Pokémon Tails: A Journey to the East

DISCLAIMER: I don't own DBZ or Pokémon.

CHAPTER 4: The True Heart of a Trainer

Ash Ketchum walked through the forest, glancing from time to time at the Pokémon walking alongside him.

"This is so cool!" he said happily. "With your new powers, Pikachu, I just know we can win!"

"Pika!" Pikachu avowed, nodding confidently.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps caused both Ash and Pikachu to turn their heads.

"Hey, how's it going, Ash?" Gohan asked the brown-eyed boy.

Ash raised his fist. "It's going great! Pikachu's been supercharged! There's no way we can lose now!"

"Good," Gohan said. "I have faith in you. I know you can do it."

Misty and Gohan easily fell into step alongside Ash and Pikachu.

"So where have you two been?" Ash inquired.

"Just walking," Misty sniffed.

"Oh, well, first I asked Mr. Flint to show me to the bookstore," Gohan said. "I've decided to apply to be a Pokémon Trainer!"

"Awesome!" Ash said enthusiastically. "So we're gonna be rivals."

"Yes, but unlike you, Gohan knows what he's doing," Misty said, then she smirked. "In fact, he's even caught a Pokémon!"

"WHAT?!" Ash exclaimed, coming to a halt. "You caught your first Pokémon?"

"Yup," Gohan affirmed.

"Well, can you show us?" Ash asked. "Please, Gohan?"

"Pika Pi!" Pikachu put in eagerly.

"Well, sure!" Gohan said, and he pulled the ball out. Fumbling with it for a minute, he found the button that released the Pokémon.

The pinkish-white cat materialized in a haze of red energy and a cheerful squeal of, "MEW!"

"Oh wow, look at it!" Ash gushed, looking impressed. "It's so cool!"

"Pika Pika!" the Electric Rat agreed. "Pika Pi, Pikachu!"

Seeing all the attention it was receiving, the Legendary Pokémon performed an aerial twirl. "Mew! Mew!"

"The day I left home to become a Pokémon Trainer, I saw a really rare Pokémon," Ash told Gohan. "And I think you just caught one!"

"Really?" Gohan said, sounding interested. "Well, do you know any way we can find out?"

"I know!" Ash burst excitedly. "We can call Professor Oak! I bet he'll know all about it!"

"Who's Professor Oak?" Gohan wondered.

"Professor Oak is the Kanto Region's most widely known Pokémon expert," Misty responded before Ash could say anything. "He lives in Ash's home town and he's considered to be the authority on every Pokémon type."

"I was just gonna say that," Ash grumbled.

"Cool!" Gohan said. "And we can call him right now!"

Gohan pulled out a capsule and threw it, and just like before, when it exploded, out popped the house Ash and Misty knew so well.

"Come on, let's find out if Mew is really rare!" Gohan said, rushing inside the house.

"Mew!" Mew chirped as it followed him through the entrance.

"Pika Pika!" Pikachu declared, going after them.

Ash and Misty shared a glance and shrugged, entering the house too. Gohan sat by what looked like a computer monitor.

"Do you know Professor Oak's number, Ash?" Gohan asked.

"Sure," Ash said, and then he recited a number.

Inputting the number in the screen phone's database, Gohan and the others waited while the phone ringed. Finally, after several seconds, the picture of a middle-aged man with white hair, jovial features, and a long, white lab coat over comfortable-looking clothes appeared on the screen.

"Hello there, young man," the Professor said. "Um, do I know you?"

Suddenly, Ash nudged his way into the camera frame. "Hello, Professor Oak! It's me, Ash!"

"Oh, Ash, hello!" Professor Oak said. "I was wondering how you're during on your journeys! Catch a lot of Pokémon?"

Ash nodded cheerfully. "Yes, I already have three Pokémon!"

"Only three?" Professor Oak repeated, looking very dumbfounded. "Ash, my boy, I hate to disappoint you, but Gary and the others have already caught fifteen Pokémon, at the very least, and earned two badges."

"Fifteen Pokémon?!" And then it was as though Gohan could see the gloom hanging over Ash. "It's not fair..."

With Ash off to the side, Gohan figured this was the time to ask Professor Oak about his new Pokémon.

"Excuse me, Professor Oak, but there's actually something I wanted to talk to you about," Gohan interrupted.

"Yes, and what would that be, son?" Professor Oak asked kindly.

