Thanks for the reviews; I really am trying my best with this story even if I don't own Pokemon! This chapter is based on "The Path To The Pokemon League" with some added work from myself and a hint of another possible shipping (A.J./Angelina), but that's the readers choice. Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Path To The Pokemon League

With two of the eight required Gym Badges in his possession, Ash is eager to get to where he's going the next day. There's just one problem….

"Uh, where are we going?" Ash asked, cluelessly.

"How many times do I have to tell you," Misty sighs, then gets excited, "Vermillion City, it's got a Luxury Cruise Ship and I'm dying to see it!"

"We won't have time for sight-seeing," Ash said.

"I've heard there's a really great Gym in Vermilion," Brock notes.

"A GYM!" Ash gasped excitedly, "All right! I'm going to win my third badge!" He clenches his fists eagerly and happily cries out, "Let's go!"

"Don't get your hopes up!" Misty admonishes, "There are a lot of tough trainers around here."

"Bring 'em on!" Ash laughs, looking back over his shoulder, "I bet none of them has even one Pokemon Badge!"

Misty sighed, "He'll never learn."

"When won't he?" Brock laughed. "Come on-"

They were about to join their young friend when a sudden "Hey!" from behind them called out. Brock and Misty turned and saw Angelina waving and running toward them to catch up.

"Hi, what I miss?" Angelina asked, catching her breath.

"The usual," Misty replied. "Ash is off battling trainers before we head down to Vermilion City."

"Oh fun," Angelina cheered sarcastically.

"You wanna join us?" Brock asked.

"I would, but I'm a battler, not a watcher." Angelina explained. "I'll see you guys later." She waved and headed off down the road.

Angelina was enjoying the peaceful walk and not even noticing what was around her until she was grabbed by her right arm from behind and turned sharply. She was face to face with a boy between Misty and Brock's age with greenish-black hair and dark brown eyes. He wore red boots with tan socks, blue shorts, a black and red top, and a blue and yellow backpack on his back.

"Well well, what have we here?" smirked the boy.

"Unhand me this instant you-" Angelina tried to hit the boy with her left hand until he grabbed hold of that, too.

"Name calling isn't polite, sweet-cheeks. I'm A.J. and I own my own gym, what's your name?"

"There's no way you can own a gym unless you have a sanction from the Pokemon League!" Angelina said, trying to pull away.

"I don't need that where I'm from." A.J. replied. "So far, I've won 97 battles and haven't lost a single one! You're my next challenger, number 98!"

"Lucky me," Angelina laughed sarcastically. "I'm gonna win, since I never lose a battle."

A.J. growled and released his hold. "All right, I challenge you to my 98th Pokemon battle!"

"Then I accept, this'll be one battle that's gonna be your first loss," Angelina grinned.

A.J. leads Angelina through a large fence gate, his gym. In the center is a large tent, and before that is an elevated arena made from hard packed dirt and marked off in white. On each of the arena's four sides are stairs leading up to the arena floor, where it's to be assumed A.J. and Angelina will do battle.

"What Pokemon are you gonna choose for my 98th win?" A.J. asked, once on his side of the arena.

Angelina thinks for a bit, facing A.J. once on her side of the arena. "I never reveal my secrets of training, including choice of Pokemon, too!"

"Suit yourself." A.J. smirks, he takes out a whip and cracks it at Angelina's feet. "If I win, not only will I have two more wins to go, but you're not leaving this gym."

"And if I win, I can laugh in your face for your first loss, and I can be on my merry way to Vermilion City." Angelina said, pulling out a Pokeball.

"Fine by me," A.J. was now holding a Pokeball in his right hand, he threw it. "Sandshrew, go!"

A small mole-like Pokemon appeared, which has a body made up of water-starved sun-baked sand.

Angelina smiles and throws out her Pokeball, "This'll be an easy win. Get-em, Spritz!"

"Azu!" squeaked a blue rabbit-like Pokemon.

