Pokémon MG - Episode III: The Master

by ElectricSneeze

Gary is on his way to becoming the most powerful and evil Pokémon master ever; Pikachu fights with him to become the richest bastard of all (even more than George Soros); Misty, despite the dramatic situation, couldn't help but add fuel to the fire by insistently demanding her bike back; Ash has escaped, like a coward, and wanders somewhere in Japan...

POKÉMON
Millennials Generation

Episode III

THE MASTER

CHAPTER ONE
THE MAN WITH SIX SPHERES

The world of pokémon is about to be overwhelmed by an ancient and powerful threat: the evil Professor Gary Oak, after discovering cheat codes handed down by an ancient civilization, has rigged his pokémon to win the Indigo League and all the others in follow, to become the most powerful pokémon master ever. After losing the confrontation with him, Ash fled and stopped training pokémon, wandering aimlessly around Japan. However, something inside him had survived...

We are in a small and calm village near Viridian city, where a group of three kids are playing in the park with some pokémon.
"AH HA! I got you!" Exclaims a child trying to grab a Diglett.
"No, you missed it again... Come on, give up and let's go home, I'm hungry"
"No! I'll catch this Diglett if it's the last thing I do! Go Caterpie!"
"Try as much as you like but the Diglett are too fast for you. We go home, see you, bye!" The two kids go away leaving him alone in his business.
"Caterpie, use the tackle attack!" Caterpie tries to hit the Diglett but is too slow: the Diglett retreats into its hole for the umpteenth time, giggling.
The boy sits on the ground disconsolate "Uff... I'll never become a trainer if I can't catch any pokémon..." Caterpie approaches and looks at him thoughtfully.
"...besides you obviously Caterpie!" Exclaims the boy taking him in his arms.
Meanwhile, another group of kids a few years older approach him. The little boss, dressed in his black leather jacket, jeans, Ray-Ban glasses model Aviator and grease, gets off his sparkling electric scooter and boldly says, "Hey you, rookie, is it too hard for you to whac a mole? HAHAHA!"
A moment of silence and then he turns to his friends "I said HAHAHA!" And his friends laugh too.
"Very funny... Now why don't you go back to where you came from?"
The bully doesn't appreciate the advice and approaches him boldly "Maybe you should evolve your Caterpie into a Butterfree if you don't want to be a lifelong loser. I'll help you do it!"
"Stop it Francis! It's not fair to fight your Pidgeotto!"
"Oh, buu buu buu, the baby is afraid of losing" Francis taunts as he gestures to his friends to giggle, then he continues "But I'm not asking you, I'm ordering you! Go Pidgeotto!" Pidgeotto comes out of the sphere ready to fight. Even Caterpie, instinctively, jumps out of the boy's arms and prepares for fight.
"It seems your Caterpie is braver than you. Too bad he has no hope HAHAHA!"
"You did not hear? I said I don't want to fight!" The little boy gets angry.
"Why don't you try with someone your size..." A strange guy appears as if out of nowhere. He is wrapped in a dusty and worn cloak, from which we can only glimpse his eyes.
"What... Who are you? What do you want?" Exclaims the bully in a trembling voice, as he takes a step back towards his friends, motionless and silent.
The strange guy continues almost whispering "Your reign of terror has come to an end. Go Bulbasaur!"
With eyes wide open with fear and a trembling voice, the bully tries to defend himself "What the… Well if you want to fight then… Go Pidgeotto, gust attack!"
"Bulbasaur, growl!" Bulbasaur intercepts Pidgeotto before he can launch the attack, scaring him to the point of making him fly away.
"No Pidgeotto! AAAAHH! MOOOOM!" The bully runs away with his friends, even tripping over the scooter.
"Bulbasaur, come back" The arm of the strange guy appears from under the cloak calling Bulbasaur into his sphere.
The boy's eyes become large and sparkling "YOU WERE GREAT! You taught that Francis a good lesson! He will now stop bullying and he will probably stop leaving the house too! Yes, maybe it was a bit excessive... but you were great! Can I know your name?"
"My name is Ash Ketchum, but some call me..." Ash takes off his cloak "...the Man of the six spheres!" *thunder rumble*
Still with his eyes full of admiration, the boy shouts "I'll tell everyone what I saw! That the great pokémon master Ash Ketchum is not afraid of anything and that the wicked have their days numbered!"
"Master..." Ash closes his eyes and then reopens them "No little boy, I'm not a master..." And he starts down the road while the boy and his Caterpie watch him, dreaming, walking away towards Viridian city.

Narrator 2 "But does it seem like a hero thing for a thirty-year-old who annihilates a suburban bully who is still in elementary school?"
Narrator 1 "No Mercy for the Wicked!"

Ash has now arrived in Viridian city which, among other things, is also an important stop on the journey to the Indigo League. But Ash does not seem willing to go down that road and is walking absorbed in his thoughts...
"Pokemon master... Certainly a good idea... Now that Gary is about to win the Indigo League without anyone being able to stop him..."
"Fight!" A pokémon trainer yells to his Nidorino who has taken a nasty blow.
"...Maybe once I could have beaten him, but now with those damned cheats... I can't go against the power of that ancient civilization... nobody can..."
"Do you want to fight?" Ash passes by two trainers who are about to start a pokémon match.
"...Besides, there is also Pikachu... Of course I wouldn't mind giving him a lesson... but what good would it do? Even if I managed to defeat Gary, Pikachu would remain an asshole..."
"Come on, don't give up!" A couple of cyclists try to motivate themselves for the uphill road.
"...Pikachu... we've been through a lot together... I still can't believe he behaved like this..."
"You can't give up!" Ash walks past two elderly people playing chess in the park.
"…Misty said it's partly my fault, that I can't understand other people's desires… But what the hell did she mean? I understand others perfectly! Uff... Misty... I don't know why but somehow I miss she..."
"DON'T GIVE UP! GODDAM FIGHT!" Ash passes by a doctor who tries to revive a man lying on the ground.
"Okay, I've gone round enough!" Ash stops and clenches his fists "I know Gary is unbeatable, I know Pikachu is an asshole, but I can't just let go! That kid thought I was a great pokémon master… Even if he was wrong, I haven't forgotten how he looked at me when I defeated the bully who was tormenting him! He believed in me! And Brock, Misty, Mom, Professor Oak and everyone else too… they all believed in me! And I can't let Gary use his dirty cheats to destroy everything pokémon trainers around the world have been fighting for! I probably won't be able to beat him, but I'll give him a hard time and this time I'll go all the way!"

So Ash, more motivated than ever, reaches a public videophone from where he calls Professor Oak to update him on the outcome of his mission. Professor Oak, however, takes him off guard: in fact he had already been informed of everything by Misty.
"Misty?" Ash asks astounded.
"Yes Ash, Misty called me shortly after you separated and explained everything to me. Maybe you didn't realize it, but I think she is very fond of you and she was sorry to see you go away like that"
Ash rests a hand on his own forehead "Oh ya it's true, I still have to pay her the bike back..."
"HAHA!" A laugh escapes Oak "I didn't mean the bike Ash! Anyway, if you are determined to stop Gary now, I think you should stop by your house: you will find a nice surprise waiting for you!"
"A surprise for me? What kind of surprise?" Ash asks curiously.
"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise..." Professor Oak replies before greeting Ash.

And so Ash sets off home, while people clap and shout "Bravo!" "You are the best!" "You changed my life!" "Please give me an autograph!" to a local actor. What kind of surprise is waiting for Ash? And will his newfound determination be enough to allow him to stop Gary? We will find out all this in the next chapter...

CHAPTER TWO
CORPORATE BROCKDOWN

It is a wonderful morning that we find Ash, finally at Pallet town, who is crossing the threshold of the house in a good mood thinking of his surprise. Will it be an onigiri cake? Any new underwear? A green card to the United States?

"Hey there! I'm back… Brock? What are you doing here?" Ash finds Brock running around busy cleaning the house.
"Hey Ash! Be careful not to slip, I just washed!"
Ash stares at him in amazement as if he hasn't heard "But... Are you the surprise?"
Brock almost does not hear him concentrated as he is working "How do you say Ash? The surprise? Oh yes, maybe I got it, it should be in the garden…" So Ash goes around the house and comes to the garden.
"Squedo!"
"Squirtle! My friend!" Ash spreads his arms and Squirtle jumps on him. They hadn't seen each other for years and they both celebrate happy to see each other again.
"Squirtle... How many memories... What are you doing around here?" Ash asks, moved.
"Squedo!"
"You say you and the Squirtle Squad stopped by to greet Professor Oak in his lab?"
"Squedo!"
"And Professor Oak asked you to wait here for me sure I would come home and that I wouldn't wander around Japan forever?"
"Squedo!"
"And that I would find the motivation to defeat Gary and need you?"
"Squedo!"
"And that Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle asserts a fundamental limit of the accuracy with which the values for certain pairs of physical quantities of a particle can be predicted from the initial conditions?"
"Squedo!"
"I too am happy that you are here my friend! You'll see that together we will defeat Gary this time!" Ash concludes by clenching his fist in front of him.

