Hello to those in the Pokémon Fanfiction world! Forest Dragon Slayer here with the next chapter of this fanfic! How did you like the last chapter? Was it a good start? Thank you to those who favorite/followed this chapter and I hope that number will continue to grow. Also, thank you to the people who voted on my poll to determine the pairing for this fanfic. Even though the number of people was small, I shall use the girl that was voted for the most. Now it's time for the results, drumroll please!

*cricket chirps*

Seriously, nothing? Ah well, I'll just bring Eugene from my Fairy Tail fanfics over here. *Drags Eugene in here*

Eugene: What the heck am I doing here? And what is this strange thing?

Me: It's called a drum, now play it. You play it by hitting the round things.

Eugene: I'll try then. *Plays in a weird fashion while somehow making the drums catch on fire and explode.*

Me: Wow, and I thought it was Natsu's job to destroy stuff. Oh well, thanks for coming Eugene. *throws Eugene back into the Fairy Tail universe*

Sorry folks, I just couldn't resist doing that. Anyway, the girl that shall be paired with Ash shall be Serena! I'll be putting her in this chapter as well as another familiar face that I wanted to add in.

Anyway, please read, review, and enjoy!

I don't own Pokémon obviously. Why do we even need these disclaimers if everyone knows we don't own the series we're writing Fanfiction for? That's the reason why it's called Fanfiction!

"Hey Ash, have you gone to Professor Kalep yet?" Yuji asked as the two trainers left the Pokémon center they stayed at last night. "Since you're probably going to need this region's Pokédex, I thought that might be the best place to stop by next."

"Let's get going then!" Ash said excitedly. "Where's his lab?"

"It's the next town over, Reruta Town. It's about a half an hour walk from here." Yuji replied.

"Okay then, on to Reruta Town!" Ash exclaimed before his stomach growled making Yuji and Pikachu sweat drop. "After we eat breakfast!" Ash added somewhat embarrassed. Yuji just laughed before the three of them set off to find a place to eat. Soon after, they were sitting in a nearby diner digging into some pancakes, hash browns, bacon and scrambled eggs. (Makes you wonder where they get the meat products. I remember Ash wanting to eat cheeseburgers in one episode and Misty actually eating meat in one of the movies.)

"This tastes awesome!" Yuji exclaimed as he continued to chow down on his food. Ash and Pikachu were doing the same. It was then Ash realized something about the food.

"Hey Pikachu, doesn't this food have a familiar feel to it?" Ash asked his yellow Pokémon friend who nodded as the two of them began to ponder about it. Yuji stopped eating for a bit as he noticed his companions thinking.

"What do you mean by that?" Yuji asked curiously.

"It's nothing, it's just that it feels similar to the stuff a friend of mine cooked while we were traveling together. His name's Brock." Ash explained. "Right now he's working hard to be a Pokémon doctor."

"You mean Brock, the former gym leader of Pewter City?" Yuji said recognizing the name. "Man, you keep surprising me. You're even on friendly terms with gym leaders." The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they did not notice somebody walk up to them.

"Well, if it isn't Ash?" The person said gaining the two's attention which then resulted in their shock. There in front of them was the same person they were just talking about, Brock who was holding plates of food trying to serve them to other customers.

"Brock!? What the heck are you doing here!?" Ash exclaimed in surprise. "Weren't you studying to become a Pokémon Doctor?"

"Well, you're looking at Dr. Brock now." Brock replied with triumphant smirk on his face. "I'm finished with my formal training so I decided to go on a trip to test my abilities on the road."

"That doesn't explain why you're working here in a restaurant." Yuji commented.

"Let me guess, it's because of a girl isn't it?" Ash said as he and Pikachu sweat dropped knowing about Brock's inability to resist a cute girl.

"This time, I know she's got the hots for me!" Brock said with excitement.

"That's what you always say." Ash deadpanned.

"By the way, who's he?" Brock asked referring to Yuji.

"The name's Yuji, I've been Ash's traveling companion since yesterday." Yuji replied with a smile as he stuck his hand out. "Nice to meet you Brock." Brock returned the gesture and the two shook hands.

"So Ash, you're going to be traveling through the Orros region this time around right?" Brock asked turning back to him. "I'd love to come with you but alas, I must stay with my love!"

"Brock, thanks for all the help today." A girl said coming out of the kitchen. Brock immediately went googly eyes.

