CHAPTER II: Heroes versus Legends II

Last time: "I-I don't believe it folks! It's the legendary Pokemon-Latios! Just how many Legendary Pokemon does Tobias have? Can Ash and his team still secure another win or is this the start of Tobias' comeback?!"

And now:

Ash bit his lip in worry as he gazed at the majestic form of the eon Pokemon. Dragon types were always troublesome opponents but a legendary dragon type?

The raven haired teen then shook his head in frustration as he put his game face back on. 'This is no time be worried. I gotta get my head in the game! We came here to win and that's what we're gonna do!'

Ash then raised Sceptile's pokeball and recalled the clearly worn out reptile. "Sceptile return!"

In response, the forest Pokemon just let the red light engulf him. Under normal circumstances, he would've been more stubborn but he knew that if they were going to win then he has to swallow his pride for the sake of the team.

Ash then smiled softly at Sceptile's Pokeball once the Hoenn native was safely back inside. "I'm proud of you Sceptile."

Pumping his fist in excitement, Ash proceeded with his next battler. "You're up Snorlax!"

Once the sleeping Pokemon materialized on the field, Tobias couldn't help but be intrigued. From the first battle alone, he pegged Ash as someone who prioritized power or speed as evident of the Pokemon he used thus far. 'What is he up to? Does he really think that glutton can match up to my Latios?"

"Alright, Snorlax versus Latios! Let the battle begin!"

With the Ref done, Tobias made the first move once more. "Latios, use Luster purge!"

Said eon Pokemon then gathered a massive amount of psychic energy in front of its mouth before unleashing it.

Ash and Snorlax only grinned in response as the gluttonous Pokemon took a defensive stance. The crowd was shocked as the raven haired youth simply let the attack hit.

Once the initial dust was clear, the audience felt their jaws drop as Snorlax looked relatively unharmed.

Tobias only grinned as his assumption was right. He may rely on his legendary's strength but it doesn't make him any less of a trainer. "Heh. I was wondering why would you use a Pokemon like Snorlax."

Ash could only smirk as the mysterious trainer saw through his strategy. "So you saw through my Snorlax's 'Protect'?"

The Sinnoh trainer then let out a small snort as he crossed his arms. "You're not the first one who tried to use that tactic. Let's see if your Snorlax's defense can stand up to my Latios' offense!"

With a wave of his right hand, Tobias was on the offensive once again. "Show that glutton who's the boss Latios! Use Zen headbutt!"

Latios then let out a mighty cry as it's forehead glow blue with psychic energy and took off at incredible speeds towards its opponent.

Ash was quick to act as he saw the incoming threat. "Snorlax, heads up! Use Defense curl!"

In response, the bear-like Pokemon used his massive bulk to his advantage and took the attack head on. A massive shockwave then followed after the impact but to everyone's shock, Snorlax absorbed Latios' attack because of his large gut.

Ash grinned in satisfaction at the golden opportunity and made sure to use it. "Snorlax use Headbutt!"

Hearing his trainer, Snorlax ricocheted Latios off his gut before butting foreheads with the eon Pokemon. The impact was strong enough to make the dragon type flinch.

"Now follow it up with Ice punch!"

Tobias then gritted his teeth as the attack connected and Latios was sent flying back with a pained cry. 'Tch. Figures, he would have something to counter dragon types!' The Sinnoh trainer then cried out to his fallen Pokemon. "Latios, I know you're stronger than this! Show them the might of a legendary Pokemon!"

The eon Pokemon floated into the air once more as it struggled to maintain aloft. Tobias narrowed his eyes as he saw that Snorlax specifically aimed to damage one of Latios' wings. "Tsk! Latios use luster purge!"

Unfortunately the same result happened once more as Ash simply used protect to defend. Tobias then growled as he switched tactics again. "Latios, zen headbutt! Don't give that Snorlax room to counter attack!"

Prepared for situations like this, Ash already had another plan in mind. "Don't worry Snorlax! Use Counter!"

Said Pokemon then shifted into a stance and emitted a red aura that engulfed his entire form.

At first the attack seemingly made contact and managed to hurt Snorlax but that was before the after-effect kicked in and Latios felt double the recoil from its own attack.

The legendary Pokemon let out a growl as it saw Snorlax grin despite his injury.

Latios then resumed its assault according to its trainer's wish and kept on attacking but Ash and Snorlax were always a step ahead and acted accordingly to the legendary's moves.

-(scene change)-

Meanwhile, Paul was impressed with how his rival put Snorlax's advantage to good use. 'It may not be the fastest Pokemon in Ash's squad but those three defensive moves are enough to compensate for the lack of speed.

With Protect, he can shield Snorlax from strong attacks like Latios' Luster purge and so that he doesn't have to worry about the off-chance that protect will fail, Ash has Defense curl and Counter as back-ups.'

The purple haired trainer couldn't help but smirk as he overheard some people beginning to cheer on Ash. "Heh. Not bad you idiot. I guess Reggie really was right, there is something special about you."

-(scene change)-

And in another section of the audience, Barry literally joined Dawn with cheering Ash on. As in the young blond was also wearing a uniform which consisted of a red coat, A headband that says Kanto on the front and he was even waving a red flag with Pikachu's face on it.

"Yeah, go Ash! Go Snorlax! That's my rival! Kick Tobias and his legendary Pokemon's butt! Ahahahaha!"

"Give me an A! Give me a S! Give me a H! What's that spell? The best! Ash is the best! Yeahhh!"

To both cheerleader's left, Brock let out a weak grin at his friend's antics as he timidly clapped along to show his support.

-(scene change: Kalos)-

In Vaniville town, both Serena and her mother were astonished at how the battle was in Ash's favor. At first they were worried that the Kanto native was facing legendary Pokemon but were pleasantly ecstatic when Ash did the impossible and snagged a win.

Now they were more than hooked as they cheered on Ash wholeheartedly to win the Sinnoh league conference.

