Edit (September 12th 2014)
Hey this is True-InTha-Blue in the future with an edited Chapter 2!
Once again thanks to the amazing skills of RubberLotusShipper!
Who in his great kindness edits my chapters to which I am always thankful for.

I read everybody's' reviews and all I have to say is… that I'm Flattered. Honestly and truly I appreciate that you do like my story. I say thank you.

Now about my spelling… It's true I am not the best speller in the world but I will try to improve on that. I like your constructive criticism. So thanks for that. If you see any more mistakes I might make, whether it is spelling or that I am making the characters too OOC, or that I am making the story a-bit too rushed, please let me know, for I am hoping that writing at fanfiction will help me improve my creative writing skills. Oh and if any one sees that if I am not formating the way characters are suppose to talk please tell me. IN YOUR REVIEWS!

Thanks for getting the joke about Red. Thought someone might like that. ^-^

Also I will probably not get my chapter out this fast.

Disclaimer: The rights to Pokémon belong to Satoshi Tajiri, and obviously not me.


'From One Side to Another'

A Pokémon Fanfiction

By True-InTha-Blue

Chapter Two

A Phone Call Away.

x

It took five minutes before Pikachu was able to focus again. It took twice that long before he and his trainer's mother could actually calm down said trainer and teach him the fine art of coherent speech.

"Now dear, are you sure about this?" Delia asked in concern. The prospect of her son going on a new journey didn't worry her much. The fact that the journey involved something that Ash had zero experience with was another matter.

"Yeah!" Ash exclaimed, a sheen taking over his eyes. And all of a sudden, he was ten years old again. "This could give me a whole new perspective on battling! Plus, the other Frontier Brains could help me out!"

Delia blinked in confusion. "What do you mean, Ash? I thought that most League members don't interact with each other that often, besides special occasions."

Ash shook his head. "That's what I thought too. Then I asked Max to look up some more info about the Battle Frontier when we had time. Turns out they actually get along with each other real well. They've got meetings every so often, and they talk about all kinds of new strategies and methods about battling."

"My," Delia breathed.

"And according to Max, they've got the ins and outs on what's going on in all the Pokémon Leagues! We're talking exclusive info!" Ash paused for a moment to let it all sink in. "It's a done deal, Mom!"

Mrs. Ketchum was still not thoroughly convinced. For all his bravado, her son might not be ready to take on the delicate responsibility of being a Frontier Brain. They were, like he'd said, stronger than typical gym leaders. And they probably had additional duties on top of it all.

But while Delia mused, Pikachu was almost as ecstatic as his trainer was. Having Ash back on his feet was encouraging enough. The prospect of them learning how to get stronger was even better. "Pikapika Pi?"

"That's right Pikachu!" Ash picked up his oldest friend again. "We'll get to see all the Frontier Brains again! Betcha can't wait to see Brandon, and Lucy, and Noland, and Tucker-"

Pikachu gave him a look.

"... okay, maybe not Tucker. But there's still Anabel, and Greta, and Spencer! Who knows what more they can tell us?"

Delia perked up. "You and Pikachu seem to know these people pretty well for just battling them."

Both of them nodded "Yeah well… they helped us out a lot with my battles. Even though they were trying to defeat me they also… I guess… wanted me to learn. Pikachu and I remember almost every detail about the battles. They were incredibly fun."

"Pikachu!" The mouse Pokémon agreed.

Shaking his head to collect his thought he asked "So can I please do it? Something's telling me that this could really change a lot of things. Can you think about it?"

What he didn't know was that she had already been thinking about it, from the moment she'd first heard him say it. Every word that came out of Ash's mouth showed her that he was maturing; this was not the rashness of a boy who saw something new, but of a young man who felt in his heart that this was the way to go.

Maybe… she thought. This is what will lead him to a finer life.

"Ash." She looked her son straight in the eye. "Most people would consider this decision a very rash one, especially when you're only fourteen years old."

"Oh." Ash's voice grew much, much smaller.

"Pika…" Pikachu's ears drooped.

"But!"

Two heads perked up in unison.

Delia began to smile. "But I see that you are ready for this. Believe it or not, Ash, you're growing up. I should let you follow your heart again, especially when it's carried you this far. So yes, you can go out and become a Frontier Brain."

Ash's eyes widened. "Really? Ah, Geez! Thanks, Mom!"

She watched her son high-five Pikachu; a second later, both of them had peeled out the door. She sighed, hoping that she had made the right choice.


