Chapter 2 everybody! REVIEW if you have any comments or suggestions! It helps a ton. Anyways, hope you guys enjoy.
Also, I put a POLL on my profile picture. Please vote for who you would like to see which girl Ash is shipped with! It will weigh heavily on my decision! DON'T FORGET!
VOTE ON THE POLL ON PROFILE
Confetti poured down from the roof, the spectators still cheering as the battle had concluded a minute ago.
"Ash Ketchum has defeated Alain Miller and is the winner of the Kalos League Tournament!" The commentator spoke through the megaphone.
Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont rushed onto the field, after arguing with security that they were friends of Ash. Eventually, the security guards gave in once Clemont showed his Gym Leader ID. The group of men realized that it was unlikely for a respected figure in the region to be lying.
Once they reached the battlefield, they saw Ash and Greninja still leaning against each other for support, waving towards the crowd. It was Serena who first reached Ash, sprinting towards the boy and immediately hugging him.
Ash stumbled backwards after being caught off guard, before wrapping the girl in his arms while grinning. The Pokemon Performer blushed heavily at the contact; her pink face hidden over Ash's shoulder. Ash laughed happily, looking at Clemont and Bonnie approaching while the two remained together.
"Congrats, Ash! That was really something else by you and Greninja" Clemont said proudly as he and Bonnie stood in front of the trainer.
"Thanks Clemont, it means a lot coming from you buddy." Ash responded while still grinning. A couple of seconds later, Serena and Ash separated from the hug. Serena looked down to the ground to partially conceal her embarrassed face. After the two had separated, Bonnie rushed towards Ash and hugged his leg, being much smaller than the boy.
"That was insane! Greninja and Pikachu did so good!" Bonnie exclaimed, letting go of Ash and peering up at him. Ash laughed at her statement, before responding.
"They definitely did. Everyone on my team did so well. Kalos League Winners!" Ash shouted, patting Greninja on its shoulder and rubbing Pikachu's head with the other hand.
"Chaaaa." Pikachu cooed, leaning his head towards Ash's hand in appreciation.
"Ninja." Greninja said tiredly, bowing is head in respect towards Ash. Ash recognized how tired the starter Pokemon was and decided to take action.
"Shit, I'm so sorry Greninja. You should get some rest until we can get to a Pokemon Center. Great job buddy." Ash told Greninja before taking out his pokeball and returning him.
"Wow this is surreal. I can't believe we've done it, Pikachu."
"I can, Ash. We believed in you from the start. Oh look, I think they're about to call you up to the stage." Serena said, having recomposed herself from their moment. The blonde-haired performer pointed towards the large platform that stood at the middle of the field.
It was a slightly elevated platform that was put together in just a few minutes. On top of the platform were several chairs for elite members and other figures. There was also a podium with a microphone. Charles Goodshow, along with the Champion of Kalos Diantha were among those who stood there.
Mr. Goodshow, head of the Pokemon Leagues, spoke into the microphone, which sounded across the whole stadium.
"Ash, would you please join us at the podium?" Goodshow said with a smile, having known the boy since the start of his journey.
Ash nodded towards Goodshow, before turning back to the group.
"Damn, looks like I gotta go. I'll be back with you guys in a bit. See ya!" Ash said, turning away and jogging towards the podium. The group of friends merely agreed and smiled, watching Ash shake hands with Goodshow as he reached the stage.
"Well done, Ash. You must be extremely happy." Goodshow said as he shook the taller boy's hand. Ash nodded, holding much respect for the man in front of him. Charles Goodshow was a kind man who had a caring heart. The older man had met Ash at the beginning of his journey, offering advice along with guidance. Ash never forgot their encounters, due to how much of an impact the Head of the Pokemon League had on him.
"Thank you, sir. You don't know much it means coming from you. I always doubted whether this day would come." Ash said solemnly, remembering those moments of doubt. Pikachu frowned as well, having been there with Ash. It wasn't often, but there were times through every region where doubt creeped into Ash's mind. The Kanto trainer would then tell Pikachu of his doubt of succeeding in their goal. Naturally, Pikachu reassured Ash that they would accomplish their goals. However, this only eased this doubt and fear of failing temporarily.
