Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

Chapter 1: A Rival Meetup

We join our Hero, Ash Ketchum and his partner Pikachu, travelling along Route 1, the path between Viridian City, and Ash's own home town of Pallet. Ash was a 13, soon to be 14 year old boy, with black spikey hair, quite a tanned complexion, with lightning bolt birthmarks underneath his eyes. He was also wearing a blue hoodie with the sleeves a darker shade, with a gold trim along the hem and a light blue Poké ball motif along the pockets. He was also wearing a ready baseball cap with a black and green Poké ball motif, light blue jeans, blue trainers and black fingerless gloves with a green trim. Situated on top of his right shoulder was his partner, Pikachu, was a yellow mouse that measure slightly over a foot in height, with a foot long lightning bolt tail, brown striping along his back, red circles that signified his electric cheek pouches, and his ears tipped in black.

Said aspiring Pokémon Master was, for lack of better word, buzzing with anticipation for many reasons, mainly returning home and celebrating his recent victory over Pyramid King Brandon and by extension, his completion of the Kanto Battle Frontier Challenge, with his family, friends and all the Pokémon he had befriended over the years. However, it is these celebratory thoughts that will force Ash to realize that whilst he isn't doing anything wrong, there is a better way for him to complete his quest, to become a Pokémon Master.

"We finally did it, didn't we buddy"

"Pi PikaPi Chu"

"We finally defeated Brandon and beat the Battle Frontier"

"Pi chu pi"

"I guess it's only now that it's starting to sink in isn't it"

"Pi Pikapi"

"Yeah, if we hadn't called back Charizard, Squirtle and Bulbasaur, we would have been in between and rock and a hard place" Ash stated whilst chuckling to himself at the mental imaging of said dilemma.

"Pi"

…

…

…

"Pikapi?"

"We really would have been still stuck there if we hadn't, wouldn't we Pikachu" Ash stated whilst looking at the ground, but not really staring at anything in particular.

"Pi chu pika chu pi Pikapi? "

"I mean, it took me calling forward the four Pokémon who had been with me the longest, had the most training, and the most experience to be able to defeat Brandon, and even then it was a close match as well"

"Chu pi chu Pikapi"

"And also, Sceptile and Torkoal put up extremely good fights against Regirock and Registeel, and yet, instead of training them just that little bit more, I put them to one side and focused on some of my other Pokémon instead". Whilst Ash was stating this, one could watch his facial feature twist from what was once alight with joy and pride, turn into a scowl and depressed look as what Ash believed to be the whole fruits of his past 3, nearly 4 years of labour come crashing down.

"Pikapi…" Pikachu sighed, believing that Ash was making the truth seem worse than it actually was, and even if it was, that was no reason to give up.

"I don't know Pikachu, maybe talking with Professor Oak about this would help me figure thi…"

"ELECTIVAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH"

"What was that Pikachu!?"

"Chu pi Pikapi"

"It came from this direction, let's go Pikachu"

"Pi Pikapi"

Ash and Pikachu skidded into a clearing of Route 1 by a cliff, and they were stunned by what they saw. There was a large yellow with black pattern humanoid Pokémon with a twin set of black tails, that overall, looked very similar to the duo, but also very different at the same time. The strange Pokémon was trapped under a very familiar net, and seemed to be suffering from a temporary case of electrical feedback, similar to what happened to Pikachu the time Ash landed in Hoenn over a year ago. The net was hooked to a very familiar Meowth balloon with a very familiar trio of nuisances inside the basket.

"Team Rocket!" Ash exclaimed as he saw who was behind the strange Pokémon's distress.

"Oh look, the twerp has arrived" the long magenta headed female of the group, Jessie stated to her partners.

"Maybe he's come to play hero once again" the shoulder length, blue haired male of the group, James said with a sarcastic drawl.

"Or maybe the twerp has finally seen the light and decided to surrender his Pikachu to us" the finale member of the group exclaimed with a feral glint in his eye as he operated the netting. The finale member was special, in the way that it was a talking Pokémon, more specifically a talking Meowth.

The three members were part of the infamous criminal gang know as Team Rocket, whose primary goal is world domination. However, for these three, the main goal would be to try and capture Pikachu at whatever cost, in order to gain appeasement from The Boss. Both Jessie and James were wearing the basic Rocket uniform of a white uniform with a red R on the chest area, with black boots and gloves as well, the only difference was whilst James covered his whole body, Jessie had her midriff bare and her lower thighs as well.

"If you three really believe that this time is any different than last time, then you are sorely mistaken" proclaimed Ash as he took a stance that signified that he wouldn't back down, his past thoughts forgotten at the moment. Simultaneously, Pikachu had leapt down from Ash's right shoulder onto all fours, with his electric pouches crackling with electricity, ready for a fight. "Now let go of that Pokémon before I have to make you" Ash proclaimed to the trio of crooks in front of him.

"If you really think that that is going to happen, then you really haven't learnt much over these years have you twerp" Jessie exclaimed whilst laughing at Ash's last statement, whilst preparing a Poké ball for battle. "Now Seviper, teach little Pikachu a lesson". Upon Jessie's statement, her Poké ball released its contents, and eight foot long black and purple serpent, with blood red fangs, a blood red sword shaped tale, with yellow motifs dotted along the serpents' body.

