Saga #1: Prologue

Saga #1 Blurb: Meet Ash Ketchum, a trainer from the Kanto Region's Pallet Town with a deep love for Pokemon and the ultimate goal of becoming a Pokemon Master. Ash's love for Pokemon enables him to uncover many hidden gifts he didn't know he has and accomplish many feats that others look at with awe, admiration, and envy. For anyone to understand his future, it is a must to recap his past.

Chapter #1: Kanto, The Beginning

Chapter #1 Blurb: For Ash and Pikachu, it all started in their home region of Kanto on their tenth birthday. Shortly after leaving their home in Pallet Town, they spot a mysterious yet magnificent Pokemon high in the sky as a measure of good luck. On the way, they make friends with Misty and Brock, add new Pokemon friends to the growing team, challenge the Gym Leaders in Kanto for a chance to compete for glory in the Kanto League, and foil schemes of the villainous Team Rocket from time to time.

Plot

June 3, 2001

Ash was walking in a forest just outside of his hometown of the Kanto region's Pallet Town with his Pichu with whom he grew up with and played with since birth. Most trainers at five years of age wouldn't dare to walk in a forest alone, but Ash and Pichu would…as long as it is not raining. Speak of the devil, it started to rain, prompting Ash to scoop Pichu with one hand and lift his backpack over his head on the other hand.

"C'mon Pichu, we got to stay dry." Ash said and Pichu squeaked in agreement. This was one of the few times Ash and Pichu would be worried, but they soon found a tree with a hole that was large enough for them to fit inside and quickly sought refuge there. Then Ash and Pichu see a group of local wild Pokemon consisting of an Oddish, a Butterfree, a Caterpie, a Rattata, and a Weedle outside getting wet in the rain.

"Hey." Ash called out to the group of Pokemon who turned their heads at him. "Come over here where it is dry." Ash extended a hand while Pichu jumped up and down squeaking at the Pokemon hoping to convey the same message. Soon the group of Pokemon entered the hole and snuggled next to Ash and Pichu for the duration of the rainstorm.

Wow, these Pokemon living in the forest are so friendly. I just can't wait to become a trainer, go on a journey with Pichu, meet all kinds of Pokemon around the world, and become friends with them. Ash thought happily. Pichu sensed the increasing happiness within Ash that he squealed happily and started glowing. Soon, Pichu evolved into Pikachu.

"Pikachu." Ash whispered happily and hugged him while the forest Pokemon cheered. The group stayed until the rainstorm stopped.

This event fueled Ash's desire to become a Pokemon Trainer and influences how he cares for Pokemon.

July 6, 2002

Ash and Pikachu, both six years old, were in a middle of a Pokemon Orienteering activity as part of Professor Oak's Summer Camp in Pallet Town. They saw a Poliwag and began chasing it inside the nearby forest.

"Poliwag!" Ash called out while emerging from a set of bushes with Pikachu accompanying him. However their attention turned to a young girl about their age, with honey-colored hair, wearing a straw hat with a pink bow tied around it, and a pink dress with pink flats. She appeared to be slightly tearful while clutching her knee injury.

"Hi, are you hurt? My name is Ash, and this is Pikachu." Ash introduced himself and Pikachu. The girl perked up at their presence. Pikachu approached her and nuzzled her which helped her calm down a bit.

"My name is Serena." The little girl known as Serena spoke. "My knee hurts, and I can't get up."

"Here." Ash replied as he pulled out a hankerchief and wrapped it around her wounded knee. "And for good luck: pain, pain, go away!" He waved his hands as if doing magic, but Serena groaned.

"It still hurts." Serena wept. Then Ash stood up.

"Don't give up until the very end." Ash replied, gently held her hand, and pulled her up into a hug. Serena pulls away and stares at Ash with a surprised expression.

"See, you did it! Hehe!" Ash said with a smile. "Let's go back to camp." Pikachu was in front of the pair while Ash still gently held Serena's hand and escorted her back to the camp. Unknown to Ash, Serena stared at him wide-eyed with a growing blush.

Though Ash and Serena won't meet again until they are older, this interaction will bind their destinies together as the world will soon see.

April 29, 2006

It was a few days before Ash and Pikachu turned ten years old, an important milestone when trainers are allowed to begin their journey and fulfill their dreams. While Pikachu was resting at home, Ash went fishing at a river near Pallet Town with his hometown rival Gary Oak, grandson of Professor Oak.

"Let's see who can fish out the better Pokemon!" Gary exclaimed while casting his lure.

"You're on!" Ash retorted as he casted his lure. Soon they both reeled in a Pokeball.

"A pokeball!? It's mine!" Ash and Gary exclaimed. Soon, Ash and Gary pulled back and forth trying to claim sole ownership of that Pokeball, but it split into halves.

"Well we tied." Ash replied.

"C'mon! A tie with you is still a loss for me!" Gary exclaimed arrogantly. "I'm supposed to be better than you in everything, Ashy-boy!" This event alone set the stage for the trainer rivalry between Ash Ketchum and Gary Oak.

May 2006

Ash and Pikachu stayed up so late the previous night. So they ended up oversleeping on their tenth birthday and hurriedly sprinted to Professor Oak's Lab.

"Well, you both sure look ready to stay in bed rather than go on a journey." Professor Oak remarked while preparing Ash's set of six Pokeballs and a Pokedex. "The bad news is that Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle have already been taken. The good news is that you already have Pikachu. There is nothing to worry about as one of those six Pokeballs happens to already been registered for Pikachu. You have also missed the farewell ceremony in the morning. It was quite the sight. Gary left in style with cheerleaders riding in a convertible." Nonetheless, Professor Oak let Ash start with Pikachu. Ash's mom Delia, Pikachu's mother who is also a Pikachu named Chuchu, and Gothitelle who is Delia's closest Pokemon friend all came with Ash's backpack full of stuff. Ash and Pikachu bid goodbye and set out on their journey first to Viridian City. As they left, they hear Delia yell.

"Ash, don't forget to change your underwear!" Delia hollered sweetly making Ash fall over and Pikachu laugh.

Later, Ash and Pikachu accidentally disturbed a flock of Spearow that chased them to a cliff overlooking a river.

"Dang it! We're gonna have to jump!" Ash exclaimed while he and Pikachu jumped into the river and hid underwater until they were fished out by a girl named Misty.

"Hey! That's my bike!" Misty exclaimed as Ash got on her bicycle and placed Pikachu in the basket.

"Sorry! I'll return it to you later!" Ash hollered an apology while trying to evade the Spearow flock. The Spearow flock corner Ash and Pikachu during a thunderstorm when Ash loses control of the bike. Just when things looked really bad, Pikachu saves the day by zapping the Spearow and Misty's bike with Thunder. Soon the thunderstorm subsided.

"Whoa look at that!" Ash exclaimed as he and Pikachu see a mysterious majestic Pokemon flying above them leaving a trail of a rainbow which made them feel optimistic. However, Pikachu was hurt from the battle against the Spearow flock, so Ash rushes to Viridian City and manages to find the Pokemon Center with Officer Jenny's help. Nurse Joy, the operator of the Pokemon Center, took in Pikachu for healing while Ash phoned Delia and Professor Oak to update them.

Misty arrives looking lividly at Ash while holding her charred bike.

"Hey you owe me a new bike, kid!" Misty vented.

"Look, I'm sorry! I'll pay you back someday!" Ash pleaded in vain to Misty, but Pikachu recovers quickly in time to lighten up the mood. But then a trio of villains broke into the Pokemon Center from the roof; Jessie, James, and a talking Meowth who are part of the evil organization known as Team Rocket. Chaos ensued as Jessie sent out her Ekans and James called out his Koffing for their Pokemon stealing heist, but Ash and Pikachu were too quick.

"Pikachu, use Thunder!" Ash exclaimed, and Pikachu's Thunder sent the villains and their Pokemon blasting off with a huge explosion causing a huge fire.

