Pokemon Journeys: The Journey Starts Today

Hello! My pen name is Stella Rosewood and this is my first book/fanfiction-type-thing on this website! If you have watched Pokémon Journeys, this book will make a lot more sense to you. And even if you haven't, you'll catch on quickly! By the way, this book was written by me and a little help from my friends. Please don't edit this or copy it without permission. With that being said, I hope you enjoy this book! =) 
== Summary ==
Miranda loves Pokémon Journeys. As in, she’s the biggest fan ever. So there’s nothing more that she would love to do but be in Pokémon Journeys. One day, she somehow gets transported to the Pokémon world. And not only that, she gets to meet Ash, Goh, and Chloe, along with everyone else in the show! She also meets some of her friends from her world! But it turns out that her very existence could disrupt everything! Can Miranda make sure the story — and the Pokémon world — stay the same, AND get home safe?
== Chapter 1 (Miranda) - The Talking Poke Ball ==
I was staring intently at the TV. I was watching Pokémon Journeys on Netflix. By the way, I love Pokémon. And not just Pokémon. I REALLY love Pokémon Journeys, which anyone who knows me well definitely knows. (Everyone who knows me well is used to the constant blasting of the Pokémon Journeys theme song, The Journey Starts Today.) So yes, I’m kind of obsessed with Pokémon Journeys. 
The thing that makes it the best season of Pokémon anime of all time? I wasn’t actually very sure, but, I mean, there are lots of things that make the 23rd season of Pokémon different from the rest. I guess the biggest awesome thing is that Ash and his new friend Goh travel to ALL of the Pokémon regions, unlike all the other 22 seasons. But enough mental rambling! Back to the TV. I was watching Part 1, Episode 2, which is called “Legend? Go! Friends? Go!” 
In this episode, Ash and Goh first meet each other — on Lugia! Turns out that they both happened to jump on at the same time! Oh, and it’s not like I’ve never seen this episode before. I’ve most certainly seen it before. I turned back to the TV. Soon enough, the episode is over. I was bored, so I headed to my room. If you were to come into my room, you probably wouldn’t be surprised. I have those wall stickers that you put around, and, of course, they’re Pokémon. Actually, I have a LOT of wall stickers. I also have My Little Pony stickers and forest stickers. (The forest stuff wasn’t me. My parents put that there for my room when I was a baby.) 
There’s also Pokémon drawings on the wall, as well as a Keeper Of The Lost Cities poster and a Pokémon picture that I printed out. Oh, that picture? It’s Pokémon Journeys. Anyone surprised? Yeah, I really couldn’t kelp myself here. (That’s a pun from Animal Crossing: New Horizons.) 
I looked around my room for something to do. Then I saw a Poké Ball. It was the Poké Ball that’s also a game. Professor Oak asks you questions and tries to guess which Pokémon you’re thinking of. It’s pretty fun, but it can get a little annoying after a while. Well, since I’m bored, I’d do it. 
“Hello, Trainer! Are you ready for your Pokémon journey? I can read your mind and guess which Pokémon you’re thinking of. You just have to picture it in your mind and answer my questions. If I can guess which Pokémon it is, it will be added to your electronic collection. Think very hard of the Pokémon you want me to guess. Say ‘Okay’ when you’re ready.”
“Okay.”
“Nice! I’m going to ask you a few questions. Answer ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘I don’t know’. You can also say ‘it depends’. Is it very, very big?” 
“No,” I answered without thinking. 
“Okay. Is your Pokémon mainly yellow?”
“Yes.” Now I answered every question without thinking.
“That’s what I thought. Does your Pokémon have a beak?”
“No.”
“Interesting. Does it usually stand on two legs?”
“It depends.” My mind wandered back to Pokémon Journeys. I was thinking about Ash and Pikachu, and how if Ash woke up on time, they wouldn’t be together.
“I see. Is it a Poison-type?”
“No.”
“I see. Is your Pokémon more than two feet tall?”
“No.”
“Aha! Does your Pokémon have red cheeks?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. That’s it! I got it! If I’m not mistaken, you were thinking of… Pikachu! Am I right?”
Wait. How did it know? These things are kind of creepy sometimes. “Yes,” I said. 
“Great! We found Pikachu! Did you know that Pikachu needs to discharge regularly to stay healthy? You already have it in your collection. Let’s try to guess a new Pokémon now. Look in your field guide for ideas. Think very hard of the Pokémon y —”
“No!” I yelled at it. “Stop it! I don’t want to guess another Pokémon! I’d much rather be in Pokémon Journeys or something!” 
Suddenly, the Poké Ball stopped talking. It was silent for a second, then it lit up and created a beam of pale rainbow light. 
“Go into it,” the Poké Ball said. 
“Umm…” I said. 
That was definitely a first. When I looked at the light again, I felt like I could see Ash, Goh, and Chloe in it. With Pokémon Journeys on my mind, I stepped into the light.
== Chapter 2 (Miranda) - Into the Pokemon World ==
I opened my eyes. The bright sunlight was too bright for me to open my eyes all of the way, so I left them half-open. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes fully. Woah. I looked around, making sure I was seeing properly. I was in a meadow, with sunshine and flowers. There was even a river nearby! There was something strange that I could see out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see what it was, and it was… 
“Pokémon?!” 
What?! How could there be Pokémon here in my neighborhood? Wait a minute. I wasn’t in my room. And it wasn’t summertime in Ohio. But it was summer here, which meant… 
“I’M IN THE WORLD OF Pokémon!!!!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. 
I mean, I can yell that loud if I want. The only living things here are the Pokémon. Suddenly, I heard a rustle in the trees. I started to panic. What was happening? All of a sudden, I saw people coming towards me. As they got closer, I could actually recognize them. But how can they be here? 
“Hey, what’s that?” Ash asked. 
“I don’t know,” Goh replied. “I can’t see from here. Let’s get closer.” 
They got a little closer. “I wonder… Who was yelling? I hope it’s not someone in trouble,” Ash said. 
“Same,” Goh said. 
Now they were getting really close to me. Shoot, now I was in sight! 
“Oh! Hey, were you the one who was yelling?” Goh asked me. 
“Um… Yeah,” I told him, getting a little shy. It’s not every day you get to meet your favorite anime characters! 
“Are you okay?” Goh asked. 
“Usually, when people yell, it means they’re in trouble,” Ash added. 
Oh. I guess they thought I was in trouble. “No, I’m fine,” I told them. 
“Then why were you yelling?” Ash asked. 
“Oh. I was just surprised that I was in the Pokémon world,” I told them. Both Ash and Goh looked shocked. 
“What do you mean? You’re not from here?” Ash and Goh asked at the same time. 
“No. Where I live, there aren’t any Pokémon.”
“What?! Where do you live?” Ash asked. 
“How do you live without Pokémon?!” Goh asked. 
Wow. I didn’t realize these guys would go nuts over me not living in the Pokémon world. 
“I live in Fairview Park, Ohio,” I said. “In the United States.” 
“You’re right. That’s definitely not in any region,” Ash said. 
“But if you live somewhere without Pokémon, how did you get here in the Kanto region?” Goh asked me. 
“I don’t know. One of my Pokémon games made a rainbow light beam, so I went in it, and here I am,” I explained. 
“Hmm. Well, that’s interesting. Anyway, what’s your name?” Goh asked. 
Oh! Ash and Goh wanted to know my name! Yay! My favorite anime characters wanted to know who I was! “My name is Miranda,” I said. 
“Nice to meet you, Miranda!” Ash said. 
“Yeah, nice to meet you!” Goh added. 
“I’m Ash,” Ash said. 
“And my name is Goh,” Goh said. I smiled. 
“Oh, I know,” I said. 
“Wait. How?” Ash asked. I was confused. 
“You’re in Pokémon Journeys. Wait, you don’t know that?” Both Ash and Goh looked confused now. 
“What’s Pokémon Journeys?” they asked. 
“It's a Pokémon anime. You know, a TV show.”
“Oh,” Ash said. 
“Wait, we’re on TV? That’s AWESOME! Are we famous?” Goh asked, looking like he was going to explode with excitement. I laughed. 
“Yes, I would say you guys are kind of famous. You’re on Netflix. A LOT of people have Netflix,” I said. 
“AWESOME! But wait, how am I on TV? I just met Ash a few days ago,” Goh said. 
Wait, what? A few days ago? I was stumped for a moment. Then it hit me. I didn’t just get teleported to the Pokémon world — I was in Pokémon Journeys! And not just that — I came in right after episode 3! So that meant that Ash and Goh had just helped the Ivysaur at a tower evolve and faced Team Rocket! Which also meant that Ash and Goh were going to go to the Galar region next! And that meant that Goh didn’t even have Scorbunny yet! 
“Hey, are you okay, Miranda?” Goh asked. “You look like you’re in space or something.” 
“Oh. Yeah, I’m fine,” I told him. “Just thinking.” 
Ash nodded. “Okay. Well, do you have a place to stay?” he asked. 
Hmm. That was going to be a problem. “No,” I said. 
Ash and Goh glanced at each other. “Well,” Goh said. “Do you want to stay with us?” 
“With Professor Cerise and Chloe,” Ash added. 
“Really?” I asked, hardly able to believe it. They were inviting me to live with them? 
“Of course,” Goh said. “Why not?” 
“Good point.” But really, they sure didn’t have to invite me. But also, who’s really going to refuse? 
“Well, okay, then!” I told them. This surprise trip was going to be better than I thought! 
“Come on! Let’s go now!” Ash yelled, already running off. Goh sighed. 
“Come on, Miranda. We better catch up with him.” So Goh and I started running after Ash. 
== Chapter 3 (Miranda) - Research Assistants ==
We had just gotten to the place where Ash and Goh were staying. It looked pretty awesome, if you ask me. As we went inside, Ash yelled, “Professor Cerise! We’re back!” 
A few seconds later, Professor Cerise came over. “Welcome back, Ash and Goh,” he said. “Did you find out what the noise was?” 
“Yep,” Goh answered. “Turns out it was just Miranda here.” 
“Oh! Hello! You must be Miranda,” Professor Cerise said. “Nice to meet you! I’m Professor Cerise. And Ash and Goh are research assistants, but you probably know that already.” 
“Yeah,” I said. “Anyway, um, what do you mean by ‘the noise’?” 
“We heard a noise, so Professor Cerise asked us to find out what it was,” Goh told me. “And apparently it was you.” 
“Oh,” I said. 
“Hey, Professor Cerise?” Goh asked. 
“What is it?” Professor Cerise said. 
“Um, can Miranda stay with us here?” Goh asked. 
Professor Cerise looked at Goh a little curiously but then smiled. “Of course! Miranda, how would you like that?” 
How would I like that? “I’d love it!” I said. 
And I really did. What’s better than living with your favorite anime characters? “Well, it’s getting late,” Professor Cerise said. “Ash, Goh, why don’t you show Miranda to her room?” 
“Okay!” Ash and Goh both said. 
“See you in the morning, you three!” Professor Cerise called as Ash and Goh started pulling me towards the rooms. 
“Come on, Miranda!” Ash said. “Looks like you get a room right next to ours!” 
“Cool!” I said. 
“Well, there you go,” Goh said. “Goodnight! See you in the morning!” 
“See you!” I replied. 
I closed the door and put on the new pajamas that Professor Cerise must have given me. They had Mudkip and Pikachu on them. So cute! And they were so soft! I was starting to think that I should just move here, to the Kanto region. That would be nice. Then I realized something. 
“Wait, what time is it at home?” I thought out loud. 
Unfortunately, I must have forgotten to pack anything before I came here since I didn’t know I was actually going anywhere. Fortunately, there was a clock on the nightstand that looked like you could ask it something, time-related, of course. 
“Hey, clock,” I said. “What time is it in Fairview Park, Ohio?” 
Nothing happened for a moment. Then it replied, “Sorry, but I can’t access the time there. Is there anything else I can help with?” 
Oh. “No,” I told it. 
“Okay. Well, goodnight!” the clock said as it turned off. 
I sighed. The clock couldn’t reach home. Oh well, I guess. I could always ask everyone tomorrow. I climbed into my bed (it had Pokémon sheets on it — who’s surprised there?) and closed my eyes. Time to sleep.
== Chapter 4 (Miranda) - Something New ==
I woke up in an unfamiliar room. Then it came back to me. Yesterday, I had accidentally gone to the Pokémon world and ended up meeting Ash and Goh! Also Professor Cerise, but mostly just Ash and Goh. I’ve known Ash and Goh longer. Speaking of them, Ash and Goh are so awesome!!! Also yesterday, Ash and Goh invited me to live with them here, at the laboratory! And, I mean, who wouldn’t accept an invitation to live with the coolest Trainers ever? Yeah, I really love them! 
So anyway, my goal for today is to ask Professor Cerise, Goh, and Ash to help me find out what time it is at home. Because, I mean, I can’t stay here forever, as much as I want to. I need to get back home before dinner there, so no one would notice that I was gone. Speaking of Professor Cerise, I sure noticed the way that he looked at Goh when he had asked if I could stay here with them. Professor Cerise looked at Goh like, I think I know what you’re feeling — and it’s definitely new.
I wondered what that meant… Anyway, time to get up! I changed into some new clothes that Professor Cerise also must have given me. They had a Poké Ball and the very well-known words Gotta catch ‘em all! on it. After I put them on, I headed out of the room and tried to find Ash and Goh’s room. It actually wasn’t that hard, since they told me that my room was right next to theirs. I quietly opened their door and hoped it was the right one. As I went in, I saw that Ash was talking to Goh about battling. No surprise there!
“So, I really want to battle more,” Ash told Goh. “After all, I want to be a Pokémon Master!” 
“Well, I want to catch Mew,” Goh said. “Just think… That would be awesome!” 
“Yeah, it definitely would!” Ash agreed. As Ash looked behind him, he saw me standing in the doorway. “Oh, hey, Miranda!” he said. 
“Hi,” I said. “I just got up, so I was hoping you guys would help me get around here. I’m afraid I’m going to get lost.” 
“Of course, Miranda,” Goh said. “I totally get that. Ash and I had to learn the ways too when we first came here. Besides, it is 8:00, so it’s about time to—” 
“Eat breakfast!” Ash broke in. “I’m starving.” 
I laughed and Goh sighed. “Oh, Ash,” he said. “You’re all about food.” 
“Yep!” Ash said. “Though it’s not like I can help it. I always end up being hungry!” 
Both Goh and I sighed this time. Then we looked at each other and smiled. 
“Anyway, let’s go eat!” I said. “I have to say, I’m getting hungry too!” 
“Okay,” Goh said. “Come on! Let’s go!”
He and Ash took off, leaving me to follow them. I ran after them, pushing myself harder to try to beat them.
== Chapter 5 (Miranda) - Crickets, Rotom Phones and a New Adventure ==
As I chased after Ash and Goh, I noticed that Professor Cerise was waiting at the dining room table. “Good morning,” Professor Cerise greeted us. “Did you sleep well?” 
“Yep!” Ash, Goh, and I all said at the same time. We smiled at each other. 
“Well, why don’t you eat some breakfast?” Professor Cerise asked. “What would you like?” 
“Cereal!” Ash said. 
“I would like waffles, please,” Goh said.
“Hey, that’s what I was going to say!” I said. Goh and I grinned at each other. Who knew we were so alike? 
“What do you want on them?” Professor Cerise asked us. “And Ash, what cereal do you want?” 
“Can I have Slurpuff’s Puffs?” Ash asked while I said, “Chocolate chips, please,” while Goh said, “I’d like some fruit, please.” 
We all looked at each other, then laughed. “Wow, I think you guys are really alike!” Professor Cerise laughed. 
“That’s the way it is with Ash and Goh. They do tend to think alike,” someone said, walking into the room. 
“Miranda, this is my daughter, Chloe,” Professor Cerise said. 
Chloe looked at me. “Hi! I guess you’re Miranda?” she asked me. 
“Yep!” I said. 
“Well, nice to meet you,” Chloe said, looking around the room. “I’m glad I’m not the only girl here anymore.” 
So was I, though I’m pretty sure I’m less bothered than Chloe. If I’m with Ash and Goh or any other Pokémon Trainer, I don’t care if there’s a bunch of boys. 
“Anyway, I’ll go fix breakfast,” Professor Cerise told us. “You guys can talk for a bit. I’ll be back soon!” 
Then he went into the kitchen. It was silent for a minute. “Crickets,” I said. 
Goh and Chloe laughed. Ash, however, turned his head around a lot to look around the room in excitement and then looked confused. “Where’s a Kricketune? I don’t see one.” 
Chloe, Goh, and I laughed again. “Not Kricketune!” Chloe said, rolling her eyes. 
“Crickets!” Goh said. 
“It’s an expression!” I said. “You know, it’s so quiet, there might as well be crickets chirping. Crickets!”
“Not Kricketune!” Goh, Chloe, and I all said at the same time. 
Then all four of us laughed. Actually, we couldn’t stop laughing. We were still laughing when Professor Cerise came back. He looked surprised. 
“Um, what happened here?” he asked. Ash, Goh, Chloe, and I were still laughing too hard to answer. 
Then Ash managed to get out, “Miranda… said… crickets… and I… said, ‘Where’s a Kricketune?’ and Goh, Chloe, and Miranda corrected me! Haha!” 
Professor Cerise started laughing now too. “Okay, that is funny! I guess you guys are getting along pretty well!” he said. 
“Yep!” Goh said. Ash, Chloe, and I nodded in agreement. 
“Well, anyway, here’s your breakfast!” Professor Cerise said, handing us our breakfast that we picked out. Ash and Goh started digging in the second they got theirs. I laughed and Chloe sighed. 
“Well, Miranda, you’ll probably get used to this if you stay around a while. I swear it’s like those two have known each other their whole life and not just met a few days ago. They’re practically the same person!” Chloe said. 
“Yeah,” I said. I had to agree with that. I’ve known Ash and Goh since June 2020, which was when Pokémon Journeys was first released in the United States, and they are pretty similar in a lot of ways. Then I started my breakfast. It was great! Sooooo good! 
When we were all done, Professor Cerise said, “Ash, Goh, and Miranda, can you follow me for a minute? There’s something I want to ask you guys.” 
Ash, Goh, and I all looked at each other. Both Ash and Goh looked excited. 
“Okay,” I said. All three of us followed Professor Cerise down a hallway. 
“Alright,” Professor Cerise says once we get into a room. “There have been reports of giant Pokémon in the Galar region. I want you guys, as research assistants, to go there and investigate.” 
“What about Miranda?” Ash asked, glancing at me. 
Goh nodded in agreement. “If you mean that Miranda can’t come, then why did you tell her to come here with us?”
“I brought Miranda with us because I have an offer,” Professor Cerise said. “Miranda, would you like to become a research assistant too?” 
Would I? “Of course!” I said, about to burst from excitement.
Even though I had been in the Kanto region for a day now, I never thought this might happen! Everyone else laughed. 
“Okay, then,” Professor Cerise said, smiling. “Miranda, then I have something for you.” 
“What is it?” Ash, Goh, and I all asked at the same time. 
“Here you go!” Professor Cerise said, handing me a phone. 
“A Rotom phone!” Goh said. “That’s awesome! You got one too!” 
I looked at my new phone. It was yellow with a Poké Ball pattern on it. “This is awesome!” I said. “Thanks!”
Ash and Goh pulled out their Rotom phones to show me. Both of their Rotom phones were red. “Now back to the topic. Miranda, since you are a research assistant now, would you like to go to the Galar region with Ash and Goh?” Professor Cerise asked. 
Both Ash and Goh looked at me hopefully. Wow, I guess they really wanted me with them. 
“Will you?” Professor Cerise asked again.
“I really hope you do,” Goh said quietly. Well, I didn’t want them to be sad. I opened my mouth to answer.
== Chapter 6 (Miranda) - Mess-ups and Joining Chloe ==
I was about to say yes when I realized something. I obviously wasn’t already in Pokémon Journeys, so if I was now… It would mess everything up. What would happen if I joined Ash and Goh? I don’t know, but I doubt it would be good. I looked at Ash, Goh, and Professor Cerise again. Ash and Goh were still looking at me hopefully. They really wanted me to join them. But that was the problem. I realized this now: My very existence in the Pokémon world was messing up everything. So I couldn’t go with Ash and Goh. Part of me was like, “But I WANT to, though!!!!” But I couldn’t. 
So I told everyone, “Sorry, but I think I’ll pass this time.”
“Oh,” Ash said.
