Ash walked through the hallways of the stadium while hearing the screams and applause of the crowd above, taking in the first match of the day. He smiled as he began to feel excitement race through his veins. He turned a corner before he noticed someone in the shadows. He kept his head down and continued his walk. The figure followed him. Ash stopped, in front of his locker room door. 

"Can I help you?" He turned to the figure to see Sabrina.

She kept her icy gaze on Ash. "Yes, I believe you can, Aaron. May I come in?" Sabrina motioned to the locker room door.

"If you must," Ash said slowly while opening the door to let them in the room. The four figures walked into the room. Ash, Pikachu, and Lucario sat on the bench, while Sabrina stood, on the opposite side of the room, silently gazing at the trio. "So you're in here, what do you want?"

"I just wanted to ask you a few questions," she said slowly.

"Go on."

"What is your relationship with Sakaki?" she asked trying to gauge the reaction that his body would express, as opposed to the answer he gave.

He sat there in silence, as he began to choose his words carefully. "I met him a few days before the tournament began," he said as he continued to keep his gaze while remaining as calm as he possibly could. He knew the power that Sabrina possessed and worked to keep his emotions and thoughts in check. "He's a very powerful trainer, evident by his advancement in this tournament, but I cannot say I know him personally."

"You are a very bad liar, Aaron," she responded with a glare. "According to your response to Trevor's question, a few days ago, you stated that you and Sakai had a history together."

"And you're snooping into affairs that don't concern you," Ash responded with an annoyed tone in his voice.

"You're in my city! Whatever affair that you may have with Sakaki, makes it my affair as well," she said matching the intensity in Ash's voice. "You're both very powerful, and yet, you and Sakaki haven't flashed all of your potentials. I'm warning you! If you intend to cause trouble, you will be stopped!"

"Now I know you are the one that is lying," Ash responded with a smirk on his face, under his mask. "I know you can tell what people think and I figure you have tried to dig into my subconscious. Since you are here, I'm guessing you haven't found what you're searching for, but I know you don't see me as a threat. I can see it in your eyes. Whether or not you express that icy stare towards me, your eyes betray your actual thoughts of me."

Sabrina stiffened at his words. No person, aside from Lance, had stood against her like that before. She now senses the confidence that Aaron's expressing, along with a fiery passion. Again, her mind raced through her past, to locate who this spirit had belonged to.

She gave a weak smile, before continuing. "You speak the truth, Mr. Tajiri. You're no threat. I cannot find what I am looking for here, but I did find enough to know that you're here for only pure reasons. I want to know one more thing," she said. Ash gave her a confused look while asking her to continue. "Why are you so interested in Serena?"

Ash was grateful that he had the mask on so that it would cover his blush. He cleared his throat, before responding.

"What I do, in my personal life, is none of your concern. Now, if you will please excuse me, I need to find my way to my platform," he said as he stood up and exited his locker room, with Sabrina following.

Sabrina watched the mysterious trainer walk down the hall. Well, I got more out of him than I did with Sakaki. It's obvious that Sakaki is the one Lance needs to focus more on; although, it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on Aaron as well. Whatever is going to happen here, those two will be at the center of it.

---

The elite suite was filled with loud cheers, as their friend, Bonnie, is making her appearance onto the battlefield from her platform. She gave the crowd a wave, as she turned to see everyone. She seemed to be enjoying herself and the time that she was having.

"Look at her. What a ham," Max said as he crossed his arms.

"Oh, whatever. Stop being such a brat," May said as she messed with Max's hair. "Just because she advanced farther than you, doesn't mean you have to act like a spoiled sport. Plus, I thought you'd be happy to root your girlfriend on."

"She's not my girlfriend!" Max yelled, his cheeks began to turn bright red.

"Well, that isn't what Aaron said, during your last match," Dawn said in a playful tone. "He seemed to think you two were an item. Don't tell me that you've gotten cold feet, Max."

