A/N: No trigger warnings, just please leave a comment or review about the story so far if you feel inclined. Pokemon is obviously not owned by me so enjoy.

Arriving back in Pallet town, Charlie, Skye, and August were greeted by Misty and Delia. Misty ran up and hugged Skye saying, "It's so great for you to be back."

"I haven't been gone that long mom." Skye said.

"A couple months will always feel like a long time dear." Delia said, coming up and hugging Skye. Looking up Delia noticed August and asked, "And who is this?"

Charlie spoke up and said, "Meet August, he was traveling in the Orange Islands we met at one of the Pokemon Centers."

August extended his hand to Delia and Misty saying, "Pleased to meet you." Heading back to Delia's house they shared some of the adventures they had. They all sat down at the table eating food that Delia had prepared. Charlie was excited to tell Delia all about what he did on Shamouti. Misty anxiously kept looking at Delia, hoping nothing would give way that she knew about the ceremonies due to her son. While listening to Charlie's retelling, Skye was a bit surprised he didn't really say anything at all about Yodel. Then came Charlie saying, "The person who took me from each island was Maren."

"Really?" Misty asked. "How is she?"

"She is pretty good, she is now married to Danny." Charlie said very nonchalantly.

"Danny? As in…" Misty's face was scrunching like she was remembering who Danny was, "The gym leader of Navel Island Danny?"

Skye decided to intervene at this point and said, "Actually mom, he said he retired from leading the gym due to his marriage to Maren."

"Wow, that is really great for them." Mist said with all sincerity. Inside she was surprised having not really thought about Danny since they left Navel Island all those years ago. Delia merely chuckled and gently nudged Misty under the table with her foot, knowing that Misty had a tiny crush on Danny when she was younger.

"Misty, where exactly did you catch your Politoed?" August decided to ask in hopes of changing the subject.

"I caught it as a Poliwag in the Orange Islands, Tracey and…Ash got stun spored and when I was looking for Salveyeo weed, I came across it why?" Misty responded.

Chuckling August responded, "I found mine similarly, although it was not due to your daughter and Charlie getting stun spored."

Charlie spoke up saying, "We came across a couple that looked like they were struggling to move and Skye and I were looking over them while August went looking for the Salveyo weed."

Misty smiled at hearing that story bringing back old memories. "Charlie, I hear you have a Larvitar." Misty stated.

Charlie said, "Yes, I do, we have grown quite attached to each other."

"Did you trade for it, or did you catch it yourself?" Misty asked.

"I caught it on Mt. Silver." Charlie said.

"Impressive." Misty said, "Maybe you all should try the Johto league. Training at Mt. Silver before heading off for the badges might do you some good."

At that the trio smiled, liking the idea. "I have been wanting to take Larvitar back there."

Misty smiled and said, "Just be careful of mommy Tyranitars." When Charlie insisted on doing the dishes with Mr. Mime. Misty asked Skye to take a walk with her. "So I heard from a good source that you taught Charlie how to dance."

"Yes I did…but who told you?" Skye asked a little defensive.

"Rudy, he called to let me know you were safe and how impressed he was by you." Misty said. "He also said he saw some kind of…what was the word he used." Mist said not looking at her daughter before saying, "Vibe between you two."

Blushing slightly but not meeting her mother's eyes, Skye said, "No, no vibe, just don't want him tripping into me again." Skye also began to scratch the back of her head. It was at that moment Misty saw a bit of Skye's father in her.

At that Misty smiled and said, "You know if you need advice I will always be there to help."

"I know mom." Skye said, "We are just friends, closer friends, but just friends. Besides, he's pretty clear he doesn't see me that way." Deciding not to inquire but just keep walking with her lips sealed Skye continued, "He seems more interested in Domino or Yodel."

At that Misty chuckled leading to Skye rebuking, "What's so funny?"

"If there was one thing I learned when traveling with boys, visually being attracted to a person isn't necessarily an indicator of love." Misty said, "Just look at your Uncle Brock, he practically chased every girl he saw when he was younger."

"Not sure how Brock proves your point mom." Skye said, rather annoyed.

