Bonnie's POV:

After convincing Clemont to let me go, I came to the practicing arena to see all the Pokemon Ash had captured throughout his journey. It was a long walk to the arena considering the fact that Clemont had given me a 5 minute lecture about presenting myself in front of the others. He HAD to give it on the terrace so that it would be a secret.

"Right, Crawdaunt, why don't you improve your speed by practicing with Kingler? Both of you are the best of friends anyway. Now Staraptor and Talonflame, let's have a race shall we?", he asked the last two Pokemon who cheered and he first two nodded their heads and ran away, I mean crawled away to practice.

"Right! All the flying types, come here. Not you Charizard!! I consider you as an out and put Fire Type that can fly, so keep sparring with Emboar. Emboar, same like Floatzel, keep up your defense. Use that tough skin to soak up attacks. All the Tauros, you guys try lifting Snorlax in threes. One or two can't lift that big guy. Snorlax, you'll do everything you've got to keep your ground. I'm asking you guys to lift him because your strength lies in your neck muscles. Right, let's assess your strengths, Flyers. Staraptor is the most fierce, Talonflame is the fastest, Unfezant has the best maneuvering, Swellow has the best stamina, Pidgeot has the best defense and Noctowl has the best balance. All of you guys will attack one another and improve your strengths. Don't try to learn from your teammates as they may hinder your strengths. Fortify your strengths and them we'll head on to your weaknesses, alright?", Ash ordered fully pumped up. All of them roared in approval. What impressed me most was the fact that none of his Pokemon showed any sort of stress in their faces. All of them were happy to train and were in fact eager to do so.

"Aurorus, you're up with Glalie. Both of you, keep attacking. Glalie, use your body for slipping through the attacks and Aurorus, use your large body as a defensive measure. Raichu, you're up with Sceptile. Your Thunderbolt is amazing as always but can you attack a fast Pokemon? Plus, we need to build up on the speed you've lost since you've evolved from a Pikachu. Hey, Greninja! Improve your melee attacks with Infernape. Those close range attacks are your trump cards guys! Lucario, you're up against Feraligatr and Garchomp. Make one of them focus on you with their aura and I'll give you the rest of the day to yourself. Krookodile, you're gonna speed up your digging. Gigalith, pump up your Sonic attacks. They'll work against flying types. Seismitoad, you'll be trying to hit Krookodile. All the grass types, you'll work on your Vine Whips, Solar Beams and other attacks. The rest of you can attack anyone, anytime", he ordered in one single breath. As if on a cue, Delphox came out of her Pokeball when Ash called Greninja. She ran towards him and hugged the air out of his lungs.

"Delphox! Let him breathe! I know you're excited to see him. Let him breathe!", Serena requested. Well, Greninja was not in such a bad situation. He just couldn't move as Delphox had wrapped her arms completely around him rubbing her cheek with his.

"Phox! Phox! Delphox! Del! Del!!", she screamed at his face with joy in return to which Greninja seemed to smile and nodded his head with a "NIN!". Well, like trainer, like Pokemon. At least Ash had a clue about dating and didn't snub Serena every now and then without knowledge like the last time he was in Kalos. Delphox however wasn't amused and gave him a huge pout with her paws on her hips and a minor glare. Infernape sniggered from the corner and rolled his eyes. Delphox gave him a friendly smile which he returned and gave her a he's-clueless kinda look pointing towards Greninja.

"Take 5 minutes, everyone. Hey Delphox!", Ash greeted. She grinned and hugged Ash which he returned.

"My, my, my. You've gotten very powerful Delphox. I can feel it by the quality of your fur. Nice job taking care of Delphox, Serena!", Ash appreciated and Serena smiled blushing. Delphox however shook her head playfully and pointed towards herself kinda like in a I-looked-after-myself manner.

"Traitor!!", Serena snarled and began to chase Delphox.

"What's that Pokemon?", I asked Ash pointing towards a sunflower kinda looking Pokemon.

"That's Leavanny. She's a grass type Pokemon, obviously. She's common in the Unova region, Bonnie", Ash told me.

