I do not own Pokémon
Pokémon rights belong strictly to the owners

Author note: This story takes place while Ash is in the Sinnoh Region.

I didn't go to school the next morning. Professor Oak had told them that I wouldn't be back. When they asked how long I was expected to be out of school, Professor Oak had tried to explain it a few times before finally saying she will no longer be attending the school. That is when the school finally got it through their heads. I stayed outside most of the time, letting my Pokémon out of their pokéballs and let them wonder around. I had lost track of time because the next thing I knew, Tracey had come to tell me it was time they were to head for Delia's house. I called back my Pokémon. I picked up Eevee while Squirtle climbed up onto my shoulder. Professor Oak, Tracey and I walked to Delia's house and we had arrived before Ash, Brock and Dawn did. Misty was there when we arrived. Misty is the Cerulean Gym Leader and her specialty is water Pokémon. She wasn't gym leader when I went to the gym to earn my second badge, which was really just given to me. That's because, at the time, she was traveling with Ash and Brock. During that time, her sisters ran the gym. However, I did go back to the Cerulean Gym when I found out Misty was now running the gym. I didn't feel like I was challenged against her sister, so I battled, and won, against Misty, winning the badge the way a trainer was supposed to.

Tracey and Misty started talking right away. They met while traveling and that was around the time Tracey joined Ash and Misty. Professor Oak and Delia were in the kitchen, quietly talking. No doubt they were talking about me. I took the advantage to head out to the back. I let my Pokémon out and sat down. Squirtle got off my shoulder, but wouldn't leave my side. Eevee stayed in my lap and Vulpix joined her. Ponyta, and Swellow did the own little thing. I decided that Charizard would stay in the pokéball for a while. I heard people up front and wondered if it was Ash and his friends.

"Ash!" I heard Delia's voice. Yep, defiantly Ash.

"Hi Mom." I heard Ash's voice. "Long time no see Professor."

"It's good to see you too Ash."

"This is my new friend Dawn." Ash said. "Dawn, this is my mom, my friends, Tracey and Misty, and Professor Oak."

"It's nice to meet all of you." I heard a voice, guessing it to be Dawn.

"Come inside, supper is still cooking, but it shouldn't be too long now." Delia said. I heard the door shut and the outdoors were quiet again. I moved away from the tree I was sitting against and laid in the grass next to Squirtle. Eevee and Vulpix climbed in the grass and laid down next to me. I stared at the sky.

"Ari?" There was only one person who would call me Ari. Ash. I sat up. There stood Ash, defiantly different from the last time I saw him. Pikachu was riding on his shoulder. "I was told you were here." Ash sat down next to me, making Squirtle move to the other side. Pikachu got off of Ash's shoulder and soon started to talk to Squirtle. "I should have guessed you would be out here."

"Well, I'm not that much different from the last time we saw each other." I stated. "Which was quite some time ago." I looked at Ash. "I'm surprised you remembered my nickname."

"I gave you that nickname."

"And Gary did not like it." Gary wasn't a big fan of Ash and never liked the fact that we were best friends. Even though Gary has a little sister, May, Gary thought he had to protect me too. As for cousins, Gary and I were pretty close, but Ash and I were closer.

"Gary didn't like me." Ash pointed out. "We were rivals."

"Were?"

"We're still rivals, but we are friendly rivals."

"Sure." I said with a smile. I looked at Squirtle and Pikachu. Eevee approached Pikachu with caution and Vulpix followed suit. Ash and I sat there watching our Pokémon for a while before Ash spoke again.

"I heard about your dad." Ash finally said. I was waiting for him to say that. "Are you ok?"

"Why must everyone ask me that?" I asked, looking at Ash, quite annoyed. "Why would I be ok after my father's death?" I looked at my Pokémon. "It's not like I wasn't close to him or anything." I added sarcastically. Ash looked at me, his mouth gaped opened.

"Uh…" Ash said slowly. "How's Charizard?" Ash asked quickly diverting the conversation to Charizard. I looked at Ash.

"Not good." I stated simply. "He hasn't been himself lately."

"Well, maybe Pikachu will talk to him." Ash said, looking at Pikachu. "Won't you Pikachu?" Pikachu looked at Ash and nodded.

"Pika." I grabbed Charizard's pokéball and called him out. Charizard came out of his pokéball and Pikachu walked over to him. The two Pokémon were talking. Ash and I were quiet again. We didn't say anything until Brock, Misty, Tracey and Dawn came outside.

"Found him." I heard Misty say.

"Oh, hey guys." Ash said. "Just sitting out here talking to Ari."

"Ari?" The girl, I'm guessing to be Dawn, said. I stood up.

"Arianna." I said, offering my hand. "Ash is the only one aloud to call me Ari."

"Dawn." Dawn grabbed my hand and shook it. "And this is my Piplup."

