._. I am so sorry for not updating, there is a reason, that is at the end of this chapter, please don't kill me, enjoy.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Chapter 9 – An Interesting Breakfast

Ash woke up the next morning on the couch in the main room of the house he shared with the rest of the Mt. Silver Elite Four to find Pikachu, Brock, Steffan, Paul, Jessie, James and Meowth standing in front of him whilst smiling. Ash was about to say something when he heard a groan from beside him, he turned his head to see a mass of blonde hair resting on his shoulder, Ash's memory had finally caught up with him as he smiled and raised a hand to stroke Cynthia's hair.

Cynthia let out another groan, but one of content rather than a sleepy one like before, before opening her eyes and seeing the crowd of people gathered before her. Blushing, Cynthia muttered a 'Morning' before raising her head of Ash's shoulder. She stopped and turned to Ash before squealing and hugging him tightly. This caused everyone but Ash to start laughing.

"Morning to you too Cynthia," Ash said as he was released from the hug that bound him to his girlfriend, not that he was complaining, "Yeah, that's right, laugh it up guys." Ash said to his friends who were laughing so hard some of them were on the floor laughing. Ash just ignored them then and kissed Cynthia good morning and then got up for breakfast.

Everyone entered the dining room to see the main table laid for a lot more than were currently present, Ash was about to ask why there were so many spaces laid out when there was a flash of light from outside and a knock on the door momentarily afterwards. Ash opened the door to see his mother, the regional Professors, Gary Oak, Tracey Sketchit, the Pike Queen Lucy, Mr Goodshow, Scott, James' parents William and Wendy, the two hosts Ken and Amy, the Referee Zack, Dawn and Barry. Ash was surprised to see the last two, but due to his Aura he could tell that they were pleased to see him and that Dawn was sorry for what had happened, but he needed to sit down at some point and sort it out with her. There were several 'Hi's', 'Hello's' and 'Good Mornings' from the crowd and a hug that rivalled Cynthia's from Dawn.

"Morning everyone," Ash said, "What are you all doing here?"

"Well Ashy Boy a certain Psychic Feline invited us all here saying there was a breakfast party to celebrate the unveiling of not only the new Elite Four and Champion, the engagement of Jessie and James and you getting a girlfriend." Gary said, "Well then Ashy Boy, who is the girl that managed to get into your thick skull."

Ash was about to answer when, "Ash, who is it and why are you taking so long?" Cynthia asked as she walked out the front door, cuddling Manaphy in her arms, she saw the assembled crowd and blushed in embarrassment when she basically revealed she had spent the night.

Gary whistled, "Dam Ash you got lucky." This resulted in a stream of water colliding with Gary's face which caused him to fall on his bum, Ash chuckled as Manaphy let out a 'Humph', "I think it is best that you don't insult my girlfriend Gare Bear." This caused the crowd and Cynthia to laugh at Gary who after a couple of seconds laughed as well realising that he had deserved it.

"Sorry to sound impatient, but may we come in for food?" Professor Sycamore asked, Ash stepped aside and gestured to the open front door with his hand, as everyone filled in Ash thought about how Mewtwo was going to get his just rewards later, most likely in the form of a smaller pink Psychic Feline.

Once everyone was in, Ash offered Cynthia his arm and proceeded to escort her into the dining room where everyone was sitting at the long table, the head of the table and the seat to its immediate right were free, there were also tables lining the far wall of the room full of cooked and continental breakfast food for everyone to serve themselves with. Ash lead Cynthia with everyone watching them, this caused the two of them to blush in embarrassment, and helped her with her seat as a gentleman would do to a Lady, once Ash had sat down he realised everyone was waiting for him to say they could get up and eat the food, he smirked and whispered to Cynthia, "Do you think we should make them wait in agony?"

"As funny as it would be, I would like to eat as well due to our match being later and Jessie's and James's match being in an hour and a half's time." Cynthia said with a smile that told Ash that he had better let them eat. He was about to let them eat when.

'MMURGMUR'

Ash rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment as his stomach clearly put its alliance with Cynthia, "Old habits die hard I guess, enjoy the food everyone." Ash could have sworn that there was a sigh of relief being let out by some people, but he chose to ignore it. Turning to his left he struck up a conversation with Brock, "So, who are you facing in this first round with Bertha?"

"Oh, just some random trainers, I think you may have battled one of them at some point in Kanto all those years ago," Brock said, he turned and watched the guests mingle with the Elite Four, "I know you can tell that she did not want to be part of the group all those years ago."

"I know," Ash said, Cynthia at this point had gone up to get food for herself and Manaphy because she was still carrying the infant around with her, "But I just can't go up and say that all is forgiven and that we are best friends again."

"I understand that," Brock said, "But I think that you may want to sit down and talk with her about the lead up to the betrayal, then you will be able to figure out the best approach possible." Ash wanted to ask what had happened, but he understood that it was Dawn's story to tell, so he nodded, the two of them stood at the same time, and went to get something to eat.

As everyone ate the breakfast and made small talk about various topics, the most prominent being the first-round match-ups, Ash cast his mind out to three Pokémon telling them to meet up with him outside of the house due to them being the three Pokémon that he would be using in this round. He talked over strategies with Cynthia and laughed when Gary told everyone that his partner was going to be his crush, the High-Flying Gym Leader from Unova Skyla, Ash made a joke about the fact that he went around with a group of cheerleaders during his journey's so he had better not chicken out of battling alongside his crush.

It was at that point that Ash stood up and started to speak, "I would just like to say a few words, firstly, I would like to thank you all for coming, even though it was a surprise for me too (there were a few chuckles at this), I would also like to say thanks to Mr Goodshow, Scott and William and Wendy for funding this project, without you we would be nowhere near completing the League, remember the cave-in fiasco guys (there were a few grumbles from Jessie, James and Meowth who were at fault due to making a Mecha to help them that, as usual, backfired on them), I believe that I speak on behalf of everyone here when I congratulate Jessie and James on their engagement, I just hope they both realise who wears the pants in this relationship (Everyone including Jessie and James laughed), and finally, no matter what has happened in the past, the future is open to us all, it is not set in stone and it is up to us what we do with our lives, so thank you all for coming and I hope you all enjoy the Tournament." Ash sat down to an applause from everyone present.

With half an hour till Jessie's and James' battle Mewtwo teleported the guests to their hotel suites and everyone else prepared for the first day of Battling

Authors Note

So, I owe you all an explanation, for some reason my BRAND NEW LAPTOP STOPPED WORKING, well Microsoft Office stopped working but that is beside the point, I have only recently managed to get it working and now that all of my academic work if safe I can turn my very limited attention span back to this story, sorry for making you think I had given up, I would have said something but when I read a story and someone says that the story never seems to carry on from there so I did not want to Jinx it.

Now DracoSteel has asked for longer chapters, I will try and make them longer, but please realise that the chapters may be coming out later if so (not as late as this one I hope), this chapter is short, I took it out of the next chapter which will be longer, most of the chapters are currently under 4,000 words so I will try and double it, if it's too much then please say.

Hope you enjoy this instalment of Friends, Traitors and a New League.

Zeffairan

P.S. To the person who reviewed in another language, your rude, if you going to dis me then at least say it in English please, or Welsh, my national language.