StarMage: Hey! Thanks for the, well um, review Thunderstorm . Well, on with the next chapter.
Disclamer: I do not own Pokemon. If I did, I don't think many would watch it.
Notes-
'thought' "speak" (author's notes) ~psychic communication~
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Chapter Two- Where are we?

We join Ash and company again as they walk onward in this unknown place. Unbeknown to Ash, he's about to find out not only where this place is, but the power of its trainers as he absent-mindedly walked into someone as he was looking around.

"Ouch," said Ash. He had recovered from bummping into the person quicker.

Ash took this moment to see who or what he had bummped into. The person was dressed in a white v-neck t-shirt. Along with a pair of dark blue jeans. The person also had a scabbard with a sword on his back. The hilt was a star with wings and a yin-yang in the middle. The belt for this was covered a little by the person's back pack straps. The hair of the person was black with silver highlights. Ash was also busy contemplating wether the person was a boy or girl. This was due to the long black braid, which he found out was real when the person shook their head, that was draped over their right shoulder. The clothes were a bit too loose to tell anything. Ash decided to do the only smart thing and open his mouth.

"Um, sorry. Are you okay?"

"A bit shaken but okay. Um, what are you stareing at?"

Ash instantly averted his gaze elsewhere(don't worry! no shonen ai!) and simply said, "Sorry. I was just, um, I just wanted to know..."

"Come on! Spit it out!" the person demanded.

"Are you a boy or a girl!"

"What?"

Ash sighed and calmly said while blushing, "Are you a boy or girl?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because of the...," Ash pointed lamely at the braid.

"Oh! I'm a boy. You seem to be a new face around here. Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Brian. Who are you guys?"

Pikachu took this moment to run up to Ash along with Misty and Brock. Pikachu sat on Ash's shoulder and Misty and Brock stood at his side.

"Oh my name's Ash. I'm from Pallet Town and this is one of my pokemon and friends Pikachu." Ash pointed at his shoulder with Pikachu on it.

"My name's Misty!"

"I'm Brock."

"Hm, nice to meet you all," responded Brian. "Well Ash, if you want to make up for bummping into me, accept my challenge for a pokemon battle!"

Ash stood stunned. He was just challenged by a kid who was obviously younger than him by three years. He could always go easy on him. Couldn't he?

"Okay," said Ash, "I accept your challenge. But I have to warn you, I'm a pokemon master in all the known leagues! So I'll just go easy on you."

"Oh! So you're that Ash! We've heard of your accomplishments here. But I can assure you, you are in a new league with new rules and even better trainers. I won't go easy! This will be a one-on-one match. No time limit. Let's go!"

Ash smirked(can he smirk? does he smirk?). 'This kid obviously thinks highly of himself. I'll go easy on him anyway.' "I'll choose Pikachu!" said Ash.

Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder and took a battle stance.

"Um Ash, don't you think that's a little drastic," whispered Brock to Ash. "This kid might be a starting out trainer. Pikachu would annilate him."

"Don't worry Brock," said Ash with an air of confidence. "I said I'd go easy on him and I will."

"If you guys are done talking, you might want to see my pokemon choice!" shouted Brian.

Everyone turned around to see Brian had a pokeball in his hand and was tossing it up and down.

"I choose you! Pikachu!"

Brian's Pikachu materialized from his pokeball and took a stance.

Ash was stunned. No one had ever beaten his Pikachu with another one. 'This is going to be interesting,' thought Ash. "Alright, let's go! Pikachu! Quick attack!"

Pikachu charged at lightening speed at Brian's.

"Pikachu, Agility on my cue."

Brian's Pikachu stood ready. Ash's Pikachu moved closer still.

"Wait for it... wait for it... NOW!"

As Ash's Pikachu was about to hit Brian's, Brian's disapeared.

"Wha? Where'd it go?"

"Pikachu! Thunder tackle!" commanded Brian.

"What?! I've never heard of that attack! Pikachu, use Agility too!"

Ash's Pikachu prepared to run, but was hit by Brian's Pikachu's head which was charged with electricty.

"What! What's going on! How'd he do that?"

Ash looked around the battle field and saw Brian's serious face. He realized that he wasn't going to win playing nice any more.

"Okay, we're going to battle for real now. No more mister nice pokemon master. Pikachu let him come to you! When you can, use Thunder!"

