A/N: Here we are! Ash vs. Cynthia! I knew it would take a long time, but finally getting here just feels so... wow. I have news at the end of this chapter, so let's get this over with!
Ash couldn't believe it... he beat the Elite Four, and is going on to meet Cynthia. He easily took down three of the four elites with mostly one Pokémon, but did require a little help with Dusknoir for Aaron, a combo of Floatzel and Torterra for Bertha and Staraptor for Flint. Lucian though was a particularly hard opponent with his psychic team. Ash's Dusknoir was defeated after beating his Mr. Mime and Espeon and Luxray to Bronzong. But when Staraptor came onto the field, not even his Alakazam and Gallade could keep up. Now, it was finally time. August 3rd at 9 PM. The lights illuminated the field, and every seat except for the front rows was packed to the brim. It was a safety precaution that seats closest to the field were unoccupied so that inadvertent accidents didn't befall on the audience. Luckily for Dawn and Barry, whom was holding Zappy this time, were sitting in the announcer box this time. As Ash and the Pokémon Champion Cynthia entered the arena, everyone screamed for them, a mix of their names. They spoke once they were only a couple feet apart at the center.
"Look at that. They cheer for you as loudly as they do me. You're certainly quite the most popular of the three heroes." Cynthia told him. Ash shrugged.
"I don't know. Barry's the only one who flaunts his fame so they likely know him better." The champion giggled from his response.
"Fair point. Even though I already said it at the ceremony, I want to thank you again for what you did at Mt. Coronet. I am truly grateful."
"Pleasure's all mine." Ash nodded with a smile.
"You and your Pokémon have overcome all challenges you faced so far. While you still seem to struggle against psychic types without Dusknoir, you've overcome all your other weaknesses as well. The power and wisdom you learned, I can feel it emanating from you. But now here you stand, the first challenger to actually meet me here. And as Pokémon Champion, I accept your challenge. Prepare yourself." Both trainers nodded, and went to their respective corners, tuning out everything else except for the battle field.
"Spiritomb, battle dance!" From her Pokeball appeared to be a simple rock with a cracked face on it, but then purple and green mist came from within the stone, creating a projection of swirling purple fog and green dot. It had three crescent eyes and a jagged mouth.
"Torterra, I choose you!" Ash decided to start things with his grass starter. "Start with Stone Edge!" Forming glowing rocks around himself, the grass/ground type shot a barrage of rocks at the apparition, inflicting some good damage. it groaned from the attack, but the rocks didn't hurt it too much.
"Retaliate with Silver Wind!" Opening its jagged mouth wide, it screamed out silver crescents surrounded by wind. They connected with Torterra, but it appeared that the effective move wasn't that harmful.
"Synthesis Bomb!" Ash ordered.
"Flip him back with Psychic!" Cynthia instructed. Spiritomb's eyes glowed blue, thus surrounding the continent Pokémon with a blue outline while he was using Synthesis first. He yelled out as he was flipped onto his back, the set up interrupted.
"No! Torterra, return!" Ash hastily recalled his starter, not wanting to lose him so early.
"Smart move, but what are you going to do now?"
"This. Staraptor, I choose you!" Into the air was his Predator Pokémon. "Use U-turn!"
"Counter with Psychic!" Spiritomb tried to attack, but the bird was just too fast and rammed into the Forbidden Pokémon before retreating back into his Pokeball.
"Torterra, use Seed Bomb!" Ash commanded as he summoned his started back onto the field back on his feet. Opening his mouth, he launched many explosive seeds at the ghost/dark type, creating a smoke scream where a wail emanated from before dying down. They waited to see that when the smoke cleared, there was only the odd keystone left.
"Spiritomb is unable to battle! The winner is Torterra!"
"Haha! Despite your attempt, I still took your first Pokémon out! How do you like that?!"
