WE PASSED 500!
also, ASH! YOU DID IT! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!
We have another full-on lemon this chapter, this time with Nessa, there's gonna be a warning at the start and at the end of it.
Unrelated note of today 1: I watched "Gotcha!" For the first time in like a year and I now I want to add the Eevee girl to the story, any name ideas? I'm thinking of something with either Got or Cha, so the Pikachu guy can have the other half, get it? Like Margot and Charlie; or Gotti and Charlenne? I'll keep thinking, maybe I'll also give her a Jolteon instead to not overlap with Chloe... Chloe, huh?
Unrelated note of today 2: Kevin Conroy and JDF in the same month... man.
"It was 14 years ago, Dawn was barely 3... Mitsumi, my first daugther, was 12 at the time, she had started her own Journey in the Sinnoh Region, she called us all the time, it seemed like she was doing great, but... after some time, the calls stopped being frequent, we went from 10 calls a week to one if we were lucky, my husband, Makoto... he knew something was up, but I tried to ignore it, "She's just having fun", I said... one day she returned home... she looked like she had been running for days, she was crying, she looked so scared, we tried to talk with her and that was when it happened, somebody brought down the front door... Mitsumi had joined Team Galactic, it seemed like she betrayed them, they didn't stop calling her "Traitor", they wanted revenge and came after her, Dawn was sleeping in her room so Makoto told me to run upstairs and go with her, while Mitsumi and him took the fight outside, I locked myself with Dawn in her room and I saw the rest of the fight from the window, it seemed like between the two they could make it work, they had always been great at tag battles, but of course Team Galactic doesn't play fair... A Toxicroak aimed with a Poison Jab at Mitsumi and... and Makoto stood in the way... A Poison Jab right into his heart... he died right there trying to protect her, at least the medics told me he didn't suffer... I guess seing him dead made the Grunts stutter, they all stopped for a moment and Mitsumi's Infernape defeated all of their Pokemon they had so they retreated. Dawn was still sleeping after all that, I ran outside hoping I could do something, but Makoto was already gone... I... I didn't even let Mitsumi explain, she told it was all her fault and I... I told her to leave and never come back... and she did so..."
"Miss Johanna..." Akari looked at her in silence for a moment. "I'm really sorry about your loss, I admit you had the right to be angry, but I feel like Mitsumi deserved the chance to explain herself.
"I know." Johanna sighed. "But put yourself in my shoes, Akari, I lost the love of my life and Dawn could've been in danger too."
"And... what about that earring?"
"Ah, yes..."
"You want me to leave?" Mitsumi asked.
"I wont tell you again!" Johanna shouted.
"B-But Dad-"
"Get away from him!" Johanna shouted again seeing how Mitsumi was trying to approach him. "You... You did this!"
"But Team Galactic-"
"I don't care if it was Team Galactic, they were because of you! He was protecting you! He died because of you! You killed him!"
"Fernape!" Mitsumi's ace shouted.
"No... she's right." Mitsumi stopped him. "This... this is all my fault... I'll be on my own if that's what you want... but I... I was making something for you." She said pulling out a small box off her pocket and then openeing it to show a pair of golden earrings. "I wanted to give you this as a birthday gift... it's a communicator, for emergencies, so, even if things are going to be like this from now on, no matter what. I promise you, if you need us, if you need me, I'll be there."
"..." Johanna simply stared at the earring for a moment and then continued to sit by the side of the corpse of her husband.
"..." Mitsumi did her best to hold back her tears and left the earring softly in the grass. "...Please tell Dawn that I love her."
"...You better don't dare get close to her ever again." Johanna said under her breath as Mitsumi clenched her fists and ran away with her Infernape following her.
"And I never told Dawn about her." Johanna said. "The fact that she was so young thankfully helped with that."
"And I why did you keep the earrings?" Akari asked.
"I actually threw them away the same day... but I took them back the following, she was still my daugther, I thought I should do that at least, I've been close to calling her many times, but I never managed to build up the courage to do it until now... It's hard to admit, but I know that I failed her too, I should have known something was happening with her, but I can't change the past, neither can she... Dawn used to have some fuzzy memories about her, but... since she never returned she simply thinks she was a friend of the town who moved away, Dawn doesn't even remember her name. And when she first mentioned her encounters with Team Galactic, I acted like I didn't know anything, I thought that would be for the better... but even then, I feel like what happened played a part in why Dawn got along so well with you, in why she insisted so much in helping you, maybe she's been missing her sister and you filled that spot for her... when Danika came and attacked us in our home, all I could think was about that one time when Team Galactic came, when I lost half of my family, it was like I was living it all again... but I couldn't do anything, I failed my family again."
"If Dawn doesn't know about anything of that, how does she think her father died?"
"Attacked by a wild Pokemon, that was all I could tell her and the rest of the people in the Town." Johanna said. "Altough some of my close friends in the Town know what truly happened, but they promised to keep the secret from Dawn."
"So... when Mitsumi comes and rescue us, if she suceeds, will she tell Dawn the true?" Akari asked.
"I honestly don't know, she's been keeping herself away from Dawn so far and I... I honestly have no idea how any of them will react when they meet again."
"Well... When she looked at me and she thought I was Dawn, Mitsumi surely looked happy for an instant."
"Yeah... she kinda did." Johanna said. "Mitsumi really loved Dawn, she spent whole days by her side before starting her journey... I can only hope Dawn will forgive me for lying to her."
"And what about you?" Akari asked. "Do you think you'll get to forgive Mitsumi?"
"...I guess only time will tell."
Meanwhile in another cell in the higher floors.
"Break you down! Break you down! Break you down!" Angie shouted while repeatedly punching a glass cell where she being held along her group."You staaaaaand in the waaaaaaay!"
"Angie, could you stop that?" Regina asked, sitting next to Ursula in the floor of the cell. "We're trying to think of a solution to this."
"I'd also be thankful if all of you shut up." Horace said while fixing the rest of the cells.
"Don't you lecture me with your 30 Pokedollar sweater!" Angie shouted punching the glass again. "That thing looks horrible!"
"Just stop that, before you get hurt." Dawn said. "From what the info that Chloe sent us these cells were designed to keep people with powers from escaping, so obviously no one like us could get out."
"Well, that shouldn't matter." Ursula said. "The Dawn I know has showed me several times that she doesn't just give up."
"There's a difference between giving up and knowing when it's over." Dawn replied. "...I can only hope Chloe will make her way out of this."
"Well, I'm sorry to tell you that she won't." Horace told her. "Just think about it for a second, what is a girl who doesn't even know how to do Pokemon battles supposed to do against three chasers?"
Meanwhile with Ash.
"Palpitoad, Hydro Pump!" Ash ordered and his Pokemon shot out a huge stream of water knocking out Flannery's Chandelure.
"Talonflame, Brave Bird!" The Kalos bird descended from the skies defeating Gloria's Volcarona.
"Sceptile, Leaf Blade!" The gecko attacked with a crossed double slash and knocked out Peonia's Carracosta.
"Incineroar, Fire Blast!" He continued and the tiger expelled the attack from his belt, knocking out Acerola's Gengar.
"Snorlax, Hyper Beam!" Snorlax shot the move from his mouth defeating Bea's Braviary.
"I think that's that." Ash yawned after a long training session with the girls. "It's almost midnight already, can we go to sleep?"
"Sorry, but we have to make sure you're ready for the battles tomorrow." Selene said.
"Oh! Here, I think I got an idea to wake you up." Skyla suddenly took one of Ash's hands and brought it to one of her breasts. "How's that?"
"Skyla…" A blushing Ash smiled, but before he could say anything else Flannery approached the two and did exactly the same with Ash's free hand. "Flannery?"
"Hey! If she can do that then so can I!" Flannery said. "Besides, mine are more firm!"
"And mine are bouncier!" Skyla answered.
"Mine are more shapely!"
"And mine are bigger!"
"Ash! Which one do you prefer?" They both asked, Ash simply took a deep breath before squeezing both breasts, causing the girls to blush even more.
"Both… both is good." Ash told them and Skyla and Flannery made some smug smiles, satisfied with both the answer and with Ash's actions.
"Yup, these two will get along real well." Bea said.
"Hey, I'm here too!" Mallow said bringing Ash's face to her breasts.
"That's enough y'all." Selene said pulling Ash away from the three.
"Yeah! Small boobs are great too!" Gloria said. "Isn't that right, Nia?"
"Hey! Mine are a fair medium!" Peonia shouted.
"Small Boobs for the win!" Lana shouted. "Although Mallow's jugs were pretty tasty."
"Yeah! Small boobs!" Acerola joined them. "At least until I have kids."
"Not my point." Selene answered.
"Well, I think Ash is right about the other topic, though." Lillie replied. "He has trained enough, it's already late night and all of that effort will be worthless if he ends up falling asleep mid-battle.
"Thank you, Lillie." Ash said yawning. "Where are Nessa and Korrina, by the way?"
"Korrina's still working on your gift, it seems." Flannery said. "She's in the room you gave to her, you should've looked at her, she brought all her tools and everything, she's really focused."
"As for Nessa, remember that last night I took our shared turn alone, so she'll be sleeping alone with you tonight, she must be in your room already." Bea said.
"ASH!"
"BEA!"
"AH?!" The two shouted.
"Uh, what's the matter?" Acerola asked.
"Zacian?" Bea asked.
"Zamazenta?" Ash asked as well, the two then put their hands together so they could talk with both Legendaries at the same time.
"What's going on?" Lillie asked.
"Something Legendary Pokemon something telepathy." Peonia answered.
"Are you guys okay?" Zacian asked.
"We sensed a big Dynamax wave coming from Alola, you guys are there, right?" Zacian asked.
"We are; and don't worry, we're fine." Ash answered.
"I guess you're referring to when Ash's Melmetal Gigantamaxed." Bea said. "It was some days ago."
"Seems like that was it." Zacian answered. "Excuse the late notice, but we've been spending some days in the Hall of Origins and we had to wait to return to our Altar to contact you."
"How's everything in Galar by the way?" Ash asked. "It's been a few weeks since we left."
"Everything is under control for now." Zacian asked. "I'd like to ask you two to return now-"
"BUT we know you have your own life, so we won't do that, right, Zacian?"Zamazenta interrupted.
"Right, whatever." Zacian said.
"Still, we'll be waiting anxious for your return." Zamazenta said.
"Either way, that little false alarm reminded us that we've wanting to give you two some gifts."After Zacian said this, a white light appeared in front of Ash and Bea revealing two split-colored red and blue Dynamax Bands. "We made this for you."
"New Dynamax bands?" Ash asked.
"Improved versions."Zamazenta said. "We've been working on them ever since I helped you Gigantamax your Pikachu in your fight with Milo."
"These ones don't need to recharge and should be able to work wherever you are." Zacian said. "We hope it helps you in case the Lightbane return."
"Nevertheless, they're still limited to three moves, the Dynamax Energy hasn't stopped growing and we wouldn't want it to overload or something like that." Zamazenta said. "Also, remember that we still need to find our sacred objects. The destiny of Galar, and the whole world for that matter, is still in your hands."
"Tell me something new." Ash sighed.
"Guess that's all for today." Zamazenta said before cutting the call. "We'll be in contact."
"Uh, you're back with us already?" Selene asked.
"Yeah, sorry, we just had a call." Ash answered.
"Zacian and Zamazenta gave us this." Bea said showing the bands. "They said these are improved Dynamax Bands."
"Well, I've never seen Dynamax Bands like these." Nessa said.
"But they'll sure come in handy for the battles tomorrow." Gloria said. "Now you're totally ready for them."
"Just one more thing." Peonia said. "Listen, Ash, between six Elite Four Battles and a champion one, you'll have to use a total of 30 Pokemon against all of them, so I made a little chart for you, signaling what kind of Pokemon would be the best to use in each possible scenario. I know you don't usually like to stick to plans when it comes to battles, but I'd appreciate it if you give it a look. I'll send it to your Rotom Phone."
"Thanks a lot, Nia." Ash answered with another yawn. "I'll check it out when I can. I'm going to sleep now so-" Ash was interrupted by a group hug of all the present girls and he simply smiled feeling all that warm love.
"Hey, Bea! I just remembered something." Flannery said. "Do you still have that cheerleader outfit that Dawn gave you? Cause I brought mine."
"You gotta be kidding." Bea sighed. "Yes, I still have it."
A few moments later.
"Ash! Glad you finally came by, listen I brought-" Nessa was interrupted by a hug from her boyfriend as Ash rested his face on her breasts.
"Nessa, I'm sorry, but I'm really tired, can we just sleep for now?" He asked.
"Uh, s-sure, you do look tired." Nessa agreed to then guide him to bed.
"Thank you." Ash kissed her cheek before dropping in bed exhausted.
"Hmm... okay then, guess I can wait." Nessa said taking off Ash's clothes and leaving him only with his shirt and boxers so he could sleep better, she then kissed his forehead and slept next to him.
...
Here we go Dibidi ba didi dou dou Di ba didi dou
A few hours later.
"Ash? ...Hey, Ash, wake up... Ash... You're gonna be late for the battles."
"I'M WHAT?!" Ash shouted waking up and then looking around to see he was alone in bed. "Uh, Nessa?"
"I'm in the bathroom." She answered from behind the door.
"I... It's not late, is it?" Ash asked.
"Nope."
"...Listen, I'm really sorry about ignoring you a moment ago, but I was seriously tired." Ash said. "And I'm honestly worried about this whole thing, I mean, apparently if I lose I won't be champion anymore so-"
"Hey, it's fine, I get it." Nessa interrupted. "You're always under so much pressure, especially after you started dating us all, you deserve all the breaks you can get." Nessa then walked out of the bathroom and stood up next to the bed so Ash could take a good look of her, she was wearing a classic Playboy bunny outfit, this being a strapless black thong leotard that showed quite some cleavage, along with high heels, a white detached collar with a blue bowtie, white wrist cuffs and black bunny ears in her head. "That's why this bunny girl has come to service her master."
"Oh..." Ash stared at her for a moment as he processsed the situation. "So, when you asked me if I preferred maids or bunny girls-"
"Yup, I've had this in my luggage for a while and now that we're alone I finally get a chance to try it out." Nessa said sticking out her tongue to then sit in the edge of the bed, with Ash sitting by her side shortly afterwards. "But I thought I should at least give you some hours of sleep before getting to it... can I?" She asked pointing at the bulge in his boxers.
