(March 5, 2016 EDIT: Revised Chapter 2)
Gutentag! ChiiRyeeBiee here :)
In dedication to my beautiful OTP and its ever-so-amazing shipping day which happens to be today, I bring you Chapter Two of Missing Piece. It's not perfect I tell you now, but I'll share it anyway. Don't hate meeeee~
Do I even have to tell you that Ash and Gary are both boys and together in this story and not mine? Kinda did already... Oh well. I warn you for extreme narrativity. Just sayin'.
HAPPY PALLETSHIPPING DAAAAAAAY! And for those who are looking for another Palletshipping day fic (ish), I wrote another one especially for this day because I love Ash and Gary soooo verrrry much! :3 My profile is easily accessible ~.~
Kkk! Ima leave you to proceed...enjoy!
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Chapter Two - The Chance of a Lifetime (Gary's Point of View)
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Ash actually said yes.
Ash actually said yes to my really weird proposal.
I feared that he would say no since he could have been busy with preparing for the Indigo Conference Tournament, and also because I knew he didn't like me very much and he wouldn't have wanted to be stuck with me for a whole week. Clearly he still disliked me but it was kind of acceptable, seeing as how I teased him myself. I hoped anyway, for the majority of my time with him, there wouldn't be any conflict between us.
Ever since our rivalry ended and we became friends again after the Silver Conference Tournament, I'd been waiting for a long time to talk and spend time with the raven-haired boy. I was always busy with my own career, and he was also busy in chasing his own dreams. I never really had a chance to talk things out with him, but now I could!
What we would talk about I didn't know yet. Maybe we could discuss about my research and his travels respectively; just catch up like how friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time would have done.
I was happy he said yes.
And I wanted him to say yes.
I wanted to say I was sorry that I treated him the way I did in our childhood. I couldn't even remember well enough what caused me to be so mean to him. It was something along the lines of competition, I wasn't so sure. But soon I'd get to hang out with him and show him that I wasn't the jerk I used to be. I'd get to show him that I actually cared about him, not that he needed me to. I'd get to treat him like a best friend again; the best friend of mine that he used to be.
I just wished everything between us would become the way it was again.
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Secretly I've been keeping track of Ash's location around Kanto from Gramps, excited yet impatient for him to earn his seventh badge so he would come and battle me already.
Our battle was far from what I expected – I lost way easier than I thought I would have (and I did expect myself losing to him seeing as he was better than me already) and Ash had grown a lot too. His raven hair was as straight as ever, and his chocolate eyes never lost their vibrant shade of brown. Ash was also a lot taller from when I last saw him but he was still shorter than me, and he still had some baby fat and those neat little whisker marks on his cheeks. He wore a different casual outfit – a blue and white top that contrasted his very black jeans – and of course, his usual favourite red and white hat. No matter how old he got, I still found him as cute as ever. He was still the same adorable Ashy to me.
I could have travelled to where Ash was in Kanto at the time but I was just too busy. He must have been busy too, and he most likely would not have wanted to see me. I also could have called him on his Poké Gear to ask him if we could just meet up when I had the time but I didn't really want to. Either I was afraid that he would refuse to meet me, or that I was too much of a prideful guy to call my childhood friend and ask if we could hang out. I know it was idiotic. I had to change my unwanted arrogant attitude if I really wanted Ash and I to become friends again.
Another reason I hadn't met up with him yet was because I also wanted to shock Ash a bit – he never would have expected me to become a gym leader, let alone the infamous Viridian City Gym Leader. It was so much easier to work closer to home. I wanted to be closer to the place that had all my childhood memories; memories that were mostly about starting out my own Pokémon journey, and a few about Ash and I still being friends, of course.
Daisy was the one who planned the extravagant confetti-shower-sneak-up-behind-Ash welcome for me. She figured I wanted to make up with Ash that badly, so she spent hours upon hours getting all the confetti in the gym roof and testing if it looked nice enough. When I got the gym she also told me to paint it red and black, knowing that Ash would have liked it when he did visit, and he did.
Then she gave me those tickets to the Sevii Islands, hoping that I would invite him to a holiday so we could hang out. I really did appreciate her helping me to become friends with Ash again. She insisted it was no big deal; saying that she wanted me to "finally be happy", whatever that meant. I was already happy. I had everything a guy could want: I was attractive (even I knew that!), I had two admirable careers, and I was well-known by everyone and anyone. Maybe I did want some company here and there, but overall, my life was awesome. I didn't need to be happier than I already was.
