Hi guys and welcome to Sparkling Dreams Prologue, Route 4. With this episode we finally left behind the Kalos League, the Master Class and everything related to Pokémon XY&Z, and we kick off the real story of this fanfiction. Before we begin, I wanted to dedicate this episode to somebody close to me who is actually in the hospital. I know circumstances don't look good at all, and I also know you won't be able to read this, but I hope you get well very, very soon. I really hope it, from the deepest bottom of my heart.
Okay, enough talking for now, later I want to discuss with you some anime and Sun/Moon informations. Also, thanks a lot for the support, you guys are truly amazing. Let's begin! ;)
ROUTE 4: The invitation
It had been three days since Ash said goodbye to Serena, Bonnie and Clemont before coming back to his native Pallet Town. As expected, the raven haired boy was received with a welcome party after being the Kalos League runner-up, an achievement that was not so bad for his record books. His old fellow adventurers Misty and Tracey helped his mother Delia and Professor Oak to prepare the celebrations, but the young man's mind was elsewhere. Both the defeat in the final as Serena's confession and the emotional farewell to his girlfriend, Clemont and Bonnie had left him a little touched emotionally, so there were times when he looked slightly gone. His inseparable Pikachu also realized it. As much as he was glued to his trainer as if he was a Binacle or even a baby Kangaskhan, he didn't pay much attention. He only looked at the photos of his travels around the world. One of the shelves of his bedroom was devoted exclusively to the photographs he had with his former companions: Misty, Brock, Tracy, May, Max, Dawn, Iris, Cilan and the three latest: Serena, Clemont and Bonnie. Also he went over with a smile on his face at some of the drawings that the blonde girl had given him. One of them saw him dressed as Pikachu, Serena as Fennekin and Bonnie as Dedenne. It was all a great nostalgia and a lot of memories that he couldn't get out of his head.
Returning to the present, four days before the Annual Parade of Pokémon Performers, Ash placed the framed picture of Kalos in front of him for breakfast. Ash had a difficult time to assimilate that he was no longer in Kalos, capturing Pokémon or collecting badges for the League, nor having great moments with his girlfriend and his friends...
"Ashton Ketchum, wake up!"
That scream returned the trainer to reality. His mother had noticed him after seeing him stupefied for the millionth time in just three days.
"Ash, I know you miss terribly your Kalos friends, but you can't stay entranced even while you eat breakfast." Delia said.
"I know, mom, but... I feel strange, lonely without them..."
Delia's face showed a worried frown. His boy had been unable to break away from that image, always in his hand. She could understand that the journey with his first girlfriend and his friends was something he would remember for a long time. But such a withered face was getting her kind of tired.
"Ash, is not good for your head or your own body to be so sad. I understand that you miss your friends, and I guess that you miss especially your girlfriend..."
The boy blushed a little at that and tried to convince her mother otherwise that he missed everyone equally.
"Well, as you say, sweetie." She said with a mischievous smile. "But I still remember the day you made me drive to Vermilion City for her. You were so happy at the return trip, you couldn't stop talking about Serena and the bracelet she had given to you."
Ash smiled wistfully. Already at that time he felt appreciation for the Kalos Queen as at that moment.
"Anyway..." His mother continued. "Try not to be so absorbed with her or with your partners, here at home I'm the boss and you don't want to get me angry."
And she winked. Ash nodded and returned with what he was, breakfast. A while later, the trainer was in the yard in front of his house, watching the clouds with Pikachu. It was something that relaxed him a lot, it helped to put his mind blank and forget negative thoughts, like his bad result in the Unova League or Pikachu's slip in the Kalos finals. But when he started to see more of a cloud with Serena's face, the boy realized that he had a serious problem. He shook his head from side to side while his Pokémon looked at him puzzled.
"Sorry, Pikachu, but I just can't stop thinking about her..." He sighed.
"Pika?" The electric mouse asked, as if he was asking the reason for that.
"I have no idea... Since we kissed in the Pokémon League, my heart is beating like crazy every time I think about her..."
"Pika, pi..." Pikachu squealed, in a comprehensive manner.
"It's something I had never experienced. It can't be compared to any Pokémon battle, nor any of the adventures that I have lived until now. Every minute, every passing second I wonder what will she be doing or if she is thinking about me." Ash said, smiling slightly.
