2nd Chapter, enjoy! Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon!
Chapter 2: "The Homecoming of Ash! A New Rival Appears!"
As the plane landed in the Pallet Town harbor, Ash, Pikachu, and Meowth trembled with excitement with the thought of returning to Pallet Town, Ash's home. Meowth, who had never had a home before, was especially excited and ready to prove to all of Ash's friends that he could do good.
After stepping off of the plane, the trio stood on the dock and looked around, waiting to see if someone was there to pick them up. After several head-turns, they saw that no one was there.
"Uh, twoip?" Meowth said with a tug on Ash's jeans. "Shouldn't there be somebodies to pick us up?"
"Pika pika pika pika!" Pikachu said with a relaxed composure.
"I am being patient, you yellow fuzzball!" Meowth yelled angrily.
While the two Pokémon began to squabble, Ash looked up into the sky with a sigh. Then, all of the sudden, he saw a glint in the distance.
"Hey, guys!" Ash said, getting the Pokémon to stop fighting immediately. "I think I see something!"
Pikachu and Meowth then squinted in the direction that Ash was looking and then they saw it, too.
As the thing in sky got closer and closer, Ash was finally able to see what it was. It was an orange, dragon-like creature with extremely sharp claws, a long neck, and two horns protruding from the back of its head. It had blue-colored wing fronts, a cream-colored belly, light blue-colored eyes, and a long tail with a flame burning at the tip.
"Charizard!" Ash exclaimed happily.
Charizard roared happily at the sight of its trainer, breathing fire onto Ash, who fell to the ground dazed and covered in ash.
After Ash got back to his feet, he saw that there was a person riding on the back of his Pokémon. It was a girl around his age with long, brown hair, dazzling blue eyes, and a wonderful smile. She wore an orange sleeveless T-shirt with a black collar folded down, black bike shorts, black socks, red and white sneakers. Around her waist, she wore a green waist pack that matched the green bandana that she wore on her head.
"May!" He said in a shocked and happy expression.
"Hey, Ash!" She waved happily. "Long time, no see!"
After Charizard landed, May jumped off of its back and ran to Ash, hugging him with joy. Soon the two began to blush, however, and they broke apart.
"May, when did you learn to ride my Charizard?" Ash asked.
"Well,…" She said, thinking back to when she first rode Ash's Fire-and-Flying Type Pokémon.
(Flashback)
Weeks before Ash's return, we find May watching the Unova League Conference with her parents, Norman and Caroline.
'Wow!' May thought as Ash defeated yet another trainer. 'Ash has gotten really good!'
The telephone then began to ring.
"I'll get it!" May said, running towards the phone, her eyes still unwavering from Ash's match.
After answering and turning on the video screen, she heard a familiar male voice saying, "Hey May, how's it going?"
"Brock!" May exclaimed with glee. "How've you been?"
"Great! I've just finished my final essay for Pokémon Medical School!" Brock said proudly.
"You're already done with medical school?" May asked in shock.
"Yeah, but it's still gonna be a few years until I can become a doctor, so I'm free for a few years!" Brock answered. "So, have you seen him on T.V.?"
"Yeah, he's doing great!" May said happily.
"You know what that means, right?" Brock said knowingly. "He'll soon be home."
"Oh, yeah!" May remembered. She then became excited. "You know, we should do something for when he comes home!"
"Sure," Brock said in agreement. "I can contact Misty, Gary, Tracey, Professor Oak and Ash's mom, and you can get Max, Dawn, and a few of his old Pokémon!"
"Awesome!" May said enthusiastically.
"Plus, May," Brock said perceptively, "I think you and Ash need to have a talk when he gets home."
May blushed. Ever since Drew had tried to ask her out in Johto and she had refused, she had been thinking about Ash nonstop. She opened her pack and took out half of a pink and white ribbon with an orange semicircle on it.
"You're right, it's time," May said confidently.
She then told her parents the news and got her things and Pokémon together. She ran outside and was about to start running when she saw an orange dragon Pokémon fly down towards her.
