"So are you nervous about this?" Cassie asked.

"A little, it's my first full battle ever." Ash admitted, as he finished shining Dewgong's Pokeball. "How'd you sleep last night?"

"I don't." Cassie said.

"Right, still getting used to that." Ash said.

"Do you know who your opponent is?" Cassie asked.

"Yeah it's Cody, this won't be easy." Ash said. "But I'm still going to give it my all, we all will."

"I'll be cheering for you." Cassie said.

"Thanks, I should get going." Ash said, before holding the door open, only for Cassie to walk through the wall. "Right, again sorry."

At the battlefield

"The six on six match between Ash of Pallet Town and Cody of Potbelly Valley will now begin. Trainers at your ready." The judge said.

"Ready." Cody said, for once not wearing the Charmander costume.

"Ready." Ash replied.

"Very well then, battle begin!"

"Let's go Mr. Mime!"

"Jigglypuff I choose you!"

"Mr. Mime use Barrier!"

"Jigglypuff use Tri Attack!"

Mr. Mime put up a psychic wall that stopped Jigglypuff's attack with ease.

"Now Mr. Mime use Double Slap!"

"Jigglypuff use Substitute!"

A puff of smoke surrounded Jigglypuff as a doppelgänger took her place from the attack.

"Now Jigglypuff use Body Slam!"

"Mr. Mime use Psychic!"

Jigglypuff sped towards Mr. Mime only to be lifted into the air, her momentum brought to a halt.

"Jigglypuff use Tri Attack!"

"Mr. Mime use Barrier!"

With his psychic energy already being used to keep Jigglypuff in the air, Mr. Mime didn't have enough time or energy before being hit by the attack.

"JIgglypuff, now while it's defenses are down use Body Slam!"

With Mr. Mime's concentration broken, Jigglypuff was able to free herself and Rocket down at the psychic type with incredible force.

"Mr. Mime is unable to battle! The winner is Jigglypuff!"

"Mr. Mime return!" Cody said. "Let's go Persian, use Slash!"

Persian leapt forward, its claws outstretched as it slashed at Jigglypuff.

"Jigglypuff use Body Slam!"

"Persian use Pay Day!"

Images of coins sprayed out from Persian's gem as they crashed into Jigglypuff, causing the pink Pokemon to double back in pain.

"Persian use Slash!"

"Jigglypuff use Substitute!"

With the damage she'd taken, Jigglypuff didn't have the energy to create a dummy, or even move out of the way as she was defeated by Persians claws.

"Jigglypuff is unable to battle, the winner is Persian."

"Great work Jigglypuff, that Persian was just a bit too fast for you." Ash said. "Alright Pikachu, your turn."

"Pika!"

"Go Pikachu!" Cassie cheered.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Persian use Pay Day to block it!"

Massive coins shot out, deflecting the attack with ease.

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

"Persian use Double Team!"

A group of Persian appeared around Pikachu, before lunging at the electric type.

"Pikachu use Thunder!"

A surge of electricity shot down, dissipating every one of the Persian.

"Wait where's the real one?" Ash asked in shock.

"Persian use Slash!"

"Pikachu! Dodge it!"

Pikachu just barely managed to jump out of the way as Persian's claws swiped where he was just moments before.

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

"Persian use Double Team!"

Pikachu began speeding up as a horde of Persian chased him across the arena.

"Pikachu use Mimic!"

Suddenly there were now six Pikachu being chased by five Persian.

"Now Pikachu use Thunder!"

An electrical storm raged down on the battlefield zapping all of the fake Persian away as the real one leapt out the shadows only to be met by six Pikachu.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Persian dodge it!"

Persian tried to avoid the attack, but without knowing which was the real Pikachu it was all in vain as the cat was beaten by the rat.

"Persian is unable to battle, the winner is Pikachu!"

"Persian return!" Cody said with a wicked grin. "Let get this ball rolling! Come on out Golem!"

"Pikachu take five!" Ash said. "Alright Vileplume you're up!"

"Golem use Earthquake!"

Golem leapt into the air, slamming into the ground creating a shockwave that overturned rocks, spread the stadium, and knocked Vileplume off of his feet.

"Golem use Rock Slide!"

"Vileplume use Solar Beam!"

Rocks rained down around Vileplume as it hopped back up trying to focus energy while dodging the attack.

"Golem use Fire Blast!"

"Vileplume fire!"

Vileplume's Solar Beam pierced through Golem's Fire Blast, hitting the rock type while Vileplume was fully engulfed in the flames.

"And it looks like Vileplume is no longer able to battle! The winner is Golem!"

"Vileplume return!" Ash said. "Well if grass wasn't enough, let's try water! Come on out Dewgong!"

"Golem use Earthquake!"

"Dewgong use Ice Beam!"

Dewgong froze his half of the battlefield in the chaotic state made from Golem's earthquake as the two Pokémon sped towards the center of the arena.

"Dewgong use Surf!"

"Golem use Fire Blast!"

Steam erupted from the center, covering the battlefield as a series of thuds was heard.

"Dewgong!" Ash called out.

"Dew?" Dewgong said, sticking his head out of the cloud of steam.

"Gol!" Golem said launching itself at Dewgong.

"Dewgong look out!" Ash said, only for the water and ice type to be launched off the rock he was on.

"Oh and Dewgong goes down!" The announcer added in.

"Dewgong!" Ash said rushing over. "Are you okay?"

"Dewwwwww." Dewgong said in a daze.

"Alright Dewgong take a break." Ash said, thinking over his remaining options. "Dragonair come on out!"

"Golem use Rock Slide!"

