HeyEverybody! I know I'm late again, but I think I got the timeline out to everyone now, and I'm actually ahead of the game for a change of pace seeing as how I'm already well into work on chapter 53. I wouldn't be surprised if that actually gets published on time in two weeks, believe it or not! Anyway, this chapter's a little shorter than the average, but I have to think that what it lacks in volume, it makes up for in quality. Of course, you're free to disagree, but before you do, read and then REVIEW PLEASE!

Also, before you continue with the story, I need to dedicate this chapter to my British sidekick and future Texas-exploration partner pokemon-princess.8! She was the one who gave me the idea to include the "Ash's fear of riding Charizard" subplot, which, as you will see in this chapter, has actually quickly become a crucial part of the story. I forgot to mention that last chapter, so hopefully this makes up for it, PP8!

Alright, now I'm done. See you in the bottom author's notes!

Disclaimer:I do not own Pokemon, or any of its affiliated companies including, but not limited to, 4Kids, The Pokemon Company, Game Freaks, or Cartoon Network. The characters written within this fic are soley based upon the fictional characters created by these companies, and the story is not meant to, nor will it, receive any monetary funding.

Characters' Ages:

Ash: 17

Brock: 22

Misty: 18

Delia: 41

Oak: 56

-

Well, the secret's out...

Ash beheld Gary's bewildered expression with an air of humor. It was rare to see his rival so effectively taken aback by anything to do with him, and the former champion momentarily allowed his words to linger in the air; giving time for the mysterious declaration to further shock the brunette.

"Why..." Gary trailed off. He was just as dazed as Brock and Misty, but Ash saw a small glimmer of something else in his rival's expression yet to be fully developed. "Are you kidding?"

Ash shook his head. "It's just too dangerous."

"What is?" Ash wasn't sure if he was even paying attention to what he had just asked as the news continued to settle in.

"Training. Team Rocket's after me, Gary. I can't keep myself out in the spotlight like this."

"So this-this isn't a joke, then?" He blinked a few times, seemingly coming to grips with the news.

He almost looked sad, and suddenly Ash felt a little sorry for enjoying dropping the bomb. They'd been rivals for so long, it shouldn't have come as a surprise that the news would hit the future researcher close to home.

So rather than further delighting in the still-vacant expression upon Gary's face, he instead shook his head and gave his long-time friend a sad smile. "Sorry, but no." He reached to put a hand on the gym leader's shoulder, but was surprised when his arm was suddenly swatted away.

"Are you insane?"

The confused expression had, in the blink of an eye, shifted from Gary to Ash. Now wide-eyed and lock-jawed, Gary appeared almost on the brink of insanity to his old nemesis.

"Are you seriously kidding me?"

The confused expression on Ash's face only became more apparent with the reiteration. "Um, what are you talking about, Gary?"

His arms flew into the air in a fit of seething frustration. "All of this! You're thinking about quitting training? How could you even consider something so stupid?"

Incensed at the remark, Ash shot the teenager a vicious glare. "It's not stupid, Gary! In case you haven't noticed, me and Misty almost died last week."

"So she's the one putting you up to this then, huh?" He crossed his arms, and a snide expression crossed his face - astonishing Ash at the instant turn of emotion. "You date some chick for a couple months and decide to quit training?"

Ash shook his head. "Do you know how stupid you sound? It wasn't her decision at all! I told her that I was quitting. She wanted to me to stay in the League!"

The anger returned immediately. This was not going to blow over, and Ash instantly regretted this decision.

"So, what? You're just gonna retire? Spend the rest of your life in the country, talking about how you used to be some great trainer? Sit in the park watching other trainers work with their Pokémon?"

"First, I guess you didn't know, but I was already kicked out of the League. Second-"

"Oh, cut the crap, Ash. Grampa already told me there was no way that was permanent. You're just chickening out!"

"Second!" the former champion continued, holding up two fingers to the brunette's face. This fight held an eery similarity to their childhood spats, Ash realized that moment. "I'm not just gonna disappear! I'm going to college. Maybe I'll study Pokémon medicine or something. You think I haven't thought this through?"

Gary did his best to regain his calm composure. It was a little harder to do after experiencing such strong emotion, but after taking a few deep breaths he shrugged and gave his rival a smarmy grin. "Yeah, I'm sure you have thought it out. After all, you are the best chicken I know."

It took everything Ash had not to pick a fight right then and there as the wild urge to fight suddenly lurched in his chest. "I'm sorry, Gary, I didn't know you were kidnapped by Giovanni too. Tell me how you escaped? Did you shoot him? Did you save your girlfriend but lose a longtime friend? Did another friend go into a coma for you?"

