Ash watched as the first sighting of Hoenn came into view. The sun had just risen an hour ago, and the sight was amazing as the light lit up the distant land. Ash was leaning on the rail in the front of the ship with Pikachu balanced next to him.

Ash looked over as Pikachu started speaking in a low, but passionate tone. Ash didn't have a clue what he was saying. He usually could tell on his situation, but this was a speech. Ash turned his head and said, "Meowth, will you please translate?"

The cat like pokemon walked up. When Team Rocket had attacked him, Gary, and Harrison after the Silver Conference, their combined team of Charizard, Blastoise, and Blaziken easily captured the group. Ash had caught Meowth using Pikachu, and when Jessie and James were arrested, Meowth agreed to follow him if he put in a good word for those two. With Ash's word, the two got off on parole. James is now running a pokemon breeding center, and Jessie is assisting him.

Meowth had still displayed no talent for battling though. The pokemon seemed to have been away from battles for many years. Meowth couldn't even think why Ash wanted him on his team. One, it is useful to have a pokemon translator. Two, Ash refused to believe that anyone who would try to capture a single pokemon for over three years didn't have the determination which was paramount to a battler. Meowth just had to realize he was a good battler.

Meowth walked up and said, "Sure twerp." He then listened to Pikachu for a second before commenting, "This is deep. He is saying, 'We were so different when we started. I didn't like you, but you were able to cast that spell on me like you have now done to so many others. At first when I heard your pokemon master stuff, I thought it was ridiculous. I went along, but didn't see it happening. Then as we continued, I saw. I could see that future you always talked about. I came to slowly believe that we would succeed. Since then we have gotten stronger, and learned much more about life. We have come so far from when we started, but I feel like this is a new beginning. Hoenn is our new battleground, and we shall conquer it. I feel the pull of that land. We shall do great things here. More than we did at Kanto or Johto. This land shall help lead us to our dream.'"

Ash smiled and said, "I feel it too. New land, new pokemon, new start. We are on our own, and that will make us stronger. We shall struggle and overcome all the challenges before us. This is another step to being the best."

Ash and Pikachu lapsed into an excited and determined silence which was interrupted by Meowth, "I never quite realized how much this stuff meant to you guys. Just being in this fired up atmosphere is firing me up."

Ash looked at Meowth and said with a smile, "You can join in if you just are willing to work hard. That is all we ask for."

Meowth shrugged and claimed, "I'll try, but I'm just no good at battling. I'll just stay as an extra brain for planning. Helping you plan for the gyms will be my job. I am content being in a background of a champion."

Ash frowned and replied, "What if I want you in the front too?"

Meowth didn't have an answer for this, and it once again descended into a silence. After several minutes, other passengers of the boats started coming onto deck too. Ash sighed at the interruption.

Ash turned around and examined some of the other passengers. Immediately Meowth joked, "Looking for some cute girl, twerp."

Ash growled playfully and softly swiped the head of Meowth. It surprised him how much the cat could figure out. He never realized how much Team Rocket knew about him, but Ash was slightly puzzled by the recent developments. He'd never been interested in girls, but now he felt his eyes drawn to them. It had started just before the Silver Conference. Ash sighed gloomily. Looks like Brock had been right about Ash soon acting similar. Maybe Brock had cast his curse on him. Ash shook his head quickly. He would never act like Brock. Plus, soon he would be traveling again, and wouldn't have to deal with girls in bikinis tanning in plain sight.

Ash turned to the approaching land mass again. He would face many challenges there, and Ash felt himself drawn even more. Overcoming challenges is what he lived for.

Ash walked eagerly down from the ship. How could things have been more difficult? Just as he was preparing to get off, a huge numbers of girls had crowded around like they were ordered to. Ash had been tormented as he was pressed from all sides. He had envied Meowth, who returned to his poke ball, and Pikachu, who had sought safety on the top of his head.

Ash quickly left the crowd and instantly began to relish the future isolation. He even decided to skip any down time and head straight for Professor Birch's. Ash pulled out the map and tried to tell which way he was meant to go. After deciding he couldn't make heads or tails of it, Ash brought out Meowth who managed to figure it out.

