A/N:

So I´ve decided to try my hand at this. I write quite a lot, just usually I don´t write fanfiction. A couple of things I want to make clear right now.

1) English is a second language for me so don´t expect flawless spelling.

2) I have been told I am not the best at punctuation, so don´t expect too much from me there either.

3) I will be writing in my own style, which includes details about geographical sights, smells and sounds. Basically environmental depiction.

4) I will be taking leeway to change some of the stuff I feel like. Such as age, what Pokémon's are caught and the timeline to some extent.

5) I routinely have writers blocks, so uploads will probably be far between. In return, when I do have inspiration to write, I write a lot.

Now that is the last of said 'rules' for my writing, so I´ll give only a couple of pieces of information before I actually start writing. Ash is 15, nearly 16, in this journey, backed up by information from this website:

ashs-age-in-each-series/

So if you´ve read that, you´ll understand that I intend to write a rewrite of the Sinnoh Saga. Only I´m putting in a substantial period of time between the end of the Battle Frontier and the Sinnoh Saga. Dawn will be 14, I´ll make the reason for that in the story. Oh, and if it isn´t obvious this story will be Pearlshipping. Or at least I think it is Pearlshipping, I never actually paid attention to the ships. Its Ash/Dawn, alright? Ash will use every Pokémon he´s caught so far, and he will catch non-cannon Pokémon, as will Dawn. Ash will be more mature and actually think things through, I´ve never been a fan of how he is portrayed in Unova or Kalos. The earlier series I could tolerate, but I kind of stopped watching after the first few episodes of Black and White. So let´s get cracking shall we?

Working Wonders

He walked calmly and confidently into his hometown, taking a deep appreciative breath as he did. He had said his goodbyes to his friends a few days back, Brock being the last one. He had said goodbye to May and Max in Vermilion, they had gone back to Hoenn to spend some time with their parents. Brock had gone home when they passed by Pewter City, leaving Ash to walk the last five days alone. Well, almost alone. He always had his trusted partner riding on his shoulder, the powerful yellow mouse a constant given in his travels.

It was early morning; the sun had just barely started to appear on the horizon coloring the morning sky a flaming orange. He had been up for a couple of hours already, a habit he had started to get the most out of every day. He was usually up at 5 in the morning and trained with his Pokémon for a couple of hours before the others awoke. His body had actually started to show some results of the training he subjected himself to alongside his Pokémon, his muscles becoming toned and lean.

His trusted partner was sitting tightly against his neck, snuggled in to keep his balance even as he snoozed away the morning fatigue. Ash arrived at his mother's house about 10 minutes after walking into Pallet, entering the house almost silently. Not impervious to the fatigue of travelling and early mornings, Ash succumbed to sleep on his mother´s couch.

He woke some time later to the sound of sizzling bacon and his mother´s pleased humming from the kitchen, accompanied by the near-silent mutterings of Mimey, his mother's Mr. Mime, setting the table. The heavenly smells of bacon, eggs and newly baked bread assaulted his nose, pleasing the young man´s nostrils greatly. Giving off a groan he started sitting up, stretching his arms over his head as he did.

"Morning mum," he greeted lovingly. "Mhm?" Delia mumbled as she looked up from her cooking. "Good morning, sweetie," she smiled brightly. "I´ve made breakfast, please you must be hungry," she said kindly, and gestured lightly towards the table. "Pi-pika," his partner exclaimed, before springing from the couch next to Ash and landing on the table. "You hungry buddy?" Ash laughed at his partner´s actions. "Pi-pikapi," the yellow mouse nodded eagerly. Ash couldn´t help but laugh, shaking his head slightly. "And people call me a glutton," he commented humorously.

The small family ate breakfast in peace, the calm morning a perfect time to catch up for the son and mother. "So what are you planning next sweetie?" Delia asked her son, knowing he wouldn´t be sticking around for long. "I…I´m not sure yet, but I think I want to take some time to train up my current Pokémon before going to a new region," he stated, unsurely at first but gaining confidence in the end. Delia smiled, but before letting him go meet the rest of his Pokémon on Oak´s Ranch she asked, "So how does it feel?"

"What do you mean mum?" he responded, clueless as to what his mother meant. "Winning, of course. It´s been a while since you won a challenge the last time," she clarified, a finger tapping her mouth as she did. Ash rubbed his chin slightly in thought, absentmindedly feeling his stubble forming, "Yeah I guess it is. Last time I conquered a challenge… That was the Orange League, nearly 2 and a half years ago now. It feels…it feels amazing, especially knowing I´m the first to ever make it."

Delia just smiled knowingly, "Alright, off you go. I know you want to meet the rest of your friends." "Thanks mum." With that he ran out the door, heading straight for Oak´s Ranch.

