"GROAHR!" A roar echoed through the mountains.

"What was that?" Cassie asked shocked at the roar.

"It sounds powerful." Ash commented, looking around, before a shadow flew over head.

"Look, Charizard!" Cassie said excitedly.

"Kazor!" Ash exclaimed.

"No, just… Charizards." Cassie said surprised.

Ash looked to see a group of Charizard fly over head, letting out roars as they went by.

"Where do you think they are going?" Ash asked curiously before sending out Dragonite. "Come on Dragonite after them!"

Dragonite came out of his Pokeball, leaping after the group of Charizard, only to begin plummeting to the canyon below.

"Oh come on!" Ash screamed, holding onto Dragonite for dear life.

"Dra!"

"Go!"

"Nite!"

Three dragons rocketed after Ash and his Dragonite, two of them grabbing Dragonite as the third grabbed Ash for safety, lifting them back up to safety.

"You should really be more careful than that, if I wasn't there you would've been… Ash?" Lance asked in surprise.

"Lance, what, what are you doing here?" Ash asked.

"I have a friend who lives in these mountains and I was going to visit her when I saw a trainer on a Dragonite plummet down a canyon. Is that your Dratini?" Lance asked.

"Not really a Dratini anymore." Ash remarked.

"Impressive, not many trainers ever even see that through from start to finish." Lance admired, looking at Dragonite. "I'm guessing he's recently evolved?"

"Yeah, against the Violet City gym leader." Ash admitted. "He didn't have a problem flying back then, but he can't seem to get it with me riding him."

"A lot of Pokemon, especially ones newer to flying can struggle with carrying their trainer." Lance admitted. "Let's go to see my friend and we can try and find a solution together."

"Hey Lance, I'm just curious if your friend has anything to do with all of the Charizard I saw flying overhead." Ash asked.

"In fact they do." Lance admitted. "She attends to a sanctuary for Charizard here in the mountains."

"Attends to it?" Ash asked.

"Charizard don't really need someone to tell them what to do, just like Dragonite, they're natural fighters and survivors, but this is a place for Charizard to live and thrive in a community with one another." Lance said.

"Is there a place like that for Dragonites?" Ash asked.

"There are a few, but they are much more challenging to get to." Lance said as they made it to a large gate area. "Here we are. Welcome to the Charicific Valley."

"They look so peaceful." Cassie said floating around some of the Charizard. "Hard to imagine considering the ones you've faced."

"So Lance, if you're a dragon trainer then why are you here?" Ash asked curiously, knowing the Charizard couldn't hurt Cassie.

"I actually have one that was training here for a bit, but with Team Rocket becoming more active, especially here in Johto, I wanted to get him back." Lance admitted.

"Is that the only reason you're here?" A girl said walking up with a Charizard. "That your kid or did you finally take a new apprentice after Claire?"

"This is Ashton, he's Richard's son." Lance said.

"Call me Ash." Ash said.

"Nice to meet you Ash, my names Liza, so are you traveling with the champions?" Liza asked.

"No, I'm on a journey all my own and Lance just happened to save me." Ash admitted.

"He tried flying on his Dragonite." Lance revealed.

"Dead drop?" Liza asked.

"Yep." Lance responded.

"No worries, happens to the best of us." Liza said. "How about we see this Dragonite of yours?"

"Alright, Dragonite come on out!" Ash called out.

Dragonite popped out of his Pokeball, his green scales and reddish wings clashing against all the Charizard in the valley.

"So how long have you had this big guy?" Liza asked curiously.

"I caught him as a Dratini back in Fuschia." Ash responded, causing even Lance to be surprised.

"I knew you raised him from a Dratini, but you actually caught him?" Lance asked.

"Yeah, why?" Ash asked not understanding the issue.

"Training a Dratini into a Dragonite is one thing, but catching it yourself is very difficult." Lance said calmly. "You have the makings of a Dragon Master."

"Wow, but I'm guessing he has to learn to fly with me, doesn't he?" Ash asked.

"That would be helpful." Lance said.

"I've got an idea!" Liza said excitedly. "How about a training match, Charizard and Dragonite are both plenty strong enough Pokemon, so maybe a good fight will get him in the mood."

"Are you up for it Dragonite?" Ash asked.

"Drago!" Dragonite cheered.

"Alright, we're in." Ash said.

"ZARD!" A Charizard roared, landing next to Lance.

"And it appears I will be your opponent." Lance said with a chuckle. "Charizard use Flamethrower!"

"Dragonite use Dragon Rage!"

Blue and red flames collided before Charizard's won out, blasting into Dragonite.

"Charizard use Wing Attack!"

"Dragonite use Fly!"

The two Pokémon took to the skies,duking it out mid air.

"Charizard use Slash!"

"Dragonite use Slam!"

Charizard outsped Ash's Dragonite, striking the dragon to the ground in one fell swoop.

"Dragonite use Hyper Beam!"

"Charizard use Hyper Beam as well!"

The two beams of energy collided in the center of the two Pokémon, before pushing back against Dragonite and sending him crashing into a boulder.

"Dragonite!" Ash exclaimed.

"Was that much force really necessary?" Liza asked.

"He's getting himself into trouble whether we want him to or not, I just need to make sure he can take whatever is coming for him." Lance admitted. "Great work Ash, you're showing signs of great improvement."

"Thanks Lance." Ash said, as he hugged Dragonite. "Umm can I ask you something?"

"Of course what is it?" Lance asked.

"You said there were places like this but for Dragonites to train and get stronger, right?" Ash asked.

"Yes there's even one here in Johto, but we're nowhere near there on foot." Lance admitted.

"We know." Ash sighed, holding out Dragonite's Pokeball. "I think this is what Dragonite wants too, and if it's okay, could you take him there, or at least train him so that one day when I fight Team Rocket again, we can take them down for good?"

"If That's what you want, I'd be happy to take him there. Are you alright with this Dragonite?" Lance asked.

"Drag." Dragonite said, before licking Ash again.

"I'll miss you too buddy, but next time I get in trouble you'll be even stronger than ever, I know you'll do great!" Ash said, hugging his Pokémon.

"Nite!" Dragonite said, showing confidence before his eyes crossed once more, his tongue sticking out.

"Bye Dragonite, take care of yourself." Ash said, waving as he took off with Lance and his Charizard. "One day I'll come for you too."

Authors Notes

Yes goodbye to Dragonite just like Charizard. I always knew I wanted this Ash to have Dragonite by the time of the crossover, but it didn't make sense for him to travel with a Dragonite while also training new Pokémon, and then finding a balance between the two sides for gym battles, so Dragonite is gone, but obviously he does return in the near future.