Pokémon – The Quest's End

A fanfiction by BenRG

Disclaimer

Pokémon, the Pocket Monsters, their human friends and enemies and all the technologies of the Pokémon universe are the property of Nintendo., Creatures Inc. and Game Freak Software. This is a non-profit work for free distribution through the Internet. No breach of copyright intended.

Author's Notes

This is an Alternate Universe story, closely linked to my Original Character story, 'The Journey'. Most of the events of Ash Ketchum's past have occurred as in the canon timeline. However, I have added one or two Pokémon to Ash's team that I feel he needs. I have also taken some liberties with some of the newer Pokémon, due to my unfamiliarity with the Ruby- and Sapphire-version Pokémon.

I don't know what they are going to call May's little brother Masato in the English-language dub of the animé. I have selected the name 'Matt' as being as good as any other.

Censor: PG-13

Continuity: Takes place eight years after Ash began his Journey.

The Story

Chapter 5 – The Very Best

Misty uttered a little cry of disbelief and covered her mouth in what seemed genuine distress. "Oh Ash, how could you?" she murmured.

Delia couldn't understand what the problem was. "What's wrong dear?" she asked, touching Misty's arm.

Misty blinked tears out of her eyes. "Pikachu has never wanted to evolve!" she replied. "He always hated the idea! Now Ash has forced him to become a Raichu! Oh… I'll never forgive him for this!"

On Misty's other side, May scowled and jabbed an elbow into Misty's side. "Hey!" she snapped. "Have you ever known Ash to be cruel to his Pokémon?" Misty was so surprised at May's words that she forgot to be mad at the younger girl and simply shook her head mutely. "Then you know that he hasn't been cruel now!" May concluded.

Brock nodded. "You should know Ash better than that, Misty," he said. "You should wait to hear what he has to say before you condemn him, Misty. You know that."

Misty, feeling a little ashamed but too proud to admit she was wrong, simply slouched down in her seat, making as if she was sulking at being in a minority of one. Delia smiled and hugged the younger woman. She leaned over and whispered into Misty's ear. "Love means you have to trust them to do what is right," she said. "Even if you fear with all your heart that they have done what is wrong." Misty looked at Delia in surprise. Ash's mother smiled. "Are you brave enough to do that?" Delia asked, a mysterious light in her eyes.

Misty decided that there was nothing that she could say that would make the situation better. She went back to her slouch, but she was also watching Ash and his starter Pokémon through the fringe of her hair. Be careful, Ash, she thought. Make this worth it.

Lance looked at the fully-evolved electric-type Pokémon thoughtfully. "So, you've finally evolved your Pikachu, eh?" he remarked thoughtfully. "Well, I doubt that it will do you much good. Dragonite! Use Hyper Beam!"

"Use Light Screen, Raichu!" Ash responded. The electric squirrel was surrounded by a blue-white energy shield. The red-gold beam of the Hyper Beam attack struck home, sending Raichu tumbling end-over-end, but he wasn't badly hurt, landing on his feet and still looking ready for a fight. "Yeah! Now use Flash!" Raichu's body turned into a strobe-like red-gold flash of light for a moment, leaving everyone with a flash echo on their retinas. Much closer, Dragonite was dazzled and shook his in a dazed manner.

Lance hissed in anger. Ash's Raichu was now stronger, faster, had stronger elemental attacks and much greater resistance to the same. He had to respond appropriately. The species was still weak against physical attacks, after all. "Use Outrage!" he commanded.

"Use Thunderbolt!" Ash countered, pointing to the left. Dragonite, glowing with dragon-type power, jumped forwards and lunged towards Raichu. The smaller Pokémon dodged to the left and sent a jagged bolt of electricity into the dragon-type's side, sending it sprawling to the ground.

"No! Use Dragon Rage, you clumsy…!" Lance bit off his anger. He wasn't going to go into this with Dragonite now, but his signature Pokémon would hear about this from him in the very near future. Dragonite lunged forwards again, this time scoring a hit. Ash had called for a Defence Curl in response, so Raichu wasn't as badly hurt he might have been.

