I looked up and saw the outlines of Vermilion City. "There it is!" I cried, pointing to the outlines of the city. We had been travelling for two whole weeks since leaving Cerulean City, but here we were!

Jason looked up and nodded his head. Michelle smiled, she really wanted to finally eat a decent meal and not just berries, bread, and canned food that you cook over a fire.

Jason and I had really grown closer as friends with Michelle since we left Cerulean City. Neither Jason nor I had ever thought that we would be travelling with a third person on our journey, and now, we couldn't imagine ourselves without her. Jason and I were already as close as brothers, and Michelle was now like the sister we never had. Is that what happens when you're an only child? Do your friends become like brothers and sisters? Or maybe it's because our parents were already good friends, so we already sort of had a connection? Whatever it was, I was glad that I had the two of them with me. While I missed my mom and dad, Jason and Michelle were my family now.

We took off running and soon we were entering the city. I smelled the salty air from the nearby ocean. Vermillion City was Kanto's main ship port, with boats that carried people to Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. Unova could only be reached by plane. I made a mental note to go down to the docks to see all these ships later.

We walked to the Pokemon Center with Pikachu and Eevee walking beside us. Once entering, I spotted Trevor, my rival.

"Well, look who it is." Jason muttered.

We walked towards the desk and Trevor glanced up. "What are you three doing here? Here to challenge the gym?" he asked with a bored expression on his face.

"Yes," Jason and I said.

"Don't even bother with it. I just came from the gym. I was beaten badly by Lt. Surge and his Raichu. I mean, if my Pokemon can't beat him, then there's no way you two could beat him. After my Pokemon is healed, I'm going to do some training for the next battle. You guys should just go to a different gym. Or better yet, just give up and go home!" he said, glancing towards the rooms.

Jason remained silent and I could tell that he was getting mad.

"Why do you think that we can't beat Lt. Surge? Just because you can't win doesn't mean that we can't!" I said.

Trevor was about to reply, but Nikki ran up. She came from the direction of the rooms so she must have been in there and saw Trevor messing with us. "He's right, though. You'll both need lots of luck. Lt. Surge's Raichu used to be the strongest Electric Pokemon in all of Kanto. But Raichu lost that title to Ash Ketchum's Pikachu and is now the second strongest. Pikachu was the only other Electric Pokemon to ever overpower Raichu." Nikki explained.

I knew this already, but it made me proud to know my dad was known for what he's accomplished.

"...But Raichu has the title as the strongest Electric Pokemon back once again, since Master Ketchum is dead, after all." Trevor added.

I flinched at what Trevor had just said and yelled, "HE'S NOT DEAD!" Pikachu yelled at him, too. I wanted to lunge at Trevor, but Nurse Joy wouldn't tolerate violence and my parents taught me never to fight unless threatened. Like my dad, I had a bit of a temper.

"Adam, it's okay. Take a breath." Michelle said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Ignore him. Ignore everyone that's saying it." Jason added.

"I'm not really sure if he's dead. I don't think he is, but then again...he has been gone for a while. But I won't stop believing that Master Ketchum lives." Nikki said softly.

"Trevor, your Pokemon is healed." Nurse Joy said.

Trevor walked off and retrieved his Pokeball and walked back over. "Nikki, let's go." he said.

"Okay, just hold up." Nikki said curtly. "Michelle, I hope to see you in the Vermilion City contest. It's in a few days, hope you enter."

"Nicole, hurry up." Trevor said again, more annoyed this time.

Nikki's eyes lowered to slits. "Don't call me Nicole."

I was beginning to think that he deliberately called her by her real name so he could get under her skin.

She looked back at us. "Good luck in the gym battle. Michelle, please enter. And Adam, Jason, sorry about Trevor." she said, walking off.

As they walked out, he doors opened and a trainer came running past the two of them into the building.

"Nurse Joy!" he cried.

"Not again." Nurse Joy muttered, looking up.