The sun had risen up completely by now, and the previously chill morning air was warm and humid. It didn´t take Ash long to arrive at the ranch, almost knocking down someone he crashed into by the door. "Wow, sorry Tracey. That was an accident," Ash apologized profusely. Tracey simply brushed it off, long since having gotten used to his former travelling companion´s rush. "Don´t worry about it, Ash. What´s up? You seem even more rushed than usual?"

Ash laughed easily at the quip, being acutely aware that he wasn´t the most patient. "I want to see all my friends, I have an idea I want their opinion on," Ash answered calmly, but Tracey knew him well enough to pick up on the eagerness in his tone. "You know how to get there, I have some more work to do," Tracey excused himself, and let Ash continue on his way.

Ash walked into the garden a few minutes later, the first of his old friends he laid eyes on, his trusted old Bulbasaur. "Bulbasaur! How are you doing, buddy?" Ash exclaimed as the small green Pokémon jumped into his arms. "Bulba-bulba," his friend answered happily, before it jumped out of his arms and fired a swiftly charged solarbeam to the sky.

–Holy! Bulbasaur can charge a solarbeam that fast now? I´m not sure he can get much stronger as a Bulbasaur…Hmm, I wonder if the same is true for Squirtle?, Ash thought to himself seeing the solarbeam.

He didn´t have much time to think about it as the ground started shaking as the rest of his Pokémon charged forwards to greet their trainer. Luckily they all managed to skid to a halt before running him over, well all of them except Bayleef at least. The affectionate grass Pokémon sent him to the ground with her customary body slam.

"Haha, hey girl. Good to see you," Ash laughed from underneath his Bayleef. He managed to sit up, the grass Johto starter rubbing her head against him the entire time. "Hey everybody. How are you all doing?" he asked the group, being answered by a cacophony of positive responses and smiles.

The he grew serious, preparing to tell his friends about his newest plan. Before he could however he was interrupted by a familiar voice, "Hey, Ashy-boy!" "Gary!" Ash exclaimed pleased and annoyed simultaneously, turning around to face his old rival. What he was not expecting was the large yellow Pokémon with black stripes standing by his friend´s side.

"Wow, what Pokémon is that? It kinda looks like Electabuzz," Ash asked curiously. "Don´t answer that actually, let me guess. It´s from another region?" Gary laughed, "Yeah, you´re right on both accounts actually. Electivire here is from Sinnoh, and is an evolved form of Electabuzz." That caused Ash to laugh heartily, "I knew it. I may be experienced but I still have a lot to learn."

"Experienced? Ash, I don´t think I know anyone else who have gone toe to toe with legendaries, much less came out the victor. I checked your trainer page a few days ago, you´ve been classified as an Elite Trainer since just after the Silver Conference. And travelling with Brock you´ve probably picked up on quite a lot of techniques to care for Pokémon too, right?" Gary explained.

This caused Ash to laugh again, nodding his agreement. "So what are you up to now? Off to a new region?" Ash shook his head negatively, guffawing at the incredulous looks on Gary and all his Pokémon, sans Pikachu, faces. "Don´t misunderstand me, I´m not done travelling. I just feel like I need to train with my current Pokémon before I feel ready to take on a new region."

"Really, Ash. You wish to train before continuing your league quest?" Professor Oak shot into the conversation, walking over side by side with Delia. Ash nodded calmly, before stating, "I only need a place to do so…," Ash trailed off. The professor seemed to shrug uncomfortably, casting a nervous glance towards Delia. "I might know of a place, Ash, but first have you decided which league you will challenge after? Most of them start in another month, and afterwards you´ll have to wait a full year," he tried explaining to Ash. Ash seemed a little put off by that, until he caught unto something the professor had said.

"Wait, most of them? I thought they all run simultaneously?" Ash asked confused. "Well yes, normally they do… However due to extenuating circumstances the Sinnoh league officials have decided to push back their opening another three months," professor Oak explained. –Extenuating circumstances? What could possibly halt a league?, Ash thought to himself, a train of thought he almost unconsciously laid out to the professor.

"Ah, well that is actually a good question, Ash. The truth of the matter is that the Sinnoh region has been plagued by Pokémon Hunters as of late. One specifically, Hunter J, is extremely dangerous and is one of the reasons they are pushing the start of the Sinnoh league, and a major factor in the raising of the age limit in Sinnoh," the professor explained.

A light rustle of wind over grass accompanied his last words, drawing with it an eerie silence. The creaking of trees audible over the entire of the meadow, in which the group was gathered.

"The raising of the age limit? What do you mean, professor?" Delia asked curiously. Ash grimaced and cut in before the professor could answer, "The legal age, mum. You know the age when you first receive your very own Pokémon? Here in Kanto it´s 10, but in Sinnoh they changed it to 14 the same year I started my journey. I didn´t know that was the reason though," Ash trailed off from his explanation.

