Disclaimer: I own nothing of Pokemon, its assets, Game Freak, uh, characters, stuff, blah blah blah, did I miss anything?

The orchestra of cheers and screams bearing down on all sides was nothing new to Ash. He'd experienced it numerous times, at each pivotal battle through various Pokémon Leagues. Among the chaotic cries of hundreds, Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena, those who had stuck by his side across Kalos, past harsh obstacles, and against multiple threats, shouted their own encouragements to him and his partners. Joining them were the friends they'd encountered along their travels; the independently energetic trio of Tierno, Shauna, and Trevor.

Ash's admirer-turned-rival Sawyer witnessed the battle along with them. Even having lost to the Kanto trainer previously, he couldn't think of anywhere else to be rather than watching the pulse-pounding action in front of his eyes, cheering in with the rest. Rightfully so was the group's enthusiasm; this wasn't just any other round of the League.

It was the finals.

Climbing his way through several opponents, including a dance-infused struggle with Tierno and an arduous clash between his Greninja and Sawyer's Mega Sceptile, Ash now stood at the peak of his last challenge before victory. For this reason, he spared no second to break eye-contact with the battlefield, carefully studying the two Pokémon currently locked in combat, all while his best buddy Pikachu cheered on his fellow comrade.

Talonflame was trading Steel Wings and Sacred Swords with an Aegislash, agilely encircling his foe, looking for an opening. The Royal Sword Pokémon gave little to work with, keeping a tight defense while swinging its blade-shaped body. Its sheer weight alone bashed Talonflame back with each parry, frustrating the avian and his trainer.

At the opposite end of the field, Ash's opponent, an older girl with a calm and collected expression, held her arms folded with a smirk, confidence beaming. He knew little about her, other than that her name was Holly and that she hailed from Snowbelle City. She'd no doubt proven herself as tough as Wulfric throughout the League. The trainer hadn't even needed to use her sixth Pokémon as of yet. Ash was determined to change that and more, yet still couldn't shake the nerves off. Though he still had three of his team to Holly's two, he could swear he recognized one of the stones set within the brooch in the girl's hair.

Before getting ahead of himself, the Kanto trainer refocused on the task at hand. Talonflame had already suffered several drops from Aegislash's signature King's Shield, an unfortunate drawback of his physical-based attacks; not to mention the actual damage the bird had sustained. This wasn't to say the steel and ghost type was without significant damage itself, but the growing distance between heavy defense and weakening offense made it clear Ash had to act fast to achieve any result.

Just one more solid attack should be enough, he thought.

He considered Aegislash's speed in relation to Talonflame's, the stance their opponent was in, and all the moves both sides could perform. Head on, there was just no way to punch through the Royal Sword's defenses. However, Ash's mind clicked as he found an idea in the least likely of places, thinking it over even as he called out to his partner.

"Talonflame, swoop around and dive it!"

The Scorching Pokémon heeded his command, breaking off the stalemate and soaring high into the air. After a quick turn, he tucked in his wings and barreled straight at Aegislash. Holly was curious, seeing as Talonflame had attempted such an approach before with no result. Regardless, she knew it was better safe than sorry.

"Aegislash, use King's Shield," she directed.

"Aegis!"

The steel and ghost type tilted slightly, preparing to use gathered momentum to instantly spin into its shield forme and block the oncoming dive.

Ash grew a smile, causing Holly to gasp.

"Now duck beneath with Flame Charge!"

Since Talonflame had used the speed-boosting move earlier, his aerodynamic body passed through the air like a shooting star, angling at the ground before sharply turning back up at the last moment. Aegislash was just about to replace its shield onto its chest.

"Get between it!" Ash continued.

Right before his foe could fully engage shield forme, Talonflame protectively tucked in his wings again and used himself as an obstruction, trapping the avian between Aegislash's sword and shield.

"Aegis!?" the Royal Sword cried in surprise.

Before Holly could order her partner to change its stance, Ash had already moved ahead, pumping his fist in the air.

"Now go! Flare Blitz!"

As everyone, audience and trainers included, watched with wide eyes, a crimson glow emanated from beneath Aegislash's shield, panicking its owner.

"Talon…flame!"

A burst of flames erupted, consuming Aegislash as it cried out from the super effective and internal strike. While Ash watched on in success, Holly desperately hoped her partner was able to withstand the blast. To her disappointment, the Royal Sword Pokémon's heavy body emerged from the fiery cloak of Flare Blitz, then fell to the ground with a loud metallic slam. It was barely able to hold onto its shield in one cloth-like arm, but the final result was as obvious as the swirl in its one eye.

Trembling heavily, yet still standing with wings spread wide for balance, Talonflame stood victorious, letting out a strong cry.

"Aegislash is unable to battle, Talonflame wins."

As the ref finished his declaration, Holly returned her adamant battler to its pokéball for a much needed rest. She watched as Talonflame made his way over to Ash, who knelt down and gave the Scorching Pokémon a congratulating pat on the head. Over in the stands, his friends were ecstatic.

"You were so cool, Talonflame! You too, Ash!" Bonnie shouted with bursting enthusiasm.

"Nene!" Dedenne called from the top of her head.

Clemont simply nodded, humming thoughtfully.

"I never expected anything less."

As unstill as ever, Tierno couldn't help admiring the latest performance.

"Talonflame shows that even in the skies Pokémon can dance away to victory."

As the rhythmic trainer's companions all sighed at his instinctual mindset, Serena kept her focus on Ash. Distance didn't matter; she could see the emotion in his eyes. He knew there was only one opponent left standing between him and a massive leap forward in his dream of being a Pokémon Master. She clasped her hands together as attention was brought back to the ongoing battle.

