Kanto - Indigo Plateau

Ash grinned, "Looks like we'll be battling AJ as well Lucario!"

Lucario nodded, -Indeed Meema, I think our friends are here.-

Misty, "Ash, you made it, we made it!"

Ritchie walked towards them, "Yeah! We can face each other either next week or after that!"

Ash nodded, "You guys congratulations! I think I see Brock there and his family is here too."

Misty, "Let's go meet them, it's been a while."

Brock was calming his Dad, "I'm fine Dad, I promise, anyways now I can volunteer at the centre."

Brock after his loss had been approved by an older Nurse Joy who had greying hair and was very strict looking. She had offered Brock a slot as a healer volunteer for the League if he was interesting in join. Brock had jumped at the chance and had started to help around with the Pokemon at the large centre. He mostly had to make sure the trainers were always checking in with their Pokemon and that their Pokemon were healthy despite not battling. It was not as hectic as Nurse Joy's job but it was exhausting.

Flint sighed, "If you say so."

Forest, "I cleared the first Gym Leader test and I'll be the one in charge of the Gym after two more."

Brock, "Good job. I'm proud of you."

Cindy, "Brock look, my Paras evolved into Parasect."

Ash, "Wao, so big! Good job you two."

Parasect, "Sect!"

Forest, "Hi Misty, Ash! Been a while."

Misty, "I see you are all doing well."

"Ashy boy!"

"Ash! Misty! Brock! Paul!"

Ash twitched, "Gary! Really? Trisha hey congratulations to you both."

Gary grinned mischievously, "Yup.. Saw your win Ashy~ Don't think I will expect anything less from you."

Ash pouted, "Of course I won, we promised to at least make it to the top sixteen after all."

Gary, "Good and don't you forget it, just because you are a Champion already."

Ash rolled his eyes, "I'm here as a challenger like any other trainer. Not a Champion."

Ritchie laughed, "Good to know."

Lola laughed, "Well said, now I believe all your Pokemon are healed up. So let's get back to the trainers village, your families are waiting."

Misty blinked, "My sisters are here."

Ritchie piped in, "My parents too?"

Gary, "Aunt Lia came with Gramps. Don't know if our bros will be there."

Gary turned to Paul who looked interested, "I think your brother is also there."

Paul raised his eyebrow, "They planned on coming together, didn't they?"

Ritchie shrugged, "Let's go meet them. Trisha, Tally, Burk are you guys joining us?"

Trisha, "Sure, why not!"

The group went to the trainer's village together and Ash noticed, Ritchie stayed in a building with Mandy who was currently surrounded by his family. He looked like his mother a lot and had many younger siblings, who knew. Gary was roomed with a few boys from Jhoto and the girl from Hoenn, Locket was her name. Paul was roomed with Misty's opponent Rienne and a few other trainers who were enjoying their time with their family.

Misty, "Looks like almost everyone's families are here."

Chloe nodded, "Yeah, good thing this village was made to accommodate a lot of people."

Brock, "Either way they are not allowed to stay the night only during the day time."

Gary, "It's for their safety really. I mean a few years ago one of the Pokemon went berserk because one of the kids fed them Tomato berry."

Paul twitched, "I saw it on the news, it was a Kantonian Ninetales that went berserk, right?"

Ash nodded, "It was quiet something, the family was reprimanded and that caused the rules to become more strict."

Misty shook her head, "Kids will be kids and honestly the parents were pretty much half to blame for not teaching the kid about the rules. She was what seven or eight years old?"

Brock, "Seven according to the report."

Ritchie nodded, "Old enough to know the rules of the League, the same way she was old enough to know the rules of school."

Ash, "We are here."

"Misty!"

Misty perked up, "Lils, D, Vi! You three are here."

"Ash!"

Ash, "Mom! Aunt Ro!"

"Ritchie over here kiddo."

Ritchie, "Mom! Dad!"

"Gary, son!"

Gary, "Heya Gramps!"