"Pikachu..." The Pokémon expressed, surprised by the attitude of his owner.
"Well ... I guess that's what it feels like to have a girlfriend..." The raven haired boy said, letting out a small sigh.
"Well, well, well... Ash Ketchum has a girlfriend? I didn't expect this at all..."
The trainer and his Pikachu were caught off guard by that voice that they both were very familiar with. Turning his head to the left, Ash could see a boy about his age, with dark skin and eyes very narrowed. He was wearing an orange vest with brown collar and pockets on a green shirt, gray pants and sneakers. The mentioned boy raised his hand to say hello.
"Long time no see, Ash."
Ash opened his mouth surprised to see who it was, one of his best friends in Kanto and travel companion for much of his adventures in the Pokémon world.
"Brock!"
Pikachu and the boy and quickly rose to greet his old friend. Brock high fived Ash before petting a little his electric mouse.
"Yes, it's been a long time since we met last time, Brock... How is it going on Johto? Closer to be Pokémon Doctor?"
"Not really, you have to go step by step, like everything in life..." Brock said. "I watched the Kalos League finals with some fellow students, and we all got our hands on our heads when Pikachu slipped in the middle of the arena. So close and yet so far they say..."
"Yeah..." Ash mouthed, gritting his teeth. "And it was not easy for me to accept it, just between you and me, I almost sent everything to hell... Luckily Serena made me see things differently."
"So she's called Serena, huh?" The aspiring Pokémon Doctor grinned, while pillaging Ash by his neck. "You were so quiet about this, you lucky man...!"
Ash couldn't do anything but laugh nervously as Pikachu looked at the two friends with a chuckle. When Brock released him, the Kalos runner-up adjusted both his cap and jacket.
"And what brings you here? Did you come just to see me or Professor Oak has called you for some reason?"
Brock turned serious for a moment, so much that Ash and Pikachu were somewhat puzzled. The former gym leader of Pewter City rummaged through the pockets of his vest to pull out a rectangular object. It was a white envelope, with some nice details painted in gold. The spike haired boy was really confused.
"I assume that you too have received one of these, right?" The dark-skinned boy asked.
"No, I haven't received anything..."
At that time, it happened that Delia's Pokémon, Mr. Mime, who had come to sweep the portal, saw from far was the envelope that Brock was holding and moved his hands to his head. Quickly, he went into the house and came out with an identical envelope running towards Ash in a hurry.
"Mime, Mime, Mime!"
The trainer turned and met the Psychic-type Pokémon two feet from his face, giving him an equal envelope to that of Brock. He accepted without further problems, and Mr. Mime hurried back to his task of sweeping.
"In the end you had actually received it..." The Pokémon Medicine student blurted, with a small laugh. "Now seriously, you'd better open it."
Ash meticulously analyzed every detail of that mysterious envelope. What most stood out was the details painted in gold, root shaped, and his name with an impeccable calligraphy in the center. The young trainer carefully opened the envelope and pulled out of it a letter, which read as follows:
Mr. Ashton Ketchum,
We are aware of your achievements as a Pokémon Trainer and the results in the leagues of the six regions in which you have participated. Your runner-up result in the region of Kalos, along with other notable achievements as being offered the place of Kanto Frontier Brain or becoming champion in the Orange Islands, convinced us to send you the following proposition: an invitation to the Pokémon World Championship.
The Pokémon World Championship is a league format tournament held in the Pirenia region. The difference with any other tournament is that it brings together the best trainers and Pokémon personalities around the globe. If you wish to accept our invitation, we let you know that you can reach the region by sea via ferry San Lorenzo, which is to set sail from Vermilion City in upcoming days.
We sincerely hope that you accept our invitation, your presence would lend prestige to our tournament.
Sincerely,
The Pokémon World Championship Commissioner
Ash was so stunned that he had to re-read the letter two and even three times while Pikachu and Brock looked tense. It had to be a joke, it had to be for sure! How could he be selected to participate in a world championship without even having won a league? But Brock took all the paranoid and conspiracy theories out of his head.
"It's no joke, Ash. I am also invited to this tournament."
"What!? Ash asked loudly, without believing it. "But you're not a trainer, you're a Pokémon Medicine student!"