As Serena watched on, she was proud of her childhood friend for coming this far as a trainer. Said girl then felt a small blush on her cheeks as she entertained the idea of meeting up with the Pallet town trainer. 'It shouldn't be too hard. Since he's a registered trainer, an official league site should have his e-mail. I can't wait to see him in per-'

A small knot then made itself known inside Serena's stomach and she felt like she swallowed something bitter. 'And what do I have to show for? A Rhyhorn racer in-training? I'm still not even sure if that's what I want to do…'

Serena then shook her head as she recalled her days in Pallet town. 'Ash isn't the kind of person to judge…but it wouldn't hurt to have a dream that I can really be proud to call my own…'

-(scene change: Sinnoh)-

Back on the battlefield, as both Latios and Snorlax kept on clashing, it was clear to Tobias that his Legendary can't outmatch Ash's Pokemon in terms of stamina.

Latios looked ready to collapse from the war of attrition but Snorlax who was equally bruised and battered, still looked raring to go. Something which irked Tobias' pride.

Feeling his impatient side surfacing, Tobias momentarily lost his composure for a second. "Latios enough! Just finish this fight already! Use Luster purge, full power!"

"You got this Snorlax! Use protect!"

As expected, the same results followed and Tobias let out a growl of frustration. "Don't let up Latios!"

In response to its trainer's command, Latios poured more power into its signature attack but it seemed futile as Snorlax's protect held strong.

Tobias then noticed despite his Pokemon's effort, they were actually able to push the gluttonous Pokemon a few inches, indicated by the indents left on the ground. A small light bulb then metaphorically hovered over Tobias' head as the Sinnoh trainer formed a plan. "Latios, shift your Luster Purge and hit the ground below Snorlax!"

With a mighty cry, Latios did as it was instructed and to everyone else's shock, Snorlax was hurled high into the air.

Grinning in triumph, Tobias dramatically pointed one finger into the air. "Yes! Once more, use Luster purge!"

As the eon Pokemon let loose the attack, Ash cried out in horror as he knew that Snorlax was completely vulnerable in the air. Gritting his teeth, the raven haired youth relied on his instinct by reflex. "Snorlax, counter with Giga Impact!"

Calming himself after hearing his trainer's command, Snorlax then engulfed himself in a bright orange aura and clashed head-on with Latios' strongest attack.

The legendary dragon type narrowed its eyes as it pumped more power into its attack, according to Tobias' wishes. The same goes double for Ash's Snorlax as the Pallet town trainer cheered his hardest.

Everyone else that was watching the spectacle waited with baited breath as the moment seemed to drag on in suspense.

Snorlax then gritted his teeth as he increased the power and size of his aura to match his opponent's. With one more cry, the gluttonous Pokemon was able to break through Latios' attack with a little thanks to gravity and the fact that he had more stamina than the eon Pokemon.

The attack connected and a massive shockwave followed as the entire field transformed into a huge crater.

Tobias could only gasp at the sheer damage of the Giga impact. The Sinnoh trainer was then relieved as he saw that his Legendary was struggling to get up and continue fighting.

Tobias then grinned in satisfaction as he knew that the fight was far from over. "Good you're still up. Alright Latios, use-"

"I don't think so! We're not taking any chances! Use Earthquake!"

As the surrounding dust near Latios cleared, Snorlax was revealed to be standing right behind the eon Pokemon all along.

Before Tobias or even Latios could react, the Legendary dragon type was flattened by the sheer girth of Snorlax's bottom. The aftershock of the attack was also strong enough to further destroy the battle field, as evident by the huge cracks that scattered all over.

Ash and his Pokemon were the first to cheer as the ref called the results. It wasn't long before the entire stadium followed the raven haired teen's lead.

Meanwhile, Tobias let out a growl as he recalled Latios. Losing was unexpected to say the least. The Sinnoh trainer truly believed he would waltz into this competition without any trouble thanks to his Legendaries but never in his dreams he would encounter someone like Ash of all people.

Tobias then gripped his next Pokeball tightly as he renewed his resolve to win. "I must thank you Ash."

Seeing the raven haired teen's confusion, Tobias was more than glad to continue as he called out his next Pokemon. "For reminding me that every Pokemon has a fair chance of winning and losing. I was arrogant and blind. From here on, I swear I'll show you I'm a trainer worthy to have made his way to the finals!"

Ash could only grin in excitement and slight nervousness as he recognized Tobias' next legendary. It was none other than Moltres, a prominent Legendary in Kanto lore. "Bring it on Tobias! How about it Snorlax? You still good to go buddy?"

A little roughed up but definitely not out, Snorlax flexed his chubby arms as a show of confidence to his trainer.

With a nod of his head, the ref was quick to resume the match.

Tobias then smirked as he commanded the legendary phoenix Pokemon with an elegant flourish of his hand. "This battle is over! Moltres, end it with Fire blast!"

Said legendary then unleashed an abnormally huge flamethrower that eventually took the shape of the symbol 'Dai', something only common in Kanto dialect.

"Snorlax, use protect!"

Hearing his trainer's command, Snorlax was quick to summon his green barrier in response. Unfortunately, of all the possible timings, Snorlax's shield fizzled out immediately.

Ash then gritted his teeth as he saw Protect finally reached its limits and failed. Having no choice, the raven haired trainer fell to his back-up plan. "Tsk, no time to dodge…Snorlax, use Defense curl!"

The attack connected and a massive explosion then took place and rocked the entire stadium.

To everyone's shock, Snorlax stumbled out of the smoke badly singed before finally fainting. Ash then gritted his teeth as he recalled the bear-like Pokemon. "Snorlax return!"

The raven haired trainer then clenched his one fist as he whispered his apologies. "I'm sorry buddy, I let my guard down…I swear I'll make it up to you." Ash then plucked another Pokeball as he glared back at the legendary phoenix. "Let's do this Charizard!"

As soon as the flame Pokemon emerged from Ash's Pokeball, Charizard wasted no time in letting loose a mighty roar that shook the entire stadium to its core.

