"Nice to see you came back Ash." Clemont smiled.

"Yeah I know, I just needed a quick break from all the tournament organizing stuff." Ash chuckled nervously waving his hand around nonchalantly.

Clemont studied Ash but then looked at the other person who was holding his hand.

"Serena?" The Lumiose gym leader questioned in surprise.

"Hey Clemont." Serena greeted as she waved her other hand.

Clemont noticed the fact that Ash and Serena were holding hands. Being the smart guy, he knew what was going on. So he asked them about it.

"Oh are you two together now?" He asked with eagerness. He wanted them to be together for a long time ever since Bonnie told him about Serena's crush on Ash.

Serena and Ash glanced at each other and looked back at Clemont.

"Yup!" They nodded with joy.

"Splendid!" Clemont cheered happily as he couldn't wait to tell his younger sister the good news.

"Now I apologize for cutting this short but Ash I really need you back in the conference room before everyone starts challenging one another." Clemont spoke as shook his head but continued on.

"Especially Leon and Raihan...my gym does not support the tactic of Gigantamax or Dynamax battles." Clemont sweatdropped trying to not imagine what his gym would look like if said situation were to happen.

"I thought you could only do that in the Galar Region?" Ash questioned with slight confusion.

"It was like that for a bit until we found some wishing Stars here that were connected to Eternatus and also discovered new dynamax energy areas up north." Clemont stated with expertise.

"I guess that makes sense." Ash agreed and looked at Serena who seemed deep in thought.

"Whatcha thinkin about? Ash bumped his shoulder on Serena's.

"Oh I was just thinking if we can gigantamax here now, could that mean I can finally gigantamax my Alcremie." Serena answered as she reached into her pocket. She grabbed three Pokeballs to start and threw them in the air.

Serena's Pokémon came out of their respective Pokeballs.

Ash saw a Delphox, a Slyveon, and a Pangoro.

"Sylveon!" The fairy Pokemon chirped happily as she wrapped around Serena's arm to feel her emotions.

"Del!" The fox pokemon exclaimed excitedly as she saw Ash again.

"Pangoro!" The fighting Pokémon raised his arms up in celebration of the two's reunion.

"I see you evolved your Pancham and Braixen?" He asked Serena with amusement.

"Yes, it was quite the story, believe it or not." She answered and reached for her other pocket.

She took out a single Pokeball and smiled as she released her Pokémon.

"Alcremie come on out!" Serena exclaimed excitedly.

The ball opened up and the fairy type Pokemon jumped out excitedly.

"Hey Alcremie." Serena said happily.

"Alcre!" The small pokemon chirped with much energy.

Ash looked at Serena and her pokemon, he loves the strong bond they have. Ash, for some reason wanted to challenge her in a pokemon battle to see how much she has grown as she did compete in coordinators contests.

He decides it can wait as he is needed elsewhere.

"Alright Clemont, take me there." Ash sighed as he followed Clemont along with Serena and her pokemon.

Once Clemont opened the door, Ash immediately was greeted by professor Kukui.

"Heya Ash." Kukui greeted as she stood up from his chair to give him a crushing hug.

"Hey Professor Kukui!" Ash gasped for air as he hugged back with the same amount of force.

Ash looked upon the room and saw his Pokémon playing around amongst one another. He also saw his fellow champions and some gym leaders that were chatting with each other.

"Looks like the Monarch returned from his break." The Sinnoh champion announced as she stood up and walked towards Ash and Kukui.

"Hey Cynthia!" Ash smiled as he pulled away from his old mentor.

Cynthia smiled as she looked at the unexpected guest in the room with them.

"Hey Ash?" Cynthia questioned curiously.

"Hm?" Ash hummed.

"Is that the Kalos Queen?"

"Yup, Serena is here alright." Ash answered enthusiastically as he walked to grab her hand and walk to the middle of the room.

Now Serena was used to being in the center of crowds but being in the center of attention among the strongest and respectful trainers across the world made her feel a bit uneasy. She felt out of place until Ash rubbed his thumb across her hand to ease her worries.

"This is the Kalos Queen, Serena, She is also my recently acquired Girlfriend!" Ash boldly said as he raised their conjoined hands in the air in declaration.

'That's gonna take awhile to get used to' Serena thought as she blushed at Ash's antics.

After Ash's announcement, the room was filled with applause and cheers.

"Well done Ash!" Iris cheered.

"Awesome!" Raihan grinned.

"How splendid!" Diana clapped happily.