"You did amazing out there, Talonflame. Take a rest."

The avian nodded as his form disappeared into a red silhouette, followed by being recalling into his ball. As Ash stood back up, he adjusted his hat and glanced down at his lifelong friend.

"We've still got Greninja recovering from the last round. Let's not have Talonflame join him too. Ready to end it, Pikachu?"

"Pika pika!" the electric mouse replied, displaying his balled up fists.

His trainer nodded with a grin. Pikachu scampered forward, positioning himself on all fours with jolts sparking across his red cheeks, ready to face Holly's last Pokémon. The Snowbelle trainer had been watching their interaction, appearing somewhat concerned about her situation. This was discarded seconds later, as she resumed smirking confidently, holding up her pokéball.

"You did great, Ash. You've made it to the finals and currently have a huge lead over me."

Her eyebrows narrowed.

"But that advantage ends here."

She hurled the ball into the air, at which point it clicked open, releasing the Pokémon inside with an outpour of blue light. After a moment of forming, the creature was finally unveiled, bellowing a powerful roar.

"Aboma!"

Ash had faced Abomasnows on several occasions. Regardless, this one in particular was easily the most terrifying, simply because of the armband it wore on one of its verdant wrists, and the glistening stone set within it.

Oh no…

Not being the only one to realize, Clemont suddenly sat forward in the stands, worried for his friend's abruptly shifted odds.

"That's got to be…!"

His hunch was answered by Holly, who reached up and plucked the brooch from her hair, freeing her dark locks and holding the jeweled accessory in the air, touching the keystone it held.

"Abomasnow, Mega Evolve!"

While both keystone and Abomasite gave off a prominent glow, the paired items quickly expulsed numerous energy chains, which were drawn to another as if by magnetism. As each set of chains joined and merged into one, Abomasnow was engulfed in a transforming aura, nearly shrouding the changes happening to its body. The audience was in awe at the spectacle, the Frost Tree Pokémon expanding in size and strength. Meanwhile Ash found himself tensing up, knowing that numbers meant little now.

Finally, the aura burst away from Abomasnow, leaving behind a rainbow helix that lingered a second longer, then dissipated as well. A crunch rang out as Mega Abomasnow set its large upper limbs on the ground, supporting its now more massive body. The sprouts on its back now existed as towering ice pillars, which seemed to be emitting a frosty haze that coated its side of the field, while the shaggy fur coating its face added further impression of a rugged and powerful foe.

Ash's friends in the stands found themselves nervous, despite not being the ones staring down the behemoth like the Kanto trainer was. The tension was broken when they heard a snap. Craning their necks, everyone watched Trevor holding up his camera, admiring the picture he'd just taken. Once the photo enthusiast noticed all the looks he was getting, he shrugged.

"What?" he asked obliviously.

Letting it go, the group looked back to the battlefield, where Pikachu held his ground, not wishing to give the satisfaction of being intimidated. Holly folded her arms once again, renewed for a fresh battle.

"Give us everything you've got."

The Snowbelle trainer's words forced Ash to rethink, pulled out of his grinding thoughts. His partner turned to him, giving a nod.

"Pika!"

The expression on the yellow rodent's face, combined with Holly's tone, reminded him of the true meaning behind this final round. He was here to prove his strength as a trainer, as a lover of Pokémon, and as a level-headed young man; but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the thrill of a great battle. He looked over at his friends, all shouting their own offers of positive reinforcement. His eyes stopped at Serena, who momentarily broke from her cheering, seeing Ash looking directly at her. It was but a second more before she grew a wondrous smile, nodding encouragingly to the Kanto native with faint traces of red on her cheeks.

He smiled back.

Serena always kept that smile, even when things started turning against her. And look how far she's gone with it.

His thoughts ran images of the honey-blonde's most recent Showcase: the climactic performance at the Master-class round. In those moments of displaying all her practiced skills and routines, together with her Pokémon, she'd shown Kalos that there was someone else who could match Aria's elegance; and then exceed it. She embraced his ideal to never give up, using it to accomplish her dream.

I have to do the same, Ash decided.

Setting sights on Mega Abomasnow, he found his spirit raised high once again. The ref raised his flag.

"Battle, begin!"

Getting right into it, the Kanto trainer motioned to their opponent.

"Pikachu, go in with Quick Attack!"

As a white outline surrounded the electric mouse, Pikachu burst forward at incredible speed, ready to take on his colossal foe. Holly didn't seem the least bit worried.

"Throw it back with Blizzard!"

Only now was everyone introduced to Mega Abomasnow's large mouth, which gaped open and immediately unleashed a monstrous surge of wind and snow, which iced over any portion of the ground it touched. Ash responded in his usual sense.

"Anchor yourself with Iron Tail!"

Acknowledging, Pikachu coated his tail in metal, then proceeded to strike it into the dirt, assuring his small form wouldn't be blown out of the battlefield. Despite avoiding the more serious side effect, he still groaned from the attack's showering ice, gradually being covered in the snowy material. Even for a Blizzard, it took a surprising amount of time for the move to finally die down. Once it did, Pikachu shook off the large deposits of snow practically burying him.

Ash was frankly glad his partner hadn't gotten any closer to Abomasnow, lest the damage have been more severe. In any case, a direct approach was useless. It was time to take advantage of the Frost Tree Pokémon's cumbersome mass.

"Pikachu, use Quick Attack again to circle around it!"

The electric type burst forward once more, following directions and forcing the Mega Evolved foe to begin turning to keep an eye on him. Each pivot required it to lift its large support arms, assuring Ash it was possible to reach its exposed backside.

