A True Christmas Present
Part 7

By zapdos1alpha

Zapdos1alpha@hotmail.com

AAMRN

~     ~     ~     ~

Last part the trio arrived in New York. Ash finds out who he was going to face.

~     ~     ~     ~

Ash startled awake. He was sweaty and scared. It couldn't have been true he 
thought it was all a dream. He attempted to sit up and couldn't, someone had a 
hold of him. Looking at the body in the bed next to him he found it was misty. 
He smiled to himself annd gently slid from under her arm.  He checked the time 
and found it was five thirty in the morning. Knowing he wouldn't be able to go 
back to sleep he stood and got ready for the day.

Walking out side it dawned on him that everything that had happenned the night 
before wasn't a dream. It was very much real and he had a hard time accepting it 
still. He ordered breakfast for the three of then and all the pokemon. Sitting 
he began to run the events from the previous night through his head.

In the room pikachu woke. Sensing his master wasn't there he went out to the 
main area of the suite they shared. Seeing his master sitting on the couch he 
joined him.  "Pika Pikachupi chu pikapi?" he asked Ash smiled down to his small 
yellow friend "Yes, Pikachu. I'm okay now and it is due to Misty. I still wonder 
what is going to happen today." He replied to the rodent and softly petted it.
"Chuuu." It said contentedly "Chu pikachu."
"Thank you Pikachu." Ash said, "I love you too."

Sighing ash sat there with his oldest pokemon friend. His journey companion, 
protector, the one that was there through it all, from the begining. They shared 
the silence, each thinking about what was to happen today and their life. 
Opening his pokedex ash began to record the days morning journal entry.

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

Begin Recording

Journal Entry # 156678493 December 22, 2012

I was unable to make my entry last night. It wasn't because I was unable to, it 
was because I couldn't physically and mentally.

Last night after searching on a hunch and the nervousness of my mother I found 
out that the man that we are going to meet today is quite possibly my real 
father. How he could be alive, I don't know. But I will find out today.

When I found out last night it hit me hard. I mentally went into shock. If it 
wasn't for misty finding me and brock having her use staryu to snap me out of it 
with a watergun attack. It was hard to explain to them what I had found, but the 
information on the screen of my laptop was proof enough.

I am nervous, scared, excited all rolled into one. With Misty, Pikachu, Brock 
and the others by my side I know I will get through it. But that brings me to 
the rest of the day and the battle with misty. That will be the toughest test of 
all today. To see if our love can withstand our having to battle for the title 
of over all pokemon master and league champion.

We will see what will come.

Journal entry #156678493 December 22, 2012

End Recording

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

As ash finished a knock came at the door. He opened it and accepted the 
breakfast he ordered up for them and tipped the waiter. Bringing it in he began 
to eat. It wasn't long before misty was awake the smell of food rousing her from 
sleep. Feeling the loss of ash in her arms she jumped up, threw on a robe and 
ran for the door seeing ash sitting there at the table was a relief. "Good 
morning ash. How do you feel this morning?" she asked
"Better than last night. Thank you so much for helping me. I would have sat 
there all night if you hadn't of come out and found me. For that I will be 
eternally grateful to you." He replied.
"Ash it was nothing. I'll always be concerned for you. I love you." She 
responded and kissed him.
"This smells great. I'll go get ready." She walked back into the room they 
shared to get ready for the day.

As she closed the door brock came out ready for the day and for breakfast. 
"Smells wonderful." He said.
"I've already eaten so the rest is for you and misty." Ash replied to him.
"Is she up yet?" Brock asked.
"Yes, she is getting ready now." Ash said smirking.
"How are you going to handle this afternoon?" he asked
"That Brock. Will have to be done when the time comes. Because right now I have 
no idea." He replied and pored him another cup of tea.

