Ash was walking past the main parts of the festival and about to go over to the waiting room for his upcoming battle against Cross, he had a more or less plan already.

Along the way, he felt Pikachu pull on his hair and point at a snack stand, and it didn't take much to notice Jesse, James, and Meowth giving out snacks as regular old snack vendors.

Ash raised his eyebrow but decided not to do anything about it, after all, they looked like they were extremely busy with that, and besides, there were all kinds of strong trainers here if they tried something they would not get far.

He did go up and buy a box of chocolate and gave it to Pikachu, and it even seemed like they didn't even notice it was him as he paid for it and walked off.

As Ash let Pikachu start eating he thought about something but decided not to as he walked over to the waiting room where immediately coming out he saw Green jumping with Mina clapping for her with the same tired expression.

On the other side, he saw Gary who looked at him and shrugged, "She's been like this since she came back,"

Green smiled, "I can't help it, I managed to win and apparently I had a thing for Gengar to Mega evolve,"

Gary shrugged and pulled out a brown mega stone with grey inside of it, "I still don't know what this one is supposed to be for, what about you Ash you find out what yours is?"

"It was for Abra when she finally evolves," Ash said, "Anyway I guess I should get ready, I am the last fight for today,"

"Phh, yeah good luck and try not to lose, it would be awkward if you lose now," Gary said putting on a smirk.

Ash waved his hand as he walked passed them, "Yeah yeah, save the banter for after, besides, I don't plan on losing,"

—

"It is time for the final battle of the top 8 to begin!" the Announcer said.

"On this side, we have someone else from all the way in Alola, let's give it up for Cross!"

"And on this side, we have the current youngest participant, it is Ash of Pallet Town!"

On the red side, Cross walked up with his arms crossed and on the other Ash came up as well, the crowd started cheering.

Ash gave a wave over to Cross, "Yo dude, how you been, it's been a while,"

"Yes it has, I may not remember our last battle but I promise you this time I'm not going to lose," Cross said

"We'll see about that, after all, I don't want to lose either," Ash smirked.

"Let's not waste any more time, you all know the rules both competitors may now begin!"

"Go, Mudsdale!"

"Nidoking let's go!"

On Cross' side stood a Mudsdale that exhaled heavily, and on Ash's was Nidoking crashing his arms together now that he would finally get to fight, he also had a life orb with him.

"Begin!"

Ash took the first move, "Nidoking [Double spikes](Toxic spikes + Stealth Rock)"

The back spikes on Nidoking's back started glowing as purple and brown spikes fell across the field and then disappeared.

Cross looked at them and frowned, "Of course you would, then I'll do the same [Stealth Rock],"

Mudsdale stomped its hives on the ground as spikes flew out and fell on Ash's side.

Ash smiled, "Alright then, in that case, Nidoking [Shadow Ball],"

Before this battle he changed Nidoking's Nature to Modest (+SpA, -Atk), so as Nidoking clapped his hands together a dark purple sphere was created and fired towards Mudsdale.

Mudsdale took the hit and didn't even look like it bothered it as Cross called out, "[Heavy Slam],"

Mudsdale ran forward and in a large leap flew above Nidoking ready to fall and use its entire 2028.3 lbs to slam into Nidoking.

But Ash raised his arm, "Nidoking quick [Protect]!"

Nidoking raised his arms and brought them together as a small shell appeared above him and when Mudsdale fell it crashed into him and the force cracked the ground under Nidoking's feet.

But that just meant Mudsdale could not run so Ash yelled out, "Use [Superpower] and throw it into the ground!"

As the shield disappeared Nidoking had to handle Mudsdale's extreme weight as he struggled he felt his muscles tighten as they then expanded and his arms were covered in a light blue Aura.

Then with this new strength, he took Mudsdale and threw it onto the ground onto the spikes, but he wasn't done as he grabbed him again and started to drag it across the spikes he left out before.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Cross clenched his teeth, "Mudsdale [High Horsepower] and get free!"

Mudsdale managed to squirm just a bit as its face was bright to the ground again, then as his face was down he delivered a kick directly to Nidoking's face making him drop Mudsdale.

Then Cross raised his arm again, "Now [Iron Head],"

As Mudsdale got to his feet his head started glowing silver and then he delivered a headbut to Nidoking's stomach.

But Nidoking stayed in place not falling back as then he grabbed onto Mudsdale, "Use Mudsdale to use [Rock Slide]."

Nidoking smiled as he then forced Mudsdale back on the ground and started to drag his face across the stone battlefield and debris along with the spikes before finally throwing him back.