"Try following it with another Blizzard!" Holly commanded.

Her Pokémon began hosing the field with more ice and snow, however falling well behind Pikachu's movements. When he was finally at Abomasnow's blind spot, Ash called for another Iron Tail.

With agile hops in erratic weaves, the electric type managed to move past Blizzard range, making one final jump before spinning downwards to deliver a powerful Iron Tail to the space between Abomasnow's ice pillars. The attack caused an instant reaction, with Abomasnow growling in pain while Pikachu's rebound threw him up in the air.

"Don't leave an opening. Electro Ball!"

Forming a crackling orb of electricity, Pikachu swung his tail downwards, casting the projectile at the recovering Mega. Holly just smirked.

"Now, knock it back with Wood Hammer!"

Ash and Pikachu gasped as Abomasnow used its own weight to throw an energized arm forward with a right hook, smashing into the Electro Ball and sending it right at the airborne mouse at speeds too high to react.

"Pika!" he cried, blasted all the way back to his side of the field.

After multiple impacts and skids against the ground, the electric type finally struggled to his feet, clenching his teeth as he set his eyes back on Abomasnow, who seemed to have no trouble shaking off the Iron Tail.

"Are you alright, Pikachu?"

The nasty fall must have taken a lot out of his buddy, and Ash certainly didn't need him being tossed around any more times. The yellow rodent affirmed his steadfastness, discharging electricity from his cheeks. Admiring his friend's determination, Ash resumed the battle, targeting Abomasnow

"Knock this back. Use Thunderbolt!"

Jumping into the air, Pikachu launched a huge bolt at the stationary Mega, to which Holly unfortunately had an answer to.

"Use Wood Hammer on the ground!"

Energizing both arms, Abomasnow briefly pushed its upper body off the ground, using the momentum to smash its fists into the earth, forcing the displaced rock underneath to jut out, blocking the incoming Thunderbolt. Frustrated, Ash had Pikachu try again, hoping the battlefield would become too unstable for the Mega to attempt repeated jackhammers into it. Holly seemed one step ahead.

"Ice the entire field!"

Abomasnow bellowed another Blizzard from its mouth. While missing the now sky-high electric type, the dirt beneath both Pokémon was now an ice rink. Ash went ahead with a Thunderbolt regardless, seeing no reason to waste an opportunity to attack. This time, Abomasnow took the strike dead-on, grunting slightly at the high-voltage shock. Once Pikachu returned to the ground, he took a moment to steady his footing on the ice.

"Sorry, but we've dealt with ice floors before," Ash spoke confidently.

His partner shared the same expression, ready for another attack. This turned into confusion when they heard Holly chuckle.

"That wasn't to ruin your mobility."

She motioned to her Pokémon.

"Abomasnow, send a few jolts their way!"

Following its que, the Mega Evolved powerhouse engaged Wood Hammer again. To Ash and Pikachu's surprise, it pounded the icy floor in front of it. The Snowbelle trainer's strategy became apparent when a massive crack ran under Pikachu, only to suddenly burst open and fling dozens of ice shards into his exposed underbelly. Thrown off balance, the yellow mouse skidded across the ice. Abomasnow didn't let up, sending another shock that blasted Pikachu in yet another direction, unable to recover while essentially being pin-balled around the battlefield.

Ash watched helplessly as his partner was thrusted by the improvised range attack, grinding his teeth as he attempted to think of a solution. It was then he noticed Pikachu managed to keep his tail up throughout each blow. Knowing it was their only chance, he called out the order.

"Pikachu, form an Electro Ball and hold it as long as you can!"

Past the icy shards, his words reached his partner's ears , evidenced by the crackling orb sitting on the tip of his tail. Abomasnow eventually ran out of unbroken ice to use, canceling out its Wood Hammer and taking a short breather. It was now or never; the Electro ball had grown quite unstable, being held back for so long. Enduring the beatings, Pikachu had kept it ready for the next command.

"Use the exposed dirt, run and slam that ball into the ground!"

Nodding, the electric type dashed away, jumped up, then threw his tail down to impact. Thinking Ash was trying to obstruct Abomasnow with all the debris their fighting had generated, she quickly ordered another Blizzard to hit Pikachu after the Electro Ball detonated, in addition to sweeping away the remaining rocks and ice chunks. Electro Ball exploded a second later, just before the icy gusts entered Pikachu's vicinity. As Holly expected, the chilling gale brushed away all the debris and smoke instantly, paving the way for an attack on the wide-open electric mouse.

Who was nowhere in the area.

"W-what?" the Snowbelle trainer retorted, darting her eyes all over the battlefield.

Her sight ended at Ash, whose knowing smile informed her she'd been outmaneuvered. A slight shadow passed over Holly's face, catching her attention to the sky. Despite the odds, Pikachu was now soaring at a height far beyond the reach of his normal jumping ability. As the crowd awed at the achievement, Clemont finally understood what his friend had planned.

"Without that ice field, there was nothing to soften the blow of Electro Ball, allowing the supercharged explosion to rocket Pikachu beyond even Abomasnow's range."

The Kanto trainer's companions sent new waves of praise as they watched Ash observing his partner's slowing ascent. Just as the electric type stopped, he called the final strike.

"Now bring it all the way in with a spinning Iron Tail!"

"Pika!"

With a metal-coated tail, the yellow rodent tucked in and rolled, gathering the momentum of his now accelerating fall to earth to send a crushing blow straight into Mega Abomasnow, who was by no means in a position to simply jump out of the way. Instead, Holly had her partner do the next best thing.

