A/N: (Welcome back to the story. There a few matters to be dealt with before the chapter begins. Firstly, thanks for the reviews to which I have responded via PM.

In response to the guest who took their time to write a lengthy review, thank you. I have taken your advice into consideration and tough I too love Brock he won't be in the story because I feel Ash needs to grow out of his care. Secondly many like yourself have requested longer chapters and though I am gradually increasing the length it won't happen suddenly. I also feel that writing longer chapter taxes me and the quality does not remain the same as it gradually decreases as my exhaustion increases. As for Paul, well you'll have to wait and see. Miette might be involved though if all goes well she won't be needed, you'll hopefully see why in the next two chapters. That said I am grateful you took a piece of your time to give me feedback and share your views. I look forward to more reviews from you.

For those who have been having difficulty finding how to vote this is how you can do it. Tap onto my name (Storm Pegasus) which shall bring you to my profile page. At the top there is a "Vote Now" symbol. Click it and it will show you two options. Select the option you want and then vote.

Speaking of votes there have been only 16 votes and I know for a fact that over 500 people are reading this story. So I would appreciate if you could take time to vote and possibly review. I only ask for 50 votes in order to help me decide and well if there isn't a clear answer I would have to make decisions on my own and well I want democracy and not dictatorship, I want to involve my readers so please VOTE.

Now the biggest matter to address is finally here. I have changed my name from SerenaKetchum007 to my new name Storm Pegasus. My former name was too girly and as I am a guy I had to change it. If you want to know why I chose Storm Pegasus read my profile.

Sorry for the extremely long A/N but it was necessary. Now onwards to the story! )

As the smoke from the ensuing explosion started to fade away into the rapidly darkening sky, Ash turned his gaze back towards the battlefield. It was clear to him that Charizard was down for the count and Ash could only return him to his Poke Ball with a word of thanks.

If he was being honest underneath his calm façade he was starting to panic a little. He had been expecting Charizard to be up and deliver a few more hits before going down, but sadly he had underestimated Darkrai. However, looking at his shoulder where rested his second strongest Pokemon he knew that the battle was not over yet, on the contrary it was just beginning.

It was with this thought he beckoned Pikachu towards the battlefield where rested Darkrai whose ragged breathing and bruises indicated Charizard had more than left his mark on the dark type Pokemon. Given Darkrai's condition Ash knew he had to take advantage of it by making use of Pikachu's speed and his small body which would allow him to dodge moves such as Dark Void which were fatal.

As Pikachu sprinted towards the field Ash decided to open the battle on his terms.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

Darkrai responded with an Ice Beam and as the two attacks competed, Ash could see that Pikachu's attack was overpowering Darkrai's attack. What Ash failed to see was that as Pikachu's attack was overpowering Ice Beam Pikachu was also gradually moving closer towards Darkrai and that was when Darkrai availed the opportunity presented and struck Pikachu with a devastating Throat Chop which sent Pikachu flying until he skidded to a stop in front of Ash, breathing heavily.

Ash was stunned by the attack and as he thought he knew Darkrai's move set as he had seen him fight against Palkia and Dialga. It was a rookie mistake on his part and he knew he could not afford to make such a mistake again.

Seeing that Darkrai was not going to take an initiative, Ash took charge once again.

"Quick Attack into Iron Tail" he shouted.

Pikachu carried out his command effortlessly, likely knowing where he was going with. This belief was further cemented by the prediction Ash made when making this gamble.

As Pikachu appeared before Darkrai, Darkrai clearly knew it was a ploy intercepting the Iron Tail with Throat Chop, but that was where he made the same mistake as Ash.

When Ash was Pikachu locked with Darkrai he knew he had succeeded with his ploy.

"Pikachu now use Thunder Wave"

He could see Darkrai's single eye widen in surprise before paralysis overtook Darkrai and he decided to take advantage of it while he could.

"Pikachu use Electro Ball back to back"

He could see that Darkrai did not expect that attack either as it took two Electro Balls before the paralysis receded. Just as it got up Darkrai proceeded to fire continuous Dark Pulses towards Pikachu.

"Pikachu use Light Screen to defend"

Ash smirked at Darkrai before his smirk turned into a frown at seeing Darkrai's own smirk.

Darkrai used Haze to lift the Light Screen and before he could warn Pikachu, Pikachu was struck successively two times by Dark Pulses before Ash's brain rebooted and he gave commands to Pikachu.

"Use Iron Tail to deflect and add in an Electro Ball"

Ash was sure he had Darkrai where he wanted him when the Sinnoh legendary showed him the simpler arts of dodging by simply disappearing as a shadow into the ground below. Unlike the last time when he was in Sinnoh, Ash now had a strategy.

"Pikachu use Iron Tail on the Darkrai by tracking his shadow and have an Electro Ball ready to fire!"

With narrowed eyes Pikachu tracked the movements of Darkrai who after a dozen Iron Tails on the ground seemed to be running out of space when suddenly he popped up behind Pikachu only to be treated with a face full of Electro Ball.

The resulting explosion threw Darkrai several feet away though when he turned to face them a Dark Pulse was readily approaching Pikachu who dodge the attack as commanded by Ash only to be struck with a Shadow Claw and another Dark Pulse.

Ash was certainly surprised how quickly Darkrai delivered the attacks after being dealt so much damage. Turning his gaze towards Pikachu, he could see it would not be able to continue for much longer.