A lot of spectators and other veteran trainers watching, felt a shiver travel through their spines at the battle-hardened look in Charizard's eyes. Even in the presence of a legendary fire type, it wasn't enough to deter the orange dragon.

The referee then gulped a bit as the atmosphere itself grew hotter. The tension was even higher since it became a battle between fire types. Pokemon of these types were known for their competitive nature.

"Moltres versus Charizard! On my mark! Let the battle…begin!"

And then they were off into the skies as both fire types clashed according to their trainer's orders.

The audience felt their jaws drop at the amazing speeds both Pokemon travelled as they witness the breath-taking aerial maneuvers. It almost seemed choreographed as Charizard's Slash and Moltres' Wing attack always resulted in a stalemate before both Pokemon resumed their duel.

Moltres was the first to break off and launched a powerful Flamethrower according to its master's orders. Not backing down, Ash was quick to retaliate. "Use your Flamethrower too Charizard! Let em have it full power!"

With a loud cry, Charizard was more than glad to fight fire-with-fire. Tobias then gritted his teeth in frustration as he saw both attacks drew in mid-air. "Moltres, shift that flamethrower into a Fire blast!"

Moltres' flames then grew in intensity and was slowly pushing back the opposition much to the Sinnoh trainer's delight. Unfortunately for Tobias, Ash and Charizard were just that stubborn to not give up without a fight. "Then it's time we bust out the big guns! Charizard counter with Overheat!"

If Moltres' fire blast was huge then Charizard's overheat was twice the size as the orange dragon's attack easily engulfed the phoenix's flames.

Moltres then let out a pained cry at the sheer power of the flames as Charizard's attack landed right on the mark.

Tobias and the rest of stadium gawked at the absolute fire power that the orange dragon possessed.

"I-Incredible! Ash Ketchum's Charizard was able to harm Tobias' Moltres! A legendary fire type! It's unbelievable! One thing is for sure folks, that Charizard isn't your run of the mill fire type!"

Gritting his teeth, Tobias then recalled the legendary Phoenix back into its Pokeball. The Sinnoh trainer had no time for another battle of attrition. "Moltres, that's enough for now! Zapdos, you're up!"

Ash then bit his lip in worry as he gazed at another Kanto legendary. While the raven haired youth had full confidence in Charizard, he knew he can't afford to tire out his ace Pokemon too much. "Charizard return!"

The Pallet town trainer then gritted his teeth as he considered his remaining options. 'It's a HUGE risk...but maybe, just maybe it could actually work…' Ash then shifted his gaze towards Tobias and narrowed his eyes slightly. 'He might also underestimate my next choice so that gives me another advantage to work with…'

"Swellow, I choose you!"

Everybody watching then choked on their spit as soon as Ash's Swellow made his debut.

Even Ash's friends in the stands had a hard time processing the raven haired youth's choice.

After everyone got their bearings back, the ref was quick to resume the match. With a wave of his hand, Ash was the first one to make his move. "Swellow, close the gap with agility!"

Tobias could only smirk at what he assumed an easy opponent. "Don't give them that chance Zapdos! Use thunderbolt!"

After letting out a large screech into the air, Zapdos then flapped its impressive wing span and fired a huge lightning bolt at its speedy target.

Ash was more than ready as he prepared his plan for action. "Don't worry Swellow, use Double team!"

Not losing his momentum, the swallow Pokemon amped his speed up even further and created what looks like to be actual clones.

Zapdos then narrowed its eyes and began spamming more thunderbolts according to its master's orders. It was only a matter of time before all of the clones were destroyed but to everyone's shock, the real Swellow wasn't among them.

"Now Swellow, use Aerial ace!"

A streak of blue and white then rammed itself to an unsuspecting Zapdos before quickly disappearing.

Tobias didn't even have the time to react before the mysterious blur appeared once more and attacked his legendary again.

The speed of the blur was unreal as it repeated the process again and again, leaving no room for a proper counter attack. With a jolt, Tobias then realized that the blue streak was none other than Ash's Swellow.

Tobias scowled but nonetheless managed to form a plan in his head. "Blow him away with Whirlwind Zapdos!"

With a flap of its wings, the electric legendary unleashed an incredible gust of wind that managed to put some distance between the two flying types.

It was more than enough for Tobias to quickly make his next move. "Now use Rain dance and follow it up with Charge!"

Zapdos then hurled a blue ball of psychic energy towards the sky and it wasn't long before it actually started to rain. The thunder Pokemon then went into a trance as multiple sparks danced all over its body and before anyone could expect what happens next, the legendary Pokemon was engulfed in a yellow aura.

Tobias grinned in excitement at what he assumes checkmate for his opponents. "Now let's see if you can dodge this! Give it everything you've got Zapdos! Use Thunder, full power!"

A huge column of electricity then emerged from the dark sky and engulfed the entire battlefield. Everybody watching, let out a frightful scream at the legendary Pokemon's sheer power.

The ref was about to make the call since no normal flying type could possibly still be standing after an attack of that magnitude when a sharp cry managed to pierce the nail biting tension that blanketed the entire stadium.

From out of the smoke, Ash's Swellow emerged and was covered in a magnificent golden aura.

Ash grinned as he saw that his plan worked perfectly. 'It was a long shot but I'm glad we were able to pull of Thunder armor perfectly again.'

Everybody else was gob-smacked as they witness another impossible feat happen right before their very eyes. A flying type of all things was able to absorb an electric attack.

Ash then didn't waste any more time and was quick to make his next move. "Alright Swellow, let's end this! Use Brave bird!"

Swellow then burst into flames and numerous sparks circled his body before the two types combined and the swallow Pokemon was engulfed in a white aura. The Hoenn flying type then took off like a rocket towards the legendary Pokemon.

Realizing the danger, Tobias was quick to snap out of his shock. "Zapdos use Hyper beam!"

A still worn out Zapdos then fired an orange beam from its beak. The attack was a direct hit but a split second later, it was shown that it was completely ineffective.

