Part 10
Studio
"That was great." Andy said as he leaned back in his seat to take a deep breath.
"It was better than great, it left Darnell speechless." Ray pointed out, putting all eyes on Darnell who was uncharacteristically quiet.
"That doesn't happen too often. What's on your mind Darnell?" Andy asked, snapping him out of his daze.
"I was just making a few comparisons." Darnell replied.
"Comparisons? What for?" Ray asked.
"I'm trying to figure out what makes Ash so special while he's only nineteen." Darnell explained. "His style doesn't match anything you'd expect to see in the Finals."
"It's because of his innate ability to improvise." Andy spoke up. "He's so deadly because he can change the course of an entire with just one move as we saw with his Haunter and then again with his Snorlax."
"That's why I always said, you can't jump to a quick conclusion with Ash. If you give him any breathing room, he could flip the script on you." Ray added.
"But it's not just that. The level of trust between him and his Pokemon is outstanding. He's willing to let them act on their own if they feel they know what to do, and then when he reaches a point where he'll take over a battle like what he did with his Snorlax, they're more than ready to obey." Andy went on. "It's possible to develop a team as well built as his in one year, but how he developed the trust between himself and those Pokemon this quickly is what's truly astounding."
"Well if Ash Ketchum is going to battle like this in the future, I know we'll all be seeing a whole lot more of him pretty soon." Ray said as the three of them gave a nod agreement before looking down at the field where the victor was meeting with Jeannette at the center of the field.
Ash and Jeannette shook hands with a nod of satisfaction. Win or lose, it was battle to be proud of.
"That was one of the most exciting battles I've ever had Ash. Thank you." Jeannette said to him, failing to mention that she had almost choked on her heart during Ash's sudden comeback.
"I should be thanking you. That was a blast." Ash replied as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. The two trainers didn't receive much time to converse as a number of cameras were brought out onto the field with a news crew that began the broadcast with no time to waste.
"Ash, Jeannette, that was fantastic as I'm sure nearly everyone here would agree." A female reporter began. "We'll start with Jeannette, can we get your first thoughts now that this battle is over?
"Well right now I'm still sort of numb after such an amazing battle. You don't experience a battle like that too often, and when its over and done all you can do is relax." Jeannette replied with a kind hearted smile.
"And Ash, can we get a statement as to how you feel now that you're the Indigo Conference Champion." The reporter moved on, extending the microphone toward Ash tilted as head as the thought about a reply.
"I don't really know. I mean, of course I'm happy that I managed win, but I guess it just hasn't really settled into to my mind that I'm the Champion." Ash replied with a chuckle.
"Well maybe that might help you." The reporter said, motioning to the tunnel where Ash could see a group three people bringing out a short pedestal with the Championship Trophy resting on top of it. Two of them were nothing more than security guards that were doing all the heavy lifting while the third was Charles Goodshow who was leading the duo with a proud grin.
Ash had to place a hand over his eyes as camera flash came from every possible direction. Everyone wanted a picture of the Championship Trophy since this would be the only time of the year that it would be seen outside of its place in the Record Hall. Once the three of them reached the center of the field where the interview had been taking place, Charles gave Jeannette a nod before motioning for her to back away. She did so without a word, giving the man a quick bow before stepping back to observe the ceremony of crowning the new Champion.
"I'm sure that anyone who had known Ash Ketchum before the Indigo Conference had begun had their doubts about him being capable to of winning the Championship." Charles began after accepting a microphone. "But despite all of the odds, we watched a young trainer progress to a point where he could confidently stand on a stage as a grand as this and give the entire world a treat to watch. And now, standing beside me is the new Indigo Conference Champion, Ash Ketchum!"
The stadium burst into applause once again as Charles gave a signal, motioning for another pair of security guards to come out of the tunnel accompanied by Nurse Joy who held five Pokeballs. This duo of security guards were tightly holding onto a small machine that many recognized as a portable healing station kept within the building. It could heal a fraction of the damage the Pokemon had taken from the battle, but the goal was to make all of his Pokemon conscious so that they could take part in the ceremony.
Ash quickly removed all of the Pokeballs on his belt and placed them in each slot, allowing the quick healing process to begin. In the meantime, Nurse Joy informed him that she had gathered the remaining Pokemon in his box that had also taken part in the Indigo Conference. They would all be joining him for this celebration.