"Actually, I think I'm going back to sleep." Ash answered. "I'm still a bit tired."
"Are you serious?!" Nessa shouted.
"Of course not!" Ash smiled before grabbing her face and taking her into a deep kiss. "You look amazing in that... So you've had this outfit for a while or you bought it recently?"
"I might have bought shortly after we met." Nessa answered. "Am I a naughty girl, Master?"
"Y-You don't have to call me that." He stuttered.
"It's just a little pet name, don't be embarassed."
"Hey, I'm not embarassed. Ash answered.
"Prove it." Nessa teased him massaging his bulge while Ash lowered her cleavage so he could free her breasts, they were smaller than Skyla's and Flannery's, but quite bigger than Bea's. Ash didn't even hesitate and took her left nipple inside his mouth to start sucking while his fingers toyed with her right nipple, Nessa let out a short moan and a wide smile as she pulled her boyfriend closer to her while playing with his hair, Nessa then reached for Ash's boxers and pulled them down to reveal his dick, Nessa bit her lips in anticipation and quickly started masturbating Ash, who gave her left nipple a small bite in response. "Good boy..." Nessa whispered while she masturbated him faster and made sure that Ash would stay focusing on her breasts, pulling him out for a moment only to guide her to her right nipple, which he happily took in his mouth as well.
"N-Nessa-" He stopped for a moment, but Nessa quickly silenced him with a kiss as she continued masturbating him, leading Ash to cum shortly afterwards, but Nessa covered the tip just last second to make sure most of the load ended in the palm of her hand, while also squeezing Ash's dick slightly, getting him to moan into her mouth, Nessa then finally let go off him and Ash dropped in bed to try and regain some air, while Nessa simply licked clean her hand as she played with her nipples, staring at her boyfriend and happy to see him panting because of her.
"Guess I'll have to clean you too." Nessa sat next to Ash and started masturbating him again, but she quickly stopped, Ash was about to ask why, but Nessa suddenly sat on his chest facing away from him. "You tried some things with Bea so I'd like to play too." Nessa giggled and lifted herself a bit, she then moved to the side the thong of her outfit, giving Ash a clear view of her wetness and then approached her entrance to Ash's mouth, she looked down to him, apparently for approbation and all Ash could do was blush and nod, Nessa softly sat on his face and Ash started licking her immediately, while Nessa lined up with Ash's cock and gave it a few licks and once it was completely clean from the first load, Nessa took his length inside her mouth and started sucking and licking around it, Ash then moved his hands to Nessa's ass and started groping it while he continued to lick her pussy, much to the joy of Nessa herself who kept giving his dick all the attention she could, taking it out of her mouth only to kiss it and masturbate to then swallow it again.
After a few minutes, Nessa felt Ash tapping soflty her ass cheeks, she understood this as a sign and took almost his whole length deep in her mouth, letting him release his cum inside of her throat as she continued to swallow the whole thing, the stimulation was enough for Ash to speed up and helped Nessa reach her orgasm all over his face. "Huff... t-t-that's the good stuff." Nessa panted, while giving some more kisses to Ash's dick before getting off him to lay by his side, with Ash finally getting back the chance to talk and breathe from his mouth again. "All okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Ash said taking a deep breath, Nessa gave him another deep lip kiss only to position herself above him again, but time face to face as she aligned herself with his dick.
"I'll take care of this one."
"Just take it easy." Ash told her and Nessa continued to kiss him while moving her hand to his dick again, she guided the tip inside of her and both of them made a small grunt in response.
"Ash."
"Y-Yeah?"
"I love you." She smirked at him and this time Ash was the one to kiss her as she slowly descended her hips letting him take her virginity as well, the two continued the kissing session until Ash's whole length was inside of her. "T-That actually didn't hurt at all. Guess your magic tongue loosened me up."
"That's good to hear." Ash smiled as Nessa sat on his lap, both of them took a look at their current connection and Nessa made another wide smile and then massaged Ash's stomach.
"We're finally one." She said. "Now, we're doing this little session to give you luck in your battles, okay?"
"Heh, then give me all the luck you have." Ash answered grabbing both of her breasts with his hands. "I'm honestly gonna need it."
"Sure thing, now you're gonna see this outfit ain't just for a show." Nessa started moving her hips slowly, getting as adjusted as she could to Ash's size while he continued to tease her playing with her nipples. She bended towards him a little and began moving her hips up and down more quickly, making sure his dick stayed inside her the whole time, as she continued riding him, Nessa moved her hands to Ash's wrists, keeping his hands playing with her nipples, pinching them, as well as massaging her full breasts, with all that stimulation Nessa quickly reached another climax and stopped moving for a moment in order to get a quick rest while she panted, but Ash took the opportunity to bring her down and trap her with a hug, the two were face to face again and Nessa landed another soft lip kiss, but just the second after, Ash made a big thrust inside of her, Nessa quickly covered her mouth to stop herself from the biggest moan she ever felt, but that didn't stop her from shiver in Ash's arms and hide her embarassed face on his shoulder.
"AH! S-Sorry! Was that too much?" A worried Ash asked.
"N-No, just a bit unexpected." Nessa said. "Go ahead, I already had my turn, use me all you want." She added giving him another lip kiss, while Ash restarted the thrusts, honestly aroused of hearing his girls telling him such things. "Hey, am I tighter than Bea?"
"Don't start with that." Ash let out a laugh to then speed up his thrusts.
"I-I thought, hah, I thought you said we were gonna take it easy." Nessa grinned lost in pleasure while Ash continued to pump in and out of her, at the same time that he filled her mouth, face and neck with kisses, with one hand still around her back to keep her close to him, while the other hand was down in her ass helping with the motion while getting one finger just slightly inside Nessa's ass.
"W-We'll try that next time, okay?" She stuttered. "I'm honestly almost at my limit."
"I'm too... hah, here goes." Ash hugged her with both arms as he gave the final pushes, letting his load flow inside of Nessa, with both joining for yet another kiss as they kept moving their hips for a few more seconds, ensuring Nessa recieved all that Ash had for her. The boyfriend then pulled himself out and Nessa laid by his side, closing her legs in an effort to keep her lover's seed inside of her.
"This is all mine... Bea's right... y-you gift a lot." Nessa said between pants. "T-That was the greatest experience in my life, but I'm sorry, I-I-I can't take anymore...Bea surely has more stamina than me."
"I wouldn't mind using you for the rest of the night while you simply lay there." Ash answered kissing her forehead making her blush to her limit, both by the action and by the way he said that sentence.
"Well, you definitely seem more confident than what Bea told me." Nessa smiled.
"Yeah, I guess experience is... W-Wait, Nessa, I just came inside you!"
"I'm in the pill too, calm down." Nessa laughed at him. "Fine then, let's take a bath and get some more sleep."
"Maybe I should just stay awake already, I really don't wanna be late."
"Don't worry about that, I'll wake you up with a blowjob."
"Nessa-"
"I already said it, you're not gonna stop me."
That's it, fellas.
A few hours later in the Alolan Stadium.
"Fine then, is everyone here?" Bea asked as the group of nine girlfriends accompanied by Flannery, Selene and Pikachu all sat together in two of the front rows of the stands, both Flannery and Bea had their cheerleader outfits, while the rest of the girls simply got some pompons that Acerola and Gloria made together.
"Huh, Korrina's missing, right?" Skyla asked.
"She said she still needs more time to get Ash's Key Stone ready." Flannery answered. "She went back to the mansion, she'll be watching the first fights in TV, hopefully she'll get it done before this thing ends."
"Welcome aboard the train without track, everyone!" The announcer of the battle shouted. "Guess who's gonna be narrating these crazy battles. It's-a-me! Dahlia Bushnell! Sent directly from my Battle Arcade to boost you up!"
"Hey, what are you doing here? The announcer spot is a sacred space." The actual announcer said.
"Sorry man, but these vacations have been really boring, I'm already here and I ain't going anywhere!" Dahlia answered covering her microphone.
"So here's the thing, people!" She continued shouting while the announcer simply sat in the chair next to her. "For those who missed it, Ash Ketchum will have to defeat 6 members of different Elite Fours in a row, each of them representing the regions Ash has Travelled in, Lorelei Prima for Kanto, Karen Yuzuki for Johto, Juan Adán Galano de Costa Brava Cortez for Hoenn, Bertha Zutto for Sinnoh, Marshall Reich for Unova and Drasna Caena Moore for Kalos! If Ash defeats them all then he'll have to fight with one of the champions present here, who will be randomly selected between Lance, Cynthia, Iris and Diantha!"
.
As Dahlia gave the explanations, the Elite Four members and Champions mentioned all took their seats in the VIP section with the exception of Lorelei who was already walking to the battlefield as she was the first in line.
"Do you really think Ash will get through all this?" Lance said to Goodshow. "I mean, don't you feel like the tasks are a bit too much?"
"If they're too much then maybe we're just wrong about Ash." Goodshow said.
"Lance has a point though." Diantha added. "Normal challengers only have to face, well, Elite Four, but you'll make him fight six?"
"You're all worrying too much." Cynthia said. "I'm confident he can make it, Ash has handled worse than that, tell them, Iris."
"Don't bring me into this! That kid isn't my problem anymore!" Iris complained. "Isn't that right, Clair?"
"Sssh, the battle is about to begin." Clair answered.
"Don't tell me you're interested in this now!" Iris shouted.
"O-Of course not!" Clair answered. "I-I just can't wait to see Lorelei pummeling him, that's all!"
"Hey, don't worry, kid's tough, I'm sure he'll be fine." Karen said.
"I still feel like seven consecutive battles is just a tad bit much." Bertha said.
"He better makes his way to me at least." Juan said. "Because otherwise that would mean I came here for nothing."
"Well, of course I want to fight him too, but I wouldn't mind if he doesn't get to me." Drasna said. "I came to Alola mostly to have vacation with my family here."
"What's with everyone taking vacations in this region?" Marshall asked. "Grimsley, Caitlin and Shauntal all came here and left me all alone with the responsabilities of the Unova Elite Four. This is ridiculous."
.
"If Ash completes all these tasks then he'll finally be recognized as a full-fledged champion! And remember each trainer is limited to one gimmick per battle, lastly, like I told you, I'll boost this up!" Dahlia said pulling out a small red-blue roulette. "My little friend here will apply a random condition at the start of each battle, only way to know what will happen is trying it out!" Dahlia cracked her fingers and rolled the roulette, with it ending in a slot with an ice symbol.
"And it's an Ice Battlefield!" Dahlia exclaimed as the field was changed into an icy one with several ice pillars around it. "Looks like someone is seriously out of luck, don't wanna bring any names, ASH! But give it your all, kid!" She laughed as Ash and Lorelei walked to their spots in the scene.
"Oh my gosh, it's happening!" Elaine said running into the stands where the girlfriends were, with Mina walking behind her. "Did we miss anything?"
"Don't worry, it's just about to start." Nessa said.
"Oh, thank god, I just saw what was happening in the news and we had to get here." Elaine said.
"And we didn't even miss the first battle with Lorelei." Mina said. "That's great, you need to see her style in person if you ever want to become the Kanto champion."
"Y-You're right..." Elaine nodded setting her sight in the battlefield. "You can do it, brother!"
"Brother?!" Flannery and Lillie shouted.
"Right, uh, we forgot to tell you that part." Bea said.
"Trainers, release your first Pokemon!" Kukui said acting as the referee once Ash and Lorelei were in position.
"Cufant, I choose you!" Ash exclaimed releasing the elephant.
"Let's do it, Slowbro!" Lorelei released her first Pokemon as well. "Not what you expected, huh?" She asked to Ash.
"You aren't the first to pull something like that on me." Ash said.
"We'll see about that." She said adjusting her glasses. "It's been some time since we first met and we had our little battle, you really think you've grown strong enough to overcome me?"
"Yup, I think so, actually." Ash replied.
"That's what I like to hear." Lorelei smiled.
"If both trainers are ready then the battle begins now!" Dahlia exclaimed.
"Hey! You're not the referee!" Kukui complained. "Argh, begin!"
"Cufant, Power Whip!" Ash gave the first order and the Elephant rushed towards Slowbro as his trunk shined with green light.
"Dynamic Punch!" Lorelei answered and Slowbro prepared the attack charging energy in his fist while he stood still and waited until Cufant was close enough, Cufant then raised his trunk and front legs to attack and Slowbro quickly took the chance to punch him right on the stomach and sent him flying back. "Now Razor Shell!" Slowbro laid down in four legs and then raised his tail, the Shellder on it began to spin as he glowed light blue and suddenly shot himself as a rocket out of Slowbro's tail to then fly towards Cufant and impact him in a drilling motion several times.
"Steel Beam!" Cufant fired off the silver ray from his trunk, but the Shellder propelled itself away and avoided it to then attach itself back to Slowbro's tail. "Steel Roller!" Cufant jumped and curled himself into a ball, rolling at high speed towards Slowbro.
"Dynamic Punch!" Slowbro once again prepared his fist and stopped Cufant's roll without much effort, pushing him back once again.
"Lorelei is showing Ash what a true Elite battle feels like!" Dahlia exclaimed. "Our boy simply can't find an opening!"
'Coming to think about it... this is my first actual battle against an Elite Four.' Ash thought. 'And Miss Agatha was pretty strong on her own, we honestly lucked out with that evolution... Cufant, return!" He exclaimed recalling him and changing Poke Balls.
"Don't tell me I scared you, little man." Lorelei said.
"Don't worry, he'll just take a rest." Ash answered. "But I brought reinforcements. Bulbasaur, I choose you!"
"This will be fun... Psyshock!" Lorelei ordered and Slowbro shot two pink rays from his eyes.
"Use Dig!" Bulbasaur dove down in the ice and buried himself to avoid the hit and then reemerge next to Slowbro tackling him down.
"Ice Beam!"
"Power Whip!"
Slowbro fired off the move from his mouth while Bulbasaur quickly dug both his vines into the ice beneath and flipped a part of it to use as a shield, Bulbasaur then extended his whips and smacked Slowbro several times, but Slowbro eventually grabbed both vines with his arms and stopped Bulbasaur's attack to then toss him a round and smack him against one of the ice pillars in the battlefield, breaking it down upon impact. "Psyshock!" While Bulbasaur was recovering and trying to stand up from the rubble, Slowbro shot two pink rays from his eyes again, this time landing a clean hit on Bulbasaur. "Dynamic Punch!"