"Staryu and Starmie, use Water Gun!" Misty commanded while summoning Staryu and Starmie, and they both put out the fire.

Next morning, Ash sees a poster advertising the Kanto League.

"Wow, there is the Kanto League!" Ash exclaimed as he and Pikachu stare at the poster.

"You want to enter the tournament? Then you need to obtain eight Gym badges by defeating eight different Gym Leaders throughout Kanto." Nurse Joy informed. "In order to start challenging Gym Leaders, you need to register. Here I can do that." Soon Ash signs up for the challenge with Nurse Joy's help at the Pokemon Center. Nurse Joy gives him the Kanto League Badge case.

"Okay buddy, our first Gym is Pewter City." Ash said to Pikachu who squealed in agreement. Ash and Pikachu left Viridian City to go to Pewter City with Misty tagging along just for her bike.

Few days later, Ash and Pikachu enter Viridian Forest but Misty still follows them despite her fears of all the Bug-Type Pokemon living in there. Ash catches a Caterpie who gets along with him and Pikachu but not so much with Misty.

"I'm not going anywhere until you pay me up for a new bike, Ash Ketchum!" Misty vented again. "And put that thing inside its Pokeball!" She pointed at Caterpie out of disgust.

"That's very mean of you Misty to hurt Caterpie's feelings. Also for the umpteenth time, I'll pay you back someday!" Ash replied while he, Pikachu, and Caterpie pressed forward. Soonafter Ash catches a Pidgeotto, Team Rocket Trio intervenes and captured Pikachu.

"We've been after your Pikachu since that night at the Viridian Pokemon Center!" Jessie exclaimed with glee.

"Your Pikachu is stronger than any other Pikachu in this world!" James added.

"It makes a great gift for the boss!" Meowth chimed in. Ash, Caterpie, and Pidgeotto saved Pikachu and sent the Team Rocket Trio, Ekans, and Koffing blasting off.

Caterpie evolves into Metapod.

A week later, Metapod evolved into Butterfree.

"Wow, you know, Butterfree is actually beautiful." Misty commented at the sight.

"Oh, so you are not afraid of Bug Pokemon?" Ash asked Misty teasingly while Pikachu squealed with laughter.

"Shut up!" Misty yelled. Suddenly, A Samurai appears and challenges Ash to a Pokemon battle.

"So you're the fourth trainer from Pallet Town eh? The other three from Pallet Town say that you're the weakest." Samurai taunted.

"Then let's find out with a Pokemon battle." Ash countered.

Soon Ash defeated Samurai in a 3-0 clean sweep. Pidgeotto defeated a Pinsir, Pikachu defeated a Beedrill, and Butterfree defeated Metapod.

"I have underestimated you greatly. Please, allow me to show you the way out." Samurai said apologetically and showed Ash and company the way out of Viridian Forest.

After about a week, Ash and company reached Pewter City and after battling other trainers for practice, Ash and Pikachu were ready to challenge the Pewter Gym.

They meet the Gym Leader Brock Slate who specializes in Rock-Type Pokemon.

"I accept your challenge!" Brock boldly said. "But I will show no mercy!"

Ash and Brock began a 3-on-3 Pokemon battle for the Gym badge. Brock's siblings Forrest, Salvadore, Tommy, Cindy, Suzie, Timmy, Billy, and Tilly – also known as the Brocklings – were cheering for Brock.

Ash's Pidgeotto and Butterfree defeat Brock's Geodude and Graveler respectively.

"You show promise, but I'll turn the tables around with my Onix!" Brock announced as he calls out his Onix who defeats both Pidgeotto and Butterfree in quick succession.

"You are cornered. Pikachu does not have any advantage over Onix. I know you have talent, but you should consider forfeiting the match for Pikachu's sake." Brock advised.

"Well Pikachu and I have other plans." Ash said with determination and the battle continued. Pikachu accidentally sets off the sprinklers which damages Onix badly forcing Brock to forfeit. Ash defeats Brock 3-2.

"No fair! He cheated!" Forrest objected and pointed at Ash.

"No Forrest." Brock replied to Forrest who objected earlier. "Ash won fairly."

"Yes, we agree." Flint Slate and Lola who are Brock's parents chimed in.

Soon, Brock presented Ash the Boulder Badge.

"You know, although I am a Gym Leader, my passion lies in Pokemon Breeding which was why I hesitated to continue the battle when you were left with just Pikachu." Brock admitted to Ash. Then to Brock's surprise, his family blessed him for his quest to become a Pokemon Breeder. Brock packs his stuff and joins Ash and Pikachu who is still being followed by Misty.

June 2006

Ash and company trek through Mt. Moon where Brock catches a Zubat. Ash sees a sign that says 'Gary was here, and Ash is a loser!'

"GRRR! GARY OAK!" Ash vented as he and Pikachu dash off to their next destination Cerulean City. Misty became reluctant to go to Cerulean City, so Ash, Pikachu, and Brock went without Misty for a while. They see a news article about thieves stealing parts from a machine shop in the city. Ash and Pikachu decided to check the Cerulean Gym while Brock had stuff to check out. At the Cerulean Gym, Ash and Pikachu see the Three Sensational Sisters, the Waterflowers of Cerulean City, were doing a Water Pokemon Performance Show. Ash learns that the Waterflower Sisters – Daisy, Lily, and Violet – are the Gym Leaders, but they had other plans.

"Um, we are like so sorry we can't battle you." Daisy said lazily.

"Our Pokemon are like so tired. " Lily added.

"So it's like your lucky day so here is the badge." Violet concluded and offered Ash the badge.

"HOLD IT!" Misty arrives much to Ash's surprise. "As the Fourth Sensational Sister and the Cerulean Gym Leader, I can't let you have that…unless you beat me in a Gym battle!" Ash and Misty have a 2-on-2 gym battle with Pikachu sitting this one out. Butterfree and Pidgeotto defeat Misty's Staryu and Starmie respectively which meant Ash defeated Misty 2-0. Before Misty could hand Ash the badge, the The Team Rocket Trio arrived with a mecha vacuum.

"We used the stolen machine parts to build this little baby to steal all the Water Type Pokemon here!" Meowth cackled while Jessie and James proceeded and operated the mecha.

"Not so fast!" Ash exclaimed as he and Pikachu foiled the villains plan and sent them blasting off. Misty and her sisters award Ash the Cascade Badge. Brock arrives and rejoins Ash, Pikachu, and Misty on their trek to Vermillion City.

July 2006

Ash and company arrived in a Pokemon sanctuary known as the Hidden Village where its sole protector, a Bulbasaur, doesn't seem to trust people that much and gone above and beyond in protecting the Pokemon there. Ash proves that he can be trusted by helping him thwart the Team Rocket Trio's conniving scheme of stealing the Pokemon from the Hidden Village.

"Bulbasaur, you want to come with me?" Ash asked, and Bulbasaur agreed but only if Ash won and caught him. With Pikachu's help, Ash got Bulbasaur.

About two weeks later, Ash and company continue their journey to Vermillion City when they encounter a lonely Charmander sitting on a rock.

"So according to Pikachu, that Charmander was waiting for his trainer to come back for him." Ash said.

"Well there is nothing we can do." Misty replied. Seeing that a storm was coming, Ash and company rushed to the nearby Pokemon Center. During supper, Ash overhears a bunch of burly mean trainers, especially one who is known as Damien. Damien gossiped about how he tricked the Charmander to wait for him on the rock. Ash and company confront Damien and his gang, but Nurse Joy orders to break up the fight. Damien and his gang left the Pokemon Center. Seeing the terrible storm outside, Ash and company rescued the ailing Charmander from a flock of Spearow.

"Let's take him to the Pokemon Center." Brock advised while wrapping Charmander in a towel.

