Day 1 – May 3rd

Battle Island, Route 21

Ash raced to the loft after his conversation with Rai and asked the birds there (mostly Pidgey and Wingull, as well as his own Noctowl, Swellow, and Staraptor) to go search out his other Pokémon and tell them to gather for a meeting in the clearing. When the cacophony of flapping wings faded, he pulled out his Pokégear and called Liza, caretaker of the Charicific Valley. After the fourth ring, a hoarse voice answered the phone with a sluggish, "Hello?"

"Hey Liza, how's it goin'?"

"…Who's this?"

"It's Ash."

"…Ash, do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Ah…" he pulled the device from his ear and glanced at the time before putting it back to his ear. "Whoops, sorry, I didn't realize—"

"Just…tell me what you need so I can go back to bed."

"Right, right. Can you send Charizard my way? I've got a big journey ahead, I could use his help."

There was a long sigh before Liza replied, "Yeah, I'll talk to him. Then I'm going back to bed."

"Thanks, I appreciate it!" Silence greeted his gratitude, and Ash pulled the phone away again to check the screen. "Guess she hung up…"

It only took half an hour for the Frontier Brain to shower, dress, and pull out pans to begin making breakfast for himself and Brock. The smell of sizzling meat spreading through the first floor was apparently enough to wake Brock from his slumber, for the breeder slumped in and took a seat at the table. "Mornin' Ash," he managed around a yawn.

"Morning Brock," returned the Frontier Brain cheerily. "Sleep well? I did. Eat up." Ash shoved a plate of bacon and eggs in front of Brock and set one down by his seat, immediately digging into his own meal. Brock quirked an eyebrow at his friend's pace but said nothing, choosing instead to pick up his fork and take a slow bite of his breakfast.

Five minutes later, Ash's fork hit his plate with a loud clatter, and the younger man grabbed the breeder's arm and began to drag him out of his seat. "Ash! I'm still eating!"

"Bring it with you then! I've got an announcement to make, and you need to be there!"

Brock had only a brief moment to wonder what the announcement was, and why Ash was dragging him to the door before he was outside in the early morning sunlight. He looked around, noting that the majority of Ash's Pokémon were gathered in front of the lab, near the forest; Sceptile and Snorlax were reclining against individual sturdy trees, and Heracross was nursing his back nearby, likely having suffered a Vine Whip for trying to steal nectar from Bulbasaur. Ash was looking south with one hand serving as a visor against the rising sun; Brock faced the same direction, squinting to get a better view of several approaching shapes in the distance.

From the mountainous region of the island flew Ash's Gliscor, with the tip of his tail held loosely in Glalie's mouth. Horizontal to them flew back Noctowl, Swellow, and Staraptor (trailing slightly behind), all with passengers: Infernape held onto Noctowl's feet, Quilava rode on Swellow's back, and Staraptor gripped the edges of Torkoal's shell with his talons. After another ten minutes, the squadron of Flying-types set their cargo down in the clearing and then found roosts among the tree on Torterra's shell. Ash waited until Pikachu had taken a head-count and turned to give a thumbs-up before addressing his gathered audience.

"Well guys, I know it's been awhile since we've done something big, but we're going to go on another adventure. Might be our biggest one yet." He took a deep breath before continuing, "We've been given the opportunity to capture the Legendary Pokémon."

Brock was the first to react, his eyes appearing to bulge out in comical fashion. "Sorry, what?"

Ash turned to face his friend, a smile nearly splitting his face. "I know, right? I couldn't believe it either. But that's what I was told. So, you in?"

"Oh yeah, you wouldn't be able to survive without me there. I'm in."

Ash nodded before turning back to his Pokémon. "And you guys?" Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder with a cry, followed by various calls of agreement by the rest of his partners. "Alright then! We'll go start packing. Just stay in the general area. Oh, and let me know when Charizard gets here." Pikachu saluted smartly before leaping off his shoulder and joining his companions on the ground.

Brock heaved an exasperated sigh as Ash fairly ran back to their house. "There's never a dull moment when Ash Ketchum is your friend," he commented to no one, a slight smile on his lips.

-l-l-l-

Brock leaned against the door to Ash's room, watching as his younger friend dug through piles of clothes and research for the journey ahead. He cleared his throat, prompting Ash to look up, surprise plastered across his face. "You're done packing already?"

"It helps when you keep everything neat and organized, especially since history has taught us that opportunities like this happens more frequently than you'd like. Not to mention that it's not a bad thing to know where everything is."

"Ha ha, very funny," Ash quipped as he shoved a bunch of clothes into his traveling pack.

Brock checked his watch. "It's been a couple hours, I'm surprised you're not done yet."