So, after Bulbasaur, Cramorant and Mimikyu, now Squirtle is back on the team too. But wait, Ash has yet to figure out what Brock is doing at his house! They broke up when Brock had to flee the extraordinary shareholders' meeting, but now why is he here? Maybe Professor Oak asked him to help too? So Ash returns to the house and finds Brock doing the laundry.

"Hey Brock, you haven't told me what you're doing here yet!"
"Don't you see Ash? I'm helping your mom with the housework!" Brock replies picking up the freshly washed clothes and running to hang them out.
Ash is forced to chase him to continue the discussion "Ah right, where is my mom?"
"She went to get some new plants down in town with Mr. Mime. She won't be back until this evening I'm afraid"
"Ok... So everything is fine with your company?"
"How do you say Ash? I can't hear you..." Brock has just turned on the vacuum cleaner.
"I said... Ah never mind..." Ash goes to the kitchen to find something to eat. Hey there are some onigiri in the fridge! Rice balls very popular in Japan, which you may have already heard of.
As he fills his belly, Ash remembers an old episode of life, so he yells at Brock in the other room "Hey Brock, do you remember the last time you were at my house? It was because of that story about Professor Ivy..." The vacuum cleaner turns off and silence reigns supreme.
"Brock? You heard me?" Ash joins Brock in the other room "I said Professor Ivy..." Ash finds Brock huddled in a corner.
"Ugh! That name..."
"Oh no, I can't believe it... not again!" Ash exclaims raising his eyes disheartened "Can I know what happened this time?"
Brock remains curled up and with a sad voice replies "I don't want to talk about it..."
"Brock, what about your company?"
"UGH!" Brock curls up even more.
Ash begins to get annoyed "Come on Brock you can't do this every time! And then why do you end up at my house every time?"
"Because I have nowhere else to go..." Brock replies sadly.
Ash loses his temper and calls Bulbasaur "Go Bulbasaur, wrap him up with your vines and drag him into the garden!"
"NOO! Let me go please!" Screams Brock in tears and wriggling as he is dragged into the garden tied like a salami. It seems that Ash has chosen the shock therapy route, vaguely reminiscent of Misty.
"Squirtle, water gun!" Brock gets watered in the face by Squirtle.
"Stop Ash! Let me go! I don't wanna talk about it!" Brock responds angrily.
"No Brock! You will be watered until you tell me everything from the beginning!"
Brock sighs desolate "Uff... Okay..."

And so Brock tells the whole story, starting from that day when, in Celadon city, he had to run away with his lawyers to the extraordinary shareholders' meeting. Professor Ivy had deceived him from the start, showing interest in Brock only to get her hands on the company. The crime genius quickly sensed that Brock was going to be easy to fool and the earning potential. Over time, Professor Ivy gained more and more decision-making power in the company, reaching the rank of CEO like Brock. Ivy convinced him to do many things, including changing the company name to Ivy & Brock corp. as a matter of taxation... Ash's unexpected return to Brock's life gave her a good chance to implement the latest part of her evil plan: get him out of business. Everything has been so well designed that it would almost seem like a crime to consider it a crime. No team of lawyers would have been able to stop Ivy from taking everything from him: his business, his money, his property, even his children, who never belonged to him…
"Okay Brock, but how did you not notice that the children weren't yours?" Ash asks disconsolately.
Brock, embarrassed, puts his index hands together "I think I need some biology repetitions..."
Ash is so dejected that he no longer knows what to say, but perhaps it is even better this way: there is no need to further rage on a destroyed man. He thinks about it for a moment and then resumes "Ok Brock, you've lost everything… So why don't you come with me one more time? I've thought about it a lot in this period and now I'm sure: my life is tied to the pokémon! It will be like the old days Brock: we will travel the world in search of new adventures, new Pokémon and new battles!" Ash exclaims confident with the flame of competition burning in his pupils.
"You know what Ash..." Brock replies wiping his tears "I think yours is a great idea!"
"For real? I thought you were going to send me to hell HAHAHA!" Ash chuckles embarrassed scratching his head.
"Maybe it might seem that I had achieved everything in life, but if I got older there is a reason... This is why I was in Viridian forest that day: I was looking for a little peace and quiet and I remembered when we were traveling together. It was fortunate to have met you, and yes, Dr. Freud was right: I agreed to leave with you because I have always loved traveling with you and Misty. I wanted to become a pokémon breeder and not run a company that now has almost nothing to do with breeding. Besides, I'm not a one girl man HAHAHAHA!"
"It's admirable of you, Brock, to give up your boundless wealth to wander the world with your friends and without a shred of work! But after all, no one has ever understood how the real economy works in Pokémon, and what we don't know can't hurt us! Am I right Brock?"
"You're right Ash!"
"Then it's decided: you will come with me and help me defeat Gary!"
"Defeat Gary?" Asks Brock falling from the clouds.
Ash replies embarrassed "HAHA! It's true that you don't know the story..."

So Ash and Brock return to the house to drink a good tea accompanied by onigiri delights, as per Japanese tradition, while Ash tells the whole story: how Gary was corrupted by the power of the Mysterious Pokémon Artifact That Hides No Dark Secrets Trust Me, eventually finding himself hiding the secret of the cheats; Careerist Pikachu who betrayed Ash in pursuit of glory; the separation from Misty with the fight over her disproportionate attachment to the bicycle; and wandering aimlessly around Japan in search of inner peace.

"And so now you have to stop Gary..." Brock exclaims thoughtfully.
"And this time I won't run away anymore!" Ash replies confident and even more mature.
"Mmm..." Brock keeps thinking "Ash, you are a good trainer, but if Gary is as powerful as you say you can't face him in your condition: you need to become a true master!"
"What do you mean Brock?"
"You have to perfect yourself by correcting your flaws, you cannot continue to use instinct, you need to fully understand the essence of your opponent. And I know a way: you have to learn the Theory of mind"
"The Theory of mind?" Ash asks curiously.
"The Theory of mind teaches the ability to understand what happens in the mind of others. It is an ancient technique developed by my ancestor David *washing machine timer*. To compensate for his lack of sight, he had developed a method to anticipate all the opponent's moves. He developed this technique thanks to the observation, in some manner, of the rock-type pokémon. It is said he had become so powerful that he won every match without getting even a scratch!"
"WOW!" Ash exclaims with big, shiny eyes.
"Today the original technique has been lost, but my ancestors tried to reconstruct it and for centuries it has been handed down to my family members"
Ash joins his hands begging him "Please Brock, TEACH ME how this technique works!"
"It won't be easy… You will have to work hard! You always reason as if everyone thinks like you... This time you will have to learn to think from your opponent's point of view"
Ash exclaims thoughtfully "Hey but this looks like what Misty told me..."
"And I bet you didn't understand what he meant to tell you"
"Actually no..."
"I'll teach you Ash. The training will start tomorrow morning!"

What a day full of emotions! First Ash found his old friend Squirtle, who will now fight alongside him against Gary, and then he found Brock, who will now be his mentor, helping him pass the rank of trainer to reach the aspired level of pokémon master. But will Ash be able to pass the training?

CHAPTER THREE
THE GROWTH

It's early morning, or night, depending on how you want to see it, when Brock enters Ash's room in a running suit with Bulbasaur "Wake up Ash! Your training starts now!"
Ash replies muttering something barely understandable "But it's… five in the morning Brock! Come back later ok?" Turning away to go back to sleep.
"Bulbasaur, you know what you have to do..."
"Bulbasaur enough! I'm your trainer, not Brock!" Bulbasaur wrapped Ash with vines pulling him out of bed and dragging him out of the house against his will.
On the street, Brock throws a running suit at Ash "Put it on"
Ash wears the suit reluctantly and then Brock continues "And now let's run!"
Brock and Ash start running, with Brock in the lead. They run along the still dark road, before dawn, in a silent and still sleeping environment.
"Hey Brock, why are we running? Didn't you have to teach me to understand the mind of others?"
"But it's obvious: to get more blood to your brain!" Ash almost stumbles in embarrassment.

After the first few kilometers Brock asks a question "Do you know what the Boulder badge symbolizes, Ash?"
Ash breathlessly replies "The fortitude? The ability to resist adversity? The possibility of using the TM Flash even outside the fight?"
"No Ash, it symbolizes the understanding of others"

Narrator 2 "Ok admit it: you're running out of ideas!"
Narrator 1 "Tsk, maybe you ought to earn a Boulder badge..."

