This chapter is from Ash's POV, it's the best way I found to do a time skip without having to go through dozens of paragraphs of exposition.
There is an updated rooster at the end of the chapter.
Ash exited Sabrina's gym with slumped shoulders, lost in thought after yet another hollow badge victory thanks to a fluke, this time his Haunter making Sabrina laugh, though the Haunter decided to stay with her rather than Ash.
Ash had been coasting through his journey relying on luck and flukes, never truly being up to the challenges he faced, and this latest incident just magnified his insecurities.
When Misty waved at someone approaching, Ash felt his stomach drop upon seeing it was none other than Emmet and Leaf, two talented trainers he always felt inferior to.
Their presence was like salt in the wound, reminding Ash of his reliance on sheer luck to progress while prodigies like Emmet succeeded through actual skill and hard work.
Seeing them just triggered Ash's lingering doubts that despite his badges and progress, he still didn't actually measure up as a trainer compared to his accomplished peers.
"Hey Ash, it's great to run into you!" Emmet called out jovially as he approached with Leaf. Ash tensed, managing a weak smile. Just what he needed after that hollow victory, a reminder of his shortcomings next to prodigies like Emmet.
"What are you all doing here at Sabrina's gym?" Emmet asked.
Before Ash could respond, Brock jumped in eagerly. "Ash just got his fourth badge from Sabrina!" Ash rubbed his neck self-consciously, but still stood a bit taller. Four badges was pretty good progress. Even if most were just luck... He shook the thought away.
"That's awesome! How'd it go?" Emmet asked.
Ash winced inwardly but forced a smile. "Oh yeah, I got the Marsh Badge," he said evasively, not mentioning it was pure luck.
"Wow, congratulations Ash! You must be getting really strong," Leaf praised sincerely.
Ash chuckled anxiously. "Oh you know, still lots of training to do! What about you guys?" Please say you are only passing by, he thought desperately.
"We're here to challenge Sabrina next, actually," Emmet replied. Of course they were already here for their next badge when he'd barely earned his fourth.
Misty's eyes lit up excitedly. "No way, are you guys going for your fourth badge too? So you are pretty much tied to Ash?" Please say yes, Ash silently begged.
But Leaf shook her head apologetically. "No sorry, we got our fourth badges over a month ago." Ash's heart sank. A whole month ahead of him already. "We've been training some new team members to prep for Sabrina," she continued.
Inside though, he was swirling with self-doubt. Talented trainers like Emmet and Leaf made progress seem so easy. Meanwhile Ash could barely scrape by on sheer dumb luck.
He wanted to believe he deserved respect too. But seeing how far ahead others were, those insecurities came flooding back. Ash shoved them down and tried to seem upbeat.
One day he'd earn the right to be considered among the best. But for now, the doubts lingered, impossible to ignore, undermining his confidence. No matter what he accomplished, he just never felt good enough in comparison.
Misty waved in the direction of the Gym's doors. "You guys should hurry and book your matches so we can all meet up after!" she suggested brightly.
Ash stared at the ground, scuffing his shoe. The last thing he wanted was to make small talk and compare accomplishments. But he forced a smile. "Yeah...there's a nice park near the exit to Route 7 we could hang at," he mumbled half-heartedly.
Emmet smiled, oblivious to Ash's inner turmoil. "That sounds great! We'll try to book our matches quickly." They headed into the gym, leaving Ash's shoulders slumped in dread.
Brock watched them go, then turned to Ash with concern. "Hey, is everything okay? You seem down."
Ash opened his mouth to brush it off, but paused. Brock and Misty were good friends. He could be honest.
"To be honest, I feel totally inadequate compared to talented trainers like Emmet and Leaf," he admitted. "No matter how many badges I get, it never feels like I really earn them, you know?"
He dropped his head into his hands. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm even cut out for this whole trainer thing."
Brock gripped his shoulder firmly until Ash met his earnest gaze. "Comparing yourself to others is a sure path to unhappiness. There's no one way to be a great trainer. You have to find your own path. Just focus on being the best you can be, not where anyone else is at."
Misty nodded, stepping closer. "Everyone improves on their own time. But honestly Ash, you're already doing way better than most trainers we meet."
"Pika! Pikachu!" His companion said excitedly from atop his shoulder.
Ash felt tears prick his eyes as Brock nodded in agreement. Their words lifted the dark cloud of self-doubt, at least for now. He had great friends, if nothing else.