"Okay, pal," Ash called. "Use Flash again!" Raichu turned into a living flash-gun again and Dragonite visibly winced in pain, crying out as he was dazzled by the earth-type defensive move.

Lance shook his head to clear it. "Up!" he commanded, sending his Pokémon high into the air. Lance could feel the sweat running down his back. He suddenly realised that he was in real danger of losing this match! The boy was really good, and evolving his Pikachu had doubled its' combat potential. He had to finish this fast. There was no telling what tricks the boy might have taught his starter. "Now, use Earthquake, Dragonite! And make it a direct contact attack!"

Glowing yellow-white with ground-type power, Dragonite dropped right towards Ash's Raichu. Ash's mouth dropped open when he realised what was about to happen. "Agility!" he called. Raichu darted to one side, virtually at the last moment, before the dragon-type hit the ground, unleashing a powerful ground-wave. Somehow, the small electric-type managed to jump over the shock wave that radiated out from the impact.

In the stands, Samuel Oak tensed with outrage. "That maniac!" he gasped. "That… that move would have killed Ash's Raichu! A direct energy transfer with a type advantage? What is he trying to do?"

Misty knew. Delia had warned Ash of this. Lance would do anything to keep his title. Absolutely anything. He hadn't flinched from abandoning his wife and children, so why should he flinch from killing his opponent's Pokémon?

Back in the arena, Ash was too far 'in the zone' to worry too much about the disturbing direction that Lance's moves were taking. "Use Slam, Raichu!" he commanded. Raichu jumped forwards, looped his tail around Dragonite's right leg and then jerked his tail backwards. Dragonite was flipped onto his back and hit the ground with an earth-shaking crash. "Yeah! Okay, let's finish this! Use Iron Tail!"

Raichu, enjoying this battle tremendously, jumped forwards a few paces, his tail beginning to shine as if it were made of metal. The electric-type jumped into the air and launched himself towards his opponent, leading with his glowing tail. At the last moment, Dragonite dodged the other Pokémon's steel-type attack and lashed out with his wingtip, knocking Raichu from the air. "Finally! Now use Strength, Dragonite!" Lance commanded.

"Use Thunderbolt, Raichu!" Ash called out. Raichu responded and the Thunderbolt attack struck home, but Dragonite was an old, strong Pokémon, well able to continue with an attack despite injury. He slammed his full body weight into Raichu, who was still in mid-air from launching his Thunderbolt and sent him tumbling across the arena.

Lance grinned. Privately, he was astonished that Dragonite was still moving and more than a little proud that his best Pokémon had been able to strike Raichu after two doses of Flash. "Finish it, Dragonite!" he commanded. "Use Strength again!"

"Pour on the Agility, pal!" Ash commanded, pointing at his feet to call Raichu over to him. Dragonite charged his opponent again but, this time, the combination of being dazzled twice and Raichu's blinding speed carried the smaller Pokémon clear of danger.

Raichu stopped in front of Ash's platform and was grateful to receive a dose of Hyper Potion as, at the other end of the stadium, Lance provided his own injured Pokémon a dose of the most powerful health restorative legally allowed for battles. "Okay, Dragonite," Lance said. "We have to finish this. I know that you are having problems here, but I trained you to be the best. I know that you can do this, so don't disappoint me."

"Dragon!" Dragonite replied, feeling a little dazed by this point.

"Raichu, we have to take that guy down before he gets lucky and hurts you badly," Ash said. "Get ready and focus everything you've got on your next attack." Ash looked at his Pokémon affectionately. "You set?"

"Rai!" Raichu shot Ash a 'V-for-victory' sign and winked. Raichu bounded forwards towards his opponent and Lance nodded. Ash was right. There was no more cause for delay or hesitation. "Aim for the centre mark, Dragonite," he commanded, hoping to overcome Dragonite's loss of accuracy by directly guiding him onto his target. "Now… Up and Earthquake attack!" Dragonite took to the air, building up for another Earthquake.

"Use Thunder attack!" Ash commanded.

Raichu braked in mid stride and drew inside himself for his every reserve of power. "Rai… Rai… RAI… CHUUU!!!" Golden-white electricity blasted out of the electric-type's small body and consumed Dragonite in mid air. The dragon-type screamed in agony and fell limply to the ground, his body convulsing from the massive electrical discharge.

