Well, here it is, the final chapter of the Johto Arc after so long! As usual, please read the author's note at the bottom of this chapter since it's the last. Please enjoy the chapter. Since this is the last chapter, I figured I might as well give the heights of all the characters in the story as of now because why not? It shows their growth throughout the fic, especially the Pallet Four, Brock, and Misty.

Character Story Heights:

Ash: (start) 4ft. 9in

(now) 5ft. 3in

Serena: (start) 4ft. 10in

(now) 5ft. 2in

Misty: (start) 4ft. 11in

(now) 5ft. 3in

Brock: (start) 5ft. 6in

(now) 5ft. 10in

Gary: (start) 4ft. 11in

(now) 5ft. 5in

Leaf: (start) 4ft. 10in

(now) 5ft. 1in

Silver: 5ft. 11in

Jimmy: 5ft

Marina: 5ft

Red: 5ft. 11in

Blue: 6ft. 2in

Rose: 5ft. 6in

Delia: 5ft. 5in

Grace: 5ft. 5in

Yellow: 5ft. 1in

Riley: 5ft. 11in

Gold: 5ft. 10in

Crystal: 5ft. 5in

Giovanni: 6ft. 3in

Jessie: 5ft. 7

James. 5ft. 9

Side note: Tobias is 30 years old in this fic.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.

Chapter 79: The Road to be a Johto Master

One week had passed since Ash won the Silver Conference. The overflowing crowd had since dispersed, and Ash was one of the few ones left on Mt. Silver. He was still here so he would have a shot at battling the Elite Four and the champion of Johto. Like the Silver Conference, his battles would take place on Mt. Silver. Unlike the Silver Conference, the battles would take place near the top of the mountain. The area was strictly off limits to anyone except the Elite Four, the champion, and any person who challenged them.

A long winding roadway started from the west side of the mountain and went up and up. It was this roadway that Ash was standing in front of. The only ones with him were Serena, Misty, Brock, Jimmy, and Marina. Everyone else, including Gary and Leaf, had gone home earlier that week. Gary wanted to go home and figure things out but promised he would be there to hear all about the Elite Four when Ash got back. It felt weird that Ash and Gary had parted ways that time as friends rather than rivals. Their rivalry had finally come to end since they first met each other.

"Well, Mr. Pokemon Master, you ready?" Brock asked with a clap on the shoulder.

"I've got my warm clothes already on. It's supposed to get pretty cold up there," Misty commented as she looked at the snowy peaks . She had donned a sweatshirt and pants as opposed to her normal shorts and yellow tank top.

"You bet, guys," Ash answered as he adjusted his cap. He had put on a hoodie over his normal clothes.

"This is where it all comes to an end, Ash. The Elite Four and my dad are all up there waiting for you," Jimmy told him. Both he and Marina had on heavy coats.

Pikachu and Togetic had both made themselves comfortable inside of Serena's heavy jacket since Ash's hoodie provided little room for them to move around. Serena had them both pulled in close to insulate both them and herself.

"We're all really proud of you for making it here, Ash," Serena told him.

"We're ready for you to be a region champion, now," Marina added.

"Thanks for being here and supporting me," Ash replied as he cast a glance back at the mountain. "I think my first opponent is supposed to be Will. He trains psychic types."

"It's funny that his name is Will and he trains psychic types," Misty giggled.

"Said Misty the water Pokemon trainer?" Serena asked with a sly grin, which caused Misty to cough in embarrassment.

"Have you thought about which Pokemon you're using, Ash? I know most of these guys through my dad, and they're really good," Jimmy informed Ash.

"Yeah. I thought about using Heracross, but because it's part fighting-type, it would have a big weakness which isn't something I want. Gengar is in the same boat because it's part poison-type. All I have is Houndour who is strong against psychic-types," Ash replied. "With that, I think it was better if I just used a diverse team of Pokemon. I'm using Houndour, Aerodactyl, and I'll round things off with Noctowl to fight psychic with psychic."

"You aren't using Dragonite, Blastoise, Snorlax, or Venusaur?" Serena asked.

"No. I don't want to wear them out with too many consecutive battles. I only get one day of rest between each Elite Four member," Ash rebutted as he gave a small smile to Jimmy. "I'd prefer to save them for your dad."

Jimmy smiled back. "I'm sure he wants it that way, too."

"Well, Ash, we know you thought hard about which Pokemon you would use so we support you," Brock told him.

"Do you want to say any words before we head up?" Misty asked.

"Yes," Ash said as he turned to them. "Anybody who has to use the bathroom better go, now."

"We're good!" everyone said to him.

"In that case, look out Johto! Your next champion is coming up, now!" Ash shouted as he began a mad dash up the road.

The group now stood in front of a massive building near the top of Mt. Silver. They had been walking for almost two hours, and it was already a lot colder up here. They heard that the harsh conditions made this an ideal place for the Elite Four to train their Pokemon. However, none of the Elite Four members were outside doing that. They were all inside awaiting Ash.

The group noticed that part of the building had been built into the mountain itself. All they could see was the first story, but they were sure it extended up quite a bit. A large set of double doors towered above Ash and the rest as they looked on in awe.

Ash took a deep breath as he recounted all the events that led to this moment. He recalled his first step into the region of Johto. He recalled all the gym battles. He recalled the Whirl Cup. He recalled Giovanni's demise. He recalled his encounters with Silver. He recalled all the friends he made on this journey. He recalled all of the battles he had in the Silver Conference and ultimately his final showdown with Gary. Ash truly felt like he had earned the right to be here today. He had no idea what awaited him on the other side of those doors, but he was ready.

Ash put on a resolute expression before he stepped towards the doors. Once he reached them, he pulled out the special key that was given to him upon winning the league that would open the doors to the building and unlocked it. He then took a deep breath and pushed open the doors. They surprisingly offered little resistance given their size. He then stepped in.

"He's here, guys!" Gold called out in excitement as he watched Ash come in from a monitor in the office.

The Elite Four members gathered around Gold to get a good look at the boy who walked through the huge doors. They also saw he brought along some friends, including Gold's son. Karen folded her arms before she crossed her arms and sighed.

"I don't think he has what it takes to beat all of us," she stated.

"What makes you say that?" Gold wondered.

"He's a strong trainer. That much is certain, but he isn't quite our level yet. I can see it in the way he battles. He relies to much on instinct and not enough on calculations and analysis," Karen replied.

"What?" Gold questioned with a confused look.

"I think she's saying he still makes too many errors. I saw it myself in the Pokemon League. With the exception of his last battle, he had way too many close calls due to poor judgement," Palmer said thoughtfully.

"I don't think he'll do that here since he knows what he's up against," Gold responded before he turned to Koga. "Besides, didn't Ash beat you before when you were the gym leader of Fuchsia City?"

"I suppose," Koga admitted. "Although I have improved greatly since then which is why I am here. I hope young Ash has done the same."

"Well, I guess I'm the only one who thinks he can do it," Gold said with a shrug and turned to Will. "You're up."

Will nodded his head and put on his mask. He then made his way over to the door, but ended up bumping into it. One of the lens of the mask popped out as Will appeared dazed for a moment before he opened the door and left the room. The rest of the Elite Four shook their heads.

Apparently, Will wore that mask because he believed that since he trained psychic Pokemon, he didn't need to see the battle in front of him. He could communicate with his Pokemon telepathically to find their position. However, he couldn't see when he did that.

"Why didn't he just wait until the battle started before he put that thing on?" Karen asked with an irritated sigh.

"Probably to look as imposing as possible?" Palmer guessed with a shrug.

Gold rolled his eyes and turned back to the screen. He hoped that Ash would kick all of their butts to show them that he was real deal. He was the son of his mentor, after all. He looked forward to seeing what Ash could really do.

Ash looked around the massive battle room for any sign of his first opponent. He figured they would all be here waiting for him, but no one was. Since there wasn't, Ash shrugged and began to do some stretching. He wanted to be in shape for this battle.

Serena turned to Jimmy. "Do they usually take this long to show up?" she asked him.

"Yeah. Will likes to prepare for his entrance. He is a bit for theatrics, after all," Jimmy responded.