Obviously thrown by the quick response, Gary gave another shrug. "If I had, I know I wouldn't let Giovanni win after all that."

"Let Giovanni win? He's gone!"

"Yeah, but what are you doing now? Exactly what he wanted!" Gary pointed an accusatory finger at Ash. "You're dropping out, just like he wanted! He wanted you outta the way so Team Rocket could fill your slot. That was the whole reason for Paul, wasn't it?"

"It'll take Team Rocket plenty of time to rebuild," Ash shot back. "It's not like they're gonna become super-powerful overnight and take the League. I did my part to protect the PL, and now I'm done."

"What about that friend of yours in a coma? It's Lance, right?"

Now Ash was surprised by the quick comeback.

The smirk grew. "Don't be surprised. I might be a low-ranking PLB grunt, but even I know something's wrong when a member of the Elite Four shows up passed out at a hospital. He was there helping you, right? I bet the others were there too."

Narrowing his eyes, Ash stood his ground. "What's your point?"

"You think he's gonna quit if he wakes up? You think Steven will? They've been doing this for more years than you, Ashy-boy, but they've stuck with it. Why do you think they're known as the greats? It's not a title you get for quitting when the going gets tough."

"I'm not quitting!"

"Like Hell you're not!"

"I'm protecting my friends and family!"

"Giovanni's gone. How's he a threat?"

"You said it yourself, they'll come back eventually, and they'll want blood. What am I supposed to do, just keep battling and acting like nothing's wrong?"

"Better than what you're talkin' about. You just wanna quit the League? Quit the people who saved you?" Ash silently bristled at the question. "What happens if Team Rocket does come back, huh? Who'll protect you then? You won't be able to, we already know that. You'll be out of touch with the G-Men, and your Pokémon won't be able to help you anymore. It'll be a cinch for them to pick right back up where they left off. And if they don't come back, then you're leaving your position for nothing!"

Though he refused to acknowledge it even to himself, his old rival had a point. How did he expect to protect himself without the help of the League or his Pokémon?

"Are they even okay with this?" he asked, motioning to Pikachu and his belt. "I already know your girlfriend's not."

Pikachu still looked shocked at the news, but didn't say anything in response to Gary's question. Ash looked to his shoulder, and gave the mouse Pokémon a small stroke on the back. "I'm sorry buddy, I didn't mean for you to find out like this."

"Pi..." Mixed emotion crossed across the little mouse's expression as he sat quietly atop his trainer's shoulder.

We'll discuss this later, buddy.

"Yeah, he looks real excited. You haven't even let your starter have a say in your decision?" Another smirk. Ash was growing more sick of his smug attitude by the second. "So this is how the great Ash Ketchum ends his career? A quitter who's too afraid to tell his own Pok-"

"I'm not a quitter! Say another word and I'll flatten you!"

"Big words from a chicken!"

Ash got right into his rival's face. "Takes one to know one! As I recall, you quit training when we were still kids!"

"That's because I didn't wanna do it anymore, not because I let some bully force me out of it!"

"What do you call what you're doing, then? You're being a bully just like when we were growing up! At least I grew up!"

"When we were growing up? I wasn't a bully!"

Ash stepped back and rolled his eyes. "You never let me quit anything! Do you remember how many bruises and broken bones I got because you wouldn't shut up and leave me alone?"

"It was the opposite! You were the one always challenging me to stuff and losing!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Uh-huh!"

"No way! I wasn't the snot-nosed brat claiming to be the best at everything."

"I'm gonna be the greatest Pokémon Master ever," mocked Gary in a nasally voice. "I believe those were your words...every freaking day we lived here."

"I bet you can't climb that tree like I can, Ash," Ash mimicked in return. "I bet I can eat more ice cream than you! I bet you can't fly on top of that Butterfree!"

There was a bout of silence as the pair took a moment to catch their breath.

A descent into childhood argumentative tactics caused both trainers a small moment of embarrassment as they stared each other down. It was amazing to each how quickly the other could tear down the veils of maturity they'd spent so many years building in the eyes of others.

Deciding enough time had passed, Gary spoke again - albeit with a much calmer tone."The truth is I wasn't being a bully, and neither were you. We were making each other better."

"How did mutilating ourselves make us any better?" Ash asked sarcastically, his red cheeks losing their glow.

"It just did. We pushed each other, and I know you knew it too. We both felt it growing up. Who was a better arm wrestler than us in class? Who could climb as high as us?" He paused as an unexpectedly kind smile broke upon his lips. "Who, from Pallet Town, left and went on to become as powerful a trainer as either of us is?"

Ash remained silent, though he already understood where this was going.

