Welcome back everyone! Or for those who are just joining, welcome aboard. We're back after a break following Master Quest: Lessons. And in this installment Ash is about to head off on his first real adventure over summer break. Of course, knowing Ash it won't be a normal adventure but I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks for the continued support!

It's been a while since the last time I uploaded for Master Quest and I hope this latest installment can deliver an enjoyable time for everyone!

Chapter 1: A Grand New Adventure

"So you're heading to Johto for the summer?" Professor Oak asked as he lowered a few trays of Pokémon food onto the ground. Wild Pokémon scurried across the field, their paws trampling the grass and dirt that spread for miles. Wind blew around as the ground shook. Many different Pokémon arrived as they all ate away, Ash staring in awe for a moment at all of them. Pidgey landed from the trees as Rattata and Nidoran of both genders scurried about. Even a Graveler rolled into the clearing as a group of Sandshrew followed behind it. The boy wondered for a moment where his own Pokémon were as they got acclimated to their new location.

"Did you at least tell your mother the reason why?"

"Of course," Ash responded, the boy scratching at the side of his cheek. Inside his jacket he could feel his prized feather glow slightly, the warm sensation making it almost too hot to keep his green jacket on. Pikachu cried softly as his paw tapped Ash atop his head. "Though she wasn't too excited to learn I failed the semester. Fortunately Agatha gave me the option of doing a field study over summer break to make up credit."

Professor Oak shook his head in amusement as he pushed the cart filled with food along. The duo traversed a small hill until they reached a pond (though Ash felt it was too large to be considered one). Pulling a few more plates out, Oak wiped a bit of sweat away from his forehead as a smile crossed his face. "It only makes sense you went to Johto as well. I'm sure it's no coincidence that Gary and Leaf left for there as well."

"They did?" Ash asked. The boy scratched at the back of his head for a moment as he tried to remember if they had mentioned any plans for the summer to him. Though no memory could suffice as he gave up, instead choosing to pull Pikachu away from the food. A Poliwag gave a thankful cry as it dug into the plate. Ash reminded Pikachu the food wasn't for him as they had plenty at home, the Electric-Type sighing at the reminder. Off in the distance Ash waved towards his Wartortle, the Water-Type resting in the water as he swam back and forth. Fortunately, he had acclimated himself rather well.

Professor Oak nodded at the boy's question, though his attention appeared to be on a Tentacool resting in the water. His hands rolled across the Water and Poison-Type, careful not to disturb it as he inspected its body.

"Gary left a few days ago. Mentioned something about needing answers and that was all I could get out of him," Oak mused as he let go of the Tentacool. The Jellyfish Pokémon cried happily, diving back under the water as waves rippled across the pond. A breeze passed through once more, the cries of wild Pokémon riding along as Ash held to his hat.

"And Leaf was gone before him. She appeared in a rush to get back to whatever she was up to during Spring Break."

Ash nodded at that, a reminder of her excavation entering his head as he and Professor Oak turned back towards the lab. Along the way he passed by a few of his Pokémon, Fearow asleep in a tree while Bulbasaur appeared to be mediating a situation between a Gloom and a Bellsprout. Scyther appeared to be indifferent of the situation, his arms swinging wildly as he slashed away at a tree. It was only Charizard that Ash had no clue where he could be.

"And what exactly are you going to study?"

Oak's question snapped Ash back to reality, the boy blinking for a moment as he tugged at his jacket. The glow from his feather had died down now, the boy placing a hand over the jacket where it rested.

"The legend of Ho-Oh."

"Such an odd choice," Professor Oak mused as he pushed the cart across the field. Ash wondered if the Professor handled these duties every day, but that was when he noticed the man's granddaughter Daisy off on the other side of the lab. She appeared to be taking the temperature of a Magmar before providing it and a few other Fire-Types their meals.

"You know, Ho-Oh itself is shrouded in mystery. Believed to be nothing more than an old legend passed down by the original settlers of Johto. Though in this world, I would believe that any legend has some basis of fact to it."

"Yeah." Ash nodded in agreement as Professor Oak came to a rest. The cart sat next to his laboratory, the shelves empty as the older man looked at his watch. Off in the distance a stream of fire erupted upwards, Ash now understanding where Charizard was as his familiar roar echoed outwards. "Though, Ho-Oh has a special meaning for Pikachu and I. We swear we saw it on the day we met."

