Chapter Two: First Stop, Magnolia Town

Ash was laying in his bed with Pikachu right next to him. He couldn't sleep. He was too excited about his new adventure that he and Gary were going to start in the morning. What new Pokémon was he and Pikachu going to meet? What kind of Gym Leaders were they going to face? All these exciting thoughts were rushing through Ash's mind.

"Maaaaan! I can't sleep. I'm too excited about tomorrow. What about you, Pikachu?" Ash looked over to Pikachu who was curled up in a ball next to him.

"Pika--Pikachu!"

Ash laid back down on his bed. He stared up at the ceiling and Pikachu jumped up on ashes chest. He smiled down at Pikachu and started petting Pikachu's head and back.

"I can't wait to start our new journey in the morning Pikachu. A new region, new Pokémon, new gym leaders new friends to make. I wonder if Gary is just as excited as I'm?"

Ash suddenly felt his eyes were starting to get heavy and he fell asleep. Ash wasn't the only one who's excited for the morning to come to start a new journey. In the Soko Region, Richie was also having a hard time trying to get to sleep. His family's Mightyena was sleeping soundly on Ritchie's floor rug in his room. Richie sat up in his bed and looked over to Mightyena.

"Hey! Mightyena, are you awake?!" Richie whispered to Mightyena.

Mightyena opened one eye and looked up at Richie. He seemed to not appreciate that he was being woken up. Mightyena let out a low growl as he closed his one eye and turned his head away from Richie to go back to sleep.

"Aw, come on Mightyena. I just need someone to talk to for a while. I can't sleep because I'm so excited about starting my journey." Richie was practically begging for Mightyena to listen to him.

Mightyena opened up both of his eyes this time. He stood up from his sleeping spot and jumped onto Richie's bed. Making a spot comfortable Mightyena laid back down and rested his head on Richie's lap. Which used to scratch behind Mightyane's ear, his favorite spot to be scratched.

"This will be my last night here for a while Mightyena. After tonight I'll be traveling with Andy and Zoë, so I won't be seeing you for a while. I won't be able to see you like I do now. I'm going to miss you Mightyena." Richie wrapped his arms around Mightyena's neck. Hugging him tightly.

Mightyena was surprised by one of his owners send reactions, but Mightyena knew that he was going to miss the boy he had been watching over and see was a Poochyena. Mightyena moved his head from Richie's lap, booked up at him and licked his face. As if he was telling Richie that he was going to miss him too.

As if Mightyena's unusual friendliness eased Richie's anxious thoughts about starting his journey in the morning, Richie laid his head back down on his Pello and slowly started to drift off to sleep. Out in the distance Richie heard the high howell of an Arcanine out in the distance right as he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

The next morning the sun was shining brightly in the Kanto Region. Pidgeys and Pideottos were sitting there Morning song, and Ash? Well, he was still sleeping, just like the morning when Ash first started off on his journey.

When Ash did finally start to wake up it was to the knocking that was coming from the front door. Ash then heard his mom open the door to greet whoever came to visit the Ketchum home.

"Hello Gary. How are you this morning?" Delia welcomed Gary into the house.

"Good morning Mrs. Ketchum. I'm doing well this morning, thanks for asking. Is Ash ready to head out? Grandpa said that we should get an early start so we can arrive in the Soko Region before the day is too far gone." Gary asked Delia.

"I did try to wake that boy up once already, but I'm afraid that he might have stayed up a little too late last night. I don't mean to bother you by asking this, but could you go and try to waking him up? If Ash sees that you're ready to go and maybe he'll move a little faster." Delia asked Gary as she continued to work on Ash's breakfast.

"Sure." Gary split off his shoes, put down his bag and made his way up to Ashe's room. When he came to his old friends room Gary knocked on Ashe's door before entering. "Hey Ash! Ashy boy, are you up yet? We need to get going soon, it's almost eleven o'clock!"

Ash was half asleep when Gary came up into his room. When he heard what time it was, he suddenly sprung up. Pikachu went flying off of Ash and landed in Gary's arms.

"Good, you're up. Hurry up and get just. Grandpa said at our ship for the Soko Region leaves at noon. Your mom has your breakfast waiting for you downstairs." Gary walked up to ashes bed and handed Pikachu back to Ash.