They now set off. Meowth had opted for the poke ball to avoid walking, and Ash was now strolling through the forest with Pikachu on his shoulder. It was anything, but boring. Ash was entranced by all the new pokemon. His pokedex didn't have their information, but Ash was able to make several guesses on their type and moves.

Before he knew it, it was getting dark. Ash quickly set up camp with Pikachu before releasing Meowth. Ash then started cooking dinner. It only took ten minutes before the soup was ready. Pikachu and Meowth both looked nervous to try it, and Ash even felt a slight bit of anxiety looking at it. He might have gotten lessons from his mom and Brock, but he had never eaten it himself.

Ash took a deep breath and took a bite. He waited a second before swallowing. It was slightly flavorless and watery, but not inedible. When he didn't keel over, Pikachu and Meowth started eating too. Pikachu seemed slightly put off by the taste, but Meowth ate it easily. They all managed to finish it before curling up to sleep.

Ash woke up when the sun rose again. He slowly moved out of the sleeping bag and stretched. He then tried to make breakfast. His movement woke up Meowth and Pikachu.

They managed to eat breakfast before setting off again. Meowth estimated that they still had ten miles or so to go. They would be there by noon. Meowth decided to join the walk this time, and he started pointing out some of the pokemon's names. Ash listened intently to whatever the pokemon knew.

Soon they reached a road that signaled they were getting close. The pace quickened as they looked forward to meeting Professor Birch. They would then figure out the closest gym.

An hour before noon, Ash saw the building. It was a modest structure that perfectly represented what a research center should look like. Ash returned Meowth before knocking on the door. A normal looking man answered the door.

"Yes, may I help you?" the man said rather grumpily.

Ash quickly explained, "Yes, my name is Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town. I'm here to talk to Professor Birch."

The man seemed to straighten as he commented, "Yes, he mentioned something about a trainer coming. Well, Professor Birch is away for a little research. He'll be back soon."

Ash thought. He looked at Pikachu before asking the man, "Yes, can you please feed my two pokemon. I think I'll go look for the Professor."

The man nodded and opened the door, allowing Pikachu to jump inside. Pikachu wanted something better to eat than what Ash could currently cook. Ash then handed the assistant the poke ball of Meowth before turning around and walking away.

Ash felt confident he could find the Professor. He always seemed to tell from the pokemon when people were around. They always gave little signs that they had recently seen a human. Just follow the signs and you would find a human. There couldn't be that many people around.

Within his theory proved correct as he heard a human voice. Ash immediately identified a distressed tone and started running in the direction. He came out only to find himself in open air. He tumbled down a steep incline only to stop after slamming into a tree. He took several moments before opening his eyes and started to stand gingerly.

"Are you all right, young man? I didn't think there was any chance of someone being close by," a voice said.

Ash looked to see a man on the ground. The man had brown hair and a broad build. He also had a slightly childish face that seemed to be made for laughing. Ash asked slowly, "Professor Birch?"

The man nodded and quickly exclaimed ,"I fell down here just like you, but I'm a tad bit older and seem to have hut my leg. I've been down here an hour calling for help."

Ash nodded and bent down to examine his leg. Ash felt the bone softly. He then nodded and announced, "I think it is a simply sprain. Possibly some muscle damage, but nothing too bad. Lean on me, and I'll help you to the lab."

Professor Birch nodded and did as Ash had instructed. He was heavier than Ash had thought, but Ash had been walking up mountains for the last three years. He was far stronger than he appeared. After climbing back up the hill, it was far easier.

"So who may I thank for saving me from several hours of lying there?" Professor Birch asked.

Ash answered, "I'm Ash Ketchum. I just came from Pallet Town. I was suppose to get my pokedex updated from you. I'll be competing in the Hoenn League."

Professor Birch nodded as he admitted, "I remember having a call about that. Although you weren't suppose to arrive for another day or so."

Ash admonished, "I don't like to take things slow."

Professor Birch smiled before saying, "Well I have to thank that you move fast. Otherwise I would have had a miserable day, and an angry assistant to deal with."

