Chapter 19 – Our Life Well Traveled
"Well, this is something isn't it folks! This final six-on-six match between Ash Ketchum and tournament favourite and returning victor, Eris Pomme, has been nothing short of sensational! It's anyone's championship now!"
Half a year since Ash and Dawn had visited Cerulean City, Ash stood in the center of the Indigo Plateau's prestigious finals' arena. The announcer's voice blared throughout the stadium as Ash stood on his end of the dusty battlefield. Pikachu lay slumped against Ash's leg, looking worse for wear, but still able and willing to fight. Further onto the pitch, Ash's Meganium wobbled on her four legs before crashing into the dirt, clearly exhausted as she tried to recover from the latest assault by her opponent.
And what an opponent it was. Ash had complete control of the match until his fellow finalist sent out her last contender. He had been dominating the finals at a score of four-to-one Pokémon remaining. Granted, the preceding five victories in the match had taken their toll on several of his companions, but he still believed he had a crucial advantage. Careful planning and crafty tactics had almost won him the day. He could almost taste the victory.
Then Eris Pomme had taken from her handbag, a golden sphere. It was a pokéball painted entirely in gold. Ash had known what was coming. It was 'that' Pokémon. Ash knew it was going to be trouble from the start. He had seen it in a few of her matches prior to the finals, and saw what it could do. But even this was beyond belief. It had swept aside both his relatively fresh Snorlax and his Meganium, who had already won a hard fought battle at the start of the finals. He didn't let Pomme have an easy time of it, but her most powerful Pokémon still looked as though it was barely breaking a sweat; despite taking a solid ice punch from the Sleeping Pokemon and a barrage of attacks launched point-blank at its back when Meganium grappled on with vine whip only moments prior.
Now all he had left were his exhausted Pikachu, who was forced to have to pull out all sorts of tricks of speed and power in two previous match-ups, and his final Pokémon. As much as he wanted to give Pikachu a break, he needed to preserve his last Pokémon for when he knew he could take down the beast. It was the strategy he had developed for knocking out the monstrous opposing force that now stood before him.
"Mr. Ketchum... I have to admit, you've given me a lot more trouble than I would've thought possible. I've made it past two of the four members of the Kanto Elite Four. To receive such a challenge at this stage is impressive at the least and astounding at the most. I commend you for your efforts, but I regret to inform you that you now find yourself in an unwinnable situation," Eris Pomme's smooth and confident voice echoed out across the field. The tall young woman, not much older than Ash, stood across the arena from her opponent; her jet black hair whipping in the wind along with her white sundress and her shockingly bright blue eyes glinting with self-assurance. Her sharp facial features allowed her mouth to curl into a small smile that carried sincerity in regards to her compliment towards Ash, and at the same time, showed her contentment at her perceived outcome of the battle.
Ash returned Meganium to her pokéball, and lauded her with praise before shrinking it and placing the capsule on his belt. He looked down to his partner Pokémon and asked softly, "Are you good to go, buddy? I know you're tired, but I just need a little bit more and then you can have a nice long rest. I promise I won't let you get hurt as bad as I did at the last tournament."
Pikachu leapt to his feet enthusiastically, despite his various marks of battle from before. He responded eagerly with a few calls of his name and leapt onto the field to face his opponent. Pikachu was quite diminutive in size compared to the beast that stood before him. It didn't matter to him though. He showed no fear, having stood against much stronger and much larger in the past. Suffice to say, the little mouse had seen a lot in his life thanks to his travels with Ash.
Pomme chuckled, not out of malice, but more out of amusement. She seemed to give the rodent an analytic eye and stated to her opponent with some respect, "I've heard about this Pikachu before I came to battle you Mr. Ketchum. I have to admit, I found it difficult to believe, even with all the records to back it up, that it could have done all it did. But after the previous two thrashings it gave me earlier in our match, I will admit to you that I underestimated it. But it's tired now, and I won't hold back anymore now that I've seen its battle skills."
"I wouldn't ask for anything less!" Ash boldly retorted, "Pikachu has always been one of my most dependable and capable of my partners, and he shouldn't be taken lightly! Anyone who's ever done that has only found themselves losing!"
Pomme gave a short laugh and countered in a polite, though intimidating voice, "Thanks for the warning, Mr. Ketchum, but I assure you, regardless of how good that little mouse is, it can't stand up to the power of my most powerful Pokémon!" her eyes narrowed dangerously and she wore an almost sadistic grin, "Salamence!"
To punctuate the point, the Dragon Pokémon reared its head up and roared into the sky, the rumbling sound waves almost making the dirt shake beneath their feet.
Ash looked with an awestruck expression at his opponent. It was certainly the most powerful Pokémon he had yet fought in his career as a trainer. Tobias' Darkrai was child's play compared to this. That unmovable Tyranitar he fought years earlier in the finals in the Silver Conference before deciding to travel wasn't even as strong as this merciless dragon. Even Hamill Jarrow's Crobat would have a hard time keeping pace with the breakneck speeds this flying-type managed to achieve. It was the ultimate expression of all the obstacles Ash had failed to overcome to win a tournament. And that made him want to beat his opponent all the more.
"Alright Pikachu! I know you got it in you! Let's show the Indigo Conference what you're all about!" Ash declared proudly.
"Pika!" Ash's faithful starter Pokémon let out a surprisingly intimidating cry of its name, garnering a cheer from the audience in response. They loved how gutsy Ash and his Pokémon were, and how he managed to persevere in the face of nearly overwhelming odds throughout the entire match. Though Salamence was certainly Eris Pomme's pride and joy, her other team members were no slouches. The audience's support for the underdog had only grown in intensity throughout the match.
Of course there were many who had come to the Indigo Plateau to see Ash's match. Both his mother and Professor Oak had managed to find time to come see him storm his way through the tournament. And though both his mother and the elderly professor were very important and influential figures in his life, Ash's mind drifted to two very special people he knew were there.
Sitting in the crowd, not too far from the sidelines, were Misty and Dawn. They held each other's hands together tightly as they looked on, shouting encouragement towards their boyfriend. Even over the roar of the crowd, their voices reached his ears.
"Come on, Ash! We know you can do this! We believe in you!" Dawn's supportive and pitched voice carried over the rabble of cheers. Her starter, Piplup, squawked his own cheer for Ash as he jumped up and down frantically, waving his flipper-like wings in a motion that was meant to simulate cheering, but was somewhat lost in the excitement.
"Just keep your head in the game and we know you'll come out on top!" Misty added her own shout which filtered through the throng of noise enveloping them.
