Its as he's watching pikachu in the recovery room that Ash takes a good look at himself and realizes that he doesn't like what he sees. He realizes that he's been acting like some newbie trainer, relying on Brock and Misty to do all the hard thinking. While he could admit that thinking, strategy and planning had never been his strong suits, he hasn't realized just how much he had been relying on others to do everything for him, and look where that had gotten while Pikachus life hang in the balance.

If he was to get stronger, to be better he knew what he had to do, but that didn't mean he had to like it. Rising with a new resolve, he went after Misty first. She was going to be the hard one to convince, but he had a sstrategy for that. He found her in the waiting room, sitting as far away from Brock as she could get. He had wanted to do this one at a time, but he realized that if he was going to enact his plan, then he had to do it now before he lost his nerve.

"Hey Ash, how's pikachu doing?" Brock asked, sounding concerned

"Nurse Joy saidhe's out of the danger zone, but she's not going to let us go until he's had a weeks bed rest."

"I told you it wasa stupid idea to take on a Raichu with a Pikachu, but nooo, you just had to do it anyway, and now look what's happened."

You're right Misty."

" And furthermore if Pikachu were myPokemon he'd never have gotten hurt in the first place...wait what?"

"I said you're right Misty." He paused for a moment as he took in the looks of pure disbelief, " No kidding Misty, I've been doing some thinking lately and have come to the inescapable conclusion that a lot of my journey has been full of mistakes. That's why I think we should part ways."

"But Ash, whatabout my bike?" misty whined

"Is that what this whole journey has been about to you Misty? Because if it is I've given the viridian city poke center a call and the Nurse Joy has repaired your bike. She even told me that she had phoned you to let you know it was fixed. So really what was this whole journey really about? Cause you know what I think, I think you've been using that bike as an excuse to stay out on a journey so that you don't have to go home."

"What do you know Ash, you're just a dumb little kid who can't take care of himself"

Don't you see, that is exactly why I have to do this. How am I ever going to learn anything if I know I've always got you two to do things for me?"

But youdon't know how to read a map, or make pokechow, or most importantly, how to treat your Pokemon when they bare sick or injured and you're away from a poke center."

That's what I'm going to be doing while I wait for Pikachu to be better. I am going to study,and I also hoped you two could teach me. But as soon as Pikachu is better I plan on rechallenging the Vermilion Gym, and then from there who knows. This k about it Misty, no more arguing with me about who is right or wrong, no more trudging through forests half baked, no more running into Team Rocket. You'd have the time to work on your water pokemonmastery, and in the meantime you could petition thepokemon league to send a replacement gym leader for you. I know from the little studying I did last night that it is in the league rules that every gym leader is allowed a temporary replacement when they are on a journey. And you Brock, think of all the things you could be learning from one of the breeders in the city if you didn't have to be our chaperone. It really is the best thing for all of us. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going for a walk. You two can do what you like but I believe its in everyone's interests if we don't travel together anymore."

He got up to leave before either ofthem could say a word. Exiting the poke center he sighed in relief as he started walking, with no real destination in mind when who should he see but Team Rocket in one of their stupid disguises by the side is the road.

"Idon't have Pikachu with me right now, so you may as well leave."

"Idon't know what you're talking about young man, I'm just here to shine pokeballs for trainers"

Listen, I just don't have the energy to deal with you right now."

Abattle ensued, not that he wasn't expecting one and Ash was glad for the new pokemon hed caught as otherwise hed have been defensless. Sometime during the battle Koffing had let outf a smokescreen and Ash felt something swipe at his pokebelt. "Kadabra, confusion!" He yelled, smirking as he heard them yelling their catch phrase as they went flying. He returned his kadabra after getting it to blow away the smoke, and went to pick up his belt that had dropped from their balloon. At least all oftue balls were empty, heknew that from their weight. But as he felt again he realized that one of the pokeballs was no longer empty. He tossed it to the ground.

"Twerp?"

"Meowth?"

End chapter

Im going to say that Ash caught an abra bsometime between when he challenged misty to theshortly afterthe mount moon incident. While ash is not going to be super, as in catching every pokemon he will catch soke i think he should have for his journey? And as to why im not shiiping ash and misty, while i understand and even support the ship ive seen it done so many times. So i used a name randomizer using Dawn, Sabrina, Latias, May, Melody, and Angies names. Ive never sshipped any of these girls with ash and Sabrinas name came up the winner so ash/sabrina will definitely be the main ship.