Ash Ketchum stared at the Kanto-Johto map laid down on the rocky terrain. The Pokemon Trainer suspected that the Viridian Gym had some information about past whereabouts of Team Rocket. Since Giovanni once ran the building, it would make sense that some of the Pokemon Gang's old records would be kept there. Even though the Gym could've been thoroughly cleaned of any apparent evidence, Ash was sure that he could find something useful.
But first, he had to get past the Gym Leader (whoever he or she was) without any suspicion. It would be extremely awkward to knock on the front door of the building and say: 'Hi, I'm just here to check your Gym for any signs of gang activity."
He could just pretend to be Red again and battle before asking for clues (which honestly seemed like the better option). Either way, there was a rumor circulating around that the Team Rocket Headquarters was somewhere in the Johto Mountain Range. He just had to search for it.
The Trainer spotted his Fire and Flying-Type sitting down at the edge of a nearby cliff, gazing pensively at the shadows of other mountains cast by the morning sunrise.
"What's going on, Charizard?" Ash asked.
The Flame Pokemon didn't look away from the sky.
"C'mon, you can tell me. I'm your Trainer."
The Fire-Type tensed up a little, then sighed.
"Charla," he whispered. "I've been gone for so long. She must be worried."
Ash, not having much experience with love, was speechless for a second, and silence filled the air. Team Rocket was important, but the well-being and happiness of his Pokemon always came first. And Charizard was both a fierce battler and a great friend. The teen cared about him.
"Here," the Trainer suggested. "Why don't I give you a break? We'll be fine, I promise. Go visit Charla, and don't forget to train with the other Charizard. Work on trying to heat up your flame to different levels. A blue fire would be nice. After ten days, meet us here and we can continue finding Team Rocket."
With a grateful expression, the Fire-Type shot a Flamethrower at his beloved Trainer in happiness, gave a goodbye to the rest of the team, and promptly flew off with a roar of excitement.
Ash turned to his other Pokemon. "For the rest of us, it's training for another day before we head to Viridian tomorrow."
Misty and Brock walked out of the Pokemon Association Conference together.
"You know," the Water-Type Trainer spoke, "it's sad to think that Viridian City's Gym is going to close unless we get a new Gym Leader. I thought Ash might be able to do it, but looks like he's off on another adventure again, huh."
"Yeah. Maybe another one of our friends can do it instead," Brock replied, enjoying the view of the massive skyscrapers and roads teeming with people and cars that symbolized Goldenrod City, where the Pokemon Association Headquarters of Kanto and Johto were positioned.
"Since the Yas and Kaz Gyms closed down, again, they're not getting a third chance, especially after another petty argument divided them. Seriously, they finally get together after so long, and then they just blow the entire city up!" Misty exclaimed, annoyance written on her face.
The former Rock-Type Gym Leader nodded. "And that leaves us with only seven Gyms. They shut down that one around the Route 5-6-7 area, remember? Something about how it wasn't located in an actual city..."
"Exactly! What kind of region has only seven Gyms?! We should have at least nine by now!"
"Forrest said that they have a Gym Leader Test tomorrow. Anyone can join, right?" Brock asked. Because he had relinquished his position in the Pewter Gym, he hadn't attended the conference and was only in Goldenrod to support and help out his brother Forrest, who was still inside the building.
The Water-Type Gym Leader's face suddenly lit up.
"Hey, Brock?"
"Yeah?"
"Since Ash isn't here, why don't we get Gary to become the Gym Leader?" Misty asked.
"That's...actually a pretty good idea."
Gary was in Fuchsia City when Misty called with the news.
"You want me to do...what?!" he yelled into the phone, unaware of the Water-Type Trainer on the other side of the line whose eardrums were breaking.
The Pokemon Researcher paused for a moment, soaking the information in, before looking down at his Umbreon, who was as confused as the Nurse Joy he was standing near to. Misty explained something else, and the Trainer couldn't help but feel a little excited.
"Sure then, if it means I can do my research there."
Umbreon's Trainer ended the connection and patted the Dark-Type on the head.
"I think we may have a new adventure," Gary announced, smirking slightly.
Ash's Pokemon crew spent the entire day in pairs of two, trying to teach each other moves, or how to perfect the ones they already know. From afar, the Trainer tried to focus his Aura into a beam in order to smash a nearby boulder.
