The sun was rising, and Ash walked towards the central plaza of Hau'oli City. He stood ready with a belt of six strong Pokemon. Across the plaza stood his longtime rival, with a belt of his own. The two trainers stared at each other before Paul finally spoke first.

"Does Six on Six sound appropriate?" Paul asked in his usual tone

Ash replied, "Yeah, I'd expect nothing less!"

"Well, no sense beating around the bush. Ash, I intend to beat you today, and prove to myself that I can battle at a Champion level."

Ash scratched his head, puzzled at what Paul said: "You don't want my title?"

Paul shook his head "Nope."

Ash just shrugged and gave Paul a small smile "Ready when you are!" Pikachu joined in "Pika Pika!"

Paul reached for his belt "Alright, Drapion standby for battle!" Paul threw a Poke Ball which contained a vicious purple scorpion.

Ash grabbed a Poke Ball of his own and threw it "Alright, Malmetal I choose you!" a powerful steel-type Pokemon emerged, and stared Drapion in the eye.

Paul threw his first towards Ash "Alright, let's get this battle started. Drapion, use toxic spikes!" Ash shook his head and pointed towards Drapion who was about to attack.

"Malmetal, Double Iron Bash!", Malmetal swung rapidly and hit Drapion twice in a row with devastating swings. Drapion flew back and slammed into the ground. Drapion doubled back and landed upright. Paul pointed at Malmetal and gave a command

"It's slow, so maneuver behind it! Use Pin Missile!", Drapion jumped behind Malmetal and launched a Pin Missile straight at Drapion. Malmetal didn't even flinch and swung his fists at Drapion above his head and they smashed into the Poison-type Pokemon down at a sickening speed. Drapion crashed into the ground and attempted to rise up and barely managed to stand up and gave a halfhearted roar.

Paul pointed at Malmetal "Alright Drapion, try and use your speed to your advantage and get that freaky Pokemon down"

Drapion rushed towards Malmetal who stood and waited for instructions from Ash. Drapion reached Malmetal and Ash yelled out an order, loudly pointing towards Drapion.

"Malmetal, use Flash Cannon point blank!"

Malmetal glowed and fired a flash cannon towards Drapion and Drapion crumbled to the ground. The Poison-type didn't get back up after the Flash Cannon.

Paul grumbled and recalled Drapion and spoke to the Poke Ball. "You gave it a good effort. Rest up now" He gave Ash a faint hint of a smile, causing Ash to flinch out of surprise. Paul spoke calmly "I'm impressed Ash, may I ask where you got that steel Pokemon"

Ash's eyes lit up and he responded happily to Paul "Right here in Alola! He's one of a kind as far as I know, Malmetal really is special!" Malmetal flexed to add to Ash's point. Paul just shook his head and pulled out his next Poke Ball.

"Alright, let's melt this steel type! Houndoom, standby for battle!" Paul threw his Poke Ball and a Houndoom emerged and gave a loud howl. Ash smiled and looked towards Malmetal

"Malmetal, are you good staying in?" Malmetal flexed itself and Houndoom barked angrily at Malmetal in response. Paul nodded at Houndoom and thus, the second round of the battle was underway.

"Houndoom, burn up Malmetal with Fire Blast!" Houndoom jumped up in the air and released a powerful blast of fire which flew straight towards Malmetal and sent the steel type staggering back in pain. Paul gave his next command "Houndoom, use sucker punch!" Houndoom ran towards Malmetal, but his attack passed straight through due to Malmetal not attacking. Ash yelled out "Malmetal, compose yourself! Hit Houndoom as hard as you can!" Malmetal swung his fists towards Houndoom and sent the fire-type dog straight into the ground.

Paul pointed at Malmetal "Flame Charge now!"

Houndoom quickly rebounded off of the ground and gave a passionate howl, before surrounding itself in flame and rushing towards Malmetal. Ash pointed towards Paul "Grab Houndoom, no matter how much it hurts."

Houndoom's flames slammed into Malmetal who grabbed Houndoom while the dog was on fire. Ash calmly gave his next order "Slam him into the ground as hard as you possibly can!" Malmetal flexed his muscles, grabbed Houndoom, and lifted him as high as he could before he threw the dog into the nearby rocks as hard as possible. Paul yelled out at his Pokemon "Houndoom blast him with all your fire!" Houndoom released a huge blast of fire straight on Malmetal as he was falling. Malmetal collapsed on top of Houndoom and both Pokemon had clearly fainted. Paul recalled Houndoom, and Ash did the same for Malmetal. Both trainers smiled, each clearly enjoying the battle. 2-1 Ash

Paul reached for his next Poke Ball, "alright Ash, time to show you the Pokemon that took me to the finals in the Unova League." Ash looked at Paul in shock "You made it that far in Unova?!" Paul shrugged slowly "Then some girl named Iris swept me to claim the title of Champion. So here I am now." Ash gave a blank expression, not wanting to mention his friendship with her.

