A Hero's Return
"Coooo!" The rustling of feathers could be heard shortly before a giant bird came swooping down upon the group as they walked through the forest bordering Pallet Town.
"A Pidgeot?!" Zach exclaimed from shock while Chloe tensed up at the sight of the fully evolved bird.
"Wait a moment," Ash quickly looked Pidgeot over. "Are you...?"
"Cooo!" Pidgeot affectionately nuzzled against Ash, confirming his former trainer's suspicions.
"Pidgeot it is you! You're looking well." Ash laughed while affectionately rubbing his fingers across Pidgeot's back. "How's your flock? Is Fearow giving you trouble?"
Pidgeot shook his head at the question before uttering out a loud squawk, the trees above rustled as several Pidgeotto and Pidgey came into view. The flock gazed down at Pidgeot while uttering out various cries.
Pidgeot gazed fondly at the flock before motioning towards Ash's belt.
"Coooo!"
"Are you wanting to come back to Pallet with us?!" Ash asked in an excitable manner. He hadn't seen Pidgeot since he left him there but that didn't mean he didn't miss him, he was usually preoccupied with other thoughts that he kept forgetting to check in on him. Though after the first few years, he did start to have a fear lingering in the back of his mind that Pidgeot forgot him.
"Cooo!" Pidgeot nodded in response, gazing affectionately towards his trainer as Ash held a ball out to him. Fearow hadn't been seen in years, likely having given up or somebody had caught him so the flock was in no danger of being attacked anymore. Pidgeot gave the ball a light peck, returning to the ball that he'd lived in several years ago.
"Welcome back to the team, Pidgeot. I look forward to battling alongside you once more." Ash smiled down at the ball before the three continued their way towards Pallet Town.
"Mom?" Ash called out into his home shortly after the group arrived in Pallet Town. It hadn't changed much over the years despite Ash being a Champion, it didn't exactly bring much tourism to the town as people outside Alola didn't really care or recognize the title. The few things that had changed was the presence of a general store, though who exactly owned it was unknown to Ash, and a diner which Delia had recently opened up since she needed a hobby now that she didn't need to take care of Ash anymore.
"I don't think she's here." Zach looked towards Riolu who swiftly nodded in response.
"She must be working at the diner, we'll meet up with her later." Ash decided while turning towards Professor Oak's lab which looked exactly like it had when Ash first set off on his adventure. The door quietly opened up as they approached but neither Tracey nor Professor Oak could be seen within. "Professor...?" Ash called out.
"Roto..." Could be heard as a hallway light began flickering, getting Ash's attention. Ash turned and began making his way down the hallway before stopping at a door that opened up upon his arrival.
"Hello...?"
"Happy birthday, Ash!" The lights suddenly flicked on as Professor Oak, Brock, Misty, Iris, Dawn, Tracey and Delia came into view. Brock was holding a cake while Delia was quick to take a picture of Ash and his new friends.
"I'm sorry that not everyone could be here, sweetie. It was all I could do on short notice!" Delia exclaimed. "May, Cilan, Clemont and Serena were all caught up and your schoolmates were all busy with school apart from Lillie, who I couldn't reach."
"You're lucky that I have no challengers at the moment." Iris laughed while flashing Ash a smirk as she pointed towards Chloe. "Who's that, your new girlfriend?"
"No!" Ash suddenly exclaimed causing Zach and Brock to laugh. Chloe meanwhile got flustered.
"I'm sure Ash will find somebody at some point." Brock laughed. "I mean if I got engaged so can he!" Brock pointed towards a ring on his finger as Ash uttered out a gasp.
"You got married?! Who-"
"You've already met, Olivia and I have been dating on the downlow shortly after Misty and I left Alola. I popped the question the other day and she said yes!" Brock exclaimed.
"Croagunk!" Croagunk gazed up at his trainer with pride. He still had to Poison Jab him a few times a year but Brock was getting better at self control now.
"That's great, congratulations Brock!"
"I wish I got engaged," Misty groaned out while giving Tracey a light glare.
"Huh? You say something Misty?" Tracey asked with a clueless expression. "Ow, what was that for?!" He shouted as she kicked his kneecap.
"I'm still single by the way." Iris hinted while giving Ash a sly smirk.
"She's not the only one," Zach smirked lightly while giving Dawn a light wave. Dawn blushed lightly and offered him a warm smile while waving back.
Unfortunately for Iris though, Ash was just as dense as ever and showed no reaction to her comment.
"So how old are you, Ash?" Chloe asked.
