Disclaimer: I do not own Pokèmon or any characters that may seem familiar.

Chapter 4: Professor Crystal

The two Pikachu's staring at each other were still enough for the surprised trainer to notice the differences between them, he wasn't the only one,

"Hey, Red, is it just me or does Pika look fatter than Ash's Pikachu?"

The Pallet Town trainer quickly flattened himself against the jeeps door as the oblivious speaker leaned over to poke the aforementioned Pika in the cheeks, even as a vaguely familiar expression crossed the other Pokémon's face,

Wow, I haven't seen that look since I first rescued Pikachu from the Spearow flock.

"Pika… chuuuuu!"

"Aaahhhhhhh!"

So Misty and Brock weren't lying, a guy really does glow when electrocuted. Ash decided to keep his mouth shut about preferring the view point of a spectator than a participant for this occasion to himself, Pika was still sparking at the cheeks and might just decide that misery loved company, or in Gold's case, it could be idiocy. It seemed that Red agreed with Ash's sentiment as he scolded his friend, "Gold, some people actually learn after the first dozen or so times they get shocked. Don't piss off Pika, he has a temper."

Ash tried not to fan away the smoke still rising from the Pokèmon Connoisseur only to have his attention caught at Gold's response, "You're one to talk, Green and Professor Oak told me how much trouble you had when you first caught Pika."

Sitting up at the name, Ash and his Pikachu leaned forwards as the trainer asked, "Wait, you know Professor Oak?" "Pika, Pika?"

Ash ignored Pika's huff, and even Red's laugh at the chance from more information on his long-time mentor, glad when Red decided to appease his curiosity, "Yeah! The Professor is the one that gave me my first Pokémon. Same goes to Green, and Blue's Blastoise was one of the Professor's original three too."

Grinning at a topic he was familiar with, Ash held out Pikachu, balancing the electric type on the back of the front seats, "Really? He's the one who gave me Pikachu as my very first Pokémon. Isn't that right buddy?" "Pika!"

The comment got a curious frown from the front two Motou region trainers, Gold turning to look at Ash and Red met the excited trainer's eyes in the rear view mirror. It was the Champion who spoke,

"Ash, Professor Oak only gives out three beginners Pokémon, Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander. There is no way he would give a Pikachu to a beginner. I know Pikachu's, and I can tell you that while mine might seem to be bad tempered, it is the normal behaviour for most newly caught or wild Pikachu's. I don't know what he was thinking giving you one as a starter, even if it seems to have turned out alright."

Embarrassed, the other trainer averted his gaze to the Pokémon on his lap, supporting him as always, "Yeah well, its kinda embarrassing, see, I was late and there were no more Pokémon left, except Pikachu here. I was really desperate and didn't really listen to him because of that. And, yeah, Pikachu and I didn't get along very well at first, but now we're the best of friends and I don't regret my decision at all!" The two Pokémon experts smirked knowingly, familiar with the feeling that Ash shared with his Pikachu and glad to see it reflected in the trainer behind them. It was Gold that placated the defensive trainer, "Hey chill. We're not judging you, just commenting on how weird it is, since usually the Professor shouldn't have more than three trainers leaving in one year. Anyway, take it from an S class connoisseur and breeder, you and your Pikachu have an amazing bond. Anyone with eyes can see that, I mean, you don't even put him in his Pokéball!"

Relaxing back into the seat as the he let his embarrassment fade, Ash loosened his grip on Pikachu, placing the Pokèmon beside Pika so he could grab onto the front seat as he spoke as he explained, passion in his tone, "Well, its always been like that. From when Pikachu and I didn't get along 'til now, he's never entered his Pokéball, he hates it too much, to the point that even if its dangerous not to go in, he still refuses to even think about it."

It was interesting to see fear bloom in Red's eyes, even through the rear view mirror as a begging tone entered his voice in the next sentence, "Please don't say that around Pika! It might give him ideas!" "Pika!"