Misty was glomped by the three sisters, "Gack! Girls! Girls! P... Please, t... too tight... I can't breath."

Lily, "Oops sorry! We couldn't help ourselves baby sis, you are doing so great. We got really excited."

Misty blushed at the praise feeling proud, "I did say I want to become a Water Pokemon Master and I meant it."

Violet, "And you are doing really well in reaching your dreams, even if you don't win, a lot of people are noticing your skills."

Misty perked up, "You think so?"

Daisy nodded, "Keep it up and Cerulean City will have one of the strongest Gym Leaders in Kanto."

Misty grinned hugging them, "Thanks girls. This means a lot!"

Delia, "Ash! My baby you have come so far, your Dad would have been proud."

Aah smiled, "Really mom?"

Delia nodded, "Yes, he also took part in the Indigo League and if only he could see you now. He would have been so proud."

Ash hugged his mom as she became a little emotional, "I will do my best mom, that way he'll never have to worry."

Rose smiled, "He is your Dad, he will worry it's a parent's instinct really."

Ash, "Is Red coming too?"

Rose, "Red probably will be late but yes, he'll try to come though there's a chance he won't be able to."

Reggie, "Paul!"

Paul, "You came on your own? Your girlfriend didn't?"

Reggie, "Betty came along."

Betty, "So you did miss me!"

Paul, "Nah! I was just worried Reggie would get lost."

Reggie, "HEY!"

Paul snorted as he was hugged by the two of them, "I'm happy to see you guys!"

Betty laughed, "We are happy to see you too."

Paul, "How is Chimchar doing?"

Reggie, "She's doing well, a little upset she can't battle yet but, have a look."

Reggie released Chimchar from the pokeball who shrieked in joy as she jumped on Paul who caught her. Betty laughed taking a picture of the two before going to join the other ladies at the side. Reggie told Paul about what they were doing back home and one of his assistants had offered to be in charge while they were here. Paul nodded as he carried Chimchar to where Ash and the others were followed by his brother.

Gary, "Gramps, you sure it's okay to just leave the lab?"

Samuel laughed, "Tracey is settling in fine as my personal assistant and managing the lab well. Don't worry about it!"

Gary, "If you say so."

Ritchie, "I'm really happy to see you here mom, dad!"

Cassandra laughed, "We sure are as well Riri!"

Stiles ruffled his son's hair, "Wouldn't miss it."

Ritchie grinned and took his parents to meet his newer Pokemon. The next day was a break day for them as the League would be preparing the arenas for the next stage. Ash sweat dropped as their mothers literally took over the kitchen and cooked a meal for everyone Kanto style.

Trisha bit into the curry bread, "This is so good!"

Berk, "You can say that again."

Tally, "The Pokemon enjoy the food too..... Ash is Pikachu eating ketchup?"

Ash shrugged, "Pikachu loves tomatoes and sour fruits."

Gary grumbled, "At least it's not mustard."

Misty sweat dropped remembering Lt Surge's Raichu who loved mustard, "Yeah, Raichu was something else."

Ash laughed, "Come on, let's just enjoy the break we have. Come Monday we'll be battling again."

Chloe, "Yeah, now Misty and Ash let's go over there!"

Ash, "Sure!"

Paul, "Ash, one sec!"

Ash, "What's up? Oh! Is she yours?"

Paul nodded, "Mind if she join your Chimchar?"

Ash, "I don't mind, Chimchar! Hey buddy! I want you to meet someone!"

Chimchar perked up running towards Ash, "Chim char!"

Ash grinned before introducing him, "This here is Paul's Chimchar. She is young just like you."

Chimchar blinked before approaching the young female and the two started to chatter before they ran towards the fenced area where young Pokemon were. Chimchar helped the young female inside where they were greeted by Gengar who welcomed them by getting more apples. Dewpider, Corsula, Lapras, Tyrunt and Phantump shrieked in happiness at getting a new playmate and the three young Pokemon welcomed her. Chimchar looked around and gave a happy shout before joining them.

