"I can't believe that creature brought us right to where we were trying to get to." Ash said in amazement after finding out they were in New Bark Town. "I guess we can't complain much though. We are here in the end, I guess the only thing we should do now is figure out where Professor Elm's lab is located."
"Pi." Pikachu said, looking from atop of Ash's head.
"Oh, you're looking for the Pokemon Research Laboratory?" A woman asked.
"Yes, I was told to meet with Professor Elm there when I got here to New Bark Town." Ash explained. "Do you happen to know how to get there?"
"Of course, I'll take you there myself." The woman said.
"Thanks, that would be great. I'm Ash by the way and this is my partner Pikachu." Ash said.
"It's wonderful to meet you, my name is Linda." The woman said. "So what brings you to here? Usually only new trainers come to see Professor Elm."
"I'm on an errand from Professor Oak in Kanto." Ash explained. "He told me I should meet with Professor Elm when I first get here."
"That's a smart idea, Professor Elm spent a lot of time as Professor Oak's student, I'm certain he knows you're coming." The Linda said with a smirk.
"If I might ask, what business do you have at the Pokemon Lab?" Ash asked. "I mean, you could have given me directions but chose to walk me there instead."
"You caught on, yes my darling husband forgot his lunch again, and I'm bringing it to him." Linda said with a sigh.
"Oh he works with the professor?" Ash asked.
"No." Linda responded. "Here we are, I'll go put the lunch away, the Professor should be inside."
"Thanks again, I guess." Ash said, still a bit confused by the woman's antics. He shook the thought from his head before opening the door. "Hello?" Ash called out.
"H-hey! Stop them!" A man's voice called out.
Ash was startled as two Pokemon ran into him, managing to catch them in his arms at the last moment.
"Oh thank you." The man said, walking up taking them from Ash's arms. "Sorry about that, they've been so riled up lately, it's not like either of them to ever be like that."
"Did something happen?" Ash asked.
"Nothing too out of the ordinary, I had a trainer pick up their first Pokemon yesterday, and I have another trainer picking up theirs today. You're not here for a starter, are you?" The man asked.
"No, I'm Ash from Pallet Town, Professor Oak sent me." Ash said.
"Ahh yes, young Ashton!" The man exclaimed. "I am Professor Elm, it is a pleasure to meet you."
"It's just Ash, thanks." Ash said.
"Yes, of course, sorry." Professor Elm said. "Now I understand Professor Oak has you transporting the mysterious GS Ball directly to Kurt, is that right?"
"Yes, he said you could give me directions." Ash said.
"That I can, so you will want to head west to get to Cherrygrove City, then head North, past Mr. Pokémon's house towards Violet City, but if you head into the mountains you've gone too far. Once you're in Violet City head south to the Union Mountains, once through there you will reach Azalea Town, that's where Kurt lives." Professor Elm rambled.
"Okay, I think I got some of that." Ash said a bit frazzled. "So are these the Pokemon new trainers get to pick from here in Johto?"
"Yes, like I said, I had a trainer come and pick up one yesterday, she took Chikorita, the grass type." Professor Elm said. "Unfortunately I do not have another ready just yet so today's trainer will have to pick between Cyndaquil the Fire Type, and Totodile the water type."
"Nothing wrong with picking second, or third, or in my case fourth." Ash said, scratching Pikachu's head, before pulling out his Pokedex.
'Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokemon, a Fire type. It is timid, and always curls itself up in a ball. If attacked, it flares up its back for protection.'
"So that's a Cyndaquil. And this ones a Totodile?" Ash said, pointing the Pokedex to the blue Pokemon.
'Totodile, the Big Jaw Pokemon, a Water type. It's well-developed jaws are powerful and capable of crushing anything. Even its trainer must be careful.'
"Wow, both of these Pokemon sound like they'd make great first partners." Ash said in amazement.
"Yes, they would but some trainers come in expecting a certain Pokemon, and I just don't like having to be the one to explain why they can't have it." Professor Elm said.
"Hey, I didn't get my first choice, or any choice, I was given Pikachu and look at us now." Ash said proudly.
"Yes, Pikachu, Professor Oak told me about that situation, quite an interesting turn of events, did you know I actually found out that Pikachu is not in fact a base form Pokemon." Professor Elm said.
"Base form, what does that mean?" Ash asked.
"Well a base form Pokemon is a Pokemon that has the capability of evolving but has yet to evolve." Professor Elm said. "See my research here is on Pokemon Eggs, and I found that under careful watching Pikachu lay eggs that hatch into an entirely different Pokemon that I've called Pichu!"
"That's interesting." Ash said.
"I know it's not what everyone is interested in, but I do find it intriguing." Professor Elm said. "Now I do have to ask, Professor Oak said you took part in the Indigo League, and the Orange Cup, do you plan on doing the same here?"
"Johto has a Pokemon League?" Ash asked in surprise.
"Of course we do. The Silver Conference, you need to earn eight gym badges to enter." Professor Elm said.
"Okay, two questions, one is there a gym on my way to Kurt?" Ash asked.
"Two in fact, one in Violet City, and another in Azalea Town, what was your second question?" Professor Oak asked.
"Can you sign me up here?" Ash asked.
"Of course, let's see. Home Town, Pallet, home region Kanto, and full name?" Professor Elm asked.
"Ashton Richard Ketchum." Ash said with a sigh.
"Ash?!" A girls voice exclaimed excitedly.
CLIFFHANGER
Who is this mysterious girl, who was Linda and who is her husband, what was the mysterious creature that led Ash and his Pokemon out of the woods then mysteriously disappeared, will I ever get the actual story part of this story going? One of these will be answered NEXT TIME!