It was surreal to think that this doubt was misplaced, since they had just won their first League Tournament.
"Well, young man, I did believe that this day would come. Perhaps more than you ever did. You know how much faith I had in you. Your personality, skills as a trainer, and Pokemon are all unique, your bonds making each and every one of you stronger. Enjoy the moment." Goodshow said firmly, patting Ash on his shoulder.
"They're about to introduce you for your speech. Good luck." Goodshow said as he began to make his way to his seat. He stopped and turned back, however, once Ash began speaking to him once again.
"Wait, speech?! Mr. Goodshow, I can't do a speech! I'm a terrible public speaker." Ash said with a worried tone. Goodshow smiled as he shook his head, knowing that the boy was just a little nervous and wouldn't bomb his speech.
"Don't worry, you'll do fine. Just speak from the heart. Also, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Charles." Goodshow replied with a fake glare, sitting back on his seat.
Ash sighed, lowering his head and cursing silently. The black-haired teenager couldn't even recall being this nervous in his life. Hell, he wasn't even this nervous before his battle against Alain. While Ash was thinking, Diantha introduced Ash to the podium.
"Now, the winner of the League Tournament, Ash Ketchum, will give his speech. Give it up to Ash!" Diantha said, smiling at the trainer while she sat back down. The crowd cheered for what felt like the hundredth time today, clapping and screams carrying through the air. Ash had also gained a number of fans in the Kalos Tournament, along with fans who had watched him battle in his previous leagues. The boy was becoming quite a celebrity.
'Shit, this sucks.' Ash thought as he walked towards the podium, putting on a smile. Soon, the noise died down, the audience wanting to hear what Ash had to say.
Ash grabbed the microphone on the podium and pulled it closer, causing a loud screech to plague the arena from the movement. Some people held their ears while others chucked. Ash just winced, sweat dropping at his actions.
"Sorry, sorry everyone. I just want to let you all know that I'm horrible at public speaking, and this very well may be the longest speech you've ever heard in your life, since I don't really know when to stop talking. Anyways, here you go." Ash said with a nervous smile, pausing for a moment before continuing. Serena laughed at her crush, her feelings for the trainer becoming stronger by the day.
"First off, I would like to thank Mr. Goodshow for everything he's done. I appreciate you welcoming me and all you've done for me so thank you."
Mr. Goodshow nodded his head in acknowledgement towards Ash.
"My journey started with a Pikachu who wanted absolutely nothing to do with me-" Ash paused as Pikachu shocked him with a small zap from his comment, making the crowd laugh at the two of them. "Buddy, you know it's true. We both hated each other. Most of you probably think I'm joking, but there were times at the start of the journey where we almost killed each other." Ash finished, with the audience laughing and Ash's friend's grinning widely.
"However, that all changed. Pikachu has been at my side through it all. He's my best friend, so thanks buddy." Ash said, petting the Pokemon on top of his shoulder. The trainer than looked towards Professor Oak, who was now standing at the bottom floor due to being a close friend of Ash's.
"Professor Oak. Thank you for aiding me when I was just a naive ten-year-old boy. You helped me in my journey, gave me guidance when I needed it, cared for all my Pokemon, and ultimately gave me my best friend, Pikachu. Without you, I wouldn't be the trainer I am today. Thank you."
Professor Oak smiled at this, waving at the trainer as Ash finished his thank you.
"I wish I could thank everyone who has been a part of my journeys, but it's just too many people. Unfortunately, I can only name a few so those of you who I don't name, thank you. The first person who I met on my journey through Kanto was Misty Waterflower. Yep, some of you probably know her since she's Cerulean City's gym leader. However, she's also the first friend I made. Misty, if you're watching this, thank you. You made my journey through Kanto, Johto, and the Orange islands a blast. Without you, I wouldn't know where I would be. Also, sorry for burning your bike. I swear I'll pay you back." Ash finished while rubbing his head sheepishly after bringing up the bike. The spectators once again laughed, almost not believing that he had burned the girl's bike.