"Now end this [Earth Power]!" Ash commanded as soon as he saw that Mudsdale was still up.

Nidoking stomped on the ground as below him a crack where golden light emerged and started rapidly approaching Mudsdale's location, and when they reached under him suddenly an explosion of golden light happened directly under him.

Mudsdale fell over with spirals in his eyes as Nidoking crashed his hands together and laughed.

Cross returned him to the Pokeball and brought out his next Pokemon, he took a breath clenching this Pokeball for a second before throwing it out, "Go, Incineroar!"

From the Pokeball a familiar red tiger came out and stopped on the ground, also getting a bit of chip and poisoned on the Spikes.

Cross didn't wait for a second, "Incineroar [Darkest Lariat]!"

Incineroar grinned as his fist glowed a dark purple as he ran forward and sent a punch into Nidoking's stomach, causing him to slide back a few feet but he was still up.

"If that's how you want it, Nidoking use [Venoshock]!" Ash commanded

Cross also yelled out "[Will O' Wisp]!"

From Incineroar's belt, 3 spirit flames came out and flew towards Nidoking who was charging up a shot in his mouth and they connected with him directly.

However, where people would expect the burn Nidoking looked unaffected as he then spit out multiple dark-collared balls of sludge that hit into Incineroar and doubled from the poison. It caused him to fall onto his back and eat the Figy Berry he had in his mouth.

Cross's eyes narrowed staring at Nidoking, "I see well in that case then we just need to change our strategy, [Knock Off]"

Incineroar got up from his prone position in a handstand and flipped to get himself back to his feet as he ran forward and slapped at Nidoking's Life orb knocking it off.

"Now [Fire Blast]!"

With Incineroar being so close he opened his mouth and shot a [Fire Blast] point blank at Nidoking's face making him take a few steps back and cover his face.

Ash smiled, "So you did improve that's good, I was worried you'd be stuck at how weak you were back then,"

Cross grinned, "Your not the only one who got stronger now let's end this, [Drain Punch]"

Ash smiled, "Well then let's go down swinging, [Sucker Punch]!"

Incineroar and Nidoking ran at each other and sent a red and black punch at each other repeatedly punching the other across the face, and with everything from before Nidoking fell over as Incineroar roared in the air.

Ash returned Nidoking as he pulled out his next Pokemon, still noticing Incineroar was taking the poison, "Alright then Beedrill let's go!"

From the Pokeball, a large shiny Beedrill came out and took some spike damage, but it made people in the audience marvel at its different color.

But Cross smiled, "Don't tell me you gave me the type advantage on purpose, Incineroar [Bulk Up] then [Power Trip]!"

Incineroar's muscles grew as then his fists got covered in darkness when suddenly he was stopped in place, when everyone looked around they saw strings made from Beedrill's webs.

Ash smiled, "You're right, you do have the advantage, so let's make things a little more fair," then he raised his sleeve revealing a Mega Bracelet, and Beedrill had a yellow stone.

Ash pressed it as both it and Beedrill started glowing, "Mega Evolve!"

Beedrill's body extended as she grew 2 new stingers and her exoskeleton started getting harder as well, as now Mega Beedrill flew there.

Cross clenched his teeth, he held his neckless for a moment before deciding not yet, "Incineroar break free with [Flame Charge]!"

Incineroar's body was covered in fire burning off the webs grabbing it then she shot forward aiming to tackle Beedrill.

"Beedrill dodge then [Poison Jab]!"

Beedrill moved so fast that an afterimage was created of her that Incineroar attacked, whereas she appeared behind and sent a stab into his back, boosted by her new ability Adaptability.

The thing was Beedrill was about as durable as a damp piece of paper, and more so in this form since it focuses on only office and nothing on defense.

So that just meant he had to take care of Incineroar fast, "Beedrill now [X-Scissor]!"

Cross raised his arm, "Quick use [Fire Fang]!"

Incineroar turned around with his fangs on fire and just as he was about to bite Beedrill she disappeared, then reappeared behind Incineroar again and sent a slash to his back.

"Now let's end this, [Cross Poison]!" Ash commanded.

Beedrill's stingers glowed purple as she appeared in front of Incineroar and with all 4 stingers sending Incineroar falling over, but before he did Incineroar stomped back and fell forward using a [Fire Fang] on Beedrill's wing before falling over unconscious.

Cross returned Incineroar as he looked at Beedrill, he pulled out his last Pokemon and looked at it as he clenched it, then threw it out releasing Lycanroc-Midnight.

