Sorry I haven't been able to update in a while, I was on vacation. Enjoy!

Chapter 7: Surprises

~ Cinnibar Island ~

"I'm going after him," Jessie said to her husband.

James sighed and shook his head, expecting this was going to happen. He knew Jessie could be relentless at times, and in hindsight he came to realize that he used to be the same way. Back in the Team Rocket days...

"I really don't think that's a good idea, Jess. I'm sure he'll turn up eve-" James started.

"Why would he come back? Let's face it...he has no life here..." Jessie said as she stared at the floor, her eyes beginning to well up with tears of regret.

James remained silent. For so long they had kept Jason at home, isolated from the outside world completely. How is he going to survive out there? He wondered. The only knowledge and common sense he has acquired is from the books he reads...

– –

~ Camp Sycamore ~

Aaron's jaw dropped when Liam opened up his bag.

Dozens of Rare Candies – yes, dozens – littered the floor as Liam shook them out of his small green backpack. Aaron couldn't believe his eyes. Liam smiled triumphantly and stood proudly over the pile of candy.

"Pretty neat, huh? You wouldn't believe how long it took me to collect these," Liam said.

Aaron turned to face him with a skeptical expression. "Collect? C'mon, man. You're not fooling me. Who gave you these? This must have cost them a fortune!" he exclaimed as he knelt down and picked one up, examining it to make sure it was really real.

Liam laughed a little. "Well...they weren't exactly given to me..." he said, scratching the back of his head. I forgot I was going to have to confess about this... he thought, mentally kicking himself.

Aaron raised an eyebrow. "What? So you stole them?" he accused, standing up.

"Well, er, not really, I just sort of found them on the side of the road. In a large brown sack. Literally, they were just sitting there underneath a tree. I ditched my spare clothes so I could fit them all in my bag," Liam said.

"This isn't right. These belong to someone!" Aaron said, starting to raise his voice.

Liam shrugged nonchalantly. "If the owner truly cared about them, he or she would've at least kept them in their sight. C'mon, dude, this is part of the plan! With these, we don't have to waste our time training Magikarp...we can just rush it to evolution! Then we can finally check out that mysterious boat out there," he said, taking out Magikarp's Pokeball.

Aaron frowned, but couldn't come up with a solid counter-argument. "I guess you've got a point...but still, it's weird that someone would just leave thousands of dollars worth of candy laying on the side of the road like that. Something must've been wrong..."

"What must've been wrong, Aaron?" a girl's voice asked from behind them.

Before he even turned around, Aaron immediately recognized that voice. "Look, Meredith, this isn't really the best of times..." he said guiltily as he turned to face her. She stood there with Brandon and Alice by her side, and each of them had their arms crossed.

"What are you guys up to, anyway?" Brandon questioned, looking around the area. And then he saw them.

"Yeah, why did you two leave like -" Alice started, and then she saw them.

Meredith saw them, too. Her jaw dropped and she stared in amazement.

Liam nodded. "Yeah..." was all he said. And that was all that needed to be said at that moment.

– –

"Hey, Misty," Ash said, walking up to his old traveling companion.

Misty turned and smiled at him. "What is it, Ash?" she asked.

Ash looked around the beach. "Have you seen my kid anywhere? Serena and I can't seem to find him. May's been looking for Meredith, too. One of Dawn's kids is also missing. It's like they've disappeared."

– –

Dawn and May walked to the edge of the water, where they could smell the salty sea breeze of the ocean.

"Where could they be? It's not like Alice to run off like this," Dawn said worriedly.

May nodded, her hands clasped together. "Meredith is always so well-behaved...I wonder what she's up to?"

They glanced out into the distance, where the mysterious boat was still floating in that same spot. Everyone had begun talking about it, and there were rumors going around of what it could possibly be.

"I sure hope that's not...nevermind," May said, shaking her head. There's no way... she thought.

Dawn turned to her. "What? What do you think?" she asked.

May turned to face Dawn with a grim expression. "Surely...that boat isn't where our kids are trying to go? I know Ash was headstrong when we were kids, but his son can't possibly be more reckless, can he?"

– –

"That's nine! My guess is that after maybe six or seven more, Magikarp will evolve. And then we can all ride out to that boat and see what it's all about!" Liam said proudly as he fed the Rare Candies to his Magikarp.

Brandon was frowning the whole time. "I'm not sure if this is right..." he said, looking away.

Aaron nodded. "Yeah, Liam, maybe we should stop. I just get the feeling that this isn't how you're supposed to raise your Pokemon," he said.

Alice shrugged. "I don't know, I think this will be kinda cool. I've never seen a Gyarados up close before," she said, although in her mind she had that nagging feeling that this wasn't quite...ethical.

