My Wings

by DestinyHead123

This vast world is filled with uncertainties, from ancient myths to urban legends. Stories passed down for centuries have become intertwined with current cultures, producing this reimagined world in which our hero, Ash Ketchum, chases the answer to an age-old question. What does it mean to be a Pokemon Master? – AU, adult characters, real-world cultures

10. Ambition

Chapter 10

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Thursday, March 25th (1408)

Greninja sat upright, his eyes shut as he leaned against the far wall of Ash's room within the Hidden Cove. He remained still, his mind adrift in memories of his contest with Ampharos the day before. The experience of his second evolution was just as surreal as the first. However, the adrenaline rush of combat helped him focus at the time.

But now, as he compared his previous form to his new one, he still had to make many adjustments. His height practically doubled, and this bigger body suddenly felt unnatural. He didn't get to grow into it, and Greninja found himself bumping into things previously outside his range of motion. He nearly knocked over a sparkling vase while they were visiting the Hale's yesterday, though no one noticed besides Volkner.

And then his neck frubbles were replaced by a…tongue scarf? Not even he was sure what it was, but it certainly wasn't an accessory. He felt it when it touched something, which usually caused him to shiver. But he couldn't make it move…or at least, not yet.

Greninja could hear the shuffling of feet on the carpet, but he kept his eyes closed. His attempt to do so was short-lived as he heard a crackle, and Growlithe yipped in response. Greninja cracked open one eye, and he spotted Pikachu perched on the edge of Ash's bed with sparks jumping from his cheeks. Growlithe yipped again, and Pikachu raised a hand to his lips in a gesture for silence. She furrowed her brow at the request, as did Greninja, and they watched on.

Pikachu hunched his back and discharged a lightning bolt into his trainer. Ash's eyes shot open as he jolted in his bed. He trembled for a few moments before Pikachu ended his greeting, and Ash was left to lie on his back. Ash twitched every now and then before he sat up, revealing that his hair was standing up and pointing in every direction. Growlithe laughed openly at his appearance, and Greninja couldn't help but snicker.

"Gee, I haven't felt that in ages," Ash commented as he looked at Pikachu. He wanted to glare, but as he saw his partner standing at the edge of the mattress, he couldn't find it in himself to be upset. "Mornin' guys."

Everyone returned his greeting as Ash slowly got out of bed. He didn't care about his frazzled hair as he stretched out his limbs. Greninja and Growlithe took that as an invitation to line up beside him for their morning routine. However, Greninja took his usual spot beside Ash and bumped into him. He bowed quickly as an apology and took an extra step back to account for his new size.

"Come on, Pikachu," Ash motioned to his partner to join the line. Together they all went through their morning stretches to loosen up for the day. The clock on the nightstand reported that it was just past six in the morning – the perfect time for them to go for a morning run.

Once everyone felt spry, they exited their shared room within the Hidden Cove stadium. Ash rumbled his lips as he looked from one end of the corridor to the next. He couldn't remember the pathing Brock showed them to reach this stadium area last night. Fortunately, his Pokemon remembered the way, and they took charge of guiding him down the stadium's main entrance.

As they reached the more familiar corridors, Ash felt a smile creep up on his face. He had so many great experiences at this stadium, and it felt great to be back.

Soon enough, they arrived at the entrance to the stadium, and the automatic doors opened to let them out into the outdoor plaza. The sea breeze traveled into the mouth of the cove and filled it with an early morning chill. Ash rubbed his hands against his shirt for some friction to keep them warm.

"Let's go!" Ash called out as he pointed out ahead. Together they ran, leaving the cove that the stadium was concealed within. It opened up onto a sandy white beach that traveled along the coast of the sea. Like the day before, they ran on sand, which was more exhausting than flat land. They would stop for a break, mainly for Pikachu, who needed to catch his breath. While Greninja and Growlithe seemed fine with the exercise, Pikachu struggled. When Ash considered how much time Pikachu had spent in his Pokeball over the last few years, he concluded that his best friend must have been out of shape.

They quickly adjusted their pace for Pikachu and ran for thirty minutes in one direction. Then they turned back and returned to the Hidden Cove. The air warmed considerably during the hour they spent running. When they returned to the cove, Gary, Brock, and their Pokemon were outside at the shoreline. At the sight of Ash and his trio of Pokemon, Brock raised both his hands to wave them over. His Rockruff sprinted out to join them, and he barked happily as he ran alongside Growlithe on the return trip.

"How'd ya sleep?" Brock inquired as their group came together.

"Like a log," Ash replied with a chuckle.

"Yesterday was pretty loaded from beginning to end, but I was thinking about giving you and Gary a tour of the Hidden Cove," Brock suggested.

"A tour?" Ash repeated in question.

"Yeah, you haven't been in the stadium in a long time. Think of it as a refresher," Brock explained before looking to Greninja. "Plus, Greninja hasn't seen the stadium at all."

"Eh, that's a good point," Ash noted as he looked at the Pokemon in question. "I don't think you've ever seen an official battlefield, have you?"

Greninja tilted his head in reply, and that was answer enough for Ash to accept Brock's proposal.

"Hey Gary, are you coming?" Brock called out to the young man down by the water.

It was early, but Wartortle was already absorbed in his free-form swimming practice while Gary watched him closely. Gary looked back at them and shook his head.

"We'll pass," Gary replied. "After that battle yesterday, we want to train as much as possible."

Brock gave them a nod and a wave as he looked to Umbreon, who nestled himself into the sand. Rockruff joined him, and together they lounged and watched Gary and Wartortle as they practiced. Seeing Rockruff with his new friend, Brock left his partner to enjoy the company of Umbreon while he led Ash and his Pokemon back to the stadium.

Once they arrived, Brock made a gesture to the doors and invited Ash and the gang to enter. "Thank you for joining us on a tour of the Hidden Cove Stadium, home of the underground circuit," Brock began as they all stepped into the main lobby. "On this tour, you'll get a glimpse of the rich history of this stadium. That includes how it was built, how it became a staple in the Pokemon trainer community of Vermilion City, and some of the legendary trainers to participate in battles here."

"Well, look at you," Ash commented with a laugh as Brock flipped up the collar of his shirt.

For all the poise and professionalism Brock demonstrated to start the tour, he quite literally washed it all away.

"I polished every faucet until they sparkled," Brock explained as they all stood in the men's bathroom closest to the lobby. This was the starting point of their tour, and as it turned out, cleaning this bathroom was the first assignment as a maintenance worker at the stadium.

Thankfully, that was the last bathroom they visited on the tour as Brock guided them through the main corridors of the facility. While they walked, Brock offered some historical facts about the stadium. The stadium itself only had a lifespan of roughly two decades, but its short history was littered with notable battles and events that helped shape Vermilion City and the Kingdoms over the years.

In time, they arrived in a hall that Ash never got a chance to visit back when the stadium was still up and running. This hall was decorated with glass cases that displayed posters of the greatest matches in the Hidden Cove. Brock quickly explained that Ash had three in this hall, and each of them was among the last additions made to it before the Hidden Cove was forced to shut down.

The first poster read 'Bad Blood,' and it featured an image of Ash as he glared at a ginger-haired trainer. Greninja studied the illustration closely as he saw Ash when he was younger.

"This was Ash's first big battle," Brock explained proudly. "His opponent was…well, there's no point in being nice about it. Cross was an ass," Brock declared, and Ash gave a laugh. "The guy didn't know when to stop talking, but thankfully, Ash and Pikachu gave him a thorough beatdown not once but twice!"

Brock hooked one arm around Ash's neck, but he could no longer push Ash's head down to ruffle his hair like he used to. Brock then led them to the second poster, and this time Ash's opponent was a young man with a fiery colored afro that matched the Magmar that he was partnered with. 'Proof of Power.'

"A lot of people consider this to be Ash's best match at the Hidden Cove," Brock began with a gesture to the poster. "His opponent was Flint, the number one contender, and at the time, everyone agreed that he was one of the best trainers in the circuit. The battle they had was something you had to see to believe."

Ash still remembered how his heart leaped into his throat as he saw Magmar's flames turn white at the battle's climax. That battle was truly one of a kind, and that description was also fitting for Flint.

"How is Flint doing? Have you heard from him?" Ash inquired.

"The last thing I heard was from Giselle," Brock explained. "Apparently, the two of them crossed paths in Alola. From what she told me, Flint has been working on 'whatever it was' that caused Magmar's flames to change colors during that battle with you and Pikachu. She said that he had some sort of breakthrough and that he's been calling it 'White Mode.'"

"'White Mode…'" Ash raised his brow. "So, everyone's been working really hard. I really hope I run into Flint at some point."

"I don't know where he is, but you never know," Brock remarked before leading the group to the last poster.

'Regicide.'

Ash frowned as he observed the graphic that depicted his final match at the Hidden Cove. The sight of his father caused his stomach to become tight.

"This was their last match," Brock commented before looking at Ash. "But I'll let you decide if you want to talk about it."

Ash exhaled and shook his head. "I'd rather not," He replied.

Brock nodded and motioned for the group to follow him back out of the historic hall. Their next destination was the nexus of the stadium: the battlefield.

The stadium lights were off, but Brock quickly made a pitstop at the control panel to turn them on for the tour. Ash and his Pokemon waited at the end of the tunnel, where they could faintly see the battlefield with the dim lighting that came through the cove's entrance.

"So Greninja," Ash said, and he immediately received Greninja's full attention. "Here in Vermilion City, we usually battle all over the place, like on the beach where you battled Ampharos. But for really special battles, they're held on this battlefield in front of huge crowds," Ash grinned.

There was a snap from above, and the spotlights came to life. They shined down on the battlefield, illuminating the once glorious stage of the Hidden Cove.

Ash didn't wait for Brock to rejoin them as he invited his Pokemon to join him on the battlefield. Greninja raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glaring lights above them. Ash took everyone to the center of the field, and he spun around to look at the empty stands.

"Imagine if every seat was full," Ash went on. "Once the audience gets into a battle, their cheers can really give you a boost to battle even harder," Ash cupped hands around his mouth and breathed to simulate the roar of a crowd.

Greninja raised his brow as he looked at Ash, which earned a laugh from the young man.

"It's like during the festival tournament, only way bigger," Ash explained. "Right now, the stands are empty, and the battlefield doesn't seem all that special…but maybe one day you will experience what it's like to battle on an official battlefield."

"Pikapi," Pikachu added from Ash's shoulder.

Brock called out to them from the tunnel and waved as he joined them at centerfield. "So, what do you think?" He asked Greninja.

Greninja shrugged his shoulder, and his scarf wiggled with this gesture. Growlithe barked at his scarf as she saw the motion from his new 'feature,' and Pikachu snickered.

Before their conversation could continue, Brock's phone buzzed in his pocket, and he whipped it out to check the caller.

"Good morning, Mr. Goodshow," Brock said as a greeting. Brock nodded a few times before he looked upward, and then he raised a hand to wave. Ash followed Brock's line of sight, and he saw that Brock was looking up to Charles' private office near the highest point of the stands. "Sure thing, I'll bring them up right away!"

Charles Goodshow was anxious to meet with Ash now that he had returned to Vermilion City. Brock quickly led them to Charles' office, and Ash welcomed the sight of the familiar room. But the room's sole occupant changed considerably since Ash last saw him. The elderly commissioner of the underground circuit was seated at his desk as always, but now Charles was sporting a massive mane of a beard. His hair grayed considerably, and the wrinkles on his face were more defined. But despite this, Charles still proudly wore his backward blue cap.

"Oho! Look who's here!" Charles exclaimed as he saw the group enter the room. Charles rose up from his seat, though he moved with consideration of his age. He approached Ash first to shake hands, startled by how Ash towered over him now. "Welcome back, welcome back!"

While Charles was ecstatic to see Ash again, his focus immediately shifted to Greninja. Charles inspected every part of the Pokemon, stroking his beard while he did so.

"Fascinating," Charles remarked before he looked to Ash. "I've never seen a Greninja with my own two eyes. What an interesting Pokemon…and then that battle yesterday. I wasn't expecting such a triumphant return, but considering that performance against Volkner, all this attention is well deserved."

Ash thought of all commotion at the beach following their battle yesterday. It certainly dragged on for a while, but it didn't make him uncomfortable. "It wasn't so bad yesterday," Ash commented. "I mean, things got quiet later on, so I'm guessing nobody will give us a second look if we go back to the beach today."

Brock stifled a laugh as he took out his phone. "I guess it's my fault for not telling you yesterday, but I streamed your battle to the PokeHub. Tons of people tuned in for it, and then I uploaded the footage to your profile for other people who missed it. Let's just say that it went viral."

