Ash stared at the gym in front of him. It was awfully large with a gate of logs. Up high was a sign that shocked Ash and his companions.

99 Consecutive Wins / 0 Losses

He hugged Ralts closer to his chest. He tugged on Brock's sleeve and looked curiously at the sign.

"Ah, that. No idea. Perhaps an unregistered gym and its record?" Brock responded. "Do you want to check it out?"

The mute nodded with a bright look, excited to see the gym. They approached the large wooden gate towering above them.

"Wow," Brock gaped.

Ash nodded in agreement. Ralts let out a small whimper. Her whimpers slowly turned to purrs as her father's warm hand caressed her head. He looked towards Brock and pointed to the gym.

Brock hummed. "Sure, we can check it out."

The two and Pokemon walked into the gym and were greeted with the sight of a tall, spiky, green haired teen shouting at the Sandshrew swimming in the pool. He held a whip tightly and cracked it beside the Sandshrew. "Hurry up! Swim faster!"

Ash stared at the scene in terror, Mewtwo replicating his expression, though with more anger.

Brock, seeing his expression, quickly said, "Don't worry Ash, He isn't actually hurting the Sandshrew."

Ash looked inquisitively at Brock and then back at the teen with the whip. He walked to the teen and tugged on his shirt.

The teen abruptly paused in his actions and then looked at Ash. "What? Are you a challenger?"

Ash shook his head. He pointed to Sandshrew and tilted his head. Pikachu scurried to his shoulders and did the same.

"My training? It's to help Sandshrew against his resistance to water," the teen answered, slowly piecing together the words behind Ash's words.

Brock decided to step in at this moment. "How you maintain his form? If he's excessively exposed to his weakness, wouldn't it be detrimental to his physical health?"

The teen grinned. "Well, I got my own home remedies and Pokefood to battle against that. It strengthens his body and accommodates to his weakness. You two are pretty cool. I'm A.J."

"I'm Brock, and this is my companion Ash with his Pokemon Pikachu, Ralts, Lucario, and Mewtwo," Brock said.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance," Lucario bowed.

"You better not be hurting your Pokemon," Mewtwo growled.

A.J. frowned. "Of course not! I'd never do anything towards them that I wouldn't do against myself. I've never actually hit them and make sure to never overwork them. That's just detrimental to them in the long-run."

Ash smiled and then looked back to Sandshrew who was panting on the floor after finishing his swim. He knelt beside him and cooed, lightly running his hand against the back of Sandshrew. Sandshrew crooned, leaning into the touch and relaxing.

A.J. stared at the two in confusion and awe. "I've never seen Sandshrew warm up to another person so quickly. Most of my Pokemon just ignore others who visit my gym."

"Ash is special that way," Brock laughed. "Could you show us some of your home remedies? I'm developing my own Pokefood and Ash is a great judge on Pokefood."

"Sure, I don't mind," A.J. shrugged.

Ash stood and followed the pair, his Pokemon trailing behind him and Ralts still in his arms. He stared in amazement at the assortment of Pokefood. He inquisitively pointed to the Pokefood and then to his mouth.

"Go ahead and try," A.J. nodded.

The trainer grinned and opened one of the containers of Pokefood and took a bite. He grinned and nodded.

"Master says that it's really good, perfect for a ground type. It retains the same texture as the wild food of ground-type Pokemon. It's great and helps adjust the Pokemon to life with a trainer," Lucario explained.

"Hmm, is that so? Do you have one for Psychic types?" Mewtwo asked.

A.J. shook his head. "It's rare to find Psychic types in Kanto. I have yet to develop one and find a Psychic Pokemon willing to try it."

Prepare for trouble
And make it double
To infect the world with devastation
To blight all people within our nations
To denounce the goodness of truth and love
To extend our wrath to the stars above
Cassidy
Butch
Team Rocket circulate the Earth all day and night.
Surrender to us now or you'll surely lose the fight!

The group stared at the Two Team Rocket minions, one with gold pig tails and the other with a teal bowl cut. Ash turned away and began laughing silently, breathless. Pikachu was outright laughing while Ralts was staring confusingly at her family. Mewtwo was silently asking himself how such an idiotic team could have produced him while Lucario was laughing beside Ash. Brock was face palming while A.J. was just staring dubiously at the pair.

