What's up folks? So it's nice to see that this story has been fairly well accepted so far and for that I thank everyone who has jumped on board. Just to left everyone know, the harem has mostly been decided so just wait for the mystery to unfold as to who will be included in this particular one. I will say that there will be at least eight, maybe ten if I'm feeling more adventurous.

So italicized words do still count for what the Pokémon are actually saying and the underlined words are just the thoughts of what the humans are saying out of an attempt to differentiate the two.

Chapter 7: Breaking New Ground

For the arrival of the Kanto Champion, the fanfare was mild as Ash Ketchum and Sabrina Ortiz made their way into Olivine City off the docks. Fans loyal to their personal region would not be swayed by the sight of one champion but they had seen the first steps of Johto's newest challenger. Several women who hoped to approach Ash were disappointed at the sight of his arm around Sabrina as the clearest sign of a nonverbal confirmation of a relationship.

The three Pokémon who followed them managed to be the center of their own attention as well. Espeon and Pikachu easily stayed within pace of their respective owners, but the sight of a Mew caught the most attention. A creature that so few mortals would ever see in their lifetime was enough of a sight to win over anyone who didn't come to cheer on Ash's arrival.

Regardless of the crowd's intentions however, two trainers in particular were at a distance next to Glitter Lighthouse. One a well dressed man who wore a mask beneath his purple hair and the other a slightly older woman with silvery-blue hair. The man watched on as he observed, "Hm. Quite a fascinating discovery it seems."

The woman placed a Poké ball onto her belt when she asked, "You're saying there's something about our newly arrived Champion?"

The man continued to observe as he placed a hand under his chin, "He seems to benefit greatly from having a psychic user at his side in such a way. Regardless of how capable he is, he shouldn't be capable of utilizing his powers the way he does."

The woman was curious when she told him, "I thought all psychic users were the same. They use their powers to manipulate things around them by cutting off their limitations."

"It is not wrong to assume such. However that is what I am sensing from this Ash Ketchum character who has recently arrived. Something that quite eludes me."

"The only thing here that's being elusive is your speaking. Just give me one reason I should be so interested in what's different about this kid."

"I honestly wish that I could do that myself. But come now, we have the opportunity to meet with a very intriguing young man. Being able to meet with a regional champion doesn't have any harm now does it?"

The woman shrugged when she accepted, "Maybe not. I have to say that I'm interested in knowing if this kid is the real deal or not."

The man patted his suit when he agreed, "Well we are about to have our first opportunity. Let's not keep ourselves from being an audience."

For the man and woman, the walk was short before they saw Ash and Sabrina make their way into the Gym. As soon as they entered, the two mysterious strangers followed behind Ash and Sabrina's entrance when the Gym's doorman stepped in front to watch the outside activity. The two walked up to him when he spoke, "Sorry, we have a challenger already. Come back when it's complete."

The man corrected, "Oh no, we're just here to watch over this upcoming battle is all."

"I'm sorry but spectators aren't allowed."

The woman held out a badge when she told the doorman, "You'll find that we are more important than that."

The doorman was surprised at the reveal when he quickly opened the door and offered, "Please go on in."

Ash and Sabrina both entered the gym with the wide open battling area awaiting its next participant. Before them however was a young lady who wasn't to be trifled with. The gym leader greeted, "Ash Ketchum of the Kanto League. Isn't this a nice opportunity."

Ash waved when he greeted, "So you're Jasmine right? I just got to learning who the gym leaders of Johto are."

Jasmine further introduced herself, "That is me. So you also know that I use the... clang! Steel type!"

Ash nodded when he stepped towards the battle area and offered, "Nice to see that you aren't here just for show. So how about that battle then?"

Jasmine stepped towards her side of the battle area before turning to face Ash, "Okay. Looks like you'll get to have an exciting match."

Both trainers grabbed hold of a Poké ball when Ash agreed, "Looking forward to it. Let's go."