Too late, Ash noticed that the other Pikachu had a thoughtful look on his face, which faded off into a knowing smirk at his trainers command, even as Red banged the back of his head against the seat of the jeep as since the Pallet Town visitor might just have given his wily Pokémon more ammunition to use to torment his long suffering trainer.

Trying to distract himself after causing trouble, no matter how unintentional, for the Champion, Ash decided to distract himself with the passing scenery, straightening as he realized that they had left the forest behind and was now in a flat plain heading towards what looked like green mountains. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Gold also looking around, finally noticing where they were…. And the white lab they were approaching at the base of the mountains, Red's next words cementing his suspicions "'Kay kid, all matters aside, I suggest you grab your stuff, cause we've arrived at Professor Crystal's lab."

…

"Red! Gold!"

Ash turned, his attention caught by the woman in a white lab coat, common to all the Professor's he had met on his journeys. Professor Crystal, because she could be no one else, wore her long lab coat open over a red blouse and straw coloured shorts. Her dark blue hair was tied downwards at the sides of her head in what would have been a double pony tail, but she had somehow made it turn up at an angle, forming two V's at the sides of her head.

Right now, the Professor's blue eyes were narrowed on his two companions, even as the two men were slowly climbing out of the jeep that had just arrived at its destination. The looks on their faces told the young trainer exactly how wary they were of the obviously angry Professor, shrinking back when scowling woman marched up to the two and hissed in their faces,

"What. Took. You. So. Long?"

"Um… well… you see Crys…"

"Hey, chill Professor woman, we got the kid here, safe and sound…"

"Half an hour for a five minute drive Gold. Ten if you consider the drive there and back but still!"

"Hey! We had to find him at the train station, ya know?"

At Gold's defensive response, Ash had to add a murmur of his own in, despite knowing the trouble Gold would probably get into. The trauma of them 'finding' him at the train station would not be silenced, "You mean I found you. Not like it was that hard…"

Despite how softly he spoke, the words were picked up by the enraged Professor, who rounded on her long time friend,

"What. Did. You. Do?!"

"Chill Crys, its was just some banners…"

"And some shouting?"

At that, the young man gulped, taking in the icy fury of the woman in front of him. Her addition reminded him that their long friendship was a double edge sword that meant she knew him far too well to be fooled by any of his attempts to downplay his actions. Luckily, she took his silence as agreement and turned to the older trainer standing off to the side and praying to Mew that she would forget about him. Hey, it could work, the little pink Pokémon liked him after all!

Unfortunately, Crystal had her reasons for sending Red. Reasons she growled at the nervous teen from between a strained smile, causing the Champion to wince at the sweet, controlled tone,

"Red? If you were going to let him do that anyway, what was the point of you going along to restrain his over the top tendencies?"

"Um… to drive them back?

"RED!"

"Give it a break Crystal, he got the both of them back in one piece, didn't he?"

The four spun around at the new voice, Ash feeling his eyes widen as he caught sight of the speaker. An open collared, short sleeved, black T-shirt and loose purple pants on black sneakers barely registered over the man's hair style, the exact same style as one Gary Oaks. The only difference was that the speaker had light brown hair to Gary's dark. These thoughts raced through his head in the instant before piercing green eyes met his, "So, who is the kid?"

Luckily, the young trainer was saved from making a fool of himself in front of the Gary lookalike as Professor Crystal spoke up, "He's Ash Ketchum, one of Professor Oak's Pallet Town trainers. I asked the Professor to send him here due to the information I found in his Pokédex that I wanted to check in person."

"Hmm…"

Unable to move as the other man studied him with a thoughtful frown, Ash could only stutter out a nervous, "Wh… What?"

On his head, Pikachu could only lean forwards and stare at the stranger that looked so much like their long time rival – turned – friend. Unfortunately for the mouse type Pokémon, he leaned forward too far, only to tumble with a shocked, "Pika!"

