Pokémon Tails: A Journey to the East
DISCLAIMER: I don't own DBZ or Pokémon.
NOTE: This chapter contains some rather light NC-17 material, though all the graphic stuff has been moved to ArchiveOfOurOwn, but if that kind of thing bothers you, well, at least you've been forewarned so needless to say, reader discretion is heavily advised.
CHAPTER 20: All Aboard the Ship of Love!
The group walked past the rubble and the debris as it seemed the events of the previous day in Vermilion City had been contained with the fires put out, and no more signs of wounded people and Pokémon — but that seemed likely due to the fact that that many of them had been rushed to both hospitals and the Pokémon Center en masse.
In fact, there were very few people out and about as they made their way past the scarred sections of Vermilion Ruins toward the harbor.
"I just can't believe it..." Misty whispered, looking stricken.
"This place is so quiet..." Ash commented. "It's like a ghost town."
"Pika Pika, Pikachu," the Electric Pokémon agreed with a nod.
"It's a big change from yesterday morning," she sighed.
"I don't know what we would've done if you guys weren't around to take down those aliens," Brock told Gohan and Cabba seriously.
"Oh, it was nothing, you know..." Cabba said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "The real thanks goes to Gohan and the Captain."
"I just wish I could have saved everyone much sooner," Gohan said sadly, obviously still troubled by all those deaths.
Misty sent Gohan a sad look, and soon, they were in the harbor.
"Wow, is that the St. Anne?" Ash gasped, seemingly in awe.
The group turned to find a luxurious-looking ocean liner moored to the dock, seemingly far larger and grander than they had expected, with tons of pools, party hangouts, and various other facilities.
"WHOA!" Brock shouted. "That's huge!"
"Pikachu!" the Electric Rat remarked, jaw dropping.
"Well, of course," Misty said haughtily. "The St. Anne is the most luxurious cruise ship in the world! At 362 meters long with eighteen decks, the St. Anne is basically a floating city on the water, capable of reaching speeds up to twenty, twenty-five knots, and weighing over two hundred thousand tons!"
"Wow, I didn't even follow half of that!" Ash mumbled, pointing both his fingers together as his eyes turned to Xs in sheer puzzlement.
"Pika..." Pikachu sighed as little clouds formed over its head.
"That's incredible!" Gohan praised her, having understood everything she just said. "What else do you know about the St. Anne, Misty?"
"It's got many types of resorts and facilities, some especially for Pokémon," Misty went on. "There's an arboretum for Grass Pokémon and an aquarium for Water Pokémon... not to mention a turbine which generates tons of electricity for Electric Pokémon which powers them up! There's a single Pokémon Center on board operated by its very own licensed Nurse Joy and a massage center! Oh! And, there is also swimming pools, parks, ice rinks, movie theaters, restaurants, casinos, pretty much everything you could ever possibly hope for, and more!"
For a few minutes, everyone simply stood there sweatdropping at the extremely dense jargon while Misty floated among a cloud of hearts before finally coughing and bringing herself back to the present.
"Wow, Misty, since when did you become an expert on the St. Anne?" Ash wondered, rubbing the back of his head to relieve the tension.
"Pika Pi, Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu added, nodding its head.
"Well, I built my own St. Anne model when I was a little girl..." Misty explained. "And I collected all sorts of books about it and watched a lot of documentaries. Ever since I was a child, I've wanted to sail on the St. Anne."
"Well, I think it's good that you've got a little hobby!" Delia said.
Silence reigned for a couple of minutes after those words.
"Anyway," Brock said, bringing the small group back on track, "I think now's the time that we should be boarding the St. Anne, you guys."
"I'm with you, Brock!" Ash said. "We've wasted enough time!"
"Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu said in agreement.
The group made their way up the stairwell toward the ship proper.
"Doesn't seem like there's that many people here," Ash noticed.
"After what happened yesterday, can you really blame anyone for having more important things to worry about?" Brock put forth.
"It's always quiet after so much death and suffering," Cabba said sagely, nodding wisely, like he was speaking from experience.
Delia turned a curious eye on the short Saiyan. He sounds like him... was he unfaithful? She shook her head. No, he promised that he would return, and I trust him. I love him. He... he will come back someday.
