Well, at least one person finally guessed, and he was right. Ralia is based on Australia. There'll be a lot more of this region to see as this story goes on. Now its time for the story to actually begin.

Having finally completed his errand, Ash has decided to stay in the Ralia region a little bit longer. Both he and Serena have found something new to try in this new place.

"Pokémon Pageants, eh?" said Grace to her daughter through the video phone. "Sounds like your area of expertise."

"Are you okay to keep watching Sylveon and Pancham for me?" said Serena.

"They're doing just fine," said Grace. "And they just love this Poképuff recipé you me."

Pancham and Sylveon popped up into the screen and quickly said a greeting to their trainer.

"Pancham!"

"Sylveon!"

"I know, guys," said Serena, "but I don't see how I can get you here now. Don't worry, Mom will take good care of you until I get back."

Meanwhile, Eva was on the another video phone, talking with her own parents.

"Yes, I lied to you guys. But I really want to do this!" Eva said. "Please?"

"I don't know about this," said her father.

"Charmor!" said Charmor, suddenly appearing in the shot. It leapt onto Eva's shoulder to show that she had it to take care of her.

"I've got Charmor on my side now," Eva pointed out. "I can take care of him, and he'll take care of me."

"But what about those Team Shade punks out there?" said her mother. "What will you do about them?"

"I faced them with Brett and Chris already," explained Eva. "They're not so tough."

"I'm still not sure," said her father. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I can take care of myself," Eva insisted. "You guys trust me, right?"

Her parents paused for a moment. "We do," said her father.

"You know what, Eva?" said her mother. "As long as you have Charmor, I think you'll be much safer then you've ever been in Greymill Town."

"Really?" said Eva, eyes lighting up.

"Well, okay," said her father. "If it means this much to you. Just don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Thanks so much, guys!" said Eva, grinning.

On another video phone, Ash was talking to his mother back in Pallet Town.

"So there's a whole 'nother Pokémon League there in Ralia, huh?" said Delia. "Well, I'd say that this is just what you've been waiting for!"

"Exactly!" said Ash. "I'm sorry to take off on you again, Mom, but-"

"Don't be, Ash," said Delia. "I know you too well. You can't stay in one place for too long. I think it'd be great for you to get out on the road again."

"Really? Thanks Mom," said Ash.

"Pika!" said Pikachu hopping on Ash's shoulder.

"I'll keep in touch, I promise!" said Ash as he hung up the phone.

At that moment, Vernon, Brett, Chris, RotomDex, and Professor Acacia entered the Pokémon Center. "Well, are you all ready to go?" asked Acacia.

"We're all ready, Professor," said Ash.

Serena turned to Eva. "So I guess the two of us will be competing, huh?"

"You bet!" said Eva. "Don't think I'm gonna go easy on you, though!"

"I wouldn't want you to," said Serena.

"So where's the closest gym to here?" asked Brett.

"According to my map," said RotomDex, "the closest gym is within the next town, Corwald City. But there is a forest in the way we must get through first, called Corwald Forest."

"What do you know about Corwald Forest?" said Chris.

"It's a bit tough to navigate, but it's not dangerous or anything," said RotomDex. "Mostly just bird and Bug Type Pokémon."

"That doesn't sound too hard…" said Brett.

"What? Are you scared or something?" Chris gently teased.

"N-no!" Brett said. "It's nothing to be afraid of! It's just some birds and some bugs."

"We could all walk there together," Eva suggested. "It'll be fun!"

"Okay," said Brett, perking up a little. He turned to face Ash. "Well, if you're really going to challenge the Pokémon League, then good luck."

"Thanks," said Ash.

"You'll need it to beat me," Brett teased, grinning. "I'm gonna be the best Trainer ever!"
Ash grinned back. "I guess we'll see about that, because I already claimed that goal!"

"You should get going kids," Acacia said, and Brett, Chris, and Eva all nodded and walked out the door. "You know, Ash, if you're gonna start collecting badges, you might wanna register for the Ralia League."

