Final part time! I think it's important to note that I used two songs to write this final part of the battle, namely the obvious XY&Z and, in this case, Mezase Pokemon Master. It certainly gives the battle the oomph it's needed. Please enjoy!
Part 3
The battle had been some of the most fun Ash had ever had. His Pokémon had been pushed to their limits, each pulling out training they received from each other, showing the world…no, showing Diantha who they were on the battlefield. Diantha had shown quite a bit of herself, too, and it made Ash glad that he had reached this point.
He understood her now as Champion, trainer, leader and, he wanted to believe, a friend.
Now, he would be putting that to the test against her greatest friend. It wasn't time to relax yet.
With a flash of light, Gardevoir emerged on the field, her necklace glinting with the Gardevoirite set inside it, ready for battle. Her portrait showed on the screen, and everyone was waiting for which Pokémon he would send to battle her. There was no other option; he trusted all three of his remaining teammates, but no one else could be trusted for the opening bout than Charizard.
"Charizard, I choose you!" As the last droplets of rain faded, Ash brought one of his most loyal back onto the field, roaring with triumph. Seconds later he shivered, the effects of paralysis still active. At the same time, however, Gardevoir wasn't quite at a hundred percent either, a red bruise present on her side that wasn't causing her pain, but no one except Diantha appeared to notice. He wouldn't let her make the first move again. "Steel Wing!"
"Rawww!" Charizard beat his tail on the ground, his wings flapping out to keep him hovering inches above it. They glowed white and he sailed right for Gardevoir. Ash narrowed his vision, waiting, and sure enough, Diantha nodded her head. Gardevoir disappeared, appearing right behind Charizard.
"Shadow Ball." It would have surprised Ash that Diantha was already attacking, if he hadn't figured out her true style with Gardevoir and all of her Pokémon. The crackling orb of shadows flashed out, right for Charizard's back.
"Pull your wings in and circle around!" Ash's arms threw out like they were wings and Charizard received the message. His wings pulled inwards, dropping his body and leveling it enough that the Shadow Ball missed. Then he circled back, shooting right for Gardevoir. "Flamethrower, all around!"
With a growl, Charizard's mouth opened wide, the torrent of flame scorching the remaining blades of grass in a ring that surrounded Gardevoir and left her nowhere to teleport to. Without direct attack, she was trapped, and when Charizard got close, his maw poured fire after fire on to her. Ash wasted no time in calling his next move, causing Charizard's glowing wing to snap out and strike Gardevoir's injured side, punting her out of the flames. No sooner had she floated back to her feet that her body raged with fire, a burn activating over her already red wound.
"Psychic." With the distance gained from Charizard's heat, Gardevoir's eyes flashed blue, and the same aura consumed Charizard's figure before the Embrace Pokémon flung him towards the ground, right in the center of the field, where the Thunder had cracked its muddy surface. He bounced, electric convulsions causing Charizard to wince. There was no way he could get that close again; not easily, even with the burn active.
"Then we'll just hit her from afar! Charizard, use the cracks and Flamethrower!" Ash's fist plunging downward told Charizard what he needed to do, and his neck bent at such an angle that his head buried itself in the field's deep gouge. The fissures in the ground began to heat up, and in a spiderwebbed line, geysers of fire emerged around the field. There was no way for Gardevoir to dodge, only barely floating to the side with her nimbleness, just to be caught by more heat.
"Shadow Ball!" Diantha's call brought Ash some alarm as he saw Gardevoir fire the shadowy orb in Charizard's direction.
"Pull out!" Ash called, but he was too slow on the draw. Or Charizard was, his paralysis taking over before Shadow Ball struck. His head was wrenched from the ground, sending him flipping in the air. The gleam in his eyes said he still had a little juice left, though, and Ash shouted his next order. "Seismic Toss!"
Charizard's roar of adrenaline revitalized the stadium's cheers, and he flew with all the speed he could muster for Gardevoir, the fire fading to naught but small embers around her. His body was slower, the paralysis having taken its toll, but Ash hoped he would reach her in time.
He never expected Diantha's next move, though. No one did.
"Well, Charizard is formidable, Ash. His tenacity. His sheer willingness to go through so much just to earn you a win. He is a credit to your team, your training style, and all of your Pokémon." Her words sent chills down Ash's spine, but Charizard never stopped, his arms outstretched. "That's why he's worthy of this. Gardevoir, Mega Evolve!"