"Well, not the entire reason, but part of it. It has long been argued that the world is too dangerous to send 10-year olds out alone, and with the Pokémon Hunters being such a nuisance in Sinnoh they acted on it, and raised the legal age to 14," professor Oak continued the explanation from where Ash left off.

"Anyway, I think I´ll get training for three months and then head to Sinnoh if that´s the case," Ash decided on the fly, as he is used to do. The professor, Delia and Gary all sighed, -That´s so typical Ash.

"What was the location you were thinking about, professor? You said you might have an idea," Ash suddenly asked, having remembered that bit of the conversation. "Oh, huh… Well I was thinking I might give you permission to train at Mt. Silver, only for a couple of months though and only as long as you promise to be careful. That mountain is extremely dangerous and the Pokémon there behave strangely due to their own innate power," the professor explained nervously.

"No! Absolutely not!" Delia cut in angrily, her voice cutting through the midday air. The tone of voice took Ash completely by surprise, he had never heard his mum raise her voice to that degree before. "Mum, it might be a really good training for me. Why wouldn´t I go there to train, besides it would only be for a couple of months before I head to Sinnoh," Ash tried. "I said no, and that is final, young man!" Delia burst out.

"Mum? Why are you so concerned about me going to Mt. Silver?" Ash asked cautiously. Delia sat down in the grass, tears starting to gather in her eyes, and started explaining to Ash about his father, Michael Ketchum. His father had been a Pokémon Ranger, and one of the Kanto Top Rangers. The last time she had heard from her husband he was leaving for Mt. Silver to investigate some strange tidings from the mountain. She had not heard from him since.

"And that young man is why I do not want you anywhere near that mountain!" Delia finished angrily. Ash had never heard what actually happened to his dad, only remembering him from the one time the family had visited his grandparents on their farm.

He couldn´t do anything but lean down and hug his mother tightly. "I understand why you´re concerned mum, but I will have my friends there to protect me and I´ll be extremely careful up there." Delia sniffed, her nose having started to run slightly due to her crying. "I don´t want to lose you too, Ashura," his mother whispered. –Wow, mum haven´t called me by my full name in years, Ash thought to himself.

"And you won´t, I´ll make sure to call you weekly while I´m up there. I won´t promise I won´t be injured, but I will be fine, mum," he comforted his mum. "Well, alright, but I will expect to be called every few days, and you will take it easier if you´re injured," Delia demanded of her son, not quite convinced she was doing the right thing by allowing him to travel to the mountain where her husband was lost.

"All right everyone, we´ll be training on Mt. Silver. I will be training with every single one of you in turn, but I think I´ll start with Bulbasaur, Kingler, Muk, Squirtle and…", he was cut off by the sounds of beating wings and a shower of powerful winds racked against his body. "Pidg-pidgeot!" the large brownish-colored Pokémon cawed as it landed next to Ash. Ash stared at the large bird, completely lost for words. A few of his older companions however greeted the new arrival like old friends.

"Pidgeot? Is that you?" Ash asked shocked, and then something clicked in his mind. –Oh, I was supposed to pick up Pidgeot after my run in the Orange Islands…I´ve let her wait for more than 2 years!, his mind raged against him. "Oh, I´m so sorry girl. Can you forgive me? I can´t believe I forgot to come get you for so long," Ash asked the bird, gently running his fingers through her plumage. The large bird cawed enthusiastically and let her wings envelope her former trainer, showing her willingness to forgive him.

"But what is going to happen to your flock now?" he asked his old returning friend. Pidgeot cocked her head to the side and pointed with one massive wings towards a pair of gently hovering Pidgeot not far away, one of which was not much smaller than herself. "Wow, is that your mate?" Ash asked, admiring the other Pidgeot. His own seemed to thrill with her head thrown backwards, and Ash blushed as he understood she was laughing. She then pointed at the large Pidgeot again, before thumping a wing to her chest.

"Wait…" Ash said stupefied, glancing back and forth between the two Pidgeot, finally exclaiming "That´s your son?!" She watched him with mirthful eyes as she nodded, and cawed a command to the remaining Pidgeot causing them to take flight away from the meadow. Ash, not knowing what else to do, hugged his Pidgeot tight and welcomed her back to their family.

"Well it seems Pidgeot will be my sixth Pokémon for the first team," Ash stated with a smile on his face. "I will be trading every two weeks, so once two and a half months is up we´ll be ready to leave for Sinnoh." That was greeted by happy noises from the group of Pokémon, most of all his stronger Pokémon who all looked forward to train together.

"Pidgeot would you mind giving me and Pikachu a lift to Vermilion? We agreed to pick Squirtle up there before going to Mt. Silver," Ash asked his newly returned bird. "Geot," Pidgeot thrilled calmly and leaned down to allow her trainer to climb on. "Thank you, Pidgeot. I really appreciate it." Climbing up he found a secure spot on Pidgeot´s neck, and held tightly to the crest that flowed from her head down her back. The raspy texture of her feathers felt great brushing against Ash´s callused hands. The pressure from Pidgeot´s takeoff forced Ash´s face against her neck, and he laughed joyfully at the sudden acceleration that followed.

