Pokémon: Ash's New Journey

"La la la~ Hehe, I'm so happy! I finally got my fifth Contest Ribbon! Winning the Mulberry City Pokémon Contest means I can participate in the Grand Festival being held in Indigo Plateau next month!"

This listing is of the Ribbons May has obtained in the Kanto region:Saffron RibbonSilver RibbonWisteria TownGardenia RibbonMulberry Ribbon 

Today, Ash, Misty, and May strolled along the road, sharing in May's uncontainable joy.

"May, you're amazing! Competing in the Pokémon Grand Festival is a huge deal, and it's happening at Indigo Plateau!" Misty exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration.

"Pika-chu!" Pikachu perked up its ears at the mention of Indigo Plateau, its excitement unmistakable.

"See that? Even Pikachu got excited when it heard 'Indigo Plateau!'" Misty giggled as she turned to Ash.

"May, don't you remember? Ash's very first big tournament was at the Indigo Plateau—his Indigo League journey!"

"Oh, that's right!" May's eyes lit up in recognition. "It's incredible to think I'll be competing at the same place Ash and his Pokémon fought so hard!"

"Pika Pi!" Pikachu cheered, raising its paws in excitement.

The group was on their way to Pewter City after celebrating May's victory. Ash had already confirmed with Scott that the Battle Pyramid was still stationed near Pewter City. To save time, they decided to hire a private car to take them there.

As they entered the city, the air was filled with cheerful melodies resonating from every corner.

"I caught a Pokémon, oh yeah… In the…"

Ash paused mid-step, recognizing the song instantly.

Of course! It seemed Elesa had successfully introduced these tracks to Kanto, and now they were being played everywhere!

"These songs are so catchy," a passerby commented. "I heard they're originally from the Unova region, but they're a huge hit here now."

"Totally! My friend in Hoenn recommended them. That one, Adventure Ahead, really gets me pumped!"

"And the singer—her voice is amazing!"

Hearing this, Ash couldn't help but smile. He had written those songs, and Elesa's vocals had turned them into instant hits.

"You're incredible, Ash," Misty teased. "You wrote two amazing songs, and now you're earning Poké Coins just by sitting back and doing nothing!"

May nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and Ash, we've got a request! Can you sing for us tonight? Since you wrote the songs, I bet your version has its own charm!"

Ash laughed at their enthusiasm. "Alright, I'll sing tonight, but only after we reach Pewter City. Deal?"

"Deal!"

By the time they arrived in Pewter City, it was already nighttime. Almost as soon as they stepped out of the car, Brock's video call came through.

"Hey, Ash, Misty, May! Where are you now? Lucy and I have been sprucing up Pewter Gym all day, getting everything ready for your visit!"

Lucy appeared on the screen, smiling warmly as she waved.

Ash could see how happy Brock looked. His friend seemed to have found his happiness.

"We're in Pewter City now, heading to the gym as we speak," Ash replied.

As they chatted, Brock couldn't resist teasing. "So, Ash, you've been without my cooking for a while now. You must miss me, right? Bet you've been struggling to eat anything decent!"

Misty quickly chimed in. "Actually, Brock, we've discovered that Ash is a great cook! You always took care of all our meals, so we never knew. Turns out, he's been keeping his culinary skills hidden!"

This banter continued until they finally reached Pewter Gym. However, what greeted them was… unusual. The gym looked completely different—decorated in an eccentric and almost unrecognizable style.

"What happened here?" Misty asked, wide-eyed.

Brock sighed. "Don't even get me started! Team Rocket convinced my parents that Pewter Gym had the worst reputation among all League-certified gyms in Kanto. They somehow talked them into redecorating it… and then booked my parents tickets for a South Sea vacation. Now they're off exploring the world while I'm stuck fixing this mess!"

"Team Rocket never learns, huh?" May said, shaking her head.

"Don't worry, Brock. After Ash's battle at the Battle Pyramid, we'll help you restore the gym to its former glory," Misty offered.

After dinner, Brock clapped a hand on Ash's shoulder. "You'd better get some rest tonight. The Pyramid King, Brandon, is no joke—he's known for being one of the toughest Frontier Brains."

"I'll be ready," Ash said confidently. "The Battle Frontier will be mine!"

Later that evening, while Misty, May, and Lucy were busy watching TV with Brock's younger siblings, Brock pulled Ash aside.

With a sly grin, he asked, "So, Ash, how are things going? Without me around as the third wheel, have you made any progress with Misty or May? Come on, spill the beans. Who's the lucky one?"

Ash paused, caught off guard by the question. Who to choose? That was the real question.

But why choose at all? Ash chuckled to himself. "Oh, Brock… if only you knew."

Brock looked puzzled, but before he could ask more, Ash simply smiled and changed the subject.