Sometimes, one person can change your whole life. Ash believes this about his best friend. Does Misty feel the same? Songs do not belong to me, nor does Pokémon or its characters. The rest of the story takes place during Best Wishes, so it may contain some spoilers later on.

[[Ages:
Ash-22
Misty-22
Wilhemina- 28
Brock- 26
Juniper- 42
Elm- 45
Rowan- 56
Birch- 48
Cynthia- 38
James- 29
Jessie- 28]]

Chapter Nineteen: Important Errands

Two days later, Ash was sipping on a cup of coffee in the lab when Gary walked in, Oak, his mom and Misty following. He turned his chair around and chuckled. "What's this about? Did I forget something?"

Oak grinned. "Not really, my boy... Except checking the mail."

Ash's face dropped. "Crap! I forgot!" He saw his mom grin. "What?"

Misty handed him the manila envelope. "Here. Open it up."

Ash took it and blinked before grinning and spinning around. "I have a few people to get a hold of, first..." He said, just opening it so he could slide it out, glancing to see that it was the paper, turning his excitement inward when he saw the title.

"Hello?" A green haired woman answered before blinking. "Hey, Ash!"

"Brock around?"

"Yeah, hold on..." She turned behind her, showing Brock and his younger brother, Forrest, polishing Geodude and Onix, respectively. "Hey, love, Ash is on the phone." She said.

"Coming. Got it, bud?" He asked his brother.

"Yup!" Forrest replied. "Hi Ash!"

"Hey, Forrest!" He answered as Brock sat beside his girlfriend. "I got the envelope right here. You got your side ready?"

"Yup. Just need to hit the call button. How about you?" Brock asked.

"Any doubt? Same here. I told them I'd show them all. Ready?" He moved slightly to add his part of the call right as Brock said 'go'. Grinning he saw all the mentors he had appear: Birch, Elm, Juniper and Rowan, plus the champions he had met on his journey: Steven, Cynthia, Alder and Lance. He also saw James, who had returned yesterday to rest up before he headed out again to Unova.

Elm, of course, was first to almost come through the phone. "So? Don't keep us waiting!"

Birch chuckled lightly. "Relax, Elm. Let the boy answer."

Ash smiled and finally pulled the certificate starting he was now authorized to be a Professor, showing all his friends he had met. "It's official now. I'm a professor."

Steven chuckled. "That's great news. Hope you don't forget to do more research here. I'm sure we'd all love it."

Birch nodded. "That'll come eventually, Steven. He just got the thing today."

Juniper smiled. "Let us know if you ever have questions, though with Samuel there, there might not be much need for that."

Oak rubbed his head. "Thanks, Aurea."

"Thanks. Just let everyone else know. I'd call 'em, but I can't imagine how long it'd take me to tell not only Bianca, but Lyra. Those two are a handful." He admitted.

"Don't worry." Juniper said, winking. "I have Bianca over in Aspertia City. There's a couple of trainers over there that are ready, but I can't travel there at the moment."

"Same here. I should have 'em showing up soon. Good luck, Ash." Rowan nodded.

Before long, they all hung up and Ash bid Brock goodbye before pushing his chair back and staring at the sheet that he never thought he'd want, let alone get. But, here it was. "Man... I guess it's about time to announce that the lab's open, eh, professor?"

"Ready for it?" Oak asked.

"I've been training for this day. It's just... surreal. Nearly thirteen years ago, I was lucky to even get a pokemon. Now, I'm the one giving them out." Ash said, putting his hands in his coat pockets with the three following. Pikachu was on his shoulder as he reached up to stroke his friend's ear.

Misty smirked slightly. "Since then, you barely wake up for an alarm."

"Hey, it's progress. I remember times I personally had to wake Ashy-boy up." Gary commented to an annoyed glare from Ash, grinning. "Think of this as beating me. I'm completely happy being where I'm at."

Knowing it'll rub Gary the wrong way, Ash grinned back. "So. Happy are ya? When's the wedding between you and Lily?" He teased, knowing full well the two were satisfied to be just dating.

"Shut it." Gary said, turning beet red as they saw a crowd a lot larger than when they were kids outside. "Hope you have enough..." He whispered.

"Remember, only select few get a starter. Besides, just giving them all one would be like sending a herd of children to a candy shop." Ash said. "And this way, we'll have gaps between where I can start getting Mist here to help around a little. Not too much, though." He added before seeing that there were only three anyhow that were old enough. "Well, this beats anything. I hope you three are ready."

