Serena stood beside professor Sycamore and Alaina in the lab. Standing in front of her were 3 Pokemon, Froakie, Chespin and Fennekin.
"Wow I really get to pick one." Serena said with excitement.
"Before you pick one take this Pokedex." Sycamore said, handing a Pokedex to Serena.
"Thanks professor." Serena said, not sure what the Pokedex was.
"With this you'll be able to research a Pokemon anywhere."
"Go on try it." Alaina said. Serena knelt down and opened the Pokedex in front of Fennekin. "Eating a twig fills it with energy, and it's roomy ears vent air hotter than 390 degrees Fahrenheit."
Serena moved the Pokedex in front of the next Pokemon.
"Chespin, the Spiny Nut Pokemon. Chespin can flex the soft spikes on it's head, making them so stiff and sharp that it can even pierce through stone."
She moved the Pokedex over the last Pokemon. "Froakie, the Bubble Frog Pokemon. From it's chest and back, Froakie creates bubbles called Frubbles, which act as a cushion and soften the blow of an opponent's attack."
"So Serena which one do you want?"
"Well they all look very nice, but I already picked who I wanted before I left." Serena knelt down in front of the Fennekin.
"It's nice to meet you Fennekin, my name is Serena."
The Fennekin smiled.
"Fen."
"Fennekin it is, then." Alaina said, handing Serena Fennekin's Poke Ball, 5 normal Poke Balls, and some other starting supplies.
"By the way, professor a few days ago with the Garchomp incident I saw you on TV with a young man around my age. He had a Pikachu and jumped off the tower."
"You mean Ash?"
"Yes Ash! I was wondering if you knew where he was?"
"Oh I'm sorry, but if you're looking for him he left for Santalune City two days ago."
"Eh." Serena felt stupid for not leaving sooner. Still Santalune City wasn't that far away, she knew she could get there before he left.
"Thank you Prof." Serena left the lab with Fennekin in her Poke Ball as she headed towards route four.
Elsewhere on route four Ash, Red and Clemont were training with their Pokemon. Bonnie was sitting against a tree with her new Skitty in her lap watching as they trained.
"Bunnelby use Mud Shot." Bunnelby jumped up and hurled hard clumps of mud at Pikachu and Fletchling.
"Pikachu, Fletchling use Agility." Pikachu and Fletchling quickly moved around with great speed as they avoided each of the mud shots.
"Great job guys, you're getting even faster." Ash said.
"Okay my turn." Clemont said.
"Fletchling use Razor Wind." Fletchling whipped up a powerful wind and used Razor Wind on Bunnelby.
"Bunnelby use Agility." Bunnelby quickly sped up as he tried to avoid the incoming razor winds. He managed to avoid most of them, but he was hit by two streaks.
"Bunnelby use Dig!" Clemont shouted. Bunnelby quickly burrowed himself underground and avoided the rest of the razor winds. After a minute, Bunnelby shot out of the ground and jumped into the air.
"Fletchling use Double Team." Fletchling quickly made a dozen copies of himself.
"Bunnelby use Mud Shot!" Bunnelby quickly used Mud Shot and hit every one of the copies dead on.
"Nice work Bunnelby." Clemont said as Bunnelby landed.
"Alright it's our turn." Red said. Fletchinder flew in front of Red as Fletchling flew in front of Ash.
"Fletchling use Razor Wind!"
"Fletchinder use Agility." Fletchinder quickly moved through the razor wind and upward even incoming streaks.
"Fletchling use Double Team." Fletchling made a dozen copies of himself in the air.
"Fletchinder use Ember." Fletchinder opened his beak and let out small bursts of fire. The fire hit and destroyed all the copies.
"Nice work Fletchinder." Fletchinder flew back over and landed beside Red.
"Charmander your turn." Red said as Charmander stepped up to face Pikachu.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Charmander dodge it." Charmander quickly moved out of the Thunderbolt's path.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt."
"Dodge it!" Once again, Charmander moved out of the way.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack."
"Charmander use Growl and prepare to block him." Charmander growled, reducing the power behind Pikachu's Quick Attack. When Pikachu made contact Charmander held his arms in front of him using his forearms to block Pikachu and knock him to the ground.
"Nice work Charmander, you're doing great!"
"Char."
"Charmander use Ember!"
"Pikachu dodge with Quick Attack." Charmander opened his mouth and let out a small burst of fire. Pikachu quickly moved out of the way and then sped forward knocking Charmander back a few inches.
"Charmander use Scratch."
"Pikachu use Tail Whip." Pikachu tried to lower Charmander's defenses but his tail was smacked away by Charmander's claws.
The two Pokemon continue to spar for several minutes before their trainers called them back. Ash and the others poured food into their Pokemon's bowls before getting their own lunch ready.
"That looked so fun when your Pokemon battled each other." Bonnie said.
"They are improving, Pikachu was getting faster every time we train." Ash said.
