A/N: I knew everyone would have mixed reviews about Paul beating Ash, even with some being more extreme than others. However, I chose the path that was best for this story, which was Ash suffering a loss from his biggest rival and being able to learn and grow from that loss. You learn a lot more from losing than you do from winning. If Ash lost to Ritchie, Tyson, Mandy, or whoever besides Paul, the impact would not have been as severe, and that's what I wanted. This loss will drive Ash to be the very best and fix any mistakes he ever made in his first year of training. That way when he encounters Paul a few years from now, he will be able to prove to the cold boy that he isn't some rookie who doesn't know what he's doing. In other words, I did it for the BEST CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Also, This most definitely does not mean I support Paul's ideals and neither will Ash.

For those of you who don't agree with me, there's nothing I can do about it. One will never be able to please everybody. With that being said, here is the last chapter of the Kanto arc. Read the author's note at bottom. It will explain updates and things for the future of this series.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Pokemon.

Chapter 61: The Road to be a Pokemon Master

Ash was slowly walking out of the stadium with his head down and cradling Pikachu in his arms. He just couldn't get over his loss. Ash was playing everything over in his head to try to determine what he did wrong. The only mistake he really made was not checking Donphan's typing, but would that really have made a difference in the entire match? All of his Pokemon worked their hardest for him in that match, but in the end, he still lost. Why, and why to Paul of all people?

As Ash got out of the trainer tunnel, he wasn't surprised to see everyone waiting for him. They all had a look of sadness, sympathy, or in Red's case, a grave expression. Were they all disappointed he lost? What were they going to say to him?

"Ash," Professor Oak began first, "You've done Pallet Town very proud."

Ash snapped his head in Professor Oak's direction. "What?

"You made it to the Top Four in your very first Pokemon tournament. That is no easy task. That's more than can be said for many people," Professor Oak elaborated.

"You really did do your best, Ash. I'm sure no one else worked as hard as you. We all know that," Leaf added.

"I still lost to Paul," Ash muttered. It's not that he didn't appreciate his friends' words, but that was what hurt the most of the loss. Did that mean Paul was right and he was wrong?

Everyone sighed upon hearing that. They all knew how determined Ash was to beat his biggest rival so far. First Gary lost to Paul, and now Ash. They all wanted Ash to win, too.

"You could try to think of this as a learning experience," Misty suggested.

"How am I supposed to do that? What is it I did wrong?" Ash asked a little louder. He didn't know if he wanted an answer or not.

"You did nothing wrong, Ash. You were great. Red and I are very proud of you," Delia told him.

"Thank you, Mom. Really. I just…," Ash began, but was cut off by Red.

"Ash, go heal your Pokemon at the Pokemon Center. When you're done, I'd like to talk to you. Come find me in the stadium," Red said as he turned to go.

"Red?" Delia questioned.

"It's fine, dear. Just a little father and son talk," Red replied with a small smile towards her before continuing on.

Ash nodded his head as he watched his dad go. He wondered what Red would want to say to him.

Serena stared worriedly at Ash. The truth was she had no idea what to say to him for once. She had completed her goal of conquering the Battle Chateau, but he didn't win the whole Pokemon League. Granted, he did incredible, but she still didn't quite know how he felt. She hoped Red would be able to help. He seemed to have experienced similar things as Ash. For now, Serena knew all she could do was be there for him. She walked over to Ash and grabbed his hand, causing him to look over to her.

Ash replied with a small smile. Serena just seemed to have that effect on him now.

Ash was now walking back into the now empty stadium with Pikachu on his shoulder. Red said he would meet him here, but that had been over an hour ago. Was his dad really waiting here for that long? As he entered, he immediately spotted Red. He was standing with his arms crossed as he gazed at the Moltres flame that was still burning brightly in the nighttime sky.

As Ash approached him, Red didn't turn in his direction. Ash was still sure Red heard him, however. It wasn't until Ash reached him and stood by his side did Red acknowledge him. The black-haired man nodded his head at Ash before turning back to the Moltres flame.

Both father and son stayed like that for quite a moment. Neither said anything to each other as they and Ash's yellow rodent partner continued to stare up at the flames. Ash wasn't feeling quite as awkward as he expected to feel to be in silence like this. He knew his dad would say something when he was ready. Finally, after about another minute of silence, Red spoke.

"The road to be a Pokemon Master is hard, isn't it?" Red asked Ash, but it sounded more like a statement than a question.

"Yeah," Ash agreed.

"You did very well on your first try at the Pokemon League, Ash. It doesn't matter that you didn't win," Red told him.

"But you won your first Pokemon League tournament," Ash pointed out.

"Hmmhmm. I also wasn't only eleven years old when I won it," Red answered with a slight chuckle.

"Wait. You weren't?" Ash questioned as he and Pikachu turned to look at Red in surprise.

"No. Blue and I didn't begin our Pokemon Journey until we were fifteen," Red replied.

"Really?" Ash asked again.

"Yeah. Before then, Blue and I read up on all we could about Pokemon. We learned all of their typing, the strengths and weaknesses, and things like that. We wanted to be as equipped as we possibly could before starting our journey, and it paid off when we got first and second place, respectively," Red said.

Ash thought about what Red had told him. All this time, he assumed his dad had started his Pokemon journey at ten like he did. It turns out that he started much later and wanted to be the best he could possibly be before trying it out. Ash remembered there were a lot of older Pokemon trainers he met on his journey and at the Pokemon League. He wondered if this was their first year, too.

"So I didn't win the League because of my age?" Ash muttered as he looked towards the ground again.

"Of course not. I'm just asking what you did to prepare to go on your Pokemon journey at such a young age," Red explained.

"Well, I do love Pokemon a lot," Ash replied as he flashed a smile at his rodent partner.

"Pika Pi!" it responded back happily.

Red nodded. "Anything else?" he asked.

"Well, I knew a lot of basic things about Pokemon. I guess I could say I knew more than most people my age, but I figured the pokedex could tell everything else," Ash said.

"Okay. How often have you been using the pokedex?" Red pressed.

That's when it hit Ash, and he looked down in shame. The truth was he used his pokedex on any new Pokemon he came across and got basic information about it, but did he do anything else with it? He knew one could not only learn a Pokemon's typing, but also the moves they could learn. He could see what moves the Pokemon already knew, and he could even learn their stats. Ash would certainly never use that to figure out if the Pokemon was good enough like Paul, but he could use that to know which areas needed to be worked on the most, however. He could also learn a whole other plethora of information. That's what Leaf did with her pokedex and even Serena to an extent, but he didn't.

"I guess I haven't used it a whole lot," Ash muttered as he brought the rim of his cap down so it covered his eyes.

"That's what it is, Ash. You know a whole lot more about Pokemon than most people your age, but the truth is, you're only scratching the surface of what Pokemon are all about," Red answered before continuing. "That's why I spent a few extra years studying rather than starting my journey at ten."

"Dad, was it wrong of me to start my journey at this time?" Ash asked a little sadly.

"Pikaaaaa," Pikachu moaned.

