"Pokeball go!" A boys voice cried out.

"Sounds like a trainer." Ash said, hearing the cry again. "Wanna check out what's going on?"

"Pika!" Pikachu said excitedly.

"Oh come on, just stand still already!" The young boy said, throwing another Pokeball.

"Where's his Pokemon?" Ash asked looking around.

"Oh, that's it, I'll never catch it." The boy said slumping down.

"Hey there, what were you trying to catch." Ash said, making his way out from where he was watching.

"Oh, I didn't know someone was watching." The boy said. He had shaggy green hair, loose fitting clothes, and seemed a bit meek. "I was trying to catch a Ralts, but they keep teleporting away."

"Well did you try weakening it?" Ash asked.

"No, I don't even have a Pokemon." The boy said. "I'm moving to Verdanturf Town and I wanted a friend for the road."

"Well how long do you have?" Ash asked.

"I leave tomorrow." The boy said.

"Well then, we have work to do, I'll teach you how to catch Pokémon and then you'll be able to capture it yourself." Ash said.

"Really! You'd do that for me?" The boy asked.

"Sure, why not." Ash said.

"If you're teaching him, mind if I tag along?" Brendan asked, tumbling over a pile of rocks.

"Have you been following me?" Ash asked.

"If I say no, can I come along?" Brendan asked.

"Come on, I'll show you guys." Ash said with a smirk.

"Okay, look over there." Ash said, pointing at a nearby pond. A blue and yellow Pokemon skimming on the waters surface.

"That's a Surskit!" Brendan exclaimed.

"Shhhhsshhhhshhh!" Ash shushed. "You don't want it to know that we're here."

"So then how do you catch it?" The other boy asked. "I'm Wally by the way, we kind of rushed past introductions."

"I'm Brendan, and that's Ashton." Brendan said.

"Okay now that introductions are out of the way, the easiest way to catch a Pokémon is by battling it." Ash said, turning to see the two boys looking at him expectantly. "I really have to go over everything, okay watch and learn."

Ash and Pikachu rushed towards the pond while the Surskit wasn't looking.

"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu leapt at the Pokemon only for it to slide out of the way as Pikachu fell into the water with a splash.

"Throw a Pokeball!" Wally cheered.

"No! Throw yourself they'll never expect it!" Brendan shouted.

"Pikachu use Agility!"

Pikachu sped through the shallow water as the Surskit skimmed across it with ease.

"You may be fast, but try dodging this. Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

A flurry of bubbles shot out from the Pokémon only to be popped as it was zapped by Pikachu's attack.

"And now that it's weakened, I can catch it. Pokeball go!" Ash said, tossing the Pokeball.

The pokeball shook momentarily before a green light went off.

"And that's how you catch a Pokémon, so who's up next?" Ash asked.

"Wait what, I thought you were just showing us." Brendan said.

"Well Wally already wants to catch one, and the best way to learn is by doing, so I figure you can find something out here." Ash said.

"Well let me see what's out here." Brendan said pulling up his Pokédex. "Oh! That looks strong!"

Ash looked at the screen to see a Pokémon that looked like an acorn.

"It's called Seedot, their shells are very durable. I heard even some gym leaders have a hard time cracking those defenses." Wally said.

"Looks like they hang out in trees, high above the ground." Brendan said, looking around. "Over there! Mudkip come on out and use Tackle on that tree!"

"Oh I think I know where this is going." Ash gulped.

Mudkip slammed into the tree with all his might, making a few leaves fall, but nothing else, meanwhile the water type seemed to be in a fair bit of pain.

"Maybe attacking the tree wasn't the right move." Brendan said sheepishly as Ash took a sigh of relief.

"Well, you weren't wrong, look up there." Wally said.

High above the three boys was a Seedot attached to a branch.

"Mudkip use Tackle!" Brendan said pointing straight up.

Mudkip leapt about a foot off the ground before falling back down.

