Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, If i did Ash would age and win everything

A/N: Italic typing is Pokemon speech.

Celedon City

The four trainers smiled as they reached the gates of Celedon City, Ash was very tired he had spent the last two nights staying up, playing and training his new Eevee. Knuckles had taken to helping him control his aura as well. Each morning they would both go through several meditation exercises, Of course being up all night, then training first thing in the morning, had left the young trainer shattered, and he just wanted to crawl into bed at the nearest pokemon centre. Now he was only a few feet from his goal. His relationship with Sabrina had also been progressing, they had started sharing a sleeping bag and tent together, they hadn't done much physically, except some light touching and small make out sessions. This was enough for Ash at the moment. They all walked into the pokemon centre, Ash saw a spare comfy chair and crashed into it. Pickachu hopped off his shoulder and curled up in his lap. Knuckles leaned back against the arm of the chair watching and protecting his father.

Sabrina stood at the desk waiting for the Cities nurse Joy to see them. She looked over to Ash and saw him trying to stay awake, like Ash, she had been getting up at the crack of dawn to train and bond with her Eevee. She smiled as she watched his two most loyal pokemon watch over him, true he had Scizor, Mew, Gengar and Eevee, but he had raised Knuckles since he was a small Riolu, plus Pikachu was his starter. She was also amazed how he was able to befriend any pokemon. Especially his way with legends. Many trainers had failed even to get a glance at them, but some how Ash seemed to draw them towards him. The fact he had Mew was proof of this. Sabrina was pulled from her thoughts by a gentle female voice. "Hi Welcome to Celedon City. How can I help you?" Sabrina turned to the voice of a smiling nurse Joy. "Oh sorry. I was wondering if we could book two rooms for a couple of days, as my boyfriend is here to Challenge for his rainbow badge." Nurse Joy smiled. "That's fine, here are your room keys, and hope you all have a lovely time while your here in our wonderful city."

Ash opened the door to his and Sabrina room. He fell onto the bed and closed his eyes. He felt the weight shift on the bed and opened his eyes to see Sabrina resting her head on his chest. He guessed all the training she had been doing with her Eevee, had also worn her out. He kissed the top of her head and allowed sleep to take over both of them.

Misty and Brock, had decided to go shopping for supplies. They walked into a huge department. Misty wanted to check out the clothing section, as she was getting fed up of having only two outfits. Brock on the other hand was thinking more practical. There food supply was extremely low, due to the extra mouths they were having to feed. Ash had given Brock quite a bit of cash to top up everything. He moved over to the pokemon food section and decided he would get a full bag of each. Finally after getting everything he needed, he went to the check out and paid for the goods.

Outside Celedon Gym

"Jessie are you sure this is a good idea?". Jessie turned to her partner in crime. She was getting fed up of being questioned every time when they were about to pull of a job. "James, you know what the boss said. We have to bring him some pokemon soon, or we are out of a job. Now stop complaining and help me dig. There's bound to be tons of grass pokemon in this gym." James sighed, before taking hold of a shovel and started digging. They had decided that they would tunnel from the outside into the gym, that way they could avoid any security measures, and steal the pokemon without being discovered. James looked up and stopped. "Hey Jessie, look its the twerps, they must be here to gain a gym badge." Jessie looked up, and stared into the direction James had pointed. She could see Misty and Brock carrying loads of shopping and heading towards the pokemon centre. She smiled "If their here, then the brat and Mew can't be far away. Not to mention that strong Lucario he has as well." James shook his head. "Oh no, I am still recovering from being blasted off, by his Scizor, lets just get a couple of grass pokemon and send them to the boss, at least were still have our jobs, and will get paid." Jessie placed both her hands on her hips. "James! We are going to steal that Mew and Lucario, and that's final."

Pokemon centre

Ash opened his eyes, he was feeling a lot more energised. He noticed Sabrina had already got up, and guessed she was in the bathroom, as he heard the shower running. He looked to the bottom of the bed to see Pikachu slowly waking up. He looked to the window and Saw Knuckles sitting on the edge with one of his legs hanging out. "How are you feeling father?"

