The Endorsement Letter

Disclaimer: Ash Ketchum and other characters portrayed in this story are the property of The Pokemon Company.

~~0~~

After their exciting trek through the Wild Area and having made a new friend in Scorbunny, Ash and Go returned to Wyndon, eagerly awaiting for their plane back to Vermillion City. Right now they were at a restaurant, enjoying a hearty meal.

However, it seemed that Ash has other plans.

"Go, wait a minute," he said, tapping the other boy on the shoulder.

"Hm?"

"I heard that this city is the host of the Galar Region's conferences, can we go check it out?" asked Ash. On his shoulder, Pikachu raised a paw in agreement.

Go took out their ticket from his pocket. "Well, our plane doesn't leave until tomorrow, so I guess we have time."

"Great, thanks!"

A quick taxi ride brought them to the front of Wyndon Stadium.

"Whoa! It's so big!" exclaimed Ash as he and Pikachu looked up at the massive building. "This might be bigger than the stadium in Lumiose, don't you think Pikachu?"

"Pikachu!"

Go opened a guidebook. "According to this guidebook, gyms in the Galar Region are usually built on top of Power Spots, which allow trainers to Dynamax their Pokemon."

"Like what happened with Snorlax?" said Ash. "So Snorlax was resting on top of a Power Spot? That's why it was able to Dynamax like that?"

"Yes." said Go.

"No wonder they made their gyms so big, if all the pokemon fighting inside were as big as Snorlax!"

"Uh-huh, and Wyndon, as the site of the Championship matches and the League Finals, is the biggest stadium of them all."

"He he," said Ash. He nuzzled Pikachu in the cheek. "Makes you want to go out and challenge gyms again, right buddy?"

"Pika!"

"Excuse me," said a voice from behind them. Ash and Go turned around and saw a violet-haired man in sporting attire, white leggings, a cap, and what looked like a cape with sponsors emblazoned on the back.

Unnoticed by everyone, Scorbunny gaped at the new arrival. He tried to get his trainer's attention as to the identity of the man in front of them. The man noticed this and winked at the fire-type starter.

"Sorry to say that the league season isn't open yet," he said, shaking his head apologetically. "It's going to open later this year, are you two going to take on the Gym Challenge?"

"No, we're just sightseeing."

"You bet!"

The man and Go turned to Ash.

The trainer and his Pikachu rubbed their noses, smirks on their faces. "It's been a while since I've taken on the league, I'm dying to face new trainers and challenges again!"

"Pika-pikachu!"

"But Ash," said Go. "You're working as a research assistant for Professor Sakuragi now."

Ash and Pikachu's faces comically changed from excited to sad.

"Oh."

The man chuckled. "Well, it's not for a few months. I'm sure you can make some arrangements with Professor Sakuragi by then."

Ash nodded. "Count on it."

The man started to turn away but quickly faced them back again. "Oh, I almost forgot," he said. "You need an official endorsement if you want to take on the gym challenge."

"Endorsement?"

"That's right," he said. "From an officially authorized member of the League or someone recognized by the League. It signifies that this person saw your potential and believe you could make it big."

"Like who?"

"Gym leaders, for one. Or famous trainers that the League has given permission to hand out endorsements."

"I know a few gym leaders, but they're from other regions," replied Ash. A thought suddenly occurred to him. "Wait, what about champions?"

"I haven't seen your battle potential yet so I can't endorse you, but that's fine too." said the man, drawing a suspicious look from Go. Ash didn't notice the weird statement.

"It's always good to see international trainers take on our challenge, makes everything more diverse and exciting, doesn't it?" he said.

"Yeah!"

"Great!" said the man. "Well Ash, I'll see you at the opening ceremony, okay?"

"Sure."

"Wait," said Go. "Sorry, but we didn't catch your name."

"Oh, it's Leon," said the man now identified as Leon. "I'm actually surprised you didn't know my name, considering it's on billboards everywhere."

Go stared at the man like he grew a second head while Ash just drew blanks.

"We were in the Wild Area for a good while," said Ash sheepishly.

"Ah! Now I remember! You're the champion of the Galar League! You have Charizard as your ace and you've been unbeaten for the last ten years!" exclaimed Go, pointing a finger at the newly revealed champion.

"That's me!" said Leon happily. "Nice to meet you!"

