Chapter 4

Warning, this story contains Pokeshipping, Contestshipping, and most of all Ikarishipping. It also contains minor swearing. Ainsley is me, and also, I DON'T OWN POKEMON!

"So what do you do for fun?" May asked Ainsley while they walked down the street.

"To be honest, I like writing, reading, and drawing." Ainsley replied, adjusting her hood so it shaded her identity more. She laughed "Call me crazy, but when I started out as a Pokémon Trainer, becoming a Master and filling my Pokedex were not my top priorities." She looked up to the sky "I like being able to capture the beauty of the natural world in words and colours. It makes me feel very light and free, like a Starly." She glanced back at May "A Starly that will one day evolve into a Staraptor, and reach the stars."

"Well, you really must be a good writer!" Dawn said "The words you use to speak are…" Dawn searched for an appropriate demonstration.

"Exemplary?" Ainsley offered with a sly grin. Everyone but Paul chuckled "Oh, Paul, for the short time I've known you, you've not cracked a smile at anything I've said. Are my jokes bad?" She asked with a very fake expression of worry on her face.

"Mmm?" Paul said with a bored expression. He hadn't really been paying attention to the ridiculous conversations that the trainers had been having. Ainsley wasn't impressed the slightest at this.

"I said – hmm?" She stopped short as her Poketch started ringing "Who's calling me now? Goodness, I hope it's not another fan that's somehow gotten my number!" She said, and then gasped "I'm needed in the Kalos region immediately! Something's gone astray!" She said worriedly. She glanced at all of the trainers behind her "I'm sorry to leave you, but this is urgent. I hope to see you soon!" She turned to leave, but Ash caught her shoulder.

"Were coming to help too, if we can." He said.

"I can't let you do that," Ainsley said shaking her head "It's too dangerous."

"Well, then we'll follow you, so there!" Dawn said, sticking out her tongue.

"You certainly will not, or I will have to get Officer Jenny to take you in until I depart!" Ainsley growled angrily to her defiant face. Dawns eyes widened with surprise at Ainsley's sudden seriousness.

Paul had been silently leaning on a wall when he spoke.

"Why do you always insist upon throwing yourself into others problems?" He asked the Trainers who were now holding Ainsley back "Can't you see that you are probably going to cause a hindrance, for you are already stopping her from reaching her destination right now."

Ainsley bit back a retort, for she really couldn't allow these Trainers to follow her into danger, no matter how much she would've liked to wipe the smirk off Paul's face.

"He's right," She said to the faces of seven disappointed trainers, and one triumphant Paul "You have to stay here. I probably won't be long anyway." She reassured them "Come on out Fearow!" Ainsley called out her massive bird "We've got to Fly to the Kalos region ASAP!"

"Fearow!" It obliged happily, and with a whoosh, they were gone.

"C'mon," Ash said turning on his heel "Let's find a way to get to Kalos quick."

"Did you not listen to any of what she said?" Paul asked Ash, not waiting for an answer "She said that it was too dangerous."

"And since when have we listened to that?" Misty asked, following Ash "See you around, Paul."

"Bye!" Dawn said, happily skipping after Ash and Misty.

"Hey, wait for me!" Brock said as he ran.

"Us too!" May called. She grabbed Drew's wrist "Come on, or we'll lose them!"

"Hey! Don't you leave me behind, or I'll have to fine you a million Poké!" Barry called sprinting faster than all of them "See ya, Paul!" He called back.

"What? Troublesome fools." Paul muttered as he began running after the seven trainers. But in his heart, he was happy to be able to help Ainsley in whatever way he could.

"Well, here we are!" Ash said, stepping of the boat onto the dock. Only two days ago they had left Canalave City by boat and headed to Kalos. Now they had finally arrived "Courmarine City! Quite warm compared to Sinnoh, hmm?" Ash gabbed.

"C'mon, let's find Ainsley," Misty started to walk but the stopped "Uh, where exactly did she say she was going?" She asked nervously.

"Well she didn't exactly say," Brock said pulling out a guidebook from the ship "But I think we should head towards Lumiose City. That seems to be the central city of this region." He concluded folding the map.