"We pushed each other. We acted like we hated each other, but you know that wasn't it. Neither of us would be where we are now if we hadn't pushed each other as hard as we did growing up."

As much sense as he was making, Ash couldn't ignore the queasiness in his gut at where the conversation was heading. "What does any of this have to do with me quitting training?"

"Everything!" Gary's voice rose again, but this time his mood reflected more an air of excitement than anything else. "Don't you get it? Destiny's made us rivals for life. I thought it was gonna end after I decided to become a researcher, but that didn't happen at all. God was just waiting until you needed someone to push you in the right direction again, and so here I am!"

"Are you nuts?" Ash asked skeptically. "You think God cares whether or not I quit training?"

Gary shrugged, and continued smiling. "Who knows? All I know is that this is what we've always done. Whenever one of us got ready to back down, the other pushed them on. When you became champ of the Orange Islands, I was there reminding you of bigger goals. When I realized I didn't wanna be a Master anymore, you and I were matched up for the first time in a League battle. Seems weird that I would pop in at just this moment, right?"

Ash rolled his eyes. "I...dunno, Gary. I've thought a lot about this. I need to do it for my friends-"

"Will you cut that out? We've already agreed you'd be better off in the League if you were worried about your friends and family."

"I didn't agree to that."

"Well then what do you have to say against my points?"

Ash tried for a moment, but any argument he formulated was killed in development. He silently looked down and kicked a rock on the front porch.

"Exactly. So what this is really about has absolutely nothing to do with your friends or family. That's just you trying to play the hero like you've always done."

"Have not!"

Gary ignored him. "Which means this has everything to do with you, and what you want."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you want to quit being a trainer. If you're quitting training, and it doesn't help anyone else, then you're the only reason for why you would quit, right?"

Again, Ash was forced into a silent rage against the brunette.

He smirked. "So then, are you really a quitter like I guessed?"

"..."

"Are you?"

"Go home, Gary." With that, Ash sidestepped the gym leader and unlocked the door.

"You haven't answered me, Ashy-boy."

Closing the door, Ash didn't look back.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Wow, am I sore," Misty complained as she shuffled out of her room, dressed for the day. Brock met her at the top of the stairs.

"I know. I guess a few hours of good hiking will do that to ya."

She gave a weak smile. "Yeah, but this is pretty unlike me. I'm usually in pretty good shape."

"Well, you've been busy the last few weeks with things other than working out...of course, I don't really have an excuse." He grabbed the slight gut he'd begun to develop over the last year. "Except that working sixty hours a week kinda drains your will to hit the weights."

"We should go running with Ash tomorrow. He always goes out in the mornings."

"That's a good idea...for tomorrow," Brock said with a grin. "We're already dressed and ready for the day, so how about we grab some breakfast in preparation for tomorrow's workout?"

"Sounds like a plan," she giggled.

Hopping down the stairs, neither were surprised to find Ash in the kitchen.

"See you made it back, buddy!" Brock congratulated, lightly slapping Ash on the back as he approached his seated form from behind. "Glad your mom's doomsday scenarios didn't come true."

Shaken from his thoughts, Ash absentmindedly looked up. "Oh, hey Brock, Misty."

"So you didn't get anything from 'em this morning either?" Brock grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge and three glasses from the cupboard.

"What? Oh, no, not at all."

Misty furrowed her brow. "I guess it's still upsetting you, huh? Not being able to get any of the information that you wanted."

Ash shrugged. "It's alright. He'll be feeling better soon enough, and I can wait till then."

"Then why the frown?" Brock asked, taking a seat and momentarily forgetting about breakfast. He poured the three glasses.

"Well, when I got back here this morning, Gary was waiting for me at the door."

"Really? What'd he have to say?"

"Well, first he told me he was sorry about what happened and all of that."

Misty gave a small smile. "That was nice of him."

"He's grown up a lot since you two were kids," Brock noted, taking a sip.

"Yeah, but then right after that, our battle came up, and I told him what I'd decided."

Brock almost coughed up the downed milk, and Misty's eyes flew wide open.

"You told Gary that you were thinking about quitting training?" Misty asked as Brock continued his haggard coughing. "Gary Oak?"

Ash gave his girlfriend an incredulous stare from across the table. "Yeah, so? It's not like he wasn't gonna find out anyway."

"Ash, we already said you weren't going to be making any big decisions for a while, so there was no reason for you to go blabbing about your possible plans to Gary yet!"

Ash rolled his eyes. "Well, you might have thought that, but I'd already made up my mind days ago. You two are the only ones holding me back from announcing it to the world already."

"That's what we're trying to do, at least," Brock muttered, finally regaining his composure. He took another sip, and allowed Misty to take care of this herself.