"You bet I am! Oooh! I hope I get an adorable pokemon!" A girl with blonde hair and green eyes said.

"Mine will be the best around, of course." A boy with red hair and blue eyes teased.

"I'm just glad I can finally get one! I've been waiting forever!" A boy with brown eyes and orange hair said.

"Follow me then." Ash said, allowing them in as Gary and Oak went about their duties around the lab, which was still named 'Oak's', but Oak gave it over to Ash that very morning. He smiled at the fond memories that arose before the girl spoke again.

"Say, Professor...?" She asked.

"Yeah?" He replied.

"Is it possible to get a Pikachu?"

"Well, not really. I got extremely lucky when I was your age. I overslept and Pikachu here was the only one left." Ash said, rubbing Pikachu's head. "There's something I've learned when I was travelling. Strength isn't everything." He stopped by the pedestal that held the three starters. "What does matter is the bonds between humans and Pokemon. And each of you will bond with one of these Pokemon. Charmander, the Fire type." He opened the pokeball and the lizard grinned. "Bulbasaur, the Grass type." He did the same with Bulbasaur before finishing. "Finally, Squirtle, the Water type."

"Do you have an idea which one would be good?" The orange-haired boy asked.

"That is up to you. You can decide how strong your Pokemon are." Ash said.

"Charmander is so cute!" The girl said. "I choose Charmander!"

"Squirtle will get me stronger, definitely." The red-haired boy said.

"I would like to travel with Bulbasaur anyhow." The orange-haired boy said.

"Alright... Here are their Pokeballs..." He held his hand out with a Pokedex and five other Pokeballs. "And take the Pokedex and Pokeballs. These Pokedexes are high-tech. It took a collaboration of different professors of different regions. I hope you all find your dreams. You can catch Pokemon with the Pokeballs." He said. "By the way, what're your names?"

"I'm Levi." The red-haired boy said.

"Name's Nia." The girl said, bowing slightly.

"And I'm Darnell." The orange-haired boy replied.

"Oh... I nearly forgot. There was something I need from Pewter City. It's north of here through the Viridian Forest. Can I get one of you to possibly go there and retrieve it? It can't be sent through transmission. Look for this man..." He pulled up a picture of James. "Also, here... another gift. Something to store Gym Badges if you want." He gave them a case and smiled. "Enjoy the adventures I'm sure you'll find along the way."

"Thanks Professor!" They said in unison and, after Gary gave them maps, were off.

"What do you think James has?" Misty asked.

"Dunno. Juniper said it was rare, that's all. And that it couldn't get transferred via the teleporters." Ash stated as the three went out to the fields to check in on the pokemon there, seeing his Bulbasaur looking in his direction. "Hey, Bulbasaur... How're things doing?"

"Bulba.. Bulbasaur saur bulba." It said, as if saying everything was fine.

"With your Bulbasaur here, it'll be safe for awhile, Ashy-boy." Gary teased, patting Ash on the head. "But, gotta smell ya later. I promised I'd meet Lily in Vermilion." Pulling Ash into a headlock, he sighed. "How is it those sisters managed to get us to follow them anywhere?"

"Got me... Perhaps it's because of a tiny thing called love?" He guessed, starting to wonder how in the world he was the one following Misty around, despite him being the 'man' in the relationship.

"Well, if you ask me, I don't mind. We get to watch those gorgeous hips move, eh?"

"Oh, grow up, Gary." He said, shoving his best friend/rival away, grinning right as his stomach growled. "Man... I'm starving!"

"Glad to know that stomach of yours is the same." Misty joked, smirking as they waved Gary off and returned home.

"Hey, I can't help when I get hungry. But, you eat roughly at the same times as me, even with my snacking." He reminded.

"Well, I am eating for two, remember?" She replied.

"True. I wish my mom would've warned me of that beforehand."

"That and my mood swings."

Ash nodded and helped make some chicken and rice with a side of peas. If it weren't for his mom and Misty, he would've burnt a few dishes if not for their help. He wondered what Juniper sent him, going through different things from a new pokemon to new materials. He figured it would have to wait until they got back, so he decided to go over a few notes Rowan and Birch sent him about how some pokemon were now showing different characteristics.

My god... I have been too busy to notice this story... 0.0 Well, now I'll try to get to working on it due to me watching more of the anime... But, work irl comes first.
~~Skittles~~