As soon as the healing process was completed, Ash collected the five Pokemon that had been defeated during the battle and motioned for Nurse Joy to join him in releasing all of his Pokemon. Hurling a total of ten Pokeballs into the air, they all opened up to reveal Ash's beaten and battered crew that had succeeded in making it to their goal.
"We won!" He shouted to his Pokemon. It took a moment to sink in as they took in their surroundings, then Ash found himself at the bottom of a dog pile as realized that all of their hard work had paid off. They were the winners. The last group standing. "Whoa, whoa guys. It's not over yet."
Ash's Pokemon separated, allowing their trainer to rise to his feet and join Charles as he motioned for yet another set of guards to come out of the tunnel. This time it was a group of four carrying a slab of wet cement which they took directly to Ash and his Pokemon. Setting it down in front of the group, Charles cleared his throat to silence the crowd.
"Following the tradition of every Conference, we want to welcome you to our record books Ash. Please, both you and all of your Pokemon leave a hand print." Charles said, motioning for them proceed. Ash and his Pokemon immediately crowded around the slab, making quick decisions as to where they should leave a hand print. Soon enough, the group dispersed which was the signal for Charles to go on. "And now, its my honor to present this year's Indigo Conference Champion the Championship Trophy!"
This earned yet another roar from the fans as Charles gave Ash the green light to take the trophy from pedestal for the photographs. Circling around the trophy for a moment, Ash struggled to decide exactly how he should pick it up. Glancing at Charles, the older gentleman demonstrated the best way to pick up, getting a grin from Ash has he followed his direction.
Placing one hand at the bottom and the other within the handle of the trophy, Ash slowly lifted it from the pedestal, discovering that it was much lighter than he had been anticipating. The applause picked up at Ash stepped away from the pedestal and beamed at their latest accomplishment.
"We did it!" Ash shouted as he lifted the trophy above his head. The chant of his name resounded throughout the entire building with no signs of letting up. The flashes of cameras from all over captured Ash Ketchum and merry band of Pokemon as they proudly stood around the Championship Trophy that they had worked so hard for.
Sinnoh Region
Jubilife City
Dance Studio
A young, blue haired woman stood beside a Piplup in front of the large mirror, practicing several dance steps as sweat poured down her face. Drawing shallow breathes, exhaustion wasn't enough to cool her spirit as she practiced, anxiously waiting for the results of a battle taking place in a different. The sole entrance and exit of the room opened up, revealing a young man with auburn colored hair who had clearly come rushing to the studio.
"Any news Kenny?" She asked without pausing her routine with her Piplup. The eighteen year old male took a few moments to steady his breathing before straightening up with a smile.
"He won." Kenny stated, waiting for her reaction, but she didn't stop focusing on the mirror as she continued to practice without a word. "Aren't you happy Dawn?"
"Of course I'm happy Kenny." She replied. "But now I'm all fired up. Ash won the Indigo Conference Championship and made it to the top. Now he's up their waiting for me to join him."
Kenny raised an eyebrow as her dance moves suddenly became sharper and faster.
"There's no time to waste. First up is the Newcomers Tournament next month, and then the Grand Festival!" Dawn declared.
"Lup!" Piplup added as the two of them remained focused on the mirror.
Kenny chuckled as he shook his head. He had been expecting an overly excited response from Dawn about her boyfriend becoming the Indigo Conference Champion, but her actual reaction wasn't much a surprise either. It had the same effect on him after all. He was pumped too.
Dawn looked at herself in the mirror after completing a twirl on the tip of her toes, realizing that she had grown quite a bit since she had last seen Ash before he had graduated from the Tsugi Academy. It had been ages since they had actually seen each other in person, but they agreed that the next time they would see each other, they would be at the forefront of the Pokemon world.
'Just wait for me Ash. I'm on my way.' Dawn said as she shut her eyes, beginning another routine.
Kanto Region
Indigo Plateau
Ash found himself seated inside one of the changing rooms within the stadium in a press conference with the Championship Trophy held tightly in his hands. Moments after he had stepped off the field, he was swarmed by multiple news crews that led him into the stadium where they began to throw one question after another at him. Most of the questions just revolved around the same subject of Ash winning the Championship, so all he could do was reword the same answer in order to appease the rather nosy the media.