Goh looked really disappointed. I really do hate everyone being sad. But it can’t be helped this time. 
“I want to look around more, so I can get used to the area,” I said as an excuse. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to get a look around the place. 
“Oh, okay,” Professor Cerise said. “There’s always next time!”
“Yeah, good point!” Ash said. “Maybe next time we can all go together.” 
I nodded. “Yep!”
I glanced at Goh again. He looked really sad. Aww. I really hate making him sad, but… It’s not like I have a choice. If I go, I’ll mess everything up. It’s for them. I’m not going with them for their sake. 
“Well, Ash and Goh, it’s probably time for you to go. Miranda, why don’t you ask Chloe if you can go to school with her? That’s a good way to get to know Vermilion City,” Professor Cerise said. Hmm. It was a good way. 
“Okay,” I said. “Sounds fun!”
It did. Chloe had always been one of my favorite Pokémon Journeys characters, probably because she was a girl too. So it would be fun to meet some of Chloe’s friends. 
“Ash and Goh, time to get going!” Professor Cerise reminded them. 
“Okay! See you later!” Ash called, already running out the door. 
Goh sighed. “I guess I’d better go too. See you later, Miranda!” Goh told me. 
“Bye!” I said. “Have fun!” 
I followed Goh to the door so I could wave. Right before he left, Goh stopped for a moment. 
“Hey Miranda?” he asked. 
“What is it?” I asked.
“Well, I just think that it won’t be as fun without you there in Galar with us,” Goh said, looking down.
“But you just met me yesterday,” I reminded him. 
“I know. But I feel like you should be with us too.” Goh looked back up at me. 
“So could you come with us? Please?” he asked.
“Well… Sorry, but I can’t.” 
“Why?” Goh asked. 
“I can’t really say. But… Just know that I’m doing it for you. To keep everything fine, and to keep everything that happens in the future the way it’s supposed to be.” Goh looked confused. 
“I know you don’t get it, but just trust me,” I told him. 
Goh nodded. “Of course I trust you! Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because you just met me yesterday and I’m a complete stranger to the Pokémon world?” I asked. 
“True, I did just meet you yesterday. And you are new around here. But I know you’re not, like, Team Rocket or something. Or are you?” Goh asked. I knew he was just teasing.
“Of course I’m not!” I exclaimed. We both laughed. 
“I know that!” Goh said. “I was just joking!” 
“I know,” I said. I glanced out the door. “But shouldn’t you be going now?” I asked Goh. 
“Oh yeah! Sorry, gotta go!” Goh said, already starting to run off. “See you later, Miranda!” he yelled.
I waved as Ash and Goh left. Then I turned around to see Chloe running past me. 
“What’s up?” I asked her. 
“I have to get ready for school!” she said, racing off again. 
True. I ran to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, did everything else I needed to do to get ready, and went to find Chloe again. 
“Hey, Chloe? Can I go with you to school today? To see more of Vermilion City?” I asked once I found her in the dining room. 
“Huh? Oh, sure,” she said. “Are you ready to go now? We’ll be late if we don’t go soon.” 
“Yeah, I’m ready,” I told her. 
“Okay! Let’s go!” Chloe said. Together we got into Professor Cerise’s car. 
“Bye! See you later!” Chloe called to her mom and brother, Parker. 
“Bye!” I called as well.
“See you later!” Chloe’s mom and Parker said as they waved. 
“Yamp! Yamp!” Yamper said in the car, licking Chloe’s face. 
“Yamper, stop that!” Chloe told it, laughing. “You know that tickles!” I laughed too. 
“Miranda, how did you get here in the first place?” Chloe asked, probably wanting to have some sort of conversation. 
“Oh, I guess I only told Ash and Goh. I ended up here when one of my Pokémon games made some kind of rainbow beam thing,” I said. 
“What happened next?” Chloe asked, looking intrigued.
“I stepped into the light, and I ended up here in Kanto. Then I yelled, ‘I’M IN THE POKEMON WORLD!’ because I thought no one would hear me, but turns out Ash and Goh heard, and that’s how I met them. Then they brought me here to the lab and that’s how I got to Kanto,” I said. Chloe blinked. 
“Wow,” she said. 
“Yeah.” Soon, we were at Chloe’s school. 
“Bye, dad!” Chloe said, dragging me out of the car with her. “Come on, Miranda! Let’s meet my friends!”
== Chapter 7 (Miranda) - School ==
Chloe’s school was big. “Wow,” I breathed. 
Chloe smiled. “It is big, but I’m sure you’ll get used to it soon. Besides, you have me and my friends to show you around!” 
“True,” I said. As we walked into the building, I could see lots of kids unpacking their backpacks and getting their school supplies out, then slamming their blue lockers closed. 
“This is actually just like my school,” I told Chloe. “Well, my elementary school. I have no idea about the middle school, because COVID-19 messed that up and made us not be able to use the lockers.” 
Chloe looked puzzled. “COVID-19? What’s that?” she asked.
“Wait, you don’t know about it?” I asked. Hmm. I guess that was exclusive to the regular human world. 
“No,” Chloe said. “So what is it? A weird virus or sickness or something?” Wow. 
“Actually, yes,” I told her. “A coronavirus. In my opinion, it’s almost the worst thing in the world.” 
“Oh. Does that mean you have to stay home or something?” Chloe asked as we walked down the hallway to her first class, which was apparently science. 
“Yep,” I said as we reached Chloe’s locker. Chloe began to do her locker combination. 
“We have to quarantine and wear masks. You have no idea how weird and hard it is,” I said. Chloe opened her locker and started to put her stuff in.
“Well, I’m glad that I’m not there. But I feel bad that you are,” Chloe said. 
“Yeah,” I said. “I really wish I could be at my school with my friends too.” 
Chloe looked at me sympathetically. “Well, at least you get to be here with me!” she said. 
“True!” I said, trying to look on the bright side.
At least there was no virus in the Pokémon world. And let’s hope that I didn’t have it before I came here… Anyway, enough about COVID. If it’s not even here, then why should I worry about it? I can worry about that later, when I get home. Whenever that will be. Wait. Oh no! I forgot to ask Professor Cerise about what time it was at home! Oh, shoot. I’ll have to ask him after school. 
“Come on!” Chloe said, pulling me along and snapping me out of my thinking. “We have to go now, or we’ll be late!” 
“Okay, okay!” I said. “I’m coming!” 
Chloe and I practically ran down the hallways. A minute later, we arrived at a classroom, panting and out of breath. We walked into the room. A teacher was sitting at her desk, typing something on her computer. 
“That’s Mrs. Lillis,” Chloe whispered to me. I nodded. 
“Mrs. Lillis?” Chloe asked. 
“Yes, Chloe?” Mrs. Lillis said, her green eyes looking at me and Chloe. 
“My new friend Miranda here just temporarily moved here with my family,” Chloe said. “So I brought her to school today to learn about Vermilion City.” 
Mrs. Lillis looked at me. “Nice to meet you, Miranda,” she said, smiling. “Here, why don’t you take a seat next to Chloe and Jade?” 
I sat down in the seat on Chloe’s left side, so another girl was sitting on my left. “Hi, I’m Jade,” the girl, Jade, said. “I guess you’re Miranda?” 
I nodded. “Jade is one of my friends,” Chloe told me. 
Ah. That makes sense. Jade had black hair, light skin, and brown eyes. She looked nice. Mrs. Lillis walked over to the chalkboard, which was in the front center of the classroom. 
“Everyone, please say hi to our new student, Miranda!” she said. 
Everyone’s eyes looked at me. It was silent for a minute. I was tempted to say, “Crickets”. Then a girl spoke up quietly. 
“Hi, Miranda,” she said. After another silent second, everyone else chimed in.
“Hi!”
“Nice to meet you!”
“Hey, Miranda!”
And so on. “Who was the girl who spoke up?” I asked Chloe and Jade just before everything quieted down. 
Right as Chloe opened her mouth to answer me, Mrs. Lillis started talking. “For today’s class period, we will be talking about different viruses and how they affect people.” 
Chloe and I exchanged a glance. I wonder if we’ll be talking about COVID. If so, I can contribute a lot… 
“Open your computers,” Mrs. Lillis instructed. Uh oh. I don’t have a computer here! 
“Miranda, we’re working in groups today, so don’t worry about not having a computer,” Mrs. Lillis said, seeming to read my mind. “So everyone, please choose your groups! You can have up to five people.” 
All of the students started to get up. The classroom was no longer quiet as the kids talked among themselves to figure out their groups. Actually, that reminded me of my social studies class back at home. Though it was never quiet in 5th period! If I was emailing or texting someone, I would’ve said ‘XD’ at that. Chloe was now getting together with Jade and two other girls who I assumed were her other friends. 
“Miranda!” Jade said, waving. “Come over here! You can work with us too!” I walked over to them. 
“Alright!” Chloe said. “Let’s get started!”
“Wait,” I said. “I need to be introduced to you guys!” Chloe smacked herself. 
“Of course! Sorry, Miranda. So this is Jade, but you know that.” she said, pointing at Jade. “This is Avery,” Chloe said, pointing at a girl with light brown hair, light skin like Jade, and blue-green eyes. 
“And this is Aria,” Chloe said, now pointing at the last girl in the group. Aria had blond hair, light skin like everyone in their group, and sky blue eyes. Aria also looked familiar somehow. Oh!
“Hey, you’re the girl who first said hi to me!” I exclaimed. Aria blushed.
“Well, someone had to do it,” she said shyly.  
“True,” I said. “Anyway, nice to meet all of you!” 
Avery nodded. “Yep! It’s great meeting you, too! So where are you from?” she asked. 
“Loooooong story,” I said. 
“Tell us!” Jade said. 
“Well, okay. So I’m actually not from Vermilion City or the Kanto region at all. I’m from a place without Pokémon.” Jade, Aria, and Avery gasped. 
“What?!” they said. I nodded. 
“Mhm. I love Pokémon, though, even though they don’t exist where I’m from. So one day, after I was done watching Pokémon Journeys on TV, I played a Pokémon game in my room. Then, strangely enough, it made a weird beam of light that I stepped into. Then I appeared here — in Vermilion City!” 
“Woah,” everyone said. And by everyone, I mean that half the class had stopped what they were doing to listen to me. 
“Wow, you have a strange history,” one boy said. 
“That’s Linus,” Avery whispered to me. 
“Thanks,” I whispered back. I might as well get to know my new temporary classmates. 
“Back to work, everyone!” Mrs. Lillis said. “We can ask Miranda questions later. For now, go on our online classroom website and read the articles provided. Then you can do some research, and once you’re done, you can do a mini-presentation to the class.” 
Awesome! I don’t even have to do research! It’s called my life. I’d rather COVID be gone forever, but at least I have the information for this class! Chloe, Avery, Aria, and Jade all opened their computers to their class on a website called Easy Classroom.
“Okay,” Chloe said, opening a PDF of an article about a virus. 
Together, our group read it. After that, we read a few more articles. Then our last one caught my eye. The title was COVID-19 — A New Virus That Only Exists Beyond The Pokémon World. Knew we would talk about it! “Miranda, do you want to read this time?” Jade asked me. 
“Sure,” I replied. Then I started to read. 
“COVID-19 was just discovered in late 2019 to 2020. It is a virus that can be spread through sneezing, coughing, and even just talking. The spread of COVID made it a global pandemic, yet strangely it affects everywhere except the Pokémon world. So somehow…”
I continued reading. It was interesting how the authors of this article knew so much about it and how little they knew too. They had no information on what life was like with COVID at all. Maybe I should contact them or something. Let them know what it’s really like. Once we were done reading and doing a little research, it was time for the presenting. 
“Who wants to go first?” Mrs. Lillis asked. Chloe and Jade raised their hands, along with Linus’s group and one other group. 
“Chloe, why don’t your group go first?” Mrs. Lillis said. 
“Okay!” Chloe said, motioning to us to follow her to the front of the classroom. 
Jade starts talking about what we learned, and I wait for my part: telling everyone about COVID. Apparently, I was the last one in my group who is going to talk, so everyone — Chloe, Jade, Aria, and Avery — all finish their parts before I start mine. As soon as Avery finished — “That is all about the Spanish Flu,”’ — I started to speak. 
“I know you all know now that I’m not from the Pokémon world. In fact, I’m from one of the places where COVID-19 has spread to. COVID is very dangerous for some people, with it killing thousands of people in the world in just the time that it’s been around. COVID probably came from China. Now people have to wear masks to help slow the spread. We also have to sanitize things a lot, and social distance 6 feet apart. It has really put limits on what we can do. I can’t even go to school because of it.” 
Everyone gasped. “I know. So that’s why I’m really glad I can be here. Anyway, the vaccines are available now. My dad has got his first COVID shot and my mom is going to get hers soon. I think that my aunt and grandma have gotten both their shots now too. There are three different types of the vaccine: the…” 
As I continued, everyone looked surprised at the information I was telling them. But they also looked interested, so that was good. Once I finished, we got a big round of applause. Mrs. Lillis clapped as well. 
“Way to go, you guys!” she said. “That was great!” 
“Thanks!” my group said. Me, Chloe, Jade, Aria, and Avery sat back down and listened to the other groups. 
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  
Soon enough, it was the end of science. “See you tomorrow, everyone!” Mrs. Lillis called as everyone left the room.
“What class is next, Chloe?” I asked her. “
Orchestra,” she answered. Wait, WHAT?! 
“ORCHESTRA?! I’M IN ORCHESTRA TOO, BACK AT HOME!” Chloe looked pretty surprised at my outburst. 
“Really? Then you should have fun! What instrument do you play?” Chloe asked. 
“Violin,” I said. 
“Me too!” Chloe said, smiling. 
“Awesome!” I said. 
Chloe pulled me into a nice-looking classroom. A teacher was standing next to a student, tuning their instrument, which looked like a viola. 
“Who’s that?” I asked Chloe.
“The teacher is Miss Kaya, and the student is Kara,” she answered. 
“Okay,” I said. 
Miss Kaya turned around. “Good morning, Chloe,” Miss Kaya said. “And who is this with you?” 
“This is my friend Miranda,” Chloe said, pointing to me. “She’s new in Vermilion City and temporarily moved in with my family, so we decided to bring her here today to get to know the area better.” 
“Okay,” Miss Kaya said. “Nice to meet you, Miranda! Have you ever played an instrument?” she asked. 
I nodded. “Mhm! I play the violin at home.” 
Miss Kaya smiled. “That’s great! It also means that you can play with us today since we have an extra violin,” she said. 
“Really? Awesome!” I exclaimed. It wouldn’t be the same as my violin, but a violin is a violin! Miss Kaya pulled out the violin she told me about. 
“Here you go,” she said, handing it to me. 
I opened the case and took out the violin, along with the bow, rosin, and shoulder rest. As I got everything set up, I noticed that everyone was looking at me. 
“What?” I asked. 
“You’re doing that pretty well,” a girl said.
“Her name is Ashley,” Chloe told me. I nodded. 
“Well, I play the violin at home,” I told Ashley. 
“Really?” Ashley asked. I nodded again. 
“Where do you live?” Ashley asked. 
So I told everyone my story. Again. Would I have to do this in every class? 
“Wow,” Ashley, along with everyone else, even Miss Kaya, said after I finished. 
“Uh-huh,” Chloe said. “So, are we going to get started?” 
“Of course,” Miss Kaya said. “Everyone, get out your instruments!” 
All of the kids went to the back of the room to grab their instruments. It looked like there were 15 kids in orchestra: 5 violins, 4 violas, 4 cellos, and 2 basses. Well, plus one for the violins, since I’m here too. 
“Alright, please pull out Pancham’s Picnic. Miranda, do you know how to play this?” Miss Kaya asked.
“Maybe?” I said. 
“Well, here it is,” Miss Kaya said, giving me a paper. 
I glanced at it. The notes looked familiar but also not familiar, if that makes sense. 
“Instruments in playing position!” Miss Kaya called. 
Everyone’s instruments went up. Well, not the cellos and basses, because those can’t go up like that. Too big and heavy. 
“1, 2, ready, go!” Miss Kaya said. 
We all started playing, me as best as I could. Once I got used to it, I realized that it did sound familiar. Once we finished the last note, I raised my hand. 
“Yes, Miranda?” Miss Kaya asked. 
“I think I do know this! It sounds just like, ‘In The Hall of the Mountain King’. It is a song from my world and it sounds just like this,” I said. 
“Hmm,” Miss Kaya said. “That’s interesting, Miranda! Everyone, you did very well! Especially you, Miranda!”
I blushed. “Thanks,” I said. “But I have been playing for almost two years now.” 
Miss Kaya nodded. “I figured. But you still played great, even with us, these people you’ve never played with before!” 
“Yeah, I guess,” I said. 
“Alright. Let’s try Pancham’s Picnic again, and then pull out ‘Yamper!’.”
“Okay!” everyone said at the same time. 
Soon enough, it was the end of orchestra. “How many more classes are there today?” I asked Chloe. 
“There’s two more today. Which means for us there’s math and social studies. And we also have lunch now.” 
“Okay,” I said. “I’m starting to feel like Ash now. Always hungry!”
Chloe and I started to laugh a little. I have made so many people laugh when I've only been here for like a day and a half!
We walked to the lunchroom. Chloe was getting a school lunch, and since I obviously didn’t bring a lunch, I got one too. It was grilled cheese. Yum! I sat down with Chloe, Avery, Aria, and Jade and started eating. 
“What did you guys get?” I asked while eating. 
“I got a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” Avery said.
“I got grilled cheese just like you, Miranda,” Jade said.
“I got some apples and caramel dip with it,” Aria said.
“And I got a Pikachu-shaped sandwich,” Chloe said.
“Yummy!” I said. “Those sound good!”
“Mhm,” all of us said.
Then we finished our lunch and headed to math class. We went to a room upstairs this time. As we went in, I noticed that the teacher was in the back of the room, getting math books out for the students. 
“That’s Mr. Bredek,” Chloe told me. I nodded. 
As we came into the room, Mr. Bredek turned around. “Hello Chloe,” he said. “Who’s this with you?” 
“This is my new friend Miranda,” Chloe said. “She just temporarily moved in with my family, and…” 
I stopped listening for a minute. I knew this by heart at this point. 
“Well, nice to meet you, Miranda! Why don’t you take a seat and we can get started?” Mr. Bredek said. 
I followed Chloe and took the seat next to her and a boy that wasn’t in any of Chloe’s other classes. 
“Hi, I’m Liam,” the boy said. “I guess you’re new?” 
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m not from here, or the Pokémon world at all. To give you the short version of the story, I was playing a Pokémon game and somehow ended up here.” Liam looked confused. 
“I know,” I said. “I’m confused too, to be honest.” Liam and I both laughed. 
“Everyone, time to pay attention!” Mr. Bredek said. 
Everyone turned toward the center of the classroom, where Mr. Bredek was standing. As he started his lesson about equations, I felt a little strange. Something was happening, maybe even back at home. Right now.
== Chapter 8 (Kathleen) - Ninjago Club and Finding Miranda ==
Okay, so things are about to change. It's time for MY side of the story. So, it all started on a Friday. My mom was working a late shift and wouldn't be home till I was asleep, and my dad, sister, and brother were going somewhere.
“We’ll be back in a bit!” my dad yelled from upstairs. 
“Okay! Bye!” I yelled. I was downstairs in the family room, chilling. I heard the door slam. Since today was a Friday, that meant another meeting of the Ninjago Club. I made the club since Miranda had the Pokémon Club. I pressed the link to the meet and joined. Everyone was already there: Emmy, Isabel, and Ava. The only one we were missing was Miranda. 
“Hey, have y’all seen Miranda?” I asked. 
“Nope,” Emmy said. “I’ve emailed her and she hasn’t responded.” 
“That's strange,” I said. “Though she probably went to the store or something. Anyway, let us commence.” 
“So, what are we gonna do first?” asked Isabel. 
“Well,” I responded. “I thought we would start by watching an episode of Ninjago.” 
“Okay!” Ava said with her cat next to her.
I turned my screen toward the TV and turned it on. I went to Netflix and luckily, it was already on my home page. I clicked it and we started watching. For the first five minutes, it was nice. But then, Pokémon Journeys started playing. 
“What the —?” I said and started clicking random buttons. 
“What happened?” asked Emmy. 
“I don’t know!” I yelled as the theme song started playing louder and louder. “GOD, WHAT DOES THIS WANT ME TO DO?! GO INTO THE SHOW?!” 
Suddenly, a rainbow beam of light shined on the screen. I could see someone. 
