Chapter 3 Reuniting with Old Friends
After Professor Pinewood comes back to the room after registering the League for Ash, he turns to Rodney and Keira with three Pokeballs in his hands.
Professor Pinewood: So, how about you choose your Pokemon now?
He throws three Pokeballs and there are a turtle-like Pokemon with leaves on the brown shell, a yellow kitten with red stripes, and also a salamander with purple spots on the back.
Professor Pinewood: These are the three starters, they are named Herovor, Purrlit, and Salatad. I'll let you decide who will choose first.
Keira: I don't mind which one I get, I already know I will love it!
Rodney: Keira, how about we decide this with a coin flip! Heads or tails?
Keira: (Turns to Rodney) Then I'll choose tails.
Rodney opens his palm, only to see that it is head.
Rodney: Oops. Looks like I won, so I guess I can choose first. (Looks at Salatad) I'll choose this one.
Professor Pinewood: Okay, get your starter Pokemon, Keira!
Keira: (Looks at Herovor) So I'll take this little cutey here!
Professor Pinewood: Well done, you all choose excellent Pokemon and I'm sure they will grow to be strong and magnificent Pokemon. Now, make sure you all take very good care of your Pokemon!
Rodney: We will, Professor! I promise! I'll train my Pokemon every day and make sure it's always happy!
Professor Pinewood: I'm certain you will. Rodney. (Turns to Ash) Ash, from the letter written by your mother, I think that I should have given you these three as well.
Inside a shelf, Professor Pinewood takes out three special Pokeballs, appear from them are the same three starters, but when Ash gets closer to them, the three Pokemon are hugging him.
Ash: (Widen his eyes) You three...
Ash starts to tear up and he hugs them back, this action causes everyone to be confused.
Rodney: What is Ash doing? Aren't they just Starter Pokemon?
Professor Pinewood: According to Ash's mother, the Pokemon that Ash is hugging were the souls of the former Pokemon from Ash. Torterra, Infernape, and Oshawott.
Eve: So... They have already reincarnated as the Pokemon living in this region?
Professor Pinewood: (Nods) Of course. But with Arceus' powers, they get to retain the memories of their journey with Ash.
Ash: (Breaks the hug from the Pokemon) I am happy to get you guys back...(Turns to Professor Pinewood) Professor, can I take them with me?
Professor Pinewood: Of course you can. (Smiles) Here are their Pokeballs.
Ash takes the Pokeballs from the Professor, and Rodney has a question to ask Ash.
Rodney: So Ash, can you show us your Pokemon?
Ash: Sure, let's go outside so I can show you my Pokemon.
After heading outside, they find a large open space in the lab and Ash throws a lot of Pokeballs. Aside from the 17 Pokemon, there are also Meloetta, Marshadow, Ho-Oh, Nihilego, Zygarde, Diancie, Genesect, Hoopa, Jirachi, Victini, Manaphy, Shaymin, Zeraora, Mewtwo, Kyurem, Latias, Darkrai, and Magearna.
Flora: (Surprised) You have Legendaries as well?
Ash: Yeah, after the betrayal, some of the Pokemon decide to join me they want to train me and my Pokemon. Guys, look who it is? (Throws Herovor, Purrlit, and Salandit's Pokeballs.
As Herovor, Purrlit, and Salatad go towards them, the Pokemon recognize the voices and they also greet the Pokemon back. Especially Gliscor, who is happy to meet his friend Torterra and Infernape. After recalling them back to the Pokeballs, the Professor is talking to them.
Professor Pinewood: Now go and enjoy your Pokemon and begin the start of a new, exciting chapter!
Keira: Thank you so much, Professor! Bye! (Keira leaves)
Rodney: You are the best, Professor Pinewood! (Rodney leaves)
Professor Pinewood: Oh, they are fast!
Ash, Alice, Eve, and Flora also bid farewell to Professor Pinewood as they exit the lab, only to see Rodney and Keira are waiting for them.
Keira: I'm going to head back home and show my mom my cute Pokemon, I'll see you guys around!
Rodney: Okay Keira, see ya!
After bidding farewell to Keira, Rodney turns to Ash and the others.
Rodney: So Ash, are you as excited as I am? I doubt it! I can't wait to get out there on the road and catch every Pokemon I can!
Ash: That's great to hear. You remind me of my old self when I first started my journey.
Rodney: Oh I almost forgot! I'm a trainer now, and trainers battle! How about it? I mean, what better way to start a Pokemon journey than to have a battle with your best friend!
Alice: Are you sure you're going to battle Ash? He is a Champion.
Ash: Don't worry, I'll just use the Pokemon that I got from Professor Pinewood, that will be fair enough.
Rodney sends out Salandit to battle, and Ash goes for Purrlit, knowing that he can still win even in type disadvantage.
Ash: Let's start with Scratch!
Purrlit is using Scratch, and it hits Salandit.
Rodney: Salandit, use Pound!
And then both Pokemon are either using Scratch and Pound at each other.
Ash: So even though they have been reincarnated into new Pokemon, their levels are reset...meaning all the training that I did in the past has to be done again. But I don't mind, training is what makes Pokemon wonderful creatures.
