Mini Black Raven: For those of you who didn't read the "fine print" in the first chapter, this is a prolog to the first chapter. There will be others following it soon (I hope). Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon, but I do own lot's of cards! Muahahahahaha!

-o-

"So it's settled," announced Brock. "We'll meet back in Pallet town in two weeks after our family business is done."

"Right!" agreed Max, May, Ash and Pikachu.

"Oh, I just can't wait till' I get a taste of Mom's food. Aaaa, it's going to be so good!" said May dreaming of food.

"Shouldn't you be thinking of actually getting home first," asked Max as a small anime teardrop appeared on his head.

"Oh, yeah, right." All of a sudden something occurred to her. "Um…Max, you have our stuff right?"

"I should," mumbled Max looking at all the bags of clothes that May had bought.

"And you have our lunch that Brock gave you right?"

"How could I forget a thing like that?" asked Max

"I have our tickets," May said aloud. "Now what could I be forgetting?"

"All aboard for Petalburg" announced the conductor.

"Ahhhhh!" screamed May. "Now I remember!" Slowly the train began to move. Picking up as much as she could May ran for the open door.

"Wait for me!" called Max as he slowly ran up behind his sister. They barely go onto the train before it Brock called after them.

"Hey May! You forgot these." May looked at Brock just in time to see the rest of her packages flying straight toward her.

"See you guys in two weeks!" called Max from the car.

"Bye guys!" called Ash

"Pika Pi!"

"See you in Pallet Town." Brock yelled.

-o-

"Anybody home?" called Ash pounding on the door.

"Pika pi?"

"That's weird," remarked Ash. "I told Mom that I was coming home today."

"Hey Ash!" an all to familiar voice called.

Ash turned around. "Oh, hey Gary. What's up? You look different."

Gary was dressed in his usual clothes only this time he was wearing a white lab coat. "What do you expect? I gotta' look the part. Gramp's teaching me a whole lot about Pokémon so I gotta' look like a professor."

"Huh?" Ash was confused. Then he remembered. "Oh, right! You wanted to study more about Pokémon like Professor Oak. Now I remember."

"Hoped you did," replied Gary. "That's the whole reason why I came over. I wanted to see all the new Pokémon you've caught in the Hoenn League. Since I can't do much traveling seeing your Pokémon would be great."

"Well, why not see them through a Pokémon Battle?" challenged Ash.

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

-o-

The two rivals walked off to the side of the road and had a quick face-off in front of Ash's house.

"Let's go Arcanine!" exclaimed Gary throwing a Pokéball. Out burst a beautiful fire Pokémon in a blast of light.

"Arcanine, huh? Well then let's show them what ya' got Corphish!" said Ash also throwing out a Pokéball. From this Pokéball an orange crablike Pokémon appeared.

"Wow!" exclaimed Gary. "That looks like one well raised Corphish ya' got there."

"Just wait until you see it battle. Corphish, Bubblebeem Attack! Let's go!" commanded Ash.

Without hesitation Corphish launched a strong Bubblebeem attack straight for Arcanine.

"Use Quick Attack to dodge that Bubblebeem and head straight for Corphish!" commanded Gary with swift reaction.

Arcanine barked with agreement gracefully dodging the Bubblebeem and head straight for Corphish.

"Wait till he gets close and then charge in with Vicegrip," instructed Ash.

As Arcanine charged in Corphish charged headlong into his opponent with his Vicegrip. Just when the two Pokémon were about to make contact when Ash heard a very strict, "What in the world do you think your doing Ash Ketchum!"

-o-

Mini Black Raven: He he. I love cliffies. I'm sure you don't, but hey! I have to make sure that you're still going to read and review my fanficts. So please review.