Sabrina placed a hand on his shoulder when she told him, "Remember. Use your power as I taught you."

Ash smiled when he agreed, "You got it hun."

Mew floated next to his head when she added, "Just don't let yourself open to any opportunity to lose. We don't want to make a bad first impression."

Pikachu simply stood next to Espeon as the onlookers waited for the chance to see the first gym battle the foreign champion was about to begin. The referee stepped to the edge outside the middle of the area when she announced, "Here we go everyone. Two-on-two gym battle between Gym Leader Jasmine Zoppi and the challenger Ash Ketchum, Kanto Champion. Ready... Fight!"

In the split second that passed as soon as the referee gave the signal, Ash listened to the open mind Jasmine had revealed. He could see exactly what she was reaching for and what Pokémon she would use to test him. He in turn reached for his first Pokémon before announcing, "Go Nidoking!"

Jasmine at the same time announced, "Go Magneton!" Both Pokémon appeared on the field with Ash's Nidoking beat its chest as it prepared for battle. The trio of Magnemite formed as both trainers prepared for their showdown. Jasmine gave the first order when she announced, "Magneton, Flash Cannon!"

Ash saw the decision before he ordered, "Earth Power!" At the order, Nidoking stomped the ground beneath him and brought up pieces of the earth benath him. The piece he managed to raise was so massive that it took the entire blow of the Flash Cannon attack before it crumbled into dirt. Nidoking wasn't finished however when he raised a remaining piece of the earth from beneath and threw it towards Magneton.

One of the Magneton was struck at the top of its screw and forced off balance but the remainder made their maneuvers to avoid any further damage. Jasmine in the meantime felt herself already sweating at the battle's initiation. Not from the damage to the floor or even from the pieces of the earth that flew past her, but because of her Pokémon already in danger of facing such an offense.

Jasmine didn't let herself be defeated so easily however when she ordered, "Magneton, Gyro Ball!" The three screws on the heads of the Magneton conducted waves into its central gap before a light blue orb formed and was shot towards Nidoking.

Ash didn't allow for the move to stop him however when he ordered, "Nidoking! Stone Edge!" At the command, Nidoking stomped the ground to reveal stone spires rising from the ground and block the attack. Magneton wasn't anywhere near the attack however leaving Jasmine to believe she had trapped her opponent into a corner.

Jasmine ordered, "Magneton, get above it and use Tri Attack!"

Ash saw the move he had predicted and ordered, "Now's your chance Nidoking. Jump and use Thrash!" No one, other than those who were orchestrating the battle, could have understood just what sort of strategy Ash had when he told Nidoking to use that move. Nidoking however used the opportunity to run up the stone spires and with a mighty roar jumped into the air toward Magneton. Before Magenton could finish preparing for its Tri Attack, Nidoking grabbed hold of the screw on the top head of Magneton before doing a jump roll forward and throwing it towards the wall. Without any other command, Nidoking elbowed, punched, kicked, and head-butted the remaining two parts of Magneton with unrelenting vigor.

Once Nidoking finished its attack, the three pieces of Magneton were forced back together only to fall onto the ground in absolute defeat. Jasmine was disappointed by the outcome but consoled, "You did your best Magneton. Rest now." Her Pokéball brought Magneton back into its resting space before bringing her attention back to her opponent.

Nidoking was on the field beating its chest in triumph at his recent victory when Ash congratulated, "Great job Nidoking. Return." Both trainers had the field cleared of Pokémon as the second round began.

Jasmine grabbed for her other Pokéball when she offered, "Not bad. But you won't win this time. Steelix! Win for me!"

Right in front of Ash, the much taller and intimidating Pokémon towered over the field with its menacing grin and its metallic coat. Ash however was not shaken by the send out when he countered, "Let's see how determined you are. Go Rhydon!"

Right before the Steelix, the shiny Pokémon about five times smaller than it stood undaunted and ready for action. Jasmine was pleased by the decision that Ash didn't choose to immeadiately exploit an immediate weakness her Steelix would have. "I have absolute type advantage now. I just need to defeat this one and his Nidoking and I'll win." She told herself under hear breath.