"How does he do that?" said RotomDex.

"Uh," said Ash, rubbing the back of his head, "you have to use your PokéDex."

"But how do you-" RotomDex started, until his face dawned with realization and he started waving his hands in protest. "No way! Don't touch me!"

"You could always just leave the PokéDex body," Vernon suggested. "It's not like you can't survive without it."

RotomDex paused, but then said, "Okay, but make it quick." He floated over Ash's hand and ejected himself from the PokéDex body, causing the PokéDex to drop into Ash's hand.

"Thanks, RotomDex!" said Ash. "I'll be right back."

"Rotom, ro, ro." said the now naked Rotom.

"Quickly," said Ash as he raced to the front desk.

"Okay, Mr. Ketchum," said Nurse Joy, handing him back his PokéDex, "you're now officially registered in the Pokémon League."

"Thanks, Nurse Joy," said Ash as he attempted to take back the PokéDex, but then, Rotom suddenly flew into it and floated himself back into the air. "That feels so much better!" he said.

"Is that your Rotom?" asked Nurse Joy.

"Personal assistant, more like it," Ash said as he and RotomDex left to rejoin the others.

"Hey, Ash," said Serena. "I just had a thought. If we're both gonna be taking a trip around Ralia, maybe we could do it together? Just like old times?"

"Sounds great!" said Ash. "I'd like that." Serena smiled at this.

"Is there room for one more in your party?" said Vernon. "I actually just heard there might be a director in Corwald City. I'd like to give him my resumé. This could be my chance to finally land my first acting gig in years."

"Sure!" said Ash. "The more, the merrier!"

"Pika!" Pikachu agreed, jumping onto Ash's shoulder.

"Well, then, good luck you three," said Professor Acacia. "There's a great new world out there to discover. I hope you'll enjoy the whole journey."

"You bet, professor," said Ash as he turned back to his friends. "If we're ready, then next stop, Corwald City!"

As Ash, Vernon, Serena, Pikachu, and RotomDex made their way through Route 2, they could witness Corwald Forest up in the distance.

"So we have to go through there?" said Serena.

"It's the quickest way," RotomDex pointed out.

"It'll be fine," said Ash as he walked ahead.

"Say, Ash," said Vernon, "if you're going to challenge the Corwald Gym, then don't you think you should catch a few Pokémon first? All you've got right now is Pikachu, and the gym has a two Pokémon requirement."

"Oh yeah, good point," Ash said. "I'm gonna look for on right now."

Ash took of into trees surrounding the path, with Serena, Vernon, and RotomDex running after him, calling out, "Ash, wait up!"

Ash scanned through the bushes, looking for a Pokémon to catch. He looked up and down, but everything was quiet. Not even any worms moving across the ground. He was about to turn around when he heard a light, rapid wingbeat. He turned his head to see a small bird Pokémon sipping nectar out of a flower. It was green, looked like a hummingbird, had tiny feet, and had a tiny mohawk made out of feathers on top of its head.

"Ash, there you are!" said Serena, as she, Vernon, and RotomDex finally caught up with him and Pikachu.

"Guys, look, I found a Pokémon!" Ash pointed.

RotomDex scanned the Pokémon and said, "Humbeat. The Hummingbird Pokémon. A Flying Type. Humbeats use their long beaks to sip the nectar from flowers, using their long, sticky tongues, which can grow up to a foot in length. Humbeats rarely stop flying, due to their hearts beating at a rate of 1500 beats per minute. Evolves into Humflora at level 16 and into Humnectar at level 36."

"It can fly all day long?" said Serena.

"I'm gonna try to catch it!" said Ash, charging in with Pikachu hopping off his shoulder. "Hey, you!" The Humbeat turned its head to face Ash and Pikachu. "It's time to battle! Pikachu, use Electro Ball!"

"Pikachu!" said Pikachu, as it created a ball of electricity at the end of its tail and flung it in Humbeat's direction. However, Humbeat simply flew to the side to dodge, and rapidly pecked at Pikachu's face with a Drill Peck attack.

