Three days later Ash and Serena are both at the Pewter City Gym, Serena was leaning against the wall with Jove sitting on her lap while she watches Ash fight his first gym battle. Brock explains that it was a two on two elimination with only the challenger able to make substitutions. Brock summons Geodude first and Ash summons Pidgeotto out, the ref begins the battle, " Geodude, Roll Out. "

" Pidgeotto, dodge it and then use Quick Attack into Aerial Ace. " Ash calls out.

Geodude goes flying at this combination from Ash, " Now, use Whirlwind on Geodude! "

" Defense Curl. " Brock orders.

Ash pauses for a brief moment and then he smiles, " Gust into Air Slash! "

Geodude hits the wall and doesn't move, " Geodude is unable to battle, the winner is Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town. "

Brock calls out his Onix and Ash smiles at this, recalling Pidgeotto and summoning Butterfree, " Well, a Butterfree huh? Not good enough, Onix, Bind. "

" Butterfree, counter with Confusion. "

Onix is held back by a blue glow, " Toss Onix and then use Poison Powder. Follow that up with Psy Tackle. "

Onix takes a beating from this, " Stone Edge! "

" Stop it with Confusion and send it back. " Ash counter orders his Butterfree.

" Onix, Harden! "

Onix screeches as the Poison Powder hurts him, " Butterfree, Psy Wave! "

Onix crashes down and roars as he gets up again, " Onix, Rock Tomb! "

" Counter with Psy Wave and Confusion! " Ash snaps off.

Serena and Jove, along with Pikachu watch Ash's battle intensely, " Onix, Earthquake! "

Hey, Onix, ease up, Aura Adept here.

" Oniiiix! ( Sorry, battle!) "

Serena rolls her eyes at this and nudges Ash with her aura. Ash smiles ruefully at this, " Butterfree, Silver Wind! "

" Counter with Rock Throw. "

" Safeguard. " Ash fires back.

Brock looks at Ash, " You're good, and you've trained that Butterfree well, but this is where I end this. "

" Butterfree, return. Come on back, Pidgeotto. Now, use Steel Wing into Air Slash! " Ash returns and Onix collapses.

" Onix is unable to battle, Ash Ketchem from Pallet Town is the winner. "

Serena stands up as Ash gets his Boulder Badge while Flint, Brock's father returns to take over the gym. Pikachu rejoins Ash and Serena smiles, - Well done, Ash, I knew you could do it.-

Serena was happy that Brock would be joining them on their journey, " So, where are you two headed next? " Brock asks.

- I checked at the contest hall and the next contest is in Vermillion City.- Serena signs.

- When, Serena?-

- In a month from now.-

" Looks like we'll be taking Diglett's Tunnel in order to get you to Vermillion City in time. " Ash says out loud for Brock's benefit.

Brock blinks, " Well, I guess we'd better get going though we should make sure our supplies are still good. "

Ash and Serena both nod at this and they all do an inventory, realizing that they needed to keep an eye on all of their supplies. Serena was running low on her personal hygiene products and zips off to buy more, with hair as long as hers, well, it took a lot to keep it healthy. Ash smiles at this, " What? " Brock asks.

" It's just Serena's hair is really long, it doesn't look like it due to the care she takes each morning with it. Because of this it takes her awhile to actually get it washed and it takes a lot of shampoo, conditioner, and several other products, she has to restock on that a lot more often than we will. " Ash states.

" Why doesn't she just cut it? "

" It'll grow back the morning after just as long, it's part of her genetics, she will cut it every now and then for people to make wigs out of it. " Ash states.

" Oh, I see. " Brock says.

Serena has just finished her purchase when Neal walks up to her, " Well, it's the mute freak, your win yesterday was a fluke. "

Serena glares at him and Jove growls at the human boy, Neal kicks Jove hard and Serena drops to her knees to look at her starter, she releases Viento and orders him to do a Confusion Attack. Neal goes flying and calls out Charmeleon again, Keep your trainer in line, he just kicked Jove for warning him off!

