Prologue

Many months have passed since the Pokemon League Competition. Ash Ketchem, a young boy from Pallet Town, stares out at the shimmering sea in front of him, reminiscing about his past adventures. His best friend (although he would never admit it), Misty, sits by his side cradling her baby pokemon, Togepi, to sleep. His other best friend, a small yellow mouse pokemon named Pikachu, rests peacefully in his lap.
They're on a cruise ship headed for their next destination and, undoughtedly, their next adventure. Many close encounters and surprising situations have happened to him and his friends in the past few years, but he doesn't regret having one moment. He knows he has grown and matured a lot from the first day he set out on his pokemon journey to become the world's greatest pokemon master. Everyday that goes by, his desire to be the best grows with every new pokemon he meets. It had been just Pikachu, Misty, Brock, and him for a while, until Brock had sadly left the group to stay with Prof. Ivy on Valencia Island to help her tend to the pokemon. He knew Brock also had his eyes on her when they had left and, although she was very smart and beautiful, she was just to old for him, being that he was about 17 and she was at least in her late twenties. Ash smiled to himself and shook his head. Brock could never win with women. Apparently, neither could he though with Misty still around, arguing every chance she got. He had come to expect her bratty attitude as an everyday thing now and just went along with it.
"What's on your mind, Ash?"
Ash looked over at Misty who had set Togepi down now and had stretched out on a chair to relax. She had noticed him smiling and was now looking at him curiously.
"Nothing really. Just about the past." he said as he too stretched out on a chair to relax, careful not to wake Pikachu.
"Yea, I know what you mean. A lot has happened since I fished you out of the water a few years ago, and even though Brock is gone and Tracey left to go on his own adventures, I have always thought of you as my closest friend."
Ash flinched. He had never expected her to admit that or feel that way.
"So I guess this means you don't care about the bike I owe you anymore" he smirked.
"No way! I'm not letting you get out of it that easily! I fully intend on you paying me back for my bike, Mr. Pokemon Master."
Ash sighed. Here we go again.