This chapter is longer, but it's kinda filler, but at the same time, it's necessary for the story I think. Thank you for those who reviewed and such, it really helps me out. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: Don't own Pokemon, never will.
As soon as he got to the Pokemon Center at the foot of Mt. Silver, which usually took Ash at least half an hour to get to from the summit, although this is only because the teen knows exactly which way to go from the caves without looking at the signs placed by the Pokemon League thanks to living at the mountain for two years, he took out all of the Pokeballs he had from Nurse Joy, who had gotten so used to him being around, practically knew which Pokemon he wanted to use a particular day, week, or whatever, and the two had a friendship, which helped the Nurse feel less lonely, since due to the obvious fact that Mt. Silver is only for the chosen.
"Finally leaving Silver Ash?" She asks, quickly getting the message when asked to give him his Pokemon. "Yeah, gonna show the world I AM meant to be a Pokemon Master." He replies with his signature grin.
"Well...good luck." The pink haired woman says a little sadly after a bit. "Joy, I'll visit here sometime to train, as no where else is perfect for me, no need to worry." The boy reassures using his crushes catchphrase, making the woman giggle a bit.
"Hang on a second, I've got something for you before you go." Joy said before going in the back for a bit.
To Ash, this Nurse Joy acted like a sister-figure to him-like Misty used to do-as she helped him cope with his betrayal, although of course Dawn did so the most overall, but Joy got him started at least.
To Joy, it was more or less the same, as she did teach the brunette how to cook and fend for himself in the wild, as before that day, Ash had someone-the other male companion-to cook for him, and she liked the company, as stated before.
Soon enough, she returned with an egg case and a sparkly yellow-ish stone, which he recognized as a Shiny Stone.
"The Pokemon inside this egg can only reach it's final evolution with this Shiny Stone." She says before giving him the case, which upon closer inspection, he realized what Pokemon was inside, and unfortunately, that also made him grimace a bit, which she noticed. "Bad memories resurfacing?" Joy asked, biting her lip in slight nervousness, since she knew when this happened, Ash was more unpredictable-than he already was-and that included outbursts.
He shook his head and took a deep breath before answering calmly. "I'm sorry for not telling you, but Misty used to own a Togepi, but it's okay, I'm fine really."
He then put the case carefully inside his backpack, before putting the Shiny Stone in there as well. "Thanks Joy, I'll take good care of it...but why are you-"
He got no farther as she put a finger to his lips. "Consider it thanks for keeping me company for two years, and I think you need it's happiness more than I do." She paused, and smiled. "Go on then, show the world what you're made of, I'm on your side."
She took her finger away, and he got the message, and with a nod, left...but not without a remark from the nurse.
"Good luck with Dawn!"
He didn't show it, but she knew he was blushing, and chuckled before waiting for another trainer to show up.
Ash took out Charizard's Pokeball and released the dragon-like Pokemon roared as he was materialized, before facing his friend.
"We're leaving pal, to Pallet Town to get some things." The teen explained quickly, although Pikachu, unaware of this, turned to him curiously. "I want to let them know...and to get a certain someone to travel with me." Ash said, which both Pokemon knew exactly who their trainer wanted to travel with.
As soon as he was on Charizard's back, the fire-flying type took off in the direction of Pallet Town, a little higher than the cloud layer to avoid being noticed...too much at least.
It only took around two to three hours thanks to Charizard's increased flight speed in training, as before, it took him around seven hours to travel the same distance, which his trainer took notice of. Regardless, the trio-counting the Pokemon out-arrived by Ash's technically former house by around noon, and were easily spotted by Delia's Mr. Mime, Mimey.
"Mime! Mime!" It said in shock before going inside to get his mistress, and the trio weren't surprised by this, and soon enough, the mother of Ash Ketchum, Delia came outside, only to promptly crush her only son in a bear hug-or Ursaring hug-as soon as he got off his Pokemon.
"Ashton Ketchum! It's been another year since you last even spoke to me!" She scolded before kissing his forehead and continuing. "If it wasn't for Dawn telling me you were still training, I'd would call the Pokemon League to look for you." She sighed, and looked at her nearly mature child.
Ash still more or less looked the same despite the near black outfit he now wore, and she noted the Contest Ribbon on where his heart was. As for the boy himself, he let the hug happen without resistance like he normally would because like when he was the Chosen One for a prophecy, she didn't exactly expect to see him again perfectly fine like he always-at least to his memory-does. He had given his mother Dawn's home number so she could talk to either Dawn or Johanna, her mother, as he thought they would get along well, which he was right, although based on what he heard from Dawn, all they would talk about was their children, them.
"I'm back mom...but not for long. I'm here to call and ask if Dawn can travel with me. He said with a small smile, making his mother sigh a bit, before she chuckled. "I was expecting you to say that." She explained before caressed his cheeks. "Always traveling and training, like your father..." She paused, as the subject of his father was always touchy with her, but not so much with Ash as he was without him as since as he was two, so he had a lack of a father figure...at least until Prof. Oak came along a year after.
"What I'm saying is that I understand why you're going out again even so soon after all the training you must have done, I mean, I don't recall Pikachu and Charizard looking so powerful before. I can also understand why you want Dawn as your companion. She's been at her home for a while, but it's only because she wanted a break, and least she's still training her Pokemon, from what Johanna told me. It's only three in Sinnoh, so I don't see why you can't call her now...go ahead honey. I'll make some food for you, you must be hungry after that flight from Mt. Silver." She finished before kissing his cheek and going inside with Mimey to make said food.
