"Hey Pikachu! Would you look at that!"
"Pipika!"
Ash smiled as he looked down from a hilltop at Pallet Town. It had changed from the small town into a modest sized town with at least twelve more houses than he remembered. While it was larger, it still retained that peaceful small town feel that he loved and remembered. The windmills were still there, Oak's laboratory on top of the hill, and he could still see his house tended by Mr. Mime. A breeze ruffled Ash's messy hair as if the town was welcoming Pallet Town's favorite son.
"No! No more! Here is the hilltop where the handsome Dirk Brady has his last stand! FAREWELL BELOVED WORLD!"
Ash and Pikachu watched as Dirk swooned into a faint. However he fainted a little too far, causing him to start rolling down the hill in a red and white bouncing mess.
"Ouch! Ooh!. Mama! Crap! S#$! F#$! How! I! Hate! You! Gravity!"
Thud.
"Ow."
Ash easily slid down the hilltop beside Dirk. Dirk brushed off the grass and dirt on his clothes.
"I think this town hates me."
"No its just you."
"Pipika!"
Dirk humphed and began to march away dignified. However he tripped on his loose shoelace and fell face first into the jumped to his feet and spat out a clod of dirt and grass.
"Sppplt! I knew it! Come out and fight me like a man!"
Ash palmed his face as Dirk put up a fighting pose. "And who exactly are you going to fight?"
Dirk glanced at him. Ash sighed.
"Never mind. I never thought I would have to be the mature one. Huh Pikachu?"
"Pika."
Ash led Dirk into Pallet town. Ash was surprised at how much the town had changed. He almost got late until he found his favorite restaurant. Using that landmark, he scanned the area around trying to find his house.
"Hey Dirk this way. Dirk?"
Ash looked around to see Dirk kneeling in front of a young lady with hearts in his eyes. Ash sighed as he waited for the corny pickup line.
"Hi the voices in my head were telling me to come talk to you. Mind helping me to quiet them?"
SMACK!
Ash sighed as Dirk was sent sprawling on the ground. He kicked over a crying Dirk.
"Are you done?" Ash asked. Dirk nodded and sprang to his feet. Just as soon as he landed on his feet, he rushed over to another woman, kneeling.
"Are you a doctor? Cause I just had a heart attack."
SMACK!
Ash sighed as he began to pull Dirk along by the ear.
"Ow! Ow! Not the ear!"
"Oh thank you Delia. Thank you so much for letting Terra over."
"Its no problem Lily. I just love having little Terra over."
Delia Ketchum smiled as she watched her neighbor Lily hug her daughter, Terra. Terra was about 5 years old and absolutely adorable in Delia's eyes. She went over to the oven and pulled out a fresh batch of cookies that she and Terra baked that afternoon.
"Lily, try these cookies. Terra helped make these."
"Yeah mommy! I made these chocolate chip cookies with Mimey! Ms. Ketchum let me lick the spoon after too!"
"Wow Terra! These are so good!"
Delia smiled as she saw Terra smile in pride. She was about to say something when a knock on the door distracted her. She strode over to the door to see a tall man wearing jeans, a black vest, and a white shirt. His head was covered by a mane of messy black hair, jammed under a red hat. On his hands were black fingerless gloves that held Pikachu.
"Ash?"
"Hey mom."
"ASH!"
Ash gasped as his mom hugged him tightly. Over his mom's shoulder, he saw a lady and her daughter run up to the front door. His mother let Ash go after a long while and stared up at him.
"My goodness Ash, you've grown! Come inside and let me cook you something. Would your friend like something as well?"
Ash looked behind him to see just grass. He turned back to see Dirk on his knees holding Lily's hand.
"I'm a raindrop and I am falling for you."
Ash smacked his face and pulled Dirk away from Lily. Dirk was about to protest but Terra kicked Dirk's shin. Ash covered Dirk's mouth in order to cover the spew of curses that began to fly out.
"This is Dirk Brady mom. A trainer I met at a party that I still have no idea he sneaked into. Dirk, this is my mom."
"Always a pleasure Ms. Ketchum."
"Its nice to meet you Dirk. Tell me. Have Ash been washing his underwear?"
"MOM!"
"I'm just joking sweetie. Come to the kitchen and have a cookie that little Terra made."
Pikachu jumped down from Ash's head and approached Terra. Terra petted Pikachu cautiously. When she found that Pikachu was friendly, she began to play tag with Pikachu. Ash chuckled, watching Pikachu playing with Terra.
"So you're Delia's son. I've heard so much about you. I'm Lily Roans, a new neighbor."
Ash shook the offered hand. "It's nice to meet you ma'am."
"Are the tales that Delia's told about you are true?" Lily asked. Ash nodded.
"I don't even tell my mom half of them."
"Really Ash? Then since you're here, probably you'd like to start talking?"
Ash swallowed nervously seeing his mother's smile. "Not now mom. I still need to say hi to Brock."
"Okay dear. Make sure you don't forget your friend he's outside with Terra."
Ash looked outside to see Dirk, Terra, and Pikachu having an epic sword fight with Dirk being the pirate. Terra poked Dirk with her stick and giggled as Dirk dramatically fell down. Ash chuckled as Terra planted a foot on Dirk's stomach.
"I think I'll leave him here with you mom. C'mon Pikachu!"
Pikachu hopped to Ash's shoulder. Ash waved goodbye before opening a pokeball. The Pokeball opened to reveal a very large Aerodactyl. The Aerodactyl screeched and flapped its wings once. Ash jumped on its back and held its neck before it flew off into the sky.
