Part CII: The Long-Awaited Battle

"Alright is everyone ready for this battle?" The old man at the ref's spot on the Geosenge Pokémon Center's battlefield asked the participants.

Ash and Kenny nodded in agreement. It was a few days after the Geosenge Contest where Brianna had been victorious, beating Serena and Emily on the way to her first ribbon in a statement win and winning the opening battle in the war she, Drew and Kenny had started against Ash and his friends.

While Ash had his own personal reasons to want to destroy Kenny for how he treated Misty, he didn't want to be involved in some negative rivalry like this as it could worsen given the attitudes of their antagonists. However, Drew had other intentions and was leading his group against Ash so Ash would defend his friends until the end from any attack that Drew and his cohort launched at them.

All of this was because Drew still harbored resentment towards May for how she left him and towards Ash for being one of the reasons despite May making it clear that it was Drew's betrayal and treatment of her that was the reason for the breakup. Drew clearly hadn't gotten that and had spent over 2 years preparing his revenge against May.

It was clear that whatever happened between them was still deeply effecting May and she was currently sitting as far away from Drew as possible with Serena next to her supporting her. Meanwhile, Misty in a cheerleader outfit openly supporting Ash but also there for May if she needed her. Lastly Emily and Adam who were there more to watch the battle than anything else but with Emily's connection to Misty making her a target in the war, they were supporting Ash as well.

On the other side was Drew and Brianna, a girl who was in love with him and who he'd persuaded to join his cause and then groomed her to be his vessel of vengeance. He'd then recruited Kenny out in Sinnoh when he realized that Kenny would be a good ally for him, and this was the culmination of that.

Kenny was desperate to prove that he was better than Ash for Misty despite the fact that Misty didn't want him in the same way he wanted her. She'd made it clear in Kanto both at Ash's party and later the Grand Festival that she didn't see Kenny that way, but he didn't get it. When Misty beat him for the Ribbon Cup he had left but now he was back. They had hoped he wouldn't return but alas he had thanks to Drew.

The mission of Drew and his team was vengeance upon Ash, May, Misty, and anyone associated with them hence why Emily and Serena had been roped into it. They were going to accomplish that through a mentee war in the Contests this year as Brianna made it her mission to always beat Serena and Emily and win the Ribbon Cup over them at the Grand Festival. She'd won the first round, but it wasn't over yet. This was the second battle of the war.

This battle was different from the others that would be fought though. This was the culmination of years of resentment by Kenny towards Ash over Misty's feelings for Ash and not him, something that got worse when Ash returned those feelings and they got together. However, until now they hadn't had the chance to duke it out as Kenny tried to prove his worth to Misty and Ash simply put Kenny in his place. Today was finally that day and the method was a full 6 on 6 Pokémon battle.

Ash had offered Kenny any rules he wanted for that battle to show that he could beat Kenny no matter what he chose, and this was what the boy had demanded so who was Ash to turn him down. It had taken a few days to organize as Ash had to bring in two Pokémon from home to fill out his team, prepare and plan in detail for the battle, let the town clear after the Contest to have the time for the battle, and find a ref for it. It had been the last part that had been the hardest, but May had had an idea.

The day after the Contest she'd contacted Korrina in Shalour City to ask her to come and ref it. She was a gym leader so qualified to do so and under the ethics of judging she had to be fair, something that Kenny doubted because she was a friend of May's, but he could lodge a complaint if he felt there was a violation.

That had been the plan at least but alas she couldn't make as her and Lucario were out training at the moment, but she'd suggested her grandfather come instead. He was a fully licensed ref as he refed her gym battles having been the leader before her and had friends in Geosenge, so it made the most sense for him to officiate it.

After some back and forth between the parties, Kenny had finally agreed to it, but Drew and Brianna were going to be keeping a close eye on things to make sure that Gurkinn, Korrina's grandfather's name, to make sure that he was unbiased. It was an expected concession and one that Ash was willing to live with because when this was over there would be no doubt that he'd won.

Gurkinn himself was an average sized man who appeared to be in his 60s who was almost completely bald except for a thin mohawk of cream-colored hair. However, his most defining feature were a set of the most spectacular eyebrows that Ash had ever seen and that came all the way down to his jaw while they stuck out to the sides. It was hard not to be impressed by them.

Other than that, the man wore a simple gray tracksuit with a strange black symbol over the left breast and a red shirt underneath it. The sleeves of his tracksuit top were rolled up and he wore a special black glove on his left hand that had a Key Stone in it. According to May it was for his Lucario who had a corresponding Mega Stone.

The man gave off a calm yet stern vibe that made it clear he was going to take no Tauros shit in this battle. That was good, they needed someone like him to make sure that everything was kept in line because there was a high chance that this battle got out of hand.

"Good." Gurkinn said. "Then I will go over the rules again so that everyone knows what this battle is about. This will be a full battle, so each trainer has the use of all 6 of their Pokémon. They are allowed to substitute Pokémon as they see fit during the battle and as both trainers have a Key Stone and claim to have a Pokémon with a corresponding Mega Stone they can Mega Evolve that Pokémon once during the battle. The winner will be the trainer who knocks out all the other trainer's Pokémon and on this my word is final. Lastly, per stipulations, the loser will leave Kalos for a period of one year. Is that understood?"

"It is." Ash said, he had no intention of losing this match. "That is what we agreed to."

"I look forward to sending this hillbilly back to the backwoods he came from." Kenny said before looking at Misty. "And then I can finally claim Misty for myself."

"Misty is not a prize you can win; she is her own person with her own choices." Ash snapped back to bring Kenny's attention back to him. "Just because she chose me doesn't give you any right to claim her. Even if you win and I have to leave she will never be yours."

"We will see once I wipe the floor with you." Kenny said sneering at Ash as he spoke. "I will show you who is the superior male."

"I will give you one chance to end this Kenny." Ash said with a sigh deciding not to rise to Kenny's bait and remind him what he was getting into. "You have chosen a full battle, and I will honor that, but you can't possibly beat me in one. I know how these work and how to strategize for them because I have taken part in at least 24 full battles or some variant on them over the years. Of those 24 I have won 18 of them. How many have you even been in?"

"This is my first and I will win it." Kenny snarled at Ash's audacity to threaten him right now. "Your fake attempt at mercy that is actually a threat is not accepted."

"Very well, so be it." Ash said pulling out his first Poke Ball. "I am fully prepared for this battle; I have thought out everything I can for it and planned for almost all of the Pokémon I believe you have on you based on what you had in Sinnoh. I will do everything I can to win and win convincingly. I have tried to avoid this but frankly I am tired of your attitude Kenny. It's time you were put in your place once and for all."

"Bring it hick, I will come right back at you at full force you bastard." Kenny spat pulling out his own Poke Ball. "I will win so do your worst because I can take it and return it in kind because it is I who will put you in your place."

"Well on that I suggest we start." Gurkinn said cutting off the trash talk to start the battle and deciding that he would have to get an answer to what all of this was about either afterwards or from Korrina when she called May about it at some point. "Battle begin."

"Empoleon, diamond dandruff." Kenny said gleefully sending out his starter just as Ash had predicted he would use. "Let's start this off with my best."

"Riolu, I choose you." Ash said throwing out the Pokémon he'd selected to counter Kenny's Empoleon, the Pokémon he was most certain Kenny would use to begin the battle. "I knew you'd start with it, so I prepared accordingly."

"A fighting type, smarter than I expected from you unlike last time." Kenny said. "It won't work though. I will show you who is better. Empoleon, Flash Cannon."

"Dodge it and use Force Palm Riolu." Ash said as the battle began.

Riolu ran at Empoleon, letting his connection with Ash fuel him as he drew upon Ash's passive aura to aid him in the battle. It was their bond, and it was growing stronger day by day and battle by battle. It just kept proving that he and Ash were getting better together.

