Hello again, everyone!

So sorry for the very long wait. I've had a hard time getting motivated for this story, but I wanted to at least finish this battle!

I'm not sure when the next installment will be completed, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy the finale to this freezing fight!

Feedback is appreciated!

Bulbasaur's breaths were labored. He'd had a steady supply of stamina, so far, but Frenzy Plant had taken its toll. Sizing up Jynx, he remained in place, taking every opportunity to build his strength.

This wasn't lost on Ash, who glanced between his Pokemon and the scoreboard.

Lorelei had two Pokemon left - Jynx, and one he hadn't yet seen. Both of them were fully charged, and raring to go. 'If I've seen her Jynx battle, I definitely don't remember it… she's a bit of a wildcard. Then again, if it's anything like Paul's…'

Then, Ash was in for a hard time.

On his own side of the board, he had Bulbasaur, and two Pokemon in reserve. 'Bulbasaur's definitely wearing out… all we can do is get in as much headway as possible.'

In the midst of Ash's planning, Lorelei had lost patience. "Jynx, use Ice Punch."

"Jynx~" The pokemon reared a fist, coating it in frost, before charging Bulbasaur.

"Sunny Day," Ash quickly responded.

Bulbasaur was relieved to find his use of the move had returned - a shining orb shot into the sky, showering sunlight.

Jynx was upon him, throwing a freezing punch.

Bulbasaur hopped back, narrowly backflipping out of Ice Punch's range.

"Hm. We were a bit late," Lorelei observed aloud. "Don't relent."

Jynx spun, closing the distance between herself and Bulbasaur, and threw a punch towards his skull.

"Bulb!" Bulbasaur sidestepped, and the punch hit solid ground, freezing it. He dodged, as Jynx swung again.

Frost clung to his bulb, and he cringed, feeling somewhat numb.

"Chlorophyll makes him fast, but he can't dodge those forever," Ash frowned, watching the grass-type leap between one punch and the next. "We've gotta put a stop to that. Grab her, with Power Whip!"

Sensing danger, Jynx retreated, but found herself being yanked back by her wrists. Two sturdy, glowing vines restricted her, holding her in place.

"Got 'er!" Ash smirked. "Bulbasaur, Solarbeam!"

Bulbasaur lowered his head, gathering sunlight.

"Ice Punch," Lorelei replied.

"Shoot," Ash hissed, "pull back!"

"Jynx~" The pokemon's captive hands grasped Power Whip, holding them secure. Icy blue light surrounded her fists, flooding the vines with cold.

"Bulba!" Sudden, numbing pain flooded Bulbasaur, making him cry out. Tugging against Jynx, he writhed to pull his vines free. But, their ends had gone numb from the cold.

That only left one option. Raising his back, Bulbasaur fired a blast from his bulb.

"There," Ash muttered. "Just try dodging that."

"Use Trick Room."

"Jynx!" Releasing Bulbasaur, the Human Shape pokemon raised her hands, crafting an odd barrier around the battlefield.

With Solarbeam mere inches away, she twirled safely out of its range. The attack hit the shore, exploding behind her.

"This is bad." Ash swallowed, his expression looking grim. "And, we'd just used Sunny Day, too."

Satisfied, Lorelei smiled. "Good. Now, Lovely Kiss!"

Ash threw a hand forward. "Solar Beam!"

Bulbasaur wanted to nurse and warm his vines. But, he had no time for that. He arched his back, and aimed.

A sudden 'smack' against his cheek startled him.

He felt a stupor overcoming him, all of the sudden. His eyelids were getting heavy. Bulbasaur collapsed, falling into slumber.

"You've gotta be kidding…" Ash clenched his fists. "Come on, Bulbasaur… I know you're not done yet."

Jynx stood over the slumbering pokemon, who'd curled into a mass for warmth.

"Finish it," Lorelei ordered. "Ice Punch."

A freezing uppercut swept under Bulbasaur's chin, smacking him into the air.

The Seed Pokemon tumbled, and landed on his back.

Leech Seed's crown was enveloped in frost, and shattered.

"Bulbasaur is unable to battle," the referee shouted. "Jynx wins!"

Bulbasaur's face lost color on the scoreboard. Ash had two pokeballs remaining.

"They didn't even get a move in." Misty frowned. "Talk about demoralizing."

"Trick Room, and Lovely Kiss," Brock hummed. "That's a pretty terrifying combination. Ash won't be able to use speed to his advantage, and with Lovely Kiss, he can't afford any bad moves, or his Pokemon will be put to sleep. I wonder how he'll get out of this one."

"They'll find a way," Dawn asserted. "They have to! They've come too far to lose, now!"

"Thank you, Bulbasaur." Ash smiled fondly at the pokeball containing his loyal companion. "You put in a lot of hard work. Get some rest."

