"Guys, I'm telling you, I'm fine." Ash argued.

"Ash, let's go over what happened. First you rode a giant Dunsparce for almost half a mile. Then walked back about half of that on foot. Were captured by a tribe of Wobbuffet. Then, somehow you magically controlled Lucario without so much of a word, taking out that entire tribe. Then finally once that was done, both of you passed out." Goh said counting off the insanity that had happened.

"Not to mention you've been out for a little over twelve hours, and have had enough food for three people." Chloe said slightly disgusted about the second part.

"I promise you I'm fine!" Ash argued, standing up to prove his point.

"You know you don't alway have to be such a little kid, especially when people are trying to help you." A girls voice said, from a few tables over.

"Hey, no need to call him a kid. Though thank you for taking our side on this." Goh said.

"Didn't expect to see you here still." Ash said with a smile, making his way over. "It's been a while Iris." Ash said shaking her hand.

"You're such a kid! Riding a Dunsparce, come on. Even I know that's a bad idea." Iris said. "And what's with this dress style, jeans and a jacket too much for you now?" Iris taunted.

"What's wrong with overalls?" Ash asked innocently.

"You're dressed like a girl Ash." Iris groaned.

"I am, who knew!" Ash said with a laugh. "You know without the wig, corset, heels, and petticoats I had no idea." Ash taunted.

"So that's how you want to go?" Iris said excited.

"If you want to do it that way, I'll need a few minutes to get some other Pokémon. That is if you're not scared." Ash said.

"Bring it on. Dragon's Den. One hour." Iris said walking away.

"Ash, who was that?" Chloe asked shocked at what just happened.

"Oh that's Iris." Ash said, one track mind as always.

"No, who is she to you!" Goh said.

"Oh, I traveled with her back in Unova. She's a good friend, and aims to be a dragon type master one day." Ash said, calling up the lab.

"Are you sure that you're good to fight? People don't just pass out and wake up fine." Chloe said concerned.

"Let me get my Pokémon ready, and I'll explain it as best as I can." Ash said patiently.

"It was a little after my first journey through Hoenn. The Kanto Battle Frontier had just opened up, and we were traveling through so I could take on the seven brains. We got word of a royal tournament taking place. I entered it for fun and won, but when it came time for the victor's ceremony, something weird happened. This was the first time I ever met a Lucario, it just popped out of this weird staff. You see, Lucario's they have an ability to sense other auras, and even speak to them if they're strong enough. Well, as it turns out, I have that latent ability as well. I didn't get much training with that first Lucario, but I've felt a connection to all the other Riolu and Lucario I've met since. And now that I have a Lucario, I've been working on refining that ability. I didn't pass out from physical strain, more of mental or maybe even emotional strain." Ash said, telling as much of the story as he could.

"I'm not going to lie, if I hadn't seen it for myself, I wouldn't believe it. To be fair though, that's a lot to take in." Goh said a bit shocked.

"If you're sure, then I guess we won't stop you." Chloe said reluctantly.

"In that case, come and watch the match, it's sure to be a good one." Ash said with a smile.

"Alright Iris, are you ready!" Ash said holding a pokeball.

"You're on!" Iris replied.

"Why do Ash's friends all seem to enjoy fighting with him or each other?" Chloe asked.

"I don't know, you're the one who almost strangled one over a jar of honey." Goh replied with a laugh.

"Excadrill, you're up!"

"Let's go Pikachu!"

"Excadrill use Drill Run!"

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

The Pokémon collided, Pikachu spinning off.

"Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Ash, that won't work. Excadrill's a ground type." Iris taunted.

"Who said we were aiming at you!" Ash said with a laugh, as electricity surrounded Pikachu. "That's a little trick we like to call the reverse shield! Now Pikachu use Iron Tail!"

Pikachu sped downwards towards his opponent.

"Excadrill use Metal Claw, and then catch it!"

Just as they had many times, Excadrill caught Pikachu with ease sending it backwards.

"You really should be more careful on how you attack." Ash said calmly. "Like so, Pikachu use Iron Tail one more time!"