Ash's Pikachu closed his eyes and twitched his ears as Brian's ran around. When Brian's stopped and began to charge at Pikachu, Ash's Pikachu opened his eyes and let the electricty fly.

"Light Screen!"

As the Thunder attack headed for Brian's Pikachu, it let out a field of light which, after some struggle, neutralized the Thunder attack.

"Not bad Ash. Usualy Pikachu doesn't have that much of a problem neutralizing attacks with his Light Screen. You must be a good trainer after all. Pikachu! Let's show him our version of Thunder! Use Thunder Rain!!!"

"What!? Again with the unknown moves! What's going on?"

Brian's Pikachu charged up and it's eyes glowed a brillant and bright yellow. Soon, it let loose an amount of electricty into the sky which immedately darkened. Soon, the cloudy sky boomed and lightening began to fall from the sky towards Ash's Pikachu.

"Pikachu," shouted Ash, "get out of the way! Use Agility!"

Pikachu ran as fast as possible to avoid the falling lightening. Pikachu had many near misses, but did his best to avoid it all.

"Pikachu, Brian's Pikachu must be tired by now! Use the strongest Tackle and Quick Attack together to get him!"

"Heh," said Brian, "it'll take more than that to finish my Pikachu. Pikachu, why don't you finish off Ash's Pikachu. Thunder Tail Staccatto!!"

"Again! Pikachu get away!"

Pikachu tried, but was too late. Brian's Pikachu bashed away at Ash's with it's electrified tail upwards. Ash's Pikachu cried out in pain(sorry all you Pikachu lovers). When the attack was over, Pikachu had swirls in its eyes.

"Oh! Pikachu!"

Ash ran over and picked up his Pikachu. Brian walked over to see what was going on and his Pikachu jumped on to his head. Ash looked angrily into Brian's eyes which made him stummble back a bit.

"What did you do to Pikachu!"

"Calm down Ash," said Brian.

"How can I calm down when Pikachu might be seriously hurt!"

"Look, Thunder Tail Staccatito may be powerful, but its effects are very minimal. They last for at least two minutes. Five at the most."

As if on cue, Ash's Pikachu opened his eyes and blinked. Ash hugged him.

"Pikachu! You're okay!"

"See, Pikachu's fine," said Brian. "But you all really should rest. I know! Why don't you all stay at my place for awhile."

"Thanks," said Ash, "but we don't want to be a burden you know."

"It's no problem. And to make up for the worry I caused you, I'll even teach you and your Pikachu the Thunder Tail Staccatto."

"Well, if you put it that way," said Ash, "we'll be more than happy to accept!"

"Then it's agreed! You'll all come to my place, and I'll cook a great dinner too! My house is down that way." said Brian as he pointed down the way that Ash and co. had come.

So they left the battle field towards Brian's house. As they were on their way, Misty asked something.

"Um excuse me Brian, but which league is this? I've never heard of those attacks, so it must be some new league. Isn't it?"

Brian looked at her and replied, "This league has been hidden from the pokemon community. It's called the Elementano League."

"Oh, that would explain why we don't know about this place. But how are you able to do those attacks? Are they even legal?"

Brian sighed and stopped. This stopped everyone else.

"Within this league, a trainer is allowed and supposed to make up some of their own attacks for their pokemon. All made up attacks are legal as long as they don't cause death. Also some rules for combat are different as well," Brian explaned. "I'll tell you more when we get to my house."

Everyone nodded and they proceded on.

***Half an hour later***
"Welcome to Star Town. The second town of the Elementano league," said Brian.

Everyone took a look around. It was a fairly nice place with many people busy with what they have to do, shops and stores, many houses, and pokemon trainers were everywhere. Brian led them through the town to his house.

"Here we are," Brian declared.

Ash and Co. were stunned. The place was very big with a huge yard with many plants. In the back yard, there was a pool and lushious garden filled with many beautiful plants as well. Also in the back yard, were Brian's other pokemon. Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu stood in awe at all the different types and kinds. Brian even had psychic and ghost pokemon under his control!

"Well are you all going to stand there or are you going to come in?" asked Brian from the doorway of the house.

