AN: Okay. I'm so, so, so sorry. It's been nearly two months since I lasted posted, and I feel guilty about not doing anything since then. But I promise, I will try to be better!

TC: Yeah...

Shut up! You had to move too!

TC: ...So?

You should know how hard it is! But to everybody, I have more details on my profile, right at the top under ANNOUNCEMENT.

TC: And I'm sure that those are great reasons. Not like you left everybody hanging for a couple months.

No more sarcasm. It never happened.

TC: Wh-

It never happened. Now, let's go for a Q&A!

TC: What?

I said, Q&A.

TC: Fine. Why did Red catch Shiftry? It's not like he needed any more pokemon.

Red didn't own a shiftry, and he saw the strength of that one. He thought very carefully about whether of not he should catch it, but in the end he decided to (obviously).

TC: But what about the other pokemon there, and what if Shiftry didn't want to join him?

Let me put it to you this way: Red is a trainer. Most trainers don't befriend the pokemon before they catch it, if at all. They just go up to a wild pokemon that they want to catch and start attacking it. Ash, for that reason, is unusual, and even at the beginning of his journey he didn't do that. Remember pidgeotto and caterpie? Yeah, he didn't talk to them.

TC: Why did Ash almost win the battle with Roark, when normally Tor was knocked out first attack?

Remember that in canon, Tor took a flamethrower from Cranidos. Obviously, that didn't go well. And then there's the fact that Tor has been going through intense training. At the current time, he's about as strong as Gardenia's turtwig.

TC: And lastly, why did Red dominate so completely? Meta took almost no damage!

Red won like that for three reasons. One, he had a type advantage. Two, his pokemon was much more powerful. Three, he's Red. He's just so much better than Roark that it was no contest. So he's a bit powerful. Red is the Kanto champion, and the youngest to ever take that title. Granted, he's not the current youngest champion, but he was the youngest to take the title. And the Kanto champion is usually called the strongest of the champions.

TC: Okay. But there are no things like this for the sidestories. We leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Exactly, worm. So, without further ado, the next chapter of Fire Before Ashes!

Answers to Reviews: Espeonage Espeon: Thank you. Omake, in Japansese, which is why it's typically seen in Anime/Manga fanfics, means extra. So, it's a little more, although now it's become more of a funny extra.

LittleKing9512: Um... No. Which one would I pair him with? But yes, this is relevant, which is why it was put like that. My personal view on the rangers is not the same as N's. However, I tried to see it how he would, which is that they use the pokemon for their own use, and some of them probably would abuse the abilities they have. And they use them in a similar way to trainers, but they don't have the pokemon stay for long, which means that they don't show them as much kindness. N will show up at least twice more, both times in the main story. And yes, Iris is annoying, at times. I would write that, but I already have a challenge on my plate that I'm trying to get out.

Red-eyes Emperor Dragon: Okay, you bring up some valid points. My defense is that Cynthia and Ash aren't going to have something like love at first sight. The earliest that, if they were chosen, they would start to date would be in Unova, where Ash would be about 18, and Cynthia 21. Completely legal, and it isn't uncommon that two people dating are a few years apart in age. On the other hand, pairing him with Dawn would have him be almost sixteen now, while she's ten. That's really not legal, most places. But I do appreciate your concerns, and I hope that you aren't forced to stop reading. After all, the choice is out of my hands! And lastly, thank you.

Ensuing: Yes, I have thought about a solution to the length of the prologue, but I have no solutions at the moment. The poll is on my profile. And sorry about how long it took to update. But thank you!

Guest: TC says thanks.

thecorrupted: Okay, I'm getting asked this question way too much. Since I'm writing this story in English, and I'm not calling Ash 'Satoshi', I'm obviously going by the English names. Green is the male character's Japanese name. The male character is BLUE. GREEN is the girl. Thank you.

The Carl776: Maybe... Red does not have an option. See previous chapter.

Girl of Darkness10: You were... What? Red, do you have a cousin?

Red: No, but Blue did. Why?

This girl claims to be your cousin. What do you have to say?

Red: ...I do not know her.

Disclaimer: Today, I'm taking a page out of TC's book and leaving him here to do the disclaimer! Sayonara, worm!

TC: You do realize that wherever you are, the disclaimer is too?

You can't trick me! I'm leaving!

*flies away. Lands in middle of Pacific Ocean*

Freedom! Now he has to say the disclaimer!

Wait, why is the disclaimer focused here? Go away. Bother TC. Shoo!

So, you're saying that he wasn't kidding? I have to say that I don't own pokemon? I'm saying everything out loud?

TC: Yes. That's exactly what you're doing.

W-wha? H-how did you get here!

TC: Plot convenience. So, start the story.

But I didn't say the disclaimer!

TC: You sure?

Burning Coal

or How to Make a Gym Leader Roll into a Ball and Cry

Unspecified location

Unspecified time

"Master? I have news for you."

"Wh- Ellia? What is it? I thought that you said that you would never use that thing?"

"Wait, you heard that?"

"I hear everything."

"..."

"Just kidding! I record everything in my home, and when I saw you mutter something, I decided to see what you said. It was simple: Just cut out any other noise and turn the volume of your words up to the maximum, while blowing up your face to read your lips!"

"That's... kinda creepy, Master."

"Of course. I live in a cave, what did you expect? And don't call me Master."

"Yes, Master."

"Why? What do I have to do?"

"Bribery. And my own cave."

"No chance. Make your own. But what do you need?"

"I received a message for you. It was from a weird guy who broke into my rooms. He said to tell you that the trainer with two badges has returned, and that there won't be another Saffron. And something about the yellow forest being alive."

"..."

"Master? Are you okay? I heard a thump."

"..."

"Master? What's wrong?"

"..."

"Okay, I can wait."

"..."

"..."

"... What? Oh, Ellia! How are you?"

"Master, why did you stop talking?"

"Well... Did this person say their name, and what other information can you give me?"

"He said that his name was Red. Other information? He's strong, really strong. He has a mastery and an apprentice, and he's challenging gyms with his apprentice."

"Sounds like him then. Okay, so to track him I just have to follow the trail of carnage."

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing! I have to go work on something! Bye!"

Spring

Oreburg City

Ash pointed at the giant rocks. "Pikachu, iron tail! Tor, razor leaf! Aipom, focus punch! Star, steel wing! Sceptile, bullet seed! Latias, dragon pulse!"

