Authors Notes: Well, well. Nine reviews on my last chapter. Must be moving up in the world at long frigging last. Still not worth dancing in the street over (and trust me, you don't want me dancing, period). Let's shoot for ten reviews this time and I'll take less than a month with the next chap. (and that is a promise) Otherwise, well you know the drill by now.

P.S.

I'd like to point out that so far, three members of Quentin's team have had revealed Mega Evolutions. I seriously didn't do it on purpose, the team was thought out long before X/Y found release. (Really slow update rate, likely just gonna get slower, if I don't just outright give it up) Wouldn't this match be going a different way if I'd included Mega Evolution...

(Would love to see a Mega Evolution of Quentin's Sixth team member. Think he'd look a little goofy though...)

Contest: Nothing to report.

Soundtrack:

Lordi: Supermonsters

Disturbed: The Animal

ReinXeed: Aces High

Skillet: Monster

Trivium: Anthem (We are the Fire)

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Months ago...

Recent times had faded to a cyclical haze. Since missing the Vertress conference Ash had been wandering, his team of five training and fighting anywhere strong opponents could be found. The wandering had paid off. In a city with a local tournament, Ash seized an absolute victory, showing strength that left the crowd in awe.

He had caught attention.

As soon as he left the stadium he was confronted by a stranger, who'd identified herself as an investigator, who combed the land for whatever the League demanded, and the League wanted titans; those who held no official rank, but with strength than skill than most could only dream of attaining. Ash had been sceptical, until a video phone had showed him an old and familiar face.

Charles Goodshow, one of the stranger constants in Ash's life. The conversation was short, but the old man didn't need much time to present an offer, and Ash didn't even need a full second to say "yes!".

A worthy opponent had become so foreign a concept...

He had been invited to the world's most exclusive tournament. The Grandmaster Championship. Where the strongest went to fight. Where eventually the single strongest trainer was crowned. The place every trainer dreams one day to go.

Which brought Ash to where he was now. He had a little over six months before the championship was set to begin, and he intended to use that time to its full potential. He'd spend it in training. He was going to the championship, and he was going to win. However, his team as it was...was not adequate. Four of his team he had no doubt about, but Scraggy was still young, and while full of potential, not as strong as the rest of his team. He was seriously considering sending him off to Oak, a battleground like the one he was to fight in would be no place for a child. Perhaps he should give Oak a call for a replacement...he'd think about this later.

Ash stood upon a hill, looking out towards the sky as Pikachu rested upon his shoulder.

"Pika pi pikachu kapi pi?" Why are we calling him?

Ash just continued to look out towards the sky, catching a glimpse of a shadow. He smiled. "If we're gonna win, Pikachu..."

The shadow grew, both bigger and closer, and he caught sight of a bright flame. A second fire was suddenly born, a sphere of heat illuminating a familiar face.

"We'll need all of our strength."

The fire burst forth.

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"All must fight, till the weakest are gone."

The two leviathans of the skies continued to circle, snapping jaws and growling. Their every thought of conquering their foe.

Their prey.

"Charizard, Air Cutter!"

Charzard's wing slashed the air, and the battle began. The sharpened wind cast across the air. Aerodactyl dived through the air, passing the wind as it reached a mark, casting another mark into the wall. Aerodactyl's head was shrouded in white, and with a vicious roar he sailed through the air. Charizard moved through the air, evading the attack, keeping a careful eye on the passing"-!"

Aerodactyl's tail had grabbed him, and with a vicious roar the beast slammed Charizard into the wall. The savage creature kicked at Charizard, throwing his weight on the dragon-like Pokemon and slamming his small fist into his face. He threw his second fist, Charizard evading, kicking Aerodactyl in the stomach, and clamping his maw around a wing. Aerodactyl howled, and with a savage growl slammed against his foe, bashing him into the wall and slamming his free fist into Charizard's gut. A second bash freed his wing, Aerodactyl ripping something off the wall as he pulled back.

He struck, a chunk of rock several times the size of the claw which held it smashing into Charizards face, breaking into a smaller piece. He smashed it again, reducing it to rubble and Charizard into a target, dazed against the wall. Aerodactyl growled, his claw sharp as he took aim, the fights' early end in sight.

Charzard roared, unleashing a stream of emerald flame. The prehistoric Pokémon was blasted into the air, an enraged Charizard quickly perusing. The two beats circled around one another again, slowly falling to the ground before their respective trainers.

"Hyper Beam!"

