New Life

While Daisy was off winning the Grand Festival in Jhoto region before coming to Kanto and getting a win as well, Ash and the others were back to school. Ash and his group were seven years old now while Blue and Red were twelve. Two whole years had passed by in a blink and before they knew it there was another Summer camp being held by Professor Oak. During this summer camp the gang met up with Misty, Duplica, Zoey and Ritchie and even made two new friends Chloe and Gou. Chloe was quite reserved and polite while Gou had a love for Pokemon a mile wide. Ash had been reminded of a very active bunny for some reason but he kept his mouth shut.

The group had held back their grins and snickers when the new campers groaned when they learned what they would be doing on the first day. They had even volunteered to help some of the new campers out with setting up their tents. Gary and Gou had hit it off very quickly launching into a debate about the different types of Pokemon, their abilities, weakness, strengths etc. Ritchie, Zoey and Ash simply watched them amused by their antics while the girls had taken Chloe with them and become fast friends over caring about Pokemon and debates on which was more interesting Pokemon coordinating or training.

Ritchie, "Gary, Gou! Are you guys done debating?"

Zoey, "Yeah dudes! We need to go, time for Pokemon watching."

Gary, "Sorry we got carried away."

Gou blushed, "Yeah sorry!"

Ash snickered, "It's fine. I'm happy to see you get along so well with each other."

Misty, "Pokemon coordinating is not for me although I can admit some of the moves and strategies are really cool. I think my sister Violet is interested in it. Something about beauty and fashion."

Chloe, "I'm not even sure I'm going on a journey."

Duplica, "There are many career choices, aren't there? It's really hard to decide what you want to do."

Leaf, "Yeah, I know what you mean, I know I want to be top coordinator but after that... I have not decided."

Misty, "I know that I'm taking over the Gym after my Dad retires before that however I think I'll travel and see what I want to do."

Chloe smiled, "At least you have an idea about what you want."

Green, "I'm just gonna stick to battling. While coordinating is really cool and all I prefer a power battle."

Misty nodded, "The rush is exhilarating."

Riolu and Axew in the meantime had enjoyed the attention from their partner's friends that they were meeting for the first time in person gave them. They had talked and seen each other through the video phone but it was not the same as actually meeting them. The two young Pokemon had enjoyed the care and cleaning class, where each of them had taken turns caring for them. They had been joined the group when they had gone Pokemon watching.

The second summer camp went quiet well except for one event on the third day where Gou had run off with Chloe, Ash, Gary and Misty following him after a Pokemon. The Pokemon in question turned out to be a mischievous little Mew who flew around and played with them delighted to have new playmates. He flew deeper and deeper into the forest saving a baby Kangaskhan and a Pichu from getting hurt.

Gou, "I think I'm in love with that Pokemon."

Ash sweatdropped, "Well he is quiet impressive for a little guy."

Riolu looked around before pulling Ash's pants frantically. Ash looked at Riolu before looking around as well.

Ash, "Uhhhh! Guys, gals, where are we? I don't recognize this place." Σ( ° △ °|||)

Misty squawked, "Oh no! Don't tell me we are lost?" °Д°

Gary, "We need to return or we'll be in serious trouble." ⊙_⊙

Chloe, "How do we get back?" ●_●

Gou, "Relax we just need to retrace our steps back to the camp!" ^ω^

Chloe, "Easy for you to say." →_→

Gary, "Actually that's a pretty good idea. Axew can you sniff the path that we used out?"

Ash, "Riolu what about you?"

The two Pokemon nodded their heads in affirmative before they started sniffing around and led them back to the through the bushes and thickets. Riolu and Axew worked together and before they knew it they were in a more familiar area.

Gary, "Alright I think I know where we are."

Ash, "Me too! Come on we are close to the camp."

Misty, "I can't believe we saw Mew. Mew!"

Chloe sighed, "No one is gonna believe us either!"

Gary, "What do we say happened? I'm pretty sure they noticed that we are gone by now."

Gou sulked, "They'll think we made up a story if we say we saw Mew, won't they?"

Chloe pat his head, "It's okay Gou, we know what we saw right? That's all that matters."

Ash, "We could say we got carried away searching for Pokemon?"

Misty, "Kangaskhan are pretty rare, aren't they?"

Gou, "Yeah they are!"

Misty held her camera up, "Good thing I got some good shots."

Gary grinned, "You might just save us from trouble."

Misty, "I hope so!"

Chloe, "I remembered to take photos of the baby Kangaskhan too. Too bad I couldn't get a clear shot of Mew."

Gary hummed, "Maybe next time."

Ash, "Do you guys hear that?"

Misty, "Hear what?"

Chloe, "I hear it, sounds like someone is crying."

Gary, "It's coming from that way."

Gou, "I hear it too now!"

The group followed the sound and came across a blond little girl who was crying while sitting on the forest floor. The group looked at each other before Chloe decided to approach the crying girl.

Chloe, "Hey what's wrong?"

The little girl sniffled, "I got separated from my group -sniff- while I was watching a few -hic- Butterfrees fly around and got hurt."

Ash came forward, "You got hurt? Where?"

The little girl pointed at her knees one of which was bleeding a bit. Ash frowned looking at it and searched in his pockets. The others joined the three soon enough.

Ash, "I don't have any band aids."

Misty joined him, "I didn't carry any either but I so have a bottle of water."

Gary, "We can use it to clean the cut."

Gou decided to distract the girl while his friends helped her, "What's your name? My name is Gou."

Chloe smiled, "And I am Chloe."

The blond looked up sniffling a bit, "My name is Serena. It's nice to meet you all. I'm sorry for the trouble!"

Ash smiled, "My name is Ash, this is my partner Riolu."

Riolu who stood next to Ash observing them gave her a nod in greeting.

Misty, "My name is Misty nice to meet you!"

Gary grinned, "I'm Gary and this is my partner Axew."

Axew gave a delighted shout in greeting making Serena giggle and smile, while Misty and Chloe helped Ash clean and wrap her wounded knee in one of Ash's handkerchief.

Chloe, "You sure carry a lot of handkerchief."

Ash shrugged, "You never know when you may need one as emergency."

Gou looked at the cleaned and wrapped up wound, "I hope it's just surface wound."

Misty nodded, "Yeah me too."

Ash and Gary helped Serena up by putting her arms around their shoulders. She flinched in pain when she put her foot down but braved through it and walked to the camp. The group moved towards the camp that was filled with laughter and activities. Chloe and Misty telling Serena about their adventures to distract her from the pain she was feeling.

One of the teachers saw them, "Kids, what happened?"

Gou, "We found Serena here, hurt when we were returning back to camp, Mr Rook."

Mr Rook, "Oh dear let's get you to the nurse, okay sweetie?"

Serena nodded before the teacher picked her up and walked towards the nurse office. The Professor caught up to them asking them how their day went. The group took turns in telling the Professor how they saw a Pokemon battle in the wild before following what they thought was Mew. The Professor chided them for being careless and following a wild Pokemon into the forest but didn't scold them much as it didn't look like they went too far.

Misty showed him the pictures she and Chloe took of the Kangaskhan baby making the Professor very impressed. Those Pokemon were very hard to find in the wild, the Professor even praised them for helping out a fellow camper getting bright grins from them. Serena had to unfortunately spend the next three days of the camp using a crutch as she had not only cut her knee but also sprained her ankle. She was visibly upset at being unable to take part in outdoor activities, and she just made new friends too. Chloe and the others visited her and kept her company during breaks. They spent the camp getting to know each other and sharing stories before it was time to leave again.