Each pokemon performed their attacks, Pikachu, Aipom, and Star doing direct attacks while the other three fired from a distance. Each rock broke, shards of stone flying everywhere. When the smoke cleared, the stones were no more.

"Great job, you guys!" Ash praised, his pokemon cheering.

Red, on the side, smirked. Dawn said, "Wow, they're all looking great!"

"They're all competing for the spot in the rematch. They're probably going to show everything they've got," Brock said.

Buneary hopped over to Pikachu. "You're iron tail was the best! You're the strongest one out there!" Buneary started to rub Pikachu's head with an ear.

"W-well, you know me. Always working hard, being strong," Pikachu said, rubbing the back of his head. "But could you stop playing with my head?"

Buneary nodded, drawing her ears back. "Yeah! You're going to win the battle for sure!"

Sceptile snorted. "He had his chance. It's going to be one of us, and I'm thinking me. After all, I don't lose."

"What about the Hoenn league?" Pikachu deadpanned. Sceptile stumbled in place.

"T-that never happened!"

Latias giggled. "You seem like Charizard!"

Tor and Star, having no idea what the others were talking about, just stood off to the side, talking. Aipom had some idea of what they were talking about, but when Sceptile declared that he wasn't like Charizard, and that he would fight even a treecko, Aipom had no idea what they were referring to.

Brock and Dawn walked over. "Using the coal ore for training was a great idea, Ash."

"Yeah, everyone's doing their hardest to destroy the rocks!" Dawn said. Over on the other side of the quarry, Mewtwo was having fun. He would grab a rock, then using psychic, grind it into nothing. It would be difficult for any psychic type to do that in an hour, but Mewtwo was doing it in the span of five seconds.

"We're going to train as hard as we can, until we can use the attacks instantly at full power! That's how we're gonna win the rematch easily!" Ash answered, grinning at his pokemon.

"But Ash, we know that none of your pokemon are a great matchup for Roark's. Cranidos has flamethrower, which isn't good for Sceptile or Tor!" Dawn said. Sceptile was about to protest that a fire attack was no problem, but he decided not to at the last moment.

Ash grimaced. "Well, that doesn't matter. We're gonna do great!"

Dawn suddenly brightened. "Hey, I know! Why don't you call your friend, the pokemon poet!"

"Dawn, you do realized that Professor Oak is foremost among the pokemon professors, and that he developed the pokedex, right?" Red asked, sweatdropping.

"Yeah, but Ash! Doesn't Professor Oak have a bunch of different pokemon? Just call him and ask for some of your pokemon that are stronger against rock types! Or I could lend you Piplup!"

Ash clenched his fist. "Everyone here's strong enough to take any of Roark's pokemon! We don't need anybody else!"

"But Ash, don't you want to win?"

"Of course I do! But I'm going to win with these guys. You can always win with any of your pokemon, you just have to find the right strategy!" Ash exclaimed. Red nodded approvingly.

"That's the spirit, Ash. But we are going to talk to Professor Oak before we leave Oreburg. I'd like to train more than one of your old pokemon."

Sceptile blinked, before he started to twitch. "No! Nonononononononononono! Do you know how boring it is there? Take me with you!"

"Sceptile, if it's boring for you, what about everyone else? Don't they deserve training too?" Ash asked. Sceptile started to mutter unkind things under his breath.

Red smirked. "Well, Ash, do you want to do some more... specialized training?"

Ash nodded. "Of course, Master!"

"Okay. Brock, I need your help. Send out Sudowoodo."

Brock blinked, but sent out his pokemon. Red then pulled out two pokeballs. "Tar, Ron, let's go!"

The tyranitar and aggron burst into the mine, standing beside Sudowoodo. Ash, getting what Red was asking, smirked, and said, "So, you think that you can beat the six of us?"

"Think? I know," Red answered.

Dawn exclaimed, "I'm going to go practice some combinations well you guys battle. Mewtwo, do you want to come?"

Mewtwo, floating next to the quarry, shrugged, and said, "I may as well. Perhaps I can be of assistance."

Dawn and Mewtwo left, as the battle between Brock and Red vs. Ash began.

The battle had been intense, and now it had come down to Ron, Tor, and Pikachu. "Stone edge," Red ordered, his pokemon hurling the rocks at Tor and Pikachu.

"Pikachu, iron tail, and Tor, solarbeam!" Ash shouted, his pokemon starting their attacks. Tor hung back as Pikachu deflected the rocks and started to slam iron tail into Ron's steel body. After a couple seconds, the beam of light was fired, and Ron was hurled back.

Red called back his pokemon. "Okay, Ash. Let's take a break."

Ash nodded, his two pokemon falling to their knees. Suddenly, a voice called out, "I see that you're working hard!"

Ash grinned at Roark. "We try!"

Roark nodded, before he reached down and grabbed a small fossil. "Well, I'm going to be digging for fossils right now. It's relaxing, after all!"

"You really like fossils, don't you," Ash said, looking at the fossil in Roark's hand.

Roark nodded, smiling. "The first fossil I ever found was a cranidos fossil. And after I revived it, it became a member of my team. You know it well, after all."

"Your cranidos?"

"Yeah. Have any of you ever dug for fossils?" Roark asked. Ash and Brock winced.

"Once," Ash answered, shuddering. "I nearly got eaten by an aerodactyl and in the end found an egg, not a fossil."

Roark nodded sympathetically. Before the group could talk more, Ian ran up and Red's eyes widened.

"Roark!" Ian called. Roark turned to face him.

Ian and Red spoke at the same time. "Something's gone wrong!"

Ash and Roark looked to their respective friends. "There's a group of fossil pokemon firing off attacks all over the place!" Red said, releasing Aero.

"The ancient pokemon are on a rampage!" Ian declared, causing Roark's eyes to widen.

"Come on!" Roark shouted, leading the group into the mine as Aero took to the skies, Red atop him.

Roark led the group to two pokemon, a kabutops and an armaldo. There was a group of people surrounding the two pokemon, attempting to capture them.

"Leave this to me!" Roark shouted, drawing everyone's attention. Ash grabbed a pokeball.

"I'm helping too."

Officer Jenny objected. "No! It's too dangerous! You don't have authorization to help out!"

Aero swooped by. "I vouch for him!" Red called as he flew by. Officer Jenny blinked, as Roark and Ash sent out their pokemon.

"Cranidos, flamethrower!" Roark shouted.

Ash called, "Sceptile, leaf blade! Take down kabutops!"