"Well, what do you think? Do you think that everything you've worked so hard for up until now was for nothing?" Red inquired.

Ash closed his eyes as he remembered his entire journey so far. He met Misty, Brock, and Ritchie. He won all eight badges in the Pokemon League. He discovered his aura power. It was also through this journey that Ash realized how he really felt about Serena. If he had waited to start his Pokemon journey, he would've missed out on all of the great memories he had so far. He wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

Ash then remembered his Pokemon. They were the best ones a guy could ever ask for. Where would they be if it wasn't for him and didn't begin his Pokemon journey then? He never would've caught Caterpie. It probably wouldn't have evolved and met its mate. Pidgeotto would still be a loner in the Viridian Forest. Kingler would never have perfected its awesome techniques. Primeape may still have been the brunt of another Primeape's bullying. Muk would still be the leader of a rogue gang of Grimer. Haunter would be nothing more than a jokester in Pokemon Tower to scare people. Hitmonchan would still have its extremely eager and impulsive nature. Bulbasaur would still be in the Hidden Village, unable to reach its full potential. Wartortle would still be a mischievous troublemaker. Charizard could've…died by just staying there on that rock if Ash hadn't saved it. Aerodactyl never would've been born from the Old Amber fossil. Dratini would still be frightened of everything and never got to experience the outside world. Lastly, there was Pikachu who was his best friend and partner and his first Pokemon. Pikachu would probably never gotten over its hatred for people, and if anything trust them even less. Ash had such a positive influence on all of his Pokemon. If he turned back time just to study, none of those changes would have come about.

"No. It wasn't for nothing. Everything I've experienced, and the people and Pokemon I've met are too important to me. I could never say I regret it," Ash replied.

"Good answer," Red agreed with a smile. "You've learned a lot in this first year of your journey."

"So what do I need to do now?" Ash wondered.

"Isn't it obvious? You learn from your mistakes and push forward. Learn all you can about Pokemon from your pokedex, but not just that. Learn from experience, also. That knowledge will take you very far," Red answered.

"Bonding with your Pokemon is just as important," Ash pointed out.

"You're right. It is," Red nodded, "In order to truly be a great Pokemon Master, you do have to bond with your Pokemon. From that, you can form amazing strategies and combinations, but I'd say you have the strategies down. You get that from your old man here."

"Heh. I see how it is," Ash chuckled.

"In all seriousness, the more you learn about every Pokemon, the better you'll get, and you'll be able to create combinations like no one else. It will always keep your opponent guessing. You have what it takes. I saw that combination of Dragon Rage and Twister you did with Dratini," Red told him.

"What other combinations could I do with my Pokemon?" Ash asked, suddenly interested.

"It wouldn't be any fun if I spoiled anything for you. Only you can figure out the perfect combinations for your Pokemon. You'll learn it as you gain more experience and have more battles with them," Red answered.

"This is all much harder than I thought," Ash mumbled as he tried to take all of this information in. "All of the trainers I've faced so far are so tough. I was only able to beat two of the gym leaders because my aura activated."

"Yes. Riley told me about that, but you don't need your aura to win battles. You're strong enough even without it," Red replied.

"Heh. Easy for you to say since you can use it properly," Ash muttered.

At this, Red let out a sigh. "I started off just like you when I learned of the aura I had, and so did Riley. We didn't just master it in one day. We had to train, learn, and battle just like anyone else to get where we are as trainers. Only after this did we get the proper aura training. It's a privilege to use aura, but it isn't a necessity."

"I see," Ash said as he turned the other way.

He soon felt a hand placed on his shoulder. Ash turned back around and saw his dad giving him a warm smile.

"Ash, the best thing you can do right now is try to make it without your aura. I want you to be the best you can possibly be before your training starts. Only when you are great enough on your own will aura be able to make you more powerful," Red told him.

"When will I be good enough on my own?" Ash inquired curiously.

"I'll tell you what, Ash. Spend the next couple of years training as hard as you can and learn to take care of yourself. Win a Pokemon League. On that day, I will take you under my wing to learn the ways of aura," Red said.

"Take care of myself?" Ash repeated.

"Of course. Don't take this the wrong way, Ash, but you are relying too much on your friends to provide for your needs, like food and supplies. Your friend, Brock, for instance, seemed to do a lot of that on your travels," Red explained.

"Heheheh. Yeah. Serena and I were pretty lost before we met Brock," Ash smiled.

"That's exactly my point. Don't just take Brock for granted. Show him that you are learning from him. Both you and Brock know he won't be there for you forever. What are you going to do then? Learn how to cook and how to gather basic supplies from him. I'm sure he'd be happy to show you. Serena is already learning quite a few things from him to my knowledge. Who knows? You may meet a new trainer to be a mentor to and take care of yourself one day," Red added the last part thoughtfully.

Ash nodded his head. His dad was right. He needed to mature and not be so dependent on others. If he was to be the very best he could be, that was essential. It would also be pretty cool to be a mentor to somebody on the ways of Pokemon if they were just starting out.

"Maybe even taking care of that Togepi could help you out, too!" Red grinned.

"Hahahaha, yeah! I'm definitely trying to be the best dad I can be to Togepi right now!" Ash laughed.

"And I have faith that you can win a Pokemon League, too," Red continued. "You did make it to the Top Four this time, after all. I have no doubt that once you gain even more knowledge and form even stronger bonds with your Pokemon, you'll be an amazing trainer. I want to see how much better you've become between the time I leave again and when I come back."

"Thanks, Dad," Ash replied sincerely. Though his family hadn't mentioned it very often, they all knew Red was going to leave again once the Pokemon League was over. Ash didn't press it, though. He knew his dad would come back.

"So it's a deal then," Red finished as he stuck out his hand for Ash to shake.

Ash stared at the open gesture for a second. He knew what he needed to do now. He had to get stronger and mature. Only then would he become a true Pokemon Master. His first year had been a stepping stone. Now he could really start his journey to be the best.

"Deal!" Ash replied enthusiastically as he took his father's handshake before they pulled it into a hug.

It was the next day at the Pokemon League, and the much anticipated final battle was now taking place. Sure enough, it was between Paul and Tyson. Both of them were down to their last Pokemon, and it had almost been neck and neck the entire battle. It was Tyson's Meowth versus Paul's Electabuzz. Ash was up in the stands sitting between Serena and Red with everyone else around them. They were all staring intently at the battle taking place. Both Paul and Tyson were really something with the great strategies they had used during the match. Ash was good at that, but that was definitely one thing they had him beat on.

"Alright folks! We have ourselves quite a match going on between our two finalists. Which of them will bask in the glory of the championship? Paul or Tyson?!" the announcer exclaimed through his megaphone.

Tyson's Meowth was panting heavily while Paul's Electabuzz was doing the same. Both had taken heavy damage and were at the end of their ropes. It was clear this battle wouldn't go on for too much longer. It was like they could only win by going for direct power.

"Electabuzz! Use Thunderbolt!" Paul ordered.

"Counter with you own Thunderbolt, Meowth!" Tyson yelled.

