Viridian City Gym (The Day of Lance's Announcement)

"I understand Agatha. The local authorities and I will ensure all Rocket activity is met with measured force. Yes, I will keep you informed. Thank you for your call," finished the well dressed man and Gym Leader, as he put the phone down.

"What did that hag want?" asked the man's spiky red haired Executive subordinate.

Massaging his face with his fingers, the Rocket Boss turned to answer her. "Our esteemed Elite 4 Member was informing me of additional details concerning Champion Lance's earlier announcement."

"And?" the Executive pressed for more details.

"It would seem that the Pokemon League will be sending undercover agents into every major city in Kanto, including Viridian City. Unfortunately, I was informed that the information will not be shared with anyone outside of the Elite 4. Even the agents will not know the identity of others selected," growled the frustrated leader.

"An actual competent response? I'm impressed," snarked the girl.

"If only that was the worst of it Ariana. In addition, I am expected to coordinate with the local Police Force and actively suppress Rocket activity within the city. That blasted witch also expects regular reports. All that being said, I will have to remain here far longer than I would normally like. Our plans will also have to be altered considerably," muttered the man.

Ariana's eyebrows rose. "How so?"

The man took a deep breath and a sip from his ever present drink before continuing. "Team Rocket will cease all activities that involve direct interaction with the public. Furthermore, we will have to delay or perhaps even abandon our objectives concerning Silph Co, with all the added security that will no doubt be present."

"But sir—"

"But nothing!" interjected the man. "My scientists tell me that we are close to nearing completion with our project on New Island. Our work was already set back over a decade once. I will not allow rash action to cause any further delays!" yelled the man in anger.

Ariana trembled a bit, but she had courage yet to ask another question. "I-If we abandon our objectives concerning Silph, how can we possibly hope to control our completed project?"

The man paused, nodding at the reasonable question. "I've had our scientists working on other projects aside from the one on New Island Ariana. One of them produced a possible alternative to the problem you bring up. In fact, a few of our grunts tested a prototype in Mt. Moon a few months back," offered the man.

Realization lit up on Ariana's features as she recalled the report from the mission. "I understand."

"Good. Pass the word around to the other Executives regarding the cessation of our normal activities and tell them to get to ground. Nobody is to be seen!" ordered the Boss.

Ariana bowed and began to walk away, but she remembered another topic she needed to bring up with the man. A topic that was far more personal.

"Giovanni," softly spoke Ariana, getting his attention at the different form of address.

"Yes?"

"He's been asking about you. He wants to see when he will see you again," Ariana continued in her same tone of voice.

Giovanni considered this for a brief moment, before shaking his head and hardening his resolve. "We are too close Ari. I must not be distracted! Tell him to keep waiting for now, but soon, when our goals have been realized, I will visit."

Ariana visibly deflated, but she accepted the answer. She could do nothing else.

Celadon City Pokemon Center (Present)

Ash and his Pokemon broke apart quickly, awestruck by the tiny team member enveloped in white light. Her body grew in size and her her legs extended. The tail also grew thinner but nearly doubled in length. Finally, a gem appeared to now be embedded in her forehead. When the light faded, the Pokemon formally known as Eevee was now a beautiful forest green. Incidentally, after Professor Oak advised Ash to do some research into Tyrogue, he had also done the same for Eevee, studying up on the evolutions not commonly seen in Kanto. As a result, he now recognized the Pokemon in front of him as Espeon.

"Princess?" Ash tried.

"Yes daddy?" a high pitched voice responded.

Ash was momentarily stunned. Espeon's mouth did not move, but he could have sworn he just heard and understood her.

"Espeon, did I just understand what you said?"

"Silly daddy. People can't understand Pokemon," the disembodied voice replied with laughter.

"You just said people can't understand Pokemon," quickly replied Ash with a little excitement.

"Wait... YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ME! ESPEON!" the Pokemon exclaimed with glee, before pouncing on her trainer and sending him to the ground.

