Ash ascended, as he heard his name being called by the announcer. The crowd, who weakly cheered for him, early in the tournament, has now erupted into a deafening roar. Ash could feel the excitement and adrenaline beginning to flow through his veins. What made this feeling, even more, exacerbated, was the person across from him.

Standing on his own platform, was Trevor, who had his arms crossed in front of his chest, as he waited for his opponent to appear. Ash began to feel nervous, as he and Trevor had only battled once before, which Trevor won.

"Master, you must control yourself," Lucario said calmly. "Your aura is going berserk. You must calm yourself if you're going to prove to Lance, that he has nothing to worry about."

Ash took a deep breath, as his eyes danced their way to the elite suite and the Kalos Queen, who was inside.

"You're right, Lucario. I need to focus my energy towards this battle." he smiled and gave a thumbs-up to Serena, who returned it with one of her own.

"Pikapi pipi chu. Chu Pikachu pi chu ka Pikachu," Pikachu chirped, enthusiastically, while jumping off of Ash's shoulder. He landed on the ground, with sparks already flying.

"You're right, buddy," Ash said as he turned back to his opponent. "I've been waiting for this rematch for a long time too. We owe Trevor a good battle; after all, we did make a promise to him that we would give him a one in this tournament. Now, he's getting one."

Like Ash, Trevor's eyes also made their way to the suite, but instead of them meeting Serena, they met Angela and Ashley, who were also in the suite. He smiled and gave a thump-ups to them, which they both returned it with one of their own. Trevor then turned back to his opponent.

"Well, Aaron." Trevor began. "I'm glad to be facing you, in the Semifinals; unfortunately for you, that's as far as you will get here!"

"We'll see about that, Trevor!" Ash shouted out, in response to Trevor's comment. "Prepare yourself, for a battle that's you'll never forget!"

"I hope so. Now then," Trevor stated as he reached down to his belt and unclipped a Pokéball. "Let's get this battle underway, Aaron!"

"Agreed!" Ash shouted out as he reached down to grab his first choice, for the round.

"Jolteon, I choose you!" Trevor yelled as he threw the Pokéball into the air to reveal his first choice.

Standing before Trevor, was his Jolteon. It let out a roar, filled with determination while positioning itself in a battle stance, to show that it's ready for battle.

Ash chuckled at Trevor's first pick. "Big mistake there, Trevor!" Ash shouted out to his opponent, who had a confused look on his face."

"How so?"

"Because" Ash began as he extended out his right hand, which hold a Pokéball, straight towards his opponent. "You're about to face one of my original Pokémon! Come on out, old friend!"

When the light, from the Pokéball, faded away, it revealed the final evolution form of the grass and poison type starter from Kanto. Venusaur is a squat, quadruped Pokémon with bumpy, blue-green skin. It has small, circular red eyes, a short, blunt snout, and a wide mouth with two pointed teeth in the upper jaw and four in the lower jaw. On top of its head, there are small, pointed ears with reddish-pink insides. It has three clawed toes on each foot. The bud, on its back, has bloomed in a large pink, white-spotted flower. The flower is supported by a thick, brown trunk surrounded by green fronds. The seed Pokémon let out an intimidating roar, to show that it's ready for battle.

Trevor grinned at Ash's Venusaur. He recognized the seed Pokémon when it was just a Bulbasaur. Ash's Bulbasaur was one of Ash's most loyal and trustworthy Pokémon.

This should be interesting. Trevor thought as he viewed the grass-type Pokémon that stood across from him.

The ref then signaled the trainers, to start the match. The battle got underway, with Trevor calling out the first attack.

"Jolteon, use Pin Missile!"

The Eeveelution Pokémon's fur suddenly became spiky, and then, it proceeds to fire multiple yellow needles, from it, towards the seed Pokémon.

"Venusaur, use Razor Leaf to counter that Pin Missile!" Ash commanded.

The grass Pokémon launches multiple razor-sharp leaves, from the leaves on its back, at the incoming yellow needles. The leaves stopped all the needles from reaching its target.

