To my readers- I decided that instead of making 2 huge volumes of A Ketchum's journey, I decided to make them into 4 separate volumes. Volume 1 will contain the Kanto and Johto regions, Volume 2 will contain Hoenn and Sinnoh regions, Volume 3 will contain Unova and Kalos regions, last but not least, Volume 4 will contain Alola and Galar regions.

I want each and every one of you to know that if you personally don't like the way I'm writing the fanfic, then you don't have to read it. I will not reach through my laptop to force you to read any fandoms that I write for because you can probably find a lot better fanfics in those fandoms over mine. Even if you can't find what you're looking for and still don't like the way I write it, then I encourage you to write your own. Happy Reading!

I DONT OWN POKEMON. I ONLY OWN MY OC AND THE CREATION OF HER REGIONAL POKEMON TEAMS. ALL REGIONAL POKEMON TEAMS WILL BE POSTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CHAPTERS FOR MY OC.

Shoutouts:


"Odd." said Max as he and the others were in the forest. "I don't see a single one anywhere."

"Maybe they're hiding the trees." said Hayley.

"Ha-ha, very funny, Hayley." Max said sarcastically.

"I'm not being funny, Max." she tells him. "I'm just being honest."

Narrator: As Ash, Hayley and their new friends Max and May head towards Rustboro City, their travels begin in the Petalburg Forest with hopes of seein new Pokémon.

Hayley: We also have May sulking.

Meeko: Riolu.

Narrator: Oh dear.

"Any chance that we'll be stopping for lunch soon?" May asked Ash.

"Huh? Pika?"

"But I havent even seen one Pokémon yet." said Max.

"You gotta let him see his first wild Pokémon, May." said Hayley.

"Yeah, what Hayley said." agreed Max.

"Uh, did you think you could just look up and see one whenever you wanted to, Max?" Ash asked. "It doesn't work that way."

"But I always heard Petalburg Forest is so full of Pokémon, you can't miss them." Max explained. "I wonder if we're in the wrong part of the woods."

"Hey, Ash, let's eat lunch." said May, yanking his arm.

"No! Let's go a different way." said Max, yanking his other arm. Pikachu jumps down and into Hayley's arms.

"No, it's time for lunch, Ash." said May.

"Not till we see Pokémon." said Max.

"Ashy, if we were like this with mom….lets apologize to her the next time we call her." said Hayley, seeing her brother being pulled side to side.

"You got it." said Ash.

"Lunch!" shouted May.

"Find Pokémon!" shouted Max.

"Lunch!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Stop talking!" shouted Ash and Hayley. "Both of you!"

"We'll stop for a quick lunch break, and then we'll decide which way to go after that." said Ash.

"His decision is final." said Hayley.

"Yeah." said May, blissfully.

"All right!" said Max.

"We're so apologizing to mom for this." said Ash.

"Agreed." said Hayley. "Lets never put her through this again."

"Lunchtime." said Ash as they set down their backpacks. "We needed a break anyway. Besides, we'll have better luck hunting Pokémon on a full stomach."

"A full stomach is a happy stomach." said Hayley.

"Well, I guess I was getting kind of hungry." said Max.

"I'm so hungry, I could eat a Tauros." said May.

"Uh…" said Ash after they chuckled for a moment.

"Pika? Riol?" asked Pikachu and Meeko.

"So, Ash, where's lunch?" asked May.

"Don't tell us that you and the mouse ate all of it." said Jordan, looking at her brother and Ash shook his head.

"I thought you and Max were carrying it." said Ash.

"How can I carry it? I have my stuff inside my backpack." said Hayley.

"Uh, I thought that you were gonna grab it, May." Max said, turning to his sister.

"You mean…" said Ash.

"There's….." said Max and Hayley.

"No lunch?" asked May. Pikachu and Meeko went digging into their trainers backpacks, getting their food. "Pika! Riol!" they both said as the quartet groaned.

"You two are the professional travelers, Ash." complained May. "I'm surprised you'd forgot something like our food."

"She has a point." Max pointed out.

"Come on." said Ash and his stomach starts gurgling. "All right, I guess I messed up."

"Me too." said Hayley, grabbing her stomach.

"Pikachu." said Pikachu as he and Meeko opened their Pokémon food.

"Uh-oh….." said Hayley as she watches Pikachu and Meeko looked inside their Pokémon food canisters. "We're gonna have a set of upset Pokémon."

"Pi." said Pikachu, looking inside. "Pika! Pi…Pi…Pika!"

"Riolu!" cried Meeko as she held the empty canister at Hayley as Pikachu shook his empty can.

"I know, Meeko. I know." she said, holding Meeko in her arms. "We'll get you and Pika-Pik some food soon."

"Pika!" cried Pikachu, wanting to be in Hayley's arms. Hayley giggles as she picks Pikachu up as well.

