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One-Shot 11: A Pokémon Monarch's Welcoming

Ash had done it. He defeated Leon in the Final of the Pokémon World Coronation Series's Masters 8 Tournament to become the new Pokémon Monarch. After spending the night in Wyndon, Ash, Dawn, Chloe and their Pokémon friends returned to Pallet Town in the Kanto Region. "This is Pallet Town?" asked Dawn. Her awe was known.

"Of course, this is your first time in the Kanto Region," Chloe believed.

"Can you blame me?" giggled Dawn. "Not only do I see the region, but also the home of Professor Oak, Gary and of course…" She patted Ash's back. "The new Pokémon Monarch." She kissed Ash on the cheek, causing a laugh.

"Gary?" repeated Chloe.

"Gary's Professor Oak's grandson and my rival at one time," Ash clarified.

"He might've been a softer rival than Paul," Dawn compared. Ash and Pikachu shrugged their shoulders. The two returned to a trolley holding the massive trophy given to them by Leon.

"I mean, I wish Project Mew didn't contact Goh before my battle with Leon," Ash muttered.

"He was with you in spirit," Chloe assured before she kissed the other cheek. Ash blushed more. "I heard he was heading back to Professor Cerise's lab after having a chance to see Mew."

"Hey, he's living out his dream," Ash excused. "Anyway, let's bring the trophy home."

"But we are home," Dawn joked. The others laughed. Pikachu, Piplup and Eevee stood on the trolley as they wheeled it into the lab where Delia greeted them. She grabbed, hugged and kissed Ash repeated to his face.

"My little champion!" she cried between kisses.

"Mom~!" he cried. After several kisses to Ash, Delia received the same treatment, tickling him.

("MOM!") he laughed. Chloe and Dawn laughed to seeing Ash and Pikachu become kissing posts.

"And I thought my mom was affectionate," Dawn teased.

"I'm afraid to find out," Chloe giggled as Tracey emerged.

"Hey, what's all the commotion?" he asked. Everyone turned to Tracey. Dawn and Chloe were surprised to see another young man.

"Tracey, where have you been?" asked Ash.

"I've always been around Professor Oak," Tracey giggled. "You never know where Professor Oak has me helping the Pokémon." Ash and Pikachu nodded, understanding Tracey's tasks.

"Ash, who is he?" asked Dawn.

"He's Tracey," Ash replied. "He's a Pokémon Watcher and Professor Oak's assistant." Tracey nodded

"Professor Oak's my idol, so you can understand what it's like becoming his assistant," he added. "So, what about you?" Dawn felt ready to introduce herself.

"I'm Dawn," she named herself. "I'm from Twinleaf Town in Sinnoh. I'm a Pokémon Coordinator." Tracey awed Dawn's occupation.

"Just like May… " The new name made Dawn awe.

"You know May!?" she gasped.

"Yeah, as a matter of fact," Ash spoke. "May got her Wartortle from here." Dawn realized the connection.

"Who's May?" wondered Chloe.

"She's also a Pokémon Coordinator, but from Petalburg City in the Hoenn Region," Dawn answered. Chloe awed the comparison.

"By the way, I bet you want to show the trophy to all of your Pokémon in the ranch, right?" asked Oak.

"I do, even to my Pokémon from Alola," Ash confirmed.

"That's understandable," Oak laughed. "I can get in contact with Professor Kukui to see if he'll transfer your Pokémon here. I wager Melmetal can't wait to see you." Dawn became curious to the name of one Pokémon.

"Melmetal?" she repeated.

"You'll see," Ash assured. "Now, how about we bring the trophy to the back?" Everyone nodded before they rolled the trophy on the trolly pass the lab and to the ranch. Looking out, there was a dust cloud speeding toward them. There, Ash's Pokémon charged in with a lovelorn Bayleef charging.

("Darling!") she repeatedly called out. Ash became excited to see his Pokémon and wanting to congratulate him.

"Here they come!" gasped Chloe. Ash embraced the pack that included all 30 of his Tauros, Charizard, Hawlucha, Infernape, Boldore and several more while Bayleef nuzzled his face. Ash was happy to see his Pokémon.

"Ready to see the team who brought home the trophy!?" he announced before he threw his Pokéballs up. He released Gengar, Sirfetch'd, Dragonite, Lucario and Dracovish. Charizard, Infernape and Pignite greeted Gengar for his accomplishments. Same with Talonflame, Swellow and Staraptor to Dragonite and Hawlucha and Scraggy to Sirfetch'd. Dawn awed seeing some of the Pokémon she hadn't seen like Hawlucha and Noivern.

"Let me check this out!" she awed as she brought out her Rotom Phone and pointed it to Hawlucha, registering with the Fighting and Flying icons.