They continued to talk until misty came back out to eat breakfast. Ashes breath 
caught in his throat. Misty looked stunning. Instead of her normal traveling 
clothes she was wearing a tight aqua marine colored denim skirt and matching 
blouse tied just above her waist. Her red hair that was normally up was now down 
and flowing across her shoulders and down her back. Brock nodded to her and ash 
again sat in slight shock. Brock nudged him under the table and winked at him. 
"Misty you look fabulous." He said to her. "Thank you ash." She said and sat 
down to her breakfast. Ash excused himself from the table. He retreated back to 
the room puzzled misty continued to eat. A short time later ash reemerged. He 
had changed his clothing. He was now wearing his official pokemon league 
uniform. If it could be called that. He had on black slacks with a black 
business casual shirt and pokemon league black sports coat. His unruly hair was 
now combed. It was misty's turn to gasp. He was handsome, better than she had 
ever seen him look.
"I decided to look a bit better myself for this meeting." He replied to her 
unvoiced question. "You and brock both changed into better clothing for this, so 
why not me too."
Misty and brock both nodded to him. "I say we do a little shopping before we see 
this mystery man who seems to be your true father ash." Brock said. "Enjoy 
ourselves a little."
"I agree with brock ash." Misty replied. "We need to enjoy ourselves a bit 
before we meet him"
"And I agree with the both of you. Anthony gave me his number I called him from 
the room he said he would meet us downstairs and take us to the closest mall. I 
already had the idea of going out." Ash smirked. "Lets go. Pikachu you coming?"
"PIKA!" it replied and took a seat on ashes shoulder. They met Anthony 
downstairs and he took them to a mall not far away. Some of the shops there were 
expensive and others were geared for the teenager perspective. They all decided 
to meet up in a couple of hours and split up. Ash looked on the mall directory 
board and found the first stop he was looking for. A jeweler shop that 
specialized in hand crafted pieces. He immediately went to that shop since misty 
had gone the other direction.

"Welcome to Morgan Jewelers. Ah a pokemon trainer here to take on the champion?" 
the shop attendant asked.
"Well you could say that." Ash replied. "You do specialty pieces here, correct?"
"Yes we do sir. What where you looking for?"
"I need three pieces. Two necklaces and a men's ring. All are going to be in the 
shape of pokemon." Ash replied
"We have a wide selection here sir." The attendant said showing ash an 
assortment of very expensive jewelry. Unfortunately they were all American 
pokemon and not what he was looking for. "Do you see anything you like?"
"No. They will all have to be specialty items. Ash said. Do you have a place I 
can hook up my pokedex? I can show you the pokemon then describe how they need 
to look." Ash replied
"We do right over here." The attendant said and let ash hook up his pokedex to 
the computerized three dimensional imaging system.
"Okay the first piece needs to be diamonds, rubies, and yellow diamonds." He 
said as the shop attendant made notes. A picture of staryu came up on the 
imager. "The necklace needs to have two of this pokemon in diamonds and rubies." 
The attendant saved the image and ash continued bringing up togepi. "The third 
item on the first necklace needs to look like this pokemon. He needs to be in 
yellow and white diamonds with ruby and sapphire accents. Arrange the necklace 
so the egg pokemon is in the middle." He finished and the attendant saved the 
second image.

In the back the crafters were already busy making the items. True craftsman 
didn't take long to make a piece. "Sir would you like white or yellow gold?" the 
attendant asked. "White gold for all but the third piece please." Ash replied.
"And the second piece?" the attendant continued.
"The second piece will be the ring. It must look like this pokemon." Ash said 
bringing up the curled form of onix. "The ring has to be a ten and one half in 
size."
"Very good sir and the third piece?'
"Yes the third will be in solid yellow gold and shaped like a Mr. Mime." Ash 
replied showing the attendant the pokemon. "It needs to be about an inch in 
height."
"Okay sir. We will have the pieces ready for you in a few hours do you have a 
number where we can reach you at?" The attendant asked. Ash gave him the number 
to his pokegear and left the shop. He continued to browse and found a pokemon 
supply shop. He purchased himself, Misty and Brock all a set of RS balls. They 
were new on the market and better than the GS balls he had now. He quickly 
traded out his pokemon into the new balls and stored his old GS balls in the 
belt pouch he was wearing.