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Like I promised Ash, I was to meet him in Pallet Town on the day the ferry was about to leave. I tidied up my lab and closed up the gym, leaving behind all my work and bringing nothing but a large purple knapsack for my clothes and things and my Pokémon with me. I took my leave by walking to Pallet Town, which was only an hour's journey away. I let Eevee walk beside me; the brown fluffy Pokémon smiling back at me. I could tell that she too was excited to go on a vacation. Plus, she'd get to hang out with Ash's Pikachu, her best friend. Lucky them. All I had to do now was to make Ash my best friend too. Then we'd all be together for a long time.
Looking around Route 1 as I walked, I could see the strong rays of the sun beating down strictly on the ground. The breeze felt warm and I could see a flock of Pidgey having playful fights in the sky as they flew. I always looked forward to the near end of the summer season. It was on the month of August, which was Ash's special birth month. Lucky for me, his birthday was in three days, which meant that I could throw a special celebration for him during our holiday. It just contributed even more to my make-up-and-become-best-friends-with-Ash-again plan.
When Eevee and I finally arrived in Pallet Town, we stopped by at my place to bid Daisy goodbye. She waved to me eagerly with an expression that read, 'I want you to be happy, make the most of it'. I swear, she worried about me too much. I was already seventeen for goodness sake. Still, Daisy was my older sister, and she loved me as much as I loved her.
Ash was already outside his house when I got there. He was sitting by the same evergreen tree at his front yard where he and I used to hang out at when we were small. Humbly petting his Pikachu, Ash smiled away easily like the happiest child on earth. I loved the way he smiled. Even from childhood, seeing him smile never ceased to make me happy. Ash was wearing his usual outfit, and he had a bright green trolley bag subjected beside him, also next to the tree.
Without hesitation Eevee sprinted towards my raven-haired friend and tackled him to the ground playfully. Pikachu squealed happily at Eevee's arrival and they went off to play somewhere close by. I walked up to Ash who was still on the ground and tried to help him up by holding my hand out for him to take. Ash smiled at me even more, happy to see me I guess, and happy to be off to a vacation.
"You excited?" I asked as he took my hand and stood up, straightening out the clothes that Eevee made creases on.
"Yeah. We're just on the ferry today right?" He replied, tilting his head to make himself look adorable.
He wasn't even trying to look cute. He just WAS. Typical move for such a hyperactive friend of mine. He always looked so happy and bright and positive. He had to; when you travelled, you met new friends, and new friends were always available to Ash. I wanted to be his special friend, his best friend – the friend he thought of the most and the friend he could always rely on.
I answered his question with a quick nod. "Tomorrow's when the real holiday starts. We're gonna be visiting every single island, each with their own special activities to do there. I swear it would be fun."
Beaming joyously at me, he took his trolley bag and started marching down the road. "Pikachu! Come on! We're gonna be going soon! You come too, Eevee!" He announced to our Pokémon friends, who were playing near a thick bush at the front garden.
It was then that Mrs Ketchum, Ash's mom, came out through the front door with Mr Mime right beside her.
"Are you leaving now, honey?" She inquired to be sure. Mr Mime merely walked over to where Pikachu and Eevee were to give them a goodbye snack.
"Yup! I'll see you in a week, Mom! I'll be training close to home before the tournament starts so you won't miss me too much!" The younger boy confirmed gladly.
"Alright honey. Gary dear, please take care of Ashy for me. I hope you boys have a safe and enjoyable trip." Mrs Ketchum requested, her hands clasped together in a pleading action.
"I most definitely will, Mrs Ketchum. Thank you. I hope you have a great week as well!" I formally responded.
"Boys! Call home every now and then, okay? I'll be waiting by the phone or if not, Mimey will be! Gary, call your sister or grandfather as often as you could too!"
"Yes, Mom!"
"Of course, Mrs. Ketchum."
She continued to smile at Ash and I, her wishes that we have fun genuine. The hazel-eyed teen continued to walk along the all-too-familiar dirt road exiting from his house, Pikachu and Eevee rushing towards him to join in. I smiled one last time at Ash's mom before taking my leave towards the ferry dock with the ravenette and our Pokémon friends.
"Gary!" Mrs Ketchum called out to me again. Her tone of voice sounded insistent and desperate, like what she was about to say was important for me to remember.
"I hope you boys become really happy together. I give you my utmost blessings. Take care." After saying this she gestured to Mr Mime and both of them went back inside the house.
