Thanks for waiting! Now, you'll see the second half of the battle between Max and Ash! Please leave your thoughts in a review, if you don't mind! Enjoy!


"Croconaw, I choose you!"

"Croc!" The second-stage water type appeared, opposite of Electivire. He snapped his jaws at the larger pokemon.

"And, Ash has substituted Typhlosion with Croconaw! What could he be thinking, using a water type in this battle?"

"Took the words right outta my mouth," Max quipped. "What're you up to this, time?" He knew Ash too well to assume he made that choice without reason.

"The truth is, Croconaw's the only pokemon I have who's fast enough to deal with Electivire's speed. Plus, I just love a challenge!"

"I really doubt a Croconaw's fast enough to…"

"Dragon Dance!"

Croconaw began to do what he did best - dance and prance about. Hopping and flipping around, he became immersed in a red, misty aura, boosting his speed, and his attack power, to boot.

"I didn't know Croconaw could learn Dragon Dance!" Max blurted out. "Whatever; Electivire, Thunderpunch!"

"Electivire!" The electric type charged, throwing a charged haymaker at Croconaw.

"He's always lived to dance," Ash replied, confident.

Just as Electivire's fist came, Croconaw leapt backwards, soaring just over the blow, turning belly-up.

"Hydro Pump!" Ash called.

Croconaw turned into a backflip, quickly righting himself, still within close range. He opened his mouth wide, pulverizing Electivire with a powerful jet.

Electivire groaned, blown back across the field from the pressure.

"You weren't bluffing," Max muttered. "Thunder!"

Electivire casted the blast of electricity with haste.

"Dragon Dance, again!"

With Thunder incoming, Croconaw hopped on one foot, launching into the air, twirling into a graceful spin, while the attack only struck the ground below him. Shades of red swirled around his body, once more.

"Thunderpunch," Max ordered.

The Thunderbolt pokemon charged, throwing several punches at Croconaw.

The first was ducked, a second lower sweep avoided by hopping on one foot. A right hook was met with him spinning gracefully on that one leg, twirling gracefully out of the punch's reach.

Ash smirked. "Use Crunch!"

Still spinning, Croconaw turned his pirouette back towards Electivire's arm, opening his maw to sink his teeth into the limb.

Electivire cried in pain.

"Now, quick," Ash hurried, "toss him!"

Croconaw yanked Electivire's arm down to the ground with him, finding footing on the field. He spun once more, releasing the larger pokemon to toss it back towards Max.

Somewhat dizzy, Electivire landed on all fours, coming short of a rough landing.

"Wow! Not only is Croconaw an expert with rhythm, but his jaws have the power to toss a pokemon several times his size and weight! This battle is bound to be interesting!"


"I didn't know Croconaw could groove like that!" May whistled, impressed by the gator.

"Croconaw's always been that way," Misty explained. She was still a bit bitter Ash had caught him first, but he seemed happy, at least. "He likes to dance just as much as he likes to battle!"

"He fights more like a pokemon groomed for contests than league battles," Drew remarked. "Groomed well, at that. It's no wonder even Electivire's having trouble."

"You're so right!" Dawn agreed. Admittedly, she was a little star struck to be discussing contests with Drew, of all people. "And, Ash is making perfect use of that."


Ash didn't let them rest. "Use Ice Punch!"

Croconaw sprinted for the recovering Electivire, closing the distance with a graceful leap. He reared his fist, a frosty Ice Punch ready.

"Use Barrier!" Max ordered.

Electivire threw his large hands forward, quickly summoning a sturdy wall before him.

Croconaw's fist smashed against it, leaving a dent. A bit of frost made it to Electivire, but it was otherwise unharmed.

"Use Hydro Pump!" Ash called.

Croconaw opened his mouth wide, firing Hydro Pump.

"Quick," Max panicked, "dodge that, and use Thunderpunch!"

Just as Barrier shattered, Electivire jumped above, coming down with Thunderpunch.

Croconaw did a somersault backwards, allowing Electivire's fist to only strike solid earth.

"Barrier!" Max called.

Electivire quickly created a shield between the two.

"But, I didn't call an attack…" Ash trailed off.

Croconaw turned to spin away from the shield of his own volition.

"Behind it, now!"

Electivire's speed made quick work of the distance between them, allowing him to flank the water type. A second barrier was placed behind the Big Jaw pokemon.

"Now, the sides!"