Misty was in the pool in the Cerulean City Gym, with a TV on the corner of the wall. She beamed as she watched Ash win the Finals, along with his speech. His words touched the redhead, making her get out of the pool and watch the television closely. She laughed once she heard the ending of his segment.
"You better pay me back." Misty said as she continued to smile.
"Brock Harrison. Brock is the former gym leader of Pewter City. He traveled with me through so many regions and is one of my best friends. Brock taught me so much about being a trainer. He taught me how to care for my Pokemon, train with them, and how to grow as a trainer. Most importantly, he taught me how to grow as a person. Brock is more than a friend to me. He's a brother, unrelated by blood. Thank you Brock and I hope to see you again someday."
Brock sat at home, watching Ash speak at the podium through his TV. In the living room, all his brothers and sisters ran around chaotically, laughing and playing with each other. When Ash began to speak about his friends, Brock raised the volume and leaned towards the TV. Ash's words resonated with the Pokemon Doctor, meaning a lot to him. Brock smiled, pumping his fist excitedly at hearing his name being talked about and what Ash had thought about him.
"Thank you, Ash." Brock whispered to himself, continuing to watch the speech.
"Dawn Berlitz. She's a Pokemon Coordinator I met in Sinnoh. Dawn is one of my closest friends. We haven't spoken recently, but I hope you're doing well, Dawn. She's such a talented, determined individual and I'm warning you all. She's going to win a grand Festival soon, just watch. Thank you Dawn, for your friendship. Also, sorry for burning your bike." The crowd burst in laughter once again from hearing that Ash had also destroyed another friend's bike.
Dawn sat inside her home, watching the channel alongside her mother. She wore her usual cheerleading outfit she had worn when watching Ash compete in gym battles in Sinnoh. Dawn jumped up and down excitedly once she heard her name brought up by Ash. She giggled at the bike comment, before running upstairs to call Zoey about her name being brought up by Ash.
"Iris and Cilan. Our journey was a lot shorter than most people I've traveled with. However, you guys were such good friends to me and taught me so much. Thank you."
"Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena. These three traveled with me throughout Kalos this year. Without them, I would probably be stuck in a ditch. Jokes aside, these three have meant a lot to me. Bonnie is a young girl who is determined, and I know she'll do great things when she's older. I'm proud of you Bonnie."
Bonnie giggled at this, motioning her hand as if telling Ash to "keep going" with the compliments. Ash laughed, shaking his head at her antics.
"Clemont is one of my close friends and a gym leader here in Kalos. He's also one of the most talented inventors and engineers in the world. At least, that's what I think. Clemont is one of the smartest people I know. He's helped me out so much in my journey and taught me a lot. Thank you for your friendship and help Clemont."
"You got it Ash." Clemont said, with only Serena and Bonnie being able to hear him. Bonnie huffed in annoyance, hearing somebody besides her being praised.
"Serena Yvonne. Serena is a talented, beautiful Pokemon Performer who started this year. Immediately, she took the region by storm. While she didn't win this year, she performed so well and made everyone so proud. There are no words that can describe how impressed I was with her. She's one of my closest friends, who encouraged me and pushed me to be better throughout this journey. Thank you so much Serena."
Serena smiled, blushing once again at Ash's words.
'Did he just call me beautiful' Serna thought, holding her chest with one hand while grinning. The group was confused, however, when Ash continued with his speech by thanking one other person.
"May Maple. I bet a lot of you also know her, since she just won the Grand Festival in Sinnoh this year. She's amazing isn't she." Ash said as the crowd cheered once hearing her name, with May apparently having a ton of fans in the stadium. "I met May in Hoenn and she's one of my best friends. Like Dawn, she's so determined, talented, strong, persevering, and just overall amazing. " The crowd "awed" at Ash's comments, making him blush slightly while lowering his head and smiling. "Also, sorry for destroying your bike. That was the last one I swear!" The audience burst into laughter once again. The bikes's destroyed count was up to three, with the high possibility of rising in the future.
