"I see a clearing up ahead!" Cassie exclaimed.

"Hold on, I'm coming." Ash said hefting himself over a log. "I'm the one carrying all our major supplies.

"I'm carrying things." Cassie argued.

"Mr. Stuffles, and your journal don't count as supplies." Ash reminded with a smile.

"I still feel they're important." Cassie said.

"Of course they are, now come on, hopefully we made it to Vermillion." Ash said, moving forward again.

The trees cleared away as they ended up on a cliff overlooking the port city of Vermillion.

"What do you think they're building down there?" Cassie asked, seeing a construction site at the base of the cliff.

"Let's go find out!" Ash said, rushing towards the way down.

"Ash! Be careful!" Cassie shouted chasing after him, staying away from the cliff side.

Later at the base of the cliff

"I'm not seeing any signs of what's going up here." Ash said, being stopped by the barriers.

"Well, that's because we aren't sure what to name it just yet." A man said walking up.

"Oh, hi, sorry if it's supposed to be a secret." Ash said.

"Nonsense." The man replied. "It's hard to hide a Pokemon Laboratory being built."

"You're building a Pokemon Lab out here! That's so cool!" Ash exclaimed.

"Well, I'm glad you think so, where are my manners, I'm Professor Cerise, the owner of what that lab will be." Professor Cerise said.

"I'm Ash, and I'm going to be a Pokemon Master." Ash said shaking Professor Cerise's hand.

"Well Ash, come see me in a few years when this lab is built, maybe I can help you on that path." Professor Cerise said.

"Hey Professor, before you go, why not the Cerise Pokemon Research Laboratory?" Ash offered. "I mean Professor Oak named his lab after himself."

"That's actually not a bad name, I think I'll use that Ash, thank you." Professor Cerise said before crossing the barriers.

"Who was that?" Cassie asked, finally catching up.

"A Pokemon Professor, Professor Cerise." Ash said. "That's going to be his lab some day."

"Wow! He must have a big team for a lab of that size." Cassie said, looking at the mostly empty back part of the lot.

"Yeah, probably a team of like a hundred or more." Ash said. "Come on, let's stop at the Pokemon Center, everyone is exhausted."

"You're telling me, how'd you get down so much faster?" Cassie asked, still catching her breath.

"I rolled." Ash said, as if it was obvious.

Later at the Pokemon Center

"Nurse Joy, I was wondering where I could find this town's gym." Ash said earnestly.

"Oh I'm afraid our gym leader has to attend to other duties at the main power station and won't be back for a few days." Nurse Joy said. "But there are still plenty of things to do around town in the meantime."

"Well looks like we're going to be here for a little bit." Ash said, sitting back down at the booth.

"Glad to see I'm not the only one." A familiar girl's voice said.

"Megan? How'd you get here so fast?" Ash asked.

"Skills." Megan flaunted.

"She flew in on a biplane a few hours ago." Gilbert commented.

"And who are you?" Megan questioned.

"Gilbert, this years champion." Gilbert said.

"Who won our last fight exactly?" Ash reminded.

"We never finished ours." Megan said.

"And you didn't have enough Pokemon last time I challenged you." Gilbert countered.

"Fine I'll re battle both of you, but I need to wait for my Pokémon to be better." Ash relented.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? Fighting both of them?" Cassie asked.

"I'll do fine, I took down a Charizard with these guys." Ash gloated.

"Ash, your Pokémon are ready." Nurse Joy announced.

"Well, it looks like you're ready." Megan said.

"Ladies first." Gilbert offered.

"And once I beat him you're next fancy pants." Megan threatened.

Outside the Pokémon Center

"Okay, two on two sounds good to you?" Megan asked.

"Works for me." Ash said.

"Then come on out, Sandshrew!"

"Oddish, I choose you!"

"Sandshrew use Scratch!"

"Oddish use Sleep Powder!"

Green spores flew from Oddish's leaves as Sandshrew ran towards him, slashing his claws through the air.

