"Home sweet home." Ash said, as they stepped off onto the docks of Pallet Town.

"It's been a while since we've been back here in Pallet Town." Brendan said. "No Pokemon Center, so where's the first stop?"

"Home." Ash said. "Then Professor Oak's lab."

"Mind if we just go to the lab? No offense but we don't have anyone waiting for us at your home." Brendan said. "While all our reserves are there."

"Go for it." Ash said. "I know my mom would like to see Quilava and Pikachu, is all."

"I think I'll go with Brendan and Wally, not sure I want a reunion with your mom just yet." Flannery said.

"Nope." Wally said.

"When'd you get a backbone?" Flannery asked.

"You guys made me grow one, and now you have to show yours." Wally said. "We keep getting different stories on why and how you two broke up, so enough. Go with him and get it over with."

"Seriously, first its you that broke up with him, then he broke up with you. It was Roxy's fault, it wasn't Roxy's fault. You wrote a letter, he wrote a letter. What happened?!" Brendan demanded.

"Do we really have to discuss this?" Ash asked.

"Are you two even happy to be together right now?" Wally asked.

"Meh." Ash said.

"Really?" Flannery asked.

"I agreed because you are trying to be a better friend, but what I said is the truth. We're too different, we were never going to last together." Ash sighed.

"So we're good then?" Flannery asked.

"As good as friends will get." Ash said. "And if you're okay with that, then so am I."

"I think I can be good with that." Flannery said.

"Okay now you two go, we're heading to the lab." Wally said.

"Ash, may I go with you as well?" Lucario asked.

"Yeah, I don't see why not, just know my house isn't exactly a castle." Ash said.

"I am simply curious where someone with such honor grew up. I wish to meet your father, he must be an honorable man like yourself." Lucario said, as the three were walking down the road.

"Yeah, I'd like to meet him too." Ash sighed. "Haven't seen or heard from him in years though, mom hid all his pictures too."

"So you don't know your father?" Flannery asked.

"I remember a few things, but he left when I was really young, I was around four at the time." Ash said. "He's the one who gave me my nickname actually."

"Your Nick name? But your name is Ash, is it not?" Lucario asked.

"Not Nick as in the name Nick, a nickname is a fake name, or a shortened name." Ash explained.

"So the name you originally told me and the boys, Ashton, that's your real name?" Flannery asked.

"Yep, I was given the name Ashton Richard Ketchum at birth." Ash said. "My dad always called me Ash, and it just stuck I guess."

"You speak highly of him, despite not knowing him for years." Lucario said.

"I mean he's my dad, hes the best guy I know." Ash said. "Sure he's not around, but hes a trainer, like me. He'll be home one day, I'm sure of it. Oh there's Mimey, come on we're almost home."

Near Professor Oaks

"So Richard was definitely Ash's dad, right?" Wally asked.

"No doubt about it, the hair, the cheeks, even his partner Raichu." Brendan said.

"And we won't tell him that he was probably almost definitely crushed by an island, right?" Wally asked.

"I won't if you won't." Brendan said.

"Good, let's keep it that way." Wally said. "I'd rather not be the one to bring up that news."

Back with Ash, Flannery, and Lucario

"Mom, we're home!" Ash said, walking into his house.

"Oh hi Ash, and Flannery, are you two traveling together again?" Delia asked.

"For now." Flannery said. "We haven't worked out all the details."

"Oh where are Brendan and Wally?" Delia asked.

"They went to go see their Pokemon." Ash said.

"Qui!" Quilava said, running up to Delia.

"Oh hello Quilly." Delia said, kneeling down as Quilava pawed at her apron. "Oh yes, here you go." Delia said, pulling out a treat and feeding it to Quilava.

"Well that's unexpected." Ash said.

"Oh, is someone else there?" Delia asked, seeing the front door open.

"Lucario, you can come in." Ash said, seeing the aura Pokemon standing there.

"Sorry, I did not mean to intrude." Lucario apologized.

"You asked to come with us." Flannery pointed out.

"I simply was coming out of curiosity." Lucario said, stepping inside, gently closing the door behind him.

"Oh are you a friend of Ash's?" Delia asked.

"Ash and I are acquaintances, yes." Lucario said calmly.

"He's a friend, a bit odd, but a good Pokemon otherwise." Ash assured.

"Well come in." Delia said. "Have you all eaten today?"

"I think we were going to do a barbecue at professor oaks with all the Pokemon." Flannery said.

"Yeah, that was the plan. That reminds me, while we're in town we should stock up on Pokemon food, the market here is great." Ash said.

'GURGLE'

"I apologize for the interruption." Lucario said. "The talk of food, it seems to have made my stomach growl."

"You didn't eat much for breakfast or lunch." Ash said. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen you eat much."

"Your Pokemon need the food more than I do, I provide nothing to the group and you allow me food and shelter." Lucario argued.

"NONSENSE!" Delia said, grabbing Lucario's hand. "Sit down, right now."

"Yes Ma'am." Lucario said, sitting on the floor.

"I think she meant at the table." Ash said.

"What is happening?" Flannery whispered.

"I think my mom found a new child." Ash joked.

"Eat." Delia said, setting down a roll, some fresh fruit, and a glass of water. "And if you are still hungry let me know."

"I could not." Lucario tried arguing. "It is not right for me to be given such an offering without having done anything."

"I don't know what kind of trainer you had before meeting Ash, but in my house no one, friend, foe, or talking Pokemon goes hungry, period." Delia said.

"I have not had a trainer before, my previous partner was from 1,000 years ago." Lucario said.

"He's not lying about that part." Ash said.

"Eat." Delia said. "As for you Ashton."

"What did I do?" Ash asked.

"Wait down here. Flannery dear, if you'd like you can use our shower first." Delia said.

"Phew." Ash audibly sighed.

"Thank you Miss Ketchum." Flannery said.

Back at Professor Oak's lab

"Hey guys!" Brendan said, as he was surrounded by the Pokemon he'd left with Professor Oak.

"I must say Brendan, you've amassed an impressive group of Pokemon in the time you've been here in Kanto." Professor Oak said. "Not to mention the amount your old team has grown in strength as well."

"Is there a problem with that?" Wally asked.

"No, don't think of Brendan as the standard to reach." Professor Oak said. "He wanted to catch a variety of powerful Pokemon, and I believe he did just that."

"Now if only I could figure out what I want to do. I've been struggling with it since day one." Wally said.

"It will come with time." Professor Oak said. "It took Ash and Gary four years to find their new goals, and who knows how long these will stay."

"Yeah, that's what I keep being told." Wally sighed.

"Don't stress about it too much, one day the answer will reveal itself to you, and it will simply click, I promise." Professor Oak said. "Now go on, I'm sure your Pokemon would like to see you too."