Author's Note: Here it is the latest installment of When One ends, the chapter seems to be a tad shorter than the rest but I didn't want to cram so many things into it. That's all I have to say, just read and enjoy.

Summary: About 5 years have passed since the gang saw Ash, he reappears out of the blue in his hometown of Pallet much to the surprise of everyone. Ash decides it's time for him to settle down and open a gym in Pallet. What new trials and tribulations await our young hero? Rated M for adult situations that will occur later on in the story. AshxMisty,MayxDrew,BrockxSoldat. Takes place after the Sinnoh League

Disclaimer : Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and , I do however claim all OC's created by myself in this story

Please Read and Review, constructive criticism welcomed.

Chapter 12 : Road Trip

"What time is it?"

"Just add a minute to what I told you just a while ago."

SIGH

...a minute later

"What time is it?"

A month had now passed since the work began on Pallet Town's gym. The ground work and foundation had been laid and it was now up to the construction workers to begin creating the framework for the facilities. This meant that there was no more work for Ash or Kai to do, mainly because their skills in construction were definitely not up to par with the skilled labourers that were employed by Devon Corp. The duo had been training diligently but the constant training was beginning to create an urge in Ash's body.

"Looks like it's going to be a cold winter." murmured Mrs. Ketchum to herself as she stepped onto her patio in the back yard. As she laid down the daily paper on the table next to her cup of tea, she spotted her son slouching on the end of the patio and staring into the sky. "Ash honey, are you all right?"

"Yeah Mom, just....bored."

"Oh....why don't you go train your pokemon?"

"Did that already for the morning..."

"Why don't you go and battle Kai?"

"He's meditating now and says that he doesn't hear the whispers of battle or something like that."

"I see. Why don't you go and visit Misty?"

At his Mom's suggestion Ash sat up for a moment and looked at his mother with disbelief.

"What? You said you were bored?" she said innocently. She then took a sip of her tea. "You two need to hurry up and get married, I'm not getting any younger you know." she said to herself.

"I heard that." said Ash. Mrs. Ketchum just giggled lightly. "She has a boyfriend so there isn't anything I can do right now."

"What happened to the gold old days of going after what you wanted huh? Especially if you know that the other wants to be with you." Mrs. Ketchum sighed. "I guess there aren't anymore knights in shining armour wiling to save a fair damsel from distress."

"How is she in distress Mom? She seems quite happy with Nigel what's his name."

"You truly are a man you know that?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That means you don't understand a young woman's heart. Do you think Misty visited me every weekend when you were away to keep me company?"

"Yeah you two are close like that."

"Every weekend Ash..."

"Alright fine but like I said she has a boyfriend now. I'm not going to play home wrecker."

"There isn't a home to wreck in the first place. I met that Nigel fellow when Brock drove me up to Cerulean for Misty's birthday party. From what I could see there never seemed to be a spark between the two. It's like she was being his subordinate rather than his partner, the look in her eyes never showed any joy or happiness. When he was introduced to me, there was an ice cold touch to his hands and his eyes showed cruel intentions that sent an unwelcomed chill down my spine. But that's just the intuition of an old woman what do I know?" said Mrs. Ketchum as she took another sip of tea.

"Hmmmm." was all that Ash could say as he began to think about his initial meeting with Nigel. What his mother had just said was the same way he felt about Nigel, especially the fact that he could speak of Misty like a possession so easily.

"By that look on your face it seems you met Nigel as well."

"Yeah, when I went to the Generations Conference; I was about to break his face when Kai stopped me from being ambushed by his bodyguards."

"You never mentioned that to me honey."

"Didn't think you knew the jerk, and I didn't want to sound like I was jealous at the same time."

"So what did he say that caused you to go off the handle dear?"

"He was basically belittling another trainer for their beliefs and I called him a jackass. As the conversation went on he realized who I was and then mentioned Misty saying that he knew her better than me in a suggestive way and then said how he was able to mend her broken heart."

"I see, seems I was right about the bastard."

Ash got up and looked at his Mom with a shocked expression plastered his face, it was the first time he heard his normally cheerful mother call someone a bastard.

"Well he is sweetie and I think you should just take Misty away from him."

"That's easier said than done Mom."

"You're making it seem harder than it is. You just need to get up off your butt and tell her that you're taking her home with you and you don't care about Nigel."

"Sure Mom, I will saddle my white horse in a moment." replied Ash sarcastically as he continued to stare into the sky.

