A/N: I don't own Pokemon. This story sets off after the second episode of the first season of Pokemon, once Ash gets to Viridian City. Everything is pretty much the same except that everyone starts off their journey when they're thirteen instead of ten.

"Is anyone there?" Ash asked and waited as he heard his voice echo around the Viridian City gym.

He had been told that the Gym Leader was 'out of town' and the gym had a large CLOSED sign in front but he had promptly ignored that just as his mother had told him to do that morning.

Ash had barely reached Viridian City in one piece, and had then almost had his Pikachu stolen by a group of thugs calling themselves Team Rocket, and then had gone for a nice, well-deserved night of sleep before Nurse Joy had woken him up at four in the morning, and told him that there was a phone call for him, and to come quietly without waking up Misty.

His mom had looked worried- which was a novel sight for Ash.

"Is anyone there?" Ash said again. The gym's stadium was empty, and the lights were off, leaving the small windows at the top as the only source of light, which was hardly illuminating at this hour.

Ash frowned. His mom had specifically told him to go to the gym without telling everyone, and it was just past sunrise. Nurse Joy seemed to be in on what was happening, but didn't say anything as she ushered Ash off. He had even left his Pikachu behind for now, as he was healing and wouldn't be ready to go until after a few hours.

Suddenly a light went on, and was so harsh that Ash had to shield his eyes.

"Forgive me, that was a bit… theatrical," a male voice said. Once Ash's eyes readjusted, he saw a grown man with brown hair in a business suit walk up to him who looked vaguely familiar somehow. Trailing right next to him was a boy who was a bit taller than Ash who had red hair, was wearing a dark jacket, and glared at Ash as if he was wondering what the easiest way to beat him up would be.

"Who are you?" Ash asked.

"I am Giovanni," the man said. "Also, though I'm not sure how exactly to say this, but ah, well, I am your father."

Ash blinked. A memory had just came to him- he did know who this guy was. He remembered that one Christmas, when he was seven, a man had visited them at their house. His mom had seemed slightly worried, but the man had been very nice to him and even gotten him a bicycle. His mom had not mentioned who he was, just that he should forget about it.

"I can see that you're in shock," Giovanni said. "I suppose that is only to be expected. I ah, wished to give you a card or maybe a cake for this occasion, but it was, ah, rather difficult to find one that fit our situation." He chuckled at his own joke, but neither Ash nor the other boy so much as smiled. "Well, it wasn't that good of a joke anyway."

"Wait," Ash said, suddenly very confused. "If you're my father, why haven't you lived with us?" His mother always said that his father was out 'on business' somewhere and didn't have much time for them, but she always stressed that he still loved them.

"Ah, a man should of course remain with his family," Giovanni said. "But you see- that wasn't possible for me. Not with my workload- and I wished to keep you two safe."

"Wha- what does that mean?" Ash asked. "And why wouldn't mom tell me this before?"

"Well, you see, Ash, I am not sure exactly how to put this, but I am the leader of an organization known as Team Rocket," Giovanni said.

The name clicked with Ash. "The same guys who tried to steal my Pikachu? And who steal Pokemon? Those guys are criminals," Ash said with a clear hint of disgust.

Giovanni sighed. "I knew this would not be easy… but you cannot judge Team Rocket based merely on rumors, my son. However, it is true that my position leads to me having various powerful enemies. I did not wish harm to befall you. " He glanced over at the boy beside him for a brief second as the boy gave the man a cold, hard stare. "I learned that lesson long ago…"

"Why didn't Mom just tell me this over the phone?" Ash asked. "Why didn't you tell me over the phone?"

"Phones can be tapped, Ash," Giovanni said. "And you see, your mother could never mention it to you earlier because she was scared that you were so young- and that you could've gone and told about it to someone like Professor Oak or to your friends. But you have turned thirteen and have begun your Pokemon journey, and I felt it was the right time to tell you, and to indict you into the ah, family business, so to speak."

"How do I know you're not lying?" Ash asked.

Giovanni laughed. It was a cold, short laugh, but Ash noticed a hint of warmth in it. "Ah- you definitely are my son. I suppose it is hard to believe, but think about why your mother would've sent you like this to me. You can go ahead and confirm it from her later."

"But why not just keep us with you?" Ash asked. He didn't feel any sort of friendliness, but rather a sudden simmering rage for this man. "We could've stayed with you!"

"No Ash," Giovanni said. "It was far too risky, and I wanted you to have a normal childhood. One untainted by Team Rocket's legacy."

"I- I-" Ash said, unsure of what to say.