"Slow it down with a Blizzard!"

The Mega obeyed, sending another storm of ice towards the devastating spin. Ash wasn't about to give it up however.

"Power it up with Thunderbolt!"

The now saucer-shaped Pikachu let loose his astounding voltage, bathing his now conductive tail in energy. In turn, his spin speed increased. Both Abomasnow and its trainer gasped as Blizzard was effortlessly cut through by the clearly unstoppable Iron Tail. Out of options, Holly called for their last defense.

"Meet it with Wood Hammer!"

The Frost Tree Pokémon flung up both arms, energized by the powerful grass move, just in time to try holding back Pikachu's conclusive impact.

Unlike previous explosions, the one resulting from the two's clash obscured the entire arena, forcing Ash and Holly to shield their eyes from flung out masses of dirt, ice, and smoke. From the sidelines, everyone worried for their beloved electric mouse, seeing as he had used himself as a projectile and was the most vulnerable to further damage. Despite this danger, Ash calmly waited for the dust to settle, believing in his trusted partner to pull through. Holly had limited idea herself what had transpired, never having prepared for something as drastic and bizarre as what her opponents had created.

At long last, the figures of both battling Pokémon returned to visible level, revealing to all present that each was in bad shape. Pikachu, covered from head to toe in scratches and a couple bruises, was panting heavily, shaking on all fours as he kept his beady eyes on the opposition. Abomasnow was down to one arm, the other having taken a critical hit and too injured to use. The strain of supporting its Mega Evolved body on just one limb clearly showed. The tilted ice pillars on its back swung back and forth, in danger of triggering a collapse.

Ash couldn't help but be proud, seeing his much smaller buddy holding a titanic Mega on the ropes.

"Way to go, Pikachu! That was amazing!"

The electric type turned its head to offer a grateful smile, although even this act strained his exhausted body. On the other end of the field, Holly nervously watched her ace tip from side to side. Taking a deep breath, she directed her enduring Pokémon with what calmness she could muster.

"Abomasnow, use Ingrain."

Ash and Pikachu were caught off guard, watching in astonishment as thick roots sprouted from Abomasnow's legs, spreading into the heavily broken up ground with ease. In just a few moments, the Mega stabilized itself, finally taking a break from the constant strain. To make matters worse, the nutrients it absorbed through the newly-grown roots began to slowly recover the Frost Tree Pokémon's health.

Desperate to halt the imminent reversal, Ash called out to his barley standing partner.

"Pikachu, you've got to get in one last Iron Tail, you just have to!"

His words were useless. The electric type was down on his arms, practically crawling towards the healing Mega. Seeing this, Ash retracted his previous command, remembering how badly Greninja had been battered just the other day.

"Forget it, buddy. Make sure they don't forget you, give them one last Thunderbolt; all that you've got!"

Appreciating his trainer's acceptance of the situation, the yellow rodent took in a large breath, shutting his eyes tightly and focusing what remaining strength he had into a final attack.

"Pi…ka…CHUUUU!"

The bolt soared across the ground, powered by Pikachu and Ash's combined spirit, aiming to leave Holly and Abomasnow with a memory they'd never be able to wipe from their minds. The Mega Evolved ice and grass type was still too weak to put up any defense, forced to take the Thunderbolt and hope for the best. Holly clenched her fists and bit her lip as the arc struck, surrounding her partner in electricity as the Mega groaned.

Whatever the damage, it wasn't enough to bring down the rooted Abomasnow, and Pikachu fell to the ground as the last of the Thunderbolt wore off, fainted.

"Pikachu is unable to battle, Abomasnow is the winner!"

While the crowd roared in amazement at the hard-fought battle, Ash made his way over to his fallen companion and gathered him up in his arms. The yellow mouse managed to regain consciousness on the way back to the trainer's box, looking up into his friend's eyes. He was surprised to see a soft smile.

"We knew this wasn't going to be easy, didn't we?" he offered.

Pikachu's features softened, knowing his efforts had a positive effect, despite the loss.

"Chu…"

"This is the finals, after all," Ash continued, setting the electric type down gently to the side.

Readjusting his hat, the Kanto native gave his partner one last nod of thanks before setting sights on Holly and Abomasnow. The longer he waited, the more strength the Mega Evolved giant regained. It was time to catch back up.

"Talonflame, I choose you!"

The thrown pokéball flew open, releasing the fierce and fiery Scorching Pokémon once more, returning to the battlefield for another clash. Despite the time spent resting, the proud bird's feathers still appeared ruffled, injuries still visible, and a noticeable shake in his left leg didn't go unnoticed by Ash. He furrowed his brow, concerned.

"Talonflame, I know you just fought out there, but you're our best chance to end this in a single shot. Can you do it?"

The crimson bird turned towards its trainer, spreading its wings wide.

"Talon!"

Smiling at the avian's tough exterior, Ash found his determination saved from wavering, focusing back on his opponent.

"Then let's go."

"Battle, begin!"

As the flag fell, he wasted no time.

"Alright, get high in the air and use Flame Charge!"

The bird took off, ignoring the ache in its wings and coating itself in flames. As his altitude rapidly increased, Holly knew Abomasnow needed more time. She'd have to stall the extremely dangerous fire bird.

"Knock it out of the sky with Blizzard!"

The Mega opened his mouth to unleash the freeze, all while its roots continued sapping up extra energy.

"Dodge it!" Ash called in return.

"Keep up the Flame Charges!"