Swellow's brave bird just easily overpowered the hyper beam and nailed Zapdos in a blink of an eye.

After the explosion, Zapdos' defeated form crashed down to the earth. The ref was about to announce the results when Swellow's golden aura fizzled out and the Hoenn flying type also joined the legendary down below.

"Both Swellow and Zapdos are unable to battle! This is a draw! Since Tobias has lost three Pokemon, we will take a five minute intermission so that both trainer's can rest and league officials will prep the next battlefield."

-(scene change)-

"That. Was…Awesome! That Ash kid ain't half bad!"

"I know! He's actually giving Tobias a run for his money!"

"I don't know about you guys but I'm betting on him to win the whole thing! Kid's got potential!"

Brock then let out a low whistle as he overheard the people behind him. 'Heh. Leave it to Ash to change everyone's mind about him. Still, it makes me proud to see how far he's gone.' The former gym leader then grinned at his friends as he passed on some refreshments. "Haha. So what do you guys think of the senior members of Ash's squad? Impressed?"

Barry was practically bouncing in his seat after he and Dawn took a little break from cheering. "Heck yeah! I really liked his Swellow! At first I was worried over the type disadvantage then suddenly…BAM! He went all Super mode and unleashed a can of butt-whoopin!"

While Dawn wasn't as vocal, she also shared the same sentiments with their blonde friend. The blue haired girl was practically beaming with pride towards her mentor. "Ditto for me! I never even knew the things Ash and his Pokemon did was even possible!"

The aspiring breeder couldn't help but smile at both of his friend's expression. Being Ash's oldest friend-slash-traveling companion, he was already used to the raven haired youth's ability to do the impossible. "Yup that's Ash for ya. Ever since we first fought at Pewter, I knew there was something special about him. He always had the knack for adapting to any situation, more so than any other trainer I've seen in our travels. And trust me, there were a lot of trainers."

"And that's our intermission folks! The battle will resume on the rock field and Ash Ketchum of Pallet town will go first!"

Dawn and Barry's eyes then lit up in excitement as they resumed their efforts to cheer on the Kanto trainer.

-(scene change)-

With his signature grin, Ash then called out his next battler. "I'm counting on you, Infernape!"

Once the fire monkey appeared on the field, Infernape copied his trainer's excited grin and began shadowboxing vigorously. The Sinnoh Pokemon then adopted a more serious look once he saw his opponent enter the field as well.

Across him was the legendary aurora Pokemon itself.

"Suicune versus Infernape! Let the battle…begin!"

With a mighty cry, Infernape then flared his flames high into the air with his usual zeal. Equally excited, Ash was more than glad to lead the charge. "I hear ya buddy, let's win this thing! Close the gap with Mach punch!"

The primate like Pokemon then charged towards Suicune at great speeds with his fist covered in a white aura. In response, Tobias couldn't help but smirk as he already expected a melee fight to begin with. "Suicune, shut that monkey down with Tailwind!"

Suicune's eyes then glowed with psychic energy and unleashed a turbulent whirlwind that was enough to stop Infernape cold in his tracks.

Tobias then smirked at both of his opponent's panic-stricken looks. "Follow it up with Bubblebeam Suicune!"

Infernape then howled in pain as the attack connected and Ash gritted his teeth as he saw the state of the Sinnoh Pokemon's flame. Compared to the start of the match, it was much tamer in comparison.

Seeing that he gained the upper hand, Tobias wasted no time using this golden opportunity to his advantage. "Now use Scald! Let 'em have it!"

Showing his grit, Infernape then started dodging according to his trainer's orders. As for Ash, the raven haired youth looked worried as he saw that his Pokemon's speed wasn't up to snuff after the legendary's last attack.

As the battle went on, it was clear to Tobias that even after lowering the Sinnoh Pokemon's speed with bubblebeam, it won't be enough to land a decisive hit.

Mentally scrolling through Suicine's list of attacks, Tobias was quick to change tactics. "There's no way you're dodging this! Suicune use Surf!"

The aurora Pokemon's eyes glowed once more with psychic energy and then unleashed a gigantic tidal wave that swept through the entire battlefield.

Tobias' smirk was wiped off of his face when he noticed that Ash was grinning as well.

Panicking for a moment, Tobias then saw that there was no sign of Infernape's form after Suicune's surf was over. 'W-What the? Where on earth is he?! Side-to-side? Behind? Above? I can't find him!'

"Let's go Infernape! Use mach punch!"

Both Tobias and Suicune's then eyes widened in disbelief as said primate, practically came out of nowhere and delivered a mean sucker punch right below the aurora Pokemon's jaw. 'I-Impossible! He used dig and came from below?!'

Ash's grin widened as the tide of battle finally turned in his favor. "Time for our trump card Infernape! Use Thunder punch!"

Tobias couldn't help but wince after the attack made contact. Judging from Suicune's cry of pain, Infernape landed a critical hit.

Before the Sinnoh trainer even had the chance to counter, his raven haired opponent wasn't about to let up that easily. "Now combine it with Close combat!"

After the initial impact of the first thunder punch, Infernape picked up the pace and charged his remaining limbs with electricity and unleashed a barrage of kicks and punches at incredible speeds.

Tobias then clenched his fists in frustration at the onslaught of attacks. After seeing another clean hit land on Suicune, the Sinnoh trainer was hit with inspiration and gained a determined look in his eyes. "Suicune stand your ground and use Reflect!"

Heeding his trainer's orders, Suicune gritted his teeth and summoned a psychic barrier between itself and Infernape. The sudden disruption was more than enough to stagger the Sinnoh Pokemon's rhythm and it was the perfect chance for Tobias. "He's wide open! Now's our chance Suicune! Use Hyrdo pump!"

Suicune then launched a powerful jet of water towards the helpless primate like Pokemon. The result was devastating as Infernape was dragged across the field before making impact with a rock pillar.

Ash and Pikachu looked horrified after the attack was done. A super-effective attack is pretty painful but a super-effective attack from a legendary Pokemon? The raven haired trainer couldn't even imagine the pain the fire type was going through. "No! Infernape! Speak to me buddy! Please be alright!"