"Sludge Bomb!"
While Slowbro was running towards him, Bulbasaur shot from his mouth several blobs of purple poison to Slowbro's face, damaging him, blocking his vision, causing him to miss the attack as Bulbasaur jumped away to avoid him.
"Solar Beam!" Bulbasaur gathered light with the bulb on his back and then fired a huge green beam from it, knocking down Slowbro.
"Razor Shell!" While Slowbro was laying down with difficulty to stand up, the Shellder from his tail shoot itself as a rocket again aiming at Bulbasaur.
"Use Dig!" Ash ordered and Bulbasaur went underground, but the flying Shellder drilled into the same hole to follow him.
"You're not going to run away from this one!" Lorelei said.
"We're not trying to do that, Lori." Ash answered.
"What did I tell you?!" Lorelei shouted blushing.
"Do it now, Bulbasaur!" Ash shouted and Bulbasaur emerged from the ice, tackling Slowbro and then using his vines to toss him to the hole from where he just came out, right at the same moment that Shellder emerged from the hole as well, causing him to attack his partner with his Razor Shell attack, knocking Slowbro out completely.
"Slowbro is unable to battle! Bulbasaur is the winner!" Kukui said. The Shellder looked around for a moment and then slowly attached itself to Slowbro's tail again faking to be fainted as well.
"That's they call 'stop hitting yourself', right?" Dahlia asked getting some laughs from the crowd. "YES! I'll be here all day!"
"Ah, yes, that's some Ash Ketchum type of strategy right there." Lorelei sighed returning Slowbro. "You're next, Cloyster!" She released the clam who was shut closed and then opened itself to show his smirk.
"Oh, I remember you. Power Whip!" Bulbasaur attacked with both vines, but Cloyster closed himself again and blocked the move.
"Fine, if he's gonna stay there then Solar Beam!" Ash ordered and Bulbasaur started gathering light.
"Shell Smash!" Lorelei replied and while Bulbasaur was preparing himself, Cloyster was surrounded in white energy that suddenly cracked into pieces, Bulbasaur then fired off his Solar Beam, but Cloyster avoided it showcasing his new high speed.
"And there it is! Cloyster has boosted Speed and Attack while sacrificing some defense!" Dahlia said.
"A bit more than that actually." Lorelei smiled and Cloyster opened his mouth to reveal a small white feather inside of it which he then swallowed, making him shine for a brief moment. "That was a White Herb, it negates any lowered stat, reverting it back to normal."
"Situation just got a bit bad." Ash said under his breath.
"Icicle Spear!" Cloyster laughed before releasing several spear-shaped ice crystals and sending them flying to Bulbasaur, but the starter managed to avoid them all while he ran towards Cloyster.
"Sludge Bomb!"
"Smart Strike!" Cloyster made a sudden dash as his horn illuminated with silver light and then used it to stab Bulbasaur in his stomach, making him fall to the battlefield again, but Bulbasaur still managed to throw a Sludge Bomb at Cloyster's face.
"Power Whip!" He continued and Bulbasaur managed to land some hits in Cloyster's face, but Cloyster dashed away from him afterwards. "Use Dig!" Bulbasaur went under the ice again.
"Go for Brine and then Icicle Spear!" Cloyster surprisingly made both moves simultaneously firing a stream of salty water form his mouth as well as releasing the ice crystals, all of that aiming at the hole that Bulbasaur had made and causing a small icy explosion.
"Bulbasaur!" Ash shouted seeing how the starter didn't come out after those attacks.
"Looks like we got you." Lorelei said. "Smart Strike, please." Cloyster dove down in the ice using his horn to break it and eventually sending up a chunk of ice which had Bulbasaur frozen inside of it.
"What the-"
"Icicle Spear!" Cloyster show upwards the crystals while Bulbasaur fell and caused another explosion, setting Bulbasaur free from the ice, but also defeating him before he hit the ground.
"Bulbasaur is unable to battle! Cloyster is the winner!" Kukui said.
"Hahaha, you weren't ready for that, huh?" Lorelei asked. "A Frozen-solid Pokemon all at my mercy, classic me."
"Thanks, you did great." Ash said recalling Bulbasaur. "Squirtle, I choose you!" He shouted calling upon the turtle, who was wearing his trademark glasses and jacket, but then tossed them both to Ash. "Guess you don't want them to break like Krookodile's, huh?"
"Cloyster and Squirtle! Knock knock! You're about to get Shell-shocked!" Dahlia sang out loud.
"Please, just leave." The announcer said.
"Hydro Pump!" Ash ordered and Squirtle retreated into his shell as he spun around and fired off many blasts of water from the holes of his shell. Cloyster hid himself in his own shell to block the attack, but Squirtle continue to spin and the water whips were eventually enough to knock Cloyster down.
"Argh, Icicle Spear!"
"Gyro Ball!" Squirtle spun hiding in his shell again, but this time the whole shell turned silver, helping him break through the ice and land a clean on Cloyster's face.
"We need more speed, Shell Smash again!" Cloyster repeated the move, shattering his defenses to boost Attack and Speed even more, but this time without the White Herb to recover defenses.
"Not a good idea from Lorelei." Nessa smiled in the stands remembering her Gym battle against Ash.
"Kick her ass!" Flannery shouted doing some of the dance moves that Dawn taught her along with her Chandelure, while Bea limited herself to simply cheer with the pompoms along the rest of the girls.
"Yup, he learned from the best." Gary said from his side of the stands seeing how Ash had his own crowd of cheerleaders now.
"The fact that you're making your 'I'm proud of you' expression only because of that really says a lot." Leaf told him.
"Smart Strike!"
"Skull Bash!" Squirtle became surrounded in white energy as he made his move, managing to outpower Cloyster and push him away. "Aura Sphere!" Squirtle jumped in the air and raised both arms forming an orange sphere of energy and tossing it to Cloyster who blocked it with his shell but still recieved damage from the attack.
"That made quite a scratch... You ready for a new sound, Squirtle?" Ash asked and the turle nodded. "Follow my lead!" Ash took out a Fightinium-Z and activated it on his Z-Ring, making the corresponding poses which were followed by Squirtle as they built-up their power.
"So that's how you want to play." Lorelei said, pulling out her own Z-Ring and activating it along a Icium-Z. "Subzero Slammer!" She shouted making the corresponding pose as well, while Cloyster shot several white icy beams from his spikes and horn.
"All-Out Pummeling!" Ash shouted and Squirtle hid on his shell to then quickly start spinning sending various orange energy waves with the shape of punches and kicks that broke thought the ice beams and continued to fly towards Cloyster, hitting him all at once and causing a massive explosion. "Gyro Ball!"
"Smart Strike!"
Both attacks met, but after receiving the Z-Move directly, Cloyster had not much strength and Squirtle managed to push him away. "Aura Sphere!" Squirtle rolled towards Cloyster and ade the move at close range, sending Cloyster Cloyster flying onto a wall and defeating him.
"Cloyster is unable to battle! Squirtle is the winner!"
"There, I didn't know you also had a Z-Ring." Ash said.
"What can I say? This ain't the first time I visit this place." Lorelei replied while recalling Cloyster. "You're next, Jynx!"
"Let's keep going! Aura Sphere!"
"Then Energy Ball!" Lorelei said.
Squirtle tossed the sphere, but Jynx quickly dodged it and tossed the Energy Ball from her hand and knocked down Squirtle.
"Hydro Pump!" Squirtle spun in the ground while using the attack, but when it hit Jynx, it didn't affect her at all.
"Dry Skin." Lorelei grinned.
"Yup, not a fan of that Ability." Ash answered thinking about his fight with Saturn.
"Use Lovely Kiss!" Jynx blew a pink kiss that flew towards Squirtle.
"Hmmp, Squirtle, return!" Ash said recalling him before the kiss could hit. "Cufant, I choose you!"
"Little Dumbo is back!" Dahlia said.
"Lovely Kiss again!"
"Use Stell Roller to dodge it!" Cufant curled himself into a ball and rolled avoiding the kiss to then tackle Jynx pushing her into a wall.
"Lovely kiss!"
"Power Whip!"
Jynx tried to go for a direct kiss since Cufant was right in front of her but the elephant smacked his trunk against her face several times and stopped her.
"Fine then, Psycho Cut!" Jynx swung her hair around and several pink blades of energy were sent flying from it, all of them hitting Cufant spot-on and pushing away again. "Now Blizzard!" Jynx pushed her hands forwards and summoned a huge blizzard from behind her that started to freeze Cufant solid.
"Steel Beam!" With a trumpeting sound, Cufant managed to shot the move from his trunk and impact Jynx, making her interrupt the Blizzard, the elephant then broke the ice around him with the shovel on his trunk. "Steel Roller!"
"Psycho Cut!"
Cufant went on with his attack and broke through the blades to then tackle down Jynx to a wall and knock her out.
"Jynx is unable to battle! Cufant is the winner!"
"Great job!" Ash said while Cufant smiled.
"What do you know, people?" Dahlia asked. "Ash may have started this battle with the wrong foot, but now he got Lorelei cornered 3 to 1, will she able of making it out of this?"
"Well, here comes my last stand. Let's do it, Lapras!" Lorelei released her last Pokemon, who noticing the ice beneath began to slide around the battlefield, showcasing quite some speed and agility despite her size. "This will be fun. Hydro Pump!"
"Dodge with Steel Roller!" Ash ordered, but Cufant stood still and recieved the hit instead, Cufant was knocked back by it and then tried to stand up, but he began snoring and eventually fell asleep.
"Cufant!" Ash shouted.
"Oh-oh! Looks like Jynx took a chance before the final hit and finally landed a Lovely Kiss!" Dahlia said.
"Thunderbolt!" Lapras released the attack from her horn and landed another clean hit on the sleeping Cufant, knocking him out completely.
"Cufant is unable to battle! Lapras is the winner!" Kukui said.
"And Dumbo is out! But to be fair he took quite the beating from Slowbro and Jynx." Dahlia said while Ash returned Cufant.
"Squirtle, I choose you!"
"Thunderbolt!"
"Gyro Ball!" Squirtle started to spin around and avoided the thunder to then approach Lapras at high speed.
"Hydro Pump!" Lapras shot the stream of water, but Squirtle dodged it and continued to spin around her, hitting Lapras with the Gyro Ball several times.
"How does he know where he's going if his head is inside the shell?" Dahlia asked. "I don't know, but I love it!"
"Use Thunderbolt while he's close!"
"Aura Sphere!" Squirtle came out of his shell and tossed the sphere at Lapras' chin, making her miss the Thunderbolt.
"Hydro Pump!" Squirtle went back to his shell and used the attack, but once again this seemed to have no effect on the opposing Pokemon.
"Water Absorb." Lorelei grinned again.
"You gotta be kidding me." Ash said while Squirtle facepalmed.
"Well, I say we dance then!" Lorelei shouted and Lapras smiled before starting to slide along the ice battlefield chasing Squirtle, who tried to escape using Gyro Ball, but Lapras quickly caught up to him and used her neck to toss Squirtle onto a wall.
"Skull Bash!" Squirtle propelled himself from the wall and aimed at Lapras head-first.
"Zen Heabutt!" Lapras' horn turned into a pink blade and she used to slash Squirtle away. "Freeze-Dry!" While Squirtle was recovering, Lapras opened her mouth and released a light blue beam that froze Squirtle upon contact. "Thunderbolt!" The attack came from Lapras' horn again and caused an explosion that broke through the ice and defeated Squirtle at the same time.
"Squirtle is unable to battle! Lapras is the winner!" Kukui said.
"And goes down just like his buddy." Dahlia said. "Lorelei reduced the fight to a 1v1; and considering that Water Absorb, Lapras must still have plenty of health, but Ash also has one Pokemon completely untouched, how is this battle going to end, huh?"
"Tauros, I choose you!" Ash called out the bull who appeared in scene with a roar.
"We're ending this now! Freeze-Dry!"
"Fire Blast!" Tauros roared again releasing the fire kanji from his mouth, which easily overpowered the Freeze-Dry and then landed a clean hit on Lapras.
"...Well, that was unexpected." Dahlia said.
"Horn Attack!" Tauros rammed in Lapras' directions as his horn elongated and then impaled the Water-Type with them.
"Hydro Pump!" Lapras expelled the water stream from her mouth pushing Tauros back once again.
"Rock Tomb!" Three rocks formed in the tips of Tauros' three tails and he swung them around tossing the rocks towards Lapras.
"Zen Heabutt!" Lapras used her blade horn and cut through the first two rocks, but the last one hit her right on her neck.
"Fire Blast!" Tauros used the attack again, Lapras tried to ski away, but she was unable to dodge.
"Now Close Combat!" Tauros rushed towards Lapras again, this time attacking with a succesion of kicks, tail slaps and heabutts.
"Thunderbolt!" Having Tauros close to her, Lapras fired the electric blast landing on Tauros' head and paralyzing him for a brief moment. "Zen Heabutt!" Lapras once again used the psychic blade to slash away her opponent, but Tauros was still standing up. "Freeze-Dry to his feet!" Lapras quickly used the move before Tauros could react and froze his hooves to the ice battlefield.
"Use Fire Blast to free yourself!"
"Zen Heabutt!"
Tauros made the move aiming to his hooves to melt the fire that was trapping him, but while he focused on doing that, Lapras slid using the ice until she was in front of him again and slashed Tauros several times with her horn.
"Use Rock Tomb!" Tauros quickly tossed the stones, but Lapras slid away and avoided them. "Do it again!" Ash ordered and Tauros kept tossing rocks despite Lapras avoiding them every time, but the rocks ended up falling upon the battlefield, giving lapras less and less space to slide.
"That's enough of you, Hydro Pump!"
"Horn Attack!" Tauros charged towards the enemy as he recieved the attack directly on his head, but he kept pushing through and stabbed both his horn into Lapras again.
"Zen Headbutt!" Lapras slashed down Tauros, making his horn nail into the ice battlefield beneath them.
"Use Horn Attack again!" Tauro's horns elongated again and broke through the ice, once he was free, he went to stab Lapras again, but this time he sunk his horn right in the ice beneath her.
