The sky above Indigo Plateau was a pristine blue, and sunlight streamed onto the road leading to the Pokémon League Conference venue, adding a touch of sacredness to the impending grand event. Ash adjusted his cap, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"We're finally here!" he announced loudly, his voice filled with uncontrollable thrill. "Pikachu, we're finally going to participate in the Pokémon League Conference!"
"Pika Pika! (Yes!)" Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder, perked his ears, and wagged his tail happily.
Xiao You walked forward with a smile, gently patting Ash's shoulder: "Don't get too excited. You need to stay calm before the competition. Right, Brock?"
"Indeed," Brock nodded, taking a water bottle from his backpack and handing it to Ash. "But I can understand Ash's feelings. The Pokémon League Conference at Indigo Plateau is a dream stage for all Trainers."
As the three of them were talking, a cheer erupted from afar. They looked in the direction of the sound and saw a winding line of people slowly moving along the main road.
"What's that?" Ash curiously stood on tiptoes.
Brock squinted his eyes: "It looks like the Sacred Flame relay! A traditional ceremony before the opening of the Pokémon League Conference."
"Sacred Flame?" Ash's eyes lit up. "Let's go see!"
Before his companions could respond, Ash had already pulled Pikachu and run towards the crowd. Xiao You and Brock exchanged a smile, then helplessly followed their always energetic friend.
After squeezing into the crowd, they saw a relay runner in a white uniform holding a torch, steadily moving forward amidst the cheers of the crowd. The flame on the torch was a peculiar golden color, shimmering with an unusual glow in the sunlight.
"That flame…" Xiao You's eyes widened in surprise. "It's so special!"
"Of course it's special," an older spectator nearby explained. "This Sacred Flame comes from the legendary Pokémon—Moltres. It symbolizes the spirit and glory of the Pokémon League."
Ash listened intently, his gaze fixed on the flickering flame. Just then, a familiar maniacal laugh came from the sky.
"Since you asked so earnestly!"
"We'll tell you with great mercy!"
"To prevent the world from being destroyed!"
"To protect the peace of the world!"
"To carry out evil with love and truth!"
"Cute and charming villains!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"We are Team Rockets, soaring through the galaxy!"
"White hole, a white tomorrow awaits us!"
"That's right, Meowth!"
With this iconic opening, the Team Rockets trio descended from the sky in their modified hot air balloon, with a giant mechanical claw hanging below it.
"Team Rockets!" Ash clenched his fists. "What bad things are they up to again!"
Jessie stood on the edge of the hot air balloon, pointing down at the Sacred Flame relay runner: "Hand over that valuable flame! We're going to sell it to a collector!"
"That's right!" James echoed. "The legendary Moltres's flame will definitely fetch a good price!"
"Meowth has already calculated it, enough for us to retire three times, Meowth!" Meowth rubbed his paws excitedly.
The relay runner cautiously stepped back, but Team Rockets had already manipulated the mechanical claw to grab him. At the critical moment, Ash shouted: "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pika—chu!" Pikachu leaped from Ash's shoulder, his entire body erupting in dazzling golden electricity. The light was even more brilliant than usual, as if infused with the sacred power of the Sacred Flame.
The electric current precisely hit the mechanical claw, shattering it. Team Rockets' hot air balloon was also affected by the aftermath and began to spin uncontrollably.
"Ahhh! It's that brat again!" Jessie screamed.
"Why is it always like this!" James clutched his head in despair.
"This feels awful, Meowth!" With this classic line, Team Rockets' hot air balloon, emitting black smoke, turned into a shooting star in the sky.
The crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers. Ash breathed a sigh of relief, about to recall Pikachu, when he noticed the relay runner had fallen to the ground, the torch rolling to the side.
"Are you alright?" Xiao You was the first to rush forward, and Brock quickly followed to check the relay runner's injuries.
"Twisted ankle," Brock professionally assessed. "Needs immediate treatment."