Charmeleon rolls his eyes in exasperation and pulls Neal away, Ash and Brock watch this and then Ash's eyes widen, " Damn, the only reason that would happen is if he went after Serena. "

" Oh, right, Serena can use aura. " Brock says and they go off to find their traveling companion.

Serena looks at Jove and doesn't dare return him to his pokéball, she'd get even by beating Neal in the next contest, " Serena, what happened? "

- Neal got bitchy. I'll deal with him at the next contest. Help me get Jove to the Pokémon Center, I don't want to put him in his pokéball and make him worse.- Serena signs out.

Ash nods at this and Brock got the gist of it and picks the Shinx up gently and they head for the Pokémon Center. Once Jove is healed they set out, heading for Diglett's Tunnel, all three of them catch a Diglett, Serena's getting transported to Professor Oak as she had her limit of six Pokémon. Serena was the first out and she sighs unhappily at the state she was in, Ash, can we not do that again?

" Man, now I know why very few people ever use Diglett's Tunnel, we'll get in to Vermillion City and you can get signed up for the contest, then we can all clean up at the Pokémon Center. " Ash says as he and Brock climb out.

" It was cool to see everything that grows in there though, like all those crystals. " Brock states.

Jove races off to clean up in a stream, Pikachu follows his lead, that way they wouldn't have to go through the ordeal of their trainer's cleaning them today. Jove knew he'd be getting a cleaning before the contest though, all of the Pokémon Serena would be using would be getting cleaned. Serena had also gotten cleaning supplies for her Pokémon as well. The three friends walk on and Serena lets Gusty out to stretch her wings, Ash, could you work with Gusty on her speed, I need to work with Kaze, Triton, and Yudaina.

Ash looks at Serena and gives her a discreet thumbs up. He could do that for her no problem. Imagine their surprise when they run into Gary in Vermillion City, before Gary can start teasing Ash Serena steps forward, places one hand on her hip, and gives Gary the look. It was this look that quelled anyone who pissed her off, it even worked on Neal though its biggest purpose was for keeping Ash and Gary in line, " Hey, Serena, didn't see you there. "

" Serena's here to compete for a ribbon, you can stay and watch her, right, Gare-bear. " Ash says.

Gary groans, for Serena he would, " Besides, Neal may end up being here and he's still an arrogant ass. "

" Him again, hell yeah I'll stay if only to see Serena school him. " Gary says and pulls the coordinator to him for a hug, " So, what Pokémon did you get as a starter, Serena. "

Serena motions to Jove and Gary's eyes widen, " Shinx are native to Sinnoh, you sneak, you had grandpa call one of his breeder friends, didn't you? "

Serena smiles at this, - Maybe, Gare-bear.-

Gary rolls his eyes at this, while he wasn't as proficient in sign language as Ash he knew enough to talk to Serena, " Hey, Gary. "

" Brock, who's in charge of the Pewter City Gym now? " Gary asks as he shakes Brock's hand.

" My father, he let me go on a journey so I could become the best Breeder out there. " Brock says.

Brock could see the rivalry between Ash and Gary and he could also see that Serena was keeping them in their respective corners. Apparently she had ample experience in doing so growing up. " So, heading to the Pokémon Center, Ashy-boy? " Gary asks.

" If you could escort Serena to the contest hall sure. " Ash says.

" No prob, come on, Serena. " Gary says and they walk off.

Once they're out of earshot Brock turns to Ash, " What's the story? "

" Well, Gary and I are fierce rivals, only one person could ever get us to work together and be civil to each other and that's Serena. After she stopped talking we both became super protective over her, that's why I know as long as Serena is here Gary will be sticking around, plus he does want to see her compete in a contest. He sees Serena as a sister. " Ash says.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or Sailor Moon.

Author's Note: There you have it, chapter three, and Brock is now traveling with them. Gary and Ash's rivalry is still there but both of them fear Serena's temper and so they are civil to each other in her presence. Misty may or may not join, yes, they are getting different region Pokémon, but only because said Pokémon have been abandoned or caught up in a storm or something.