"Come here, you big electric baby." said Hayley.

"Guess we're out of Pokémon food too." said Max, seeing Pikachu and Meeko in Hayley's arms.

"I'm sorry, Pikachu and Meeko." Ash said, apologetically. Pikachu grumbles as Meeko stares into the empty cans.

"It's too bad that Brock didn't come along with us." said Ash.

"He would have cooked something up, really good." said Hayley.

"Brock?" asked May.

"Brock who?" asked Max.

"A friend that Hayley and I were traveling with before." explained Ash. "Knows lots about Pokémon, but he really know how to cook too."

"Pika." said Pikachu, his eyes getting wide.

"Riolu." said Meeko, drooling a bit.

"I could go for one of Brock's stir-fry right now." said Hayley.

Just then, May pulls down Ash's hat. "Sorry, I'm so useless compared to him." she said.

"Who said anything about comparing you to him?" asked Hayley. "All we were saying is that Brock's a good cook."

"Yeah." said Ash.

"I sense some discord amongst the new friends." said James, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"Poor things are cranky because they're out of food." said Jessie, eating her sandwich.

"So we strike while the stomach is grumbling." said Meowth. "That's what I say. Come on, lets pinch that Pikachu and Riolu."

"Wobbuffet." said Wobbuffet.

"I don't know." said James.

"Yeah, maybe." said Jessie.

"What's your problem?" asked Meowth, looking at both of them.

"I'm still eating." Jessie tells Meowth.

"Meowth, were you born in a barn?" asked James. "Its terrible manners to get up and leave in the middle of a meal."

"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet said, agreeing with James.

"There's nothing wrong with being born in a barn!" shouted Meowth.

"I need food, so…" Max started to complain when he digged through his backpack to get something out.

"Hey, what've you got in there?" May asked, getting close in Max's personal space.

"Chocolate cookies?" asked Ash.

"Of course, you're gonna share with your sister." said May.

"Pika, Pika!" said Pikachu.

"Oh my god." said Hayley, placing a hand on her face.

"Only one." said Max.

"Only one?" asked the older siblings.

"Sorry. It's my emergency stash." said Max, then looks over at Jordan and Meeko. "Wanna split it?"

"Thanks for the offer, but we'll wait until we get into town." said Hayley "That way, I can stock up on my own snacks.

"Riol, Riol." said Meeko.

In the bushes, a wild bird Pokémon sees the chocolate in Max's hand. "So if we split it, we'll each get one bite." said Ash, not thinking about his sister and her Pokémon.

"Mm-Hmm." said May.

"Taillow!" shouted the Pokémon, swiping it out of Max's hand.

"Huh?" they asked, seeing that the cookie was gone.

"Taillow. Taillow!" said the flying Pokémon as it flies away.

"This is why I said I would wait until we got into town." said Hayley, then turns to Max and May. "If food is in your hand or lay your backpack opened on the ground, wild Pokémon will eat your food no matter what."

"Yeah! I finally found a Pokémon!" said Max as they chased after it.

"It stole our chocolate." said May.

"What is that Pokémon?" asked Ash as he and Hayley followed them.

"A Taillow." said Max.

"Taillow?" questioned Ash, getting out Dexter.

"Taillow, the tiny swallow Pokémon. Taillow has a fierce personality, never backing down, even against the most powerful opponents." said Dexter.

"Give back that chocolate." May called out after Taillow.

"Careful, May, where there's one Taillow, there's always a whole flock of them." Max warned her.

Taillow finally lands on an apple tree branch and starts eating the chocolate. "Give us back that chocolate, you robber." demanded May as Taillow sees them.

"You really want the germs of a flying type Pokémon?" asked Hayley. "You must be crazy."

"I want it back! Give it back!" screamed May when suddenly, Taillow eats the final piece of the chocolate cookie.

"Tail." said Taillow, causing May to cry.

"Too late now." said Hayley.

"It ate the whole thing." said a crying May.

"Guess that Taillow must have been really hungry." said Ash as Pikachu and Meeko looked at the eaten apples on the grounds.

"Yeah." said Max. "I wonder if my chocolate cookie filled it up?"

"Who knows, Max. Pikachu once filled up on entire ketchup bottle while Meeko filled up on my left-over bag of candy." said Hayley. "We had to take her to the Pokémon center to see if she had any cavities."

"Pika." Pikachu said, curiously.

"Riol, Riolu." said Meeko.

"We're hungry too." whined May as Taillow burps.

"Taillow, how did you like my chocolate?" Max called out.

"Taillow, Taillow." replied Taillow.

"My guess: 'It was so yummy; I want more of it.'." said Hayley.

"Taillow!" said Taillow, pointing to what Hayley said.

