And, another chapter is released, and If you haven't seen my other new story, "Above Death Itself", then I recommend you read it. While I focus on story elements in this fanfic, I spend more effort in descriptive language and written tone in the other story. It is rated mature, but it's only because of death.

(Chapter 4: Homecoming)

Pallet town. A quaint, little village located in the Western part of Kanto. Pallet Town is a beautiful and peaceful place, with lush grassy hills, fresh and calming. The long patches of plains away in the light breeze, loose forests create play areas for kids and nice beaches litter the southern end of the town. Well known for its spacious environment and peaceful attitude, as well as Professor Oak's laboratory, many Pokemon seek refuge here, as it is a breath of fresh, fragrant air for them, which takes away their worries and their stress.

Ash with Pikachu on his shoulder, ran towards the laboratory at full speed, not waiting for a second to go and see his Pokemon and to find out where and when the Indigo league is taking place. His companions Brock and Misty ran behind him, tolerant of his hyperactiveness, knowing that this was his hometown and he had every right to be excited, as entering a regional Pokemon league is no easy feat. Also, there was the fact that this was his first league ever.

Ash and Pikachu looked at the building in front of him, recognizing the windmill straight ahead of him as the laboratory he started his journey in, "Guys! That's Professor Oak's laboratory!"

He quickly ran up the stairs and knocked on the door. A familiar voice said, "The door is open, come on in!"

Ash and the others entered the building, Brock and Misty were awe-struck as they were inside the infamous Professor Oak's lab. Ash walked into the lounge, where Professor Oak and Ash's rival, Gary Oak, were sitting.

Gary was the first to speak up, "Looks like you made it Ashie-boy, thought late as always."

Ash, slightly annoyed, retorted, "At least I made sure not to get mugged, on the way here, Gary."

This led to an interestingly, loud argument between Gary and Ash, in which Professor Oak had to stop them. He sighed, "Why can't Pallet Town's two top trainers get along?"

Both of them looked at him with confusion, they knew that 4 trainers had traveled on their Pokemon journeys from Pallet Town, but according to Professor Oak, only the two of them made it back successfully.

Oak continued, "You two are the only trainers in Pallet to obtain 8+ badges, therefore both of you can attend the Indigo League, which will be held at the Indigo Plateau in two months. You should give yourselves a pat on the back for that."

Gary, arrogant as ever commented, "Whatever, it will be a piece of cake, I'm going outside to train, see ya later Ashie-boy."

Ash was about to comment, until his Krabby came along with a pot of tea in it's claws on top of bamboo coaster, which reminded him of something. "Hey, I should get all my Pokemon together, I still haven't introduced Fearow to the others!"

Pikachu sighed. How could his trainer forget?

Everyone went outside and Ash released all of his Pokemon… even Charizard. All of Ash's other Pokemon at the ranch also came towards him, Muk smothering him in the process, and Tauros almost running him over. Ash looked at all of his Pokemon in confidence.

Pikachu, Squirtle, Ivysaur, Charizard, Muk, Tauros (x30), Krabby… wait where were Pidgeotto and Fearow? Ash turned around and sweatdropped along with the rest of his Pokemon. Pidgeotto and Fearow were glaring at each other fiercely, ready to rip each other into shreds at any moment. Ash walked over to the two rival birds, "Maybe we should separate you two for now, we got some training to do! Is everyone ready?"

Everyone but Charizard shouted in confidence.

Ash sweatdropped, "Charizard… what am I going to do with you. Whatever, let's train!"

-TRAINING MONTAGE MUSIC MODE ACTIVATED-

Everyone, even Charizard did a double take at the Pokedex.

-WHAT?-

(Later...)

It was a week after Ash and Gary had arrived at Pallet, Misty and Brock watched them as they trained day after day, usually on the hills. They had planned a lot, but Gary seemed to have marginally better results, with Ash always a bit behind. While Gary was out training his Pokemon most of the time, Ash spent a lot of time reading strategy guides, while his Pokemon trained amongst each other. Suddenly, Gary's Nidoking misfired a Poison Sting at Ash, hitting the book he was reading at the top of the books cover. Ash looked up from the book and stared at Gary with a hint of annoyance. Gary stared back with a serious look. Everyone watched as the tension rose between the two trainers.

Suddenly, Gary's Eevee jumped out of a random bush and began to playfully chase its tail. Everyone did an anime fall.

Then, Pikachu joined in with Eevee's little game. Then, Eevee tripped and Pikachu slammed into her, and the two Pokemon rolled down the hill as a blurry brown-yellow fur ball.

Everyone sweatdropped.

Misty commented, "At least they get along…"

Suddenly, a loud crash was heard, followed by several screams.

Ash, Misty, Brock and Gary turned to see a white van driving into the ranch.

Ash asked, "What's going on?"

"Prepare for trouble"

"And make that double"

Ash, Misty and Brock interjected , "We've heard the motto a thousand times, just get on with it!"

Cassidy and Banana- I mean Butch came out of the van a bit peeved, but smirked at the kids. "We are here to steal the Ranch's Pokemon, now hand them over!"

Ash and Gary were the first to respond, "No way, get lost!"

Misty and Brock got into a battle stance, both brandishing their Pokeballs, ready to throw, Ash and Gary pulled out Pokeballs of their own.

Cassidy replied, "Then we do it by force. Biff get out the bosses Pokemon and let's get rid of these twerps!"