He knew that he was near. Riolu wasn't at that level yet but beating this penguin that had to be the final form of his friend Piplup based on the similarities would help a lot and he fully intended to beat it. He could feel Ash's will to win stronger than ever before and he was going to use that to show Ash that his trust in Riolu was worth it.

With ease, Riolu sidestepped the intense blast of steel type power that Empoleon fired at him and didn't break stride as he closed in on the water and steel type. Knowing that they had to start with Force Palm due to the nature of his other moves meant that Ash and Riolu trained extensively against their friends with ranged attacks to run, dodge, and close the distance to their opponent to land their opening attack without slipping up. It was a simple strategy and one that often had other repercussions, but it all played into their strategy for victory.

As with before, the plan worked perfectly and Riolu avoided the attack before leaping at his foe the moment it ended and placing his right forepaw on Empoleon's chest before it could dodge it. As soon as it was there he unleashed the shockwave of fighting type power into Empoleon. The Emperor Pokémon wailed in pain from the super effective attack as it staggered back but Kenny was ready to counter before Riolu could get an advantage.

"Metal Claw." Kenny yelled. "Sent that damned pup back."

Empoleon staggered but understood and the tips of his flippers flashed with steel type power. Before Ash or Riolu could react, he slashed them and caught Riolu in the chest with the attack. Riolu wailed as he was thrown back and hit the ground hard, bouncing a few times before righting himself and skidding in a crouch on the ground until he came to a halt. He was battered and injured but nowhere near out of it yet.

"Counter." Ash said. "That was a physical attack, so we got this. Just as we planned Riolu."

"Drill Peck." Kenny shot back. "Just because Empoleon isn't a flying type doesn't mean it doesn't have the use of it avian features to learn flying type moves. This is how we counter fighting types."

"Dodge and land the attack Riolu, I know you can do it." Ash said encouragingly as Riolu began running at Empoleon again.

Riolu felt Ash's aura, the battle aura that Ash used without him realizing it and that had drawn Riolu to Ash in the first place, fill him as he ran. He could do this. Of course, he didn't factor in that Empoleon, who had launched itself at him, its beak elongated and corkscrewing, regularly trained against fighting types and would do anything to land the super effective attack.

That was why, when Riolu leapt up and over Empoleon to land on its back, Empoleon showed off a surprising amount of mobility by twisting upwards and catching Riolu in the chest with his glowing beak. The force of the blow launched Riolu high into the air with a yelp as Empoleon came to its feet and hopped back a pace to get clear while watching the blue canine soar high before falling down and landing with a crash just at its feet, kicking up a fair amount of dust in the process.

"Come on Riolu, get up." Ash called out. "I know you can do it."

The dust had covered Riolu, and he was nearly out of the battle. He'd taken two attacks but the second had been a super effective one from a fully evolved Pokémon. By all rights he should be out of it, but he wasn't. He wasn't sure why, but he could feel Ash's love and trust as he called out to him through the dust. That gave him just a shade of health from their aura connection, enough for one more move and Riolu knew that Ash would know which move to use.

The dust finally cleared showing Riolu lying on the cracked earth. His eyes weren't swirls but he was clearly at the end of his ropes and Gurkinn was about to declare Empoleon the winner when Riolu grunted and slowly began to get to one knee with a grimace of pain. Ash saw this and before Kenny could get over his shock he acted.

"Reversal!" Ash yelled. "Give it all you got!"

"Riolu!" Riolu barked as he felt Ash unknowingly infuse him with the strength he needed as he suddenly leapt at Empoleon with the all-out attack.

Empoleon was far too close to avoid it. It had thought that Riolu was out of the fight and hadn't backed up enough before Riolu slammed into it. Riolu had been almost out of the fight, he was right at the end of his health which meant that his Reversal was maxed out. Add in both Ash's faith in him and Empoleon's steel type weakening it to fighting type attacks and the battle was over before anyone realized it.

With a final strike, Riolu leapt back with a flip and landed in a crouch panting heavily as a battered Empoleon stood there for a moment. Then it slowly fell back and crashed into the ground with a loud thud and swirls for eyes. Kenny was just staring wide eyed and opened mouthed at the loss of his strongest Pokémon at the hands of a Riolu no less while almost all the spectators had a similar reaction. It wasn't a good start.

"Empoleon is unable to battle." Gurkinn declared amazed at the grit and determination of Ash's Riolu, it was going to be a strong Pokémon for his granddaughter to face if Ash won this and one that Gurkinn knew he should keep an eye on. "Riolu is the winner."

"Empoleon return." Kenny said recalling his starter and putting it away without another word as he pulled out his second Poke Ball and threw it out before anyone could react. "If you want to use a fighting type then I can match that Ash. Breloom, diamond dandruff."

"Riolu return." Ash said already ready for the return he was just waiting for Kenny's next Pokémon, so that he knew who to use next to counter it. "Fletchling, I choose you."

Ash threw out the ball and his Kalos normal and flying type appeared before him. Ash hadn't been sure if Kenny would use the Pokémon Ash had seen in Sinnoh or use some of the newer ones he'd shown off in the Grand Festival, but his gut had told him to plan for the 5 Pokémon Kenny had shown in Sinnoh because they were Kenny's best. Ash expected one to be unknown and likely from Kalos that he'd have to adapt to in battle but that was easy for him. He also had contingencies in case he was wrong. Ash was fully prepared for this battle.

Riolu had always been the plan against Empoleon, he and Pikachu were the only good ones in that matchup, and he had a different one that he was saving Pikachu for Pikachu so Riolu got the start against Empoleon. Breloom was a grass and fighting type which meant that flying was the best against it. As such Breloom's was Fletchling to face.

"Really, you're going to sub out like a coward?" Kenny snarled. "I should have expected it from you."

"It's not cowardly to be tactical, if you'd ever actually had a full battle you'd know that substituting is key to it." Ash said simply. "Riolu was a good matchup for your Empoleon as it is a water and steel type making it highly defensive but still weak to fighting types. Add in that the more damage Riolu takes the stronger he gets due to his moves, but it is no match for your Breloom."

"Well at least you can admit when you're outmatched." Kenny said. "I didn't expect that."

"Oh no, that's not it." Ash said shaking his head surprising Kenny. "In a fresh battle my Riolu can probably beat your Breloom. However, he's at the end of his rope and I know that your Breloom can strike first so I recalled it just in case I need it later and switched in a better suited Pokémon. I intend to beat each of your Pokémon with a different one of my own that with one exception I have preselected a primary and an alternate for, so you'd better be ready for it."

"Oh, I am, you're cockiness will be your downfall." Kenny said grinning at how Ash was getting arrogant just as he had expected and that would ensure that he won. "Breloom, Mach Punch."

"Fletchling, we can't avoid that, not against that Breloom's speed, but you're flying type negates it's biggest advantage over you." Ash said as Breloom suddenly moved. "Counter it with Peck."

Fletchling just tweeted briefly before Breloom was on it and slamming a fast fist home. It may not be effective but Fletchling's normal type because of his flying type but he was still small and had limited health. He could take a few more hits but he was unsure of how many. However, Ash had explained who he'd likely face and what to expect so that they could counter, and Fletchling was going to win this for Ash. That was why as soon as he had recovered he shot at Breloom his beak glowing.

"Flying types are so annoying." Kenny spat; they were the bane for Pokémon like Breloom, but he had ways to deal with them. "Slow it down with Stun Spore."

"Swing around it and come in from behind." Ash said an unorthodox idea coming into his head. "And knock it forward."

Ash didn't need to order Fletchling to dodge for Fletchling to know what to do. Breloom lowered its head and shot out the orange powder but Fletchling used the wind currents to arc around it before it could reach him. He then came in from behind Breloom and slammed into Breloom at the base of its neck with his beak.