"Whatever, Ash," she pressed on, rolling her eyes. "I'm just trying to save you from your own stupid stubbornness, but let's forget about that for a minute. What did he say when you told him about your plan?"

"Acted like you guys, pretty much...at least, at first."

"Like us?"

"Yeah, you know, shocked and not able to believe what he was hearing. He thought it was a joke or something, but when I convinced him it wasn't he took it way differently than I expected."

"I bet he was mad," Brock estimated.

Ash gave the breeder a surprised look. "Yeah, but I wasn't expecting that."

"Me neither," Misty added, looking equally surprised at Brock's foresight. "You mean he didn't understand why you might not wanna battle after all that happened? I was just afraid he'd go blabbing it to the newspapers or something!"

Ash shook his head. "Can you believe it? He just kept calling me a quitter and telling me destiny had brought him here to make sure I didn't leave the League."

Misty's look became even more incredulous. "Destiny? What's he talking about?"

"I dunno...something about how we've always pushed each other when the other was about to back down. He thinks that's why he got here when he did; to stop me from backing down again like when we were growing up."

An amused expression suddenly danced across Brock's face. "I guess he just takes your guys' relationship pretty seriously. He obviously thinks you're making the wrong choice. And who's to say it isn't destiny?"

"Like I told him, I'd imagine God has better things to do than watch my life."

Brock shrugged. "I dunno, but what I do know is that he made some good points."

Misty gave the Pewter Gym Leader a bemused look. "How do you know? He hasn't even told us what Gary said."

"Did you see Ash when we came in here? He was in a completely different world. Something Gary said must'a had him thinking."

The redhead turned her attention back to Ash. "Is he right? Did Gary say something?"

Ash sighed. "Yeah, he kinda made a point I hadn't thought of...or at least, I was tryin' to ignore. He said I was quitting on the League after they helped me out."

"That's ridiculous!" Misty tightened her fist. "I don't like the idea of you leaving, but if you did, you wouldn't be quitting on the League! You already did your part to help them out!"

Ash nodded. "Yeah, that's what I told him too, but that wasn't really what bugged me. What did was when he said that I wasn't doing this for my friends and family like I've been saying."

"You are doing this for us, though," Misty reminded. "You said it yourself. You're worried about what could happen if you stayed in your position and Team Rocket came back."

Ash shook his head. "But that's the problem. Gary had a point. He said that if I wanted to protect everyone, I'd stay in the League."

Brock's eyebrow cocked in surprise. "How did he figure?"

"If I quit training, then my Pokémon won't be able to protect me anymore, and I'll be out of touch with the G-Men and the League, so if Team Rocket's coming after me, I might not know until it's too late."

"It's not like the G-Men wouldn't try to protect you just because you left training," Misty reasoned.

"Yeah, but the only reason I got to you in time was because I was staying at Lance's house, and we all left together to stop Giovanni. If I'm out of the League and done with training, I won't know what's going on until either the champions or Team Rocket shows up at my door. I'll be completely out of the loop."

"So you're saying that Gary made you think that maybe you're not doing this for us?" Brock asked.

Ash gave a slight nod. "It doesn't help that Pikachu was on my shoulder when I told him about my plans to leave."

Misty gasped. "You didn't let Pikachu know before then?"

"No, and he hasn't said anything to me yet since we came inside." Ash motioned to the living room behind him, where Pikachu's back faced the trio as he sat on the couch and stared blankly at the wall ahead.

"I don't think that's a good sign," Brock noted seriously. "He probably feels hurt that he wasn't let in on this news before now."

Ash nodded. "When we were on our way to Cerulean, I tried to bring it up, but it just didn't feel right. I know they love battling..."

"But do you?"

Ash perked up and looked at his girlfriend. "Huh? Whaddya mean?"

"I mean..." She paused for a moment, obviously trying to think of the right words to avoid confusion or hurt feelings. "I mean, if you're not really doing it for your friends or family...then are you leaving the League because you just don't like battling anymore?"

He gave a half-hearted smile in return. "You read my mind. That's what's bothering me so much, because it's exactly what Gary said when he was here. I haven't told you guys, but I've been feeling a little weird ever since I decided to quit."

"That's understandable," Brock sympathized. "It's a big decision."

"Yeah, it is. That's what I chalked it up to too for the first couple of days, but I still couldn't get over how weird it felt to picture myself not battling anymore...it almost felt as if I were saying it, but didn't really mean it."

"It's kinda hard to imagine, even for me," Misty mused, reaching across the table and grabbing his un-gloved hands within her own. "I want you to make the decision that makes you happy. If you just want to quit training, you don't have to have any excuse other than you just don't want to anymore. Not everything you do has to be a heroic act."