"Jolteon, use Dig!" Trevor shouted out as the lightning Pokémon dug its way underground, using its paws while leaving Venusaur with an uneasy feeling.

The grass Pokémon didn't know where Jolteon would come out of the ground.

"Remain calm, Venusaur!" Ash told the seed Pokémon. "Once Jolteon reveals itself, use Vine Whip to toss it away from you!"

The grass Pokémon nodded to its trainer, as it continues to be on the lookout, for his opponent.

Suddenly, the Eeveelution Pokémon jumps out from the ground, behind the seed Pokémon, with its mouth opened, ready to bite his opponent. Its fangs glow yellow and sparks of yellow electricity surround them. Jolteon then bites down on the seed Pokémon's left side and they both become surrounded in yellow sparks. Venusaur screams out in pain.

All of a sudden, two dark green vines came out from under the leaves, on Venusaur's back, then they grabbed the lightning Pokémon and pulled it off the grass type's side, which it had bitten into. The vines then threw Jolteon across the battlefield, but only for it to regain its composure and land on its feet.

Trevor smirked at Ash's move. "Nice, but that won't help you win this fight, Aaron!" He yelled out, while Ash gives a frustrated groan at the damage that his loyal grass Pokémon has just taken.

Suddenly, an idea came into Ash's mind, which he grinned in response to it.

"Let's end this! Jolteon, Pin Missile! Go!"

"Quick! Use Vine Whip to knock those needles down, then lift and hold onto Jolteon, up in the air!" Ash countered.

The lightning Pokémon fires the yellow needles, from its spiky fur, but only for them to get knocked down by the two dark green vines. The two vines proceed to wrap around the body of the Eeveelution Pokémon, and then, lifted it up into the air, while retraining the electric type, preventing it to escape from whatever attack Venusaur may use against it.

"Alright, use Solar Beam., Ash called out his next attack.

The seed Pokémon obeyed its trainer's commands, as the inside of the flower, on Venusaur's back, began to glow white, as sunlight is gathering in it.

It's going to take some time for that Solar Beam to be ready. So right now, let's inflict some damage to it! Trevor thought as he looked up to his restrained Pokémon and noticed Jolteon struggling to get out of the vines that are preventing the electric type to escape out of before the Solar Beam is ready to fire.

"Stay calm, Jolteon, and use Thunder!" Trevor commanded.

Although restrained in the air, by the grass Pokémon's vines, Jolteon manages to fire a massive beam of yellow electricity, from its body, towards Venusaur, causing it to let out a cry of pain.

Ash looked at his Pokémon, as it's taking damage from the powerful electric type attack, with a nervous, yet determined, look in his eyes.

Hang in there, old friend. You're almost there. He encouraged his loyal Pokémon on.

When the electric attack was finished, there were sparks of electricity flying around the seed Pokémon's body, but Venusaur managed to not lose its consciousness, despite that shocking attack inflicting so much damage to it.

Jolteon gasped at the sight of his opponent, still standing up, while Trevor gave a soft frustrated groan. All of a sudden, the whole flower glowed completely white, which meant the beams ready to be fired. Ash smirked towards the trainer, across from him, when this happened.

"Now, Venusaur, Solar Beam!" Ash shouted out, with spirit.

The seed Pokémon then fired a white beam, from the flower, towards Jolteon, who was still restrained, in the air, by the vines, and made contact with the lightning Pokémon's body.

Once the attack was finished, Venusaur then slams Jolteon into the ground with its vines, which were wrapped around the Eeveelution Pokémon's body, causing dust to cover the battlefield.

When the dust settled, it showed an unconscious Jolteon, laying on the ground. Upon seeing the knocked out Eeveelution Pokémon, Ash praised his grass Pokémon, for doing such a great job during the battle. He then returned Venusaur back to its Pokéball, so that it could take a good rest. It might have to come back out to battle again if necessary.

A red light hits the knocked out Jolteon, as Trevor returns the lightning Pokémon to its Pokéball while praising its effort in the fight.