Brock showed him the statistics on the video, and just as he said, it amassed over thirty thousand views in one night, and the comment section was flooded. Most of the top comments were inquiries about Greninja's transformation; others welcomed Ash back to the scene. But there was one comment chain that caught his attention.

'Wasn't this guy arrested for killing someone a few years ago?' – PokeLoko12.

Ash seemed to freeze as he read and reread this comment. Brock took a peek to see what held Ash's attention, and he clicked his tongue.

"Don't let those people bother you," Brock interjected. "Most of the news articles that covered your exoneration were also published on the PokeHub. I think it's fair to say most of the active members of the PokeHub have an understanding of the situation."

Thankfully, just as Brock said, dozens of comments came to Ash's defense. Ash let out a breath that he was holding. There was no use letting this get under his skin.

"I heard you've been in Ecruteak City for the last year. How does it feel to be back home in Vermilion City?" Charles asked as he invited Ash and Brock to join him in the seating area of his office. Together, the group of six got comfortable on the reclining chairs.

"It's a little weird," Ash replied. "But everyone is speaking English again, so that helps."

Charles and Brock gave a laugh. They were familiar with spending time in regions where English wasn't the primary language.

"Well, we're glad to have you back," Charles continued. "Your battle with Volkner was an unexpected injection of energy into the PokeHub. I haven't seen that much of a response to a battle in quite some time. You became famous overnight among Pokemon trainers."

"Heh, Casey said the same thing yesterday," Ash remarked as he scratched at the bridge of his nose.

"And that's also why I wanted to talk to you while I had some time today," Charles added. "To my understanding, you're not very well informed about what took place in Vermilion City while you were away, correct?"

"I heard little things here and there, but not really," Ash answered.

"Brock, I think you can sum it up better than me," Charles said with a motion of his assistant.

"It's a lot, Ash," Brock started with a warning. "If you've got questions, feel free to ask. I'm trying to give you a heads up," Brock wrinkled his nose and rumbled his lips before he began. "A few months after you were arrested, there was an incident between a group of trainers and the police."

It was only the beginning, and Ash already didn't like the direction things were heading.

"It was a big story, and the Vanguard became involved as they occupied Vermilion City. They gave all of the trainers in the city an ultimatum. You either follow the new regulations they were installing, or you would be arrested. As I'm sure you know, before the Vanguard came, trainers were only arrested if caught battling, but the Vanguard is much stricter than the police."

"As a result, we shut down the Hidden Cove," Charles added, and Ash frowned. "We didn't have a choice. Many trainers didn't want to be monitored by the Vanguard, and battling at the Hidden Cove would put too many people at risk if the Vanguard ever found it."

Ash gave a slow nod. The safety of Pokemon trainers was always first and foremost.

"How exactly do the Vanguard monitor trainers?" Ash asked.

"It's not that the Vanguard is watching trainers, but they have a device that can override a Pokeball, allowing them to confiscate a trainer's Pokemon if needed," Charles explained. Ash recalled that Charles said this to him years ago. But such a statement still had the same effect on Ash. His forearms and biceps tensed.

"Obviously, most of the trainers here wouldn't agree to that, so they left Vermilion City to avoid the Vanguard," Brock added.

"But what about those trainers at the beach yesterday? Can their Pokemon be taken from them?" Ash asked them.

"I left it up to the trainers to decide whether they wanted to follow the Vanguard's regulations or not," Charles answered. "I'm in no place to be telling people what to do."

Ash took a breath and leaned back further into his seat.

"Most of the trainers left a couple of years ago. The group you saw at the beach yesterday is probably most of the trainers left here," Brock explained. "But there has been a plus side to all of this."

"How so?" Ash asked with one eyebrow raised.

"The PokeHub was used almost exclusively by trainers in Vermilion City. But since those trainers went all over Kanto and into other regions, they've been sharing the access code. Our little community grew exponentially over the last few years," Brock explained with a proud grin. "You can see battles anywhere, and the interaction is off the charts. That's why your video blew up so quickly!"

"Unfortunately, this did come at a cost," Charles cut in. "The Hidden Cove and Vermilion City are no longer the premier destination for Pokemon trainers in Kanto. Trainers are everywhere now, and it's been challenging to establish any sort of order. I relied on the Five Kings to keep things under control, for the most part," Charles added as an aside. "But now, it's a total free for all with no sense of organization."

Things really changed over the last five years.

"I've been working on a new infrastructure," Charles announced. "A system that promotes the idea of traveling across regions to help trainers develop with their Pokemon. It stems off the idea of the Hidden Cove, but every town or city will have a battleground where trainers can test each other and measure their progress before they continue onto the next part of their journey."

"I was allowed to travel the world with my partner Pokemon. It's an experience that I believe all trainers should have…and it's my dream to give all trainers that opportunity."

Charles Goodshow said that to Ash a few years ago, and it seemed as though that dream of his was steadily becoming a reality.

"It's really happening now, huh, Mr. Goodshow?" Ash asked him.

Charles grinned before he replied. "It looks that way to me…but a few things still need to be done. For example, this is an idea that I've shared publicly, but I don't have enough clout to set things in motion. This is still an idea, but it needs to become something more. A representative to travel across Kanto, document his battles and experiences, and create connections with other well-established trainers to show how this system works," Charles pointed to Ash. "I'd like that trainer to be you."

All eyes went to Ash, but he kept a straight face.

"Why me, though? There are plenty of strong trainers in Vermilion City that could've done this, right?" Ash asked him in return. "What about N?"

Brock shook his head. "N disappeared a few years ago, and no one has heard from him since."

"There's Volkner," Ash suggested.

"He turned me down," Charles responded, and Ash realized Volkner would be a stretch for something like this.

"Believe me, Ash, I've considered my options," Charles said. "I have no interest in offering this responsibility to the remaining Kings, Viren and Kruger. I need someone reliable and trustworthy, and the two of them aren't known for these qualities. I want Ash Ketchum to do this."

Pikachu stood on Ash's shoulder, and he could feel Ash's shoulder become rigid.

"I'm not agreeing to it yet, but I want to know what's expected of me if I did," Ash's request caused Charles to stroke his beard.

"Expectations…I suppose the number one expectation is that you assert yourself and become not only a powerful trainer but a respected one. For trainers to respect this new system, they need to know reputable trainers took part in it and improved. So, you must conquer the best trainers in each city," Charles' statement came as no surprise. It sounded similar to Ash's rise through the underground circuit. "In addition, you and Brock will also create relationships with trainers in each town to learn how this system can be crafted to better fit the needs of each trainer. At the moment, we'll be shooting in the dark, but we want to find the right people to represent trainers from all areas to make sure everyone has a voice in the developing 'Pokemon League.'"

Charles couldn't hold back a smile as he said this.

The Pokemon League was his dream of a safe environment for trainers that could help them grow into a career centered around Pokemon. However, the first step to establishing the Pokemon League was helping people accept Pokemon once again.

"It really does sound amazing, Mr. Goodshow," Ash stated. "But can you tell me why all of this is necessary?"

"I think you should know the answer, Ash," Charles said. "The Great Crisis scarred the generation that survived it, and the terrors they witnessed left them in fear of Pokemon. It certainly wasn't misplaced. Many lives were lost during that event, and that pain caused humans to sever their bond with Pokemon. It's been a century since then, but that bond still remains severed, which needs to be addressed."

Ash knew about this issue. It was one he thought about frequently.

"Not long after the Great Crisis, as reconstruction began, the Vanguard appeared and became a protector of the people who feared Pokemon. Of course, at the time, it was something everyone needed. An entity that could promise them safety. But the Vanguard also promoted the narrative that Pokemon are dangerous. One hundred years later, they are still pushing that agenda. That has created a lot of hostility toward Pokemon and trainers, especially in regions that were hit hard during the crisis like Johto and Unova," Charles sighed. He was all too familiar with what he was about to say. "It's led to trainers being harassed, isolated, and victimized."

"If I can add to that," Brock interjected. "I spent some time in Kalos, and I learned a few things about the Vanguard. They 'act' like a police force in Kalos, but their influence has spread to other regions in the form of slander against trainers through the media. They've created a situation where trainers in other regions are looking for a stable lifestyle which they can provide in Kalos. But the Vanguard's system stifles the growth of Pokemon trainers, which is contrary to the point of a journey."

"Well said, Brock," Charles remarked.

"So…the Vanguard is responsible for all the negativity surrounding Pokemon?" Ash concluded.

"We can't act like the Great Crisis didn't happen," Charles stated. "But the Vanguard has played off the public's reaction to that event and used it to shape people's current perception of Pokemon and trainers."

Ash looked down at his hands. "All these lies are because of the Vanguard…so if we expose them, can we fix all this?"

"'Fix' is a reach…" Charles replied. "But it would be a start to repairing the bond between people and Pokemon."

"It's already started in some ways," Brock added. "Over the last few years, the Vanguard has been scrutinized by trainers for the ideas they spread. With places like the Hidden Cove, trainers didn't need to go to Kalos, and they could avoid the Vanguard completely. Since then, the Vanguard has become more active in attacking the image of Pokemon trainers. That incident that made the Vanguard come to Vermilion City…we think they played a part in it to set up their occupation so that they could shut down the Hidden Cove."

"The people running the Vanguard are very smart," Charles added. "This allowed them to take full control of the situation and perform damage control so that they come away looking like the heroes," Charles shook his head. "The Pokemon League will eliminate all of this. Its goal is to change the perception of Pokemon and trainers alike. But it starts with fixing the damage done by the Vanguard."

"This was a lot…but you know, I'm glad that there was something tangible behind all of this…" Ash admitted. Greninja felt his chest grow hot as Ash looked at Charles. There was a red hue in his irises. "I finally know who to be upset with."

The lies, the slander…all of it was done by the Vanguard.

"Now I know who I should be working with," Ash added.

The Pokemon League was his avenue to undo all of this.

"So, is that a 'yes?'" Charles asked.

Ash nodded to confirm. "I will be the liaison of the Pokemon League."

Brock bit down on his lower lip as he fought to keep down a smile. Everything that N told him came true in a matter of hours.

"A long and dangerous road lies ahead of Ash. He's going to put his life at risk to accomplish what he believes in…and if you intend to walk alongside him, you must be prepared to sacrifice your life," N announced.

It was clear now more than ever to Brock. His best friend, Ash Ketchum, was going to change the world.

---

Charles wasn't done with Ash yet. He had instructions for Ash to follow as his first task now that he was the acting liaison. They would make a statement on the PokeHub, a message to the entire trainer community.

Brock mounted his phone on Charles' desk while Melissa, Charles' assistant, joined them in the office to touch up Ash's appearance.

"Is all this really necessary?" Ash asked as Melissa applied some sort of powder to his forehead.

"Remember Ash, you're representing the Pokemon League," Charles reminded him. "While your personality and ability as a Pokemon trainer will be the main things other trainers judge, your appearance is also important."

"And I've got to say, you look much better with your hair short," Melissa added.

"Really, what was wrong with how I had my hair before?" Ash asked her.

"Well, it was obvious you didn't take care of it, and it looked even worse whenever you took off your hat," She pointed out, and Ash's felt his cheeks grow hot.

"S-So?" Was the best he could manage, and Pikachu snickered.

"Alright, I think that should do it," Melissa said as she stepped away from Ash to observe her work. She didn't do a lot, just a quick touchup to make Ash's face more camera-friendly.

"Excellent, and have you prepared a talking point?" Charles asked, and Ash gave him a nod. "Perfect. Brock, just let us know when you're ready."

Brock gave them the go-ahead, and the recording began. It started first with Charles speaking to the camera.

"Good morning. If you're not familiar with me, I am Charles Goodshow. Today, I have some very exciting news, an announcement concerning the development of the Pokemon League. I'm sure many of you must be wondering what that is. The Pokemon League is a system to help regular people and Pokemon trainers develop alongside Pokemon," Charles said warmly with a great smile. "However, the Pokemon League is still in its infancy. At the moment, we are trying to implement this system to help everyone understand Pokemon. But that requires support from trainers everywhere. I understand that it's difficult to buy into an idea that isn't very tangible…so I've arranged for the Pokemon League to have an acting liaison. You will get to follow his travels to get a better idea of what the Pokemon League is supposed to do. So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to Ash Ketchum."

They paused the recording for Ash to take his position in front of the camera. His Pokemon joined him, and Brock gave a countdown before they resumed.