Both opened their jaws at the same time, creating a sphere of golden light before unleashing them as a powerful stream. The two blasts cast across the arena, meeting with incredible force. The air burned as the forces held form, forming a near-perfect sphere to opposing powers. The orb grew brighter, the sphere to light expanding before-it gave way. The explosion lashed at the air, casting a gale at everything, its sound obscuring all else. Ash and Pikachu guarded against the cloud of wet dust, feeling beneath their feet as the world beneath them started to shift. It was only when the winds past, and smoke began to clear that they could finally see.

Charizard stood where he had been before, but around him, there really wasn't much around him anymore. The arena had mostly collapsed, its large pieces mostly fallen into the miniature sea. Charizard and Aerodactyl occupied what were now very small islands above a sea of stone. Pikachu would not be fighting on this arena, but where would he...Ash shrugged. He'd worry about that when the time came. Charizard and Aerodactyl glared, a savage glee in their eyes as they caught their breaths.

Ash smiled. Of the last two years, Charizard was the one he'd spent the least time on, the least time building up, yet even without him, Charizard had made his own way, every time they had been separated, like Ash himself had, walking their respective paths until life brought them back together again. It was something like his relationship with Brock, really. Ash took a deep breath. Why did the memories of those he'd once known keep coming back? "Why can't I just enjoy this?"

They had never stood in his way before now, what was different? How was this battle different from any other? What was different in this fight, compared to any before it? What was different now? Ash forced the thought from mind.

What did it matter?

From the silence, came a sound. "Hm?" Ash looked into the distance, into the cloud that was parting away.

The cloud parted further, revealing Aerodactyls trainer. Quentin was laughing to himself. His head raised to the sky as he chuckled. He breathed deep, grinning. "Ohhh mercy. It's been too damn long." He lowered his head, irked. "One thing about this job I despise, you so very rarely...get to just get to just let it all go." He chuckled to himself once more. "Masato, you fool. Why did you make it so the Grandmasters waits for their challenger? Let them come down..." Aerodactyl growled. "And join in the fun! Aerial Ace!"

"He's starting to get it." Ash grinned. "Charizard, Aerial Ace!"

"The remaining must fight, until the strong remain."

The pair launched from the ground, leaving cracks as they parted. They met in the air, crashing with force that shook the air, claws and maw lashing and missing as they rose higher. Aerodactyl backed away in the air, violently flapping his wings as Twisters took form. One became two, and two quickly became six. A unit of Twisters spread across the arena with a vicious wind.

Charizard moved further back from Aerodactyl, as the tornado's took a formation, creating something between a maze and a prison as the wind raged around him. Charizard's eyes darted, catching Aerodactyl as he glided around the twisters. What was he up-!

Stone Edge. A barrage of stones came sailing through the air, and their target was clear. Charizard leaned back, attempting to descend-an updraft. Charizard growled, the winds were trying to push everything upwards. Damn! He turned in the air, his wing glowing white. The stones bashed against it, shattering against the steel-tough surface. Now where the hell was-there! Aerodactyl beat his wings, and the twister before him moved, approaching the already close Charizard. It struck, consuming him in an instant. He roared, thrashing his wings wildly against the winds, trying to-he broke free. Charizard growled, how could he get rid of these damn twisters...

"Charizard! If he can move 'em! So can you!" Charizard smiled, that was it! His wings beat against the air, shifting the nearest Twister across the arena, into the path of another...

"Shit!" Quentin quickly cursed the fact he wore a trench coat, as he briefly lost touch with the ground. Across from him Ash was fearing better, but still had to shield himself from the gale that was the rapid dispersion of the twisters. (Pikachu clinging to Ash's leg) In the air Charizard found himself pushed further and further back by the backlash, as the gale finally came to an end, he slashed the air with a wing once more, creating a very familiar attack.

Aerodactyl flew forward a shield of gold in the air before him. The cutter smashed into it, dimming the glow but ultimately failing to break it as Aerodactyl took aim at his foe. He bashed against Charizard, the energy of the shield shattering as Charizard was knocked back. Aerodactyl's tail was shrouded in water, and in a heartbeat he struck Charizard, sending him sailing down into a far larger body of water.

He was consumed. The surface of the water started to bubble...It started to steam, the surface started to ripple, and ripple more. It broke, with a roar of absolute vengeance Charizard ascended, his wings quickly gaining a metallic glow.

He struck, the pseudo-metal wing smashing into Aerodactyl's jaw with enough force to shatter stone. They struck again, and again, bashing their target away, sailing to the ground. He opened his maw, his roar

taking the form of a stream of fire.

It crashed against its caster's foe, extracting a screech before a suddenly violent wing-beat extracted the beast from the blaze. Aerodactyl flew away, the fire hitting the ground the water, and the walls as he rushed away from it. The walls the set alight by the fires that clung to them, dying the battleground in dancing light.