"I'll make sure his tail flame stays lit." Ash added, and he and his friends brought Charmander back to the Pokemon Center. It takes several hours into the early morning for Nurse Joy to heal Charmander. Ash and company find out that Charmander left the Pokemon Center and went to look for him, but the Team Rocket Trio trapped them in a hole and nabbed Pikachu. Just when things didn't look bright, Charmander defeats the Team Rocket Trio with his new move Flamethrower and rescues everyone. Damien arrives wanting to take back Charmander after seeing the new powerful move, but Ash and company were able to show Charmander Damien's true colors convince him to reject Damien.

"YOU DARE TO DISOBEY ME!?" Damien asked threatenly. "THEN I'LL JUST PUT YOU IN MY POKEBALL!" Damien hurled his Pokeball to Charmander, but Charmander hit it right back which struck him in the face.

"OH NOW YOU HAVE REALLY DONE IT!" Damien screamed and prepared to call out his entire Pokemon team to beat Charmander up, but Pikachu and Charmander were too quick and zapped and burned him respectively.

"The next time we meet at the Kanto League, I'll crush you like the loser you really are!" Damien threatened while glaring at Ash, but Ash brushed that threat off. Damien left crying. Charmander joins Ash's team already consisting of Pikachu, Butterfree, Pidgeotto, and Bulbasaur.

August 2006

Ash and company continue their trek to Vermillion City. They reach the outskirts of a small town when suddenly they fell into a pothole thanks to a Squirtle wearing and Pikachu quickly climbed out to face Squirtle and hopefully catch him, but Squirtle made a getaway as soon as Officer Jenny arrived and tells Ash and company about Squirtle's tragic past and current mischief he has been doing. However in a twist of fate after Ash helped Squirtle out of a tight spot caused by the Team Rocket Trio and sent the villains blasting off, Squirtle not only realized his mistakes but saw compassion in Ash.

"Squirtle, I'm glad you understand." Ash said. "Wanna join me?" Squirtle eagerly agreed and hugged Ash. Soon Squirtle became part of Ash's team.

A week later in the evening, Ash and company stopped by a beach. There, Ash managed to catch a Krabby, but Krabby's Pokeball glowed blue and suddenly vanished!

"You can only take up to six Pokemon at a time." Misty reminded. "Any extra Pokemon you get would be sent to storage."

"Well that doesn't sound like fun." Ash said. "Man, Krabby must be feeling lonely. Maybe I should call Professor Oak." Soon Professor Oak appears in the videophone.

"Yes I received your Krabby which is not as big as the one Gary caught." Professor Oak said while showing Gary's Krabby which is bigger.

"Do I really have to keep Krabby at storage?" Ash asked. "It definitely doesn't sound like fun for Krabby or any of my Pokemon." Professor Oak thought it over and then noticed Krabby becoming sad.

"Okay Ash, if that is what you think, then I'll let you carry as many Pokemon you can handle as long as you take full responsibility for them." Professor Oak said with authority.

"Yes Professor Oak. I will." Ash replied. Soon Krabby was back with Ash.

A week later, Ash and company finally arrived at Vermillion City and stopped by the Pokemon Center which was over-crowded to their surprise. Word is that all the trainers were trying to heal their Pokemon after being soundly defeated by the Vermillion City Gym Leader Lt. Surge and his Raichu, Pikachu's evolved form. Ash and Pikachu directly went to challenge Lt. Surge and Raichu.

"Really, a baby like you challenges me? Forget it!" Lt. Surge teased while his Raichu laughed at Pikachu. Soon Ash and Pikachu were back in the Pokemon Center and recalled what happened.

"I can't believe you two went through all that trouble. It's totally unfair." Misty said out of shock.

"Lt. Surge used a Thunder Stone to evolve his Pikachu into a Raichu." Nurse Joy said and pulled one out. "If you want, I can let you have this one." Pikachu blatantly refused and even smacked the Thunder Stone away with his tail.

"Pikachu, you want to beat Raichu without evolving?" Ash asked and Pikachu squealed in agreement with determination. "Then we'll have to train."

"Here is a tip: Raichu may have the power but not the speed if evolving early." Brock advised.

"Then Pikachu, let's improve your speed." Ash concluded. Soon Ash did some special training with Pikachu and the rest of his Pokemon on becoming more agile.

Next morning, Ash and Pikachu challenge Lt. Surge for a Gym battle.

"As I have said yesterday, I won't be battling a bunch of babies." Lt. Surge said using the same below-the-belt tactics to turn down the challenge.

"Oh, I guess you are too scared of being beaten by one given a chance." Ash taunted back and got under his skin.

"Well you just booked yourselves a trip to the Pokemon Center!" Lt. Surge raged as he and Riachu accepted the challenge from Ash and Pikachu and began a 1-on-1 sudden-death battle. Despite overwhelming odds, Pikachu defeats Raichu using speedy tactics.

"Damn I was wrong! You are a winner!" Lt. Surge exclaimed as he handed Ash the Thunder Badge. "Now show everyone what a real winner is!"

Ash and company took a cruise on the St Anne after surprisingly winning tickets. During the cruise, there was a delicious buffet and Pokemon battles to enjoy, but eventually the Team Rocket Trio crashed the cruise. It wasn't just the Team Rocket Trio who came. Plenty more Team Rocket Grunts also arrived. Apparently it was a major mission of Team Rocket ordered by the Boss Giovanni to steal Pokemon at a large scale by targeting the St. Anne cruise liner.

"No you won't be stealing anymore Pokemon!" Ash exclaimed as he and his Pokemon stood up against Team Rocket. Pikachu, Butterfree, Pidgeotto, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, and Krabby sent the villains and their Pokemon flying away. The big battle caused the St. Anne to spring a leak and sink.

"Everyone, we need to swim back to shore with Water Type Pokemon!" Misty exclaimed to the passengers.

"Everyone let's move!" Brock added and helped the passengers evacuate the passengers off the ship before it sank.

Once back on shore, Ash and company plus the passengers see Jessie, James, and Meowth swimming on and abusing a Magikarp.

"You guys are hurting him!" Ash scolded the Team Rocket Trio and rescued the Magikarp. The Magikarp sensed Ash's compassion, evolved into a Gyarados, and used his new Hyper Beam attack to blast the Team Rocket Trio away. To everyone's surprise, the Gyarados showered Ash with affection.

"You want to travel with me?" Ash asked and Gyarados nodded. Soon Gyarados joined Ash's team. Meanwhile, Giovanni couldn't believe that his operation was foiled by some beginning trainer namely Ash Ketchum. The next gym Ash planned to challenge is in Saffron City.

Two weeks later on the way to Saffron City, Ash and company learn that the Butterfree mating season is underway.

"Ok Butterfree, you want to try finding yourself a mate?" Ash asks while sending out Butterfree who eagerly began searching for his mate. He gets attracted to a pink-colored Butterfree, but she rejects his advances several times.

"Maybe Butterfree needs to wear a yellow scarf to stand out." Brock suggested. Ash never doubted Brock's advice on Pokemon romance but had reservations should the advice concern getting women given Brock's flirting habits. Nonetheless, Ash got a yellow scarf and Butterfree attempted to woo the Pink Butterfree but failed several Team Rocket Trio captured all the Butterfree threatening to ruin the Butterfree mating season, but Ash's Butterfree successfully rescues all the Butterfree and sends the Team Rocket Trio blasting off. Butterfree attempts one more appeal to the Pink Butterfree, but he became heart-broken when the Pink Butterfree already had a partner. All the Butterfree couples flew away leaving Ash's Butterfree all alone without a mate.

"Oh Butterfree, I'm so sorry." Ash lamented while his Pokemon watched sadly. "Don't lose hope. You still got us." Butterfree nodded tearfully and accepted a group hug.

September 2006

Ash and company are only days away from reaching Saffron City where Ash would challenge the Gym, but a strange man appears.

"You want to win the Gym Badge in Saffron City?" The strange man asked. "Then you would need a Ghost-Type Pokemon to be protected from the Gym Leader's evil Psychic powers. Lavender Town is a good place to find Ghost-Type Pokemon." Heeding the advice, Ash and company detoured to Lavender Town that night, and Ash managed to obtain a Haunter who preferred going with Ash over living alone in the Pokemon Tower.

