Past is Catching Up with the Present!

Ash entered the Battle Club, holding hands with his fiancée, Misty. He decided to check and see what kind of trainers there were in the Club today so he could get ready for his next gym battle. Iris checked them while Dent was near-by, looking around. Iris gasped at something on the stats there and said, "Ash, you better take a look at this."

This got his attention as he saw the stats of Trip, his newest rival. "Trip's here," Ash asked, surprised. "That guy burns me up," Iris commented, remembering what Ash and Misty had told her about him. Misty started to say, "He reminded me of the way…" "Paul," said Dent. Misty perked up at this and asked, "That's right. How'd you know that?"

Dent pointed at the door and there was Paul, who had just come into the Battle Club. Along with him were his traveling companions of Ranee and Barry. Ash and Misty were both surprised as were Iris and Dent. But the surprise wore off. "Paul," Ash greeted, smiling. Paul looked up and saw Ash, Misty, Iris, and Dent. "Ash," Paul said, surprised.


THEME SONG

It's always hard,

When the journey begins.

Hard to find your way,

Hard to make new friends.

But there's nothing you can't do,

'Cause you've got the power inside of you.

It's not always black and white,

But your heart always knows what's right.

It's not about win or lose, it's the path you choose.

Let the journey begin, Pokémon!


Ash couldn't believe it. Paul was here? The last time he had saw Paul, Barry, and Ranee was back in Cherry Blossom Town when they helped Ranee's cousin, Janette, get over her fear of grass types. "Paul," Ash gushed as the two groups remet each other, "It's great to see you again." "Great to see you too, Ash," Paul responded, with a smile.

"How is your cousin doing, Ranee," Misty asked, curious. "Well," Ranee answered, "After we helped her out, she actually decided to become a trainer. But not just a normal trainer. She wants to be a grass type master." "A grass type master," everyone repeated, in a surprised unison. "Pika," Pikachu added, also surprised.

"Yeah," Barry added, "Janette is going to be the best grass type master we know. Otherwise, I'm going to fine her!" "As usual," Ash quipped, while sweat dropping. Everyone laughed at this as a voice said, "Well, if it isn't Ash." Ash spun around, knowing that voice. Trip was standing there. It looked like he had just gotten there.

"Trip," Ash greeted, coldly. "Pika," added Pikachu. Trip turned from him and saw that Paul was standing there. "Aren't you Paul Shinji from Veilstone City," Trip asked. "That's me," Paul answered. Paul then asked, "And just who are you?" "I'll tell you in a battle," Trip challenged, coldly. Paul was just about to accept Trip's challenge when...

"Hold on," Ash said, "I want a rematch from last time, Trip." "Well, I would really like to battle Paul first," Trip told Ash, rather rudely. Paul snarled at this as Ranee put her hand on Paul's left hand shoulder, soothingly. Ranee started to advise, "Take it easy, Paul. You know if you get too mad..." "I know," Paul responded, calming down.

"Besides, this guy ain't worth it," Barry added, "Let Ash, Ranee, or me take him on." Ranee started to say, "Barry, I ain't too worried about you but if you keep flapping your mouth..." Trip perked up and said, "Hold on. Aren't you two Ranee Katina and Barry Jun?" "That's me," Barry said, proudly, "I guess you saw me in the Sinnoh League."

"Yeah and saw you make a fool of yourself," Trip said, coldly. "Say that to my face," Barry yelled as Ranee and Paul held him back. Ash, Pikachu, Misty, Iris, and Dent all sweat dropped at this as Trip added, to Ranee, "And you could've won the whole thing but you let yourself be trounced on by a second rate trainer like Ash here."

Unlike Barry, Ranee didn't have a short fuse. But Paul did. "Say that again and you'll be sorry that you challenged me," Paul snapped. "Paul," Ranee said, soothingly, "Please." Paul did his best to calm down but everyone saw that he was hissing at Trip. Ranee turned to Trip and asked, politely, "Might I ask how you knew all of that?"

Trip answered, "I recently saw a rebroadcast of the Sinnoh League. I must say that I'm impressed that you all made it that far. Barry was in the Top 16, Paul was in the Top 7, you as runner up, and Ash was the victor." "Wait," Iris said, "The same Ash that stands here before us?" "The same," Trip answered, while nodding.

"What a different taste," Dent exclaimed. Trip added, "But then again, you aren't that tough of a trainer. After all, you lost to me." Ash was getting hot under the collar. Misty saw this and advised, "Take it easy, Ash." But Ash didn't listen. "If you're going to insult us both, why don't you battle us both," Ash told Trip, hotheaded.

"That sounds rather interesting," Trip said. Trip asked, turning to Paul, "Are you okay with that?" "You bet," Paul answered. Trip just shrugged as he walked away. "That guy burns me up," said Iris. "Axew, axew," said Axew, poking out of Iris' hair. "Pika," Pikachu said, in complete agreement with Axew. "I agree with that one, Iris," Misty said.

Paul turned to Ranee and asked, "You okay?" "I'm fine," Ranee responded, "I just wish that jerk didn't get to you." "Well, if you ask me," Barry said, "I'm sure that that you two will give him a proper fine." "Such an amazing taste and aroma," Dent commented, "I'm looking forward to this battle."

"Me too," Ash said, turning to his battle partner. Ash asked Paul, "You ready to give Trip a royal pounding?" "You bet Ash," Paul answered, nodding. Later on that day, Don George was the referee for the battle. He announced, "This battle between the team of Ash Ketchum and Paul Shinji versus Trip Shooti will now begin!"

He paused and then told them the rules, "This is a two-on-two battle. The battle will be over once each sides Pokémon are defeated. Now, BEGIN!" Trip sent out a Tranquil and a Frillish. Ash sent out Oshawott as Paul sent out Blitzle. The battle was about to get underway...


Meanwhile, Team Rocket was up to their old tricks yet again. They were at this junkyard and the police had surrounded them. Key word: 'had'. A guy with long dark hair driving a truck saved them from the police which started a police chase.

The guy that had saved them was Pierce, a Team Rocket superior and an agent from the Unova Region. They had passed on their information to Pierce as they escaped from the chase as did Pierce. [AK1028: *jokingly* When on Earth did Team Rocket get good?]


Back with the battle, Ash and Paul were holding their own against Trip but Trip was WAY too good, not to mention strong. Eventually, both Blitzle and Oshawott went down and out by the strength of their opponents. "Oshawott and Blitzle are unable to battle," Don George announced, "Tranquill and Frillish are the winners!"

Paul and Ash went over to their fallen Pokémon. Trip recalled his after thanking them and just up and left. Misty, Pikachu, Iris, Dent, Ranee, and Barry all came over. Iris commented, "Well, that didn't go over too well." "He's going to be hard to beat," Dent said. "Well," Ash vowed, "I will beat him. You can count on it!"


Announcer: After Paul and Ash both lose to Trip, they start to realize how stronger of a trainer he is as we continue onwards to Nacrene City and Ash's second badge...


AK1028: I apologize for the delay but I hope the wait was worth it! I'll try and update again real soon! I promise! Anyways; review please! And think outside of the box!