"Ha! Who knew that I could be right." said Hayley, looking at the others.

"Wow, your better than Meowth." said Ash.

"I have my moments." said Hayley.

"Glad you enjoyed it." May complained.

"Don't worry, May. I'm sure we'll get some food in the next town." said Ash.

"Pika-Pi." Pikachu said, pulling Ash's pant leg.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Pika, Pika." Pikachu said, pointing to the discarded apples.

"Uh…." said Ash, looking behind him. "Look, guys! These trees are full of fruit."

"Did the Taillow eat those apples?" Hayley asked Meeko, looking at the ones on the ground.

"Riolu." Meeko said, thinking the same thing.

"We've been saved!" shouted Max.

"Watch out, tummy. Here it comes." said May.

"Pikachu, Meeko, help us out and knock down some of that fruit." said Ash.

"Pika….chu!" Pikachu shouted, using Thunderbolt. Meeko was ready to get the apples when a whole flock of Taillow came out of the trees.

"Taillow. Taillow. Taillow, Taillow."

They took the falling apples that Pikachu helped get. "Oh, no! Again?" cried May.

"Taillow!" said Taillow as its friends backed it up.

"This is bad. I think they're angry." said Ash.

"It almost looks like they're about to attack." said Max.

"They got their fruit back, so what's the problem?" asked May.

"I think they're upset because we might be in the middle of their territory." said Ash.

"This is just like the Spearow and Pidgey territory all over again." said Hayley.

"In that case, they might be mad 'cause we were gonna eat some of their fruit." said Max.

"What should we do?" May asked.

"Well, I guess we could try apologizing." said Ash.

"If not, I can always work out some left-over issues I have from Gary Oak." said Hayley.

"Taillow!" screamed Taillow, telling the others to attack the quartet.

"Taillow, Taillow."

"Ash, Hayley, can't you do something?" asked a scared May.

"No! I have Meeko in my arms." said Hayley.

"Riolu!" shouted Meeko.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" shouted Ash.

"Pikachu!" shouted Pikachu, shocking the Taillow flock with his Thunderbolt.

"Taillow!" screeched the flock, falling to the ground.

"Whoa, that was too close." said May.

"Lucky for us that electric attacks are so effective against flying Pokémon." said Max.

"Extremely lucky." said Hayley.

"That'll keep them down for a while." said Ash.

"Taillow." said Taillow, struggling to get up.

"Pikachu!" shouted Pikachu.

"Olu!" said Meeko.

"Whoa!" the quartet shouted.

"Maybe not." said Ash.

"They're worse than me." said Hayley.

"Do you think we woke them up?" asked May.

"But how could they have recovered so quickly?" questioned Max.

"Taillow!" squawked the Taillow flock as they all head towards the quartet.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt them." said Ash.

"Please! Riol!" said Hayley and Meeko.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu shouted, sending another round. Taillow squawked as they fought off the Thunderbolt.

"Pika!"

"Taillow!"

"That didn't affect them." said Ash.

"How is that possible?" asked Max. "Pikachu scored a direct hit."

"Remember what the Pokedex said?" asked Ash. "Taillow are fierce, and they won't back down no matter how strong the opponent."

"Riolu, Riol." said Meeko as Hayley nodded against her.

"Oh, they're definitely worse than you, Hayley." said Ash.

"They definitely have more spunk than I do, Ash." said Hayley and he nodded.

"Those Taillow are fantastic, aren't they?" asked Jessie, seeing the battle.

"Bold and courageous just like us." said James.

"And they got a knack for locating chocolate cookies." said Meowth.

"Just think of the power we'd have if the Taillow were on our side." Jessie said to the boys.

"Catching Pikachu and Meeko would be easy with a flock of them." said James.

"It'll be a feather in our cap." said Meowth.

"Wobbuffet." Wobbuffet said in agreement.

"Pikachu!" shouted Pikachu, giving another Thunderbolt to the Taillow.

"Taillow!" screeched the chocolate covered beak Taillow, falling to the ground.

"You know, I bet that one's the leader." said May.

"Well, the chocolate mustache on its beak means it also the one who started this." said Max.

"Hey, Chocolate Mustache Taillow! You stole something from us and we're hungry!" shouted Hayley.

"Riolu!" shouted Meeko.

"Why can't you and your flock at least let us have some of you apples?" she asked. "We'll leave you alone if you do!"

"Taillow! Taillow, Taillow!" it said shaking its head.

"At least you tried, Hayley." said May.

"True. It's lucky that I don't have wings to chase it." said Hayley.

"Taillow!"

"Watch out, Pikachu!" said Ash.

"Pika?" questioned Pikachu as Taillow heads for him and jumps out of the way.

"Taillow! Taillow!" it said as it makes its way back.

"Pi…Pika! Pi!" cried Pikachu as he was knocked back.

