I do not own Pokemon or King of the Hill.

Welcome back to The Heimlich Saga. Lets get right to it.

Later in the evening the Hills returned home, when they turned on the lights in the living room, the presence of Cotton sitting in Hank's chair startled them.

"It's about time you got home." Cotton complained as he got out of the chair

"Cotton, how long have you been sitting in the dark?" Peggy who was obviously annoyed by the fact her father-in-law broke into their house asked

"Five, ten minutes," Cotton estimated, "since you two have lousy income as a teacher and a pump jockey I thought I be kind and not waste your electricity."

Unlike his mother and father, who the latter had mix feelings about Cotton being there, Bobby was excited to see his grandpa.

"Hey, Grandpa." Bobby greeted

Hello, Bobby," Cotton greeted back, "how's the future champion doing?"

"Pretty good."

"Glad to hear, that's also the reason I stopped by tonight."

Cotton held up a small gift bag then handed it to Bobby.

"Just some things for when you leave for your journey next week."

"Why not wait to give Bobby his present then, dad?" Hank asked

"My friends and I are going to Silver City a few days before Bobby leaves," Cotton explained, "we've been saving up for three years and the only way we'll leave is if we're broke and or dead."

Hank nervously chuckled at Cotton's morbid joke while Bobby opened the bag

"Thankfully that bag is too small to be another shotgun." Peggy said remembering Bobby's 12th birthday

"Come on, Peg, dad said it was things for Bobby's journey," Hank stated, "like an Escape Rope or several cans of Max Repel."

"Those are the tools of cowards," Cotton shouted, "but it's understandable coming from you."

Peggy held her tongue as Bobby reached into the bag to fish out his presents. The first of the presents was an old metal cigar tin.

"CIGARS," Peggy shouted, "that's worse than a shotgun."

"Will you relax Hank's wife," Cotton said, "there hasn't been a cigar in that particular box since I left Hank's mother."

"Wait, is that the one you got in the Alola Region after the war?" Hank questioned, "that's one of your most prized possessions."

"So, what if it is, this is a special moment in my grandson's life and it deserved something special," Cotton informed, "besides, I had it restored and repurposed."

"For what?" a skeptical Peggy asked

Bobby too was curious and decided to open the tin. Right away he noticed eight oddly shaped slots.

"Wait, are these slots for Gym Badges?" Bobby guessed

"Yep, as a former champion I was able to find out which gyms they were reopening."

The second item Bobby pulled out was a small silver star with the official Pokémon League emblem engraved into the middle. Bobby's jaw dropped at the sight of the star. He had only seen this star a couple of times growing up for Cotton had it displayed amongst the gym badges he had won in Heimlich, Unova, Kalos, and Galar. He smiled as he turned around to show his parents.

"Your Heimlich Region Champion Badge?!" a bewildered Hank asked at the sight of one of his father's most cherished possessions

"That's right," Cotton proudly confirmed, "I decided to give it to Bobby for luck, though he won't need it, I'm certain he's inherited my talents when it comes to battling Pokémon, unlike someone else in this room."

"Well, I did okay in battles," Peggy spoke up, "though I was quite the Pokémon Coordinator back home, I remember-."

"Pokémon Contest are just a pathetic excuse for weak trainers to make their equally weak Pokémon feel special." Cotton blurted out

"You know I was a great trainer," Hank stated, "hell I was the runner-up."

"No, you should've been champion, but your weak little Tauros couldn't take a hit."

Bobby looked down at the star as his dad and grandpa continued arguing about the lost that occurred over thirty years ago. He knew his dad felt horrible about that day, but Cotton was not afraid to constantly remind him of it at every opportunity. While Bobby had always admired his grandfather, the way he treated his father was one of the few things he disliked about him. Another sudden outburst from Cotton diverted his attention back to the argument still in progress.

"YOU SHOULD'VE TAKEN THE TOTODILE!" Cotton yelled

"Maybe I would've if you hadn't used your Feraligatr to terrify me as a kid." Hank stated

"I was trying to toughen you up for the real world, which obviously I failed to accomplish."

Bobby decided to say something in hopes that it would end the arguing. Peggy had the same idea for she stepped in between the two stubborn Hill men.

