Chapter 2: Organizing and Evolving

Ash was up earlier than usual. He learned that he could catch a pretty nice sunrise from his roof every morning, so he was up doing that. Ash looked at the sky slowly turning bright and thought about life. "Everything is going great right now, but I can't shake something off me. If Alola has a Champion, they'll need Elite Four members. And Gym leaders along with them! But if I advocate for Gyms to be added, some people will be mad at me."

Ash groaned and threw his hands up "I just don't know!" he said loudly to no one in particular. Pikachu walked up towards him and curled up in a ball by his side. "Well, at least there's you, buddy," Ash said with a smile, giving Pikachu a scratch on his ears. Pikachu jumped up in the air "Pika Pika Pika Pi Pi!" Ash looked at him and nodded. "You think I should go to the professor and ask him for advice?" Pikachu nodded "Pika!" Ash gave Pikachu a smile "Then, that's what I'll do."

About two or so hours later, Ash was walking towards the professor. Noivern was happy to give him a lift and Talonflame and Staraptor flew escort for fun. Kukui was outside, working with Empoleon and Braviary in a practice battle. Ash waved at the professor and walked towards him. Kukui smiled at Ash "Alola Champ! How are you?" Ash sighed "I'm just stressed out and need some advice. I want Alola to have gyms and a Pokemon league, but I need to balance that with tradition and the island challenge. Alola has a unique identity and we should maintain it." Kukui gave Ash a puzzled look. "Why can't you just have both exist?" Ash looked at the professor confused "What do you mean Professor?" Kukui laughed "Maybe for the league, you could enter with a full case of gym badges or all of the Z crystals." Ash paused. "Wait, professor that's an amazing idea!" Kukui shook his head "Ash, it's your league. Do what feels right." Ash jumped up in the air "Alright, I'm gonna find some gym leaders and we're gonna make Alola the strongest league in the world!" Ash ran off and Kukui shook his head. "How is it humanly possible to have that much energy"

Ash landed in Maile city, and ran straight for the "Kantonian Gym" After all, there was already an existing gym. Ash walked in and was greeted immediately by Ryuki "Ash! How are you?" Ash smiled at him. "I have an opportunity I don't think you'll want to miss yout on." Ryuki crossed his arms. "Try me" Ryuki said confidently. "I'm starting a Gym Circut in Alola and I want you to be one of the gym leaders." Ryuki looked like he had just won the lottery. "WAIT SERIOUSLY! THAT WOULD BE AMAZING!" Ash smiled "Yep! I'll keep you updated, but just know you're gonna be getting a salary and benefits now." Ryuki looked like a kid on Christmas morning. "WOW, THANKS ASH!" Ash laughed "See you! I gotta go find some other gym leaders!"

Ash's next task would be an easy one. He'd establish a new gym in Melemele island, and he'd have tryouts for the other gym leaders. He'd post on social media and make sure the whole world knew about the tryouts. He'd admit the top 7 battlers in the tournament.

Here's how it went.

A notable battle was between Guzma and a girl who went by the name of Macy who used a team of fire types. Ash was so impressed with the battle of the two he offered both of them titles.
The rest of the contestants weren't really too notable. Ash was taking notes on who would be a suitable candidate when a familiar face stood above him. It was Guzma and he looked mad "Look Ash, I did this battle for fun. I have no intentions of actually being a leader." Ash smirked "Would the salary change your mind?" Guzma shook his head. "I'm a man of principles! I won't shell out to any amount of money!" Ash showed him the number on a piece of paper. Guzma's eyes widened, "WHEN DO I START!" Ash laughed. Another man stood behind Ash, and asked him kindly. "Is the leader exhibition still going on?" he had a thick accent from Hoenn. Ash shook his head. The boy dipped his head "Oh… well, I'll be leaving." Ash thought for a second and yelled out. "Wait! I have time for a battle." the boy smiled. "Really?!" Ash nodded "Really. How does three on three sound?" The boy nodded enthusiastically "Alright! Let's do this!"

