Chapter 2—Arrival to Lumiose City
It's 3am. Gary has just woken up. His sleeping is out of phase. He decides to take a walk around the place. The moon is glamming, the stars are bright. Inside the forest he sees lots of Pokémon. He finally arrives to a small river and he sits on a rock. He remembers that night before the Silver Conference, that special night he and Ash spent together talking.
—Hey! —Bonnie said smiling seeing Gary sitting on the rock.
—Oh my God! You scared me!
—Sorry.
—Come on, sit next to me—Gary invited her pleasantly.
—Sure. You can't sleep. Can you? —she asked curiously.
—No I can't. I guess it's because I went to bed so early but damn I was so tired. Can't you sleep either?
—I ate too much marshmallows, my brother told me I was going to be unable to sleep but I didn't want to believe him—Bonnie said laughing.
—Well I'm glad I'm not going to stay up all night all by myself—Gary said smiling.
Bonnie blushed. This boy was behaving like a genuine gentleman with her.
—Bonnie?
—Yes? —she asked blushed.
—How is Ash?
—Ash? Don't you know him? —she asked confused.
—I know him but I haven't seen him in like three years. How is he like now? —Gary asked with curiosity.
—Well, he's very happy he gets to travel with us and challenge lots of trainers. He wants to be the very best. He's very gentle and he's a good friend too. He's really fun.
—I see. How does he interact with each one of you?
—Well, he and my brother are like best buds even though it's been just a few months since we met. I see him as an older brother.
—That's really nice—Gary said smiling—what about the girl? Serena is it?
—Yes. Well she and Ash are also good friends but I think she wants to be more than that—Bonnie gossiped.
—Really? —Gary asked laughing—Ash having a girlfriend? I just don't buy it.
—Why?
—I don't know. Ash is one of those people you see and say: he's not a boyfriend material.
—Not a boyfriend material? —Bonnie asked confused.
—You're still too young, sweet little girl. You will understand it someday—Gary said mysteriously.
—I hate it when people tell me stuff like that! I am old enough to know!
—I'm sorry—Gary said ashamed.
—Well Mr. Oak…
—Call me Gary.
—Well Gary, can I ask you a question?
—Of course sweetie, what is it?
—Why did you decide to be scientist and not a Pokémon trainer anymore? —she asked curiously.
—I like that you say I'm a scientist, yeah! Well, I'll tell you, at first I wasn't sure enough. I mean, my grandpa is one of the most known Pokémon researchers in the world and that was something that made me feel pressured to be as good as him—Gary said after taking a long breath.
—Was it that hard?
—Just at the beginning. Anyway, seeing Ash become stronger than me made me realize that I was not made to be a trainer. I always wanted to discover new things, new Pokémon, it got pretty much all my attention and being a trainer at first helped me because I got to meet hundreds of Pokémon by myself.
—That's really sweet—Bonnie said smiling.
—However I'm not saying that I'm bad at Pokémon fights, I can kick Ashy's ass if I want to—Gary said laughing.
—I'd like to see that—Bonnie said laughing too—and now you're on this investigation because?
—I really want to discover something about these legendary Pokémon, there is little information about them and professor Rowan sent me on this task.
—Who is this professor Rowan? I believed you worked with your grandfather.
—I did it at first. I worked with my grandfather during my first year then I decided to fly—Gary said smiling.
—And you flied?
—Of course. I worked with professor Elm for six months in Johto, after that I worked with professor Birch for another six months in Hoenn. Then I worked with professor Rowan for a year in Sinnoh. I guess I really loved his way of researching stuff, his style. Then I worked with professor Juniper in Unova for another six months and finally I decided to work with professor Rowan again, even though my grandfather is my all-time inspiration, professor Rowan is my mentor and I really like that he and my grandfather get along pretty well—Gary said inspired looking at the moonlight.
—Wow. I feel like I admire you—Bonnie said surprised.
—Really? Why?
—You've done a lot of things for your work and your dreams. I can see that.
—Yes, I have. And I feel really happy. I'm telling you, I want to be the very best Pokémon researcher. Is it that crazy?
—I don't think so. Ash wants to be the very best Pokémon trainer. You two are so alike in that.
—I haven't noticed that before—Gary said surprised.
—Well I'm glad I made you notice—Bonnie yawned.
—Well little girl, it's time to sleep, c'mon get on my shoulders—Gary said taking Bonnie with his arms and sitting her around his neck.
—Oh my god! My brother doesn't even do this—Bonnie said excited.
Bonnie and Gary joined the others on their sleep after a nice conversation. And the sun came out, they were one day away from Lumiose City, if they didn't have any difficulty they would get there by night. Ash woke up and there was Gary like he never though he would see him: he was making breakfast!
—What? You're making breakfast? —Ash questioned like he didn't believe what he was seeing.
—Good morning Ashy boy, how would you like your eggs?
—…scrambled. That'd be fine.
—Ok—Gary said smiling.
—May I ask?
—Once you're not home you have to learn to cook for yourself. You're not going to buy fast food all the time—Gary said laughing.
—You're not home?
—Don't you know anything about me Ashy boy?
—He lives in Sinnoh—Bonnie said waking up.
—Really? —Ash asked surprised.
—Good morning sweet girl. And yes, I'm still working with professor Rowan so I live in Twinleaf Town. Oh by the way I'm a very close friend of Dawn's now.
—I'm so happy for you—Ash said happily.
