The next morning Ash woke up exhausted. He looked around to find Dawn gone and his clothes folded in a pile on the bed. He sighed before throwing them on and walking outside to find Dawn sitting on a stump petting Leafeon.
He walked over to her and she returned Leafeon. She didn't turn to him as he stood there for a second before Ash sighed and released Charizard. Dawn silently stood up and climbed onto his back Ash following after. The entire ride home they were silent Ash trying to speak but the words never coming out.
When they got back to Lilly of the Valley Island they walked back to the hotel Dawn immediately walking to her room Glaceon following close behind and closing the door before she collapsed on the bed tears falling from her eyes.
Maylene and Paul were the only ones in the room and they both looked at Ash with a raised eye brow before Maylene stood up and walked to Dawn's room opening the door and quietly walking inside and closing the door.
Ash sighed defeated before walking to one of the chairs and falling into it placing his head in his hands as Umbreon walked over to lie at his feet. "What happened while you were gone?" Paul asked.
"I said something stupid and now Dawns mad at me. I don't know why I didn't just tell her, I'm so stupid." He replied.
"Well whatever it was I'm sure she'll forgive you, you two are almost inseparable." Paul said.
Ash looked up "No, I don' think so. I said some really hurtful things, and I don't think she'll ever forgive me." He said broken. Paul sighed shaking his head.
"Well you can stay here as long as you want." He said and Ash nodded. After that they just sat in silence until Zoey and Gary got back. After Zoey saw Ash she immediately walked to Dawns room and went inside, as Ash explained to Gary the same as he did to Paul, Gary saying the same thing. That night Ash slept on the couch.
The next day Ash left to train before anyone got up staying out until t well after dark. He slept on the couch again not wanting to be in Dawns way. The next day was the start of the competition so Ash, Umbreon, Paul, Maylene, and Gary walked to the stadium together Zoey staying behind to walk with Dawn.
When the clock hit 10 Mr. Goodshow stood up and walked to a podium "Welcome everyone to the Masters Competition." He said getting a roar from the crowd. "We are happy to announce 100 competitors have come out for this competition. All of the rounds will be six on six so be ready for some exciting battles." He said getting a second cheer from the crowd. "So without further interruption let the competition begin." He said as the torch was lit. "These are the first round match ups." He said as everyone turned to the screen behind him.
The cards shifted around before displaying the first round matches. Ash scanned for his name finding that he was up against Bertha. Ash just nodded his head already thinking about which pokemon to use. He looked again to find that his match was first.
He quickly walked back to the hotel and grabbed the pokemon he needed before quickly walking back to the arena. He walked into the trainer's room sitting down and closing his eyes.
"Umbreon." Umbreon said sitting in front of him.
"I'm ok, it's just been a while since I've been in an real competition." Ash said taking another deep breath.
"Green trainer to the arena." A voice said over the intercom.
"Alright buddy, let's do this." He said pulling his hood back up to cover his face as he walked out into the arena.
The cheers were defining as he walked out, he looked around and saw Dawn, Zoey, and Gary sitting in the front row. He then shifted his attention to his opponent as she walked out of her trainer room. They both took their spots Umbreon sitting beside Ash and the referee walked to the middle of the pitch.
"On the left we have Bertha an elite four member from Sinnoh." He said and a cheer rose up he waited for it to quiet down before continuing "And on the right we have Red from Mt. Silver." He said and the crowd stared in confusion at Ash, never hearing of him before. "This will be a six on six battle with substitutions, trainers please send out your first pokemon" the ref said before stepping back to his podium.
"Whiscash to the battlefield." Bertha called first.
Ash smirked "Absol I need your help." Ash said in return.
"Let the battle begin." The referee said holding his flags up.
Up in the stands Dawn looked on worried "He better know what he's doing, Bertha's no push over." She said.
She didn't see the person sit next to her "I wouldn't count Ash out just yet." He said and all of them turned to see Mr. Goodshow sitting there "Only a select few know this, and I don't think Ash would mind me telling you, but he's already beat Bertha before." He said and all of him looked at him in shock half because he knew who Ash was and because of what he told them.
"What do you mean he's already beat Bertha?" Gary asked snapping out of his shock first.
Mr. Goodshow chuckled "It figures he didn't tell you." He said before turning completely to them "Ash has already beaten all the regions elite fours and their champions." He said seriously.
"What but then how come no one knows about it?" Dawn asked this time.
"Ash didn't want to live in the spot light so they did the battles under the radar him going by the elusive Red and when he won he let everyone think that they were still the champions as he continued to train, but rightfully he is the champion of all the regions. He didn't know I knew it was him the entire time, but the minute I saw him battle I knew it was him. To this day the champions still don't know that it was Ash who beat them they believe their title was taken from them by Red" He explained. "But don't think that he's had it easy. That boy has been through more than you can imagine. He was hunted by Team Rocket for a time before he finally took them down. He has always been told he's not good enough by everyone, but he keeps going fighting to better himself. He has more heart and devotion than anyone else in this tournament. And his pokemon would do anything for him." He explained before standing up and walking away leaving them all in shack.
"I had no idea he had done so much." Maylene said and everyone else nodded. Dawn was lost in thought at what she had been told, she decided that it was time she talked to Ash.
Down on the battle field Ash's Absol, Typhlosion, and Primeape had defeated Berthas Whiscash, Gliscor, and Hippowdon. Ash's Donphan was currently up against Berthas Sudowoodo.