"Eighteen." Ash responded before sweating lightly. "I think...? It's hard to keep track of time." For a time he mistakenly thought he was still ten years old in Unova, hence Iris' nickname for him.
"Still feels like yesterday that you left Pallet Town on your adventure." Delia sighed out while gazing towards him with pride and adoration. "And now look at you, you're a Champion and on the road to become a World Champion!"
"Not to mention you've got well over thirty different Pokémon and I'm sure you'll catch plenty more!" Oak grinned.
"Then one day you'll look back on this day and smile as your own kid sets off on his adventure." Brock added on.
"Slow down now, that all depends on Ash becoming World Champion and I'm not going to give it up that easily!" Iris challenged, pointing towards Ash. "I bet you didn't even notice that I'm wearing an entire different outfit, did you?"
"Huh?" Ash had to admit he didn't really process it initially, being too excited upon seeing his friends again. It was only now that he noticed Iris' hair was more groomed and tied up neatly while rather than her raggedy outfit, she wore a bright pink dress. Although he didn't have an attraction towards her, Ash had to admit she looked like a princess from a story book. "Wait a moment, that's why Alder wasn't with the other champions!"
Ash remembered seeing the other Champions he met over the years on the World Championship scoreboard, apart from Lance who'd recently been dethroned and Alder for some unknown reasoning until now. "No way, you beat Alder?! But I thought you didn't care about being a Pokémon Master, I thought you wanted to be a Dragon Master!"
"Heh, that doesn't mean I can't become a Champion!" Iris replied with a smirk. "And besides, Cynthia's Garchomp is the strongest Dragon Pokémon in the world. If I ever want to take it on in a fair fight then I have to up my game."
"That's the spirit, I always wanted to take on Cynthia too!" Zach exclaimed, he'd always idolized the Sinnoh Champion.
Ash grabbed hold of a Pokeball as excitement began taking hold of him. "Iris, I challenge you to-"
"Ash wait, what about the cake?" Delia asked. "Brock worked really hard on-"
"It's alright, we can eat it after the battle." Brock laughed it off. "Ash can never be talked out of a battle once his mind's set on it."
Iris looked Ash over for a moment before uttering out a light laugh. "This can't be an official World Championship match, I've got twenty challengers already and I'm sure you've got just as much if not more."
Ash sweated as he only had one in his que at the moment. "Er, yeah sure!"
"Great so let's not tire out our teams just yet, I don't have nearly as much Pokémon as you." Iris remarked while grabbing two different Pokeballs. "Let's have a two on two battle, I'll show you how much I've grown and if you're not satisfied then we'll have a rematch at a later point!"
"Sounds like a deal to me!" Ash and Iris bolted outside before the others could even react, causing the others to chuckle out before following Ash outside.
Loud cries and footsteps could be heard shortly after Ash stepped outside causing him to shout out in alarm as his entire arsenal at the lab came charging at him with the thirty Tauros leading the charge! "Ah!" Ash groaned out as all of them tackled and piled onto him while uttering out cries of affection.
"It's good to see all of you too," Ash laughed out while gently pushing Bayleef back as the Grass type rubbed against his face. "I've missed you all. Bulbasaur, Charizard, Squirtle, look whose back!" Ash sent out Pidgeot alongside Kubfu, Cramorant and Nidoking. Squirtle had moved to the lab while Ash was in the Alola region, the Squirtle squad had been officially retired and now served as Pallet Town's own fire fighters. Squirtle and his friends resided at the lab, allowing easy access should Ash require his aid.
"Bulba!"
"Charrrr!"
"Squirt!" The three Kanto starters raced towards Pidgeot and pulled him into a hug which Muk was all too eager to join in on.
"Muk!" He pounced on the four causing them to cry out beneath him.
Iris glanced towards Gible and Noivern, smirking lightly before looking back at Ash. "You only own two Dragons? What a kid."
"Actually I own four," Ash corrected.
"Rookie numbers." Iris laughed out. "Alright Cil-er Brock, you mind referring our match?"
"Of course!" Brock stepped to the side and held up his arm. "This will be a two on two Pokémon battle, I know the two of you will play fair so go ahead and send out your Pokémon on my mark. Get set, GO!" He threw down his arm.
"Kingdra!"
"Pikachu, I choose you!"
"Pika!" Pikachu flicked his tail as he leaped in front of his trainer.
"Kingdra!"
"No way, you have one too?!" Misty gushed.
"Heh, we'll have to see which of ours is the stronger of the two sometime." Iris smirked.