"Thanks you guys. I really needed to hear that." He said while drying his tears.
Emmet and Leaf bounced out of the gym, psyched for their upcoming battles. But they skidded to a halt when they saw everyone's somber faces.
"Whoa, did someone die while we were gone?" Emmet joked. His smile faded when no one laughed. "Seriously though, everything okay?"
Ash quickly wiped his still-damp eyes and pasted on a smile. "Haha, yeah totally! Just got something stuck in my eye." He pretended to dig at his eye.
Emmet narrowed his eyes, not convinced. But before he could interrogate Ash, Leaf abruptly elbowed him in the ribs.
"Ow!" Emmet yelped, doubling over.
"Oops, my bad!" Leaf said breezily. "Since everything's clearly fine, where's this park you mentioned? Hope there are food stalls, I'm starving over here!" She rubbed her belly for emphasis.
Emmet wheezed, still clutching his side but managing a thumbs up.
As they walked, Misty bounded over to Leaf eagerly. "Ooh, did you get any new water pokemon lately?" Her eyes shone with excitement.
"Funny you should ask!" Leaf exclaimed. "My Magikarp finally evolved into Gyarados last weekend during training! I'm so pumped to battle with it.".
Ash's eyes widened. A Gyarados?!
Misty gasped. "No way, a Gyarados? That's so awesome!"
"Plus I just caught the cutest Slowpoke," Leaf continued, "who's weirdly more into psychic stuff instead of water. Keeps trying to outdone Emmet's Abra when they train Teleport!"
Brock fell into step beside Emmet. "Hey, since when do you have an Abra?" he asked curiously.
Emmet perked up, forgetting his bruised ribs. "Oh yeah, caught him the same day as Leaf caught her Slowpoke! More like they were given to us from a finished research project involving Psychic Pokemons but they both agreed to join our teams" He shook his head in wonder.
Ash found himself smiling slightly. Their enthusiasm was contagious. He still felt insecure, but Brock was right - he had to stop comparing himself and just enjoy the journey.
Leaf dragged a giggling Misty off to the food stalls the moment they arrived at the park.
Meanwhile, the guys found an empty grassy area with benches to relax and let their pokemon out.
Ash dramatically flung his pokeballs. "Come on out, everyone!" Pikachu leapt from his shoulder as Charmander, Pidgeotto, Squirtle and Bulbasaur materialized in flashes of light, immediately scampering around playing together.
Brock chuckled at their antics as he released his Geodude, Onix and Zubat. The pokemon wandered off, happy to stretch their limbs.
Emmet noticed a missing face. "Hey, where's Butterfree?" he asked. "I don't see him with your team."
Ash's face fell slightly. "Oh yeah...we met up with a flock of traveling Butterfree. Mine found a mate among them so I let him go off to be with her."
Emmet looked thoughtful. "Huh, I can't imagine one of my pokemon just leaving like that." He shrugged. "But I guess it was a special situation."
Ash nodded, watching Pikachu playfully shocking Charmander's tail as they chased each other. Letting Butterfree go was hard, but worth it to see his friend so happy.
He started scanning their surroundings intently. Brock raised an eyebrow. "Uh, what are you looking for exactly?"
"Just checking for crowds and photographers," Emmet explained. "Some of my pokemon get too much attention, people are always trying to sneak pics."
Ash looked puzzled. "You mean Sylveon, right? Since it's so rare?"
But Emmet just laughed. "Nah, it's not just Sylveon." He grabbed a pokeball dramatically. "Alright, time for a reveal!"
Emmet's pokeball burst open, and the massive imposing figure of Annihilape materialized before them.
The ghostly pokemon surveyed the area silently, his piercing red eyes landing on Ash for a brief moment. Ash's blood turned to ice, every instinct screaming at him to run, and even Pikachu's fur stood on end.
But then Emmet called out jokingly, "C'mon big guy, cut the scary act! We're just chillin' today."
At his trainer's words, the ominous pressure emanating from Annihilape vanished. The hulking pokemon glided silently to a nearby tree and settled down with his back against the trunk, closing his eyes as if to meditate.
Ash let out a shaky breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Emmet sure knew how to pick 'em. This thing was downright terrifying! But it clearly obeyed Emmet completely. Ash made a mental note not to get on his bad side.
