Four years later…

"Dodge it, Jolteon!" Kaiden shouted in alarm.

The HyperBeam rocketed across the battlefield, throwing rocks and causing fissures in the ground. Jolteon barked and hopped on to the top of a large rock, using its momentum and position to jump even higher. The orange beam crashed into the surface, shattering the rock into a thousand pieces that sent dust and rubble flying all directions.

"Hit it before it lands," Misty yelled. "Hydro Pump!"

Gyarados roared and unleashed a torrent of water that barreled straight for Jolteon, who was unable to dodge due to being falling towards the ground. The water slammed into the electric type hard, and sent it flying backwards.

Kaiden smirked. "THUNDERBOLT!"

Jolteon barked again, and despite tumbling through the air, unleashed a powerful burst of electricity. It latched onto the torrent of water, snaking around the vortex and shooting down its length.

"CUT IT OFF, GYARADOS!" Misty tried to get her Pokemon to stop the attack, but it was too late. Gyarados roared in pain as the lightning reached the large water type and wrapped its way around its body.

That was the final straw. The behemoth crashed down the rocky surface with a boom and a voice rang out. "Gyarados is unable to battle! The winner is Kaiden Ketchum!"

Cheers erupted around the stadium, a deafening roar of excitement and adrenaline. Lights flashed as pictures were taken, and his picture was highlighted over Misty's on the overhead monitor. Kaiden stood stunned at the outcome, while Misty did them same. Then, she smiled at him from across the field.

Kaiden blinked, then cracked a crooked smile. He did it! He beat his mother! He beat the Water Elite! Three of them down and only one to go until he was crowned Champion! "Jolteon!" he shouted happily and the electric type ran to him in its excitement. "We did it! We beat Mom!"

Misty laughed, shaking her head as her Son danced and cheered. He flashed a thumbs up to the roaring crowd, smiling that toothy, crooked as all Hell smile. Just like his father. The sight warmed her heart to see Kaiden so happy. His aquamarine eyes glistened in the sun as it beamed down at them through the glass roof.

"I don't believe it ladies and gentlemen," the announcer's voice boomed through the stadium. "Kaiden Ketchum has defeated his Mother. The Water Master, the Queen of the Sea! We all knew they would put on a spectacular battle, but I don't think any of us expected that! Now the young Ketchum only has one Elite left to go! Can he do it? Can he win this one final battle? Will Champion Cameron be too much for him? Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm on the edge of my seat with anticipation! The final battle will take place tomorrow morning, so be sure you don't miss it!"

"You did it!" Ally shrieked happily as Kaiden walked into the waiting room down below the stands. She threw herself at him, and he barely caught her in time. "I knew you could!"

"At least someone had faith in you," Del remarked, slapping Kaiden on the back. "I thought Mom would kick your butt for sure."

"Thanks Ally," Kaiden smiled down at her as she pulled away. "It was all the help you gave me that I was able to win."

"Hey!" Del exclaimed hurt. "What was all of our battles about then?"

"I needed a warm up to face Ally," Kaiden explained to her simply, and received a hard punch to the arm. Pichu scolded Kaiden too, looking very hurt that it had tried to so hard to help him and not receive any credit.

"See if I root for you when you go up against Cameron then," Del turned her nose up at her brother.

"I will be," a new voice broke up the argument.

"Mom," Kaiden smiled as Misty entered the room with a wide smile of her own.

She walked through the benches, right up to the three young adults. The roots of her hair were finally starting to show signs of graying, but her fiery attitude remained the same. "Cameron's going to be tough, but I know you can win," Misty said to her son. "Just give it all you've got, and no matter what, be sure to have fun."

Kaiden nodded, "Of course."

"We should get going," Misty smiled to the three of them. "I'm sure everyone will be ready to congratulate you, Kaiden."

"Not to mention I'm starving," Kaiden added.

"It's been an exciting couple of days folks," blared from the TV. "The Pro Indigo League is officially wrapping up tomorrow morning, and boy have we seen some epic battles this year."

Below the TV sat a bluenette with three teenagers, all happily sipping on ice cream shakes. Dawn had her eyes glued to the screen, as did Logan, Sam, and Lily. On the tabletop in front of all of them, sat an old and tattered red and white cap with a green slash. The little cafe the four of them occupied was bustling with many customers, all chatting eagerly over the events being spoken of.

"We've witnessed Kaiden Ketchum, the son of previous Champion Ash Ketchum, rise through the Tournament and win battle after battle over the course of the past week. Only for him to move on and make handy work of three Elites-"

The screen changed away from the reporter, showcasing many of the battles from the Indigo League. Then it displayed Kaiden pointing and shouting a command. His Kingler scuttled aside as a powerful Flamethrower blew past. Ariana smirked and shouted something, and her Ninetails sprinted off screen.

