Ash's POV:

Pikachu and I raced to the stadium with him narrowly winning by a Volt Tackle.
"PIKACHU! Use Electroball now buddy", I screamed at him. He just stared at me wide eyed and shot an Electroball into the air. I was shocked.
"Buddy, now you can use Volt Tackle and Electroball simultaneously. Isn't that awesome?", I asked him totally pumped up as the attack will be handy when I want him to dodge an incoming attack or perform a counter.
"PI PIKACHU!! ", he replied grinning and showed me a victory sign. Clemont, Serena and Bonnie joined us soon.

"You.... must..... stop..... sprinting this fast.... Ash", Clemont panted. Bonnie and Serena were in no better states. Then I saw Sawyer giving a pep talk to his Sceptile.

"HEY SAWYER!!", I shouted to gain his attention. He turned and saw me, then flashed me a grin.

"Hey Ash! You ready for our battle?You better be because I'm gonna give you the battle of your life!!",he informed me.

"I want to see the best of your strength today, Sawyer. As I always say, the stronger the opponent, the better the battle", I replied winking.
Sawyer smiled, shook my hand and left to the arena.

"Ash, all the best for today's battle. I know you'll do your best. ",Serena wished me and kissed my cheek.
I felt my cheeks heat up but kept my cool and just gave her a smile.

"Come on Serena. Let's get the seats closest first ", Bonnie said pulling Serena and Clemont towards the spectators' zone.

"Give it your best, Ash!", Clemont wished me.

"NE NENENE! ", Dedenne gave its wishes. As I walked towards my side of entrance, a security guard attached a microphone to my collar.

"You are going into a soundproof zone Mr. Ketchum. This is an initiative taken by the officials to help participants concentrate on the battle rather than the audience. This microphone will help the audience hear yours and Sawyer's voice. ",he told me. I thanked him and went face to face with my opponent and flashed him a confident grin.

Serena's POV :

We were lucky enough to get us seats in the first row. Ash was ready for the battle. I knew it.

"Good morning lovely people and of course, the wonderful Pokemon outside their Pokeballs. Due to health problems of our usual MC, I, your very own Nurse Joy will he acting as today's MC. The 2 semifinalists battling today have shown us true strength and love for their Pokemon. Without wasting another second, give it up for ASH AND SAWYER!!! ", Nurse Joy yelled on the microphone and this earned a huge thunder of applause for them.

"Each trainer can use six Pokemon and once 3 of a trainer's Pokemon are unable to battle, sides will be switched. Substitutions are allowed. Let the battle COMMENCE!", the referee announced.

"Hawlucha, I choose you! ", Ash threw Hawlucha's Pokeball. Hawlucha came grandly with the dress he showed me the other day - perfect for the Forest Guardian.

"Lucha! Hawlucha! Hawlu! ", Hawlucha said flexing his muscles.

But Sawyer smirked and threw a Pokeball.

"Slaking, let's go! "

"Hawlucha, start off with Karate Chop! ", Ash ordered and Hawlucha gave it all. But Slaking was least bothered and was unfazed by the attack.

"What?! Hawlucha, now use High Jump Kick! ", Ash gave the second attack. But it had the same result .

"Combat moves have no effect on Slaking, Ash. I planned it all out", Sawyer explaining smirking. But Ash gave a bigger grin.

"Hawlucha, run as fast as you can towards Slaking! "

"Lucha! Hawlucha! ", Hawlucha said nodding and ran towards Slaking.

"Now jump OVER Slaking! , Ash ordered still smirking. Sawyer was shocked and confused.

"Now jump high, turn around and use Flying Press! ", Ash ordered and this caught Sawyer off guard. Slaking took the attack before he could react.

"Slaking is unable to continue! Hawlucha is the WINNER! ", the referee announced.

"LUCHA! HAWLU! HAWLUCHA!", Hawlucha roared in his signature victory pose.

"Amazing technique, Ash! That totally caught me off guard. That won't happen again. Slaking return! I was overconfident my friend. I won't let your sacrifice kick the bucket.
Clawitzer, let's go!"

"Hawlucha return! Thanks a lot buddy, take a good rest. I will call you back when I need you.
Talonflame, I choose you! "

"Clawitzer, use Crab Hammer!"

"Soar high and counter with Flame Charge !"

" Damn it, Clawitzer use Aqua Jet! "

"Use the flames for speed and now use Steel Wing and Corkscrew! "
Talonflame turned using Steel wing and this propelled him through the Aqua Jet and he made contact with Clawitzer who was stunned for a split second.

"Use Flame Charge now, bud"

"Dodge it!!" Clawitzer tried but it made some contact. Talonflame's speed dealt a large amount of damage.

"Now finish it off with Steel Wing!"

"Not so fast, Ash. When Talonflame comes close, use Aqua Jet!"