"You too Cacnea, show them your stuff" James shouted also joining in on double teaming Ash. The Pokémon released looked like a squat green cactus, with stubby arms and legs, although at first glance, the arms do look like they could pack a punch.

"SEVIPER"

"CACNEA"

CRASH

"NO CACNEA, SHOW THEM YOUR STUFF, NOT ME!" James explained loudly to his overly affectionate grass type. Once he was separated from his grass type, the battle had begun. "Now Cacnea, use Needle Arm"

"Seviper, use Poison Tail"

Both Pokémon charged up their attacks respectively, Cacnea's arm shining with a pale green energy, and Seviper's tail being coated with Seviper's natural venomous energy. Both Pokémon then converged onto Pikachu, who had moved forward so that Ash was less likely to be hit in the ensuing battle. Despite the 2 on 1 battle Pikachu kept up a look of serious determination, not afraid in the slightest.

"Pikachu, charge forward with Quick Attack, and then turn and hit them with a Thunderbolt" Ash quickly ordered as Seviper and Cacnea closed in. Moments later, Pikachu had zoomed passed the two Rocket Pokémon, followed by a white streak that had almost left an after image, causing them to hit the ground where Pikachu had just been. Pikachu then quickly delivered a return Thunderbolt, charging his body with his natural electrical energy and then firing said energy at the two Rocket Pokémon in the form of a lightning bolt. The counter attack caused substantially damage to the two Rocket Pokémon, a fact which did not escape the two Rocket grunts.

"Grrrrr, Seviper use Bite"

"Cacnea, another Needle Arm"

"Pikachu use Quick Attack again, and intercept them both with Iron Tail"

"PIKA" was all Ash received as not a second later, Pikachu was in front of the opposing Pokémon, who had not yet orienteered themselves for their trainers current orders, and had smashed them with Iron tail, leading to both of them to land back at their trainers feet. Despite the damage received, both Pokémon where still willing to go, but the battle was showing immensely on the two rocket Pokémon, with bruising and scorch marks aplenty on both of them. The fact that they were losing so badly so quickly only seemed to anger the criminal trio. IF you listened closely, you could hear the grinding of teeth as Jessie was glaring at the young trainer in front of her. "Alright twerp, if that's the way you want to play it, then let's go…."

"What's going on here…? Wait Electivire!"

The sudden intrusion open the battle was noted by everyone present turning their heads to where the slightly nasally voice had come from, where atop the cliff, was a young boy, slightly older than Ash, who had very spikey brown hair, a slightly paler complexion than Ash. He was wearing a black T-shirt, purple trousers and black trainers. His face was a mixture on confusion towards the battle, recognition over who was battling, and then anger over way they were battling. It was none other than Gary Oak, Grandson and researcher assistant to Professor Oak and Ash's old rival/childhood friend.

"OH NO, IT'S THE REASERCHER TWERP" Meowth exclaimed to his partners as he saw and recognised the new person who had entered this conflict.

"What the hell are you three doing to my Pokémon!?" Gary demanded of the trio of crooks he recognised as being thorns in Ash's sided for the last 3 years. He only received a snide response from James in return. "Isn't it obvious, we are stealing your rare and valuable Pokémon, and soon we be taking Pikachu as well, along with any other Pokémon that you have on you"

"You three losers have been trying to take the same Pikachu for 3 years, nearly FOUR years in a few months" Gary retorted to the criminal trio. "By now, you could have caught your own Pikachu, trained it, evolved it into a Raichu, find a nice mate for your Raichu, and be now training the young Pichu that would've been hatched". As Gary logically explained the stupidity of their actions towards trailing the same Pikachu for years, Ash and said Pikachu were watching dumbfounded as what was once a relatively tense Pokémon battle devolved into a shouting match between Team Rocket and Gary Oak. Fortunately, Ash has always known when to take advantage of the field when it best arises.

"Pikachu, use Iron Tail to get that Pokémon out of its netting, then get ready a Thunderbolt for when I say" Ash spoke quietly to Pikachu so as to not draw the crooks attention. Ash was answered with a quiet 'Pi' as Pikachu quickly but quietly bounded over to the suffering Pokémon, whilst simultaneously charging an Iron Tail to cut through the netting. As Ash glanced back over to the full blown argument that was now occurring, he saw Gary give him a subtle nod of both appreciation of what Ash was doing and understanding of what was going to happen. Ash returned said nod before turning his eye back onto Pikachu, to make sure that Pikachu was having no trouble with the net. Low and behold, he wasn't and the Pokémon, now identified as an Electivire, was looking ecstatic at getting out so that he could pay back the crooks for ruining his lunch.

"You don't know what we have been through trying to get that Pikachu" was the dramatic response that James replied with whilst all this was happening.

"You wouldn't have to go through anything if you had just think things through once in a while" Gary once again logically argued to the Rocket trio. Of course, it went through one ear and out the other.

