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- The Champion -

April of 2029. Afternoon. Pallet Town, Kanto.

Ash sat on the fence that surrounded the outside of the Oak laboratory. He finally had a day off for the first time in a while. Between all of the missions he had been assigned lately and all of the challengers who came to face him, he barely had any downtime. Ash loved his job, but the life of a Champion always kept him busy—he cherished every day that he got to spend taking it easy in Pallet Town.

Misty had gone up to Cerulean City to visit Daisy for the day, and she had taken the twins with her. Ash opted to stay home, wanting to take the day to relax—too exhausted from work to spend extended time with Daisy. Inhaling, he took a breath. The Pallet air felt refreshing to him, and he wished he could take a few more days off—but somewhere in Kanto the Champion was always needed.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Ash perked up, looking over to see a flash of yellow sparks flying into the air. His eyes trailing the sparks, Ash saw Pikachu positioned a few yards away, his six-year-old daughter standing close behind. Ash had been left in charge of watching her for the day while Misty was out. He certainly didn't mind, and decided to take her over to Gary's lab so that she could play with the Pokemon. For the past hour, she had been running around wearing his Champion cape, pretending to battle alongside Pikachu. Ash found it to be somewhat endearing.

Her face was glowing with excitement at the attack, and she threw her arms into the air. "That was awesome, Pikachu!" she gushed, and Pikachu stood up, a light blush dusting his cheeks at the praise.

"Pika!" Pikachu said, rubbing his head.

Ash smiled at the interaction between Skye and Pikachu and hopped off of the fence, approaching them. "Hey, that wasn't bad," he praised. "You're a real trainer in the making, Skye."

Skye's face brightened, and she spun to face her father. "Really?"

Ash grinned, putting his hands on his hips. "Really!" He winked at Pikachu. "You already seem to have the hang of battling, after all!"

Pikachu smiled and jumped onto his trainer's shoulder, nuzzling affectionately against his cheek.

Skye smiled proudly, puffing out her chest. "That's 'cause I watch all your battles on TV!" she said enthusiastically. "And you're the best trainer in the world!"

Ash laughed, ruffling Skye's hair. "Thanks, kiddo. But I wouldn't be where I am now without my Pokemon." He glanced at Pikachu, who let out a happy "Pika!" in return. Ash scratched beneath its chin and continued, saying, "Working together with my Pokemon is how I became Champion."

Skye blinked, looking at Pikachu, and then looked back to Ash. "Did you always wanna be Champion?" she asked, tilting her head.

Ash blinked, surprised by his daughter's question. But she continued to stare up at him curiously and he let out a laugh, rubbing his nose with a finger. "For as long as I can remember!" he answered, glancing up to the sky. "I wanted to be Champion even when I was your age."

"How come?"

Ash raised his brows, glancing down at her as she waited eagerly for his answer. "Well…" he started, thinking it over as he scratched his head. He remembered sitting up by the TV late at night, watching Lance battle alongside his Dragonite—the two of them working together as one. He remembered hearing stories on the news about the Champion who saved a group of Pokemon from the clutches of Team Rocket. He remembered seeing Champions time and time again throughout the course of his journey jumping into action to protect the people and Pokemon that they loved when they were needed. He smiled. "Because I love Pokemon."

He closed his eyes, sliding his hands into his pockets, continuing with, "And because I want to be able to fight beside them and become stronger. That way, we can protect what we love together, and influence trainers all over the world to do the same." He opened his eyes. "That's why I wanted to be Champion."

When his gaze met Skye's again, he noticed something different about her. She stared up at him, her fists clenched tightly in front of her as he noticed the spark that flickered in her eyes. "I can do that, too!"

Ash watched her, his mouth parting slightly. Her smiled continued to grow, and she punched her fist towards him confidently, declaring, "Someday I'm gonna be Champion, Daddy!"

At first, Ash wasn't sure what to say, and Pikachu looked at him questioningly. His eyes were focused entirely on Skye as she stared at him, the cape she wore blowing slightly in the breeze. She was just a child speaking of a dream, but for a moment, she felt so much larger than that. Ash felt adrenaline rush through his body, and Pikachu took notice, sparking his cheeks.

His lips curved into a smile and he laughed, putting a hand to his forehead. Skye puffed her cheeks in frustration, but then Ash flashed her a grin and held his own fist out to her. "Then you'd better train hard," he said, and Skye's face lit up. "Because if you want to be Champion, then you and I are gonna have a battle that Kanto will never forget!"