After a while, Purrlit manages to learn Ember and defeats Salandit with the move.
Rodney: Well, we are just starting after all, but I enjoyed it. (Recalls Salandit) But you really are strong, Ash. You sure know what you're doing!
Ash: Although I have to train them all over again, I promise I'll show you why I am the Champion in the future.
Rodney offers to heal Ash's Purrlit for him, much to his delight.
Rodney: I think I'm gonna head home and show my family my awesome Pokemon, so I'll catch up with you later!
After Rodney leaves, Professor Pinewood also comes out of the lab as he is finding them.
Flora: Professor? What are you doing here?
Professor Pinewood: Thank goodness, you haven't left yet! I was hoping to run into one of you. I have a favor to ask.
Ash: What is it?
Professor Pinewood: You see, I forgot to give you an important item that will help you along your journey, but not only did I forget to give it to you, but I also forgot to pick it up from the Poke Mart in Mossy Town. I'm very sorry, but can you possibly go to Mossy Town to pick up the parcel for me?
Ash: Sure, I can help you out.
Professor Pinewood: You will? Thank you very much! I will call the mart and let them know that you're coming. When you've received the package, be sure to bring back to me at the lab.
After the Professor returns to the lab, Ash turns to the three sisters.
Ash: So how about you guys?
Alice: (Timidly) Ash, can I travel with you on this journey? I know that we just met, but I wanted to see more of this region with you.
Eve and Flora smirk at their sister and Ash can see a little blush on her face, he doesn't know why, but his face is heating up as well. It feels like something which was missing in his heart is about to get found.
Ash: Sure, but what about your gym? Do you find a substitute?
Alice: I called Mr. Chiu, he agrees to be my substitute until we get back there.
Ash: (Nods) Then sure, we can travel together. I don't think that you will be like those backstabbers who betrayed me.
Alice thanks him by hugging him, much to Ash's surprise. Alice then notices it and she blushes more.
Alice: (Thinks) Did I just do that?
Flora: (Whispers to Eve) We should ship them together.
Eve: (Smiles) I agree.
After bidding farewell to Eve and Flora, Ash and Alice are walking towards Mossy Town, they haven't encountered any new Pokemon as they reach the Pokemon Center.
Ash notices some people sitting at the place with sofas and chairs. He is confused as they see a lot of trainers seem to be talking there.
Ash: Hey, Alice. What is that place?
Alice: Oh, this is called the Quest Floor, you see. Our region is friendly, sometimes people will rest here to ask others for help. These could be different kinds of things, like handing over something or searching for someone, or a special Pokemon. There are even a few people who may want to trade Pokemon, which isn't really a quest, but that's the best place to find Trainers. And, if you have a PokeGear...This would be very helpful! There is a Quest log in it, which automatically writes down the Quests you started. You even get an overview of all the quests you've mastered!
Ash: Right now it is empty, let's get the package and head back to the lab as soon as possible.
As they go to the mart, they find that the staff is apologizing to them.
Staff: Hello, I'm sorry, but we are totally sold out.
Ash: We are asked by Professor Pinewood to get the package.
Staff: Oh, you must be Ash and Alice. Ah good, the Professor told me you were coming to pick up this package for him. Here you go! (Gives the package to Ash and Alice) Make sure you're careful with it!
Alice: We will, thank you.
After it is done, they are already back at the lab in Soltree Town, Professor Pinewood is glad to see the package and thanks to them.
Professor Pinewood: Ah good! Everything is here. (Takes out a device) This device here is a Pokedex. I have one for you, Rodney, and Keira.
Ash: Thank you, I will really need it considering that this region is filled with Pokemon that I have never seen before.
Professor Pinewood: No problem. It's quite handy to have. Anyway, could you please give one to Rodney and one to Keira when you see them?
Alice: Sure, we can do that for you.
Professor Pinewood: Excellent. If you need anything, you know where I am.
After leaving the lab, they decide to find Rodney and gives him the Pokedex. Rodney is at his house as Alice introduces Ash to his parents. As they head upstairs, Rodney is packing up his stuff.
Rodney: (Notices Ash and Alice) Ash, Alice, are you about to leave too?
Ash: Well, we are asked by the Professor to give you this, it's a Pokedex.
Rodney: (Takes the Pokedex) Well that's cool, anything is better than nothing after all! So I was thinking since we're friends, how about some healthy competition? Let's be rivals! Let's see who can be the best and strongest, it'll be great! I think we should take on the gyms and collect badges, and once we have 8 badges, we can enter into the Pokemon League and take on other trainers and see who comes out on top!
Ash: Sure, it'll be fun.
Alice: In that case, the first gym is in Serpentine City, so we'll have to go through Mossy Forest to get to it. But hey, I bet there are heaps of Pokemon in there to see and catch!
Rodney: I'm gonna go there now! I'll race you there!
After that, they all leave the house and they bid farewell to each other, as the journey is going to start.
Here is the third Chapter, and Alice is going to travel with Ash. There are going to be more travel companions, but Alice will be the major one. I hope you like this chapter and the next one is going to be capturing new Pokemon.