Pidgeot nearly created a sonic boom just by speeding off towards Vermilion, the wind crashing around the three people left on the ground. "Wait no, come back! My sketch isn´t…finished," Tracey finished lamely when the sudden acceleration changed the easily visible Pidgeot into a black dot on the horizon. "You will have to finish it some other time Tracey, we have work to do. Besides Pidgeot will return here in another two weeks," Professor Oak stated mirthfully, as he turned around and walked into his lab. Delia smiled wistfully after her son, praying that he would be alright on the mountain that claimed his father.

Suddenly Professor Oak stopped dead in his tracks, an awkward silence following his action. "Professor?" Tracey asked, somewhat curious as to why he had stopped so suddenly. "…" The deadpan on Professor Oak´s face would be downright hilarious if it didn´t unnerve the others. "I just remembered that as a regional professor, and Ash´s sponsor, I´m allowed to grant him an extended carry limit once he is an Elite Trainer and I feel he´s ready for it…"

"And that matters because…?" Delia asked in a long drawn out sentence. The entire remaining flock of Ash´s Pokémon glared at him, and Tracey suddenly had extreme trouble keeping his composure. "Eh… Ash is already classified as an Elite Trainer, since before he went to Hoenn in fact." Delia blinked a couple of times in rapid succession, glancing over to the flock of Pokémon glaring daggers at the poor forgetful old man. "I think you need to correct that oversight, Professor. They don´t seem very pleased with you," she conceded, pointing to the Pokémon, and walked off towards her home.

The Professor started sweating bullets as his last line of defense simply walked off, and left him completely at the Pokémon´s mercies, of which there would be none.

The wind roared around Ash´s ears as Pidgeot darted forwards with an incredible speed, the terrain and wild Pokémon blurred by. A few smells managed to hit Ash´s nostrils, a few berries and he thought the distinctive smell of honey. Though where they came from he couldn´t ascertain, as they were the only few smells that managed to come to his nose through the strong wind.

About 30 minutes was all it took for Pidgeot to come in for a swift landing on the pier of Vermilion, gaining a few incredulous looks from the tourists and bystanders. –Why are they so interested in Pidgeot? I mean it isn´t rare for a trainer to ride his own Pokémon, Ash thought to himself. What he was oblivious to was the fact that his Pidgeot was abnormally large for its species, standing at just above 2 meters instead of the average 1,5.

An older gentleman seemed to gather his wits about him first, and hurriedly approached the much younger trainer. "Excuse me, young man, but would I be correct in assuming this is your Pidgeot?" he asked, somewhat nervously. "She is; why do you ask?" Ash seemed confused, cocking his head to one side. "Would you be interested in…" was as far as the old man got, before he was interrupted by an amused voice. "You might as well give up now, sir. Ash never trades his Pokémon unless they want it."

"And how would you know, boy?" the older gentleman asked slightly irritated at being cut off. The young man behind him, the one who had cut him off, was none other than Gary Oak, a genuine smile on twitching on his lips. "Because I´ve known him since we were 3?" Gary answered easily, with a slight chuckle in his voice. The gentleman´s eyes narrowed, but before he could say anything else Ash spoke up. "He´s right, I don´t trade my Pokémon. Especially not my oldest friends, and Pidgeot was one of my first captures."

That seemed to deflate the tension in the air, and the older gentleman sighed but acknowledged that he wouldn´t get any further. "Nice to see you Gare-Bear, but what are you doing in Vermilion?" Ash asked curiously. Gary shook his head amused, even though his eyebrow twitched in annoyance at the use of his old nickname. "Well Ashy-boy, I´m heading back to Sinnoh. Professor Rowan asked for me to return to our project, he fears that poachers might interfere and wants me there to repel them," Gary answered, shrugging his shoulders. "What I feel is a better question is what you are doing here?"

Ash laughed, but did concede the point. "I´m picking up Squirtle from Officer Jenny, we agreed to meet at the Pokémon Center." Gary nodded slightly in apparent understanding, before he shrugged and moved towards the cruise liner. "See ya in Sinnoh, Ashy-boy. I´m sure you´ll manage to stumble upon my project even knowing nothing about where, why or what," he laughed as the two old friends parted ways.

Ash too laughed, as he returned Pidgeot to her ball and walked calmly off the pier towards the Pokémon Center. The brightly shining sun warmed the day, and created a wonderful feeling of peace and tranquility. Waiting for him at the Pokémon Center however was a surprise, a friendly and pleasant one though. Sitting in the shade underneath a large oak just by the Pokémon Center, and understandably surrounded by a horde of reporters and fans, was the combined Johto and Kanto Champion Master, Lance Wataru.