"You see, sir, I really want to apply to become a Pokémon Trainer," Gohan explained. "I've already caught my first Pokémon. We think it's rare, but we couldn't tell — can you tell us something about this?"

"A rare Pokémon, you say?" Professor Oak said, intrigued. "Well, enough suspense, show it to me already!"

Grabbing hold of the little feline, Gohan pulled it closer and held it up for Oak to see. "Here it is."

"Mew," the little being giggled happily. "Mew! Mew!"

Professor Oak instantly began freaking out. "No way, this can't be real! It's impossible!"

Now recovered, Ash forced his way back into the picture frame. "So, can you tell us about it, Professor Oak?"

"Tell you about it? Tell you about it?" Professor Oak babbled, still in disbelief over what he was seeing. "Ash, that's no ordinary Pokémon your friend's holding. It's a Mew, the rarest Pokémon in the world!"

The three gasped as Gohan now stared at the Pokémon in renewed interest.

"Mew!" the creature chirped, pleased to be the center of attention. "Mew, Mew!"

"No way!" Misty said, gaping. "That's unbelievable."

"How on Earth did you ever find one, young man?" Professor Oak demanded of Gohan.

"I didn't," Gohan answered. "It came to me."

"Astounding!" Professor Oak responded. "Then the legends really are true. It's said that Mew will only appear before those with the purest of hearts, but... no one's ever actually been able to prove that before!"

"Wow," Misty breathed, now staring at Gohan with newfound respect.

Gohan glanced down at the Mew with something akin to wonder written on his face.

"I had no idea," he said. "I feel so lucky. I can't believe something like this could ever really happen to me."

He rubbed the little Legendary on its head, causing it to purr happily. "Mew..."

"Young man," Professor Oak said, now entering "lecture mode." "If a Mew chose you, then destiny has sought you out, and you can't refuse such an offer. You must be an exceptionally gifted boy, and I want to see just how far you can go."

"Really?" Gohan repeated, sounding awed.

"Yes. I don't see any other option," Oak replied. "And, as an official licensed member of the International Pokémon Organization, I hereby present you with your own Pokémon Trainer's License; a Pokédex."

And he held up a simple red device in the shape of a thin rectangle.

"Wow, Gohan, this is so cool!" Ash said. "You're gonna be a Pokémon Trainer, just like me!"

"Yes," Professor Oak said. "Now, young man, I'll need a few details. What's your name?"

"Um, Son Gohan," Gohan replied.

"And what's your birthday?" the Professor asked.

"May 19," Gohan answered rather dutifully.

"And your hometown?" Oak pressed.

"A place very far away you haven't even heard of called Mt. Paozu," Gohan said, deciding just to be as honest as possible.

After a few minutes of entering the information into the Pokédex, Professor Oak turned to regard them all again.

"Okay, if you'll just give me a moment, I'll send it to you in a jiffy," Oak said.

The Pokémon Professor worked on his computer controls for several minutes as an increasingly puzzled/frustrated expression appeared on his face as something seemed to be bothering the renowned expert.

"Huh, this is odd..." Professor Oak muttered. "For some reason, I can't send this Pokédex to you through the Pokémon Transport System."

"Well, that's because, uheheh..." Gohan laughed sheepishly. "I'm not connected to it."

"Not connected?" Professor Oak repeated. "Aren't you at the Pokémon Center in Pewter City?"

"Not really, Professor," Ash answered. "It's a long story."

"Then how on Earth am I supposed to send this Pokédex to you?" Professor Oak wondered. "Without it, you won't be licensed to catch Pokémon or to participate in the Pokémon League competitions!"

"Well, I know a solution to that," Gohan said. "Just sit tight for a few minutes, okay?"

Gohan stood up and headed towards the door of the small house.

"Gohan, how on Earth are you going to get the Pokédex from Professor Oak?" Misty asked. "Pallet Town is miles away."

Gohan winked at her, something that had the red-haired tomboy flustered.

"Something I learned from my dad," he said mysteriously.

With that, Gohan exited the house.

"Tell me the truth, Ash — do you really believe your friend knows what he's doing?" Professor Oak inquired.

"Oh well, trust me, Professor Oak, if Gohan says he's going to do it, then he's gonna do, it" Ash replied.

"Pika Pika," Pikachu shared.

And then, not a second later, Gohan walked into the screen.

"Hello, Professor Oak," Gohan said with a respectful bow.

Everyone freaked out.