Ash and company arrived in Saffron City few days later, and Ash and Haunter geared up for the Saffron Gym challenge. The man they met before escorted Ash and his friends inside the gym to protect them from any malicious Psychic influences. The man reveals that the Gym Leader is his daughter Sabrina who grew up not having control over her Psychic powers which led to her mom turned into a doll. So the man had to get a trainer like Ash to capture a Ghost-Type Pokemon for the type advantage.

Soon Ash stands face-to-face with Sabrina the Gym Leader who instantly held Pikachu, Misty, Brock, and her father up as hostage.

"You want them free?" Sabrina asked. "If you win this 1-on-1 battle, then they will be set free. But should you lose, then all of them including you would be trapped here forever."

"You're on, Sabrina!" Ash exclaimed. Ash and Haunter take on Sabrina and her Abra which evolved into a Kadabra. Despite having offensive type advantages over Kadabra, Haunter was still weak to Psychic Type moves as he was also part Poison Type. Ash relied on Haunter's pranks which removed the evil Psychic powers controlling her. The pranks made Sabrina laugh uncontrollably that even Kadabra couldn't stop laughing. So the match got called with Ash and Haunter as the victor. Ash not only got the Marsh Badge his fourth Kanto League Gym Badge. He rescued his friends and saved Sabrina and her family from further harm.

October 2006

"So Ash, you have four badges?" Professor Oak asked during a videophone call. "Well, Gary and the other two trainers from home have five badges. You still got a lot of catching up to do."

"Well, then I'll catch a super strong Pokemon for the cause. Then I can win my fifth badge in Celedon City." Ash said with determination and bid goodbye. Ash and company got attacked by an enraged Mankey due to the Team Rocket Trio's intervention. The situation got worse when the enraged Mankey evolved into Primeape and chases them around while berserk until…

"Alright, burn him now with Flamethrower!" Ash commanded, and Charmander delivered the final attack and subdued Primeape making it easy for Ash to catch.

When the Team Rocket Trio came to cause more trouble, Ash let loose Primeape who gave the villains a good beating and blastoff, and a black eye for Ash.

Despite the mad chase, Ash and company arrived in Celedon City earlier than planned.

Ash continued his momentum and challenged Celedon Gym Leader Erika and won 3-2 with Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Pidgeotto for the Rainbow Badge, his fifth Kanto Gym Badge. Then Ash and Primeape solidified their teamwork bond at the Celedon City P1 Grand Prix which is a Fighting-Type competition. They won the whole competition despite overwhelming odds and even beaten a disguised Team Rocket Trio who resorted to cheating the entire time.

November 2006

Ash and company finally came face-to-face with Gary Oak who was still as arrogant as ever.

"Oh Ashy-boy, I find it hard to believe you could easily pull that off. You just got lucky." Gary sneered after watching Ash sending the Team Rocket Trio blasting off to prevent interference at a local dam project affecting local Diglett populations.

Ash and company arrived in Fuchsia City and managed to use some clues to locate the gym and then get past the puzzles and traps to come face-to-face with Gym Leader Janine.

"I am not easy to beat. I have trained under my father Koga a Ninja Master." Janine boasted.

"Is she serious? She trained under Koga?" Misty asked out of awe.

"Koga is not only a Ninja Master but also a Poison-Type Master and part of the Kanto Elite Four which is a group of Kanto's strongest trainers." Brock commented. "Ash, Janine could be tough to beat if Koga mentored her."

"I won't back down." Ash commented. Janine accepts Ash's challenge, and a 2-on-2 battle began. With Squirtle and Charmander, Ash won this tough battle 2-1.

"Here, the Soul Badge is proof that you have won here." Janine said as Ash accepted his sixth badge.

Ash and company continued their journey towards Cinnabar Island, the location for the next gym. Along the way, Ash caught a Magnemite in a polluted industrial town, and a Dragonair and Tauros at the Safari Zone.

December 2006

Winter approached as Ash and company continue their long trek to Cinnabar Island. Unfortunately they got caught in a bad blizzard up on top of some mountain ranges largely due to Ash's poor sense of direction. Just as they were trying to seek shelter, a powerful wind comes out of nowhere.

"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed as Pikachu gets blown away prompting him to split from Misty and Brock.

Ash manages to rescue Pikachu from falling over a steep icy cliff with Bulbasaur's help. Charmander helped by melting a thick layer of snow to form a cave for Ash and his Pokemon to settle for the blizzard got worse which brought colder temperatures. Then while stubbornly defying Ash's orders to stay in their Pokeballs, Pikachu, Butterfree, Pidgeotto, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Krabby, Gyarados, Haunter, Primeape, Magnemite, Dragonair, and Tauros all crowded together with Ash keeping him warm.

"Oh you guys. I guess we will get cold together." Ash said as he and his Pokemon endured the freezing night before reuniting with Misty and Brock the following morning in time for the winter holiday celebrations.

January 2007

Ash and company arrived in a town where a carnival was taking place, but a bunch of Exeggutor went on a rampage. Ash and his Pokemon led by Charmander managed to quell the Exeggutor. Then when things were settling down, Charmander began to glow and evolve.

"Whoa! Charmander you evolved into Charmeleon!" Ash cheered along with Charmeleon who got a little carried away and accidentally burns Ash in the face.

"Ouch!" Misty and Brock exclaimed worriedly.

Over time, Ash and Charmeleon try to figure out how to control Charmeleon's powers.

"Charmeleon, be slow and steady!" Ash advised, but Charmeleon would lose control unintentionally at times during training and in practice battles.

"Maybe Charmeleon is too tough for Ash to handle." Misty said one night.

"Perhaps Charmeleon craves so much battling. I bet he's close to another evolution." Brock theorized.

A week later, Ash and company arrived at Grandpa Canyon where they meet Gary and a bunch of other Pokemon Trainers who were part of a group doing Pokemon fossil excavation. Things got hairy when the Team Rocket Trio caused a ruckus which woken up several ancient Pokemon such as Omastar, Kabutops, and an Aerodactyl. Still the villains got blasted off. Ash's Pokemon were able to stop the group of Omastar and Kabutops, but the Aerodactyl kidnaps him.

"YEOW! SOMEONE GET ME DOWN!" Ash screamed while the Aerodactyl held him hostage on top of a cliff, prompting Charmeleon to roar at the Aerodactyl. Aerodactyl taunted Charmeleon which forced him to evolve again to Charizard. Then Charizard flies up, defeats Aerodactyl, and rescues Ash all without losing control of his powers. Thus everyone was saved.

"Charizard, thanks for saving me." Ash complimented while Charizard roared and licked him.

"Ash trained that Charizard quite well to pull that stunt off." Gary remarked before walking away. Before Ash and company left, Misty spotted something.

"Whoa, it's a Pokemon Egg." Misty said after spotting one near a cliff. She chose to keep it. Ash and company resume their journey. Eventually, the Pokemon Egg hatches revealing a Togepi. Togepi imprinted on Misty.

Few weeks later, Ash and Bulbasaur won a battle against a hiker. Then Bulbasaur's bulb begans to glow from time to time.

"You know, your Bulbasaur is close to evolving. Rumor has it that there is a secret flower garden where a bunch of Bulbasaur convene at and evolve into Ivysaur," said the hiker. Ash and company chose to accompany Bulbasaur to the secret arriving at the secret garden, Ash's Bulbasaur and several other Bulbasaur take part in the evolution ceremony led by a Venusaur, Bulbasaur's final form. Ash and company cheered Bulbasaur on as he evolves into Ivysaur.

"Congratulations Ivysaur." Ash praised while Ivysaur blushes modestly in front of his friends and teammates.

