The crook saw his opportunity and capitalized on it. In the dust from the Self Destruct attack he vanished into the alleyway. He found no problem retreating to the small Plane outside the Pokemon capital of the Indigo City. At the plane he met the group. They only glared angrily at him and entered the Plane. It was high in the sky before anyone said anything.

"Where were you." the leader said coldly.

"It wasn't my fault." As a matter of fact you should be impressed I made it this quickly."

"With your rock and water Pokemon you should have been able to beat the cops easily."

"Well I really am sorry, but Ash Ketchum got in my way."

"No way"

"What"

"Serious"

"The Ash"

"Yeah I kicked his butt," bragged the crook.

"So you can beat me," snapped the leader.

The crook stepped back, and told the truth. The leader was very good. He was attempting to challenge the leader of Team Rocket. However he made a deal to join a special agency allied with Team Rocket. They are all undercover agents. With a day job as Pokemon trainers. As the part about the self destruct was told, the leader laughed, it was a cold, evil laugh. "My only regret was he won't reach the Pokemon League," replied the crook.

"I don't think so, I know him, he will go through Hell six times over to make it to that battle, believe me he went through a few of Hell's own to fight me once."

As the dust cleared Misty found the criminal gone and Ash knocked out. They crowed around Ash until Nurse Joy drove everyone back. Brock normally would be doing his best to impress her but today was different. Misty was pleased to see that, but was worried about Ash. "Well he did what he intended," replied Nurse Joy, seeing that Chansey was taken care of the dazed Pikachu. "Now what do we do about Ash."

"Is he hurt?" asked Brock.

"Well, sort of," he just fainted, awfully like Pikachu would have.

"I've got it Pikachu slight Thunder Shock,"

Pikachu obliged. Ash jumped to his feet. He was a little dirty and bruised. The crowd applauded his efforts. Ash turned his head towards Pikachu, who jumped on his shoulder and they scurried off, to hide his red face.

Ash and Misty returned to their house outside of town. By this time Ash's mom and Professor Oak had arrived. They all sat down, and informed the other two of the mornings events. After a few moments of silence Ash spoke up. "So Misty, I'll never got an answer. What did Lorelei say about my dad?"

"Nothing really but that old hag Agatha made it clear Lance wasn't him."

"I am still not convinced, mom can't you tell anything about him."

"I..I can't."

"Yes you can," snapped Ash.

"He was a rebellion member, during the Rough Rider War. He was a great trainer. He wanted to be a Pokemon Master, like Ash. He was killed in action. But they never found the body." He didn't deserve to die like that. He should have been able to see his son the way Ash is now." She paused and then broke down. Then she went to the door and walked out. Brock, Misty and Professor Oak were shocked to see such a strong women like Mrs. Ketchum brake down like that. They seemed to think though she had lifted a big burden of her shoulders.

Ash wasn't as moved. "Come Pikachu, lets get you fixed up." They went up to Ash's room and slammed the door. Misty, Brock, and Oak looked at each other in disbelief. Misty and Brock followed Ash upstairs to his room. Ash was rubbing potions on Pikachu. "Ash, don't you believe your mom?"

"No," he replied. "If he died like so many other parents then why did she never talk before. Misty when did you find out about the your parents?"

"I don't remember, I just always knew I guess. When did you find out?"

"Three minutes ago."

Misty gasped "No wonder you are shocked. Anyway try to focus on tonight's battle."

"Oh you mean the battle I am in, because I have "Two well established trainers to baby sit" me."

"I, I uh"

"I know I shouldn't be here. You two are the only reason I'm here. You guys needed traveling buddies. That is why you followed me. My only question is, how come all the way here, was I that hopeless?" Ash's eyes teared up. I don't want to get embarrass by the Elite Four. I want to at least be a challenge."

"You will, I guaranteed, reinsured Brock."

"And not because of us, because of you," replied Misty.

"It is because of your effort," replied Brock.

"Other trainers think of Pokemon as a hobby, or a job, or a passion. To you Pokemon is your life. We followed you to learn of this, you may not realize this but you have done a lot for us."

"Yeah like drop you in holes a million times and get you loss for a billion." Misty and Brock were happy to see Ash had regained his sense of humor. As they walked out Ash called to them. "Thanks a lot," and before Misty could respond Ash continued. "Now I have nothing else to do except worry about the battle."

"What are friends for?" ask Brock.

"Yeah, don't worry you'll do fine, the way you have trained," added Misty. They went downstairs and Ash soon followed. For the rest of the afternoon they watched a preview of his battle on TV, watched the history of Pokemon, and read a profile of him and Gary in "Pallet News."

After supper they went to the arena. Surprisingly, Ash was incredibly calm. "I would be hysterical now," whispered Misty.

"Me too," responded Brock.

Misty and Brock took their respected positions as license gym leaders. Mrs. Ketchum, Professor Oak and Gary took there special seats also. Gary was there because it was believed that the hardest trainer for one to beat was his rival. The stadium grew dark. Many people were there, gym leaders, Laramie Ranchers, Anthony and his rivals from the fighting Joto including Primeape, Pokemon Tech students and hundreds more. "Ladies gentlemen and Pokemon of all ages welcome to this weeks fight of the century. The Elite Four, the most powerful trainers ever, defend that title against, a rookie sensation." Tonight's music "Pokemon Gotta Catch em All," is brought to you by the band Char. The theme of Pokemon in the first season hits. One by one the Elite hop out on there battle platforms. Introducing the most powerful trainers of all time. Each of them have worked together throughout the ages as one undefeated trainer for over one hundred years. They are Lance, Agatha, Bruno, and Lorelei, introducing the Elite Four. And introducing, the challenger. Voted friendliest new trainer, this fourteen year old "Eats sleeps and breathes Pokemon," as his fellow trainers say. At fourteen years of age he hails from Pallet Town Kanto, ladies and gentlemen Ash Ketchum. Ash appeared his head down to hide his blush. Fortunately, the spot light faded as the story of the Elite Four began.

One day, a hundred years ago, the top of the Pokemon league was very different. The Kanto and Johto leagues were at conscience war with each other and themselves. It was always for no other reason then to prove they were better. There were a hundred times more death though Pokemon Wars then any thing else. During this time, four young children of the age of nine aspired to rule over all leagues, with there favorite type of Pokemon. One day they all met in an opening in the woods. They did not know that two were from Kanto and two from Johto, they did not know they were forbidden by the masters to play with each other. Neither did they care. They spent all day playing with each other and their Pokemon. When their parents found them, they instantly recognized the opposing leagues clothing. All four were forbidden to play with each other, except their fellow league member. Puzzled the youth continued on with there lives. The next year, each one was eligible for their Pokemon League. The trainers quickly found out one type doesn't cut it. They also realized that if they didn't stab some backs they would never make it in the league. So there parallel paths continued as they all left the league capitals and headed for the wilderness. In the wilderness they learned important advice from neutral people. They also met up with each other, one by one. Remembering the fun they had and the rules they learned the four trainers bonded and decided to rule Johto and Kanto together as one trainer. Then the four did something no one else ever did, concur both leagues. With this done, the trainers of this time had no choice but to declare the four teenagers as rulers of the Pokemon World. Since then the trainers married, set up rules for government and Pokemon, and had remained undefeated through there apprenticeship. Tonight that title is on the line." The loudspeaker changed voices to a darker voice.

"So you have reached the plateau,

but not yet a hero.

Are you ready to meet your defeat?

the Elite.

Can I expect survival, against your rival?

And remember, gotta catch them all.

So me what you got."

"Begin," the referee shouted.

End of Part 3