Ash's Second Training Day

*A few days after encountering Drew and Harley...*

Ash was about to go camping in the mountains. He decided that to help find a way to defeat Brandon and combine his mind with his Pokemon, the best thing to do was re-experience the same feelings he had back when he started out as a trainer, like going back to the beginning again. Ash was taking Pikachu, Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise with him; he had gotten the other three from Tracey earlier.

"So Ash, why are you going with Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise along with Pikachu?" May asked.

"Well May what's the first thing that happens when someone becomes a Pokemon trainer?" Ash asked her.

"I know the answer." Max said. "They get a starter Pokemon and Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle are Kanto's starter Pokemon. And Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise are their final evolutions."

"That's correct Max." Prof. Oak said. "And I consider this to be a great idea."

After Ash got everything together, he and his Pokemon left to camp out for the night.

Ash and his Pokemon came to a clearing in the middle of a forest.

"Okay guys." He said. "The first thing we need to do is set up camp and make a bed for us to sleep in tonight."

He didn't have his tent or sleeping bag with him. To make a bed Charizard gathered some big logs and Venusaur cut them into smaller logs. Ash and the Pokemon made a big square; big enough for Ash and his Pokemon. To make it soft Blastoise used Rapid Spin to gather up thousands of leaves and Venusaur gathered them with his whips. Soon the bed was ready.

"That's good. Now we need to gather lots of food for us all." Ash said.

The good news was that there were plenty of fruit trees in the forest with hundreds of berries. Charizard used Steel Wing to get all the berries down and Blastoise, Venusaur and Pikachu caught them. The last thing to do was make a fire to warm everyone up as it was nearly dark. Ash gathered some wood.

"Charizard, I need you to use Ember on this wood." He said. "But since you're a big Pokemon only release a small flame, understand?"

Charizard did as he was told and lit the fire with a very small Ember. So Ash and his Pokemon had a good fire to keep them warm.

"You know what you guys?" Ash said to his Pokemon. "Being together with you four reminds me of the time I got each of you. Pikachu, you were given to me by Prof. Oak the day I first became a Pokemon trainer. Even though there was a choice between Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle, you were the one I wanted."

Pikachu was happy to hear that.

"Venusaur, when you and I first met you were a Bulbasaur back in a village where Melanie took care of injured and abandoned Pokemon. Later when we visited that secret garden you evolved into Ivysaur and then just before I went to Johto you evolved into Venusaur."

Venusaur remembered that.

"Charizard, when you and I first met you were a Charmander. We found you when you had been abandoned by your last trainer and you were weak from the rain, but luckily we managed to get you to safety and Damian was arrested. Misty, Brock and I adopted you and the other Pokemon Damian had."

Charizard remembered that and he was still happy that he and the others were now with Ash, Misty and Brock.

"Later on you evolved into Charmeleon and then when I was captured by Aerodactyl you evolved into Charizard and helped save me." Charizard roared happily after remembering that.

"Last of all Blastoise, when we first met you were a Squirtle and you and several other Squirtle formed a Pokemon gang because you were abandoned by your trainers. Then Misty and I caught you and another Squirtle while Michael adopted the remainder. Later on you evolved into Wartortle and like Venusaur you evolved into Blastoise before I went to Johto."

Blastoise felt proud upon hearing that.

"We have gone through so much in a long time yet I remember all this like it was only yesterday." Ash finished.

Over the next few days, Ash and his Pokemon spent a lot of time together, playing and training etc. They also slept together on the same bed. They were being watched by Jessie, James and Meowth.

"Well, well, well the twerp and his Pokemon are alone." Meowth said.

"Getting Pikachu and that Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise will get us to the top with the boss." Jessie said.

"Forget it." Meowth said. "We tried to get those three and Pikachu lots of times but we failed lots of times too. Stealing fully evolved Pokemon isn't that easy."

"Then we will get Pikachu and skedaddle." James said.

Meowth and Jessie agreed.

*One night...*

Ash and his Pokemon were getting warm by a fire, when suddenly what looked like a van selling noodles came up. Jessie and James (disguised as noodle sellers) came out of the van. Ash could tell right away that it was Team Rocket in disguise.

"Hello there traveler." Jessie said. "Would you and your Pokemon like some noodles?"

"Go away, Team Rocket." Ash muttered. "Venusaur, Razor Leaf."

Their disguises were sliced off.

"By the way your hair gives you away Jessie." Ash pointed out.

"Grr I told you to hide your hair Jessie!" Meowth growled.

"No one tells me what to do!" Jessie shouted.

"Guys this isn't the time to argue." James was right because Ash and his Pokemon were ready to fight.

"Venusaur send them flying with Power Whip." Ash said.

Venusaur struck them with glowing whips and they were sent flying.

"You'd think by this point they'd know their disguises don't fool me." Ash told his Pokemon.

His Pokemon agreed that those three were idiots.

At that moment a voice called out.

"What do we have here?" It was Brandon and he had seen everything.

"Ash I felt the bond between you and your Pokemon when you stood up to Team Rocket." Brandon said.

"Those three have been trying to steal my Pokemon since I first encountered them in Viridian City several years ago. We're well acquainted by now." Ash explained.

"I see." Brandon said.

"So I take it you found Regice?" Ash asked.

"Yes and that's why I'm accepting your battle." Brandon said. "But there's one condition; I want a four on four Pokemon battle. I wish to see the battling style you and your four Pokemon have."

Ash accepted Brandon's terms.

*The next day...*

Ash and Brandon went back to the Pokemon Center together. Everyone was waiting for them to welcome them back. Before Ash and Brandon could begin their battle, Scott told Ash something he forgot to mention last time they saw each other. If Ash won the Battle Frontier he would enter the Battle Frontier Hall of Fame and would b a candidate to become a Frontier Brain.

"What an honor. To become a Frontier Brain of your own battle facility." Max said.

He thought it would be cool to become a Frontier Brain. Ash couldn't believe it himself. Scott also revealed he was the owner of the Battle Frontier and he explained that he built the battle facilities to expand the art of Pokemon battling.

So now Ash knew he could become a Frontier Brain once he defeated Brandon, but he still had to defeat him first.