Disclaimer: Do any of you believe I own Pokemon? Ok, good. Now those of you who don’t believe I own pokemon, and do not plan on suing, please keep reading. Those of you who are going to sue and those of you who believe I own pokemon, please do the following: find a loaded gun and shoot yourself in the head. Thank you, have a great day!!

A tall figure stood in the middle of the battleground, a faint breeze ruffled his untidy black hair. He seemed to be looking for something in the distance. There was a pained expression in his face as his eye roved over the horizon, bloody plains stretching endlessly on before him. Suddenly Ash was that man, he was the one looking for … Well he didn’t know what he was looking for, all he knew was that it was vitally important he found it. Then, as if by magic, a black spot appeared where the sky met the Earth, moving steadily towards him. Ash’s heart leapt to his throat, could this be what he was looking for? But before he could find out, he awoke.

Sighing, Ash looked at his clock, 6:23, grunting he got off his large bed and splashed water on his face. This was the sixth time he had had this dream. It always left him feeling edgy, at that moment Pikachu stuck his head out from underneath the covers and said, “PikaPika Piiii,” ( You woke me up) Ash couldn’t speak Pikachu’s language, but after nearly a decade of living with him, he got the message well enough. So in reply Ash growled “Sorry if I awoke you your royal highness, please if you need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Rolling his eyes the Pikachu said there was no use talking to him before breakfast and promptly fell back asleep.

Muttering under his breath about sarcastic pokemon, Ash examined himself in the mirror. He hadn’t always been snappy like this. Before he had become the Pokemon League Champ he had been hyper, cocky, and always looking on the bright side of things. However, somewhere along the line things had changed. Soon after he had won, Brock had left, his father had needed help in the gym. Misty had stayed with him a few years, but then asked for his pokedex so she could finish the quest of finding and recording all the pokemon in the world that Professor Oak had sent him on years ago. Now Brock was married to May, Gary’s sister, and they were expecting their first child in 2 months. Even Gary was off somewhere, ever since Ash had beat him for the League Championship, he had disappeared. The last time Ash had seen him was a year ago at Brock and May’s wedding.

Shaking his head to clear away the thoughts, Ash suddenly realized what today was: Pokemon League Championship!!!! Thrust into energy by this startling revelation Ash quickly changed into his pokemon master uniform: A silver cloak, a black shirt with the league emblem on it and a pair of black pants.

Racing through the halls of the Pokemon League Palace, Ash was shocked as he was suddenly flipped upside down, his cloak and Pikachu dropping to the floor, in his ear a harsh voice said, “Late again Ash, are we? We cant have that you know, a poke-”

“-Mon master always expected to be punctual, and set a good example. Agatha, you old hag , I should’ve known you would’ve done this , now put me down,” Ash commanded crossly, his head swinging wildly for a look of the ghost master.

Agatha laughed, or rather she cackled, and said, “All right, all right. Haunter put down the boy, he’s late enough as it is.”

Ash was dumped to the floor on his head, thankfully, after 6 years of being unmercifully pounded on by Misty, he was immune to head injuries. Dusting himself off, he picked up his cloak, and a disgruntled Pikachu and set off to the battle arena. Inside he discovered a scene of confusion.

Half of the room had been cut off by 5 Mister Mimes, keeping journalists at bay. As it was, quite a few had made it few before the walls had been set up. A harassed looking Lance stood in the middle of several journalists and assistants asking if there were anything else they needed to do. Bruno was in another clump, and looked as if he were fighting for his life, probably was in a way. Will, the youngest member of the Elite 4 had been completely engulfed by story hungry press people. Only Agatha seemed unfazed, the few journalists around her paralyzed from her Haunter’s lick attack. Ever since Ash had joined all the Pokemon Leagues together, they had been mobbed by journalists.

As soon as they had noticed Ash, the journalists stampeded, and the ones behind the invisible wall, redoubled their efforts to get through. Soon Ash’s world was reduced to grabbing hands, screaming voices, and microphones being shoved in his face. He knew he would have suffocated if a large brown hand hadn’t then reached into the fray and pulled him out. Thankful for his life, Ash turned around and found himself face to face with Brock, well, more like face to chest considering Brock was a whole head taller than him.

Frowning, Ash said, “You shouldn’t be here, May’s having a baby soon.”

Brock smiled in return and said, “Relax, Ash, I brought her with me, we wanted to see this, this is your 5^th anniversary as Pokemon League Master. Besides is that anyway to treat an old friend and rescuer.”

Shaking his head, Ash turned around again to find that all the journalists were lying unconscious on the ground. A victorious looking Erika, Whitney, and Sabrina presiding over them.

Erika smiled at him, and pointing to Sabrina said, “She did it, used her psychic powers.”

He shrugged and asked, “How’d you guys get in here?’

It was May who answered him, sitting in one of the bleachers, “We came in through the side door,” pointing to a small door to the right.”

Shaking his head in wonderment, Ash said, “Well I guess we better finish getting ready.”

It was 4 hours later and Ash was back in the arena, one trainer had managed to beat the Elite 4. He had been stupid and had only attended the opening ceremonies, so now he had no idea what kind of trainer he was facing. Peering into the shadows at the other side of the arena, he tried to catch a glimpse of the pokemon trainer who had been powerful enough to come this far. Moving a fidgety Pikachu to the ground, Ash saw a flash of blue, the trainer had steeped out of the shadows. She was in a pair of faded blue jeans, and wore a turquoise jacket with the hood pulled up so it covered her face.

“Who challenges the Pokemon League Master,” he roared, it was the mandatory thing to say.