"Anything is possible," Oak mused, his hand rubbing against his chin. The breeze began to die down now as the sun baked down onto the laboratory grounds. "But are you certain you won't take any of your Pokémon with you? Why just Pikachu?"

Ash found himself chuckling at the question, his finger rubbing the underside of his nose as silence fell across the area. He could feel Scyther stop his training, the Bug and Flying-Type slowly marched over to their conversation.

"It's because I started my journey with Pikachu, and I want this next chapter to begin with just Pikachu. Besides, I want to meet and make new friends and help train them to become stronger too!"

"In that case, follow me." Oak motioned Ash inside his lab, the boy following without any complaints as Scyther followed behind him. Pikachu acknowledged the Mantis Pokémon with a small "cha" but received no reply.

The small group of four made their way down the hallway, passing by the kitchen which Ash felt his mouth salivate from. It appeared that they had something being prepared, the sound of the back-door slamming shut alerting him that Daisy had returned inside. As they wandered the halls, Ash took a moment to glance at the pictures Professor Oak had now lined his walls with. One appeared to be an ancient image of some Pokémon, the small, pink creature looking almost like a God of sorts with the way it was presented. One image had it before a temple of sorts, a dense forest surrounding it as vegetation grow across the stone structure.

Taking one final turn, Ash followed the older man into his actual laboratory. The sound of footsteps echoed across the tiled floor as the sounds of machines whirling and computers operating drowned out his own thoughts. On one of the screens appeared to be images of what he assumed was a Rattata, but it appeared different. Instead of the purple coloring its fur usually held, it appeared darker. Almost black in color.

A shuffling noise alerted Ash to Professor Oak's movements, papers scattering across the clean tiles as even a cup of tea crashed against the ground. The liquid pooled around the older man's feet but he cared little for it as he splashed amongst it. Instead, a familiar item gleamed in his hand as the sun shined down onto it.

"I wanted to ask Gary to handle this, but he left before I had a chance," Oak began to say, holding the GS Ball in his hand firmly. Ash remembered the problems that device had connected to it, especially the part where it couldn't be transferred like a normal pokeball. "Since you're heading to Johto, could you possibly stop by a friend of mine? His name is Kurt and he's an expert in crafting pokeballs. In fact, before the Silph Corporation mass produced them he was the number one manufacturer for them. Now he spends his time living in Azalea Town with his granddaughter."

"Of course. But, what could he possibly do?"

"I'm hoping he could give a look at the GS Ball. Maybe he can find an answer to it since I'm stumped. And as a thank you, I'll even update your Pokedex to contain information on Pokémon native to Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh. Just hand me your pokedex.

"I'd add more, but I'm still working on research for the other regions. You probably noticed those Rattata files on my other computer, but to put it simply, that's an Alolan Rattata. It's found only in the Alola region and are different than our Rattata. My cousin is researching them right now and sending me updates."

"You lost me there. But I'll take the GS Ball to this Kurt guy," Ash replied as laughter broke across the room. The boy figured Professor Oak knew better than to expect him to understand anything he just said. Handing his pokedex over to the older man, Ash watched it be inserted into a slot on a nearby computer. A whirling noise erupted through the lab, heat radiating from the device as the screen showed files being transmitted. Eventually it came to a finish as his pokedex was ejected from the computer.

Taking the pokedex back he placed it gently into his back pocket before gripping the strange pokeball that rested in Professor Oak's hand. Without a word spoken Ash removed his backpack from his shoulders before placing the GS ball within it. The object sat comfortably atop some clothes as he zipped the bag shut.

"Now before you leave, are you certain you're all set?" Professor Oak asked. Ash nodded slightly, following the older man out into the living room. It felt empty with no one there, Ash wondering for a second if Professor Oak ever missed the days when everyone was around.

"You've got a way to pay for the entire trip, yes? Because I know the school won't cover any expenses of this magnitude."

"You could say I have it under control. Back during the school year I met this guy who wanted to sponsor me, I'll just give him a call before I leave Viridian. Besides, I need to drop my paperwork off at one of the offices there."

Oak nodded at that, Ash noticing that Scyther was still with them as they approached the front door. Shifting his backpack around, Ash nodded to Pikachu as they were both ready to embark on the next chapter of their story. Ash grasped the handle tightly, the door swinging open as the duo were blasted with rays of sunshine once more. A smile crossed Ash's face. A deep breath followed as he stepped outside. Scyther took a step along with them, Professor Oak chuckling slightly as Ash turned around.

"What's the matter, Scyther? Aren't you happy to stay and rest up?"

