a/n: If you can't tell
Legends Arceus is amazing. It's the best pokemon game ever.

And I mean that genuinely.

On the personal front, things are slightly better. I was accepted into a great school, but I'm still unsure if I'll attend until I hear back from other places.

Chapters may still be delayed, I think I can do bi-daily but no promises. I have an extremely important wave of tests upcoming.

Enjoy this chapter!

—-

JN Ash in XYZ POV:

As the elevator rose and he climbed up the stairs to the arena, Ash felt his heart speed up. This was it, the Kalos League finals once more. He'd face Alain, and he'd win this time. There was no excuse, he swore to himself that he'd win when he came back in time, and win he would.

The stairs led to the arena, and Ash heard the roar of the crowd. This was it, now or never. He smiled, remembering his strategy. Alain wouldn't stand a chance, because his team had one MASSIVE glaring weakness.

Alain looked across the field from Ash. "Ready?" Ash's rival asked

Ash nodded and reached for his belt, nothing needed to be said.

The referee went on his usual spiel, six on six battle this, substitutions are allowed that, and something about wanting both of the trainers to have fun and good luck.

And just like that, the battle started.

Alain and Ash made eye contact for a second, and nothing needed to be said. Only one of them could win, and it sure as hell wouldn't be Alain. After all, Ash had a plan for once.

The trainers reached for their belts, and the battle commenced. Scoreboards with each of the trainer's avatars flashed above their heads. It was go time now!

"Tyranitar, let's go!" shouted Alain

"Alright, let's go Dracovish!" Ash yelled

Ash's fossil was wrapped in a new flameproof scarf that Serena knitted.

A sandstorm started, and an annoying overplayed EDM song by Darude that's an internet classic started playing over the stadium loudspeaker.

"Alright Dracovish, let's do this! Use Fishious rend!"

"Tyranitar, attack with a dark pulse!"

Dracovish vanished at a surprising pace, running towards Tyranitar and jumping over the stream. Tyranitar's beam of darkness missed Dracovish, who leaped up at Tyranitar and smashed his fangs into the rock type. Tyranitar fell from the impact of the blow.

Dracovish landed and jumped up and down happily.

"Fine! Tyranitar, stone edge!"

"Fishious rend again!"

Dracovish chomped down on Tyranitar once more, who collapsed again. Alain growled and recalled Tyranitar.

"Fine, let's do this the hard way. Metagross, you're up!"

A Metagross cried out and set down its foot.

"Alright Dracovish, jump up and use Fishious rend yet again!"

"Psyshock!"

Metagross's attack missed from Dracovish's speed, and he chomped down on Metagross's face.

"Aaaagh!" Alain cried out in frustration

Ash smirked, "Alright Dracovish, let's end this! Fishious rend once more!"

"Agility" Alain yelled, Metagross sped up its movements, dodging Dracovish's desperate attempts to bite it.

"Now, use metal claw!" Alain shouted

Ash shot back, "Now Dracovish! Bite as hard as you can!"

"Use a metal claw on its head and slam into it with your other legs!" Alain commanded

Both trainers yelled out, "Now!"

Metagross made contact with Dracovish, and both collapsed from the force of the blow, Dracovish fainting with Metagross in its jaws. Both Dracovish and Metagross went dark on the scoreboards. Ash nodded, everything was going according to plan thus far.

Ash-1 Alain-1

Ash laughed, "Alright Alain, ready for a battle in the sky?"

"It won't end the way how this last one did." Alain retorted

"Dragonite, I choose you!"

Ash's Dragonite emerged and punched his fists. It was on now.

"Unfezant, let's go!"

Alain's Unfezant spun circles around Dragonite, and they were off.

Ash yelled out, "Dragon dance!"

Dragonite spun and glowed, and his aura flashed red. Unfezant sped towards Dragonite.

The audience held its breath, just watching the spectacle unfold. Unfezant was flying at the speed of a jet, and Dragonite's glow could be seen as far away as the highest nosebleed seats.

