"And there it is, folks," the announcer's voice blared. "Ash Ketcham is the new Pokémon League Champ!" The stadium exploded with noise. Ash Ketcham stood in the middle of the bedlam, wide-eyed. He'd just captured his elusive dream: A Pokémon League championship. The standing-room only crowd screamed, yelled, threw roses and other accolades onto the floor. Ash's lone Pokémon left standing after the difficult battle, Pikachu, looked as stunned as Ash did. His coaches and best friends Misty Waterflower and Brock Slate rushed from the sidelines to congratulate him. Along with his mother, they mobbed him. They fell into a happy heap. Ash looked up to see his adversary. Gary Oak had advanced to the finals to face him, but he was nowhere to be found. It was as though he'd vanished. He didn't have time to think about Gary's whereabouts, for TV cameras and reporters swarmed the floor, eager to talk to the new champion. Microphones and tape recorders were shoved into his face ruthlessly. Overwhelmed by the outpouring of attention, he stumbled on his words. A podium was hastily hauled onto the stadium floor. Ash stepped up to the top to accept his trophy and oversized novelty check for his share of the purse. The crowd hushed, anticipating words from the young champion. He opened his mouth. Tears flowed rapidly from his eyes. All the years of training and learning and hoping had finally paid off. He buried his face in his hands in an effort to hide his sobbing from the crowd. Misty came up behind him and gently touched him on the shoulder. He looked to the sky, and hoisted the trophy over his head triumphantly. The crowd erupted into cheers again. Ash descended the podium. Followed by his "corner," he walked through the tunnel to the Indigo Village, where all the competitors stayed during the League championships. They poured into his room. The level of energy, noise and happiness filled the room and brightened Ash more than he'd ever felt. If nothing else in my life ever went right after this night, I wouldn't care, he said to himself. This is the best day of my life. Misty was on the phone, spreading the good news to her sisters. A knock at the door curtailed the buzz. Ash rose to answer it. An old friend, Ritchie, stood in the door frame. Ritchie and Ash threw their arms around each other, laughing. Misty hung up the phone. "My sisters want to celebrate, Ash," she said. "They know a great club downtown they can get us into, Dragonite's Den. Wanna go?"

"Sounds good to me," he said. "Brock? Ritchie? You guys want to?"

"Sure." Brock and Ritchie agreed.

"But, what about Mom," Ash said.

"Oh, don't worry about me, dear," she said. "This is your night. Go out and have fun. Please promise me you won't drink tonight at that club."

"Don't worry, Mom," he promised. "I won't."

"Good boy. I'm going to my room and call everyone in Pallet and brag," she said. "Why don't we meet for brunch tomorrow morning?"

"Cool." Ash hugged his mother and she left. "Let's splurge and get a limo to take us to this club." A devilish smile crept over his face.

"Okay," Misty agreed enthusiastically. Brock grinned widely.

"I'll drive my own car, if that's okay, Ash," Ritchie said.

"Yea, it's okay," Ash said, puzzled. "But why don't you want to ride with us, in the limo?"

"I've got a long trip home in the morning, and I don't want to be up too late," he explained.

Ash mulled it over. "Yea, that's a good idea. Okay, then, we'll see you there." He opened the yellow pages, hunted down a limo service. While standing on the curb outside Ash's room, Misty and Ash chattered about the League tournament. Brock had yet to emerge from his room. He wanted to look "extra good," as he put it, for Misty's sisters. The conversation hit a lull, and Misty felt the courage to finally voice something that had been pounding her brain for a while. "Ash, there's something I wanted to tell you, but it's been so crazy today and all...." Her voice trailed off. Ash turned to her, his dark eyes questioning her blue-green ones. "I..." She dragged out the word, hating herself for not being able to just come out and say how she felt about him. They heard footsteps. Brock joined them on the curb. "Congratulations," she finally spat. She was thoroughly disgusted with herself now.

"What," Brock asked. Ash was confused as well.

"I wanted to tell you, 'Congratulations,' Ash," she said. That didn't ease his bewilderment any, but he just smiled and thanked her.