"Daylight finally, I thought we'd be stuck in there forever." Cassie exclaimed.
"And look, in the distance, a Pokemon Center." Ash pointed towards the town not far off.
"Ash, are you sure this is Lavender Town?" Cassie asked staying close to him.
"I'm not so sure." Ash admitted. "Let's just hurry inside and then we can figure it out."
Inside the Pokemon Center
"Hello, and welcome to the Pokemon Center." Nurse Joy said.
"Hi, I was hoping to get my Pokémon looked at, and maybe find out where we are." Ash said.
"You must be new around here." Nurse Joy said, taking Ash's Pokemon. "This is Potbelly Valley."
"Pot-potbelly Valley? I don't think I've heard of this place, where is it on the map?" Ash asked, once Nurse Joy had come back.
"Oh you won't find it on many maps, this little slice of life is deep in the mountainous region of Kanto." The Nurse Joy said, pointing north west of where Ash had hoped to get too. "Though I do know Mr. Jonas is taking his cart out of town tomorrow towards Saffron, I'm sure if you ask he'd be willing to give you a ride."
"That would be great, where can I find him?" Ash said.
"Well you could turn around for starters." A gruff voice said. "Names Jonas, and I don't give out free rides, so stop offering it Joy."
"Wait we're really lost and could use a way back onto the trail." Cassie said.
"Well I'll be a Mankey's uncle." Jonas said looking at Cassie. "Fine, you're gonna help me load up my stuff, and then I'll give ya a lift."
The next morning
"There you are." Jonas barked. "I'm almost done already, help me with the last of the things and we'll get going."
"If you don't mind me asking, what are…". Ash asked.
"Potatoes mostly." Jonas said. "Remember to lift with your legs."
"Yes sir." Ash said, lifting a bag.
A bit later
"Alright hop in." Jonas said, sitting at the front, holding some reins connected to a Tauros.
"So did you and Tauros ever do any battling?" Ash asked.
"Nope. Tauros has been a mover Pokemon for as long as I can remember." Jonas said calmly. "I do have a friend up along this path that I'm sure we'll run into on our trip though, and he's a battler."
"What's it like?" Cassie asked.
"What's what like?" Jonas asked.
"Farming." Cassie said, hanging over the railing looking at him.
"Well, it's a lot of hard work and long days." Jonas said. "Now you kids just sit back and relax, we've got a bit of a trip ahead of us."
A few hours had passed when the cart came to a sudden stop.
"Are we at Saffron?" Ash asked.
"Wouldn't that be nice." Jonas said. "No, there's trouble ahead."
"I recognize them! They're the Team Rocket grunts that I battled in Dark Cave!" Ash exclaimed.
"You're that good?" Jonas asked.
"I do have three badges, just stay here I've got this." Ash said.
"Does he have this?" Jonas asked.
"Maybe." Cassie admitted.
"Does he know about…". Jonas paused.
"I think he does, but I'm not certain." Cassie admitted again.
"Hey you three!" Ash shouted running up to the grunts.
"It's that kid!" One of the grunts said. "I thought you'd be long gone by now."
"I'm just stubborn like that." Ash said. "It's payback time. Pikachu let's do this!"
"Grimer come on out!"
"Raticate, let's go!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu sent out a blast of electricity that seemed to barely phase the Grimer as its body rippled from the electricity.
"Grimer use Pound!"
"Raticate use Super Fang!"
Raticate and Grimer lunged at Pikachu, the narrow road giving little room to move.
"Gas! Gastly!" A voice cried out. Grimer was soon stuck in position before being launched backwards as a Gastly came out from the rocky wall.
"Ahh it seems my friend has joined the fight." Jonas said.
"Alright then! Pikachu use Quick Attack on Raticate!"
Pikachu sped forward into the stunned Raticate throwing it backwards to the grunts.
"Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt to finish them off!"
A bolt of electricity shot out at the Team Rocket group, setting off an explosion and launching them into the horizon.
"Well that certainly was strange." Jonas said as the cart pulled up to Ash.
"Yeah, I didn't think a Thunderbolt could do that." Ash admitted.
"I suppose anything is possible if you try hard enough." Jonas said. "Now come on, that dilemma cost us some daylight."
"Right, let's go." Ash said, hopping onto the cart as Gastly floated by Jonas.
"So you're coming along for the ride, old friend, very well." Jonas said.
A few hours passed as they continued their way down the mountains, eventually reaching the main road.
"Okay kid, here's your stop." Jonas said.
"Wait I thought you were taking us to Saffron." Ash said.
"I promised I'd get you back to the main roads, I never said a thing about Saffron. Look kid, take it from me, you won't learn anything by taking shortcuts, take the long way and you'll be a better person for it." Jonas said. "And you, watch after your brother, he's got a gift." Jonas said, to Cassie.
"I liked him." Cassie said as they watched Jonas's cart head down the road.
"He's a bit rough, but a good guy." Ash said.
"So which way are we headed?" Cassie asked.
"Looks like the next best gym is that way." Ash said pointing the opposite direction of Saffron.
"Well then, let's get going, I'll race you!" Cassie said taking off towards the town in the distance.