"Unfezant, use a steel wing!" Alain shouted out

"Dragonite, now! Dragon claw!" Ash yelled confidently

Dragonite b!tch slapped Unfezant's steel wings with a dragon claw, and sent the bird flying towards the ground. Unfezant regained control moments before disaster and regained his composure. Unfezant flew low, skimming the water of the stream before gaining altitude and approaching Dragonite.

Alain growled. "Unfezant, air slash! Keep a distance!"

Ash shook his head, "Hurricane!"

Dragonite created a massive hurricane that sped towards Unfezant, trapping his air slash attack inside of the hurricane.

Alain growled and shouted, "Use Sky Attack!"

Unfezant flew up in the sky and glowed orange before he sped towards Dragonite

Ash shouted, "Dragonite, open arms and do what you do best!"

Dragonite opened his arms and waited for Unfezant who slammed into Dragonite. Dragonite caught Unfezant and crushed the bird in a bone-crushing hug.

Unfezant screeched in pain, and Dragonite readied another dragon claw.

"Dragonite, smash Unfezant into the ground!"

Dragonite raised his claws, slapped Unfezant again, and watched the bird hurl through the air at a blistering pace.

"Strike again!" Ash shouted

Dragonite flew towards Unfezant and slammed a dragon claw straight into the bird.

Unfezant slammed into the ground, and Ash smiled. It took no genius to understand that Unfezant was down. Alain's board flashed gray again, with Unfezant being knocked out.

Ash-2 Alain-1

"Dragonite, great work!"

Dragonite hugged Ash and crushed him in a bone-breaking hug.

Alain grimaced and reached for his belt, "Well then, Weavile, let's go!"

Alain sent out his ice-type. Ash yelled out, "Dragonite attack with dragon claw!"

"Ice Beam!"

Dragonite flew through the ice straight towards Alain, crashing into Weavile who flew back towards the rocks, landing a deadly blow. But it was to no avail, Weavile had knocked Dragonite down.

Ash-2,Alain-2

Ash seemed awfully calm recalling Dragonite. "Alright, let's do this Sirfetch'd!"

Ash smiled and turned his baseball cap, "Ready Sirfetch'd?"

Sirfetch'd nodded and Ash pointed at Weavile, "Strike all out! Meteor Assault!"

"Weavile, double team!"

However, much to the audience's shock, Sirfetch'd was faster than Weavile. Weavile was struck by a leek sword blow that was so powerful it sent reverberations throughout the entire arena.

Ash smiled, knowing the result. Weavile was down.

Ash-3, Alain-2

The referee raised his flag, "A five-minute break shall commence! Trainers, please return soon!

—-

Serena was waiting for Ash in the locker room.

She embraced him, "I'm so proud of you! You're doing amazing! I'm sure your plan will work!"

Ash smiled, "Thanks Serena," he pecked her on the lips

Serena pulled Ash at an arm's length and gave him a serious expression, "And remember, never give up-" "Until it's over" Ash finished her sentence and she giggled

A loud beeper signaled over the intercom, signaling how it was time for the battle to resume.

–

Meanwhile, a cloaked figure stood in the audience, waiting to strike when tragedy would inevitably strike. He was here early because when sh!t hit the fan, it would really be bad.

—-

Back on the field, Ash readied a poke ball. This was it, this was the plan. Do or die

"Lucario, I choose you!" Ash shouted, his loyal aura dog emerged.

Alain grabbed his poke ball, "Bisharp, let's go!"

Ash looked at Lucario who nodded, and he grabbed his mega ring.

Alain's eyes widened, "So soon?"

Lucario was enveloped by the familiar glow and soon emerged in his mega-state. Ponytails flying

"You know Alain, I always wondered why people never used their strongest attacks first."

Ash pointed at Bisharp, "Lucario, use close combat!"

Alain was stunned and didn't even say anything

Lucario vanished, and reappeared right above Bisharp, slamming his fists at an extreme pace into the steel type, landing vicious 4x deadly damage on the steel and dark type who never stood a chance against the fighting type.

Bisharp collapsed from the force of the blow. The audience started cheering, and Ash did a small fist pump.

