Destiny Rebirth Final Mix

THE PROMISE TO BATTLE

Lucario looked over to his longtime friend and gave a chuckle. "Could this be? Could you actually be having fun, Master?" Lucario inquired with a playful tone in its voice.

The trio was standing in the shadow of a tunnel. The tunnel connected the loud atrium, full of fans and spectators, running around getting snacks and beverages, along with souvenirs to the inside of the arena and the crowd that sat on the edge of their seats to every battle that was taking place below. The crowd only seemed to get louder and louder with each match that past. The tournament had been hyped up for a year since its creation, and so far, it was surpassing expectations.

Ash looked at Lucario, who gave him a smirk, before returning his vision to the arena in front of them. His eyes danced through the crowd, as he took in the sights and sounds the amazing arena had to offer. The arena smelled of hot dogs and popcorn. Kids could be heard shouting and screaming, and every once in a while, running by, with a parent, hot on their heels. Friends could be heard placing friendly bets on the outcomes of the next match-ups, to say the stadium was full of life, was an understatement.

"I would be lying if I said that this didn't bring back memories, great ones at that," Ash said as his gaze finally fell onto Pikachu, who was perched on his shoulder. Ash gave him a quick smile, underneath his mask, before continuing. "I remember growing up wishing that someday, I would be able to see a battle in a place like this, let alone actually be the one battling in here."

"You must have been nervous," Lucario commented.

"Pikapi, pika pi chu ka Pikachu," Pikachu shouted with a smile on its face and a glimmer in its eyes.

"Were you really that nervous, Master?" asked Lucario.

"I was shaking as bad as you were two days ago, Lucario," Ash laughed as he remembered his first battle at the Indigo League. "I was lucky. I had Misty and Brock there to calm me down and cheer me on, just like Pikachu and I did for you. They gave me the confidence that I could battle with anyone in the tournament, and because of them, I was able to make a deep run, not as deep as I would have liked, but deep none the less for a 10-year-old trainer."

"I'm sure we'll win this time, Master," Lucario said enthusiastically. "After all, we've seen those that you battled and lost to in the past, and it's obvious we are on a completely different level. You were right. Morrison, Paul, Ritchie, Harrison, and Trevor are all tough, but we can take them."

"Be patient, Lucario. One match at a time," Ash could only give a little chuckle as he saw the same exuberance on Lucario's face that was on his own so many years ago.

"Reminiscing on the past Ashy-boy?" asked Gary

Ash turned to look at Gary as he's walking over to them from the exit of the tunnel. Since their previous conversation, following Ash's last battle, they hadn't gotten a chance to talk again. They had decided to meet up before Max's match in one of the many tunnels, which gave them some privacy, while still being able to watch the battle unfold. Ash really wanted to see his old travel companion in his first match.

"Kind of hard not to, Gary," Ash stated before remembering that he has to tell Gary about what happened last night, at the restaurant. "Gary, did Trevor come to you last night, after dinner?"

Gary knew what Ash was talking about. "Yeah, he did. Why you ask?"

"Well, it seems that Trevor figured out that I'm still alive," Ash responded while shaking.

Gary didn't look worried, especially since Trevor told him, last night. "I know so that I let him in on the details of your situation."

"You what?!" yelled Ash, as he's in shock and awe that Gary told one of their friends that Ash was still alive.