"Woah there princess. I am always up for a hug, but I think you will have to be a bit more gentle from now on," laughed the downed boy. "Anyway, I think I figured it out. The last thing you said was spoken out loud and I couldn't understand it at all. Earlier when I understood you, your mouth never moved. I think you were using telapathy," explained Ash, standing back up and dusting himself off.

"What's telepathy?" Espeon asked innocently.

Ash sighed with a smile, before petting the still young Pokemon. "I'll explain it later. For now, I think we have had enough excitement for one morning. What do you guys say to an early breakfast?"

The Pokemon perked up at that suggestion and the group headed inside to the cafeteria. Everybody relaxed, taking their time with breakfast. Espeon continued to talk Ash's head off, very happy with her newfound ability to communicate with her trainer.

Eventually, Misty, Brock, and Delia walked into the room and grabbed some food, spotted Ash and his Pokemon at a table, and joined them.

"Morning Ash!" Misty smiled.

"Good Morning sweetheart!" Delia added, giving her son a quick kiss on the cheek.

Brock was the first one to notice the glaring difference in the room. "Ash, did Eevee evolve?" questioned the teen, pointing to the new green Pokemon in the room.

"I sure did!" happily exclaimed the Psychic Pokemon through telepathy.

"D-DID SHE JUST TALK?" freaked out Misty.

Ash sighed. Well, might as well kill two bird with one stone, thought the boy, before looking to his friends.

"Yes, Eevee did evolve. This is Espeon. As for how she can talk, I think i'll let her explain it. In the meantime, I need to have a private chat with my mom," finished the boy, sending a meaningful look at his mother.

Delia eyed her son for a second, but his expression didn't give anything away for the moment, so she nodded. "Ok son."

Ash led her to the garden, leaving his poor friends to suffer the antics of his very talkative Espeon. Mother and son found a nice bench in one of the corners with more than enough privacy and they took a seat.

Delia spoke first in a quiet tone. "Do you have an answer for me Ash?"

"I do. I'm going to ask you to make the same promise I gave yesterday to listen to everything I have to say though," replied the boy with a small smile.

His mom chuckled at the turn-about but agreed.

"I thought long and hard, but not just about your question. I also thought about my journey and the decisions i've made. Looking back on it, I made quite a few mistakes. On my first day of being a Pokemon Trainer, I risked the friendship of my first pal because another boy called me a chicken. I know I didn't call you or the professor near enough during the first few weeks of my journey, but you already scolded me on that one," chortled Ash, before getting serious again and looking off in the distance.

"On the S.S. Anne, I didn't even think. I put myself in danger and waltzed into a room full of Rocket agents. If their leader wasn't an idiot, he could have simply ordered his flunkies to release their Pokemon all at once and I would have been done for. I should have tried to call somebody or something, but I didn't. Then, I lied to you over the phone about my journey. I thought I could handle the burden myself, and I convinced myself that it wasn't right to make your worry about me. Finally, I followed a boy into an alley-way with nobody around and no Pokemon on me. We both know how that turned out," sighed the boy.

Then, Ash turned to his mom. "I've been selfish and arrogant. I don't deserve to be forgiven, but I ask for it anyways. Will you forgive me?"

Delia, not without water in her eyes, didn't hesitate to pull her son into a hug. "Of course I do son. I'm glad to see you realize these things. That said, you didn't tell me your decision," frowned the woman, slightly pulling away.

Ash smiled. "When I thought about it, I realized it wasn't just my decision to make. My Pokemon put in just as much work as I did. I took them to this garden earlier this morning and we made a decision as a team."

"And that decision was?" Delia nervously asked.

As grew resolute and broke away from his mother. "We decided to stick it out in Kanto."