Talonflame followed every word shouted his way, boosting his speed again and again as icy winds attempted to swat him down. Several times, a few stray edges of Blizzard managed to nick his wings, but the ever-present flames mitigated the damage, allowing him to accelerate unimpeded. After rolling out of numerous blasts, the avian had reached his limit, spreading his wings wide to pause and zero in on Abomasnow.

"Bring it in, Flare blitz!"

Tucking his wings, Talonflame gave a powerful cry, cloaking himself in searing fire then streaking through the air, placing Abomasnow in grave danger. Thinking carefully, Holly waited for the bird to come within range, knowing it was crucial to halt the super effective attack coming their way. Her partner wouldn't survive a full-on hit. As the opportunity arose, she acted.

"Now! Rock Slide!"

Not expecting such a move in the least, Ash found himself speechless as a group of white rings manifested over the area Talonflame was currently passing through. His sharp eyes caught the phenomenon, but weren't prepared for what happened next. Numerous boulders tumbled through each portal, raining a hailstorm of rock down on the emblazed bird.

"Don't stop, Talonflame, you can dodge them! I know you can!"

"Pika!" the trainer's electric type threw in.

Holding his companions' voices close, Talonflame sharpened his vision, carefully studying the falling rocks, tilting and diving around each one as he came upon them.

"Keep it up!" Holly urged her Abomasnow.

Greater numbers of boulders began tumbling, causing Talonflame to struggle in his already perilous condition. Ash's heart skipped a beat when one rock grazed his left wing, making the avian let out a cry of pain.

"Talonflame!" his trainer called out, hoping the Scorching Pokémon was still able to fly.

To his relief, the delay hadn't broken Flare Blitz, although he could ever so slightly hear the bird groaning. Out of space and out of time, Holly knew she had to stop the attack.

"Knock it away with Wood Hammer, now!"

Abomasnow moved to raise his arm, energizing it to retaliate. The Frost Tree Pokémon gasped, then growled, its limb suddenly laced with stray electricity: a parting gift from Pikachu's Thunderbolt.

"Paralyzed?! At a time like this?" Holly cried, watching Talonflame close the final gap.

Just before Ash could cheer for his partner's successful assault, he saw the Scorching Pokémon cringe, feeling the effects of its left wing. In that moment, his speed dropped. Nevertheless, Flare Blitz made contact; though was pushed slightly off course by Talonflame's broken focus. The attack struck Abomasnow's shoulder, inflicting the abnormally large damage fire moves had against its species.

The Mega stumbled backwards, almost falling over, saved only by its ingrained roots. On the opposing side, Talonflame had broken off after his attack, ungracefully losing altitude. Ash watched in horror as his valorous fighter hit the ground, deprived of any remaining energy. When the dust tracked by his feathers settled, the avian's swirled eyes regretfully decided his fate.

"Talonflame is unable to battle, Abomasnow wins."

Ash didn't even wait for the ref to finish before recalling his exhausted companion. He held the pokéball close, as if trying to peer inside.

"I can't thank you enough, Talonflame. You pushed yourself to a new height. Rest up, and we'll win this, for you, and everyone else who's still waiting to get better."

The red and white capsule shook once, giving the sign that the Scorching Pokémon was touched by his trainer's vow. Replacing Talonflame's ball, Ash immediately grabbed his last remaining battler, expanding the device and staring out onto the battlefield. Abomasnow was severely exhausted by now, but could still fire off Blizzard all day. This fact brought the Kanto trainer's nerves back to full prominence.

In the stands, the others were all discussing the unfortunate turn of events.

"Wow, just like that, he's down to his last Pokémon," Shauna state in a saddened tone.

Tierno wiped a few tears from his eyes.

"It's just not right! Ash's team had so much style, such moves!"

While Trevor and Shauna gave their dedicated friend a few pats on the shoulder, Bonnie laid her chin on the barrier in front of her seat.

"Poor Talonflame. He looked even worse than Pikachu did."

"Dene…" the Antenna Pokémon on her head sighed, still worried about his brotherly figure.

Serena was watching Ash's expression closely. She could see worry in his eyes, which seemed focused not on his situation, but on the pokéball in his hand.

"I think Ash is worried about whoever's in that ball," she spoke softly, knowing how much he cared for his cherished partners.

"He seemed so concerned earlier when Abomasnow Mega Evolved, more so than he usually is."

Clemont contemplated the situation given, adjusting his glasses as he watching his hesitating friend out on the field.

"I could be that Ash's last Pokémon is at a great disadvantage against Abomasnow. After how badly Pikachu and Talonflame were defeated, he knows it could get hurt just the same."

Back in the center of the stadium, Ash finally went forward, tossing his pokéball.

"Noivern, I choose you!"

Emerging from a cascade of blue light, the Sound Wave Pokémon let out a mighty roar, eager to pit his strength against any foe that stood before him. Upon seeing him, Ash's friends finally understood.

"No doubt about it; this is what he was worried about. Noivern might have amazing speed itself, but he's a much larger target than Pikachu."

Clemont pushed his glasses back up.

"And an immense weakness to ice only makes things harder."

"Not to mention that Rock Slide," Sawyer added.

Sensing Ash's hesitation, Noivern turned to face his trainer and caregiver, stepping over to eye the young man directly.

"Noi," he nodded encouragingly.

The Kanto trainer was curious of the dragon's confidence, still remembering back when the slightest emotional struggle caused him to blast a Supersonic in all their ears. The thought actually brought a smile to his face, as he reached up to scratch behind the imposing Pokémon's ear.

"Ash!"

Hearing Serena's voice, he turned to see what she wanted. She too was beaming with that radiant expression she'd learned to hold. Her hands were held over her heart, as she eyed the picture of Ash, standing right beside the Pokémon he'd raised since it was just an egg in his lap.

