Kanto - Indigo Plateau

Ash felt better after the relaxing time they spent in Pallet town although he was a little mortified by his Pokemon treating him as a breakable item. Even his mother caught on and joined them on it, but after the first day they calmed down a bit or Ash suspected he would not be allowed outside at all. They stopped at Vermillion City where Gou dropped his reports for the Professor and they decided to stay the night.

Ash, "It's nice of the Professor to let us spend the night here."

Gou smiled, "I think Chloe and Misty are quite happy to be spending time together."

Banette, "Nette."

Ash, "You want to check the place out?"

Phantump nodded, "Phaaaa."

Ash, "You don't mind do you?"

Gou, "Go ahead, this park was made for them."

Phantump and Banette grinned and went off to check the place out, Tyrunt decided his Meema's lap was just sufficient enough and Lapras was in the river going through the park getting to know the other Pokemon. Ash didn't want to bring his babies for the short journey but Lucario persuaded him to bring them to the Park so they could spend more time with their Meema. Ash gave a huff wondering if he was spoiling them before shaking that thought off, his kids were anything but spoiled.

Brock, "Dinner's ready everyone."

Ash, "Desserts too."

Gou grinned, "Drinks as well."

Professor Cerise walked towards them, "Oh! They look good."

Ren, "I have not eaten home made curry in a while."

Chrysa, "We usually order our food."

Brock puffed his chest, "Well then, I will be happy to tell you this was made out of the fresh ingredients growing in the park."

Gou, "The Pokemon here really went out of their way to grow the fruits, vegetables and berries. We just had to get the meat and eggs."

Cerise nodded, "Nothing like Pokemon working together to produce good results."

Misty on the other hand was with Chloe, "It's so nice to be able to spend time together with just us girls."

Chloe, "Can't wait for the other girls to join us next trainer season."

Misty, "Yeah, Orange Archipelago is an amazing place."

Chloe, "I still can't believe there are pink coloured Pokemon."

Misty, "I would love a pink Gyarados."

Chloe, "Not sure Gyarados would be happy with the colour change. Lucario and Cinderace were not."

Misty snickered, "They looked cute with those pink cheeks though."

Talia called them, "Girls dinner!"

Chloe, "Coming mama!"

Parker, "Mama made steak tonight."

Misty put Dewpider on the floor so he could eat his dinner, "Sounds good. By the way, Lillie got a second egg to care for, from her brother."

Chloe, "I'm glad they are no longer avoiding each other anymore."

Misty nodded, "Yeah, I can't imagine my siblings avoiding me. That would hurt."

Misty and Chloe chatted a bit more with Talia and Parker about what they would be doing the next day before turning in for the night. After dinner Professor Cerise, Chrysa and Ren left for their homes while Ash, Gou and Brock decided to camp out in the Park. It had a large enough clearing for them and their Pokemon to have a sleepover together. Banette and Phantump returned feeling happy together and they chattered to Ash who figured they had a lot of fun. He took them and coaxed them to sleep or at least get some rest, as they had been active whole day. Half way through they were woken up by Banette screeching, Ash woke up to see Phantump hovering over him and Banette scolding a Gengar?

Gou, "Um what's going on?"

Gengar flinched at that and Ash asked, "Who's this Banette?"

Banette huffed, "Nette ban."

Brock, "Easy big guy, don't be scared we won't hurt you."

Gengar looked at them warily before huffing and disappearing from view making Banette scowl at him. Ash shook his head and called the ghost type over to sleep with them to which Banette agreed. The next day they spoke about the incident with Professor Cerise who nodded.

Cerise, "Gengar has lived in this building long before I set up an office here. He's harmless don't worry. The most he'll do is play pranks on you."

Gou blinked, "How come I didn't notice him before?"

Cerise hummed, "I think Gengar takes time to get used to others, mostly he starts with pranks before showing itself."

Brock, "Was it abandoned here?"

Cerise, "I suspect it, yes."

Ash grumbled, "Trainers are so stupid sometimes."

Gou, "Ditto that."

Gengar who had been listening in couldn't help but nod, his trainer was an idiot.

Ash, "Do you think he'll want to come with one of us?"

Brock, "You could ask him."

Gengar left before he heard anything else that gave him hope. He didn't want to go through that again, being abandoned once by his trainer already hurt a lot. Despite his preservations Gengar could not help but be curious and follow them from the shadows of the trees and poles. He didn't dare enter any of the human's shadows as Banette was scowling at him furiously. They met up with two human females, one with bright hair the other with hair the colour of chestnut. He quietly followed them as they left the city and came across a large crowd who were waiting for someone.

Ash, "That's a lot of people."

Misty, "I think I know why they are here."

Chloe, "Today is when they run through here holding the torch right?"

Brock took out a coupon, "Correct, you are. I think we are just in time to see it. We could follow them all the way to the League too then register ourselves."

Gou blinked, "You are registering too Brock."

Brock nodded, "Remember this badge that I earned from the exam, it qualifies me to take part in the League."

Gou looked at the blue badge with a school symbol on it, "Isn't that hard to earn? I read only Nurse Joy three years ago won the badge but she didn't take part in the League as she has a busy work load."