The screen changed again and Janine was front and center, raising her hand to block a wave of smoke that billowed around her. A Fearow burst from the smoke, flying high above the battlefield. Poison Stings shot out after it, and Fearow dodged. Kaiden scowled and yelled a command. Fearow dodged the attack and with surprising agility, spun in the air and rocketed back for the ground. The smoke cleared and it dove at the Arbok curled up in the center, smashing its large wings into the snake.

Next was Jolteon sprinting across the battlefield in attempts to dodge Gyarados' powerful Hyper Beam as Misty shouted at her most powerful Pokemon.

The bluenette shifted in her seat, checking her watch. She choked on her chocolate ice cream as she saw the time. "We're going to be late!" Dawn exclaimed. "Time to go, kids!"

"Late?" Logan asked curiously, spinning around in his chair as Dawn hopped to her feet. "Naw, we'll just run as fast as we can! Let's go!"

"Logan wait!" Lily shouted after him, but the orange haired Ketchum had already snatched his hat and was out the door, shake in hand.

"When has that ever stopped him?" Sam remarked with a raised brow.

"Ohhh, if we don't hurry he'll get himself lost!" Lily stood up quickly. "It'll be a repeat of Mt. Moon all over again!"

"And we don't want that," Sam agreed, following Lily to the door. "We spent a week looking for him in those tunnels!"

Dawn brought up the rear, stuffing the receipt for their ice cream into her pocket. It was a hot summer day, with the sun beating down into the streets of Indigo City. It's citizens bustled up and down the street, the whole town in a frenzy of excitement over the idea that there may be a new Champion come the next day. The buzz was in the air. Was the son of the previous Champion about to unseat Cameron?

Dawn caught snippets of conversation as she hurried after Sam and her daughter, barely able to see Logan's flaming hair in front of them. People were excited, others were worried. Would more change in such a short time be a good thing? Dawn blocked them out, focusing on just getting to their hotel. She rounded the corner of the street, and off in the distance she saw…it. The Memorial for those who had fallen at the 'Battle for the League' four years ago. It was a large stone statue, in the shape of the League's slash. It rested up the hill, over the spot where the Plateau fell. At its base Dawn could practically see the plaque in her mind. A golden plate, with black embroidered names etched into it. The names of those who gave their lives that day. Next to the statue, the Dominion War Memorial Wall accented the stone slash nicely.

Rising above the building tops, at the foot of the mountain side and the pathway up to the two Memorials, was Ketchum Stadium. Named after the one and only Ash Ketchum. It was a monster of a building, holding eighteen different battlefields at once. Enabling for many different types of battles to take place simultaneously. Just inside the entrance was a little museum of sorts, showcasing the life of Ash and those who fought alongside him.

Dawn had been inside many times, and in her mind she could clearly see the enlarged picture of Ash, Pikachu, Misty, Brock, and Gary standing in front of the Silver Stadium hanging above the ticket booth. Once inside, there was a picture of Lance, and a detailed description of his life, Pokémon Style, and his career at the League. The sight made her heart hurt, but feel at peace at the same time. It might seem silly, but the paragraphs about him put her and his life into perspective for her, which was what she didn't realize she needed. She could only imagine how Misty felt looking over Ash's entire life like that.

"I can smell it!" came Logan's voice from up ahead. "I can smell Uncle Cilan's cooking! Come on!"

"Logan! Slow down!" Lily shouted after him. "You're going to-"

And he did. Another person dashed around the corner and the pair collided with a hard smack. Both men toppled to the pavement with loud yelps of pain.

"Hey!" both shouted in unison. "Watch where you're-" Both stopped when they locked eyes with each other. Logan blinked a few times as Kaiden did the same. Then the reality of their situation hit home. "I'm first in line!" they shouted together as they rocketed to their feet and sprinted down the street side by side.

Lily, Sam, and Dawn finally reached the point where the siblings collided, and they nearly ran into Misty, Del, and Ally. "They smelled the food," Del commented as the two pairs of three came to a stop.

"So it seems," Ally added with a sigh. "Kaiden and his appetite."

"I'm just glad we're not the only ones going to be late," Dawn said with a look to Misty.

"You know Kaiden," Misty replied. "He had to put off getting the information for tomorrow's battle until the last second."

"Let's hope there's food left by the time we get there," Sam said as the group began walking together.

"No need to worry, Cilan won't let us starve," Dawn told him with a smile. "He'll make sure those two boys won't eat everything-" She stopped talking as she noticed Misty fall behind. The red head's gaze was off towards the Memorials up the mountainside.

"Misty?" Dawn asked, making the group stop and turn to face her.

Misty tore her eyes away from the large stone structures and faced the group. "Go on ahead, there's something I want to do before."

"Is everything alright, Mom?" Del asked worriedly, to which Misty nodded with a soft smile.

"I'm fine," she told them. "Go on and get there while Cilan has everything ready. I'm sure everyone is waiting patiently."

Dawn caught Misty's eye, seeing the look buried deep down. Understanding, Dawn half smiled at her friend. "You got it, just don't be too long."

With that said, Dawn ushered the group away, heading after the trail of dust left by Kaiden and Logan. Misty looked back up towards the Memorials.