"Dat Pikachu is a one in a million prize. It's very special, and the Boss would love to have it" Meowth tried to argue back.

"That Pikachu is only special because Ash as trained it so well, and just another note, you three really are extraordinarily dumb"

"What did you say you little Twerp" was Jessie's' shrill reply when she heard the insult.

"I mean whilst we have been having this fantastically invigorated argument" Gary calmly replied with a sarcastic drawl. "Ash has been freeing Electivire from your netting, and now it wants revenge" As Gary stated this, the blood in the three crooks ran cold as they turned around to see Ash smirking triumphantly at the trio, whilst flanked by two Pokémon, Pikachu on his right and Electivire on his left, both supporting equally smug grins as the air around them crackled with electricity. The three Rockets gulped as they knew what was coming next, whilst Seviper and Cacnea sighed in disappointment at their trainer's massive blunder.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt"

"Electivire, use Thunderbolt"

"PIKAAAACHUUUUUU"

"ELECTIVVVVIRRRREEEEEE"

As both Pallet town natives ordered their Pokémon to attack simultaneously, both Pokémon unleashed a full on Thunderbolt, each, which caused a massive explosion, causing Team Rocket to once again, blast off.

A few minutes later, Gary joins our heroes in the clearing at the bottom of the cliff, and immediately sets to work to see if Electivire had suffered any damage whilst temporarily captured. Thankfully, apart from some minor bruising, there was nothing to be afraid of.

"You sure you're alright Electivire?" Gary questioned his Pokémon, worried he may be hiding something due to a sense of pride.

"Elect"

"Well, if you say you're alright, then fine, but you are still getting checked out once we get back to Gramps Lab"

"Electivire" Electivire seemed quite resigned to some unknown fate. What the others didn't know was that Electivire wasn't all that fond of the old man. He didn't like it when he was introduced to him and then the old man started to get a bit too close to Electivire in order to try and examine the new, exotic Pokémon.

Whilst Electivire was sulking, Gary turned to the person who he had to thank for rescuing his Pokémon, his old rival and oldest childhood friend.

"Well Ash, thanks for saving Electivire, I could have saved him myself, but thanks all the same"

"Sure Gary, whatever you say" Ash stated with a small smile at his friends apparent arrogance, which to him was typical Gary, which just meant that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

"So Ashy Boy, what do you think of the newest member of team Gary" Gary stated this whilst gesturing to Electivire, who had come out of his funk, and was introducing himself to Pikachu a few metres away from the trainer and the researcher.

"Let's see, you called it Electivire, didn't you" As Ash pondered this he reached into his back pocket to retrieve his Pokédex to gain information on this new Pokémon. However, Ash was in for a bit of a surprise.

"ERROR, NO DATA AVAILABLE"

"Come on Ashy boy, use your head" Gary said, taunting Ash with this challenged. Unfortunately, he didn't get the usual rise he would normally get from Ash, as Ash was too busy staring at Electivire contemplatively.

"Well, it sort of looks like an Electabuzz, only larger. Is it some sort of relation, like why Gengar's look similar to Clefable's?"

"Nope, you are right though, it is related to Electabuzz. This is the evolved form of Electabuzz, Electivire. You can only evolve them by using an Electirizer, an item you can so far only get in the Sinnoh region"

"Sinnoh region?"

"Yeah it's a region quite a ways north that has its own Pokémon league, its own elite four and champion, and it even has its own contest circuit as well. Think of it as being a much colder Hoenn region"

"Wow, another region" Ash stated forlornly, almost wanting to go there immediately, before reminding himself that he had stuff to do at Pallet town first.

"Okay Ash calm down would you" Gary stated sarcastically after seeing his old rivals face turn from curiosity and wonder towards a new region turn into quite a pained expression.

"Huh, oh, sorry Gary, I kinda zoned out for a while there" Ash said whilst chuckling in order to hide his thought process. Ash then thought of why Gary was in the forest, so decided to ask his friend. "Why are you here anyway Gary?"

"I figured you would be along this way heading back home, so I have been scouring the area for days now, waiting for you numbskull"

"Really. Why." Stated a confused Ash over the reason for his friend's appearance in the forest.

"To congratulate you privately on your victory over the Battle Frontier stupid" As Gary said this, he saw Ash's face once again twist into a pained expression, which was starting to greatly worry the researcher. "Okay Ash, what's wrong?"

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"That's twice now you've zoned out on me, both times with a pained expression on your face, so what's wrong?"

Ash knew that he would have to confront someone about this sooner or later, and he figured that Gary could be just as good as Professor Oak at possibly solving this.

"Gary, do you think that I did right by starting again in Hoenn?"

Additional Notes: Okay, so first things first, when you review this, please be gently with me, this is my first story, so try to be constructive in your criticisms. Secondly, I'm British. Doesn't seem like an issue, but this is just a heads up before any of you say that "You've spelt color wrong!" I haven't, I've just spelt it as colour with a u because I'm British. If you don't know otherwise, that's fine, and if I have spelt something wrong, please do let me know. Otherwise, I hope this has caught your interest, and I hope you stick around for more.