The Master Returns!

Chapter 5: For Ash.

"At first I thought, he was some dumb newbie who barely got out of bed and missed his chance of getting a starter Pokémon." Gary said remembering his days as an arrogant trainer.

Serena had heard this part from Ash back in Kalos. She knew Gary is leading something in his story. 

As I was way too busy living inside of my fantasy with my cheer squad, I didn't payed too much attention to Ash's ability as a trainer sometime after he had beaten the Viridian Gym. Of course, Ash never battled Giovanni or the unknown Pokémon at the time which was a Mewtwo."

"Yeah Misty and I were there after the battle it was not a pretty scene for anyone to see." Brock nodding towards Gary.

"Then sometime when I met up with Ashy boy at the Indigo Plateau I had been eliminated pretty early and Ash made it to the top 16. I thought he got lucky when got that far. It wasn't till after my last journey as trainer in Johto is where he proved to me that he was indeed the better trainer than I was."

"That was a very special battle between the two of you in the Silver Conference." Misty said with small frown.

"Yeah..." Gary took out a piece of an old rusty Poke Ball but half of it was missing.

"Gary is that half a poke ball you're holding?" Serena pondered.

"Yeah, before we were able to start on our journey as trainers Ash and I were fishing for some water Pokémon and ended getting into a dumb fight on who was gonna be the best. Of course our fishing bit the same Poké Ball but none of us would budge. In the end it ended up as a tie." 

Serena was surprised. She knew Gary and Ash had a rivalry when they were kids but she didn't expect Ash was a major influence over Gary's life.

"Well that's enough about myself here so how about everyone around the room talk about your time with Ash. Serena, you can go last." Gary looked at everyone and gave a thumbs up for Serena.

Serena nodded that Gary was being considerate of her feelings and letting her have time before talking about her fateful meeting the boy she fell in love with.

"I'll go!" Misty said.

Serena slowly looked at Misty wondering how she knew about Ash.

"As most people might know me my name is Misty and I am the Cerulean City Gym Leader."

A few travel companions said their hellos since not all of Ash's companions have been together in one spot until now.

"How I met Ash is kinda a funny story. Serena I'm sure Ash had told most without mentioning his friends."

Serena nodded.

"Yep that's definitely Ash for ya. Anyways I was fishing on the outskirts between routes from Viridian and Pallet is when I accidentally caught a bite which had Ash and is Pikachu who was very injured from a flock of Spearows."