Summary:

After Ash's loss, against Bianca's father, the young trainer returns to Pallet town. Afterwards he disappeared for three years without a trace, yet a mysterious Aura-Guardian appears and takes down Team Rocket by himself. After this, he comes to Unova, trying to enter the league. What adventures will Kanto's Guardian face until he can take on the league-battles.

Pokémon doesn't belong to me.

R&R please.

"That battle was very impressive after all", stated Cilan.

"Impressive?", asked Iris. "Paul's Pokémon wiped the floor with Elesa's!"

Ash chuckled at Iris' words while the group walked back to the Pokémon centre. He had to agree with her though. Paul's battle with Elesa had been fairly fast. The Sinnoh-Native had used his more experienced Pokémon this time after all. "She's still a strange woman", said Paul, staring straight ahead.

"Her personality freaked you out that much?", asked Ash back. It wasn't so much stranger than the personality of some gym-leaders in the other Regions. Paul shrugged and answered: "Actually, yes." Ash rolled his eyes and thought; I guess that's because Elesa is very much like a coordinator. Or at least how Paul long believed a coordinator would be. They do freak him out a bit. Maybe it would've been worse when he hadn't spent the last few days with May, Dawn, Solidad and the others.

Ash snapped out of his musings when they reached the Pokémon Centre, where Nurse Joy immediately called his name. He jogged over to her and asked: "Yes?"

She smiled at him and answered: "Serperior is ready to be released from the Pokémon Centre. She will need two to three weeks of recovery though. I already sent everything that would be necessary over to Professor Oak's laboratory. Now we only need to send Serperior and the Pokémon you want to spend her company after them."

Ash nodded and asked: "Can you get Serperior ready? I'll see which Pokémon will join her."

Nurse Joy nodded and turned away. Ash turned away as well, to find Iris asking: "It's time to tell them all?" He nodded and walked out of the Pokémon Centre again and onto the trainings-field in the back. Paul, Cilan and Iris followed. They all had been just a worried about Serperior and understood that Ash wasn't having an easy time right now. And he had to explain to all of his other Pokémon what was happening right now. With a deep breath, he quickly released all of his Pokémon, some looking quite confused.

Once they all saw Ash's expression, which the teen was certain displayed worry, nervousness and pain, they calmed down and looked at him expectantly. Taking another deep breath, Ash began. He explained about Serperior's scar, how she'd gained it, the problem with it, the surgery and the recovery she would need at Oak's lab.

"Now, I guess you're wondering why I'm telling you all right now, when Serperior's about to get sent over huh?", asked the teen. The Pokémon nodded and he explained: "Serperior will need company there and Pokémon who watch over her recovery when Professor Oak can't. I want to ask if some of you would be ready to go back with her. Venusaur, Gardevoir, I'd ask both of you too. You're great at taking care of others. Serperior will need you both."

Both Pokémon nodded immediately and Venusaur stated: "Venusaur, -saur."

Ash smiled at his first Grass-Type in gratitude and answered: "A family sticks together, right you are Venusaur."

Venusaur smiled at him, then Kingler stepped forward, followed by a whole lot of Pokémon. Ash hadn't expected that so many of them would join in, but was relieved all the same. For one, Serperior would have a lot of company and help and two, it was also easier for him. He always worried that some of his Pokémon felt left out when he chose some for battling. With so many going back, he could concentrate on those he had with him and switch them every now and then. "Thanks guys", whispered Ash. The Pokémon that had chosen to go back were Venusaur, Gardevoir, Kingler, Muk, Tauros, Snorlax, Heracross, Feraligatr, Torkoal, Glalie, Noctowl, Gliscor, Floatzel, Leavanny, Gigalith, Seismitoad and Krookodile.

Each one of those Pokémon smiled at him warmly, then he recalled them, before recalling those who would stay as well. Lucario and Gallade evaded the read beams of the Pokéballs though and the Psychic-Fighting-Type stated: "We'd like to stay outside for a while Master, if you don't mind."