Cameron stepped up the last stair, coming into even ground before the large stone slash. The wind gently tickled his hair, bringing a smile to his lips. He wasn't exactly sure what had called him up here, but after watching Misty and Kaiden's battle, he just felt an overwhelming urge to come take a look. Tomorrow could very well be his last day as Champion, not that that bothered him. He'd be glad to hand the title over to Kaiden. However, the young Ketchum certainly was going to have to take it by force. Maybe that was why Cameron was up here. To remind himself of just what he had to overcome to be where he was today. What he, and everyone else for that matter, had lost along the way.

And to his surprise, though not by much, he was not alone. A tall man, with graying auburn hair and sleek clothes, stood over beside the stone slash. His gaze locked down onto the golden plaque at its base. Cameron walked across the freshly cut grass, coming to a stop beside him.

"Didn't expect to see you up here, though I guess I should've," Cameron commented.

"I could say the same about you," Gary replied in his usual tone. "Needed a place to come think about tomorrow's battle?"

"You could say that," Cameron answered with a slight shrug as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "What brings you up here?"

"Mystery, love, and a little bondage," was Gary's reply.

Cameron knit his brow together as he shook his head ever so slightly. "You could've just said you didn't want to tell me."

"Whatever do you mean?" Gary asked.

It was here that Cameron noticed something. Gary had yet to look his direction. His eyes were locked onto the plaque before him, and Cameron followed his gaze. Serena's name was etched neatly in cursive beside Ash, Lance, and Brock's.

"I guess it's not something that will ever go away," Cameron commented his observation.

"Nope."

"You know that's not a bad thing, right?"

"Yep."

Cameron inwardly sighed, and the two stood there in silence. Gary might be a bit standoffish, but being his friend, Cameron could tell the researcher was glad for the company. Even if he didn't want to share why he was up there. Though, Cameron had a good guess.

"Well, look who's here," a female voice broke the silence.

Both men turned to see Misty walking up to them, and Cameron cracked a smile. "Hey, how's it feel to have Kaiden beat you?"

"Let me know how you feel tomorrow and we'll compare notes," Misty retorted, folding her arms.

Gary's lips tugged upward, as Cameron laughed, and said, "Snarky is my thing you know."

"I agree," Cameron nodded. "It doesn't feel right coming from someone else." Misty simply smiled at him sickeningly sweet. "Well, what brings you all the way up here?" he added.

"Oh, you know, fresh air and the like" Misty told him, motioning around her to the trees. "How about the two of you?"

Gary answered first. "I came here to be alone for a bit, and now the two of you have spectacularly ruined it." He started walking away from the Memorials, heading right on by Misty. "I'll leave you two to have a secret Elite meeting. Don't worry, I won't tell May. You guys have fun, don't do too much bondage stuff, it gets creepy after a while."

Cameron shook his head while Misty's cheeks turned red. She took a swing at the researcher, but he dodged her and hurried away while flashing her his usual smirk. With a mock salute, he headed down the stone steps back towards Indigo.

"When I very first met him, I seriously didn't think he was like that all the time," Cameron said as Misty clenched her fists and fumed.

"You should've known him when he was much younger," Misty replied, calming herself down with a large sigh.

"Worse?" Cameron asked with an amused expression.

"Much worse," Misty nodded, walking closer to Cameron and the Memorials. "Though, he wasn't as raunchy back then."

"Comes with age," Cameron chuckled.

Misty stopped beside him, looking down at the golden plaque and seeing Ash's name. She gave a half smile. "You know," she started to say. "I've come up here every time there's been an important battle before me, since I took the Elite job."

"Same," Cameron nodded, facing the Memorial. "Need the encouragement boost, right?"

"Mhm," Misty hummed. "It's a little silly, but I've always felt that I get a little help from Ash if I do. And today, I figured I'd come for Kaiden."

"I don't thinks that's silly," Cameron shook his head in disagreement. "It's a nice thought, and it's special to you. It would be silly if you did it before you went to eat a donut or something."

Misty laughed. "That would just be ridiculous, and that's something Ash or May would do." Cameron opened his mouth to defend his wife, but stopped when he found himself agreeing. Misty smiled when she noticed he came to that realization, "So, you never said why you were up here?"

"Hm? Oh, I needed fresh air too," he replied. "Tomorrow...I could very well be out of a job."

"Oh no, more time to spend with your family," Misty fake acted out in horror. "What ever will you do with that?"

Cameron smiled. "It's just mind boggling. I knew the day would come that Kaiden would challenge me, but I never realized it would be so soon…" he trailed off as his smile vanished. His demeanor turned grim before he added, "It should be his Father he's facing."

Misty's own smile vanished as well, and she nodded. "I agree," she nodded once, but quickly added, "He wanted to face his Father for the title, but he's been excited to face you instead. He said if it had to be anyone other than Ash, he's glad it's you."

Cameron's smile returned at her words and he looked at her. She returned the gesture and then said, "I'm starving. What do you say we head down to the hotel?"