“WHAT’S HAPPENING?” asked Isabel. 
I was mesmerized. I started running towards the light, hearing the screams of my friends, and soon, I was sucked up. 
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  
Suddenly, I face-planted into a large patch of grass.
“Oww,” I said, getting up. 
Wait a minute, this seemed familiar. Like something Miranda described. Wait a minute. Oh man. Was I IN Pokémon Journeys?! 
“AHHHHHHH!” I screamed, running into a tree. “Owww!” I said. 
“Who was that?” asked a voice. “That's the second one in the past 2 days!”
Oh god, oh god. I hid behind the tree. 
“Hey, anyone out there?” asked the voice, who was VERY close. 
“Nope. Just us trees,” I said, then covered my mouth. 
What did I just do? I slouched down. The footsteps became closer and closer until they were right in front of me. 
“Uh...hi?” I said.	
Wait a minute. This was Professor Cerise. 
“Are you okay?” Professor Cerise asked. 
“Yeah, I just got scared and bumped my head,” I said, standing up and brushing off my oversized purple Harry Potter hoodie.
“Who are you?” Professor Cerise asked. 
“I’m Kathleen,” I said. “And you must be Professor Cerise?” 
“You know me?” asked Professor Cerise. “Are you from the USA?”
“Yeah. And wait, what do you mean by ‘you know me’? And how do you know where I live?” 
“Yesterday, a girl named Miranda came here and she knew us because she said we were on something called Netflix. And that she was from Fairview Park, Ohio in the USA,” said Professor Cerise. 
“Wait, did you say Miranda?” I asked. 
“Yeah,” Professor Cerise said. “Why? Do you know her?” 
“YES!” I exclaimed. “Where is she?” 
“She’s at Chloe’s school,” answered Professor Cerise. “I can take you there if you want.” 
“Yes!” I exclaimed. 
“Let’s go!” I started running. 
“It’s the other way!” yelled Professor Cerise. 
“Oh, my mistake!” I yelled back and ran the other way into his car. 
He started laughing, and we started chatting. I told him about my world and about my school, my friends, all that. 
After a long drive, we were finally there. “Well, I have to head back,” said Professor Cerise. “But I’ll pick you up here after school!” 
“Okay!” I said, getting out of the car and slamming the door shut. “Thanks!” 
“No problem! Bye!” yelled Professor Cerise and he drove off. 
I took a deep breath and entered the school. It was pretty big. “May I help you?” asked someone.
“Um, yes,” I said. “I’m looking for Miranda.” 
“Miranda?” they said. “Blonde hair, blue eyes?” 
“Yes! That's the one!” I said. 
“She’s in math. Room 221 on the second floor.”
“Okay! Thanks!” I said and ran off. 
“Anytime!” 
I ran over to room 221. I must’ve not looked where I was going because I crashed into the wall. 
“Owww!” I yelled. 
Everyone poured out of the classroom and surrounded me. A tall man, who I was guessing was the teacher, came over to me. 
“Are you okay?” he asked, helping me up. 
“Yeah, I'm okay.” 
“KATHLEEN?!” yelled someone that sounded like Miranda.
I turned around to see Miranda. “MIRANDA!” I yelled and ran over to hug her. 
We squeezed each other. “Miranda, do you know her?” asked a girl. 
“Yeah! This is my friend, Kathleen! Kathleen, this is Chloe.”
“Nice to meet you!” said Chloe. 
“You too,” I said. 
“How did you get here?” asked Miranda. 
“Well, we were in Ninjago Club and we were all watching the first episode when Pokémon Journeys turned on. I tried to turn it off, but that didn’t work, so I yelled, ‘Do you want me to go into the show or something?’ and then there was a beam of rainbow light and I ran into it. I met Professor Cerise, he helped me over here, and now I'm here!” I took a deep breath.
“One question,” asked Chloe. “What's a Ninjago?” 
“It's a TV show on Netflix about ninjas with powers,” I explained. 
“Oh,” she said. 
“Did everyone else get transported through or something?” Miranda asked. 
“No,'' I said. “It would be pretty cool if they did though.” 
“Well, Kathleen,” said the man, “you are welcome to join us in the lesson.” 
“Okay!” I said, and we all piled inside. 
But wait, there's more. Let me pass the mic to Isabel.
== Chapter 9 (Isabel) - "Evil" Squirtles ==
WHAT just happened? I watched Kathleen disappear into her TV screen. You heard me. Her TV screen. I froze. 
“What just happened?” Ava asked. 
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out,” I said. 
“What are you doing —?” Emmy started, but I was already doing the only thing that made sense. 
I turned on the Pokémon Journeys theme song on my phone and shouted, “YO, iPhone! You want me to go into the Pokémon world?!” 
Now, if you’re a Pokémon superfan like Miranda, don’t be offended when I mispronounce almost every Pokémon name or thing. A rainbow light flew out of my iPhone and I looked at it. Then I glanced back at Emmy and Ava. 
“Don’t —” Emmy started. 
I smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, but we gotta get Kathleen and possibly Miranda back. Wherever the heck they are.” 
“Izzy!” Ava said. “Wait, what do you mean Miranda?”
“I think Miranda and Kathleen went into the Pokémon world or whatever because of that beam of light! Every time we did something related to Pokémon, we got this beam of light. Obviously, something similar happened to Miranda,” I explained. 
“What if you never come back?” Ava asked.
I ignored her and stuck my hand in the beam of light. The world twisted and spun until I landed on the grassy ground. I looked around. Honestly, I had no CLUE where I was, but I was sure it was the Pokémon world, judging by the Squirtle type thing next to me. 
“Eek!” I screamed, jumping back from the evil demon of the Pokémon world. 
I froze, backing away until I ran straight into a shrub. I screamed again. Then I heard someone calling, “Hello?” 
God, someone was coming. Hide, hide, hide! 
“Why have I heard three people, all in two days, screaming? Also, why have the past two BOTH said they’re from the ‘USA’?” 
That was Professor Cerise, from Pokémon Journeys! Yeah, I’ve watched the show, but only part one. I watched as Professor Cerise walked into view. 
“Aw, a Squirtle!” Professor Cerise said. The evil Squirtle demon looked at him before scuttling off. 
I took in deep breaths. “Are… you okay?” asked Professor Cerise. 
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, catching my breath. 
“Uh, you don’t look fine,” Professor Cerise said. 
“Well, yeah. Because, you know, two of my friends just got supposedly sucked into the Pokémon world!” I muttered. 
“Do you mean two people named Miranda and Kathleen?” Professor Cerise asked. 
I looked up, surprised. “Uh, yeah!” I said. 
“I thought so,” Professor Cerise said. 
“Did you say Miranda’s been here for two days?” I asked, the cogs in my brain turning. 
“Uh, yeah…” Professor Cerise replied. 
“But… she’s only been missing for… maybe twenty-five minutes!” I whispered to myself. I looked back at him. “Can you bring me to my friends?” I asked. 
“Yeah,” Professor Cerise said, and he led the way to the car, taking me straight to a school — I was pretty sure it was Chloe’s. We drove for a little while.
“We’re here!” Professor Cerise exclaimed.
“Thanks!” I said. 
I ran into the school, then realized that I didn’t want to look conspicuous, like I’m sure Kathleen would have. She’s always so confident and not afraid she’ll get into trouble for stuff like this. I pulled the hood of my Among Us crop-top sweater over my head and let my brown hair cover my face. I walked forward, head lowered. Then, of course, I tripped over my untied shoelaces and skidded forward. The classroom door nearest to me opened and two figures came running out. One had blondish hair and blue eyes, and the other had pale blond hair, blue eyes, and transparent thick-framed glasses. 
“Isabel?” someone shrieked with excitement. 
I recognized that voice. It was Kathleen! “Oh my God! Kathleen! Miranda!” I shouted, hugging them both as I pulled myself back up. 
“How did you get here?” Miranda asked. “Kathleen already told me her story,” she added. 
“I used my phone,” I said. Miranda nodded. 
“I’m sure Emmy and Ava will be here shortly, but we should probably go there to wait for them. I don’t want them to get attacked by evil Squirtles too,” I said.
“I — what?” Miranda started. “Never mind. I won’t even ask.”
“Well then, let’s go!” Kathleen shouted.
== Chapter 10 (Emmy) - Gummy Bears ==
After I saw what happened to Isabel, Kathleen, and Miranda, I could not believe it! 
So I decided to try it myself. I turned on my phone and BLASTED the Pokémon Journeys theme song and yelled, “CAN I GO TO THE POKEMON WORLD, TOO?!” 
Soon enough there was rainbow light coming from my phone. So I walked into the light and POOF! ABRACADABRA! I was in the Pokémon world! 
Then I put on the “I’m A Gummy Bear” song and blasted that and said, “CAN I GO TO THE GUMMY BEAR WORLD!?!” 
Then once again rainbow light came out of my phone and I walked into it. POOF! I was in the gummy bear world then I noticed something. Those were not normal gummy bears, THEY WERE KILLER GUMMY BEARS!!!!!!!! So I quickly blasted the Pokémon Journeys theme song AGAIN! 
Then I said, “Can I go back to the Pokémon world PLEASEEEEE —” 
But I was cut off by one of the gummy bears tackling me. Then my stupid phone let me back into the Pokémon world. After I got back to the Pokémon world my phone healed me. 
“I just wanted to see you SUFFER! MWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!” the phone laughed. 
I really wished I’d packed a sword because I would have cut that thing in half! On the other hand, there was a pond nearby so guess what I did. Yep. That’s right! I chucked that thing in the water! Hehe! 
Oh no! How was I going to get back into the human world now? I didn’t have a phone now! 
So I checked in my backpack and I found my tablet! Then I checked to see if I could play music and I was able to play music on it! So whenever I needed to go home I just needed to play my favorite music and say, “CAN I GO BACK TO THE HUMAN WORLD????” then I would be home! I was so happy that I packed a spare device. At that moment I remembered that all my friends were here! 
So I went and shouted, “MIRANDA! KATHLEEN! ISABEL! WHERE ARE YOU?!” 
The next thing I knew, Professor Cerise came running towards me and said, “Miranda, Kathleen, and Isabel are in school. Who are you?” 
“My name is Emmy,” I said. 
Professor Cerise looked confused then he said, “WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING INTO THE POKEMON WORLD?!”
“Looong story,” I said.
Professor Cerise said, “How about we go home and wait for everyone to come back and figure out what is going on?” 
I agreed.
== Chapter 11 (Ava) - Team Rocket and School ==
This is exactly what I did when I saw that: “HOLY! HOLY! HOLY! HOLY! OMG LORD WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?” 
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Kathleen, Izzy, Emmy, and possibly Miranda were in the Pokémon world. Wait, no. I'm sure Miranda’s in the Pokémon world. I know it. If she wasn’t she would have responded to the emails I sent her and we would be in Pokémon Club too. Honestly, I just joined the Ninjago Club to make friends. 
That was it. I knew what to do. I grabbed my bag and put clothes and stuff I would need, including my Nintendo Switch because Jenny LeClue was taunting me for not helping her save her mom. Then I grabbed my new iPhone 11 and played the Pokémon Journeys theme song. 
I screamed, “LET ME GO THERE OR I WILL STAB YOU IN THE HEART!” 
Then a rainbow light appeared from my phone, and right before I went in, I gave my cats food and water and hugged both of them while they were being sleepy babies. Then I said, “Prepare for trouble! Make it double! To protect the world from devastation! To unite all peoples within our nation! To denounce the evils of truth and love! To extend our reach to the stars above! Jessie! James! Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light! Surrender now or prepare for a fight! Meowth, that's right!” 
I quietly added, “I’ll give you nightmares tonight!” 
Then I stepped in. I flew in and landed face-first into some ground and I was also pretty sure I scraped my knee and broke all the bones in my body. Then I got up and realized my bones weren’t broken but I did have a scrape on my knee. Then I saw Pokémon all around me. I looked at myself. Luckily I wasn't hurt. 
I screamed at the top of my lungs, “THANK YOU, GOD!!!” Then I was thinking, “Wait, am I in heaven???” then I realized if I was I would be with Papa John (NOT THE PIZZA PLACE! May he rest in peace).
I noticed 2 things. 1. I looked like an anime version of myself a bit. Weird. 2. I saw what looked like Professor Cerise. He rushed towards me. 
I yelled, “Sup!” 
Then Professor Cerise said. “Tell me, Are you friends with Miranda?” 
OMG, I was right! Miranda was here! 
Then I screamed, “Yes! Take me to her!!”
He said, “Okay!”
Then we got in his car. I grabbed my phone and played “The Journey Starts Today” (one of the best theme songs ever that actually makes me feel something). Then I started to sing out loud! I never do that in front of my family! But I was around totally random strangers so I was fine. Then the song finished and then like five minutes later we were there! I said thanks then I ran into the school and I saw Miranda!
Miranda and I made eye contact.
Then Miranda’s eyes lit up and she yelled “Ava!” 
“That’s my name, don't wear it out!” I exclaimed. 
“Wait, how did you get here?” Emmy asked. 
Then I said, “I grabbed my phone, played the Pokémon Journeys theme song. Since, well, everybody ditched me at the club meeting. Thanks a lot, guys. You guys are the nicest people I know. Not like it could have been like a black hole and hurt you all,” I said sarcastically. 
I didn’t mention the Team Rocket part to them yet. Then I said, “I knew you were here! Okay, well, I’m gonna go and try to find Team Rocket and maybe try to ask for a malassada. I always wanted to try one."
Then Miranda said, “Mmmh... Wait, what?!”
No way I was going to go to school in this amazing Pokémon world! 
I then said, “Sweet! See you later!! I'm not going to school in this place! Come on my Pokémon partners, off to adventure!” 
Suddenly, I remembered something. “Wait! Where is the school nurse? I scraped my knee when I fell face-first into the ground. Don’t try at home, kids!” 
Chloe answered, “Down the hall to the left.” 
I was very happy when the nurse fixed me up. When I get hurt I immediately cry but I didn’t want to cry so I was internally screaming because of my pain. After I got out of the nurse’s office we went outside, then I gazed at the city. It would take me a while, but I was ready to find them. I quietly said, “Team Rocket, here I come.”
== Chapter 12 (Miranda) - Additions to the Lab, Broom Closets, Souvenirs, and Being a Champion ==
Still in school, I was still sitting where I did before all of my friends showed up. Chloe was where she had sat, too. Kathleen was now in the row behind me and Chloe, Emmy was in the row in front of us, and Isabel was to the left of Liam. 
“As I was saying, to solve one-step and two-step equations, you need to do the order of operations, but the opposite way,” Mr. Bredek explained. “So instead of doing PEMDAS, you do it more like SADMEP. Addition and subtraction come before multiplication and division in this case. Here’s a practice problem for you to try…”
The problem that Mr. Bredek wrote on the board was 9c + 1 = 10. I could hear the scratching sound of pencils writing on the paper as all of my classmates figured out the problem. It took a minute, but I did solve the problem. It wasn’t that hard. The answer was c = 1. 
“Alright, let’s go over it,” Mr. Bredek said after about 5 more minutes. 
Mr. Bredek walked over to the board and wrote the problem down again. Then he started going over it. Yay, turns out I got it right! 
After a few more practice problems, Mr. Bredek said, “Well, class is over now. See you tomorrow, guys!” 
“Bye!” everyone said as we all left the classroom.
“Where to next?” I asked Chloe, with Emmy, Isabel, and Kathleen behind us. 
“All we have left is social studies,” Chloe said. “I think you’ll like the teacher. Mr. Mander is really funny.”
“Awesome!” I said. Chloe led us to the social studies classroom. As we walked in, I could see Mr. Mander showing a student a map of Japan, beyond the Pokémon world. 
“Hi, Mr. Mander!” Chloe said, leading us into the classroom. 
“Hello, Chloe,” Mr. Mander said. “I guess we have some visitors today?”
“Yep,” Chloe replied. “This is Miranda, Kathleen, Isabel, and Emmy,” she said, pointing at each of us. 
“Nice to meet you four,” Mr. Mander said. “Chloe, where did all of these guys come from?”
“They’re from the U.S.A,” Chloe said. 
“Okay, then. Anyway, take a seat. Today, we’ll be learning about timelines,” Mr. Mander said. Me, Chloe, Emmy, Isabel, and Kathleen all sat near each other. As we sat down, I noticed that Liam, Aria, and Avery were in this class too! I waved to them. All of them waved back. 
“Timelines mark important events and dates in time,” Mr. Mander said. “There is B.C. and A.D. B.C. counts backwards, kind of, since the bigger the number, the longer ago it was in time, unlike A.D., in which the bigger the number, the more recent it was. Speaking of which, have any of you had science today yet?” Mr. Mander asked. Me, Chloe, and a few other people raised their hands. 
“You learned about COVID-19, correct?” he asked. 
“Yeah,” everyone answered. 
“Well, have you ever thought about what life must be like during that global pandemic? I wonder if anyone that experienced it calls B.C. ‘before COVID’ and A.D. ‘after COVID’.” 
Wow! That was funny! Chloe was right, Mr. Mander is funny! How come I’ve never thought of that before? I raised my hand. 
“Yes, Miranda?” Mr. Mander asked. 
“I don’t know if you know this, but I live where COVID is around. Kathleen, Emmy, and Isabel too.”
Everyone except Avery, Aria, Chloe, Liam, and my friends gasped. 
“That’s interesting! Though, I have to ask: Do you call B.C. ‘before COVID’ and A.D. ‘after COVID’?”
I shook my head. “Actually, no. I think it is really smart, though!” 
“So COVID is around where you’re from?” someone asked.
“Yep,” I said. “My friends here too.”
“Cool,” the student said.
“Anyway, let’s get back to the lesson,” Mr. Mander said. 
Everyone nodded and focused again.
*  *  *  *  *  *  * 
Soon enough, it was the end of the school day. 
“Bye!” all four of us said as we left the room and started heading out of the school for the day.  Then Ava appeared out of nowhere and walked up to us, looking all disappointed.
She said, “Hey, guys. Finding Team Rocket was a bust so I decided to walk around until it was       the end of the school day.” 
“Okay,” I said. “Come on! Professor Cerise is picking us up! Look, there he is!”
“How was the school day?” Professor Cerise asked us as we all got into the car again. 
“Good!” I said. “It’s nice to be able to actually go to school, since at home, I can’t.”
“Yeah,” Isabel said. “I never thought I’d be able to go to school!”
“Same,” Emmy said. “Though hopefully I’ll get to go to school for the 4th quarter!”
“That would be great, Emmy! But you’ve been saying that for weeks now,” I said, starting to get just a little annoyed at hearing this over and over. 
“Oops?” Emmy replied. We all laughed. 
“Well, we’re almost back home now,” Professor Cerise said. “Emmy, Isabel, Kathleen, and Ava, what are you going to do now? Miranda, you too, for that matter. Are you going to stay here, or —?” 
Hmm. That’s a good question. Well, for my friends, at least. I knew what I was going to do, no doubt about it.
“I’m staying here. Well, if you’ll let me,” I added.
“Of course you can stay, Miranda!” Professor Cerise said. “What about you guys?”
“I’ll stay!” Isabel said. 
“Me too!” Kathleen added.
“Don’t forget about me!” Emmy said.
“Ava? What about you?” Professor Cerise asked.
There was a long silence for a minute. Nobody talked, and Ava stared off into space.
“Ava?” I asked.
“I… am staying,” Ava responded after a minute. “Professor Cerise? Can you drop me off here?”
I wondered what she was going to do.
“Uh… okay,” Professor Cerise said. 
Ava got out of the car and pulled out her three Poké Balls. Then she let out Bulbasaur, Mew, and Rayquaza. She, along with Bulbasaur and Mew, hopped on Rayquaza. 
She said this in a very sad way, “I love you all but it is my time to go. If you truly are my friends then don’t follow me. Don’t think of this as a goodbye, think of it more like a see you later. Oh, and remember these words and make sure you don’t forget them: The Journey Starts Today and Win or Lose we can choose to be never the same.” Then she flew off on Rayquaza’s back. 
It was silent for a moment. 
“Uh… what just happened?” Kathleen asked. 
“I have NO idea,” I told her. 
“I hope Ava will be okay,” Emmy said. 
“Yeah,” I said.
“Anyway, let’s get back to the house,” Professor Cerise said, and we started moving again. 
Once we got back and in the house, Professor Cerise said, “Well, you have the rest of the day to do whatever you want. Is there anything that you want to do?”