"Thanks, Mist. I know you and Brock are behind me with whatever my final decision is, just like Ma, and just like Pikachu will be eventually. That makes it easier, but it still doesn't clear up why I can't get over this gut feeling that something's not right."

"Can you explain how you feel?" Misty asked.

"Well, it's just like, I watched a battle a couple of days ago on T.V. for a minute, and I found myself getting really excited. It wasn't a great battle or anything - just a couple of kids training at a gym in New Braunfells - but it still got my heart beating and my mind racing like any other battle. But then, the kid's Beedrill got shot with a Flamethrower, and I almost felt sick suddenly...like I couldn't handle watching it get hurt."

"I see..." Brock sat back and folded his arms. "It sounds like you're having trouble with what happened to Venusaur and Heracross and the others...not with what happened to you and Misty."

Ash nodded. "I think so too. I knew I didn't like the idea of my Pokémon getting hurt after what happened, obviously, but the more I think about it, the more I think that that's the only real reason why I don't wanna go back to the League."

Brock scratched the stubble of his chin. "At least we know what's really bothering you now. It makes a lot of sense after losing two Pokémon to not wanna get back into battling."

"But you know that Venusaur and Heracross didn't die because of a battle," Misty chimed, reassuringly squeezing his hand. "It wasn't like you forced them to fight too long. They were shot, there was no stopping that bullet."

"I know, I know," Ash muttered. "It doesn't make sense if you think about it logically, but it doesn't change the fact that I don't want my Pokémon hurt ever again."

"Pika?"

Jolting in his chair, Ash turned to see Pikachu standing behind him with an inquisitive glare.

"Pika-chu?"

"You're talking to me again?"

The mouse Pokémon gave a slight nod before jumping on top of the table. Walking up to his master, the yellow rodent gave his best friend a small lick on the cheek.

"Looks like Pikachu heard your reasons too," Brock noted with a smile.

"It's true, Pikachu. I am thinking about quitting Pokémon training. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but Brock and Misty are right; I shouldn't have told anyone else - especially Gary - before I'd made up my mind."

"Pi?" He seemed a little confused at the small speech.

Smiling, Ash boiled it down a little more. "I don't know if I will quit training yet. But you will be the first to know my decision."

"Ash, how did it feel when you rode Charizard?"

The raven-haired trainer gave Brock a confounded glance. "Uh, fine, I guess?"

"No, no. I mean, when you first got back on him, were you scared at all since that was the first time since the accident?"

"Yeah, I guess I was pretty nervous at first."

"But you rode him all the way to Cerulean, right?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, it got easier as I got used to the feeling again."

"I'm not gonna push you to do anything you don't wanna do, Ash, but let me just give you some friendly advice." He reached forward and put a hand on his comrade's shoulder. "Give battling that same last chance."

"Huh?"

"You tried flying with Charizard again because you knew that it was important to your guys' relationship. You need that trust. It's the same with battling. You and your Pokémon have a relationship built on battling and training, and you owe it to yourself and all of them to give it one last shot like you did with Charizard."

"I've thought about that too, but what if they get hurt?"

"Then you can stop the battle then and there," Misty appeased. "You don't have to carry through with the entire fight. But Brock's right; you owe it to everyone to give it a last shot. If Pikachu takes a hit, and you just can't handle it, then call it quits, but don't end your entire career if there's still a 'maybe' in your mind."

"That'd be torture for the rest of your life."

Ash smiled at his friends again. He knew they wanted him to remain a trainer. He knew they believed that was his passion and his destiny. But the love and concern they'd shown for him personally, regardless of his final decision, helped him realize that their goal wasn't just to get him "back into battling", but to insure his happiness with his own decision.

They'd told him this countless times over the last week, but the words seemed to just now be real.

"Thank you, guys."

He looked down at Pikachu. "Let's go pick up a friend for a battle."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

On the outskirts of Southern Pallet, there isn't much until the road meets the piers. There, Pallet looks less like a small town, and more like a major center of commerce for the Kanto region; with navy and commerce ships constantly docking or shoving off.

However, over the last few years, Southern Pallet had received one new addition to its rather lackluster scenery consisting of little more than hills and trees; it had a new gym.

Legislation for the new Pallet Gym was passed five years earlier, and when construction was done, the PLB stepped in and appointed Gary Oak - grandson of the infamous Pokémon professor and son of one-time Kanto Champion, Blue - as the new leader. After testing his skill-set, he was deemed worthy of a six badge-tier gym, and since there were only two others in the region at the time, it was decided his specialty would be ground types.

So it was here, on a newly-paved road that veered from the traditional path down to the docks, that Ash found himself walking the next day, alongside Misty and Brock, with Pikachu on his shoulder.

