Chapter 7: The Final Trials Part 2. Future Choices

Pokemon is not mine

We will see the second pokemon contest in this chapter as well as the battle between Ash and Darkrai.

(Normal POV)

Dawn was training her pokemon a little more to get the finishing touches completed on her appeal for the contest.

"Dawn do you have any surprises in store for the judges?" Ash asked her.

"That is my secret Ash you will just have to wait and find out" Dawn stated with enthusiasm. "I will be using Buneary in the appeals round and Piplup in the battle rounds" Dawn said choosing her line up.

A while had passed after Dawn finished her training. Ash and Dawn went to the contest hall and saw that there were lots of coordinators to participate in this.

"You know Dawn I think I will participate in this contest" Ash said surprising Dawn again.

"Um Ash contests are different from gym battles" Dawn stated now worried.

"Yes I know but I want to give it a shot" Ash said with a smile.

Ash and Dawn walked up to the receptionist getting their spot in the contest and went to their respective quarters to prepare for the contest.

"Staravia you will take the appeals round and Monferno you will take the battle rounds" Ash said to his pokemon after.


(Dawn's POV)

Meanwhile I was sitting in my room thinking about the contest but my thoughts soon changed to Ash who had been journeying with me for almost a week now.

"What do I do guys?" I asked my pokemon "Ash might be gone tomorrow and I might never see him again" Dawn said with a tear rolling down her face. "And now he will be competing in this contest" Dawn said with a frown.

Soon it was Ash's turn to take the stage and make his contest debut possibly for the last time. I just watched his performance hoping he would make it to the battle rounds.


(Ash's POV)

"Show time Staravia" I said calling out my pokemon as my pokemon spiraled out of its pokeball. "Use double team now" I ordered preparing for the next piece to the show.

Three illusions showed up at every corner of the arena getting ready for the attack.

"Now spiral up to the center with aerial ace" I commanded.

The four staravias started aerial ace to the center of the arena then climbed up to the center spiraling quickly getting closer until they converged at the center with the real Staravia spinning then unfolding its wings and looking at the crowd afterwards for the final part of the performance.

"What a technical display very effective" said one of the judges in excitement.

"Amazing performance for a first timer" the other judge complementing me.

"Yes it was brilliant" Nurse Joy stating "he has huge potential" Joy finishing with a positive.

I walked back to my room and on the way I was greeted by Dawn who was in awe of my display on the stage.

"Wow Ash that was amazing" She said with surprise. "You must have practiced a lot" Dawn explained with a smile.

"Not really I just went out to have a great time" I said modestly.

"Quit being so modest Ash that was awesome" She said complementing me.


(Dawn's POV)

I made my way to center stage and called out my Buneary to make her appeal.

"Buneary use swift above you" I ordered.

Buneary used the attack perfectly creating a replica of the night sky.

"Now bounce up the follow it up with dizzy punch" I commanded.

Buneary followed the command with great precision shattering the stars and then landed with a star shower falling everywhere sending the crowd into a frenzy.

"Fantastic performance" the first judge said complementing me.

"Yes Amazing display" the second judge stated with a smile.

"Loved the performance" Nurse Joy happily stated.

I walked back into my room waiting for who I would be facing in the semifinals. I was hoping that it wasn't Ash because I wanted to battle him in the finals. After a while I found that Ash and myself had made it into the final rounds then we were split up to our opponents.

"I have to battle Scott" I said with a smile now knowing that I had a chance of facing Ash in the finals "but Ash will be facing Daisy" I said with interest "I hope you win Ash" I said as I prepared for my battle.


(Ash's POV)

I made it to the stage with Daisy preparing for our battle she called out her Beautifly while I chose Monferno.

"Beautifly use stun spore to start this battle" Daisy ordered for the first attack.

"Quick Monferno block it with flamethrower" I ordered

Flamethrower blocked the stun spore causing Daisy to lose a lot of points.

"Now Beautifly use air cutter" she ordered.

The attack was successful because my Monferno flinched at the wrong time which caused me to lose points as well. We were even and time was starting to disappear.