“Sleep,” Emmy said.
“Explore,” Kathleen said.
“Write some more stories,” Isabel said.
Then everyone looked at me. 
“Umm…” I said. “I don’t know.” 
“Miranda, do you want to work on a story with me?” Isabel asked. 
“Which one?” I asked her.
“Hmm… maybe Journey To The Stars?”
“Sure!” I said. 
Then everyone went off to do the stuff they wanted to do. Kathleen wandered off to explore, Emmy went to her room to take a nap, and Isabel and I went to my room, got on our Pokémon world computers (yes, we had Pokémon world computers), and went on Journey To The Stars. 
“So, what should happen next?” Isabel asked.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “Hmm… What should happen next? Maybe…”
It went like that for a while. Soon, Kathleen stumbled into the room. 
“Kathleen, what are you doing here?” Isabel asked. 
“I don’t know. I just got out of the broom closet like 5 minutes ago,” Kathleen said.
“The broom closet?” both me and Isabel asked at the same time. Kathleen nodded. 
“What? There’s no broom closet here!” I said. 
“Then what was I stuck in for the past 15 minutes?” she asked.
“Umm…” Isabel said.
“I have NO idea,” I said. “You are NOT making sense at all, Kathleen.” 
“Well, I’m going to go back to exploring,” Kathleen said. “Have fun!” And she skipped away. 
“Umm…” I said. “Okay?”
“Never mind that,” Isabel said. “Should we get back to Journey To The Stars?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “How about we do something else now?”
“Like what?” Isabel asked. 
“Well, we could just read for the rest of the day,” I said. “Oh wait! I know what I can do while you read!”
I opened up my email on the computer and started typing an email to some of my friends.
To: Brody J, Ayden P, Autumn C, Derek P
Hey guys!
You won’t believe this. I — along with Emmy, Isabel, Kathleen, and Ava — ARE IN THE Pokémon WORLD! AND IN POKEMON JOURNEYS!
I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. We’re staying with Ash, Goh, Chloe, and Professor Cerise. Today, we just went to school with Chloe. Now Ava went off somewhere but we don’t know where yet. Don’t ask. Anyway, it’s pretty cool around here. This is my second day here. Before I forget, what time is it at home? I want to know how long I’ve been gone. Thanks, and I’ll see you soon! (Hopefully!)
From: Miranda T
I closed my computer and picked up a book, Keeper of Vermillion City, by Shayla Morrison. As I glanced back over at Isabel, I noticed that she was reading The Ultimate Pokémon Guide. 
Isabel looked up and asked, “Did you know that Professor Cerise and Professor Oak wrote a book together?” 
“Wait, really?” I asked, looking over at it. Sure enough, it said, By Professor Cerise and Professor Oak. “Huh. That’s interesting. Hey, tomorrow morning, let’s go question Professor Cerise about it!”
Isabel laughed. “Sure, why not!”
Then we turned back to our books. A few minutes later, I heard a ding! 
“What’s that?” I wondered out loud. Then I realized. My computer! I quickly opened my computer again and checked my email. Apparently Ayden and Autumn had responded to my email!
For Ayden’s email:
To: Miranda T
Hey Miranda, that's amazing. How did you get there? And while you're there, catch me a Darkrai will ya, that's my favorite Pokémon. Also, whatever you do, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, become a gym leader, be champion instead K?
From: Ayden P
And finally the one from Autumn:
To: Miranda T
Heh?? You’re where?? I’m too busy watching anime right now. Wait, I just read that again — YOU’RE IN THE POKEMON WORLD? How did ya get in there?? That's pretty cool. Just bring back some souvenirs for us, ok? Oh, and by the way, it's the afternoon right now. I have no clue how long you’ve been gone for but make sure you figure out a way to come back. Ok well back to afternoon binge watching. BYEE.
From: Autumn C
Wow, I didn’t think that my friends would respond so quickly! It was funny, though, how my friends were so surprised that I was in the Pokémon world! Especially Autumn’s email — I’d never be able to stop laughing at that one! I typed a response to my friends:
To: Autumn C, Ayden P
Hi again!
I never thought you guys would actually respond so quickly! To answer your questions, Autumn, I’ll try to bring some souvenirs. Ayden, I will try to get Darkrai, but I can’t promise, since it’s a Mythical Pokémon. And I can try to be Champion. I’ll try! :) Anyway, I’ll be back in our world soon! Assuming I can find a way to get back… Well, see you then, and I’ll tell you all about my trip!
From: Miranda T
I closed my computer again and picked up my book once again.
*  *  *  *  *  *  * 
Soon, it was already bedtime, which we realized when Professor Cerise said, “Well, I think it’s time to get ready for bed.” 
I nodded and pulled out a pair of pajamas that were covered in Poké Balls. Isabel got up and went to her room. After I brushed my teeth and everything, I got into bed and started dreaming about Pokémon.
== Chapter 13 (Miranda) - New Pokemon ==
I woke up, completely forgetting where I was for a moment. Then I remembered that I was still in the Kanto region, and not only me. My friends too. I got dressed and made my way to the kitchen to eat breakfast. Unlike yesterday, though, it wouldn’t be me, Professor Cerise, Chloe, Ash, and Goh. Today it would be me, Kathleen, Emmy, Isabel, Chloe, and Professor Cerise. No Ash and Goh, and no Ava either, because she was looking for Team Rocket, and who knows where she is now. No one said that she was looking for Team Rocket, but I think we all know Ava well enough for that to be our educated guess. I knew it sounded bad, but I hoped she wouldn't find Team Rocket. For some reason, I think she might, but then again, it seems like it is not possible for her. Being with the bad guys also does not sound like a good idea. And Ash and Goh were in Galar right now, investigating Dynamax Pokémon. Me, knowing the show very well, knows that Goh is going to get his Scorbunny soon. Maybe he has it now. Who knows? 
“Good morning, Miranda,” Professor Cerise greeted me. “What do you want for breakfast today?”
“Well, I guess I’ll have cereal. Any cereal is fine,” I said.
“I’ll have a waffle! I mean, gofre!” Isabel said, coming into the kitchen.
“I’LL HAVE A DONUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Emmy screamed, following Isabel. 
“Umm…” I said. “Emmy, what is with you today?”
“Who said anything is wrong with me?” Emmy asked, sitting down.
“Me,” Isabel and I both said. We laughed. Emmy glared at us.
“Hey, I was just joking!” I said. Isabel nodded in agreement. 
“Emmy, what just happened?” Kathleen asked, coming in as well. “Never mind,” she said, after looking at us. “Well, I’ll take a… Guys, can you guess?” Kathleen asked.
“MUFFIN!” all of us yelled. 
“Not surprised…” Emmy said.
Kathleen smiled. “Yup! You know me!”
“Anyway,” Professor Cerise said, “I’ll be right back.”
Once again, it was quiet for a minute.
“So, what do you want to talk about?” Kathleen asked, breaking the silence. “Ninjago?”
“How about let’s not talk about that?” I said. “You talk about it all the time!”
“Fine,” Kathleen said reluctantly. Just then, Professor Cerise came back in.
“Here you go,” he said, handing us our food. 
“Thanks!” all four of us said. 
Then we started digging in. Wow, Kanto region food was delicious! All of a sudden, I heard something. 
Ding-dong! I looked up quickly.
“What was that?” I asked my friends.
“I don’t know,” they said. I got up, and then realized that it was the doorbell. 
“It’s the doorbell!” I told everyone, then raced to the door. As I opened it, I saw…
“Ash! Goh! You’re back!!!!” I exclaimed. So that’s who was ringing the doorbell! 
“Yep! We’re back!” Ash said.
“Who is it?” Professor Cerise asked from the kitchen.
“Yeah, who is it?” I heard Kathleen, Emmy, and Isabel ask.
“It’s Ash and Goh!” I yelled back.
“Really?” Emmy asked.
“YEP!” I said. “Come on and look!”
My three friends all ran in.
“It is them!” Isabel said. 
Ash and Goh looked confused.
“Um, no offense or anything, but who are you guys?” Ash asked. 
“Oh,” I laughed. “I guess I need to do some introductions. Ash, Goh, these are my friends from back home: Kathleen, Isabel, and Emmy.” I pointed to each of my friends, and they waved.
“Nice to meet you!” Goh said.
“Yeah,” Ash said. “But I’m wondering, how did you guys get here? Did you come through a Pokémon game like Miranda?”
“Nope!” Emmy said. “We came through our phones. Well, me, Isabel, and Ava did. Kathleen came through her TV.”
“Wait, what?” Goh asked. “How?”
“We played the Pokémon Journeys song, and it let us through so we ended up here,” Isabel explained.
“We were in Ninjago Club and noticed that Miranda was missing. Then we watched Ninjago, and suddenly Pokémon Journeys started playing! Then it sucked me in, and then Emmy, Isabel, and Ava all followed through their own devices,” Kathleen said. “We were just looking for Miranda.” 
“Well, you sure found me,” I noted. “And also made us ditch math at school.”
“Oh boy,” Goh said. “Sounds like you guys had quite an adventure while we were in Galar. Also, where is Ava? Is she one of the girls behind you or what?”
Then Ash added, “Yeah, where is she?” 
I wasn’t sure. The way she left was… I didn’t even know. What should I say? 
“Um, Miranda?” Goh asked, looking at me concernedly. Then I instantly blurted out, “I don’t know she just left. She said this weird thing to us and flew off!” Then it was quiet for a moment. 
“Wow, Miranda, is your friend okay?” Ash said, clearly concerned. 
“I don’t know. Hey, I just realized you’ve never told us about your adventure yet! How was it in Galar?” I asked to change the subject.
“Oh yeah!” Ash said. “Goh, show them!”
“Show us what?” Emmy asked curiously.
“This!” Goh said, and threw a Poké Ball. Out popped a…
“Scorbunny!” I said.
“Scorbun!” it said. We all laughed.
“You guessed it,” Goh said. “I caught a Scorbunny in the Galar region!”
“Wait, I thought you were going to catch Mew as your first Pokémon,” I said, trying not to mess up the storyline of Pokémon Journeys any more than it already had been.
“I changed my mind,” Goh said. “This Scorbunny was following us around everywhere! And it helped us get a giant Snorlax off some train tracks.”
“Wow,” Isabel, Kathleen, and Emmy said.
“What’s the commotion?” Chloe asked, walking in.
“Goh and Ash are back!” I told her excitedly.
“I was just about to say, ‘Oh’. Because, yeah, I can see. Anyway, welcome back, Ash and Goh. It was definitely different without you guys. No running off to find Pokémon all the time. But come to think of it, I actually don’t mind it that much anymore.” 
Really? Wow, Chloe really must have changed if that doesn’t even bother her that much. Then a thought hit me. I knew the reason behind Chloe’s new attitude now. It was me. I had already thought of it before, but now Chloe doesn’t mind Ash and Goh going crazy about Pokémon as much now? That’s new. And who was Chloe with all of yesterday? Me. So yes, I just changed the Pokémon Journeys characters. On accident, but still. Oh wow, this story must be really messed up by now. Oh, dear. This is not good. 
All of a sudden, Professor Cerise came over. “Well, you two, what did you learn in the Galar region?” he asked.
“Well, we did meet that giant Snorlax,” Ash said. “And Goh got Scorbunny! Those were the main highlights.”
“Ash is right,” Goh said. “That sums up a lot. Just those two things.”
“Well, why don’t you come have some breakfast?” Professor Cerise asked Ash and Goh. “There’s plenty.”
“Let’s go EAT!” Ash and Goh said, already running to the kitchen table.
“Not surprising…” Chloe muttered, rolling her eyes. 
“Yup. That’s Ash and Goh for you,” I agreed. “Anyway, what should we do? You know, while they eat.”
“Hmm. I don’t know,” Chloe said. 
“Miranda! Can you come here for a minute?” Professor Cerise called, making me jump.
“Sure,” I called back, then ran over to find him.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Well, I’ll tell you after Goh and Ash finish up. I think they’ll want to hear too,” Professor Cerise said.
“Okay,” I said, then waited. And waited. Man, how long do Ash and Goh need to eat? Finally, they were done. 
“Okay, since Ash and Goh are done eating, I can talk,” Professor Cerise said. “Miranda, I know you didn’t want to go with Ash and Goh to Galar. But I have a feeling that you might want to go on an adventure with them sometime. So I’d like to give you something. How would you like to get a Pokémon of your own?” 
How would I like that?
“I’d love that!” I said excitedly. “What do I get to pick from?”
“Well, you can have anyone you want,” Professor Cerise said. “I assume you know the starters of each region?”
“Mhm. Yeah, I know them all,” I said. “From Kanto, there’s Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. In Johto, there’s Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile. In Hoenn, there’s Torchic, Mudkip, and Treecko. Sinnoh has Piplup, Chimchar, and Turtwig, Unova has Oshawott, Snivy, and Tepig, Kalos has Chespin, Froakie, and Fennekin, Alola has Litten, Popplio, and Rowlet, and Galar has Scorbunny, Sobble, and Grookey.”
“Wow,” Goh said. “You sure know your stuff.”
“Definitely,” Ash agreed. “I think that will make you a great Pokémon Trainer.”
“Thanks!” I said.
“Anyway, we happen to have all of these Pokémon here at the lab,” Professor Cerise said, leading us into another room. He threw lots of Poké Balls, and all of the starter Pokémon came out! Yep, all of them! 
“So which one would you like?” Professor Cerise asked.
I thought for a moment. There were so many choices! After a minute of thinking, I figured it out.
“I think I’ll take a Mudkip,” I decided.
“Good choice!” Professor Cerise said, smiling. “Do you want a boy Mudkip or a girl Mudkip?”
“How about a girl?”
“Sure!” Professor Cerise said, and returned Mudkip to its Poké Ball. “Here you go!”
I took it and threw the Poké Ball. “Mudkip, come on out!”
Mudkip burst out of the Poké Ball. 
“Mudkip!” it said, jumping on me. Goh laughed. “I think it likes you!”
I nodded. “Yeah! Let’s be best friends, Mudkip!”
“Mudkip!” it agreed, leaping onto my shoulder, just like Pikachu does with Ash. 
“Is there anything else you wanted to say?” I asked Professor Cerise. 
“Nope, that’s all. I bet you and Mudkip are going to be great partners! And I also bet that you, Ash, Pikachu, Scorbunny, and Goh will be a great team together! I can tell that you’ll be great friends,” Professor Cerise said. 
“Yeah!” I agreed. “I’m sure we will!”
“Of course!” Ash said. “Why wouldn’t we?”
“Actually, I think we already are friends,” Goh corrected. “Not will be friends.”
“True,” I said. “We are and always will be! Right?”
“Right!” Ash and Goh said.
“Ooh, now I can’t wait to go on an adventure with you guys!” I said, getting excited. “When can we go? Now?”
Professor Cerise laughed. “Well, I don’t know about this second, but how about in a little bit? Maybe in an hour or so?”
“Sure!” I said. “Whatever works, as long as we can go soon!” 
Professor Cerise, Ash, and Goh all grinned at my enthusiasm. 
“What?” I asked. 
“You’re just so excited,” Ash said. “That’s great, but it’s also funny!” 
“Yep, it is,” Goh agreed. “I also think we’ll become even better friends soon. Just an hour, Miranda!”
I nodded. “Yep! Just an hour. Hmm, an hour can feel like a long time, can’t it?”
Then Chloe walked in, rolling her eyes. “Sounds like you’ll be just like Ash and Goh, Miranda. Influences.”
I had to laugh at that. And it must have been pretty funny, because Ash, then Goh, then Professor Cerise, and then even Chloe, started laughing. 
“Wow,” Chloe said when she could finally breathe. “That was weird. But in a good way. Because we laughed a lot!”
“Yeah, we did!” me, Ash, and Goh agreed.
“Definitely,” Professor Cerise agreed. “I haven’t laughed that much in a while!” And that made me laugh even more. When we were finally done laughing, I said, “Well, I think I’m going to go find my friends and hang out before we leave for an adventure. See you soon!”
“Okay, see ya!” Ash and Goh said. Then I ran off to find Emmy, Isabel, and Kathleen. I found them in the living room. Emmy, Isabel, and Kathleen were playing Among Us on their phones.
“Hey guys,” I said. They looked up.
“What’s up?” Kathleen asked.
“Uranus,” I said, using a variation of Kathleen’s joke. “Haha! Anyway, do you guys want to hang out for a bit? Then me, Ash, and Goh are going to go somewhere in about an hour.”
“Okay,” Isabel said. “So, what do you want to do?”
“Good question,” I admitted. “Well, I would play Among Us with you guys if I had an account…”
“I can help you make one!” Emmy said.
“Okay!” I said. “Can I do it on my Rotom phone, since that’s the only phone I have?”
“Probably,” Isabel said. “Alright guys, let’s help Miranda play Among Us!”
So they helped me make an account and taught me how to play. Soon enough, I was playing Among Us with no problem. 
“Who’s the imposter?” Kathleen asked. 
“How would I know?” I asked. 
“I don't know. Use your psychic Pokémon guessing powers!”
“I don't have that.”
“How would I know? I thought a ‘Pokémon Journeys Fan’ would have ‘all-knowing’ powers!” 
“I — never mind. Let's get back to the game.”
Then someone interrupted our Among Us talking. 
“Hey, Miranda!” Goh said.
“It’s time to go!” Ash added.
I jumped up and turned off my phone. “Alright!” I said. “See you later, guys! Bye!” 
“Bye!” Emmy, Kathleen, and Isabel said. 
Once we got outside, I threw Mudkip’s Poké Ball. “Come on out, Mudkip! Let’s go on our first adventure with Ash and Goh!”
We raced out of the house, yelling bye to Chloe and Professor Cerise. It was time! My first adventure with Ash and Goh, right now!
== Chapter 14 (Miranda) - Viridian Forest ==
In a few minutes, Ash, Goh, and I got to a forest. 
“I bet there’ll be lots of Pokémon in there!” Goh said excitedly.
“Maybe!” Ash said. “Let’s go find out!”
Almost as soon as we got in, a wild Pidgey flew by.
“A Pidgey!” Goh said and pulled out a Poké Ball. “Go, Poké Ball!” The Poké Ball flew through the air but missed the Pidgey.
“Aw, man!” Goh said, looking disappointed. 
“Don’t worry,” I told him. “There will be more!”
“Scor!” Scorbunny said, pointing to a Pidgeotto in a tree. 
“A Pidgeotto!” Goh said, already starting to run after it, Scorbunny just ahead of him. 
“Scor! Scorbun!” Scorbunny called. As a result, the Pidgeotto flew away. 
Goh looked disappointed again. 
“Scorbunny, if you find a Pokémon, you have to stay calm,” Goh told Scorbunny. “Or else you’ll scare it away.”
Scorbunny looked embarrassed for a second. “Scorbunny!” it said.
“I’d take that as a, ‘Okay, I won’t scare off any more Pokémon now!’” I joked.
Ash and Goh laughed. 
“Let’s hope it stays that way!” Ash agreed.
“Yeah!” Goh said. “Right, Scorbunny?” 
“Scor!”
We all laughed again. 
“Hey, look! A Diglett!” Goh exclaimed, pointing at a Diglett that was nearby.
“Good eyes,” I nodded approvingly. “Even I didn’t see that one before you said that!”
“Thanks!” Goh said.
“Go, Poke B —” Goh shouted as he was about to throw the Poké Ball, clearly not wanting to miss his chance. 
Scorbunny interrupted by jumping on the Diglett. Well, attempting to. The Diglett then dove underneath the ground, then popping up somewhere else. Scorbunny dove over there, but the Diglett went underground again. Scorbunny, Diglett, repeat. 
“Scorbunny, stop!” Goh called to Scorbunny. 
But it must not have heard, because it kept on going. 
Now Goh was in the chase, trying to stop Scorbunny. I covered my eyes for a second, 1) Because I was going to get dizzy if I watched them run around in a circle anymore, and 2) This was going to be a recipe for disaster.
When I dared to open my eyes again, the Diglett was starting to move away.
“Oh well,” I said, trying to make Goh feel better about missing out on so many Pokémon now. “There’s got to be plenty more Pokémon around here.”
“Yeah,” Goh said. “You’re right.” He looked at me, and I could tell that he appreciated it.
“Hey, look now!” Ash said, motioning to another Pokémon.
“A Dugtrio!” Goh said. Sure enough, there was a Dugtrio right near the Diglett.
“I didn’t see that one either!” I laughed. “Goh, you must have pretty good senses, then!”