"What? Gohan? But... you... how...?!" Professor Oak spluttered.

"How in the world did you do that?" Misty demanded, looking shocked.

Gohan laughed like a little kid. "Instant Transmission. My father taught it to me during our time in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber."

Shaking his head, Professor Oak seemed to get his bearings. "I swear, I'll never understand you kids today."

"That's so cool, Gohan!" Ash babbled. "Can you teach me that?"

"Maybe," Gohan said, turning to face them on the computer screen.

"In any case, now that you're here, you can claim your Pokédex," Professor Oak said, handing the device to Gohan.

Gohan accepted it with a smile. "Thank you, Professor Oak!"

And with that, he turned and headed out the door. The Professor turned back to face Misty and Ash.

"As for you, Ash, I wish you well in your Gym battle," the Pokémon expert said.

"Thanks, Professor," Ash said sincerely, pumping a fist. "With Pikachu's help, I know we can do it."

Oak nodded, then hung up. A second later, Gohan entered the house, smiling from head to toe.

"Well, here it is!" Gohan beamed, holding out the Pokédex for his friends to see. "My very own Trainer's License."

"Congratulations, Gohan," Misty said with a rare smile.

"So, do you think you'll be competing against Brock tomorrow with me?" Ash wondered.

"I don't know," Gohan admitted. "I never really gave it much thought. I'll have to think about it."

"Don't worry about it," Misty said. "Whatever you decide, I know you'll do well."

Gohan blushed. "Aw, thank you, Misty! That's very nice of you to say so!"

"Now see, why can't you say nice things like that to me?" Ash demanded angrily.

"Why?" Misty rounded on him, hands on her hips. "I'll tell you why, Ash Ketchum! Because he didn't blow up my bike!"

"And here we go again," Gohan sighed with a big sweatdrop.

"Pika Pika," Pikachu agreed.

"Mew!" the little kitty added, shooting through the air to rest back in Gohan's arms. "Mew!"

While Misty and Ash argued, Gohan grinned down at the Legendary Pokémon. "So, how about it? Do you want to compete in the Pokémon League Challenge and start collecting Gym badges along with Ash?"

Mew giggled, wrapping both arms around itself. "Mew! Mew!"

"So is that a yes?" Gohan pressed. "I won't battle at all unless you feel absolutely comfortable with it, Mew."

Mew glanced up and Gohan, dazzling sapphire eyes sparkling, and nodded once. "Mew!"

"Okay then, now it's settled," Gohan declared. "We take the Pokémon League Challenge together!"

And Gohan pumped his arm in the air, followed by a cheer from the Pokémon around him.

Meanwhile, in a time and place far removed from the world our hero has found himself thrust into...

Bulma was tinkering in her workshop, taking apart various gadgets and pieces of machinery and seeing how they all fit together; currently on her mind was the use of Scouter technology to build a long-range deep-space global monitoring network to warn the Z Warriors whether any enemy threats with high power levels were approaching Earth.

It was the middle of the night, so she was quite surprised when suddenly, out of the blue, her phone began ringing.

RING. RING. RING.

"Huh?" Bulma said, glancing at the offending object. "I wonder who that could be?"

Reaching out, she picked up the receiver and brought it to her mouth.

"Yeah, who's calling?" the blue-haired genius demanded very rudely.

"Bulma, I know it's late, but I was just hoping you could help me," the voice on the other end said.

Recognizing it instantly, Bulma sobered up. "Oh, hey, Chi-Chi. Sure, you can ask me anything."

"I was wondering if you'd seen Gohan at all lately?" the Son matron inquired, sounding worried. "The other day, he didn't come home, and I haven't seen him for nearly two full days; he said he'd be spending time with you, but he knows better than to stay out like this."

"No, I haven't seen him here, Chi-Chi," Bulma answered, carefully choosing her replies so that she didn't have to lie. "Don't worry. He's probably out having fun somewhere and he lost track of the time."

"Well, I hope he's having as much fun as he can, because when he gets back, he's going to be grounded for at least one year!" the fierce woman snarled. "Staying out this late and making me worry... why does this kind of thing have to happen to me?"

Bulma sighed. "Well, you know the old expression, boys will always be boys."

"Not my Gohan!" Chi-Chi snapped. "He's risking falling behind in his studies, and then he won't be able to enter a really good school, then he'll have to scrounge for some part-time job in a burger restaurant, and no one will ever hire him for any of the really good jobs!"