"Scyther! Scyther scy!" the Mantis Pokémon claimed. His arms swung wildly as they generated a slight gust of wind. Ash nodded at the statement even if it went against what he originally wanted. But who was he to deny Scyther his request, especially after everything he lost because of Ash.

"I understand," Ash stated as he tugged on his hat. Turning to Professor Oak, the boy grinned cheekily. "Looks like Scyther is coming along. How can I say no?"

"I figured as much which is why I grabbed his pokeball before we left the lab." Professor Oak reached into his lab coat, pulling out the familiar capture device. The sun glowed off of it, the reflection heading to parts unknown as Ash grasped at it. The device felt cool in his hand, almost like it was unnatural for him to call it his own.

Without a spoken word he turned towards Scyther, the Bug and Flying-Type waiting patiently as he lifted the pokeball. With the press of a button a red light shot outwards as it encapsulated Scyther, the creature broken down into a form of energy as he shot back into the pokeball. Decreasing its size, Ash placed the pokeball back onto his belt as the object remained stationary.

"Now I'm off. I'll call if anything comes up or I need assistance!" Ash shouted. His feet pounded down the steps of the Oak Laboratory as he quickly found himself back on the street. A car passed by slowly as it honked at Ash, the boy waving back to the driver as he saw a load of fresh vegetables in the back of the truck. With that he was off as he broke into a sprint, Pikachu running right beside him as they made for the town's northern exit.

The trip back to Viridian City felt like it was nothing, Ash's adrenaline carrying him the entire way, or at least as far as he could go in one day. The boy needed to stop for the night at one point as it became too dark to travel, instead setting up a small camp as he, Pikachu and Scyther enjoyed some sandwiches made by his mother. It wasn't much but the food was enough to hold them over for the night; he planned to get some food from the campus cafeteria before leaving for Johto.

The night sky brightened up the area, the stars appearing to flicker like a fire as clouds came and went. Thoughts ran wild through Ash's mind as he wondered what Johto would be like and what challenges he might uncover. As it was, he knew that Agatha was expecting occasional checkups to make sure he was properly working. Laying in his sleeping bag he felt Pikachu snuggle up against his chest. A content "chu" seeping from Pikachu's mouth as the Electric-Type dozed off. Scyther was still awake however, the sound of him swinging his arms told Ash that he was training late into the night just as he had previously done with Corey.

The thought of Corey was a sobering one, Ash still upset over what went down that day. How he wished it could be reversed. Though before he could continue to delve into that memory he felt his eyes grow heavy. His eyelids slowly covering his eyes as the image of the stars faded into blackness, just as a fire would burnout and leave no light. The sound of Scyther training became almost like a rhythm to him as he timed his breathing to each swing until he could no longer hear those either.

Time appeared to slow for Ash, his mind a blank canvas that was quickly splattered with colors. It felt like a rainbow to him as a warm sensation passed through the dream, a minuscule flame appearing in the distance as he struggled to understand what it all meant. A cry followed shortly after as Ash was startled awake from it. His action jolted Pikachu, the Electric-Type releasing some electricity by accident as Ash was zapped. Coughing, he unzipped his now charred sleeping bag and stood up.

"Pikapi?" Pikachu asked carefully. Scyther eyed him suspiciously but Ash just waved the both of them off. He figured the cry was of just a nearby Pokémon; it had just been unexpected and startled him.

"I'm alright; just startled awake. Sorry if I worried you two, but let's get moving. I want to be heading for Johto by this afternoon the latest."

Neither Pokémon argued with him, Ash rolling his sleeping bag up before tucking it within his backpack. Without another word he began to book it for Viridian City as the scenery changed. Trees and dirt roads gave way to a few homes and a paved road, those two swallowed up by the titan of a city that was Viridian. Traffic swarmed the roads immediately as Ash entered the heavily populated area, horns buzzing and words flying around as he maneuvered through the streets. He already knew his destination but it was a matter of getting there in the least amount of time that was the problem.

Crossing the street, Ash passed by the Viridian City Gym as it appeared to be under renovation now that Blue had taken it over. He wondered if there would be massive changes to it, as it was, the entrance was being changed. Stone pillars fell onto the ground as Ash continued by. Dust flew into the air, the boy covering his mouth as Pikachu sneezed from the debris.

