72 Kanto

Lunch was an interesting affair, as far as Lucario was concerned, a few people were a bit surprised by the shiny larger than normal Pidgeot. They kept looking at their table from time to time but luckily most were still interested in the next match so they didn't bother them much to Lucario's relief. Pidgeot gave him a coo indicating she would be fine as she was with Fearrow who had grown pretty large the last few months from eating well and flying around. He had taken his job as the flock leader in the journey, a few days after meeting Ash had decided on making him leader of all flying types he would catch, very seriously and taken to the diet and training Ash had made for him like a Golduck to water.

Fearrow, "Row!"

Lucario, -I'm fine, brother. People just get weird about Shiny Pokemon. Luckily everyone's focused on the tournament to bother us.-

Pikachu grumbled remembering how one trainer tried to take Pidgeot when she was still a Pidgeotto, "Pikaaa chu."

Primeape grunted saying they just had to become stronger, "Ape ape!"

Ash, "Spirit looks like he's enjoying his first tournament."

Ritchie grinned, "Yeah he is, I'm just a bit worried, he is going to force himself to keep on winning and hurt himself."

Misty, "Why don't you talk to him? Your semi finals don't start for half an hour at least so you have time talk to him about it."

Brock nodded, "It's best to clear these things up in the beginning."

Gou, "I think it's really sweet he is trying so hard to win and impress you."

Ritchie chuckled, "Yeah, it is sweet but I don't want him to hurt himself."

Ash fed Phantump who happily enjoyed the attention, "Be straight forward with him, I have noticed that in the long run most Pokemon prefer honest assessments and demands from their trainer."

Ritchie nodded before finishing his food and going to talk to his Pokemon who greeted him quire enthusiasticly. Ash chuckled as his eyes strayed to Zippo, how things had diverged, from the original. But he wouldn't honestly speaking, have it any other way, this made things even more interesting and reminded him, that it was his reality not an anime or game or manga or movie. Soon he had to go face the last challenger after wishing Ritchie best of luck and boy was that a surprise.

Referee, "The finals match will be between Fighting Type Specialist Bruno and Trainer Ash. Battlers please release your Pokemon."

Bruno, "It is good to finally meet you Ash."

Ash who was surprised to see him shook his head, "The pleasure is mine Mr Bruno."

Bruno laughed releasing his Hariyama and Machamp, "Just call me Bruno kid."

Ash did the same with Lucario and Primeape, "It'll be an honor to battle you."

Referee, "Begin!"

Bruno, "Hariyama close combat, Machamp bulk up bullet punch."

Ash, "Lucario sword dance, Primeape focus energy thunder punch."

The match started with both sides going on offence and attacking the other. During the time Ash was talking to Bruno Lucario had informed Primeape to go all out and not hold back as the opponent in front of them was one of the strongest fighters in Kanto. Primeape had become ecstatic and happily dropped any intention of holding back his true strength and went all out with his opponent. The four of them separated after a while of getting hits and landing hits on the opponent.

Ash but his lip, it would not be easy to win but he was going to give it his all, "Lucario aura cloak, close combat, Primeape helping hand fury swipes."

Bruno, "Machamp dynamic punch, mega kick, Hariyama force palm, belly drum."

Lucario covered himself in blue aura getting exclamations from the audience and the commentator saying it was a very interesting move. Primeape attacked followed by Lucario and the two engaged their opponents in a hand to hand battle that lasted for a few minutes longer than expected. Bruno had to give it to the kid, despite barely having half a year under his belt, Ash was doing decently, well a bit better than most beginners. He watched as the steel fighting type and fighting type fought against one of his original team members and the oldest member of his second team. His Pokemon were actually enjoying the battle if the excitement in their eyes were anything to go by.

Bruno, "Alright Hariyama seismic toss, Machamp low sweep vital throw."

