Soon after Ash had declared his newfound confidence, he passed into slumber, and night passed as soon as it had come. Brilliant sunshine beamed in through the window of his bedroom, basking the sleeping teen in warmth… But, he was none the wiser, still dozing peacefully. Even an aspiring Pokemon Master needed his sleep.
The door to his room slowly parted with a creek, being slid open by none other than his mother, Delia.
"Ash, honey, it's time to wake up!" She announced in a soft tone, causing the ear of a certain yellow mouse to twitch.
Pikachu lifted his head, having previously been buried in Ash's chest, to turn to the source of the voice. Ash, however, didn't stir in the slightest.
"Pikachu, could you go ahead and wake Ash for me? We wouldn't want him sleeping the day away!" Delia's request was quickly met with a mischievous smile from the Electric Mouse Pokemon, whom squirmed his way out of Ash's arms, landing on the corner of the bed. His rosy cheeks sparked to life with electricity, quickly culminating in yet another brilliant bolt.
The crackling buzz of electricity was only eclipsed by the nasally wail of a certain sleepyhead, subsiding just as quickly as it had come, only to leave a soot-covered teen in its wake.
Groaning tiredly over the unpleasant sensation, Ash opened both of his eyes to find Pikachu, who had a coy smile etched on his curved lips, and Delia, who wore her same innocent smile. Never mind the fact that her son had just been electrocuted with a Thunderbolt.
"Errgh… Mom? What's the big idea?"
"Well dear, I just didn't want you to sleep away such an important day~!" The woman chimed, leaving her explanation oddly vague. "Breakfast is already set up for you downstairs!"
As she spoke, the alluring aroma of freshly baked pancakes and Arceus knew what else drifted into the room, instantly driving away any sleepy reservations that Ash had left. He'd already pulled himself out of bed, ready to rush downstairs without even questioning Delia's odd behavior.
"Hold it right there, mister!" Those few words were enough to stop Ash in his tracks, a pout already on his face that predicted what would come next. "You better go and wash up first! I won't have you go leaving ashes all over my kitchen floor… One of you is already enough to handle!" The brunette chuckled to herself over her own joke as she left the room, leaving her less-than-amused son to do as she'd said.
"Yeah, yeah… Very funny."
After performing his morning rituals, Ash dashed downstairs like a man possessed, ignoring everything but the crown jewel that was the plate of food on the table. Laying before him was a scrumptious looking stack of pancakes, accompanied with bacon and eggs, sunny-side-up. He didn't waste a second in sitting down before his meal, beginning to devour it at a rate that would put a Snorlax to shame.
"Dis….is delishus!" Ash managed to utter between stuffing pancake slices into his mouth. Surprisingly, he paced himself enough to down what he'd been eating to comment further. "Thanks a lot, Mom! You really outdid yourself this time!" Although it was certainly a meal no one could complain about, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary for Delia… But after constantly being on the road, any proper meal was pretty much heaven right now!
"Ash, do not talk with your mouth full," she chided, but her expression quickly softened. "But, of course, dear! A growing young man needs his nutrition, after all!" Ash didn't pay the comment much mind, due to his current laser-like focus on devouring breakfast.
Soon, something foreign seemed to brush up against his messy bedhead, catching the attention of the ravenous teen. Floating above him was a balloon, along with several others that were floating around the room. He'd been so busy eating that he hadn't even noticed! Upon a second glance, Ash was able to make out the writing on each of them. 'Happy Birthday!'
The boy stared at the inscription for a good few seconds, trying to put the pieces together in his head. She'd said it was a special day, earlier… She had called him a growing young man… "Hold on a sec… IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!?"
Ash nearly jumped out of his chair, flabbergasted to say the least. "That means I'm, uh…" A hand was held up, fingers being counted one by one. "That means I'm… Fifteen today!" The conclusion was met by widened eyes. He was fifteen years old!
Delia couldn't help but chuckle. Ash was so silly. She worried he might lose his own head if it wasn't attached to his shoulders! "You sure are, honey! Oh, I'm so proud! You're just growing up right before my eyes!"
Pikachu walked over to Ash, lightly tapping his cheek with his paw. "Pika pi!" It was clear he was proud of his trainer, too! Delia couldn't help but smile at the sight, handing over his cap.
He grabbed the cap from her hand, placing it carefully atop his head. "Thanks for the breakfast, but now I want to tell my Pokemon that today is my…. my….."