“I guess so!” Goh said, grinning. “Funny how I’m seeing the Pokémon and you’re not!”
“Hmph!” I said, pretending to be angry. Then I laughed again. “Just joking! You know I wouldn’t get angry over that!”
Ash, Goh, and I laughed once again. Man, we’ve been laughing a lot today! Then my brain set off an emergency alert. 
ALERT! ALERT! This does most certainly NOT happen in real Pokémon Journeys!
I almost smacked myself. I had really messed things up now! But oh well. Pokémon Journeys has been messed up since I stepped foot into the Pokémon world, and especially now that I was here, with Ash and Goh. Nothing I could do now. Just enjoy my time here, since I can’t stay forever. Even though I really wanted to. That got my brain thinking. Chloe was acting differently because of me, not minding Ash and Goh as much. Ash didn’t really seem that much different, other than the “Yeah, there’s another person with you on adventures now!”. And Goh really seemed to like me a lot. Me? Well, to be honest, I l —
“Well, we all most certainly see it now!” Ash yelled, jolting me out of my brain’s emergency alert and my continued thinking. I looked around to see what he was talking about and saw the Dugtrio coming toward us! 
“You’re right!” I exclaimed. “Goh, get it!”
“Already on it!” he replied, a Poké Ball ready. Hopefully he would catch it this time. Otherwise that would make it four Pokémon that Goh had failed to catch… 
Right before Goh threw the Poké Ball, Scorbunny chased the Dugtrio as it started to run away. (You know, not actually run, since Dugtrio doesn't have feet. At least, I assumed it doesn't…) 
At the end of this Pokémon chase, Goh didn’t manage to catch the Dugtrio. I felt bad for Goh. I mean, I know this is how it went in the episode, but I still wish it could have been a little different, since I had already messed stuff up. Why couldn’t the stuff I messed up be good things to change? Like Goh catching Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Diglett, or Dugtrio instead of none of them. 
“Scorbunny, you have to be calm!” Goh told Scorbunny again.
“Scorbun!” Scorbunny said. I assumed that meant that Scorbunny was going to listen this time. I hoped so! 
All of a sudden, Scorbunny motioned to a bush nearby.
“Scor!” Scorbunny said. Me, Ash, Goh, Scorbunny, and Pikachu peered around the bush. 
“It’s a Caterpie!” I said quietly to avoid making it run away. We don’t need a fifth Pokémon to run away from us. Four is plenty. More than enough, for that matter. 
Goh and Scorbunny started to slowly move forward, while Ash and I stayed behind a little. Goh threw the Poké Ball when he got close enough. This time, it didn’t miss. Caterpie went right into the Poké Ball. It spun once. I started to hold my breath. It spun again. I hoped it would stay! It spun a third time. 
Ding!
Yes! It stayed — and got caught!!! 
“Caterpie has been registered to your Pokedex,” Goh’s Rotom Phone said.
“Alright!” Goh said, looking at his Rotom Phone. 
It now showed Caterpie’s picture next to Scorbunny’s in the Pokedex. I knew that it would get pretty full soon. All the Bug-types in Kanto today, and with 42 more episodes of Pokémon Journeys currently out, Goh was going to get a lot more Pokémon soon. I wondered if I would still be in the Pokémon world at that point… When would I have to go back home? I hoped not soon. I want to be with Goh, Ash, Chloe, Professor Cerise, all of them for a while. I really like being in the Pokémon world. Home is going to be so weird compared to this! Back there, there’s no Pokémon, no Ash, no Goh, no Chloe, no anyone from the Pokémon world. 
“Now I need to catch a Metapod and Butterfree to complete the evolution chain,” Goh said, jolting me out of my thoughts. How come this always happens? 
“Yeah,” I said. “Go for it!”
“Mhm,” Ash agreed. “Catch 'em all, Goh!”
“Of course,” Goh said. “Hey, look, there’s a tree! Ash, do you think there’s a Metapod in it?”
“Only one way to find out!” Ash replied, running towards the tree that Goh mentioned. 
I followed them, watching as Ash and Goh kicked the tree. Nothing happened. Then Pikachu and Scorbunny tried, and a Metapod fell out of the tree!
“Go, Poké Ball!” Goh said, throwing another Poké Ball. I wondered how many he actually had. Wouldn’t you run out soon at this rate? 
Metapod went into the Poké Ball, then it spun around a few times. Ding! 
“Metapod has been registered to your Poke Dex,” Goh Rotom Phone said.
“Awesome!” I said, leaning over to look at Goh’s Poke Dex. Metapod’s picture was next to Caterpie’s and Scorbunny’s. 
Goh nodded. “Now I need to catch a Butterfree. Where could one b —”
“Look!” Ash said, pointing at something. “A Butterfree!”
“No, that’s a Venomoth!” Goh corrected. “And I’m going to catch it!” 
Goh started running after it, Ash and I close behind. 
“Go, Poké Ball!” Goh said, throwing another Poké Ball. Venomoth went into the Poké Ball, and it spun around.
Ding!
“Venomoth has been registered to your Poke Dex,” Goh’s Rotom Phone said once again.
“Nice!” Ash congratulated Goh.
“Yeah, nice catch!” I agreed.
“Thanks!” Goh said, looking pleased. I smiled at that. 
“What’s next on your catching list?” I asked Goh.
“Anything I come across!” Goh said. “You know me!”
“We sure do!” I agreed.
“Yep!” Ash said. “Gotta catch em all! It’s never really been my thing, but I know it’s yours, Goh! Keep on catching them!” 
“I definitely will!” Goh said. “Look, there’s a Pinsir now!” Ash and I both turned around to find a Pinsir staring at us, just like Goh said! 
Ash backed away. “That thing is kind of creepy, staring at us!” Ash said.
“You’re not wrong,” I said, backing away as well. Goh, however, stayed put and pulled out a Poké Ball. 
“I’m going to catch it!” he said, throwing the Poké Ball. The Pinsir got sucked into the Poké Ball and spun around. 
Ding!
“Pinsir has been registered to your Poke Dex,” Goh’s Rotom Phone said again. I was honestly starting to get tired of hearing that. I mean, the Poke Dex, not Goh catching Pokémon. Auggghhh! 
“I’m going to go crazy if I hear that one more time,” I said, closing my eyes. “I’m getting tired of hearing that!”
“To be honest, so am I,” Ash agreed. 
“Sorry,” Goh said. “But I have to catch lots of Pokémon!”
“I know, I know,” I said. “Keep on going! Don’t let our complaining distract you!”
Goh laughed. “Okay!” 
We searched around for more Pokémon, but nothing showed up — until a Butterfree flew by. Not a Venomoth, a real Butterfree. 
“A Butterfree!” I called, pointing to it. 
“Let’s get it!” Goh said, already racing after it, Ash close behind. 
“You guys are never going to let me catch up to you, will you?” I groaned. “At least I know where you’re going!”
“Sorry,” Ash called back, hearing me. 
By the time I caught up to Ash and Goh, I just barely saw the Butterfree fly to the top of a giant, pink-flowered tree. Goh threw a Poké Ball, but it bounced off the trunk and landed on the ground. 
“You might have to get higher to catch it,” I suggested. 
“True,” Goh said. “I’m going to climb up. Scorbunny, you too!” 
“Scor!” Scorbunny agreed. 
“I’ll keep an eye out down here,” Ash said. 
“I’ll stay here too,” I said. 
“Okay,” Goh said and ran over to the tree to start climbing. I watched for a second, then turned back around to Ash. 
“So, what should we do?” I asked. 
“I don’t know. Just look for Pokémon, I guess.” 
“I guess,” I agreed. 
Suddenly, I heard rustling in the bushes behind us. I turned around. 
“Ash, I think there’s something here,” I said. He turned around to look as well. As I started moving closer, a Weedle popped out of the bush! 
“A Weedle!” Ash exclaimed. 
“We’ll have to tell Goh later,” I said. 
Ash nodded. “Yeah.” 
“So, what should we do while we wait?” I asked. 
Ash shrugged. “I don’t know.” 
Suddenly, Goh came running over. “Hey, guys!” he exclaimed, holding a Poké Ball. “I caught the Butterfree!” 
I nodded in approval. “Nice!” 
Then Goh noticed the Weedle. “Ooh, a Weedle!” he said, pulling out another Poké Ball. “I’m going to catch it too!” 
He gently threw the Poké Ball, and it hit the Weedle. Soon enough, ding! 
“Weedle has been registered to your Poke Dex!” 
“I caught it!” Goh said excitedly. 
Ash and I both nodded. 
Suddenly, I heard something. It sounded like something was in the grass behind us, near the trees. Ash and Goh seemed to hear it too, and we all slowly crept over there. As I peeked around a large tree trunk, I stumbled back. It was a Mareep! 
“A Mareep!” Goh exclaimed, pulling out another Poké Ball. “I’m going to catch it!” 
All of a sudden, I heard something strange. I held my arm in front of them. “Wait. Do you hear that too?” 
They listened. I heard a strange sound, like someone was laughing or giggling. 
Ash nodded. “What is that?” 
I shrugged. “I don’t know.” I listened again. “Is the Mareep doing this?” 
Goh frowned. “Why would it do that?” 
“I don’t know,” I said again. I looked at Mudkip, who was sitting on my shoulder just like Pikachu does with Ash. “Mudkip, is that you?” 
Mudkip shook its head. “Mudkip!” 
The laughing started again. As I listened, I realized what was happening. “I know what's happening!” I exclaimed. 
“What is it?” Ash and Goh asked, leaning forward with anticipation. 
“It is the Mareep, but it's not a Mareep!” I said. “It's a…”
== Chapter 15 (Miranda) - Who's That Pokemon? ==
“... Zorua!” I finished. 
“Hee hee hee!” the Mareep said, confirming my suspicions. In the Pokemon movie Zoroark: Master of Illusions and a few Pokemon episodes, a Zorua loved to laugh, even when it was transformed. That always gave it away, at least to me. 
The Mareep started to glow, then revealed itself to be exactly what I thought — a Zorua! 
“Hee hee hee!” the Zorua laughed again. 
Goh took out a Poké Ball again. “A Zorua! I have to catch it!” He threw the Poké Ball, but it hit it back and it flew past us, nearly whacking me. I let out a sigh of relief. But when I looked over at Goh, I realized he wasn’t quite so lucky. 
I sighed. “You’ll get used to it. Trust me, it’ll happen a LOT more.” 
“Oh, boy,” Goh said. Then he looked at Zorua again. “Why won’t you let me catch you?” 
Zorua looked at Goh, then bounded over to me. It rubbed its head against my leg. 
I crouched down and petted it, Mudkip leaping off my shoulder to say hi to Zorua. Zorua was very soft. 
“Do you think it’s a boy or a girl?” I asked Ash and Goh. 
Ash looked thoughtful. 
“Well, Zoruas usually are boys. Girls are much more rare,” Goh said. 
“I know!” Ash said suddenly. He took out his Rotom Phone and held it in front of Zorua. 
“Zorua, the Tricky Fox Pokémon. To protect themselves from danger, they hide their true identities by transforming into people and Pokémon,” said Ash’s Rotom Phone. 
I realized what Ash was doing. “Is this Zorua a boy or girl?” I asked the Rotom Phone. 
There was silence for a moment as the Rotom Phone analyzed the Zorua. Then it said, “This is a female Zorua.” 
“Woah!” Ash exclaimed. “It’s a girl! That’s really rare!!” 
“Exactly why I should catch it!” Goh exclaimed. He crouched down next to Zorua. “Can I catch you? Please?” 
As an answer, Zorua rubbed against me again. Its meaning sunk in. Even Goh seemed to understand. 
“Zorua wants Miranda to be her Trainer?” Ash clarified. 
Zorua nodded in agreement. 
“Really?” I asked, slightly astonished. 
“Yeah!” Goh added, his likely disappointment barely showing. “Zorua wants you for her Trainer! She loves you!” 
At that moment, Zorua jumped into my arms. She was heavier than I thought! 
“Aww!” I exclaimed. Zorua was so cute! 
“So, are you going to catch it now?” Goh asked me. 
I nodded. “I guess so!” I glanced at Goh. “Can I have a Poke Ball?” 
“Of course,” Goh answered immediately. He pulled a Poke Ball out and handed it to me. 
“Thanks!” I said. 
“No problem,” Goh replied. 
I gently threw the Poke Ball towards Zorua. She jumped up happily and the Poke Ball sucked her inside. It spun around three times, until… 
Ding! 
“Zorua has been registered to your Poke Dex,” said my Rotom Phone, turning on. A picture of Zorua appeared next to Mudkip's in the Poke Dex. 
“Alright!” I yelled excitedly. I threw Zorua’s Poke Ball again. “Zorua, come on out!” 
Zorua popped out of the Poke Ball. “Zorua!” she exclaimed. I picked her up and hugged her. 
When I looked back over at Ash and Goh, they were both smiling. I stood up, Zorua still in my arms and Mudkip standing near me. 
“So, should we look for more Pokemon?” I asked. 
Goh nodded. “Yeah! Hey, look over there,” he said and pointed back to the forest in front of us. “I know there are more Pokemon in there. Let’s go look!” 
We ran back over there, then stopped, looking around. 
“Let’s just walk around until we find something,” I suggested. 
Ash nodded in agreement. “Good idea. I don’t think we’ll find anything else around here.” 
As we wandered around Viridian Forest, the trees got thicker and closer together. Suddenly, it cleared a bit to reveal a whole group of Kakuna! 
“Woah!” Ash exclaimed. “That’s a LOT of Kakuna!” 
“Exactly!” Goh said. He pulled out yet ANOTHER Poke Ball and studied all the Kakuna. “Hmm, which one looks the strongest…?” Eventually, he settled on one near the center and threw the Poke Ball. 
After a moment: “Kakuna has been registered to your Poke Dex!” 
I sighed. That phrase was becoming too familiar. Way too familiar. And to think I’d have to hear it a lot more… 
“Hey,” I said suddenly to Goh, “aren’t you only a few Pokemon away from catching all the Bug-types in Kanto?” 
Goh’s eyes widened. “Oh yeah, you’re right!” 
“So catch 'em all!” Ash added. 
“Pokemon! Gotta catch ‘em all!” I sang. “I know it’s my destiny--- Never mind.” 
“Um… okay,” Goh replied slowly. Anyway, exactly!” he agreed. “Ooh, look! A Paras! And a Parasect!” Ash and I turned to find two Pokemon underneath a nearby tree. 
“Go, Poke Balls!” Goh shouted as two Poke Balls flew through the air. The Pokemon got sucked inside, and the Poke Dex announced that they were caught. 
“You’re really close now!” I said excitedly. I thought for a moment. “You only have 3 Bug-types to go!” 
“Wow!” Goh looked at his Poke Dex on his Rotom Phone. “All I need is Beedrill, Scyther, and Venonat! That shouldn’t be hard!” 
“I bet there are Scyther nearby,” Ash said thoughtfully. “Surely there’s one somewhere around here?” 
“Maybe over there?” I asked and pointed to a path nearby that led in two directions. 
Goh nodded in agreement. “Good idea! Should we split up?” 
“Why not?” Ash asked. “We could probably find one faster that way. So, who’s with who?” 
I looked from Ash to Goh and back again. Who should I pick? Not like this was anything other than a Scyther hunt, of course. 
“I’ll go with Goh,” I decided. “No offense, Ash,” I added, turning to face Ash. 
Ash nodded. “None taken. And why don’t we make it a race to see who can catch a Scyther first?” 
“Sure!” I said, smiling in amusement. “I can’t wait to watch you guys.” 
“You could help me,” Goh offered. He looked at Mudkip. “You do have Mudkip and Zorua.” 
“True,” I said. “Maybe I’ll help,” I said slyly. “Now let’s go!” 
“I’ll go this way,” Ash said, pointing to the left path. 
“And we can go this way,” Goh decided, gesturing to the right path. 
“Okay,” I said. I started running to the path on the right. “Race ya there!” 
“Hey, wait up!” Goh called, hurriedly trying to catch up to me. “You didn’t warn me!” 
I turned back and grinned. 
Ash laughed. “You two! Anyway, I’ll be the one who finds - and catches - a Scyther first!” 
“Not if I can help it!” Goh replied, then ran ahead of me. He turned around to face us, then added, “Come on, Miranda, we have to find a Scyther before Ash does!” 
“Okay, okay,” I said. I braced myself, getting ready to run really fast. “Let’s go!” 
We all ran off, but before we got far, I heard a buzzing sound. 
“What’s that?” I asked Goh. 
“Hmm,” Goh said thoughtfully. He perked up. “Maybe it’s another Pokemon!” 
Suddenly, I saw a flash of yellow and black through the trees and leaves. Uh-oh… I had a feeling of what that was… 
A Beedrill emerged from its hiding place in a tree. 
“Goh, look!” I shrieked. 
“Scor?” Scorbunny asked. 
Goh turned around. “What is it- Oh! A Beedrill!” He pulled out another Poke Ball. “Just what I need! Go, Poke Ball!” The Poke Ball flew through the air, and right as I thought it would suck the Beedrill inside, it knocked the Poke Ball away. 
“Drill!” it said angrily. 
All of a sudden, more Beedrill appeared. And they sure didn’t look happy!
“Uh-oh,” Goh said. 
“RUN!” I screamed. 
“Scor!” Scorbunny agreed frantically. 
We ran all the way back to the original path, where Ash happened to be nearby, searching for a Scyther. 
“Oh, hi!” Ash said, turning to look at us. 
“RUN!” Goh and I screamed. 
“SCORBUN!” Scorbunny shouted. 
“AHHHH!” Ash yelled, then ran too. 
“PIKA!” Pikachu exclaimed. 
We ran for a while until we ran into a dead end. 
“Oh no,” I groaned. “Now what?” 
“I know!” Goh said. He looked down at Scorbunny. “Let’s battle them and look for the strongest one! How ‘bout it, Scorbunny?” 
Scorbunny nodded. 
“I can help!” Ash said, letting Pikachu jump off his shoulder. 
“Me too!” I added. 
“Mud!” Mudkip agreed. 
“Pika!” 
“Thanks!” Goh said, looking at us gratefully. “Now, Scorbunny, use Double Kick!” 
“Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!” 
“Mudkip, use Water Gun!” 
All the attacks landed and hit the swarm of Beedrill. All of them flew away back to their home - except one. 
“That must be the strongest!” Goh exclaimed, then pulled out a Poke Ball. 
“Umm, I wouldn’t throw that yet,” I warned him. “That Beedrill looks ready to fight more!” 
“I gotta say, Miranda’s right,” Ash said. “Let’s attack again!” 
“Alright!” I said, getting ready to command Mudkip to use another move. “Mudkip, use Ta-” 
Suddenly, someone jumped out of the bushes and landed next to us. I turned to gawk in disbelief. Why would someone be here? And especially, why would they jump out of bushes? What is it with bushes? The mystery bush person was a girl who was probably a Pokemon Trainer. She had brown hair and brown eyes. 
“Um-” Ash began. 
“Where did you come from?” Goh asked. 
“And why did you jump out of a bush?” I asked Bush-Girl. “What’s your name?” 
“I’m Green,” she said, introducing herself. She glanced at the Beedrill. “Looks like you need some help here?” 
“No, we’re fine-” Goh protested, but Ash cut him off. “I don’t know, but sure. We’d appreciate the help.” He glared at Goh. 
Goh shrugged. “Fine. You can help us.” 
Green smiled. “Great! Here’s my Pokemon partner!” She threw a Poke Ball. “Come out, Vileplume!” 
A familiar Pokemon burst out of the Poke Ball. “Vile!” it said happily. 
Green turned to the Beedrill. “Vileplume, help these Trainers out! Use Poison Powder!” 
“Plume!” Vileplume said as it used its move. The Beedrill stopped in its place, the poison taking effect. 
“Alright, Mudkip, use Tackle!” I instructed. She slammed into Beedrill and it stumbled back. 
“Scorbuuny, use Tackle as well!” Goh commanded. Ash told Pikachu to use Quick Attack. 
Seeing Beedrill weakened, Goh took out a Poke Ball. “Let’s go!” he shouted. The Poke Ball opened and Beedrill went inside. The Poke Ball spun around until I heard a very memorable phrase: “Beedrill has been registered to your Poke Dex!” 
“Yes!” Goh exclaimed happily. He held the Poke Ball in the air. “I caught it!” 
“Nice.” Green nodded her approval. “Well, I’ll be out now. Bye!” 
As she started to turn away, Ash called, “Wait! What were you doing around here anyway?” 