Ash doesn't want to believe it "Really Brock? He's just a stone! A hard piece of rock!"
"Do you think the rock is very resistant? Well you are wrong: the rock can easily shatter. Do you know how rock-type pokémon are so resilient? Because they understand their opponent! They understand what he thinks, they understand what drives him to fight and then develop a strategy to anticipate his moves and win!"
Ash remains silent thinking about what he has just learned, as they continue to run down the hill and the sunrise reveals the dew on the grass. They walk a few more kilometers and then stop near a waterfall that fills a small lake. Ash is exhausted, he has never run so much in his life, and puts his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
"Wait Brock… Why are we doing all this? I have already won that badge!"
"A badge is just a piece of tin, Ash. It's up to you to understand what it means. And frankly, you've always had a hard time using your brain..."
Ash replies irritated "I trust my instincts to win and it has always worked! Well maybe almost always..."
"You will never become a master if you just rely on instinct. Without a strategy you are bound to lose! Do you see those Diglett?" Brock points to a group of Diglett going up and down not far away "I want you to catch one"
Ash leaps from agitation "AAAHH! I forgot to take my pokémon!"
"HAHA! No Ash, I want you to catch one with your bare hands!"
Ash tilts his head and replies sarcastically "The Diglett are very fast Brock, everyone knows that it is not possible to capture them with your bare hands!"
"Give it your best shot, Ash" Brock replies convinced of what he says.
So Ash approaches a Diglett like a cat chasing its prey. Then he jumps! Grabbing a handful of earth while the Diglett reappears in another hole giggling. But Ash doesn't lose heart easily and jumps back on the Diglett! Missing it again... And then one more time and one more time, until he gets an idea "Ok Diglett, you won, I'm leaving..." Ash exclaims pretending to leave, and then turns around suddenly and jump on the Diglett again! Grabbing the ground.
"STAND STILL GODDAM YOU!" Ash loses his patience and uses all his wits to try to catch it: he jumps madly from one hole to another, tries to plug the holes with his legs, even tries to bite him... but in the end he runs out of strength and lets himself fall on the ground exhausted and unmotivated.
"Why did you fail?" Brock question.
"Because the Diglett are too fast and I was a fool to listen to you..." Ash replies disconsolately as he finishes catching his breath.
"You failed because you followed your instinct. To catch a Diglett you have to think like a Diglett!"
"Thinking like a Diglett?" Ash sits up again.
Brock continues "The Diglett are very weak but fortunately they can count on their amazing speed to escape predators. You can't beat them, but watch better..." Brock points to the Diglett going up and down "Watch the movements carefully: do you see the Diglett always comes out of a different hole? Well this behavior is not random and follows a precise pattern"
"OOOH!" Ash's mouth is open in surprise.
"By understanding his movements you can anticipate him to the next hole!"
This time Ash observe the Diglett's movements "Up, down, up, down, up, down… Maybe I've understood!" Ash jumps onto the Diglett to make it retreat into the hole, then quickly leaps to the next hole, grabbing the Diglett even before seeing it pop out.
"I DID IT!" Yells lifting the Diglett to the sky "Look Brock! I did… OUCH! " The Diglett scratches him in the face and disappears back into his hole.
"HAHAHA! Congratulations Ash, you have understood the concept! But you still have a long way to go and you will have to train hard to become a master. Remember that Gary will do anything to win and you will need to be ready for anything too! That's enough for today, let's go home"

And so Ash and Brock set off on the way back, while Ash thinks back on what he has learned and what still has to learn. In the following days, training always continues with alarm clocks at dawn and morning runs. The training becomes more and more difficult: Brock puts Ash in situations of increasing difficulty in which he is forced to use strategy instead of instinct. Sometimes Ash loses motivation, but Brock proves to be a good mentor by helping him get up and try again. Until the day Ash just got the better of a Fearow on top of a bluff, with Brock watching from distance away. The sky is cloudy and a light drizzle hits Ash's face as the wind messes his hair and bangs his jacket.
"What do you think Brock? Despite the tremendous disadvantage I defeated that Fearow with Bulbasaur using only strategy!" Ash yells happily as his words are partly covered by the wind.
"You was smart Ash, and I think it's time for your last lesson..." Brock replies, shouting too to be heard.
"I thought this was the last lesson!" Ash replies spreading his arms "Look at me Brock, I'm ready to confront Gary!"
"And what about Pikachu?" Brock question.
"Pikachu made his choices... And if he fights with Gary he'll have to deal with me!" Ash replies, showing that he has overcome grief and is ready to fight.
"I want to make sure you understood Ash. Answer this: why is Pikachu fighting with Gary now?"
Ash makes a disapproving face "Tze, because he's an opportunist who would do anything to get more fame! At the beginning of my journey... of our journey, Pikachu thought I would become a great pokémon trainer and for that he followed me. When he realized he could get more success by selling his image, he dumped me without thinking twice. Now he will have to fight me and he will get what he deserves!"
"Are you really sure Ash? Are you really sure it went that way?" Brock exclaims putting his hands on his hips, while the drizzle continues to wet their faces and the wind blows moving the branches of the trees.
"What do you mean Brock? Is there something that escapes me?"
Brock continue "You and Misty were 10 and I was 12. Remember the day we parted..."
Ash's thoughts turn to the separation with Misty and Brock before his departure for Hoenn "We separated and each went his way chasing their dreams... We all agreed, it was not a tragic event! Not as it happened with Pikachu some time later"
Brock doesn't say a word, meanwhile the rain gets stronger due to the clouds carried by the wind.
"I understand, there is a connection... but which one?"
"Think Ash! What was the catalyst for everything?" Brock exclaims seriously.
"The catalyst… Something that triggered these events…" Ash thinks aloud, then exclaims "Maybe I got it! Do you mean that we have all aged?"
"Go on Ash..."
"We grew old because we abandoned our dreams... You and Misty changed your lives as a result of our separation... Shortly after, Pikachu abandoned me and so I..." At this point he has a flashback of his speech with Misty:

"You didn't understand anything as usual! Pikachu is a piece of shit who dumped you as soon as he smelled the smell of fame, but even you never understood his needs! Because you only think of yourself Ash! And you don't understand why others follow you!"
"What would you say? That Pikachu wouldn't dump me if I understood his feelings?"
"Exactly! You little bike destroyer idiot!"

With his mouth open and breathless, Ash returns to the present moment "I... Am I the catalyst?" *thunder rumble in the distance*
"Don't blame yourself for everything Ash. We were 10 years old adults and we knew what we were doing…" Brock tries to reassure him despite confirming what he said.
But Ash is still engrossed in his thoughts because he hasn't finished realizing "That's what Misty meant! Pikachu followed me because I was his friend... but he really wanted to win the League and I never noticed his needs... And so he left..."
Brock interrupts him "I was there too Ash! And I remember how Pikachu loved you! But I also remember that Pikachu was childish like you. His desire to become famous must have taken over and things got out of hand... "
But something is still missing and Ash is struck by another revelation "That day Misty was sad... The bicycle had nothing to do with it! Both times! And I never noticed it because I was only thinking about my goals!" His legs give out and he falls to his knees.
"Congratulations Ash, your training is complete" Brock finishes proudly, while both are now soaking wet on top of the headland, the wind continues to blow and some electrical discharges appear distant in the clouds.

CHAPTER FOUR
THE THIN RED LINE

It's a wonderful morning in Pallet town: the sun is high in the sky but you can still see puddles from the last rain, and we find Ash and Brock saying goodbye just outside the house.

"Are you really sure you don't want to come with me Brock?"
"Yes Ash, this is something you have to do on your own. And then I have another task to complete... See you at the Indigo League!"
The friends greet each other by shaking hands as Ash heads to Cerulean city.

Just beyond the gates of Pallet town, Ash is approached running by Daisy, Gary's sister.
"Ash! Hey Ash! Pant pant... You're going to the League, aren't you?"
"Hi Daisy! Yes, I have to face Gary!"
"So take Umbreon with you" exclaims Daisy with Umbreon at her side "Gary has abandoned him since... well, you know..."
"So, Umbreon, you also have an unfinished business with your trainer? Will you help me defeat Gary?"
"Umbreon!"
Umbreon's eyes seem sincere and so Ash takes him with him, greeting Daisy and setting off again.