"I don't mind at all", answered Ash and smiled at his Pokémon. He turned around to walk back into the Pokémon Centre, when Paul stated: "That was a whole lot of Pokémon who wanted to go back." Ash nodded and admitted: "I'm kind of relieved about it though. I always worry I could leave someone out." The Sinnoh-Native nodded in understanding, before actually giving Ash a smile and assuring: "I'm sure Serperior will be fine." Ash smirked back weakly and answered: "I can only hope you're right."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I know Paul is right", cut Iris in. The two teens turned to look at the only female in their group, who grinned and said: "Paul is right Ash, Serperior will be fine. She's strong."

"Agreed", added Cilan. "Serperior is a very powerful Pokémon Ash. And she has many reasons to fight through this."

At this the gym-leader glanced at his own Pokéballs, more so the one who held Treecko. The only thing the young grass-type knew, was that his mother was ill and needed to visit Professor Oak to get better. He'd accepted it immediately, something Sceptile had admitted he admired his son for. He worried for Serperior24/7. Ash smirked when he remembered what Lucario had told the distraught Grass-Type this morning. "When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind. (Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind) Treecko is a child. And no creature is more innocent, more forgiving than children."

That was when the teens reached Nurse Joy, who led them into the room where they would send Serperior and the others over to Professor Oak. Sceptile and Serperior where there already and Ash did his best not to wince at the bandages that covered the serpent's neck. She smiled at Ash tiredly, before leaning her head against Sceptile's chest. Ash followed Nurse Joy to a video phone and after the first ring, Professor Oak accepted the call already.

"Ash, my boy, I already waited for your call", stated the Professor.

Ash smirked weakly and answered: "Thanks again for doing this Professor."

Now Professor Oak got completely serious and answered: "It is no trouble at all Ash. I'm just glad there was finally something done. And you're sending a few Pokémon over with Serperior?"

"More than a few actually. A little more than a dozen."

Professor Oak nodded and stated: "Well, it will get a little more lively here again then. Don't worry Ash. I'm prepared for anything."

Ash nodded and answered: "Thanks for this again Professor."

"You're welcome my boy", answered Professor Oak. Then he typed on something off screen and stated: "The connection is built, now you just need to send one Pokéball after the other over."

Ash heard the sound of a machine powering up, and found Nurse Joy stepping back from the transfer machine. "Here you go Ash", said the Nurse. Ash nodded in thanks and turned back to Professor Oak. "I'll sent Venusaur and Gardevoir over first, then Serperior and the rest, alright?" Professor Oak nodded and Ash walked up to the machine, placing Venusaur's Pokéball into it. In a flash of light, the Pokéball was gone and Gardevoir's followed soon. Then Ash turned to the reason for all this and Serperior pried herself from Sceptile, to nuzzle Ash's face. The teen rubbed her forehead comfortingly, then whispered: "It's gonna be okay. I'll be seeing you soon."

Serperior nodded and Ash recalled her, before placing her Pokéball into the machine. This went on for a while, till every Pokémon that had wanted to go, was with Professor Oak. "Call me in any Pokémon Centre Ash and I'll gladly give you updates on Serperior's health", offered the Pokémon Professor.

Ash smiled at him, then answered: "Thanks Professor."

The group of four trainers and a lot of Pokémon sat in the nature, enjoying their lunch after a hard morning of training, when suddenly some sort of ruckus started a little farther off. All four shot up and ran there, to find Scrafty standing there, staring at a black-coloured Pokémon in obvious confusion. Primeape, Lapras, Gengar, Samurott and Staraptor rolled on the ground in laughter.

"What's going on here?", exclaimed Iris, who picked up a very worried looking Axew.

"Guys?", asked Ash. His Pokémon didn't respond. They just continued laughing. Sighing Ash turned to the foreign Pokémon and pulled out his Pokédex.

"Gothorita, the Manipulate Pokémon and the evolved form of Gothita. Gothorita uses starlight as its power source. It arranges rocks in the same way as the stars, and can use its Psychic powers to control people and Pokémon."