Just then, a luxurious car with the Pokémon League logo printed on it stopped nearby. The car door opened, and a white-haired but vigorous old man stepped out—it was Chairman Damaranchi, the main person in charge of the Pokémon League Conference.
"That was an excellent performance, young man," Chairman Damaranchi said kindly to Ash. "What's your name?"
"I, I'm Ash from Pallet Town!" Ash stood up straight nervously.
"Ash, is it?" The Chairman smiled and nodded. "I saw your heroic act of protecting the Sacred Flame. Now that the relay runner is injured, the Sacred Flame relay cannot be interrupted. Would you be willing to take his place and complete this glorious task?"
Ash's eyes widened; for a moment, he couldn't believe his ears: "Me… can I?"
"Of course," the Chairman said affirmatively. "Your courage and strength have already proven your qualification."
Ash took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "I will!"
"Excellent!" The Chairman clapped his hands. "Time is tight; the Sacred Flame must reach the main venue within the scheduled time."
Xiao You took Pikachu and softly said: "Go, Ash, this is your moment of glory."
Brock also gave him an encouraging look: "We'll follow the crowd to the main venue."
Ash gave his companions a grateful look, then bent down and picked up the torch. The moment he grasped the torch handle, a warm current spread from his palm throughout his body, and the flame seemed to sense his determination, burning even more intensely.
"Go, Trainer Ash!" Chairman Damaranchi waved, indicating. "Follow this route straight to the main venue; there will be staff to guide you!"
Ash nodded, raised the torch high, and ran forward with firm steps. The surrounding spectators spontaneously made way, and cheers rose and fell.
"Who is that?" someone asked curiously.
"It seems to be Ash from Pallet Town," another person replied. "He drove away Team Rockets by himself just now!"
"So amazing!"
These discussions reached Ash's ears, but he didn't get distracted, fully concentrating on the Sacred Flame in his hand and the road ahead. What he didn't know was that this scene was being broadcast globally through the Sacred Flame relay, reaching all corners of the world.
In the main venue's VIP box, Lucia was elegantly sipping tea when her attention was suddenly drawn to the large screen. When she clearly saw the young man holding the torch, her teacup almost slipped from her hand.
"Ash?" She stood up in surprise, walking to the floor-to-ceiling window to get a clearer look.
Her uncle Wallace walked over, following her gaze: "Oh? Isn't that the interesting child you care so much about?"
"Yes," Lucia nodded, a faint blush appearing on her face. "I didn't expect him to become the Sacred Flame relay runner."
Wallace gave his niece a meaningful look, a slight smile playing on his lips: "It seems our Lucia really cares about that young man."
"Uncle!" Lucia pouted playfully, glaring at him, but her gaze quickly returned to Ash running on the screen.
Meanwhile, at a Pokémon Center in the Kalos region, Serena was watching the live broadcast with her friends. When Ash's face appeared on the screen, she gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.
"It's Ash!" She excitedly shook her friend's arm beside her. "He's carrying the Sacred Flame!"
"Calm down, Serena," Serena's mother teased with a smile. "Are you this excited just because your sweetheart is on TV?"
Serena's face immediately turned as red as a ripe apple, but her eyes couldn't tear away from the screen for a second.
And in Pallet Town, Professor Oak's laboratory was in an uproar. Delia—Ash's mother—was excitedly clutching Professor Oak's sleeve.
"Professor! That's my Ash! He's carrying the Sacred Flame!" Delia's voice trembled with excitement.
Professor Oak pushed up his glasses, nodding with satisfaction: "It seems that child Ash has had another extraordinary experience."
The laboratory phone suddenly rang non-stop; they were all calls from town residents asking if the person on TV was indeed Ash from Pallet Town.
Inside the main venue, Gary and Xiao Huo were standing in the Trainer area, waiting for the opening ceremony. When Ash's figure appeared on the big screen, Gary's expression instantly darkened.
