Note:- Hello guys! It's me! Back with a new Palletshipping fanfic.

Okay first of all, I am really sorry for not updating Creating a Perfect Past in such a long time (It's been a year I guess?). I promise I'll get back to it as soon as possible.

In the meantime, this plotbunny had taken control of my mind and was refusing to leave until I wrote it down. So, here we are with this fanfic. I promise to update this fic every week or atleast every two weeks. :-)

This fic has a completely different plot than the anime. But almost all the major anime characters will show up in it. It is mostly like an anime-verse AU (but it includes non-anime characters like Leaf too).

It will take some time to get to the plot and explain everything so please be patient.

Chapter 1:- Waiting

It was a warm sunny day in Pallet town. It was also the last day of exams at Pallet High School after which the summer holidays were going to begin.

Eighteen year old Ash Ketchum was scribbling furiously on his answer sheet. He had studied his best and was really hoping to score good marks in the paper.

"Last ten minutes!" the examiner announced.

Ash finished his paper as fast as he could. Went through it once again, searching for any possible mistakes. Once he was satisfied with it, he got up and went over to the examiner. He handed his paper, picked up his bag and went outside the classroom.

His mind was buzzing with excitement and nervous anticipation as he made his way outside the school. He had finally done it. Given his best. Now all he could do was wait for the results.

Ash walked towards a familiar Oak tree just outside their school which was the rendezvous point for him and his friends to meet. Sure enough, in a few minutes Leaf Green hurried towards the tree.

"Hey Ash!" Leaf said, and beamed at him radiantly.

"Hey Leaf, how was the paper?" Ash asked her.

"Very easy. I think almost all of my answers are correct. How did it went for you?" she asked him.

"It was okay," Ash answered honestly, "Gary had helped me with the studies yesterday. So, I was able to do alright."

Leaf Green and Gary Oak were Ash Ketchum's classmates at Pallet High School and also his best friends. Well, he had some issues with Gary in the past but for the most part they were resolved now. Ash knew that Leaf was extremely happy about her two best friends patching it up and becoming friends again. She had helped them to patch up obviously.

"Of course Gary would have helped you with the paper. This is his favorite subject, right? Study of Pokémon Fossils," Leaf said.

"Yeah, it's his favorite subject. He had once told me that he wanted to become a Pokémon researcher and revive Pokémon fossils," Ash told her.

"Yeah, he had mentioned it to me too," Leaf said.

Just then, a tall brunette with green eyes came hurrying towards the tree. "Sorry, I am late. I was finishing the paper," Gary told them.

"Writing till the last minute as usual," Leaf commented, rolling her eyes.

"That's because I knew everything, unlike you two," Gary replied in a mischievous tone.

"Hey!" Leaf said indignantly and swatted her arm at him which he playfully dodged.

"Stop it you two," Ash said with a laugh. It always made him laugh when his two best friends started their playful fighting.

The three of them talked for a little longer and then made their way towards Ash's house, where his mother was going to give all three of them a treat for finishing their final exam. They walked silently for some time, after which Ash finally spoke up,

"Do you think we'll be able to make it? I mean, will we be able to get enrolled in the Pokémon University?"

"Of course we will Ash!" Leaf said with determination, "We had studied so hard and done our best. There's no reason why we wouldn't get selected."

"I am not so sure," Gary said suddenly. Both Ash and Leaf turned to look at him.

"Why?" Ash asked him.

"Well, first of all they select students from all over the 'Seven Regions' for the Pokémon University. We will literally be competing against not just students from all over Kanto but rather students from all over the world. And I am not sure whether we are that good," Gary replied in a serious tone.

"Where has your usual confidence disappeared Gary?" Ash asked feeling surprised. It was quite unlike Gary to be so doubtful and nervous.

"I want to become a researcher so I must think logically. And logic dictates that it is very difficult for the three of us to get admission in the Pokémon University," Gary stated firmly.

The Pokémon University was a prestigious University located on a faraway island. Currently, it was the only place where one could pursue higher studies related to Pokémon. Only the students from that University were allowed to have Pokémon of their own.

