Author's Note: The Indigo All-Stars' championship round is here! This battle took a lot of planning on my part as I wanted to make it different from anything else I had written up until this point (different as in incorporate a bunch of Ash's fan favorite Pokemon into an one, long epic battle.) These next four chapters easily took my 6-8 moths to write (factoring in some breaks here and there,) so expect them to be some of the longest in the story so far. Hope y'all enjoy!

-Kid Arceus

The Championship Finals: Ash vs. The Mask!

Ash sat in the locker room to the arena. Like before he was waiting to be called to the stadium. For some reason, he was never this nervous before a battle. Ash looked up the hall leading out of the locker room and heard voices. He stood up from his seat.

"Miss, you can't go down there-" The security guard said. May and a large man in a black suit burst into the room, the man trying to hold her back from getting to Ash.

"He is my fiancé and I am going to wish him good luck!" May screamed.

"Sir-" the guard said to Ash.

"It's all right Cory," Ash said, motioning to him that it was okay to let her go. The security guard Cory let go and May shot forward tackling Ash. They looked into each other's eyes and then kissed.

"Good luck out there," May said to Ash, both of them getting up from the floor.

"Thanks Contest Girl," Ash said. "When I'm done with this battle how about we have a little trip. Just the two of us. You can decide where we go."

"How about after the match I will let you know where we go." They kissed again. "Just get out there and worry about winning."

"The match is starting soon Miss," the security guard said. "We must leave."

"Fine, Cory!" May said. "See you later." And with that, they left.

'Will Ash Ketchum please enter the arena,' the voice over the intercom said. Ash clutched a pokeball in his hand and walked down the hallway into the arena. The crowd roared as Ash came out one end and The Mask came out the other.

Both men met in the center of the field while the announcer briefed them on how the match was going to commence. On each of the men was a sash that went over their shoulders, with each sash holding 12 pokeballs.

Back on Mt. Silver, all of the group's Pokemon previously kept at the Plateau Nature Reserve crowded around a worldwide live broadcast feed that was transmitted to the four TVs in each of the trainer's huts. Since the tournament was nearing a close, all of the trainer's Pokemon were sent back to Mt. Silver to wait out the remainder of the tournament.

"Wow Mom," Alexa said. "It's hard to believe that Ash's big day is finally here... Mom?" Alexa turned towards her mother when she did not give her a response, and noticed that she was pale in the face. "Mom, are you okay? It looks like you've seen a ghost."

Delia turned and snapped back to reality. "Oh, I'm fine dear. Let's just cheer on your brother."

Even though she had her eyes fixed on the match her head was running wild. She could not believe everything the Mask had revealed to her before the match had begun. He was someone from her past. Someone she was very close to.

"Alright gentlemen, I want a clean match between the two of you. You will be having a 12 on 12 match. First Trainer to have all 12 of their Pokemon defeated will be the loser. Substitutions are allowed. You will be first playing on the rocky field. After six Pokemon from a trainer have been knocked out, we will take a short break to clean up the field. Are both trainers ready?"

"Ready!" Both men said.

"LET THIS FINAL MATCH COMMENCE!"

"May the Aura guide you!" Ash said, throwing his green Salamence.

"Let's do this!" The Mask said, throwing out his Arcanine. Without any pause, the two trainers declared their attacks.

"Salamence, use Stone Edge!"

"Extreme Speed Arcanine!"

Arcanine jolted across the field in an orange blur and slammed into the shiny Salamence, knocking it to the ground. Once Salamence rose to its feet, it slammed its front feet into the ground. Shooting up from the field were many jagged rocks, several hitting Arcanine.

"Arcanine, use Flamethrower!"

"Salamence, take to the skies!" Arcanine shot a stream of fire at the dragon, but Salamence pushed off the ground. Flapping its wings, it was lifted off the ground and dodged the Flamethrower.

"Dragon Tail!" Ash shouted. Salamence sped downwards with its tail glowing green. It spun and slammed into Arcanine, forcing it to switch out. Arcanine went back into its pokeball and from a sash on the Mask came a large Snorlax that immediately formed an Ice Punch and hit Ash's Salamence, freezing it in a block of ice. Snorlax lifted the chunk of ice into the air, and let it crash into the ground. Ash's Shiny Salamence sprawled out onto the ground, unconscious. Ash and the audience looked on with shock, as the Snorlax sat down and began sleeping, after taking out one of Ash's strongest Pokemon.

"Ash's Salamence is unable to battle!" The announcer said. "Choose your next Pokemon."