Pidgeot insisted on teaching everyone Aerial Ace, and Pikachu thought Iron Tail would be easy to learn, even though none of the other Pokemon were Steel-Types. Gible tried to teach everyone Dragon Pulse, which had three forms depending on the way it's fired (Ash had insisted on teaching the 'green orb' version before the 'orange flames' or the 'energy dragon'), and Sceptile tried teaching variations of Leaf Blade depending on the Type of energy inside the blade.
Eevee was just glad to learn some new moves.
"Gary Oak! Send out your first Pokemon!"
The Researcher looked at his opponent, a Marowak, and smirked. "Go, Dodrio!" He called.
"Dri, dri drio! Do-drio!"
"Maro! Maro-wak!"
Gary remembered back when he was an arrogant little eleven-year-old who drove a convertible filled with his own personal cheerleaders. It made him chuckle aloud as the Ground-Type growled at the Trainer. It had to take a Trainer named Melissa, and her Golem destroying his Nidoking, to knock some sense into him. Since then, things changed. Ash was an Indigo Plateau Champion now. Gary was on the verge of being the youngest Pokemon Professor in the world.
"Bring it on, Marowak! Show him your best!" a young boy in the small crowd of spectators screamed.
"Maro!"
Gary also remembered the time Ash narrowly defeated him with his Charizard.
Speaking of Ash, where was he?
"Dodrio! Drill Peck!"
Misty and Brock were in the stands, watching Gary's performance. To their right, a young girl with dark skin and extravagant, black hair sat with her Axew, playing with some folds of her loose clothing.
"So this is the Pokemon Gym Leader Test that Clair has been talking about. It's too bad the Viridian City Gym has been down for so long. I heard the Yas and Kaz Gyms were up for the 8th Gym for a while, but I guess they couldn't get along, huh Axew?"
"Ax-ew!"
Iris looked around excitedly at some of the other Gym Leaders around the area. Soon, she wanted to join them as well.
'But that's only if the Pokemon Association allows me,' the Dragon-Type Trainer thought, but shook the predicament from her mind, turning instead to Gary Oak, the young Trainer who was up against the Marowak in front of him.
"He's from Pallet Town, right?" Iris whispered to Axew. "Isn't that Ash's hometown too?"
"Ew. Ax-ew."
Misty turned around. She thought she heard the word 'Ash,' but after seeing only excited Gary Oak fans, Gym Leaders, and other Trainers she didn't recognize, brushed it off. She didn't recognize anyone nearby.
"Thank you so much," Gary smiled, shaking hands with a man in an expensive, black suit. "It would be an honor to take the position of Viridian City's Gym Leader. I promise to serve well."
From the stands, Misty relaxed, turning to Brock. "I knew he could do it. Jeez, Pallet Town Trainers know how to be productive…"
Ash sat on in a small stone, thinking.
"Ash?" Eevee walked up to him.
"It's nothing, Eevee. I just realized that I forgot to call a friend to tell her that I was alive. No worries, though. I'm sure Brock has it covered."
Pikachu chose that time to walk in.
"Nah, Brock's never got it," the rodent stated the obvious, doubting his Trainer's old traveling companion. "Plus, you told him to keep it a secret."
"Whatever…"
Three Pokemon Coordinators were watching the news at a Pokemon Center nearby.
"That was pretty impressive," May marveled.
"We should go congratulate Gary," Dawn decided.
"You know him?" Drew asked.
It was the Sinnoh-native Coordinator's turn to be confused. "Wait," she said with a look of realization on her face. "You've never met Gary?! He was Ash's rival back in Kanto! I think they've made up to be friends now, though. But Gary Oak is the grandson of Professor Oak of Pallet Town, and makes the cutest poem rhymes! He's also going to be the youngest Pokemon Professor, like ever, soon!"
May thought of Ash's adventures, and decided that this would be a story for another time (although she admitted that he did sound pretty cool). "Wow. Ash doesn't talk about his other travels much, huh."
"Yeah," Dawn agreed. "I had to meet Gary to figure out who he was."
"Really? Wait, if that's the case...have you met Misty?"
"Who?"
Eevee noticed Pidgeot staring at her from a distance during dinner. She was sitting by Sceptile and listening to the Grass-Type's wise words about the difference between Shakespearean and Old English dialects. The Normal-Type didn't understand half of Sceptile's muttering with the twig in his mouth, but it was obvious that the Forest Pokemon was just complaining about Gallade's apparent accent and how it shouldn't be possible because it wasn't even correct.