Machamp caught Lucario and Hariyama caught Primeape before using the ordered moves on them. Lucario and Primeape fell to the fight ring and Lucario's cloak disappeared because of the broken concentration. The aura Pokemon shook his head to get rid of the sudden vertigo and confusion and Primeape had to give it to them. For a bunch of old Pokemon they were strong and experienced in fighting.

Ash, "Lucario! Primeape! Are you ok?"

Lucario, -We are fine. They are strong.... The strongest opponents we have faced so far.-

Ash nodded, "Lucario, calm mind bone rush, Primeape thunder and fire punch, give it all you got."

Bruno, "Yes, let's finish this, Machamp mega kick dynamic punch, Hariyama heavy slam."

The four Pokemon clashed against each other not giving an inch before they used all their strength to give one last attack. Lucario and Machamp attacked each other while Hariyama and Primeape clashed. When they separated both sides Pokemon had fallen down fainting because of exhaustion and damage. Machamp however stubbornly stayed up on his knee despite the exhaustion seen on his face.

Referee, "Lucario, Primeape and Hariyama are unable to battle. Machamp is the only one still standing so Bruno is the winner."

Ash looked at his Pokemon blankly before rushing to them, "Lucario, Primeape are you okay?"

Lucario got up rubbing his head, -I feel like I have been run over by the herd of Rapidash in Elder Oak's camp.-

Primeape shook his head, "Ape ape primeape."

Ash sighed in relief, "I'm glad you are okay."

Bruno held out his hand to Ash, "That was a good battle kid, you almost defeated me."

Ash grabbed the hand getting up, "Thank you for the battle. Even if we didn't win, we learned a lot from it. Next time we have a match however we'll defeat you."

Lucario nodded, -That's correct.-

Primeape pumped his fist up, "Ape ape."

Hariyama eye smiled and fist bumped his young rival, "Yama!"

Ash, "You know so you are the fourth person I lost a battle to."

Bruno raised an eyebrow, "Who are the other three?"

Ash grinned sheepishly, "My older brothers and childhood friend. So having someone new who is more experienced and also stronger than me to battle is actually very exciting."

Bruno laughed as he ruffled Ash's hair getting a squawk and a laugh, "Heh! I like you kid, you don't let your loss hold you down."

Ash nodded, "I was told, you have nothing to learn from a win but a lot to learn from a loss... Well it sounded more poetic when the Professor told us that but you know."

Bruno, "Professor Oak correct?", at Ash's nod he continued, "You have a good mentor kid."

Misty called them as she saw them exit the arena, "Ash, over here!"

Ash, "Hey guys, just let me heal my Pokemon first."

Gou, "That was a really cool battle Ash and against Bruno of the Elite Four."

Bruno smirked, "That's me, alright."

Ash gave his Pokemon to Nurse Joy next to Bruno before turning to the screens holding Phantump who had jumped into his arms the moment he could, "How is Ritchie doing?"

Horace, "He reached the final round but Primeape looks exhausted."

Jessilina, "It'll be a hard battle."

Jameson, "It is very impressive he has come so far."

Referee, "The final match will be between Bea from Galar and Ritchie from Kanto. Ready? Begin!"

Bea, "Grapploct bulk up octolock."

Ritchie, "Spirit be careful, thunder punch."

Ash was surprised once again, "Galar?"

Misty was ecstatic, "That's a water type isn't it?"

Bruno shook his head, "Grapploct is a fighting type although they can use water type moves."

Misty, "Oh, but they look really powerful."

Brock was blushing, "Yeah and Bea is cute."

Ash gave a laugh, "He's back."

Zubat came out to bite Brock, "Zu zu zu zubat."

Brock, "Gawkt!"

Horace giggled, "Your friends really are hilarious Gou."

Gou ^ω^, "I told you so."

Ash snorted at the comedy before turning to watch his friend battle. It was painfully one sided, was what Ash could say. Bea definitely had more experience than Ritchie did and wiped the floor with him the same way Bruno did to him. The two of them need to step up their game in training it seems. Next Grand Prix they were definitely gonna win, Ash made a promise to himself to try harder, there were many out there who were just as strong or if not stronger than the Champion himself.