When Gary left his room, Ash stood up from his bed and stretched his arms over his head. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a new outfit that his mother had made him the night before. Ash went over to his desk chair to get a better look at his new outfit.

"Looks like mom was busy last night Pikachu." Ash took the new outfit from his chair. "Well Pikachu, today is a new day which means a new adventure, new Pokémon and new trainers to meet. I have a feeling that something amazing is going to happen."

Downstairs Gary was waiting for Ash in the kitchen with ashes mom. Delia offered Gary something to eat and drink, which Gary gladly excepted. Ashking running downstairs with Pikachu right on his heels.

"Hey mom, thanks for the new outfit. You're the best as always." Ash took a seat at the kitchen table as his mom placed a plate of food in front of him.

"Anything for my only son. I hope the two of you will behave yourselves on your journey together. Two of you used to get into some trouble when the two of you were younger."

"Don't worry mom. Gary and I aren't like that anymore." Ash said as he quickly started eating his breakfast.

"That's right! Ash may still be a novice trainer, but I'm on my way to be a brilliant Pokémon researcher!" Gary boasted.

"Hey! That's not true at all Gary! I've grown as a trainer and you know it! Ash protested.

"Yeah, yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Ashy boy."

Delia watched as the two once rivals, but now good friends started to act like they use to.

"Now, now you two. Ash, you must hurry and finish eating. Gary has been waiting here patiently for you. You need to show some common courtesy to Gary and the professor by hurry it up or the two of you will be late arriving in the Soko Region."

"Right. Sorry about making you wait Gary. I'll be sure to tell the professor that it's all my fault that we're late." Ash quickly finished his food that his mom had made him. He thanked his mom for everything as he and Gary quickly made their way to Professor Oaks' lab.

As Delia watched her only son headed out on his new adventure to the Soko Region her thoughts went to her husband. The only one she always told Ash he reminded her so much of.

"Well my dearest husband. Our son is off on another journey to become a Pokémon Master. Maybe the two of you will see each other while he's there in the Soko Region."

Ash and Gary quickly rushed to Professor Oak's lab where he was waiting for them. When the two boys came running through the doors to Professor Oak's lab, there was a sigh of relief.

"You two are late!" Professor Oak scolded the two boys.

"Sorry Professor. It's my fault that the two of us are late." Ash apologize to Professor Oak.

"Well, as long as you're here and now I guess it doesn't matter." Professor Oak handed Ash and Gary their tickets for their ship ride they would be taking to the Soko Region. "These are your tickets for the ship ride to the Soko Region. Don't be late. The next ship won't be heading to the Soko Region for another two days."

Ash and Gary took their tickets and placed them in their bags for safe keeping. Now completely ready to head out to the Soko Region Ash and Gary tanked Professor Oak and headed off to the newer by docks where their ship was waiting for them.

In the Soko a Region it looked like Ash wasn't the only one who over slept. Richie was taking a page from Ash's book. He was still sound asleep in his bed, and on the first day of him becoming a Pokémon Trainer. Sounds familiar, right? Mightyena had already woken up and went downstairs to help Richie's father with the chores around the house that they would do every morning. I'll Richie's dad did his morning work around the house Richies mom went to work at a Pokémon salon.

As the morning was quickly slipping by in Richie was still not out of bed Ritchie's dad asked Mightyena to go wake him up.

"Mightyena, please go and wake up that lazy son of mine. He shouldn't be sleeping in this late in the day and he supposed to be starting his Pokémon journey today. He's not off to a good start."

Mightyena let out a low grunt and gave a head nod. Mightyena ran back into the house, up the stairs and back into Richie's room Richie was still sleeping. Mightyena slowly walked up next to Richie's bed. He looked at Richie with a frustrated look on his face. Mightyena let out a valid board causing Richie to tumble out of his bed and fall onto the floor.

"Mightyena!! I did you do that?!" her cheek yelled at the hyena-like Pokémon.

"Richard! Get your lazy butt out of bed! The wasting your day away and running late on starting your journey. I'm sure Zoë and Andy are waiting for you at the town fountain!"

