StarMage: Hey! The next chapter is here. Hope you all like it. Also, I've put in Perfect ARMs as a character. It'll make this a bit more interesting.
Disclamer: I do not own Pokemon. If I did, I don't think many would watch it 'cause it wouldn't make much sense. Also all of the moves and some weapons that Billy(perfect arms) and his pokemon use are disclamed cause they are from Wild Arms 1-2, FF8, Kingdom Hearts, and one tech by pen name Death Wind. The stuff that I write as his techs after that are all his. I did not make them up.
Now I would also like to dedicate this chapter to Perfect ARMs because his birthday is comming up and because he gets a role in here.
Notes-
'thought' "speak" (author's notes) ~psychic communication~ spell
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Chapter Four- The Path to the Forest

We join the group again on their journey through the Elementano League. Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu proudly walk ahead as Brian stays in the back. They are currently walking through a field with some trees.

"Wow, it's such a nice day. Good thing Brian's not making us run or something like that." said Brock.

"Yeah, I wonder why he's being so quiet. Well, him and Ash." said Misty.

Ash didn't hear a word. He was busy trying to think of some other attack he could make up. Although he had won a badge, Josh had been right. He wasn't going to win only using one attack.

'Let's see. If I can do that then I should be able to do something like this which could...' Ash's thoughts continued with Pikachu sitting on his shoulder.

Brian calmly walked along. His hair blowing in the breeze. The long-ish black and silver strands wavered this way and that.

'Hmm...' Brian had his eyes half lidded and still walking. He could tell that Ash was deep in thought of something. Brian was going to run on ahead to give Ash some help when something clicked in his head. It was like a small jolt. Brian instantly opened his eyes fully. He stopped in his place and looked around.

"Ash, Misty, Brock, I want you guys to go on ahead. I'll catch up in a minute." said Brian still staring ahead.

"Are you sure? Is something wrong?" asked Ash.

"Um, no. Just go on ahead, I'll catch up in a bit."

"Okay then, come on guys." said Ash.

Everyone but Brian moved on. Brian stood still and closed his eyes, listening to whatever was going on. Soon, he found the sound he wanted. It was the movement of some tree branches. He listened further and kept his keen eyes open. Soon enough, he heard and saw his target. A shadowed figure was jumping from tree to tree and trying to suround him.

"Go Scyro." said the figure in a dark-ish voice tossing a pokeball.

The pokemon came out and attacked Brian. Brian pulled out his sword and blocked the attack. Upon a good view in the sun light, Brian found the pokemon to be a Scyther.

'Hold on, a Scyther... Could it be? We'll just have to see...'

"Go Gengar!" shouted Brian as he tossed his pokeball. The ghost pokemon appeared with a mischevious grin.

"Hmmm. Prepare to see your Gengar fall." said the mysterious trainer. The trainer was wearing a cloak that covered his face and body.

"Maybe he will. Maybe he won't." replied Brian.

"No matter. Your Gengar will be no match for my Scyro. Sonic Blade!"

Scyther readied its blades on its arms and slashed four times. Each time an energy wind blade came at Gengar.

"Gengar! Activate Psychic Blades and prepare for combat!" shouted Brian, pointing his sword at the opponent.

Gengar formed energy balls in its hands and formed them into swords. Gengar did so just in time to block Sycther's Sonic Blade attack.

"Go Gengar, Psychic Spirit Wave!"

Gengar spun around very rapidly, letting out waves of energy that forced Scyther back.

"Scyro, Sword's Dance, then use the Cosmic Nova."

"Could it be? It is. Only he has that attack. Gengar! Shadow Torment!"

Scyther began to spin around after awhile, he stopped and headed for Gengar. Energy forming along its blades. Gengar gathered its own dark energy.

"FINISH IT!" shouted the unknown trainer.

"GENGAR!! ATTACK!!" shouted Brian.

The two pokemon went head to head. A giant explosion occured and both pokemon were lying on the ground. Both tried to get up, but fell back down.

"Scyro, return." commanded the other trainer.

"Return, Gengar." said Brian.

"This is not over." said the other trainer drawing his sword. "Let's see if you can beat my Juggernaut."

'No mistaking it now. It is him.' "I won't worry about your Juggernaut! You'll have to worry about my Star Sword!" shouted Brian as he readied his blade.

"What's going on here?!" shouted Ash.

Brian and the trainer faced Ash and the rest of the group.

"Who are you?!" shouted Ash.