Green looked back at us. “Dunno. I just happened to be in the area.” 
I had a feeling there was at least a little more than that. Suddenly, a thought came to me. “Have I seen you before?” I asked Green. 
She squinted at me. “Uh, not that I know of. Why?” 
I shrugged, but something clicked. I had seen a picture of Green on one of my Pokemon cards, Green’s Exploration! 
“Anyway, you can go now,” Goh said. He looked pointedly at Green. “We’re good. Bye then!” 
Green nodded, not seeming to sense Goh’s slight hostility, or if she did, ignoring it. “Alright, good. See ya some other time!” she said, returning Vileplume to its ball, then leaped back into the bushes. 
We stared after her for a few seconds, then I turned to Goh. “Why didn’t you want Green to help us?” I asked. “She seemed nice.” 
Goh kicked the ground. “We didn’t need help.” 
“He just didn’t want help,” Ash whispered to me. “Though he might be right. We were pretty good on our own.” 
“True,” I said. I looked out at the forest. “Come on, we have a Scyther race to resume!” 
“Right!” 
Me and Goh raced out again, eager to find a Scyther. 
“Let’s look over there,” I suggested, pointing to a path through the trees. It looked like it might lead somewhere.
Goh nodded. “Sure, Miranda! I bet there’s a Scyther there!” 
I led the way, dodging around poison ivy and plants that I couldn’t identify until I emerged from the trees to a small area. It was bordered by the forest on higher levels, so it looked like half of a sphere, except for there not being a roof or ceiling. 
I looked around, studying what I saw in case there was a Scyther— or any Pokemon, really — nearby. All of a sudden, I heard a sound. 
“Do you hear that?” I asked, tensing. I hoped it was a Scyther and not Team Rocket or something. Wait. If Ava did end up joining Team Rocket, maybe I’d see her! 
“Ye-” Goh started but got cut off by a “Scy!” 
A Scyther!
== Chapter 16 (Miranda) - Farmer Dude ==
“Great!” Goh exclaimed. “Go, Poke Ball!” 
“Scor!” Scorbunny cheered. 
But the Scyther hit the Poke Ball right back at us, and I narrowly dodged it. Goh dodged too this time, thankfully. 
“Scyther!” it shouted, then ran away. 
“No! Wait!” Goh yelled. He started running after it, but it was long gone. 
I came up to him. “We’ll find it again!” I promised. 
“Did you find a Scyther?” Ash called, running up to us. He surveyed the area. “Guess not.” 
“There was one, but it ran away,” I explained. 
“Oh,” Ash said sympathetically. “You’ll find another one, for sure!” 
Suddenly, a purple Pokemon with red eyes appeared. “A Venonat!” I exclaimed. 
“Let’s go!” Goh shouted as he threw a Poke Ball. But the Venonat just hopped around it, and the Poke Ball fell to the ground with a thunk. 
“You’ll have to battle!” Ash realized. 
“Okay, Scorbunny, use Double Kick!” Goh commanded. 
“Scor… bun!” Scorbunny used the move and hit the Venonat. 
“Veno!” it said, and a purple powder fell onto Scorbunny. Purple bubbles appeared around it. 
“It’s poisoned!” Ash called in horror. “Goh, we have to get it to a Pokemon Center, quick!” 
But Goh shook his head. “Scorbunny, use Tackle!” Scorbunny tried but fell over, too weak to battle. 
“Mudkip!” Mudkip cried. 
“Scorbunny!” Goh exclaimed and crouched down by his Pokemon. He picked it up. “Where’s the nearest Pokemon Center?” 
I took out my Rotom Phone. It gave me a map. “Follow me!” I called and ran ahead. Ash and Goh followed close behind. 
After about 10 minutes more of running through the forest, we emerged into a city. I saw a flash of red and knew it was the Pokemon Center. “This way!” I said, Mudkip going first. 
We opened the doors and walked in. It felt strange for me, because I had been in many Pokemon Centers in video games, but never in real life! As in every Center, Nurse Joy was standing at the counter in the middle of the room. 
Goh ran over to her. “Please, can you heal my Pokemon?” he asked pleadingly. “We were battling a wild Venonat and it got poisoned!” 
“By Poison Powder, I see?” Nurse Joy commented. She nodded. “Of course we can help. We’ll be back with your friend all healed up very soon!” 
“Thanks,” Goh replied gratefully and handed Scorbunny over to her. We walked to the corner of the Pokemon Center to wait while Scorbunny was healed. 
“So.. what do we do while we wait?” Goh asked. He dropped his gaze. “I feel awful making Scorbunny keep fighting, even though it was hurt.” 
“Don’t worry about it,” Ash encouraged him. “It was only your first time.” 
“Ash is right,” I agreed, trying to cheer Goh up. “It’s not your fault!” 
“But it is,” Goh muttered. 
“It is not!” I replied indignantly. “Not at all! You do know every Pokemon gets hurt sometimes, right?” 
“Really?” Goh asked, brightening a little. “Your Pokemon have gotten hurt? But you just got Mudkip!” 
I rolled my eyes. “Not here, no,” I said. “Not yet. But do you realize there are Pokemon video games from my world?” 
“Really?” Ash asked. 
“Yep,” I confirmed. “Absol-lutely. Get it?” It took them a moment, but they did laugh. 
“Now that’s funny,” Ash said, laughing. “Almost as funny as the ‘Where’s a Kricketune?’ thing!” 
I giggled more. “Yes, definitely. Hey, I never told you guys about the broom closet, did I?” 
“The broom closet?” they asked. 
“Oh, yes,” I confirmed. “I know there’s no broom closet in Professor Cerise’s lab, but Kathleen stopped by when Isabel and I were writing and said she just came out from the broom closet. When we said there wasn’t one, she said, ‘Then what was I stuck in for the last 15 minutes?’” I laughed again. “It was hilarious!” 
“Thanks, Miranda,” Goh said after we stopped laughing and making everyone in the Pokemon Center stare at us. “You really helped.” 
I felt myself blush. “Anytime. I’m all about helping people. Even the crazy ones at school.” 
“Wait, really? You help them?” Ash asked me curiously. 
“Yes,” I said. “I do. Honestly, even though they can be crazy sometimes… I’d never leave them intentionally. That’s why I don’t want to skip a grade. I mean, I would know some people, like Alexa and Molly from orchestra, but I’d miss my other friends from my grade. Why else would I become a ‘security guard’ on the last day of 6th grade to make sure no one fell out of the tree?” 
“Wait, wait, wait,” Goh started. “You watched kids climb in a tree for hours?” 
“Um, not quite,” I explained. “Just for a little while. It did get boring after a little while, I’ll admit that.” 
“I’d get bored too!” Ash said, nodding in agreement. “Anyway, is there anything else we can do while we wait for Scorbunny?” 
“I don’t know.” I pulled out my Rotom Phone. I wasn’t sure what to do until I thought of a genius idea. 
“Here, I’m going to get Isabel, Emmy, Kathleen, and even Ava on a Google Meet real quick,” I said.
“Um… okay?” Ash said.
I quickly emailed my friends with a link to join. In the message, I said, Join this real quick, you’re going to love what I do! Trust me, you will, no doubt about it!
In a minute, Emmy joined the meet.
“What’s up?” she asked. “And how is it going with Ash and Goh?”
“You’ll see. But let’s wait for Kathleen, Isabel, and Ava first! And it’s going great. Scorbunny got hurt, though, so that’s why we’re in a Pokemon Center.”
“Okay. And wait, Ava?” Emmy asked. “You’re inviting her too?”
“Yeah,” I said. “She’s going to love this too, and maybe we can find out where she is if we do this!”
“Good idea!” Emmy agreed. 
As soon as she said that, Isabel joined.
“Why did you want me here?” she asked. “Good to see you, though!” 
“You’ll see!” I said. “We just have to wait for Kathleen and Ava.”
“Okay, please tell me,” Ash said. “What is going on here?”
“Yeah,” Goh agreed. At least he was distracted from Scorbunny for now. “What is this about?”
“Oh, sorry, I forgot to tell you,” I said. “But there’s something that you guys are all going to love. Trust me, you won’t regret it!”
“Okay,” Isabel said. “If you say so!”
In a minute or two, Kathleen joined as well. “You requested my presence?”” she asked. 
“Haha,” I said. “You sound like Brody. Anyway, I’ll explain as soon as Ava gets here. And before you ask, yes, I invited Ava. You heard right. Also, before you ask, yes, I’m having fun. We’ve caught a lot of Pokemon. Oh yeah, even I have!”
“Woah, why are you inviting Ava?” Kathleen asked. “AND SHOW ME THE POKEMON! IS IT AN EEVEE? IF SO, IT’S MINE!”
“Miranda said that Ava is going to love whatever this is, and maybe we can find out where she is while we’re at it!” Isabel explained for me. “And no, you may NOT have her Pokemon!” 
“Ah,” Kathleen said. “I get it.”
“Well, we don’t. At least not really,” Goh added. “Please continue so I can know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t worry,” I promised. “As soon as Ava shows up, I’ll start. And no, it’s not an Eevee. I’ll show you when I get back later.”
“Okay,” Goh said. 
We waited a few minutes, and Ava still didn’t show up. “Well, I guess I’ll just get started since Ava isn’t comi —”
“Hello,” Ava said, just joining the Google Meet. But her camera was off. “Sorry I wasn’t here earlier, but Team Rocket wanted me to do something, and —”
“You joined Team Rocket?!?!?!” Ash and Goh shouted.
“Yeah,” Ava said. “They’re cool. Take a chill pill, jeese!”
Ash and Goh stayed silent, not looking very happy about it. Wow, life is confusing when your favorite anime characters are on the good side and one of your real-life friends joins the bad side. Ugh. 
“Anyway,” I continued. “Ava, I’m so glad you actually came! I thought you weren’t going to.”
“Of course I came!” Ava exclaimed. “I just had to convince Team Rocket to let me. Sheesh.”
“Okay,” I said. “As I was about to say, I realized that we’ve never told or shown Ash and Goh something very important.”
“What is it?” all of my friends, including Ash and Goh, asked.
I didn’t say anything for a few seconds to build suspense. Then I said, “Farmer Dude!”
As soon as I said that, Ava exclaimed, “Yes! How have we not said anything about that yet?!” 
“Who’s Farmer Dude?” Ash wondered out loud, looking confused. 
“Yeah, who’s that?” Goh asked. 
“The ‘official’ mascot of our school’s 6th-grade social studies class!” I exclaimed, laughing. 
“Huh?”
I laughed again. “Here, let me show you a picture. You won’t understand until you see him for yourself!”
I went into my photos on my school Google Drive account and pulled up a picture of Farmer Dude. “Now this is Farmer Dude!” I said. The famous picture of Farmer Dude showed this guy with a yellow hat in a field holding a radish. It was weird but hilarious. 
Ash and Goh leaned closer to look. Then they started laughing too.
“That’s ridiculous!” Ash said.
“Is that a radish?” Goh asked. 
“Yes!” my friends and I all exclaimed. 
“Should I sing The Ballad of Farmer Dude?” Ava asked. “I just opened the document!” Then, without waiting for an answer, she began, 
“Farmer Dude, 
Farmer Dude, 
He throws radishes in the villain’s face. 
He glides in the skies on his Radish Board. 
All he ever eats is radishes. 
Farmer Dude, 
He is a Farmer and a Dude. 
Farmer Dude,
Everyone loves him. 
Farmer Dude,
Farmer Dude, 
When he watches Star Wars, he cries. 
He cries Radishes. 
If he had his own sword, it would be a giant radish. 
Farmer Dude, 
He has a son named Radish,
And a daughter named Horse-Radish.
Farmer D —”
“Okay, I think we get the idea!” Kathleen said, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
“Yes, but that was hilarious!” Emmy added.
“Definitely!” Isabel agreed. “Farmer Dude is hilarious!”
“Yeah but still! I made it and every time I sing it, it gets funnier!” Ava exclaimed.
“No doubt about it!” I said. “Told you he’s the mascot of social studies!” I said to Ash and Goh. 
“I guess so!” Ash said. “Now I want to join your class!”
“Haha! But you might regret it, if you could actually come,” I warned him. “5th period is crazy! As in, you have no idea! Like, seriously. You have no idea.”
“What does it involve?” Goh asked.
“You sure you want to hear?” I asked.
“Yeah!” Goh and Ash said at the same time.
“Well,” I started. “It involves — get ready to either laugh like crazy or be super confused — mustard, barbeque, chaos, crazy stuff in chat, Kahoots, Blookets, Quizlets, complaining, chicken nuggets, revolution, ‘no mercy’, hilariousness, crazy stuff for attendance, Bob, Max, Joe, Farmer Dude, Nearpods, Pokemon Club, weird class debates, changing names of places into something crazy — like the Bay of Bengal into the Bay of Bagel. Yep, life is crazy, — everyone not liking me for winning Kahoots/Quizlets/Blookets all the time, everyone cheering for whoever has a chance of beating me in one of those (it gets annoying), everyone being weird, Mark doing Blookets under Kai's name, hmm, what else? Oh! Yes, I remember now. FEET!!!!!!!!!!!” 
“Feet?” Goh asked.
“Yes! Feet!” I repeated. “You have no idea how many times Joe says that!” 
“How many?” Ash asked. 
“So many, we can’t even count,” Ava chimed in. 
“Is Ava in your social studies class?” Ash asked me.
“Yep!” Ava said. “It is chaos. GOD HELP ME.”
“I think I need to join one of your class periods,” Goh said. “I need to see this craziness for myself!”
“Okay!” I said. “But we’re not in 6th grade anymore. I can show you some recordings and quotes from the class, though! I’ll show you later.”
“Okay, I can’t wait!” Goh said. 
“Can I join in on that too?” Ash asked.
“Sure,” I said. “The more, the merrier!” 
“Alright!” Ash said. “I definitely need to hear this!”
“I’d join in if I could,” Isabel said.
“You can probably join in the social studies party if you want,” Ava replied.
“Yes!” Isabel said. 
“Okay,” I said. “Then it’s settled! Prepare for weirdness!” 
After I said that, Ava started screaming things like “NO GO AWAY!” and “I'M TALKING WITH MY FRIENDS!!!” Then her camera turned on. Team Rocket was there! They were grabbing her and she was holding on to a bed leg. 
“Team Rocket?!” all of us asked in surprise. 
“Yep,” Ava said. “Guys, these are my friends from my world!” Jessie, James, and Meowth looked at us. 
“THE TWERPS!!!” the three of them yelled. They dropped Ava when they said that. 
“Oww!” Ava exclaimed. 
Ash and Goh did not look very pleased to be called twerps. Ash had been called that for so long now, though, so it was a little different for him than Goh.
“Don’t call us twerps!” Goh said angrily. “Who made up that name, anyway?”
“Who knows?” I answered. “Ava, tell them to stop calling us that!”
“Never!” she said.
“AVA! Pleeeeease?”
“Fine.” Ava turned to Team Rocket. “Stop calling them that. Maybe just for today or whatever. Also, for the record, I do not agree with this!” 
“Fiiiiine,” they reluctantly agreed. 
“Wait, why were they grabbing you?!” I asked confusedly. 
Ava sighed and said, “Well they needed to go online and order some di-stuff. But of course they just had to do it NOW when I'm on the computer. But because they couldn’t be patient, they tried to get me off while Meowth tried to leave the meeting but he accidentally turned on my camera.” 
We all nodded. Then Ava said, “Okay well here guys, what if I give you guys my computer and then you buy the stuff on there? My computer is dead but it’s charging.” 
“Okay!” they said. 
“Wait, what’s your password?” Jessie asked. 
Ava went on mute and then they all laughed while Ava was mad. Then she unmuted. “THAT’S RIGHT LAUGH IT UP. NOW GO BEFORE I HAVE TO VISIT YOU IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER I FIGHT YOU!” she yelled. “Anyway.” Then they left and Ava turned off her camera. 
“So, what now?” I asked. 
We all thought about it for a moment, then Ava said, “Well guys, I oughta go now. I should get to my computer before they find the fanart I have of them. See ya guys la-” 
“Wait, no! You can’t leave yet— I mean there is still one more thing to do before you leave!” I interrupted. I didn't want her to leave until we at least knew something more about where she was and… I didn’t want to think about it, but… if she was coming back. 
“What’s that?” Ava asked. 
“It’s… uh…”
“TELL ME ALREADY!!!” Ava yelled. 
I rolled my eyes. “Sheesh. Anyway… are you ever coming back to Professor Cerise’s lab?” 
Please say yes, please say yes. 
“I don’t know. Besides, even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t do it if the twe—I mean those two were there. But we can meet sometime down by the lake. I’m just everywhere watching everything,” Ava sighed. 
“HEY, AVA! WHY IS THIS FOLDER MARKED ‘Team Rocket’?” Jessie yelled in the background. 
“SH-” Ava began closing her computer. I was glad she didn’t finish what she was saying. I didn’t think it would have been good if we all heard. 
“Well, that was weird,” Kathleen said. “Anyway, was that all you wanted to tell us, Mira?” 
“Yep,” I said, nodding. “We’re almost done catching Pokemon. We’ll be back in probably”—I looked at the clock of my Rotom Phone—“a half-hour to an hour.” 
“Okay!” Emmy agreed. “See you then! MOUSEEEEEEE!” Then she left. 
“Bye, Mira!” Isabel said, then closed her computer. Kathleen did the same. 
“Now what?” Ash asked. He looked at Nurse Joy’s Blissey standing nearby. “Do you think Scorbunny is healed yet?” 
“I don’t know.” I gestured over to the counter. “Let’s find out.” 
Right as we began to walk over, Nurse Joy came out with Scorbunny in her arms. “Here you go,” she said and handed Scorbunny back to Goh. 
Scorbunny opened its eyes. “Scorbun!” 
Ash and I tried to stifle laughter. 
“I’m so glad you’re okay!” Goh exclaimed to his Pokemon. He looked back up at Nurse Joy. “Thank you so much!” 
“No problem!” Nurse Joy waved and walked away. I knew if this was the Kanto region Pokemon episodes, Ash’s friend Brock would’ve gone crazy. He always does over girls of any kind. 
I decided to voice it out loud to Ash. “Brock would’ve had a ball if he was here.” 
Ash grinned, getting the joke. “Yup, he totally would!” We laughed. 
“Who’s Brock?” asked Goh. 
“One of my friends from the very beginning of my journey,” Ash explained. 
Goh laughed too. “Ah, I get it. And he seriously did that all the time?” 
Ash nodded vigorously, and I joined him. “Absolutely,” Ash replied. He rolled his eyes. “Every time. Whether it was Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny, or anyone else, that’s what always happened.” 
We stayed there for a little longer, then I said, “Come on, let’s go now.” I grinned at Goh. “We have more Pokemon to catch!” 
Goh agreed, “Yeah!” He looked determined. “Let’s go!” 
* * * * * * * *
We were heading back to the lab after another hour or so catching Pokemon. Goh had managed to catch every single Bug-type from Kanto. I knew this would happen, since I watched Pokemon Journeys, but it was still nice to see in person. And that I didn’t mess anything up. 
What is with me? I asked myself. Why do I keep worrying about messing stuff up? I mean, there’s no reason to… right? 
All I knew was that Ash, Goh, and Chloe were totally awesome, and that I hoped my adventure here wouldn’t end for a while. 
Before I knew it, we were back at the lab. I opened the door, and Kathleen jumped on me. 
“YAY!” she yelled, giving me a 15 on the Kathleen Hug Scale. “You’re backkkk!!!” 
“Let… me… breathe!” I choked. She let go and said, “Sorry!!” 
“Did you catch a lot of Pokemon?” Izzy asked. 
Goh nodded. “Yeah, all the Bug-types in Kanto!” 
Emmy stared at us, confused. “Is that a lot?” 
I nodded. “Definitely.” 
“So…,” Kathleen began, “what now?” 
Ash ran over and said, “I have an idea!” He paused for dramatic effect. “Let’s find a place for all of Goh’s Pokemon!” 
Everyone groaned. 
“Hey, it’s true!” Goh insisted. He tried pulling out all of his Poke Balls, and in the process, 5 of them fell on the floor. He looked at us. “See?” 
“Okay, okay,” Kathleen said. “Let’s do it.” 
We were about to leave the lab when Professor Cerise came and stopped us in our tracks. 
“Welcome back, Ash, Goh, and Miranda!” he greeted us. “Welcome back!” 