"Does Brock still linger on those girls he chased?" Misty asked, not taking Skye's tone personally.

Thinking before responding as they kept walking throughout Pallet, "Um…no, not after he got rid of that book he used to keep."

Misty stopped and said, "He kept a book?"

"Yeah he let it slip when he was watching over me when I went to Cinnabar Island." Skye said.

Misty shaking her head that Brock had a book on girls he chased, she said, "Anyways, he isn't still hung up on them, and is Charlie going on about them?"

"Well…no," Skye said flatly.

"Just be sure to keep that in mind assuming it happens again." Misty said with a wink.

"Is that how things were with Ash?" Skye said, causing Misty to flush slightly.

Getting her composure back, Misty said, "No, outside of Giselle, he rarely showed any sort of look at girls when I traveled with him." Internally Misty knew he did look at her differently a couple of times. She was pretty sure when she wore that Goldeen styled dress he noticed her a little differently, even commenting that she looked good.

At that Skye blinked, saying, "You remember the one time this happened with Ash?"

Misty, smirking a little prepared for this and said, "I remember Giselle because she and I talk about once a month because she wants to help educate young trainers on how to be better, without bullying others."

"Ok…Rudy told me you looked like you hadn't slept in days after Ash disappeared." Skye said.

Misty just sighed but didn't really say anything as they got closer to Delia's house she stopped. "Skye, why the sudden interest in him?"

"Because Mom, you are a great trainer, but you don't seem…" Skye hesitated before saying, "Happy…like there is something missing."

At that Misty went and hugged Skye and said, "I am happy, just I miss him…" Misty said a few tears in her eyes, "I just wish I knew what happened to him." Wiping the tears in her eyes she said, "When it happened I wondered had I been with him could I have made a difference. Shamouti if I hadn't gone out with Melody would Ash have died that day…"

"So guilt is what's weighing on you?" Skye clarified.

"Yes and more and I wish…he could have met you." Running her hands over Skye's hair. "Look how bout before you and Charlie and August go to Johto, you come with me to Cerulean there is something I need to show you."

Getting back inside the house, Delia was seeing Poliwag and Larvitar affectionately rolling around the house. August and Mr. Mime were having a discussion about different cleaning chemicals to use or not use for environmental reasons. Charlie seemed to be planning out where they would head to first in Johto when he looked up and saw Misty and Skye walking back in teary eyed.

"Everything ok?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, everything is fine." Skye said, though inside she was only alright, announcing to the room she said, "My mom and I are going to head home tomorrow morning."

"Huh?" Both Charlie and August said.

Looking more so at Delia, Misty said, "I just have something I need to show Skye." Charlie was about to stand up and ask to come when August came up behind him and pushing him back to sitting on his chair said, "That sounds great, will she be able to join us in Johto?"

"Yes I will." Said Skye, "I can't wait to start challenging gyms again."

The next morning, they all said their goodbyes to Delia after eating a hardy meal. Charlie and August began walking towards Silver town where they planned to stay and train while waiting for Skye to meetup. Skye and Misty began to journey back to Cerulean City. "What do you think Misty is going to tell or show Skye?" Charlie asked.

"I do not know, but whatever it is, it seemed important for Misty to share it with her alone." August said.

"I just wish we didn't have to wait to find out." Charlie said.

"You must be ready for the possibility she may not want to share this with us." August said.

"What makes you say that?" Charlie asked.

"We are now close friends but even I have not shared everything I feel or know with you." August said.

Charlie was about to retort when he realized he hadn't shared everything with Skye. "Guess you are right." Charlie said.

As they were starting to get closer to Mt. Silver, they realized they had come across a rope bridge and began to cross it. After they had made it over they began trying to find their bearings to know where to go. While camping they were cooking their dinner, when they thought they heard something, not very sure what it was Charlie called out Charmander hoping the flame on its tail would help them see. Out came from the bush, a little Tediursa. Surprised, both boys began looking, only to see the shadow of its mom, Ursaring, who looked at them then realizing they were not unfriendly picked up her cub and went back into the woods. Sighing, the boys decided to be safe to keep watch and alternate every couple of hours. The next morning as they were hiking hoping to find the road to Silver town, they came across a huge Tyranitar that had a scar on its stomach. Behind it was what looked like a Pupitar, then without warning it powered up its Hyper Beam and the boys ran fast and hard. Next thing they knew a Ferreligator emerged using Hydro Pump to counter the hyper beam attack.

