Hello again, everyone! I'm glad to see that the first chapter went over pretty well. That makes me happy, because I'm pretty excited about this story ^^

Last time: Aiden and Michelle woke up on the morning of what would be the first day of their journey. After both reccieved a new pair of travelling clothes from their mother, the two head over to Professor Oak's lab, where Aiden acquires his starter Pokemon: Squirtle. With Michelle starting off with a Pichu whom she had found a day earlier and quickly defended, Aiden decides to challenge his sister to a battle after Misty refuses to battle him for the Cascade badge. But will Michelle accept?

Chapter Two: First Battle! Aiden VS Michelle!

Michelle stared at her twin, dumbstruck.

"A battle?"

"Yes, a battle," Aiden rolled his eyes, "come on!"

"I don't know..." Michelle sheepishly rubbed her upper arm. "Pichu doesn't have much battle experience."

"Well, how else is she suppoused to get some?" Aiden furrowed his brow before getting a brilliant idea. Smirking, he folded his arms over his chest and taunted, "unless, of course, you're too scared to battle me."

"What did you say?" Michelle growled at her twin.

"Aiden, Michelle, please," Misty sighed tiredly.

"Perfectly understandable," Aiden shrugged, completely ignoring his mother's warning. "I'm glad that you know that coordinators are totally lame compared to gym trainers. It'll really help you out in the long run!"

"Coordinators are not lame!" Michelle snapped. "I can be just as strong as you are!"

"Prove it," Aiden scoffed. "Battle me!"

"Fine," Michelle scowled, "prepare to lose, pretty boy."

Within a few minutes, everyone was outside behind the lab, Aiden and Michelle standing a good distance apart from one another.

"Okay Pichu, let's give this a shot!" Michelle smiled at the little mouse Pokémon.

"Pichu!" Pichu leapt off Michelle's shoulder and stood in front of her on all fours, ears twitching.

Aiden grabbed a poke ball from his belt and gave it a quick look over.

"Alright, Squirtle, I choose you!" Aiden flung the sphere and it burst open, shooting out a bright red light that formed into the turtle Pokémon.

"Squirt!" Squirtle gave a salute, and Aiden cackled a little.

"That's right! We'll show her that trainers are way better than coordinators. Now let's see what you can use," Aiden retrieved his pokedex and held it over Squirtle.

"Squirtle can use tackle and tail whip," the pokedex stated.

"That's it?" Aiden frowned.

"Well, you just got it," Ash commented, "the more you train, the more moves Squirtle will learn."

"That's a good idea, Aiden," Michelle beamed as she got out her own pokedex, "I know Pichu can use thunder shock, but what other moves does it know?"

"Pichu can use thunder shock and charm," said the pokedex.

"Not too much yet either, huh," Michelle shrugged, "well, we'll work with what we have, right Pichu?"

"Pi!" Pichu was jumping up and down now.

"Okay," Tracey stepped forward, "let the battle begin!"

"Pichu, use thunder shock!" Michelle yelled. Pichu darted forward a little before jumping up high and unleashing a jolt of electricity. The bright yellow power went tumbling lazily towards Squirtle.

"Squirtle, dodge it!" Aiden threw out his hand. Squirtle jumped and the light struck the ground, burning off some grass. Pichu landed back on the ground, some static radiating on its body as it winced in pain.

"Oh, Pichu!" Michelle cried.

"Pichu is a baby Pokémon," Misty blinked, "so using that attack gives it some damage as well."

"Poor Pichu," Elizabeth sighed.

"Not to mention that thunder shock isn't a very powerful electric type move," Ash commented. "All Pichu are born knowing thunder shock and charm as defense mechanisms, which really just proves how young Michelle's Pichu really is."

"Squirtle, use tackle!"

The blue turtle dashed towards Pichu and rammed its head right into the little electric mouse's body.

"Chu!" Pichu cried as it skidded across the ground.

"Pichu, get up!" Michelle begged. Pichu dragged itself up, but barely. Michelle grimaced, feeling concern for her little Pokémon, but knew that there was no time to waste, calling, "hurry, use charm!"