As he continued on his way, Ash soon saw the familiar school yard approach him. The bus depot appeared busy as the sight of students lined the street. Some would be boarding buses while he noted that others were growing impatient as they were forced to wait. He failed to notice anyone he knew personally before walking past the area and heading for the main entrance. The gates were open and there appeared to be a lack of security, Ash finding it weird for a moment only to shrug. Pikachu dashed ahead, Ash forced to chase after his best friend as he scurried about the grounds. His paws pattered against the concrete walkway, Ash's shoes imitating the sound as they raced through the area.

Students chatted along the way as Ash noted them either sitting at the tables or benches or in some occasions holding battles on the practice fields. Some were walking towards the classrooms as Ash wondered if they were taking summer courses or had failed just as he did. One student Ash recognized from his time in the beginners' course waved to him as he returned the gesture only to take off after Pikachu once more. The Electric-Type bounded along the path until they came to a specific building.

"Pikapi! Pika!" Pikachu cried out, his front paws pointing towards it as Ash caught up. The boy took a few deep breaths as he tried to calm his breathing. Once recovered he reached into his backpack and pulled out a large packet before flipping through the pages. As he checked to make sure each page was correctly marked and filled out he came to the final page which was marked with not only Agatha's signature but the school's seal. Taking one final deep breath, Ash walked to the twin doors and noticed an envelope slot off to the side.

Marked above it on a plate were the words "student papers" to which Ash flipped it open and deposited his course work. He figured it was the best action and even if he were wrong Agatha would fix the mistakes. It was just on him to get the work finished this time.

"Okay, Pikachu, our newest adventure starts today!" Ash shouted, a few passing students looking at him strangely. The boy rubbed the back of his head at the stares he had created, Pikachu just sighing contently as both their stomachs made them forget their current situation. A rumble passed through them, Pikachu's cheeks turning even redder than they usually were as Ash laughed.

"But first let's get something to eat."

The duo walked across campus once more as they passed through the exodus of students who were leaving their dorms for what Ash assumed was the final time until the fall. There were some familiar faces amongst the crowd but he didn't stop to say hello to them, instead allowing his stomach to take control of his body. Pikachu leapt onto his shoulder to avoid being trampled, the duo pushing through the bodies of students until finally coming face to face with the cafeteria.

The aroma of the building attracted Ash immediately, his mouth watering as his feet moved without his permission. His hands pushed open the door as he entered the building as only a small portion of the student body appeared to be present here. That didn't disappoint the workers however as Ash noted the kitchen staff appeared to work happily. The blue haired man appeared to be cooking something, though the magenta haired woman happened to drop a tray of food as he made his way towards the counter.

"W-What can we get for you today?" she managed to get out. Ash looked at the woman curiously, she seemed familiar, but his mind couldn't figure out from where. Instead, he could only think of the food they had cooking.

"I'll have an order of teriyaki meatballs, some of those fried sausages and a plate of curry."

"Quite the pig...er big. Quite the big appetite you have there," the woman stated before she repeated the order behind her. Ash found it interesting how the Pokémon appeared to help out as well, a Meowth placing sausage onto the grill as they sizzled. Handing over his student id, Ash watched as it was swiped before he took the piece of plastic back. Further down the counter he heard a ring echo outward, the blue haired man sliding a tray with his order on it.

Ash wiped his mouth as a few drops of liquid fell onto his shoulder. Pikachu apologized for the action as Ash merely rubbed behind his best friend's ear. The duo made their way for the tray, unaware of the nervous smiles that the cooks gave off. Picking up his food, he thanked the blue haired man who appeared to be sweating slightly before crossing the cafeteria. There was no shortage of seats for him today as he grabbed one of the many empty tables and dug in.

Pikachu copied his action, the duo devouring the meal happily as it quenched their insatiable appetite. Dishes clanged as Ash placed his bowl of curry down, his spoon rolling around the inside as he reached for one of the sausage. Pikachu had already devoured one of them and was chewing away at a couple of the meatballs when a clicking sound caused his ears to perk up.

"What is it, Pikachu?"

"I figured you would be here." The voice caused Ash to inwardly groan, his eyes slowly looking away from the tantalizing food before him only to befall onto the sour presence next to him.

"What do you want, Giselle. I'm eating," Ash responded. He cast a small glance at the girl, about to resume his lunch only for her to slam a hand onto the table. The action rocked the table as Pikachu fell onto his backside, his meatball rolling onto the floor as he let out a small cry of disappointment. Ash now turned in his seat, leaning an elbow against the table as his face rested against his open palm. In Giselle's arms was none other than their project from the past semester, the egg still unhatched as he wondered when it would ever crack open.