Sceptile moved quickly, taking down the kabutops in a single blow, as Cranidos went from a flamethrower to a zen headbutt. Right before Cranidos impacted with armaldo, three robotic arms grabbed the fossil pokemon, bringing them to a large machine.

"The fossil restorer!" one of the scientists cried, recognizing the device.

"Listen, is that shocked twerps I hear?"

"They're crying to me loud and clear!"

"On the wind!"

"Past the stars!"

"In yer ear!"

"Bringing chaos at a breakneck pace!"

"Dashing hope and putting fear in its place!"

"A rose by any other name's just as sweet!"

"When everything's worse, our work is complete!"

"Jessie!"

"And James."

"Meowth, dat's a name!"

"Putting the do-gooders in their place!"

"We're Team Rocket!"

"In your face!"

"So you're behind this!" Jenny shouted.

The head scientist called, "Return the fossil restorer at once!"

"Yeah, like that's ever gonna happen," Jessie called down.

Ash grimaced. "Pikachu, let's go!"

Roark held Ash back. "Wait, Ash. We have to be careful. If we aren't, the fossil pokemon could be hurt, and the machine damaged!"

"Then we're just gonna have to take them out of there first!" Ash shouted, pulling out another pokeball. "Latias, grab the machine and the pokemon and bring them back here!"

The legendary pokemon made the people who did not know she existed gasp, before she used psychic to pull the pokemon out, but before that she was distracted by a large pokemon flying at her and firing a hyper beam. After so much of that in training, she deflected it back without any trouble, but the machine was tipped over by the force of the attack.

The two scientists ran over and called back the fossil pokemon, while Cranidos stood at attention.

Aerodactyl dodged the hyper beam, before starting a giga impact. Red, from a distance, saw the attack and urged Aero to fly faster.

Giga impact was unable to be stopped, but before Cranidos was hurt too badly trying to stop it, Ash got up next to the pokemon and pushed aerodactyl back into the sky with aura. The ancient pokemon fired off a hyper beam, which was stopped in its tracks by a combination of ice beam and bubblebeam.

Dawn, Mewtwo on her heels, ran up. Aerodactyl, up in the sky, glared and started to fly down in a giga impact, before it was rudely sent flying down into the ground.

Above aerodactyl, Red stood on Aero, who had hurled the weaker pokemon to the earth. Aerodactyl, furious now, jumped up and flew at the two.

"Aero, dragon claw," Red ordered, his pokemon rushing the younger and sending it back to the ground. Aerodactyl, raging, turned on Ash and co., where it used giga impact again.

"Piplup, Buneary, spin!" Dawn commanded, her pokemon jumping up and spinning just around the attack, making aerodactyl miss. Red nodded his thanks.

"Pikachu, thunderbolt!" Ash shouted. The bolt of lightning sent aerodactyl into the ground, where a scientist threw a pokeball at the creature. It rocked three times, before it was caught.

"Thank you," said the head scientist, before he took the pokeball.

Over with Team Rocket, they had gotten their machine back on it's feet. "Wah! Where's aerodactyl!?" the three shouted. Ash and Roark stepped forward.

"Give back the machine," Roark ordered. Team Rocket shared glances.

"Dere's only one thing ta do here..." Meowth said.

"Run away!" The machine started to roll away, nearly hitting Red and Aero as they went.

Roark shouted, "Stop! Cranidos, go!"

The rock type ran after the fleeing trio, slowly gaining on them. However, a net burst out of the mecha and ensnared Cranidos, leaving it behind.

Cranidos growled at the retreating group, who laughed as they fled. "You're not going to make fools out of us!" Roark shouted, "Cranidos, are you gonna let them win?"

Cranidos was suddenly filled with determination, and it rose up and started to glow. Shouting as it evolved, it tore the net with ease. Rampardos roared a challenge to the sky.

Roark smiled. "Cranidos evolved now, after so long. This is perfect! Let's go, Rampardos!"

Rampardos charged, faster than before, and quickly reached the machine, Sceptile by his side. "So, how're we gonna do this?" Sceptile asked the newly evolved pokemon.

"I'm going to pull out the fossil thing, and you blow them up after I'm clear. Okay?" Rampardos replied. Sceptile grinned ferally and jumped up.

Rampardos jumped onto the fossil restorer, and dug his claws into it. Pulling, he ripped it out of the mecha and jumped back, still holding the slightly damaged machine. Sceptile, the instant that Rampardos was clear, fired off a large energy ball that hit the spot where the fossil restorer used to be. It was a fairly large explosion.

Team Rocket went flying as Rampardos and Sceptile returned to their trainers' sides. "So powerful and fast!" Dawn exclaimed, as the trainers praised their pokemon. Red and Aero landed next to the group, and Red called back his flying pokemon.

"Thank you, Rampardos and Sceptile. Thanks to you, we have our machine back," said the head scientist.

Jenny walked over. "And to all of you. For your assistance, I salute you."

Brock appeared by Jenny's side. "Jenny, my darling! I salute you for your awesome charm and amazing beauty!" He suddenly stiffened up, as Croagunk dragged his trainer away.

Ash turned to Roark. "Hey, Roark? In our battle tomorrow, can I battle Rampardos? I'd love to see if we can beat him!"

"Oh? Have you thought of a strategy already?" Roark asked. Ash nodded, grinning. "Okay, you can have the honor of being Rampardos' premiere opponent."

"Thanks! Pikachu, you ready for a great battle?" Ash asked. Pikachu nodded.

"Let's see if you can make me try this time!" Pikachu shouted to Rampardos, who smirked.

"I think that our rematch will have a different result," Rampardos retorted.

Ash turned to Dawn and Red. "Hey, Dawn, can you help me train a bit? And Master, will you help me too?"

"Of course."

"Sure!"

Ash grinned at Roark. "This time I know that I'll get that badge!"

"Then give it all you've got!" Roark said, a fire matching Ash's burning in his eyes.

"Pikachu, you have to spin with iron tail!" Ash called over to his pokemon. Tor had gotten the spin down, but Pikachu was still having trouble.

Pikachu glared at Ash. "You try spinning right with something that weighs the same as you do!"

"Then why don't you go over the target and let the spin carry you down!"

"If I can't spin with it, what makes you think I can jump?!"

"You go into the air with iron tail all the time!"

"I activate it while I'm in the air, not on the ground!"

"Then do that!"

"Why not just use the spin to get behind them and then attack?" Pikachu asked, in a heated glaring match with Ash.