"He missed?" Dahlia asked.
"No, he didn't." Ash smiled and Tauros smiled as well just before using his horns as a catapult and toss Lapras up in the air.
"EH?!" That was all Lorelei could exclaim."H-Hydro Pump!"
"Fire Blast!"
Both moves met in the middle of the air while Lapras was falling, Lapras then finally fell on top of Tauros and kicked up plenty of ice dust and steam, once all that settled, Lapras could be seen with swirls in her eyes while Tauros was still able to fight, despite being trapped under the weight of Lapras, apparently the impact left him without strength to toss her up again.
"Lapras is unable to battle! Tauros is the winner and the victory goes to Ash!" Kukui shouted getting a roar from the stadium and some claps from the Elite Four and Champions.
"That's my boy!" Delia shouted form the stands.
"That's our boy!" Burnet cheered as well with Lei laughing in her arms.
"Wasn't that great?" Lorelei smiled while both Ash and her returned their Pokemon. "You're really better than I thought, Ash!" She shouted still from her side of the battlefield. "But you're far from done! You only got a taste of the Elite Four power!"
"Thanks a lot for the battle, Lori!" Ash replied.
"Heh... you know what, I don't much care, call me that if you want." Lorelei said before blowing Ash a kiss and walking out of the battlefield.
"That's what they call breaking the ice, everyone!" Dahlia said getting some boos form the crowd. "Oh, well nevermind, we're gonna take a little 30 minute break to let the champion get back some air." She explained as the ice battlefield changed to a normal one again.
.
"Well, that's one down." Juan said. "You're next, Karen."
"On my way. Better get some last minute warm-up" She said cracking her knuckles before leaving the room.
"That Tauros surely has some raw strength." Marshall said.
"Well, I think Cufant was great." Bertha said.
"Team Bulbasaur and Squirtle here." Drasna replied doing two peace signs with her hands. "I love Pokemon Talk!"
"Can you believe Ash actually hasn't used most of those Pokemon in years though?" Diantha asked. "Even though they seemed in such good shape."
"That's because he doesn't just store them." Lance said. "Ash's Pokemon are free to roam in Professor's Oak lab, where they get plenty of time for training. I've seen it myself some times while visiting the old man."
"Ash, yes, Ash told me something about that." Cynthia said. "Back when we met in Unova and I asked him about his Sinnoh Pokemon."
"Well, it surely is nice to have some reserves." Goodshow said. "And I hope you all brought the best too because we will decide the champion battle soon."
"That reminds me, if we're all here to represent the regions Ash has traveled in, shouldn't Steven be here too?" Cynthia asked.
"He was going to come along with us, yes. But he told us that he had unexpected business in Galar." Lance said.
"Yup, something regarding his Devon Corporation and Chairman Rose's Macro Cosmos." Diantha replied. "You know he's been quite busy with that since his father inherited him the whole thing, poor guy even had to interrupt his Rock hunt expedition."
"I-I can't believe Lorelei lost like that against him." Clair said still sitting next to Iris. "I mean, she's far stronger than me... Iris, if you get chosen for-"
"Of course I'm going to win." Iris interrupted while she simply looked at Ash leaving the battlefield.
Meanwhile with Ash.
"That was crazy, brother!" Elaine exclaimed in Ash's changing room, where they were along the rest of the girls. "I almost can't believe how strong you are."
"Hey, it's nothing, you did beat me after all." Ash answered.
"That was only because I tricked you with my Pikachu's Ability, now that you know what it really is, I most surely don't stand a chance." She answered while Ash's Pikachu nodded and Elaine's Pikachu laughed at him.
"Come on, don't say it like that, I mean, you've earned your eight badges, so you're really strong on you own." Ash insited.
"But you're a champion, so you're still stronger." Elaine answered.
"Are you two just gonna keep praising each other for eternity?" Mina asked with a short laugh.
"I can't believe you had a lost sister this whole time!" Flannery shouted. "...No, wait, actually, I totally believe it, it kinda checks out with the usual stuff we've dealt with so far."
"Well, I'm really happy for you two, I'm Lillie by the way." She said talking to Elaine. "I'm Ash 9th girlfriend, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Pleasure's all mine." Elaine answered. "So 9 already? You don't waste time." She said smirking to her brother.
"Yeah, sure, but serious talking, Elaine, thanks a lot for coming to see me in person." Ash said.
"It's nothing, that's what family is for." She replied. "After all, you promised to go and see me in the Kanto league too, didn't you?"
"Of course I did, and I wouldn't miss it for the world." Ash answered. "You also must have worked really hard to get where you are."
"I sure did, Brock, Misty, Erika, Blaine, Giselle, Visquez, Janine, Sabrina, I defeated all of them, but each battle was really hard."
"Hmm, Visquez, Janine and... Giselle?" Ash asked.
"Right, it's been some years since you traveled through and Kanto and they all became leaders rather recently." Elaine said. "Visquez is Lt. Surge's trainee, she's been the leader of the Vermilion Gym since Surge retired, Janine is from the Fuchsia Gym, she's Koga's daugther and inherited the Gym after her father was appointed as a Johto Elite Four, as for Giselle, she became the new leader of Viridian City after the whole situation with Team Rocket was cleared out."
"How interesting, I mean, I haven't met either Visquez or Janine, but I did meet Giselle back when my journey was starting, she definitely had potential, I'm not surprised she became a Gym Leader."
"Boy, my battle against her was seriously the second hardest right after Sabrina, that Marowak is insane." Elaine sighed. "Hmm, so you met her, does that mean Giselle will join your harem too?"
"What? No, I mean, she was my first crush and all that, but-"
"SHE WHAT?!" The rest of the girls shouted.
"B-B-But it was just something short." Ash continued. "I'm not sure if we'd end up in something, that's if we ever meet again."
"But if you do meet you'd give it a try?" Elaine asked.
"Well, uh, yes, I guess." Ash answered.
"Why all those questions, Elaine?" Mina asked with a teasing look.
"I-It's nothing, you know, it's that as Ash's sister, I'd just like to keep track of all the girls." She stuttered. "You can be sure that I'll be the cool aunt that gives the kids money without telling you."
"You'll have to bring plenty of money then." Selene said. "Considering all of the people here."
"But since we're at that, Elaine..." Ash got closer to her. "Tell me, do you have someone special?"
"Eh... w-w-where does that question come from?" Elaine stuttered while blushing.
"Well, you know, I'm your brother, so if someone wants to date you they'll have to get my approbation first." He smiled patting her head.
"Pftt, yeah, sure, we've barely met for two weeks." Elaine laughed. "But... well, there's this boy I kinda like."
"Really?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, but..." Elaine scratched the back of her head and looked away.
"Come on, just do it." Mina whispered.
"Thing is that it could be a problem liking him, because... because he already has a girlfriend, just one, of course." She answered and Mina facepalmed. "So I guess it's a lost cause... or do you think I should ask for a shared relationship like the one you have?"
"I honestly wouldn't recommend that to you, sister." Ash answered.
"But why not? Like, you have 9 girlfriends now, with probably other 9 in the way and it doesn't look like you're planning to stop there."
"And that's exactly why I suggest you to not even consider it." Ash said. "Elaine, I love all of my girlfriends and I know they love me too, but I know they're not entirely happy, even if they get along with each other and I find time for each one of them, it is simply not the same, I try my best, but... I know they'd be happier if they didn't have to share me... I don't want that for you."
"I... thank you, brother." Elaine sighed. "And don't worry, I'm sure they're as happy as ever." She said pointing at the girls, who all has rather worried looks towards Ash.
"Is that... really how you feel?" Bea asked. "Even after all we've talked about?"
"Ash, we all are happy, you know it." Nessa said.
"Yes, I know." Ash answered. "But we all know this still isn't fair for you, girls."
"And what were you supposed to do, huh? Rejecting us all?" Gloria asked. "Ash, you followed your heart, just like we all did, there's nothing wrong with that."
"We are your girlfriends, you are our boyfriend." Acerola said. "We're all a family, we're in this together, for the good and the bad."
"Here! I'll cheer you up!" Skyla said brining Ash's face to her breasts.
"You can't just fix everything by throwing his face in your boobs!" Selene complained.
"Who decided that?" Flannery asked.
"Hmp, fine then." Skyla laughed before taking Ash's face again and giving him a lip kiss. "I love you, with sharing and everything, that's all that matters."
"Each of us love you, we wouldn't have agreed to this if we weren't aware of the possible consequences." Lillie said.
"And please, don't think about all those things that May and Dawn said." Mallow added. "I can tell that still troubles you."
"Yeah, those two don't even know what they were talking about." Lana said. "Quite the friends they are."
"And even if what they said is right, as long as we stick together we'll be fine." Peonia said.
"Well, everyone gave you a piece of their mind." Bea talked again. "Feeling better?"
"...Thank you, girls." Ash gave them a wide smile.
"Well, I say this deserves a kissing konga line!" Gloria said and the rest of the girls laughed while they all approached Ash to get a kiss.
"Well, isn't that a charming family?" Flannery asked.
"Yup, I'll give it to Ash, he definitely knows how to find thrustworthy and loving people." Selene added.
"Oh, well, I'mma take a smooch as well." Flannery said.
"I'm still not sure about how I feel about the fact that we kissed him despite not being his girlfriends yet." Selene tapped her fingers in embarassment, but went to join the fray either way.
"Talk about chaos." Mina laughed standing aside along Elaine. "Listen, girl, what Ash said is still kinda true. But if that person you like is really worth it, then I think you should give it a try."
"No... I... I think I'm fine with the way things are." Elaine sighed.
Meanwhile in Wyndon.
"Okay, Dawn, hehe, it's been a week already! I'm gonna call Ash." Chloe said with her Rotom Phone in hand while looking at herself in the mirror as her Eevee stood on her head with quite a worried look. "...Fine, it hasn't been a week yet, but I'm really worried! What if something happened? What if the chasers found them? What if they're injured? What if-"
"Hey, Chloe-"
"What's the matter, Mom?!" Chloe shouted.
"Uh, sorry, but you have some visits, would you mind coming down with us?" She asked.
"Ugh, sure." Chloe sighed as her mother guided her downstairs, with the girl freezing in place once she saw the trio of chasers talking with her father in the living room.
"Chloe." Shunya said.
"Koharu." Goh sighed.
"Chorizo hair girl." Lyla added.
"G-Goh, Lyla, Shunya, guys..." Chloe stuttered. "Uh, how are you?"
"They already told me everything, Chloe." Her father answered. "Your... your friends has been arrested and now they came for you because you helped them... So you lied to us and to Regina's family? And you put both of yourselves in danger? Regina could've been seriously injured during the fight!"
"I-It's not what it looks like." Chloe answered.
"No, I don't wanna hear it." Professor Cerise interrupted.
"Darling, wait a moment, you should let her explain." Talia said.
"Well, I won't let her!" He answered.
"I don't need your permission!" Chloe suddenly shouted and then covered her mouth before taking a deep breath. "Y-Y-Yes, I lied, but... I did it for my friend, Dawn need me and I wasn't going to fail her."
"Koharu... just come with us, peacefully." Goh said. "Please, do it for us, you and me, for the good old times."
"You put an end the good old times." Chloe answered.
"Why did you two broke up anyway?" Shunya asked.
"Not the moment!" They both shouted.
"Eevee-"
"Don't try it!" Goh shouted.
"Sand Attack!" Chloe ordered and her Eevee swoop her tail along the ground, summoning a small sandstorm that surrounded the chasers and her parents. Chloe then quicky grabbed her Eevee and ran towards the backdoor, but she bumped onto Chrysa before she could escape. "C-C-Chrysa, liste-"
"Just keep running." Chrysa whispered, Chloe smiled at her and ran out of the lab, Chrysa then closed the backdoor and Goh, Shunya and Lyla entered the room running along Chloe's parents. "I'm sorry, she managed to escape me." Chrysa said.
"Frosmoth!"
"Vikavolt!"
"Scisor!"
"Find her!" The three chasers ordered and the bugs broke through the door to then away to go after Chloe.
"Goh, enough!" Talia shouted, but the trio ignored her and ran away following their Pokemon.
"You didn't have to break down the door by the way!" Chrysa shouted.
"We don't have time to think about collateral damage!" Lyla answered.
"I'm pretty sure that was just damage damage!" Chrysa replied. "It wasn't even locked!"
"Please don't harm Chloe!" Prof. Cerise shouted.
"That'll be up to her!" Goh said.
"Don't worry, we're not gonna hurt her!" Shunya answered. "It'll be a peaceful arrest!"
"Not sure if you should be trusting the eyebag guy's word." Chrysa said.
"Why did you let her escape?" Prof. Cerise asked.
"I heard the whole thing from back here." Chrysa asked. "I feel like Chloe did what she did for an important reason, there must be something else that Goh and his team aren't telling you."
"We have to go and help Chloe!" Talia said.
"We can't just go and do that!" Prof. Cerise answered. "Do none of you understand? They're authorized to do this! Chloe did something illegal and now she just made everything worse by resisting."
"She's our daughter!" Talia shouted. "Are you seriously not going to do anything about this?!"
"I'm afraid so and neither will you." He answered. "Sorry, I can only afford to lose one family member today."
"But Ray-"
"I said that nobody in this house is going after them!" He shouted. "Please, just... Chloe knew what she was getting into, now she'll have to take responsibility... you understand that, right?" He asked her wife.
"...Yes." Talia sighed.
"Great, now you two help me fix this door." He said.
'...Nobody in this house, huh?' Chrysa thought.
Back in Alola
"We're about to continue, everyone! Ash's next battle is against Karen Yuzuki from Johto!" Dahlia said as the two trainers took their place in the battlefield, which was currently changed to a grassy one. "And the condition is..." The Frontier Brain spun her Roulette again, this time with it ending in a slot that had the Dynamax and the Z-Moves symbols crossed out. "No Dynamax and no Z-Moves!"
"Isn't that a shame?" Karen smiled moving her hair aside to showcase the Key Stone in her left earring.
"Hey, Korrina, Ash could really use that Key Stone right now." Flannery said calling her with her Rotom Phone.
"I know, ok? I'm trying my best here." Korrina answered with a Magnifying lass in hand. "What part of 'this could end up burning Ash's hand if I get it wrong' you didn't understand?"