Ash sat up and stretched. "Much better, thank you for asking son. Have you been seating there the whole time?" Knuckles nodded. Ash climbed out of the bed and noticed the bathroom door opening. He stood there in complete shock as Sabrina came out just in a towel. He tried to avert his gaze and heard a small giggle. "You don't need to look away Ash. After all your my Boyfriend, you have the privilege of seeing me like this. Now close your mouth and hand me my bag will you please." Ash came out of his shocked state and picked up her bag, before handing it to her. She went to grab it, and accidentally revealed her top off to him. She noticed he immediately blushed and turned away, and picked up his own bag, before squeezing past into the bathroom. She dropped her towel and grabbed his head, pulling him into a searing kiss. After about two minutes she pulled back and grinned. "Stop being embarrassed ok." Ash nodded and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Sabrina sighed. How were they going to get closer, when he was embarrassed to look at her without anything on all the time. The truth was she was a little frustrated that they had not progressed further. She swore to herself that if she wanted things to progress further then she would have to take the lead.

Later that day

Ash was looking through his pokedex in the city training area. He knew that the gym leader used grass pokemon. So he needed a fire type, and maybe a flying type or poison type for back up. He thought about all the pokemon he had. Professor Oak had rang earlier to say that Milotic and Charmander were doing well, also Dratini was enjoying the open space, and happily growing. He then thought about his Gengar, it being a duel type could be very useful especially its toxic and Sludge bomb attack. He would use Scizor's x scissors attack as back up, plus being steel type, it wouldn't be affected by any poison moves that the gym leader might use. He looked over and saw Eevee and Pikachu playing. To prevent Eevee accidentally evolving into Espeon, he had attached an ever stone to a small collar and placed it around Eevee's neck. He then looked over to the right and saw Gengar just floating around, enjoying itself. He pulled off Mew ball from his belt. He wished he could allow his little princess out, but he didn't want to draw any trouble towards him, and showing off a legend would draw attention.

He then looked over and smiled as Sabrina cradled Litwick, while playing ball with her Eevee. He also noticed that Brock and Misty were training their pokemon respectably. They had decided to take on the Gym tomorrow, so they could prepare today. Plus He wanted to teach Eevee toxic. "Gengar you think you could show Eevee how to use toxic?"

Gengar floated over to Ash and grinned. "I can do that master, Eevee coming over here." The little wolf pokemon jumped over towards his fellow pokemon. "Yes Big brother." Gengar gritted his teeth, it seemed all the young pokemon had taken to calling him brother like they did with Knuckles and Scizor. "Master Ash wants me to teach you toxic so pay attention." Eevee titled its head to the side confused "Who's Ash?" Gengar gritted his teeth again. "Sorry. Daddy wants me to teach you a new move, so watch me ok." Eevee nodded and paid attention, to everything he was being told by his big brother.

Ash watched on then turned to see Lucario and Scizor sparing, and couldn't help but smile at how strong Knuckles had got, he was pulled from his thoughts by Sabrina sitting down next to him, with her Eevee in her lap. "Penny for your thoughts"

Ash looked up and grinned, "I was just thinking of the perfect team to use against the gym leader, as he or she specialises in Grass pokemon." Sabrina raised an eye brow. "I hope your not planning to use Eevee, even if it is trying to learn toxic."

Ash looked over and saw Gengar spraying a purple mist from its mouth, he then looked at Eevee and saw a small whiff of purple mist be spat out. "It looks like it won't be long before he gets the hang of it, have you thought about other moves you are going to teach it?" Ash turned to Sabrina. "Yeah, he will be my staller, due to his amazing defence, and special defence, it could take a beating, so I was planning on toxic, baton pass, trump card, shadow ball, mean look, payback, confuse ray. It seems to have curse already, saves me chain breeding, which reminds me. Are we going to allow our pair to mate, that way I can get every evolution then." Sabrina raised her eye brows at Ash. "Don't see why not, after all their trainers are a mating pair." Sabrina giggled as Ash turned red again. The rest of the afternoon was spent chatting and training, until it was time to go back to the pokemon centre for the night.