Ash glared back as he said, "Because you can spin and hit them with iron tail as you go!"

Yeah, Ash was having some issues with training. Over the ridge, Sceptile was fighting Mewtwo, wanting to get one last good fight in. Mewtwo had the advantage of power and his fire attack for tea, but Sceptile had his night slash and x-scissor attacks. He was also helped by the fact that Mewtwo was drinking tea as he fought.

"Sounds like Pikachu's having trouble with attacks," Sceptile commented as he blurred past in night slash, which Mewtwo deftly dodged.

Mewtwo continued to drink his tea. "Not everyone can pick up attacks like you. Most of us have to train for a few days before we can use them with any measure of success."

"Which is why I'm awesome. Hey, you have three ball attacks, right?" Sceptile asked, using night slash to break out of psychic.

Mewtwo sighed. "Yes. Electro ball, shadow ball, and aura sphere. Why?"

Sceptile grimaced as he missed with leaf storm. That would cost him later. "Well, they all have a similar shape, so why don't you combine them?"

"It doesn't work well. Shadow ball and aura sphere results in them slipping away, since they don't go together typewise, and shadow ball and electro ball doesn't do anything special. Aura sphere and electro ball is powerful, but the chances of hitting is so much smaller, since electro ball makes it slower. So, overall, it's not worth it," Mewtwo answered, idly avoiding the energy ball.

Sceptile growled in frustration as he asked, "Can you steer your attacks with psychic?"

"I can, but that makes them useless against dark types, which is what I prefer to use aura sphere against." Mewtwo's attention was caught by the near miss of a bullet seed. It nearly hit his tea. "Did you just try to kill my tea?"

"Pay attention to me!" Sceptile shouted, firing off another bullet seed. Mewtwo's face became shadowed as he put away his tea and threw off his cloak.

"I'll give you three seconds to get ready. Two. One. Goodbye," Mewtwo said. In that time, Sceptile had time to create a hasty energy ball and eat it, now trying to match the flurry of attacks. Creating leaf blade, he started to slice at Mewtwo, who stopped them and sent Sceptile flying with a flick.

Sceptile groaned as he rose to his feet. He watched as Mewtwo opened one hand and a purple saber appeared in it. "So, you want to see who's better with a blade? I can give you that!" Sceptile shouted, gritting his teeth as he charged up leaf blade. Leaf blade and psycho cut met, creating showers of sparks as they met time and time again.

The battle continued on, neither contestant wanting to give up, but Sceptile's power waned and Mewtwo's didn't. As a last attempt, Sceptile started to prepare a move that he had developed and hadn't show anyone. It was unstable, and likely to fail, but if it hit, it could turn the tide of the battle. A 4% chance was better than no chance.

"Sceptile, give up. You can't win like this," Mewtwo called, bored, before he sensed a massive amount of power. Eyes widening, he spun around to face Sceptile's hiding place.

Over with Ash and Pikachu, Dawn having left after she was sure that Ash understood the theory, Red faced the cliff that Mewtwo and Sceptile were fighting on. Ash, aura sight having been drilled into him enough that he used it every ten seconds for about half of one.

To the sight, it seemed like a green tornado had appeared atop the ridge and was trying to be shaped into a small space.

That was an apt description, because that was almost what it was. The first, least difficult part, was forcing himself into overgrow with the energy ball boost. The next part was harder. Using swords dance, then x-scissor, then night slash, and lastly leaf blade, forcing all his power into those attacks was no mean feat. It was similar to taking a lake and stuffing all the water into a glass bottle.

Sceptile barely managed to make the attack work, the single blade shining with so much pure power that it could be mistaken for the attack of a legendary pokemon.

Mewtwo, seeing Sceptile leap from the bushes, jumped back, but Sceptile was one of the faster pokemon alive, and so was able to get closer and closer, before unleashing the attack. He lost focus just a second early, and the attack exploded between the two battlers, sending them flying, Mewtwo through several trees and into the ground, Sceptile off the cliff.

Ash saw his pokemon falling, and rushed over, Pikachu at his side. Jumping and reinforcing his body with aura, he caught Sceptile and brought the grass type to the ground safely. Red walked over, seeing that his apprentice had it in hand, before he started to heal the injured pokemon.

It took a few minutes, but eventually Ash and Pikachu returned to training, and continued to prepare for their battle against Roark.

The next day, the day of the battle, Ash was talking to his friends before the battle. "So, Ash, are you going to win?" asked a person who walked over.

Ash shrugged. "I don't know, Paul. We've been training, but Rampardos'll be hard to beat."

Paul nodded, before walking into the gym. "Then let's get this over with. I've already been in Oreburg too long."

Ash and the others followed Paul into the gym, Ash excited to win his first badge in Sinnoh.

At the battlefield, Ash stood on his side while Roark was ready on the other. "Well, well, well! I'd say by the spring in your step that you have some newfound confidence! But as a champion, you deserve it!"

In the stands, Paul and Dawn looked quizically at Brock and Red. "He's a champion? Since when?"

Red smirked. "Not officially, but after I finish the paperwork, all he needs to do is sign his name. Then he needs to pick his elite four, if he wants them. But yeah, he is technically the champion of the orange islands."

Paul blinked, as did Dawn.

"Thanks! I still don't know what people mean by champion, but I do know that today, I'm getting the coal badge!" Ash shouted back.

Ian raised his arms. "The gym battle between Ash from Pallet Town and Roark, the Oreburg gym leader will now begin! Each side will have the use of a single pokemon, and the battle will be over when the opponent's pokemon is unable to battle. In addition, the gym leader will choose their pokemon first!"

Paul suddenly realized something up in the stands. "You. Why are you wearing those ridiculous clothes?"

Dawn blinked, before looking down at her cheerleader's outfit. "Oh, this? It's because I have to cheer Ash on! And my name's Dawn."

Turning to face the field, she and her pokemon started to cheer for Ash. Ash groaned. "Have I become a Gary, with cheerleaders?"

Roark shrugged, before he threw his pokeball. "Rampardos, let's go!"

The rock type, as soon as it landed, started to kick at the ground. Ash grinned. "Well, we've thought about this a lot. Pikachu, you ready for this?"

Pikachu nodded, and ran onto the field. Ian announced, "Let the battle begin!"

Roark called out first, "Rampardos, zen headbutt!"

The rock type charged at Pikachu, head glowing a brilliant blue. Ash smirked. "Just like we practiced Pikachu! Spin!" Pikachu waited until Rampardos was getting close, before jumping at the charging pokemon, tail glowing silver. As Pikachu span, avoiding the zen headbutt, the iron tail slammed into Rampardos multiple times, causing damage.