"I know, but in my letter also says I have good achievements, especially for being the Pewter City leader..." His friend explained. I heard of this tournament before, I think it's held once every five years, and organizers select participants very cautiously. So they make sure to have the world's best Pokémon specialists in each edition.
"I understand, but I am surprised that they have selected us, we haven't won a league or anything like that..." Pikachu's trainer replied, surprised and bewildered.
Ash decided to make Brock come in to his home so they could comment on the situation they were in front of. According to his friend, he was not the only one known to receive that invitation. As he had been told, other trainers and non-trainers from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh had received a similar invitation. The Kanto native was facing a huge dilemma, and only had two options in a situation like that. The first was to accept the invitation and participate in that tournament completely unknown to him. It wouldn't be the first time that Ash throws himself into the adventure blindly, and this is just what he needed to forget that painful loss at the Kalos finals. But there was a very important factor to consider in this occasion: Serena. He couldn't jilt her like that and also that it would be impossible to start a new journey without her. He didn't want to break for the third time the promise of heart from Vermilion Harbor. The Pallet Town trainer's head was literally a mess but a shout from her mother changed his face completely.
"Ash, you have a phone call from Kalos!"
As if he had a spring in his ass, the boy got up quickly and ran into the hallway, where they had the holomisor phone. Ash pushed the button "Accept call" and the first thought that came to his mind was the right one. In front of his nose, on the holomisor screen, he could see a honey blonde haired girl with blue eyes in the verge of a nervous breakdown.
"Ash! We have a problem, a very huge one!" She cried, waving her arms vigorously.
"Se-Serena? What happens?" The raven haired asked, trying to calm down his girlfriend.
"This! This happens!" The Kalos Queen screamed, showing a white envelope with golden details. "The parade and all my plans are gone to hell because of this invitation!"
"What!? You have that letter too!?"
Serena was speechless after hearing that question. Immediately, Ash showed her the envelope, noticing that they were identical.
"B-but how...?" The honey blonde couldn't almost speak.
"And I'm not the only one, my friend Brock and other people have also been invited to this tournament. By chance, do you know someone else from Kalos who received it?"
"Yes." She replied. "Professor Sycamore came last night to give it to me personally, and he said to me that other trainers and even Gym Leaders from Kalos and Unova had received it."
"Gym Leaders? Could that mean…?"
"I couldn't talk to Clemont or Bonnie yet, but maybe they also have it." Serena said.
"This is crazy... What does this tournament have that they need so many people around the world?" Ash asked, somewhat nervous.
"I don't know honey, but it must also be fate related that they invited both of us..." Serena whispered, bringing her hand to the screen, as if she could touch Ash's face.
The raven haired boy did the same, feeling a little closer to his girlfriend despite the long distance between them. That beautiful moment was cut unexpectedly by Ash's mother.
"You two look so adorable, but unfortunately I have to interrupt this..." She suddenly blurted, hands on face and rosy cheeks. "I think you should talk to someone who understands about the subject."
"Who do you mean, mom? ¿Professor Oak?" His son asked, a little blushed after the interruption.
"Indeed." Delia said. "If anyone knows more of Pokémon and species and tournaments in this town, that's him. I think he's the only person who could clear all your doubts..."
A few hours later, Ash and Brock met with Professor Oak in his laboratory so that he could explain everything on the Pokémon World Championship. Serena was also attending the meeting, along with her manager Palermo, although it was through videoconferencing. The three tournament invited were tense, because the information that could give them the Pokémon Professor would be key to discover what they were getting into.
"Yes…" Oak mouthed. "The Pokémon World Championship is the most prestigious and exclusive tournament that exists referred to Pokémon battles. It's a tournament that seeks to bring together not only to trainers, gym leaders and League champions, but also any personality in the Pokémon world from eight years of age that can give everything to this renowned competition."
"Good point, Professor Oak." Palermo jabbed in, cold toned. "I must admit that in my time as Queen of Kalos I also was invited to participate in this tournament, but obviously I declined the offer. My duties as Queen were a priority."
She glared ice-like at Serena, who felt it full in her neck. That tightened a little more the situation, which was already sufficiently charged.
