CH 8: Different this time around

As Ash and May reached the top of the hill Ash looked down and saw Petalburg city. "Well we made it" Ash said. "I think they'll be surprised to see me back so soon and you" May said. The two made a trip to the pokemon center before heading to the gym. At the pokemon center while they waited May was going over where her next contest was. "The next contest is in Rustborg city" She said. "Oh sweet , that means after your contest I can have my next gym battle" Ash said.

Nurse joy then came up to the counter, "Excuse me your pokemon are in fine condition" She said. "Great looks like it's off to the gym" Ash said. Several minutes later they arrived at the Gym and when the door opened they saw Max. He turned to them, "May, your back already, Huh Ash!" He said. "Max it's been a while" Ash said. Max had gotten a bit older but was basically the same, his hair was the same and still had glasses.

"Ash why are you back in Hoenn?" Max asked, "I'm competing in the Hoenn League again" Ash said. "I see, I guess you came here to challenge our dad then" Max said. " Well you'll have to wait, some guy ran in here and challenged our dad, his pokemon still need a little time to recover" Max said. "It's ok I can wait" Ash said. "Oh May by the way you got another love letter from Drew, mom was pretty excited" Max said.

"Oh mom" May said. while they waited for Norman's pokemon to recover Ash and May went back to the local Pokemon center with Max. "So Ash you've been a bit quiet for the last few years" Max said. "Yeah, I've been training and waiting for the right time to travel again" Ash said.

"Here you pokemon are ready" Nurse joy said. "Great thanks gotta go" A familiar voice said in a rushed way. Ash turned to see one of his old rivals from the sinnoh league. It was none other than Barry. He ran for the door but saw Ash then slipped and fell. " Ouch, Ash is that you" He said.

Barry ran over, "It is you" He said. "Barry what you doing here?" Ash asked. "I just beat Norman I'm competing in the Hoenn league" Barry said. "I'm competing in the Hoenn league too" Ash said. "Well I can tell you this, I'm coming out on top this time" Barry said. "Well Good luck" Ash said.

Max looked at his watch, "Well Dad's pokemon should be better by now. Also May and I will be rooting for our Dad" Max said. "I don't think so" May said under her breath. At the Gym Norman stood on the other end of the arena.

"Well Ash it's been a while, I've been waiting for a chance of a rematch" He said. "Yeah well I've gotten a lot better" Ash said. "Ok go Slakoth" Norman said, "Go Bulbasaur" Ash said. "Bulbasaur" bulbasaur said, "Slakoth use scratch" Norman said. Slakoth ran at Bulbasaur, "Bulbasaur use vine while on Slakoth's arms" Ash said.

Bulbasaur did as Ash said and whipped Slakoth across the room. "Well Ash that was a good move" Norman said. "Alright Bylbasaur use razor leaf" Ash said, "Slakoth fake out" Norman said. Slakoth ran up and did the attack which made Bulbasaur flinch.

"Now use slash" Norman said, Skaly slashed Bulbasaur and knocked him back. "Way to go Dad" Max said, "Ash don't give up" May said. "Huh" Max said, "Bulbasaur use Vine whip again" Ash said. "Slakoth whip bulbasaur" Norman said. when the vines wrapped around Slakoth's arms he whipped Bulbasaur into the air. "Bulbasaur use the momentum to launch Slakoth" Ash said. Bulbasaur used the energy from the throw as he landed to hurl Slakoth up and into the air.

"Now Bulbasaur use razor leaf" Ash said. As Slakoth hit the ground and got up he was hit by the razor leaf and ko'd. "Slakoth is unable to battle" The ref said. "Oh no Dad" Max said. "Great job Ash" May said, Max turned to her again. "May" He said. "Ok Bulbasaur return" Ash said. "Why did he do that?" Their mom asked, "Because Ash is trying to get all his pokemon stronger so he's trying to use as many as possible" May said. "Ok go vigoroth" Norman said after he returned Slakoth.

"Vigaroth!" Vigaroth said. "Ok your up Pikachu" Ash said. Pikachu jumped from his shoulder and onto the ground, "Vigaroth use stomp" Norman said. "Pikachu use quick attack" Ash said. Pikachu moved so fast he hit Vigaroth before he could use stomp. "Virgaroth use mean look" Norman said, Vigaroth looked close into Pikachu's eyes and it frightened him.

"Pikachu use thunderbolt" Ash said. Pikachu then snapped out of his fear and shocked Norman's Vigaroth. "Wow your pokemon have gotten a lot better" Norman said. "Dad come on" Max said. "Vigaroth use stomp" Norman said. "Dodge it" Ash said. Pikachu jumped out of the way. "Keep using stomp" Norman said. Pikahu avoided as many blows as he could until he was hit.

"Gotcha" Norman said. Ash smiled, "Pikachu use fusion bolt" Ash said. Vigaroth looked down at his foot and pikachu under it. Pikachu turned blue with electricity and Virgaroth was electrocuted all over his body. He stuttered backwards "Now Pikachu use voltackle" Ash said. "Pikachu!" Pikachu said, he set electricity all over his body and ran at Virgaroth.

"Vigaroth run" Norman said but Viragoth was still stunned from the fusion bolt. Pikachu then leaped and hit Vigaroth. The voltackle finished the job and ko'd Norman's Vigaroth. " Vogaroth is unable to battle" The ref said. "Oh no Dad's already lost two pokemon " Max said. "Wow Ash your doing great" May said. "Whose side are you on any way!" Max yelled. May blushed a little trying to hide it. Her mother however saw her, "May your blushing" She said. "Mom I" She started.

"Your thinking about Drew aren't you" She said. "Oh mom" May said. "Ok return" Norman said. "Pikachu great job" Ash said, Pikachu happily jumped onto Ashe's shoulder. "OK go Slaking" Norman said , "Donphan your up" Ash said. He sent out his Donphan. "Slaking use slack off" Norman said, "Counter with horn attack" Ash said. Donphan ran up and used his horns to knock Slaking back before he could use slack off. "Ok Slaking use Yawn" Norman said. Slaking yawned and then so did Donphan.

"Oh no Donphans going to fall asleep" May said. "Will you please support your own father please!" Max screamed. "Donphan use rollout" Ash said, Donphan curled up and rolled at Slaking but he got to tired and slowed down enough for Slaking to catch him. "Oh no" Ash said. "Use seismic toss" Norman said, Slaking threw Donphan up into the air and he landed on the ground hard. "Now use body slam" Norman said. Slaking jumped onto Donphan.

"Hmp" Norman said, Ash smiled again, "Ok Donphan use roll out" Ash said. Donphan curled up and spun which forced Slaking off him, he then continued on and hit slaking in the head. "Oh no" Norman said.

"Now use take down" Ash said. Donphan jumped up and hit Slaking in the head again koing him. "Slaking us unable to battle the winner is the challenger" The ref said. "Donphan great job" Ash said. "Well Ash you've really gotten stronger you've certainly earned this modern badge" Norman said. He took one out and handed it to Ash. As they were about to leave May's mother said one last thing. "May make sure you meet up with Drew again" "Oh mom" May said. Ash and May then headed for Rustboro city for Ash's next gym battle and May's next Contest.