Everyone instantly ran in and was surprised at the state of the house while Brian was making his way to the back yard. Everything was very clean and neat. The floors shined brilantly. All the nick-nacks were clean. The shelves had not one speck of dust. Papers, books, and magazines were arranged neatly in a book case. Still yet, a Jynx and Mr. Mime were sweeping the floor while a Charmander was polishing some other nick-nacks. Ash and Co. stood in awe.

"Hey you guys," Brian shouted from the back yard, "come out here!"

An Alakazam came out of nowhere and took their back packs. Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu proceded to the outside. Again they were surprised. Brian was dumping out some pokemon food from his back pack while some Eevees, Dittos, Rattatas, and Pidgeys ran/flew to him. A couple Scyther were trimming hedges while Ponyta, Rapadash, Growlithe, and Arcanine were running around. Ghost and psychic pokemon sat in a corner and did what they wanted as many other pokemon swam in the pool or sat pool side laughing. Many rock, ground, and grass pokemon were tending to the garden. In a very big sakura tree, many various bug pokemon made their home. This totally freaked out Misty.

"AAAHHH!" Misty screamed as a Beedril looked her straight in the eye and then flew away to Brian's side buzzing about whatever it was saying. Brian only nodded to whatever it was as he opened the boxes, bags, and packs of many different kinds of pokemon food and put it all in many large and different plates. Instantly, many pokemon ran to the plate and began to eat.

"Wow," said Brock. "I've never seen so many pokemon in one place. Not even at Prof. Oak's! You must be quite the trainer, Brian."

Brian ducked his head and blushed a little. "I've started training since I was three. I even developed psychic powers just to control my ghost and psychic pokemon. But if you want to succeed in this league, you need to be more than psychic."

Everyone looked at him strangely as he made his way back into the kitchen of the house. They followed but Ash was fumming a little at this new news.

"Brian!" he shouted in the kitchen. "Did you use your powers to read my moves!"

Brian looked up at him from what he was chopping. "Listen Ash, I hardly ever use my psychic powers in a pokemon battle. But I will not say that I do not use them at all. Now why don't you all go sit down in the living room. Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes or less." He resumed chopping.

Ash calmed down a bit and walked to the living room with Pikachu at his side. Misty and Brock followed.

"Ash seems to be down," wispered Brock to Misty.

"Yeah I know," wispered back Misty. "It's not often that a pokemon master is beaten. Much less by a kid who's younger than him."

Ash sat on the couch and grabbed something to read. Pikachu sat on his lap. Misty sat on a recliner and took a nap. Brock sat beside Ash and turned on the tv.

***Twenty minutes later***
"Dinner is now served!" declared Brian.

Ash and Co. cheered. They were amazed at the food Brian prepared. Miso soup, a small fish for everyone, fried rice, sushi, dumplings, fried noodles, stew, stuffed peppers, chicken, freshly baked rolls, and Brian had something baking for desert. Brian had made something special for Pikachu's desert too.

"Everyone, DIG IN!"

With that everyone ate. Ash gobbled down everything in front of him. Pikachu did the same with his pokemon food. Brock ate a lot of everything while Misty ate a little of everything, wanting to eat desert as well. Brian sat in awe at how they were eating and ate kind of slowly. When a ding went off, Brian got up and went to the kitchen. He was already done eating. Soon after everyone else was finished. There was not a cumb left on the table. Brian returned with an apple crisp, freshly baked. He gave a piece to everyone. He had also brought in a special pokemon treat he made for Pikachu. After everyone was done, Brian took in the dishes to wash. Ash and Brock helped bring them in.

"Wow, that was a great dinner," said Ash.

"How did you learn how to cook like that," asked Brock.

"Heh, my mom was a chef for a big restaraunt. Before I left home, I learned to cook from her," said Brian.

Brian put the dishes in the sink as did Ash and Brock. Soon a Mr. Mime came and started to wash them at a furious pace.

Soon they all sat in the living room. Brian was preparing to explain some of the rules and regulations of the Elementano league.

"Okay, now I've already told you about the attacks and stuff. Now I'll tell you a little more."

Brian held everyone's attention.

"Here, what I meant by saying you need to be more than psychic here, is that pokemon aren't the only ones that battle."

"What do you mean," asked Ash.

"Here when you make up your own attacks, you have a version for yourself too. For you see, trainers here are special. We kind of have magic powers here. This is mostly why we are hidden from the pokemon world. We would be shunned if we made ourselves public."