"Pika!" Pikachu whined.

"Use Iron Tail!" said Ash.

Pikachu's tail turned metallic silver as it swung its tail at Humbeat, batting it away.

"Now use Thunderbolt!" said Ash.

"Pi-ka-chu!" said Pikachu as it shot a bolt of electricity in Humbeat's direction. The attack hit, and Humbeat was burned by the super-effective attack.

"Perfect!" Ash praised Pikachu, before hurling a Pokéball at Humbeat. "Go, Pokéball!"

However, something flew in their way as the Pokéball was knocked back in Ash's direction. Ash looked up in confusion and saw a Pokémon that looked like Humbeat, but was twice as large, had two stem coming out of its rear ending in leaves, and had much more defined wings and a red head.

RotomDex scanned the new Pokémon and said, "Humflora, the Hovering Pokémon. A Flying and Grass type. Humfloras spend most of their time sipping nectar to keep their high metabolisms going, and are attracted to anything sweet. Their wings can beat at a rate of 9000 beat per second. Evolves from Humbeat at level 16 and into Humnectar at level 36."

"That's its evolved form?" said Vernon.

The Humflora hovered down to the Humbeat, nuzzling it with its beak. Humbeat weakly got off the ground and Humflora angrily looked in Ash and Pikachu's direction.

"I fear that Humflora is an older sibling of that Humbeat," said RotomDex. "These Pokémon are known for living in groups of siblings and being notoriously protective of each other."

"I'm not scared," said Ash. "Pikachu, use Electro Ball!"

"Pikachu!" said Pikachu as it launched another attack the bird's way. Humflora geared up to counter the attack, but Humbeat suddenly flew in the way, taking the whole hit. Humflora looked back at him strangely, but Humbeat quickly stood back up and stirred up the wind to use Razor Wind.

"Dodge it, Pikachu!" commanded Ash, and Pikachu jumped out of the way of the incoming, razor-sharp currents of air. Humbeat prepared another Drill Peck attack, but Humflora got in the way.

"Humflora, flora," it said to its younger sibling, as if saying, "You're weak, you should rest."

"Humbeat! Humbeat!" Humbeat screeched into Humflora's ear.

"What's going on?" asked Serena.

"I think Humbeat wants to beat Pikachu all by itself, but Humflora thinks it's too hurt," said Vernon.

Humbeat started breathing heavily, almost collapsing from exhaustion. Humflora worriedly picked it off the ground with its feet, but Humbeat flapped its wings in protest. As Ash watched this, he suddenly felt guilty about having Pikachu hurt Humbeat to begin with.

Humbeat suddenly fell asleep, tired from all the fighting. Ash kneeled down to Humflora's height and said, "Humbeat is hurt. Do you want us to help him get better?"

Humflora pecked at Ash's eye, still miffed at its little sibling getting hurt. "I know I'm probably not you favorite person in the world right now," said Ash, "but I wanna help. Please? I promise we won't bother you guys anymore afterward."

Pikachu walked up to Ash in agreeance. "Pikachu," it nodded its head.

Humflora looked at the sincerity in Ash and Pikachu's eyes, and saw the same thing when it looked back at Serena, Vernon, and RotomDex. Eventually, it nodded and dropped its sleeping younger sibling in Ash's hands.

Ash grinned. "Great," he said. "C'mon, the Pokémon Center's not too far from here."

Who's that Pokémon?

It draws out and controls the hidden power of flowers. When it finds a flower it likes, it will hold onto it its whole life.

"Can you help him, Nurse Joy?" asked Ash. Humbeat was laying on a small gurney in the Pokémon Center, as Nurse Joy overlooked him.

"He should be fine," said Nurse Joy. "Let's just get him into the care unit. Oh, Squibble!"