A.J., however, tensed when the pair released a large Raticate. "Sandshrew, sand storm!"

Sandshrew cried out as he released a sand storm and sent the team blasting off with their Raticate. Sandshrew turned to his owner and chirped in elation.

"Our 100th win!" A.J. cheered. "We can go off on our journey now!"

Ash stood up from his laughs and extended a hand to A.J.

A.J. accepted and shook his hand. "I hope we meet again in the future Ash. You're a pretty cool dude." He turned to Brock. "You too, Brock. I wish you luck with your Pokefood."

"Thanks A.J. We'll see you another day," Brock nodded sagely.

Ash sweat dropped as Brock turned the map constantly and intensely stared at it.

"Are we lost?" Lucario asked.

Brock grinned sheepishly. "I think so."

Pikachu let out a small cry, one of disbelief and exasperation.

"I sense some other humans a bit away from here," Mewtwo said. "We could enlist their help."

The group moved to follow Mewtwo. They walked until meeting a small group of boys.

"What level does Pidgey evolve?" one of the boys asked.

"Um...level 16?" the boy nervously answered.

"Wrong!" another boy shouted. "It's level 18! You're never going to pass the Academy if you don't even know the evolution level of common Pokemon!"

Ash narrowed his eyes. He clapped and rubbed his hand together in a circle. Almost immediately, Mewtwo sprung into action and used Psychic to lift the antagonizing boys from the victim. He glared at them, sending them scurrying away.

"Wow," the boy gasped. "What Pokemon are you?"

Walking to the boy, Ash offered a hand and smiled.

"Master asks if you are alright," Lucario translated, walking beside his trainer. "He quite hates bullying."

"Yeah, I'm okay," the boy nodded, taking Ash's hand and lifting himself up. "I'm Joe. Those boys weren't bullying me. They were helping me study for my upcoming exam."

Brock snapped his fingers. "I know this place! It's that prestigious Pokemon school. If you graduate, you're automated to the Indigo League."

Ash frowned at that.

"Master, isn't that the school that Professor Oak said to cost millions of dollars to attend? He said that it was quite terrible in teaching the basics of training and only used textbooks," Lucario said.

Seeing Ash's nod, Mewtwo scowled. "Pathetic humans. As if Pokemon are as simple as a few words on a page."

Ralts cooed while Pikachu nodded in agreement.

Joe turned red with anger. "Well, you can't say that! I bet you're a terrible trainer, letting all of your Pokemon out like that! I'm already strong enough to beat the Cerulean Gym easily!"

Brock rose a brow. "Did you even beat the Pewter Gym?"

Joe winced. "Well...Well, I was waiting to get another Pokemon. I only have a Bellsprout."

"How do you expect to advance if you only have one Pokemon and can't conquer a type weakness? Ash here beat my gym using type disadvantages and beat the Cerulean Gym as well. Not only that, but he's gone head-to-head with Team Rocket and helped destroy one of their labs," Brock pointed out. "How do you expect to compare if you can't even beat the first gym or go beyond a textbook?"

Joe sputtered. "Faced Team Rocket?!" He turned Ash. "You're Ash Ketchum? The trainer who joined Agent Jenny to infiltrate Team Rocket's lab and beat the Viridian Gym despite having only been a legal trainer for two days?!"

Ash nodded and shrugged.

"Wow," Joe gaped. "I wonder if you could go against Giselle."

"Giselle?" Brock repeated, eyes becoming hearts as he began imaging a beautiful woman.

Joe nodded. "She's the top student. Here, see." He handed him a photo of a beautiful teen with a bright smile.

Brock cried out. "Ah! Her beauty!"

"She's a bit of a snob though," Joe added.

"Why is it you keep a photo of her then?" Lucario asked.

"I may not the way she acts, but I like the way she looks," Joe shrugged.

"Oh, speaking about me?" a voice rang out.

The group moved to face the newcomer, the same girl in the photo, Giselle. Brock's heart went out to the teen. Before he could launch himself over and speak with her, Mewtwo stopped him with Psychic.

