As the smoke cleared, Ash was able to see Ranee's Absol standing strong. Hyper Beam didn't phase it a bit but Dark Pulse did a lot of damage on Snorlax. Snorlax was even down and out for just the one blow!

The referee called, "Snorlax is unable to battle! Absol wins!"

The crowd went nuts as Ranee flipped a piece of her hair of out of her face.

She told Absol, "Nice work."

Ash knew things were going to change in an instant. After all, that's what the finals are all about...surprises. He got his next Pokeball ready and threw it. Heracross appeared. Ash knew that a Bug type would have an advantage over a Dark type. He wanted Misty to be his...not hers.

Ash shouted, "Hey Ranee, I'm not gonna walk away the loser here!"

Ranee shouted back, "Neither am I!"

The referee called, "Begin!"

Ash commanded, "Megahorn!"

Heracross came straight at Absol and Ranee wasn't worried.

She commanded, "Psycho Cut!"

Absol flicked its head and the powerful Psychic attack hit Heracross dead center.

Barry commented, "Wow, Absol is fast."

Brock added, "It seems like all of Ranee's Pokémon are speedy."

Dawn was in awe, "Can you imagine their training then?"

"Pip..." Piplup said.

Misty responded, "I could. I saw her train."

Paul replied, "So have I."

The referee called, after seeing Heracross down and out, "Heracross is unable to battle! Absol wins!"

Ash couldn't believe how strong this Absol was. Heracross couldn't even land one attack. Ash recalled Heracross and brought out his dragon.

Ranee whispered, "Here we go..."

The referee called, "Begin!"

Ash commanded, "Dragon Rage!"

Charizard roared and launched its attack.

Ranee yelled, "Dodge it!" Absol did as it was told and quickly dodged the attack. Ranee commanded, "Dark Pulse, go!"

Absol launched the attack right at Charizard and it quickly dodged it.

Ash commanded, "Seismic Toss!"

Charizard flew over to Absol and Ranee decided on a last ditch effort.

She commanded, "Night Slash!"

Absol hit Charizard with Night Slash but Charizard picked up the disaster Pokémon, took it up into the air, turned around and around and slammed it down into the ground. Absol was down and out. Ash celebrated.

The referee called, "Absol is unable to battle! Charizard wins!"

Ranee recalled Absol as Ash thought, 'This is no time to be celebrating. Ranee's got one fresh Pokémon that I haven't faced yet. And if her Absol was that fast, there's no doubt that her last Pokémon is super speedy.' Paul knew which Pokémon Ranee was going to use. Ranee got her Pokeball ready and threw it up into the air. Out came a Flygon. Dawn got her Pokédex out.

Dexter chirped, "Flygon, the mystic Pokémon and the evolved form of Vibrava. It is nicknamed "The Desert Spirit" because the flapping of its wings sounds like a woman singing."

Ranee called out to her Flygon, "Be careful, Flygon. This Charizard is at a very high level."

Flygon nodded.

The referee called, "Begin!"

Both of the dragons took off as Ash commanded, "Flamethrower!"

Ranee commanded, "Dragonbreath!" The two attacks collided head on and did damage to the other. Ranee commanded, "Iron Tail!"

Flygon swung its tail at Charizard.

Ash yelled, "Catch it!"

Charizard did as it was told and caught Flygon's tail.

Ranee smirked and told Ash, "Got you." She commanded, "Aerial Ace!"

Aerial Ace got Flygon out of that jam, did damage, and it flew away from Charizard.

Ash snarled and commented, "Not bad."

Ranee responded, "I may not be able to fly or hold my breath underwater for a long time but the one thing I've taught my Pokémon is to be speedy." Ranee commanded, "Dragonbreath!"

Ash commanded, "Dragon Rage!"

The two attacks collided and Dragon Rage got threw after it build up from Dragonbreath and hit Flygon hard. It landed on the ground hard. It was down and out.

The referee called, "Flygon is unable to battle! Charizard wins!"

Ranee recalled her fallen dragon. She thought, 'Well, at least Flygon was able to do a lot of damage to Charizard. I'm still in this.'

Ranee took out Infernape's Pokeball and whispered, "No matter what happens, my friend, we'll be partners until the end." She yelled, "And we're not giving up that easily. To the curtain, Infernape!"