"Pika-chu." Pikachu affectionately tapped the pokeball, before Ash put it away.

"We're even again, Ash." Lorelei spoke. "At least, in numbers alone. But, I don't think you'll be getting past Jynx."

"You think so, huh?" Ash's expression hardened, and he retrieved another pokeball. "I'll admit, your Jynx is something else. But, that might not work against a Pokemon who's not afraid of a little nap!"

The pokeball was cast. A light took shape, towering over Jynx.

"Laaax." A thunderous yawn came out of a huge, gluttonous mouth. Standing tall, a huge, rotund pokemon scratched his belly. He stepped forward, and the ground trembled under his weight.

"Of course!" Brock exclaimed, his face showing relief. "Snorlax! I don't know why I didn't think of him, before now!"

"A Snorlax… good choice, Ash." Lorelei smiled. "Let's see if he lives up to his name."

"Don't you worry," Ash replied. "Snorlax, Shadow Ball!"

A dark violet orb appeared in front of Snorlax's mouth.

"Lovely Kiss!"

Jynx lunged towards Snorlax, face-first.

Shadow Ball struck Jynx, exploding violently.

"Awesome!" Dawn cheered. "Trick Room isn't working for Lorelei, this time!"

Through the smoke, Jynx persisted, attacking Snorlax with a lip-smacking kiss.

A deep red blush spread across the Pokemon's face, which was quickly covered by his paws.

"I guess Snorlax is the shy type," Ash deadpanned.

"I can relate," Pikachu muttered.

The normal-type collapsed onto his back, falling into a snoozing slumber.

"So, Snorlax is dozing… not a problem." Ash smirked. "Snorlax, use Sleep Talk!"

"Lax…" Snorlax yawned, lazily sitting up. His mouth opened to monstrous proportions, firing a furious black laser. Hyper Beam crossed the field, kicking up a great deal of dust, before blasting Jynx.

"Nice one!" Ash grinned, pumping a fist.

"Talk about luck," Brock remarked. "Snorlax has to sleep, anyway, so Hyper Beam really gets the most out of Sleep Talk."

"Jynx," Lorelei replied, "use Wake-up Slap."

The curtain of black smoke parted for the swaying pokemon. Ashes tarnished her dress and marked her face, but she hadn't slowed down. Jumping up to meet Snorlax, she returned fire with an echoing smack to the face.

Snorlax roared, frantically shaking his head. The sudden sting woke him in an instant, disorienting him.

What a terrible way to wake up.

"Make some distance," Ash ordered, "fall back!"

"Snor…" Snorlax sat up, pushing his weight with his arms. They trembled, and he fell back.

"Still too tired," Ash frowned.

"Use Draining Kiss," Lorelei ordered.

Jynx lunged at Snorlax, smacking her lips against his cheek.

The normal-type felt vitality leave him, while the psychic-type replenished her own.

"Thanks for getting close," Ash replied. "Crunch!"

Jynx hurried to disengage, but found herself yanked back by a grip on her arm.

Snorlax opened his bottomless pit of a mouth, gnashing into Jynx's body with his many teeth. Rising onto his feet, he threw his head around, ragdolling his victim in his grip.

Lorelei frowned. "Jynx, use Ice Punch."

Painfully struggling in Snorlax's clutches, Jynx focused, freezing her own fist. Reaching desperately, she smashed it into Snorlax's shoulder.

Snorlax shuddered, his grip on Jynx relaxing from a sudden numbing cold. Ice had begun to spread across his left shoulder, encasing his arm.

"He's frozen," Ash observed. "There's only one way out of that… Use Rest!"

The behemoth fell onto his back with an earth-shaking thud, falling into a slumber.

Finally released from the painful grip, Jynx rolled onto the ice, holding her side in pain.

'Now he can sleep off that damage, and that ice'll be gone, too… if he can just stand her attacks until then, we're good to go,' Ash noted to himself. 'The ice is even beginning to chip off!'

Indeed, after Snorlax had hit the ground, the frost surrounding his arm had begun to shatter and chip away.

A detail that didn't go unnoticed by the ice-type Elite. "Jynx, Ice Punch, again."

With a terrible wail, chilled fists came in a rush, smashing into Snorlax's side repeatedly. Plushy fat and elastic skin jiggled harmlessly with each blow, bouncing about.

"That's odd. You'd think she'd go for a Wake-up Slap to deal some heavy damage, before Snorlax finishes recovering stamina." Brock hummed, quirking a brow at the scene. "Does she not know Snorlax's ability? That might be the least efficient way to deal damage."

"That's not what she's after," Dawn replied. "Take a closer look, Brock!"

"...! Oh, no! She's reinforcing the ice to trap Snorlax!"

Decaying frost that had once hung to Snorlax's shoulder had now become a thick casing of ice. It had already spread to cover his arm, and ventured to cover his huge, expansive torso, freezing it numb.