Happiness and blessings. She made it sound like Ash and I were getting married or something. We were just friends going out to a holiday! What was it with people saying that I wasn't happier than I already was? Uuugh, well whatever.
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I had no time for any more deep thinking since our ferry was bound to leave in an hour. Ash and I carried on walking to the Pallet Town ferry dock, silence present between us. It was kind of awkward. There we were – two friends who needed to catch up with life but had nothing to talk about. I really needed a good topic to discuss with him. I wanted to wait for the right moment to apologize to him for what I'd done in the past, and now was not the time to do it.
"So," I began hesitatingly, "...how's your travelling been so far? Any interesting battles you want me to hear about?"
Ash shrugged weakly, thinking of a decent reply. "Good so far, really. As for my battles, well, you should have witnessed the battle I had against Sabrina! My Chansey totally won against her Alakazam!"
"You have a Chansey? Since when?"
"Oh, I got my Chansey from the Nurse Joy of Pewter City, just after I challenged Brock for the Boulder Badge. Her Chansey recently gave birth – weird I know – and the Happiny that hatched from the egg evolved into a Chansey before she knew it. She gave it to me since she thought it would be best if Chansey went travelling instead of going to medical school like the other Chanseys do."
I nodded my head in response. "I see..."
Strange... I wondered why Nurse Joy thought about wanting to send Ash's Chansey travelling with him? Most of the Chanseys I knew went to medical school and there was no argument about it.
"Interesting story Ash. Do tell me how you got your Vaporeon."
He smiled cheesily, ready to tell me another story of his. I just loved listening to Ash's voice. I didn't really understand why exactly all the little features my best friend possessed suddenly became more noticeable. It explained just how little I knew about him, and how far apart we'd become in the last six years. I missed having a best friend; I knew that much. I definitely needed to know more about him, and get him to put his trust in me once more.
We arrived at the ferry dock minutes after Ash told me how he received his Vaporeon from the four Eevee brothers he ran into once again. Looking around, I saw a largely displayed digital clock in the middle of the dock. It was about one-fifteen, so we had forty-five minutes until the ferry's departure. Maybe it was wise to board it as soon as possible.
Pikachu and Eevee looked a little tired from walking the distance, so both the ravenette and I picked them up and carried them on our shoulders. The younger boy decided to carry his trolley bag instead of dragging it along with him.
Soon after that we boarded the so-called Seagallop Ferry, finding comfortable seats at the front deck since Ash wanted to see the water.
I've seen the Seagallop Ferries before. They varied in size, depending on the amount of passengers they could carry to the Sevii Islands. The ferry we boarded was actually reasonably small – from walking around inside I would have guessed that it carried at least one hundred people. That was acceptable, seeing as how we were in the Pallet Town ferry dock and Pallet was a very quiet place. The ferry's white walls were gleaming in the light, and there were a few crowds here and there, trying to get to their seats.
"I'm so excited! You are too, aren't you, Pikachu?" My raven-haired friend exclaimed, dropping his bag on the ground as he plopped down on his seat comfortably. Pikachu nodded in agreement.
"Hey Gary, what time are we getting there? And you know how you said there were seven islands? Which one will we be staying at primarily?"
I sat beside him, putting my own knapsack down. Eevee remained still on my shoulder as I looked up at the azure sky replicating the beautiful blue shades of the water. My brown fluffy Pokémon jumped down on my lap, snuggling against my right palm and ready to slumber. Now was her naptime, I remembered.
"The Sevii Islands are kind of far. They're between Kanto and Hoenn, so it would take about three or so hours to get there. By the time we arrive, it'll be five pm, so we'll just get some dinner and rest up in our hotel. According to our itinerary, we'll be staying in Boon Island's Paradise Inn. That's the second island by the way."
"Okay."
"Say, have you eaten lunch yet? I'm pretty sure there's a buffet inside, so we can eat up before the ferry leaves. That sound nice to you?" I suggested considerately.
"Sure thing! I can never pass off an offer of food! Let's go!" He dashed off quickly, Pikachu still with him. I picked Eevee up carefully and carried her with me deep inside the ferry, following Ash's natural instincts to find the buffet table.
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The buffet was just as I expected – not crowded with people, but plentiful of food. There were cuisines from all over the world, and even though not many people were in this particular ferry, the Seagallop Ferries were always of a high quality when it came to food service. I ate contentedly while Ash kept stuffing his face with every new meal he wanted to try. Eevee remained sleeping on my lap, and Pikachu helped the hazel-eyed boy finish their bountiful lunch. Some things, really never changed. Ash was still the always-hungry-bastard I used to know. I didn't really care. I liked him that way and wouldn't ever want him to change.