I spotted a beat up Farfetch'd that was charred and covered in burns. Chansey came from behind the desk and the trainer placed Farfetch'd on the stretcher and it was rushed to the emergency room.

"Nurse Joy, is that what happens to the Pokemon who battle against Lt. Surge's Raichu?" Michelle asked.

"Sadly, yes." she replied, scribbling something on a clipboard.

I quickly glanced at the phones. "I'm calling my mom. I need to find out if what they're saying about my dad is true." I said, walking to the phones. I knew that mom would be up-to-date on all the details about dad.

Michelle and Jason followed me and we gathered in front of one phone. I dialed my mom and waited for her to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, mom." Jason and I said.

"Hi, Mrs. Ketchum." Michelle said.

"Hey, kids. Michelle, please just call me Dawn. Oh, and congratulations on winning your first contest." my mom said as she popped up.

"Thank you," Michelle said.

"So where are you guys at now?" my mom asked.

"Vermilion City," Jason said.

"Have you two challenged the gym yet?"

"Not yet, but we plan on it." I said, distracted slightly.

"Adam? Sweetie, what's wrong?" my mom asked with worry appearing on her face.

"Mom, we ran into Team Rocket again. These grunts...when I asked them where dad was at...they told me that he was dead. I didn't believe it at first, but today, our rival said that he was dead, too. Are people really believing dad's dead?" I asked.

A silence came over and I looked at my mom. She had a sad look on her face. "Have you watched the news recently?" she asked.

"We haven't seen the news since they first announced that it was time to sign up for contests." Jason answered.

"Well..." my mom trailed.

"Mom, what is it?" I asked. I needed to know what was going on and my mom knew. Any information on dad could help me find him.

"Well, I was watching the news. There was a poll and seventy five percent voted, 'Dead: Never to return.'" my mom said softly.

"So it's true? People really are believing he's dead?" I asked shocked.

"Yes..."

"But there's more, isn't there?"

"Yes,"

I frowned and looked at the ground sadly. "What is it?"

"A press conference was shown on the news. The league has decided that if your dad doesn't come back in nine months, the position and title of 'Pokemon Master' will be given to another person." my mom explained.

I opened my mouth to say something, but my mom put up her hand.

"They decided this because he's been missing for three months. If he doesn't return in nine months, it'll be a full year since he went missing. They said the trail has gone cold and the case is probably closed."

A silence hung in the air. I couldn't think of anything to say. I saw Jason frowning and Michelle was looking sad.

"...So he has nine months to return or all of his hard work will have been for nothing?" I asked.

"Yes,"

"You don't think he's really dead, do you?" I asked softly.

"Adam, sweetie, your dad is out there. I don't know where, but I can feel it, my heart tells me he's alive. You don't think he's dead, do you?" she asked.

"No, I know he's not dead." I replied. And I'll never stop until I find him.

I wished that my mom wasn't on the phone and was with me right now so I could be comforted by her. With so many people saying my dad was dead, it was hurting me and I felt like I would lose it one day.

"Thanks for telling us, mom." I said.

"No problem, just ignore what the people are saying. Don't let it discourage you or get you down, and don't let it stop you from achieving your dream and reaching your goal. Keep going, because that's what your dad would want you to do. Do it for him...and me."

"I will, mom. I love you,"

"Love you, too."

"Bye, mom." Jason and I said.

"Bye, Dawn." Michelle said.

"Bye, good luck in your gym battles."

The call ended and I stood staring at the black screen. "So what Team Rocket said was true." I said quietly. "They didn't lie. It's not just them, but almost everyone is saying it." But it didn't make sense. How could everyone just give up on him so easily? He was the most powerful trainer in the world.

I closed my eyes, feeling sad and confused. I felt arms wrap around me and I opened my eyes. Michelle was hugging me, and Jason placed his hand on my shoulder. I hugged back, finding some comfort in my two friends. I felt very lucky to have them right now, lucky to have people who I could turn to whenever I felt down.