"Smart ass..." Ash once again got up and had a look of shock on his face. "What? You're a big boy now honey. I think I can talk a little bit more freely with you around."

"Hello Delia!? Ash!?" came a shout from the front of the door.

"Who could that be?" asked Ash.

"Sounds like Sam. Let me answer the door." Mrs. Ketchum got up from her seat and went into the house to answer the door. A few minutes later she returned with a small blush on her face and had Professor Oak in tow. "There he is Sam."

"Hey there Ash"

"Hey Professor" replied Ash in a bored tone as he continued to stare into the sky.

Ignoring Ash's unreceptive attitude towards him the Professor continued. "I just got off the phone today with colleague of mine and they were telling me about an event they are having..."

"That's cool..."

Professor Oak just coughed and continued. "Well it seems that they are having a Battle Tournament to commemorate the launch of their new satellite into orbit."

Hearing the words Battle and Tournament in the same sentence, Ash bolted to his feet and was now staring into Professor Oak's face with eyes brimming with excitement.

"Please tell me anybody can enter."

"I was just about to get to that. Well I told them that you had resurfaced and the organizer would be more than thrilled to have you participate. The organizer is a big fan of yours and even sent tickets for you and two others to head to Mossdeep City."

"Really!?!" shouted Ash as he grabbed hold of the Professor.

"Yes Ash, really."

"When can we leave?"

"Whenever you want, you just have to say your name at the port authority in Vermillion City. The tournament starts in a week and it will take you about two days to travel to Mossdeep."

"Woohoo!!!" shouted Ash as he didn't care to listen to anymore details of the tournament. He picked up his sleeping Pikachu and hurled it into the air due to the excitement he was feeling.

"Some things never change it seems." said Professor Oak as he shook his head.

"Yeah, he really is a big kid after all."

In the distance the sound of an approaching car could be heard and as it came close to the Ketchum's its engine died down.

"That's strange it's a little too early for Veronica to be coming home." said Mrs. Ketchum as she heard the vehicle come to a halt. She was about to turn to go inside so that she could peek through the window to see who it was. 'Wonder who it is?' As she got closer to the door she then heard a familiar voice call out her name.

"Mrs. Ketchum? Ash? Anybody home?"

With a smile on her face she opened the door quickly. "Brock, how are you?" exclaimed Mrs. Ketchum as she pulled in and hugged her son's best friend. "Come on in. Ash is in the back." without giving Brock a chance to respond Mrs. Ketchum led him to the backyard where Ash was still celebrating with Pikachu.

Addressing everybody, "Look who I found." and with that introduction Brock emerged from the house.

"Yo."

"Brock!" shouted Ash unintentionally; he was still feeling the surge of excitement from being able to compete again. "What brings you to Pallet?"

"Got invited to the inaugural Mossdeep Space Centre Tournament and since Solidat's going to be busy with her school, I was wondering if you would want to come with me."

"Wow, thanks Brock but I'm going to have to turn you down."

"Huh? Why?" said Brock who was surprised that Ash turned down an invitation, especially his invitation for a battle tournament.

"Because I'm going to be participating!" shouted Ash as he began to throw Pikachu up into the air again.

"What's all the excitement about?" said Kai, who had made his way over from his meditation spot.

"Ash is going to Mossdeep with Brock to participate in a battle tournament."

"Mossdeep huh?" muttered Kai to himself. He then breathed in deep and closed his eyes as if he went into a trance. This caused Mrs. Ketchum to look at him strangely. "I think I will tag along. I sense a destined meeting with a lifelong one."

"Lifelong one?" asked Mrs. Ketchum.

"Yes."

Mrs. Ketchum looked at Kai with a puzzled expression but shrugged it off as she realized it was a futile effort to interpret Kai's ramblings. She turned to Ash. "So when are you leaving sweetie?"

"Probably tomorrow, I don't want to be late. That's okay with you Brock? Or do you have to head back to Pewter City?"

"Not at all, tomorrow's fine. I already packed my things when I drove down."

"Tomorrow it is then!" said Ash with a broad smile on his face.

....the following morning

"I said no."

"Mommy..." whimpered Melanie.

"I said no Melanie and that's that. It hasn't even been a month since school started and you are not going to miss any of it. Besides I couldn't bear to have my little baby away for so long. And I doubt these three good looking gentlemen would want a toddler tagging along with them. Ok Melanie?"

"Yes Mama" said Melanie in a disappointed tone.