Breloom wailed in pain as the twice over super effective attack landed and sent it sprawling forward and onto the ground. It was a clever evasive move by Fletchling and had one extra advantage no one saw coming except for Ash as it had been his plan the moment he heard the attack Kenny had called, the idea likely stemming from facing Misty's Vileplume's Poison Powder a few times. Stun Spore hung in the air for a moment so as to be effective and the force of the hit sent Breloom right into its own attack and paralyzed it.

"Counter." Kenny ordered as Fletchling flew over it. "Ash isn't the only one who knows how to turn pain into power."

Breloom rolled over and punched up as Fletchling crossed over it, the paralysis not triggering this time. The blow hit Fletchling in the chest and sent it tumbling upwards in an arc as Breloom got to its feet and retreated to put some space between them. The force of Counter was twice as powerful thanks to Peck being a physical attack, but Ash knew Fletchling wasn't out of it yet and had an idea.

"Razor Wind." Ash called out. "Focus on landing the hit not reading yourself just as we practiced."

Fletchling heard and understood. Pikachu had explained to him and the others that sometimes in a battle, in order to win or at least set up one of the others to win you had to put your body on the line to land that hit. Rather than focus on landing or righting yourself, attack and hit your opponent and take the rough landing as it would pay off in the end. They had even practiced it a few times to ensure that they all, well except Riolu who didn't know a ranged attack, could do it.

Of course, Fletching wasn't sure he could correct himself, so he didn't even think about trying. Rather he focused on his opponent and slashed his wings at it right before he hit the ground hard.

Breloom was too shocked by Fletchling putting its body on the line to dodge the attack as the slice of air flew across the battlefield and hit it in the face, staggering it back. Despite its name, the move wasn't a flying type attack, but it still did damage and that was important. The only thing was that Fletchling was now struggling to get up clearly in pain.

"You may have gotten lucky there Ash, but you can't win." Kenny said with a laugh. "Breloom Energy Ball."

"Dodge it Fletchling." Ash said. "I know you can do it."

Fletchling heard Ash's plea and rather than fly up he rolled over to avoid the ball as that was the only way he could think of avoiding it. He did for the most part though it did graze him and do a little damage but not as much as it would have had it been a direct hit.

That meant that Fletchling wasn't out of it yet, but he knew that he was near the end. He needed something to win this, and as he got to his feet he realized what that was. It was time and Ash had shown his faith in him. All he had to do was trigger it and the change would be there and allow him to learn the move he needed but could learn until he changed. For Ash and for the win Fletchling knew that it was time as he triggered the change deep in his cells.

Fletchling let out a shrill tweet as he got to his took flight and glowed bright white. Kenny and Breloom gaped as Ash cheered at the sight knowing exactly what was going on. Fletchling grew larger, that was about it as there were almost no additions other than a small spike out the back of its head. It was when the color faded, and the evolved Pokémon showed its new plumage that the difference was noted.

Fletchling's evolved form, something Ash needed to check with his Pokedex as he didn't know what it was, had the same tail pattern only larger but that was it. Now its entire back as well as its head was red, its eyes were beadier and orange and its larger wings were tipped with gold feathers, as were the underneath.

"Fletchinder, the Ember Pokémon and the evolved form of Fletchling." The Pokedex chimed. "From its beak, it expels embers that set the tall grass on fire. Then it pounces on the bewildered prey that pop out of the grass."

"Alright Fletchling you evolved." Ash said and then he realized a glaring notification in the Pokedex and grinned at what it was alerting him to. "And your normal type was replaced with a fire type."

As if to highlight this, Fletchinder tweeted in a tone deeper than Fletchling had and set its body alite to show that he'd learned a fire type move upon evolving. Ash grinned, he knew what that move was, and it would give him the win.

"Oh, come on that can't be allowed." Kenny said looking at Gurkinn. "Evolution is illegal in battles, Fletchinder must be disqualified."

"Evolution happens when it happens, it is not illegal in battles." Gurkinn said in reply with a slightly confused look at Kenny. "Even Contest battles allow for it. Fletchling evolution does not disqualify it. Carry on."

"Flame Charge." Ash said. "End this Fletchinder."

"Cheater but whatever." Kenny spat. "Mach Punch Breloom."

Breloom was about to move when suddenly it sparked and wailed as it spasmed in the pain of muscles suddenly seizing up. The paralysis had triggered at the worst possible moment for it, and it couldn't move.

That meant that it couldn't avoid the burning bird that slammed into it at full speed a second later and sent Breloom flying back and skidding across the ground. The super effective fire type attack was too much for it and when Breloom came to a stop it lay limply on it's back with swirls for eyes as Fletchinder flew back to hover in front of Ash as he cawed in victory.

"Breloom is unable to battle." Gurkinn declared raising a hand to Kenny's said. "Fletchinder is the winner."

"You got lucky there Ketchum." Kenny spat as he recalled Breloom and pulled out his third Pokémon. "But if you're going to try and fight with an advantage then I may as well turn it on your head. Carbink, diamond dandruff."

Kenny tossed the ball and it burst open to reveal a Pokémon that Ash had never seen before and one that he was certain was from Kalos. This was the Pokémon that he hadn't planned for, the 6th that could be any of the new ones Kenny had shown in the Grand Festival or possibly even a Kalos Pokémon. It was clearly the latter.

Carbink looked like a floating gray rock with white jewels or minerals in its base, a white-collar thing, blue eyes, a mineral on top its head and a pair of what looked like ears. Based on what Kenny had said about turning the advantage on Ash and the fact that it was clearly a rock, Ash deduced that it had to be a rock type, but he needed to scan it to confirm his suspicions and he still had his Pokedex out from earlier, so it was a quick job.

"Carbink, the Jewel Pokémon." The Pokedex chimed. "Born from the temperatures and pressures deep underground, it fires beams from the stone in its head. Additional note: Carbink is one of the Pokémon that has been recently reclassified as one of the Pokémon that has added the fairy type to its original type. Prior to reclassification it was a pure rock type, but it is now a dual rock and fairy type."

"Well, that is good to know." Ash said recalling Fletchinder as Kenny spluttered at the indignation of it and putting both the Pokedex and Fletchinder's Poke Ball away. "What? I can sub out whenever I want remember. Be thankful I'm not someone like Paul, he subs at a rate I've never seen before."

"Coward." Kenny spat again. "Whatever, it doesn't matter because I'll beat whatever you send at me."

"Very well, I wasn't sure what your sixth would be, but I planned in case it was that Sandslash I saw at the Grand Festival but Carbink works the same." Ash said pulling out his third Poke Ball and threw it. "Frogadier, I choose you."

The ball burst open, and Ash's recently evolved water type appeared before him ready to battle. Kenny growled again at the sight of another Pokémon with a type advantage on him but didn't sub out. He wasn't going to win this by playing Ash's games, he was going to show that his raw power could win this. That would show Misty who is stronger, that he was a man, and that Ash wasn't one.

"Real manly Ash." Kenny said derisively. "Constantly switching out to have an advantage against me, how pathetic. I knew you were a pussy, and this confirms it. I'll still beat it and show you what a real man looks like."

"Do you have a mirror." Ash asked unable to resist the opening Kenny had given him. "Because I don't see a real man before me."

"Trust me Kenny, Ash is a real man." Misty taunted from the sidelines also unable to resist a jab. "I should know, he made me a woman last year at his party and reminds me of how manly he is on a regular basis. Whenever we are alone of course."

"What!" Kenny roared furious at what he was hearing and what he had lost. "That's it, you will pay for taking what was rightfully mine."

"My virginity was always Ash's to take." Misty said defiantly, slightly appalled by what Kenny was saying. "It was never something for you, nothing about me will be yours."

"No heckling from the crowd." Gurkinn said cutting it out before it got ugly and really inappropriate. "Or else I will kick you out young miss and disqualify one of Ash's Pokémon for your outburst."