February 2007

Ash and company continue their trek to Cinnabar Island which seemed to be never-ending, and they met up with a Team Rocket duo of Cassidy and Butch who often competed against the Team Rocket Trio for personal glory. Ash and company foiled Cassidy and Butch's Pokemon stealing plan in a local town.

"Looks like Team Rocket's busted a fuse again!" Cassidy and Butch moaned sadly as they were carted off to jail by Officer Jenny.

A week later, Ash and company finally take a boat and arrived at Cinnabar Island, and once again they had to solve a local man's riddles to find the gym which is located in the volcano. The local man revealed himself.

"I'm Blaine. You finally found my Fire-Type gym. You ready for a smoking-hot battle?" Blaine asked.

"I'm more than ready!" Ash exclaimed and began the 3-on-3 battle. Ash's Squirtle and Krabby managed to knock out Blaine's Rhydon and Ninetales, but the battle got postponed when the Team Rocket Trio almost destroyed the gym and caused a volcanic eruption. The villains' plan failed, causing them to blast off. Squirtle evolves into Wartortle while Ash and company prevented the total destruction of the gym in the volcano. The battle resumed at another lava pit. Blaine's final Pokemon Magmar knocks out Krabby and Wartortle. So Ash sends out Charizard who engaged Magmar in an explosive showdown between Fire-Types. Charizard defeated Magmar thus Ash defeats Blaine 3-2 and wins the Volcano badge.

"My seventh badge!" Ash cheered along with his Pokemon.

For the next month, Ash and company traveled to Viridian City for the eighth gym. They made a stopover in Cerulean City where they helped the Sensational Sisters with one of their shows. Soon, Ash and company arrived at the Viridian Gym.
"The Viridian Gym is the toughest Gym in all of Kanto." Brock warned.

"Tough or not, I'm going to win!" Ash exclaimed as he and Pikachu attempted to enter.

"Too bad Ashy-boy!" Gary hollered as he appeared in front of him along with his cheerleaders. "You'll have to wait until I'm done getting my eleventh badge!"

"ELEVENTH!?" Ash exclaimed out of disbelief hearing that Gary has already overqualified himself for the Kanto League Championships with ten badges.

So Ash and company waited. Togepi eventually got separated from the group, and then began screaming from inside the gym prompting Ash and company to enter. To their surprise, they see Gary and his cheerleaders knocked out.

"Ash you better save yourself!" Gary warned. "What I battled was some kind of a monster!"

"What kind of a monster?" Ash asked. Then suddenly, Team Rocket Trio prevented their escape by shutting the door.

"We're now the Gym Leaders in place of our boss!" Jessie proclaimed.

"So you'll have to play by our rules!" James added.

"Or else you'll have to forfeit the badge and surrender your Pokemon to us!" Meowth cackled evilly.

"Now presenting our all-star lineup that will crush the twerps!" The Team Rocket Trio chanted and let loose 13 powerful Pokemon loaned to them. Ash decided to bring out his entire team of Pikachu, Butterfree, Pidgeotto, Ivysaur, Charizard, Wartortle, Krabby, Gyarados, Haunter, Primeape, Magnemite, Dragonair, and Tauros for battle. Ash and his team defeated the Team Rocket Trio in this battle royale 13-0. Even better, Ash now has newly evolved Venusaur, Blastoise, Gengar, and Dragonite.

Jessie, James, and Meowth were so bummed down by the huge loss that they accidentally set off the booby traps which sent them blasting off and forcing Ash and company to escape the Gym before it crumbled down and exploded.

This got a lot of attention from the media as having a Pokemon League Gym controlled and destroyed by Team Rocket is bad news, and seeing a Pokemon not identified in the Pokedex spells even more mystery. Ash catches the Viridian Gym's Earth Badge Jessie was holding on to but apparently lost her grip on during the blastoff. That means Ash has won 8 Kanto Gym Badges to qualify for the Kanto League Championships.

March 2007

"Just how incompetent are you three?" Team Rocket Boss Giovanni questioned angrily at Jessie, James, and Meowth in Team Rocket's HQ. "You failed to defend the Viridian Gym and nearly exposed Team Rocket's secrets all because you struggled against some ten year old trainer! My role as Gym Leader has been compromised!"

"Your Boss-ness, we're sorry!" The Team Rocket Trio pleaded.

"JUST GET OUT!" Giovanni raged causing the trio to quickly leave his office.

"GRR! I better make sure the rest of Team Rocket's operations are safeguarded and won't be exposed by some incompetent subordinates – or even by some competent trainers like Ash Ketchum! Funny that name sounds familiar!" Giovanni spat as his Persian lay by his side.

Meanwhile, Ash and company arrived in Pallet Town. Gary has arrived earlier since he and his cheerleaders had a car to share. Delia and her Pikachu Chuchu and her helpful Gothitelle meet all of Ash's friends and his Pokemon. Soon Professor Oak arrived for the occasion.

"Congratulations Ash and Gary! You're the only trainers from Pallet Town going to the Kanto League Championships which would take place two months from now at Indigo Plateau!" Professor Oak announced. "You'll be up against over 500 other qualifiers."

"So are we even?" Ash asked.

"Obviously I'm better!" Gary boasted.

"Now now settle down." Professor Oak said while acting as the mediator. "Both of you still have a fair shot at winning this. It all depends on the training you do for the next few months. Still here are some things I notice from both Ash and Gary. Ash saw more Pokemon than Gary has, yet Gary caught more Pokemon than Ash did. Gary rotates his Pokemon very frequently while Ash has not rotated any of his Pokemon at all."

"No joke!?" Gary asked out of disbelief hearing about Ash's situation.

"Professor Oak, do you know anything about Togepi?" Misty asked.

"I've never seen this Pokemon when I put together the Kanto Pokedex. Perhaps it is not native to Kanto." Professor Oak deduced.

Later that day at one of Team Rocket's secret bases, Giovanni's mysterious Pokemon escapes and destroys the base. Giovanni got transported back to another HQ of Team Rocket.

A week has passed. Ash and his Pokemon were training for the Kanto League Championships with some help from Misty and Brock until a wild Dragonite arrived with an invitation for Ash to some battle tournament at New Island. They arrived at New Island which was very stormy and met a woman who escorted them along with a few other competitors inside. Then she introduces them to their host dubbed 'The Greatest Pokemon Master of all time.' Said host appears, but it wasn't a human.

"I am Mewtwo!" Mewtwo said telepathically in a deep male voice. "I was cloned from a Mew in a lab facility owned by Team Rocket. Instead of being treated as a Pokemon, I was treated as a tool for destruction. I eventually escaped and decided to someday punish humanity! So I'll create an army of clone Pokemon to conquer the world and punish humans!" Mewtwo then let go of the woman from his Psychic hold, and the woman was revealed to be a Nurse Joy. The other trainers got really mad and sent their Pokemon to attack Mewtwo, but Mewtwo's clone Pokemon beat them easily.

The conflict turns very chaotic as the newly created clone Pokemon savagely battled the rest of the trainer's Pokemon. Then a Mew appeared and battled Mewtwo.

"Enough! Stop fighting!" Ash yelled and rushed towards the battle between Mew and Mewtwo ignoring warnings from his friends and the other trainers while the two Pokemon charged up their strongest attacks. The two Pokemon fired their attacks and Ash got caught in the crossfire! When the smoke cleared, people and Pokemon gasped seeing Ash now turned into stone. Pikachu tried shocking Ash multiple times to see if he responded, but it was futile. Pikachu and all of Ash's Pokemon cried spewing tears. Shortly all the Pokemon and the cloned Pokemon began crying. Even Mewtwo began to feel remorseful.

Suddenly, all the tears of the Pokemon joined together and surrounded Ash's statue which then reversed the damage. Soon Ash was back to normal to the joy of all the people, Pokemon, and clones.

"I am very sorry for what I did. I was in rage. I won't be able to forgive myself unless I learn about how this world works." Mewtwo admitted. "However, I will have to wipe out all of your memories of this event. I don't want anymore exposure for me and the clones from prying eyes."

