(A/N: Listen, guys, this is my first Fanfiction; I'm just learning the Ropes here. Alright then, Here we go. I do not own Pokemon, Ash Ketchum, Dawn, Brock, or Pokemon Bulbasaur thru Genesect, of course. The only things I own at this point are the Mystery Kid, Guard 17, and the plotline here. Please review.)

Samuel: Wait! How did you know about the author's note stuff, then?

Me: (Sighs) I've seen more than a few fanfictions. And what are you doing here, anyway! You're not even in this story!

Samuel: Oh, right… Darn. Can I be in the Phineas and Ferb Fanfiction instead?

Me: Sure, why not. That was the original Plan, anyways.

Mystery Kid: Let's get on with it. I don't have much time here.

Me: Fine. But just because you're the protagonist doesn't mean you can boss me around. There will be a reckoning later.

All: Anyways, Enjoy!

Chapter 1: New Places; New Faces.

Omnitient POV:

Ash, Brock, and Dawn were eagerly awaiting arrival into Xenosha City. Scheduled events included Freelance cooking contests, Pokemon battle tournaments, and Pokemon contests. Everyone was excited that they would have time to fill the week before the Sinnoh League Tournament, waiting for the rest of Ash's Pokemon to come from Professor Oak.

"I can't wait to do stuff in Xenosha city!" Ash said, excitedly. "Don't you, Pikachu?"

"Pika!" The boy's partner Pokemon responded joyfully.

Dawn and Brock smiled at Ash and Pikachu's friendly relationship.

Dawn asked, "Well, Piplup, ready for the contests?"

"Pi-iplup!" Piplup, of course, answered proudly.

Brock smiled. "Well, I'll bet the judges have never seen anyone who can cook like me…"

Meanwhile, Pikachu and Piplup were talking.

(A/N Italicized is Pokemon Speaking, underlined+italics means that a person is thinking)

Pikachu said, "I'm getting that feeling again."

Piplup said, "Of what?"

Pikachu replied, "The feeling I always get before something adventurous happens to us."

Piplup said, "Like that time in Alamos Town when Darkrai came?

Pikachu answered, "Indeed. This time, though, it seems as though there will be more danger than normal."

Piplup asked, "What makes you say that?"

Pikachu said, "I have an ominous feeling about Xenosha City."

Piplup responded, with confidence, "If anyone can handle it, Dawn, Ash, and Brock can!"

Pikachu said, "I hope you're right…"

Ash unknowingly interrupted the Pokemon's conversation and said, "Hey, We're here!"

Dawn smiled and said, "I wonder if we'll meet anyone we know here?"

Brock sighed, then said, lovestruck, "I wonder if I meet any girls I want to know here…" The next thing the gang knew, Brock was on the ground, being dragged off by Croagunk. The gang chuckled to themselves, as this had been Brock's fate for a while, now.

"Well, Pikachu, I know what we're going to do today!" Ash said, excited. (A/N I could not resist putting that in there…)

Dawn replied, "Actually, Ash, It's getting late. Why don't we get some rest tonight and head out for our events in the morning?" Pikachu yawned, and Ash knew she was right.

Ash's POV

"Well, despite the fact It's getting late, we can still slip in a bit of training before bed, right, Pikachu?" I asked, hopefully.

"Pika!" Pikachu responded, hopefully translating to "Of course, Ash!"

Dawn replied, "Well, that's fine with me, as long as you get some sleep tonight… I mean, we have to be up early for our events tomorrow…"

I was confused and said, "Please, Dawn. You're starting to sound like my mom."

Brock cut in, apparently recovered, and said, "Well, Ash, you usually perform best when you get enough sleep. It's a scientific fact."

I wasn't going to argue with science, so I said, "Well, I guess that settles it. It is only the afternoon, after all. So, we're going to train a while and then hit the sack. Sound good to you guys?"

Brock and Dawn nodded in response.

Though, when we got to the gate, I wondered, Has there always been a guard at the gate?"

When we reached the gates into the city, the Guard said, "Passports, please."

I saw Brock looking around in the Guidebook for Xenosha City, and he said, "The guidebook didn't say anything about passports into Xenosha City…"

The Guard replied, "It's a fairly new policy. It was enacted a few months ago by security officials who were afraid of one Team Galactic wreaking havoc in our city. Luckily, the Xenosha City council found 24 guards to surround the city and protect it, if the need be. I'm Guard 17. Unless you can rightfully prove that you're not one of Team Galactic's spies, I can't let you in."

I shouted, "But Team Galactic is gone now… We and Cynthia beat them!"

Guard 17 said, "Rumors are that another Commander, one their boss, Cyrus, commissioned for a secret project, is still at large."

Dawn said changing the subject, "Well, we have a Pokedex. Doesn't that clear our names?"

Guard 17 flatly stated, "No. One time a Galactic Grunt who stole some girl's Pokédex got into the city and started trashing the place. It was only through the help of us guards, and …" She mumbled the last few words, but we got the idea they had saved the city.

Another kid came walking up to the gate. I had a feeling he looked like a few people I knew, but I easily shook it off.

"What's up, 17?" The mystery kid asked. He acted like he owned the city.

"Well," Guard 17 said, "these kids wanted entrance into Xenosha. What do you think?"

The mystery kid looked at us and said, "I can read them. They're innocent."

Evidently satisfied by this mystery kid's word, the guard let us in.

I have so many questions for this guy. I really don't understand why he's so confident, as if he hadn't a care in the Pokémon world! How could he "read" us? Why is he so confident? How did he know who Guard 17 was? Just who was this guy?

Well, I guess that's the end of the first chapter. The second should be up soon, if I ever get a chance to write it.

Mystery Kid: wait… you haven't introduced me, yet?

Me: Keep your shirt on; that's the first thing I'll do next chapter, okay?

Mystery Kid: Acceptable.

Me: Alright. If none of my other characters have any further arguments, I think we can call this a chapter.

All: Until next time, Review, stay tuned for the next chapter of "Pokémon: Mystery of the PokéMan!", and be sure to Pluck the Day!

Samuel: Wait… I thought it was "Seize the Day"?

Me: (Sighs) The literal translation of "Carpe Diem" is "pluck the day." Hey… what are you still doing here? Get out of here, before I write you out of my stories!

Samuel: *Runs away*

Me: Well, that was almost too easy…