Liam rolled his eyes, slightly annoyed at everyone's pessimism. "Come ON, guys! What is wrong with you all? This is my Magikarp, so I can evolve it the way I want to! If you don't want to come along, then don't. I was only going to let Aaron go because he's probably stronger than I am, but I'll let you all come too if you'd just stop whining," he said, exasperated. He fed Magikarp a fifteenth candy.

Suddenly, Magikarp's body began to glow bright white.

– –

Alain and Mairin had been searching the entire building for Aaron and the rest of the kids. Brock had been searching the nearby routes, but no one had had any luck.

Ash stared out at the boat in the distance. He had only suspected it before, but now he was really beginning to think that his son was trying to find a way to the boat. He turned to face Misty. They were joined by May and Dawn.

"I know where they are," Ash said.

And then everyone heard the booming cry of an enraged sea serpent.

– –

"You know, maybe this was a pretty awesome idea after all!" Brandon said, staring up towards the huge Atrocious Pokemon.

Everyone nodded in agreement and admired Liam's Gyarados. Alice felt slightly unsettled at the sight of it, considering that just moments before it had only been a tiny orange fish. Gyarados roared again, its voice scattering several Fletchling and Pidgey from the trees nearby.

"Wow..." Meredith said, stepping closer to Aaron. "It's kind of scary, actually," she said, holding Aaron's arm.

Liam felt slightly guilty in hindsight. Was this really right? He wondered. Can I be proud of this Pokemon? He turned to face Aaron and said, "So...what are we gonna do?" he asked. "You guys aren't gonna rat me out, are you?" he asked.

Aaron smiled and put a hand on Liam's shoulder. "What are you talking about? This is awesome! Let's hit the water before the adults find out!" he said, a determined and adventurous look on his face.

– –

Campers all over the beach were unsure of what to do at that moment after hearing the roaring.

Jason and Phillip, who had recently become acquainted with one another, looked around nervously. "What do you think is going on?" Phillip asked, his voice starting to get shaky.

Misty frowned and turned to the adults, who had all gathered on the beach to decide what to do. "That's a Gyarados," she said, her voice completely confident. Her hand instinctively went to her own Gyarados' Pokeball.

Brock nodded and remained silent, as did the Professor and his wife.

Ash still stared out at the water. What could possibly be going on? He wondered. Serena gripped his arm, worried for her only child.

Dawn was beginning to panic, along with May and several campers. "What could possibly be going on?" she frantically shouted.

Aaron Ketchum had an answer for her.

Everyone gasped as they watched a huge Gyarados slowly make its way out towards the boat in the distance. On its back were Aaron, Meredith, Alice, Brandon, and Liam.

Aaron waved at them and shouted, "Hey, everyone! Check it out! Dad! Isn't this awesome?"

Meredith waved to her mother. "Hi, Mom!" she said, smiling radiantly, her brown hair blowing in the wind.

Alice laughed and shouted to Dawn, "Hey, Mom! No need to worry!"

Serena stared in shock at what was happening. She couldn't believe that her Aaron was riding on the back of a humongous sea serpent; and that he had snuck away to do so!

May and Dawn were both about to angrily shout back at their daughters when Ash stopped them.

"May, Dawn, calm down. Just stop and think for a minute. Think about what we did when we were their age. May, you and I both risked our lives to help save Manaphy and the Temple of the Sea. Remember that? Not to mention Deoxys, and Jirachi, too!" Ash said.

May stopped and looked down. "I guess we did do some crazy things way back then..." she admitted.

"Dawn," Ash said. "Remember Alamos Town? You almost fell to your death before I saved you from falling off the balloon. We were amongst a great battle between Dialga, Palkia, and Darkrai, and you're getting worked up about Alice riding some waves! Like she just said, there's no need to worry," he said.

Dawn was about to protest, but words failed her. She couldn't think of anything to say because Ash was so...right.

"And Serena," Ash turned to his wife and wrapped his arms around her. "You and I...have been through the most together. You know best of all how adventurous I was when I was Aaron's age! Let him have a little fun and explore! The world is waiting for our son."

Brock smiled as he watched Ash speak. He really has grown up. It's weird...seeing him like this...everyone thought he was just going to stay that same, Pokemon-crazed kid.

Alain nodded and smiled. "True words of wisdom, old friend. It's obvious that Aaron will grow up to be a trainer as exceptional as yourself," he said.

Misty looked out at the water. Liam's Gyarados was getting closer and closer to the huge boat, which still hadn't moved a bit. "That was very sweet, Ash...but the question still remains..."

Ash nodded. "Who's on that boat?"

– – – –

End of the chapter. I'll admit it; I rushed it. I just wanted to get something out there for you all 'cause I feel bad about updating so slowly. Anyways, thanks for reading and I hope you still like the story. If you want this to be continued, leave a review for me, I would really appreciate it.