"Oddish use Absorb!"

"Sandshrew use Dig!"

Sandshrew got stuck halfway above ground before finally falling asleep. With his opponent prone, Oddish took the chance to begin draining the ground type of his energy.

"Sandshrew wake up!"

"Oddish, use Absorb!"

With Sandshrew unmoving Oddish took a large draining of his energy, going as long as he could this time, until Sandshrew's body began to twitch before quickly going all the way underground.

"Be ready Oddish."

"Now Sandshrew!"

The ground beneath Oddish crumbled away as Sandshrew leapt upwards, sending the grass type flying into the air. When Oddish landed, he was knocked out.

"All that work for nothing." Cassie said worriedly.

"Oddish return. Pikachu, you're up." Ash said.

"Sandshrew use Scratch!"

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu charged forward, slamming into Sandshrew, knocking the shrew pokemon backwards.

"Sandshrew use Dig!"

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu dove into the hole behind Sandshrew. Ash wouldn't lie, he was worried. Being underground, Pikachu was at a distinct disadvantage. Seconds ticked by like hours, until Sandshrew was thrown back out of the hole he had climbed into, clearly knocked out.

"Sandshrew return." Megan said. "Come on out Metapod!"

Pikachu climbed out of the hole, his fur a fair bit dirtier than previously. Looking forward at his new opponent, Pikachu was a bit confused, he was used to moving opponents, even slower ones.

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

"Metapod use Harden!"

Metapod sat still while Pikachu sped forward launching the bug type into a nearby rock.

"Is Metapod okay?" Ash asked. Seeing it not moving.

"Yeah, it's finally happening." Megan said, as Metapod began to open up.

"What's finally happening?" Ash said, before seeing a pair of wings come outside of it.

"Free!" The Butterfree cried, flying out of the cocoon.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Butterfree use Confusion!"

A small psychic blast was sent towards Pikachu's electrical blast, the psychic energy quickly being out powered and dispersed as Butterfree was blasted by Pikachu's attack.

"Butterfree use Tackle!"

"Pikachu use Thunderwave!"

As Butterfree flew in close to Pikachu, it was surrounded by a spiral of electricity, stunning the bug type.

"Now use Quick Attack!"

With Butterfree stunned, Pikachu leapt at the bug type, sending it crashing to the ground.

"Butterfree, return." Megan said, lowering her hand. "Even with that boost in power, you're still a better trainer, I guess that's why I still haven't beaten Brock."

"Well then, I'm up next." Gilbert said. "Took you long enough to lose."

"Hey, don't be so quick to say that." Megan argued.

"Besides, I still need to heal up Oddish and Pikachu before we can battle." Ash said.

A bit later again

"You're lucky I waited for you." Gilbert said.

"And you're lucky you can still talk." Megan said with an annoyed tone.

"Thank you!" Cassie exclaimed, she was starting to like this girl.

"Do you know who I am?" Gilbert said. "My dad is the mayor of Pallet Town, you can't talk to me like that!"

"And I'm from Pewter City, and we're in Vermillion, daddy isn't here to make sure you get your way right now." Megan threatened.

"Enough!" Ash shouted. "You both wanted a battle, and Megan you already got yours, you didn't need to stay, and Gilbert you agreed to go second!"

"Fine, let's just get this over with." Gilbert said. "Come on out Bellsprout!"

"Oddish I choose you!"

"Bellsprout use Growth!"

"Oddish use Sleep Powder!"

Green spores shot out from Oddish's leaves as Bellsprout took in sunlight.

"Now Oddish use Absorb!"

"Bellsprout use Vine Whip!"

Bellsprout began smacking the much smaller Oddish around with all of its limbs, keeping the other grass type from being able to attack.

"Oddish use Sleep Powder!"

"Bellsprout use Wrap!"

Bellsprout extended its limbs around Oddish entangling it to the ground as the spore like powder fell over the two of them. After a bit of struggling, Oddish finally stopped moving.