And Chi-Chi began weeping incoherently.

"Calm down, Chi-Chi," Bulma said. "I'm sure it's not like that. Tell you what: If I see him, I'll let him know you called, okay?"

"Please do that, Bulma," Chi-Chi sniffled, and she hung up.

Bulma sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. Well, Gohan, you got what you wanted; some time alone. I can't blame you for wanting to be alone for a few days, but shouldn't you have been back now?

Suddenly, a voice spoke from behind her.

"Very convincing," it said. "You almost had me fooled."

Shooting upward in fear, Bulma turned to find a tall, green-skinned man standing there, wearing cape, a purple gi, and turban.

"Piccolo, it's you," Bulma said, relieved, then she built up to anger. "How dare you?! You nearly scared the life out of me!"

Moving closer, Piccolo folded his arms over his chest. "You may have been able to fool her, but not me. Now out with it."

Sighing, Bulma ran a hand through her long blue hair. "Well, okay, but only as long as you promise not to tell Chi-Chi."

"Oh please, like she would even invite me to that house of hers," the Namekian scoffed. "Now spill."

"Well... a couple of weeks ago, after the Cell Games, Gohan said he needed some time by himself," Bulma explained. "I told him to come back later, and that's when I created my new invention. I called it 'the Dimensional Hopper.' It instantly teleports you to any dimension you wanna go to, regardless of time or distance. Just push and click, it's that simple!"

"So that explains why Gohan's ki just vanished from the face of the Earth," Piccolo noted. "So where is he? Why isn't he back yet?"

Bulma sighed. "Honestly, he could be anywhere in the universe. The device has no limitations, and it's really up to him when he decides to return. I hoped he would be back by now, but I suppose he's having fun somewhere out there in some strange dimension."

Piccolo observed Bulma closely. "But that's not everything, is it?"

Bulma squirmed in her seat. "Well, no, not really. You see... it hasn't been fully tested yet."

"WHAT?!" Piccolo roared, his eyes bugging out of his head.

"This was the trial run," Bulma elaborated, looking worried. "I wanted to try it out a few times before giving it to Gohan, but he was insistent about it; he needed to be alone to think, he said... I didn't even get a chance to see the input coordinates for the dimension he was heading to. Without the precise frequency wavelengths the device accepted, it would make tracking him down statistically harder."

"So Gohan may be lost in some alien reality?" Piccolo demanded, sounding absolutely livid.

"Yes," Bulma replied simply. "I could build another one, but without knowing which timeline or reality he even went to, it could take years to find him. I'm just hoping he comes back on his own because if he doesn't, I quite frankly wouldn't know what to do."

"Well, for your sake," Piccolo threatened, showing her his back, "I hope so too."

And with that, the Namekian warrior lifted off the ground and took off out the window, leaving Bulma to her very pensive thoughts.

The doors to the Pewter City Gym burst open as three kids stood there.

"I'm back!" Ash declared eagerly.

"I don't know you," Brock said, examining Gohan with a critical eye, from everything to his hair to fashion sense to the furry belt wrapped around his waist, "but you're the one who lost yesterday. Why have you come back? Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"

"We're ready for you this time, Brock!" Ash said.

"Ha!" Brock laughed. "Well, we'll see about. Prepare yourself."

They all came to the arena, where Brock positioned himself on the opposite side.

"So who goes first?" the Pewter Pokémon Gym Leader asked.

Ash looked towards Gohan. "Hey, you're the only one who hasn't battled yet, so how about you go first?"

"Are you sure, Ash?" Gohan asked the Pallet Trainer.

"Hm-hmm! Sure I'm sure!" Ash said. "This is a good chance to see what you're made of!"

"All right then!" Gohan said cheerfully. "It's my turn!"

He stepped forward confidently, and Brock analyzed him closely.

"There's no use pretending, you know," he pointed out. "I know that fuzzy belt around your waist is actually a tail."

Surprised, Gohan let the tail hang loosely. "Okay, but how did you know that?"

"One of my little brothers had to go the bookstore," Brock answered succinctly. "He heard all about it from the patrons... but that's enough of that — this is not the time to talk; it's time to battle! Choose your Pokémon, boy!"

Reaching down towards his Poké Ball, Gohan enlarged it as Misty and Ash had instructed him and tossed it towards the arena.

"Come out, Mew!" he called.

And the happy little pink-and-white Legendary materialized there, grinning excitedly as it twirled about in the air.