Both Pokemon launched their respective attacks at each other before the two Thunderbolts collided in midair and tried to compete for dominance. It was really surprising that the Meowth's Thunderbolt as able to match power with Electabuzz. Tyson wasn't joking when he said that his Meowth was strong. Soon, the force of the attacks soon became too great, and an explosion occurred. Both Pokemon shielded themselves from the blast as the smoke cleared.

"Use Thunder Punch with everything you have, Electabuzz!" Paul shouted.

"Focus all your power into your claws and use Slash!" Tyson yelled.

Both Pokemon nodded before springing at each other. Meowth's claws glowed as it focused while Electabuzz's fists crackled with energy. It was using a double Thunder Punch. Upon seeing this, Meowth charged up its other paw, as well. The Pokemon were closing in on each other fast, but it seemed to be in slow motion.

The two Pokemon finally reached their opponent and swung with all their might. Electabuzz threw its fists forward in an X shape for more coverage. Its eyes grew wide when the Meowth in boots actually flipped over its arms. It then wildly swung at the Meowth again as the scratch cat Pokemon went in for the first strike. There was definitely contact made from one of the sides, but it was hard to tell because it happened so fast.

Electabuzz and Meowth each landed on the ground a short distance away from each other. Their backs were facing the other, and they were standing stock still. Everyone waited in eager anticipation to see what the final turnout would be. For a while, nothing happened. The audience knew contact was made, but the Pokemon weren't showing it. Finally, Electabuzz got a strained look on its face as it fell to the ground. Tyson's Meowth had got it just across the face, and it couldn't take anymore.

"Electabuzz is unable to battle! The champion has been decided. Tyson is the winner of the Pokemon League!" the judge declared.

"We have our champion, everyone! The final battle has finally come to a close, and what a battle it was! Make sure to join us tonight as we celebrate all the challengers!" the announcer shouted enthusiastically. He just about blew everyone's ears out with how loud his shouting was.

Paul stared in utter shock as Electabuzz fell. He had been so close to winning the Pokemon League, but in the end, this Tyson kid had been just a bit better. He almost seemed to talk like Ash about bringing out the inner strength of Pokemon which Paul didn't agree with. Still, he did just lose to this guy so he could respect him. He would just need to train harder. He had gotten the Pokemon with the best stats he could, but he still lost. What could he be missing? Well, whatever. He wouldn't worry about it right now.

"Alright, Electabuzz. Return," Paul said as he brought it back to his pokeball. He then stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked off the field.

Tyson, meanwhile, had run over to his Meowth and helped it to his feet.

"Hey there, Meowth. How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Meow Meow," it muttered with a sigh.

"That was really some battle, but we did it! You're the best, Meowth! Thank you for everything!" Tyson exclaimed as he pulled it into a hug.

The Meowth in boots almost rolled its eyes at this gesture but accepted it nonetheless. It was just as happy as its trainer for winning but more low key.

Ash watched with a smile on his face. So Tyson was going to be this year's champion. Even though he didn't win, Ash was glad it was him. He gotten along really well with the older teen and had paid close attention to this match to see if he could get any ideas for strategies. He was really going to take his dad's advice to heart.

As he watched how happy Tyson and the Meowth in boots looked, he could only imagine how he would react if he were to win one day. No. When he would win one day.

It was only a couple of hours after Tyson and Paul's battle. Ash had made sure to congratulate the teen on his victory as soon as he made his exit. Now, Ash was in a real battle against Lance. This would be his final training session that Lance would be able to do with Aerodactyl due to the closure of the Pokemon League. Red and Pikachu were watching off to the side.

The prehistoric Pokemon had come a long way since it began its training. At first, it would start its mood swings at the first sign of provocation. Recently, however, it's slowly begun to change and have a lot more tolerance and patience. It was even able to get through a few matches without once going wild. Ash was very proud of it.

Today was the final test to make sure Aerodactyl had fully gained control of its primal instincts, however. Lance was going to have an official battle with Ash. It would be his Dragonair against Ash's Aerodactyl, and he wasn't going to hold back like before. Both Aerodactyl and Ash knew they didn't really stand a chance against Lance, but they weren't in it to win.

"Alright, Dragonair! Use Twister!" Lance called.

A large twister formed up from the ground which immediately moved toward Aerodactyl. Ash was quite surprised with how fast the swirling vortex was. He briefly wondered if Dratini would be able to use Twisters like that one day. Ash knew Aerodactyl was fast enough to out speed it, though.

"Use Agility to get away!" Ash hollered.

Aerodactyl shot away from the Twister as fast as it could until it was nothing more than a blur in the sky.

"It thought you might do that," Lance said before directing his Dragonair. "Dragonair, use Dragon Rage to slow down Aerodactyl!"

Dragonair then began to shoot many blue flames from its mouth. It didn't appear to be trying to hit Aerodactyl, though. The blue embers were spreading out around the field and hovering in midair. This caused Aerodactyl to slow down tremendously in an effort to dodge the attack as well as the Twister. When it slowed down enough, Lance made his next move.

"Use Dragon Rush, Dragonair!" he shouted.

"Use Sky Drop!" Ash hollered.

With that, Dragonair leaped after Aerodactyl and slammed into it full force. Aerodactyl gave a screech of pain before grabbing Dragonair with its talons and ascending high into the air. This didn't deter Dragonair, however. It swung its long body upwards before wrapping itself around Aerodactyl which made movement for it very difficult.

"Now use Thunder Wave!" Lance told Dragonair.

"Use Crunch, Aerodactyl!" Ash called.

Just before Dragonair launched the Thunder Wave, Aeroadacytl leaned over and bit down on Dragonair's head which prevented it from using the attack. Dragonair began to struggle continuously due to this, but it started to increase the pressure on its body and started squeezing Aerodactyl as hard as it could to get it to let go. Despite this, Aerodactyl continued to ascend higher and higher to use Sky Drop.

"Your tail is still free Dragonair! Use Aqua Tail!" Lance hollered.

Dragonair began to charge up its tail as it began to become cloaked in water. It then blindly began to swish its tail back and forth to hit Aerodactyl, but the prehistoric Pokemon skillfully dodged it every time.

"Now release it, Aerodactyl!" Ash yelled.

Aerodactyl let go of Dragonair's head before proceeding to release it from its clawed feet. That small opening was all Dragonair need to finally launch its delayed Thunder Wave. The electric waves passed over Aerodactyl which caused it to grit its teeth at the paralyzing attack. Dragonair then struck Aerodactyl with its watery tail before falling to the ground, relatively unharmed.

Aerodactyl, meanwhile, fell to the ground, also, but not as gracefully as Dragonair. It spiraled downward to the ground before crashing on its back. The prehistoric Pokemon began shaking as it struggled to get back up. As it did so, it could feel its feral instincts taking over again. Aerodactyl started to fight it to the best of its ability, but the pull was too strong. It had been doing so well over the past couple of days and couldn't stop now!

"Aerodactyl! Wait!" Ash cried upon seeing this. Lance also frowned as he and Dragonair stepped back a little bit to give it some space.

