"There it is Pikachu. Vermillion City." Ash said happily. They were hanging off the side of the ship, and Vermillion Port had just come into view. It had been a long three days getting back to Kanto but it was almost over. The few times Ash had gotten a signal during the trip, he had found out Chloe wouldn't be back until very late tonight, and Goh likely wouldn't be back until tomorrow afternoon. The sun had risen just a little bit ago, and Ash was wide awake.

"Welcome back Ash." Professor Cerise said as he entered the lab. "It's good to be back." Ash replied. "I'm going to save the grand tour until everyone's here, but I'll at least show you the way to your room." Professor Cerise said walking forward.

"Well here it is." Professor Cerise said in front of a door with a decorated sign on it. "So I'm Ashley now huh?" Ash laughed. "Look Parker was really bored without you three here, he worked really hard on these signs, please just be happy about it if he asks." Professor Cerise pleaded. "Will do Professor." Ash said with a smile.

Reaching for the door handle, Ash tried to open it, only for it to not even budge. "Ah yes, I knew I was forgetting something!" Professor Cerise exclaimed digging around in his lab coat. "Here it is, your lab ID." Professor Cerise said, handing Ash a card. "While the room is still the lab's overall, you have only one of two cards that can access it. It also allows you access to your work, and the parts of the lab you need to get to." Professor Cerise finished.

Finally in his room, Ash set down his bags for a moment. His room hadn't changed much, outside of a desk instead of a lower bunk. Putting his clothes away, he came across the Pokedoll that he was given. Picking it up, and giving it a soft squeeze before setting it on his bed. Seeing Pikachu sleeping on the bed, Ash quietly left. There was one more thing he needed to do today.

Almost an hour later Ash returned, his hair was cut just past his shoulders again. He had wanted to get it done before Chloe was back and could try to stop him. "Hey Ash, it's good to see you back." Ren said walking up. "Hey Ren, have you seen Parker?" Ash asked. "I believe he's still at school?" Ren said, confused. "Oh, right… school." Ash said sheepishly.

Ash had gone to the field, just to relax for a bit, when he felt a large rumbling and loud sound. "No don't tell me they're all here!" Ash said turning towards where the sound was coming from. Closing in quickly, he saw his Tauros. "I ONLY WANTED ONE!" Ash shouted running as fast as he could.

"Ash what happened?" Professor Cerise said shocked at Ash's battered appearance. "Why did you and Professor Oak think I wanted my Tauros here?" Ash asked. "Before you left, you gave me a list of Pokémon to have brought over, wasn't Tauros on the list?" Professor Cerise asked, confused. "Yes, as in one Tauros!" Ash said defeated. "Wait how many are there?" "Thirty." Ash replied, dropping his head onto the table. "Arches help us all." Professor Cerise said frightened.

Chloe arrived home just after 2am. Her parents had gone to the airport to pick here up. In the dining room, she saw Ash, Parker, and Pikachu passed out. A 'Welcome Home' banner above them.

"Poor boys." Talia said, picking up Parker. "I'll take Parker to bed." "I'll take Pikachu." Chloe said calmly. "What about Ash?" Professor Cerise asked. "I don't think a herd of Tauros could wake up Ash from the looks of it." Chloe said with a laugh. "Yeah. A herd of Tauros." Professor Cerise said nervously.

It was late morning the next day. Ash was outside meditating with Lucario. He had been making progress with his powers, but still couldn't get them working without Lucario's help.

"Hey Chloe, you're up early." Ash said. "How did you? Never mind?" Chloe said walking up behind Ash. "I see you cut your hair." Chloe said disappointed. "I wanted to go back to a shorter look." Ash defended. He began to rise to properly greet Chloe. Chloe just giggled, "That's funny, coming from you." "What do you mean by…" Ash had forgotten just how much shorter he was. Chloe was right in front of him, and his eyes just barely met her lips. "Fair." Ash said defeated.

"Come over to the pond, I want to show you what I got in Sinnoh!" Chloe said excitedly. "Okay, okay. I'm coming, no need to pull." Ash complained. "All right are you ready?" Chloe asked, holding a pokeball excitedly. "For the fourth time. Yes, now are you actually going to send out a Pokémon now?" Ash asked with a smirk. "Come on out! Lumineon!" Chloe said, throwing the pokeball. In the lake, the Lumineon popped out. "Whoa cool! A Lumineon!" Ash exclaimed. Suddenly a squirt of water hit him in the face. "Mud, Mudkip!" Ash's Mudkip said. Excited to see it's trainer. "And that's my new Pokémon, Mudkip." Ash said smiling.

"Oh! I also met someone while I was there!" Chloe said, pulling out her phone. "Her name's Dawn. Apparently she's pretty big on the contest scene." Chloe said showing Ash an article she had found. "You didn't mention me by chance did you?" Ash asked. "Ash, I can't believe you, I make a new friend and…" Chloe began scolding. "Chloe I traveled with her, back when she was starting out." Ash said calmly. "Oh. Uhh, yeah I was talking about my research and we got on the topic of who I normally did it with and I brought up you guys." Chloe said. "Did you mention this." Ash said referencing his current look, not much outside of a photo or two. But don't worry she didn't say anything." Chloe said trying to defend herself. "That's what I'm worried about." Ash said glumly.

By mid afternoon, Goh had returned and unpacked. Him and Chloe took a moment to laugh at Ash's sign in private.

"So all computers are digital to the desk. To get into your files just scan your card like so." Professor Cerise said, going over the new technology. "We now have spare rooms for more researchers, or visiting researchers. So we no longer have to move people around to accommodate." Ash was trying hard to stay focused on everything going on. How were Goh and Chloe so attentive. "Now I know you three just got back, but you'll be heading off tomorrow. I'll explain more in the morning, but for now be prepared for fire." Cerise said confidently.

"So how was it?" Chloe asked curiously. She was sitting backwards on Ash's computer chair. Goh was on a bean bag in the corner. "Hoenn, it was Humid. Didn't make too many discoveries though." Ash said. "Not that, your date!" Chloe said, throwing the Pikachu plush at him. "I don't think I'm comfortable with this conversation." Goh said, trying to get up. "Same here." Ash said in agreement. "Please just a quick talk then we can go over what we saw." Chloe pleaded. "Fine but only because this is actually my room." Ash said from the doorway.

It was almost midnight by the time Goh and Chloe left for their own rooms. It was good to have the group back together again.

Out at sea

"There it is!" Wallace said happily. "In just two weeks, this will be the home of this year's Wallace Cup!"