"In other news, Lapras migration season has begun, and they will soon be able to be seen from many ports across southern Kanto." The news reporter said.

"Lapras?" Brendan asked, pulling out his Pokédex.

'Lapras, the Transport Pokemon, a Water and Ice Type. It loves crossing the sea with People and Pokemon on its back. It understands human speech.' The Pokedex explained.

"Ash, have you ever encountered a Lapras?" Wally asked.

"Yeah, I actually rode on one quite a bit, back when me and some of my friends were traveling through the Orange Islands." Ash said, reminiscing.

"Yes, and then you used Lapras to help in defeating Drake. Alongside Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charizard and a Tauros." A new voice said.

"Harley!" Brendan exclaimed. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't knock you flat on the ground right now."

"Because I'm here for the same reason as your friend Ash here, I'm here for the contest." Harley said.

"But why all the knowledge on Ash's Pokemon?" Wally asked. "What are you up to?"

"No tricks this time Wallace." Harley said.

"It's Wally." Wally commented.

"Anyways, that and so much more is public information, I know all of Ash's Pokemon. There's nothing he can do that will surprise me." Harley said.

"Not all of them, he's never used his Sneasel in a recorded match!" Wally countered, now realizing what he said.

"Sneasel huh? Well, I'm looking forward to seeing you in the contest today." Harley said.

"You just had to say I had a Sneasel didn't you." Ash said with an annoyed tone.

"Sorry Ash, but you have other Pokemon right, I mean you could use any from Professor Oak, like Brendan did." Wally said.

"Except that all of them competed in the Johto League with the exceptions of Masquerain and Lunatone." Ash reminded.

"What if you use Harley's tactic against him?" Brendan asked.

"What do you mean?" Ash asked.

"Well, he thinks you'll be using Sneasel for the battle rounds now, so go with the exact opposite of him. Counter his own counter." Brendan said.

"Let's see, a Pokemon great against Sneasel, that would be a fighting type, right?" Ash thought back. "So in that case I should go with Masquerain who's a bug and flying type."

"Great idea! Let's see if Professor Oak can rush him over!" Wally said excitedly.

Later at the contest hall

"Best of luck Ash." Harley quipped in passing.

"Thanks Harley, good luck to you too." Ash said.

"Ash Ketchum!" A worker said.

"Looks like I'm up." Ash said, jogging towards the door to the stage. "I think you'll enjoy this appeal Harley." Ash said.

On the stage

"Alright, Masquerain take the stage!" Ash called out.

"Wait, I'm confused." Wally said.

"Don't worry, with any luck so should Harley." Brendan commented.

"Masquerain use Sweet Scent!" Ash called out.

Masquerain flapped it's wings releasing a sweet aroma over the surrounding area.

"Now use Whirlwind!" Ash commanded.

Masquerain flapped it's wings rapidly, dispersing the pleasant aroma across the entire arena and stands, causing a calm sigh to go over the crowd.

"Now clear the air with Bug Buzz!" Ash called out.

Almost instantly the sweet aroma was gone, and a low buzzing snapped everyone out of the trance.

"Incredible! A combination of both soothing and alerting attacks combined in a beautiful movement!" Lillian exclaimed, as Ash's points were being tallied. "And look at that an almost perfect score of 29.7!"

Backstage

"Hope you were expecting that Harley." Ash said happily.

"You! You tricked me! Why aren't you more angry?" Harley said, calming down as he noticed Ash's demeanor.

"I don't know what you have against me, but I don't let it bother me." Ash said. "As for tricking you, I don't know what you mean?"

Ash watched as the remaining coordinators made their appeals, and to no surprise Harley got a high ranking score as well, guaranteeing him into the next round.

Battle Round 1

"Let's go Bellsprout!"

"Come on out Sneasel!"

"Okay, now I'm really confused? I thought we didn't want Ash to use Sneasel for this." Wally said, trying to figure it out.

"No that's what we wanted Harley to think." Brendan said. "Ash and I figured he hadn't left, so we said all of that to confuse him, we had this pre planned just in case we ran into a problem like this."

"And why didn't you tell me?" Wally asked.

"Because you're a terrible liar." Brendan reminded.

"Sneasel use Ice Shard!" Ash called out.