"Theatrics?" Misty questioned.

As if on cue, the lights in the large room dimmed, and a spotlight appeared in the center of the room. The spotlight then began to dance along the room as the group looked on in wonder. It then settled upon the large set of double doors on the other side of the room.

The doors opened, and a lone person was revealed behind the doors in a dramatic pose. He then flipped into the room before he landed in another pose. A rope then came down in front of him, and then he swung across the room and leaped off of it. He then landed right in front of the group and struck another pose. The spotlight then showed down on him, and the group had to shield their eyes from the brightness of it.

"Welcome to the Pokemon League, Ash!" Will cried as he extended his hand for the boy to shake.

The group took in Will's appearance. They couldn't help but think he looked a little strange. Will had purple hair that almost reached his shoulders, and he was wearing formal clothes and a cape. To complete the outfit, he wore a mask over his eyes, but one of the eye parts was missing. Even though he was an Elite Four member, the unusual outfit and dramatic personality sort of made him look like a dork.

"Thanks," Ash said anyway and accepted the handshake.

"So, you're Will, Ash's first opponent?" Serena asked him.

"I am," Will confirmed. "I have traveled all around the world to make my psychic Pokemon powerful. I've even been far off to the Unova and the Alola regions. I can only keep getting stronger so losing is not an option for me!"

"Well, I feel the same way!" Ash told him. "My Pokemon and I worked really hard to come here so I won't lose, either!"

"It's a cape! I love it!" Marina suddenly squealed as she went to look over Will's cape, but Jimmy held her back.

"Down, Marina," he told her.

Will stared in confusion at Marina for a moment before he cleared his throat and turned back to Ash. That little display threw him off.

"Perhaps you would care to back up your words, Ash?" Will questioned.

"You bet!" Ash replied with a nod.

Will gave a small smile. "I have seen you battle in the Silver Conference, Ash. You are indeed a strong trainer. Whether it's enough to defeat me, we will have to see."

The lights of the room then came back on, and everyone went to their respective sides of the battlefield. There was a small set of stands off to the right side of the room which is where everyone else went. Ash stood on the side closest to the door while Will stood on the other side. As Will got ready, Ash looked around and noticed something strange.

"Where's the referee?" he asked.

"Elite Four battles do not require a referee. I believe we are all skilled enough to know if our Pokemon can go on or not," Will replied simply. "The rules are simple. We'll battle three on three. You can make substitutions while I cannot. The winner will be determined once all of the opponent's Pokemon are defeated."

Ash shrugged as he figured that made sense. He didn't have to do anything overly fancy here. He just had to have a normal Pokemon battle, plain and simple. Ash then was about to choose his first Pokemon, but he noticed Will took out his first pokeball and threw it forward.

"I call forth Alakazam!" Will shouted.

The powerful psychic-type Pokemon appeared and held its two spoons out in front of it. Alakazam then seemed to concentrate before the spoons bent. It then concentrated again before the spoons were put back in place. It seemed that Will's Pokemon had a thing for theatrics, as well.

"An Alakazam, huh?" Ash questioned before he threw forward his first pokeball. "Noctowl, I choose you!"

Noctowl gave a hoot as it appeared from the pokeball. It then flew around the room before he landed on the ground and folded its wings. Will noticed the different colorization on Noctowl and smiled in approval.

"Ah. I like the color of your Noctowl. That must mean it's quite special," Will commented.

"Wait until you see what it can do in battle!" Ash told him, and Noctowl hooted in agreement.

"Very well. Let us start now!" Will exclaimed.

"I'll make the first move! Use Synchronoise!" Ash shouted.

An odd shock wave quickly came out from Noctowl and spread across the battlefield. It came so fast that it washed over Alakazam who gave a cry of pain and appeared quite dazed for a moment. Ash took that opportunity for a follow up attack.

"Use Uproar!" Ash called out next to disorientate Alakazam further.

Noctowl began to give loud hoots throughout the battlefield. The sound waves went all around the battlefield, and Alakazam grimaced in discomfort. That Noctowl was faster than it looked.

"Great! Now, use Take Down!" Ash hollered, not letting up.

Noctowl gave a hoot and charged straight at Alakazam for the lethal attack. Alakazam still appeared quite dazed, and the attack appeared as if it would connect again. However, Alakazam regained its focus and saw the attack coming.

"Use Teleport!" Will shouted.

Alakazam disappeared at the last second before Noctowl hit it. Noctowl gave a hoot of surprise and managed to pull itself up to avoid smashing into the ground. Despite that, Alakazam soon appeared behind it. Noctowl had the advantage for just a second, but Will or Alakazam weren't going to let that happen again.

"Psychic!" Will hollered.

"Counter with your own Psychic!" Ash shouted.

The two Pokemon launched their respective blasts of psychic energy at each other. Alakazam's easily overpowered Noctowl, and the owl Pokemon was blasted backwards and onto the floor.

"Hang in there, Noctowl!" Ash encouraged after it was hit by the attack.

It was at that moment that Alakazam disappeared again. Noctowl took flight once again and saw another Psychic attack coming from its right. Noctowl hooted in surprise and flew out of the way just in time. It then had another Psychic attack come from seemingly nowhere towards it. Noctowl barely dodged that one, too. So, it seemed this Alakazam could attack while remaining invisible.

Noctowl was doing its best to dodge, but it couldn't dodge forever. A Psychic attack managed to get a hold of it, and Noctowl was blasted to the ground once again. Alakazam then reappeared right in front of Noctowl and then lifted it up with its Confusion attack.

Noctowl hooted in pain as Alakazam began to bend its body in all sorts of awkward angles. It then pointed one of its spoons forward and sent Noctowl sailing towards a wall at the end. Noctowl gave another shout of pain as its back hit the wall. Noctowl then felt itself released from the psychic hold and looked only to see Alakazam was gone again.

The process soon repeated as another Psychic attack came out of nowhere. Noctowl grimaced and managed to dodge, but it was clear this was Alakazam's strategy. It was doing the same thing as before.

"There's got to be some way to figure out where that Alakazam is coming from," Ash thought as he looked around.

He then saw it. There was a small flash just before a psychic attack was launched. They just had to be on the lookout.

"Alright, Noctowl! Wait for my signal!" Ash shouted.

Noctowl concentrated as it began to look around for the source of the attack. Unbeknownst to them, Will smiled from behind his mask. So, they thought they were going to outsmart him, did they? Well, he'll show them. There was a flash from the right of Noctowl, and Ash made his move.

"Use Air Slash!" he shouted.

To his surprise, as Noctowl turned to do the attack, there was another flash from behind Noctowl. Ash's eyes widened as he tried to yell out a warning, but it was too late. A Psychic blast came from behind Noctowl and sailed through the air. Noctowl shouted in pain as it was hit from behind and went flying forward until its front side hit a wall off the side. It then slumped down in defeat. Alakazam then reappeared in front of Will.

"Noctowl!" Ash cried.

"You seem to forget who you're dealing with, Ash," Will spoke up. "I knew what you were planning. I know that there's a flash that would give away my Alakazam's position, and you would use that to get the upper hand. That's why I waited until you figured out the secret, and then I had Alakazam fake out your Noctowl. I'm an Elite Four member, and I won't fall for such basic tricks like your average trainer."

Ash sighed and bit his lip. Deep down, he knew Will was right, though. An Elite Four member wouldn't give themselves such a glaring weakness like that if they were trying to hide. If they did, they would certainly find a way to use it to their advantage like Will just did. Will was already one step ahead of him. If Ash hoped to win this, he would have to be two steps ahead of Will if that was even possible.

"Return, Noctowl. You did great," Ash told it as he recalled it to its pokeball.

"The only attacks Ash got in were at the beginning. Alakazam doesn't look tired at all," Serena noted.

"Ash definitely has his work cut out for him, now. Ash is going to have battle really smart now if he hopes to beat Will," Brock added.

Ash then took out his next pokeball. "Aerodactyl, I choose you!"

Aerodactyl appeared from the pokeball and gave a happy cry. It then stretched its wings and waited patiently for the battle to begin with a smile. Will noticed the uncharacteristic smile on Aerodactyl's face and regarded it with interest.