"I get it," Ash muttered. "An Ice Punch is only gonna freeze, by some random stroke of luck. But, if she attacks with a bunch, all at once, he's bound to freeze, all over!" Frowning, Ash gestured a hand. "Use Sleep Talk!"

A crown of ice chipped and brittled around Snorlax's neck, as he lifted his head, firing a black-as-night Shadow Ball directly in Jynx's face.

The resulting explosion blasted her, sending her tumbling back across the icy field.

"Nice one!" Ash grinned, snapping his fingers. "...Oh, you're up!"

Snorlax was back on his feet. Unfortunately, a thick sheet of ice covered most of his body, pardoning his legs and head. He grumbled, irritated with his lack of mobility.

"Well, you're still on your feet. So, let's use Body Slam!"

"Snorrr…" Snorlax growled and lunged, throwing all of his body weight at Jynx. Hovering over the psychic type, he cast a huge shadow over her form on his way down.

Jynx fled, avoiding the weight of Snorlax crashing down against the earth.

"It dodged!?" Frustrated, Ash snapped his fingers. "If it's fast enough to do that, then Trick Room must be over."

"Lucky for us," Lorelei mused. "That could've been a real problem… but, it seems we're not the only ones who've come across a little luck."

Quirking a brow, Ash looked to his own pokemon. The ice surrounding his body was cracking, webbed breaks in the ice spreading before it shattered.

Snorlax stood upright. A wide smile crossed his face. He was happy to be free. "Snor."

"I was counting on that." Ash smirked, brushing a finger over his nose. "Snorlax, Shadow Ball!"

A deep violet Shadow Ball fired from Snorlax's mouth.

In the immediate path of the blast, Jynx twirled out of the way with artful grace.

"Use Draining Kiss," Lorelei ordered.

"Keep up the pressure, with Shadow Ball!"

Snorlax fired one Shadow Ball after the next, explosive spheres crashing into the icy ground. Jinx's scarlet, increasingly dirtied dress carried her in a graceful, tactical ballet about the debris.

The smoke and frost parted, trespassed by Jynx. A parasitic kiss leeched Snorlax's health, surrounding the ice queen in a healthy, pink glow.

"Lax…!" Snorlax stumbled backwards, irritated. Having his strength sapped repeatedly was a pain.

"If they're going to heal, we'll join them. Snorlax, Rest!"

Once more, Snorlax laid back to slumber.

"I have to hand it to you, Ash," Lorelei spoke. "With Rest, you're keeping any slumber on your terms. It's made defeating Snorlax quite the uphill battle. That said…" Her index finger nudged her glasses into place.

"It won't save you. Wake-up Slap!"

Jynx lunged, coming at Snorlax with a brutal smack.

Ash smirked, nudging the brim of his cap with his index finger. "Snorlax, lunch time!"

Jynx swung an open hand. She didn't feel the resounding impact of a smack.

Instead, she was trapped in the painful grasp of Snorlax's many teeth. She howled.

The gargantuan pokemon stood on his feet, mid-slumber, tossing his head about, yanking Jynx with him. He finally spat out his victim, sending her tumbling.

"That's Crunch," Misty noted. "Snorlax must be using Sleep Talk, then…" The redhead smirked. "I get it, Ash. You used his stomach to handpick your move."

"Clever," Brock added, folding his arms. "Using your Pokemon's habits and personality to leverage a move that's supposed to be random."

"Hm." Lorelei scowled. "You've forced my hand, Ash. But, you'll regret backing an Elite into a corner. Jynx, use Perish Song."

The humiliated ice queen returned to her feet. A terrible, scornful glare was sent to Snorlax. A low, eerie chant was sung, as Jynx's long locks floated about her, like tendrils framing the face of a monster.

Even in slumber, Snorlax grimaced at the foreboding melody.

"Snorlax won't last long, at that rate." Dawn clenched her fists. "Ash has to switch him out, fast!"

"No good," Brock shook his head. "Snorlax is the only Pokemon he has, who can counter Jynx's Trick Room and Lovely Kiss. I'm sure he wants his last pokemon fresh, for Lorelei's last. He needs to finish this now."

"With Snorlax asleep, that's not going to be easy," Misty added.

'We'll just have to finish 'em off, before Perish Song counts down.' Ash smiled to himself, and extended a hand. "Snorlax, use Sleep Talk!"

"Lax…" In his slumber, Sorlax lunged, crushing Jynx beneath his massive weight. Afterwards, he flopped onto his back, asleep.

"Jynx…!" The ice-type faltered, stumbling to gain her footing. Faint sparks danced about her.

Paralyzed.

"Alright! We've got her now. And, just in time." Ash looked to his Pokemon, who let out a loud yawn. "Let's finish this, Snorlax! Use Crunch!"

"Jynx, Trick Room."