Meanwhile just in the woods. "James have you finished with that hole yet?" James stopped digging, and wiped some sweat from his head. "You know Jessie this hole would be finished a lot quicker if you actually helped. Me and Meowth have been digging all afternoon, while you stand around and do nothing." Jessie huffed. "Do you think I am going to get my uniform all muddy, plus I have just had my nails done, and wouldn't want to break them." James gritted his teeth. "Do I dare ask how you paid for them to be done. Jessie bit her bottom lip, she had to go into their emergency fund, for the treatment and knew James would be furious. "Well I kind of borrowed some money from the emergency fund." She closed her eyes and waited for James to erupt. She didn't have to wait long. "You What!, that fund was for our food. You know we don't get paid for another two weeks, what the hell are we suppose to eat?" Jessie grinned "We are not team rocket for nothing you know, we steal it." James shook his head and carried on digging, they were almost half way through, and he figured that they would be under the gym by morning.

Celedon Gym Next day

Ash, and Sabrina, walked towards the huge domed building. They could see why the gym leader specialised in grass pokemon, as the gym sat just outside a small forest, with all different types of tree surrounding it. Ash opened the door, and was about to shout out to the gym leader, when an awful smell caught his nose. "Yuck, what on earth is that smell." Sabrina also was covering her nose and shook her head, gesturing she had no clue what it was. Suddenly the both saw rustling in the grass and a round purple pokemon popped out, it had three round objects on its head that were sprouting leaves. Its face had closed eyes huge lips. "How rude, you don't smell much better." Ash pulled his hand away from his mouth. "Sorry about that, but it was just a surprise that's all. Are you one of the gym leaders pokemon?" Gloom huffed and walked away. "Wouldn't you like to know." it then vanished back into the grass. Ash and Sabrina then walked through the small trees into an open space. They noticed that a girl in a kimono, was kneeling at a table pouring some tea. Ash walked up to the girl and bowed. "Excuse me miss, could you please tell me where I could find the gym leader?" The girl placed the cup back on the table and looked towards the boy standing in front of her. "You have found her, I am Erica gym leader of the Celedon gym, and I accept your challenge."

Few Minutes later

Ash stood in his trainers box, he had left Pikachu with Sabrina, who was sitting on the sidelines. He looked over to Erica and saw she was ready for battle just like he was. He then saw the referee walk out and raised both flags. "This is an official gym battle, between the Celedon city gym leader and the challenger Ash Ketchum from Pallet town. This is a 3 on 3 battle, only the challenger may substitute, there will be no time limit. Trainer select your first pokemon."

Ash pulled a poke ball from his belt. "Scizor end this now." Ash threw the ball to the centre of the field and watched as his most experienced pokemon appeared ready for battle. "Finally some action, I was getting rusty in there boss." Ash grinned, and looked over to see Erica throw her ball into the centre. "Bellsprout bloom." The small bell plant pokemon appeared on the field, and shook with fear at the sight of Scizor.

The referee raised his flag. "The first battle will be Scizor vs Bellsprout. Begin"

Ash decided he wasn't going to take any chances "Scizor lets start things off with Sword dance." Scizor nodded, before, crossing his metal claws across his chest and began to spin. Raising it's attack.

Erica took no notice. "Bellsprout use stun spore" The little bell pokemon began to shake for side to side, expelling a yellow mist from it's body, which started to approach Scizor, however the vacuum formed from Scizor using Sword dance, blew the cloud away, leaving Scizor un-harmed.

Ash grinned. "Nice try, but I was prepared for that, as many attacks like stun spore travel by air, I had my Scizor use Sword dance, not only to raise his attack, but prevent you using any status attacks, now Scizor Agility into x scissors."

Scizor zigzaged across the battle field towards Bellsprout with its metal claws glowing a dark green.

