Me: As usual, I don't own Pokemon, 'cause if I did, Ash & Misty would've declared their love for each other in the first or second movies!

Chikorita: (irritated, eyes flashing with fire) Chiko, chiko?! (What was that?!)

Me: (smirks) Don't get me wrong, but I just don't see a future for you and Ash anytime soon.

Chikorita: Chikori chiko, chiko? (A Pokemon can dream, can't she?)

Me: You got a point there. Onward to the next chapter!

Pokemon: The Best of the Best

Chapter I-Rematch Time!

"Charizard's finally listening!" –Misty

"Never mock the cookie…" –Uncle

Last time, Ash was training his Pokemon for the upcoming Johto League Championship, but the mysterious Pokemon Entei suddenly appeared, and defeated Chikorita in two fiery moves! Ash and his friends were being monitored by Mewtwo and Lawrence III, and they also had managed to somehow gain control of Entei. Now, Charizard has decided to go up against this Legendary Pokemon and once again, pit fire against fire!

(Theme Song; Fanfare starts as Ash says the name of the show)

Ash: Rematch Time!

Charizard roared a challenge toward Entei, who accepted it without question.

"Guys, what's Entei doing away from Molly?" Brock asked calmly.

"Who knows? What we do know is that he's here, and we've gotta stop him in case he decides to go on a rampage!" Ash declared.

"Sure-if he decides to wreck the Pokemon Center." Misty cracked; Ash, most of his Pokemon and Brock all glared at her a second later for that remark.

"Just kidding."

"CHAAAAAARRRRR!!!" Charizard shot a powerful Flamethrower attack straight at Entei, who retaliated with his own. The two streams of fire collided and exploded moments later.

"All right, Charizard-Entei's got a powerful Flamethrower, but he can't match your flying skills! Take to the sky and hit him with a Tackle attack!" Ash demanded. Nodding, Charizard instantly flew upward and struck Entei hard, sending him to the ground.

"Most impressive. He's obviously gained valuable experience if his Charizard obeys him now." Mewtwo admitted with a small grin on his face.

"What do you mean by that? When I faced him, that Pokemon was determined to assist him in stopping me." The Psychic Pokemon turned to face the collector and silenced him with a look.

"All the Pokemon throughout the entire world, during that time, were concerned for the safety of the planet, as well as the humans and themselves. His Charizard can be added among that number, for although he believed Ash to be the Chosen One, he still didn't obey him fully, as he does now." Mewtwo explained.

"And how long before those Pokemon realize that what they're fighting is in reality a holographic Entei?" Lawrence III asked grimly.

"It won't be long. Ash's Pikachu and Charizard both have heightened senses of smell. I'm surprised it's taken them this long to figure it out."

"Okay, Charizard-take care of Entei with a Seismic Toss!" Ash cried out. The Fire-type grabbed Entei and started to lift him up. As they spun around in the air, Charizard sniffed cautiously, then with a mighty roar, sent Entei hurtling toward the ground. Just like Charizard suspected, the Pokemon vanished only seconds before he hit the grassy area.

"Charizard, did you know Entei could use Teleporting attacks?" Ash asked as he worriedly looked around him. The Dragon Pokemon landed safely and shook his head, explaining to Pikachu what was really going on.

"Pika pi, pikachu, pika pikachu!"

"Are you guys saying that Entei wasn't really here at all?" Ash said in amazement. Pikachu and Charizard nodded, relived that for once, Ash had quickly caught on.

"Then if that wasn't Entei, who was it?" Misty spoke up.

"Hmm-it probably was a hologram of some sort. The question is this-who would send us a hologram of Entei, knowing we had faced it before, and have us battle with him again?" Brock added.

"A mind-bending mystery for Ash Ketchum, Master Detective to solve on his way to the Johto League!" Ash declared as he rose his fist upward to the sky; Chikorita exited her Pokeball, landed on Ash's shoulder and stood at attention, using the leaf on top of her head like a soldier would salute his commanding officer.

"Chiko!" Pikachu, Brock and Misty sighed sadly at Ash's remark and at Chikorita's behavior; Charizard simply laughed.