"Um......hello? Is anybody there? I'd.. I'd like a Gym Battle, please!", I heard a voice ask.

"Please come in! I am Clemont, the Lumiose City Gym Leader! Will the challenger state his name and place of birth?", Clemont asked/informed.

"I am Max Maple and I'm from Petalburg City in the Hoenn Region", the guy informed.

May's POV :

After seeing Ash command his Pokemon, I was left speechless. He was COMPLETELY in sync with them and so were they. It was almost as if they were combined into a single unit. Out of nowhere, I heard a voice.

"Um......hello? Is anybody there? I'd.. I'd like a Gym Battle, please!"

I knew that voice like the back of my hand.

"Please come in! I am Clemont, the Lumiose City Gym Leader! Will the challenger state his name and place of birth?", Clemont asked/informed.

"I am Max Maple and I'm from Petalburg City in the Hoenn Region"

This cleared my doubts.

"What in the world are you doin' here, twerp?", I asked him bringing him into a headlock. It was kinda difficult now because he was just a centimetre shorter than me and he had gotten a bit stronger.

"I guess I've been sagging around for way too long, May. I must take it as a wake up call. Ash wasn't kidding at all. These tournaments are INSANE. I badly require Ash's help. I pretty much assumed he'd be here as the Kalos League is gonna start soon and he wasn't there at the Pokemon Ranch in Pallet Town. Is he here?", he asked me.

"Max? Where have you gone?", I heard a very familiar voice ask.

Suddenly a handsome guy came out flipping his wavy green hair.

"There's my dear girlfriend, April!!", he said spreading his arms for a hug.

Serena's POV:

So that's how Drew looks like. It was actually the first time I'd seen him. He's got nothing on Ash but he did look kinda cute. But May didn't look very happy.

"For the last time, Drew!! My name is MAY!!", she answered angered. Drew just gave a nonchalant expression in an I-know-that manner.

"I know that! Come on! Can't I play with my girlfriend?", he asked to which May pouted and placed her hands on her hips. Suddenly he pulled out a rose from nowhere and presented it to her.

"Is that for me? You know, you don't have to do it each and every time we see each other, Drew!!", she told him blushing. In reply, Drew simply flipped his hair.

"Beauty not given recognition is a CRIME, June!!", he told her after flipping his hair. May just rolled her eyes and hugged him as hard as she could.

Dawn gave him her best death glare in return to which he just gave her a confused look.

"Am I not beautiful?", she whispered to me.

"Come on, Dawn! Drew was just flirting with his girlfriend. It doesn't mean you aren't beautiful Dawn! You know that!", I told her rather amused. She just snorted and looked away folding her arms across her chest.

"MAX!!"

"RAI CHU RA RA RAICHU!!!"

I heard two voices scream coming towards May's brother.

"Ash?", Max asked surprised. He immediately ran and hugged him with all his might.

"How are you, Max? Which Pokemon did you choose as your starter? Are you here to participate in the Kalos League? How many Gym Badges have you won?" , Ash fired questions back to back and Max sweatdropped unable to answer all the questions at once.

"I'll answer them one by one, Ash! I chose Treecko as my official starter considering I began to train Ralts before I got Treecko. I am here to participate in the Kalos League and I haven't won any Gym Badges in Kalos. How difficult is this Gym?", Max answered patiently and asked finally.

"This gym is rather difficult and I would recommend you of 4 Gym victories before coming here for a battle, but should you decide to take up the challenge, I won't resist. Just know that I don't be going easy on you just because you will be trying your first Gym battle here!", Clemont informed. Suddenly, Bonnie came out and introduced herself to Max.

"I am Bonnie! I am the Deputy Gym Leader of the Lumiose City Gym. I am Clemont's little sister and I'm pleased to meet you", she introduced with a little bit of stardust in her eyes. Then, she began to look at him goo-too eyes Clemont immediately smirked at the expressions.

"Max! Your sync with your Pokemon astounds me! If there is someone who can take care of my sister, its YOU! Will you take care of my sister? You're a KEEPER!!", he told Max down in one knee with arms wide open.

"Keeper....huh? Take care? Sister? What do you mean?", Max asked totally confused while Ash and I were laughing hysterically.