"Piplup." Piplup greeted me.

"Squirtle, Eevee, Vulpix, Ponyta and Swellow are my Pokémon." I said, gesturing to them. "Charizard belonged to my dad." I added slowly. Tracey looked at me concerned and I ignored it. Piplup jumped out of Dawn's arms and walked up to my Squirtle.

"Pip. Piplup." I grabbed my Pokédex and opened it up, scanning Piplup.

"Piplup, the Penguin Pokémon. Although not the most sure-footed, it is proud nonetheless, getting right back up after a fall with head held high."

"Squirtle. Squirtle. Squirt." I smiled as our Pokémon bonded and turned when Misty addressed me.

"I remember you." Misty said.

"Huh?" Ash said looking at Misty.

"Arianna, that name sounds familiar." Brock added. Ash looked at Brock.

"Maybe because she was in the Indigo Plateau Conference." Ash stated.

"Yeah, I versed you when you were leader of the Pewter City Gym." Arianna stated to Brock, ignoring Ash. "I barely beat you using my Squirtle, Pidgey and Oddish."

"It was your Squirtle that won the battle." Brock stated. "With the nice combination of withdraw and Water gun."

"I've improved that move." I smiled.

"Wait…you battled Brock at the Pewter City Gym?" Ash asked me, obviously confused about it. "You beat him before me?"

"Yeah." I said simply. "I was lucky enough to have a head start that morning after getting Squirtle. I even headed out before Gary did."

"So Misty, how did you meet Arianna?" Dawn asked Misty.

"She came in after I became leader of the Cerulean City Gym." Misty stated. Ash was more confused than before.

"But you were in the Indigo Plateau Conference." Ash stated. I nodded.

"Yeah, I made it in the Top 16 with you, remember?"

"Then why?"

"Let her finish." Dawn interrupted Ash.

"At first, I didn't recognize her, but I did when she introduced herself. That is when I remembered her from the Indigo Plateau Conference." Misty explained. "She handed me her badge and demanded that she really earn this badge." Ash looked at me, still confused.

"I didn't feel challenged against Misty's sisters, almost like they weren't trying." I told him. "I didn't feel right, so when I found out that Misty was taking over, I hurried over to the Cerulean Gym and demanded a battle from Misty."

"We battled and she earned her badge the way she wanted too." Misty stated. "I told her that I watched her battle in the Indigo Plateau, but she said it didn't matter."

"So, do you still have Primeape, Gloom, Pidgeot, Raticate, Butterfree, Beedrill, Nidarina, Marowak, and Poliwhirl?" Ash asked.

"Primeape, Pidgeot, Raticate, Butterfree, Beedrill and Marowak I do still have and they are staying at the lab. And it's Bellossom, Nidaqueen, and Poliwrath now."

"It'll be time to eat soon; I'm going to go see if your mom needs help." Misty said, heading back inside.

"You guys don't have to stay out here with me, I'll be fine." I told Ash, Tracey, Dawn and Brock. "Really, I will be."

"Ari…"

"Don't let us interrupt your fun." I stopped and looked at Ash, Brock, Dawn and Tracey.

"Team Rocket?" I asked casually. Ash nodded. I turned around to face the direction the voice came from.

"Prepare for Trouble, you know you should." Jessie said, walking out from behind a bush.

"And make it Double, you know we could." James followed suit.

"Just stop right there." I said quickly.

"Don't interrupt us little girl." Jessie said quickly. "We weren't finished with our motto."

"You must be really brave if you are willing to take on, not only me, but them as well." I stated, gesturing to Ash, Dawn, Brock and Tracey.

"The twerps know the girl." James said, sounding surprised.

"We can take'em." Meowth told the two rockets.

"Can you really?" I said. Squirtle, Pikachu and Piplup stood next to each other, ready to battle. Brock and Tracey each sent out a Pokémon. Scyther and Croagunk joined the other five Pokémon

"Oh, come on!" Jessie said. "Just tell us where your fathers prize Pokémon is and we will leave."

"I don't know and, like I said before, if I knew, I would never tell you." I stated strongly. "Squirtle, use Rapid Spin."

"Pikachu, Thunder Bolt."

"Piplup, Bubble beam."

"Scyther, Razor Wind."

"Croagunk, Poison Jab." Together, the five Pokémon used their attack to send Team Rocket away.

"This isn't over!" Jessie yelled before they soared away.

"Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

"Wobbuffet."

Ok, so its a twist to Pokémon. It's weird, but I am enjoying writing this story.

Review and let me know what you think!

Oh, quick side note, school started, August 27th. And I have like 4 ed courses with 40 hours of in class placement. Right now I'm in two choirs, a science class, have meetings every Tuesdays and i'm helping out on a Blackbox Play. I'll find out whats going on with my job Friday. I'm letting you know this because I am going to be busy, but i'm still writing.