"...Crap, he's doing that again!" Ash's eyes grew wide with his realization. "Croconaw, get outta there!"

The jolly pokemon was tragically oblivious to the danger, merrily spinning to avoid Electivire.

He quickly found himself boxed in on four sides.

"Jump out!" Ash urged.

The water type jumped, as told. He found resistance when his head smashed against a solid surface, falling to nurse the bump it formed.

"This is bad," Ash hissed.

"Now, no more dancing around!" Max proclaimed, brimming with pride.

"What's this!? Max has boxed in Croconaw with five different barriers!"

"Now, Thunder!" Max called out.

"Electiviiire!" The Thunderbolt roared, blasting the box with a ruthless current.

Croconaw's pained cries could be heard from inside the enclosure.

As the sizzling of Thunder stopped, the audience went silent, saved for hushed whispers. Ash and Max looked on with suspense.

The referee coughed. "Ahem, Croconaw can't be seen from inside barrier, so I can't make a call!"

"Despite the devastating Thunder, it's hard to tell how Croconaw fared, one way or another! "

"I guess if I want my win, we better get those out of the way…" Max huffed. What a pain. "Electivire… huh!?" Just short of calling an attack, Max paused.

Flashes of light splintered from the tight grooves formed by Barrier. Daring slivers turned to bold illumination, and the Barriers began to crack.

"What's this!? Something's happening from inside the Barrier!"

Ash smirked to himself. "Here it is."

The first of the walls cracked, then caved, shattered by a gargantuan blue tail, lined with spiked red ridges. The limb swung to the left, smashing another Barrier in half. As the roof collapsed, a large, brutish skull lined with red spikes smashed through it.

The last of the Barriers fell, and Croconaw stood tall. Or, at least he'd been Croconaw moments before.

Feraligatr roared, stretching his limbs out.

"Well, now I've seen everything! After enduring a super-effective Thunder, Croconaw spontaneously evolved into Feraligatr! Talk about a show of defiance!"

"Congratulations, Croc- Feraligatr!" Ash corrected himself. "Way to come through." As he praised his teammate, he pulled out his Pokedex to scan his pokemon. "New move learned!" Dexter spoke in his usual monotone.

"Aw, come on. Talk about a lucky break!" Max scowled, stomping his foot.

"Nah, it wasn't luck." Ash pocketed his Pokedex. "He's been teetering towards evolving for a while now, he just needed the proper push! I guess getting backed into a corner was just what he needed!"

Feraligatr roared in response, his tail wagging. Despite his terrifying visage, he seemed to be grinning.

"Hah, I think he's thanking you, Max!"

"Glad I could help…" The younger trainer frowned. Though, he couldn't get angry at that big, goofy face. "Alright, Thunderpunch!"

Electivire sprinted, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. He delivered a crackling punch to Feraligatr's jaw.

"Superpower!" Ash called in return.

Feraligatr flinched, his head pushed back by the punch. The scales on his cheek were burnt. But, he swung back with brutal force, slamming his tail into Electivire's gut with all of his might.

"Vire!" The biped coughed and hacked, sent flying through the air.

"Use Crunch!" Ash pointed forward with a grin.

Feraligatr stomped across the field, somehow carrying himself with the same whimsy that he'd had as a Croconaw. His jaws opened wide, painting a far less jovial picture for Electivire.

Max swallowed. "Use Barrier! More than one of them!"

Electivire landed on one knee, beginning to grow weary. His arms and gut were sore. Nonetheless, he summoned three different barriers, each reinforcing the last.

"If you think he ain't biting on something, you're dreaming," Ash remarked, looking smug.

"Not with those in the way!" Max argued. "I mean, what's he gonna do, bite a Barrier?"

Feraligatr, meanwhile, did just that. Opening his mouth wide, he set himself to snap his jaws down on the first of the barriers, gnashing and shattering it with his razor-sharp teeth.

Max trembled, his face losing color. "...Oh."

"Told ya," Ash teased. "Now, Hydro Pump!"

The Big Jaw pokemon spit out the shards, firing an intense Hydro Pump from his mouth.

The move smashed through the two remaining Barriers, striking Electivire head-on.

"Quick, Thunder!" Max shouted.

"Electi…. Electivire!" The electric type groaned against the pressure, firing his influence through the current.

Feraligatr roared in pain, his attack dissipating at once.

"Great," Max rejoiced. "Now, Thunderpunch!"

Just as Feraligatr regained his bearings, shaking off the static, Electivire was only inches away.

