G'day, my fellow readers. ChiiRyeeBiee here with the rather eager Chapter 10 of Advice. Sorry about the wait. I still have no internet, but I will get it soon to post the next chapter :)
I dragged things out a lot for the whole scavenger hunt thing so they're quite detailed (and probably unnecessary but that's how I write). There's still a Chapter 11 and 12 so please look forward to those :) *does a happy dance*
I still sadly do not own Pokémon. I warn you for this chapter's upcoming cheesiness and lameness, plus the fact that this was the result of my rather weird-thinking mind, so yes, it will be weird. But I like it.
Your story starts in three, two, one...
Let's Play Lost and Find! Ash's Confession Scavenger Hunt!
"Vert Plaza. Vert Plaza... According to the map, you go straight from the entrance of Parterre Way and across South Boulevard... err... past Café Cyclone...well, I'm in South Boulevard now... let's see... Café Cyclone, where are you..."
Ash wasn't very good navigating his way around anywhere. He missed having Brock or Cilan navigating, but as of the moment, he had no travelling companions, so he had to make do with a map and some intellectual input of his as well. Pikachu and Eevee were of help in accompanying him. The sixteen year old decided to let out his other Pokémon out as well, so Chespin, Scatterbug and Fletchling could assist their trainer in completing his given task.
"Chiiiriiichii!" the tiny robin Pokémon cried to Ash in hopes of directing him to his destination.
"Ahh! There it is! Vert Plaza! Thanks a lot, Fletchling." He exclaimed, jogging towards a Lass Trainer with a talented Illumise, both standing/flying near a green-coloured monument. He hoped they were who he was looking for.
After seeing Ash, the girl extended a hand for the hazel-eyed boy to shake.
"Hey. I'm Henrietta. This is my Illumise. I'm guessing you're Ash Ketchum, Gary Oak's best friend?" She inquired attentively.
I sure am! Your Illumise looks very well-trained!" Ash complimented, looking at the cute little bug type briefly before turning back to her. "Is it the Pokémon with a Heart Mail?"
She nodded, glancing at the Firefly Pokémon as a signal to approach the Pikachu Trainer. Its tiny hands held out a small pink envelope, a similar print of his name like the previous mail on the front. Ash gladly took it and fairly soon was opening the letter, reading what was written in it.
"A nature so sweet, so kind like Jirachi..."
"Well done, Ashy. That's the first Heart Mail collected, and now you have nine more to go. Don't worry if you don't understand its meaning yet; that's the mystery you'll soon find out after getting them all. Now I want you to go to Vernal Avenue and go inside the Stone Emporium. Have fun."
The hazel-eyed boy tilted his head to one side to show his utter confusion. "What is this sentence supposed to mean? Is it for a Pokémon? I've never heard of a sweet or kind nature before..."
The girl laughed at Ash softly, amused with the ravenette's oblivious character. "You'll get it after piecing everything together. Here-" she handed him a rather large gift bag,"-take this. Gary told me to get it for you. I hope you like it."
"Well, uhh, thanks, Henrietta."
And while Ash was busy opening the red bag, showers of white and yellow sparkles surrounded him and his Pokémon like a handful of fairy dust riding the soft summer breeze. Inside the bag was something soft; 'a plush toy', Ash thought, having confirmed so after brushing off the little bits of paper and plastic covering it up. Jirachi. A Jirachi plush toy. Contrary to popular belief that boys hated plush toys, this ravenette didn't, and it was from Gary. Ash absolutely loved it.
He looked up curiously, mesmerized; eyes dancing around yellow and white glitter and finally landing on the Firefly Pokémon and her trainer.
"That's Illumise's Wish attack, although now it's more of a real wish rather than an attack." Henrietta explained, holding out an arm for her Illumise to perch upon. "It's a wish that you become happy. A wish that you and Gary will always be together, no matter what. He said he wanted to be your shining star; a star that could guide you everywhere you go. Much like Jirachi, the Wish Pokémon. You are so lucky, Ash Ketchum."
As expected, the hazel-eyed boy had no idea what to say. He was still a little confused, but thrilled with where this message delivery thing or game of Gary's was going. Well, if he could keep the plush toy at the end of it all, he didn't really mind being confused. But what was Gary trying to say? If only he was just as smart, if not smarter, than the Pokémon Researcher, he'd be able to decipher this message faster than lightning.