"Damn it no! This isn't happening!" Lance bellowed. "Use Hyper Beam! Now, you stupid beast!"

"Use Headbutt, Raichu!" Ash called out. Raichu jumped forwards, carried by the power of his Agility. Coincidentally, it also took him well clear of the massive energy blast directed at him by Dragonite. The explosion obscured Ash's view, so he didn't see his starter's Headbutt strike home. He did see Raichu land on his starting mark, though, as Dragonite staggered to his feet.

Lance, desperate, decided to use a weaker but more accurate attack. "Use Swift, Dragonite! Quickly and keep it coming!" Dragonite didn't respond. The Thunder attack had shorted out his motor nerves and he was having trouble convincing his limbs to respond to his mind's commands.

"Thunderbolt attack, pal!" Ash countered. Raichu leaped into the air and, with another defiant cry, unleashed another crackling golden-white whiplash of power. The electric-type attack consumed Dragonite and the mighty dragon-type roared in pain, convulsing all over. With a massive crash, Lance's most formidable Pokémon dropped limply to the ground and made no further move except to breathe shallowly.

Raichu backed towards Ash's platform and watched, waiting for whatever might come next. The referee was kneeling on one knee beside Dragonite, examining the unconscious dragon/flying-type Pokémon. "Dragonite can no longer battle," he announced. "Bout to Challenger Ash Ketchum and Raichu! Ash Ketchum is the winner of this match."

As the last light on Lance's side of the scoreboard blinked out, the crowd erupted into the loudest ovation heard in the stadium for a generation. Lance dropped to his knees, his hands raised to the heavens in horror and disbelief. Raichu leapt into Ash's arms as the young man cried out in amazement and joy. He had won!

~*~*~*~

Deep beneath Viridian City's Earth Gym, Giovanni diRocketti switched off the wide-screen TV set on which he had been watching the battle. "I always knew that little Pokémon would have been the strongest ever of his kind," he said. "And I always knew that you would be formidable one day, boy." The leader of Team Rocket sat back in his chair and began to ponder. "Don't believe that your new position leaves you free from fear, Ash Ketchum," he growled in his semi-darkened office. "And don't think that just because Jessie and James failed that my other agents will do so too. Power like yours will serve me… or it will fall before me."

Giovanni blew out a breath and tried to make himself relax. Persian jumped into his lap and he began to stroke his favourite Pokémon in a meditative way as he made his plans.

~*~*~*~

For Ash, it was like a strange dream. He could remember doing things and he could remember everything that happened around him with razor-sharp clarity. Yet, it all seemed to be happening to someone else. He felt detached from the world, as if he was watching everything from above. He remembered hugging Raichu, shaking hands with the referee and then walking to the centre mark to raise his battered old Pokémon League cap to the heavens to acknowledge the crowd's cheers.

He was barely conscious of the poisonous look that Lance shot at him as the man walked over to tend to his fallen Dragonite. Trevor Goodshow walked over to shake Ash's hand and pound him on the shoulder. As the Elite Four (and several other Master Trainers, like Agatha Goodshow and Lorelai Prima) surrounded Ash, shaking his hand, pounding his back and generally congratulating him, Ash could see Lance arguing with Mr. Goodshow. Lance was gesturing at Ash, at himself and his fallen Dragonite before shaking his head and making a sweeping, cutting motion with both hands. Goodshow shook his head, said something that made Lance turn nearly black with rage and turned away from the deposed Pokémon Master.

"Come on, Ash," Goodshow said, taking Ash by the arm and leading him towards the stairs that led up to the Master's box.

The climb seemed to take forever, but Ash felt no fatigue. It all seemed so unreal. Finally, they reached their destination. The Elite Four stood two to either side of Ash as Mr. Goodshow put a rainbow-coloured sash around the boy's body. He pinned a unique badge to Ash's sports jacket, a hollow Pokéball emblem in pure gold with a 20-carat diamond at the very centre.