Diantha reached up, clasping the keystone around her neck, and in the same instance, Gardevoir shined with the same light. It blinded Charizard as he got close, Gardevoir's body changing shape, becoming larger and more poofy. And overhead, the night sky glowed bright, the power of the moon gathering in one place.
It was a sign of respect, and Ash and Charizard both knew how it would end.
"Moonblast!"
"VOIR!" The pearlescent pink blast fired down, right onto Charizard's figure, consuming him in its destructive light. The attack rocked the whole stadium, and Ash had to grab Pikachu before he went flying off from the mere resultant force. There was a horrible sound in the middle of the field. The referee had even vacated nearby, pressed against the wall as he waited for the dust to settle.
"What a sight!" Kalas yelled at the conclusion of the round. "Where once a grassy plain sat is now nothing but a desolate crater, and with Charizard down, Ash has just two Pokémon remaining!"
His words were true, Gardevoir now standing over Charizard in her Mega Evolved form. His partner was unconscious, forcing Ash to return him from the crater where he lay, having fought a good fight. Ash couldn't be happier. "You did great, Charizard. The work you put in…we'll win for sure."
He stowed his pokeball back on his belt, and looked over to Diantha. She was challenging him to bring everything he had. Though he so badly wanted to bring Pikachu back on the field, to trust in the bond they shared to finish the battle that had started way back in his early trip through Kalos, Ash knew someone else had a battle they wanted finished. He would be able to keep up with Diantha's style, too. Fixing his hat upon his head, Ash tossed his pokeball into the air, and with it Greninja appeared. Trainer and Pokémon locked gazes, and already they began to see as one.
"I was waiting for you, Greninja. Let's test how far you two have grown."
"As one! Greninja, full power!" Ash raised his fist into the air, and a pillar of water surrounded Greninja's body. The crowd went wild. Kalas went wild, needing to be reined in by Malva over the appearance of the now famous Ash-Greninja. As soon as the water faded away, however, the giant shuriken upon Greninja's back, Ash took the first move. "Cut!"
"Ninja!" Greninja sped forward, practically a blur as he vanished across the crater to approach Gardevoir.
Diantha nodded. The kunai of water slashed down, barely missing Gardevoir as she appeared to the side. "Shadow Ball!"
"Double Team!" Ash's quick command was met with an equally quick replication of Greninja across the battlefield. The Shadow Ball fired through, hitting nothing but the copies, and allowing Greninja to leap high into the air. "Aerial Ace!"
"Grenin!" Ash raised his leg high up, kicking it down in tandem with Greninja's own leg as they came crashing towards Gardevoir.
"Reflect!" Diantha's command was just as quick, showing that she wouldn't let them gain an inch of momentum the way they had their previous battle. The quick blue shield erected itself, causing Greninja to strike the surface and bounce off. Through their shared vision, Ash saw what Greninja was seeing, and called his next attack.
"Water Shuriken!"
"Psychic!"
Greninja grabbed the giant shuriken from his back, and tossed it with all the speed he could for Gardevoir. She was faster, her Mega Evolved form providing her ever more power. The walls of the crater bent in, shooting out clots of dirt that destroyed the shuriken and forced Greninja on the move. There were no words that needed to be said between them as Greninja jumped up, dodging the pillars of earth as they climbed higher, only for one to strike him in the chest. Ash gagged, the pain erupting across his body.
Gardevoir wasn't done, either, creating a whole array of Shadow Balls and firing them en masse towards the falling Greninja.
"No giving up! Leap off and get close with Water Shuriken!"
"Nin!" Greninja regained his balance, the exhaustion of the earlier battle being felt on Ash's own skin. His trusted Pokémon landed on one of the pillars, bouncing for Gardevoir and flitting through the Ghost Type attack. His shuriken slashed out like a sword, batting away any that got close while the Shadow Balls that didn't land ripped through the pillars, crumbling them to dust. As the distance closed, Greninja fired, sending his Water Shuriken rippling out to strike against the increasing wound on Gardevoir's side. Ash's body moved into a sweeping kick, synchronized with Greninja as his own leg snapped into Gardevoir's side.
"Garde!" she shouted, punted across the crater before another spat of burns erupted over her body.
"Keep going with Aerial Ace!"
"Shadow Ball!" Diantha's command was accompanied with a nod, and as Greninja got close, Gardevoir disappeared, only to appear right behind Greninja, a point-blank Shadow Ball striking his back and sending him tumbling forward.
"Double Team!" Before he could even finish flipping upright, Greninja created the copies and started to run, all of them forming a circle around Gardevoir. "Now run right in with Cut!"