"Let's!" Misty grinned.
"Iron Tail!"
"Pika!" Pikachu's tail glowed silver as he swung, bashing it down upon Kingdra's head.
"Breaking Swipe!" Kingdra's tail glowed bright purple as he lashed around, slapping Pikachu with his tail.
"Chaaa!" Pikachu cried as he was knocked back.
"Use Thunderbolt!" Ash countered.
"Pikachuuuu!" Pikachu's cheeks sparked before a load of electricity flowed out, giving Kingdra an electrical shock.
"Draaaa!"
"Outrage!" Fire flared within Kingdra's eyes as a bright aura formed around him.
"Dra!" Kingdra violently thrashed about, striking repeatedly against Pikachu.
"Alright Pikachu, let's give it all we got!" Ash threw his cap towards Pikachu who leaped into the air, the cap landing firmly upon his head while Ash activated his Z-Ring. "10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt!"
Iris watched on as Ash and Pikachu moved in complete synch before lightning bolts of every color in the rainbow came flying out of Pikachu's cheeks, giving Kingdra a powerful electrical shock.
"Kingdraaaa!" Kingdra cried out before falling to his side as swirls formed within his eyes.
"Kingdra!" Iris cried out.
"Way to go, Ash!" Chloe cheered.
"So that's a Z-Move..." Zach gasped.
Iris returned Kingdra before smirking at Ash and Pikachu's cheers. "Don't celebrate just yet, Garchomp you're up!"
"Garrr!"
"Gible!" Gible's eyes lit up at the sight of Garchomp. His eyes full of adoration and hope as he aspired to be just as strong someday.
Iris pulled up the sleeve of her dress, revealing an equally pink Mega Ring. "Let's go, Mega Evolve!"
"Garrrrr!" A bright pink glow formed around Garchomp as she transformed into Mega Garchomp.
"Dragon Rush!" A blue-green glow enveloped Mega Garchomp's body as he raced across the field before striking Pikachu, slamming him down into the dirt.
"Chaaaaa!" Pikachu cried out, laying down in the dirt with swirly eyes.
"Whoa, she's strong!" Dawn gasped out.
"Well she is Champion of the Unova region, I heard that Alder was one tough cookie." Misty spoke up.
"Charizard, I choose you!" Ash shouted while pointing towards Mega Garchomp.
Charizard planted his feet firmly upon the ground and roared out while giving Mega Garchomp a challenging look.
"Dragon Claw!" Charizard's claws glowed blue-green as he slashed at Mega Garchomp.
"Gar..." Mega Garchomp grunted before growling out as her gaze locked with his once more.
"Sandstorm!" Garchomp roared out as a thick sandstorm covered up the battlefield, making it more difficult to see while sand began pelting against Charizard.
"Air Slash!" Charizard swept across the field before slamming his wings down upon Mega Garchomp.
"Gar..."
"Dragon Rush!" Garchomp roared out as her body became consumed by blue-green energy. The Dragon charged across the field before crashing into Charizard, knocking the fire lizard off his feet. Charizard uttered out a pained groan as he fell onto his back, his tongue soon hanged out as swirls filled his eyes.
"Char..."
"No way," Ash breathed out.
Iris smiled lightly as Mega Garchomp returned to her ball. "Charizard's strong but we're stronger, Garchomp and I took on Alder and won. We're simply out of his league at the moment but I'm sure you'll get there by the time we have a rematch." Iris held out her hand. "You've gotten stronger, I'm impressed. I know you'll get far but that World Championship title is mine!"
"Pikachu and I aren't going down that easily, we'll work our way to the top and beat you!" Ash exclaimed, taking Iris' hand.
"You're wrong but I look forward to it all the same," Iris giggled as they shook hands. The spectators and Pokémon all cheered loudly but Zach stopped briefly upon noticing a blue blob floating behind Ash's Pokémon. The Pokémon looked right at him, it was small cute and had feline features but Zach had seen nothing like it before. He quickly reached for his Rotom Phone but before he could retrieve it, the feline teleported away causing him to doubt he'd even seen it in the first place.
"Did you see that...?" He asked.
"Huh, see what?" Dawn asked, glancing towards where he was staring.
"Nothing, I guess I'm seeing things." Zach shrugged it off.
"So you want to be a Coordinator?" Dawn asked Chloe later the following day. Professor Oak had plenty of room so Zach and Chloe spend the night in their own rooms alongside Ash's other companions while Ash went home to spend some time with his mother before setting off again. Brock was busy preparing breakfast for all of them.