Biff, I mean Butch aggravatedly replied, "ITS BUTCH, and alright! Go Primeape and Golbat!"

Ash and Gary looked at the Pokemon and then at each other, they were rivals, but they also were friends, and right now was not the time to act like rivals.

"Gary, let's get rid of these Rockets."

"Alright Ashie-boy, this will be a piece of cake!"

Ash turned around and looked at Brock and Misty, "Find Pikachu and Eevee and get to the lab, there might be other's around trying to steal Pokemon, you have to stop them and call Officer Jenny, we will take care of Cassidy and Bart!"

Bush, I mean Butch said, "IT'S BUTCH! ATTACK!"

Misty, Brock quickly left, while Ash and Gary stood their ground.

(ASH & GARY VERSUS CASSIDY AND CUTCH, I MEAN BUTCH)

[2 v 2]

Ash and Gary sent out their Pokemon.

"Ivysaur, I choose you!"

"Wartortle, lets beat them down!"

The duo of evolved starter Pokemon came out onto the field, ready for battle.

Cassidy went first, "Golbat, hit those wimps with a Supersonic!"

Byrth, I mean Butch followed, "Primeape use your Thrash attack!"

Golbat blasted out a Supersonic wave while Primeape ran towards the two starter Pokemon ready to stamp them into mush. Ivysaur quickly jumped away from the angry monkey, and Wartortle slid out of the way as well.

"Wartortle, Hydro Pump that Golbat!"

"Ivysaur, use Sleep Powder on Primeape!"

Wartortle retracted into its shell and began to spin and spray water everywhere, hitting Golbat out of the sky, while Ivysaur used the water to launch a Sleep Powder in it, raining it onto Primeape, forcing it to fall asleep.

"Now Ivysaur, Charge up a Solar Beam!"

"Wartortle! Cover Ivysaur, Skull Bash!"

Ivysaur began to charge up light in it's flower, while Wartortle jumped in front, Skull bashing Golbat.

"Quick Primeape! Wake up!"

"Golbat, Wing Attack!"

Golbat's wings glowed and it dodged another Skull Bash, hitting Ivysaur into the air, and then it started to hit the airborne Ivysaur multiple times. Ivysaur stopped charging Solar Beam in surprise. It actually hurt him a lot! But it couldn't fail it's trainer now, even if that Wing Attack was stronger than normal, he could not go down now.

Meanwhile, Primeape woke up and charged at Wartortle, the Turtle Pokemon didn't know what hit him as he was slammed into the ground on his back with a Low Kick. Unable to get up, it got pelted with Fury Swipes. If only it could fire water from somewhere else...

"Oh no! Wartortle!"

"Ivysaur stay strong!"

Ash and Gary were slowly being backed into a corner, both of their Pokemon being put in an undesirable situation. Briff, I mean Butch and Cassidy were winning.

Cassidy prematurely gloated, "This is it twerps, you can't beat us!"

Bryan, I mean Butch smirked, "We got some of the best Pokemon our boss could get his hands on, those puny attacks at the start didn't do a thing!"

Just as Bratt, I mean Butch said that, Ivysaur and Wartortle glared at their foes, they had to win for their trainers! Then, they began to both glow a bright white.

Ivysaur became a lot bigger and his flower fully bloomed, creating a mini tree on it's back, while Wartortle also got bigger, lost it's cool tail and ears and had two large cannons appear on it's shoulders.

Ash and Gary were amazed, pulling out their Pokedexes to scan the newly evolved Pokemon.

Cassidy and Zutch, I mean Butch, immediately lost their smirks.

-VENUSAUR, THE SEED POKEMON, THE FLOWER ON ITS BACK CATCHES THE SUN'S RAYS. THE SUNLIGHT IS THEN ABSORBED AND USED FOR ENERGY-

-BLASTOISE, THE SHELLFISH POKEMON, ONCE IT TAKES AIM AT ITS ENEMY, IT BLASTS OUR WATER WITH EVEN MORE FORCE THAN A FIRE HOSE-

Ash then spoke up, "Hey Gary, wanna teach these losers a lesson,"

Gary looked up from his Pokedex and looked at Ash, "Sure, let's show them our Pokemon's new moves!"

Cassidy and Bull, I mean Butch tensed up, they were confident in the Pokemon their boss got, but then again…

"SLUDGE BOMB!"

"BLIZZARD!"

Venusaur opened fire on the two enemy Pokemon, slamming them with sludge, while, Blastoise shot out a blast of snow and ice, covering the Primeape and Golbat, knocking them out.

Cassidy and Hutch, I mean Butch were shocked, they couldn't believe that these kids beat them, they returned their Pokemon and began to turn around… to see a bunch of police officers behind them with Misty and Brock.

Ash and Gary smirked, "Checkmate".

Cassidy and James, I mean Butch began to break into a sprint when suddenly they were struck by a powerful Thunderbolt.

"Pi Pikachu Pika!"

Ash smiled, that was Pikachu, thought he sworn he heard "Take that you bozos", but it was probably just his imagination.

And there we go, Ash and Gary kicks Cassidy and… you know what forget it. Looks like it's all training from now on. While I know Ash's Bulbasaur didn't want to evolve, I needed it to so Ash would have enough powerful Pokemon for the league, as I'm treating all the trainers there as people who actually got 8 badges, not people who just took a random test or went to some shitty school.