Chapter One: Nostalgic
Ash sat in his new desk, at his new gym. After becoming a Pokémon Master, Ash found life on the road pretty dull. So he decided to move back into Pallet Town and create a gym. The gym itself was impressive, one of the best gyms in the region. With the space in Pallet Town being limited, the gym also doubles as a PokéCentre. The first of its kind. The building itself is broken into two sections, the first three stories being the PokéCentre, and the top four stories being the gym, with Ash's office on the very top floor. The factuality had partnerships with most of the hotels in Pallet Town, allowing Pokémon trainers (as long as they had ID) can stay in for no charge.
"Ash," said Bobby, one of the many coordinators in the gym. "There is a young man that wishes to challenge you." Bobby explained.
"Ok, I'll be down soon." Ash replied with a smile.
The thing Ash loved about being a gym leader, he was able to see the look on the trainer's faces when they battled him. The determination to win the battle, the pride in their eyes when their Pokémon win and the joy and excitement of gaining a badge.
Ash finished up what he was doing before he walked into a small forest that situated on the floor below Ash's office, here Pokémon can relax after a hard battle with Ash or they can chose to go and recover in the PokéCentre, this was where all of Ash's Pokémon currently lived and stayed when Ash was at the gym, instead of them always being in Pokéballs all the time. Of course they all went back into their Pokéballs and went back to Ash's house with him.
Ash chose three different Pokémon, Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Quilava were the Pokémon that Ash wanted to use. He returned them all into their Pokéballs and then placed them on his belt.
Ash smiled at the thought of another battle. It had been so long since someone had challenged Ash. Paperwork had been consuming his life so much he almost forgot how to battle.
"C'mon Pikachu." Ash said as he saw Pikachu start to eat an apple.
Pikachu sighed and put the apple down before he followed Ash out of the room. The duo walked through the many hallways before they reached the elevator that will take them down to the arena where the battle would take place.
Once they reached the room, the doors opened and the challenger felt fear run through him. It wasn't every day that a trainer would challenge a Pokemon Master to get a gym badge.
Ash and his opponent walked to the field and Pikachu went to stand a little bit behind Ash.
"I'm Toby from Cerulean City!" Ash's opponent cried. "And I challenge you to a Pokémon battle."
"I accept." Ash cried from across the field.
"Now this is going to be a sudden death," Bobby explained. "You have to choose one Pokémon to use for this battle."
"Bulbasaur! I choose you!" Ash exclaimed as he threw the PokéBall onto the field and Bulbasaur popped out.
"Bulbasaur." Said Bulbasaur.
The young trainer thought long and hard to choose a Pokémon that will be able to have an advantage over Bulbasaur.
"Alright." Toby said as he made it obvious that he had made up his mind. "Charmander! I choose you!"
"Charmander." Said the small Charmander.
Ash smiled fondly as he remember the time that he would battle using his Charmander, and then when it evolved into Charmeleon and wouldn't obey Ash at all when it came to battle.
Both sides fought long and hard. Ash was easing up on him to make it a fair battle. Though as a gym leader he had to be hard enough so it was difficult to win the badge. In the end Toby won.
"Bulbasaur, return." Ash said pointing his PokéBall at his Pokémon.
"Charmander!" Toby called out as he ran to his Pokémon. "I knew you could do it!" Toby praised as he gave Charmander a hug.
Ash walked towards the pair with a badge in his hands.
"It is my absolute honour to present you with the Bravery Badge." Ash said. "This badge means that you brave enough to battle me, and you had sheer determination to win the battle and earn this badge." Ash explained with a smile on his face. "Well done." Ash said as he gave the badge to Toby and clapped for him.
"Yes! I got a Bravery Badge!" Toby exclaimed as he thrusted the badge into the air while still having Charmander in his other hand.
"Where are you heading off to now?" Ash asked.
"I'm not quite sure." Toby replied. "But I know for sure that I will go to the PokéCentre and let Charmander recover."
"Well good luck on your travels on becoming a..." Ash said before he trailed off as he didn't know what Toby would want to be.
"Pokémon Master, like you." Toby said as he waved goodbye to Ash and walked out of the arena.
Ash smiled to himself as he saw Toby walk away, he reminded Ash about the days when he would travel around gaining experience and knowledge about all the different Pokémon that all the different regions had to offer.
Ash walked down to the PokéCentre to allow Bulbasaur to be able to recover from the battle that Ash had just taken part in. There were quite a lot of trainers that would come and challenge Ash for a Bravery Badge. Though you only needed eight badges to enter the league they could be any eight badges from the region.
Ash walked outside of the gym and turned to Pikachu.
"Hey, do you want to go for a walk?" Ash asked Pikachu.
"Pika!" (Yes!) Pikachu said with much enthusiasm as possible.
"C'mon." Ash exclaimed as they walked off into the forest.
Ash and Pikachu don't normally go out of the gym. There had been a few contests for novice trainers that the pair have entered and naturally, came out on top. At the age of 17, Ash had become the youngest Pokémon master that the world has ever seen.
Of course there were times when Ash felt low and felt like giving up on his dream. But all of his friends, family and Pokémon picked him back up and Ash's determination to achieve his dream grew.