"Well, Ash, when we met you told me you knew who I was, so I imagine you I specially in Dark-Type." Karen said. "I also suppose you think that just cause you defeated Lorelei you can take me as well, but you better don't get too confident... go on and try to entertain me, kid."
"Challenge accepted." Ash answered.
"Trainers, release your first Pokemon!" Kukui said.
"Let's go, Umbreon!"
"Scraggy, I choose you!"
"We'll be starting with the smols!" Dahlia said.
"SCRAGGY?!" Iris shouted surprising the rest of the champions and Elite Four. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, ASH KETCHUM?! THAT'S AN ELITE FOUR AND YOU'RE USING A LITERAL BABY!"
"Why are you suddenly so worried?" Diantha asked.
"It's... it's nothing." Iris sighed and looked for one of her Poke Balls to then release a Fraxure who quickly noticed Ash and Scraggy fighting in the battlefield.
"You can watch, but don't get so excited about it." Iris said. "Scraggy isn't going to last much."
"If both trainers are ready then the battle begins now!" Kukui said.
"Weather Ball!" Karen was the first to order and Umbreon summoned a translucid sphere that absorbed the bright sunlight of the day and turned into a fire sphere that he tossed at Scraggy.
"High Jump Kick!" Scraggy jumped in the air and avoided the fire ball to then aim the attack at Umbreon, but the eeveelution moved away just in time and avoided the kick, causing Scraggy to injure himself.
"Lash Out!" Umbreon jumped towards Scraggy with both its front paws taking the form of long black claws.
"Focus Blast!" Scraggy formed the orb between his hands and tossed it forward while Umbreon was still in the air, landing a clear hit and pushing him away again.
"Shadow Ball!" Karen ordered and Umbreon formed the ball in his mouth.
"Iron Head!" The orange part of Scraggy's head turned silver and he rushed towards Umbreon, who then tossed the Shadow Ball and managed to push back Scraggy again, but this shielded himself from most of the smage with the Iron Head.
"Lash Out again!" Umbreon ran towards Scraggy again and used his claws to slash him several times.
"Assurance!" After some more slashes, one of Scraggy's hands became surrounded in darkness and he used it to land a huge slap that pushed Umbreon back again.
"Weather Ball!" Umbreon once again used the fire-powered attack, but Scraggy pulled up his pants to cover himself and shielded from the attack, but the moment he pulled them down, Umbreon was already jumping over him with another Weather Ball that he manged to land the hit with close range.
"High Jump Kick!"
"Shadow Ball!"
Umbreon aimed the attack at Scraggy's face while he was jumping and caused him to miss his mark and crash onto the battlefield again.
"Zap Cannon!" The ring on Umbreon's forehead shot a massive electric blast and Scraggy tried to shield himself with his pants again, but the move was way too strong and ended up knocking him down in the battlefield, severely injured and barely able to stand up again.
"Fraxure!" The Pokemon shouted.
"What did I tell you?" Iris asked.
"Hmm... Scraggy, return for now." Ash said recalling him. "Totodile, I choose you!"
"You can do it, little guy!" Peonia cheered on.
"You're really bringing out a Water-type after just seeing that?" Karen asked. "My, they don't joke about you. Zap Cannon!"
"Hydro Cannon!" Ash shouted and Totodile took a huge breath before expelling a massive blast of water to the grass beneath him, sending himself flying up and avoiding the electric attack. "Superpower!" Totodile curled himself into a ball as he descended and his body was surrounded in red energy to then fall with great force on top of Umbreon.
"Lash Out!" Umbreon kicked Totodile out of him and began to use his claws to slash him.
"Metal Claw!" Totodile's claws were surrounded in silver and he began trading slashes with Umbreon, with both of them landing several hits, yet neither of them seemed to back down.
"Shadow Ball!"
"Ice Punch!" Totodile went for the punch while Umbreon was charging the move in his mouth causing a small explosion that stopped the Shadow Ball form forming, but Umbreon took the chance and bit down Totodile's arm, despite being affected by the frost, Umbreon began to swing Totodile from side to side smacking him onto the battlefield several times.
"Hydro Cannon!" Totodile expelled the stream of water all over Umbreon, but the Dark-Type refused to let go off his arm.
"Zap Cannon!" While still being showered by water, Umbreon charged the Electric attack and released it, electrocuting both of them and then creating a massive electric explosion that sent them both to opposite sides of the battlefield.
"Lash Out!"
"Superpower!"
Umbreon and Totodile rushed towards the other with their attacks ready, meeting in the middle of the battlefield, with Totodile landing a powered punch and sending Umbreon flying again, leaving it fainted once it hit the ground.
"Umbreon is unable to battle! Totodile is the winner!" Kukui said and Totodile started to dance again, but quickly stopped due to his injuries.
"Once again, despite a rough start, Ash gets the first win of the match!" Dahlia said.
"Let's see if it stays that way." Karen said recalling Umbreon. "Your turn, Honchkrow!"
"Hydro Cannon!"
"Brave Bird!" Honchkrow adjusted his fedora before taking flight and avoid the water attack, quickly descending as he was surrounded with a blue aura to then tackle down Totodile before take flight again.
"Ice Punch!"
"Thunder Wave!"
While Totodile jumped towards him, Honchkrow flapped his wings, releasing a yellow wind covered in sparks that hit Totodile, but he still managed to reach him and land the Ice Punch on one of his wings, making them both fall back to the ground. Honchkrow quickly stood up again and smacked his wing onto the battlefield to break the ice over it, while Totodile stood up with difficulty after being paralyzed by the Thunder Wave.
"Night Slash!" Honchkrow dashed towards Totodile while his wings became surrounded in darkness and landed a cross slash with them, knocking out Totodile.
"Totodile is unable to battle! Honchkrow is the winner!" Kukui said while Honchkrow put a wing over his chest and lowered his head while he was surrounded by a red aura.
"Heh, Honchkrow's Ability is Moxie." Karen said while Ash returned Totodile. "His attack gets boosted everytime he defeats a Pokemon so he likes to 'pay respect' to them."
"Well then, Weavile, I choose you!"
"Incinerate!"
"W-Whirpool!"
The second Weavile was out Honchkrow expelled a fire attack from his mouth, but Weavile reacted just as quickly as spun around summoning a whirlpool around him to shield himself.
"Thunder Wave!" Honchkrow once again flapped the yellow wind and with Weavile still using Whirpool, the electricity went right through and paralyzed him, but Weavile managed to toss the Whirpool at Honchkrow, with it still having a small bit of electricity, but not enough to paralyze him as well. "Incinerate!" Honchkrow once again expelled the fire attack, and due to the paralysis, Weavile was unable to dodge or react.
"Ice Beam!" Weavile shot the move from his mouth, but Honchkrow dodged it taking flight again.
"Night Slash!" Both Ash and Karen shouted, the Pokemon started slashing each other, both of them landing hits, but Weavile once again paralyzed and Honchkrow landed a huge slash that pushed him to a wall.
"Incinerate!"
"Whirpool!" Weavile once again shielded himself and spun like a top inside the Whirlpool to reach Honchkrow and hit him with it, knocking him to the ground again.
"Use Beat up!" Weavile crossed his claws and was surrounded by green energy, five orbs appeared around him and each of them shot a different attack at Honchkrow. Shock Wave, Razor leaf, Hydro Cannon, Focus Blast and Hyper Beam, with Weavile later joining them with his own Ice Beam. Honchkrow took flight again and avoided both the Razor Leaf and the Focus Blast, but both the Shock Wave and Ice Beam stopped him mid-air, making him receive the Hydro Cannon and the Hyper Beam directly, which knocked him down to the battlefield again, kicking up some dust.
"How about that? A double hit form Hydro-Cannon and Hyper Beam at the same time! Could Honchkrow withstand that?" After Dahlia asked that, Honchkrow flew out of the dust with a Brave Bird, tackling down Weavile to a wall, the bird then landed in front of him and smirked, tipping his fedora before dropping himself in the grass defeated.
"Honchkrow is unable to battle! Weavile is the winner!" Kukui said while Weavile stood up with difficulty still suffering form the paralysis.
"Hmp, looks like Honchkrow knew he was done for and decided to make the last hit count without minding the recoil." Karen said recalling him. "You're next, Mismagius!"
"Can you keep going, Weavile?" Ash asked and the weasel simply smirked. "Stubborn as always." Ash shook his head, knowing Weavile wouldn't let him return him.
"Mystical Fire!" Mismagius opened her mouth and released a stream of fire from it.
"Whirlpool!" Weavile once again tried to use the move to shield himself, but the paralysis stopped him and the fire attack surrounded him.
"Now Power Gem!" The three red gems on Mismagius' chest fired of three white rays, Weavile tried to counter them with Night Slash, but he could only counter one of the rays while the only two hit him from behind and knocked him out.
"Weavile is unable to battle! Mismagius is the winner!"
"Thanks a lot." Ash said recalling him. "Bayleef, I choose you!" Ash released the grass starter and this for once didn't jump over him, simply looking at her trainer to smile. "Let's do this, girl!"
"Mystical Fire!"
"Ancient Power!" Bayleef's eyes glowed blue and several rocks rose form the battlefield and then went flying towards Mismagius, blocking the fire and then cleanly hitting the ghost.
"Magical Leaf!" Bayleff swung around the leaf in her head, releasing several multicolored leaves that surrounded Mismagius into a tornado while damaging her.
"Mystical Fire!" Mismagius expelled the stream of fire again and burned the leaves around her, but Bayleef suddenly extended her vines towards Mismagius and wrapped them around her head, covering her mouth and face and then smacking the ghost around.
"Power Gem!" Despite not being able to see anything, Mismagius shot the three beams again, with two of them missing, but the other landing on Bayleef's back, the impact caused Bayleef to loose her vines just enough for Mismagius to open her mouth and use Mystical Fire on the vines, forcing Bayleef to retreat them. "Dark Pulse!"
"Solar Beam!" Bayleef gathered sunlight from the leaves in her neck and then fired the beam from her mouth, with her move breaking through the Dark Pulse and exploding onto Mismagius, knocking her down to the battlefield. "Do it again!"
"Mismagius, be kind, would you?" Karen asked and her Pokemon nodded as her eyes glowed purple, Bayleef then fired the Solar Beam and this landed a clean hit, knocking out the ghost.
"Mismagius is unable to battle! Bayleef is the winner!" Kukui said, but after that, Mismagius' eyes glowed purple again, with two purple swirls emerging form them and suddenly surrounding Bayleef, making her faint right in the spot.
"Bayleef!" Ash shouted. "You... Destiny Bond?"
"Guess I gotcha." Karen winked.
"I honestly saw that coming." Lance said.
"Yes, and now that means that the only Pokemon Ash has left is the Scraggy he used in the beginning." Diantha said.
"And I can already imagine what will be Karen's last Pokemon." Lorelei said.
"Let's end this, Houndoom!" Karen released her ace, who was wearing a black-and-white brace with a Houndoomite on his left shoulder. "Ashes to ashes... Dust to dust..." Karen once again showed the Key Stone in her earring and activated it, causing the Houndoomite to react to it. "You're gonna burn with the rest of us." She grinned and Houndoom fully Mega-Evolved, Ash then called his Scraggy out again, who got scared for a moment seeing his opponent, but quickly calmed himself and prepared for battle.
"Scraggy, you're all I have left." Ash told him. "Are you sure you want to fight him?"
"Cra...ggy!" He nodded stomping the ground.
"That's the spirit." Karen smiled.
"He really hasn't mattured one bit." Iris sighed.
"Fraxure!" The dragon kept cheering on his friend.
"Then let's play, Solar Beam!" Houndoom gathered sunlight between his horns and then fired off a giant green beam from it.
"High Jump Kick!" Scraggy jumping barely avoiding the attack and dove down with the kick, hitting Houndoom cleanly on his head.
"Snarl!" Houndoom howled and a black sphere of energy formed infront of him and then hurled itself onto Scraggy creating an explosion.
"Thunder Fang!" Houndoom jumped over Scraggy and bit him down by his releasing a discharge and then smacking him around as a chewing toy.
"Focus Blast!" While still being held, Scraggy managed to form the orb and toss it right onto Houndoom's face, who then tossed Scraggy up in the air and smacked him away with his tail.
"Inferno!" Houndoom opened his mouth and expelled a massive black flame that surrounded Scraggy, who tried to withstand the attack, but ended up dropping in the ground as Houndoom continued with the attack.
"Seems like that's it." Lance said.
"Told you all." Iris sighed as she stood up from her seat. "Let's get out of here, Fraxure, this was a waste of time." She said starting to walk away, but her Pokemon stood where he was. "Fraxure?"
"Frax..." The dragon looked at her and shook his head.
"Fine, we'll have it your way." Iris looked for his Poke Ball, but Fraxure suddenly jumped thought the glass window in the front of the VIP section.
"...I'm not paying for that." Goodshow said.
"These windows are of really low quality if he broke them so easily though." Clair said.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?!" Iris shouted approaching the broken window.
"Hmmp, I think I know." Cynthia smiled, meanwhile Fraxure descended above the crowd with an Aerial Ace and landed next to Kukui in the referee spot.
"Uh, hello there?" Kukui said.
"Fraxure! Fraxure! FRAX!" He shouted and both Ash and Scraggy noticed him.
"Wait, is that Iris' Axew?" Ash asked.
"Gy..." The lizard smiled seeing him.
"FRAXURE!" He shouted again.
"Houn..." Houndoom stopped his attack wondering what was happening and Scraggy stood up again, panting and injured, but in fighting position while Fraxure kept cheering on him.
"Cute and all, but this is still a battle." Karen said. "Inferno!" Houndoom shot the stream of black fire again and Scraggy was surrounded by it, but he began to give steps towards Houndoom, walking thought the flames, Houndoom intensified his attack, to the point where his bone armor shined bright red due to heat he was emitting, Scraggy then started to run with a Focus Blast in hand as the flames still surrounded him, once his close enough, Scraggy tossed the Focus Blast to Houndoom's mouth, creating a fiery explosion, despite that, Houndoom was still standing, but he was now in front of an angry Scrafty.
"SCRAAAAAFTY!" He roared to the skies.
"Fraxure!" The Dragon kept cheering next to Kukui.
"Ah, yes, the classic 'character is close to death but is able to come back to life because of an inspirational shout from the audience' cliche." Dahlia said. "Who am I kidding?! Wreck her shit!"