"Ah, finally." Ash mumbled as he left room that he had been trapped in during the press conference. They had released him after about a half an hour, and he couldn't be happier.
Looking down at the Championship Trophy he held in his hands, Ash recalled what Charles had told him before he entered the press conference.
"I want you to bring the trophy to the Record Hall. There will be security guards giving you directions to the room, just follow them."
Ash looked about, discovering that there was indeed a guard waiting for him a bit farther down the hall, remaining motionless in his stationary position.
"Excuse me." Ash said as he approached the man in black. In response, the guard simply raised an arm and pointed down the corridor he was facing, refusing to say anymore to Ash. Following the path the guard was pointing in, Ash could see another guard at the end of the hallway waiting for him. "Hmm, thanks."
Ash continued to move around the maze that made up the inside of the stadium, following the directions of multiple guards until he eventually reached a grand hallway that dozens of glass cases protruding form the walls. In each of the cases was a single photograph of the trainer who won the Indigo Conference for that year and the cement slab that had the handprints of every Pokemon they used. It was like walking through history as he saw pictures from far in the past all the way to the previous Champion before him.
He could see just how much the sport of Pokemon battling had changed from long ago. Fully evolved Pokemon appeared far more frequently compared to the past. The focus shifted from stylistically using any Pokemon, to raising the best possible one that could win at any level. To be honest, Ash couldn't really tell if this was an improvement to the league since the focus shifted from how well the trainers handle a situation to how dominant your Pokemon could be. Ash preferred a balance between the two, although he could never reach this state with any consistency.
Looking down to the end of the hallway, Ash could see an old photograph of a young man who proudly held a certificate in his hands.
"Ah, you made it." A low voice said suddenly, surprising Ash as he whirled around to search for the source.
"When did you get here?" Ash exclaimed as he looked down at Charles Goodshow who had been standing beside him, observing the photograph on the wall.
"I've been here the whole time. From the moment you walked in you failed to notice me waiting for you." Charles replied with a sigh. Ash looked up in thought, realizing that he had done nothing but look up as he entered the hallway and since Charles was a rather small man he might had literally overlooked him.
"Heh heh, sorry about that." Ash replied with a grin.
"So did you enjoy your brief walk through Indigo Conference history?" Charles asked, receiving a nod from Ash. "I'm glad you did."
"Who's this guy?" Ash asked, motioning toward the photograph with his head.
"That is the founder of the Pokemon League, my father." He replied. "This was when he first bought Indigo Plateau. His original plan was just to create a battlefield where the best trainers in Kanto could gather and compete against one another. Pretty soon everyone in Kanto wanted to battle on Indigo Plateau, so my father created the gym circuit around Kanto to determine who would have the right to battle on Indigo Plateau. Before he knew it, he had created a system that the entire world came to love and accept as part of their daily life."
Ash watched as Charles turned away from the picture, beginning to move down to hall, motioning for him to follow.
"I was twenty-seven when my father died and I had to become the second Commissioner of the Pokemon League. I had always dreamed of my father passing on the reigns to me, although not in the fashion that it actually happened. But nevertheless, I was overjoyed and I've been doing everything I can to build on the foundation that my father had made." Charles continued. "It's such a treat to be able to watch trainers young and old battle each other every year. I've seen a lot of battles in the forty-two years I've been Commissioner Ash, and I must say that it was a joy watching you battle."
"Really? Thanks." Ash replied. "Although I owe you one for helping me get my head on straight after my exhibition match with Mandi. I probably would've lost my first battle without you reminding me that it was my job as the trainer to guide my team to victory."
Charles grinned at Ash as he guided the boy to the next empty case in the timeline. He could sense potential in this boy. Potential that he hadn't felt in a long time. The potential to become a Pokemon Master.
"The Indigo Conference gladly welcomes you to the history books Ash." Charles said as he pulled out a pair of keys to open up the glass case and where two items were waiting for the third piece to make the set complete. A picture of Ash with all eleven of his Pokemon around him and the Championship Trophy was placed on a small stand within the case with the slab of concrete below it.
Ash smiled as he raised the trophy and slowly placed it within the case beside his photograph. Then he stepped back to admire it as Charles closed the case. The Championship Trophy would be in his case for the entire year until the next Indigo Conference Champion arose from the heat of the competition. He couldn't help but smile broadly.
