A/N: Max is a CHILD, Ash is obviously going to go easy on him, also, please remember that I am new to writing pokemon fics, I am still figuring out how to write battle scenes so please don't attack me for not writing the best battle scene.
"This will be a three on three battle between Ash and Max, battle begin," Brock yelled from the sidelines.
"Mightyena, let's go."
"Gengar, I choose you."
The white hyena-like Pokemon prepared to pounce while Gengar seemed to antagonize it.
"Mightyena, use Crunch."
Mightyena lept at Gengar.
"Use Ice Punch."
Gengar thrust it's arm forward, stopping Mightyena's descent and forcing it back.
"Mightyena, use Odor Sleuth."
"Gengar, Shadow ball."
A purple and black orb formed between Gengar's hands.
"Geng," he muttered as he threw the orb towards Mightyena.
"Dodge it," Max yelled.
MIghtyena lept into the air.
"Use Take Down."
Take Down, Max, seriously, normal type moves don't affect Gengar, Ash thought.
Mightyena charged at Gengar and forced him back.
"What the heck!" Ash yelled, watching Gengar get up from the sand on the battlefield.
Max crossed his arms, "I had Mightyena use Odor Sleuth which removes Gengar's immunity to Normal and Fighting-Type attacks."
"Wow, you're good," Ash said, he meant it, Max had matured a lot since Ash had last seen him.
"Yeah, and I'm gonna win, anyway, Mightyena use Tackle."
"Dodge it."
"Use Crunch."
After missing with tackle, Mightyena quickly turned and managed to sink his teeth into Gengar and throw him back to Ash.
"You okay Gengar?"
"Geng," Gengar called with an affirmative tone.
"Great, now get in close and use Shadow Ball."
Gengar appeared directly in front of Mightyena and launched the Shadow Ball directly at Mightyena's nose.
"Mi," Mightyena cried in pain while being launched across the battlefield.
When the dust settled, Mightyena was lying on his side with spirals in his eyes.
"You did great, take a good rest Mightyena," Max said, returning the hyena-like Pokemon to it's Pokeball.
"Gengar, can you keep going?"
Gengar nodded in affirmation.
"Kirlia, let's go."
"Kirlia?"
"Evolved from the Ralts I helped on Izabe Island."
Ash nodded and motioned for Max to make the first move.
"Kirlia, use Psychic."
Kirlia's eyes began to glow blue and a blue aura appeared around Gengar and he rose into the air.
"Now, slam Gengar to the ground."
"Kir," Kirlia called while obeying her master's orders.
Gengar was slammed down and his eyes became spirals.
"Gengar, return."
Ash scrunched his nose, carefully weighing the options, eventually, he settled on one and brought out one of his Pokeballs.
"Riolu, let's go."
The small blue Pokemon appeared and was ready to fight.
"Use Force Palm."
Riolu sprinted towards Kirlia and placed his palm on his chest. Blue light exploded out of his palm and forced Kirlia back.
Dang, Riolu has us beat in speed and that Force Palm did a number on Kirlia.
"Use Magical Leaf."
"Kirlia," the Pokemon cried while sending glowing leaves towards Riolu.
"Riolu, Vacuum Wave," Ash yelled.
Riolu formed a sphere of wind between his palms and sent a beam towards Kirlia. Both Pokemon performed their attacks and stared at each other while their attacks collided with their opponent.
Riolu and Kirlia fell to the ground with spirals in their eyes.
Ash brought out Riolu's Pokeball and returned the small, jackal-like Pokemon, "You did great Riolu, I'm proud of you."
Max had returned Kirlia to his Pokeball and grabbed another one.
"Sceptile, let's show them."
A green, gecko-like Pokemon revealed itself.
"Pikachu, I choose you."
"Pika pika pi," Pikachu called, sparks flying from his cheeks.
"Leaf Blade."
"Dodge it."
Sceptile's leaves became razor-sharp as he charged at Pikachu. The electric mouse jumped into the air.