Ash managed to hear both of them, albeit barely, and shot a glance up to where they sat. He could see them leaning forward expectantly, their eyes like beacons as their love and support poured forth, reinvigorating him and giving him new power that he knew only they could unlock within him. He felt a fire lit within him. The passion and desire to show them how much he loved them both was accepted and used to reinforce his own resolve. They were here for him now, just as he and Misty were there for Dawn when she faced Zoey in yet another final round of the Kanto Grand Festival where she, at long last, won her coveted title of Top Coordinator; the first of many more she hoped to win. They were here for him now, just as he and Dawn were behind her as Misty put her case forward before the Pokémon League Association Board for a position in the elite four; a task for which she would have to travel yet again to understand, battle, and capture new water-types in order to gain the necessary qualifications for the job. Ash nodded to his two girlfriends in acknowledgement of their continued support and affection as he turned his attention back to the field.
The referee raised his red and green flags and announced, at last, "Let the battle between Pikachu and Salamence begin!"
Ash was fast to react and gave the first order, knowing the speed of his opponent, "Pikachu, quick thunderbolt!"
Pikachu, fully aware of just how fast his larger foe was, took barely any time to charge and simply launched a weaker bolt of lightning from his clenched body towards the red and blue dragon. It certainly was the fastest electric attack that many in the audience had ever seen. It was just as surprising that the attack, which was almost too fast to track with the naked eye, was dodged by Salamence who, with a single beat of its powerful wings, took the sky effortlessly.
Ash gritted his teeth in frustration. He and Pikachu had been practicing that move for months, finding the perfect balance between a near-zero charge-up time and sufficient voltage in the move itself. Yet, it still wasn't enough to land a hit on the agile beast that now soared away into the sky.
"Salamence has very keen senses, Mr. Ketchum, but I think even that nearly took him by surprise," Pomme noted with some appreciation for the attack, "But I'm afraid that won't be good enough. Salamence is a force of chaos! And chaos will not bend to anything!" She swept her arm forward dramatically and pointed to Pikachu, "Flamethrower!"
Letting out another terrifying roar, Salamence banked in mid-air and dove down in an arc. It opened its gaping maw and embers could already be seen trickling forth from between its fangs. Soon the sparks of flame grew into a great light and a massive white-hot flame poured forward, carving a line across the field towards Pikachu.
"Dodge!"
Pikachu obeyed Ash's command without even thinking. The Mouse Pokémon certainly didn't want to be cooked, so he eagerly and deftly tumbled to the side as the line of flames passed the electric type, causing a draft of hot air to shoot out in all directions nearby. The line of flames ended just before Ash, who reflexively shied away from the heat it left. Despite having no real fuel to sustain it, the fires on the field continued to burn solely because of the sheer power behind the attack.
"Close the trap!" Pomme ordered severely.
Like a jet, Salamence climbed back into the skies above and began yet another rapid descent. Its sheer velocity created sonic booms as it broke the sound barrier and its horrifying presence only grew as the draconian face of their foe quickly came back into view with its teeth bared and flames dripping out the corners of its mouth. More fire, the intensity causing the colour to shift from orange to bluish-white, streaked forward. Pikachu, once again enthusiastic in his preference to have his fur remain its normal yellow instead of a crispy black, barely avoided the several sweeps of flame that accompanied each passing of the blur of red and blue. Pikachu panted as the blistering waves of super-heated air beat against him from all sides. He was surrounded by varying walls of flame. Pikachu couldn't hope to leap over them, being tall as they were wide. The sheer forces of convection caused Pikachu to remain in the middle in the hopes that the center would provide him with the most relief.
Dawn and Misty could only watch in muted horror as they saw Pikachu enclosed by the raging fires. They instinctively gripped one another's hands even more tightly as they looked on.
"Come on, Ash! Pikachu! You need to get figure a way out of there!" Misty urged with concern painting her voice and features, quickly getting to her feet.
Dawn followed her actions and stood with her redheaded girlfriend, "There's always a way! I know there is! You always find it!" Dawn's voice matched the intensity of Misty's, and was just as worrisome, though she tried to lace it with some optimism.
Ash heard them, but his focus was still entirely on the match. He could only look at Pikachu, who kept turning about, looking for any gaps in the walls of flames. There were none that Pikachu or his trainer could see.
"Let's see that speed help you now!" Eris Pomme mocked darkly, "Dragon pulse!"
A large, blue-green shimmering orb of energy formed in the mouth of Salamence and it was launched down towards Pikachu with all the speed and power of a screeching meteor.
"You can't let it hit you!" Ash cried out in desperation.
Pikachu acknowledged Ash's warning and tumbled to the side. The explosion from the impact pushed the electric type much closer to the fire than he would've preferred, but Pikachu managed to regain his footing and quickly dashed away from the licks of flame that threatened to singe his tail.
"Blanket it with dragon pulses!" Pomme commanded, a smug look overtaking her face.
Salamence growled out again, though for any other Pokémon, this growl could've been a roar. The dragon began conjuring a multitude of the same orbs as before. A near-solid wave of draconic energy darkened the sky above Pikachu as the mouse stood on the ground, completely unsure of what to do.
"Pikachu! Jump and use iron tail on the center one!" Ash ordered boldly.
The electric type's ears twitched as he received the order. Pikachu quickly pressed himself into the ground in preparation and launched himself skywards towards the swath of energetic spheres. Focusing all the energy he could into his tail, Pikachu somersaulted forward. The yellow tail glowed and took a metallic sheen as it careened harshly into the center orb. Instantly, the dragon pulse was sent flying back to Salamence and even it couldn't overcome the sheer unexpected shock that gripped it. The super-effective attack of its own creation struck Salamence straight on its head, whilst the remainder of the orbs exploded below. Not only did the blanket of orbs fail to hit Pikachu because he was still airborne; the force of the combined impact of all the draconic projectiles managed to create a rush of air that snuffed the walls of flame. When Pikachu landed, all that remained of the fires were some puffs of smoke and scorched earth.
"Hmm... you still manage to surprise me, Mr. Ketchum," Pomme's sly voice carried over the field towards her opponent, her smug face long since vanished, but confidence still outlining her features, "But don't mistake this for a victory."
"I've learned many things over the years, and one of them is never to call a match before the referee does! I'm still fighting hard, and so is Pikachu! Your Salamence is strong and fast, but we've got our bond and heart to even the odds!" Ash declared with complete determination.
"Sentiments like that are touching, but have no place on the battlefield," Pomme lectured coolly, "Battle is discordance incarnate. These matches are just emulations of wars fought in the distant past. Nothing more, nothing less. Synchronicity with your Pokémon is an illusion. You just embrace the chaos of the battle and let it steer you in the right direction. If you can see through the disorder to the final goal, then you've already won. Can you, Mr. Ketchum? I certainly can."