"Talonflame, use Corkscrew to haul Clawitzer in the air and once you both come down, combine Flame Charge and Tornado!". After that command, Talonflame picked up Clawitzer with Steel Wing and when both of them were in the air, he began to use Flame Charge in circles around Clawitzer who was taking heavy damage due to lack of air and the intense heat.

"Clawitzer, Heal Pulse!". The combination of the attacks resulted in an explosion and when the smoke cleared, Clawitzer was lying down with swirls in his eyes.

" TALON......FLAME!", Talonflame screeched and gave a victory close similar to that of Hawlucha's.

"Talonflame return! I wanna save you for last bud! Take a good rest till then!"

"You fought hard Clawitzer. Take a good deserving rest"

"Pikachu, you're up next buddy!"

"Pikapi Pika PIKACHU!!", roared Pikachu as he went into the battlefield.

"Aegislash, I need your assistance."

"Pikachu, start off with Thunderbolt!"

"Use King's Shield Aegislash". Not only did the attack nullify the thunderbolt, but it also harmed Pikachu a bit.

" Aegislash, use Fury Cutter to cut all the trees down. We can't let Pikachu run away." Aegislash brought down all trees within a minute and what made victory difficult for Ash was that Pikachu couldn't move quickly in the debris.

" Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"

"King's Shield Aegislash",Sawyer commanded. Ash was troubled but suddenly his face broke into a smirk.

"Pikachu, Volt Tackle!"

"King's Shield"

" Now use Iron Tail on the ground and hit a block of wood on Aegislash's shield." Sawyer's expression was PRICELESS.

"Finish it off with Thunderbolt!"
Aegislash took the attack head on and immediately collapsed.

"Aegislash is unable to continue. Pikachu wins!", the referee announced.

"PI PIKACHU!", Pikachu screamed in delight but his ears soon drooped due to exhaustion.

"Pikachu return! Great job bud."

"Salamence it's up to you buddy. Make me proud."

"Noivern, I choose you!"

"NOIVERN!!!!!",Noivern came out and let out a loose boomburst.

" Salamence use Fire Fang!"

"Noivern counter that with Boomburst!". That cancelled Fire Fang as Salamence stopped halfway in its tracks.

"Use Dragon Claw, Salamence"

"Counter that with yours buddy!"

Again the two Dragon Claws cancelled each other.

"Use Headbutt"

"Counter with Acrobatics"
This attack dealt some damage to Salamence and Ash didn't waste a single second.

"Use Boomburst and follow it a punch of Supersonic!"
By the time Salamence regained its balance, it was met with twin strikes from Noivern.

"Salamence is unable to continue. Noivern is the winner!"

"NOI NOI NOIVERN!!!!", Noivern screeched happily and immediately flew to Ash who began petting him.

"Take some rest buddy! I wanna give all my Pokemon a chance. If I need your help, I will call you again"

"(Hufff)Slurpuff, I need your assistance"

"Goodra, I choose you"

"Slurpuff, give it all you've got ! Electroball and follow it with Flamethrower!"

"Goodra, use Dragon Pulse !"
But the Electroball slipped through and hit Goodra head on.

"Quick Goodra, use Bide!"

"Now Slurpuff the same combo followed by Fairy Wind!"

"Keep it up Goodra. I know you can do it buddy!!"Goodra only had an ounce of energy left now. Ash smirked and said,
"Now use all that energy in Rain Dance!". Immediately Goodra was as good as new. Slurpuff was tired and the water made its cotton skin heavy due to which its motion was now restricted.

"Finish it off with Outrage, Goodra!"

"GOO... GOODRA!!"
Slurpuff was hit straight on the head and passed out cold! Though Dragon Type moves were ineffective against Fairy types, Ash had found out that when Goodra is charged by his Rain Dance and Bide in any particular order, he nullifies all weaknesses given that he has enough strength remaining.

"Slurpuff is unable to battle. Goodra is the winner!"

"GOODRA GOODRA!!!", the friendly dragon celebrated.

"I forfeit!!!", Sawyer conceded defeat openly

"WHAT?", Ash asked filled with shock and rage.

"Sawyer, look. I know how you feel. But you can't give up. Last time in the Unova league, nearly the same thing happened to me. I was down to Pikachu but my opponent had 4 Pokemon left. I lost the battle, but I brought him down to his last. Pokemon and may have won if his Riolu had not evolved. When I can do that with a Pikachu, who can say you can't to the same with Sceptile? That too with a Sceptile that can Mega evolve? You promised me a battle I will never forget. I won't leave this field without facing your Sceptile, Sawyer. If not for me, do it for him. You can't let his efforts go to waste .", Ash gave his mini speech and sat down cross legged.

Sawyer thought for a moment, put his head down in shame but then smiled at Ash and said, " Let's do it Ash! Sceptile, let's go!"

To be continued....