"Fifteenth," Delia finished.
Ash then continued, "Right, my 15th birthday. Let's go, Pikachu!" Ash ran for the door, grabbing his jacket before rushing towards Oak's lab.
Ash soon reached the front door to Professor Oak's laboratory, gazing fondly at the structure that hadn't changed a bit. It sat on a large hill, sporting a windmill, with the authority's vast ranch in the back.
Ash and Pikachu pressed the doorbell simultaneously, waiting a short few moments before being greeted at the door by Tracey. The sketch artist now appeared to be a young man, sporting a lab coat along with his signature headband. His face lit up at the sight of Ash. He hadn't seen his good friend in ages!
"Ash! It's good to see you! What brings you here today?" He greeted, pausing briefly before going on. "You know, the Professor is away for an hour." Tracey explained as he allowed Ash into the lab.
"That's fine, and it's good to see you, too! I'm here to see my Pokemon. I want to thank them for all their hard work in the Sinnoh league." The boy announced, holding his fist up in front of his chest.
Tracey beamed, then seemed to freeze as if he'd recalled something important. "Oh, sorry Ash, but I just remembered I have something important to attend to! I'll have to catch up with you later!" With that, Tracey departed towards the bowels of the lab.
"I'm sure Professor Oak keeps Tracey busy, right Pikachu?" Ash mused aloud, to which Pikachu replied with a cheery "Cha~!"
The two made their way to the back of the lab, stepping onto the grassy green plain that housed the various Pokemon Oak cared for. Soon after making their appearance, they spotted a large, toad-like creature with a large bulb on its back.
"Bulbasaur!" Ash cheered, a smile spreading from cheek to cheek when he spotted the Seed Pokemon. "Long time, no see!"
Bulbasaur looked up to his trainer, the biggest smile forming on its face as it ran over towards Ash. Before Bulbasaur could reach Ash, though, the trainer was tackled to the ground by none other than his Bayleef. The large Single Leaf Pokemon pinned Ash to the ground, affectionately nuzzling his cheek. Ash couldn't help but laugh at the excessive display of affection, reaching to pet the top of the Pokemon's head.
"It's great to see you too, Bayleef!"
Pikachu made his way over to Bulbasaur, holding out his paws to shake with Bulbasaur's vines, presumably being welcomed back to the ranch.
Finally, Ash managed to struggle to sit up, turning to the reliable starter Pokemon.
"Hey, Bulbasaur, could you call the other Pokemon over here?"
"Bulba, Bulb!" He promptly answered, firing a brilliant multi-colored Solarbeam, which climbed high into the sky, bursting into a brilliant array of lights that was sure to attract Ash's roster.
One after another, Ash's roster began to gather, from the trees, the ponds, and even the skies. The rampant burrowing of Gible and the smooth soaring of Swellow preceded the slower sorts, like Snorlax and his sluggish waddle. With that, and everything in between, Ash's roster gathered on the grassy hills behind the laboratory.
Ash looked upon them all with fondness. All of these Pokemon he'd collected over the years… All of them were here as a reminder of all of his hard work, and more importantly, the memories he'd shared with them. It was almost enough to put a tear in his eye. But, there was no time for that!
"You know, guys, today is my fifteenth birthday! I really can't believe I got lucky enough to meet you all over the last few years… I just wanna let you know that you all mean the world to me, and I'll never forget all we've been through together! Every one of you made my journey even better, and I mean that!"
The sum of his Pokemon let out roaring cries of approval, the majority of them piling atop Ash in a chaotic pile of affection. Of course, excluding his more distant Pokemon, such as Sceptile and Buizel, who admired their trainer from a short distance.
"H-hey! Take it easy!" Ash laughed, feeling someone or another pressing down on his lungs. "If I'm gonna make it any older than fifteen, you're gonna have to give me a break here!"
Several hours seemingly flew by as Ash played with his Pokemon, catching up with each one of them in an effort to make up for months of absence at a time.
Some were proud to show off new moves; Squirtle was quick to boast about learning Iron Defense. His shiny shell matched his sunglasses! Totodile had picked up Hydro Pump, and was naturally, quick to drench Ash with it. Swellow was even able to show off Steel Wing!
After everyone had been tended to personally, the trainer stood up amidst of the group once more. "Alright, guys! For the first time ever, we made it to the semi-finals! You put up an amazing fight, and I owe you all, big time. But, next time we're aiming for the top-and I don't know how we'll do it-but I just know I'll find a way for us to get stronger! That's a promise."
