"Is that who I think it is" a familiar voice said. They turned to see Gary walking up "Yeah, it is you Ashy-boy" the red haired boy said. He took a closer look at Ash "Wow, what happened to you; you sleep on a piece of rock."
"What happened to you; your head get dumped in the ego barrel" Ash sneered in return.
Gary just smirked "Hmph I bet you came back because you couldn't take it." Gary pulled out a small case and opened it up revealing ten badges "I have ten badges and I bet you don't even have half of this."
"Eat your words" Ash smirked pulling out a similar case and flipping it open revealing eight badges. "Still think I don't have what it takes.
Gary grunted "Not bad... but you'll never beat me."
"Want to find out" Ash said with a battle grin.
"I thought you'd never ask" Gary said with his own battle grin.
"Now, now boys not in the enclosure" Professor Oak said pushing the two boys away from each other. "Look both of you are excellent trainers. In fact out of all this year's starter trainers who started out on their journeys only you two (OR SO HE THOUGHT) have actually got eight badges to compete. The others got off to a great start, but couldn't finish; still to have two from Pallet Town going onto the Indigo League is amazing by itself. You two can have your battle at Indigo Plateau, two months from now."
Both boys looked at each other before nodding "Well I'll see you gramps; I've got training to do" Gary said walking off.
"Yeah I've got some training to do as well" Ash said walking out into the enclosure.
"Ash" Professor Oak called and Ash stopped. "Would you mind if I observe your training up close. It's an honor to see a Legendary Pokemon, but it's a whole new honor to see training up close."
"Sure" Ash said and two of them went farther into the enclosure gathering all of Ash's Pokemon along the way. In the end there stood Ash, Professor Oak, Ash's Mew, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Lugia, Ho - Oh, Dragonair, Metang and Bagon. "Alright guys we've got two months until the Indigo Conference and while all of you are amazingly strong already there are many Pokemon out there that are stronger. So we've got to keep training and show them all that we mean business." All of his Pokemon gave roars of agreement "Alright let's go."
Professor Oak watched with increasing awe as all of the Pokemon listened to Ash flawlessly as he gave them orders on what to train on. The Legendary Birds were practicing their attack and Defensive powers, Dragonair and Ho - Oh were having a bout on power attacks, which Ho - Oh was clearly winning at, but it was just for training, Lugia and Metang were working on their psychic type moves and finally Mew and Bagon were clashing iron tail vs. iron head.
Professor Oak was jotting down notes left and right as fast his fingers could move trying to capture every single detail on what he was witnessing. They kept going at this training for five hours straight without stopping once.
Finally they did stop and all of them took a break "My goodness" Professor Oak breathed amazed as Ash took off his hat to wipe his forehead. "Ash your training skills are quite remarkable; where on earth did you learn to train this well?"
"I just go with the flow" Ash said honestly. "They pair up and work on their own improving where they need to improve and partnering up with different partners every time. Usually we do about five hours every day, but if it's for something serious we can go up to nine or ten hour's straight."
"My word" Professor Oak murmured. "Well Ash... I'll... I'll leave you to your training, by the way would you mind if I call the main Professors from the other regions to tell them of this amazing discovery?"
Ash paused at that; he wasn't ignorant and knew many Legendary Fanatics would stop at nothing to take Legendary Pokemon once they were found, but he did trust Professor Oak. "Well... I guess it's okay, but you have to promise me that it'll all be kept confidential, you can only tell them and make them swear not to tell anyone else."
"You have my word Ash" Professor Oak said honestly. Ash nodded and Professor Oak went inside to make some calls leaving Ash alone with his Pokemon. Ash looked back at his resting Pokemon and smiled; it was a challenge to find and catch all of them, but he was glad he stuck to it and the results spoke for themselves.