The burly pokemon grinned, socking Feraligatr in the jaw.

"Use Crunch!"

Powerful jaws and teeth snapped down on Electivire's arm.

It roared, yanking away from the large reptile. Tried as he may, he gained no ground against his snap-happy predator.

With a muffled roar, the water type tossed his head, sending his opponent crashing into the field.

Electivire had swirls in his eyes.

"Electivire is unable to battle!" The referee threw his hand up. "Feraligatr wins!"

"A brutal battle, with two competitors meeting blow-for-blow! But, the newly evolved Feraligatr's bark was certainly surpassed by his bite! It was too much for Electivire!"

Max swallowed, trying to ignore the peanut gallery. "Thanks, Electivire." He recalled the unconscious pokemon, clipping its ball to his belt. "You helped turn the match around, so you rest, alright?"

With that, his eyes were set on Feraligatr. It was conscious, certainly, but it was burnt in several places from super-effective moves, and breathing heavily, to boot. Electivire had done his job.

"Okay… Donphan's asleep, Typhlosion's paralyzed, Noctowl's out, and Feraligatr's weak…" Max counted aloud. "Now, if I just come at him with Venusaur, and…" His stomach tightened.

He only had two left.

"Alright, Ash. You're asking for it!" Max barked, reaching for his belt. "Here's the pokemon I got from Professor Oak! The second I ever got on my journey!" He fumbled with the pokeball, before chucking it.

"Go, Venusaur!"

Four gargantuan feet stomped down on the field. A gigantic, pink spotted flower climbed from the beast's back, brimming with toxins. "Sauuur!" Venusaur roared, spotting Ash across the field. The sight of the familiar trainer made her grin. "Venusaur!" She turned her chin up at the tired Feraligatr.

She'd certainly make up for their last match.

"A grudge match, eh?" Ash smirked. "Alright, Venusaur. Bring it on!"

"You'll see what we can do!" Max yelled.

"Saur," Venusaur agreed.

"Use Leech Seed!"

Venusaur lowered her head, firing a swarm of parasitic seeds from her flower.

"Blast them away with Hydro Pump," Ash countered.

Feraligatr blasted the bulk of the seeds away, their roots withering under the pressure. But, several found their home in the dirt, blossoming to snag around Feraligatr's legs. Stray roots hung just above ground, lying in wait for their meal.

The Big Jaw pokemon grumbled, kicking some of the roots snagging him. He roared when a red light surrounded him, sapping his strength.

"Great… They're limiting his movement." Ash frowned. "Whack those weeds with Ice Punch!"

Feraligatr brandished a fist, sweeping across the ground before him, covering it in frost.

A swarm of the seeds froze and wilted away. The next sapping took less of a toll on Feraligatr, which was clear to Ash when the pokemon only grunted in annoyance.

"Great…" Max grumbled. But, this presented an opportunity. "Use Toxic!"

Venusaur spat a pile of corrosive goo at Feraligatr. The latter, occupied with freeing himself, was struck.

Feraligatr roared, bothered by bubbling poison.

"Despite his disadvantage, Max has piled on two different status effects on Feraligatr! Venusaur is off to a good start!"

"We're really fighting the clock now," Ash muttered. "Use Crunch!"

Feraligatr charged towards Venusaur, his long, sharp teeth on full display.

"He's moving a lot slower," Max observed, blinking. "...It's Leech Seed!" The roots were still offering resistance. "That's our chance; Petal Blizzard!"

"Saur!" Venusaur roared, unleashing a storm of petals.

The water type charged forward, snapping at the projectiles in his pursuit. The super-effective move slowed his approach, but the oncoming attack was inevitable. Feraligatr's jaws sunk into Venusaur's side.

Venusaur croaked, trying to buck the gator from her hide.

"Ice Punch!" Ash called.

Feraligatr began to raise his fist. Frost gathered, and quickly dispersed. Depleting stamina and painful poison broke the water type's concentration. It was all he could do just to hold on.

"He's stuck…! He can't do anything but bite!" Ash frowned.

"Feraligatr and Venusaur are locked in a battle of attrition! Will the former cave first!?"

"If he gets another chance…!" Max gasped. This was their chance! "Another Leech Seed, now!"

Despite the pain, Venusaur was delighted to find her stamina refilled every so often. She launched seeds into the air from her flower.

They landed on Feraligatr, tangling him further. His legs were tied together, and his arms constrained. Suffering another sap of power, he released Venusaur, collapsing on his back.

