"... I want... to battle you.." says drew
"huh? battle?" says ash
"..you ask what this is about so I'll tell you. this is about may" says drew
"huh? may? what about may?" says ash curiously
"...ever since we first met me and may have gone against each other many times. coming up in the hoenn contests, the grand festival, then going to kanto and everything after. even though she started out green and not much of a challenge she got better over time. soon she became one of my biggest rivals as a coordinator, and eventually we became friends. the problem is... she doesn't see me as anything more than that. what I would like... is for me and her to become closer, more than friends. but... there's one thing standing in the way of that.. and that thing... is you!" says drew pointing at ash
"me? wait, how am I in the way?" asks ash
"I don't know if you know this already but may holds you in very high regard. she brings you up quite a bit when we're talking, even before a big contest. she aspires to be as good a trainer as you are. you could even say... she has affection toward you"
drew clenches his fist and continues while ash listens.
"a few months ago I came to may and asked her if she would consider traveling with me, and maybe if we could go out sometime. she declined saying she wishes to travel alone. also she said she couldn't go out with me because she had feelings for another..."
"wait, that could be anyone though" says ash
"yes... but then later after winning a contest she said she wondered how you were doing and wished she could see you again so she could show you how good she's gotten. so it's quite obvious the person she has feelings for is you, ash!" says drew
ash turns his face to the side scratching his chin and says "wow.. heh"
"so long as you are on top, may won't see me as more than a rival. so I'm gonna battle you, and once I beat you, the one may admires so much, then may will look up to me" says drew
"listen drew, I don't think that's gonna-"
then ash is interrupted by another voice.
"aha, found you!"
ash looks and sees a teen boy approach them from the path. it is kenny, dawn's childhood friend who has also grown since last seen.
"you? er.. wait don't I know you?" says ash
"I'm kenny! kenny from sinnoh, we've met before. I'm dawn's old friend, the same dawn who is tainted by your charm ash!" says kenny
"wait, wha?" says ash
"ever since she traveled with you she always talks about you even though you're not traveling together anymore. it's always ash this and ash that, its like she's obsessed with you and won't even give me the time of day! urggg that's it, battle me! I'll free her from your spell!" says kenny pointing at ash
"hey, you. get in line, I'm battling him first" says drew
"what? hey I ain't waiting, I wanna battle him now!" says kenny
"I said wait your turn, I'm battling now!" says drew
"no, me!" says kenny
the two stare each other down as ash looks on still a bit confused. after a few seconds drew sighs.
"wait, we shouldn't be arguing. let's stop" says drew
"yeah... and I got an idea. lets both face ash at the same time so neither of us have to wait" says kenny
"good idea" says drew as the two turn to face ash
"so what do you say to 2 vs 1 champ?" says drew
"hm, dunno what you 2 are planning but if its a battle you want I'll be happy to oblige!" says ash
they all reach for their belts to get their pokeballs ready. just then another voice is heard.
"2 on 1 is unfair. I think I should enter the fray!"
a burly individual then walks up and stands beside ash. it turns out to be stephan, ashs rival from unova.
"lets make it 2-on-2, me and my boy ash versus you guys. what do you say?" says stephan
"you..." says ash looking at stephan
"tch, I didn't expect any of ash's friends to interrupt..." says drew
"oh great..." says kenny as the two take a step back
"hmm.. I don't want a tag battle. I'll back off.. for now, but this isn't over" says drew as he turns and walks away quickly
"next time, I'll get you ash!" says kenny then dashes off
"phew, man that was awkward" says ash
"yeah, don't worry about them. anyways what's up ash? you good?" says stephan facing him
"I'm fine. uh, you are..." says ash
"aw c'mon ash, you know me" says stephan
"hmm... you're... steven right?" says ash
stephan falls to the ground, dumbfounded by ash's guess. he quickly gets up.
"argh... 3 + years and you still can't get the name right... oh well. it's stephan ash"
"ooooh yeah, I remember you stephan. from the unova league!" says ash
"yup that's me hehe. I see you been doing well, winning the indigo league and being an honorary elite 4 member and all. thats awesome man" says stephan
"hey thanks, and what have you been up to since we last saw each other?" says ash
"heh glad you asked ash. just so you know I've gotten much better too. you're looking at the 2 time unova league champ hehe" says stephan