Jhoto - Blackthorn City

Ash, "Wigglytuff use draining kiss."

Claire, "Take her down with aerial ace."

Altaria screeched loudly and did a loop and then attacked Wigglytuff who was waiting for her only to give her a big smooch. That had many in the audience flushing red but Wigglytuff was struggling to absorb energy as she was on the receiving end of a powerful attack. This was going to leave a mark on her but it would be totally worth it as she would have defeated a dragon type at Ace level. Altaria took flight with Wigglytuff stuck to her front and came down again for a body slam. When the cloud of dust cleared both Wigglytuff and Altaria were laying down with swirls and exhaustion on their faces.

Referee, "Ahem! Wigglytuff and Altaria are unable to battle. This match is a draw. The final round will determine the winner, if it is a draw then the Gym leader wins by default. Choose your final Pokemon."

Claire, "Let's go Dragonite."

Ash, "Let's do this Tyrantrum."

Referee, "Begin!"

Ash, "Ancient power."

Claire, "Rock tomb."

Tyrantrum roared as he created multiple attacks using ancient power that he released against Dragonite who created rock tomb. Instead of using it to lock his opponent in Dragonite used it as defense from the attack. Ash blinked at that, that was a familiar strategy that he had used before and laughed quietly. Well, he would just have to step up and come up with more strategies and moves to catch his opponents off guard. Ash called for rest and Tyrantrum sat in a meditative state while Claire ordered Dragonite to stop Tyrantrum.

Claire, "Twister."

Ash, "Endure!"

Tyrantrum rumbled as he used his weight to ground himself from the twister while Dragonite tried to blow him away from the battlefield. Tyrantrum held his ground using rest and collecting energy and then used a powerful move on Dragonite that cut through the twister. Ash eyed the scale shot attack that Tyrantrum used for the first time in a legal battle, he knows that Charizard has been training the young Dragon King. Dragonite dodged the many different scales however one of the scales hit his left leg making Dragonite hiss in pain. Tyrantrum growled at his opponent in a challenge and Dragonite growled in return accepting the challenge.

Ash, "Rock Blast."

Claire, "Extreme speed."

Tyrantrum eyed the older dragon as he swooped around at high speed and shot rock blasts at him. Dragonite was slowly getting closer and closer to Tyrantrum with his arm shining with an attack. The two dragons clashed with Dragon claw and dragon tail making the dragon aura rise inside the gym. Ash could feel his neck hair rise up because of the Aura but this time it was a good increase. Ash grinned feeling his own aura get boosted because of the friendly and competitive dragon Aura. Riley had explained this once, but this was the first time Ash was truly experiencing it.

Ash, "Tyrantrum dragon pulse followed by dark pulse."

Tyrantrum's eyes shone with excitement, he had not used that particular combo after practicing for the contest. The combination was too powerful and it would be bad if the first stadium was broken because his control back then was still pretty weak. Now, he gets to test it in battle and see for himself how powerful and effective it can be against battle opponents. Tyrantrum created dragon pulse and held it in his hand while creating a dark pulse in his mouth and then combined them.

Dragonite looked at the death like combination warily and created his own defense using snow scape and rock slides to protect himself. As much as Dragonite wants to clash head on, he did not want to test how painful it would be once hit, he was not a masochist thanks. The attack hit and the protection Dragonite created crumbled like sand, he had to use extreme speed to dodge the attack which hit the shield in a large boom. But Tyrantrum gently more attacks forcing Dragonite to fly low to avoid being in the blast range of the attack.

Claire, "Dragonite, use twister to create a wind shield around you."

Dragonite nodded and he was surrounded by twisters which made Tyrantrum grinned and shoot the last two attacks at the twister making it blow up. Dragonite stood straight from where he had been blown off at and glared at Tyrantrum who was grinning at him. Dragonite smirked and dusted himself off like he felt nothing though inside he was crying his luck for having to deal with a baby King. But he was not the type to back down easily, Dragonite still had his pride as a dragon and he was going to fight the little King. Both Ash and Claire could see the change in the two Pokemon and grinned.

Ash, "Hidden power."

Claire, "Chilling water."

Tyrantrum created balls of hidden power while Dragonite shot the cold water towards him. Some of the hidden power hit the water but others raced and hit Dragonite getting an angry growl from the flying dragon. Tyrantrum was soaking wet as well and Ash called for a sunny day while Claire called for rain dance. But Tyrantrum aside from calling for sunny day, he had sat down to rest automatically trying to save up strength. Tyrantrum stood up just as Dragonite landed on the ground in front of him, looks like this would be the final attack.

Ash, "Outrage, give it all you got."

Claire, "Dragon rush, take him down."

Both dragons rushed at each other glowing with their respective moves, clashing against each other pushing the other back, but not backing off. Both dragons broke off before rushing at each other again, at least three more times before their tail and claw started to glow. The next thing anyone knew there was a huge blast and the arena was covered in dust. When the dust cleared both Tyrantrum and Dragonite were panting hard as they glared at each other before Dragonite fainted.

Referee, "Dragonite is unable to battle. The winner of this match is Tyrantrum."