"Ash I—"

"No Mom!" interrupted Ash. "We made the choice to stay and I will honor it. I will stop the rash decision making, will do my best to tone down the arrogance, and will not hide anything else from you. However, I will not go back on my word. I made a promise to my Pokemon and I intend to keep it. If I do run across Team Rocket in the future, I will do my best to run away or contact somebody else to help. If I can't though, My Pokemon and I will not lose again. That is my promise!" Ash finished with fire in his eyes.

Delia looked at her precious boy, but he had the same stubborn look all Ketchum men had when they made up their mind. "I can't say i'm happy with this Ash, but I will accept it. I love you son."

"I love you too mom," Ash softly replied, initiating a hug himself.

Celadon City Gym (The Next Day)

After the emotional events of the morning, Ash, Brock, and Misty bade his mother farewell. Professor Oak's Dragonite had been kind enough to stick around, allowing Delia to travel back to Pallet Town in a relatively quick manner. From there, Ash surprised his friends by taking it easy for the entire day and just hanging out with his Pokemon. He did promise his mother he would act less rash after all.

The next morning, Ash and Co. finally found themselves in front of the Celadon City Gym. The structure looked to be a giant circular greenhouse with a roof modeled after the Pokemon Gloom.

"Feels good to get back to some actual battling," Ash said aloud to his friends.

"You sure you're not rusty?" joked Misty.

"Not worried about that at all Misty. Let's head inside," Ash said with a big grin.

Walking through the doors, Ash immediately recognized the woman chatting with another person at the Gym's front desk. "Hey, you're the saleslady from the perfume store!"

"Oh hello there again. I take it a Gym Battle is more your forte," smirked the familiar girl.

"Yeah, you'd be right about that," laughed Ash, before his confusion returned. "What are you doing here though?"

"My name is Erika, and I am the Celadon City Gym Leader," replied the girl with her smirk still present. Erika had short black hair, wore a green and red kimono, and had a red hair band with a flower painted on it.

"GYM LEADER?" the dumbfounded boy responded. "But, what were you doing at the perfume store?"

"Oh, that's kinda a side hobby," laughed the Gym Leader. "Some of the Grass Pokemon at the Gym produce ingredients that we use with various plants here to make our products for the store. Anyway, the battlefield is this way. Um, what's your name?"

"Oh right. My name is Ash Red Ketchum and I challenge you to Battle!" Ash declared with his usual passion.

"I kinda already knew that, but I accept of course," Erika answered with amusement. She then led the group to a battlefield surrounded by trees on all sides but one, which contained some stands for viewers.

Brock and Misty headed off, while Ash and Erika took their places. Pikachu sat on Ash's shoulder, while Espeon stood by his side.

"You've got this daddy!" his Pokemon mentally spoke.

"Thank's princess," the boy replied, scratching his Pokemon's chin.

Another lady, with green pigtails, from the perfume store moved to the center in the official's box. "This will be a 3 on 3 battle. At stake is the Rainbow Badge. Only the challenger may make substitutions. Let the match begin!"

"Tangela, Go!" called out Erika. A short Pokemon covered in blue vines appeared in front of the Gym Leader. It also seemed to be wearing red boots and two wide eyes peeked out from behind the vines.

"In that case, I choose you Ivysaur!" The Grass Pokemon materialized at once, primed for battle.

Erika made the first move. "Bullet Seed!" Several small green seeds were fired at a high speed towards Ivysaur."

"Slap those seeds away with a Vine Whip barrage!" countered Ash. Vines met the oncoming Bullet seed, easily swatting the seeds aside.

"Follow up by continually slamming your vines into Tangela!" Ordered Ash. The vines quickly moved forward, dealing immediate damage to Tangela, which stacked up with each hit.

"Stop that Vine Whip with one of your own Tangela!" replied the Gym Leader. Some of the vines on Tangela's body moved to slap Ivysaur's away, and the Pokemons' vines began to clash.

Gotcha, Ash thought with a smirk. "Grab Tangela's vines with your own and bring it close!"

