The Road to our Destiny

Chapter 63

It is early in the morning when Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Misty, Dawn, Piplup, May, Max, Iris, Axew, Cilan, Clemont, and Bonnie make it to the Indigo Plateau. By the time the group makes it to the registration center, countless trainers are seen registering for the league. Everywhere they look, trainers are giving attendants in the front desk their Pokedex to register and pressing a button to find out what field they will be going to for their first battle. Ash and his friends find a line for him and Max to register.

"Looks like people are already getting ready for their first matches," Misty comments. "I wonder if they already lit the flame at the top of the Indigo Stadium.

"Flame? What flame?" Dawn asks, confused.

"Oh yeah, there's a flame from Moltres that they set on fire at the top of the main stadium," Ash explains.

"Wow, a flame from Moltres?" Bonnie says. "That's amazing."

"I still remember that time we encountered a Moltres with Trevor," Clemont says.

"Wow, did you really?" Iris says, shocked.

"Ugh, don't remind me," Serena groans. "Ash risked his life during that adventure. It was a terrifying moment for me."

Ash looks at Serena apologetically and says, "I'm sorry I scared you back then, Serena."

Serena smiles softly, appreciative of Ash's sincere apology. Her smile return to a frown that makes Ash feel uneasy until Cilan snaps his fingers in front of him.

"Ash, you're up next," he says.

"Huh? Oh right," Ash says.

Ash steps forward, and the attendant at the front desk gives him a warm smile.

"Hello," she greets. "Are you all registering for the Indigo Plateau Conference?"

"No, ma'am, just Max and me," Ash answers.

"Alright then, I'll just need your Pokedex, please," the attendant says.

Ash gives her his Pokedex, and she inserts it to the machine next to her. The machine uploads Ash's information before the attendant takes out Ash's Pokedex and gives it back to him.

"So I see on the screen that this is your second time competing in the tournament," she says.

"Yes, ma'am," Ash says. "I competed about four years ago."

"I see," the attendant says. "Then, you should know that we've changed things a little so that competitors are allowed substitutions during the preliminaries."

"Really? That's cool," Ash says.

"Indeed. Now I'll need you to press the red button in front of you, please," the attendant says.

Ash nods and presses the red button. The light on the screen above the woman lights up and begins spinning around the four pictures representing water, rock, ice, and grass. The light keeps spinning until it slows down and eventually stops on the picture representing water.

"Awesome," Ash says. "I'm starting on a water field just like last time."

"Pikachu," Pikachu says.

The attendant chuckles at Ash's enthusiasm and types on her computer.

"Alright, let's see who is battling against you at the water field," she says.

Ash's picture appears on the left side of the screen, and the group waits for a second before Misty and Serena stare in shock when they see who appears on the screen next to Ash.