Kanto - Viridian City

After getting their Pokemon checked and cleared Red decided to stick with Ash for the day, it did not look like anyone noticed him and he trusted Nurse Joy to not tell anyone either. They ran into Misty who was training in one of the many fields available with her Pokemon. It seems aside from Staryu, Starmie, Goldeen and Cloyster she had caught two Poliwags. It was a good idea all things considered they could evolve into one each of the two different types, either a Politoad or a Poliwrath. She would have both the water and fighting type Pokemon in her team and from the moves Ash saw they were training with they would be strong. Red teases him when he noticed Ash was watching Misty, not wanting to back down Ash teased him back on how Blue treats him like husband getting a pout from Red saying they were just friends.

Ash, "I don't do any of the things Blue did or rather does for you for my friends."

Red looked away making Ash sigh, "Look I don't care okay, I don't care who you fall in love with, it could be Blue, it could be Daisy, it could even be a Pokemon for all I know. All I care about is that they must make you happy. Or I swear to all that's sane and living I'll go stab happy on them if they break your heart. If you are not interested in love, that's fine too, I'm not so interested either but if you do plan to have a relationship, have it with someone who cherishes you."

Red ruffled Ash's hair getting grumbles about why was it his hair that gets targeted, "Since when did you become so mature? You are giving me advice in love now. You are not interested in love?"

Ash jut his tongue out, "Nope! Asexual and proud of it. I'm happy with you guys, my family and my Pokemon."

Red laughed, "I'm flattered."

Ash, "I'm going to train for the contest. It's in three days. Battling with you gave me some awesome ideas for combinations."

Red, "Mind if I watched?"

Ash shook his head, "I don't mind, in fact if you could give me pointers and spot out the problems for me."

Red, "Deal!"

Ash called all his Pokemon, he had decided Pikachu and Lucario would be the first ones to take part in the contest. Pikachu would perform in the appeal round while Lucario would take part in the battles. It was a very interesting combination Red would admit and during the training, he would advise Ash on how to properly execute volt tackle. Red's Pikachu enjoyed advising the younger Pikachu and following them Pidgeot showing Fearrow how to execute Hyperbeam, Squirtle had taken to playing with Feebas. The little one was still too young as he was born just a month ago. Another move Pikachu had mastered was Brick break which coupled with pound was pretty powerful and devastating combination. Primeape had taken Mankey aside and was teaching him how to use thunder punch and drain punch.

They trained really hard for two whole days and on the third day before the competition Ash treated them to a very well deserved massage and treatment that had the Pokemon purring in his arms. The day of the Contest arrived and Red joined the crowd under a disguise with Misty sitting next to him to cover for him. She even pretended to be his excited little sister that made some of the crazier fans agree the guy was not Red. Misty snickered under her breath the whole time making Red pinch her ear telling her to behave. Daisy, Blue, Gary who had won his Boulder badge, Delia and Rose sat behind them, they had come to cheer Ash on his first contest and even had got a dress shirt and pants made for him.

The host entered the stage, "Welcome everyone, I'm your host for today Lucy, we are about to start the Viridian City contest and therefore kick start the 20th contest season for Kanto."

Lucy, "First of we have our judges, Mr Contesta."

Mr Contesta, "Hello everyone!"

Lucy, "Next is Mr Sukizo."

Mr Sukizo, "How delightful!"

Lucy, "Next we have our very own Nurse Joy."

Nurse Joy, "I look forward to the performance!"

Lucy, "Now then, shall we begin?"

Lucy grinned at the cheers she received from the audience, "Let's call our first contestant, Ash Ketchum from Pallet town!"

Ash ran into the stage in his white dress shirt, dark blue knee long coat and dark blue pants, convincing Pikachu to enter the pokeball was a little difficult but he managed to convince the electric type with more massages and ketchup later. Pikachu had agreed to it, only after getting a promise he would be inside for a few seconds only. Ash had returned Pikachu just before running out to the stage.

Ash, "Pikachu time to shine!"

Pikachu burst out of his pokeball in dozens of thunder bolts. They had the idea of using the iconic attack as an entrance move to introduce Pikachu. Pikachu had to work a little bit more in making it brighter and flashier but after a few hours had succeeded. The audience were awed by the power they could feel coming from the adorable mouse Pokemon.

Ash, "Alright Pikachu, Pound and Brick break combo."

Pikachu gave a smirk before combining both attacks and hitting the ground making it raise on the sides as a six point circle.

Ash, "Now electro web!"

Pikachu jumped up and shot an electro web that was being held up by the six jutted points, Pikachu started to laugh and jump around the web getting delightful coos and shrieks from the audience.

Ash, "Now, Swift follow up agility."

Pikachu shot the attack towards the sky making it go higher before using agility to make it seem like he was using the stars to climb up. He had to train up a bit in making them bigger but he managed. Pikachu reached the top star before he gave an excited cry and jumped down on the net as if he was diving. Pikachu bounced off the net before landing on Ash's head making a tada pose as the two of them were covered in sparkles of electricity. The audience roared in applause and cheers making Pikachu and Ash grin at each other.

Ash, "Hear that buddy? All that cheering, that's for you!"

Pikachu made a content sound before nuzzling Ash's cheek getting coos from some of the audience.

Lucy, "My what an electrifying start! Let's hear what the judges have to say!"

Contesta, "That was simply splendid! They executed Pikachu's moves without any problems and show cased them beautifully."

Sukizo, "Simply remarkable!"

Nurse Joy, "Not only did they perform well but the bond between them is very deep as everyone can see. Are you sure you have only known each other for a week?"

Lucy, "And Ash makes a total score of 29.5! Not a bad start to this contest season!"

