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C. Cowboy: I don't know why you think I might quit and call a truce. I wouldn't be up to nothing. Now would I, Angie? (An angel's halo appears over C. Cowboy's head) he, he, he. Now back to the story, there is a reason for Ash's attitude, but it won't come out for a little while. The ending of this chapter will be a little on the sad side. Remember that stuff Fate put into Pikachu? Just remember, everything happens for a reason. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 15: DREAMS SHATTERED

The time for the final match had come. Ash stood in the red box, across the ring stood Richie. Misty set in the stands with Gary and Melody. Unlike the other matches, this one was a six-on-six match. Richie threw the first Pokeball, and released his Butterfree, Happy. Ash sent out his Chikarita.  Happy attacked with a confusion attack. Chikarita dodged the attack and sent out a barrage of razor leaves. They hit and knocked the Butterfree out of the sky. Richie recalled his Butterfree and called out his Charmander. Ash retaliated with his Totadile. Charmander attacked with a flamethrower Totadile tried to dodger but was still hit. Totadile fell down but got right back to his feet. It then sent out its Hydropump, Taking Charmander off guard. Richie recalled Charmander and sent out a snorlax. Totadile tried every attack it had but didn't even scratch the Snorlax. Snorlax rolled over on top of the little Totadile. It was over. Ash recalled Totadile and sent out Charizard. "I hope you have more control over that thing!" Ash just smirked and responded with one word, "Fireblast." Charizard then threw his head back and then back forward releasing a massive blast of flames charbroiling he gigantic cat. Richie recalled his Snorlax and sent out Pidgeot. It began to fly circles around Charizard. Charizard then sent out a fire spin attack and made extra crispy Pidgeot. Then Richie sent out Sparky, his Pikachu. Richie then smiled at Ash, "Ultra Shock!" An electric Bubble formed around Sparky's body. "CHARIZARD, QUICK FIRE BLAST!" Charizard sent out it blast the same time as the Pikachu. Both attacks hit and KO'ed each other. Ash looked down at his Pikachu and nodded for him to enter. Pikachu did as he was commanded. Richie then sent out a Jolteon.  Pikachu then began to gather energy for his Ultra Shock. Jolteon the attacked Pikachu with thunder attacks but only charged the bubble even more. Pikachu then threw his head back and it hurt even more this time. It quickly launched his attack decimating the Jolteon.

The announcer came on and announced: "ASH KETCHUM HAS WON! ASH KETCHUM IS THIS YEAR'S POKEMON INDIEGO LEAGUE CHAMPION!!!" The crowd erupted as Misty cleared the railing and jumped at Ash, but this time didn't push her way. Ash picked her up by the waist and happily swung her around in circles in the air. He then pulled her into a warm embrace and was about to kiss her when a voice from the other side of the battlefield silenced the crowd, "TRAINER ASH KETCHUM OF PALLET TOWN! I, MASTER LANCE DRAGOON, THE HIGH MASTER OF THE POKEMON LEAGUE AND LEADER OF THE ELITE FOUR, CHALENGE YOU TO A ONE ON ONE POKEMON BATTLE! IF YOU WIN YOU WILL PROVE YOURSELF A TRUE POKEMON MASTER!"  Ash set Misty down and glared at Lance with his trademark determined look. "I except." Ash said as he reached for his Pokeball. Pikachu then jumped in front of Ash cheeks sparking but with unusual reddish color to the sparks. "Pikachu, come back and rest, you've done your part!" Pikachu spun around with a tear in his eye, [We started the journey together, and we will end it together!!!] Ash nodded, "Alright Pikachu, lets do it, old friend!" Lance smiled, "That's what I call loyalty! Let us begin. DRAGONITE! I CHOOSE YOU!" just then Lance's favorite Pokemon, the Massive dragon, Dragonite appeared before Pikachu, "Alright Pikachu! Stay on the defensive, but when the time is right, hit it with your best Ultra Shock!" 

Dragonite began with physical attacks but Pikachu was way to quick for the behemoth to even touch him. Dragonite then powered up for a hyper beam. The blast hit close but Pikachu only had messed up fur. Dragonite then began to power up for thunder attacks. Pikachu saw the window of opportunity and began to power up for the Ultra Shock. Dragonite sent out several thunder attacks, but they were all absorbed into Pikachu's electric bubble. Pikachu then threw its head back to absorb the bubble, but something went wrong, terribly wrong. Pikachu gripped his glowing cheeks, [ASH! SOMETHINGS… WRONG!!! HELP ME! HELLLPPP MMMMEE!!!!] Pikachu's cries were heart wrenching. Ash started to run to his friend when a massive explosion threw him against the wall. The crowd thought it was a self-destruct attack but it wasn't. The announcer came on and said, "DRAGONITE IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE! ASH KETCHUM HAS WON, EXCUSE ME, MASTER ASH KETCHUM!!" But Ash didn't hear him. The crowd cheered wildly and chanted his name, but Ash didn't hear them. Misty was by his side, Asking if he was OK, but Ash didn't hear her. His mind, filled with fear, blocked out all sound. He pulled himself to his feet and ran to the center of the ring. He ran past the KO'ed Dragonite. And saw a large crater in the area where Pikachu was standing. Ash tried to call out to Pikachu, but found his voice didn't want to work. He looked in the center of the crater, and saw Pikachu. His first Pokemon and best friend lay limp; his once chubby cheeks were now swiveled up and bloody, the once red circles on his cheeks were a cold gray. Ash picked up his fallen partner and held him close to his chest. "P-Pikachu?" Ash asked as Pikachu eyes slowly opened. [D-Did… I… g-get em?] Pikachu asked weakly, "Yeah you got em, we won." Ash said tears flowing freely. Pikachu smiled a little [Looks… l-l-like you… d-don't need… m-me anymore.]  He said also crying. "No Pikachu, I still need you! You're my best friend, my partner! You can't leave me!!" Ash cried. [N-Na… That's… M-M-Misty's… job now, a-and I'll never leave… y-y-you. I'll be… r-right there.] Pikachu stuttered weakly as he nudging the center of his chest with his face, leaving a bloodstain on Ash's shirt. Pikachu then looked back into Ash's eyes, [Thank you. Be-before I met…y-y-you, I-I-I hated… humans… b-because t-t-they… killed my… f-f-family and t-t-they… hurt me… but then… you, M-M-Misty… Brock… Tracy… and little Togapi… you became my Family… A-A-Ash… You're not… my master… and you're not… my best friend… you're…l-like m-m-m-my… brother]

Pikachu's head then fell to the side, as Ash began to shake him, "C-come on, Pikachu! S-s-stop playing around! Y-you can't go like this! Please wake up. Come on wake up, Pikachu, pikachu, PPPIIIKKKAAACCCHHHUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

TO BE CONTINUED…

C. Cowboy: If that isn't a cliffhanger, I don't know what is! Looks like Pikachu has made the ultimate sacrifice for Ash's dream. Is Pikachu really gone for good? What will happen next? All that's for certain is that Ash is now a pokemon master. BTW If anyone is wondering when I will update Future Shock, I will once I figure what to do next. I have a good idea what I want to do with it, but I'm still trying to put it together. Anyway, anybody needs any handkerchiefs? Until next time!