"STOP TYRANTIAR!" A brown haired woman with an orange jacket with what looked like a badge on it. "They are just people not here to do anything."

The Tyranitar looked at both August and Charlie then calmly it huffed turning back towards the woods and disappearing with the Pupitar behind it. "Thanks for helping us." August said out of breath.

The woman looked at them and said, "How did you two get here?"

"We crossed over on a rope bridge…" Charlie said.

Shaking her head, she said, "How do people still end up finding that bridge…" Sighing she looked at them and said, "Follow me to my ATV I will give you a ride to the road."

"What's your name?" August asked as they walked.

"Ranger Mason, I protect this preserve for Pokemon." Mason said, her Ferreligator walking behind Charlie and August.

"I am guessing poachers attempted to hurt that Tyranitar you stopped from hurting us?" August asked.

"Yes, that Pupitar that was with it had to be returned almost 20 years ago." Mason said.

August had a dark look cross his face, knowing it must have been a very sad tale. One that sadly he was too familiar with back home.

"How did it come back?" Charlie asked.

"A trainer and his friends picked it up when it was still an egg, hatched it en route and saved its mom from being taken by the same poachers." Mason said. Hopping on the atv they all rode back to the ranger station. There she gave them easy directions to end up at Silver Town.

"Crazy day isn't it?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, shame that mom had to go through that pain." August said.

Making their way to the Pokemon Center they found some lodgings and were sitting down for dinner. Their waiter, maybe just slightly older than August, with Brown hair, green eyes, fair skin, brought their food then asked, "Are you two Pokemon trainers?"

"Yes." Charlie said, "Why do you ask?"

"Well some guy with black hair, a blue duster jacket, and a Pikachu came through here yesterday. Said he was going to climb to the top of Mt. Silver." The waiter said.

August and Charlie both spit milk out their nose and exclaimed, "What!?"

"Yeah, he looked pretty tough like he had seen some things." The waiter said. Finishing their meal they got back to their room and began to discuss what to do next.

"Should we tell Skye?" Charlie asked.

"No, because there are plenty of trainers with a Pikachu." August said.

"We should still try and find this trainer." Charlie said.

"I am not disagreeing with you, but calling Skye and telling her we found him, only for it to not be him would be premature." August said.

Charlie just leaned his head against his pillow knowing August was right, was pissing him off. Charlie barely slept, and was surprised to see August already awake meditating.

"Did you sleep at all?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, it's not my fault that you couldn't sleep." August said.

Getting their gear together, made sure they had plenty of water. Charlie let out Larvitar so that he could see his old home. Larvitar was very appreciative seeing his old home. Seeing other Pokemon as they slowly climbed up Mt. Silver was exhilarating. August was looking around trying to find any tracking signs of a Pikachu. It only got harder as they got into snow areas.

Meanwhile, Skye and Misty were chilling by a river not far from Pallet Town. Deciding to do something they hadn't done together since she was 5, fishing.

"So why were you fishing here 20 some years ago?" Skye asked.

"Just looked like a good spot, I had left Cerulean a couple of days before. To become a water Pokemon master." Misty said.

Skye looked over and noticed Misty had a waxy look and a tear in her eye that fell. "Mom what happened here?"

Wiping her tears she looked over at her daughter beaming, "Nothing gets by you." Misty said, thankful her daughter was nowhere near as dense as her father. "This is where I pulled him out of the water." Misty realized she still didn't say his name, "It's where I pulled Ash and Pikachu from the water." Misty still grimaced at saying his name.

"Were you adventuring together and he was swimming?" Skye asked, focusing on the water.

"No, that was how we met." Misty said.