Erica seeing the danger decided try stop him. "Bellsprout vine whip, hurry." Bellsprout began to smash it's vines towards Scizor, however due to its speed, it kept missing. Bellsprout suddenly froze as Scizor towered over it, creating an x with its claws, it struck Bellsprout in the head, causing the small plant pokemon to sway, before falling with swirls in its eyes.

The referee raised his flag. "Bellsprout is unable to battle, winner is Scizor. Trainer send out your next pokemon.

Erica recalled Bellsprout. "Well done my friend, have a long rest." She then pulled out another ball, "Bulbasaur Bloom"

The ball opened in the centre to reveal a small Bulbasaur, who looked at Scizor and growled.

The referee raised his flag. "Second battle is Scizor vs Bulbasaur. Begin"

Erica decided to try something. "Bulbasaur use leech seed"

Bulbasaur, growled again before shooting tiny bulbs all over the field. It grinned as Scizor tried to dodge them all. Finally one landed on target, and vines began to wrap around Scizor draining it's energy.

Ash gritted its teeth, Scizor was a sitting duck, as the vines, had pinned his claws to his side, meaning he couldn't move. Seeing it was pointless to battle Ash recalled Scizor. He then pulled off another ball from his belt. "Gengar end this now, cover the field with Sludge bomb."

Gengar appeared on the field and opened it's mouth spitting out huge blobs of Sludge all over the field. One of the blobs hit Bulbasaur, causing it to have a purple aura appear around it.

Erica gasped as she knew her Pokemon had been poisoned. This trainer had come prepared. "Bulbasaur use Stun spore."

Bulbasaur bulb began to shake, expelling another yellow cloud of stun powder.

Ash was ready for this. "Gengar counter that cloud with Toxic."

Gengar grinned, before opening it's mouth wide, spewing a huge purple cloud, that collided with the stun spore cancelling each other out.

Erica sighed as her Bulbasaur, was slowly being poisoned, she knew status attacks, wouldn't work as Ash would just have Gengar use Toxic to counter it. She had one move that would work, however it wouldn't be very effective, and It would leave her Bulbasaur open for a free hit. Deciding to take the chance she shouted "Bulbasaur use solarbeam."

Ash was shocked at this, as that was an extremely risky move, especially against a ghost pokemon, that could easily vanish, avoiding the hit. "Gengar use confuse ray."

Gengar grinned before its eyes glowed, shooting a beam, directly into Bulbasaur's, confusing the little grass pokemon.

Bulbasaur, shook it's head as the confuse ray took effect, it started hitting itself with it's own vines. Seeing that it's bulb was fully charged, it fired the beam, into the air, totally missing it's target. It then just stood there and swayed before collapsing with swirls in its eyes.

The referee raised his flag. "Bulbasaur is unable to battle, Gengar wins."

Erica recalled her pokemon. "Very good my friend, have a long rest." Erica then looked over to Ash. "Your skill is impressive Ash, you were well prepared for my pokemon, now time for you to see my star pokemon. Exeggutor." Erica threw her ball onto the field and grinned as her ace monster appeared.

Exeggutor began to rock back and forth, and glared at Gengar.

Ash gritted his teeth. "Gengar be extremely careful, as this is no ordinary grass pokemon."

Erica grinned. "Exeggutor use Confusion now."

Exeggutor eyes glowed blue, as it used confusion, by engulfing Gengar in a blue aura. It then swayed it's head to one side, sending Gengar smashing into the trees around the battle field, it then looked straight up, forcing Gengar to fly high in the air. It then nodded it's head and forced Gengar down, crashing into the arena floor.

Gengar swayed as it tried to get it's bearings. It slowly floated up, in front of Ash waiting for the next orders.

Ash smirked, "That's the way you want to play ok. Gengar use Hypnosis."

Gengar vanished before appearing behind Exeggutor, its eyes glowed and sent out hypnotic waves, hitting Exeggutor squarely in the head, causing the plant pokemon to fall sleep.

