Monferno's Big Day

After Dawn won the Daybreak Contest, the gang traversed through a small town, where they noticed a small crowd and someone was having a Pokemon battle. To their surprise, it was Barry. And his opponent turned out to be Lucas. Barry used his Empoleon while Lucas used his Infernape.
"Empoleon, Hydro Cannon." Barry said.
"Dodge it Infernape and use Close Combat." Lucas said.
Infernape dodged the Hydro Cannon attack and punched and kicked Empoleon repeatedly with Close Combat. 
"Empoleon is taking a beating." Tomo said.
"No doubt Lucas has been training his Pokemon." Brock noted.
"Empoleon, use Metal Claw." Barry said.
"Mach Punch, Infernape." Lucas said.
Empoleon and Infernape charged at each other and hit each other with their attacks. Unfortunately for Barry, Infernape proved to be stronger than Empoleon and it fainted in defeat. Lucas was the winner of the battle and the crowd clapped for him. 
"Man Lucas." Barry sighed. "You and your Infernape are stronger than ever."
He had battled Lucas before.
Suddenly Lucas noticed the gang in the crowd. 
"Ash, Tomo, Brock, Dawn. How are you?" He asked them.
"Hi Lucas." Dawn said.
Barry was surprised to see the gang too. The gang went to a park to talk to Lucas and Barry.
"I just obtained my fifth ribbon." Dawn told them.
"You got all eight badges and five frontier plaques yet, Ash?" Lucas asked.
"Not yet." Ash said. "We are on our way to Sunyshore City for Tomo and I to obtain our final badges and me to obtain my final plaque."
Lucas frowned while Barry laughed.
"Well, well, well looks like I've beaten you this time Ash." Barry said.
He showed off his badge case and it had eight badges in it.
"I'm all set for the Sinnoh League." Barry said.
"I've got the badge from the Sunyshore Gym too. It's called the Beacon Badge." Lucas said. "But I actually challenged it when I got it. Ash, there's something I need to tell you about that gym." 
To Ash's horror, Lucas explained that the gym was handing out badges for free. 
"Are you serious?" He asked. 
He remembered Misty's sisters doing the same thing.
"I don't know the details, but the gym leader Volkner has stopped having gym battles and is simply giving out the badges." Lucas said. 
The gang couldn't believe their ears.
"Uh Barry, did you just take the badge too while you were in Sunyshore City?" Dawn asked.
"Well yeah." Barry said. "It's not every day you get a gym badge for free."
'Unbelievable.' Everyone else thought.
"Well this isn't right." Ash was irritated. "When we get there, I'm going to ask for a proper gym battle whether the leader likes it or not."
Ash wanted to earn the eighth badge the right way, not the wrong way.
After their chat, the gang went to the Pokemon Center. To Ash's surprise Paul was there. Barry was happy to see Paul at last.
"My name's Barry." He introduced himself.
"I have all eight badges and I'm set for the Sinnoh League." Barry told him.
"I would like to battle you." He asked Paul.
Paul refused. He wanted to focus on training his Pokemon for the league and figured it would be pointless battling Barry.
"If you want a battle so bad, battle him." Paul pointed to Ash.
"Huh?!" Barry exclaimed. "No way. He only has seven badges, so he is a level lower than us."
Ash ignored his words.
"I heard you got all eight badges Paul congrats." Ash said.
Paul just stared at him silently.
"I hope you don't mind me asking, but did you go to the Sunyshore Gym?" Ash asked out loud.
Paul glared at him when he heard that.
"Humph that gym isn't worth going to." He said. "I got my last badge from a better gym."
As the gym was handing out badges for free, it was obvious Paul didn't want to obtain it that way. Then he walked off.
Barry couldn't believe how rude Paul was and he wished to fine him.
"You'll see Paul again Barry." Ash said. "And besides there might be a good chance you'll battle Paul in the Sinnoh League."
"You think so?" Barry asked.
"Yes, but if you do battle him don't let your guard down because Paul is really good at battling." Ash said.
He told him about his full battle with Paul.
Barry thought Ash was lucky to have a full battle with Paul.
"Even though we tied, Paul nearly beat me. But my Pokemon and I will defeat him next time." Ash said.
"Well then Ash, I will battle you now." Barry said.
"Sure, bring it." Ash said.
Suddenly there was an announcement on TV. It was a news flash about the grand festival. Marian explained the Sinnoh Grand Festival was going to be held at Lake Valor, where the Wallace Cup was held. She also explained that there were seven more Pokemon contests before the grand festival. 