It was time to go out in style using their signature attacks. As his eyes connected with Pikachu, Ash grinned and ordered.

"Thunderbolt"

As Thunderbolt connected with Ice Beam, Ash could see Pikachu latching onto Darkrai and he smirked before shouting once again.

"Thunderbolt let it loose!"

With a pronounced "PikaaaaAACHUUUU" Pikachu unleashed hell upon Darkrai who moaned in pain before shaking off Pikachu who flew through the air a distance away and skidded to a stop.

"Volt Tackle!"

Pikachu turned and heading towards Darkrai breaking into sprint electricity cackling and building around him as the very ground seemed to shake beneath him.

Ash could see Darkrai sending out waves of what looked like Night Daze towards Pikachu who broke through them all and crashed into Darkrai driving him into the ground, himself shooting up into the air.

Ash caught Pikachu with his hand and could see that he out for the count even as he struggled against Ash to get back to the battlefield, though Ash was having none of it.

"Rest buddy, you did awesome leave this to Sceptile"

He could see Pikachu nod before heading to the realm of Morpheus. Turning his gaze towards Darkrai he could see it was pretty battered as it dug itself out of the hole and faced him.

He had saved Sceptile for the last because he knew he would be very effective towards Darkrai. With his bug type moves, in addition to his experience against fighting them along with his secret weapon which had been prepared for this very situation Sceptile had a very good chance of taking down Darkrai once and for all. However he also knew not to be overconfident as though Sceptile was strong it could only take a few hits and was particularly vulnerable to Darkrai's Ice Beam.

For the first time Darkrai started the battle with a barrage of Dark Pulses while also using Double Team.

Ash had a hard time finding the real Darkrai, but they had more pressing problems right now.

"Use Detect to dodge and use Leaf Blade to counter"

Sceptile displayed his speed and grace as he weaved between the attacks sent by Darkrai with ease and then striking with Leaf Blade, Darkrai left panting from the super effective attack.

Ash decided to press his advantage and ordered another Leaf Blade, though by now Darkrai had recovered responding with a Throat Chop.

"Use your other arm for Leaf Blade too!"

Sceptile obeyed his demand only to encounter a Shadow Claw blocking his way. Ash was now in a quandary as both opponents were locked and if either retreated or tried to push forward he would most definitely be hit. That was when he remembered one of Sceptile's newer moves.

"Use Energy Ball and then follow up with X-Scissor!"

Sceptile opened his mouth before firing the Energy Ball at point blank range at Darkrai who appeared to wince and that was all the time Sceptile needed striking the injured Pokemon with X-Scissor causing Darkrai to double over in pain.

Ash opened his mouth to yell another order but the command fell short when Darkrai launched Dark Void at Sceptile who had his back turned to him waiting for Ash's command. That was when realization dawned on him. When Darkrai had doubled over in pain it was actually forming Dark Void. He had thought it was odd that a Darkrai could double over in pain but now was not the time to repent.

He smirked at Darkrai who seemed confused by his gesture as it was preparing a Dream Eater, at least until he shouted his order causing Darkrai's eye to widen.

"Sleep Talk, Sceptile"

It just so happened that the attack chosen was Solar Beam. Darkrai took full advantage of it by battering Sceptile with what seemed like waves of Dark Pulse and Night Daze.

Though still asleep it could be seen that Sceptile took substantial damage and even his sleep seemed pained. The Solar Beam was closed to being fired when Darkrai changed his strategy. An Ice Beam hit Sceptile square in the chest dealing a super effective hut and finally causing Sceptile to wake up.

"Sceptile, let it rip!"

As Solar Beam cut through Ice Beam and struck Darkrai, causing an explosion which spanned the whole battlefield Ash sighed in content and palmed a Poke Ball ready to be thrown when his expression of joy turned into confusion to anger and he yelled for all to hear.

"Oh FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"

There in the middle stood (or floated more accurately) Darkrai with his smirk powered to full blast before his smirk faded on Ash's next command.

"Sceptile end this, use FRENZY PLANT!" Ash hollered.

Ash could see Darkrai's expression turn into one of acceptance just before he was struck by the strongest grass type attack know and knocked into unconsciousness.

Ash could hardly believe it, he had finally defeated Darkrai. He ran up to Sceptile before giving it a hug while he attempted to look cool and composed( which wasn't hard considering he had ice stuck to the middle of his chest). Ash then stepped back and came close to Darkrai's body before tapping his Poke Ball with it and after a second a soft "ding" registered the capturing of his newest strongest Pokemon. He then gave a shout of ecstasy before shouting to all who cared his feat. No matter how much he matured catching a legendary would always permit a cause for childish celebration.

With everything said and done he gave one last look towards the carnage caused in the wake of their battle before running towards the Pokemon center to get his Pokemon healed.

As he lay in the bed of his room in the Pokemon Center in Alamos Town, Ash turned his thoughts towards Darkrai. Now that he had a Darkrai even if a trainer like Tobias showed up in the Sinnoh League, nothing short of a Rayquaza would take down Darkrai considering his Darkrai was many time stronger than Tobias' Darkrai or his Latios. Ash was now sure he was ready for anything the Kalos League could throw at him. He was going to win the League this time for sure. After all, never give till it's over.