Hi there, and welcome yet again to Pokeshipping week! Last year went amazing, and I love this week so much. I love how it makes me write, and truth be told, this couldn't have come at a better time. As is my way, I managed to put this off, and of course only just finished this a few minutes ago, so I'm not SUPER happy with it, but rest assured friends! Because as is very much NOT my way, I actually already have the rest of the week done!

So without further ado, here is pokeshipping week 2016

Day 1- Alola

He immediately thought of her.

Nothing screamed "Misty" quite like Alola. The islands were warm and beautiful, and from what Ash had been told, water Pokémon here weren't just important, they were essential.

She probably would have loved it.

It had actually been quite awhile, longer than Ash would care to admit, since his first real friend had crossed his mind. But as he walked along, out of the airport and towards the school he had decided on a whim to attend, he could think of little else. It wasn't "I wonder what my classes will be like" or "What new pokemon will I meet here." it was "Hey, Misty would love that flower" and "Misty would definitely enter that water race."

By the time Ash arrived at the school, the guilt was eating at him so hard he didn't even bother to check in before he found the phone bank and typed in the number he was pleased to still have memorized.

"Cerulean City Gym, like, Daisy speaking!" Ash tried to not look as disappointed as he felt.

"Uh, hey...Daisy. Is Misty around?" Daisy's wide grin fell, and she leaned forward, as if she couldn't be sure of what she was seeing.

"Aren't you that kid?" she asked. Ash frowned.

"Uh…maybe?" he said. Daisy straightened back up.

"Misty's little boyfriend, right? Uh...what was it?"

"Ash." he said, choosing to ignore the first part of the question.

"Yeah! Well, I'm sorry, but Misty isn't here. She'll be gone for a few months actually. Left us here all on our own, just so she could go on some tropical vacation." Daisy complained. Ash's stomach sank.

"Oh. Well, I guess, it'll be awhile, but still, tell her I called, okay?" he said. Daisy's gaze softened into sympathy.

"Uh, sure. No problem. Sorry." she genuinely looked it, and Ash was more confused than anything.

"Yeah, well, see you later, then." he said, feeling more awkward by the second as Daisy looked at him like that. He hung up before she could say anything else.

"Well buddy," he began, looking at Pikachu on his shoulder, "guess we should get checked in for our own tropical vacation, huh?"

"Pika!" he agreed.

"One of the hallmarks of our program here is the guest instructor line up."

Ash had long since zoned out at the school orientation. He was starting to seriously question what it was he had been thinking, signing up for school. He had been hoping that maybe it wouldn't be so bad, being behind a desk, as long as he also got the practical lessons he had been promised. But after two hours of the droning voice of the headmaster going over details of schedules and class syllabi, he was losing it.

"As water pokemon are so important to our livelihood here in Alola, we thought it best to begin with our expert in that type."

At this mention, Ash's interest piqued, if only slightly, before his thoughts devolved back into Misty. He had been trying very hard not to think about her off on her tropical vacation. She kept picturing her on some beach he was sure he'd seen before, battling some guy he almost remembered, and he wasn't happy about how happy she was, even if it was just his imagination.

"Pikachupi!" Pikachu hissed from his perch on Ash's lap. Strictly speaking, Pokemon weren't supposed to be in the lecture room, but Ash wasn't about to leave Pikachu behind, and no one had said anything yet. Ash looked down at his partner.

"I know Pikachu, I tried." Ash whispered back. Pikachu shot him deadpan look before leaping up onto the desk.

"Whoa, hey, Pikachu, you can't…"

"Pikachupi!" Pikachu said again, pointing. Ash followed, and then he forgot what was happening. He couldn't possibly be seeing what he thought he was. He had to still be asleep. The time difference was messing with him.

There was no way he was staring at Misty Waterflower at the front of his class. There was no way she was staring back, looking for all the world like she'd just seen a ghost.

"Ash Ketchum! We looked the other way when your pikachu stayed out of sight, but now you are directly disrupting-"

"It's okay!" the girl who could not be Misty said. "I was done anyway." Pikachu twitched like he was going to jump off the desk, but Ash, at the very least, had the presence of mind to grab him.