Aerodactyl could hear Ash calling out to it, but it didn't seem to working this time. Why wasn't it? The biggest problem Aerodactly seemed to have was when it was afflicted by a status such as being paralyzed like now or poisoned. This made its primal instincts kick into overdrive so it could just survive even though Aerodactyl knew it in its heart that it was in no real danger.

Finally, it became too much for Aerodactyl to bear, and it got a feral look in its eyes as it began struggling violently against the Thunder Wave. It then began launching Hyper Beams at everything in its way.

"Aerodacytl! Return!" Ash yelled as he hastily returned it to his pokeball before any real damage had happened. He then brought the brim of his hat down so it covered his eyes. Why did this have to happen again when Aerodactyl was doing so well lately?

For a while, nobody said anything. They were all letting what had happened sink in before deciding how to proceed. This was the last day Lance would be able to help out Ash. Not to mention his dad was going to be leaving soon so he couldn't help out, either. That begged the ultimate question: What now?

"Ash, I'm sorry," Lance muttered.

"Thank you, Lance. I just don't understand. I thought Aerodactyl had finally overcome its problem, but just now, it was about to go right back to how it was," Ash replied as he stared woefully at Aerodactyl's pokeball.

"I hate to say this, but just like a person, a Pokemon can't overcome a psychological problem like this in the span of a week," Lance sighed.

"Did you know?" Ash couldn't help but ask.

"Honestly, I thought it would've been truly amazing if we were able to help Aerodactyl over this course of time," Lance replied as he returned Dragonair and frowned. "Despite this, I at least wanted to try."

"So what do I do know? I know I can't go around and battle with Aerodactyl if this will keep happening," Ash wondered.

"No. You can't," Lance said seriously.

Ash had a sneaking suspicion as to where this was going. He just didn't want it to be true. He and Aerodactyl got along great when it was acting normal. It was a jolly Pokemon by nature until its feral instincts took over its mind. They've had pleasant talks and even shared laughs with one another. Ash was one of the few people Aerodactyl really trusted.

"You aren't going to take Aerodactyl away from me, are you?" Ash asked worriedly.

"As a member of the Pokemon G-men, it is my duty to help any Pokemon overcome its problem and to take them away if we believe it is too much for a trainer to handle," Lance answered with a look of regret.

"But Aerodactyl's come so far! I can't let it end like this!" Ash cried.

"Pika Pi," Pikachu muttered sadly.

"You're a great trainer, Ash, but a Pokemon like Aerodactyl is really hard to train. It's best left in the hands of an expert like Lance," Red spoke this time.

"But Aerodactyl…," Ash trailed as he looked sadly down at his pokeball.

Lance sighed himself. The truth was he really hated to do something like this. A trainer's bond with their Pokemon could be incredibly strong. Despite this, if a Pokemon like Aerodactyl was with Ash all the time, it may never truly be helped.

Red himself didn't really like the news. He was proud of his son for how hard he's worked to help Aerodactyl. He also knew how important Ash's Pokemon were to him and still remembered how hard Ash told him it was to release Butterfree. If Aerodactyl went with Lance, Ash may never see it again which would probably upset him a great deal. That's when Red had an idea.

"Lance, wait a moment," Red spoke up, which caused Lance and Ash to look at him. "What if I were to take in Aerodactyl instead?"

"Dad?" Ash questioned as he stared curiously.

Lance bowed his head and appeared to be deep in thought. The law of the Pokemon G-men didn't necessarily dictate that he must take Aerodactyl. If it were to be transferred to another trainer with the appropriate skill level, that would certainly be alright. Red Ketchum had many years of experience under his belt and was someone Lance highly respected. Aerodactyl would definitely be safe with him.

"I think that should be just fine. I know Aerodactyl will be in good hands with you training it," Lance replied with a nod.

"Is that okay with you, Ash?" Red asked him.

Ash looked back down at his pokeball. He really didn't want to let go of Aerodactyl at all. He wanted to keep on training it, but knew he would be unable to as long as its problem persists. It had to go.

"It doesn't really make a difference," Ash finally muttered. "Aerodactyl will no longer be mine no matter who I give it to."

"I don't plan on keeping Aerodactyl forever, Ash," Red told him.

"What do you mean?" Ash questioned.

"Aerodactyl is still officially your Pokemon. You battled and captured it with your own pokeball," Red stated. "I promise I'm going to return Aerodactyl to you one day."

"You will?!" Ash asked hopefully as he looked up expectantly at Red.

"Absolutely. I'm going to take Aerodactyl under my wing and train it to control its primal instincts. When that happens, I'll give you Aerodactyl, and you'll be able to keep it permanently."

Ash felt a small wave of happiness come over him at that bit of information. He wouldn't be losing Aerodactyl, after all. It's just being trained temporarily so it could be the best Pokemon it could possibly be.

"That sounds good, Dad," Ash replied with a smile. "I need to let Aerodactyl know, too."

"Of course. I'm sure it's calmed down a little by now," Red replied.

Ash pressed the center button on the pokeball and released Aerodactyl. The prehistoric Pokemon grimaced as soon as it came out due to still being under paralysis. Lance went over and sprayed some more of the healing potion on it. Aerodactyl let out a sigh of contentment as the medicine worked its purpose before stretching its wings. It then looked down in frustration because it lost control again.

"Hey, Aerodactyl. How are you feeling?" Ash asked it.

"Aeroooo," it replied sadly.

"Chuuuu," Pikachu muttered in sympathy.

"I know. It hurts to not be able to control yourself, and I don't know how much more I can help you. My dad can, though," Ash told it.

"Rrrroooo?" it questioned as it looked up at Ash and then Red.

"That's right. My dad is going to take care of you for a little while. He's a great Pokemon trainer and can surely help you get over your problem. I know it. Once you've been able to master your instincts, I'll be able to have you back," Ash explained.

Aerodactyl sighed at this. It didn't want to leave Ash, either. The raven-haired boy seemed to truly understand it. It had a few meetings with his dad, too, and the man definitely seemed like a capable and kind-hearted person. Aerodactyl knew it wouldn't be mistreated in anyway under his care, but the separation still hurt.

"I'll miss you, too, Aerodactyl. We've come a long way since I caught you, but we'll see each other again and be able to pick up right where we left off," Ash said, trying to be encouraging, but he was quite upset, too.

Aerodactyl stepped up to Ash before rubbing its rough head against Ash's body affectionately. Ash chuckled softy as it almost tickled when Aerodactyl did that. He reached up his arm before gently rubbing its head.

"Thanks for being such an awesome Pokemon, Aerodactyl. You'll have a great time with my dad. I promise," Ash said.

"Pikaaaachuu," Pikachu said as it went over and stuck out its tiny paw to Aerodactyl.

Aerodactyl nodded and lowered its scaly wing down to Pikachu's height. The yellow rodent took its wing and shook it before stepping back now that it's said goodbye.

The prehistoric Pokemon then went over to Red and nodded its head to him to show it was willing to let him train it. Red smiled gratefully at Aerodactyl in return.

"Thanks, Aerodactyl. I promise to show you just as much care as Ash would. When the time is right, you'll see him again," Red told it.