"It looks like the twerps were fighting a hologram of that infamous Pokemon." Jessie noted calmly from their position in the bushes. In case you didn't know, Jessie is one half of Team Rocket, a band of Pokemon thieves who try and steal Pokemon; James and Meowth are the other half.

"The question is this-who would go out of their way to trick the twerps into fighting a fake Pokemon?" James asked. Meowth and Jessie gaped in shock as they turned to James.

"Was it just me, or did you hear Jimmy-boy ask a smart question for once?" Meowth yelped.

"It wasn't just you, Meowth. I guess there's some hope for helpless people like you after all, James!"

"Wobbuffet!"

"I said helpless people, not helpless Pokemon!" Jessie muttered as she recalled Wobbuffet a few seconds later.

"Hey, whose da person skulking in da shadows?" Meowth said. Jessie and James rose their binoculars to see somebody lurking in the shadows with a Pokemon by their side.

"It…" began Jessie.

"…can't…" James added.

"…be? Oh, but it is." Meowth finished.

"What's he doing here?" wailed Team Rocket sadly.

"Hey, Ash. It's been quite a while, hasn't it?" Ash, Misty, Brock and all of Ash's Pokemon turned to face the newcomer.

"Gary?! What are you doing…? Why do I even bother to ask? The Johto League, right?"

"Right! I was just wondering if you'd gotten any good since our last battle, and since I assume these are all of your Pokemon-" Gary looked around and pointed out Noctowl, Totodile, Cyndaquil, Chikorita, Charizard and Pikachu within seconds. "-let's have a 3-3 battle, right here, right now!"

Ash was aching for a Pokemon battle with his greatest rival, but couldn't help but wonder what kind of Pokemon Gary had since their adventure to the Johto region had started.

"You're on! Everybody, return!" Five of Ash's Pokemon returned to their Pokeballs, whereas Pikachu hopped up onto Ash's shoulder.

"Finally-the next part of the prophecy comes to pass: Before and after the time of the Chosen One's victory, he shall be challenged to a battle by his dangerous rival, a battle that he cannot win alone." Mewtwo was somewhat at ease as the second part of the prophecy came to pass. Lawrence III, however, was silently brooding to himself.

"I know this Pokemon has tremendous Psychic power-that's why he hasn't responded to my controller. But, if I can tune into the correct frequency, I can gain ultimate control of him! How can I do this without his knowledge of it, though?"

"I choose you, Feraligatr!" Gary yelled out. A powerful Water-type Pokemon appeared, ready to battle. Ash quickly pulled out Dexter.

"Feraligatr: The Big Jaw Pokemon, the fully evolved form of Totodile. When it bites with its massive and powerful jaws, it shakes its head and savagely tears its victim up!"

Ash's eyes widened in surprise as he gazed at Totodile's evolved form.

"That's Totodile's evolved form?" Ash gasped.

"Nope, it's Croconaw's evolved form, Ash. You should really check up on your Pokemon every now and then." Gary bragged. Ash growled angrily as he pulled Dexter back out again.

"Croconaw: The Big Jaw Pokemon, the evolved form of Totodile. It opens its huge jaws wide when attacking; if it loses any fangs while biting, they grow back in."

"I want to save Pikachu for last, but Gary really isn't giving me much of a choice here! What Pokemon could I use that's good against a Water-type?" Ash thought worriedly. That's when the answer came to him.

"I've got it! I choose you…Chikorita!" The tiny Grass Pokemon exited her Pokeball seconds later and immediately snuggled against Ash's cheek.

"Chikorita, now's not the time! Quick-use Tackle attack!" Ash pleaded. Moments later, Chikorita collided with Feraligatr and caused him some damage.

"Don't give up! Use Water Gun!" Gary said. Chikorita simply let the water pour all over her. When the water faded, Chikorita looked as new as the day Ash caught her!

"I thought you would know that Water Pokemon are weak against Grass-types!" Ash said calmly. Chikorita nodded in agreement.

"Chiko!"

"And I thought you would know that you shouldn't judge by type alone! Take Chikorita out with your Slash attack!" Gary demanded. Feraligatr used his sharp claws to hit Chikorita hard, causing serious damage!

"Waaa! Chikorita, fight back with Razor Leaf!" Ash cried out.