"What do I want? Well that list could go on for a while," the girl started to say as she placed the egg onto the table. The case clanked against the metal table, but no harm appeared to be done towards the egg. "But what I'll settle for is you looking after the egg. I've got plans for the summer and since you failed to look after it during the entire semester it's only right you deal with it now."

"Wait! You can't just dump this on me, we're partners!" Ash stated as he jumped from his seat. Pikachu copied the action, a few sparks flying from his cheeks as Ash pointed at the girl. Giselle placed her hands behind her back and pouted slightly at his statement.

"Didn't seem like it. I was the only one out of the two of us to handle it, instead you ran off with that Surge guy after our midterms. Didn't even offer to watch the egg either."

"Things were different then. But I'm busy now, can't you handle it?"

"Nope.

"I already spoke to Agatha and she agreed it would be a good learning experience for you to handle it," Giselle replied. The girl flung her hair back for a moment as laughter sung from her mouth. Ash covered his ears at it, the sound making him nauseous. Giselle paid no attention to his reaction, the girl's shoes tapping against the floor as Ash looked on in disbelief. Her figure soon escaped from the cafeteria, the young boy now staring at the egg as his finger tapped against the case.

He sighed out in annoyance as his summer had just become a bigger issue. Not even the remainder of his meal managed to raise his spirits as the boy continued to eat. Though he found himself looking at the egg, the light green object appearing unchanged from the day he had picked it out.

"Guess we're stuck with it, Pikachu."

"Pikapi..." the Electric-Type sighed out as Ash opened his backpack. Sliding the case in carefully he closed up the backpack before grabbing his trash. Pikachu leapt from the table, following Ash as the boy made his way towards the trash receptacle. Tossing it away, Ash turned towards the exit as a few students made their way in. No words were said as he failed to recognize any of them. Instead, he made his way in the direction towards the familiar red roofed building.

The walk was a short one for Ash, the boy able to cross the grounds in no time at all as his goal came into sight. Approaching the entrance, he waited as the doors slid open. A few students made their way outside as Ash entered the building. A small line had formed at the desk, though it didn't bother Ash at all as he moved around the room.

Sitting on one of the couches Ash looked towards the television as the events that had occurred in the Orange Islands were talked about once more. The boy rolled his eyes at that, the cancellation of the tournament causing him this much trouble. A slight shift of the couch alerted Ash of another's presence. Though he didn't need to look as the familiar voice spoke up.

"So you're really heading out?"

"Yep. I'm hoping to be in New Bark Town within three days," Ash responded, the boy holding up three fingers. He turned his head slightly, the sight of Brock now in his view as Pikachu climbed atop the older boy's shoulder. Brock rubbed behind Pikachu's ear as the Electric-Type cried out happily.

"Though now I've got more work to do." Removing his backpack, the boy opened it slowly. Brock peered inside as Ash revealed both the egg and GS Ball. "Giselle stuck me with the egg and Professor Oak asked me to drop that weird pokeball off at a friend's house."

Brock nodded at the explanation, Ash zipping his bag back up before laughing at his situation. He figured Brock would chastise him for failing in the first place but instead he remained silent. To Ash he appeared to be in deep thought, his forehead scrunched up slightly as his lips were sucked in. A sigh broke the silence, Pikachu tilting his head as Brock moved him from his shoulder. Ash took his best friend from Brock's hands, placing Pikachu down on his lap as the older boy stood.

"This might sound selfish of me, but can I come along?"

Ash blinked at the question. He hadn't expected Brock to ask something like that. Especially since he assumed the boy would have wanted to stay back here and work at the Center during the summer. Instead he could see the determination on his friend's face.

"I know this is supposed to be a chance for you to fix your poor grades, but I want to come along. There's only so much I can learn here compared to following you. There's always new people and places. New techniques to discover that won't be possible here.

"I promised myself to no longer hold back. To push forward towards my dream and that's why I'm asking to follow you on your journey this summer. I feel that I can't take that next step forward if I don't come along. Besides, someone has to keep you in line."

Ash rubbed at the side of his face, the boy unsure as to why Brock was getting so into it. Especially since Ash figured it would be better to have more people with him considering the fact he couldn't cook if his life depended on in. Ash nodded at his friend, Pikachu scurrying off his lap as he began to rise. Firmly, he placed his hand onto Brock's shoulder, the older boy caught off guard for a moment as a smile crossed Ash's face.

"I've got no problem with it. Besides, I always think it's more fun to travel with friends. Plus I can't cook."