"Feraligatr is unable to battle," the referee declared. "Venusaur wins!"

"Like a cornered Persian, Max struck back with ferocity when put in a tough spot! Venusaur came out of this round with only superficial damage, and it looks ready to go, for the next round!"

Max exhaled a breath he swore he'd been holding forever. "That's another one down…"


"Way to go, Max!" May whooped, leaning over her seat. "You got him!"

When the woman sitting in front of her grumbled, she blushed, sitting upright. "Eheheh…"

"Poor Feraligatr…" Misty frowned. "But, good for Max. This match isn't over, yet!"


"Thanks, Feraligatr." Ash smiled down at the occupied pokeball, clipping it to his own belt. "You did your part." His gaze turned up. "Alright, Max! Hope you're ready for more!"

"What kinda question is that!?" Max snapped. "Of course, I am!"

"Jeez," Ash recoiled, "sorry… Anyway, here we come! Meganium, I choose you!"

The spinning pokeball spit out a flash, taking the form of a large quadruped. Sporting a vibrant flower of her own, this one sporting a much more pleasant fragrance, the dinosaur craned her neck, challenging Venusaur. "Ganium!"

"This next battle will be between two grass type starter pokemon! This is bound to be fierce!"

"This might be a long battle," Max thought aloud. "Use Toxic!"

Venusaur made haste, firing another round of poison.

Meganium turned to run out of harm's way. A heavy splat against her side denied her that escape, slipping irritating poison into her skin. She hissed.

"You sure were quick on the draw," Ash frowned. "Hey, Meganium, hang on! I'll switch you for Typhlosion," Ash soothed, reaching for his belt.

"Meganium!" She roared in return, casting a glare at Venusaur. Her forelegs stomped the ground before her.

"So, you still wanna fight." Ash smirked. "Alright. Grab Venusaur's legs with Vine Whip!"

Meganium tossed her head, launching two vines from her neck. They latched around Venusaur's two right legs. She yanked her body backwards, unceremoniously uprooting Venusaur. The Seed pokemon cried, thrown helplessly onto her side.

"Venusaur!" Max shouted. "She's gotta be stuck… Use Leech Seed, below you!"

The disheveled pokemon complied, firing scores of Leech Seeds at the ground under her. Sprouts began to surface, gathering into what would soon become a shrub.

"Perfect," Ash thought aloud. "Now, use Aromatherapy!"

"What!?" Max's face quickly lost color.

"Ganium~" The quadruped soothed, summoning a sweet, calming pink mist from her flower, surrounding herself first. Proper color returned to her face, Toxic's effects dying away.

The restorative spores went on to slip past Ash's jacket and onto his belt, filling his remaining pokeballs.

Recognizing the threat Meganium presented on top of his already dire situation, an edge of desperation knifed its way into Max's expression. The corners of his mouth drew down and back in a determined scowl. "Leech Seed!" he cried. Then, for good measure, he called out another attack after it. "Toxic!"

Sending out the rough coated seed shells of the Leech Seed attack towards Meganium, they were soon caught up in the acidic sludge of Toxic.

Ash wasn't sure what a Toxic-coated Leech Seed might do, but he didn't intend to find out. "Meganium! Use Aromatherapy while hitting Venusaur with Body Slam!"

The same pink haze as before surrounded Meganium like an aura as she began to trot, quickly building into a full-on gallop. The Toxic-coated Leech Seeds struck her. However, in passing through Aromatherapy's veil, the Toxic was neutralized. Furthermore, only half of the Leech Seeds even landed to begin growing on her; many had been melted by the very poisonous move that had previously been combined with them!

Both trainers were still processing the scene, though. Meganium leaped into the air just before she reached Venusaur, displaying a degree of agility that was unexpected for her species, but not so atypical that it bypassed believability.

Heavily, the long-necked grass type kicked down at Venusaur when she used Body Slam. Venusaur let out a pained roar.

"Double-Edge, quick!" Max cried, noting the odd crackling wince Venusaur shuddered after being hit. It must have been paralyzed.

Leaning back and then leaping forward, Venusaur slammed into Meganium with its full weight. The dinosaur staggered backwards as her counterpart heaved heavily, the wind knocked out of them both.

"That ought to buy us some time. Meganium, use Solarbeam!" Ash was confident she'd be able to pull it off after the hurting she'd put on Venusaur.

