Ash Ketchum sat in his room, the echoes of cheers from the Master 8 tournament still ringing in his ears. He had done it—he had defeated Leon and claimed the title of World Champion. Yet, as he lounged on his bed, staring up at the ceiling adorned with posters of his adventures, a heavy weight of boredom settled on him.
"Is this it?" he muttered to himself, flipping over his Pikachu plushie and tossing it onto the floor. "I've traveled all over, caught hundreds of Pokémon, and even saved the world a couple of times. What now?"
Pikachu, curled up in a sunbeam, opened one eye sleepily, then flopped over to nuzzle against Ash's leg. "Pika…"
"Yeah, I know, buddy," Ash replied, scratching behind Pikachu's ears. "We could go for a training session, but it just wouldn't feel the same. I want something... different."
Just then, a loud knock interrupted his thoughts. Ash jumped up, curiosity piqued. He rushed to the door, opening it to find a small package on the doormat. It was wrapped in plain brown paper, with no return address.
"Hey, what's this?" Ash wondered aloud, picking it up and shaking it slightly. It felt solid and a little heavy. He carried it to his desk, where he tore the paper off eagerly. Inside, nestled in crumpled paper, was a glimmering ring—a silver band adorned with intricate designs that sparkled as it caught the light.
"Whoa! What is this?" Ash marveled, picking it up. Attached to the ring was a small note.
"Enjoy."