"One more thing," Ash said before stepping away. "Tell my grandfather to cancel the engagement with the Stone family. I'm not interested."
Serion's expression didn't change. "He already knows, sir. Elder Kabu contacted him directly before you arrived. Your grandfather is... not pleased."
Ash snorted. "At least the old man had enough sense to come clean first." He glanced toward Charizard, who was cradling the Poké Ball with Dragonite inside. "How's he settling in?"
Charizard nodded contentedly. His son was fine. Liza had stayed back with Joe for now, so he'd brought his wife back to Fantasy Island the previous night. Young Dragonite had been happy to see his mother, even if the circumstances were complicated.
He understood, in his own way, what had happened. His trainer had been deceived by his previous owner. The fault wasn't his. Still, for now, he'd stay with his mother and learn.
"Tell Grandpa to drop it," Ash said. "Dragonite's already back where he belongs."
He swung his backpack over one shoulder, took Sabrina's hand, and opened the vortex.
...
They arrived at the Indigo Conference venue in under three minutes.
The last time Ash had been here, his Venusaur had turned the entire stadium into a jungle. The groundskeeping staff had spent weeks sorting that out.
He didn't mention it.
...
"Ladies and gentlemen," the commentator's voice boomed across the packed arena, "after an incredible tournament run, today's final brings us Ash's first apprentice, Shirō, facing off against the rising star Blake!"
In the stands, Nathan Glacienne had already claimed a seat and was watching with his arms crossed. He'd been knocked out in the semifinals by Shirō and still looked mildly put out about it.
"Shirō's Pokémon are no joke," he muttered as Ash and Sabrina dropped into seats nearby. "I had him on the ropes the whole match. Then in the last ten seconds his Pokémon just... exploded."
Ash said nothing, but the corner of his mouth moved slightly.
...
Down in the arena, Blake rolled the Poké Ball along his fingers with quiet focus.
His Charizard had been sitting out the entire tournament deliberately. Every round, every match, he'd held him back. Today was Charizard's turn to remind Kanto which of the three starters actually hit hardest.
Across the field, Shirō was calm.
"Six on six, three substitutions each. Last trainer standing wins. Begin!"
Both Poké Balls flew simultaneously.
"Dragonite, let's go."
"Hariyama, come out."
The white light cleared. The crowd surged.
Hariyama slapped both massive palms together with a thunderous crack, his bulk settling low into a ready stance. Dragonite landed across from him with wings spread, tail sweeping the arena floor.
"Hariyama, Focus Energy."
Shirō read the tactic immediately. Dragonite's speed was too high to match in a straight exchange, so Blake was stalling, building power while waiting for Shirō to come to him.
"Don't give him time. Dragonite, Water Gun."
A sharp pressurized jet launched from Dragonite's mouth and crossed the arena in a fraction of a second. Hariyama took it directly to the chest, the impact sliding him back half a meter across the floor.
His expression didn't change. He barely moved.