Ash peeked out from behind the a small wall of bushes to get another look at the streets of Indigo Plateau that were crowded with people who were searching for the new Conference Champion. With a sigh Ash turned back to his only companion at the moment, Marcy.
"Ash, you're not going to get to the Pokemon Center with everyone in this zip code looking for you." Marcy stated once again.
"Yeah, looks like I might just have to leave Indigo Plateau for now." Ash agreed as he removed his Pokegear from his belt to check his messages. "I sent Brock a message to meet us here, I hope he didn't get lost."
"If I remember correctly Ash, you're the one with no sense of direction."
Ash looked back to find Brock and Holly looking over the bushes that Ash and Marcy had been hiding behind.
"Brock, you made it!" Ash exclaimed before inviting the couple to join him and Marcy in their hiding place.
"That was incredible Ash, I still can't believe you're the Indigo Conference Champion." Holly said proudly since she was now close friends with a trainer of high status.
"Ha, thank's Holly. I still can't believe it myself." Ash replied with a grin as he rubbed the back of his head.
"So just out of question Ash, why are you hiding from the fans?" Brock asked once they were all seated on the grass, carefully hidden by the cover provided by the surrounding bushes.
"Well I'm expecting a call from my boss' assistant about a plane ride to Hoenn." Ash replied.
"Hoenn? What are you going to do there?" Marcy asked.
"I have no idea. It was something she mentioned to me after I had won my eighth badge. She's really busy trying to keep up with my boss, so she gets really irritated when someone makes her fall behind schedule." Ash explained, recalling the last time he had been late to give a report to Mindy. It still sent shivers down his spine. "But she's really nice otherwise."
Ash glanced at Brock, realizing that his old friend hadn't been listening to him at all but rather he had been observing Marcy.
"Hey Ash, can I talk to you for a sec?" Brock said, motioning for Ash to follow them as they created a bit of separation between them and the girls.
"What's up Brock?" Ash asked now that they were alone.
"Who's she?" Brock asked, motioning to Marcy.
"Marcy? She's a friend I made here."
"Just a friend?" Brock said as he raised an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?"
"I know you haven't seen Dawn in ages Ash, but that's no excuse to go out with any girl you lay your eyes on." Brock said as he placed his hands on his hips.
"Brock are you crazy?!" Ash exclaimed as he seemed to grow three times larger, forcing Brock to back away a bit as he put up his hands for his defense. "I would never do something like that!"
"Ash, chill. It was just a joke. I haven't had a chance to tease you in what feels like forever. I couldn't help it." Brock explained sheepishly, causing Ash to shrink down to his usual size.
"Hah Brock, I guess I can let you off the hook for that one." Ash replied as his Pokegear began to ring. "Oh, hang on. I gotta answer this."
Ash took a few steps away from Brock to answer the call, allowing Brock to sit back and think for a moment about what he just witnessed.
At first he thought that Ash might had been trying to replace Dawn by hanging with Marcy. But his reaction to Brock's usual teasing proved that he had no ill intent hidden within his reason of association with Marcy. Perhaps Ash was finally starting to realize that a journey could get lonely…
Whatever it was, it was clear that Brock would have to make sure he was able to keep in touch with Ash more often than he had been. Ash would need it if he was really planning on waiting for Dawn to reach her goal of winning the Grand Festival before they meet.
"Wait, when is the flight taking off?!" Ash suddenly exclaimed, gaining Brock's attention. "What do you mean its tonight? No one told me!"
Brock could see that Ash was beginning panic.
"No, I haven't seen Leo at all since I've been on Indigo Plateau." Ash replied before sighing. "Alright, I'll try to get there by tonight."
Ash ended the call with shrug as he scratched the back of his neck. This was going to be quite a hectic afternoon.
"Something wrong?"
"My flight is taking off tonight from Saffron City. I won't make it in time by flying." Ash explained.
"You'll have to catch the Magnet Train in Viridian City if you want to make it there by tonight." Brock suggested, receiving a nod from Ash.
"It's a shame we didn't get to talk too much this time Brock, but when I get back from Hoenn I'll definitely drop by for a visit." Ash said as he tucked his Pokegear back into the slot on his belt before giving Brock a wave before he released his Pidgeot from its Pokeball.