"Thanks, Henrietta, Illumise. You guys are awesome." was the only reply he could come up with so far. If he had to finish this scavenger hunt by the end of the day, then he would. Which meant he couldn't waste any time. He waved a hand at the lovely duo, bidding them farewell before calling his Pokémon to follow him.
The Lass smiled heartily. "Goodluck Ash! Run and go to your next destination! Best of wishes!"
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Sooner from then, five Pokémon and a ravenette could be seen marching across the busy Vernal Avenue, looking left and right for where the Stone Emporium could be. Chespin spotted it first, jumping up and down whilst pointing at a colourful sign with a stone icon clearly displayed.
"Chespin-ches!"
"All right! Way to go, Chespin!" The sixteen year old praised, his Pokémon following suit as he skipped towards the emporium. "This scavenger hunt thing is actually fun, don't you think? Hah! No one stops Ash Ketchum from solving a mystery!"
Stepping inside the busy shop drew many analyzing eyes on the Pikachu Trainer. It made him a little nervous, seeing all those people, just staring at him, and it made him rethink what he previously said.
"It's ASH KETCHUM, GUYS LOOK, HE'S HERE!" A girl cried out before giving the confused teen a hug.
A lot of little girls and boys crowded around him, asking for an autograph or showing Ash their buddy Pokémon. To say Ash was overwhelmed would be an understatement. He had been competing in every Pokémon League so far to improve his battling skills rather than to earn a lot of hyper followers.
"Oh please, Ash! Tell me how my Burmy is!"
"Yeah! And take a look at my Shinx! I've been with it since it was an egg!"
"Mister Ash, will you please sign this notebook? I've watched all your battles in the Leagues and you've inspired me so to be just like you!"
"Your Pikachu is soooo adorable! Can I hug it? Please, please, pretty please!"
Before the sixteen year old could give a reply to the little ones, an old man with a white mustache wearing a long indigo coat and cape cleared the crowd by walking through it so that he could be the one to talk to Ash.
"My boy, you have been so well known over the years. With the rate you are going at for your battling skills, you may as well have already reached your dream of becoming a Pokémon Master!"
Ash gave the old man a flattered smile. "Well, uhh, sir, I r-really wouldn't say I've b-been doing t-too well, and uhh, I s-still have a long way to go, yes, but I'm n-not really-"
"Nonsense! Are you saying you haven't improved a bit ever since you started Pokémon Training?"
"Well, uhm, of course I have but-"
"So there you have it!" The old man said before bowing low to the ravenette. "The name's Carson. I'm the owner of this stone emporium. And this-" he waved his cape to the side to reveal a young lion cub Pokémon, "-is my Litleo."
"Leeeeeeeee!" Said Pokémon jumped at Ash and gave him a friendly hello lick at the cheek. It had large, anime-like eyes, adding to its charm as a cute fire type Pokémon. Its whole body was covered in dark brown fur, excepting the lighter brown shade of fur its ears, paws, a part of its face and the end of its pointy tail had. The Kalos Pokémon also had a red mohawk between its ears, the start of what is soon to become its mane.
Ash giggled at the Pokémon's adorability. "Aww, he's so cute!"
Carson nodded agreeingly. "So I've been told. I believe he has something especially for you. Litleo?"
The fire type jumped down and went around his trainer's cape before presenting the hazel-eyed boy with a Heart Mail. Ash, who was still clutching onto his Jirachi plush toy, gave it to Chespin to take care of before he received the letter with a grin.
"So many dreams you've chased and accomplished, you may as well chase me..." Ash read aloud, catching the attention of his adoring fans and earning squeals from them all.
"Woohoo, way to go, Ash! You really are a Pokémon Master!"
"You've done so well to earn yourself top placings at every Pokémon League Tournament!"
"Even Gary thinks so!"
"And now he wants you to chase him because he's your next dream, isn't it?"
"You can do it Ash! We believe in you!"
The Pikachu Trainer blushed violently at the children's ridiculous remarks. What was this scavenger hunt thing all about anyway? Gosh, and all these people in the shop could be judging him supposedly after what the children have said! How did they know about Gary? They obviously knew he liked him, but how? He never even told the boy, so how would these children know otherwise? Oh how terribly embarrassing!
The same little girl who gave him a hug tugged at his shirt and asked him to lend her an ear.
"Goodluck with Gary, Mister Ash. I wish you both the best!"
Endless smiles and hopeful eyes filled the boy's vision, and it wasn't long until he lost control of himself and hugged all the little kiddies with a grin on his face.