Ash-4, Alain-2

"That one was for you Goodra," Ash thought to himself, remembering how his fallen companion was done dirty by Bisharp.

Lucario stomped his foot and motioned for Alain to send out his next team member. Alain seemed quite ticked off by the fact that a pokemon was taunting him.

Alain sighed, "Alright, maybe it's earlier than I'd have liked, but let's go Charizard!"

Alain reached for his belt and tossed out his ace.

Ash smiled, Alain was falling right into his trap.

Ash chuckled to himself, as far as he was aware, no one had ever attempted what he was about to do.

Alain reached for his megaband and raised it in the air, "Charizard, let's go beyond! Mega evolve!"

Charizard was surrounded in purple and emerged in his mega form.

Ash took a deep breath and reached in his pocket, where his dynamax band was located.

He tapped his glowing band, and recalled Lucario. Tapping Lucario's ball to his wrist

"Alright Lucario, let's grow!"

Ash released his poke ball and Lucario began to grow in size, before stopping at around the size of a large tower. Lucario cried out, and clouds surrounded him.

Alain gulped, he was facing a Dynamax-mega Lucario

—-

"WHAT?" Clemont yelled in shock, unsure if that was even safe

Serena stared in awe, "When Ash told me he had a plan, I didn't expect a Kaiju Lucario."

Bonnie looked astonished, "Wow! Ash is so cool!"

—-

"This changes nothing! Charizard, blast burn!" Charizard launched a massive blast of fire that sped straight towards Ash's Lucario but despite the super effective damage, Lucario looked bored with Charizard's effort. Lucario taunted Charizard by motioning his fists, asking for more.

Charizard roared in anger, sped towards Lucario, and struck the aura pokemon with a thunder punch, but Lucario hardly flinched.

Alain yelled out in frustration, "Charizard, blast burn again!"

Ash countered, "Lucario, block!"

Lucario stomped his foot and kicked up a massive cloud of dust that partially blocked Charizard's ultimate fire attack.

Ash yelled at Lucario, "Lucario, use Max Knuckle!"

Lucario swung its fists, and a massive fist flew down from the skies and smashed into Charizard.

Lucario roared and pounded its fists against its chest, signifying its raised attack stats.

Charizard roared and blasted Lucario with flames. Lucario flinched slightly but was mostly unaffected by the attack.

Ash gave his next order, "Lucario, max wyrmwind!" Lucario launched a massive wave of purple energy which formed a sphere that enveloped Charizard and attacked the fire lizard.

Alain shouted out, "Charizard no!"

Charizard fell to the ground and tried to get back up, but Ash gave his next command, "Lucario, use max knuckle!"

Lucario swung once more, and a massive aura knuckle flew straight towards Charizard.

Alain sighed and watched the scene unfold. Charizard was blasted by the aura knuckle and reverted to his base form.

The entire stadium erupted in cheers, Ash had defeated Alain's ace.

"That one was for you Greninja," Ash thought to himself sadly

He watched Charizard's icon fade on the big screen.

Ash-5, Alain, 2

Lucario reverted to his base form, and Alain nodded and reached for his final poke ball.

"Alright, Tyranitar, let's end this!"

Ash looked at Lucario, "You ready to end this?"

Lucario nodded and Ash shouted, "Lucario, use close combat, one more time!"

"Tyranitar, use the stone edge as a shield!" Alain commanded

Lucario smashed through the stone edge, but Tyranitar grabbed his fists. Lucario tried to escape his grasp but was bitten with a crunch attack.

Ash turned his hat, and then gave his next order, "Alright Lucario, escape and jump up in the air!"

Lucario pushed off Tyranitar with his feet and did a flip. Lucario landed at Tyranitar's feet.

"Tyranitar, use dark puls-" Alain was interrupted by Ash, "Lucario, dragon pulse and then attack with close combat!"

Lucario fired off a dragon pulse towards Tyranitar's head and then sped towards his foe, before swinging fists and kicks as fast as he could. Tyranitar screamed in pain and collapsed from Lucario's strength.