"Just finishing up." A tapping sound on the window interrupted the conversation, and both men turned to see Noctowl pecking his beak against the glass. "Charizard here?" Ash asked the bird, his voice raised slightly. Noctowl hooted in response and then disappeared from view. Ash turned around, shouldered his pack, and shot Brock a grin. "Alright, let's go."

The breeder picked his own traveling pack up off the floor and followed Ash out of the house. "It's great that we're off Ash, but where are we going?"

"We're off to pick up a couple of old friends," was the vague reply. As Brock pondered this, Ash ran up to Charizard and greeted his friend, dodging a burst of flame from the dragon's mouth. Charizard roared in mock anger as Ash proceeded to taunt him in jest about his aim. The teasing was quickly stifled as Charizard burned him and then proceeded to tackle his trainer to the ground with a victorious roar.

Brock watched the exchange, shaking his head in wonder the whole time. For all of Ash's faults – obliviousness, directionally-challenged, impulsive – there was no questioning that he knew how to handle his Pokémon.

The breeder was pulled from his thoughts as Ash walked up to him and said, "Alright, Charizard's going to give us a lift to where we're going. You got everything?"

"Yep. Pokéballs are all here, and I told Jessie and James that we'll be gone for an indeterminate period of time, but to call us if anything comes up."

"Good idea. Alright guys," he said, turning to the assembled Pokémon, "let's get going. Bulbasaur, Kingler, Tauros, Snorlax, Muk, you're with me. Everyone else is on standby." A cacophony of assenting growls, hoots, and barks greeted his proclamation as the selected five were recalled to their Pokéballs, each creature meandering back to some portion of the island. After Staraptor left with Torkoal, Ash turned around in time to see Pikachu jump atop Charizard's head with a cry of his name. He and Brock clambered on the Flame Pokémon's back, and the giant dragon released a roar before launching them into the air and heading towards the mainland.

-l-l-l-

Charizard's a lot stronger now, Ash realized as Viridian Forest loomed ahead. Faster, too. After all, it was no mean feat to carry an extra 300 pounds for well over an hour, especially after just flying several hundred miles from Johto to Kanto. He patted the dragon's leathery neck and then pointed down, aiming for an opening in the canopy on the outskirts of Viridian Forest. "Thanks, bud," he said when they landed, taking the Pokéball clasped around the creature's neck and recalling him in a beam of light. "We're on foot from here," he told Brock and Pikachu, who hopped on his shoulder. Brock made a sweeping gesture, indicating that it was Ash's journey to lead, and the pair set off.

"Are you going to tell me why we're here?"

"Finally fulfilling a promise to an old friend, I hope."

"Oh good, that's not vague or anything," Brock muttered. To Ash, he asked, "You know that you've made a lot of promises to a lot of people, right?"

Ash had the grace to let out a short, almost sheepish, laugh. "Fair point. But some are more important than others."

"I hope I'm high on that list."

Ash see-sawed his hand back and forth in the air, and Brock couldn't resist letting out a laugh. They walked in silence after that, Ash's neck craned up to gaze at the treetops as they followed the dirt path towards Brock's hometown of Pewter City. They broke for lunch an hour later, Brock pulling sandwiches from his bag and passing one to his younger friend. Ash took it with a grateful "Thanks" before taking a large bite and chewing thoughtfully. Brock swallowed his own bite and asked, "What're you thinking?"

"This place is too big, and there's no way of telling—Pikachu?"

The electric rodent had stopped nibbling on a piece of Pokéchow Ash had procured for him, ears perked and turned to the east. "Pika!" he urged, leaping off his trainer's shoulder and diving through a clump of bushes. The two men exchanged glances before grabbing their packs and following the Electric-type, Ash drawing close to his Pokémon and kneeling beside him.

A few seconds passed while Brock, larger than the Frontier Brain, struggled to get through the thicket, and Ash chose then to ask, "Brock, do you have a potion?"

"Yeah, one sec." Finally clear, the older man pulled off his pack and rooted through it, eventually procuring a small purple and white bottle. "Here," he offered, handing it to Ash. "What's it for?" he asked as he moved to stand behind Ash.

Cradled in Ash's hand was a fledgling Pidgey, just small enough to fit in the Frontier Brain's palm. Its brown-colored wing bore a slight gash, crippling its ability to fly away. The Tiny Bird Pokémon chirped in fright as the newcomers loomed above it, misinterpreting their intentions as predatory. Carefully, Ash sprayed the potion on Pidgey's wing, and it released a higher-pitched chirp of pain as the medicine stung its wound. Then Ash held his hand up to the air, giving the bird a higher perch from which to leave. "Go on," he prompted, "fly." Pidgey chirped again, almost unsure at the turn of events, before flapping its wings and flying unsteadily out of the Frontier Brain's hand, making it to a nearby low-hanging branch.