"Oh yeah! You're one to talk!" he spat back. "You've been gazing at Paul like a school girl for years!"

"He's got you there, Dawn," Trevor responded and chuckled at Max's comeback towards Dawn's statement about Max and Bonnie being an item.

Dawn's face turned a bright crimson. She opened her mouth to defend herself but was stopped by a deafening roar. The group turned to see that Aaron was now standing on his platform. His eyes locked with Serena, who sat in the box with them. From the same box, only a single clapping noise could be heard, which came from Drake, of the Orange Islands.

Clemont turned to Serena and saw the look on her face. It was obvious that she was holding in her cheers, for Aaron, who would be battling that against his younger sister today. "Alright. Go ahead, Serena," he said in a fake defeated voice.

"What do you mean, Clemont?" she asked mystified by Clemont's statement.

"Go ahead and root for Aaron. I'm sure that Bonnie will understand."

Her face lit up, as she broke out into cheers for the man, who she secretly knew that he was Ash. She felt so happy to be able to cheer for him again that she found herself yelling louder than she ever had before.

Trevor, noticing Serena's loud cheering towards Aaron, has a stunned look on his face. He turns to Gary, who sat next to him, and whispered to him, "Judging by the loudness of her cheering, do you think that she knows?"

"Maybe," Gary whispered back, "those cheers were held within her for five years, so I'm guessing she's starting to uncover the truth about Aaron."

They both nodded in agreement, and then, turned to watch the battle that's about to start.

---

Below, the two competitors began to eye each other. Bonnie smiled, "Just because we had dinner together last night, doesn't mean that I'll go easy on you, Aaron."

"I don't expect you to, Bonnie," Ash said as he expanded a Pokéball in his hand. "Now, I want to see the Kalos Phenom in action! Let's go, Torterra!"

Ash threw the Pokéball into the air to reveal a grass and ground type. The Pokémon resembled a turtle that stood on four legs. The legs and underbelly showed an earthy brown color, while the top was green. Three silver spikes projected from one side of the continental Pokémon's shell, while a small tree came from the other side. The Pokémon let out a roar, before taking a battle stance.

What the hell? He's starting with that Pokémon?! He isn't even fast at all. Oh no! My first choice was. . . .Suddenly, jumping out of the yellow satchel that she held, came a small orange Pokémon with a black tail and ears. From its cheeks, came antenna-like whiskers. Sparks began to fly as the electric and fairy type Pokémon is prepared for battle.

Bonnie stood with her eyes focused on the little mouse. It had been a gift, from her brother, years ago. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the tremors that were caused by her opponent's Pokémon. The attack hit before she could ever think of a comeback. Dedenne was sent flying until it came to a stop on the far edge of the battlefield. Bonnie looked on in panic. She felt a lump in her throat; she couldn't voice a response before a green ball hit the antenna Pokémon, sending it into the wall, knocking Dedenne out.

Bonnie returned her fallen Pokémon to its Pokéball. The Pokéball shook as she felt fear beginning to enclose her. He's out strategized me?! No one does that! I-I don't know if I can win this.

Still shaking, she replaced Dedenne's Pokéball with another.

"I-I'm not finished with you, yet," she stuttered. "If you're going with a grass and ground type, then I am going to go with this one! Go Pyroar!"

Appearing from her Pokéball, was a Pokémon that resembled a lion. Its legs and paws were a light brown fur, while the rest of its body was covered in black fur, except for the tip of its tail, which was also a light brown. A mane of red and yellow framed its face, which announced to those around that it was a male. The Pokémon let out a deafening roar, before lowering itself in a battle-ready stance, as if it's prepared to hunt down its prey.

"Let's go for it, Pyroar!" she yelled out. "Use Flame Charge!" The royal Pokémon engulfed itself in flames, and then, with a burst of speed, ran towards the grass and ground type.

Ash calmly looked on. He noticed the fear in Bonnie's eyes. He knew he had to push her even further, although it hurts him to see her fear him.