"Uh, good morning," Ash began as his greeting. "My name is Ash Ketchum. I don't have any special credentials as a Pokemon trainer. My father was a Pokemon trainer. He exposed me to Pokemon at an early age, so I've always loved Pokemon. I'll never forget the day I met my partner, Pikachu," Ash said as he raised a hand to scratch Pikachu's chin. "When I was a kid, my dad filled my head with dreams of becoming something called the Pokemon Master. For years, I've been wondering what exactly it means to be a Pokemon Master. I've always thought of a Pokemon Master as something more than just an individual. They represent something to both people and Pokemon, proof that people and Pokemon can work together to achieve great things."

Ash paused. His many conversations with N about this subject pounded at the front door of his mind, and his lips quivered as he fought off a smile. Even after several years, their points in those 'debates' still excited him.

"But…I've spoken to other people who have told me that a Pokemon Master is a ruler or a monarch. And then I know some people think it's just a myth, an urban legend and nothing more," Ash went on. "There are many different opinions on it, but it will always be my goal to figure out what it means and earn this title one day. So, with that in mind, I'm issuing a challenge to all the trainers of Kanto. I'm willing to face anyone in Kanto, in any sort of battle to improve myself and my Pokemon," Ash shot the camera a grin and tipped his cap. "We welcome all challengers!"

Ash gave a chuckle as he looked at Charles.

"That's all I've got," Ash said.

Charles clapped his hands together. "No, that was great! We can definitely use that. It's the perfect way for you to plan what cities you will visit and when," Charles noted as he approached Ash. "This is great, this is…" Charles' beard wiggled humorously as he smiled from ear to ear. "This is exciting! The Pokemon League was a dream I've had since I was young. But everything is finally coming together. The Pokemon League will be a reality."

"I'm looking forward to it, Mr. Goodshow," Ash said as he watched the man take his usual seat behind his desk.

Charles looked to his prized possession on his desk, an empty Pokeball with a faded lightning bolt sticker on the top half. Suddenly, a hand impeded his view of the Pokeball, and Charles saw that it belonged to Ash. The young man grinned at Charles, and they shook hands.

His dream of changing the world now rested on Ash's shoulders.

---

That afternoon, they all returned to the beach where the trainers had gathered the day before. According to Brock, Casey requested that they return since she didn't have a way to visit them at the Hidden Cove. They all piled into Brock's car, the 'Regal,' and traveled across Vermilion City using the thruway to reach the beachfront.

Their arrival went ignored by the trainers present, as they were absorbed in their usual activities. While Gary looked to sign up for another battle, Brock asked around for the whereabouts of Casey or Volkner. As always, the two of them would be arriving closer to noontime.

With ample time to kill, Ash reflected on the last two days. There were a lot of changes between himself and his party of Pokemon, some internal and others external. Since all of them were present during the discussion with Charles Goodshow, Ash thought it would be appropriate to speak with them, one on one. Together they ventured down the coastline for some privacy.

Ash decided that he would start with Pikachu. Seated together on the sand, Ash looked at his small partner. This was the first time that they were alone together in years.

"What do you think of your new teammates?" Ash's first question caused Pikachu to tilt his head. "Hard to say right now, huh? I know you'll give them a chance, but they're really cool."

"Pikapi," Pikachu noted as he looked at his new teammates. Both Growlithe and Greninja were down by the water. Greninja was busy with his practice of Water Pledge while Growlithe frolicked in the tide.

"It's really been a long time since I've gotten to talk with you like this," Ash remarked. "I heard you spent most of that time in your Pokeball."

Pikachu's nose twitched, and he looked down at his paws.

According to Spencer and Casey, Pikachu spent most of the last five years inside his Pokeball.

Spencer offered a brief explanation of how Pokeball works. The device puts a Pokemon in stasis where they are still conscious of what is happening outside of their Pokeball. Pokeballs primarily serve as a mode of transport for Pokemon, best used over short periods. Remaining in stasis for an extended time came with drawbacks that were already visible. Pikachu's stamina was gone.

During their morning run at the Hidden Cove, Pikachu struggled to keep up when he could run circles around Ash a few years ago. Pikachu sacrificed his health and fitness remaining in his Pokeball for so long.

"I'm sorry that I made you resort to hiding in your Pokeball for so long, Pikachu," Ash said to his partner. "I can't imagine what you were feeling, but it was probably easier to deal with it by being inside your Pokeball, huh?" Pikachu gave a slight nod. "It's gonna take some time for you to recover completely and get your strength back, but I'll be with you every step of the way."

Pikachu nodded again, and Ash bit down on his lower lip. Even though they were together again, there was still a rift between them. Some distance that wasn't there before. Pikachu might have forgiven him…but Ash knew he wasn't entirely off the hook yet.

'Trust is a fragile thing – hard to earn, easy to lose.'

Ash called over Greninja next. Pikachu joined Growlithe down by the water, and the two began to converse quietly.

"So, a lot has changed…" Ash noted as Greninja sat beside him. "How do you feel?"

Greninja sighed as he felt the tip of his scarf rest against the coarse sand. It was frightening, but he could feel the sand down to each individual grain against his skin. His senses were even sharper, perhaps too intense. But Ash assured him that he would adjust, and it would just take some time.

Ash brought up their battle against Ampharos next. "What did you feel after you evolved?"

Greninja knew exactly what Ash was referring to. The moment they connected on the mountaintop was different from their experiences in Ecruteak City. Their movements felt more harmonized than ever before. It was the closest Ash ever felt with Greninja. Even closer than he ever felt with Pikachu…

"If felt like when we were learning our stances. Like there were strings between us to connect our movements. You were guiding me," Greninja explained. "And then, there were times where I should have felt pain, but you took it in my place to help me focus."

"This is…amazing, isn't it?" Ash asked him, his lips curved up in a smile. "I mean, I don't really understand why we can do this, but Spenser said it was up to us to understand this power. I don't know what will happen if we ever master this, but I think if we work together, we can figure this out."

"Nin-ja," Greninja gave a nod of agreement, and they bumped fists.

Growlithe was last and probably the most peculiar of the three discussions.

"I think this is long overdue since you've been traveling with me for over a year, Growlithe," Ash said as he sat across from Growlithe. She sat upright and barked, cheerful as always. "I'll be honest, while we were in Ecruteak City, I never really considered you to be one of my Pokemon. I kind of thought you were just along for the ride."

Growlithe stiffened her posture as she whined softly.

"It's not like I didn't enjoy having you around, but I just want to make sure that traveling with me is what you want to do," Ash explained. "What's your goal? Do you want to practice to become better at battles like Pikachu and Greninja? Do you want to stick to what you've been doing and just travel with us?"

Growlithe looked down as she considered her answer. As she sorted her thoughts, Ash couldn't help but think of what she told him the last time he posed this sort of question.

"I like to look after people, and I was told that you needed someone to be there for you."

And her answer now was the same.

Growlithe explained how she used to look after the rambunctious Eevee that Samuel Oak was raising in his lab. Just when Eevee was becoming independent, Ash appeared, and Growlithe traveled with him to Ecruteak City to support him. Presently, Ash was quite capable, and Growlithe wanted to take on her usual role for someone else. She already had a hunch about who it would be.

"But aren't you interested in becoming stronger or finding that trainer you want to stick with?" Ash asked her.

"When I find my partner, I will stay with them. But until then, I want to help everyone that I can." Growlithe answered, and Ash raised his brow.

She was noble to a fault.

"Well, I don't want to keep you from living your life. So, just let me know when you find the next person you want to help," Ash assured her.

They beamed at each other and shared a nod.

---

Once he completed each one-on-one session with his Pokemon, Ash decided it was time to get down to business. The first thing he wanted to do was assess Pikachu's current condition, which he did in a mock battle between him and Greninja. This contest showed Ash everything that he needed to see.

Pikachu lost more than a step. His quickness, acceleration, and overall speed was gone. As a motion generator, Pikachu relied on the contraction of his muscles to generate the electricity that fueled his Blitzkrieg offense. Without his speed, Pikachu's offense was effectively neutered.

Ash pursed his lips as he realized Pikachu wouldn't be in a battle anytime soon. His inability to match their pace during their morning run was definitely a cause for concern. Pikachu needed to go through a boot camp, nothing but basic training and conditioning to get himself back into shape.

The beach was the perfect place to address Pikachu's poor conditioning. He could practice everything he needed to restore his speed and footwork on the sand. Not only that, but this would be good practice for Greninja. Ash decided that they would start with interval training, and together they all began to run down the shoreline. A mixture of high activity over a short time and then a period of low activity was the perfect start to working on their stamina and acceleration.

However, this exercise was short-lived. Pikachu couldn't keep up at all. The brief stint of high activity was too much for him to recover during the cooldown period, and he soon collapsed on the beach.

"Boy, we've got our work cut out for us," Ash remarked as he knelt beside Pikachu.

His partner was resting on his stomach, desperately gasping for air. Ash knew better than to force the issue, even though Pikachu attempted to say that he was fine. So, they gave Pikachu a longer cooldown, and to pass the time, Ash and Greninja began to practice their forms. But as they did this, an idea crossed Ash's mind.

Greninja was pretty tall now, up to Ash's shoulders in terms of height. His body was bigger, still on the lean side, but compact and built. Perhaps it was time they tried something new.

"Greninja, let's have a spar," Ash suggested, and Greninja furrowed his brow.

Greninja furrowed his brow. "Ja?"

"I'll be fine. We've been practicing together for months, and I think this could be the next step to figure out how to sync up more often," Ash explained. Greninja motioned for Ash to continue, his eyes narrowed with skepticism. "Think about it. We've got these forms memorized, so we always know how to position our hands and feet, right? The next step is for us to know what the other wants to do without relying on something preset. You know what I mean?"

Greninja shook his head. He could see where Ash was going, but he failed to see how sparing was the next logical step. But if Ash wanted to try it, he would give this a fair shot.

Rather than stand side by side, Ash and Greninja stood across from each other. Ash called Growlithe to give them a signal to begin. From beside Pikachu, she waited a moment and then gave a bark. All Ash saw was a blue blur come rushing at his face, and suddenly the world was spinning. Sand went into his eyes and mouth when he hit the ground, and Ash did everything he could to spew it from his mouth.

"Bla!" Ash coughed and sputtered. This was the second day in a row he got a mouthful of sand. Hopefully, this wouldn't be a reoccurring event.

All three of his Pokemon came around to check on him. Once Ash was done hacking up the sand, he sat upright and assured them that he was fine.

"Man, you're really packing some power now, Greninja," Ash pointed out as he dusted the sand off his shirt.

"Gre-ninja?" Greninja asked in return, but Ash shook his head.

"You don't need to hold back," Ash replied. "I wasn't expecting you to be so strong now. But the whole point is for me to understand you as you are now."

They shared a nod and returned to their spar. Ash was forced to commit both arms to defend against Greninja's strikes. His chops and kicks were more potent, easily throwing Ash off-balance, especially since he didn't have great leverage on the sand.

When Pikachu felt ready to continue his interval training, Ash and Greninja were absorbed in their spar. However, as Pikachu watched them move in a circle and exchange blows, he saw something in their eyes. The same red glow that sparked Greninja's transformation the day before. He didn't want to interfere, and Growlithe had the same idea.

Together, they resumed their cardio and left Ash and Greninja to their training. Growlithe was very kind as she moved at Pikachu's pace, making small talk during the cooldown periods. And when she had the chance, she posed a question that Pikachu wasn't quite expecting.

"Are you feeling a little jealous of Greninja?"

Pikachu didn't quite know what to say, which allowed Growlithe to explain her reasoning. Pikachu was Ash's first Pokemon, and the two of them were close, 'brothers,' as Ash put it. However, there was clear evidence of something unique between Ash and Greninja. Pikachu made a face as he looked at Growlithe, but he could see that she wasn't trying to get under his skin. It was an honest question.

Thankfully, they went into a short period of high activity as they sprinted across the sand. This allowed Pikachu to think about his answer.

Was he jealous of Greninja? Pikachu hardly knew Greninja. They just met yesterday, after all…but Growlithe was right. There was something special between Ash and Greninja. But he could accept that.

Ash was devoted to anyone he cared for. This wasn't a matter of Ash valuing Greninja more. This was simply Ash…being Ash.

---

Pikachu returned to his interval training for thirty more minutes with Growlithe before he needed a full break. They returned to Ash and Greninja, who were still locked in their spar. As they arrived, they found that Ash was shirtless and sporting a few bruises on his upper torso and forearms. Clearly, getting hit by Greninja was nothing to take lightly, and Ash's audience voiced their concerns.