Into his trainers hands, dropping the cap low over the teen's eyes as Ash automatically caught the falling Pokémon. This succeeded in drawing the other's attention from the trainer to the yellow Pokémon now in his arms, causing a light of realization to dawn, "A Pikachu… Pallet Town… Professor Oak… You must be Gary's friend. The one he held back a year on his journey for."

This caused the attention of the other three Motou locals to focus on the stunned trainer in their midst, "Wait, you know Gary?" Ash backed up from the over-enthusiastic Gold as the breeder asked the question right into his face, excited grin growing at this connection to their visitor, "Yeah, although at that time he was more of a rival then a friend."

"Wow, so mini-Green had his own mini-Red! You must be so proud Green."

"Get off me you idiot!"

The now named Green snarled the words as the gold- capped boy hugged his 'friend', retrieving a Pokéball from the belt pouch he wore with one hand and pushing Gold away with his other. Things seemed tense until Red interrupted the group,

"Alright you two. Enough, the both of you. Green, put that Pokéball back, Gold, let Green go or I'll bring Silver and Blue in on this. Crystal, take Ash to your lab and we'll meet you there and explain things to the kid. Ash, relax, you'll get used to the crazy if you stay long enough, but let's do this somewhere more comfortable."

Adjusting Ash's hat so it stopped blocking half his sight, Red gave the overwhelmed teen a reassuring grin, even as he confidently herded his friends in the direction of the lab at the top of the hill.

Uncertain, the visiting trainer and his Pokémon looked at each other before following the bickering group to the lab in the distance, no one noticing in the commotion that a certain native electric mouse Pokémon was following along on foot, instead of riding in his trainer's Pokéball.

…

"So… you have questions."

Crystal smiled gently at her visitor as she poured the tea, having sent the men to the see to their Pokémon, leaving her alone with her young visitor. Settling back down, she studied the trainer in front of her, noting that despite her scolding of her old friend, Gold had hit the nail on the head calling this boy a mini-Red. It wasn't just the Pikachu, who was sweetly sniffing its own cup of tea as opposed to Red's little hellion, causing a ruckus as his trainer tried to convince him to return to his Pokéball.

Maybe it was the way Ash was always keeping an eye on Pikachu, even when overwhelmed by the insanity that was common to her life. It could be how he would pull confidence from seemingly nowhere on the way to the lab, now distracted from his conversation with his Pikachu. Certainly he is fast becoming one of the few people she's met that did not make her regret releasing the Pokédex to the general public.

Putting aside her long standing debate with her colleagues in the research world, Crystal brought her attention back to Ash, even as he responded to her statement, wondering what his first question will be. Will it be about their local Champion? Her relationship with Professor Oak? Why she called him here? How they know his old friend and rival?

"… What type of Pokémon are in this region?"

The ex- Pokémon catcher could only blink before her mind registered the question and she began laughing uncontrollably. Even as the startled trainer and his Pokémon stared at the possibly crazy Professor, she could not stop , holding her stomach as she felt a stitch developing in her side, she nearly choked on her laughter as she tried to bring it under control. By the time she stopped, she found herself looking up from the floor to the worried gazes of the now standing trainer and his Pikachu, the yellow mouse perched on the edge of the table, looking down at her.

"Excuse me, I didn't mean to laugh, it's just…"

As she pushed herself back up to the couch, smile splitting her face open, she met the eyes of the still standing teen,

"You remind me so much of Gold and Red when I first met them."

And he did, caring so much about Pokémon, wearing confidence about him like a cloak, Ash had all the qualities of the original Dex holders. It was no wonder he attracted the attention of so many of the legendaries.

"To answer your question, you have to know something about this region, a secret everyone knows."

Controlling her smile as the trainer leaned forwards, the yellow mouse Pokémon mirroring his trainers actions as she dropped her bombshell, "Motou is the birthplace of Mew, the ancestor of all Pokémon."

"Wha…?"

"Pika!?"

