Paul and Ash
"Squirtle sure is a little tough guy isn't he?"May was holding Squirtle as they went back to the Pokemon Center making him rub his head sheepishly.
"Squirtle."
"He practically sweeped Wikstrom's entire team! Ash if Squirtle ever has an Egg can I have it?"Ash chuckled at Max's request and fixed his hat.
"Whatever you want Max, but after this: he has to go back to the Squir-"
"Squirt."Ash was interrupted by Squirtle jumping into his arms and hugging him tightly."Squirtle squirt squirt squirtle. Squir-tle."
"What did he say Meowth?"
"He said: I don't want to go back, battling with you reminded me how fun it was to be with you."
"Are you sure Squirtle? You're the leader of the Fire Squad."
"Squirtle squirtle."
"Of course I am, you're my best friend."
"Wow, okay then Squirtle, I guess we have to tell Officer Jenny and the other Squirtles."
"Ketchum you remember that you owe me a rematch right?"
"Yeah I know, that's why when we get to the Pokemon Center, I'm swapping out Noctowl and Bayleef."
"Well Ketchum you ready?"Paul was waiting impatiently for his rival as he walked onto the battlefield with Meowth and Pikachu in tow.
"You know I am, no referee this time. Three-on-Three."
"So when our pokemon is out, they're out."
"Winner is decided when our last pokemon is knocked out. No switches?"
"Definitely."
"THEN LET'S GO! HERACROSS I CHOOSE YOU!"Paul smirked seeing Ash's choice to start off and unclipped a Pokeball.
"MAGMORTAR STAND BY FOR BATTLE!"Magmortar appeared making Ash growl at Paul who had an evil smirk on his face.
"FOCUS PUNCH!"
"Stay still."Magmortar stood still and took the Focus Punch from Heracross surprising the others watching. But what surprised them even more was seeing Heracross, seconds after contact with Magmortar, was enveloped in fire.
"He's burned!"
"I forgot...Magmortar's ability is Flame Body...whenever a Pokemon makes contact with him, they end up with a burn. Heracross are you okay?!"Ash clenched a fist remembering when the same thing had happened to Pikachu. But he smiled remembering what Tracey had told him and got a thumbs up from Heracross."GREAT! RAIN DANCE!"Paul growled seeing Heracross do a small dance making it begin to rain over the two Pokemon. He growled even louder seeing the fire on Heracross leave as the rain came into contact with it.
"WHY YOU...SMOG!"
"DIG!"Heracross dove straight into the ground dodging the poison cloud shot from Magmortar angering Paul even more. But before he could yell to show it, an idea came to Paul returning the evil grin to his face.
"SMOG INTO THE HOLE!"Magmortar stuck his arm into the hole Heracross went into and shot the poison cloud inside and stepped back to avoid some of the seeping out Smog.
"COME OUT UNDER MAGMORTAR!"Paul was shocked seeing Heracross pop out right under Magmortar making the cloud envelop the fire type instead.
"That was genius Ashy-boy!"Gary stood up cheering for his longtime friend as Serena and Bonnie were confused.
"What was genius?"
"How long have you been a trainer?"Dawn's question along with a snicker from her and May angered Serena. She was just about to jump them if Clemont and Gary hadn't held her back.
"What Ash did was the most clever thing I've seen him do."
"He made Heracross use Dig on purpose so Paul would try to corner him underground to poison him. So when he did, Heracross dodged it again by popping out from under Magmortar and basically made it poison Magmortar instead."
'I can't use Dig again, the tunnel under there is flooding up from Rain Dance, so how can I take out Magmortar quickly?'Ash studied his surroundings before an idea popped into his head."MEGAHORN!"
"MEET THE ATTACK WITH FIRE PUNCH!"Everybody watching braced themselves from the impact of Heracross's glowing Horn making contact with Magmortar's Fire Punch making their trainers even slide back."FLAMETHROWER!"
"HYPER BEAM!"Max and Clemont struggled to find their glasses after Heracross's Hyper Beam and Magmortar's Flamethrower made contact resulting in Ash and Serena's hats, Dawn's beanie, May's bandana, Korrina's sunglasses, and their glasses flying off from the explosion. When the dust settled, Heracross and Magmortar were on their knees exhausted while their trainers looked just as exhausted as they were.
"They're not giving an inch. But why would Paul want to battle Ash now? Unless it's to prepare him!"
"For what?"