"What?!" Brock exclaimed. "No way!"

"Yes, way!" Misty said with a smirk. "Believe it! That's a Mew you're looking at!"

"How long have you been training Pokémon, boy?" Brock asked.

"Um..." Gohan muttered. "Only a day."

"Only one day and you've already caught a Legendary Pokémon?" Brock said skeptically. "You're either extremely foolish or extremely clever. But, whatever. Now it's my turn. Go, Onix! I choose you!"

And a giant rock snake emerged from the Poké Ball.

"Mew!" the little creature gasped, now looking very frightened.

"Mew!" Gohan called. "Are you sure you wanna go through with this?"

Turning back to face its Trainer, Mew suddenly adopted a serious, determined expression, and it nodded. "Mew!"

"Then do your best!" Gohan shouted. "That's all I care about!"

"Gohan, do you even know what you're doing to do?" Misty asked.

"Sure," Gohan said, looking back. "Whoever tries the hardest will win."

Misty flushed angrily. "You dumb boy! Don't you even know how to battle?"

"No," Gohan said simply, causing Misty to fall over from surprise.

"And you say I'm dense!" Ash laughed.

"Gohan, you should check to see what moves your Pokémon knows!" Misty reprimanded. "Then you'll have a better chance at winning."

"But how do I do that?" Gohan asked innocently.

"Use your Pokédex, idiot!" Misty yelled, sounding annoyed.

"My Pokédex?" Gohan repeated, taking out the small device and aiming it at Mew.

A second later, the Pokédex chimed to life with a mechanical voice.

"The moves Pokémon Mew knows are: Transform, Psychic, Confusion, and Mega Punch," it intoned.

"But... but... I-I don't know any of those moves!" the half-Saiyan complained. "What do I do?"

The referee held up his flag. "Pokémon battle, begin!"

"Onix, go! Rock Smash!" Brock ordered.

And the Rock Pokémon flew at the little kitty, preparing to smash it.

"Quick, Gohan, call out your commands!" Misty urged Gohan.

"Uh... I... uh... Mew, dodge!" Gohan ordered.

With smooth, practiced grace, Mew slid to the side as Onix slammed down into the dirt floor, creating dust.

"Onix, Headbutt, go!" Brock said, wasting no time in going on the offensive.

"Mew, um... um... Mega Punch!" Gohan called out.

With complete confidence in its Trainer, Mew swung its little dukes right towards Onix, but the rock snake simply batted the attack aside and brought its giant head down on it, sending it shooting into the arena floor.

"Oh no, Mew!" Gohan cried, concerned.

"Gohan, using a move like Mega Punch against a giant Pokémon like Onix isn't going to work!" Misty admonished him.

"Mew, are you okay?" Gohan said frantically. "Mew! Mew!"

When the smoke cleared, there stood Mew, looking considerably more determined than it had a minute ago.

"You're all right!" Gohan cried happily. "Mew, do you want to quit?"

"Mew!" the little feline objected, shaking its head. "Mew, Mew!"

"Then let's go!" Gohan said, now regaining his full confidence. "Mew, Transform now!"

And in an instant, with a glowing light surrounding it, Mew turned itself into Onix.

"Now it's time to get serious!" Brock said. "Onix, Dig underground!"

The Pokémon obeyed its Trainer's command, burrowing deep into the ground below it.

"Mew, you use Dig too!" Gohan commanded.

And Mew followed suit, burrowing into the ground after the Rock Snake Pokémon.

"Hey, Gohan, what are you planning to —" Ash began, but Gohan shushed him with a fierce hand gesture.

"Quiet!" he said vehemently, and then he closed his eyes.

For a few seconds there was silence as Ash and Misty both watched Gohan with growing confusion. Even Brock seemed to be surprised by Gohan's change until, a few minutes later, his eyes shot back open!

"Mew, it's coming from the left!" Gohan shouted.

A second later, the entire arena's floor shook from the force of an earthquake. Only Gohan remained upright. For several seconds, the sounds of battle could be felt throughout the ring before finally, in an explosion of rock, one of the two Onix were sent flying into the sky.

"Onix!" Brock cried, concerned.

"Great job!" Gohan praised as Mew resumed its original form. "Now use Psychic!"

The tiny Pokémon's eyes glowed a vivid blue, and using only its mind, it lifted Onix from the ground and tossed it against the wall.