"I will admit these training sessions are helping our Pokemon get stronger, but I think we should have some real battles with other trainers before we take on the gym leader at Santalune City." Red said.
"Well we did battle Garchomp in Lumiose City, not to mention Ash and I beat those Team Rocket members yesterday. Plus we have been training really hard." Clemont said.
"That's fine Clemont, but just training your Pokemon isn't enough. You have to give them battle experience against other trainers. The more Pokemon battle against other trainers and their Pokemon, the better they will get at battling." Red explained.
"I think you're right Red, we should try to find other trainers to battle before we get to Santalune City." Ash said.
Ash got up and said. "And I'm going to find a trainer to battle right now." Moments later they all heard a growl come from his stomach. Ash bent his back a little and put his hands on his stomach. "Or maybe after lunch." The others laughed a little.
About an hour after lunch the group was continuing down the road towards Santalune City. They had gotten out of the forest area and to a more grassy open area.
"So when do you think we'll find another trainer?" Ash asked.
"Well I'm not sure, plus we have to consider if they even want to battle us." Red started.
"Ah ha at last!" A voice said. Everyone looked to their right to see a young man on roller blades coming towards them. He looked around ten years old with dark skin, green eyes, a white shirt and helmet and 2 Poke Balls on his belt. The kid stopped directly in front of Red.
"My name is Greg and I'm a trainer. Now I saw you first and that means we have to have a battle!" The kid exclaimed.
"What?" Bonnie asked.
"It's the rule of trainer battles, if a trainer sees another trainer walking along a route they have to have a battle!" The boy explained.
"Uh okay, I was hoping I'd find someone to battle." Red said as he took out a Poke Ball. The two got a good distance away from each other and faced each other. Clemont walked between them on the side.
"Alright let the battle begin!" Red took out his first Poke Ball and threw it forward.
"I choose you Charmander." Charmander came out and stood in front of Red.
"Come on out Helioptile!" Greg said. A small Helioptile came out and landed in front of his trainer.
"Aww that thing is so cute!" Bonnie said. Ash remembered Alexa's Helioptile but he had never seen one in a battle before.
"Helioptile use thundershock!" Greg said.
"Charmander dodge and use Ember!" Charmander easily avoided the incoming thunder shot and then hit Helioptile with several small bursts of fire from his mouth.
"Helioptile use Charge!" Greg said.
"Charmander use Growl." Helioptile gathered up electricity to increase his electric attacks only to have his attack strength lower when Charmander used growled.
"Dang it that won't work. Heloptile try Thundershock again!"
"Charmander dodge and use scratch." Charmander once again avoided the incoming thunder shock. Once he was clear Charmander ran forward and scratched Helioptile across the face.
"Helioptile use mud slap!" Helioptile hurled mud into Charmander knocking him back a foot.
"Perfect now follow up with Thundershock!"
"Charmander use Ember!" Charmander growled and unleashed an Ember that hit Helioptile before he could use Thundershock.
"Helioptile!" Helioptile fell over and lay flat on the ground with swirly eyes.
"Helioptile is unable to battle!" Clemont said.
"Wow great job Red, Charmander." Ash said
"Pika!" Bonnie's eyes started to sparkle as she watched Red battle.
"This is so exciting, keep battling!" Bonnie said.
"Charmander good work, come and get some rest." Charmander came back over and rested beside Red. Red took out his second Poke Ball and sent out Fletchinder. "I choose you Fletchinder." Fletchinder came out of his Poke Ball and flew in front of Red.
"Alright we can still do this. Go Pidgey" A small Pidgey came out and flew in above his trainer.
"Pidgey use Gust."
"Fletchinder use Quick Attack." Fletchinder quickly flew around the gust and slammed into Pidgey knocking the smaller bird to the ground.
"Perfect now use Ember!" Fletchinder quickly blasted pidgy with a small burst of fire before could get up knocking Pidgey out.
"Pidgey is unable to battle, the winner is Fletchinder" Clemont said.
"We did it , we won!" Red said as Fletchinder flew back over towards Red.
"Great job Red, that was awesome." Ash said. Greg sighed and returned his Pidgey.
"Well that was a tough battle. You're really good Red."
"Thanks Greg, keep training and I'm sure you'll get better."
"Thanks, I'd better get my pokemon to a center." Greg said as he started to skate towards Santalune City.
"Alright I've won my first battle, the first of many." Red said as he returned his pokemon.
"Okay now I just need to find a trainer to beat." Ash said.
"Well if you want the next battle I suggest you stay in front of the first-person a trainer sees." Clemont said.
The group continued down the roar for another 25 minutes when a young woman who looked about 11 years old with blonde hair, brown eyes, with a white and pink shirt and helmet on roller blades jumped out in front of them.
"A ha I thought I saw another trainer. My name is Lucy and I'm a trainer, and since I managed to see you that means you have to battle me." Lucy said looking at Ash.
