Destiny Rebirth Final Mix

SAVING PRIVATE RIOLU

Ash looked at the desolation that he and his Pokémon had created. He whistled in amazement, as he returned four, of his strongest Pokémon, to their Pokéballs and looked toward a beaten and battered Lucario and Pikachu.

"Master, for the love of Arceus, use them in battle!" Lucario pleaded as he was gasping for air. "That was no training session out there. They were trying to kill us."

"Pika pi pika chu cha pika pi Pikapi," Pikachu added as he hit the ground, feeling exhausted.

"Hey, I asked you guys if you really wanted to join them, and you said yes," Ash stated as he giggled at the condition that those two were in. "You have no one to blame, but yourselves. Thankfully, I probably won't need to use you two tomorrow, so you two can rest."

Ash hadn't seen Serena, after his battle with Max. His group of friends decided to help cheer Max up by deciding to go out into the town, that night. He figured Serena would have felt awkward if she hadn't gone with them, and he totally understood that. Instead, he used the time to relax and go to bed early, so he could enjoy his day off before the next round, which would start the full 6-on-6 battles of the tournament. He decided to exercise his top six Pokemon. Despite offering Pikachu and Lucario the chance to take a day off, they insisted on participating, and now, they both regretted in making that decision.

"I didn't think they would come out and do this," Lucario said as he motioned to the destroyed field. The once green and gorgeous field has now become a wasteland of mud, craters, scorched earth and trees that were cut in half. Lucario took his eyes off the destruction and turned his head towards Ash's belt as a look of horror appeared across his face. "Oh crap! They're ready to go at it again. Good lord, do they not know when to stop?"

Ash threw his head back in laughter, as he saw the face that Lucario made. "You have to remember, Lucario. They have been in tournaments, like this, before," he explained as he walked over to his companions. "They love the limelight and the opportunity to show off their true strength. Each one of them has played an important role in, at least, one or more of my conference appearances, and they wanted another shot on a big battlefield."

"At this rate, they'll destroy that battlefield," Lucario muttered under his breath.

"Pika pika," Pikachu nodded in agreement.

"Wow, you two have been spoiled," Ash said playfully. "You've gone soft. Maybe I should toss you guys in your Pokéballs. Maybe then, you'll come out with their fire and passion." Lucario and Pikachu both shot glares towards Ash, as he laughed at their reactions. "Come on, guys. Let's get out of here," Ash said as he picked up Pikachu and placed him on his shoulder. He bent down, so Lucario could get on his back. The aura Pokémon rested his head on the opposite shoulder, which Pikachu was laying on.

"Pikachu pika?" Pikachu asked with a glimmer in his eyes.

Ash chuckled when he noticed Lucario also had the same hopeful expression in his eyes as he was waiting for the answer. "Yeah, I guess you guys earned a fancy dinner. We'll eat in the lounge, on the top floor of the hotel, tonight." With their answer being met, both Pokémon let out a joyful cheer as Ash made his way back to the hotel, carrying his two loyal partners.

---

Serena, Clemont, Dawn, and May were walking through the hotel hallway toward their rooms, as they were discussing the night that the group enjoyed, after Max's defeat to Aaron, earlier the same day.

"I still can't believe that Brock ended up getting that girl's number!" Dawn exclaimed as the rest of the group laughed.

"Well, what did you expect?" May responded. "After all, he's a now Pokémon Doctor, and all girls just love a guy in a doctor's outfit. The funniest thing about that moment was the expression on Toxicroak's face when the girl actually gave it to him. He looked as if he was about to pass out from shock!"