"I see... Rampardos, stop moving!" Roark called. Pikachu, no longer having the support that Rampardos provided, slowed down, and quickly got back to his feet.

Ash shouted, "Okay, Pikachu, iron tail!"

Pikachu charged at Rampardos, before jumping up and coming down, silver tail first. "Dodge, then headbutt!" Roark shouted. Rampardos jumped out of the way, before ramming Pikachu with its cramium and sending the smaller pokemon flying into a rock, shattering it.

Pikachu was buried under the rocks, and there appeared to be no movement. "Rampardos seems even faster than yesterday..." Ash muttered, worried for Pikachu.

"After Rampardos evolved, we did some serious training, just as hard as you. We don't plan to go down easy! Now, flamethrower!" Roark shouted, his pokemon sending the flames at the pile of the rocks that Pikachu was under.

Ash smirked. "You didn't think that that would be all, right? Pikachu, thunderbolt!"

The power of the electricity was so great that it nearly vaporized the rocks, broke through flamethrower with ease, and then sent Rampardos flying back, sparks crackling over its body. A second later, Pikachu burst from the previous rocks, speeding towards Rampardos. "Iron tail!"

"Zen headbutt!"

The two attacks met, and both pokemon skidded back, slightly damaged from the contact. Ash and Roark shared a look. "Headbutt!"

"Quick attack!"

The two pokemon charged, and at the last moment, an instant before contact was made, Ash shouted, "Now, overhead!"

Pikachu jumped, and started to spin head over feet, instead of like a top with the others. Ash smirked. "Now you get to see what we figured out. Pikachu, iron circle!"

Pikachu's tail started to glow, and due to its position and how he was spinning, it seemed like a silvery ring was glowing around Pikachu, running along Rampardos' back. Rampardos slammed into the ground, as Pikachu continued to roll along his body.

"Throw Pikachu off with your tail!" Roark shouted. Rampardos flicked its tail as Pikachu came to it, sending the electric mouse sky high.

"Thunder!" The half a foot thick bolt of lightning came down from the sky, cracking the ground where it landed. It was only by rolling away that Rampardos avoided the hit, and instead there was a two meter deep crater.

"Well, Ash, I guess it all boils down to this. Focus energy, Rampardos!" Roark shouted, Ash following his lead.

"Pikachu, use agility!"

The two pokemon charged up, as Pikachu started to relax and sprint forward. Rampardos also started his charge. Ash and Roark shared a look, knowing that this might be it.

"Pikachu! Volt tackle!"

"Rampardos, head smash now!"

The two pokemon, charging at each other, were enveloped in blue or yellow light, racing at each other. They were about to collide when Pikachu's agility paid off, and the electric type disappeared, reappearing behind Rampardos with volt tackle ready. Rampardos tried to run, but Pikachu's sheer power started to tear the ground as he ran.

"Now, Pikachu! Go!" Ash shouted, as his best friend ran, crackling the ground, and collided with Roark's most powerful pokemon. Lightning flashed, and everyone watching was blinded for an instant.

Everyone was eventually able to see, the sight one of a panting Pikachu on all fours standing next to Rampardos, who was lying on the ground, knocked out.

Ian stared at the sight for a second, before shouting, "Rampardos can't battle any longer! Pikachu is the winner! The victory goes to Ash of Pallet Town!"

Ash was silent, before he started to laugh and ran over to Pikachu, embracing him. "Pikachu, you did it! You were awesome!"

"That was a battle!" Pikachu answered, still panting a bit.

Up in the stands, Paul was smirking, as was Red, while Dawn cheered and Brock smiled.

Outside the gym, Roark stood with Ian facing Ash and his friends. "The way that you used power and strategy was incredible. The only way that I could describe that battle was stunning. So, here's proof of your Oreburg gym victory! The Coal Badge!"

Ash grinned like a loon as he took the badge. "Thank you so much, Roark!"

Ash released the two pokemon that helped in the first battle. "Alright! We just got the Coal Badge!"

The three pokemon cheered, jumping for joy, and Ash joined them. Red smirked as he looked on.

Ash walked over to Brock, watching as the female member of their group stared at a small electric squirrel. "What's Dawn doing?"

"She's been staring at that pokemon for quite some time. I think she wants to catch it," Brock said, an amused tone slipping into his voice. Ash chuckled at the thought.

Dawn jumped up, shouting, "Ah! I can't help it, I want you!" She reached for the pokemon, who shocked her before running off. Ash laughed as he saw he hair sticking up at odd angles.

Over where he was sitting, Red yelled at Ash, "Ash! If you aren't going to train, then at least help me with this!"

Ash started, before turning to his master with a guilty look on his face. "Uh... Sorry?" Red glared at Ash, before he beckoned his apprentice over.

"Do you see these papers? These are technically yours, but I have to fill them out. I didn't need to do paperwork for the past five years, so I expect that you'll help me with these forms. Get to work," Red ordered, handing Ash a stack of papers and a pen. Ash stumbled under the weight of the stack, before righting himself and sitting down. The two worked in relative harmony, as Dawn attempted to capture the pachirisu, to humorous results.

About an hour later, Ash was finishing the last form, while Red watched, having finally finished ten minutes before. "And that's it. Now can we get back to training?" Ash asked, putting the paper on top of all the others.

Red smirked as he pointed to Pika and Pikachu, who were working on creating 'balls of lighting that bounce and make real good booms', as Pika called it. "You want to go help Pikachu?"

Ash was about to reply when a beeper went off. Red's eyes went wide, before he swore and pulled out a small cube with a screen on one side. Ash stared at the machine. "What's that?"

"It's today? I thought it wasn't until next week! Ugh..." Red said, before looking at Brock. "Hey, Brock! I'm going to take Ash on a trip for the rest of the day! Make sure that Dawn doesn't do anything crazy like releasing Piplup!"

Mewtwo sighed as he floated over. "Where do you need to go? I'm like a teleporter for all that I do."

Red looked up from where he had tied up Ash and Pikachu, having returned Pika a few seconds before. "How about I give you coordinates, and bring us there?"

"Why did you tie Ash up?" Mewtwo asked, taking the paper with the coordinates on it. Red shrugged.

"Can't let him escape, can I? Now, how am I going to take these papers with us?" Mewtwo stared at the stacks of paper that reached as high as he did. There were three stacks.