Ritchie was worried in the screen, "Spirit try to escape quick."

Ash winced when he saw the octopus like Pokemon catch Spirit in a choke hold and squeeze him. It looked really painful and Spirit was not looking so good, but he wiggled around trying to get away and make space.

Ritchie, "Head butt."

Bea, "Seismic toss!"

Before Spirit could attack with head butt the Grapploct had thrown the monkey Pokemon with a very powerful toss knocking him out like a light. The Referee announced Bea and Grapploct the winners of the singles tournament. Then he announced that the award ceremony would begin in an hour and requested that all the winners and runner ups be present on stage.

Ritchie sighed as he came out to join them, "Hey guys, how did it go Ash? I got wiped by Bea."

Ash snorted, "Bruno beat me as well. Man looks like we need to step up our training a bit more."

Ritchie gave Ash a look, "Just don't push yourself too hard. You already work twice as much as other trainers do."

Ash, "You know, I have my reasons for it."

Ritchie nodded, "I know, I'm just saying, you better not hurt yourself. Are you okay?"

Ash pouted, "Of course, I won't hurt myself, Lucario would not let me be hurt anyway. I'll be okay, it'll take time before it sinks in but yeah I'll be okay."

Nurse Joy, "Ash Ketchum, your Pokemon are healthy and ready to go."

Ash, "Thanks Nurse Joy. Lucario, Primeape how are you feeling?"

Lucario, -Good as new.-

Primeape was a bit subdued, "Ape primeape."

Ash was quick to correct that, "Hey, hey, stop Primeape, none of that, you two were amazing you know. Bruno just had more experience and years under his belt. He's been training from before I even started my journey."

Primape looked at Ash and nodded before getting determined to become stronger, "Ape pri primeape."

While they were talking Nurse Joy returned Ritchie's Primeape, "Your Primeape is suffering from exhaustion, don't worry, it's nothing some good sleep and food can't fix. Aside from that he is as healthy as he can be."

Ritchie sighed in relief, "That's good, I was a bit worried."

Misty, "That Grapploct sure was strong."

Gou, "Are you planning on catching one?"

Misty hummed, "I'd have to go to Galar and no not yet."

Dewpider cooed, "Ewp!"

Misty smiled, "Right now I have my hands full."

Ash, "Come on guys, the reward ceremony is about to start."

Jessilina, "Coming!"

The group watched as Ash and Ritchie received their first runner up rewards and Bruno and Bea received their own awards assembly winners. They had received belts signifying their status as the winners of the Prix as well as a reward money. Ash thought the money was a decent reward, he received 15,000 pokedollars as a reward which was equivalent to winning five gym badges. He was not complaining, he could buy more stuff and food with it. They stuck around mingling with the other participants and enjoying the award ceremony party, before hitting the road and leaving for Celadon city.

Ash, "Alright guys, let's get going to Celadon."

Gou, "Yeah!"

Horace, "Let's go!"

Jessilina, "It's a few hours from here."

Jameson, "If we push it we should reach the Centre by late evening."

Misty grinned, "Great let's go!"

Brock, "Just in time too, we are almost out of stock."

Ritchie, "Race you all there."

Meowth, "Oi dats unfair. Git back 'ere!"

The group laughed as they chased after their red hair friend, Spirit and Meowth going towards Celadon city. The Pokemon chortled in amusement as they ran after their human partners. Lucario and Primeape running side by side behind Ash who was holding Phantump while Seviper was slithering next to Jessilina. Misty ran laughing holding Dewpider and the two Poliwhirls by her side while Gou and Horace were behind her. Brock and Jessilina laughed at the childish behavior but ran after them and after a few hours of running or rather jogging they saw the large entry gates of Celadon city.

[A. N.: Well this was the first time I wrote double battles. I hope both chapters turned out okay.

Ash faced another loss, which I think was a long time coming.]