Silence
The whole world fell into complete silence after the announcement as they were trying to digest what the announcer just said.
Everyone looked on to the battlefield just in time to see a guy with a cap and a Pikachu on his shoulder. A Pikachu on his shoulder.
Everyone were wide eyed with astonishment and stunned expression. The gang's expression was, well.... unreadable.
The professors in the VIP box was just like the crowd. All of them knew the Ash Ketchum. The boy they had met so many years ago during his journey, mysteriously disappeared after becoming Champion, was standing before them all of a sudden.
"Looks like my wallet won't lose any weight then," Gary said breaking the tensed silence.
All of the gang gave him a look like they were going to bury him alive. Gary just cowered back in his seat.
The silence was getting to Ash, but he didn't raise his head. Pikachu was nervous as well.
"WHAT THE FUK??!!!!" Someone from the crowd shouted and the silence was finally over as people started cheering and screaming shaking the whole region. People who were watching outside of the academy almost tried to break in to the stadium, but were stopped by security. Mass of reporters from the Kalos region started squirming the area like ants. Diantha pulled down her sunglasses to reveal her shocking eyes as she never in her life expected to see him.
Cameron was watching the match in his dorm while eating his afternoon snacks with his Lucario. After the revelation, he dropped everything he was doing and ran towards the stadium on his pajamas with a screaming Lucario behind.
Brock was feeling proud and also mad at the same time. Proud that his best friend had made it so far in achieving the dream he pursued and mad about that he left without a word.
Misty was feeling the same as well. She once had a crush on Ash but that was temporary as she moved on from that a long time ago. She was furious and wanted to slam her mallet on his head more than ever.
May looked towards her mentor. She has learnt so much on their journey from Ash, she couldn't ask for a better friend and companion. As the champion stood proudly in front of her eyes, she started to feel weird emotions inside her after seeing him again.
Dawn looked upto Ash. He taught her a lot of things in their journey and also some things that helped in her coordinating carrier. He was her only best friend among the boys. He also saved her a lot of times from trouble. She always seemed to enjoy his company and without him she sometimes felt lonely. She couldn't understand the feelings inside her right now but wanted to be with him more than ever.
Cilan and Iris were shocked but had a huge smile on their face, seeing their friend after such a long time. Though Iris loved to tease Ash a lot, inside she was very glad she met a person like him. He also helped her at times like bonding with her pokemon which Iris faced a lot of trouble with. His bravery, courage, determination and enthusiasm inspired Cilan a lot as well.
Clemont was always the calm one but now his mouth was agaped. Ash was probably the only reason Clemont became a strong gym leader. Clemont was inspired a lot by watching Ash in their journey, the way he battled with confidence and that never-give -up attitude was what impressed him.
Serena? Well she was just flabbergasted. Her face was heating up just by looking at her crush. The reason behind she was the Kalos Queen was Ash, the boy who encouraged her by telling to follow her own dreams. Even from a distance, she could see the strong physique Ash's body has. She was blushing and getting nervous at the mere thought of staying close to him.
Calem, however noticed the way she was staring at Ash and couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. 'So that's him,' he thought.
Goh was ambivalent about seeing Ash again. He was mad as well at his former research fellow who left without a proper goodbye. He along with everyone else wanted an explanation from him. But he was although happy to see his best friend once again.
Max was looking at his favourite idol and best friend with admiration. He really wanted him to see how much he has grown as a trainer. Max wanted him to fulfill the promise they made years ago.
In case of Bonnie, she was just squealing, screaming at her idol trainer and wanted to battle him as well.
Kiawe, Gladion, Sawyer, Trip, Stephan wanted a rematch and even Diantha was interested in a battle.
On a small gallery of the stadium, Scott stood proudly as he looked on how people were admiring the Champion. Beside him was Anabel, who had a stunned expression as well. She sort of developed feelings for him back when he challenged the battle tower. His passion for battling and love for pokemon impressed her a lot. Now she was witnessing that young reckless boy as a Champion.
