Enjoy the chapter.

Ash calmly asked, "What will the rules be?"

Lyra smiled before announcing, "You shall battle me and Khoury in separate matches. Each will be one on one."

Khoury quickly asked, "When did I agree to battle?"

Lyra gave him an annoyed look before saying, "Come on, Khoury. Grow a backbone. Plus, Ash may be able to help you with your problem."

This caught Ash's attention and he quickly questioned, "What is she talking about? What is the problem, Khoury?"

Khoury scratched his head nervously before explaining, "You remember that Gible I caught in Sinnoh. Three weeks ago it evolved into a Gabite."

"Congratulations," Ash quickly said.

Khoury just shook his head and pulled out a poke ball before releasing the pokemon inside. Gabite materialized. The evolved form of Gible looked around before laying on the ground and starting to sleep. Ash frowned as this reminded him of something. A very unpleasant memory.

Khoury quickly informed him, "Gabite has been acting out since it evolved. It doesn't even want to battle except against Croconaw and Lyra's Bayleef. It listens to me, but has just been misbehaving. I really don't know what to do."

Ash knelt down and looked at Gabite. It gave him a stare as he examined it. It looked pretty strong, and also arrogant. Ash stood up and announced, "I think I know the problem."

Lyra looked excited and asked, "What is it?"

Ash quickly looked at Khoury before stating, "Two things. After pokemon evolve, there are usually two reasons they misbehave. First, sometimes they lose respect for their trainer. They start to think on why they should even follow this trainer. I've had several pokemon like that, namely my Charizard. It wouldn't listen to me at all after that."

Khoury frowned and questioned, "How do I change that? How did you get your Charizard to listen to you?"

Ash thought for a second before replying, "There isn't really any sure fire way. You just have to work and regain their respect. I stayed up all night treating Charizard after he lost in a battle, but I don't think that is the problem here."

Khoury frowned again and asked, "What do you mean?"

Ash raised his hand as he pointed out, "You said that Gabite still listens to you. That means it still has some respect at least. You also said he would only battle Croconaw and Bayleef. Charizard did this too. He started to only consider it worth while to face strong opponents. I think that Gabite has just gotten a little overconfident since evolving. Pokemon become stronger after evolving, and tend to think of themselves as more powerful than they are. Gabite seems to just need to be showed he still isn't unbeatable yet." Ash then pulled out a poke ball with a grin.

Khoury looked nervous as he stated, "You want to battle Gabite."

Ash nodded and claimed, "I also think a little more power is needed. I was going to only use my new pokemon, but I think I'll forgo that in this match. Show them your will, Bayleef."

Out came his Johto grass type. Bayleef looked slightly like a dinosaur. Its body was a light green, and on its head was a large leaf. Around its neck were multiple large buds. Bayleef looked at Ash happily, but refrained from jumping on him due to the battle.

Lyra jumped up and exclaimed, "I didn't know Ash had a Bayleef. It looks so powerful. I'll need to study it as it battles for ideas."

Khoury looked anxious too, and said softly, "I choose you, Gabite." Gabite looked faintly bored, but stood up. Khoury started off by ordering, "Use Rock Smash."

Gabite jumped at Bayleef with his claw glowing white. Ash ordered in a bored voice, "Stop it with Vine Whip, and then use Body Slam." Bayleef gave a cry as the vines shot from its neck. The vines grasped the claw of Gabite. The pokemon froze in shock and couldn't move before Bayleef smashed it into the ground. Bayleef immediately jumped off. Gabite stood with an angry growl.

Khgoury quickly ordered, "Sandstorm, now." Gabite swung a claw up and a burst of sand came out and covered the field.

Ash calmly countered, "Sunny Day." A green orb shot out of the dust, and suddenly the sandstorm disappeared as the sun became increasingly bright. Gabite was surprised as it became visible again. Ash quickly ordered, "Magical Leaf."

Bayleef gave a cry as it created multicolored leaves, which it then flung at Gabite. The attack connected painfully with the pokemon. Gabite struggled to its feet and Khoury ordered, "Dig, quick."

Gabite disappeared underground and Ash waited for it to surface. Bayleef got flung into the air as Gabite surfaced with a cry. Ash calmly ordered, "Vine Whip, and use your momentum to throw Gabite." Bayleef used its Vine Whip to encircle the surprised pokemon. Bayleef then grunted as she lifted Gabite into the air, and when Bayleef slammed into the ground, Gabite got whipped into the ground with double the force. Bayleef got up quickly, but Gabite was struggling to get up. Ash now commanded, "Poisonpowder, and then use Petal Dance."