"Aerrooo," it cawed softly before turning back to Ash.

"Goodbye, Aeroactyl," Ash mumbled before holding up his pokeball to return it before tears burned his eyes.

As he did so, the flood of memories rushed through his mind of the times he had with the Aerodactyl, no matter how briefly. It was extremely unique among his Pokemon, and he would always remember it. Besides, his dad promised he would see it again when he was ready. It was that comforting thought that allowed Ash to return the prehistoric Pokemon one more time. The beam came out and sucked in Aerodactyl, and Ash looked at it one more time before sighing.

"Please take care of it, Dad," Ash said as he handed Aerodactyl's pokeball to Red.

"Of course. You have my word," Red replied sincerely.

"Well, I guess that's that," Lance spoke up as he placed a comforting hand on Ash's shoulder. "You did very well to get Aerodactyl as far as you did."

"Yeah," Ash answered back, not really knowing what to say.

"Well, Ash. With that, I think I better get going myself," Red stated.

"You're leaving already?!" Ash exclaimed as he snapped his head up in Red's direction.

"I have to. I've stayed around much longer than I should have. I really needed to leave earlier. I've already told Delia goodbye earlier today, but I want to see through your training with Aerodactyl," Red answered.

"I see," Ash replied quietly before muttering, "Don't worry. I'm not upset with you. I know you have a good reason. It's just I've really enjoyed having you here with Mom and me. It's hard to see you go."

Red's heart warmed considerably at Ash's words. He wasn't bitter at all about him leaving like he was in the past. He truly would miss him and didn't want him to leave, but the good thing was that he truly understood.

"You have my Pokegear number, right? You can call me at any time you want and check up on me and Aerodactyl. I know I'm really hard to get into contact with sometimes, but I promise I'll make as much time as I can to talk to you," Red said.

Ash nodded his head. He was happy Red had given him his phone number, and he even promised to be better at answering his calls. Still, what on Earth was Red doing exactly? Maybe he would find out one day, at least.

"I'm going to miss you, Dad. Thanks for everything," Ash stated as a lump came in his throat.

"I'll miss you, too, Ash. I love you," Red replied as he stepped forward and embraced his son in a hug.

"Pika Pi," Pikachu commented as it watched the heartwarming scene.

"So do you have to run by our house and pick up Mr. Mime?" Ash wondered as they broke apart.

"No. I think not. Mr. Mime has decided to stay with your mom," Red replied before grinning.

"What? Why?" Ash asked curiously.

"Well, Mr. Mime loves cooking and doing chores so much that it would rather stay with Delia and do that than train with me," Red laughed.

"Really?" Ash asked as he raised an eyebrow at this interesting piece of information.

"Yep. Mr. Mime and Delia have really hit it off. She's even given it the nickname of 'Mimey'", Red continued.

"Heh. Mimey," Ash chuckled.

"Of course, I saw no objection once I learned this. Riley's always so busy so it will be nice to know that Delia has a psychic Pokemon to protect her while we're gone from now on. Just because Mr. Mime likes chores doesn't mean it's a slouch in battle," Red finished.

"Yeah," Ash agreed. That brought great comfort to him. Ash was apprehensive about leaving his mom alone like that again, and apparently Red was, too. It was great to know that a Pokemon will be staying at his household permanently to look after her.

Red then pulled out a pokeball, and his Dragonite appeared from his pokeball. It gave a cry before turning its back to Red to signal him to get on.

"Well, Red. It was nice to see you again. If anything comes up worth bringing attention to, I'll let you know," Lance spoke up as he held out his hand for Red to shake.

"You bet, Lance. Thanks for helping out with Ash and Aeroactyl. I knew I could count on you," Red replied.

"Anytime. You son is special. I have no doubt he will win a Pokemon League one day. I look forward to challenging him in a real Pokemon battle one day," Lance said.

"I'm sure it will be great," Red answered as they both gave a knowing smile at Ash.

"Eheheheheh. Thanks," Ash replied in an embarrassed tone as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Well then. I'll be off. Goodbye son. I'll see you again soon. I won't drop out of contact like that ever again. Call me anytime you want to talk," Red informed him as he got on Dragonite.

"I will. Thanks, Dad," Ash replied.

Red gave one more nod to Ash and Lance before his Dragonite gave a mighty flap of its wings. It then lifted off the ground and shot off into the sky much faster than one would expect. Ash and Pikachu both ran forward and waved continuously as Red and his Dragonite got further and further away. It was really sad to him go, but Ash knew he would see both him and his Aerodactyl really soon. It was only a matter of when. For some reason, Ash felt it may not be very far off at all.

It wasn't long until Red was fully out of sight, and Ash slowly let his arm fall to his side. This time, Ash and Red had parted on good terms.

The main stadium at the Pokemon League was a madhouse right now. It wouldn't be surprising if every seat was filled. Some people were even resorting to just standing in walkways because they couldn't find a place to sit. The closing ceremony was about to begin. All trainers who had participated in the Pokemon League were going to be recognized, and the Top Four were going to be honored and presented their trophies.

Serena was waiting eagerly for it to start with the others around her. She couldn't wait to see Ash and the look on his face when the trophy was presented. He worked so hard right now, and it was time it paid off. He wouldn't receive the chance to battle the Elite Four or get the gold trophy, but he would still be presented the bronze trophy along with one other person. It would've been nice if Gary were here, too, for the ceremony, though.

"Ladies and gentleman! The closing ceremony now starting! May I present to you all of the participants in this year's Indigo League Tournament! Let's hear it for them!" the announcer called out through the speaker.

As the first few trainers began to make their way into the stadium, the audience erupted into applause. Various names could be heard as friends and family members saw the one they were rooting for enter. Some trainers were waving at the audience. Some even had one of their Pokemon with them.

The one that surprised Serena the most was when she saw Mandy appear with Crobat flying next to him. The bat Pokemon still appeared to be rather weak but otherwise okay which caused Serena to breathe a sigh of relief. She was even more surprised when she saw Mandy rub his Crobat on the head before smiling at it and feeding it some Pokemon food. The Crobat happily ate the food before smiling back at its trainer. Serena let out a sigh of contentment to see that her little "talk" with Mandy seemed to have changed his attitude for the better.

"Look, Serena! There's Ash! And Ritchie, too!" Leaf shouted next her and pointed.

Serena was snapped out of her thoughts as she looked in the direction Leaf was pointing. Sure enough, Ash had just entered the stadium and was walking next to Ritchie. Their respective Pikachus were on their shoulder. Serena's face broke into a huge smile before she stood up and started cheering as loud as she could for her boyfriend. She was so proud of him! It was only a few seconds before the others joined her and started cheering for him, too. Serena soon heard crying before turning around and saw Delia Ketchum in tears.

"My little baby," Delia sobbed as she dabbed at her eyes with a rag.

She was just as proud of Ash as Serena was. Serena smiled to herself at Delia's elation before turning back to Ash.

Ash continued making his way as far into the Indigo Stadium as he could. The Moltres flame was about to be extinguished for the year, and he wanted as good a look at it as he could. He looked around to see if he would be able to spot anyone he knew in the stands but figured it would be impossible due to the number of people. He knew they were up there, though, cheering him on.