"Of course you would say that," Brock sighed out. A hand ran through is hair before the sigh changed to laughter. The two boys clasped their hands together, eyes locked onto each other as Brock spoke up once more. "I won't make you regret this, Ash. We'll make this one trip neither of us will forget."

"As if I'd ever regret it," Ash joked as Pikachu climbed onto his shoulder. Adjusting his backpack, Ash pointed in the direction of the phones. "Though before we leave I have to make a quick phone call."

"I'll meet you at the outskirts of the campus. I need to pack anyways."

With that, Ash watched as Brock took off. The boy appeared to move much faster now, as if enthusiasm had entered his body once more. Ash and Pikachu merely shared a look before taking their first steps towards the phones. The area was empty, the few students still there were waiting for their Pokémon to be returned by Nurse Joy. The Pallet Town native took a seat at one of the many phones as he looked at the green box. His left hand reached for the telephone while his right punched in the number Giovanni had provided him earlier.

It was odd. For the first time in a while he felt a bit anxious over this, his hand growing heavy as he punched each number onto the device. As he finished, the screen before him turned on as a white screen faced across from him. Ringing entered his ear as the telephone sat firmly against his ear lobe. His hand was covered in sweat, Ash adjusting the phone for a moment as he wiped it clean. A voice could be heard mumbling on the other end as Ash hoped he would accept the call. As if his prayer had been answered, the screen flashed on as a taller man with orange hair appeared on the device. A smile quickly spread across his face, the man moving goggles from his eyes as they now hung from his neck.

"Mr. Ketchum, what honor do I owe you calling?" Lysandre stated as his hands moved to behind his body. Ash noted how he appeared dignified. Like a charismatic leader as his lab coat flowed behind him as a gust of wind passed by him. Papers scattered about as the man sighed. "Please excuse the noise, we're currently testing to see if the power of Flying-Type attacks could possibly be harnessed and used for wind energy. It's proving to be tougher than we first anticipated."

"It's fine," Ash replied. Pikachu jumped up in front of the camera, Lysandre waving to the Electric-Type as Ash motioned for his best friend to move. A bead of sweat formed across his forehead. The words he wanted to ask became stuck in his throat, a light cough raising a perplexed look from Lysandre. Pikachu looked at Ash, his head tilted slightly as the Pallet Town native smiled at the Electric-Type. "I'm good, Pikachu."

Ash narrowed his gaze now, Lysandre's expression becoming neutral as Ash took a deep sigh. He wondered if the older man had an idea as to what he wanted to ask. "Mr. Lysandre...it might seem out of nowhere but I'm heading off on a field study and was wondering if I could take you up on your offer. Or, uhm, I'd like to hope you'd sponsor me. Well, that's if you haven't lost an interest in doing so. Not that I've done anything to make that possible. I think..."

Lysandre raised a hand before the screen, the motion causing Ash to shut up and stop his rambling. The boy scratched at his face as an embarrassed expression appeared on his face. The reaction brought a smile to Lysandre's face, the man chuckling before he spoke up. "There's no need to be worried, Mr. Ketchum. I'm not someone who loses interest in something, I mean just look at my research; I've spent years on it despite several setbacks.

"Though, I'm assuming you need me to sponsor your journey when it pertains to housing, food and other necessary supplies? Would you mind me asking just what you're planning to study?"

"Truthfully it's something special to both Pikachu and myself," Ash started to explain. He could feel his prized feather radiate warmth once more, the boy tugging on his jacket for a moment. Lysandre arched an eyebrow in confusion, his eyes narrowing in on Ash's face as excitement and interest overtook him. "You see, on the first day of our journey we saw Ho-Oh. And so we want to learn more about it and maybe see it again."

Lysandre clapped, Ash jumping from the noise as a chuckle came from the older man. "I think it's a wonderful idea. You know, legends of these powerful creatures reside in every region. In fact, I once tried to research the legends of Kalos themselves. Unfortunately my studies were put on hold to help the region. Just imagine what we could do if their energy could be harnessed in an effort to make the world a better place."

Ash blinked for a moment, looking at Pikachu as the duo both failed to gain the same interest as their sponsor. Lysandre appeared to notice that, the man rubbing the back of his head as his orange hair flew around. "Enough of that, it was only an adolescent dream meant for failure. But I'll be more than happy to sponsor your journey through Johto, maybe you could even share your findings with me if your school permits.