As soon as she was out of earshot, the raven-haired trainer sighed in relief. "I'm glad she's always been understanding..." he paused and stroked Charizard's neck, making said Pokemon grunt in satisfaction before his trainer pulled out his Pokeball. "Thanks buddy, take a good rest."
As the fire starter disappeared, Ash went straight inside his home, surprising Pikachu for the sudden movement, and when his trainer got to the house video phone, the mouse comically fired off a Thunderbolt in slight annoyance, frying the boy before he could dial the number.
"But...why...Pikachu..." He barely mustered before falling to the floor, with Pikachu on the nearby shelf laughing his tail off.
His mother didn't even bother from cooking to look, as she knew he has been shocked by his starter way too many times to be really injured.
Honestly, at this point he should have at least developed some kind of 'immunity' to the attack, like the paralysis effect for example, it would still sting, but he could still move after.
Regardless, when he recovered, he gave Pikachu a quick glare before calming down and dialing Dawn's number.
He didn't show it, but Ash couldn't help but feel at least a little nervous. Perhaps it was because of the betrayal that happened in this very place two years ago, or because Dawn could say no to his offer, which despite the obvious absurdity of it, couldn't help but creep inside.
He shook his head as he awaited the answer, he didn't want to look worried or something if she or Johanna answered.
In the Berlitz household many miles away in Sinnoh, Johanna Berlitz heard the video phone ring as she was making lunch for her and her daughter, who was currently watching Arceus knows what on the television. Since she heard lunch was almost ready, Dawn decided to hold off on the training for now, and besides, at the moment Mamoswine and Piplup didn't feel like cooperating, so she decided to give them a break today.
"Honey can you get that, I'm still making-" Her mother started before being interrupted. "Got it!" Her daughter quickly replied, making her sigh a bit, still full of energy.
The girl took a deep breath before looking at the ID; Ketchum residence, probably Delia again, and pressing answer on the keypad, and just who answered made her gasp a bit, which was caught by her mother, who listened in from the kitchen.
"Ash! What are you doing there!" Dawn said in disbelief.
Hearing that made him chuckle. "What, is it a crime for you to go to your house?" He says jokingly with that grin of his.
"You know what I mean." She huffed before giggling a bit, unknowingly making his smile grow. Regaining her posture, she repeated herself, but much calmer this time. "What are you doing at your house Ash? Have you finally finished training?"
He nodded. "I think I'm finally ready to show the world I will be a Master." He paused before smirking a bit. "But it'll be a bit boring and lonesome with just me and my Pokemon, no offense to them of course, and so..."
It wasn't rocket science, so the blue haired girl easily knew what he wanted. "I would love to travel with you again Ash." She said, and in response, the male shook his head smiling.
"Was I that obvious?"
"Even a newborn Pokemon or child could figure that out."
"When can you come over?" Given how well the conversation was going, he couldn't wait, and it was evident in his voice.
"Hopefully over there around mid-day to early night if I leave here in the morning in two to three days. That works right?"
"Of course! I can wait that long." He was telling the truth, that she knew, but at the same time, she had a feeling he didn't want to wait that long, even though he knew perfectly well the time it took to take a ferry to Kanto from Sinnoh and vice versa.
She didn't blame him though, since she was more or less the same, but has more emotional control...in the happiness department anyway.
"Goodbye Ash, I'll see you." She replied and waved before she, or they simultaneously ended the call.
A sigh of happiness leaves her lips as she slouches on her chair, thinking about her new journey. It's been much too long since a region long trip, like...a year? Maybe six months added to that? She couldn't remember exactly.
Regardless, after she made it to the Top 4-not Finals like she first did-in the Hoenn Grand Festival, narrowly losing to May, which in a way made them even since she beat her in the Sinnoh Wallace Cup, despite the lack of experience she had at the time. Perhaps Dawn was just lucky at that win, or maybe it was because she knew that losing wouldn't make her weak, and since she learned that, Arceus decided she would win, despite odds against her.
Sounds like Ash's life in a nutshell.
She's been training much like he was after that Grand Festival, and the sudden betrayal, at least to her, came a month or so after.
She thankfully had the town to herself to train in, as Kenny went to Johto for further Contests along with Zoey, although they did visit her once or twice. As for Barry? Heck, he still hasn't come back to Twinleaf, and apparently even as a child he somehow eluded her, which is perplexing, since Twinleaf is one of those towns where you know all your neighbors one way or another.
"I'll buy the ticket." Her mother says, cutting her off from her thoughts.
"Mom, are you sure?"
"Yes, besides, what else can I spent the money on besides the stuff we always need? I could do without a couple hundred dollars."
"Thank you thank you!" The girl replies before hugging her mother.
"Lunch is done by the way. So eat up."
"Alright, alright."
Back in Kanto, Ash sighed in relief at the exchange. That went more or less perfect. So why was he even worried again? Eh, it didn't matter too much, he concluded.
"Ash, lunch is ready."
As soon as that was even finished, Delia found her son at the table getting ready, with Pikachu arriving moments after.
Some things never change, and as his mother, she wouldn't have it any other way.
I tried to get those mini paragraph things(?) where it's almost only dialogue, and I don't know if I did that correctly. I'm better at describing in paragraphs, as you probably read last chapter, but I wanted to improve on the dialogue aspect. I apologize if it's not great, but hey, I'm trying.