"Water Gun!" Angelina ordered.

"Azuuuuuuuuu!" Azumarill blasted spurts of water.

"Attack!" A.J. cracked his whip, as Sandshrew rolled into a ball and dodges the blasts of water.

"Bubblebeam!" Angelina yelled, watching her Pokemon blast a beam of bubbles at Sandshrew. She suddenly gasped as the attack didn't even effect as Sandshrew was still in a ball and rolling toward Azumarill. "Quick, dodge and Defense Curl!"

"Azu-RILLLLLLL!" Azumarill was about to curl in defense, but was hit by Sandshrew and sent flying into the ground, knock unconscious.

"NO!" Angelina cried and ran to her injured Pokemon, she glared at A.J. "That was low, I wouldn't give a sanction to this gym even if you defeated me!"

"Does that mean I win?" A.J. smirked.

Angelina growled, she didn't want to risk seeing her other Pokemon hurt. She returned her Azumarill and got to her feet. "Yeah, congratulations on your 98th win. I hope you're happy."

A.J. just stared at the girl, he was surprised. "No crying? No asking for a re-match?"

"I'm a Pokemon trainer not a whiner," Angelina explained. "I suppose I don't have the chance to train with my Pokemon since we made a deal if you-"

"Forget what I said," A.J. waved off. "I just won't tell anyone that I've beaten you."

Angelina smiled. "Thanks, I appreciate that."

A.J. led Angelina back outside the gym.

"So, what are you gonna do now till your next two wins?" Angelina asked, curiously.

"I might go and capture some more wild Pokemon. Might add more to my collection than what I already have in my backpack." A.J. replied. "You can come along if you want."

"Sure," Angelina said, walking down the road with the guy.

They were about five feet away from the gym when Angelina had a weird feeling that she were being followed, but she wasn't, and turned around seeing Ash and his two friends, Misty and Brock, approach the gym entrance and looking up at the sign.

"Oh no," Angelina stopped walking, somewhat scared.

"What?" A.J. turned around and saw Ash and friends, he grins. "There's my 99th win! See you around, sweet-cheeks!"

Angelina cursed under her breath as A.J. walked toward Ash, she knew that Ash only had three Pokemon, not even compatible to beat a Ground-type element such as Sandshrew. She walked back secretly and hid behind a tree, though she peeked out and watched and listened in on the conversation.

"Are you my next victim?" A.J. asked.

"Hmm, you must be the Wild Pokemon Trainer," Ash growls.

"Heh! That's my job," A.J. smirked, "But beating chumps like you is my job... ready to lose?"

The fence gates open and A.J. leads Ash and friends inside the arena.

Angelina sighed in thought, 'Good luck, Ash. You're gonna need it.' she didn't bother to stay behind and watch the battle, she knew A.J. would win this next battle since Ash's Pokemon didn't have a good chance winning. Though one last look at A.J.'s Gym quickly changed Angelina's mind, "Go Twilight, fly me inside the gym!" she threw out a Pokeball and released her brown-colored owl-like Pokemon, Noctowl.

Angelina climbed onto Noctowl's back and was flown high above A.J.'s so-called gym, she frowned as she saw the sign now change to 99 wins and 0 loses. 'So Ash lost, wonder how he's taking it?' she then locates Brock and Misty standing near Ash on one sign of the arena while A.J. was on the other side. "Lower me down, Twilight!" Noctowl nodded and flies toward the ground, landing safely as Angelina jumps off; holding out a Pokeball. "Thanks, return!" the owl-like Pokemon disappears inside the Pokeball through a red beam.

"One more chance," Ash sobs pathetically as A.J. turns and walks away with Sandshrew in tow.

"Come back when you grow up," A.J. sniffs dismissively, leaving a distraught Ash behind.

"Hmm, it's not fair," Ash sighs as A.J. moves into the tent.

"Looks like you'll have to re-think the way you train," Brock smiles as he and Misty gather around Ash, seemingly enjoying his pain from the looks on their faces.

