The three years that followed Red and Blue's departure were, if Ash was being honest, a bit boring. Red's Pokemon egg had hatched into a Piplup much to his surprise while Blue's Pokemon egg turned out to be a Bulbasaur of all Pokemon. Ash had fun of course, meeting the Pokemon the older boys caught, with his friends and fun battles with Gary, Leaf and Green had even got their own Pokemon, an Igglybuff and a Cleffa from their parents during their tenth birthday making their usual battles very interesting. When Ash turned 10 years old, he and Gary were the ones volunteering at the summer camp. Around the age of eleven, he had even finished writing the third book naming it, 'Hogwarts Chronicles: The Escaped Convict'.
Samuel, "You know the idea behind dementors is a bit terrifying."
Ash blinked, "You think so?"
Gary, "I agree with Grandpa, they are a bit scary."
Blue and Red who had taken a break from battling for the Championship title, had joined them as well. The two had driven Lance and the Elite four up the wall with the amount of paperwork they had to do every two months because the title of Champion kept changing hands between the two. After Red beat Blue and won the Championship Blue trained before returning and winning the title back two months later.
Lance had been impressed with it, but soon he felt dread when two months later Red won the title again. Lance had gotten fed up by the third year and hit them both with a dual Champion title of the Jhoto-Kanto region and kicked them out of his office and told them to not return unless it's something life threatening. The two teens had busted out in laughter at the result of their bickering and decided to return home as in the last call Ash had mentioned finishing the third book.
Blue, "I don't know how you came up with this idea but keep on doing so."
Red, "I'm glad you called us to read this together. It's almost like our own family tradition."
Daisy nodded, "I agree with you."
After a few months of the book being published, Red with the help of Mewtwo, who had reluctantly accepted Red as his trainer had busted Giovanni as the leader of Team Rocket. The dark psychic type had taken a lot of pleasure in uploading and uncovering all the unsavoury things Giovanni had done to the news channel and the internet. Red had sweatdropped listening to his maniacal laughter but let the genetic Pokemon do what he wanted. He along with Blue were busy pushing Team Rocket back and relocating the Pokemon back to their trainers or the wild. If Ash was surprised by it he didn't expect anything less, he figured reality would always be differnt from anime. In fact Ash rather hoped now that Mewtwo was already part of the family, he wouldn't have to worry about getting killed.
Blue had decided to return the Championship title to Lance and take over the gym instead stating, "I am not allowing a gym in my home region get a bad name because of an idiot."
Red had been excited at first but after a while got bored, "Blue you are beating all the trainers away."
Blue huffed, "If they can't beat me, do you really believe they'll defeat the Elite Four?"
Red whined, "But I'm bored!"
Blue, "You are home right now with Ash, Gary, Daisy and Gramps! How the flying frick frack are you bored?"
Meeting Mewtwo was a very interesting experience, he was wary yet curious about the world around him. He also noticed the missing parts in Ash's memories and when he informed Red, the genetic Pokemon had to hold his trainer back from going on a rampage against whoever caused it. Charizard had sweatdropped watching them and agreed with the old saying that went 'like trainer like Pokemon'. Mewtwo huffed as Red calmed down and told him that he had asked Alakazam about it and according to the older psychic Pokemon Ash had been that way since birth. Red calmed down and decided to trust his Pokemon's judgement on the topic but it didn't stop the teen from keeping an eye on the two kids whenever he was not off training.
Soon enough Riolu had evolved into a Lucario, Axew had evolved into a Fraxure, Igglypuff and Cleffa had gotten pumped to train after watching their friend's evolution. It was a year before they officially started a journey. Gary had been ecstatic and became a bit impatient to start the journey. The Professor had calmed him down saying he had Pokemon planned for them to take but they would only get them before they left. Gary settled down a bit much to everyone's amusement. Now it was the day they would go on a journey.
Ash, "Today is the day Lucario! We start a whole new adventure on our own."
Lucario who had mastered aura speak answered, -Yes, Ash! I can't wait to see what the world has to show us.
Ash, "Alright everything is packed. Clothes, first aid, water, food, toiletries, shoes and extra items."
Lucario grinned, -Let's go Ash!-
Ash grinned and followed Lucario took the lab where the Professor was waiting with his friends and family. Red and Blue had taken the day off to see them off. On the way he was joined by the twin girls and Gary was waiting for them with Fraxure at the gate.
Leaf, "Gary?"
Gary shrugged, "Gramps told me to go in with you three, he is talking to three other trainers right now. Guess who came without telling us!"
Green, "Ummm who?"
Gary gave an exasperated sigh, "Ritchie!"
Ash's eyes widened, he didn't know that, "He is here? How come he didn't say anything last weekend?"
Ritchie walked out with his pokeball, "I wanted it to be a surprise."
Leaf, Green and Ash tackle hugged him making him shout in surprise. His Pokemon came out of his pokeball hearing his shout ready to fight only to sweatdrop seeing his new human partner get hugged. Gary openly laughed at his friend's predicament saying he deserved it.
Ash looked at his friend, "You picked Charmender? Congratulations!"
Ritchie sat up and smiled, "Yeah, everyone meet my partner, Zippo. Zippo meet my friends."
The Charmander growled out a greeting as he was introduced to everyone. The Pokemon greeted him back. The fire type was actually pleased to see his friends who he and the other starters hung out with go on their own journeys.
Ritchie was surprised by Lucario's abilty, "You talk how?"
Ash giggled, "It's called aura speak, the same way really strong psychic Pokemon can use psychic energy to speak to humans, the Lucario line can use aura."
Ritchie's eyes sparkled, "Seriously? That's so cool."
Lucario nodded, -Thank you!-
Samuel, "I see you kids met, how about you all come in and we get your registration as trainers done?"
Leaf picked Igglypuff, "Sure Professor!"
Green held Cleffa, "Coming!"
Ash, "I guess you will be going ahead, won't you Ritchie?"
Ritchie nodded, "You bet, I'm already behind you guys when it comes to training, so I'll be off."
Gary fist bumped him as Fraxure stood by his side, "Alright then, best of luck!"
Ritchie, "Same to you all!"
Leaf and Green waved Ritchie good bye before the four of them went to get registered and get their pokedexes. Leaf took the pink pokedex while Green took the yellow, Ash grabbed the red one and Gary took the blue pokedex. Green and Leaf decided to go ahead as they were asked to meet their grandfather first, it turns out he had Pokemon selected for them too. Gary and Ash wished them luck before turning to the Professor.