Everyone stared wide eyed. Brian decided to continue.

"You see, since we have these powers, not only do pokemon battle, but we the trainers sometimes do as well as part of the match. This is sometimes done in the gyms. Rarely do trainers fight each other out in a field."

"Isn't that dangerous?" asked Brock.

"Yeah, someone could get hurt!" said Misty.

Brian nodded his head no. "People have gotten hurt, but its nothing serious. Some people can even use powers to heal."

No one said anything after that for awhile. Brian broke the silence.

"Okay, I suggest you all get to bed. Especially you Ash and Pikachu. You've both got a lot of training to do tomorrow."

"That's funny. I thought you said I had to train too."

Brian looked sternly at Ash. "Yes Ash, you're training too. You won't last long unless you at least know one magic attack yourself. So tomorrow morning, bright and early, we are training."

Ash gulped. 'This isn't going to be good.' he thought.

"Come on then! Up the stairs you go. Your room is the first one on the right. Alakazam has taken your bags there already. The bathroom is first on the left. My room is third on the left. If you need anything, just ask."

Everyone nodded and went upstairs.

***Early that morning***
"GOOD MORNING!!"

Ash jumped off his bed with Pikachu too at the yell. Misty and Brock woke up too to see Brian's smiling face.

"Come on sleepy head. It's time for breakfast then on to training!"

Ash looked at the watch he had. "What! It's only four o'clock a.m.! How are you this cheery right now! I'm going back to bed!"

Brian grabbed the back of his shirt. "Oh no. You're not going anywhere. We are training now. Even then, it will take a couple of days."

Ash's eyes widened in fear sort of.

"Now come on!" Brian dragged Ash out of the room. Pikachu followed and so did Misty and Brock.

***An hour later***
"Okay Ash, now your training will begin, but first, we have to get you a suitable weapon.

Ash could only follow as Brian led him to a room filled with many different arcadian weapons. As Brian looked around Ash's eyes wandered. He soon stummbled back a bit as Brian shoved a three foot katana into his hands and then shoved him out of the room with two other weapons in his arms. out of the room. Brian proceded to shove Ash and Pikachu to the back yard. Ash looked through the windows and saw Brian shove a large staff like thing into Misty's hands and a sword with an extremely huge blade into Brock's arms and heard him tell them not to play with those as he was going to teach them stuff too.

"Okay Ash, follow me," said Brian.

Ash attached the katana scabbard to his belt and ran after Brian. Pikachu followed closely. When they caught up, they were infront of four logs. Two big ones and two small ones. Brian then called his Pikachu(he lets his pokemon sleep outside of pokeballs).

"Okay Ash, now take out your katana."

Ash pulled it out of the scabbard and looked at the silvery blade.

"Now I want you to practice swinging that thing on that log. And Pikachu has to practice attacking with it's tail on that log. Me and my Pikachu will help you both out."

Ash and Pikachu nodded in compliance. Their training had officaly begun. Brian was showing Ash how to properly hold and swing his katana while Brian's Pikachu was giving Ash's Pikachu tips and pointers in using its tail to attack. They did that the entire day. The next day, Brian had Ash and Pikachu run laps. The reason was to build up stamina and energy. The day after that, Brian had his Pikachu teach Ash's Pikachu gain more electricity. Brian was busy teaching Ash how to will and use his magic to get electricity out of his hands. After that, they had to practice attacking while having their tail/sword charged with electricty. It was not easy and was very draining. This took a whole week for Ash to perfect. Durring that week, Brian taught Misty some healing and how to use her magic staff, and taught Brock how to use his sword.

***Two weeks later***
"I'm exausted," said Ash as he sat in the huge, heated indoor pool Brian had.

"No kidding," said Brock.

"Pikaaaa"

Brian some what barged in and said, "You two better hurry up in there 'cause you're not done yet with your training for today."

"Brian please," said Ash, "I'm exausted. Pikachu's exausted too. Can't we stop training for today?"

"Not if you want to learn the Thunder Katana Staccatto and want Pikachu to learn the Thunder Tail Staccatto."

Ash grummbled then said that he would get out in five minutes. Brian agreed and left the room.

***Another week later***
Brian was out with his pokemon relaxing. He had decided to send Ash running laps again, so he had a little time to himself. Or so he thought.