"Saur!" Ivysaur immediately ceased fighting back against the enemy's vines and latched onto them instead, before reeling the Pokemon in fast.

"STAND YOUR GROUND WITH INGRAIN!" Erika replied with worry. Roots poured out of Tangela's body, planting the Pokemon to the ground, and stopping Ivysaur from bringing it closer.

That works too. This is just like the battle with Surge, except the Gym Leader's Pokemon is stuck instead. Unlike Pikachu, Tangela won't be making a miraculous escape, Ash thought. "Use the move we learned from the TM! USE SLUDGE BOMB!"

Erika's eyes widened as Ivysaur discharged a big wad of sludge from it's bulb, which was on a collusion course with her Pokemon!

"Dodge it Tangela!" The mess of vines tried to obey, but the Pokemon was still connected to Ivysaur and the roots in the ground prevented any and all movement. As a result, Sludge Bomb hit head on, blasting the Pokemon, which Ivysaur released, away as its roots broke. Tangela landed in a heap near Erika, clearly knocked out.

"Tangela is unable to battle!" declared the referee.

"Thanks for working hard out there. Return Tangela," Erika spoke, calling back her Pokemon. "You've trained your own Grass Pokemon very well Ash. I normally save this one for last, but I have a feeling i'm going to need his strength now. Go Gloom!"

A blue Pokemon with a four-pronged red flower with white spots for a head emerged on Erika's side of the field.

Ash called back his Ivysaur in response. "Good job Ivysaur. I'm proud of you," smiled the boy at his Pokeball, before replacing it with another. Go Pidgeotto!"

Ash's avian companion was ought in a flash and the battle resumed.

"Stun Spore Gloom!" Erika's partner shot s yellow-green powder from its flower into the air in Pidgeotto's direction.

"Counter with Twister and then use your newest attack," the boy responded calmly. Pidgeotto gave a might flap of its wings and a Tornado promptly formed, spinning towards Gloom. Along the way, the attack absorbed dirt from the ground and Stun Spore, giving the cyclone some color and blocking each trainer's eyesight of the opposing Pokemon.

Erika saw the Twister draw closer, knowing there would be no way to avoid taking damage. "Substitute!"

Gloom glowed before flashing away to be replaced by a small green doll just before the attack tore into the Pokemon. The attack made contact and completely destroyed the doll.

When the dust settled, Gloom had appeared back on the field, though it looked worse for wear with Substitute absorbing a good amount of energy.

"Not bad Ash, but you'll need more to defeat Gloom and I," Erika said with some confidence from surviving the attack.

Ash merely looked up, prompting the curious Gym Leader to do the same. Pidgeotto was diving towards the ground at max speed, seemingly bent on crashing, but at the last minute the Pokemon straightened up, gliding across the ground at breakneck speed towards Gloom.

Erika was about to call an attack to try and stop the oncoming creature, but she gasped instead when yet another one of Ash's Pokemon glowed white. Pidgeotto's wings grew longer, its body larger, and the hair on his head extended further. When the light faded, Pidgeotto disappeared and then reappeared as Pidgeot, crashing into Gloom at full speed with a successful Aerial Ace attack!

Gloom zoomed back into a nearby tree, banging his head hard, before slumping to the floor. The Pokemon did not get up.

"Gloom is unable to battle!" the ref called again, but with a hint of awe directed towards Ash and his Pokemon.

"WAY TO GO PIDGEOT!" cheered the boy at his newly evolved Pokemon, causing the bird to preen at the attention.

"Well done Ash," smiled Erika, who had already recalled her second Pokemon. "You have now knocked out two of my Pokemon and you did so very quickly. Thanks to that, I feel I can use a Pokemon that does not nearly get to battle as much as it should."

Ash grew tense, waiting for the surprise Erika would bring.

"Meet my friend from the Unova Region. Go Lilligant!" yelled Erika, releasing her final Pokemon.