Pichu placed its little front paws to its mouth before pulling them away, sending off a shower of pink hearts. They hit Squirtle, who began to twirl about on its toes.

"Squirtle, don't get distracted by Pichu's cuteness!" Aiden stomped his foot. "Use tail whip!" But Squirtle turned to Aiden and shook its head miserably, "why won't you attack Pichu?"

"Charm makes the opponent wary," Professor Oak nodded, "so Squirtle is now charmed by Pichu, and is essentially scared to attack it."

"Alright Pichu, that charm worked out great!" Michelle squealed. "Hurry now, while Squirtle won't attack you, use thunder shock one more time!"

Pichu jumped up again and unleashed its electricity. This time, it was a direct hit, and Squirtle was soon glowing a fierce yellow.

"Squirtle! Squirt! Squirtle!" Squirtle cried. It teetered around before falling to the ground.

"Squirtle!" Aiden cried. He looked up with a defeated glance at Michelle, but was shocked at what he saw. Instead of a triumphant look on her face, Michelle was just as horrified as Aiden. Looking down, Aiden saw Pichu lying on the ground, in the same fashion as Squirtle.

"Well, both Pokémon are unable to battle," Tracey rubbed his head, "so this match is a draw!"

"That's weak," Aiden mumbled as he whipped out his poke ball, "return Squirtle!" The red light withdrew the exhausted turtle, and Aiden raised the ball to his face with a small smile. "Nice job! We'll get a lot stronger, I know it."

Michelle walked forward and gathered Pichu in her arms, "Pichu, what a great battle! I'm proud of you."

"Chu," Pichu mumbled.

"Good job!" Ash complimented his children. "Just keep on training, and both you and your Pokémon will get stronger!"

"Especially you, Michelle," Misty looked towards her older daughter. "Since Pichu is just a baby, she's going to be weaker than most Pokémon you come across. You're going to have to build up her strength and stamina so that her own attacks won't cause any recoil damage to her."

"I know, I'm going to work hard to get Pichu to become a lot more powerful," Michelle nodded. "I know that one day, she'll be so strong that her electric type attacks won't hurt her!"

"That's the spirit, Shelly," Ash ruffled the hair of his daughter, who was quick to fix it afterwards. "All of those coordinators out there should fear my little princess, that's for sure!"

"Dad," Michelle blushed at the use of her endearing nickname.

"And the same goes for my fellow gym leaders when Aiden comes along to challenge them," Misty giggled. "They're all going to learn that he's quite the handful!"

"Yeah!" Aiden punched the air. Grinning happily, he lowered his fist and conceded, "Well, I guess we're off now."

"Not yet," Ash smiled boldly.

"But, Dad…" Aiden blinked.

"You can't go yet because I have something for you," Ash smirked, "but its back inside. I'll go get it!"

Ash darted towards the building, his children eyeing him confusedly. Misty and Tracey, however, knew of the master's little surprise, and looked at each other with an air of amusement.

"Mommy, what's Daddy doing?" Elizabeth looked up at her mother.

"He's getting something for Aiden," Misty informed the girl. "It's a little present that he's wanted to give your brother for quite some time, now!"

Within a minute, Ash was racing back out, his hands held firmly against his back.

"Well, what is it?" Aiden tilted his head slightly, his impatience beginning to show itself.

"You know how yesterday, your Mom gave Michelle that hair clip? And how it is was very important to her when she was younger?"

"Yes…" Aiden raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure of where his father was going with this.

"Well, that made me realize I should give you something that was important to me when I was younger!" Ash finally put his hands back in front of him, and Aiden gasped at what he clutched.

It was Ash's very first hat; his official Pokémon league one with the white front, red back, and iconic green symbol adorning the white front panel.

"Dad…" Aiden looked up at his father with wide eyes, "Th…this? But…you treasure it almost as much as all your badges and trophies!"

"I do," Ash blushed a little at this fact, "I've had a few different hats, and I've really liked them all. But this one was always my absolute favorite! You can ask your mother how much this hat meant to me," Ash gave Misty a sly glance.

