Nick was already midway into the battle against Ashei, she was down to two Pokemon while Nick had five, it was one on one, and his Lucario stood on the field while Ashei had her Froslass on the battlefield.

"You're doing well so far Nicholas, but I don't intend to lose." Ashei smirked "Froslass use Psychic!"

"Dodge and use close combat!"

Froslass' eyes began to glow a bright blue while Lucario began to move as he did, his body began to lift off the ground.

"Lucario, Aura sphere!" Nick called out

He was unable to form the attack as he was thrown off toward the lava pit; Nick drew his Pokeball "Lucario, return!"

Lucario was called back as Nick drew another Pokeball, Unfezzant already fell. He decided to go on the offensive.

"Go on ahead Pikachu!" Nick called out

Pikachu jumped off of Nick's shoulder and onto the field. Froslass stood her ground.

"Pikachu, quick attack!"

"Psychic!" Ashei smirked

As Pikachu began to charge as Froslass allowed her eyes to glow a bright blue and lifted Pikachu off of the ground.

"Thunderbolt!"

As Froslass was about to throw Pikachu, he allowed a bolt of electricity through his body and struck Froslass, breaking the concentration and he jumped onto the ground.

"Iron tail; get her while she's stunned!"

"Blizzard!" Ashei called out

As much as Froslass wanted to attack, a surge of electricity went through her body, Ashei bit her lower lip, and Froslass was paralyzed, and was now going to have a hard time fighting back.

Pikachu's tail began to glow a gray color and slammed it into Froslass who fell back and fainted.

Ashei called back Froslass and drew her last Pokeball "Beartic, take to the cold!"

The Pokeball opened and large white bear roared as it took its stand on the field, Nick could only smile as it took to the field.

"Well, just great." He smiled "Pikachu, come on back. I got someone in mind for this one."

Pikachu ran back toward Nick as he drew another Pokeball.

"Flareon, stand by for battle!"

The fire Pokemon stood in front of Nick, and he could only raise his eyebrows.

"Fire blast!"

"Blizzard!" Ashei called out

Both Pokemon fired their most powerful attacks, Nick stepped to the side, he didn't want to lose his balance, their attacks hit and it turned to steam.

"Heat wave!"

Flareon allowed a wave of heat from the volcano's surface and sink down on Beartic, the fire made impact.

"Sheer cold!" Ashei ordered

The command didn't come to fruition; Beartic fell to the ground, and fainted.

"Great job Flareon!" Nick called out

Flareon smiled and ran over to Nick, rubbing its head against Nick's hand. Ashei smiled and recalled Beartic.

"Great job Nicholas, you definitely defeated me badly." Ashei smiled

Nick smiled and nodded as he recalled Flareon and proceeded into the tram, he waved and just as the door was going to close, Ashei ran up to him.

"Thank you for taking care of Lucario as you have, he has become a great Pokemon."

He smiled "Your welcome, he trusts me, just as I trust him." He allowed the door to close and it moved on.

The temperature began to settle as Nick moved further into the volcano, toward the other side, he could see light at the end of the tunnel, and a hooded man stood on the platform. The tram doors opened and Nick proceeded forward, as he did, Pikachu's cheeks began to spark.

"Welcome Nicholas, you've made it this far, but now, your journey has come to an end."

He recognized the voice; he had heard it once before, the scar along his cheek, the gray eyes.

"Your…you're…"

The man nodded and removed his cloak, revealing a dark blue shirt with black trim, blue jeans and black sneakers, his raven black hair was slicked back, his gray eyes were determined and the scar on his cheek became more apparent.

"Agent Jupiter!?" Nick almost yelled, the last time he saw him was when he was at the couple's contest

"Steven is my name Nicholas, I'm a close associate of your father's and a member of the Elite Four, he needed someone to spy on Team Anubis, just in case Jack did something he was going to regret."

"Why did my dad…"

"He wanted to make sure in case he failed, Anubis would be stopped in the inside."

He nodded "So, how is this going to work?"

"Simple, this is a one on one battle, we each select one, you win, you'll proceed inside, you lose, and you're done." Steven drew a Pokeball "Which would be a shame since you've gotten all this way."