Pikachu ran alongside Ash down the road that led to Professor Oak's lab. Though they could've used his Mom's phone to call Scott; they needed the Professor to get the phone number. While Ash was a great trainer and all, it was kind of hard for him to remember a ten-digit number that he'd been given a year ago.

They picked up the pace as they headed up the stairs. They were almost to the doorway around the corner when–

"OOF!"

Pikachu turned around to see his trainer sitting on the hard cement ground, rubbing his rear end with a look of mild pain. A second later, Ash perked up with a scowl.

"Hey! Why don't you—Oh, Tracey! I didn't see you!"

Lo and behold, it was his old friend from the Orange Islands - bandanna, backpack, and all. Scrambling to his feet, Ash gave Pokémon sketcher a hand up.

"Heh heh. Sorry about that, Tracey," Ash grinned, a hand clapped to the back of his head.

Good old Tracey Sketchit, after all these years, was still Professors Oak's Lab assistant. Always eager to help with a mundane - and sometimes not so mundane - task here and there. Once upon a time, he'd been one of Ash's traveling companions, but now...

"It's alright, Ash. I wasn't exactly paying attention either." Tracey dusted himself off. "Uumm… what's the hurry, Ash?"

"Oh, right. Well, Pikachu and I are going off to a journey!" Ash's enthusiasm faded exactly three seconds later. "But I kinda need a phone number."

Tracy then noticed Ash's sudden change in behavior that he has been in the past week. "That's great, Ash. Glad to see you back on your feet now."

Ash cringed. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of Pikachu's head.

"Was I really that bad?"

Tracy grinned. "Kind of…"

"How's your Marill doing?" Ash asked quickly.

Tracy latched himself in this conversion. "She's doing great. You've seen Misty's Azurill, right? Well, since she's his mother, it's natural that he misses her a lot. So I've been taking her over to Cerulean city lately to see him. I still can't figure out who the father is, though."

Ash grinned at this. "So, you seen Misty? How is she doing? I've been thinking about seeing her. "

Tracey's smile became a teasing one. "Oh, missing your girlfriend, are we? Hmmmm?"

Ash blinked. "… Tracy, I know what my friend's gender is."

The Pokémon sketcher resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Well, yes, Misty is doing alright. I think she's still trying to pursue her dream of becoming the ultimate Water Pokémon Master."

Suddenly, he sidled close to Ash's ear and dropped his voice to a near whisper.

"By the way, Ash? If I were you, I would steer clear of her for a while. Or just keep out of Cerulean City altogether."

"Why?"

Tracy's face began to look nervous "Think about it, if Misty found out that you have been here for two weeks without you telling her… what do you think she might do to you…. Or me for that matter?"

Ash's face suddenly began to mirror Tracey's. "Oh… Yikes."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too. And I'd like to keep seeing you with all your limbs, Ash."

With the conversation becoming awkward Tracy decided to change the topic.

"So if you are starting a new journey then why do you need a phone number?" he asked

"Oh, to call Scott," Ash said casually.

Tracy tried to rembered that name before. "Wait… isn't he the guy who recruited you to the Battle Frontier?"

"Bingo."

"But I thought you finished it."

"Yeah… well... I never really told anyone this, mostly because I never considered it, but, when I completed the Battle Frontier, Scott offered me a position as a Frontier Brain. I am thinking it will be a good experience for me to learn. You know, be on the other side of the battle field and all that." He explained

Now Tracy was impressed. He always thought that Ash would be one of those guys who never stopped moving. But now Ash was just basically saying that it would be a good idea to stop, and try a new tactic to further his dream.

"Well Ash. I hope you do well." Tracy said "but you do know that this will probably be different than anything you done before."

Ash nodded "I know, but I have Pikachu" pointing at his lifelong partner "and I know the Brains will help me out a bit. So...No need to worry." quoting Dawn's catchphrase. "Any way, I gotta go. Bye Tracy and I hope you have a good day!"

"Thanks Ash! And good luck!"

'…Man that kid is dense about girls.'


Peace and quiet. Just how Professor Samuel Oak liked it. No people bothering him for tips on Pokémon care that would take five seconds to look up in the Pokédex. No Pokémon making noise or 'hugging' him. Just himself and his very important work in peace, calm and-

BAM!

"GAUHHH!"

CRASH!

"HEY PROFESSOR OAK!" a very loud and very familiar voice rang in his ears. "I WAS WONDERING IF…"

Figures. At this point 'it's quiet - too quiet' should probably be declared some universal law.

"Professor Oak! What are you doing lying on the floor like that?" Ash yelled seeing the Pokémon scientist on his back with his chair in the air.