"Chiko!" Chikorita quickly sent four razor-sharp leaves straight toward her target, who either swiped them away or used his teeth to chomp them in two.

"I think Chikorita's in trouble, Ash! Call her back and use another Pokemon!" Misty insisted.

"Chikorita may have the type advantage, but not level advantage!" Brock added. Ash and Chikorita both glared at them.

"I was hoping you guys would have more faith in Chikorita's skills!"

"Chi-KO!" Pikachu, from his spot on Ash's shoulder, knew that Chikorita was angry, but not because of Misty and Brock, but from the way they didn't believe that she could take on a fully evolved Pokemon.

"Okay, Feraligatr, Take Down!"

"Chikorita, use Vine Whip to trip him up!" Ash commanded. Chikorita managed to use her vines to send the massive Pokemon to the ground.

"Now, try your Sweet Scent, then finish it with Tackle!" Seconds after Chikorita confused Feraligatr, she struck him right between the eyes, which instantly knocked him out.

"Feraligatr is unable to battle. Chikorita is the winner!" Brock declared.

"We did it, Chikorita! We beat Gary!" Ash exclaimed happily.

"Chikori!" Chikorita celebrated in her own way-hopping into Ash's arms and engulfing his whole face with Sweet Scent.

"Return, Feraligatr. I have to admit, you've done a good job with training that Chikorita. I'm surprised it hasn't evolved." Gary admitted.

"My Pokemon evolve only by choice, not because I force them to!" Ash replied as he shook off Chikorita's Sweet Scent attack.

"Chiko!"

"I see. Go-Typhlosion!" Ash gritted his teeth as he immediately recognized the Pokemon-Cyndaquil's fully evolved form. Since everybody was expecting him to do so, he pulled out Dexter once again.

"Typhlosion: The Volcano Pokemon, the fully evolved form of Cyndaquil. If its rage peaks, it becomes so hot that anything that touches it will instantly go up in flames."

Ash, Chikorita, Pikachu, Misty and Brock all cried out in shock and slight fear.

"There's no way I'm pitting Chikorita against that! Return!" Before Chikorita could object, she vanished inside the Pokeball.

"Not even Totodile or Pikachu could hurt that Typhlosion. Noctowl would have a good chance, but I wouldn't want to risk it. There's only one obvious choice here!"

"I choose you-Charizard!" The Fire Pokemon roared defiantly as he glared at his competition.

"Fire versus fire, huh? Old fire king against new? Let's give it a shot. Typhlosion, Flame Wheel!" Gary said. Typhlosion started spinning around, and the flame on his back looked like a sharp wheel that's used to cut logs and/or trees!

"Hmm…Charizard, try your Take Down!" Ash demanded. The Fire Pokemon slammed into Typhlosion, but neither received that much damage.

"Typhlosion…"

"Charizard…"

"FLAMETHROWER!" Both Pokemon sent out intense beams of fire that instantly hit and exploded!

"It's a tie!" Ash said.

"Pika!"

"Ash, send in another Pokemon! Fire V.S. fire is a mismatch-at least, in this case!" Misty begged.

"I can't, Misty. Charizard has to know if he can defeat this Pokemon, no matter what it takes!" Ash spoke up. Charizard nodded, agreeing with Ash's statement.

"If you say so, Ash. Typhlosion, Swift attack!" Multiple stars hit Charizard, forcing him on his knees and damaging him even more.

"Charizard, grab it and use Seismic Toss!" Charizard barely had the strength left to grab Typhlosion, go up to the sky, spin around and drop him.

"Now, finish this with Dragon Rage!" Ash growled. The flame on Charizard's tail burst outward moments later and a ball of fire appeared in Charizard's mouth.

"Fight Dragon Rage with Dragon Rage, Typhlosion!" Seconds later, both Fire Pokemon sent out tremendous bursts of fire that not only caused a major explosion, but kicked up dust and smoke and sent Charizard and Typhlosion flying to the ground!

"TYPHLOSION!"

"CHARIZARD!"

Like what happened to Ash in the Orange League, the two Pokemon were caught in a tremendous blast! Which Pokemon has triumphed-Charizard, or Typhlosion? Find out in our next adventure!