"Sorry." Misty said but Ash knew she was only sorry for the potential disqualification of one of his Pokémon, she'd enraged Kenny and he was about to take it out on Frogadier, or at least think he would. "It won't happen again."

"That's it, Carbink use Power Gem." Kenny ordered his anger not dying in the slightest as he resumed the battle. "Crush it."

"Dodge and hit back with Water Pulse." Ash said as the gem on Carbink's head began to glow. "Show them your training Frogadier."

Frogadier began to run right at Carbink. He knew what Ash wanted and this was child's play to him. All he had to do was get Carbink to focus the attack on him and time his move just right, something his training had honed to a fine edge thanks to both Ash and Riolu working with him on it.

He showed that as the sparkling beam of light that was a rock type move shot at him. At the last second, Frogadier leapt high into the air and formed a ball of water between his hands. Then he unleashed the pulse of water while still in the air and the attack he'd avoid was harmlessly beneath him.

Carbink was just finishing her attack when the pulse of water shot down and slammed into her head. She wailed in pain as she was thrown to the ground and bounced off it, the water type attack being super effective against her. Frogadier just landed and kept running at Carbink as a new move filled his mind. He showed it off by activating it in his hands in a reverse grip and Ash knew what it was.

"It's not that effective but every little helps." Ash said as he saw the normal type blades of energy in Frogadier's hands. "Cut!"

"Smack Down." Kenny countered. "Put some distance between yourself and it."

"Dodge." Ash said. "Show off a little Frogadier."

Frogadier just croaked as a rock projectile was hurled at him by Carbink. With a leap, Frogadier leapt into the air and twisted in a cartwheel over the rock and while upside down slashed the Cut attack at Carbink. It landed right behind Carbink's head thing and sent it staggering forward a little but not too far due to Carbink's rock type as Frogadier landed behind it. He had finished his flip in such a way that he was facing Carbink. There was a brief moment's opportunity to strike, and Ash wasn't one to waste it.

"Water Pulse." Ash ordered.

Before Carbink or Kenny could react Frogadier already had the ball of water in his hands. He then launched it right into Carbink's back as it was starting to turn. The second super effective attack was the final straw for the Jewel Pokémon as it was thrown forward to land on its face and skid to just before the midfield point. Its face was facing Gurkinn, and he could see the swirls it had for eyes.

"Carbink is unable to battle." Gurkinn declared raising his arm to Kenny's side and a little taken aback by how quick that one had been, it must be a juvenile Carbink for that to happen. "Frogadier is the winner."

"Go Frogadier." Misty cheered as Frogadier made his way back to stand in front of Ash while Kenny recalled Carbink with a growl of frustration at another loss, one that was quicker than the last ones. "You won that without taking a hit, that's how it's done."

"Useless." Kenny spat as he pulled out his fourth Poke Ball. "Alright this time I will force you to reuse a Pokémon against me, one that I can finally beat. You seem set on using advantages against me so bring that Fletchinder back out. Machoke, diamond dandruff."

Kenny threw the ball and the second stage fighting type appeared before him and flexed its muscles. It was clearly strong and ready for the battle and as one of Kenny's oldest it would be tough to beat.

Ash had to admit, that was a tempting offer and Fletchinder had a flying type attack that could be useful, but Ash had a different plan. He knew what Kenny's Machoke could do, he'd seen it in both the full appeal and the final of the Grand Festival, and he knew that it had a move that would be super effective against Fletchinder, in fact it was super effective against both its types meaning that one hit would knock his already weakened Fletchinder out, so Ash wasn't going to use it.

Besides, he had just the Pokémon for this and using it would mess up Kenny's view of him. The shift would throw Kenny off and remind him that there was a lot more to a full battle than just power, tactics and strategy won these things more often than not. Time to remind Kenny of that.

"Frogadier, return." Ash said recalling his Pokémon. "You did great my friend, our training really paid off and you dominated that match. We got this but this will be the hardest of all to win as I won't be using Fletchinder against Machoke, I have someone else in mind for it."

"Really, not going with the advantage." Kenny said. "Odd, I thought a coward like you would stick to constant advantages in this battle."

"I know what your Machoke can do, I know you have a rock type move." Ash said simply surprising Kenny that he remembered that as he pulled out his fourth Poke Ball. "Plus, I have a Pokémon that has a score to settle with you. If it weren't for the types involved I would have used him against your Empoleon but Machoke will do. I have others ready for your last two so Machoke gets the best chance you have of winning one of the matchups. Buizel, I choose you."

Ash threw out the ball and it burst open so that his Sinnoh water type appeared before him ready to battle. Kenny was taken aback by the appearance of Buizel, clearly that wasn't one of Ash's two old Pokémon he was expecting to face.

"That's the Buizel you had in Sinnoh." Kenny said. "The one that lost to me before Misty broke our agreement to go with me when I beat you."

"Don't you mean that he is the one you overpowered with your Empoleon the first time you battled me over Misty though I had no idea that was what it was about at the time." Ash said. "You tried to use that battle to get Misty to leave me when she didn't want to and go with you despite the upcoming Lily of the Valley Conference."

"She should have come with me." Kenny growled. "I won that fair and square but that was the first sign I got that I had to crush you because you were clearly in the way of me being with Misty."

"If the battle had been fair from the start and I had known then you might have had a case, but it wasn't." Ash said shaking his head. "And that is only if Misty had agreed from the start, which we both know she hadn't. You still went through with it and you used your strongest without telling me why. I just thought that it was training so I used Buizel despite the massive disadvantage he had."

"Isn't that how a battle is supposed to be?" Kenny asked. "It's what you've been doing all day."

"Only because this is a legit battle, not a training one like what I thought you wanted." Ash said. "Buizel didn't like how hard you went, and neither did I, in what wasn't an official battle to us. I figured that he'd want in on this battle so that you got to actually face him properly. That is why he is my 6th. Course there is another reason why I am using him."

"And that is?" Kenny spat angry at how Ash was treating his first victory over him because as far as Kenny was concerned that battle had been official, and he'd won it. "What other reason could you possibly have for using Buizel?"

"He was originally Misty's." Ash said simply. "So, it's fitting that a Pokémon she caught gets to be part of this battle."

"What!" Kenny exclaimed shocked at what he was hearing. "She gave you him?"

"No traded." Ash clarified. "The only time I've ever permanently traded a Pokémon in fact. Buizel loves battles and didn't get the hang of the flair required for Contests. At the time I had an Aipom that had followed me to Sinnoh when I left for it. She had fallen in love with Contests there and Zoey suggest we trade. It was an emotional day, but we realized it was the right thing to do in the end and neither of us regret it. What better way than to add to my win by using a Pokémon that once belonged to Misty and has a score to settle with you on top of that."

"That won't win it for you." Kenny growled. "Machoke, Focus Energy."

"Interrupt it with Sonic Boom." Ash said to Buizel as Machoke began to focus his energy. "This is a window we can't miss."

Buizel acted at once by leaping up, flipping forward, and lashing his tail. A loud boom was heard as he created the soundwave that was Sonic Boom. What looked like a wedge of air cut across the battlefield and slammed into Machoke's chest before he could finish focusing his power to increase his critical hit ratio in the battle. The normal type attack staggered the fighting type as Machoke grunted in pain. Ash saw the chance and took it.

"Aqua Jet." Ash said. "Get in close, that's how Machoke will want to fight so let's take the battle to it."

"Stop it with Rock Slide." Kenny said as Buizel covered himself in water. "Down that weasel before it reaches you."

"Show off Misty's initial training that I expanded on as you dodge those rocks." Ash said. "Don't let them hit you."

