Ash's heart droned in his ears, the only sound he could hear. Before him, on the ground of the great, white marble room, was a mosaic that seemed to glow with otherworldly power. He couldn't feel the tips of his fingers; the only sensation he could feel was the distinct feeling that his stomach had sank through the floor. This was it. He'd trained for this moment for what felt like eons. His team was hungry for victory, ready for the challenge. On his shoulder, perched quietly, Pikachu sniffed the air nervously, ready to get started.
Ash knew that the moment he stepped on the center of the mosaic, which was the center of a glass Pokeball, the challenge would begin, and there was no turning back. Behind him stood his troupe of supporters, waiting quietly. It was time, and they had trained hard.
Although Clemont would deny it if anyone thought to ask, he had last seen her six months, two weeks, and four days ago. They had stayed a few days after their late night; he had learned in that time that the best place in the world for him was beneath her heel, literally and figuratively. Each night, when he was sure that the rest were asleep, he would sneak into her room silently to find her sitting up, waiting for him. These stolen moments, these secret, tender seconds of whispered confessions and warm bodies cradling one another, were euphoria for both he and the Champion.
On that last day, when the tickling at the base of Serena's skull told her that she was missing the road, when Ash grew anxious to travel once more and discover and tame more Pokemon, Clemont knew time was up for them.
Clemont, come on! It's time to go! Bonnie shrieked from the front of the cabin. Clemont, who had locked himself in the bathroom, sighed in frustration. He had turned on the cold water, waited till the water ran icy, before removing his glasses and splashing his face. Ash, Serena, and Bonnie had all already tried their hand at getting Clemont to come out; some promises, some begging, even a few threats, but nothing could coax him out.
When he heard her voice outside the door, his resolve melted. He had immediately unlocked the door, the dread intensifying in the pit of his stomach; time was up. She cracked the door as soon as she heard the lock disengage, slipping in before locking it behind her again. Clemont focused as hard as he could; he never wanted to forget her, here, in this moment. How as she turned to face him, her golden hair caught the early morning sunlight, casting her in a glimmering halo. How the corner of her green eyes crinkled with sadness, how the curve of her gorgeous lips shifted as she said his name, so sweet and tender, unlike anything he doubted the world had ever seen.
I don't want to go, he had choked out, pulling her to him. He wrapped his arm possessively around her waist, an action that would've made him sweat just to think about a few days ago; how had he grown so attached to her so fast? He used his other hand to pet the back of her head, pulling the top of her head beneath his chin.
I know, but you must, she had sighed into his chest, squeezing him tight. Clemont had shook his head violently, blinking back tears. I suppose Bonnie will just have to go by herself, the Champion had mused aloud.
He has sighed heavily, angrily, tightening his grip. She was right, of course. He had to go. He had always known he wouldn't be staying, but in just a few short days, somehow, foolishly, he'd let his daydreams and imagination run wild. Now, as he stared down the barrel of leaving her, he wanted to stretch the moment into another.
I know where to find you, he had chuckled through the knot in his throat. I know where you live.
You can come find me anytime, she had smiled up at him, wiping away a stray tear with her thumb as she cupped his face.
I promise, I'll come back, he had whispered, pulling her chin up to him. She had stood on her tiptoes, leaning in desperately, sharing a final, hidden kiss. With a final groan of acceptance, he had stepped away from her, unlocked the bathroom door, and gone outside to meet the rest of his group.
Now, he stood behind Ash, tapping his foot impatiently. He had waited for so long, and he was so close to seeing her again. "You're ready for this, Ash", he prodded, trying to urge this second of contemplation on faster.
Ash nodded, and with a nod to Pikachu, stepped forward. Hurriedly, Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont stepped forward with him. Ash stepped nervously onto the white dot that represented the middle of a Pokeball as the rest of his group stood on the platform behind him. The silence of the expansive chamber was shattered as mechanical whirring filled the room. The platform rose smoothly as the floor below them fell away. Bonnie whimpered in surprise, wrapping her arms around her brother's waist nervously as she watched the ground below grow further and further away. Clemont held her close comfortingly, but all he could do was stare straight up, towards the hole in the ceiling they were rising to.
