Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or anything to do with the Franchise. If he I did own Pokemon, or was a writer for the show, I would have him age and win a league. Maybe the Kalos league will be that all important win.

Elite Four Training Area

"Go Knuckles!" The ball opened up and out of it appeared Knuckles who stood ready to battle, to prove this point, he out stretched his arm and with his paw gave the 'Just bring it!' signal towards his father's opponent.

Karen grinned. "Wow, I see your Lucario is so full of confidence, maybe I should dampen that a little. I choose you Houndoom!" The ball opened up and out of it appeared the Dark/fire type. Houndooms eyes locked onto Knuckles and flames began to form around its mouth.

Ash frowned, this was going to be tricky "Knuckles use Bulk up!" Knuckles flexed his arms and raised his attack and defence.

Karen knew she had the advantage here, sure her Pokemon was weak against fighting types, but that would mean it would have to get up close and personal, which would be suicide against a fire type. "Houndoom use Flamethrower!" Houndoom opened its mouth and unleashed a stream of hot flames that were heading towards Knuckles.

Ash seeing the possible threat decided to act. "Knuckles dodge and then use Aura Sphere!" Knuckles jumped to the side to avoid the flames, as he did, he charged an orb of aura between his paws and lopped it towards Houndoom."

"Houndoom dodge and then use Fire spin!" Houndoom jumped avoiding the aura sphere that impacted into the ground just below it. Flames were already forming in its mouth, this time the flames spiralled towards Knuckles

Ash knew he had to get up and close to do some real damage, but with those flames all over the place it was going to be difficult. "Knuckles dodge and use Extreme Speed!" Knuckles dodged the spiralling flames and then instantly vanished in a blur. He soon reappeared right in front of Houndoom and used his legs and arms to land several hits, causing the fire/dark duel type to skid back a little.

Karen growled. So it knew extreme speed, sure it was a fairly weak attack, but it had been boosted in power due to bulk up. Karen didn't want to risk anything so decided to neutralise the threat. "Houndoom use Growl!" Houndoom planted all four feet onto the ground and then let out an intimidating sound, that washed over the field.

Knuckles flinched as it was affected by the growl, lowering its attack.

Ash looked on, so it was going to be useless raising Knuckles attack now. "Knuckles use Extreme Speed and then Bone rush!" Knuckles again vanished and reappeared near Houndoom. It lashed out once more, but this time formed a staff of energy between his paws. He used the staff to whack Houndoom over the head, dazing the fire/dark duel type.

Karen growled in frustration, she wasn't going to lose this. "Houndoom use Leer and then Flamethrower!" Houndoom eyes glowed and two spectral red eyes appeared causing Knuckles to flinch once more. The flinch was all the time Houndoom needed to hit the flamethrower which engulfed the fighting/steel type.

Ash watched as the flames engulfed Knuckles, when they had died down, he noticed Knuckles was down on one knee, covered in scorch marks, he had also been inflicted with a burn. Ash sighed. "I forfeit, this round." Ash recalled Knuckles and then looked across the Elite four who was now petting her Houndoom. "Okay Karen, you wanted to face Darkrai well here he is. Come forth Emperor of Darkness!" The ball snapped open and Darkrai appeared and looked out across the field to his opponent. The temperature around the battle field dropped several degrees due to the dark legendaries appearance.

Karen stood in awe, wow this was a treat, she wished that she owned a Darkrai, still battling one was just as good. She had never battled a legendary and now was her chance. "Houndoom use Flamethrower!"

Ash grinned, "Not a chance, Darkrai use Dark void!" Darkrai dodged the flames and then formed several dark orbs and lopped them out onto the field, one hit Houndoom and engulfed it. Several seconds later, the fire/dark type appeared snoozing on the field.

Karen was surprised by the sudden attack, and now her Pokemon was fast asleep. "Houndoom wake up and use Fire Blast!" Unfortunately her voice fell on deaf ears as Houndoom continued to snooze.