"What do you mea-" starts Ash, before A.J.'s voice travels over to them from inside the tent.

"YOU CALL THAT LAST MATCH A FIGHT?"

"Huh?" the young trainers jump from the sudden shouting, and turn to look at the tent as they hear A.J.'s whip crack.

"It's time for some serious training," A.J. slurs angrily.

The four trainers exchanged looks, then quietly went over to the tent, opening it up, and peered inside. Their eyes widened at the sight. Ash's mouth dropped. Angelina frowned a bit. Misty and Brock looked shocked. High above towards the ceiling of the tent had a sign with a Pokéball and a whip. Around the huge tent Pokémon wearing strange, metal braces. Some Pokémon were fighting each other, some where jumping through rings of fire, some were jumping into the giant swimming pool, somewhere balancing on a ball.

They looked up, seeing Sandshrew up on the diving board. It hoped into the water and quickly came back out.

A.J. glares down at it angrily, "Get back in the water!" he yelled, whipping the floor next to Sandshrew. The armadillo Pokémon came out of it's ball from the feeling of the wind from the whip.

Ash ran in and put his arm out, getting ready to grab AJ. "Knock it off!" He tackled AJ and the boys were sent flying into the pool. Brock, Misty, and Angelina, rush up to the pools' edge as Ash and A.J. surface, glaring angrily at each other.

"Now whaddya want? A swimming match?" A.J. growls.

"You're hurting Sandshrew," Ash snaps back.

"Mind yer own business," A.J. spits angrily, "I don't need any amateurs teaching ME how to train Pokemon."

"You call that training.…" Ash starts, then gets distracted by something shiny and loses his train of thought. Turning he stares at Sandshrew's Harness, which Pikachu is curiously sniffing, "What's that? It looks like a strait-jacket."

"That's no straitjacket," A.J. sneers, climbing out of the pool. "It's a strength-intensifier."

"Who invented that thing?" Brock asked, sounding both curious and slightly angered by the strength intensifier..

AJ looked up at him, smiling. "I did. It's my own secret weapon for unleashin' a Pokémon's powers." he looked over at his Sandshrew, who appeared to be talking to Pikachu. "Sandshrew, back in the pool!" he snapped, sounding angry. The two Pokémon looked at him. Sandshrew made a sound and walked back up to the diving board.

Ash remains standing shoulder deep in the water, crying out, "But Sandshrew's are weakened by water!"

AJ turned to speak, but Angelina walked next to him and peered down at Ash. "I think he knows that." she looked down at AJ. "You're doing that to help it become stronger against water, right? And your other Pokémon...you're making them doing things that would normally weaken them to help them become stronger against their weaknesses?"

"That's right." AJ looked over at his Sandshrew who just popped out from the water. He stood up and looked down. "Good work, Sandshrew." He looked back at Angelina. "You seem to understand more than he does."

"Thanks."

AJ smiled at his Sandshrew. "You're lookin' at the only Sandshrew in the world who's strong enough to withstand water." His smile turned into a commanding frown. "Sandshrew, pick up you pacing!"

Sandshrew curls up into a ball and allows three Raticate to bounce it about.

"Hey, I thought you said pacing, not passing!" shouted Ash.

Brock, Misty, and Angelina almost fell over by his stupidity.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu lifted up a random, burgandy pillow with golden tassels.

Ash looked down at it confused. "I said padding..." He suddenly realized his mistake in words. "I mean...I said pacing!" he yelled.

Pikachu covered his head with the random pillow. "Chaaaa." It slid away from the scene with the pillow on his head.

Ash turned his attention back to AJ. "Why are you so tough on Sandshrew?"

"I have to be tough." AJ looked over at Ash. "But I ask no more of Sandshrew than I do of myself. The very best."

Ash put his arm forward, still arguing with him. "But you aren't nearly as tough on any of your other Pokémon."

