"So, who do you suppose the Elite Four might be?" Ash asked the others.
"Maybe Optimus, since he wasn't a gym leader?" Misty pondered.
"Lockdown, maybe?" Dawn recalled that he had been wandering the region; like she recalled the Elite Four in Sinnoh did.
"Yoketron? He could be training the Transformers while he has no challengers…" May thought for a moment.
"I think that Megatron was lying; and he's either the Champion, or one of the Elite Four." Brock suggested.
"Maybe we haven't met any of them yet…" Max thought; there were a lot of Transformers in this region; who knew how strong they all were.
"I suppose they might have all been training in other regions." Ash agreed with Max.
"What do you mean; I'm not as strong as you?!" They all heard a familiar shout and realised they were in Polyhex.
"That's not what I meant and you know it!" They definitely recognised that shout; Knock Out.
"Ooh… he's got girl trouble." Misty grinned; he was arguing with Firestar. May seemed eager to peek around the side of the building at them as well.
"I'm just saying that you could maybe use a little help training them." Knock Out held up his hands.
"Because I'm not a good enough trainer; is that it?" Firestar was getting annoyed with him.
"No, that's not it! Stop twisting my words!" He shouted back at her; also getting annoyed.
"Do you think we should break it up?" Brock asked; concerned this was going to turn into a fist fight, not a Pokémon battle!
"No; I want to see this!" Misty had a feeling she knew what was coming.
"Since you seem to think that I'm not a very good trainer; let's settle this." Firestar raised both of her hands in fists.
"Firestar; I'm not going to fight you! I'm not that kind of mech!" Knock Out held up his hands; he wasn't going to hit a femme!
"With a Pokémon battle!" She then pulled out a pokéball.
"Alright fine! But don't say I didn't warn you." He said the second sentence more quietly, in the hope she didn't hear.
"I heard that! Right then; the loser has to do something of the winner's choosing, whenever the winner decides." Firestar suggested, a smirk crossing her features. She knew where his mind would take that suggestion!
"Deal." He smirked back; his mind going exactly where she'd thought it would.
"Three on three?" She asked; stepping back. Knock Out stepped backwards; leaving enough space for the two of them to battle. He nodded, and Firestar threw her pokéball.
"Go Ponyta!" Firestar's fire maned horse appeared.
"Go Magby!" Knock Out chose his Pokémon.
"Both of them use fire types; so this battle will be hard for both of them." Brock explained.
"Magby use Ember." Knock Out didn't sound concerned. Magby spat fire at Ponyta. Ponyta didn't seem too badly hurt by that attack.
"Ponyta use Stomp!" Ponyta ran forward; slamming her front hooves on to Magby's tail. Magby cried out in shock.
"Don't worry Magby; you can do this. Use Smog!" A purple smoke like substance began to collect in Magby's mouth. He spat the smoke at Ponyta; who winced from the feeling of it crawling over her skin.
"Ponyta use Tackle!" Ponyta ran forward and slammed her body into Magby. Magby fell on to his back with swirls in his eyes.
"Magby return. Go Vulpix!" Knock Out's fox like Pokémon appeared. He looked unconcerned for the battle; just like his master.
"Use Secret Power! A spray of stars flew from Vulpix's mouth and knocked Ponyta down. Firestar looked worried and saw Ponyta was struggling to get back to her hooves.
"Come on Ponyta!" Ponyta got herself up; hearing her master's worry.
"Use Ember! Uh… oops." Firestar realised what she did wrong when she called that move. Ponyta spat embers at Vulpix, who just absorbed them.
"Use Flamethrower!" Vulpix spat fire and Ponyta collapsed from this hit.
"Come on Ponyta!" Firestar shouted; but swirls appeared in Ponyta's eyes this time.
"Aw… Ponyta return." Firestar returned her Pokémon to her pokéball.
"Go Vulpix!" Firestar's fox appeared; winking at Knock Out's fox. Vulpix shivered; he didn't want to fight this Pokémon!
"Use Confuse Ray!" Vulpix's eyes glowed an eerie purple. Knock Out's Vulpix looked nervous; now feeling a little confused about where Vulpix was standing.
"Use Quick Attack!" Knock Out's Vulpix ran forward as quickly as he could, slamming into Vulpix. Firestar's Vulpix looked confused as to why she didn't get hit. Vulpix was lying on his stomach to her left.
"Use Secret Power!" Firestar's Vulpix fired stars at Knock Out's this time. Knock Out's Vulpix whined; he could now see about three different Vulpix looking at him, all from different angles.
"Use Confuse Ray!" Knock Out was determined that his Vulpix would get a hit in. Vulpix's eyes glowed an eerie purple; but the Vulpix he was looking at didn't appear confused. Again; Firestar's Vulpix pondered why her opponent wasn't looking at her.
"Use Quick Attack!" Firestar's Vulpix darted at Knock Out's. She knocked him flying back to his master. Knock Out's Vulpix landed by his master's feet with swirls in his eyes.
"Right then, Vulpix return." Do I use her? Knock Out wondered for a moment.