Days go by, maybe weeks considering Ash's sense of direction, but he eventually arrives in Cerulean city. In front of him the doors of the gym are just waiting to be crossed. Ash closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, then braces himself and enters.
"Hey you, trainer! Are you here to challenge Misty? First you will have to fight me!" A swimmer challenges Ash thinking he is a novice trainer.
"I don't have time for this..." Ash replies, pulling straight ahead.
"STOP! I said you have to challenge me! It's the rule!" The swimmer exclaims irritably as he approaches.
Without saying a word, Ash gestures with his hand using the ancient technique of the Force... physical force, pushing the swimmer into the water.
"HEY! Come back here coward!" Screams the swimmer back to the surface.
But another swimmer intervenes to stop him "Stop! Don't you know who that guy is? He is the Man with six spheres! The great pokémon master who single-handedly defeated ten thugs with only one pokémon!"
Rumors of Ash's legendary exploits run fast in the Kanto region.

Narrator 2 "He was a harmless suburban thug with two or three of his clumsy friends watching..."
Narrator 1 "I heard there were at least fifteen thugs and also martial arts masters!"

Arriving at Misty's platform, Ash exclaims "Hey but there's nobody here!" Observing the groove created on the floor by years of motionless posture.
"Hi Ash! Are you looking for Misty?" It's Lily, one of Misty's sisters.
"Hi Lily! Yes, have you seen her?"
"Today is her free day... But I say, you really did everything to make her angry this time!" Lily puts her hands on her hips pretending to be angry.
"Of course not... It wasn't my intention ..." Ash replies, putting his hands forward embarrassed.
Lily points her finger to him nose "Look, Misty may seem surly and intractable but she is actually very sweet and sensitive!"
"Sure... sweet and sensitive..." Ash mutters sarcastically.
"Did you say something Ash?"
"Nothing!" Ash embarrassed denies.
Lily puts her hands on her hips "Anyway, I'm sorry but I have no idea where she is. You can wait here if you want"
"No thanks, I'd rather go find her" Maybe Ash prefers to leave the gym for fear that Lily will scold him again.

Ash greets Lily and leaves the gym starting to walk aimlessly. Where could Misty be? Cerulean city is not a big city but not a small one either, she could be anywhere! She isn't the park where he destroyed her bike, so he keeps walking... The fashion district? No, not even there... And the search continues, grinding kilometers and arriving at the cycle path that runs along the river "Uff, I should have waited for her at the gym..." He thinks, as he walks along the river. He decides to sit down and rest along the embankment that descends obliquely towards a small road that runs further down at the water level... and Misty is there fishing. With renewed enthusiasm Ash stands up and shouts "Hey Mist... WOOPS!" Ash slips on the embankment.
Misty turns around because she hears a scream and sees a guy tumbling down towards her "AAAAHH!" She screams, but she has no time to avoid him and they both fall into the water. Fortunately the river is calm and shallow, so they can easily return to shore.
They are both soaked in water and sitting on the ground to catch their breath when Ash tries to play down "Well, at least this time I didn't destroy your bike! HAHAHAHA!"
Misty is trembling trying to hold back her anger, with her eyes closed and grabbing the earth.
"Hey Misty, aren't you happy to see me again?" Ash exclaims smiling, expecting a positive reaction considering what he learned.
Unexpectedly for him, Misty explodes "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE?"
Ash, stunned by such behavior, tries to calm her down "Calm down Misty... I'm here only for..."
"What are those?" Misty notices the pokéballs on him belt and interrupts him "You're back to training pokémon, aren't you? And you came back here to ask me again to follow you on one of your travels!" Misty stands up abruptly and aggressively approaches him pointing her finger to him chest "FORGET IT!" And as Ash backs away in fear, pushed by Misty, she continues "You're just the bearer of TROUBLE! I don't know what the HELL pushes you to come back every time but I WON'T COME WITH YOU ANYMORE, DID YOU UNDERSTAND?"
Ash trips and falls to sit on the ground. Misty looks at him from top to bottom indicating the direction with her arm "And now go! Disappear! Go to stop Gary! So at least you will do something good!"
Ash loses his temper, gets up and goes to counterattack "You can't blame me for what happened! I couldn't know what Gary was hiding, nor that I would have find Pikachu lined up on his side! Yes I ran away, but at least I have the courage to try before giving up, Misty!"
Misty is confused "What the HELL are you talking about? I informed Professor Oak of everything, while YOU disappeared who knows where!"
"…And now I'm back! What about you? What did you do apart from going home and picking up your life from where you left it? You're the one who runs away!"
Misty's defenses begin to falter. She is wondering if Ash might have guessed that her bad temper might be hiding something. Pandora's box is about to be discovered and she has only one thing left to do: divert all energy to the auxiliary defenses becoming even more intractable! "ESCAPE FROM WHAT? I had to help you find Gary and I did! I was only interested in getting back the bike that YOU destroyed me, remember?"
Ash makes an arrogant grimace "Okay Misty, do you want to show that you are not afraid of anything? Challenge me to a pokémon battle! One on one and if you win, I'll go my way!"
"When you want Ash!" Misty replies determined to win "Make your move!"
With a quick gesture, Ash puts his hand on the pokéballs on his belt; Misty does the same "Go Gyara..."
Misty freezes wide-eyed, arm extended, just before activating the sphere. Ash is in the same position, but he has something else in his hand...
"But is that... my lure?" Misty's anger seems to be replaced by surprise.
"Take it!"
Ash throws the lure, Misty catches it and observes it in her hands "It's the Misty Special that I gave you when we were children, before our farewell... Did you take it with you all this time?"
Misty is still putting her ideas together when Ash gently takes her hands, she raises her head in confusion and he kisses her. Misty opens her eyes wide at him unexpected gesture and her breath stops. Then slowly her tension releases and she closes her eyes, they close in an enveloping embrace and the kiss becomes more intense.

And so the kiss chased for twenty years has finally taken place. The shields are lowered, the weapons deactivated, and the engine returns to its normal operating speed.
"All systems have returned to Condition green, Captain"
"Great job Mr Spock! Mr Sulu, head for the Indigo plateau. Warp one"
"Dammit Jim! I am a doctor not a psychologist, but give them at least a few minutes to talk to each other! They chased each other for twenty-five years!"
"Okay McCoy, in honor of our old friendship"

We meet Ash and Misty, later, as they are walking hand in hand in a quiet park.
"You know Ash, my sisters were right, at least partially. When we separated, I went back to running the gym with them. I continued to train to learn everything about water-type pokémon and become a master. Over time I became really good and my sisters gave me the place as the only gym leader, also because they are always more interested in taking care of the show... *sigh of reproach* But they were right in saying that I missed you..."
"I missed you too Misty. When we separated I was focused only on my journey to Hoenn and the new adventures I was going to experience, so the repaired bike excuse was easy to accept. This attitude of mine then contributed to the break with Pikachu and my abandonment of the career as a pokémon trainer. But I'd be lying if I told you that I haven't thought much about you over the years... I wanted to come and look for you but I was afraid you would agree with the decision of the heads of the production to renew the characters because we no longer functioned together..."
"What are you saying Ash? Everyone knows that franchises are incompatible with a good storyline! A story needs a beginning, a development and an end. If you continue it indefinitely only the shareholders are happy. Look that Star Wars shit..."
"Misty, do you know the legend of the Red thread of fate?"
"The Chinese folk legend that would like two people, two soul mates, linked by an invisible red thread that would lead them hopelessly to meet again even after many years?"
"Exactly. I never believed in legends or in the concept of a soul mate, but somehow I would say that thanks to our fans we have finally met again!"
"You're right Ash! As if there was an Invisible hand, armed with a pen, cheering us on against all odds. An Invisible hand that wants the maximum prosperity of a society as the result of the pursuit of our selfish interests in a free market"
"I love this capitalist side of you, Misty!"

*Bonk* Ash and Misty give each other a head of affection as they continue to break the fourth wall, walking towards the great red sun that is setting on the horizon, which makes the windows of the buildings shine and the waves on the river glisten.

CHAPTER FIVE
THE RETURN OF THE MASTER – PART 1

"Here it is, Misty, the Indigo League" Ash observes the massive entrance of the structure rising into the sky, remembering when he first walked through it long ago. A mixture of conflicting emotions move within him: fear of not being up to par; regret for what he never achieved and abandoned; contempt for Gary and Pikachu, but also, in some way, compassion for them; but above all the joy of being there again and a great determination to win! And not just to achieve his unfulfilled dream of becoming the League champion, not just to prove to himself that he has become a master, but for a good cause this time around: to stop Gary from unfairly becoming the champion and destroy healthy competition in which all pokémon trainers in the world have always believed and fought! And also to teach Pikachu a good lesson, who would also have sold his mother to make a career! Ash closes his eyes and the thought of him goes to...
"You're not thinking of quitting, are you? GET IN!" Misty once again demonstrates how sweet and sensitive she is by pushing Ash through the doors, while Ash puts his foot down trying to stop "Misty stop! I have to finish the monologue!"