Ash didn't know exactly what she meant by all this, but he knew one thing: she didn't believe in bonding with her Pokémon; at least not during battles. He pumped his fist forward and shouted triumphantly, "My bonds with my Pokémon and people have been what have carried me forward in life. It may take a long time, but the effort is worth it in the end! If you can't see that... then I feel sorry for you."
Eris Pomme tilted her head back and let out an aristocratic laugh, then taunted Ash, "I don't need your pity, Mr. Ketchum. I have made it this far and further before. This time, I know better than ever how to glide through the unpredictable nature of battles," she paused and raised a demonstrative hand towards Ash. Her voice grew low and almost reverent, "The only reason you have given me pause before is because you, yourself, are such an intriguing and unrelenting force of invention and spontaneity. In this respect, I admire you," her peaceful demeanour vanished and was replaced by a critical assessment of her opponent, "But your principles are opposed to your very nature. It is why you lost to my protégée. And that is why I'll defeat you now!"
"Your protégée?" Ash inquired, bewildered by her reference.
"Oh you didn't know?" Pomme mocked cheekily, "You battled him before. He was promising, but his arrogance blinded him to the true nature of battle. It's why he'll never be as great as he could be."
Ash remained tight-lipped as he searched through his memory as to who he battled could possibly be in any way related to this woman. He had battled a great many people over the years, and had lost to a decent number of them. Yet, he couldn't link any of them to this woman.
"I would think that you'd remember the man who snatched the championship from you last year, Mr. Ketchum," Pomme teased.
Ash's face took on a look of astonished shock as he was flung a year back in his mind. It quickly grew into annoyance as he gritted his teeth and shouted back to his opponent, "You trained Jarrow?"
"Indeed," Pomme stated matter-of-factly, "I noted his potential for a unique, and unpredictable battle style, and showed him how to truly unlock his capabilities as a force of pure chaos. But, he was too self-absorbed. He didn't embrace the battle. He didn't embrace the ideals that I follow wholeheartedly. Pokemon are weapons of war! Not tools of ambition! He could never grasp that, so I cast him adrift."
Her eyes narrowed as she eyed Ash and her voice grew low and devious, "But it appears he was well-versed enough to defeat you."
The revelation and the following taunt caused Ash's old anger to begin bubbling to the surface. Feelings of regret at his actions at the last conference, coupled with his frustration at not prevailing then joined forces, causing Ash to feel like he was losing control. The memories of Jarrow's victory, and the crushing despair he felt at its hands began to wrap its tendrils around his brain, causing Ash to lose focus on the field before him.
"Ash! Don't listen to her! She's just trying to get in your head! Keep your eyes on her Pokémon!" Misty's voice rang from afar.
"Yeah! Don't dwell on the past! Strive for the future! This isn't the Sinnoh Conference! This isn't Jarrow! You're better now!" Dawn's came next, echoing Misty's.
"We're both here for you now!" They cried together.
Misty's and Dawn's words of encouragement shook Ash from his trance. He looked up to see Salamence was still hovering over the field, directly above Pikachu, who, during this pause finally had a chance to catch his breath. Ash knew he was tired, but he could see in Pikachu's beady eyes, the glint of determination they both shared. The little mouse wasn't done yet and neither was his trainer.
"They're right!" Ash told himself quietly, "My way is better. I treat my Pokémon with respect, not as tools of war. We'll fight hard, and we'll be brave! But I'll never let what happened last year happen again! They're my friends, and I won't see them hurt in that way ever again!"
Ash nodded to Pikachu, and his partner nodded back in a knowing response. The mouse looked up and crouched slightly.
"Extreme speed!"
"Pi-ka!" As though he was nothing but a streak of light, Pikachu bounded upwards as though gravity were a myth. Pikachu slammed right into the chin of the now very angry dragon. It thrashed about in a state of fury until it finally found out where the rodent had landed. It was momentarily struck by panic when it felt the claws of the mouse on the back of its neck.
"Full power thunderbolt!" Ash instructed vigorously.
"Pi-ka-CHUUUU!" the mouse screeched out his signature cry as he allowed the thousands of volts of electrical energy to course through the body of the dragon.
"Hurry! Throw it off!" Pomme called out to her contender. However, the beast was too busy writhing in pain to listen to its trainer. Soon, its wings stilled and it crashed to the earth. Pikachu jumped off moments before impact, landing somewhat roughly on all fours not far from Ash.
Ash was pleased to finally see the great beast finally appear as though it were becoming fatigued. Whatever front it put up through the rest of the battles it had with his previous two Pokémon finally seemed to have finally fallen and the beast heaved itself with some trouble to its feet.
"Volt tackle! Before it can take to the air again!" Ash quickly shouted.
Once again, Pikachu dashed forward, his body glistening with sparks of electric energy until he was nothing more than a bolt of lightning running across the field. His chants of 'Pika pika pika pika' growing louder and more furious as he crossed the pitch at a feverish pace.
"Double-edge!" Pomme's shrill counter came.
Still heaving from its unruly meeting with the ground, Salamence began to surround itself with an outline of pure yellow energy. At least it did until it quivered in pain as sparks crawled across its body, keeping it from completing the move.
"No! Snap out of it, Salamence!" Pomme growled.
But it was too late. Pikachu's speed allowed for no mistakes and he plowed into the incapacitated Salamence. The sheer force of speed combined with yet another powerful electrical surge caused the dragon cried out in agony while Pikachu rebounded from the impact point on his opponent's skull. The yellow mouse landed on one knee and cringed from the recoil of the devastating electric attack. Ash hoped against all expectations that the dragon was finally down for the count as it wriggled on the ground from the residual currents of electricity that were leaving its system.
But Ash would not be so lucky.
A low, horrible growl came from the beast, signalling what was to come next. It reared its defiant head up once more as it regained its footing, screaming out such a loud and horrendous howl that everyone within miles had to cover their ears for fear of going deaf.
Pikachu was barely standing now. It was his third battle. He had exerted himself beyond all belief during each bout and had taken his licks in each and every one of them. Pikachu was almost swaying just from how tired he was.
"Double-," Pomme began darkly.
"Stop! I'm withdrawing Pikachu from the match!" Ash turned his gaze to the referee as he spoke the words strongly.
The referee raised his red flag towards Ash's opponent and announced, "Pikachu has been withdrawn from the match! The winner of the battle is Salamence."
Pikachu, as if on cue, simply collapsed face first into the field. Ash ran out to collect his best buddy and carried him gently to the trainer's designated spot and told him gently, "You were spectacular, old friend. I'm sorry I had to do that, but you were in no shape to take a hit. I couldn't let what happened last time happen again."