Sitting by Lance´s side, chilling with a set of sunglasses resting on his face, was Ash´s Squirtle with his hands behind his head. "Squirtle! How are you doing, buddy?" Ash exclaimed upon seeing his old friend. His Squirtle opened an eye upon hearing his voice and sprang up instantly after recognizing his trainer and friend. Sprinting over the small tortoise Pokémon jumped into his friend's arms, causing the gathered crowd to break out into confused whispering.

Lance sat up and smiled upon seeing Ash, picking something up from beside him and heading over. Now the reporters were really buzzing, the confusing spectacle promising a great story. "Ash, it is good to see you again," he said as he walked out of the shade and stepped closer to Ash. "It´s good to see you again too, Lance, but I didn´t expect you here?" Ash answered, the question easily understandable. It wasn´t every day the Champion Master was spotted in public, and now he had seemingly been waiting for him? That was curious indeed, at least in Ash´s eyes.

"Well I needed to deliver something to you, and when I called Professor Oak he said you´d be here today. Easiest for me was to simply wait for you here," Lance answered calmly with a shrug of his shoulders. "Deliver something to me? What could be so important that you have to deliver it yourself?" Lance outright laughed at the question, tears forming in his eyes. "Oh, no. It isn´t that important, I could have sent it with a delivery to Pallet Town. I wanted to give it to you myself," Lance clarified.

That caused a lot of eyebrows to rise, the Champion Master had chosen to deliver something to this run-of-the-mill trainer? "You realize you have been classified as an Elite Level Trainer?" Lance asked as the two were seated at a picnic table, the reporters crowding around it. Ash gazed into the crowds and squirmed uneasily, "Yeah, I know. Since the Silver Conference, right?" Lance nodded, "Shortly after, but in essence you are correct. It was the performance of your Pokémon in the Silver Conference that granted you the title, not your placing or the like." Now the reporters seemed really interested, a 15-year-old Elite Trainer sitting in a friendly discussion with the Champ? That was gold worth to them, however the Champion seemed to realize that the reporters unnerved his friend.

"Would you mind leaving my friend and I in peace for now? I will answer any questions for you later, but it seems Ash isn´t a fan of the media," Lance spoke up, addressing the horde of reporters. The media seemed to want to resist, but the cold glare the champion sent them when they hesitated made their minds up. When the reporters had left them alone, Lance turned to Ash again.

"Which Pokémon do you think impressed us enough to grant you the title of Elite Trainer?" he asked curious for the answer. Ash seemed to consider that for a short while, before finally answering, "I guess Charizard? He is my most powerful after all." Lance smirked, "Then you´d be wrong. Yes, your Charizard is powerful and he did impress us, but it was your unevolved Pokémon that made the decision for us."

"My unevolved Pokémon? Like Squirtle here, and Bulbasaur?" Ash asked confused, "Don´t get me wrong they are strong, but how did they make the decision for you?" Lance seemed amused at the question, though he also seemed taken aback by it at the same time. "You´re Bulbasaur defeated a Meganium, Ash. A Meganium. The third stage of the Johto equivalent of Bulbasaur´s own line," Lance stated. "Eh, technically Bulbasaur tied with Jackson´s Meganium," Ash pointed out. "Really? That isn´t how we saw it," Lance mused aloud, "Meganium came into that battle fresh, your Bulbasaur had fought and defeated a Magneton already. So in our eyes, your Bulbasaur won that battle."

Ash took that into consideration, and had to admit Bulbasaur had been really impressive in that battle. Lance continued on, "Your Squirtle defeated an Electabuzz and a Quilava in succession to each other. Both of which were powerful in their own right." Squirtle sat up straighter and tapped his hand to his chest. This time Ash stayed silent, waiting for Lance to continue. "Your Totodile defeated the Sneasel that kept our officials from the Sacred Flame and I know about the Whirl Cup. A Kingdra, Ash, your Totodile defeated a fully evolved water and dragon type. Do I really need to go on?"

"No, I get the point," Ash conceded. In hindsight he realized that many of the battles his unevolved Pokémon had won were actually rather impressive. Lance smiled, placing a case on the table between them. "This is the usual reward for becoming an Elite Trainer, coupled with a few extra pieces from myself, Mr. Goodshow and a few of the others." Ash blinked once, twice, before he pulled the box to himself and asked, "Why would you and the others add to the reward?"

Lance gave his reply in a complete deadpan monotone, "Ash let me tell you something. We know about Shamouti and we know about the Kyogre-Groudon incident. That´s two instances where you either helped immensely or was directly responsible for stopping cataclysmic events. I own my Gyarados because of you, Brock and Misty. You helped us gather the Sacred Fire for the Silver Conference, and you´ve probably done a whole lot of stuff we don´t even know about. So why wouldn´t we provide an increased reward?"