Good work, Jolteon. You did what I wanted you to do. He thought as he looked at his opponent, with a smirk across his face.

"I'm impressed, Aaron," Trevor began to compliment his masked opponent, who was looking back, as a small smile appeared, underneath his mask, across his face.

"No Pokémon had managed to remain to stand after a direct Thunder attack from my Jolteon. Venusaur was trained well."

Ash shrugged his shoulders, in response to the compliment, before replying back, "Thanks. Although It was clever to have Jolteon use Thunder, while it was trapped by our Vine Whip, as Venusaur was charging up its Solar Beam attack. Good strategy, even though you were at a type disadvantage there."

"Well," Trevor responded as he reached down to grab his second Pokémon. "You'll find that my next Pokémon is no pushover! Braviary, let's go!"

Trevor tosses the Pokéball into the air and out came a large, avian Pokémon with dark red feathers on its back and dark blue feathers on its underside. Its tail feathers are red, turning to yellow, and then blue at the tips. Braviary's legs are long and thick with yellow feet that each have a digit facing backward, and three facing forward. Each digit is tipped by a short, thick, black claw. It has a long, thick beak with a blue cere. On either side of the cere, there are Braviary's eyes, which are black with small white pupils. Sprouting from above the eyes, there are three large, white feathers. At the base of the feathers, there's a red, three-pointed design that is spread across all three feathers. On each side of Braviary's face, sprouting out from behind the feathers on its forehead, are an additional three white feathers pointing horizontally and downward. Behind the three feathers, on its head, is a large plume of white feathers, extending most of the way down its neck. The valiant Pokémon squawked a frightening cry, as it's gazed at his opponent.

"A Flying-type. Huh?" Ash stated as he reached down for his second Pokémon. "In that case, I'll go with a flying type, as well! Staraptor, I choose you!"

Ash threw his Pokéball into the air to reveal his next Pokémon. When the light, from the Pokéball, dimmed, a grayish-brown, avian Pokémon had appeared, hovering in front of its trainer. It has small, red eyes and a thin, yellow beak with a black tip. There is a circular white patch on its forehead, which meant that it's a male. Larger white markings cover the front of its throat and chest, separated by a black ruff encircling the shoulders. A red-tipped, black crest extends over its head, nearly reaching the tip of its beak. Staraptor is fussy about the shape of this comb. It has large wings, five black-tipped tail feathers, and yellow feet with black talons. The predator Pokémon squawked an intimidating cry, as it eyed its flying opponent with a determined look, in its eyes.

Both flying Pokémon gazed at each other, with nor fear being expressed in their eyes. They were ready to battle, as Ash called the first move.

"Staraptor, use Quick Attack!" Ash yelled out.

Staraptor began to fly towards Braviary, at a fast speed, as a white trail of energy is forming behind it. Braviary didn't seem intimidated by the fast incoming attack.

"Stay still, Braviary!" Trevor commanded, which surprised Ash.

Following its trainer's instructions, Braviary didn't attempt to dodge the Quick Attack and allowed Staraptor to tackle it. As the attack made contact, both the valiant Pokémon and its trainer smirked and chuckled. Ash then realized what they are about to do.

"Staraptor, get out of there!"

"Superpower! Go!" Trevor shouted out.

Suddenly, Braviary's body became surrounded in a light blue aura. It stroke a blow onto the predator Pokémon's head, with its wings, which sent the Pokémon crashing down into the ground, while causing dust to cover the battlefield.

"Staraptor! Are you alright?!" Ash shouted out, looking to hear a listen from his flying type.

When the dust settled, it revealed a still conscious predator Pokémon, as it let out an intimidating cry that's echoing throughout the stadium.

"Good, Staraptor! Can you still battle?" Ash asked, as the predator Pokémon turned back to look at its trainer, while giving him a nod, to show that it still wanted to battle. Ash nodded back as they both turned back to their opponent.

"Your Staraptor is gutsy." Trevor compliments his flying foe. "But guts won't help you win this fight, Aaron!"