Ash had always wanted to own Pokémon. He wanted to train them and be their friend. Which is why getting admission in Pokémon University was so important for him.

Soon, they reached his house and Ash pressed the doorbell. The door was opened by a middle-aged woman with a kind face, brown eyes and brown hair. Delia Ketchum smiled at her son and said, "Hello sweetie, how did your exam went?"

"It was alright mom," Ash replied as he stepped inside the house, followed by Gary and Leaf.

"Gramps! I didn't knew you were here as well!" Gary exclaimed. Ash looked up and saw Professor Oak sitting on a couch in the living room.

"Of course I am here!" he said pleasantly, "How could I miss the post-exam celebration for the three of you?" Gary smiled at him.

The three of them removed their shoes and settled down in the dining room. They were soon joined by Professor Oak and Delia.

Ash's mother went into the kitchen and brought a lot of delicious-looking food, which she placed on the dining table.

"This looks tasty mom!" Ash exclaimed.

"Thanks for taking the trouble to make this for us Mrs. Ketchum," Leaf said politely.

"Oh don't worry dear, it wasn't a trouble at all. Now, enjoy the feast," said Delia.

Ash didn't need to be told twice. He dug into the food greedily and enjoyed every bite of it.

"So, now that you are graduating from high-school, what are your plans for the future?" Professor Oak asked the three of them.

"You already know about it gramps. We want to get admission in Pokémon University," Gary told him.

"Still fixed on that I see," his grandfather commented.

"What's wrong with that?" Gary asked.

"Nothing, on the contrary, I am proud of the three of you to set such high goals and ambitions for yourselves. But I was wondering, why you want to get admission in Poké Uni in the first place?" Professor Oak asked them.

"Because I want to learn all there is to learn about Pokémon and become a Pokémon researcher. Probably even revive a Pokémon fossil one day," Gary answered.

"I want to get admission over there so that I can become a Pokémon trainer," Leaf replied.

"I want to become a Pokémon trainer too but more than that I just want to own Pokémon, take care of them and become their friend," Ash answered honestly.

Ash saw Professor Oak and Delia exchange a glance. Both of them looked really angry about something.

"What happened? Did I said something wrong?" Ash asked nervously.

"Well, it's just that, none of this would have been a problem in my time or even in Delia's time. Hell, it wouldn't have been a problem until a few years ago," Professor Oak said exasperatedly.

"What wouldn't have been a problem?" Ash asked feeling confused.

"You wanting to own a Pokémon. Until a few years ago, people in all the regions were allowed to own Pokémon. They weren't required to attend an exotic University just to get a Pokémon of their own," Professor Oak told him.

"Yes, you could apply for a trainer license as soon as you were ten and you would become qualified to receive your first Pokémon. You could catch other Pokémon with the help of your starter," Delia added.

"I think I had heard about this from my parents," Leaf said, "This was how things were when we were very young, weren't they?" she asked.

"Yes, this was how things were before the 'Super Seven' took over," Professor Oak grumbled.

Ash knew about the Super Seven very well. Every kid at his school knew. They were taught almost daily at their school how the Super Seven were the best thing that had happened to all the Pokémon regions. That they were the most brave, noble, just and powerful rulers.

Though what Ash had heard from the local gossip and from his own mom and Professor Oak was quite the opposite. They always said that the Super Seven were evil, hateful, cunning and extremely cruel towards Pokémon and humans alike. Ash personally didn't knew what to believe.

"What's more, you were able to own Pokémon of different types before they took over," Delia told them.

"Really?!" Ash, Gary and Leaf exclaimed in unison. In their current society no person was allowed to own Pokémon of more than one type. You could only train or own Pokémon of any one particular type. Of course, you were allowed to train Pokémon with a secondary typing but the primary type had to be the same for all of your Pokémon.

"You remember our Mr. Mime Ash? Wouldn't it be simply lovely to have him back?" Delia asked him.