"As long as you wear that smile, Noivern will carry your strength, your love, even your dreams with it. It will fight its hardest. You're a team, you and all the others that helped you get this far. Remember that drive to never give up 'till it's over!"

A jolt ran through Ash's system, flashbacks of all the battle up until now. The wins, the loses, they'd stuck together every time, regardless of what wounds were inflicted. The Pokémon under his care were willing to take the pain, as he had many times for them. That was his love, and it fueled them to fight with all their strength and potential. That force even manifested itself, granting Greninja greater power than any others before him. His will solidified, he gave Serena a thumbs up, grateful to have a friend that reminded him of his true nature.

The rest all shouted cheers to the finalist, begging him to begin the final battle, and end it in his favor. Not one to let them down, the Kanto native swung back around to face his opponent, as Noivern reasserted its dominating wingspan. Seeing both sides ready to continue, the ref raised his flag.

"Battle, begin!"

Ash took but a second to twist his cap around, then pointed towards the slowly recovering Abomasnow.

"Alright, Noivern, give them your best Boomburst!"

Getting in one last screech, the Sound Wave Pokémon flapped his wings, shooting into the air. Once at a decent altitude, his ears began to glow, followed up by a barrage of destructive soundwaves that bore down on the rooted Abomasnow.

"Brace yourself!" Holly commanded.

Holding up his arms defensively, the Mega Evolved giant growled, feeling its whole body shake from the concussive attack. Despite the force, it was able to stay relatively unharmed, falling back to supporting itself.

"Return with Blizzard!"

As the massive jet of snow homed in on Noivern, Ash seamlessly plotted their next moves.

"Drop down!"

Letting his wings go limp, the Sound Wave Pokémon allowed gravity to assist in dodging the incoming storm, landing firmly back on the ground on all fours.

"Now Air Slash! Aim for those roots!"

Crossing his wings, Noivern charged the air around his body, then threw his limbs out, generating several saw discs of energy that converged on Abomasnow in the blink of an eye. As Holly watched, the blades tore her partner's recovery system to shreds. Not only that, but its mobility had increased, which was surprisingly a bad thing.

"Once more, Boomburst!"

Noivern lunged forward, gliding low to the ground as it charged the sonic energy in its ears. As Abomasnow readapted to being free of the roots, Holly was quick to counterattack.

"Stop it with Blizzard!"

The two attacks collided with even results, throwing up a cloud of mist. Ash pumped his fist forward.

"Keep up the pressure, Dragon Pulse!"

A screech signaled Noivern's mouth charging, then unleashing a multicolored stream of energy, which took the form of a dragon's maw as it sailed towards its target.

"Block it with Wood Hammer!" Holly responded.

Crossing his arms in front of him, Abomasnow's grass move took the brunt of the attack, with the draconic energy attempting to clamp down and overwhelm his abrupt defense. Aside from that, the Mega was pushed back several feet, for the first time since it had appeared on the battlefield. While its trainer grew nervous, Ash dived right in.

"Hit it with Supersonic before it recovers!"

As Dragon Pulse dissipated, it was replaced by erratic waves of disorienting frequencies emitted by the Sound Wave Pokémon, which filled Abomasnow's ears and submitted it to confusion. As the Mega fidgeted about, pupils enlarged and quite lost, Holly kept calling out to it.

"Abomasnow, you've got to lay your roots down again, Ingrain!"

The Frost Tree Pokémon did in fact extend its roots, but they grew in awkward angles that failed to dig into the earth, wasting its opportunity, which Ash gladly took.

"Another Dragon Pulse, Noivern!"

Mega Abomasnow took the full force of the dragon's blast, wincing at the impact. Desperate, Holly called out an old favorite.

"Abomasnow, please, use Blizzard, anywhere!"

The giant began firing off snow in every direction its head jerked, still unable to focus. Some of the Blizzard reached into the stands, showering the unprepared spectators with a chilly snowfall. Ash knew the danger regardless.

"Noivern, fall back!"

Acknowledging, the dragon retreated to a safer distance, all while its foe continued to spread winter to the stadium. After a minute of rampaging, Abomasnow seemed to tire itself out, halting the inaccurate Blizzard. An opening created, Ash called for Noivern to move in. As the bat-like Pokémon closed in, his trainer ordered another Boomburst, sure to deal heavy damage at close range.

Abomasnow eyes suddenly returned to normal.

"Blizzard!" Holy shouted.

Noivern's astonishment removed any chance of turning back, as well as broke his Boomburst charge, with the Mega opened its mouth to engulf his foe in a devastating flurry of ice. Rather than panicking, Ash did what he did best: improvise.

"Shield yourself with your wings!"

Agreeing with the inspired tactic, Noivern wrapped his impressive appendages around the most vital and exposed portions of his body. The cold struck hard, sending a chill down the Sound Wave Pokémon's spine. He endured, grinding his teeth as the Blizzard continued. Seeing the dragon holding its ground, Holly opted for a different angle.

"Strike it with Rock Slide!"

With the white rings appearing above Noivern, Ash knew the makeshift shielding would do nothing for overhead attacks. Unfortunately, there was no space for the dragon to escape. Refusing to let go of what Serena had reignited, he held fast. Sending his feelings towards his brave partner, the Kanto trainer voiced his plea.

"Stand strong, Noivern!"