The Evolution Pokemon tried to ignore the feeling of keen eyes watching her, but found that she couldn't, and excused herself from the conversation, even at a silent plea from Gible for her to stay.
"Uh...hi, Pidgeot," Eevee greeted the Flying-Type.
"Hello, Eevee."
The Normal-Type took in a deep breath. "I, uh, saw you from—"
"Oh. Sorry, I was just staring off into space," the Bird Pokemon apologized. "Didn't notice you."
It was a blatant lie, but Eevee decided to go along with it. "Ummm, so—"
"You know, I've been wondering," Pidgeot suddenly interrupted. "Ash has never caught an Eevee, despite how popular they are among Trainers."
"And?"
The Flying-Type shrugged. "He sees something special in you. My Trainer—Ash, that is— thinks that the frailest and most feeble Pokemon are the ones that have the will to become stronger."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it. Pikachu as a species are weak Pokemon. Charizard was abandoned by his Trainer for being weak. Sceptile had lost his home when Ash caught him. Even I," the Flying-Type gestured at herself, "was just a regular, weak Pidgey that Trainers don't take a second glance at. And I've only heard stories of his Goodra and Greninja."
"Really?"
The Eevee turned around and realized that Pidgeot had swiftly moved over to Sceptile and Gible, who were engaged in a fierce staring contest. How did she get over there so quickly and silently?
She shrugged, and walked over to watch Pikachu's training session.
Gary and his Pokemon were sweeping the Viridian City Gym's cobweb-ridden floor, trying not to cough at the dust flying everywhere.
"Seriously," the Pokemon Researcher grumbled, "the Gym opens tomorrow, and they expect me to get all this done today?!"
A repetitive knocking was suddenly heard from the front door.
Reluctantly, the teen opened it to find a familiar face waving, followed by a two people he had never seen in his life.
"Hey Gary," Dawn greeted excitedly. "This is May and Drew from Hoenn, and we're here to congratulate you!"
The newly-appointed Gym Leader held out a hand, and Drew shook it, followed by May. "Uh, hi."
"Congrats," May smiled.
Gary looked down at the broom in his hands, and at Umbreon shaking cobwebs from its fur and wheezing.
"Actually," the Researcher gave a sheepish smile, "would you guys like to help me with something?"
"So you and Ash go back a long way, right?" May questioned.
"Yup. I could probably tell you all the stupid things he did back then, but I think I'll let him keep his dignity," Gary joked. "So, how are you enjoying Kanto? You said you've been here before, right?"
"Yeah, Kanto's a nice place. And I enjoy the traveling too," the Pokemon Coordinator replied.
"Cool. Uh, by the way, do you know where Ash is?"
May shook her head. "No. Haven't really heard from him in a while, actually. Not since the last Indigo Plateau Pokemon League. Did something happen?"
"Well, he took some of his old Pokemon to travel and forgot to tell the rest of us where he was going and hasn't been seen since then. Brock mentioned that he showed up at his Gym, but didn't say anything else. Seriously, there hasn't been a single thing in the news about him. Usually, he would be helping everyone he meets with their little problems, you know?"
May tilted her head, thinking. "That is a problem. But I think that for now, we can just appreciate that Ash isn't dead. He has jumped in front of enough Pokemon attacks for us to know that he should be immune to them all." She smiled at her own joke.
"I guess so," Gary spoke up, chuckling a little. "But you can't help but remember his luck. You know he has died before, right?"
"..."
The next day, Ash explained the plan to his Pokemon.
"I think I'll use Eevee in case we have to battle the Gym Leader because she isn't registered in any Pokemon League under my name. Pikachu will have to go in the bag though-"
"Ash?"
The Trainer turned around to glance at the Pokemon who spoke. "Yes, Eevee?"
There was a shy response. "I think I'm ready."
"For what?"
Eevee, looking a little nervous, strolled up to where Ash was sitting. She turned to the rest of the Pokemon and promptly turned into an Umbreon through a flash of blue light.
"I can turn into my evolutionary forms," the now Moonlight Pokemon walked around, trying to sound confident.
She glanced around, expecting shocked reactions, but most of the Pokemon were either underwhelmed or already expecting it. Gible was a bit surprised but didn't say a word. He was already used to Ash's load of unusual adventures, and a special Eevee wasn't much compared to Team Galactic and their plans. The Dragon-Type had already met a couple of Legendaries that Ash had encountered. Pidgeot, on the other hand, hadn't been with Ash for more than the Lugia and Mewtwo incident, but Gallade had made her realize that her Trainer got into a lot more adventures than he used to back when she traveled with him.