"We'll see about that!" Ash responded back, as he's about to call out his next attack. "Quick Attack again, then into Close Combat!"

"Dodge that!" Trevor commanded.

Braviary flew upward to avoid the incoming speed attack, but only for the predator Pokémon to chase after it.

When Staraptor got into a striking range between it and its opponent, the white trail of energy, behind the flying type, vanished and Staraptor began to repeatedly kick, peck, and hit the valiant Pokémon with its wings, at a fast speed. The final blow hit the opponent, in the chest, pushing it backward, but only for it to regain its composure in the air.

Trevor grinned at Ash's move, as both trainers called out their next attacks at the same time.

"Brave Bird, Braviary!"

"You too, Staraptor!"

Both flying types pulled in their wings, as they dive down towards each other, like a missile, their bodies were bursting into flames. Then, they pulled out their wings, their bodies became surrounded by a blue aura. The attack collided, resulting in an explosion that sent both Pokémon flying across the battlefield.

When the cloud of smoke vanished, it showed that both flying types had light blue sparks running upon their wings, as they each took recoil damage. They were breathing heavily, out of exhaustion. Both trainer's thoughts were racing about the condition of their Pokémon.

If we get hit with one more attack, Braviary will be knocked out. Our next attack needs to be a strong one.

Whatever attack that Trevor may throw our way, we'll need to dodge that and strike back with a counterattack.

"Giga Impact! Finish this!" Trevor shouted out.

"Staraptor, use Quick Attack to dodge. Then, use Brave Bird!"

The valiant Pokémon flew into the sky and its body became surrounded by orange streaks. Purple energy then appears from the top of the streaks and envelops Braviary's body. It then flew towards the opponent, but only for Staraptor to quickly fly upward, while leaving behind a white trail of energy.

Watching the predator Pokémon dodged their strongest attack, both Braviary and Trevor gasped in shock.

"Now, do it!" Ash commanded his flying type.

The predator Pokémon then dive down, while its body was covered in a blue aura, and made contact above the body of the motionless valiant Pokémon, as it slammed Braviary hard into the ground.

As the predator moved away from the crash site, it showed a knocked out Braviary.

"Awesome! Great work, Staraptor!" Ash praised his Pokémon, as the predator Pokémon landed in front of its trainer. Light blue sparks were running upon its wings, taking recoil damage from using that risky flying type move. It let out a soft cry of victory while breathing heavily.

---

The group was watching the battle, at the edge of their seats because of intense battling that has been displayed so far in this match-up. Everyone couldn't turn their eyes away from the battlefield below. Even the champions found the ongoing battle to be intense too.

Serena was smiling at the fact that Ash took out Trevor's second Pokémon, and he hasn't lost one yet.

"Looks like Aaron's doing well against Trevor. Isn't he?" Serena stated turned to Angela, who was sitting next to her.

"Maybe, Serena. However," Angela began to respond. "What Aaron doesn't realize that those two were just warm-ups. Now, the real battle is about to begin."

Her comment changed the expression on Serena's face, from happy to worried, as she turned back and looked down upon the battlefield below. Her eyes made their way to the masked trainer, as thoughts of concern appeared in her mind. Don't get cocky, Ash! Trevor is no pushover! Please, be careful.

---

Trevor returned his fallen flying type back to its Pokéball while praising it for the effort that the valiant Pokémon put up, during the battle. Trevor then unclipped a Pokéball from his belt, before hearing his opponent's comment about him.

"You don't seem that tough! I just defeated two of your Pokémon, while I still have all of mine!"

Trevor smirked and chuckled at Ash's remark. "Oh Aaron, you seem to be confident that you'll beat me here today. However, don't get too confident, just because you knocked out my first two Pokémon! Like what happened to Macbeth, overconfidence can lead to one's downfall."

"Yeah, sure. Now then, bring out your next Pokémon!" Ash shouted out.

Trevor grinned as he extended his right hand while holding a Pokéball in it, out, which was pointing towards Ash and his Staraptor.