The continual cheers rose in intensity as Mr. Goodshow led Ash to the very edge of the platform. Ash looked out into the sea of faces and suddenly everything seemed real again in a way that he had never expected to experience. "My lords, ladies and gentlemen," Goodshow called out. "Masters, Trainers, and Novices, boys and girls, I pray your attention!" There was a sudden hush. Into this silence, Goodshow's voice, seemingly a whisper, echoed out. "I present to you, Ash Ketchum… The Pokémon Master."

The crowd exploded into an ovation that seemed to go on forever. Ash could only stand there, his face pale and a slightly stupid smile on his face. Raichu leapt over his Trainer's shoulder with a joyful cry, his tail streaming behind him like an acrobat's streamer.

No matter what the future held, no matter what joys and pains that might follow this day, Ash would always remember the moment in which his life changed. Now and forever, he was Ash Ketchum…

Pokémon Master!

~*~*~*~

Ash looked down at the concrete panel that would shortly be taking its' place in the League hall of fame. Around the perimeter were the claw-prints of Growvyle, Charizard and Croconaw, Snorlax and Raichu's forepaw-prints and Noctowl's talon-print. In the centre were Ash's own hand prints and a signature, scrawled as best as Ash could in the then-wet concrete. "I can't believe that I've done it, pal…" he said to Raichu. He noticed the sardonic look that his starter shot at him. "Okay, I can't believe that we've done it."

[That's better,] Raichu giggled.

"Ash Ketchum!" shouted a very familiar and welcome voice. Ash turned around, opening his arms for a hug from Misty. What he got was a slap around the face that sent him tumbling to the ground. "You selfish bastard! How could you have done that to your best friend?"

"W… What are you talking about, Misty?" Ash blurted, too disoriented to defend himself. He was rubbing the side of his cheek and trying to get enough muscle control back to get off the ground.

"What am I talking about?" Misty couldn't believe that Ash could have the brazen chutzpah to ask that. She grabbed the young man by the lapels of his shirt and dragged him off the ground. "I'm talking about that, you numbskull!" Misty gestured savagely at Raichu. "After all your talk about giving Pokémon a choice, the minute the chips were down, you forced him to evolve. You… crud! I can't believe that I let you be my boyfriend! I don't even want to look at you anymore!"

"Misty! I didn't force him to do anything!"

"Don't lie to me you little creep!" Misty screeched in reply, raising a hand for another slap.

As entertaining as this was, Raichu decided to stop this before Raichura actually caused Raira serious injury. He unleashed a Thunderwave attack that consumed the girl and made her body stiffen. Of course, it also affected Raira through their physical contact but, hey! 'You can't make an omelette', as Brock always said at breakfast…

Misty had, much to her embarrassment, landed on top of Ash's prone form. The two teenagers looked each other in the eye, blushing brightly. The pain of a slapped cheek let Ash break his paralysis first. "Misty… I didn't force Raichu to evolve," he said at last.

"I want to believe that, Ash, I really do," Misty replied. "But… But Pikachu was never interested in evolving before. Why should that change?"

[Because this was a battle like none before,] Raichu announced from where he was sitting. The electric-type clearly enunciated his words, knowing that Misty wasn't as familiar with his language as Ash was. [Because I needed to be stronger than ever before. I asked Raira to do this for me, and have no regrets.]

"You… You asked Ash…?" Misty said, looking at Raichu in perplexelment.

[Yes, I asked him,] Raichu confirmed.

Misty's eyes began to fill with tears. She looked down at Ash, noticing her handprint on his left cheek. "Oh Ash! I'm so sorry!" she cried out, her voice shaken with sobs. "How can you forgive me? I should have trusted you…!" The young woman seized Ash in a death-grip hug and the young man had to struggle for breath for a few moments.

"Misty! Mist…! Hey, calm down!" Misty raised her tear filled eyes to look into Ash's brown laughter-filled eyes. "Misty, you have a lot of credit with me," Ash said. "You made an honest mistake because you love my friends. I don't think you have to apologise for that." Misty looked at Ash and felt herself starting to blush again. That was when she recalled their position on the floor together. She squeaked and jumped to her feet like a scalded Skitty.