"Spin." Diantha said, her nod providing no other information on how she planned to counter Ash's newest move. It became self-evident by the ring of Shadow Balls.
The burn hit once again, and Gardevoir's attack was delayed.
"Now, go!" Ash shouted, slashing downward as the kunai sliced across Gardevoir's side, opposite her wound. Each of the copies leapt upwards immediately after, dodging the newest Shadow Ball. "Let's do this! Water Cut!"
"Niiiin…"
"Moonblast!" Gardevoir straightened up, calling the power of the moon to her as her pink orb glowed and grew larger between her hands. At the same time, all of Greninja's leaping copies were called back to him, causing his shuriken to grow humongous and split into a pair of large kunai. "Fire!"
"Gardeeevoir!" The orb, almost as large as Greninja himself, fired. The Ninja Pokémon soared downwards, his giant, watery kunai colliding with the attack. Ash felt himself straining, holding on in the hopes of one final blow, even with the blisters he could feel on his arms. Greninja pushed inwards, and with a pained cry, broke into the Moonblast, diving within its very core to bring his blades swinging down, right atop Gardevoir's head before the attacks exploded, raining dirt into the air.
Ash, however, stumbled back, falling on his butt with a cough.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu called, running up to him with worry. Ash shook his head, his eyes blurry with a cough escaping his lips before he looked up. Sure enough, Greninja was down, his watery form fading from his body; he was just lucky he hadn't been taken down with him.
"This…I can't believe my eyes! Greninja is down! After such a pitched and fast-paced battle, Greninja has fallen! Ash has only one Pokémon remaining! This is truly the climactic match! Pikachu versus Gardevoir! It will all be decided here! One for the history books, folks!"
"I'm all right, Pikachu," Ash said at Kalas's words, patting his friend on the head. "Just a little winded."
"Chu…" Pikachu still sounded worried, but a quick smile from Ash perked him right up. Pushing from the ground, Ash called Greninja back.
"You did everything you could. Leave the rest to us. Pikachu, buddy, I choose you!"
"Pikachu pika!" Pikachu was more than ecstatic to return to the field, his cheeks sparking. Even with the earlier scuffle, he brimmed with energy and Gardevoir stared down at his tiny form, evaluating him as the final threat.
"Diantha, this has been an awesome battle," Ash called out, the crowd falling away as they readied for the final clash between them. "I've really put everything to the test, and I've learned a lot about you. How you're willing to stand your ground, and the way you work with others to find the best solution. And even how you make it all seamlessly work with the littlest of nods. Knowing everything I do about you, I'm prepared for this to be our best battle!"
"I'm thinking the very same thing." Diantha placed a hand over her heart and bowed low. "This battle has been a challenging and complex affair, and as Champion, I couldn't ask for anything better. You've put your bonds and your path towards the future on display. No longer a child, but a trainer fully-grown. I have been waiting for this: the day we could conclude the battle we began outside Brackish Town.
"Now, Pokémon Master Ash Ketchum, let us conclude our battle!"
"Yeah! Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
"Pi!" Pikachu shouted, and he leapt into the crater, his body glowing white. Gardevoir awaited him, prepared for Diantha's nod. Pikachu refused to stop in spite of that, gathering even greater speed until he disappeared from the field, only to reappear when he slammed into Gardevoir's chest. Diantha raised an eyebrow but smiled at the turn of events.
"Shadow Ball!"
"Hit it back with Iron Tail!" Gardevoir cried out, creating her usual crackling orb that she fired at Pikachu. He bounced upwards, his tail swinging around.
"Chuuu pika!" His glowing tail made contact, and sent the Shadow Ball racing back for Gardevoir.
"Psychic, into the ground!" Diantha called, her fingers splayed downward as her partner's eyes glowed blue. The Shadow Ball was trapped in the light and then sent careening downward into the dirt. Diantha snapped her fingers once more, and Ash could tell her enjoyment over this battle and its new, different feel. "Moonblast!"
The sky brightened, the orb of pink forming with all the energy Gardevoir could gather before Pikachu would strike again. Ash made that time minimal. "Electro Ball!"
"Pika pika pika chu pi!"
"Gardevoir!" The two orbs were sent out from their respective sources, hitting in the space between the two. They held in midair, beginning to mix and mingle, neither giving the other an inch before Gardevoir flinched, the burn running up her entire body. Electro Ball broke through, striking her across the head and unbalancing her.
