It had taken them a few hours to reach Viridian and by the time they were there, all of them were exhausted. Since Pikachu had used up so much energy when fighting earlier, he couldn't stay on Ash's shoulder and had to be carried. Loki's magic had worn off but Ash let him on his shoulder for now. It was at that point that Ash had started to run to the Pokemon centre in order for him to get the proper treatment for his friends. He was halfway there until a voice stopped him.

"Hold it right there! Where do you think you're going with that stolen Pokemon!" the voice yelled.

Ash skidded to a halt as that caught him off guard. His eyes then came across a woman with turquoise hair and was wearing a blue and red uniform. Ash knew that respect was in order but at this point he only cared about Pikachu and Loki. Even the fact that she had accused him of stealing was more than enough to make him angry.

"Let us through lady!" Loki demanded weakly.

"This Pikachu is mine and I'm taking him and my friend to the Pokemon centre because we were attacked by some wild Pokemon!" Ash retorted.

"A likely story! It's unusual for Pokemon to be outside of its pokeball like yours are. Let me see your ID right now," the officer said. Ash rolled his eyes and pulled out his Pokedex and opened it for her to see.

"I am a Pokedex programmed by Professor Oak for Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town. My function is to provide Ash with information and advice regarding Pokemon."

"Now can I please go?" Ash pleaded as he put the Pokedex away.

"I am sorry for accusing you. As Officer Jenny, it is my job to be cautious as there have been thieves around lately," Officer Jenny said as she pointed to some posters nearby.

There seemed to be a man and woman on each and Ash noticed that they had a red 'R' on their shirts. Something seemed very familiar about that but he brushed it aside.

"It's fine, if I see anyone suspicious, I will let you know," Ash said.

"Thank you very much. Let me give you a lift to the Pokemon centre," Officer Jenny said as she gestured to her nearby motorbike with a side car. Ash cringed slightly at the sight of the vechicle but seeing as the centre wasn't that far from here, he was pretty sure he could stomach it.

Officer Jenny revved the engine as Ash got in and they went to centre at top speed. Imagine Ash's surprise when she actually went inside the centre and skidded to a halt at the reception. Nurse Joy was sorting something at the desk when she nearly dropped what she was doing as they came through the door.

"Nurse Joy, we have a Pokemon emergency!" Officer Jenny said as Ash got out of the bike and rushed over.

"Please help my Pikachu and friend!" Ash said desperately.

"Oh my! We will do what we can! Chansey! I need a small stretcher for an Electric Pokemon! What kind of Pokemon is he?" Joy asked as she looked at Loki.

"I'm not a Pokemon!" Loki whined.

"He's a creature of magic. He absorbs Ethernano particles like us so just give him some potions for strength," Ash explained and Joy nodded as she typed on the computer.

Immediately, a pink Chansey came through double doors with a stretcher. Ash carefully placed Pikachu on the stretcher along with Loki. Ash rubbed their head once more before they were taken into a room.

"Take care Pikachu and Loki," Ash said quietly.

He thanked Officer Jenny and went to sit down on a nearby table. He sighed as he leaned back. He should have done something more to protect his friends. His magic would have been good to use but to hurt a Pokemon was a horrible thought. His mind went to the thieves that Officer Jenny mentioned. How people could do awful things was a mystery to him. That was one thing that his magic could do. Bring people like that to their knees.

X

Two hours went by and Ash was still waiting. He had used this time to try and think of a way to reveal his magic but at the same time, he was reading about how Pokemon were cared for in a book he found. Since Pokemon didn't absorb the Ethernano particles from the air around them like humans did which recharged their magic, they had to rely on natural resources like berries. Thankfully, Loki could absorb them but since he was only small, he needed proper medicine too. Turns out that concentrated Ethernano was not only toxic to the Pokemon, but also humans if consumed it physically since it contained all elemental magic. Professors around the world were trying to separate it into separate elements in order for it to benefit people and Pokemon alike. He then decided to call his mother as he noticed a place to call nearby.

"Might as well," he said as he went over. He typed in her number and seconds later, her smiling face appeared on screen.