Machoke slammed his palms together as Buizel set off with his Aqua Jet. Instantly rocks began to form above them and fall down as Buizel flew across the battlefield in his jet of water. If Buizel was going in a straight line then he would have been hit and prevented from reaching his opponent, but he wasn't. It took more effort and skill, but he was weaving around, over, and under the rocks the way Misty had initial told him to use Aqua Jet, but that Ash had shown him how to use it in a straightforward battle.

He hadn't understood it when he was with her, but Ash had perfected it with him by explaining how to use it in a way he understood. Buizel loved the thrill of battle which was why he'd not been able to grasp Misty's Contest style preferring to be more direct until he had joined Ash and learned that sometimes the best way to hit someone was to not be direct. That was when he got it and showed off by avoiding the rocks with ease before slamming at full speed into Machoke's gut.

Machoke grunted again as he staggered back a pace from the blow. He wasn't resistant or weak to water, or normal for that matter, type attacks so it would take a fair few to take him down. Still, they all built up and Buizel knew it, so he leapt back to land in front of Machoke and await his next order which Ash was only too happy to give before Buizel was in position.

"Ice Punch." Ash called out.

"Strength." Kenny snapped back. "Throw it away."

Buizel encased his fist in ice and leapt up. It wasn't like punching that 3 headed dragon, it wouldn't be as effective against Machoke, but it was still a decent attack to use. He just had to hit it in the right place. Mr. Mime had told him how he'd used an uppercut to beat Hydreigon after Buizel weakened it for him so Buizel decided to honor his friend and student with a similar move. As such he leap up and slammed his ice encrusted fist under Machoke's jaw snapping his head back. Unfortunately, it got Buizel in too close to avoid Machoke's attack.

Machoke acted on instinct as his head flew back from the ice type attack and wrapped his arms around the furry water type as it fell back to the ground. Then, in one smooth move, he activated Strength, spun on his heel, and threw a startled Buizel across the battlefield all without looking at it. Machoke just used all his strength and frustration to throw the Sea Weasel Pokémon.

"Water Gun." Ash said as Buizel was thrown. "Focus and land the hit, you have an opening."

Buizel knew what he had to do and orientated himself midair to look at Machoke who had spun a second time with the momentum of his throw. Buizel grinned as he opened his mouth and sent out a blast of water as he flew. A second later Buizel crashed into the ground hard and rolled several feet before stopping but he knew that he had succeeded.

The Water Gun caught a surprised Machoke in the face as he finished his spin and brought him to a knee as he staggered back. Machoke was showing a lot more toughness then Ash or Buizel had expected but it was clearly nearing the end of its ropes. Four attacks with standard effectiveness had taken its toll on the Superpowered Pokémon and Buizel grinned as he got to his feet, he had this.

Buizel had expected the battle to be tough when he realized he was facing a fighting type, they were always tough, battle orientated Pokémon, and he didn't have anything strong against them. Plus, the one time he'd faced one, a Lucario, he'd ended up drawing with it in one of Ash's most destructive matchups to date seeing as they'd literally blown the roof off the gym.

However, since then he'd gotten a lot stronger and faced tougher foes than this Machoke. He'd even gone toe to toe with a Hydreigon, a powerful dark and dragon type that his friends at the ranch who hailed from Unova had all feared. He may have lost that battle, but he'd shown his grit in it and earned the respect of his fellow Pokémon at the ranch for how much damage he'd done to it. He wasn't going to lose this one. He was going to win against the trainer who had once humiliated him, and he was going to win for Ash.

"Aqua Jet." Ash said. "Finish this Buizel."

"Dynamic Punch." Kenny said as Buizel covered himself in water and leapt at Machoke.

Machoke stood and readied the powerful fighting type attack while tracking the approaching water type with his eyes. If he landed it he would do a lot of damage and confuse Buizel which would likely force it out of the battle, but the attack wasn't the most accurate one. He just had to focus on the flying torpedo of water and make sure it hit.

Buizel, however, had other things in mind. Unlike before he was not dodging or doing anything fancy, he was coming at Machoke with all he got. That didn't stop him from seeing the raised fist and knowing that a punch was coming the moment he reached it. He'd trained in punching techniques with his Ice Punch so he could see where the punch would go.

Had he been a Floatzel he wouldn't have been able to dodge it, but he was smaller than his evolved form and thus more agile so at the last minute he dipped below the punch so that it missed before rising slightly to catch Machoke in the chest right under his outstretch arm. Machoke had a look of shock on his face as his attack missed before Buizel slammed into him and pushed him over the edge.

Buizel flipped back as his move ended and landed on the battlefield in an attack stance as Machoke took a few steps back after the hit. Then the fighting type slowly fell back and crashed to the ground hard, a look of shock frozen on his face and his eyes swirls.

"Machoke is unable to battle." Gurkinn declared raising his arm to Kenny's side again and impressed by how Buizel had handled the strong fighting type. "Buizel is the winner."

"Go Buizel, represent both me and Ash and get your revenge for Sinnoh." Misty cheered as Kenny angrily recalled and put away Machoke. "You got this Ash, only two left."

"Let's see that Buizel handle it's evolved form." Kenny growled pulling out and throwing his 5th Poke Ball. "Floatzel, diamond dandruff."

"Buizel return." Ash said as Buizel's evolved form appeared before Kenny, angering Kenny again with the sudden substitution and looking at the ball. "I know you want to face it and have beaten Crasher Wake's Floatzel in the past, but not today. This isn't a battle to test you and challenge myself, this is a battle about domination that I didn't start but I will end so I need someone better."

"You won't dominate me Ash." Kenny snarled. "I will still win so do your worst. All you are proving is that you can't beat me unless you have an advantage on me."

"I intend to win this battle as any trainer would, using tactics to beat my opponent." Ash said simply before pointing out to the battlefield. "Pikachu, this one is yours."

"Pi, Pikachu." Pikachu said happily as he finally scampered out onto the battlefield ready to put a rival male for his human's mate in his place. "Pika, pi."

"I was expecting Pikachu last as he's your best, but I will handle him now." Kenny said clearly annoyed at predicting Ash incorrectly. "Type advantage won't mean anything other than to show how much better I am than you when I win."

"Keep telling yourself that." Ash said. "Pikachu can beat a ground type; you really think a water type will be a threat to him?"

"My Floatzel will be." Kenny said. "Aqua Jet. Show Ash how it is really done."

"Dodge that with Quick Attack." Ash said as Floatzel covered himself in water. "Then counter with Thunderbolt."

Pikachu just grinned as the large water type flew at him in a corkscrew of water. It was faster and more intense than Buizel's likely due to being a fully evolved Pokémon. Shame it was still too slow for Pikachu who activated his Quick Attack and sped to the side right before Floatzel arrived and at an angle that the larger Pokémon could quickly turn to. He then turned and as soon as he was a safe distance away unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt as he skidded to a stop and Floatzel arced backwards for a second pass.

The electric type attack slammed into Floatzel as it reach the apex of its arc and fried the water type. The Aqua Jet ended as Floatzel wailed in pain from the super effective attack, suspended in midair by the bolts for a second, before the attack ended and he crashed to the ground, landing hard in a smoking heap that kicked up a fair bit of dust. It did a lot of damage, but it wasn't enough to take him out as Floatzel grimaced and got to his feet amidst the dust.

"Razor Wind." Kenny said.

"Dodge it and counter with Quick Attack." Ash replied.

"Pikachu." Pikachu said as he activated his Quick Attack and ran at Floatzel.

Floatzel flipped forward and lashed his tail down creating the vertical blast of air that was Razor Wind. The problem for Kenny and Floatzel was that in the intense training for this battle, all of Ash's Pokémon had worked hard to dodge each other's attacks as well as those known by all of the girls' Pokémon.

This was done to create a wide range to dodge from just in case Kenny's Pokémon knew any of the same moves. It was how Pikachu had been able to avoid Aqua Jet thanks to Buizel and thanks to Fletchling he could avoid a Razor Wind.

