Hello everyone. New story again. Honestly Pokemon Sun and Moon has been a great series so. The characters and story is really different from what has been previously seen. The animation did throw me off but after awhile you begin to love the expressions that give a lot of emotions of the characters. There really should be more about Ash in Alola. I especially love the relationship between Ash and Professor Kukui, they are really father and son. (but not literally, more of a I-adopted-you-and-I-didn't-know-it)

WEEEEEEEEEEEEE-LINE BREAK

It has been a long time since he walked down these halls, too long in his opinion, but if he wants to be a famous pokemon researcher like his grandfather, he had no time to waste.

Gary honestly missed his home. It brought back a lot of memories of playing with pokemon on the ranch, discovering so much from his grandfather, and the overall warmth and comfort that came from the people and pokemon around him. He loved what he was doing under professor Rowan but nothing will compare to his home in Pallet.

"Whooaa! H- Hey! Be careful with the-" a loud crash resounded within the lab and it made him cringe. Just like old times, he grinned as he took in the sight of the messy lab. "Out of all-" his grandfather panted, lunging forward to catch the wayward pokemon."-the times I send Tracey out." Gary watched as his grandfather crawled under the table with the same energy as he always had. After a few moments of scrambling his grandfather jumped up with a cry of triumph, holding a very disgruntled Trapinch snapping in the ruffled professor's arms.

"Be careful old man, you'll crack your back with the way you're moving" the professor looked toward him in surprise but quickly morphed into smile.

"Gary! You're here early. Mind helping me with this Trapinch." he smiled and shook his head in exasperation as his grandfather held the pokemon up in reference and, in the process, loosened his grip enough to allow it to turn and bite his nose.

Gary sighed foldly and made a sound of agreement, making his way to his struggling grandfather and angry Trapinch. No matter the years, this place hasn't changed.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE - ANOTHER LINE BREAK -

"So I heard you were going to Alola" he only nodded as he sat down on the couch across from his grandfather. The ranch was lively as ever, with much more pokemon in the field from different regions.

"I'm just going over to pick up some research for professor Ivy and then helping grand-uncle Samson with a class." Gary absently scratched the fur of his Umbreon when it crawled onto his lap. His pokemon gave a sound of contentment and leaned into his touch.

"That's great news. As a pokemon researcher, you not only have to be able to find data, but communicate it with the community." the Pokemon professor threw his arms up in emphasis. "Talking to a class of students will be a good experience" Gary only hummed and wondered how his grand-uncle was able to convince him to do it but there's no going back now.

They talked for a while, about how they were doing, what interesting discoveries they found, and filling in on their time apart. Gary laughed at the story his grandfather told him about some confused psyducks and looked out to the fields where the pokemon were playing. He smiled at the sight but a thought crossed his mind that made it flatter.

"Hey" he turned back. "I know it has been a few months since the incident but" he hesitated when he saw his old caretaker's enthusiastic smile flatter by a fraction, as if he knew what he was about to ask, but he continued. "Have you heard anything from-" he was cut of by the sound of the front doors opening.

"Well speak of an Absol" the smile came back to the old professor's face. Gary felt a grin coming onto his face as well when he hears familiar yells. Umbreon woke up and rushed down to the direction of the sounds. "Seems like we should go greet them before he starts something again".

"Whoa. Umbreon? Huh. It seems familiar. Huh? Buddy" he grinned as he approached the group, hearing the speaker's pokemon give a sound of agreement. As he got closer, saw his a male crouching down with a Pikachu stroking his Umbreon, behind them a smiling woman and mime pokemon. "Wait, you're not the one I'm thinking of are you?" his grin only widened.

"Best believe it Ashy boy" the male stumbled back a little in surprise but quickly regained his balance. "Oh wow, Gary!" the trainer was giving him a wide grin and he had a feeling that he was doing the same.

"Oh Gary, you're back" the ever smiling Delia Ketchum greeted him, Mr. Mime making his own sound of greeting. Gary lifted his hand in greeting, "So what's got you in such a rush?"

LIIIIIINNNNNNNEEEEEE - WEEEEEEEEEEE

It was nearing evening and the two males were finishing their meals in the Ketchum Deli. It's been a while since the both of them were able to sit down and talk. With Ash traveling around and Gary running research, there wasn't much time to sit down and catch up like this. "Wow, and here I thought you were a cry baby before." Ash gave an embarrassed laugh. "Yeah that mirror thing was really weird and everything was so different." They laughed again and let it settle into comfortable silence. The trainer turned to look out at the setting sun and the researcher stared at his companion.

It has been a few months since he last heard of his childhood friend, and it wasn't a good time either. The Kalos Crisis was on everyone's newsfeed, with the league interrupted and the finalist kidnapped. It was only the more heartstopping that it was his best friend that was taken right after he finally won a league. After a few agonizing hours it was finally over and Ash came out safely with his pokemon on tow.

"Hey Ash" he hesitated. He didn't know how the other would react to the topic, but dang it's been killing him for awhile. "Congratulations on your win in Kalos" he waited for a reaction but the trainer only hummed in response, his smile flattering a fraction before returning. "You're alright?" he struggled "With everything that happened that is." there was silence with only the pokemon making some sounds near them. It took a few moments before the trainer turned and faced him. "Yeah, I am" he was smiling but it seemed a little forced. He knew that the topic was done, from the tone and look on his face the researcher knew he wasn't going to speak anymore. The only important thing was he came back in one piece.

"It's crazy that it's been seven years since we left on our Pokemon Journies" Gary offered and was relieved at the genuine smile that appeared on his friend's face. The trainer laughed "Yeah, it's been a long time. And we were so immature." Gary smirked "Well I say that you're immature as ever" and as to prove his point Ash just stuck out his tongue. They both laughed and turned to watch the last rays of sun disappear over the town.

"It's such a coincidence that Mr. Mime got those tickets for that Alolan vacation" Ash commented, Pikachu climbing back up to his trainer's shoulder. Gary agreed, it was strange that they got those tickets. "Especially since we will be leaving on the same flight" the researcher stroked his Umbreon. The trainer only laughed "Well the more the better. Hey maybe we can go sightseeing and check out the cool pokemon" you could practically see him vibrating in his seat. Gary laughed and nodded and continued to tease the other of how childish he was acting which elicited verbal war on who was more childish the other. All throughout they laughed and their pokemon played and Gary hoped that this vacation would give his friend a break from whatever troubled him. A person like Ash didn't deserve that.

Chapter End

I hope you guys enjoyed it. Please comment and correct me in my errors. Also, I'm open to any ideas and I hope to write soon. Till then.