Richie stood up, walked to his window and looked out to see his father plowing the garden with the families Ponyta. Richie's father was known for being a hard worker. He grew berries and would use them to make Poffins, Pokéblock and Macarons to sell in town.

"You didn't have to make Mightyena wake me up like that dad!" Richie yelled down to his father.

"Mightyena shouldn't have to wake you up at all! That's what an alarm clock is for! Hurry up and get dressed, your friends are waiting for you!" Richie's father spiled up at his son.

Richie smiled down at his father and then rush to get ready for his journey. Changing into his black short sleeve shirt, blue jean pants and mid arm blue and white zip up jacket. Before running out of his room he quickly grabbed his backpack that sat on the floor next to the door in his hat that set on top of his backpack. Which he ran downstairs into the kitchen to quickly grab something to snack on so he wouldn't go hungry. Sitting on the table was a small basket with a note on top. He walked up to the table, took the note and opened it to read it. It was a note from his mother.

"Dear Richie,

I know I won't be able to be there when you head off on your journey was Zoë and Andy, but I just want to say that I'm proud of you. Your father is too, but because he's so stubborn he won't say it out loud. He made this batch of Macarons for you with the left over berries from yesterday's berry picking. Please thank him in and good luck on your journey.

Love mom."

Richie open the basket that held the macrons and saw his father had made a big batch of backgrounds. Richie's father was a proud man would never show His soft side in front of anyone. Only showing his tough and hard-working side to show how strong a man should be to provide for his family. The fact that his dad he was leftover berries to make him a batch of Macarons was a surprise.

"Dad actually made me a big batch of Macarons?"

Richie looked happily down at the basket full of Macarons. Before closing the basket, he took want one Macaron out of the basket, then closed it and placed the basket in his back.

Richie ran out of his house and into the warm sun of the Soko Region. Before running down the street that led into Magnolia town he turned back to his father who stood in his garden with Mightyena and Ponyta.

"Hey dad!" Richie yell to his father who looked up from his work. "Thanks for the Macarons, I'll be sure to share them with Zoë and Andy. Here have one too!" Richie through a macaron he had in his hand to his father. Richie's dad caught the macaron and look down at it and surprise.

Richie waves goodbye to his dad and then started to make his way to Magnolia town. Richie's dad watch as his sunset off on yesterday as a Pokémon trainer. Taking the macaron that his son gave to him he broke it into three equal pieces to share with his Pokémon.

"Well Mightyena, Ponyta, the boy may be lazy sometimes, I couldn't be prouder to have a son like that boy." He told them as he gave his two Pokémon as he gave them their piece of his Macaron.

Ponyta nuzzled his trainers arm and Mightyena let out a low growl. When Richie's father looked down at Mightyena he saw that there was sadness in his eyes. Mightyena and Richie have been close friends since Richie was born. Seeing his best friend go off on his own adventure was quite saddening. Richie's dad patted Mightyena on the head.

"You want to go with him, right Mightyena?"

Mightyena looked up at his old trainer with a shocked look in his eyes, but it was true. Deep down Mightyena did want to go with Richie. In a way the two of them have a deep bond with each other. Mightyena gave a small nod.

"We'll go into town right after we finished here. I have one more surprise for that son of mine."

Richie raced as fast as he could to the center of Magnolia town where the town fountain was located. Zoë and Andy were waiting impatiently for their late friend. Richie has always been the one who kept Zoë and Andy waiting all the time, but this was just ridiculous.

"Where is he?! He's always doing this. Keeping us waiting for long periods of time!" Zoë complained as she paced back-and-forth in front of the fountain.

"This is typical Richie. You know he's always running late, even if he does go to bed at a decent hour." Andy said as he sat at the edge of the edge of the fountain and look into the crystal blue water when suddenly a Squirtle popped out of the water. Starling Andy. A female trainer ran up and picked up the small turtle-like Pokémon.

"I'm so sorry about that! I hope Squirtle didn't frighten you." The female trainer apologized to Andy.

"No, it's quite alright. I was just a bit surprised when it suddenly jumped out of the water like that." Andy tried to reinsurer the young female trainer.

"Squirtle! you need to be more careful. You could seriously hurt somebody by jumping out of the water like that."

"Squirtle. Squirtle, squirt." Squirtle sadly said.