Meanwhile, Brock seemed to regain his senses. "What...is that thing?" he asked weakly, eyes wide. "Some kind of new evolution?"
Emmet laughed, clearly enjoying their shocked reactions. "Guys, meet Annihilape! He's a super rare ghost/fighting evolution I discovered for Primeape."
His expression turned serious. "The process is really dangerous though, so I can't reveal the details yet. But as you can see, the result is pretty incredible!"
Ash glanced warily back at the meditating pokemon. Now it seemed almost docile, but he could sense the tremendous strength it tried to hide. A chill ran down his spine.
Just what had Emmet uncovered? And what kind of trainer could possibly control a beast like that? Ash shuddered, suddenly very grateful such a pokemon wasn't his responsibility.
Ash noticed Pikachu and the others still eyeing Annihilape warily as they played. He chuckled, turning to Emmet.
"So is big scary guy over there your strongest pokemon now? Even stronger than your Charmeleon?"
Emmet laughed. "Nah, Firefly evolved into Charizard now, she's still #1 on the team." He jerked his thumb at the meditating beast. "Annihilape's tied for 3rd with Sylveon."
Brock's eyes bugged out. "Wait, third strongest? Just how powerful is your squad?"
Emmet laughed. "What can I say, we've been training hard! But different pokemon shine in different battles. We sat down as a team and ranked ourselves based on control, experience, battle drive and a few more things. It was mostly a joke to pass time but we keep it going by trying to stage spars between the closest rank."
He shrugged. "The rankings are always changing as we grow. It's about motivation, not competition."
As he spoke, Ash noticed Leaf and Misty returning, deep in conversation. Misty pointed at Annihilape, eyes wide with shock. Leaf just laughed and seemed to be explaining things to her.
Emmet followed Ash's gaze. "Oh hey, the girls are back!" He commented before turning back to the guys.
"The newbies are at the bottom for now," Emmet continued, levitating two pokeballs with a psychic glow. With a flash, Abra and a towering Haunter appeared.
Ash scrutinized them in awe. Emmet's Abra seemed far more alert than normal. And Haunter radiated absurd ghost energy, cackling wildly. Ash shivered, recalling his -now Sabrina's Haunter- Emmet's was nearly four times bigger!
Just how intense was Emmet's training? Ash watched Pikachu finally relax and rejoin the others playing, though still glancing occasionally at Annihilape.
Ash was practically bouncing with excitement despite his earlier envy. "Wow, your team is so amazing! Can we meet the rest?"
Emmet chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Sure! Up next is a pokemon I can't actually use in the Indigo League because she is native to other region." His expression turned somber. "I found her after her previous trainer passed away when the S.S. Anne sank."
He gently tossed a pokeball. In a flash of light, the most beautiful pokemon Ash had ever laid eyes on emerged. He heard Brock inhale sharply and Misty let out a loud, delighted squeal.
It had an elegant, serpentine cream-colored body with piercing red eyes. Delicate blue antennae emerged from its head, forming long flowing fins that framed its face, getting thicker at the tips. A single straight spike adorned its head, and three black dots lined its neck like gills. Its lower body shimmered, patterned with pink and gold diamond scales outlined in black.
Ash's mouth fell open. He was utterly transfixed, unable to tear his eyes away. The graceful pokemon preened under the attention, slithering in a shimmering coil.
"This is Milotic," Emmet said, pride in his voice as he patted her affectionately. "A pure water type from the Hoenn region. One of the most beautiful pokemon around in my opinion! And shiny variation to boot!"
"She's...incredible," Ash breathed, still stunned. He'd never seen such a visually striking, elegant pokemon before. Just being close to Milotic left him momentarily speechless, utterly entranced by her beauty.
Brock and Misty seemed similarly awestruck, while Pikachu gazed up with wide eyes full of wonder.
Emmet gently stroked Milotic's head. "Go relax in the pond over there, girl. Just a few nice families around who'd love to see you."
Milotic trilled happily, then gracefully slithered off towards the water. Ash grinned as he heard delighted gasps and squeals from onlookers spotting the rare beauty.
Emmet turned back to Ash with a grin. "You've already met my other pokemon." He tossed three pokeballs up.
Sylveon appeared in a burst of light, immediately nuzzling Emmet happily. A massive Pidgeot emerged next, spreading its impressive wingspan. Finally a deceptively cute Clefable materialized, waving towards everyone.
