They both started walking and came out of the forest in about 10-15 minutes. After another brisk walk of about 10 minutes they reached Prof. Rowan's Lab. It wasn't too far enough from the Pokemon Center.

They entered the lab to find an old man along with his assistants doing some kind of analysis on a computer. The old man spotted the two trainers near the door and asked them to come inside.

"I am Prof. Rowan. You, young girl must be Dawn, the one who is supposed to collect her starter Pokemon today?" Prof. Rowan inquired.

"Yes, I am Professor nice to meet you." the bluenette answered.

"Nice to meet you too and you, young man might be Ash, right? The one who Prof. Oak mentioned about." Prof Rowan asked.

"Yes I am." Ash answered.

"Wait! Prof. Oak the poetry man, the one who writes awesome poetries. I am a big fan of him and you know him! wow." the bluenette exclaimed while turning her attention to Ash.

"Yeah, you see we both are from Pallet Town and he supposed to give me my first ever Pokemon that is Pikachu." Ash explained while Pikachu cried "Pika!"

Prof. Rowan was about to say something until he was interrupted by a familiar voice. "Hey are you supposed to be Ash Ketchum?" Paul asked rudely. He had heard that Ash was the first trainer who won the Kanto Battle Frontier and when he spotted him walking towards the lab, he couldn't resist himself from challenging him and check how strong he really is.

"Yes, I am but who are you and what do you want? Ash asked him getting a little displeased by his rudeness.

"I'm here to challenge you to a one on one battle." Paul said challenging Ash to a battle.

"I accept. It would be fun to have my first real battle in Sinnoh, don't you think buddy?" Ash asked Pikachu "Pika pi" it cried.

"Wait young man do you have any idea who he is? He is Paul Shinji, the semi-finalist in last year's Silver Conference." Prof. Rowan explained to Ash unaware of the fact that Ash was an Elite trainer. Actually Paul had started his journey 2 years before. He had collected his first Pokemon Turtwig from Prof. Rowan but he had decided to begin his journey from Johto.

"Professor, then you might have no idea who I am!" Ash exclaimed confidently.

"Whatever, let's go to the backyard there is a battlefield there." Paul suggested and Ash just nodded his head. They both went to the backyard getting ready for their battle followed by Prof. Rowan and Dawn.

"I would be the referee." Prof. Rowan said. "This is a one on one Pokemon battle between Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and Paul Shinji from Veilstone city! Begin." he exclaimed.

Dawn was standing near the door excited as she was witnessing a Pokemon battle for the first time. She obviously wanted Ash to win as he had saved her from those Pokemon and she might also have developed a small crush on him.

"Fearow standby for battle." Paul said releasing it out of its Pokeball.

"It has been a long time isn't it, Pidgeot I choose you!" Ash exclaimed while calling it out.

"Fearow use Drill Peck." Paul ordered coldly. It started charging towards Pidgeot and its beak started rolling.

"Pidgeot dodge it at the last moment and then use Aerial Ace." Ash ordered as Fearow began to charge its Drill Peck.

Pidgeot just remained still for a moment until Fearow's attack was about to hit, it quickly dodged causing Fearow to hit the ground. Everyone including Paul was shocked at Pidgeot's speed.

Pidgeot then attacked with an Aerial Ace and before Paul could order it to dodge the attack had already landed. "Row!" Fearow cried.

"Get up fast you useless thing." Paul ordered rudely without even making sure that Fearow is okay.

"Hey you, can't treat your Pokemon like that!" Ash exclaimed getting angry by the way Paul was treating his Pokemon.

"None of your business, use Dark Pulse." Paul ordered

"Intercept it with Steel Wing." Ash ordered as Pidgeot's wings began to glow and it cut through Dark Pulse landing a straight hit on Fearow again. "Now finish it off Sky Attack!" he ordered again.

Pidgeot flew high up in the sky and began to charge towards Fearow using the strongest Flying type move, as Fearow was still recovering from the earlier attack Pidgeot landed yet another direct attack this time only making it unable to battle at all.

"Fearow is unable to battle, Pidgeot is the winner!" Prof. Rowan exclaimed as he saw Fearow collapsed to the ground with swirl in its eyes.

"Return, you were pathetic." Paul said while returning the fainted Pokemon back. Without saying a word, he left the battlefield and moved his way out of the Lab.

"Pidgeot you did a great job, it sure was fun battling with you again, return." Ash said while returning Pidgeot back to its Pokeball. He was a little bit amused and angry at Paul's attitude and the way he treats his Pokemon.

Dawn stared at him in awe. She knew Ash was a good battler when he had saved her but she didn't know that he was so strong. That Fearow too looked strong but his Pidgeot managed to take it down without taking any damage.