"Taillow!" shouted Taillow, swinging back around.

"Thunderbolt now!" Ash called out.

"Pikachu!" shouted Pikachu, going in for another round with his Thunderbolt.

"Taillow!" said Taillow, getting hit with Thunderbolt.

"No way!" said Ash as it threw Pikachu's thunderbolt off.

"Unbelievable." said Max.

"They're closing in on us, Max." said May.

"Ashy! Riol!" said Hayley and Meeko, holding onto Ash.

"Nothing seems to work." said Ash.

"Tail…." said the flock.

"Pika…" Pikachu said, ready for anything.

"Low!" screeched Taillow.

Max and May screamed as they hugged each other. Hayley and Ash stood their ground as they watched Taillow come after them. "Forretress, Explosion!" shouted a familiar voice.

"Pika? Riolu?" asked Pikachu and Meeko.

"Forr. Forr!" said Forretress, exploding its body and scaring the flock of Taillow.

"Hey, it's Brock." said Ash.

"Dude, really? Forretress got us covered in soot." said Hayley, showing the aftermath.

"Riolu." said Meeko, looking at her soot covered fur.

"This is Brock?" asked Max and May.

"Yeah." said Hayley as he turns around and smiles.

"We'll be safer outside of the forest." said Brock as he leads them alongside a river.

"Thanks, Brock." said Ash.

"You're the best." said Hayley.

"We were lucky you came by." said Ash.

"Well, you should really thank Forretress." Brock tells them, then goes to Pikachu and Meeko. "It's good to see the two of you again, Pikachu and Meeko."

"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu said, smiling.

"Riolu!" said Meeko, giving the former Gym Leader a hug.

"Looks like you got hurt a little bit, huh?" Brock said, looking at Pikachu's arm.

"Pika?" asked Pikachu.

"Riol." Meeko said, taking a closer look at his arm. "Riol, Riolu!"

"Pikachu." he tells her.

"Here." said Brock, taking out a potion bottle. "Meeko, can you hold him still for me?"

"Olu." said Meeko, nodding as she grabs Pikachu from behind. Brock sprays the medicine on Pikachu's arm. "Pika!" screamed Pikachu and starts blowing on his arm.

"So, Brock, what are you doing out here?" Ash asked. "We thought you were gonna go home."

"Yeah. You said that you would give your brother, Forest, a hug for me." said Hayley.

"I did go home, and everything's fine. So I decided to come back out." said Brock. "Then Professor Birch told me you were headed to Rustboro City so I decided to come out here and see if I could find the two of you."

"Hey, does that mean we're gonna travel together again?" asked Ash.

"And be your taste testers?" asked Hayley.

"Riolu?" asked Meeko.

"Yeah." said Brock. "If you don't mind."

"Best news we've had all day." said Ash, shaking Brock's hand.

"It's more than just the best news, Ash." said Hayley. "It's the greatest news of all time!"

"Riolu!" squealed Meeko, then starts patting her stomach. "Olu, Olu! Riol!"

"Meeko!" said Hayley, giggling and taking her Pokémon's hands. "You can do that later."

"Let me introduce you to our new friends." Ash said as Meeko and Pikachu giggled. "This is May and her brother Max from Petalburg City. This is Hayley's and my friend, Brock. He's training to become the world's best Pokémon breeder."

"Hi, there." said May.

"Hey, Brock. Nice to meet you." said Max. "It's cool being a breeder, huh?"

"Yeah. I still got a lot to learn, though." said Brock. "But hi."

"When we met Brock, he was the Gym Leader in Pewter City." said Ash.

"Wow, you were?" asked Max.

"Hey, our Dad's a Gym Leader too." said May.

"May and Max's father is the Gym Leader in Petalburg City." said Ash.

"I bet you guys want to become gym leaders too." said Brock.

"I don't know about that." said May.

"I don't even have my first Pokémon yet." said Max.

"You should have heard Brock when he first saw Meeko." said Hayley.

"At first, I thought that you were a little young to have Meeko, but Professor Oak thought you were ready for one." Brock tells Jordan before going over to Max. "Don't worry, Max. That takes time. It'll happen before you know it."

"Okay." said Max.

"That's why I left most of my Pokémon at home…." said Brock. "so my brothers could practice. By the way, Hayley, Forest says hi."

"That's cool." said Ash.

"I miss him already." said Hayley.

"Your Forretress' Explosion attack was awesome." said Max.

"Hey, thanks." said Brock, taking the compliment.

"Is it true?" May asked.

"Hmm?"

"What Ash and Hayley told us about you?" she questioned. "That you're really a good cook?"

Brock starts to see where May was going with this. "Then how's about a little sample?" she asked him.

"All right." Brock said. "Let's have some lunch."