He and Ritchie soon came to a stop once they made it a suitable distance in while all the other trainers made their way in. He then looked in front of him and smiled when he saw Charles Goodshow, the Elite Four, and Blue entering the stadium on the opposite side. If Ash didn't know any better, he could've sworn he saw Lance look right at him before quickly averting his gaze. They came to a stop at about the same time as the all the participants filed in the stadium. With that, it was time begin.

Everyone's loud cheering eventually faded into silence as Mr. Goodshow pulled out a microphone from his pants pocket. He then turned it on before finally speaking into it.

"I'd like to thank every single one of our challengers for the amazing battles they put on this year. I don't know if it's my age or not, but the battles are becoming more exciting with every passing year! Let's hear it for our competitors again, everyone!" he said enthusiastically.

There was another roar of applause from the audience before Mr. Goodshow continued.

"Yes! Yes! While all of our competitors gave us some incredible battles and did well, I would like to recognize our Top Four of this year's tournament and present their awards! Everyone else will receive a commemorative badge. Make sure to accept these awards with pride as a symbol of excellence and achievement!" he announced.

"That's you, Ash!" Ritchie stated from next him with a nod.

"First off, I'd like to announce our two third place winners! Jeffrey Smith from Celedon City and Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town for making it to the semifinals!" Mr. Goodshow announced.

Ash smiled as he began to walk forward and make his way through the crowd of trainers with a brown-haired teenager. He soon reached Mr. Goodshow and the Elite Four. He first shook Blue's hand who gave him a nod and a pat on the back. Despite knowing him, it didn't particularly surprise Ash that this was all he got from Blue since the man never said that much to begin with. He then shook Lorelei, Bruno, and Agatha's hands before moving on to Lance last. As he shook Lance's hand, the spikey red-haired man held on for just a second longer before nodding his head which Ash returned. Lastly, Ash moved on to shake Mr. Goodshow's hand.

"Well done, Ash. You really surprised me after that fiasco of a first round. Lance was right about you. I look forward to seeing you at another tournament in the future," he muttered so only Ash could hear.

"Thanks a lot, Mr. Goodshow," Ash replied gratefully before releasing the handshake.

Mr. Goodshow then picked up the bronze trophy before handing it to Ash and motioning for him to stand a short distance away. Ash nodded his head before moving on and standing at the spot where he was supposed to. Ash looked at the bronze trophy in his hands. It was in the shape of the Indigo League torch and had Moltres' flame on top. It even had his name engraved on the bottom! Ash realized there really was nothing to be ashamed of being in the Top Four since this was his first tournament. He was really proud of all of his Pokemon for their hard work.

"Take a look at that, Pikachu. This just isn't my trophy. It belongs to all of us," Ash told the yellow rodent, referring to all of his Pokemon.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu said happily.

"Just wait until the next tournament we compete in, Pikachu. We'll turn this bronze trophy into a gold trophy! What do you say?!" Ash said next.

"Piiiiiiiiika!" it cheered in response.

It was at that time, the older teen who was presumably Jeffrey came over with his trophy before giving a smile to Ash and a nod, which Ash returned. Mr. Goodshow then went on to announce the second place winner.

"Our runner-up for this year is Paul Shinji who came all the way from Veilstone City in Sinnoh!" Mr. Goodshow announced.

"So Paul's from the Sinnoh region," Ash thought briefly. That suddenly explained how Paul got access to Pokemon who weren't native to Kanto.

More applause came from the audience as Paul approached the Elite Four and Mr. Goodshow. He bowed respectfully to each of them before shaking their hand and accepting his silver trophy. He then proceeded to where Ash and the other boy were already waiting. As Paul passed Ash, he didn't even look in his direction despite knowing full well he was there. Ash couldn't help but avert his gaze, too. There was still so much misunderstanding and dislike between the two. One would think their rivalry would end after one beat the other in a League match, but if anything, things were only made worse. There was no closure at all. It was terrible the two were parting ways like this, especially since Ash didn't think he would see the cold boy again after tonight.

"Now, it gives me great pleasure to announce our winner of this year's tournament! This young man will receive the gold trophy and be able to challenge the Elite Four and Kanto region champion themselves! Everyone join me in a big round of applause for Tyson Tetsuya all the way from Mauville City in Hoenn!" Mr. Goodshow proclaimed.

Ash smiled as he watched Tyson come forward to claim his prize and even applauded himself. Tyson's Meowth was walking next to him with its normal calm demeanor despite receiving so much praise. Tyson enthusiastically shook everyone's hand before accepting his trophy with a big smile on his face. He then walked over to stand on the champion's platform behind Ash, Paul, and the other boy. Ash and Pikachu gave Tyson and his Meowth a thumbs up as they passed, which they both returned. Tyson then got up on the platform before holding the trophy high over his head while the audience cheered harder.

Ash had a few thoughts running through his head as he watched Tyson. Mr. Goodshow said that Tyson was from a different region. He was also a little bit older than Ash. Had Tyson been in a Pokemon League tournament before? Was he able to win because he had more experience? That would seem to be the case. Ash smiled to himself. All he had to do was get a lot more experience and he would win one day, too.

"Let's hear it one more time all of our competitors!" the announcer exclaimed this time. "We should all stand up as a sign of respect for their skills and dedication to the ideals of the Pokemon League! While you are doing that, we shall now start our celebration in the sky!"

Applause broke out once again all around the stadium as everyone stood up. Everyone then turned their eyes to the sky and gasped as fireworks broke out. One by one they shot up in a burst of colors which were very beautiful. It wasn't long before they realized that the fireworks were exploding into the shapes of the one hundred fifty Pokemon native to the Kanto region which only added to its greatness.

After the fireworks, everyone turned their faces the burning flame of Moltres in above the stadium. Ash and Pikachu both gave hard stares at it. The flame slowly died down until it was nothing more than a spark before that was gone, too. The flame signified the beginning and end of the tournament, and it was eventful from the start. Ash would certainly never forget this moment for the rest of his life. It was his first Pokemon League tournament, and it was now at a close.

It was now just after noon the next day, and most people who attended the tournament had already left earlier in the morning. Ash and the other Pallet Town crew were among the few that were left.

Ash was currently sitting on the first row of stands in the main stadium overlooking the battlefield, and he was wearing the new set of clothes he had bought a couple of days ago. It felt rather weird to be wearing something else for a change, but they were a symbol of his new start.

Pikachu was in his lap while Ritchie and Sparky were sitting next to him. None of them had really said anything upon meeting here. They just nodded at each other before sitting down together and stared ahead, each thinking their own thoughts about the experience they had. Finally, after almost ten minutes like that, Ritchie finally broke the silence.

"Well, we may not have won the whole thing, but we sure had fun!" Ritchie stated.

"You bet!" Ash agreed with a nod.

Ritchie than turned towards Ash. "So what are your plans now?" he asked.

Ash looked up towards the sky as he thought about it. The world was so big, and he didn't want to just stay in Kanto. Where would he go? There were many more regions: Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and more. They all sounded so exciting.

