Legend

The sea pounded against the shore without abandon. Against the tantalizing backdrop of beauty that the sea beheld, a figure dressed in gray and black watched the spectacle. Eyes fixed upon the waves that tore at the shore. Waves that had given the place the name Queen's Mirror. To anyone observing, it would appear that the man was admiring the view, but in reality, his mind was in a different place all together.

It's been so long… he thought as he gazed away at the other shore of the lake. How long had he been living at the corner of the shore? It felt all too long. His shaggy unkempt hair fell around his neck, he was pretty sure that he looked like some sort of cave man now, not that there were any mirrors around to check.

The sound of the crunch of feet on sand brought him back to the present. "The nearest road, is thirty miles to the east." Ash said calmly, hearing the sounds of a tourists foot prints behind him. The footsteps stopped. "I don't need directions." The man replied, standing directly behind Ash. Ash frowned, his aura extending to lightly probe the other mans. No such luck, his mind was slammed shut by steel doors.

"I'm looking for you."

That caught his attention. He turned slowly around to meet he gaze of a brown haired man, with eyes narrowed into a perpetual squint. "Brock." He greeted calmly.

"Ash." Brock replied. "Reminiscing?" he inquired, lacing his fingers behind his head as he stepped forward.

"A bit." The man replied, his fingers straying toward the hat that lay across his knees. " So then, what does the head of the international breeding society want with me?" He asked simply as he stared out over the water's edge again. A sail boat was docked at the beat up old ship dock that lay against the shore. That answered how his companion had gotten here.

" You've heard about the tournament that's coming up, right?" The brown haired man asked, knowing the answer already.

" Well there's a thousand tournaments coming up, which one are you talking about?"

" Come on, even you should of heard of this one."

" It's been 3 years since I participated in any kind of tournament, Brock." The black haired man commented as his mind brought up images of his defeat. Of his fall from grace so to speak, but how had he known that some blond haired pipsqueak from sinnoh would be that good?

" You haven't heard about it from anyone?"

Ash looked out around the deserted beach, "This place is definitely packed with people Brock." He commented sarcastically.

Brock sighed and rubbed the back of his spiky hair tiredly "Drop the charade will ya? I've known you too long to be fooled by that act."

Ash sighed and withdrew a tattered poster from the backpack at his feet, "This?" He asked amused, unfolding it.

" Legends Plateau." Brock said amused, "Coordinated by Scott of the battle frontier, and the Kanto champ Lance. So, are you going?" He asked, his perpetual squint suddenly narrowing slightly. His languid, slouched stance straightening. You could tell he was serious now.

" Again, it's been three years…"

"Since you've participated in any type of tournament, I get it." Brock completed for his friend. " Still, what better way to get back into the public eye, than winning the tournament that only comes around once a decade?"

"Who said I want to get back into the public eye?" Ash retorted, it was a hollow statement, and they both knew it.

Brock sighed and turned his back on his friend. "The way I see it, you can sit here and mope around for the rest of your sorry life for losing to a blond girl, or you can get yourself back out there and make yourself known again." He delivered his ultimanium with just a hint of sharpness.

Silence, the crashing of the waves was Brock's only reply.

"I'm not feeling sorry for myself. Only proving to myself a point." Ash said simply, looking across at the ocean.

"Prove what?" Brock asked curiously.

To lose, you need to know how to win. If you've never won, what have you to lose? The words echoes through his mind. The previous champion of Sinnoh had told him that. He had won against the greatest trainer in Sinnoh at the time, the words had been meant to tell him that now that he had won, he was destined to fall. He had won everything. And he would lose everything.

Though he was sure the previous champion didn't expect him to fall so quickly. "Prove that out of all the people in the world, that even after all I've done, all I've accomplished, that I will never be the best." Ash said simply.

It had been his dream for as long as he remembered to be the best of the best. But then again, that's why they were called dreams right?

Brock sighed as he looked at his old friend. "Since I visited you at Christmas, you still haven't changed huh?"

Ash looked out across the beautiful lake. It had been one of the few constants in his life these past years. "Did you expect me to?"

Brock conceded the point. "When you decide to, call me." He said, walking back to his boat. Hoping... No... Not hoping. Merely acknowledging the possibility that his friend would just maybe become the man he once was.

Ash looked at the back of the retreating man. His eye drifted close as a torrent of shame welled up inside of him.

Your a failure. You think you can just give up and sit here feeling sorry for yourself? Pathetic. The purple haired man sighed and walked away from him.

Seems like I am a failure, don't you agree Paul? Ash thought, standing up and dusting of the sand from his jeans. He slung the back pack over his shoulder and a small yellow mouse climbed onto his shoulder. "We finally getting some work done?"Pikachu asked, from his position.

Ash didn't answer, putting on his hat and beginning to walk. The grin on his face was answer enough.

Cynthia, it's time to prove which one of us really is the best.

Cynthia frowned, her blond hair cascading out like a veritable water fall. A small envelope sat on her desk with the official pokemon league seal stamped on it. The blond champion sliced open the letter with a letter opener and unfolded the letter inside.

" Legend plateau hmm?" She asked to no one in particular. The biggest tournament in a decade?Yeah right, the officials were always exaggerating everything, anything to get hype for their tournament. Still... there were some high ranking names organizing this, Lance a champion from Kanto, and Scott, the manager of the Battle Frontier. Sounded like fun. Maybe she'd even get a decent challenge this time around, other than those small fries she'd been fending of to defend her position as champion of sinnoh.

Her lips curled slightly. She pushed the button to call up her personal maid, and about 5 seconds later a brunette in a maids outfit came up and gave a bow.

" Yes Champion Cynthia?" The maid asked politely.

" Fetch me a plane to Kings Impasse. I need to get in some training."

The maid gave a graceful bow and left.

Cynthia waited before the clicking of the maid's high heels faded away into the distance before letting a grin bloom on her face. Scott huh? That man certainly knew how to throw a party... And Lance was on par with her in power, and he was Kanto's longest reigning champion, having held the position for five years. Yes... this tournament would be fun indeed.

The familiar thrill of ecstasy and adrenaline pulsed through her veins at the prospect of a challenge. She hadn't felt this alive since she had defeated the last champion, Ash Ketchum, in a League Battle. That had been three years ago.

Edited 8/30/12

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- Pen of Silver.