As Brock took the others to his campsite, everything was eaten up. "Ahh!" screamed Brock. "They're gone! There were five sandwiches in my backpack!"

"No!" wailed May.

"Olu!" Meeko wailed after her.

"Brock, is it possible that you ate them already?" asked Max.

"No, although I was just about to eat one when I heard the Thunderbolt and ran to see if it was Pikachu!" Brock explained.

"So they disappeared during the battle." said Ash.

"I have my guess." said Hayley.

"Riolu." added Meeko.

"Pi." said Pikachu.

"Then the other Taillow ate them probably." said May. "I'm so hungry."

"You're not the only one. I'm a growing girl and I need food." said Hayley.

"Riolu!" Meeko said angrily as she stomps her foot.

"Taillow do tend to travel in flocks looking for food and then devour whatever they happen to come across." said Brock. "As you probably noticed, they're also very territorial and pretty aggressive so other Pokémon usually run and hide whenever they hear a flock of Taillow coming."

"That explains why we couldn't find any Pokémon when we first got to the woods, huh?" Max asked Brock.

"And why the whole flock attacked us when we were just trying to get some fruit out of those trees." said Ash as May's stomach growls.

"Okay, how about I rustle us up some stew?" asked Brock.

"Really?" asked May.

"That sounds great!" said Max.

"Yes please! Olu!" said Hayley and Meeko.

"Brock to the rescue." said Ash.

"Pikachu and Meeko first." said Brock, holding out two Pokémon food canisters. "How does that sound?"

"Pika!" squealed Pikachu.

"Riol, Riolu." Meeko said, pointing to both the Pokémon food and the ladle in his hand.

"You got it, Meeko." Brock said, laughing lightly.

"Taillow! Taillow!" said the flock of Taillow as they see the hole left by Forretress.

"Calling all Taillow." said Meowth.

"We come bearing gifts." said Jessie.

"Yummy sandwiches." said James.

"Wobbuffet." said Wobbuffet.

"They're yours to chow down on, but first we go to talk and make a little dealio." Meowth said to the flock as they flew down to Team Rocket. The entire flock were squawking as they aimed for the screaming Team Rocket who then dropped the food.

"Taillow!" they screeched.

"Or you could eat first, and then we'll talk." said Meowth.

"Wobbuffet." added Wobbuffet.

"I still say we should've saved one to eat ourselves." said Jessie.

"A rumbling tummy is a small price to pay to capture a Pikachu and a Riolu." said James.

"Taillow?" the flock asked, looking up at Team Rocket.

"They're saying they want some more." Meowth said to Jessie and James.

"Do you feather brains think this is a restaurant?" asked James.

"That's fine, but first you'll have to do a little something for us." Jessie tells them.

"Taillow?" they asked, tilting their heads.

"Just a little while longer now," said Brock, stirring the stew. "and it'll be ready. Huh?"

May and Ash were staring at the stew. "Guys, you're drooling on me." said Brock.

"Oh, let them drool Brock." said Hayley, inspecting Meeko's plate. "At least we know that they're being quiet." Brock smiles, then looks up at something. "Huh?"

"Pika." said Pikachu, jumping onto a rock for a better view. "Pika!"

"Oh, no." said Ash. "It's that same Taillow."

"What's it want now?" asked May.

"I hope it's not more spunk and attitude." said Hayley. "Cause that's me and Meeko's job."

"Pika?" asked Pikachu.

"Low. Taillow." said Taillow.

"Pika! Pika, Pika." Pikachu tells Taillow.

"Can you tell what they're saying?" asked Max.

"That Taillow came back here to fight." said Ash.

"How come?" asked May.

"Am I right, Pikachu?" Ash asked.

"Pika."

"All right, we accept." Ash said to Taillow.

"What?" asked Max.

"I don't get it." said May. "What's the point?"

"I guess Taillow wants to prove which Pokémon is the best." said Brock.

"Hmm." said the Petalburg siblings.

"Pikachu's the stronger one out of him and Meeko." said Hayley.

"Really?" asked May and Max.

"Hayley's right about that. A strong opponent always make Taillow want to battle." said Brock. "I'm guessing it wants a clear winner decided in its battle with Pikachu."

"Taillow! Taillow!" it said, taking to the sky.

"All right, Pikachu." said Ash.

"You ready?" asked Hayley, holding her fist out.

"Riolu?" asked Meeko.

"Pika." Pikachu said, nodding as he fist bumps Hayley and goes out to battle Taillow. "Pi."

"Taillow!" said Taillow, staring Pikachu down.

"Pika!" said Pikachu, accepting Taillow's challenge.

"Let's do it." said Ash.

"Taillow!" shouted Taillow with its wings spread out. "Taillow! Taillow! Tail."

"Pikachu, Quick Attack." said Ash.