With a slight adjustment, Pikachu altered course and the Razor Wind flew fast him close enough to ruffle his fur but not doing any damage to him. Once it was past him Floatzel had no chance as Pikachu leapt into the air and slammed into Floatzel's face with his head at full speed. Floatzel roared as he staggered back, Pikachu moving with him, but that momentum gave Kenny an opportunity that he quickly capitalized on.

"Crunch." Kenny ordered. "Aim for the tail as Pikachu passes you."

Floatzel grinned despite his pain and opened his jaws wide, his teeth flashing with dark type power right before he bit down hard on Pikachu's tail as he passed it. Pikachu yelled in pain as Floatzel clamped his jaws on the end of Pikachu's tail and began shaking the Mouse Pokémon in his mouth.

"Now throw him down into the ground." Kenny said but Ash had already saw an opportunity that was crazy, but he wasn't going to pass it up.

"Electro Ball." Ash yelled. "Floatzel's mouth is in the right spot for the move."

"What?" Kenny asked as Pikachu grinned.

Before Floatzel could tilt his head back and throw Pikachu down to the ground, Pikachu formed the ball of electricity at the end of his tail, the end that just so happened to be in Floatzel's mouth. There was no way for the water type to avoid it as his eyes went wide and his jaws forced open by the ball of electricity that formed there.

There was no way to dodge it as Pikachu fell to the ground and scampered away. Floatzel just stood there for a moment with the ball of sparking electricity in his mouth before it exploded and fried him. For a second Floatzel stood there frying and smoking as the electricity coursed through him with such intensity that he skeleton was briefly visible. Then it was done and a singed, blacked, and out cold Floatzel collapsed to the ground with swirls for eyes and black smoke billowing out of his mouth.

"Floatzel is unable to battle." Gurkinn said raising an arm to Kenny's side and wincing at the attack, that had to have really hurt Floatzel. "Pikachu is the winner."

"That is how it's done, Ash style." Misty cheered as Kenny recalled his 5th Pokémon with a furious look on his face. "Only he can win a battle like that. One more Ash and it's all over."

"That may be but it's time to take this match to the next level." Kenny said throwing out his 6th and final Pokémon. "Alakazam, diamond dandruff."

The Psi Pokémon appeared before Kenny, a familiar one to Ash having seen both Sabrina's and Anabel's the year before, beating the former in their full battle. There was one difference with this one, however. It had a leather cuff around its ankle with a glowing stone set into it, it was a Mega Stone. This Mega Stone was clear with a yellow and burgundy pattern in the swirl. Ash grinned, this was the end of the battle and that meant one thing, it was time to bring out for his best.

"Pikachu return." Ash said pulling out his last Poke Ball. "Kenny clearly wants to finish this with Mega Evolution, I think I should respond in kind."

"You're damn right I will use Mega Evolution." Kenny said pulling out his keychain that had his Key Stone on it. "This will turn the tide in my favor at last."

"Unless my best can also Mega Evolve, which I did say I had one Pokémon that has a Mega Stone." Ash said simply as he threw out his final Poke Ball. "Charizard, I choose you."

The ball burst open and Charizard roared as he appeared, belching flames high into the sky, and causing Alakazam to sweat drop at the sight of the Pokémon before him. He knew that he was good and skilled, and when he Mega Evolved that he got stronger, but he was looking at a fully evolved, battle hardened, titan. There was no question that this Charizard was a warrior.

"That's your best." Kenny said with a snort not seeing what Alakazam was seeing. "A Charizard?"

"He's one of my oldest and has been through extensive training for many years." Ash said. "There's no one else better to finish this against you then him. Plus, Charizard has some pent-up frustration to exercise after his last battle."

Charizard nodded at this and grinned as best he could at the now worried Alakazam. It was a fully evolved psychic type so a worthy challenge, but nothing compared to that Sceptile he had recently lost to.

Now that was a true opponent who was Charizard's equal and had bested him in an epic battle. Charizard had a rep to maintain, he knew he was the best of the best when it came to Ash's Pokémon, the one the others talked about with reverence and were constantly trying to surpass. His loss to a Sceptile had damaged his rep a little. Winning this would help remind his friends of how good he was.

"As do I after the way you've been a coward in this battle." Kenny said gripping his Key Stone hard causing it to glow with a bright light. "Unleash your power Alakazam and Mega Evolve!"

Ash watched as an odd colored light formed between Kenny's Key Stone and Alakazam's Mega Stone. Then Alakazam began to glow with a red light before it changed. Almost at once it began to float as its legs crossed and a light appeared in its forehead. Its moustache thing turned into a full beard with a flowing side stash and the areas that were usually brown changed to mimic robe sleeves and shoulder pads. Finally, its head elongated at the back and the spoons vanished before the light faded.

Ash stared at Mega Alakazam in amazement. The areas on it that were yellow originally stayed yellow, but the brown had turned to purple; the moustache and beard were white, and it now had a red gem thing in the center of its forehead. The oddest things though were that it was floating a few inches off the ground and now had 5 spooks floating above its head.

"Mega Alakazam has fully unlocked its psychic potential." Kenny said with a grin. "It's the ultimate psychic type."

"Well then let me respond in kind." Ash said raising his right fist to face Kenny and touching two fingers to his Key Stone. "For the second time, break past your max Charizard and Mega Evolve."

As with the first time Ash had Mega Evolved Charizard when he had faced Blaine, he couldn't exactly explain the experience. The tendrils of multicolored energy shot out of Ash's Key Stone and connected with tendrils coming Charizard's Mega Stone on the gauntlet that he wore on his forearm. The gauntlet then vanished and Charizard began to change.

A spike shot out of the back of his heard, his claws shrank a little was a pair of spiked wing things that Ash still didn't know what they were for shot out of Charizard's wrists and his tail developed a spike at the top of it and 3 more near the end. As this was happening the flame at the end roared and grew while his wings became more ragged. As the color faded it showed that Charizard hadn't change his coloration but looked meaner, sleeker, and stronger as he roared feeling himself grow stronger with the Mega Evolution.

Suddenly the sunlight over the battlefield intensified as Charizard roared and belched flames into the air. It was followed a moment later by another increase in sunlight that almost blinded everyone as the squinted through the intensity.

"What is going on?" Kenny asked grimacing from the light.

"No idea." Ash said completely confused as to what had just happened.

"It's abilities." A voice from the sidelines called out causing them all to look to see that it was Adam who had spoken as he looked up from his notebook that he had clearly been scribbling in all match. "The increased sunlight is due to Drought, an ability some fire types have so that must be Mega Charizard's, which means that it changes abilities when it Mega Evolves. The only reason for it to have doubled like that would be if Mega Alakazam had Trace, an ability that allows it to mimic the ability of its opponents. It won't do anything else in the battle."

"Well, that explains it." Ash said looking back to Kenny and focusing on what was hopefully the final matchup. "Now let's finish this."

"Yes, time to reverse sweep you." Kenny said with a confident grin. "Mega Alakazam, Future Sight."

"Wing Attack." Ash said as Mega Alakazam closed his eyes and activated the delayed attack. "We don't know when that will hit so let's win this before it does."

"Quick, show off that psychic prowess by using Psychic on Charizard." Kenny said as Mega Charizard tore at Mega Alakazam his wings glowing with flying type power as he sped across the battlefield faster than normal.

Suddenly Mega Alakazam glowed blue as Mega Charizard flew at him and stopped Mega Charizard in his track's inches from his face, Charizard wasn't the only one with a boost right now after all. Given Mega Charizard's speed it was an impressive display and Kenny was grinning ready to hold Mega Charizard back and toy with it before the Future Sight hit. Of course, Ash had other ideas and at this range he couldn't miss so long as he was right in what he was thinking.

