So, this is my story, being redone. This chapters main difference is more details and explanations, but I think it is much superior to my first try at this story. Still planned to be a longer story, so let us see how that turns out, shall we?

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon

Ash was taking a well deserved rest. Every time he had a difficult gym battle, he needed a good rest afterward. While gym battles never are physical for the trainers, the stress and anticipation were killer for Ash. And he had especially earned it after he finally earned his fifth badge in Driftveil City. It had taken forever to get the Gym Leader Clay to accept this challenge, but he managed to get it. It had been really difficult to beat Clay's Excadrill, Palpitoad and Krokorok; and it was only by Arceus' kindness that his Roggenrola evolved just when he needed it to, but he had won. Thankfully it had only taken one try to get the badge. It would have cost so much time if they had lost, since Clay told Ash about his one week between matches rule. They had already been in town for almost two weeks due to a multitude of setbacks, and Ash thought that was probably long enough time to put a hold onto his journey. He checked the calendar they had set up in every room in the Pokemon Center to find out how long exactly. Today was the 27th, and they had gotten into town on the 13th, so they had been there for an entire two weeks.

So… bored, He thought to himself. He never stayed anywhere for two weeks before on his journeys. It was tough enough staying in Pallet for two months, but he had needed to take that break from training and take his mind slightly off of Pokémon. Traveling pretty much nonstop for over six years had tired even his young body, and it allowed him to do things he hadn't been able to do on the road.

He had wanted to leave the city that very night, but Cilan and Iris preferred staying at a Pokémon center for one more night. Cilan was more used to comfort and metropolitan living, while it was still a novelty to Iris with her more forest-based lifestyle. Ash also needed to heal his pokémon after his battle, so the issue had been settled with that fact. They were staying in the City for one more day, and they would leave in the morning.

Ash took out his five badges and admired them for a little bit. Bored, his eyes drifted back to the calendar, reading the little text on the bottom of some of the days, foretelling one of a significant event. One caught his attention especially. He realized that the spring equinox had occurred a few days beforehand. He knew that was significant to him, but he didn't know what exactly for. After a moment's thoughts, his eyebrows grew in realization. If that was true, he thought to himself, then his birthday was coming up. He double checked, and he proven correct. Counting off the days, he realized that in 5 days was his birthday.

"Wow." He said to no one in particular. He was just surprised that his birthday had snuck up on him like that. It didn't really shock him, though, since he never noticed his birthday on the road. Sure, he had been lucky once and been home for a birthday, and had actually been in a place to celebrate his birthday with a cake or something like that a few times, but he had never had an upcoming birthday that he realized and could wait for. It was a new experience for the wanna-be Pokémon master, and it was one that made him feel funny. When his companions came into the room later on that night, he didn't say a word to them about his upcoming birthday. He was too enraptured about something to mention it to them.

When the group fell asleep that night, Ash was the last to dreamland. What kept him up was an idea. An idea to stay in the area for a little longer, even longer than the ridiculously long time (at least to Ash) that they already had been. Only until his birthday, of course. Or the day after, whatever the case maybe. An idea was forming in his mind about celebrating his birthday here in Driftveil, having the city as a base of operations where he could receive gifts and cards from well-wishers, and get phone calls for those who want to wish him well that way. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. He had missed having a big birthday last year, his 16th birthday, the birthday he legally became an adult in the eyes of the Pokémon world. (What did you expect in a world that let trainers go off at 10?) So he thought that this birthday could make that up. Though he had not confirmed it in his mind as he went to sleep, he knew there was a good possibility in it happening once he spoke to Pikachu, Iris, and Cilan.

The next morning went by quietly as Ash was still in deep thought, something that both Cilan and Iris noticed. He was picking at his breakfast, eating it at a rate that they never saw before with him, slow. It honestly scared them especially Pikachu. Pikachu knew that even when he was depressed he didn't eat this slowly, so something had to be on his mind.

"Pikapi, pika pika?" Pikachu nuzzled his master's neck trying to gain his attention. Ash didn't flinch.

"Ash, are you there?" Cilan asked nicely, confused by Ash's actions. Ash didn't glance in his direction.

"I think we should worry. He's thinking. It might hurt his little kid brain." Iris mocked him, hoping for a reaction. Ash didn't budge. He just kept eating his breakfast. The trio watched uncomfortably as he took another bite, and put his fork down. He took a sip from his glass of milk, and set that down. He sighed, temporarily satisfied. He finally allowed himself to recognize his friends.

"Everything is alright. I was just thinking about staying here for a few more days." Ash nonchalantly told them.

Pikachu's jaw-dropped, surprised at what Ash was implying. He was suggesting for them to stay for a little bit longer, actually not going on the move. He wasn't sure how to react to his longtime friend's suggestion. Iris and Cilan, though surprised at Ash's suggestion, didn't take it to that extreme in their reactions. They still had their expressions.