"Ash, don't you think you've done enough?" Casey asked him. "If you keep this up, you'll get hurt!"

Ash squared up with Greninja again and motioned for him to proceed. Casey muttered a comment of 'typical boys' while Brock shuffled around them to record the spar as requested. At the sight of the returning Pikachu and Growlithe, Casey waved them over as an invitation to join her and leave the 'boys' to themselves.

"Pika-pika," Pikachu greeted her cheerfully. Growlithe yipped as she came close to Casey, and both Pokemon received pats from her.

"It's good to see you today, Pikachu," Casey smiled at him. "How are you feeling?"

Pikachu stood on his hind legs and scratched at the back of his head. "Pi…Pika," He trailed off.

Casey pursed her lips as she studied his gestures. "Not the best, huh?" Casey sat down on the sand and motioned for Growlithe and Pikachu to sit alongside her. "But it's just like old times, right? He promised me that he would come back one day…"

"I'll be back one day, I promise."

While she was given good reason to doubt Ash's promise years ago, Casey always believed he would return.

"I knew he wouldn't go back on his word," She concluded before looking at Pikachu. "But I guess that means we won't be together as much as before, huh?" Casey paused to frown, and Growlithe studied her closely. "I mean, it's great that you'll be back with Ash. I'm gonna miss you, though."

Casey raised a hand and placed it on Pikachu's head. Her lips quivered before she forced a grin for him. Pikachu offered her a smile in return while Growlithe sniffed at the air around Casey and whined softly.

Before Casey could say anything else, there was a call of her name. One of the trainers from further up the beach requested that she return to the battlefield to settle an argument about scheduling. She rose up and dusted off her pants before leaving Pikachu and Growlithe. Growlithe came close to Pikachu with concerns about Casey.

"Is she going to be alright?"

It took Pikachu a few moments to answer. His ears drooped, and he lowered his tail. He started with an admission of guilt. He spent years listening to Casey from within his Pokeball as she confided in him. He remained silent during that time, and Casey sorted her thoughts out on her own. It seemed like all she needed was an outlet for her feelings.

Casey was tough but not invulnerable. Growlithe was right to be concerned.

---

Day one was over.

Ash grimaced as he lifted his shirt to inspect his lower torso. He cringed at the discoloration on his side, a bruise from a kick he failed to block from Greninja. Carefully, he placed a bag of ice against his skin to dull the pain and shuddered.

"Ja?" Greninja asked him, a hand raised to offer Ash some help.

They sat together at the shore, just beyond the water's edge. Brock was with them, though his head was turned to observe the trio of Pikachu, Growlithe, and Rockruff as they ran together.

"I'm fine," Ash replied. "A bruise or two isn't going to kill me."

"Yeah, but I'm sure Greninja could knock your head off if you don't block properly," Brock pointed out.

Ash rumbled his lips but chose to ignore Brock's comment. "You're just really strong, Greninja. It could take me a while to adjust, but I'll figure it out. Don't worry about me," Ash assured him.

Greninja frowned, though it was concealed behind his scarf. Ash explained that he wanted to understand Greninja through these spars, but his decision was based on how Bruno trained with his Pokemon. It was no secret that Bruno was a physical specimen, unlike any other human. With a body like that, he could hold his own in a spar against a Pokemon, a fighting type no less. While Ash's physical conditioning was excellent, he lacked whatever sort of training it was that Bruno did to contend with a Pokemon. Their spars would lead to an injury at some point, and Greninja wasn't anxious to see it.

However, Ash seemed to delight in that thought. Ash was laughing.

"You know, our positions are reversed now," Ash remarked as he shot a grin at Greninja. "I'm the one using the ice now."

They looked back to Greninja's days as a Froakie and his many self-inflicted injuries that required ice treatment after his training each day.

"Just look at you now," Ash went on. "We've come so far, and yet…there's still so much more ahead. There's a whole world out there for us to see," They shared a glance. "Are you still willing to come along with me, Greninja?"

Greninja raised a closed fist to Ash. They bumped fists, and Brock didn't hesitate to jump in.

"I might not have been there when the two of you first met, but I guess I'll formally welcome you onto team 'Quest,'" Brock added as he stooped down to speak with Greninja. "I'd like to think of myself as the team manager, so feel free to speak to me if you have any complaints or concerns about your trainer. I'll be happy to make the arrangements to find a more suitable work environment for you."

"Still full of crap, huh, Brock?" Ash retorted.

"It's part of the best friend package," Brock answered.

"I'd like a refund on that deal then."

"It's non-refundable, which was in the contract you signed."

Greninja snickered as he observed the back and forth between them. There was no doubt in his mind that some exciting times were ahead of him.

---

Friday, March 26th

Day two.

Ash and Gary had to remain at the Hidden Cove since Brock would be meeting with Charles Goodshow for most of the day. Since both of their driver's licenses were expired, a trip to the department of motor vehicles was in order. With how 'fun' that sounded, Brock assured them that he would be happy to drop them off and find something better to do while Ash and Gary were there.

Fortunately, the Hidden Cove was still an excellent location to train. While it lacked a variety of opponents to practice against, like the beaches of Route 11, the private setting offered the freedom for them to work without distraction. Gary took this as an opportunity to sit down with Wartortle and sift through the PokeHub for any videos providing tips on water combat. Umbreon sat by the edge of the water, darting back and forth as the tide came in as his own sort of training.

Ash, Greninja, Growlithe, and Pikachu resumed the training Ash set in motion the day before. The whole group started with their interval training to accompany Pikachu, with many breaks as they progressed along the coastline. There was hardly any interaction between them. Everyone focused more on the placement of their feet and how they shifted their weight.

The silence left Ash to his thoughts on what else Pikachu could work on. It brought him back to the silence of his prison cell…and the ideas he developed to fill those sleepless nights.

Pikachu was not only respected but feared in some ways during their time in the underground circuit. But according to Charles Goodshow, there was a whole world of trainers beyond Vermilion City. Ash got to face one of the best trainers, a man named Hector Mendez and his Makuhita, who absolutely dismantled them. If Ash was going to compete with trainers like Hector, or even Bruno, they needed more than what they had back then and now.

What could Pikachu do to improve? Ash recalled a saying that refining a Pokemon's most fundamental skills would lead to an overall improvement. Ash already knew what they needed to focus on with that line of thinking. The heart and soul of Pikachu's battle style was his speed, which fueled his offense and defense.

If Pikachu's run was flawless, his offense would be unstoppable. But the task of creating perfect movement was nothing to take lightly. Even in Vermilion City, as Ash and Pikachu faced better competition, the trainers showed interesting new methods to challenge or negate Pikachu's speed. So, what could then do to improve Pikachu's run?

It needed layers beyond pure movement. There was one idea that Ash had in mind that they could work on, and it was born thanks to Gary and Wartortle. Protect was a move Pikachu could use, though perhaps not as well as Wartortle. But it offered a brief form of defense that could be valuable. If they faced an opponent that could match Pikachu's speed, a sudden and stout defense could stun their target and create an opening to attack.

In addition to that, Pikachu also needed to improve his footwork to add more creativity to his movement. Steps backs, crossover steps, and even a spin move could turn Pikachu into a terrifying single target that was hard to track and impossible to hit.

And if all went well, they would arrive at what Ash considered his best idea. It lacked a name, but it involved Pikachu releasing small discharges around his opponent. The goal was to stun them from all angles to create openings he needed to attack or simply pile up the damage while preparing for a large-scale electrical attack. Ash couldn't hide the grin on his face, and Growlithe gave a bark as she saw it.

He couldn't wait to start practicing all of this with Pikachu. But as Ash looked at his partner, he saw that the tiny mouse was huffing and puffing to keep up with them during their latest sprint. First things first, they had to get Pikachu back into shape!

With his speed gone, that reminded Ash that even if Pikachu created a flawless run tactic, there might be a trainer or Pokemon with the perfect counter. Pikachu still needed options for the scenario where his speed was unavailable.

After thirty minutes, Pikachu was given another break. He dropped down onto his belly and gasped for air now that he could relax. Pikachu glanced around at the others, who only needed a few moments to catch their breath, but he was too tired to show envy.

Ash spoke to Greninja briefly, telling him that he would be practicing alone. Greninja nodded and went down to the water to work with his Water Pledge. Growlithe accompanied him, though she remained at the shoreline to observe.

This left Ash to speak with Pikachu and demonstrate some of the footwork drills they would begin once Pikachu was ready.

Greninja would occasionally glance back at Ash and Pikachu as he tried to listen to Ash's instructions. The drills were based on what human athletes use during their practice sessions for sports, with some adjustments for Pikachu. It was clear that Greninja was more concerned with Pikachu's instruction than his own practice. The water he was manipulating remained nothing more than a swollen balloon on the water's surface.

Growlithe barked, and his balloon popped.

"Jealous?"

Greninja looked at her, and she tilted her head innocently. Greninja shook his head in reply.

He couldn't be jealous of Pikachu. After all, Pikachu was Ash's first Pokemon, who had been with him since childhood. The one Ash called 'brother.' Their bond was special. Greninja knew it from the moment Ash first laid eyes on Pikachu at the beach two days ago.

Even after knowing Ash for almost a year, Greninja never saw an expression on Ash's face quite like when he saw Pikachu. Greninja could feel it. Ash's spirit soared as he embraced Pikachu for the first time.

"It's the lowest point of my life because…I chose to abandon my Pokemon," Ash revealed. "I fully intend to go back to Pikachu and apologize. I don't know if he will accept me, but I want to make things right at the very least."

Ash needed to be reunited with Pikachu. It filled a hole in his heart.

"I'm not jealous."

Greninja had his answer. Anyone that made Ash happy was a friend, a comrade…perhaps even a 'brother.'

---

Wednesday, March 31st

Brock wasn't sure whether to celebrate with Gary or console Ash.

Today, both took their road test to renew their licenses that expired while they were away in Ecruteak City. The location was the northern residential area of Vermilion City, where the streets were reasonably quiet. Both were modestly experienced drivers, so Brock allowed them to use his car to reacclimate themselves to the task of driving during the past few days.

Gary was okay for the most part. He'd gone two years without driving a vehicle, but it didn't take him long to get a feel for it again.

Ash was a different story. Brock's mother, Lola, often complained that Brock had a 'heavy foot' since he drove fast. If Brock had a heavy foot, Ash must have had a block of lead for a foot. Ash was a rough driver. He took corners hard and too fast, especially when he first got behind the wheel. Ash slowly improved over the next few days, but clearly not enough based on his test results.

"You failed?" Gary exclaimed with a wrinkled nose. "How did you pull that off?"

"I uh…I was nervous," Ash admitted as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "And uh, I hit someone's mailbox during the parallel park," Gary burst into laughter while Brock rushed to check his car for any damage. "It was nothing serious, Brock."

"I hope not!" Brock hollered in return.

Ash was left to stew as he listened to Gary's laughter. Now that Gary had his temporary license, Ash could clearly imagine him in the driver's seat with his nose upturned, and he waved to Ash on the sidewalk. With a triumphant announcement of 'smell ya later,' Gary tore off down the roadway.

While Ash's license shenanigans were on hold, there was a list of things Charles told Ash to take care of in preparation for his upcoming travels. The first thing they did was work out a contract to fund Ash's journey. It wasn't lucrative since Charles' budget was stretched thin due to various projects. In fact, the agreement was purely to cover gas for the car, food, and rooms at hotels along the way.

With some money in his pocket, Ash needed to get a new phone, and Gary used the opportunity to get one for himself. He previously relied on his Pokedex, but the prototype couldn't compete with the modern conveniences of a smartphone.

Now in possession of a new phone, Ash began to rebuild his contact list, adding the likes of Brock, Charles Goodshow, Casey, May, and begrudgingly, Gary. Through a search of the PokeHub, Ash found a picture of a Tauros' rear end to use as Gary's contact picture. He wouldn't question why that picture was available, but he knew he would laugh in the future if Gary ever called his phone.

As an added bonus, Ash could access the PokeHub freely again and use his old account. It brought back fond memories to see his perfect record in the underground circuit listed on his profile. Seven wins, no losses.

"So, what's next on the agenda today?" Brock asked as they all piled into his car.

"Back to Route 11," Ash and Gary said together. They shared a glance and then looked away. Brock snorted since the two of them couldn't be any more obvious. Both of them wanted to battle.

"Alright then, next stop: the beach!"