"No way," Ash said with wide eyes. "That's a really powerful Snorlax." Ash took a pokeball off the sash after returning Salamence. "Let's go SNORLAX!" While the opposing Snorlax was a little larger, Ash's Snorlax had a bigger appetite for battle. "Now's our chance Snorlax, let's try our newest technique!" Snorlax rose its fist into the air above its head in the air forming an Ice Punch. Then the unexpected happened. Ash's Snorlax opened its mouth forming a Hyper Beam. The beam then spiraled up Snorlax's arm in a serpent-like fashion, combining with its icy fist. Snorlax flew across the field and punched The Mask's Snorlax in the stomach sending it flying backwards into the stadium wall, forcing many people sitting in the crowd to run away, in order to avoid getting crushed. The Mask's Snorlax, however, endured the hit and continued sleeping.

"That was quite the move Ash," the Mask commented. "I'm not even sure how that was possible. Snorlax, return. I'll use you later. Gengar, let's battle!"

In the audience May holding Manaphy, Delia, Alexa, Gary, Dawn, Paul, Ritchie, Lance and Harrison cheered on Ash. "Go Papa!" Manaphy called.

"Come on Ash!" May and Alexa yelled.

"Ash is going to have some issues there," Paul commented. "I studied the Mask's Gengar before our battle that never happened and let's just say it has some 'special qualities.'"

"Now Gengar," the Mask said, pulling a keystone attached to a pocket watch out of his pocket. "Mega Evolve!" Gengar flew into the air as its Gengarite connected with its trainer's keystone, encasing it in a rock-like substance. Out came Mega Gengar, phasing into the ground.

"Snorlax, stay on guard," Ash called, while Snorlax was recharging from its last attack.

"Gengar, pop out and use hypnosis!" The Mask's Gengar shot up in front of Snorlax's face and shot several yellow rings from its eyes, putting Snorlax to sleep.

"Snorlax, return!" Ash said. The red beam left Snorlax's empty ball and hit Snorlax, but Snorlax did not return to its ball. "Oh no!" Snorlax was unable to return its Pokemon due to Mega Gengar's Shadow Tag effect.

"A Mega Gengar!" Gary said. "I am extremely fascinated by them. Their ability keeps their opponents from being switched out of battle is a dangerous, but powerful tactic!"

"Ash is going to be up a creek without a paddle," Lance added on.

"His Snorlax is a normal type so the majority of his moves won't hurt Gengar," Paul said.

"But at the same time Gengar's ghost type moves won't hit Snorlax," May added on.

"This is going to be one intense battle then," Alexa said. "Or extremely anticlimactic."

"Well Gengar is part poison type so maybe a Psychic type move from Snorlax can hurt it," Dawn said.

"I think all of you may be off," Delia said. "There is a reason the Mask has gotten this far into the tournament. He analyzes everything and can formulate a battle strategy in a matter of seconds. He would've anticipated Ash's next Pokemon and that Pokemon's move before Ash does. There is a reason why he is using his Gengar, even if it doesn't seem effective now… I'm guessing!"

Everyone sitting in the row looked over at Ash's mother in awe at the fact she knew all of that. "Damn Mrs. Ketchum," Ritchie said. "I was just going to say that Mega Gengar had some pretty colors."

"Gengar, use Dream Eater!"

"Snorlax, use Sleep Talk!"

Gengar opened its mouth wide and began absorbing Snorlax's dreams as it slept. Snorlax then rose to its feet, still sleeping and formed a large Shadow Ball in its hand. Snorlax then shot it forward and it hit Gengar. After the attack hit its target, Snorlax woke up from its slumber.

"I wouldn't have guessed that Snorlax knew Shadow Ball," The Mask called.

"I didn't even know that it had that move! My Snorlax is a bit of an enigma," Ash called back. "Alright Snorlax use Shadow Ball again!"

"Move into the ground and pop up all around Snorlax!"

Snorlax formed an even bigger Shadow Ball in its hand, taking aim before Gengar could pop up. After poking its head up and firing several balls of dark energy at Snorlax, Snorlax eventually hit Gengar in the face with its charged attack. The Mask's Mega Gengar was forced out of the shadow, reverting back to its original form due to it fainting.

"So much for The Mask's strategy with Gengar," Alexa said.

Just then, Snorlax collapsed. "But how?!" Ash said.

"I had Gengar use Destiny Bond while it was phased into the ground," The Mask said with a shrug.

"The Mask is now down to 11 Pokemon while Ash is down to 10. Will both players please select a new Pokemon," the Referee said.

"The Mask must have known that Snorlax was one of Ash's strongest Pokémon," Delia said to the group. "He knew that if his Gengar was going down, he might as well take a heavy hitter with it."

"Nidoking, let's battle!"

"Meowth, may the Aura guide you!"

"Ready boss," Meowth said.

'Wow, a talking Meowth,' the Mask's one-eyed Nidoking said through Aura. 'How cute! Your bones will make a nice toothpick once I'm done with you!'

"Listen here you purple-lug, don't make me put out the other eye!" Meowth called back.

"Shall we begin?" The Mask said.

'I'm feeling really pumped Ash,' Meowth communicated to its trainer with Aura. 'I got this weird fuzzy feelin' in my head.'