After a few moments, the platform they all stood on pushed up and through the ceiling, becoming level with the next floor. This was it; the moment Ash had been holding his breath for. The room all around him was dark; the room was so large, that the outer walls could not be seen; they were surrounded by darkness. The only thing illuminated was an expansive battlefield, illuminated by towering field lights above.
With a click, a blinding, bright white spotlight fell on Ash, causing him to raise his arm in front of his eyes. "Come on, this way," Serena whispered to the other two from the edge of the shadows. She gestured with her hand; to their right, faintly glowing in the dark, were green arrows, trailing to spectator benches on the side of the field. The three of them slunk away after whispering encouragement to Ash.
On the left side of the field, opposite of where Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena were perched with excitement, was a young man in a white and black shirt; he sat in an elevated chair that was approximately seven feet above the ground. "The challenger, Ash from Pallet Town, has cleared the Elite Four, and now stands ready to face the league's Reigning Champion!" he declared in a clear, excited voice.
"Good luck, Ash!" Serena shouted across the field. Ash shot her a confident smile and a thumbs up.
"Each Trainer will be allowed to use a maximum of six Pokemon; all substitutes and items are allowed in this battle," the referee continued confidently. "A Trainer will be declared defeated when none of their Pokemon are able to battle. Challenger, do you understand the rules?"
"You bet I do!" Ash crowed.
"Pika pika!" Pikachu ascertained.
"Without further ado," the referee smirked, "please welcome to the field the Reigning Champion of the Kalos region for three years running, undefeated at this time and with hundreds of victories under her belt, Octavia of Vaniville Town!" At the last word, the cavern erupted with roars, causing Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie to jolt with surprise. Bonnie craned her neck around; as she peered through the darkness, as far as she could see, there was an ocean of spectators surrounding the field.
Clemont's knees knocked together as he strained his eyes against the darkness, trying to see her, and just as he began to get frustrated, she stepped into the light. She looked just as she always did in his mind; strong, defiant, long blonde hair brushed behind her shoulders. "Octavia," he sighed dreamily; the first time he had uttered her name in months, so sweet on his tongue. Serena turned to Clemont, an eyebrow raised in question.
As if she could hear his voice over the din of the crowd, her green eyes slid over to him, piercing him in place. He felt himself melting under her gaze; it felt like ages since he was under her scrutiny.
Surprisingly, uncharacteristically, she shot Clemont a wink, making him sink further into the bench, before turning her attention to the challenger. "What was that?" Serena demanded, her head whipping between Clemont and Octavia.
"Shh, they are starting," Clemont whispered, blushing heatedly and trying to divert Serena's attention.
"Good to see you again, Ash" Octavia called across the huge field once the crowd had quieted a bit. "You too, Pikachu!"
"Great to see you too, Octavia!" Ash replied, petting Pikachu in excitement. "We came for the victory you've been keeping from us!"
"Well, I hope you're a lot tougher than you were last time," Octavia chuckled, her hand on her bare hip.
"Guess you'll just have to find out!" Ash shot back, yanking a Pokeball from his belt as he twisted his baseball cap backwards.
"The battle will commence!" The referee cried, raising a green flag above his head. The crowd exploded into screams. Clemont watched as Octavia carefully plucked a Pokeball from her waistband, mouthed "good luck" across the field to his friend, and clicked the middle button, expanding the ball. As her arm cocked back behind her head, he drank in the image of her curvy legs, peeking through shredded knee high black socks, her bare stomach and waist, her determined eyes growing serious, as she prepared herself for battle.
The distance had been terrible for him; every waking and sleeping moment since they had left the ranch revolved around his aching desire to see her again. In this moment, with the crowd roiling around him as he stared at her from the sidelines, all the waiting had been worth it. She was just as simultaneously endearing and terrifying as the day he met her.
Thanks to all my readers; sorry it took so long to finish! 3