"See here, Cotton, you came here to give your grandson some meaningful gifts which you did," Peggy sternly recounted the last few minutes, "It is getting late, so unless you want to be walking home in the dark with the Venonat and Zubat, I suggest you stop ridiculing my husband for something that happened decades ago."

Cotton and Peggy had a quick stare down that ended with Cotton turning away muttering something offensive under his breath.

Bobby soon went to his room, placed his grandpa's gifts on his desk, then sat down. He stared at two pictures on his desk, one of the pictures was of his dad while the other of his grandpa from when they were his age with their Pokémon teams. Looking at each individual Pokémon, one could easily tell that Cotton and Hank were vastly different from each other. He had heard over the years about how Pokémon developed personalities like their trainers. Their Starters reflected this greatly; both Cotton and his Feraligatr were brutish and quickly went on the offensive, while from what he little he knew, his father's Typhlosion was levelheaded and caring, but the flame on its neck would ignite when it became angry or engaged in battle. There were a lot of ways people would describe Bobby; usually the words unathletic, and lazy were the most common. Bobby started to get worried if the Starter he picked would form a personality based on either of those negative traits. What if he chose Charmander, the last thing he needed was a Charizard that took naps in the middle of a battle.

"You okay, Sweetie?"

Bobby turned his head; his mother was standing at the door.

"Yeah, I'm just getting anxious about next week." Bobby said

Peggy entered the room; "You know no one is forcing you to go on this journey, right?"

"I know," Bobby replied, "but being a trainer is in my blood."

"So is being a Coordinator," Peggy pointed out as she sat on Bobby's bed, "you loved all those contests I took you to when you were little."

Bobby did in fact love Pokémon Contest; however, because of that people like Chane Wasonasong gave him a tough time. Honestly, there was moments when he was growing up that he considered becoming a Coordinator instead of a Trainer, but a part of him felt that he should at least try to win one major Pokémon League to bring some honor back to the Hill name.

"Maybe after I become Champion, I'll give Contests a shot," Bobby joked, "at least in Contests its acceptable to wear a cape."

Peggy smiled; she knew from Bobby's love of costumes and performing that he had a knack for Pokémon Contests.

"How did you choose your Starter, mom?" Bobby asked hoping to get ideas

"I didn't actually have a traditional Starter, Bobby," Peggy began to explain, "things were a little different back home, for my mom gave me five Pokeballs and told me not to come back until I caught a Pokémon."

"How long did that take?"

"Thankfully not long for within five minutes I found a Skitty sleeping on a rock."

Bobby chuckled; he wished that had that choice but knowing his luck he would end up with a Sunkern as his Starter.

"Regardless, I'll support you on whichever of the Starters you choose, as will your father and grandfather." Peggy said as she got up from his bed

"Thanks, mom." Bobby said

Peggy kissed her son on the top of his head before leaving his room. Bobby's eyes then went back to the old photos; just as he was about to go deep in thought, his phone rang.

"Hello?" Bobby answered without checking the caller ID

Bobby almost fell out of his chair when he heard the voice on the other end reply.

"Hey, yeah I know it's been a while since we've talked."

He sat there listening to the caller as they talked.

"Tomorrow is good, where do you want to meet?"

Later that evening while everyone else was asleep; Hank was in his garage going through a box. He already had several items and placed them on his work bench. Among these included an old baseball cap, a broken compass, a knife, and his old Pokédex. However, the item he was searching for was a large stack of old photos of him and the guys along with Kayla during various points of their journey. Hank sat down on the stool and started going through them for one specific picture.

"Where is it," Hank muttered to himself, "I know I kept it."

Hank could not help himself as he stopped to look at some of the pictures, which brought back memories of his journey. Some brought joy like the picture Dale took of Hank, Boomhauer, and Kayla struggling as they pulled Bill out of a hole. While others, like the picture Kayla took of the guys having a double battle with their Starters made him wonder what his life would be like if he had not given up after losing to Ted. Hank shook this thought from his mind as he shuffled through the pictures until he found what he was wanted.

(Blue Bonnet Creamery)

Bobby poked his spoon at the small scoop of vanilla ice cream that sat partially melted in the small paper cup. Sitting across from him was Jordan Bronson; the girl he dated briefly less than a year ago. The development of their relationship had a lot of complications at the beginning: especially since their parents had different viewing on raising their children. Despite that they made things work, until her father got a job in Unova few months later thus ending their relationship.