"Iron Tail!" Having gained the momentum, Pikachu raced through the dust and pink glitters of the destroyed Moonblast. A moment later, he was bringing his Iron Tail around and driving it into the wound. Gardevoir cried out in pain, but a nod from Diantha later, and Pikachu was surrounded in a blue glow. With a jerk of her head, Pikachu was flung down towards the ground. He bounced along, but straightened on all fours, the scuffs along his fur doing little but driving his motivation. Ash grinned back. "Quick Attack and Electro Ball!"
Pikachu stopped his skidding back with his tail and leapt from his little legs, becoming a speeding white bullet that formed a crackling orb of yellow and black lightning on his tail. Both trainer and Pokémon had their eyes flitting everywhere as Pikachu approached Gardevoir, only for a nod to send her teleporting away. Ash grinned, and the little upturn of his lips was enough to direct Pikachu. He landed on the ground and flung his Electro Ball to the left.
Gardevoir appeared, and the moment after was struck by the Electro Ball. They had anticipated her move.
"Moonblast!"
"Thunderbolt!"
It was a game of who would gather enough energy first, but no one was the clear winner. Soon as Pikachu had summoned the requisite electricity to his body, Gardevoir fired her Moonblast. The searing bolt of lightning cut through the air and collided with Moonblast. It was a second of struggle, and then the two attacks exploded. Pikachu and Gardevoir were both pushed back, the explosive force resonating across the stadium, blowing over those in the stands and even sending Ash's hat flying off his head, behind him.
Then the Shadow Ball came from a wordless command, striking Pikachu and sending him into the side of the crater they had been fighting in. Gasps of shock and worry peppered the stadium, but Ash punched at the air.
"Use your momentum, Pikachu! Quick Attack!"
"Pika!" Pikachu called. Before he could fully make impact with the earthen walls, his tail coiled, landing him against the sides and then springing him forward. The white of Quick Attack just made him even faster. Gardevoir couldn't dodge, even with the smoke and dust, before Pikachu's small body rammed into her damaged side.
"Gavoi!" she screamed out, but as Pikachu tumbled away, she recovered, her eyes glowing blue and pink, alternating between them.
"Moon Ball."
Another combination move, huh? Ash thought, his lips twitching with their grin. The power of the moon gathered by Gardevoir mixed with the sparking ball of ghostly energy. It became a positively deathly combination that Ash knew there was only one way out of. He nodded towards Pikachu, and his best partner knew what to do.
"Pika!" Pikachu shouted, his tail stiffening. He struck the ground, allowing it to carry him high into the air before he swung around. The move fired, churning up the ground with its intense fury that sought to eclipse and consume Pikachu. He held no worry as his Iron Tail struck the top of Gardevoir's deadliest attack yet. It held, the energies cracking and searing along Pikachu's tiny form, before he managed to bounce upwards. Ash looked across to Diantha, the woman wide in the eyes when she realized Ash hadn't given a single command.
"You're not the only one who fights solely with their bond, Diantha! Me and Pikachu's bond is stronger than anything! And our combo move, the testament of our bond, is gonna finish this!" Ash's cry made cheers rise in the crowd, and Diantha chuckled. "Spinning Thunderbolt Tail!"
"SHADOW BALL!" Diantha shouted, the rising of her volume indicating how pivotal it was for Gardevoir to interrupt this attack.
Pikachu was carried further into the air, high above Gardevoir's head, and like they always had done for Counter Shield, Pikachu began to spin, lightning crackling around his steel tail. Below him, Gardevoir readied her counter, a giant Shadow Ball matching the crackling now descending upon her.
"Go, Ash!"
"Beat her!"
"Win it, Ketchum!" Kalas cried, all objectivity lost.
In that same moment, the greatest of all cries rose from the crowd, each belonging to one of his Pokémon. They were all a team. They were all together.
They were going to win.
"PIKACHU, LET'S GO!"
"PIIIIKAAAAAA…" Pikachu cried, spinning down like a corkscrew with thundering power. Gardevoir finished coalescing her giant Shadow Ball together, and Diantha nodded to order the firing…only for her to flinch. The wound, started by Krookodile, had at last taken its toll, and the Shadow Ball flickered. "…CHUUUUUU!"
Pikachu's tail struck down against the Shadow Ball, cutting through it until he reached Gardevoir, and then the thunder and lightning exploded. The dust was ignited, blowing apart what little was left of the field, and all was obscured in sparks and shadow. Ash stepped forward, waiting to see the result, and the stadium went breathless.
There was a moment of silence, only his heartbeat audible, and then Pikachu came down, landing on both feet, with a grin.