"Alright Ash, see you then." Brock said as Ash leapt onto the back of his Pidgeot and ordered it to take him into the skies. Pidgeot spread its wings and began its ascension into the air above the trees. As they passed over the spot they had left Marcy and Holly in, Ash waved his arms to get their attention. "Holly, it was good seeing you again. Make sure you keep Brock on a leash no longer than seven feet!"
"Ash, you're leaving already?!" Marcy exclaimed.
"Yeah I have to catch a train by tonight. It was nice meeting you. We'll keep in touch!" He replied, giving the pair of girls one last wave. "Alright Pidgeot, mach speed to Viridian City."
Pidgeot gave a squawk before it took off with a burst of speed heading east, taking off into the open blue skies. Looking back at Indigo Plateau that was quickly shrinking the distance, Ash beamed proudly. He had come out victorious on that battlefield, but as it shrunk away in the distance he realized that it was just one battlefield. The world was large, and there were many more battles to come.
"To become a Pokemon Master, I'll have to win them all!" Ash declared as he raised a fist into the air.
Saffron City
Ash burst out of the first doors to open on the Magnet Train, dashing out onto the platform as he squeezed his way through the crowd.
"Don't let him get away!" A crowd had assembled on the train trying to get Ash's autograph and a number of pictures. The moment the train had come into the station, Ash bolted at the first opportunity he was given, doing his best to avoid letting people get a good look at him as he ran by.
As grinned as he disappeared into to the station, maintaining his pace as he moved through the building. Pulling out his Pokegear to check the time, Ash paled slightly when he realized that the amount of time he had to get from the station to the airport wasn't much at all.
Racing out of the station now into the streets of Saffron City, Ash fearlessly crossed the street despite it being packed with cars that were stuck in a traffic jam, the after effect of the afternoon rush hour. Spotting one of the tallest buildings in the city, Ash recognized it as the building that acted as the headquarters to the company he worked for, Silph Co.
Among the companies around the globe that were pursuing technological advancement, Silph Co was one of the front runners. Not only was this company responsible for numerous discoveries such a Fossil Restoration, but it also produced the Pokegear, a device that became the basis for numerous other creations such as the Pokenav, Poketch and C-Gear. It was quite an interesting organization to work for since Ash could get peeks at the latest inventions that were working on that would later be released to the public. And if he was lucky, he might even get used a test subject from time to time.
"Ha, I made it." Ash mumbled out as he came to stop near the front entrance to the Silph Co building, gasping for air.
He still hadn't gotten to stop a Pokemon Center to heal his Pokemon, but right now that could wait since he still had to meet with Mindy. She had told him to meet her outside of the building, but she was nowhere to be found.
"I wonder if she's still inside." Ash asked himself out loud, although his question was soon answered as the front doors opened up.
A young man with dark skin came sliding out of the building on his stomach with a foot imprinted on his rear end.
"Leo?" Ash asked, although he cringed at what followed. The ill tempered Mindy stepped out of the building as she tied her hair back intothe bun that it was usually in.
"I can't believe you didn't go to Indigo Plateau to get him!" She yelled at him as he rose up from the ground with a groan, dusting off his pants. "I told you nearly a week ago and as usual you go off fooling around instead. How you became a two-time Conference Champion, I'll never know."
'Geez, note to self, never piss of Mindy.' Ash mumbled as she caught sight of him.
"It's good to see you're on time Ash. You could learn a thing or two from Ash Leo." She said as she moved toward Ash, taking out a small booklet with a slip of paper in it which she placed in his hands. "Everything's already been prepared for you so just get to the airport. Leo will explain everything on the way."
Ash opened up the booklet, realizing that it was a passport and the slip of paper was his ticket to get on the plane that was waiting for him.
"And you did a great job at the Indigo Conference if I must say so myself." She added with a smile.
"Hey, why can't you be all smiley with me?" Leo hollered as he rose up to his feet, receiving a glare from Mindy.
"Because Ash isn't a total bum when it comes to staying on task, unlike you." She snapped at him. Ash couldn't help but chuckle as Mindy then made a trip back into the building, completely ignoring Leo who did nothing but stare at her bottom until she disappeared behind the sliding doors.