"Can't," Cameron replied gloomily, slumping his shoulders. "I can't be around Kaiden, remember? Official League Rules and blah blah blah." He mockingly quoted as he finished speaking.

"Oh, that's right," Misty recalled, bringing a finger to her chin. "Looks like you're going to miss out on Cilan's wonderful cooking!"

Cameron's face fell and he nearly slumped to the ground. "Don't remind me…"

"Well," Misty hopped in place. "I'm heading back then, be sure you practice your strategies up! Kaiden's certainly been working hard!"

As she turned to start leaving, she heard Cameron say, "Don't worry, I plan to give him a battle he won't ever forget."

Water splashed as Kaiden and Brent dove in headfirst into the deep end of the hotel pool. Cilan stood off to the far side with Iris, manning a large grill and humming himself a tune. May and Dawn had occupied two of the lawn chairs by the poolside, sunglasses on as they worked on their tans. Ally conversed with Clemont and Max, their feet swaying in the water as Bonnie floated, singing to herself on a large Wailmer floatie. Lily screamed as she was lifted out of the water by Logan and tossed to Sam. The young Oak caught her, but his grip slipped from her skin being soaked, and the two crashed backwards into the pool. Logan laughed as they emerged glaring at him.

"So, wanna make a bet?" Darcy asked slyly, leaning over to Del and Simon who were sitting across the small round, grated table from her. Pichu was curled up in her lap, snoozing contentedly.

"What's that?" Del looked at her friend, raising her glass to take a sip of her drink.

"Who do we think Lily is going to end up with?" Darcy questioned, wiggling her brow. "Logan? Or Sam?"

Del choked on her drink, slamming the glass down onto the table in a panic. The sudden commotion didn't even bother the sleeping Pichu, who continued to snore on peacefully. When Del regained her breath, after turning a shade of red, she looked at Darcy incredulously. "Why do you ask that?"

"Look at them!" Darcy scoffed. "It's going to happen, I'm just curious as to who it's going to be."

"Sam," Simon offered suddenly. "It's the logical answer for their situation."

"It's not always about logic," Darcy scolded him. "It's about love, and emotions! I think it'll be Logan."

"Why are we talking about this?" Del asked seriously. "I don't want to think about my little brother and dating. That's just too weird!"

"But one of your little brothers is dating," Darcy reminded her friend with a coy grin.

Ally, who was close enough to hear the conversation, craned her neck back to the three of them. "And we're doing just fine!" She said to them with a wink.

Both Del and Simon groaned while Darcy broke into a fit of giggles. "Wanna share the juicy details?"

"Depends on what kind of details you're wanting," Ally said as she excused herself from Clemont and Max to join the three at the table. "I'm sure there are some things neither Del nor my brother want to hear."

"And that is my cue to leave," Simon declared, standing up. "You girls have fun."

He walked away briskly, heading over to Iris and Cilan at the grill.

"Oh, don't play innocent," Darcy said coyly, leaning closer to Ally. The brunette pulled away ever so slightly, looking into the mischievous eyes of her friend. Darcy could deny it all she wanted, but sometimes she acted just like Brock. "Have the two of you…consummated your relationship yet?"

Del, having tempted fate by taking another sip of her drink, spat it out once again. She leaned against the table, choking and gasping for air while Darcy patted her back. Her brown eyes snapped up to Ally, seeing the intense blush on the young woman's face. Ally's eyes were wide, and she brought the tips of her two index fingers together as she looked away. "Well…"

Del's mind exploded. Kaiden?! Had done THAT?! And before her at that?! Her younger brother had beat her to sex…

"Not yet," Ally half whispered, blushing even more. "Almost? I suppose, but we both chickened out last minute."

Instant relief…

"Only when you're both ready," Darcy nodded, though her smirk remained. "That's when the time is best."

"That's what we decided," Ally looked away from her friends, towards the man in question. She blushed more as he rose from the water, with his hair sticking up every which direction, eyes glowing bright from his dazzling crooked smile, and droplets of water glistening down his bare torso.

"Gross," Del finally said, sitting up straight. "Can we not have this conversation?"

"And why not?" Darcy asked innocently. "We've all got our own experiences right?" She leaned super close to Del, narrowing her eyes challengingly. "Riiiiiight?"

Del's cheeks erupted with a flaming hot tint of red. "Y-yes," she stammered. "Of c-course!"

"Mhm," Darcy nodded in disbelief. "You know what I-"

"Man, that smells wonderful!" Misty's voice cut her off, and Del couldn't have wished for better timing from her Mother. "Cilan's outdone himself this time."

She and Gary walked up to the side of the pool, standing beside the three girls at the table. Gary flashed them his natural smirk, and kept going to go converse with Clemont and Max. Misty, however, snatched Del's cup away from her and gave it a sniff.

"Alcohol?" she questioned. "Really?"

"I'm old enough," Del shot back, sitting up straight.

"Unfortunately," Misty sighed, though she downed the rest of Del's drink.

"Hey!"