"Like what you see?" asked Scott in a teasing tone. He had a hunch about Anabel's feelings.
Anabel blushed and shrugged it of.
"Th-this was what you were talking about?!" she asked. Scott had dragged her from her dorm saying it was an important battle. Never in her life she expected this.
"Yes, now watch and see how things get more interesting." said Scott as Anabel nodded and gazed towards the battlefield with a smile.
"Hmm not bad for an entrance I guess," said Ethan as he was eating tacos sitting on a railing.
"Go Ash wooo hooo, " Dawn started cheering.
"Show us what you got champ," May started as well.
"That's our champ alright," said Mallow and Lana in unison.
Lillie just smiled. Happy that her friend achieved his dream of becoming a Pokemon Master. She will always be grateful towards him. For helping to overcoming her fear of pokemon to saving her mother from an ultra beast, but unbeknownst to her, Ash was also the one who helped to rescue her father.
The crowd started chanting the words 'Champion' loudly together. Some girls started to drool over him and unexpectedly said in unison, "WE LOVE YOU ASH."
"Bitch," May muttered angrily.
"Yeah, what a bunch of kids," said Iris.
Dawn and Serena glared daggers at them as well.
"What are you girls worrying about? It's not like he will understand what they are saying, considering how dense he is," Miette said giggling.
All the girls and some of the guys started laughing to the universal fact Miette just stated. But no one noticed the champion covering his face with a cap hiding his blush.
The VIP box was silent for a long time until Professor Oak spoke.
"So, what do you think?" he said with a smirk.
Everyone got out of their trance as they replied one by one.
"I never expected to see him again," said Rowan.
"He has grown so much," said Juniper.
"This was a marvelous surprise," said Sycamore.
"He has come a long way I could tell," said Birch.
"It's an honour to meet someone like him," said Kalos Elite Four Siebold.
"This boy is really something else you can be sure about that," said Malva remembering her past experience with him.
"So that's Ash huh?" asked Aaron.
"Yeah. I wonder how much stronger he has gotten," wondered Flint.
"Never thought I would get to see him again, I'm so happy for him," said Korrina.
"Fancy seeing him here huh?" asked Viola taking a picture.
"Yeah. Boy had a lot of potential. He was bound to make it here," said Grant.
"No doubt about that," a voice said from behind as they turned around to see the Kalos Champion entering the VIP room.
"Diantha??!" they said in unison.
"What brings you here Miss Diantha?" asked Siebold politely.
Diantha smiled. "Isn't it obvious?" she asked as she gazed towards the battlefield.
"I came to watch the battle of a fellow Champion." They smiled and nodded.
The referee came as the two trainers took their position. The crowd roared. The battle was going to be broadcasted as an international matter.
Paul was kind of getting annoyed and irritated by the crowd and thought about making this a public battle in the first place was a bad idea. But the thought of being able pull of a win brought his all too familar smirk back on his face.
Ash finally raised his head and looked at Paul.
"Quite the crowd huh Paul?" He asked in his deep and matured voice.
The crowd went wild again hearing his first sentence. The people who knew him were a bit surprised hearing his calm and powerful voice. The girls skipped a beat in their heart and as for the fangirls, they started screaming louder than ever and kept chanting their 'I love you'. Ash tried his best to ignore that as Pikachu snickered on his shoulder.
"Yeah now let's get this over with already," said Paul irritatedly.
The referee took position.
"This is a six on six battle between Elite Four Paul and Champion Ash."
The crowd was excited than ever for this to start as well as the readers.
"The winner will be decided when all pokemon of either side are unable to battle. Substitution are allowed. Trainers are only allowed to use mega evolution. Understood? "
Both nodded.
"Paul send out your first pokemon." the referee said.
Paul was more than glad to start this long awaited battle.
"Get ready Ketchum."
"Give me your best shot."
Paul threw a pokeball in the air.
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Note: I apologise for the inconsistency of words between chapters. The original is like this, so please do forgive me.