"Quite impressive Ash, but this is just the beginning." Cynthia said as she returned her Pokémon. "Milotic, battle dance!" The champion yelled as she released her water type. She was a very beautiful aquatic serpent kind of Pokémon with the front half cream colored. She had red eyes with pink antennae above them, along with pink ribbon like appendages extending from her head down half of her floating body. The latter half of her body was mostly colored blue diamond shaped scales with the occasional pink spot ending with four blue large fins. "Ice Beam!" Milotic fired a shot of light blue energy cackling through the air until it made its mark on Torterra's head. He shouted in agony from the coldness really hurting him until the Continent Pokémon collapsed.
"Torterra is unable to battle! The winner is Milotic!"
"Torterra, return! Luxray, I choose you!"
"Use Hydro Pump!"
"Jump and use Charge!" The electric lion nodded as he jumped over the torrent of water rushing at him
"Hydro Pump, again!" Milotic spewed out another blast of water, this time connecting as he was pushed away with significant force. After being pushed through the ground leaving a shallow trench, he growled as Luxray stood back up.
"Use Thunder Claw!" Forming an extra big claw of electricity, he ran towards the water type.
"I hope using Thunder Claw isn't your only tactic, because that isn't going to work. Again!" Cynthia remarked as her Tender Pokémon shot more water at the electric lion.
"Nope. Strike the water!" With his big claw, he swiped at the aquatic attack, sending electricity down it and paralyzing the beautiful fish. Cynthia gasped. "Luxray, return!" Ash said as he withdrew Luxray. "Floatzel, I choose you!" Replacing the electric lion was his Sea Weasel. "Use Rain Dance!" Forming an orb of water, he threw it up into the sky, which formed dark clouds above them thus making it rain. "Now use Dig!"
"Milotic, return!" The champion recalled her paralyzed water type. "Togekiss, battle dance!" Flying into the air was the mother of Spike, her own Jubilee Pokémon. Ash grinned. "Floatzel, use Waterfall!" Bursting from the ground almost like a literal geyser, which the flying type had just barely any time to dodge. The Sea Weasel Pokémon shot through into the clouds, preventing those below the clouds from seeing him.
"Use Air Slash to get rid of the clouds!" Cynthia yelled out. Her wings glowed white as she flapped blades of energy at the clouds, dispersing them away early, only to be surprised by the water type falling towards her.
"Ice Punch!" Light blue energy glowed on his right arm as he struck the flying type, making her cry out in pain.
"Counter with Shockwave!" Blue electricity crackled around her body before she shocked the living daylights out of Floatzel. No noise came from him as he fell off Togekiss and fell to the ground, defeated in one shot.
"Floatzel is unable to battle! The winner is Togekiss!"
"Well done!" The champion complimented the flying type, whom chirped happily in response.
"Return." Ash said as he withdrew his water type into his Net Ball. "Thanks buddy. Staraptor, I choose you!" Just like with his previous battle, it was his Predator going against the Jubilee Pokémon.
"Air Slash!" Her wings glowing white again, Togekiss flapped more blades of energy at Staraptor.
"Block with Steel Wing!" Flapping his wings to gain altitude, Staraptor's wings glowed a shiny metallic grey before crossing them over to act as shields against the air based attack. The Champion's eyes widened from the improvised ingenuity. "Now use Close Combat!" Spreading his wings to dispel the rest of the blades, he rushed at Togekiss and battered her from his higher up angle, forcing the both of them into the ground below, unsettling the dirt and dust. It only stayed up a few seconds as it showed Staraptor victorious over his defeated foe.
"Togekiss is unable to battle! The winner is Staraptor!"
"Togekiss, return. Thank you so much. Milotic, do your best!" Back onto the field was the Tender Pokémon, looking majestic as ever, even when cringing from the paralysis.
"Use Brave Bird!" Flying high, he was surrounded by a red fiery aura going up, and upon flipping back to fall back down, the fire turned blue and sparkly. Unable to defend herself or dodge, Milotic was rammed into by the Predator Pokémon. However, before he could back away, Staraptor was ensnared by the snake like Pokémon, making his squawk in protest. Cynthia smiled.
"Perfect. Now use Ice Beam!" Looking at her caught prey, she charged up a ball of bright blue energy and fired point blank at the trapped bird, freezing him completely. Throwing him away, the ice encasing him shattered, letting the flying type lie limp on the ground.
