With fond memories of the Safari Zone fresh in their minds, our heroes continue on their journey.

"Feels weird to be back in a city, huh, Misty?" Ash remarked.

Misty nodded, looking around the city, "Sure does. Being out in the jungle was great, but it's kinda nice to come back to civilization."

"Particularly where's plumbing and other modern bare necessities." Laoise added.

"Hey, Pikachu. Let's have a humongous meal when we get to the Pokémon Center." Ash smiled up at his pokèmon.

Pikachu chirped. "Piii Pika Pika!"

Laoise said, "I call dibs on boneless buffalo wings with celery stick and blue cheese on the side!"

Misty said, "I want a hotdog!"

Brock said. "I want a deep dish, extra cheese pizza. Mm!"

Our heroes soon spotted something up ahead. They were looking at a very wide bridge that reached 20 kilometers in length.

Brock commented, "So, it's being completed already."

Now they were looking up at a sign post which stated that the bridge in question, was still under construction. But they can go straight to Sunny Town on the opposite shore without going all the way around. They reached the start of the bridge and talked with the toll booth operator.

"Well, I'm afraid the bridge isn't completely finished. See there?" he pointed to the cranes working on the bridge. "Even if it were finished, this bridge is only for cars, anyway."

Ash questioned. "The bridge is only for cars? Couldn't we just walk across it?"

Toll booth operator: "Well, this bridge is over ten miles long. It'd be dark before you reach the other side. Course, you might be able to cross if you had bicycles."

Soon, two cyclists pass through the toll gates.

"Hey, Norman!" One of the cyclists waved.

"Ride safely!"

"I thought you said the bridge isn't finished." said Misty.

"The road isn't finished, but the bicycle path is. If you had bikes, you could cross too."

Ash mumbled, "Wish we did."

"Well." Misty began haughtily.

Ash soon sweat dropped because he knew what Misty's gonna say in regard to bicycles.

"If a certain someone here hadn't totally destroyed my bike, we could be just zipping right across this bridge now, couldn't we?" Misty said her nose in the air.

"Well, yeah. Maybe."

"Uhm, you can't fit four people onto one bike remember?!" Laoise pointed out.

Misty laughs sheepishly.

Laise then addressed Norman. "What about pokèmon? Is it okay if I ride my new Ponyta across?"

Norman nodded. "If you stay with your group, don't get in anyone's way, and go the same speed as a bicycle, it wouldn't hurt."

"Alright!" Laoise smiled. "I'll have Professor Oak transfer my Ponyta once we reach the Pokèmon Center."

Brock began uncertainly. "I would advise against it right now, it's important from a safety perspective to have you new pokèmon get used to your presence. A Ponyta is still a horse pokèmon."

Laoise remembered. "Oh, right. Details. I don't want him or her to burn me the first time I try riding."

"You'd also someone with you in case something goes wrong and you need help or medical attention."

"Maybe there's a bike shop nearby that we can go to."

However, the group then sees a bike store, but their prices are expensive. The group headed to the Pokémon Center for lunch and to think of a plan.

In the Pokèmon Center, a worried Nurse Joy explained she had to deliver medicine for injured Pokémon over the bridge to Sunnytown.

At the counter, Nurse Joy handed our heroes a tray with a bag with a special Pokémon medication inside.

"I need someone to deliver this medicine to the Pokémon Center in Sunny Town. Normally, I'd go myself, but I'm too busy with sick Pokémon to leave the Center right now."

Ash asked. "It's just over the bridge, right?"

Nurse Joy nodded. "That's right."

Misty said, "But we don't have any bicycles."

"And well, I should've said something sooner, but… I can't ride a bicycle." Laoise admitted sheepishly.

"You're telling us this now?" Misty scolded.

Nurse Joy smiled brightly, "No problem! I'll let you use some of our bicycles. There should an electric scooter fit for young teens as well."

Ash, Misty and Laoise looked at each other, exchanging excited smiles.

"We'll do it!"

Ash added, "We'll do anything we can if it's to help a sick Pokémon!"

Misty agreed. "Even if that means we'll have to zip across the bridge on bikes!"

"That's great! The bikes are in the parking lot, the bike and scooters are all waterproof and thank you!"

Misty and Brock ride a tandem bicycle, Laoise on a motorized scooter with a seat, whilst Ash leads in his single bike, enjoying the bridge's view and fresh air.

