I do not own Pokemon and all that shenanigans. If I did, Ash would actually grow. AND PLEASE REVIEW!
Edit (6/6/2017): It's been a long while since I have been on I decided to come back and fix grammatical errors and fix some sentence structure. Thanks for reading.
AND THE WINNER IS ASH KETCHEM!
The 20-year-old champion waved his arms triumphantly as the crowd roared.
Finally! He thought. Ten years and I have now become a champion!
With his brown eyes, he glanced to Pikachu.
"So this is how it feels to be on top, eh buddy?"
Beaming, Pikachu replied, "PI-PIKA-PII!"
Being the match-ending pokemon, Pikachu was especially excited. Pikachu used the newly developed Dark Volt Tackle to end the match against the opponent's near-invincible Arcanine. All of Ash's team put up a tremendous effort. Charizard was able to overcome a tricky Gengar while Sceptile was able to pull an underdog win over his opponent's Frostlass.
Accepting congratulations from his opponent Haru, Ash glanced at the area where Brock normally sat. Ash and Brock became very close friends over the years. To Ash, Brock was like an older brother, mentor, and confidant. In the stands, Ash saw his Mom, Professor Oak, Oak's assistant Tracy, his longtime rival and intellectual researcher Gary, professional Pokemon breeder Brock, gym-leader Misty (who took time off to see the match), Dawn (who was visiting for the Kanto Grand Festival), and, to Ash's surprise, his former traveling partner May.
May... She must have finished the Kinai Grand Festival just in time to see my match.
Back in Pallet Town, Ash gave a short speech to commemorate his victory. "It has been 10 long years since I left this very house to begin my journey. I have traveled across the land, searching far and wide. I have had countless encounters. And I have made an abundance of friends along the way. Many couldn't make it here right now, but I want everyone to know, that I couldn't have done this without all of you. This isn't just my victory. This is our victory. Thank you all!"
Everyone cheered when Ash raised the Kanto League trophy.
As the party raved, Brock pulled Ash aside to the front of the house, privately congratulating him. "Good job Ash. It took you awhile, but you're finally the champion of Kanto and conqueror of the Indigo Plateau."
"I know right? It doesn't seem that long if I think about it. I think I'll do the Johto Battle Frontier before heading out to farther lands. Eventually I would like to settle down somewhere, maybe open a Trainer School."
"Wow, Ash.. Looks like you're thinking things through. For a change." Misty bounced over, teasing her raven haired friend by stealing his cap and placing it upon her own red hair.
"It's just a thought." Ash patted down his hat hair. "How's Cerulean Gym?"
"Same, as usual. Trainers come and go." Misty made a frustrated face. "I just wish that I could whip out my Gyarados and give it some fight; he wants to battle. But the League keeps telling me to go easy on new trainers."
Brock empathized with the new trainers, "Well of course we have to go easy on them. It wouldn't do to crush hopes and dreams into a million pieces."
Misty agreed, "Yeah, I see your point."
Ash had an idea. "Well, Misty, I could stop by sometime and battle your higher level Pokemon."
Misty, excited at the prospect of a friendly battle with an old friend, exclaimed, "Oh would you! That'd be great!"
"I dunno how Ash can find time for that visit between traveling, battling, and seeing a certain girl." Brock interjected, receiving a glare from Ash.
Wide-eyed, Misty suddenly grew interested. "Hehe. Who's the special girl, Ash?"
May's face appeared through the doorway. She was evidently looking for the new Champion. Trying to stop his eyes from casting a glance over to May, Ash ended up looking in the opposite direction while crossing his arms. Unfortunate for him, his reaction was so strange that his attempt to feign innocence proved futile.
"I definitely know who it is." Misty returned Ash's cap to his head, pulling the lip over his reddening face. "Hey Brock? Could you come with me to get some food? I'm pretty hungry."
"Sure thing." Tactfully, Brock and Misty slipped back inside the house. Misty gave May a wink. He's all yours.
Ash noted his friends' strange and helpful behavior.
May approached, "Looks like you had a great battle. And congrats for becoming champion."
"Eh.. It was all right. All the extra training paid off." Ash fixed his cap so he can see May's brightening face. "Sorry for not being able to make it to the Grand Festival, May."
May giggled. There goes Ash. Being all aloof and apologetic. "Ash, it's okay. You had an important tournament to do."
The pair started drifting towards the nearby Pallet Pond.