"Like Mauville City?" Asked May.

"Yep," Brock replied "And it has a Pokémon Laboratory. If anyone should know what's going on in the region, it's the professor."

"So which way do we go?" Barry asked already running on the spot.

Brock consulted the map once more "We need to head North-West." He concluded after a moment of studying the large paper.

"Okay, let's go!" Ash said enthusiastically.

"Not so fast," a voice said behind them "I have never seen you here before. Who are you?"

All of them jumped when they saw what seemed to be Ainsley standing right behind them.

"Ainsley?" Ash said. The girl looked confused.

"My name is Serena, and I would like to know yours." The girl replied.

"Phew, that wouldn't have been good at all!" Brock said, and all the Trainers sighed with relief "I'm Brock, by the way." He added.

"My name's Ash." Ash told Serena

"I'm Misty," The red haired girl said "Nice to meet you!"

"I'm May and this is Drew." May said and pointed to Drew.

"My name's Barry!" Barry said, rather quickly.

"A pleasure to meet all of you!" Serena said, obviously delighted. She snuck a glance past Barry and saw Paul "Who is he?" she asked. Ash turned, following her gaze to the unfriendly trainer.

"Oh, that's Paul," Ash replied quietly "But I wouldn't go bothering him if I were you. He's not so nice."

Paul just rolled his eyes. He didn't exactly care what people thought of him. Well, most people…

"Can you direct us to Lumiose City?" Brock asked "We need to speak with the professor."

"You mean Professor Sycamore?" Serena asked, clearly confused. Then sudden enlightenment struck her face "Oh, I'll bet you guys are looking to get your starter Pokémon! I can take you there now. In fact, I was heading there myself." She said happily "C'mon Slowpokes, it's this way!" And she ran off.

"Quick or we'll lose her!" Ash said, and they all bolted after Serena.

"Here we are!" Serena said "The heart of Kalos, Lumiose City!"

Looking around, the eight trainers soon noticed that Lumiose was huge.

"This is even bigger than Mauville!" May exclaimed, whipping her head from side to side to try and see everything "And there are so many more places to shop!"

"That's exactly why it's my favourite city, and" Serena paused "The reason I was heading here! But first," She rounded a corner "To the Pokémon Laboratory!"

Directly in their line of vision as the followed her around the corner was a rather old, French-style building with a large carving of a Pokeball on the front. It was three stories high and yellowed with age.

"Well, this is it!" Serena said cheerily "Professor Sycamore's office is on the top floor. See ya!" She said, and with a wave she walked away.

As they rode up the elevator, Ash muttered to himself.

"I wonder what this Professor's hobby is." He muttered to himself. Every professor of every region he'd traveled usually had one. They called it a specialization but really they were more like pastimes.

When they finally reached F3, there was a loud CRASH! from the room. As the elevator doors parted, the sight they were greeted with was shocking. A man in a lab coat was face down on the floor with a rather enraged looking Pokémon on the desk. The man had dark untidy hair, not unlike Barry's, and rather pale skin. It was obvious the small dinosaur like Pokémon had caused the mess, for the papers that most likely had been neatly stacked on the desk were everywhere.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry! I am so sorry for the mess!" The man said with a rather French accent, picking himself up off the ground and straitening his lab coat. He peered at them curiously with grey-blue eyes "You must be new trainers coming for Pokémon. Well I have six, but one of you will have to wait," He said good naturedly "Oh, and I forgot to mention," He seemed to catch himself "I'm Professor Sycamore!" The professor threw his arms wide in a welcoming gesture "So, who wants their Pokémon first?" he asked.

"ME!" Ash shouted excitedly, causing everyone to flinch.

"Okay, who would you like?" Professor Sycamore asked, pulling out six Poké Balls from his pockets 'This region's starters, Fennekin, Chespin, and Froakie," He nodded towards the three in his right hand "Or the Kanto starters, Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur." He finished, returning the small dinosaur-like creature to one of the Pokeballs in his left hand.

"I think…" Ash pondered for a moment I already have the Kanto starters, he thought to himself "I'll have Froakie!" he decided. The professor smiled.

