU!" Pikachu shot a bolt of electricity at the enemy. It struck Charmeleon. It collapsed. "Charmeleon return." This meant there were two Pokémon left; Ash's Pikachu and Megatron's Pikachu. I can't lose this! I must beat that Pikachu! But it's so much stronger than mine… "Pikachu use thundershock!" Megatron's Pikachu didn't know how to use thunderbolt yet so she would have to hope thundershock worked. "PIKACHUUUU!" Ash's Pikachu didn't seem too bothered by the thundershock. He didn't like the fact it was from a girl Pikachu. "Pikachu use quick attack!" Ash's Pikachu ran forward. It however didn't see what happened next. "Pikachu jump!" Megatron's Pikachu jumped over the other Pikachu. "Now use quick attack!" This Pikachu then turned around and hit the back of the other one. Ash's Pikachu went flying up into the air from the shock. It didn't land very well either. Ash's Pikachu had swirls in its eyes when they looked.

"Ash's Pikachu is unable to battle. The winners are Optimus and Megatron!"

"And now that battle is over can we get moving back towards the next town. I wanna have a gym battle already!"

"Skywarp don't be so impatient!"

"Ash, do you really want to know what happened at the Haunted Tower?"

"NO! You said you wouldn't!"

"C'mon Screamer, he needs to know!"

"No he doesn't! And DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Misty got the impression that it was linked to Elita or Chromia; Starscream had turned red!

"Starscream; which girl do you like?" Misty appeared to know what was up!

"I'm not telling…"

"Me, apparently…" Elita answered. Misty had a cruel smirk across her face. Starscream got the impression it was going to be a long walk to Vermillion City…

AN: I'm not sure if Charmeleon learns fire spin when it first evolves but for the sake of this it does. Also if you get the impression I like the pairing I'm working with you'd be right! ScreamerxElita, Why not? He's a little too nice to her in the cartoon if they're on opposite sides…