Shout out to Luffylawkidd, of DeviantART, for this screenshot.

The rain continues to pour down upon the stadium, as the two Pokémon, standing across from each other on the battlefield, are expressing tension through their features.

The Aura Pokémon's eyes are burning with fierce determination, as he wasn't intimidated by his opponent. Lucario had been eager to face it, ever since his trainer made that promise to his friend, who they are battling against right now.

Lucario was Ash's last Pokémon and the pressure was all on the Aura Pokémon, to win this last battle. If they don't, then Ash won't be able to face Giovanni in the Finals. Ash cannot afford to get defeated here today because he thinks that only he could defeat the ex-boss of Team Rocket and stopped him, once and for all. The only thing standing in Ash's way is his friend and rival, Trevor, and his powerful Mewtwo.

The Genetic Pokémon had a killer look in his eyes as if he was about to go for the kill. Gregor also has a bone to pick with Giovanni. The Team Rocket Boss killed Trevor's father, Michael, about 18 years ago. Michael saved Gregor from becoming Team Rocket's slave and he was the only human that the Genetic Pokémon could trust before meeting Trevor. Not only that, five years ago, Giovanni tried to control another Mewtwo, who was Trevor's Mewtwo's half-brother, and it nearly destroyed Kalos, but Ash was able to save its brother. However, that same incident, was when Gregor's trainer lost his good friend, as well as his pride and passion for battling. But now that Ash has returned, so has Trevor's battling spirit.

This last battle, between two good friends and rivals, began with both Pokémon letting out one more deafening battle cry that shook the whole stadium. They now wait patiently for their trainers to give a command.

The expression, on both trainers' faces, were glowing with fierce determination. Their eyes showed burning passion and tension between the two strong trainers. They knew that this battle would be interesting since Gregor and Lucario are their strongest Pokémon and both shared a rivalry with each other, which formed as soon as Lucario was called out during Ash's first battle in the tournament.

At last, both trainers called out their first attacks of the final round in this matchup.

"Shadow Ball!" Trevor called out.

"Aura Sphere!" Ash shouted.

Lucario puts its hands together and creates a blue ball of energy. Gregor also puts its hands together, as it forms a black ball of energy. Both Pokémon then fires their respective balls of energy towards each other, as the attacks collided, causing an explosion, at the center of the battlefield. Their powers were equally matched.

Ash then noticed something strange going on with Gregor's tail. There were sparks of electricity flying off from the Genetic Pokémon's tail. He smirked, before looking down at his Pikachu, who was resting next to him, after he had gotten knocked out by Mewtwo in the previous battle.

Thanks, buddy. Because of you, we might have a chance of winning this. Ash thought, before giving Lucario his next set of instructions.

"Lucario, use Metal Sound, and then, Aura Sphere!" Ash commanded.

Lucario puts the spikes, on its paws, together, producing white sounds waves, accompanied by a high pitched ringing, to emit from the tips and spread towards the Genetic Pokémon, causing him to cover his ears in pain. Lucario is also howling, in unison, with the ringing. With Gregor still covering his ear, Lucario fires another blue ball of energy towards the psychic type.

"Dodge it!" Trevor called out.

But when Gregor was about to move out of the way; all of a sudden, yellow sparks of electricity were flying off from its body, which made it hard for Gregor to dodge the incoming Fighting-type attack. The blue ball of energy hit its target, while only pushing the Genetic Pokémon back a bit.

After it recovered from that attack, Mewtwo began to feel the effects of its paralysis, as it started to groan in pain.

Trevor was surprised and confused, as he pondered on how his Pokémon got paralyzed. Gregor's paralyzed?! But how did he-?

Suddenly, Trevor knew the answer, as his eyes made their way to the resting mouse Pokémon that was beside his opponent's feet. He gave a frustrated grunt towards it, before continuing his thought. Oh shit! Pikachu's Static ability! I forgot about that! It must have happened when Gregor trapped Pikachu in its tail, before using Psystrike on it! However, it's going to take more than a status condition to beat us, Ash!

As Trevor's Pokémon was feeling the pain of its paralysis, Lucario slowly walked towards the groaning Gregor, while communicating with the Genetic Pokémon through the aura.