"Yeah," Ash replied. Mr. Mime had been Delia Ketchum's Pokémon. And also the Pokémon with whom Ash had spent the most of his childhood with. He had been really attached to the psychic-type clown Pokémon. Now, he really missed him.

"Mom, do you think those people would be taking good care of Mr. Mime?" Ash asked his mother.

Delia's jaw trembled as she replied, "I... don't think so sweetie. Those people are not exactly known for looking after or taking care of Pokémon."

When the Super Seven had taken over, every person owning Pokémon had been given an option. Either they would agree to work for the Super Seven or they would have to disown their Pokémon and hand them over to the new government. Delia had obviously refused to work for them, because of which they had taken away her Mr. Mime.

The atmosphere at the table suddenly became grim after the mention of Mr. Mime. Gary asked the one question which had been on everyone's mind,

"So if we want to own or study Pokémon, would we have to work for Super Seven as well?" he asked.

"Unfortunately, yes Gary," Professor Oak answered, "There is no other option. Even the Pokémon University is owned by Super Seven. If you take admission over there you would be basically admitting to work for them in future."

"But we don't have any other option," Leaf muttered, "That's our only way of getting close to Pokémon."

A feeling of gloom and sadness settled over everyone at the table. They finished their feast in silence. Leaf was the first one to finish her meal. She said goodbye to everyone, hugged both Ash and Gary, and got up to leave.

Professor Oak left soon after that citing that he had some research to attend to in his lab.

That left Gary alone with Ash and Delia. The moment Delia went inside the kitchen, Gary reached across the table and squeezed Ash's hand with his.

"Huh, what?" Ash asked him.

"Ash, I just wanna say that, if only one of us gets admission to the Poké Uni, that I will really really miss you. A lot. You are my best friend. Probably even more closer to me than Leaf. And I just don't like the idea of us separating after high school," Gary said to him.

"Whoa Gary, what's wrong with you? When did you became so sentimental? And really, you think only one of us will make it to the Poké Uni? You are so sure that I won't make it?" Ash asked him.

"Why do you have to take it so wrongly Ash?" Gary asked, looking a little annoyed, "I didn't meant that you wouldn't make it. Maybe I won't be able to make it. But point is that, if we do get separated, than I want you to know that I'll miss you a lot."

"Okay, okay, I get it!" Ash said, "I'll miss you too, alright?"

Gary nodded and let his hand go. His expression returned back to being cool and uncaring, as though the small moment of emotional bonding between them had never happened.

Gary had always been like that. Putting on a mask of coolness and ego, making it seem as though he didn't cared about anything at all. But Ash knew better. He had seen enough of Gary to know that he truly cared. That he valued their friendship beyond anything else.

Ash would have really loved to know why Gary had suddenly stopped being his friend for a few years. He tried not to think of those few years when Gary used to be really mean and rude towards him. It still hurt to remember how he used to behave. Although, one day Ash would really like to know Gary's reasons for behaving the way he had.

Now was not the time for that though. Now was the time to gently smile at Gary and let him know that even if they get separated they would always remain each other's best friends.

Once Gary had finished eating, he stood up to leave. He said his goodbyes to Delia and went in the living room to put on his shoes. Ash followed him. They walked together till they reached the front gate of the house.

Before Gary could walk away any further Ash took his hand into his and said, "You know that we'll always remain best friends, right?"

"Yeah, thanks Ash," Gary said in reply and turned to leave.

Ash watched him walking into the sunset with a slight smile on his face. The smile didn't hide the fact that he was really nervous about their exam results though. He really wanted to get admission in Pokémon University. He wanted to be around those magical creatures, wanted to touch them, train with them and care for them. He hoped all three of them, he , Gary and Leaf would get admission over there.

He clenched his fist in determination and said to nobody in particular, "We will definitely make it!"

Author Note:- Hope you all enjoyed this! Please review and tell me what you thought of this. I love constructive criticism.

Also, Misty, Brock, May and others are definitely going to be in the story but they'll come later. Please be patient!