"Yes, how exactly do I go about that?" Chloe asked while glancing at Zach. "He doesn't know and Ash forgot." It had been several years since Ash dealt with Pokémon Contests, it's easy to forget stuff like that when you live an eventful life.
"Yeah sorry, I grew up in Galar. There's never been a Pokémon Contest there or Paldea, but they are starting up in Galar soon." Zach spoke. "I've always been more interested in becoming a Champion."
"Well I'd say you're off to a pretty good start," Dawn remarked, eyeing Riolu, Scorbunny, Metapod and Sobble. She had no idea who half of them were but she had to admit they were as cute as their trainer. "And registering to be a Coordinator is quite easy, you just approach the front desk at your local Contest Hall and they'll give you a Contest Pass so long as you're of age and not a criminal." Jessie went by a persona for a reason.
"It's that simple? What a relief." Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. She thought she'd have to pass a test or something.
"Okay there's going to be a Pokémon Contest in Turffield after the Galar League's opening ceremony," Zach looked at his Rotom Phone. "Which coincidentally is where the first Galar Gym is."
"Lovely how that stuff works, isn't it?" Dawn giggled out, gently pulling the Rotom Phone from his hand. "I honestly miss traveling." She handed him the phone back and gave a sly wink while mouthing at him. Zach blushed lightly while Chloe giggled out as she patted his shoulder.
"Thanks for the food mom but we really ought to get going."
"Ash Ketchum, you sit down right now!"
"Yes ma'am!" Ash flustered, immediately sitting back down. Delia held up a finger as she left the room before returning with a package.
"Remember your traveling outfit? Forget it, I put together an entire new one while you were away!"
Ash opened up the box and saw a black t-shirt along with a white and blue jacket that had a red and yellow striped collar. It also contained a pair of gray cargo pants and a brand new hat.
"Well...? What do you think?" Delia beamed while Ash stared down at the outfit as a smile crept across his face.
"I like it!"
"Man I really need to get an outfit." Zach sighed out. He was still wearing the dojo outfit cause he didn't have any other clothes that fit.
"Maybe we can stop some place in Galar and get you something." Chloe spoke up.
"Good idea, I don't think there's much options for clothing around here." Ash stated while adjusting his new cap. Pikachu stood atop his shoulder while five Pokeballs sat upon his waist. "We'll head to Galar as soon as Forrest and I have our Pokémon battle!"
"Wait for me!" Brock ran up to the trio as they approached the border of Pallet Town. "I've been meaning to visit my family so this will be a good chance to catch up."
Ash smiled at Brock and nodded in response. "It'd be good to travel with you again, even if it's temporary."
"I'd love to travel around full time but Olivia and I are busy with wedding preparations." Brock laughed, missing the old days just as much as Ash did but he'd reached the point where he was ready to settle down. His adventuring days were behind him and he was willing to pass the torch onto Ash's new friends.
"Oh I bet the wedding will be quite lovely!" Chloe gushed.
"Well you two are welcome to attend, Ash is going to be my best man!" Brock boasted.
"I am?!" Ash grinned. "That's quite the honor, thank you Brock!"
"Don't mention it," Brock smiled while gesturing to the road ahead. "We should probably get going if we want to reach Viridian City before nightfall."
"Right," Ash nodded and took a step forward, his gaze set upon the distant horizon when he noticed a familiar sight.
"Whoa, what's that?!" Zach gasped.
"I have no idea but it's beautiful!" Chloe gushed as Ho-oh flew through the sky, a rainbow trailing behind him as he flew over the horizon. Though unlike the past few times, a rainbow feather came loose and drifted towards the ground below. Ash took notice and raced towards the feather, leaping up to catch it while Zach scanned Ho-oh with his Rotom Phone.
"Ho-oh the Rainbow Pokémon, its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness."
"That's it?" Zach asked.
"Well nobody's said to have seen it up close in over a thousand years." Brock explained.
Ash gazed at the Rainbow Wing within his palm before clenching his fist as he looked towards where Ho-oh had disappeared to. "Ho-oh, I promise you that I'll find you and challenge you to a battle. It's our destiny!" Ash first saw Ho-oh when he set off on his adventure, it was only fitting Ho-oh paid him a visit right as he prepared to set off on the biggest adventure yet!
Pidgeot is back! I wanted to have Ash lose his first encounter with Champion Iris, establishing her as a threat. If he beat her now then there wouldn't be much of a point to battle again and it also nets Ash his first loss.