One week has past since the Lost City of Avalon was destroyed. Taking with it, Mitch (Ash's brother), Mewtwo, and Professor Oak. Ash had now recovered enough to leave the hospital. "Well, this is it." Ash said looking over the cliff where it all started. Ash along with Brock, Pikachu, and Misty returned to Garnet City to inform Mitch's Gym that it didn't have a leader anymore. Because Ash did beat Mitch twice, the attendants gave him a Classic Badge. With that he now had eight badges, enough to get back into the Indigo Plateau. All that was left was keeping a promise.

Flash Back,

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lugia landed just outside an old cave that was a few miles from Lavender Town. Ash jumped down from the Pokemon's back, "So, a key's in there?" Ash asked while looking inside the cave. "Well what are we waiting for? Let's get this over with!" Ash said as he started into the cave. Um…Master? Lugia asked as he looked at the small entrance. "Oh, you're too big to fit in here." Ash said trying to think "You could wait out here or…" place me in one of your Poke Balls. Ash couldn't believe what he had just heard "Lugia are you sure about this? You know once I catch you, you can't go free until I let you go." Lugia smiled at the young trainer, I know this, and even if you don't let me go, I could not think of a better trainer to call Master. Ash's eyes swelled up with tears, "Thank you Lugia," Ash said as he threw a Poke Ball at Lugia. The ball hit Lugia and he started to glow red and then vanished into the Poke Ball. "I promise I'll let you go once this is all over with." Ash said staring at the Poke Ball in his hand. He placed the ball in his coat pocket and went into the cave.

End Flash Back,

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ash then took out Lugia's Pokeball and threw it to the ground in a flash the mighty bird Pokemon appeared in front of the three. You have summoned me, Master? Ash had tears in his eyes and turned away from the Pokemon, He was never very good at goodbyes. Misty saw his pain and took his hand and squeezed it. Ash then smiled at her and then looked bravely at Lugia. "Just like I promised, you're free to go." Lugia just smiled at the fifteen-year-old and walked toward him. Without a word, Lugia nuzzled his nose to the Pokeball in Ash's hand and vanished into it, I know I am free. This is the place in which I choose to remain. Ash's eyes lit up, "Y-Y-Y-YOU MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO STAY… W-WITH ME?" Lugia answered by remaining in the Pokeball. Ash jumped for joy and then turned his hat around backwards and made a peace sign with his good arm, "I CAUGHT… LUGIA!!!!" Pikachu then jumped from Ash's shoulder and mimicked the pose, "PIKA, PIKA!" (HELL YEAH!)

"Boy, you really must have had a hard time wearing him down!" Misty said in a teasing voice as she snuggled under his good arm. Ash just squeezed her a little, "Yeah, it was the hardest capture I ever made!" he said jokingly as they turned to head back to the Pokemon Center.

A few weeks later, Ash had returned to Pallet Town to train before the League Tournament. Misty stayed with him and his Mom at their house. Brock had stayed for a week, but when Prof. Ivy came to take over the Pokemon Research Faulty in Professor Oak's Place, he left for Pewter City. Gary was also home to train and help Prof. Ivy get settled in. After all, he was practically raised in the faculty. Ash trained almost sunset to sundown. Unlike the first time, Ash was now taking his training very serious. After Charizard literally laid down on him during his match with Richie three years ago, he was not going to slack this year.

Ash was now coming home from a hard day of training. Misty had gone home a few hours earlier because 'she was hungry'. "Hi, Honey!" Mrs. Ketchum exclaimed as Ash walked through the front door. "Hi, Mom!" Ash said weakly as he walked to the couch where Misty was setting eating potato chips. "Hi Ashy, training go well?" Ash plopped down next to her and put his arm around her shoulder and grabbed a hand full of chips from her bowl. "So far, so good! What ya watching?" Misty just smiled and turned back to the T.V. "Pokemon Planet. You've got to see this guy on this show! He's crazy! Like someone else I know!" she said nudging his side with the last part. Misty then turned up the volume as a wild-eyed Australian man came on the screen.