"Sorry, Del," Misty exhaled with satisfaction as she handed the cup back. "Mommy needed that."

Del pouted, casting a sideways glance at Darcy and Ally. "So did I," she whispered sadly.

"Hey, Mom!" Kaiden called over, waving from the deep end of the pool. "Hop in! The water feels great!"

Without waiting for another invitation, Misty pulled off her tank top and dropped her shorts, stripping down to the swimsuit she always wore underneath her clothing. What? It was more comfortable for her that way being the Queen of the Sea and all. She dove in, splashing a good sized tidal wave directly towards Dawn and May. They squealed in alarm as the water washed over them, and both bolted upright.

"Kaiden Ketchum!" Dawn and May shrieked out simultaneously. It was a natural thing for Kaiden to do, he splashed his Aunts every time they went out swimming in the past, he found it entertaining. So, naturally, they assumed it was him.

"Huh?" He turned to see an angry bluenette and brunette diving into the water, heading straight for him. "What?! Wait! I didn't do it this time!" He attempted to swim away, but his panic caused him to simply flop in place. "Noooooo!"

The two women seized him and together they shoved him underwater. Ally rocketed to her feet, sprinting away from the table and shouting a battle cry of, "I'm coming, Kaiden!"

Like a Fearow, she soared through the air as she dove. Flying over the water, straight for her Mother. May yelped in surprise as Ally's hands smacked into her shoulders, and the two toppled backwards into the water. Kaiden surfaced just in time to witness this, as well as Logan, Sam, and Lily come up behind Dawn and grapple her together. Dawn squealed in surprise as the three teens lifted her high, and tossed her away. She plugged her nose last minute as she disappeared beneath the water with a big splash.

Together, all of them burst forth in a daze, and caught each other's eyes. Then they laughed, a joyful sound that made the others who had witnessed the entire event laugh alongside them. Misty finally surfaced herself, and tilted her head in bewilderment as to why everyone was laughing. "What'd I just miss?"

The sun was beginning to set on such an amazing day. A good battle, followed by a long day with family and friends around a poolside, drinking, playing games, and lots of good food made for perhaps one of the best days any of them had had in a very long time. And the day wasn't quite over. To celebrate the closing of the Indigo League Tournaments, there was a festival held in the town of Indigo every year during the nights the winner challenged the Elite Four. If they kept winning, the festival continued on into the next night until the challenger finally lost, or claimed the title of Champion once they beat all four Elites. Tonight, regardless of the outcome, was the last festival night. So the party was sure to be phenomenal.

After the pool, and the very delicious meal by Cilan, the group made their way out of the hotel and into the streets. Stalls and stands lined almost every avenue, selling toys, Indigo merchandise, or providing fun and challenging games for the citizens. Quick street battles took place in certain authorized locations, which is where Kaiden and Ally found themselves. Kaiden wasn't allowed to participate, being as he was the challenger for Cameron's title, but he enjoyed watching and cheering Ally on instead while Cilan had somehow been volunteered to Referee matches.

Del, Darcy, and Brent navigated the streets. Intent on checking out every single stall there was to see. Being Del, she wanted to try out every game there was as well, which meant a lot of spent money, but a roaring good time. She won a dozen different prizes, including a stuffed Pichu doll that made her own Pokémon seem a little jealous as it turned its back on the toy with a huff. Darcy won a kit that included various types of PokeBalls, while Brent won the grand prize at one of the bigger stalls. His face lit up with pure excitement as he was handed the Pokémon egg that contained a 'mystery' Pokémon. He was practically in tears as he held the egg close, while both Del and Darcy glared at him in jealousy.

Simon, Max, Gary, and Clemont had excused themselves from all the fun. Having been recruited to set up the fireworks show that would come much later once the sun was fully set. This did not stop them from enjoying themselves though. As Misty, May, Iris, and Dawn walked by chatting amongst themselves rapidly, the four of them lit a small rocket and pointed it at the women. It whistled sharply as it took off, and the four women squealed in fear when it exploded over their heads. A bright array of different colors of confetti rained down around them, covering them in colorful snippets of paper. It doesn't take much imagination to know what happened to the men next.

Bonnie pranced around with the three teens, being the closest to their age and matching their amount of energy. They did anything and everything, from playing games, to dancing on the stages they came across. Logan zipped between stall after stall, gawking over all the little knickknacks. His heart gave a little twang when he spotted a figurine of his father on a necklace chain.

"This here is a Hero's token," the stand seller said. "Wear one while you're on your journey, and you'll have a fortune of adventures!"

Logan of course didn't buy one, but he smiled as he respectfully declined and pulled his hat tighter onto his head. Lily grabbed his arm and hauled him away, scurrying towards a stand where if you knock down all the cups, you win a stuffed Pokémon doll. Bonnie wound up winning the largest one they had, an eight foot tall Clefable. It was nearly three feet above her own head, but she shouldered it and marched proudly through Indigo.

"Why did you have to have that one?" Sam asked with an amused expression.