"Hmm…interesting Pokemon and interesting attitude. Let's hope you do better with it than Noctowl," Will said.

Ash ignored the jab at him and instead decided to move forward. What's done is done. He just has to win with his other two Pokemon.

"Well, let us begin again," Will said.

"Fine then! Use Crunch!" Ash yelled.

Aerodactyl screeched and shot forward to Alakazam at breakneck speed with its jaws outstretched. However, Alakazam remained stone-faced before it disappeared once again. Aerodactyl didn't appear fazed by this and gave sharp turn only to see a Psychic heading towards it. Aerodactyl swerved upward to avoid the attack.

Ash saw the obligatory flash before Alakazam would use Psychic, but he wasn't going to fall for that again. He had to think of something else to get Alakazam to reveal itself.

"Your Aerodactyl is too fast for my liking," Will commented. "Use Telekinesis, Alakazam."

Aerodactyl suddenly stopped in midair as a blue light encased it. Aerodactyl began to struggle to break free, but the unseen force kept it from getting anywhere. Alakazam then appeared right in front of Aerodactyl and blasted it with Psychic at point blank range.

Aerodactyl screeched and was knocked backwards, but it caught itself just before it hit the ground and took flight again. Once again, Alakazam was invisible and shooting out Psychic blasts. Wasn't there anyway to stop it? Aerodactyl was fast enough to dodge them, but all Alakazam would have to do is use Telekinesis to stop it again. Another Psychic came out of nowhere, and Ash yelled out his next attack.

"Block it with Ancient Power!" Ash yelled.

Aerodactyl summoned a plethora of rocks, and the Psychic attack smashed into it which made it explode into rock shards which fell to the ground. As Ash watched them fall, he then realized of a way to find Alakazam's position. The Psychic attack came, and Ash knew what he had to do.

"Block it again with Ancient Power!" Ash told it.

Aerodactyl managed to get a floating rock in front of it just in time before the Psychic attack hit. As it did, the rock exploded into several shards just like before. Ash had to be quick before they fell.

"Use your Ancient Power to send those rock shards all over the place!" Ash hollered.

Aerodactyl screeched, and all of the shards of rocks hung in midair before they flew outward. They cut through the air like sharp needles, and there were so many shards that virtually all areas of the battlefield were touched. There was a grunt of pain to Aerodactyl's right, and it and Ash turn to see Alakazam reappear as it was pelted with sharp rocks.

"Use Crunch, Aerodactyl!" Ash yelled.

Aerodactyl shot forward and caught Alakazam in his jaws before it could move and bit down hard. Alakazam yelled in pain from the super-effective attack, but it soon recovered and glared at Aerodactyl.

"Use Psybeam!" Will shouted.

"Get ride of it, Aerodactyl!" Ash warned.

Aerodactyl threw Alakazam from its jaws and darted away as Alakazam shot out the beam. However, it was rather surprising that Alakazam was able to wash the beam over almost the whole field. Most Psybeams were a thin shot that could be avoided. That had to be a powerful Alakazam. The Psybeam soon overtook Aerodactyl, and it fell to the ground.

"Use Psychic again and finish this!" Will hollered.

"Watch out, Aerodactyl!" Ash cried.

Alakazam shot a blast of Psychic into the multi-colored beam, and it was followed by an explosion. Ash feared the worst and was worried his Aerodactyl was knocked out, but Aerodacyl screeched and soon shot upward from the beam. Ash gave an elated cry as Will stared in shock. Aerodactyl had managed to recover from the Psybeam before Psychic hit it.

"Use Psybeam again!" Will told Alakazam.

"No so fast! Use Iron Head!" Ash hollered.

Aerodactyl darted forward and crashed its rock-hard head into Alakazam's midsection. Alakazam gave a cry of pain as Aerodactyl drove it all the way into the floor. There was a loud crash as dust was kicked up from the impact. Aerodactyl flew away before it landed on the ground and gave a happy cry of victory. Sure enough, as the smoke cleared, Alakazam lay defeated in the ground. The didn't notice Alakazam's eyes had glowed blue right before it went limp, however.

"Awesome, Aerodactyl! You did it!" Ash cheered.

"Aeroooo!" Aerodactyl cried happily.

"Phew. He managed to defeat one of Will's Pokemon," Serena said as she gave a huge exhale.

"Ash can't relax yet. Aerodactyl's already taken plenty of damage, and Will has two healthy Pokemon," Brock reminded.

"Come on, Ash! You made it all the way to the Elite Four! Show them what you're made of!" Jimmy called out.

"Humph. Merely cheering you on won't win you this battle, Ash," Will told him as he recalled Alakazam. "You have only bested one of my Pokemon, and they are just going to get harder from here on out. Go, Slowbro!"

Slowbro appeared from its pokeball with a goofy look on its face as it stared around the battlefield. However, that quickly changed when it saw its opponent, and its expression changed to a serious one. Ash and the rest of the group couldn't help but feel unnerved by that. They had never seen a Slowbro with that look on its face before. It must be well-trained. Ash knew he would have to be careful.

"Let us begin, now!" Will said.

"Okay, Aerodactyl. Use Giga Impact!" Ash yelled.

"Zen Headbutt!" Will told it.

Slowbro leaped at Aerodactyl faster than one would expect, and the two butted heads. Aerodactyl was clearly stronger, and Slowbro was knocked backwards against the wall, but its tough defense allowed it to keep from receiving an extreme amount of damage. Aerodactyl, meanwhile, kept its rock-hard head to absorb the damage, but it had also flinched from the Zen Headbutt and wasn't moving.

"Perfect. That's what I wanted. Now use Rain Dance, Slowbro," Will told it.

Dark clouds began to form over the battle arena, and small raindrops began to fall. The group looked up as even though it was a legal attack, it was still a really weird sight to have it rain indoors like that. Ash could only wonder what Will was planning.

"Use Water Pulse!" Will said next.

Slowbro then began to shoot several orbs of water at Aerodactyl, but it swiftly dodged them each time. The water orbs were splashing along the ground which began to accumulate inches of water. Ash shook his shoes as they were beginning to get wet, but Will stood idly with his arms crossed. What was he doing?

"Aerodactyl, use Rock Slide!" Ash told it.

"Confusion," Will said.

Aerodactyl summoned several boulders and hurled them towards Slowbro, but Slowbro pointed its clawed hands to the boulders and stopped them in midair. It then began throwing them back at Aerodactyl. The prehistoric Pokemon began to fly all over the place as it tried to dodge them. The boulders landed on the ground with a large crash. Slowbro then began to fire Water Pulses again.

"That should be enough," Will told it. "Now, Confusion."

Slowbro's eyes glowed, and the accumulation of water began to swirl up in the center of the battlefield. Ash's eyes widened in horror when he saw it was becoming a massive tidal wave. Slowbro then thrust its hands outward, and the wall of water rushed towards Aerodactyl.

"Watch out, Aerodactyl!" Ash hollered.

Aerodactyl flew high out of the way as the huge wave began to chase it around the battlefield. Aerodactyl was doing several aerial maneuvers to get out of the way while Slowbro stood idly and watched the proceedings. Wait. If it was concentrating, Aerodactyl could attack it.

"Go in, and use Crunch!" Ash hollered.

"Water Pulse!" Will shouted.

Slowbro turned and shot an orb of water at Aerodactyl, but it was too slow. Aerodactyl maneuvered around it with ease and caught Slowbro in its jaws before it bit down. Slowbro gave a moan of pain and momentarily lost focus. The tidal wave came crashing back down onto the water field.

"Throw it in the waves!" Ash shouted.

Aerodactyl decided to give Slowbro a taste of its own medicine and hurled it into the choppy waves where it disappeared. It then flew high into the sky so it was well away from the wall of water.

"Use Hyper Beam at the wall of water!" Ash shouted.

Aerodactyl began to charge up the Hyper Beam, but something unexpected happened. A huge beam of light came from seemingly nowhere and struck Aerodactyl. The prehistoric Pokemon was so surprised that it lost focus and canceled the Hyper Beam. It was then pushed down onto the ground right in front of the wall of water.

