Ok. This is my first time doing pokemon; so let me know if I make any big booboo's. Also, Just to let less informed readers know, the Kanclach league is just a little something of my own invention. I decided to have Ash, Misty, Brock, maybe Tracey later on (I've seen 1 episode with Tracey in it, meaning I don't know how he'll act!), get lost in yet another forest, wind up at a town, and sign up for yet another insane league filled with badges. However, it is my goal to make this the most INSANE league ever created. It will be filled with everything from showing how much trainers and pokemon trust each other to seeing how they do with unfamiliar pokemon. It should be a laugh, especially with the new character I'm adding in. Also, tell me about any insane ideas you have, so I can try to use them. I don't know how many badges the league will have, so check back and read this little paragraph every time, to see if I've changed the number. Right now the number is 8. Now, without further ado, ON WITH THE FIC!!!

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Ash, Misty, and Brock left Pallet Town exactly 1 month ago, in search of some adventure. That was their excuse, anyway, though in reality it was because if Ash had to stay any longer with his mom fussing over him he might finally convince Pikachu thunder shocks would only feel like static to her. As usual, they're hopelessly lost in a forest they can't find on their map of either the Johto or Kanto league. It's about noon, and they've just stopped for lunch.

"It's hopeless. We're never gonna find our way out," Sighs Ash, slumping down dejectedly on a log.

"Pika pi" Agrees Pikachu, leaning against the same log.

"Ah, don't give up guys." Consoles Brock. "How about some poke chow, Pikachu?"

"PIIIIIKAA!!!!" Shouts Pikachu, running over.

"This is all your fault! We could've just gone to Cerulean, but noooooooo, you HAD to go somewhere new."

"No, Misty, you refused to go there again because of your sisters!"

"It's YOUR fault!"

"IT'S YOUR FAULT!"

"YOURS!"

"YOURS!"

"YOURS!!"

"PIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAACHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!" Shouts Pikachu, erupting into thunderbolts after his meal and hitting both Ash and Misty. Who then fall over stunned.

"Thank you." Breathes Brock, looking at Pikachu gratefully while Ash and Misty are too busy moaning to hear him. When they stop moaning he tells them, "We still have a ways to go. Who knows where the next shelter is." He then sets off, with Misty and Ash walking after him a few minutes later, and Pikachu on Ashes shoulder. Togepi has miraculously managed to sleep in Misty's pack through the whole thing.

8 HOURS LATER

"We're never going to get out of here, are we?" Groans Ash after tripping over pikachu in the dark."

"I have no idea," Admits Misty, trying not to hit her head on any more low branches.

"I think we might have to spend the night here," Wheezes Brock, after stubbing his toe on a rock. He kneels down to rub his toe and something hits Ash in the face as he gets up, promptly causing him to fall over backwards and land on Misty's feet.

"OW!!!" They both scream at the same time, and glare at where they think the other should be. And then glare in completely different areas when Pikachu uses his electric powers to light himself up like a lamp. However, Ash can't glare for long.

There, in the treetops, is a noctowl. "Noctowl Owwl Noct." The owl says, before flapping down to the ground. Ash can only stare. There, right in front of him, is a Noctowl. A wild Noctowl. Right in front of him.

"Piikah chu." And Pikachu is talking to it. Not looking for a fight though he knows he wants to catch any new wild Pokemon they find. Ash rises slowly to his knees, staring.

Then the noctowl flies over and lands on Ashes shoulder, dropping a letter into his lap in the process. It isn't wild, apparently.

"Hey, what's this?" He whispers, lifting it. Brock takes it from him and reads it out loud,

"To any traveler currently lost in the woods, please follow this Noctowl. It knows the area all around the nearest town, and will be able to lead you to an Inn, or a family with extra room. Sincerely, Cat." They all look at the noctowl on Ash's shoulder, who then flies a short ways away. They get up from whatever they're doing on the ground and follow it. It flies to another treetop a while away, and hoots before Misty bangs her head on another branch.

They continue walking for another 15 minutes. During this time they follow in silence, with Pikachu lighting the way for everyone. They soon see a large building, practically a mansion. It's very well lit, and the noctowl flies right in an open window. Within seconds he flies right out, hooting and leads them to the door before flying back in the window.

