The crowd was silent seeing the explosion, and when the smoke cleared the only thing there was Ivysaur with spirals in its eyes.

The announcer was the first to snap out of his trance, "And the winner is Ash, what a mesmerizing battle I didn't dare to even blink, with Squirtle evolving in the battle these trainers certainly saved the best for last."

Over by a different room if you paid attention you could hear the muffled sounds of a boy screaming in frustration.

"And with this battle, the contenders for the Top 8 have been decided, let's give a round of applause for our competitors and get ready for tomorrow's battles, let's see if these trainers can keep it up."

The audience started cheering as Ash walked off when he got down the stairs he saw Gary standing there.

"So you want to explain?"

"No," Ash said blankly, then continued to walk off surprising Gary.

A few hours later all of the competitors for the top 8 were sitting at a table, along with Samurai and AJ since this was the table that they just joined, it was Ash who joined first, then Misty and Yellow, Ritchie, then Brock, then Green and Gary, finally Otoshi.

They were having an intense conversation, when Samurai and AJ mentioned that Jeanette and them exchanged numbers, making Brock lose his mind, going back and forth as AJ looked like he had the moral victory.

Ash and Otoshi did not care and were barely half listening, "I can't believe this is the conversation I have to listen to, this is my evening." Ash said, taking a sip from his drink.

The 3 boys looked offended and Brock spoke up, "How can you say that, haven't you ever been in love?!"

"Yes," Ash said immediately, then taking a casual sip of his drink.

Everyone was shocked, especially by how fast and casualty he said it, "Do you want to tell us?"

"Sure but this is your one random piece of lore from my past," Ash said, going into his bag pulling out a laminated picture and showing it to the table.

Immediately all the boys, except Gary, almost lost their eyes, even Otoshi had a hard time moving his eyes away.

Green looked over at the picture, "Oh it's Daisy, why do you have this picture?"

Brock cut in, "Better question who this is and can you let me meet her!"

"Well for one this is Daisy, Gary's sister," Ash said, pointing his thumb over at Gary who was hiding in a corner.

"As for why I have it, back in the day me and Gary collected Pokemon cards, I had a rare G-max Slowbro, Gary wanted it, so he gave me this picture, I was 5, and I got it laminated."

"I can't believe you still have that picture, I thought you got rid of that crush on her, she is 10 years older than us," Gary said.

"I never said that, I liked her and still do, will I pursue something, probably not, will I reject it if it does happen, also probably not," Ash said.

"Why are we friends?" Gary said into his hands.

"Because you were insufferable before we became friends, I mean seriously I am surprised I didn't break your jaw with how annoying you were," Ash said with a mocking smile.

Green also smiled, "Oh you mean mister, I the great GARY OAK will become the strongest even above Gramps!" She said, doing a pose.

"No like, Ash Ketchum, you may be my rival for now but one day I will leave you so far behind that the dust in your clothes will be dreaming of me." Ash also mocked, "Or, if you get on the ground and beg I may consider being your friend."

"I already stopped doing that, I was a kid, leave me alone!" Gary tried to defend himself.

"Yeah, cuz I dropped-kicked you then told you if you didn't stop I would tell everyone about the Picnic incident."

Immediately he said, "We swore to never speak about that."

"You swore, I said I would keep it a secret as long as it's convenient for me," Ash said.

"Wait what is the Picnic incident?" Green asked, "I grew up with you two, and never have I heard either of you say that."

"Well, you remember that one year you refused to go to camp with us, it happened there," Ash said.

"That's enough out of you," Gary said, putting his hand over Ash's face, "Let's change the topic."

Everyone looking at the two lightly chuckled and they continued and all had dinner.

By the end everyone went off to their room, Ash went into his room and laid on the bed, he looked at his bag where Pikachu had been sleeping for the whole day, woke up to eat snacks then went back to bed.

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

He looked at the picture he had taken and gave a quick look to see what the battles would be

Ash vs Misty

Yellow vs Green

Otoshi vs Brock

Gary Vs Ritchie

Ash saw the battles and sighed, the battles would be 3 on 3 from this point forward, he had an idea of how the battles would turn out, but that all depended on how much plot armor BS everyone had.

Obviously, Gary should destroy Ritchie, but Ash in the Indigo league should have beaten Ritchie, and he still didn't know what Misty did in her training, but he had an idea, and that made the corner of his mouth slightly raise.

The next day

Ash woke up to the feeling of Pikachu's stomach on his face, he nearly suffocated with the lazy mouse, he just picked him up by the scruff and put him on the bed then put some food next to him for when he woke up.

Ash meanwhile walked out of the room to go eat breakfast and look around, his friends were still sleeping and the deck was mostly empty as they continued sailing, Ash did his usual thing, wake up in the morning and then secretly release Poliwhirl to swim by the boat, to see if he evolved, like usual nothing happened so he returned him and went to feed everyone.

A few hours later Brock showed up and also sat down with him. He was tired and took coffee, they didn't talk much, they just gave each other a nod, and some small talk.

Eventually, the room was filled and the announcer finally went back on stage to announce the next rounds, "Hello everyone thank you for bearing with me, today we have the top 8 battling for a spot in the Top 4, you know them so I'll just announce the changes, firstly battles will be 3 on 3 from now on, secondly the battles will take place on a special field, competitors are no longer restricted on what Pokemon they can use."