Lucario kicked Tyranitar in the head once more for good measure before putting one leg on his foe's head. The crowd went wild.

Ash Ketchum had won the Kalos League.

—-

The celebrations after were amazing, he received his trophy, kissed Serena in front of the whole crowd, Lucario jumped up and crossed his arms in mid-air before landing and crying out "Siuuuucario!"

But the celebrations weren't gonna last.

A storm was brewing, and Ash wasn't even ready.

—-

Ash was just about to leave the arena when he heard thunder rumble from above him. A portal opened, and not one, but two legendaries flew out.

It was impossible! It was….. It was Dialga and Palkia!

Ash watched in awe as the two legendaries approached him, only he didn't know that they weren't here to congratulate him on his win.

Ash heard a voice boom in his head, "Mortal! You're guilty of violating the sacred space-time continuum, and thus will be exterminated! Do NOT resist!"

Ash looked around nervously, and no one acknowledged his issue.

Serena noticed Ash looking uncomfortable and approached him.

Palkia unleashed his attack first, launching a massive water pulse, which was batted away by Pikachu who countered with a thunderbolt, creating a cloud of steam from the impact.

People in the stadium started screaming.

"We need to evacuate, now!" shouted Diantha who called out her Gardevoir

Everyone heard a loud shout in their heads, "DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESIST" Dialga and Palkia both shouted.

Alain walked back in the arena, quite mad. "No one harms my rival!" he called out his tired Charizard, who faced down the gods with his trainer.

Finally, Serena called out her Braixen who stood next to the two powerful pokemon.

"Ash, you'll never walk alone. Not as long as I'm alive. Your battles are mine!"

Diantha nodded, "We can do this Ash!"

Ash turned his hat around and smiled, "Alright guys, let's do this!"

Ash gave a command, "Alain, you and Serena attack Dialga, Diantha and I will take down Palkia!"

Everyone nodded and rushed towards their targets.

"Charizard, attack with a flamethrower!"

"Braixen, do the same!"

Both Fire starters launched a massive jet of fire that slammed into Dialga, and actually seemed to do some damage.

Dialga roared in retaliation and fired a massive purple wave of energy.

Braixen ducked, and Charizard flew over it.

"Charizard, dragon claw!", "Braixen, use a flamethrower again!" Both trainers shouted at their foe.

Meanwhile, Palkia was holding his own against Ash and Diantha

"Pikachu, electro web!", "Gardevoir, use psychic!"

Gardevoir held Palkia down, but Palkia released a massive jet of water that sent Gardevoir flying back. Pikachu's attack just missed its target.

Ash held his breath, it wasn't good at all to be down this early.

Palkia roared, and launched an attack towards Pikachu who dodged it effortlessly.

Gardevoir suddenly launched a massive pink orb towards Palkia who balked and was damaged from the attack. Maybe all hope wasn't lost

Palkia shouted and launched massive orbs of water towards Gardevoir

Gardevoir teleported away, and Pikachu blasted Palkia with a powerful thunderbolt.

Ash smiled, pokemon battles were amazing in the sense that the tide could always be turned.

Back against Dialga, Charizard was engaged in a brutal dogfight with the god, but slowly losing his edge. Braixen kept launching jets of fire towards Dialga, keeping the lord of time on his toes.

Serena shouted, "Braixen, attack with fire blast!"

Braixen launched a massive cross-shaped jet of fire that flew towards Dialga who roared in anger after being struck with the blast.

Dialga shot back enraged, firing off a deadly roar of time straight at Braixen who flinched in fear.

Charizard tackled Braixen, taking some of the force and avoiding some of the other parts.

Dialga roared, ready to attack, and started glowing. He was enraged now and quickly gaining power.

Just then, a massive jet of fire the strength and size of a Z move struck Dialga and Palkia. Both of the gods were tossed back by the force of the attack.

A muscled Typhlosion who was twice as large as a normal one roared, and a boy with dark hair and a gold cap smiled.

"Sorry I took so long,"

Ash looked confused, "Who are you?"

The boy chuckled, "The name's Ethan. Ethan Gold."