Since it's a holiday, I figured why not start the story with two chapters! Here's my gift for you!
Remember to leave any thoughts or questions so we can discuss later. Thanks and enjoy!
Chapter 1: 22
"Tyrantrum, use Dragon Tail!" Bonnie's Tyrantrum swung at Blaziken.
"Gallade, don't let Blaziken dodge by using Psychic!" Max's Gallade kept Blaziken in its place.
Blaziken clenched its teeth when it struggled to jump over the Dragon Tail. Right as Tyrantrum's tail swung, Pikachu intervened with Iron Tail. "Pika!" the mouse knocked Tyrantrum off course and ricocheted off Dragon Tail to also strike Gallade.
"Nice one, Pikachu!" Ash raised his fist.
"Thanks, you two," May sighed with relief. The coordinator smirked, "You almost had me, Max."
Max rubbed his nose, "No one would expect Gallade to know Psychic, but it comes in handy when trying to keep an opponent still."
"Don't get cocky, we haven't won yet!" Bonnie scolded.
"Right!" Max focused again.
"Blaziken, use Blaze Kick on Gallade," May pointed.
"Blaz!" Blaziken lunged its fiery foot once it was free.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack on Tyrantrum!" Ash's Pikachu sped up.
An excited Kiawe leaned forward, "They're fired up!"
Clemont smiled, "Leave it to Ash and May to bring out the best in their opponents."
Bonnie focused on Pikachu, "Tyrantrum, meet Pikachu with Head Smash!" Tyrantrum roared. The ancient Pokémon charged forward, enveloped in a blue aura.
"Gallade, counter with Psycho Cut!" Max's Gallade swung its arms, targeting energy blades at Blaziken.
Ash and May smirked. Right before Pikachu collided with Tyrantrum, the mouse slid under Tyrantrum. Bonnie gasped at Pikachu's swift change. "Wheel yourself into an Iron Tail!" Ash saw his opportunity. Once Pikachu found himself under Tyrantrum, he leapt and spun using Iron Tail. The Steel-type struck the fossil Pokémon's underside with considerable power from the momentum.
Bonnie's Tyrantrum squealed when Iron Tail pierced its scales. "Tyrantrum!" Bonnie cried.
"Blaziken, press forward!" May pointed at Gallade and Max.
"Are you insane?!" Max's jaw fell when Blaziken used Blaze Kick to knock off every blade fired at it.
May smiled, "Sometimes, the best defense is a strong offense." When Blaziken broke through Gallade's attack, May switched it up. "Overheat!" May's Blaziken fired at point-blank range. Gallade's eyes widened when he got scorched.
Tyrantrum and Gallade fell. "Tyrantrum and Gallade are unable to battle. The winners of May's Birthday Double Battle Tournament are Ash and May!" Brock declared. Under his breath, he muttered, "That was a mouthful."
"Woohoo!" Ash and May high-fived each other.
"Pika!" Pikachu high-fived Blaziken with its tail. The tall Fire-type smiled in approval.
"Not again," Bonnie recalled Tyrantrum. She kissed the Pokéball, "Thank you for giving it everything you had."
"You too, Gallade. You've earned a nice rest," Max called back his Psychic Pokémon.
"Ash and May are in a league of their own!" Kiawe clenched his fists.
"You're almost as fired up as they were," Clemont laughed.
In addition to the Kahuna of Alola Island and the Lumiose City Gym Leader, Ash and May's Pokémon also watched and celebrated the victory. "Muuuuk!" Muk was the first to throw himself over Ash to honor his triumph.
Ash laughed at their affection, "Thanks, you guys." The boy felt Bayleef and Bulbasaur's vines rub his face as the others roared and clapped for him.
May winked at Max, "Maybe next year, little brother."
Max pouted, "Maybe if you didn't wear that sapphire necklace that Ash gave you, I might have a chance."
"For a nerd, you sure are superstitious," May held her hips.
"He has a point. You never lose when you wear that thing," Bonnie placed her hands behind her head.
May sighed, "Bonnie, not you too."
After his Pokémon freed him, Ash chimed in, "It takes more than a good luck charm to become a Contest Master. You two know that." May grabbed his hand and smiled at him.
"I'd have to agree. Don't you remember how hard your sister worked when we traveled together?" Brock added.
Max's glasses glared when he pushed them back. "Someday, I'll beat the Monarch."
Before any of the adults could say anything, the teenage Bonnie confronted Max. "Wrong, I'll become Monarch!"
