Chapter 12: The Last Two Battles
The stadium felt different now.
Not louder.
Not brighter.
But heavier.
Only four trainers remained.
And Ashley—
Was one of them.
For the first time in eight years, she stood in the Top 4 without the weight of past failure dragging her down. The crowd watched her differently now. Not as someone who might fall—but as someone who could actually win.
Ben stood beside her, stretching lightly. "Two more."
Ashley nodded. "…Yes."
Her voice was calm.
Focused.
No hesitation.
---
Top 4
The arena fell silent as the next match was announced.
"Ashley versus Rohan!"
Her opponent stepped forward, confident, composed, clearly experienced.
"I've been watching your matches," he said. "You've improved."
Ashley didn't respond.
"…But this is where it ends."
She stepped into position.
"…We'll see."
"Go, Garchomp!"
A powerful dragon-type Pokémon slammed onto the field, its presence instantly overwhelming.
Ben glanced at it. "…That one looks serious."
"…It is," Ashley replied.
"Garchomp, Dragon Rush!"
It charged instantly, speed and power combined into one devastating attack.
Ashley's voice cut through sharply.
"Don't match power—control it."
Ben nodded.
FLASH.
Green light burst—
And he transformed.
Big Chill.
A ghostly, winged alien form emerged, cold energy radiating outward.
Garchomp rushed forward—
But passed through.
"…What?!"
The crowd gasped.
Big Chill phased effortlessly, avoiding the attack entirely.
Ashley's eyes stayed locked.
"Now—freeze its movement."
Cold air surged.
Frost spread rapidly across the field.
Garchomp slowed.
Its movement restricted.
"Finish it."
Big Chill dove—
A precise, chilling strike.
Garchomp froze momentarily—
Then collapsed.
Silence.
Then—
"Garchomp is unable to battle! Winner—Ashley!"
The stadium erupted.
"She's in the finals!"
"She actually made it!"
Ben returned to normal, landing beside her.
"…One more."
Ashley looked ahead.
"…Yes."
One more.
---
Final Battle
The atmosphere reached its peak.
The final arena.
The final opponent.
The final step.
"Ashley versus Leon!"
The opponent walked forward, calm, confident, undefeated in this tournament.
"I've been waiting for this," he said. "You're strong. But I don't lose."
Ashley met his gaze.
"…Neither do I."
"Go, Metagross!"
A massive steel and psychic Pokémon landed, its presence heavy and calculated.
Ben exhaled slowly. "…That one looks like trouble."
"…It is," Ashley said.
The battle began instantly.
"Metagross, Meteor Mash!"
It moved fast—
Faster than expected.
Ashley reacted immediately.
"Don't let it control the pace!"
Ben nodded.
FLASH.
He transformed—
Feedback.
Energy pulsed through his body, absorbing and redirecting.
Metagross struck—
The impact landed—
But Feedback absorbed the energy.
"…Now!"
Ashley's voice sharpened.
"Redirect it—full force!"
Ben grinned.
"Gladly."
Energy surged—
Amplified—
Released.
A massive blast struck Metagross directly.
The field shook.
The crowd fell silent.
Smoke cleared—
Metagross tried to stand—
Then collapsed.
A pause.
Then—
"METAGROSS IS UNABLE TO BATTLE! WINNER—ASHLEY!"
For a moment—
There was no sound.
Ashley stood still.
Her breath steady.
Her eyes fixed forward.
Then—
The stadium exploded.
"CHAMPION!"
"SHE WON!"
"AFTER EIGHT YEARS—SHE WON!"
Ben reverted back, looking at her.
"…You did it."
Ashley didn't move.
Then slowly—
She smiled.
"…We did."
---
Winning Ceremony
The stage was bright.
The crowd endless.
Ashley stood at the center, Pikachu on her shoulder, Ben beside her.
The trophy was brought forward.
Golden.
Shining.
The symbol of everything she had chased for eight years.
The announcer's voice echoed.
"After years of effort, countless battles, and unmatched determination—your Kanto League Champion… ASHLEY!"
The crowd roared.
Ashley stepped forward.
Her hands reached out—
And held the trophy.
For a moment—
Time stopped.
All the losses.
All the failures.
All the doubt—
Gone.
"…I finally did it," she whispered.
Pikachu cheered. "PIKA!"
Ben crossed his arms, smiling. "Told you."
Ashley looked at him.
For a second—
Everything else faded.
"…Yes," she said softly.
"I remember."
The promise.
Still there.
Still waiting.
Ben stepped a little closer, lowering his voice.
"So…"
Ashley's cheeks flushed slightly.
"…Not here."
Ben smirked. "Fair."
She looked away.
"…Tonight."
A small pause.
Ben's smile widened.
"…Now that's a champion's reward."
Ashley didn't reply.
But she didn't deny it either.
---
The crowd continued cheering.
The lights shone brighter.
The Champion had risen.
And this time—
Her story didn't end in defeat.
It ended in victory.
---
End of Chapter 12