"What! I thought a kid like you would have wanted to leave ASAP." Iris replied in her usual manner.

Cilan just shook his head. "You are giving off a surprising flavor right now, Ash. Any reason for the new spices in your thinking?"

Ash understood what both meant, each in their own ways. "I didn't really notice until last night, but my birthday is on a few days, on the first of the month. And I was thinking about staying here so people can get in contact with me on my birthday, and maybe even get a gift or two. Maybe have a special dinner or something. Something nice for once."

Cilan grinned. "I'm alright with that Ash. I can understand what you are saying,"

Iris nodded. "Yeah, I guess it would be tough missing your first birthday away from home. I'm in!"

Pikachu nuzzled into his shoulder, liking the idea. "That's great, guys. Thanks for the support." He began to grin, and then he caught what Iris said. "Hold up. Iris, this isn't my first birthday from home."

Iris looked surprised. "Really?" She asked him, but then she thought about it. "Oh yeah, you did tell us a little bit about your journey in Sinnoh and Kanto. So you are like, what, 13 or 14?"

Ash shook his head. "Didn't I tell you guys about the Orange Islands, Johto, Hoenn, and the Kanto Battle Frontier? I swear I must have talked about them. I mean, I'm almost positive I talked about the Whirl Cup, the stuff with Lugia, about Jirachi and all of that stuff."

Cilan shook his head. "You really competed in all of those leagues?"

Iris just shook her head. "You couldn't have done all of that. That would have taken at least 6 or 7 years to do. I would say longer, but at the pace you do things, you would find a way to condense it into that short amount of time."

Ash nodded. "It did take about that long. Counting what I've done here, in Unova, I have been traveling 7 years now, give or take."

Iris did some quick math in her head. "You're 17?" Her eyes popped a little bit.

Ash nodded. "In a few days. Why is that so hard to believe?"

Cilan scrunched his nose. "I don't know, but you look really young. I would have pegged you at most 13 or 14, like Iris said. You give off a very raw and youthful taste"

Ash nodded. "Yeah, it is genetics. The men in my family are short, and people on my mom's side always look younger than they are." He whispered, even though he really didn't need to. "My mom looks like she is in her early 30's, but really is pushing into her early 40's."

Iris just looked at him. "Then why are you so childish? Not only that, but why does it seem you haven't had seven year's experience in battling."

Ash gave an awkward grin. "I am not the type of person to be serious unless it is really important. And it helps with my pokémon, since it helps with gaining their trust! I have met some real jerks on my journey who are really serious and stuff, and it affects their pokémon." Ash gave a quick sigh. "And about battling… that is unfair. Every pokémon handles differently, so I shouldn't try to force the techniques on one pokémon onto another one. I wouldn't battle with your Emolga the same way I would battle with my Pikachu but they are superficially very similar, right?"

Iris sighed. "Yeah I guess you are right." She knew that Ash had her there.

Ash continued on. "Also, battling styles are different region to region, depending on the pokémon available and movesets the pokémon of a region have. I noticed that Pokemon of one region can know a move, but not in another. Like Iron Tail. Pikachu's in Kanto can't learn it for some odd reason, but ones in Hoenn can. My Pikachu was only able to learn it because a guy helped me teach it Iron Tail while we were in Hoenn."

Cilan simply nodded. "Good analysis, Ash. Well, I think it is settled. We are staying for a few days. And since we are here, Ash, you can tell us more about your past travels, so they aren't jumbled up. I'm sure you told us stories without making them clear about when they happened or where."

Pikachu smiled at the idea, knowing he would like hearing about all of his past stories and past friends. He liked to remember those good ol' days. Ash was smiling as well, with a similar idea in mind.

"Fine with me, Cilan. Now, let me finish breakfast, so I can go make some calls. That way, people actually now what I am doing so they can take part." With that, he began to eat at "Ash" pace, and quickly finished the meal. He shot up, nearly losing Pikachu from his shoulder, and ran out of the cafeteria and to his room. He would need the phonebook his mother had gotten him to tell all the people he would want to know. He rummaged through his bag quickly, and found the book. It had the same symbol that his first hat had, something that he thought was awesome. His mind quickly fell back to his first hat. He had felt kind of guilty getting rid of it so quickly when he went to Hoenn, but his mom had force him. It was barely hanging on with it's stitches, and his mom swore it stunk worse than a Weezing's Smog attack. His mom had cleaned it up when he was in Hoenn, and he thought about using it for when he was traveling through Kanto for the Battle Frontier, but he decided to keep it retired. Pulling himself out of memory lane, he took the phonebook and made his way to the first available phone booth. He opened up the book and began to scan through the names, trying to figure out who he would call first.

I hope you like my explanation for why Ash suddenly stinks in this region, he has to go it with absolutely no sense of what came before. In Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, he saw some of the pokemon before, but not in Unova. Not a great excuse, but better than one Nintendo will ever give us. SO, review in large masses so I will be forced to finish my next chapter ASAP!