Andy gently patted squirrels on the head. "It's alright Squirtle. I'm alright. No harm, no foul."

Squirtle happily smiled, jumped out on his trainers arms and into Andy's arms. Both Andy and Squirtle's trainer was really surprised.

"It seems Squirtle really likes you. Are you a trainer?" Squirtle's trainer asked.

"No, not yet. The two of us are actually waiting for a friend of ours so we can start our journey together. We're heading to Professor Aspen's lad as soon as he gets here."

"New trainers, huh? Well I'll be the first to say good luck to the two of you and your friend. Have the two of you decided on which starter Pokémon you're going to choose from?"

"Yeah. I'm going with Naiad, the water type and my friend Zoë here is going with Leporo, the grass type. Our other friend has decided on Fenfire, the fire type."

Squirtle suddenly jumped onto Andy's head. Squirtle's trainer has never seen Squirtle act so happy around another person.

"I think Squirtle really, really likes you. What's your name?"

"Oh, sorry. My name is Andy, and this is my friend Zoë."

"It's nice to meet you Andy and Zoë. My name is Amanda. I have a question Andy. I know you're just starting out as a trainer, but could you watch over Squirtle for me?"

"Watch over Squirtle? Not going to take him with you?

"I was thinking of taking a little break from traveling. Squirtle is still young and I just recently caught him. He needs to have the experience of battles and traveling with people and Pokémon. So, will you do it Andy? Will you take Squirtle with you on your journey?"

Andy took Amanda Squirtle down from the top of his head. He looked down into Squirtle's big brown eyes. He didn't expect this was how he would catch his first Pokémon but having just caught a young Squirtle and then suddenly stop traveling really did seem a bit sad. Andy started to scratch underneath Squirtle's chin. Making Squirtle really happy.

"Alright Amanda. I'll take Squirtle with me."

Amanda was so happy to hear that Andy said yes. She would have been sad if he had said no. Thinking that Squirtle would have been restless being trapped inside a house after being caught. Amanda pulled out Squirtle's Pokéball and hands it to Andy.

"This is Squirtle's Pokéball. He usually doesn't like being inside. Please take good care of him for me."

"Don't worry Amanda. I'll take really good care of Squirtle."

"And Squirtle," Amanda placed her hand on Squirtle's head. "You behave yourself with your new trainer."

"Squirtle! Squirtle, squirt!" Squirtle said happily.

Amanda gave one last goodbye to Andy, Zoë and Squirtle before heading home to her family and other Pokémon were waiting for her to return. When Amanda was out of sight Andy placed Squirtle back into the water of the fountain so Squirtle could continue swimming around until Richie showed up.

"I guess you and I are going to be traveling together fro now on Squirtle."

"Squirt - Squirtle!" Squirtle splashed a little Water Gun and Andy space. Andy laughed as squirrel dived underneath the clear blue water.

"Man Andy, you're lucky. You haven't even started your journey yet and you already have your first Pokémon." Zoë said to Andy as she gave him a towel to dry his face off from Squirtle's Water Gun.

"Yeah, not the way I expected to catch my first Pokémon, but Amanda was bright. Catching a new Pokémon and then taking a break from traveling would be a bit boring for a new Pokémon in my opinion."

Zoë took a seat next to Andy on the edge of the fountain. Watching Squirtle swimming around when they saw Richie running as fast as he could towards them.

Andy! Zoë! Sorry I'm late!"

"Richie! What took you so long?! Andy and I have been waiting here for you for at least an hour!" Zoë met up with Richie halfway so scolding her longtime friend.

"Sorry! I'm sorry! Please stop hitting me Zo Zo!"

"Don't call me Zo Zo! You know I don't like being called that! Zoë punched Richie in the arm. "Come here and see what Andy now has."

Richie followed Zoë over to the town fountain where Andy was still waiting for them. Richie looked around in the water of the fountain and at first he didn't see anything, but then Squirtle jumped out of the water and scared Richie.

"Squirtle! Squirtle - squirt!" Squirtle said happily as he sat on Andy's lap.

"Andy has a Squirtle now! Isn't that awesome Richie?!"

Richie carefully looked at the Squirtle which made it uncomfortable in ended up using Water Gun on Richie's face like he did with Andy.