"Torterra, use Grass Knot, and then, follow it up with Rock Slide," he said calmly.

Two blades of grass rose, in front of the charging Pokémon, and tied themselves into a knot. Bonnie's Pokémon tripped on the newly made knot, before falling face first into the ground with a grunt. Before the fire and normal type could regain its legs, it was hit with an avalanche of rocks, sending it back.

"Come on, Pyroar! You have to get up! You gotta!" Bonnie cried out frantically.

The lion-like Pokémon growled as it found its footing and looked to its trainer with determination burning in its eyes.

"Great! Now, use Overheat! Scorch that overgrown turtle!" she shouted as she punched the air, in front of her.

The Pokémon threw its head forward while sending a condensed and powerful swirl of fire towards its opponent.

"Torterra, protect with Frenzy Plant, and then, finish it off with Stone Edge!"

Torterra reared back on its hind legs, before bringing its front two down into the earth, in front of it. As it landed, massive vines stuck up in front of it, rows deep. The fire attack hit the wall, causing smoke and dust to kick up. After a few seconds, stones came from the smoke and struck the royal Pokémon in the head and body. The fire and normal type fell to the ground and it became unconscious.

Bonnie began to shake, even more now than she was before, as the smoke cleared and an untouched Torterra, behind a wall of withered vines, was revealed. She looked back to her Pokémon, who was lying on the ground, as it was unable to battle anymore. She closed her eyes and fought back the tears in her eyes, as she clenched her fists into balls. What am I going to do? He's outmaneuvered me at every turn. The analysts were right. I wasn't ready, at all, for this tournament. What was I thinking?

---

"Poor Bonnie," Misty said as she looked on the young girl with sympathy.

Trevor gazed at Bonnie. He already knows that Bonnie's fighting spirit has been shattered into pieces. Ash, what did you do to her?

"I've never seen her like this," Clemont said. He turned to see the rest of the group. Even Serena, who was rooting for Aaron, felt pity for her young friend. "She looks so scared out there. What exactly did Aaron do to her?"

"He took away her security blanket," Diantha spoke up. There were a few murmurs, going around the group. She gave a sad smile and continued, "What Bonnie lacks in experience, she makes up for in strategy. It's extremely rare that her strategies ever get outdone, but she also hasn't faced a trainer, like Aaron, before. He knew that before going into this match. He attacked her greatest weakness: her youth. She doesn't know how to respond back to Aaron's attacks, especially since her strategy has now failed. She thought she could stop his speed with Dedenne and a few electric attacks, and then, boost her Pyroar's speed with Flame Charge. Instead, she's facing what appears to be like an unassailable fortress that she can't defeat."

The group looked down at the poor trainer/coordinator, and now, noticed the tears had broken through. No longer poised and confident, Bonnie was crying her heart out, in her trainer's box. The sight brought those, in the suite, to tears themselves.

---

Bonnie was now embarrassed. She was crying in front of a quarter of a million people and countless more on live TV. She was acting like the child that so many experts have stated she was. I can't do this! I don't belong here! I need to forfeit!

She took a shaky breath in and exhaled. "I-I for-" her eyes shot open when she was interrupted by her opponent.

"What's wrong with you, Bonnie?!" Ash shouted from across the field. "Just like that? You are going to give up because of what, a few of your Pokémon got knocked out, so quickly?"

"Shut up!" Bonnie retorted. "You know as well as I do that I'm fighting a losing battle!" She closed her eyes again, as she saw the look in her opponent's eyes. The eyes didn't express anger or hostility, but rather a disappointment.

"So what? You think I got here by giving up whenever I got beat? You know how many times I've gotten kicked around on a battlefield? More times than I can count!" Ash yelled at Bonnie. His voice was forceful, yet calm and caring, at the same time. "I could have given up, no one would have blamed me, but I didn't! I fought and struggled, and eventually, I was able to stand up to those who thought I was nothing. I was able to beat them, and now, here I am!"