"Pika!" said Pikachu, jumping from rock to rock in the water. "Pi. Pi. Pi. Pika!"

"Huh?" said Taillow, shocked to see Pikachu coming at it. "Taillow! Taillow!"

"How could it have dodged that Quick Attack?" asked Max. "First attacks are almost never off target."

"Pi." said Pikachu, landing on a rock.

"Taillow!" said Taillow, making Pikachu move to another rock.

"Pi! Taillow!"

"Taillow!"

"But Taillow can fly and Pikachu cant." said May. "A clear advantage."

"Yeah, but Ash will come up with something." said Hayley.

"Olu." said Meeko.

"Use Thunderbolt." said Ash.

"Taillow! Taillow!" shouted Taillow as it makes its way towards Pikachu.

"Pikachu." shouted Pikachu, using Thunderbolt on Taillow.

"Taillow." said Taillow, almost falling to the water. "Taillow!"

"Pi!" shouted Pikachu, dodging Taillow.

"Taillow!" screeched Taillow.

"Pika!" Pikachu looks over his shoulder as Taillow makes its way back around.

"Taillow! Taillow!"

"Ah, wow." said Ash. "That Taillow's awesome. It just won't quit."

"I think I can use some of its flying for me and Meeko's dance time." said Hayley.

"Riolu." said Meeko.

"You've been inspired, sis?" asked Ash.

"You know it! Olu!" said Hayley and Meeko.

"Taillow! Taillow!" Taillow shouted as it heads for Pikachu.

"Pika." said Pikachu, jumping into the air as Taillow bites onto his tail. "Pika….chu!"

Pikachu releases Thunderbolt from his body, shocking Taillow in the air. "It isn't working, Hayley, Brock. How come?" Max asked.

"Actually, the attack had an effect, but then…." said Brock.

"Taillow just won't give up." said May.

"Knowing Pikachu, he wants to use the water as a last resort for an electrical attack." said Hayley.

"Olu, Olu." said Meeko.

"Taillow!" screeched Taillow.

"Pika!" shouted Pikachu as Taillow lets go of his tail, dropping him into the water.

"Well, we aren't about to give up either." said Ash.

"Pika." Pikachu said, gasping for air.

"Taillow! Taillow!" it said, zoning in on Pikachu, who then turns around. "Taillow!"

"Here it comes, pal." said Ash. "Finish it for good this time. Thunder!"

"Pikachu!" shouted Pikachu, using the water around him to conduct his electricity. As he and Taillow made contact with each other, water went up, causing the quintet to gasp. Both Pokémon were panting as they stared each other down.

"Wow, it won't back down." May commented about Taillow.

"But it's a flying type." said Max. "Electric attacks should have finished it."

"Taillow!" Taillow screeched at Pikachu.

"Pika." said Pikachu as Taillow starts to take off.

"It still wants to battle." said Ash.

"Ash, you should put an end to this battle before you do it any more damage." suggested Brock.

"End it? But how, Brock?" asked Ash. Suddenly Hayley had better idea.

"Meeko, let's go!" said Hayley.

"Riolu!" shouted Meeko, running toward Pikachu, standing before him in the water.

"Huh?" said May and Max.

"Well, there's that." said Brock.

"Hayley, you don't have to do this." said Ash.

"I know, Ash." said Hayley. "Meeko, use Agility to create a water vortex!"

"Riol!" said Meeko, using Agility to increase her speed on the water, causing it to rise.

"Tail?" it asked, confused as water rose around it.

"Wow! I never knew that Meeko was this good." Max said in awe.

"Hayley has been raising Meeko since the day she hatched." said Ash.

"Okay, Meeko! Now get inside and use Secret Power!" said Hayley.

"Secret Power?" asked Max and May.

"Riolu!" said Meeko, stops running as Bubble Beam came out of her mouth. She then aims Bubble Beam at Taillow.

"Taillow!" shouted Taillow as Bubble Beam gently hits its body.

"All right, Meeko, let's see how Taillow feels now." said Hayley and Meeko ends Bubble Beam.

"Taillow!" Taillow screeched, now glaring at Meeko.

"I think you'll have to catch it, Ash." said Brock. "Who knows what kind of damage it will cause to Meeko."

"Uh, okay." said Ash.

"Hurry, Ash." said Hayley. "You heard what Brock said. Catch Taillow right now."

"Yeah!"

Taillow squawks as it flies towards Pikachu and Meeko, who stood their ground. "All right! Go, Pokéball." shouted Ash, throwing an empty Pokéball at Taillow.

"Taillow, Taillow!" said Taillow as the Pokéball hits its body and red light surrounds it. Landing on a rock, Taillow shakes Ash's Pokéball from the inside, wanting to be free.

"Pika." said Pikachu as he and Meeko glared at it.