"No problem, Katie!" Brock said love struck. "It was my pleasure!"

"Ah, I have to go, my boyfriend's waiting." Katie said as she took off her apron and started out the door. "Thanks for the help again!" After she left, Brock fell on his knees dejected almost causing the tray of food he was holding to fall if not for Ash and Yuji barely catching them.

"Don't say I didn't tell you so." Ash said already used to Brock being rejected several times. "Don't worry about him too much, this is normal." He said to Yuji who was sort of shocked at the reaction.

"You've got to be at least sort of sorry for him." Yuji said growing more worried as he looked at Brock's face of anguish.

"If I know him, he'll be back on his feet in no time." Ash assured him. Yuji still seemed skeptical about it.

"Well, it looks like I'll be traveling with you two." Brock said regaining his composure to Yuji's surprise. Wow, Ash wasn't kidding about that. Yuji thought in shock as Brock had already gotten his pack. After somehow getting Brock away from the customers still wanting his cooking, the now trio (Or group of four if you count Pikachu) were on their way to Reruta town. Unbeknownst to them, somebody was following them.

"The target is headed your way." The person said into a walkie-talkie. "Approximate time of their arrival to Reruta town is 15 minutes."

"Roger that." A voice replied from the walkie-talkie. "It's almost time to capture target number two and set this plan into motion." The person in the shadows nodded before continuing to tail the trio in silence. Back with the group, they soon arrived at the town of Reruta which had a style that was like a bustling city with a nature feel as well.

"Guys, welcome to my hometown." Yuji said as they entered the town.

"So where's Professor Kalep's lab?" Ash asked looking for the lab as they walked around the town. Brock was currently looking at a map he got back in the last town.

"It's on that small hill next to the docks." Yuji replied pointing towards the said location. "We'll get there faster if we go through the docks instead of taking the path from the main part of town.."

At the docks…

"Where am I now!?" Serena exclaimed as she got off the boat. "I was supposed to arrive in Vermillion City, not wherever this is! I must have gotten on the wrong boat." Serena was planning on surprising Ash with a visit at Pallet town but she had gotten on the wrong boat and ended up in Reruta town. She then sighed and remembered what she wanted to do with Ash when she met up with him. Going on a picnic with him, taking walks on the beach, and more romantic stuff. The teenage girl's face turned red at these thoughts and she shook her head. First things first, I have to confess to him or those things won't happen! She exclaimed mentally.

"Serena, is that you?" Ash said in surprise as his group were walking through the harbor. Serena was just as shocked seeing her crush/childhood friend in the most unlikely of circumstances.

"Ash, it's so good to see you again!" Serena exclaimed as she ran over to the group before giving Ash a hug making Ash blush a little and Brock jealous.

"Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu said from Ash's shoulder happy to see a friend as was Ash.

"It's nice to see you too Serena." Ash said with a smile as they broke away from the hug. "What are you doing here by the way?"

"I was actually planning on visiting you in Kanto." Serena replied. "But I accidentally got on the wrong boat and ended up here. Luckily I found you so at least I won't be alone."

"What are we, chopped liver?" Yuji asked seeing as the two of them were in their own little world. "Are you going to introduce us to your girlfriend already?" This remark caused Ash and Serena to blush in embarrassment.

"She's not my girlfriend!"

"I'm not his girlfriend!" The two shouted at the same time their faces turning red.

"Whatever, hurry up, we have to get to Professor's lab remember?" Yuji said.

"Oh right." Ash said as he remembered their objective.

"Hey Ash, do you mind if I tag along?" Serena asked. "It doesn't seem that I'll be able to get home anytime soon and I don't want to be alone out here."

"Sure, the more the merrier!" Ash replied and the now slightly larger group went off towards the lab. It didn't take too long to get there as they soon arrived at the front door of the building.

"Professor, I'm back!" Yuji said as they entered the lab which was a complete mess.

"Man, this is the messiest lab I've seen." Brock commented looking at the several pieces of trash on the floor. "In fact, I can't believe this place can still pass off as one."

"I leave for two weeks and he already gets the place this dirty." Yuji said with a sigh as he began to rummage what seemed to be a Pokémon healing capsule.. "At the very least, he should've used Mr. Mime." He then took a Pokéball out of the capsule and threw it in the air sending out the Pokémon Mr. Mime who panicked at the mess and began to clean immediately.