"Squirtle!? Sorry about that Richie. Squirtle, you can't just go around in using Water Gun on people like that." Andy picked Squirtle up and placed them on his lap.

"It's alright Andy. I shouldn't have made Squirtle uncomfortable, but how did she get Squirtle?"

"Zoë and I met a trainer named Amanda while we were waiting for you. Her Squirtle was swimming around in the fountain when he suddenly popped out and startled me like he did you. Amanda told us that she had just recently caught Squirtle but was thinking about taking a break from traveling. She wanted Squirtle to have more traveling and battling experience, so she asked me to take him along with me on my journey. She also said that she never seen Squirtle take to someone as fast as he did with me."

"Well congratulations Andy I'm getting your first Pokémon even though we haven't started yet." Richie patted Andy on the back.

"And who's fault is that Richie!? Let's get going. We still have quite a walk before we reach Professor Aspen's lab. Zoë pulled out her PokéNave and showed MagnoliaTown on the screen. "Where here it we need to go here, to the east side of Magnolia town.

"Alright! Finally, we can get started! Richie suddenly ran off in the direction that Zoë's PokéNave told them where to go.

"Hey! Richie! What up!" Zoë chased after Richie.

"Well Squirtle, ready get going?" Andy looked down at Squirtle.

"Squirrrtle!" Squirtle happily responded.

Andy quickly grabbed his bag, flung it over one shoulder and with Squirtle still in his arms ran after Zoë and Richie.

Just off the coast of the Soko Region, Gary and Ash were just moments away from arriving in a new region. Ask couldn't wait to get off the ship and get started battling new trainers and catching new Pokémon. There were others who also couldn't wait to catch some Pokémon, but these three individuals were interested in one Pokémon in particular. Team Rocket had once again followed Ash to another region and attempts to steal Ash's Pikachu and give it to their boss.

"Looks like the twerp is going to be traveling around another region again." James of Team Rocket muttered to his partners Jessie and Meowth while hiding under a tarp that covered one of the ships lifeboats.

"A typical twerpish thing to do. And once we make land will do what we do best. Jessie said.

"Blasting off?" Meowth asked.

"No, you idiot!" Jessie punched Meowth the top of his head. "What we do best is trying to catch Pikachu."

"And what's going to make this time any different then the last?" James asked Jessie.

"It's going to be different because this time are going to catch Pikachu and send it to the boss and if you remember what Professor Oak said about the new type of Pokémon." Jessie pointed out.

"That's right, dear Professor Oak said that Professor Aspen studies evolution stones and with two evolution stones now discovered we can dig some up and send them to the boss along with some Light Pokémon and Pikachu."

"That's the Team Rocket way!" Meowth upped up and yelled.

"Wobbuffet!!" Jessie's Wobbuffet suddenly popped out of its Pokéball. Making all three members of Team Rocket to pile up on top of him to keep him silent.

"Attention passengers! We'll be docking soon and arriving in the Soko Region! if you have young children with you, please make sure they are with you when you depart from the ship along with your belongings. Enjoy your visit to the Soko Region!" The captain of the ship announced over the loudspeaker.

Passengers started to gather up their things and made their way to the ramp that led off the ship. Ash was right up front. He wanted to be the first one on the ship to set foot on Soko Region soil. Right when the ramp hit the side of the ship and the door open to let passengers off, Ash rushed down the ramp and down onto the boarding docs of the Soko Region.

Right when Ash's be hit the ground of the Soko Region of rush of energy flow through him.

"Hellllooo Soko Region! Ash Ketchum has arrived!"

Everyone who was at the docs looked over at Ash. Wondering why he was making such a scene. After Ash's outburst Gary walked up behind him in thumped Ash in the back of his head.

"Hey, what was that for Gary?!"

"You're making a scene. People are starting to stare at you like you're crazy. So, stop fooling around we need to get to Magnolia Town as soon as possible. We're already running late." Gary walked past Ash and started heading towards Magnolia Town which was still a town away from the marina.

Ash quickly followed behind Gary still pumped full of energy. He was just itching to start his journey through the Soko Region, but before he could start his journey they first needed to stop in Magnolia Town to see Professor Aspen.

To Be Continued....