"Mewtwo, what if we meet again?" Ash asked. "I want to be friends with you." This touched Mewtwo's heart.

"Friends" Mewtwo repeated. "Very well, I won't tamper with memories belonging to you and your Pokemon. That is as far as I can go." Mewtwo then wiped out this memory from everyone except his clones, and Ash and his Pokemon. Then Mew teleports everyone away from New Island and back to Kanto mainland where the weather was back to sunny and calm.

"Huh, where are we?" Misty asked looking confused.

"Yeah, I felt like I was in a dream or that I missed something very important." Brock added.

"Nah, don't worry about it. Let's head back." Ash said. Later that night, Ash and his Pokemon reflected on the day's events wondering about Mewtwo and all the kinds of Pokemon that are out there, but they hardened their resolve to train harder and be strong for each other so they can accomplish their dreams together which include winning the Kanto League Championships.

April 2007

After several weeks of training, Ash and his Pokemon were ready for the Kanto League Championships. Ash met up with Misty and Brock along the way, and they trekked towards Indigo Plateau. After registration, the opening ceremony began when the torcher bearer arrived with the torch that bears the flames of the Legendary Pokemon Moltres. When the Team Rocket Trio prepares to steal the torch, Moltres erupts from the cauldron and blasts the villains off. The audience cheered for Ash's heroics, and the stadium torch got lit for the start of the Kanto League Championships.

The Kanto League Championships began next day with 512 Pokemon Trainers. The first four rounds are 3-on-3 elimination matches fought in the Rock Stadium, Water Stadium, Grass Stadium, and Ice Stadium: one round in each stadium in succession in any order determined randomly. Substitutions are allowed for both sides.

Ash's first opponent was Mandi, the favorite to win the Kanto League Championships.

"Hmph! A rookie like you won't even last long going up against me!" Mandi teased.

"You won't know until you find out!" Ash countered back with Pikachu squealing in agreement. Soon Ash vs. Mandi occurred in the Water Stadium.

Ash first sent out Krabby while Mandi sends out his Exeggutor. After some battling…

"Exeggutor is unable to battle! Krabby wins!" The Referee exclaimed, and at that moment Krabby evolves into Kingler.

"I think this evolution will give Ash and Kingler lots of momentum!" The Announcer exclaimed amid a cheering crowd.

Mandi recalls Exeggutor and sends out his Seadra. The result…

"Seadra is unable to battle! Kingler wins!" The Referee announces.

"Can Ash and Kingler make this a sweep?" The Announcer asks as the crowd cheers with anticipation and excitement.

Mandi recalls Seadra and sends out his Golbat as his final Pokemon. After this close battle…

"Golbat is unable to battle! Kingler wins! With Mandi out of Pokemon, the winner is Ash!" The Referee exclaimed.

"Ash defeats Mandi 3-0 in a major upset! We got ourselves a new fan favorite!" The Announcer screams as the Water stadium explodes into cheers.

"YEAH! ALRIGHT!" Ash cheers along with Pikachu and Kingler.

Next day, the second round matches began with only 256 Pokemon Trainers remaining. In the Rock Stadium, Ash faces off against a trainer who has a tendency to criticize his Pokemon win or lose.

Ash sends Pikachu up first while the trainer sends out a Pokemon Ash never seen before: an Elekid. The result…

"Elekid is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!" The Referee yells to a cheering crowd.

The trainer recalls Elekid and sends out Magmar. Ash calls Pikachu back and sends out Tauros. The result…

"Magmar is unable to wins!" The Referee exclaimed again amid the loud cheers.

The trainer recalls Magmar and sends out Nidoking. Ash recalls Tauros and sends out Blastoise. Blastoise vs. Nidoking was a close battle…

"Nidoking is unable to battle. Blastoise wins!" The Referee said while declaring Ash the winner with the score 3-0. While Ash was a sportsman, the trainer didn't return the handshake.

Ash rolled through the next few rounds. In the Ice Stadium during the third round, he defeated Pete Pebbleman from Pewter City 3-0 with Magnemite who evolved into Magneton, Gengar, and Pidgeotto who defeated Pete's Cloyster, Golem, and Arcanine respectively. In the Grass Stadium during the fourth round, Ash defeated Jeannette Fisher 3-0 with Primeape, Venusaur, and Butterfree who defeated her Beedrill, Scyther, and Bellsprout respectively.

Starting with the fifth round, all matches will be in the Indigo Stadium. 32 Pokemon Trainers remain. The fifth and sixth rounds are still 3-on-3 while the rounds after that are 6-on-6 matches. Ash and his friends were surprised seeing Gary losing his fifth round match after watching him dominate his battles. Gary went back to Pallet Town not before saying this.

"Ashy-boy, if I lost in this round, what makes you think you stand a chance to win?" Gary asked. Just when Ash was about to doubt himself, he receives a phone call from Delia and Professor Oak.

"Ash, you are progressing very well! Keep it up!" Professor Oak cheered.

"Everyone in Pallet Town is rooting for you Ash!" Delia exclaimed with a cheering crowd behind her.

"Awesome! Thank you!"Ash said happily thus erasing his doubts.

Ash faced off against Fergus Uno in the fifth round and defeated him 3-0 with Magneton, Dragonite, and Gyarados who defeated Fergus' Raticate, Pinsir, and Kabutops respectively. To his surprise, Delia along with Chuchu and Gothitelle, as well as Professor Oak made the trip to Indigo Plateau to cheer Ash on.

Ash then meets a boy named Ritchie.

"You know, Ritchie is kind of like Ash's doppleganger." Misty commented.

"Yeah, he also has a Pikachu, Butterfree, and Charizard just like Ash does." Brock added.

Ash and Ritchie both worked together to foil a plot by the Team Rocket Trio to steal Pokemon from unsuspecting trainers during the Kanto League Championships.

16 Trainers remain as the Kanto League Championships move on into the sixth round. Ash and Ritchie were randomly selected to face each other in the sixth round.

"Alright Ash, it's our moment." Ritchie said.

"Yes I agree. Let's give everything we got with no regrets." Ash said and shook hands with Ritchie.

Ash's Pikachu and Butterfree and Ritchie's Pikachu (Sparky) and Butterfree (Happy) battled to draws. However Ash's Charizard barely defeats Ritchie's Charizard (Zippo) to secure the 3-2 win for Ash.

"I'll be rooting for ya Ash!" Ritchie said after the battle while shaking Ash's hand.

"Thanks Ritchie!" Ash cheered.

The Quarterfinals of the Kanto League Championships begin as 8 trainers will battle with 6 Pokemon. Ash faces off against Neesha Sweet and won 6-2 with Gengar, Primeape, Pikachu, and Dragonite who defeated Neesha's Muk, Omastar, Flareon, and Nidoqueen respectively; and with Tauros and Magneton who drew with Neesha's Blastoise and Jolteon respectively. The Semifinals of the Kanto League Championships begins as only 4 Pokemon Trainers remain. Ash gets matched up with Assunta Sayuri. To Ash's surprise, Damien who abandoned Charmander has made it this far too, and he is matched up with another Pokemon Trainer. Ash faces off against Assunta and won 6-3 with Kingler, Butterfree, and Venusaur who drew with Assunta's Marowak, Venonat, and Kangaskhan respectively; and with Pidgeotto, Blastoise, and Charizard who defeated Assunta's Ivysaur, Spearow, and Lickitung respectively.

This is it! The Final round of the Kanto League Championships would take place in the early evening with Ash taking on Damien.

"What did I say? I knew we would meet in the Kanto League. It will be a pleasure humiliating you and your pathetic excuse of a Charizard in the finals because you are a weak trainer with weak Pokemon and dumb luck!" Damien taunted.

"Don't listen to him Ash." Brock warned.

"Yeah Damien, leave Ash alone!" Misty exclaimed while sticking up for Ash.