"Great I was hoping was hoping I could battle someone before I got to Santalune City." Ash said. Red walked to the side in between Lucy and Ash.
"I'll take care of this Clemont."
"Yay another battle!" Bonnie said. Lucy took out her first Poke Ball and threw it forward. "Go Litleo!" A small feline like Pokémon with black fur and a patch of red hair on the top of its head.
"What is that? " Ash said as he took out his pokedex.
"Litleo the cub pokemon:The stronger the opponent it faces, the more heat surges from its mane and the more power flows through its body."
"Litleo use Ember!"
"Pikachu dodge and use Thunderbolt." Pikachu used his speed to avoid the incoming bursts of fire and then blasted the Litleo with Thunderbolt.
"Nice shot Pikachu." Ash said.
"Litleo use Leer!" Lucy said.
"Pikachu use Growl." Just as Litleo used leer and lowered Pikachu's defenses Pikachu used growl and lowered Litleo's attack.
"That was smart of him, now it doesn't matter if Pikachu's defenses were lowered." Clemont said.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack."
"Litleo stop him with Ember!" Litleo opened his mouth and let out several small bursts of fire. Pikachu raced forward using his speed to avoid the embers and hit litleo.
"Litleo use Headbutt!" Lucy said. Litleo quickly got back up and rammed his head into Pikachu knocking him back.
"Pikachu are you okay!" Pikachu got right back but Pikachu got right back up and growled sparking electricity in his cheeks.
"Litleo use Take Down!"
"Pikachu dodge and use Thunderbolt!" Pikachu waited until Litleo was close then jumped clean over him and blasted him with electricity knocking him out.
"Great job Pikachu!" Ash said.
"Pika!" Pikachu said proudly.
"Ash is doing good, he's already won the first battle." Clemont said.
"He's gonna win! He's gonna win!" Bonnie said.
Lucy returned her Litleo and took out her other Poke Ball.
"Well that's some Pikachu. But I'm not giving up." She said as she threw her Poke Ball forward.
"Pikachu you've done enough to come get some rest." Pikachu ran over and climbed back onto Ash's shoulder. Ash took out Fletchling's Poke Ball and sent him out. Fletchling flew out in front of Ash and squawked at Spearow.
"Spearow use Leer!"
"Fletchling use Growl!" Spearow's eyes glowed white as he used leer and lowered Fletchling's defenses. At the same time Fletchling growled and lowered Spearow's attack power.
"Spearow use Growl!"
"Fletchling use Quick Attack." Fletchling flew forward with incredible speed and smashed into spearow before he could use growl.
"Spearow use Fury Attack."
"Fletchling use Agility!" Spearow came forward and jabbed his beak at Fletchling several times. Fletchling used his agility to avoid each of the incoming strikes.
"Fletchling use Peck!" Fletchling pecked spearow.
"Hidden Power!" Lucy cried. The attack caught Ash and Fletchling completely off guard. Spearow created six small round white orbs around him and blasted Fletchling with them.
"Fletchling!"
"Pika!"
"Spearow follow up with Fury Attack." Fletchling tried to move out of the way but he was still recovering from hidden power. Spearow pecked his beak into Fletchling several times.
"Damn." Ash said.
"Come on Ash don't give up." Red said.
"Spearow use Hidden Power."
"Fletchling use Agility and then Razor Wind." Fletchling quickly abated each of the hidden power orbs and then unleashed razor wind. The streets of wind hit Spearow and sent him back several feet.
"Quick Attack!" Fletchling moved forward with incredible speed and smacked into Spearow one last time. Spearow fell to the ground, once he hit the dirt he was unconscious.
"Spearow is unable to battle , the winner is Fletchling and Ash." Red said.
"Great job Fletchling, I'm really proud of you."
"He won, he won!" Bonnie said.
"Great job Ash." Red said. Lucy sighed and returned her Spearow. She stepped forward and shook hands with Ash.
"You are a good trainer Ash. I'll have to train real hard and have a rematch with you some day."
"I'll take that rematch." Ash said. Later that night the group had set up camp just off the road. Ash and Red were making dinner while Clemont fed the pokemon. After the dinner was prepared and they started eating Ash Looked over at his two Pokémon.
"I'm really proud of you guys. You battled extremely well today."
"Pika." Pikachu said happily, Fletchling chirped happily as he took in another piece of food.
"You guys did great today to, I think we're well on a way to becoming champions." Red said to his pokemon.
"Char!" Fletchinder also chirped. Ash turned back to Red who was sitting next to him.
"So do you think will reach Santalune City by tomorrow?"
"Probably, and if I heard right the gym leader is a bug type trainer."
"Do you think we should do more training before we do some more training. I know we beat some trainer's today but the gym leader has to be a very experienced Pokémon trainer."
"You're probably right, I think we should try to battle a few more trainers before we face her." Red said.
"That is a good idea, gym leaders are very experienced Pokémon trainers. You shouldn't take them lightly." Clemont said.