Disclaimer: I do not own the Pokémon Series, I do not have any rights to the Pokémon Series and I do not make any money from writing these fic's.

A/N: Written for Remi's Novel length challenge and different POV Challenge. The prompt for this chapter is Opportunities and the POV for this chapter is Ash's.

Chapter 6

Sitting on the cold metal floor of the boat was a young female, a year or two older than Ash. Battling with his curiosity and his willingness and understanding for Red to protect him, after all in Ash's eyes Red was the more experience trainer, Ash finally gave in and inched a step to the left to get a better look at the strange girl who had made all of the noise just moments ago. Staring with wide and intrigued eyes the first thing that hit Ash was the feeling of familiarity as he took in the girl's blue hair and passion filled black eyes as she seemingly gave a glare at whatever was on the other side of the door.

"You silly thing! You could of knocked me off of the boat and into the water if I had been only a few steps backwards!" the girl complained as she stood up, as she did so Ash watched as she dusted off the dirt he noticed that the young girl was wearing a simple pair of light blue jeans, a pair of white trainers, a warm yet light dark smoky red jacket. Thanks to his many lessons Ash found himself quickly jumping to the conclusion that this girl was a trainer as her clothes was too clean compared to the more seasoned trainers like Red. "I do not know about you, Milo, but I would rather start our adventure dry!"

"Just another new, rather loud, trainer?" Red muttered questioningly to himself catching Ash's attention. Red took a deep calming breath and tucked his knife back away safely, hoping that he would not have to pull it out again and shot Ash a kind smile over his shoulder. "Do not worry Ash, it looks like there is nothing to worry about. Just a girl and her friend messing about. Mind if I go over there and see what is going on?"

"No, though I do not know why you are asking me for," Ash replied as he allowed Pikachu to dart up and climb his body until the small mouse Pokémon was sitting on top of his head again. Looking unsurely between the girl and Red, Ash raised a arm and began to pet Pikachu on the head. "Maybe I can come with you?"

"Sure Ash, maybe we can even make a new friend," Red said with a warm smile that had Ash returning it with a smile of his own. "Let's go and see what all the noise is about then."

Nodding his head nervously Ash allowed Red to led him, and Pikachu, over towards the young girl who was still standing in the same spot but pouting. Anxiety gripped hold of Ash the closer they got to the girl as he mentally went over his social skills and how to act in his head. Feeling the soon to be extremely familiar comforting touch of his Buddy's tail sneakily rubbing his back without anyone else knowing or realising and Red's presence was his only comforts.

"Hey, are you okay?" Red called out friendly though Ash was relieved slightly as Red seemed to read his emotions and take control of this situation. "Falling over like that onto the ships hard metal floor can't be a very good idea...unless you are trying to do something that I should not know about?"

"Hey! I am doing nothing of the sort! Get those thoughts out of your mind now!" the girl protested with an angry look as she quickly shot Red a dark, murderous glare. "Milo just got a bit over excited and hyper is all! We have been on this boat for a few days after all!"

"You from Johto then?" Red asked with an understanding gaze. Besides him Ash stared in surprise, wondering how it was possible for Red to know.

"Yup!" the girl replied with a proud grin on her face. Ash watched as she pointed to herself proudly, her eyes burning as confidence filled her. "My aim is to get out into the world and see what there is out there! There might even be a place out in that big old wide world that is different from the rest of the females in my family."

"Amazing, how did you know that she is from the Johto region?" Ash asked as his eyes went from the girl to Red then back to the girl. As the two pairs of eyes turned onto him Ash felt his excitement over come by a small amount of embarrassment though he pressed on. "How can you tell?"

"Simple, this boat's only other docking point is Olivine City, a port city, in the Johto region. Afterwards it goes to our home town then to New Bark Town, which is known for having a lot of new Pokémon trainer's get their first Pokémon and start off on their journey," Red answered with an air of knowledge. Unable to help himself Ash let out a soft 'wow'. "It seems that she and this Milo is doing the same thing we are planning to do. Starting in the Johto region from New Bark Town."