Meanwhile, below the bridge, James rows an inflatable boat whilst Jessie and Meowth peer through their binoculars and notice Ash and his friends. Jessie and James mention the area could almost be considered their hometown and make plans to target Pikachu.

Eventually our heroes have stopped for a break and are having something to drink. Just after they finished their refreshments, a gang of thugs are spotted on bikes heading for them.

"Uh oh! Who are they?" questioned Misty.

Brock stood up, "It's a bicycle gang!"

Misty sweat dropped. "A bicycle gang?"

"And I don't think they're friendly." Laoise said.

"I think we better get outta here." Brock suggested.

However, our heroes find themselves surrounded by the punks.

The Lead biker, a teen with wild red hair chuckled and took off his glasses. "I don't think I've seen you before."

"Right. Uh, we're not really from around here. So, uh, see ya." Ash said.

"Hold it!"

Our heroes froze nervously.

"You ain't gonna cross this bridge without a proper introduction."

"That's right!" The other bikers interjected.

Ash rushed up to the lead biker. "Uh, hello!"

Misty rushed up to the lead biker. "It's a pleasure."

Laoise was next. "How's she cuttin'?"

Brock was last, "Very nice to meet you."

"See you again sometime!" The quartet said.

"Take care now Bye-bye then!" Laoise waved.

The Lead biker glowered. "That's no introduction!"

The second in command, a girl with dyed green hair got off her bike. "When we say introduction, we mean Pokémon battle."

Ash smirked. "A Pokémon battle? Alright, I accept."

Brock blushed at the sight of the biker girl. "I'd do anything for an introduction to a girl like you. Would you go out with me?"

Our heroes fell over in embarrassment, however, the second in command attacked him with a bike.

"Get lost, loser! I only care about my bike and my gang!" The girl folded her arms.

"Is that a no?" Brock grunted.

Soon, the area is cleared and ready for the battle.

"Alright, let's get started, then we'll see who's the master?"

The Lead biker, Chopper, jeered. "Heh. You think you can play with the big boys? I'll send you home crying. Golem, go!"

Golem materialized. The golem pokèmon was a bipedal tortoise-like boulder Pokémon with a spherical body covered by a shell of plated, green rocks. Its head protruded from the center of the shell. The head had a flat snout with two pointed teeth in the lower jaw and red eyes. It had short arms that have three claws and two legs with feet that have four claws in front and one in back. The head and limbs are light brown.

Ash and Laoise pulled out their respective Pokédexs to analyze it.

"Golem, a Megaton Pokémon. Once a year it sheds its bedrock shell and grows larger."

Ash called on Bulbasaur. Golem's shell protected it from Bulbasaur's Vine Whip and it easily wins with a single Tackle. Ash then sends out Charmander, who sets Golem alight with Flamethrower and Fire Spin. Golem's Tackle misses Charmander, and it strikes several of the gang members instead, making Ash and Charmander laugh at their misfortune. Chopper withdrew his Golem, but the Poké Ball is still hot from Charmander's attack.

Now the second in command took the lead biker's place. "Now it's my turn to show you! I choose you, Cloyster. Crush this wimp!"

A Cloyster materialized. It was a black bivalve mollusk Pokémon. It was encased inside a light-gray shell, which is surrounded by a second jagged, blue-violet outer shell casing. It had one barb-like spike protruding from above its head, and multiple conical horns on its outer shell. On its pearl-like face, it has two white eyes and a mouth. Aside from its face and head, its internal anatomy has never been seen.

"Wow, is that what I think it is?" An amazed Laoise held out Dixie while Ash held Dexter.

"Cloyster, a Bivalve Pokémon. It's shell is incredibly strong and resistant to a bomb. Its shell only opens when it attacks."

Ash said, "Okay, no sweat."

Misty the stepped up, "It's a water Pokémon, just leave it to me!"

"But a water vs water battle will be a stalemate, why not let Pikachu or one of he Grass types take it?"

"Trust me."

The Second in command sneered at Misty, "You battle? This should be quick."

"Starmie, go!"

However, instead of Starmie, Psyduck leaves its PokéBall and materializes, causing Misty to collapse in disbelief.

"Psyduck, what are you doing here? I wanted Starmie, not you! Well, now that you're out, give it a try."

Psyduck casually walked onto the battlefield, to the surprise and laughter of the second in command biker and the rest of the gang much to Misty's embarrassment.

"She may as well make the best of it." Laoise sighed.