"Continuing the explanation..." The professor continued. "The tournament takes place once every five years, in the region of Pirenia. This is a region situated at south of Kalos, surrounded by ocean waters. There the legislation allows local trainers to start their journey at eight years of age so any guest from that age can participate in the tournament. And from I know, it works similarly to an ordinary regional league tournament: to be declared officially qualified for the finals, you have to previously win the eight official badges from the Pirenia Gyms. The main difference is that the cut is much strict than in any other region: only a few Pirenia natives who make it, in addition to the invited who are able to defeat the eight leaders may participate in the final phase. And from all of those lucky trainers, only one can be crowned the Pokémon World Champion.
Ash's heartbeats could be listened by even Serena and Palermo, despite being in Kalos. The explanation of his old friend had given him the urge to compete: a new adventure, a new region, a new target... but this time the challenge was more demanding, more complicated and with a jackpot bigger than anything that was presented to him before.
"Now that you mention invitations, Professor." Brock interjected. "What reason would they have for doctors, performers, coordinators and others to participate in a trainer's tournament?"
"The reason is simple. Everyone, some more and some less, have experience in Pokémon battles. If they get, for example, the Kalos Queen as in the case of Serena, or some famous Hoenn or Sinnoh coordinator to participate, they give even more popularity and prestige to the tournament."
That triggered a small spring in Ash's head, recalling various moments of his past.
"So... is it possible that May, Max, Iris, Paul or Dawn will also go to Pirenia?"
"There's always that possibility. And Ash, maybe I shouldn't be the one to tell you, but... Gary has also been invited. In fact, he has even agreed to participate." Oak said.
Ash crossed his arms and looked thoughtful. Reuniting with his old friends sounded exciting, and he could also discover a new place to finish some unsolved issues with archrivals Paul and Gary. Suddenly, a smile flickered across his face. He had made a decision.
"Okay then. It is decided, I accept the invitation."
"What?" Serena and Brock exclaimed with some surprise.
"Come on, guys, you know me. I can't say no to a new adventure. And it's not a normal adventure either: it's a world championship! Imagine, the best Pokémon trainers and specialists around the globe will be there. Besides... it's what I needed to get out of me the thorn of the Kalos finals, a new challenge, and a new attempt to get better myself...
"That sounds great, kid." Palermo said to him. "But you'd better not process in your mind the idea of taking with you the Kalos Queen to that Championship..."
"Excuse me?" Serena asked, visibly pissed off. "Who has received the invitation, you or me?
"I don't care." Her manager replied, in a very hostile way. "You have a parade throughout the region in less than a week. What will your fans think if you escape with your boyfriend to an unknown region?"
"Try to look at it from another perspective, Palermo... If I participate in the tournament along with Ash, all Kalos will have their eyes on me, which would mean my popularity would increase and also the sales of all the merchandising that you got with my face and Pancham's, Braixen's and Sylveon's on. In short, you would earn lots of money, you would have bills coming out even of your ears."
Palermo, Ash, Brock and Professor Oak froze when they heard Serena drop that bomb. The honey blonde looked at them with a confused face.
"What? Did you believe that I had no idea on how the Pokémon Performers business works?" She questioned. "One doesn't lose the illusion or anything like that by knowing... Sorry to be this cynical, but it's true. Palermo, with this tournament, I will appear more on television than during the parade... I just hope the paparazzi don't pursue me, I hate them more than Team Rocket!"
The Master Class judge felt as if she received two low blows in one single hit. Serena touched her where it hurts, in her effort to improve the image and the benefits generated by the Queen of Kalos.
"You really know how to play dirty when you need it..." The gray-haired woman admitted, as she sighed resignedly. "You win, you get your travel."
Serena let out a little squeal with excitement as Ash was grinning from ear to ear. Then his gaze turned on Brock. The young man had been thoughtful, trying to go over again and again all the information Professor Oak had given to him. Ash approached him and raised his hand, as if he was about to high five.
"Well, what are you going to do, Brock? Do you sign up for the adventure, as in the old days?"
Brock turned his head to see the smile of his friend. It was the same as he remembered before traveling Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh. Surely that smile guaranteed that no matter what happened, the trip would be memorable and worth remembering.
"Of course, my friend." He said, slamming his hand tightly with Ash's. "Let's remember the good old times. I will be happy to accompany you on another adventure. Also, if I participate in the tournament, I don't think my college will have any problems in giving me a leave of absence."