The crowd cheered as Tyrantrum slumped exhausted from the battle with the older dragon type. He for sure thought he was going to lose and he was not sure if his prude could take it at all. He already loses a lot to the Kanto trio, this victory healed his bruised pride a little but one day, he will defeat all three of them. Tyrantrum felt Ash hug him gently purring at the soft patting and congratulations the dark haired teen was giving him. Ash was avoiding the places where the scales were missing and the skin was ripped open, luckily enough there was no heavy bleeding. But Ash would leave that judgement to Brock and returned Tyrantrum promising him a treat later on.

Claire, "Congratulations on the victory Ash, I must admit I was not expecting Tyrantrum to out lasty Dragonite. He has higher energy proficiency then I had first suspected."

Ash, "I am just happy he is no longer feeling uptight and tensed. He needed this intense battle to unwind."

Claire hummed, "He is a Dragon and that too not just any type. Tyrantrum is also an Alpha Dragon."

Ash, "I could not believe it either but yeah, he is a natural born Alpha."

Claire then spoke in a hush tone, "Ash, just to let you know, Aura Guardians are actually infamous for raising Alpha Pokemon, either by accident or intentionally."

Ash blinked and murmured, "So our aura either pulls us to them or attracts them?"

Claire nodded, "Something like that but then again you are intentionally training them so. They are attracted to you too."

Ash hummed, "I see, that is very interesting and it explains some of the things that had happened before."

Claire smirked, "Like what? Running into wild powerful Pokemon? Or your baby Pokemon turning out to be Alphas? Or raising Alphas without realizing it?"

Claire, "I well, we hope you will stay for the night."

Ash, "I think we will, my Pokemon need a special treat after that intense fight."

Claire nodded, "Good, the others will like that."

Ash drawled, "I think you mean they will love having Tyrantrum here."

Claire snorted but did not refute what Ash said and ushered him to the healing chambers amidst the cheers. Ash gave a smile and left after thanking everyone for their support and cheers. Gou and the others joined Ash at the healing chamber where Venasaur was fussing over Tyrantrum and the other Pokemon. Ash was helping him by applying ointment to Tyrantrum's scales making the dragon hiss at the sting of the medicine then purr from the gentle pats. Claire was watching the young teen answered he cared for his Pokemon, she could see why Lance liked the child.

Max, "Ash, I want to help too, can I?"

Ash, "Sure, see that polish?"

Max, "Yeah, for the claws?"

Ash nodded, "Yes."

Casey and Gou joined them helping around the chamber to make it easier for Brock to deal with a sleeping Snorlax. Steelix might be large in size but they weight less than a Snorlax, steel is a light material. It still took all of them working together to get Snorlax to turn around so they could treat the sleeping giants burns and cuts. Ash was just happy Snorlax was sleeping well without any problems like broken bones or punctured organs to worry about. After they were done, Ash left the Pokemon to rest uninterrupted so they could heal better under Brock's advice.

Lance, "There you all are."

Claire, "Lance, you are back. Is everything alright?"

Lance, "Slowbro a shield please."

Ash shared a look with Brock, "Lucario, add your aura to the shield."

Brock, "That bad?"

Lance nodded, "I am afraid so."

Ash, "Anything you can share with us?"

Lance, "Since you were involved in the mess with Hunter J, yes, you should know."

Max, "Me too?"

Lance, "Yes, I believe you should know in order to be careful. I hate to say it but your group has the worst luck when it comes to travelling."

Gou winced, "It's not our fault. We don't go looking for trouble you know?"

Lance, "I know but it does not change the facts."

Ash sighed but sat down and Lance told them what he had found out from his investigations. Turns out there was a spy planted inside his G - men that leaked the information around. The information on Ash and his Pokemon were tightly guarded under normal circumstances and the only way for anyone to know what Pokemon he had was to watch the League. Unlike Galar Kanto and Jhoto did not make their Ace battles public and the only Gum battles that are public are the first three. Claire nodded in agreement, Ace battles were a more personal touch, the only people who were allowed were trusted allies and those interested in type Mastery.

Brock, "I thought it was odd Hunter J showed up right after we did."

Ash, "The spy? Have you caught them?"

Lance's face turned dark, "That coward committed suicide when he realized we knew about him and what he did."

Casey's body shook, "What? Just like that?"

Max was looking at the ground, "So, he will escape from punishment?"

Lance, "I'll leave that to the Ghost Pokemon to decide. The realm of the dead is not something us living humans can deal with."

Ash, "Ah, smart."

Brock, "Cruel and unusual punishment. Will he even remember though?"

Claire, "That's the punishment. Any other news Lance. Somehow I get the feeling this is not all."

Lance smiled, "Well, I have talked with both your parents and Misty's parents."

Gou, "Ash, Brock and Misty? Why?"

Lance, "I believe it was explained that the Dragon clan always supports and cares for the Aura Guardians right?"

Brock, "Yes, Lady Kohoko explained it to us."

Ash, "Don't tell me. Lance you did not... Oh sweet Mew, you did."

Lance gave a smug grin, "Well kiddo, young man. I am one of your official Guardians."

Brock twitched, "Seriously? Why?"

Ash narrowed his eyes, "I am not calling you Dad."

Gou choked, "What?"

Casey gaped, "I thought you were kidding."

Max, "That's kind of cool."