Ash was met with yet another cheer, when a familiar face was spotted in the corner of Ash's eye. was leaning over the fence to the ranch, waving its arms to get the trainer's attention.
Tilting his head in confusion, Ash couldn't help but ask. "Mr. Mime, what's wrong?"
The Barrier Pokemon attempted to mime the action of a person eating from a plate, which clicked in Ash's mind straight away.
"Mom's making dinner? Why didn't you say so sooner!?" The long day had worn Ash down with an empty stomach, leaving him practically drooling. "Sorry, guys… Those speeches made me hungry. I'll catch up with you later!"
With a wave, Ash grabbed Pikachu by the paw, hopping the fence. "C'mon, Pikachu! I'll see you guys tomorrow!" He rushed on home, leaving all of his onlooking Pokemon in disbelief.
The front door to the Ketchum household soon burst open, revealing an overly-excited Ash Ketchum to have made the dramatic entrance. "Hey, Mom! I'm ho-" His sentence stopped short when he was met with an unexpected sight. In his living room sat two familiar faces; a boy his age with spiky auburn hair, Gary Oak, and Gary's grandfather, the Pokemon authority, Professor Oak. "…Gary? Professor Oak? No one told me you guys'd be here!"
The young professor shook his head with a smile, taking a sip of tea from a small cup between his fingers. "Oh, Ashy-boy. You haven't changed a bit, have you? You didn't think we'd miss your birthday, did you?" Gary wore a snide smile, making it difficult to tell whether he was being sarcastic or not.
Ash simply huffed, feigning annoyance, but their true rivalry had long since faded.
"Please, Ash. Have a seat!" Oak gestured to the chair beside him. "Your mother's still cooking dinner, and it would be wonderful to catch up!"
Ash didn't hesitate to take a seat in the spot pointed to, and Oak continued.
"Sadly, I wasn't able to attend the Sinnoh League due to important research, but I had heard some very interesting news! The trainer who won the competition was said to be using a Darkrai… And rumor has it, that a trainer from Pallet Town defeated it in the Semi-Finals! Now, unless I'm mistaken… That had to have been you, correct?"
Ash reached to scratch the back of his neck, feeling a bit sheepish. This was the second time he'd discussed that battle since he'd been home! "Yeah, that's right! I may not've won, but I was able to beat Darkrai with three of my Pokemon left! All thanks to Sceptile."
His gaze then turned on the mouse sitting beside him, one hand reaching to scratch behind his ear. Pikachu cooed, lightly nuzzling his head into Ash's fingertips.
"The guy had a Latios, too, but Pikachu managed to take it down with him! Everyone was awesome, even if we didn't win." The second time he told the story, Ash didn't feel the same sense of disappointment. The doom and gloom from the night before had passed
Grandfather and grandson alike met Ash with an incredulous stare, stunned silence dominating the atmosphere for just a few moments. Gary was first to break the silence, putting his usual taunting aside. "Well, well, Ashy-boy. I won't lie to you. I'm impressed! You may've gotten better, but I never would've thought you'd pull off something like that!"
"I must agree," the elder man added. "Regardless of your placing in the tournament, I don't believe, in all my years that I've ever heard of such an accomplishment! Though, I can't help but be rubbed the wrong way with such mythical Pokemon being entered in an ordinary conference…" The Professor scrunched his nose, putting his hand to his chin in thought. He'd never heard of such a rule, but one would only assume there would be restrictions.
"It is pretty weird, but I'm not gonna blame Tobias for me losing. If I really want to be a Pokemon Master… Then I'm gonna have to learn to be stronger than him along with everyone else! And, I know Pikachu and I can do it."
The younger researcher beside him nodded in approval. "That's the kind of attitude you should stick with… Say, gramps. Wasn't there some kind of research you were making a breakthrough on?" Gary looked to his grandfather, having decided to change the topic.
"Ah, yes! Well, we're working on it. I've been speaking to some of the other Professors, and we just may be making major progress in understanding the fundamentals of Pokemon evolution!" Weary charcoal eyes lit up with enthusiasm. Even in old age, his passion for Pokemon had certainly not faded. Oh, how amazing it would be to find something unprecedented!