"HAWLUCHA, THE WRESTLING POKÉMON," it computed. "A FIGHTING AND FLYING-TYPE. HAWLUCHA'S FLARE FOR POSING TELLS HAWLUCHA'S OPPONENTS TO BRACE FOR ITS FINISHING MOVE." Now, she aimed it at Noivern. It registered with the same Flying icon, but also had Dragon. "NOIVERN, THE SOUND WAVE POKÉMON. A FLYING AND DRAGON-TYPE AND THE EVOLVED FORM OF NOIBAT. ULTRASONIC WAVES DISPERSE FROM NOIVERN'S EARS TO WEAKEN FOES." Dawn put the Rotom Phone away as she approached Hawlucha.

"You sound like a stylish Pokémon," she praised. Hawlucha seemed proud from Dawn's mentioning.

("Gracias,") Hawlucha bowed. Dawn decided to have her own Pokémon involved.

"Let me show you mine!" she voiced as she released Mamoswine, Buneary, Quilava, Pachirisu and Togekiss. Dawn's Pokémon joined in the celebration as Buneary saw Pikachu by the trophy.

("Is that your trophy?") she asked.

("Part of it is mine,") Pikachu claimed. Buneary cheered at Pikachu helping Ash become a champion. She tackled and kissed Pikachu, much to the Pokémon's delight. Oak came out with four new Pokémon: Incineroar, Lycanroc, Rowlet and Melmetal.

"Ash, Professor Kukui had your Pokémon from Alola on standby!" he informed. "They were anxious to celebrate with you about being the new Pokémon Monarch!" The new arrivals swarmed Ash in celebration. Dawn saw Melmetal and got her Rotom Phone out again to scan Melmetal as a steel icon appeared.

'MELMETAL, THE HEX NUT POKÉMON," it registered. "A STEEL-TYPE AND THE EVOLVED FORM OF MELTAN. WHEN MELMETAL EXPIRES, IT'LL COLLAPSE INTO SMALL SHARDS, EVENTUALLY BEING REBORN AS MELTAN." Dawn awed the colossial Pokémon before turning to Lycanroc. It registered with a Rock symbol. "LYCANROC, DUSK FORM, THE WOLF POKÉMON. A ROCK-TYPE AND THE EVOLVED FORM OF ROCKRUFF. NORMALLY CALM, OPPONENTS OF LYCANROC MISTAKENLY LET THEIR GUARD DOWN BEFORE THEY REALIZE THIS POKÉMON'S FIGHTING SPIRIT." Dawn blinked to the description of Lycanroc.

"Dusk Form?" she repeated. "That's new." Lycanroc heard the Rotom Phone and came to Dawn. "Hey, are you curious about me?" After a few sniffs to Dawn's hand, Lycanroc barked happily before rubbing the rocks on her neck. Dawn was startled, but she soon enjoyed it. "OKAY!" As she laughed, another hand came out and petted Lycanroc.

"I've never seen a Lycanroc like this!" a boy awed. Dawn looked pass Lycanroc's head to see Max. "I've seen Midday and Midnight Forms, but this is definitely new!" Lycanroc rubbed the rocks on Max's neck, tickling him.

"Max?" gawked Ash. Max turned to Ash, happy to see him again.

"Hey, champ!" he greeted. "Happy to see me?" Ash laughed to seeing an old friend.

"I bet May is also here," he guessed. That's when May emerged, wearing the same clothes when she and Ash first met.

"You called for me?" she voiced. Ash turned to see May just as she hugged him. "Hi, champ!" She pecked his cheek, causing another blush.

"Are you visiting from Hoenn?" he asked.

"We did," Max confirmed. "May and Serena just finished their latest contests when we saw your Masters 8 battle with Leon. Boy, you two were going blow-for-blow!" Ash blinked to the name Max brought up.

"Serena?" he repeated. That's when he felt someone else around. He turned, finding Serena as Dawn caught up with May and Max.

"I heard about you from May," Dawn spoke to Max. "It's so nice to meet you." Max seemed humbled from Dawn's greeting. Serena came to Ash.

"I saw you become the new Pokémon Monarch," she said. "I'm actually happy for your new title." Ash smiled while May and Max awed seeing Lucario. The Aura Pokémon showed the siblings the Mega Stone he used in the Pokémon World Coronation Series.

"I may be the new Pokémon Monarch," Ash agreed. "But it doesn't mean I'm done training or traveling. I know there are more Pokémon that I want to encounter and more trainers who might take this title from me." Chloe and Dawn became curious to Ash's and Serena's interactions.

"Typical of Ash to continue being the Pokémon Trainer he is," Dawn shrugged. Serena nodded to Ash still willing to capture Pokémon.