"What happened, Aerodactyl?" Ash asked it.

It was at that moment that Slowbro reappeared, and the wall of water spread out around it. Slowbro then pointed downward and sent the entire wall of water on top of Aerodactyl before it could get up. The waves washed around and around until Slowbro called them off. When it was done, Aerodactyl was out cold.

"Aerodactyl!" Ash cried, but got no response. He then looked to Will. "Was that Future Sight?"

"Yes. I was," Will confirmed. "Right before my Alakazam fainted, it used Future Sight. To think it would've come so handy at the perfect moment when you least expected it. My Pokemon never go down without a fight. You would do well to remember that, Ash."

Ash began to clench his hands. He couldn't start feeling nervous yet. He could still win this. Houndour was strong and could take out the rest of Will's Pokemon with its dark attacks. Still, these Pokemon were exceptionally skilled and tough. Ash took a deep breath to calm his nerves before he returned Aerodactyl.

"Return, Aerodactyl. Thanks a lot. You did great," Ash told it.

"Will Houndour be enough to take out two of Will's Pokemon, Brock?" Serena asked him.

"I don't know," Brock admitted. "It was the leader of pack of wild Houndour, but it's still facing really strong Pokemon. Even though it has the advantage, I'm sure Will is prepared to face any type of Pokemon."

Serena turned back to the battle and clasped his hands. Ash had worked so hard to come to the Pokemon League and challenge the Elite Four. He couldn't lose on the first one. He had been training with his Pokemon all week to prove he was the best. Was he really this outclassed if he couldn't beat even one Elite Four member? Then again, they weren't called the Elite Four for nothing.

Ash looked at Houndour's pokeball. "It's all up to you. Go, Houndour!"

Houndour appeared from the pokeball and gave a bark and then growled at Slowbro. Slowbro merely blinked before it lazily scratched its stomach. Houndour glared as it could've sworn Slowbro was just taunting it. Clearly, Slowbro wasn't afraid of a dark-type.

"Ready when you are," Will said.

"I am," Ash declared. "Houndour, use Inferno to get rid of all the water!"

Houndour growled and completely torched the field which included Slowbro. Despite being engulfed in flames, Slowbro appeared to be little more than discomforted in the blazing heat. All the water quickly turned to steam which spread out across the whole room. Ash's companions, began to fan themselves due to the steam as it suddenly felt like a sauna in the room. Only Will and Ash didn't appear to be concerned. They were too focused on the battle.

"Hmph. Use Water Pulse!" Will shouted.

"Dodge, and use Dark Pulse!" Ash countered.

Houndour jumped out of the way of the incoming Water Pulse and shot a dark beam at Slowbro. The attack connected, and the Slowbro was blasted off its feet and landed a short distance away. That attack actually appeared to do some good damage to it. Ash nodded his head and decided to take advantage of Slowbro's low speed.

"Follow up with Faint Attack!" Ash shouted.

Just as Slowbro was getting up, Houndour appeared behind Slowbro and knocked it back to the ground. It then followed up with another Dark Pulse which sent Slowbro flying once again. Slowbro then was getting back up slowly, and it was too slow to attack back.

"Ash is doing well! He just has to keep this up!" Serena said with a smile.

"Give it to him, Ash!" Jimmy shouted.

Brock, however, noticed it was still raining and saw Will's expression. He wanted to shout a warning to Ash, but it was too late. Will was just letting Houndour attack Slowbro so he wouldn't focus on what was going on around him. This was going to be a repeat of what happened with Aerodactyl!

"Heh. It's time. Whirlpool, Slowbro!" Will shouted.

"Oh no! Heads up, Houndour!" Ash warned.

Slowbro's eyes glowed blue, and the water that had been accumulated spiraled up behind Houndour. Houndour quickly turned around and saw the massive Whirlpool looming in a menacing way over it. Slowbro then pointed its fingers down, and the Whirlpool made its way to Houndour.

"Run away!" Ash cried.

Houndour was quick, but it wasn't quick enough to outrun a Whirlpool. Houndour was soon swallowed up by the Whirlpool, and it washed again over the center of the battlefield as it spun around and around. Ash watched in horror as he couldn't see Houndour anywhere. This was only compounded by the fact that Houndour was weak to water.

The Whirlpool continued to spin as Houndour was no doubt taking a lot of damage in there, if it was even still conscious. Ash gritted his teeth as Will smiled.

"Well, Ash, I think this is the end of the…what?" Will began, but stopped.

Ash stared in surprise, as well, as the others, when a being appeared at the top of the whirlpool. It was Houndour, and it was staying afloat by using one of the large rocks from Aerodactyl's earlier Rock Slide! It soon jumped to the top of the rock, but it was still spinning in circles.

"Awesome, Houndour!" Ash cheered.

"Not bad, but we'll take care of that!" Will shouted.

Slowbro then moved its fingers around again, and a chunk of the Whirlpool sprang up behind Houndour and tried to overtake it like a tidal wave. Ash turned his hat backwards.

"Ride those waves, Houndour!" Ash told it.

Houndour growled and forced all of its canine balance onto the boulder and actually began to surf along the waves on the flat, jagged rock like a surfboard. It was a surfing dog! Will was absolutely stunned as he watched this. Even the oblivious Slowbro looked mildly surprised.

"Now get off those waves, and let Slowbro have it!" Ash yelled.

Houndour leaped off the Whirpool before it got off of the rock and kicked it towards Slowbro. Slowbro was too slow to register the fast move, and it was smacked right in the face by the rock. Houndour then landed on the ground and sprinted towards it.

"Dark Pulse!" Ash shouted.

"Water Pulse!" Will cried.

Slowbro shot out the orb of water again, but Houndour quickly dodged it and launched the Dark Pulse. Slowbro was too slow to get out of the way, and it was blasted by the attack and thrown backwards near Will. It then blinked a few times before it went limp, knocked out.

"I can't believe it. You beat Slowbro," Will muttered.

"That was amazing, Houndour!" Ash cheered. "Use Inferno to get rid of that water again."

Houndour nodded and torched the battlefield. Like before, the gym was covered in steam. Despite that, Ash's friends breathed a sigh of relief. Ash was smiling too wide at how awesome his Houndour had been just now by riding those waves like that. He really believed he could win now if this kept up.

"We can do this, Houndour! You ready to turn this match around?" Ash asked it.

Houndour turned to Ash and gave a nod and a bark of agreement. It then began to glow a shining white. Ash gasped before he smiled even wider as he knew what was happening. Houndour grew in size and began to sprout horns in place of its ears. Its short tail lengthened into a long, pointy tail. When it was done glowing, Houndour had evolved into Houndoom!

Houndoom gave a howl before it turned back to face Will. The Elite Four member frowned as he didn't like where this was going. Ash's Houndour had just evolved, and now he actually may have the strength to win, and he had the type-advantage. Still, Will wasn't called an Elite Four member for nothing. He still believed he could win this, too. He returned Slowbro and took out his last pokeball.

"Well, Ash, I didn't expect you would make it this far. I acknowledge now that you deserved to win that trophy, after all," Will commented. "Still, you won't be able to beat my strongest Pokemon even with that Houndoom. Go, Xatu!"

A strange, mystical, green condor-like Pokemon appeared from the pokeball and folded its wings in front of its body. That stance made it look like it was wearing a robe since its wings were white. Ash and Serena pulled out their national dexes to examine the new Pokemon.

"Xatu, the mystic Pokemon and the evolved form of Natu. This Pokemon is said to be able to see the past, present, and future at the same time," said the national dexes.

"I'm not worried. We can take down this one, too! Can't we, Houndoom?" Ash asked it.

Houndoom howled and nodded in agreement before it got into a battle stance. It was a little tired from its battle with Slowbro, but its new evolution gave it an extra surge of power so it was ready to battle again. The group was on the edge of their seats as they awaited the final battle to begin. It would be Houndoom versus Xatu. Houndoom clearly had the advantage, and it just evolved which gave it a boost in power, but Will was still an Elite Four member.