"Great!" Ash exclaimed, hugging his friend. "Pirenia, you better get ready, because you have no idea what tornado is coming to you!"
During the days after the meeting with Professor Oak, Ash devoted his body and soul to train his Pokémon and prepare to begin the journey to Pirenia. Normally with every adventure that he started in a new region, he only carried Pikachu and left the rest of his team in Pallet Town. But with the demand that could have a tournament that would bring together the best trainers in the world, he couldn't take any risks. Advised by the man who gave him Pikachu, the raven haired trainer made the decision to take with him the electric mouse and two more Pokémon that he caught in Kalos: Greninja and Hawlucha. It was a difficult decision, but whenever he needed some other partner, he could contact Oak to send them to him. The Professor also gave Ash a few pointers on what to do when he, Serena and Brock reached Crystalline Bay, the port of destination in the Pirenia region. There they would have to visit the Pokémon World Championship registry, the place to make his registration for the tournament.
From early morning until almost the last hours of the night, Ash trained with his three Pokémon to the maximum, to improve its attack, defense and techniques. He wanted to especially focus on Greninja, in order to improve his mysterious bond that was so similar to the Mega-Evolution he had discovered in Kalos. But as the days passed and the time to start this new odyssey was coming, the spike haired felt as if a lump formed in his chest. An Inconvenient discomfort in his heart. And it was not as safe as on other occasions. Before starting his adventures in Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova and Kalos, he felt the nerves and adrenaline to explore the unexplored. But this time was different. This adventure at Pirenia was the beginning of a route to redeem himself after the painful defeat in the Kalos League final against Maylon. That moment was so unexpected that he was afraid that if it happened again he couldn't escape depression. With those shady thoughts in his mind, the last night in Kanto arrived, before embarking on the trip. Ash was lying in bed, with eyes more open than the full moon that rested over Pallet Town. He couldn't sleep. The nerves and internal anguish gnawed him inside. The trainer looked ahead, Pikachu was peacefully sleeping up to his feet. He smiled, ignoring how his beloved Pokémon could be so lucky not to live nerves he lived. But he needed something to calm down, something that comforted him, something he knew it was going to make him feel better. Being careful not to wake either Pikachu or his mother, the young man got out of his bunk with intentions to go to the entrance hall, where they had the holomisor phone. His steps were very sneaky, tiptoeing to the minimum possible noise and trying not to interrupt anyone's dreams. It took a couple of minutes, but eventually the raven haired stood over the phone. He has more than clear on who to call, so he didn't take a moment to dial the number he wanted. Some beeps a few seconds later, and the boy already had a woman on screen.
"Oh, hello, Ash." Serena's mother Grace said. "My daughter has already told me that tomorrow you head towards Pirenia to participate in the Pokémon World Championship, but how is it that you call so late?"
"Good night, Mrs. Yvonne. Yes, just in a few hours I will go up to the ferry, but... I needed to talk to Serena for a moment. Could you ask her to come here, please?"
"Of course. I'll bring her up now, but first I you would like to comment with you little thing. In case you're wondering, yes, Serena told me that you two are dating." Grace replied.
That made Ash's cheeks blush a dark tone of red furiously. At some point a thought had passed his mind that Serena and her mother would have spoken on the subject, but that she would like to discuss this face to face was another story. Although Grace's giggle seemed to lower a bit the stress.
"Relax, darling, I'm not going to kill you... In fact, I prefer you to be the guy to go out with my daughter. I must confess that Serena was a whole week crying for you when we moved to Kalos, she couldn't stop repeating your name. And when she saw you again a year ago or so, it was what prompted her to start her adventure. And look where she is right now: my girl is now the Kalos Queen... Just promise me one thing, Ash. That you will make her happy and smile and you'll never make her cry. Understood?"
"Yes, I promise you, Mrs. Yvonne." Ash replied with determination.
He was relieved that Grace didn't object to his relationship with Serena. But also she encouraged him a lot, since now he had the support of everyone: his family and his closest friends.
"That's what I wanted to hear. Just wait, I'll bring my daughter here right now."
Grace left of the screen and after a minute Ash's girlfriend appeared, dressed in her pink pajamas.
"Ash! I didn't expect a call from you at these hours of the night... Are you okay?"
"No... I'm not okay, Serena." Ash muttered. "I'm afraid, I'm very, very afraid..."