"Pi-Pikachuuu!"

Infernape knew he didn't have much time left and use the last of his energy before fainting and gave his trainer a look. A single look and inside it was a message. A message that could only be understood between a trainer and a Pokemon with a deep bond.

'Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Remember, this is our dream too. Don't give up now.'

Ash could only bit his lip before nodding silently and recalled the knocked-out fire Pokemon. The raven haired youth then closed his eyes as he softly whispered to the Pokeball. "You did your best Infernape. I'm proud of you…And don't worry, we're winning this match. For us. For all of us."

Raising his head with a determined look in his eyes, Ash plucked out another Pokeball and threw it to the field. "I'm counting on you Tauros! Let's do this!"

Once the bull Pokemon fully materialized on the field, Tauros then stomped one hoof into the ground before letting out a confident cry.

Tobias then narrowed his eyes and assessed his latest opponent. 'It doesn't look like it's built for intense speed like the rest of Ash's Pokemon. Suicune should be faster…' The Sinnoh trainer then shook his head and took a closer look to his Pokemon's condition. 'No! I can't underestimate him again! Suicune took too many hits from that combo move. If I keep on pushing it, I'll just end up losing another battler. I can't afford that happening!'

Making his decision, Tobias was quick to raise the aurora Pokemon's Pokeball. "Suicune you've done enough for now! Return!"

Tobias then returned the equally determined gaze right back at his opponent as he sent out his next choice. "Heatran, I choose you!"

From the Sinnoh trainer's Pokeball, emerged the legendary lava dome Pokemon. The tortoise like legendary then roared proudly into the air and stomped the ground below even harder.

Ash's Tauros didn't even flinched at the show of intimidation, the normal type just chose to snort in response and got into his favored battle-ready position.

"Okay! Tauros versus Heatran! Let's get this started! On my mark…Begin!"

Taking the lead once more, Tobias wasted no time in leading the charge. "Heatran use Earth power!"

The lava dome Pokemon's eyes then glowed with psychic energy before the legendary suddenly slammed the earth below it with all its might. A huge fissure then emerged with magma overflowing from the cracks.

Undaunted, Ash already had a plan in mind for a situation like this. "Counter it with earthquake Tauros!"

In response, the bull Pokemon also slammed the dirt beneath him and caused a massive seismic quake. The attack was strong enough to cause a draw and resulted a massive explosion in the middle of the battle field.

Picking up the pace, Ash and Tauros were eager to make another move. "Take 'em down Tauros! Use Bulldoze!"

Said Pokemon's horns then glowed with power before the normal type charged in with all the speed and power of a freight train.

Already seeing the outcome, Tobias decided to face his opponent head on. "Don't falter Heatran! Fight back with Iron head!"

The lava dome Pokemon's skull plate was also covered in the same aura before clashing head-to-head with Ash's Tauros. What happened next was a mini shockwave that rattled the stadium.

Everybody watching then struggled to stay on their seats as both Pokemon continued bashing their heads with each other as a contest of strength and stamina. With every impact, the aftershocks were strong enough to further destroy the battlefield.

After regaining his balance as well, Tobias opted for a switch of plans. "Forget about iron head! Switch to Heatwave Heatran!"

After one final clash, Heatran then unleashed a scorching hot heat wave directly from its now open mouth. Due to their close proximity, Tauros received even more damage from the fire attack.

Ash then gritted his teeth after seeing his Pokemon's condition. Judging from the badly singed body, the raven haired youth knew that the normal type was burnt.

The pallet town trainer could only bite his lip in worry at the tight spot he and his team were currently in. 'With Tauros burned, it's only a matter of time before his stamina runs out and he faints. I could switch out now but I don't think neither Sceptile or Charizard could take Heatran out fast enough and still have enough energy to fight Suicune and Moltres…' Ash then clenched his fists in worry with Pikachu imitating his trainer's mood. 'We've got no other choice then, it's all-or-nothing!'

"Tauros use Fissure!"

The normal type then let out a strong cry before carving another crack into the earth with a white energy beam thanks to one of his hooves.

Tobias then sweated a bit in response as he knew the dangers of that attack if it actually managed to hit. With a wave of his hand, the Sinnoh trainer wasn't just gonna stand idly by. "Nullify that Fissure Heatran! Use earth power again!"

Due to Tauros' state from his burns, all of his physical attacks were weakened for now. It was no surprise why both attacks drew this time.

After the explosion, Tobias then wiped off the sweat from his brow and let out a breath of relief. "Okay Heatran, end this with-"

"Now Tauros! Use Giga impact!"

Both Tobias and Heatran were clearly caught off guard as they simply thought that the normal type's last attack was its final gambit. Gritting his teeth, Tobias made a quick recovery. "Try and push him back with Heat wave!"

As the attack hit its mark spot on, Tauros gritted his teeth in frustration and pain. The normal type then heard his trainer's cheer and it was enough to encourage him to plow on and land his attack.

The result was another explosion.

Unfortunately for Tauros, after the dust cleared, Heatran was still standing tall and proud. The bull like Pokemon could only glare back weakly at the legendary before finally fainting.

Ash then felt a massive knot in his stomach as he recalled his fallen Pokemon. The raven haired youth couldn't help but bite his lip in anxiety as he stared at the scoreboard. 'So much for having the lead…'

Sensing that something was wrong with the Pallet town native, Pikachu made his presence known and gave his trainer a stern glare.

"Pi-Pika! Pikachuu!"

Ash couldn't help but smile softly in return at his starter. "Thanks buddy, I appreciate the pep talk. After all, this battle isn't over yet! Not by a long shot!"

The raven haired youth then gripped his Pokeball tightly before hurling the sphere towards the field with renewed vigor. "I'm counting on ya Sceptile! Let's do this!"

Making his reappearance, a still haggard looking Sceptile emerged and tried his best to look unaffected by his previous fatigue. The green reptile also saw the score and vowed to avenge his fallen comrades.