Misty, "You are right, Brock was studying and training hard to win that badge."

Chloe, "I might just do the same thing once I have twelve Pokemon of my own."

Yamper wagged his tail happily, "Yamper!"

Ash, "I'm sure you can if you work hard Chloe. It's not easy but I believe you can do it."

The group turned when the people cheered and a torch bearer was soon seen on the horizon running while holding a torch carrying the flames of Moltress. Ash half wondered who's flames it was exactly, the one that belonged to his brother or the one from the Orange Archipelago or another Moltress completely. It was an interesting line of thought but he ignored it to cheer for the runner instead. Even Gengar came out and looked about curiously when he saw and heard the excited cheers.

Ash, "Hey bud, want to join us?"

Gengar startled, "Gen.", before disappearing again.

Gou gave a small laugh, "He's a shy one huh?"

Brock, "Well if what the Professor said was right then....."

Misty scowled, "Some trainers can be so stupid."

Chloe sighed, "Yeah, they are moving on, let's follow."

Ash nodded and they followed the group following the torch bearer that consisted of other trainers as well. It seems they were not the only ones who had the idea to follow the group to the League grounds. It took the whole day with the torch bearer changing positions between different runners before reaching the Indigo Plateau. The second oldest League in the world, Ash marveled at the sight infront of him. The last two times he was here, he was cheering on for Daisy and after that Red and Blue, before the two went and became Champions. And kept changing the title between each other, every four months, driving Lance and the Elite Four up the wall.

Ash snickered, 'That was funny.'

Misty, "Day after tomorrow, we'll start battling for the title. I'm going to show everyone I'm capable of being a Water Pokemon Master."

Ash, "It'll be a fun experience and more fun battling each other."

Brock nodded, "I heard the turn out is higher this year compared to other years."

Gou, "Really?"

Ash, "Yeah, Red was telling me, there's a good batch of trainers this year."

Chloe, "Especially since there are trainers from other regions too."

Misty nodded remembering the flirty lady from Alola, she met on SS Anne, "I wonder if we'll be fighting them during the elimination, preliminary or semi."

Ash, "Either way it'll be fun."

Gou, "Look guys they are gonna light the torch."

Ash looked at the field below from the high cliff situated just outside the main Plateau grounds. The torch bearer had walked up the stairs and lighted the torch which burned brightly in Moltress flame colour. It was a very magnificent sight to watch and President Goodshow gave a speech welcoming trainers from Kanto and other regions to the hundred and twentieth Indigo League Conference.

Ash, "You know you guys could go there for a closer look."

Misty huffed, "And be swarmed by reporters asking about my non existent dating life with you? No way!"

Brock gave a shiver, "Yeah! I am a straight guy and you are like my own little brother. It's very disturbing to hear people asking if I'm dating you."

Gou nodded, "Reporters have no filter."

Chloe grumbled, "Or manners, if it's not you Ash, they'll ask if I'm dating either Misty or Brock."

Ash gave a sigh, "Well at least we are getting a break now, I can only imagine the drama that'll start once we begin battling."

Misty drawled dryly, "I bet they'll say I'm competing against other girls to be your best girl."

Chloe snorted, "That's a suckers bet."

Brock, "Jessilina and Jameson have it easy on that front, they are together and have a son."

Ash nodded, "We should go, the ceremony is over.", he looked at the corner, "You can stay with us if you want."

Gengar blinked and turned to Lucario, "Gengar geng? Gengar gen gen gengar?"

Lucario opened his eye, -My Meema and his friends can sense aura and could sense your presence very easily. And it's not that we are not interested in catching Pokemon. We just prefer it more if the Pokemon is sure they want to join us.-

Gengar looked at Ash then nodded, "Geng."

Ash, "Why don't you stick around and see how we do things first and then make a decision? We'll be staying here for a while after all."

Gengar contemplated it and agreed with the plan and the group went towards the place that had been set up to host trainers. It was a decent size town and many trainers could be seen mingling about. They were either battling in the League sanctioned fields or chatting in the restaurants or simply spending time with their Pokemon. Ash could see a large variety of Pokemon in the town from starters belonging to each region to various Pokemon considered rare in Kanto.

This place Ash realized was a hot spot for Team Rocket, no wonder Blue was barely home except for the party which he left half way. If Ash looked closely he could see the cameras in the public area disguised as decor, only the reflected shine of the lens giving it away. Ash had noticed the cameras on the gates and on the walls adjoining the gate as well. He would not be surprised if the entire boundary was fitted with security cameras watching over who was coming and going.

Just before Daisy's time Team Rocket had attempted to steal Pokemon from the trainers who were taking part in the League but they had failed. However the League had received backlash as well and had increased security since and when Blue took over added more to the already existing ones. They reached the large Pokemon centre where they would be registering for the League and Ash gave a quiet whistle in appreciation. The Pokemon centre in the Indigo Plateau was the largest by far that he had seen even the one in Viridian didn't compare. They registered their names and badges before going to the dorm assigned for them. They would be sharing it with another group according to Nurse Joy and Ash just hoped their roommates were not jerks.