"I won't lose." He looked down at Pikachu "Get 'em buddy."

Pikachu smiled and jumped out onto the field "Pika…" he growled

"Swampert, take to the water!"

The Pokeball opened and a large Pokemon took to the field, it stood on four legs with large brown ears, orange markings on the sides of his face, arms and legs.

"Easy, volt tackle!" Nick commanded

Pikachu charged, as an electrical surge went through his body and expanded out around him like a typhoon.

"Take it and then use hammer arm!" Steven called out

Pikachu slammed into Swampert's body and it fell back a few feet, but then slammed a fist into Pikachu's stomach, causing him to fly back toward Nick's feet.

"Stand up buddy, we got this!"

"Hydro pump!" Steven called out

As Swampert prepared to charge a hydro pump attack, his body began to spark.

"Thank god for static." Nick smiled "Iron tail!"

Pikachu charged at Swampert, his tail glowing a dark steel and slammed it into the mud fish Pokemon, it fell backwards.

"Let's end this, thunder!" Nick called out

"Protect!"

Again, the attack didn't work as Pikachu slammed a powerful thunder attack at Swampert, who fainted on the ground.

"Well, I'll be darned," He looked up "Well, welcome to the NeoTerra League Mister Gray, please proceed forward."

Nick walked out of the tram and onto a checker board floor, as he walked forward, he noticed a bunch of trainers were standing around and talking, as he walked into the common area, Alex and Tori spotted him.

"It's about time." Alex smiled

"Yeah, it was tough." He rubbed his neck "Where's Dawn?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen her or Adam."

"Joshua made it first right?" Nick asked

"Yeah, he was right after me." Tori remarked

Nick nodded as Tom, Holly, Hailey and Kara walked off the tram "You guys go talk, I have to go register."

As he proceeded forward, Nurse Joy smiled at him "Welcome, you must be the last one."

"I hope I'm not too late." Nick remarked as he pulled his badge case and Pokedex out of his pocket

"Of course not." Joy smiled as he took his items and scanned them

Nick's face appeared, along with his eight badges, then next to the badges were two boxes, one was a trophy with the label Orange Islands and then the second block filled but was having a hard time showing up.

"Hmm, that is very weird, I can't seem to get this to load." She pressed a few keys "Well, there we go." She smiled at him "You're all set Nick, good luck, the tournament begins tomorrow."

Nick smiled and took his Pokedex and badge case back "Thank you very much."

"Good luck."

"…but I was hoping when you were through the Elite Four, I could ask you a couple of questions about Team Anubis. It'll be good to see you again, when you're ready, I'll meet you at the VIP area on deck three."

Nick honestly didn't know what the International Police wanted with him, obviously whoever it was knew him, but this Lieutenant Price obviously had an agenda.

He walked through the stands toward the VIP section, as he walked, Pikachu was looking out at the field, and Nick smiled and scratched his head as he walked into the third floor's VIP room to which it was deserted, several chairs were in an enclosed booth with glass and speakers on the walls.

He walked up to the glass and looked out onto the field, it was large dust field with white lines on it, and there were enough seats in the stands for millions of people.

"Just think buddy, we did it, now we just need to get through the tournament."

"Pikachu…" Pikachu looked out in awe

"I know, I'm just worried, what if I have to go up against Dad? I mean, I know he's gone, but I mean…what if he survived somehow?" Nick asked Pikachu

"I'm sure he would be proud of you." A female voice said behind him

Nick's face changed into a confused look "Pikachu, since when do you sound like a girl?"

"Behind you Nikki."

He shook his head, only a few people ever called him that, mostly his mother, his grandmother and…no, it couldn't be her.

He turned around, sweat dripping off his face as a young woman, no older than eighteen walked over to him, her dark brown hair was tied back in a ponytail, chocolate brown eyes full of life, and fair skin. She wore an earpiece in her ear, dark blue top and pants with black heeled boots.

"Lieutenant Price?" Nick asked

She nodded "Nicholas Gray?"

Nick nodded in response "Of course."

She gave him a confused look "You really don't…remember me do you?"