"The battles will commence shortly so until then let's see the first battle"

The screen randomized a match and it eventually landed on

Gary Vs Ritchie

The room was excited, ready to see the first battle, and soon Gary and Ritchie walked up on opposite sides.

The announcer got everyone's attention, "Let's start the first battle, on this side we have Gary Oak, and on the other we have Ritchie, a battle between the Prodigy and the rookie. Let's let this exciting match begin!"

Gary released Wartortle and Ritchie released Happy the Butterfree.

"Happy Sleep powder," Ritchie commanded, Happy flew over the field throwing down a fine powder.

"Wartortle, wash it away with Water Pulse." a ball of water shot from the turtle that gets sent to the center and pops making a slight drizzle washing away the Powder.

"Now Bite," Wartortle ran forward and jumped towards the Butterfree that was flying above him, sending a bite into the Butterfly's wing.

"Happy use confusion," Happy's eyes glowed and Wartortle felt a pull picking him up and throwing him aside.

"Wartortle water gun," Wartortle shot a beam of water that hit Butterfree making it stager but stayed up.

"Happy stay strong and silver wind!" Happy flapped its wings creating silver crescents of energy shooting towards the turtle.

"Wartortle Rapid spin," Wartortle went back into his shell and started spinning quickly creating a mini whirlwind dispelling the wind.

"Now body slam," Wartortle launched himself still in his shell crashing into Butterfree.

"Happy No, get away with Bug Buzz," Butterfree Sent some vibrations stunning Wartortle for a second, enough to move away.

"No you don't, snap out of it and finish this with Hydro Pump," Wartortle slapped himself and shot a big stream of water blasting the bug Pokemon and launching him into the ground.

Ritchie returned Happy then looked over at Sparky, "What do you say, buddy, you want to have a turn," Sparky nodded enthusiastically and ran forward getting ready.

Wartortle was starting to feel the fatigue but was still ready to go.

"Sparky quick attack!" Sparky ran forward at high speeds.

"Withdraw," Wartortle hid in his shell avoiding the damage.

"Now water gun." Wartortle popped his head out shooting pressurized water into the electric mouse's face.

"Electro ball,"

"Aqua Tail,"

Both Pokemon dashed forward and clashed the two moves, but the Electro ball was slightly more powerful, overpowering Wartortle, but they both still took damage.

Wartortle was barely standing but refused to stay down.

"Aqua Ring then Withdraw." Wartortle shot out some water that gave him some slight healing and got ready to retreat.

"No, you don't, it's my turn, Sparky Thunderbolt!" Sparky shot out electricity that connected with the turtle, getting boosted by the water already around the turtle, by the time it was finished Wartortle was done.

Gary returned Wartortle and pulled out another Pokeball, "Alright this is your first battle let's do this Growlithe," Gary released a small orange dog who was ready and wagging its tail.

"Sparky another Thunderbolt!"

"Not this time Roar,"

A yellow stream of electricity was launched aimed at Growlithe, but Growlithe released a powerful Roar that disrupted the electricity.

"Ember,"

"Dodge with Quick Attack."

Growlithe shot a barrage of small flames, but Sparky started dashing and jumping using his speed to dodge and get close.

"Double Slap"

"Now Crunch"

Sparky aimed to slap Growlithe, but Growlithe bit down on Sparky's tail.

"Sparky Flash to escape," Sparky released a bright light blinding Growlithe for a second enough to make distance.

"Flamethrower," Growlithe shot out a big stream of fire aimed at Sparky, directly engulfing him.

"Don't let him recover fire fang," Growlithe used the remaining fire to cover his teeth and ran to give one final bite to Sparky.

And that was lights out for the electric mouse.

"Sparky no," Ritchie said returning his electric muse, "Don't get too confident I still have one Pokemon left, Zippo" The small fire lizard hit the field and stood proud.

"Ember"

"Ember"

The 2 fire types started shooting flames each colliding with each other creating small explosions on each one, but Growlithe also started running forward.

"Zippo, smokescreen." The fire lizard shot black smoke into the ground, when Growlithe hit where Zippo was there was nothing there, then out from behind he got hit by a scratch.

"Growlithe Burn up!" Growlithe's body begins glowing bright and a stream of fire erupts from the small dog, Zippo gets caught in the explosion of fire and most of the smoke gets dispersed, but after the fire disperses, Growlithe's fur was less bright since he lost his fire typing, making him what is referred to as type ??? or Typeless.

"Zippo get close and Bite!" Zippo runs forward to bite the tried dog which connects and gets the Sp. Defense drops, but it activates Growlithe's ability which is Justified, making Growlithe erupt in a yellow light as he stands taller and gets ready to continue.

Gary smiles, "Alright then let's finish this Flare Blitz, "Growlithe's body becomes surrounded in light orange flames and it shoots like a missile at the opponent, slamming into it. Then when he gets to the other side the fire is left behind.

Zippo tried to stay up but he staggered and then fell.

The announcer strapped in, "What an exciting match with such a great display of firepower, truly these competitors came to one-up themselves, the winner and first trainer in the top 4 is Gary Oak!"