"Oh… it's… you Ash. I… should've… known." Oak struggled to his feet. He was getting too old for this. "What do you need, Ash? Make it quick, because I am very busy."

Ash had to smirk. "Actually, you're doing poetry." To further his point, the young trainer gestured toward Pikachu, who was holding the professor's latest haiku and giving it a once-over.

"Pika-pi," Pikachu offered his expert opinion as he put the paper down.

"I… I… uumm…" The Professor twitched.

The duo chuckled.

"Sorry for disturbing your important 'work', Professor" Ash continued. "But I was wondering if you had Scott's phone number."

"Pi-Pi."

Professor Oak grunted. "Of course, but young man, I must ask, why do you need his number?"

"To become a Frontier Brain."

"What?"

"Yeah."

"Pi."

Samuel Oak couldn't believe it. "But… But you're still so young, Ash."

"No, I'm not."

The Professor's brows furrowed. "Explain."

Ash sighed. "When I was in the Battle Frontier, I saw something. You know the sixth Brain? The second-strongest one? She was actually a girl my age."

"So… that means you can join."

"That's what I said."

Professor Oak sighed again. He was really getting too old for this. Now all sorts of young people can gain a rank that was usually reserved for an adult. Still, facts were facts.

He tore a slip of paper away from a nearby notepad, and scribbled a number on it. Then he pressed the paper into Ash's hand.

"Alright, Ash. Go, And good luck."

"Yeah but Professor—"

"Go."

"But—"

"Go!"

The boy and his ever-faithful Pokémon companion went straight out the door, hurling thanks over their shoulders.

Finally. Alone at last with my...

The Professor froze.

"… wait, did he give me back my Haiku?"


Later...

"Pika pika, pi?"

"Yeah, I'm nervous too."

The two of them stared at the Video Phone in front of them for what felt like a year. Finally, Ash stared to dial the numbers. His hands shook with every key he touched.

Why am I nervous? he thought. It's just a phone call to Scott. You remember Scott. Good ol' laid-back Scott? Never gets angry Scott?

Then the phone started ringing. Ash felt his stomach fall into his shoes.

Riiiinggg.

Riiiinnnggg.

Riiinnnggg.

Riiinn—

"Hello?"

A portly man filled the screen, all decked out in a blue flower-print shirt and sunglasses. And Ash's nervousness vanished into the ether just like that.

"Hey Scott! It's us, Ash and Pikachu, you remember?"

They saw Scott tilt his glasses down to get a better look. "WOW! Is that you Ash? You have grown since Sinnoh! Man, the TV did not lie."

"Wait, you been watching me in the League?"

Scott chuckled. "Well, why wouldn't I, Ash? And it's not just me. All the Brains have been keeping tabs on your journey. Why, we were even rooting for you when you faced off against Tobias! I mean, what a match that was!"

Just the sound of that name was like an ice-pick through the gut. Ash felt his enthusiasm plunge. Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all…

While Ash got lost in his thoughts Pikachu decided to engage the conversation. "Pika Pikachu! Pi Pika-chu?"

"Well, it's nice to see you too, Pikachu. Tell me, have you gotten stronger?"

Pikachu flexed his paws and let sparks of electricity fill up his cheek pouches. "Pikaaaa!"

The Battle Frontier head laughed. He honestly loved the enthusiasm just radiating off the two. But then he noticed that one of them wasn't looking so enthusiastic after all.

"Hey, Ash. Are you alright, pal?"

Ash snapped out of his thoughts and wiped the glazed look off his face. "Oh, yeah. I just got distracted by something."

"Alrighty then. So, why did you call me, Ash? And I can tell it wasn't just for a friendly chat."

Ash turned to look at Pikachu, then back to Scott. And he let go of a breath he wasn't even aware he'd been holding.

"Actually, Scott, I wanted to take you up on that offer you gave me a year ago…"

He paused. Then he stiffened up his spine and continued.

"I would like to become a Frontier Brain!"

End of Chapter 2


Remember folks that Ash is going through puberty, so expect mood swings (but not dramatic ones, he is not bi-polar people)

Like it? Dislike it, but hopefully not hate it? Tell me by your Reviews! Oh! I am trying really hard to get the story sections a bit more organized. I have tried several methods and most of them do not work. But I will persist! FOR I HAVE A DARKRAI! (Best Dark Pokémon…EVER!)

Though I can't Wait to get a Zekrom. I SUPPORT POKEMON BLACK AND WHITE. (don't diss them)