Pikachu gave a soft coo of his name towards his trainer as Ash pulled the little mouse into a heartfelt hug.
In the audience, Misty and Dawn had finally sat down. Still holding hands with one another, they whispered to one another.
"He might've still been able to get one more move in, but he cares too much for his Pokémon to risk their safety for it..." Misty breathed softly.
"He's so unbelievably caring for his friends... his Pokémon," Dawn whispered back amorously, "It's no wonder he could love both of us so much... he loves everyone close to him so much that he doesn't care how it affects him."
"He's amazing, just like you were at the Grand Festival this year," Misty purred next to Dawn, resting her red hair onto the blunette's own.
"And what about you?" Dawn affectionately asked, "Don't you deserve some praise for finally leaving the gym and going for your dream."
"No one needs to say it," Misty replied cheekily into Dawn's ear, "Everyone already knows I'm pretty awesome."
"Or just pretty," Dawn let the sultry words waft from her soft lips into Misty's quickly reddening ears as the new Top Coordinator planted a kiss on Misty cheek.
"Mmmm..." Misty's eyes closed in reflex to the nice feeling, "Dawn... we're here for Ash, remember."
"Right!" Dawn's voice returned to her normally perky and cheery cadence as she turned her adoring gaze back out to their boyfriend on the battlefield.
Misty pulled herself up from her seat once more and shouted through cupped hands, "Alright Ash! You got her on the ropes! Now keep strong and finish it up! You can do this! Show us what a real trainer is like!"
Dawn almost jumped up in her attempt to emulate Misty and she called out to Ash in a similar manner, "We know you got the skills and the heart for this! You're almost there! Keep at it! We love you!"
Since the end of the previous battle between Pikachu and Salamence, the crowd had first dissolved into a loud applause for Ash's quick and appropriate action to withdraw Pikachu before it became seriously injured. After that, it had quickly morphed into general cheering that grew louder and louder in anticipation for the last battle of the match and tournament. Even through this, Ash managed to catch the girls' voices on the winds that swept through the stadium and smiled broadly as he laid his eyes on them once more.
He took his last pokéball from his belt and fiddled with it, trying to think of the right words to say. Soon his fingers stopped moving and he spoke in soothing tones to it, "I know you've been through a lot in the last year. We both have, but you most of all. But I know you've gotten better, and you've been itching to get back onto the field. Who would I be if I said no?"
Ash looked back up to his opponents, both Salamence and Eris Pomme. His face grew soft and he called across the field, "This has been one of the best battles I've ever fought. I thank you for pushing me and my friends to their limits. That's what battles are all about. Learning about who you are. Learning about who your Pokémon are. Learning about the trust you share with them. And most of all, learning how to put their goals and dreams above your own. If you're lucky enough; yours and theirs are the same. I am happy to be one of those people. My name is Ash Ketchum. I want to be a Pokémon Master. And so do my Pokémon."
A small chuckle passed between Ash's lips as he looked to see a look of disbelief painted on Pomme's sharp face. He announced to her and the audience, "This Pokémon has shown me just how tough he is! He has proven to me his resolve to become the best of his kind, and more! And after what he went through recently, and after all his hard work to catch up to his fellow battlers, I can't think of anyone better to finish up this match!"
The audience was deathly quiet now and nearly everyone wore a perplexed expression on their face. All except three people who wore proud smiles instead.
These three people were: Misty, Dawn, and Professor Oak.
Ash threw his final capsule onto the field and it burst open in a flash of white energy. The energy coalesced into a rather small form compared to the Salamence it joined, but it was bigger than Pikachu. Soon its form became distinct and features could at last be identified. Its skin was a healthy orange, its shell resembled coal-black rock, its nose and various vents on its back puffed black smoke into the air in excitement of its arrival.
"TOR-KOAL!" the Coal Pokémon proudly shouted into the night air, giving off a whistling sound as smoke shot from its nostrils a prolonged jet-like burst.
"And Ash's last Pokémon is a Torkoal!" the announcer shouted out enthusiastically into his microphone, "If it's anything like Ash claims, we're sure to be in for quite a battle!"
"...This is slightly underwhelming," Pomme muttered to herself quietly, "I expected Charizard. Damn thing is infamous for being his best."
But Ash managed to hear her, if only barely, and retorted, "Hey, don't knock Torkoal! He's got plenty of fight for your Salamence!"
"Hmm... I'm still surprised Mr. Ketchum," she drawled, "Like Pikachu, Charizard is usually one of your heavy hitters for your final matches, if I remember correctly. I know you saw my Salamence earlier in the tournament. I'm just wondering if you're taking this match seriously after all."
"You may find Torkoal more trouble than you realize, especially when it comes to Salamence!" Ash countered.
"We'll just have to see then..." Pomme struck back challengingly.
The referee raised both his flags and quickly brought them back down, shouting eagerly, "Let the final battle begin!"
"Salamence!" Pomme opted to start the match herself this time, "Show whose fire is hotter! Flamethrower!"
Not even bothering to move from his spot, Salamence took a deep breath and blew forth another set of searing white flames towards Torkoal.
"Iron defense!" Ash ordered, remaining relatively calm.
The attack struck true, but not before Torkoal retreated into his shell which shimmered briefly with a glinting metal-like gleam. The fire hit the jet-black shell, but merely poured around the Pokémon harmlessly. Torkoal emerged after the flames ceased, and the tortoise easily snuffed the flames out around it by puffing yet another blast of smoke from his nose.
"KOAL!" the fire type taunted back towards the dragon.
Not one to be mocked, Salamence stomped angrily and repeated the attack without orders. Torkoal responded without Ash's word as well, hiding in his shell as the blast of flames coursed around his protective home.
"Salamence!" Pomme scolded, "Cut it out! Fire won't work! Dragon pulse!"
Ash knew iron defense wouldn't cut it against the concussive force of a dragon pulse. He had to come up with another means of foiling her Pokémon's attack. The blue-green orb formed in the mouth of the dragon and was about to fire when Ash ordered a counter-attack, "Overheat!"
At a moment's notice, Torkoal began to glow a deep red before unleashing a torrent of blistering flame from his mouth that soared with unbelievable speed towards his opponent. Salamence, caught completely off guard as it finished charging its dragon pulse, launched the orb in a panic. The orb was engulfed in the heavy storm of fire only meters from its origin, causing the explosion from the failed attack to strike the dragon for yet another effective self-damaging blow. The attack was only further intensified as the remainder of the overheat washed over the dragon. Despite not being nearly as effective as the dragon-type move it had just turned back on its master, the overheat was the first Torkoal had used, and was incredibly powerful as a result. The beast screeched in agony of the dual attacks which took him by surprise.