"Hey! I have a name you know!" the girl cried out angrily as she shot Red a dark look."You should think about using it!"

"Err...excuse me but we cannot do that," Ash said nervously only to suddenly find himself pinned under the weight of the girl's angry stare. "Because you have not told us your name so we cannot call you it..."

Much to Ash's surprise the angry and confident expression on the girl's face was quickly gone. In its place was a nervous and unsure expression that clearly spoke to Harry just how unsure she felt. Watching as she bit her lip in an obviously nervous manner Ash took a deep breath and stepped out from behind Red and took several steps forwards so he was standing in front of Red, only by a single step, and offering the female trainer a nervous but welcoming smile of his own.

"I guess that we should start first, my name is Ash Ketchum, on my head is my buddy Pikachu and standing next to me is Red," Ash said as he introduced himself and his two friends to the female Pokémon trainer. "We all come from Pallet Town in the Kanoto region. It is nice to meet you."

"My name is...Jenny," the young girl said, and much to Ash's confusion her eyes flashed with anxiety only to disappear when neither he or Red said anything. "My Pokémon partner...! Milo! Come on out of there and introduce yourself to Ash and Red!"

Curiously Ash watched as a small, hyper puppy Pokémon came bounding out of the room that Jenny had just fallen though the doorway of moments before. As the small but strong ball of energy, black stripes and orange fur bounced about while offering them a greeting it was easy for Ash to work out the spices of Jenny's Pokémon partner. With a final happy bark Milo sat at Jenny's feet with his tail wagging madly.

"Meet my Growlithe, Milo," Jenny said with a nervous smile as she looked between the pair. Emotions fluttered about slightly making Ash wonder if the Jenny was waiting for them to say or do something. "So..."

"Do not stress over it," Red said suddenly, catching Ash by surprise though he did spot the shocked and hopeful look in Jenny's eyes. "I have already put the pieces together, you are from the 'Officer Jenny' family and you are travelling around the Johto region looking for a place that is meant just for you. Be it as a police officer or not. I understand, take the opportunity while you are young and you still can."

"Really? You are not going to make a big deal out of me wanting to see if I might prefer being something else other than an Officer?" Jenny asked as Ash watched her shoot an excited and thrilled look down at Milo. "You won't jump to conclusions or go on about how I should be proud to start my training as a police officer then?"

"I...I think that I do not have the right to judge you and the decisions that you make," Ash answered honestly as he once again allowed Pikachu to rub his back on the sly and allowed himself to calm down. "I mean is that not why, if only a really small, tiny part of it, why people travel for on Pokémon Journeys? Besides, like Red said everyone has a right to take hold of the opportunities that life presents them with. You are your own person."

Silence filled the air as Ash fell silent. Seconds flashed by while Ash waited for a reply only for him to gulp slightly as he tried to ignore the eyes of Milo on him, as if they were gazing right into his soul. Whatever it was that Milo was searching for in him Ash found himself hopping that he had passed Milo's test. Besides him a soft groan from Red followed by a few choice words only for them to be too soft to be heard.

"Red?" Ash asked as he turned his gaze to his big brother figure with a look of worry. "Is there something wrong?"

"Just hoping that this won't play out like I think it will," Red answered with a soft sigh which turned into a groan as Jenny let out a loud excited squeal. "Or..."

"That is it! I have decided!" Jenny yelled out determinedly as she stood facing the pair with her legs apart, one hand on her hip and the other one pointing towards Ash and Red. Unsure of what to do Ash looked to Red only to find that the seasoned trainer seemed to know what was about to happen. "Milo and I are going to be travelling with you both until the time for us to part ways come!"

"Shit! We're doomed."

"Red!"

To Be Continued...

Sorry about Ash's personality, I'm still trying to 'sound him out' as his proving to be a bit more difficult then I thought he would be.