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- The Hat -

March 20th, 2023. Afternoon. Pallet Town, Kanto.

"Okay, how do I look?" Ash asked, confidently placing his hands on his hips while flashing a toothy grin. "Am I ready to be coronated?"

After years upon years of training, gym battles, League matches, and a final showdown against Lance, the day had finally come. Ash Ketchum's moment of being crowned as the Kanto region's Champion was only a few short hours away. Everything was in place for the coronational ball that would be held that evening, so the only thing left to do was prepare the soon-to-be Champion himself.

Misty glanced over her shoulder, offering him a smile. "You loo-" She paused, squinting. "...Wait a second." Making sure that her eyes weren't deceiving her, Misty turned to face her husband fully. Her face fell and she snapped, "Ash! Are you really wearing that thing!?"

Ash frowned. "Hey, I think it looks cool!" he defended, grabbing at the ends of his white cape and lifting them up. "My mom made it for me!"

Misty groaned, rolling her eyes. "No, not the cape, dummy! Your hat!"

Ash blinked, glancing up at the piece of clothing in question. "My hat?" he mused, before shaking it off and looking back to Misty with a smile. "Yeah, of course! It's part of my look." He turned to Pikachu, who was sitting loyally on his trainer's shoulder. "Right, buddy?"

Pikachu nodded. "Pika!"

Misty pinched at the bridge of her nose, doing everything in her power to keep her cool. "Ash, this is a formal event! You can't wear a dirty old baseball cap to your coronation!" she chastised. "Take it off!"

Ash blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." Misty narrowed her eyes. "Take. It. Off."

Ash pursed his lips, furrowing his brows and reeling back a bit. "No way! This is my favorite hat!" he defended, placing his hands protectively on top of it. "Do you know how many-"

"How many postcards you had to send in to get it?" Misty sharply interjected. "Yes, I know! You've told that story a million times, but it doesn't change the fact that you shouldn't wear it to a coronation!"

"Why not?" Ash challenged, puffing out his chest. "Give me one good reason."

"Because it-" Misty started, stumbling on her own words as her anger began to boil over. "Because you just can't, Ash!"

"That's not a good reason, Mist."

Misty growled in frustration, dragging her hands down her face. "You're infuriating sometimes, you know that?!"

"You're the one who's mad about the hat," Ash pointed out.

"...Fine! Wear the stupid hat! See if I care!" Misty spat, pointing a finger in his face. "But don't you dare come to me ten years down the line saying you regret it!"

With that, Misty turned on her heel and stormed out of the bedroom. It was obvious that this was a battle she couldn't win, and she didn't want to waste her time with it when she needed to get ready herself. Maybe she could get Gary to talk some sense into him.

Ash looked to Pikachu, grinning as he gave the Mouse Pokemon a light fist bump in success. "No regrets here."

...And so it continues!