"Giselle!" Joe exclaimed in surprise.

Giselle hummed while flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Who are these people? You know no one is allowed entry unless they are given access."

"Well, well, if it isn't Ashy-boy," the teen behind her said.

Ash's eyes widened. He clutched Ralts closer to him as he edged away from his bully. Lucario took a stance in front of his trainer. These reactions sprang Mewtwo to glare at Gary while Pikachu crouched on Ash's shoulder, prepared to launch himself at the possible threat.

"Stay away from our Master Gary Oak. We shall not be responsible for anything that happens if you do," Lucario growled. "And trust my words. We will not hesitate."

Gary raised his hands in surrender. "I wasn't going to do anything. Just talk a bit with Ashy-boy."

"You know him?" Giselle asked, placing herself on his arm and looking up at him with fluttering eyes.

"Is something wrong with her eyes?" Mewtwo whispered to Ash.

Ash shrugged, still tense.

"Yeah, we've been acquainted with one another since we were children," Gary explained.

"Really?" Giselle responded. She looked at Ash and said, "He doesn't look like much." Suddenly, her smile widened. "I know! How about we have a Pokemon match?"

"Yeah, right," Gary muttered.

Mewtwo nodded. "It would give more insight to Pokemon battles for me. It would be a good experience for you as well Ash. Even if it is from someone so strange."

Slowly, Ash assumed position and gestured for Pikachu. He waved his hands gesturing the field and Pikachu grinned. The yellow mouse cried out as he jumped off his trainer's shoulders and growled at their opponent, sparks shooting from his cheeks.

Giselle scoffed. "You only have a Pikachu? They're only pets for little girls. Let's see if he can even match the feet of my Golem! Golem, let's quickly finish this with a roll out!"

Pikachu jumped out of the way with Agility before slamming the Golem with his Iron Tail, creating a crater from the force and Golem to knock out.

"What?!" Giselle shrieked.

Pikachu shouted in victory and faced Giselle. Tauntingly, he laughed at the teen. She puffed in fury as she released her next Pokemon, Cubone.

Laughing, Pikachu did a quick Double Slap before Cubone began to cry, its skull vibrating. Upon hearing the cry, Ash immediately ran to the field and picked up Cubone. He pressed the Pokemon against his chest with Ralts who released a croon of comfort. Pikachu joined the group, cooing in apology for making the Pokemon cry.

"What the hell?" Giselle gaped. "How did he beat me so fast?"

Brock chuckled making Giselle turn to him. Seeing her stare (and no longer feeling attracted to her spoiled attitude), he smirked. "He's Ash Ketchum, of course, he's going to beat you."

Giselle's eyes widened and looked at Ash in a new light. "You mean THE Ash Ketchum? You're Ash Ketchum?"

Ash raised his head at his name and nodded. He released Cubone who only sniffled. He smiled and accepted Lucario's hand in standing back up. "I used...a small...Heal Pulse...He be...okay now."

"That's good," Brock nodded. "Though, now you're probably going to be exhausted, huh?"

Ash nodded, leaning his head on Lucario's shoulder, feeling the drowsiness reach him. He rubbed his eyes and dragged his feet as they walked back to Brock. He yawned and raised his arms up at Lucario.

The Pokemon laughed as he picked his up Master in a piggy back ride and felt his smiling against his shoulder.

Brock was quite amused at the picture before gesturing to exit. "We should find somewhere to rest for tonight if he's this exhausted already. How long do you expect him to sleep?"

"Seeing as the Heal Pulse was only for minor injuries, Master will probably only be sleeping for an hour or two before waking," Lucario answered.

"Hm. It is nearing the time of dinner. We shall rest, perhaps include some training," Mewtwo said, holding Ralts with a Psychic. Pikachu, walking by his feet, shouted in agreement.

"I'll join you," Gary said as he followed the group.

"What?!" Giselle screeched.

Gary shrugged and joined the group, ignoring their dark stares/glares. He focused on Ash whose face held the most peaceful look he'd ever seen. 'If I was different...If we were different...Would I be the one making those expressions on his face?'