The Sound Wave Pokémon eyed its parent, spotting the deep look in his amber gaze. He could sense the warmth, the confidence he was bridging from his heart to the dragon's. Accepting those feelings, Noivern roared, bracing his arms to withstand the boulders dropping from above. With each impact on his companion's body, Ash barely moved, willing his stubbornness and strength into the one who needed it most. The connection had to be enough, enough to pull Noivern through the super effective attack that tried to crush him.

At last, Abomasnow ran out of rock, once again breathing heavily. Without its roots to recover energy, it was on the verge of collapse. Holly was about to order another Ingrain, but stopped herself when she saw Noivern shaking. As both trainers watched, the dragon fell to the ground, silently grunting in pain. Ash's friends gasped, some placing a hand over their mouths in disbelief, others shaking their heads. The Kanto native himself was frozen, panting as he watched the Sound Wave Pokémon lay there.

The ref walked up to the edge of the battlefield, holding up his flag.

"Noivern is unable to- huh?"

An unnatural breeze had picked up, which seemed centered on the fallen dragon. As it grew in strength, the ref backed up, unsure what to make of it. Ash's wide eyes were glued to his companion, now with a visible gust surrounding his body. In the next moment, one of the Pokémon's arms raised, creating a support. With effort, Noivern's second arm also made its way up, finally dragging the bat-like creature to his knee. His piercing eyes narrowed at Abomasnow, who was anxiously awaiting a command. Its trainer was unfortunately just as confused.

"Noi…."

In one motion, he was to his feet, wings thrown out.

"VERN!"

The gathered winds suddenly overlapped, then followed the motions of Noivern's wings, before firing off towards Abomasnow, encircling the Mega and rapidly growing as their creator began flapping his wings more and more. In no time at all, a raging gale enveloped the panicking Frost Tree Pokémon, which could barely keep itself on the ground by this point, until the winds died down. Clemont's knowledge finally ended the guessing game, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"Ash! That's Hurricane!"

Hearing his friend's clarification, the young man gazed in awe at his dragon, who glanced at him again, a gleam visible in his eyes.

"You felt it, our bond," Ash whispered.

Whether he'd heard his trainer or not, Noivern nodded, encouraging him to continue the battle, to which he happily obliged, grinning with pride.

"Show all of Kalos your power Noivern. Use Hurricane!"

With a mighty screech, the Sound Wave Pokémon lifted off, gaining a favorable vantage point over Abomasnow. The target in sight, he sent a strong surge through each wing, generating the turbulence necessary and launching it in the Mega's direction.

"Push it back with Blizzard!" Holly called, refusing to give up either.

The opposing pair was baffled when Hurricane absorbed their attack, undaunted by the resistance. Within moments, Abomasnow was caught in the gale; this time lifted clean off the ground by the concentrated force Noivern had placed within. As the helpless Frost Tree Pokémon fumbled around in the air, Ash knew it was time to end it.

"Bring us home, Noivern. Boomburst!"

Giving it everything he had, the dragon fired his signature sonic attack at the airborne target, blasting the giant with full force and no footing to absorb the impact. The audience watched with jaws dropped as Abomasnow sailed over Holly's head, crashing into the ground between her and the stands. Even while the dust fired in all directions, the distinct sound of a Mega Evolution dissipating was all that Ash needed to hear, his eyes gleaming with amazement.

Sure enough, Abomasnow's normal form rested in the dirt, groaning and holding nothing but swirls in its eyes.

"Abomasnow is unable to battle, Noivern wins; which means the victory goes to Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town!"

The words didn't register with him at first, only staring at the fallen ice and grass type, until Holly recalled it to its pokéball, thanking it for its hard work. It took Noivern's sudden embrace to shake him out of it, as even the crowd's explosive cheers were deafened to his astonishment. He laughed as the dragon nuzzled his neck affectionately, overjoyed that it could win this battle for its loving parent. In the background, Ash could faintly hear the announcer declaring it official: he had one the Kalos League.

Back in the stands, Bonnie removed herself from the rest of the ecstatic group, jumping over the divider and running onto the battlefield.

"Bonnie, come back here!" Clemont called, regretfully going after her.

Serena couldn't resist, following the Lumiose siblings to congratulate their friend. Tierno and Sawyer joined the crowd.

"Wait, guys, we shouldn't just run onto the-"

Trevor was interrupted when Shauna grabbed the collar of his shirt, dragging him along. As Ash finished getting Noivern off of him, Pikachu was quick to hop onto his fellow Pokémon's shoulder and chatter away, likely about how amazing he'd been in the final showdown. Admiring the bond between the two, Ash was oblivious to Bonnie's approach, until she clamped herself to his back, nearly knocking him to the ground.

"That was soooooo amazing!" she screamed.

Dedenne jumped from her head to Ash's, then to Noivern's, offering his praise to Pikachu, naturally. Bonnie was removed by Clemont's Aipom Arm, just before the gym leader offered a firm handshake to the newest winner of the Kalos League. Tierno was next, placing the Kanto trainer in a headlock while complimenting the agile movements of his Pokémon. Sawyer simply dumped out all of his amazement with Ash's strategies, promising that next time they faced off there would be a different outcome.

"Congrats, Ash," Shauna simply said with a smile.

"Yeah, and I even got a shot of a Mega Abomasnow!" Trevor enthusiastically declared, holding up his camera.

As the group shared a hearty laugh, they noticed someone approaching from behind. Taking a look, they witnessed a weary, yet smiling Holly making her way to Ash. Once the Snowbelle trainer was close, she stopped and gave a small nod.

"That was some great battling, Ash."

She extended her hand.

"Let's do it again somewhere down the road."

The Kanto native accepted the shake, responding in kind.

"Definitely."

Holly let out a breath, clearly quite beat.