"Diantha, Siebold, and Drasna. They're way more powerful than Wikstrom and Malva, he's trying to show Ash how serious he has to be."Clemont gulped as Ash and Paul took off their jackets and Ash left his hat off clenching their fists.
"HERACROSS/MAGMORTAR!"Ash and Paul yelled to their Pokemon making them stand up and start running."GIGA IMPACT/FIRE PUNCH!"Both Pokemon collided one last time resulting in an explosion knocking the two out and sent their trainers on their backs."RETURN!"
"Ketchum you see how serious I'm making you! That's how you have to be tomorrow and until you beat Diantha!"
"I know! And this battle is going to show you how much stronger I've become since the Sinnoh League!"
"THEN BRING IT! BISHARP STAND BY!"
"KROOKODILE I CHOOSE YOU!"Bisharp and Krookodile appeared and immediately charged at each other.
"POWER-UP PUNCH/BRICK BREAK!"Both Pokemon hit each other hard with Bisharp hitting Krookodile in the head with Power-Up Punch and Krookodile using Brick Break on Bisharp's sending them both back."DON'T STOP!"The two got back up and did the same sending them back harder digging into the ground sending pieces of rock at their trainers tearing their shirts and scratching them."FOCUS BLAST!"Bisharp and Krookodile charged up Focus Blasts in their hands and threw them at each other sending them flying unconscious."RETURN!"
"They're almost the same..."Dawn gulped seeing the determination in the two trainer's eyes as their last Pokemon went to the field.
"ELECTIVIRE STAND BY FOR BATTLE!"
"PIKACHU I CHOOSE YOU!"The two Electric types went to the field and gave each other the same look their Trainers were giving each other.
"This is just like when we first met Paul..."Dawn closed her eyes and opened them again and Electivire and Ash and Paul changed to when Electivire was still an Elekid and Ash and Paul were about to have their first battle.
"ELECTIVIRE THUNDER PUNCH!"
"PIKACHU IRON TAIL!"
"ELECTI...VIRE!"
"CHUPI!"Pikachu slammed his silver tail on Electivire's Thunder Punch stopping the attack causing Pikachu to gain a small charge up from it.
"So Pikachu has gotten stronger, but that doesn't mean you can win Ketchum! ELECTIVIRE BRICK BREAK!"
"PIKACHU IRON TAIL AGAIN!"Pikachu blocked Electivire's attack again making him bounce off the ground as Electivire stumbled back from the damage taken from the attack.
"Why isn't Ash using Thunderbolt or Electro Ball?"
"Electivire's main ability is Motor Drive, I should tell because it's mine's too. If he uses Electric attacks, Electivire's speed will be boosted."
"So Ash has to rely on Iron Tail and Quick Attack?"
"Unless he can learn a new attack like Charizard or Squirtle."
"GIGA IMPACT!"May and Serena began to look away as Electivire went at Pikachu in a purple and yellow tornado and hit the Electric Mouse hard creating an explosion."Game. Set. And-"
"Piiika...chuuu! PIKACHU!"The dust settled for everyone to see Pikachu holding Electivire back glowing white and grabbed him by the tail and slammed him on the ground.
"Strength?"
"And Slam?"
"GREAT JOB BUDDY! USE STRENGTH AND IRON TAIL, THEN GO TO ELECTIVIRE USING QUICK ATTACK!"Pikachu began to glow white as his tail turned metallic while he ran with a white streak behind him. His tail then began to shine from the light surprising the coordinators and performer.
"BRICK BREAK!"Electivire's arm glowed white and he punched Pikachu's tail as he was about to hit him creating an burst of wind from the force of the impact that sent Ash and Paul to the ground as they did.
"Who won?"Electivire stood up looking ready to keep going as Pikachu stayed down shocking everybody else. But they sighed in relief as Electivire fell over unconscious as Pikachu struggled to get and stay up.
"So you have gotten stronger Ketchum...that was the most intense battle ever."
"Thanks Paul."
"Hey Ash we need to talk with you."The three rivals for Ash's affection walked up to him as he and Paul got his Pokemon back from Nurse Joy confusing him.
"Yeah what is it?"
"Which of us do you like?"
"What do you mean?"
"Who do you like better? Who would you want to have as a girlfriend?"
"Uh..."
"This is your problem."Paul walked away making Ash gulp seeing his situation.
"Well?"
"Uh..."
A/N: The votes so far are:
Advanceshipping: 3
Pearlshipping: 4
Amourshipping: 15
All 3: 17
Be sure to vote in the reviews who you want Ash to end up with. Last chance to vote, the next chapter will start off with the winner.