“Hi!” I said. I pulled out Zorua’s Poke Ball and held it in my hand as I said, “I caught a Pokemon too! And Goh caught every Bug-type in Kanto.” I threw the Poke Ball. “Come on out!”
“Zorua!” my Pokemon exclaimed. 
Professor Cerise adjusted his glasses, leaning forward to peer closer. “A Zorua!” He pulled out a Rotom Phone I never knew he had. It repeated the same information that I had earlier. 
“Hmm,” he said. “Very interesting.” He stood back up. “Anyway, do you guys need a place for your Pokemon?” 
“Exactly!” Goh replied. 
“Well, come this way.” He led us outside to a park I recognized immediately. Cerise Park! 
“You can let out all of your Pokemon you aren’t bringing with you,” Professor Cerise explained. He waved his hand around the park. “There’s plenty of space!” 
“Come on out!” Goh called, throwing his Poke Balls into the air. The Bug-types materialized in front of us. 
“Scy!” Scyther yelled out. 
I smiled, seeing all of the Pokemon. 
“Can we go inside now?” Isabel asked, stretching tiredly. “It’s hot out here.” 
“Agreed,” Emmy replied. 
“Sure,” said Professor Cerise. He added to Goh, “Your Pokemon can stay here while you’re somewhere else.” 
“Thanks!” Goh answered, nodding in thanks. 
And with that, we followed Isabel inside.
== Chapter 17 (Miranda) - Weather Reporter ==
I opened my eyes the next day and stretched, pulling off my Pokemon sheets in my bed. Yesterday, I went on my first official adventure with Ash and Goh! 
I smiled as I remembered what had happened. The most memorable part was when a swarm of Beedrill had started chasing me and Goh. And we were running for our lives! I laughed at the thought of that. 
Anyway, it was time to get up. I glanced out the window. It was cloudy, but the sun was shining through cracks in the clouds. Hmm. That made me wonder if the Pokemon world had any weather reports on TV. I was curious to know if this world was really like back at home. 
I slipped out of my pajamas and threw on a shirt I had bought yesterday with a violin on it. It reminded me of Karolina Protsenko, the best violinist in the world. Well, in my opinion. I also grabbed a pair of light blue shorts and Sandshrew socks, then brushed my hair and teeth in the mini bathroom that was in my room. Honestly, Professor Cerise should get some more research assistants! There was plenty of room here. 
I took my Rotom Phone off of the nightstand and opened my door slowly, just in case anyone was sleeping. However, I heard some talking and laughing coming from the room next door. Ash and Goh’s room! 
I walked into their room. Emmy stopped talking about her mice, Snowball and Bryn, and turned to face me. “Hi, Miranda!” 
“Hi,” I said. I looked around. Everyone was in here. 
“Kathleen JUST finished talking about Ninjago, Harry Potter, and The Music Freaks,” Isabel said with a sigh. “I still want to talk about stuff like Stranger Things!” 
“How long have you guys been up?” I asked. 
“For about a half-hour,” Ash answered. “It is 8:45 now.” 
“Really?” I looked at my Rotom Phone, and sure enough, it was right. How come I didn’t pay attention to the time? 
“Should we eat breakfast now?” Goh asked us. “I’m hungry.” 
“So am I!” Ash exclaimed. 
I rolled my eyes. “Ash, you’re always hungry. That’s nothing new.” I ran just outside the doorway. “Race you guys there!” 
“Hey!” Isabel protested as she tried to get out of the room before anyone else. “You didn’t warn us!” 
I smirked and ran faster. In the end, Goh, Kathleen, and I made it to the table first. 
“Hi, Professor Cerise!” Kathleen said as she plopped into a chair. 
Professor Cerise turned away from the window, then looked at us. “Good morning!” he replied. “Are Emmy, Isabel, and Ash coming?” 
“Yes!” Ash panted as he came into the dining room. Isabel and Emmy were right behind him. 
“Hey, can we watch the weather this morning?” I asked Professor Cerise. I glanced out the window. “I’m curious if we can see what the weather is like in other regions.” 
Professor Cerise smiled. “Of course!” He turned on the TV near the breakfast table and changed the channel to Channel 4. A kid who looked to be a little younger than us was reporting the weather. 
“The weather in most of the Galar region is stormy today,” he said as his name flashed across the screen: Isaac. It showed a picture of storms near Wyndon City and Stow-on-Side, as well as Ballonea. “In the Kanto region, it is mostly cloudy, though the sun is peeking through.” It showed a picture of Vermillion City. 
“Hey, that’s close to us!” Ash exclaimed. 
I nodded and listened as Isaac the meteorologist went on. Something seemed familiar about him, but I couldn’t quite place what it was. 
Suddenly, the weather ended, and the TV showed a couple of commercials before going back to Isaac. “Later today and for the next week or so, another meteorologist will be taking my place,” Isaac announced. “My brother and I are going to visit Professor Cerise’s lab in Vermillion City. Until then, bye!” He disappeared, and we all looked at each other. 
“Isaac is coming here!” Isabel exclaimed. “Should we tell Ava to come so she can say hi?” 
“Nah,” Kathleen answered. “She probably wouldn’t come unless this Isaac kid brought malasadas.” 
I sighed in exasperation but smiled. “True.” The thought of malasadas made me hungry. “I want one too, come to think of it.” 
“Don’t we all?” Emmy asked truthfully, and we all burst into laughter. 
“I wonder when he’ll get here,” Ash wondered. We picked out our breakfast while we waited. We decided on muffins (mostly to make Kathleen happy, but also because Isabel couldn’t eat waffles/gofres because she loved them so much).  
I had just finished my chocolate chip banana muffin (which was unnamed) when the doorbell rang. I looked at everyone excitedly. “Who should go to the door?” 
“I’ll go,” Ash announced and stood up, pushing back his chair. He opened the door and I saw Isaac, as well as a smaller kid that must be his brother. Something seemed familiar about them, but I couldn’t place it. 
“Hello,” Isaac said. He glanced around the room. “Is Professor Cerise around?” 
“I’m right here,” Professor Cerise answered, coming over to the door. “We saw your news on TV. It’s an honor to have you here!” 
Isaac nodded and looked at my friends and I. “Who are you?” 
I felt something in my jellies but again couldn’t figure out what it was.
“I’m Miranda, and these are my friends Emmy and Isabel,” I introduced us, wondering where Kathleen went. I stared at Isaac and Adam. “Have we met before? Something looks really familiar…” 
“Miranda?” Adam asked. His eyes lit up. “Oh! Is it you?” 
It clicked. These were some of my other friends from back at home! “Yes!” I exclaimed. “I didn’t know you’d be in the Pokemon world too!” 
“Yeah, we came here by accident while reading about Pokemon,” Isaac explained. “We got sucked inside and I decided to become a weather reporter.” 
“And I’ve been getting really good at playing Mario games,” Adam said excitedly.
Kathleen walked up to us. “Who are these kids?” she asked. 
“My friends from home,” I answered. “Also, nice, Adam!” 
“Hey, can we catch Pokemon?” Isaac asked. 
“It would be ridiculous not to,” Professor Cerise said, smiling. He pulled out Poke Balls from his pockets and handed them to Isaac and Adam. “Take these.” 
“Thanks!” they exclaimed gratefully. 
“I want a Sandshrew!” Adam said. 
“And I’d like a Pikachu,” Isaac added. 
“Just like me!” Ash said. Isaac nodded. 
“I know where those Pokemon can be found,” Professor Cerise said. “Would you like me to take you all there?” 
“Yeah!” we cheered. 
Professor Cerise smiled. “Okay, then! Let’s go!” 
He led us to a place not far from Vermillion City. Suddenly, a Sandshrew popped out from behind some bushes. 
“Go, Poke Ball!” Adam squealed as he threw the Poke Ball. It bopped Sandshrew and it got sucked inside the ball, then made a ding sound. 
“Sandshrew has been registered to your Poke Dex,” I imitated the Rotom Phones. 
“Hey, a Pikahu!” Isaac exclaimed, pointing to a tree. Sure enough, one was right there. “Let’s go!” he shouted and threw the ball. He caught it as well. 
“Yay!” I cheered and clapped. I looked at everyone. “Are we going to go back to the lab now?” 
“Yes,” Professor Cerise answered. “Isaac, Adam, you can stay in one of the guest rooms. Don’t worry, there are plenty.” 
We agreed, and I started to wonder how I could possibly meet so many of my own real-world friends. That made me think of Ava. Would she ever come back…?
== Chapter 18 (Kathleen) - The Flute Cup ==
“Ava, pick up or I swear on the name of Zander Wickham.”
I was trying to contact Ava. I had texted, called, and even used Pinterest! Nothing. I sighed and hung up my ringing phone. Isaac and Adam, Miranda’s friends, had come to the lab and now this place seemed more crowded than before. I flopped onto the bed, or what I thought was the bed and was really the floor. 
“AGH!” I yelled as I slammed to the ground. I sat up and rubbed the back of my head. Suddenly, Miranda ran into the room. 
“Kathleen? Are you-” She stopped when she saw me. “There you are! Are you okay?!” 
“As fine as I can be,” I said, standing up. “Just almost died. A usual day for Kathleen.”
Miranda just stood there. “Okay……” I chuckled and came out of my room, closing the door.
I plopped down on the couch next to Izzy. Miranda did as well. Everyone except Professor Cerise was in the living room. It was like he could read my mind because Professor Cerise walked in right after I thought that.
“I have news!” he exclaimed. “There is a competition coming up called the Flute Cup! It's in the Hoenn region. Does anyone want to enter?”
“I do!” Ash exclaimed, standing up.
“I will too!” Miranda added. 
“Anyone else?” Professor Cerise asked us.
“Well, since I know nothing about Pokemon, I don’t know,” I said. “BUT, I’ll be there cheering you guys on if I don’t enter!” I exclaimed, pulling pom-poms out of thin air and shaking them. 
Miranda blinked. “Where did you get those?” 
I gasped. “The broom closet must’ve given me powers!” I shouted, shaking them. Izzy and Miranda facepalmed and Emmy just stared at me. 
“How would we get there?” Emmy asked.
“By plane,” Professor Cerise said. 
“When is it?” I asked.
Professor Cerise checked his watch. “In an hour.” 
“Well, what are we waiting for?” I asked, jolting up and towards the door. 
“Wait, Kathleen, the door isn’t-” Izzy got cut off. I slammed against the door and slowly slid back down to the ground. “Open…”
“I know that now,” I said, sighing, and stood up. I grabbed my satchel, put my pom poms in it, opened the door, and let everyone out. Well, everyone except Ash and Goh. They were bickering about registering for the competition. 
“Hey, you two!” I yelled. They turned around. “C’mon, if we wanna board on time, we gotta get moving!”
They both reluctantly went outside and I smirked. “Hoenn, here we come.”
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  
I watched as Goh and Ash bickered yet again. Apparently Ash had signed Goh up for the Flute Cup without his permission. I decided to join, but I needed a Pokemon. I grasped the Poke Ball in my hand tighter and walked away from my friends. I walked into a nearby park and sat in the shade of a tree.
I didn’t care what Pokemon I found, I just needed to find one in the next 20 minutes. Suddenly, I saw something pink in a bush. I sat up and slowly crept towards it. I leaned over the bush and gasped. It was a Jigglypuff! I reached into my satchel and grabbed a container labeled “Oran Berries”. I had read earlier that Jigglypuff (and many other Pokemon) LOVE Oran Berries. I slowly walked over to the side of the bush where I could see it better. I put a berry in my hand and extended it towards the Jigglypuff. It looked at me, confused.
“Go on.” I smiled. “You can eat it.”
The Jigglypuff walked over, studied my hand, and happily ate the berry. I shook more out of the container and put them in a pile for it.
While it was distracted, I grabbed the Pokeball and flung it at him. The Jigglypuff got sucked into the Pokeball. Suddenly, I got a notification from my Rotom Phone. I took it out of my satchel. “Jigglypuff has been added to your Poke Dex,” it rang.
My eyes widened and I squealed. I put the berries and my Rotom Phone back into my bag and ran back towards the others. 
“I GOT A JIGGLYPUFF!!!!” I exclaimed. “MY LIFE IS COMPLETE!”
A nearby elderly couple stared at me with a horrified look on their faces. They slowly backed away from us.
I turned away from the couple and back to my friends. “Now I can compete!”
“No offense, Kathleen,” Izzy started, “but I don’t think you can beat anyone with a Jigglypuff.”
“Then I’ll be the first!” I exclaimed.
“It’s pretty much impossible,” Miranda tried to explain.
“Anything is possible if I try!”
“Well,” Miranda started, “there’s no breaking her spirits. The only thing is that you need two Pokemon to participate in the Flute Cup.” 
I froze. “Ohhhhhhhh yeahhhhhh. Forgot about that rule...”
“You can borrow one of mine,” Goh offered. “I only have Bug-types, though.” 
“Which are there?” I asked. Miranda took out her Rotom Phone and showed me. There were at least 10 or 15 of them. 
“Ooh, can I borrow that one?” I said excitedly, pointing to Butterfree. 
“Yeah,” Goh agreed. “We’ll have to find something to have Professor Cerise get it to you.” 
“Okay,” I responded, adrenaline pumping through me. I was gonna battle! I was gonna suck, but whatever!
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  
I was right. I ended up losing, but I honestly didn’t care. At least I made it somewhat far—it was about my 2nd or 3rd match when I lost. I stood on the sidelines cheering everyone on and shook my pom-poms like crazy.
On Ash’s team was Pikachu and his mom’s Mr. Mime (which surprised everyone by battling very well). Miranda had Mudkip and Zorua, Isabel had Ditto and Gengar, and Emmy had Marill and Morpeko. Goh stood near me on the sidelines after trying to catch some Pokemon before running back in to watch us battle, and we both cheered everyone on. 
They were all really good. But, there was another reason I didn’t win; I didn’t look up the moves. So I made up my own. Pretty sure ‘Jigglypuff, use Jell-O!’ isn't a move.
Before I knew it, it was down to the final 4 Trainers. It was Ash, Miranda, Isabel, and some other dude. That guy and Ash were currently battling. It was honestly getting kinda boring just watching.
I zoned out for a bit until loud cheering startled me out of my thoughts. It sounded like Ash had beaten that other guy but had lost against Isabel. She was smirking. 
“Ash lost!” Goh yelped. “But at least Miranda and Isabel are still in!” He turned to me. “Come on, Kathleen, they're your best friends! Watch them!” 
“Okay, okay,” I responded, annoyed. I set my attention on the battle. 
“Our final match is between Miranda and Isabel, both from Vermilion City!” the announcer called. “Ready… begin!” 
Miranda released Zorua first, and Izzy let out Gengar. 
“Zorua, use Dark Pulse!” Miranda commanded. 
“Gengar, use Shadow Ball!” 
Both moves collided and created a cloud of smoke. When it cleared, both Pokemon were unharmed. 
I kinda zoned out until I heard the announcer shout, “Ooh, a close call! Is Gengar still standing?” 
We stared intently at the battle. Gengar shakily stood up with a determined and mischievous—this is Gengar, what do you expect?—grin. 
I honestly couldn’t keep up with all the battling and random shouting. Everyone was yelling and shouting and screaming and cheering. It was all kinda overwhelming, until the announcer finally said, “MIRANDA WINS!!”
There was an eruption of cheers and screams. Since it was over, I decided to go on a walk to clear my head and prevent my ears from ringing like crazy. I walked outside where crowds of people gathered together; laughing, chatting, going on with their lives. I took a deep breath in and sighed. Suddenly, I saw 3 suspicious people. I stared at them for a while. But there was someone that gave it away. Meowth. I froze as Ava and I made eye contact. Ava whispered something to Jessie, James and Meowth, and soon, 4 pairs of eyes were on me.
“Jigglypuff, on 3, we run.” I whispered. “1, 2-”
The group slowly walked towards me. “3.” I grabbed Jigglypuff and RAN into the bustling city, Team Rocket behind me. 
“WHY IS THE ONE WITH ASTHMA ALWAYS CAUGHT IN HIGH-SPEED CHASES?!” I yelled, wheezing. 
I grabbed my Rotom phone out of my pocket and called Miranda. She immediately picked up.
“Kathleen, where are you?!” Miranda exclaimed as Isabel, Emmy, Ash, and Goh popped up on the screen.
“In the middle of a high speed chase!” I said, hyperventilating. 
“WHAT?!” the five exclaimed. 
“Yeah,” I responded, Team Rocket now on the same sidewalk as me. “I was getting fresh air and they saw me. I guess they figured you all would be with me or something.” I was breathing really hard, but I kept running.
“What street are you on right now?” Miranda asked.
“I’ve passed a lot of streets, Miranda! How am I supposed to read them as I’m running, possibly for my life!?”
“You’re not gonna die, Kathleen!” Isabel said, peeping into the camera.
“bUt Am i?” I asked, picking up pace. I turned the corner and ran into an alley. Team Rocket ran past.
“THIS WAY!” Ava shouted, running across the street and down the sidewalk, Jessie, James, and Meowth right behind.
The phone lost signal and the call ended. I groaned.
“Well, it’s just you and me, Jigglypuff,” I said to the little pink Pokemon, walking out of the alleyway.
“Jigglypuff!” Jigglypuff exclaimed, wrestling out of my grasp and running further into the city.
“JIGGLYPUFF, WAIT!” I yelled, chasing after him. After 15 minutes of chasing, I finally captured him.
I made a spot in my satchel and gave him some food, hoping he would stay calm. But there was a bigger situation.
I was lost.
In a huge city.
With no reception. 
And an evil group of villains (and one of my best friends) was on the lookout for me.
I was doomed.
== Chapter 19 (Isabel) - The Kathleen Search Party ==
I stared in dismay at Miranda’s phone as Kathleen’s call ended. “Anyone else feeling very worried right now?” 
“Uh, yeah,” Emmy said. 
“Should we go find her?” Ash asked. 
Miranda turned to him with a super worried look. “We’ll have to. But the bigger question is, how do we find her? I mean, she could be anywhere by now!” 
For some reason, everyone turned to me. “What? Don’t ask me anything! I don’t know much about Pokemon at all! Ask Miranda, Ash, or Goh about that,” I exclaimed. I started to think. “But since this is Kathleen we’re talking about, she’d probably hide in a broom closet or something.” Emmy, Miranda, and I shared an amused look. 
“Huh?” Ash questioned. 
“N-never mind,” Miranda replied, giving a small smile. “Relatively long story.”
The five of us pondered a solution for a few minutes in silence. 
Finally, Goh asked, “Should we tell Professor Cerise? Just an idea, I don’t know what else we can try anyway.” 
I half-listened to people debating whether to tell Professor Cerise or not, occasionally nodding along to something. My eyes suddenly lit up. “Guys,” I started. “I have an idea.” 
“What?” Miranda asked almost instantly. 
“There’s this app you can download that allows you to put in a phone number from your contacts and track their phone. If I download the app, I can put in Kathleen’s number and we can find her!” I said excitedly, already whipping out my phone to download the app. 
I had used it once to find my mom’s phone, and I knew it was called ‘Find My iPhone’ or something. I downloaded the app and put in Kathleen’s number, crouching forward with anticipation. I went to sit back up straight and felt my head collide with Ash’s. Miranda, Ash, Goh, and Emmy were circled around me like a pack of wolves. 
“Woah, back up,” I said, spreading my arms out. “Step out of the bubble.” 
They backed off but still craned their necks as the app finished loading. “Okay, I found her. She’s near some old building…” 
I zoomed in and saw a picture of the building. The sign over the door said, “DO NOT ENTER.” I squinted and saw Kathleen’s little dot move. “Annnd… she just went into the building.” I sighed. 
“It’s Kathleen— are we surprised?” Miranda asked, and I giggled. 
“Not really,” I replied. “Well, we should probably go get her before she gets into any trouble.” 
The others nodded in agreement and I set up my Google Maps to lead us toward the building Kathleen was in. “Go straight until you reach the traffic light, and turn left,” a very loud, very annoying, very British voice boomed from my phone. 
“Shut up!” I hissed at the phone. I turned down the volume and looked up. Ash and Goh looked confused, and Miranda and Emmy were holding back giggles. 
“I like British accents, okay?” I said, going red. “Let’s just go…” 
Miranda and Emmy burst into laughter as we began walking, and Emmy started imitating the Google Maps voice. It took us a while to get there, which included at least ten blocks of walking, complaining from Emmy and Ash, Miranda giggling about my British Siri/Google Maps voice, and Goh having a constant bored expression. 