Ash's eyes widened. "Whoa, Pidgeotto and Clefairy evolved!" He bounced excitedly. "Is that big Pidgeot your second strongest now?"
Emmet laughed, shaking his head. "Nope, believe it or not it's actually Clefable!"
Pidgeot huffed, ruffling its feathers. Ash gestured incredulously at the giant bird. "What? No way, look how huge it is!"
But Emmet just chuckled again. "Size isn't everything, Ash. One Gravity from Clefable here brings all my team crashing down...everyone except Annihilape and Firefly, that is."
Ash's eyes widened. Clefable beamed, clearly proud of her power.
Emmet leaned in conspiratorially. "Her other moves even overpower Annihilape in most of their mock fights." The ghost pokemon clearly heard it, given the unmistakable humpf that he released.
Ash glanced over and did a double take as he noticed Leaf's terrifying Gyarados looming over her other pokemon. Yet this Gyarados was eerily silent and controlled, nothing like the raging ones from stories he'd heard. A few calm words from Leaf sent it gliding smoothly towards the pond, eliciting awed and frightened gasps from onlookers.
How deep is that pond!? He spent some moments thinking before joining back the conversation. Half an hour went by as they all lost themselves in the talks about their journeys.
However, not everything was going well, Ash's own team looked a bit deflated interacting with Leaf and Emmet's clearly superior pokemon. Bulbasaur was chatting eagerly with Leaf's towering Venusaur, who seemed to be giving it patient advice. Ash hoped his pokemon was getting good tips from his evolved form. Meanwhile, Misty was snuggling the admittedly cute Belossom to her chest.
Brock nodded appreciatively at Emmet's team. "I got to say, Emmet, all your pokemon look so healthy and well-trained!"
Emmet smiled. "Thanks! I use the Pokedex data to customize their diets and grooming for optimal health."
Ash made a mental note to start doing the same instead of relying entirely on Brock. It wasn't really fair to dump all that work on his friend. He resolved to take better care of his team's needs himself from now on.
Just then, Charmander looked around eagerly as if searching for someone. Ash realized it probably hoped to get some evolution tips from Emmet's Charizard.
"Hey Emmet, think your Charizard could give Charmander some pointers? It's getting close to evolving so any tips would be very appreciated."
Emmet grimaced, hesitating. "Well, since she evolved into Charizard, Firefly's behavior has been...less than ideal. She's gotten really confrontational, demanding battles from any pokemon she sees. This kind of outing is really not suited for her, for now at least."
He sighed. "It has improved, but she'll likely challenge your Charmander on sight as a fellow species. You know what? Let's try it, I'll keep her pokeball in hand… just in case..."
Ash gulped nervously, hoping his trusty but much smaller Charmander would be okay facing the fiery behemoth that was Firefly.
Emmet called for Clefable and Sylveon to come over, wanting them nearby when he released Firefly. They instantly abandoned their conversations and hurried to his side, standing alert and ready.
Ash felt nervous seeing their caution. Even his Charmander lost interest in meeting Firefly, scuttling back anxiously, so he offered it a confident nod.
Which did not seem to help at all.
With a deep breath, Emmet opened Firefly's pokeball. She exploded out roaring, unleashing a truly massive Flamethrower upward. Ash stared in awe - she was every bit the magnificent Charizard he imagined.
"BEHAVE!" Emmet yelled. Firefly huffed irritably but settled down. Emmet kept a hand on her pokeball just in case.
Firefly's piercing gaze zeroed in on Ash's Charmander. He shrank back under her intense scrutiny. She snorted dismissively and stomped towards him.
"Firefly..." Emmet cautioned. She ignored him, berating the cowering Charmander harshly. Ash tensed, ready to defend his pokemon.
But Brock grabbed his shoulder reassuringly. "Hold up, I think she's just instructing him, not attacking."
Sure enough, Charmander seemed unharmed, though clearly intimidated. They all slowly relaxed as the two fire pokemon continued their one-sided conversation.
"She's not as out of control as you said," Ash remarked to Emmet after a minute.
Leaf laughed loudly at that. "If anything, he downplayed it! That Charizard's got the temper of a raging Gyarados!"