"Way too much," Misty playfully rolled her eyes, "your father used to climb up trees and chase wild, incensed Pokémon to save that thing."

"It's true," Ash chuckled, "but now, I think you should have it. You can wear it throughout your journey."

"Dad," Aiden breathed, "are you sure?"

"Positive," Ash smiled as he placed the cap on Aiden's head, "there! It looks really good on you."

"It does!" Misty beamed.

"Whoa," Tracey blinked, shifting his glance between Ash and Aiden, "he looks just like Ash did as a kid!"

"Ah, so he's handsome," Ash teased with a devilish grin.

"Daddy's full of himself," Elizabeth mumbled. Misty, Tracey, and Professor Oak all burst out laughing, and Ash appeared hurt for a second. With a quick shake of his head, Ash lifted up the young girl, who gave him a sweet yet simple smile.

"Where did you learn to say that, Lizzie?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"Mommy!" Elizabeth cheered. The adults continued to laugh, and Aiden turned to look at his sister.

"You really do look like Dad," Michelle grinned genuinely.

"Thanks, I think."

Just like her mother typically did with her father, Michelle lightheartedly rolled her eyes at her brother's dense response.

"Man, who would've thought when I was sending all of those postcards in to get this hat that I'd be giving it to my son 20 years later?" Ash seemed genuinely taken off guard by this thought.

"Who would've thought you'd manage to survive all those times you recklessly endangered yourself to save that hat 20 years ago?" Misty quipped, folding her arms over her chest.

"I…thought we already went over that!" Ash's face turned bright red as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

Aiden and Michelle both laughed at their father's misfortune, enjoying the fact that despite his being an adult and the Pokémon Master, he still managed to get embarrassed just like everyone else in the world. Michelle sighed and settled down her laughter before asking hesitantly, "so…should we get going?"

Aiden ceased laughing and his smile evaporated ever so slightly as he responded, "uh, yeah. That's probably a good idea." Michelle motioned her head towards the adults; her way of informing Aiden he had to be the one to tell them.

Groaning, Aiden turned around and called out, "hey, guys?"

Ceasing their jocular banter, which had started up right after Misty's teasing of Ash over his misadventures involving his hat, the grownups placed their attention back on the young, new trainers.

"What is it dear?" Misty asked kindly.

Aiden looked back at Michelle, who in turn gazed down at her sneakers. Taking a deep breath, Aiden announced, "I think Michelle and I are going to head out now."

Misty looked worriedly at Ash. He smiled reassuringly at his anxious wife, and responded, "That's a good idea. You don't want to start out too late; it'll get dark then."

"Yeah, and I don't want to risk the chance of running into my future wife and wrecking her bike," Aiden looked covertly at his mother, who blushed earnestly.

Ash laughed heartily and took off Aiden's hat to mess up his hair.

"Dad," Aiden mumbled.

"Bye, son," Ash kept laughing as he put Aiden's hat back on.

Without speaking, Michelle walked forward and hugged her father, burying her face into his chest and listening to his heartbeat one last time.

"Aw, Michelle," Ash hugged her back, "you'll be fine. I know it."

"You'll watch my contests on TV, won't you?" Michelle turned her head up to look at her father, a flash of worry going through her bright green eyes.

"Of course," Ash craned his neck down and kissed Michelle on the top of her head once she had lowered it once again. "You're my little princess. I wouldn't miss them for the world."

Michelle pulled herself away and smiled, "thanks Dad."

"Shelly," Elizabeth ran towards her older sister and hugged her legs.

"Lizzie, you're so cute," Michelle laughed.

"I'm gonna' miss you," the little girl frowned.

"Don't worry. I'll visit sometimes, and I can call you too."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Satisfied with that, Elizabeth turned her attention to her brother, "Aiden…"

"Don't start crying," Aiden bit his lip. He was typically a very strong willed boy, but when it came to his baby sister, he could break down very easily. Although he didn't really like to admit it, because it made him seem weak, Aiden loved Elizabeth more than anything in the world. Seeing her cry would just break his heart.

