Hey Everybody! Got this one out a little sooner than many expected, I'm sure! Not too much to say up here, but I did want to thank my loyal reviewers. Though the number of reviews I get per chapter has drastically dwindled compared to what it was back in 2014(for obvious reasons) the reviews I do get mean the world to me and motivate me to write and update as much as I can! Please continue to REVIEW when you're able, even if it's only a couple of words, because those reviews let me know people still care.

Okay, enough babbling. READ AND REVIEW PLEASE!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or any of its affiliated companies including, but not limited to, 4Kids, The Pokémon Company, Game Freaks, or Cartoon Network. The characters written within this story are solely based upon the fictional characters created by these companies, and the story is not meant to, nor will it, receive and monetary funding.

Characters' Ages:

Ash: 18

Brock: 23

Misty: 19

"Is Misty going to join us?"

Ash shook his head as the syrup poured. "She left for the battlegrounds first thing this morning. She wanted time to warmup with her team."

Oak nodded. "I'm sure she'll do fine, but a little extra preparation never hurts. In fact, I have a poem-"

"Professor, maybe later," Delia interjected sweetly. She redirected her attention to Ash. "So where do we go?"

"We'll just drive to this address she gave me. It should lead us to the parking garage. According to Mist, we can follow the signs from there to get to the bleachers."

"I hope there's some shade," Oak mentioned, pointing to a corner of the hotel's dining room. A giant cartoon sun blazed behind a Vermillion weatherman on TV. "I forgot to bring sunscreen!"

"I have some in my purse. Don't worry! But we will need to bring some bottled waters."

Ash nodded as he scarfed down the complimentary breakfast. "Yeah, I went for a run with Pikachu after Misty left, and it was already really muggy. It'll be terrible by the time the competitions actually start."

Oak scratched his chin. "I wonder how it will affect the battles."

"Oh, can weather change battles?"

"Yeah, Ma, of course! With a day as sunny as today, grass and fire types are gonna have a huge starting advantage over water types."

"Right," Oak agreed, "which is why I'm most concerned for Misty and her team. She would have preferred a cloudy, rainy day, I'm sure. Now a main type advantage she enjoys is cut, and a type disadvantage she despises is widened."

"I've been working with Charizard on learning Solarbeam to help against water types-"

"What?! Ash, that's incredible! It's very difficult to-"

"Professor, let's let Ash finish what he was saying first."

The professor cleared his throat and his cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "Oh, of course. Heh, go on, Ash."

Ash laughed a little, watching his mentor and idol castigated by his own mother. "No, it's okay, Professor. Thank you, actually. You're right that it took a lot of work, but it wasn't too difficult. I mean, I've seen other fire types use it before. I did some research – including some of your old work – and found that the same biological mechanics that allow fire types to absorb sunlight to enhance fire type attacks are what allows Solarbeam to be learned. From there, it was just a matter of helping Charizard refocus that energy. I wanted him to learn it to help against water type Pokémon, but I've noticed it's much easier for him in the sunlight than at night or on cloudy days. My guess is the cells that power his fire attacks must share some commonality with grass types."

As he looked up from his waffle, he saw Delia and Oak staring back at him with their mouths slightly agape.

"You guys okay?"

Oak found his voice first. "Yes, of course Ash. I – I mean we – are just a little surprised, I think."

"You've never sounded so knowledgeable before," Delia noted, clearly impressed. "You were reading through Professor Oak's papers?"

"Yeah, his doctoral thesis," he answered, bemused. "Did you guys really think I wouldn't research all this stuff? I'm trying to become the Master, after all."

"You read my thesis?!" Oak practically squealed. "No one ever reads my papers! What did you think? Pretty impressive, if I do say so myself!"

Ash nodded. "It was really helpful!"

"But I've never heard you talk like that before," Delia noted.

"Well, I'll admit I haven't been the best student in the past," Ash admitted sheepishly. "Even after I started this Master journey, I mostly relied on previous experiences and unique strategies to win my battles. But ever since I faced Red on Mount Silver…I dunno. It's like, I realized that luck and experience aren't enough. I'll never have enough experience to know what to do all the time, you know? I used to think training was mostly physical, with some strategy involved, but after facing him it hit me that if I really want to be the best then my training has to be mental, too. So I've been reading books and papers from all the major Pokémon experts – including you, Professor. If I know more about Pokémon, then I'll understand how best to work with them in battle."

"That's very wise, Ash. You've certainly matured from that brash young man who was late to pick up his first Pokémon. I'm sure you'll be an excellent student when you and Misty start college with this new attitude."

Ash gave a small sigh. "Yes, I guess I will."

Delia's brow furrowed. "Are you okay, dear?"

"Mm? Yeah, I'm fine Ma. Just been thinking a lot about college lately."

"And?"

"Don't worry!" he perked quickly, seeing the concerned look on Delia's face. "I'm still gonna go. I know how bad you want this for me, and that was the deal when I started this journey. I guess I'm just worried because I don't really feel excited."

"How could you not be excited? College is the first time in your life when you're finally free to do what you want as an adult!"

"I mean, maybe for most people, but not really for me?" Ash gave a shrug. "I've been on my own since I was ten. You were obviously tracking me with the pokédex, and I had Misty and Brock and all the Nurse Joys looking after me, but I was still out on my own."

"He makes a good point, Delia. Think of this: of the four trainers who left in Ash's group, only Ash continued his Pokémon journey. Even Gary returned to Pallet and lived with me after losing in Johto. Compared to most young men and women his age, Ash has had a significant deal of independence already."

"But college is so much more than independence," she pressed. "It's about learning new things and growing as a person!"

"I know, Ma," Ash assured. "Like I said, I promised I would go, so that's what I'm gonna do. As it's gotten closer, I've just become a little less excited."

Delia's voice softened as she smiled. "I'm sorry. I know I'm a little stubborn, but believe it or not your mother still knows a few things you don't. You'll enjoy college and all the things you'll learn and new friends you'll make. It will open a whole new world to you, I promise."

"Well, I don't think you've ever been wrong before." Ash faked a sigh of exhaustion as a smile played on his lips. "So that probably means you're right again. I know you want what's best for me, so thank you. I feel better already, believe it or not."

"Of course, dear. It's probably just nerves." She paused. "In fact, I'll make you another deal: if you don't enjoy college after your first year, then you can quit. I won't stop you at that point."

Ash's grin turned from playful to determined. "You know I can't quit anything once I've started. If I go, I'm not stopping until I have more degrees than the Professor himself!"

"When that happens, I'll have to retire. You may have matured, but I don't think I'm ready for a world where Ash Ketchum is reviewing my work."

Author's Notes: Next chapter is pretty much all battles as we watch Misty compete for a scholarship. Originally I was going to combine this one with it, but in keeping with my new philosophy of "shorter chapters, more frequent updates" I decided to cut that half so I could publish sooner. Writing battles does not come as naturally as it used to, so I need a little more time to perfect the next installment.

Honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of this chapter. In my real-life writing I've become a devotee to the "show, don't tell" school of storytelling, and this chapter is a pretty major infractor of that philosophy. However, the way the story has been written to this point doesn't allow for me to change narrative styles too drastically this far in, so I'm afraid it will have to do until I someday go back and rewrite major portions of earlier chapters (may never happen, but it might...I could be very bored someday). Anyway, let me know what you thought in a review, and I'll see you soon!