"Charizard!" She exclaimed. She then embraced the Flame Pokémon, who happily returned the hug. As they broke apart, May asked, "Did you want to help me get everything ready for Ash's return?"
Charizard roared happily and nodded. It then allowed May to climb onto its back.
"Okay, let's go!" May ordered. The two then took off.
(End Flashback)
May didn't answer, so Ash just shrugged it off. May then looked down and saw Meowth. She then jumped behind Ash, scared.
"Ash, isn't that Team Rocket's Meowth!" She asked, glaring at the Cat Pokémon.
"Not anymore!" Meowth said with a grin. "I'm now officially a good guy!"
May looked at Ash, who sweat dropped and rubbed the back of his head.
"You see, during my journey in Unova, Meowth got fired from Team Rocket and deserted by Jessie and James," Ash explained. "Since then, he's been traveling with us."
"Meowth, that's right!" Meowth said, putting its arm around Pikachu, who sweat dropped.
"So, shall we go back to Pallet Town?" May asked, stepping towards Charizard.
The three nodded and all climbed onto Charizard's back with May. Charizard then took off and they all began the trip back to Pallet Town.
Meanwhile, on a cliff overlooking Pallet Town, which sat in the distance, a boy sat in a meditation pose with a small Pokémon sitting beside him in the same pose.
Then, the small Pokémon's ears began wiggling and it opened its eyes. It looked in the direction where the noise came from and saw something. It then tugged on the leg of its trainer's jeans, pointing towards the thing that made the sound.
"I know, buddy," The boy said calmly. "I hear it, too."
The boy then opened his eyes and looked in the direction his Pokémon was pointing. He plainly saw an orange dragon flying towards Pallet Town. On its back were two humans and a cat and a mouse Pokémon. One of the humans was a boy and the other was a girl. The boy wore a hat, a jacket, jeans, and he had messy black hair.
"So," The boy said with a smile. "He has finally returned."
The boy then took a Pokéball from his belt and threw it into the air. A large, light green, insect-like dragon Pokémon appeared in the air. The boy caught the ball and put it back onto his belt. Then, he and the small Pokémon jumped on the back of the green dragon and flew off in the same direction as their target. They followed closely, but at a far enough distance not to be detected.
Ash and May soon began to make their descent towards the laboratory and corral of famous Pokémon Professor Samuel Oak. Ash had started his journey here, Prof. Oak having given him his first Pokémon, Pikachu.
Ash also left all of the Pokémon from his previous journeys here. Well, everyone except for a select few. His Charizard, for instance, had traveled with him until they had found the Charicific Valley in Johto. Ash had then decided to leave Charizard there for training to become more powerful.
Other Pokémon, such as his Squirtle, Gliscor, Primeape, and Haunter had been left with others to give them special training. Ash also had left his Pidgeot on Route 1 to protect the Pidgeotto and Pidgey there from the Spearow and their Fearow leader. He had also released his Butterfree to be with its mate, his Lapras to be with its family, and the Larvitar that he had hatched from an egg to be with its mother on Mt. Silver.
Soon, they landed on the front lawn of the laboratory. Ash literally ran up the stairs with Pikachu right behind him. Meowth and May took their time up the treacherous steps. Charizard discreetly flew to the back of the laboratory, to the Oak Corral.
Ash opened the door, and stood there, expecting to be immediately welcomed by the Professor, his mother, his friend Tracey, but no one was there. He didn't even see his lovable Muk trying to smother him with excitement.
Ash and Pikachu ran around the laboratory, looking everywhere for someone that he knew. May and Meowth stood watching him, Meowth with a confused expression like Ash and Pikachu. May had to try with all of her might to restrain a giggle. Meowth looked at her with a raised eyebrow. May pointed over at the glass door leading outside to the Oak Corral, and Meowth then smiled with understanding and winked at her.
Ash and Pikachu, after looking everywhere inside, fell to the couch in the living room, both clearly pooped. As they heavily panted from running so much, Ash saw May walk over towards the door, going through it, and gesturing for Ash to follow. Ash, Pikachu, and Meowth walked over towards the door and opened it. Soon, Ash was grinning broadly at the sight he saw.