"Hey Ash, how are you?" Delia asked.

"Been better, how are you?" Ash asked with a smile.

"Oh I'm good as always! So where are you now?" Delia questioned.

"Viridian city," Ash answered and Delia certainly looked impressed.

"Wow honey, it took your father four days to get there!" Delia exclaimed.

"Really? The great Red did that?" Ash asked with an eye roll but was secretly pleased.

"Now come on Ash, don't be like that. You know he loved you," Delia warned.

"Maybe but…there could be a possibly of someone being more of a father right?" Ash answered, his thoughts turning to Yakuri. Maybe now was a good time.

"I wouldn't say that," Delia replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Mom, there's something you should know about…" Ash started but his mother interrupted.

"Ash, you listen to me. There is nothing you can't do, just remember that. I'm proud of you and you know that. I know that your father would be too. You understand?" she said, catching Ash by surprise.

"Yes…" he said, feeling a bit deflated at not getting his chance. His mother was a bit deluded when it came to Red. Always seeing him as a saint when he ridiculed her constantly too.

"Oh, what starter Pokemon did you get? You never showed me!" Delia asked, a little sternly.

"Oh right, sorry! Since Gary gave me a fake time, Oak let me have a Pikachu! He's having a rest with Loki right now," Ash said through a forced smile. He didn't want to disappoint his mother with what truly happened.

"Well, I can't wait to meet him soon!" Delia said with a smile.

"I'll show him to you the next time we chat," Ash replied.

"Alright honey, I have to go now. Don't forget to change your underwear every day and remember that I love you!" Delia said as she hung up and left Ash with a smile and a slight sweat drop.

"Of course…" he said with a grin.

His thoughts then turned to the mysterious Pokemon he saw and realised that there might be someone who could tell him what it is. Ash quickly dialled another number and heard the phone ring for a minute before he heard Professor Oak's voice say, "Oak Pokemon Lab. Speaking?"

"Hey, Professor Oak, it's me," Ash replied. Oak then turned on the video and he beamed at Ash.

"Ah, hello Ash! I see you made it to Viridian City. You got there quite quickly than the other trainers. Leaf and Gary are already there I think," Professor Oak said.

"Oh they are? Maybe I'll run into them," Ash said. He was sure that Gary had caught more Pokemon than him by now and was battling with them or having a magic battle in order to build his own profile.

"So, I take it there was a real reason for you to call me?" Oak asked and Ash nodded as he pulled out his Pokedex.

"Yeah there is. I know a lot of Pokemon from your books but I haven't seen or heard of this one before," Ash said as he held up his Pokedex to show the Professor the amazing creature.

"My word! Where in Mew's name did you get that?!" Professor Oak exclaimed.

"I was coming to the city after a storm and I saw it," Ash answered.

"This is amazing!" Professor Oak stated.

"What exactly is it?" Ash asked curiously.

"Don't you know what that is?! This is an incredibly rare thing for anyone to see! People have waited their whole lives to see it!" Professor Oak replied.

"The name?" Ash asked impatiently.

"It's known as Ho-oh, the Rainbow Pokemon, a Fire and Flying type and a legendary one at that," Oak answered and Ash nearly did a double take.

"Wow, I saw that? And before Gary too!" Ash said with a hint of smugness. First a dragon and now this? He was on a roll.

"Well Ash, it seems that this is a good sign for your future. Ho-oh brings luck you know," Professor Oak said with a grin.

"Thanks Professor. Would you like me to send the image to you?" Ash asked and Oak nodded like a child who had been given sweets.

"Could you please?!" Oak asked and Ash laughed as he sent over the image. Oak clearly got it due to his star struck expression.

"Thank you very much! Oh! I have to go! Talk to you soon!" Professor Oak said quickly before hanging up.

It was a very quick hang up but Ash was sure that he heard the doorbell ring in the background. Must be pizza, he thought in amusement. However, as he was about to go back to sit down, he heard a loud voice interrupt his thoughts.

"There you are!" the voice shouted.