Tobias then assessed the Hoenn Pokemon's condition and made the smart decision to swap out Heatran for his Moltres. 'This way, I have both the type advantage and more maneuverability on the battlefield. Ash and his squad…they're special. Really special. In all my years as a trainer, I never thought I would run into a trainer like him, and that's why…' The Sinnoh trainer then narrowed his eyes at someone he finally deems worthy to be called his rival. 'No more underestimating him! Just like him, this is an important dream for me and my team too! I won't lose!'

As soon as the ref made the call, both Pokemon then sprang into action. With Moltres taking to the skies and Sceptile activating his blades.

"Get em Sceptile! Use Leaf blade!"

Thanks to his natural speed and jumping prowess, it was easy getting into the air. Landing an attack? Unfortunately, is a different matter altogether. Moltres just simply dodged the attack according to its trainer's command.

Ash then gritted his teeth after seeing the phoenix Pokemon retaliate with a direct wing attack, Sceptile then barely dodged the incoming flamethrower after making a spectacular aerial recovery.

As much as he hates to admit, Ash had no choice but to go on the defensive. "Sceptile, try and psych em out with agility!"

The forest Pokemon then upped his speed and began leaving afterimages all over the battlefield. Narrowing his eyes, Tobias wasn't about to let up and found a quick countermeasure. "Clear the field with Hurricane Moltres! Leave no trace behind!"

The legendary phoenix then flapped its fiery wings and summoned not one, not two but three tornadoes that engulfed the entire field.

After the violent winds finally died down, everybody watching was shocked when Sceptile was apparently missing.

Ash then grinned triumphantly as he looked towards the sky and high above Moltres was the forest Pokemon himself. To the raven haired youth's excitement, the yellow seeds on Sceptile's back were glowing brightly in the sunlight. "Alright Sceptile! Hit them with your Solar beam! Full power!"

Tobias then smirked much to the Kanto trainer's confusion.

Imagine to Ash and Sceptile's shock when the legendary fire type itself, simply vanished and left an afterimage as well. To both of their horror, the phoenix Pokemon was on top of Sceptile all along.

'H-How?! Moltres wasn't this fast before! It didn't even use a move to buff it's speed! That's impossible! Unless…'

-(FLASHBACK)-

"Suicune, shut that monkey down with Tailwind!"

-(FLASHBACK: END)-

Ash's eyes grew in horror as he realized his folly too late. 'Of course! Suicune's Tailwind! Not only was it able to stop Infernape, it also boosted their speed for the rest of the battle!'

The raven haired youth could only watch helplessly as the legendary phoenix unleashed another Fire blast at his airborne Pokemon.

As Sceptile crashed down back to earth, Ash felt his heart sink as he gazed at the forest Pokemon's defeated state. The raven haired youth then silently recalled the Hoenn native back to his Pokeball. "I'm so sorry Sceptile. It's all my fault as a trainer…I should've seen it coming."

"Pika…"

Ash then returned a weak grin to the electric rodent. "Don't worry buddy, I'm fine. It doesn't matter if the odds are always against us. I'm not giving up!"

Pikachu practically beamed at his trainer's belief in his dreams. And most importantly, his belief in them.

Standing straight and tall, Ash then briefly raised his last Pokeball to the sun with a determined gleam in his brown eyes before he promptly hurled the sphere to the battlefield. "It's all on you Charizard! Let's do this!"

Once Charizard reappeared, the mighty orange dragon mimicked his trainer and stood proudly with his arms crossed. The fire type then flared his wings and let loose a roar before firing a flamethrower to the sun's direction.

Seeing the last obstacle to his victory, Tobias then wasted no time and recalled his Moltres and swapped in the aurora Pokemon. "Let's win this Suicune! I'm counting on you!"

As soon as the legendary materialized, the tension in the entire stadium grew thicker. Everybody was practically at the edge of their seats as the end of this year's league match was coming close to its end.

"This is it folks! The last stretch! Who will win this year's conference?! Will it be the fan favorite-Tobias?! Or will it be the underdog-Ash?! Hang on tight to those seats cause this is gonna rock!"

The referee then looked between the two trainers and their respective Pokemon before finally making his cue. "Charizard versus Suicune! Both Pokemon are ready?! Then…Begin!"

Ash was the first one to make his move with Charizard and the fire type was more than glad to lead the charge as well. "Start off with a flamethrower Charizard! Full blast!"

In retaliation, Suicune fired a scald attack according to its trainer's wishes. Both attacks then drew in mid air and created a lot of steam that blanketed the entire field.

"Close in with Slash, Charizard!"

From the smoke, Charizard flew in at incredible speeds with his claws practically glowing. The attack was successful as Suicune howled in pain when the kanto fire type continued his onslaught. Slash-after-Slash raked across the aurora Pokemon's body.

Tobias then gritted his teeth in frustration at the sheer brutality and strength of the orange dragon. "Hang on Suicune! Use reflect!"

Showing that he was more tougher and experienced than the rest of Ash's squad, Charizard just kept on hammering the psychic barrier with his claws non-stop. It was evident that Suicune was having a hard time in maintaining its shield, judging from the obvious cracks all over the glass like panel.

With one more push, Ash knew he needed one more attack to break through. "Now use Dragon tail, Charizard!"

Said fire type then let out a roar before whipping his glowing tail at the legendary's barrier, the impact was not only strong enough to destroy Suicune's reflect but was also enough to blow away the aurora Pokemon across the field.

Ash pumped his fist in glee at the direct hit, the raven haired trainer then pointed towards their downed foe. "Now end it with Overheat!"

Unfortunately for the kanto trainer, Tobias and Suicune may be down but they were definitely not out. "Not a chance Ash! Counter it with Surf, Suicune!"

Since it was the second time that Charizard used overheat, the attack wasn't strong enough to face against the massive tidal wave and the fire type had no choice but to relinquish his attack and take to the skies like his trainer ordered.