"Well," Ash began thoughtfully, "I thought it would be really exciting to try one of the other regions out there, but I don't think I'll visit them quite yet. I need to train and learn as much as I can before I decide to do that. That way, I'll be prepared for any trainer that comes my way. I may stay in Pallet Town for a small while to do that. It would be great if there were a few smaller tournaments out there for me to compete at in the meantime."

"I hear you!" Ritchie replied.

"What about you?" Ash asked curiously.

"I think I'm going to do the same thing as you," Ritchie said. "There is so much more left for me to do, but I need to get stronger so I'll be up to the challenge. I'll be in Kanto for a bit myself."

"So as of right now, we're just Pokemon Masters in progress," Ash stated.

"Yeah!" Ritchie replied before standing up and turning to Ash. "Train hard, and best of luck in everything!"

"Thanks a lot, Ritchie! You, too!" Ash replied before standing up also and shaking hands with Ritchie. The two then brought it in to an arm bump before releasing each other. Pikachu and Sparky shook each other's tails as a farewell.

"We'll see each other again, Ritchie! I'll see you later!" Ash said with a thumbs up.

"I know it! See you then! You, too, Pikachu!" Ritchie replied with a thumbs up also before he and Sparky turned to leave.

As Ash watched them go, a flood of memories was going through him as Pikachu climbed on his shoulder to watch. Ash suddenly remembered everything about what he did in the tournament. He remembered meeting Moltres and being chosen by the Elite Four to run the torch. He remembered his first match against Mandy. It started off really rough but ended well, and now Aerodactyl is in the care of his father for the time being. Dratini did incredible in the match against Jasmine. His match against Ritchie had been one of his closest calls so far. All of his battles meant a lot to him, but now it was time to move on now that it was over. Ash saw Ritchie turn in the direction of the exit, and then he was gone, and Ash breathed a sigh of contentment. That was that.

"Pika Pi!" Pikachu cooed as it nuzzled its face against Ash, causing him to laugh happily.

Ash and Pikachu stayed in that position for a few seconds longer before they heard footsteps behind them. The two spun around to find Serena had just entered with Togepi in her arms. She had already been wearing her new clothes for a few days, but Ash now really took the time to notice it now that he was wearing new clothes, too. They looked really good on her. Ash almost couldn't hide the blush that was coming to his cheeks. Surprisingly, Pikachu didn't snicker at Ash this time.

"Hey there, Serena. Hey Togepi What's up?" he asked them.

"TogeToge!" Togepi chirped

"Heehee! Togepi's trying to say everyone is packed up now. We were all wondering if you were ready to leave yet," Serena replied with a slight giggle.

"Yeah. I'm good. I'll be right there," Ash said as he turned and leaned over the stadium railing with his arms folded.

Serena saw the look on his face and knew what he was thinking. Ash had been waiting to compete in a Pokemon League tournament his whole life. To have the event actually over now must have been a very strange feeling indeed. She set down Togepi next to Pikachu and joined him by the railing and mimicked his motions before staring out at the open field herself.

"It's hard to believe all that's happened so far in the past year with us," Ash said, confirming her thoughts.

"I know what you mean. You competed in your very first Pokemon League and won the Top Four, and I finally conquered the Battle Chateau despite my fear of not doing it in time, and we've met all of our amazing Pokemon and even made new friends," Serena agreed.

"Yeah. Now is the time this chapter of our life closed. A new one is about to begin!" Ash declared.

"So what now?" Serena asked him.

"Well, as I told Ritchie, I'm going to follow my dad's advice. I'm going to train as hard as I can and read all I can about Pokemon. I'm going to study my pokedex and encyclopedia as diligently as I can. My Pokemon and I are going to work together as a team and come up with great strategies and combinations with each other. We'll learn all sorts of things from each other that we couldn't learn before," Ash answered.

"You'll be Pokemon Master material before you know it," Serena finished before adding with a smile. "You know you have my support. I'll be with you to the very end."

"I know. I can count on you for anything, Serena," Ash said sincerely as he adjusted the new hat on his head.

"PikaPi!" Pikachu said.

"Togepriiiii!" Togepi added.

"Hahaha! You know it, guys!" Ash replied with a laugh. "I know you two will be here for me, too!"

Serena watched Ash with a smile on her face. This is when he would really start taking his Pokemon journey seriously. If he wasn't going to travel to other regions for a while, that would give her ample time to figure out what it was she wanted to make a career out of. The Battle Chateau was fun, but it just didn't last as long as she anticipated. The Pokemon world was huge, and there was definitely something out there for her. She was sure she would find something! Ash had given her the inspiration she needed!

"While you're doing that, I'll stay in Pallet Town with you and try to find my own goal," Serena said to Ash, voicing her thoughts.

Ash saw her looking at him before returning the smile. The truth was he had been a little worried about Serena. He knew that she was having a hard time after she conquered the Battle Chateau. It had been something she had been trying to finish just for him. Now she had reached the trial of figuring out what to do now. Calem had presented her with an article on Pokemon Performing, but she didn't know a whole lot about it since it was mainly a Kalos event. Despite this, Ash would support her no matter what. She didn't appear to be worrying about it, so neither would he!

"I know you'll find something Serena. You're too special to not find your true calling," Ash told her.

Serena found herself blushing at that statement, not that she tried to hide it anymore. It only made it all the better that Ash believed in her, also. They were definitely going to make it through their obstacles together!

"It's a promise," Serena stated. "With something as important as this, it needs to be sealed!"

"How should we do that?" Ash questioned.

Serena took a deep breath before saying her next sentence. The truth was that she had been really apprehensive about doing something like this even though she and Ash were together now. She remembered when she did this the first time, Ash didn't return it. Granted, he still needed to sort out his feelings for her at that time, but it still hurt. Would he do that again?

"Well," Serena began as she held her hand over her heart and glanced to the side as her blush only became heavier. She was having trouble finding the right words.

Ash continued to look at Serena. He knew for a fact she wasn't talking about a handshake so what could it be? He knew he was still a little dense, but he was determined to figure out what it was Serena was wanting to do. She was his girlfriend, and he needed to stop being so blind to what it was she wanted! He searched her body language for any types of clues.

Let's see. She was blushing heavily. She looked really nervous. Her feet were shuffling back and forth. It was at that moment that he noticed the biggest clue: she was staring at his mouth.

"Serena, I think I know what it is you are trying to say, and I'll be happy to finish it for you," Ash said. "Why don't we seal our promise to each other with a kiss?"

Serena felt like she could leap for joy after hearing that. She had been unable to say it herself, but Ash had finally been the one to suggest it. They were going to do it! This was it!

"Definitely!" Serena agreed happily. It was really hard to contain her joy right now. "Let's do it!"

Ash then turned and nodded to Pikachu and Togepi. "Why don't you two go get the others and tell them to come meet us here? We're almost finished."

"Pikachu!" Pikachu responded with a thumbs up. It took the hint. The yellow rodent took Togepi by the hand and walked off with it out of the stadium. It was wondering when those two would finally work up enough to courage to do something like that.