"Are you okay Leo?" Ash as he approached the man that was in his early twenties. Leo was another trainer that was the Silph Co roster, in fact he was the current franchise trainer of the company.
Leo was just a bit taller than Ash, although his mini afro made it seem as though he had a few inches on Ash, and he was well built thanks to the four years he had been in the professional circuit. All the traveling he did on a daily basis had done wonders for his body. He was clothed in a white shirt, a black denim jacket on top of it, and loose pants with the traditional large yellow belt that all trainers wore that held the basic supplies for any trainer. His full name was Leonardo Lamar Lovell or Leo as most people called him. A previous Indigo and Silver Conference Champion.
"O'course I'm fine. I got a good look at her walking away so I'm all good." He replied with a grin.
"I think you dropped this Leo." Ash said he picked up a thin gold chain from the pavement.
"Oh thanks. Can't afford to lose this." He replied as he graciously accepted he item that had fallen off of his neck. "Oh damn, the clasp broke. I gotta get that fixed after I drop you at the airport."
"Hey!" Mindy hollered from the third floor window. "Get your asses moving now!"
"Let's get out of here Ash before Mindy chews us out again." Leo said, motioning to the motorcycle that was parked near them. Pulling out the pair of aviators he had in the pocket of his jacket, Leo placed the item on the bridge of his nose before jumping onto his motorcycle which he quickly turned on before motioning for Ash to join him.
"Do we really have to ride a motorcycle?" Ash asked as Leo revved the engine to warm it up. Ash had become safety conscious when it came to motorized bikes after he met Leo for the first time in the hospital. Ash had joined Silph Co right after Leo's first accident involving a motorcycle, and Ash was uncomfortable to say to the least.
"We both know I don't do air travel. That's exactly why you're going to Hoenn instead of me." Leo pointed out. "So ride or die."
Leo motioned to his motorcycle which continued to give off a low rumble. Then he pointed to the window that Mindy was still observing them from. Ash jumped onto the bike without a second thought, recalling that he needed to know what he had to do in Hoenn. Not to mention he would rather take his chances with a motorcycle than an angry Mindy considering she practiced at the Fighting Dojo five times a week.
Leo gave a shout before pressing on the throttle, causing the bike to lunge forward as they raced out of their parking spot. As they raced across the city on one of the highways, Ash had to admit that it was pretty cool riding on a motorcycle. Scary as hell, but pretty cool.
"So Ash, why didn't you tell me you were capable of looking badass?" Leo asked suddenly.
"Huh?" Ash replied, causing Leo to dig into his pockets while driving with only one hand to search for his Pokegear.
"Hmm, where did I put it?" Leo muttered as he looked down to check his jacket pockets.
"Leo, watch the road!" Ash screamed as they sped toward a car that had been slowing down to turn off on an exit. Leo leaned to his left, swerving out of the path of the car while continuing to search for his Pokegear.
"Ah, here it is." Leo stated he pulled out his Pokegear and opened up to reveal a picture of Ash that had been taken right after he had been Mandi's Aerodactyl with his Charizard. "I thought you were nothin' but a goofball."
Ash couldn't even respond as he tightly held onto Leo's back, terrified from the number of close calls he had just seen while Leo was searching for his Pokegear. He had seen his life flash before his eyes one time to many.
"Anyway, I might as well tell you what you have to do in Hoenn since it has a lot to do with what Silph's Co is going to do next as an entire corporation." Leo began, receiving Ash's full attention now that he was finally serious. "The information Mindy gave me is kind of vague, but you're going to Battle Frontier's training academy to pick up one of their seniors that that the boss has signed onto our roster."
"Wait, he signed someone straight out of high school?" Ash exclaimed, receiving a nod from Leo.
"Yup. I don't know what exactly the boss is trying to pull here, but if she turns out to be another amazing prospect like you, our boss is going to look like a genius." Leo explained. "So you'll land in Hoenn by tomorrow and pick them up. Then you just have to bring them back to Saffron City and the boss should meet with you to discuss what we're going to with our new rookie."
"Is there some sort of picture I can use to figure out who I'm looking for?" Ash asked.
"Oh right, I'll send it to you with my Pokegear." Leo said as he went looking into his pockets once again in search of his Pokegear. Ash gave another shout as Leo took his eyes off the road, swearing that he would never ride a motorcycle again.
