Narrator: After winning eight badges alongside, Niko was arriving back home to Pallet to follow his dream of competing in the Pokémon League.
Niko: There it is! Niko runs over to see his home in sight. Pallet Town! I'm back!
Duplica: So this is Pallet Town? It's so nice.
Kota: It does give off a real homely vibe.
Niko: Come on. We gotta stop by at my house first. Niko guides him to his house. Ta-da! He invites them in.
Thomas: Oh? Niko!
Niko: Dad! Niko runs over and hugs him.
Thomas: Ha ha! Good to see you too.
Niko: Dad, look! Niko shows his father all the badges he's earned.
Thomas: I'll be! You won all eight already!? I bet you showed those gym leaders a thing or two! He said ruffling his son's hair.
Niko: Yeah!
Eevee: Vee! (Thomas)
Thomas: Eevee! I was wondering where you wandered off to! Glad to see you've been keeping an eye on my boy! He said letting Eevee.
Eevee: Vee vee! (I do my best)
Thomas: So, who're your friends?
Kota: My names Kota.
Duplica: My names Duplica. And this is Ditto.
Ditto: Ditto! (Howdy)
Thomas: Oh. He saw Duplica and smiled. Well, I certainly wasn't expecting you to bring such a cute girlfriend home. His comment caused them both to blush.
Niko: DAD! Niko shouted embarrassed.
Duplica: (,,>﹏<,,)
Ditto: Ditto! (He he)
Niko: A-Anyway...did mom get my present?
Thomas: Yeah. She sure looked happy. You just missed her actually.
Niko: Oh. He said sadly.
Thomas: Well, your friend Ash came back the other day.
Niko: Ash is here? Niko and the others go over to Ash's house. Hey, Ash!
Ash: Huh? Niko! The two run up to each other and high five. It's about time you got back.
Niko: He he he. Sorry. I had to stay in Viridian City for a bit.
Brock: Hey, Ash We better eat fast. We've got a lot to learn about the Pokémon League from Professor Oak.
Ash: Right! Professor Oak!
Niko: Oh, I forgot! Let's get there quick!
Ash: I'll race you there!
Niko: You're on! The boys run off.
Delia: Oh, those boys are so energetic. They've been like this ever since they were kids.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket is seen on the outskirts of Pallet Town bumming around. Since the capture of their leader and loss of their headquarters, they're about lost on what to do next.
Jessie: Well, there's no use pretending anymore.
James: Team Rocket is finished. Not capturing Pikachu is just the icing on the cake.
Meowth: We're just victims of CFS. Chronic Failure Syndrome.Soon, they see Levi in the forest, repeatedly punching a tree.
Levi: Gah!
James: The poor little boss. He's taking it the hardest.
Jessie: His own father, Giovanni, was arrested.
James: It breaks my heart to see him in pain.
Meowth: True dat.
Levi: Grah! He shouts hitting the tree one last time. It was supposed to be me. I was supposed to lead Team Rocket! If I had just gotten that Mew. But that old man got taken out! And by that kid! He growled. His Pokémon watched concerned. The rest of you! We're going to make some changes! That means you better start pulling your weight.
Jessie: What's he saying?
James: I don't know. Team Rocket approaches their leader.
Jessie: The little boss must be...
James: Are you okay?
Levi: Ugh, more bad news. What do you three want?!
James: We were just, checking on you to see if you're alright.
Levi: I'm fine! He said in a huff. He turned his back on them and started walking off.
Jessie: Sir, is there anything we can do for you?
Levi: I'm going away for a bit. Until I get back, don't do anything stupid. My father may be gone, but you still take orders from me! Levi walks off.
Jessie: You just heard what the boss said, didn't you?
James: He just wants us to keep doing our job.
Meowth: Da head honcho just gave us a major vote of confidence. Team Rocket starts crying tears of joy.
James: Ah! I just realized something. With the boss gone, doesn't that mean the little boss is now our new boss!? Jessie and Meowth at this realization. And knowing him, he's planning on rebuilding Team Rocket from the ground up, so he trusts us to help!
Jessie: Ah, of course!
Meowth: Dat's our boss! Team Rocket's future is looking bright!
Jessie: There's no sense in crying over lost Pokémon!
James: We must renew our commitment to stealing! For the boss!
