"So what's on today's agenda?" Goh asked spinning in his chair.

"Professor? Ash? Chloe? Anyone?" Goh asked looking around the empty lab. "Where is everyone?"

Elsewhere

"Ash. There's no way that can be true." Chloe said with a laugh.

"I'm being serious. For almost two days I was a Pikachu." Ash retorted.

"There you two are. Where is everyone?" Goh asked.

"Dads meeting with Professor Oak to go over your Mew findings. Mom took Parker to a birthday party." Chloe said.

"Chrysa said she'd be back in about 10 minutes, and I think Ren is in his personal lab." Ash said.

"So free day?" Goh asked.

"Pretty much." Ash responded.

'Ding Dong'

"Maybe not." Chloe said.

"Who would be here, and ring the doorbell?" Goh asked.

"We have a doorbell?" Ash responded.

Outside the front door

"Max, it's good to see you. How's the journey been going?" Ash asked, greeting the younger trainer.

"It's going good, and look!" Max said, proudly showing his three badges. "I'm trying for Vermillion City's today."

"Mind if we tag along and watch?" Ash asked.

"Actually can it just be you? I don't think I'm that great yet, but it'd be nice to have a familiar face there to cheer me on." Max said.

"No problem." Goh and Chloe responded.

At the Vermillion City Gym

"Let the gym battle between our leader Lt. Surge, and Max of Petalburg City commence. This will be a three on three battle, and only the challenger may switch out at any time."

"Voltorb! Front line!" Lt Surge commanded.

"Come on out Nidorino!" Max said.

"Voltorb use Swift!"

"Nidorino use Double Kick!"

Nidorino was hit with a flurry of stars before landing two hits of its own.

"Voltorb use Thunderbolt!"

"Nidorino use Focus Energy!"

Nidorino stayed put, while absorbing the attack.

"Now use Thunderbolt again!"

"Nidorino use Horn Attack!"

The second thunderbolt was too much as Nidorino fell, defeated.

"Nidorino is unable to battle. The winner is Voltorb." The judge announced.

"Nidorino you did great. Come on back." Max said returning his Pokémon. "Treecko you're up!"

"Voltorb use Swift!"

"Treecko use Dig!"

Treecko dodged out of the way of the attack, by burrowing underground.

"Voltorb be on guard!"

"Now Treecko!"

Treecko tunneled out of the ground at a blinding speed, hitting Voltorb from behind.

"Now use Bullet Seed!"

A barrage of seeds flew at the Voltorb, knocking it out.

"Voltorb is unable to battle. The winner is Treecko." The judge said.

"Come on back Voltorb. Private Magnemite you're on duty!" Lt. Surge called out.

"Treecko use Bullet Seed!"

"Magnemite use Sonicboom!"

The seeds were shot down by the attack, before landing a hit on Treecko.

"Treecko underground with Dig!"

"Magnemite go up!"

"Now Treecko use Quick Attack!"

Treecko zoomed up, latching onto Magnemite.

"That's the trick Max!" Ash shouted from the sidelines.

"Magnemite shake them off!"

"Treecko hold on and use Bullet Seed!"

The close range made all the seeds hit, but minimal damage was dealt.

"Magnemite use Thunderbolt!"

"Treecko jump off and back into the ground!"

Treecko dove back towards his hole, the electricity close behind him.

"Now Treecko use Bullet Seed!"

Treecko turned around, shooting a blast of seeds directly at Magnemite, unfortunately taking the Thunderbolt directly.

"Treecko is unable to battle. The winner is Magnemite." The judge announced.

"Treecko!" Max shouted running to his fallen starter. "You did great, we'll handle it from here. Kirlia you're up!"

"Magnemite use Thunderbolt!"

"Kirlia use Double Team!"

Ash was impressed, while it was a tough battle, Max's skills had definitely improved while in Kanto. Kirlia managed to spin out of the way of the attack, creating 7 duplicates of itself in the process.

"Now Kirlia use Psybeam!"

"Magnemite use Thunderbolt!"

The energies collided, neither giving in. Exploding in a cloud of smoke from the sheer force. Psybeam made its way through the smoke, shooting down Magnemite.

"Now use Magical Leaf!"

The leaves shot off, striking Magnemite with great precision.

"Magnemite is no longer able to battle. The winner is Kirlia." The judge said.

"Good work troop. Now it's time for my second in command to take over. Raichu you're up!" Lt. Surge commanded.

Ash and Pikachu gulped. That Raichu was one of the first Pokémon they really struggled against, and they still weren't great at beating those Pokémon. Hopefully Max had better luck.

"Kirlia use Psybeam!"

"Raichu use Quick Attack!"

Raichu easily evaded the attack, striking Kirlia directly.

"Raichu use Thunderbolt!"