Ash leapt off of Leo's motorcycle as soon as they arrived at the front entrance to the airport more than happy to feel his feet on the ground once again. Ash gave a loud sigh of relief, earning a sharp glance from Leo.
"Hey, my drivin' ain't that bad." Leo pointed out, causing Ash to face fault.
"I better get going Leo. I don't want to miss the flight." Ash said as he rose up.
"More like ya don't want your ass getting kicked by Mindy Machamp style." Leo said flash Ash a peace sign before the driver of the taxi behind him honked his horn which clearly surprised Leo since he lost his balance and fell over along with his motorcycle.
"Are you okay Leo?" Ash asked as Leo immediately jumped to his feet and placed his vehicle on its wheels once again to inspect the damage done, finding a few chips in the paint job.
"Oh hell no!" Leo shouted before stomping over the taxi driver where he began to pound on the glass of the window. "Hey, are you gonna pay to fix the damage to my bike?"
"No, I have to get going and you're blocking the way!" The driver hollered in return after rolling down his window.
"Oh no no no! You're going to pay for the damage, or imma kick your ass! Which would you prefer?" Leo asked as he grabbed the driver by the collar of his shirt.
"Try it!" The driver spat at him before rolling up his window onto Leo's forearm, earning a shout of pain from him.
"Leo!" Ash yelled as he stepped off the pavement to settle the dispute.
"Ash, back up! You got a plane to catch! His ass is mine!" Leo shouted, motioning for Ash to get going. Ash stepped back, seeing as Leo hadn't changed at all since the last time they had met. He was just as short tempered as ever and picking fights with people over the slightest of things.
Noticing that there was a crowd forming around to see how this things would end with Leo, Ash decided to take his leave rather than risk the chance of someone recognizing him. Rushing into the airport, Ash pulled out his ticket to check the time of his flight and what gate it would be leaving from. It was then he had a chance to see how much time he had left which only forced him to pick up his place as he ran through the airport to check in for his flight.
"Oh my goodness." Ash mumbled as he dropped down into his seat on the plane with a heavy sigh. He was flat out exhausted, but he had somehow made it with little time to spare. As soon as he checked in for the flight was the last call for any passengers, allowing him to make him just in time. At least now he would be able to rest for a while considering it was a nine hour flight from Saffron City to the Battle Frontier in Hoenn.
Sinking his seat a bit, Ash noticed just how soft and comfortable it was. It was inviting him to sleep. It had been such a long day now that he thought about it. Not only had he become a Conference Champion, he had somehow managed to travel halfway across the Kanto Region, ride a motorcycle through Saffron City and barely catch a plane. He had every right to be exhausted.
Leaning back a bit once he was buckled into his seat, Ash soon found his eyelids becoming extremely heavy. The last thing he could remember was hearing the beginning of the flight attendants explanation of what to do incase of an emergency.
"What's Ash Ketchum doing on this flight?" Everyone seated around Ash couldn't help but chuckle as he slept in his chair with his mouth wide open. None of them wasted the opportunity to take a quick picture of the Indigo Conference Champion, even going as far as to stand beside him and get in on the picture.
A/N
And here we go. Ash celebrates a bit for his victory in the Indigo Conference, but he doesn't have much time as he's immediately sent out to Hoenn for some business surrounding Silph Co.
Many of you had been asking about when Dawn would appear, but 'there's no need to worry', I didn't forget about her. I didn't want to spoil it for anyone, so I decided to get this chapter together early to answer your questions. I was originally planning for her to be seen during the battle like everyone else, but I found the the scene I used to be more appropriate. Considering the fact that she's working to meet Ash at the 'top' of the Pokemon world, I thought it would be more appropriate to show that she's working hard at all times, even during his battle. And when I say 'top', I mean both of them winning a competition in their respective areas. So when Dawn wins a Ribbon Cup, and Ash wins a Championship Trophy, they agreed to meet each other again since they haven't seen each other since high school outside of video chats.
Well this may be the last of my quick updates now that school has started again. I'll aim to be as consistent as possible despite the new schedule I'll be working with. Thank you all for the reviews on the last chapter. I got really hyped up and finished this chapter quickly just for you guys. :D