Ten years later…

Cheyenne stepped onto the deck of the ferry and immediately felt a cool sea breeze lift her long, wavy auburn hair. She walked over to the edge, gripped the railing and stared out at the vast aquamarine waves. She took a deep breath. The air smelled like salty sea water and new hope.

She was travelling from her hometown of New Bark in the Johto Region to Sandgem Town of the Sinnoh Region. It was hard to believe only a week ago she had received the letter. She took out said letter, smoothed it out and re-read it for about the twentieth time.

Dear Miss Cheyenne Flowers,

My name is Professor Rowan. I am a Pokémon Professor in the Sinnoh region. Recently, I have had my scientists develop a new version of the PokéDex (a device of which I'm sure you are aware). That is where you come in; in order to further my research I need strong young Pokémon Trainers to travel the region and collect as much information as possible on the Pokémon that reside there. If you so desire, I would like for you to travel to Sinnoh as soon as possible to receive the PokéDex and begin your journey. I will also provide you with a Pokémon from my lab. You will not be alone on this journey; I have also invited two other Trainers to help me with my research. Please respond as quickly as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Rowan

Cheyenne sighed, folded up the letter and tucked it back in her pocket, wondering who the other Trainers would be.

She was quite eager to be leaving Johto; there were too many painful memories there. Travelling Sinnoh would also give her a chance to finally prove to everyone that she was a true Pokémon Master. Thinking of this brought her back to one of the events of the past month:

"I've finally done it," she thought, smiling to herself. "I defeated the entire Johto League with only one Pokémon and now I've beaten the Champion, the Dragon Master, Lance!" Lance however, just laughed.

"An excellent battle," he said. "However, I cannot allow you to become Champion." Cheyenne's stomach lurched and the smile was wiped off her face.

"W-what?!" she stammered.

"You are a very strong Trainer," Lance elaborated. "But I'm afraid you do not have the skills that a true Champion requires."

"What do you mean?" Cheyenne asked desperately, feeling on the verge of tears.

"Well, for example, you only have one Pokémon and while your bond with that Pokémon is very strong, most Trainers catch many Pokémon and bond with them. If you can go out and create bonds with many different Pokémon and come back here and defeat me again, I will allow you to become Champion."

Cheyenne didn't know what to say. She had worked so hard but now she had hit another dead end. She felt utterly crushed. But suddenly that old fiery determination welled up inside of her.

"Oh I will," she said. "I'll come back here with more Pokémon and beat you again!"

Cheyenne sighed again. She didn't like thinking about that. Unfortunately, this brought her back to another painful memory. Before she lived in New Bark Town, Cheyenne lived in Pallet Town in the Kanto region. There she had a friend named Gary Oak. However, when she was 5 years old, she moved away. The day she moved Gary promised he would keep in touch with her.

But Gary hadn't contacted her in the 10 years since she'd left. Cheyenne had even tried to call him once but no one answered…

Cheyenne shook her head vigorously. "Why am I thinking about Gary?" she thought. "It's been 10 years. I thought I'd finally forgotten about him."

Feeling lonely, Cheyenne decided to let her one and only Pokémon, a Meganium, out. "Come on out Sheik," she said dully, pressing the button on his Pokéball. Sheik looked happy to be getting some fresh air but seeing his Trainer wasn't, he nuzzled her kindly. She laughed softly and patted him on the head.

Suddenly, a voice yelled, "Land ho!" Cheyenne and Sheik spun around and looked out onto the horizon. A large island was looming in the distance. Upon seeing this, all traces of sadness left Cheyenne's mind. She smiled and said to her Pokémon, "Ready for a new adventure buddy?"

"Meganium!" said Sheik happily.

A few minutes later, with Sheik back in his Pokéball, Cheyenne stepped off the ferry and looked around. She was on a small dock surrounded by a beautiful beach that a few people were milling around. She could see why the town was called Sandgem. In the distance she could see a row of trees and beyond that, a cobbled street and some houses.

She pulled the map of Sinnoh her dad gave her as a goodbye present out of her bag and looked for Professor Rowan's lab. Luckily, Sandgem was not a large town and it would not take her very long to walk there. However, there was no way she could have foreseen the surprise that was waiting for her outside.

After getting lost and asking for directions a couple times, Cheyenne finally located the lab. As she walked up to it, something strange seemed to be going on outside. She frowned, looking closer. An expensive looking red convertible was parked right outside the front door. It was full of pretty girls who looked to be a few years older than Cheyenne. As she got closer she could see that among the girls was a very good looking boy of about her age. He appeared to be arguing with another boy standing outside the car. For some reason, they both looked familiar. As she drew closer she could hear their conversation.