Ash laughed, "Looks like they are having fun."

Misty giggled watching them, "Yeah now come on, let's get our mega sleepover party ready."

Cindy, "Sleepover party?"

Chloe, "Yes, want to join? The more the better!"

Cindy nodded, "Sounds fun. It's too bad my younger siblings chose to stay behind though."

Delia, "Ash dear.."

Ash, "Go ahead girls. Yes mama?"

Delia, "I got three new dress suit made for you for the Grand Festival."

Ash gaped, "Three mama? Just one would do."

Delia laughed, "Perhaps but I heard the number of coordinators this year is more so I think the amount of coordinator battles will increase."

Ash sighed, "Like the League... I see! Okay I won't complain. But three though... Is one of them Halloween themed?"

Delia giggled, "Why yes! Do you have a theme planned already?"

Ash nodded, "Bannette and I have been practicing."

The Sunday was spent relaxing and enjoying the break and the food their moms and family got together to make. There was a bit of a commotion when Ash had to send his younger pokedex back to the lab and a lot of pouting from Lapras. Misty and Brock cooed and helped Ash calm them before sending them to the lab and getting the other Pokemon. Pidgeot and Fearrow happily nuzzled Ash when they saw him again after a week of being separated. Venasaur wrapped his vines around Ash's waist while Snorlax and Primeape gave Ash a big hug nearly drowning him. Ash laughed accepting the affection from his Pokemon who were happy to see him.

Paul looked at his Pokemon, "Nice!"

Ash, "Thanks!"

Ritchie, "Do you plan on using Primeape for the arena?"

Ash, "I plan on using both Snorlax and Primeape. They didn't get to battle back in Orange Island championship."

Snorlax, "Lax snorrr."

Lucario, -Of course. We still have a long way to go. We need to clear the secondary elimination rounds.-

Primeape nodded, "Ape pri primeape."

Misty, "Guys come on. Food is done."

Their Pokemon pulled them along towards the two tables where a large spread of food was ready to be eaten. There were pokefeed consisting of water bowls, berry salads, pokeblocks, pokepuffs, pokemuffins and pokecurry for the Pokemon on one table. The other table consisted of five types of pasta, steak, curry and rice, salads, three different pies, pastries and cakes, drinks and ice cream. They all dug in after giving their thanks and ate their fill, half way through the meal Jessilina and Jameson arrived with Tomo who ran to give them hugs.

Tomo was a little shy to hug the people he had not met yet and waved at them instead before he started to chatter about the battles he had seen so far. Jessilina and Jameson smiled and settled next to the adults talking to them and sharing gossip. Blue joined them for a bit but soon left carrying boxes with food for Red and himself to their shared office. The girls took Ash after lunch and started to style his hair, first with a simple braid, then opened it to weave two small braids instead. The rest of his hair was combed and the two braids were tied together with an aquamarine coloured ribbon. It was a simple design but it looked good with its simplicity.

They turned to Chloe next and combed her hair out before Misty took out a curler and started to curl her hair. They tied her hair in a pony tail with two bangs on the front before curling them, Evee and Yamper barked their praise on seeing the new look finished with two white clips. Next they turned to Misty and Ash opened her ponytail and straightened her slightly curly hair out making it reach past her shoulders. Chloe then weaved her hair before rolling it up and pinning it and tying it with a blue ribbon cottage core style.

The three of them laughed before turning to the other ladies who laughed at their expectant looks and let them style their hair as well. They had a fun time styling their hair up in curls, plates, braids or simply in ribbons and clips. The boys had slowly moved away from them except for Gou who let Ash comb his hair and put new red clips with Cinderace's design on it. The bunny Pokemon hugged Gou on seeing the clip and nuzzled him talking about having the most adorable trainer. Electivire and Charizard looked at Paul and Ritchie on seeing that but they pretended to not notice while playing with the game station. All in all it was a relaxing break day and they all relaxed enjoying the break before the next set of battles.

[A. N.: Ooooh boy!

Time for double battles.

Till next time.]