"Knock Out can still use one Pokémon, right?" Ash queried.
"Yeah, I wonder what's taking him so long." Max pondered.
"Go Chimchar!" No, I don't think I should be cruel. He decided with this choice.
"I think he was wondering whether or not to use Camerupt." May told them, eagerly watching the battle. Knock Out was losing.
"Use Leer!" Chimchar gave his master a funny look, but did as he was asked. He closed his eyes. A yellow glint appeared when he opened them again.
"Vulpix use Flamethrower!" Vulpix spat a stream of fire at Chimchar. He didn't appear too badly hurt.
"Use Leer." Chimchar still looked confusedly at his master. He once again closed his eyes; then opened them. The yellow glint once again appeared in his eyes.
"Use Secret Power!" Stars flew across the area at Chimchar. He was knocked on to his back.
"Come on Chimchar!" Knock Out now looked worried; Chimchar had taken a lot of damage. He wasn't weak enough to have triggered Blaze yet; but it was only a matter of time. Chimchar got to his feet; as if sensing his master's urgency.
"Use Scratch!" Chimchar ran forward, claws glinting at the end of his fingers. He scratched them across Vulpix's head. She landed beside Firestar, struggling to get back to her feet.
"And that should be that…" Knock Out said quietly; hoping for Firestar not to hear him. Vulpix got back up to her feet. She wobbled a bit; but was able to continue.
"Vulpix, use Flamethrower!" Vulpix spat fire, as though spurred on by her master's belief in her. The fire knocked Chimchar down. Swirls appeared in his eyes.
"No!" Knock Out shouted; unable to believe he'd lost.
"And that is why you should take every battle seriously, dear." Firestar walked forward and picked her Vulpix up.
"You did brilliantly girl; well done for beating Chimchar!" She stroked Vulpix's head, hearing pleased noises from the fox. Knock Out returned his Chimchar to his pokéball, looking worried. Firestar returned Vulpix to her pokéball as well, looking at Knock Out expectantly.
"What do you desire, my love?" He asked, trying to be sweet; in hope she chose something less humiliating.
"Come here." She said, sounding stern. Knock Out obliged; standing right beside her.
"Shout out what just happened, as loudly as you can." She told him, a smirk crossing her features.
"Is that all you want me to do?" He asked her hopefully.
"No; but it's a start." She grinned seeing a faint blush and fear cross his features.
"I lost to Firestar in battle!" Knock Out shouted; sure he heard a faint echo.
"Which means?" She asked quietly hoping he picked up what she wanted him to say next.
"Firestar is a better trainer than me!" Knock Out burned with humiliation after shouting that.
"And? Shout out your feelings for me." She whispered. Knock Out's cheeks went bright blue. He knew he'd have to; but really didn't want everyone within audio range to know!
"Firestar is the most beautiful femme on Cybertron and… I love her!" Knock Out paused, almost losing his courage to say it out loud. He was sure he heard laughing coming from somewhere close by.
"Thank you." Firestar put her hand on his shoulder.
"Um… you're welcome?" Knock Out looked confused.
"Pick me up. You know, like a princess…" Knock Out felt another rush of energon go to his cheeks; but did as she asked.
"You love me? Care to show me how much?" She asked him quietly.
"Not in public! Unless you want me to kiss you, that is…" He silently hoped so.
"Come here." She growled, tilting his head for a kiss. Both of them pulled back when they heard whistling. They turned and saw May and Misty whistling at them.
"Nice one Romeo!" Dawn giggled; they looked ridiculous.
"Uh, how much of that did you see?" Knock Out looked worriedly at them.
"Every second of it." Misty smirked; seeing his face go bright blue.
"Including…?"
"Including the part where you went easy on her, yes." Ash told him; knowing he wouldn't go easy on any opponent.
"You were debating whether or not to use Camerupt." Brock sounded rather sure.
"Comfy there Firestar?" May asked, noting that Knock Out hadn't put her down yet.
"Yes actually." She wriggled a little, as though making herself comfortable.
"Do you two want to come with us to Iacon?" Ash asked.
"When you've finished your cuddle session that is?" Misty smirked; it had made Knock Out's cheeks go pale blue again.
"You're going to Iacon? You have eight gym badges?" Knock Out asked. Ash answered by showing him his badge case with the eight badges in it. Knock Out adjusted his pose; putting Firestar down.
"I was comfy…" She whined, making him look a little sheepish.
"Yes, but I can't contact someone if I'm carrying you." Knock Out walked off; whispering into his com-line. He came back very quickly; looking surprisingly happy.
"Shall we head towards Altihex?" He asked.
"Who did you contact that made you that happy?" Brock asked; genuinely curious.
"You haven't met him; but you will definitely hear about him if you don't meet him." Knock Out told them; not really answering the question.
"Then we'll see if he turns up in Altihex!" Ash said, walking towards the track to Altihex; Dark Mount Pass.
AN: You'll find out who Knock Out spoke to later; he is known for one thing and one thing only!