"Kirlia use Teleport!"

Kirlia disappeared just in time, as the electricity struck where it just was.

"Now use Magical Leaf!"

"Raichu use Quick Attack!"

The leaves struck Raichu, but it charged straight forward, hitting Kirlia again.

"Kirlia! Use Psybeam!"

"Raichu use Thunderbolt!"

The two attacks collided, Raichu's winning out. Kirlia was struck down, defeated.

"Kirlia is unable to battle. The winner is Lt. Surge!" The judge announced.

"Come back and try again any time Max." Lt. Surge said. "You on the other hand." Lt. Surge said pointing to Ash, and pulling out his phone. "Let me heal up Raichu, and we'll have a battle."

15 minutes later

'Let the super rank match of the world coronation series between Ash of Pallet Town, and Lt. surge of Vermillion City begin.' The rotom judge said.

"Electabuzz! Come on out!" Lt. Surge stated proudly.

"Torkoal I choose you!"

"Electabuzz use Thunder Punch!"

"Torkoal use Iron Defense!"

Torkoal hid in his shell, as he was hit with the attack.

"Use Thunder Punch again!"

"Keep using Iron Defense!"

Torkoal was hit again and again with Thunder Punch, all the while waiting in his shell.

"Now use Flamethrower!"

Flames spewed out from Torkoal shell, pushing Electabuzz back.

"Now use Lava Plume!"

Flames shot up from Torkoal, before expertly hitting Electabuzz.

"Electabuzz use Light Screen!"

"Torkoal use Flamethrower!"

The fire type Pokémon's attacks were too much as Electabuzz went down already.

"Electabuzz return! Magneton you're up! Use Zap Cannon!"

"Torkoal use Flamethrower!"

The plasma like attacks flew at each other, electricity winning out in the end. Torkoal was hit hard, the other attacks from before starting to show.

"NowTorkoal use Lava Plume!"

"Magneton use Tri Attack!"

Torkoal's attack barely hit, before he was struck again, freezing on the spot.

"Torkoal return! Sceptile you're up!"

"Magneton use Tri Attack!"

"Sceptile use Leaf Blade!"

Sceptile's greater speed allowed it to dodge out of the way, and hit Magneton from the side.

"Magneton use Flash Cannon!"

"Sceptile use Dual Chop!"

Sceptile charged straight through the attack, striking Magneton twice.

"Why isn't Ash Mega Evolving?" Max asked himself.

"Probably because he wants to see if he doesn't need it." Chloe said, walking over.

"Ash sent us a message. Said he had a battle and we were welcome to watch." Goh said.

"Sceptile use Slam!"

"Magneton use Discharge!"

Sceptile was hit a bit, before striking Magneton once again.

"Sceptile use Dual Chop again!"

"Magneton use Zap Cannon!"

Sceptile spun out of the way of the attack before striking Magneton down.

"Magneton return!" Lt. Surge commanded.

"Come on back Sceptile." Ash said, recalling his Pokémon. "Ready buddy?"

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed running onto the battlefield.

"Raichu it's time!" Lt. Surge said.

The two electric types facing off against each other, electricity crackleing in the air.

"Raichu use Double Kick!"

"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"

Pikachu easily moved around the larger Pokémon, knocking it off balance.

"Raichu get up and use Quick Attack!"

"Pikachu you use Quick Attack too!"

The Pokémon sped after each other, occasionally knocking into one another.

"I told you last time kid, a Pikachu has no chance at beating a Raichu." Lt. Surge claimed.

"We'll see about that. Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Raichu you use Thunderbolt as well!"

The two attacks collided. Raichu's May have been larger, but Pikachu's was stronger as it pushed the other back.

"Now use Quick Attack!"

"Raichu get out of there with your own Quick Attack!"

Pikachu sped after Raichu, this time the race had turned around. Pikachu's more vast experience showing as it managed to hit Raichu from behind.

"Now use Iron Tail!"

"Block with Double Kick!"

Pikachu hit with a double strike Iron Tail, both getting blocked.

"One more time!" Ash shouted.

Pikachu slammed down his Iron tail, giving them the victory.

"Congratulations on your win Ash." Lt. Surge said extending his hand.

"It was a great battle." Ash said shaking his hand.

"Max, you have great potential. Your father would have been proud to see you battle today." Lt. Surge said.

"You know my dad!" Max exclaimed.

"We've had a few matches over the years, you remind me so much of him." Lt. Surge said.

"Hey Ash, sorry to interrupt, but where does this win put you?" Goh asked.

"Let me see." Ash said pulling out his phone. "115! Another match and I'll be in the next ranking!" Ash said excitedly.

"I wish you the best of luck Ash, and Max I'm sure I'll see you again soon." Lt. Surge said.