Bayleef shot out a purple powder from the buds on her neck. The powder surrounded Gabite who bent down in pain as the attack took effect. Bayleef then created a vortex of cutting leaves, similar to Torterra's Leaf Storm. The attack approached Gabite.

Khoury yelled desperately, "Fire Blast, Gabite." Gabite roared as it let out a figure of flames. The attack burned right through Petal Dance and collided with Bayleef. Bayleef flew back with a cry before standing up eagerly. Khoury continued, "Now follow up with Flamethrower." Gabite now launched the jet of flames.

It connected with Bayleef, who stood her ground valiantly. Ash immediately ordered, "Light Screen." The yellow plate started to block the attack, but Ash knew it was still damaging Bayleef. He now yelled, "Now, shut its mouth with Vine Whip, and use Synthesis."

Bayleef shot out two vines which clamped the mouth of Gabite closed. Both trainer and pokemon were dumbfounded. Ash grinned, still worked. Bayleef's buds now started to glow as she started to heal herself with Synthesis.

Khoury now yelled desperately, "Quickly, use Aerial Ace to finish this." Gabite now started to speed at Bayleef at high speeds.

Ash smiled and commanded, "Sweet Scent." Bayleef stopped healing and shot out a pink powder from its buds. Gabite started to slow down groggily as the attack took effect. Gabite now dropped to a knee as the poison hurt it too. Ash now said powerfully, "Finish this with Solarbeam."

Bayleef growled and launched the attack without waiting, the Sunny Day from earlier was still in effect. The beam connected with Gabite and launched it backwards. It slid on the ground before coming to a halt. Khoury lifted the poke ball and returned his pokemon.

Ash walked up to Bayleef who jumped on him happily. Ash laughed, and hugged his pokemon. He then turned to Khoury and stated, "This might now solve it, but it will hopefully help. Just get Gabite to realize that it can't get overconfident. That will just hurt it in the long run."

Khoury nodded and said, "Thanks, I'll remember that."

Lyra now ran up and exclaimed, "I'm even more excited for our match now."

Ash nodded and returned Bayleef before walking back to his side. He then looked at his pokemon before saying, "Haunter, show them your will." Haunter gave a sinister laugh as it flew to the battlefield.

Lyra looked at the ghost type before muttering, "Haunter is both a ghost type and poison type. So I choose you, Girafarig." A giraffe-like pokemon came out. It had two antennae on its head, and a face and mouth on its tail Its hind legs were brown, and the front half was yellow.

Ash thought. A perfect choice. The psychic type moves would be effective against the poison type Haunter. Not to mention, it could know Odor Sleuth, and dark and ghost type moves too. The normal characteristics were also going to make Haunter's ghost type moves useless. She probably used Girafarig against Morty in Ecruteak City. Ash was at a huge disadvantage.

Lyra started by yelling, "Use Odor Sleuth." Girafarig shot out a beam of white light from the intennae on its head.

Ash quickly yelled, "Dodge it, and use Poison Jab." Haunter sank lower to avoid the attack, and one of its disembodied hands shot forward to hit Girafarig in the head. It cried in pain, but it didn't do much damage.

Lyra quickly ordered, "Future Sight, and then use Psychic." She was playing good. Girafarig's eyes flashed before they started to glow blue. Ash saw Haunter become surrounded with a aura.

Ash watched as Haunter got slammed into the ground, and then Ash ordered, "Payback." Haunter shot another hand which was glowing black before it slammed into the chest of Girafarig. The super effective attack caused the pokemon to cry in pain.

Lyra looked worried and ordered, "Psybeam."

Ash immediately countered, "Sucker Punch." He would stick with dark type moves for now. The punch sent Girafarig flying back again. Now Ash ordered, "Hypnosis."