"Clever, but you only get so many of those!" Pomme declared, "For now, let's knock this tortoise down a size! Double-edge!"
Once more, the dragon glowed with an outline of pale yellow before it rocketed off towards its foe. Even if its speed weren't cut down from Pikachu's lingering paralysis, Ash saw what was coming and reacted with split-second timing. He repeated his earlier order, "Iron defense!"
Torkoal once again withdrew into his shell. The blunt force of the incredibly powerful physical hit knocked the shell-bound pokemon back a fair distance. But Torkoal emerged mere moments later, stamping his feet proudly, calling his name, and billowing yet another cloud of smoke.
Pomme gritted her teeth angrily. From what she could tell, even her Salamence's powerful attacks were having little to no effect. She needed a new approach. Then her eyes glinted with mischievous intent and she called a new attack, "Dragon tail!"
Currently, Ash believed strategy was working well. He had weakened Salamence and he hoped to continue to make it grow tired until he saw the opening he was waiting for. Torkoal was one of the few pokemon he possessed who could take powerful hits like the ones being offered by this Salamence. Were it not for the efforts of his Snorlax, Meganium and Pikachu, this would've been somewhat overwhelming, even for Torkoal; but Salamence was growing tired, and couldn't hit as hard and fly as fast as it once did. Believing it was all going according to plan, Ash called yet another iron defense command to steel himself against the oncoming dragon tail attack.
As ordered, Torkoal withdrew into his shell and awaited the attack which would likely prove ineffectual. But Pomme had other plans.
"Sweep up from beneath!" she called at the very last second.
Salamence swung its heavy body around in preparation for the dragon tail attack, for which its tail was already glowing a bright light blue. At the order, Salamence went from its typical horizontal spin with which it originally intended to strike and instead, flipped backwards, sending its powerful tail through the dirt, digging under Torkoal and scooping it high into the air like a flipped coin.
"TOOOR-," the fire type cried in a panic as it thudded back into the earth. It landed on its back, which not only gave it nasty physical shock to its shell, but also rendered Torkoal flailing, immobile, and vulnerable.
"No Torkoal! Hurry and flip yourself up!" Ash yelled in a panic of his own. Try as he might, Torkoal couldn't flip himself with the frenzied movements of his legs and head.
Eris Pomme let out another upper-class womanly laugh and taunted, "I think it's time for today's special! Have at it Salamence!"
Letting out another ear-splitting roar, Salamence gathered up its strength into another double-edge attack and raced towards the defenceless tortoise.
"Do something, Ash!" Misty cried out between the clamouring yells of the audience around her, standing up to try and get her voice out there.
Dawn was right there with her, shouting frantically, "Ash! Torkoal! You need to find a way to move!"
Find a way to move... but how... Ash mind raced at a hundred miles a second. He could see Salamence careening over towards his Pokémon in slow motion as he desperately tried to wring a response to the oncoming attack out of his cluttered mind.
I can't move out of the way... only on the spot. ON THE SPOT! I'll spin my way out!
"Torkoal! Point your head sideways and use overheat!"
Ash smirked. Torkoal was one the Pokémon he couldn't really develop a counter-shield strategy for, but now was a good a time as any to try it out. Frankly, it was the only solution he could think of. As ordered, Torkoal put its head to his side and began to glow a deep red once more. Soon, a powerful jet of flame, though not as searing hot as before, poured for Torkoal's mouth and he instantly began spinning on its back, like a fire-laden top. The momentum carrying Salamence forward did not allow it to change course or stop, causing it to collide head on with a blazing ring of fire that surrounded the immobile tortoise.
Salamence screeched out in pain and was pushed off to the side by the sheer force of the waves of fire and gusts of hot air emanating from the fire-type. It crashed not far from Ash, growling and its pale yellow glow fading as it pulled itself up.
"Quick! Now turn your head to the ground to right yourself!" Ash commanded confidently.
Using the last of the overheat attack, Torkoal turned his weakening flame to the ground and found himself tipped up and onto his belly. The fire type wobbled due to his dizziness, not at all accustomed to excessive spinning in his normal battle style. Regardless, Ash was both proud of Torkoal and relieved that the strategy actually worked for a Pokémon that he never conceived of teaching counter-shield to.
Torkoal soon gained its bearings at about the same time Salamence regained its footing. Despite not having actually struck Torkoal himself, it appeared that Salamence suffered the recoil damage from its move. The dragon was breathing heavily now, constant growls oozing from its mouth with every exhale and mad intent in its eyes. Its trainer did not seem much more enthusiastic with the result.
"I doubt that will work a second time!" Pomme bit, "Dragon tail, again!"
Ash suspected she was right. As the still incredibly fast dragon advanced on Torkoal, he knew he needed to execute his final gambit then and there, or else risk losing the whole match. After all that his team had been through that day, he didn't want to chance waiting any longer.
The pallet-native didn't call iron defense this time. Pomme didn't take note of it, as she assumed Torkoal would simply withdraw into his shell when he saw the dragon tail getting close.
Wait... wait... wait for it... Ash instructed himself mentally. Torkoal glared at the oncoming dragon that was already too close for comfort. Nonetheless, he waited for Ash's command.
It was tens of meters away.
Only meters.
Within striking distance.
"NOW!" Ash shouted at the top of his lungs.
Torkoal opened its mouth. This time, fire didn't come out, but rather, a huge orb of shining white light. It barrelled straight into the face of the advancing dragon type. It screeched in agony as its eyes were assaulted by the intensity of light that rivaled the sun itself. The stadium was instantly lit up like day had come yet again as the orb floated gently into the sky near the center of the stadium.
"Sunny day?! I don't believe this!" Pomme shrieked in anger.
"And that's not all!"Ash shot back proudly, "Overheat!"
Though it had been used twice before, overheat in the presence of sunny day more than compensated, blasting the dragon backwards across the field towards the referee who dove for cover at the dragon's unintended approach. It smashed into the walls beneath the spectators who awed at the power with which this pseudo-legendary was tossed by a small tortoise.
Despite the impact, the beast screeched and pulled itself from its indentation in the wall. It trampled about blindly, attacking anything that resembled its shelled antagonist.
"Get to the sky! It can't get you there!" Pomme counselled harshly. Acknowledging its trainer, the beast took off into the sky, flying blindly but still aware enough of its surroundings that it failed to crash into anything in the upper reaches of the stadium.
"When it gets close... aim carefully and fire!" Ash instructed calmly to his contender. Torkoal nodded and waited patiently.