"-can't believe I have to travel with you again!" yelled the boy outside the car angrily. He had spikey black hair and was wearing a backwards facing baseball cap.

"Speak for yourself! You'll just slow me down!" said the other boy in a sneering voice. He had spikey brown hair and narrow eyes and had his arm slung around the girls sitting closest to him. He looked almost bored.

They were so busy fighting that they didn't even notice Cheyenne approach until she cleared her throat and everyone, including the girls, looked around. Cheyenne blushed.

The boy in the car smiled arrogantly and said, "Oh hello. Are you another one of my adoring fans?" The girls around him giggled.

Cheyenne raised an eyebrow. "Uh no, I'm here to see Professor Rowan," she said, already not liking this boy.

"Oh, you must be the third trainer!" exclaimed the black haired boy, the pissed off expression on his face fading. "I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet." He extended his hand to her.

Suddenly, Cheyenne knew why he looked familiar. Shortly after she and Gary became friends, a boy their age named Ash Ketchum moved into the house next door. He was very shy and never talked to Cheyenne or Gary but instead followed them around and watched them play from a distance. He was also a very famous Pokémon Trainer and in the years since she'd left Pallet, Cheyenne had heard a lot about him on TV.

"Ash?" she said slowly. He looked confused for a moment then comprehension dawned on his face.

"Hey I know you! You're-"

"Cheyenne Flowers!" Cheyenne finished, smiling.

"Wow, I can't believe you're here! I didn't think I'd ever see you again!" Ash exclaimed.

"Likewise!" smiled Cheyenne. Then she realized something else as she turned towards the boy in the car, who hadn't been listening to the exchange between Ash and Cheyenne and was instead talking to his girls. "Wait, if you're Ash then he must be…"

"Yep, that's Gary," said Ash sounding slightly annoyed. Cheyenne's heart skipped a beat and her mouth dropped open.

"What about me?" asked Gary lazily.

"Gary…don't you remember me?" asked Cheyenne hesitantly.

For a moment Gary's eyes widened and his lips parted but then he looked away and said in that same arrogant voice, "What are you talking about? I don't know you." His girls laughed. Cheyenne's heart plummeted.

"Asshole," Ash muttered, just loud enough for Gary to hear. "Come on," he said to Cheyenne, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the front door of Professor Rowan's lab. Cheyenne's heart jumped and she blushed. Up close she noticed Ash was pretty cute too but in a different way than Gary.

He let go of her hand and said "Don't listen to him, he does remember you, he's just trying to act cool for his cheerleaders." He rolled his eyes.

"Yeah," said Cheyenne somewhat distractedly, as she was still thinking about Ash's hand in hers.

"I guess we'd better go in now," said Ash turning and knocking on the door. It opened by itself. Ash and Cheyenne exchanged a look and stepped over the threshold. They found themselves in a large room full of scientists working on various types of machinery and computers. Suddenly, Cheyenne felt a wave of nostalgia.

This lab was almost identical to Professor Elm's lab back in Johto and Cheyenne could clearly remember this day 5 years ago when she had stood in that lab, ready to receive her very first Pokémon and begin her adventure. This also reminded her that today would be the day that her 10 year old sister Skylar would be getting her Pokémon licence.

Cheyenne was lifted out of her thoughts by a voice saying, "Are you the Trainers here to help Professor Rowan?" A balding man wearing a long white lab coat and round glasses was hurrying towards them.

"U-uh- yes," Ash responded.

"Right this way," said the man. They followed him across the room and through a door on the opposite side. They were in an office with a large window and various pictures of Pokémon on the walls. "The Trainers are here sir," said the scientist to a formidable looking old man with white hair and moustache sitting at a desk.

"Ah, yes. Thank you Dr. Honda," said the old man, standing up. Dr. Honda bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him. "Greetings Ash, Cheyenne," said Professor Rowan. "But where is Gary?"

As if on cue, they heard a door burst open and Gary's cocky voice yelling, "Where's the prof?"

Professor Rowan sighed and said in an undertone, "His grandfather warned me about him but I didn't think he'd be this bad."

Seconds later, the door was flung wide revealing several annoyed looking scientists in the room beyond until Gary slammed the door. "Yo, what'd I miss?" he said loudly and rudely.

Ash and Cheyenne glared at him and professor Rowan cleared his throat, looking at him disapprovingly. "Well now that we have you all here," began Rowan.

"My mission for you is simply to go out and travel this region with my Pokedexes and collect information on the Pokémon that live here. Once you have done so, you must report back to me. Here are your Pokedexes." He handed each of them a shiny, modern looking Pokedex.