Max and May gasp as Hayley and Brock watched. Finally, Taillow gave in and Ash's Pokéball gave a ding sound. Pikachu and Meeko sighed, relaxing that Taillow was finally caught. "Whoa." said Ash, picking up the Pokéball.

He then let's Taillow out. "Taillow!" gasped Taillow, shocked that it was captured. "Taillow!"

"Poor Taillow." said May. "It's exhausted from its battle."

"You can calm down, Taillow." said Hayley, giving the tiny flying Pokémon a look.

"It's okay now. Calm down." said Ash, nodding in agreement.

"Pikachu! Riolu." said Pikachu and Meeko. Brock had a potion bottle in his hand and sprays Taillow. "Taillow? Tail!" it screamed in pain.

"A shot of that and some rest, and you'll be good as new in no time." said Brock.

"Low! Low, Taillow!" said Taillow, looking around and frightened.

"Well, Taillow, how do you feel about hitting the road with our group?" Ash asked.

"Taillow!" it said, happily.

"You can teach us how to have a bigger attitude and more spunk." said Hayley.

"Riolu!" said Meeko.

"Taillow! Taillow!" it said to the youngest, smiling.

"All right then," said Ash, chuckling as he wipes away the chocolate from Taillow's beak. "We're glad to have you. Climb on."

"Taillow!" said Taillow, climbing onto Ash's shoulder.

"My name's Max, Taillow." Max said to Ash's newest capture.

"Nice to meet you." May said, hiding behind Brock.

"There's no reason to hide, you know." Brock tells her.

"I'm not hiding." said May. "I'm introducing myself gradually."

"I'm Hayley, Taillow." said Hayley.

"Taillow, you're my very first Pokémon here in the Hoenn Region." Ash said. "Yeah! I caught a Taillow!"

"Pikachu! Taillow!"

"Eh?" Taillow said, looking at the forest.

"What is it?" asked Ash.

"Taillow!" said Taillow's flock as they flew towards the quintet.

"That flock again." said Max.

"Still after us?" asked May.

"Looks like it." said Hayley.

"Pika! Riol!" said Pikachu and Meeko.

"Taillow!" the flock shouted at Pikachu.

"Whoa, don't tell me they all want to battle Pikachu." said Ash.

"It is a possibility." said Brock.

"Plus, we don't have enough Pokéballs to capture every single Taillow." said Hayley.

"Taillow!" said Taillow, flying up to its flock.

"You won't talk them out of it, Taillow." said Meowth.

"Wha?" it asked.

"Who's that?" May asked.

"Those bad guys again." said Max.

"It's Team Rocket." said Brock.

"It's them all right." said Ash as Team Rocket appears before them, cackling.

"Oh, yeah…" said Hayley, getting out her notebook again. "this should be good."

"What do you want?" questioned Ash.

"Somethings just never change." said Brock.

"Prepare for trouble from in the sky." said Jessie.

"Make it double. Then say good-bye." said James.

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all people within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!" said Jessie.

"Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, fight!" said James.

"That's right!" said Meowth.

"Wobbuffet!" shouted Wobbuffet.

"I think you've already met our flock of Taillow, the newest members of the elite Team Rocket fighting force?" asked James.

"No way." said Ash.

"Interesting." said Hayley, unamused by this.

"With the fierce unbeatability to battle on no matter how many electric attacks they take!" said Jessie.

"Even though unbeatability is not a word." said James.

"Wobbuffet." added Wobbuffet.

"Now listen up, Taillow, the harder you battle, the more delicious sandwiches you'll get." said Jessie.

"Hold on." said Brock. "You mean sandwiches like the five that were here an hour ago?"

"Well, well, look who it is." said Meowth. "The biggest twerp has made a comeback."

"You're right." said Jessie, smiling as she waved at him. "Welcome back."

"Well, if you came for lunch, I'm afraid that you're a little late." James said to Brock.

"Yes, I already know that!" said Brock, upset and angry with Team Rocket. "They were my sandwiches!"

"So what you're trying to say is they were yours?" asked James.

"And a tad too salty." said Jessie.

"I knew it was you!" shouted Brock.

"Give them back!" shouted Ash.

"You heard the boys! Give them back now!" screamed Hayley.

"Riol, Riolu!" screamed Meeko.

"Yeah, we're starving." said May.

"Oh, please!" said Jessie. "If you wanted them so bad, you should've written your name on your lunch bag."

"Yeah, besides that, they're already gone." said Meowth. "Taillow, take care of Pikachu and Meeko."

"Pika? Olu?" Meeko and Pikachu asked as the entire flock was squawking at them.

"Oh, no, you don't." said May. "Go! Torchic!"

"Torchic." said Torchic. "Torchic, Torchic, Torchic!"

"Pika?" asked Pikachu as he and Meeko turned around.