"Okay, here you are!" He handed Ash a Poké Ball that felt cool and moist "Who's next?"

"Me!" Barry and Dawn said at the same time. They glared at each other.

"Fire, Water, Grass?" Misty offered. Dawn and Barry nodded. They each shook their fists three times saying 'Fire, Water, Grass!' before deciding on one of the three.

"Darn it!" Dawn hissed as Barry won, Fire against Water.

"Okay, ummm," Barry placed his finger on his lip "How about Charmander!" He said, and Professor Sycamore handed him a warm Poké Ball.

"Then I want Bulbasaur!" Dawn said. Professor Sycamore recalled the dinosaur on the desk and then handed a rather lively feeling Poké Ball to Dawn.

"Now who wants to choose?" The professor asked.

"I will," Paul said, walking to the front of the group "And I choose Fennekin." He didn't even wait, and just took the warm Poké Ball from Professor Sycamore's hand "Thank you." He said before turning around.

"Ummm, okay," the professor said, looking rather flustered and embarrassed "Who else wants one?" May and Misty's hands' flew into the air.

"Dibs on Squirtle!" May shouted before Misty could utter a word, making her face glow red. May scooted up to Professor Sycamore and received the Water-Type Pokémon's ball "Thank you." She said with a smile, before making room to let Misty receive her Pokémon.

"This is Chespin." the professor said to Misty, handing her the Grass-Type's Pokeball then faced all the Trainers "Take good care of your new Pokémon!" he chirruped, and then ushered them all back to the elevator so he could clean up.

As they all rode down the elevator, May gazed at her Poké Ball and spoke up.

"Did anyone else think that the professor was, well…" She bit her lip "Strange?"

"I think he was a bit wacko, but he did give us Pokémon!" Ash said cheerily.

"Yeah but who said they're in top condition?" Misty murmured. They all looked at each other worriedly, praying their Pokémon weren't abnormal.

They all left the building with Ash at the front of the group. He stopped and pulled out his new Poké Ball.

"Come on out Froakie!" He shouted as rays of light erupted from the ball, taking form.

"Froakie!" the tiny blue frog said happily looking at its new trainer fondly.

"You come on out too, Chespin!" Misty said tossing the ball high. A small porcupine took form and looked up at her.

"Chespin?" It queried eyes wide. Even Misty couldn't help but let her gaze soften at the cute little Pokémon.

"Hi there, little guy. I'm Misty." She said, picking up the Grass-Type "You know, I wanted to get Squirtle but who could resist a cutie like you?" She asked and Chespin nuzzled her happily.

"Look at that," Ash murmured to Brock "Misty's getting all mushy over a Chespin. I never thought I'd see the day when the Cerulean Gym Leader would fall for a Grass-Type."

Misty heard this and bit back a retort. She couldn't argue about what Type-Loyalties she had in front of Chespin. She really didn't want to argue with Ash anymore that day anyway.

After they had all met their new Pokémon, Brock stood up and cleared his throat.

"I think that we should probably head for a Pokémon Center," He said, pointing at the darkening sunset "It's almost night time so we should settle in somewhere to sleep." He took out his map "The closest one seems to be just down the street." He finished, folding his map and carefully returning it to his bag.

"Then let's go!" Ash said "Which way?" he asked.

"That way." Brock said pointing to his right.

A few blocks down, they came across the Pokémon Center. Looking through the window, Ash saw the back of a blonde head with a Fearow beside her.

"Gah!" Ash said ducking "Everyone hide! Ainsley is in there!"

And with a good amount of speed and panic, they hid.

"What do we do now?" Dawn said biting her nails.

Ash looked down with a smile.

"We eavesdrop."

Authors Note

Hi! I really want to thank all my visitors and viewers for their support and hope you are enjoying my story, because there's much more to come.

Anyways, the real reason I'm writing this note (not that I don't appreciate your support!) is because I have lot's of schoolwork during the week and swim practice on top of that (I'm a competitive swimmer!) so weekends might be the only time when I can work on and upload chapters of this story, so if you can, bear with me!

Thank you all again for ready my story, and I really hope you enjoy the next part of it. If you find any mistakes or have a suggestion, just shout out!