"Pidjoh!"

Ash, Brock, and Pikachu looked up through the canopy to spy a Pidgeot circling high overhead. It swooped down on them, crying loudly as it landed in front of the trio, its talons sending up a spray of dust as it landed. The top of Bird Pokémon's yellow- and red-colored plumage was even with Ash, its impressive height adding to the ferocity displayed in its dark eyes. Pidgeot clicked its beak sharply, at Ash as the researcher held up his hands in a non-threatening manner. "Hey Pidgeot, it's okay. We found an injured Pidgey on the ground and only wanted to help it. See?" Ash gestured to the Tiny Bird Pokémon on the branch, who let out a happy cheep that seemed to relax the bigger bird. "Everything's fine."

The two birds exchanged a series of chirps and clucks, and Ash slowly crept closer to the larger one, getting within a foot before it turned its fierce eyes on the dark-haired trainer. Ash stared it in the eyes for several seconds before asking, "Do you remember me?"

Pidgeot leaned in closer until bird and man were inches apart, scrutinizing the trainer with careful eyes. Several moments of observation passed before the large bird clucked happily and threw its wings around Ash in what Brock assumed was the equivalent of a hug. Ash laughed. "Yeah, it's good to see you, too, buddy! I told you I'd come back for you. Do you want to come with us?"

Pidgeot looked to the sky and trilled his name in a loud voice, and Ash's countenance acquired a tinge of melancholy. "I understand if you still need to protect the other bird Pokémon here, Pidgeot," he said. The flapping of wings above alerted the group of additional company, and Ash, Brock, and Pikachu looked up to see two smaller Pidgeot and three Pidgeotto swooping down to land. Pidgeot exchanged words with the new arrivals, and after a minute of apparent conversation, Pidgeot looked at Ash and crowed happily.

"So these guys can take care of everything if you leave?" Pidgeot nodded. "Awesome! Welcome back, buddy!"

"Pika! Pi pikachu!"

Ash took out Charizard's Pokéball and released the fiery dragon again. "Hey Charizard, can you take Brock while Pidgeot takes Pikachu and me?" The Flame Pokémon snorted, apparently insulted at the insinuation that he couldn't carry Brock, especially after how far they'd already flown. "Alright, well, we're off to Cerulean City, so let's go!"

"Cerulean?" Brock repeated as he climbed on Charizard's back. "Does that mean what I think it does?"

"Yep," confirmed Ash, "we're off to get Misty. And you," he added, turning his attention to Pidgeot as he swung a leg over the bird, "and I have a lot to catch up on."

-l-l-l-

Misty Waterflower sighed as she sat on the edge of one of Cerulean Gym's giant pools, feet submerged in the water. Psyduck – the only one of Misty's Pokémon not in the giant battling pool (for he still could not swim) – seemed to notice his trainer's dispirited state and waddled closer. The yellow duck plopped down next to the gym leader and tilted his head to the side, hands glued to his temples throughout the entire process. "Psy?"

Misty sighed again. "I don't know, Psyduck. It's just…something feels off. I don't know what, but it just feels like I'm missing something."

Psyduck tilted his head the other way, as if prompting Misty to continue. Though the gesture went unseen, she obliged the unspoken entreaty. "Maybe it's just that it feels like I'm settling by staying at the gym all the time. I mean, I can't go out that often to catch new Pokémon, and I haven't seen Ash or Brock in…forever. It just doesn't feel like I'm going anywhere new right now," she finished.

"Psy yai yai," the duck comforted, patting her knee with a hand. Psyduck stood up and began to walk away, but slipped in a puddle of water and fell into the pool. "PSY YAIAIAIAIAI!" he cried as he flailed around.

Misty shook her head in exasperation. "One day, you'll have to learn to swim, you sad excuse for a water Pokémon," she said as she lifted him out of the water. He looked so pathetically sad standing there, dripping wet with his hands on his head, that Misty immediately felt guilty. "I'm sorry, Psyduck. Thanks for trying to make me feel better." She leaned over and kissed him on the top of his bill. When she pulled back, he stood still, as if contemplating the meaning of the moment, before waddling away, leaving Misty to her thoughts.

The quiet didn't last long. The ring of the doorbell echoed around the pool area, prompting Misty to groan as she stood up. She stretched, cracking her spine in the process, and then proceeded to walk towards the front of the gym. She opened the front door, paused briefly, and then shut it again, a dusty rose of color staining her cheeks.

That was…Ash! And Brock! And I just shut the door on them!

