"Umm, hello. I'm looking for Ash Ketchum, I was told I could find him here." A voice Ash recognized said.
"Brendan?" Ash asked in shock. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to visit you, and explore Kanto." Brendan said.
"Wait we?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, the exploring part is a new thing too." Wally said. "How have you been?"
"Good, good." Ash said. "No offense, but you two look terrible."
"We got lost." Brendan groaned. "The Pokenav's don't work here."
"That explains it." Ash said. "Come on, I'm sure my mom won't mind you guys staying. Looks like you both could use a warm meal and a hot shower."
"Yes please." Brendan said gratefully.
After a large dinner
"So Ash, where's Flannery, she told us she was coming to see you a few weeks back." Brendan said. "Or is she still obsessed with Cyndaquil?"
"Flannery left." Ash said coldly.
"Like, she had to rush back home?" Wally asked.
"Like we broke up." Ash said.
"I thought you guys were working things out." Brendan said. "With what happened in the Hoenn League, I get it was hard, but I figured…"
"For a bit, things were going fine." Ash admitted. "But we started arguing again, and it just got worse." Ash sighed. "It didn't help when Roxanne showed up out of nowhere either."
"She came to visit you?" Wally asked in shock.
"That's how Flannery took it. She was actually just here to meet with Professor Oak's granddaughter. I never knew Gary's sister was a coordinator." Ash said.
"Gary?" Brendan asked.
"Old rival of mine, back when I was into competitive battling, he's doing some research into ancient Pokemon right now I believe." Ash said.
"So Roxanne just showed up and that was it?" Wally asked.
"What we had wasn't great, I'll admit it." Ash sighed. "Look can we focus on something else, you said there was a new reason for why you were here, what was it?"
"Right, do you remember Greta and Tucker?" Brendan asked.
"Vaguely, why?" Ash asked.
"Well that Battle Frontier they were talking about, I've been invited to challenge it!" Brendan said.
"That's great." Ash said. "So where are you heading first?"
"Well I was hoping we could go as a group again." Brendan admitted. "Gather your ribbons as we travel across all of Kanto."
"If you aren't up for it, we understand." Wally interjected. "No need to rush."
"No, I should get back out there." Ash said. "I said I was going to take on the contest scene here, and I am."
"Great, because we have no idea how to get to Cerulean City." Brendan admitted.
"For once, I actually know the way." Ash joked. "We can head out in the morning, all my Pokemon are still at Professor Oak's lab."
"Not all of them." Wally said, seeing Pikachu and Cyndaquil laying in a sunny spot.
The next day
"Good morning Brendan." Delia said, as Brendan made his way downstairs.
"Good morning, thanks again for letting us stay the night." Brendan said.
"Not a problem at all, any friend of Ash's is always welcome." Delia said.
"Speaking of Ash, where is he?" Brendan asked.
"Oh he went to the lab early. Said the three of you were going to be heading out soon." Delia said.
"Is that okay, I know he just got home after a long time." Brendan said, realizing just how little Ash's mom had seen him lately.
"Oh its quite alright." Delia said. "I couldn't keep Ash here for long if I wanted too. He's just like his father, always heading for his next adventure." Delia said. "I'm sure you can go and see him at Professor Oak's, he's probably gathering some Pokemon for the road."
"Thanks, and can you let Wally know when he wakes up." Brendan said.
"Of course. Mimey, make sure to give him some time to sleep." Delia said, seeing Mr. Mime with a vacuum cleaner in his hand.
At Professor Oak's lab
"Alright, Grovyle was easy." Ash said, putting the Pokeball on his belt.
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu said.
"Yeah, don't worry I won't forget you." Ash said with a laugh. "Let's go see how Milotic is doing?"
Ash and Pikachu passed by several of their friends as they made their way towards the lake Milotic had been staying at while they were here.
"Hey Milotic!" Ash called out.
"Miii!" Milotic said, leaping out of the water as the call from her trainer.
"How are you doing Milotic?" Ash asked, pulling out a Pokeblock, and feeding it to her.
"Miiii." Milotic cooed, eating the Pokeblock.
"You know Marshtomp hasn't been himself since you left." Brendan said, interrupting the moment. "He always was your biggest fan of your Pokeblocks."
"Yeah, you and Wally never had that touch for making them." Ash joked, putting the Pokeblock case away.
"So you're bringing Milotic with you?" Brendan asked.
"Kanto doesn't have as much water as Hoenn does, but we still have a winner of an appeal to use." Ash said. "How about you?"
"Manectric and Swellow are staying at a park, ready for action at any time." Brendan admitted. "Wally left behind Magnemite, Kecleon, and Roselia too."
"The team definitely won't be the same anymore." Ash sighed with a chuckle. "I don't think I could take Masquerain away from here, they love it here. Then there's Lunatone, apparently Professor Oak hasn't had much time to research psychic types, and has been begging for me to leave Lunatone behind for a bit."
"That's a lot of heavy hitters gone." Brendan groaned. "Do you think it's the best idea?"
"When we first met I had only Pikachu with me, and that was for a region I'd never explored before." Ash reminded. "I had to grow a lot these past few months, but we recovered, and I'm getting better sleep too."
"I know I never met him, but I bet Charizard would be happy to know you and Pikachu are still doing your best." Brendan said. "But back on topic, who else are you bringing?"
"I already got Grovyle, and I know Swablu is just flying around right now." Ash said. "After that, I did promise Cyndaquil I'd take him to my next contest."
"Well then, what are we waiting for, let's get your Pokemon and hit the road!" Brendan said.
"I think we're still waiting for Wally." Ash reminded with a laugh.
Ash's Current Team and their moves
Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Quick Attack - Shock Wave - Iron Tail
Grovyle: Pound - Leaf Blade - Dig - Fury Cutter
Milotic: Attract - Dragon Breath - Water Pulse - Ice Beam
Swablu: Peck - Mirror Move - False Swipe - Heal Bell
Cyndaquil: Flamethrower - Smokescreen - Quick Attack - Swift
Authors Note
And with that, the group is back together, maybe not as strong as before, but this is the group.
Yes, I did get rid of Flannery, and let me explain. My last actual couple was Ash and Serena, and with that one, there was a spark, there was love. Ash literally would do anything for her and with Flannery, it just was never really there, and I feel that with how this story was, it just was never a great option for their relationship to develop. I might try again at a later date, but I just ended up not liking the chemistry. Plus unlike with Misty and her water types in the anime, there just isn't enough fire types to allow for Flannery to be part of the group without completely removing the option for anyone else to shine with a fire type.