Firefly scowled, smoke trailing from her nostrils. Undeterred, Leaf wagged her finger teasingly. "Maybe I should let old Gyara explain things in a way you'll understand!" Leaf pointed to the pond where Gyarado's head was sticking out and watching them. "Isn't that right Gyarados? You'd set Firefly straight, wouldn't you?"
Firefly huffed, amused, a small puff of smoke coming out of her nose but she did not rise to Leaf's challenge.
Leaf laughed. "That's what I thought. Not so tough now, huh?"
Everyone chuckled at the funny exchange between Leaf and Firefly, the tension from earlier disappearing as they all shared a laugh.
Ash watched as Firefly interacted with his Charmander, a mix of emotions swirling within him. While he was glad that the clearly strong Charizard seemed to be teaching rather than intimidating, a part of him couldn't help but feel inadequate. Emmet's Pokemon were so strong, so well-trained. He glanced at Pikachu, his best buddy, and a sudden surge of determination filled him. 'If we're ever going to be the best, we need to face the strongest opponents, we need to know where we stand,' he thought to himself, his fists clenching at his sides. "We can't back down from a challenge." He muttered.
Taking a deep breath, Ash stepped forward. "Emmet," he called out, his voice steady despite the nervousness he felt. "I want to challenge you to a battle."
Emmet turned to face him, surprise evident on his features. His eyebrows shot up, his mouth falling open slightly. "A battle? Now?" He shifted his weight, one hand resting on his hip.
Ash nodded, his jaw set in determination. "I want to measure myself against you. Pikachu against your strongest Pokemon." He glanced at Firefly, who had stopped her interaction with Charmander to listen, her eyes narrowing. "Against Firefly."
Emmet's surprise morphed into concern, his brow furrowing. "Are you sure about this, Ash? Firefly is no ordinary Charizard. She's on a different level. Not that I think Pikachu is weak because I know he is strong, please don't take it that way."
Ash's heart raced, but he refused to back down. "I'm sure. I want to see how we stack up against the best." His voice was firm, his eyes locked with Emmet's. "We can't improve if we don't face strong opponents."
Emmet studied him for a moment, then shrugged, a grimace tugging at his lips. "Alright, if that's what you want. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Brock stepped forward, his hand outstretched in a cautionary gesture. "Emmet, won't this interfere with your challenge against Sabrina's gym later? You don't want Firefly to be tired out before such an important battle." His voice was laced with concern, his eyes darting between Emmet and Firefly.
Emmet waved a dismissive hand, his grimace morphing into a grin. "Don't worry about it, Brock. Firefly can handle it. This won't even be a warm-up for her." He seemed to have caught what he just said. "Sorry, that came out bad."
Ash felt a flare of annoyance at Emmet's casual dismissal. Did he think so little of Pikachu's strength? Did he believe that facing Ash's partner would be so easy that it wouldn't even tire Firefly out? A part of him wanted to shout, to declare that he and Pikachu were not to be underestimated. But he held his tongue, choosing instead to let his actions speak for him. 'We'll show him,' he thought, his eyes narrowing. "We'll show everyone what we're capable of."
"If you say so…" Emmet answered.
"Let's do this, Pikachu," Ash said, turning to his faithful friend. Pikachu's cheeks sparked with electricity, a determined "Pika!" signaling his readiness. He leaped from Ash's shoulder, landing in front of him, his tail held high.
They moved to a clear area designated for pokemon battles in the park, Emmet and Firefly taking their position opposite Ash and Pikachu. Ash's heart pounded in his chest as he faced down the imposing Charizard. Firefly was larger than any Charizard he had ever seen, her scales gleaming in the sunlight, her eyes sharp and focused. She stood tall, her wings half-spread, her tail lashing behind her. But Ash refused to be intimidated. He had faith in Pikachu, in their bond, in all the training they had done together. "Size isn't everything," he reminded himself, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. "We've faced tough opponents before. We can do this."
"Pikachu, let's start this off with a Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded, thrusting his hand forward, his voice ringing out across the battlefield.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried, leaping into the air. Electricity crackled around his body, then shot forward in a brilliant bolt of energy straight at Firefly.
But Emmet was ready, his eyes narrowing in focus. "Firefly, fly up and use Flamethrower!"
With speed that belied her size, Firefly shot into the air, the Thunderbolt passing harmlessly beneath her. Then, with a roar that seemed to shake the ground, she unleashed a torrent of flames towards Pikachu.