It had been nearly a week since Ash's challenge went live on the PokeHub, but no one answered his challenge. However, Ash wasn't concerned. He was more than entertained in Vermilion City. Every minute of his day was dedicated to diligent practice with his Pokemon and the occasional battle if they visited the beaches of Route 11. And today would be no different.

It was just past noon when they arrived at the beach. Ash and Gary signed their names onto the schedule to have a battle, and they trained to pass the time until their match. Both of them were pretty popular, to say the least, often receiving requests for multiple battles each day they were at the beach. Over the past week, they got to know the regulars who came to this beach daily. However, late in the afternoon, a newcomer arrived that generated some buzz with his arrival.

A muscle car pulled into the parking lot above. Most of the trainers present seemed to recognize the vehicle as they paused their activities. A tall man stepped out, and one glance at his uniform made Ash's stomach tense. He was a police officer.

Ash looked to the other trainers. No one seemed to care that an officer was on the beach. In fact, some of them waved to him. Ash frowned, at a loss for how to react, but that didn't last for too long.

Apparently, this officer had been trying to meet him since last week. Ash shook hands nervously, and he even requested a picture with Ash and his Pokemon. Then, he finally introduced himself as Raymond, one of Vermilion City's four police chiefs. Ash wanted to ask why a police chief was here, but Raymond immediately moved on to another subject, one that would always distract Ash.

"Would you have a Pokemon battle with me?"

Ash was floored, but when Raymond released his partner, an electric canine that he called Boltund, Ash couldn't think about anything besides their match.

Since the battlefield was in use, they went down the shore to host their battle privately. Or at least, they tried to. As soon as a few people spotted Greninja and Boltund squaring off, a small audience formed to watch their battle.

Seeing Raymond and Boltund in action gave Ash chills. It was like…he was battling himself from a few years ago. While Boltund was larger than Pikachu, his physical abilities almost mirrored what Pikachu was capable of. He was a motion generator, so he relied on movement to summon his electricity, which led to an imitation of Pikachu's battle style. Pikachu noticed as well as he observed the battle from Ash's shoulder, and Ash could feel his tiny paws gripping at his skin.

While Greninja could not dismantle a fast opponent the way Ampharos did to them, he was no slouch when it came to speed. Greninja went toe to toe with Boltund's quick movements and evaded his lightning-based offense. When compared to Ampharos, or even the Pikachu of old, Boltund's electrical mayhem was lacking. There was no creativity or 'oomph' to it, which allowed Greninja to use Water Pledge to deter Boltund's electrical attacks. The battle was decided by close-quarters combat, and Greninja was simply too refined to get caught by Boltund's Crunch or Wild Charge. Greninja could freely pick and choose when to strike with Brick Break, and while Boltund was tough, that damage built up over time.

It reached the point where Boltund was wincing with each step, and there were visible bruises on his body. Raymond waved his arms above his head to signal a forfeit, with high praise to his partner Pokemon for lasting so long against Greninja.

"Man, you guys are so good!" Raymond exclaimed as he met with Ash and Greninja at the center of the battlefield to shake hands. "I became a huge fan after I watched some of your old battles on the PokeHub," He raised a hand to the back of his neck with a chuckle. "In fact, we sort of copied your style of battle."

"Yeah, we noticed," Ash said with a small gesture to Pikachu.

"We didn't mean to cause offense or anything, I know we sort of butchered how you battle, but we're a work in progress," Raymond explained, and Ash laughed.

"Why would we be mad?" Ash asked him in return. "I think it's amazing that you're trying to use our style. Isn't that awesome, Pikachu?"

"Pika-pika!" Pikachu added proudly.

"So, um," Raymond raised his shoulders before posing his next question. "Are there any tips you can offer us? Or…" He eyed Pikachu with a grin. "Maybe a demonstration?"

"Oh," Ash frowned. "Pikachu's a little uh…out of shape," Ash could feel the electricity from Pikachu prickle his neck, but he would ignore it for now. "I'm not so sure a demonstration would be worthwhile. But we can talk."

Raymond nodded at Ash's suggestion, and the crowd around them dispersed as their conversation began.

"So, is there anything specific you want to know?" Ash asked to start.

"Truthfully, we get little pointers from Volkner. But we haven't figured out how to take that to the next level," Raymond explained. "I've tried everything I can think of, but we still can't replicate your signature move, Electric Terrain."

Ash raised his brow. "Electric Terrain, huh?" Ash scratched at his chin. "Honestly, that move isn't very easy to explain. Volkner and Ampharos came up with the idea, but they gave it to us because Ampharos couldn't really use it."

"If there is anything you can share, we'd appreciate it!" Raymond declared, and Boltund gave a bark of agreement.

"Sure, but only if you answer some of my questions too," Ash said, and Raymond agreed to his offer without hesitation.

---

Their conversation started with an explanation of the process of Electric Terrain and its effects. How it created an alternate source of electricity for motion generators like Pikachu and Boltund, which significantly amplified the attack power of their electrical abilities. But it first required a massive discharge of electricity to saturate the field with it. They quickly attributed Boltund's small electrical reservoir to why he couldn't create an Electric Terrain.

"How do you increase the amount of electricity he can discharge at any moment?" Raymond asked.

They went to the PokeHub for the answer. There, they learned the amount of electricity an electric type Pokemon could stockpile varied based on their power source. But, since both Pikachu and Boltund were motion generators, they did not rely on anything like this. So, they looked to the next factor: age. According to Raymond, Boltund was only seven years old, whereas Pikachu was almost eighteen.

"That's probably why he can't do it," Ash reasoned, and Raymond deflated.

Further research on the subject also revealed that the physical prime of electric type Pokemon was typically between the ages of fifteen and thirty. So, Pikachu was in the midst of his best years, while Boltund was still underdeveloped.

"So, it's off the table for now," Raymond concluded, and Ash gave an unfortunate nod. "Well, that sucks, but what can you do? We've got other things that we can practice in the meantime."

Ash was slightly disappointed that he couldn't offer Raymond and Boltund much help, but they didn't mind. Instead, they moved the conversation to Ash's questions.

"Now, what can I answer for you?" Raymond inquired.

"A few things," Ash began. "Like first, why is a police chief a Pokemon trainer? I thought the police were against Pokemon battles?"

"Ah, we are," Raymond answered with a nod. "But there are some grey areas that were created by the Vanguard. They're creating a subdivision of the police department to deal specifically with Pokemon trainers by training police officers to become Pokemon trainers."

Ash squinted and looked off to the side, trying to wrap his head around this. "The Vanguard is training officers to be trainers…why?"

Raymond wore a straight face for only the second time since Ash met him. "The news called it the Massacre," Raymond stated. "If you don't remember, that was the day of a standoff between a group of Pokemon trainers and several police officers. People died on both sides…"

"Brock mentioned it in passing," Ash said softly. "Can you tell me more about it?"

Raymond's perspective was insightful.

-X-X-

Wednesday, October 18th, 1403.

He was the deputy chief at the time, and it was like any other day at the precinct. Reports came in of a disturbance within Vermilion City's west end. This area was infamous as a hangout spot for Pokemon trainers. The closest patrol car was on site within minutes, which triggered a call for backup.

"There are at least twenty trainers here, and they're in some sort of free-for-fall. I've never seen so much chaos in one of their battles. I've made three requests that they stop their activities," The officer explained. "But they're not backing down; I'm going to need all available personnel."

Over twenty patrol cars arrived, and things went to a standoff. The officers raised their weapons and made one last request the trainers withdraw their Pokemon so that they could be taken into custody.

Testimonies and dashboard cameras failed to provide a conclusive answer to who acted first. But the situation spiraled out of control as the officers found themselves fighting for their lives. Raymond still got chills as he recalled one dashboard camera that collected a few minutes of footage from a clean angle. There was a point where a Machoke could be seen lifting a police car to hurl it across the street. The vehicle rolled twice, and all of its windows shattered.

No one walked away unscathed. The officers fired their weapons in self-defense, and for many of them, it was the first time they had fired at a Pokemon. For as fearsome as these creatures could be, they were still mortal. Some were more formidable, their skin capable of deflecting bullets or absorbing the impact. However…lives were still lost. Humans and Pokemon.

Most of the Vermilion City police department was contacted as these events unfolded. The fire department and paramedics were soon there, and of course, news reporters were there to inform the public of this tragedy.

"…several trainers were involved in a battle that escalated to the point where the majority of the precinct was called in to break it up…it went to a standoff between the trainers and the officers which took a turn for the worse…there were causalities on both sides. There are paramedics here doing what they can. So far, they have estimated eleven injured officers and twenty-one casualties."

"These trainers and their Pokemon exhibited a total disregard for human life as they attacked our officers. Nineteen of our officers were injured, six of which are still in intensive care, and sadly…twenty-seven officers lost their lives."

-X-X-

Ash wanted to see it himself. The site of the Massacre.

Raymond took him, and Ash's stomach was in knots as he stood on a small grassy plain. A late afternoon breeze tickled his skin, but that did little to comfort him.

The battle site was leveled and cleared. In its place was a field, and at its center was a stone memorial. Several tiny flags were planted in the ground around the monument, each with the sigil of the Vermilion City police department.

Raymond invited him to approach the memorial, and Ash took the opportunity to read some of the names inscribed on it. Raymond pointed out one, in particular, Robert Ross. That was his best friend who served as a corporal until that fateful day. Ash placed his palm on the stone memorial and frowned deeply.

"This can't be right…" Ash muttered. "I can't believe that trainers and Pokemon would do something like this."

"It didn't seem right to us either, Ash," Raymond said softly. "Before that day, I broke up a ton of Pokemon battles, and it never went to a standoff. Whenever an officer or a patrol car showed up to a spot where trainers were battling, that was enough to make everyone scatter." Raymond explained.

Ash was familiar with this. He was present at street battles years ago that were broken up by the police.

"You're a trainer now, and you practice against the trainers at the beach," Ash noted. "Do any of them strike you as the kind of people that would…" Ash gulped before he finished his question. "Kill someone?"

Raymond shook his head. "Not at all. If anything, becoming a trainer only improved my opinion of Pokemon trainers. I know that they're not bad people, and Pokemon are far, far from being evil," Raymond declared. "But that doesn't change what happened. Lives were put in danger, so the Vanguard had to respond. They're trying to establish order to avoid something like the Massacre from happening again."

Ash nodded slowly. But he couldn't help but think back to something Brock said on the same subject.

"That incident that made the Vanguard come to Vermilion City…we think they played a part in it to set up their occupation so that they could shut down the Hidden Cove."

Something wasn't adding up.

"How do you feel about the Vanguard, if you don't mind me asking?" Ash pressed.

"I mean," Raymond took a moment to scratch at the back of his head. "Like I said, they're trying to create order. As an officer, I can't tell you how much I value that. But as a trainer…" He sighed. "It doesn't feel right. I've gotten to known Boltund since we became partners, and the Vanguard is trying to push people away from Pokemon. If there's anything I've learned since becoming a Pokemon trainer, it's that more people need to be around Pokemon. I can't really explain it, but…it's like being with Boltund as a trainer is making me better and stronger. Like he's giving me some sort of power."

"Pokemon power," Ash remarked softly.

Raymond wrinkled his forehead but gave a chuckle. "Maybe…who knows? I can't say I agree with what the Vanguard is doing, but I'm not against them either."

"You're right, though. Being with a Pokemon empowers you," Ash said as he looked up. "There was a trainer I met who told me that Pokemon help you to look beyond your limitations and that you do the same thing for them. It's something that both of us need and…I think the world would be a whole lot better if people got to be around Pokemon more," Ash stated with a small smile. "It's my dream."

Raymond raised a hand to his chin, and he said, "You know, I'd like to see that."

---

Friday, April 2nd

Charles Goodshow wanted to speak with Ash again. However, this time, it was a private meeting. No Pokemon or assistants, just the two of them.

Charles was a busy man. According to Brock, he spent hours in daily meetings with professors to discuss their research on different Pokemon. What free time Charles had was often dedicated to his own personal study or managing budgets related to the development of the Pokedex. There wasn't a moment he could waste, which resulted in him putting off a long-overdue conversation.

"What did you want to talk about, Mr. Goodshow?" Ash asked as the two of them sat in recliners within his office.

Charles cleared his throat before he began to speak. "My apologies, I wanted to speak to you about this since you first came back, but I've had a full plate to deal with."

"I heard from Brock," Ash replied with a nod of his head. "So, what can I do for you?"

"I've been curious about some of the training you've done with Greninja," Charles admitted. "I saw one of the videos of how you practice with him," Charles snorted as he thought of Ash getting throttled by Greninja in a spar. "But I'd like to know more about what you did to reach this point with him."