"That's because Sandshrew was the first Pokémon I ever caught." AJ smiled at the memory. "I will never forget that moment," he said, thoughtfully. "We promised to do whatever it took to become the greatest Pokémon trainer of all time. Nothin' would stop us from reachin' our dream. No matter how difficult our path. Enduring fierce storms and raging winds. We sacrificed everything to achieve our dream and it was worth it. We're an unbeatable team!" AJ crossed his arms with a satisfied grin on his face.

Ash stepped up next to him, still seeming to pick a fight. "What you're doing is wrong. A great trainer should make friend's with his Pokémon!"

AJ turned, looking annoyed with Ash. "Why should I listen to you?"

"You shouldn't." Angelina walked next to Ash and bopped his head.

Ash leaned to the side, looking at Brock. "Hey, Brock, don't you have anything to say about this?"

Brock turned his face away from where he was gazing. "I do." He turned his head back into the direction of where he was staring at before. "Your Pokémon are all in great shape. What kind of Pokémon food do you give them?"

Ash leaned over to the side a bit, with his face practically scream that that wasn't what he was asking. "Uuuuh..."

Angelina giggled.

AJ smiled at Brock. "My own recipe. Come on, I'll show ya!"

Everyone followed AJ over to his cabinets and counter, except for Ash and Angelina.

"In order to get the results I want, I gotta carefully monitor the Pokémon's diets. Of course, the recipe is secret." AJ continued to chat to Misty and Brock about the Pokémon food.

Ash appeared disappointed that his friends weren't on his side.

"Ash, you shouldn't really worry about it," said Angelina.

"But he's abusing his Pokémon!"

"I know that's how it looks like...and technically is, but the results are proving to be positive. His Pokémon have become stronger due to the harsh training."

"Why are you on his side?" snapped Ash.

Angelina drew her head back. "I'm not on his side. I'm just seeing both sides. As oppose to you, who's only seeing one side." she moved her arms in explanation with her words.
she gave Ash a slightly warm smile. "If you want, I can help you train your Pokémon... what the heck is Pikachu doing?" she giggled at Pikachu who was attempting to lift up a weight. Ash looked at his Pokémon, who quickly toppled over at the weight.

"Pika..."

Just then, A.J.'s automatic bell has rung, he looked over at his worn out Pokémon. "Okay, you wimps get a fifteen minute break." Three Rattata collapsed on the ground, panting heavily.

Ash looked around at all the worn out Pokémon, still angered by the abuse. He turned to AJ, who was walking across behind him.

"Hey."

"Now what do you want?"

"You're Pokémon are totally wiped out."

"You better believe it! In this gym, we live by the rule 'No pain, no game'." AJ gazed over at Pikachu. "But judging by your little stuffed Pikachu over there, you don't follow any rules." Angelina's mouth dropped and looked over at Ash, awaiting his reaction. A look of being offended appeared across her face.

Ash clamped his fist in anger. "It's not a stuffed Pikachu! Take it back! Hey, did you hear us? Take that back!" Ash punched forward. "I said take it—WHAAA!" The two boys fell back into the water once again.

Everyone ran towards the pools edge, watching the two boys wrestle each other in the pool.

"You don't win matches by being buddy-buddy with Pokémon!" snapped AJ.

"Not a stuffed Pikachu!"

"Knock it off you two!" yelled Brock.

"Isn't there a rule against splashing in the pool?" asked Misty.

Angelina sighs, she saw Pikachu tentatively touch Sandshrew's discarded Strength-Intensifier, which locks up around the Pokemon and squeezes it's all ready round little body into a ball. Sandshrew giggles and rolls up into a ball as well.

Angelina had to blink twice when she saw a big red ball roll in, and hearing voices from it. It stopped in front of Sandshrew, hands came out holding a bag and sacked the rolled up Ground Pokemon. Then, what really freaked out Angelina, legs ripped through the ball and sidled out as fast as they could.

The two boys climbed out of the pool, panting.