"Scrafty..." Ash smiled scanning him.
'Scrafty, the Hoodlum Pokemon. While mostly known for having the temperament of an aggressive ruffian, this Pokémon takes very good care of its family, friends, and territory. Scrafty has forgotten High Jump Kick and Iron Head, replacing them with Outrage and Head Smash. His Ability is now Shed Skin, which will heal status conditions.' After the Rotom Phone ended his explanations, Scrafty was hit by a burn, but his skin illuminated for a brief moment and then shattered, with the lizard smiling after that.
"So that's Shed Skin." Ash said. "If it heals status then that means... Outrage! Go!" Scraggy put on his hood as his eyes glowed bright red, he then rushed to Houndoom as his body was outlined in red aura and began a barrage of punches and kicks.
"Thunder Fang!" Houndoom bit down one of Sracfty's arms and electrocuted him, but Scrafty quickly grabbed him by his neck with his other arm and tossed Houndoom away, but the dog managed to land on all-fours, Scrafty then became confused for a brief moment, but his Shed Skin activated again and quickly healed him.
"Snarl!" With another howl, Houndoom fired a far bigger dark orb towards the Lizard.
"Focus Blast!" Scrafty rose his hands in the air and the Focus Blast kept increasing in size, he then tossed it towards the Snarl and both moves cancelled each other out.
"Inferno!"
"Head Smash!" Scrafty took away his hood and became surrounded by a light brown aura he then shot himself at the fire and used his crest to break through it and ending landing a huge headbutt right on Houndoom's chest.
"Solar Beam!" Houndoom shot the attack form his horns again, Scrafty quickly pulled up his pants and shielded himself, but the attack still managed to push him back onto a wall.
"Focus Blast!"
"Hellfire!" Houndoom combined his Snarl with an Inferno and the attacks outpowered the Focus Blast and surrounded Scrafty, but the flames expanded and began to cover the whole grassy battlefield in flames. while Houndoom jumped inside them and used them to hide himself as he attacked Scrafty from various side.
"Outrage!" Ash shouted and Scrafty put on his hood again to start attacking Houndoom with kicks and punches again while Houndoom responded with Thunder Fangs and slashed with his claws, meanwhile both Ash and Karen could rarely see anything due to the increasing flames.
"Woop! is getting hot in here." Dahlia said. "Pfft, of course is hot, I'm here after all."
"We better do something about that." Kukui said and then looked at Fraxure. "Hey, buddy, can you help me dig a trench?" He asked and the dragon nodded to then start digging a trench around the battlefield. "Lucario, Dig! Empoleon, Hydro Pump!" Kukui released both Pokemon and the two helped Fraxure make a river trench that contained the flames inside the battlefield, the humidity eventually caused the fire to decrease and Scrafty and Mega-Houndoom could finally be seen again, both of them heavily injured, but still trading attacks back and forth. Houndoom then opened his mouth to use Inferno again, but Scrafty grabbed him shut using Assurance with both hands and tossed him to the ground. But Houndoom pushed him away with a Solar Beam and opened his mouth again releasing the Inferno, which Scrafty blocked with his pants, both Pokemon seemed tired and like they could collapse any second, but the two continued to stand up.
"Well, Karen, is this entertaining?" Ash asked.
"Indeed, but I'm afraid my patience is waning." Karen answered. "Let's end this big time! Activate Solar Power!" Houndoom howled to the skies and began absorbing energy from the sun as his whole body became surrounded in flames and his bone armor turned pitch black. "Solar Fang Strike!" She shouted and Houndoom ran towards Scrafty surrounded by the black flames.
"Head Smash!" Scrafty took his hoodie off again and ran shoot himself surrounded by the light brown energy, both attacks met in the middle of the still burning battlefield, creating a massive explosion of fire, dust and ashes.
Ash, Karen, Kukui and most people in the crowd had to cover their eyes and it took almost a minute for the dust to settle, Houndoom and Scrafty were both still standing, but the Johto Pokemon suddenly returned to his base form and dropped defeated in the burned ground.
"Houndoom is unable to battle! Scrafty is the winner and the victory goes to Ash!" Kukui shouted.
"WHO'S THE UNDERDOG NOW?! HA!" Dahlia shouted. "That the good shit, people! Next battle will be in 30 minutes, so get out of here and drink some water!"
"Great job, Scrafty!" Bea cheered on along the rest of the girlfriends.
"Fraxure!" With the battle ended, Fraxure ran to field and gave Scrafty a hug, he was then followed by Ash, while Iris finally came down as well and stood watching them from afar.
"Axew?" Ash smiled and the dragon ran to hug him as well. "Wow, look at you."
"That was the best battle I've had in my life." Karen said walking to them and returning her Houndoom. "Thanks a lot, Ash."
"I honestly thought we were lost for a moment." Ash admitted and Scrafty gave him a soft shoulder hit as he smiled. "Heh, sorry."
"Fraxure!" Iris shouted walking onto the battlefield. "What is wrong with you?! I gave you an order!"
"Hey, take it easy, Iris." Ash said. "He just wanted to cheer on his friend. In fact, I think it was because of that that we won."
"Exactly! Doesn't that count as cheating?!" Iris shouted.
"Nope, it doesn't." Karen answered. "Fraxure never interrupted the battle directly to help Scraggy, so they're good to go." She said and both Pokemon fist-bumped.
"Argh, that's it!" Iris returned Fraxure to his Poke Ball and then walked out of the battlefield.
"Hey, Iris, wait!" Ash called her as she entered one of the tunnels of the stadium and he followed her.
"Leave me alone!" Iris shouted, but Ash grabbed her wrist and caused her to stop.
"That's enough!" Ash said. "Listen, I know you and I had our discussions, but you've never been this hostile to me, what's the matter?"
"YOU are the matter!" Iris shouted. "How did someone like you even become champion?! They gave you, an imbecile, a moron who's always making a fool out of himself in front of a whole region, the champion title! And you still continue doing stupid things like you don't have any kind of responsibility! YOU'RE SUCH A KID!" Iris panted after all the shouting and Ash looked at her for a moment before taking her in a hug.
"Heh, I get it now." Ash smiled.
"You let me go this instant or I swear I-"
"I'm sorry I didn't notice it earlier." Ash interrupted her. "By the way you're talking... I suppose you've gotten a lot of pressure as the new Unova Champion, but don't worry, if someone is capable of handling such a title that's definitely you, I'm really proud of you, of what you achieved, I'm still processing how much it seems you've grown since we last met... and I didn't get the chance to tell you back in the mansion, but... I really missed you."
"I... I missed you too." Iris said answering the hug for a brief moment, only to softly push Ash afterwards. "Sorry by the way I've been acting, I'm just... I feel like I suddenly have the world in my shoulders and I'm not sure if I'm ready for it, and then they asked me to come here and see you and I... I guess I didn't want you to see my sensitive side or whatever they call it... I'm also proud of you, you have no idea."
"Thanks." Ash said before Iris gave him another hug.
"Uh... good luck with the rest of the battles." Iris sighed parting from him. "I hope they pick me to fight you." Iris looked at him for a moment, before leaving back to the VIP area, while Ash returned to his changing room.
Back in Wyndon.
"Hello, Ash. This is Roxanne Petra, from Rustboro, you remember me, right? Uh, sorry if my calls bother you, uh, I asked Flannery for your number the other day, listen, I know that up to this point our relationship has been strictly professional, you're a challenger, I'm a Gym Leader and that was it; and you're a champion now so you must be really busy, but..." Roxanne stopped for a moment as she struggled to continue. "O-Okay, here is the question... Would you like to-to go out on a date with me?"
"Eh, no." Lisia answered wearing a cap akin to Ash's, the two girls were sitting outside a cafe. Lisia was wearing her casual attire which consisted in a teal shirt, black jeans with suspenders and glasses. "Girl, you're a total disaster." She said taking off Ash's cap and putting her own green newsboy cap in her head.
"Okay, that's not helping." Roxanne sighed but then took her Rotom Phone. "Fine, here we go, for real this time... I... I'm just gonna tell him that... t-that I want him to paddle me."
"Wait, what?" Lisia asked.
"I CAN'T DO IT!" Roxanne shouted blushing and then tossed her Rotom Phone to the floor, but luckily he started floating himself and stopped mid-air right before the impact. "I can't do it, I swear I want to, but I can't."
"Listen, we're going to Alola tomorrow anyway." Lisia said. "You'll get the chance to talk with him personally, so just calm down and keep practicing."
"I guess you have a point." Roxanne sighed. "Thanks a lot for all the help you've been giving me these days, Lisia."
"Hey, it's fine, I'm honestly glad to at least have someone to talk to." Lisia answered. "Spending time with Uncle Steven tends to be pretty boring, specially since most of his friends are rocks... either way, you do remember what I told about Ash's love life, right?"
"O-Of course, what you mentioned about the other girlfriends..." Roxanne trailed off. "It's still a bit surprising, isn't it?"
"I guess, And by the way he was talking, it's almost for sure that he has even more now." Lisia said. "Maybe I shouldn't have told my spies to retreat so I could have the exact number, but well, I'm joining too."
"You seem so sure of the idea." Roxanne said.
"Because I am, once Ash gets to know me he'll see I'm just as good, if not better than the rest of his girls." Lisia smiled. "And just imagine how mad May is gonna be when I join, HAHAHAHAHA!"
"Somebody help me!" Chloe shouted while running past the Hoenn girls.
"...Chloe?" Roxanne asked and the Scizor, Frosmoth and Vikavolt chasing Chloe were the next to pass them by. "..."
.
"I'm not going to be able to outrun them, I need to call Ash before they get to me." Chloe took her Rotom Phone in hand again, but this was suddenly shot down by a Thunderbolt from Vikavolt which subsequently made the device explode and caused the Rotom inside it to escape away.
"N-No!" Chloe stuttered trying to pick back up the pieces of the device. "T-This can't, no, no, no..."
"Zor!" Scizor landed in front of Chloe, while Frosmoth and Vikavolt surrounded her, Chloe tried to keep running away, but the bugs eventually trapped her in an alley, Chloe's Eevee then jumped towards Scizor with an Iron Tail, but Scizor smacked her away with a Brick break and knocked her out in the street.
"Eevee!" Chloe kneeling in front of her injured Pokemon and taking her in her arms. "I... I'm so sorry I brought you into this." She said between tears as the Bug-Types surrounded her.
"Probopass, Rock Blast!" Roxanne shouted on top of her ace who sent forwards her Mini noses to attack the bugs repeatedly, eventually knocking out Frosmoth and Vikavolt.
"Hello there." Lisia talked behind Scizor alongside her Altaria who then attacked him with a Fire Blast and knocked him out.
"Chloe! Are you okay?" Roxanne asked helping her stand up.
"M-Miss Roxanne, thank you so much." Chloe stuttered.
"What happened? Who do these Pokemon belong to? Is someone following you?" Roxanne asked.
"I-I... I..."
"I think they went this way!" Lyla's voice was heard in the distance and Roxanne could see the fear in Chloe's eyes.
"You'll be safe with us, don't worry." Roxanne said to then help Chloe ride on her Probopass along with her, while Lisia rode in her Altaria and the two flew away, leaving the defeated Pokemon in the alley. Some moments later, the chasers arrived in the scene, retrieving their defeated Pokemon as they checked the place.
"Okay, one thing I'm sure of, Chloe didn't do this." Lyla said.
"Meaning that there must be more team members that helped her." Shunya added.
"That doesn't matter." Goh said grabbing the pieces of Chloe's Rotom Phone. "I'll take this with Tokio, maybe he can fix it or take some information."
"Oh, so you can call Horace by his nickname, but you can't do it with Chloe?" Lyla laughed. "And he looked soooo worried when you took that explosion from the Jigglypuff."
"Leave me alone." Goh said.
"Do you have any idea of where she could be hiding?" Shunya asked. "You know Chloe the best, is there any cave, hideout or anything that could give us clues?"
"Well, I'm not totally sure, but there's this place that..." Goh stopped talking as he thought for a moment. "No, forget it, she can't be that far, but we better split, we have to find her, one way or another.
Back in Alola.
"And now for the third battle of this challenge Ash will have to fight against Juan Adán Galano de Costa Brava Cortez, representing the Hoenn Region!" Dahlia explained as the two trainers walked to the battlefield through the tunnel.
"I suppose they made you Elite Four to replace Phoebe, right?" Ash asked.
"Correct, though I wasn't the only new addition, Drake retired recently and he was replaced by one of his trainees, Michelle."
"Michelle, huh? Yeah, I remember meeting her once." Ash said. "And who's the Sootopolis Gym Leader now?"
"That would be none other than Katie." Juan answered. "I asked Wallace if he wanted the position again, but he told me he's too busy with contests to be a Gym Leader anymore. And although I would have preferred someone with a bit more grace, Katie honestly proved herself; and I'm quite sure she'll be watching our fight as well, after all, she has mentioned you more than once."
"I see..."
"And now the roulette spins!" Dahlia shouted and the roulette ended in a slot with a droplet of water. "Looks like we're going for an aquatic battlefield!" She said as the battlefield changed again, this time turning into a pool with several platforms on it.
"This isn't funny anymore." Ash said.
"Now, don't let that bring you down, you did beat me in my Gym with this kind of battlefield before." Juan said.
"I sure did." Ash sighed but then smiled. "Let's do this."
"Trainers, release your first Pokémon!" Kukui said once they were in their spots.
"Grookey, I choose you!" Ash exclaimed and called out the starter, who stood in one of the platforms with his stick in hand.
"Then I'll go with... Kecleon!" Juan's Pokémon also landed in a platform, however, the zigzagging stripe that goes in his belly was white instead of the usual red.
"What is it gonna be now?" Ash asked.
"If both trainers are ready then the battle begins now!" Kukui shouted.
"Hammer Arm!" Ash ordered and Grookey jumped from his platform, placing his stick back in his head as both his arms were surrounded in red energy.
"Aerial Ace!" Juan answered, Kecleon's sprite suddenly went from white to a light blue and he jumped towards Grookey, the attacks met and Grookey was able to push Kecleon down again, but he quickly stood up, apparently not taking too much damage.