"Save it for the battle. That's no way you should treat a fellow competitor." Ritchie remarked.

"It's so nice Ash has wonderful friends who support him." Delia said with a smile as Chuchu and Gothitelle nodded.

"The true friends always stick with you till the very end!" Professor Oak exclaimed poetically.

Damien left the scene that night and meets up withTeam Rocket Trio plus other Team Rocket Agents. They all planned to take out Ash, but the following morning the plans were foiled as Ash still defeated Team Rocket even if the evil forces attacked during broad daylight.

At the packed Kanto League main stadium, the Final round got underway.

"Ash vs. Damien; battle begin!" The Referee yelled.

"Tentacruel is unable to battle. Gyarados wins!" The Referee exclaimed as Ash leads 1-0 as he recalls Gyarados and sends in Pikachu. The battle goes on.

"Electrode is unable to battle. Pikachu wins!" The Referee announced as Ash leads 2-0 as he recalls Pikachu and sends in Pidgeotto.

"That twerp got lucky!" Damien roared angrily. The battle rages on.

"Machamp is unable to battle. Pidgeotto wins!" The Referee yells as Ash leads 3-0.

"Fearow go!" Damien roared as his Fearow appears and immediately attacks Ash to everyone's horror.

"Whoa!" Ash exclaimed as he and Pikachu barely dodged. "That's probably the same one we encountered on our first day!" The battle continues as Pidgeotto evolves to Pidgeot.

"Fearow is unable to battle. Pidgeot wins!" The Referee announces as Ash leads 4-0.

"THAT TWERP IS A THIEF! HE STOLE MY CHARMANDER WHICH IS NOW THAT CHARIZARD! HE ALSO USED PERFORMANCE ENHANCING SUBSTANCES TO CHEAT HIS WAY UP HERE!" Damien roared trying to vilify Ash, surprising and disturbing the crowd.

"Ash's Pokemon have been inspected and no substances were detected. Also there are no Pokemon registered under your name under Ash's possession." The Referee said. "Your acusations are overruled. Any more false charges and then you are disqualified!"

"I'LL PROVE THAT TWERP IS A THIEF! IF THAT CHARIZARD IS STILL THERE, I BET IT IS STILL THE WEAKLING IT WAS!" Damien roared.

"Why don't I just show you?" Ash asked while recalling Pidgeot. "Charizard, I choose you!" Charizard came out roaring angrily. The battle goes on.

"Rhydon is unable to battle. Charizard wins!" The Referee exclaimed as Ash leads 5-0.

"GRR! GO AERODACTYL!" Damien roared

Damien sends out his Aerodactyl who also began to attack Ash and Charizard out of turn. It turns out Damien caught the Aerodactyl from Grandpa Canyon. The one-side battle reached its explosive conclusion.

"CHARIZARD, USE BLAST BURN!" Ash exclaimed. Charizard who was carrying the already weakened Aerodactyl dives down with lots of raging flames and slams on the ground causing a major fiery explosion.

"Aerodactyl is unable to battle! With Damien out of Pokemon, the winner is Ash!" Ash defeats Damien 6-0. Despite Ash being declared the winner, Damien still continued insulting him and even sent out several more Pokemon to attack Ash which was illegal and carried a heavy penalty, but Charizard, Pikachu, Pidgeot, and Gyarados fended all of them off. Damien was arrested by Officer Jenny not only for his unsportsmanship but also of his recent conspiracy with Team Rocket being brought into light.

"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS, KETCHUM!" Damien continued to vent while being carted off by Officer Jenny. Ash won the Kanto League Championships and gets promoted from a regular Pokemon Trainer to an Ace Trainer. President Goodshow and Kanto Champion Master Lance Wataru accompanied Ash to record him, Pikachu, Butterfree, Pidgeot, Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Kingler, Gyarados, Gengar, Primeape, Magneton, Dragonite, and Tauros in the Kanto League Hall of Fame.

Ash was offered the chance to take on the Kanto Elite Four, but Ash kindly declined saying he wants to explore the world and learn much more about Pokemon. President Goodshow and Lance respected Ash's decision. After a press conference, President Goodshow and Lance presented Ash the Kanto League Winners' Trophy during the closing ceremony in front of a huge cheering audience. Ash rejoins his family and friends who congratulated him and cheered him on. Before parting ways, Ritchie and Ash promised each other to get stronger and meet up someday.

May 2007

This day marks the day that Ash and Pikachu started their journey on their 10th birthday one year ago. Now they both are 11 years old.

"We want to wish happy 11th birthday to Ash and Pikachu, and a job well done winning the Kanto League Championships!" Professor Oak announced with his microphone as Ash's Pokemon, Delia, Chuchu, Gothitelle, Misty, Brock, and the Pallet Town residents cheered. Of course the Team Rocket Trio tried crashing the party, but Ash's Pokemon, especially Charizard, brought more life into the party by sending the villains blasting off.

A week after the Pallet Town party…

"Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock, I need you all to retrieve the GS Ball from Professor Ivy in Valencia Island in the Orange Archipelago as the Pokemon Transport won't be able to transport it." Professor Oak said.

"Okay sure. While we're there, I'll challenge the Orange League. Lance the Kanto Champion Master recommended that I do." Ash said while Pikachu squealed in agreement. After reaching Valencia Island and obtaining the GS Ball, Brock made an important announcement.

"Guys, I'm staying with Professor Ivy to help her in her research." Brock announced. "I guess that is goodbye for now."

"Good luck Brock." Ash said while Pikachu nodded.

"Stay in touch with us." Misty added. Ash, Pikachu, and Misty set off and ended up at Tangelo Island where they encounter three thugs abusing a young female Lapras.

"Hey! You thugs leave Lapras alone!" Ash exclaimed. With help from Pokemon Watcher Tracey Sketchit and Officer Jenny, Ash, Pikachu, and Misty got the three thugs Chevy, Carson, and Cody arrested and rushed Lapras to the Pokemon Center. Lapras was initially scared of humans, but she showed her affections and appreciation to Ash after he rescued her from the Team Rocket Trio. Ash promised to take good care of Lapras. Ash and Misty welcomes Tracey into their group after hearing about his aspirations of meeting Professor Oak.

So just like in Kanto, Ash and his friends began their new adventure by travel all around the Orange Archipelago to the Gyms, in this case four of them. First stop was Mikan Island where Ash challenged the Mikan Gym Leader Cissy. The Gym challenge consisted of several mini competitions (Water Gun challenge, Tide Race) by tying on the first with Blastoise and winning the second with Lapras, thus earning him the Coral Eye Badge.

At Mandarin Island, Ash and company foiled another Pokemon stealing plan of the Team Rocket duo Cassidy and Butch and got the duo arrested. Ash and his friends stopped at Navel Island, site of the second gym which was led by Gym Leader Danny. In order to begin the Gym challenge, Ash scaled the huge mountain with his excellent climbing skills without using his Pokemon. The Gym challenge is divided into three stages: the winner of the Gym challenge must win 2 out of 3 stages. First stage was a race to freeze up an entire Geyser, and Danny's side managed to win. Second stage of the challenge was making a sled out of the frozen ice from the previous challenge, and Ash's side won that. Third stage was a race down the mountain using the sleds. Ash's side managed to win the sled race, thus winning the Sea Ruby Badge with help from Lapras, Pikachu, Venusaur, Charizard, Gengar, and Primeape. Later Ash captures a gluttonous Snorlax preventing the Seven Grapefruit Islands from losing their harvest of Grapefruit. Then back on Mandarin Island, Ash was in for a surprise as he was invited by Kanto Elite Four Member Prima Kanna to have a 3 on 3 exhibition match with her in a packed stadium.

"Ash vs. Prima; battle begin!" The Referee exclaimed. After this long, seesaw battle…

"The winner is Ash Ketchum!" The Referee announced as Ash and his team of Primeape, Magneton, and Kingler defeated Prima and her team of Jynx, Slowbro, and Cloyster 3-2.

