A/N: Hello! I've finally found time to post my first fanfiction! This is set right after Diamond and Pearl, and I hope you enjoy it!

Ash Ketchum stood on top of a hill overlooking Pallet Town. He had just arrived back in Kanto from Sinnoh. He took a deep breath, smelling the fresh Pallet air, and smiled.

"I'm back, Pallet Town!" He yelled, throwing his arms up into the air.

"Pika!" Pikachu chirped, sitting on Ash's shoulder. He was elated to be back home. He was also excited to eat some of Delia's food. Just thinking about the spread that would be on the table once they arrived at home made him want to drool.

Ash laughed. I hope Mom didn't miss me too much, he thought fondly. I missed her a lot myself. It's going to be great to see her.

"Pikachu," Ash smiled mischievously. "Race you to Professor Oak's lab!"

Pikachu sprang off of Ash's shoulder and took off running.

"Hey, Pikachu!" Ash yelled after him. "I never said 'go'!"

Pikachu kept on running. Ash tore after him, but Pikachu was already too far away from him to catch up.

"Brock, when did you say Ash was coming?" May yelled at Brock, tying streamers around the Ketchum's living room.

"He'll be here at around one!" Brock said cheerfully, checking his Pokégear as he was stirring the pasta sauce. "So we have around an hour left until he comes."

Ash was coming back home right on his birthday, Delia had told Ash's friends. So all the friends Ash had travelled with so far on his journey had come to Pallet Town to throw Ash a surprise thirteenth birthday party. Delia had thanked them all profusely, and had baked an extravagant cake for his party. That was all she had to do, said Dawn. There was no need to worry.

But that wasn't true for Dawn herself. Dawn was making Poffins for all the Pokémon. That wasn't turning out so well. She was having difficulty making Poffins with the different Kantonian berries that grew in Delia's garden.

"Ugh!" Dawn grumbled frustratedly. "Why is it so difficult to make Poffins with Oran berries?" The batter was all over the countertops and herself, turning her hands a purplish-blue. Every single batch of Poffins that Dawn tried to make was burning.

Brock had finished cooking the pasta, and was lifting Max in the air to help put up a banner that said "Happy Thirteenth Birthday, Ash!" May was taping the other side.

"Brock!" Dawn yelled. "Can you help me with these Poffins?"

"Wait just a sec, Dawn!" Brock answered, grunting as he set Max back on the ground. "Max, you've gotten much heavier since I last saw you!" Brock said, patting Max on the back.

"That's because I'm almost ten, and I'm going to get a Treeko from Professor Birch, and be a Pokémon Master!" Max said proudly. Max could have continued talking, but Brock decided to go help Dawn before she dumped the Poffin batter on his head. Dawn was usually very sweet, but you did not want to mess with her when she was angry.

Brock walked back into the kitchen, and he could see where the problem was immediately. "Dawn, when you're making Poffins with Oran berries, you have to pour the batter in fast," Brock explained. "Like this." He poured the batter into the Poffin case. "See? They're not burning anymore. I take it that that's what's been happening?"

"Yeah," Dawn replied, looking at the ground. Dawn couldn't believe that she hadn't figured that out. She felt like crying. All of my experience making Poffins, and I can't make a batch using a new type of berry? Dawn thought dejectedly.

Brock could see that Dawn was disappointed in herself. "Come on, Dawn," Brock said, putting a hand on the bluenette's shoulder. "There's nothing wrong with learning something new."

"When you put it that way, I guess you're right!" Dawn smiled at Brock. She already felt a bit better. Soon Dawn would be right back to her normal perky self.

All of the Ketchum's first floor was covered in streamers and balloons. The dining room table was filled with all of Ash's favorite food. Presents were on the coffee room table in the living room. Delia was upstairs doing some paperwork for the inn. Brock, May, Max, and Dawn were sitting on the couch waiting for two people to arrive. Obviously, one was Ash. And the other was Misty.

"Where is she?" May asked Dawn worriedly. "She's Ash's best friend!"

"I don't even have her number because I've never met her!" Dawn replied. "Ask Brock."

"Brock, when is Misty supposed to be here?"

"I don't know, but she probably ran into some problem at the gym. She has some sisters with mixed-up priorities."

"But she will be here, right, Brock?"

"Yes, she wouldn't miss it for the world."

The group waited. And waited. And waited some more. It was almost an hour later than Ash said that he would arrive.

"I hope we give him a good scare when he walks in the door," May muttered to herself. "He deserves it."

When Ash reached Professor Oak's lab, Pikachu was at the door, sticking his tongue out at Ash.

"You look like an idiot, Pikachu," Ash muttered to himself.

Pikachu smirked at him. "Ka-chu."

Ash rang the doorbell. He could hear the footsteps of someone walking down the stairs. The door opened, and he was surprised to see his old rival, Gary Oak.

"Gary?" Ash stared at him.

"Yes, Ashy-boy, it's me, the amazing Gary Oak." Ash half expected his annoying cheerleaders to pop up behind him, and the old surge of anger came up. "Just kidding. You know I'm joking with you."

Ash was relieved. "Phew," he said. "I was hoping that you weren't acting like a jerk again."

"Anyway, you're here to see your Pokémon, am I right?" Gary said, opening up the door to him. "Bulbasaur has been missing you."

Ash smiled to think of Bulbasaur. They had been through so much together. He would have to take his mom back here to visit all of his Pokémon. "Yeah, that's exactly right," Ash replied.

"Do you need a protection suit for your Tauros?" Gary asked him playfully.

"No, I think I'm good," Ash laughed. His Tauros loved him so much that it would literally hurt when he visited them. But Pikachu would hold them back. Right?

"Then I think you know your way back there," Gary said. "I'd love to chat more, but I have important research things to do."

Ash rolled his eyes at Gary. Some things never change.

Ash walked into the field, and was promptly stampeded by his Tauros. Pikachu's face turned to shock, but then to laughter, as he knew Ash would be okay at the end. When Ash finally peeled himself off the ground, Pikachu was still laughing. Ash gave him a hard glare.

Pikachu and Ash went off and visited their old friends. Bulbasaur was pleasantly surprised to see Ash, and Pikachu played with Squirtle and Bayleef. Then Ash decided that it was time to introduce his new friends to the rest of the Pokémon.

"Torterra, Infernape, Buizel, Gible, Gliscor, come on out!" He called as he threw five of the Pokéballs off of his belt into the air. An assortment of noises followed as Ash and Pikachu introduced his Sinnoh team to his other Pokémon.

Ash checked his Pokégear. Oh, frick. He thought frantically. It's almost two, and I said that I'd be home at one!

"Pikachu and I have to go now, guys," Ash said hurriedly. "You guys stay here and get to know each other."

Pikachu hopped on Ash's shoulder and they ran all the way over to Ash's house. Ash was scared about what could happen. Did he worry his mom? Probably yes, but he did that all the time by almost dying (and actually dying). Or would his mom be mad at him? Whatever the consequences, he had to face the music at some point, so why not now?

So Ash rang the doorbell. Footsteps that he recognized as his mom's came padding down the stairs, and the door opened.

A/N: Was that good for my first chapter of my first fanfiction? I hope so! Please review and constructive criticism is welcome! Thanks!