He met up with Brock and Misty. It was nearing noon and they decided to eat. 
During lunch his pokegear rang. Answering it and a brief discussion he excused 
himself and let his friends know that he would be back shortly and they should 
wait. He hurried back to the jeweler shop to pick up his gifts.
"Welcome back sir. Here are the items you requested. I hope they are to your 
liking." The attendant said. Ash studied each item and they were of very high 
quality for such quick work. Nodding the attendant began to ring up the bill. 
Ash already knew that this would be very expensive and had decided to put them 
on the card that Gladius had given them to use.
"Okay sir. The first item the two staryu necklace comes to eleven thousand 
dollars even. The ring comes to a total of eight hundred dollars and the third 
item, the mr. Mime necklace comes to five thousand dollars. That is a total of 
seventeen thousand, three hundred dollars. How would you like to pay for that 
sir?" The attendant asked
"By credit." Ash replied and handed him the card. Ash didn't think the card 
would authorize that high of an amount but it did. He signed the slip and 
received his receipt. "Thank you"
"No sir thank you for visiting Morgan Jewelers. Here are three lifetime warranty 
cards. If anything is to happen to those items just send them back with those 
cards and they will be repaired or replaced for free." The man replied.
"Thank you again." Ash said and hurried out of the shop to rejoin his friends

"Where did you go Ash?" Misty asked.
"Well I had to go and pick up some items that had just gotten ready." He replied 
and reached into the large sack and pulled out a smaller one. "These are for you 
Brock."
"Ash you shouldn't have." He replied to him as he opened the bag containing the 
pokeball set. When he opened the small ring case he gasped. Turning the case to 
show misty se replied in awe. "My god. That is a beautiful ring."
"Okay Misty now its your turn." Ash said and handed her a small sack with the 
same pokeballs. When she found the jewelry box she hesitated at opening it.
"Ash you really didn't need to do this." She said.
"I did. As thank you for helping me last night and for helping me through 
fourteen long hard years.
With out you brock and especially you misty. I would have never made it to where 
I am now. I owe you both everything." He said. "Now open your box."
She did and nearly killed ash hugging him and kissing him. Brock was surprised 
at the display, he knew that what ever ash had given her was worth a thousand 
word that ash himself could never really say over fourteen years. But backed up 
what he did say just a year ago. Misty couldn't say anything. Ash took the 
necklace and put it on her and brock then knew why she reacted the way she did. 
The necklace had to of cost a fortune. Ash confirmed his look with a nod. He 
turned misty to him and spoke "No matter what happens today. I want you to know 
that it will never change the way I feel for you. I will love you, always and 
forever." Misty nodded her approval and kissed him again.
"We need to go Anthony is waiting for us." Brock said and they headed to ashes 
future.