This moment was all that Tobias needed to set up the battlefield to his favor. "Now's our chance! Use Rain dance and follow it up with Tailwind!"

Ash clenched his fists and knew that he has to stop the Sinnoh trainer's plan or it's game over. "Don't let them Charizard! Try a flamethrower!"

However it was too late as the effects of rain dance already took place and with tailwind, the turbulent gust was enough to repel Charizard's attack.

The flame Pokemon then grunted in annoyance as he felt the numerous water drops pelt his tail flame. Ash was also having the same dilemma as he realized that fire attacks won't be as effective anymore.

Tobias then smirked as he could practically see the ending right before him. "Now clip that overgrown lizard's wings Suicune! Use Blizzard!"

Said aurora Pokemon's eyes glowed blue with power before the legendary unleashed a mighty snow storm right from its mouth. The size and speed of the attack was unreal as the blizzard covered a wide range, leaving no room to dodge.

Charizard endured the onslaught of hail to the best of his abilities but the orange dragon began panicking when he felt his wings grew heavier every second.

It wasn't long before the fire type's wings were frozen solid and Charizard found himself plummeting at high speeds.

Seeing the dire situation, Ash was quick to react. "No! Charizard, use flamethrower on your wings! Quick!"

"It's too late Ash! Suicune use scald!"

Ash then let out a gasp as Charizard was nailed with a jet of scalding hot water. The force of the attack was strong enough to pin the fire type against a large boulder.

Tobias smirked at the roar of pain from the Kanto Pokemon. With a wave of his hand, the mysterious Sinnoh trainer hoped to end the battle right away. "Now turn that scald into a Hydro pump!"

Ash was practically trembling now as he witnessed his strongest Pokemon crying out in absolute pain. "No! Charizard! Get out of there, please!"

In response, Suicune just poured more power into its attack while slowly closing the distance to the fire type.

Ash then felt the weight of Charizard's Pokeball on his belt. 'T-This…This isn't worth it…'

Slowly but surely, Ash then unclipped the small sphere. 'Charizard's health is more important. No dream is worth sacrificing a friend…'

The raven haired youth couldn't even feel or hear Pikachu's cries as he was already pointing Charizard's Pokeball towards the fire type's direction. 'I-I have to forfeit!'

Another one of Charizard's roars then pierced the entire stadium. It was enough to momentarily snap Ash out of his trance and drop the orange dragon's Pokeball.

It wasn't a cry of pain this time but one of utter outrage.

It was as if time slowed down as Ash slowly met Charizard's gaze.

'How dare YOU of all people just give up!'

Ash couldn't help but flinch and bite his lip in shame. 'This battle has gone too far Charizard…'

The Pallet town trainer didn't think it was possible but the orange dragon looked even more furious.

'Is your belief in your dream that weak?!'

Something gleamed in Ash's brown eyes for a second and Charizard was more than glad to keep on pushing.

'Is your belief in US that weak?! ALL of us! All of us who share that same dream when you took us in as a part of your family?! Were all our time and sacrifice meaningless?!'

A fire was now burning in Ash's brown orbs as he slowly clenched his fists. Memories began surfacing at the back of his mind as he recalled all of his Pokemon's blood, sweat, and tears in struggling to the top.

'Remember what you taught us in every struggle we face! NEVER GIVE UP TILL THE END!'

'Never…give up,' Ash then smiled softly as he felt himself stand up straighter. 'That's right! Never give up till the end! No matter what, we will never give up till the end.'

"Pi-Pikachuuu!"

The raven haired youth grinned towards his starter to show he was now okay before shifting his attention back to Charizard.

Both Pokemon and trainer nodded to each other as they came to an understanding.

FIGHT. KEEP ON FIGHTING AND NEVER GIVE UP.

A bright light then engulfed Charizard's form much to everyone's shock. It was even enough for Suicune to stop its attack in order understand the spectacle before it. No one even noticed the same glow coming from Ash's chest, it looked to be attached to a piece of string around his neck.

Everybody's jaws then unanimously dropped to the ground once it was clear that Charizard was in fact evolving.

Once the light show was over. Charizard's new form was sleeker in terms of design, making for more maneuverability on both land and air. The new and improved fire type also sported a larger wingspan and extra wings found on his wrists.

The Kanto fire type then grinned and proudly showed off every one of his fearsome fangs to the stadium before letting out an invigorated roar. His blue eyes also gained a white tint and like magic, the rainy clouds were parted to reveal the shining sun.

"I-I don't believe it folks! But somehow, Ash's charizard was able to FREAKIN evolve! Just how is this possible?! Are we seeing a new peak in Pokemon evolution?! The ability to break the very limits itself and evolve even further! This is simply amazing!"

Ash was the first one to snap out of his shock as he softly whispered his thanks to the fire type. "I don't know how is this possible…but thank's a lot Charizard. Thanks for believing in me."

Charizard just simply returned the gesture with a single nod. The same fire was burning in the orange dragon's blue eyes.

"Okay Charizard, use Overheat! Give it everything you've got!"

Tobias and Suicune copied Ash as well and quickly snapped out of their respective shocks. "Don't think just because you pulled off a miracle, it doesn't mean you're gonna win! Suicune use Hydro pump!"

Both attacks then connected and a split second later, the hydro pump just simply evaporated into steam. Charizard's overheat then connected with Suicune before the Legendary could even think about dodging.

After the explosion, a defeated Suicune slumped down to the ground in defeat.

Tobias felt himself sweat after seeing the one-hit knockout. 'I-Incredible! And to think that was his third time using Overheat! Just how powerful it could be if it was just his first shot?'

Repressing a shiver, Tobias called out his Heatran for battle once more. 'Heatran should be able to tank some good hits and last long enough for Moltres to deliver the final blow…'

With a wave of his hand, Tobias was on the charge. "Take him down with Stone edge!"

Heatran's eyes glowed with psychic energy and the lava dome Pokemon then manipulated the surrounding rocks to launch themselves towards the stationary fire type.

