Building the Ultimate Team!

Ash sat on the couch with his partner Meowth at his side. Seated across from the two were May and Alexa in their own chairs. Stacked on the table in front of the group were photo albums Ash had collected of him and his Pokemon together over the years. He had decided that rather than using a team of Legendary Pokemon, he would go in with members of his team he had bonded with over the last 11 years.

In the open album was a photo his mother had taken during the Silver Conference. The image was of his Charizard facing off against a Blastoise. "Now this brings me back! Charizard and I versus Gary and Blastoise! All of my training through Kanto and Johto all led up to that moment."

"I'm a fan of this one of Snorlax and Sceptile," Meoth said, pointing a claw at a different photo. The image was of the two Pokemon sparring with each other; Sceptile putting Snorlax in a chokehold, but Snorlax being unphased by the move entirely.

"I can always count on those two! They always find out some crazy new maneuver to win a battle," Ash said.

Flipping the page, Ash saw an image taken of him at the age of 17, during a visit to the Alola Region. Standing there was a bundled up Ash holding a newly caught Alolan Sandshrew in his arms. At his sides were his Lycanroc, Rowlet, Melmetal, Incineroar, and his Heracross (who had accompanied him to the region.) Additionally at his sides, each with a hand placed on his shoulder were the Alolan Professors Kukui and Burnet, also bundled up in winter clothing. Additionally in the shot were Kukui and Burnett's children, all ranging from 4-7 years old.

"Man, do I miss those guys," Ash said. "And all of my friends for Alola. It's funny though. Even though I left, I still feel the Spirit of Alola in me." Ash looked down at the white Z-Ring around his wrist that belonged to Blue. 'Why did I ever get rid of my Z-Ring?' Ash thought to himself. All that he could think of were the fond memories attached to it.

"Now this brings me back!" May said, pulling out an image from her own stack of photos. "It's of us when we were 13 training at my dad's gym!"

"I thought that you guys were living on Mount Silver at that age?" Alexa inquired. "Pretty risky doing training at THE Norman's Gym."

"It's not called THE Norman's Gym," Ash said. "Besides, that was like eight years ago now."

"It's actually YOUR future father in law's gym!" May pointed out, which caused a shared laugh between her and Alexa, as Ash grew pale at the mention of an intimidating father in law.

"Good one May," Alexa said. "But really? Who'd you have to pay to keep quiet?"

"My parents were always very discreet about us coming for visits," May said. "So we knew they wouldn't tell Max about us." Showing off the picture in her hands, it showed a teenage Ash and his Combusken and Lucario going up against Norman, a Slaking and a Vigoroth.

"It's funny," Ash said. "My Blaziken never really liked battling when it was younger, but then something just clicked one day. Every single time we had a run in with Max during the Tourney, it was always ready to take on his Sceptile."

"HEYO!" Alexa said, digging out a picture of Ash and Alex taken after their first tournament against each other two years ago.

"Oh my…" May said cracking a smile at the sight of Ash's mutton chops. "I forgot that you tried to make these work!"

"Well, uh, it was before the beard came in!" Ash said.

"Riiiight," Alexa, Meowth and May all said in unison.

"I remember this battle like it was yesterday!" Alexa said rising out of her seat. "Ash surprised me with plane tickets to Galar for my birthday so we could watch the Galar Champion's Cup! And then somehow Ash managed to get his way into the brackets!"

"And I would have won too if Alex's Toxtricity didn't Gigantamax against Infernape in the last turn," Ash said. "Up until that point we were neck and neck!"

"And I guess you still are!" Meowth exclaimed. "You guys tied the last time you battled!"

"Yeah, but next time will be different," Ash said. "Maybe I'll just have to send you out there against him. You can still Gigantamax right?"

"Don't know, don't wanna know," Meowth said. "I always felt real funny afta doin' it. Like my organs were all stretched out 'n stuff."

"In that case, how about you and me go take on Giovanni," Ash said. "I think you could do it."

"Tanks for the offa, but I'll pass," The Pokemon said. "I wanna tear up grunts on the battlefield outside wit' everybody else!"

"Well they better watch out!" Ash said.

"That's right!" Meowth exclaimed, causing the pair to break into a fit of laughter.

"Well thanks for the help everybody!" Ash said while collecting the photos and books from everyone, stacking them on the coffee table in front of him. "Thanks to these, I've taken enough trips down Memory Lane to put together the perfect Team of Six." Glancing over at Alexa, Ash spoke directly to her. "I recommend you get a Team of Six put together too. Same for Alex and Blue."

"Right," Alexa said, firmly nodding her head. While she was a relatively new trainer, if the weight of the world were to fall on her shoulders in a match with Giovanni, she knew she would do her best to win.

"Now, let's talk about our gameplan," Ash said. "Gary, Harrison, Dawn, my Mom, Ritchie, Ross, Lance, Paul and May will be outside the tree fighting with our Legendaries against the Grunts, Legendaries and Dynamax Pokemon of their own. Us Aura Guardians will sneak into the Tree of Beginning and find Giovanni, and hope we don't get eaten by the antibodies."

"Real good plan, Boss," Meowth said.

"Other than the fact they'll totally be outnumbered!" Alexa said. "And who knows how many people are going to be waiting in the Tree for us!"

"Chill out kiddo," May said, trying to ease the teen. "We'll be alright. We have a plan."

"But what is this plan?!" The girl exclaimed.

"We'll just have to wait and see," Meowth said, putting its hands behind its head and leaning back in his seat.