Bonnie had stopped crying at this point and wiped her eyes with her hands. "But, it's pointless. What can I possibly do? It's over," she whimpered just loudly enough, so only Ash could hear her words.

"Here what you can do right now; you make your next choice and continuing battling. Remember Bonnie," Ash stopped before he continued, "Don't give up until it's over!"

---

Serena's expression went from sadness, for Bonnie, to absolute happiness. Hearing those words once again, there is no longer any doubt in my mind. That's him! That's my Ash!

Gary and Trevor both noticed the change in expression on Serena's face. They grinned while thinking the same thought. Well, it's about damn time!

---

Bonnie looked down and gave another sniffle of her nose before her head shot up. The once scared expression that existed on the girl's face was now replaced with that of determination and fire.

"You're right, Aaron! I let fear get the best of me. I owe you one, for teaching me that lesson!" she said. "But you're going to regret that!"

She tossed her next choice into the air. When the glow from the Pokéball dissipated a psychic and ice type was standing on the field. The Pokémon had purple skin but was covered with long flowing blond hair, a red dress, and white sleeve.

"This is where I make my comeback!" The young girl exclaimed, with her voice full of hope and confidence.

"We'll see about that, Bonnie." The masked trainer responded.

"Jynx, use Ice Beam! Let's go!" Bonnie commanded. The human shaped Pokémon sent a beam of light blue towards its target.

"Protect!" Ash responded. The continental Pokémon surrounded itself with a shield. The beam of ice hit but was merely sent in another direction, not damaging the target.

Bonnie looked at it, with frustration. Torterra seemed to be an unbreakable defense. Her opponent had a response for every single move she made and her current Pokémon wasn't fast enough, in its present state, to make a significant move, not without Grass Knot interfering. Maybe I should start battling like a coordinator, instead of a trainer.

"Jynx, freeze the field with an Ice Beam, and then, take off and use Ice Punch!"

The once dirt battlefield was suddenly encased with ice, as the psychic and ice type Pokémon began to skate perfectly on the surface. Now, she's starting to get it.

"Torterra, use Stone Edge and stop her advance!" Ash commanded.

Torterra summoned a circle of rocks around its body, as it began to launch the attack toward its opponent. The human shape Pokémon ducked, dodged, and spun away from the attacks, in a graceful manner, before hitting the continental Pokémon, under the chin, with a glowing white fist. Torterra was sent back a few feet from his original position.

"Alright, Jynx, follow it up with another Ice Beam!" added Bonnie. Before the attack could be fired, the ground began to shake, causing the ice to crack, while forcing Jynx to miss her mark. The psychic and ice type fell to the ground with a thud. It began to rise, but not in time for Ash's next attack.

"Torterra, finish this battle with a Leaf Storm!" the grass and ground type responded with a barrage of razor sharp leaves, being flung in the direction of its opponent.

Bonnie was calm because she had a plan for this tactic since Jynx was one of her contest Pokémon.

"Jynx, use Psychic to stop that attack!" the purple Pokémon's eyes began to glow blue as it raised its hands in front of it.

The leaves stopped in its tracks, while they too emitted a blue color.

"Nice job!" Bonnie encouraged. "Now, send them back with a Blizzard!"

From her Pokémon's mouth, came a cold wind, with bits of snow mixed in. The attack, combined with the levitating leaves, created an even more destructive and effective combination. The attack hit the continental Pokémon.

Torterra's breathing became heavy as it winced from the attack that just landed. It tried to turn back to its opponent but slipped on the ice. It was shown to be unconscious when it hit the ground.

Ash returned his Pokémon to its Pokéball. He whispered thanks to his fallen comrade, before turning his attention to his opponent. "That is more like it, Bonnie! But what do you say we turn up the heat, a little? Let's do it, Typhlosion!" Ash cried out as he released his next Pokémon.