"Let us start, Ash" Will said and struck a pose.

"Houndoom, use Flamethrower!" Ash shouted.

"Dodge, and use Miracle Eye," Will said with a smirk.

Xatu unfurled its wings and flew out of the way of the incoming Flamethrower. They eye-like designs on its chest then began to glow before they shot out a thin beam that homed in on Houndoom. Houndoom glowed a little bit before the attack stopped. It and Ash looked on in bewilderment at what happened.

"Now, use Psychic!" Will said.

"Against a Dark-type?" Ash thought before he realized what Miracle Eye must've done. "Get out of the way, Houndoom!"

Houndoom nodded and jumped away just before the Psychic blast reached it. Ash breathed a sigh of relief as that was too close. Houndoom just lost a huge advantage since Miracle Eye would allow it to be hit by Xatu's psychic-type attacks now.

"Hmm…quick to realize what would happen. Not bad, but that's your only advantage," Will said. "Xatu, use Drill Peck!"

Rather then just its beak spin like drill, all of Xatu did. The Pokemon began spiraling towards Houndoom at high speed.

"Flamethrower!" Ash shouted.

"Houndoom shot forth the stream of fire, but Xatu merely drilled right through the fire which fanned it away. It then kept going and slammed right into Houndoom. Houndoom howled in pain as it was knocked backwards, but it was quick to land on its feet.

"Great, Houndoom! Let's see it fan away Dark Pulse!" Ash told it.

Houndoom nodded and shot the black beam from its mouth. However, Xatu merely dodged the attack. It then did something strange. Xatu swan-dived straight into the ground before it drilled a hole into it with its body and disappeared in side of it. Xatu then came up a second later, and drilled into Houndoom right on its underside.

Houndoom gave a howl of pain and surprise as it was knocked into the air. Xatu, meanwhile, drilled another hole into the ground before it came up a second later once again to use Drill Peck on Houndoom.

"Dark Pulse!" Ash hollered.

Houndoom managed to shoot out the attack just before Xatu slammed into it. Xatu cried out in pain as it was hit by the super-effective attack. It then began to fall to the ground, but it was quick to recover and soon went back to drilling through the air with its body. It was using that momentum to fly rather than its wings.

"Use Dark Pulse again!" Ash yelled.

"Not this time! Psychic!" Will shouted.

As Houndoom launched the Dark Pulse, Xatu did the same with Psychic. Both attacks hit collided in midair which caused an explosion. As Houndoom tried to see through the smoke. Xatu drilled right into it a second later which knocked Houndoom back and off its feet. Xatu could change its attacking positions that fast?!

"I've got to stop that Xatu," Ash said to himself before his eyes lit up. "I've got it! Use Smog, Houndoom!"

Houndoom nodded as Xatu drilled itself into the ground to come up again. Houndoom then shot out noxious fumes from its mouth. Now, as Xatu drilled out of the ground, it wasn't met with clear air anymore. It instead drilled right into the Smog. The sudden shift of air startled Xatu, and it began to cough in the smog which forced it to unfurl from its drill-like state.

"Use Flamethrower!" Ash shouted.

Houndoom blasted out the fire attack, and it sailed through the air and struck Xatu right in the center of its body. Xatu cried out in pain as it was pushed backwards by the flames. As the attack ended, Xatu and Will saw Houndoom charging towards them.

"Stop them with Psychic!" Will shouted.

Xatu launched the Psychic attack, but Houndoom leaped into the air to dodge it. Houndoom then followed through with a Dark Pulse, but Xatu flew out of the way. As Houndoom landed on the ground, it then turned around and saw Xatu drilling towards it once again.

"Dodge it!" Ash shouted before he had an idea. "And then use Crunch!"

Houndoom leaped out of the way just in time as Xatu moved past it and began to quickly drill in a new hole. However, Houndoom was faster, and it reached over and managed to grab Xatu by its two feather crests with its mouth. This caused a sudden uncomfortable jerking motion which stopped Xatu dead in its tracks.

"Use Fire Fang!" Ash commanded.

Houndoom then bit down harder, and Xatu cried in pain as its feather crest got singed by the Fire Fang. The attack traveled all the up to its head. It tried to jerk free from Houndoom, but Houndoom hung on strong.

"Enough of this! Use Psychic!" Will shouted.

Xatu managed to fight through the pain as it turned around to use the attack. Houndoom saw this and broke away to dodge, but it wasn't fast enough. Houndoom was blasted by the attack and spun through the air until it hit the ground. Xatu then continued to drill its hole before it reappeared under Houndoom before it recovered and drilled into it again which knocked Houndoom into the air.

"Come on, Houndoom!" Ash encouraged. "You can do it!"

Houndoom clenched its teeth as it tried to fight through the pain. It saw Xatu coming in for another Drill Peck and decided to go all in. It came here to win the match, and that's what it was going to do. Just before Xatu used Drill Peck, Houndoom maneuvered its slender body out of the way just in time. Houndoom then reached out and grabbed hold of Xatu with its paws as Xatu spun by. Xatu gave a cry of surprise as it stopped the Drill Peck and turned to look at Houndoom.

"Flamethrower!" Ash hollered.

Houndoom took a deep breath and used Flamethrower at point blank range while they were still in the air. Xatu cried in pain as the attack hit, and the two Pokemon fell to the ground. Houndoom made sure it was on top as they crashed onto the ground. Xatu gave another cry of pain it fell on its back, and Houndoom stood on top of it ready to finish the match.

"Awesome, Houndoom! Use Dark Pulse!" Ash cheered.

"Me First!" Will suddenly hollered.

Ash wasn't sure what he meant by that until it was too late. As Houndoom began charging up the finishing blow. Xatu's eyes suddenly glowed blue, and Houndoom seemed to choke on the attack before it was canceled. Ash then gasped as Xatu fired out a Dark Pulse of its own, and it appeared to be quite powerful.

Houndoom was blasted into the air, taken completely by surprise, as well as Ash. Houndoom then landed on the ground a short distance away from Ash.

"Houndoom!" Ash cried as Xatu got back on its feet.

Houndoom clenched its teeth again as it tried to stand up. It just evolved and couldn't lose the match, now. It had to win. Still, the pain from the combined battles was too much for it. Despite how much it hated to, Houndoom lost all strength and fell back down to the ground, defeated. Will waited for a few more seconds to see if Houndoom would move. Upon seeing it didn't, he nodded his head.

"Well, Ash, the match is over," Will said.

Ash stood there with his mouth open. The match was over, and he wasn't the victor. He just had a chance to battle the Elite Four and lost to the first member. He hung his head and curled his hands into fists. Despite how upset he was, he had to be strong. Ash took a deep breath to calm himself before he walked over to Houndoom and knelt beside it. Pikachu soon joined him.

"Hey, Houndoom. Thanks a lot. You battled really hard, and we almost won. Those battles you did against Slowbro and Xatu were amazing, and so was your evolution," Ash told it, but he wasn't sure if Houndoom could hear him or not. Ash then looked at his other pokeballs. "All of you did great."

"Piiiiika," Pikachu said sadly.

"Yeah. I know it's disappointing, buddy, but we just have…to move on," Ash finished the last part with a shaky voice before he forced himself to calm down again.

The rest of the ground watched sadly as Ash returned Houndoom and sat in his kneeling position for a little bit. A shadow was cast by Ash's hat over his eyes so they couldn't tell what he was thinking. Still, they could only imagine it showed disappointment.

"Oh. Ash was so close," Misty said with sigh.

"Ash gave Will a run for his money, but he was able to counter almost everything Ash tried. They really are the Elite Four," Brock commented.

Marina looked on in sadness as Jimmy frowned and punched the air in frustration. He had really been hoping Ash could make it all the way to his dad so they could have a real battle. However, it didn't look like that was going to happen, now.

Serena cast her eyes downward to the floor. She was really hoping Ash would win, too. Since she won the title of Johto Queen, it would have been awesome if Ash had earned the title of Johto Champion. He worked so hard for this, and he won the Silver Conference. Now, his adventure here had come to an end.

"Oh, Ash," she whispered.

