Kanto

The Professor led them to the part of the lab where he had just given the new trainers their starter Pokemon. He explained to them that he had caught a wild Pokemon and had been sent an egg through one of the rangers. He however did not have the time to care for the egg nor to train the wild Pokemon as he was getting bogged down by too much paperwork lately. When Red found and saved Mewtwo it had forced the league and the regional Professors to come up with new rules and regulations.

Gary sighed, "No wonder you look dead on your feet sometimes. You sure you will be okay grandpa?"

Samuel, "Do not worry about this old man Gary. I'll be fine besides I have Daisy to help me, although I never expected I would be beaten by paperwork of all things."

Ash nodded sagely, "Paperwork the weakness of every Professional."

Lucario and Fraxure snickered in the back before turning to where the egg and a pokeball lay. They looked at each other then nodded before going to pick one up. The boys and the Professor watched them as they decided on who they wanted as part of the team. Lucario took the pokeball while Fraxure carried the egg and moved to stand beside their partners.

Samuel, "I guess that's that, are you alright with their decision?"

Ash, "I trust Lucario, I'm sure it's the right decision."

Gary smiled, "I don't mind taking care of another egg Gramps. It'll be like old times."

Samuel nodded, "Very well then, Gary here is a new strap on Pokemon egg carrier for you and Ash be careful with that one. I just caught that little one last night while it was chewing on the electric wires."

Ash nodded, "Got it Professor. I'll be careful!"

The Professor led them outside where they were greeted by Red, Blue, Daisy, Delia, Rose and the towns folk. They had all come to cheer them on. Delia, Rose and Red hugged Ash while Daisy and Blue hugged Gary wishing them the best of luck in their journeys and to be very careful.

Delia, "My baby all grown up!"

Ash, "Don't cry mom! I got Lucario with me, I'll be fine. And if everything goes well I'll have more friends."

Delia sniffed, "I know sweetie it just feels like yesterday that I held you for the first time."

Daisy, "By the way boys! We pulled some strings."

Ash felt a dread, "What do you mean? What does she mean?"

Red smiled brightly, "Oh nothing much at all~"

Blue grinned, "We just asked a few friends to travel with you."

Gary was confused, "What?"

However Ash had a sudden realization, "Oh look at the time. We need to go, Lucario let's run. Good luck Gary! I'll call you from Viridian city mom!"

Next thing Gary knew his best friend had run off leaving him behind to the older siblings mercy. Red was sulking when he realized Ash escaped from them with Lucario's help. Gary looked at them warily before Blue and Daisy moved away revealing a car with four girls and two boys, all older than him inside. Gary swears he'll get Ash back for whatever this was.

Blue, "Like I said we pulled a few strings."

Daisy, "They are Lucy and Susan, they are studying to become Nurse Joys, Ruby is studying to become a researcher and Coral is studying to become an Officer Jenny. Jack and Percy are aiming to become Pokemon rangers. They are friends we made and we asked them to go with you both actually."

Gary, "Why? Why are they dressed up like a cheer squad?"

Red's eyes darkened, "Team Rocket, they are making a come back."

Daisy, "Who doesn't love getting cheered on?"

Gary sighed, 'Should have run off after Ash! This is my journey dammit!', "I see, we'll be fine I promise."

Red, "I better go."

Gary watched as Red left, "He's gonna stalk Ash, isn't he?"

Blue snorted, "Not really but as Champion he can keep an eye on him.... You as well."

Gary grumbled before hugging Blue, "I better go, bye everyone!"

As Ash and Lucario ran from the group they came across a patch in the forest they had entered. Ash looked back and he had no doubt he would get a lecture from Red next time he called. Lucario looked around the forest that he and Ash were curious about but were never allowed to enter. It was he decided peaceful.

Lucario, -This looks like a nice place.-

Ash smiled, "Let's meet our new member."

Ash released the Pokemon inside the pokeball only to realize it was a Pikachu. He had a sudden epiphany, fate came in full circle after all, not that it's a bad thing. He distinctly remembers how powerful pikachu was, especially Ash's pikachu in the shows. The electric mouse was looking at him and Lucario with suspicion.

Ash bent down holding out his hand, "Hello, I'm Ash. Nice to meet you."

Lucario was next to him, -Lucario, a pleasure to meet you.-

Pikachu looked between them and asked what they wanted, which Lucario translated much to the yellow mouse's surprise.

Ash smiled, "Honestly I wanted us to be friends. I'm on a journey you see to meet new Pokemon and make new friends."

The pikachu huffed and turned around ignoring him, not believing any word Ash said, he had met humans before none wanted to be friends. They wanted him because they wanted a Raichu. Lucario growled at the rude action but Ash calmed him down.

Ash, "You don't have to believe me straight away but would you at least like to try? If it doesn't work out I can release you near Viridian. I heard there is a colony of pikachus there."

Pikachu looked at Ash before nodding his head and accepting the offer. Lucario translated that the little mouse would follow them but if it doesn't work out, he leaves. Ash smiled brightly at the little Pikachu making him look away from the happy face. Ash had planned to go to the river flowing nearby and try to catch a water type if he could. Lucario led him towards the water body with Pikachu following them. On the way Ash scanned Lucario and Pikachu using his pokedex.

Dexter, "Lucario the aura Pokemon. It has the ability to sense aura in everything and speak to humans using aura. It is said no foe is invisible to Lucario."

Dexter, "Pikachu, an electric mouse Pokemon. When several of these Pokemon gather, their electricity could build and cause a thunderstorm."