June 2007

Then Ash and his friends reached Trovita Island, site of the third gym where Ash challenged Rudy, an arrogant teenager who took interest in Misty after rescuing his sister Mahri. Rudy thought very little of Ash and wanted him to fail and look bad in front of Misty. So he had a test.

"Your first test would be hitting the targets!" Rudy announced. "Miss one and you're done." Ash and his team of Butterfree, Pidgeot, and Kingler passed the first test. Then the next day was the battle on top of a small island battlefield. Rudy uses Pokemon whose type matches the types of Ash's selected Pokemon from the target practice test.

"I declare my victory to Misty!" Rudy announced and took a bow at Misty who stared at him all confused.

"Why would Rudy do that?" Ash asked as he was very dense of the situation. Still Ash pulled through and defeated Rudy 2-1, thus earning the Spike Shell Badge.

"I'm sorry Rudy. I can't accept your proposal because I'll be traveling with Ash." Misty said while looking at Ash with a smile and a light blush.

"Ash, you are a lucky bastard!" Rudy hissed silently while watching Ash and company leave Trovita Island.

Then along the way to Kumquat Island, Ash and his friends were caught in an unusual storm and washed up on Shamouti Island where the Legends' Festival was held. Ash was selected as the festival's Chosen One by the Festival Maiden Melody.

"I guess you're okay to be the Festival's Chosen One. Here is a welcome kiss!" Melody said eagerly and – SMOOCH – kissed Ash on his cheek much to Misty's jealousy. Ash had to fulfill a tradition which involved retrieving the three elemental orbs of ice, lightning, and fire from nearby Ice Island, Lightning Island, and Fire Island respectively and bringing them to the Shamouti Shrine. It turns out that being the Chosen One was the real deal as a sinister Pokemon Collector Lawrence III was hired by Team Rocket Boss Giovanni to capture the three legendary Kanto birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres who lived in said islands which would let him try to capture the Legendary Pokemon Lugia. It also seems that a real prophecy referred to Ash as the Chosen One to stop this crisis. Ash and all of his Pokemon with some help from his friends and Lugia successfully saved the bird trio and brought the three orbs to the Shrine to prevent the world from succumbing to natural disasters. Also Ash defeated Lawrence III.

"You will regret this!" Lawrence III vented while being cartered off by Officer Jenny. To Ash's surprise, Delia, Chuchu, Gothitelle, and Professor Oak arrived to check on him and his friends. Ash gave the GS Ball to Professor Oak before he, Delia, and her Pokemon flew back home.

Finally, Ash and his friends arrive at Kumquat Island where Ash challenged and defeated Gym Leader Luana in a double battle using Pikachu and Dragonite earning him the Jade Star Badge. Ash has obtained all four Orange League Badges needed to finally challenge Blake Yugi the powerful Champion of the Orange Archipelago at Pummelo Island. Ash and his friends arrived at Pummelo Island where Ash challenged Blake Yugi in the giant overcrowded Pummelo Stadium in a match which is a full six-on-six single battle. The battlefield was a rocky terrain at first.

"The strongest trainer and undefeated Champion of the Orange Archipelago, Blake Yugi, will take on challenger, Kanto League Winner, Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!" The Announcer exclaimed to a roaring Pummelo Stadium crowd. "Who will win?"

Soon the battle began.

"Ditto is unable to battle. Pikachu wins!" The Referee announces as Ash leads 1-0.

"Onix is unable to battle. Gyarados wins!" The Referee exclaims as Ash leads 2-0.

"Lapras and Gengar are both unable to battle! There will be a field change since Blake is down to three Pokemon!" The Referee yells as Ash takes a 3-1 lead. The battlefield became a sandy desert.

"Blake's Venusaur is unable to battle. Ash's Venusaur wins!" The Referee shouts as Ash extends his lead to 4-1.

"Electabuzz is unable to battle. Snorlax wins!" The Referee shouts as Ash now lead 5-1.

"Ash is one win away from defeating Blake, but Blake is sure to have his ace!" The Announcer exclaimed.

"My only hope: Dragonite!" Blake roared as his Dragonite roars and comes out.

"That's his most powerful Pokemon." Ash said. "We're gonna need teamwork to bring it down." Sure enough, Dragonite defeated Snorlax, Venusaur, and Gyarados in quick succession to reduce Ash's lead to 5-4.

"Charizard, I choose you!" Ash exclaimed and called out his ace. After a fierce fight of all proportions, the final attacks led to a fiery explosion.

"Dragonite and Charizard are both unable to battle. With Blake out of Pokemon, the winner is Ash Ketchum!" The Referee exclaimed to an electrifying crowd. Ash won 6-5.

"WOW! ASH WON! HE WON! HE WON!" The Announcer commentated.

"Congratulations Ash." Blake praised while shaking Ash's hand. Ash, Pikachu, Snorlax, Lapras, Gyarados, Venusaur, and Charizard posed with the Orange League Winners' Trophy in front of the media and got entered into the Orange League Hall of Fame. Ash kindly declined the offer of succeeding Blake Yugi as the new Champion of the Orange Archipelago as he wanted to travel more. Because of this big victory in the Orange League following his Kanto League Championships success, his reputation soared again.

After a few weeks, Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Tracey finally head back to Pallet Town in Kanto where the entire town celebrated Ash's victory in the Orange League.

"Whoa! Brock!" Ash exclaimed out of surprise while greeting Brock who waved back at him and Pikachu.

"Ash! Nice job at the Orange League!" Brock greeted back and got reacquainted with Misty and Togepi and met Tracey for the first time.

"So yeah, how was your research with Professor Ivy?" Ash asked innocently, but Brock suddenly went from happy to gloomy.

"Don't…mention…that…name." Brock moaned sadly.

"Uh, you okay Brock?" Ash asked.

"Well, given that he's always after pretty girls, probably something really bad happened." Misty whispered to Ash out of Brock's earshot. Suddenly Gary appeared and challenged Ash to a Pokemon battle, pitting his Eevee against Pikachu. Brock acted as referee. After a seesaw battle;

"Eevee is unable to battle. Pikachu wins! Victory goes to Ash!" Brock announced.

"Man, thought I had you!" Gary groaned. "Don't think this is over. Next time, I'll win!" He said while picking up his Eevee.

"Bring it on!" Ash countered back.

Later, Ash and company visited Professor Oak who has some news about the GS Ball.

"I studied it, but I can't seem to crack the mystery behind the GS Ball." Professor Oak said. "I do know an old colleague of mine, Kurt. He's a Pokeball expert in Azalea Town over in Johto further west from here. Gary has left for Johto earlier today."

"Gary is already heading there!?"Ash asked out of disbelief. "He couldn't wait, could he?"

"Yeah. He's aiming for the Johto League." Professor Oak replied. "Kurt might have an idea about the GS Ball. If you are heading to Johto, would you please deliver the GS Ball to him?"

"Sure!" Ash agreed eagerly. "It's a great excuse for another journey in a new place."

Next day, Ash, Pikachu, Misty, Togepi, and Brock got ready for the journey to Johto.

Ash decided to take only Pikachu, Butterfree, Pidgeot, Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, and Lapras with him to Johto. Kingler, Gyarados, Gengar, Primeape, Magneton, Tauros, Dragonite, and Snorlax were a bit sad.

"Hey don't worry guys. I'll make sure you have a chance to see me. Besides you'll have fun in Professor Oak's corral." Ash said.

"I'll be happy to care for them during your journey." Professor Oak said. "Speaking of your journey, I have an updated Pokedex. It should come in handy when identifying Pokemon in Johto." Ash accepted the new Pokedex.

Before leaving, Ash and Pikachu saw the same majestic and mysterious Pokemon flying west which was the direction to Johto. Having a hunch that a great destiny awaits them in Johto, Ash and Pikachu along with Misty, Togepi, and Brock began their journey west and bid goodbye to Delia and her Pokemon, and Professor Oak.