There was a chill, so he had on a blue, short-sleeved jacket, along with his retro League Contest hat to keep his head warm.

He was nervous - that much was true. With every step, he became more anxious at the thought of what he was about to do. Not only was he about to battle - an idea that itself made his pulse shoot through the roof and caused him nausea; but he was also about to face-off against Gary Oak, his lifelong rival.

The last time the two met in an official League contest was Johto when they were twelve.

At the same time though, as the nerves wracked his body, he couldn't deny the slight excitement that he felt coursing through his veins. Not to mention the nostalgia, he realized, as he looked from side to side; Misty on the right, Brock on the left, and Pikachu now on top of his hat.

"Just like old times," Misty muttered, breaking the silence amongst the trio.

Ash grinned and flashed her a knowing look. "My thoughts exactly."

"When was the last time we all went to watch you battle in a gym?" Brock asked, laughing a little. "All that's missing is you opening your jacket to flash your badges every three seconds."

Ash rolled his eyes, secretly relieved to be talking and laughing as a momentary reprieve. Unfortunately, any fleeting solace the short-lived flashback provided was instantly dispelled as the trio rounded a corner, and the gym came within full view.

"Wow," all three muttered at once.

For being in the middle of the forest, the gym appeared extremely lavish.

At least ten stories tall at its apex, the entire building was structured as a mirrored dome, which reflected the sunlight in all directions away from the building. The glass was cut into large triangles, which were all held together by strong steel beams which covered the dome in a criss-cross formation from the front to the back. Above the story-tall entrance way rested a sign: Pallet Town Gym - The Ultimate Test for Ground Trainers. The letters were large, arced over the entrance, and painted in a dark cobalt blue that could almost be mistaken for black if it wasn't for the sun's illumination.

"Doesn't look like the PLB held anything back when they funded the new gym," Brock managed as they approached the sliding glass doors.

Stepping up, Ash was surprised when the doors didn't open immediately. "Are they closed?"

Misty shook her head. "No, I can hear trainers inside."

"Please present your trainer I.D. to the Pokédex slot," an automated female voice suddenly declared, startling Ash.

"Huh?"

"The Pokédex slot, Ash," Brock pointed to a rectangular hole next to the door with a green and red button next to it. "You have to put it in to be allowed access."

"Oh!" He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his Kanto version of the encyclopedia. "Good thing I didn't give all my Pokédexes back to Goodshow, right?"

He slipped the old device into the rectangular opening. After a few moments, the encyclopedia was pushed back out, and the green light suddenly flickered to life.

"Ash Ketchum, age twelve - eight Kanto badges, four Orange Island badges, eight Johto badges. You have clearance to enter our gym. Please enjoy your visit."

"Age twelve?"

Misty laughed. "Hey Ash, it reads mental age!"

Brock shook his head. "Have you updated your old Pokédex recently, Ash?"

"Obviously not," he said, smiling. "Guess that was the last time I logged onto the Pokédex mainframe with it."

Interrupting the conversation, the doors suddenly responded to the trainers' presence - opening and allowing a rush of noise and tumult to wash over them.

"Wow, you wouldn't guess it was this loud from the outside," Misty shouted as they stepped inside. On both sides of the narrow chrome hallway they found themselves walking down, trainers were battling.

"This place is huge!" Brock marveled, watching one group of trainers and their Pokémon take turns on a weight-lifting system in one room, while in another four trainers were double battling their ground types.

Ash looked ahead and saw a large, circular desk waiting for them in the middle of it all. At the front of said desk sat a woman; her blond hair wound tightly in a bun behind her head, as she waited for the trainers to make their way down the hallway with her hands folded atop the chrome desk. Across the front of her workspace were the words "Pallet Town Gym"; once again in dark cobalt.

Stepping up, Ash gave the woman a nervous smile. Battles and training raged on in every room, and as he looked behind the desk, he saw that similar hallways to the one he just came in through shot off in every direction around this woman's work area.

There must be at least a hundred different battlegrounds here!

"Welcome to the Pallet Town Gym, Mr. Ketchum!" she shouted above the ruckus. "Are you here for a class today?"

Wondering why she'd ask a former champion if he was there to take a Pokémon battling class, he quickly shook his head. "I'm here to see the Leader, Gary Oak."

"Mr. Oak is very busy right now," she explained, showing neither pleasure nor regret in her tone. "He is scheduled for several gym battles today, and the Pokémon League Board of Kanto is coming tomorrow to inspect the gym."

Ash nodded. "I understand, but it's urgent. Could you just tell him I need to see him?"

Looking hesitant, the woman finally gave a sharp nod. "Give me one second."

