"Champion Ash Ketchum!
I challenge you for your title!" proclaimed a red haired trainer, maybe two years older than the boy he was challenging.
"Of course." answered Ash. "Follow me to the field." Gary and his other friends – it was Ash's birthday so quite of them were in Alola – followed him.
Alain walked up to him and whispered, as if he didn't want the challenger to hear, "Aren't you bothered he challenges you today?"
"Nah." was Ash's answer. "If anything, this is exciting."
"But if you loose your title." added Alain.
Gary answered before Ash could, "Alain, I doubt this guy wins. Relax and just watch."
They arrived a battle field on the beach where Kukui took the place of the referee. He explained the rules, informed the challenger he has a disadvantage as he doesn't have a Z-Ring, and the battle started.
The red head opened with a blue reptile, while Ash called out Rowlet. "What is this?" wondered Bonnie.
"A Feraligatr." told her Gary, "Johto water starter. They look scarier than they are."
"Ash has a good match up, then." said Brock. Gary just nod. It was so good in fact, that Rowlet had beaten the Feraligatr as he ended his sentence. "Huh, more bark than bite."
"Like I said."
The Feraligatr was replaced by a Gengar. Surprisingly Ash switched out Rowlet against Incineroar. The challenger looked impressed by the alolan fire type. "Woah, he is taller than me." Or scared. Incineroar also made short work of the ghost.
His Houndoom then got beaten by Ash's Lycanroc, his Alakazam by Incineroar again, and Crobat by Pikachu. Ash did not switch out Pikachu, even though this was clearly his tactic in this fight. The red head sighed and called out a Gyarados, a red one.
Misty commented, "Normally I would be worried about a Pikachu fighting a Gyarados."
"But he beat yours." reminded her Kiawe.
"That and Ash's other Pokemon didn't faint." she said. "This is probably Ash's best fight."
"If you ignore that Ash looks bored. Ash battles for the thrill, but that guy isn't it." added Gary. "His while team is all bark, no bite."
"But he has a friendship evolution. He doesn't look like it." said Brock. "Long black clothes in this heat…"
Like Misty somewhat expected, Pikachu beat Gyarados. The challenger recalled his shiny without much fanfare and walked to Ash. They shook hands, then the red head pulled Ash in a hug. "Good job, baby brother."
"Huh?" was the reaction of anyone but Gary, who just watched the interaction unimpressed.
The two brothers let go and Ash dragged him to his friends. "Everyone, this is my half brother Silver."
"Sub Silver, how's the pottery doing?" asked Gary.
"Houndoom broke my biggest vase." told him Silver. "Thank Arceus, that thing was ugly. All the walls had an uneven thickness at that."
Hau shimmed in, "Wow. From what you told us, I thought you two hate each other."
"Well, before I really got to know Silver, I did hate him based on false assumptions." admitted Ash. "However I do hate our father. Silver is still spoiled, though."
"But that one is on my mom." added Silver. "How can you handle this heat?"
"Not wearing long dark clothes." countered Ash. "I warned you, Silver."
Professor Oak then joined. "Ah, Silver! What brings you to Alola?"
"Besides my brother's birthday?" he answered sarcastically, "School project. Each of us has to make a presentation about a foreign region. Luckily I was tasked with Alola."
"I help him." explained Ash, "So I'll show him around for a few days."
Boonie then approached Silver. "Why did you loose against Ash? Don't you have all those Pokemon classes?"
Silver kneed down to her height. "I took them because I suck in battling. Ash didn't take them because he is a natural and doesn't need them."
"More like Mrs. Jelavic didn't let me take them." muttered Ash.
"Well, your skill level and that of your would-be class mates was a gap bigger than the distance between the Orange islands." reminded him Silver. "It would have been unfair to them."
"I thought Ash didn't take them to avoid you." asked Hau. "That's what he told us."
"Well, it is true, but the teachers got wind of it, didn't like this and tried to transfer me to courses I am actually interested in." clarified Ash. "Besides that it was just too late for most subjects to change, well, Mrs. Jelavic thought I would just waste my time in her class."
"And a year later, GED." added Silver, side-eyeing his brother.
"Come on! Do you really expect me to live with our father and your mom?"
"Yes…" answered Silver. "That was literally the point."
Then they heard a sound. Jessie, James and Meowth dropped out of a palm tree. They looked to Silver, who was very unimpressed. The trio stood up and ran off. "Blasting off!"
He looked to Ash. "So, there were the jokes you told be about?"