"Staraptor is unable to battle! The winner is Milotic!"
"Return." Ash recalled. "Thanks buddy. Luxray, use Charge!" Reappearing again, the electric lion's body cackled with energy as his body charged up.
"Hydro Pump!" The champion requested, but Milotic couldn't move due to the paralysis.
"Use Thunder Claw!" Manifesting a large claw made of electricity, he ran and pounced at the water type, slashing across her body. She bellowed out in excruciating pain as she fell to the ground, defeated.
"Milotic is unable to battle! The winner is Luxray!"
"Return. Good job; at least you got a score in. Lucario, battle dance!" To Ash's surprise, the next Pokémon was something Dawn also shared.
("Huh. Deja vu. Well, at least Floatzel isn't going against him.")
"Start things off with Extreme Speed!" And just like that, the blue jackal vanished from sight.
"Huh?! I can't see him anywhere!" Ash complained to himself. Luxray tried to be composed, but his constant shifting eyes gave away that he was lost as well. It was then that Lucario attacked from the side, kicking with his left foot into the electric lion's side. Luxray coughed out bits of his saliva from the attack, but he refused to fall since he merely skidded across the ground on his feet. "Use Superpower!" Surrounding himself in white energy, he charged at the Lucario. Cynthia clapped her hands, which prompted the blue jackal to dodge, shocking Ash. Forming an Aura Sphere in each hand, he threw them at the electric lion as he attack wore off. "Counter with a spin claw!" Looking behind him, Luxray formed a Thunder Claw on each of his front paws, and swerved in a way only a cat like animal could as he successfully batted away both Aura Sphere, only to be met by a smirking Lucario with a third one in hand. Thrusting the blue orb into the lion's chest, Luxray screamed as he soared through the air and smashed into a wall accompanied with an explosion. Luxray fell to the ground, defeated.
"Luxray is unable to battle! The winner is Lucario!" Ash narrowed his eyes. There seemed to be a certain path to victory, but with something as tricky as Lucario, her Garchomp would definitely have moves to beat against ice types, and an unknown Pokémon, it was a long shot. But this entire journey was a long shot, so why should he go home now?
"Dusknoir, I choose you!"
"Use Shadow Ball!" Cynthia instructed. Forming an orb of black energy and launched it. Ash clapped as well, silently commanding that he use Trick Room. Constructing the checkered room took as much time as the Shadow Ball to almost reach him, allowing the ghost type to disappear with his swapped speed.
"Fire Punch!" Before Lucario could detect him, he was punched in the back by the Gripper Pokémon, falling onto his hands but managed to push off them and land on his sleep. Dusknoir laughed as he disappeared again. Lucario closed his eyes and the appendages on his head floated up to sense him out. It was silent for a few seconds, the tension raising overtime. It seemed like Cynthia was in tune with her Pokémon, because she commanded,
"Shadow Ball!" Opening his eyes, he formed and thrust a black orb where Dusknoir was going to punch with the same Fire Punch. With the clash, the space between them exploded, forcing the trainers to shield themselves from the shockwave, Cynthia's long blond hair flowing back with it. Once the smoke dissipated, Dusknoir was seen floating over the blue jackal.
"Lucario is unable to battle! The winner is Dusknoir!
"Return. You did a great job Lucario. Roserade, battle dance!" Ash chuckled to himself.
("Seems like everyone wants a roserade if they want a grass/poison type.") "Too bad, Cynthia! I've fought Barry's Roserade multiple times! I know their limits! Ice Punch!"
"Spray Toxic all over!" Before the Gripper Pokémon could reach her, the grass type pumped out small streams of purple liquid from her hands, which landed on the ghost. Even though he was drenched in toxins, that didn't stop his icy blue fist from downing her in one shot.
"Roserade is unable to battle! The winner is Dusknoir!" The referee declared. However, Dusknoir groaned from the poison beginning to take its toll. However, Cynthia was still positive.
"Return. Ash, I knew that Roserade wasn't going to beat him. I could've hurt him more, but the champion takes precautions for both short term and long term choices." She closed her eyes and sighed with hidden anticipation in her voice. "I can't remember the last time I was pushed into a corner like this. Only a handful of people can give champions a hard time. Let's get to it! Garchomp, battle dance!" Ash grinned as her ace appeared, roaring in all her prime.