Ash took a deep breath before replying, "I couldn't just leave you. And now I won't feel guilty about intruding for the pokedex update."

Professor Birch gave a hearty laugh before exclaiming, "No, that won't do. It's my job to do that. I'll figure out a way to repay you." Ash just nodded as the research lab came into view.

Ash kicked the door open to allow them to enter. He dragged Professor Birch over to a chair as the assistant burst into the room. The assistant looked agitated and exclaimed, "What happened?"

Ash quickly explained and the assistant started to treat the leg. As he worked, the assistant said to Ash, "Your Pikachu has disappeared."

Ash stood up instantly and yelled, "What? How?"

The assistant explained, "I had just fed them when suddenly it was gone. I tried to search, but it wasn't in the building."

Ash was already out of the room. He found Meowth sitting in a room and immediately questioned, "What happened to Pikachu?"

Meowth looked up before saying quickly, "Pikachu was eating, but suddenly ran out of the room. I figured he just saw an interesting pokemon, but he didn't return. When I looked, I couldn't find him. You shouldn't worry. Pikachu is pretty strong. I should know, he can handle himself."

Ash was pacing now as he thought. Pikachu would be impossible to track through the forest. He quickly asked Meowth, "Do you think you could follow his scent?"

Meowth scratched his cheek as he answered calmly, "Probably, but it is pretty unnecessary."

Ash now yelled, "I don't care. Pikachu is out there. What if he is in danger? What then?"

Meowth gave Ash a stare that made him stop. Meowth then claimed, You need to learn to control your emotions, Ash. The fact is, searching for Pikachu won't help. We need to wait for something else to happen." Meowth then leaned to the side and looked behind Ash before commenting, "Like Pikachu showing up pushing a baby Mudkip before it."

Ash spun around. Pikachu was pushing a little blue pokemon. The pokemon was on all fours with a light blue tail fin. On its head was a blue fin. Its stomach was a lighter blue, and its cheeks were orange with spikes. Pikachu was pushing the young pokemon towards the research lab.

Ash yelled, "Pikachu." He then ran at the pokemon. Immediately the Mudkip jumped into his arms. Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder with a tired sigh. The Mudkip snuggled into his rams and started to sleep. Ash gave a bemused look at the pokemon.

"That Mudkip has finally calmed down," Professor Oak called as he approached. His leg was wrapped and he was using crutches, but he was smiling. He then continued, "That pokemon has been running around since it got here. It doesn't help that the two trainers chose the other two pokemon."

Ash looked at him and asked, "What?"

Professor Birch laughed before explaining, "That is one of the three Hoenn starters. Mudkip. Yesterday two trainers came and picked the other two. The fire type Torchic, and the grass type Treecko. We were wondering what to do with that pokemon, but I have an idea."

Ash looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?"

Professor Oak grinned and exclaimed, "You should take Mudkip. Technically you are a new trainer to Hoenn. You should get a starter pokemon, and Pikachu seems to have taken care of Mudkip when it ran into the forest. You also saved me. It seems perfectly logical that you should take that Mudkip. It hasn't particularly taken to anyone besides you yet. It actually shot the girl yesterday with a Water Gun."

Ash raised his eyebrows before looking at the pokemon in his eyes. He asked gently, "Would you like to come with me, Mudkip?" The pokemon nodded happily and Ash pulled out a poke ball and touched it to the pokemon's forehead. Mudkip disappeared in a red flash. He had caught his first Sinnoh pokemon.

"Aren't you going to do that pose you always do?" Meowth questioned.

Ash shook his head and announced, "I'm not going to do that anymore. I think that stopping those childish habits is a good way to start my new journey. This is going to be my toughest and most serious journey yet. No more of that pose or plenty of my other habits."

"Wow, a talking Meowth," Professor Birch said excitedly. He was crouched next to Meowth and was rattling off questions.

Meowth raised his claws and threatened, "Hold up. I'll answer your questions in a minute, but for now. Get out of my face."

Professor Birch didn't seem deterred at all, but reluctantly stood up. He then turned to Ash and exclaimed, "Now, let's deal with that pokedex and send you on your way."

Chapter one done.

See what happens next.