"Now finish this with silver wind Beautifly" she ordered.

"Quick Monferno use dig to evade the attack" I ordered now on the defensive.

Luckily the attack missed which sent Daisy's points plummeting again. Monferno rose up from the ground getting ready for another attack.

"Monferno use flare blitz" I ordered going for the last command.

Flare blitz landed sending Beautifly flying and knocking it out giving me the victory and sending me in to the finals with the possibility of facing Dawn.


(Dawn's POV)

I watched the match which now made me nervous after finding out how strong Ash really is.

"Damn the attacks are powerful and he also knows how to use them for defense as well" I said nervously "I hope I am ready to face Ash this time around" I said with a gulp.

I took the stage with Scott as my opponent he is a bit of a flirt which pissed me off. He started to ask me out on a date if he beat me which annoyed me even more.

He chose his Houndour to battle my Piplup.

"Houndour use flamethrower" he ordered with confidence.

"Piplup use bubblebeam at full power" I ordered

Bubblebeam stopped flamethrower and slammed straight into Houndour knocking it out in one hit.

"The answer is no" I told him "there is already someone else so you can forget it" I told Scott who looked really upset at my response.

"Oh well it isn't the first time a girl turned me down" he said with a smile.

'I wonder why' I thought to myself.


(Normal POV)

"Oh man that guy must have really annoyed Dawn for her to beat him in one attack" Ash said with a smile "I guess I learnt not to piss Dawn off" Ash said to himself.

After they let Ash and Dawn heal their pokemon they entered the stage to the roaring crowd ready to give them a show of a life time.

"Ash don't hold anything back okay" Dawn instructed Ash.

"You too Dawn" Ash said in response.

"Let's give them one hell of a show" Ash and Dawn said in unison.

"Piplup spotlight" Dawn calling out her pokemon.

"It's show time Monferno" Ash calling out his pokemon.

The clock was set at five minutes and the opponents stared at each other for the final battle of the contest.

"Piplup use bubblebeam" Dawn called out for the first attack"

"Monferno use dig for defense" Ash ordered for the defensive tactic which helped Ash gain the lead in this battle.

"Wait for it Piplup" Dawn commanded

Piplup wait for Monferno to resurface for his chance to attack. When Monferno resurfaced Dawn ordered for Piplup to use whirlpool to trap him.

"Oh great this could be troublesome" Ash said nervously as he was starting to lose points now giving Dawn the lead in this battle.

"Now hit Monferno with bubblebeam" Dawn ordered.

The attack landed causing Ash to lose more points extending Dawn's lead in this battle.

"Monferno jump out of there now" Ash commanded "Now use mach punch" he ordered now giving Dawn's points a hit "now hit Piplup with fury swipes" Ash commanded but Dawn was still barely in the lead.

"Piplup attack with hydro pump" Dawn instructed her pokemon.

The Attack landed sending Monferno flying but he was still able to battle. Monferno has now activated his ability.

"Alright now attack with flamethrower" Ash commanded.

"Quick Piplup use hydro pump again" Dawn told her Piplup.

The Attacks landed but hydro pump was over powered by flamethrower. Flamethrower hit Piplup sending him flying making Dawn lose points now giving Ash the lead in the battle. Piplup pick himself up looking tired now activating his ability.

"Piplup attack with peck" Dawn ordered sending Piplup in for the attack.

"Monferno use mach punch" Ash instructed sending his pokemon in for the attack.

Monferno and Piplup collided in the middle with their attacks both of them trying to gain supremacy in this battle until both pokemon were sent flying from the attacks. After both pokemon fell to where they had come from they tried to pick themselves up.

"Come on Monferno" Ash cried out support to his pokemon.

"Come on Piplup" Dawn yelled out.

After a little while the pokemon picked themselves up but Monferno collapsed back on the ground allowing Dawn to win her second ribbon. Ash just sat there and laughed after being defeated Dawn walked up to him and extended her hand out to him.

"Dawn that battle was the most fun I have had in a long time" Ash said while still laughing.

"Come on Ash you know I was lucky to win that battle" Dawn said with a smile.