"You won't reach it with a move like that, you need something with range." Ash said calmly while thinking.

"Hmm. Mud Slap and Tackle are out then." Brendan said.

"What about Water Gun?" Wally asked.

"Don't know it yet." Brendan admitted.

"Pikachu could help!" Wally said.

"Brendan needs to do this without Pikachu, if I helped what would he gain." Ash said still thinking. "I've got it! Throw a Pokeball!"

"But you said I had to weaken it first, how will that help?" Brendan asked.

"You don't have an attack that can hit it from here, so throw something like a Pokeball at it!" Ash said.

"Right, if you hit it hard enough, it will fall to the ground!" Wally said excitedly.

"Okay then. Pokeball, Go!"

The Pokeball struck Seedot sucking it in, as the ball fell to the ground shaking.

"Now what Ashton?" Brendan asked.

"Take a few steps back, just in case it breaks free." Ash said carefully stepping back.

'Ding'

"I thought you said it had to be weakened." Brendan said.

"Normally yes, sometimes no." Ash admitted.

"Okay but how does this help me? I thought you were helping me catch a Ralts." Wally said worridley.

"Well now instead of just you, you have us and four Pokemon helping you out." Ash said. "Now if only I knew what Surskit could do."

"That's right! My dad asked for me to give you this." Brendan said, holding out a new Pokédex. "It has a scan feature for caught Pokemon."

"Oh, but I thought." Ash said thinking.

"He said it was a gift, as thanks for saving him." Brendan assured.

"Well alright then, let's see. Surskit knows Quick Attack, and Bubble." Ash said.

"As for Seedot he knows… Harden, and Bide." Brendan said. "And he looked so strong."

"Bide can be powerful, there's just a risk involved with it." Ash reminded.

"Right, well it seems like you have the fast Pokemon Ashton, so lead the way." Wally said.

A bit of searching later they finally found a Ralts.

"Okay Wally which will it be?" Ash asked.

"Wait what?" Wally asked.

"I think we should be here for help only if it tries to run off again." Ash said.

"Wait seriously? I thought we were going to swarm it." Brendan said defeated.

"N-no I like this idea, catch it myself just like you two did." Wally said. "Pikachu, will you help me?"

"Pika!" Pikachu said, ready for battle.

"Okay, we can do this." Wally said, walking out of hiding. "Pikachu use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu sped forward, slamming into the wild Ralts as the two tumbled into the grass.

"Don't let it get away!" Ash encouraged.

"Right, Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

A bolt of electricity arched off of Pikachu, slamming down onto Ralts and surrounding it with sparks.

"Now while it's stunned, throw a Pokeball!" Brendan exclaimed.

"Right. Right! Pokeball go!" Wally said, tossing out a Pokeball.

'Ding ding Ding!'

"I did it! I caught a Pokémon!" Wally said excitedly. "I have to show my Uncle! Thank you guys so much!"

"Not a problem Wally, have fun in Verdanturf." Ash said.

"I will! And if either of you are ever around feel free to stop by!" Wally said before rushing off.

"So Ashton, now what?" Brendan asked.

"What do you mean now what?" Ash asked.

"Well it's clear you don't mind helping people. I mean there was my dad, and even helping me and Wally catch Pokémon. So how about you help me become a better trainer? You said you didn't do big battles anymore, meaning you did at one point. So why not train me to do that kind of thing?"

"Brendan, I got out for a reason." Ash sighed. "You wouldn't understand."

"You're right I don't, so teach me, and maybe I can help you with your goal as well, whatever that may entail now." Brendan said.

"Okay, we can give this a shot." Ash relented, extending his hand.

"Alright! Dream team! You and me!" Brendan said, high fiveing Ash.

Now returning from "A New Ash"

Ash's Current Team and their moves

Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Agility - Thunder - Quick Attack

Surskit: Bubble - Quick Attack

Brendan's Current Team and their moves

Mudkip: Tackle - Mud Slap

Seedot: Bide - Harden