"That's the way!" Gohan said. "Now, Mew, let's show them what we can do!"

Suddenly, before Gohan was able to say anything more, he felt tiny arms being wrapped around his body from multiple angles, and to his surprise he now saw several dozen kids inexplicably clinging to him.

"Hey, what... huh?" Gohan said, blinking. "Hey, who are all of you?"

"Gohan, those are Brock's sisters and brothers!" Ash explained.

"You just leave our brother's Onix alone, you big meanie!" one of the little kids snapped.

"Our brother worked real hard raising it, and we're not going to let you hurt it!" another one said.

"But... I... what?" Gohan stammered. "Isn't this what happens during a Pokémon match?"

"All of you, get off now!" Brock demanded. "This is an official Pokémon League battle! You can't interfere!"

I don't get it, Gohan thought. If this is an official battle, why are they getting so worked up? Did we really hurt Onix that badly?

Gohan felt a twinge of conscience at the thought.

Dad wouldn't hurt someone needlessly, he said. Is that what I've been doing? And have I just been too stupid to see it?

"Mew, come back!" Gohan ordered the Legendary Pokémon.

Looking very shocked at its Trainer's sudden decision, Mew glanced between the fallen Onix and Gohan for a couple minutes before finally making its choice, and it flew through the air, back towards Gohan.

"He's... quitting?" Ash muttered, blinking in confusion.

"Pika, Pika Pika?" Pikachu added, scratching its head. "Pikachu?"

"No, Gohan, you've got Onix right where you want it!" Misty objected. "You can win this battle right now!"

Gohan began removing the little Brocklings from across his body.

"No," he said simply, shaking his head. "These kids don't want their older brother and his Pokémon getting hurt, and truthfully, I can see why. I won't be responsible for causing that. Onix has already been defeated; there's no need for me to keep going. If we do that, I'll be sacrificing everything I've ever been taught. I'm really sorry, Misty, but I won't do that. I won't abandon my father's ideals."

He glanced over at Brock, who seemed totally stunned at these new developments. "I guess this means I don't have what it takes to enter the Pokémon League, but that's all right. It never really mattered to me anyway."

And recalling Mew into his Poké Ball, Gohan turned and walked out of the Gym.

"And what about you, Ash?" Brock asked. "Are we gonna have our rematch?"

For a few seconds, Ash just stood there thinking about it and then he shook his head too.

"No, Gohan is right," Ash said, turning away. "There are some things even more important than Pokémon battles and I could never live with myself if my actions broke up your family; you just take care of your family and Onix and someday, we can have our rematch."

And Ash turned and left the Gym alongside Gohan.

"Just when they finally catch a break, they decide to be a bunch of nice guys," Misty sighed.

Brock just stood there, looking pensively after Gohan and Ash.

"Sorry, Mew," Gohan said. "I hope you're not too disappointed in me."

"Mew! Mew!" the Pokémon chirped, now nuzzling up against him.

"Will you stay with me even if it means that we won't be entering the Pokémon League?" Gohan wondered.

"Mew!" Mew said happily. "Mew! Mew, Mew!"

Gohan grinned. "Awesome. I'm glad you're my Pokémon, Mew."

And just then, Ash walked up next to Gohan, arms crossed behind his neck.

"So how was your battle?" Gohan asked the Pallet Trainer.

"I didn't battle Brock," Ash admitted. "You were right; we should take greater care to be nicer to our Pokémon."

Gohan nodded. "Believe me, I know what you mean, Ash. Maybe someday we'll be ready for the Pokémon League."

"Chu," Pikachu shared, hanging its head.

"That's how I feel," Ash confessed, also hanging his head.

"Aww come on, cheer up, Ash!" Gohan said, trying to lift his friend's fallen spirits. "There's a lot of other things you can do that are just as worthwhile." Then his face brightened as he suddenly had a brilliant idea. "Hey, I know! If you want, I can train you in martial arts?"

"Train me?" Ash said, pointing at himself. "You mean become a fighter like you?"

"Well, sure!" Gohan said. "I can sense you have a lot of potential. It would be a shame to let that go to waste."

"Well, all right," Ash said, and then he seemed to catch on to the idea. "Yeah. That sounds like it could be a lot of fun!"

"Pi Pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu said.

"Hey! Hey!" a voice suddenly called behind them. "Wait up! Wait up, you two!"

The two turned to find Brock rushing up to them both, looking very out of breath.