"But I'll have one of my employees meet you in Cherrygrove City's Pokémon Center. You can't miss it since it's the first city you'll run into when you leave New Bark Town. In fact, it's the only major city you can access from New Bark Town. Everything else are just small towns or villages."

Ash nodded at the words as he knew that New Bark Town would be the first place he would reach in Johto. Agatha had told him if he traveled west from Viridian he would reach the town in about three days' time. So long as he didn't get sidetracked.

"Thank you for taking me on like this," Ash stated. The boy was completely unsure of what he was supposed to do, his free hand moving about at his side. Lysandre merely waved it off, a smile firmly planted on his face as an explosion was heard in the background. Lysandre appeared to jump at that, smoke now flowing into the room as he coughed.

"It's my pleasure to help the next generation accomplish their dreams. Though I must excuse myself, it appears an accident has occurred here."

Ash nodded softly, Lysandre not waiting for another word as he hung up the call. Ash's computer flashed for a moment, the screen turning black as a dull ring emerged from the phone. With a deep sigh Ash hung the phone up, Pikachu crying happily as he across Ash's shoulders. The Pallet Town native agreed with his best friend, it had gone better than expected. Now to just get on the road to their destination.

The journey into Johto hadn't been tough, Ash and Brock both able to make it through the wilderness with ease. Their only bit of trouble occurred during the final night as they tried to cross the Tohjo Falls, or at least that's what Brock's guidebook called them. Ash had remembered Agatha telling him that they were the unofficial border for Kanto and Johto. A bridge marked the only pathway across though the two boys had noticed its less than ideal condition as they crossed it. Once over it, it had been Brock's decision to set up camp for the night as the older boy began to cook as Ash was asked to set a table up.

Ash then took it upon himself to get the rest of the campsite set up, the boy placing their sleeping bags onto the ground along with getting a fire going. Brock thanked him for that, Ash wiping the sweat from his forehead before sitting down. A cool breeze passed through the area, mist blowing into their campsite as the waterfalls from the Tohjo Falls could be heard cascading down into the river near them. There was an eerie feel to the area as Ash looked at the woods that surrounded them.

Unlike in Kanto, there appeared to be no wild Pokémon nearby or at least none of them were stirring. He wondered if there were perhaps a reason for that. His thoughts were ended however as he felt Pikachu tugging on his jacket. With a glance towards his best friend, Ash noticed that the Electric-Type was pointing towards Brock with his free hand. The older boy held a ladle in his hand as a confused expression sat on his face.

"Did you even hear a word I said?" Brock asked jokingly. Ash shook his head back and forth before chuckling. The area had drawn his attention away from everything else previously. Brock sighed at that, pouring his stew into a bowl. Carefully, he passed it over to Ash as the boy took in a whiff of it. Taking a bit, Ash felt the top of his tongue burn from the fresh meal.

"I had asked where Janine is. I figured she was coming along too," Brock stated. Pouring a glass of water, he passed it onto Ash. The boy took it graciously and chugged the liquid down before registering the question within his own mind.

His thoughts immediately wandered back to that night. How she talked to him before his match against Cross and the way she motivated him. Though it was her final action, that small kiss on his cheek, that made him question things. Taking another spoonful of his stew, Ash shrugged his shoulders in response to Brock.

"She's somewhere in Johto with her dad," Ash stated. Bits of the stew flew from his mouth as Brock wiped down their folding table, slightly annoyed at Ash's manners. Though it wasn't something he wasn't used to by now. "Besides, she hasn't seen her dad in a while. Wouldn't she rather see him?"

"You sure she wouldn't rather be here?"

Ash stopped eating at that question, the duo's silence only being broken up by Pikachu nibbling on a cracker. The crumbs fell to the table as the wind brushed them away along with Ash's curiosity to the question. Part of him wanted to admit that he would rather have Janine with them, but the larger part of him still couldn't understand what she meant with her action that night. And that larger part felt it would be safer to stay away until he understood.

"So do you know anything about Johto?" Ash asked. He wanted to change the subject, a fact Brock picked up on. The older boy dropped the contents of his spoon within his mouth, the liquid broth and bits of meat and potato stirring within his mouth before he swallowed.

"Not much, no." Ash nodded at the fast answer. Brock held onto his bowl with both of his hands now, Ash finishing off his own bowl as the older boy appeared dissatisfied with his cooking. "I've only been here once before with my father. It was for a League meeting so I didn't really see much of the place.