He nodded "No, I don't. And I take it this meeting isn't about Team Anubis was it?"

"Nope." She reached into her pocket

Nick ducked back "Don't hurt me!"

Pikachu jumped down and looked at the pair as she pulled her wallet out of her pocket, reached inside and pulled a picture out of it.

"I won't hurt you, trust me, I won't." She walked over and handed Nick the photo "Remember this?"

Nick gently took the photo and looked shocked, two young kids age ten stood on the balcony, the young man had a Pichu sitting on his shoulder while the young girl had an Eevee standing on the balcony next to her, though she didn't look as nearly as beautiful as the young woman standing next to him.

"Catherine!?" Nick's eyes went wide

Eight years prior…

Nick stood on the balcony of Goldenrod City's Pokemon center, as he looked out, Pichu walked gently on the balcony, one foot at a time almost like he was walking on a tight rope.

"So, you're leaving huh?"

Nick turned to Catherine Price walking over to him, her Eevee on her shoulder, it sat on her shoulder as it smiled at Pichu.

"Yeah, we're leaving tomorrow morning." He sighed

She looked at him "Everything okay?"

"I told you about my dad right?" Nick asked

"Yeah, you did, he disappeared when you were a kid, and he was the champion of Johto."

"I don't know how I'm going to do…" Nick frowned "I'm not sure if I'm going to make it through the league."

"Hey, hey, what kind of talk is that?" She rubbed his shoulder "You're going to do fine, I'll be there rooting you along the whole time!"

Nick smiled "Thanks Catherine."

"I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise." Catherine replied

Nick shook his head "I can't believe you're here."

"You don't approve?"

"No." Nick sat down "No, it's not you, it's me, and I'm going through some things right now." He pulled his phone out and checked it out "God sake!"

"Something wrong?"

"Oh," Nick sighed "It's my girlfriend, more, my ex-girlfriend now after the way she's acting."

"How long have you two been together?"

"Almost a year now," Nick sighed, running a hand through his hair

"I'm sorry Nick, really I am."

"Bet you never had that kinda problem huh?"

She shook her head "Eh, never had to worry about it, the only guy I liked is completely different now." He blushed as she winked at him

"So, what brings you here other than cutting into my love life?"

She smirked at him "I'm here to see you go into the tournament."

"Yeah, I just have a feeling that I'm going to lose again."

"Don't say that, you're going to win."

"Will all trainers please report to the center chamber, we will now announce the first round combatants!"

As Nick walked with Catherine into the main central hub, Tom, Alex, Tori and the others were looking at the screens, as the pair joined them, the screens lit with life as trainer pictures began to fill it up.

As he looked around, he spotted Adam Walker and Dawn stood next to him, a smile on her face as her arm was linked with his. Nick clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

"Nick, everything okay?" Catherine asked

"My ex and her ex over there," He pointed at Dawn "I just hate it."

Catherine looked over at Adam as Tom looked at Nick "Catherine Price is that you?"

Catherine looked over at Tom "Thomas Miller, good to see you again, opened your own restaurant yet?"

"Nope, not yet." Tom smirked "Nick, care to introduce the rest of the team?"

"Right," Nick smirked "Alex, Kara, Tori, Holly, this is Catherine Price, an old friend of mine from Goldenrod City."

"Nice to meet you." Tori remarked

Great, another one. Kara thought as she smirked without a word

Holly smiled and waved, still a little shy

Alex nodded "Pleasure to meet you."

Nick then turned to Hailey "Sis, this is Catherine. Catherine, my step-sister Hailey Gray."

Both girls shook hands "Step-sister?" Catherine asked

"Yeah, his dad adopted me as a kid." Hailey explained

"Nick, look." Alex pointed

Nick looked at the screen, Adam, Tori, Joshua and Alex had their own opponents, while Nick's eyes went wide at his opponent, it was none other than Norm, the same man who had been trying to take Dawn down during the contests, and now he was trying to take Nick down.

"Well, Norm will be taken down, one way or another, he needs to be put in his place."

Okay, now the tournament can begin! The Elite 4 has been sped up due to lack of inspiration, and now I can finish this story up, as badly as I don't want it to.