After eating, I got the Pikachu Trainer to talk more about his recent travels, specifically around Unova and his repeated Kanto journey. In the next several minutes of the ferry trip I listened to him talk about his victorious battles with Elesa in Nimbasa City, Drayden in Opelucid City and his rematch with Lieutenant Surge, the gym leader of Kanto's own Vermillion City. We didn't even notice the time until the speakers announced that we were docking at Boon Island in ten minutes. When I checked my Pokétch, it was four fifty-two. Such accurate timing. I stood up, ready to move out and carried my knapsack up again, careful not to wake my sleeping Pokémon.
Ash and I kind of struggled to get off the Seagallop Ferry. The supposedly few crowds grew in numbers as they pushed past each other to get to the exit. The hazel-eyed teen held Pikachu protectively, trolley bag in the other hand, and Eevee woke up in my arms, unamused. Gosh, those people were desperate. I thought that the Sevii Islands would be a quieter tourist spot now that summer was nearly over. It turned out that the Sevii Islands were popular all year around.
Boon Island was one of the large islands in the Sevii area. It was of a lush green colour, full of trees and flower gardens that the local people were fond of tending to. There weren't many rural houses or shops around, but Boon Island was famous for a few things – their five-star hotel Paradise Inn and their exciting-looking amusement park just at the top of the mountain. I haven't visited the amusement park before but I was positive that Ash and I would definitely enjoy going there.
The crowds around us dissipated, with people going off to different directions, walking or renting bicycles to their respective destinations. Ash and I, along with our buddy Pokémon, continued walking out of the dock, aware that we were soon to approach a small village. There was a beach nearby as I could hear waves crashing down onto the grainy sand, and a tang of salt ghosted over the windy breeze.
Pikachu and Eevee wanted to play freely by themselves so Ash and I let them run ahead of us while I frantically read over the map I received along with our trip tickets and our itinerary. The ravenette was looking over my shoulder, wondering if he could be of any help.
"Looks like we're not far from Paradise Inn. It's just ahead of us apparently – approximately a ten minute walk. You can keep on walking right? We could probably take a rest if you're tired. And are you sure you don't need help with your bag? It looks heavy to me."
He shrugged uncomfortably, as if what I said didn't please him as much as I thought.
"I'm... good with walking. And I can carry my own bag..." He pouted, leaving me behind to put the map away.
"Alright then."
The hazel-eyed boy kept walking, his head so high up in the clouds that he completely missed the large pebble on the road. I grabbed his arm subconsciously so that he wouldn't trip over forwards.
"Geez, Ash. You're real clumsy, aren't you? You should really watch your way, you know. You can't expect me to save you at times like these."
The Pikachu Trainer scrambled away from my grip defensively, shrugging violently in the process. "No one asked you to help me, you arrogant bastard! Sheesh! You could have just let me trip if it was SO much of an effort to help me."
"Woah! Calm down! I was just concerned and I did it on impulse! You would have fallen over and hurt yourself, okay? No need to lash out..." I argued back. He was being way too childish for something so small! I didn't do anything wrong! Did I?
"What is it with you, seriously? I'm not buying your whole nice façade you know! I'm not a baby! I don't need to be fussed over; I'm sixteen years old for goodness sake! Do you want something from me, that's why you're being so nice?"
I just stood there, dumbfounded. Pikachu and Eevee, oblivious to what was happening, walked on along the smooth, cemented pathway.
Gosh, I didn't know why Ash was so mad about me being concerned about him. Was I really that mean to him before that the possibility of me being nice to him again was illogical? I didn't mean to baby him so much – I never got to do it in the past twelve years after our rivalry started. I was supposed to be the older one, the one to protect him. I was just caring about him, even in the tiniest way possible.
"Sorry..."
His infuriated expression softened; his face dropping sadly.
"Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden...?"
I sighed in defeat. Now was honestly the time to apologize, although it seemed too inappropriate. "Because I want to be. We're friends remember? That's why we're on this holiday together! I just want to be your friend again, Ash. I'm sorry...okay?"
He was studying my facial expressions closely to check if what I said was a lie. Why did he react so badly?
"Mm-sorry." He mumbled inaudibly, feeling a bit guilty for lashing out.
Ash was putting on that adorable-looking face again. Was it wrong to think that your best friend is cute, especially when he's a sixteen year old guy?I hoped not. I decided to put my arm around his shoulder so I could walk much closer to him. Like friends did.