He extended a hand, which Ash shook.

"Nice to meet you too! I have a Charizard myself! I'd ask for a battle, but you look like you have to go somewhere, right?"

"You got me!" said Leon. "I'm just escaping from my Champion duties, but I gotta get back or else my secretary is going to get angry at me again."

"Well, thanks for explaining the gym challenge to us. Next time, let's have a battle!"

"You can count on it. Bring your Charizard too, and we'll have a Champion time!"

~~0~~

"Next on the docket for this meeting are the Ultra Beast Incidents in Alola," said Lance, the projector behind him showed an image of a number of Guzzlord, Pheromosa, Buzzwole, and Necrozma. "The Aether Foundation provided us with these photos of Pokemon that originated from another dimension. They made their way into our dimension through what are known as Ultra Wornholes and are as strong or stronger than fully evolved pokemon.

"While most of the pokemon act much like regular pokemon would, this one, Guzzlord," Lance pointed to the image of the indicated Ultra Beast, "Has caused mass panic when it appeared at the end of the Manalo Conference a few months prior."

"Was anyone hurt?" asked Wallace.

"No, but they did cause significant property and environmental damage when they appeared," replied Lance. "The Foundation has previously enlisted the help of a group known as the Ultra Guardians to help return the Ultra Beasts to the wormholes, but the group has since disbanded, therefore it is up to the League to-"

He was interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Annoyed, Lance began to drop the call, but stopped when he saw the name of the one calling him.

"Excuse me for a moment," he said as he walked out the room.

At the lull of the conversation, the various other champions began to talk among themselves.

"Cynthia, darling, I heard you defeated another trainer aiming for your title, am I right?" asked Wallace.

Cynthia snorted, smiling.

"He brought an entire team of Legendaries to our battle, but it was clear he didn't put much thought into strategy," replied the Sinnoh Champion. "I would have thought he learned a thing or two after Flint and Lucian had him down to his last Pokemon during their battles."

"I agree," said Diantha. "Alain didn't make it past Siebold, but he sure made his matches exciting to watch. He incorporated all he's learned from his battle with Ash into his own style."

"Hold on, did you say Ash?"

Everyone turned to Leon, who was suddenly upright and paying attention.

"Yes? Ash Ketchum was the runner-up of the Lumiose Conference last year." said Diantha.

"I met a kid a while back with that name."

"Does this kid have a Pikachu on his shoulder? Zigzags under his eyes?" asked Cynthia, also now sitting upright.

"He did, how'd you know?

"That's Ash Ketchum, alright." remarked Steven. Wallace, Cynthia, Diantha, and, after taking a second to remember the details, Alder nodded.

"How do you all know him?" asked Leon, interested in seeing what he thought was a random trainer know so many Champions.

"I fought him a few times," said Diantha. "His Greninja and Pikachu were very strong."

"He also participated in one of my Wallace Cups. Placed decently well too," said Wallace. "That was the same year he reached top four in your region, wasn't it Cynthia?"

The Sinnoh Champion nodded.

"He was a runner-up in a tournament I hosted once," picked-up Alder. "Don't know him as good as these guys, but Cynthia reported to me that he and his friends helped stop Team Rocket in my region."

Upon hearing this, Steven also had his full attention to the conversation, eyebrows knitted.

"Alder, we're not supposed to reveal the identities of trainers," warned Cynthia. "But he's right. That was the incident where Team Rocket tried to take control of Landorus, Thundurus, and Tornadus."

Diantha perked up, eyes wide open.

Not noticing Diantha's reaction, Cynthia shot Alder a dirty look. "You should have been there, where were you?"

"Eh, here and there."

The Sinnoh Champion huffed. "Well, I first met him while he was traveling in Sinnoh a few years back. He and his friends were also instrumental in stopping Team Plasma in their plan to control Dialga and Palkia- ah, wait, I'm not supposed to be telling you this...Diantha?"

The actress had her mouth hanging open, staring at Cynthia in disbelief.

Beside her, Steven was staring at his phone like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Steven, Diantha darling, something wrong?" asked Wallace.

"...I don't know about the others, but Ash was a key figure in stopping the Kalos Crisis that happened after the Lumiose Conference," said Diantha.

"What?" said Cynthia, surprised.