The smoke dissipated, and Gardevoir remained standing. Diantha, however, gave another low chuckle.
Her partner fell, and by the time she hit the ground, she had reverted back to normal.
No one said a word.
Everyone just waited for the referee to step forward.
"Gardevoir is unable to battle. Pikachu is the winner." Still another breath before he spoke the final judgment. "The winner of the match is Ash Ketchum!"
The stadium went crazy, fireworks popping off in the air as though his victory had been expected all along. Ash lost all sense of decorum, himself, running on to the battlefield and scooping Pikachu up into his arms, laughing the whole while. His best friend was exhausted, but thrilled with the victory he had managed. After so many years, they had finally done it. They had defeated Diantha.
"Pikachu, you and everyone else were amazing," he whispered, holding Pikachu close. Now that they were near to each other, he could see all the close calls and bruises from the battle that he had been hiding. It made him, if anything, even prouder of the electric mouse he held in his arms. Pikachu was just as proud, licking his cheek before falling asleep softly in his arms.
Their little bubble of victory over with, Ash looked up to the stands, where all of his friends were waving banners and cheering wildly at this victory. Serena and Clemont were hugging, Lillie throwing herself into the mix. Bonnie jumped up and down as Max scowled, and Misty, Iris, Dawn and May were all getting into a cheer he didn't even know was possible from half of them. Brock was the one with the greatest restraint, clapping, though Ash couldn't help but hear his mother screaming out "that's my baby boy!". Professor Oak, Korrina, Gary, Alain, Mairin, Gladion, Hau, Sawyer, Seamus; there were too many people raising a ruckus to count.
That, perhaps, was the reason his eyes found all of his Pokémon, dancing and cheering, his birds rising towards the night sky and the peppering of fireworks. For them, or perhaps everyone watching, Ash raised his fist to the sky. They all knew what it meant.
"I think we've seen history here, folks! On his first attempt, and a grueling battle, Ash has managed victory against Diantha. Where will he go from here? Only time will tell."
"I doubt he'll choose the position of Champion, though I'm sure the name of Ash Ketchum will not be forgotten," Malva said, and Ash could almost feel her eyes on him. "That said, let's cover some replays."
"Right you are. There are lots of moments worth celebrating and dissecting here."
"Ash." Diantha's voice, elegant as always and restrained from the call of battle, was right next to him, her hand extended. "Thank you for a most excellent battle. As always, you prove the depth of your strength, compassion and a path forward for people and Pokémon alike, as you did with Team Neo, DARC and Flare, and in every League. For that, you would make a most splendid Champion."
"Ah, yeah, I don't think I could handle all the stuff you do, Diantha. You're still the only Kalos Champion to me."
Diantha giggled, the two sharing a laugh. Pikachu didn't stir from his nap. "I had a feeling you'd say that, so why don't we just consider each other as friends."
"I'd like that." The two clasped hands, their show exciting those continuing to watch the scene on the field below. Once they were done, Diantha cocked her head to the side, telling Ash to follow her. After the first pop and flash of the camera, he wanted to oblige her, and the two made their way off the stadium pitch and back into the hallways.
It didn't take long to notice this hallway was different, and he figured it was one that only the Champion knew about. His suspicions proved true when they reached an elevator that began to ascend past the falls and stained glass, up to the very top of the headquarters. "This is a hall only for those who have bested the Champion. Kalos's history is recorded here in some detail as well, though not a perfect record, as we have many legends which are shrouded in myth."
"I might know a thing or two about that," Ash said with a light laugh. Diantha shared in his smile, leading him down the portrait-lined hallways. There were certainly many pictures, new and old, some of which led to the inception of the Kalos League all the way to the recent League Reform. Diantha was in quite a few at the end, standing with her Elite Four members, or in some other capacity. One even had Kathi Lee interjecting herself with a reminder of schedule while Diantha had a photo shoot with Steven. In the background of the photo there was a slightly younger man to the Champion, holding stacks of paper as he regarded the meeting with starry eyes, his waistcoat slightly unbuttoned. It reminded Ash a bit of Sawyer, except for the height and hairstyle and Ash was soon moving on to the empty spaces lining the walls.
"And here we are," Diantha spoke, the duo now entering into a room with a brilliant stained-glass rose and a pedestal that seemed to record the match participants for posterity. At Diantha's suggestion, Ash placed Pikachu and his pokeballs upon it, their pictures being taken like a moment in time. She then moved them both in line of a camera, and put a smile on her face. "There's nothing more refreshing than losing to a skilled challenger. It reminds you of how far you have to grow, still, and how much you should keep working together to achieve that bright future. Thank you for reminding me of that. I think a great many Champions deserve to be reminded of that. So, Ash…
"Please, keep being you, and guide Kalos and the world into the future."