Waiting outside were nine people that Ash knew very well. There was a girl with orange hair in a ponytail with green eyes, wearing a sleeveless yellow top with a hood, blue shorts, a small white belt with a pink buckle, and reddish-brown penny loafer shoes worn with white socks. Next to her was a tanned boy with spiky brown hair with squinty eyes, wearing an orange-and-gray vest, khaki pants, and blue-and-white sneakers. Ash knew these two as his original travel mates, Misty and Brock.
Next to Brock was a boy around Ash's age with long, spiky brown hair, wearing a black collared shirt, a blue medallion, indigo wristbands and pants, black sneakers, and a gray waist pack. This was Ash's first rival, Gary Oak.
Next to Gary was an old man with gray hair, wearing a white lab coat with a red collared shirt, a brown belt, khaki pants, and brown shoes. This was the man who had given Ash Pikachu in the first place: Professor Oak, Gary's grandfather.
Standing by the professor was none other than Delia Ketchum, Ash's mom. She had brown hair and Ash's brown eyes, and next to her was her Mr. Mime, Mimey.
Next to her were Dawn and Max. Dawn was a coordinator that Ash had traveled with in the Sinnoh Region. She had blue hair and blue eyes, wearing her golden hair clips and her white beanie with the pink Pokéball symbol on it. She wore her black, V-necked, mini dress with the white inner shirt, a short pink skirt, her magenta scarf, and her pink, knee-high boots with black socks.
Max was May's younger brother and the son of Norman, the Petalburg City Gym Leader. He wore a green T-shirt, green-and-brown sneakers, black glasses, and brown shorts.
Next to Max was a boy around Brock's height with green hair, a red headband, a green t-shirt, red shorts, and blue-and-yellow sneakers. It was Ash's friend from the Orange Islands, now Professor Oak's assistant, Tracey Sketchit.
Standing at the end of the row was May, who blushed when Ash grinned at her.
"WELCOME HOME, ASH AND PIKACHU!" They all said together.
Ash and Pikachu were all welcomed into a large embrace. Because May had told the others about Meowth before Ash had come outside, he was allowed in the hug, too.
"Thanks, guys," Ash said with a smile. "It's so great to see you all again!"
"We're not the only ones who have been waiting to see you, Ash," Tracey said with an evil grin. "Come and get him, everyone!"
Then, all of the sudden, a multitude of Pokémon were stampeding across the field towards their trainer. They were as follows: Bulbasaur, Kingler, Muk, Tauros (All 30 of them), Snorlax, Heracross, Bayleef, Quilava, Totodile, Noctowl, Donphan, Swellow, Sceptile, Corphish, Torkoal, Glalie, Staraptor, Torterra, Infernape, Buizel, and Gible.
Ash was tackled by all of his Pokémon. He laughed, saying, "It's great to see all of you!"
"Actually, Ash," Professor Oak said with a grin, "that's not all of them."
"Huh?" Ash asked with a questioning look. Then, he looked over towards the lake and saw them.
There was a large, blue sea creature with four flippers, a long neck, a heavy shell on its back, and a horn protruding from its forehead swimming in the lake. Swimming beside it was a small, light blue turtle with a brown shell on its back and a squirrel-like tail. On the ground beside the lake was a furry, pig monkey with brown boxing glove-like hands and metal shackles on its arms and legs, a small dark green reptilian creature with an erect spine on the top of its head and a red chest, and a floating, purple ghost-like creature with spikes all of its body, triangular eyes and purple teeth, and a pair of disembodied hands floating in front of it. Charizard could be seen flying in the air with a large, brown bird with a red-and-yellow head crest, a purple butterfly with white wings and red eyes, wearing a yellow scarf, with a pink version of itself flying next to it, and large, bluish-purple vampire bat/scorpion-like creature.
Ash ran towards the group of Pokémon and embraced them. They were the Pokémon mentioned earlier: Lapras, Squirtle, Primeape, Larvitar, Haunter, Butterfree, and Gliscor.
Ash looked at Professor Oak and asked, "But, how did you get them here?"