Ash raised his arm first, "Beedrill use [Cross Poison]"

"Get back Lycanroc!"

Beedrill flew towards Lycanroc, although she was going slower than before due to the injured wing, but she still reached Lycanroc and sent a slash at him, before Lycanroc jumped back.

"[Swords Dance] then [Stone Edge]!" Cross command

As swords started to dance around Lycanroc's body, suddenly stones started rising as he stopped on the ground creating a large spie made of stone to pierce from under Beedrill.

Beedrill moved to the side and managed to dodge most of the damage but her arm was caught in it and she was stuck in the stone spike.

Then Cross reached into his pocket and pulled out a Z-crystal, but it wasn't the same one as before, Ash recognized this one as Lycanium Z.

"It's now or never, let's do this!" Cross put it in his x necklace and pressed it as the Z energy started overflowing around him and Lycanroc.

Cross began doing the movements as Lycanroc felt the energy entering him, he jumped onto the highest rock and hauled into the sky, the energy causing the ground around it to break, causing shards of rocks to get thrown into the air and fly upwards.

Splintered Stormshards

Then as Lycanroc stopped and looked at Beedrill the stones stopped and then pointed toward her, then Lycanroc and the stones started rushing toward Beedrill.

Lycanroc sent a slash before landing behind Beedrill as the stones also came in and collapsed on top of Beedrill.

The arena was covered in smoke as shards of rock were flying everywhere forcing Ash and Cross to cover their eyes, then when they finally looked back they saw the stones fall as they then saw Beedrill unconscious and going back to base.

Cross and Lycanroc made little cheer since they managed to take down a Mega, although Lycanroc took a bit of poison damage along with the damage from the slash.

Ash returned Beedrill and smiled before looking down, "What do you say, you wanna take this one?"

Of course, he was talking to Pikachu who nodded as his cheeks sparkled with electricity and ran onto the field.

As soon as Pikachu entered the field, Cross and Lycanroc frowned and got ready, after all, they knew firsthand what this Pikachu could do.

Cross pointed at Pikachu, "Lycanroc [Stomping Tantrum]!"

Lycanroc began stomping on the ground repeatedly before striking the ground hard with one of his feet, sending splinters of the ground flying toward Pikachu.

Ash and Pikachu smiled, "Let's do this bud, [Counter shield]"

Pikachu fell to one hand as he then started spinning around in channeling electricity then spun it back around through the attack dispersing it and sending a wave of electricity at Lycanroc.

Cross and the audience were amazed by the sudden move, it seemed like it was more fit to be in a contests than a battle, but no one could refute the results.

Cross shook his head then looked forward, "Lycanroc [Stone Edge] now!"

Lycanroc stomped his other foot on the ground as multiple stones started piercing through the ground and he started throwing them towards Pikachu.

Ash tipped his hat as he smiled, "[Agility] and get in close!"

Pikachu started running forward, his afterimages running past and under the incoming stones, jumping over under around, and anything else getting closer as Lycanroc just kept spamming [Stone Edge].

The audience was holding their breaths waiting to see what was going to happen, although they knew that Pikachus were meant to be weak for someone to have this level of confidence to send out a Pikachu there must be something.

When Pikachu got close Ash smiled, "Well it's been Fun Cross, but in the end, all good things have to come to an end," As Cross heard that his eyes widened,

Ash raised his voice, "We've been working on this, Pikachu use, [Volt Tackle]!!!"

Pikachu's entire body was covered in golden electricity as he used one of the stones from Lycanroc's attack as leverage before shooting forward like a missile directly at Lycanroc's chest.

The resulting impact created an explosion as electricity was pulsating on the very ground, from the smock Lycanroc's body was shot out and he slammed into the wall next to Cross, spirals in his eyes.

The audience stayed in stunned silence for a moment, and then the announcer finally spoke, "Lycanroc is unable to battle, which means Pikachu is the winner, and Ash moves on to the next round!"

Then the entire stadium started roaring with cheers as Pikachu jumped back on Ash's shoulder, Cross also returned Lycanroc and started walking up to Ash.

"Well I guess even now I couldn't beat you, but I'm surprised you didn't even use that Charizard,"

"Well I've been cooking something extra special with him, so I don't want anyone getting any ideas before I even use the big boy stuff,"

Cross shook his head, then he looked at Ash and held his hand out, "Well then, good luck, and hey don't lose immediately next round it would make me look worse."

Ash smiled and returned the handshake, "Don't worry, I don't plan on losing."