The registration for the competition proceeds smoothly, even if the registrar reminds that it is not advisable to compete with only five pokémon in the squad, given the full battle 6 vs 6.
"Here Ash, take my Gyarados, you need more power!"
"Thank you Misty, but I've already thought of everything"
"Hey Ash! Misty!" Brock suddenly appears, along with Professor Oak and Delia.
"Brock! Mom! Professor Oak! I'm glad you are here!"
"Ash, we couldn't miss it. We will cheer for you!" Delia exclaims enthusiastically.
"I count on you, Ash…" Professor Oak exclaims "…the fate of the franchise is in your hands. Don't underestimate the power of my grandson"
"Don't worry prof, I'll be the new champion of the Indigo League!"
"Ash, why don't you go say hello to your friend out here?"
Ash follows Brock's advice: he leaves the building running, already knowing that he would find... "CHAAAH!"
"CHARIZARD! I knew you would help me!" Ash runs to hug his old friend.
"Hey! Ash had a deal with you Brock! That's why he didn't catch any other pokémon on the way!" Misty exclaims.

With his team full, Ash is ready to compete in the Pokémon League!
The preliminaries begin immediately and continue for several days. The trainers come from all over the world and are all smart and determined to win, but only the most deserving will have the honor of competing in the round of 16, live on TV all over the world.
Ash passes the preliminaries without any particular problems. His pokémon are all motivated to win and highly trained. Ash himself is now at an advanced level too, much more advanced than when he first competed in this same League.
Rumors also began to circulate during the preliminaries about Gary, a very strong trainer capable of winning any fight with disarming ease. In the pokémon centers the defeated trainers say they have seen him use techniques never seen before and are sure that he is destined to win. At the same time, rumors began to circulate about the presence in the competition of the Man with six spheres, who has come this far, perhaps, to restore order and justice. It doesn't take long for people to start talking about battles between good and evil, and battles for the fate of the universe.
After several days of fighting, Ash qualified for the round of 16. Unsurprisingly, Gary also appears on the list of the last sixteen.

That evening, Ash, Misty and Brock are having dinner at a pokémon center, while the pokémon are visited by nurse Joy.
"…And so I told her: if you want to draw, at least brush your teeth before! HAHAHAHA!" Brock laughs heartily as Misty sprays fruit juice from nose and Ash almost chokes on the onigiri.
"HAHA!" Misty is still crying with laughter "This was really funny! I'm sorry for those who haven't heard it! HAHAHA!"
"Changing the subject Brock, now I only have three opponents missing before Gary. They are the best trainers on the planet and it won't be easy to beat them..."
"Don't worry Ash, everything will be fine!"
"I wish I had the confidence you have..." Ash feels a lot of weight on his shoulders.
"We all have great faith in you! And then a good friend of mine gave me a tip on how things will go... You will win! Couldn't it be otherwise, am I right?"

Narrator 1 "Take it easy bro"

"Gary... he'll be a problem... but I'm sure you can beat him if you remember what you've learned!"
"Gary... I remember when we played together as children and dreamed of becoming great pokémon masters... I still find it hard to believe what happened..."
"Believe it Ash"
"GARY!" Ash, Misty and Brock exclaim in chorus, while Gary and Pikachu approach them boldly.
"I have to congratulate you Ash, you are once again placed in the top sixteen. It is a remarkable achievement!"
"I wish I could say the same for you Gary..." Ash exclaims sarcastically as his emotions swing between anger and sadness.
"You know this is your problem Ash: you are not willing to compromise. The Pokémon league is a competitive place and you are deluded if you think you can win only thanks to your passion for pokémon"
"If you think this, Gary, you'll have a nice surprise..." Ash replies arrogantly.
"HAHA! Yes, I grant you: I have heard of the exploits of the Man with six spheres... It was remarkable to defeat twenty green berets that prevented you from saving that Meowth trapped in a burning building. And all riding on a unicycle! But it won't be enough. We are at the most important pokémon competition in the world and your opponents are the best trainers in the world! Anyway, try to win Ash, I would be sorry not to have the opportunity to beat you myself, HAHAHA!"
"Hey Pikachu, I thought you got caught by Gary, what are you doing out of your pokéball?" Brock question.
"Hey Brock, I thought you were successful, what are you still doing with these losers?" Gary responds by making Brock curl up under the table.
"We've wasted too much time, come Pikachu, let's go" Gary turns to leave while Pikachu and Ash give each other one last resentful glare.
"That Gary is just hateful!" Misty exclaims angrily, watching him walk away with Pikachu.
"Pikachu..." Mixed feelings crowd Ash's thoughts.

The following day the round of 16 begins. Ash's rival is Sobias Tammet, a great rock-type and steel-type pokémon expert from Germany. The match goes live immediately, with Ash struggling to keep up with the pace of the battle. Sobias' Regirock continues to deliver powerful blows that vibrate the ground and even the spectators. The adrenaline-pumping electrical discharges of his Magneton, nicknamed DEguy, are so powerful that they reach even the spectators, forcing them to jump and throw themselves on each other. But in the end Ash managed to win the match thanks to Squirtle's rain dance which weakened the rock and sent Magneton short circuit.

Ash progresses to the round of 8 where he battles Tuck, the leader of the fearsome group of water pokémon trainers nicknamed Blue Cloyster Cult.
Ash has his work cut out to keep up with his opponent, but in the end he gets to the last pokémon, his ace up his sleeve: Cloyster.
"Ash!" Misty yells from the sidelines "Stop running around him! You have to hit the central horn!"
"Of course I know it, Misty! I was just warming up..."
And so Cramorant, despite his stupid gaze, managed to land the decisive attack, winning the round, and making Ash progress towards the semifinals.

The Final Countdown is coming to an end and Ash is likely to draw against his rival Carrie.
"I can't afford a draw: All Or Nothing!" Ash exclaims "The Time Has Come: go Charizard, use the seismic toss!"
"CHAAAH!" Charizard emits a Scream Of Anger, grabbing Rillaboom, Get On Top and then diving toward the ground, crashing him.
"No Rillaboom! Don't give up! Talk To Me!" But it's Wasted Time: Rillaboom is exhausted and doesn't respond to the Wake Up Call.
The referee yells "Carrie has no more pokémon to fight, Ash Ketchum from Pallet wins!"
And so Ash won the semifinals, arriving where he had gone only in his childhood dreams: the finals of the Indigo League! Ash jumps for joy as he raises his arm to the sky in victory as Charizard breathes fire into the air as if to say "Look at me: I'm the best!" In the delirious crowd, Professor Oak is also carried away by enthusiasm along with Delia, while Brock and Misty cheer on the sidelines.

That same evening Ash is lying on a lawn, with his arms behind his neck, looking up at the starry sky. He is thinking about tomorrow's match. It's not just for Gary and Pikachu, it's also his big dream of winning the Pokémon League. Missing so little!
"What's up?" Misty's head comes out from above, looking at him upside down.
"I was thinking about tomorrow's match..."
"Are you worried?"
"A bit…"
"Well you don't have to be…" Misty exclaims as she sits next to him "…One thing I've learned over the years as a gym leader is that you never know who will walk through that door. Sometimes he is an inexperienced child, other times a good trainer, other times an old maniac who likes girls in swimsuit... What I mean Ash, is that you never know what the future holds for you, you can only believe in yourself and give your best every time and MAKE THEM REPENT NOT TO GO TO LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITES!"
"Glom!" Ash instinctively distances himself from Misty.
"The brat... red-haired girl is right!" Exclaims one of the three hooded guys who just joined them.
Ash sits up "Who are you?"
"We? We are from the... Committee for the free competition of pokémon!" The blue-haired guy answers.
"Exactly! We can't really tolerate your opponent's lack of sportsmanship!" Exclaims the long-haired girl.
"That's right! And as long as Pikachu stays with him, it will be impossible for us to catch…" *BONK* The little guy is hit in the head by the other two.
"What do you want?" Ash question still surprised.
"Just wish you our best wishes for the match, HIHI!" Exclaims the long-haired girl with a big smile.
"Our future… I mean, the future of pokémon competitions is in your hands. Show that Gary that the wicked are destined to be defeated!" Exclaims the blue-haired guy.
"And we have collected a lot of defeats!" *BONK* The little guy gets hit again by both of them.
"Do you want to shut that damn big mouth once and for all?" Exclaims the girl with long hair.
"You three look familiar..." Misty scrutinizes them carefully trying to remember where she has seen them before.
"UGH!" They exclaim in unison embarrassed, then take the little guy under the arm and run away leaving a trail of dust behind them.
"You know Misty… Those three weird guys are right! I will defeat Gary and become the champion of the Indigo League!" Ash exclaims with renewed enthusiasm.