Ash and Serena thanked them for being so kind and they began to sit down on the open seats near the oval shaped table.

"Hey where's Leon?" Ash whispered to Raihan.

"Oh I think he was trying to find you but I think he got lost doing so." Raihan laughed until they all heard a loud crash through the door to reveal no other than Leon himself.

"Sorry, I got lost!" The former Monarch yelled out and then looked at the others staring at him unimpressed. Leon did not like the awkward tension so he decided to just sit down on the opposite side of the table of Ash's seat.

"So what I'd miss?" Leon questioned as he sat down comfortably on the spinning desk chair.

Ash started and answered Leon's question.

"All I did was say I have a girlfriend now." Ash grinned as he looked at Serena adoringly.

"Excellent!" Leon exclaimed, happy for Ash. Leon was up for a rematch battle with Ash as a test run but for now, it was to discuss the future of the tournament.

"Alright since we are all here now, let's discuss the tournament issue." Cynthia started.

"Ah I suppose you're right." Lance agreed as he sipped his drink.

"This tournament is going to be a big one." Alistair chipped in as he polished his mask.

"So what exactly is new about this tournament anyway?" Korrina spoke with a curious tone.

"This tournament will have the most up to date technological advancements than ever before." Clemont stated and continued. "There will be virtual landscapes placed with special effects that the audience have never seen before."

Professor Kukui searched through his booklet and began to speak.

"This tournament is reserved for gym leaders and champions, this will be one of the most watched broadcasts ever."

"Right you are." Wulfric agreed as he read the same copy.

"How exciting!" Flannery said as she looked toward the Hoenn champion.

"Indeed." Steven nodded.

All of the gym leaders and champions began to speak their opinions until Volkner decided to ask an important question.

"Where will the tournament take place?"

"Good question!" Skyla beamed.

Leon and Ash both had two different ideas and they both pitched in.

"Galar!"

"Kalos!"

The Former Monarch looked at Ash with a surprise look.

"Kalos?" Leon paused.

Ash smiled and put both his hands on the table in excitement.

"Yes, the Kalos would be the perfect region to hold the tournament!"

Everybody looked at Ash for a moment, then started to give thought about it.

"The architecture is really nice here." Viola spoke with a smile.

"The Kalos league was highly popular." Cynthia said as she started to agree.

"Kalos does have a good atmosphere to it as well." Bruno, one of the kanto elite four added.

Ash looked down to Serena who was holding her blue ribbon softly.

"Hey Serena, I promise after this summit is finished, I'll take you on a date." Ash assured her.

"That sounds wonderful Ash." Serena blushed lightly as she continued to fidget her blue ribbon.

The room came to an agreement until one spoke out.

"No, I still believe the Galar region would feel a bit nostalgic, because that was where the world coronation series finals were held, isn't that right Ash?" Leon smirked.

"Yup, and I have a feeling you want to battle for you to change your mind?" Ash provoked.

"You read my mind exactly." Leon excitedly spoke as he got up from his chair.

"You may take your match under the Lumiose Tower in the newly constructed underground arena." Clemont stated worriedly.

"Alright, are both contestants ready?" Clembot announced as he stood in the middle of the battlefield.

"Yes!" Leon and Ash yelled in unison.

"Alright, you may both each one Pokémon each for this battle so choose wisely." Clembot exclaimed.

As soon as Clembot finished both Ash and Leon prepared their Pokémon.

"You may commence the match!" Clemont stated.

"Charizard I choose you!" Leon yelled out in excitement.

Ash looked at him and smirk as he too threw a Pokéball out on the field. It was to be revealed to be Gengar.

"Interesting choice I must say Ash but I know your Gengar can be unpredictable." The former Monarch smiled.

"You know it, but I want this match to end as soon as possible so I won't be holding back!" Ash proclaimed in a prideful tone.

Leon looked at Ash and smiled before tipping his hat.

"I wouldn't have any other way Ash...now use Ancient Power Charizard!" He yelled out.

"Gengar dodge it!" Ash commanded as his Gengar barely escaped the barrage.

Ash looked at Gengar before taking out his Pokéball to call him back. Leon knew what he was doing and returned Charizard as well.

"Gigantamaxing now huh?" Leon laughed. "Then let's have some fun!"

Both trainer's Pokéballs grew in size as they tossed them in the air releasing their Gigantamaxed Pokémon. The sheer size of them caused the experimental arena to shake but held firm.

Gigantamax Charizard and Gigantamax Gengar were now on the field, ready for groundshaking battle.

To be continued...