When they arrived to a high-rise building they saw it was next to a stadium. One 
of the largest stadiums they had seen. Anthony let them out of the vehicle and 
gave them some quick instructions. They thanked him and walked inside.
"Can I help you folks?" The guard behind the desk asked.
"Yes sir. I'm Ash Ketchum. This is Misty WaterFlower and Brock Slate. We are 
here to see the American League Champion." He replied. The guard quickly scanned 
the list he had and found all of their names.
"He is expecting you. If you will go around the corner here and take the 
elevator up to the top floor." The guard said.
"Thank you sir." Ash replied and they found the elevators. It was a short ride 
up to the top floor.
Exiting they elevator they saw a young lady sitting at the receptions desk. 
Noticing them she spoke.
"Ms. Waterflower, Mr. Ketchum, Mr. Slate, the champion will see you now. He is 
waiting inside." She showed them into the office beyond. They walked up to the 
desk, the chair was turned facing the window. Once the door had closed Dennis 
spoke to them. "Thank you all for putting up with everything. I hope you enjoyed 
your day out in New York." The chair turned and the man in it was highlighted by 
the light of the room. All three drew in a quick breath as they looked apon the 
face of Dennis for the first time. The resemblance to ash was startling. He had 
the same facial features as ash, the eyes were a soft chestnut brown, his hair 
was spiky but gray in color. Misty and Brock thought they were staring at a 
mirror image of ash only older. "It has been a long time, Ashton."
"Why?" He said hotly "Why did you do all this? Put me and my friends, my 
girlfriend in danger?"
"Well I was actually a part of this as you were. I used my cash to help you 
along. As for putting this all together, I didn't do it. Someone else did" he 
replied calmly to ash.
"I don't believe you." Ash replied
"Sir, if you didn't do this, then who did?" Misty asked softly.
"I did..." Came a haunting voice from the corner of the room. They all turned 
and could only see a pair of eyes piercing out from the dark corner. "...and you 
must believe him ash."
"Who are you? How do you know my name?" Ash asked.
"Before I explain who I am. You must first remember." The voice said. A blinding 
flash of light filled the room when it was gone the three trainers were not 
injured in anyway. The voice then revealed itself. It was Mewtwo.
"Why did you put all this together?" Ash questioned having the answer to his 
first two.
"Now you can know the full story. In your memory think back for you are the only 
three out of hundreds that know the truth now. It was thirteen years ago. You, 
ash were summoned to Mew Island for a battle. It was at the end of the battle 
that you helped me to see that caring about others is what is needed. A few 
years later you and your friends helped me again. This time you helped me see 
that I belonged in this world even though I was different. You also helped me 
see that even though there were evil people in this world there are also kind 
and caring people. I have traveled around this world. I found this man here. 
Champion of a pokemon league, but very saddened. I spoke to him and he told me 
of a woman and boy he had left long ago. He wanted very much to see them again 
but he could not. I searched his mind, there I found the full story, and I found 
you."
"But, why do this Mewtwo?" Ash asked again hotly
"I was there that night a year ago ash. Watching over you. I knew of the fight 
you had with Misty. I knew of the love you held for her and she for you. I knew 
it since our first meeting. I kept a watch over you. I vowed that I would one 
day help you as you had helped me. You were missing two very important parts of 
your life. Misty and your father. In order to be truly happy you would need them 
both. I set this up to bring you all back together." Mewtwo finished
"I don't believe that this man is my father. My father died a long time ago." 
Ash replied to mewtwo.
"I am ash. I left shortly before your second birthday. I was on my way to Sri 
Lanka to explore a recently discovered but uncharted cave. I fell there and 
injured myself badly. I was in a very remote part of the cave. I was found by 
pokemon. Sensing I would not harm them they took me back to their home in the 
cave and nursed me back to health. During that time a rescue team came looking 
for me and only found my journal. I believe your mom has that. I explored the 
cave with the help of the pokemon. When I finally emerged it was almost five 
years later." He replied to ash.
"I don't believe you." Ash said violently. With that mewtwo floated to a point 
between the two men.
And began a psychic link.
"I will allow you to see the truth, ash" it said and completed the link.
"Where am I?" Ash questioned but didn't feel his mouth move.

On the outside Misty started for ash. He was suspended, hovering a couple of 
inches off the ground. Brock stopped her assuring her mewtwo would not harm ash. 
Not feeling that ash was safe she strained against brock. Finally giving up she 
took a seat next to ash and waited.

"You are in my mind." Mewtwo said appearing before him. "We are connected 
through a psychic link. The tunnel to the left leads to your fathers mind. The 
one to your right back to your mind. I implore you to go to the left and see the 
truth for yourself as I have seen it. Please, go and see the truth."

Eyeing the pokemon ash walked slowly down the tunnel to his fathers mind. When 
he got there his father was waiting. "Mewtwo told me to wait here for you. We 
are in my memories. You will see them as I see them. This scene is the day you 
were born." Dennis said to him. "Watch, listen and learn."

Ash watched in awe seeing his mother lying there giving birth to him. 'come on 
delia you can do it. Just a little more honey' he heard Dennis say. Soon there 
was crying in the room and a nurse announcing it was a boy. He could see his 
mother cradling him to herself and then the baby got close, then pulled away. He 
saw the scene move up and down as if in a nod and then turn back to the nurse. 
'His name will be Ashton Satoshi Ketchum after his grandfathers.' The scene 
jumped to his first Christmas. It jumped again a short time later to ashes first 
birthday, then to his second Christmas. It continued to jump until the night his 
father left. Ash heard him log the journal entry and the promise to his mother 
that no matter what happened he would always take care of her and ash. That 
brought tears to ashes eyes both in link and the real world.