Meowth: Come on, everybody! Let's go on wit da show!
Back at Pallet Town, our heroes ring the doorbell to Professor Oak's lab.
Prof. Oak: Come in!
Ash: Professor Oak! It's me, Ash!
Niko: And me, too!
Prof. Oak: Oh, what a surprise! It's great to see...a Togepi?! Ash falls face first in disbelief while everyone else sweat drops.
Pikachu: Pikachu. (Embarrassing)
Eevee: Eevee. (Definitely)
Ash: Glad you like it. Prof. Oak leads the gang to his living room.
Prof. Oak: It just so happens that you two aren't the only Pokémon trainers to stop by today. Everyone notices that Gary is already in Prof. Oak's living room
Gary: Well, now, I'm not surprised you two showed up late, I'm surprised you two showed up at all.
Ash: Hey!
Niko: Good to see you too, Gary!
Prof. Oak: Alright, calm down, you two. Why can't Pallet's three top Pokémon trainers get along? The three of them were surprised to hear that.
Ash, Niko & Gary: Top trainers?!
Ash & Gary: Not him!
Prof. Oak: That's right. All three of you are such fine trainers that you'll be Pokémon masters before long. You might be able to learn from each other. Ash and Gary just turn away from each other. Soon, Ash's Krabby comes in carrying a tray of cups of tea.
Prof. Oak: Here's your Krabby, Ash.
Ash: How ya doing, Krabby? Long time, no see.
Niko: Ash, you caught a Krabby? Niko said surprised. He pulls out his Pokédex.
Pokédex: Krabby, the River Crab Pokémon. Krabby lives on beaches and seashores. If a pincer falls off, a new, stronger pincer grows back in its place.
Venomoth: Venomoth Veno! Venomoth flies and lands on Niko's head.
Niko: Venomoth! Good to see you buddy! Venomoth seemed happy to see his trainer.
Gary: That's his, huh?
Prof. Oak: Ash, Niko, four Pokémon trainers left Pallet Town on their Pokemon Journeys, but you, Niko and Gary have earned the most badges and I'm very proud.
Niko: Just three?
Ash: What happened to Trace?
Prof. Oak: Well, he got off to an excellent start, but he hasn't gotten back yet. Last I heard he still only had six badges.
Ash: Oh, that's too bad.
Niko: Hope he gets back okay.
Gary: He just wimped out.
Prof. Oak: But Gary has ten badges, and you and Niko earned eight badges, Ash. That's really quite remarkable.
Ash: Well, gee. Thank you.
Misty: Hey, the Pokémon deserve lots of credit, too.
Pikachu: Pika. (Of course)
Ash: Misty's right. Maybe they deserve more credit than me.
Niko: I don't think so. We work with our Pokémon as a team. Ain't that right, Venomoth? Venomoth flaps its wings in agreement.
Misty: Ugh! Can you keep that gross Bug Pokémon away!?
Niko: What was that!? Venomoth is not gross, it's adorable!
Misty: Togepi's adorable! That thing is creepy looking!
Niko: How dare you! Insulted, Venomoth unleashed its Stun Spore on Misty, paralyzing her.
Misty: Geh! She stiffened while Togepi just giggled.
Niko: Serves you right. Niko said turning away.
Duplica: Hehe. 💧
Prof. Oak: In any case, I'm glad you're both here. It's time for you two and Gary to participate in the Pokémon League.
Ash: Alright, I'm on my way to becoming a Pokémon master! Let's go, Pikachu.
Pikachu: Pika! (Alright)
Niko: Yeah! We're gonna go all that way. Right, Eevee!
Eevee: Eevee! (To the top)
Gary: Oh, guys!
Ash: Yeah, what is it?
Gary: Just one question. Where's the Pokémon League meeting this year?
Niko: Uhh...
Misty: He's right.
Brock: That's one of the things we came to find out.
Gary: The Pokémon League only meets once a year. In the exact same place...Ash dashes in front of Gary and begs him to reveal the location.
Ash: Where is it? When is it? You gotta tell us!
Prof. Oak: Atop the Indigo Plateau. Exactly two months from today. And there'll be more than 200 trainers competing.
Niko: That many!?
Ash: 200? Yyyyyyyeah! We're gonna beat em! Right, Pikachu?