"Bellsprout dodge it!"

The ice attack struck the arena, creating a patch of icy ground, giving Ash an idea.

"Sneasel keep using Ice Shard!"

"Bellsprout look out!"

Bellsprout kept dodging out of the way of the ice attacks, until it was soon surrounded by icy, with only a small amount of stable ground beneath it.

"Now Sneasel use Metal Claw!"

"Bellsprout use Vine Whip!"

Sneasel ran forward, sliding across the ice like it was nothing as it struck Bellsprout, knocking the grass type onto the ice and its back.

"Now finish with Ice Shard!"

Bellsprout was encased in ice as its points dropped to zero, giving Ash the win.

Round 2

"Sneasel the stage is ours!"

"Let's go Persian!"

"Sneasel use Agility!"

"Persian use Slash!"

Sneasel rolled and dove out of the way of Persian's attack, ending up behind the cat Pokemon.

"Now Sneasel use Metal Claw!"

"Persian use Slash!"

Persian and Sneasel's claws clanged together as their attacks collided.

"Sneasel use Ice Shard!"

"Persian dodge it!"

At the close range, and with Sneasel still holding it with his other claw, Persian could do nothing as it was hit by the attack.

"Now Sneasel use Agility!"

"Persian use Power Gem!"

The gem on Persian's head began to glow before launching off an attack as it tried to aim where Sneasel was going to be.

"Sneasel use Thief!"

"Persian use Feint Attack!"

Sneasel rushed forward, striking low as Persian struck high, the two Pokemon doubling back as a result.

"Sneasel use Ice Shard!"

"Persian use Power Gem!"

Sneasel launched his attack quickly, while Persian was still charging up theirs, the ice striking it's gem loosing it's concentration and causing it to stumble as the buzzer rang. Ash having ended the match with more points remaining thanks to the quick attacking of his Pokemon.

"Alright Sneasel!" Ash cheered only for the ice type to not share in the enthusiasm.

Round 3 vs Harley

"Been a while since our last match Harley." Ash commented, as they approached the center.

"Yes, it's too bad that what I planned for Masquerain also works for Sneasel." Harley said with a smirk.

"We'll see about that." Ash said. "Sneasel take the stage!"

"Octillery come on out!" Harley said. "Use Octazooka!"

"Sneasel use Agility!"

Sneasel ran forward, leaping over Octillery's attack, easily avoiding it.

"Octillery use Sludge Bomb!"

"Sneasel use Ice Shard!"

Sneasel threw a burst of ice forward freezing the poisonous blob, causing it to shatter in the air.

"Octillery use Fire Blast!"

"Sneasel use Agility!"

Sneasel rushed out of the way of the fiery attack, the dark type barely making it out of the way.

"That's, unexpected." Brendan commented.

"Octillery use Constrict!"

"Sneasel dodge it with another Agility!"

Sneasel began running at full speed, only for one of Octillery's tentacles to trip it up, causing Sneasel to be caught in several of them.

"Octillery use Fire Blast!"

At the close quarters the flames engulfed Sneasel in mere moments, causing Ash's points to drop rapidly.

"Sneasel use Metal Claw!"

Sneasel slashed and lashed about trying to escape, dropping some of Octillery's points, but not enough of them, as the Octopus Pokemon readied another attack.

"End this with Fire Blast." Harley said.

Later that evening

"Hey Ash, how are you doing?" Brendan asked.

"I've been better." Ash admitted. "But I'll get over it."

"And how about Sneasel?" Wally asked.

"He'll manage." Ash said, looking into the window. "But he doesn't take loosing well, this will take some time for him."

Ash's Current Team and their moves

Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Shock Wave - Iron Tail

Grovyle: Double Team - Leaf Blade - Dig - X Scissor

Milotic: Attract - Dragon Breath - Water Pulse - Ice Beam

Swablu: Peck - Mirror Move - Dragon Pulse - Heat Wave

Quilava: Flamethrower - Lava Plume - Hidden Power - Brick Break

Sneasel: Ice Shard - Agility - Thief - Metal Claw

Authors Note

Sorry about the hiatus, took a week off to take some needed r and r while also starting the new job. It allowed me to get ahead in the writing, and I'm really excited for whats to come. Anyways Happy Halloween!