Lilligant had a seemingly humanoid shape, but its body appeared to be made of a light green plant. The bottom half had the appearance of a skirt, while the Pokemon wore a scarlet flower on her head. Finally, a cape of green adorned the Pokemon's back.

I've never even heard of this Pokemon. Guess we'll have to improvise, thought the boy with a bit of nervousness. "Return for now Pidgeot." The Pokemon shrunk into red energy which flew back into Ash's Pokeball. "Let's go Charmeleon!"

Ash's starter Pokemon showed up, feeling electrified to battle this foreign Pokemon.

Erika started the battle for the third time in a row, but this time, she used a far different strategy. "Quiver Dance followed by Magical Leaf!"

Ash's watched as Lilligant swayed from side to side, glowing and drawing in energy, before summoning and firing glowing leaves at Charmeleon.

"Stop that attack with Flamethrower Charmeleon!" The Fire Pokemon obeyed, spewing a line of fire from its maw, which headed straight for the leaves. Ash was stunned when the attacks simply collided, causing an explosion in the middle of the battlefield.

No way! Charmeleon has experience and the type-advantage. That attack should have easily over-powered Magical Leaf, before striking Erika's Pokemon as well. How the heck did it even out with Charmeleon's attack? I wonder if it was that

"Quiver Dance and Magical Leaf again!" Erika called, interrupting Ash's train of thought.

"Flamethrower once more!" yelled the boy. The attacks met once again, but this time Magical Leaf powered through Charmeleon's flames and dealt a surprising amount of damage, making the Fire Pokemon skid back.

That's it! Quiver Dance must be upping her Pokemon's Special Attack. Time to go on the offense, thought Ash. "Smokescreen and jump in!" ordered Ash.

Charmeleon released a huge amount of smoke onto the battlefield and then jumped in, disappearing from eyesight.

"Stay on your guard Lilligant," warned the Gym Leader.

"FLAME ON!" Ash yelled, using the same tactic from his battle with Sabrina. The word use was enough to throw off Erika, allowing a Flamethrower to blast from the smoke and score a direct hit on Lilligant.

"Yes!" cheered the boy.

But when the smoke cleared, Lilligant was standing tall, looking like it took little damage at all.

"Nice try Ash, but you're going to have to do better," smirked Erika.

Ash frowned in confusion at the dilemma, but he had no time to worry, because Erika called another attack.

"Petal Dance!" Pink petals swirled around Lilligant and then speeded in Charmeleon's direction.

"Jump to the left!" cried Ash, but it was no good. The attack came at a blistering speed, making contact with Charmeleon before he even jumped. Charmeleon flew back to Ash, landing hard on the ground.

"Synthesis," continued Erika. Lilligant glowed in a healing light, removing any damage Charmeleon had managed to do before.

Meanwhile, Charmeleon was in pain, fighting with all its might to stand. If Ash didn't think of something soon, Charmeleon and even his other Pokemon might get knocked out by this behemoth. The boy took a deep breath and time slowed down as he analyzed the situation.

Looking at this logically, if Charmeleon's Flamethrower barely did any damage, that move of Erika's must also increase her Pokemon's Special Defense. Her attacks have also gotten faster, which means there is a chance that it increases speed as well. Charmeleon is going to have to get close and deal some physical damage, but we will have to be sneaky or she will dodge the attack. I can only hope that it takes out Lilligant in one shot, because we'll be wide open afterwords, Ash thought gravely. As time sped back up, fortune smiled on the boy when the fire on Charmeleon's tail grew bigger and the Pokemon stood up with a roar.

"Perfect Charmeleon! Now let's end this!"

"End this?" the amused Gym Leader responded.

Ash ignored her. "Smoke Screen, jump in, disappear, and finish with your brand new move!" yelled Ash.

Charmeleon blew an even greater amount of smoke, covering the entire battlefield, before jumping to the center.