Soon the beast cried out in rage above them and it looked at the fire type dead center. It appeared to have regained its sight. Realizing this, Pomme ordered severely to her battler, "Dragon pulses! Bury it with them!"
One by one, the weakened dragon fired a row of bluish-green dragon pulse blasts at his opponent. They came hurdling down towards the Coal Pokémon and Ash knew he needed to play this out carefully, "Intercept them with overheat!"
The string of dragon-type attacks collided with the column of fire that was Torkoal's blazing overheat, each impact pushing the reach of the licking flames down just a bit closer to the tortoise. Eris grinned and knew she had him, "More!"
More dragon pulses were unleashed on Ash's companion and he responded in kind, "Overheat again!"
The overheat wasn't as thick this time, and each successive impact against it by the orbs pushed the column of fire even closer to Torkoal.
"What is he doing?!" Misty wondered as she gazed at the field intently.
The new top coordinator beside her was thinking the exact same thing, "I don't know. He didn't tell me his strategy..."
"I really hope he knows what he's doing," Misty spoke in a worried tone, clasping her hand onto Dawn's once again.
"I'm sure he's planning something," Dawn assured, but her voice was also uncertain, "If not, he'd better come up with something quick!"
Another volley of dragon pulses were unleashed and countered by overheat, which now, even in the light of the sunny day orb, was growing quite weak. This time, the explosion from the last blast almost hit Torkoal.
"Again!" Pomme shouted to her airborne Pokémon. Seeing that it was making progress, the tired but eager dragon agreed and launched one more set of dragon type orbs towards its target.
Dang it! Torkoal can't defend with overheat anymore! I need to get Salamence to get closer! "Iron defense!"
The crowd gasped, knowing full well what the result was going to be. Even as Torkoal's shell continued to gain defensive power, the dragon pulses struck, unleashing pure draconic energy in a massive explosion. Torkoal was and flung to the other end of the field in what was clearly a painful display. When the dust from the massive impact cleared, Torkoal was clearly on his back and wriggling desperately to get up.
"Hah! No overheat to save you this time!" Pomme cheered, "Come in for one more double-edge to finish this up!"
The dragon shrieked loudly into air of the sunny day-lit stadium as it streaked with all possible speed towards its hapless target. The pale yellow glow took over once again and left a streak in the air behind it. The dragon zeroed in on its target and tucked its wings in for the final approach. It was committed. Nothing would stop it now.
Got you! Even through the intensity of the battle, Ash's mouth curled into a smile.
"Solar beam!" Ash's thundering voice reverberated throughout the arena. Everyone in the stadium, the audience, Misty, Dawn, Eris Pomme, and Salamence all looked with gaping eyes at what was occurring. Torkoal, even while on its back, tilted its head up and fired a blast of pure solar energy at the oncoming blue and red missile that was Salamence. The beam struck its foe directly in the face and the dragon pitched down too early, causing a spectacular crash. The beast slid a short distance towards Torkoal until it only meters from the fire type's feet, which were now planted firmly on the ground thanks to the jostle the solar beam gave it.
Salamence pulled itself to its feet and roared in dismay and fury, locking its gaze with the equally staunch and well-proven Torkoal. The two Pokémon glared at each other just as their trainers met one another's eyes. Each of their sets of burning orbs flared with intensity as they saw their opponent staring back. Both had expected the other to have already fallen in battle: Eris Pomme having figured Ash to be beneath the notice of her Salamence, and Ash thinking that last attack should've knocked out the already worn down beast. There was one thing left to do.
"Torkoal!"
"Salamence!"
"Solar beam!"
"Flamethrower!"
The moves were called at the exact same time, and were unleashed at exact same second. The overwhelmingly powerful grass move was met with the type-advantaged fire move which was further bolstered by sunny day. However, Salamence had fought four battles and had taken many, many attacks. It was tired and couldn't put all the energy it could've into the attack. Regardless, Salamence had a slight edge over Torkoal, and the solar beam was being pushed back very slowly.
"Come on Torkoal! I know you can do this! I believe in you! You've got the power to beat anything that's thrown at you! You've proven that to me time and time again! Show me once more!" Ash encouraged his friend.
"Don't let up! This little morsel is beneath your notice! Don't fail me now!" Eris Pomme berated her contender.
Regardless of their trainer's methods, both Pokémon increased their output, but the net result remained the same. Torkoal's solar energy was being pushed by sheer force of fire.
But something changed in the blink of an eye. One of Salamence's knees buckled and Ash saw it. So did Pikachu, who began giving cheers as they observed the miraculous event. Salamence's body began arcing with sparks of electricity.
"That's Pikachu's paralysis!" Dawn squealed happily, jumping out of her seat in excitement.
"I'm not sure whether that's Ash's dumb luck kicking in, or if he's been trying to plan around that all along..." Misty sighed contentedly, standing up and wrapping her arm around Dawn as they leaned forward expectantly.
On the field, Ash's mouth curled up from its neutral line of determination to a smile of pride and hope. He gave one last cheer for his friend, "You've got this Torkoal! This is your chance! Give it all you got and you can win!"
"KOOOOOAAAALLL!" the emotionally charged tortoise shouted into his attack as he pressed his feet firmly into the earth and thrust his neck further forward. The beam of light began to shine out even more brightly as the ray grew in intensity and thickness. The dividing point between the fire and the solar energy shifted quickly back towards Salamence. Electricity continued to pervade the dragon's body and one by one, its limbs gave out from under it. It still maintained the stream of fire, which now began to grow weaker and dimmer. The once bright blue-white flames dimmed to an orange, then reddish glow. The fire shrank until at last, the beam finally struck true and a great explosion engulfed the stadium. Torkoal and his trainer stood strong against the buffeting winds and dust that burst forth. The cloud of dust covered most of the stadium, extending high into the sky, shrouding the already dimming sunny day orb which flickered and went out, leaving the stadium lit only by the large floodlights.
It took at least a minute for the dust to settle and the audience was clamouring to for any sort of indication as to who won. When the curtain of dust fell away, Torkoal stood triumphant while Salamence lay on the ground, its only signs of life being its shallow breathing.
The referee coughed as he tried to get the excess dirt from his lungs before shouting his verdict, "Salamence is unable to battle. Therefore, the winner of the battle is Torkoal, and the winner of the Indigo Conference is Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town."
Instantly, Torkoal burst into tears which streamed like geysers as he cried out in happiness. Ash stood as still as stone. He was unable to process the result, despite the sudden and deafening roar of approval from the audience. After thirteen years of trials and training, he had finally done it. He won a regional conference. He overcame his greatest roadblock thus far. He was set on the path to become a master once more, alongside his trusted companions.