Max, unsure of whether Venusaur would be able, but trusting in their bond and Venusaur's strength, spoke an order as well. "Petal Blizzard!"

The dash of pink petals crossed the field rapid fire. Swarming around Meganium, they hid her from view as she began to glow golden. She was blocked from view completely for a brief moment. Then, a dazzling pillar of yellow light burnt through the petals, striking Venusaur.

Meganium stepped through the ruined Petal Blizzard, breathing heavily but looking proud. Venusaur groaned, fangs bared in frustration.

Max, deciding to take a chance, called for another status effect. "Toxic!"

He was lucky; Ash was also in the betting mood. "Vine Whip!"

The Toxic, uninhibited by Meganium's defenses, landed on her forelegs. Her Vine Whips, however, lashed out, snatching Venusaur's forelegs. Lifting the behemoth flowering beast up, she turned it onto its back with a mighty roar of her own. Now, Venusaur lay prone and Meganium was poisoned.

And, with that, the gamble was turning in Ash's favor. A tingle of yellow, crackling power danced across Venusaur's body. The paralysis was taking hold.

"Meganium, now!" Ash yelled, pumping a fist in the air. "Body Slam! Let's finish it!"

"Meg!" the dinosaur called in turn, charging forward on her aching legs. She jumped, landing with her full weight on Venusaur's stomach. The wind was knocked from Venusaur's lungs and, briefly struggling, the grass/poison type fainted.

The referee raised a flag. The announcer's voice came over the speakers.

"And, in an uncharacteristically brutally physical battle, these two grass type starters have settled the score decisively! Meganium has knocked out Venusaur!"

Max returned Venusaur wordlessly. He looked down at the pokeball, sweat dripping off his brow. He was down to his last pokemon. Snapping out of his panic, he nodded. "Thank you, Venusaur." He clutched his final pokeball. This pokemon wasn't his starter, but it was the one he had the deepest bond with. If anyone was going to pull through for him, it had to be this one! "Gardevoir, let's go!"

Fluttering down with dainty grace, the psychic/fairy type looked upon the scene quietly.

Ash took note of this, and spoke to Meganium. "Use Aromatherapy-"

"Psychic!"

Cutting Ash and Meganium's concentration off, Gardevoir reacted almost as quickly as Max spoke. One of the pokemon's white hands was lifted, eyes glowing blue as Meganium was thrown through the air.

"It's fast!" Ash yelped, shocked somehow. He hadn't seen that kind of synergy outside of himself and Pikachu, or maybe Rosa when they were both using aura! Then again, Gardevoir was a psychic type. Maybe they had a mental link!

"Calm Mind!" Max called, confidence restored.

While Meganium got back up from her side with a little encouragement from Ash, Gardevoir's eyes fell shut. The fairy type's whole body pulsed pink. It was stronger now, able to both give and receive stronger blows.

"Solarbeam!" Ash growled. They couldn't play around with Gardevoir, then.

"Calm Mind!" Max ordered once more. She was going to tank that attack! She definitely would!

Seeing that Meganium was fully golden from storing up power, Ash chopped the air, motioning towards their target. "Fire!"

"Ganium!" Meganium roared.

Better than tanking an attack, though, was not being hit at all. Max yelled his order out. "Teleport!"

Winking out of sight, Gardevoir was safely removed from harm's way. Meganium's Solarbeam struck the stadium wall.

"Yes!" Max cried, leaping into the air with relief. He could feel sweat dripping down his neck. "Psychic!"

When Gardevoir reappeared, its eyes were already glowing. Snatching Meganium up in a telekinetic hold, it threw the grass type. Meganium landed with a dust-disrupting thud outside of the chalk outline for the battle field.

When the dust settled, the referee raised a flag and Ash let out a sigh of relief. He'd been worried that fall might have hurt her, but she was only knocked out.

"Meganium can no longer battle! Gardevoir wins this round!"

"After Ash took the last round, Max returns with a vengeance! Gardevoir's psychic attacks completely overwhelmed its experienced competitor!"


"Yeah! Way to give it to him, Max!" May chirped, winking to view a 'lens' through her open eye, formed by her index fingers and thumbs. "Today, on May's Expeditions, Max, the cunning trainer from Petalburg City, is staging a comeback against the veteran trainer, Ash Ketchum!"

"You can do it, Ash!" Dawn waved a fist in the air, suddenly shrinking, afterward. "...And, Max, you too!"

"He's holding together well," Brock commended, his arms crossed.