Ash went back to the lobby as he decided to watch other 30 or so contestants take part in the contest. Two of the contestants made him cringe when they were demanding moves and attacks their Pokemon were clearly unable to perform. He felt bad for the Pokemon, as they didn't look too well either, he decided to keep an eye open for them. Soon the four finalist were chosen, Ash got the third slot among the four making him hug Pikachu and tell him they advanced so far because of him. The electric type looked proud of himself and decided to get better and stronger. Plus Pikachu would admit getting so many praises did a wonder boost to his self esteem and confidence in himself. He had felt a little down when Red's Pikachu had beaten him in one minute flat, this helped him regain his confidence back.

Lucy, "Alright everyone now is the second part of the contest, the battles where you fight with style and grace. Let's give it up for our first battle, Ash vs Tea!"

The crowd cheered as the two competitors walked to the stage and took their places.

Lucy, "The battle last for five minutes only so make sure you make it count. And remember your victory also depends on your points so best of luck."

Ash, "Let's go Lucario!"

Lucario burst out of his Cherish ball in a bright show of blue aura getting wows from the audience.

Tea frowned but chose her Pokemon, "Let's go Butterfree!"

Lucy, "Let the battle begin!"

Tea, "Butterfly silver wing!"

Ash, "Aura sight and close combat! Like we practiced!"

Lucario seemed as if he was dancing through the attacks that Butterfree used making the opponent loose her points.

Tea, "Butterfree psybeam!"

Ash, "Lucario, Reflect!"

Lucario created a very interesting shaped reflect almost looked like a curved lens that reflected Butterfree's attack back at her.

Ash, "Force palm!"

Tea, "Butterfree move quick!"

Unfortunately Butterfree was still confused because of being hit by her own attack was hit hard by the Force Palm which made her fly out of the battle field and land unconscious.

Lucy saw that Butterfree was not moving, "Butterfree has been knocked out, Lucario wins."

Tea returned Butterfree, "That was an amazing battle Ash!"

Ash smiled, "Thank you!"

Ash hugged Lucario before moving to the lobby, "We did it buddy! That was amazing. You were amazing!"

Lucario, -All thanks to your training!-

Ash grinned before turning to watch the other battle wondering who he will face for the ribbon. The other match were between two girls and a Bellossom and a Vileplume. It was a pretty intense and close match between the two evolution lines. Bellossom won the match because her points were more than Vileplume's.

Lucy, "Everyone give it up for our two final contestants, Celine and Ash, who will now be battling for the ribbon."

Celine, "Let's go Bellossom!"

Ash, "Show the world who's boss Lucario!"

Lucy, "Let the battle begin!"

Celine, "Bellossom sleep powder!"

Ash, "Lucario blow it back with vacuum wave!"

Lucario's vacuum wave blew the sleeping powder back to Bellossom who felt a little sleepy.

Celine, "Bellossom!"

Ash, "Force palm!"

Lucario hit the the plant type with the attack but Bellossom did not go down. Instead it woke her from the affect of sleeping powder and got back up ready to fight again.

Celine sighed in relief, "You are tough kid! I will give you that, Bellossom grassy terrain followed by solar beam!"

Aah grinned, "Lucario, Laser focus and Dragon Pulse."

The two attacks from the two Pokemon crashed into each other not giving an inch and lasted for a whole minute before it blew up and created a dust screen.

Ash, "Don't let up, Aura sight and close combat!"

Lucario jumped in and started to fight with Bellossom who managed to keep up with Lucario. Bellossom however was pushed back on her knees by Lucario but she still got up unwilling to give up after coming so far in the contest.

Celine, "Bellossom laser leaf!"

Ash, "Aura sight followed by force palm!"

Celine, "Observe and dodge the force palm!"

Lucario dodged the attack and went for a force palm only for Bellossom to dodge attacks the last minute. However before they could go on the timer rang signaling the end.

Lucy, "And there you have it folks! The end of the contest. Now let's see who won."

The counter showed Ash and Lucario as the winners of the contest. Ash stared at the counter in shock, he could not believe it, he won. He snapped out of it when Lucario hugged him and Lucy announced the winner.

Lucy, "There you have it folks! The winner! Ash Ketchum and Lucario wins the ribbon!"

Ash hugged Lucario, "We won! We won! We won Luc we won!"

Lucario grinned, -Yes, we did!-

Pikachu ran towards them, "Pika pika pi pikachu!"

Ash bent down and scooped Pikachu up, "Pikachu! We won buddy we won!"

Ash was handed the ribbon by Mr Contesta and Mr Sukizo gave Ash a ribbon case and informed him, he only needed four more ribbons before he could enter the Grand Festival. Ash grinned and showed the ribbon to the camera with Pikachu on his left shoulder and Lucario standing on his right side. They posed for a picture as they grinned before leaving and joining their family.

Delia hugged him, "You were amazing, Ash! I loved every minute of it!"

Blue, "Congratulations kid!"

Gary, "Both of us got our first wins!"

Ash brightened, "You got your Boulder badge? Congratulations Gary!"

Red nodded, "You used the moves really well."

Red's Pikachu was complimenting Ash's Pikachu who was blushing embarrassed by the praise.

Misty, "We should celebrate!"

Daisy, "I agree! I booked a restaurant for dinner for all of us!"

Rose, "That's a great idea, let's go!"

Ash grinned as he followed his family to the restaurant Daisy had booked. They were welcomed to the restaurant with much enthusiasm, turns out they watched the live broadcast on TV. The Pokemon had their own table specially kept aside for them and they enjoyed their dinner. Ash and the others relaxed and enjoyed the celebratory dinner over which Gary told them about his own adventures and how the egg had hatched into a Dratini of all Pokemon. Ash congratulated Gary on having a new family member.