Pikachu: Pika! (Oh, yeah)
Niko: 'This might be tougher than I thought.' Niko thought.
Prof. Oak: You, Niko and Gary should take this time to work hard, train your Pokemon, and get ready for the tournament.
Gary: They can try, but even if they had a year to train, I'd beat em both with both hands tied behind my back.
Ash: You wish.
Niko: Me and my team have gotten a lot better since last time, Gary.
Gary: I'm not saying you two are bad trainers, Ash. But it's just that you both don't have what it takes to beat me.
Ash: We'll just see about that.
Meanwhile, at the Ketchum house...
Delia: Coming! She opens the door to reveal Team Rocket in disguise.
Jessie: Good morning. We're from PNN, the Pokémon News Network.
James: Is that little son of yours home? Because we'd love to feature an interview with him for our show Pokemon Masters of Tomorrow.
Delia: Oh, you want to put my Ash on TV?
Jessie: That's right. Suddenly, Mimey sweeps the two away.
Jessie: We have to see your son!
James: Is he home?!
Delia: He's with his friends and coach at Professor Oak's laboratory!
Jessie: Thank you very much!
James: Goodbye, ma'am!
Back at the lab...
Gary: So, Ash, I guess you're happy with how your Krabby's doing here?
Ash: My Krabby's fine! Gary just laughs and gets out a Pokéball.
Gary: Check out mine. Gary's Krabby materializes.
Misty: It's huge!
Brock: Gigantic.
Duplica: That's the biggest Krabby I've ever seen!
Niko: No kidding.
Gary: I keep rotating my Pokémon so they all get to battle and get bigger and stronger. Good trainers have to be smart enough to help all their Pokémon grow and be the best they can be. Ash just gulps.
Brock: He's right about that, Ash.
Gary: When you two said you hadn't seen your Pokémon in a while, I figured you weren't using it to battle. I bet you and Niko used the same Pokémon over and over, don't you?
Misty: You'd win that bet. Misty said recovering from the paralysis, but still a bit stiff.
Duplica: Who's side are you on? 💧
Gary: Maybe I shouldn't have said anything, but I thought you'd both like to know how real trainers work.
Brock: You gotta stop this, Professor. There's gonna be a fight.
Kota: Yeah. This could get ugly.
Prof. Oak: I'm sorry, fellas, but I'm a professor, not a referee. Brock sweat drops.
Gary: And here's another little tip. Different Pokémon types do better against different gym leader's attacks. If you study the leader's attacks before every match, you can choose the best Pokémon to beat em.
Prof. Oak: Excellent strategy. That's my grandson.
Gary: That's why it's so important to know what kind of Pokémon can beat your opponents attacks.
Brock: What kind of Pokemon would you use against my Geodude?
Gary: I'd use a water Pokemon against a rock type. But I'd have a grass type ready for backup. What would you use, Ash? Same to you, Niko.
Niko: Well, those are good strategies, but Fighting types and Ground types would work too. I beat Brock using Bulbasaur and Eevee.
Misty: As for Ash, he'd use Pikachu.
Gary: Everybody knows you shouldn't use an Electric Pokemon against a Ground type. What a loser.
Ash: I'm no loser! I earned eight badges just like Niko!
Gary: Maybe so, but how many Pokemon did you capture, boys? Or are you both too embarrassed to tell me?
Ash: Of course we're not embarrassed to tell you! Ash said as Niko counted with his fingers.
Misty: Don't tell him, Ash. It's none of his business how many Pokémon you each have.
Niko: But blabbing how Ash battles is totally different, huh? Niko said as he and Misty glared at each other.
Prof. Oak: Very interesting. Oak grabs all their Pokédex and scans them. I just scanned all of your Pokédexes and compared them all together, and the results show that Gary has seen sixty different Pokemon, meanwhile Niko and Ash have seen over 100. Gary sweat drops.
Niko: He he!
Ash: Alright! We beat him!
Prof. Oak: But Gary captured many more Pokémon than them.
Gary: You both use your Pokédex every time you see a Pokémon, but I know so much about em, I capture em first and ask questions later.
Ash: Is that the best way?
Gary: Of course it's the best way, if you know what you're doing.
Niko: I guess. But if you just catch them at random, you won't know if you'll be compatible.
Gary: Grandpa, let's go to your lab and show em all the Pokémon I caught.
