A camera turns on, the image is blurry the only thing that can be seen are lines of blue and black with static heavily obscuring the screen.

[Hello, if you are seeing this send help, there's a maniac chasing me,... I think that's him..]

[Come on out, I am not done with you we still have 3 more hours before either of us can rest]

[NO,nononononononono] the blue figure whispered while hiding.

[Come on out you can't hide forever boy]

[Oh Arceus, I can't get caught by him, my physical and mental health are already breaking] Heavy breathing, [Wait, what if I call 9-1-1]

The figure pulls out a small phone and dials the authorities, [Hello emergency services what department do you need.]

[Yes hello, there is this trainer, send police, send ranger send-] The figure was cut off, the static cleared revealing Lucario, and from the other corner was Ash.

[You better hang up that computer call, and get over here to face me, we aren't even remotely done.]

[Wha-]

[No Homo]

[If you're hearing this tell my mother I love her, Ahhhhhhhhhhh]

—---

The next few days were uneventful just the same old formula of travel, camp, train, then go back to sleep. Each of his Pokemon has trained on random Pokemon on the road and Ash himself replanted his Berries to get more high-quality ones later.

Overall the path was uneventful,

—

(At the League.)

Lance was currently stressed trying to balance different phone calls and Paperwork on his desk, he severely regretted taking the position of Champion in 2 regions, not to mention the new threat of Team Rocket was making him put more attention into monitoring Johto while still having unfinished business in Kanto.

He could only sigh as he kept working, he thought to himself that maybe he should hire a secretary, a cute girl, with glasses, maybe a mini skirt, before he slapped himself Realising he just described Lorelei and he refused to go after her, not since the first time.

Lance shivered remembering the day he and Bruno fell victim to that woman, the fact is Bruno only left Kanto, his home region, to get away from her.

Lance shook his head and sat back down in his Chair to think about what he should do, when suddenly his phone rang he picked it up revealing Oak.

"Hello Lance, how is being the Champion, is it everything you hoped it would be," Oak said in a joking manner.

"I hate it, I wish you would come back and take on the position, or maybe one of those 2," Lance said, rubbing his eyes.

"No, no no I served my time as champion in my younger years and those two are currently traveling around, I am not even fully sure where they are, and I'm the one that sent them," Oak said before laughing.

"So spit it out Oak, I doubt you called to make fun of my pain, did they agree," Lance said, squinting his eyes secretly hoping they did.

"Ho, so serious, what happened to that young kid I gave a Charmander to all those years ago," Oak said before also getting serious, "Yes I spoke to Professor Willow, and he has agreed to let his assistants come out of 'hiding' to assist the league, they are currently waiting outside your office, but there are 2 conditions."

Lance sat back up in his chair, "And what is that he wants; money, influence, a new mobile laboratory unit."

Oak shook his head, "No he agreed to if 1 you do not force them to summon those Pokemon for the personal benefit of the League, and 2 they want to re-open their factions and compete with each other."

Lance's eyebrow raised, "Really, I can understand the first part if their secret got out they would be the next target, but to reinstate the teams, they were the ones that got rid of those, how am I supposed to bring that back."

Oak shrugged, "Don't ask me, you're the one that wanted to be Champion," Oak said before laughing.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Lance's eye twitched before he got an evil smile, "Alright see you Oak, I'll be sure to tell Agatha that you miss her and that you asked her to visit more."

Oak stopped laughing, "No, you wouldn't"

Lance looked away, "Alright Goodbye it seems like they are waiting for me."

"Don't you-" The call was stopped by Lance as he also blocked Oak's number for a few days.

Lance sighed before picking up a phone next to him and calling for the 3 assistants to come in, as he finished through the doors of his office came Blanche, Spark, and Candela.

(A/N has it been confirmed whether Blanche is a guy or a girl, I haven't played Pokemon Go in a bit but I'm pretty sure Blanche stayed ambiguous.)

—

(Team Rocket main base)

Giovanni was walking around his base to his scientists to see their progress, Project Mewtwo was well underway but before they could complete the last step he needed two separate parts.

Reaching the Lab he went inside and sitting down while holding his bandaged arm in pain was Blaine.

He looked up and looked at Giovanni with hate in his eyes, "Giovanni what are you doing here, you already forced me to finish this project, what more do you want."

"Relax my dear Blaine I just came here to check on the progress you have been making, the other scientists are almost finished with their part but I have not heard anything about you."