"Professor Kalep, are you in here?" Ash shouted into the seemingly empty lab. All of a sudden, they heard something from the couches that sounded like a beast's growl. Serena quickly went behind Ash in fright. The growl then turned into sounds of a struggle as the group saw something caught in one of the blankets and was trying to get out. After some time, a middle aged man with brown hair and a lab coat was finally able to get out from under the covers.

"You pulled another all-nighter again didn't you Professor?" Yuji said with a sigh.

"He's Professor Kalep?" Ash said in surprise.

"Unfortunately" Yuji replied.

"Hey, don't talk down on your elders boy!" Professor Kalep exclaimed. "Anyway, I'm Professor Kalep, a Pokémon researcher dedicated to learn more about Pokémon and I give new trainers of this region their first starter Pokémon."

"Professor, they're not new trainers, Ash here just needs the updated Pokédex for this region." Yuji said looking around the now clean laboratory for the said device.

"Can we see them Professor?" Ash asked curious to see what these Pokémon would be like.

"Certainly, since Mr. Serious is over there still looking for the Pokédexes. I'll call for them now." Professor Kalep said with glee. "Come on out you three!" At the Professor's command, three Pokémon came into the main room. One looked similar to a hedgehog but it was light green with leaves on its back, the second one looked like a kitten that was orange with red stripes on its sides along with a tail that looked like flames. The third one looked like a small blue bird with its main body shaped similarly to a filled water balloon. "Okay everyone, meet Leafhog, Fikit, and Piloon." (Just to say, thinking of the descriptions and the names of these new Pokémon took the most time in the writing process of this chapter.)

"They're so cute!" Serena exclaimed feeling the urge to pet them.

"I found the Pokédex, why don't you try it out on them?" Yuji said coming back to the group and handing the rectangular, half inch thick Pokédex which wasn't much bigger than an I.D. card to Ash. "There's a little sensor at the front, just aim the sensor at the Pokémon and press the blue button." Ash nodded and first pointed it as Leafhog and pushed the button. A holographic image of the Pokémon appeared and the a voice began to come out of the Pokédex to explain about the Pokémon as usual.

Leafhog, the hedgehog Pokémon. Leafhog has several soft leaves on its back which can be hardened when under attack. When hardened, the leaves are sharp enough to cut through some of the toughest wood.

Ash then pointed it at Fikit.

Fikit, the fire kitten Pokémon. Fikit likes to raise its fur that can heat up to 100 degrees to make itself look bigger to scare off enemies. It is very agile and likes to use its speed to its advantage.

Ash lastly pointed it at Piloon.

Piloon, the water balloon Pokémon. Piloon can store a large amount of water in its squishy body which it uses to bounce around to make up for its inability to fly with its tiny wings.

"They're all fascinating Pokémon." Brock commented.

"And so cute too!" Serena exclaimed who couldn't resist petting them. "I think any trainer would be lucky to have them." As the group continued to talk about the new Pokémon in the room, they failed to notice people surrounding them.

"You know your target, now start the mission." A man said to rows of uniformed people before they replied with a yes sir and charged in. Inside the lab, the power suddenly went out.

"Was that a power outage?" Brock asked with concern as nobody could see clearly.

"No, if that was the case, the emergency solar powered lights would come on." Professor Kalep said. "The power has been cut directly."

"The Pokéballs are being jammed too." Yuji said as he had earlier attempted to send out a Pokémon to help with their light situation.

"Ash, what do we do?" Serena asked beginning to cling to the said boy.

"I'm sure we'll be fine." Ash said reassuringly. Almost right after saying that, they heard a crash and the group was taken by surprise and a smoke began blasting in making them fall unconscious. After a bit, they woke up seemingly fine.

"What was that?" Yuji asked as he rubbed his head.

"It doesn't seem they took the Pokémon." Brock said checking up on Leafhog, Fikit, and Piloon who had hidden underneath a blanket.

"Serena's gone!" Ash exclaimed to everyone's shock.

Sorry to leave you at a cliff hanger but I wanted to give you readers a chapter as soon as possible. I will show Serena's rescue in the next chapter as well as introduce some more new Pokémon that I've made up for this region. By the way, if you have any comments, suggestions or a made up Pokémon you want to put in yourself, just put it on a review or PM me. This is Forest Dragon Slayer signing off for now! And happy holidays if I don't get a chapter written by then.