Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. I am just a guy writing stories about a show he likes and I am in no way making profits off of the property of Satoshi Tapir, Nintendo, Game Freaks, TV Tokyo, 4Kids, Wizards of the Coast… Um, well… You get the picture!

Hello! I am Kouji Tamino, writer of works such as Hinata Star, Great Teacher Ericks, and co-author of CrossFire, a Trigun continuation. I know that I am not the best, so deal with me. Reviews are not required, but I would appreciate if you would drop a line after reading this. Note that I am writing this as if Ash was 13 at the end of Johto, so make a note of that as you read. Also, May and Max won't have big parts in here. It's not that I don't like them, it's just that I haven't seen enough of them. Plus, the story will get hectic with so many chapters. Anyway, now that that is out of the way, on with the story!

~~~

Shortly after the Johto League…

Ash sighed as he looked upon the stadium that the Johto League competition took place in. He had lost yet another big Pokemon League. He thought about how long it had taken him to get through the Johto region and all the things he did. He smiled though, as he realized what he had accomplished. He had caught several new Pokemon, gained more experience, and finally made a friend in Gary, who had given up on being a Poke Trainer, thus ending their rivalry. Pikachu, who was by his side, sighed a sad "Pika".

Misty and Brock looked watched their friend from a far. They knew that Ash was a bit distraught by his loss, and they wondered what his reaction would be when they told him that they would be leaving him soon. Misty was being forced to return to the gym while her sisters were on a world tour, and Brock was going to check up on his gym. They sighed, and decided they would break it to him later.

~~~

*Dunna-nuh, duh nuh nuh!*

Ash's voice: Long Goodbyes, and Quick Hellos!

*Duh-nuh-nuh, nuh-nuh!*

~~~

"Wah?! You're leaving me?!" Ash yelled in disbelief. He plopped into his seat at the Pokemon Center. He closed his eyes. "How could you do this to me?…"

Misty looked at Ash sadly, then glared. "I'm sorry, but I have to look after the gym! It's called responsibility! You should learn the word!"

Brock cracked his neck. "Yeah, and I have to check up on the gym, I haven't seen my family in years… You are being a bit selfish, Ash. We have our own lives too, you know!"

Misty frowned at Ash. "You can't expect us to follow you forever…"

Misty and Brock wanted to reconsider what they said as they saw tears fall from Ash's eyes. "Ash…"

Ash looked up. "No… You're right… I'm being very selfish…" He then smiled. "Besides…"

Misty raised an eyebrow. "Besides, what?…"

"I was thinking… I've really been slacking off lately."

Brock waved his hand in front of Ash's face. "Um… You feeling okay?…"

"No, really! My Pokemon are all uneven in strength, I have less than 100 Pokemon, and my skills are a bit sloppy. That's why I am going into intense training for 5 years, then re-entering the Indigo League!"

Brock smiled. "Wow, you're really serious about this, aren't you?…"

"Yep!"

Misty stuck her tongue out. "Good, then you don't need us to get in your way!"

"Wait… Before you guys go, I have something to give you…"

"Hm?" Misty started. "What is it?…"

Ash looked through his backpack, then brought out a pair of pink rubber gloves. "Here, Brock… For washing dishes. I originally used them to keep Pikachu from shocking me, but I won't need them anymore…"

Brock stared at the gloves. "Um… Heh heh… Thanks…"

Ash then took off his cap. "Misty… I want you to take care of this for me…"

"But…" Misty began. "Ash… This is your favorite hat…"

Ash smiled. "Yep! The one I sent 'a million postcards' in for…"

"I can't take this…"

"Take it. I want you to have it."

"Thank you, Ash…"

~~~

Our heroes then ended up at a fork in the road. Brock adjusted his backpack. "Well, I guess this is where we go our separate ways…"

Ash sighed. "Yep… It's been fun traveling with you guys… If it wasn't for you, I'd be lost…"

Misty playfully ruffled Ash's hair. "In more ways than one, ya big dope!"

Ash laughed. "Hey…"

"Well, I'll leave you two lovebirds alone now… I'll seeya when I seeya!" Brock then walked down the road, as Ash and Misty watched their friend walk off.

