Ash stood up on the pillar, facing Lance. This was it. He clenched the pokeball in his hand tighter, afraid it would slip out of his sweaty hands. The stadium, open to the sun, was packed with screaming fans and from his vantage point, they all seemed tiny. Wind whipped up the dirt of the battlefield and Ash closed his eyes against the grit and the noise of the crowd.
In his mind's eye he saw images whirling past his eyes. Dawn winning a ribbon, Misty fishing, Pikachu shocking Jessie and James, Brock giving him advice, May and Max bickering, Cilan cooking and Iris up in tree… He couldn't believe that as a little boy leaving Pallet he had been able to do so much, help so many people, and make such amazing friends. He knew they were here now, in the front rows of the stadium. Dawn was probably really nervous for him, and Max was probably babbling statistics to a confident Brock, while Cilan and May chatted excitedly. Misty would be screaming at him soon, and Iris' eyes would light up as she watched the battle. He knew Jessie, James, and Meowth would be lurking at the top level of the stadium, waiting to see who would win. And Ash pulled his first coat and hat around his body and tugged up his gloves. Everything was a little small now, but it felt… right to be wearing this. To come full circle.
The announcer's voice boomed, and Ash jumped a bit, adrenaline high.
"Challenger Ash Ketchum, are you ready for battle?"
Cheers went up around the stadium and Ash answered, pumping a fist into the air.
"Yes."
"Champion Lance, are you ready for battle?"
Lance flicked out his cape.
"Yes."
"And you both know the rules?"
Ash locked eyes with Lance.
"Yes," they said simultaneously.
"Then let the battle begin!"
An air horn sounded, and Ash threw out a pokeball. Squirtle first, and Pikachu would be last, like always. They'd battle their hardest, a true team. And if they failed, they'd try again.
So Ash flipped his hat around.
"Squirtle, Water Gun!"
This is my goodbye of sorts to the Pokemon fandom, for now. I'm ready to move on, maybe even to original fiction. But I've learned so much here about writing, and I'd like to thank anyone and everyone who subscribed to or reviewed my work.
Always keep writing!
Sofia