"Excadrill get out of the way!" Iris shouted, but as it tried to move, electricity sparked from it. "How, Excadrill is a ground type!

"Pikachu has an ability called static. That combined with the electricity I had surrounding him, almost guaranteed a paralysis." Ash said, as Pikachu took out Excadrill.

"So round two?" Iris said holding up a pokeball.

"Why not." Ash responded, readying one as well.

"Dragonite come on out!"

"Krookodile I choose you!"

"Dragonite use Ice Punch!"

"Krookodile you use Dragon Claw!"

The two Pokémon charged at each other attacks colliding. Neither giving the other an inch.

"Why aren't they attacking?" Chloe asked confused at the apparent stand still.

"My guess is the same reason Ash used Pikachu against a ground type. This isn't a competitive battle, this is a battle between training partners". Goh said watching with intensity.

"Krookodile use Stone Edge!"

"Dragonite use Flamethrower!"

The two Pokémon pushed off of each other before sending their attacks forward again. Bits of stone and flames making it through hitting the other.

"Krookodile use Dragon Claw!"

"Dragonite use Dragon Tail!"

Krookodile swiped and missed, as Dragonite swung its tail forward.

"Now Krookodile use Crunch!"

Krookodile latched onto Dragonite's tail, not letting go.

"Dragonite, up into the air. Try and shake them off!" Iris shouted to her dragon.

"Krookodile don't give them the chance. Use Dragon claw one more time." Ash shouted to his rising pokemon.

As Krookodile struck another hit, it was enough for Dragonite to violently throw Krookodile off of it's tail. Slamming it into the ground.

"You almost had us there." Iris said returning Dragonite.

"It would've been different, had I brought Charizard, or my own Dragonite." Ash taunted.

"Seriously, you caught one too?" Iris said a bit shocked.

"Yeah, and a couple other dragons. Maybe another time though. This battle isn't over." Ash said pulling out another Pokeball.

"Snivy, I choose you!"

"Come on out Emolga!"

The two Pokémon came out their rivalry with each other showing.

"Snivy use Leaf Blade!"

"Emolga use Quick Attack!"

The two girls collided midair, Snivy slamming her opponent down.

"Now Snivy use Leaf Storm!"

"Emolga use Aerial Ace!"

Emolga flew through the leaves, getting a scratch here and there before hitting Snivy.

"Hey I caught a Horsea!" Goh shouted from the sidelines.

"Goh, battle going on right in front of us." Chloe said annoyed.

"Oh, right." Goh said, turning back around.

"Snivy use Vine Whip to hold Emolga down."

"Emolga use Electro Ball!"

It was useless, as Emolga was already stuck.

"Quick use Aerial Ace one more time!"

"Snivy use Leaf Blade!"

The two Pokémon collided, knocking up a large dust cloud. When the dust cleared, both pokemon were knocked out.

"Last round." Ash said readying a Pokeball.

"Axew, come on out!"

"Scraggy I choose you."

The two friends were delighted to see each other, but knew this wasn't their average training battle. This was an actual battle that neither planned on losing.

"Axew use Dragon Claw!"

"Scraggy use Headbutt!"

The two Pokémon rammed into each other, Scraggy tumbling back.

"Axew use Dragon Rage!"

"Scraggy use Focus Blast!"

The opposing forces hit each other, spinning back slightly.

"Now Scraggy use High Jump Kick!"

"Axew use gahhhh!"

Ash looked over to see a familiar Bagon, now standing in the field.

"Hey, it's you from back in Hoenn!" Ash said excited to see the red Bagon again.

"Owww, you know this little guy?" Iris said, rubbing her head.

"Bagon!" Bagon shouted, ramming into Scraggy.

Unfortunately for the Bagon, Scraggy still had his High Jump Kick ready, taking the brunt of the force, sending it flying off.

"I hope he's okay." Iris said looking off into the distance.

"I have a feeling he will be just fine." Ash said. "Hey, it was good seeing you though. Unfortunately, we have to head back to Kanto." Ash said honestly.

"If you're ever in Opelucid City, don't be a stranger." Iris said with a smile.