Snorlax lunged, teeth at the ready.

Jynx extended two open palms, coating the battlefield in a pink-ish cubic light before fading.

Suddenly, Snorlax was moving terribly slow. Jynx twirled her way out of his range, dodging with ease.

"No good," Ash grimaced. "We don't have anymore time. Crunch, again!"

Frustrated, Snorlax snapped at Jynx, his teeth coated in a violet visual of dark-type energy.

Jynx bounced back, and tripped over her own feet. A sudden numbness paralyzed her body.

Snorlax chomped down upon Jynx, standing upright with his foe in his grip.

"Sorry, Deidra. Borrowing your strategy real quick," Ash quipped to himself. "Use Shadow Ball!"

Violet sparks and flashes escaped Snorlax's mighty maw, followed by a deafening explosion.

The large Pokemon spat out his foe. Jynx landed in a smoking heap, swirls in her eyes.

"Jynx is unable to battle!"

"Snor…!"

Snorlax wheezed, his face twisting in pain. He collapsed at Perish Song's behest.

"As is Snorlax! This leaves the challenger and Lorelei with one pokemon, each!"

Ash grimaced. "Couldn't cut it in time."

Dawn stomped her foot. "He was so close!"

"Talk about an unlucky break. If he'd had another moment, he could've recalled Snorlax." Brock frowned, thoughtfully brushing a thumb over his chin.

"Trick Room did its job," Misty remarked. "At least they're tied!"

"Too bad. You'll have to go it alone against my last Pokémon. Still, I'd like to congratulate you for getting this far, Ash. You're first in quite a while." Lorelei smiled coolly, brushing one of her colorful bangs aside.

"One more Pokémon is all I need." Ash recalled Snorlax, gazing fondly upon his capsule. 'Thanks a lot. There's no way we would've made it this far without anymore losses, if it weren't for you. Enjoy a good, long rest. Professor Oak'll have a banquet, ready for you."

"We'll see if that's enough." Lorelei cast a last pokeball into the fray. "Whichever Pokémon you choose, it'll be our mercy when this one freezes them solid."

A white flash was cast, heralding freezing winds. The long neck of a sea creature craned, glimmering blue eyes looking down upon her challenger. A dark silhouette stood out in a translucent blanket of frost.

Lorelei's Lapras towered over Ash, settled on Seafoam's shore.

"Not gonna lie; I've already got chills." A last pokeball was snagged from Ash's belt, expanding with the click of its center button. "But, we're too hot-blooded to freeze! Especially this guy!"

Ash gripped the brim of his cap, flipping it backwards. Winding up, he tossed his pokeball.

"Charizard! Let's turn up the heat!"

Opposing Lapras and her chill, was the blazing Charizard, who spit a roaring flame into the sky.

"Let's go, Charizard." Ash gestured a hand towards Lapras. "Flamethrower!"

"Lapras, Rain Dance."

As Charizard built his flame, Lapras let out a beautiful cry, filling the sky with black storm clouds. A roaring downpour covered the field in rain.

Meanwhile, Flamethrower struck Lapras. The Transport pokemon whined in pain, before shaking off the blaze.

"That didn't cut it," Ash grimaced. "With Rain Dance, we're not gonna have it easy."

"Use Hydro Pump!"

A gushing torrent crashed into Charizard, sending him flying towards Ash. Charizard roared, dispersing the Hydro Pump with a flap of his wings.

Charizard's tough demeanor didn't hold, as he doubled over, hacking for breath. Hydro Pump had scored a direct hit, knocking the wind out of him.

"Hang in there," Ash encouraged. "Dragon Rush!"

A defiant snort answered Ash. The aura of a glimmering, ferocious dragon coated Charizard, as he sped across the field, colliding with Lapras. Following through, Charizard clotheslined her, brutally tossing her into the slushy waters.

"Hm. Use Hydro Pump!"

Lapras managed to right herself, catching her breath. She was nursing a visible bruise below her throat, unable to pay attention to her trainer's command.

"Looks like it flinched," Ash noted, and punched into the air. "Follow it up, with Seismic Toss!"

The waters parted as Charizard skimmed above, sweeping back around to grip Lapras in a tight chokehold. Roaring ferociously, he carried his protesting foe above. With a rough toss, he sent Lapras plummeting into the sea.

A resounding splash coated his wings in mist.

"Awesome combination!" Dawn whooped, clenching her fists. "You can do it, Charizard!"

"My, my, how brutal," Lorelei mused. "Lapras, please use Psychic."

Charizard froze, finding his body to be bound by a supernatural force.

Lapras surfaced, her eyes glimmering an eerie blue. With a toss of her head, Charizard was yanked under the water's surface.

"Charizard!" Misty gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth, color draining from her face. "Ash, do something!"

"Don't sweat it," Ash shook his head.

