Hey guys it's me and sorry for the late upload. I fell asleep a bit too early last night before I could wrap this chapter up so I had to take some time today to finish. Anyways, I'm glad many of you are enjoying this story and this arc. This arc will expand for quite a while since I do plan on Ash getting a sizable amount of Pokemon before heading to Alola. Anyways just sit back and enjoy Chapter 7 guys.
Ash was feeling many emotions but there was one that was most prominent. Rage. Rage at knowing who resided currently at the city they arrived in. A person who Ash used to see as an older sister only for her to just spit on his dream all for the sake of achieving her supposed dreams of becoming the so-called best Water-type trainer in the world. That person was none other than Misty Waterflower, the Cerulean Gym Leader who ended up betraying him and even trying to attack him and his friends with no protection. Last time he checked, that should warrant an arrest for assault and attempted murder. But at the same time, he remembered her sisters who while not the best leaders have been trying to be better ones. He was soon though broken out of his thoughts by his girlfriend.
"So this is home of one of the traitors?" Serena said with a scowl.
"Yeah it is, but she also had three older sisters. I don't think they know the truth yet though. So I thought what better way than to tell them of their sister's crimes. Plus with Oak backing us up, I don't think they'll doubt us." Ash said as he was referring to how shortly after Ash's battle with Crissy, the couple got a call from Oak notifying them that he reported the traitors' actions to the police and now they were wanted fugitives. Because of this, Ash highly doubted that Misty would flee to Cerulean since most likely there would be police searching for her there.
As they arrived, there was indeed a few Officer Jenny around the area. One of them saw the two arriving and stopped them.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I will have to see your ID's." she requested.
The two shrugged and gave her their Pokedexes. She took out a device which linked to the devices confirming their identity and then gave them back.
"Thank you for your cooperation. We are all just on the lookout for a fugitive wanted for attempted murder reported by Professor Oak." she said.
"It's no problem Officer. I was actually one of the victims the fugitive attempted to attack as you see I was their main target. But it's safe to know that you are all trying to find her." Ash said as soon the couple waved bye to the officer and stopped at the front of the gym. They headed inside and saw three women doing a training exercise with a couple of their Pokemon. Ash easily recognized them and called out to them.
"Hey Lily, Daisy, Violet!" he yelled out.
The three ladies turned and seeing who it was smiled warmly. It was none other than Ash Ketchum, the man who inspired them to become hard-working gym leaders in the first place.
"Well, Ash it has been far too long. You clearly grew up from that runt we knew 6 years ago." said Lily.
"Hehe... it has been a while. Listen I will have to get straight to the point. You might all be wondering why there are a bunch of officers outside your gym right?" Ash asked.
"Yeah we were, but since they didn't ask us questions or anything yet, we figured we wait things out and see how it plays in the future. By the way, have you seen Misty? We haven't seen the brat in a while?" asked Daisy.
"Well you see, Misty's the whole reason why I'm here and the officers are here too." Ash said guiltily as he knew what he was about to say next would break their hearts.
"Wha?! What does Misty have to do with this?" asked a shocked Violet.
"Everything..." Ash said as he soon explained her actions along with multiple of his former companions. Soon the shock on the three girls' faces turned to an expression Ash knew too well. After all he had it not too long ago. Rage.
"That worthless little brat. After everything you've done for her, she decided you're a weakling and tries to attack you and others? We raised her better than this. Thanks Ash for telling us the truth. Now we know that should she ever come and try to sneak in and weasel her way out, we have to hand her over to the authorities." said Lily.
"I'm sorry you guys had to find out this way." Ash said.
"No Ash we personally should be thanking you. If it weren't for you, Misty may have tried to fool us too. Plus we should have also thanked you for giving us a reason to take our leader-training seriously." said Violet.
"Anyhow, completely unrelated but whose the pretty lass attached to your arm, Ash?" asked Daisy with a smirk guessing already what happened.
"I expected you would ask that. Well ladies, this is Serena, she was my companion during my trips throughout Kalos. She also most recently is my girlfriend." said Ash.
"It's about time Ketchum. Like we knew you grow up to be a stud and glad to see someone has you wrapped around their finger." said Lily with a smirk of her own.
"You don't know the half of it. If I ever say anything, Ash will do it. That's how he is." Serena replied it with a sly smile.
At these words, Ash slumped in depression. "Great. There goes whatever man power I have yet." mumbled Ash.
Serena giggled and said, "You never had any when it came to me."