What seemed like at least an hour later, we finally arrived at the building. The bright yellow— almost highlighter-like— “DO NOT ENTER” sign was definitely there, which meant Kathleen was definitely not supposed to be in there. 
I glanced apprehensively at Miranda and then the four of us began walking into the building. “Kathleen?” Miranda and I called out. 
“On your left will be your destination,” the British voice of my phone blared through the silence and everyone suddenly burst into laughter. 
The sound of skidding tennis shoes echoed through the room and everyone fell silent. A blonde-haired girl turned the corner and as she got closer, I recognized it to be— “Kathleen!” I shrieked, rushing up to her.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m glad to see you too, Iz, but you guys need to come see this. NOW,” Kathleen said breathlessly. She began running back down the hall and we followed her lead. 
I followed her until she stopped in front of a door and panted. “Okay, don’t freak out—we can’t let anyone know we’re here…” Kathleen started quietly. 
“That’s what you lead with?!?” I asked in a low hiss. Kathleen opened the door and I looked around at the brightly-lit room. 
I stifled a scream as I noticed multiple Pokemon locked up. Goh, Ash, and Miranda had expressions of pure horror on their faces. Even me, someone who knew virtually nothing about Pokemon, was still disgusted. 
“Who would do this?” Emmy whispered. 
“Can’t you guess?” Goh said bitterly. 
“Team Rocket,” Miranda and I said in unison. 
“But why would Ava take part in something like this? She loves Pokemon!” I said. What exactly had made Ava, a sweet Pokemon-lover, motivated to do this? 
“I don’t know if Ava actually did this, though,” Miranda said. “There’s more of Team Rocket than just Jessie, James, and Meowth. But we can’t really be sure of what happened…” 
After looking back at the cages, I glanced at Kathleen. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Kathleen asked mischievously. I smirked and nodded. 
Kathleen and I both rifled around— I checked through my bag, and Kathleen checked through her hair— and each eventually pulled out a bobby pin. I glanced at the others. “Do any of you know how to pick a lock too?” 
They shook their heads, and Kathleen and I got to work. “Be careful,” Miranda whispered anxiously. “If Team Rocket comes back…” She trailed off, not wanting to say what could happen out loud. 
Kathleen and I creaked open the first two cages as quietly as possible. We began working on the next two cages. “Only one more left,” Ash said quietly. 
I nodded, half-listening as I opened the cage. One of them let out a loud squeak and Kathleen and I jumped backward. The sound of racing footsteps filled the air, and I looked at the others, alarmed. 
“We need to go!” Miranda squeaked. 
“We can’t just leave the last Pokemon!” Kathleen protested. 
“Grab the other four and the two of us will free the other Pokemon,” I hissed quietly. I pointed to a different door on the other side of the room. “Quick, go that way!” 
“But-” Emmy started. 
“Go!” I hissed. Kathleen and I returned to trying to free the final Pokemon as the others ran out the exit.
“It’s a Jolteon,” Kathleen said, staring at it. 
“How do you know more about Pokemon than me?” I giggled quietly. The incoming sounds of pounding feet brought us back to reality. 
The door banged open and Kathleen yelped. Team Rocket stood in the doorway, furious expressions on their faces, and next to them stood… “Ava,” Kathleen whispered. 
I ripped open the cage door and hurriedly picked up the Jolteon. It made a sound that reminded me of a whimper. I passed it over to Kathleen and jumped to my feet. “Hey!” Jessie shrieked. 
“Run!” I yelled to Kathleen. We started toward the door as Team Rocket began running into the room.
“What are you doing?!?” Ava yelled at us.
“We need to go!” I yelled, whipping open the door. Kathleen and I ran through, and I held it closed behind us. “Get ahead so they don’t get the Pokemon and then I’ll start running!” 
Kathleen ran, and once she had turned the corner, I let go of the door and bolted. The two of us skidded through the halls, Team Rocket and Ava hot on our tails. We ran out the building and towards Emmy, Ash, Goh, and Miranda who were huddled together outside. 
“Run!” Kathleen and I screamed in unison. They looked up and when they saw Team Rocket, they began running. 
“Was that Ava back there?!?” Miranda shouted in shock as we ran. I nodded sadly as I panted. We ran quickly across a street just as the light turned red. 
We didn’t stop running for another three blocks until we finally caught our breath. Miranda glanced at the Jolteon in Kathleen’s arms. “Where’s the other Pokemon?”
“What do you mean?” I asked, tilting my head. 
“I’m pretty sure there was one more in the corner,” Miranda said. “Did you not get it?”
I moaned and buried my head in my hands. “No, I didn’t see that one,” I groaned. 
Kathleen stroked the Jolteon and made an odd expression. “Wait a minute,” she whispered. She pulled a silver disk out of the Jolteon’s fur. “I think they were tracking the Pokemon. Which means if I can SOMEHOW trace the other tracker, we can find the other Pokemon!” Kathleen exclaimed.
“Let’s do it,” Miranda said determinedly. “I’m pretty sure it was a Helioptile, and that’s one of my other favorite Pokemon. Kathleen, do your thing!” 
“On it!” Kathleen yelled. “Check for other trackers on the other Pokemon. We could speed it up by looking at more than one at a time.” Everyone in the group helped search for them. I looked down and helped search. I felt a metal disk on its neck.
“Found one! “ I announced to the group. The others all found one too. 
“Looks like they all have one. We should be careful; they could track us ourselves!” Goh reminded us.
“Yes, but we have our own Pokemon. We could battle them all if we must! My buddy will just electrocute them if it comes to it!” Ash said, looking at his partner, Pikachu. He smiled. “Right, Pikachu?”
“Pika-Pika!” 
“And I have a Jigglypuff!” Kathleen added. “Don’t forget about my newest partner Jolteon! Cute bean she is.” 
“Jigglypuff?” Jigglypuff wanted to get just as much love.
“Yes. I love you too.” Kathleen squished him in her arms. “When we get back to the lab in Kanto, I can go onto a computer and begin trying to access the trackers.”
We called Professor Cerise to inform him of the current situation. He picked up and said nothing for a moment. Then he finally said, in a concerned tone, “Take a plane back to Kanto, and we can look at the trackers.” 
Goh looked up when the next plane would leave and we began to head over to the airport. Once we finally got back, Kathleen rushed over to the computer lab with Professor Cerise, Ren, and Chrysa and began scanning and trying to hack into the disks. Meanwhile, we sat in the living room, anxiously waiting for the results we desperately needed.
It seemed like hours passed by before Kathleen yelled, “I GOT THE LOCATION!” We all hurried to our feet and ran into the lab where Kathleen was. We all huddled around her screen, where it showed the location of the Helioptile.
“Personal space, people,” Kathleen said and we all moved away, giving her space to breathe.
“According to the tracker, it says that the Helioptile is in the Sinnoh region. And Miranda, please tell me Sinnoh is a hop, skip, and a jump away from Kanto?”
“But Sinnoh is not very close to Hoenn, as far as I know of!” Miranda exclaimed. 
“Exactly! My question is, how did it get from Hoenn to there in, like, an hour?!”
“I dunno,” Ash said. “But I think Sinnoh is somewhat close to here, right, Professor?” 
“With a plane ride, it’s not that far,” Professor Cerise reminded us with a smile. 
“True!” Kathleen said. 
“How did you forget that?!” I exclaimed. 
“I have the braincells of a bagel. You can’t blame me. And Iz, DON’T SAY YOU BLAME ME. DON’T.” 
Kathleen plugged her phone into the computer, and in a matter of seconds, the map with the tracker and everything else was on Kathleen’s phone.
“Since when were you so tech smart?” I asked Kathleen. She shrugged.
“Maybe it’s another power the broom closet has bestowed upon me,” she said, putting her phone back into her bag. Miranda and I facepalmed simultaneously.
“Well,” Kathleen said, standing up abruptly, fastening her satchel strap, and grabbing the silver tracker. “Who’s ready for a field trip?!”
== Chapter 20 (Miranda) An Ice Cream-y Helioptile Rescue ==
“And Everson, I know you didn’t log off. You creep!!” 
Isabel, Kathleen, and I grinned at each other. Meanwhile, Ash and Goh looked strangely at us, seeming concerned. “What are you doing-” 
“Don’t ask,” me and my three friends responded in sync. We glanced at each other and burst out laughing. 
As soon as we got onto the plane, we began to write monologues. We were just sharing ours with others, and Kathleen was shouting hers very aggressively. 
“Who is Everson?” I asked. “Why did he not log off?” 
“It’s a story I might write sometime,” Kathleen replied, avoiding the actual question. 
“I still don’t understand,” Goh said slowly. “Why are you writing those?” 
“Because we can,” Isabel added, smirking. She began to read hers as aggressively as Kathleen did. 
Goh sighed. “I’m not going to ask anymore.” 
Our plane began to take a downward dive as we approached the Sinnoh region. “Please stay seated until the plane lands, thank you!” a voice boomed through the speakers. 
“I hope I can battle Team Rocket and get back that poor Pokemon!” Ash said, determined. He stared out the window stonily. “Those Pokemon thieves will get blasted off by Pikachu and I because that’s what they deserve.” 
Isabel blinked. “That’s dark.” 
“Says the one who likes talking about dark stuff!” I retorted. 
“That’s different!” she countered. 
I shook my head and sighed as I watched the plane touchdown. Our small group piled together as we exited the plane. Kathleen took out her phone and tracked the signal. “It’s this way,” she said, pointing towards a street filled with carnival-like games. 
“That’s a weird place for a stolen Pokemon to be in,” Goh muttered. 
“Seems fine to me!” Kathleen exclaimed, skipping down the street. 
“Leen, wait-” Emmy started. We all looked at each other for a moment, then tore down the street in pursuit of our friend. 
“KATHLEEN!” I shouted, struggling to keep up. “WHY DO YOU WALK SO FAST?!” 
Eventually, we caught up to Kathleen, all out of breath. 
“Hey, look!” Ash said, pointing to an ice cream stall. He licked his lips and looked at us hungrily. Signs with the Pokemon Vanillite decorated the area. “Let’s get some!” 
“Ash, that’s not why we’re here,” Isabel began, but it was too late. Our hungry anime friend was already checking out the flavors. 
Goh’s gaze followed Ash as he bounced around, trying to decide on a flavor to choose from. “Well, I’m hungry too… It can’t hurt to get a little treat…” 
“I’m in too!” Emmy responded immediately. 
“Me three!” Kathleen exclaimed. The three of them ran over to Ash. 
I glanced at Isabel and sighed. “This is why we need to find some friends who don’t like food so much.” She nodded in agreement. 
“Oh, would you like some ice cream for your little Pokemon, too?” the lady behind the stand asked, pointing at Ash’s Pikachu. From what I could see, there were three workers—the female one had pink hair, the male had lavender-colored hair, and the small one didn’t look like a human at all. 
Immediately, it hit me. “Team Rocket,” I groaned. Their disguises were terrible. 
However, no one else seemed to notice. They all eagerly looked at the many flavors of ice cream that were available. Meanwhile, I scoured the area, trying to check if Ava was nearby. I didn’t see her, though. 
The female worker—Jessie—held her hands out. “We like to give Pokemon the size of ice cream cone that fits them best! All we need to see is the size of your yellow friend!” 
“Sure, here!” Ash said, picking up Pikachu. He handed him over to the cotton candy workers. 
The small worker—Meowth—pulled out a measuring tape and began to measure Pikachu. 
“That’s not how you do it!” the male employee—James—snapped at Meowth. James took out different ice cream cones and held them up to Pikachu. Choosing the medium-sized one, Jessie filled it up with vanilla ice cream and handed it to Pikachu. “Here, little one! Enjoy!” 
“Pikachu!!” Pikachu smiled, happy, and gobbled up the ice cream. 
Isabel leaned over and whispered to me, “Why aren’t they giving Pikachu back?” 
I decided to stay quiet about Team Rocket for now and gave a shrug. If we wanted to rescue Helioptile, we might want to play along with Team Rocket’s silly plan. 
“Pika?” Pikachu sniffed the air, and his ears twitched. “Pika-chu!” He dropped the ice cream cone and leaped down to the ground, glancing around. He ran underneath the table. 
“Ahh!” Jessie shrieked. I narrowed my eyes. Something was up—er, down. 
“Don’t!” Meowth lunged forward and tried to grab Pikachu. However, Pikachu wriggled out of Meowth’s grasp. 
Ash stared at the commotion and leaped forward. “Pikachu! What’s up?” 
“Pikaa!” Pikachu pointed underneath the table. “Pika-pika-pika!” 
Under the table came a muffled, “Helio, Helioptile!”
We all shared looks of horror and recognition. “Who are you guys, really?” Goh challenged. 
Jessie began to laugh, and the Team Rocket members took off their costumes. “Prepare for trouble-” 
“IT’S TEAM ROCKET!!!” I screamed. “I KNEW IT!” 
“How did you know?!” James asked. 
I looked doubtfully at them. “You really think your disguises are that good? I can easily tell it’s you. Besides, I know your voices!” 
Jessie laughed evilly. “Yes! I KNEW I could become a famous actress! Everyone shall know my name and voice!” 
“Please stop…” James and Meowth muttered. 
“HEY!” 
“Team Rocket!” Kathleen looked determined and angry at the same time. “Give us that Helioptile!” 
“Yeah, no!” Meowth laughed. “We can’t give you that Pokemon, twerps! It’s for the boss!” 
“For the boss,” Jessie and James agreed. 
With a sigh of annoyance, Isabel turned to our group. “Okay, so how are we gonna get that Pokemon back? Team Rocket here obviously isn’t gonna just hand it over.” 
“I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!” Kathleen shouted as we shushed her. 
“Fine,” I said. 
“Figure out how to get the Pokemon!” Emmy added.
“That’s very helpful!” Goh said sarcastically. 
“I know!!” Emmy responded. 
“Just chill out and think of a plan,” Isabel interrupted quickly. “What if we distracted Team Rocket?” 
Kathleen darted away to a food stand, grabbed a ton of stuff, threw money at the worker, and ran back to us with a bulging bag. “I got this covered,” she said with a smirk. I wondered what she had but knew this ought to be good. 
“Then I could get the Helioptile,” Ash offered. 
Goh and the others nodded, but I cut in, “No, no, no. I think I should be the one to do it. No offense, but I was the only one to see this Helioptile back at Team Rocket’s place. I think it needs me… Besides, it’s about time I join the rescue party.” 
“Well… okay,” Ash agreed. He glanced at Pikachu and a mischievous grin crossed his face. “Pikachu and I will be ready to unleash a Thunderbolt if Team Rocket tries to get away.” 
“Wait a minute, why didn’t you do that in the first place?!” Emmy asked. 
Ash looked sheepish. “I didn’t think of it, sorry…” 
“Moving on!” Goh interrupted. “I’ll help Ash if it comes to the Thunderbolt strategy.” 
“Izzy and I will help whoever needs it!” Emmy added. “And maybe look for Ava too.” 
“Huh, you’re right. I wonder where Ava is? We just saw her earlier… is she here for this?” Kathleen turned toward Team Rocket and shouted, “Where’s Ava?” 
“We’re not telling!” Jessie yelled back. 
“Oh, she’s not here,” Meowth replied, despite what Jessie had just said. He vaguely gestured down the street. “She went looking down there.” 
“I’ll go search for her,” Isabel whispered to us. “I might be able to talk to her.” 
“Do that,” I said. “Now, let’s start our plan when I yell the code word. Three, two-” 
“Wait, what’s the word?” questioned Emmy. 
“Trust me, you’ll know. Three, two, one… THE JOURNEY STARTS TODAY!!!!!!” 
Kathleen, right on cue, shoved her right hand into her mysterious bag and pulled out loaves of bread. “BREAD ATTACK!!” she screamed, hurling the bread at Team Rocket. They spun around and leaped to the side in an attempt to avoid the flying bread. They had to dodge so fast that it looked like they were dancing. 
I started to crack up. “Genius,” I sighed happily. Then I remembered what I had to do—save the Helioptile! I lunged down where Pikachu had pointed and stretched my arms as far as they could reach. The rocks and concrete scratched my arms but I persisted, reaching farther until I grasped the cold bars of a Pokemon cage in my hands. I wiggled backward, pulling the cage with me. Helioptile let out a nervous squeak. 
“It’s okay,” I soothed it. “You’ll be safe soon.” 
I backed up and stood up on my knees, the Helioptile’s cage in hand. “Kathleen!” I shouted. “Assistance needed!” 
She stopped throwing the bread for a moment (Team Rocket sighed and sank to the ground in relief) and tossed the bag to Emmy. “Keep throwing,” she advised. She ran over to me and unlocked the cage. 
I tore the door open and held my hand out to the small Pokemon. It tentatively came out and stepped onto my hand. 
“It’s okay,” I repeated softly again. I held it close as I got to my feet. “We need to get out of here,” I said. “Before Team Rocket tries taking my Pokemon back.” 
“Wait, you haven’t officially caught it yet,” Goh reminded me. “Do you need a Poke Ball?” 
“Yeah, I could use one,” I admitted. He handed a Poke Ball to me and I said thanks. I held it out to the Helioptile. “Do you wanna become my Pokemon?” 
The yellow Pokemon hesitated for a moment, then nodded and bumped its head into the Poke Ball. “Helio!” In a flash of light, it disappeared into the open Poke Ball. It spun around in my hand three times until it let out a “ding!” 
“Helioptile has been registered to your Pokedex,” my Rotom Phone recited. We all laughed. I had forgotten about the famous Pokedex line. 
“Yay!” my friends and I cheered. “You got the missing Pokemon!” Team Rocket, however, didn’t look very thrilled. 
“We’d try taking that right now, but it’s our time to leave,” James said. 
“But we’ll be back soon, to get that Helioptile and the twerp’s Pikachu, I believe!” Jessie finished. 
“We need to run before we get sent blasting off,” Meowth reminded his friends, breaking the rhyme scheme. 
“Good point!” James replied. They quickly packed up their stand and started to run away. “Buh-bye, twerps!” 
“Oh, no, you don’t!” Ash smirked. “Chase them and give them a good shocking for all the trouble they caused, buddy!” 
“Pika!” Pikachu tore along the sidewalk in pursuit of Team Rocket. 
Helioptile popped out of her Poke Ball and looked at me, determination showing in her eyes. “Helioptile!” 
“I think it wants to go with Pikachu,” Goh translated. He took out his Rotom Phone and asked it what type Helioptile was. “Helioptile is an Electric-type,” the phone answered in a robotic tone. 
“Then it could help boost Pikachu’s power!” Ash looked excited. 
I nodded, giving my permission for Helioptile to join Ash’s Pikachu. It ran after its Electric-type friend. After a few moments, a huge burst of light appeared near the end of the street. I heard the faint screams of Team Rocket. 
“Oh, no, the twerps’ Pokemon followed us!” James exclaimed. 
“Great. Just great,” Jessie agreed with a sigh. 
“Meowth, that’s right…” 
“WOBB-BUFFETT!!” 
And, of course, “We’re blasting off again!!” 
Kathleen grinned. “Well, we did it, guys!” 
“Yes we did,” agreed Ash. He looked around. “Wait, where’s Isabel?” 
“She went to look for Ava, remember?” I reminded him. 
“I know, but where is she now? I don’t see her anywhere.” 
“Don’t tell me we have another Missing Person case,” I sighed. 
Emmy pointed down the street. “No, I see her down there!” 
We ran down the street towards Isabel. “Did you find her?” Goh asked. 
“I saw her, but she left as soon as she saw Team Rocket fly off," she explained. "I couldn't really say anything.” 
Our group sighed. I could tell that they were all disappointed. At this rate, we’d never get to talk things out with Ava. 
“Well, now what do we do?” Goh asked. 
Suddenly, Ash pointed to a poster attached to a wall. It read: “Sinnoh Iceberg Race- Registration Ends At 11 AM! The Race Will Be This Afternoon At 1 PM!” 
“Ooh, I did want to enter a Pokemon in that! I was gonna catch a Water-Type for it,” Goh exclaimed, looking excited. “I read about it yesterday online—it’s a race for Pokemon! Last year’s winner was a Piplup.” 
“Well, then it’s obvious! We’ll all enter!” Kathleen shouted. 
I nodded, smiling. “Great idea! Let’s all enter this contest!” 
And then, me, Ash, and Goh’s Rotom Phones rang with a call from Professor Cerise.
== Chapter 21 (coming soon) ==
Category:Stories
Category:Fanfiction