"It's okay."
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Pikachu and Eevee were still running ahead front of us, but they were a bit too far. In a matter of minutes like I predicted, we arrived in front of a gigantic, sky-coloured building.
Paradise Inn was huge. There was a welcome sign high above us, in clichéd yellow cursive writing and an island for a background. I could see some pools just beside the inn, and it was several storeys high. LED lights also adorned the edges of the two-door entrance in front of us.
"Pikachu! Pikachu-pika!"
"Veeee! Ee-veee-eee!"
Our Pokémon friends were calling happily out to us, telling us to hurry up. I was still walking with my arm around Ash's shoulder, so we were walking rather slow.
The automatic glass doors opened for us as we approached the entrance. The first thought that came to my mind was, 'wow, what a building'. Definitely five star. Lots of gold and silver panels it was almost blinding. There were soft looking maroon cushions and sofas in the waiting area. It looked to me like a really grand Pokémon Center.
The lady at the front desk had blonde hair and she was dressed in a blue uniform which made her look like a stewardess.
"Hi, how may I help you?" She voiced helpfully.
"Hi, we have a reservation for Gary Oak? Seven day stay?"
She was typing away in her computer, glancing at me with guilty eyes and back at her form of technology. Ugh, how bothersome. As professional as she looked, she could not hide the fact that she was checking me out. And that's not me being overconfident my looks, alright? I'm just not dense.
Denseness or whatnot aside, she was not my type at all, not that I had any particular type. Girls were never really a big part of my life and I didn't want them to be – not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
"Oh yes, Mr. Oak, welcome! Your room is at Level 2, Room 141. Here are your keys, sir. Enjoy your Paradise stay!"
I took the keys with my right hand since my left arm was still around Ash. I pulled him even closer, causing the younger boy to squirm. He was so close; I could even smell his sweet cinnamon scent. Cinnamon huh? How unique.
Walking towards the elevator, the hazel-eyed teen embarrassingly pushed me away. He continued pulling that green trolley bag of his, which glided silently across the tiled floor.
I picked Pikachu and Eevee up beneath me, carrying them to let the two rest up from running. Pikachu climbed on my head and Eevee stayed in my arms, snoozing again.
"...What was that... all about…?" Ash muttered demandingly.
"What was what all about?"
"Y-You...being all...touchy-feely here and there...ugh."
"What? Am I not allowed to touch my best friend?" Typical Ash.
"You're a jerk, you know that? Don't get cocky, Oak. There's this thing called boundaries? Pfft, so much for trying to be my friend again…" He complained, walking into the opened elevator and pushing the two button.
"You're cute when you're pissed."
"Shut up. I hate you Gary." was all he could say as he walked out of the elevator, leaving me behind with our Pokémon friends.
Room 141 had a crimson door like that of my gym to begin with. I told Ash to grab the keys from my pocket to let us both inside. It wasn't that large, the room. Walking inside there was a small kitchen at the left hand side and a tiny refrigerator just next to it. The lounge had two red sofas and a flat screen television lined up diagonally from the wall corner. Red curtains draped down to cover the sliding door which led to a nice little balcony outside the room. The walls were of a beige colour and there was a nice air conditioner just above the television. To the right hand side there were two doors; I assumed one of them led to the bathroom while the other led to the bedroom.
Pikachu hopped off to make himself comfortable on one of the red sofas. Eevee heard him calling her, so she woke up and jumped off me as well. Ash and I walked over to one of the mysterious doors, trying to find the bedroom.
The bedroom was beautiful. More gold walls and red fabric. There were two separated single-sized beds in the middle of the room, both covered in a thick, scarlet duvet. My raven-haired friend dropped his trolley bag next to the left bed and let himself sink down into the soft mattress.
"Yay! I could sleep now!" He commented, snuggling into the red sheets. He was so cute.
I dropped my own bag, opening it up to find a change of clothes.
"We have to eat dinner though. Wanna go out to the restaurant or just stay here and I'll call for pizza or something?"
He turned to me with a puppy face; his eyes moist and his bottom lip curled up.
"Let's go to the restaurant!"
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"So, Ash. You're still chasing your dream huh, seeing as how you've repeated your journey again." I mentioned to him as we walked back to our room, full and contented. Ash was tarrying behind me since he ate at least five servings of barbecue roasted chicken, to no surprise.
"Mm-mmh." He shook his head no.
