Meeting Brendan and Wally

The gang had just arrived in the northern part of Petalburg City, so it wasn't long before Ash battled Norman for a badge. Right now they were in the Pokemon Center, having their Pokemon checked out. Ash actually had his Latias and Latios with him. The truth is when he last saw Norman, Norman asked him to use Latias in their gym battle.

"I still don't understand why dad asked you to use Latias in your gym battle Ash." May said.

"It's rather simple, it's not every day that a gym leader gets to battle a legendary Pokemon." Ash explained. "And anyway Latias wanted a chance to take on a gym leader."

"Fine with me." May said.

Ash's Latias and Latios were out of their Poke Balls, but they had assumed human forms. Ash's Latios had grown up over the last few months and he now knew how to fly, swim, become invisible, use sight-sharing with his mom Latias and also how to disguise himself. His disguise was actually Ash when he was eight years old. Ash found out from Prof. Oak that Delia showed Latias and Latios some photos of Ash when he was younger and Latios decided to take on Ash's eight year old self as a disguise. And of course Latias stuck with her Bianca form. Latias asked Ash if she and Latios could stay out of their Poke Balls for today, and Ash agreed to the request. The truth is, she and Latios just wanted to spend the day with Ash; Latios had a special bond with Ash, just like his mom Latias.

Right now the gang was leaving the Pokemon Center, when suddenly they were surrounded by a big crowd of people. The people were excited about May and Max having returned to Petalburg City. The truth is everyone in Petalburg City were fans of Norman since he was a great gym leader. They also knew that May and Max had been on a Pokemon journey and that May had become a Pokemon coordinator.

"Tell us May. What has it been like for you as a Pokemon coordinator?" A woman named Rose asked.

"Well Rose, it was difficult and scary for me at first, especially since I had no idea what to do or about anything related to Pokemon." May admitted. "But thanks to my three friends Ash, Brock and Tomo I've learned a lot and I'm having lots of fun."

"So am I." Max added.

May and Max did introduce Ash, Brock and Tomo to everyone but they weren't interested in them, only May and Max. Since May and Max were getting a lot of attention from the crowd Ash, Tomo and Brock decided to stay out of their way for the time being.

Suddenly three boys came up to Ash, Brock and Tomo.

"So you three are traveling with May and Max?" One of them asked.

"Yes that's right." Ash said. "And we came back to Petalburg City so I can battle Norman for a badge."

"Well that's too bad because you won't get a badge there." A second boy said.

"What, why not?" Ash asked.

"Because only special chosen trainers can battle Norman and you're not one of them." The third boy said.

"That's where you're wrong." Ash replied. "Any trainer can challenge a gym leader if they want to and I know that because I've taken on 20 gym leaders already."

Ash could tell these boys were jealous of him because he was traveling with May and Max, and he knew they were lying about only special trainers battling Norman.

"Calling us liars, huh?" The first boy asked. "Well we will battle to see if you are good enough to battle Norman."

"Alright, but if I win I will battle Norman no matter what you say." Ash responded.

Latias and Latios could see that Ash was in trouble and they asked him through telepathy if he needed help.

*'Not yet.'* Ash told them telepathically. *'I'll take these three on and if things get out of hand I have another way to deal with them.'*

Latias and Latios nodded, remaining in their human forms and out of the way.

Ash, Tomo, Brock and the boys went to a park in North Petalburg where Ash and the three boys could battle. The first boy sent out a Golduck to battle and Ash sent out his Grovyle. Aside from Latias and Latios, he had Combusken, Grovyle and Marshtomp. Golduck's trainer ordered it to use Hydro Pump, but Ash ordered Grovyle to dodge it with Aerial Ace and then strike Golduck with Leaf Blade. Grovyle easily dodged the Hydro Pump and then with two swipes from Leaf Blade, Golduck fainted. The second and third boy sent out their Pokemon, Abra and Machop, to fight next but they were easily defeated by Ash's Marshtomp and Combusken. What they didn't know was that two boys were watching everything.