A Pokémon stood, in front of Ash, with a tan underbelly of fur with navy blue colored fur on its back. On the back of its neck, were red spots, but no flames came from them. The Pokémon let out a yawn and covered its mouth.

"Typhlosion, let's turn up the heat! Show them your fire!"

Suddenly, the relaxed and shy demeanor of the Pokémon changed with the fiery spirit of a true fire type. It let loose a roar, before the flames rushed, from the red spots, on its neck. The heat, caused by the Pokémon, made the ice, on the battlefield, begin to melt.

"Return Jynx, you earned a rest!" Bonnie commented as she recalled the psychic and ice type. "I have just the thing to cool that beast off, Aaron. Time to shine, Milotic!"

From the Pokéball, a long serpent-like water Pokémon appears. Its tail was a mixture of blue, black, and pink, while the rest of the body showed a tan color. Its eyebrows were an elongated pink that stretched part way down its body. The Pokémon was a crowd favorite and gave a majestic cry when it finally appeared.

"I'll take the first move!" Ash called out. "Typhlosion, use Smoke Screen and cover the field!"

Typhlosion opened its mouth, and from that, came a black smoke that filled the battlefield. Both competitors covered their eyes and mouth, as they began to cough, but Ash could tell where his pokémon was, due to the amount of time they practiced this technique.

"Milotic, use Twister! Blow this smoke away!" Bonnie managed to get out through the coughs.

A violent twister made its way, from the tender Pokémon's tail, as it blew away the smoke, but only to get hit by the volcano Pokémon, which had encased itself in a yellow aura. The water type cried out in pain, as it hit the wall of the stadium. Yellow streaks of electricity encircled the Pokémon before it let loose a whimper and fell unconscious.

Bonnie returned the water type, as she heard the referee call out that there would be a fifteen-minute break in between the action so that they could clean the field. Both trainers stood on their platforms, as they descended to the corridors below. Each entered their own locker room, with both having certain thoughts, running through their heads.

How am I going to get past five of his Pokémon?

I'm almost one step closer to Giovanni, then getting back to my old life, and finally, Serena.

---

Up in the stands, sat a trainer with purple hair. He wore a black and blue jacket, along with a black shirt, underneath, and grey sweatpants. He stood and watched, as the two trainers reappeared on the battlefield.

"I see that you're doing some scouting for tomorrow's battle."

The boy snapped out of his stare, to notice the Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia, sitting next to him. "Yeah. I haven't seen a competitor, like Aaron or Sakaki, in a long time. I want to beat them," he said as he returned his gaze to the field below.

"Always the serious one, Paul. I see." Cynthia responded with a grin on her face.

"I don't see this tournament, as anything more than a stepping stone," he responded flatly. "Another chance for my Pokémon to get stronger, and then, I will finally be able to take you down and claim the title of Champion."

Cynthia's grin slowly turned to a frown as she looked over Paul. "I haven't seen you like this, in a while. Not since your battle at the Lily of the Valley Conference with Ash."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Paul scoffed.

"You will never admit it, but Ash was the best thing that ever happened to you," Cynthia explained. "When he died, I think it took away some of your drive. He was always your benchmark, after your defeat. Now with him gone, you converted back to your old ways. I heard you and Dawn broke up after the incident. I think she saw it too."

"The only thing Ash's death did to me was put me on the right path again," Paul said without emotion. "I realized I couldn't have my benchmark be some lousy trainer like him. My sights needed to be set on the champions, if I want true power."

Cynthia smiled and nodded. She knew how much Paul was still hurting from what happened. She decided to stop interfering and let it go. "Well, I'm sorry to hear you say that, but I hope you do well tomorrow. After all, you were my choice to win this tournament. You and Tobias." With that said, she got up from beside Paul and made her way back to the box, with the rest of the champions.

Paul looked back down at the battlefield. He felt a fire, within him, which he hadn't felt since the Lily of the Valley Conference. I want to beat this guy, so badly!