The three others giggled at Ash being whipped and soon bid the couple farewell. As the two head down towards Vermillion City, Ash then sees a building and smiles remembering the owner of said building quite well. Serena noticed this and asked, "Ash, is there something about that building that caught your eye?"
"Yeah, seeing it brings back memories. It used to house one of the most powerful trainers I ever faced. His name was AJ and he had one of the most powerful Sandshrew I've ever seen. It knocked out not just Pikachu but Pidgeot when it was a Pidgeotto and even Butterfree all in just two moves. The guy definitely had one heck of a training routine but his Sandshrew was living proof of what hard work can do. I can see that it's been reopened so is it okay if we can check the place out? I know that AJ left last time I saw him but it would be nice to see if he returned." said Ash.
Serena nodded and soon the two entered the building and to Ash's pleasant surprise, standing in the middle of a workout routine was his old rival AJ. Like Ash, he had grown over the past 6 years but he still had the same hairstyle and similar looking clothes. The young trainer heard footsteps and stopping his training, looked towards the source of his noise and saw two people come in. One of them he recognized instantly.
"Well I'll be. If it isn't Ash Ketchum! How are you my friend?" said AJ with a smile as he held out a hand.
"AJ my old friend, it's amazing to see you again. I can see you're still working hard." replied Ash as he shook his hand.
"You know it. Ever since I came in Top 16th in the Indigo League, I realized I had to up the regime a bit since the team still had critical flaws that were exploited so I've been working more on weakness endurance rather than natural training these past few months. As a matter of fact, I think an old friend here wants to say hi. But he may be a little different from when you last saw him." AJ finished with a smirk as behind appeared none other than a Sandslash. Pikachu hopped off of Ash's shoulders and greeted it's fellow Mouse Pokemon to which it returned the greeting with a smile as wel.
"Wow! So Sandshrew actually evolved? That's great to hear. It must be a real powerhouse right now." Ash praised.
"It sure is, it's been with me all the way and I can proudly say he is my most trusted partner. That's not to insult the others but Sandslash was my starter for a reason." AJ said but then they heard a crash and the group turned around just in time to see a punching bag hit the floor and a Tyrogue standing there panting heavily.
AJ sighed, "Oh man, that's the third one this week."
Ash then asked, "So what's with the Tyrogue?"
"Oh that little guy, well after the Indigo League, I went to the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City and I was asked to take care of him. I agreed as I saw enormous potential in him. Thing is though, I figured out that my tactics don't mesh well so I've been looking for a new home for the little guy." AJ said but then he turned to Ash. "Say Ash, why don't you take him in. I can't think of anyone better."
Ash was surprised at the proposal. Now don't get him wrong, a Tyrogue was an amazing Pokemon to train but to be offered it out of the blue was something he personally wasn't expecting. "Not to offend you AJ, but why would you think I would be the best to raise the little guy?" asked Ash.
"Ash, I've seen your performances throughout the regions and even if you won't admit it, you are by far a better trainer than me even though I defeated you all those years back. I can't think of anyone more trustworthy of helping him reach his full potential." said AJ.
Ash was touched that AJ had so much faith in him and decided, "I'd be honored to help Tyrogue."
AJ smiled and then yelled, "Tyrogue! Come here!"
The Scuffle Pokemon came over and AJ said, "Tyrogue, I know you always want to prove yourself but we both know that it can't be here. So this here's Ash Ketchum, a fellow friend and rival of mine. I believe he can help you more than I ever could so I want you to go with him."
Tyrogue then looked at Ash and as if sensing an honest heart smiled and nodded.
AJ then took out Tyrogue's Pokeball and gave it to Ash. "Well Ash, I wish you luck in training the little guy."
Ash then returned Tyrogue and replied, "Thanks AJ. You can't count on me to train him."
The couple then bid farewell and left the building with Ash grinning and Serena just smiling as she was happy that her love was recovering well. The two then resumed their journey onwards to Vermillion.
And so it is finished, Ash met some old acquaintances in Misty's sisters who were unaware of their sister's crimes and AJ a fellow rival from Ash's early days as a Trainer. I gave Ash an Tyrogue because well I love the little dude and I do have plans for its evolution but it won't be for a while. If you're wondering why I put the sisters on Ash's side, well I feel that based on their later appearances, they changed quite a bit and deserve a little change especially if it's been 6 years. So anyhow, that's all for today folks and remember to keep your sticks on the ice.