"No."

Red blinked. "Come on, Mewtwo, we have to go now!"

"I said no and I stand by it. Carry them yourself."

Red growled in frustration but didn't argue, instead taking out a small bag and placing his hand on it, where both began to glow blue for a couple seconds. "This costs me a lot of aura, Mewtwo, and it'll only last an hour. Let's go!"

Mewtwo rolled his eyes, before he started to focus. The four, Mewtwo, Ash, Red, and Pikachu, disappeared in a violet flash, while Dawn turned to look at Red, or where he was. "Hey, Brock? What do you think he meant by releasing Piplup?"

"It was probably a reference to Ash trying to release Pikachu a long time ago," Brock answered, looking through his little black book. He had to figure out who his next likely target was. After all, what he said wasn't just spur of the moment- it was all planned. All part of his Master Plan. Brock began to laugh, while Dawn turned back to stare down pachirisu.

Seven Island East

"This is as close as you could get us?" Red complained as Aero flew towards their destination, the tied up Ash and Red on his back.

Mewtwo narrowed his eyes. "This is as close as I could get us without it having the possibility of sending us to Unova. It's only an hour away."

"The meeting starts in five minutes!"

Ash glowed azure for a second before all the ropes broke. "Wait, why did your timer thing go off ten minutes before the thing started?"

Red glared at his apprentice as he produced more rope. "Normally I'm at the location an hour early since I never have anything else to do. But with all of your paperwork, I didn't remember that!"

Ash sighed as he sat down and watched the sea. "Of course, Master. It's all my fault."

"Exactly. See, this is why I left all my paperwork to Lance when I retreated to Mt. Silver."

Pikachu laughed, "I bet he loved that."

"Pikachu, sarcasm is neither pretty nor polite," Ash lectured, causing Aero to start laughing, a rumbling sound like rocks falling into a deep canyon, while Pikachu started to twitch.

"But- I... You- Ash..." Pikachu muttered.

Red snorted as he laid back on Aero, willing the trip to go faster.

It took forty minutes, less than what Mewtwo had predicted but still made the group late. Directing Aero to land in the field next to a small metal building, Red jumped with the bag and sent out a pulse of aura, which was matched by five others. Sighing, Red called back his rock and flying type as he led Ash into the building.

The door that Red opened led into a fairly large room, which was dominated by an eight sided table. At the head was an old man, who had scars covering his face, standing out in stark contrast to his tan skin and black suit. The side to the right of him had one chair, with nobody sitting in it. The chair in the side one more to the right was occupied by Lance, in full uniform. To his right were two chairs, occupied by Wallace and Steven, both in their traditional attire. One more to the right was seated Cynthia, in her black uniform. And the last occupied seat, on Cynthia's right, held Alder.

Ash's eyes went wide as he saw the champions of the various regions assembled. As the two proceeded in, Mewtwo opting to remain outside, the old man spoke.

"You are late, Red. Unusually so."

Red's face was blank, and when he spoke, his voice was cold, as it had been when Ash met him. "I was occupied with... other tasks. May I request a chair be brought in?"

The old man frowned. "Who is the boy with you? You know that you cannot bring strangers into these meetings."

"This would be my apprentice, and after the approval, the champion of the Orange Islands," Red stated, making his way over to the seat at the right of the old man. The champions in the room were briefly shaken before they regained their composure.

The old man raised an eyebrow. "The paperwork is...?"

"Right here." Red reached into his bag and pulled out the three stacks of paper, passing them to the man, who scanned them and nodded.

"This all seems to be in order. But you appear to be missing the approval of at least three champions..."

Red looked vaguely annoyed. "I was going to ask when we got here, but we were late. May I ask now?"

The old man nodded, before asking, "Are you all ready to decide?"

Wallace raised a hand, and coolly asked when the old man nodded at him, "May I have a minute to confer with my predecessor?" The old man nodded, and the two Hoenn champions withdrew to a corner of the room. A tense few minutes passed, which had Ash sweating, before every champion was in their seat, Red sitting at the right of the old man.

The old man announced, "Let us begin. Champion Red, do you find Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town a suitable candidate for the position of Orange Island Champion?"

Red's gaze was level with his apprentice as he said calmly, "I find him worthy."

"Champion Alder, do you find Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town a suitable candidate for the position of Orange Island Champion?"

Alder stared at Ash for a second, before frowning and stating, "Awfully young, isn't he? Sure, I saw his file, but... I don't think he has enough experience. I do not find him suitable." Red grimaced for a second, mirrored by Ash.

"Champion Lance, do you find Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town a suitable candidate for the position of Orange Island Champion?"

Lance stared at Ash, before smirking. "Well, Ash. When I last saw you, it was in that fiasco of Groudon and Kyogre. I didn't think that you would be this close to becoming a champion less than a year later! But I trust Red, and even if you aren't champion material now, as his apprentice, it won't be long. After all, he is the strongest of us, last we checked. Anyways, I find Ash Ketchum a suitable candidate as a champion."

Red nodded briefly to Lance, while Ash didn't even try to hide the relief on his face. Unless both of the next decisions found him not good enough, he was in. The old man said for the fourth time, "Champion Wallace, do you find Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town a suitable candidate for the position of Orange Island Champion?"

"Well, I don't know this boy at all," Wallace said, looking at the old man, before pausing a second, causing a sense of dread in Ash. Wallace continued, "But Steven says that he thinks Ketchum is good enough, so I find him acceptable."

It was all Ash could do not to start laughing, but he managed to hold it to a wide grin. Red looked satisfied, while the old man gave a sharp nod. "So, we have enough votes for Mr. Ketchum to become champion, but I wish to find out the opinion of our last champion. Champion Cynthia, do you find Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town a suitable candidate for the position of Orange Island Champion?"

Cynthia smiled at Ash, before she turned to the source of the question. "I don't know a thing about him, but I like the looks of him. His pikachu seems happy, and that speaks greatly of his character. He must be strong to have attracted my senior, so I agree. I, Cynthia, find Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town a worthy candidate to become Orange Island Champion."

Ash bowed slightly to Cynthia and she nodded in acknowlegement as Red started to slowly clap. The other champions joined in, and the old man nearly shouted, "And so we welcome the sixth champion into our ranks. Orange Island Champion Ash, do you accept this responsibility?"

Ash nodded rapidly. "Of course I do!"

The old man broke into a smile. "Then let me be the first to welcome you to the ranks of the Champions. Congratulations!"