"I feel stupid," she admitted as Ash got up.

"Hey, we all make dumb mistakes," Ash replied as he staggered to his feet. "I should know that better than anyone." The boy stepped closer to his girlfriend and smiled. "The trick is not to let them ruin the good things in your life." Ash leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on Misty's cheek.

Misty smiled and grabbed the back of Ash's head with both hands as her boyfriend started to back away. "No, stupid, like this," she said. She pressed her lips to Ash's and the two of them forgot about the world for a few seconds. Ash stiffened in surprise and then relaxed into the kiss. He could get used to this.

After a moment, Misty broke contact. "You stink," she said with her usual forthrightness. "Get into that shower."

~*~*~*~

Misty was leaning on the wall outside Ash's locker room, glad that Ash would not have to wait around for the press. The official press conference with the new Pokémon Master took place immediately after the match. She was so absorbed in forcing herself not to think about Ash in a shower that she very nearly missed the approach of Lance Knight.

Misty scowled at the person who was, by some joke, Ash's biological father. "What do you want?" she asked waspishly.

Lance offered the girl a smile that bordered on being a snarl. "Why, I want to congratulate my son on his new title and position of course," he snapped. "I also want to offer him some sage advice."

"Does this advice mask a threat?" Misty asked.

Lance snorted. "Only to the unwise," he replied.

Misty smirked. She levered herself off of the wall and walked towards Lance, putting as much sensuality as she could into her stride. "I'm sorry," she said. "The Pokémon Master is a busy man. He can't take the time to listen to every loser who comes along with a get-rich-quick scheme."

Lance growled, raised his hand to put this leggy, underdeveloped girl into her place and then thought better of it. "Your boyfriend has got lucky, Ms. Waterflower," he hissed. "He shouldn't have any illusions, though. It takes a lot more than he has got to be The Pokémon Master. I should know, I held the post for a decade."

"So?" Misty asked, bridling inside at Lance's comments. As if he knew anything about what Ash was and was not capable of! He hadn't even seen the boy for over 14 years!

"So, I may be of use to him," Lance said, sounding cunning and pleading at the same time. "I know where the skeletons are buried and I know what levers to pull to get action. As his advisor, I can make sure that he enjoys his time at the top far more. No matter how short a time that may be."

"I doubt that he is interested in anything that you have to offer him, Lance," Misty snapped.

"Maybe not," Lance agreed jovially. "But if you were to advise him to put his old hurts behind him and take my hand of friendship when it is offered?"

Misty raised an eyebrow. "Why should I do that?"

Lance snorted. "You love him," he said, a statement rather than a question. "You should ask how best you can help the one you love. I can be a very valuable friend and advisor, Ms. Waterflower. I can also be a dangerous enemy. Ask yourself which of those you want your love to have."

Lance strode away. His words had left Misty feeling cold. It was a cold that was only slightly dispelled when Ash emerged from his locker room and hugged her tightly.

~*~*~*~

It is an old tradition that the acclamation of a new Pokémon Master should be celebrated with a grand ball. That night, in the League Ballroom at the base of the Stadium Hill, the ball was in full swing.

Ash, feeling uncomfortable in his tuxedo, was waiting with Professor Oak, Gary and Matt (who looked kind of odd in a hastily-hired suit that looked like a recycled school uniform). Brock was off somewhere dancing with the Nurse Joy from Pewter City (the two of them had come to some sort of arrangement in the last year or so). The other women had yet to arrive. Something told Ash that his mother had something to do with this. His hands were sweating in anticipation.

"Mrs. Delia Ketchum of Pallet Town accompanied by her daughter, Bonita," the herald by the doors cried out. Ash grinned to himself. His sister loathed her proper given name. "Miss Misty Waterflower of Cerulean City and Miss May Crosse of Petalburg Town!" the herald continued.

To his left, Ash heard Gary gasp in shock. His eyes were all for Misty, however. His mother had found a beautiful, pure-white dress that seemed perfect for the young woman. Off the shoulder and hugging the curves of her body, she seemed like a goddess in Ash's eyes. "Misty! You look… beautiful!" he finally managed to blurt out.