"OW! Noct, get out of my- OWWW!!!!!" Within seconds the door opens, to reveal a small girl trying without much success to keep the noctowl from getting hair in its beak to tug on it. As soon as the door opens completely the owl stops pulling her hair and flies over to Ash, only to land on his shoulder and hoot a few times before going back into the house. "Come on in. I'm guessing Noct dropped the letter on your lap."

"Pikah," Comments Pikachu, walking through her legs inside. She looks down and smiles at it.

"Yeah. Do you want it back?" Asks Ash, showing her the letter. She looks up and shakes her head.

"Keep it. What are your names?" She asks, stepping aside to let them in.

"I'm Ash, that's Misty and Brock. Who are you?"

"If you're asking that you must be from far away. How long have you been lost in the woods?"

"Three days," Groans Misty. "Why are you asking?"

"Take a closer look at that envelope." Ash takes it out and does so. "Shake it over your palm." He does so. A small rock drops out.

"What's this?" He asks, inspecting it. "And who are you?"

"You've been lost for a while. You entered Kanclach territory. We have our own league here. That's part of a badge."

"A pokemon league?! Excellent! Where's the sign up?!!!"

"Pika pi!"

"How did I know he was going to do that?" Wonders Misty out loud.

"There IS no sign up. Mainly because so few people actually make it through all the gyms. Last year there was a semifinal. There weren't enough people for quarterfinals. Most of the people who made it were too young for the other leagues."

"Well, I have badges from all the other leagues, so this should be a piece of cake! I already have one badge!!"

"I said it was PART of a badge. And I've heard about those other leagues."

Ash sees an opportunity to brag. "Well, it wasn't easy, but I prevailed over all other gym leaders there, and-"

"They sound awfully tame."

"Tame?!" Exclaims everyone.

"That's part 1 of 3 in the badge: Finding your way here. You can't get all the pieces if you don't find Noct, and Noct only flies over a certain area at night. It doesn't count if you don't get the letter, and Noct only meets travelers at night. In a 1 mile radius. An inch outside of it, and you don't get the badge."

"So where's the gym leader?! I can't wait to fight him!"

"Ash! Gym leaders aren't always boys!" Interjects Misty.

"So where is he?"

"There are 2 gym leaders here."

"Ok, where are they?"

"One is on a trip to get more supplies and should be back in the morning. You're looking at the other." Ash stares at her.

"You can't be older than 7!"

"I'm 8, thank you very much. Now, I would appreciate it if you'd let me know if you've had any supper." Togepi decides to stick its head out of the backpack at this moment. "Oh, is that a Togepi!!?" She squeals, reaching over to touch its little hand. Togepi bites her. "I'm guessing that means you're hungry."

"Yeah, but I can provide food for our pokemon." Volunteers Brock, for once not hopelessly in love with a girl. Maybe because of her age.

"No need. Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?"

"No."

"It's Catalina. Cat for short." She tells them, leading the way into the kitchen. There she quickly fixes Macaroni and cheese and loads it onto their plates, putting a glass of water by each. "We're out of most other things. Sorry." They inhale it, and look for the girl, who had wandered away. "In here," She calls and they enter a large room with 2 couches and a blow-up mattress. "You can sleep in here. Bathroom down the hall and to your left."

"Hey, if the badge is in 3 pieces, and we get 1 piece for finding our way here, what are the other 2?" Asks Ash, trying to figure out what he'd have to do, and plan a strategy.

"One is to defeat one of us: Your choice who. The last is a secret."

"Why is it a secret?" Wonders Misty. "I mean, it's not like it's different every time."

". It IS different every time. On one side, anyway."

"So how will I beat you if I don't know what it is?!"

"You will. All I can say is it'll be an interesting challenge." She then leaves the room, shutting the door firmly behind her.

"She seems nice," Comments Misty after Catalina leaves.

"She's a kid. She isn't even 9 years old." Insists Ash. "She'll be too easy to beat."

"Hey, age doesn't count for everything." Counters Brock.

"She can't even control her pokemon, Brock. I think I'll try my skills against the other leader."

"True, she really needs to build up her trust with them." Acknowledges Misty. "But I wonder what the second part is?"

"Well, I can't wait to find out! This'll be a blast!" Insists Ash loudly, flopping onto a couch.

"Pika pi!"

And so they go to bed.

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Well? What do you think? Have any insane ideas for the gym battles ahead? R&R!