"Fire Blast!" Kecleon's stripe changed to an orange color as he expelled the attack, Grookey jumped into the pool to avoid the attack and then emerged from behind Kecleon, smacking him with a Branch Poke and sending him flying, but again the hit didn't do much.
"That stripe... wait, he's changing types?" Ash asked.
"So you figured it out, rather quickly." Juan said. "Yes, he's changing types, Kecleon's Ability is Protean, I tend to use him first in my battles as a way to take by surprise those who try to outsmart me with Type Advantages."
"So like Cinderace's Libero." Ash and Bea said at the same time.
"Hmmp, Grassy Surge!" Ash said and Grookey smacked his staff onto the platform and a green shockwave surrounded the battlefield, every platform turned into a small Grassy Terrain and several lily pads formed on the surface of the water. "Now Mega Kick!" Grookey used his stick as a vault pole and sent himself towards Kecleon, landing a strong kick and making him fall onto the water, but Kecleon quickly jumped out of it and stood on top of one of the lily pads.
"Branch Poke!" Grookey jumped between the lily pads as his stick elongated into a staff.
"Aqua Tail!" Kecleon's stripe turned blue and he uncurled his tail as it became surrounded in water and used it to block Grookey's attack and the two began trading hits.
"Grassy Glide!" Grookey made a quick slide surrounded in green energy and kicking Kecleon in his stomach, sending him flying into another platform while Grookey was still in a lily pad.
"Thunderbolt!" Kecleon's stripe turned yellow and he released a discharge onto the pool, with the electricity conducting through the water and the lily pads quickly reaching Grookey. "Fire Blast!"
"Block it with your staff!" Grookey spun his staff around and attempted to disperse the fire, but this pushed him out of the lily pad and onto the electrified water, but Grookey's staff suddenly elongated futher than before, becoming large enough to hit the bottom of the pool and raise Grookey quite some meters in the air.
"Uh..."
"Aerial Ace!" Kecleon started gliding and aimed at Grookey who was still on top of his staff.
"Grookey! Get out of there!" Ash told him and Grookey placed both hands in the staff, but this became even taller and took Grookey up to the point he was above the whole stadium, the height was eventually too much for Kecleon and he fell down again, but not without using the Aerial Ace to cut the long staff in half and make Grookey fall down as well.
"Use the staff as a platform and go for a Grassy Glide!" Grookey nodded and grabbed the upper half of the stick that was cut, placing his feet on it and then pushing himself out at high speed surounded by green energy towards the still falling Kecleon.
"Fire Blast!"
"Hammer Arm!" Grookey put both arms in front of him to block the fire and once he was out of it he prepared to use the attack on Kecleon, but the lizard quickly wrapped his tail around Grookey's feet, so once he landed the Hammer Arm both of them were pushed ever harder to the battlefield, breaking through one of the platforms with both of them ending up floating and defeated.
"Both Grookey and Kecleon are unable to battle! This match is a tie!" Kukui said while both trainers recalled their Pokemon.
"Fine then, my next choice is... Huntail!" Juan exclaimed as the eel came out with a laugh.
"Linoone, I choose you!" Ash released the Normal-Type in one of the platforms.
"Shock Wave on the water!" Linnone's stripes turned yellow and five arrow-shaped lightnings dove into the water electrifying it.
"Use Bounce!" Huntail jumped out of the water before the electricty could hit him and then landed onto the platform where Linoone was and smacked him with his tail, the attack was almost enough to push Linoone onto the water, but he quickly jumped from the edge and landed into another of the platforms.
"Ice Beam!" Linoone shot the move from his mouth, but Huntail jumped away and avoided it.
"Now use Clamp!" Huntail let out a roar and the water of the battlefield suddenly illuminated and several giant open clams appeared on the pool, with Huntail landing in one of them and protecting himself from the electrified water.
"Extreme Speed!" Still wanting to avoid the water, Linoone took the first step into one of the clams, but this suddenly closed itself onto him and trapped him inside.
"Ah, ah, ah." Juan smiled. "Sorry, but those clamps will close onto anyone but Huntail."
"Grass Knot!" Ash shouted and Several vines rose from platforms that were still covered by Grookey's Grassy Surge and then forced open the clam just enough to let Linoone out of it. Linoone then landed in another platform and the vines reached out to Huntail, wrapping around him and strangling him. "Shock Wave!" Linoone made the move again and the lightnings hit the trapped Huntail directly.
"Ice Fang!" Huntail bit down the vines and froze them solid to then use his tail to break them and set himself free, falling onto one of the clams again. "Scald!" Huntail opened his mouth shooting a stream of steaming water.
"Extreme Speed!" Linoone took a fast dash and avoided the water jumping between platforms and tackling down Huntail several times.
"Bounce!" Huntail smacked Linoone with his tail and pushed him onto another clam, getting the badger trapped inside it again, but he quickly used Grass Knot to open the clam and set himself free again.
"Use Ice Beam on the clams!" Linoone did as told and once he touched the clams with his move these closed shut as he froze them solid.
"Ice Fang!"
"Extreme Speed!"
Huntail jumped over Linoone and tried to bite him down, but he quickly dashed and heabutted him on the chin, pushing him away to then continue to freeze the clams.
"Now Grass Knot again! Use the clams!" The vines rose again and wrapped around the frozen clams tossing them as projectiles towards Huntail.
"Scald!" Huntail tried to use the hot water to melt down the ice, but he didn't have enough time and the frozen clams all fell on top of him.
"Extreme Speed!" Linoone broke through the ice and tackled down huntail, knocking him out completely.
"Huntail is unable to battle! Linnone is the winner!"
"Very well..." Juan recalled the fainted Huntail. "You're next, Crawdaunt!"
"Extreme Speed!"
"Night Slash!" Crawdaunt's pincers turned into two dark blades and he used them to block the Extreme Speed and then push Linoone away. "Now Swift!" The star on Crawdaunt's head illuminated and fired off a bright yellow beam, Linoone used Extreme Speed and jumped between platforms to avoid it, but the beam followed him until it finally hit him and caused an explosion, making him falll onto the water, but luckily this wasn't electrified anymore and Linoone jumped out of it to then land on a lily pad.
"Aqua Jet! Cut their space!" Crawdaunt's body became surrounded in water and he shoot himself like a rocket towards Linoone.
"Extreme Speed!" Linoone quickly avoided the hit, but Crawdaunt kept going and broke through the lily pad, he then rose from the water again and kept repeating the move until there were no lily pads left and then he landed in a platform in front of were Linoone was.
"Extreme Speed!"
"Crabhammer!" Crawdaunt's pincers became surrounded in swirling water and made a quick double jab on Linoone and pushed him back onto a platform. "Aqua Jet!" Crawdaunt dove down and slammed onto Linoone breaking through the platform and defeating the Normal-Type.
"Linoone is unable to battle! Crawdaunt is the winner!"
"Well, Ash, I think I've got an idea." Juan said. "You remember our Gym battle, right? We're both now down to 2 and 2, so I say we do an inverse of that fight."
"I think that's a good idea." Ash nodded returning Linoone and then pulling out two Poke Balls. "Kingler! Coalossal, I choose you!" Ash released Kingler in the water while Coalossal stood in one of the platforms, although he almost fell into the water and then looked at Ash with a worried look. "Don't worry, we got this!"
"My turn then. Walrein!" Juan called out the walrus which stood next to Crawdaunt.
"Looks like we'll end this with a double battle!" Dahlia said.
"Oh, I know about this." Flannery said. "Ash's Gym battle against Juan started with a double match and continued with a single battle."
"So now they're doing the opposite." Bea said.
"Walrein, use Surf!" The walrus roared and summoned a wave behind him, while Crawdaunt jumped on top of it and Kingler dove down to the pool to avoid it, Coalossal stood his ground in the platform and received the hit, his body was then surrounded by steam and his eyes turned red and he roared as his Ability Steam Engine activated. Meanwhile Crawdaunt met with Kingler in the water.
"Crabhammer!" They both shouted and their Pokemon started to hit each other with their pincers.
"Ice Ball on Coalossal!" Walrein opened his mouth and formed and ice sphere in front of ihimto then shoot it at Coalossal, but with his Ability activated, Coalossal made a huge jump and avoided the hit to then land in another platform.
"Coal Cannon!" The coal mountain on Coalossal's back erupted and then fell down like meteors damaging Walrein, who then dove down in the water to avoid them.
"Super Fang!" Walrein came out of the water to bite Coalossal, but at the same moment, Kingler grabbed Crawdaunt with his larger pincer and tossed him towards the Walrus, making him miss the mark and causing both of them to fall onto the water.
"Tar Shot!" Coalossal expelled a black sticky substance over both of Juan's Pokemon,restraining the moves of both of them. "Now Fire Blast!" Coalossal attacked again and now both Pokemon were surrounded in flames.
"Walrein, Surf!" The walrus summoned another wave from behind hem and washed themselves away
"Kingler, Wide Guard!" Kingler put himself in front of Coalossal and raised his bigger pincer, summoning a set of translucent barriers to protect them, the shields blocked the water, but then Walrein and Crawdaunt were set free from the tar and attacked both a Super Fang and a Night Slash, with both hits breaking the barrier and knocking Coalossal onto the water.
"Heavy Slam!" Walrein dove into the water outlined in silver energy and tackled down Coalossal several times as the Galar Pokemon kept sinking down and eventually hit the bottom of the pool, meanwhile back in the surface, Kingler and Crawdaunt were again attacking each other with Crabhammers.
"Swift!"
"Hyper Beam!"
Crawdaunt shot the attack from his star and Kingler did his from his bigger pincer, quickly outpowering Crawdaunt and pushing him away. "Now go and help Coalossal!" Kingler nodded and was about to dive down, but Walrein suddenly emerged from the water again and began attacking Kingler with a Super Fang, while Crawdaunt attacked him with Night Slashes from behind.
"Alright then, while they're distracted with Kingler, I should give this a try." Ash activated his new Dynamax Band and a red shockwave came out of it. "Coalossal, Gigantamax!" He shouted, but Kingler was the one to be surrounded by red energy. "Huh?" The crab started to grow in size and both Crawdaunt and Walrein dove into the water again, Kingler's legs and arms turned longer and spikier and a big beard of foaming bubbles formed around his mouth.
"COOKIE COOKIE!" Kingler roared.
"Would you look at that!" Dahlia shouted.
"Hmmp, now that I think about it, I didn't check if this stadium could hold a Dynamax fight." Kukui said taking a few steps back.
"This is the first time I see a G-Max Kingler in person." Peonia said.
"Go, Kingler!" Nessa and Lana shouted.
"Uh, sure." Ash looked his Rotom Phone for a moment to look for the moves, meanwhile Kingler dove his bigger pincer onto the pool and picked up Coalossal, leaving him on top of his head.
"Let's play big then." Juan smirked showing a Dynamax Band under his sleeve, he then recalled Walrein and his Poke Ball grew in size before he tossed it up and the now giant Walrein took place in front of Kingler, while Crawdaunt flew up with an Aqua Jet and landed on top of his head.
"Max Steelspike!" Juan ordered and Walrein roared, summoning several metal spikes that rose from the ground and hit Kingler.
"Hmmp, Coalossal, Fire Blast!" Ash answered and Coalossal attacked still from top of Kingler's head, with the stream hitting Walrein on his face, albeit without it doing much.
"Max Hailstorm!" Walrein roared again and several giant chuncks of ice went flying from his mouth to hit Kingler, who shielded himself with his bigger pincer, while Coalossal also protected himself from the ice with his Fire Blast.
"Hang in there..." Ash said.
"Max Geyser!" Walrein opened is mouth again, this time releasing a giant stream of water that caused an explosion upon contact, the attack made Kingler stumble, bu he managed to stay up, the same for Coalossal, who was stll on top of his partner's head, meanwhile Walrein descendd back to normal size and Crawdaunt landed on a platform next to her as it begn to rain due to the Max Geyser.
"Looks like Ash was just letting waste the Dynamax, but the damage is done!" Dahlia said.
"Ice Ball and Swift!" Aim for the legs!" Juan ordered and his Pokemon did as told, making Kingler stumble a bit, Coalossal tried to help by using Coal Cannon, but he was now way too wet to use the attack.
"Now's our chance! Kingler, Max Flutterby!" Kingler's eyes glowed green as giant orbs of green energy appeared in front of him, the orbs then bursted and released a swarm of green butterfly-shaped masses of energy that flew down and exploded on contact against Juan's Pokemon. "Max Strike!" Kingler rose his bigger pincer as it was surrounded by white light and then brought it down with force towards their foes.
"You have to dodge!" Juan shouted and Crawdaunt took flight with an Aqua Jet again, while Walrein dove down onto the water, but the pincer kept going down and hit Walrein crashing him onto the bottom of the pool and knocking him out, however, the impact caused a huge hole and the water of the battlefield started to drain down on it, leaving the whole place empty in less than a minute.
"Yup, we weren't ready for that." Kukui said looking at the hole. "Walrein is unable to battle!" He exclaimed, while Crawdaunt kept flying up with his Aqua Jet, going towards Coalossal who was still on top of Kingler's head.
"Scorching Sands!"
"Crabhammer!"
Coalossal spun around surrounded in hot sand, but Crawdaunt broke through it and knocked Coalossal out of Kingler's head, Kingler tried to catch him as he fell, but Crawdaunt kept hitting Coalossal with Aqua Jet from different directions, causing Kingler to miss him every time and finally let Coalossal fell roughly onto the now empty pool and fainted after the impact.
"Coalossal is unable to battle!" Kukui shouted as Ash recalled him.
"Aqua Jet!" Crawdaunt took flight towards Kingler again.
"G-max Foam Burst!" Kingler took a deep breath and expelled a giant stream of bubbles towards Crawdaunt, the attack heavily damaged, but Crawdaunt kept flying through and landed a huge hit on Kingler's forehead, pushing him back, it seemed like he was about to fall on top of the crowd, but the Giganatmax effect passed just in time and Kingler returned to his normal size, nailing his pincer into one the walls to stop his fall and then jumping on the empty pool while Crawdaunt landed in front of him with his Aqua Jet, although the lobster seemed to have been burned by the bubbles.
"Night Slash!"
"Fury Cutter!" Kingler's pincer turned into a long green blade of energy and both Pokemon slashed through each other, the two stood still for a moment, but Crawdaunt then dropped defeated and ended the battle.