"Good luck to wherever you go from here. Huh?"

She found Bonnie tugging on her pant leg.

"Excuse me, Holly," the young girl began.

The Snowbelle native witnessed Bonnie get down on one knee and extend a hand towards her.

"You're a keeper! A woman like you is so strong that she'd have no trouble taking care of my brother!"

Holly blinked a few times, confused.

"Um, I'm sorry?"

Bonnie didn't get a chance to continue, plucked out of the conversation by her brother's invention. His beet-red face and scowl said it all.

"Bonnie I've told you a million times, maybe even a billion by this point!"

As everyone chuckled at the siblings' antics, Holly politely excused herself, walking away to go about her business. No sooner had she left that another prominent figure joined the gathering by the battlefield, accompanied by an assistant holding a trophy. Diantha smiled warmly at the assembly, always glad to see such high-spirited companions.

"Congratulations, Ash. I could see the trust and faith you and your Pokémon place in one another."

The raven-haired trainer gave a small casual bow.

"Thanks so much, Diantha. I can't wait until I can show you first hand."

The Champion chuckled, enjoying his enthusiasm.

"Someday. And I'll be looking forward to it."

In the meantime, everyone except Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie were ecstatic about meeting the famous Diantha, stars in all their eyes as they couldn't help but ask a dozen questions. Once she freed herself, the movie star turned to her assistant, who handed the trophy over to her and excused himself. Ash placed his undivided attention on the presenter, who carefully passed the winner his symbol of victory, giving one last congrats as the Kanto native studied the shiny award.

Turning to face the crowds, he held the trophy high in the air, striking a pose that he'd been saving since the very first League he'd challenged. The last of reality had finally sunk in as he heard the hundreds of screaming fans, cheering his name and voicing their thanks for an amazing final round of the Kalos League.

As the commotion began to die down, Bonnie grew a mischievous grin, looking back and forth between Ash and Serena, who was still gazing in admiration at her friend's moment of success.

"You know…" the lemon-haired girl began.

"Serena won the Master-class Showcase and became Kalos Queen, so since Ash won the League, shouldn't that make him the Kalos 'King'?"

As everyone considered the rather strange but interesting proposal, Bonnie got the reaction she wanted, watching Serena's face turn a shade reminiscent of a tamato berry.

"U-Uh, I, I don't think that's how it w-works, Bonnie," the honey-blonde stuttered.

Shauna, catching on to Bonnie's scheme, grinned as well, walking over and nudging her rival.

"I think it makes sense," she added with a wink.

"Picture it: Kalos' two most decorated young pair, strutting through Lumiose City with fans cheering on all sides as they walk down the-"

The brunette's mouth was covered by Serena, who was by now looking to explode.

"I think that's enough silliness!" she declared, barely keeping it together.

Shauna shrugged innocently as her friend freed her mouth.

"What? I was going to say street," she finished with a smirk.

While Serena pouted at the two girls' teasing, Ash suddenly remembered something, walking over to the still flushed Kalos Queen.

"Hey, Serena," he started.

Shocked out of her conflict with Bonnie and Shauna, the honey-blonde was able to drop her coloring when her face went pale, afraid of what Ash may say.

"Um, yes, Ash?"

To her upmost relief, he just smiled and held up his trophy.

"I wanted to say how great it was of you to remind me of what not just me, but my Pokémon were all fighting for during that match. It meant a lot, probably winning me the whole thing even."

Internally sighing, yet at the same time overly-flattered, Serena settled herself with a light blush that Ash would likely brush over, twirling a bit of her hair and avoiding full eye-contact.

"Oh, t-thanks! I mean, I'm just paying you back for those times you helped me get up."

Satisfied with his show of gratitude, Ash finally realized how long they'd been standing there, motioning for everyone to follow him back into the stadium, with Noivern and Pikachu close by.

"Come on, guys, I need to get everyone to the Pokémon Center. Then we go eat! I think my stomach might have caved in by now."

The group let out a laugh.

"Some things never change," Clemont mused, as he and the rest fell in behind the Kanto trainer.

On the way, Shauna leaned over and whispered into Serena's ear.

"You could've at least given him a hug instead of just saying 'good job'."

As the Kalos Queen grew more flustered with every action her friend took, at the head of the pack Ash was surprisingly not too focused on where the closed food was. Rather, glancing at the trophy in his hands, he pondered just what he'd gotten himself into. Holly had been a challenge, but even she probably wasn't stronger than the Elite Four. He and his companions had come out by the skin of their teeth, meaning there was still much training to be done. Reminding himself to talk with Diantha about the subject later, the young man found himself thinking about his travels through Kalos, and how he had formed a family bond with his three closest friends.

The more he remembered, the less he wanted to ever leave them. He enjoyed Bonnie's unparalleled enthusiasm for all things Pokémon, reminded of himself. Clemont's smarts and inventions were always amazing to hear and learn from. And Serena, the elegant performer he got to watch grow, along with supporting one another's goals to the fullest.

They were all his precious family.

Ok, so my first real attempt at a Pokemon fic. This was so much harder than what I'm used to, but I suppose that's expected of a larger overall subject. Regardless, I'm committed to this one, and will keep it up even if every single person hates it. As you may notice, this one starts off very similar to many other fics, but like those others, it branches out into something different that I hope will be liked.

Oh, and if you were wondering why I skipped over Serena's Master-class event, it's because I don't feel like I could give it justice, or any showcase for that matter. I can do fights all day, but performances I think I'd struggle with forever.

Hope you enjoyed and thanks for any comments/reviews!

next chapter: A Family's Promise