As Ash sat down with a fishing rod, Lucario sat next to him meditating while pikachu made himself comfortable on a branch above them. Ash started to speak and talk to Pikachu about his family and friends and how they were all on a journey. Even though pikachu acted nonchalant, he listened as Ash spoke about the Pokemon at the ranch that were caught by his older siblings. How they were a big family and how some of them were really strong and helped his older siblings win the Champion titles. As he was talking Ash felt the fishing rod give a tug.

Ash, "I caught something."

Pikachu, -Pika pika pi pika chu pika.- (Really? Pull it in! I want to see.)

Lucario held Ash as he pulled the rod and out ploped a very familiar Pokemon. Ash looked at the fish that came out of the water. The fish Pokemon was flapping about but stopped when they saw Ash and instead brightened up.

Lucario, -She says long time no see.-

Ash was bewildered, "Long time? Wait you are the Feebas I met during the picnic. You have grown so much bigger."

The Feebas eye smiled before jumping on to his lap and nuzzling him. Lucario watched amused by it, even Pikachu came down out of curiosity and started to talk to her. He had met her before once, she had helped him cross the river. The Feebas told Pikachu this was the boy she was talking about making Pikachu look at Ash wide eyed. Feebas then turned towards the belt that held four empty pokeballs and tapped one of them, Ash watched flabbergasted.

Ash, "I caught a Feebas..... Or is it she caught me? I'm not sure right now."

Lucario laughed, -That's one way to do things.-

Dexter chimed in, "Feebas the fish Pokemon, although extremely ragged they can survive in any environment. They are mostly ignored because of how they look."

Ash, "That's not nice to be ignored for something like that."

Pikachu looked at Ash when he said that, as he released Feebas and welcomed her to the family. He even took out lunches for all four of them to eat. Ash had also taken out ketchup that he put on his pasta before eating only to realize Pikachu was sniffing the bottle. An idea popped in Ash's head and he poured some over Pikachu's Pokefood and told him to try it. Pikachu tried one and made a happy 'chaaaaa', letting Ash know he really liked it. Lucario smiled his new family members were getting along splendidly even the strangely large Feebas. She was almost the same height as Ash, Lucario guessed she waited for his partner for a long time.

As the four of them were eating however they were being spied on by a few wild Pokemon, Ash had not realized it but he was close to the territory of a short tempered flying group. They were attacked half way through lunch by a bunch of Spearows, making Ash squawk in surprise. Ash returned Feebas and tried to return Pikachu but he refused so Lucario grabbed the yellow mouse and then started sprinting pulling Ash along.

Ash, "I didn't realize the Spearows expanded their territory."

Lucario growled, -We were not even inside their territory to begin with. They have no reason to attack us.-

Dexter chimed in, "Sometimes wild Pokemon fight trainers and their Pokemon out of jealousy or for food or if they enter their territory during mating season."

Ash shouted, "That doesn't help me right now!"

Lucario growled, -Mating season is after three months.-

The three ran through the forest but unfortunately their path was cut off by more Spearows. They did not look friendly at all, Ash bit his lip but steeled himself up. The sky was also becoming dark making Ash curse.

Ash, "Lucario hand Pikachu to me and use vacuum wave to make a path through the Spearows."

Lucario nodded and gave Pikachu to Ash before he ran ahead and threw a powerful vacuum wave clearing a path for them to run through. Ash whooped in joy and praised Lucario while running through the rain, the leader of the Spearows was not pleased and pursued them relentlessly. Pikachu watched bright eyed as the two rushed forward however they were cut off by a Spearow who glowed and evolved into a Fearrow.

Ash stopped, "And of course it had to rain. You want to battle? Fine you got a battle."

At Fearrow's que the other Spearows started to attack them, Ash bent down to keep Pikachu from being attacked. He read in a book sometimes bird Pokemon enjoyed eating rat Pokemon, and he didn't want to risk a chance. Pikachu watched worried as Ash got hurt but still told Lucario to focus on fighting the Pokemon off. Pikachu had made a decision and jumped out of Ash's arms making him shout in worry but the mouse ran infront of Lucario charging up and telling him to protect Ash. Fearrow decided to attack them itself and rushed towards them with a glowing beak.

Ash, "That's.... Lucario shield around both of us. Pikachu go wild with thunderbolt."

Lucario ran to Ash and used reflect dome and covered the two of them while Pikachu used the Pikachu line's most powerful and coveted attack. The thunderbolt aided by the storm paralysed the Fearrow and scared the Spearows to fly off into the forest. Ash took out a pokeball and caught Fearrow. Lucario looked at Ash asking if that was a good idea and Ash sighed.

Ash walked up to Pikachu and scratched his ears, "That was amazing Pikachu. You saved us back there. And as for your question Lucario... Well bad idea or not I can't leave the Fearrow here when he is hurt. Let's get going guys Viridian is not far from here. We can get Fearrow healed up and ask him if he wants to come with us or not. Also that was terrifying. They didn't tell us how scary it would be facing a flock of wild Pokemon in reality." ( TДT)

Lucario nodded accepting the answer and Pikachu climbed up Ash's shoulder surprising him, but he smiled. As they walked through the forest the rain soon drizzled to a stop and a beautiful rainbow came out lighting up the afternoon sky. Lucario and Pikachu's breath hitched seeing a Pokemon fly across the sky.

Ash, "Hooh? Here in Kanto? Aren't they Jhoto's Gaurdian?"

Lucario and Pikachu looked at each other at that because it was true and they got many questions in their head because of it. But Ash decided to move on saying this probably meant they'll see more interesting things in the future. Ash was happy to see Hooh as it was the one thing he remembered had happened to Ash in the anime. He had thought since he was here now he will not see Hooh but he did and that made him ecstatic.