"Thanks for sharing," the Bird Pokemon cooed, and the newly transformed Umbreon dashed over to her affectionately.
"I'm not trying to be rude or anything," Sceptile spoke up, "but what do we call you? If you constantly turn into your evolved forms, we're not going to call you 'Eevee,' and 'Flareon' a second later. Gallade actually preferred one of his forms, and-"
"Vivi."
"What?" the Grass-Type asked after not hearing the earlier response.
"Call me Vivi. Like Vivian without the 'an,' part" the Umbreon spoke as boldly as she could. "That's what my other Eevee call me."
Ash nodded at this. He was glad that the newly-named Vivi had decided to share her secret and trust her teammates with it.
"One more thing," Vivi turned back into an Eevee.
"What is it?" The Trainer asked.
"Ash, I want to be your Pokemon."
The teen was a bit stunned but didn't let that affect the wide smile he had on as he held up an empty Pokeball. "Welcome to the team, Vivi."
Ash let the Eevee press the button on the center of the sphere, capturing her.
"Yes, I finally get that comfy little sack of Ash's," Pikachu murmured to himself.
After releasing his Eevee, the Trainer proceeded to explain his plan.
"So remember, after Ee...I mean Vivi's turn, Gible will have a go. If it's three-on-three, I'll pick Pikachu as last, because size gives an impression, right? And really don't worry about it, just be alert during the battle…"
"There's a new Gym Leader in town, huh Pikachu," Ash thought aloud to his Starter Pokemon.
The Electric-Type rolled his eyes. "You know, you have the worst, but best timing out of anyone I've ever met."
"What are you talking about?"
Pikachu smirked a little. "The new Gym Leader, that's what."
"What about the new Gym Leader?"
When his partner went silent, Ash decided that he would just wing it again, like always. Recently, Vivi had been learning more moves, so he wasn't as worried as he should've been.
There was a longer-than-usual line of Trainers at the Viridian City Gym. Ash decided to give his Pokemon a little pep talk before joining them. He'd grown used to the outfit that Pidgeot had chosen for him back when he had gone against Brock, so naturally, he was wearing the entire outfit, complete with the beanie hat.
"Vivi, I know this is your first Gym, but don't worry. You've trained really hard."
"Gible, keep it up in there. You were great in Sinnoh, and I know you can do it."
"Pikachu, I'm not even going to command you. Just shock that Pokemon silly."
His Pokemon started to become excited, and encouraged each other about the battle coming up until they were interrupted by a vaguely familiar shout of: "Hey!"
Ash turned around to see that boy from Pewter (Raimund, was it?) walking up to him, sunglasses in his hand. He was wearing his old red shirt, and the Indigo League Champion could see that the boy took an interest in him.
"Hey yourself," Ash replied.
Raimund looked the boy up and down. "Are you challenging the Viridian Gym? I'm Raimund, by the way. You look familiar. Have we met?"
"Uh, I'm Red."
"Red, huh?" The boy asked in reply. "Never met you. By the way, the new Gym Leader's hard! It took all six of my Pokemon to beat his Rhydon!"
"Six?"
Raimund's eyes widened. "Yeah! It was a six-on-one battle and a hard one at that! You know, Ash Ketchum beat him once as a rookie Trainer."
"..."
"I know right?! All the famous people know each other. It's not fair!"
Ash narrowed his eyes. "Who's the Gym Leader?"
To that, the boy gasped out loud dramatically. "You don't know?"
"Uh, should I?"
Raimund nodded vigorously as if he was trying to disconnect his head from the rest of his body. "The guy was on the news! Like, on all the channels! Jeez Red, keep up with the times! Just for that, I'm not going to tell you who he is!"
Ash groaned. This was probably what Pikachu was talking about earlier.
The Trainer before Ash came out of the room with defeated sigh. Her blond hair covered her eyes, and the teen recognized her Kalosian heritage from her blonde hair that seemed a little too familiar.
"Huh, she looks like Serena," he muttered to himself.
"Next Trainer!" a masculine, teenage voice shouted from the battle room.
Ash froze. It sounded just like…
AN: Thank you so much for making it this far. I didn't think people would actually read my work, haha. Please continue to review!