"Don't worry" said Veronica in an attempt to console her daughter. "They won't be gone for too long will they?" said Veronica a little louder than normal so that Kai and Ash could hear.

"We won't be long Melanie. Two weeks tops OK!" shouted Ash as he threw his stuff into the back of Brock's car.

"See there."

"That's unless Ash runs off again..." mumbled Daisy to herself but Veronica overheard her and shot her a glare."Sorry" she mouthed.

At this time Kai emerged from the house with a bag slung over his shoulder. Seeing him, Melanie rushed over and latched herself onto his leg. Kai looked down and a smile came across his face, he reached his hand down and ruffled her hair. "Don't worry Mel. I will bring you something when I come back alright?"The lavender eyed five year old simply nodded and ran back to her mother.

"You know you are spoiling her Mr. Nirvana."

"Jealous Ms. Oak?"

"Of what?" said Daisy defensively.

"Don't worry I will bring you something as well." said Kai as he winked at her and proceeded to head towards the car.

Daisy just crossed her arms and gave him a stern glare, but she soon relaxed her expression. "You better..." she mumbled to herself.

Veronica watched the small exchange between the two and a smirk came across her face. Daisy glimpsed the look on Veronica's face. "What?"

"Oh nothing, nothing at all"

After a few more minutes of packing and double checking everything the trio made their way into the car.

"See you in two weeks everyone!" shouted Ash as he rode shotgun.

"You take care sweetie! Good luck! Remember to change your underwear!" shouted Mrs. Ketchum.

"MOOOOMMMM!" replied an embarrassed Ash. This caused everybody to erupt into laughter and the laughter could still be heard as they drove away from Pallet Town.

After a days worth of driving....

"Finally we're in Vermillion!" shouted Ash as he steered the car towards the port. His shout woke the slumbering Kai and Brock.

"Ash how fast were you driving?" said Brock sleepily.

"I could still see the trees on the side of the road so it wasn't that bad." Brock just shook his head and decided it was wise to go back to sleep. Kai on the other hand stretched out in the backseat and opened his windows to get a breath of fresh air.

"The AC is on you know Kai."

"The AC does not have destiny in it."

"Right....." Ash just decided it was best to let him be and continued on his course to the port.

After parking the car, the trio made their way over to the port authority. When they arrived with luggage in tow Ash talked to officer on duty and thankfully everything was just as Professor Oak said and checking in went smoothly. Deciding not to head to their respective rooms just yet, the trio made their way to the bow of the ship and relaxed underneath one of the parasols.

"I just can't wait!!" shouted Ash which caused a few of the guest who were already on board to look at him strangely. As Ash saw the looks he was receiving he mouthed apologies and sat back down.

"You're going to have to contain that excitement. It's going to take us two days to reach Mossdeep, assuming that nothing out of the ordinary happens." said Brock as he motioned to gain the attention of one of the bus boys.

"You don't understand Brock. This is my first competition in ages, it's almost like I'm starting all over again."

"That's true." said Brock as he placed an order for a drink.

"So what made you decide to come Kai? I thought you weren't feeling the battle calling you."

"It still isn't and that is why I'm not going to participate. I decided to come because there is a hint of destiny in the air, a crucial meeting will be encountered."

"Uh huh....you sure you don't want to open a psychic business. Could be an attraction for the gym as a matter of fact."

"The winds do not agree with that path." was Kai's response leaving Ash to shake his head.

"Are these quarter's to your liking sir?"

"Yes they are, barely. You can leave me now."

"Yes Mr. Cromwell. We will be awaiting your call." said the servant.

"I thought I dismissed you. Are you trying to upset me?"

"Sorry sir! I will leave immediately."

As Nigel heard the door close behind him he let out a sigh and a look of disgust made its way onto his face.

"Damn it! I can't believe I have to go to this boring tournament. Why couldn't father just send one his lackeys to this lowly tournament on that god forsaken, desolate island?"

Nigel grabbed the glass of wine his servant poured for him; he sipped from his cup as he strolled towards the window. He stared down on the bow and noticed a familiar figure; a predatory smile came across his face. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all."

Back on the lower deck a figure watched the trio underneath their parasol with interest, but their gaze seemed to be fixated with Brock. As the figure stared at Brock, malicious intent seemed to be oozing from their body. "I am so going to kill you!"

Author's Note: There you have it, the lastest chapter in When one Ends as always constructive criticism always welcomed. The next chapter will have a few surprises, so until next time.