"Iron Tail, Pikachu."
Pikachu's tail began to glow white. He slammed his tail down on Sceptile who seemed to take a considerable amount of damage.
"Frenzy Plant!"
Sceptile slammed its hands to the ground causing giant roots to appear all across the field.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail."
Once again, Pikachu's tail began to glow as the electric mouse spun around to destroy the roots.
"Now finish this with Thunder Bolt!"
"Pika pika pi," Pikachu shouted, releasing a Thunder Bolt on Sceptile.
Sceptile fell to the ground with spirals in its eyes.
"Alright buddy," Ash said as Pikachu ran over to him.
Max returned his fallen Sceptile to its Pokeball and grinned at Ash.
"That was an awesome battle, Ash," Max said, holding his hand out for the older boy to shake.
Ash shook his hand, "Yeah, you did great, you've come really far as a trainer."
The two boys headed inside to talk to Nurse Joy and heal their Pokemon.
"Nice to be back home and firmly in the Super Class, right Lucario," a blonde girl said, looking at her Pokemon partner.
The black and blue, bipedal pokemon had crossed his arms and simply nodded in acknowledgment of his trainer's statement. Lucario was wearing a red cuff with Lucarionite embedded in it on his left arm.
"And I'm glad we're firmly there and not just barely," she pulled out her phone, "And we just managed to pull ahead of Ash."
The duo was on top of the Tower of Mastery in Shalour City, enjoying the view of the ocean when her phone began to vibrate.
"Hello?"
"Korrina? Thank Arceus I got a hold of you."
"Serena, what's up, did something happen after I handed it off to Alain," Korrina asked.
"I think they figured out you guys were a diversion, and they found me this fast and have two agents on me already."
"Original or new agents?"
"Original, Celosia and Mabel," Serena paused, "and I'm not their only target anymore."
"Well, who is their new target?"
There was a long pause before Serena responded, "Ash."
"Isn't your agreement to-"
"Yeah, I know, but I want to do it after the Wallace Cup so it doesn't stress out the group I'm with, and finding out Team Flare is alive and kicking isn't exactly the most reassuring thing that people need right before a competition."
Korrina nodded, "Fair. Anyway, stay safe and if you need help, don't hesitate to call."
"Will do," Serena said, hanging up.
Korrina locked eyes with Lucario, "I can only hope she doesn't do anything stupid."
A man stood silently, crews that were sifting through the rubble of what once was Lysander Labs had left an hour ago, the man looked on at the destruction that had only happened six months ago. He reached his hand to his face, feeling the metal that surrounded his eye and continued down to his jaw. People in red uniforms were scattered around the area, none looking at the man and his Pyroar.
His silence was interrupted by another man.
"Sir my-"
"What did I say about interrupting me, Xerosic," the man hissed.
Xerosic fidgeted, "Sir, I-i-i," he stuttered.
"Would you like to be imprisoned by a child, again."
"No sir, my apologies, but I must say, my agents, Celosia and Mabel, have confirmed the girl is in Vermillion City, with none other than Ash Ketchum."
The man remained silent, before noticing that Xerosic was still there.
"You are dismissed, Xerosic."
Xerosic nodded and ran off.
"Py," Pyroar purred.
"She hasn't returned it to him, she cares about him too much, he thought we were destroyed, thinks I died, and competition happening tomorrow, she'll delay reuniting them until after."
The man stood silently, tracing the metal once more, "A lot can change in six months, Ketchum, but it only takes a few moments for something to change forever."
A/N: Okay, major plot in this chapter. Can anyone guess who it is?
Amourshipper35 - I wanted to give a short version of the kiss scene from Ash's perspective, and it was short because I could barely remember the dialogue in the scene
ryanrice56 - I might introduce the concept of Z-Moves as something Max asks a question about, but I feel like I can't properly introduce the Sun and Moon team since I was originally going to exclude Sun and Moon all together in my initial planning of this fic