"The fun is in the challenge, and I believe we'll win this! Ice Punch!" The ghost type Pokémon vanished into the air, leaving the Mach Pokémon on the field. She and her master waited patiently, trying to sense out his location. Even with Trick Room still in effect, once there was a chill detected, Garchomp was able to leap above the faster ghost type, stumping the apparition.
"Dragon Rush!" The champion commanded.
"Counter with Ice Punch!" Light blue vs neon blue, the dragon and ghost clashed in mid-air. For a few seconds they were at a stalemate, but the overwhelming power of her ace was too much for the Gripper Pokémon, even with the ice type move, and he was smashed into the ground by the draconic comet. The move was so strong she created a deep crater with his body in between her and the ground.
"Dusknoir is unable to battle! The winner is Garchomp!"
"Return." Ash said. There was one chance left. Both Pokémon could lose in one or two moves in this last bout, and he hoped it was his that will win. "Mamoswine, I choose you!" Once she was unleashed, the Twin Tusk Pokémon roared, intending to win this. The Trick Room then wore off.
"Use Flamethrower!"
"Counter with Stone Edge!" While the plume of flame that Garchomp has exhaled made it across most of the field, Mamoswine was able to keep it back with the rocks she created.
"If long range isn't enough, we'll tackle you head on! Use Brick Break!" Her right arm fin glowing white, she blitzed towards and slashed the powered fin into the ice/ground type's face, pushing the mammoth back.
"Push her back with Giga Impact!" Surrounding herself within a purple orb of energy, Mamoswine charged with the dragon right in front of her path. Try as Garchomp could, both the power and mass of the ice/ground was too much and she was trampled underneath. The worst part is, Mamoswine dug her tusks in to stop her momentum, so she basically sat on top of Garchomp.
"No! Use Flamethrower!" Garchomp tried to spew fire, but the Twin Tusk Pokémon simply swatted her head back and forth with said tusks, keeping the dragon from properly attacking.
"Now, finish this with Ice Fang!" Her tusks glowing neon blue, she sent chilling energy into the struggling and screeching Mach Pokémon. Once the attack was over, Mamoswine stepped back, letting Garchomp stand up. She roared while raising her arms up, only to fall onto her front, having fainted.
"Ga-Garchomp is unable to battle. The winner... is Mamoswine, and the victor is Ash Ketchum." The announcer said with shock, completely in disbelief. The entire colosseum remained silent, flabbergasted that Cynthia has lost.
"Alright Ash! You did it! You really did it!" Dawn's voice called out ecstatically from the announcer's box, which he looked upwards to.
"I knew you could do it, Ketchum! Shout it with me! Ash, Ash, Ash..." Barry tried to rally up, snapping the people out of their stupor and cheer along with him. To Ash himself, it sunk into him that he actually won the championship. Ash Ketchum... was the Sinnoh League Champion. Back in Twinleaf, Delia was crying her eyes out in pure joy.
"You were amazing! I'm so proud of you!"
All of the scientists at Rowan's lab shot off bottles of soda that they drank to their hearts content in celebration. Somewhere in a secret location, Mars, Jupiter and Charon stared at the tv, witnessing this event.
"So the brat is champion now? How bothersome." Jupiter spit out, figuratively and literally.
"Don't fret yourself, Jupiter. Him becoming champion is of no consequence. This just means we have to remain low so that he doesn't come looking for us." Charon remarked, pushing his glasses up his nose.
Walking to her ace, Cynthia stooped down and said,
"Thank you so much Garchomp. You did your best like always." She growled in appreciation before being returned. Looking up back at Ash, she stood up and approached him, her face filled with content. "Just a few minutes ago, you were the strongest challenger. And now... you're the most powerful trainer in Sinnoh. That was an excellent battle, and you and your team were outstanding. You achieved victory with the trust and teamwork you and your Pokémon have built the past year. I'll be glad taking part in crowning our new champion." Extending her hand, Ash looked down at it, and gingerly accepted it, just feeling overwhelmed with it all.
