AN: Alright, this story is going to be the last new 'Pokémon' story I post for a while unless a brilliant new idea just slams into me from out of the blue. And it will either be this one or 'from death I am reborn' that become the main Pokémon story I update.

AN: In this story Pokémon journeys start when someone's eighteen instead of ten.

A Diamond in the Rough

Chapter 1

-Gary-

"Come on gramps," he groaned as he threw his head back "give us our starters already!".

"Be patient Gary," his grandfather chided him "we're just waiting for the last person to get here, it should only take a minute.".

"Who are we waiting for anyway?" the girl sitting next to him, Leaf Green, asked as she leaned against a wall "Damian's family bribed some of the Kanto Council into making you give him a starter last week instead of today and Gary and I are the only other eighteen year olds left in Pallet town since…" at this point she trailed off causing him to scowl. Ever since they were kids Leaf had been obsessed with the town loser Ash Ketchum and that hadn't changed after the punk had moved out of Kanto when they were six.

"Ever since that loser Ash realized he wasn't wanted." He snarked, his jealousy flaring up as he had been crushing on Leaf for a few years but she rejected him every time he tried to ask her out, her heart still 'belonging' to Ash.

"Well that's not very nice, now is it?" a new voice asked from the doorway as he turned to see someone who he assumed was the third person starting their journey that day. The guy had black hair that was somewhere between spiked and slicked back, the tips dyed in a way that they looked like quartz crystal. The man also wore black cargo pants and a black tank top with an open vest over it along with bracers on each arm, each one having what looked like three crystal Pokéballs embedded within them as decorations. The final thing he noticed was the figures imposing height of six foot five as compared to his own height of five eleven.

"Ah Ash," his Gramps said with a smile "good to see you.".

"Ash?!" he and Leaf yelled in tandem, him in shock and anger while she yelled in shock and joy.

"The one and only." The now revealed Ash Ketchum said with a joking bow as Leaf ran forward and threw her arms around the once resident of Pallet town. Laughing happily the giant figure returned the embrace "Good to see you too Leaf." Ash said with a grin before turning towards Gramps. "Hey Oak, Aunt Ivy says hi by the way.".

"I'll be sure to give her a call after you three are on your way." Gramps promised and was about to turn around when the old man froze. "Ash…" Gramps asked wide eyed "is that…a Champion's ring on your finger?" causing his own eyes to widen as they shot towards Ash's right ring finger to see that, sure enough, there was a Champion's ring.

"Hell yeah," Ash said with a grin "the Orange Island finally got a high enough population to meet the last requirement with the International Pokémon League that we're able to become our own official region with our own official Pokémon League. The Orange Crew are still going to stick around as a separate challenge but they want an official champion with their own elite four and gym leaders. My brother nominated me as the best choice as the new champion and I was given the ring signifying that I can choose the starter gym leaders and my own elite four before taking challengers for the title.". Scowling he shoved past his grandpa, taking the Squirtle Pokéball as well as five empty ones and a Pokédex before storming out of the Lab. His old goal had been to become a Pokémon master and use that accomplishment to win Leaf's heart…now it was to utterly destroy Ash and the loser's new 'league' to take it's championship for himself and prove to Leaf that he was superior.

-Ash-

"We…" he said with a raised eyebrow as Leaf and Professor Oak gaped at Gary's abrupt departure "he's a drama queen." Which caused Leaf to snort.

"So Ash," Leaf asked as Professor Oak scowled and moved over to one of the aide's to give them some instructions "how's your league going to work?".

"Well there will be twenty people that make up the Gym leaders, elite four, and champion." He explained "One for each of the eighteen main types of Pokémon, one person to have a mixed team, and then my own team which is a newly recognized 'subtype' that's already been recognized by the League Council and my Aunt will be announcing in a day or two.".

"You both can discuss this after you start your journeys," the irritated voice of Professor Oak interrupted them "I still need to punish my grandson for his behavior.".

"Alright professor," he said with a grin as he walked forward and nudged Leaf ahead of him "you can pick first Leaf, you got here before I did.".

"Thanks Ash." the pretty girl said with a faint blush as she moved forward and picked up the Pokéball with the leaf sticker that he knew contained a Bulbasaur.

"And as for you Ash," at this point Professor Oak winced before pressing a button as a Pokéball with a lightning bolt sticker rose up onto the pedestal "the only other starter Pokémon I have is this Pikachu and…well he doesn't exactly like people.". While speaking the aged Professor pressed the button on the Pokéball to release the electric mouse which proceeded to glare at them.

Before he could say anything a new voice spoke up as someone who looked vaguely familiar barged into the lab. "Oi! Oak!" the guy said with a scowl "This Charmander you gave me is worthless! The damn thing won't evolve!". As the blue haired newcomer spoke he released a Charmander from a Pokéball, the little fire lizard looking nervous and shaky.