"Psyduck, use your Tail Whip attack." Misty said.

However, the display ends up causing Ash to stifle his laughter.

"Er, from this angle Psyduck looks like he's dancing." Laoise commented.

Psyduck's initial attacks repeatedly backfire on it. Misty attempted to have Psyduck use Confusion and Disable, however he can only so when his headache is severe enough.

"Psyduck needs help!" In frustration, Misty picked up a bike. "I'll have to give it a headache myself!"

Brock held Misty's legs to keep her back. "Don't do it, Misty!"

"Misty, no! It's a rental!" Laoise yelped.

However, before things can escalate, a siren is heard coming from the direction our heroes came from)

Team Rocket arrives, riding on unicycles and saying their motto. They receive a heroes' welcome from the bicycle gang, who refer to Jessie as 'Chainer Jessie' and 'Big Jess' for her penchant of swinging a chain around as she rode her bike, and James as 'Little Jim' and 'Trainer James' because he was the only one in the bike gang who had to use training wheels.

Our heroes are slightly embarrassed to hear Jessie's and James' bike gang days. Just as Team Rocket and the bike gang begin to attack the four, the police arrive.

The bike gang immediately rode off, almost leaving Team Rocket behind. When Officer Jenny arrived, she offered them a ride, though she had to retract her offer after being called to another emergency.

As the weather became ferocious and turned into a storm, the bicycle gang and Team Rocket took refuge in a building. Chopper and Tyra then challenge Team Rocket to ride through the storm on their unicycles. The whole trio fell for the peer pressure and accepted the task.

In Sunnytown, Nurse Joy calls the other Pokémon Center; she is worried that medicine hasn't arrived to cure the injured Pokémon, a Shellder. As Ash and his friends continue to ride through the rainstorm, the bridge lifts to allow a ship to pass through. However, they determinedly continue riding. Simultaneously, Team Rocket is trying their hardest to pedal their unicycles up the other side of the upturned bridge.

Just as the quartet are not going to make it, they saw Team Rocket jumping from the other side and promptly bounce on their heads, sending the trio into the water while allowing themselves to be propelled upward and on to the other side. Laoise makes it due to a tip: when you get to the top, don't slow down, speed up!

It was a long shot but the scooter landed right behind Ash, Misty and Brock.

Laoise opened her eyes and sighed. "Wow, it worked!"

As she and the others pass the bike gang, they are challenged to a battle.

Ash snapped at the gang. "I'm delivering medicine to a sick Pokémon! Outta my way!"

"What?"

Tyra, the second in command, questioned. "You mean that's why you're out in this storm?"

Misty nodded sternly. "That's right!"

"That's why we were crossing the bridge in the first place!" Laoise added.

Chopper was impressed. "Unbelievable! That's a REAL biker for ya!" And he turned to the Sunny Town Riders. "Listen up, guys! We're gonna take em there in style!"

The entire gang agreed, and once the storm subsided, our heroes head to the Pokémon Center with the Sunny Town Riders as an escort.

"Don't worry, guys! We'll clear the way for ya!"

Meanwhile, at the Sunny Town Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy is anxiously waiting for our heroes to arrive. Soon, she spotted them and the Sunny Town Riders riding in. Inside the Pokémon Center, the delivery is complete.

"You made it through in a storm like this. Now this little one will be just fine." Nurse Joy poured the medicine into the tank, and Shellder is instantly healed.

Misty phoned through to the other town's Nurse Joy, alerting her to their arrival then she looked over to our heroes and the Sunny Town Riders celebrating.

Chopper cheered. "You guys were amazing out there." He looked to Ash, "From now on, we're calling you "Awesome" Ash!"

Tyra turned to Misty, "'Mighty' Misty!" And to Laoise she said, "Laoise the fierce!"

"Kind has a nice ring to it." Laoise flushed.

Ash rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "Well, gosh. I'm not really THAT awesome."

Brock hurried to take Tyra's hand, "You can call me honey."

Tyra just slapped Brock.

Our brave friends finally save the sick Pokémon and made it through the storm to Sunny Town. The bike gang has some new heroes, worthy of admiration.

After departing Sunnytown, the group is now walking the countryside again. When it began to rain, they stumbled across an old house in the middle of nowhere. Believing it to be deserted, they go inside. To their surprise, Pikachu plays with what seems to be another Pikachu.

"That can't be Storm!" Laoise blinked. "She's in her pokéball."