"Oh yeah?!" Max and Bonnie butted heads, exchanging electrifying glares.
"Hey, hey, if anyone's going to beat Ash, it's going to be me," Kiawe intruded.
"You didn't even make it to the semi-finals of May's tournament!" Max and Bonnie teamed up against him.
Clemont's eyes widened, "Ouch."
"Take that back!" Kiawe entered a shouting contest with the young pair.
"Hey, how about a triple bat-!" Ash got pulled away by May before he could finish.
May frowned, "Don't give them any ideas. That's enough battling." Ash sulked when he heard her.
"Something doesn't change," Brock laughed at the scene.
"Siblings," Clemont sighed over Bonnie's screaming.
"Can't relate," a blue-haired Top Coordinator approached with the Kalos Queen.
Serena was amused, "Neither can I."
"You get used to it," May admitted while she scratched Pikachu underneath its chin, making him coo.
"Hey, where did everyone else go?" Clemont realized when he saw Serena and Dawn.
Dawn rubbed her head, "Well. Everyone got hungry and went to eat once Cilan finished cooking. We didn't want to interrupt the battle, but we got hungry too."
"Watching a battle on an empty stomach is harder than I thought," a bashful Serena confessed.
"Well, I had to be a ref," Brock lamented.
"And I wanted to support Bonnie," Clemont looked at his sister. She still argued with Max and Kiawe.
"The food is ready?!" Ash's head jerked up. He pulled May toward Oak's lab, "We've got to step on it!"
May ran behind him, "I'm with you!" Her mouth watered when she thought of what Cilan whipped up.
"And there they go," Brock saw the dust trail they left.
Serena watched them disappear with a soft smile. Her attention was diverted to the shouting match a few feet away. "I was Top 4 in the Kalos League!" Bonnie argued.
"I was Runner-up in the Hoenn League!" Max countered.
"I'm an Island Kahuna AND Top 4 in the Alola League!" Kiawe highlighted.
Serena narrowed her eyes, "Let's fetch these three before Ash and May leave nothing for them."
"Right," Dawn, Clemont, and Brock acknowledged.
Inside, everyone sang around May and the birthday cake. "Happy Birthday, dear May, Happy Birthday to YOU!" the chorus ended.
"Make a wish!" Lillie reminded her.
May bent over to blow out the candles, prompting claps from her friends. "Pika!" Pikachu leaped into May's arms to rub his cheek against hers. The brunette cuddled with him. "Aw, Pikachu."
"Happy Birthday, Contest Master," Ash hugged his wife. The three were a tight-knit trio.
May teased him, "Thank you for putting all of this together, my handsome Monarch." She pecked his lips, causing a collective "aw" and wolf whistles from their traveling companions.
"Did you tell May that you almost botched the cake order?" Misty teased him.
"Or that he almost forgot to send the invites," Sophocles scratched his face.
"To be frank, he needed help from all of us," a sheepish Brock revealed.
"Thanks for the reminder," Ash side-eyed them. Their teasing caused an outburst of laughter.
May snickered. She had her arms around his neck, "It's the thought that counts."
Mallow handed May the knife to cut the cake. "Let's give Ash some slack. Everything did turn out great in the end."
"Good thing we were the ones that baked the cake," Serena joined Mallow and Lana.
Lana hid her hands behind her back. "We baked it with lots of love."
"And may '22' bring you even more love," Lillie clasped her hands.
"I second that," Dawn winked at May.
May blushed under the praise. "You're all too kind." The Contest Master readied to cut the cake until Cilan took her wrist.
Cilan smiled at her alongside Goh. "Allow us. It's a big cake."
"The Princess of Hoenn shouldn't need to do anything today," Goh started to slice the cake with Cilan.
"Ash," Chloe side-eyed the trainer for not volunteering first, but he was too occupied salivating at the cake.
Kiawe pressed himself beside Ash. " I want a big piece."
"Me too, please," Sophocles squeezed himself between Ash and Kiawe.
"Make that three!" Max pushed against his three adult friends.
Bonnie pressed against the four boys. "Don't forget me!" The young trainer stood her ground.
Cilan, Brock, and Clemont chuckled. "If Iris were here, she'd call them a bunch of kids," Cilan half-smiled when he remembered his friend.
A disappointed Dawn looked at him. "Did you ever manage to get in touch with her?"
"No, I assume she must be tied up with her duties as Unova Champion," Cilan said.
"Ash, you're the Monarch. Shouldn't you know what Iris is up to?" Misty asked.
Ash's lips were covered in icing, "I don't keep up with the administrative stuff. The league agreed to handle that while I travel and battle."