The trainer laughed a bit. "He should know who I am." said the trainer pointing at Brian. "But for you, I guess I'll have to introduce myself."

The trainer then uncloaked himself to reveal a boy about Brian's age. Short brown hair was on his head. His eyes were brown as well. He was heavily armed. He wore a pair of strange gloves, had his sword hilt tied to his waist along with a gun in a holster and a pocket with something in it, on his back, he had a bayonet holstered. He doned a black tee shirt with a picture of a dark red Chinese dragon on the front, a pair of dark blue jeans, a dark blue cloak was fastened around his neck, and he had a red ribbonish thing tied around his head that had the ends drape down his back.

"Long time no see Star Healer." said the trainer.

"You will not use that name infront of them!" said Brian angrily.

"You still haven't answered my question. Who are you!" demanded Ash.

"My name is Billy Ashtear."

Brian gave him a look as if he knew the truth.

"Brian, I think you know the reason why..." Billy whispered

"Alright, I'll let it slide for now..." Brian replied.

"What's going on?" asked Misty. "Why are you letting this guy get to you?"

"Enough, stand aside so Star Healer and I can finish our business." said Billy.

"Gladly!" shouted Brian as he charged at Billy.

The two swords clashed and sparks flew. Ash had never fought Brian and never saw him fight, but right now, he was glad he didn't have to fight him. Brian was attacking furriously. Billy was able to keep up at the pace though. Soon Billy declared his attack.

"Lion Heart!"

Billy lunged for Brian and made a bunch of bold swipes at him. Brian seemed to come away unharmed. Then suddenly a cut on his cheek opened. The crimson liquid tainted his very lightly tanned skin as a little flowed out of it. Brian noticed this and raised his hand to his cheek. His palm just hovering the surface of his skin. Soon a soft and bright glow came from under his hand. The blood seeped back into the cut. Soon the cut closed and vanished. There was no scar, no mark, no drop of blood, nothing what so ever that could prove that he had been cut.

"You haven't changed a bit Star Healer."

"If you're going to keep calling me that, I'll have to call you Wandering Master. You haven't chaged either."

"You're right. I haven't. Now let's finish this." said Billy.

"I couldn't agree more! Five Point Explosion!!!"

Brian drew a star in the air with his sword. Lines of energy made the star and a small ball of energy made each point. Brian then stabbed the middle with his sword. The star floated around it. Brian then swung his sword at Billy. The star came off and went towards Billy. It grew in size and landed with Billy in the middle of it. The lines and balls of energy still glowing.

"Dispell!"

The entire area of the star exploded with Billy in the middle.

"AAAHHH!"

The explosion subsided and Billy was in the middle, his arms raised to defend himself.

"I think we're done now." said Brian.

"Yeah let's go." said Ash.

The whole group turned to continue and did. Brian lingered for a moment and gave Billy a glare. Not one of those 'I hate you, stay away' glares but one of those 'I know what you're up to, meet me later' glares. He then turned and left.

***Later that night***
"Brian, where are you going?" asked Misty.

"Yeah, dinner's almost done." said Brock.

"I'm just going for a walk. Nothing big." replied Brian.

"Yes, something big," said Ash. "You've got some explaining to do. Why did he call you 'Star Healer' and why were you fighting?"

"Some day I'll tell you, Ash. Some day. Now is not the time."

Brian turned and left, holding his head with his hands behind it (you know! when you hold your head and your elbows are sticking out to the sides.), leaving behind a very confused Misty and Brock along with an angry Ash.

Brian continued walking till he was a fair distance away from the group. He then jumped up and landed on a oak tree branch and sat down, leaning against the trunk. He sat as if waiting for some one. That someone soon apeared on the branch next to him.

"So, do you come to this tree often?" joked Billy.

"Only came today." replied Brian.

"What did you want to talk about, Star Healer?"

"I would prefer you not use that name for me right now," replied Brian.

"Alright then, Brian, what did you want to talk about?" asked Billy.

"I only want to have a simple conversation, nothing more," replied Brian.

"Okay then, how's Star Destroyer?"

"Well, since he's not here to defend himself, I guess you can call him that. He was doing fine the last time I saw him."

"Saw him?" questioned Billy. "Why 'Saw him'?"

"He and I are busy most of the time. Even if we don't have to battle, we have to maintain what we have, don't we?"

"I guess so."

"Now that we are in agreement, I must ask a favor of you," said Brian becoming serious.

"A favor?" asked Billy. "I thought you only asked favors of your friends."