"Flamethrower." Ash said hoping his sudden theory was correct. "That Psychic is stopping you from moving but I don't think it can also stop a ranged attack at the same time."

Mega Charizard opened his mouth and proceeded to douse a suddenly wide eyed Mega Alakazam in an intense gout of intense flames that he shot right into its face. The powerful fire type attack completely covered Mega Alakazam and broke its hold on Mega Charizard who fell to land on his feet and look at the result. Mega Alakazam wasn't out of the fight, a single flamethrower wouldn't do that, but he was on his back on the floor and blackened from the flames. It wasn't moving and Ash wasn't sure why by he saw the chance and took it.

"Combo time Charizard." Ash said. "Seismic Toss and then speed its descent with Dragon Tail just like you did to Blaine's Magmortar."

"Teleport." Kenny ordered. "Avoid it."

Alas Mega Alakazam was too stunned from the intense Flamethrower to react. Mega Charizard grabbed it under on arm and launched himself high into the air, climbing to a height that was higher than he could as a normal Charizard. This time he didn't have the ceiling to worry about so he could go as high as possible.

Once Mega Charizard was at the apex of his flight upwards, he heaved the Psi Pokémon over his shoulder and threw it towards the battlefield to finish the move. In the split second that Seismic Toss ended Mega Charizard activated his Dragon Tail and used the momentum of the flip to somersault forward and slam the tip of his powered tail into Mega Alakazam's chest as he threw it to the ground below.

It was an incredibly hard combo for Mega Charizard to pull off, but he wasn't Ash's best for no reason. He just pulled it off and sent a now dazed Alakazam zooming to the ground at high speed. In that moment, the sky above Mega Charizard opened, and the Future Sight fell towards him.

Mega Charizard grinned, he had an idea that would end this and show off in the process. If he pulled this off then any doubts in him back home would be erased. As the attack fell towards him, Mega Charizard tilted forward and dove as fast as possible.

Meanwhile, everyone had been looking up at the dot in the bright sky that was the Mega Pokémon. That dot split in two and then on shot downwards at an incredible speed that seemed to send a shock wave out from it before it fell.

Ash remembered how hard Brendan's Sceptile had hit the battlefield in the Indigo Final from a high seismic toss. He also recalled how the same combo with Mega Charizard had had enough speed and power to punch Blaine's Magmortar through the reinforced floor of his suspended battlefield and that was from a height of maybe two stories.

This attack was as powerful as the one used on Magmortar and from a height greater than what was used on Sceptile. Ash's eyes went wide as he realized what was about to happen.

"Everyone hit the deck!" Ash yelled grabbing Pikachu and diving on top of him.

That act was enough for everyone, even Kenny, Drew, and Brianna, to dive to ground and hug it close, Misty doing the same with Piplup as Ash did with Pikachu. It wasn't a moment too soon as a second later a speeding blur of purple and yellow slammed into the center of the battlefield at terminal velocity. The results were as expected.

No one saw the impact, but they all felt it. Those at the Indigo Conference final remembered how hard Brendan's Sceptile had hit the ground, this was more than twice that if they had to guess.

The boom could be heard for a few miles around the Pokémon Center as Mega Alakazam hit the ground harder than Ash had expected. The shockwave shattered all the windows on the back of the Pokémon Center before the wind send the benches into the first floor through the broken windows, and then threw the spectators in after them.

Ash, Gurkinn and Kenny had all been blasted into the walls around the outdoor but kept there by the walls even if the cracks from the battlefield reached the walls in places. They would be the lucky ones.

Inside the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy had been enjoying a quiet day other than the battle occurring outside but those were normal for trainers so she paid it no attention until it was over, and her skills would be needed. Wigglytuff was in the back rearranging supplies as she worked at the front desk. There were no guests or Pokémon to treat after the last from the Contest had left, so it was a nice relaxing day. Then the world was turned on its head.

The boom outside almost defended Nurse Joy right before she saw the windows and glass door leading out to the outdoor battle field shatter and a shockwave unlike any she'd ever felt before filled the Pokémon Center. She crouched down and the solid desk that was welded to the ground saved her but that was it. It also stopped something solid as she heard something slam into the desk as she hunkered down there.

As the wave ended almost as soon as it had begun Nurse Joy shakily got to her feet to see the damage, her eyes wide at the sight. The glass was gone, the outdoor benches had been hurled into the waiting area and in one case through the front facing widows. The furniture was askew, and glass was everywhere. Then there were the kids scattered around the room and a fair amount of blood on the ground that shocked Nurse Joy as the kids began to come to.

Misty groaned in pain as she opened her eyes. She had no idea what had happened. One moment Ash had said hit the deck, the next she was blown away by a shockwave that was the second most powerful she'd ever felt, only the clash between Dialga and Palkia in Alamos Town was worse.

Slowly Misty sat up, wincing in pain, as she realized she was against the side of a sofa still holding an undamaged Piplup tightly in her arms. Looking around Misty saw that she wasn't the only one here.

May lay nearby having been stopped by a foot stool, cuts all over her arms and clothes, including a nasty one on her left side that was bleeding freely onto the ground. Misty was certain that she wasn't much better.

Serene was past May having hit the far wall that Misty realized was the front door and looked as bad as May. The Kalos native was on her back and Misty grimaced at the trail of blood that indicated the path Serena had taken. Her shoulder, the one that had hit the wall also looked out of place.

Misty had to keep scanning the room though to check on everyone else. The next person she saw was Emily who was to her other side and on the sofa having somehow ended up on top of it and looked the least injured. Lastly Adam was past her, somehow still holding a notebook, and tangled in the bench as he lay there clearly unconscious. Then Misty saw the other two.

Drew was sitting slumped on the ground having slammed into the desk hard enough to crack it and looking like he was out cold but didn't seem to have any cuts on his body. Brianna had missed the desk entirely but slid past it and all the way to the far wall and out of the Pokémon Center where she now lay on the sidewalk as onlookers stared in disbelief at the bloody girl laying there.

"What the hell just happened?" Nurse Joy asked causing Misty to look to her and seeing the Nurse's shocked look at the carnage in the room. "What caused this?"

"Ash is defending my honor." Misty said as if it was nothing as she put Piplup down to the side. "He's almost won I think."

Slowly, painfully, and feeling blood run freely down her arm and leg from cuts she hadn't noticed yet, Misty got to her feet. Ignoring it and all the others, she staggered forward and out to see the end of the battle, her desire to see Ash win fueling her to keep moving despite the pain. She wasn't disappointed by what she saw.

While they had been blown into the Pokémon Center, Ash, Gurkinn and Kenny, who had avoided anything worse than a few bruised from hitting the wall, got up after the shock wave to see a cloud of dust the size of the Pokémon Center obscuring the battlefield. Well, what was left of the battlefield as it was now a massive crater.

As Ash looked he heard a roar and looked up, his eyes wide at the sight. Mega Charizard was diving at the center of the battlefield at full speed with an attack that had to be the Future Sight that Kenny had begun the Mega matchup with right on his tail. He then dove into the dust cloud right before the attack hit. Ash watched the dust shift and then Mega Charizard flew out of it on Ash's side and turned with a grin on his face.

A second later there was another boom as the Future Sight hit the bottom of the crater. The second impact blew away the dust to reveal what had happened. At the sight Mega Charizard roared in victory belching fire high into the air.

The crater wasn't as deep as Ash had expected though it was pretty deep and covered almost all of the battlefield with cracks going out to the walls and Pokémon Center. If Alakazam had been heavier then it would have been deeper for sure and that could have been even worse than it already was.

As for Alakazam, it was in the center of the crater covered in dust and debris and no longer in its Mega Evolved form. It was on its back, battered and with swirls for eyes. There was no way it could have survived 3 attacks hitting it like that though Ash wasn't certain if it was the Dragon Tail, the impact from the Seismic Toss, or the Future Sight that had beaten Alakazam.