"My next Pokémon is my most trusted partner!" Trevor yelled out, as Ash and Staraptor felt a lump in their throats about the Pokémon that Trevor is going to use next.

"And now, you're about to face him! I'm counting on you, Charizard!"

Once the light, from the Pokéball, faded away, it revealed Trevor's loyal partner who he started his journey with. Standing before Trevor, was his own Charizard. When the flame Pokémon came out, it let out a powerful and loud roar that sent chill up the crowd's veins, as they witnessed Trevor's long time and strongest partner appeared, right before their eyes.

Ash and Staraptor stood in shock at the beast, right in front of them, as it gazed towards them. Ash took a back down, due to feeling a bit nervous about facing Trevor's powerful partner that he began his journey with.

---

"Charmander! Char!"

The lizard Pokémon, who sat on Ashley's lap, shouted out, as it began to cheer for Trevor's Charizard, who had made his appearance on the battlefield below.

Ashley giggled at her Pokémon's response to its father showing up on the field. "You're excited to see your daddy battle, Charmander."

The lizard Pokémon nodded to the little girl, as it turned back to watch the battle and begin cheering for its father, so was Ashley.

"Go, Daddy! Go Charizard! You both can do it!" The little girl shouted out, as she cheered for her father.

As for the rest of the group, most of them were stunned by the flame Pokémon's power expressed through its roar.

"There he is," Max began his statement. "Trevor's ace Pokémon."

"I'll say," Clemont responded. "Those two have always been together from the start."

"Yeah," Brock replied as he viewed the battle below. "It'll be interesting to see what Aaron does to combat against that Charizard."

Angela turned to Serena, who sat next to her, and noticed a worried look in the Kalos Queen's eyes

"Hey there," Angela said as Serena turned to look at her friend, sitting next to her. "You worrying about your boyfriend down there?"

Serena nodded, before replying. "Yeah, a bit."

Angela grinned at her friend's response. "Don't worry about him. I'm pretty sure Aaron can deal with Trevor's Charizard; after all, he has one too."

Serena gave a small smile to Angela's remark before they both turned back to watch the battle start up again.

---

Ash gazed down upon the mouse Pokémon and noticing sparks flying off of its cheeks. Pikachu really wanted to battle against Trevor's Charizard, as it has lost to it before. Pikachu looked up, at his trainer, with a determined and serious look in its eyes.

Lucario noticed this too, as he turned to look at Ash, before saying, "Master, it seems that Pikachu really wants to battle that Charizard."

Ash turned to his Lucario and shook his head, before answering, "Yeah, I know, but Pikachu may have to wait for that rematch."

Pikachu was shocked at his trainer's response, as it gave a frustrated grunt towards that decision.

"Sorry, buddy," Ash stated as he turned to look back on the battlefield, in front of the trio. "If the rest of our team can't take down Charizard, then I'll use you next."

Pikachu felt nervous about that strategy, but he agreed to go along with it.

Ash smiled at the mouse Pokémon, for understanding his decision, before gazing back to his Staraptor. There was a concerned look in his eyes, as the predator Pokémon was heavily breathing for air, while looking exhausted, especially after its battle with Braviary.

I know Staraptor took some hits from that last battle. I just hope we could at least inflict some damage to Charizard before Staraptor goes down. Ash thought as he looked at his opponent, across the battlefield, who was waiting for him to attack first.

"So, Aaron, what's your plan in dealing with my Charizard here?" Trevor questioned the masked trainer, standing across from him, as his face expressed curiosity.

Ash gives a grunt, before calling out the first attack, of the round, "We'll attack head on! Staraptor, Aerial Ace!"

The predator Pokémon obeyed its trainer's command, as it started to fly towards its opponent. It does back-flips in the air, then dives down at the flame Pokémon, as Staraptor's body became surrounded by white streaks. However, Charizard doesn't try to dodge the incoming attack. It's just standing still, waiting for its opponent to get closer to the fire type.

"Here we go, Charizard!" Trevor yelled as the predator Pokémon got closer to his loyal partner, and then, he gave Charizard a command. "Now, catch it!"