Prof. Oak: Yes. Good idea. Let's Poké round in my laboratory. Our heroes enter Professor Oak's laboratory. Well, here we are. These are the Pokéballs that hold the Pallet Town trainers' Pokemon.
Ash: Wow! Professor, there must be thousands of Pokémon in here!
Prof. Oak: And these, these are the ones I received from Ash.
Niko: Woah. There's so many.
Prof. Oak: Yes, but they're almost all Tauros from the Safari Zone. Ash sulks as he remembers that day he caught all those Tauros. Prof. Oak: On the other hand, Gary's captured more than 200 Pokemon.
Gary: Not too bad.
Ash & Niko: 200?!
Misty: I wonder that if Gary caught more than one of some kind.
Gary: You can never have too many Pokemon, that's my motto. The more Pokemon you have, the better position you're in to win battles.
Niko: Yeah, but don't you think that's a little overkill?
Ash: You may have a lot of Pokémon, but I bet they're not your friends.
Gary: Friends?
Ash: Having lots of Pokémon isn't important, it's what you teach and what you learn.
Gary: I'd say that, too, if I had as few Pokémon as you and Niko.
Ash: Oh yeah? The ones I have are ten times better than yours!
Gary: Neither of you are as good a trainer as I am. Why don't you just admit it?
Ash: Niko and I are better trainers than you'll ever be!
Prof. Oak: You three have very different, but very valid, views on training Pokémon. On your journeys, you each captured different Pokémon, and with your different personalities, you learned to understand and care for them in different ways.
Gary: Yeah.
Niko: True
Ash: Guess you're right.
Prof. Oak: Pokémon are special, and they need our special care.
Pikachu: Pika? (We do)
Prof. Oak: Just like every other living creature, they deserve our consideration and our respect. If we care for them the way we care for those we love, we'll be able to live in peace as we learn about them and ourselves. My research has taught me that we need to deal with Pokémon like we need to deal with people, as individuals, if we want to discover their mysteries.
Brock: Is that why you decided to take care of so many Pokémon, Professor?
Prof. Oak: Yes, it is. And not only does every Pokémon I care for become part of my research, but they also become part of myself.
Gary: A part of yourself?
Meanwhile...
James: My legs are killing me.
Meowth: My paws are poundin'.
James: Whose idea was it to come in the back way?
Meowth: It wasn't mine.
Jessie: Oh, stop your complaining! Professor Oak's research area is gigantic.
James: Well, I'm getting tired.
Meowth: Let's take a cat nap. Jessie kicks a pebble which hits a tree.
Jessie: Quiet! Keep walking. Suddenly, a bunch of Kakuna drop down from it, causing Team Rocket to panic. If those are Kakuna..
James: There must be..
Meowth: Beedrill nearby! Run for your lives! Right on cue, a swarm of Beedrill fly in and attack as Team Rocket runs for it.
James: We should've known they'd be in a Pokémon researcher's garden!
Jessie: Than why didn't we?
Meowth: Quit fighting, keep running! The trio run right into a Snorlax.
James: Get the license plate number.
Team Rocket: Snorlax?! Soon, the Beedrills close in on a frightened Team Rocket.
Meanwhile, Professor Oak tells our heroes about his usual day to day routine.
Prof. Oak: Every morning, I start my day by checking on all the Pokémon. Good. Now. who needs to come out of their Pokéballs today? Then, I let the Pokémon out of their Pokéballs so they can get a bit of exercise and fresh air. Of course, I've created special habitats for each type of Pokémon. Then, it's time to feed the Pokémon their breakfasts, and you can imagine how long it takes to feed so many different Pokémon. As soon as I'm done, it's time for lunch. In the afternoon, I begin my research. For example, I've recently been studying the variations of individual Pokémon of the same types. The findings are extremely interesting. Then there's dinner, and back into the Pokéballs they go. And that's basically what I do every day.
Niko: Sure is a lot of work. I didn't think being a researcher was this much work.
Ash: You must get to learn a lot, living with so many Pokémon.
Prof. Oak: Yes, living here certainly gives me a unique opportunity to research and communicate with lots of interesting Pokémon. Gary notices a Doduo come up to him.
Gary: Hiya, Doduo. How's everything going today?
Ash: Is that your Doduo?