The flight to Pewter city was a short ride and he soon spotted the Pewter City Gym. Ash and Pikachu screamed in delight as Aerodactyl swooped down and at the last second, stopped in front of the Gym, sending a huge gust of wind. Ash laughed as he recalled Aerodactyl back into his pokeball.
"Nice job there buddy," Ash said. He looked around and saw a wide-eyed boy and his Bulbasaur. Ash smiled reassuringly and knelt down by the boy.
"Hey there. You challenging the Gym Leader here?"
The boy nodded. "Yes. I mean Yes sir."
Ash grimaced. "Don't call me sir. Makes me feel old. My name's Ash Ketchum. How about you?"
"Benjamin but friends call me Benjy. Are you really The Ash Ketchum."
Ash nodded. "Well Benjy is this your first Gym Battle?"
"I dunno. I was thinking about it but seeing your Pokemon, I think I'll need more training."
Ash smiled. "Is Bulbasaur your only pokemon?"
"No. My uncle gave me a Riolu as a present too."
"Wow a Riolu and Bulbasaur. You'll do just fine here. Just have confidence in yourself and your pokemon," Ash said reassuringly.
"Are you sure?"
"Having confidence in yourself shows your pokemon that you know what to do. They trust you."
Benjy nodded. "Thanks for the advice."
"Now go get 'em!"
Benjy smiled and opened the door. Ash quickly followed Benjy in and smiled when he saw Forrest.
"Hey Forrest. Is Brock here?"
"He's in the back with his fiancee'. Who is the boy by you?"
Ash looked at Benjy and gave him a reassuring smile. "He is my disciple Forrest. Don't underestimate him."
Benjy looked at him startled but relaxed when Ash flashed him a thumbs up. Ash left the arena and went to the back of the Gym, wondering who Brock's fiancee was. He glanced around and saw Brock hanging up laundry.
"BROCK!"
Brock whirled around and his mouth dropped.
"Ash?"
"Yeah! How've you been?"
Ash gasped as Brock hugged him tightly. "It's been too long buddy. Pikachu looks well. How are you buddy?"
"Pipikachaa!"
"Good to hear that."
"Brock honey! Where are you?"
Ash saw Holly appear from out of the gym, holding a basketful of laundry. He smiled and nudged Brock.
"So when did this happen buddy?"
"We've been together for three years. I'll be marrying her next spring."
"Ash you're back!"
"It's good to see you too Holly. Tell me, how do keep this guy from flirting with other women?"
Holly laughed. "He hasn't flirted with any other woman except for me since we've started dating."
"Really? I find that hard to believe."
"I wasn't that bad," Brock said. Ash gave him a dubious look. "Ok maybe so."
"Let's go inside. We have much to talk about."
Ash spent an hour there talking and catching up with Brock. It seems that after they split up in Sinnoh, Brock managed to find Holly. Together they managed to win a tag team tournament. Since that time, they traveled together until one day Brock asked Holly to a date. From then it was clockwork with Brock asking Holly to marry him. Brock had already made Ash the best man and actually sent the invitations yesterday.
"Ash! Ash! I won!"
Ash looked up to see a dirtied but smiling Benjy proudly holding up his Badge. Ash ruffled the small boy's hair and gave his pokemon a pat.
"Good Job Benjy! That's the first step to a long journey ahead. Next gym is the Water Gym in Cerulean City," Ash said. "Its best if you take your time through the Viridian Forest and train. Misty won't take it easy on you."
Benjy nodded and gave Ash a quick hug before leaving. Ash chuckled and turned to Brock.
"That reminds me, I have to go see Misty."
Brock smiled, albeit a bit sadly. "You do that. She's really worried about you."
Ash nodded. "Did she miss me?"
"More than anything in the world."
In the Cerulean City Gym, Misty sighed as she exited the water. Over the years she had grown into a beautiful woman, enough to make even her three older sisters envious. She was truly Cerulean City's mermaid with her beauty and her grace in the water. Yet despite the numerous suitors pining for her affection, Misty only had one person on her mind.
"Hey Misty!"
Misty looked down to see a girl holding a towel for her. She smiled as she took the towel.
"Ruby, what are you still doing here? I thought you got you would be traveling now. You're ten now right?"
The small girl shook her head. "I know but I don't feel ready."
Misty smiled. "I know how you feel. But you'll find a friend out there that you can travel with."
"Ash right? The famous trainer."
Misty reddened. "Who told you?"
"Gym Leader Brock did. He told me that you and Ash were like two peas in a pod," Ruby said. "He also said that you liked Ash."
Misty turned bright red.
"Of course not! Who would like that dunderhead! Always making me worry! Dragging me along for his stupid adventures! Saving me too when I don't need to be! Being so kind to me! Helping me! Making me laugh!"
Ruby smiled carelessly. "Brock said that if you were bright red and ranted that a clear sign that you do like Ash."
"BROOOOOOOOOCK!"
Misty stomped away to the showers, hoping a hot shower would relax her. As she showered she did not hear someone knocking on the door to the gym. Ruby strode over and opened the door.
"Yes?"
"Is Misty here?"
"Are you here for a Gym Battle?"
"No actually. I'm an old friend of Misty's."
"Oh come on in. She'll be in that room."
Ruby pointed the stranger in the direction of the showers. The stranger smiled and gave her small amount of bills as thanks before heading off to where she pointed.
Misty sighed as she turned the steamy water off and began to dry herself. She wrapped the towel around herself and opened the door to see her long lost friend staring at her. She began to redden and stammer as he raised his hand.
"Hey Misty. I'm back."
"Ash."