"When did you get back from Driftveil City?" Bobby asked breaking the awkward silence

"Last week," Jordan answered, "the company my father worked for downsized last month, so after failing to find anything else in Unova, my father was able to get his job back in Arlen."

"Then your back for good?"

"That is until I leave on my journey next week."

"Why not do the Unova League Challenge?" Bobby asked

"Trust me, I was going to, but with my father losing his job and moving back here; well, you can say that the timing was terrible." Jordan explained

Then it came to Bobby on why Jordan wanted to meet with him.

"Have you heard of the team I'm forming to help out my dad's boss?"

"Team Strickland," Jordan confirmed, "I've heard some people talk about it, that's one of reasons I contacted you."

"There's a spot available if you want to join." Bobby offered

Jordan shoved a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth while playfully pretending to consider Bobby's offer or not.

"I would love to join." Jordan accepted

"Great, I'll call my dad and let him know that Team Strickland has six members."

"So, when will I be able to meet the rest of the team?"

"We're having our first meeting this afternoon at Strickland Propane."

"Perfect, I'll be there."

After finishing his ice cream Bobby called his dad and told him about Team Strickland's newest member.

(Strickland Propane)

Bobby met up with his teammates outside of the propane dealership where he saw not only his dad, but people from other businesses in Arlen who were also going to sponsor them during their journey. These included Captain Bewear's Pizza, Goobersmooches, Pink & White, Arlen Bowl, and some smaller businesses that he's heard of but never been in before. Once the last small business owner finished speaking; Hank called up Bobby for his first speech as leader of Team Strickland.

"First off, I like to thank all our sponsors for coming out to support us," Bobby said before clapping which his teammates soon followed, "now, we might not look much like a team- "

"There's an understatement." A voice called out

Everyone in attendance turned to see Chane Wassonasong standing there with not only Clark Peters and Stuart Dooley, but also one of two men that Hank hated more than charcoal.

"THATERTON!" Hank exclaimed

Thatherton chuckled as he along with the three teens walked up to the group.

"When Buck bragged to me that you were putting together a little team in response to me sponsoring Wassonasong's kid, well…" Thatherton examined Bobby and his teammates, "they're as pathetic as I imagined they would be, which is why I'm forming my own team, Team Thatherton."

Hank stepped in front of the group to confront Strickland's main rival. While Chane, Clark, and Dooley walked around the two adults to Bobby's group.

"You know, Booby, your friends won't be able to battle for you." Chane mocked as he jabbed at Bobby's chest with his finger

Bobby swatted Chane's hand away; "At least my teammates are my smarter than yours."

Chane looked over his shoulder to Dooley and Clark; Dooley was standing there with a neutral expression on his face while Clark was trying to clean out his ear with his finger.

"You might have a point," Chane admitted, "my other teammates, however, will easily make up for them."

"Who else would willingly join your team, Chane?" Connie inquired

"You, if you're interested in getting away from Team Stinkland."

Joseph and Clark chuckled at Chane's immature word play, which caused Bobby to glare at the former.

"Even though my dad will get mad once he finds out, I reject your generous offer."

Chane scoffed; "Feel free to switch anytime when you get tired of seeing your friends losing all the time."

"Its your teams that going to be lame." Bobby retorted

"Strong words coming from the son of the weakest trainer my dad ever faced."

Bobby so wanted to break Chane's nose for that comment, however he knew this was only not the time and place, but also the way to handle it. His future team of Pokémon would be the ones to make Wassonasong regret bad mouthing his dad.

"Wassonasong!" Thatherton called out

Chane smirked as he turned and walked back over to Thatherton with Dooley and Peters close behind. Team Strickland watched as their rivals walked across the street, back to Thatherton Fuels.

"Sorry about that interruption," Hank apologized to the team and the sponsors, "Bobby, you still want to say something?"

"Yeah," Bobby said as he returned to the front of the group, "TEAM STRICKLAND RULES!"

Everyone cheered; even Hank before he glanced over to Thatherton Fuels with a look of contempt.

Stay Tuned.