Bonnie sighed, "No wonder we never score private jet rides with you."
"That's a shame. No Hilbert or Hilda either," Misty expressed.
Lana spoke after taking a bite of her cake, "They said they were in the middle of Blueberry Academy's finals week, didn't they?"
Mallow nodded, "Yeah. It was unfortunate timing."
Lillie sighed, "Mother considered sending Gladion and me there after we found Father, but I always felt there was no better class than Professor Kukui's."
Kiawe spoke with cake in his mouth, "You said it."
"Will you chew, then speak?" Mallow glared at him.
"Speaking of Gladion, why didn't he come?" Sophocles asked.
Lillie shrugged, "Oh, you know how he is. Always focused on training and spending time alone."
"Sounds like something Paul would do," Dawn chimed in.
May handed two extra slices of cake to Dawn and Lillie. "That's alright. Drew and Gary couldn't make it either, but at least Gladion and Paul have someone to bring them cake."
"Thanks, May!" Dawn and Lillie appreciated her.
"I would've liked to battle Paul and Gladion," a disappointed Ash realized.
"Of course you would've," Chloe laughed. The research fellow collected the plates on the table. "When you're done, you can give me your plates," Chloe reminded everyone.
Goh smiled. "Let me help you with that, Chloe," he volunteered.
"Thanks, Goh. That's sweet," Chloe admired her oldest friend.
Brock took some plates from Chloe, "You can leave the rest in the kitchen sink. Clemont, Cilan, and I will wash them." Chloe thanked them for their cooperation until Clemont chuckled.
"Speak for yourself, Brock," Clemont's glasses glared. Ash and May's friends were confused by his remark. Clemont raised his arm, "Because the future is now thanks to science. Clemontic gear on!" Everyone gathered around the young genius in awe. "Revealing my Octodishwasher 22, in honor of May's birthday!" The gym leader's backpack revealed itself as a see-through water tank with a pair of arms that stretched out similar to his original backpack design.
"Oh, brother, even the name sucks," Bonnie was embarrassed by him.
"Oh, no," Serena let out a nervous laugh.
Ash's eyes sparkled, "Wow, science is so amazing!"
"Ash," May rolled her eyes.
The cocky Clemont pressed a button, "Allow for a demonstration." One robotic arm grabbed a plate as the tank filled with soapy water. The other arm wiped and dried the plate once it was soaked in the dish detergent. The process was complete within five seconds.
"Impressive," Sophocles studied the design. "Can it clean more than one dish at a time?"
Clemont laughed, "Can it? Of course, it can!" Clemont's backpack sprouted another pair of arms. The arms worked in coordination until they got tangled when they reached for more plates. "Uh-oh," Clemont's face sank when he saw the sparks emitting from his backpack. Everyone panicked when Clemont's machine exploded. Everyone was covered in soot and their hair shocked to a crisp. May coughed out smoke, glaring at the Lumiose Gym Leader.
From the other room, Tracey and Professor Oak could hear a collective yell, "Clemont!" followed by Clemont's shameful, "I'm sorry!"
Tracey worried something might've gotten damaged or someone was hurt. "I'll go check on them," he paused his assistant duties.
"Please do," Professor Oak sighed. He hoped Ash wouldn't make him regret hosting May's birthday in his lab. He continued reading the latest news on his tablet in case there was any new information related to his recent research. As he scrolled through, an unrelated news release caught his eye. The headline read, KALOS CHAMPION DIANTHA REPORTED MISSING. "Another champion?" Professor Oak found it bizarre. The researcher skimmed through it, noting the Kalos Elite 4 would cover her duties and Sinnoh Champion Cynthia assisted in the ongoing investigation. His focus was interrupted when he heard another explosion. "These kids," Professor Oak rushed to the commotion. "What in the name of?!" Oak panicked.
The friends coughed as the dining room filled with smoke. "As if we didn't have enough smoke," Misty complained.
"It wasn't me that time!" Clemont emphasized.
"Prepare for trouble, the party's crashed," a woman's voice warned.
"Make it double, you're all trashed," a man followed.
"To protect the world from a lame birthday," the woman claimed.
"To unite all peoples against a wife named May," the man recited.
"Don't forget me!" the silhouette of an obnoxious cat leaped.
"To denounce the evils of truth and love," the woman declared.
"To extend our reach to the stars above," the man announced.
"Jessie," Jessie revealed herself.
"James," James showed his face.
"And Meowth are our names," Meowth winked when he sprang out.