"Do you feel it?" Lucario asked the paralyzed Gregor, who stood in front of him. "That's fear."

Gregor then turned and stared into his opponent's eyes with defiance. He replied, "I don't feel fear!"

"Of course, you can't feel," Lucario replied as Ash and Trevor called out their next attack.

"Me First!"

"Close Combat!"

Lucario was about to punch Gregor, but only to be blocked by his arm. Me First was copying the attack that Lucario is using right now, except it was a bit stronger than Lucario's. Their faces were close enough that Gregor was able to hear the Aura Pokémon's last comment.

"Pokémon, born in this world, can feel."

Upon hearing that remark, the expression on his opponent face was now anger and hate. Gregor wasn't born a Pokémon, he was created by humans. The Genetic Pokémon was pissed off by his opponent's insult, as he punched Lucario's side, using its free hand, before unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks onto Lucario, who tries to counter the psychic type's assault with his own barrage of punches and kicks.

Each time a punch or kick is blocked by another or strikes a blow to one of the brawlers, sounds of thunder and lightning can be heard throughout the stadium. The rainfall suddenly became heavier, making it difficult for the crowd to see what's happening out on the battlefield. Gregor and Lucario were battling like warriors out there. They both had a purpose to win this fight, but they knew that only one can win.

Although Lucario managed to block some of the attacks, while also striking blows to the Psychic-type. It became clear that despite being paralyzed, Gregor was winning in this hand-to-hand confrontation. As soon as Lucario dropped its guard while dodging another punch from his opponent, the Genetic Pokémon used that to its advantage and delivered a kick towards that unguarded area of the Aura Pokémon's body, causing him to fall over and land onto the muddy ground, face down.

Lucario was feeling the pain from that blow, as he's breathing heavily while struggling to get up. When Lucario started to rise off the ground, Gregor began to jump up into the air and was about to deliver the finishing blow, until Lucario heard his trainer's orders.

"Lucario, slide away, and then, use Dark Pulse!" Ash commanded.

The Aura Pokémon obeyed its trainer, as it uses the muddy ground, to slide away from its current position, dodging the incoming punch from the Genetic Pokémon. Once Mewtwo landed, after having missed its target, Lucario then formed a ball of black and purple circles in each hand. He combines them and fired the beam of circles towards the Psychic-type and landing a critical blow onto his target, sending Gregor flying into the wall.

The crowd gasped, as they watched and saw Trevor's most powerful Pokemon being sent flying across the battlefield. Upon this unbelievable sight, the crowd began to roar loudly, expressing their joy in watching the intense battle below.

Trevor was shocked to see his Mewtwo being sent flying across the battlefield. His thoughts began racing, as he watches Gregor slowly recover from its crash, while still feeling the side effects of the paralysis. Lucario is stronger than I thought! No wonder why Gregor was amazed by this Pokémon. His power is equally strong as Gregor's.

He grinned as his eyes made their way to the Aura Pokémon, who was waiting for his opponent to stand right back up. However, Lucario was also breathing heavily. Let's hope that they don't get cocky right now, or this battle is over!

Ash realized that Lucario was almost out of steam. He thought now would be a good time to have his Pokémon use his healing move.

"Lucario! Heal Pulse!" Ash called out.

All of the sudden, Lucario begins to glow, as waves appeared that had originated from the point on its chest. The wave soon disappears, after healing the Aura Pokémon. Lucario then let out of satisfied cry, while also telling his paralyzed opponent that he was still raring to go.

The Genetic Pokémon finally got up on his feet, as he stares down the Aura Pokémon with the eyes of a killer. Gregor still felt angry towards Lucario's comment from earlier. The two battlers gazed at each other with no fear in their eyes, as the rain continues to pour down upon them.

"Me First!" Trevor shouted out his next attack.

"Extreme Speed!" Ash called out.

Both Pokémon ran so fast that their legs became a blur. Their bodies were surrounded by a white and clear aura while charging towards each other at a fast speed. When the two attacks collided, it pushed both Pokémon back a little, causing them to let out a frustrated grunt at the same time.

"Enough fooling around! Gregor, Rapid-Fire Shadow Ball!" Trevor exclaimed.