"Crawdaunt is unable to battle! Kingler is the winner and the victory goes to Ash!" Kukui shouted as the stadium cheered on.
"Great job, Ash." May said in the stands clapping alongside Zoey.
"Guess he isn't champion for nothing." Zoey replied and she looked around in the crowd. "I suppose that's the family." Zoey said recognizing Skyla and seeing how she was alongside a group of girls that were talking with each other.
"He's got even more now..." May trailed off. "Flannery, you bi-"
"Hey, easy there, they all look happy honestly." Zoey said.
"You seriously don't think that what he is doing is wrong?!" May shouted.
"I'm more jealous of Ash than anything." Zoey said.
"I won't let it end like this." May said taking a picture of the group with her Rotom Phone. "I'm gonna get my happy ending."
"Not even Juan could stop him." Phoebe said in the stands next to Caitlin and Shauntal.
"You have to admit Ash has quite the talent." Caitlin said.
"Come on, Phoebe, if you hate him so much then why did you come with us to see the fights?" Shauntal asked.
"...You'll see soon." Phoebe answered looking at Acerola from afar.
"And that was crazy, gentlemen!" Dahlia shouted. "We're going for another 30 minute break and then-"
"Uh, excuse me, Miss." Kukui interrupted her. "I'm gonna need youu Microphone for a second."
"Sure!" Dahlia said.
"Alright, everyone, listen, as you all know Alola still isn't used to this kind of events." Kukui started talking. "The battlefields recieved way more damage than we calculated, so we'll have to continue this tomorrow while we fix everything and calibrate some things, so see you there."
"Oh, well, you heard him." Dahlia took the microphone again. "For now return to your homes, hold your families close and wait."
"That sounded very menacing." The other announcer said.
"Whatever, tomorrow we'll start with Bertha's battle, see you there!" Dahlia smiled.
"Very well, Ash, you are the winner." Juan said as they both left the battlefield. "You still have an impressive skill, but you're still lacking elegance."
"Well, thanks I guess." Ash answered.
"One more thing before we go our separate ways." Juan said handing over a small box to Ash. "This is a gift from Drake, once he heard I was coming for this, he asked me to give it to you if you defeated me."
"From Drake?" Ash asked opening the box. "A Dragon Scale." He said recognizing the object.
"Indeed, use it wisely, is all he said." Juan said before walking away as Ash left to the changing room again.
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"Look like he's been up to the task so far." Goodshow said as Juan got back in the VIP room. "Great job, you three."
"It was pretty fun." Lorelei said.
"Nothing like almost burning down a whole stadium." Karen added.
"Definitely one of the best climaxes of any battle I've had." Juan added.
"That means that I'll get my turn to fight him tomorrow." Bertha replied.
"And then there's me." Marshall said.
"And me, of course." Drasna said. "After seeing the show I'm really excited, I even brought a very special Pokemon here, I wasn't intending to use it in battle, but I think he'll give the battle quite some spice."
"Then we'll pick the champion to fight him tomorrow as well." Goodshow said. "For now, let's get back to the hotel."
"Are you okay, Iris?" Clair asked her. "You've been a little silent since the situation with your Fraxure."
"Uh, y-y-yes, I'm fine." Iris stuttered. "It's just- I-I had a discussion with Ash, that's all, you know, he's such a kid."
"Hmm..." Clair simply stared at her.
"Once again, Ash surprasses the expectations." Lance said. "It'll surely be an interesting match-up if I go against him."
"Yeah, and the fact that he has so many different Pokemon makes him quite unpredictable." Diantha replied. "I'd like to fight him too, but Gardevoir really wants a rematch with his Greninja and I know Ash doesn't have it with him, so it'd feel kinda empty without him."
"What do you think, Cynthia?" Lance asked.
"Well, it'll be fun, that's the one thing I can say for sure." Cynthia answered. "You guys go to the hotel without me, I'd like to do something first."
"What exactly?" Cynthia asked.
"Nothing, just... something private." Cynthia said leaving the room.
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"See ya tomorrow, brother!" Elaine waved at him as she left the stadium alongside Mina.
"Thanks again for coming, sis!" Ash waved back at her, while he was next to the girls. "Fine, I say we all return home for now se we c-"
"Ash!" Cynthia shouted running to him. "Ok, the battles are over for today, I have nothing else to do, can we please just talk now?!"
"Sure! I mean, the gir-"
"No! Please! I know your girls are an important part in this, but this moment has to be just you and me." Cynthia said looking at the girls. "Please promise me that none of you are going to interrupt me, okay?" She asked and the other girls simply nodded. "Great, here it goes, Ash-" Cynthia was instead interrupted by a golden shine that appeared behind her, she turned around and saw a giant golden ring that then opened a portal from where Hoopa came out.
"Hey there, Ashkan!" Hoopa greeted him.
"...I don't know why I even try." Cynthia sighed.
"Hoopa! You again?" Ash asked. "Don't tell me you're bringing me some Legendary Pokemon to help me fight an evil organization again."
"Maybe next time." Hoopa laughed. "But nope, I brought you something better today, your future wives!"
"Uh?" Ash asked.
"Hey! I never said you could introduce us like that!" Meray shouted crossing the portal, but stumbling with the lower part of the ring and ending up falling face-first onto the ground. "I'm okay." She muttered while Kimia crossed the portal wearing a metallic red backpack and then helped Meray stand back up.
"Ehem, greetings, Ash ketchum." Kimia said walking to him. "And... group of ladies, for those who don't know, my name is Kimia Mécarede, I'm the heiress of the Azoth Kingdom, in the region of Kalos, and I present myself here per Ash's request."
"The what now?" Gloria asked.
"She's the princess that Ash called." Mallow said.
"I thought a princess would dress prettier than that." Lana said.
"Yeah, she kinda looks like she came form a post-apocaliptic movie." Nessa said.
"Was that a compliment or an insult?" Kimia asked to Meray who simply shrugged shoulders.
"Girls, show some respect. This is a real princess that we have here." Acerola said. "Uh, please forgive them, your highness, they didn't mean it. It's an honor to meet you too, my name is Acerola, I, uh, I'm something of a princess myself."
"Princess of what?" Kimia asked.
"Uh... of my boyfriend." Acerola said getting Ash to blush.
"...Well, I guess that counts." Kimia said.
"And who are you? Her maid?" Lillie asked at Meray.
"Oh, I'm Meray, Meray Bohémie, just a friend of hers."
"And I'm Hoopa!" The Mythical exclaimed. "Just... Hoopa, heh."
"I'm also a friend of Ash too, we got into quite the trouble regarding this little guy." Meray said pinching Hoopa's cheeks. "But we solved it just fine."
"H-Hey, that hurts!" Hoopa complained.
"I know I accepted your request when you called me, but like I said, they'll crown me soon and I had plenty of work to do." Kimia said. "Not to mention the kingdom was in the middle of a festival, so I couldn't exactly leave, but then I remembered my friend Meray was visiting the kingdom and I asked her if Hoopa could lend me a hand.
"And well, Hoopa agreed with a little request." Meray said.
"The price, per his demand, was 25 of the best donuts in Azoth." Kimia added. "And I happily complied."
"And they were delicious!" Hoopa said.
"We actually arrived here before the first battle." Meray added. "But after hearing all the context we thought it would have been unfair to interrupt, so we decided to wait until it was all done."
"And I must say, your battle skills only grow more and more impressive." Kimia said.
"Wait, if you were already in Alola, then why did you just come through another portal?" Peonia asked.
"Kimia wanted to have a dramatic entrance." Meray said.
"I though it'd look cool." Kimia said. "Now, to what we came for, which one of you is Lillie?"
"Oh, that would be me." She said taking a step forward to princess.
"I suppose Ash explained you why he asked for my help." Kimia said.
"Of course." Lillie nodded and pulled out a Cherish Ball from where she released her Magearna.
"How interesting." Kimia said pulling out a Dream Ball and releasing her Magearna as well.
"So you captured her?" Ash asked.
"Indeed, Volcanion has been out for missions recently so he let Magearna in my care; And he also asked me to capture her just for extra safety." Kimia answered, meanwhile the two Magearna looked at each other and began mirroring their moves touching the other.
"Why are they of different colors though?" Lana asked.
"I suppose it's just a shiny." Mallow said.
"But which one is the shiny then?" Acerola asked.
"I think that instead of a shiny, they're simply different designs, Magearna is artificial after all." Kimia answered. "So Ash explained me that your Magearna seemed to react to your lost father's Z-Ring and started to track him down."
"Correct, but after several months we had no luck at all." Lillie answered.
"Allow me to me check something." Kimia approached Lillie's Magearna and pressed the inner circle in her chest, with it opening and showing a shining core. "Yes, she has a Soul-Heart." Kimia said before closing Lillie's Magearna again. "It looks exactly like the one mine has, so yours is definitely authentic, you're saying your father found her in an antique shop?"
"Uh, yeah, that's what we know at least." Lillie answered.
"Incredible, I was completely sure that my Magearna was unique, but now it turns out that Nikola made more models, who knows if there could be more Magearna out there."
"But even then, how did she end in an Antique Shop in Alola of all things?" Meray asked.
"Maybe if I fix her, we could get an answer to that." Kimia said.
"Fix her?" Lillie asked. "That means you can also help Magearna track my father?"
"I can't say for sure, but I'll do my best to help you." Kimia answered. "It does look like your Magearna was reset while she was inactive so maybe if I give her her memories back she would also function as intended, which would include that tracker."
"Thanks a lot for coming all the way here just for this, Kimia." Ash said.
"Hey, it's nothing, it was the least I could do after you helped my Kingdom." Kimia replied. "I just need a clear place where I can get to analyze her better and I'll get to work."
"You can come with us then." Lillie said. "Ash's mansion has plenty of space."
"Yeah, Korrina even set up a mini-lab while working in Ash's Key Stone, maybe you could use some of the things she brought." Flannery said.
"Wait, Ash's mansion?" Kimia asked.
"Fine then, you girls take Kimia and Meray with you." Ash said. "I'll stay with Cynthia for a while."
"Are... you sure?" Cynthia asked, Ash then smiled and held one of her hands as he started to walk away with her.
"Uh... what just happened?" Meray asked.
"We'll explain on the way." Lillie said.
"So you have nine girlfriends now." Cynthia said, with both Ash and her sitting in a bench looking at the sea.
"Yup, and I guess that'd make you quite the milestone." Ash replied making her blush. "I would have never believed if someone had told me I'd be having 10 girlfriends in a month or so."
"Yeah, quite the crazy thing to think about." Cynthia said. "And even though I don't quite mind... I still suppose it'll be a little awkward for you to date someone 10 years older than you."
"Cynthia, please, I've been managing 9 girlfriends AND other 'honorary members', I think I can stand a little age gap."
"Yeah, but it's not a 'little' age gap, it's a whole decade, Ash, I mean, Nessa's your oldest girlfriend and she's only 5 years older than you, adding 5 more it's bit of a jump and... well, I guess at the end of the day I'll always be Miss Cynthia to you."
"But I don't think that's a bad thing." Ash said. "Because I like 'Miss Cynthia'."
"Even then... I wish I had been born closer to your age." Cynthia replied.
"But I'm happy you didn't." Ash answered surprising her. "I'm honestly glad I was born later than you."
"And why is that?"
"Well, I have no doubt that you were truly amazing and pretty when you were around my age, you must have been a total knockout." Ash said. "But that Cynthia could never hold a candle to the Cynthia you are now, to your experience and wisdom. I'm glad we met when we did, because I fell in love with the person who you are now."
"You really aren't even giving all that a second thought?" A blushing Cynthia smiled. "So, that's a yes?"
"It's a yes indeed." Ash replied and Cynthia softly put their foreheads together. "Sorry for all the backdowns so far."
"It's fine, but are you totally sure that no one is gonna interrupt us?" Cynthia asked. "Boyfriend?"
"Not this time." Ash held her cheeks and the two met with a lip kiss, while Cynthia started to massage his chest. "Uh, Cynthia?"
"Easy there, I'll just make the most of it while I have you for myself, you know, before starting with all the sharing." She answered before starting to kiss him again while pressing her body against his.
"Congratulations, Cynthia." Diantha said watching the scene from afar. "...But 10th, huh?"
And that's it! Cynthia is in and that makes 10 girlfriends joined! I know the joinings tend the be more elaborate, but for this milestone I thought we should take it easy, specially since I've been delaying Cynthia for a while, but she'll get her big moment soon, Also, it's almost for sure that Korrina and/or Flannery are the next girlfriends, but I could pull a sneaky on you.
Still, will Ash still be able of holding the family together?
And what exactly are Phoebe and May up to now?
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I'll also admit that it's a little funny how the whole Akari situation has been going for like 20 chapters and Ash still has no clue of it.
Like, I'm saving something like this for when they reecounter:
"Ash, you're not gonna believe this, I've had a lost sister this whole time!"
"No way! Me too!"
"What?"
"What?"
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Also, I think there's gonna be one more character like that, but this time with a lost brother, can you guess who she is?
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Man, that finale of Ash vs Leon was so beautiful, but I didn't cry... nope... still, I'm really curious to what will happen with Ash now, I doubt this would be the end of his story.
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Scarlet and Violet are finally out! I'm enjoying (Scarlet) a lot! Dendra is definitely joining those one-shots I have.
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But on the same, I guess it's fair to say that gen 8 is over, and this is the gen that inspired me to write fanfiction so I'll really miss it, makes me feel a little guilty that we still haven't returned to Galar, I originally planned to end this arc before the year ended, but it seems like that won't be possible, oh, well.
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And now, for the reviews:
th 1998
Ah, yes, I seriously feel like I overcomplicate myself most of the time, this all started as a simply Ash/Bea in Galar after all, but it's not like I can back down from the things that are happening now, I'll still try to find a good balance between story and romance and try to give enough space to all the girls. But thanks.
Rezenov
Yeah dude, hope you're enjoying them too.
TheOfficialLieDetector
Username checks out.
UltimateCCC
Nope, but you gave me an idea with the roulette, so thanks, I've been wanting to introduce Dahlia for a while.
Guest
Maybe
evildragonlord101
Anabel here doesn't have her memories wiped though, but we'll get more of her, but again, I really doubt she'll join.
As mentioned last time, we'll meet again in "Only the rampaging ones know gentleness"
Holdonlupin is out!