Seeing ash cry misty began to worry. Brock noticing the tears started to worry a 
little to but again assured misty it would be fine. A short time later the 
connection ended Ash and Dennis both slumped to the floor.
"They will both be alright in a moment" Mewtwo replied. "The effects of the 
connection will disappear in a few moments." Ash began to stir and misty went to 
his side and cradled him. "Ash are you okay?
"I'm fine misty. It's all true. He is my real father." Ash replied and lightly 
sobbed.
"You should be happy ash. Your father is alive and well." Misty said
"Yes. I agree with Misty. This is a true Christmas present." Brock replied
"It is. I'm overjoyed but stunned as well. I would have never thought it 
possible. Twenty-two years, Why didn't you ever tell us you were alive?" Ash 
asked
"Quite simple. I could never put you or your mother through the pain of knowing 
I was alive for all that time. And having to see you go through that pain of 
trying to make sense of the pain was more than I could stand. Even though we 
have just found each other and there are a lot of explaining to do there is one 
item of business we need to attend to first. Please follow me." He replied as he 
lead the way out of the room.

Everyone stopped after entering the room except for Dennis. He continued to the 
opposite end. With a loud click and a soft hum the room was lit. It was an 
indoor stadium. Brock asked if there was a place he could change before the 
match. Dennis nodded him to a door that said lockers on it. Brock thanked him 
and headed for it Ash excused himself and joined brock leaving misty and Dennis 
to talk. They did and she found that Dennis was very much like ash. It was 
uncanny the resemblance both physical and mental.