"Because it was so cute!" was Bonnie's reply, making Sam chuckle nervously.

He leaned over to Logan and whispered, "Thank goodness they didn't have any bigger ones."

"Oh, look Aunt Bonnie!" Lily exclaimed. "There's bigger ones over there!"

Both Logan and Sam face palmed.

So now the group was gathering at the edge of town, setting up lawn chairs and getting ready for the fireworks show that was sure to be a spectacle. Ally was scanning for a spot amongst the grass, looking for a good place to sit with a view. Many people were gathering out onto the field, rows and rows of blankets and chairs covering the entire length. The citizens of Indigo were just as excited as the League Tournament visitors, which meant practically everyone in town was out there. Someone tapped her shoulder, and she turned to find Kaiden grinning sheepishly at her. Ally returned his smile.

"Come with me," he said to her softly. "I know a better spot."

She tilted her head at him curiously, casting a glance over to the rest of their group as they sat and chatted amongst themselves. "What about the others?" She asked as she turned back to him.

He waved her question off. "They'll be fine. Won't even notice were gone." He started to blush lightly as he looked at her bright green eyes. "Come on," he said again. "You'll love it. I promise."

It's not like she really needed convincing to go anywhere with Kaiden. Giving him a wide smile, she nodded and said, "Alright."

He lit up and took her hand, quickly leading her through the rows of people gathering for the show. They headed for the edge of the field, straight towards Ketchum Stadium and the stone staircase that led up to the Memorials. Together, they hopped a small picket fence and hurried down the road. One by one Kaiden began to lead her up the steps, but halfway up, he veered off into the tree line that ran along its edge. Now thoroughly confused on their destination, Ally opened her mouth to ask, but decided against it. Clearly Kaiden wanted to surprise her, so, why not just enjoy the surprise? She looked at the back of his head as she followed him, her heart fluttering as she pictured his beautiful brown eyes just on the other side. The excitement in them she knew to be there made her heart pick up pace.

The pathway they were on wasn't overgrown, but it wasn't tame either, and the sun was almost gone by the time Kaiden finally led her out of the trees. A gasp escaped her lips as the view unfolded before her. They were on a small ridge above the two Memorials, overlooking the entire city. From one end of town to the other, people were sitting in the streets, in the outer lying fields, and even on rooftops to the tallest buildings. Long streaks of dark purple and reds were cast across the sky as the sun slowly disappeared, and a soft glow was hovering over Indigo.

"It's beautiful," Ally whispered in awe.

"Back when I was really young, Dad would sometimes bring me to the Plateau," Kaiden began to explain as he looked at Ally awestruck gaze. She listened to him speak, but found herself unable to bring her eyes away from the sight. "When he got super busy, he would let me run around the grounds and play. I found this spot and used to love coming up here when I needed some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of the Plateau. I thought you would like it."

Finally her eyes snapped to Kaiden's. "I love it!" She exclaimed, throwing herself into him. He caught her with surprise, but quickly melted into her embrace. "Thank you for showing me!" She finished into his chest. "It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen."

"It's only half as beautiful as you are," the words slipped from his mouth before he had time to think. And for some reason, he erupted into a bright red blush of embarrassment.

Ally pulled away from him, her mouth hanging open ever so slightly as she looked upon the tomato red boy before her. She wanted to say something. A thank you, a compliment back, but she was tongue tied. His words were so genuine, so sincere, so heart throbbingly cute that there were no words she could say to express how he made her feel.

So she just showed him.

She leaned forward without warning, pressing her lips to his in the most loving of ways. It was gentle, yet passionate. His heart practically stopped at the sensation of her soft lips on his, making every nerve in his body go numb. She'd kissed him before, many times in fact, but this time it was different. He couldn't explain why, but as he fell into the kiss and returned the passion, it was as if both their hearts were beating in perfect sync.

The sun vanished as they held each other close, totally lost in the others embrace. The cool night air bristled past, lighting their skin up with goosebumps. Ruffling their hair so that it tickled each other's cheeks. Then, their was a loud crack, a thump, and a groan. Kaiden and Ally jumped apart in alarm, spinning on the spot to face the intrusion into their private moment.

Del and Pichu groaned as they sat up off the ground at the base of a tree, rubbing their heads from the impact. Her eyes flew open as Kaiden cleared his throat and she caught her brother's questioning gaze. "Oh," she exhaled sharply. Then laughed nervously as she scratched the back of her head. "Hey guys! Great view, huh?"

"Did you follow us?" Kaiden asked

"Me? Whaaaat?" Del acted a little too innocent, going so far as to put a hand on her chest as if she was hurt. "I would never do that, Kaid. I simply wanted a good view for the fireworks and stumbled upon the two of you."

"Yeah, and I'm a Primeape," Kaiden folded his arms as Del stood, holding her arm down for Pichu to scamper up.

"Well, you do sometimes act like one," Del teased him with a smirk.

"This is true," Ally nodded her agreement, making Kaiden turn to her appalled. "Oh, sorry," she flashed him an innocent smile, and his offended attitude melted away.