~Brian come down here quick! It's Alakazam!~

~What what is it Alakazam,~ asked Brian.

~Get down here now! Some one's trying to steal the pokemon in the gym!~

~I'm on my way!~

Brian got up and ran into the house. Ash and Co. saw and followed. They followed him to a huge stadium type room. The kind of room only found in pokemon gyms. There they found some familiar faces.

"Prepare for trouble, we meet again."
"Make it double, we strike again."
"To protect the world from devistation."
"To unite all peoples within our nation."
"To denounce the evils of truth and love."
"To extend our reach to the stars above."
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth! That's right!"

"Who are those people" Brian asked Ash.

"They're Team Rocket. They're constantly trying to steal pokemon, but never succeed," said Ash.

"Better believe it twerp! We have succeeded!" said Jessie.

"Thanks for the pokemon kid. The boss will surely be pleased," said James.

"As the gym leader here, I can not allow you to take those pokemon," said Brian pointing to the net full of some of his pokemon.

"What!" said everyone surprised.

"That's correct. I am Brian Star. Gym leader of the Stardust Gym here in Star Town."

"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Ash.

"Because," said Brian, "you never asked."

Everyone but Brian did an anime faint. Jessie and James recovered and proceded to get away.

"Well see you later twerps and gym leader," said Jessie, James, and Meowth.

"I don't thinks so!" said Brian. "Alakazam! Psychic Time Freeze!"

An Alakazam appeared beside Brian and held out one of it's spoons. The spoon glowed blue and so did Jessie, James, and Meowth.

"Use Psychic to get back the other pokemon," Brian commanded.

Alakazam nodded and soon, the net of pokemon was beside Brian and he was untieing it.

"Alakazam, finish them off! Psychic Shadow!"

Alakazam collected a massive ammount of dark energy in its hands and shot it at Team Rocket.

"We're blasting off again!"

"Hm, so sad. Never stood a chance."

Brian finished untieing the net and let out all his pokemon. Then turned around to see Ash holding a pokeball in his hand.

"Come on Brian! If you're a gym leader, then let me battle you for your badge!"

"I wish I could Ash," said Brian. "But before you can battle me for my crest, you have to have the seven others."

"What? Crest? Why?"

"You see Ash, instead of badges, we give crests here, and in order to battle me, you must gather the seven other crests. I will only accept chalengers who have recieved the Wind crest, Water crest, Fire crest, Earth crest, Light crest, Sun crest, and Moon crest. Then if you win mine, you may go on to the Elite Match."

"How do I get the other crests?" asked Ash.

"You'll have to challenge the other gym leaders in other towns," said Brian.

"Well then, we're off to the next town," said Ash.

"Ash do you even know how to get to the other towns?" asked Misty.

"Um, no..."

"Which is why I'll be comming along with you!"

Everyone turned to look at Brian.

"But what about your gym," asked Brock. "Who'll take care of your pokemon."

"Oh that's no problem," said Brian. "I usually have gym trainers and care takers here. They had off for a while since I needed a vacation. So they'll take care of this place and I can come with you."

"Are you going to come with us the whole way?" asked Misty.

"No," Brian replied. "Only the first two or three towns. Then I'll come back here."

"Sounds like a good plan," said Brock. "What do you say Ash?"

"I don't care! Let's get going already!"

"So it's decided. I'll come along with all of you," said Brian. "Besides, you all are still not very experianced in the magic here, so I'll help out with not only that, but teach you some more on the way."

Ash groaned. 'Not this again!'

Once they were outside the gym, Brian instantly got started. "Okay people, the next town's five miles away to the north. I want you people to jog there now!"

"What! Why?" asked Misty.

"Training starts now! No more questions," Brian said drawing his sword and pointing it at them. "You will run, or no dinner! Now move!"

Everyone ran, even Pikachu, with Brian at their heels towards the next town.

"You call that running! My Slowpoke runs faster! Move it! I want you people to get there by midnight tonight!"

Brian continued his commands to Ash and Co. as the sun set slowly in the sky. ____________________________________________________________________________
StarMage: How was this chapter? It's a heck of a lot longer than the last one for sure. Okay, so please give me some reviews! In the next chapter, Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and Brian come the the first gym that Ash can battle in. Will he win the crest? Find out next time!