C.T.K: So this is another story I will start and probably never finish. So I have a few notes that need to be explained. First, ash is older in this story than the actual show, second he is more intelligent, third for those of you who actually know psychology, I don't so that area will lack a bit, fourth ash will not be using Pikachu for gym battles due to my belief that Pikachu SHOULD NOT BE LOSING ANY BATTLES IN THE UNOVA LEAGUE. Seriously the thing should freaking level 300. Any way enjoy the story.

It was a rather peaceful day at Oak's Pokémon ranch. The Pokémon were all relaxing. From a perch on a hill, sat an observer. A notebook sat on his lap. As he spotted two Pokémon interact, he jotted something in the book.

"Ash!" came a call.

The observer turned in the direction of the voice.

"Ash. There you are."

Ash smiled. "What's up, Professor Oak?"

Oak approached slightly tired from the jog out to Ash's perch. "Your mother wants to see you Ash." He paused at Ash's frown. "There will be plenty of time to work on your dissertation when you get to the Unova region. It might even give you more proof on your theory."

Ash sighed as he got up. "Yeah, your right."

After Ash's journey through Sinnoh, he ended up taking a few years to work on his studies. He found that he had an interest in Pokémon psychology. Due to his journey he became really good at reading a Pokémon's personality and characteristics. Finding a Pokémon's drive and motivations came pretty natural to him. Now, after breezing through his course work, he was on his final exam. After he finished his dissertation, he could be called an expert on Pokémon psychology. Still though, his dissertation was giving him trouble. Part of it was because of the ambitious theory he had chosen to purse. Ash was out to prove that that a Pokémon's personality wasn't completely changed when it evolved.

As he approached his house he noted his mom's Mr. Mime doing work on some yard work. Mimey gave him a wave, which Ash returned, as he walked into the house.

"Mom, Pikachu, I'm home!"

At his call Pikachu bounded up to him and hopped on his shoulder.

Ash smiled and rubbed Pikachu's cheek. "Hey Pikachu. How was your day?"

"Pika pi pi Pikachu."

"Old reruns, huh." Ash smiled. "Any good ones?"

"Pikachu pika."

"Ooh. That was a good one."

At this Ash's mother had turned the corner carrying a suitcase. "Ash, honey, have you packed?"

"Packed this morning, Mom."

Putting her suitcase at the door, she turned to him. "Well, I certainly hope you don't plan to travel in those clothes."

Ash looked to what he was wearing: a white shirt, jeans and a blue jacket. He frowned. "What's wrong with these clothes?"

"Trust me Ash. You look like a bum." She pointed up stairs to his room. "Now go change into those new clothes I bought you."

"But mom-"

"No buts, Ash."

Ash frowned as he began his trek upstairs. "Freaking 19 and she thinks she can still pick my clothes."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, mom," Ash said as he hurried to his room.

Opening the door, he saw some clothes laid out on his bed. His eyes then turned to a cluttered desk filled with various research and notes. Deciding first, to put away his notes, he packed them into a folder and slipped it into a green backpack on the back of the chair. Next, he looked at the clothes on his bed. Changing, he looked at himself in the mirror.

"Hmm," Ash hummed. "These clothes look familiar, Pikachu?"

"Pika pi chu," said the electric rodent from Ash's bed. Along with his words, he pointed to an old photo on Ash's desk.

Turning to the photo, a picture of Ash when he first set out, he smiled. "Your right, buddy. It looks alot like the clothes I was wearing when I started my journey." He chuckled. "Kind of fitting, huh?"

"Pika Pikachu pikachupi chu chu."

Ash chuckled again "I know buddy, but this isn't just to win the league. It's to test my skills as a trainer and work on my theories. If I don't use Pokémon I haven't bonded with, I can't study the change in personality and attitude."

"Pikachu pipikachu."

"I know, but you'll still be traveling with me. I'm not getting rid of you, just not using you for gym battles."

Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

"Come in."

Misty opened the door and smiled. "Like a blast from the past."

Ash smiled again. "I know, right."

Misty was wearing yellow shorts and a sleeveless coat with long tails. Her hair now hung down her back.