"Absolutely," Professor Oak agreed. "Ash staged a fatal blow with Aromatherapy; and, something tells me that he kept that in his pocket, intentionally, for just that sort of situation. Many trainers would crumble in his shoes; maybe even surrender. But, he's put all of his hope in Gardevoir."

Misty smiled, brushing a bang from her brows. "Get him, kid."


Ash recalled Meganium, quietly thanking her. "Hey, Max!"

The youth stood up, stiff. "What is it!?"

"Hey, loosen up!" Ash winked at Max, resting a hand on his hip, the other relaxed at his side. "You've held up great, so far. More than I could've asked for!"

"Yeah, well…" Any thoughts of a snarky comeback vanished. Max shrunk avoiding eye contact, as much as he tried to hold it. "Just because I only have one pokemon left, doesn't mean it's over!"

"Of course not." The hoisted hand slipped under Ash's red jacket, gripping a pokeball. "I'm proud of you. It's scary, out here. Especially in the later rounds. But, here you are. Further than I got the first time I came here."

Max bit his lip, widening his stance. "But, either way, that's still losing…"

"Shut up, already!"

Max flinched. As did at least a few onlookers, no doubt. The crowd seemed patient for the duo.

Ash snarled. "Listen to me, and shut up about that 'losing' crap!"

Max sniffled, biting back tears. "What do you care!?" He barked, ignoring Gardevoir's concern. "You're gonna win this, and go on! And, you'll probably win that next battle, too! You're all set!"

"It's got nothing to do with me!" The messy-haired contender threw a hand out to the side. "It's for you! Stop beating yourself up! Stop making it all about winning and losing!"

"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu agreed, barking in turn at Ash's side.

Max fumbled with his glasses without a sound.

"You know what would happen if I thought like that, all the way through? Every round, I'd walk onto the field with the jitters, freaking out about whether I'll win, or get knocked out of the tournament, after all of my hard work!" Ash retreated his hand, balling it into a fist.

"I'd worry about how my opponent's going to feel, getting knocked out… I'd love to see us both win. But, guess what? If that's all we thought about, then we'd miss out on enjoying the battle. We'd miss out on sharing that thrill with our pokemon. This is about them, just as much as it is about us!"

This time, Max didn't look away out of cowardice. He looked to Gardevoir. "...Do you care?"

The Embrace pokemon gently shook her head. Through telepathy, she made her feelings clear. She was only happy to have gotten this far with him; to reunite and have this journey, from beginning to end. Worrying about first place could wait.

Max sniffled. The warmth relayed through her thoughts touched his heart. "I… Alright. You win, Ash! We'll fight you with all we've got!" He pointed towards his senior, leaving the last of his tears behind. "No matter what!"

"Gar!" The psychic type turned towards Ash, challenging him.

Ash grinned, gripping a pokeball at chest height. "That's what I like to hear!"

"I think I speak for all of us when I say that our patience was well-spent! A truly heartfelt exchange between competitors, about the intensity of competition, and about their pokemon! One can only imagine what will come of the climax of this battle!"

"If you're giving your all with Gardevoir… Then, I'll show you my bond with my next pokemon!" Ash stepped to the side, one leg before the next. The pokeball was held across his chest, chucked with a backhand toss. "Typhlosion, I choose you!"

The Volcano pokemon appeared, now free of static. He roared loudly, flexing his muscles. Roaring fire bloomed around his neck.

Ash pointed forward. "Flamethrower!"

Fully revitalized, Typhlosion threw his head forward, spitting his assault.

"With those Calm Minds, it shouldn't do much," Max thought aloud. "But, just to be sure… Another round!"

Gardevoir had acted before her trainer had finished his sentence, taking a deep, peaceful breath. A vibrant glow surrounded her, amplifying her offensive and defensive powers.

Just in time for Flamethrower to blast the psychic type without mercy.

The smoke cleared, and she stood, with little more than a light coat of ashes.

"With all of those Calm Minds built up, even a Flamethrower is helpless!"

Ash smiled to himself. "So, Flamethrower won't do any good… We'll just have to go physical!" He threw a hand in the air. "Typhlosion, use Aerial Ace!"

Typhlosion charged, lunging into the air with agility that few would expect. Setting his sights on Gardevoir, he zipped in, ready to dive bomb his physically frail opponent.

Max's brows furrowed. "Psychic!"

Gardevoir threw her arms forward, exerting a psychic prison on the beast that hung just overhead. His proximity made the typically serene pokemon remarkably nervous.