Meanwhile May and Max were still getting lots of attention from the fans. May was showing everyone her Torchic, Marill, Bellossom, Skitty, Plusle and Minun and was also showing off her coordinating skills. Max was talking about his new Pokemon, his three Whismur, Spinda, Shroomish, Wingull, Seel, Shuppet and Poochyena, and that of course made the people very interested. Just then two of the three boys Ash battled told everyone about a trainer wanting to challenge Norman. Rose thought this was a serious situation and she suggested that May should battle this trainer to teach them a lesson. The others agreed and May had no choice but to agree.

Back in the park, Ash was losing his patience. More kids wanted to battle Ash to prevent him from challenging Norman.

"This is getting ridiculous Brock." Tomo told him. "Ash has the right to challenge Norman."

"You're right." Brock agreed. "But these kids are too stubborn to listen."

"Alright, I've had enough of this." Ash transformed into a dragon in front of everyone surprising them.

"Now, let's make one thing clear." He growled. "I have the right to challenge Norman for a gym badge and none of you are going to stop me."

"He's right." Tomo agreed.

May and Max then arrived in the park to see a dragon towering over everyone.

"What's going on?" May asked. "And where did this dragon come from?"

It was explained to May and Max that the kids kept saying nonsense that Ash wasn't suitable to battle Norman.

"But dad said he wants to have a gym battle with Ash." May pointed out.

"Yeah and anybody has the right to challenge him." Max added.

"You're right about that." A voice said.

The voice belonged to a twelve year old kid with brown hair and grey eyes and by the boy's side was a eleven year old boy with green hair and ice-blue eyes.

"It's Brendan Birch and Wally!" Rose gasped.

Ash and the others heard about Brendan and Wally from Prof. Birch, so they knew he was Prof. Birch's son. And Wally was Brendan's friend.

"What brings you to Petalburg City Brendan, Wally?" Rose asked.

"We were just passing by when we heard and saw the commotion." Brendan answered. "Wally and I met up with Norman yesterday and he told us about Ash and the others. He also told us that he couldn't wait for Ash to arrive at his gym for a gym battle."

"That's what I was trying to tell these kids." Ash stated in his dragon form. "Honestly all this jealous because Brock, Tomo and I are traveling with May and Max. It's ridiculous."

Rose understood the situation and she made all the kids apologize to Ash.

"Make sure this isn't repeated." He snorted. "I doubt Norman would be happy with you continuing to terrorize people that want to challenge him."

The kids apologized for their behavior and the grownups made them promise not to do what they did with Ash again. Then all the fans went back to their homes, leaving the gang with Brendan and Wally.

Ash then looked at Brendan and Wally.

"Thanks for that." He stated before changing back to human form.

"Think nothing of it Ash." Brendan said. "I'm glad we showed up before any more trouble started."

Latias and Latios then reverted back to their normal forms.

"No way. Latias and Latios." Wally said. He couldn't take his eyes off the Eon Pokemon.

"Yeah some things happened." Ash said.

"So what are you two doing back here in Hoenn?" Max asked Brendan and Wally. "Last thing I heard about you two was that after you finished competing in the Hoenn League a year ago you went to a different region for a journey."

"That's right we did." Wally answered. "But we decided to come back to see our families and stay with them for a while."

"I understand that because I always go back home to see my mom after I finish a journey." Ash said.

"Yes me too." Brendan added. "The truth is, she worries about me and my dad all the time especially when dad is on one of his research trips."

The gang understood why. After all Prof. Birch had the bad habit of getting into trouble with wild Pokemon all the time.

"I must ask you Ash." Wally said. "Are you going to use Latias and Latios in your gym battle with Norman?"

"I'll be using Latias because Norman asked me to challenge him with Latias." Ash said. "As for Latios, no. He's not quite ready for a gym battle. He's still getting used to battling trainers at the moment."

Brendan and Wally asked the gang if they could join them at the gym; they were interested in watching Ash's battle with Norman. The gang had no problem with that and agreed to let Brendan and Wally watch.

With everything taken care of Brendan, Wally and the gang made their way to the southern part of Petalburg City where Ash could battle Norman.