Ash reached for his belt and drew a Poke Ball, tossing it underhand towards the ground. "Alright, let's do this! Hawlucha you're up!"

Paul threw his Poke Ball "Gallade, standby for battle!"

A powerful and muscled Gallade stood up and flexed. Ash's Hawlucha stood and posed elegantly, ready for battle Gallade glared at Hawlucha and then they both rushed towards each other.

Ash motioned at Gallade "Hawlucha, use High Jump Kick!"

Hawlucha jumped up and struck Gallade with a powerful Jump Kick which Gallade matched with a Slash attack. Hawlucha pushed himself off of Gallade and paul gave an order "Gallade, use Psychic! Slam Hawlucha into the ground!" Gallade grabbed Hawlucha telekinetically and slammed Hawlucha into the ground, Ash could hear Hawlucha have the air knocked out of him. Hawlucha got back up on two feet and faced off against Gallade. Paul pointed at Hawlucha

"Swords Dance! Gallade make it fast please." Gallade began to glow and aura swords flashed above him.
Ash did a double-take. Did Paul just ask his Pokemon "Please?" Ash regrouped himself.

"Hawlucha, use flying press!" Hawlucha jumped up in the sky and Gallade looked with the sun in his eyes. Hawlucha flew down towards Gallade at a rapid speed and glowed white, Hawlucha slammed into Gallade and sent Gallade flying back into the ground. Gallade stood up, in slight pain and stared at Hawlucha "Galade Gal!" Gallade practically screamed. Gallade used Psychic and dragged Hawlucha towards him and slammed his glowing fist into Hawlucha, Hawlucha cried out in pain and fell over unconscious. Ash just stared in disbelief at what happened.

Paul smirked at Ash "Sorry about Gallade, he has a mind of his own." Ash recalled Hawlucha and brushed off Paul "Nah you're all good. Now, let's see how you handle my next Pokemon!" 2-2

Ash threw out a Poke Ball which contained his loyal Swellow. Swellow did a few loops and landed by Ash's side. Paul smirked "That's the Swellow which lost to Tobias's Latios, right?" Ash grimaced "Yeah, but he's probably my strongest bird.

Paul shrugged "Let's test that theory. Alright, Gallade use psychic!" Ash smiled at Swellow. "Hey, you ready for something new? Swellow nodded and Ash pointed at Paul

"Hey Paul, don't laugh for a second ok?" Ash said in a happy and excited tone.

Paul looked at Ash confused "What do you mean by don't- oh my HAHAHAHAAHAH"

Ash was doing a short dance and energy surrounded him and Swellow. Paul stopped laughing Ash raised his hands and yelled out "Swellow, show them our bond and use Breakneck Blitz!" Swellow rushed towards Gallade with a barrage of energy and slammed into Gallade, knocking him out instantly. Paul looked dumbfounded "What on earth was that?" he said astounded. Ash smiled "Well, Paul it's a Z move! Alola's special technique!"

Paul shook his head "I want one of those things!"

Ash smiled at him "Let's keep going and if you're lucky I'll do another one."

Paul just gave Ash a huge smile, bigger than Ash had ever seen from him before. "Looking forward to it." Paul pointed at Ash "Don't count me out, Ash you still need to deal with my three best!"

Paul grabbed a Poke Ball and tossed it, revealing a powerful Ice Type. A Walrien stood, staring down Swellow, and let out an angry cry. Ash gulped and looked at Swellow, "Hey, I'm going to make a switch here." Swellow chirped happily and Ash recalled him. Ash pointed at Walrein

"Alright buddy, let's show them how we do it! Pikachu, I choose you!" Pikachu ran towards Walrein and the two made eye contact. Paul put his hands in his pocket and gave an order. "Walrein, use Ice Beam!" Walrein fired an Ice Beam towards Pikachu and Ash's oldest partner dodged the attack and Walrein angrily gave a shout. Paul pointed at Pikachu "Hit him hard Walrein, he's faster than you but he can't take much damage." Ash yelled out "Pikachu, use Electro Web!" Paul looked confused as Pikachu fired an Electro Web towards Walrein and the Walrus Pokemon was trapped in Pikachu's attack. Walrein struggled immensely as Pikachu waited for Ash's command. Ash calmly stated, "Pikachu, use Electro Web again and end things with thunderbolt!" Pikachu spiked up its tail and slammed into Walrein, making the Walrus Pokemon cry out in pain. Pikachu then fired off a thunderbolt, as Walrein hopelessly thrashed around, shocking itself in pain from the Electro Web attack. Walrein collapsed from the barrage of electricity from Ash's loyal companion. Ash smiled to himself, Paul only had two Pokemon left.