"I'm hoping to see much more this time," Brock finished stating as he smiled. Ash returned the sentiment, his fist soaring up into the air as Pikachu copied the action. Brock laughed slightly from that as the fire started to die down. He tossed another log onto the fire as it crackled and began to burn. The flames appeared to dance slightly as they painted the darkening woods in their light.

"I'm just hoping we can find enough evidence on Ho-Oh that I manage to pass."

"There's got to be some info for you." Brock reached across the table and took Ash's bowl. Without another word he made his way over towards the river, Ash listening as the bowls were placed onto the ground. Clanking soon entered his ears as Brock scrubbed the dishes clean within the river.

Ash's own thoughts began to flow just as the leftover food flew down the river. Was there enough information on Ho-Oh? Would the natives of Johto even be willing to help him? What if he had picked a stupid topic and had set himself up to fail? A slight stirring noise destroyed those thoughts, a bush rattling as he wondered if a Pokémon were to appear for the first time. A tail poked out of the bush, cream and orange in color as Ash waited for the remainder of its body to appear. Instead the tail returned to its hiding spot within the bushes as silence fell upon him as Brock returned.

The rest of the night was uneventful for Ash, the boy practically laying in his sleeping bag following dinner. His thoughts continued to drift around as he saw Brock and Happiny reading some sort of textbook, though it meant little to Ash what it was. He found it amusing just how serious Brock was now, especially compared to the way he acted when he had been registered in the Battle course. Pikachu snuggled right up next to him, the duo listening to the crackle of the dying fire as his bag rested next to him. It was zipped open slightly, the egg reflecting the moonlight as Ash wondered if it would ever hatch.

Night eventually turned to day as Ash found himself awake. Stretching, he crawled out of the sleeping bag to find the place already cleaned up. In fact, Brock was just returning from what Ash assumed was brushing his teeth as a toothbrush sat in his hand. Truthfully the boy didn't remember falling asleep and he wondered at what point he finally succumbed to his urge for slumber. They wasted no time however, the two boys closing down their makeshift campsite as they hoped to reach New Bark Town quickly. Once ready, the duo took off as they gathered their first glimpses of Pokémon native to Johto.

Ash scanned the wild Pokémon with his newly updated pokedex, receiving information about what turned out to be a group of Ledyba flying overhead while what appeared to be a few Sentret scurried along the dirt road. Pebbles rolled along as their paws kicked up the dirt, Pikachu playing around with one of them for a moment before the Normal-Type rejoined his friends.

The two boys continued on, Pikachu scurrying over to them as the small group passed through the forest. A calming aura passed through them, Ash taking in the nature as he could have sworn he felt his egg move.

"Something wrong?" Brock asked, the older boy looking back at his friend. Without realizing it, Ash had stopped in his tracks. His head was turned slightly, eyes locked onto his backpack as if he were waiting for something. Nothing came however, Ash turning back towards his friend.

"It's nothing."

Pikachu perked his ears in confusion at that. Ash however merely rubbed behind his best friend's ears before walking once more. The remainder of their journey being made in silence until they finally emerged from the lush forest. Buildings rose up into the sky before them, the sound of cars destroying their silence as they peered down the hill they stood atop.

"This must be it," Ash stated. Brock nodded at the statement. Ash stared down at the small town, the location making him feel that it was similar to Pallet Town. While it appeared to have a larger population and more locations, it gave off a homely feeling as he noted the space between homes.

As the duo scaled down the hill Ash noted the large set of buildings that sat in the center of the town. Two tall buildings towered over the remainder of the town as they appeared to be connected. A smaller (though still taller than the rest of the town) Pokémon Center was next to it. Its red roof alerting Ash that the area there must have been the school.

Excitement began to rise up within his chest, the boy realizing that his journey was finally about to begin. Planting his foot down against the dirt path, the Pallet Town native adjusted his hat with a slight chuckle.

They had finally made it to Johto.

And the first chapter is officially completed. Though, it really wasn't anything other than reintroducing Ash and setting things up for what's to come. Though, I hope that it'll bring an interest in seeing just what will go down in Johto. Because believe me, there's a lot to come that I hope will excite and surprise you all.

As for how updates will work, chapters will be released every Monday and Friday with a few exceptions: There will be no chapter this Friday due to Thanksgiving being on Thursday and there will be no uploads from December 24th to January 1st as I'll be away and won't have access to my computer. Besides those two exceptions expect two chapters every week!

Thank you to everyone who read the chapter and supports this story. Please leave a review letting me know what you enjoyed and how I can improve the story.