The camera flashed, recording Ash and Diantha's great battle into the annals of history.
"Ash. Ash." Serena's voice, insistent with every repetition of his name, caused Ash to jerk awake, blinking his eyes. The sounds of the plane returned to his ears, and he realized he had been sleeping for what must have been most of the plane trip. Pikachu had done the same, only now yawning with the feeling of a good rest. "You looked like you were having a good dream?"
"More like a good memory," Ash answered, staring out the window. Yes, it was good, even after everything that had happened. He tore himself away, back to Serena, her legs propped up. "Everything good with you?"
"Never better. Just a little tired."
"We'll have to keep a close watch on her, Ash. Can't have a pregnant woman go running off on her own."
"I think I'll manage just fine on my own, Astrid. If we need to rest, I'll let you know," Serena told her fellow blonde. Astrid shrugged, sitting back in her chair and kicking her leg back and forth as it bounced on her knee. Serena turned back to her husband, but Ash had already gone back inside his bag for the issue of League Quarterly, hoping to glean more details about Kahili's seeming match. He looked up, hoping to find a television in the cabin where they could see the match, but found no such luck. He supposed he'd have to find out when they landed.
Soon as he came to this conclusion, the fasten seatbelt light came on, and he was left with little time but to do what he was told and crane his head to look out the window. Pikachu joined him, their eyes wide with the same childlike curiosity that had driven them all their lives.
"Look at that, Pikachu! Look at all the green!"
"Chaaa!" Pikachu cooed in agreement, the two taking in the rivers and fields, and beyond, Ash was certain that he saw fantastic buildings of steel and clock towers. The thrill of a new adventure was settling in again, one that hadn't changed with age.
"Can't wait to see what new Pokémon we'll meet." At this thought, he burrowed into his bag one more time and pulled out the envelope containing his orders. With pride, he read out their contents, getting smiles from both Serena and Astrid as they were ready for their own part of the adventure. "Ash Ketchum, ascertain the state of the budding Galar League by meeting with Champion Leon in Wedgehurst and the Galar League President Rose. Examine the Gym Challenge in Galar and return with your findings on its preferred status in the larger Pokémon League."
"That sounds like a paraphrase," Astrid said, snickering the aisle over.
"Paraphrase or no, it's another adventure, and a new region," Serena said in return. Her hand fell over her stomach. "And soon, a new life."
"New life, huh?" Ash asked, his thoughts leading back to Diantha in the past, and the future that was his and Serena's child. He hoped he was ready. Or maybe something would make him ready. He didn't know. So, instead he did what he always did, and lived in the present. The future would work itself out. That was the only assurance he had as the plane made to land. "All right, then. Galar Region, here we are!"
The next phase of Ash Ketchum's life was beginning.
Author's Note: And so, the battle is done! Was it exciting? Well-written? I wanted to go for something a bit different at the finale and hope it came off well. Though, I'm sure that's not the only part you'll want to talk about, namely that little detail at the end that Ash, Serena and Astrid have come to the Galar Region!
Of course, this bears mentioning because this story very explicitly built into what comes next. That is to say, it built into the upcoming Galar Trilogy!
That's right, Galar Trilogy. Though it bears mention this project is different. As I was not originally slated to be writing it, quite a bit of it is written by a friend, Viroro-kun. That said, given its scope, I was required to step in and thus it's a co-author endeavor, though the basic story and outline treatment was always done by me.
On that note, mark this as the official announcement (for those who haven't heard it through Twitter) for the start of the Ancienverse Galar Trilogy, Love in the Time of Traveling, by myself and Viroro-kun, publishing on August 24th! I hope to see you all there!
In the meantime, I have a few people to thank: matthewzeleskey, Cataquack Warrior and Bat-in-a-hat for favoriting; blizzardblaze174 and Ikell for following; and a huge thanks to crossoverpairingloverr, tenzalucard123, UltimateCCC, GalarianMike, Rajiv A. Rajiram, Ander Arias, potat lasaro, XDiamondX90, TheThunderOfYourLife, aklike95, Captainsquid12, AmourshippingCanon and 1 guest for reviewing!
Please check out my original novel series, The Soul Saga, available online, and do please Review! I'll see you next Tuesday! As always,
Dare to Be Silly,
Epicocity