"Dragonair dodge it!"

Dragonair swerved between the falling rocks as it closed in on Golem.

"Dragonair use Dragon Rage!"

"Golem use Fire Blast!"

Dragonair flew in vertical circles in the air before launching a large burst of blue flames breaking apart the Fire Blast and knocking back Golem.

"Dragonair use Dragon Rage!"

"Golem use Explosion!"

Dragonair was launched back as a burst of energy filled the arena.

"WHAT WAS YOUR PLAN!" Ash shouted, his ears still ringing slightly.

"I PANICKED!" Cody shouted back.

'Cough cough'. "Well it seems Golem is unable to battle, making Dragonair the winner." The judge declared.

"Let's go Cloyster! Use Spike Cannon!"

"Dragonair dodge them!"

Dragonair regained their focus before swirling out of the way of Cloyster's attack.

"Cloyster use Blizzard!"

"Dragonair use Hyper Beam!"

Dragonair, still weak from Golem's explosion was unable to fend off the blizzard as they fell to the ground in defeat.

"Dragonair is unable to battle, the winner is Cloyster."

"Not for long. Dewgong come back out and use Horn Drill!"

"Cloyster us Spike Cannon!"

Cloyster fired a barrage of spikes at the fast approaching Dewgong, only for each of them to miss. Dewgong was able to strike Cloyster with his horn with little to no problems.

"Haha our shell is too thick!" Cody cheered.

"Dewgong use Skull Bash!"

"Cloyster use Surf!''

With the ravaged battlefield there was no water to gather as Cloyster was slammed into the ground.

"Cloyster is unable to battle, the winner is Dewgong!"

"Cloyster return! Come on out Electrode!"

"Dewgong use Ice Beam!"

"Electrode use Thunderbolt!"

Despite Dewgong's incredible speed, Electrode was faster, sending a bolt of electricity at the water type.

"Dewgong is unable to battle, the winner is Electrode."

"If you want to play fast, then I know just the girl. Rapidash come on out!"

"Electrode use Swift!"

"Rapidash use Agility!"

Rapidash galloped around the battlefield, avoiding the shooting stars as she leapt over and around rocks.

"Electrode use Thunderbolt!"

"Rapidash use Agility!"

Rapidash leapt over the bolt of electricity as the flames from her mane began glowing brighter.

"Can't panic, need to stay calm." Cody said to himself. "Electrode use Sonicboom!"

"Rapidash dodge it with Agility!"

Rapidash's entire body became a blur as she sped away from the attack.

"Rapidash use Stomp!"

"Electrode use Thunderbolt!"

Electrode was unable to lock onto Rapidash before she crashed into it.

"Electrode pay attention and attack once you can hear her!"

"Rapidash use Stomp!"

Rapidash rushed past Electrode over and over again, striking it back and forth repeatedly.

"Now!" Cody exclaimed.

A white light burst out from the center of the arena, sending dirt and rocks flying back as it expanded.

"Both Rapidash and Electrode are unable to battle, the battle will now proceed to the final round." The judge explained.

"Uh oh." Cassie gulped.

"Charizard come on out!" Cody exclaimed.

"Pikachu let's do this!"

Charizard use Flamethrower!"

"Pikachu dodge it with Double Team!"

Six Pikachu began to run across the arena, the center two being engulfed in flames as Charizard passed over.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Charizard use Seismic Toss!"

Charizard swooped down, grabbing the real Pikachu before slamming him into the ground.

"Charizard use Mega Kick!"

"Pikachu dodge it!"

With his larger size and higher energy, Charizard was able to combo attack after attack on Pikachu.

"I'm done." Ash said calmly but loudly.

"Ash…". Cassie said worridley.

"The match has gone to a forfeit. Cody is the winner." The judge declared.

"Ash, why'd you do that?" Cody asked.

"You're a better trainer than me, maybe not the best under pressure, but you would've won." Ash said. "I was told that sometimes there's a way to win a battle without fighting, and I thought it was meant for me to win I don't have to battle, but I think it also can apply the other way where I don't have to keep battling for the better trainer to win." Ash said, picking up the weak Pikachu. "I'm rooting for you though, so don't go loosing."

"Oh, now I'm going all the way." Cody said, extending his hand.

"It was a good match." Ash said, shaking his rival's hand.

High above the arena

"So this Ash has learned the importance of limitations." Arceus said through a warp in space time. "He may be what we need in order to stop him."

"Really, you're trying to stop me?" A dark force said as it started pooling out into the world.

"No! You can't have gotten this strong so quickly!" Arceus exclaimed.

"Oh, this isn't even my first Ash I'll be taking out." The dark force cackled.

"Unfortunately I can't let you two do anything." Mewtwo said, rushing up with a large psychic spoon, knocking both portals back.

"You?" Arceus said in surprise.

"That child is under my protection, and as long as I am standing, you won't touch him!" Mewtwo said brandishing the spoon.

"Well then, I am in need of a new general." The dark force said, as inky black spikes shot out of the mass, piercing through Mewtwo's body before dragging him in. "What, whats happening?!" The dark force said, once Mewtwo was fully absorbed.

"His sacrifice is not in vain, I have locked you from entering this realm on a physical level, you will never harm this Ash as long as I can help it." Arceus said.

Back on the ground

"Well Ash, top eight is great, but whats next?' Cassie asked as she phased through a cabinet as they walked.

"Well, Johto is next door, how about we head there after the tournament and a quick trip home." Ash said. "Meet back up with Marty, and maybe even Articuno."

"Sounds lIke fun, better than waiting for you to notice me again." Cassie joked.