"Well, since I'm here," Del began to say, striding up beside the other two and casting her gaze out over the town. "Might as well enjoy the view."

"Way to interrupt-" Kaiden started, but another voice cut him off.

"I want to join too!" It was Logan, and he was scurrying out of the underbrush in the trees, followed by Sam and Lily.

This time, both Kaiden and Ally blushed hard. The three teens skid to a stop by Kaiden, and flashed him a shit eating grin. "Did you enjoy your alone time with Ally?" Logan asked his brother wickedly.

WACK! Logan yelped as Kaiden smacked him upside the head. "Alright," Kaiden shouted with a sigh. "Everyone else might as well come out."

Ally was confused at first, but quickly her blush deepened as Simon, Brent, and Darcy each came striding out of the trees. "W-w-what?!" She took a step back. "All of you were there?!"

"I didn't know, I swear!" Del defended herself, but she cast Darcy a wink all the same.

"We weren't here long," Brent said as they approached.

"We only caught the end of your little show," Darcy added coyly.

"It was gross," Simon stated, folding his arms.

Ally's blush turned brighter and brighter, practically allowing her to glow in the night. Kaiden was just as embarrassed, but seeing the look on Ally's face diminished the tight feeling in his chest. He couldn't help it, he started laughing. The others looked to him like he was crazy, tilting their head curiously as he doubled over and placed his hands on his knees to balance himself.

Ally was about to ask him what the deal was, when suddenly the area around them was lit up with a dazzling array of blue. A faint pop soon followed, then another and another. Each one a different color, from red to green, and yellow to purple. The firework show had begun. Kaiden ceased his laughter as he rose to his full height, catching his breath as his eyes caught sight of the showering sparks high above their heads. Again and again, they exploded in the sky, lighting up the night with the most dazzling display of colors any of them had ever seen. Some even had shapes. A blue one popped into the shape of a Totodile, while a yellow one dispersed in the shape of a Pichu. Del nudged the partner on her shoulder at that one, earning a delighted squeak.

Kaiden stepped closer to Ally, and he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side. She melted into his embrace, smiling while keeping her eyes on the red firework that glittered above, except he couldn't tear his eyes away from the young brunette. Never before had he seen a more beautiful sight. Her gentle features illuminated in the soft lighting, and her smile was intoxicating, making him smile wide along with her. His heart thundered on his chest, and when her eyes traveled from the show overhead down to his own gaze…he knew…

But she beat him to the punch, "I love you, Kaiden Ketchum."

And he didn't miss a beat, "I love you too, Ally Turner."

When their lips met underneath the burst of blue sparks, Del and Simon groaned while Darcy gushed over the romantic display. Logan elbowed his brother, but Kaiden ignored them all, focusing only on the girl in front of him.

Unknown to any of them, a figure stood in the shadows underneath the tree line. Arms folded, watching them intently, with a light smile on her face. Aquamarine eyes glistened as the next yellow firework burst, and her smile grew wider. The scene before her was everything she could have ever asked for. Misty's heart might forever have a hole where Ash had been, but seeing all of their kids together filled her with joy. A serene happiness that penetrated deep down to her very soul. Brent gave Simon a shoulder shove as the Turner boy gagged at his sister. Logan, Lily, and Sam all shared a look of entertainment at the fireworks above and the scene around them. Del and Darcy squabbled over Kaiden and Ally, while the two of them shared one more kiss.

Yes, Misty's heart was full of joy at the scene before her. She wished Ash could share this moment with her, but it was okay. Somewhere, she knew he was watching. Smiling that crooked smile of his and chuckling while he scratched the back of his head. And she was positive there was a little yellow mouse on his shoulder squealing happily.

"Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen! Today will prove to be an exciting day, perhaps the most thrilling day within the last year! Today, we witness a remarkable event. Our own Champion, Cameron Turner, has been challenged by the winner of the Pro Indigo League Tournament. And who is this winner? For those of you sadly only just joining us, Kaiden Ketchum has risen through the ranks and won the Pro League as well as defeat the three Elites, Arianna, Janine, and Misty! Now, you may be asking, Ketchum? That's right, Kaiden is the son of our previous Champion, Ash Ketchum. He has shown remarkable skill over the last few days, and many believe he has a tremendous shot at winning the title! Can he do it? Ladies and Gent, only the battle will tell, so be sure to stay tuned! It's sure to a wild ride!"

The TV speakers cackled as the announcer continued to shout in his own excitement for the upcoming match. Kaiden paced back and forth in the locker rooms beneath Ketchum Stadium, wringing his hands as he moved around the room. Ally watched him from her seat, eyes keeping up with his hurrying figure. "Relax," she said gently. "You got this!"

"Shouldn't you be cheering for your Dad?" Kaiden asked seriously.

"Psshh," Ally waved her hand, giving Kaiden a wink. "I can cheer for both of you just fine."

The door suddenly cracked open, and a familiar face popped his head in. "Kaiden," Vance said loud enough to get the nervous boy's attention. "We're ready for you".