Skye just laughed and said, "No seriously mom, how did you two meet?"

Misty scowled slightly but said calmly, "Seriously, Skye I didn't meet him until that moment."

Blinking Skye kept looking at her mom hoping to see her pulling a joke, "Was he carrying Pikachu?"

"Yes, Pikachu had gotten hurt by a flock of Spearow." Misty said, she then told her about how clueless he was about how to take care of Pokemon back then. Even having to tell him what direction the Viridian City Pokemon Center was. How Ash had then jacked her bike to try and escape the flock that was following him.

Laughing, Skye said, "I can't believe you let him jack your bike."

Chuckling slightly though a bit embarrassed to realize how true that was she said, "I chased after him, but when I found my bike it was destroyed looking like it had been burnt in an oven 10 times over. There was no sign of Ash or Pikachu so I went to the only place I knew he could be, Viridian City." Misty explained that she had just about caught up to him when Officer Jenny took him in her motorbike, which led to Misty chasing after them, still carrying her burnt bike. Finally making it to the Pokemon Center she found Ash, looking almost as beat up as her bike. Ash didn't seem to think much about the bike or at least his words made it seem like he didn't really notice the bike cept that it wasn't usable.

"I almost ripped into him, and had no chill about what happened." Misty said.

Skye cringed and said, "Mom, please don't try to use our slang."

Rolling her eyes at her daughter Misty said, "As I was saying, it was then that I saw how concerned he was about Pikachu…though I am still mad that he destroyed my bike, I saw him caring about more than himself." Explaining that while they waited for Pikachu to recover, Team Rocket attacked trying to steal Pokemon from the center. She and Ash helped Nurse Joy protect the Pokemon while she transferred them to Pewter City's Pokemon Center. Eventually leading to Pikachu destroying the Viridian City Pokemon Center to drive off Team Rocket.

"Mom, though I am enjoying knowing more about this, what does it have to do with what you are going to show me?" Skye asked.

"I am hoping this will let you know about some mistakes I made, and hopefully you will learn not to repeat them." Misty said.

"Noted- never let some random dude steal my bike." Skye said sarcastically.

Misty just laughed at her comment surprising Skye. "If ever I saw him again, I think I would tell him…that may have been the best thing to happen to me." Misty said though she knew deep down she would never see him again.

"Really?" Skye asked in a tone of surprise.

"Without meeting him, I am not the mom I am, nor the trainer I am." Misty said, "He changed my life in possibly the best way." Skye heard her mom but didn't really pick up how honest those words really were.

Meanwhile back on Mt Silver, Charlie and August and Larvitar were struggling climbing the mountain. Taking a break about halfway up with no sign of this mysterious trainer they were warmed by a fire Charmander lit.

"I thought by now we would see a sign of someone up here." Charlie said.

"We are following the words of a waiter." August said, "There is no guarantee when we get up there there will be a sign of anyone or anything."

"Just stop with your logic, August." Charlie said.

"Put your hands under your armpits." August said.

"What?" Charlie responded.

"If you put your hands in your armpits, they will get warm, while you allow the fire to warm your body which needs it." August said.

Doing as instructed, Charlie was surprised how well that tip worked. Once they had warmed up and got ready to continue on. August kept looking for tracks or footprints, something that would indicate someone was up there. Though it wasn't snowing they had yet to find anything of note cept a handful of Geodude, and Gravellers. Charlie then thought he saw some smoke nearby, he and August began to move closer to it, till finally they came upon a green sleeping bag that had only an opening for someone's face. August felt the bag saying, "Someone slept in it, somewhat recently." Hearing a sound of someone's foot pressing into the snow that wasn't from them they looked around, till they saw a figure in the distance coming closer, then they saw a man. Who was wearing a navy blue duster, with black pants, black boots, stopped as he noticed them standing in front of him. August and Charlie just stared at him, but his face was hidden due to the hood on the duster, then leaping onto his shoulder was a Pikachu, but one that had a scar near its cheek on the left side, and random wounds showing it had been through a lot. Eyeing the two boys in front of the man, the Pikachu said, "Pikapi."