Skye took a deep breath and pounded her fist against Ash's. "You're on!"

"I'll be waiting."

March 31st, 2044. Night. Pallet Town, Kanto.

"Quick Attack!"

Pikachu sprung forward, racing ahead at lighting speed. Ash narrowed his eyes, watching as his partner zoned in on their target.

"Now, Iron Tail!" Ash commanded, pointing forward.

Pikachu obeyed, leaping into the air as his tail began to glow white. "Chu pi!" he cried, striking it against a log that had been set out in front of him.

Ash grinned, offering Pikachu a thumbs-up. "Nice work, buddy!" he praised, and Pikachu trotted over to him. "I know she likes to use close-range combat—we have to be ready for it at every opportunity. Always be prepared to strike!"

Pikachu flexed his arms, letting out a proud, "Pika!"

"Ash?"

Ash blinked and turned around to see Misty approaching him. "Oh, hey, Mist!" he greeted, and Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder.

Misty smiled, raising a brow. "Hey yourself," she said, crossing her arms. "I figured you'd be out here." She scanned him over. "Without a coat," she observed, picking up the jacket that was draped around her arm and handing it to him.

Ash let out a small laugh, accepting it. "Thanks," he said, slipping it on. "I guess I kinda got wrapped up in training and didn't realize how cold it was getting."

Misty sighed, pressing her fingers to her temple. "Jeeze, I'm always looking out for you, aren't I?" Ash snickered, scratching his cheek, and Misty sighed.

Nighttime was always quiet in Pallet Town—though this night seemed especially quiet somehow. The winter air left a strong chill, and with news of snow heading in, most people had locked themselves indoors. But Ash couldn't go in just yet—he had too much to take care of.

"Tomorrow's the day, huh?" Misty sighed, catching Ash's attention.

Ash took a deep breath, cracking a smile. "Yeah."

Misty eyed him, bringing her arms closer to her chest. "Are you nervous?"

Ash grinned and waved a hand dismissively. "No way!" he assured, pounding a fist to his chest. "I'm way too excited for our battle to even think about being nervous!"

"That sounds like something you would say," Misty admitted, and Ash put his hands to his hips.

"Of course!" he proclaimed, furrowing his brows. "After all—I've been waiting a long time for this battle."

Misty glanced at him and noticed the spark in his eyes. After a moment, she unfolded her arms and turned to face him fully. "Ash," she said seriously, and he looked to her. "She's strong."

Ash raised his brows, pausing, and Misty stared at him with unfaltering eyes. But after a moment, Ash smiled. "Of course she's strong," he said, closing his eyes. "You can't conquer the Elite Four and make it to the Champion without being strong."

"This is different," Misty rebutted. "She's not like the other trainers you've fought." Her eyes shifted to the ground, and her brows furrowed. "Every trainer who's battled you had to get through me first." She turned her head back to Ash. "And when I battled her, she had strength like I've never been up against before." Her shoulders tensed. "She could become Champion."

Ash opened his eyes, focusing his gaze forward. "I know that," he admitted, and Misty reeled back. "I think we've both known that for a long time."

Misty grew quiet, her shoulders losing tension. Ash took a deep breath and looked to the sky. "She's not a little kid anymore—she's come a long way."

Ash closed his eyes, remembering when she first left Pallet Town on her Pokemon journey, Squirtle waddling by her side. He remembered all of the phone calls he would receive while she was away—telling him all about the new Pokemon she had captured, her wins and losses, the friends and rivals she had made. He remembered the times he would witness her battle in tournaments and leagues—the moments when her heart was truly one with her Pokemon.

He remembered the moments where her life seemed to fall apart, when she wanted to give up on her dreams, but then always gathering the strength to stand back up again and push forward, her Pokemon by her side. He had witnessed Skye fight with and for Pokemon with all of the strength in her heart. Everything that she had done up until now was leading up to this inevitable battle, and Ash smiled, opening his eyes.

"If anyone is fit to be Champion, it's her," he said, clenching his fists by his sides. "And our battle tomorrow will prove if she's ready for that role."

Misty couldn't help but smile as she watched her husband stare up at the night sky, and let out a breath, relaxing. "…She really has grown up," she said quietly, glancing down. "I think that no matter what the outcome is tomorrow, I'll be proud of her."

Ash's smile widened as he stared at the stars shining above them. "…Me too."

A beat of silence followed before Misty smirked, looking to Ash. "And to think I thought you might feel weird about battling your own daughter," she teased, nudging him playfully.