Out of the care unit came a pink Pokémon with a squishy body. Its head and limps were round, and it had huge, adorable eyes and mouth. RotomDex scanned it and said, "Squibble, the Rubbery Pokémon. A Fairy Type. A Squibble's body is incredibly elastic, and it can inflate itself to immeasurable sizes. Its body is soft and squishy to touch. Does not evolve."

"Our friend here needs to get into the care unit," Nurse Joy explained. Squibble nodded and inflated its body so it was tall enough to push the gurney away.

Half an hour later, Nurse Joy and Squibble emerged from the care unit with a slowly-waking-up Humbeat. "He should be okay again," said Nurse Joy. "He just needs to take it easy for a while." However, Humbeat suddenly flew off of the gurney, flying among the people until it made it outside.

"I swear, that Humbeat really doesn't like help, does it?" said Serena.

Humflora landed in front of her and made gestures with its wings, showing how it had taken care of its younger sibling, but then imitated Humbeat by puffing out its chest and marching around.

"Are you saying Humbeat just wants to be independent?" Serena guessed. Humflora nodded.

"Being independent is a great thing," said Vernon, "but it needs to let people help when he needs it."

BANG!

"What was that outside?" said Ash, running outside with his friends following him. Once outside, they witnessed an all-too-familiar Meowth shaped balloon in the sky.

"Prepare for trouble, it's time to strike!"

"And make it double, the difficulty's gone up a spike!"

"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!"

"And James!"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!"

"Wobbuffet!"

"Mime, mime!"

"Not these guys again," grumbled Vernon.

"We were hoping to run into you twerps again!" said James from the balloon basket. "Now, it's revenge time!"

Meowth activated a vacuum cleaner under the basket and ran it along the ground. Any trainers around felt their Pokéballs being lifted out of their pockets, so they struggled to hold onto them. However, most of the Pokéball were sucked up into the bag.

"You guys can't do that!" said Ash. "Pikachu, use Iron Tail and break the vacuum!"
"Pika!" said Pikachu as it jumped up to attack the vacuum. However, it was surprised when its attack simply bounced off.

"You're gonna have to try harder than that!" Meowth mocked. He suddenly pressed another button the caused a mechanical arm to emerge from the basket and grab Pikachu.

At this point, Humflora charged in to help by using Steel Wing on the mechanical arms, but that attack, too, just bounced off. Then, Meowth suddenly vacuumed up Humflora into the bag with the Pokéballs.

"What are we gonna do now?" said Serena.

"There must be a control for the arm up in that basket," said Vernon. "We gotta disable it, and cut down that bag, somehow."

Ash suddenly turned around and saw a familiar face swooping in. "I think I know who can help," he said.

Humbeat dived into the basket, Drill Pecking Jessie's face. "Get off me, you stupid bird!" she said, swatting them away. Humbeat heard Humflora's cries within the bag, and then used Razor Wind to attack it, but to no avail. As it witnessed Pikachu continuing to struggle, it used Wing Attack on the arm, but it only bounced off.

"Alright, I've have enough!" said Meowth. He turned the vacuum in reverse and blew Humbeat into the ground.

"Humbeat!" said Ash, running up to him. "Are you okay?" He tried to pick Humbeat of the ground, but Humbeat flapped in his hands and tried to get away.

"Humbeat, I know you want to rescue Humflora, but this way isn't working!" said Ash. "You've gotta let us help you! We can do this and rescue everyone's Pokémon together!"

Humbeat slowly settled down and looked up at Ash with shock.

"You may not trust me, but you can't do this on your own," Ash continued. "You gotta let us help."

Humbeat looked down, but looked back up and nodded its head. "Good," said Ash. "Now we need to figure out a way for you to cut down that bag."

It's Flabébé!

"I think that's all the Pokémon," said James.

"Then let's bounce," said Jessie as she prepared to maneuver the balloon away. However, she suddenly felt a rock being hurled at her head, and looked down to see Ash, Serena, Vernon, and all the other trainers in the area throwing rocks at them.

"Just can't get enough can you?" said Jessie. She pulled out her Pokéball and threw it, saying, "Napiat, use Venoshock!"