"Sudowoodo double-edge." Bertha called out, and immediately Sudowoodo rushed at Donphan his body outlined in golden.
"Rollout." Ash countered and Donphan immediately rolled into a ball and shot off toward Sudowoodo at high speeds. They met in the middle holding for a second before Donphan over powered Sudowoodo and sent him flying into a wall unconscious as Donphan rolled back to Ash standing in front of him.
"Sudowoodo is unable to battle, Donphan wins. Red trainer please send out your next pokemon." The referee said.
Bertha sighed before returning her fainted pokemon "Golem to the battlefield." She said.
Ash silently returned Donphan thanking him before pulling another poke ball off his belt. "Torterra I need your help." He said releasing his continent pokemon.
"Alright Golem stone edge." Bertha said to start them off. Golem formed large stones around his body before hurtling them at Torterra.
"Leaf storm." Ash said and Torterra tree top glowed green as a tornado of leaves flew from them meeting the stone edge head on, when the two powerful moves collided creating a small explosion. "Energy Ball." Ash said quietly but Torterra heard him, and immediately gathered energy into a ball before firing it into the dust.
The energy ball surprised Golem when it came hurtling out of the smoke and rammed into him pushing him back a few feet. "Solar beam." Ash said after the dust had cleared. Torterra gathered the sun's energy for a second before firing off a blinding golden beam at Golem hitting him squarely in the chest. He resisted for a bit but was eventually thrown into the stadium wall, knocked out.
"Golem is unable to battle, Torterra wins. Red trainer please send out your last pokemon." The ref said.
Bertha silently recalled Golem before grabbing another poke ball "Rhyperior to the battle field."
Ash silently returned Torterra thanking him for his hard work "Flygon I need your help." He said tossing Flygon's poke ball releasing the dragon type. This time Ash fired first "Dragon Breath." He commanded and Flygon opened his mouth to release a purple colored fire aiming for Rhyperior.
"Rhyperior Megahorn." Bertha commanded. Rhyperior's horn grew to twice its size and it glowed white as he shot towards Flygon running under the dragon breath.
"Dodge then dragon tail." Ash commanded, as Rhyperior got close Flygon flew to the left avoiding the megahorn as his tail glowed blue. He swung it at Rhyperior and hit him on the back sending him flying toward the ground.
"Hammer arm." Bertha called catching both Ash and Flygon unawares. Rhyperior's arm glowed white as he swung at Flygon hitting him in his side and sending him flying back with a pained cry of his name.
"Flygon are you alright?" Ash asked as Flygon got back to his feet as did Rhyperior. Flygon nodded "Alright dragon claw." Ash said and Flygon's claws grew in size taking on a bluish glow as he flew at Rhyperior.
"Stone edge." Bertha called and Rhyperior created large stones firing them at Flygon.
Flygon maneuvered through them before hitting Rhyperior with a powerful dragon claw sending him tumbling back to Berthas side.
"Hyper beam." Ash said not giving Rhyperior a second to counter as Flygon charged an orange ball in his mouth before firing it at Rhyperior hitting him in the chest tossing him back to the ground as he fainted.
"Rhyperior is unable to battle, Flygon wins. As the red trainer has lost all of her pokemon that means the victor is Red." The referee said holding up his flags pointing them at Ash. The entire stadium was silent before erupting into cheers. Ash silently returned Flygon before he and Umbreon walked out of the stadium.
Dawn was walking around, Glaceon by her side, trying to find Ash but couldn't no matter were she looked. As the sun was setting she decided to check one last place. She walked through the wood before she came to the clearing they had trained in the last two weeks. She found him standing in the middle looking out at the forest Umbreon loyally sitting next to him. She slowly and quietly started to walk over to him.
"Did you need something Dawn?" he asked and she froze.
"I…I just wanted to say good job on your battle." She said hesitantly cursing herself for not asking what she really wanted to.
"Thanks, but I know that's not all you wanted to ask." He said not turning to her.
Dawn bit her lip "Why didn't you tell me you were the rightful champion of ever region?" she finally asked closing her eyes expecting him to get mad at her.
Ash just sighed "I guess Mr. Goodshow finally told you." He said and her eyes snapped open. Ash slowly turned to her "I didn't tell you because I don't want all the attention that comes with it. I never expected to beat the elite four members let alone the champions of each region. When I did I asked them if they could make it seem like they were still the champions so I could train in peace." He explained as Glaceon walked up to Umbreon nuzzling into his chest.
"But you can trust me." She said walking up to him placing her hands on his chest as he placed his on her hips. "If were ever going to have a relationship we have to be honest and forthcoming to each other." She explained.
"I know." Ash said sighing "I had planed on telling you, on telling everyone before the semi-finals when they use my real name and title, I just didn't know when." He explained. "I promise I'll tell you everything you just have to give me time." He said leaning down so their lips were inches apart. "Did I hear you right? Did you say we were in a relationship?" he asked her teasingly moving to kiss her neck gripping her hips tightly.
"Maybe." She said "I guess you'll just have to see and find out." She said back just as teasingly. Ash didn't say anything else as he leaned down to kiss her lips lovingly. She kissed him back with as much love as she could.
When they pulled back hey walked back to the hotel hand in hand with Glaceon and Umbreon following after. When they got back to the hotel they spent the rest of the night in each other's arms letting the other know exactly how much they loved them.