Ash and Charizard then simply smirked as the orange dragon flared his wings and quickly vanished before everyone's eyes.

Panicking, Tobias quickly searched the battlefield but was caught off guard when Ash's Charizard reappeared right in front of Heatran with a bloodthirsty grin. "No! Heatran use stone edge again and drive him away!"

"Too slow Tobias! Send it flying with Mega punch Charizard!"

Everyone watching was stunned as the Kanto fire type practically sent the much heavier Pokemon high into the sky with nothing but a single punch.

Tobias felt himself blanch at the impossible feat and knew that it was checkmate for his legendary Pokemon. Heatran was panicking too much in the air for it to listen to his orders.

"Charizard, end this with Seismic toss!"

Said fire type then grabbed a hold of the lava dome Pokemon and began circling the air at incredibly fast speeds before promptly dive-bombing towards the earth. At the last few seconds, Charizard then angled his flight path and hurled Heatran into the ground.

Tobias was then shocked as the ref called Heatran's defeat. 'Impossible! Heatran has impeccably high defenses and to be just defeated with two hits…Just how strong did that Charizard get?!'

The mysterious Sinnoh trainer then gulped as he called out his last battler. "This is it Moltres, I'm counting on you!"

Sparks were flying as soon as Moltres appeared and everybody watching gulped at the tension between the two fire types.

After the ref was done with his cue, both Pokemon then resumed their deadly dance in the sky. Every clash was like watching a mini solar flare erupting. The spectacle was dangerously breathtaking for anybody watching.

Everybody then held their breaths as both fire types unleashed their strongest attacks once more. Moltres with its Fire blast, and Charizard with his Overheat.

Unfortunately for the orange dragon, his flames were slowly being pushed back. Charizard then began to sweat as it struggled to maintain the flames.

Seeing this, Tobias couldn't help but smirk. 'Looks like it's over. Ash's Charizard already used Overheat too many times in this match. This fourth one just lacks the fire power he needs to turn things around.'

Narrowing his eyes, Ash then made sure his voice could be heard all the way to the skies as he cheered on the Kanto fire type his hardest. "C'mon Charizard, I know you can do this! I believe in you! Just dig deep! Think of the hottest flame you can imagine and let it out!"

Hearing his trainer, Charizard momentarily closed his eyes and took his advice to heart. From the darkness of the orange dragon's mindscape, he was able to see it. The strongest flames he could ever imagine wielding. The sun.

Opening his eyes again, Charizard's blue orbs began glowing with unrestrained power. Suddenly, the size and intensity of his attack was not just doubled but he felt it was five times stronger than any Overheat he could produce on his best day.

Ash was practically beaming with pride towards the fire type as he recognized the attack. 'That's no longer your average Overheat, it's-' "Blast burn! You rule Charizard!"

The attack connected and the last thing Moltres could think of was the sheer absurdity of it all. Flames so strong that even a Phoenix couldn't handle the heat.

Their eyes briefly met and Moltres gave its highest respect to its fellow Kanto Pokemon. In return, Charizard mimicked the gesture as well.

"Moltres is unable to battle! Tobias Tatum of Sinnoh has no more eligible Pokemon for battle! The winner is…Ash Ketchum of Pallet town!"

The stadium was in complete shock. But it didn't stay that way for long, one-by-one, people started clapping and before anyone knew it, the sound became deafening.

Fans, trainers, coordinators and Pokemon alike were cheering their hardest. This was the kind of stuff epic stories were made off. It was truly one for the record books.

Ash was the last one to snap out of his trance. "We…We won?" The raven haired youth then broke out into a huge grin as reality finally settled in for him. "WE WON!"

The Pallet town trainer then rushed to ruined battlefield and embraced the waiting fire type. Pikachu also wasn't far behind and joined the group hug as well. "We won Charizard! We did it! You were awesome!"

"Pi-Pikachu!"

Charizard then smiled softly to his trainer and fellow Pokemon before the orange dragon's expression shifted to an impish one.

Noticing the change of attitude, Pikachu's yellow face slightly paled and the yellow rodent quickly detached himself from his trainer.

"Uh Pikachu? Where are you going buddy? Oooh no! Oh c'mon Charizard! Not the flame-"

A now slightly burnt Ash couldn't help but give the fire type the stink eye. "-thrower…"

Charizard couldn't help himself and began laughing out loud. It wasn't long before Ash and Pikachu joined in on the fun and began laughing as well.

"Ahaha! What a battle folks! Let's give it up one more time for this year's league winner-Ash Ketchum of Pallet town!"

CHAPTER II: END

To be continued in: Onward to Kalos!

And that's a wrap! My god that was pretty long but totally worth it in my opinion. Six-on-six battles are pretty long. I hope you guys enjoyed it.

And remember. Reviews are very appreciated. I need feedback people. I need to know how I'm doing.

Anyway some notes before I end this author note:

a.)Snorlax and to some extent-Tauros were the tanks of Ash's team in this battle. What are tanks you ask? It's more videogame code for guys with high health, offense and defensive stats but aren't the fastest bunch.

b.)Swellow's thunder armor is a legit technique in anime canon (albeit it was only used one time). After he absorbed a thunder attack, he practically became unstoppable for a few seconds.

c.)Anybody noticed how I sneaked in some game mechanics with the fight scenes? E.g. headbutt makes you flinch, brave bird's recoil damage, rain dance and charge increases the accuracy and power of an electric attack and etc.

d.)A little heads up. I won't be doing a time skip next chapter so throw that idea outside your heads.

e.)I bet a lot of you guys were also wondering why Ash is stuck with Charizard Y when a lot of you Charizard fans prefer X? it's simple, I don't want to be repetitive cause Ash's Kalos rival will have Charizard X instead.

Here's a hint: he wears a scarf. His name starts with 'Al' and ends with 'ain'. Now put them together and who do you get?

f.)Yes Ash has a keystone in case you missed it. In this story, he keeps it beneath his jacket. It's origins will be revealed next chapter.

I think that's about it. See you guys in the next installment.