In the locker room ash released his pokemon while brock changed into referee 
clothing. "Okay guys, Pikachu already knows this so I know you do too. I know 
you will all be tired and hurt after this match. I want to ask you if you will 
still battle tired and hurt when it comes time to face misty?" Ash asked of his 
pokemon. Charizard answered for them all "Char char charizard chari zard char" 
It said.
"Thank you Charizard. I'm glad you understand that this is to make the match 
even between us. I'm also glad that you all understand my feelings for her. 
Thank you. Thank you all." He replied.
"Pika chu pikapichu pi pikapi." Pikachu said.
"What do you mean I always loved her?" Ash questioned
"Bulbasaur saur bul bulba bulbasaur" bulbasaur said.
"Okay you were right all of you I did love her from the start. And you were 
right even more bulbasaur. When you said that I would never know until I tried 
and I replied that I did know. I truly didn't. You helped me see my mistake 
then. Mewtwo helped us both to see the wrong. We are not leaving each other 
again." He replied. Nodding his thanks to them all he recalled them and walked 
out to join the others who were waiting.
"Lets do this." Ash said and took his place at one end of the battlefield. 
Dennis took the other.
Misty looked on in awe at the look of determination and seriousness on ashes 
face. Dennises mirrored his sons face. Ash spoke with an authority that could 
only come from being the champion for so long. "Dennis Ketchum, I accept your 
challenge. I ask that Brock Slate witness the match as referee."
Dennis nodded his approval and brock stepped to the referees box on the field.
"Challenger ready?" Brock asked
"Ready" Dennis replied
"Challenged ready?" Brock asked this time of ash
"Ready" Ash replied
"This will be a three round match. Two one on one matches and one team match. 
Begin" Brock said.
"Good luck ash. I'll use pokemon you are familiar with. Charizard go." Dennis 
said forcefully.
"Pikachu, I choose you." Ashe replied
"PIKA!" It said and took its place on the field.
"Charizard, fire wrath now." Dennis said. With that charizard flew into the air 
and used a combination of fire spin and flamethrower attacks. It was powerful.
"Pikachu use agility dodge" Ash commanded. Pikachu move quickly but not quick 
enough. It was hit with the edge of the attack.
"Thunder Clap." Ash said loudly.
"Thunder clap?" Dennis said puzzled. "Charizard evade the attack then flame 
thrower."
Pikachu began to charge up, glowing yellow the flamethrower attack never touched 
him. Finally voicing the attack pikachu clapped its paws together creating a 
bolt of lightning and a loud sonic boom. Charizard was caught in both effects 
and thrown hard against the wall of the stadium knocking him out cold. Dennis 
recalled his charizard and thanked him for a job well done. Ash walked out and 
picked up pikachu who was having a little difficulty in getting back to ash.
"Pi pika chu." it said.
"Thank you. I know your okay to battle misty. Rest now little buddy." Ash said 
giving pikachu a potion and letting him rest, then calling out his charizard.
"Good choice ash but not good enough. Go Seaking" Dennis said and seaking 
appeared in a flash of light. "Seaking Hydropump"
"Charizard dodge it and use seismic toss." Ash commanded. Charizard took off 
straight up.
Unfortunately it wasn't quite fast enough and the hydropump caught his tail. It 
weakened him greatly. Charizard completed ashes orders and did a seismic toss. 
The force of the blow knocked out seaking with one hit.
"Charizard, return and thank you." Ash said
"Seaking return, thank you job well done." Dennis said and called out his team 
of Onix and Nidoqueen.
"Okay Pikachu. I know your tired but I need you again. Squirtle, I choose you." 
Ash said as squirtle appeared pikachu ran out to meet him. Dennis looked a bit 
deflated at the choice of pokemon his son chose. Seeing this ash spoke.
"Dennis I give you a chance to yield." Ash called being a sport about the match 
and giving his father a way out with out having all his pokemon fainted. Dennis 
looked across the field to his son and smirked. It was amazing how alike they 
were and just as stubborn. "Team Rockstorm." He yelled out his answer.
"Squirtle, Pikachu electric water attack." Ash yelled his reply. The two attacks 
met in the middle and the electric water attack won out. It punched through hard 
and fainted Onix almost immediately. Nidoqueen took a little longer to go down. 
When she did go to one knee ash commanded the attack to stop.
"Nidoqueen and Onix are unable to battle the match goes to Ash Ketchum." Brock 
said.
Dennis recalled his pokemon, thanked them and walked out to the middle of the 
field. He waited patiently for ash to recall squirtle and join him.
"Ash you are a powerful trainer. I have sent the best in action. I confer to you 
the rank of American Pokemon League Champion. Please come over here." Dennis 
said and indicated a consol in the wall. "May I see your pokedex please?"
Ash handed his pokedex to him and he slid it into the wall. It was soon released 
and a voice was heard in the stadium. "Registered Ash Satoshi Ketchum, new 
American league champion." It said. Nodding to his son they embraced.
"I have something that needs to be done. May I use your field? Ash asked his 
father.
"It's your field now. You may do as you see fit." Dennis replied. Ash nodded and 
Dennis went and sat down next to misty. She was puzzled as to why brock never 
left the field to change. She was about to ask him why he didn't go change when 
he spoke to her. "Misty come to the center of the field." He said. Brock didn't 
approach the center of the field instead ash did.
"Misty remember what I said earlier. No matter what happens I will always love 
you, forever." He said and left her standing in the center of the field with a 
very strange look on her face. She watched as ash stopped in the trainers box. 
Not turning around to look at her he waited.
"Misty Waterflower take your place." Brock said indicating the other trainers 
box.
"Go on misty." Dennis said encouragingly. She slowly walked to the box. When she 
got there ash had turned around.
"Misty forgive me for this." He said and nodded to brock to begin.
"Misty Kasumi Waterflower. You have brought challenge to the pokemon league for 
your over all master title and championship. By random computerized draw your 
opponent is Ash Ketchum. Pokemon League Champion, American League Champion, and 
Pokemon Master." Brock said forcefully
"Ash?" Misty questioned with understanding dawning on her face. "Oh why does it 
have to be you ash? Damn computer why ash?"
"Misty Waterflower. I as the challenged under pokemon league rules can select my 
place and time of battle. The time is now. The place is here. I offer you a 
chance to remove yourself from this match. If you leave you lose the right to 
challenge again for five years." Ash said seriously.
Misty spun away from ash but stayed in the trainers box. She was fingering the 
gift ash had given her earlier that day and thinking of leaving. It was then she 
heard brock softly speak to her.

"Misty take the challenge. He won't have the strength or the courage to do this 
again. He has worried about this day since your challenge was logged and he was 
selected. Don't make him wait anymore. Get it over with." He said
"I can't beat him brock. He's to strong. His pokemon are too strong." She said 
sadly.
"If you notice he hasn't healed his pokemon." Brock said
"He hasn't? Why?" She asked.
"He knew that his pokemon at full health would be too powerful for your pokemon 
to beat them. He and his pokemon agreed that this would be the best way to even 
the playing field. He battled them before battling you to ensure the match would 
be even and fair. It is difficult for him to face you in an official match. 
Don't leave him standing there after he has gotten up the courage and strength 
to face you on even terms." Brock replied and left her to think.

