A Journey's End

Pokémon Master

     "Blastoise, use hyper beam!"
     Cheers resounded throughout the stadium as Blastoise began charging his hyper beam, sights set on the paralyzed Pikachu before him.
     How strange fate was, that it would come to this. That he, at these crucial final moments, would be battling his first rival, and even stranger,  that their starter Pokémon were the ones on the stage during this final stand. He couldn't ask for a better finale.
     As the crowd roared, he could hear clear and distinct voices he recognized amidst the throng, voices of the various people he'd traveled with. He smiled slightly as he heard her, a cheeky proclamation that he would be severely thwapped with a mallet if he lost here. But, there was no way he would. Because this was going to be the end, for better or worse.  
     "Pikachu, use Thunder!"
     Pikachu glared stubbornly at Blastoise, completely ready to turn the fight. He concentrated, focusing all the charge around him; all his energy; all his loyalty into one raw, searing thunderbolt that seemed to cleave the very air of the arena in two.
      PIKACHUUUUUUU!
     Blastoise realized the danger, but was immobile from the strain of charging hyper beam. By the time he'd begun to move, he was already engulfed in the electrical maelstrom.  And the crowd gasped in delight as thunder in its most powerful form raged through the arena, completely decimating Blastoise.
     "Blastoise is unable to battle! And our new Kanto Pokémon Champion... is Ash Ketchum! With this, at the amazingly young age of 17, he is the first trainer to become Pokémon Champion of every region! A true Pokémon Master!"
     He smiled as the numb feeling crept into his veins, as he realized that indeed, he could finally recognize himself as a Pokémon Master. 
    I've become the very best.
     Like no one ever was.
    No regrets. 
     And no matter what...
     I'd do it all over again.
     And he smiled, content with his choice and its inevitable outcome.
     "No, miss... not 17. I'm still 10, like I was on that day."
     The m.c., confused, turned to him.    Indeed, his physical appearance had never changed in all these years, something that many people had noted.  But...?
     She gasped as he turned into a pillar of light and vanished, the only remnants of his existence his belt and hat. And Pikachu put the hat on, forlornly, before releasing the remaining Pokéballs and together with Ash's final team, he stared into the sky.  
     And a magnificent golden bird flew by, circling around the arena before it vanished into the horizon... a beautiful rainbow in its wake.  
     Pika.
    Goodbye.