The medallion

Disclaimer: Pokemon does not belong to me. :)

Key:

- Dream State - , Flashback , ' thoughts ', " Dialogue "

Rating: T

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The stadium was filled with cheering fans from all over Kanto as they eagerly awaited the yearly championship held by the Pokemon league. A boy just reaching his teen years stared out into the crowd, his young body shivering slightly from the adrenaline rush that usually precedented by an opportunity such as this. He, Ash Ketchum, was just moments away from his turn out on that field where all Pokemon trainers were put to the ultimate test.

Sure, he'd been here before, years ago. Back when he'd only had a vague incling of what it meant to be a pokemon master. Back before he'd gone to visit the Orange Archipelago. Back before he really could have known anything about pokemon training at all... and yet he had learned... and had tried, but failed. Now he was here again, after championing the Orange League, who'd taught him that battles were not merely just having the right pokemon with the right attacks, but also understanding strategy and how to use it to gain the upper hand even when it seemed there wasn't one.

He took a deep breath as his name was called and with Pikachu at his side he entered the arena fearlessly, ready to give his opponents a serious thrashing.

--

Ash stood proudly in front of the camera's flashing his brand new Elite-trainer card at the reporters all josteling one another to get at him. Off in the distance his long-time rival glared daggers at the back of his head.

"It was a fluke!" Gary insisted angrilly to the camera people who were swarming him. "I demand a rematch!" he declared.

Ash smiled to himself slightly and turned his attention to the distraught young teenager. "I only really wanted the title to be honest." he explained carefully. The reporters fell silent momentarily to hear what the new league champion had to say. Even Gary seemed a bit interested by the words chosen by his rival.

"Well, how can I expect to become a pokemon master if I just sit around here all the time defending my title?" he asked the reporters rhetorically. "I can't. So it makes much more sense if someone who really wanted to be champion anyways stays here and defends the title in my place... at least until I want it back." he finished, gesturing to Gary.

Gary was in shock, Ash was just going to... hand him the title? He wasn't sure whether he should be insulted that Ash appeared to think he couldn't win the title back fair and square on his own merits... or to be flattered that Ash thought so highly of him that he was trusting him to defend his title in his absense.

"Unless... Gary doesn't think he can handle that..."

A perfect trap, Gary's ego spoke before his brain could get a word in. "Well of course I can!" he replied indignantly

"Then it's settled." Ash replied with a grin. Gary was momentarily amazed that the younger boy had outsmarted him. He shook his head with a smile, perhaps this would be the end to the rivalry that had kept the two of them from being friends...

Ash chatted with those responsible for the rules of the league and managed to convince them that having two league champions wasn't going to be any different than having only one.

"But if he looses, so do you." They warned Ash, who nodded. "Right, I know."

Gary offered a thumbs up in return. Then, as an afterthought, he reached beneath his shirt and pulled out the small green and white yin-yang medallion he always wore. "Hey, Ash. Catch!"

Surprized, Ash nearly missed the small object, catching the small thread tied to the coin as it passed by his fingers. He held it before him, staring at Gary in confusion. "What's this for?"

Gary shrugged, "I can't just take something from you without giving something back. It would make us uneven. Consider it a loan... just like this position you've given me. Someday I may want it back."

Smiling brightly Ash nodded, "I'll take good care of it, promise."

Gary nodded vaguely then left without another word, brushing off the reporters with his usual pompous air.

Ash answered a few more questions then slid out of view as fast as possible, growing rapidly tired of being surrounded by people who all wanted to ask the same things. He sighed contentedly as he rested against the stadium walls, finding his first peace and quiet since the tournament began. He thought of all the places he had traveled and all the people he had met along the way. They would all be proud of him for reaching his goal so quickly in life... and perhaps also a little confused as to why he'd given it up so easily... but it didn't matter.

The end of one journey would be the beginning of a whole new one. With the rest of his life to look forward to Ash was certain he wanted to spend at least a good few more years perfecting the skills of his pokemon... not to mention his own. But in order to really close the book on this chapter of his life there was still one thing left he had to do first. He stared at the golden trophy filled with prize money in his hands and sighed softly almost wishing he had lost the tournament if only to spend another year or so really getting to know his companion since he'd first begun his journey.

Misty.

The girl who'd insisted she follow him after he'd totalled her bike back when he'd first gotten his trainer's licence. They'd been all over Kanto together... sleeping beneath the stars each night. Though they'd never really gotten along per-say... Ash knew that all of their arguments were really just a method of passing the time as he really felt he'd made a life-long friend in the redhead. But he was too young to appreciate her companionship... at least in the way that a growing teenage girl should want someone to appreciate her, and he was beginning to understand just how much he was holding her back.

He thought about all of this as he stepped into the shop filled with bicycles.

--

Rozu