The trainer stepped forward and pulled back the hood, revealing dazzling red hair streaked with blue, worn loose around a very familiar face, “I do, Mistaria Waterflower,” his longtime friend proclaimed boldly.

Ash was stunned, his mouth hung open in bewilderment, then he realized Misty was mouthing something to him, “Do you have the minimal requirement of 8 badges.”

Nodding, Ash repeated what Misty said, except loud enough for the audience to hear. After spending 3 years with Ash as pokemon master, Misty had memorized the correct greetings, challenges., etc.

“I do.”

“Then let the battle begin.”

For a moment Ash and Misty just stared at each other, the Ash cried out, “Crocanaw, I choose you!”

There was a beam of red light and Ash’s pokemon appeared. Misty called out her Seaking and the battle began.

For half an hour the two had been battling now, each of them were down to their last two pokemon. Looking at the poke ball in his hand, Ash winced, it was Quilava, a fire type, notoriously weak against the water type Misty favored. He called out Quilava. For a moment Misty studied Ash and his pokemon. Then nodding to herself, she called out Golduck, her stupid Psyduck had evolved, and was extremely powerful.

“Quick attack, Quilava,” Ash cried, his best bet was using manual attacks, Quilava’s fire would be of no use here.

“Counter it with Hyponis.” Misty yelled at her own Pokemon.

Before Ash’s Quilava reached Golduck, he was fast asleep.

“C’mon Quilava, wake up, I know you can do it,”

“Water gun, now.”

Ash watched in horror as his pokemon sailed out of the ring to land unconscious at his feet.

“Quilava is unable to battle.” called out the announcer

Hugging Quilava, Ash whispered, “It’s okay boy, you’ll do better next time.” Then to Pikachu, “Guess it’s up to you.” He should’ve done this before, Misty’s water types would stand no chance against Pikachu’s powerful electric attacks.

“ I choose you Pikachu!”

Excitedly, Pikachu jumped into the ring, sparks crackling in cheeks. A fierce, but short battle issued forth. Pikachu beat Golduck using thunder, and Ash had to admit that Golduck had put up a hell of a battle. However, even though Pikachu had dispatched one of Misty’s most powerful pokemon, she was smiling.

Cool as ice she said, “I choose you, Togepi.”

Ash blinked in surprise, the little pokemon had been standing next to Misty practically the whole battle, bu he hadn’t actually expected Misty to use her. He was also worried, he had no idea what kind of pokemon Togepi was, or the kind of attacks it used. Ash was facing quite a challenge.

“Togepi, use swift,” Misty ordered, her voice calm and clear.

“Counter with agility!”

Golden stars appeared in front of Togepi, and hurtled themselves straight towards Pikachu, thankfully Pikachu managed to dodge them and at Ash’s command sent Togepi sprawling with a quick attack.

“C’mon Togepi, get up, I know you can do it! Use metronome!”

With a little cry, Togepi managed to pull herself up. Her small arms began to glow blue, and she waved them chanting, “Toge, Toge, togepii.”

Pikachu was lifted into the air and sent flying.

“Pikachu!!” Ash cried, his voice full of worry. Looking at Misty, and noticing a slight smile on her face, anger and determination grew within him, he would beat her! “Use thunder!!!”

“Counter with psychic,” Ash noticed that Misty’s face hadn’t changed at all, if anything the smile had broadened. Definitely not a good sign.

With a mighty BOOM!!!! The two attacks met, violet clashing with golden. Then the haze cleared, for a moment time stood still, than slowly Pikachu crumpled to the ground, in a dead faint.

“Pikachu is unable to battle,” the announcer called out, “Mistaria Waterflower has won and is the NEW POKEMON LEAGUE CHAMPION!!!!”

The crowd cheered wildly, glad to have witnessed a battle of such epic proportions. Unnoticed by most, Ash dropped to the ground, clutching Pikachu in his arms.

Lost, lost, lost. To Misty. Lost. No longer champion, these were the thoughts that ran through his mind, then, a new thought sprang up, No more league responsibilities, I have money, I can move to Pallet, raise a family, start a gym. He hadn’t realized he had been sitting there for 5 minutes, then he felt a small tao on his shoulder. Looking up he found himself staring into Whitney’s blue eyes, the Goldenrod gym trainer grinned at and said, “Cheer up, you can’t win them all. That was an amazing battle you know. C’mon get up, I think Misty wants to talk to you. Besides we’ll be late for the party.”
Until the mention of the party Ash had just stared at Whitney lifelessly, but then his mind made a connection; party=food, “Party, what party?! Will there be food?,” then looking down at the unconscious Pikachu he said, “I guess I had better heal my Pokemon first.”

Laughing, Whitney replied, “I shouldn’t had said anything about the party, I don’t know about the food, and yes your pokemon to need to see a Nurse Joy, pronto. Don’t forget, talk to Misty. Ash nodded.

Misty was in the shower, viciously scrubbing the ocean blue streaks out of her long red hair. She was worried. She had noticed when Ash had fallen, but the crowd had swept her away before she even got near him. Hopefully Whitney had though, Misty had given the blonde gym leader her message only seconds before she had lost sight of Ash. But she would see him tonight at the party that women Prof. Petunia was holding. Supposedly Oetunia had invited Ash’s family, friends, all the Johto, Kanto, and Orange Island gym leaders, and ome other powerful trainers. The only problem was that Misty had never heard of a Prof. Petunia before, you never knew what Team Rocket might do, especially nowadays, they had gotten even more violent. It was rumored that they had actually murdered some people. Well, she would see…