And while Ash observes the stars as if trusting in them, we more strategically ask ourselves: what surprises will Gary have in store, having reached the final without particular effort? Will a novice pokémon master be enough to beat the power of the cheats or do we need more firepower?

CHAPTER SIX
THE RETURN OF THE MASTER – PART 2

"It is a beautiful morning today, in which we are witnessing the Indigo League finals. And now the finalists enter the field: on the one side Gary Oak, of Pallet town, the trainer who has shown a speed and precision never seen before in defeating his opponents and climbing the rankings; on the other side Ash Ketchum, also from Pallet town, whose fighting technique allowed him to reach the finals despite, at least according to the technicians, the balance of his team is not excellent. What do you think Rick?"
"Well Bob, I think at these levels it's not so much the balance of the team but the technique itself. The trainers have come here from all over the world and if these two are the last ones left I think we will see a great match!"

The trainers' entry onto the field is greeted with cheers and applause. The crowd is divided about the forecasts of the match: who on the side of Gary's pure, scientific technique, and who on the side of the mix between logic and instinct of the Man with six spheres.
Ash and Gary reach their positions on opposite sides of the field and Pikachu is also ready and charged for the match.
The referee enters "The trainers get ready. This will be a full battle with no time limit. The fight will start on a grass field and continue on a rock field after the third exhausted pokémon per trainer. A tie is not allowed: in the event of a final tie, random pokémon will be provided until the first victory. Let the match begin!"

Gary doesn't waste a second of time "Let's close this match quickly, GO MELMETAL!"
"I agree, GO SQUIRTLE!"
"Melmetal, thunder punch!" Melmetal launches at Squirtle's attack with a powerful thunder punch... but it's too slow: Squirtle avoids the attack and the following ones too, until Gary stops him so as not to tire him.
"Why did Ash choose a disadvantaged pokémon?" Misty wonders.
"Maybe he doesn't want to play Charizard's card right away..." Tries to guess Brock.
"Now Squirtle, surf attack!" Squirtle fires a large wave that violently impacts Melmetal.
The battlefield is now draining excess water with spectators waiting to hear the result, but Gary doesn't seem worried… Here, in fact, Melmetal emerges from the water and stands up.
"You'll have to do better Ash... Melmetal, direct your thunder shock into the water!"
"Jump Squirtle!" Squirtle jumps avoiding the attack "And now skull bash!" Squirtle pulls his head back into the shell and lashes out at Melmetal, hitting him hard… but Melmetal absorbs the blow and traps Squirtle in his molten body.
"Melmetal, discharge attack!"
"Squirtle retreat!" Ash yells as Melmetal discharges his electricity at Squirtle locked in the shell.
"Squirtle!" Ash yells worried at the end of the attack. Squirtle stretches his arm out of the shell with a thumb gesture.
"Bravo Squirtle! Now hydro pump!" Squirtle hits Melmetal with a hydro pump at close range, freeing himself from his grip and firing him into the air. After reaching the highest point, Melmetal tumbles to the ground, literally spreading on it like a cast of molten metal.
The referee exclaims "Melmetal is no longer..." But Melmetal moves. The many drops of molten metal scattered around the field are recomposed to the original body under the incredulous gaze of everyone, including Ash.
"Melmetal, double iron bash!" Melmetal begins to spin quickly and then land a first punch on Squirtle, unable to see it coming, who lifts him off the ground, only to be hit soon after by a second punch that smashes him to the ground.

"Squirtle is no longer able to fight. The victory goes to Gary Oak!" The referee yells.
Misty and Brock are still scared of the power of Gary's pokémon, but Ash seems confident "Squirtle, come back! You did your best, friend, now I know what to do... GO BULBASAUR!"
"Maybe I overestimated you Ash..." Gary exclaims arrogantly "Melmetal, use your double iron bash again!" Melmetal begins to turn on itself.
"Bulbasaur, stun spores!" The spores hit their mark by braking and then completely stopping Melmetal.
Gary does not lose heart "Melmetal, destroy the spores with the acid armor!"
"Bulbasaur, leech seed!" Gary finally understands... The leech seed hits the center of Melmetal, activating and wrapping it with its roots.
"Melmetal no!" Gary yells.
"Hasta la vista..." Ash murmurs, while the leech seed sucks the energy of Melmetal unable to free itself from the attack, finally melting to the ground in a pool of molten metal.

"Melmetal is no longer able to fight. The victory goes to Ash Ketchum!" Yells the referee, while Misty and Brock feast.
"Incredible, ladies and gentlemen, we witnessed Gary's first defeat of the entire tournament!" Exclaims the speaker astonished as the audience. Gary and Pikachu also look surprised, but not worried.
Now the battlefield is muddy with scattered pools of water.
"Okay Ash, now let's get serious, GO ALAKAZAM!"
"We can win, Bulbasaur, use the seed bomb!" Bulbasaur fires a barrage of explosive seeds at Alakazam.
"Alakazam, reflect!" Alakazam erects a reflective shield to protect himself. The seeds hit the barrier and explode on impact, but Bulbasaur doesn't give up and continues to shoot without stopping. It is a stalemate: who will get tired first? Ash seems willing to continue...
"Alakazam, teleport!" Alakazam disappears and reappears behind Bulbasaur.
"Behind you Bulbasaur!" Ash yells.
"Alakazam, psycho cut!" Alakazam fires a barrage of psychic blades at Bulbasaur, but Bulbasaur is quick and with a quick side sprint manages to avoid the blades, which pierce the ground like bullets.
"Bulbasaur, tackle attack!" Bulbasaur regains his grip on the ground and throws himself at Alakazam, hitting him and rolling him away.
"We have to close the match, Bulbasaur! Go with the solar beam!" Bulbasaur took in sunlight.
"Alakazam, calm mind!" Alakazam begins to meditate.
A few seconds pass, which in Ash and Gary's mind seem like infinity, and Bulbasaur fires the solar beam at Alakazam.
"Now Alakazam, psychic!" Alakazam reopens his eyes and with psychic force tries to counteract the solar beam. The solar beam deflects its path upwards, then turns and swoops down towards Bulbasaur, who is hit by the impact and thrown away.

"Bulbasaur is no longer able to fight. The victory goes to Gary Oak!" Yells the referee, while Ash still has his mouth open in amazement.
"If Gary managed to train Alakazam so much that he even deflected a solar beam, I'm afraid Ash will have to come up with a new strategy to beat him..." Professor Oak talks to himself.
Meanwhile, Ash has recovered Bulbasaur and is nervously thinking about his next move. Ok, GO UMBREON!"
"WHAT?" Gary yells caught off guard.
"Umbreon!" Umbreon yells looking him in the eye ready to fight and ready to make him pay.
"Have you forgotten education, Gary? Say hello to your little friend!"
"THIS IS UNFAIR, ASH!" Gary loses his temper.
"It's perfectly regular, Gary! It was unfair to abandon him!"
"I have not abandoned it! I just sent it home because I couldn't take it with me!"
"Well now you can tell him yourself!"
Gary bends his head and clenches his hands in a closed fist in his inner torment, then raises it "If you want to fight me, Umbreon, you will suffer the consequences! Alakazam, psybeam!" Alakazam fires the psybeam, but Umbreon is too fast...
"Umbreon, bite attack!" Avoiding the psybeam, Umbreon jumps on Alakazam, who defends himself, being bitten on his arm.
"Alakazam, disable attack!" With a quick move Alakazam inhibits Umbreon's bite by shaking it off his arm.
"And now confusion!" Gary yells.
"Sand attack!" Ash yells. Umbreon throws sand into Alakazam's eyes before he can launch the attack. Alakazam still launches the confusion attack but misses the target.
"Umbreon, tackle attack!"
"Alakazam, teleport!" Umbreon narrowly misses the target as Alakazam teleports to the other side of the field.
"Go Umbreon, take down!" Umbreon charges Alakazam.
"Alakazam, Umbreon is faster than you, focus and when you hear him coming use the psyshock!"
"Umbreon, he mustn't hear you coming, use the quick attack instead!" Umbreon modifies the attack by increasing his speed and jumping from side to side to confuse his position. Alakazam focuses on the sounds to understand where it could come from... but there is an additional element: on the verge of attacking, Umbreon hits a puddle... Alakazam spots him and directs his psyshock in that direction, hitting him and sending him flying away.

"Umbreon is no longer able to fight. The victory goes to Gary Oak!" Yells the referee.
"What a great match, ladies and gentlemen! Gary's Alakazam has defeated two pokémon in a row from their opponent and is now in the lead again! Now the trainers will have a quarter of an hour interval while the grass field will be replaced by the rock one"
Ash and Gary return to the bench as the field is replaced thanks to the futuristic engineering project that allows an entire playing field to disappear underground to make way for another. Just to clarify how much money goes into these competitions, I don't know if I make the idea...