"Thank you, kind sir," she replied with a giggle, enjoying his enraptured look.

Gary and Matt were staring at an optical illusion. "Um… Which is which?" Gary asked helplessly.

May… or maybe Bonnie, giggled. "Can't you guess?" she asked flirtatiously. "You've only been chasing your chosen since her arrival, after all!" Bonnie and May were in identical lavender-coloured dresses. Their hairdos and even their accessories were identical.

Gary made a funny sound in the back of his throat. "I think I'm going crazy," Matt said in a shaky tone of voice.

Gary filtered out the kid's irritating voice and looked a little harder at the 'twins' before him. Under closer examination, one twin had blue eyes the other brown eyes. He took the hand of the blue-eyed girl. "Nice try, Ms. Crosse," he said, his usual cocky tone restored.

"That has earned you a dance, Mr. Oak," May replied with a grin.

"Has it?" Gary asked with a carnivorous smile. "Let's see what else I can earn!"

"Can I have a dance, please, Bonnie?" Matt sounded nervous.

Bonnie smiled down at Matt. He was a cute kid, really, and she doubted that she would get a much better offer that night. "Why not?" she asked. "Just try not to step on my toes too often!" Matt looked up at Ash's sister in an offended way before noticing the sly humour in her chocolate brown eyes.

~*~*~*~

"Shoes too small, Ash?" Misty asked. The two teenagers were out in the ballroom's central courtyard. Misty was sitting on the lip of a fountain while Ash removed his formal shoes and massaged his feet.

"They were the right size when I bought them," he replied. "But I haven't actually worn them before today, and I'm not used to them."

"Now you know what we women go through every time we wear high heels," Misty replied. That went right over Ash's head. "So, Pokémon Master," Misty continued, "what is next for you?"

Ash considered that. "I'm not sure," he admitted at last. His whole life had been leading up to this moment and now, farcically, he couldn't think of what he was going to do next. Many opportunities were open for those who held his rank. As well as a purely ceremonial and formal role in the League's administration, a Pokémon Master could choose to become a teacher of the lore of Pokémon Training. He would act as the League's champion and chief trouble-shooter. He was even free to start his own Pokémon Gym in the place of his choosing.

"It is a big change in lifestyle, I guess," Misty said, playing nervously with her long hair. Inside, she was fretting. Ash could get any girl that he wanted now. Would he still be interested in her?

"I know one thing," Ash said at last. "Whatever I do, I want to do it with you." There was a long pause as Misty looked at Ash in shock and joy. "Misty, you are the one that got me this far," Ash said. "You don't think I would give you up now?"

"No point getting rid of a winning coach," Misty agreed with a slight smile.

Ash laughed, then turned serious again. "It is more than that," he said. "You are my inspiration Misty. What I do, I do for you, because I want you to be proud of me."

"I… I am… I am proud of you, Ash," Misty replied. Why had her throat closed up like this? "You don't have to prove anything to me!"

"Misty, I know we are both young, and I don't want to rush you but…" Ash fumbled in his pocket and drew out a small velvet-covered box, which he opened up. Inside, nestled in a silk lining, was a small silver ring with an unmarked band. "The jeweller called this a 'Promise Ring'," Ash said. "It is my promise to you, that I will always want you with me. Will you stay with me Misty? When… when the time comes, will you… Will you… you know… will you?"

Misty looked on in awe and joy as the moonlight shone off of the band of the Promise Ring. Then she laughed, a beautiful sound in Ash's estimation. "Ash, are you asking me to set myself aside for you? To maybe eventually… marry you?"

"Not right now!" Ash blurted. He blushed and looked into Misty's blue-green eyes. "Eventually, yes," he whispered.

"I'd be happy to," Misty said. "But only if I knew how you feel about me."

Ash sucked in a deep breath and grabbed his courage with both hands. "I love you Misty Waterflower," he said.

"I love you too, Ash Ketchum," Misty replied. Then they kissed, really kissed.

[I love happy endings!] Togetic trilled as Ash bashfully slid the Promise Ring onto a blushing Misty's left ring finger.

[The end of one story,] Raichu said wisely, [but the beginning of a new one.]

To be concluded…