Ash heard footsteps coming towards him, and Ash looked up to see Will standing there with an arm outstretched to help Ash to his feet. Ash nodded and accepted the hand, and Will pulled him up. Will then took off his mask so he could look at Ash face to face.

"Ash, that was really great battle. You were a lot better than I thought you would be, and I think I speak for all the Elite Four when I say that," Will told him.

"You mean you guys didn't have faith in me?" Ash questioned in a somewhat hurt tone.

"Well, in all honesty, your battles in the Silver Conference weren't perfect," Will admitted. "However, in your final battle against Gary, you showed something you hadn't shown during your previous battles. You showed that also during your battle with me."

"I still lost," Ash muttered and looked back to the ground.

"But it was really close," Will stated which caused Ash to look up at him again. "I dare say that had my Xatu not used Me First, and your Houndoom had managed out that Dark Pulse, the battle would've turned out differently. Think about it. You lost, but you almost defeated an Elite Four member. That's something not too many people can say. I actually began to get worried you might stand a chance as the battle went on."

Ash thought about Will's words, and as he did, he couldn't help but smile. It showed just how much he had grown since he started his journey. Before, he didn't even win the Indigo League, and then he did an amazing feat by winning the Orange League, and now he won the Silver Conference and was almost on the same level as an Elite Four member! Ash's disappointment was soon replaced by excitement. He could learn from this and only grow stronger as a result. Will saw Ash's expression and smiled, too.

"Come with me, Ash. Our champion would like to have a few words with you," Will told him.

"Gold?" Ash questioned.

"That's right," Will confirmed with a nod before he turned to the others. "Please stay here until we return."

With that, Will and Ash left through the huge set of double doors, and as they did, Ash stopped. Lined up against the walls were the other Elite Four members: Koga, Palmer, and Karen. They each nodded to Ash as he came into the room.

"Congratulations, Ash. You should be proud," Koga told him. "Like myself, you have grown much stronger since out last match."

"Super battle, Ash!" Palmer stated with a grin.

"You did okay," Karen muttered, and Ash chuckled nervously. He had heard from Jimmy how Karen had ice in her veins. She then added. "You had the chance to go all the way, after all. Maybe we'll get the chance to battle in the future."

Ash nodded as he passed by them, and they each shook his hand on his way by. Ash and Will then kept walking straight before they came to another set of double doors. Will knocked a few times once they reached it.

"Come on in," came Gold's voice.

Will nodded to Ash before he opened the door, and the two stepped inside. Once they were in, Will turned and bowed to Ash.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Ash. I hope we'll have the chance to battle again in the future," Will said.

"Thanks, Will. I had a lot of fun!" Ash stated as the two shook hands. Will then turned and exited the room which left Ash alone with Gold.

Ash turned to look at Gold who sat behind a large desk with several papers on it. Gold was staring back at Ash with a grin on its face. Ash could only wonder what Gold wanted to say to him.

"Well, how do you like my office?" Gold asked him.

"Uhhhhh…," Ash uttered as he looked around.

There were a few pinball machines littered around the room and a couple of video games. There was also a pool table right in the center of the large room. Ash raised his eyebrow in confusion. This wasn't the sort of office he would expect a champion to have. It looked more like an arcade than anything.

"There sure are a lot of games in here," Ash finally said.

"Hey. What can I say? It gets boring in here sometimes!" Gold defended before he grabbed his indestructible billiards cue and pointed with it to the far end of the room. "Anyway, those aren't what I want you to focus on. Take a look back there."

Ash turned to where Gold was pointing and saw several pictures lined up against the wall. Ash walked over and saw they were pictures of several different kids and teenagers. Some were in black and white while some were in color. Ash would see a kid standing in front of four other people. A few of the pictures had the current Elite Four behind the kids. It took Ash a moment to realize what they were pictures must've been the Silver Conference winners and Elite Four members of the previous years.

"These are all of the Johto region's previous Silver Conference winners and Elite Four of the past. Anytime a challenger is able to beat the Elite Four, they get another trophy and a picture with them before they take on the champion. These pictures go all the way back fifty years," Gold stated as he came up behind Ash, which confirmed his thoughts.

"Wow…," Ash muttered as he looked around the wall.

There were so many different faces. Though a new kid was in every picture, the Elite Four would remain the same for several years. Eventually, a new one would replace a previous Elite Four member until the most recent pictures showed the current Elite Four members with the exception of Koga since he had just become one this year. Ash then gasped when he saw a scowling teenager with long, red hair in one of the pictures. It was quite a contrast to the smiling Elite Four behind him. He looked younger than what he remembered, but there was no mistaking it.

"That's Silver!" Ash exclaimed as he ran up to the picture.

"Oh? Yeah. That's him alright," Gold said with a chuckle.

"Silver beat the Elite Four?" Ash asked as he turned back to Gold.

"He sure did," Gold confirmed. "He ended up losing to me, though, for the title of Johto Champion. He didn't take it so well. It was about ten years ago."

Ash stared at the picture of the angry look on Silver's face. This proved he still knew so little about Silver. The angry young man never told him any of this, not that he would've wanted to, anyway. Ash knew Silver had won the Silver Conference before, but he didn't know he had actually beaten the Johto Elite Four on top of it. No wonder he got destroyed when he battled Silver a while back.

Ash hoped that once Silver was out of jail, they could start trying to repair their relationship and act like brothers. Ash suddenly had an urge to ask Silver so many questions about what his journey was like. Hopefully, he would get that chance one day.

"That boy was the previous Johto Champion before me," Gold continued and pointed to an older photo. "His name was Tobias."

"Tobias?" Ash questioned as he turned to the photo Gold was pointing at.

It was a young teenager with long, blueish-gray hair. He was neither smiling nor frowning in the photo. He just had a somewhat stony expression on his face that made it impossible to read. There was a really mysterious vibe about him. Ash's eyes then widened when he remembered his dad said he was looking for someone named Tobias. They couldn't possibly be the same person, could they?

"Yeah. He was a pretty mysterious dude. Nobody, not even the Elite Four, knew much about the guy. We only know he was originally from the Sinnoh region. He always kept to himself and never spoke to anyone unless it was on official business. He was the champion for maybe…five years…until I came along and beat him. That was about fifteen years ago."

"What happened to him?" Ash found himself asking, but he didn't know why.

"Huh?" Gold questioned before he shrugged and continued. "I don't know. Nobody does. When I beat him, he simply congratulated me and left. He didn't even stay for my inauguration. I haven't seen him since then."

"What a weird guy," Ash thought as he looked back to Tobias' picture.

Ash began to wonder if maybe they were the same person, as unlikely as it was. There were several people named Tobias in the world. Still, if Red was looking for someone, it had to be pretty important and someone with status. A Tobias who was a previous champion of Johto would definitely fit that bill. Still, it didn't explain why his dad was searching for Tobias even if these two were the same person.

"So, why are you showing me all of this?" Ash wondered.

"Just to prove you still have something to look forward to," Gold stated simply before he pointed at each of the photos with his billiards cue. "All these trainers that you see were super strong and strived to be the very best just like you. Some made it further than others while some like Tobias completely vanished off the map. I want you to keep training your heart out so one day you can reach this level. It would be really awesome if my mentor's son could take the place of a champion one day. You may have lost today, but that's no reason to give up!"

"Right!" Ash stated with a nod. "I'll keep training as hard as I can and catch more Pokemon. That way I'll be ready for anything another trainer throws at me!"

"That's the spirit!" Gold replied with a smile. "It's not up to me, of course, but I think you would benefit greatly if you tried another region than Johto for your next challenge. Go catch as many Pokemon there as you can and try out their challenges. Beat the Elite Four and become Champion! Then you and I can have ourselves a real battle! I'd love to see how strong you are firsthand!"

Ash nodded his head at Gold's words. He was right. This was just a stepping stone in his dream to be a Pokemon Master. He was one step closer to making it. He was going to improve even more from here on out. Next time, he was going to win another league, and the Elite Four and champion better watch out because Ash Ketchum was coming to the beat them. Ash felt a renewed sense of confidence. He was ready for a new challenge.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye," Ash said with a shrug.