Paul sighed and grabbed a Poke Ball "I hope you're ready for this one because this Pokemon wants revenge, Ash. "Electivire, standby for battle!" Ash motioned for Pikachu to return. "Alright, Pikachu come on back. We all know who's up next. Ash reached for a Poke Ball and tossed it at Electivire. "Infernape, let's do this!" Electivire gave a roar and stared down Infernape who gave a grin towards Electivire. Paul simply pointed at Electivire and yelled out "Thunder, now!" Electivire leaned forward and blasted in Infernape's direction with a jolt of thunder and Infernape rolled out of the way and jumped underground. Paul expected this and gave his order

"Electivire, stay alert and get ready to grab Infernape!"

Ash simply waited. Infernape was on his own when he was underground. Just then, Infernape burst out of the ground and slammed into Electivire, punching him. Electivire flinched slightly from Infernape's gut punch. Paul gave another command to his Pokemon.

"Electivire, meet Infernape with Thunder Punch!" Ash shook his head and gave his order

"Not a chance! Flare Blitz now!" Infernape coated himself in a fiery glow and slammed into Electivire. Electivire's Thunder Punch pushed Infernape back, and Electivire also slid back.

At this point, a small crowd had gathered in the town square. The noise had drawn their attention, and their Champion battling had kept that attention. Lille stood on a bench, overlooking the crowd to watch Ash battle. Lille yelled out "Go Ash!" Ash looked away from the battle and flashed a smile at her.

Meanwhile, back at the battle.

Infernape and Electivire were dead even. The two of them had been trading blows while Ash was distracted by Lille for a moment. Ash then turned his attention back to Infernape and then looked at Paul. "Hey Paul, are you ready for another Z move?" Paul laughed.

"Show us what you've got Ash! We're ready for another normal type nuke." Ash grinned

"Who says it's a normal type move?" Ash did his dance and pose and energy surrounded Infernape. Ash pointed at Paul and gave his command. "Alright, let's do this Infernape, show Paul our power, and use INFERNO OVERDRIVE!" Infernape was surrounded by a massive wall of fire and launched it towards Electivire. Paul's electric type didn't even stand a chance.

The dust settled and Paul recalled Electivire. "I forfeit." Paul said plainly.

Ash walked towards him across the plaza and looked at him "But we were having fun!" Paul looked at the ground sadly. "Ever since Unova, I haven't won a full battle. And I thought by challenging you, I'd regain that spark. But I guess I just aren't strong enough. It's not my Pokemon, it never was. It's me, I'm a weak trainer."

Ash shook his head "I disagree. You're one of the strongest trainers I've ever battled."

Paul looked at him with a small smile "You think so?"

Ash motioned for Paul to follow him. "Come on, let's get some breakfast."

Paul shook his head "Can't I'm leaving back to Sinnoh." Ash glared at Paul

"I insist. I'll even pay" Paul groaned and tagged along

Inside the restaurant.

They sat in awkward silence before Ash broke the ice. "So Paul, I gotta say you're a lot nicer to your Pokemon. I really respect that."

Paul smiled upon hearing this "Thanks, it was immature of me to treat my Pokemon that way"

Ash gave an enthusiastic nod "Absolutely." There was a moment of silence for a second

"Hey, I have a question for you Paul" Ash said suddenly, causing Paul to look at him weird.

The Purple Haired teen looked at Ash confused "What's your question Ash?"

Ash took a deep breath. "I want you to be a member of the Alola Elite Four."

An extremely tense silence took control of the conversation for a moment

Paul thought for a second and then flashed Ash a smile "Yeah… I'd like that"

Ash offered Paul his hand "I'll get the details sorted out, but welcome to the team! Oh by the way, you're the first Elite Member so really it's just us two and Lille."

Paul looked at Ash confused "Who's Lille?"

"That would be me," a blonde girl said from behind Paul

Paul turned around and looked at Lille. She flashed Paul a smile and pulled up a chair.

"I'm the brand new president of the Alolan Pokemon League," Lille explained

Paul nodded slowly "Ok, and does that mean you have to approve me being an Elite Four?"

Lille shrugged "Ash might be a doofus at times, but he knows trainers well. If Ash is cool with you, so am I. So in other words, you're hired"

Paul smirked at her statement. He raised his glass of water "Well in that case, here's to the Alolan League!"