That caused Ash to laugh nervously. –I should probably not tell him about the Celebi incident or Mewtwo, Ash decided in the silence of his own mind. Instead of commenting anymore he slowly unclasped the locks of the box and opened the lid. On the velvet cushion inside it lay three items, one seemed to be a clock and the two others were a belt and a new pair of gloves.

Picking up the clock he couldn´t help but ask, "Is this a clock?" Lance laughed heartily, "No, it isn´t though I understand the confusion. That, Ash, is an X-Transceiver. It is new technology out of the Unova Region, and can browse the internet, be used as a videophone and even has its own in built Transfer Machine to transfer Pokémon between you and Professor Oak. The belt is the belt of an Elite Trainer with place for up to 12 Pokémon, and the gloves are a new fabric designed to be strong enough to protect your fingers and hands against anything, well almost at least."

"Why would the belt have place for 12 Pokémon when you can only carry 6?" Ash asked curiously. Lance stared at him, before he nearly choked himself when he burst out laughing. "Ash, Elite Trainers can have their carry limits raised. Now you probably won´t use all 12 slots, because there are a few conditions to increasing the limit. You have to be an Elite Trainer, with 2 years' experience for each new slot. That would leave you currently with 8, however you have also won the Battle Frontier and the Orange League. Both of these are considered genuine League sanctioned challenges and both wins grant you another slot, effectively letting you have 10 Pokémon at a time."

Ash blinked, this really surprised him in the best way possible. "Eh, why didn´t Professor Oak tell me this?" Ash asked, his face set in a mildly confused expression. Lance chuckled, "He probably forgot, to be honest. It´s been some time since Professor Oak last sponsored an Elite Trainer." "Oh," Ash gaped in realization. Lance slowly got up with a slow groan, "Well, I better get going. Those reporters are going to be restless, might come back. So I will be taking my leave of you, Ash. Till we meet again." Having said his passing words Lance sauntered away, leaving a perplexed Ash behind.

Ash looked down upon Squirtle, who was on his lap quietly snoozing in the warm air. "Return Squirtle," Ash whispered allowing the Pokéball to retract its denizen. "We leaving Pikachu?" he asked, in no hurry to get up just yet. "Pi-pikachu-pika," his best friend answered from his shoulder. Before he could take even a step after having gotten up, Ash was suddenly lifted up of the ground in a bone-breaking hug. "Well what do you know, rumors were right, eh Primeape?" a booming voice exclaimed.

Ash was turned around, coming face to face with the smiling face of the usually rampaging ape Pokémon. The man standing at the Fighting-Types side was however what caught Ash´s eye, and the belt around Primeape´s abdomen. "Anthony is that you?" Ash asked in a state of total disbelief. "In the flesh," the large man answered with a toothy grin.

Around the two of them another crowd had gathered, this time whispering furiously. "How does the young guy know Anthony?" and "Why is Anthony´s Primeape so happy to see the other guy?" were the two most prominent questions. "Primeape, you gotta put me down. You´re breaking me," Ash breathed out, though he was smiling happily all the while. "Why are you two here in Vermilion?" Ash asked when he had been put down and allowed to catch his breath.

"Primeape just defended his title as P1-Champion, his fourth year running actually," Anthony explained. Primeape stood beaming proudly and flexing beside him, eliciting a slight chuckle from Ash. Then a stray though struck Ash like lightning, "Hey, Primeape?" "Prime?" "Would you like to come back to the team? Travel with me again?" "Prime-pri-prime!" Primeape beamed and crushed Ash in another hug. "I´ll take that as a yes," Ash managed to breathe out. "You ok with that Anthony?"

The crowd around them had become extremely restless, and a few angry mutters about how dear the whelp try taking Primeape away from his trainer could be heard. "Yeah, that´s alright. He is your Pokémon, and I have very little I can help him with left." Incredulous faces followed Anthony´s answer, the crowd not believing that a Pokémon so strong belonged to a 15-year-old.

Anthony handed Ash Primeape´s Pokéball, which the ecstatic Pokémon jumped into. Ash stared at the Pokéball, contemplating his next move. Gazing into the sky, he asked his partner in a quiet whisper, "Pikachu, what do you say we check if Haunter wants to return? I mean it´ll take us to Saffron, but that´s worth it isn´t it?" Pikachu cocked his head to the side, planting a small paw on his chin, before he straightened up and nodded his agreement.

"Alright then. To Saffron we go," Ash declared quietly, "Pidgeot come on out!" The screech of the enormous flying type sent the smaller critters scurrying, and the power of her beating wings pushed hard against the gathered crowd. "Hey girl, I need you to make another detour before we head for Mt. Silver. Can you do that for me?"

Pidgeot cawed gently and leaned down to allow Ash access to her back. Ash smiled and ruffled her feathers gently, "Thank you, girl." The sounds of Vermilion were bustling, a cacophony of every day noises mashed together. Getting up on his Pidgeot´s back Ash, whispered in her ear, "We´re getting Haunter, girl. Take us to Saffron, please."