"Speechless," the boy said. "I attacked him when I found out, you know. You might wanna try that."

"This," Giovanni said, casting a look at the boy, "is Silver, your brother, or rather, your half-brother, though I hope the two of you will grow up to be as thick as thieves."

"Nice to meet you," Silver said and extended his hand. His stare could've punctured holes through a Steelix, and his voice had as much warmth as an Articuno's breath.

Ash extended his hand and shook Silver's. It lasted less than a fraction of a second.

"You see, before I met your mother," Giovanni said, "I had another love and family, but alas, Silver's mother was killed and I thought that he too, was dead until I found him recently not six months ago. He had been kidnapped, but as you can see, the ordeal had been enough for me to realize that I couldn't make the same mistake with you and your mother."

"Oh," Ash said. It was the only thing he could think of to say at the moment, though he was pretty sure that it wasn't all that he wanted to say.

"With that out of the way, I believe I should give you an actual glimpse of what Team Rocket is," Giovanni said. "You may have heard much regarding what Team Rocket is and does, but allow me to make it quite clear and simple: Team Rocket is simply a tool used for me to increase my own power, and to serve the interests of my family. As such, you will be a part of it as much as Silver currently. He has shown himself to be extremely proficient in expanding Team Rocket's interests."

Silver looked at Ash smugly. It was the only time his cold expression had changed into something else.

"As such, Silver will become my heir," Giovanni said. "But I wish for you too, to become an heir to Team Rocket's legacy."

At this, Silver's smirk was wiped off his face and he whipped his head around to look at Giovanni, who was coldly ignoring him for the moment.

"Ash, you see, Team Rocket has almost reached the zenith of its power currently," Giovanni said. "We can grow little further in Kanto restrained to the shadows like we are. As such, our only options are to expand towards Johto, a goal towards which Silver has very admirably committed himself, but the truth is, there is a limit to how much power we can obtain through criminal means. In order to achieve total domination, we need people in high places- in other words; we need the Pokemon League itself under our thumb. And that is where you come in."

"What'd you want me to do?" Ash asked.

"Well you see, I have tried swaying the League into my favor," Giovanni said. "But many have become suspicious of me and my intentions. I can go no further. What I want you to do is simple, what I believe you've always wanted to do. Become a Pokemon Master. I wish for you to wander the land, and aspire to become a powerful Trainer, and one day, you will attain a position of respect, power, and influence that you can use to help Team Rocket in its goals. I have several covert operatives, but you will be the most covert, Ash."

Out of the shadows in the room stepped out two people whom Ash recognized.

"You guys again?" Ash asked. It was Jessie, James, and behind them was Meowth.

Instead of singing their anthem, the two of them simply bowed to him.

"Well, forgive us, sir, for trying to take your Pikachu," Jessie said.

"It was simply a test, that's all," James said.

"Wait- what?" Ash asked.

"They don't lie," Giovanni said. "I asked them to try and steal Pokemon from you, and then one you'd fight back, to fail and let you win."

"Why?" Ash asked.

"Simple. Didn't Officer Jenny witness you defeating them?" Giovanni asked. "And they are one of my most trusted henchmen and also highly wanted criminals. The fact is not lost that you helped defeat them, a fact that will be apparent to anyone who reads the local paper today. See, Ash, I wish for you to act like a normal Trainer, and pretend to be on the side of those who oppose Team Rocket. But, we will let you succeed against us. In that way, your fame will slowly spread as an enemy of Team Rocket- as a person that no one in their right minds would ever accuse of being in cahoots with us."

Giovanni put a hand on Silver's shoulder. "Silver is a prodigious Trainer. He will take Team Rocket far. But there can be no darkness without the light and Team Rocket can only grow so far as a perceived criminal organization, and Silver lacks certain qualities that you have Ash. Both him and I have long forgotten how it feels like to have a true bond with our Pokemon, but I think that you still have the potential. Also, Silver already has an extensive criminal record and cannot fill your role for you."

"So, you just want me to wander around?" Ash asked.

"Do what you would've normally done," Giovanni said. "Except that you, Ash , will soon become a hero- and I believe that would happen with or without my help. I've noticed one thing about you Ash, and it's your charisma. You can make friends and inspire almost anyone to you, and I want you to make as wide a network as possible. Talk to everyone, simple Trainers, Gym Leaders- I believe you're traveling with Misty, younger sister to the Cerulean City Gym Leaders?"

"Yeah, her name's Misty," Ash said. "Wait- her family's a Gym Leader?"