Max's thumb dug into his palm as his pokemon's difficulty washed over him.

"Ty!" Typhlosion roared, shoving against the telekinetic lock. With gravity, weight, and momentum on his side, he shoved against Gardevoir's influence.

"Gar…!" Gardevoir's outstretched arms trembled. She couldn't hold him for long; that was certain. Rather than shove back, she spun to the side, flinging Typhlosion's momentum off course.

He was flung past Gardevoir, landing roughly to skid across the flat terrain.

"We almost had them," Ash muttered. "Smokescreen; make it nice and thick!"

Typhlosion understood. He clung close to the ground, releasing a cloud of thick, inky smog. Rather than bother obscuring the whole field, his focus remained entirely on the small area surrounding himself and Gardevoir. The clouds were black as night, and clung close to the ground.

"What… Ack!" Max coughed, guarding his mouth with his hand. "What kind of Smokescreen is that!? It's gross!"

"I call it effective," Ash defended. "We learned this from Dawn and her Typhlosion; they use it the same way during their contests. It pays to have a creative training partner!"

"The Smokescreen is contained, but to whose advantage will that play out!? That's no ordinary diversion!"

"Come on, how hard can he be to spot!?" Max complained, alternating between peering into the gaps in smoke and wiping his glasses clean. "He's huge; the smoke isn't even that high! You're not getting close like that, Ash."

Gardevoir carefully scanned every ease in the smoke she could spot, vigilant to keep her powers at the ready.

"Thunderpunch," Ash quietly called.

Inside the smoke, lightning crackled. Typhlosion crouched, flattening its long, bulky body along the ground, below any line of sight. Poised on all fours, he raised his rear.

With a roar, he pounced.

Gardevoir cried, slugged in the jaw with an electrifying strike. She was knocked back into the smoke, disheveled.

Feeling her distress, the boy gasped. "Gardevoir!"

"He may be big, but he's only tall if he wants to be," Ash explained, judging the result by the overheard cry.

Typhlosion retained his stealth, ready for his next command. Suddenly, he tensed, assaulted by a regrettably familiar numbness filling his body. Electricity danced along his fur, jolting his senses.

Black fog died away, for the most part, revealing both pokemon to all onlookers.

Typhlosion was hunched over, nipping at the occasional crackle of static. Gardevoir, likewise, was showing difficulty standing upright.

"What's this!? It seems that both Typhlosion and Gardevoir are paralyzed!"

"Both of them!?" Ash echoed. "I get Gardevoir, but why Typhlosion?"

"Didn't you know?" Max taunted, nudging his glasses with his index finger. "It's Gardevoir's ability; Synchronize! Whatever status effect she's hit with, her opponent deals with, too!"


"A very handy ability," Professor Oak remarked. "That paralysis; Ash thought it was his ally. Perhaps it was not."

"I totally caught that!" Dawn winked, surprisingly containing her enthusiasm for poetry. She was too engrossed in the battle. "This is going to be difficult for both of them… What'll Ash do, now?"

"Whatever it is," Misty answered, "both of them better act fast. Time's of the essence, now."


Max didn't hesitate in this golden moment. "Use Psychic!"

Gardevoir stood upright, her eyes lit with a magnificent glow.

Typhlosion, tried as he may to cling to the earth, was yanked into the air above, helpless to move.

"He can't hit her, and Flamethrower won't do any good…" Ash adjusted the brim of his cap. "Another heavy Smokescreen!"

"Oh, no!" Max's face went pale. "Quick, try to contain it!"

Typhlosion hung, immobile, releasing a flood of smoke onto the field below.

Gardevoir tensed, keeping one hand suspended to hold Typhlosion. The other tended to the smoke, repelling it to the best of the Embrace pokemon's abilities.

As the smoke was blown away, it spilled over, crowding Gardevoir's dress.

"It's failing, now!" Ash smirked, triumphant. "She can't hold him and the smoke at once."

As Ash predicted, Gardevoir shuddered, exhausted. Typhlosion dropped with a thud, and Smokescreen flowed free.

"Now's our chance," Ash roared, "Aerial ace!"

Typhlosion tensed, numb from paralysis. After a moment's delay, he charged forward, leaping at the recovering Gardevoir. "Phlosion!" With a roar, he chucked his body forward.

"Gar!" The psychic type shrieked, assaulted with the fire-type's full weight. She flung backwards, the breath knocked from her compact lungs.