"Um, wait, Torchic. I still havent told you what to do." said May.

"Ash, Hayley, what's with her?" asked Brock.

"She just got that Torchic and doesn't know how to do anything yet." said Ash.

"You know me. Meeko and I have a feeling that she only got Torchic because of a different dream." said Hayley as they watch Torchic run and chirp away.

"Torchic." said Torchic, running past Meeko and Pikachu.

"Pika?" asked Pikachu.

"Torchic, Torchic."

Torchic ran towards Team Rocket and Taillow, only to hit the rock in front of it. May starts wailing. "Return!" said May.

"See what I mean?" asked Hayley.

"You're good, Hayley." said Brock. "Meeko's gonna get a big helping."

"I've never been so humiliated." said May.

"That was fun, but now, go, Taillow." said Jessie, taking pleasure in Pikachu's and Meeko's soon to be misery.

"Taillow! Taillow!" said the flock, surrounding both Pokémon.

"Pika…." said Pikachu as Meeko's fists came up.

"Taillow!" said Taillow, facing its flock.

Just then, a bell started ringing, signaling that the stew was done. "The stew is ready!" said Brock.

"And I'm ready to eat it!" said May.

"Smell good." said Max as he and the others gathered around the pot.

"Looks good." said May.

"And if we know Brock, it tastes good." said Ash and Hayley.

"Riol! Olu, Olu!" said Meeko, patting her stomach again.

"Pikachu." added Pikachu.

"Taillow!" said the Taillow flock, gathering around behind them.

"Hey, everybody, would you like to join us for some lunch?" Brock asked.

"Taillow." said a Taillow on his right shoulder.

"Eh, now what?" asked Meowth.

"Now they'll beat us by using our dirty trick." said James.

"Wait a second! Pikachu and Meeko haven't eaten." said Jessie.

"Hmm, we'll attack while they're weak from hunger." stated James.

"Another dirty trick." chimed Meowth.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt." said Ash.

"Meeko, Vacuum Wave." said Hayley.

"Huh?" said Team Rocket.

"Pikachu!"

"Riolu!"

"Wobbuffet!" shouted Wobbuffet as both attacks landed on Team Rocket.

"Sorry about that, Team Rocket, but this time, you're the ones who are too late." said Ash as Hayley giggles. "Pikachu and Meeko already ate Brock's Pokémon food."

"Pikachu." said Pikachu, standing on Ash's back.

"Riolu." added Meeko, hugging Hayley.

"That's nice." said Meowth.

"Everyone's eaten but us." complained Jessie.

"Except for that taste of our own medicine." said James.

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again." they screamed.

"Thank you, Brock!" said the others.

"That was really great stew." complimented Max.

"Ash and Hayley wasn't kidding. You're an awesome cook, Brock." said May.

"Yep, we told you he's a good guy to have around." said Ash.

"He's the best!" said Hayley.

"Mm-hmm." said May and Max, nodding.

"Better than you, Ash." said Max.

"Uh, thanks a lot, Max." said Ash.

"Well, the two of you have an appetite that's almost as big as Ash's, which makes cooking even more fun." said Brock.

"Thats the truth! Meeko and I have don't have bottomless stomachs like Ash and Pikachu do." said Hayley, smiling with Meeko.

"Hayley! Pika!" said Ash and Pikachu.

"What? We still love the two of you." said Hayley.

"Olu." said Meeko.

"Taillow! Taillow!" said the flock as they took to the sky.

"Are the Taillow leaving?" asked May.

"Maybe they've eaten all the food in this area, so now they have to move on." said Ash.

"Which direction will they go?" asked Hayley.

"Taillow!" Taillow said, flying up to its flock. "Taillow! Taillow!"

"Looks like your Taillow is saying good bye to all of its friends, Ash." said Brock.

"Taillow! Taillow!" Taillow said with a smile on its face as its friends wished it luck and flies away. "Taillow! Taillow!"

"There they go." said Ash as Hayley hugs her brother's arm.

"Yep." added Brock.

"Time for us to get moving too." said Ash. "Let's head out to Rustboro City."

"Yay!" cheered Max and May.

"Great, but first we'll do the dishes." said Brock as Hayley and Meeko started collecting them as the others groaned.

"Pika!" groaned Pikachu.

"Come on, you trio of lazy bones." said Hayley. "You know that these dishes can't clean themselves."

Narrator: Reunited with their old friend Brock, Ash catches his first Pokémon in the Hoenn Region.

Hayley: With the help of me, of course.

Narrator: Yep, and with that, the group pushes on, looking forward to more friends and new adventures on the road ahead.

Hayley: Don't forget, now it's my turn to get a new Pokémon.

Meeko: Riolu.

Narrator: I wonder what kind of Pokémon you'll get, Hayley.