Pokédex: Doduo, the Twin Bird Pokémon. A bird that makes up for its poor flying with its fast foot speed. It leaves giant footprints.
Brock: Professor, this is such a great place, the Pokémon must love it.
Prof. Oak: I hope so, Brock. I designed this place so I could study Pokemon the proper way, in their natural habitat, living free. When the Pokemon live in an environment like the one they were born in, it's easier to observe how they're affected by their trainers. In fact, I just made an interesting discovery in that area.
Ash: What was it?
Niko: Tell us, Professor.
Prof. Oak: Pokémon frequently take on the characteristics of the humans who capture them.
Ash: Hey, that's true! Like Misty and Psyduck.
Misty: Ridiculous!
Brock: You know what that means?! I think I might have a girlfriend! Susie loved her Vulpix and gave it to me, now if the Vulpix is like me, and she still loves it, that means she loves me.
Gary: Hey, what's up with this guy?
Kota: He's just a lovesick puppy.
Misty: More likely, he's on vacation in Fantasy Land.
Prof. Oak: Of course, this effect only occurs when a trainer keeps in regular contact with his or her Pokémon. Because Ash always uses the same Pokemon, his Krabby and Muk stayed here. And so, it's not surprising that they've become somewhat attached to me.
Muk: Muk, Muk Muk Muk!
Niko: Gah! A Muk!?
Pokédex: Muk, the Sludge Pokémon. Thickly covered with a filthy, vile sludge. It is so toxic, even its footprints contain poison
Everyone but Brock soon sees Muk charge forward and give Professor Oak a hug, only to see him get knocked down by it.
Prof. Oak: No, Muk! How many times have I told you not to do that?! You're mucking up my favorite lab coat! You see? I told you Pokemon get attached to you, didn't I?
Niko: No kidding.
Elsewhere, Team Rocket is seen climbing up a rocky hill.
Jessie: We'll have to do this the hard way.
Meowth: The hard way's our specialty.
James: I can hardly stand this!
Jessie: Quite whining and keep climbing or we'll never get that Pikachu! Jessie suddenly stops, and realizes she put her hand on Geodude, only for her to throw it away. Go, Geodude! Jessie then put her hand on the head of a Sandshrew, which proceeds to attack her. Oh, my makeup is ruined!
Just then, a rumbling is heard and felt, and an Onix appears before Team Rocket, who proceed to run away from it as it pursues them.
Team Rocket: Run for it!
Meanwhile, our heroes are admiring the Pokémon in their habitats)
Misty: Oh, wow! Look at all the water Pokémon!
Ash: Professor, I bet you have every kind of Pokémon in the world, don't you?
Prof. Oak: Definitely not, Ash. We believe there are lots of Pokémon that no one has ever captured or even seen.
Niko: But you know about Mew, right?
Prof. Oak: Of course. Any Pokémon researcher worth their spit has heard of tales of Mew from time to time. I'm still quite amazed you met it. I don't suppose you'd let me take a look.
Niko: Sorry, Professor, but Mew left a little while ago.
Prof. Oak: Oh? That's too bad then. Well I suppose I can wait a bit longer.
Brock: Yeah, some people used to say long ago that there are only 150 Pokemon, then we met Togepi.
Duplica: And we met Elekid.
Ash: Yeah, come to think of it, the day I left Pallet, I saw a Pokémon that even Dexter didn't know about.
Prof. Oak: It's still a great mystery. No one knows how many kinds of Pokémon there are in this world. Finding new and different Pokémon is a never ending quest. One that only Pokémon researchers have taken up.
Ash: You know, Professor, I'm gonna find as many new Pokémon friends as I can.
Niko: That goes for me, too!
Gary: Me, three! And I'm gonna train them to be as strong as they can be! The three trainers look at each other.
Brock: They really love Pokémon.
Misty: Then maybe they can like each other.
Gary: Come on, you guys! What do you say we have a Pokémon battle? All three of us could use a little practice before the Pokémon League.
Ash: Alright, Gary. I'm ready when you are!
Niko: I'm all about that!
Pikachu: Pika! (Me, three)
However, an explosion is heard and the smoke from the aftermath is seen in the distance.
Misty: Hey, what's that?!
Ash: Yeah.
Prof. Oak: That smoke's coming from the Electric Pokémon preserve! Let's go!