Quickly covering her mouth with her hand to stop a giggle from escaping, Crystal rescued the electric type as it fell off the table in shock, handing him back to his equally shocked trainer who had collapsed onto the couch across from her at the news. Taking advantage of his silence, Crystal continued on with her history lesson,

"Mew possesses the DNA of all Pokémon in the world, which means you will find Pokémon from all over the world in this region, no matter Kanto, Johto, or even Unova. You'll even find Pokémon from regions you have never been before if you know where to look."

"Wait, wait!"

Crystal stopped as the trainer across from her began to wave his hands frantically, obviously overwhelmed by her revelation. Ignoring him, she continued onwards, using her words to break his brain, "Well, it's not so much to say this is the birthplace of Mew as to say this is the birthplace of the first Pokémon, this is the first land, or whichever regions mythology you want. I used Mew because it is the legendary of the Kanto region, hence the one you'll be most familiar with.

"Mew, Ho-Oh, Lugia, the three legendary birds, Celebi… most of the mortal legendaries were born here, from the surrounding mountains. That is why, it is dangerous for inexperienced trainers to go there, especially those not familiar with Motou."

"Dan… Dangerous?"

"No one knows why, maybe it is because of the energy that still remains, or just something about the mountains, but the Pokémon that reside in them are strong, stronger than any other wild Pokémon you will encounter. It has come to a point that to survive, they have to grow up stronger than normal, and so the cycle continues.

"Don't worry, the Pokémon you find in the rest of the region are normal, more or less. It is just the mountain areas you need to avoid. It is a good training ground for people with more experience, but for beginners, it is extremely dangerous, especially for people used to the battle style of other regions."

"Uh… what do you mean?"

"Think, you are used to standing on the sidelines and shouting commands at your Pokémon, but in the wild, the Pokémon you battle will not respect that invisible line. So what happens when instead of attacking the Pokémon you call out, the wild Pokémon attacks you? And what if this happens and your entire line up is poisoned, or otherwise knocked out?"

"And that's unusual?"

Crystal paused at the unexpected response to her description of what, to other trainers, would be an unusual situation, "I forgot, Gary told us you were more 'hands on' than most trainers."

"Wait, you know Gary? How do you know Gary?"

Crystal eyed the young man in front of her, surprised by the sudden interest and focus on the current turn their conversation had taken,

"Ash, Professor Oak was the Professor for our region for a while, and my mentor. We all kept in touch with him, even after he left for Kanto. We practically helped raise Gary, especially Green, not that he had much of a choice."

Ash instantly pounced on the choice bit of information, "Really? Why?"

"That child followed Green everywhere. Copied his hairstyle, his clothing, everything, Gary worshipped Green, always calling up and asking for advice. He's simmered down since the Kanto League, but the respect is still there.

"Now…"

At this, it was Crystal's turn to lean forward, an unsettling gleam in her eye,

"To the purpose of your presence here…"

Ash gulped as he hugged a shivering Pikachu to his chest, the both of them unnerved by the almost manic look on the Professor's face,

"About those legendary encounters of yours… Tell me everything!"

…

"Wow kid, you look like hell."

The drained teen could only muster a tired glance in the direction the comment came from, not even bothering to glare as he dragged his body out of the lab and into the giant land out back that was a necessity to any Professor that studied Pokèmon.

Amused, Gold watched the boy change his line of vision, lest he trip in his exhaustion. Worry swiftly replaced his amusement when Ash stiffened, new found energy filling the tired body as his eyes bulged in shock. Turning to see what had caught the trainers attention, he could only see the usual sight of Pokèmon gathering in their natural habitats behind him, the large clearing fading into a forest, hemmed in by the natural formation of mountains that marked the region.

Returning his gaze to the still staring trainer and the Pikachu that had joined his trainer in staring at some unknown sight. Never one to hold in his curiosity, Gold asked, "What's so special about the Pokèmon here? I thought you've seen them all on your journey's."

