"And Darkrai goes down!" the announcer blasted through the intercom system. "And just like that, Tobias and his team of Legendary Pokémon have been defeated! Sakai moves on to the Finals, without losing a single Pokémon!"

---

"H-How did he manage that?" Max asked. He was shocked and petrified with fear, at what he had just witnessed on the battlefield below.

Around the room, the same shock and awe could be seen on everyone's faces. Even the champions, themselves, were expressing shock and awe, along with trepidation, across their faces.

"Cynthia," Dawn started weakly, "Haven't you faced Tobias before?" Cynthia nodded, as she kept her gaze on the mysterious figure. standing below them. "H-How did you do against him?"

"It was a tough battle," she spoke softly. "I ended up winning, 6-3, but it was much closer than that." The rest of the group shuttered, as they heard the tone, which she spoke in. The normal cool confidence and self-assurance had been replaced with fear and uncertainty. "Even so, Sakaki dismantled him in every shape and form. H-He looked like he still had power left over. I've never seen a display, like that, before in my life."

"Look at him," Brittany commented. "He doesn't even look happy about his victory. He just looks angry."

"Who is he staring at?" Brock questioned.

The group again looked and saw Sakaki glaring into the stands. Disdain and hatred were painted on his features, while his body was tensed. The group turned to where the victor was staring and gasped, as they noticed the person that was standing there.

"It-It's Aaron." Diantha managed to get out. "He isn't flinching, not even a little."

"No, that's fighter look, which he's giving back." Alder chimed in. "He's not impressed. And look at his Pokémon. They almost seemed to be bored."

"Of course, they do. They've always known about his true power."

The rest of the group turned and saw Lance, standing in the back, with his arms crossed in front of him. He didn't hold the same shocked expression that the rest of them did. His features only showed anger and annoyance towards the carnage that he had just witnessed.

"Who are those two?!" Cynthia shouted.

"How should I know?" Lance brushed off the Sinnoh champion.

"Because you and Sabrina have been nosing around!" she spat back. The rest of the group recoiled at the outburst, from the usually calm champion. Brittany turned to Ashley, who sat next to her mother, as she covered her ears, with her hands, fearing that the outraged Sinnoh champion would use foul language soon. "This isn't a game, Lance. You can't just go around and keep secrets from the rest of us! So tell us, what the fuck is going on here, Lance?"

Lance turned and headed to the doorway. "I'm going to go and find that out, for myself." With that, he opened the door and walked out into the atrium.

The rest of the group turned to the champions. The champions looked at each other, before turning to the only other person, in the room, who wasn't fazed. Sitting in the far corner, where he had sat, throughout the entire tournament, was Drake, from the Orange Islands. He was not staring at Giovanni, but at Ash and his Pokémon.

"Do you know who he is?" Cynthia demanded.

Drake shrugged. "I know this much: Sakaki doesn't scare him because simply put, Aaron can beat him."

"Even after that tour de force?" Wallace questioned.

Again, Drake shrugged. "We'll see if Aaron puts on his own show."

---

Giovanni didn't hear the announcement that the ref had just made. He knew the call before Tobias' last Pokémon hit the ground. Persian was breathing heavily, but he knew that it could go another round if it had to. All if his Pokémon, which he used, could. He snarled, as the crowd roared.

The roaring crowds would have filled him with pride and a sense of power, not a day earlier, but things had changed. He no longer had the upper hand in the tournament. He cursed himself that he had allowed Ash, to finally see him in fear. The trainer had gotten to him, earlier than before the competition began, but yesterday, he finally showed it.

His eyes glanced over the crowd, before having located their target. Standing in the middle of an entryway, was Ash, with his Pikachu on his shoulder and Lucario leaning against the wall. They stared at each other, and again, Giovanni snarled.

That fool! He doesn't even look intimidating. I'll show him, I'll fucking show them all that I'm this world rightful king! Then, he will bow before me!

---

"You really rattled him, Master," Lucario smirked, as he watched Giovanni below.

"Yeah, I suppose that I did. Didn't I?" Ash mused. He was enjoying the sight of Giovanni, who's now shuddering at his stare. "Although, you have to admit, that the show he put on, was pretty impressive."

