Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
[This chapter takes place in Snowpoint city, so the picture above is your dress only for this chapter<3]
...
After winning the seventh gym badge with Ash by defeating Candice, everyone was ready to leave the gym, when suddenly Paul came.
"Paul" Ash said "So you must be candice the gym leader" Paul asks "Y-yes!" "I challenge you to a gym battle" "I-I'm sure you must've come a long way for this, but I just finished a battle with Ash and Y/N and I'd like to give my gang a rest." Candice says with a nervous smile. "How 'bout tomorrow, then?" She asks "Alright then, tomorrow it is." Paul replies, turning to leave. "Paul-" Ash calls, stopping him "Check it out; I just got my seventh badge. One more and I'm in the Sinnoh League! How many do you have?" Ash asks, showing his new badge. "That's none of your business." Paul snapped, walking off.
"What's his problem?" Ash pouted. "Ash, that's just how he is." You remind him with a sigh "Who is?" Zoey asked. "His name's Paul, he's really Ash's and Y/N's rival. They seem to get into fights whenever they meet." Dawn explains. "Dawn, you, Y/N and Zo-Zo are rivals too, but nothing like this." Candice says.
In the evening, you and Ash went out to find Paul, leaving the rest in the center. Paul was battling with his Electabuzz and a Magmar. "Hey Paul!" Ash calls "Huh?" "Man, you should've seen how strong Grotle was today, I wanna thank Torterra for the help" He says and door behind him which lead to the center opens revealing the rest of the gang. "That battle and style Torterra showed us a while back worked out really well" Ash smiles, while Paul returns his Magmar and comes closer. "You said you were serious about wanting to win in snowpoint city, so why do you still need Torterra to hold your hand?" He asks rudely making Ash growl. "Using a grass type in an ice type gym, I guess you chalk that up to a blind faith" Zoey gets mad and tries to argue with Paul but it was of no use.
The next morning, while watching the news, Arlo spots Reggie outside and tells everyone about him, so all of you go out to greet him. While Reggie explains that he came here to deliver a pokémon back to it's trainer, the ground suddenly started to shake.
"Sudden earthquake?" Arlo asks. "Hey! What's that?!" Dawn asks, pointing towards the battle pyramid flying in the sky. "It's the battle pyramid!" You and Ash beam. "Wow, you guys know about that thing?" Reggie asks "Yeah, me and Ash beat it back in Kanto" "What, you beat it?!" Paul asks in surprise.
The gang decides to call Brandon from the center and asks for the landing location so they could meet up.
Reggie sat on the driver's seat while Paul sat beside him. The rest of the gang sat behind comfortably. "Ash, Y/N, did you say Battle Pyramid?" Dawn asks "Yeah, it was the final facility Ash and Y/N challenged, back in the Kanto battle frontier days" Brock says and explains what a battle frontier is. "Reggie, didn't you challenge him too?" Brock asks "I remember seeing the frontier symbols on display in your house" "Yeah, but I never got the brave symbol" He replies.
The car reaches infront of the pyramid shortly after. While everyone slowly walks towards Brandon, You get out of the car later than everyone from the left side and see Paul still there, looking at the pyramid. "Hey Paul, what're you doing here, standing alone? Aren't you going with them?" "Yeah, I am" He replies and walks off. You glance at the pyramid once and rush to follow him. "What a nice surprise" "It's been much too long, Brandon" Reggie says, Paul walking next to him, while you stand beside Ash. "It's nice to see so many familiar faces. If I remember, you're Reggie's younger brother, right?" "So you do remember me. I'd like to challenge you to a pokémon battle. Right here and now" He demands, surprising everyone.
Candice and Temple maiden Maria then soon come and Brandon tells his assistant Sam to go with Maria because he wants to accept Paul's challenge.
"Hey Brandon, it'll be really great if you let us watch your battle!" Ash says "Young man?" Brandon looks at Paul "I don't care" Paul states rudely.
Everyone then heads inside and Brock tells Brandon that he could be the referee, but Paul rudely shoves him off and says all the rules himself and lets Magmar out, "Magmar, stand by for battle!" "Regirock! I need your assistance!" Paul realising that Magmar is weak against Regirock, changes him with Hariyama 'He really wants to win this, huh?'
Sadly for Paul, his pokémons couldn't even stand a chance against Brandon's Regirock, Regice and Registeel.
'He lost...but if me and Ash are able to defeat Brandon which Paul couldn't do, wouldn't it mean that if we use our old pokémons who defeated Brandon could also defeat Paul? Can I bring them back and have a battle with Paul once?'
You got brought back to reality by Ash who nudges you, saying it's time to go. Fixing your collar, you get up and follow Ash outside the battle pyramid.
Without looking up from the ground, Paul walks over to Candice, "You can expect to see me at the Snowpoint Gym." Candice then smiled, "Great, Paul! I'll be looking forward to it." She then turns to Zoey, "So, Zo-Zo, I guess it's our turn next, right? A key-eye battle with you and me. Let's get going." "You bet, Ms Senior!" Zoey replies and leaves with Candice on her dodrio.
Paul starts to leave which Reggie notices and speaks up, "Hey Paul, you think there's any chance you and Ash or Y/N can treat us to a full battle at some point?" Paul then gasps, his eyes widening. "Me and Paul?" You and Ash ask looking at each other. Brandon then walked up, "You three....interesting idea. Let's set the time and place and agree to meet, again. That's bound to be a battle guaranteed to raise the level of three of you. Of that, there can be no doubt." "Yeah! Great! I'm in!" Ash exclaims. "I'm in, too." Paul agreed.
"But I'm pretty sure that both Y/N and Ash couldn't battle against Paul in one day, so who's it gonna be battling then?" Dawn asks You and Ash look at each other. "If you want to battle, then you can" Ash offers "I'm gonna pass this time. I'll just watch you both instead" You politely reject the offer, much to Paul's disappointment. "Reggie, what about the time and place?" Arlo asks "Exactly ten days from now on, at the pokémon center, near Lake Acuity" Reggie declares.
"So Y/N, predict the match and tell us who'll win" Arlo suddenly says with a fake mustache and glasses "Where'd you get those from" You sweatdropped "Yeah Y/N! Tell us who do you think will win according to you!" Ash says, stars in his eyes "it's me right?" Dawn and Brock deadpans at his childish behavior. "Um" You look back at the car, to see Reggie getting in, and Paul standing outside the driver's seat's door, fixing his collar, until his eyes meets yours. You two look at each other for a moment, until Paul breaks the eye contact after a few seconds and gets into his car.
"....i dont know? Paul maybe?" "WHAT?!" Ash looks at you in disbelief while you blink in confusion until you realise what you just said. "N-NO! I-I was just messing around a-aha" You nervously laugh making Ash sigh in relief. "Phew I thought you were serious" "Pipipika" Pikachu giggled
'No but honestly...Ash will lose against him, wouldn't he?"
...
A/N: is it just me or do y'all also ship Maria with Brandon?
![[This chapter takes place in Snowpoint city, so the picture above is your dress only for this chapter<3]](https://img.wattpad.com/180136655cecf43b0adbaad5532cf3850798b049/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f65377059777a5f424e494c4232513d3d2d313434393339323830392e313764336232306264363939616436613132383135363131353838332e6a7067?s=fit&w=720&h=720)