"The thing is…" she hushed. "Do you remember what happened when we parted ways at the Lumiose Airport?" Ash took a second to remember that Serena kissed Ash on the lips in front of Clemont and Bonnie before Serena rode the escalator to her next adventure.

"How could I ever forget?" he questioned. "You're the first person to kiss me on the lips." Dawn, May, Chloe and most of the Pokémon gasped to the truth. Pikachu was a witness, thus he didn't react.

"She WHAT!?" gawked May. Max grinned to the memory.

"I knew that Ash was better than Brock on that front," he sneered. Delia came over to the two.

"Ash, is this true?" the mother asked.

"It is," Ash answered. "As a matter of fact, when Goh, Chloe and I found her in Lilycove City, we only had a brief moment that I kinda wish we stayed instead of returning to Professor Cerise's Lab."

"I'm sure my dad would've allowed it if you asked," Chloe remarked.

"It probably was a last-minute ordeal," Dawn believed. "So, he probably didn't have time."

"I guess…" shrugged Chloe.

"Still, Serena kissed you on the lips," Max repeated to Ash. "I can safely say that he's a step above Brock." May and Dawn irked to Max's jab.

"You're not wrong, Max," May muttered. Dragonite snagged and hugged Max, showing affection to the young one. Max didn't struggle to Dragonite's nuzzling.

"And Dragonite is telling you to stay and watch," Dawn assumed.

"Okay, that's fair," groaned Max.

"The thing is," Serena fidgeted. "I don't want to leave your side again. I've held onto these feelings for a long time… and that I wish I came out before we traveled down our different roads. Ash, I wouldn't have been in the Master Class of Pokémon Performing without your help. Even after we left, your passion, your wisdom, your courage continued to push me to the top. I do wish we stayed longer back in Lilycove as well. Now, I can tell you truthfully how much I've loved you." Ash seemed in awe. Of all of his traveling companions which included Misty and Iris, one of them confessed her feelings.

"Serena…" he lisped. Then, the scene from the airport replayed itself. However, Serena had nothing pulling her away, not even Bayleef. Ash was a bit surprised at first, but he soon closed his eyes in acceptance. Suddenly, cheers… and Bayleef sulking off. Dawn, May, Chloe, Delia and the Pokémon awed the newly formed couple. Muk pounced on the two with Body Slam. After being pinned, Ash and Serena turned to the Sludge Pokémon. "I guess you wanted to celebrate our love this way, huh, Muk?" A happy Muk gargled to the pairing. Delphox found Bayleef to talk. The Fox Pokémon understood Bayleef's frustration, but she told the Herb Pokémon that he'll still ask for her support. At the Ketchum Household, the trophy sat by the TV set as Delia made dinner for Ash, Max, the girls and some of the Pokémon. Pikachu, Piplup, Pancham, Eevee and Skitty had a meal together. Chloe got a call from Goh.

"That's awesome for Ash!" he cheered. "I only got a chance to see Serena, but at least Ash won't be alone."

"And he'd like to hear from you about your encounter with Mew," Chloe added.

"Same with how he felt in his battle against Leon. I still have to apologize for missing out. At least he's the new Pokémon Monarch and that he's dating."

"Which is great. I also got the coordinates to where we'll hang out."

"Right. I'll see you all tomorrow night." They powered down their Rotom Phones as Delia assessed what Ash would do next.

"Knowing my son, I believe he'll be going out on a new adventure," Delia assumed.

"It's Ash," Max shrugged. "Just say the word and he and Pikachu will be gone in the next hour." Dawn, May and Serena laughed.

"You're both not wrong," Ash agreed. "I know that there's more to be discovered. It's just… it's going to be an adventure like I haven't had before."

"And I'll be there for meeting Goh personally to when Ash is a Pokémon Master," Serena added.

"I know you'll be great together," Max wished. That's when something bugged Ash.

"Dawn, May, you two were cheering about Serena and I declaring ourselves dating," he pointed out. "You two traveled and visited me before. Aren't you jealous?"

"Not really," May spoke. "We had plenty of disagreements… and to be honest, I wasn't truthful to myself and to you. I didn't deserve you anyway."

"And you're not the only boy that I had eyes on," Dawn admitted. "But at least there's one less option for me."

"Right now, it's the Ash and Serena Show," Chloe teased. "After you're the master, I'm sure your future child will follow." Ash and Serena shyly giggled to the thought. Night fell and while May, Max, Dawn and Chloe retired to Professor Oak's lab, Ash and Serena snuggled together, their relationship starting. In a few years, Ash may need to put on a performance for Serena… but that's for a show down the road.

END of VOLUME XI

(And now, the voting ends. On Christmas Day, I will reveal the final One-Shot of the AshMas series. It's retiring for good.)