Palletshipping (A LOT OF AROURSHIPPING BASHING PLZ DON'T HATE)
Ash PoV
"At the pokecenter at last!" Serena exclaimed smiling.
Ash looked over at his girlfriend and gave his best smile but inside, guilt gnawed at him, drowning him. He really did love Serena but not in that way. He'd wanted to tell her but she seemed so much braver and happy now they were official an item. And plus that small fear of how all three of them react when they discover his secret...
Serena's smile turned into a frown along with everyone else's when they walked in. "Not the cleanest pokecenter we've been in is it?" Bonnie said, everyone nodding in agreement. The foursome had been into some grim centres but this was the worst. It smelled slightly with dim lighting and cold metal waiting chairs. A Nurse Joy ran through the room.
"sorry I didn't come as soon as you came in, but I had a patient to attend to." Joy apologised and saw the look on their faces " It isn't the most glam centre, I know but the Poke centre was tight on money when they built it."
Clemont was explaning that it was fine and began renting a room went a man walked through the doors
"Mr. Oak, your pokemon are fine and are ready to go if that is what your here for." Ash's heart skipped a beat at that name and quickly whipped him head around and found a pair of emerald eye staring back at him. His mouth broke into a grin,
"Gary how come your here? I haven't seen you since Sinnoh!" Ash exclaimed, unable to hide his excitement
"Miss me Ashy-Boy?" Gary laughed, then saw Clemont, Bonnie and last of all Serena, "New friends, hu? Normally you would have brock and another girl with you."
Ash felt Serena tense up at this as she grabbed onto his arm. Ash had to resist the urge to pour his true feelings out to her right now, but he didn't because he really wanted her to be happy. So instead he gave her a reassuring grin and turned back to Gary.
"Brock didn't want to go further than Sinnoh and Dawn was always planning to stay in Sinnoh after I went to Unova." He sighed, "It's hard letting go of friends one after another, especially one like Brock but I found 2 new friends in Unova called Cilan and Iris."
"Iris... Wasn't she the dragon trainer that won the league there?" Gary enquired
"Yea, actually I was against her in the final round! But why are you here Gary?" Ash was confused, Gary wasn't a trainer anymore so why was he here in Kalos? Gary explained that Professor Oak had a branch of scientists working in the Kalos region and told Gary it was a good place to do some research and plus he might bump into Ash.
"Turns out I did Ashy-boy and before Clemont books the couch for you guys, do you want to stay at the lab? Its huge!" Ash looked surprised,
"Yea sure but will we be in the way of anything?" Ash inquired
"No not at all Gramps told me to ask you if I saw you, and it would be a good time to catch up too!" Gary exclaimed.
"Alright, sure let's go!" Ash said, full of enthusiasm and laughed as Bonnie punched her hand in the air and hugged Gary thanking him many times as they walked out the door.
Serena turned to Ash "That was a piece of luck, wasn't it?" She laughed and kissed him quickly before running to catch up with the others, leaving Ash standing there with only guilt and excitement to accompany him.
AT THE LAB
"And these are your rooms!" Gary gestured towards the two doors in front of the trainers. "Well, technically the one on the left is mine and the one the right only has three beds so, um, one of you guys is gunna have to share with me." Ash's heart beat so loud he was surprised no one else could hear it.
"I'll share with you Gary, I mean I'm the only one who really knows you so it would be just awkward if anyone else did. Pikachu you wanna stay with me and Gary?" The electric mouse made some exited squeaks of approval as Umbrion leapt off her trainers shoulder and started to muck around with Pikachu. The two stopped for a moment sniffing the air before Pikachu let out an excited cry and sprinted down the hall with Umbrion.
"Guess they smell lunch better then you do Ash, hu!" Serena said. Ash laughed as she pulled his hat off his head. "Race you to the dining hall!"
"Hey, no fair!" Ash yelped as his companions ran after the pokémon. "Come on Gary let's go!" Said Ash, quickly glancing at his old friend. Something flashed across his face that Ash couldn't work out Pain? Confusion? Anger? All three?! Whatever it was, it wet as fast as it came and Gary was sprinting against Ash down the corridor.
"Think you can beat me Ashy?" Gary panted
"You bet I can!" Ash wheezed back. And with that the race continued...