Ash seeing an opportunity decided to take it. "Darkrai use Nasty plot" Darkrai special attack increased by two levels. Houndoom was still asleep.

Karen was helpless, her Pokemon was still sleeping. "Houndoom wake up already!"

Ash seeing Houndoom still asleep decided to attack. "Darkrai finish it use Focus Blast!" Darkrai formed an orb of powerful energy between its hands and then lopped it towards Houndoom. The focus blast hit the fire/dark duel type causing an explosion in its wake. Once the smoke had cleared, it showed Houndoom fainted with swirl for eyes.

Karen was stunned. "But how? One hit was all it took to knock out my Houndoom. How is that possible?"

Ash stood there surprised, you would have thought an Elite four would know the answer. "Really you don't know. Let me explain, first your Houndoom took damage from my exreme speed, and bone rush attack, surely you couldn't have forgotten that. Secondly, is my Pokemon's special ability Nightmare. When it puts a Pokemon to sleep, it tortures them in their dreams with nightmares, reducing their health little by little. Last but not least, is my focus blast attack, which is a fighting type attack powered up by Nasty plot, which raises Darkrai special attack stat my two levels."

Karen frowned and recalled her Pokemon, she then threw another ball onto the field. "Go Honchkrow!" The dark/flying type appeared on the field ready for battle. "I won't be losing this round. Honchkrow use Close Combat!"

Ash was surprised, Karen had completely lost her focus, sure Close combat would cause some damage but she was assuming his Darkrai had no counter, and now it would cost her. Ash watched as the flying/dark type closed in ready to attack. "Now Darkrai use Ice Beam!"

Karen eye widened when she heard the counter. "Honchkrow dodge it quickly!" Unfortunately the dark/flying type had no time to dodge and it was hit with the beam of ice freezing its wing, and preventing it from attacking.

Meanwhile off the battle field Agatha was shaking her head. "Foolish child, she let her temper get the better of her, and now she in a real tight spot."

Bruno nodded in agreement. "She doesn't like losing, and that is her biggest weakness, it causes her to lose concentrating and this is the end result. She's just lucky this isn't a ranking battle."

Meanwhile Karen was on the field wondering how she could turn this around. That Ice beam had completely taken her by surprise, and now her Pokemon's wing was frozen, also the ice beam itself had done major damage. Honchkrow use Dark Pulse!" maybe she could get a lucky flinch. The dark/flying duel type unleashed a wave of dark energy that hit Darkrai, for little damage, but no flinch.

Ash was a little upset, he was hoping the Elite four would be tougher. "Darkrai use Thunderbolt!" Darkrai formed an orb of electric energy in its hands and then unleashed it onto the field towards the dark/flying duel type.

Karen eyes widened. It knew electric attacks too. "Honchkrow use Protect!" The dark/flying duel type was just able to erect a shield in time. The electric attack bounced off.

Ash decided to attack again. "Darkrai use Thunderbolt again!" Darkrai used the same attack, now what was Karen going to do?

Karen watched as the attack came towards her Pokemon. Had its wing not been frozen she could have flown up high, but due to the ice it was crippled. Protect was her only option, although there was a high chance it would fail, she had no choice. "Use Protect!" Honchkrow once again managed to erect a shield causing the electric type attack to bounce off once more.

Ash was surprised, two times in succession, surely she wouldn't be so lucky a third time. "Darkrai use Thunderbolt!" For the third time the Dark type used the electric attack.

Karen was on the ropes and she knew it. "Honchkrow use Protect" Unfortunately this time the shield didn't appear and Honchkrow was lit up by the electric type attack. It swayed from side to the side before fainting.

Bruno stepped onto the battle field. "This contest is over, I declare Ash Ketchum the victor."

Ash recalled Darkrai, the battle had been a little underwhelming to say the least. Still a win was a win, and it had been against a member of the Elite four. Ash also had the advantage of Darkrai being a legendary, but then again Karen had requested he use it, when he would have been quite happy to battle without it.