"This is it," Ash coached, throwing a hand out. "Flamethrower!"

Typhlosion hunched over, his legs numb. He carried on, spitting fire at his hurting opponent.

The psychic type was limp, her concentration lost from the impact. Calm Mind's influence was absent when Flamethrower slammed into her torso, blasting her onward with no resistance.

The flames crashed Gardevoir into the wall behind Max.

"Gardevoir!" Max followed the heat, stupefied. Everything had unfolded before he'd had the chance to blink.

The psychic type, light as she always was, tumbled with gentle grace to the arena floor. Swirls in her eyes erased any ambiguities.

The referee raised his flag. "Gardevoir is unable to battle! Typhlosion is the victor; making the winner of this match Ash, from Pallet Town!"

"And, that's a wrap! In a fierce battle for dominance, Typhlosion delivered his brute force, along with Ash's quick thinking to overcome Max and Gardevoir's formidable strategy! This quarter-final match has reached its thrilling conclusion!"

The smoke that had surrounded Typhlosion had drifted off, leaving only inky spots on his fur. While he wasn't quite exhausted, his limbs were too numb to allow him to groom. Not that he minded. He was far too proud to concern himself with it.

He suddenly felt a strong pair of arms wrap around his torso.

"Feeling alright?" Ash beamed, lightly stroking the fur around his mane. Any embers that lingered left the trainer's fingers be.

Like many fire types, Typhlosion could cool his own flames to allow comfort for those he trusted. Typhlosion smiled, lightly brushing his face into Ash's cheek.

"You're not gonna knock me over, this time?" Ash teased, returning the show of affection. "You must be really buzzed up. You fought the good fight!"

"Pi-PIkachu!" Pikachu agreed, patting Typhlosion's shoulder. A battle well won!

"Ty!" The pokemon roared, passively leaning into Ash's shoulder. Staying upright in this condition was a pain. But, he was happy. Especially so.

"Let's get you healed up, real soon." With that, the trainer recalled his star player, turning to Max.

But, the boy was already retreating to the stadium. Out of the corner of his eye, Ash had seen Max console Gardevoir before recalling her. He smiled, adjusting his cap. "Guess he needs a minute. Let's go, Pikachu!"

"Pikachu!"

"That's the end of the quarter finals of the Indigo League Conference! Let's hear a big hand for our competitors!"

As the second of the two determined trainers exited the ring, loud applause roared.


Max looked down at Gardevoir's pokeball, lost in thought. He didn't even hear Ash approaching until the slapping sound of having his shoulder clapped reached him, along with the slight sting of pain. Ash was strong; so much so, that even a friendly slap on the shoulder hurt a little.

"Ya doin' alright?" the elder trainer repeated when Max didn't answer him.

"Huh? Oh! Yeah. I'm…" He trailed off, looking to Ash and then back to the quieting field.

Their friends approached them in a herd just then.

Squealing with pride, May picked her little brother up and swung him in the air before quickly putting him down. She rubbed her back. "Jeez! You're gettin' big!"

Max blushed. "No one told you to pick me up!"

Drew huffed, shaking his head. "She's proud of you, Max."

"We all are," Misty quickly added in.

Koda gave a thumbs-up, nodding. "You did super."

"But, I…!" he began, biting his tongue and thinking it over.

"Lost?" Koda interjected, too close with Max to walk on eggshells around him. He snickered. "All that big talk about getting the gold, and you didn't even come in second!"

"Hey, I came in…!" he trailed off again, being forced to swallow his pride. He finally looked to Ash. "I came in top eight."

Realizing that Max was looking to him, Ash rubbed under his nose, grinning. "Heheh! That's even better I did my first time." He let out a content sigh. "Remember that promise we made last time we traveled together? I'd say this lived up to it." He held out a curled fist, offering it to Max to bump.

The boy choked up, bumping his fist against Ash's before blubbering. "Y-Yeah! This is good! I did good! My team did good!"

May couldn't help but throw her arm around her brother, hugging him close. "Aw, Max! You're so proud. You can cry. You did good."

Dawn, feeling a little distant from the drama with Max, looked to Ash. "This means a lot to him, huh?"

Ash nodded, looking to Dawn. "Yeah… Your first league… Until you've been to one, you won't get it. I guess the Grand Festival's a little similar, but…" He bumped his own chest. "It hits you here, you know?"

"... Well, I hope he's proud."

"He should be. He did good."