"Hmph, it's that slacker again," he said disdainfully, but a hint of jealousy flashed in his eyes. "Always trying to hog the limelight."
Xiao Huo, on the other hand, frowned directly: "Why him? I'm clearly much stronger than him!"
Ash was oblivious to these reactions; he was fully focused on running. The scenery on both sides of the road gradually changed, and the crowd became denser. Finally, he saw the huge silhouette of the main venue.
"It's just ahead!" he encouraged himself, speeding up his pace.
At the entrance of the venue, staff members had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Ash approach, they immediately guided him into the internal passage of the venue.
"Please follow me," a female staff member said with a smile. "The Sacred Flame altar is in the center of the venue."
Passing through a long corridor, Ash's vision suddenly broadened. He stood on the main venue's track, surrounded by tiered spectator stands, packed to capacity. When he appeared holding the torch, the entire venue erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
"Is that the young man who replaced the relay runner?"
"I heard he defeated Team Rockets all by himself!"
"So cool!"
These voices surged like a tide, but Ash's gaze was fixed only on the tall Sacred Flame altar ahead. He took a deep breath and began to run along the track towards the center.
Chairman Damaranchi was already standing by the Sacred Flame altar, waiting. When Ash ran up to him, the Chairman nodded kindly: "Well done, Trainer Ash. Now, please light the Sacred Flame of the Pokémon League Conference!"
Ash nodded solemnly, raising the torch high. The moment he brought the torch close to the Sacred Flame altar, the golden flame seemed to come alive, leaping onto the tall altar and burning fiercely.
The entire venue once again erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers. Ash stepped back, looking up at the flame that symbolized the spirit of the Pokémon League, his heart filled with pride and emotion.
"I did it, Pikachu," he whispered, even though Pikachu wasn't by his side at the moment. "We're really standing on the stage of the Pokémon League Conference."
The opening ceremony continued. Chairman Damaranchi announced the lineup of commentators for this conference: "We are honored to invite Mr. Lance, Champion of the Kanto League, and Ms. Lucia, a renowned Coordinator Trainer from the Hoenn region, to jointly serve as commentators for this conference!"
Another round of cheers erupted in the stands. Ash looked up at the commentary booth in surprise, his gaze meeting Lucia's. Lucia smiled slightly at him, and Ash awkwardly scratched his head.
After the opening ceremony, Ash reunited with Xiao You and Brock, and Pikachu immediately jumped back onto his shoulder.
"Ash, you were amazing!" Xiao You said excitedly. "The whole world saw you!"
"Pika Pika! (Yes, Ash, you were so cool!)" Pikachu also puffed out his chest proudly, as if saying, "This is my Trainer."
Brock patted Ash's shoulder: "Now it's time to register; don't forget the main business."
There was a long queue at the registration desk, but when the staff saw Ash holding the torch, they immediately led him to the priority lane.
"Please show your badges," the receptionist said with a smile.
Ash carefully took out his badge case from his backpack, opening it to reveal eight sparkling Gym Badges and a special identification badge.
The receptionist's eyes widened in surprise: "Eight Gym Badges plus an identification badge? That's not common!" She quickly completed the procedures and handed the Trainer ID to Ash. "I wish you good results in the competition, Trainer Ash."
Stepping out of the registration area, the setting sun was already westward. Ash looked at the Indigo Plateau, dyed red by the evening glow, and clenched his fists.
"The competition officially starts tomorrow," he said with determination. "Pikachu, we're going all out!"
"Pikachu! (No problem!)" Pikachu also responded with high spirits.
Xiao You watched their interaction, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes. She softly said: "I believe you will go very far, Ash."
Brock checked the time: "We should find a place to stay; tomorrow is an important day."
The three walked towards the Pokémon Center, with the high-burning Sacred Flame behind them, illuminating their path forward and also illuminating Ash's upcoming journey in the Pokémon League Conference.