"I won..." Ash mumbled disbelievingly, "I... actually won." Ash finally broke the spell of paralysis that had seemingly overtaken him and walked slowly over to his emotional friend. He knelt down beside the sobbing tortoise and hugged him around his shell, "WE WON!" Ash shouted once more in a voice that was incredibly reminiscent of his boyhood victory cries. The fire type eagerly returned the gesture by turning, standing on his hind legs, wobbling slightly before putting all his weight on Ash, and promptly pushing the raven-haired trainer to the ground in the process of giving Ash an embrace of his own.
"Ouch! Torkoal! Buddy! I know you're happy, but you're kinda crushing me!" Ash gasped out as part of his chest was being compressed by the weight of the tortoise. Torkoal's fountains of tears only intensified as he relieved some of his weight and Ash continued to allow the jubilant battler continue his celebratory hug.
Misty and Dawn were screeching and hugging one another whilst they jumped up and down in excessive relief, unbridled joy, and immense pride for their boyfriend.
"He finally won it!" Dawn screamed out over Misty's shoulder, her voice barely registering over the crowd's delirious sounds of cheers and adulations.
"Took him forever! But yeah! Our Ash finally won!" Misty yelled gleefully, squealing alongside her girlfriend.
Eris Pomme merely huffed and paced angrily away from the field after returning her battler to its custom, gold-skinned pokéball. She was quickly replaced on the field by several officials and the President of the Pokemon League, Mr. Goodshow.
At their approach, Ash decided to unleash the rest of his team, consisting of Meganium, Snorlax, Pidgeot, and Floatzel. Ash finally regained some of his boyish enthusiasm as he came to realize the reality that had just unfolded before him and praised his team happily, "Hey guys! We won! I knew you could all do it! You were awesome!" Pikachu of course joined them along with Torkoal as they cheered at the news and, despite their varying bruises and injuries, piled onto Ash in sheer joy. Ash was only thankful that he didn't receive a full body-slam from Snorlax in the process.
"Hey guys! I'm really happy that you all won, but I need to get up!" Ash laughed as he struggled to wriggle from underneath a particularly affectionate Meganium. When he finally managed to get on his own two feet again, Ash patted the still overly-attached grass-type on the head whilst he enjoyed a massive group hug from the rest of his team.
"Mr. Ketchum, it's been a while," he heard an elderly voice say. Ash turned and released his companions to see Mr. Goodshow. He hadn't seen the old man since the Silver Conference nearly five years ago, and had failed to meet him at the Lily of the Valley Conference last year. The older gentleman extended his hand and Ash eagerly shook it. The eccentric, white haired man spoke proudly, "Congratulations Ash. I knew from the moment I saw you that this was going to happen sooner or later."
"Was rather hoping sooner," Ash embarrassingly offered, rubbing the back on his head in his nervousness.
"You came close many times. I should know, I was there almost every time!" Mr. Goodshow humorously replied, "Remember that these league tournaments are where many of the best trainers come to prove themselves! You just needed that little push. I see now that you got it!"
"Yeah... I couldn't have done it without my Pokémon, or-," Ash was about to delegate the credit to his victory to someone when both of those he wanted to thank called out to him.
"Ash!" a pair of voices shouted from down the field.
The new victor of the Indigo League Tournament turned his head to see a pair of women, one fire-haired and one aqua-haired, running down the pitch towards him. Ash's face melted when he saw them running towards him. Misty's and Dawn's adoring faces glistened with delight as they dashed over, with a tired looking Piplup panting in protest over the pace not far behind his trainer. Soon the women crashed into Ash and pulled him into a three-way, tight-knit embrace.
"Ash! You were great out there!" Misty purred into his ear.
"You had us worried! You always play up the drama till the very end, don't you?" Dawn half-whined.
"Oh girls, I'm sorry," Ash apologized, though his voice carried notes of happiness, "I didn't mean it. I had to lure Salamence into coming in close!"
"Unusually clever, coming from you Ash," Misty teased.
"Aww Misty..." Ash protested sarcastically.
"No need to worry! You were spectacular out there! And so were your Pokémon!" Dawn complimented sweetly.
Hearing this, Ash's entire team cheered at Dawn compliment, and they all surrounded the trio and formed another big group hug. Piplup tried to squeeze his way in, but found himself being rebounded by Snorlax's thick layer of fat.
"I couldn't have done it without any of you," Ash confessed with a touch of emotion entering his voice, "My friends, you've all trained so hard. Dawn and Misty, you've both given me the strength I needed to win this! I couldn't have done it without either of you! I love you two so much!" Ash was on the verge of tears, and the girls were not far behind. With a wall of Pokémon essentially giving them privacy from the intruding eyes of the audience, the three of them shared a symbolic three way kiss. Each of their sets of lips managed to catch a part of the other two's. It was the absolutely perfect way to cap off the competition in Ash's mind. He didn't care for the trophy, or the audience's constant cheers, or even the fact it allowed him to challenge the elite four. Right now, this was all the reward he wanted.
The trio parted their faces at last, all of which spoke love and affection before Ash decided it was time to emerge from his veritable fortress of Pokémon. With Misty and Dawn on either side him and all of his teammates behind him, Ash stepped forward towards the group of officials who had been patiently waiting to commence the awards ceremony.
Ash stepped onto the portable podium, which had been placed at some point in the last few minutes, and accepted the golden trophy from Mr. Goodshow himself.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The winner of this year's Indigo Plateau League Tournament: Ash Ketchum!" Mr. Goodshow announced into his microphone with a startlingly vibrant voice that Ash couldn't believe belonged to the old man. Regardless, Ash held the trophy up high into the air while the crowd went absolutely ballistic. The dirt on the ground was almost shaking at the audience's collective shouts, cheers, and applause. Ash grinned broadly and waved with his collected team of Pokémon alongside his two greatest supporters. It was a moment Ash would treasure for the rest of his life.
As much as Ash had been looking forward to the sounds of a crowd chanting his name in victory for a good portion of his life, Ash had been just as eager to leave the deafening air of the stadium and the flurry of reporters asking for interviews and statements. It had all become so overwhelming. He needed some quiet, not only to get the ringing out of his ears and the haze of the post-victory lifted from his eyes, but to spend some time with some very important people in his life.
Already, he spoke to his mother, who had nearly crushed the air from his lungs as effectively as his entire team nearly had, and Professor Oak, who offered the young man his sincere congratulations and rubbed Ash's hair from one messy state into another. Now, he was walking through the Indigo Park, a small but quiet area in the corner of the complex. His arms were wrapped around two different girls who strode alongside the newly-awarded winner.