"If only it were that easy." Ash grinned to himself as he read Jasmine's mind.

Jasmine gave the first order, "Steelix, assert your dominance with Bind!" As she gave the order, the Steelix lunged forward with as it prepared its wrapping attack.

Before it could do so however, Ash ordered, "Rhydon! Rock Tomb!" Rhydon then jumped into the air before landing on the ground to summon giant rocks from beneath that surrounded him.

Jasmine was confused by the move at first but decided, "You think you can use it as a defensive maneuver like with Nidoking huh? It won't be that easy. Now Steelix!" At the signal Steelix wrapped around the standing rocks and with minimal effort crunched them down to nothing.

Ash countered, "That's your signal Rhydon. Earthquake!"

At that order, Rhydon smashed the ground with its fist before being wrapped by the confines of Steelix. Before Steelix could get to work on its attack, the ground gave way to the two Pokémon as they fell into the mighty crevase that had only been started by Nidoking's earlier work. Jasmine was worried about the sight when she saw Rhydon exploit her Pokémon's weakness and even worse by the fact that both pokemon were both underground as it kept her from issuing any orders.

Ash however wasn't at that disadvantage when he communicated to Rhydon, "Now's your chance. Finish it with Drill Run!"

"You asked for a spectacle, here it is boss!" Rhydon accepted. Deep beneath the ground there were the tremors of what felt like another earthquake but instead was something far more devastating to one party.

After only a brief period of worrying for what her Pokémon was handling, Jasmine shouted, "Steelix come back up!"

Right on command, Steelix was brought up but not in the condition Jasmine had hoped for. He was dizzy and thrown belly up. Rhydon came up after as he brushed his horn before hitting the defeated Steelix's horn with his elbow and grinned in victory.

Jasmine was in so much awe at the sight of her strongest Pokémon defeated in such a way that it took the referee to announce, "All of the gym leader's Pokémon have been defeated! Ash Ketchum is the winner!"

Jasmine managed to collect herself after that announcement as she recalled Steelix to his Pokéball and Ash did the same thing. She walked over to Ash to shake his hand, "Congratulations for a first Ash. You have proven a better trainer than me. In accordance with League rules, I confer upon you this badge."

Jasmine took out the badge and offered it to Ash when he accepted, "I'm glad that I got to meet you Jasmine. That was a great start to this region." Ash took the Mineral Badge and pinned it to his undershirt before adding, "I'll be sure to let everyone know that you put up a good fight."

Sabrina agreed, "I sure hope your gym hasn't been terribly damaged. I'd imagine the whole city probably felt it."

Jasmine giggled when she told Sabrina, "That's just the city's way of knowing that I've been defeated. It won't be the last time."

The friendly group was uninterrupted by the few onlookers while the masked man and accompanying woman concluded their observation. The woman asked, "So does he meet with your criteria?"

The masked man nodded when he told her, "Very much so. And in a way as foreign as rumored. I would say that now is the time to reveal ourselves. Hopefully he is as kind as he is leading us on to believe."

Ash and Sabrina made their way out of the Olivine City gym when they high fived each other for a battle well done. Ash thanked, "Everything you taught me has really helped me accomplish some awesome results. To think this is only the start too."

Sabrina agreed, "Once we have started journeying this region we will be able to see how much better of trainers we have both become."

Mew floated behind Ash when she told him, "I think we have company. Someone important it seems like."

Ash turned to notice the people Mew was referring to when he saw a masked man standing next to an alluring woman. The man greeted, "Well how was that for a performance? Quite the show you managed to put on for us."

Ash was the first to answer, "Who are you guys?"

The woman shrugged when she observed, "That's one way we have him at a disadvantage. He doesn't know immediately who his betters are."

The man "It would be a bit unfair to call him inferior I would imagine."