Ash turned back to Serena and saw her watching him. There was a slight breeze outside right now which was causing her hair to flow a little bit. She had her hands back and was apparently waiting to see what his next move was. Ash didn't know how to put it, but she looked even more beautiful than usual right now. Was it because of what he was about to do?

"Alright, Serena. This will seal our vow to become the best we can possibly be, no matter what we do. Whatever that may be, we'll do it together. Are you ready?" Ash asked her.

"Yes. We'll become stronger together," Serena answered. "I'm not nervous about what the future holds for me as long as I have you."

"Neither am I," Ash replied as he took a step forward and leaned in a little.

"Ash…," Serena breathed. She leaned a little, too.

"Serena…," Ash muttered.

They both then took another step until they were touching. They closed their eyes before going in the rest of the way. At last, the two kissed each other.

It was delicate but firm. As soon as their lips touched, the two felt like they were on top of the world right now. Nothing could possibly spoil this moment. It was like nothing could ever bring them down. Ash and Serena were completely overcome with emotion. Ash felt himself wrap his arms around Serena's waist while she wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss. Their hearts felt like they would explode right now. This was their moment. All they felt was pure joy and bliss.

After that amazing moment, the two finally broke contact and leaned their foreheads against the other, staring into the other's eyes. Their arms were still wrapped around the other, and they breathed a sigh of contentment. If anything, their feelings for each other had only grown stronger just now. They had finally done it. They kissed, and they couldn't feel any happier. They both suddenly said the only thing they could say after doing something so meaningful.

"Ash, I love you," Serena said serenely.

"I love you, too, Serena," Ash replied with equal contentment before continuing, "We're in this together."

"Yes. We are," Serena answered as tears came to her eyes.

They then broke away from each other. They stared for a moment longer before they heard what sounded like more footsteps entering the stadium. The two looked over the railing and saw all their friends coming in. Delia, Brock, Misty, Leaf, Professor Oak, Pikachu, and Togepi were all were there. They nodded to the two. Ash in particular smiled at this. All the people who loved and supported him were here now. Ash finally turned and nodded to Serena.

"Ready to head back to Pallet Town, Serena?" Ash asked with determination.

"You bet!" Serena replied.

The two then grabbed each other's hands and ran towards their friends. Pikachu and Togepi started running to them soon after. Ash and Serena had their goals set and sealed it with a kiss. Serena was going to study as much as she could and was determined to find her true calling in life, no matter what it would be.

Ash was going to begin taking things more seriously now. He had learned so much this first year on his Pokemon journey, and now he could build upon that. There was so much more out there that he needed to know, and as his dad said, he would only keep learning as he went along. Even though Ash lost one crucial match in the Pokemon League, he won a whole lifetime of memories, and they were going to be a reminder of his determination to be the best there ever was. It was all part of the road to becoming a Pokemon Master.

In regards to the future of this story and its updates, the first thing I would like to say is that there will no longer be any weekly updates. I received a promotion at work, and with promotions, come a lot more work and less free time, and my time is already limited enough as it is. I will TRY to keep a bi-weekly update, but there are no promises at all so don't hold your breath. With that being said, this can come as somewhat of a blessing, too. I will be able to put a lot more time and thought in my chapters, thus, creating better writing for everybody. That being said, there should be an update at least twice a month, and I certainly don't plan to abandon this story. I'm still going strong and want to keep it that way! Hopefully, the Orange Islands won't take me too long to write. It will only have about 15-20 chapters. Then I can get to Johto which I'm really excited for with what I have planned for that arc.

Also, I've had a lot of people request to give more time to side characters, namely Brock and Misty. That will certainly be done, too! Well, with the exception of Brock in the Orange Islands because he will be gone throughout most of that arc. I will be looking forward to developing both of their characters in the coming arcs so expect that.

The first chapter of the Orange Islands arc will be up roughly a month from now, but I don't have a set date. The best way to know the day I post the first chapter is to follow or favorite me as an author so you can keep track of when I post a new story on this website. Either that, or you can just check the website everyday which might be a bit of a hassle. Remember, if you ask a question, I will ONLY accept Orange Island League questions. Anything else will probably be ignored as I said in Chapter 55.

Last but not least, thank you all for the wonderful support of this story which is what drove me to complete the Kanto arc! You were all extremely awesome! I never would've dreamed I would get over 2500 reviews. This milestone has now been reached and I only hope to get better from here on out now that I've had a little experience as a writer. Please continue to show your support as I continue to complete this big project. I understand I gained and lost readers during this time, but to those of you who were here since the beginning (or close to it) and still are, you guys are the best! Thank you so much for discovering this story and watching me evolve as a writer by posting compliments or critiques or just reading it in general. For that, I want to do a special shout out to all of you, or at least the people who took the time to review almost every chapter! Thank you all so much! I have plenty of people whom I know has been here forever, but I would feel bad if I missed someone so make sure you just say so in a PM or a review and I will add you ASAP to my list.

See you all in the Orange Islands Arc!

Next time: (A New Adventure Begins…)

LOL just like the anime!

Answering the Questions:

Would have Paul and Damian meet up somehow?

No. Damian was pretty much taken care of back in Chapter 27.

Will they learn a little about Paul's past during the Battle Frontier arc?

Not until Sinnoh

How will Charizard take this loss to someone like Paul?

Not too well, but it'll get over it.

Can you make guys like Serena?

If I do they won't get far. Serena is loyal to Ash.

Will Ash adopt some of Paul's advice, to train his team harder?

Yes.

Since Team Rocket, the executives, and Giovanni (and possibly Damien) are still on the loose, when will they reappear?

Johto arc

When will ritchie appear again?

Sometime after the Orange Islands arc

When we see Paul again in Sinnoh, will his Electabuzz & Magmar be evolved like canon?

Yes.

Will Leaf and Ritchie get together?

No. Just friends.

Will Dratini have a crush on Ash like Bayleef?

I wouldn't call it a crush that Dratini has on Ash, but it won't appreciate seeing Chikorita snuggle against him.

With this being Pauls first journey though a region is he 11 like ash or is he older?

He's the same age as Ash.

My question is whether Ash is likely to win either the Johto or Hoenn Leagues?

Maybe.

Will Ash, Serena and Misty (since I know Brock won't be there) be bringing a full team of 6 with them to the Orange Islands?

Full team of 6.

After investing over a year into writing this story, are you happy with the final product?

I normally don't answer questions like this in the story and prefer a PM, but since this is the last chapter, I'll answer it so you readers know how I feel about it.

Truthfully, yes. I am very satisfied with how this story turned out. That being said, there are a few things I wish I could change. My first few chapters would be less than atrocious, the Celedon Gym battle would be done differently as I feel that was my weakest gym chapter, and I would've given more character development to Brock and Misty. However, in the end, I regret nothing as I now I know not to make these mistakes in the future. That's why I'm changing nothing and even leaving the first few chapters the way they are. That way I can see how much I've progressed as a writer since I first started. I'm just impressed in general that I actually wrote a fanfiction of this magnitude. I didn't know I had it in me. :