Espeon tried to stop her tears but to no avail. She couldn't believe what she had just realized. The Umbreon she had fallen in love with just earlier turned out to be a friend who's always loved her. Umbreon continued to nuzzle her out of love and she returned it. She was glad to be called Blue, and he was glad to be called Red. It was a symbol of their friendship.

"Maybe we should get back..."

"Sure, Blue. Sure..."

The four teenagers were still searching for Pokemon to help Ash to complete the Johto Pokedex. They stopped to take a break and Ash looked over the Johto part.

"Let's see: Igglybuff, Togetic, Sandshrew, Sandslash, Ekans, Arbok, Dunsparce, Mareep, Flaffy, Ampharos, Wooper, Quagsire, Unown, Steelix, Jumpluff, Slowking, Bellossom, Pineco, Forretress, Yanma, Yanmega, Sunkern, Sunflora, Sudowoodo, Wobbuffet, Scizor, Heracross, Aipom, Ambipom, Snubbull, Granbull, Stantler, Marill, Azumarill, Tyrogue, Girafrig, Miltank, Smoochum, Smeargle, and Natu. Who are we missing?"

Silver interrupted.

"Xatu, Qwilfish, Shuckle, Corsola, Remoraid, Octillery, and a bunch of others that you'll find out soon enough."

"Perfect. What do you three want to do?"

The three were stunned at this question. They haven't been asked that ever since they decided to travel with Ash. Serena, however, was about to ask a question in which she was afraid of the outcome.

"Ash?"

"Yes?"

She took a deep breath.

"Let's have a battle."

A grin instantly formed on Ash's face while Amelia and Silver had a shocked expression on their faces.

"Serena, you do realize he's the champion, right?" Silver warned.

"Of four regions," Amelia added.

"I don't care! I want to get stronger, and battling the champion is the best way to do so. Let's go, Ash. One Pokemon each. Don't hold back!"

"All right, then! Blastoise, I choose you!"

"I've been catching some Pokemon too! Go, Electivire!"

The two Pokemon emerged, and Ash turned his grin into a look of confusion.

"I presume you got that in Kanto?"

"Yep! I caught an Elekid and evolved it into an Electabuzz. I traded with Silver to get an Electivire."

"Interesting! Well, you can have the first move!"

Blastoise looked at Ash and nodded.

"ELECTIVIRE, THUNDER PUNCH!"

Electivire charged with a Thunder Punch, but without a single word from Ash, Blastoise dodged.

"THUNDER!"

Again, Blastoise dodged. Ash remained silent.

"Hmmm...to beat Ash, I have to think like him."

Blastoise looked at Electivire, ready to continue.

"Electivire, grab Blastoise's water spouts!"

With his two tails, Electivire grabbed each water spout. Ash then smiled.

"SKULL BASH!"

The second Electivire tightened its grip, Blastoise hit it with Skull Bash. Electivire, however, didn't faint. Serena just watched.

"Again, Electivire!"

Electivire grabbed the blasters again, and Ash knew she would do something different.

"Jump!"

Blastoise jumped.

"THUNDER!"

Electivire landed the Thunder, despite Blastoise being in the air. Blastoise crashed to the ground.

"I saw that coming."

"Then why did you jump?"

"You'll see."

"EARTHQUAKE!"

Earthquake hit, sending Blastoise off balance. Ash still stood silent.

"EARTHQUAKE, THEN THUNDER!"

The Earthquake hit again, and Electivire used the opportunity to hit Blastoise with Thunder, causing a lot of damage.

"Two can play at that game! Blastoise, use Earthquake!"

"Stick your tails into the ground and use Thunder!"

The Earthquake hit, but Electivire stuck its tails into the cracks and used Thunder to hit Blastoise. Blastoise was low on health, and so was Electivire. Ash grit his teeth. Serena stood confidently.

"Silver, Serena might actually win this!" Amelia squealed.

"I know, I see it." Silver said.

"Blastoise, Rapid Spin!"

"Thunder straight into the hole, Electivire!"