"She may not have mentioned it," Giovanni said. "But it was easy enough for me to find out. That's what I mean- find powerful people to befriend and help- Jessie and James will help you in that regard. They will constantly pretend to harass you throughout your journey, and you will defeat them and in so win the trust of large groups of people- though I believe that that is something you can do easily. Remember, no matter how strong a single person is, you will always need people to rely on."

Jessie and James both stepped forward.

"I'm assigning the two- no, the three of them as your protectors," Giovanni said. "I've assigned another two agents- Bill and Cassidy, to help Silver. I wanted the two of you to meet before he sets off for Johto to deal with certain problems there."

"Consider us your humble servants," James said.

"Yes, we won't let a scratch get on your son, boss," Meowth said.

"They will keep an eye on you from afar," Giovanni said. "And of course, they will also attempt to cause mischief wherever you go, for you to stop. I'm sure you will gain quite the reputation then. Only remember one thing, Ash, that your identity must be kept a secret- do not talk about it on the phone or mention it to anyone who does not know. Even within Team Rocket, this will remain confined to the people in this room- so should you encounter another member of Team Rocket, do not disclose who you are to them. If you want to talk to your mother about us, do so in a roundabout way."

Ash looked around the room for a second. "So… that's it?"

"For now, yes," Giovanni said. "I'm sorry, but I do have other things to do, though I do have something to give you." He took out a Pokeball. "Congratulations on turning thirteen. Here's a late birthday gift."

Ash took the Pokeball. "What Pokemon does it have inside?"

"A Froakie," Giovanni said. "It's a Pokemon not found in this region, but rather from Kalos. I give it to you as Brock, the Pewter City Gym Leader and your next opponent specializes in Rock types, and your Pikachu will be of very little use against him. A Water type would help. Do keep in mind that it is rather temperamental though, however that Froakie is the last in line of a special breed said to be capable of transforming if the bond they have with their Trainer is strong enough-" Silver scoffed at this "-though that may be just a legend."

"Oh, okay, thank you," Ash said, looking at the Pokeball. He was actually kind of excited to get another Pokemon- he had failed to catch another on his first try. Having two of them all of a sudden would be hard to explain… though he was sure that he could think of something to tell Misty and Professor Oak.

"Sorry I couldn't get ya anything," Silver said, not sounding very sorry at all.

"Now Ash, before you leave, a few words," Giovanni said. "I just want to let you know how proud I am of you. Your mother says you managed to reach Viridian City in only a single day- something that took me three. You have the makings of a great Trainer Ash, and I do believe that you will lead Team Rocket into a new age." He sighed. "I know it pained your mother to let you go- if she had but one wish I believe it would be for you to remain ten forever. But that's not possible, son, we all have to grow up one day. Good luck!"

With a warm smile that was unfamiliar to many of his workers, Giovanni shook Ash's hand. Silver made a weird sort of salute- or maybe he was flipping Ash off, Ash couldn't tell.

Jessie, James, and Meowth all bowed.

"Huh, there's one thing though," Ash said. He told his father about the strange golden Pokemon he had witnessed during the beginning of his journey.

"Well, I've never heard of such a thing," Giovanni said. "Perhaps I can ask my scientists."

"I guess I should get back then," Ash realized. "Misty will probably wake up and think that I ran away so I don't have to pay her for her bicycle…"

With that and his mind racing with possibilities, he ran out of the gym.

"Boss," Jessie said as she watched Ash leave, "why not just give Ash some of our strongest Pokemon?"

"Because," Giovanni said, "he wouldn't be able to control them anyway. Also, he needs to grow up and learn to do things on his own. I won't stand around and hold his hand every step of the way- even his Froakie isn't very strong and he'll have to work on it himself."

A/N: And that ends our story. If anyone's wondering, no, I will not spell Pikachu or Fraokie with a lowercase letter. That's not how Pokemon grammar works.

Also, I know Froakie shouldn't appear yet, but don't tell me that there are multiple regions in the anime and they don't know about each other until an arc completes. As you can probably tell, I do poke fun at the anime from time to time, though the biggest peeve for me was why Jessie and James stay in Team Rocket despite doing nothing and probably only wasting the organization's money.

This will feature a slightly more 'mature' Ash, but it will still be Ash. See, I see a lot of stories featuring Ash which essentially turn him into Red or just a hybrid of Red/Ash, which I can get since Red and the others from the manga are cool and all, but it does diminish what Ash is and does. Ash will grow up, but will grow up in his own way, not just turning into a version of Red.

Thanks for reading up till now, and do please review if you liked.