"Sorry Ash, but i'm afraid this battle is over. "Lilligant, use Quiver Dance and finish with Leaf Storm!" ordered Erika with victory in her eyes.

Lilligant powered up one final time. Then, the Pokemon raised hear arms and directed a storm of leaves into the smoky battlefield. Loud crashes were heard as the attack seemingly touched every ounce of space on the field.

"It's over," concluded Erika with a sad smile.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Ash responded with a neutral expression.

The smoke cleared, revealing a severely damaged battlefield, but Charmeleon was nowhere to be seen.

"But then where's"

This time, it was the confused Gym Leader who was interrupted, as Charmeleon burst from the ground behind Lilligant.

"MAX POWER FIRE PUNCH!" screamed Ash, hoping his plan would work.

"NO DODGE!" a frantic Erika tried to counter.

Despite Lilligant's speed, Charmeleon was far too close. The Fire Pokemon already had its fist reared back and coated in flames, which it prepared underground. Charmeleon's Fire Punch struck Lilligant in the face with fierce intensity. Erika's Pokemon wasn't sent flying, rather, the punch slammed the Pokemon into the ground and a newly created crater with a boom!

When the dust settled, Charmeleon was on one knee breathing heavily. Lilligant was on the ground and made no efforts to get up.

"Lilligant is unable to battle! As all of the Gym Leader's Pokemon are unable to battle, the challenger is the winner!" declared the judge, not bothering to hide how impressed she was with Ash's battle.

"WE DID IT!" whooped the boy, before going to check on his Pokemon. "Hey Charmeleon, doing ok buddy?" Ash asked, kneeling down next to him.

Charmeleon responded by lightly punching the boy's shoulder, smirking, and then promptly falling to the ground knocked out.

Ash shook his head with a smile at the typical tough cool guy attitude his Pokemon put on, and then recalled him.

"You did it!" cheered Espeon, who had walked up to Ash's side.

"No, we did it princess. My friends fought hard and without their strength, we would not have prevailed," gently rebuked the boy.

"I'm glad to hear you say that Ash," interjected a smiling Erika. "Your Pokemon's strength and your strategic mindset are speak well of you Ash, but it is your love and empathy for your Pokemon that will truly see you go far. I'm proud to award you this Rainbow Badge," smiled the girl, handing Ash his 5th Badge!

"WE GOT THE RAINBOW BADGE!" posed Ash, Espeon, and Pikachu, causing sweat-drops everywhere else.

After some courteous goodbyes to Erika and her staff, the gang headed back to the Pokemon Center to heal their Pokemon and spend one final day relaxing in the city. Tomorrow, they would greet the wilds of Kanto once more. After the crazy week Ash had in Celadon City, the boy was looking forward to it.

END CHAPTER

Sorry this chapter took a few days to get out. As I said in a review I left, this really is the busiest time of the month for work. No chapter tomorrow probably, but hopefully on Saturday. In any case, how did you guys like the twist with Espeon's ability to speak? She will be a major staple to Ash's team, much like Pikachu and Charmeleon. Pidgeot also evolves in a surprise double evolution chapter. We also got to see our first Pokemon from Unova. Did I forget to mention the major character that was hinted at in the fist part of this chapter?

Next Time - We hope to cover two anime episodes. The first one will feature Brock and a a familiar love interest of his. The other will see Tyrogue get plenty of attention.

Espeon860 - Thanks for the review! Great guess with Espeon! Yes it is personal with Team Rocket. We will not be seeing them again though for quite a while.

DragonEmperor999 - Thanks for the review! Hope you liked the chapter.

Reader - Thanks for the reviews! You may have inspired the presence of a new major character that will show up more later and especially in Johto. Also, loved your meme about Ash and Delia lol!

Remember to review with your thoughts/critique :)

Smell ya later and GO ASTROS (Still love you Chicago readers)!