"Don't give up." Michelle said as we separated. "Jason and I are always here for you."

"That's right." Jason agreed. "And we won't stop looking until we know for sure what happened to your dad."

"Thank you so much, guys. You don't know how much this means to me." I said, almost ready to cry.

"Well, that's what best friends do. They look out for each other." Jason said, smiling. "Now how about you go and challenge Lt. Surge? A Pokemon battle should be able to cheer you up!"

"You're right!" I said, getting my spirit back. "I'm gonna prove Trevor wrong and do what he couldn't do: win the badge! Ready, Pikachu?" I asked, looking at him.

"Pika!" Pikachu cried.

I remember my dad telling me the story of this gym battle. Lt. Surge was pretty rude, he called my dad a baby. Lt. Surge also evolved his Pikachu into a Raichu way too early and it didn't have the speed that Pikachu had, so it was slower. Pikachu didn't win the first time, but he and my dad won the rematch! He showed me the technique one day and it was something different.

I also remember my dad telling me that Pikachu was given the chance to evolve with a Thunderstone so he could be powerful enough to win. But Pikachu refused and was determined to beat Raichu and prove that a Pikachu could beat a Raichu without having to evolve.

We walked down the streets and soon we were in front of the gym. It looked like a warehouse with lightning bolts painted on it. I walked towards the automatic doors and they opened.

A low, light ring and bleachers. Jason and Michelle went to sit on the bleachers and I waited.

"You here to challenge the gym?" a voice asked.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Hey, boss! Another victim for the emergency room!" the voice called out.

Lt. Surge walked over towards me with his Raichu beside him. "Hmm...you look like a kid that I battled once before. He was a baby, but proved me wrong after a rematch." he muttered.

Lt. Surge wore a cargo green vest, camouflage shorts, black combat boots, and sunglasses. His once blonde hair was now grey and he looked to be in his sixties. But he was still very physically fit and in great shape for age, still just as muscular as he was when my dad had first met him. Age hadn't slowed him down a bit!

"That boy happens to be my dad; Ash Ketchum." I said.

"No kidding? He's challenged me to a few rematches over the years to keep his Pikachu in shape...still haven't been able to win. It's interesting to see that you've got a Pikachu, too."

He walked towards his side of the field and I took my side. The referee ran out and took his place.

"The battle between Gym Leader, Lt. Surge, and the challenger, Adam Ketchum will begin. This is a one on one battle with no time limit. When the Pokemon on one side is unable to battle, the match is over. Begin!"

"Ready, Raichu?" Surge asked.

"Rai! Rai!" Raichu cried.

I took out my Pokedex and pointed it at Raichu. "Raichu. A mouse pokemon of the Electric type. Raichu can shock with more than 100,000 volts of electricity, enough power to knock out a Dragonite!"

"Pikachu, let's show 'em!" I cried as Pikachu jumped off my shoulder.

"Pika! Pikachu!"

"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" I shouted, trying to use speed to my advantage, just like dad had done. Pikachu darted towards Raichu, his body was a blur.

"Raichu, Take Down!" Raichu ran towards Pikachu. I watched closely and smirked.

I knew that Raichu would be able to hit Pikachu in time if he veered off from his predicted path. "Curve, Pikachu!" I cried. Pikachu dug his feet into the ground, using the momentum to curve around Raichu and out of harm's way, so Raichu's attack missed and Pikachu then quickly spun and tackled Raichu from behind.

"Rai!" Raichu cried out.

"Thunderbolt, Raichu!"

"Dodge it!" I cried as the Thunderbolt headed towards Pikachu. I knew that Raichu had massive electric power and its attacks could KO a Pokemon in one shot. But I also knew that Pikachu could take a lot of hits, after all the training he and dad had done.