"G' day mates! This is Steve Dervin, and this is 'The Totadile Hunter'. Ta day we will be showing you a most beautiful specimen, Tentacruel." When the man said this Misty jumped to her feet almost scaring Ash out of his skin. "OHHH!!! TENTACRUEL!!!! THEY'RE JUST SO CUUUTTTTTEEEE!!!!!!!!!" Ash looked at her with one eyebrow cocked, "Tentacruel, cute, I don't see anything in common." Misty looked at him with a sparkle in her eye, "Ash! You don't get it! Tentacruel has been my favorite Pokemon ever since I was little! I've always wanted to catch one, but Tentacruel is one of the strongest water types. None of my Pokemon are strong enough to catch one." She said setting down slowly and sadly. Ash put his arm back around her shoulder but didn't say a word. He then turned his attention back to the show.

"… These little beauties can grow up to five feet three inches, and weigh up to one hundred and twenty one pounds." The man said as he crawled toward a Tentacruel nesting area. "This is where Tentacruel raise their young. I must be extremely careful. These beautiful creatures can be very protective of their young. It is five thirty in the morning, the best time to visit these beauties. That is because they are the most active at this time." Just then a Tentacruel swiped a tentacle at the nutcase. "DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!" The man repeated as he dodged the attack. "You have to be careful," The man said as a tentacle wrapped around his neck. "Their… Tentacles… are… very… strong…" Just then the man was jerked away from the camera and the screen when black with the message 'Please Stand By' on it.

"Well, it was going to happen sooner or later." Ash said shaking his head. He then kissed Misty on the cheek, "I've had a hard day, so I'm going to bed. Goodnight." Ash then got up and went up the stairs to his room. Misty stretched "I'll stay up a little bit longer. I'd like to see if that idiot's going to make it out of this one." Ash laughed "OK, Tell me in the morning."

Ash walked into his room, where Pikachu was already asleep. Ash then softly shook him awake. "Hey buddy, think you can wake me around five, five thirty?" Pikachu looked a little shocked, (No pun intended) and nodded. Ash said thanks and lay down on his bed. Pikachu then jumped out of his little bed and curled up next to his master.

The next morning Ash and Pikachu made their way to the beach a few miles south of Pallet Town. "OK Pikachu, you hear any?" Ash asked his Pokemon as its ears twitched. "Pika." (This way.) Pikachu said as he ran down the beach and then stopped and pointed out on the ocean. Ash then took off his shoes and walked out in the water. Then a five-foot squid broke the surface and attacked the young trainer. Ash then turned his hat around and threw a Pokeball, "BULBASAUR! I CHOOSE YOU!!!" Bulbasaur then appeared and began to float. "Bulbasaur, razor leaf!" Bulbasaur then released a barrage of razor sharp leaves at the Tentacruel. Tentacruel swung a tentacle, blocking the leaves. It then wrapped its tentacles around Bulbasaur in a wrap attack. Bulbasaur cried out in pain as Tentacruel tightened its grip. Ash then recalled Bulbasaur. "PIKACHU!! I CHOOSE YOU!!!!!" Pikachu jumped from his shoulder and 'Pikapaddled' in front of the massive Tentacruel. "All right, Pikachu thundershock!" Then it hit Ash that he was standing knee-deep in water, "NO PIKACHU DON'T!!! OH SHIT!!!" but it was too late. Pikachu released the electric attack making not only Tentacruel, but also Ash cry out in pain.

They both fell back into the water. Ash, fueled by adrenalin alone got back to his feet and threw an empty Pokeball at the weaken Tentacruel. The Pokeball shook for a second but then stopped and flew back to his hand. Ash fell back and floated in the water. Pikachu Pikapaddled to Ash's side, "Pika pi cha." (I so sorry.) Ash just rubbed his head and looked at the Pokeball. "Misty had better appreciate this."