"You children are so sweet! Thanks you guys...!"
Carson shooed away the children for a moment, getting back to Ash, or really, what could have been considered as a young ravenette being sappy and sweet, squealing like a schoolgirl in love.
"Well, next up for you is Bleu Plaza, I'm guessing? My grandson has a rather impressive Pokémon. Goodluck with your quest."
The sixteen year old glanced at the recent Heart Mail he received, indeed confirming that he was supposed to be off to Bleu Plaza. 'Gary and I... Goodluck being together... They know I like him... These presents and notes... I just don't get it! What are they trying to tell me?!'
Oh, he'd get to the bottom of this! He was sure of it. This wasn't the end... No scavenger hunt would dare defeat the future Pokémon Master! Just they wait...
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So far, Ash and his buddy Pokémon had visited Vert Plaza and Vernal Avenue's Stone Emporium, where he received two Heart Mails with random sentences written on them, supposedly the puzzle pieces for something he still wasn't quite sure of. They were given to him by an Illumise and a Litleo, Pokémon names that the hazel-eyed boy apparently had to note down as well. With two down, he had eight more Heart Mails to find, and he had to find them all by the end of the day.
"So Bleu Plaza is just right off the road! Just past the Friseur Furfrou Shop and Café Woof... err... there! A blue statue thing! Woohoo! Third Heart Mail, here I go!"
"Chespin-ches!" The grass type cried, carrying Ash's yellow plushie with ease.
"Chuuuriiii~!" Scatterbug muttered excitedly.
"Veeee veeeee!" Eevee chipped in, extremely happy.
A thirteen year old boy dressed in some sort of school uniform approached Ash before he had a chance to enter said plaza. He had green eyes and the messiest blond hair ever, and on his shoulders sat a shy little Oshawott.
"Hi. I'm Brady. Nice to meet you." He voiced out, bowing his head in respect. Ash responded by extending a hand out and shaking the boy's.
"I'm Ash. This here is Pikachu, Chespin, Scatterbug, Fletchling and my friend's Eevee. Your Oshawott looks adorable!"
"Hehe, thanks. I've seen that Eevee before - is that Gary's Eevee?"
The Pikachu Trainer nodded firmly.
"Alright, I'm not talking to the wrong person. Haha... Well, my grandfather and I are friends of Gary's. He's been researching stone fossils in the Unova region, and we used to live close by where he worked, so, that's how we know him. He's really cool. And you're cool too! Your battles in the Vertress Conference were astounding!"
"Oshaaaa!" The Sea Otter Pokémon seemed to agree. It jumped down and greeted Ash's Pokémon with glee.
"T-Thanks..." Ash muttered, flattered once again.
"I take it you're entering the Kalos League as well?"
Ash grinned in reply. "Sure am! And hopefully I can earn myself a better placing this time! Or win it!"
"Great! Goodluck, then! Well, I have to give something to you now, and Oshawott here has something for you as well."
Brady walked Ash right next to the monument, where he left a bag with something in it. He gave it to Ash after picking it up, leaving the sixteen year old to wonder what lied inside it. "From Gary. It must be so amazing to be best friends with a guy like him. He's so nice."
It was an album. A picture album of some sorts. Browsing through the first few pages, the older boy noticed that every photograph was either him or Gary. There was a picture of when they first had a sleepover, a picture of them feeding the bug Pokémon nearby Pallet Town, five year old Ash making funny faces at the camera while six year old Gary subjected himself with a typical frown...
...There was Ash sitting sentimentally on the grass, the day he got owned by a Magikarp, Gary and Ash's first tooth coming out and even a picture of them together with their first Pokémon. Nostalgia and memories couldn't help but to slap Ash at the face from just skimming through the gift, and the slap didn't actually hurt, but he missed his childhood a lot. He looked at the cover again where he finally noticed the album's title, which was "Together Forever with My Best Friend." Odd. He almost believed those were song titles if not for the fact they made sense.
"Oshaaa-shaawott!" The water type cried happily, tugging at Ash's pants like his own buddy Pokémon would when they wanted something.
"What is it, Oshawott?"
The Pokémon merely presented Ash with the same kind of heart mail the boy had been expecting. Without further ado, Ash had opened it and was reading what was written on the letter.
"Home is where your heart is, my love for you at the start..."
"Are you getting the hint of what this is about Ashy-boy, or do you need to find a few more Heart Mails? Trust me when I say I am nervous out of my brains right now for doing this, constantly thinking of what your reaction will be.