She quickly wrenched the door open again, Ash's fist raised in preparation to knock. "Gee Mist, if that's how you treat your friends, I'd hate to see how you treat your enemies."

When she didn't immediately respond, Ash waved his hand in front of her face, hoping to spark something. The movement seemed to galvanize Misty, and she gasped in surprise before throwing herself at him. "Ash!" she cried, hugging him tightly before moving on to her older friend. "Brock! It's great to see you guys! Come in!"

She led them over to the table and then got them all glasses of water before joining them, listening intently while Ash explained the reason for the visit. "This is…a lot to take in," she admitted. "And here I thought you'd just popped by for a visit."

"Aww, come on, Mist, don't be like that. You know we'd come visit more if we had time…" Misty fixed him with a flat stare, and Ash had the grace to chuckle nervously. "Not that you're not busy, too… But hey, that's why we're here now! Don't you want to come traveling with us again?"

"Of course I do, Ash! But it's not that easy! I have responsibilities here, a reputation to maintain, and I can't just put all that aside to go traipsing around the world on a whim."

"Misty, you should, like, go with them." All heads turned to spy the eldest Waterflower sister, Daisy, enter the room, one hand on her hip. "Even you deserve a break every once in a while," she continued. "You work way too hard, little sis."

"Maybe that's because I'm the only one here who actually takes Pokémon battling seriously!"

"I'll take it seriously this time. Promise," Daisy swore when Misty shot her a skeptical look. "Besides, it's not like we'll be, like, super busy right now anyway."

The redhead turned to look at her former traveling companions, only to find Ash's brown eyes beseechingly wide. She heaved another sigh, although the resignation in it carried a greater sense of endearment than resignation. "Well, if you all insist, I guess I'll go pack my stuff."

Ash's jubilant cheer faded to the background as Misty ran upstairs to pack, the two men greeting Daisy and walking to the pool area. Away from her guests and sister, the Gym Leader allowed a pleased grin to spread across her lips. There weren't many moments where she found her family, or even Ash at times, reliable, but when they came through, they typically did it in big ways. Finally, a chance to go on an adventure again!

It took close to an hour for Misty to finish packing, and when she'd finished, she walked downstairs wearing a pair of jeans, a red sleeveless shirt with an inch-high yellow collar, and a light pink jacket to find Ash cheering his Kingler from the pool's sidelines as he raced against Misty's Politoed. The redhead smiled as she watched Ash congratulate his Pokémon on a job well-done, even if Politoed had beat him. Kingler was recalled to his Pokéball when Misty cleared her throat. "You ready?" Ash asked.

"Just about." Misty walked over to the leader's side of the pool and grabbed the Pokéballs placed there, recalling Gyarados, Politoed, Corsola, and Staryu and clipped the spheres to her belt. "Alright, ready."

"Psy yai yai!"

Everyone turned around to see Psyduck waddling as fast as he could towards them, Pokéball held in his large bill. For the second time that day, he tripped in a puddle of water, spitting up the Pokéball and falling flat on his face. Misty sighed. She walked over to Psyduck and picked him up, concern in her eyes. "Are you okay, Psyduck?"

He nodded in response and pointed at the Pokéball next to her. "Duck, psy duck."

Misty looked skeptical. "You want to come with?" When he nodded in response, she sighed and shrugged. "Why not? If I leave you here, you'll probably drive Daisy crazy." She picked up the Pokéball and aimed it at her Pokémon, Psyduck disappearing in a beam of red light. Then she stood and brushed off her knees, turning to look at her two traveling companions. "Okay, now I'm ready. Where to first?"

"Well, I heard a weird rumor recently," Ash began. "You know the old Power Plant down by Rock Tunnel?"

"Yeah, it's abandoned. Most people avoid it due to how dangerous it's considered. What about it?"

"And you've been having weird weather recently, right?" he continued.

Misty gave him a strange look. "Yeah…we've had a couple of thunderstorms over the past couple of days. What about it?" she repeated.

Ash's eyes glinted with excitement. "I think it's Zapdos," he whispered conspiratorially. "So we're gonna go explore the Power Plant and see if I'm right."

Brock and Misty blinked in surprise before the former nodded. "It makes sense. Are we flying?"

"Nope!" said Ash with a wide smile. "Now that we're all here, it's all on foot! Makes the journey that much better, don't you think? Besides," he continued, more seriously, "I need all the Pokémon I can get to complete this challenge. There's no point in tiring out Charizard and Pidgeot unnecessarily."

"Pidgeot?" exclaimed Misty in surprise.

"We'll have to catch you up as we're walking!" yelled Ash, already running out the door. "Now let's hurry up to the Power Plant!"

Misty and Brock could only exchange familiar glances before running off after their friend, taking the first step on their new journey.