Cameron walked onto the field as the announcer shouted his name into the microphone. The crowd went wild, cheering so loud that his chest vibrated with their shouts. He gave a wave, inciting an even louder roar from the crowd. He caught sight of May, sitting with Misty, Dawn, and their entire group. All of them were holding a sign that read 'Go, Kaiden!', or shouting for him to do well. It didn't bother Cameron, he knew deep down even he wanted Kaiden to win. Though, he wouldn't make it easy. If Kaiden wanted the title of Kanto Champion, he would have to earn it.

"And now, I present to you, the challenger from Pallet Town, the son of Ash Ketchum, the man of the hour! Kaiden Ketchum!"

The crowd roared equally as loud as Kaiden stepped out from the small tunnel beneath the seats, heading for his place on the other side of the field. He looked to be a nervous wreck, but the determination in his eyes made Cameron smile. The young man took his place and caught Cameron's eye and the two shared a curt nod.

"Alright, listen up!" Vance shouted from the sideline, looking between the two. "The rules are simple-"

As he began going over the regulations of the match, Cameron's mind wandered. So much had happened in the last four years. Crimson had officially disbanded, joining ranks with the League and helping to bring Kanto into a new era of peace and security never before seen. Criminal gangs were a thing of the past, as each time one tried to start, it was brought down well before a foothold could be gained. Fuschia, tragically, had been destroyed to secure the Region from the infection, but the Sevii Islands had been saved. Thanks to Gary and a large team of the best Scientists and Professors around the world, a vaccine and cure had been created for the virus unleashed by Crimson. Many of the Pokemon had sustained serious injuries during their time as a Feral beasts, and thus couldn't be saved, but most were able to be healed and released back into the wild by the wonderful Nurse Joys.

The holes left behind by Ash, Brock, Serena, and Lance's passing had mended slowly over time, and today was a remarkable step in the right direction. All of their families were gathered to watch Kaiden claim the title of Champion, just as he'd wanted to do since he very first set out on his journey. Cameron only wished Kaiden could be facing Ash right now instead of him.

"Cameron," Kaiden called as Vance finished speaking. "Let's make this a battle my Father would be proud of."

A wide grin cracked across Cameron's face. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"If both Trainer's are ready," Vance raised his flags, and brought them down. "Begin!"

Cameron unclipped his PokeBall and tossed it high. "Let's do this, Latias!"

The red and white Legendary materialized with a beautiful cry. She flew around Cameron once before heading out into the center of the field. Kaiden smirked.

"Alright Jolteon! You're up first!" he shouted as he tossed his own PokeBall. His faithful Pokemon barked as it landed on the field in the flash of light.

The two Trainer's stared each other down, a fierce look of determination and fun flashing through their eyes before they simultaneously pointed ahead and began to shout their first command. The crowd erupted into a frenzy, and their friends and family screamed their support. Kaiden caught sight of Ally's bright green eyes in the stands, beaming down at him with the proudest of smiles she'd ever seen her wear. His chest inflated with an alarming amount of confidence, and Kaiden turned all his focus onto the battle before him.

Dad, he said to himself. Today, Kanto gets a new Champion!

And that's the end! I just want to lie down and cry. It's been such a long journey for me, just a little over two years spent writing this Saga. It all started with 'The End of the Journey P1' and here we are! I sincerely hope everyone who has been around since the very beginning has thoroughly enjoyed this journey of emotions, and is pleased with how things turned out. For those who came in for 'Dead Islands', I hope it was a satisfying adventure into the later lives of our favorite characters!

I can't begin to express what coming to the end means to me. It's heartbreaking and encouraging all at the same time! When I very first started 'End of the Journey', I had only just begun my first steps into writing, and I never imagined it would turn into this four part Saga with side stories and everything. I've laughed, I've cried, I've had my ups and down. I've taken this journey with all of you and felt the emotional weight it brought on. What I'm getting at is, I love it! And I hope all of you did as well :)

Let me know what everyone thought! Whether you've been around since the very start, or just recently found this story as of two days ago, tell me! Tell me what you liked, didn't like, where you laughed, and where you clutched your heart in agony. Be honest, be brutal. Let me know where everyone stands!

Now you may be wondering if I have any plans to continue writing stories in this universe I've created, or if I plan to write a whole new story. Well...both? I still have a few ideas for side stories. Like, where was Jessie, James, and Meowth? And I have an idea for a whole new story. BUT! Since this has taken me two years to write this Saga, I will be taking a break. For how long I can't say, but rest assured I will return! You guys are way to awesome to leave hanging :)

Lastly, I want to thank my two Beta's for helping me out SO, SO, SO much over the course of this story. JordanMax and Haraxter! Thank you! A thousand times, thank you both! I can honestly say, 'Dead Islands' wouldn't have turned out the way it had if not for you two! You rock!

Once again, thank you to all who have read this, and thank you for the support! I can never express how much it means!

As always, let me know what y'all think!