She looked down and started clacking away, presumably, at a small keyboard that was out of Ash's sight. Finishing the message, she looked back up at the raven-haired trainer. "He'll respond momentarily. Mr. Oak hates phone calls, so he insists we give him any news through messaging systems."

"Alright, thanks." His voice was beginning to feel sore from the yelling.

They waited a few seconds before a "ping" sounded from the desk. Looking down, the blond scanned the replied message before looking up. "If you'll just follow me, Leader Oak has decided to see you immediately."

Nodding, Ash watched as part of the desk suddenly split in two; allowing the trainers to enter the encircled area. Walking in, the young woman directed the three humans and Pokémon to the center of the area.

She pointed to a bright blue circle with a ten foot diameter, and instructed the group to "wait there." Walking back over to her desk, she pushed a few more buttons, and the four were surprised to suddenly find themselves rising up.

"Whoa, it's an elevator," Brock noted. The, thin light blue circle they stood upon slowly gathered altitude as it continued to hover toward a dark hole which suddenly appeared in the ceiling.

Crossing the threshold past the gape, the elevator stopped, and Gary was suddenly in front of the group of friends; his arms crossed as a smirk spread across his lips.

"Impressive, huh?"

Looking around, Ash had to admit that he was impressed. They were now inside what appeared to be the Gym Leader's office and living quarters. The high-tech chrome appearance of the first floor was replaced with a more homey feel here on the second. The floor, desk, and bookshelves were all composed of oak wood. The shelves were filled to the brim with Pokémon research textbooks and theories, and in the corner was a made twin bed with a blue comforter. There was a door along the wall next to the bed which Ash could only assume led to a bathroom.

"They keep me pretty taken care of here," he continued, allowing the other two gym leaders to gawk in amazement at his personal luxuries. "The higher the tier of your gym, the better the amenities, you know?"

Misty turned her attention away from their surroundings and gave the khaki jeans-clad teen a spiteful look. "Yeah I do know, since when I left Cerulean we had the gym up to a four badge tier."

"Hm, almost as good as mine."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I just needed a little more time."

"Anyway, I don't think you came all the way here just to admire how well I'm doing," Gary hazarded. "If anything, I'd imagine Ashy-boy came here to answer my question."

"Question?" He gave his rival a puzzled look.

"You remember, right? I asked you yesterday if you were a quitter, and then you slammed the door in my face." His arms remained crossed and he gave his old friend a look of pure confidence. "So what's the answer?"

"Before I answer, I need to know something," Ash replied, narrowing his eyes at the teen. "Why're you being such a jerk all over again?"

Gary gave a small chuckle. "I'm not being a jerk...I'm just motivating you."

"You coulda just asked for the battle."

"Yeah, but you were never good at doing what people asked...neither was I, come to think of it. That's why we always fight. We only do things if someone challenges us to do 'em."

"You're some kind of psychologist now?"

He shook his head. "Nope, I'm just saying what we've always known is the truth. Admit it, nothing I've explained in the last two days wasn't something you already knew about us deep inside."

There was no reason to answer that.

Instead, Ash got to the point. "I'm no coward, Gary. And I'm definitely not a quitter. I promised you a battle, and you're gonna get one, but just because we have it doesn't mean I don't mean what I said yesterday. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my life yet, but at least I know what I'll be doing for the next few minutes."

"What's that?"

"Reminding you who's the better trainer."

"Really? Well then, let's go to the arena."

"Your secretary said you had a full schedule today," Brock noted, thinking back to the pretty receptionist. "Should we go tell her that you're gonna be busy?"

Gary smirked. "Yeah, you better let her know I won't be taking any calls for a little while."

"We'll be right back to watch you battle, Ash," Misty promised as she and Brock got back on the elevator.

To her shock, Ash shook his head. "Actually, I was thinking I'd do this by myself, if it's alright with you."

For a moment, the redhead appeared speechless.

"But Ash, we're here to support you!" Brock exclaimed. He looked just as surprised as Misty at the request.

"I know you are, and I appreciate it, but..." He paused for a moment, trying to think of the right words. "I guess I just need to do this on my own. If I'm really gonna make this decision about my future, I need to do it myself."

"But-"

Brock shook his head and interrupted Misty. "I understand, Ash. We'll be waiting for you in here when you're done."

Misty gave Brock an annoyed look, before turning her attention back to Ash. They shared a quiet moment as each trainer stared each other down.

"I need to do it, Mist," he finally muttered with a small smile.

Hesitating, she finally gave a small sigh and stepped off the elevator portal. Taking her boyfriend by the hand once more, she leaned close enough to whisper, "Remember, no matter what you decide, I love you." She moved the bill of his cap backwards and gave the trainer a short but forceful kiss before stepping back on the elevator.