"Why do you keep hangin' around here? There must be other trainers you can bother."

"Yeah, right," replied Ash.

'Ding ding!' A.J.'s bell has gone off again, ending the 15-minute break.

AJ stood up and looked at his Pokémon. "Time's up. Back to work, all of ya!" he looked around him. "Hey, where's Sandshrew?"

"Uh…. you guys?" Angelina interrupted, which everyone turned to her.

"No way, A.J. beat you, too?" Ash asked disbelievingly.

"Well, he…. Uh…. wouldn't let me leave until I-" Angelina looked over at A.J., then back to Ash. "You know what."

Brock and Misty exchanged worried expressions, taking what Angelina had said the wrong way, and then glared at A.J. accusingly.

"Oh, I get it!" Ash understood, everyone looking at him either confused or shocked. "You're the 98th challenger that was defeated by A.J., but I thought Pokemon trainer's never lose Pokemon battles."

"Well, maybe," Angelina replied, she saw out of the corner of her eye that Brock and Misty were relieved since they had taken what she said the wrong way. "To be an unbeatable Pokemon trainer, some battles lost are accounted to those that have been won. With each loss, a trainer grows and can learn to cover weaknesses for future battles and exploiting of the opponents. Just don't worry about winning or losing battles and just keep on battling stronger and stronger opponents. That way, your overconfidence will not get the better of you and you can focus on the battle at hand."

"Now's really not the time to chit-chat," A.J. said as everyone resumed to looking for Sandshrew. "Well, that's weird. What's your Pikachu doing?" asked AJ, walking over to Pikachu. Ash followed him.

"Ah...Ah! Pikachu!" Ash lifted Pikachu up by the strength intensifier, attempting to open it. He pulled and pulled, but it wouldn't open. "It's no use!" he said, placing Pikachu back down.

"Here, give it to me." AJ held his hand out. Ash looked up, a bit confused. He handed Pikachu to AJ, who unlocked Pikachu from the strength intensifier.

Pikachu shook its head. "Pikachu."

"Pikachu!" Ash lifted his friend up. He smiled with relief. "You're okay!"

AJ leaned towards Pikachu. "Pikachu, have you seen Sandshrew?"

Pikachu's ears went down and it shook its head. "Pika, pika."

"You haven't?" said AJ, sounding sincerely sad. He slumped onto his knees.

AJ got up from the ground, cupped one hand around his mouth and shouted, "Sandshrew, where are you?"

Ash stood up, smirking. "Maybe it ran away."

Angelina raised her eyebrow. 'That's really not nice to say.'

"What are you talking about?" asked AJ, sounding mad.

"The way you treat your Pokémon, I'm surprised they all haven't run away." Ash continued to smirk like a know-it-all.

Angelina took a deep breath. "Must. Resist. Hurting. Him," she whispered to herself. Her muscles were twitching from the resistance.

"Sandshrew and I have been together for a long time."

"Yeah, I know," Ash turned his head, continuing to have a taunting, know-it-all look on his face. "But when Sandshrew saw how well Pikachu and I get along, it thought 'I deserve better. I'll find a trainer like Ash who treats me like Pikachu'."

AJ clamped both of his fists and began yelling into Ash's ear, who shook from it. "SANDSHREW WOULD NOT BREAK THE PROMISE WE MADE! NOT AFTER ALL WE'VE BEEN THROUGH! NOT JUST RIGHT BEFORE OUR ONE HUNDREDTH VICTORY!" he exploded, then looked at his Pokémon. "Now, go look for Sandshrew."

Ash stepped around, attempting to persuade the Pokémon around him. "You've all had enough of A.J. and the way he pushes you around, haven't you? Well you don't have to put up with it anymore, because now you can come with me!" he threw his hand up into the air. "Anyone coming with me, raise your hand."

Angelina just burst out laughing. All the Pokémon ignored Ash and walked by. AJ stood, pouting, arms crossed.

"Just raise your hand! Get 'em up there!"