Ash wondered. "If it's not Storm, then where'd that other Pikachu come from?"

The other Pikachu copied everything that Ash's Pikachu did.

"How cute!" Misty went over to the other Pikachu and picks it up. "Hi there!"

Misty's delight became surprise and shock when she sees the Pikachu's face is very different from Ash's Pikachu.

"What is this?! What's wrong with it?!" And she dropped it.

"What's your problem?" Ash demanded.

"That Pikachu doesn't look right!" Misty yelped.

Everyone went to see what Misty meant. The other 'Pikachu's' face consisted of beady eyes and a simple mouth pulled into a smile.

"Could be a new type of Pikachu." Brock guessed.

Ash tries to catch it, but another Pokéball knocked Ash's Pokéball out of the air, to the surprise of our heroes. They turned to see someone dressed like Ash.

Misty was stunned. "Hey, Ash, that guy's dressed just like you!"

Brock was analytical. "Hmm. Except its a girl."

"How can you tell?"

"Men's intuition." Brock answered

Laoise squinted at the other figure. "The hair is blue, the eyes are brown. Those are the other details"

"Who are you?" Ash demanded.

"Tell me who you are." The stranger said in a perfect imitation of Ash's voice.

Ash fired back. "I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"

"Duplica, from The House of Imite." The girl answered.

"Imite? Like, imitate? Is that why you look just like me?"

Duplica nodded. "That's right."

Misty whispered. "You're right, Brock. She is a girl.

Brock put a hand to his chin thoughtfully. "But she may be a little young for me."

"You're sad." Misty grimaced.

Duplica's face fell when she went to the other Pikachu. "Aw. It still hasn't gotten over that old habit."

The Pikachu begins to glow and transforms into a pink glob with eyes and a smile.

Ash gets out Dexter.

"Ditto, a Transform Pokémon. It is able to rearrange the cells of its body and assume any form. Its only attack is Transform."

Misty starts petting Ditto with a small laugh. "Squishy."

"Kinda cute." Laoise said, also patting it. The texture was soft and rubbery.

Ash said. "And Ditto can make itself look just like anything!"

"Can you give us a demonstration?" Laoise questioned.

Duplica nodded. "Sure. Whatcha got?"

"Hmm, how about my Oddish, Leafy?" Laoise said. And she let Leafy out. "Hey, Leafy, check out this Ditto."

Leafy materialized and looked at the Ditto curiously.

"Yeah. Ditto, Transform into that Oddish."

Ditto glows and turned into a near exact copy of Leafy. It was an astonishing feat but there was still one key difference between the two.

Brock noticed, "It's face stayed the same. When it transforms, shouldn't it be able to change completely?"

"Yeah, it still can't change its face."

The mansion is called "the House of Imite" and serves as a rest stop and performance space for her imitation shows. Upon reading Ditto's entry in the Pokédex and hearing that it cannot learn any other attacks besides Transform, Ash is unconvinced of its usefulness in a battle, so Duplica challenges him to one. Ash chooses Bulbasaur and tries to attack using Razor Leaf, but Duplica's Ditto Transforms and wins using a Vine Whip attack.

Our heroes soon entered Duplica's costume room, where she did nearly well imitations of Officer, Jenny, Nurse Joy and even Misty.

"Wow! With that kind of talent you can make it big in the theater business!" Laoise said.

Yet Duplica explained that she wants to be a Ditto Master and a star. However, she cannot achieve this goal because her Ditto is unable to mirror other Pokémon' faces and always retains the face of a Ditto, much to the disappointment of her audiences.

Then, Team Rocket appears and tries to steal Ditto, in the hopes that they can get it to transform into Dratini and present it to their boss as a Legendary Pokémon. Using Weezing's Smokescreen, they are able to escape with Ditto. Once they are away from the house, Jessie and James try to test Ditto's power by having it turn into a Dratini from a picture in a book that they have. However, Jessie suddenly says that they should have a little bit of fun before handing Ditto over to the boss. She asks Ditto to transform into what a certain boy would look like if he were an adult, and pulls out a photo frame. James and Meowth then try to get Jessie to show the picture to them, but she refuses. Ditto agrees, and transforms into a picture of a man with blue hair, though it has Ditto's face - much tot Jame and Meowth's amusement. When it licked Jessie's face, James and Meowth laugh hysterically, but Jessie responds by furiously slapping them unconscious. She then commands Ditto to become a Dratini, but instead, it transforms into a book, which aggravates Jessie even further.

Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Ash talks about how a Trainer decides how a Ditto would transform. Pidgeotto, Skyler and Zubat, who were on guard, return with news that they saw Ditto. The quartet then decide to go and save Ditto. Elsewhere, Team Rocket, frustrated at Ditto's inability to fully transform into whatever they wish, threaten it into transforming correctly, pleasing them. Just then, Ash, Brock, Laoise, Misty, and Duplica, all dressed in Team Rocket uniforms, arrive and perform their own variation of Team Rocket's motto, much to the anger of the troublesome trio. The group then demands Ditto back, but are surprised to see two identical Meowth.

However, Duplica is happy that Team Rocket was able to get her Ditto to transform correctly. Team Rocket tries to trick them by giving them the real Meowth and escaping in their balloon with Ditto. However, this fails when Duplica says she can tell that Meowth isn't her Ditto, even though it looks identical to the other Meowth. She throws Meowth at the balloon, causing Team Rocket to drop Ditto. Duplica tells it to transform into a cannon and fire Pikachu at the balloon. After being hit by Pikachu's Thunder Shock, the balloon bursts and Team Rocket is blasted off again.

Ditto returns to its previous form and jumped into Duplica's arms for a hug.

"That was great! You've learned how to completely transform!" Duplica cheered, "Ditto, would you please transform into a Pikachu?"

Ditto then transforms into a perfect copy of Pikachu.

Misty applauded. "That's amazing! Ditto transforms perfectly!"

"Awesome!" Laoise smiled.

Ash grinned. "I can hardly believe it! Team Rocket was actually good for something."

Brock complimented. "Yeah, and the way Ditto transforms into objects is great!"

Both Pikachu and Ditto thank Ash, but sound so similar that Ash can't tell them apart.

"But now I can't tell which one's my Pikachu."

Duplica smirked. "Then I guess you and your friend Laoise need to keep training, Ashy boy." She then picks up the Pikachu on the right. "Right, Ditto?"

Ditto reverted to its original form as it and Duplica hugged as our heroes watched with smiles.

Later, Duplica is seen fixing up the outside of The House of Imite, to have it reopened. She thanked the group, and they leave, with Ash hoping to catch his own Ditto someday. Our heroes helped bring the sunshine back into another trainer's life. Who knows what rewards and adventures await them, beyond the rainbow.

Laoise, Ash, Misty, Brock and Pikachu made their way to the nearest Pokémon Center, where they discover that the Poké Ball transmitting device is malfunctioning. On Nurse Joy's request, they go to Professor Akihabara, the one who created the Poké Ball transfer system. He told them that Team Rocket stole his prototype Porygon, a digital Pokémon that can exist in cyberspace, and is using it to steal trainers' Pokémon from inside the computer system.

Akihabara sends the group and his second Porygon into the cyberspace system, using his Dimension Transporter, to stop Team Rocket, whom they learn have set up a blockade that stops Pokéballs from traveling the network. Porygon is able to defeat Team Rocket's Porygon;

Unfortunately, Nurse Joy, monitoring the situation and unaware that Ash and the others are inside, has sent an antivirus program into the system which indiscriminately targets everything and anything, including Team Rocket, Ash, and his friends. Trying to fix the problem himself, the doctor did not tell Joy about Team Rocket. As the antivirus targets the group, Porygon gathers Ash and his friends to attempt an escape. From the ground, Team Rocket calls Ash out for running away, but are corrected by Ash when he tells them to run from the antivirus. The antivirus then launches a few rockets that destroy the remainder of the Poké Ball barrier, thus destroying the virus. However, the vaccine keeps going. Meowth and the prototype Porygon rescue a panicking Jessie and James from the moving sea of Poké Balls and join Akihabara's Porygon in an attempt to escape.

The vaccine transforms into an object that resembles a flying spaceship and takes pursuit. It launches more missiles that both of the Porygon dodge with difficulty. Inside the Center, Nurse Joy and the technician command the antivirus to unleash a powerful attack. Revealing a gigantic particle gun, it locks onto the prototype Porygon and fires a huge beam, sending Team Rocket downward into a cyberspace bug hole created by the powerful attack. The bug holes created by the antivirus's beam cause a system error, and Joy orders the technician not to use the attack again.

