Ash looked at the Machokes arriving alongside the cement trucks, here to repair the damage caused by Clara and her battle. "How about we take this to the Pokemon Center. They should have a battlefield there."

I nodded. "Probably a good idea. I think the Machokes are glaring at us."

Shauna jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "There's a Center down Vernal Avenue. We should go there."

"Sounds like a plan," Ash grinned and set off at a run. "Last one there has to start last."

"He's such a kid," I thought.

I climbed on Arcanine and reached out a hand to Shauna. "You coming?"

She sighed. "Oh what the heck."

She smiled and grasped my hand and I pulled her aboard. "Just so you know, we'll likely be back later than projected."

"That's fine with me," I said. "Now hold on Froakie. You too Shauna."

Arcanine took off with a burst of speed and we zoomed past Ash by the time he was halfway down the avenue. We skidded to a stop outside the Pokemon Center and had to wait another 30 seconds for Ash to catch up.

He didn't seem to be out of breath. "Wow, now your Arcanine really does remind me of Gary's."

"Pika pika," Pikachu agreed.

We went around the back way and ended up at the battlefield. I took one end and Ash took the other. Shauna went to sit on a bench with Arcanine laying his head in her lap. She looked startled for a second before petting him.

I tickled Froakie's chin. "Let's have a great first battle together, alright?"

"Froak," he responded with enthusiasm and jumped onto the battlefield.

Ash grinned and swung out a pokeball, his Froakie appearing with a flash of light.

"Alright Froakie," Ash said, pumping a fist into the air. "Let's give them a good battle!"

"Froakie!"

Ash nodded at me. "You won the race. You go first."

"With Pleasure," I said. "Froakie, use Bubble!"

Froakie formed a bubble in his hands and shot it at the other Froakie.

"Dodge it," Ash said and his Froakie jumped into the air. "Hit him with a Pound!"

His Froakie landed near mine and pounded him in the side, sending him tumbling through the dirt.

"Don't give up," I shouted. "Quick Attack!"

My Froakie leaped to his feet and sped towards Ash's. He rammed into him, sending him flying backwards.

"Use Quick Attack as well," Ash yelled. "Then follow-up with Pound!"

His Froakie burst forwards, slamming into mine and pounding him into the ground.

"Froak," Froakie cried out in pain.

"You got this," I encouraged. "Use Bubble!"

His eyes sharpened and he fired a bubble. It hit Ash's Froakie in the face and he was knocked backwards.

"Let's finish this," I shouted. "Quick Attack!"

Froakie sped forwards as Ash shouted, "Quick Attack!"

His Froakie leaped to his feet and I yelled, "Move to the right and use Pound!"

Froakie dodged Ash's and pounded him on the back, his own momentum added with the Pound sending him crashing through the dirt. Ash's Froakie lay there, fainted.

"You did it," I said proudly.

Froakie clapped his hands in joy. "Froakie froakie!"

He leaped into my arms and I hugged him. "You did good. And next time we battle, you'll be even stronger."

"Froakie," he said, pumping his hand into the air.

"Now go over to Shauna," I said. "It's time for Arcanine to battle."

Froakie joined Shauna as Arcanine padded up next to me. Ash looked at his Pikachu and both nodded. He leaped off of Ash's shoulder and crouched on the battlefield, sparks flying from his cheeks.

"You can go first this time," I shouted as Arcanine moved in front of me.

"Thanks," Ash said. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"

"Pikaaa!"

...

Robert exited the Pokemon Lab, equally excited and depressed. He was hoping to get to meet Professor Sycamore, but no such luck. He did get to receive a Pokedex for the Kalos region as well as a Holo Caster. Professor Juniper really did come through this time.

"Oh well," he looked at his shiny new Pokedex. "I guess I can meet Professor Sycamore later."

He patted the pokeball now clipped next to Snorlax's. "And I got a Chespin. What a great way to start off a journey."

He had to remember why he was here though. Getting a job as Professor Juniper's Junior Assistant was an honor enough, but now he was sent here to Kalos to get first hand experience on Kalos Pokemon.

"I'm definitely taking charge of my future," he thought proudly. "I thought I would've been more into Gyms and the Pokemon League, but times change I guess."

He wondered where he should go next when he heard battling coming from behind the Pokemon Center across the street.

"Might as well check it out," he thought. "Might get to see some Kalos Pokemon. Studying how they battle would prove invaluable to future research."

Heading across the street, he wondered why there were so few Pokemon Researchers in the world.

...

"Miss? Miss? Are you awake?"

Alex groaned groggily and opened her eyes. She blinked and focused on the Nurse Joy leaning over her.

"Oh good," Nurse Joy smiled. "Are you feeling well? You came in here and passed out on the couch a while ago."