"Let's do this, partner!" Ash replied.

"Nidoking, use Poison Jab!"

"Meowth, protect yourself with Iron Tail!"

The large Nidoking shot over, its fists enveloped in a purple glow. Before Nidoking could punch, Meowth did a flip in the air, hitting Nidoking with an Iron Tail. After doing a backflip back onto the ground, Meowth pushed off the ground, hitting Nidoking in the jaw with a Zen Headbutt. Once Meowth landed on the ground Nidoking threw several punches. This caused Meowth to jump and spin in the air deflecting all the punches with its Iron Tail.

'Guess that fuzzy feelin' was me learning Zen Headbutt,' Meowth said after landing on the ground in front of Ash.

"After all these years you still find new ways to amaze me," Ash said with a grin. "Now Meowth, use Ice Fang!" Meowth's mouth glowed bright white as it bit down and froze Nidoking's right leg to the ground.

"Nidoking, use Thrash!" Nidoking began to swing its arms around and broke the ice. It charged towards Meowth and punched him in the stomach, sending him flying high into the air.

"Meowth!"

"Booosssss!"

"Meowth, use Hi Jump Kick while spinning!" Meowth's foot glowed as it spun in the air. Meowth then came down onto Nidoking's head and caused it to faint.

"Nidoking is unable to battle! Mask, choose your next pokemon!"

"Victreebel, let's go!" The yellow flycatcher pokemon let out a shriek.

Meowth then doubled over, and let out a groan. "Meowth, what's wrong?" Ash called.

"Something don't feel right boss," Meowth said, clutching its stomach.

"That's my Nidoking's Poison Point ability," The Mask said. "It's only a matter of time before your Pokemon succumbs to the poison."

"I can fight through it boss!" Meowth said, as a purple hue developed on its face. "Just keep me in!"

"In that case, use Ice Fang!"

"Victreebel, use Razor Leaf!"

Meowth dodged the flurry of sharp leaves and bit down Victreebel's leaf above its head causing it to freeze into a solid chunk of ice.

"Iron tail!" Ash yelled. Meowth's tail glowed silver and it hit Victreebel, causing it to faint. Meowth then fell to the ground unconscious, damaged by the poison.

"Meowth and Victreebel are both unable to battle! Please choose your next pokemon!"

It was 9 to 9. "Lapras, I choose you!" Ash yelled.

"Espeon, help me out here!"

"Lapras, use Ice Beam!"

"Espeon, dodge and use Zen Headbutt!"

Lapras formed a light blue ball in its mouth and then fired a beam towards the Psychic eeveelution. Espeon jumped aside and then charged head on into Lapras with the Psychic attack, causing Lapras to fall over onto its side.

"Espeon, use Iron tail!" Espeon jumped, did a flip in the air, and came down onto Lapras, knocking it unconscious.

"Lapras is unable to battle! Ash select your next pokemon."

"Venusaur! Use Razor leaf!" Said Ash throwing out his Venusaur's pokeball.

"Espeon, dodge and use Psychic!" Once again the speedy Espeon managed to dodge Ash's attack and make Venusaur levitate into the air.

"Venusaur, use Leech Seed!" Ash called.

While it was still held in one place, Venusaur fired several seeds from its flower, causing vines to wrap around Espeon. Without warning, Espeon shot Venusaur into the sky, letting it fall to the earth.

"Venusaur is unable to battle. Ash, choose your next Pokemon."

"Blastoise," Ash said, throwing out his Pokémon. "Use Waterfall!" The large turtle Pokemon appeared and before Espeon could make a move, it was hit by a large, crashing wall of water. The vines wrapped around Espeon glowed as it drained it of its energy.

"Now use Aqua Jet, mixed with a Skull Bash!" Ash yelled.

"Dodge Espeon" The Mask called.

Once again Ash's Pokemon managed to outspeed The Mask's, hitting it with the Aqua Jet with the Skull Bash inside of it. Espeon flew backward and landed in front of The Mask's feet fainted.

"Espeon is unable to battle," the ref called.

"Come on out Pika!" The Mask said, throwing out his nicknamed Pokémon. "Pika may be a seasoned veteran, but don't underestimate him."

"Blastoise, Withdraw and use Rapid Spin!" Ash shouted.

"Pika, use Volt Tackle!"

Blastoise tucked all of its limbs into its shell and began spinning towards the Pikachu. Pika broke into a fast sprint, enveloping itself in electricity as it charged head on and slammed into Blastoise, sending it backwards into the wall, leaving a large crater.

"Blastoise is unable to battle!" The referee called. "The Mask has 8 pokemon remaining while Ash has 6. We will now take a 15 minute intermission from the battle."

Returning his fainted Blastoise, Ash quickly attached the ball to his sash and made his way off the field. 'I can't believe it...' Ash thought to himself. 'Six of my best teammates... Out of the battle just like that!"