Karen on the other hand wasn't happy, she had lost, but it wasn't the actual loss that bothered her, it was who it had been too. Her an Elite four had lost to someone ranked outside of the Elite four, had this been a ranking match she would have been dropped. She was just lucky Lance or Mr Goodshow hadn't seen the battle, or questions would be asked. Karen recalled her Honchkrow and left the field. As she walked past her fellow Elite four she heard Agatha.

"You need to learn to control that temper of yours child. Had you been thinking clearly, you wouldn't have been so reckless in attacking Darkrai head on. You still have much to learn."

Karen bowed her head, Agatha was right, she had let her emotions get the better of her, and that had cost her the match. She walked down towards the dressing room, intended on having a long think in how she could improve herself.

Ash and the girls approached the other Elite fours. "Sorry did I upset Karen, I didn't mean to."

Agatha shook her head. "No child, you just taught her a valuable lesson that's all. You live up to your reputation young man, a superb battle. I see why Lance speaks so highly of you. I look forward to your challenge when the time comes Ash, as winner of the Indigo League, you are permitted to challenge the Kanto Elite four whenever you wish."

Ash scratched the top of his head. "Well you see I know it sounds silly, but I want to experience all the regions and take part in all the finals before I decided to challenge any Elite fours. After Johto were heading to Hoenn and then to Sinnoh and Unova, and maybe Kalos too."

Agatha smiled. "To be young again, but it is good you have set targets for yourself. Very well I will await your challenge. Now if you excuse me, I have to leave, standing too long take it toil on a frail body like mine. You will say hello to Samuel for me won't you."

Ash was surprised. "Wait you know Professor Oak?"

Agatha winked. "Oh yes my child in more ways than one. We were quite the pair he and I, that of course was until he chose a life of research, then our paths split. I chose to continue on as a Pokemon trainer and was finally able to win the Indigo league and then qualify for the Elite four."

Ash nodded. "I will and thank you for the support and encouragement, it really means a lot to me."

Agatha inclined her head and then walked down the tunnel away from everyone.

Bruno decided to say a few words too. "She is right you know, an excellent battle, I see a bright future ahead of you Ash Ketchum. I too will look forward to your challenge when the time comes. I also heard that you beat Lorelei and Will, that's three of us you have beaten so far. A very bright future indeed." Bruno then left the group and walked towards the changing room. All that was left was Koga. The old ninja inclined his head.

"You have improved greatly Ash since our last encounter."

Ash nodded. "Thank you master Koga, but now you are an Elite four, who is looking after the Fuchsia Gym?"

Koga looked towards the young trainer. "My daughter, you see Ash my Place on the Elite four was reserved, it is only recently that I felt my daughter was strong enough to become the gym leader. As I am no longer needed there, I decided to finally take up my role in the Kanto Elite four."

Ash had been wondering something. "Excuse master Koga, but who is the champion of the Kanto League, I know Lance is the champion of the Johto league, but I haven't heard anything about the champion of the Kanto League? I remember the previous champion retired, but didn't know who had taken his place?"

Koga shook his head. "No Mr Goodshow had been hoping the winner of the Indigo League would challenge the Kanto Elite four immediately, so that a possible champion might have been decided, but so far no winners have taken up the challenge, so Lance stands in for both regions at the moment."

Ash lowered his head. "I see, well thank you Master Koga, for the information. Are you leaving too?"

Koga nodded. "Yes, I have other things to attend to, but please make use of the facilities here. There are many strong Pokemon to battle too. Now if you excuse me I will be off."

Ash and the girls watched as the last member of the Elite four walked down the tunnel towards the locker room. Ash then turned to Cynthia and Sabrina. "Okay lets see if we can find some more strong wild Pokemon, and maybe later before we leave, you and me can battle Cynthia."

Cynthia liked the sound of that, after all she and Ash hadn't battled since before the beginning of their Johto journey. It would also be a good test for her, to see just how far she had come as a trainer.