"Aerodactyl, take him out!" Aerodactyl made a sharp turn, headed right for Charizard.

"He's fast!" He could just dodge a Flamethrower, but not an attack that aimed in all directions..."Charizard, Blaze Pulse!"

He growled, and Charizard's body was suddenly ignited. With a roar, he spread his wings, and a sphere of flame spread in all directions.

Aerodactyl was struck, knocked back by the blaze as it passed him dissipated into raw heat. Ash grunted as he felt it pass over him, as his skin suddenly felt...sticky. He took a look at his arm, the ice had melted. Oh well...

Aerodactyl screeched violently, quickly shooting through the air again, with speed that most would barely register, he swiftly turned in the air, his foot aiming for Charizards-WHAM! Clutching with his foot, Aerodactly decended to the ground, smashing Charizard into one the remnants of the battlefield, bashing his head into the ground several times before throwing him from the arena, slamming Charizard into the wall once again. He leapt at his fallen foe, claw taking aim once again.

"Charizard!" His eyes snapped open. Charizard roared, leaping from the wall and seizing his opponent's neck in his maw. The two hit a piece of the arenas remains with a heavy thud. Charizard pummelled his rival, smashing at his jaw. Aerodactyl slashed, connecting with Charizards face and throwing him off. It took less than a second Charizard to get his bearings, fast enough to see a tail headed for him. He caught it, pulling Aerodactyl towards his head, which promptly bashed Aerodatyl's. Still holding his foes tail, Charizard flung his foe through the air, sending him in the direction of his trainer.

Aerodactyl's wings spread, stopping him, before he floated gently down to the ground, growing viciously, along with his foe. They stood, in wait, waiting for their next orders.

Quentin pulled away his coat tail from an errant flame, extinguishing it with dust. "Ash...you've a befitting name." Quentin's eyes moved across the fires, which continued to burn far and wide. "To satisfy your hunger, would you burn the world around you?"

Ash smirked. "Like you wouldn't. You go on about what a Grandmaster is supposed to be, that I'm not good enough, and you're so much better than me! Look around you!" He signalled the entire area, the scarred walls, the remnants of the battlefield, and the fire. "We are the same!"

"The strong must fight, till the strongest remain."

"No Ash, we're not." He looked upon his foe with absolute contempt."I live in battle, but I don't live for it."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Maybe one day you'll get understand..." His eyes closed, as he gave a heavy sigh. "Maybe one day, you'll remember."

Ash's fists clenched. Still Quentin kept on judging him! He smiled, well if he wasn't gonna listen to words..."Thank you, Quentin." Seeing Quentin's gaze, he smiled brighter. "For retiring. I'd have never been able to use this attack...Not with a crowd around! Charizard, it's all or nothing! Blaze Comet!"

Aerodactyl leapt forth, as Charizard did the same. "Aerodactyl! Be careful!" If he didn't use it before now then it must have been dangerous...

The distance between the two closed. Charizard caught Aerodactyl's claw with his own, throwing out his second, which was caught. The two roared, and smashed heads. Then again, holding their pose as they growled, hoping one would crack under the pressure. They parted, and in a split second Charizard unleashed a surprise.

A swift flamethrower caught Aerodactyl off guard, blinding him for less than a second. As the inferno cleared, his mouth was already filling with gol-it vanished, Charizard's knee slammed into Aerodactyl's stomach, and then he was slammed to the ground. Charizard reached down, grabbing both his foes's wings,he had to move fast...They took off, soaring into the air, then out of the arena entirely, headed to the sky.

"Burn..." Ash's mouth slowly formed a savage grin. "Watch it all...burn!" He parted his arms, the flames around him seeming to acknowledge his action. "The strongest are forged in the fires of battle! These are the fires that forged us!" He clenched his fist, raising it in front of him. "Quentin Gelden!" The flames around him continued to burn, casting a shadow beneath Ash's blazing eyes. "Stand in my fire!"

High above, Charizard's entire body ignited, shrouding his body in azure fire. He opened his mouth, and with a roar the azure aura became an Inferno, surrounding both of them as they reached the heights of the sky. They became still, for just an instant, as slowly they rotated.

They fell, falling to earth much like this moves' name would be expected. The blazing fire and the roaring of the beasts within.

Quentin looked up into the fire coming down, and already it's light was illuminating him. "There's no way the claw will-" His yell filled the entire arena. "Ash, get the hell out of here!" Quentin turned, rushing away. Ash couldn't have cared less. He gazed into the falling inferno, smiling.

"The strongest must fight, until only one remains."

"Pikapi! Ka pika chu!" Ash! We gotta go!