"Epic. Fail!" laughed Angelina, almost in a "game-over" kind of voice.

Misty watched him. "Ash is making a fool of himself again."

"Mmm." Brock moved his arm a bit, frowning a bit more.

AJ walked over to Ash and leaned in his face. "Do you see what happens when you try to start a mutiny in my gym? Mah Pokémon are all loyal."

Ash had teasing look on his face. "Well then, where's Sandshrew?"

Just as he said the Pokémon's name, the floor cracked open and out popped the Pokémon with a Meowth on its tail, who just happened to be thrown into Ash's face. The two fell to the ground, knocked out.

AJ hugged Sandshrew. "Sandshrew." All his Pokémon surrounded him and Sandshrew, glad to see their friend back home safely.

Misty smiled. "AJ and all his Pokémon sure are happy that Sandshrew is back."

"See Ash? AJ has a hard crunchy outside, but a soft nuggaty center." Angelina said.

Ash got up from the ground, rubbing his cheek and staring at the scene before him. "How could they possible pick him over me?"

"AJ is tough, but as you can see, he cares deeply for his Pokémon." Brock said wisely.

Ash stared as Sandshrew licked AJ's cheek. "Wow, AJ does care about them."

"Pika pi chu!" (Ash look)

Everyone soon looked down at Ash's Pikachu yanking on the Meowth's forehead.

Ash turned. "Meowth!"

"So it must've been Team Rocket that kidnapped Sandshrew," Brock said.

Ash picked the cat Pokémon by its tail. "Wake up."

Meowth blinked once, waking up. "Meowth?" It drew out its claws and slashed Ash's face. Ash stared for a second, before screaming from the burning pain.

"Hey, where am I?" Meowth asked, looking around. "What's goin' on here?" Everyone surrounded Meowth, who quickly realized it was in trouble. "How 'm I suppose ta get outta this mess?"

"Prepare for trouble!"

"And make that double."

"Meowth?" The cat Pokémon looked towards the tent entrance, happy, seeing it's friends.

"Ugh, Team Rocket," Ash snarled.

"Use ta old motto!" Meowth said.

Team Rocket's motto music began playing.

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To announce the evils of truth and love; to extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!"

Jessie and James began crying tears of joy. "That felt great! We don't need a theme song!"

"It's a classic," James cried.

"So these are the creeps that kidnapped mah Sandshrew?" AJ asked, shouting at Team Rocket.

"Nn. That was an unfortunate mix up." Jessie said, wagging her finger.

"We have no interest in your second rate Sandshrew." James said.

"Second rate?" AJ asked, starting to get angry.

"The only Pokémon we want is Pikachu," Jessie announced.

"You can keep all those other whimps." James airly added.

"Whimps are they?" AJ screeched.

"That's it!" Ash stepped forward, but AJ stopped him. "Huh?"

"I'll take care of this! No one insults my Pokémon and gets away with it! Let's step outside!" AJ dropped the hint that things were about to get ugly. Everyone went out side and AJ stood across the field from Team Rocket.

AJ cracked his whip. "Team Rocket has insulted our gym! We'll answer them with our one hundredth win!"

"One hundredth win?" Ash asked.

AJ looked over his shoulder, smiling. "That's right. As Sandshrew and I vowed."

Ash returned an equal smile. "Good luck."

Angelina gave a grin that almost seemed sarcastic. She put up both her thumbs. "Good luck! It's bound to be an easy win, considering how many times we've sent them flying out of sight."

"Your small talk will cost you big time. Ekans, go!" Jessie threw her Pokéball. The purple snake Pokémon popped out from the ball and hissed.

James took out his Pokéball. "Your turn, Koffing!" He chucked it and the toxic Pokémon came out.

"Sandshrew, go!"

Sandshrew charged towards the two Pokémon, dodging them as they divided towards it. It soon curled into a ball, rolling quickly.