"Uh, well, we met in Ecruteak City, and we had a mentor named," Ash began.

"Spenser," Charles interjected, and Ash raised his brow. "Sorry, he's an old friend, and I had a feeling he played a part in your training. I take it my hunch was correct?"

Ash nodded and continued. "When we first started to train with Spenser, the focus was on building the bond between Frogadier and myself. We spent the first few weeks learning more about each other and how we see the world," Ash smiled. The memories of when he experienced the world with Frogadier's senses was surreal. "Once we got the hang of that, we practiced using that bond in combat. So, we learned martial arts together and used that to synchronize our movements."

Charles pursed his lips with a sparkle in his eyes. That idea sounded wonderful! The perfect way to help a trainer and their Pokemon learn as equals.

"It took us a long time to get the hang of it, but it created this sort of instinct between us. We can tell what the other wants to do at times," Ash explained. "And then there are times where we get really in sync, and I feel this burning in my chest. Our movements match up perfectly…it's like the two of us become one, and we feel stronger than ever. It's weird to say this since I've only known Greninja for a year, but during those moments, I feel closer to him than any other Pokemon I've met…even Pikachu."

"And this training played a part in that transformation Greninja used against Ampharos?" Charles inquired.

"That's what I think," Ash agreed.

"Remarkable," Charles noted. "But it doesn't seem like something you can do consistently, at least, not yet."

Ash shook his head. "We don't really understand it yet, but we've decided to prioritize Greninja's training time to mastering that transformation. Or at least to understand more about it."

"Hmm, I'm not so sure I like that idea," Charles said. "It is worth the time to learn more about this transformation, but if you can't trigger it consistently, it's not going to be something you can rely on."

"But you've seen that transformation in action. Greninja was incredible," Ash exclaimed. "I'm not going to lie. Greninja and I are probably a few levels below the people we used to compete with. This transformation will let us bridge the gap to hold our own right now."

"That's a fair point, but it will create an unhealthy battle style," Charles pointed out. "Don't forget about the battle you had against Hector Mendez. When you strip away the attacks and abilities of a strong Pokemon, you'll see that they've refined their most basic skills. This allows them to contend with any opponent regardless of their circumstances."

Ash held back his rebuttal. These very same thoughts crossed his mind while he thought about how best to train with Pikachu.

"When I look back at your time in the underground circuit, and how Pikachu developed, I thought it was...less than ideal. I know the situation forced you to look for the fastest improvement methods. Still, the fastest progression isn't always the best," Charles continued. "Think of yourself as the foundation of a building. You start on a flat and even surface, and the skills you and your Pokemon develop make up the structure you build on the foundation. If you focus on specific skills, your building will become unbalanced, and it could be in danger of toppling over."

Ash could see Charles' comparison of him to a lopsided building where the slightest bit of adversity would prevail over what was built. But even if he and Pikachu fit this description, they overcame all sorts of obstacles while relying on what they had at the time.

"I mean, is it that bad to have Pokemon specialized in their best strengths?" Ash asked in return.

"There's nothing wrong with it, Ash," Charles answered. "But the consistency you need to be the best won't be there. You'll experience very high peaks, but there will also be valleys and pitfalls as trainers counter those specialized skills."

"I appreciate all of this, Mr. Goodshow," Ash interjected. "I really do, but I think Greninja and I are more than capable of making that transformation something sustainable. Our training in Ecruteak City taught us what we need to do, and now we just have to make the application in battle again."

Charles raised his hands and gave Ash a grin. "I was only making a suggestion, and this is your journey, after all."

"Thanks for understanding," Ash said. "And don't worry, what you said hasn't fallen on deaf ears. But Greninja has limited experience against super tough opponents, and right now, that's the only way that we can compete with the best trainers. After all, as the liaison of the Pokemon League, we have to win all our battles."

Charles opened his mouth to reply, but then he closed it and nodded as his answer.

"We'll practice every day, Mr. Goodshow," Ash assured him, and he tipped his cap to Charles. "The Pokemon League will be a hit in no time!"

---

Monday, April 5th

Wartortle resurfaced in the water, floating on his back. His opponent, Tentacruel, soon surfaced and wrapped his tentacles around Wartortle to drag him back to the shore. As the two of them came up onto the sand, Casey approached them to give her judgment of the battle.

"Wartortle is unable to battle; Tentacruel is the winner!" Casey announced.

"Ah! That's another one in the books, Tentacruel!" Duncan exclaimed as he approached his partner for a high five.

Gary kneeled down to check on Wartortle and clicked his tongue as he saw that Wartortle's cheeks had a purple hue. The poison damage he received was still lingering. Fortunately, Casey was prepared for the outcome of this battle and offered Gary a few pecha berries to treat Wartortle.

"Here, eat up Wartortle," Gary said as he helped Wartortle to sit upright. Once Wartortle was settled, Gary placed one of the berries in his hand, which Wartortle quickly devoured. Just as Gary was about to give him another, Duncan slapped his back, and the remaining berries went into the sand.

"Aha! I've got to say, kid, you and Wartortle are looking much better these days!" Duncan proclaimed with a wide grin. He didn't even notice the leer he received from Gary and Casey. "I remember that first battle you had against us. Your Wartortle was like a Magikarp in the water, completely defenseless. It was funny to watch!" Duncan bellowed with laughter. "But you've got some fight in you now! Keep practicing, and maybe you'll be able to hang with us one day!"

Duncan marched off with Tentacruel to sign up for another battle while Gary dusted off the pecha berries that he dropped. Once they were reasonably clean, he offered them to Wartortle.

"I'm sure you know already, but just ignore Duncan," Casey said to Gary. "He's stupid."

Gary stifled a laugh. Duncan might have been 'stupid,' but his comments about Wartortle shouldn't be ignored. After all, he said that Wartortle actually put a fight this time, and that was progress.

Almost two weeks ago, they faced Duncan and his Tentacruel in a water battle for the first time. Wartortle was abused in that battle, mainly due to his lack of experience battling in water. Gary dedicated a lot of time to getting Wartortle accustomed to fighting in water from that day forward. Wartortle was a strong swimmer, but he needed to learn how to use his mobility in the water.

He could release powerful water jets to propel himself in any direction, which was their point of emphasis during the past two weeks. The added speed when underwater proved helpful as they managed to evade Tentacruel's grasp, and it also allowed Wartortle to turn himself into a projectile. While this hardly made a difference against Tentacruel, Gary knew he couldn't expect to see the results immediately.

After all, this was the long game to get a leg up on Greninja. Based on what he knew of Greninja, Gary was willing to bet that he was in the same boat as Wartortle and suffering from a lack of water combat experience. Hopefully, this experience would be the difference-maker since Gary intended to challenge Greninja to a water battle once Wartortle got enough practice.

It would take some time for the pecha berries to work their magic, so once Wartortle was finished eating, Gary recalled him to his Pokeball to rest. That left him with Umbreon for company, better known to Gary as 'no company.'

Gary hoped that he could persuade Umbreon into another battle in the same fashion that Ampharos got him into one. But Umbreon was far more vigilant since that event, and he avoided any interaction that could lead to a battle. He happily spent his time dozing off on the beaches and frolicking in the water.

At the very least, Umbreon followed him back to the battlefield, where an audience was gathered. Ash and Greninja were on the field today, and even two weeks after their battle against Volkner, their fame was still at its height. Everyone would gather to see Greninja again, hoping that his mysterious transformation would make another appearance.

But so far, that transformation remained a one-time occurrence. Greninja was still a worthy opponent, and it showed as he secured yet another victory against today's adversary, a Heatmor. Gary scanned the audience briefly and spotted Brock and Rockruff in the crowd, where they recorded the battle with Brock's phone.

"Hey Brock," Gary said as he approached Brock. As Umbreon came close, Rockruff pounced on top of him, and the two began to wrestle. "Are you going to upload this to the PokeHub?"

"Yeah," Brock said with a nod. "Later tonight, though, I'll need my laptop, and I forgot it in my room back at the stadium."

Gary wrinkled his nose for a moment. "Can you send me the video file? I'd like to look at it now."

Brock raised his brow. "No problem, I'll get it to you in a minute," He replied as he started the process. "What do you need it for so soon?"

"I'm uh…just looking for ways to keep up with Ash," Gary answered, and Brock noticed that Umbreon paused his little contest with Rockruff. The dark Pokemon cast a sharp gaze up at Gary, though it went ignored by his trainer as he continued. "I want to see if there's something I can get from this to practice today."

Brock kept a straight face as he nodded. "Gotcha. It's on the way."

Gary's phone buzzed with the video file delivery, and he departed with Umbreon to the benches near the parking lot. Once he was seated, Umbreon curled up on the sand in front of Gary and began to groom his fur. Gary took out his phone, opened his video viewer, and started the footage that Brock collected.

Greninja versus Heatmor. Greninja had a natural type advantage, but that didn't stop Heatmor from challenging him for a few minutes. Gary carefully followed Greninja's actions during the battle. There was no denying that Greninja was very polished at close range, and he prioritized battling that way. Heatmor couldn't keep his distance from Greninja, and he struggled to punish Greninja for forcing a close-range battle. Heatmor summoned his flames to try and create some space, but Greninja doused those flames with Water Pledge and continued to attack with Brick Break.

The overall fluidity of Greninja's movements and his training in the martial arts allowed him to dominate Pokemon without the same training at close range. It was a tremendous advantage, especially now that he was fully evolved. His body was stronger, taller, and not as fragile. The limitations he had as a Frogadier was a thing of the past.

Gary had to admit…Greninja was superior to Wartortle.

As a Frogadier, it was close. Minor adjustments and new strategies would make all the difference in their contests. But now that Frogadier evolved, it wasn't even close. A gap between them steadily grew despite Gary's best efforts.

Gary shook his head. Ash and Greninja might have been ahead of them right now, but they would just have to redouble their efforts. Gary withdrew Wartortle's Pokeball from his shirt pocket and stared at it closely.

Wartortle had an array of different abilities at his disposal. However, their experience in Vermilion City was proof that Gary needed to do more homework to make better use of Wartortle's skillset. And then there was…Umbreon. Gary glanced toward his company, who rested on the sand in front of him.

"What am I supposed to do with you?" Gary asked out loud. Umbreon's ears twitched, and he looked back at Gary. Their gaze locked, and Umbreon tilted his head to the side.

Before Gary could deliberate any further, his stomach growled. He checked the time and saw that it was well noontime. Considering his breakfast was a fruit bowl at the Hidden Cove, it was no surprise that he was hungry. Fortunately, Ash and Brock also experienced this.

They met at Brock's car with the decision to head to a nearby fast-food restaurant to grab lunch. Ash was given the responsibility of driving to get some additional practice before his second road test later this week.

"I hope you manage to pass Ash; it would be nice if you could drive legally once we're out on the road," Brock commented.

Ash snorted and leaned closer to the steering wheel. "I'm working on it," He retorted.

Gary sat in the back with his arms crossed as he looked from Ash to Brock. They had already informed him of their plan to travel across Kanto, but Gary had yet to decide what was his plan going forward. Admittedly, Gary was following Ash, so he lacked a proper goal. But now, a path to greatness formed in front of Ash, and Gary was tentative about following that path.

In his youth, Gary would consult his grandfather, Samuel Oak, for advice when he needed it. But back in Ecruteak City, Gary decided to make a choice all of his own. He decided to follow Ash, and of course, Samuel approved.

"Go seeking, and you shall find," Samuel stated.

That was one of his grandfather's favorite quotes, and Gary would take it to heart. All of his preparation would only take him so far. It was up to him to take that step into the unknown and face the challenges ahead. Ash was sprinting headfirst at what lay ahead, and Gary would join him.

"Hey guys," Gary said to get their attention. "I know it's kind of late to be asking this, but do you mind if I tag along on your road trip?"

Brock looked back at him; his brow wrinkled.

"Oh shoot, I assumed you wouldn't be coming with us," Brock muttered with a laugh. "My bad."

"Yeah, I kind of thought the same thing," Ash admitted. "But if you want to, I'd be happy to have you come along; the more, the merrier!"

"I couldn't have said it better myself," Bock added.

Gary lowered his shoulders. He wasn't sure why but…in the back of his mind, he was expecting them to turn him down. But he knew them well enough to think otherwise. So what gave him that sense of doubt?

"I think it'll be great to have another driver, especially if Ash manages to mess up his retest," Brock commented in Gary's direction.

"I'm right here, ya know," Ash pointed out.

"Oh, I know," Brock responded.