"Sorry." he mumbled. The headmaster didn't look placated, but the no way she was Misty seemed to have the final say in the matter.

"Right, well, we'll leave it here for now. See you all on the beach after lunch." The headmaster said. The rest of the class shuffled out, chatting amongst themselves. Ash sat frozen. Pikachu poked him on the cheek, but he ignored him.

"Piiika." he whined. When Ash still didn't answer, Pikachu shook his head, and took off.

"Pikachupi!" he yelled as he went. The Misty had to be on a different continent so who was this chick, blinked at him, but Pikachu didn't wait, jumping up at her, forcing her to catch him.

"Pikachu?" she asked.

"Pika!" he confirmed. Her face broke into a grin, but it melted away again as her eyes found Ash.

"Ash?" she asked.

Those eyes. All blue and green and too much of either to really be defined, and definitely all Misty.

"What are you doing here?" The said at the same time. Ash felt his face flush, and noticed as hers did the same. He stood up, and tried to walk toward her, only to promptly fall over his desk. Pikachu didn't hold back, but Misty at least had the decency to hide her laugh behind her hand.

"Graceful." she sniggered. Ash frowned up at her before sliding up and sitting cross legged.

"You surprised me." He grumped. Misty laughed again, then held out a hand. Ash ignored it and stood on his own, earning a frown.

"Yeah, well, so did you. Don't see me on the floor." she huffed. Ash glared.

"You didn't have to move." he shot back. Misty rolled her eyes.

"I ask you again. What are you doing here?" she pressed. "This is basically the last place I would ever have expected to see you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ash asked, crossing his arms angrily. Misty simply grinned, irking him more.

"I dunno, the idea of you staying in one place for so long? I mean, I know we're going to be travelling around for lessons, but you get the point." Ash felt his mouth fall open.

"That's...I…" he wasn't sure what to say. Something logical, and borderline nice...was not what he'd been expecting here.

"Wha-what about you?" he stammered. Misty laughed.

"They called me about an serving as an expert trainer, how was I gonna turn that down?"

"Plus this place has 'Misty' written all over it." Ash added, not even realizing he had spoken until he watched the blush rising in her face.

"I, well...yeah, that too." She said softly.

They stood there for a few minutes, staring.

"So...school." Ash finally managed. "You're my teacher again." Misty looked surprised at first, then smiled.

"Hey, I guess that's true, huh?" Her smile then morphed into something a little more sinister.

"Of course, this time I actually have control over whether you pass or fail. I have control of your future! Mwahaha!" Ash narrowed his eyes at her.

"I will report you." he said. She smirked.

"Relax Ash, I'm kidding." but then her expression turned serious. "But I'm not going easy on you." Ash smiled.

"I'd expect nothing less Mist." Her smirk slid into a smile.

"I missed that." she said. Ash's brow furrowed.

"What?"

The mischief in her eye worried Ash.

"Maybe I'll tell you later." She said. Ash must've looked as bewildered as he felt, because she giggled. "Hey, we should better go grab some lunch. We've got a big afternoon. Trust me." She winked, and Ash grinned again.

"You sure it's okay for you to be hanging out with your students?" He teased. Misty pretended to consider this.

"Maybe we just shouldn't make a habit of it." she said. "Besides, pretty soon you'll have a whole bunch of friends to sit with. You won't need me."

"I'll always need you. You're my best friend."

She blinked at him, clearly at a loss. Ash smiled at his win.

"Pikachupi?" the pokemon in her arms brought her back.

"Wow. Uh, thanks, Ash." she said. Ash couldn't be sure which of them moved, but suddenly they were a step closer together. "When did you get so serious?" Ash smiled, but then…

He had never hated his stomach more. He was forced to take a step back as Misty doubled over in laughter.

"But...I guess…" she wheezed, "it's nice...to know some things will never change." Ash rolled his eyes as she pretended to wipe a tear from hers. She composed herself and took a steadying breath.

"C'mon." she said, turning away from him and starting out the door. "I know where we can get a really nice cheeseburger." She winked at him again over her shoulder, and though it took him a moment, he suddenly remembered the argument. Ash shook his head, and started after her, smiling widely.

This was going to be a great semester.