"Alakazam is unable to battle." Gurkinn said getting to his feet, his eyes wide at the destruction before him, it was the worst he'd ever seen in his many years of battling and officiating them. "Charizard is the winner. Kenny is out of Pokémon; the winner of this battle is Ash."

Charizard let his Mega Form fall as he landed next to Ash and engulfed him in a Flamethrower to celebrate their epic win together the way they always celebrated. Ash just endured it and fell back with a smile at the victory.

"This, this will take a while to deal with." Gurkinn said looking over the damage to the battlefield and the Pokémon Center. "I'm glad I wasn't the one who cause this."

Ash groaned and got up, recalling Charizard and looked around at the damage. A while was an understatement. The battlefield was no more, and the side of the Pokémon Center looked like it had been hit by a bomb. The battle had ended more violently than any Ash had ever been in and that was saying something given his usual standards for destruction. Kenny was snarling from the other side as he recalled his last Pokémon.

"Ash, that was amazing." Ash heard Misty call and he turned to see her and grimaced at the sight, she looked terrible, and it was all his fault. "Is it bad?"

"I'm so sorry Misty." Ash said as he hurried to take her gently into his arms, Piplup waddling over to Pikachu to ask what had happened but glad that for once he was the unharmed one. "That was way more powerful than I anticipated."

Misty was a state, but she smiled anyway. Ash smiled back at her but knew she would need treatment soon. Her outfit was in tatters though thankfully her bra and panties weren't showing which was good. That was the only good thing though.

She had a nasty graze on her exposed side from sliding across a glass covered floor, a cut above her right knee on her thigh that was running blood down her leg and another one across her left forearm that was bleeding freely. Her hair was a mess, her beanie askew, but she clearly didn't care as she put her good arm around Ash's neck, got onto her toes, using him as support, and brought her lips to his for a deep kiss.

She was in pain, bleeding over Ash, and probably should get looked at but right now she didn't care, especially as it was likely keeping Malamar from slapping her for the public display of affection. Ash had just crushed Kenny without losing a single Pokémon, a clean sweep, something he'd never done before, and he'd ended it in spectacular fashion.

He had earned this and more and the fact that Kenny was now ragging near them at the sight only added to it. Misty was normally respectful with affection towards Ash around others, Malamar was starting to crack down on her slipups, but this was an exception.

"If you think this ends it bastard then think again." Kenny yelled snapping as he began to walk towards them fists balled. "I will have Misty; she is supposed to be mine not yours."

Instantly Ash and Misty broke apart and he move Misty behind him to shield her as she put her arms around his waist for support, pulling out Charizard's Poke Ball just in case as Kenny stalked towards them, his face twisted in rage. However, before he could reach them a Poke Ball burst open and a powerful looking Lucario with a Mega Stone in a band on its left forearm appeared between them.

"That is enough." Gurkinn said and they all realized that it was his Lucario blocking Kenny's way. "You lost this match fair and square young man. Leave them alone and honor your word. Leave Kalos by the end of the week or else I will inform the authorities about your threats."

"I will do no such thing." Kenny spat glaring at the old man before turning back to Ash and Misty. "I will stay here and claim what is mine. I don't consider that a loss, so I don't have to leave."

"No Kenny, you do have to leave." A weak voice said, and they saw a dazed and pained Drew stagger out of the Pokémon Center with a hand to his head showing that he probably had a concussion. "You made a promise and lost; you must pay the price you were trying to make Ash pay. You didn't even take out one of Ash's Pokémon in that battle. You lost but we will carry on and win this war that they started. Brianna, when she has recovered, will win the Grand Festival."

"But my love is here, what am I to do?" Kenny asked his anger not dying down. "I was supposed to easily win this against an inferior opponent but Ash clearly cheated. I can't leave after that."

"Go to Alola, that is the weakest Contest Circuit this year." Drew said. "You can easily win it all there. Get stronger and then next year, when you are a Top Coordinator, you can have another go at it, or Misty if the rumors I've heard are true. This battle was lost by us and Ash showed us how cruel he is at the end with how he beat your Alakazam, so we know we are right to take him and his fellow villains down. You will get another chance but show you are a man of your word, that will prove we are better."

"Very well, I am the real man here after all." Kenny said still glaring at them. "I'll get my things and get the next flight from Shalour to Alola where I will become a Top Coordinator. Next time we meet, I will beat you Ketchum and claim what is rightfully mine."

"That's the spirit." Drew said with a wobble and a grimace of pain. "Now come and help me and Brianna, we need to get to a doctor and then leave once I go over our next action with you so that you can keep track of our righteous cause while you're in Alola. Ash, Misty, tell the others we will meet again, and we will repay you with interest for what you did today."

With that Drew, leaning on Kenny, left before Ash and Misty could say anything to him. Once they were gone, Gurkinn recalled his Lucario and turned to them.

"They were right about one thing; you need medical attention." Gurkinn said looking at Misty. "I have some skills thanks to my years in the various dojos of the world and Nurse Joy does as well so let's head in and check on your friends. I am sure they will want to know what happened."

Ash nodded as he gently helped Misty back inside and grimaced at what he saw. Thankfully, everyone was on their feet, but it wasn't a pretty sight.

Nurse Joy was sitting with Serena on a sofa, her shirt and bra off but bunched over her chest to protect her modesty as the nurse pulled glass out of her back with a pair of tweezers and swabbing the wounds before applying gauze and bandages. At least that was what Ash thought until he noticed that the shirt had been fashioned into a sling showing that Serena had also hurt her arm as well.

May was on her feet though her Blaziken was out and holding her upright as she held her now blood-stained bandana to her left side, pressing it against a cut that clearly ran along her left breast and side. She looked shaky but otherwise ok other than that cut along her side in a place that Ash had to look away from and see the other two.

Emily was supporting Adam who was gingerly holding his right arm to his chest and had cuts on the left. She alone looked unharmed other then a large bruise on her cheek and a cut on her hairline that was bleeding freely.

"This, isn't good." Ash said as Gurkinn went to help Adam out.

"No, it isn't young man." Nurse Joy said in a scolding tone as she looked over at him, a bloody piece of glass she'd just yanked out of Serena's back in the tweezers she was holding. "Whatever happened out there was too much, and you are going to start cleaning up right now. I am sure that your friends want to know what happened but frankly they all need attention. Once they can move, I will take them in the back room and begin patching them up. You are to stay here and with your Pokémon clean this up. You will not leave until everything is fixed, is that clear."

"Yes ma'am." Ash said seriously. "I will get right on it."

"Take your girlfriend to the back room first seeing as you are already helping her, I will be there in a moment to deal with those cuts." Nurse Joy said flatly. "Everyone else follow them if you can."

"Can you at least confirm that you won without losing a Pokémon." May asked as Blaziken began to carry her to where Nurse Joy had directed them. "It looked like you were about to utterly destroy Kenny, but we don't know how it ended."

"I did." Ash said. "But Drew said they'd be back and repay us in kind."

"I expect so, but no one can top that." May said with a pained smile. "Let them try, we will win in the end. Now get to work Ash, we got it from here."

Ash just nodded as he let out all his Pokémon except Charizard who was too big and instructed them to begin carefully cleaning the glass as carefully as possible. They had won but they'd created a huge mess in the process, so it was only fair to clean it up. He then helped Misty to the back room where they would all get patched up before returning to assist his Pokémon.

Ash knew his duty, afterwards he could tell his friends exactly what had happened at the end and his strategy for the match. For now, he just had to roll up his sleeves, metaphorically of course, and get to work cleaning what he'd caused.

He did so with a smile on his face as he set to work because he had finally faced Kenny and obliterated him with a clean sweep that he wouldn't be coming back from. Ash had asserted his dominance and had defended Misty just as he was supposed to do. Today had been a good day indeed.