"I don't cry!" Elizabeth suddenly got angry and punched Aiden in the knee.

"OW!" Aiden grabbed his knee, all of his sweet, previous thoughts quickly going to the wayside as he nursed his throbbing knee. "Alright! Sorry, Lizzie."

Elizabeth crossed her arms and gave Aiden an uncaring glance. She had the face of Ash, but for the most part, the personality of Misty: sweet when she wanted to be, and quite an angry little troublemaker if you managed to get on her bad side.

"I'm gonna' miss you," Aiden admitted with a frown, "I really am," At this, he whimpered a little, praying to Arceus that no tears would fall out of his eyes as he looked down at the little red head standing indifferently before him.

"Okay," Elizabeth jumped up to Aiden's waist and hugged him, "sorry I hit you. You deserved it then." With that, she hopped down and stood next to her mother.

Misty looked at her two older children with a somewhat pained expression.

"Mom?" Aiden asked, tilting his head.

"Are you okay?" Michelle added.

"Yes," Misty lied, just barely in a successful manner. Ash could tell that she was lying, but didn't say anything, not wanting Aiden and Michelle to know that she was actually very upset by their impending departure.

"We'll be alright!" Michelle hugged her, "and careful. I will anyway. But I'll make sure Aiden is too."

"Yeah," Aiden nodded, "trust me. Michelle will make sure I do everything I need to."

Misty smiled, "I know. I believe in you two. You just call us as soon as you get to Viridian City. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Mom," Aiden and Michelle answered simultaneously.

"Good luck you two!" Professor Oak smiled before adding playfully, "you'll need it."

Smirking at one another, Aiden and Michelle nodded before waving at the group and running off towards Route 1, which would lead them to Viridian City.

With her older children gone, Misty finally let out a sad whimper. Tracey and Professor Oak turned to look at the gym leader, and noticed that she was on the verge of tears. They both frowned, knowing that letting her children go couldn't be an easy task for the usually strong willed woman.

Ash took notice of this change in Misty's disposition as well, and he was able to sympathize perfectly with her. They were his children too, after all. Ash was feeling rather sad to let them go as well, but he knew that once the twins turned 10, this was going to happen. Being strong for both Misty and Elizabeth was Ash's job, and he was going to do that job to the best of his ability; just like being the Pokémon Master.

"Come here," Ash murmured, pulling Misty into his body. She hid the side of her face against Ash's strong chest, wrapping her arms around his torso and hugging him tightly. "They'll be alright. They're both tough. Just like their mother."

At this, Misty looked up and smiled tearfully but made no other move. She didn't want to. Ash sensed this and gave his own melancholy grin, gently stroking Misty's hair as he held her close.

"I knew this was going to happen," Misty murmured miserably. "I had 10 years to accept it, and I didn't. Why?"

"Because you didn't want to," Ash shrugged. "And that's okay. Why would we ever want to think of our children leaving? But it had to happen. They need to go out in the world and find what they truly want to do. It's the only way. And, as their parents, we'll just have to support them and their dreams. It's the best thing we can do."

Misty nodded sadly and buried her face back into Ash's chest. At the same time, Ash could feel Elizabeth attaching herself to his leg, hugging it as tightly as she could with the little strength she had. Bending down while still holding onto Misty, he lifted his youngest daughter up with his free arm and held her close as well.

"I miss them, Daddy," Elizabeth whispered to her father, like it was some kind of big secret. Ash could hear that she too was about to cry. Sighing inwardly, Ash knew the family was going to have a few rough days ahead of them.

"I know, baby," Ash snuggled the young girl, trying his hardest not to burst into tears as well. "I know."

I teared up a bit writing the end of this chapter. I'm not going to lie! Of course Misty would miss her babies, no one think that she would just be okay with letting them go off. She's a mama bear, remember? :P

Next time, Aiden and Michelle begin their journey by travelling through the Viridian Forest. What will happen there? Something signifigant, I can tell you that.