"Misty, Dawn... you have no idea what this means to me," Ash turned his head towards the blunette whose head rested on his right shoulder, "I think I finally understand how you felt after you won the Grand Festival, Dawn," Ash turned his head towards the redhead who gripped his left arm with both of hers tightly, "And I know how you will feel when you make it to the Elite Four, Misty."
"It felt great," Dawn cooed into Ash's shoulder, "But it felt ten times better since you were both there."
Ash nodded and Misty replied from the other side, "Having you two with me will make it all worth it. Even if I don't make it to the Elite Four, having the league send someone to take care of the gym while I can travel with you again is all I ever wanted."
Ash pulled them tighter towards him until they came upon an idyllic bench overlooking the lower half of the park.
"This looks nice," Ash remarked.
"Yeah! Let's take a minute," Dawn perked up. Misty agreed with an affirmative nod and the trio sat down. They looked over the view of the park. Three quarters of the perimeter was enclosed by trees, while the rest, behind them, was an opening to the Plateau's main concourse. The majority of the park was a peaceful green meadow with a few cobblestone pathways dotted by benches, with one walkway running a circle around a tall fountain. The marbled stone of the park's centerpiece was carved into a spiraling collection of people and Pokémon, some in battle poses, others hugging and tending to one another in friendship. The water flowed over the stilled figures, giving the design a shimmering skin of light that reflected the moonlight, almost lighting the fountain in a spectacular rainbow-like hue, with the changing refractions making it seem like the statues weren't that lifeless at all. All this combined with the starry skies above and the nearly full moon watching over them; it was a beautiful sight.
Ash, Dawn and Misty all slumped together on the bench lovingly. No member of the trio wanted to disturb one another's appreciation for this vista, though they all wanted to tend to each other with a kiss or caress. But they merely sat in a comforting silence, eager to just hold onto one another as they gazed on the great landscape before them.
At last Misty spoke softly, "You know, we get so busy with our training and travelling, we sometimes forget to do this. What's the point of seeing all these places if we can't just admire the land we pass by."
Dawn made a noise of agreement and returned the sentiment, "Yeah. I guess I'm so obsessed with creating beauty with my Pokémon, that sometimes, I forget about the beauty that's already out there."
Ash remained silent. He understood and realized what the two girls meant, but he knew he couldn't put it into words that would match theirs. He merely nodded and continued to look out over the horizon. Then a thought occurred to him and he asked Dawn, "Do you miss the northern lights?"
Dawn looked up to Ash with longing eyes and responded quietly, "Sometimes. Do you?"
Ash gave a small smile and looked into the glinting sapphire eyes of the younger girl to his right, "No... because I have you here with me. My Northern Light." Ash kissed Dawn lightly on her temple, to which the blunette purred and nuzzled into Ash's shoulder once more.
"Aww, cute. You have a pet name for her," Misty giggled.
Ash chuckled and thought for a moment. He came to a realization and used his left hand to gently lift Misty's face to his own. As he looked down on her sea-green eyes, he informed her soothingly, "Don't worry, Mist. I have one for you too."
"Mist is a nickname, not a pet name..." Misty drawled.
Ash let out a small laugh at her retortS. He shook his head and drew closer to her ear and whispered lovingly, "You're my Ocean Dream."
"Huh? How'd you come up with that?" the redhead inquired.
Ash smiled as he recollected the source of the name and he spoke almost dreamily, "That week, when we came to visit you at the gym. I had a couple of dreams about you. In the second one, I was on a beach, and you found me. You took my hand and we walked... on the water. Onto the ocean. It was almost... magical."
"That's so romantic!" Dawn squealed quietly into Ash's shirt.
"Excactly," Ash confirmed, bringing his lips onto Misty's own temple and leaving a kiss in its place. Misty shivered pleasurably. She loved Ash's lips on her, but right now she loved the name even more.
"It's perfect," Misty hazily mumbled into Ash's ear as she lay her head into that perfect nook she found between the shoulder and his neck.
"No," Ash corrected, his mind awash with emotional waves, "It's not perfect. Words can't be perfect. Only you two are."
"Ash... we're not perfect," Dawn playfully scolded.
"You're wrong about that," Ash reiterated.
"If we're wrong," Misty slyly argued in her cheeky tone, "Then how can we be perfect."
The two girls burst into giggles and Ash followed up with a few laughs of his own. He wasn't going to argue with them, but he knew they were perfect. And if they weren't flawless individually, they were made so by being together. In whatever they set their minds to, when one needed support, the other two would be there to steady the third. It was a perfect act of balance between three personalities that needed one another to bring out their greatest qualities.
For all their similarities, common goals, and the mutual love which brought them together; it was their differences seemed to bring balance to the dynamic, giving them the ability to help overcome their respective weaknesses and shortcomings. It was their uniqueness that allowed them to fit harmoniously together like pieces of a puzzle, forming the great picture of perfection that they all saw in one another.
Ash didn't even notice the silence they had fallen into as they sat on that wooden bench. In truth, he didn't mind. It meant that they were perfectly happy and could enjoy each other's presence without a word spoken. Ash didn't know much about relationships yet, but he was learning, and he knew that this was certainly a good thing.
After a long, peaceful time spent admiring the landscape before them, they wordlessly looked at one another and nodded. Pulling themselves from the bench, they strode off, still linked to one another as though letting go would diminish the experience in some respect. They left the park in peace, arm in arm, under the stars and the moon, in minds of utter contentment. None of them could imagine lives without the other two now, and they hoped they would never have to.
They walked off into the night, with Ash's mind locked onto seven loving words that would endure for the rest of his days.
My Northern Light, and My Ocean Dream.
.
.
.
A/N: Thus concludes my first fanfiction, my longest written work, and my first romance-centric story. I've learned quite a bit myself for having written it, and every critique of this work I have received (be it from a loyal reader or my own overly-critical mind) will be remembered and applied to future works so that I can work to create even greater stories for you to lose yourselves in.
I've received a few questions (and I'm expecting more) about whether or not this story will see a sequel. For the moment, I have no plans to write a sequel. I cannot speak to a one-hundred percent certainty that will remain the case, but as of now, I felt this was the best place to leave the story: With hope for the future and a goal to strive for.
As for plans for any other future works (lengthy or otherwise), I have a few bare-bones ideas that I've yet to develop. It may be a long while before anything substantial beyond a one-shot is written, but I assure you that I will put all the effort I have in my spare time into creating something that meets and surpasses the standard of quality this story has set.
I'd like to thank every reader, reviewer and fan of this story. You've all pushed me to become a better author, and I am deeply appreciative of your praise. I will always strive to write stories that are enjoyable, engrossing, and entertaining to read.
Until next time, Happy Reading,
~UndercityRezident