At the presentation Dawn was given the Floraroma Ribbon that she had to fight really hard for. They walked out of the contest hall to a gorgeous sunset.

"Ash I want you to have this ribbon" Dawn said trying to hand Ash the ribbon.

"No you won that ribbon in our battle" Ash said trying to protest her decision.

"Please Ash take it I really want you to have it" Dawn declared to Ash.

"But why Dawn?" I asked her.

"To remember me Ash" Dawn said with a sweet smile.

"Thanks Dawn but I have something I need to get so I will meet you at our tents" Ash said as he ran off.


(Ash's POV)

I ran over to the stall containing the flowers hoping it was still open.

"It is still here" I said out loud I said with a sigh of relief.

"Oh Ash you returned" the elderly lady said looking shocked.

"Yes I have. Do you still have the Gracidea Flowers?" I asked her "I would very much love to give them to her" Ash said referring to Dawn.

"So you want them then here they are Ash good luck" the lady said handing me the flowers and wishing me luck.

I turned around to say thanks for the flowers the stall was gone leaving me to wonder what had happened to it while I was still holding the flowers. I went to make my return to the camping grounds until I collapsed on the ground. It was Darkrai he just couldn't wait for me to be ready and it was going to pay for it.

"Show yourself Darkrai!" I yelled out to him

"So you aren't afraid?" Darkrai questioned me "but you are alone" it said with a laugh.

"I am not alone Darkrai" I said trying to search for my pokeballs. "What where are my pokemon?" Iasked Darkrai.

"Opps I guess I left them in the real world" Darkrai said taunting me.

"Doesn't matter I will still beat you" I declared as I charged at Darkrai.

"You fool dark pulse" Darkrai used its attack against me sending me flying. "You don't have a chance Ash" it said to me with a laugh.

"Shit Darkrai is right" I said to myself punching the ground.

"What that isn't the Ash the beat me in the Johto League" A voice said to me.

"Since when have you given up Ash?" A female voice called to me.

"Yeah Ash" another lot of voices called out to me

"May, Brock, Gary and Misty what are you guys doing here?" I asked them

"What a kid preventing you from giving up" another of my friends declared

I looked down to see another of my friends by my side.

"Pikachu lets battle Darkrai together" I said with a smile but he just stood there as if to say not this time around. I pulled out the ribbon Dawn gave me and looked at it until she showed up to give me even more courage.

"Damn not that light again" Darkrai said trying to hide from it. "They are not welcome" Darkrai yelled out.

"No you are wrong" I yelled at Darkrai charging at it and tackling it in to the real world. "Now you are my realm" I said glaring at it. "Go Grotle!" I called out to my pokemon.

"So you intend to still battle me" it said to me with anger "Very well" Darkrai said now getting ready to battle.

"Grotle use razor leaf" I ordered for my attack.

The attack landed causing Darkrai to get injured.

"He is strong I guess he will make the right choice after all" Darkrai said with a laugh. "now is my turn dark pulse" it said firing an attack at Grotle.

"Oh no Grotle" I called out to my pokemon after it took direct hit from dark pulse. "return Grotle now go Gabite" I called out for my next pokemon to battle Darkrai "use brick break Gabite" I instructed my pokemon.

The attack landed sending Darkrai flying but it still picked itself up and then launced another attack.

"Dark void" Darkrai called out for his next attack.

"What is this attack?" I asked myself.

"It puts pokemon to sleep now my ability will activate giving Gabite nightmares" Darkrai pointed out as Gabite was starting to take damage from the combo.

"Come on Gabite wake up" I yelled out to my pokemon. Gabite woke up just in time before Darkrai could launce another attack "let me guess you were about to use dream eater" I told Darkrai.

"How did you know?" Darkrai asked me.

"Simple I read Dawn's book" I told Darkrai "Now use dragon pulse Gabite"I ordered my pokemon

"Dark pulse" Darkrai called his attack.

The attacks met head on causing an explosion which sent the combatants flying Gabite was knocked out but Darkrai was still able to battle but was starting to get exhausted.

"Staravia you are on" I called out to my next pokemon.

