Hey guys, this is my first story and I hope you like it. This story takes place right after the Sinnoh league and it'll have some elements from the games. Now, the story is going to focus on Ash on the beginning and go through some timeskips but it'll settle to a steady pace later on. Anyway, this is going to be an advanceshipping story and I hope to do the pairing justice.

Pokemon Restart

Chapter 1

Change of Pace

The sun shone down on Pallet Town, Pidgeys flew through the blue skies emitting cries as they disappeared into the looming forests surrounding the outskirts of the small town.

"Pika!"

A cry came from a Pikachu perched on its trainer's shoulder, a boy with jet black hair underneath a red cap with a black stripe running through the middle.

"I don't need you to remind me!" The boy shot back in slight panic before grumbling to himself, "Why is it so hard for me to make it to Professor Oak's in time?"

"Pikachu…"

Ash growled in return, not too fond of his best friend calling him lazy. Besides, it wasn't even his fault that they were running late. It had been about a week since they had taken part in the Sinnoh League and he had slept in every day since then. That had come back to bite him in the butt though as he, for whatever reason, ended up telling Professor Oak that he would meet him at eight in the morning. Thanks to his new sleeping patterns he had overslept and was running really late.

He was broken out of his thoughts when seeing the not so distant building that housed Professor Oaks' lab. "We're almost there buddy," he smiled as he quickened his pace.

Flashback

Ash Ketchum, finalist of most Pokemon League tournaments was in a slump, having been defeated by Tobias with only two pokemon. The two were pokemon of legend but he wouldn't take that as an excuse, he couldn't do that to his pokemon, it was like saying they were the reason for his loss. What the battle had done was open his eyes.

He had been traveling from region to region so quickly that he forgot the most essential thing, unlocking the potential of his pokemon. It made him no better than Paul in a sense. He kept on catching pokemon and ignored some of the others, not helping them out when they gladly helped him every time.

"Pika?"

Ash glanced back to see his very first pokemon walking to the balcony where he stood, gazing at the moonlit sky.

"Hey buddy, what are you doing up?"

"Pika pi," Pikachu let out as he jumped to Ash's shoulder.

"I'm just thinking about what we're going to do next…" he trailed off, eyes burning in determination as a smile formed on his face, "We're not going to another region this time. How does staying home in Kanto sound?"

"Pikachu!"

Ash chuckled and patted his friend's head affectionately, "We could even drop by to see some of our friends and check up on them."

The doors of Oak's Lab slammed open as a panting Ash supported himself on his knees, Pikachu rolling off his shoulders but landing safely on the floor.

"What's all this ruckus," Professor Oak muttered to himself as he came out of a door to see Ash panting on the front door with Pikachu on the floor. He couldn't help but smile in amusement after seeing his disheveled appearance. "Some habits die hard."

The trainer regained his breath and looked at the professor apologetically, "Sorry about being late."

"No problem, there was really no need for you to come in early. It's not like you're getting your first pokemon today or anything," he commented, earning an embarrassed laugh from the young trainer. "Now come on, they're waiting for you," with that Professor Oak walked out the door to the spacious field in which he kept all the pokemon sent to him by traveling trainers.

Ash followed after him with an exited smile, never getting tired of seeing the friends from his previous travels. He set a foot outside and was instantly greeted by his large amount of pokemon, all cheering happily with some tackling him in affection.

"Nice to see you too Bayleef," Ash chuckled as he gently pushed the pokemon away from him while patting her head.

"They've been waiting here to see who you're taking with you," Oak explained as he placed both hands behind his back, a bit curious about who Ash was taking with him. He had been surprised at first, having received Ash's request to help him think of any place in Kanto where he could train. The surprise had settled for a bit of pride at seeing the young trainer begin to mature and take the time to work with his current pokemon instead of going to a new region.

Ash smiled sadly as he looked at his team, wishing he could take all of them but knowing that he couldn't."Don't be sad if I don't pick you, I'm going to be traveling here in Kanto and plan on training each and every one of you, I promise," he explained with a smile, receiving cheers from his pokemon.

"Who knew we would be coming back here?" Ash reminisced as he walked through the grassy plains where he had begun his journey. He could still remember that day vividly, leaving his home town, meeting Pikachu, meeting Misty, facing off the horde of Spearows, and befriending Pikachu.

He smiled before looking up at the sky, at the spot in which he had seen Ho-Oh flying to be exact. This was a new start for him and his pokemon, a start in which he didn't plan to let his friends down.

"Let's go Pikachu!" He exclaimed as he broke into a run, Pikachu clinging to his head with excitement on its features.

Current Team:

Pikachu

Quilava

Totodile

Bayleef

Gible

Swellow

A/N: The reason this chapter is so short is because it's only the prologue to the story. Next chapter should be here soon and it's going to be a lot longer than this one.