Amongst his zeal, however, the Professor had nearly forgotten something rather important! Snapping out of his own thoughts, he turned his gaze to Ash. "Oh, that reminds me, Ash! I'd spoken to my colleague, Professor Juniper, not too long ago! She's an authority in the far-away Unova region, which houses plenty of new species of Pokemon!"
The announcement was met with widened eyes, gloved fists closing tight and a smile spreading across the young trainer's face. Yet another region full of awesome new Pokemon to check out! "The Unova region, huh? That sounds awesome! I've gotta-"
Just then, the conversation was interrupted by loud call from the kitchen. "Dinner's ready, everyone~! Hurry up and take a seat!" Delia had shouted, and Ash had bolted towards the dining room not even seconds afterward. Leaving Gary, Pikachu, and Professor Oak in the dust.
"That kid has the attention span of a Monkey," Gary couldn't help but throw in with a shake of his head.
"Indeed…" Oak couldn't help but agree, making his way to the table in a more composed passion. "But he's full of energy, if nothing else."
Pikachu nodded in agreement, following the three.
The table was adorned with numerous delectable dishes, varying from savory meets to small fruit morsels and rice balls, comprising a balanced, delicious platter that only the most conscientious of hosts would be able to put together. To top it off, a bowl of Pokemon food sat among the rest for their electric-typed friend. As usual, it was appreciated by all, who had quickly dug into the meal before them… Some more hastily than others.
"Thanks a lot for the food, Miss Ketchum!" Gary was the first to speak, having just filled his own plate.
"Oh, it's no problem, dear!" Delia took a seat beside Ash, smiling from ear to ear. It was such a joy to provide for Ash and the rest of their friends.
"Yes, thank you!" Oak added on, starting to dine on his own selection before turning his gaze towards the younger of the two Ketchum's. "So, Ash," he started, prompting Ash to give his mouth a moment to rest. "I assume you don't plan on staying in one place for very long. Do you have any plans going onward? Perhaps you'll travel to Unova next?" It was always Ash's style to head for the very next region he heard about, after all. It was only expected.
A fork was held tightly in his grip, a thoughtful look on Ash's face that was, at a time like this, rather uncharacteristic. Usually, any new challenge was met with instant enthusiasm. This time, however…
"…No."
All eyes were turned on him the moment the word left his mouth. It was as if everyone had just seen a ghost.
"Unova sounds really cool, and I do wanna go there… But I can't, because I'm not ready for it." It gave Ash an odd feeling in his gut. Rejecting a new exciting challenge was foreign to him. There was a slight nagging feeling that he would regret this choice… Looking the others in the eyes, though, he went on.
"After Lily of the Valley, I wanna do something brand new. Something totally different. Maybe I'll train harder, so next time I go after a Pokemon League, I'll be a lot stronger! Maybe there's more to being a strong trainer than just winning badges all the time." He paused, nudging his food around on his plate.
"Now, I know that's gotta sound weird coming from me!" Nervous laughter followed his speech.
Stunned expressions all around held true, with each listener feeling varying degrees of shock. Ash's inspirational speeches were far from out of the ordinary, but hearing him approach a situation with a path other than his first impulse was certainly something new.
Noting the reactions of his partner, mother, former rival, and professor, he went on. "…So, I need somewhere new to go, but I'm not really sure where. Do you have any ideas, Professor?"
Oak finished chewing his food, swallowing it whole. He arched a silver brow and tapped an index to his chin, inaudible murmurs escaping crusty lips. Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh. Ash had traversed them all, along with the secluded Orange Islands! Where else was left to go if he needn't want to simply traverse a new region?
Awkward silence filled the table. It seemed like forever, when in reality the thought process was merely a minute. What, he was old and not as spry as back then! Using the process of elimination calculating through a rusty yet brilliant mind, Oak finally came to a solution!
But… would even a veteran battler such as the valiant Ash Ketchum be able to survive there? He didn't want to be liable for Ash's safety if the trainer or his pokemon were to be critically injured!
He hesitantly opened his mouth to speak, only to quickly shut it again, repeating the process. "Well... I suppose there IS one region— er, area you have yet to visit, Ash." Oak briefly excused himself from the dinner table to collect an average looking folder containing a few documents. The elder returned and lay them out upon the table before Ash, gesticulating to the photographs of the majestic mountain separating Kanto and Johto.