"Well, if you really must know, they were all gathered by May here," Professor Oak said, gesturing towards her. Ash looked over at her with a look of gratitude, which made May turn red again.
"Well, why don't we all eat?" Mrs. Ketchum said, pointing towards the large spread of food on the table. Ash, Pikachu, and Meowth's mouths began to water.
"Hang on," Brock said, causing the three to stop drooling. "Why don't we let our Pokémon out so that they can enjoy the party?"
"Okay!" Everyone said in agreement. Misty, May, Dawn, Brock, and Tracey threw their Pokéballs into the air. Out came Azurill, Corsola, Luvdisc, Horsea, Staryu, Psyduck, Politoed, Blaziken, Glaceon, Wartortle, Venusaur, Munchlax, Skitty, Beautifly, Piplup, Buneary, Pachirisu, Mamoswine, Quilava, Togekiss, Croagunk, Sudowoodo, Forretress, Marshtomp, Chansey, Marill, Venonat, and Scyther. There were also a few new ones that Ash didn't recognize.
"May, Dawn?" Ash said, looking at them. "Did you two catch some new Pokémon in Johto and Hoenn?"
"Yes," May said enthusiastically. "Meet Ampharos, Ledian, Miltank, and Altaria!"
The Light Pokémon, the Five Star Pokémon, the Milk Cow Pokémon, and the Humming Pokémon all nodded respectively.
"Is that Altaria the Swablu you took care of in Hoenn?" Ash asked.
"Yup," May said with a smile as Altaria flew to her arm. "I met up with Altaria when I went home to Hoenn!"
"And Ash," Dawn said as Ash and May looked to her, "I'd like to introduce you to Illumise, Gardevoir, Mawile, and Breloom!" All of Dawn's new Pokémon waved.
Ash then looked at Max. He then said, "So, Max. Didn't you start your journey not too long ago?"
Max nodded and said, "Yup, and here they are!"
Max threw some Pokéballs into the air and out popped nine Pokémon.
"Meet Grovyle, Camerupt, Kirlia, Masquerain, Vigoroth, Mightyena, Shuppet, Glalie, and Manectric!" He said proudly.
Ash then saw Max's starter, Grovyle, a Vigoroth that he probably got as a Slakoth from his dad, the Kirlia that they had met in Hoenn as a Ralts, the Shuppet from the haunted house, the Mightyena that Max had helped to evolve and four Pokémon that Max had caught himself.
"Great team, Max!" Ash said, impressed by his Pokémon. "We're might just have to battle soon!"
"Yeah, but not yet," Max said with a grin. "I want to make sure that they're ready to beat you and your Pokémon!"
"By the way, Ash," Professor Oak said, turning the attention to himself. "What sorts of Pokémon did you catch in the Unova Region?"
Everyone looked at Ash who smiled.
"Well, besides Pikachu and Meowth," Ash said, bringing out his Pokéballs. "These were the Pokémon that I traveled with!"
He then threw the balls into the air, and in a flash of light, eight Pokémon appeared onto the grass: the Regal Grass Snake Pokémon, Serperior; the Hoodlum Pokémon, Scrafty; the Formidable Sea Lion Pokémon, Samurott; the Mega Fire Pig Pokémon Emboar; the Proud Bird Pokémon Unfezant; the Compressed Pokémon Gigalith; the Nurturing Mantis Pokémon Leavanny; and the Vibration Pokémon Seismitoad.
Everyone looked in awe at Ash's new Unova Pokémon. Sceptile, Bayleef, Bulbasaur, Torterra, Heracross, Beautifly, Breloom, Grovyle, Venusaur, Illumise, Masquerain, Forretress, Venonat, Scyther, and Butterfree all went to greet Serperior and Leavanny. Charizard, Infernape, Blaziken, both of Ash and Dawn's Quilava, Torkoal, Camerupt, Croagunk, and Primeape immediately took a liking to Emboar and Scrafty. All of the Water-and-Ground-type Pokémon said hello to Samurott and Seismitoad. The Flying Pokémon welcomed Unfezant. Gigalith was seen talking to Sudowoodo and a few Steel-type Pokémon.