"A Psychic-Type", stated Paul.

"But what is it doing here?", wondered Cilan. "And more important, what did it do to have the Pokémon react like that?"

Ash shrugged, when suddenly a female voice cried: "Gothorita there you are!" The teens looked up, to find a girl in a short sky-blue dress with purple hair, almost Paul's shade, running towards them. She looked at them and said: "Hi, I'm Katharine and this is my Pokémon Gothorita."

"I'm Ash, nice to meet you", greeted Ash.

"Paul."

"I'm Iris."

"And I'm Cilan."

Gothorita turned to Katharine now and made a few signs with her hands, before jumping up and pulling something forward. It was a badge-case. The Pokémon opened it and proudly showed them three badges. "You got three gym-badges, impressive", stated Iris. The three badges were the Basic Badge, the Insect Badge and a purple badge Ash hadn't seen before.

"Hey, that's a Toxic Badge", exclaimed Cilan.

"Toxic Badge?", asked Paul.

Cilan nodded and explained: "The Toxic Badge is given out at the Virbank City Gym, a fairly new gym at that. As far as I know, the gym leader uses Poison Types."

"And getting that badge was quite some work", added Katharine.

"Congrats then", said Ash.

Katharine smiled, then asked: "Are any of you on a gym-battle journey too?"

"Me and Paul are", answered Ash and nodded to the Sinnoh Native.

"So, how many badges do you have?"

Ash and Paul pulled out their badge cases and opened them. "We both got four of them", answered Ash.

"Awesome, that's one more than I have", awed Katharine. Gothorita huffed annoyed, then a low grumble echoed through the air. Everyone turned to look at Axew. The small Pokémon looked sheepish and Iris laughed: "Well, with all that just happened, we didn't finish lunch."

"Ew", mumbled Axew.

"Then let's continue our lunch", offered Cilan.

"Oh boy", smiled Iris.

"Katharine, up to join us?", asked Ash.

"Gladly", answered Katharine.

Everyone turned away, when Ash suddenly turned back to his Pokémon. Scrafty returned to his lunch as well, but the Pokémon that had been in fits of laughter before still snickered whenever they looked at him. Kneeling down next to Gengar and Staraptor. "Now, what was so funny when Gothorita showed up?", asked the teen. Both Pokémon shook while they tried to supress their laughter, but finally Gengar managed to stutter out: "Gengar Gengar Gar. Geng Ar Gengar Ar. Genga!"

Ash froze for a second, then looked back a Scrafty, whose attention was still on his lunch. Then the teen got up and briskly walked back to the table. "What took you so long?", asked Paul when Ash sat down next to him. The Kanto-Native grabbed a Sandwich and answered: "I found out what sent my Pokémon into fits of laughter." He bit back a smirk at the reason and took a bit from the Sandwich.

"Well?", asked Cilan.

Swallowing, Ash grinned now, then answered: "Well, apparently Scrafty had no idea that Gothorita flirted with him quite a lot."

"Wait, Gothorita did what?", asked Iris and glanced at Katharine, who had completely missed their conversation in order to talk to her Psychic-Type.

"You heard me", answered Ash with a smirk. "Apparently it was rather hilarious to everyone that Scrafty had no idea what's going on. It seems he still doesn't have."

Everyone at the table chuckled now, but fell silent once Katharine joined them fully. After lunch, which had ended with Gothorita annoying Scrafty enough for him to hurt himself while trying to scare her off, which again was hilarious to the Pokémon who knew what was going on, Katharine walked up to Ash and asked: "Excuse me Ash?"

The teen looked up from his conversation with Iris, to come face to face with Katharine and her Gothorita.

"It looks like Gothorita has taken a real liking to your Scrafty."

No surprise there, thought Ash, while he heard Samurott, who was talking to Meganium nearby, snicker.

"So, would you be willing…to trade Scrafty for one of my Pokémon?"