"Don't be reckless, you idiot! Champions League battle or not, your Pokemon's in danger! Call him back, or I swear I'll-"

A gentle hand clasped Misty's shoulder. Brock's expression was surprisingly calm.

The Gym Leader scrunched her nose. Brock looked calm, as did Ash… Lorelei, too!

"This would've been trouble if he was still a Charmander," Ash explained. "But, a Charizard's flame is a lot tougher than that. He's not afraid of a little swim!"

"Charizard's flame is fueled by his vitality. Going underwater won't be a risk to him, unless he's under for an extended time, or already weakened," Brock picked up. "The only thing Lorelei's done, is narrow their options."

Blushing rather heavily after her outburst, Misty returned to watching the battle.

'His fire moves won't do a thing, now, especially with Rain Dance,' Ash mused. "Well, no problem. Dragon Pulse!"

A kaleidoscope of cool colors shimmered underneath Lapras. Following the shine was an eruption of dragon–type energy, consuming the Transport pokemon.

Coasting along uneven waters, Lapras escaped the blast point, shaking off wispy trails of smoke.

"Gotcha!" Ash grinned, pointing towards Lapras. "Keep it up!"

Another glimmering prism shone through the waters.

"Lapras," Lorelei called.

Lapras skirted the water with expertise, gliding past the geyser of energy.

Another flash ignited, gushing towards the surface.

Keeping a cool air, Lapras coasted along the crashing wave that erupted from the second blast's surfacing. Narrowly avoiding the third, she spun in mid-air to face the blast point.

"Freeze the surface," the Elite commanded. "Ice Beam."

Below the surface, Charizard idly flapped his wings, preparing yet another blast. He felt the water chill to a freezing temperature, as a ceiling of ice encased the surface.

Stubborn, he fired Dragon Pulse at the solid ice.

Back on the surface, an explosion rocked the frozen sheet, sending chunks of ice flying.

Lapras, however, was unharmed.

"He's gonna have to come up for air," Ash muttered. "Even Charizard can't handle that, forever…" Calming his heart, Ash sent a telepathic warning for Charizard to surface.

The Flame Pokemon burst through the ice, exerting the ambient heat of his tail's inferno. An orange glow encompassed his body, coating it in hissing steam, as rain and sea water evaporated off of his scales.

"Good work," Lorelei's eyes narrowed, her lips curving into a little, predatory smirk. "Lapras, use Thunder."

Ash gasped. "Shoot!"

Lapras let out an echoing cry towards the sky. Flashes of gold danced through dark storm clouds. Crackling, before a pillar of light struck.

Charizard roared in agony. Consumed in crippling electricity, he fell towards the slushy waters.

Lorelei extended a hand towards the falling pokemon. "Hydro Pump."

Ash punched forward. "Dragon Pulse!"

Violet energy crashed into an overwhelming blast of water, the two elemental bursts tearing into each other before exploding violently between the two pokemon.

"It made it!" Ash's eyes followed the dissipating, glimmering mist. "Looks like Trick Room's done for… but, we'll still be in trouble if we can't get ahead of that Thunder."

Waving his arms outward, Ash persisted. "Fire Spin!"

Twisting blazes wrapped around Lapras, igniting into a storm that embargoed the Transport pokemon within.

"That Fire Spin doesn't look as potent as it should be, thanks to the heavy rain," Brock observed, "but, it's at least keeping Lapras trapped."

"The water underneath is being heated, too. Diving to escape might even do more damage to Lapras," Misty picked up. "It's the same strategy he used against Dewgong."

"Are you sure?" Lorelei smiled, coolly observing Fire Spin. "The waters around Seafoam are chilled, to begin with. Not to mention, the Ice Beam from earlier… I wouldn't worry about Lapras."

"You sure about that?" Ash smirked, nudging the brim of his cap. "Dragon Pulse!"

A violent, shimmering aura blasted the Fire Spin. The rotating flames ignited like an oily incendiary, exploding to double their previous size. The glimmering spiral of blue and violet tore at the icy waters, transforming the seaside field into a prism of its destructive force.

"Another combination move…" Lorelei was forced to remove her glasses, thanks to the attack's blinding glare reflecting off the lenses. Her brows furrowed. "Lapras, escape with Surf!"

The spinning, shimmering force of Dragon Spin broke, demolished by the rising tide of Surf. Lapras headed the wave, launching herself high above the crest.

"What a Surf!" Misty clutched her hands over her chest. To unleash that kind of power…

Ash gawked at the Pokemon's rising altitude, breathless.

"Now, use Body Slam."

The titanic weight of the Transport pokemon crashed down upon Charizard. He flapped his wings to no avail, gasping for breath after it'd been knocked from his lungs.

The violent crash of a heavyweight against the surface sounded. Charizard was submerged, tumbling toward the depths.