"I take it you've seen this mountain before? It's none other than Mount Silver!" The geriatric's hand hovered to each different photograph in perfect sync with each topic. "The few whom I've granted entrance to it were very talented trainers. You could say they're on par with the Elite Four's skill level, if not more so!" So entwined in this psuedo-lecture of his, Oak had nearly forgotten about the half-eaten meal at his plate. He locked solemn gazes with the aspiring Master.
"As you can probably tell by now, I don't suggest or grant entrance to simply any headstrong trainer willing to believe they can overcome the rough obstacles which lie dormant inside Mount Silver. But you… you have an extraordinary bond with your Pokemon! At such an early age you're able to understand it's not the strength, speed, or moves of a Pokemon which lead to victory and prosperity— it's the bond connecting trainer and Pokemon. If strong enough, it can tackle nearly any obstacle."
He lowered his profoundly raised index and cleared his throat. Oak would certainly use himself as an example of what a powerful bond can lead to, but not one to talk much about his past, the Professor omitted those details. Now to get to the point of this entire spiel and pop the question! Chances were, Ash's response would be yes.
"So, Ash… do you find yourself willing to travel to Mount Silver?"
Ash stayed silent through the presentation and lecture alike, considering the idea. He had been around Mt. Silver before, once-but only to return a Larvitar to its mother and home. The mountain itself hadn't been touched, nor had he really thought anything of the place. This was the first time he'd been told it was anything special, let alone fatally dangerous.
"I've been near the place… But, I've never heard of it being such a big deal! There must be a lot of strong Pokemon there, too!" That alone was a very tempting thought for Ash. Powerful wild Pokemon were a rare sight. Though he had seen plenty over the years, seeing a bunch gathered all in one place was a whole other story altogether, and it was enough to make his heart race in excitement. "Plus, it'd be great to get some time on my own, so I don't get distracted too much!"
Charcoal hues turned to Pikachu, Gary, and Delia in particular, who was holding her napkin in an iron grip. He couldn't quite make what the former two thought of this, but it was easy to see his mother was worried. Even, still, he couldn't delay in giving an answer. Looking back to Professor Oak, he nodded. "…Yes. I'm not gonna lie, it does sound really tough! But if it's a place where I can train hard and focus on my Pokemon, then I'm not going to turn that challenge down! If will bring me closer to being a Pokemon Master, then I'll go!"
No one was surprised by Ash's dramatic flair. Nonetheless, the idea of him traveling to such a daunting place was difficult for anyone to swallow. Everyone seemed to hold their breath, none really sure who should speak first…
"Now, hold on for just a second!" Delia's hand slamming into the table rattled silverware, flattening her crumpled napkin to the table. The exciting atmosphere and energy fell back to normal almost instantly as Ash and the two Oak's looked toward Delia. "What makes you think that I will allow my fifteen-year-old son to train in that dangerous mountain?" Delia questioned the two, anger and hurt evident in her eyes.
"Mom, I'll be fine! I traveled through four regions and even saved the world-!" Ash was then interrupted by Delia.
"I will not allow you to question me, young man! If you want to train and improve, why not go to Unova with your friends or train at home? It's been years since you spent any significant time home and…I miss you." Tears of sadness and frustration began to silently fall down Delia's face.
After giving Delia a few moments to collect herself and for the shock of the refusal to fade, Gary stood up and cleared his throat. "Mrs. Ketchum, if I may, Ash may not be the the most mature person in the world yet."
Ash shot him a glance, muttering something incoherent before Gary continued.
"However, with Ash together with his Pokemon, he'll be better off than most other trainers anywhere, especially in Mt. silver. I've battled his Pokemon, and they're plenty tough enough to take care of Ash." He continued, wrapping up his plea. "I totally understand your concern, but I believe Ash'll be just fine, and Mt. Silver isn't far from Pallet, so he can always make it home if something goes wrong."
Ash couldn't help but smile as he saw Gary, the trainer that was once his fiercest rival, speaking up on his abilities as a trainer and fighting to convince his mother of the same.
Delia looked over to Ash and back to Gary, letting out a sigh. "I appreciate your kind words, Gary, but I still will not allow it. Ash is all I have now, and it's hard enough letting him go to travel all over the world. I am not going to allow my teenage son to train in a mountain that even adults can't survive!"