Sabrina was intrigued by the two when she pointed out, "It's nice to have fans. But I don't assume that you were both here to simply congratulate Ash on his recent win."

The woman smiled when she complemented, "You read my mind exactly girl."

The man bowed when eh offered, "My colleague is right. However we should more properly introduce ourselves. I am Will. Will Serenity."

The woman crossed her arms when she greeted, "Karen Lee. I would think that if you were worth the salt of the international training community you would know either of us by name."

Ash was surprised by the reveal when he asked, "Two of the Johto Elite Fours?"

Will nodded when he told Karen, "There you go. He managed to pass your test."

Karen was still defiant when she told him, "The first of several I should be giving him. But he's probably still too green for that."

Sabrina was on the defensive when she asked, "You acknowledge that he is a Champion and you think he's still unworthy?"

Will stepped forward when he corrected, "Quite the opposite. Karen here just happens to be quite outspoken about her abilities. Especially to us unfortunate psychics."

"Someone has to counterbalance your egos after all." Karen remarked.

Ash thought for a second when he remembered what the position of the two Elite Four members were. "That's right. Will Serenity, the Psychic Member of the Johto Elite Four. Karen Lee, the Dark Member of the Johto Elite Four. And Karen is the one who has the type advantage."

Karen stepped forward when she told Ash, "Nice of you to understand where you are right now. Just consider it an incentive to improve because you'll need to."

Will added, "We did not however simply come to offer advice Karen. We have a very important discovery that we must research on."

Karen glanced when she told him, "Yeah that's up to you Will. I just have to be your bodyguard is all."

Ash was curious about the plan the two had when he asked, "That's interesting. What sort of thing are you researching?"

Will explained, "Well Ash, to the surprise of many who would see the display of recent events, you."

Ash was made even more curious when he asked, "What? Are my skills as a trainer that remarkable? Everybody saw on TV that I use Mew."

Will began his side of the story when he explained, "And that is a very admirable talent you are capable of. However it's more the interest of how you managed to have your psychic powers awakened that interests me. And of your partner of course."

Ash turned to his girlfriend when he asked, "Sabrina, is he talking about what we're both capable of?"

Sabrina nodded when she said, "I would imagine so. I imagined there must have been some who would have our powers though."

Will elaborated on his discovery when he explained further, "Ah yes, that is something that will have to be corrected. You may recall Ash how it is that normal psychic users are asked to draw on their powers. Utilizing them is one that requires an absolute detachment from ones self. The idea that one must focus on the objects they desire to manipulate and not concern the self in the process. Because of this, many fall into a state where their personalities are separated and can result in destructive consequences if left unchecked."

"Like what happened to me." Sabrina said, reminded of her previous condition as a gym leader.

Will continued, "Very approximate of such Sabrina. You were fortunate to be rescued from that brink before it was too late. However what you both are capable of is the simple mastery of psychic abilities despite maintaining your selves."

Even though Ash had a basic understanding of how his psychic powers worked, he felt that he was not being enlightened on this particular subject. "Isn't that what you do Will?"

Will nodded, "In a sense yes Ash. However I still must separate myself whenever I use my powers. It is a process that takes years of training to fully master. And if left unchecked, whether it be intentional or not, the results can be like those you have witnessed the day you challenged Sabrina."

"I think I get what you say you're interested in. What you're saying is that it's unique for me to have powers despite being myself?"

"That is one theory. However I have base to believe that it may be because of you being yourself. I have seen the way you battled Ash. The way you battled in the Kanto League, one could easily see the passion and determination in your eyes. That is not a norm at all for psychic user. It is almost more akin to that of the legendary aura users to be precise."

Karen giggled when she added, "A psychic power that's used by the power of emotions? That sounds like a nightmarish third power that could tip the scales in a very creepy way."

Will finally had a chance to bring forth his proposition when he offered, "Potentially. But that Ash is why we would be honored if we could potentially follow along to see you progress in this region at the very least."