"If you wish, you may also face this region's Gym Leaders and Pokémon League as I'm sure it will be a valuable training experience for all of you. And one more thing," Rowan said quickly, as Gary opened his mouth. "Lately, I've been hearing rumours of an evil organisation known as Team Galactic, who seek to exploit Pokémon. I don't know exactly what their plans are but if you do come across them I want you to do whatever you can to stop them." The three teenagers nodded grimly.

"Well, I believe that is all. Oh and your Pokémon." Professor Rowan pulled out a briefcase, opened it and offered it to them. It contained three Pokeballs. Gary immediately grabbed the first one he saw without even thinking about it. "I haven't even told you what they are yet but if that's the one you want then so be it. You've got Turtwig. The other two are Piplup and Chimchar," said Rowan, pointing them out.

After pondering it for a moment, Cheyenne decided on Piplup. That left Ash with Chimchar. Cheyenne pressed the button on the center of the Pokeball and a small blue penguin Pokémon popped out. "Piplup!" it said, looking up at its new Trainer endearingly.

"Aww, it's so cute!" exclaimed Cheyenne, hugging it.

"Looks kinda weak to me," said Gary sceptically, examining his new Turtwig. In retaliation it bit his hand. "OW! Dammit!" yelled Gary, rubbing his hand and glaring at his Pokémon.

Ash snorted. "It won't be weak if you train it properly, dipshit," he said. "Isn't that right buddy?" He patted Chimchar on the head. "Chimchar!" it said happily.

"Hey, I don't need a weakling like you to tell me how to-," Gary started.

"Enough arguing!" Professor Rowan said suddenly, making all three of them jump. "It's getting late. Why don't you get something to eat and stay at the Pokémon Centre tonight. You can make your way towards Jubilife City tomorrow morning."

"Wait a second," said Gary slowly, returning his Pokémon to its Pokeball. "Are you saying we have to travel…together?"

"Well of course," said Professor Rowan, his nostrils flaring. "It makes the most sense after all."

"WHAT?! No way! Those two will just slow me down!" said Gary indignantly.

Gary had touched a nerve. Cheyenne whipped around to face him. "For your information, I'm actually a really good Pokémon Trainer!" she yelled.

"Yeah, more like you'll slow us down!" added Ash.

"If you prefer, I could take the Pokedexes away and send you all straight home," said Rowan coldly, staring down at them with a stony facial expression. All three Trainers immediately fell silent although they continued to glare at each other angrily. "That's better. Now goodnight to you."

Ash sighed resignedly and led the way out of the room. As soon as they closed the door behind them, the scientist from before came hurrying towards them again. "Got your Pokedexes?" he said excitedly. "My son and daughter, Lucas and Dawn, are helping the professor with his research as well. They left yesterday so perhaps you'll run into them!"

"We'll keep an eye out," said Ash tiredly, making Cheyenne realise how tired she was. She stifled a yawn. It had been a long day.

They stepped outside into the setting sun. Gary's convertible was still sitting there. "Looks like we won't be able to travel together girls," he said melodramatically to his cheerleaders. They immediately made noises of sadness and protest and one even burst into tears.

Ash shook his head and made his way towards the Pokémon Centre. Cheyenne scurried after him. "What shitty luck I have to have to travel with him again," said Ash, shoving his hands in his pockets and kicking at a rock angrily.

"When did he become such a jerk? He was so nice when we were friends," Cheyenne wondered aloud.

"Yeah, well that was a long time ago," said Ash in an unnaturally aggressive tone of voice. Cheyenne stared at him. He stopped, and then turned to her. "At least I have you," he said quietly, smiling.

Later that night, lying in the Pokémon Centre's bed, Cheyenne had difficulty sleeping. Part of the problem was Gary's loud snoring but mostly it was because her mind just wouldn't shut down. She kept thinking about what Ash had said: "At least I have you." That made it sound like he liked her. "Do I like him?" she thought. "I don't really know him very well but he seems nice. Nicer than Gary that's for sure."

Another thing she just couldn't understand was why Gary had changed so much. Ash was right, they hadn't seen each other in a long time but she never could have guessed he would turn out like this. "Oh well," she thought, growing drowsy at last. "As mom always says, only time will tell."

(Author's Notes: Wow this was a really looong chapter but thanks so much for reading it! This is going to be a GaryxOC fic with a little bit of AshxOC and AshxMisty. Sorry I didn't update for so long, I've been really busy with school and shit. Thanks so much to the people who read and reviewed the last chapter. I hope you like this one!)