"Well, good luck, buddy," Brock said, shaking Ash's hand. He almost sounded like Ash was going away for a long time. "I hope you make the best choice for you."

With a nod, the Pewter Leader joined Misty on the portal, and the two slowly sank into the floor.

"When it comes back up we'll head to the arena," Gary mentioned, walking to his desk, typing in a few keys, and then grabbing a pokéball belt from his top drawer.

"Where is it?" Ash asked. "In one of those arenas below?"

"Nah, it's actually up there." He pointed to the ceiling, where another circular metal door suddenly opened. "It's nice because you don't have a bunch of trainers bugging you while you're trying to focus on the battle."

The portal reemerged from the floor again, this time without Brock or Misty. "Looks like it's ready."

Following Gary's lead, Ash stepped onto the device, Pikachu silent on his shoulder, and the three made the final ascension to the battlefield.

Again, he couldn't help the awe he felt as they landed at the top floor. The battlefield was a standard Pokémon League issue - they'd entered through the pokéball-shaped center of the battlefield, in fact - but what made it unique was the setting. Because it was at the top of the mirrored dome, he could see out and above the trees which surrounded the gym in every direction. In the distance, he could even make out Oak's windmill to his right, and he could see the ocean to his left. If he didn't know that glass was surrounding the entire structure, he would have sworn he was outdoors from the clarity of the scene.

"Like I said, they spared no expense," Gary muttered, almost sounding impressed himself. He turned to Ash. "So this is it, then? The final test of our rivalry?"

"Well, technically, I could lose and still battle you again," Ash reminded with a small grin. "Your grampa already told me I could battle you as many times as I wanted, but I only had to win once."

"Oh, come on Ash. If you lost today, there's no way you'd try again, and we both know it. Your pride would never let you."

He smirked. "You're probably right...but maybe not. If I really still like this whole battling thing after our battle, I don't think I'd let you have the final say in our rivalry. Besides, if we're finally gonna become grown-ups, I need to stop letting my pride get in the way, right?"

A crooked grin emerged from his brunette foe. "You may have a point, Ashy-boy.

"Don't call me that!"

"Well, whatever happens, may the best man win," he said, ignoring Ash's annoyance. He stuck out his hand, momentarily causing Ash greater shock than the scenery.

That quickly wore away, though, and he grinned himself.

"Yeah, may the best man win." Rather than sticking his hand out, he instead reached into his jacket pocket. "To raise the stakes a little, how about we settle this score once and for all too?"

In his clenched right fist, he revealed something that caused Gary to snort in laughter.

"Wait, I have mine too!" He reached into his own pocket and pulled it out.

Both trainers held up their half of the pokéball they'd fished up years ago.

"Winner take all, then?"

Ash nodded. "Winner take all."

With a final handshake, the two teens took to their respective side of the field. There was no official, but there was no need, either.

"We'll make this a full battle, alright?"

"Sounds good to me," Ash answered.

"And don't think you can trick me with Pikachu like you did with Paul. I know there's no way you're leaving him out of the action," Gary joked from across the field, reaching for his first Pokéball.

"Don't think you can trick me with your Umbreon, either," Ash reminded with a smile. "Me and Pikachu know all about his tricks now." He reached for his own belt.

This one's for you, Venusaur.

"Then let's get this party started!" With a flourish, Gary enlarged his first capsule and heaved it into the air with an underhanded toss.

"Right!" Ash quickly threw his forward as well, and the two orbs almost crashed into each other mid-field before both exploded into light; releasing their trapped monsters.

"Come on out!"

"Let's show 'em what we've got!"

-

Author's Notes: It was shorter than normal, like I said before, but again, I think the substance of the chapter really made up for that. We saw progress in Ash's thinking, and we uncovered the truth about why he's been so hesitant to consider battling again. Also, we got pretty deep into his and Gary's relationship, which has always been a personal fascination of mine for various reasons, so I really felt like this chapter was a job well done even if it wasn't very long. Next chapter, as you can imagine, is going to start at the battle, so be ready for that. Also, I've received some complaints from reviewers recently about the lack of pokéshipping in the recent chapters. Normally, my response is that this story is an action genre first, and romance second, but I have to agree that recently there's just been too little in the way of romantic interaction between our favorite protagonists, so rest assured you'll have your satisfaction within the next few chapters of Ash-Misty fluff, guaranteed. Finally, again I'm sorry for the delay, but I am proud to say that I responded to all reviews, and I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter and your predictions on who wins the battle, so please REVIEW if you have the time!

Thanks for your continued patronage, and later days!