The group was standing outside Mt. Silver. Gold, Jimmy, and Marina were on one side while Ash, Serena, and Brock were on the other. They were just about to leave to head back to the Kanto region while Gold, Jimmy, and Marina were staying on Mt. Silver.

"You sure you don't want to stay a few more days?" Jimmy asked hopefully. "I mean…Marina and I will be heading back to New Bark Town with my dad after he takes care of things here. You won't have to walk so much, and we get to hang out some more."

"Thanks for the offer, Jimmy, but we have to get back to Kanto as soon as we can. Mom's expecting us and…we want to be able to see Misty off," Ash replied with a small smile as he looked towards the redhead.

"Oh, that's right! You're going to be training to be a Pokemon Water Guardian, Misty! That's super cool!" Marina exclaimed.

"Thank you, Marina," Misty said quietly.

"I see," Jimmy said in a somewhat disappointed manner before he perked back up. "Still, I'm glad we met! It was really awesome to learn from you and battle you in the Silver Conference, Ash! You rock and you rule!"

"I had a blast with you, too, Serena! I know you'll go far with your Johto Queen career," Marina said before she added with wink. "Just look out because I'm going to be challenging you for it again in the future!"

"I look forward to it, Marina," Serena replied as the two hugged.

"Darn glad to meet all you, especially you, Ash!" Gold stated as he shook everyone's hand.

"You, too, Mr. Gold!" Ash returned. "Tell Ms. Crystal, Lyra, and Professor Elm bye for us."

"Will do," Gold replied.

"If any of you guys are ever back in the Johto region, make sure to stop by New Bark Town. You're welcome anytime," Jimmy told them.

"Totally!" Marina added before she turned to Pikachu and Togetic. "That goes for you two, as well."

"Pika! Toge!" the two Pokemon said in delight.

"Thanks, guys. I hope it's sooner rather than later," Ash responded.

The group stared at each other again for a moment as they didn't want to part ways, but they knew they had to. It was always hard to make friends and then leave each other. Still, they knew they would see each other again someday.

"Well, we better get going. So long!" Ash said as they turned leave.

"Take care!" Serena added.

"See you!" Misty stated.

"Good luck with everything!" Brock finished.

"Thanks for everything, you guys! Goodbye!" Jimmy and Marina shouted as they waved along with Gold.

The groups continued to wave to each other until they were out of sight. Once they were, Ash, Serena, and Brock looked to each other and nodded without Misty noticing. They had to make a discreet call to Trovita Island before they made it to Kanto.

A few days later, the group was back in Kanto in Viridian City. They would be making a brief stop here before they would arrive back in Pallet Town. Today was also the day Misty would be leaving to head off to the Orange Islands to begin her training. The group stood in front of the Viridian City Pokemon Center. For Ash, Serena, and Misty, it brought back a lot of memories.

"Wow. This is where we all officially met and became friends, Misty," Serena commented.

"Yeah. I was pretty nasty to you guys at first. I'm really sorry about all of that," Misty said.

"Heh. It's okay. I mean…we did ruin your bike and all," Ash chuckled.

Brock gave a slight cough. Though he wasn't here to officially witness the event, he had heard a lot about it from the others. He was glad his friendship hadn't started off so rocky like theirs had.

"Gosh. That seems like so long ago," Misty said. "I originally only came with you guys so you could pay me back for the bike, but overtime, I didn't even care about it anymore. I just came along because I loved traveling with you guys, and we actually managed to become friends."

"Crazy how things work out that way," Serena commented with a smile. "It's also where we had our first run in with Team Rocket. They really messed this place up."

"And they did such a good job of repairing it. It looks as good as knew," Misty said as she inspected the front of the building. While she was doing so, Serena, Ash, and Brock winked at each other.

"Well, let's go on in, Misty," Ash said.

"Oh? Sure," Misty replied, somewhat confused why they were so eager to go in.

Once the group was in, they took a good look around the interior of the Pokemon Center. As expected, it looked really good on the inside and even had several improvements that weren't there the last time. A giant TV hung down from the ceiling in the center of the room. There were also several different types of vending machines that served various snacks and more video phones. The lobby room also looked somewhat bigger than before, but that was probably due to the new things.

"Wow," Misty commented.

Misty eyes then drifted over to the occupants who were in the Pokemon Center. There were several of them. As her eyes went through the various people, two of them with dark red hair stuck out to her, and she gasped. She then took off in a dead sprint towards them despite being indoors. Ash, Serena, and Brock smiled at each other before they followed.

"Oh my gosh! Rudy! Mahri!" Misty exclaimed.

"I was wondering when you would notice us," Rudy said as he stood up from the couch, and Misty practically threw herself on him. "Woah! Easy there!"

"Misty!" Mahri shouted in excitement as she joined in on the hug.

"It's so good to see you all!" Misty continued.

"Same here, Misty. I'm really happy!" Rudy replied.

"How about me, Misty? Don't I look taller?" Mahri asked as she placed her hands on her hips.

"You sure do! You've grown a lot since I last saw you!" Misty squealed as the two girls hugged again.

The rest of the group then arrived at that moment. "Hey, Rudy. Long time no see," Ash greeted.

"Same to you, Ash," Rudy said as the two shook hands. "I saw you won the Silver League Conference. That was no small feat. Congratulations."

"Thanks," Ash said.

"It's good to see you, too, Serena. How are things?" Rudy asked.

"I'm…," Serena began, but she was cut off by a yell.

"Holy cow! It's Serena the Johto Queen! She's actually here visiting us in Kanto!" someone shouted.

"I think that speaks for itself!" Serena cried as several people came running to her, and pretty soon she was smothered by a small crowd.

The rest of the group chuckled. Despite the fact that Ash wasn't too happy, it looked like that was something he would have to get used to. Rudy and Mahri, stood by in surprise.

"Uhhh…shouldn't you try to help her?" Rudy asked.

"I think she'll be fine," Brock replied as they watched Serena sign autographs somewhat awkwardly.

"Oh. I don't believe I've met you, by the way. I'm Rudy," Rudy introduced.

"I'm Brock. I'm aiming to be a great Pokemon breeder! Good to meet you," Brock returned as the two shook hands.

"So, what are you guys doing here, anyway?" Misty asked as they took their attention away from Serena.

"Well, your friends here told us that you were coming back to Kanto and ready to travel to the Orange Islands. So, they requested that we should come meet you here and surprise you," Rudy answered.

"You guys did that for me?" Misty asked as she turned to Ash and Brock

"Of course we did," Brock said.

"Misty, you've been a great friend to us. The group wouldn't have been the same without you, and it isn't going to be the same once you're gone. We just wanted to let you know that we appreciate you and really happy you traveled with us," Ash added.

Misty held her hands over her heart. She really did have a great group of friends in Ash, Serena, and Brock. With all they've been through, even with all the arguing, they were best friends. They had been through so much together. Misty smiled as she felt warm inside before she rushed forward and hugged Brock and Ash.

"Thank you so much. Really. I…love you guys," Misty said tearfully.

"We feel the same way. You're like a sister to us," Brock replied, and the three hugged tighter.

"Oh, don't worry! I'm okay after you all left me out to dry!" Serena exclaimed in annoyance as she dizzily made her way back over to the group. She now had her glasses on, but they were pretty useless now that her cover was blown.

"Heh. You'll have to get used to it," Misty smirked, and Serena lightly bopped her. The girls then smiled and gave each other a great hug. It was clear they would miss each other the most out of the group. They were the only other girls, after all. They could only talk about things with each other that they wouldn't dare mention to Brock or Ash.

"Oh, hello. I remember you. You're Misty, aren't you?" Nurse Joy asked as came over to them.

"Yes, ma'am. Hi, Nurse Joy," Misty replied as she broke away from Serena and wondered what the Pokemon nurse wanted with her.

"I remember your bike was messed up the last time you were here. I've been so busy helping with repairs to the center that it took me a really long time, but I was finally able to fix your bike and replace the parts that needed it," Nurse Joy said and wheeled the bike over to Misty.

"My bike…," Misty said in complete shock as she looked at it. Her bike was just like new.