—Good morning fellas—Clemont said a little bit sleepy.
—Good morning. Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.
—Thank you Gary, it smells pretty good—Clemont said smiling.
After a few minutes Gary served breakfast for all and they sat over a little table near the limits of Route 15 and Route 16.
—Serena's still asleep. Should we wait for her? —Ash asked.
—Don't worry. I'm gonna wake her up—Bonnie said walking closer to Serena.
—Wait Bonnie! What are you going to do? —Clemont questioned worried.
—Se-re-na! Wake up girl! —Bonnie screamed.
—Oh my God! What did you just do? —Clemont asked ashamed.
—Ouch! Why did you do that? —Serena woke up really annoyed.
—We're having breakfast. Gary spent his time on making it for us. Come on! Join us on the table—Bonnie said running back and sitting on the table.
—I can't believe you just did that. You're cool—Gary said laughing.
—Oh, I'm sorry guys, I don't feel hungry. I'll continue sleeping but please, enjoy your breakfast.
—What? Get your ass in here Ryhorn girl! —Bonnie shouted again.
—Bonnie!
—That's fine Bonnie, she must be very tired. We're sorry we woke you up—Gary apologized.
—Don't worry—Serena said and she went back to sleep.
—We're sorry, she's not always this irritant—Bonnie said in low voice.
—I'm listening to you!
—Well, enjoy your breakfast guys—Gary said smiling.
—Thank you! Oh God! It tastes so good! —Ash exclaimed pleased.
—Really? Better than my cupcakes? —Serena asked jealously in her mind.
—How come Ash's eggs are different than ours? —Bonnie asked curiously.
—Is there a problem? —Gary asked nervous.
—No, but I'm just curious.
—Bonnie. Why are you always this nosy? —Clemont asked.
—No problem. I just asked him how he wanted them so I made them different—Gary said smiling.
—Oh, thank you Gary—Ash said a little bit blushed. He felt something special but he didn't know why, he actually though it was because of the good flavor of the eggs.
—You're welcome Ashy boy.
—Ashy boy, Ashy boy—Serena imitated Gary in a silly way with a low voice that no one could hear.
They finished their breakfast and waited for Serena to wake up. Then they finally started another long day walking through Route 16 to get to Lumiose City as soon as possible. They walked for hours and they kept talking mostly about Gary and Ash which Serena didn't like at all. Serena was also very hungry; she didn't have breakfast for pride. They had lunch at 2 o'clock. Clemont made special pasta and everyone loved it. It was getting dark, it was about 6 o'clock and after walking for several hours they were close to Lumiose City.
—I can smell Francisco's bread from here! —Bonnie exclaimed energetically and started running with Dedenne and Pikachu. Lumiose City was just a mile away.
—Bonnie don't run that fast!
—Let her be—Gary said smiling.
—But…
—I know she's your sister but c'mon, you were also a kid and I bet you were as full of energy as her.
—You're right—Clemont said smiling.
—I'm so excited! We're finally going to have our fight!
—Do you even think about something else than Pokémon fights? —Gary asked laughing.
—I think it's fine that he focuses on what he really likes—Serena said smiling to contradict Gary.
—I'm not blaming you for that, just saying.
—I know there are lots of things to think about but like Serena said, I focus my mind on the most important ones—Ash said. Serena felt so good that Ash agreed with her argument.
—However, Bonnie! Let me join you! —Gary said running to get to Bonnie and joined her, Pikachu and Dedenne on their race to Lumiose City.
—Doesn't it look beautiful? —Clemont asked.
—Yes, I really like that Gary has still the energy and grace of a child—Ash said but he really meant to think it, not say it. When he realized this he felt really embarrassed.
—What did you just say? —Serena laughed.
—I'm sorry! I was thinking that and I just said it—Ash said embarrassed.
—I don't think there's something to be embarrassed about. What you said it's true. In fact, I think I'm going to join them. Hey! Wait for me! —Clemont said running and he joined Gary and the others
—I can't believe Clemont did that too—Serena said annoyed.
—Don't you want to join them? It looks like they're having so much fun.
—Do you want to?
—I want to, catch me if you can, not even a master ball will catch me! —Ash exclaimed joining the others.
—We'll see that Ash—she said—I have the best master ball on my pocket, believe me. Well, there's nothing else I can do. Hey! Wait for me! —she shouted and finally joined them all.
Pikachu and Dedenne got first to Lumiose City. Gary and Bonnie arrived next and finally Ash, Serena and Clemont.
—I'm so tired, I can't breathe—Clemont said exhausted.
—What? You got tired with that short baby race? —Bonnie asked laughing. Neither she nor Gary got tired at all.
—Well guys, I think I'm going to the headquarters of my research team. I guess this is it—Gary said.
—No! Don't leave! —Bonnie exclaimed almost crying.
—I'm so relieved he's finally going away—Serena said in her mind.
—C'mon Gary. It's late. Please stay one night in our house—Clemont invited.
—Clemont!
—Yes! Please say yes!
—Yes! I want you to see my fight against Clemont now—Ash said excited.
—Now? We'll have our fight tomorrow bro—Clemont laughed.
—What? —Ash said discouraged.
—Everyone is so tired and if I challenge you now I won't have my best performance.
—I guess you're right. So? Please stay with us tonight—Ash insisted.
—Ok, it sounds fun—Gary said smiling.
—Yes! —Bonnie exclaimed energetically.
—Oh gosh! —Serena exclaimed irritated in her mind.