Charizard extended his arms out, as the bird got closer until he caught both wings. When he did, the flame Pokémon was pushed back, a little; however, it managed to stop the attack from hitting it directly, as the white streaks, surrounding the flying type, vanished. The flame Pokémon had the predator Pokémon, right where he wanted it to be.

Both Ash and Staraptor gasped in horror and shock towards Charizard stopping their Aerial Ace, with his own bare hands. Trevor smirked, before calling out the next attack.

"Alright, use Thunder Punch," Trevor responded calmly.

Charizard removed one of his hands, which was holding onto Staraptor's wings, as it becomes a fist. All of a sudden, the fist becomes surrounded by yellow sparks, which grew into a ball of electrical energy. Charizard then releases his other hand, as he executes an uppercut punch, underneath the predator Pokémon's chin, sending Staraptor flying up into the air.

There were sparks flying around the flying type, which prevented it from moving a muscle. Charizard then flies up to the altitude, where the defenseless predator Pokémon had flown up to, before hitting it with another Thunder Punch. That second punch sent Staraptor crashing into the ground, with great force, causing a cloud of dust to form, which covered the spot, where the predator Pokémon crashed.

As the dust settled, they revealed an unconscious Staraptor. Ash stared at his fallen Pokémon, with horror in his eyes, before returning it back to its Pokéball for a well-deserved rest, as well as praising the predator Pokémon for its hard work and effort during the last battle. As he grabbed his next Pokémon, Ash looked back at Trevor, who was smirking about his win just now.

"So Aaron," Trevor responded, as his eyes made their way towards the masked trainer, with a calm, yet serious, look in them. "Who will you call upon to fight my Charizard now?"

Ash, while still looking at Trevor with frustration in his eyes, was thinking about his next Pokémon real hard. If I could get Leech Seed to work on Charizard, it'll weaken him throughout the next battle. Although Venusaur would be at a disadvantage here, it just might be worth it!

"Venusaur, I need your help again!" Ash shouted out as he threw his Pokéball into the air, with the seed Pokémon, appearing in front of the masked trainer.

The grass type still looked tired after its battle against Jolteon.

"I know you're feeling tired right now, Venusaur, but I need you to stay strong for one more round!" Ash stated to his loyal Pokémon, as he responded back with a nod and roar.

"Use Leech Seed!" Ash called out his attack.

Just as the seed Pokémon was about to attack; all of a sudden, yellow sparks of electricity were flying off the grass type's body, making it hard for it to move or attack.

Perfect timing. Trevor thought as he watched Venusaur struggling to make its move.

Ash was shocked at the sight of his Pokémon not being able to move a muscle. His thoughts were beginning to panic, as he ground his teeth, out of frustration. Venusaur's paralyzed?! How the hell did he get paralyzed?!

Ash gasped in shock, as he realized what happened. He remembered that before Venusaur fired its Solar Beam to defeat Jolteon, the lightning Pokémon fired a Thunder attack towards Venusaur, which might have caused Venusaur to become paralyzed. Of course! Jolteon's Thunder paralyzed Venusaur! But if Venusaur can't move a muscle, then that makes him a sitting duck out there for-!

"Flamethrower! Go!"

Trevor's command caused Ash to snap back into reality. He stood there, motionless, as he watches his loyal seed Pokémon being engulfed in flames, while it's screaming out in pain.

"Venusaur! NO!" Ash screamed out, just as the flames, engulfing the grass type, vanished and the seed Pokémon collapsed to the ground, with swirls in its eyes.

Ash was horrified to see one of his original Pokémon get defeated, so quickly. A red light hit the knocked out Venusaur, returning it back to its Pokéball. Ash then praised his loyal Pokémon for its hard work and effort in its previous battle.

Ash then gazed towards Trevor's Charizard, as it lets out a victory roar that echoed through his head. In response to the roar, Ash gave a frustrated grunt, while his eyes still express determination, despite having lost two Pokémon in a row.

Trevor's Charizard may be strong, but that doesn't mean it's invincible! He thought as his eyes then turned towards Trevor, who was chuckling.

