It had been two years since Ash had been defeated in the Sinnoh League Semi-Final and he had decided that, instead of setting off on a new journey straight away as he had done previously, he would stay home for that time and, instead, focus on strengthening both the bonds that he has with his current Pokémon, as well as his Pokémon themselves. That is how we find him now, at Professor Oak's lab, watching his Garchomp battling against his Infernape. As the battle wound down to a close, Professor Oak came out of his lab and shouted "hey Ash! There's a call for you coming through on the
vid-phone."

Ash turned towards the Professor and then turned towards his battling powerhouses and called out "alright you two, that's enough for today." The two Pokémon abandoned their attacks and walked towards the other. The met in the middle and shook hands...er...paws? Ash said "you two have really grown these last two years. So, do you think that we should do what we were talking about now that you've evolved Garchomp?" Garchomp lightly bit Ash's head and Ash, laughingly, said, "I'll take that as a yes." He then headed into the lab to take the call that he had been told about. When he got to the vid-phone, he picked up the receiver and said "Ash Ketchum speaking," as the screen activated, showing the person on the other end to be none other than Liza.

"Hey Ash, how are you?"

"Yeah, I'm great. You?"

"Yeah, I'm good as well."

"So, what can I do for you?"

"Well, it's really more what I can do for you."

"What do you mean?" ash asked, frowning in confusion.

"Well, Liza and your Charizard just produced an egg and your Charizard is insistent on your training it when it hatches."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Well, alright. You called just in time too."

"Really? Why's that?"

"Well, I was just about to set out on another journey."

"Really?"

"Yeah. So, can you send the egg to Professor Oak's Laboratory?"

"No."

"Eh? Why not? You just said that...Oh! Right! It's an egg, you can't. Alright then, I'll swing by the Charcific Valley some time tomorrow."

"Uhh...Ash..."

"Yeah Liza?"

"You do realise that it'll take a lot longer than a few hours to get here from Pallet Town, right?"

"Ohh, au contraire, it really will only take me a few hours. Like I said, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Well, if you say so Ash" Liza said, confusion as to how he would accomplish such a feat written all over her face.

"Alright, see you then."

"Yeah, see ya" Liza said, hanging up the phone.

Professor Oak had come in halfway through Ash informing Liza that he would be leaving on a new journey no later than the next day. After Ash hung up, he asked "so, what's this I hear about you going on another journey?"

Ash sighed and said "well, I've been thinking recently that I've really accomplished all the goals that I set myself for while I'm here, Typhlosion, Feraligatr and Garchomp are all fully evolved and so is Meganium now I'm ready to leave again."

"Well, I've no problems with it, although it will be harder around the ranch with you out adventuring again."

"Eh, you'll have no problems, besides, Amber should be coming round soon enough, shouldn't she?"

"Well, that's true too I suppose. Does your mother know about this though?"

Ash sighed and said "Professor, I'm seventeen now. I think that I shouldn't have to inform my mother of every little thing that I do."

"I'm sure you don't. But you didn't answer my question."

Ash sighed and replied "no I haven't, though I'm almost certain that she somehow knows anyway."

"Yes, well, Delia does seem to be able to predict your moves pretty well. Although your staying here for two years threw her for a loop I think."

"Yes, well, I think that it is high time that I hit the road."

"Yes, well you'd better run home and tell Delia what's going on. I'm sure that she will want to have some kind of going away party."

"Yeah, sure thing. See ya later Professor" Ash said as he left Professor Oak's Laboratory.

I apologize, the first few chapters will be quite short and will be a lot longer once Ash reaches the Unova Region.