Ash laughed lightly, gently nudging Misty back. "Of course not," he said, his demeanor suddenly becoming a little more serious as he looked to the horizon. "Tomorrow's battle isn't gonna be a battle between a father and daughter," he said, sliding his hands into his pockets. "It's a battle between rivals fighting for the same thing." Misty perked up, and Ash closed his eyes with a smile. "Skye is my rival. She always has been." His eyes shot open and Misty noticed the same spark from earlier. "And tomorrow will finally determine which one of us is stronger."

Misty huffed, following Ash's gaze on the horizon. "Then I'm looking forward to it."

April 1st, 2044. Night. Viridian City, Kanto.

Ash sat on a bench in the locker room, Pikachu at his feet. The entire room seemed to rumble as people stomped loudly on the bleachers just above him. He could hear the excited cheers of the audience outside, just beyond the door. It seemed as if all of Kanto knew of this fated battle. The weather was freezing and there was a threat of snowfall—and yet then entire stadium was sold out. But Ash was able to sound all of those things out. His only focus was on the battle that was about to begin.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He had been training for this. He had spent years preparing for this battle like no other, and now the time had finally come.

The blaring sound of the announcer's voice came from over the intercom, and Ash raised his head—that was his signal.

Rising to his feet, Ash looked down to Pikachu, putting on his baseball cap. "Are you ready?"

Pikachu smiled confidently. "Pikachu!" he said, jumping onto his trainer's shoulder.

Ash flashed him a smile, and lightly bumped fists with him. "Then let's go," he said, walking forward and pushing the doors open.

The crowd erupted into a cheer as Ash stepped onto the field. The cape he wore around his shoulders blew with the winter breeze, and his eyes were blinded by the stadium light shining brightly against the night sky. He adjusted the rim of his hat over his eyes so that he could see clearly across the field.

Flakes of snow were beginning to fall slowly to the ground, but he looked past that and saw Skye standing just yards away from him. Her fists clenched tightly as she waited for the battle to begin. Her Wartortle stood firmly by her side, staring Ash and Pikachu down. She breathed heavily, white puffs of smoke coming from her mouth with every exhale. Her gaze was focused entirely on Ash, her expression fierce. The spark Ash had seen in her eyes all of those years ago was gone and had ignited into a raging fire.

'Someday I'm gonna be Champion, Daddy!'

Ash paused as he continued to stare at his daughter. He found himself unable to speak. The words he had spoken last night to Misty were the reality that was just in front of him. The girl standing before him now wasn't the same little girl who used to run around dressed in his cape, talking of big dreams. Standing before him now was an adult.

She was an adult who had experienced adventures, happiness, heartache, and struggles alongside her partners and friends. She was had grown into an adult who had given everything to fight for Pokemon and to protect what she loved. She was an adult who had grown into having the heart of a Champion.

'Then you'd better train hard—because if you want to be Champion, then you and I are gonna have a battle that Kanto will never forget!'

"This battle will be a six-on-six match between the challenger, Skylar Ketchum of Pallet Town, and the Kanto League Champion, Ash Ketchum," the referee announced through a microphone. "Substitutions are allowed on both sides. There is no time limit."

The crowd roared with excitement, and many began to chant 'Ketchum' over and over. Ash wasn't sure which of them they were chanting for.

Ash felt his heart swell with pride as he remembered Skye proudly showing him her first Gym Badge—claiming that he had better watch out, because she was coming for him. Ash clenched his fists in his pockets, and Pikachu looked to him, tilting his head.

Skye pointed forward, calling, "Wartortle, offense!"

'You're on!'

Wartortle bolted onto the battlefield, letting out a "War!" as he waited for Ash to send out his Pokemon.

Glancing to Pikachu, Ash smiled confidently and gave him a nod. Pikachu smiled back and jumped off of Ash's shoulder. He quickly ran onto the field, sparking his cheeks dangerously at Wartortle.

Ash looked to the ground. Everything that Skye had worked for since the moment she declared to him that she would be Champion was about to unfold. Skye was about to layout all of her power on the table for Ash to see. It was time to put her to the test.

It was time to battle.

The referee held up his green flag. "Begin!"

The crowd roared once more, and Ash felt a surge of an energy he had never felt before run through his entire being. He looked up, his eyes burning wildly as he punched forward.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

With that, Pikachu sprinted towards Skye and Wartortle—firing all of his electric energy forward. But Skye didn't falter as she took a breath to give her first command.

Ash smiled.

'I'll be waiting.'

...And so it continues!