Ash wasn't listening. The inferno entered the arena, casting its glow all over, turning the dark brown of the walls to an ominous red, growing countless shadows as the fire descended.

It was a vision of heaven.

With eager eyes, Ash watched as it hit the ground. Light, and heat, then the world fell from under his feet. He didn't immediately realize he'd been knocked into the air, only that the fire was getting further and further away, wind howling in his ears.

He felt himself slam into something, choking out a scream as he felt his body bleed anew. The world was distorted, and everything seemed further away. He was vaguely aware of falling, slowly, and something scraping against his back as he slid down. He was against something, and soon his feet touched the ground.

They gave way. Ash slumped into a position resembling sitting, but his world was spinning, ringing. There was heat, the sound of flames and a warm sensation in his mouth, leaking. He took slight notice as something yellow appeared before him. "...kapi...pi...pi...kapi..." He could hardly hear a thing anymore, could hardly see, even as everything rocked back and forth.

"But what does that one do..."

Everything was so dark, and getting darker, and darker still...and in a moment it all faded to black.

"...after?"

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End of Chapter

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Next time: The Moment

Author's notes: This round got some extra special attention, for obvious reasons. Charizard is one of Ash's first, and like Pikachu, he holds a certain prestige over the later comers. His fight had to stand out, and since it couldn't be on height of skill (that has to be with Pikachu), I gave his battle what he's always had the potential to achieve: Sheer brutality.

Now wait till you see what I got for Pikachu...or not. Ash slammed pretty hard there...

(Yes, I lied about there being excess dialogue in this chap, but like a few of you pointed out, this battle is dragging on. I wanna move faster towards the conclusion of the battle too. As well as the rest of the story. Would you believe it's not even halfway through...)

(seriously, this one was really short...holy crap)

Trivia: (Why do you punish yourself by reading this?)

Charizard or Infernape; my brief dilemma.

If you think about it briefly, the two are quite alike. (Lazy writing or deliberately recurring theme do you think?)

Both originally belonged to another trainer. Who treated them like crap. Both were also discarded by said trainer.

Both are frigging powerhouses. Even in their first stages they overcame some considerable challenges, and they only upped their ante as they evolved. In their full grown stages they reach peaks, though Charizard has Infernape absolutely owned in the badassry department. (Taking down an Articuno, though that victory is dimmed by the type advantage. If it'd been a Moltres, better. If Zapdos: Holy. Shit.)

Yet Charizard is different, in one distinct way. Remember, he comes from the days when the franchise actually had soul, when Ash actually had some fucking character development (yes, newer fans, Ash actually used to have character development), when the show itself wasn't just the same thing over and over again (if in different ways), and Charizard is one of the most memorable plot points of this lost golden era.

He's the first Pokémon Ash truly couldn't control.

Manky/Primeape was around too briefly, and was naturally prone to disobeying anyway so I don't count it. Pikachu can't really count, given how short his rebellion was. Charizard on the other hand started out as that adorable little Charmander who'd fight tooth and nail for Ash. Then came his evolution, and Ash lost control of him in an instant.

I suppose I could dive into the possible and probable reasons. ("Oh, god, don't!") But I don't think it matters that much. We can however agree on one thing: He didn't respect Ash anymore.

From here Charmeleon was a selfish, egotistical prick. He'd set his trainer on fire, and only fight foes that caught his interest/pissed him off. (Notice how he'd always willingly fight a fire type though?) Almost always he'd deliver a victory but the fact was Charizard was a lose cannon. Eventually Ash was able to get Charizard to listen to him (one of the better episodes I think) and from then on he would listen. Then we reach his departure episode; a masterpiece of an ep, and a very deep moment.

Charizard is the Pokémon Ash has had the most story development with. (more so than even Pikachu in its way) Their relationship has been a complexed one, and for that reason I'm sure Charizard is as loyal to Ash as any Pokémon can get. (matching Pikachu in that department I don't doubt) He's always ready for Ash's summons, like when he flew from Johto to Kanto just so Ash could use him in a battle. That's serious loyalty, folks.

For these reasons, I found the proposition of not having Charizard in Ash's ultimate team to be insane.

If your bullshit detector just went off...

Yes I know technically Scraggy/Scrafty can't count as one of Ash's best, but I'll admit he was a plot point and I explained the symmetry thing before. Plus I like his head-butting characteristic. If forced to choose again, I'd consider Krookodile, and if I dropped the whole symmetry BS I'd consider Heracross as well, likely Heracross would win out. Krookodile's characteristic doesn't interest me for some reason...

*coughcoughshittysquirtleripoffcoughcough*