May's POV

It feels good to be in the city again. I wonder how Max is doing with his gym battles? There's the pride of Petalburg, the gym. "Gym is closed temporarily." I read the sign as I walk by.

I run next door into my childhood home, "I'm home!" I yell. Without an answer I run towards our private gardens. "Mom?"

"Oh hey honey," She said rather sad. Caroline was looking down at the middle of the glass dome. My dad was laying down and staring straight up while his Pokémon were surrounding him.

"Did I miss something?" I ask confused.

"You must not have seen the news recently," She sighed while tearing up slightly.

"What?" I asked fearing the worst.

"Ash died," She sobbed. She must've expected a bigger reaction from me because she looked at me like I was deaf. "Aren't you sad?"

Uh oh. I need to think of something fast. "Umm I already knew and got it all out," I say while pretending to be sad.

"Ohh," She sniffed. Why are my parents so bothered by his death?

"I'm surprised it took this long for the news to reach Hoenn," I say.

My mom nodded. "He was a gift to the world," She sighs.

"He had a dream," I say kind of annoyed at their over exaggerated reactions.

"A dream he was going to accomplish," Norman said still not moving.

"But he always lost," I say. My mom glared at me but I don't really care.

"Who said Pokémon masters have to win everything?" He said.

"That's kind of the point of being a master," I argue.

"But saving the world doesn't count towards it?" My Mom questioned.

"And how he would rather help someone before he helps himself," My dad adds.

"That was his fault," I say.

"Was it?" My Mom questioned.

"Whatever," I scoff and head back into the house. They like him more than me. He's dead so everyone should just forget about him.

"Hey sis," Max walks in the house.

"Hey how are your battles going?" I ask while I get two glasses of water.

"I already have two," He says and puffs his chest out.

"You know the league is only in a few weeks," I laugh.

"I started late," He pouts.

"No you didn't," I laugh. "You're just bad."

"If Professor Oak just gave me all of Ash's Pokemon I would be just fine," Max says.

"He is so cruel for just keeping them in their Pokeballs," I agree.

"Dad I want a gym battle!" Max yells as our parents walk in.

"Didn't you see the closed sign," Norman sighs.

"Just give me a badge then," Max argues. "Okay never mind." I laugh at the immediate shut down.

"Why is it closed?" I ask.

"Maybe if you cared we would tell you," My Mom snaps.

"I don't feel like battling right now," He sighs. "I think I'm going to pay a visit to Professor Oak."

"Can I go with you?" Max asked.

"No," He replied simply.

"Here's your ticket," My Mom handed a small envelope to my dad. "I know you well."

"I should go-" He starts.

"Suitcase is by the door and a taxi is outside waiting," She smiles. My dad kissed her quickly and rushed out the door.

"Now what do you know?" My Mom asks me.

Gary's POV

"Bulbasaur sure is having a tough time against Marowak," I comment on the battle. It was nice of Professor Kukui to let us see the battles. Most of them have been really interesting and exciting.

"Ash's new Alola Pokemon are really proving themselves," Brock comments.

"Especially Meowth when he beat Pikachu and Mimikyu when he beat Infernape," Oak laughs.

"Those were great battles," I laugh.

"Ooh that flame wheel must've hurt," Brock cringes. "Ash's original Pokémon are dropping like flies."

"Charizard and Pidgeot still haven't battled yet," My gramps remembered.

"Uh oh," I joke. "Looks like Bulbasaur ran out of steam."

"Pidgeot versus Fearow!" Ash's voice projects through the TV. "It's a Pallet Town area battle."

"Ugh I hate that Fearow," I sigh.

"Why?" Brock asks.

"I failed to catch it one day and it had some anger management problems," I run my head and remember that terrible day.

"Well based on this battle, you should have caught it," The Professor laughs as Pidgeot goes down from a steel wing.

"Pidgeot will power through," I say. I was right, Pidgeot is slowly starting to wear Fearow down.

"You can see the power of those hurricane attacks," Brock awed over the sheer power that was put into the flying type moves.

"Ash seems to be enjoying himself more than ever too," Oak pointed out the enthusiasm Ash seemed to have.

"Definitely the girl," I laugh.

Cilan's POV

"Ready for the connoisseur meeting?" Cress asks me while his bright blue hair moves in the wind.

"The head connoisseur Mr. Pars said it he has the perfect way to test our abilities," My red haired brother said while running ahead of us.

"Yep," I say while staring at the bright Nimbasa City ahead of us.

"I though this meeting would cheer you up a bit," Cress sighs.

"Ash isn't dead because of you guys," Chili frowned.

"And how do you know he's alive?" I snap.

"We don't but it's Ash we're talking about here," Cress laughs half-heartily.

"I guess," I smile a little at his never give up attitude.

"Enough of this," Chili says. "The boss dude had to get special permission from some Alolan dude for this meeting activity. So let's enjoy it."

"You guys made it," The dark green haired man greeted us as we stepped in the meeting room. "We'll be starting soon so get comfy."

There was a large screen at the end of the room. It started flickering and then the screen turned on. "Pidgeot and Fearow are both too tired to fly but they're still battling!" A familiar voice said through the screen. It was almost like Ash's voice but a little deeper. I feel so bad about the betrayal now I'm imagining his voice.

"This is the Ash Ketchum tournament," Mr.Pars said. "He's a globally recognized individual. He also has bonds so good with his Pokemon they can evolve to an extra level." He has his own tournament?!