Well, you better head down to Estival Avenue's Lumiose Press soon; you'll probably meet someone familiar in there."
Ash gulped, needing to reread that first sentence again... 'My love for you at the start? What was that supposed to... oh.' Gary had mentioned he loved him as a brother before hadn't he? They were best friends and all, it was normal to love one another that way. Was that what the Eevee Trainer meant? Or was it the same kind of romantic love Ash felt for Gary?
"I guess you're doubting his feelings for you, huh?" Brady chuckled, nudging Ash with a shoulder playfully.
"W-whaaat? What d-do you m-mean? G-gary doesn't-"
"I mean exactly what was on the letter. Whatever it was. Three words, really. Gary. Loves. You. Not just as a friend or a brother, but really, really, really loves you. It's like Plusle and Minun together - oh, haha, well, you'll get the message later about that - but yeah. I know this, I may be young and all, but don't say I'm lying, that's why I'm standing here with you in the first place. I'm trying to help Gary and you get together."
But before Ash could respond to that, the thirteen year old eagerly pushed him toward the direction of Estival Avenue. Ash's Pokémon were already ahead of him, excited to meet another new Pokémon along the way. Oshawott stayed near the plaza as the water starter farewelled the rest of his new friends.
"I'm not worth your time to listen to, so you better head on to the next place right now! Don't waste time! Seven more to go! Go! Go! Go! Goodluck Ash! Don't drop the album! Place it back inside the bag so you won't have to carry much!"
Ash nodded in agreement. "A-alright, then... Thanks Brady!"
'Gary loves me, huh... well, isn't that nice. I'm sure we'd make a great couple someday and I will be happy for him no matter wha-wait a minute... me? Me? How could I not... oh I'm not sure whether to believe it...' Ash thought to himself.
'Either way, I have to find this out myself. If this whole scavenger hunt is a confession thing as Brady had mentioned, then I'll have to complete it...
Oh Gary... I love you... I just wanna see you now and ask if it's really true...'
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"Why if it isn't Ash Ketchum once again..." Ash heard a familiar female voice upon entering the city's post office. Papers were stacked pile by pile on desks and every person got back to work after looking at Ash for a brief moment, typing away on computers and laptops like they didn't even notice him.
The ravenette and his Pokémon didn't have too much trouble finding the Lumiose Press - Brady had told him it was the first shop to his left with a book symbol at the top after exiting Bleu Plaza. Scatterbug was getting tired of walking so Ash returned her to her ball while Chespin, Fletchling, Eevee and Pikachu kept on going.
The woman who greeted Ash walked up to him with a smile, leading him into her office at the back of the Lumiose Press.
"So this is where you work huh, Alexa? It's a great place, you must document so many things here!" The sixteen year old admitted, letting chocolate eyes look around posters of contests and recent events in the Kalos Region.
The woman known as Alexa shrugged. She and Ash had met just before the hazel-eyed boy left Santalune City, claiming to be the gym leader Viola's older sister.
"Thanks. Quite a comfy place here, you know. I have so much room and I can do whatever I want and write about anything and everything in the Kalos Region. I happen to know everything and anything about Lumiose City as well - I grew up here to be honest - so you can ask me anything about the place if you need to." She replied, moving over to a sidetable with a prepared kettle, some mugs and tea packets accompanying it.
"Let me get that bag for a while and let's sit you down. Darn, you're receiving lots of gifts lately, aren't you?" The woman laughed, noticing also how Ash's grass type was still carrying the boy's Jirachi plushie. "Chespin, hand that over to me, I'll place it in this bag right here. Wow, an album and a plush toy huh? Just you wait for the others..."
Ash's eyes opened wide. "You mean there's more?"
"Yup. Every step of the way. Want something? I'll make tea."
Ash was offered some tea and the two exchanged some small chit-chat, discussing Ash's first gym battle particularly. Time was passing by so quickly and Alexa almost forgot that Ash came to her workplace for a reason.
"Well Ash, you already know I have something for you. Let me just get it in the back... You haven't met my Vivillon yet, have you? Viola's one has meadow-pattern wings, but mine has sun-pattern wings. Come on out, Vivi!"
Alexa threw a Poké Ball in the air, revealing a butterfly Pokémon with orange wings, topped with light yellow then a baby pink colour as their inside patterns. Its eyes shone like diamonds, and its whole body was black, excepting the wings. The pink on Vivillon's wings represented a sun, with pink rays emitted around it and the other two colours representing the sun's light.