Ash stood around the small arena in the park and smirked at the boy. "Alright, ummm what's your name?" the boy gave Ash a smile "Brendan. Brendan Birch." Ash felt like he had heard that name before but shrugged it off. "Alright Brendan, let's do this. Buizel let's go!" Brendan smiled "Alright then, come on out Aggron!" A mighty steel type emerged and Buizel stared it down. Ash pointed at Aagron. "Aqua jet now!" Buizel surrounded itself in water and rushed towards the steel type who sat still and tanked the hit. Buizel noticed how Aagron didn't move and got out of the area without being asked. Aagron gave a roar and Brendan gave an order. "Aagron, use thunderbolt!" Aagron began to glow and released a thunderbolt which struck Buizel and sent Ash's Pokemon flying. Buizel calmly landed and crossed its arms, it was ready for more. Brendan smiled at Aagron and gave his next order. "Aagron! Use Stone Edge!" Aagron launched a powerful line of massive rocks towards Buizel. Ash yelled out "Buizel, dodge and use water gun!" Buizel spit out a powerful jet of water which slammed into Aagron and sent the steel type back a bit. Aagron looked unimpressed with Buizel's efforts. Brendan pointed at Ash "You're gonna need a bit more might to knock my Aagron down!" Ash smirked "We'll see about that!" Brendan gave Ash a grin "Yeah, we sure will! Aagron, use Earthquake!" Aagron stomped down and the earth began to shake, the ground split open and Buizel jumped out of the way. Ash gave an order to Buizel in a calmer then usual voice. "Buizel, use Aqua Jet on Aagron's feet!" Buizel surrounded himself in water and flew towards Aagron and rammed into the steel type and sent it back barely any distance. Before Aagron began to wobble and eventually fell over. Buizel had tripped Aagron using the heavier Pokemon's weight against him. Buizel jumped on top of Aagron and gave an Ice Punch and a Water Gun simultaneously. Brendan grinded his teeth and took a deep breath. "Aagron, try and grab Buizel!" Aagron reached towards Buizel and grabbed him before Buizel could take off. Buizel struggled and tried to escape Aagron's grip, but to no avail. Brendan gave his order "Now Aagron, finish off Buizel with thunderbolt!" Aagron struck Buizel with a thunderbolt and made the water type cry out in pain. Aagron gave another thunderbolt, and another, and another. Buizel closed its eyes and Aagron grew bored and threw it, expecting a knockout. The opposite happened, Buizel began to glow and his forme started to grow. Ash smiled, happy that another one of his Pokemon took his advice. A powerful Floatzel stood where Buizel once did and he gave out a happy cry. "Floatzel Float!" Ash smiled "Alright Floatzel, let's show this trainer just how strong we are!" Ash said with a determined tone. He pointed at Aagron "Floatzel, use water gun!" Floatzel unleashed a far stronger water gun and sent Aagron back twenty times more then the distance he did before. Aagron collapsed from the impact and fell over. Ash smiled "Wow, that was Hydro Pump! Amazing job Floatzel!" Aagron began picking itself up again and Ash shook his head. "Floatzel, end this with Hydro Pump again!" Floatzel launched an even stronger jet of water, boosted by his new confidence straight into Aagron. Aagron was sent back again, and this time when he fell over he didn't get back up. Aagron had clearly fainted and Brendan recalled him. Brendan smiled at Ash "Nice timing with an evolution, but my next Pokemon will make you work for it! Shiftry, come on out!" Brendan released a dark and grass type which glared at Floatzel. Ash recalled Floatzel "We might need you later, get some rest for now." Ash reached for a Pokeball on his belt "Alright, we haven't battled in a while but I'm excited for this one, come on out Quilava!" Ash sent out one of his oldest fire types. Quillava stood up on two legs and flared the flames on its back. Ash smiled "Ready when you are Brendan!" Brendan smiled at Ash "Don't get cocky now." Ash gave his first order "Quilava, use Flame Wheel!" Quillava spun towards Shirifty, Brendan seemed unconcerned. "Shirifty, use double team!" Shirifty made at least a hundred copies of itself before fanning out and surrounding Quilava. Ash just smiled "Quillava, use eruption! Destroy all of Shirifty's copies!" Quillava unleashed an eruption of flames from its back, scorching all of the copies of Shiftry and sending the real one back. Ash smiled and pointed at the real one "Quillava, use flamethrower!" Brendan yelled out "Don't let him get there! Use Dark Pulse!" The dark pulse hit the flamethrower and the dark wave was pushed back by the strength of the flamethrower. Ash smiled at this, it meant he was doing something right. Brendan looked on in fear, as his Shiftry was struck with a flamethrower. Shiftry landed on its back and slowly struggled up. Brendan pointed at Quilava, "Use Leaf Storm, make him hurt!" Shiftry launched a leaf storm at Quilava which sent it flying back. Brendan pointed at Quilava "Jump on him and strike him with a brick break!" Brenda's Shiftry jumped up and struck Quilava with a Brick Break. Ash gasped as Quilava flew back and thankfully landed on all four paws. Ash suddenly lit up with a smile "Quilava, fly into Shiftry with an Ariel Ace!" Quilava flew into Shiftry and struck it. Ash smiled "Now, all-out Flamethrower!" Quilava blasted Shiftry with a jet of flames and Shiftry flew back in pain and slammed into the ground. Ash smiled, there was absolutely no way Shiftry would have made it through that attack. Brendan saw his Pokemon faint and sighed deeply before recalling him. "Guess this is it huh, well I'm gonna use my starter and my strongest and oldest partner." Brendan reached for an older Poke Ball before gently tossing it "Swampert, time to shine!" a massive Swampert landed and gave a roar. Brendan pointed at Ash "I'm going all out!" Brendan reached for a ring in his pocket with a colorful stone in it. He pressed the ring and a golden swirl of light enveloped Swampert. "Swampert, Mega Evolve!" Swampert was surrounded with a purple veil of light and out of the light stepped a bodybuilder Swampert. Brendan smirked "Alright, let's show them who's boss! Swampert, use bulk up!" Ash pointed at Swampert, "Quilava hit him as hard as you can with an Aerial Ace!" Quilava slammed into Swampert and sent Swampert back a few inches. Swampert roared and punched Quilava, sending the fire type back. Quilava collapsed and fainted. Brendan smiled "2-1 bozo!" Ash smiled "You'll regret that one!" Ash reached for a Poke Ball and threw it "Alright, let's do this, Rowlet come on out!" Brendan looked unimpressed "If that's all, this should be an easy win. Ice Punch now!" Ash smiled and grabbed his Z ring. "Observe the power of Alola! Rowlet, let's do this!" Ash started doing a dance and several poses while Brendan looked like he was about to laugh. Suddenly, massive green energy surrounded Rowlet. The rest of the battle was history, Swampert was hit with a powerful 4x effective Z move and fainted instantly. Brendan stood horrified of what just happened. "How…. How did you…." Ash smiled and offered his hand "If you accept my job offer I'd be happy to let you learn that same power" Brendan shook his hand "Deal…."

Ash had found a few gym leaders and a new friend. Evolved a Pokemon all in a day's work.

Meanwhile

A boat docked on Ula Ula island and a boy stepped off. He walked around, observing some of the wild Pokemon and enjoying the sights of the city. His eyes fixated upon a poster, his old rival was…. A champion? The boy smiled at this new revelation. He certainly wasn't pathetic anymore

Paul decided he'd make good on Ash's offer of a rematch.