When he got give his Master badge that was the first thing he had done. He'd thanked everyone that had helped him achieve his dream; all of his friends that he met on his journeys, his family that never gave up on him and last but definitely not least, his Pokémon. They were a huge part of success. To prove that, there is a picture in his office of every single Pokémon that he has caught to date with himself in the middle. The photographer had to stand a few metres away from the large group to get some of Ash's bigger Pokémon in. The only way that you can tell where Ash is because of a little yellow electric mouse on his shoulder.
Ash smiled fondly at the thought of his journeys. They were nowhere easy. The constant worry of not knowing what was literally going to come around the corner. But that what made the journeys fun. The times when you had to put up a fight, whether it was just for food or capturing a new Pokémon and in Ash's case, trying to keep Pikachu from Team Rocket's grasp.
Ash walked and saw an Eevee. Ash's heart broke when he saw that it looked injured and was in need of help. Without hesitation he picked up the Eevee and ran back to the PokéCentre. Pikachu bounced on Ash's shoulder as he ran back.
"Nurse Joy!" Ash exclaimed as he walked into the centre. "I've got an Eevee!"
Nurse Joy came around the front desk and looked at the Eevee.
"Quick! Chansey! I need a stretcher!" Nurse Joy exclaimed.
Chansey brought out a stretcher. Ash carefully placed Eevee on the stretcher. Ash watched sadly as he saw Eevee being rushed into ER.
This briefly reminded him of the multiple times that any of his Pokémon (particularly Pikachu) ended up in the PokéCentre. But he was thankful that Pikachu still was strong and wanted to fight again.
Hours passed and Nurse Joy came out. Ash immediately walked over to the nurse with Pikachu following close behind.
"Eevee is going to be fine." Nurse Joy said with a smile towards Ash.
Ash let out a huge breathe that he didn't know he was holding. He was beyond relieved. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the small Pokémon. He was glad that Eevee was going to be okay.
"Would you like to see her?" Nurse Joy asked Ash.
Ash didn't know what to say. He turned around to Pikachu for an answer, but Pikachu shrugged his shoulders. Eevee wasn't his Pokémon. Ash hoped that it was a wild Pokémon and not a trained Pokémon; otherwise they are going to have some trouble to find its trainer.
"Um, yeah sure." Ash said completely unsure of himself as he followed Nurse Joy.
They walked down the hallway. Ash continually looked around at the many pictures that were on the wall to make it look less scary for the younger trainers.
"She's in here." Nurse Joy said gesturing at the last door down the hallway.
Ash nodded and walked to the door. He gingerly opened the door and walked in. Ash took a seat next to Eevee and Pikachu sat at the end of the bed.
The pair sat there looking at the little Pokémon. Ash had always wanted an Eevee, but now with all of his Pokémon that he had, he felt alright and better off that he didn't own one. Ash liked to see and conversation with all of his Pokémon, and being gym leader really did take it out of him and he didn't have much time to see his Pokémon.
Ash turned his head as he saw the door open. A girl with pink hair came in. Ash instantly recognised her as Nurse Joy and fully turned his body to face her.
"Well the procedure was very calm and simple." Nurse Joy said as she read over her charts and notes. "Eevee had a broken front leg and bruised ribs. With a little bit of time to heal she'll be back on her feet in no time." Nurse Joy said with a nod. "Any questions?"
"Um yes." Ash said sheepishly.
Nurse Joy focused her attention on Ash.
"This Eevee isn't actually mine." Ash admitted to Nurse Joy.
"Oh, then who's is it then?" Nurse Joy asked Ash.
"I found it in the wild. But I think that it could possibly be a trainers." Ash told the nurse.
"Well in that case," Nurse Joy said thoughtfully. "I will send out a bulletin about a found Pokémon. If no one claims it, you could have it, or give it to Professor Oak." Nurse Joy said as she came up with a solution.
Ash nodded at the idea as he agreed with the idea. It was the most practical and safest idea. Nurse Joy turned and walked towards the door.
"I will be back soon." Nurse Joy said as she walked out of the room.
Ash looked at the Evolution Pokémon, he was beyond determined to find its owner and give it back. He was hoping that the trainer didn't abandon Eevee.
Ash was still confused to how an Eevee could get into such a bad state. Ash decided there was nothing that he could do here, so he left with Pikachu to his office. He mumbled to himself as he walked to his office. Finally the pair made it into the office.
"Pika, pika pi!" (You know this isn't your fault). Pikachu said to Ash as he sat on his desk.
"I know buddy, but I feel like it's going to be all my fault if we can't find its trainer." Ash said as he paced the length of his office.
"Pika, pikachu!" (We will find the trainer!) Pikachu said with as much conviction as he could. "Pikachu, pika pi!" (If not it will have an even better trainer!) Pikachu said in attempt to try and help his trainer.
"Thanks buddy." Ash said as he turned to smile at Pikachu. "C'mon, let's go home."
Soon after Ash said that there was a flash of lightning followed by a clap of thunder. Ash was stuck in the gym. Since he was is easy walking distance of his house, his car was at his house and not in the car park.
"Looks like we're staying here Pikachu." Ash said as he watched the rain drops drip down the windows.
A/N: This is officially my first Pokémon fanfic! I've watched most of the series, but recently on Netflix (New Zealand) they've been adding the Pokémon series to it! So I watched XY series and thought that Serena and Ash are a cute little pairing. I apologise for any incorrect information, I'm not a Pokémon Master yet! This book will have slow updates as I'm writing three other stories and co-writing another, I hope that it doesn't put anyone off.
-Ash (my actual name is Ashley but I go by Ash)