Electivire was able to concentrate hard enough to send a Thunder attack straight into one of the holes in Blastoise's shell, thus stopping the Rapid Spin. Blastoise fainted. Silver and Amelia gasped. Ash had a determined look on his face.

"Blastoise, return."

"Let's keep going, Ash."

"If you insist! GO, GYARADOS!"

"Electivire, stay in. You can do this!"

Despite being low on health, Electivire stayed in.

"I will beat Ash..."

"Gyarados, circle around Electivire and use Flamethrower!"

"Focus, Electivire! Jump onto Gyarados!"

Electivire dodged the attacks and jumped onto Gyarados' back. Ash still wasn't surprised.

"Rock Tomb!"

Rocks started falling towards both Gyarados and Electivire, but Serena was ready.

"Electivire! Hold on using your tails and use Thunder!"

Electivire's tails got a grip on Gyarados' body and delivered a super-effective Thunder attack.

"Jump off!"

Electivire jumped off and Gyarados got hit with the falling rocks. Gyarados fainted. Ash was disappointed. Serena was still determined.

"I'm not losing this battle. Gardevoir, I choose you!"

"Electivire, return! GO, GALLADE!"

Gallade and Gardevoir both bowed in honor at each other.

"Ash, it's time I show you something I got in Hoenn! GALLADE, RESPOND TO MY HEART, AND MEGA EVOLVE!"

"GARDEVOIR, SHOW US YOUR TRUE STRENGTH! MEGA EVOLVE!"

Both Pokemon mega-evolved and were more determined to win than ever.

"Don't hold back, Ash!"

"Trust me. I won't. GARDEVOIR, PSYCHIC!"

The attack landed and did a moderate amount of damage on Gallade.

"GALLADE! FURY CUTTER!"

"DODGE AND USE DAZZLING GLEAM!"

However, before Gardevoir dodged, it got hit with the Fury Cutter.

"Don't let up, Gallade! Use Toxic!"

Suddenly, Gardevoir became poisoned. Ash was slightly frantic while Serena was getting excited.

"GARDEVOIR, MOONBLAST!"

"Dodge, and use Fury Cutter once more!"

The Moonblast hit, but not before Gardevoir was hit with the Fury Cutter. Gardevoir fainted. Silver and Amelia gasped. Serena's heart was racing. Ash had a straight face.

"I-I won! I WON!"

"Good job, Serena!"

"I learned from the best."

Meanwhile, Gallade walked over to Gardevoir holding a berry. He fed her the berry and Gardevoir quickly got up.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes...thank you."

They both smiled. Ash and Serena smiled at the two, knowing what was likely to come next.

"That battle was fantastic, you two!"

"Congratulations, Serena."

"Thank you! Maybe I should go for that title..." Serena joked.

"If you do, I'll be waiting."

Espeon and Umbreon approached their trainers, who picked them up.

"Why don't we take a little rest? It's getting dark."

"All right, then! We'll continue tomorrow."

AT THE POKEMON CENTER...

Serena was tossing and turning in her bed. She was dreaming of a world similar to the distortion world. She looked around and saw nothing until She saw a figure walk towards her. He was holding a boy in one hand and a knife in the other. It was Giovanni and Ash.

"Time's up, Champion!"

"ASH!"

"Serena..."

Giovanni raised the knife.

"It's okay..."

Serena ran towards Giovanni, but it was too late. He had already plunged the knife into Ash's heart. That was when she woke up in a cold sweat. Quietly, she walked over to Ash's room and saw him sleeping peacefully with Pikachu. She walked over and looked out the window into the night sky. Ash noticed and walked over.

"Something on your mind?"

Serena stayed silent, which indicated there was, but before he could start guessing, she looked at him. A tear ran down her cheek. Ash didn't hesitate to wrap her in his arms.

"It's all right...everything's going to be all right."

"Ash, I-don't want to lose you again!"

"Don't worry..."

He looked into the sky.

"I'm not going anywhere."

Meanwhile, Espeon and Umbreon had slipped out and were in a tree looking at the moon. Espeon put her head on Umbreon's shoulder and began to nuzzle him softly.

"Red?"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad I found you..."

"I'm glad I found you too, Blue."

TO BE CONTINUED...