"He- he was there when Groudon and Kyogre were awoken by Teams Magma and Aqua," added Steven. His voice was shaking slightly. "Lance gave me his report on it, Ash's Pikachu was a vital part in calming down Groudon and helping it calm down Kyogre too."

"Well hot damn," remarked Alder, placing a hand on his head.

"We aren't supposed to be revealing the identities of trainers in incidents like this," said Cynthia. "But..."

"Too late for that now," said Wallace.

"Wait, this kid's been in how many world-ending events?" asked Leon, incredulous.

"Far too many, in my opinion," said a voice from the door.

All the champions turned to see that Lance had finished his phone call.

"Since we're sharing stories about Ash Ketchum, I'd just like to add that he was one of the Ultra Guardians that helped protect Alola from Ultra Beasts some time before," he said as he took his seat. "Yes, they've been to another world, if that's what you're asking."

"How has that kid not been driven mad yet?" asked Steven. "I have reports here from Forina and other places that was also involved in incidents that happened there!"

"He has a great support network. Professor Oak acts a a mentor to the boy," remarked Lance. "But that's beside the point. Why are we letting this teenager and his friends do our jobs for us?"

"How on earth does he keep running into Legendaries?" asked Alder. "The Nurse Joy in Roshan City told me she treated a Keldeo who was brought to her Center by Ash and his friends! And that's not even getting into what he did in Eindoak Town..."

"Either he has the worst or best luck in the world," said Wallace, who shook his head. "Still, I'm guessing there's another Legendary involved in all of this."

"There is, actually," said Lance.

The entire room had his undivided attention.

"A researcher named Bonji recently published his findings about Ho-oh," he began. "It seems that Ash received one of Ho-oh's Rainbow Wings early in his journey."

"Wow!" exclaimed Cynthia.

"Remarkable. Few people have seen Ho-oh alive, and fewer still have been bestowed its Rainbow Wing." said Diantha. "Ash must have been very pure of heart even early on, to have been given such privilege."

"That explains his knack for stumbling upon Legendaries," said Alder. "But what are we going to do with his knack for getting into trouble?"

"Alder's right," said Steven. "Ash also has a tendency to run into danger. It's our job to keep our regions safe, not him."

"Technically it's his job now too," chuckled Lance. "We was the winner of the Manalo Conference, remember? Professor Kukui's representing him since he's still not of age, but until a new Champion is crowned, he's the Champion of the Alola region."

"Where is Kukui anyway?" asked Alder, looking around the room.

"His flight got delayed, but he'll be here tomorrow," replied Lance.

"Anyway, back to the point, what should we do with Ash?"

"His friend told me they were working for a Professor Sakuragi at the moment," said Leon.

"The new professor at Vermillion City, I know him. I'll call the lab after this meeting's over," said Lance. "That should give us an idea of how we can keep an eye on him. How about we call it a day for now?"

"Agreed to that," said Alder, who was already standing up and stretching. "Hey, Cynthia, Diantha, want to go get some dinner?"

"No."

"No."

"I'll join you for dinner, darling," said Wallace.

"Uh, no thanks."

"If he's going to be in my region next, I need to tell the gym leaders," remarked Leon. "Who knows what kind of mysterious twenty-thousand year old Pokemon he'll unearth while he's there."

"By the way Lance," asked Steven. "Who was it that called you?"

Lance chuckled. "Hey Leon. can Champions endorse themselves?"

"As far as I know, you can't endorse yourself. Even trainers authorized to give endorsements in my region have to get their own endorsements from someone else, why?"

And that was how Leon found himself with six Champions turning their heads to him.

Thus, a plan was formed.

~~0~~

"You'll need an official endorsement to enter the Gym Challenge," said the League Staff manning the counter.

"Sure, here!" replied Ash as he placed a rather thick envelope on the counter.

"Let's see, you have a recommendation from...SIX CHAMPIONS?!"

On the envelope were endorsement letters signed by the Champions of the Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos regions, with additional letters from the Masked Royal and Pyramid King Brandon.

"Huh? But I only asked Lance for a recommendation..."

"Pikachu?"

Nearby, Bede was looking at the supposed rookie in disbelief, Go's mouth was hanging open, Koharu couldn't believe her ears, and Marnie looked at the new kid curiously.

The end.

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Couldn't get the story out of my head. This was inspired by The Ketchum Conference by Saproneth.

Enjoy!