"Hey Ash, don't get discouraged, you fought well!" Misty reassures him.
"Now you have three pokémon left to fight: Charizard, Cramorant and Mimikyu, while Gary still has four, including Pikachu. You can beat him, but you don't have to lose focus! Remember what you have learned!" Brock stimulates him.
"Thanks friends, but I have no doubts: I'll win! And if things get bad, I still have Charizard to count on!"

The interval is over and the new field is ready. The challengers resume their positions on opposite sides of the rock field.
"Alakazam, I choose you again!" Alakazam appears to have regained his strength and is ready to fight.
"GO CRAMORANT!"
"And now why did he choose Cramorant? Mimikyu had an advantage!" Misty stands up craving to beat him.
"Calm down Misty! He knows what he is doing!" Brock holds her back trying to calm her down.
"I wish I had a penny for every time you said it!"
"Your move Ash!" Gary seems to have lost his attitude towards Ash and has begun to respect him as an opponent.
"As you want Gary! Cramorant, let's start with an amnesia attack!" Cramorant turns around to Ash with a stupid gaze "Perfect, he didn't even need my order..." Ash thinks to himself.
"Improving the special defense won't help you... Alakazam, psychic attack!" Alakazam hits Cramorant… without any effect.
"WHAT?" Gary exclaims in shock. The psychic attack, the most powerful psycho-type attack, seems to have had no effect! "Try again Alakazam!"
"It wouldn't have any effect..." Ash chuckles.
"What do you mean?" Gary begs for an answer.
Ash loses his tough look and starts making faces at Gary "Gne gne gne! Cramorant is too stupid to be hit by a psycho-type attack! There is nothing in that brain!"
A shiver runs down Gary's spine for making this mistake...
"Cramorant, go with the drill peck!"
"Alakazam, reflect!" Gary screams in panic. Alakazam raises the barrier stopping Cramorant, but Cramorant continues to push the pointed beak against the barrier until it pierces it and hits Alakazam, who spins on itself and then falls to the ground.

"Alakazam is no longer able to fight. The victory goes to Ash Ketchum!" Yells the referee.
Misty exults from the sidelines "BRAVO ASH! Look Brock! I told you he was going to win!"
"But really I was..."
At this point Gary seems to have lost his temper "GO ARCANINE! Extreme speed!" As soon as he got out of the sphere, Arcanine immediately threw himself into the attack, catching Ash by surprise, but Cramorant thinks, no one knows how, quickly and takes off avoiding the attack.
"Cramorant, water gun!"
"Arcanine, flamethrower!" The two pokémon shoot their respective attacks at each other, creating a stalemate in the center, where the fire evaporates the water. In the end, the attacks end in a draw, with no damage.
"Cramorant, thrash attack!"
"Arcanine, flare blitz!" Both pokémon lash out at each other, hitting each other violently and suffering the backlash.
"Cramorant, fury attack!"
"Arcanine, bite attack!" Cramorant attacks Arcanine by pecking and scratching, but in the end the latter manages to bite him without letting go.
"Cramorant, hydro pump!" Ash tries to use the same strategy he used for Melmetal.
"Arcanine, counter attack!" Arcanine catches Cramorant off guard, anticipating his attack and hitting him with all his strength.

"Cramorant is no longer able to fight. The victory goes to Gary Oak!" Yells the referee.
Ash can do nothing but call back Cramorant "At this point I have no other choice... GO CHARIZARD!"
"CHAAAH!" Charizard lands, causing the ground to vibrate.
"Don't be intimidated Arcanine, use the extra speed!"
"Charizard, fly!" Charizard takes flight avoiding the attack.
"Arcanine, take it down with the flamethrower!"
"Aerial ace!" Charizard dodges the blaze and dives into Arcanine, hitting him with the wing.
"Take another pass Charizard!"
"Arcanine, bite attack!" As Charizard passes, Arcanine tries to jump on his back to bite him, but Charizard spins on himself and hitting Arcanine with his tail and rolling him against a rock.

"Arcanine is no longer able to fight. The victory goes to Ash Ketchum!" Yells the referee.
Gary calls Arcanine back and takes the hit, but he has something in store for this eventuality "No matter how strong your Charizard has become, it won't compete with him: GO YVELTAL!"
"WHAT? Did Gary really capture a legendary pokémon?" Ash exclaims astonished.
Charizard does not seem as surprised and not at all frightened stares his opponent straight in the eye.
"Yveltal, air slash!" Yveltal hurls sharp waves of air at Charizard, who defends himself with his claws, cutting them in half.
"Bravo Charizard, now hit him with your flamethrower!" Charizard spits a wave of fire against Yveltal who dodges the attack by taking flight. Charizard also takes off and chases after him. The two pokémon whirl in the air exchanging blows of flamethrowers and dark pulse.
"Yveltal, use the dragon rush!" Yveltal furiously attacks Charizard by scratching him with his claws.
"Now Charizard, use the seismic toss!" Taking the blows, Charizard manages to grab Yveltal and starts spinning in circles to gain momentum, then dives...
"Yveltal, use the psychic attack!" Yveltal hits Charizard with the psychic, clouding his mind and breaking free from his hold. Charizard can't help but finish his dive by crashing to the ground and throwing up a cloud of dust.
"Charizard, are you okay?" Ash yells as Yveltal is hovering above the dust cloud. But suddenly a wave of fire emerges violently from the center of the cloud, hitting Yveltal in full under the astonished eyes of Gary who thought he had won.
"Ah you want the tough game? Yveltal, hyper beam!"
"Charizard, flamethrower at maximum power!" The hyper beam and the flamethrower meet again halfway, exploding in a large, bright explosion that destroys the rocks, leveling the battlefield and forcing even spectators to protect their eyes. When the eyes open again, there is only one thing left to do...