Standing there a few minutes longer and continuing to finger the necklace ash 
gave her she reached her decision. Turning around Ash saw a fire and 
determination in her eyes he had seen in Las Vegas. "I'll not walk away from 
this. I have challenged the League for my master title and championship. I 
intend to earn it." She said.

Brock nodded approvingly and announced the match to a recorder he had "The 
challenge has been logged and accepted. Due to Pokemon League rules I Brock 
Slate am witness and referee.
I call for a second witness. Dennis Ketchum, former American League Champion, 
Will you also witness this match?"
"I will." He replied standing and taking the opposite referees box. Nodding 
brock continued.
"Challenger are you ready?" Brock asked
"Yes. I'm ready" Misty replied.
"Challenged are you ready?" Brock asked ash. To Dennis the formality of the 
match was a bit odd. But then Each League did things a little different.
"I'm ready" Ash sounded off.
"You are each allowed four pokemon. Choose your first and begin." Brock said and 
backed off the field
"Charizard I choose you." Ash said.
"Starmie go." Misty called out. "Hyper ice beam attack." Starmie launched the 
largest ice beam attack ash had ever seen.
"Charizard dodge it" ash yelled and charizard obeyed. The ice beam hit his wing 
freezing it solid.
Charizard unable to fly crashed to the ground. "Flamethrower." Again charizard 
obeyed and launched his hardest flamethrower at starmie. It hit dead on and 
caused starmie to stop its hyper ice beam attack. The damage was done to 
charizard and he was now very weak.
"Starmie, hydropump." Misty said. It hit charizard full on. Being unable to 
dodge it charizard fainted and misty stopped the attack.
"Good work charizard. Thank you." Ash said and called back his pokemon. "Well 
done misty. It looks like we are evenly matched. Your starmie is very weak one 
more hit from anything and it will faint. That means that this battle will be 
fair."
"Ash I know why you're doing this. I whished you would have healed your pokemon 
before the match. I don't want this handed to me." Misty replied.
"It's not being handed to you. I didn't hold back at all with charizard. His 
strongest attack is his flamethrower. I also know from my battle with Dennis 
that he has even more powerful attacks. He just does not know them yet." Ash 
said.
"Starmie, return. Great job" Misty said.
"Cassy, go. Flame wheel attack." Ash said.
"Wartortle go. Counter with hydropump" Misty called. The battle raged on. It 
took a while for an attack to hit. Nearly ten minutes into the match misty's 
wartortle landed the first blow a full hydropump.
"Vul!" Cassy screamed as the water washed over her body. She got up shaking and 
on instinct alone launched a very powerful fire blast. It hit wartortle hard but 
only weakened it slightly. After it was released cassy fainted, unable to 
battle. Ash recalled her and thanked her for a job well done. He thought for a 
moment. Squirtle was only slightly weakened but pikachu was almost out for the 
count. He didn't know which of the two pokemon she had left she would call out. 
Onix or Togetic. He had to try. "Pikachu I choose you." He said
"Onix go." Misty said after recalling wartortle. All ash could think was face 
off time.
"Wait for it pikachu." Ash said. Knowing what he was thinking misty called her 
onix to turn toward her.
"Keep your mouth closed throughout the battle. If you open your mouth you will 
be knocked out."
She said. Nodding its understanding it turned back around keeping its mouth 
closed tightly. "Onix rock slide." Misty called.
"Pikachu when it answers thunderbolt it in the mouth. Ash commanded. Onix never 
answered just began the attack. "What!? Pikachu evade it." Ash said hurriedly.
Looking across the field to misty she ordered the attack she had hopped she 
wouldn't. Placing a pair of goggles on she ordered onix to perform sandstorm. It 
came up very quickly in the confined space, blinding everyone except onix. "Now 
onix tackle." Misty said. Knowing Pikachu couldn't see him he answered the 
command. "On" it said as it tackled pikachu hard knocking it cold. Onix subsided 
the sandstorm and very gently took its little friend back to his trainer. As 
pikachu was placed in ashes arms he woke. "Pi" it said softly. "Yes. You did 
your best now rest. Once we are finished here I'll get you all healed." Ash said 
and gently laid his friend down.
"Squirtle go. Good luck." Ash said
"Onix bind with rock slide" Misty commanded
"Squirtle, hydropump" Ash ordered. They met in the middle. Onix bound the small 
pokemon just before it launched its hydropump. The attack worked and fainted the 
giant rock snake pokemon. Misty recalled onix and thanked him. She called out 
Wartortle.
"Squir?" Squirtle said puzzled at seeing its evolved form.
"I know Squirtle. Skullbash now." Ash said
"Wartortle, dodge it and use your hammer attack. Misty replied.