The other champions relaxed as a chair was brought in and put at the seventh edge of the table, to Alder's right. Ash sat, as Alder muttered to him, "Hey, good job. You're the fourth youngest champion ever, feel proud. Of course, I'm sure you aren't gonna pull a Red, so you're still my junior."

Ash blinked in confusion, as the old man glanced at the clock behind him. "Well, now that that's out of the way, we do have some decisions to make about Champion Ash's position."

"Well, Cin, does he have an elite four? That's the number one priority, obviously," Wallace stated, the other champions nodding.

The old man, Cin, replied, "You will need to choose an elite four, Ash. If I may suggest one person, it would be Drake-"

Wallace frowned. "I am not giving up my elite four."

"Actually, he means Drake, as in the previous champion of the orange islands," Lance said, earning a glare from the water master.

Red sighed. "Drake would be a good choice, but he only measures up to third tier elite four standards. He may never have been beaten, but not many strong trainers visit the orange islands. Once word gets out that there would be an easy championship..."

"Red brings up a good point. How are we going to announce this? A new champion appearing out of the blue isn't going to go well," Cynthia mentioned, before wincing as she looked at Red. "Sorry."

"..."

"That won't be a problem. I assume that you all remember that we have our tournament this year?" Cin asked, most of the champions nodding, Ash the exception. "We can announce his arrival there."

Alder grunted. "So who's sitting out? Wallace?"

"Why does anybody have to not participate? After all, including Steven, we have seven here. Why not add one more?" Red suggested.

Lance tried to shoot down the idea. "Who's going to be able to compete on our level? None of our elite four match up, and I doubt that any of the famed 'Dex Holders' are willing to join."

"You have one of those 'Dex Holders' right next to you, Lance," Red said. Lance rubbed the back of his head.

Alder smirked. "Well, I do have a person in mind. She's just as strong as I am, so she should do fine."

"Who?" Ash asked, wondering who would be able to fight against his master, or Lance. Maybe a frontier brain?

"You mean White?" Cynthia asked. Alder drooped, his thunder stolen.

"Yeah. The girl's still searching for that N boy, but I could convince her to compete."

"That would be... acceptable," Red stated.

"Sure, why not?" Lance said.

"Could be interesting," Cynthia smiled.

"I'd like to battle her, if you say that she's really good," Ash chimed in.

Wallace closed his eyes. "I have no objections."

"It's a bad idea. I mean, a girl competing with us?" Steven said, causing Cynthia to turn red.

Cynthia shouted, "So you think that just because she's a girl, she isn't good enough? Typical of you, Steven, after Sapphire did better than Wallace did, you handed your title to him!"

Steven stood up, grabbing a pokeball. "You think you can beat me?"

"Ground beats steel, and so does fighting! Or are you forgetting what happened last time Garchomp and you fought?" Cynthia called back, pulling out her own pokeball.

"It was a fluke!"

"A fluke that let me beat half your team with one pokemon?"

"Garchomp shouldn't be able to fly!"

As Steven and Cynthia seemed about to begin a battle inside the room, a knock sounded at the door. Eyes widening, Steven and Cynthia shot back to their seats and composed themselves, as did the other champions. Ash, having no idea what was going on, blinked rapidly, as Cin pressed a button that unlocked the door.

A young woman with red hair that covered one eye walked through the door. She was wearing what could only be called a trenchcoat, which was a very dark red and unbuttoned, showing the black blouse and white pants. A red belt completed the ensemble. Staring at the group with her visible green eye, Red and Ash recognized her immediately. Red was able to contain himself.

But Ash had none of that self-control. "You! You're that flute player from Altomare!"

The woman gave a small smile. "Guilty as charged."

Cin raised an eyebrow. "Champion Red and Champion Ash, do you know her?"

"Yeah, she led us on a chase through Altomare! Why are you here!?" Ash cried, the last part directed to the woman. Red facepalmed.

"I was invited here by Cin. It's a pleasure to meet you all," replied the woman. The champions nodded to her.

"And you, Miss...?" Wallace asked.

The woman smiled. "Call me Lata."

"No surname?" Cynthia, curious, asked. Lata winked at her.

"Normally I don't tell people my full name, but I suppose that you do deserve to know. I am Lata Sum, the Battle Eye." This proclamation made Lance and Steven stiffen, catching Lata's attention. "So you do know what that title means! And Steven," her voice fell to a dangerous whisper, "Your words hurt Chompy."

"Well, I'm afraid that you're both early and late, Miss Lata. We haven't discussed the location of the tournament yet, but you are free to sit in while we debate," Cin said, drawing Lata's attention away from the very pale Steven.

Lata smiled, her eye bending into an upside-down U. "Thank you."

As she sat at Cin's left, Red stared at her. "I suppose that we should introduce ourselves?"

Lata shook her head. "No need. I know who you all are. Now, let's see. First we have Cin, international director of the Pokemon League. Next, Red "The Fighter", the champion of Kanto. Lance, champion of Johto and the Dragon Master. Wallace, the water master and current champion of Hoenn, along with Steven, the previous Hoenn Champion and the steel trainer. Cynthia, Sinnoh Champion, and archaeologist. Champion of Unova, Alder, the wanderer. And lastly, Ash, who I confess to not knowing the position of."

"He would be the new Orange Champion," Cin answered.

Lata blinked. "You gave that position to him? Granted, he saved the world more than once, but... Very well."

Ash frowned, mirroring Red. They were both thinking along the same lines, 'How does she know all this?'

Cin cleared his throat. "Well, back to the buisiness at hand. Where are we going to hold the tournament?"

"It would be Sinnoh's turn," Cynthia reminded the group.

"Perhaps Lily of the Valley Island?" Lance offered, "It does already have a stadium."

"Too difficult to get to. Sandgem?"

Wallace coughed. "Can that place really handle a few thousand people? Besides, what would have people come there?"

"My successor raises a good point. More people would show if there was more than one event, after all," Steven noted.

"There is the Twinleaf Festival, around the right time," Alder mentioned.

Red shook his head. "Too small. Besides, that already has a battle tournament."

Ash raised his hand. "What about a contest? Lots of people go to them, and those aren't battles."

"Ketchum, do you know how many contests there are in Sinnoh every year? Even putting it within a range of five to seven months gives us more than twenty contests. And some contests are very poorly attended. It's too unpredictable," Cynthia said, shooting down the idea.

"Well, what about two events in one?" Lata suggested.

Alder stroked his chin. "And what would that be?"