Looking Ash over, she frowned. "It needs something, though." Looking around the room she spotted a hat rack. Walking over she picked out one hat in particular. She showed him her pick. "This will tie the look together, don't you think?" She winked.

Ash took the hat out of her hands looking it over. He smirked and placed his old Pokémon league hat on his head.

"Perfect," Misty voiced.

Ash smiled at Misty. "I wanna thank you for coming with me, Mist. Not only is it good to be traveling with you again, but I can trust you with Pikachu."

Misty blushed. "No problem, Ash. Daisy is doing well as a gym leader, and all of them want me to catch more water Pokémon."

"Ash, Misty, It's time to leave."

Ash grabbed his bag and Misty grabbed Pikachu.

"Let's set out."

The ride to the airport and actually boarding the plane was uneventful. As soon the plane was in the air, Ash pulled out his notebook.

"What are you doing, Ash?" Misty asked from her seat next to him with Pikachu on her lap.

"It's an overnight trip to Unova, so I figured I'd work on my dissertation."

Misty smiled. "I never thought you'd be interested in Pokémon psychology."

"Well, it was a pretty easy pick," Ash said looking over his notes. "I've always been interested in the wellbeing of my Pokémon and understanding them has always been easy."

"So, what is your dissertation over?"

"Trying to prove that evolution doesn't rewrite a Pokémon's personality."

"Why do you think that?"

Ash smirked. "You remember that giant Magicarp being taken care of by a Nurse Joy in the orange islands, right?"

"Yeah."

"So you also remember how when it evolved it acted exactly like it did as a magicarp."

"So?"

"Well, if a Pokémon's personality is overwritten when they evolve, then the loving personality of that magicarp would be overwritten. But it wasn't."

"But couldn't it have just remembered how much love it felt for Nurse Joy?" Misty asked skeptically.

"But by that logic, Charizard should not have been a pain. I showed nothing but love and respect for Charmander," Ash said closing his eyes in thought.

Misty frowned. "Charizard was stubborn as hell. He thought he was better than you."

Ash nodded. "That was a case of the personality being changed through evolution." Ash then smirked. "But not completely. Charmander was also stubborn. That part of his personality stayed with him."

Misty shrugged. "Still say he was better as a Charmander."

"A better example is Bayleef. Her…" He paused trying to find the right word. "crush… carried over from chikorita."

"Soooo," Misty hummed. "what does that mean?"

"It means that only certain aspects of a personality are changed." Ash marked something in his notebook. "Professor Oak says that a Pokémon's personality will change as it grows and bonds with you. That's because part of the trainer's personality becomes imprinted on it. This leads me to believe that a Pokémon has a core personality trait that it carries with it through its evolutions. But in the case of the Magicarp, the loving personality was imprinted and not a core trait, therefore it should not have been kept."

"So why was it kept?"

Ash turned to Misty. "Well, if my theory is correct, it was the emotions it was feeling. Its desire to protect Nurse joy allowed it to keep his personality. Let's say me and Pikachu were in trouble and the only way to get out of it would be for him to evolve—"

"Pika pikach pi," Pikachu cried on Misty's lap.

"Okay, fine." Ash rolled his eyes. "You're a bad example anyway, because you don't naturally evolve. Say it was Bulbasuar. If he decided to evolve to protect me, our bond and the emotions he was feeling would allow him to keep his personality." Ash then shrugged. "Of course, that's just my theory. I need more evidence then one instance observed than when I was ten. That's part of why I'm heading to Unova, so I can expand and observe my theory in action."

Misty smirked. "and the other part?"

Ash put on a grin. "I've really missed battling, training and raising Pokémon. I may like Pokémon psychology but, make no mistake; my dream is still to become a Pokémon master."

Misty laughed. "You may be smarter, but you're still the same old Ash."

What adventures wait for Ash and Misty in the Unova region? Find out next time on:

Pokémon: Unova Chronicles

P.S. As a little contest, in your review, make up Ash and Pikachu's TV talk from earlier. Best response gets an honorable mention in the next chapter.