"Lucario, charge in and counter with Bone Rush!" Ash countered.

Lucario puts its paws together and spreads them apart, creating a light green bone of energy, before starting to charge towards the Genetic Pokémon, who stood across from him.

Using only one hand, Gregor fires smaller black balls of energy at the charging aura Pokémon, but only for them to be knocked down by Lucario's staff.

"Quick! Use Psychic to get out of there!" Trevor shouted.

Gregor was about to use Psychic on himself; however, yellow sparks of electricity, once again, were flying off from his body, causing him to groan in pain and unable to dodge Lucario's attack. Trevor gave a frustrated grunt towards Gregor's paralysis.

Once Lucario got close to Mewtwo, he then proceeds to hit the genetic Pokémon repeatedly with his bone staff of energy. With each blow inflicted upon him, Gregor lets out a cry of pain he feels from both the paralysis and the Aura Pokémon's assault.

Trevor looked on in horror and frustrated, as he watches his paralyzed Pokémon getting beaten up by its opponent.

The attack finally ceased when Lucario gripped the staff, with both paws at a single end. Then. it raised the staff, above its head, and swung down. The attack struck the Genetic Pokémon in the back, causing Trevor's Pokémon to fall down to the muddy ground. Lucario then just stood there, waiting for the Psychic-type to make a move.

As Gregor lifted himself off the ground, still conscious, but barely. He began gasping for air, before spitting blood out of its mouth. Gregor, as he gazes down upon its reflection, appearing on the surface of the puddle, he closed his eyes. All the emotions Gregor is feeling right now are excitement, anger, and pain. Eventually, the Genetic Pokémon stands up and lets out another deafening battle cry, accompanied by the sound of lightning crashing above the sky. It shook the whole stadium. Gregor was ready to battle once again.

Lucario took a step back, as he was in shock to witness such power being expressed through that battle cry. He shrugged off the feeling, before maintaining a battle stance. He waits for his trainer's next command.

Ash didn't flinch from the battle cry; instead, there was a smirk across his face, which Trevor couldn't notice because of it being hidden by the mask.

"Lucario, use Dark Pulse!"

"Gregor, use Shadow Ball on the ground!" Trevor countered.

The Genetic Pokémon took the black ball of energy and slammed it into the ground. The ground shook and a wall of earth protruded from the stadium floor. The wall prevented the beam of circles from hitting Trevor's Pokémon.

Ash let out a frustrated grunt. He recognizes that defense strategy since he used it with Lucario, during their battle against Paul's Magmortar.

Son of a bitch! He stole my combo move! He thought, before hearing Trevor calling out his next move.

"Psystrike! Go!"

Gregor, behind the wall of earth, produces a white force field that expands rapidly from around him and explodes on contact with the wall of earth. The blast sends pieces of rock and mud flying towards Lucario.

"Lucario, Bone Rush! Knock them down!" Ash responded.

Lucario puts its paws together and spreads them apart, creating a light green bone of energy. He then swings his staff around, like a baton, and knocks the pieces of rock and muddy down.

Gotcha! Trevor smirked before calling out another attack. "Gregor, get in close and use Psystrike!"

Gregor, suddenly, appears in front of Lucario, as he creates another white force field, which explodes upon contact with the Aura Pokémon, standing in front of the genetic Pokémon. It sends him flying towards the wall stadium wall.

When the debris faded away, it revealed the Aura Pokémon, lying on the muddy floor, but still conscious, as it struggles to get up.

"Come on, Lucario! Get up! Please!" Ash pleaded to his loyal companion to get up and continue battling.

Lucario managed to stand up and looked ready to battle once more.

"Tough guy, are you?" Trevor responded to the Aura Pokémon's endurance, before shouting out his next attack. "Me First!"

"Close Combat!" Ash called out.

Both Pokémon came up to each other before they began to inflict a barrage of punches and kicks towards one another. Both battlers were getting hit by the other's attack, as the sounds of thunder and lightning are echoed throughout the stadium, causing some members of the audience to scream, out of fear towards the sound of lightning.

The punching and kicking between the two competitors continued until they each grabbed hold of the other's hands. Both Pokémon struggled to overpower the other in this battle of strength and willpower. They were at a stalemate here.