Ash and Misty looked at each other for a moment. Misty then looked through her pocket. "Ash, I--"

"Wwwwaaaaait!!!" Brock said, running back up the road. "I forgot! Ash, here are some forks and spoons for eating, bye!!" Brock then ran off after giving the utensils to Ash.

"Um… Anyway…" Misty began again. "Ash, I have something for you…" she produced a small handkerchief. "Here…" Misty said, giving it to Ash. "…Bye!" Misty then ran down the road.

Ash then reached out. "Wait… Please… Wait…" Ash then fell down to his knees and began to cry. Suddenly, a net fell on top of him and Pikachu. "Hey!" Ash screamed, as he and Pikachu tried to fight his way out.

"Prepare for trouble!"

"Make it double!"

Ash smacked his head. "Oh no…" He looked as Team Rocket appeared before him and Pikachu. They continued the motto.

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of Truth and Love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James…"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!"

"Wooooobufet!"

"Not now! I don't have time for this!"

Jessie snorted. "Not our problem…"

"… Why do you do this?…"

"What?…" James began.

"You guys could be good guys! You've helped out before!"

Jessie glared. "Yes, but only if it benefited us! Besides, we love being bad!"

"But you're bad at being bad!"

Meowth blinked. "What are you trying to say?…"

"That you could do something good with your life!"

James scratched the top of his head. "Y'know, the twerp has a point…"

Jessie growled. "But then what?! No one would want to be our friends! At least in a gang like the old bike gang or Team Rocket, you belong somewhere!"

"… I'd be your friend." Ash said sincerely.

"…Do you really mean it?…"

"Yep!"

"… Thanks, but no thanks!"

"Oh well…" Ash said, as he lifted the net over his head.

"Eh?!" Team Rocket said, surprised.

"Thanks for giving me the time to get out! Pikachu, Thundershock!"

Pikachu smiled mischievously as he readied his electric attack. "Piiiiiikaaaaachuuuuuuuuuuu!!!"

Team Rocket was sent flying into the air. "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" This time, however, they fell right at Ash's feet.

Ash looked down at Team Rocket. "Y'know, my offer stills stands… I really did mean it…" He then looked to his best friend, Pokemon wise. "Ya ready, Pikachu?!"

Pikachu looked up at his master and friend. "Pika!"

Ash then laughed. "Well, let's go!" Ash and Pikachu then ran down the road to Pallet, where he would pick up the first set of Pokemon he would train and begin his new adventure…

~~~

And so, 5 years passed…

~~~

It was a rainy, cold day. Trainers began to gather at the Pokemon League Headquarters. Pedestrians walked the streets, and the future audience began to fill the seats of the stadium. Cars began to pull up.

A white car pulled up to the Pokemon League HQ. Professor Oak stepped out of the car. While he looked pretty much the same, his hair was lighter, and he was using a cane. Tracey and Gary helped him get out. He brushed them away gently. "Let me go! I may be old, but I'm not helpless!" He then looked at the sky. "Darn, I wish I had brought an umbrella…"

Tracey laughed as he brought one out from the car. "Always be prepared!" he said as he opened it. He looked pretty much the same, just taller, wearing a lab coat and no longer wearing his headband.

Gary closed the door. "So, are we the first in our merry little group?…" He also looked the same, taller with a lab coat, but he had cut the back of his hair short. He looked around, then asked, "Hey… Where's Mrs. Ketchum?… You'd think she'd be here first…"

Tracey glared at Gary. "She was in the car with us, remember?… You closed it on her…"

Gary shook his head as he opened the back door. "Sorry…"

Delia Ketchum stepped out of the car, her Mr. Mime named Mimie following shortly after. "It's quite alright… We all make mistakes!" She looked slightly older, but she had cut her hair very short, giving her a bit of a young look. She was wearing a pink, sleeveless dress with a long skirt. She smiled. "I can't wait to see my boy!"

Gary frowned. "Yeah, really… The guy just took off after the Johto League!"

Tracey raised an eyebrow. "So no one's seen him in 5 years?!"