With a mighty caw the large bird Pokémon took flight, creating a small tornado of dust under her. "Who was that kid, Anthony? I mean your Primeape was one thing, but that Pidgeot too? He was what 15, how can his Pokémon be that powerful?" a young man in a karate outfit asked from the crowd. At first his only answer was Anthony´s booming laughter, but after a while he did get an answer. "That lad, was Ash Ketchum. I dare say down the line he´ll be one of the strongest trainers in the world," a raspy voice called out over the crowd, which spun on their heels to face the new arrival. Only to gasp audibly at seeing who stood before them.

Having Bruno of the Elite Four be a judge at the P1-Championships was an honor indeed, but standing beside the large man was the one who had answered them, Agatha. The most powerful of the Kanto Elite Four, and one who had a reputation for being devilishly hard to impress. Bruno glanced wistfully after the black dot in the sky, "One day that young man will dethrone us, Agatha. I guarantee it," he declared with a brilliant smile on his lips. Agatha snorted, "Dethrone you maybe. By the time he returns to battle the Elite Four, I will have retired." With that the two Elite Four members turned and walked off in a quiet discussion.

High up in the air, Ash was once again experiencing the exhilaration of rushing adrenaline as Pidgeot built her speed. He knew this trip would take less time than between Pallet and Vermilion, but damn if it didn´t feel good. About 10 minutes later Pidgeot dove down towards the front of the Saffron Gym, the wind from her sudden deceleration nearly sending the young woman in front of the Gym to the ground. Ash jumped off Pidgeot´s back, laughing all the while with Pikachu still glued to his shoulder.

"Welcome, Ash Ketchum. I have been expecting you," Sabrina stated in a monotone. That stopped Ash cold, "I thought you were getting better with emotions?" A small smile twitched onto Sabrina´s lips, before she giggled slightly. "I am, Haunter convinced me to play a prank on you," she explained between giggles, the Ghost-type appearing just above her shoulder. "Haunt-haunt-haunt," the overly excited old friend seemed to laugh, even prompting Pidgeot to caw gently and quietly into her wing.

"Well seeing as you were expecting me; you realize why I´m here?" Ash prodded, while Haunter started to do air rolls in excitement. "Indeed, you wish to know if Haunter would like to come with you for good this time," Sabrina commented, her smile still present. It was then Ash´s started recognizing the scent of her perfume, a soft lavender smell.

He also noticed that for some reason the clouds had started to gather over, and a slight chill had crept into the air. "I would, of course if you have nothing against it?" he confirmed. Sabrina´s face was set in stone; no emotion was readable. "Well, I have nothing against it. Haunter certainly wants to." "Haunt-haunt!" a smile followed the exclamation, well more like a face splitting really.

"Well then, welcome to the team Haunter," Ash beamed holding out a Pokéball. Haunter on the other hand had other ideas, and floated to towards the backyard of the Saffron Gym. "Haunter?" Pikachu seemed to grasp the meaning before Ash, quickly motioning for him to follow. "Ah, you want to battle first, is that it? I mean I never did catch you properly," Ash chuckled amusedly.

-Haunter is a Poison and Ghost type who should I use against him? Ash thought to himself. "Ah, I know," he spoke aloud, "Muk, I choose you." The giant pile of purple goo roared out upon entering the battlefield, noxious fumes exuding from the toxic body. "Alright, you ready?" Ash asked both of the Pokémon. Immediately after Haunter started the battle by flinging a Shadow Ball attack against Muk. "Muk dodge that, and retaliate with Sludge Bomb!" Ash commanded confidently.

Muk let its body deflate to a puddle and flowed to the side, allowing the attack to crash into the ground behind it harmlessly. Then the Sludge Bomb shot out from the still not corporal body of Muk, the tactic taking both Haunter and Ash by surprise. The attack exploded against Haunter, sending it careening backwards even though it had little effect beyond that. When Haunter had righted and stabilized himself, Muk was once again back in his pile form. Haunter grinned mischievously, and disappeared into the air.

-Shit! Where is he going to reappear? Ash thought, his mind already in high gear to react and formulate a response to the coming attack. "Muk! Keep moving around, and be ready to respond!" As Muk slid around the battlefield, Ash noticed the shadow moving about in response. "Muk use Sludge Bomb to your front and left!" Instantly Muk responded and the attack struck true, as the quick fire response had left Haunter little room to dodge the attack.

Again the attack had little effect due to Haunter´s Poison typing, allowing Haunter to recover nearly instantly. A crooked grin and narrowed eyes displayed the jovial Pokémon´s slight annoyance at having been caught. In Haunter´s hands a purple spherical shape took form, before one of the hands was thrust forward to propel the attack towards Muk.