"Wow, I never knew Vivillon had different wing patterns... I wonder what my pattern my Scatterbug will have once it becomes a Vivillon..." The ravenette thought out loud wistfully, admiring Vivi's wings with his Pokémon while Alexa was looking for something somewhere.
"Piiin-chespin!"
"Chiiichiiiri-chii~!"
"Veeee-veee!"
Alexa returned with another typical gift bag, handing it over to the Pikachu Trainer and followed by a Heart Mail from Vivi. Dropping the bag to his side to attend to the pink letter first, Ash quietly skimmed over the expected sentence and instructions for his next destination.
"Kisses, hugs, my touches, you know you have my heart..."
"Doing well, love. Six more to go. I can't wait till I can finally see you. Took a lot of planning, this scavenger hunt thing. Hope you like your gift; I couldn't think of anything else, you see. Next up for you is Magenta Plaza. Who knows, a familiar face and and his Pokémon may be there too."
Ash looked up from the letter, his eyes glazed over as if he was about to cry with a half-formed smile plastered on his face. There was no denying it - this scavenger hunt was a confession thing. That last sentence just made it so obvious, and he wondered if the other sentences were just as direct and honest as this one and he just missed their point completely.
So Gary loved him. Did the seventeen year old know Ash felt the same way? And if he did, when did he find out? And how long had Gary been holding the same feelings for him? So many questions... not enough answers. 'Better get a move on then, wouldn't wanna keep Gary waiting too long...' The ravenette admitted inwardly, proceeding then to open the gift bag he received and checking its contents.
This time, it was a heart-shaped box, full of what seemed to be chocolates. Ash couldn't find a brand anywhere, and the box looked as to be manufactured elsewhere. The only word he could find on the light pink box was the word 'yours', and even that didn't make sense. Inside said box were chocolates of different shapes, particularly lips, hands, teddy bears and of course, hearts. Some weren't too perfectly formed, indicating to the ravenette that these were homemade. But they tasted delicious; soft praline and sweet hazelnut cream bursting into Ash's mouth upon chewing. Better than any brand, definitely.
Alexa explained to Ash the reason behind his gift while the boy was in the middle of a chocolate addiction. "Some guy he is, isn't he, Ash? He told me that every gift had to fit every sentence. I swear those lip-shaped chocolates make me want to laugh. 'It's my secret recipe, blah di blah', he always said. I hate him for being so... him. This whole plan is just wonderful, I may as well make it my next article."
"Pikachuu!"
"Veee!"
"Chiii-chiiri!"
Ash couldn't resist in letting his Pokémon try some of the chocolates as well. Within minutes they finished eating every piece, expecting a sure sugar rush to come soon.
"Well, will you look at the time. Better hurry up, Ash. Here's your bag of gifts; I'll lead you to the door. Okay, off you go, now! Drop by if you need to know more about Lumiose. Say byebye, Vivi!" The journalist mentioned.
"Viii-rii-vii!'"
Looking back at the woman and her Scale Pokémon, Ash and his buddies said their farewells once again before heading towards Magenta Plaza. The sun was at its highest peak and the sky was clear and azure-hued, small rays of sunlight shining through trees and bouncing off shop windows unwillingly. Afternoon already; about one o'clock perhaps.
Six more Heart Mails to find. Ash couldn't wait until he pieced everything together. What would they say, besides the fact that Gary loved him? Did it still hide some kind of message? Tears of joy went unnoticed as they fell from chocolate orbs, the indication of extreme happiness painted all over the ravenette's face as he ran. How lucky was he to discover that he was loved by the most amazing person in the world, the same person he held dear feelings for. Ash couldn't be scared of rejection anymore, knowing there wouldn't be any. He'd tell Gary as soon as they meet. No more questions of advice, but actions and words of love. Because advice was never enough, and it never would be.
Yay! First footnote! (I really have no life to be excited about this)
The z-scarred boy finally KNOWS. I know, it was a rather stupid way for him to find out and he really is that dense in here. I'm sorry! Don't hate me, please.
Who is the next familiar face, I wonder? What is the message behind it all? Has anyone guessed the pattern already? *I dunno, it's kinda weird, tbh*
Okay, the whole suspense thing isn't for me.
Please review with sugar and cherry on top :) Tell me what you liked and didn't like so I can make it better :D