Alex looked around. She was in the Pokemon Center lobby. A few trainers milled around, a couple buying potions at the store inside. A TV hung above where Nurse Joy would usually sit behind the front desk, ready to receive Pokemon. The news was on and a woman with striking pink hair and red tinted glasses sat, reporting on something or another.

Alex looked at Nurse Joy again and rubbed her head. "Sorry. Late flight."

"Ah," Nurse Joy said sympathetically. "I understand. Would you like a pill?"

Alex waved her hand. "No thanks. The headache will go away by itself. What I need is something to distract me."

Nurse Joy nodded and pointed to the back. "Two trainers have started a Pokemon battle out in the back. Why don't you go watch it."

Alex stood and stretched. "Thanks. I think I'll do that."

She walked towards the back doors, still tired from the flight. She hoped this battle would be good enough to wake her up.

...

Pikachu sped forward, zigzagging across the battlefield much faster than either the Froakies.

I grinned. "Show him what you can do. Extreme Speed!"

Arcanine zoomed forwards, slamming into Pikachu. The Electric Mouse Pokemon went flying, but landed on his feet.

"We wont lose that easily," Ash said confidently and raised his fist. "Now use Volt Tackle!"

Pikachu ran forwards, electric energy gathering around him, shaping him into a bullet.

"Meet him with Flame Wheel!" I shouted.

Arcanine rolled into a wheel of Fire and sped for him.

"Dodge and use Iron Tail!" Ash commanded.

Pikachu cut off the Volt Tackle, leaping to the side, and slammed his tail into Arcanine's side. The Fire type was knocked out of his wheel of fire and send crashing into the ground.

"It's just a Pikachu," I called out to my Pokemon. "We can take him! Fire Fang!"

Arcanine bounded to his feet, his mouth full of flames. He roared and leaped at Pikachu.

"Just a Pikachu," Ash repeated me, grinning. "You underestimate us! Let's show him the strength of a future Pokemon Master Pikachu! Electro Ball!"

Pikachu leaped into the air, a ball of electricity forming on the end of his tail. "Pika!"

He flipped midair and shot the Electro Ball. "Chi-bang!"

Arcanine was hit in the face, the electricity eradicating the flames.

I could feel the rush of the battle, something I hadn't felt since the Alolan Pokemon League. "Extreme Speed!"

"Match him with Quick Attack!" Ash commanded.

Arcanine sprang for Pikachu at supersonic speeds, but Pikachu appeared above him and zoomed down, striking Arcanine in the back.

"Paralyze him with Nuzzle!" Ash shouted.

Pikachu's cheeks sparked and he rubbed them against Arcanine's fur. Arcanine growled in pain as he was paralyzed, sparks of electricity running along his body.

"Heat Wave!" I yelled.

Arcanine roared, waves of heat pouring off his body, carrying Pikachu away. He slammed into the Pokemon Center wall next to the opening door as the paralysis effect was wiped away by the flames.

"Iron Tail!" Ash shouted.

I noticed someone walk out of the Pokemon Center as Pikachu sprang forwards, but I paid them no mind.

"Use Flamethrower!" I commanded, throwing my hand out in front of me.

Arcanine opened his mouth and blasted a jet of flames at the incoming Pikachu. Swinging his tail in front of him, Pikachu deflected the flames with the Iron Tail. Splitting the flames apart, he smacked Arcanine in the head, stopping the onslaught of flames.

Arcanine stumbled backwards and Ash shouted, "Finish with Thunderbolt!"

"Pikachuuuuuu!"

Arcanine was zapped and he collapsed, his fur singed.

I walked forwards to meet Ash in the middle, his Pikachu now on his shoulder. "Wow. That was exhilarating. I haven't battled like that since the Alolan League."

Ash grinned. "Heck yeah it was amazing!"

"You know," I said, fist bumping him. "You might come off as a little kiddish, but you get real serious in battle. I respect that."

"Zeno?" I heard two voices at once behind us.

I turned around and my eyes went wide. Standing just ten feet away were two people I didn't expect to see here.

"Alex," I choked. "Robert?"

...

Robert had walked to the back of the Pokemon Center at the same time as Alex, though he went around from the side. Not that he hadn't noticed Alex, he was just too busy trying to figure out why the guy with the Arcanine looked so familiar. He could only see the back of him, so maybe it was just deja vu.

Only when he heard him speak about the Alolan League after the battle did he finally recognize him and step forwards.

"Zeno?"

...

Alex walked out of the Pokemon Center and was immediately woken up as the Pikachu slammed into the wall next to her. She was irritated enough to yell at the trainers, but she stopped when she saw the trainer. The one commanding the Arcanine.