"You all know where Sandalstraw Town is, correct? In seven months or so, they have a contest and also the Pokemon Ping Pong Tournament. Add that to what Maylene and Chuck were talking about, and I'm sure that Brawly would be willing to help, and we have four big events."

"Possibly. What about Sunnyshore-" Lance started to ask, before Cynthia shook her head.

"According to Flint, Volkner's been a bit depressed. No serious trainers go to Sunnyshore anymore."

Red growled lowly. "Let's just go with Sandalstraw. I have another issue that I'd like to discuss."

Cin coughed, drawing attention back to himself. "Well, who approves of Sandalstraw?"

Red, Cynthia, Lance, and Ash raised their hands. Cin shrugged. "Sandalstraw it is. Now, Red, what was it you wanted to discuss?"

"That state of the gyms in each region..." Red started, a grimace on his face.

Five Hours Later

"Well, then, are there any other issues to discuss?" Cin asked, looking around at the group, all of whom were shaking their heads. "Very well then. Champion Ash, I expect that you will have your elite four confirmed by the tournament?"

Ash nodded, Pikachu asleep on his shoulder. "Count on it!"

"Very well. If you would all show one pokemon that you plan to use in the tournament?" Cin requested. Each champion, Ash excepted, pulled out a pokeball and released a pokemon.

Cynthia's Garchomp growled at Steven's Metagross, before walking over to Lance's Dragonite, who was talking to Pika. Alder's Volcarona was fluttering around Wallace's Milotic's head. Pikachu was asleep on Ash, so he didn't join in.

Cin sighed. "I almost expected that you wouldn't use your strongest pokemon. But still, good luck. Feel free to form your own meetings, remember. However, make sure that all interested parties are there, if you would." Cin flashed away in a white light.

Lata was about to leave, before Red stopped her. "Lata, if you would, can you show us your pokemon? I assume that you know at least the types of pokemon we use, so if we were to fight, I wouldn't want to go in blind." Ash was able to read between the lines, having been around Red long enough, and he saw that Lance and Cynthia caught the hidden meaning too.

You know a lot about us. An unusual amount, but I know that you don't know everything. I don't trust you, so show us your pokemon, so that I may defeat you when you turn against us.

Lata smiled, a grin that sent shivers up Ash's spine. "Certainly. After all, everybody needs an edge. I've found that my team is able to counter things without me needing to know about my opponent, but that might just be because my team of six is my only truly strong team." Only Lance and Red seemed to react to the message hidden within her words.

Why not? You'll need every advantage you can get, but this won't matter. I don't need to know your team, but I do, and that only gives me more of an advantage. My six pokemon are the strong team, and I will win.

The enigmatic woman threw three pokeballs, calling, "Auria, Kuto, Serpent, battle stance!"

The lucario, kabutops, and serperior rose from the pokeballs, each radiating pure power. Pikachu woke up, and jumped down, sparking. Ash, although he had shifted into a battle stance, asked, "Why did you say battledance?"

Lata, for some reason, found that funny, as she withdrew her pokemon. "Battle stance, Mr. Ketchum. And now that I've let you know more than half my team, I'll leave you with a final warning. My last two pokemon are about the same strength, and each of them is slightly less than twice as strong as any of my other pokemon."

As Lata stalked off towards the sunset, Alder looked at Red and Lance. "I don't trust her."

"That last part... If she was telling the truth, she has incredibly powerful pokemon. I don't know about you, but that lucario seemed like it was stronger than Garchomp," Cynthia said, voice quaking somewhat.

The other champions nodded grimly, before releasing their methods of transport. Alder left first, flying on Volcarona, followed by Wallace on mantine and Steven on Skarmory. Lance looked at his fellow champions and, after quickly shaking hands with Cynthia, asked Red, "Red, what's happening?"

"I don't know, but there's something big rising. I know that there's been something in the north, but there's a group that knows about Yellow," Red answered, a scowl coming to his face. Lance grimaced.

"We're all getting swept along. This is some kind of wave, isn't it? My only hope is that it doesn't come down to another war. You know what happened in the last major war, Red," Lance replied. Red nodded grimly.

"It was unfortunate what happened to Filita. But if I'm not mistaken, then this seems to be shaping up to be worse."

Lance released his Charizard. "Yeah. I'll keep an ear to the ground, contact you if I hear anything. And as long as you keep giving me 80% of your pay, then I'll keep doing your paperwork." Red smirked, as Lance grinned at Cynthia. "Watch out for these two in Sinnoh, Cyn! Trouble follows Red like... something. And Ash manages to get into everything that could be troublesome at all!"

Cynthia's eye twitched as she stared after the fleeing Lance. "Don't call me Cyn..." She sighed and turned to Ash. "Well, Ash, it was nice meeting you. Maybe we'll see each other while you collect badges. Try not to traumatize my gym leaders, please."

"Shouldn't you be telling Master that?" Ash grumbled. Cynthia laughed.

"I'm not going to waste time trying. By breathing he traumatizes them, after all." Red grew a depression cloud, as Cynthia flew off on her Togekiss.

"I'm not that bad..."

"Yeah, you are, Master."

"Ash?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up. Mewtwo, we're going!"

Mewtwo floated over, his eyes glowing. "I know I said it already, but I feel like a teleporter. I'm a super-powerful psychic pokemon, does that not count for anything anymore?"

"Less talking, more teleporting!" Red demanded. Mewtwo sighed, but the group teleported away.

Sinnoh, outside Oreburg

Into a battlefield. Brock and Dawn were struggling against the horde of wild pokemon, barely able to keep their foes at bay. "Dawn, I can't hold them much longer!"

"Pachirisu, discharge!"

The blue electricity made a crackling arc over the wild pokemon, before being diverted by the line of geodude. Red and Ash stared at the wild pokemon, wondering what had happened.

Red sighed. "I can't leave any of you for a day, can I. Charizard, flamethrower."

The giant fire type blasted fire at the assembled pokemon, before a giant pokemon stepped in the way, blocking the fire.

Red stared at the rhyperior. "What."

Mewtwo smirked wickedly. 'Psystrike'

The wild pokemon were blasted a good mile away, as Mewtwo pulled out his tea. "Now, I am a very powerful pokemon. I am going to go drink my tea. Are their any objections?"

Nobody said a things as they watched Mewtwo float away into the forest. Red shook his head and yawned. "There's probably a story here, but I can wait until morning to hear it," he said, as he headed for the tents.