Chapter 25: The End

"What? Bulbasaur is evolving!" The announcer shouted loudly into the microphone. The crowd was dead silent as light surrounded the new champion.

"Bulbasaur…are you…really evolving?" Skylark whispered to himself. He was shocked that Bulbasaur was strong enough to evolve now. But, Skylark was hesitant. "I've only known her as a Bulbasaur…should I really evolve her?" Skylark thought. He almost spoke, but soon the light was so bright that Skylark had to turn his face.

"Bulba…bulba…" Bulbasaur said. Skylark managed to keep looking after a minute, but the light only got brighter. Finally, it began to dim down. Skylark was able to get a look at the new figure that stood in front of him.

"Ivy…Ivysaur!" Ivysaur shouted happily. Skylark stood there, shocked. He stared at Bulbasaur, who was now Ivysaur. Ivysaur ran over, slightly limping due to the burn from the Blaze Kick early, and stood at Skylark's feet. Skylark was speechless. He looked up at the crowd and then the announcer, who were silent.

"Well…we've seen a magnificent site today." The announcer said. "He won the tournament, as well as evolved his famous Bulbasaur!" The crowd, acknowledging the announcer's comment, roared in cheer. Skylark continued to stare at Ivysaur, still shocked. The announcer walked over to Skylark and handed him a pre-paid Pokécard, which had the grand prize on it. The prize for winning is 25,000!

"Let's give another round of applause for Skylark and his Bulb—I mean, Ivysaur!" The announcer said. The crowd roared happily as Skylark walked off the stage, Ivysaur following behind.

A news reporter ran into Skylark in the hall, and Skylark was stopped. "He-hey! You're that Skyclark guy, right?"

"Well, uh, Skylark, yeah." Skylark replied.

"Well, I'm a reporter from Goldenrod City, and I've been assigned to interview the winner." He replied. "So, how does it feel it be the winner?" Skylark was still so shaken up about winning and Bulbasaur evolving, he didn't even know how to reply. But, when he thought about it, he was overwhelmed with a happiness that he's never had before.

"It feels really good." Skylark said. "We trained hard and I feel like we deserved to win." The news reporter was recording this with a hand-held HD camera, filming the answers to every question. Finally, after many questions, the reporter asked one final one.

"Now that you've won, what do you plan to do? Stay a trainer and defend your title?" He asked.

"Nope…" Skylark said. The reporter was slightly shocked, not expecting that answer. "I'm…I'm going to go defeat the Elite Four." The reporter was stunned.

"Wh-what?!"

"Yeah. I've been planning it for a long time now. I'm going to go compete in the regional gyms and go defeat the Elite Four, becoming the Champion in every region, if I can." Skylark replied. The reporter nodded, said a few more words and then shut off his camera.

"Well hey Skylark, my name is Ayden. I travel a lot and I go to all the regions to record the news." He said. He handed Skylark a card with his information. "Maybe I'll see you around!" And with that, Ayden left Skylark to be. It was around then that Skylark's mom and Grace ran into Skylark.

"Skylark!" Grace shouted as she quickly ran into Skylark, hugging him. "I just knew you would win!"

"I'm so proud of you, Skylark." His mom said. "Just like your father." They stood in the hallway for a while, hugging and exchanging praises. Finally, they left the hallway and made their way back to the hotel. There, they gathered together their belongings for the next day and went to dinner. After they went to dinner, they went back to the hotel, where they exchanged final goodbyes.

That night, Skylark went outside with Ivysaur and went back into the woods, walking around with each other. Finally, they came upon the certain training area that was a large clearing in the forest where Skylark had trained Bulbasaur to use Take Down. In that training area, there was a large rock on the side, surrounded by trees.

Skylark say down on the rock, with Ivysaur sitting right beside him. They sat there in silence for a moment before finally Skylark said something. "Ivysaur…" Skylark said. Ivysaur turned and looked at Skylark. "I didn't expect you to evolve so soon. But, I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. You've helped me reach my dreams, beat my rival, and so much more…" Skylark was quiet for a moment.

The rest of the night, Skylark talked to Ivysaur and thanked her endlessly. The bond formed between the two of them was now inseparable; Skylark wasn't used to her new evolution yet, but he wouldn't have changed anything.

Now was the next morning; this was the day that Skylark's journey would soon begin. Skylark, Ivysaur, Skylark's mom and Grace went to the edge of town and stood there, awaiting an important package that Skylark was waiting for. He hadn't told anyone what it was or why he ordered the package, but he was insistent on waiting.

Finally, a man ran down the street and ran into Skylark. "You Declan?"

"Yes sir." Skylark replied. He handed Skylark a package, and then Skylark gave him about 500 dollars. The man ran away, back up the street. Skylark began to rip open the package, allowing everyone to see what the package was holding.

It was the Pokéball that Skylark gave to the Market Lady when they first entered the town. The ball was stylized; it was now colored a beautiful green color and had in yellow writing "Bulbasaur". Skylark, his mom and Grace gawked at the ball, amazed at the beautiful art effects.

Ivysaur stared at the ball, instinctively knowing what was going on. She walked a little bit away and turned around, staring at Skylark. "Looks like she wants to be caught." Grace commented. Skylark smiled widely, nodding at Ivysaur. He threw the ball and it opened up, absorbing Ivysaur. It shook once…then twice…then a third time. Finally, it snapped. Ivysaur was now officially and legally Skylark's!

Skylark took the ball, sent Ivysaur out, and then put the ball in his backpack. Skylark turned around and hugged his mom one last time. Before he and Grace walked away, though, his mom stopped him. "Skylark…I want you to do me a favor." Skylark turned around and looked at her. "I want you to stop by Prof. Oak's lab in Pallet Town. He was a friend of your father's and, in fact, has a surprise for you when you get there!" She said. Skylark nodded, thanking his mom and then turning to look out into the wilderness.

With his backpack on his back, his new hat from Roger hanging on his neck, his bracelet from Celia on his wrist, and Ivysaur by his side, Skylark was ready to face the world. "Next time I see you mom…" Skylark said. "I'll be a Regional Champion." Skylark took his first step of his journey. Before he was out of reach, he turned around and let out one last triumphant shout.

"I'll become the next Pokémon Master!"

The End.

Thanks for all the wonderful reviews and support, guys. It's been great and you've been a wonderful audience. It only seems like a little while ago that I started this story, and now it's over. It was so much fun, and thanks again so much! J