"Okay!" Ash said excitedly. "Now that everyone's well acquainted, let's eat!"
"Same old Ash," May said, soon following him to the table.
Later, after everyone ate lunch, they all sat around awhile, enjoying each other's company and telling tales about their adventures. Even the Pokémon were relaxing.
Suddenly, however, a large net covered all of the Pokémon and began pulling them into the air.
"What?" Ash said as he jumped from his seat at the table.
In the sky, there was a large, black balloon with a red letter "R" on it. In the basket were a man with blue hair and a woman with red hair, both wearing white uniforms with red letter "R's" on the front of them.
"Team Rocket!" Misty yelled angrily.
"Did someone call our name?" The woman asked in a start of a new motto.
"Surely we're not to blame!" The man said with a smirk.
"Putting the world in devastation!"
"Uniting all within the new sensation!"
"Thrusting the black dust of shadows throughout the age!"
"Blinding all with the fire of our rage!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Causing evil and chaos wherever we show!"
"Stealing Pokémon is the way we go!"
"Now, say goodbye for our rhyme is done!" The two said in unison.
"Jessie! James! How could you!" Meowth said in obvious disgust for what his former teammates had become.
"Don't you know that being evil is what we do?" Jessie answered with a sneer.
"Although I guess he wouldn't know anymore after joining the twerps!" James said with a chuckle.
Meowth growled. He didn't know that his old friends could go this low.
"Now, we're off to the boss's with all of his brand new Pokémon!" Jessie said with glee.
"And this time, we win!" James said happily.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu yelled from the net filled with Pokémon.
"Pikachu!" Ash yelled in protest.
Piplup, Croagunk, Azurill, and all of the other Pokémon yelled for their trainers.
Ash and the others growled. They couldn't believe that Team Rocket was going to get away this time.
"I can't believe it!" Jessie said in disbelief.
"For the first time, we actually stole Pikachu and all of the twerps' Pokémon!" James said, thrusting a fist into the air.
"Nothing can stop us now!" The duo yelled in harmony.
"Flygon use DragonBreath!" A voice yelled from the distance.
"Huh?" Everyone said, including Team Rocket.
Soon, everyone saw a large, light green, insect-like dragon Pokémon appear in the sky and shoot a light blue beam of air at Team Rocket's balloon, tearing it, and causing them and all of the Pokémon to fall, the Pokémon still in the net.
"The Pokémon!" Dawn shouted in fear and worry.
"Crobat, Weavile, come on out and use Steel Wing and Metal Claw!" The voice said from atop of the Flygon.
In a flash of blue light, a purple, four-winged bat and a bluish-black bipedal feline appeared in the sky. They then slashed at the net with wings and claws, respectively, causing the net to fall apart and free the Pokémon, who all landed safely and unharmed.
Team Rocket and their balloon, on the other hand, crashed into the ground. Everyone could see them covered in rubble.
Ash and the others then looked up and saw the Flygon land beside Weavile and Crobat. The Flygon's rider jumped off of it. It was a boy with short but messy brown hair, wearing a white jacket, a black shirt, brown pants, black-and-red sneakers, a dark green waist pack similar to Gary's, red, fingerless gloves, and black, tinted goggles that covered his eyes. On his shoulder was a small, pale yellow mouse Pokémon with black-tipped ears, black markings on its neck, pink cheeks, a small nose, and a black tail similar to its evolved form.
"Hey, it's a Pichu!" Meowth exclaimed as the Pichu jumped to the ground from its trainer's shoulder.
Ash, May, Dawn, and Max took out their Pokédexes and scanned these four Pokémon.
'Pichu, the Tiny Mouse Pokémon. The pre-evolved form of Pikachu. It is not yet skilled at storing electricity, so it sometimes shocks itself.'
'Crobat, the evolved form of Golbat. With its two additional wings, Crobat is able to fly much faster than Golbat.'
'Weavile, the Sharp Claw Pokémon. It signals its companions by using its claws to leave mysterious markings on the surfaces of trees and ice.'
'Flygon, the Mystic Pokémon. Flygon is the evolved form of Vibrava. It's known as the desert spirit because of the song-like voice that eminates from the sandstorms it kicks up.'