Gary stifled a laugh as he realized he would hear a lot of these exchanges going forward. Hopefully, the combination of Ash and Brock wouldn't drive him crazy…but even if they did, he hoped to gain much more in exchange for his sanity.

Their travels around Kanto would expose him to the best trainers that answered Ash's challenge. Gary would see their fascinating and innovative battle styles with his own two eyes and learn everything he needed to defeat Ash Ketchum.

---

The contentment of a full stomach didn't last long, especially for Ash. It was right back to work when they returned to the beach, and Gary disappeared down the shoreline to work with Wartortle. At the same time, Brock returned to his tall task of speaking with different trainers to collect data and information on their Pokemon. That left Ash to resume his practice with Pikachu and Greninja while Growlithe observed. Since Ash dedicated his morning to working with Greninja, he shifted to Pikachu for the afternoon. Today, they would be starting a new exercise.

"Alrighty, Pikachu," Ash began as he stuck one of his heels down into the sand. Then he dragged his foot to create a box with about five yards between its sides. "This is a new exercise to help you work on your footwork."

This was a drill that Ash saw professional athletes use during their daily training. The point of the exercise was for Pikachu to move around the perimeter of the box, but he could only face one direction. It required various movements, sidesteps to work on his lateral movements, step-backs for his backward motion, and a brief moment where he could accelerate forward. All this would help him to work on his balance and acceleration from different positions, or in other words, the foundation to restore his run.

Ash demonstrated the exercise for Pikachu, though he fell over twice as he misstepped and got his foot caught in the sand. Pikachu got the idea, and Ash added that his goal was to travel around the outside of the box ten times as quickly as possible. His first attempt was lackluster. Pikachu was tripped by the sand several times, and he was gasping as he finished. This wasn't easy, as it tested everything that Ash mentioned. His balance and awareness of the terrain. His ability to accelerate and, most of all, his stamina. The high activity was constant, and Pikachu was exhausted.

Pikachu received an extended cooldown period before he made another attempt. They did this for an hour before a familiar face joined Ash and Growlithe as an observer.

"You guys sure don't waste any time," Casey commented.

Ash shuddered. "When did you get here?" He exclaimed.

Casey kneeled down to greet Growlithe and scratch her ears. "Just now. Volkner picked me up from school and brought me here," She explained. "How has Pikachu been doing?"

A shout from Pikachu gained their attention as he was tripped by the sand and went for a tumble. He hastily got back onto his feet and resumed his practice. Ash scratched at the back of his head. "He's working hard, that's for sure."

They watched as Pikachu went through the segment that relied on his sidestep. His back foot was caught in the sand, which led to a fall, and the group cringed. But Pikachu got back on his feet and continued without delay. Ash proudly called out 'ten,' and Pikachu collapsed, now that he had finished the required number of trips around the box for his exercise.

As Ash approached Pikachu, he saw that Pikachu's footprints were all over the place, many of them scuffing the box that Ash drew for him to follow. And Pikachu himself was drenched in sweat, his fur matted and glistening.

"Take a rest, buddy," Ash sat down beside Pikachu. Growlithe and Casey came over to them, and Ash felt something cold touch his neck.

"Give him this," Casey said.

Ash discovered that it was a water bottle, and he thanked Casey graciously. He left his bag up in Brock's car, so this would save him a trip. Casey watched as Ash twisted off the cap and poured some of the water into his palm, which he then flicked at Pikachu. This small action breathed a little life into Pikachu as he sat upright, and a brief waterfall met him. Ash dumped half the bottle onto Pikachu to douse his fur, and Pikachu laughed with delight as he shook himself.

Casey's expression hardened, and she bit down on her lower lip as she saw Pikachu's face. His smile tugged at her heart. After so many years together, she rarely saw Pikachu make expressions like this. But Ash achieved it so easily…

She took her distance from Ash and Pikachu as they shared what remained of the water bottle. Casey didn't go far, just enough to give Ash and Pikachu the space they needed to resume their practice. She sat down on the sand, and Growlithe quickly noted her departure. The pup followed Casey and approached her. Growlithe sniffed at the air and whined as she came close to Casey.

"You don't have to stay with me, Growlithe," Casey said softly, but that didn't stop Growlithe as she leaned against Casey's torso. The close contact between them allowed Casey to experience the warmth of Growlithe's body.

It was different from the harsh sunlight above. This warmth was inviting…comforting.

"Growlithe, you don't train the way Pikachu and Greninja do," Casey noted. She looked at the Pokemon beside her. "Aren't you trying to become stronger like them?"

Growlithe shook her head, and Casey raised her brow.

"Are you okay with that?" She continued.

Growlithe nodded this time.

"But if you're not training, you won't get that much attention from Ash," Casey reasoned. "Don't you think that…won't you be lonely?"

Growlithe grew hotter, but Casey didn't feel the need to create some separation between them.

"I guess not, huh," Casey concluded. "You don't need as much attention as them…" She paused and looked back at Ash and Pikachu as they resumed their exercise. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"

There was a rumble from within Growlithe, and Casey could feel her body shake. Casey returned her gaze to Growlithe, and their eyes locked. Then Growlithe posed her questions…and Casey understood.

"Are you going to be okay?"

Casey didn't think much of it. The warmth from Growlithe was an invitation to answer the question instead of thinking about who asked it.

Casey heaved out a sigh. "I don't know," She admitted. "I used to talk with Pikachu all the time, even when he was in his Pokeball. He didn't talk back at all, but it always helped me feel better knowing that there was someone who would listen to me."

Growlithe rested her head against Casey's body.

"I know I have parents who want to help me…but whenever I talk to Pikachu, it feels different from talking with my mom or dad. I'm not sure why…" Casey trailed off for a moment as she thought about all the times that she overheard Ash talking with Pikachu when they were younger.

She always thought he was crazy. A Pokemon nut, but still her brother. Yet as she spoke to Pikachu's Pokeball, she understood why Ash was always able to face the impossible and square up.

"It makes you feel stronger," Casey continued. "Like you're not alone, no matter who or where you are…but I know Pikachu needs to be with Ash. And ever since he went back to Ash, it feels like I've lost a part of myself. I don't want him to go because I know that I'll be alone again."

Growlithe could feel Casey trembling, and she made one small gesture. Growlithe went in front of Casey and stood on her hind legs while placing her front paws on Casey's body. They were at eye level as Casey sat, and Growlithe leaned forward to place her forehead against Casey's.

"You won't be alone," Growlithe assured her. "I'll be there."

The beginning of a new partnership.

---

Thursday, April 8th

8:46pm.

Charles Goodshow leaned further back into his seat. A sigh escaped his lips as he glanced at his empty office. He rarely had a quiet moment to just sit back in his office in recent times.

At long last, his dream was starting to come together. However, there was still a roadblock that halted progression. Ash Ketchum, his liaison, was supposed to be traveling across Kanto, meeting the strongest trainers and building relationships to help promote the Pokemon League. However, he lacked challengers to help him plot a course for his travels, and Charles didn't want to send him blindly across Kanto. Ash was eager to get going, but he needed someone to help coax more trainers into challenging Ash.

And thankfully, that certain 'someone' finally reached out to him. The phone on his desk rang, and Charles was delighted to hear the voice on the other hand.

"Mr. Goodshow, long time to no see!" A young man exclaimed.

"I know. I miss having the trainers visit my office on the weekends," Charles noted. "How have you been, Joe?"

'Gateway' Joe, a former member of the White Lotus. Previously one of the top ten trainers in the underground circuit during its height in Vermilion City.

"I'm doing well!" Joe answered. "I was shocked when I saw that you left me a voicemail. I'm sorry for missing your call earlier."

"That's quite alright," Charles said as he waved off Joe's apology, not that Joe could see this action. "As you said, you're busy. But I'm glad you called back."

"Well, of course," Joe exclaimed. "It's not every day that Charles Goodshow reaches out to me."

Charles chuckled. "The reason for my call, I have a favor to ask."

"Anything, you name it, I'll do it!" Joe answered.

"To start, can you tell me where you're presently located?" Charles inquired.

"I am in Saffron City right now," Joe explained with a small laugh. "I had to pay a special someone a visit."

"Saffron City is perfect," Charles stated. "Because…I would like you to have a battle with Ash Ketchum."

"Oh yeah, I saw that announcement you made with him on the PokeHub," Joe noted. "I should've known you were calling about that."

Charles stifled a laugh. "I'm not that obvious, am I?"

"Not at all, but this shouldn't really surprise me," Joe went on. "I've heard some people talking about battling him, but most decide against it."

Charles pursed his lips for a moment. "As I thought," He reasoned. "The announcement has gotten some attention on the PokeHub, but Ash hasn't received a direct challenge yet."

"Between you and me," Joe began. "There's not much 'good' footage of that Greninja. I see a beach battle or two get posted daily, but it's just Greninja dominating some average trainers and their Pokemon. The only person to push Greninja was Volkner and Ampharos, who got destroyed once he evolved. So either Greninja is ridiculously strong, and everyone is rightly avoiding him, or he's a fraud that hasn't faced a real opponent yet."

"Oh, that's not fair," Charles interjected. "You can't label Greninja until he's faced some real competition."

"Exactly. No one wants to be the first doubter because of Ash's history in the underground circuit. You'll look like the idiots that thought they could make some free money off of him back in the day. But they all got annihilated by his Pikachu," Joe laughed as he recalled Ash's first few matches as a circuit trainer. "It's the same thing here. You could call his battle against Volkner a fluke because of that weird transformation we saw, but no one wants to be the first to get embarrassed because they thought it was a fluke."

"So, you don't want to be the first to be embarrassed," Charles concluded.

"I didn't say that," Joe pointed out. "That's what everyone is thinking. But I'm going to be the first to beat that Greninja."

Charles could imagine the toothy grin Joe wore as he made that declaration.

"Excellent," Charles remarked. "There were a few people I was going to ask this favor, but I wanted you specifically."

"Oh really, why is that?"

"I'm a little concerned about Ash's expectations of his journey versus the reality he will face," Charles explained. "He's no stranger to struggling, but he hasn't realized that he will have to adapt to continue improving."

"I kind of got that same feeling watching his battle against Volkner. They kind of just bashed their skulls into a wall until they finally broke through because Frogadier evolved into Greninja," Joe commented.

"Exactly. The way Ash and Greninja battle will be inconsistent at best. What we saw against Volkner was everything going right, but pitfalls are waiting for them. That's why I called you," Charles continued with a slight smirk. "I was hoping that you could help Ash step onto one of those pitfalls."

"I gotta say, I'm honored that you would allow me to knock your liaison down a peg or two," Joe remarked. "I'm not going to underestimate them, but I'm looking forward to being the first person to beat Ash and Greninja."

---

Friday, April 9th

Ash's first challenger made his appearance on the PokeHub.

Ash was knee-deep in his afternoon practice with Pikachu when Brock came sprinting to him with his phone held proudly above his head.

"You got one!" Brock hollered, and Rockruff barked as he ran out ahead of Brock.

Ash and Pikachu paused mid-step to look back at the duo. Rockruff arrived first and stopped with ease while Brock came in skidding. Once his balance was set, Brock showed Ash the recording that went live on the PokeHub roughly ten minutes ago.

Joe grinned at the camera. "Hey Ash, not sure if you remember me, it's been a while after all," Joe noted before his expression became neutral. "I saw the video you posted with Charles Goodshow, and I would like to be your first challenger. There's a café in Saffron City called Copycats. You can speak to anyone there to contact me, and we can arrange a battle. I'm really looking forward to this."

Joe shot the camera a smirk with a two-fingered salute before the recording ended. Ash frowned as he replayed the video to study Joe's appearance. He was sharply dressed, and his hair was well-groomed…but Ash didn't recognize him.

"Who is that?" Ash asked as he looked to Brock for an answer.

"You don't remember," Brock noted. "Well, we only spoke with him like twice maybe. This is Joe. He was one of N's closest subordinates in the White Lotus."

Ash shook his head. "Still doesn't ring a bell," He commented. "But if he was close to N, he must be pretty strong," Ash remarked. "And Greninja and I have been looking forward to facing a strong opponent again."

They spent the two weeks facing every trainer in Vermilion City willing to battle Greninja. At first, there were at least ten challenges a day. But as more of the local trainers got a chance to see and hear about Greninja's abilities, that number shrunk. Greninja could hold his own against any opponent with his current skills and physical attributes. None of their opponents could stop Greninja from using his preferred style of battle, and the victories piled up.