"Th-thank you, Cynthia. That means a lot." He responded. She giggled from his awkward demeanor, not an ounce of judgement. She remembered when she was in this exact situation too.
Ash walked alongside with Cynthia down a purple colored hallway with a shiny obsidian black floor that showed their reflection.
"How are you feeling?" Cynthia asked the new champion.
"I've dreamed of this moment almost my whole life. It's crazy how you spend years wanting something, and then you finally achieve it. What was it like for you? Did you always want to be champion?"
"Hehe, not exactly. While I did want to be Pokémon Champion, it was never for the sake itself and all that entails. I just wanted to travel the Sinnoh region, exploring ruins and learning history. Being a Pokémon trainer simply just made it more fun, and it helped me establish a deep personal love for Pokémon along the way as much as I love being an archeologist of sorts. I probably could've just been only an archeologist, but that wouldn't have been as much fun. Not to mention being champion means you have a lot of connections. What about you? Why did you want to become champion?" She asked him. He slowed to a stop, prompting her to stop too, to her confusion.
"It was originally a way of recognition, and an escape from my boring life in Twinleaf. I wanted to make friends along the way and have an exciting adventure, and gain the attention of the entire region. But the night the three of us became heroes, I realized a reason deeper than that. I wanted to show my dad who left me that I could reach the top without him. If I became champion, maybe he'd finally return." Cynthia looked sad and empathetic from that, and walked up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm truly sorry. Putting that together with what you said after your battle with Barry, that makes what you said even more powerful. You didn't just grow as a person, but you evolved. You are just... beyond words frankly." She laughed at that last part. Ash chuckled as well.
"Yeah well, the past year's been a rollercoaster."
"Right. Well, let's not keep them waiting." She stated before turning back to the direction of the room they were heading.
"Them?" Ash asked, resuming his following.
"Oh, well nobodies' actually there. It's just reserved for champions only. But there is a camera for the occasion someone is the new champion." She answered. Entering the room, to both their surprise was Prof. Rowan.
"Prof. Rowan?" Ash questioned.
"Ash! Your battle was splendid! Kudos to you!"
"Oh, hello Shawn. I wasn't expecting you to be here. What a pleasant surprise." Cynthia smiled.
"Hm! How could I not?! This room now has two people I sent for my Pokedex project. It's only natural I be here."
"Wait, you're a champion as well?!" Ash cried out in astonishment. Rowan simply chuckled at the boy's expression.
"Well, not for very long anyway. But enough about me. Congratulations, Ash. I'm so proud of you my boy." The young trainer stiffened hearing that, but this time it was from... positivity and gratitude. "Actually, no. I shouldn't call you a child. You're a champion after all. Please, step right here." Rowan requested, which Ash obliged. In the room was a Pokeball placement unit and a big screen. In the center of the room was a camera sending everything onto the open air. "Welcome to the Hall of Fame. Your name and Pokémon team will be recorded in the archives forever. Well, go ahead." The professor said. Gulping, Ash placed his Pokeballs in one by one. Torterra, Staraptor, Luxray, Floatzel, Dusknoir and Mamoswine. They glowed for several seconds in yellow light before the screen showed Ash's trainer ID picture, and the pictures of all the Pokémon that had their faces taken before the tournament. Confetti shot into the air. His goal was accomplished. Ash was the Pokémon Champion, and will forever be recognized as one.
A/N: Well, we finally made it. The (sort of) end of the line. Jeannot2978 has taken position number 3 in the fan request list. As of now, he/she will be the second fan request I do of the three. Two spots remaining, and if you don't tell me an idea you want me to write by the time of the next chapter post, I'll only do said three and all others will be shelfed until I finish Ash B&W. Better hurry. Also, there will be one more chapter for the epilogue in this story, but this is not the end for Ash and Dawn here. I'll be making a sequel story that will cover post game. It will be called 'Dawn Berlitz, a Mythical Legend' While Ash will have his own chapters, Dawn will be the primary protagonist. Be on the lookout for that. Thank you all so very much for your words and support.