"Anywhere there's peace in the universe," Jessie raised her arm.
"Team Rocket," James also raised his arm.
"Will be there," Meowth mirrored them.
"To make everything worse!" the trio proclaimed.
"Woooobbuffeeet!" Wobbuffet poked out.
"Team Rocket!" Ash and his friends focused on them.
"Pi pikachu!" Pikachu glared at them.
"My, my, 22, doesn't suit you too well," Jessie taunted May.
May's sharp teeth came out. "What was that?! You're one to talk!"
Jessie controlled her rage, but a vein popped out. "Sticks and stones," the woman clenched her teeth.
"I hope you don't mind if we take some cake," James drooled over the sweet treat.
"We do!" Mallow took the cake away from him.
Meowth tilted Jessie and James's gazes toward Pikachu. "Focus will ya!"
"Oh yeah," Jessie frowned.
"Right, sorry," James blushed.
"Do you guys ever quit?" Chloe rolled her eyes.
"Or learn?" Misty facepalmed.
"No!" the villainous trio answered.
"So you don't learn?" Max raised an eyebrow.
"No wonder they always fail," Bonnie crossed her arms.
"Wait, yes!" the trio countered.
"So you do quit!" Cilan raised his finger.
"Then leave!" Dawn protested.
"Wait, no!" the Rockets corrected themselves again.
"I'm confused," Sophocles scratched his cheek.
"You and I both," Kiawe pitied the Rockets.
"Forget it. Let's get with the program!" Jessie lost her patience.
James nodded, "Carnivine, let's go!"
"Gourgeist, you're up!" Jessie threw her Pokéball.
"Carnivine!" the Sinnoh Grass-type proceeded to bite James.
James wrestled with the plant, "Now's not the time!"
"That's still a thing," Dawn was unimpressed.
"Geist!" the Kalos Ghost-type appeared.
Clemont rubbed his chin, "Wait, don't you usually have some fancy gizmo to capture Pikachu first and then battle?"
"Huh?" Jessie and James realized and looked down at Meowth.
"Bah, I tot I brought it wit us!" Meowth's face turned pale.
"You idiot!" Jessie grabbed the feline by the collar and shook him.
"Then we'll have to fight because I won't leave without cake!" James summoned his fighting spirit.
"Right!" Jessie and Meowth recomposed themselves.
"Gourgeist, use Dark Pulse!" Jessie ordered.
"Carnivine, use Energy Ball!" James commanded.
Meowth leapt forward, "Go Fury Swipes!"
Ash looked at Pikachu, who stood on his shoulder. "You know what to do, pal."
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded. The Electric-type leaped in the air and used Electroweb against the incoming attacks. The attack overpowered the Rockets' offense and netted the six of them.
The villains shrieked when Ash pointed at them. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Pikachu released a Thunderbolt that sent Team Rocket and their Pokémon flying through the roof.
While in midair, Jessie proceeded to strangle Meowth. "You alley cat, this is all your fault!"
"I wanted to eat cake," James crossed his arms.
"I fowgot we're dealin wit da wold's strongest traina now," Meowth whined.
"We're blasting off again!" the Rockets grieved over their quick exit.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet's shout echoed through the skies when they were lost from sight.
"That was…" Serena tried to find the word.
"Pathetic?" Lana finished for her. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Well, at least we don't have to worry about party crashers anymore," Tracey was relieved.
Before Oak could say anything, the doorbell rang. "Now, who could that be?" The Professor left to go answer it.
Tracey turned to his friends, "Why don't we clean up Team Rocket's mess and continue with the party?"
"On it!" Everyone cheered.
Professor Oak hurried to the door and opened it. His face brightened, "Iris, Alain, what a pleasant surprise! Iris, I thought you weren't going to make it." Iris and Alain stared at him, but they didn't answer. They were still as rocks with icy stares that unsettled Oak. "Is everything alright?" The Professor was startled when an unidentified Pokémon resembling Gallade leapt in front of him. "What's the meaning of this?" the old man stepped back. The strange Pokémon used Hypnosis to knock out the old man. With Oak taken care of, Iris and Alain stepped over his body.
Meanwhile, Ash and his company cleaned up until they heard an explosion in the ranch. "What was that?" Lillie looked outside to see a cloud of smoke.
"Team Rocket, again?" Goh gritted his teeth.
"Leave it to them to try to ruin a birthday twice," May groaned.
"Wait, look!" Mallow saw something running toward them in the distance.
"It's Bulbasaur!" Ash ran out to receive his friend. His companions followed suit.