Team Rocket awakens at the bottom of one of the bug pits, and they realize that their Porygon is knocked out and that they cannot escape. The flying antivirus locks onto them again, but Bulbasaur's Vine Whip intervenes. Held onto Akihabara's Porygon by Bulbasaur, Team Rocket weighs Porygon down and slows its progress toward the exit portal. The antivirus locks onto Akihabara's Porygon and fires four more missiles, which it is unable to dodge. Pikachu steps in and launches a destructive Electric attack, detonating two of the missiles and giving Porygon just enough time to escape through the exit portal. The next two missiles hit the portal itself, destroying Akihabara's entire house, much to Akihabara's dismay, as his Human Transporter is now in pieces.

In the remains of the mansion, the four are relieved to be back in home. Team Rocket thanks Ash for saving them and then quickly leaves, forgetting their prototype Porygon. Ash and his friends decide to check in on the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy is relieved to see the Transport system working again, oblivious to the fact that Ash and his friends risked their lives to fix the system. Ultimately, the four decide not to tell Joy of the whole ordeal, instead finally asking her to restore Pikachu.

Soon after, the four took a break in a quiet forest. Pikachu is seen climbing in a tree to get a berry, while Misty, Brock and Laoise leaned against the tree.

"The air's so fresh and the water's beautiful. What a great place this is for a rest!"

"It is. Even if it's just to listen to music and enjoy the view."

Brock was leaning back using her back as a pillow. "Yeah, it sure is nice to kick back and relax a little."

Suddenly, Ash comes swinging in on a vine yelling like Tomo from the Safari Zone. "This is fun!"

"Ash! Look out, that tree!" Misty cried.

Laoise pointed. "Watch out for that...!"

Ash soon spots the tree and smacks right into it.

"Tree." Laoise finished.

"Jungle boy." Misty said sarcastically.

"He'll never learn." Brock sighed.

Pikachu climbed down his tree to check on Ash. Suddenly, Pikachu spots another but younger Pikachu, and when he tried to say hello, the little Pikachu runs away, prompting Ash's Pikachu to follow gaining the attention of our heroes.

When Pikachu finally stopped, our heroes did too. There out on a clearing was an entire colony of Pikachu.

Laoise gave a delighted gasp. "It's a whole pack of Pikachu!"

Everyone watched as the Pikachu swarm play and live in their habitat. Laoise's eyes sparkled with endearing joy at the sight of the baby Pikachu.

Brock guessed with a smile. "Those must be wild Pikachu."

Misty said, "I've never seen so many Pikachu in one place!"

Ash looked concerned about Pikachu, as he saw that Pikachu was happily attempting to greet their own kind, only for the whole swarm to run away when he went up to greet them.

Then a young Pikachu just approached Pikachu. As everyone watched and waited. The little one sniffed Pikachu before showing off it's own tail and the two Pikachu shook tails as a human would shake hands. Soon, the entire Pikachu group welcomed Pikachu.

"Alright!" Ash started walking out of the bushes.

"Ash, wait!" Laoise tried to pull him back but failed.

Ash, also eager to join the Pikachu clan, runs toward them, but they flee in fear. Ash was surprised. Later, he and the others are soon siting by the river. Laoise had let Storm out for a bit.

"I'm sorry, Pikachu. But, why would those Pikachu be afraid of us?" Ash apologized.

Misty guessed. "They probably haven't had much contact with humans before."

Brock added. "I don't think too many people come this far into the forest."

"I do know you wouldn't do anything to hurt them, Ash, don't take it personally." Laoise said gently. "The thing is those Pikachu are wild, and they literally don't know that you didn't mean any harm."

"This place must be perfect for those Pikachu." Misty said.

Ash blinked. "You mean like a Pikachu paradise?"

"When you think about it, maybe it's better to keep out distance from them and vice versa. If they get too trusting with humans, they might..." Laoise then became a little uncomfortable. "well, inadvertently get a tad too close to the wrong sort."

The others appeared to understand what she was getting at. Storm and Pikachu looked at her solemnly.

Brock said, "I'd sure hate to do anything that would disturb all those Pikachu here."

Misty added. "Yeah, me neither."

Ash sighed. "Yeah."

Storm looked a little glum at the mention of a Pikachu colony.

As our heroes talked, the baby Pikachu from earlier watches from a tree branch, when it suddenly slips and falls into the river, grabbing our heroes' attention.

Misty spun around. "What's that?!"

Ash gasped "It's one of those Pikachu!"

"The little baby one!" Laoise cried.

