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The crowd roared around him, the steady thrum of his heart beat loud in his ears. Sammy Ketchum stood, hat facing backwards to keep his auburn hair from his eyes as he faced his opponent across the Indigo Plateau. The Indigo Plateau! The very place his mother had battled at the mere age of ten, gotten into the top 16 with only a Pikachu and a ragtag team of friends, and Sammy Ketchum had made it. The Gym leaders he had faced, the Pokémon he gathered, the friends he made, all had led up to this. The judges and spectators began to talk amongst themselves while the reporters went wild from their places around the field.

"Sammy Ketchum, son of the late Ash Ketchum, Pokémon Master, surpassed all expectations and has made it into the top 32, with a Pichu. The question everyone is asking is if this young Ketchum has what it takes to become the next Pokémon master, or, like many before him, will fail to meet the requirements of a true hero."

Sammy clenched his gloved fists in determination. This was the day; his day. Today was the day he showed them all that he was his mother's son.

Sammy went first, releasing a Bulbasaur, watching as his opponent let lose a Spearow. Sammy smirked, and his face showed on every screen of the stadium. This was his destiny, and it was going to be a piece of cake.

The battle went on for several hours, neither trainer giving an inch, exhausted Pokémon immediately replaced by more powerful types, witling away at their teams until at last Sammy stood with his Pichu at his feet, panting with exhaustion, while the other trainers Charzard heaved great breaths, barely able to stand. Sammy didn't even know the other boy's name, but he knew he was going to win. He just knew. While the other's Charzard needed only one more direct hit to be knocked out, Pichu was strong, and as determined as Sammy himself. The little guy had too much fight in him to lose.

Searching the crowd, Sammy saw his family sitting close together. Misty and her husband Rudy with their small daughter. May and Drew, their hands clasped in anticipation. Brock, Tracy, Max, Dawn, Paul, Ritchie, his Great grandfather, his grandmother, and everyone who had ever known his mother sat in the crowd watching him battle. Every face he remembered growing up was there, cheering him on, expecting him to win. Every face except the one he wanted to see the most.

The other trainer took advantage of Sammy's distraction.

"Charzard, slash!"

Pichu cried out it pain as it flew across the battlefield, landing in a heap at Sammy's feet. Blood began to trickle from the pale yellow fur, but the creature still stood weakly.

Sammy was too surprised at the drawing of blood at a League match to counter the next attack.

"Charzard, Dragon Rage!"

The flames flew forward, but Pichu could barely stand. The small Pokémon wouldn't have a chance.

Sammy's eyes widened, wracking his brain for an amazing move that his mother was known for, something to get them out of such a situation. Nothing.

Sammy did the only thing he could think of to ensure the survival of his best friend. He leapt forward, and encased the tiny Pokémon's frail body with his own.

Lol cliffhanger. Preview for the next chapter?

"Mom?" whispered the boy on the ground. Ash Ketchum turned around, facing his son with a huge smile.