Start of Hoenn

Ash, Tomo and Growlithe were on the ship that was taking them to the Hoenn Region.

"I can't wait until we start our journey in Hoenn Ash." Tomo said.

"Neither can I Tomo." Ash replied. "It will be great seeing all the Hoenn Pokemon and traveling to new places. And there's no doubt that our journey through the Hoenn Region will be great just like it was in Kanto, the Orange Islands and Johto."

"Do you think that we'll also meet any of the legendary Pokemon in Hoenn too?" Tomo asked.

"Actually Tomo I do." Ash replied. "After all, we've run into legendary Pokemon before."

Tomo agreed with him.

By the time afternoon hit, the ship docked and Ash and Tomo took their first step in the Hoenn Region.

"Where do we go first?" Tomo asked Ash.

"We need to go and see Prof. Birch in Littleroot Town." Ash said. "And we are in Littleroot Town now. Oh but first."

He took out two compact-disk shaped devices from his backpack.

"These are Pokenavs; Prof. Oak gave them to me before we left. There's one for you and one for me, these display maps of the Hoenn Region and we mustn't lose them."

"Got it." Tomo nodded.

"So the one thing we need to know is how to get to Prof. Birch's lab." Ash said.

"I'll get you two boys there." A voice said.

The voice belonged to a chubby brown-haired man.

"Hey wait, aren't you Prof. Birch?" Ash asked. "Prof. Oak showed me a photo of you when I was still in Pallet Town."

"That's right, I am Prof. Birch." He said. "And you two must be Ash and Tomo Ketchum. Prof. Oak told me about you two and that you're going on a journey across the Hoenn Region."

"That's right, and to tell you the truth we can't wait to start our journey here in Hoenn." Ash said.

"I understand." Prof. Birch laughed.

Ash and Tomo got into Prof. Birch's car and they were on the way to Prof. Birch's lab.

"Hey professor." Ash said. "Prof. Oak told us that you give starter Pokemon to new trainers."

"That's true, I do." Prof. Birch replied. "As a matter of fact I'm giving out starter Pokemon to a new trainer today."

Tomo asked Prof. Birch if they could see the starter Pokemon and Prof. Birch agreed.

They were soon at Prof. Birch's lab and he introduced Ash and Tomo to his assistant Joshua.

"The three starter Pokemon are all ready when May arrives today professor." Joshua said.

Prof. Birch explained that May was the new trainer that was going to pick up a starter Pokemon today.

Then he released the three starter Pokemon from the Poke Balls to show Ash and Tomo. The first Pokemon was a green and red Pokemon with a big tail and it resembled a lizard. It was a Treecko, a grass type Pokemon. The next Pokemon was a orange and yellow Pokemon and it resembled a chick. It was a Torchic, a fire type Pokemon. The last Pokemon was a blue and orange Pokemon with a fin on it's head and a big tail, and it looked like a amphibious fish. It was a Mudkip, a water type Pokemon. Ash and Tomo thought they were all very cool Pokemon. Prof. Birch could see that Ash and Tomo really liked Pokemon.

Seeing the Hoenn starter Pokemon reminded Ash and Tomo about the starter Pokemon in the Kanto and Johto Regions and they told Prof. Birch how they got their starter Pokemon.

"Prof. Oak and Prof. Elm told me about that." Prof. Birch said. "I find it surprising that you managed to catch all three starter Pokemon in Kanto and Johto Ash."

"I found it surprising myself professor." Ash said. "But I wish to find and catch all three starter Pokemon from the Hoenn Region."

"And I wish to have one too." Tomo added.

"I'm sure you boys could do that." Prof. Birch said.

Ash also admitted to Prof. Birch that he and Tomo already have Hoenn Region Pokemon on them. Tomo released Wynaut from his Friend Ball and Ash released Latias and Latios from their Dive Balls. Prof. Birch was shocked when he saw Latias and Latios and couldn't stop getting overexcited. Latias and Latios became scared of Prof. Birch and turned invisible.

"What happened?" Prof. Birch asked.

Ash explained that invisibility was one of Latias and Latios's abilities and that they were nervous around strangers.

"It's okay Latias, Latios." Ash said. "Prof. Birch didn't mean to frighten you like that."

Latias and Latios reappeared and Ash returned them to their Dive Balls. Prof. Birch admitted that Ash was an incredible trainer to have legendary Pokemon on his team.

Everyone then heard a loud scream.

"What was that?" Ash gasped.

"I reckon that someone has run into the pack of Poochyena." Prof. Birch said.

He explained that a pack of Poochyena lived around the area outside Littleroot Town and they always cause trouble for anyone who trespassed in their territory.

"We better go and help that person right away."

He grabbed the three Poke Balls and rushed out of his lab. Ash and Tomo followed him to help out.

Ash, Tomo and Prof. Birch ran into the forest of route 101 and there was a brunette-haired girl being surrounded by a pack of Poochyena. Poochyena were black and grey dog-like Pokemon.

"Hold on May, I'll help you!" Prof. Birch called out.

He was about to toss out a Pokemon from a Poke Ball but then a Poochyena tackled Prof. Birch, making him drop the Poke Balls. Ash and Tomo each grabbed a Poke Ball and sent a Pokemon out. Ash had sent out Mudkip and Tomo sent out Treecko.

"Mudkip use Water Gun on the Poochyena." Ash said.

"Use Pound Treecko." Tomo said. "And you use Flamethrower Growlithe."

Mudkip, Treecko and Growlithe did as they were told and all the Poochyena ran away except two.

Ash and Tomo decided they would catch them, so Ash ordered Mudkip to use Water Gun again and Tomo ordered Growlithe to use Flamethrower again. The two remaining Poochyena fainted as a result of the attacks and the Ketchum brothers caught them with empty Poke Balls.

"Our first Hoenn Region capture." Tomo said.

After the Poochyena issue was resolved, everyone went back to Prof. Birch's lab. Ash and Tomo introduced themselves to May and she thanked the two for helping her.

"Well May, it's time for you to pick your starter Pokemon." Prof. Birch said.

May had a look at Treecko, Mudkip and Torchic and decided to choose Torchic as her starter Pokemon. Prof. Birch handed her a Pokedex and five empty Poke Balls.

"Ash, Tomo, you two may take Mudkip and Treecko if you wish." Prof. Birch said.

"Huh?" Ash repeated. "But don't you need them for other trainers who are going to start their journey."

"We aren't going to be having any new trainers come here for the next two months." Prof. Birch explained. "And those two will be bored waiting that long. Besides you two did a great job with them against the Poochyena, so I think Mudkip and Treecko will be happy with you two."

The two brothers instantly accepted his offer; Ash chose Mudkip and Tomo chose Treecko. Prof. Birch knew that Mudkip and Treecko would be happy with Ash and Tomo, like Torchic would be happy with May.

After that Ash and Tomo decided it was time to leave. Prof. Birch told them that they would need to go to Oldale Town for Ash to register for the Hoenn League so he could start obtaining gym badges. So Ash and Tomo said goodbye to Prof. Birch and May and left the lab to begin their journey in Hoenn.