Haunter sped towards Girafarig before stopping right in front of the downed pokemon. Haunter started waving his hands in front of the pokemon. Girafarig ignored the cries of Lyra and stared at the pokemon move. Girafarig started to sway back and forth as the Hypnosis took effect, but suddenly it changed. From behind Haunter cam a white bolt. The attack struck Haunter in the back. The Future Sight attack. Haunter was shot forward as he cried in pain, and Lyra took advantage to yell, "Stop him with Zen Headbutt, and grab onto him with Crunch." Girafarig head butted Haunter with his its head glowing purple. Girafarig then snapped onto Haunter with its teeth. Haunter cried in pain from the double effective attacks. Haunter was now trying to get away when Lyra continued, "Now Odor Sleuth when it can't get away. Then use Double Hit." The light engulfed Haunter as the attack rendered normal and fighting type attacks effective. Then Girafarig reared on its hind legs and slammed its feet into the face of Haunter, one right after another. Haunter flew back from the attack.

Ash looked at Haunter and urged, "Come on, Haunter. Get up. I know you can do it." Haunter started to slowly rise again.

Lyra wouldn't let him and yelled triumphantly, "Finish it with Shadow Ball." Girafarig shot the swirling black ball and nailed Haunter. Haunter was thrown back. She then snapped her fingers and announced, "And that is all she wrote."

Ash shook his head and claimed, "It isn't over yet." He then kneeled down and encouraged the struggling Haunter, "Come on, Haunter. Stand up. Remember how it took three times for me to capture you. You just wouldn't quit and kept fighting. Then you refused to lose and evolved so that you could defeat Duskull. Your power is your will to keep fighting. You will not quit. Now Stand up." Pikachu added to the encouragement from the sidelines by cheering Haunter on. All the pokemon joined in. Finally Haunter managed to get back to the air.

Lyra raised her eyebrows in shock, and commented, "Impressive, Girafarig managed to take out two of Morty's ghost types to win me the badge. Neither lasted this long, but it won't make a difference. Girafarig, use Zen Headbutt."

Ash waited. He had to time this perfectly. Finally he yelled, "Shadow Punch, and then use Giga Drain." Girafarig continued forward and Lyra scoffed at the ineffective ghost type move. Ash closd his eyes and heard the crash. Zoey had proven before that ghost type moves could still defend against non-normal type attacks. Ash opened his eyes to see the Shadow Punch had stopped Girafarig in its tracks, and then two green energy tendrils shot from Haunter's hands. They surrounded Girafarig and started sucking energy fro the pokemon.

Lyra watched in horror as her pokemon started getting drained and she ordered quickly, "Use Crunch on the Giga Drain." Girafarig bit the attack, and a small explosion dropped Girafarig to the ground.

Ash was worried. Haunter had barely gotten any energy back from the Giga Drain, and a few attacks could beat him. He quickly yelled, "Icy Wind followed by Ice Punch." Haunter launched the ice type attack from its mouth. As Girafarig lowered its head from the attack, a punch went through the attack to connect with its torso. Girafarig was thrown back.

Lyra quickly yelled, "Psychic, and then Shadow Ball." Haunter was immobilized by Psychic, and then the Shadow Ball was launched.

Ash countered, "Shadow Ball." The two attacks exploded against each other, and Ash continued, "Fire Punch." The attack connected, and caused another cry from Girafarig.

The smoke cleared to show Girafarig close to fainting too. Lyra now yelled, "Come on, Psybeam. Then Zen Headbutt."

Ash countered, "Dark Pulse, then ThunderPunch. Max power. Put everything you got into it." Haunter was attempting to launch its most powerful attack. Only one go. The Psybeam was approaching fast, and Girafarig wasn't far behind. Haunter was still charging the attack. Finally when they couldn't wait any longer, Ash yelled, "Fire."

The purple rings shot from Haunter's hands. Dark Pulse blasted through the Psybeam, and continued on to Girafarig. Lyra called desperately, "Dodge." Girafarig moved its head and continued with Zen Headbutt. Girafarig jumped to add momentum as its head connected with a fist crackling with electricity. The two struggled for power several feet from Haunter. A powerful explosion rocked the battlefield, and dust and smoke covered the field. Ash calmly waited as it started to settle down. His hair was being whipped around from the wind. The dust settled to show the scene. Haunter was on the ground. He was supporting himself with his fists as they were pressed to the ground. Haunter had a pained look on his face, and was gasping noticeably. Girafarig was on its side.

Ash walked up as his pokemon crowded around Haunter. Ash walked through the group to look proudly at his pokemon. He raised a poke ball and said, "I'll go let Nurse Joy treat you now. You did a good job."