"CLEMONT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? DON'T DO THAT! THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING!!", Bonnie yelled at Clemont while dragging him away from Max.

"Think about it, Max!!", Clemont requested.

"SHUT UP! Please ignore him, Max!!", Bonnie yelled and dragged Clemont away to another room.

"Do think about it!", he told Max showing him the victory symbol.

"I officially disown you as my brother, Clemont! Stop talking!! You're better off fixing Clembot 2.0!!!", she yelled.

"I think Bonnie would stop proposing at least for a month!", I told Ash still laughing while he simply nodded and wiped away a tear.

"Hey...Ash? Do you remember the promise you made me before you left Hoenn?", he asked Ash in return to which Ash nodded his head and brought out a Pokeball. Max gave him another grin in return. When it comes to Pokemon, Ash can remember the tiniest detail but when it comes to love and other stuff, he's more dense than a rock.

"1 on 1 or 3 on 3?", Ash asked.

"1 on 1 will suffice", Max replied.

"I'll go first! Swampert, I choose you!!"

"Gallade, you're up!!"

"Swampert, start off with Mud Slap!!"

"Gallade, defend with Leaf Blade!!"

Both of the attacks met and cancelled each other. Swampert growled I'm defiance while Gallade just shifted to an offensive stance.

"Gallade, confuse him with Double Team and use Night Slash!!"

"Foresight, my friend!"

Gallade eventually attacked but Swampert dodged in time.

"Put him off balance with a Water Gun"

Gallade couldn't recover immediately from the dodge and was hit by the Water Gun.

"Now Swampert, use Earthquake and follow it with Hammer Arm"

"Gallade, use X-Scissor before he makes contact with the ground!"

Gallade was fast but Swampert somehow hit the ground, just hit the ground. Since Gallade was temporarily on top, Swampert rolled back and tossed him up in the air with his hind legs and when he came down, he gave the full dose. Gallade was still resilient and stood up.

"Your Gallade is POWERFUL, Max! Too bad this battle has to end. Swampert, finish this off with Takedown!!"

"Let's face it, Gallade! You can't stand this attack. But you can take him down with you! Use Fury Cutter and Swords Dance one after another!!"

Both the attacks made contact and resulted in a flurry of smoke. When the smoke cleared, Swampert was standing, well in whatever position he normally is, but Gallade went down on one knee and collapsed.

"Gallade is unable to battle! The winner is Swampert and the match goes to Ash !!", I announced as there was no referee.

"SWAMP! SWA! SWAMPERT! SWAMPERT!!", Swampert yelled ecstatically and jumped on Ash with a massive grin on his face.

"Somebody's very excited!!", he said rubbing Swampert's head who just cooed in comfort and joy.

"This was Swampert's first official battle. That's why he is this happy!", he told Max.

"Gallade battled hard! I am sad by the loss but I'm happy as I lost to you, Ash!! If your inexperienced Swampert is so powerful, I can't wait to see the strength of your other Pokemon!", he exclaimed.

Swampert took offense on the inexperienced statement and immediately began to assault Max with Mud Shots repeatedly yelling his name.

"Gaah! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I have HORRIBLE luck with the Hoenn starters! Why do they hate me?", max yelled frantically dodging the attacks.

"Swampert! Swampert! Swamp! Swamp!"

"That's enough, Swampert! Take a good rest, bud!", he told Swampert who gave Max one final glare and yipped happily at Ash before running/hopping away. Then I gathered up the courage to ask something from Ash.

"Ash! Will you go on a date with me?", I asked blushing but giving him the puppy dog eyes which he couldn't resist.

"Sweet!", he yelled winking. I grinned back and hugged him as hard as I could.

"I'll get prepared!", I told him.

"Wait... What's a date?", he asked me which shocked me and I collapsed mock crying (anime style).

What sin did I commit in a past life to fall in love with this dense hybrid of a Human Being??

To be continued...

A/N: Once again, thanks for reading. Hope it was good. If it wasn't, let me know and I'll try to do better. Do consider giving it a vote if it was good enough. Thanks for your invaluable support!!:):):)