Ash was surprised by the offer when he considered the fact that two of the most powerful trainers in Johto would be at his side to view his progress. It was an opportunity that few would ever even think would be given as an opportunity. He turned to ask, "I guess it wouldn't hurt having a few others to be with would it Sabrina?"

Sabrina held his hand when she commented, "I don't see the harm. Karen only sounds as though she might need to be challenged at some point however."

Karen brought her hands to her hips when she agreed, "You're on sister. Winner takes the champion here out to dinner and a hotel afterwards." Sabrina involuntarily made a tighter grip on Ash's hand before Karen began to laugh at the indirect defiance. "I'm joking, I'm joking. We saw you leave the S.S. Aqua all cuddly, no way can anyone get between you lovebirds."

Sabrina loosened her grip when she told her, "Well, I still accept your companionship and your future challenge. I am hoping to become something greater myself."

Karen stood next to Sabrina when she told her, "Stick with me and you'll end up so powerful it hurts one of these days."

Ash and Will joined their female companions side by side when Will commented, "It's nice to have a few companions at our side isn't it. I imagine we might make a worthwhile group together."

Ash agreed to the idea when he told him, "I look forward to what lies ahead Will."

Ash now had a fellowship of as many human companions as he did Pokémon and the journey across Johto had only begun with just seven more cities to travel to. The only real tension he had felt was of Karen offering such a competition to his girlfriend. Fortunately for him he didn't have to answer or have a part in such a conflict since Karen was only offering a joke.

"Damn shame too. I wouldn't mind having him over for a nice night." When Ash heard that thought pass through Karen's mind he started to feel his blood run hard at the reveal. Karen, in the small amount of time he had come to know her, already passed every mark and then some in terms of attracting Ash in the looks department. Just the tempting sight of seeing her midriff had him wondering what she would look like naked and ready to be taken as he did Sabrina.

Ash quickly banished the few lewd thoughts he had of Karen when he held Sabrina's hand and reminded himself of who he was traveling with. The tension among the group was hardly a hostile one although things did start to have an air of brewing competition somewhere.

Pikachu asked Mew, "Can Ash really get along with having two women having this much interest in him?"

Mew answered, "Oh it's possible. Some humans just need time to adjust to handling their more basic urges. Some are handled differently than others though I should just say. Let's just see how Ash manages to handle it when the definitive day comes."

Espeon was curious when she asked, "Surely you don't think there's a possibility of Ash being like my father do you?"

Mew giggled when she offered, "It's just a simple matter of time. Not all humans are confined to societal norms after all. Me being here alone is proof enough that Ash is not meant to be your everyday human."

Notes on Chapter 2:

And there you go for another chapter folks. Ash won his first Johto badge as expected and has met with his newest traveling companions, two characters who have never appeared in the anime if I'm correct. With that in mind, pretend that Will Serenity is voiced by Edwyn Tiong and Karen Lee sounds like the dubbed version of Shura Kirigakure from Blue Exorcist.

Here we see the beginning of an overall bigger plot in the psychic powers that Ash and Sabrina have. What will this entail? Oh yeah and Ash's attraction to Karen? Totally not going to add up to anything... *sneaky-eyes*

Just to correct Ash's current Pokémon roster: Pikachu, Charizard, Blastoise, Ivysaur, Pidgeot, Muk, Tauros (x30), Growlithe, Kingler, Primeape, Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Azumarill, Armaldo, Aerodactyl, Rhydon (shiny), Dragonite, Mew.

I will admit there is one thing I am a bit curious on how to proceed with this particular subject. On one hand I do think trading 29 of the Tauros Ash has would make sense since I don't think anyone would need that many unless opening a ranch. On the other I do agree that it sort of breaks character to do that. I know this is fanfiction, but I would like to maintain as many good qualities of Ash as I can while actually giving him an anime universe he actually deserves. I do think I have a middle-ground approach for this, but we'll get there when we get there and see how it's received.

Until then, I look forward to seeing you all next chapter.