In the preserve, Team Rocket is revealed to have been caught in a combined Voltorb and Electrode explosion.
Jessie: That smoke gets in your eyes.
James: Show me the way to go home. I'm tired and I want to go to bed!
Ash: Hey! The heroes arrive. I should've known it was you!
Pikachu: Pi Pikachu! (Team Rocket)
Duplica: You three again!?
Niko: I thought your group was done for!
Jessie: As if, twerp.
James: We followed you here so we could grab that Pikachu!
Meowth: We're through pussyfootin' around, so hand over dat little rat an' make it snappy! Professor Oak and Gary are surprised and shocked by Meowth's ability to talk.
Gary: It's a talking Meowth?!
Prof. Oak: Could you possibly say a few more words, please?
Meowth: I'd be glad ta, pops! Clean out your ears an' get a load of dis! May I invite you ta prepare...
Jessie and James: For trouble. Meowth gets in between the two and mushes the sides of their faces with his paws. Yeah! An' while you're at it, ya better make it a triple!
Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!
James: To unite all peoples within our nation! Jessie and James proceed to attack Meowth as they continue.
Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
James: To extend our reach to the stars above!
Jessie: Jessie.
James: James.
Meowth: Meowth!
Jessie: You stay out of this, Meowth!
James: Stop stealing our material!
Meowth: Alright. Alright.
Jessie: Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!
James: Surrender now, or prepare to fight for that Pikachu!
Meowth: Meowth! Dat's right! Now hand over dat Pikachu an' every utter Pokémon ya got stashed here, or we'll just take 'em!
Jessie and James: Right!
Ash: You're not taking anything!
Niko: We won't let you get any!
Gary: He's right. If you want these Pokémon so badly, try and get em. Let's battle!
Both sides charge, but suddenly, Ash's herd of Tauros crash through the gate and send Team Rocket, who noticed them coming and panicked, blasting off.
Jessie: Why can't good things happen to bad people?!
James: The new boss won't like us screwing up our first mission.
Meowth: Well, at least we didn't get fired.
Team Rocket: But we're blasting off again!
Misty: Have a nice flight!
Duplica: That was fast.
Brock: Those guys sure know how to make an exit.
Niko: Mmhm.
Gary: Well, we sure took care of them. Didn't we, Grandpa?
Ash: We didn't really do anything, Gary.
Prof. Oak: That's not true, Ash. You're the one responsible for saving my research center.
Ash: I am?
Niko: He is?
Prof. Oak: All of those Tauros out there are yours. Ash turns and sees the herd.
Prof. Oak: You were the one who captured them. And if they hadn't run Team Rocket off, who knows what would've happened?
Ash: I guess you're right. Good thing they were here. Ash waves to the herd
Gary: I'm gonna head on home now.
Ash: I thought we were gonna...
Gary: This has been a long day, and besides, we can have our battle when we get to the Pokémon League.
Ash: You're on! You can lose to me at the Pokémon League.
Niko: Not if you lose to me first, Ash?
Ash: Say what!?
Gary: You two just better make sure you train as hard as I do. See you in two months, guys!
Later, our heroes are looking out over the pasture where some Pokémon are grazing.
Ash: In two months, we'll be competing in the Pokémon League, Niko.
Niko: Yeah. I won't lie, I'm a little anxious.
Misty: Two months seems like forever.
Brock: Yeah, but they've got a lot of work to do.
Ash: We'll be ready. Right, Niko? Pikachu?
Niko: You betcha.
Pikachu: Pikachu. (We sure will)
Ash: Yeah. We're gonna do it! We're gonna start working right away! Right on cue, a pile of planks of wood land in Ash's arms.
Prof. Oak: Good.
Ash: What's this?
Prof. Oak: You both can start working right away on the fence your Tauros broke. Ash and Niko cannot believe what they just heard. Professor Oak then gives Brock and Misty hammers and nails, so they can help. Here. Give them a hand.
Misty: Us, too?
Prof. Oak: Believe me, helping others, sharing their burdens, that's the way to become a better trainer, a better friend, and a better person.
Pikachu: Pika. (Oh boy) The group soon gets to work.
Narrator: And with those wise words, Ash and Niko begin to learn much more, about the Pokémon League, and about life.
As the journey continues