"Dodge it, Pikachu!" Ash shouted as soon as the Thunderbolt missed, his heart in his throat, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
Pikachu darted to the side, but he wasn't fast enough. The flames caught him, sending him tumbling across the ground. He pushed himself up, wincing, his fur singed.
"Pikachu, are you okay?" Ash called, his voice tight with worry.
Pikachu looked back at him, giving a determined nod. "Pika!" He turned back to face Firefly, his cheeks sparking.
The battle raged on, but it was clear from the start that Pikachu was outmatched. Firefly was incredibly fast for her size, easily dodging Pikachu's attacks. And her own attacks were devastating, each one sending Pikachu reeling.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack to get in close, then hit her with Iron Tail!" Ash commanded, desperate to find a way through Firefly's defenses.
Pikachu shot forward, a blur of yellow, closing the distance in an instant. His tail glowed a brilliant white as he leaped, spinning to deliver a powerful blow.
But Firefly was ready, her eyes tracking Pikachu's every move. "Firefly, grab him!" Emmet shouted.
Firefly's claws shot out, snatching Pikachu out of the air. She held him up, squeezing, Pikachu crying out in pain.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried, his heart clenching. "Use Thunderbolt, full power!"
Pikachu's cheeks sparked, and he let loose a massive bolt of electricity. But Firefly merely grunted, the attack seeming to do little more than annoy her. With a snort, she threw Pikachu, sending him crashing to the ground.
Ash could see Pikachu struggling to get up, his movements slow, his breaths labored. But still, he refused to stay down, pushing himself to his feet, ready to continue.
"Firefly, end this with Fire Blast!" Emmet commanded, his voice ringing out across the battlefield.
Firefly reared back, flames gathering in her maw, the air around her shimmering with heat. Ash's mind raced, trying to come up with something, anything. But it was too late. Firefly unleashed her attack, a massive star-shaped blast of fire that engulfed Pikachu.
When the flames cleared, Pikachu lay unmoving on the scorched earth.
"Pikachu!" Ash screamed, running to his fallen friend. He gathered Pikachu in his arms, tears stinging his eyes. "Pikachu, please be okay," he whispered, his voice breaking.
A flash of pink caught his eye, and he looked up to see Clefable hurrying over, her hands already glowing with a soft, healing light. She knelt beside Ash, her eyes focused on Pikachu as she began to work her healing magic.
As the healing light washed over Pikachu, Ash looked up to see Firefly landing nearby, not even winded from the battle. Clefable shot the Charizard a glare, her usually gentle features hardening. But Firefly merely snorted, a puff of smoke escaping her nostrils, her eyes glinting with what Ash could only describe as smug satisfaction.
Until Emmet arrived and promptly smacked her down the head and started berating her about holding back. Not that Ash paid any attention as he was focused on his friend.
Ash's fists clenched, frustration and disappointment warring within him. He had given it his all, and still, it hadn't been enough, not by a very long shot. Pikachu had fought so hard, had pushed himself beyond his limits, and now he lay injured in Ash's arms.
But as he watched Clefable work, as he saw the rise and fall of Pikachu's chest, he felt a spark of determination. This wasn't the end. It was just the beginning. They would learn from this, they would grow stronger. And one day, they would face Firefly again. And next time, they would win.
"Well, that's a bummer." Emmet said nonchalantly as if his pokemon hadn't almost killed Pikachu.
Ash felt his confidence plummet as fast as Leaf's palm hit her own forehead and she groaned.
"What?" Emmet said out aloud while stretching his arms. "It was Ash that asked for this battle."
Hello Guys!
As promised, here is the next chapter, the next one (chapter 39) will be Sabrina vs Emmet and I quite liked how it turned out. Chapter 40 is also coming along nicely, I think you will all like it.
Oh, someone asked for an updated rooster, the 6 pokemon limit only apply to "battle apt" pokemon.
Emmet:
1. Firefly/Charizard
2. Sylveon
3. Clefable (can't be used on League sanctioned battles as it's an endangered specied)
4. Annihilape
5. Pidgeot (will eventually be registered as "support only" and won't count towards the 6 pokemon limit)
6. Milotic (can't be used on League sanctioned battles as it's provenient from another region)
7. Haunter
8. Abra
Leaf:
1. Venusaur
2. Pidgeot
3. Belossom
4. Gyarados
5. Slowpoke