Serena frowned slightly at Ash's comments, hearing him speak so highly of other girls he had traveled with. She couldn't help but feel jealous, especially due to the fact that he spoke of May after everyone. There was also the feeling that she couldn't ignore. It was the way Ash spoke about her. Even the crowd recognized it.
'Does Ash have feelings for May' Serena thought, watching Ash continue his speech. She shook her head, shaking the thoughts out of her head. It was probably nothing and she was overreacting. Besides, he was only complimenting his friends.
"I'm so proud of the beautiful, strong woman you've become, May. I miss you and hope to see you again soon. Thank you for everything." Ash finished, the crowd once again erupting in "Aww" when they heard Ash speak of May.
May Maple was at home in Hoenn, watching the speech with her family. Caroline and Norman sat together on one side of the couch, while May sat alone on the other end. Max stood in front of the couches, blocking the TV partially to the annoyance of May. After Ash finished his segment towards May, the Pokemon Coordinator couldn't stop smiling. A light blush covered her face as she grabbed the Terracotta necklace hung around her neck. She smiled brightly, recalling how Ash had cut the contest necklace in half to share. She rarely took it off due to how much it meant to her.
"Oh Ash." May whispered, looking at him through the TV with fondness. She was interrupted from staring at Ash when she heard Max speak.
"Did he seriously skip me!" Max said angrily, making the family laugh and reassure the eleven-year-old that it was due to the timing.
At the stadium, Bonnie, Clemont, and Serena still stood together.
"Sounds like Ash likes this girl May a little more than a friend." Clemont said while fixing his glasses. He yelped in surprise, though, as Bonnie slapped him lightly in the arm.
"Please, big brother. You wouldn't know what love is if it smacked you across the face." Bonnie stated, winking at Serena. Bonnie made it clear throughout their journey that she knew about her crush on Ash. It was obvious, even though Ash and Clemont were blind to it. Serena forced a smile, unable to wave off the new wave of jealousy and sadness flooding her stomach.
"Finally, I would like to thank all my Pokemon. It's because of them that I was able to come this far. Without them, I'm truly nothing. Thank you for staying with me and forever being loyal. I love all of you. Once again, thank you all for everything. I'm sure by now I have the record for longest speech at a tournament so I'm going to stop now. Peace!" Ash finished, holding up a fist in the air while the crowd cheered loudly one last time for the black-haired teenager.
Ash walked off the stage, shaking Diantha's and Goodshow's hands once again before getting off.
It was then that the teenager saw his mother walking towards him. The two embraced, hugging each other tightly as Delia Ketchum cried softly.
"Shh it's ok, Mom." Ash said, reassuring his mother while rubbing her back in the hug.
"I know. I just can't believe it. I'm so proud of you."
Delia let go of her son, wiping her tears with her hands while she smiled content. Ash smiled at seeing his mother there for such a special moment. It was Delia who broke the silence, having recomposed herself.
"How about you and all your friends come back to Pallet Town to celebrate? It would be nice for you all to meet up again." Delia recommended.
Ash grinned at hearing this idea. The thought was all too appealing. He would be able to see all his old friends once again. It had been a while since he had seen people like Brock. Especially May.
"That sounds perfect, Mom." Ash replied, hugging his mother once again.
At night, Ash had proposed the idea to his Kalos friends, who agreed right away. Delia sent out the invitations, promising to take care of the event. After celebrating at a small dinner with friends and family at Kalos, Ash felt like he was on top of the world. On top of winning the Kalos League Tournament, he would be seeing all his friends soon.
Little did he know, his life was about to get way more complicated.
Chapter 2 everybody! REVIEW if you have any comments or suggestions! I really appreciate it! Also, VOTE ON THE POLL! See you all soon and hope you enjoyed.