"You are a pretty strong trainer, defeating Paul so easily is not an easy task." the Professor said as he walked towards Ash.

"Thanks! actually it is not that difficult when you have an experience of being a Pokemon trainer for five years." Ash said with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Five years! No doubt you defeated him so easily. Come in, I would definitely like to check you trainer's page." Prof. Rowan exclaimed.

The three of them entered the lab and Prof. Rowan walked towards another room and came out with a suitcase in his hand.

"Okay Dawn I would like you to meet the three starter Pokemon of the Sinnoh region." Prof. Rowan said while releasing the three Pokemon one by one out of their Pokeballs.

"This is Turtwig, the Tiny Leaf Pokemon and it is a grass type. This is Chimchar, the Chimp Pokemon and it is a fire type and this is Piplup, the Penguin Pokemon, a water type." Prof. Rowan explained.

"Woah! Dawn all of them look pretty cool, I bet you might be confused as to choose whom." Ash exclaimed getting excited seeing the starters of a new region.

"Well actually I have already decided, Piplup I choose you." Dawn said while picking it in her hands. "Piplup." it cried in pride while the other two Pokemon sighed in disappointment.

"That's certainly a good choice Dawn, take good care of it and take these Pokedex and Pokeballs." Prof. Rowan said while handing over a Pink colored Pokedex and 5 Pokeballs to Dawn.

"Thanks a lot Professor." The bluenette thanked.

"Now for you, young man please give me your Pokedex, I would like to see you Trainer's card as well as update your Pokedex. I can't believe the fact that you have an experience of 5 years being so young." Prof. Rowan said.

Ash nodded and handed over his Pokedex to Prof. Rowan as he took it and inserted the information into his computer.

Name: Ash Ketchum

Age: 15 years

Rank: Elite Trainer

"Incredible! you are one of the youngest 'Elite trainer' that I have seen or heard about." Prof. Rowan exclaimed

Achievements: 1) Top 16 in Indigo Conference

2) Champion of the Orange Islands

3) Top 8 in the Silver Conference

4) Top 8 in the Evergrande Conference

5) First winner of the Kanto Battle Frontier

"Impossible!" Dawn exclaimed. "You are just 15, a year older than me and you have already won 2 competitions and participated in 3 leagues!" she added completely in shock that Ash was such an experienced and strong trainer.

"Actually Dawn, earlier you used to get the trainer license once your 10 and then you can start your journey but due to increasing crime rate caused by different Evil Organizations, the Pokemon League committee has increased the starting age of new trainers to 14 right after a year Ash became a Pokemon trainer." Prof. Rowan explained.

Dawn nodded as she understood what Prof. Rowan was trying to explain her.

Notable Pokemon: Charizard, Pikachu and Sceptile.

"What that small Pokemon on your shoulder is one of your strongest!" Professor exclaimed.

"Well Pikachu was able to defeat a Regice in my final battle challenging the Battle Frontier."

"You not only faced but also defeated a legendary Pokemon!" Prof. exclaimed in shock.

"Yeah, my Charizard faced an Entei and was also able to defeat an Articuno of a Frontier Brain. Also, my Sceptile managed to give a good fight to a Regirock and Deoxys." Ash said with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Incredible young man just how many legendary Pokemon have you managed to see?" Prof. Rowan asked

"Actually, leaving Raikou I have seen all the legendary that are native to Kanto, Johto and Hoenn." Ash said.

"Impressive! Here take your Pokedex I have updated it."

"Thanks, Professor." Ash said while taking his Pokedex back from Professor.

Dawn then went to the video phone and informed all the events that happened to her mom. Ash did the same when his chance came. Professor wished both of them good luck for their respective journey's and dreams.

"Hey, Dawn I guess you will be competing in Pokemon Contests, right?" Ash asked.

"Yeah, and you will be definitely competing in gym battles. Hey, do you mind if I travel with you?" Dawn asked trying best to hide her blush.

"Not at all! It is better to travel with someone rather than travelling alone, and as you are a beginner trainer, I can teach you the basics." Ash explained to her.

"You will?" the bluenette asked a little surprised.

"Sure, why not I will try to teach you all I can." he said with a thumbs up.

They then went to the Pokemon Center and Ash registered for the 'Lily of the valley Conference' which was going to take place in a year and half. They left the Center as soon as he finished his registration and started to head towards their next destination Jubilife City.

Now Ash and Dawn will be travelling together throughout Sinnoh making new friends and rivals along the way. Will their relationship take a new turn? To find out keep reading as the journey continues!