Ash stood up, but before he could speak, Professor Oak did first. "Now Delia, I understand your feelings, because I felt the same when Gary traveled through Kanto and Johto, and through Sinnoh. However, we know that boys will be boys, and ours have such an indomitable nature that no challenge seems too big." Oak shared a gentle reassuring smile with Delia. Her facial features seemed to relax and her attention turned towards Ash.
"Ash, you and Pikachu are all I have. I understand that you have a dream to become a Pokemon Master, and I know that one day, you'll get there. If anything were to happen to you…" The young woman paused, swallowing to prohibit any more tears.
"…I don't know what I would do, but you're right. You have traveled four regions, saved the world more times than I could count, and you've saved all of us."
Oak and Ash exchanged a smile, recalling the mirage fiasco.
"If Samuel and Gary both feel so strongly that you can take care of yourself and your Pokemon, then I will trust my friends and my son." Delia's implication caused Ash to perk up, nearly jumping out of his seat in the process.
"Does that mean…?"
His mother smiled, nodding her head. "Yes, Ash. You have my blessing, on one condition."
The three men in the room and Pikachu turned to Delia, curious what the condition would be. Ash was then handed a small mechanical device.
"Uh… What is it, Mom?" Ash queried, puzzled.
Gary then spoke up, identifying the object. "That is an Xtransciever! It's a video phone that was made over in the Unova region!"
Ash nodded, eyes widening in wonder. "Way cool! I didn't know something like that existed!"
Adding on to her condition, Delia continued. "With this, I would like to receive a call from you at least once every week! That way I'll know you're safe."
Ecstatic, Ash was quick to jump from his seat and pull his mother into a hug, and Pikachu joined in as well! "Oh, thanks, Mom! You're the best!"
"You're welcome, dear… Oh! I almost forgot!" Ash was released from the hug, nearly causing him to stumble over his own feet. She'd disappeared into the living room, soon returning with a rectangular box wrapped with a big red bow.
"Ash, I had a feeling you would be going on a brand new adventure soon, no matter where you'd be heading, so I wanted to get you a brand new outfit!" She handed the box to her son, clasping her hands together with a jovial smile. "Happy birthday, honey!"
As much as he had grown and matured, Ash wasn't one to resist tearing the wrapping off a present within seconds, eagerly unraveling the gift before pulling off the top of the box.
Inside of it was, just as she'd said, a brand new outfit! The vest was pulled out first, revealed to be a strong crimson color with white sleeves and a collar of the same tone. In fact, it seemed quite familiar.
"Hey, wait a sec… This looks a lot like the jacket I used to wear, when I went through Kanto and Johto!" Ash noted before proceeding to go through the box, finding a black t-shirt, teal gloves with pale green cuffs, and a pair of jeans. "The rest of it is the same, too!"
"That's right, Ash! You're a young man now, and I thought it would just be perfect if you returned to your roots! Now that you're trying something different, I think I made the right choice! Don't you?" She chimed as Ash slipped off the gold-striped jacket he'd worn through Sinnoh.
The red jacket took the vest's place, and Ash flipped his Pokemon League cap atop his head to complete the look. He reached to adjust his cap out of habit, which left him with a strong feeling of familiarity. He could definitely get used to this.
"Yeah, no doubt! Thanks a lot, Mom! This look works out just fine!"
A smile stretched across Oak's aged features. "Indeed, it suits you quite well, Ash! Now I assume you'll be preparing a team before setting off? I'm sure you wouldn't want to leave unprepared."
Gary nodded, adding on to Oak's suggestion. "And I'm sure you'd wanna stock up on items, as well! I've heard there's a Pokemon Center around there, but you can never be too careful. Especially knowing the kinds of messes you get yourself into!" He jabbed at his former rival, quickly stopping his prodding after a less-than-pleasant look from Delia.
"Right!" Ash nodded along, his fist closed and held up in conviction. "I'll pick out my Pokemon and head over there as soon as I can! And when I'm done, the world won't know what hit it!"
Ash's eyes scanned around the room as he spoke, taking note of those sitting at the table: Samuel Oak, the wise elder man who provided him with Pikachu and plenty of information and assistance along his quest. Gary, his former rival and one he'd once considered a goal to surpass that was key to his way to greatness. His mother, who had raised him since birth and supported him on his quest to be a Pokemon Master. Finally, Pikachu, who had been his partner from day one, and seen him through thick and thin.
'Everyone here's putting their faith in me… With all of that, there's no way I can let them down! Get ready, Mt, Silver… 'Cause I'm coming for you next!'