"What's so funny?" Ash questioned the chuckling trainer, across from him.

"I can't believe that you would call out a Pokémon, who was clearly at a disadvantage, just to use one specific attack!" Trevor shouted out, as Ash let out a grunt.

"I figured that your Venusaur may have Leech Seed as one of its moves." Trevor began to explain. I knew that you were going to use that move if it went up against either my Charizard or Gregor. To make sure that wouldn't happen, I was hoping that Venusaur would get paralyzed from one of Jolteon's electric attacks, and luckily for me, that's what exactly happened! Now, you've lost one of your strongest Pokémon, Aaron! What will you do next?!"

Ash reached down and grabbed a Pokéball, which contained his third Pokémon, before looking back at his opponent, while grinning.

"Simple," Ash began his response. "Fight fire with water! Samurott, I choose you!"

The masked trainer tosses his Pokéball, and from it, out came a quadruped, blue, sea lion-like Pokémon. It had two pairs of pointed teeth, one in the upper jaw and one in the lower. Long, white whiskers extended from its snout and head. It had a red nose and eyes. On the back of its head, is a large, rounded beige helmet-like shell, with spikes, and a spear-like pointed protrusion in the front. A dull bluish-gray seashell-like carapace covers its underbelly, while its limbs are covered with beige, sectioned bracer-like coverings, which seemed to be comprised of seashells. The forelimbs' bracers are actually swords called seamitars. The lower two segments, of these bracers, are the scabbards for the two swords, while the upper segment and spike make up the seamitar and its handle. Samurott possesses three black digits on each limb and a fin-like, splayed tail with the innermost section being beige. Its cry signaled his opponent that it's ready for battle.

"Hydro Cannon! Go!" Ash called out his first attack.

"Sunny Day!" Trevor countered, which puzzled Ash in why Trevor called out that attack.

Charizard's body became surrounded by golden energy. He then raises his head up towards the air. From its mouth, it fires multiple golden, ring-shaped energies into the sky, which caused the sky to become sunny and clear.

However, that didn't seem to help the flame Pokémon out, as Samurott opened its mouth. Then, a glowing light blue ball of water appeared, in front of Samurott's mouth, and the formidable Pokémon fires it towards Charizard. The water attack made contact with the fire type; however, it only pushed the Kanto starter back a little. It seemed that it didn't take much damage, despite it being super effective against it.

Ash and Samurott gasped in shock, as they just witness their powerful attack not having inflicted a huge amount of damage to the fire type.

"But how? Charizard was supposed to have taken a lot of damage from that attack!" Ash asked, with a dazed look on his face, as Trevor started to give him a response to that question.

"Well, you see, Aaron," Trevor began his explanation. "Sunny Day not only increases Charizard's fire type attacks, but it also weakens all water attacks!"

Ash ground his teeth, out of frustration, as he realized that all his water attacks will be weakened, while Sunny Day remains active on the field.

"Not only that," Trevor continued. "It allows Charizard to use this attack right away! Charizard, use Solar Beam!"

"Quick Samurott! Block it!" Ash countered.

Samurott proceeds to take out his seamitars and formed an x-shaped with them, across his chest, as Charizard fires a white beam, from his mouth, towards the formidable Pokémon. The beam collided with the seamitar, as they tried to prevent the beam from hitting their user. However, the result of the seamitars blocking the beam causes the sea lion-like Pokémon to slowly be pushed back a bit, as it struggles to overpower the grass type attack.

"Hang in, Samurott! You can do it!" Ash shouted out while encouraging his water type on.

Samurott managed to redirect the beam towards the side of the stadium wall, which it hits instead. However, as soon as the beam hit the wall, Samurott turned and noticed his opponent was missing.

"Huh? Where did Charizard go?!" Ash asked as he and his water type began to frantically search for the missing flame Pokémon.

---

The group was also puzzled on the whereabouts of Trevor's Charizard, as they too were looking for him.

"Where the heck did that Pokémon disappear to?" Bonnie questioned, hoping for an answer from someone in the box.