"Dark void" Darkrai yelled out for its next wave of attacks.

"I will not fall for that again Staravia use double team" I yelled out for the defensive maneuver.

The dark voids missed the intended target allowing me to hit for the opening.

"Staravia use brave bird" I instructed for the next attack.

Darkrai was pushed back now looking even more fatigued than before but it still wasn't going to give in. Darkrai picked itdelf up then it hit Staravia with a dark void/dream eater combo replenishing some of its energy from the damage it received earlier.

"Great now I am left with one pokemon" I said in frustration "Monferno let's do this" I called out for my starter pokemon.

Darkrai used dark void again but I countered with quick dig attack.

"Wait for it Monferno" I told my pokemon as Darkrai was also waiting patiently for Monferno to rise up. "Now it's the time" I called out to Monferno to rise up and with a lot of luck Darkrai was in the vicinity of Monferno causing it severe damage.

Darkrai picked itself up but was now very tired again from the attack.

"Monferno use mach punch" I ordered my Monferno for the first attack "Now follow it up with flare blitz" I continued not giving Darkrai anytime to recover.

Darkrai hit the ground again but this time it was not able to battle this gave me a chance the throw my pokeball at it with the hopes of catching it. I waited for the moment of truth but it took too long. But the moment had come as the pokeball stopped wobbling signifying that I had caught Darkrai. I ran back to the camp as fast as I could but before I reached I saw another shooting star.

"I wish to make my choice now" I said out loud to Jirachi. i was surronded by light again waiting for Jirachi to make its apperance.

"So Ash what is your decision?" Jirachi questioned me through the star spirit.

"First off I have two more wishes to make" I said with a grin.

"And what are your wishes for?" Jirachi questioned me.

"I wish for Pikachu to return" I said hoping for it to come true.

"Very well he will be back in the real world waiting for you" Jirachi declared "Now what is your second wish?" it asked me.

"I want to forget about my business" I said wanting to create new future.

"Okay but why are you doing that Ash?" Jirachi questioned me.

"Because I want to stay with Dawn and grow old with her" I said with a smile.

"That will be done I will send you back to the real world now" Jirachi said with a smile.

"Thanks Jirachi" I said thankfully

I hit the ground in the real world when I was greeted by a thunderbolt which woke me up.

"Hey what was that for?" I asked the attacker as I looked up "Pikachu!" I yelled out "so another journey ha?" I questioned my partner only to be accepted with a nod of approval.

"So now I have a full team" as I called out Darkrai and the rest of my team. "Say hello to Pikachu guys" I said introducing my Pikachu.

After the intros I started to run over to the camp to meet up with Dawn.

"Ash what took you so long I had been waiting for you to return and have dinner again" Dawn said to me with a frown.

I tried to think of the best excuse but there was no point because Dawn was too angry to accept my excuses so I decided to tell her that I captured Darkrai.

"You caught Darkrai?" Dawn Asked me as I called out Darkrai. "Wow Ash well done" She said to me in shock.

"Um… Dawn th…these are for you" I said trying to give Dawn the Gracidea flowers.

"Ash you got me these?" She questioned as she began to cry "now we both have something from each other Ash" Dawn declared.

"Dawn there is something I need to say to you" I said with beautiflies flying around in my stomach with Pikachu trying to get me to say it.

"What is it Ash?" she said as her face started to turn red.

"Dawn I love you" I confessed to her. She ran up to me and hugged me with a smile.

"Ash I love you too" She confessed "Just don't leave me alright" Dawn said as her face got closer to mine.

"Never Dawn I will never leave you" I promised her as she pulled in even closer.

It was from that moment that we kissed under the starry night sky sealing our love forever. After the kiss the fireworks from the festival went off as we watch in each others embrace. I also knew deep down inside that I had made the right choice and that I had a second chance of being happy but now with the girl I love.

Now the story is over but is it? The next chapter will involve a small time skip to another location in Sinnoh can you guess where? Also what happens to Ash and Dawn in the future?

That will be reveal in the last chapter of this story. Please review the story and what you all thought of it. Thanks for reading and reviewing.