Ash turned to Lyra who looked glum. She forced a laugh before saying, "I guess you are a little too tough. You used a pokemon you have just had for a week to defeat my pokemon that specializes in ghost types."

Ash smiled and said comfortingly, "Don't worry. Haunter is extremely strong. He wasn't the leader of the Gastly for nothing. Girafarig really impressed me. You gave me an amazing battle. Nothing to be ashamed of."

Lyra gave a small smile before commenting, "We should go take our pokemon to Nurse Joy."

Ash nodded and called over Khoury before informing May and the others, "We are just going to give Nurse Joy our pokemon. We'll be back in a minute." They then set off. As they walked, Ash turned to Khoury and questioned, "You still hoping to be a breeder?"

Khoury nodded and replied, "Yep, but I'm still having trouble. I just don't seem to get anything right on my own. I always seem to do my best with someone to teach me."

Lyra sighed and commented, "Because you don't have the guts to take any risks."

Ash shrugged and claimed, "You could probably go to Pewter City. Brock would be happy to help you."

Khoury nodded and claimed, "I might just do that."

Lyra turned around furiously and asked, "Would you really leave me already, Khoury?"

Khoury stuttered before replying, "I don't know. I just said that I might do it someday."

Lyra seemed even more furious as she replied, "Fine then. You should just leave now." She then stormed off.

Ash smacked Khoury on the back of the head and then said in an annoyed voice, "Nice, Mr. Smooth. Next are you going to say that traveling with her was difficult."

Khoury turned to him as he rubbed his head. He then stated, "Well, it was kinda. She has difficulty waking up in the morning, and can't cook for herself."

Ash smacked him again and snapped, "So are you saying that you didn't enjoy it."

Khoury looked confused before answering, "Of course I enjoyed it. I'm just saying it was kinda hard."

Ash sighed and ordered, "So go talk to her."

Khoury stared at him before asking, "Why?"

Ash's eye twitched in irritation. He then said in a painfully slow voice, "You should talk to her because you hurt her."

Now Khoury asked, "How did I hurt her? She couldn't have expected that I would travel with her forever."

Ash clenched his fist before shouting, "You made it sound like you don't care. Goddamn, you are stupid. She didn't expect that, but she hoped that. She fucking likes you. Now go sort this out." Ash then shoved Khoury in the direction of where Lyra ran before he turned around and walked away from the astonished boy.

"I didn't think you were such a romantic," a joking voice said.

Ash turned around to see Solidad walking over with a smirk. He quickly replied, "I already told everyone. I just decided before not to immerse myself in romance. I wasn't stupid."

Solidad did a silent laugh before asking suddenly, "Who do you like, Ash?"

Ash coughed in response. After he managed to stop coughing in shock, he burst out, "What do you mean? What makes you think I like someone. I just decided to stop ignoring romance around me."

Solidad laughed before saying, "And what caused you to drop the act? You had decided to ignore romance before, but in a short time, you have stopped that. You now seem to catch every detail of romance. No way did you just decide to start. I think that someone has forced you to stop and evaluate love."

Ash stared at her before saying, "Good guess, but no. I don't have anyone I am seriously considering."

Solidad paused before asking, "Was it Dawn? I never met her, but you were probably close."

Ash coughed again before answering coldly, "No. Dawn is ten for goddness sakes. I consider her purely as a little sister."

"May then?"

Ash sighed before answering, "No. She is like a best friend to me, but she is thirteen. I am sixteen."

Solidad smiled and pointed out, "Interesting, your explanation was their ages. You seem to really take age differences seriously." Ash stiffened, and Solidad continued gleefully, "And you said before 'seriously considering.' That implies you have considered some people though. So I figure there must be an age difference."

Ash clapped his hands together before stating sarcastically, "You play detective very well, Solidad. Yet they are only speculations, no proof. So there is no reason to explain myself to you."

Solidad thought before saying seriously, "I don't know why you consider age so important, but love doesn't care about age. Many of the girls around you are 'seriously considering' you. If you dismiss them simply because of their age, you will end up hurting them and yourself. Look beyond age to chemistry. You can't throw away true love because of something as irrelevant as age. Look to the girls around you."

Ash raised an eyebrow and claimed, "It seems to me that you are coming onto me right now."

Solidad took a step forward before claiming, "Who know? Maybe I am." Ash felt uncomfortable with her so close. He now realized how pretty she was, but then she turned around with a laugh and waved a hand as she walked away. She then called, "When you get over your denial, I will always be here."