Ash let out a sigh of relieve, as he now had time to recover Gengar lost health. "Gengar use dream eater."

Gengar grinned before creating a spectral image of itself, flying through the sleeping Pokemon, eating its dreams, and causing it to lose health, which Gengar happily absorbed.

Erica seeing she couldn't do anything until her pokemon woke up, watched on helpless.

Ash seeing his chance decided to try a new move. "Gengar use Nightmare."

Gengar created small copies of itself before sending them to fly around the sleeping pokemon head, forcing it to fall into a nightmare.

Ash seeing he had the match won, decided enough was enough. Gengar Sludge bomb."

Gengar started spitting out blobs of purple sludge all over the field, several hitting Exeggutor causing major damage, plus it being asleep and locked in a nightmare, meant it was game over. Ash watched Exeggutor sway before falling face first onto the ground, with swirls in it's eyes.

The referee raised his flag. "Exeggutor is unable to battle, as all three of the gym leaders pokemon are unable to battle, I declare Ash Ketchum the winner.

Ash jumped in the air. He had finally got his third badge, however his excitement was cut short as the floor beneath them began to shake, before a huge hose shot up out of the ground, and began to suck. All of Erica's grass pokemon were sucked from the grass and down the huge hose.

Ash gritted his teeth, he had a rough idea who was responsible. He ran out of the gym and rounded a corner. His eyes flashed as he saw team rocket, stealing all the pokemon. "You three again. Do you ever quit."

Jessie looked up to who had shouted. "Look James its the twerp who has Mew, lets get him. "Ekans bite attack now."

Ekans appeared from its ball and slivered towards Ash, baring it's pointed fangs. Ash shook his head. "You will never learn, "Knuckles end this." Ash grinned as a blur of blue and black appeared in front of him, smashing the snake pokemon back.

"You called father?"

Ash nodded. "These thugs have stolen all the gym leaders pokemon, why don't you teach them a lesson." Lucario bowed, before its eyes glowed blue. It then bought it's paws together, creating a huge sphere of aura energy. He then launched it at the machine holding the pokemon. The machine exploded. Allowing all the grass Pokemon to escape and run behind Ash. He turned to see Erica and Sabrina watching on. He turned back to team Rocket. "Leave now, or I will blast you so far off, your have no clue where you are once you land."

Jessie laughed. "You, blast us off, oh your funny kid." James looked at the determination in the young trainers eyes and gulped. "Jessie, maybe we should listen and make a run for it." Jessie turned to James and glared. "Rubbish, Ekans teach this twerp some respect for his elders."

Ash eyes glowed blue, he was then surrounded by a blue aura, causing the wind to whip around him in all directions. He bought his fist up, glowing with aura energy. He then clapped his hand together. As he pulled them apart, a huge sphere of aura energy was beginning to form between his palms. "Knuckles isn't the only one who can use aura. Now get out of my sight."

Jessie and James stood frozen as the huge sphere of energy shot towards them. They closed their eyes and heard the explosion. They knew they were blasting off, as they could feel the ground beneath their feet. "I told you Jessie." Jessie growled "Oh shut up."

Ash turned to face Erica and Sabrina, he noticed their shocked expression. Using the techniques he had learnt from Knuckles, he took a deep breath and forced his aura energy down, until he was back to normal.

Erica stepped forward and held out her palm. "Thank you Ash for saving all the pokemon, and for beating me. I present you with the rainbow badge."

Ash took hold of the badge and held it in the air, he smiled as Pikachu jumped out of Sabrina arms and leapt on to his shoulder posing.

Sabrina smiled as her Boyfriend celebrated his win. However she was extremely nervous as the next gym they would be heading too was Saffron City. She was worried how her father would react at Ash being an Aura user. She herself had no problem with them, but her father hated them with a passion. She just prayed he would try to accept Ash, otherwise she was going to have to make a choice. A choice she didn't want to make.

A/N: Here ends Chapter 20. Hope you enjoyed it, and please review, as the more reviews the quicker the updates. (UN beta)