The attack was dodged easily. As squirtle went by wartortle connected with the 
small area at the base of squirtles neck and shell. It dazed the tiny turtle but 
it was still walking. "Wartortle finish it off. Tackle it now." Misty called. It 
was a hard tackle.  Squirtle fell but wasn't ready to give up. It attempted to 
get up but fell back down to weak to continue. Seeing this brock called the 
match
"Squirtle is unable to battle the match goes to Misty Waterflower." He stepped 
off the field and the two trainers recalled their pokemon.

Ash was the first to the center of the field. He wore a very worried look on his 
face. Misty slowly approached him. She couldn't be mad at him for what he done. 
He evened the playing field and the battles were hard. Before she could tell him 
it was okay he spoke loud enough for all to hear.

"Today we have witnessed the rise of a new champion. Through her determination, 
fighting spirit, and trust in her pokemons abilities, she has risen to the top. 
Being the current champion and over all master, I Ashton Satoshi Ketchum confer 
to Misty Kasumi Waterflower the rank of master and champion." Ash stated. Then 
lower so only misty could hear "Congratulation misty. I love you."
"Oh ash I love you too." She said. Then in a very unprofessional manner she 
kissed him deeply. By that action ash knew his life was complete. He was 
forgiven of his action by the woman he loved, he knew his real father and could 
build a relationship with him. Even though he had a stepfather at home he now 
had two to talk to.

It was a few hours before ash and his friends were ready to leave. He had logged 
into the Pokemon Leagues mainframe and finished logging the paperwork on the 
match. He then switched his title over to misty. He also logged his own 
accomplishment as American Pokemon League champion. Once that was done He 
entered the archives and reactivated his fathers pokemon league status from 
missing/deceased to being alive. He also logged his fathers title into the 
system and then logged the day he lost it. It was late and they were getting 
ready to leave. Dennis handed two large manila envelopes to ash.
"What are these for?" Ash asked
"One is for your mother. It will explain everything to her as I explained it to 
you. I just hope she is as understanding as you." He said
"She is." Ash replied.
"The second is for the pokemon league, also explaining what had happened. It 
will explain the changes you have made in the records. I'll come back there when 
the time is right for now knowing I'm alive is enough." Dennis finished.

Ash stepped up and hugged him. They can now begin to work on the bond a father 
and son should have. Stepping back he took mistys hand. Dennis saw them out and 
to the limo. He waved to them as they drove away.

It wasn't long before they were back in the air. It was late and the lights in 
the plane were low. Ash and misty were sitting side by side looking out of the 
window at the stars. They saw a brief flash and a pokemon that looked like 
mewtwo. It was then they both heard a haunting voice in their heads.

"Congratulations to you both and Merry Christmas. I'll always be watching." It 
said. Smiling to each other they kissed and settled in for the long flight home.

~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~       ~

Well Its done. I hope you enjoyed reading my fan fic as I enjoyed writing it. I 
know the end has been a long time coming. I got caught in work, school and 
vacation. I wrote this while on vacation and needed to type it in, proof it and 
get is out.

Thanks to all those who reviewed and helped. You know who you are.

I have a new fic in the works. Hopefully it won't be as long as this one. With 
my luck it will be longer ^|~ he, he.

Send your reviews to zapdos1alpha@hotmail.com
Flamers be kind it was my first fic.