Ash looked at these Pokémon and could tell that all of four of the trainer's Pokémon were extremely well-trained, especially the Pichu. It looked way more powerful than other Pichu.
Team Rocket slowly climbed out of the rubble, angrier than ever.
"How dare you!" Jessie said, angry about her damaged hair.
"How dare you?" The trainer repeated. "How dare you steal other's Pokémon that they have worked hard to raise?"
"I think it's time for you to pay for your insolence!" James said, he and Jessie then throwing Pokéballs into the air.
In a large flash of blue light, six Pokémon appeared in the grass. There was a furry, blue bat, a magenta centipede-like creature, a slender, primarily purple-colored feline, a blue and yellow sarcophagus with four ebony hands coming out of it, a cactus-like creature, and a red, squat ape-like creature.
"Swoobat, use Steel Wing! Scolipede, use Toxic! Liepard, use Slash!" Jessie ordered.
"Cofagrigus, use Psychic! Maractus, use Solarbeam! Darmanitan, use Hammer Arm!" James yelled.
The Pokémon all launched their attacks at the trainer. Gary tried to send out a Pokémon, but Professor Oak stopped him.
"Let's see how this trainer battles," Prof. Oak said as he watched the battle with interest.
"Shedinja, come on out!" The trainer said as he threw a Pokéball into the air.
Soon, a brown, insect exoskeleton-like Pokémon with a halo over its head appeared in the air. The attacks came, but just bounced off of an invisible shield.
"How come the attacks didn't do anything?" Dawn asked.
"That's Shedinja's ability, Wonder Guard," Gary explained. "It makes it so that only super-effective hits can hurt it."
"Now it's my turn!" The trainer said, throwing six Pokéballs into the air.
In a flash of light, six Pokémon appeared onto the field. There was a fiery, mythical salamander-duck creature, a light-gray elephant-like creature, a large pink blob with a long tongue, a white gladiator-like warrior, a large penguin-like creature, and a large golem made of rocks.
"Magmar, use Flamethrower! Donphan, use Earthquake! Lickilicky, use Power Whip! Gallade, use Psycho Cut! Empoleon, use Flash Cannon! Regirock, use Stone Edge!" The trainer commanded.
The six Pokémon then launched their attacks on Team Rocket's Pokémon, knocking them all out.
"Now, Pichu, use Thundershock!" The trainer yelled.
"Hahaha!" Jessie laughed.
"Do you really expect to beat us with that pathetic little mouse?" James asked with a sneer.
Piiiiiiiiiiichhhuuuuuuuu!" Pichu yelled as it sent a large amount of yellow lightning at Team Rocket, sending them flying.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" They yelled, disappearing into the horizon.
The trainer then recalled all of his Pokémon. Pichu jumped back onto its trainer's shoulder, and then they turned towards Ash and the others. Ash felt like he had seen this trainer before. Then, he realized who it was.
"Gavin, is that you?" He asked.
"Gavin?" The others said, all confused.
The trainer looked directly at Ash and then moved his goggles to the top of his head. Everyone could plainly see the intense brown eyes that they had seen on their friend for all of these years.
"That's right," He said coolly.
Then, Mrs. Ketchum broke his cool by embracing him in a tight hug.
"It's so good to see you!" She said as she squeezed him and Pichu.
"It's good to see you, too," Gavin said in a muffled sounding voice. "But you're crushing me, Aunt Delia!"
"Aunt Delia!" Everyone exclaimed.
"That's right," Ash said, walking over to his relative. "Gavin here is my cousin."
"COUSIN!"
Next Chapter: Chapter 3: "Family Matters! Ash V.S. Gavin!"- Everyone has just found out that the mysterious trainer Gavin is Ash's cousin. Now, Gavin has decided to challenge Ash to a one-on-one battle. Also, we learn more about the love interests of the group. Plus, news about a new region are revealed! Who will win! Why is Gavin here? What is the new region? Tune in to Pokémon: League of Ultimates to find out!
Wow, pretty intense! Read and Review!