"Pika pika pi, Pikapi," Pikachu commented from his perch.

Underneath his mask, Ash's smirk turned emotionless. "Yeah, that Persian is his strongest Pokémon. It'll be tough to beat, but right now, let's worry about our own semifinal matchup."

The trio turned to the tunnel that led to the atrium, once they saw Giovanni's platform descend. They walked in silence, as they walked down the stairs and made their way to their locker room. In the corridors, they passed Giovanni. Neither trainer made eye contact, but instead, simply passed by each other. All that needed to be said, between them, had already been said.

---

The trainer and his Pokémon opened the door to their locker room. To their surprise, the Kanto and Johto champion stood, in the middle of the room, with his arms crossed in front of his chest, as he was waiting for them to appear.

"Hello, Ash. We need to talk. Close the door."

"Well, hello to you too, Lance," Ash responded, as he closed the door and looked back to the champion. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here because your little game of cat and mouse is over," Lance answered. "I could have both you and Giovanni arrested, for endangering the public. Whatever you two have planned, it ends now."

"I can't do that, Lance," Ash spoke calmly and evenly. "You know, as well as I do, what he is capable of."

"Yes, I do." Lance still held a harsh gaze. He eyed the young man, up and down.

He would never hurt anyone, but who knows how much he's changed. Can't be too careful. He thought to himself, before responding.

"That's why, during the finals, whether or not you make it there, the G-Men and myself will arrest him."

"In the middle of the battle?!" Ash asked shocked.

"Correct. With his mind busy, focusing on you or Trevor, we'll be able to subdue him, and finally, bring him to justice." Lance stated as Ash does a facepalm, out of frustration and annoyance, in response to Lance's plan.

"Giovanni is smarter than that, you fool!" Ash yelled back. "He has managed to escape detection for five years. That takes skills, like being able to think about one task, while keeping an eye out for all possible threats." Ash began to calm down, as he reeled in his emotions. He took one more deep breath, before continuing. "If Giovanni gets spooked, then he'll use any means necessary to escape. More lives will be put in danger if you, or the G-Men, get involved."

Lance raised an eyebrow, at the response that Ash had just given. He has really matured in the last five years.

Lance then questioned Ash, "What are you suggesting here?"

"Giovanni has only used six Pokémon, throughout the entire tournament," Ash began. "I believe that he will allow those Pokémon to take serious damage and get knocked out, in order to hide his true potential."

Lance nodded. "That's true. Those Pokémon he used were also seen. Earlier, as they gotten knocked out by weaker competition. But what does that prove?"

"It proves that without those six Pokémon, he has no exit strategy." Ash continued. "If they have been defeated and knocked out, then he could be taken down, much more easily. Even if that Persian was the only one left standing, I wouldn't risk anything. He would still be a threat."

"Although this sounds like a good plan, Ash, I still don't see your point here."

"Let me battle him, in the finals. Straight up, man-to-man. I want to finish what I started, five years ago. He has threatened my friends and family. I won't stand by anymore and let him do it." 

Lance looked into Ash's eyes and saw defiance and determination. The way Ash spoke, made Lance shiver. He spoke with the authority of a champion.

"This battle is mine, Lance! Mine and mine alone! Once he is defeated, then you and the G-Men can come in and take care of him from there."

Lance smiled. "On one condition," Ash looked at him with a confused expression, in his eyes. "I need a demonstration. He showed a lot of firepowers out there today, and I need to be sure that the person, who I'm trusting the lives of millions to, is able to actually beat him. To really convince me; however, you have to defeat Trevor! If you can do that, then I'll trust you."

Ash smiled, as he heard his alias being called to report to his platform. He turned to open the door. He then stepped out of the room. Ash walked to the platform, and then, turned around, once he was on it.

"You've got yourself a deal, Lance!"

Lance nodded back to Ash, with a small smile appearing on the dragon trainer's face.

Ash turned and looked straight up, as his platform began to rise. His thoughts were running like crazy, as he thinks about his upcoming battle with Trevor.

Trevor, I hope you're ready because I'm about to give you a battle that you'll never forget!