Pikachu dodged the attack, but Lt. Surge quickly ordered Mega Kick and I had no time to tell Pikachu to dodge. "Pi!" Pikachu cried, flying towards the edge of the field. Pikachu got up and shook himself.

"Iron Tail!" Pikachu ran towards Raichu as his tail glowed with steel. "Do it!"

"Mega Punch!"

The two moves collided and dust stirred up. Both Pokemon were weakened from the blows.

"Quick Attack!"

"Body Slam!"

Pikachu and Raichu both hit each other and flew back.

"Thunderbolt, Pikachu!"

"Raichu, take the attack. You can handle it."

I quickly wondered if Lt. Surge had forgotten that my dad was the Champion and if he knew that this was his Pikachu, not mine. Pikachu had trained for a long time to become powerful enough to be able to damage another Electric Pokemon and to be able to take Electric attacks better.

The Thunderbolt hit Raichu and Raichu cried out in pain. "But How?!" Lt. Surge cried in surprise.

"Let's finish this, Pikachu! Iron Tail!" I cried. Pikachu ran towards Raichu.

"PIKA...CHU!" Pikachu cried, hitting Raichu in the face and Raichu went stumbling back.

Pikachu was breathing heavily and Raichu was too. Both Pokemon were fighting a really tough fight. After a few seconds of panting, Raichu fell to the ground, fainted.

"Raichu is unable to battle. The winner is the challenger, Adam Ketchum!" the referee cried.

"Way to go, Pikachu! You've still got it in you!" I cried.

Pikachu jumped onto my shoulder joyously.

"Well, that was a good battle. You definetely have your father's battling skills. Here is the Thunder Badge." Lt. Surge said, handing me the badge.

"Badge number three!" I cried.

Jason and Michelle walked down and waited for me by the door.

"Good luck in your future gym battles." Lt. Surge said. "And just for the record, I think that your old man still alive and kickin'! Any trainer that can beat my Raichu, especially with another Electric Pokemon - and that's no small feat - could never be put down that easily!"

"Thanks, Surge!" It felt good to know that I wasn't the only person out there who still had some hope for my dad.

"Way to go, Adam." Michelle said as we walked out.

"You won your third badge." Jason said.

"Thanks, guys."

We returned to the Pokemon Center so I could heal Pikachu. We entered the center, and I spotted Trevor and Nikki. I smirked to myself and approached the front desk.

"Hello, how may I help you?" Nurse Joy asked.

"Could you heal my Pikachu?" I asked.

I heard a laugh which came from Trevor if I'm not mistaken.

"Certainly,"

Pikachu jumped down.

"Thank you,"

I removed my newest badge from my case and approached Trevor and Nikki. It was time for some payback for calling me pathetic. "Look," I said once I was near them.

Trevor turned around and saw the badge in my hand. The proof was right in front of him. "But...how could you win against Lt. Surge? How did a pathetic trainer like you win, when I couldn't? That's not possible." he said, shocked.

"See? It IS possible for a trainer like me to win. You aren't any stronger than me, Trevor. We're evenly matched." I said and walked off.

Jason and Michelle were chatting when I walked up to them.

"So when are you challenging Lt. Surge?" I asked Jason.

Before Jason could reply, Nurse Joy called me. I walked to the front desk and Pikachu hopped onto my shoulder.

"Thank you," I said walking back over.

"Tomorrow or the next day. I'm not sure yet." Jason answered.

We were going to be in Vermilion City for a while since Jason still had his gym battle and Michelle had a contest, if she was even entering this one.

Author's Note: So Adam and the gang reach Vermillion City, but Adam gets some bad news from his mom. But after some comforting words from his friends, Adam regains his spirit and does what his rival couldn't do: Win his gym badge! Adam really showed Trevor up, huh?

In the next chapter, a new Pokemon will be appearing as Jason gets ready for his gym battle. Who is this Pokemon? How will he fare? And will Michelle be participating in the Vermillion City Pokemon contest?

Find out next time on Pokemon NG!