It was about seven thirty pm – the restaurant was highly busy and we didn't get to eat until after twenty minutes of waiting. We also chatted and rested after our meals since we ate a lot. Who wouldn't eat so much in a five-star restaurant?
"I have a new goal, to be honest." He finally said as we approached our room door. Pikachu and Eevee were both sleeping on the sofa, cuddling each other adorably. Their food bowls were also half empty. I sighed, thinking to myself that they didn't finish their dinner again.
Ash and I both walked into our bedroom – tired, happy and wanting to sleep. For seven-thirty, it was already dark outside. Now was a great time to rest up, even though it would have been considered too early to fall asleep.
"Really? Do tell me what it is."
Ash took a change of clothes and walked towards the bathroom to have a shower.
"I'll tell you later." He replied, leaving me in our bedroom to curiously wonder what his so called "new goal" could be.
I got ready for bed, pulling out my fluffy red bedsheets and giving in to the softness of my bed. When my head hit the pillows it was almost impossible to keep awake.
Ash returned after ten minutes, dressed in red and black woollen pyjamas with a Darkrai printed on it. His cinammon scent wafted around the bedroom, leaving me in a sort of daze. Ash's raven hair was wet and messy and I watched him get into his bed, mesmerized.
"You're so cute, Ash."
To this comment, he shot me a deadly-looking glare.
"I'm not cute! You know how sad it is for a guy to be called cute? It sounds lame! For that, I'm not telling you my goal anymore. You won't take me seriously."
"Oh, come on, Ash. Don't be like that. I'm sorry."
"Nope. I'm not telling."
"I wanna know."
"Then don't call me cute! Ever!"
"Okay, okay fine. Just tell me, please?"
"Well," he began as he lied down on the same soft bed of his, "...I'm looking for something."
"Looking for something? Like what?"
He turned towards me, letting me gaze into those beautiful chocolate eyes. He was so cute. I didn't even know why I thought so or why he really was cute.
"Have you ever felt like you're missing something? Like, no matter what you do, there's always something that needs to be done first? Then you'd be happy?"
I thought about it for a while. "No, I don't think so Ash. I have everything I want, sadly. Everything except..."
"Except one thing, right?" He finished for me. "I don't know, I know I should be aiming to be a Pokémon Master but, I don't think I can if I don't find whatever's missing in my life. It's stupid. I don't even know what it is, and I'm trying to find it. I wanna be given some inner peace. It's been bothering me forever."
To be honest, I was gonna say I had everything except him. A best friend. Which was why I wanted to go through our make-up plan, so that I could be what they called complete.
Was that what everyone like Daisy and Mrs Ketchum was trying to say? That I needed Ash to make me happy? I never really thought about it. I always considered myself a pretty happy person. Guess I could be happier if Ash was always right beside me. I probably sounded ridiculous, only realizing this now.
"Yeah, I understand. So you want me to help you find it, whatever IT is?" I offered.
"You're trying to baby me again. I can do it myself, but thank you."
Ash closed the lights, wanting to succumb to sleep.
"What are we doing tomorrow Gary?" He whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
"Tomorrow? Oh, according to our itinerary, we'd be ferrying over to Floe Island – the fourth island – to drop off our Pokémon in the Pokémon Paradise Park. It's like a really upgraded version of a Pokémon Day Care Center. Our friends would really appreciate it if they had fun too. After all, we did want them to relax as well. The service there is great so we could leave them there for a majority of our stay."
"Sounds like a great plan. Pikachu and the others would love that."
"Yeah, and then afterwards we'll be back here in Boon Island. We'll be going to that awesome amusement park on the top of the mountain."
Ash giggled in response.
"REALLY? Oh that's so cool! The last amusement park I visited was in Nimbasa with Elesa. Now I'm excited!" He beamed in the dark. That was enough for me to realize how much he loved amusement parks.
After minutes of talking in the dark, we said our final goodbyes before hitting the hay.
"Goodnight, Gary."
"Goodnight, Ashy."
.
.
.
.
.
Today was an awesome day. I had to say that it was a chance of a lifetime to be with Ash as of the moment and become friends with him again. I'm glad that I took the chance to make things right once more.
As tired as I was, I couldn't fall asleep just yet. I couldn't stop thinking about Ash and my plan of action. What was I gonna do about his birthday preparations? How could I show to him that I care about him? Would he like me to get closer to him again? And then there was also his own goal. A missing piece huh? It sounded pretty deep and important. I wanted to help, but I knew Ash, and Ash could find it on his own. I knew he could, and he would, someday.
