A/N: Here's chapter 9. Sorry for not updating. I was very busy.

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"This is taking forever" Ash said as he continued his way to Vermillion.

Brock and Misty were lagging behind Ash and was also wearing out. Charmeleon was in his pokeball since he was very tired. Ash then heard some rustling in the bushes.

"What was that?" Ash asked, looking in the bushes.

~

Ash introducing title: Water vs. Fire!

~

Ash continued to look in the bushes. Meanwhile, Brock and Misty finally caught up with Ash.

"Ash what are you doing?" Misty and Brock said, at the same time.

"I heard a pokemon in the bushes. I wanna capture it." Ash said, while he was still looking.

Suddenly, a blue pokemon popped out of the bushes. Ash immediately scanned with his Pokedex.

"Cool! It's a Mudkip!" Misty exclaimed.

"I'm gonna capture it!" Ash shouted, as he sent out Charmeleon.

"Ash! Don't you know that Fire is weak against water types?" Brock yelled at his friend.

"I gotta plan though" Ash shouted back. "Flamethrower!"

The fire attack hit Mudkip directly, but it didn't do much damage. Mudkip then fired a Water Gun at Charmeleon, but Charmeleon dodged.

"Charmeleon! Slash!"

The slash attack hit Mudkip and was hurt bad. Mudkip fell to the ground was pretty weak, but it wasn't fainted.

"Pokeball go!"

Ash threw the pokeball at Mudkip. The ball shook 3 times and stopped. Ash caught a Mudkip! All of a sudden, the pokeball disappeared.

"Hey! Where's my pokemon!?" Ash yelled.

"Didn't you know? You are only allowed to carry 6 pokemon!" Misty yelled.

"She's right, if you catch a more than 6, it gets transported to the person who gave you your Pokedex. So that means Mudkip is with Professor Oak." Brock said.

"Well, how do I switch Pokemon?" Ash asked.

"Open up your Pokedex, and press the white button, to switch pokemon." Brock answered.

"Awesome!" Ash opened his Pokedex, and switched Heracross with Mudkip. "C'mon. We have to heal our pokemon at a Pokemon Center"

Ash, Misty, Brock, and Charmeleon, continue to walk to Vermillion. They were soon stopped by a trainer.

"Hey! I challenge to a Pokemon Battle! 1 on 1! Growlithe go!" shouted the trainer, before Ash even agreed to the battle.

"You're on! Mudkip go!" Ash exclaimed releasing his new pokemon. Mudkip was released, but it looked very tired and wasn't fit for battle.

"Ash! You just caught Mudkip and you haven't healed it yet!" Brock shouted.

"Oh yeah!" Ash was about to forfeit, but the trainer just butted in.

"No way! Growlithe Bite attack!" shouted the trainer.

"What the!? Whatever! Mudkip, dig!" Ash shouted.

Growlithe obviously missed, and Mudkip dug under ground. Growlithe was confused, until Mudkip attacked it from under ground, fainting it. The trainer returned Growlithe and started crying like a baby.

"No fair! You cheated!" the trainer accused Ash.

"I cheated!? You're the one who attacked me when I was about to quit anyways!" Ash asked.

"Well, you cheated because your pokemon wasn't fully healed! It has to be even. I just went easy on you!" shouted the trainer.

"Whatever. I'll challenge you to a rematch only if I can heal my pokemon." Ash shouted.

"Fine! Come over to my house and we'll battle. Here" the trainer tossed Ash a Super Potion. Ash sprayed Mudkip with it and thanked him.

"Thanks" Ash said. "My name is Ash Ketchum"

"Your welcome. Mine is Joseph"

~

They all headed to Joseph's house and got ready for a second match. They decided to make it 2 on 2.

"I'll send out Golduck!"

"And I'll send out Pikachu!"

"Let the match begin!" Brock shouted, being the ref.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

"Golduck, Hyper Beam!"

The Thunderbolt hit Golduck hard and was weakened, however, Pikachu was hurt by the massive Hyper Beam. Pikachu struggled to get up.

"Pikachu Thunderbolt!

Pikachu shot another Thunderbolt at Golduck and fainted it. Joseph returned Golduck and sent out Growlithe.

"Growlithe! Fire Blast!"

Pikachu, who was already weakened from the Hyper Beam, couldn't withstand another blow, and was knocked out.

"Pikachu return! Go Mudkip!"

Ash threw out his pokeball containing Mudkip and Mudkip looked ready for anything.

"Growlithe! Quick Attack!"

"Mudkip, dodge and use Water Pulse!"

Mudkip dodged Growlithe's Quick Attack, and shot out a powerful water attack. Growlithe was weakened, but not out.

"Well, we'll have to be faster than that. Extreme Speed!"

Growlithe took off faster than a Quick Attack and hit Mudkip. Mudkip was knocked backwards, and rolled over to the side. Mudkip struggled to get up again.

"Mudkip, use bubblebeam!"

Mudkip fired a beam of bubbles at Growlithe. Growlithe tried to dodge it, but couldn't.

"Growlithe Agility!"

Growlithe increased its speed, and was running in circles around Mudkip. Mudkip was starting to get confused, but shook it off.

"Now Growlithe! Extreme Speed!"

Growlithe stopped circling and started running towards Mudkip. Ash thought fast and figured out what to do to prevent the attack.

"Mudkip dig!"

Mudkip quickly obeyed and dug a hole. Growlithe went past the hole without even knowing it. Growlithe then stopped and looked all confused, just like last time. Mudkip then popped out from beneath Growlithe. Growlithe was hit backwards and was knocked out from the blow. Both of the trainers then returned both of their pokemon. They both shook hands and wished each other good luck in the future.

All of a sudden, a net landed on Charmeleon and he was stuck inside. Charmeleon tried to get out but couldn't. Then Ash and the others heard 3 familiar voices.

"No, not them" Ash said to himself.

"Prepare for trouble!"

"Make it double!"

It was Team Rocket! Ash had heard their motto too many times to not know who it was. Ash got ready into battle stance. He threw out his ball containing Pidgeotto.

"Pidgeotto! Use Wing Attack to cut Team Rocket's net!"

Pidgeotto flew right past the net that contained Charmeleon. It cut through, and Charmeleon was free.

"Well, I guess we'll have a battle!" Jessie shouted.

Jessie threw out Ekans and Ash ordered Pidgeotto to use Gust. Ekans was sent flying backwards back into Team Rocket. Ash returned Pidgeotto and ordered Charmeleon to use Flamethrower. The fire attack hit Team Rocket and sent them flying off into the sky.

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

~

After Team Rocket's battle, Ash and co. say goodbye to their new friend, Joseph. They take off saying their last good byes, and head off to Vermillion City.

Now that Ash is finally back on his way to Vermillion City, what new challenges await him?

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A/N: That's chapter 9. Sorry for not updating. The next chapter, Ash will reach Vermillion City.