---

The group, in the elite suite, was completely silent than normally. Their focus was all concentrated on watching the intense battle below. Everyone was at the edge of their seats, even the champions were.

"It's incredible," Max commented. "Their power is almost equal to each other. There's no telling who will come out of this brawl alive."

Everyone nodded at Max's statement, before turning their attention back to the battle below. Almost everyone, in the group, felt excited about the intense battle.

As for Serena, however, she sat in her seat, with her hands clasped against each other, while a look of anxiety is expressed through her features. She prays that Ash would come out of this battle, a winner.

Ash...please win.

---

Suddenly, an idea came into Ash's head and decided to act upon it.

"Lucario, use Metal Sound, then Dark Pulse!" Ash exclaimed.

Lucario followed his trainer's command, as he broke off from the stalemate and jumped back to get away from his opponent. Lucario then puts the spikes, on its paws, together, producing white sounds waves, accompanied by a high pitched ringing, to emit from the tips and spread towards the Genetic Pokemon, causing him to cover his ears in pain. Lucario then fires a beam of circles towards the dazed Psychic-type and hitting him, sending Trevor's Pokémon flying backward and crashing against a wall

Gregor quickly recovers from that impact and looked as if it was still able to battle.

"Shadow Ball!" Trevor called out.

"Aura Sphere!" Ash countered.

Both Pokémon fired a ball of energy at one another; but this time, the attacks didn't collide against each other and managed to hit their targets, at the same time. The attacks both caused their victims to be standing on their knees, as they're breathing heavily and near exhaustion. It would seem that if one of them gets hit with one more attack, then the battle could end there.

Ash and Trevor thought deeply about their final attack, before finally deciding on what they'll go with.

"It's time to end this once and for all!" Ash shouted out with determination.

"I couldn't agree with you more, Aaron!" Trevor responded, with determination burning in his eyes.

"Now, Lucario..."

"Gregor,"

"HYPER BEAM!" Both trainers exclaimed in unison.

Both Pokémon began charging up for their final attack, as an orange orb began to appear in their mouths, while staring into each other's eyes, noticing the passion and determination burning within them. Both trainers gazed upon their Pokémon with tensed and anxious eyes, as they wait for them to fire their last attack.

Finally, Lucario was the first to fire the beam from his mouth. Gregor was about to fire; but all of sudden, yellow sparks of electricity began flying off from its body, causing the Genetic Pokémon to groan in pain and unable to counter or escape Lucario's attack.

Trevor gasped in shock and horror, upon seeing Gregor struggling to attack. Trevor knew immediately that the battle was over.

He sighed before his eyes made their way to the elite suite and met Brittany and Ashley, who were sat in their seats, realizing what's about to happen. He smiled at them, before giving them a thumb's up, telling them that he's going to be alright. They smiled back, while also giving Trevor a thumb's up too.

He nodded at their reaction, before facing back and watched, as the beam of energy comes towards the defenseless Genetic Pokémon.

Gregor, after coming to a realization about its current situation, closed its eyes and sighed. He's accepting the fact that he cannot dodge the attack. The Pokémon realized that it was all over.

As the beam was coming closer toward the Psychic-type, Gregor was thinking about its life, up to this point. The memories of the important battles he had won for Trevor, in the past, begin to play in his mind. He helped Trevor win multiple Pokémon League Conferences and defeat the Kanto Elite Four and Champion.

Just as the beam of energy was about to hit the Genetic Pokémon, Gregor turned to the masked trainer, who was surprised that Gregor's paralysis has prevented him from attacking, with determination burning in his eyes. Through telepathy, he speaks with Ash.

"Ash, make sure that you beat that bastard in the Finals! I'm trusting you, Ash, to do this, just like how I trusted you in saving my half-brother."

Ash nodded with a smile, before replying back. "I will, Gregor! You won't regret it!"

The Genetic Pokémon nodded, before turning back and staring right at the incoming beam. Gregor appears to be ready to accept defeat, for the first time in his life.

The moment that the beam hit Gregor, he proclaimed, "This battle...was...incredible!"

Then, everything, from Gregor's point of view, turned white. Ash and Trevor's battle has finally come to an end.