"You've only had Charmander for a week Damian," the Professor said but he could feel the aged man's anger, "You can't expect it to evolve that quickly.".

"Whatever," Damian said with a derisive scowl "I want a new starter. Something that can actually win unlike this useless piece of-" while speaking Damian moved as if to kick the Charmander which flinched but stood stock still as if used to the treatment.

Shooting forward he grabbed the bastard by the throat and pinned Damian to the wall, the asshole gasping for breath while Leaf, Oak, Pikachu, and Charmander watched in shock. "You just made a big mistake bub," he growled angrily, ignoring Damian's gasping breaths "you should never pull a stunt like that…especially not in front of me.".

"Ash, let him go." The Professor ordered sternly causing him to snort and throw the pathetic fool on the ground at the Professor's feet.

"Thank you-" Damian began only for the Professor to grab Damian and throw him into a small room off to the side before locking the door.

"I am officially revoking Damian's trainer license due to Pokémon abuse and will be calling the authorities momentarily to have an Officer Jenny come down here to arrest him.".

"What will happen to Charmander?" Leaf asked sadly as the little Pokémon stared t them all wide eyed.

Getting an idea he knelt down and pulled out a Pokéblock from his vest pocket, offering it to the nervous little Charmander who took it hesitantly but, after biting into it, began to wolf it down rapidly. Smiling at the little lizard he gently ran a hand across the Charmander's head causing the Pokémon to coo happily at him and nuzzle up into his hand. "How'd you like to come with me little guy?" he asked the Charmander who looked at him in shock before cooing happily and leaping up to hug his head.

"I'd say that's a yes." Professor Oak said with a small smile as he returned the Charmander's hug idly noting Pikachu clamber up onto his shoulder and look at him appraisingly before giving him a look which he could tell meant the Pikachu was going to give him a chance.

"Oh, before we go," he said as he turned to the aged Professor "could you switch my Pokédex's home location? I kinda wanted my Pokémon to go to my Aunt Ivy's lab.".

"No problem Ash," Oak said with an understanding nod before punching in the new information "alright you two. Good luck on your journeys.".

Nodding gratefully he and Leaf turned to walk out the door, "So Ash," the girl asked him as they walked towards the forest and the path that would take them to Viridian City "what's this subtype of Pokémon that you have and do you eve have them with you?".

"Of course," he said with a grin "as the official 'champion', even if the League isn't up and running yet, I can carry my champion team as well as a separate team with me legally. I'll show them to you when we get to a good clearing.".

"Thanks." Leaf said happily as she linked her arm with his before she frowned slightly "Hey, back there you mentioned an Aunt and a Brother…but I thought your only family left were your parents.".

"My Aunt Ivy is actually Professor Ivy of the Orange Archipelago," he explained "my mom and I moved to Valencia Island where she lived and she ended up babysitting me every now and then when my mom was busy. As for my brother…well the Orange crew would visit my Aunt frequently and they all ended up becoming like honorary siblings to me. About my parents though," at this point he scowled "while I love my mom…the man I used to call father is no family of mine.".

"Sorry Ash." Leaf said meekly as she looked down making him wince.

"It's alright Leaf." he said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and giving her a soft squeeze.

"Hey Ash," Leaf spoke up as they walked making him turn towards her and raise an eyebrow "would…would it be possible for me to become one of the new gym leaders of your league?".

Humming thoughtfully he nodded and answered "If you choose which type you plan to use as your gym, get a full team for them, get the badges, and then impress me in the league I'll make you one of the eight. Hell, if you impress me enough I'll make you one of my elite four.".

"Thanks Ash!" Leaf exclaimed as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek happily causing him to laugh and return the hug.

After another half hour of walking in companionable silence they got to a clearing in Viridian forest as he grinned and held out his hands, "I think it's time you guys meet my Champion team." he said, speaking to both Leaf as well as Charmander and Pikachu who had elected to stay out of their balls.

Flexing his arms the six crystal Pokéballs on his bracers detached and fell into his hands as the threw them skyward making them burst open to reveal a Tyranitar, a Tyrantrum, an Onix, a Rhyperior, an Aerodactyl, and a kabutops…all of them made of solid crystal.

AN: Alright, a quick heads up. Ash won't be using his Crystal team unless he absolutely has to or there's an emergency so don't think he'll just be using his crystal team to tank his way through the leagues. Also, each of them have their rock type replaced by the 'crystal' type which acts more like steel than anything else with a few aspects of ground.

AN2: The only decision I've made for his League members are that I plan to make Sabrina one of his elite four. Tell me in a review if you have someone you want to be a gym leader or four member, what their specialization would be, and what their 'rank' would be in the league. You can also suggest what their team would be. Also I'm not using Misty as I don't like her.