"Afraid?" Serena asked worriedly. "Ash, please don't scare me... what are you afraid of?"
"That what happened at the Kalos finals repeats itself again." The trainer said. "I know I spent all week training and looking forward to the championship in Pirenia... but in my head is still that slip from Pikachu. I couldn't bear that history repeats itself, letting me to do my best and everything to reach the final and then lose it in such a cruel way. It would depress me more than last week, I would cry, I would scream, I would no longer have anything to do, I would have to send everything to hell and..."
"Ash, stop." Serena said with a very serious tone. Please, I tell you with all my sincerity, I hate when you get so negative. You have nothing to fear. Why you have to be so preoccupied if you lose or win? The important thing is always to participate and have fun..."
"I know, but..." Ash sighed deeply before continuing. "I would be very disappointed if I fail you again. You, with Clemont and Bonnie gave the momentum and encouragement I needed to reach my first League Finals. And now the challenge is much bigger, I don't know if I can live up to it..."
"What the hell are you telling me, Ash? Listen to what you say!" The honey blonde cried, trying to calm her boyfriend down. "Ash, sweetie, you would never fail me, because I know you can do it, you can make a great impression in the tournament. You just have to find that inner strength, that optimism I know that you have stored within you and you have to release it. Ash, remember: don't give up till it's over... And Brock and I will not give up, we will give you all our strength and all our support. Because friends together are unstoppable."
Ash smiled and blushed. It was just what he was looking for. The support of his girlfriend to ensure that everything would be fine, that she would always be at his side and together they would never surrender to fulfill their dreams.
"Thank you, Serena." The trainer said, very gratefully. "I'm very lucky to have you at my side. Together we can do anything."
"Of course, honey..." Serena said with very sweet smile. "You should rest now, in a few hours you take off the ferry at Vermilion City. Good night, Ash. I love you."
And she blew a kiss with a lot of tenderness. Ash pretended to catch it, which made his girlfriend blush cutely.
"I love you too, Serena. See you tomorrow."
And immediately he hung up the phone. Now that he had a clear conscience, Ash went back up to his room on his tiptoes, but to his surprise his mother was awake, waiting for him at the end of the stairs. Her face was motherly and comforting enough to tell her son that he also had her full support and that whatever happened, she would be very proud of her little boy. Ash couldn't do anything but throw into himself into his mother's arms to give her a big hug, thanking the encouragement and support that she gave him so much this time as on previous journeys.
So, this ends Route 4, and next Monday you will get the final episode of this prologue, before the real action begins.
Before we leave until next week, I wanted to talk about two things. First, the anime. Last Friday (on April Fool's Day, nontheless XD) some Japanese scans leaked about Pokémon XY&Z April episodes, and one of those pictures showed something that left me shocked: Serena wearing Ash's clothes. Yep, you just read that right. Of course, that's from April 14's episode "Serena becomes Ash", but lots of people thought this was an April Fool's prank. Now that it's confirmed to be true, I love how Serena looks cosplaying Ash. :D
The second thing I wanted to talk about was that overhyped Pokénchi about Sun & Moon. In the end, we were all trolled. They only showed the Pokémon Direct video, and Junichi Masuda just confirmed two things: there would be at least 10 new Pokémon (of course he said that in a joking tone) and Pikachu would be there as well. Simply, a big, ugly troll.
Also, about next week's final episode, I'd like to warn you that Sparkling Dreams will not premiere immediately, I will pause my uploading schedule, write a lot of episodes and English translations in advance, prepare for college exams and some more things. Probably, you will get the main fanfic's first episode at the end of April or beginning/half May. I will update this story with the link to the main one, so everybody that followed the prologue can start reading the main story immediately. I will also update this Prologue a "trailer/interview special" story before the premiere of Sparkling Dreams. I will try to make it in a funny way, like I am in a reunion with the characters and we have to answer questions from the fans. You can actually send me questions or ask something to Ash, Serena, Brock, Clemont or Bonnie in a review or via PM. It will have also some curious details about the story background, so I can get you hyped and give you a little glimpse to what is coming. On that "trailer", you will get the premiere date for the main fanfic.
Okay, that makes it for this week's episode. See you next Monday, with the final Route of the Prologue. Take care! :D