"You've got to be kidding!" Ash hissed through his teeth. "Even Dragon Spin… everything we throw at them, and they keep coming back for more!" A fist clenched at his side, brows lowering, as if in thought. "That Surf, though…"

The absence of Rain Dance's chilling pitter-patter interrupted Ash's thoughts. Turning his gaze upward, he watched the dark storm clouds disperse.

"Rain Dance is up… Charizard! It's time for our counter attack!"

Silence followed.

A lump formed in Ash's throat.

Lorrelei snapped her fingers. "Use Rain Dance."

Lapras ignored her opponent's absence. A thundering cry to the heavens brought dark rain clouds anew. Chilling raindrops peppered the field, once more.

"They've lost the window of clear weather." Brock frowned, shaking his head. "That's too bad… especially if Charizard's in bad shape. Hydro Pump and Thunder could easily put him down for the count."

"That's if he comes up to fight," Dawn muttered. She anxiously brushed her bangs. "It's… been a little too long."

The same unpleasant sentiment drummed in Ash's heart. His jaw clenched, prompting a concerned prod from Pikachu. "Pikapi."

"Pikachu." The trainer picked up his partner, placing him gently on the icy terrain beside him. "Wait here."

"Pika…? Pikapi!" Pikachu scolded. He was getting an awful feeling - the one that Ash was about to do something recklessly stupid. "Pika-chu!"

"I can't just leave him in there." Ash adjusted his cap with both hands, and sprinted towards the ends of the shore.

"Ash, wait!"

"Don't you dare!"

"I'm not pulling you out of the sea again, Ketchum!"

"Empol!"

"Pikapi!"

He heard his friends' cries of worry. Kind of. They rang in his ears like white noise, though. Irrelevant, until he was sure that Charizard was alive and well. The stomping of worn sneakers in slushy sand continued.

There was a break in the rolling sea's surface. Ash skidded to a halt.

"Gahr!" Charizard coughed, sputtering sea water the moment his head broke the surface. An orange wing ripped into open air, escaping the chilly depths. The numbing chill of the water trickled through his entire body, slowing down the flap of his wings.

The sight of a struggling Charizard as an unusual one. Uncomfortable, even.

Ash let out a heavy breath, cupping his heart. What a relief.

"Lapras." Lorelei re-adjusted the frame of her glasses. "Ice Beam."

The Sea Creature tossed her head, firing a freezing blast from her mouth.

Charizard lashed his tail out of the water, protecting his vital flame. With only one foot submerged, now, he yanked it away.

Or, at least, he'd tried. It'd gone entirely numb, unmoving. In fact, his entire lower body had been frozen. Ice had captured the water around him, rising and consuming Charizard's body.

He roared, furious, and spat flames on the rising chill. The blocky ice culminated faster than it could melt, and it captured Charizard whole. In a glacier on the surface, Charizard had been frozen solid.

"Charizard!" Ash called, his eyes turning to pin-points. He grimaced. "You've got to be kidding…"

"Pikachu... " Pikachu pouted, tapping a foot impatiently on the sand. Electricity danced off his fur under the downpour, exacerbated by his stress.

"Talk about rotten luck." Dawn pouted, crossing her arms. "And, they were so close…"

"Lorelei got him," Brock admitted reluctantly, scratching the back of his head. Through his friend's eyes, this was hard to watch, to say the least. Even he felt a sinking sensation of disappointment. "It's over."

"It's not over." Ash replied, his back turned to the group. He held his steely gaze on Charizard, eyebrows creasing low. "He's still got more fight in him."

Pikachu's ears stood. A smirk played on his little lips, as a lively orange reflected in his eyes. "Pi."

Within Ice Beam's prism, a bright, lively flame spread. Strong lines of red and orange ran through the surface, melting its frozen foundations. Sharp, angular structures began to melt and crack. Within, Charizard's limbs trembled.

Ash grinned. His coat billowed in the blistering wind. "Here he comes."

"Groaaaaarh!" Staggering mounds of ice were blasted into many, many fragments, quickly melting and evaporating under intense heat. Charizard cast a glare at Lapras, flexing his limbs to their full capacity. The proud flame crowning his tail eclipsed him. A mighty inferno.

"That's Blaze," Dawn noted aloud. "They say a candle burns brightest before it goes out."

"It's his and Ash's only chance to win, now," Brock followed. "They'd better hurry."

"It's not like Lapras is doing much better," Misty added. "Look at it!"

Indeed, the powerful Transport pokemon had been run ragged. Huffing heavily for breath, the Pokemon's chest rose and fell. Burn marks adorned her skin and shell, a bruise spanning just below her throat.

For all of Charizard's wear, Lapras was no better.

"What a thrill," Lorelei mused. The gentle flow of her voice took on a thick intrigue. An intensity Ash'd not once heard from her. "I wasn't sure if you'd come this close, Ash. Dare you push my expectations further?"