Some requested that Greninja have a rematch with Ampharos and Volkner, but both parties turned down the idea. Their rematch already had a prerequisite, one that Ash and Greninja made no progress fulfilling since it was made.

"If the two of you ever master that transformation, I'd be more than happy to go all out against you with Ampharos," Volkner said, and they shared a nod.

Greninja's transformation was still missing in action. Ash and Greninja tried to draw out that mysterious transformation throughout their many battles, but it had yet to appear again. So, a rematch against Volkner would have to wait. But Ash was eager to see Greninja face another powerful opponent. Hopefully, Joe would be able to test their limits.

"How soon can we leave?" Ash inquired as he looked at Brock.

"Well, we could try to leave tonight, but we still have to load up our supplies into the car, so I doubt we'll get to drive much before the sun sets, which means we'll have to stop at the first rest stop on Route 6 for the night," Brock explained. "It might be better to just get everything set and wait until tomorrow morning. We might be able to finish the whole trip in one day with you, me, and Gary driving, so we shouldn't need to stop too often."

"Hehe," Ash snickered at the mention that he would be driving.

His driving retest took place yesterday, and the results were far better this time. Ash received his interim license on the spot, and he was informed that his official driver's license would be sent to his former home, now May's house. Both Ash and Gary used it as their home address, and May promised to make the arrangements to have their licenses delivered to them once they arrived.

"Alright then," Ash crossed his arms. "We'll set out tomorrow morning!"

There was no time to waste! They rounded up Gary and their Pokemon to share the news as they returned to their car. The plan was to thoroughly prepare for their departure tomorrow, though comically, Gary suggested that one of them was bound to forget their wallet or toothbrush.

As they piled into Brock's car, an old pickup truck parked two spots down from them. Casey could be seen in the passenger seat, and she waved to them before she jumped out to approach them.

"Are you guys heading out already?" She asked them as Gary climbed into the backseat of the car.

Ash flashed her a grin. "Yup! I got my first challenger today! He's in Saffron City, so we'll be leaving tomorrow."

Casey raised her brow. "Tomorrow?" She exclaimed. "That's really short notice."

"Well, the plan was to take on anyone who issues a challenge, wherever they are," Ash answered.

"Do you plan on coming back to Vermilion City?" Casey inquired.

"I don't know. Not of us really know what will happen once we start traveling," Ash answered her. "But we'll see."

"Then uh…can you stop by my house before you leave tomorrow?" Casey asked.

Ash furrowed his brow. "Sure, but what for?"

"You'll see," She replied with a wave. Then she returned to Volkner's truck, where he could be found inspecting one of the front tires.

"Hey Ash, let's get moving," Brock called out from within his car. "I'm sure Mr. Goodshow will want to hear about your first challenger."

---

The rest of the day raced by as the trio of Ash, Brock, and Gary returned to the Hidden Cove to complete their preparations for tomorrow. Charles Goodshow gave them an open invitation to get any supplies they needed from the storage room.

Brock took charge of gathering the supplies they would need, which started with some of the obvious practical gear. First aid kits, a small tool kit to make minor repairs on Brock's car, and camping gear if they couldn't reach a rest stop. With his time out in the wild assisting with several rounds of beta tests for the Pokedex, Brock knew what was required to spend an extended time on the Routes between major cities.

In terms of clothing, each of them already obtained spare changes of clothes from the mall in Vermilion City. Brock also suggested they get an extra pair of boots and jackets to sleep in at night. Of course, Kanto was just entering its spring season, which offered picture-perfect weather almost every day, but that wouldn't stop them from packing rain gear. While Gary and Brock loaded the trunk of Brock's car, Charles Goodshow pulled Ash aside to speak with him.

"I must say, after all these years, it's a delight to finally see you heading out on your journey," Charles paused to clear his throat. "So, I'd like to ask you one last question."

"Anything, Mr. Goodshow," Ash said with a motion for him to proceed.

"Tell me…what do you expect out of this journey?"

Ash tilted his head. "What do I expect?" He repeated.

"Yes," Charles nodded. "What do you hope to achieve during your travels."

Ash pushed his lips up as he thought about his answer. "I want to understand Pokemon way more than I do now, and I want to help other people do the same. That's why I want to battle as many people as possible because that helps us build on those connections we have with each other and our Pokemon. I think that's the path I have to follow to become the Pokemon Master."

Charles beamed at his response. "I like that answer," Charles said with a chuckle. "I'm glad that this arrived today, and I think you'll find it to be a great help on your journey."

Charles reached into his jacket pocket to pull out a small red device. He placed it in Ash's hands and invited him to activate it. Ash flipped open and saw that it offered a dual-screen that almost resembled the handheld game consoles he used to play with.

"This is a Pokedex, the second generation of our prototype series," Charles explained.

"The Pokedex," Ash said softly. The device that Brock spent the last few years working on.

"It took me far longer to get this for you than I anticipated," Charles explained. "When you agreed to be my liaison, I called our manufacturer to have one made just for you. I wanted this Pokedex to be a blank slate to see how it performs with you on your journey. Go ahead, turn it on."

Ash placed his thumb on the power button, and the device came to life. Once it powered up, the Pokedex listed its features on the top screen for Ash to select. As a trial run, Charles told him to choose the camera mode and take a picture of Pikachu. Ash followed his instructions and aimed the device at Pikachu, who sat on the roof of Brock's car, watching as he and Gary filled the trunk.

The snapshot was quick and easy, and Ash watched as the Pokedex focused on Pikachu within the image it had. Ash jumped as the Pokedex began to speak, and he was left juggling it between his two hands as it continued.

"Pikachu, the Mouse Pokemon. Pikachu can generate electricity through motion and then discharge it through the electric pouches on their cheeks. Their tails function as a lightning rod and can also be used to check their surroundings."

By the time the Pokedex finished offering its insights on Pikachu, Ash had managed to catch it and looked at Charles with wide eyes.

"It talks?!" He exclaimed.

Charles merely laughed. "Of course, its purpose is to teach trainers and even regular people about Pokemon. As you use it more, you'll see that the Pokedex knows much more than what it shared just now. But I will trust Brock and Gary to show you what else the Pokedex can do."

Ash looked back to the Pokedex in his hands, almost waiting for a snide remark about his previous comment. Thankfully, the device had nothing further to add.

"So, the Pokedex is supposed to help people get to know more about Pokemon," Ash went on.

"All that and much more," Charles added. "Hopefully, this device will play a part in establishing the Pokemon League."

A toothy grin cropped up on Ash's face. "I'll do my best with it, Mr. Goodshow."

---

Saturday, April 10th

Ash yawned as he sat in the passenger seat of Brock's car. He had the window down to blast his face with early morning air to wake himself up.

It wasn't often that he struggled to sleep, but the excitement kept him up all night on the eve of their departure. Ash tossed and turned all night, and Pikachu abandoned him to join Greninja on his makeshift futon. Despite a restless night, Ash was still ready to burst as they left the Hidden Cove earlier.

Melissa was there to send them off on the roadway that left the cove. She wished them luck and added a reminder for Brock to 'behave himself.' Brock insisted that he was always on his best behavior, but everyone present rolled their eyes.

Their first stop was May's house to say goodbye to her and Milo. There was a promise that they would all do their best to keep to touch, and Brock also gave May the PokeHub access code so that she could follow their travels. After that was Casey's house. They traveled twenty minutes across town to get there and found Casey, her parents, and Growlithe waiting for Ash on their front porch.

With the privacy offered by the high fence on the property, Pikachu could safely scurry out of the car and join Ash as he stepped out of the vehicle. Once Ash opened the gate, Pikachu and Growlithe ran up to each other and touched foreheads as a greeting. Ash waved to Spencer and Monica, and then he directed all of his attention onto his younger sister. She fidgeted in her place, with her hands concealed behind her back.

"So, you're really going off?" Casey began.

Ash nodded. "Yup, today is the big day."

"Do you have any idea where you're going after Saffron City?"

Ash shook his head. "Nope," But then he added with a wink. "Wherever a challenger is, that's where I'm going next."

Casey perked up, a smile on her face. "Well, since you'll be battling trainers all over the place, I got you something to help you make good first impressions," Casey revealed what she was hiding until this point. A thin box with a ribbon tied around the center.

She extended the gift toward Ash, who accepted.

"Mmm, what did-ja get me?" Ash asked her as he pulled at the ribbon. It dropped, but Growlithe jumped between them to catch it. She trotted back to Pikachu proudly as the ribbon danced behind her.

Casey didn't answer as Ash removed the lid of the box. Perfectly folded within the box was a jacket, and Ash dropped the lid and the box once he had his hands on it. Casey stifled a laugh as she watched Ash unfold the jacket to inspect it further. It was short-sleeved with a white high collar. He didn't hesitate to put it on over his t-shirt, and he left the buttons undone.

"Oh man, do I look cool or what?!" Ash exclaimed as he pulled at the collar. Growlithe barked, and Pikachu gave him a thumbs up.

Casey removed her phone from her pocket to take a picture of him. "Pikachu, do you want to get in on this?"

Pikachu darted to Ash's feet and scaled his body onto his shoulder. Together they gave Casey's camera a peace sign as she took a snapshot. Growlithe wanted to get in on the picture, but she was a step late, and nothing more than the back of her head could be seen as she joined Ash and Pikachu. Casey giggled as she took another picture for Growlithe's sake, though Ash stooped down for her to zoom on the trio. With two of his three Pokemon involved in a picture, Ash made one final request and called Greninja out of his Pokeball.

There was a short exchange between Ash and Greninja, in which Greninja praised the color choice of the jacket Casey gifted to Ash. Then Ash stood proudly with all of his Pokemon for Casey to take a picture of them.

Of course, Monica stepped down from the porch for Casey to join Ash and the Pokemon in another picture. And the number of people kept increasing as they called for Brock and Gary to join the group. It turned into one massive group shot, where all of the trainers called out their Pokemon.

Spencer and Monica wished them luck as Brock and Gary returned to the car. Ash and Casey were allowed to speak one more time. Casey looked at his jacket once more and reached out to straighten the hem.

"Thanks for this, Casey," Ash said to her softly. "I'll make sure I wear this jacket with distinction."

"There's no need to try to impress me with big words Ash," Casey responded. "Just do what you do on the battlefield."

Ash stuck out the tip of his tongue. "Will do, kiddo," They bumped fists, and Casey did the same with Pikachu. Ash then kneeled down to speak with Growlithe, who stood beside Casey. "Growlithe, make sure you take good care of her, alright?"

Growlithe barked, her eyes shining as she made her promise to do so.

Once Ash straightened up, he gave Spencer and Monica one final wave, then he turned to leave.

"June 27th!" Casey called out, and Ash looked back. "I graduate on June 27th! Make sure you're here to see it!"

Ash beamed at her and raised his hand to give her a thumbs up. "You bet!"

Brock tooted the car horn to signal that it was time to get going. Ash popped the collar of his jacket, thumbed the tip of his nose, and looked skyward.

The journey starts today!

---

A/N

Welcome to My Wings Phase Two. Phase One (Chapters 1-9) was centered around a sort of redemption arc for Ash. Now in Phase Two (Chapters 10-?), he will finally start to travel, and we will start to focus on other subjects around Ash. You could compare Ash's story going forward to a classic badge quest, although a few key features are missing *wink wink* and then you have the developing Pokemon League, the Vanguard, more Pokemon, and new traveling companions. There is a lot of stuff to keep you entertained now that the journey is underway. This chapter was a slow start, but things will start to ramp up again very quickly.

I remember not too long ago I said I probably won't write chapters that go into the 20k range...and I already went back on my word, lol! I don't even understand how they're getting this long. If my outlines for the following two chapters are any indication, this may be the new normal for the first few chapters of Ash's travels, so enjoy!

I have a bit of bad news to add to this author's note. It's good news for me, but not so good for the story. I will (This one word changed so many times in the past few weeks lol) be starting a new job, and much sooner than I originally thought. I've been waiting on more definite news, that's why I delayed this chapter so much. I can already tell this job will demand a lot of time from me, but I've always had work expectations to keep up with and I never considered abandoning my writing. But, I am expecting the pace I write at to drop considerably until I get used to my new schedule. I want to apologize because I know my updates already take a while, but I'm going to assume that it will take even longer to update going forward. I'm very sorry, but that's how life is sometimes. Gotta make money to eat and pay rent. As long as I got those things covered, I will continue to write! :) Your patience with me is always appreciated, and I promise to do my best to deliver more content!

My usual praise and appreciation go out to my beta, MjrGenMatt, for his help with this chapter. Also, many thanks to those of you who reviewed! Wishing you all the best!