There was no way in Arceus he was here. But the way he battled, the way he spoke commands, it was all too familiar. His words to the other trainer after the battle merely confirmed what she couldn't believe.

She took a step forwards, then another. "Zeno?"

...

"ZENO!"

Alex tackled me in a hug and we crashed onto the dirt battlefield. I smiled and was about to say something when I felt pain in my cheek.

I touched it. "You smacked me!?"

Alex looked furious as she knelt next to me. "You left Kanto and came here and you didn't tell me!?"

"Heh heh," I shrunk away from her slightly. "You see Alex, I kinda had no way to contact you."

She raised her hand and I lifted my own to protect my face. "Which I admit was an error on my part. Sorry."

Alex grimaced, then sighed, lowering her arm. "Jeez. I can't stay mad at you. I mean, I did come here to escape, so I guess I'm at fault as well."

Where she got that idea I had no idea, but I was willing to take that lifeline. Before I could say anything however, Robert came over, grinning like a fool. "Hey Zeno. Long time no see pal."

"Alola," I said, still under Alex.

Robert seemed to notice this and said, "Hey Alex. Let the man up and breathe."

Alex reluctantly got up and brushed off her jean shorts. Looking at her now, I could see how she changed in the last six months. She looked a bit more mature and she had added red highlights into her blonde hair, which actually looked pretty good. She also wore a beige t-shirt, which looked plain, but it suited her perfectly, especially with her green eyes.

I grasped Robert's hand and he pulled me up. He seemed to be as fit as the last time I saw him. He wore gray cargo shorts and a blue shirt with a pokeball symbol. His dusty blonde hair was trimmed neatly, not too short, but not medium length either.

He pounded me on the back, grinning. "It's been too long Zeno. I mean, you don't call, you don'r write. I'm going to end up thinking you either hate me or your dead."

"Ha ha," I said.

Dusting myself off, I noticed that Shauna had come closer to us, standing next to Ash.

I straightened. "I should probably introduce you guys to each other."

I gestured to my friends from Alola. "This is Alex and Robert, my travelling companions from the Alola region."

"And she," I pointed at Shauna. "Is Shauna. She's been helping me out with my new starter Pokemon, Froakie."

Froakie leaped onto my shoulder. "Froakie!"

"Woah," Robert's eyes widened. "A shiny!"

He fumbled with his Pokedex as he took it out of his pocket and began analyzing him.

"Froakie secretes flexible bubbles from its chest and back. The bubbles reduce the damage it would otherwise take when attacked."

I gestured to Ash. "And this is Ash."

Robert's eyes widened again as well as Alex's.

Robert shook his hand and as well as Alex, leaving Ash to look a bit overwhelmed.

"I watched your progress throughout the Unova League last month," Robert said excitedly. "You were amazing!"

Alex was grinning. "And your battles in the Ever Grand Conference were fantastic!"

Ash was rubbing the back of his head and Pikachu looked slightly irritated. A second later, he zapped both Alex and Robert.

"Sorry about that," Ash apologized, but Alex and Robert brushed it aside.

"No worries," they said.

"That's good," Ash said. "Pikachu can get overwhelmed by people sometimes. His jolts are usually playful."

"Chaaa."

"Anyway," Alex looked at me. "What are you doing in Kalos? What happened in Kanto?"

Ash raised an eyebrow at me. "You're from Kanto too? What city or town?"

"Saffron," I said, thinking back to the time I did actually live there with Willow. "And nothing happened in Kanto. So me and my, uh, parents moved here."

Not wanting Alex and Robert to ask any more questions with the current company around, I said, "Why don't we head inside?"

Shauna tapped her Holo Caster. "We need to get back soon Zeno."

"Shoot," I said, looking at the sky. We were reaching late afternoon. "Time sure does fly by."

I looked at Shauna. "Do you have any other Pidgeots?"

Shauna looked between me and my two friends before sighing, but she smiled. "No, but you can borrow the Pidgeot I was riding. Just make sure you give the three of them to Tierno and Trevor. Tell them I'll be waiting in the lab."

I nodded. "Will do."

I passed two of them to Alex and Robert. "Here, hold on to these two."

I turned to Ash. "That battle was amazing. Next time, Arcanine and I will crush you."

Ash smirked, raising his fist. "The same goes with Froakie and I. We'll be much stronger then."

"Bring it on," I said, fist bumping him. "Good luck on your journey."

He nodded. "You too."

He left, then Shauna.

I turned back to Alex and Robert. "I think it's about time you met my "parents"."

Well, the chapters are getting longer. That has to be a good sign. In other news, Alex and Robert are back! A new region, new people, new rivals, but familiar faces. I'd say things are going pretty well don't you say? Now, let's continue onwards! Toodles!