"Charizard and Yveltal are no longer able to fight. It's a draw!" Yells the referee.
Ash and Gary stand still, watching their exhausted pokémon slump on the destroyed battlefield. Gary can't believe that his Yveltal, one of the strongest pokémon in the world, upgraded to the maximum conceivable, has equalized. Ash, on the other hand, does not find it hard to believe that Charizard was up to par, but now he has another problem to solve...
"Now Ash has only Mimikyu left to fight, while Gary still has Pikachu and who knows what other secret weapon..." Brock exclaims worried.
Misty silently listens to Brock's words, then stands up and yells "Hey Ash! You fought well! Now you have only one chance left to win, focus and don't waste it! Gary is not unbeatable, far from it! You've already beaten four pokémon!"
Brock also stands up and yells, "Misty is right! We believe in you… everyone believes in you! Listen to the crowd… Everyone's cheering for you! Nobody wants to see a rigged competition! They are not here for Gary or Pikachu, They are here for the pokémon! For a common passion!"
"Pikà..." Pikachu exclaims to himself, thinking of Brock's words and watching the crowd cheer for Ash.
Gary, who has also heard those words, realizes that the crowd is not on his side and is struck with pride. How is it possible that he does not respect him after everything he has done to become the best? He turns to Ash "Tsk… When I am the champion of the league, you will see that people will cheer for me! It is inevitable! And now get ready Ash, get ready for your defeat! GO PIKACHU!"
Pikachu takes the field with his gaze fixed on Ash. Ash watches him enter and walk towards the center of the field as he tries to tame his emotions. Now he will have to fight it! The time to escape is over...
"What the hell is Pikachu doing?" Professor Oak exclaims, voicing everyone else's thoughts, as Pikachu crosses the center of the field continuing to walk towards the opposing team.
Upon reaching Ash, Pikachu exclaims "Pikà" with a hint of sadness in his words.
"Pikachu... What are you doing?" Ash is caught off guard by Pikachu's unusual behavior and doesn't understand.
Pikachu turns to Gary and places a hand on Ash's leg, exclaiming firmly "Pikachu!"
"AMAZING, ladies and gentlemen! It seems that Gary's Pikachu wants to change sides!" The speaker exclaimed excitedly.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING PIKACHU?" Gary yells at him angrily "COME BACK HERE AND FIGHT!"
Meanwhile, Ash looks at Pikachu without knowing what to say...
"Pikà, pikachu pi pikà pi. Pikà pikachu, pikachu pi pika pi... ...and I'll understand if you don't want me with you, but I won't fight for Gary anymore"
"Pikachu... I..."
Meanwhile, the speaker continues "It had never happened in the history of the pokémon league that a pokémon wanted to change sides! We are awaiting the decision of the judges to understand how the match can continue... " and he continues by telling personal anecdotes about the pokémon that over the years he has seen refusing to fight, but never changing sides "Well, maybe we are at a turning point!"
The referee returns to the field after listening to the judges' decision "Pikachu refuses to fight, so the victory goes to Ash Ketchum! While as regards the change of sides, the decision of the judges is unanimous: it is regular. Ash Ketchum will be free to choose whether to use Pikachu instead of the last Pokémon he has left. May the trainers continue the match!"
Ash and Pikachu continue to stare at each other as if they lived in a world apart with just the two of them inside "Okay Pikachu, I think I understand… and if you want to redeem yourself you deserve a second chance. GO PIKACHU, I CHOOSE YOU!" Ash yells with his arm pointed towards the field.
On the other side of the field Gary has the same gaze as Ash: he knows he is par and that now they have come to a showdown "Okay Ash... May the best win! GO MEW!"
When Mew appears, the audience is amazed: no one had ever seen the mysterious pokémon of the legend of the pickup truck, no one thought it was real.
"Go all out Pikachu, thunder shock!" Pikachu fires his electric shot at Mew but Mew defends himself with his barrier.
"Mew, ancient power!" Mew shakes the ground, lifting large chunks of rock and hurling them at Pikachu.
"Avoid them, Pikachu!" Pikachu dodges the first attacks but in the end he is hit by a rock and then by another and by another until he is buried.
"PIKACHU! Are you ok?" Ash yells. The referee is about to end the match when Pikachu, a little bruised, crawls out of the rocks.
"You can't win... Mew, metronome attack!" Mew starts moving his arms left and right.
Ash seems to sense something... "Quick Pikachu, climb the rocks and jump as high as you can!"
Mew's metronome unleashes an earthquake attack that rips through the ground, but Pikachu manages to escape by jumping.
"Now Pikachu, thunderbolt!" Pikachu is in the ideal position to call a thunderbolt at maximum power, which hits Mew... but to no avail: Mew discharges electricity to the ground with its tail.
"I congratulate you on your intuition Ash... Did you know that I would use the metronome to mask my intentions on the next attack"
"It wasn't hard Gary, I know your cheats allow you to always get the most favorable condition!"
"HAHAHA! Bravo Ash! And do you also know that you cannot win?"
"We will see this! Pikachu, use your agility!" Pikachu starts running zigzagging through the rubble, appearing as a small yellow spot almost impossible to see "Now, crash attack!" Pikachu jumps towards Mew trying to hit him with his tail, but Mew grabs the tail and uses it to crash him to the ground.
"Mew, psychic attack!" Mew lifts the battered Pikachu with the power of thought and sends it flying through the air, only to crash it to the ground nearby.
"PIKACHU!" Ash yells, enraged that there is nothing he can do to stop him.
"Do you know why you can't win Ash?" Gary asks again "Because Mew possesses the DNA of all pokémon and because of this he knows all their attacks, strengths and weaknesses! Mew foresees the attacks and there is nothing that can stop him!" Gary exclaims arrogantly.
"Grrr!" Ash is about to lose and grinds his teeth thinking of a solution as fast as he can… "I FOUND! Pikachu you have to be creative! Do you remember what happened to your nose when you inhale cocaine?"
"Pi?" Pikachu nods puzzled.
"You have to charge yourself with electricity... Do you understand now?"
Only a few moments pass and Pikachu understands "Pikà!"
"And now go Pikachu, use your agility!" Pikachu dashes towards Mew making it difficult to spot.
Gary is still trying to figure out what's going through Ash's head, but he doesn't have time to find out "Mew, hit him with the mega punch!"
"Pikachu, slide and inhale!" Pikachu avoids Mew's attack by slipping under him, while he sucks in with his nose a streak of dust that irritates his nasal mucous membranes.
"Now Pikachu, ELECTRIC SNEEZE!"
"WHAT?" Gary yells unable to react.
"PIKAAA-CHOO!" The aerosol of electrified, sparkling and crackling droplets of water blind Mew, who does not notice the slower bolus of electrified phlegm that splatters in his face, discharging all the electricity contained.

The crowd is silent, clinging to the chairs with their mouths open in amazement. Gary is paralyzed as he looks at Mew on the ground. The referee raises his arm to the sky and yells "Mew is no longer able to fight! Gary Oak has exhausted all of his Pokémon. The winner of the match and the Indigo League is Ash Ketchum from Pallet town!"
A yell rises from the crowd and the speaker cheers "INCREDIBLE FRIENDS! I've never seen such a victory in my entire career!" The fireworks set off as Misty and Brock run to Ash, reuniting in a tri-hug.
"I knew you could do it Ash! Now you are a true master!" Brock exclaims full of joy.
"Thanks friends!" Ash responds moved, then turns to Pikachu doing the two of victory "We won Pikachu!"
"Pikà!" Pikachu responds excitedly, exchanging the two of the victory. The two look at each other as if they think the same thing, as if they are reliving the long flashback of their history that led them today to finally win the Indigo League.
Ash is excited but he knows what he says when he exclaims "Maybe we could try again, what do you think Pikachu?"
"Pikà!" Pikachu responds, also excited but serious, as they look into each other's eyes.
"It was great what you did!" Misty exclaims "You have managed to understand each other on the fly and create a winning strategy that is completely out of the box and unpredictable. You have never been so close as today!"
"Hey guys, what do you think if I prepare your favorite dish to celebrate: onigiri!" Brock exclaims already with the chef's apron and the ladle in hand.
"HAHAHAHA! Okay Brock, but after the award ceremony!" Ash laughs heartily before starting, all together, towards the podium.

Meanwhile, not far away...
"So Gary, you almost made it this time... Tell me, do you know why you failed?" Professor Oak asks.
Gary is on his knees in tears, trying to make sense of his emotional torment, and responds sobbing "Because I haven't empowered my pokémon enough!"
"No. Because you didn't take into account the power of friendship. Look at them Gary! Look how happy they are together and how much they love each other! Do you think the power of friendship is a fairy tale for children? Each of them made their contribution to Ash's growth. His strength also comes from the relationships he has formed. And there is only one place for those like you… Those who think the world should adapt to them and are so pompous in supporting their groundless ideas that they burn friendships and funding... Congratulations! I recommended you as a full professor again!"
"NOOO! UNIVERSITY AGAIN NOO!"

And so, after enjoying his well-deserved win at the awards ceremony and filling his stomach, Ash finds himself with his friends outside the doors of the League talking to Delia and Professor Oak.
"Here mom, I want you to keep this cup!"
"Oh Ash, I'm so proud of you... It took you more than twenty years but you made your dream come true!" Delia cries tears of joy.
"What are you going to do now Ash? Will you go back to your previous job?" Asks Professor Oak.
"No way professor! Now that I have found my friends and my passion for pokémon, there is only one thing I can do: go on another journey!"
"Pikà!"
"Well said Ash! And we will come with you!" Brock exclaims.
"And then maybe we will not rejuvenate, but at least we will stop aging and we will live forever in our thirties!" Misty exclaims joyfully.
"By the way Ash, don't you think it's time to start a family?" Question Delia.
"AAAAHH! MOM BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK?" Ash yells embarrassed.
"HAHAHA! Ash still has a lot to learn about love affairs! But I'll take care of teaching him everything, the great heartthrob Brock the magnificent! HAHAHAHA!" Brock cheers by clapping his hand on the Ash's back.
"It seems to me that he's not doing so badly..." Misty pricks.
"DO YOU WANT TO STOP EMBARASSING ME?"
"Ash, if you don't have a precise destination, why don't you help me complete another quest?" Oak question.
"What research is this time Professor?"
"Well there is this dear friend and colleague of mine, Professor Fern, is trying to shed some light on the mysterious appearance of pokémon eggs in pokémon day cares. In fact, you should know that when you leave two pokémon in a pension..."

And so our story ends, with Ash, Misty, Brock and again among them, Pikachu, preparing to leave for a new adventure. How many things have changed in their lives... while others have remained the same, but the important thing is that the story had an ending! A happy ending, because we are in Pokémon and not in Blade Runner. But don't be sad, because even though Ash has now finally fulfilled his dream of winning the Indigo League, many other pokémon leagues await him, with many more trainers ready to fight, dangers and unexpected events along the way, new pokémon to catch and new epileptic seizures. But one thing is certain: now Ash is more mature, or at least just enough to think less about bicycles and more about...

Narrator 2 "Hey by the way! You still have to pay me back for the bike!"
Narrator 1 "AAAH! I forgot! Flee Brock!"
Narrator 2 "Stop you coward!"

Heartfelt thanks to Satoshi Tajiri for creating the franchise; Ken Sugimori for the drawings that made us dream; and above all to my direct rival, Takeshi Shudō, creator of the Pokémon anime.