"He's done so much for Alola since he got there, that the regional professor asked him to help him with this tournament," He continued. "All competitors have one of his Pokemon. They trust Ash so much they'll follow any order someone else gives them."

"So you want us to hone our skills by watching the tournament," Cress asked. Mr. Pars nodded.

"Sweet but I feel bad for Fearow," Chili said. "He tried so hard."

"Ariana and Pidgeot win!" Ash cheers. He must be enjoying his new life in Alola.

"I want to send someone for an interview with Ash," The head connoisseur said.

"I'll go," I volunteer. "I need to talk to Ash about something else too."

"Okay I'll arrange your flight soon," He says. "That Larvitar intrigues me."

"It has a certain energy about it," I add. "And that Corphish has no chance against it."

"Type advantage is like sugar," Cress says. "It's sweet most times but not always a positive."

"Even I don't get that one," Chili laughs.

Paul's POV

"These two are really going at it," I laugh.

"Maybe they are fighting over a boy," Moon suggested.

"Ash's Pokemon really like to get involved with each other," I joke as Snivy gets Zorua caught up in a leaf tornado.

"Zorua is having a tough time getting out of the leaves," Moon comments.

"That night daze helped," I say as Zorua gets out of the trap.

"Snivy with the slam attack to finish the battle," Moon announces.

"I think Snivy's have some unreal power that lets them beat anything," I laugh.

"It's time for our final battle," Moon started. "Samurott and Brady versus Unfezant and Krista."

"Battle of Unova Pokemon," I announce.

"Unfezant was easily put away with that razor shell," Moon commentates.

"Not a good start for Krista," I laugh as the bird was frantically trying to dodge the onslaught of water attacks.

"Unfezant is trying an aerial ace," Moon says as the bird Pokémon went flying down.

"And that ice beam finishes her attack and the battle," I say.

"Thanks to all the competitors for giving us exciting battles!" Moon cheered.

"And thanks to the crowd for the support," I read the script for the ending. "I hope to see you all tomorrow." I press mute and our day is now officially done.

"That wasn't so bad," Moon smiles.

"I'm just happy it's over," I sigh and lean back.

"You know we have a few more days of this," She giggles.

"Don't remind me," I say.

"I'm hungry so you're taking me on a date," She says and stands up.

I now know which battles to fight. "Okay." This was not one of them...

Professor Kukui's POV

"The last battle of today is going to be a good one folks," I announce. "On one side we have the mysterious but cheerful white Lucario with Mikula. One the other side we have the stealthy Hoenn starter Sceptile with LeiLani."

"That aura sphere was easily sliced in half by that leaf blade," I announce as Sceptile starts with a little defense.

"Lucario is rushing in for a sky uppercut," I say as the white blue heads toward Sceptile. "Another defensive move by Sceptile with that x-scissor."

"Lucario is trying to get a hit in but a tight defensive strategy by LeiLani isn't allowing it," I say while the two Pokémon were in a stare down.

"Now Sceptile is rushing in with a dual chop," I say as the tables start turning. "A direct hit by that blaze kick from Lucario."

"Sceptile didn't like that," I laugh. The crowd cheers for the dancing Lucario but no one noticed Sceptile charging a solar beam.

"Sceptile nails the powerful sun charged attack," I say as this battle evens up.

"Lucario run forward with sky uppercut," Mikula orders.

"Sceptile defend with leaf blade!" Leilani shouts. Sceptile got ready for the impact but it never came.

"What a move!" I say as Lucario jumped over and swing his fiery leg across Sceptile's back.

"Aura Sphere barrage," Mikula commands hoping to finish the battle.

"Sceptile do something," LeiLani panicked. The forest Pokémon tried to deflect as many as he could but the aura move was too strong.

"What a battle to finish the day," I comment as the battle finishes. I'm pretty smart for thinking about this tournament...

???'s POV

"What power," I say to my Meganium as we watch Ash's Charizard battle his Gengar.

"Meg," She coos and nuzzles me.

"I wish we could just battle like normal people," I sigh. She looks down sadly. "If only my dad wasn't an egotistical villain."

"Meganium," She says.

"We can't just leave," I insist. She gives me a "Why not" look. "I don't know. What would we do?"

She nudged one of my coat pockets. I pulled out the silver badge we earned at the Violet gym back in Johto. "We could do that I guess," I laugh. "But I'm pretty sure my dad would kill me before we get far."

She motioned towards the raven haired kid that was commentating the battle that was surprisingly even so far. "You think we should help Ash defeat Giovanni?" I guess.

"Meg," She nodded eagerly. I look at the finishing flamethrower from Charizard.

"Not a bad idea..."

Gladion's POV

"The famous Greninja against the Hoenn flying Pokémon," I announce.

"Greninja is clearly the favourite but anything can happen," Dawn comments as the battle starts.

Gary's POV

"Greninja can't lose this," I say confidently.

"Swellow is definitely in trouble," Brock adds.

"Trainer ability is a factor though," My gramps says as Greninja lands a few water shurikens.

"I guess but power is a thing too," I laugh.

"True but Jason is definitely out commanding Hau right now even though Greninja is more powerful." Brock observes.

"This brave bird could do some damage," Oak says as Swellow dives down.

"Greninja get out of the way!" I yell at the TV. He didn't...

________________________

Cliffhanger...

Anyways I hope you liked the chapter and thanks for reading.

Here is the updated brackets...

Gladion's bracket will be in the next chapter...