Storm froze, almost as in shock. Ash's Pikachu jumps in the river to save it. Pikachu then surfaces and grabs on to the younger Pikachu, but they both get swept further down river.

However, the wild Pikachu show up and save them both by forming a chain down from a nearby tree to pull them out. Soon, the Pikachu swarm watch over Pikachu as our heroes watched, unable to do anything, as evidenced by Brock stopping Ash from approaching.

Finally, Pikachu awakened, and the young Pikachu he rescued gave him an apple as a thank you gift. Soon, the rest of the swarm toss Pikachu up and down with their tails in celebration of Pikachu's heroic deed.

However, up in a nearby tree, Team Rocket spots the swarm of Pikachu and decide to capture all of them for their Boss. Suddenly, the branch Team Rocket is standing on breaks and they plummet to the ground and after telling each other to be quiet, the branch they were on falls on their heads.

Later that night, our heroes watched the Pikachu during a nightly ceremony where they sing under the full moon.

"Chaaa…! Pi, pika, pikachu. Pi, pi, pika, pikachu…"

It was an adorable sight.

Misty smiled. "Those Pikachu sure are having fun."

Ash agreed. "Looks like it."

"I wish I had a cassette recording to only hear their singing." Laoise murmured and she looked to Storm. "Don't you wanna go and join them for a little bit?"

"Pikachu." Storm fervently shook her head, her ears were down.

Over dinner, Ash became sad and loses his appetite, but when asked what was wrong, he dismissed it as nothing.

Then Laoise gently inquired Storm. The female Pikachu was a little forlorn and tried explaining things to her trainer via pantomiming, Laoise could only guess. And she gently recalled Storm at the Pikachu's request.

Later, while the others sleep, Ash stayed awake and thought about both Pikachu while hearing what their friends had said, particularly Brock's words. Soon, the wind picked up and puts out the campfire.

Suddenly, everyone hears a blood-curdling shriek from the Pikachu colony. "PIIIIIIII…!"

The group goes to investigate and finds all of the Pikachu captured by Team Rocket in an electric-proof net. James ensnares the quartet in another net while they make their getaway. Ash's Pikachu began chewing through the net, and the others follow suit before they soon begin their escape. Ash and his friends hold up the net they were captured in and the Pikachu jump into it unharmed. However, Ash's Pikachu, who escaped first, makes its way to Team Rocket and bites a hole in the balloon, sending them blasting off.

Ash catches his Pikachu, though he soon decides to leave him with the other Pikachu. Laoise, Misty and Brock confront Ash by the campsite, where he announces his plans and claims that his Pikachu would be happier with his own kind.

Pikachu returned. "Pika Pi. Pikachu."

Ash said, "Pikachu. You stay here. We're leaving."

"Pi?"

Ash added, "I know you'll both be much happier here in this forest with the other Pikachu."

Pikachu was confused. "Pika Pi."

Ash patted Pikachu's head. "Goodbye, Pikachu."

And he began walking away, with the others following. Even then this decision weighed heavily on him.

' Pikachu was my very first Pokémon.' He thought.

Numerous memories went through his mind. From the first day he received Pikachu, the countless battles, fun antics and more.

Finally the others caught up ith Ash.

"I'm sure Pikachu will be better off staying here than traveling around with me. Pikachu'll be happier this way."

Soon, the sun starts to rise, and a familiar shadows appeared behind Ash, to the surprise of everyone else. Pikachu stood there. With the rest of the Pikachu clan appearing behind gim. As Pikachu, and the youngest Pikachu bid each other farewell with a tail shake, the others starts chanting for Ash's Pikachu.

Misty wondered. "What do you think they're doing? "

Brock guessed. "Well, I think they might be cheering. For Ash, and Pikachu."

"They are!" Laoise said.

Pikachu then started running down the path to his touched trainers as they move in for a hug. His choice clear.

"Pika Pi!"

"Pikachu!" Ash opened his arms for Pikachu jump into them.

Pikachu chose to remain with Ash, just as Storm chose to stay with Laoise albeit for reasons only the latter two knew.

Another adventure has brought Ash and Pikachu even closer. In their hearts, they know they'll go on to face every challenge, together.

With more adventures and challenges awaiting just around the bend.

To be continued...

Author's note: Another chapter where I crammed at least four episodes. Albeit sort of out of order. Because I've got plans for the episode 'Snow way out' and I'll be making an original chapter that focuses on Christmas. Just need to work on it.