"What happened?!" the friends were alarmed by his injuries.
Bulbasaur limped to Ash's feet. "Bulba," the Grass-type Pokémon collapsed.
"It looks like it was hurt by a Fire Pokémon," Brock studied his injuries. Brock handed Bulbasaur to Ash. "You should take it to the recovery room."
"The rest of us will check out what's happening in the ranch. Whatever it is, it can't be good," Misty informed the trainer and Tracey. Ash's friends stood behind Misty, ready to follow her lead.
"I'll come with you, Ash," May stood by his side.
Tracey looked around. "Professor Oak isn't back yet. I'll go check on him." The assistant dashed inside while Misty, Brock, and the rest of their friends ran toward the fields and forest.
"Pika," a stern Pikachu sensed something in the distance.
May placed a fist over her heart when she looked down. "Are you alright, May?" Ash saw her off-behavior.
The coordinator snapped out of her worries. "Yeah, let's go heal Bulbasaur." Ash nodded, and the trio hurried inside.
When they stepped into the hallway, they saw Alain holding Tracey by the collar and an unknown Pokémon beside him. Pikachu emitted sparks and leaped to the floor. "Alain!" a shocked Ash called him out.
"What do you think you're doing?! Let go of Tracey!" May demanded.
Alain glared but didn't speak. He dropped an injured Tracey on the ground. Ash and May glared at him for his coldness. "Who's that Pokémon?" Ash was unfamiliar with the figure beside Alain. He pulled out his Rotom phone.
"No data found," the Rotom phone answered.
"Great," May complained.
They turned around when they heard footsteps behind them. "Iris!" Ash and May were relieved by her arrival.
"A little late, don't you think?" Ash had an uneasy laugh.
Iris smirked when she reached for a Pokéball. "Iris?" May raised her eyebrow.
"Haxorus, take care of them." Iris's Haxorus roared upon emerging. Ash, May, and Pikachu froze in confusion.
Outside, Ash's friends raced through the ranch to discover multiple Pokémon injured. "Ash's Pokémon," Lana kneeled to examine an unconscious Oshawott.
"And May's," Lillie saw Glaceon struggling to stand up.
"Who or what could've done this?" Goh saw almost all of his friends' Pokémon hurt.
The gang heard a roar in the sky that stunned them. "Mega Charizard!" Max gasped when he saw its black color scheme and blue flame.
"Is it Team Rocket's?" Kiawe questioned.
"I don't think so. It looks familiar," a serious Clemont eyed it.
"No time to figure that out. It's coming for us!" Brock saw Charizard open fire. He directed the friends to move away.
Cilan grabbed a Pokéball when he stepped away. "Get ready!"
Serena, Dawn, and Chloe fled toward the forest and got separated from the others by Charizard's flame. "No!" Dawn saw Mega Charizard form a ring of fire around them.
"We have to help them!" Chloe shouted.
Serena readied her Pokéball until Brock yelled, "Stop, go on ahead. We'll take care of the Charizard!"
"But Brock!" Dawn protested.
"Go!" Brock refused to hear it.
"We'll be fine!" Misty added.
Dawn was unwilling to budge until Serena grabbed her hand. The bluenette looked at her and Chloe. "Let's go, Dawn. Some of the other Pokémon might need our help," Serena urged her.
The Sinnoh coordinator glimpsed at her friends in the fire. She saw Brock and Misty summon Steelix and Gyarados. Seeing no other option, Dawn nodded. Their venture into the woods added to their urgency. Dawn recognized Torterra and Infernape among the other injured Pokémon in the forest. When they reached a clearing in the woods, Serena gasped, "Blaziken, Sceptile!"
The three girls saw Sceptile defeated on the grass while Blaziken winced as it could hardly stand. "Blaz," Blaziken panted when he saw the girls. He fell to his knees, losing consciousness.
"Something's definitely not right here," Chloe minded her surroundings.
"Something or someone's here," a cautious Dawn gazed around.
Suddenly, they felt something land behind them from the trees. It knocked out Chloe and Dawn with karate chops to their necks. Serena saw her friends drop like dead weight and the thing that towered over her. "A Mega Blaziken," Serena trembled. The Mega Blaziken had a cold and calculated stare to it. Its eyes remained fixed on her, but it didn't attack her. Serena stepped back in fear until she bumped into something. The Pokémon performer turned around again to find a woman wearing a blue bandana and a blue top. What stood out most were her sapphire eyes. Serena couldn't make sense of it. "May?" she asked.