Ash shook himself out of his wonder, not believing what the Pokèmon breeder had said,

"Pokèmon? I was staring at your forest, it's huge!"

Huge hardly did the forest area of the lab justice, from where he was looking, huge trees reared as up the slope of the mountains, creating a mass of greenery from which, thin branches the trainer later realized were actually more trees grew even higher, breaking out from the top to spread another layer of leaves, twining together or growing against each other to stabilize against the wind. Even from a distance, Ash could make out the huge leaves that covered the trees, fern like plants with leaves like green blinds sprouting from the trunks themselves and whole leaves, many times taller than the Pokèmon that scurried through and around them growing from the forest floor.

Despite how far the forest was, Ash could not be struck by how much, bigger, everything seemed.

The Motou native was confused, staring from the forest then back to the visitor before a voice broke the two humans and one Pokèmon from their various states of confusion and amazement,

"Don't look so surprised Gold, Ash's reaction is common to those faced with their first rainforest."

"Rainforest?"

Smiling in amusement as she shed her white coat, Crystal continued her impromptu information session,

"Yes, rainforest. You wouldn't have seen it since Red drove, but the rainforest's are common to regions located on the equator. It is the heat and humidity, it's very good for the plants, and it is the reason why the only cold lands you'll find in this region are at the very tip of the mountains, but you'll learn if you plan to make a journey around Motou."

Scratching the back of his head with a sheepish laugh, the teen replied,

"Yeah, I guess Professor Oak told you about my curious side huh? I'm planning to challenge the gyms in the region, and learn as much as I can in the mean time. I also want to learn about your regions battle style, I've heard bits and pieces about it and I really want to try!"

"That's not all I heard…"

Instantly wary at the tone in the female researcher's voice, the wary teen shelved his excitement (to be taken out and giggled over by his inner ten year old) as he eyed her, unknowingly mirroring the expression of the equally cautious Gold standing behind him, causing the sole female of the group to giggle and raise their caution to even greater levels,

"Whatever it is they said, it is highly exaggerated, I was five years younger and there were… circumstances."

This caused the giggle fit to breakdown into pure laughter, and even Gold was forced to grin at the defensive statement given by the teen.

"Funny, but I was actually talking about your love of watching people get their starter Pokèmon. I have three trainers arriving tomorrow and Odamaki and Aurea told me how much you love witnessing the event. So, why don't you stay the night and let me check the stats of your Pokèmon, and tomorrow you can help me prepare and hand out the new Pokèmon?"

"You bet!"

….

A/N: End! Enough! I can't take this chapter anymore, I've been writing and rewriting for almost a month! Seriously, I was stuck on this part since NaNoWriMo and it just wouldn't come out…. That said, on to the acknowledgements:

Jenakin Ramsobi: I'm glad you like the plot. Yes… grammar…. *headdesk* I know I have a grammar problem and my supposed to be beta and co-plotter has left for London and is busy busy busy, so…. I'll try, and I would really appreciate if you could point out any errors you note. As for giving Ash more intelligent things to say, currently he's still a tad overwhelmed by the new region and Red and Gold, but I hope you like this chapter more in that regards. I'm trying for a more mature but still IC Ash, but it's really hard. I still fall short on the maturity thing. As for Meowth, I'm not telling~ ^_^

luis1113: Yup! And more to come, but that would be a few chapters yet, not that I'll give out any spoilers

mercenaryflyer: Thanks! I think I watched that episode. I know I watched up to the episode that Team Rocket went back to the same old Jessie and James and I stopped in utter frustration….

Darkkami: Thanks for the reviews! Really? *Facepalms* I need to update my research and my plot. Thanks so much for telling me

lightningblade49: Isn't it? *grins* I had to scrutinize the anime and manga for differences so they don't end up twins, Gary and Blue are hard enough to explain

Nauran: I… have no idea what that comment is supposed to mean…

OSR fanatic: Thanks! Fingers crossed that I don't come up against another writers block.