Professor Oak nodded. "That's correct… In fact, the only way we knew he was even alive was when he transported Pokemon by PC!"

"Odd… Doesn't seem like Ash…"

"I agree…" a gruff voice said. Everyone looked to see Brock. He was wearing a dark green suit. His hair had been cut on the sides, giving it a more spiky look. He smiled. "Hey, guys… It's been a while…"

"Hey, Brock!"

"Hello there, Brock!"

"Hi, Brock!"

"Yo…"

"Mime!"

Brock laughed. "Hello to you too, Mimie. You're looking pretty healthy!"

"I know!" Tracey said. "Glad I'm not the only one who realized! I gotta make a sketch of this!" Tracey did just that. He then showed it to the Mr. Mime.

"Mime!"

"Heh, so you like it, huh?"

~~~

A few hours passed, and they all waited. Gary looked at his watch. "Where the hell is he?! Is he even coming?!"

"He'll be here…" said a soft voice. "I know it…"

Everyone looked toward the voice. It was Misty. "Hi!" she waved. She had become much more feminine looking. Her hair had grown all the way down her back. She was wearing a blue dress with long arms and a short skirt. She smiled. "If I know Ash, he will be here… Just trust in him… He may be an idiot, but he's a determined idiot…"

"Thanks Misty, I'm touched…" said a somewhat deep, but scratchy voice. (Er… Think Trunks in the DBZ dub…)

Once again, everyone turned. Standing there was a young man with blue jeans, a black, sleeveless shirt, and a hooded cape. The cape was shadowing his face. He had scars on his lefts arm. He smiled. "Hey, guys!"

Everyone stared at the stranger. "Um… Who are you?…"

"That hurts…", the man said sarcastically. "You really don't know who I am?…"

Everyone shook their heads.

The young man sighed. "Oh! I know! It must be this hood and my voice!" The young man removed his mask to reveal--

"Ash?…" Misty began. "Is that really you?…"

Ash smiled at the group. His face looked tired, weary and dirty but he still had that goofy, innocent smile on his face. However, he had a scar in the shape of a slash on his cheek, and another scar over his nose. There were also the aforementioned scars on his arm. Also, his hair had grown into a long ponytail, with spiky bangs in the front, a bit more on the left side of his face. Misty and Delia ran over to him.

"Oh my little boy! Are you okay?! What happened to your face and arm?!"

"Ash, are you alright?!"

Ash laughed. "I'm alright! It's just a few scratches…"

"Good!" They both said at the same time. Ash was then slapped and pounded on the head.

"Ow!!" Ash grabbed his head and touched his cheek.

Delia glared at Ash. "How could you leave for 5 years and not even contact us?!"

Misty growled. "Yeah! You had us all worried! And then you finally come back after all these years and you're all banged up!!"

Ash put a hand behind his head and smiled. "I'm sorry… But when I said intense training, I really meant it… Not only training my Pokemon, but myself…"

Gary paid Professor Oak $10. "And don't say 'I told you so'…" he said, growling.

Professor Oak laughed out loud. He then walked up to Ash. "It's been a while, Ash… What have you been up to?…"

"Well, like I said… I went through some really tough training. I've caught 100 different Pokemon in these years."

"Ah, I see… You seem to have gotten… Taller!"

Ash blinked and looked around. He was now taller than Misty, his mother, and Professor Oak. He was as tall as Gary, and a little below Brock and Gary. He smiled. "Wow, I guess you're right! Awesome!"

Everyone sweat dropped. "Still the same Ash…" Brock laughed.

Ash then walked to the building. "I'm gonna go sign up, okay?… I'll meet you guys later!" He then waved to them and ran into the building.

~~~

Meanwhile, as people were signing up, a man in a brown suit signed up. He was followed by a Persian. The man was Giovanni, gym leader of the Viridian Gym and leader of Team Rocket… The man smiled. "The next few days look to be very good…" He then lightly chuckled as he walked down the halls.

Narrator: And a new adventure awaits our heroes after 5 long years of separation! But what new dangers await them?! Find out next time!

To Be Continued…

~~~

And the first chapter is complete! I go sleepy now… *snore*