Ash watched as she walked away. He then sighed and turned around. Maybe he does like someone, but it isn't serious. Just a crush that will pass. He'll get over it.

He had never really considered the opposite though. He never really thought about anyone liking him. He had been too obsessed with battling to notice possibly, but he knew it might be true. He knew that he had grown quite a it. He was now closing in on six feet, and he would probably be considered good looking. Brock had also always told him that girls found determination and passion attractive.

Ash sighed. He would figure it out later. Now he had to go give Nurse Joy Haunter. Ash walked towards the counter. He walked up and informed her, "My Haunter just had a tough battle. It needs some treatment. Can you please help?"

Nurse Joy smiled before saying, "Of course. That is my job."

Ash smiled and claimed, "But it is always more polite to ask."

Nurse Joy laughed and said, "Yes, that is true."

Their fun chat got cut short by someone calling. Ash turned around to see a girl carrying a Raichu in her arms. The Raichu was struggling weakly, and electricity sparks were coming from its cheeks. The girl ran up and told Nurse Joy in a distressed tone, "My Raichu is suffering from static discharge. Please, help it."

Nurse Joy grabbed Raichu and examined it before saying in a helpless voice, "But we don't have the equipment here to treat static discharge."

The girl now yelled, "What? But this is the pokemon center. Where else am I going to go?"

Nurse Joy looked helpless as she claimed, "Static discharge is extremely rare and… Ouch." Nurse Joy had tried to lay a hand on Raichu, and had gotten shocked. She quickly exclaimed, "Oh no, it's getting worse. It will be twenty minutes before the proper equipment can be sent over."

The girl now yelled angrily, "But Raichu won't last twenty minutes. He'll blow this entire building to smithereens."

The two looked panicked and confused, but Ash acted. He turned to the girl and quickly questioned, "Static discharge. My Pikachu will be able to help. We just need to take Raichu outside."

The girl turned to him questioningly, but she was desperate and he was her only hope She nodded and attempted to pick up Raichu, but she recoiled. She quickly stated, "I can't pick him up. He's putting out too much electricity."

Ash quickly grabbed Raichu. He flinched in pain, but picked up the pokemon. The electricity hurt, but his resistance was enough to carry it briefly. He then turned around and started running outside. It only took several seconds before he was outside.

He yelled urgently, "Pikachu, we need help." Pikachu jumped out from the pokemon and ran over as Ash laid Raichu on the ground. He quickly told Pikachu, "Raichu is suffering from static discharge. I need you to transfer the electricity to the ground." Pikachu nodded.

The girl burst out, "But Raichu would put out far too much. No way could a Pikachu put up with so much power."

Ash turned to the girl with a grin and claimed, "You haven't met my Pikachu." He then took a step back.

The two watched as Pikachu approached Raichu, who was now shooting off visible bolts of electricity. Pikachu approached without fear, and placed his hands on the Raichu. Immediately Pikachu lit up with intense electricity. Pikachu flinched, but kept funneling the power. After several seconds, the power tripled and Pikachu cried in pain. Pikachu quickly suppressed it, and continued the job. Ash was now forced to cover his eyes from the light. It was like looking into the sun. He had only seen static discharge this bad when Pikachu got it at the beginning of Hoenn. He took a step back, and yelled to the other girl, "Get back. I think that the ret of the electricity will be released in one burst."

The two stepped back just as an intense explosion happened. Luckily it was small, but still intense enough to almost blast Ash off his feet. He got into a steadier position as the girl picked herself up.

Finally it stopped. Ash saw Pikachu looking tired as he stood over the now waking Raichu. It looked around confused. The girl ran forward and scooped it in her arms. Ash heard her giving comforting the pokemon. She then turned to Ash and said earnestly, "Thank you."

Ash nodded and allowed Pikachu to jump on his shoulder. He then continued, "But you should thank Pikachu. He did it. My name is Ash. I'm from Pallet Town." He stuck out his hand.

The girl replied, "I'm Giselle."

Ash looked at her for a second before commenting, "Haven't I met you before?"

Yes, I decided to include that one appearance person in the first season. I got a comment, and when I checked her out, I just got flashed of inspiration. A person to officially start the Harem. It might end up with Cynthia, but it would be a while. So I'll have some fun