She threw her Pokeball and her last Pokémon appeared...Infernape.

Ash knew that Infernape had taken some damage from when it battled Charizard earlier but he also knew that Charizard took a lot of damage from both Absol and Flygon. Things weren't going to be easy.

The referee called, "Begin!"

Ash commanded, "Flamethrower!"

Ranee also commanded, "Flamethrower!"

The two Flamethrowers collided and Infernape's Flamethrower cut through Charizard's like nothing.

Barry asked, "What's wrong with Charizard?"

Dawn answered, "It's probably tired."

Paul responded, "I have a feeling that it is going to go down between Infernape and Pikachu."

Flamethrower hit the weakened Charizard. It fell out of the sky and down on to the battlefield. It was down and out.

The referee called, "Charizard is unable to battle! Infernape wins!" Ash recalled Charizard and turned to his partner, Pikachu. Pikachu headed out on to the battlefield, charged and ready to go. The referee called, "Begin!"

Ranee commanded, "Solarbeam!"

Infernape got charged up and Ash saw this as a chance to strike.

Ash commanded, "Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu did as it was told and both attacks hit their mark. Pikachu and Infernape were both still standing.

Ranee asked Ash, "Why don't we make this final mark one to remember?"

Ash answered, "You're on!"

Ranee commanded, "Flare Blitz!"

Ash commanded, "Volt Tackle!"

Both Pokémon charged at one another and collided, causing a small explosion. The smoke cleared as both Pokémon stared the other down. Pikachu and Infernape were both catching their breath. As Infernape smiled, it went down for the count.

The referee called, "Infernape is unable to battle! Pikachu wins and the victor of this match is Ash Ketchum!"

Ash couldn't believe it. He won!

Ash yelled, "We did it!" He ran out to Pikachu, who at that moment collapsed into his arms. Ash caught his best friend and partner and gushed, "Pikachu, you're the best!"

"Pika ok." Pikachu responded, weakly.

Ranee went over to Infernape. Infernape gave her a 'I'm sorry' look.

She smiled as she told it, "No need to worry, Infernape. You did your best and that's what counts."

Infernape smiled at its master as Ash went over.

He offered her his hand and told Ranee, "That was an awesome battle."

Ranee got up, shook his hand, and responded, "It sure was and I'm glad that you won, Ash. And make sure that you tell Misty of how you feel. She feels the same."

With that, Ranee recalled Infernape with her left hand and left. Ash felt a little confused but then he slowly figured it out. He blushed madly before turning around to the stands. He saw Misty there and for the first time since the Sinnoh League started, he waved at her. Misty blushed and waved back.

...

That afternoon, reporters swamped Ash as he accepted the winner's trophy.

One of them asked me, "Would you like to say a few words?"

Ash answered, "I would love to. I would like to thank my Mom for always being there for me, my friends for supporting me, Ranee for giving me a great battle, and most importantly...I would like to thank my Pokémon for doing a fine job. They deserve this trophy more than I do." At that moment, his whole team popped out of their poke balls and they posed...together. Ash added, "I would like also to give a special thanks to one very special girl in my life. The only girl that I have always loved, always will love, and will forever love." Ash looked right up into the stands and finished, "Misty Waterflower, come on down!"

Misty ran down from the stands and hugged Ash tightly, knocking his hat right off. Ash returned it, chuckling.

Misty mumbled, "About time you figured it out, you dork..."

Ash tried not to laugh as he looked up into the stands. Paul and Ranee were sharing a kiss. That's when Ash leaned in and kissed Misty on the lips.

Misty returned it. Even though Ash felt like a fool, he was glad that he had Misty back. As they broke out of their kiss, a Pokémon appeared to them.

It was a Togekiss. The Togekiss seemed to know Ash and Misty. That's when Misty realized...

She asked, "Togetic?"

It nodded and cooed to Ash and Misty. The couple both exchanged smiles as the media took several pictures. One thing was for sure, neither Ash nor Misty would never forget this trip as long as they lived.

...

Wishmaker1028: And so, as the Sinnoh League comes to a close with Ash as the big winner, what will happen to our heroes? Be here for the next exciting chapter! Well, what do you think? Good or bad twist? Anyways, please read and review! And always think outside of the box!