"We'll do that and more," Ash replied. "We're winning this!"

"I wonder…" The icy Elite extended a hand. "Hydro Pump!"

"Dodge that, and close in!" Ash responded. "Stay close to the surface!"

Flapping his wings, Charizard charged headfirst into the path of the massive torrent. Spinning horizontally, he circled the assault on a path towards Lapras.

"Use Thunder."

Ash grinned. The gleam in his eyes spoke of a blink-or-miss-it chance that he'd just discovered. "Dragon Pulse, below Lapras!"

Lapras howled. Golden flashes ignited in the black clouds hanging above.

A burst of violet cut through the slushy tide. Carving a tunnel, it burst through the rising wave carrying Lapras. The pokemon was disheveled, tossed skyward by the uneven waters.

Charizard laid low, and glided through the quickly collapsing underwater tunnel. For him, it was a haven.

For, Lapras was the one in Thunder's path.

A golden flash ignited the pokemon. Lorelei grimaced.

"I can't believe it… Lapras took the hit!" Brock exclaimed.

"And, with the rain making it a surefire hit," Misty recounted.

"Charizard blasted himself a place to hide," Dawn added. "Ash must've come up with that on the spot!"

Ash only smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

"An ingenious move," Lorelei admitted. "Lapras, use Body Slam!"

The huge sea creature postured herself, throwing her massive body weight at Charizard.

"Seismic Toss!" Ash grinned, punching a fist in the air. "Carry it high!"

Charizard escaped the collapsing tunnel, throwing his momentum at the falling Lapras. A sudden, crushing mass smashed into his grip. He grappled with the weight, quickly losing altitude.

But, Charizard was stubborn. Strong-willed. Furious beats of his wings dispersed hissing waves across the shore. With great effort, he carried on, climbing towards the sky.

"Lapras…" Lorelei pursed her lips, turning her gaze on Ash. "Well, I'll be."

The trainer met her with a smile, brushing his thumb over his nose. "You can't use Thunder on Charizard while he's hanging onto Lapras. This is it, Lorelei!"

Lapras thrashed and squirmed, flailing to free herself from Charizard's hold. His sturdy arms held. She was forced to watch as they climbed into the thick dark vapor of the rain clouds.

She had to squint, filtering the sunlight breaking through the clouds.

"Now!" Ash shouted into the heavens, opening his raised fist. "Throw her up!"

"Rah!" Upending the bottom-heavy pokemon, Charizard flipped backwards, tossing Lapras into the sun's filtering rays. The Transport pokemon hung in the scenic skyscape, helpless.

"This is it!" Ash grinned from down below, gearing back a closed fist.

The Flame pokemon corrected himself, withdrawing his own fist. Bright, overpowering blazes leaked from between his claws. He reared his body back.

"Charizard!"

Ash punched towards the ground, with one commanding scream.

"BLAST BURN!"

"ROAGH!"

A blazing fist smashed into Lapras' belly.

For all spectators below, the clouds ignited with a blinding, overpowering light. Blazes of red and gold consumed the skyscape, blasting the icy island below with blistering heat.

Any signs of Rain Dance were obliterated.

Lorelei guarded her vision with a hand, hiding from the all-consuming glare, until the heat died out. She watched a trail of black smoke plummet from the sky. She extended a pokeball, recalling the dropping Lapras.

There was no question to its condition.

Charizard, meanwhile, coasted lazily on tired wings. The mighty Blaze about his tail had faded away, and he landed with a thud by Ash's side, exhausted. Heaving breaths struggled for oxygen after the demanding ultimate attack.

Though, only one of two Pokemon stood.

The referee raised a hand. "Lapras is unable to battle! The winner of this battle is Charizard; meaning that the victor of this Champion's League battle is Ash Ketchum!"

Lapras lost color on the scoreboard, leaving only Charizard. 'WINNER' flashed underneath Ash's visage.

"We… we won!" Ash laughed tiredly. He expected to explode into cheers. To boast. To revel loudly in his victory.

But, he was just so, so tired.

"Rah!" Charizard huffed, staggering towards Ash and Pikachu.

Ash turned to his pokemon - one that was undoubtedly more exhausted than him. He smirked, offering his shoulder to support his partner. Surprisingly, Charizard was comfortable leaning his weight onto his trainer.

The dragon turned to Ash, giving him a triumphant grin.

"Well done." Ash smirked in turn, raising a fist. "You were awesome."

Trainer and pokemon bumped fists. Immediately after, the latter stumbled, losing his footing. A red flash consumed him before he hit the ground, making him at home in his pokeball.

Ash smiled upon the device. "Stubborn as ever. You get some rest."

"Ash!"

He suddenly felt a pair of arms snagging around his torso. When the scent of perfume overpowered ashes and sea water, he judged it to be Dawn, and leaned back into her. Maybe he needed to be propped up, after a battle like that.

