A/N: Hi everyone...sorry this chap took sooo long to get out but I been busy. If anyone is still reading...then enjoy if not...whatever. Oh yeah, so everyone knows speach in italics is pokemon speach. I did it this way to make it a bit easier for everyone to read.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon
Brrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnggggg! Ash Ketchum slowly opened his eyes at the sound of his alarm clock going off. Reaching up, he hit the top of it silencing it immediately. Yawning, he got out of bed and stretched before walking over to his closet and changing into his usual attire. It had been the same routine for the last few months since he came home victorious from the battle frontier. Get up, get breakfast, and then head over to Prof. Oak's laboratory to help Tracy take care of all the different pokemon. It wasn't that he minded helping the professor and Tracy, in fact, he really enjoyed it. However, it wasn't in Ash's nature to stay in one place for very long and he was starting to get restless. As he approached the lab, he saw a familiar car parked out front. It belonged to Prof. Birch, and if he was here chances were good that he had brought May and Max with him. Upon entering he was immediatly knocked to the floor by an overexcited Bayleef.
"Hahahah! It's good to see you too Bayleef, but would you mind letting me up?"
Bayleef moved back to allow Ash to get back up before dashing to the back door to inform the professor of Ash's arrival. Less than a minute later the professor came into the lab followed by Prof. Birch, May and Max.
"Ah Ash. Just the trainer I wanted to see." Oak said with a smile.
"Hey Professors, May, Max. Why did you want to see me professor?"
"Well Ash, I recently received a letter from my colleague Professor Nanakamado over in the Shinou region. It turns out that he needs a trainer to take care of a mysterious new pokemon he found. Naturally I thought this would be a perfect chance for you to get some more training in as well as experience new pokemon and a whole new region instead of being stuck here."
Ash's smile split into a huge grin. "Do you mean it Professor? I really get to go explore a new region with new pokemon and maybe even gyms?"
Both professors laughed. "That's right Ash. The Shinou region has eight new gyms for you to challenge too. May wants to accompany you because as it turns out, this region also has pokemon contests and she is dying to start competing again. Of course if May goes, Max will also be going with you." Birch explained.
May squealed with delight. "Ooohh! Let's get going as soon as possible Ash! I can't wait to start competing in contests again!"
"That's been all she can talk about for three weeks Ash. In fact, May and I came here ready to leave on the journey." Max said.
"Alright! Let's get going then!" Ash declared. "But first I gotta stop by my house to let Mom know I'm leaving again. Hey Pikachu!" He called.
"Right here Ash!" Pikachu called back as he jumped onto Ash's shoulder.
Ash quickly ran out the lab and back to his house. "Mom! I have some great news!"
"What is it Ash?" She asked looking up from her cleaning.
"I'm going on a new journey to the Shinou region with my friends!"
"Oh that's wonderful! It also reminds me that you got a letter from Misty today. She wants you to visit her at the Cerulean Gym."
"Awesome! Maybe she will want to come along too! Mom, sorry to make this so short, but I really wanna get going!" Ash said as he jumped up and dashed out the door only to run in to Prof. Oak.
"Oof. Oh there you are Ash. You ran out of my lab so quickly you forgot to take your updated pokedex. Also, were there any pokemon you wanted to take along with you on this journey?"
Ash thought for a minute. "Can I have my Sceptile, Professor?"
"Certainly." Oak said as he handed over a pokeball and pokedex to Ash.
"I only want one other but he isn't at your lab Professor. So, let's go to Cerulean!"
Suddenly a deafening roar was heard from overhead and a large orange dragon landed right in front of Ash and co.
"Charizard! You came back! Does that mean you're done with your training?" He asked while giving the pokemon a hug.
"That's right. I finished training and now I'm back to help you in your travels."
Ash smiled. "Thanks Charizard. Now, return!" Ash held a pokeball up and returned Charizard to it before rushing off towards Cerulean city to meet Misty.
A few hours later, they finally arrived at the gym accompanied by Brock who jumped at the chance to improve his pokemon breeding skills.
Entering the gym, Ash and Brock instantly noticed a difference. It seemed somehow more calm and elegant than the last time they were there. The battle arena was different too. It had been modified for all the different water pokemon that Misty kept there. Inside the arena, Ash and Brock were greeted by two familiar faces. The first was Misty who waved to them before diving into the water to swim over to properly greet them. The second was Sakura, a young girl whom Ash, Misty, and Brock had met during their travels in the Johto region. She ran over to the group as eager to greet them as Misty was.
Sakura was the first to get to them. "Ash! Brock! How are you two and who are your friends?"
"We're fine." They both answered.
"I'm May. It's nice to meet you." She said shaking Sakura's hand.
"My name is Max." He said as Sakura took his hand.
"How about you Sakura?" Ash asked. "How are you and Eevee?"
"We're great! C'mon out Espeon!" She called throwing her pokeball. A lavender cat-like pokemon came out of the ball.
"Oh wow!" May exclaimed pointing her pokedex at Espeon.
"Espeon, the sun pokemon. By reading air currents, it can predict things such as weather or its foe's next move."
Misty had finally made it to the group and wrapped them all in a hug. "It's so nice to see you all again. Do you guys like what I did with the gym?"
The group nodded.
"I wanted you all here so I could announce that I have officially taken over as leader of the Cerulean Gym!" She said proudly.
"Thats awesome Misty!" Ash exclaimed.
"Yeah, I knew you would make it." Brock smiled.
"Thats so cool." May and Max said.
Misty looked at Ash. "It looks like you're getting ready to go on another journey Ash."
"Yeah, I'm headed for Shinou this time."
At these words Sakura got a serious look on her face. "Hey Ash, would it be alright if I came along with you on your journey this time?" She asked.
"It's fine by me. I think it would be nice to have another traveling companion."
"Yeah, it would be nice to have another girl to talk to for a change." May chimed in.
Brock and Max just nodded their agreement.
"Yahoo! At last I get to go on a journey with my friends!" Sakura exclaimed as she began dancing around.
"Misty, it was good to see you again, but we gotta get going now." Ash said.
She nodded and gave everyone one last hug before they turned to leave. "Hey Ash! Think you can bring back some water pokemon from Shinou for me?"
Ash turned around and gave her the thumbs up when something unusual happened. The air above the water battle field literally opened up and a girl about Ash's age dressed in pink and white and a cat with gloves fell out and began plummeting towards the water.
"Charizard! Catch those two!" He called as he threw his pokeball. Charizard appeared from the ball, zoomed over, caught the strange girl and her cat, and brought them back to Ash.
"Great job Charizard. Return."
There was something strange about this girl. Ash could feel it. He wanted to know more. "Misty, I think we need to get these two into a bed or something."
"Yeah, I agree, but what about your journey?"
"This girl is hurt. Plus there is something weird about her and I want to talk to her when she wakes up. So for now my journey will wait a few days."
