The Road to our Destiny

Chapter 61

For the next couple of weeks, Ash has been spending time almost nonstop at Professor Oak's laboratory, training his Pokemon. He will stay at home with the others to eat breakfast or dinner or to sleep, but he otherwise goes to the lab with Pikachu and a lunch packed by Delia and Serena to train with all of his Pokemon while Iris, Cilan, Clemont and Bonnie watch.

Eventually, Professor Sycamore, Alain, Mairin, and Chespie leave to continue their journey looking for mega stones. Max has also been training nonstop with the help of May, Dawn, and Misty, determined to win the league himself. Serena, on the other hand, has been staying in the house with Delia and Mimey most days, grooming her Pokemon and helping Delia around the house whenever she can. Both Ash and Delia have been trying to cheer up the honey blonde girl while not really knowing what is the matter with her, but she politely tells them not to worry and that she's fine. Delia worries for the girl all the same, but her lies just make Ash even more determined to carry out his plan at the Pokemon League.

On the third week, the day arrives for Ash and his companions to leave for Indigo Plateau again. Everyone gets up bright and early for a big breakfast prepared by Delia and Mimey before they head out. As usual, Ash, May, and Iris are gorging themselves with food which everyone else is used to by now.

"Goodness, I hope you have enough food to last all the way to Indigo Plateau," Delia chortles.

"Don't you worry, Mrs. Ketchum," Cilan states proudly. "I've been the head chef for both Ash and Iris throughout our journey through Unova. I know how to have more than enough for everyone."

"Same here," Clemont says with a smile. "Between Cilan and me, we shouldn't have to worry about food before we get there."

"I hope you're right," Delia says with a sigh. "Still, you're feeding ten people, including yourselves and all the Pokemon. I hope you two are up to the task."

"We'll be sure to pace ourselves, Mrs. Ketchum," Misty says before glaring at Ash, Iris, and May. "If worst comes to worst, I'll personally make sure these three never get more than a small helping each meal."

"Aw, please don't, Misty," May begs. "I don't know how I can handle eating less than how much my stomach wants."

"You'll just have to live with it, Sis," Max says plainly.

Bonnie and Serena can't help but quietly giggle while May childishly pouts at her little brother. The group continues eating until something crosses Dawn's mind.

"So Ash, do you already have your whole Pokemon team for the journey?" She asks.

Ash swallows a large bite of a waffle before he licks his lips and answers.

"Almost," he says. "Right now, I have Pikachu, Gabite, Gigalith, Charizard, and Oshawott. But I also have one more Pokemon to pick up as we walk through Viridian Forest."

Everyone turns to Ash, confused, and stares at him until Serena speaks up.

"You need to pick up a Pokemon in Viridian Forest?" She asks.

"Of course, I do," Ash says. "Don't tell me you forgot the promise I made to you and Pidgeot."

Serena gasps sharply, and she drops her fork while covering her mouth with her hand. She stares at the raven-haired boy in disbelief as it hits her that she did completely forget Ash's promise. Everyone else, however, looks at the two of them confused.

"Pidgeot?" Misty asks. "Do you mean your Pidgeot, Ash?"

"Sure do," Ash says with a smile. "Serena, Pikachu, and I ran into it and its flock along with that Fearow and its flock when we started our journey through the Kanto region. I promised Pidgeot and Serena that I would come back for it on the way to the Indigo League if it finished training its flock to be strong enough to fight for themselves."