"Now, that's a Champion's League battle!" Dawn chirped, stationing her boyfriend upright. "Where's all the fanfare?"

"I think that battle used up all my energy," Ash half-joked.

"You did it!" Misty chirped, meeting the teen up-front.

"That was incredible!" Brock praised, joining the crew. "Top notch!"

"A real spectacle," the voice of an older woman agreed. Ash seemed to stand up straight when addressed. "You've defeated me, Ash. By a small margin, perhaps… but, not with a stagger across the finish line; you carried through with a mighty blaze." Her fingers rose to hide a small chuckle from her lips. "Quite a contrast to my icy style, no?"

"It was a real clash of battling styles," Ash agreed, standing opposite of the Elite. His serious expression gave way to a glowing grin. "Which made it a lot of fun! You really made me give my all!"

"I'd be failing as an Elite Four member if I didn't," Lorelei replied. "I did my best to stop you in your tracks, Ash. But, you're far stronger than when we last fought. So, go on ahead. You've only had a taste of the Pokemon League's power."

"I'm ready for more," Ash dutifully replied. "The next is Koga, right?"

"Correct. You'll find him and his hazardous Pokemon in the mountains, north of Fuschia City. There'll be an old ninja hideout near the peak. One week from today, on the dot."

Ash nodded. "I'll be there. You can count on it!"

After a long struggle with the perils of bitter cold foes, Ash and company replenished themselves in the best way they knew how; by stuffing their faces, at Exploud Ernie's Earnest Eats.

While the crowd of pokemon devoured their offerings, most of all, Ash's team, the band of trainers was huddled around a table.

Ash, in particular, was being bombarded with attention by the large, portly man who carried the restaurant's namesake.

"You...!" A clap on Ash's back made him choke before swallowing, which Ernie didn't seem to notice. "...I can't overstate how amazed I was by your triumph today! Not to mention the Pokemon League, itself! Excellent work!"

"Well, you know how it is!" Ash laughed, after swallowing his food. "My pokemon believed in me, and I believed in them! There was no way we could lose!"

"Well said." A sagely nod was Ernie's answer, before he furrowed his eyebrows, plucking at his curly mustache. "Although… there were a few points where I'd nearly turned off the broadcast. The matches were awfully trying for your pokemon."

"It did get rough," Ash agreed. "But, it's no problem! They were okay with fighting their hearts out! Right?" Ash enthusiastically pumped a fist, gaining the attention of his team.

"Djoo!"

"Zel!"

"Ape!"

"Bulba!"

"Groaarh!"

"Zzz…"

"Trying and rash, but never crushing pokemon's spirits… very well. Enjoy your meal!"

"This guy's kind of weird," Misty whispered to Dawn, before taking a bite out of her veggie burger. She blanched, sticking out her tongue. "Ugh! Gross!"

Ernie stopped in his tracks. "Is there a problem?"

Misty made a face, unapologetic. "Thereth… ahem! There are carrots on this thing!"

"If you don't want it, I'll take it!" Ash grinned, snatching the burger out of Misty's hand.

She gave Ash a look, and relented. "I'll have the sea cakes."

"...Anyway," Brock picked up as Ernie left the table, "those were some amazing moves, Ash! Especially that Blast Burn. But, I'm more intrigued by Bulbasaur's Frenzy Plant…"

"Hey, speaking of that," Dawn chimed in, "didn't you say there was some secret to when you and Gary unlocked those ultimate moves? Something you didn't tell us?

"Huh…? Oh - right!" Ash nodded, taking a bite before continuing. "That Ultima lady wasn't too keen on training Bulbasaur and Wartortle, so she gave my final test one more condition." Switching to chomp on a fry, Ash thought back on the experience.

"There was a long hallway with conveyor belts all the way down. Gary and I had to battle with our pokemon; each time one of us landed a hit, it'd move us forward, and the other back. We could rotate our teams as much as we wanted - anyway, long story short, I got a huge handicap."

"Which was…?" Brock trailed off, goading Ash onward.

Ash folded his arms, looking as smug as humanly possible. "Gary had to use his full team of six. I had to use only Bulbasaur, Wartortle, and Charizard. Guess who won?"

After a momentary pause, Brock broke the silence with a whistle. "Wow."

"You beat him three to six!?" Dawn gawked, leaning over the table towards Ash.

"Gary must've been pissed," Misty figured.

Ash smiled, shrugging his shoulders. "Not as pissed as she was, when she learned that Gary's Blastoise knew Hydro Cannon, all along. Classic Gary Oak."

With a round of laughs, Ash and company enjoyed their night, winding down from a long day of heart-thumping battles. A nice reprieve; but, one that wouldn't last long, with the battle with the treacherous Koga just out of reach.