"Ekans, bind it now!" The purple snake Pokémon wrapped itself around the armadillo Pokémon, who was currently in a ball shape. Sandshrew popped out from between it, leaving Ekans in a knot. Sandshrew came down from the sky and landed on it, knocking it out.

"It's so strong," commented Ash in amazement.

Pikachu wore a headband and held two fans, cheering on for Sandshrew.

"Good work!" commented Misty.

"Excellent!" exclaimed Brock.

"Koffing, Sludge attack!" The toxic Pokémon sent an extremely dark brown, stick liquid flying towards Sandshrew, who quickly spun, rolling away the sludge.

"Meowth, don't just stand there," said James. Meowth hopped into the battle, getting read to attack.

The cat Pokémon began chasing the tumbling Sandshrew as if it was a ball of yarn. "La da dee, la da dum!"

Angelina watched it, snort-laughing at the sight.

Jessie looked irritated at it. "Stop pussy-footing around!"

Meowth stood up, realizing what it was doing. "Just biting my time!" The Pokémon opened it's mouth wide and chomped down onto Sandshrew's hard body, only to get its teeth broken.

"Sandshrew, finish it! Fissure Strike!" The Pokémon rolled forward, into the air, spread out, and soon had electricity sparks flying from it. Everyone watch, seeing what was to come.

The Pokémon started falling, going into a spin, with its nails out in front of him. "Go Sandshrew! Drill into the ground until it splits!"

Sandshrew hit the ground and everything froze. The platform began to have huge cracks. The floor under Team Rocket caved in, sending the three flying off into different directions. The ground between everyone split. The rumbling stopped shortly after.

Meowth came up from the crack closest to where the platform used to be. It let out a sigh, before hoping out. It began running away, with Ekans and Koffing following it. "Tat's it! I forfeit ta match!" cried Meowth.

"Come back here!" Jessie yelled.

"Meowth, where are you going?" James asked.

"Ta write us a theme song!"

"Not that again! Ugh!" Jessie and James whined.

AJ put up his arm. "We finally did it Sandshrew, we finally reached victory number one hundred!" he began crying tears of joy. "Today, all our hard work and sacrifices have paid off!" He and Sandshrew hugged. "Now we can start winnin' our badges!"

Everyone smiled at the joy that quickly filled the air.

"When I return here, I'm gonna be the number one Pokémon master."

"Why don't you come along with us?" asked Ash.

"Thanks, but Sandshrew and I have our own path we must follow."

AJ put out his hand. Ash held it and the two boys shook for the last time. Ash smiled, with sureness in his eyes. "Someday we'll met again in the big Pokémon competition."

"Okay, but next time you better be in shape, 'cause I only wanna beat expert trainers."

"That's a deal!"

"I'm sure we'll be," Angelina mumbled.

AJ turned around waving to the group. "So long!"

Everyone waved good-bye.

Misty smiled. "He's tough, but pretty cool."

"Yeah, looks like you found another rival."

"Hey, AJ! I'm not gonna lose next time!" called Ash. "I'll train to become the greatest Pokémon Master in the world, following my own path."

Angelina laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing. I just think it's kinda funny on how...nevermind."

"What?"

"...you don't want me to tell you. You'll just get mad and flip out." Angelina shrugged, turned around and began walking off.

"What? What were you gonna say?"

"Nothing, geez!" Angelina laughed.

There are many paths to the Pokemon League, and Ash is just beginning to discover his own. What lies on that path is unknown, but one thing's for sure, he'll never forget the name of that place with the great gym again.

§To Be Continued§

*This chapter is based off the episode "Path To The Pokemon League"
*Although in the episode it takes two wins for AJ to get a hundred, but was knocked it back to three so Angelina could battle.
*Jessie's Ekans knows Wrap.
*the episode and this chapter feature a one-hit knockout move.
*The "Strength Intensifier" appears to work similarly to the Macho Brace introduced in later generations.

YAY, another rival for Angelina and Ash! Next chapter will be up soon, thanks for reading!