Sadly though, before anyone could say anything, Trevor's Charizard suddenly passes by the elite box, as it was going for a dive straight towards Samurott. Serena was the only one that noticed one of the flame Pokémon's fists was surrounded by yellow sparks and Aaron didn't seem to notice it from above.

"AARON, ABOVE YOU!" She shouted out, hoping that Aaron would hear her.

---

Ash managed to hear Serena's comment but was confused by it. "Above? What did she mean by-?"

Suddenly, Ash looked up and noticed the flame Pokémon descending down towards Samurott, as it's about to use Thunder Punch on his puzzled opponent, with hopes of finishing off the water type right now.

"SAMUROTT! GET OUT OF THERE NOW!" Ash screamed, at the top of his lungs, hoping for his Pokémon to quickly dodge the incoming attack from above.

However, it was too late. Just when the formidable Pokémon was about to quickly move out of position, Charizard suddenly appeared right above the water type. The fire type then slammed Samurott's head with a punch that was covered in a ball of electrical energy. The attack slammed Samurott into the ground, causing the ground, underneath the sea lion-like Pokémon, to crack.

After the attack, the formidable Pokémon seemed to be still standing. However, once Charizard flew back to his trainer, everyone knew that the round was over. Just like that, Samurott collapsed to the ground, with swirls appearing in its eyes.

The sight of Charizard descending down sneakily, from the sky, and the image of the flame Pokémon striking the head of his water Pokémon with one of his fists, gave Ash the chills. He gazed at his knocked out Pokémon, while his features were in shock and awe at the brutality that just occurred.

He returned Samurott back to its Pokéball, before thanking and reassuring the fallen Pokémon that it did the best it could out there.

Ash then turned back and looked at Trevor, who was rubbing underneath his Charizard's chin, which made the flame Pokémon happy, and telling his partner that he did a great job out there. Ash smiled at this interaction between trainer and Pokémon; however, as Trevor returned his partner back to its Pokéball, his expression changed to a serious tone.

"You know, that was sneaky! I didn't expect that from someone like you!" Ash complimented, as Trevor turned and gazed at the masked trainer, with a smirk across his face.

"Thanks, Aaron," Trevor responded. "After all, you can't judge a book by its cover. Am I right?"

"Yeah. You're right." Ash stated as his platform descended down, while the ref was calling for a 15-minute intermission so that they could clean up the battlefield.

---

The group felt surprised and stunned by Serena's sudden outburst, as she tried to warn Aaron about the sneak attack from above. The performer took deep breaths, as she tries to calm down. She then turned and noticed the stunned looks on everyone's faces, as they were focusing on her, especially.

"What?" The confused performer asked her group of friends.

"Nothing. It's just that-" Clemont began to say his statement, before being interrupted by his younger sister, who finishes his thoughts.

"We've never seen you shout like that before."

Serena was shocked and embarrassment towards her outburst, that happened right in front of her friends. She gave a nervous chuckle and her face turned red.

"You feeling alright, Serena?" Angela asked her performer friend, as she helps the embarrassed performer sit down in her seat while comforting her friend. "You're worried about Aaron, aren't you?"

Serena nodded, before responding, "Yeah, but only a bit. I'm glad that he's at least focusing on the battle, this time, unlike his last match."

"Yeah." Brock responded to Serena's comment, "Aaron does seem to be focused on the battle here; however, he's currently behind by one Pokémon, right now."

"I guess Trevor might be a bit too strong for Aaron," Dawn stated.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, guys," Angela responded. "It does look like Aaron is losing right now, but that could change in the next round. Nobody can predict a winner by that's the score is now, all that anyone can do is hope that the person, who they're cheering for, can somehow make a comeback, after the break. We'll just wait and see what happens after intermission."

Everyone nodded, except for Lance, who was staring down at the battlefield. He was deep in his thoughts. Ash, you better have a plan, to get yourself out of this. If you don't, then you will lose your only chance of facing Giovanni and getting your life back. You said you would give me a demonstration, so where is it?