Brian turned to face him. "That's right. I do."

"So does this mean that we're friends again?"

"Are you sure that we never were after awhile?"

Billy went into deep thought after that. "Maybe. But do you even remember what it was that drove us three apart?" (he's talking about him, Brian, and Star Destoyer. Sorry, won't give away who Star Destoyer is yet.)

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do. It was after our journeys. You wanted to continue to travel, while the rest of us had to take our places as heirs of the gyms. You could have stayed with us, could have become a gym trainer, but you didn't. You left us all. We had a huge arguement, then... you just... left."

"You're right. I did. So you forgive me?"

"I did along time ago. All of us pretty much did."

"Then part of my burden has left me, now, tell me what is this favor you want."

"It is simply this. After Ash defeats Ryan at the Earth Gym, I will leave the group. Yet, I don't want to leave them without someone who has gone through this before. He is too inexperianced at what goes on here. I was hopping to have him be stonger by now, but I see that it will take more time than I thought for him. Especially a trainer of his ability. He could be one great trainer here, but his eyes and heart remain closed to what goes on. There are many things that go on here that he does not know about. So my favor is, could you please go with him through the whole league. Not to babysit him, but to guide him as to what goes on."

Billy stared on in thought. "Hm, why don't you tell him this? It is injust to keep lieing to him."

"Well, you lied to Ash about your last name." said Brian smugly.

"Grr... Okay, you can get away with that... But I think you should tell Ash the truth about how you feel soon."

"He will find out when I feel it is the right time."

"Okay then, I will do this favor for you."

"Thank you. But, there is something else I must discuss with you..." Brian trailed off. The two talked for a bit longer then headed for camp.(Sorry, won't tell you what they were talking about. Just to leave you in suspence.)

"Hey everyone! I'm back!" said Brian.

Everyone turned to face Brian who was walking in with Billy.

"You! What are you doing here!" shouted Ash. "PIKA!"

"Don't worry. He's not going to do anything." said Brian. "He's going to join us as a matter of fact."

"What! You can't just do that!" objected Misty. "We don't know this guy!"

"Do you trust me?" asked Brian.

"Yes but..."

Brian cut her off. "But nothing. If you trust me, then my word should be enough. Now where's dinner. I'm starving."

After Brian and Billy had eaten, Brian took Ash aside to talk to him.

"Listen Ash, I know that you must be trying to make up a new attack, but I must ask you to do it sooner."

"Huh? Why?"

"Just listen, you will need all the attacks and skills you can get and think of to help you here. I only want you to succeed."

Brian walked away leaving Ash a bit puzzled, but determined none the less.

***The next morning***
"Come on guys! It's time to go!" shouted Brian into the tents.

Out of them came an okay Billy, Misty, and Brock, but when Ash came out, it was scary! His hair was messed up. He had bags under his eyes. Plus, he was very groggy.

"Hrmph... What's going on? Can I sleep a bit more?" asked Ash.

"No. We are leaving now. Pack up everything and let's go." said Brian.

Billy didn't do anything as they were packing up till Brian shoved him and forced him a bit. Then he helped take down the tents and roll up sleeping bags. By the time they were done, it was only six.

"Now let's hit the road!" shouted Brian.

"Can we at least wait till the sun is part of the way in the sky?" asked Brock.

"Um let me think about it. NO! We are leaving now if you want to get to Forest Town by noon."

Almost everyone sighed in defeat. Brian led the way as they continued on down the road.

***Six hours later***
Not everyone was happy right now. Ash was grumbling about being hungry. Misty was a bit annoyed at Ash for complaining because it made her more hungry. Brock was sad that he hadn't seen a girl to hit on. Billy was just plain annoyed at the fact that Brian had denied his pleas for a short break in the walking, and Brian was annoyed at them all for complaining.

"Well, we're here. Welcome to Forest Town. Now to stop all of you from complaining, let's go get lunch. What do you all say?"

Everyone cheered and headed off to find a restraunt in the new town. ____________________________________________________________________________
StarMage: So there it is. The next chapter. Not bad, at least me and Perfect ARMs think so... Anyway in the next chapter, Ash gets to meet/fight Ryan of the Earth Gym. Will he win? And what is this secret techneque that Ash talks about? Find out in the next chapter: Chance Pop Battle: Ryan vs Ash!!(I know the title doesn't make much sense. I just wanted to use something close to the name Chance Pop Session even though I know it's an anime!)