"Hey, Brock, what are you doing here?" Gohan asked. "Shouldn't you be running the Pewter City Gym?"

"You forgot something," Brock said, holding out his hand, and in it were two bright, shiny Boulder Badges.

"A badge?" Ash said, sounding shocked. "Brock, we can't accept that."

"Yeah, we didn't really beat you," Gohan said simply. "I can't bring myself to hurt any living creature... and Ash gave up before he could even fight. Face it, Brock, we're just not Pokémon League material."

"No, I think you both embody the true spirit of Pokémon Trainers everywhere," Brock explained matter-of-factly. "Gohan, you called an end to the battle before the damage got too bad, because you were concerned about my Onix, which proves that you actually do care for Pokémon even if you do have a lot to learn, the same as you, Ash."

"You really mean it?" Gohan asked.

"Yes," the Pewter City Gym Leader said, facing away from them both. "To tell you the truth, I get more pleasure out of raising Pokémon than making them fight. I don't care about being a great Pokémon Trainer. I wanna be the world's best Pokémon Breeder." And he turned back to face the two of them. "But I can't leave here because I have to watch after my brothers and sisters. Ash, Gohan... please, take these badges and go out and fulfill my dream for me — would you do that for me?"

"Sure!" Ash said without hesitation. "And I'll do my best to deserve it, too!"

"Me too," Gohan said. "I promise we won't let you down, Brock."

However, before they could accept the two badges...

"Brock, you go follow your own dreams," a male's voice said nearby.

And the three of them turned to the side to discover —

"Flint?" Ash said, surprised.

"My father," Brock growled, sounding very angry.

"Your father?!" Gohan burst out, and then he turned to observe Flint more closely. "Yes, yes, I can see the resemblance! You're right. He is your father. But, if you're his father... then what are you doing here, sir?"

"After abandoning my family to become a great Pokémon Trainer, I was too embarrassed and ashamed to go back and just admit I was a worthless failure," Flint explained. "I've spent too long feeling sorry for myself. It's time I started taking care of my family. You go fulfill your dreams and mine, son. Make me proud."

"First, there are some things I have to tell you," Brock said seriously, reaching into his shirt pocket.

"After all these years, I understand how you must feel about me, so I want you to get everything off your chest," Flint said, sounding as if he was ready for the confrontation of an entire lifetime but Brock merely shoved a pen and paper in his hand, causing Flint to sweatdrop.

"Suzie always rips her dresses so you better learn how to sew, and Timmy only eats cold spaghetti for breakfast. Tommy likes cornflakes for dinner..." Brock began, speaking at a speed that defied reason.

"Slow down, slow down! I can't write that fast!" Flint protested as Ash and Gohan stood off to the side, sweatdropping.

"Hey Ash, Gohan, are you sure it's okay if I go with you on your Pokémon journey?" Brock wondered.

"Sure, the more the merrier!" Gohan said with a smile.

"And it'll be great to have another boy around to help us when Misty starts acting up!" Ash added, turning to face her.

"Don't forget my bike, Ash Ketchum!" she snarled. "I'm going to follow you until you pay me back!"

"I know, I know," Ash sighed, then he perked up. "Pikachu, let's lose her!"

And he took off running, his Pokémon running after with an energetic cry of, "Chu!"

"Wait up, Ash!" Brock called, following after them in their wake.

"You won't get away!" Misty yelled as she stormed after them both.

With a smile, Gohan lifted off the ground. "Come on, Mew! Let's follow them!"

"Mew!" it squealed as it shot into the air alongside Gohan after the other three humans and Pikachu.

Off to the side, however, out of a pair of bushes, Team Rocket emerged.

"Did you see da Pokémon dat kid had?" Meowth said, looking stunned.

"It's unlike any Pokémon we've ever seen before!" Jessie extolled.

"A Pokémon like that would certainly be worth a lot of money," James agreed.

"Den you know what dis means!" Meowth said with a feline smirk.

Team Rocket all raised up their arms. "TEAM ROCKET'S RUNNING OFF AGAIN!"

And the trio took off after the unknowing children running headlong into the night...

Wow, this story's really coming along nicely, isn't it?

Oh dear. It seems the last chapter caused a bit of confusion. Mew didn't come to Earth in that space pod, it really was a bona-fide Saiyan warrior. Mew just came across them near it. But who's the Saiyan? That, my dear readers, you'll just have to read to find out!

Please review!