"See Dawn." Ash said. "I told you there were some more contests before the grand festival. So I can earn my fifth ribbon in one of the remaining seven contests."
"Absolutely." Dawn said.
"Okay then." Brock said, looking at his Pokegear. "We'll go to Sunyshore City, then Ash can earn his fifth ribbon at one of the places where Pokemon contests are held, and then we'll head over to Lake Valor."
"I wish you lots of luck Ash and Dawn and I'll certainly watch the grand festival on TV." Lucas said.
"Come on, can we battle now Ash?" Barry asked impatiently.
The group went outside so Ash and Barry could battle.
Barry declared it would be a 3 on 3 Pokemon battle. Dawn used her coin toss app to see who would go first. Barry chose heads and Ash called tails and Barry won. Brock agreed to be the referee. Ash and Barry took their places to get ready to battle. Lucas, Tomo and Dawn sat on a bench to watch.
"We shall each throw out our Pokemon on the count of three." Barry declared.
"Okay." Ash replied, taking out a Poke Ball.
After counting to three, Ash and Barry released their first Pokemon together. Barry had chosen Empoleon while Ash had chosen Monferno.
"I've got the advantage." Barry teased.
"Monferno may be a fire type but that won't put us down, will it Monferno?" Ash said.
Monferno said no.
"Barry is in for a surprise." Tomo said. "Especially since Monferno has some moves that are strong against water type Pokemon." 
"Does Monferno know Thunder Punch?" Lucas asked. "My Infernape knows that too."
"Yes, actually Monferno does." Dawn said. 
"Then this will be interesting to see." Lucas said. 
"Hydro Cannon." Barry told Empoleon.
"Dodge it and use Mach Punch, Monferno." Ash said.
Monferno dodged the attack and struck Empoleon hard with Mach Punch. 
"Wow Monferno's fast." Barry said.
But he wasn't surprised for long.
"Empoleon, Drill Peck." He ordered.
"Use Dig, Monferno." Ash said.
Monferno tunneled underground before Empoleon could peck him.
"Hey no fair dodging like that." Barry complained.
"We're not dodging." Ash said. "We're just getting ready for Thunder Punch."
Monferno emerged from the ground and struck Empoleon with a electrified fist. Barry didn't expect that.
"That Monferno is really good." Lucas said. "I think it may evolve soon at this rate." 
"Really?" Dawn asked. 
"Absolutely." Lucas nodded. "I know because I raised my Infernape ever since it was a Chimchar."
"That's right." Dawn said.
She had nearly forgotten that. 
"Empoleon, Hydro Cannon." Barry ordered.
"Counter it with Bullet Seed, Monferno." Ash said. 
The Hydro Cannon and Bullet Seed attacks countered each other. Barry and Lucas were surprised Monferno knew Bullet Seed. 
"Man I can't believe this." Barry said. "But no matter we will win."
"Empoleon, Metal Claw." He ordered. 
Monferno charged with Mach Punch; he and Empoleon ended up fighting like they were boxing. 
"I wouldn't like to get in between those two." Dawn said. 
"Me either." Lucas added.
"Keep this up Empoleon." Barry said.
"Don't give up Monferno." Ash said.
The two Pokemon pushed each other back with their attacks.
Suddenly Monferno cried out and then he started to glow.
"Monferno's evolving." Lucas said.
He was right as Monferno evolved into an Infernape.
"Wow look at that." Tomo said.
Ash was very happy to have seen Monferno evolve.
"Infernape, show Empoleon your power." Ash said.
As soon as Ash said that, Infernape charged towards Empoleon and used Close Combat.
"Hey, Infernape learned Close Combat." Lucas said.
Infernape had indeed grown stronger.
Just then Barry stopped the match.
"I have to confess that Infernape of yours is a great match against my Empoleon." Barry said. "That's why I'm stopping this. I see I need to train more before I battle you at the Sinnoh League." 
"I'll be training more as well before we get to the Sinnoh league so look forward to it."
"Are we going to see you at the Sinnoh League too, Lucas?" Dawn asked.
"Well I won't be competing as I already challenged that." Lucas said. "But I'll definitely be there to watch it all."
"But first I'll see you at Sunyshore City when you challenge my dad at the battle facility." Barry said.
"Okay." Ash nodded.
He still had a lot to do.
What no one knew was Paul had been secretly watching the battle and saw everything. In his heart he was hoping to battle Ash again, even though he didn't want to admit it yet.