Ash still didn't feel content. "Still. The Grand Tournament was really important to you and I wish I was able to see you in your beautiful splendor."
Ash's ears reddened as he realized what he just said.
Smiling, May pinched his cheek.
"Awww. Thanks Ash. But it wasn't as if you weren't there. I had a part of you with me the whole time."
Ash was surprised. "You did?"
May looked at Ash straight in the eyes, "Yeah. Did you forget? The Terracota Ribbon."
Ash's eyes glowed with realization, "Oh yeah! Wow, it's been awhile since we earned that ribbon."
May reminisced, "I kept it with me when I traveled across the Kinai region and everywhere else I went."
Looks like May is extremely attached to that ribbon. Sitting on the grass, Ash reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out his half of the Terracota Ribbon from a badge case that he re-purposed. "I kept it right next to my heart everywhere I traveled as well."
Sitting beside him, May opened a ribbon case. Laying in the case was the other half of the ribbon. The edges of both ribbons had looked somewhat tattered, yet both ribbons were well polished and had evidence of care. The two held out their ribbons to make a whole, eclipsing the full moon that sat above the pond.
Ash chuckled, "It's kinda amazing how both ribbons are still so alike, even after all this time"
"Yeah.." May paused.
Ash turned his gaze over to May. She looked even more beautiful in the moonlight; ten years of growth led to the picturesque figure of a woman that Ash sees tonight.
Ash started. "May... I've missed traveling with you. All those times hanging out with you were amazing. You know what I mean?"
May turned to Ash, peering into his eyes. Ash felt like she was reading his very mind to determine his true intentions.
She then looked back to the moon. "Ash, do you remember how we met?"
Following her gaze to the moon, Ash reminisced. "Yeah. You were just starting your journey. And Pikachu was sick, so I had to take him to Professor Birch."
"And remember Pikachu burning my bike?"
Ash laughed. "Pikachu burns everyone's bikes."
May stared at Ash for a second, then looked away. "Ash, you know I was scared of Pokemon. Pikachu made me even more afraid; his electric attacks were so powerful. But as I traveled with you, I found that Pikachu was kind and cute... much like you."
Ash turned towards May. Does she feel the way I feel? My heart is beating so fast! Should I?
Then, he remembered Brock's words. "Ash, if you really want something, just go for it. You've always done that when you were younger. It is like a cliff-jumping scenario, decide right away. There is no middle ground."
Well, looks like I'm about to jump off a cliff. Will I land headfirst to solid rock or feel the refreshing sensation of the sea?
"May, I told you that I miss you, but I didn't say why. I missed having you by my side as a friend. But over the years, I think I missed you because I was in love... with you. And all those sporadic times we met in various regions, I don't think they were enough. May, would you have me as your boyfriend?"
Stunned, May covered her flustered face as she turned her wide blue eyes towards Ash. Did he really say what I thought he said?
"Ash, you were a great mentor and friend. I missed you during the time we were apart. And I love you too."
Ash saw a beautiful smile light up on May's face as she jumped on him, pressing her soft lips against his. The couple fell to the grass with a light thud, May's lithe body falling on Ash's well-toned one.
Wow, Ash really did grow up over the years.
May paused for a moment and asked Ash. "Ash, why would you want to be a Top Coordinator's boyfriend. I think it's much better if I were to be a Champion's girlfriend. So why didn't you just ask me to be your girlfriend?"
"May, have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" Ash teased his love.
May teased back, "No I don't think so. Do you have a sonnet to express what you see?"
"I can think of something, just give me a trip with you."
"That, I can do."
They cuddled together for a good hour. What a picture-perfect moment. They both thought in unison.
After about an hour, May and Ash got up and went back to the party, hand in hand.
As Ash came through the door, he found everyone expecting him and May. His mom smiled, "Did you two have fun?"
Ash and May grew embarrassed and shocked simultaneously.
Dawn laughed, "Everyone knew you left. What's a party without the champ?"
And finally Gary popped the question. "So Ashy-boy. When's the proposal?"
"And when am I gonna be a grandmother?" added Mom.
The couple shouted in unison, "YOU GUYS!"
Extras
Dark Volt Tackle is a move I invented. A volt tackle in simple terms, but the electricity that Pikachu generates are so powerful that the yellow becomes a dark blue. Evidence of this attack is charred grass from the heat that the attack generates.
Based on the Kinki region of Japan, the Kinai region is a region borderline west of Johto. I put Kin- (from Kinki) and -Ai (which means love) together.