"And Choaking," said James, throwing his Pokéball, "use Sludge Bomb!"

Napiat and Choaking appeared and used their respective attacks, causing all the trainers to run back for the Pokémon Center.

"You call that an attack?" Meowth mocked.

"Now," said Ash, "we call that a distraction!"

"What?" said Team Rocket simultaneously. Suddenly, they heard something dropping down and peeked underneath the basket. They witnesses the vacuum bag falling to the ground, having been cut loose by Humbeat. Once it landed, Humflora emerged, and all the trainer ran to reclaim their Pokémon.

"Not great," said Meowth. "Who coulda done that?"

"I'll bet it was that annoying bird!" Jessie suggested.

Suddenly, they looked in front of them when they heard some sparks, and saw Humbeat Drill Pecking the control for the mechanical arm into submission, causing Pikachu to escape from it.

"We're in so much trouble," said James. At that moment, Humbeat and Humflora popped the balloon with their sharp beaks, causing it to spin out of control.

"You know what to do, Pikachu," said Ash.

Pikachu nodded and lit up its body with electricity as it launched a Thunderbolt in Team Rocket's direction. "Pi-ka-chu!"

The attack made contact and Team Rocket was sent flying into the air, disappearing with a twinkle.

"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"

"Wobbuffet!"

"Mime, mime!"

"Humbeat, you were awesome!" said Ash. "We couldn't have done it without you!"

Suddenly, however, Humbeat charged in Ash and Pikachu's direction, causing the two of them to back up.

"Hey, what're you doing?" Ash asked. Humbeat just flew behind him and attacked his back pocket, causing a Pokéball to fall out. It then flew in front of him, grinning.

"Ash, I think it wants to finish your battle," said Vernon.

"Oh, I get it," said Ash, grinning. He looked at Pikachu and said, "What do you think, buddy?"

Pikachu nodded in its trainers direction, saying, "Pika!"

"Then let's do it!" Ash said. "Use Thunderbolt!"

"Pi-ka-chu!" said Pikachu, launching a bolt of lightning in Humbeat's direction. However, Humbeat quickly dodged and its wings lit up to use Wing Attack.

"Dodge it, Pikachu!" Ash commanded. Pikachu quickly ducked under the wings and Ash said, "Use Iron Tail!"

"Pikachu!" Pikachu yelled as its tail turned silver and swatted Humbeat away. Humbeat quickly shook it off and launched a Razor Wind at Pikachu, and this time, Pikachu failed to get out of the way. Humbeat charged forward to use Drill Peck, but Ash yelled, "Quick Attack!"

Pikachu's body became outlined in white as it charged up into the air, and then came back down on Humbeat, knocking it to the ground.

As a dazed Humbeat struggled to get up, Ash threw his Pokéball and said, "Go, Pokéball!" The Pokéball hit Humbeat, transforming it into a white light and pulling it inside. The Pokéball began wiggling on the ground, and Ash watched anxiously, until finally…

CLICK!

Ash excitedly walked up to the Pokéball, picked it up, and said, "Alright, I just caught Humbeat!"

"Pikachu!"

"Congrats, Ash," said Vernon, grinning.

"You did it!" said a beaming Serena.

"Thanks, guys," said Ash as he threw the Pokéball into the air, saying, "Come on out!"

Humbeat was released from the Pokéball and excited chattered, "Humbeat!"

"Humflora," said Humflora, flying closer to Ash and Humbeat.

Ash looked at Humflora and quickly realized what it was thinking. "Hey, I promise, I'll take good care of Humbeat. And besides, he's a tough, little Pokémon, no one better mess with him."

Humflora was silent, but then grinned and nodded, "Humflora." Humbeat suddenly flew up to its chest and nuzzled its older sibling, and both birds bid each other goodbye.

Looks like Ash has found his first Ralia region Pokémon in Humbeat, proving that friendships in the Pokémon world are often made when you least expect it! More adventures await, as the journey continues!

TO BE CONTINUED...