"Yeah well it's kinda hard to work here with this," Blaine said holding up his bandaged arm, "I should have left with Fuji when I had the chance."

"Ah yes, your childhood friend Fuji, I hear he has a granddaughter now, it would be a real shame if something happened," Giovanni said in a condescending tone.

"We made a deal Giovanni, you better not touch a single hair on their heads, in case you forgot I'm the only person in Kanto who can do this kind of project," Blaine said standing up and getting face to face with the boss.

"Relax Blaine, Fuji may have betrayed and left Team Rocket but I can assure you I am a man of my word, you finish this and I'll let you leave no grudges, but the offer still stands if you want to fix that arm of yours," Giovanni said before walking out.

Blaine grits his teeth, the only thing he held over Giovanni was this unfinished project, but the longer he stalled it the less time he would have to fix his arm, and the more Fuji may be in danger.

He did not like Giovanni but he respected one thing about him, he would always keep his word, but everyone has their breaking point.

He begrudgingly went back to continue working on the plans Giovanni needed.

Meanwhile, Giovanni continued walking to meet with Archer to see how the preparations were going.

Walking through the halls any grunt that saw him would tense and salute him as he walked by, he eventually got to Archer's post.

"Ah Boss, to what do I owe the honor," Archer said.

"Archer it is good to see you, I want to know your report, how the preparations are going."

"Of course, as of now Ariana has taken up her post in Johto, and our spies in their league have revealed to us that they are mobilizing in Johto."

"Excellent, with all their forces split, we will be able to get a foothold in Kanto, and once they find that out we will take one in Johto."

"Of course Sr it shall be done," Archer said as Giovanni walked out of the room with a smile on his face.

Before returning to his room, he stopped by a large test tube with a Pokemon inside, and he just smiled before walking off.

—

(Back with Ash)

At night the group sat down for camp, there was a town nearby but they would not be able to make it in time so they decided to call it a night, Sorrel would cook so Ash and Verity would set up camp.

Setting up did not take long and Ash's Pokemon went to do their usual training routine. Then they ate and went to sleep. At night Ash would usually fake sleep for a bit before dragging Lucario off, but this time there was a problem.

Lucario was currently hiding under a blanket when he heard someone talk to him, [Well it looks like we aren't doing training today so you can go to sleep.]

Lucario almost cried hearing that and immediately knocked himself out before he could change his mind.

Ash meanwhile got up and walked over to the small pond where Verity was sitting and looking through her phone. He went behind a tree as Verity continued looking through her albums of photos, she continued swiping until she got to the photo of her mother.

Verity looked sad seeing the picture until suddenly, "Hey what are you looking at?"

Verity almost dropped her phone before she grabbed it close and saw Ash leaning down looking over her shoulder.

"W-what are you doing here, shouldn't you be sleeping" Verity said

"Well I could say the same thing about you," Ash said while also taking a seat next to her, "So what is keeping you up?"

Verity put her phone down, "I was just looking through some old photos and I saw a picture of my mother, The truth is I have been thinking about her this whole time but we haven't spoken since I ran away."

"Really, you want to tell me why?"

Verity took a breath, "She's a famous Pokemon Trainer back home, Nothing I ever do is good enough for her. That's why I got sad when I saw how much better you are than me."

Ash layed down putting his arms behind his back, "Well did she ever say, you weren't good enough or did you just assume that based on what other people said."

Verity thought about it before realizing her mother never once told her she wasn't good enough, she would always be patient with her even when she failed. She only ever thought that because some other People would talk behind her back.

"You know everyone always focuses on the victory, but no one ever cares about the hundred or so failures along the road, I wasn't born knowing everything I know now, I studied, put in the work, put in the hours until I could take what was mine, I am sure your mother was the same, no-one is born perfect."

Verity started thinking about what Ash said, "Um, hey-" Verity was cut off as Suicune appeared before them walking on the water passing through then staring at them.

Verity was mesmerized before she realized what she was doing and tried pulling out her phone to take a picture before Suicune ran away.

"Wait, don't go," Verity said, almost stepping into the water.

"Don't worry my dearest Verity, I took the picture," Ash said showing a picture of the water dog.

"Now go to bed," Ash said

Verity chuckled a bit, "Are you Momming me."

Ash also smiled, "Yes I am Momming you young woman, go to bed and call your mother more often, do you have any idea how worried your poor mother has been"