Chapter 10: The Tournament Begins
The Kanto League stadium stood grand and overwhelming, filled with roaring voices, flashing lights, and an energy that could shake even the most experienced trainers. Banners waved high, crowds gathered from every region, and the battlefield at the center shone like a stage where dreams would either rise—or break.
Ashley stood at the entrance.
For a moment—
She didn't move.
Eight years ago, she had walked into a place like this with burning ambition.
Years after that, she had walked out of many like this with quiet disappointment.
And now—
She was back.
"…Ashley?"
Voices came from nearby.
She turned.
A group of familiar faces—trainers, spectators, even some she had battled before—looked at her with surprise.
"You're back?"
"I thought you quit!"
"She's the one who reached finals before, right?"
"…She actually came again."
The murmurs spread quickly.
But this time—
They weren't filled with doubt.
They were filled with something else.
"Hey, don't give up this time!"
"You've got this!"
"Win it this year!"
Encouragement.
Support.
"Housla badhaya uska"—they lifted her spirit without even realizing it.
Ashley blinked slightly.
She hadn't expected that.
"…Thank you," she said quietly.
Pikachu raised its paw. "Pika!"
Beside her, Ben watched everything silently.
Too silently.
Ashley noticed it.
"…What's wrong?"
Ben didn't answer immediately.
His gaze was fixed somewhere else.
Ashley followed it.
A few boys—trainers, clearly impressed—had started approaching, curious, interested, trying to talk.
"…Hey, you're Ashley, right?"
"We heard about your past runs—"
"You're really strong—"
Ben's expression darkened slightly.
"…Ben?" Ashley said again.
He finally looked at her.
"…I don't like it."
"…What?"
"Those guys."
Ashley frowned. "…What about them?"
"They're getting too close."
She stared at him.
"…They're just talking."
"I don't care."
"…Ben."
His voice lowered slightly, more serious than before. "I don't want anyone else getting close to you."
Ashley's eyes widened just a fraction.
"…That's not your decision."
"I know."
"…Then?"
A pause.
Then—
"…After you win," Ben said, his voice steady, direct, "I want you."
Ashley froze.
Her breath hitched slightly.
"…What?"
Ben didn't look away.
"I want you," he repeated, not louder, not softer—just clear.
For a moment—
Everything else faded.
The crowd.
The noise.
The tournament.
"…You're saying this now?" she asked, her voice quieter.
"Yeah."
"…Right before the League starts?"
"Yeah."
She looked at him.
Really looked at him.
There was no joke in his eyes this time.
No teasing.
Just intent.
Ashley's cheeks flushed faintly.
"…You're unbelievable."
"Still here, though."
"…You're asking for too much."
"Only if you lose."
That made her pause.
"…And if I win?"
Ben's gaze didn't waver.
"Then you keep your promise."
Silence.
Pikachu looked between them. "Pika…?"
Ashley looked away for a moment.
Her thoughts raced.
Eight years of failure.
A restarted journey.
Eight badges.
And now—
This.
"…Fine," she said quietly.
Ben blinked.
"…Really?"
She didn't look at him.
"…Only if I win."
A small pause.
"…And we don't talk about this again until then."
Ben smiled slowly.
"Deal."
---
The announcement echoed through the stadium.
"The Kanto League Tournament—begins now!"
The crowd roared.
Battles started across multiple fields.
Ashley stepped forward.
No hesitation.
No fear.
This time—
She wasn't here to try.
She was here to win.
---
Round after round—
She advanced.
Top 128.
Top 64.
Each battle faster than the last.
Cleaner.
Sharper.
Ben adapted perfectly, switching forms, countering types, overwhelming opponents when needed, holding back when strategy required it.
People started noticing.
"Who is that Pokémon?"
"I've never seen anything like it!"
"Is that even registered?"
"She's stronger than before…"
The whispers spread.
Ashley ignored them.
Because this time—
She wasn't listening to the crowd.
She was moving forward.
---
Top 32.
The announcement rang out.
Ashley stood in the arena, calm, focused, steady.
She had reached this stage many times before.
But this time—
It felt different.
Ben stood beside her, cracking his knuckles lightly.
"Halfway through," he said.
Ashley nodded.
"…Yes."
Her eyes sharpened.
"…This time, I don't stop here."
Ben grinned.
"Good."
The next battle was about to begin.
And this time—
The ending wouldn't be the same.
---
End of Chapter 10