"Oddish return." Ash said. They had barely gotten an attack off, and now they were behind, he had to change it this time. "Jigglypuff, come on out!"

"Jiggly?" Jigglypuff said looking around.

"Eeee!!!" Megan squealed. "She's so cute!"

"Jigglypuff use Pound!" Ash called out.

"Bellsprout dodge it!"

Bellsprout swayed its body back and forth, easily dodging Jigglypuff's attacks.

"Now Bellsprout use Vine Whip!"

"Jigglypuff dodge it!"

Jigglypuff began to inflate as vines wrapped around each of its arms, lifting both Pokemon into the air.

"Bellsprout use Wrap!"

"Jigglypuff keep inflating!"

Jigglypuff began to grow larger and larger as Bellsprout's limbs began to wrap around her. After a few moments, Bellsprout was barely able to hold on, as the grass type began to slip and fall off of Jigglypuff.

"Bellsprout return!" Gilbert said. "Spearow come on out!"

"Jigglypuff use Pound!"

"Spearow use Peck!"

Jigglypuff was unprepared as Spearow dove right at her with its sharp beak, repeatedly poking the pink Pokemon.

"Jigglypuff use Pound!"

"Spearow use Peck!"

Spearow dove forward again digging Jigglypuff into the ground, giving it the win.

"Jigglypuff return." Ash said. "Okay Pikachu, you're up."

"Spearow use Peck!"

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

As the burst of electricity neared Spearow, it folded one of its wings, allowing it to spin and dove out of the way of the attack.

"Pikachu use Thunder Wave!"

"Spearow use Leer!"

Spearow stared down Pikachu from the skies, keeping the electric type distracted.

"Spearow use Fury Attack!"

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

This time the bolt of electricity went straight through Spearow, dropping it to the ground, twitching slightly as the dust cleared.

"Spearow good job." Gilbert said. "Bellsprout come back out!"

"It can still fight?!" Ash exclaimed.

"Never got knocked out, I just needed a new tactic, and it worked." Gilbert said. "Now use Growth!"

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu sped towards Bellsprout, only for the grass type to bend backwards and out of the way as Pikachu sped right over it.

"Now use Vine Whip!"

"Use Thunderwave!"

A spiral of sparks shot out at Bellsprout as its arms extended striking Pikachu repeatedly.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Bellsprout use Vine Whip!"

Another vine of Bellsprout's shot forward as Pikachu used it as a lightning rod to strike Bellsprout.

"Bellsprout use Growth!"

"Pikachu use Tail Whip!"

Bellsprout seemed to grow stronger as Pikachu rushed by, swiping the grass type with his tail.

"Bellsprout use Growth!"

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Bellsprout continued gathering energy as Pikachu sped forward, grazing the grass type's side.

"Bellsprout use Vine Whip!"

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu sped forward launching into Bellsprout, narrowly avoiding the vines as Bellsprout was launched back.

"Bellsprout return." Gilbert said. "Time to end this, come on out Squirtle!"

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Squirtle use Bubblebeam!"

A stream of bubbles launched towards Pikachu as he tried to regain his focus to aim an attack, only to be blasted.

"Squirtle use Skull Bash!"

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu was just regaining his footing as Squirtle launched into the side of him. When Pikachu didn't get back up, Gilbert returned Squirtle.

"You may have caught more Pokemon, but it's clear you haven't begun to train them, this proved my point, to both of you." Gilbert said, walking off.

"Where are you going?!" Megan yelled.

"To another city, there's other gyms, I'll come back to this one later." Gilbert scoffed.

"Ash, are you okay?" Cassie asked.

"Yeah, but I'm starting to be annoyed by Gilbert's attitude." Ash said, holding Pikachu. "He better be ready next time."

Character of the day: Professor Cerise

After having done an entire story with him as a background character in a setting that was in Vermillion, I simply wanted to include him in one of the chapters here, I have plans for a few other characters that will make cameos later on.