"Wow! Isn't that great, Misty?" Ash asked her.

"It sure is," Misty answered, still in shock.

"I guess our meeting and friendship has come full circle," Serena mentioned. "Our travels together started and ended with your bike. What are the odds?"

"Hey! That's a nifty bike, Misty!" Rudy commented. "There are some great trails on Trovita Island. I have a bike of my own. We can ride our bikes along them anytime!"

"Really?! That sounds great!" Misty exclaimed with a smile as she turned back to Rudy, now over her surprise.

A loud rumble then interrupted the group, and everyone, including the Pokemon, Rudy, and Mahri turned to look at the source. It was none other than Ash's stomach.

"Well, I think we should all have lunch before we part ways," Ash said nervously.

"No arguments here!" Rudy replied as the rest of the group laughed.

The group spent the rest of afternoon talking and having fun. Like all good things, though, it had to end. Misty, Rudy, and Mahri had to hurry to the airport as their flight was going to be leaving rather soon. They were all now standing outside the Pokemon Center, ready to go their separate ways. Misty even had her bike with her. They were sure there would be a place to store it on the plane.

"Remember to take care of yourselves, and continue doing your best. I'll be rooting for all of you. You know you always have me for support…even if I won't be there anymore," Misty told them.

"We'll be just fine, Misty. You'll always be with us in…you know what? I'll just leave it at my first sentence. Forget the second part," Ash began but stopped himself from saying something really corny.

Misty gave a small laugh. "It's okay, Ash. I know what you were going to say, but I appreciate it."

"Right. It definitely wasn't a coincidence we met. We were destined to be friends with each other," Serena added.

"I agree," Brock chimed in.

Misty felt her eyes water again, and she wiped them. She wasn't going to cry again. Still, she really would miss them.

"Will I see you all again?" Misty asked.

"Of course!" Ash answered with a grin. "In fact, I won't tell you goodbye. Instead, I'll just say…see you later!"

"Mmmhmm! That sounds good to me, too," Misty agreed as she looked at all her friends. "Take care, you guys."

"You, too, Misty," Brock and Serena responded.

The group of friends stared at each other for a moment as they didn't want the moment to end. They each just wanted to stay for a little while longer. Several thoughts went through their head as they thought about all the adventures they had together. Now, it was a going to be a new chapter in all their lives. Finally, Serena broke the silence.

"Well, I guess you have to get going, or you'll miss the plane," Serena said.

"Yeah," Misty agreed.

"You guys don't have to worry about a thing. We'll take great care of Misty during her training. She'll be in good hands with us. Trinity's there, too," Rudy stepped in.

"Heh. You better take good care of her, or you'll have to answer to Big Brother Brock," Brock joked as he puffed his chest up.

"Yeah. Misty's a special girl," Ash added.

"Don't worry. I know all too well," Rudy responded as he gave a knowing look at Misty who giggled.

"We'll have all sorts of fun!" Mahri beamed.

"Well, I'll see you guys around," Misty said as she turned around to wave to the others, along with Rudy and Mahri.

"Wait a second! Hold everything!" Brock suddenly shouted and waved his arms around frantically.

Everyone nearly jumped ten feet into the air at Brock's outburst. They all blinked in confusion for a moment before Ash was the first to find his voice.

"Uhhh…what?" Ash asked.

"Actually, I also have to go home right away," Brock replied.

"What?!" everyone exclaimed.

"I got an email saying that I need to go back home and take care of a few things. My mom and dad are getting tired of running the gym, and they want me to help find a replacement. That, and…" Brock stated before he made a goofy face. "I need to call Suzy and find out what she's up to. I guess I forgot."

"How could you forget something like that?!" Serena exclaimed.

"You know what? I don't know," Brock responded as everyone face-palmed. Oh, Brock.

"Is it because you didn't want to leave us like me, deep down?" Misty suggested.

"Probably," Brock replied with a shrug.

"I know, Brock. I understand," Misty said gently.

Ash and Serena looked on sadly. So, it looked like that not only Misty was leaving, but Brock was, too. It looked they were going to be all on their own again just like when they first started out. The difference here was that Ash and Serena were no longer rookies and inexperienced. They could actually take care of themselves now. That included cooking and cleaning up. They had grown a lot since they first started out, and it was thanks to Brock and Misty.

"So, this really is where we part ways," Serena said.

"Well, after I get done with what's going on in Pewter City, I may try to catch up with you guys. Who knows?" Brock shrugged.

"I hope so," Ash responded.

"Aw…don't give me that. You guys will do just fine on your own! You're big kids, now!" Brock joked as he gave Ash a noogie.

"Gah! Cut it out, Brock!" Ash yelled, even though he was laughing.

"See you later, then," Misty said again as she turned to wave for real this time.

"I'll be heading this way to go to Pewter City," Brock stated as he turned in the direction.

"Right," Ash said as he, Serena, Pikachu, and Togetic watch the others leave.

"Take care, everyone!" Misty stated once she got a good distance away and began to wave.

"You, too, Misty!" the group said and waved back.

Each respective group continued to wave to the other until they were out of sight. Misty sighed as she took a deep breath. She was beginning a new chapter in her life. She was leaving some great friends behind, but she had a new family in Rudy and Mahri. She knew she was going to be just fine, and she would see Ash, Serena, and Brock again someday. She knew it.

"Thank you for everything. You guys really are my best friends," Misty thought.

Brock also walked his own path. He had no idea what the future had in store for him yet, but nothing would stop him from achieving his dream of becoming a Pokemon breeder. He especially liked taking care of the injured and sick Pokemon. It had been his favorite part so far. Maybe he could look into that a little more once he got home and took care of whatever was going on at Pewter Gym. Still, like Misty, he knew he was going to see them again, and it may even be sooner than they thought.

Ash and Serena watched Brock and Misty walk out of sight. They then turned to each other.

"Well, it's just us again. Ready to return to Pallet Town?" Ash asked Serena.

"Yeah," Serena replied as they started off. "Have you thought about where you want to go next?"

"Heh. Right now, all I want to think about his Mom's home cooking!" Ash laughed before he answered the question. "I was wondering what you thought about the Kalos region. It would be neat if you could show me around. Not to mention, my dad's there. We could also get to see him."

"Hmm…the Kalos region," Serena said thoughtfully. "I think it sounds like a great idea!"

"Awesome! Of course, we don't need to decide right now. We can spend a few weeks in Pallet Town taking it easy. We could use the time to relax and also see what Gary and Leaf will be up to," Ash responded.

"Right!" Serena agreed.

"Pika!" Pikachu shouted in happiness at going home.

"Toge!" Togetic cried in excitement, as well.

With that, Ash and Serena grabbed hands and made their trek back to Pallet Town. It was where their journey would end, and where their journey would start again. They had an amazing time in Johto, but they were sure that the next place they visited would be even more exciting. Whatever it may be, they would go through it together.

Next time, a new adventure begins...

Hello, everyone! Thank you so much for reading this arc, flaws and all, and staying with me until the end! That goes for all newcomers to this series as well and even the people who read it and never bother to review. The fact that you're reading it is still great so thank you for that!

Another arc is done! With that out of they way, it's time for the Hoenn and Battle Frontier Arc to start! With the two being combined, it'll definitely be the longest of the series. I know Ash and Serena are talking about going to Kalos, but it's just a thought. They'll still end up in the the Hoenn region next story so don't worry! I hope you all will stick with me as I continue to tackle this beast of a series!

I know this series isn't perfect, and there are things you guys don't always agree with me about. Still, I hope this series is at least accomplishing its primary purpose which is a fun read for you guys. Thank you so much as I wouldn't be doing this without all of your support! Thank you so much again! I can't say it enough!

The Hoenn and Battle Frontier Arc will start around the first of the year after I take a break. I hope it'll be the best yet! While you all are waiting, I'll tease the titles of the first three chapters. Thanks for all the reviews and support, and until next time, have a good one!

Oh! One more thing! New poll up, and it's a morbid one!

Chapter 1: Meet the Maples

Chapter 2: The Foreign Interview

Chapter 3: Fresh Starts