"Is that Dark Pulse? Shit, Muk dodge it!" Ash mused, before recovering a little too slowly. The attack hit Muk, though the Sludge Pokémon had dodged enough to sustain only minor damage. "Muk, it´s been a while since we battled together. Do you have any moves that will be better against Haunter?" Ash commented, deciding to trust his Pokémon.

Muk seemed to nod nearly imperceptibly, proving to Ash that he made the right decision by asking his old friend. "Alright, we need an opening," Ash decided, "Wait for my signal." Haunter, still with a charged Dark Pulse in its hand, floated upwards, assumedly to make better use of its reach. When Haunter had ascended a quick few meters it deftly shot its remaining Dark Pulse against Muk. "Now Muk!" Ash commanded, at the very same moment the Dark Pulse fired.

"Muuuk!" came the heavy screeched response as a stream of fire burst from Muk´s impossibly large maw. –Is that a Flamethrower attack? was the very first thought into Ash´s mind. The pressure between the two collided attacks built until the air went heavy with the smell of sulfur and an incredible explosion rocked the air, birthing destructive winds. "Alright Muk, let´s wrap it up! Flamethrower once more!" Ash commanded, the winds crashing into his body making it difficult to stand.

Muk, being a Pokémon of substantial power, fought through the cascading winds and fired an extremely powerful Flamethrower directly against Haunter. The attack didn´t completely engulf Haunter, as the Ghost-type had attempted a dodge, but it did leave quite a lot of damage. "All right!" Ash exclaimed, slipping an empty Pokéball from his belt. "Pokéball go!" he yelled as he flung the activated capture device against the panting Haunter.

"Haunt!" Haunter bellowed shortly before being enveloped in a red light and forcibly drawn into the Pokéball. The ball moved violently, Haunter fighting heavily against being captured this easily.

A few short moments later and Haunter burst free from the Pokéball, panting and having sustained a decent amount of damage. "Haunt! Hau-haunt!" Haunter exclaimed, a tired grin on his face, but narrowed and cautious eyes. Opening its mouth, a cold, white colored cloud reminiscent of smoke billowed out. –That´s Haze, is Haunter trying to hide his tracks? Ash analyzed the situation as was his regular style of battling. "Muk, you know how to use Sludge Wave?" Ash asked, trying to formulate a new strategy to use against Haunter. Muk nodded in affirmative, readying himself to use the attack.

Before Ash could order the attack to be used, a shadow clad hand burst out from the white cloud and struck Muk squarely. "Shadow Punch, I was wondering when that would come. Muk, use Sludge Wave across the field right now!"

The giant wave of toxic waste that came flooding was staggering, leaving Haunter absolutely no room to dodge. Taking the attack head on dispersed the Haze, and revealed Haunter once again. However, as Haunter became visible Ash was stunned to see that it had recovered nearly completely. –How? Wait a minute, Haunter´s eyes are closed… Ah, Haunter knows Rest, and probably Sleep Talk too, Ash realized.

Just as Ash came to that conclusion Haunter glowed slightly and a Fire Punch was launched from the still sleeping Pokémon. "Dodge that and use Flamethrower!"

Sliding quickly to the side, Muk received zero damage and managed to release its Flamethrower directly unto Haunter sleeping form. "Now go, Pokéball!" The still sleeping Haunter was drawn into the Pokéball and caught cleanly. Ash breathed a huge sigh of relief, "Ok, that was though. Haunter has sure gotten strong; you did great Muk."

First now did Ash deign to observe the remaining battleground, only to see a wasteland of scorched earth and poisoned plants. In addition to the large crowd that had gathered, Sabrina stood there with her mouth gaping at the display of power. "Eh, sorry about your garden Sabrina," Ash apologized sheepishly, a hand rubbing the back of his head.

Sabrina mutely nodded, her voice failing her. As the adrenaline slowly faded from his veins, Ash recognized the smell of Muk´s distinctive toxins and the warmth from the fire type attacks that had ravaged the field. The wind had picked up and the clouds in the sky had darkened considerably, a few droplets signaling the impending rainstorm. "Muk return," Ash ordered, and the powerful Sludge Pokémon obeyed instantly, allowing the red beam to retract him into the Pokéball.

"Pidgeot let´s go! Onwards to Mt. Silver!" Ash ordered, as he climbed onto Pidgeot´s back. The powerful bird beat her wings once, taking off in a burst of wind. Quickly climbing in altitude, the Pokémon and her trainer left the crowd on the ground just as the downpour started. A lightning flash lit up the sky, casting a powerful shadow from the young trainer that had just left. The dispersing crowd muttered as they left, leaving the powerful Psychic that was their Gym Leader alone to stare after the young man.

A/N:

That was the first chapter of my new fanfiction. I welcome constructive criticism and will endeavor to improve with it. I would hope to not get flames, but if you need it bring them on. Any questions I will try to answer, though I might not if I feel they reveal to much of my thought out plot.