"Oh Gohan, I've been meaning to ask you," Misty chimed in.
"What is it?" the hybrid wondered, blinking his eyes.
"How did you get St. Anne tickets anyway? After what happened yesterday..." she said, her eyes trailing off from the memories.
Gohan hesitated. How much do I tell them? What would they think if they knew these tickets were stolen goods that I took from that creepy thief kid? He shivered, but it wasn't cold. I don't want them to know about that! They've already seen enough of me at my worst.
"I have my ways," Gohan said simply, hoping they'd leave it at that, which they did, although Cabba did send Gohan a concerned look.
They had finally made it to the top of the railing and were met by the bellboy before they were able to make their way out onto the deck.
"Good day," he said pleasantly, bowing his head. "If I could just have your tickets, please, then you should be all set and ready to go."
Gohan reached into his pocket and pulled out the six tickets he had chosen for his friends. "Here you go, mister!"
"Ah, I see," the bellboy said, his eyes widening slightly. "Six tickets for the lavish accommodations. I must say, I certainly didn't expect this from a handful of children."
He gestured forward.
"If you'll please follow me this way..." he ushered.
"Um, excuse me, but what does lavish mean?" Ash whined, sounding typically lost in the manner in which Ash Ketchum was famous for.
Brock shrugged. Delia just hummed cheerfully as they went on.
After what seemed like a very long time walking the bellboy stopped before a fancy-looking door and opened it, leading directly into...
"WOW, NO WAY!" Brock exclaimed.
"LOOK AT THIS ROOM!" Ash cried out, eyes exploding.
"PIKA PIKA!" Pikachu gasped, its head spinning.
"I've never seen so many bright and shiny things in my life!" Delia added, looking as equally blown away by the room as the others.
"When he said lavish I didn't know he meant this lavish!" Misty finished, surrounded by tons of hearts.
It was a spacious room with a stylized living area, a stairway, several sets of doors leading off into finely upholstered rooms, and many crystal and antique structures in several Pokémon designs.
"I can't believe it!" Brock said quietly. "This is... so incredible!"
What's the deal? Cabba mused, blinking confusedly. It's just a room. Easily child's play for the high-ranking Elites of the Saiyan Army.
Misty threw Gohan a side glance, now looking more perplexed than ever.
"You managed to buy us tickets for a place like this?!" she asked, though it did sound more flattering than it was accusatory.
Gohan grit his teeth. I guess some things are inevitable. How much do I tell them? You... you mean so much to me, Misty, and I don't ever want to lose your respect.
But before he could say anything, the bellboy provided an excellent distraction when he tipped his hat and bowed deep before them.
"Enjoy your accommodations, please... oh, if you can, the Captain would like to invite you all to attend a gathering for Pokémon Trainers in the main ballroom later this afternoon," the bellboy stated in as refined a voice as ever.
"Like a party?!" Brock burst. "That would mean tons of pretty girls!"
"And lots of other Trainers to battle!" Ash agreed with a familiar determined glint shining within his eyes.
"Pika Pika, Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu added, nodding its head.
Misty threw up her hands with a sigh. "Flirting and battling. That's all that you two ever think about. Why can't you be more like Gohan?"
And here the redheaded tomboy sent him a glowing look with a coy wink that had Gohan feeling all flustered and embarrassed.
"Er, uh, th-thanks, Misty..." he grumbled. Why is it so hard to speak when she does that?
"A good day to you all." And with that, the bellboy left the room.
"Oh, look at this place!" Delia gushed as she came out of what appeared like a very elaborate bath. "We have a Jacuzzi here... six bedrooms, and there's even a little play area for Pokémon and small children! Oh, and there's also 24-hour room service! Young man, I don't know how you got these tickets, but thank you!"
And Delia smiled at him, holding both hands up to her right cheek.
"Uh, sure thing!" Gohan said, rubbing the back of his neck while looking very awkward.
"Well, I think we should begin exploring the rest of the ship!" Ash interrupted, not one to be ignored. "I'm sure there's gotta be tons of other Trainers here with Pokémon from all over the whole world!"
"Ash Ketchum, is that how I raised you?" Delia scolded, putting her hands on her hips.
"But... Mom... what did I do?" the Pallet Trainer wondered, blinking rapidly like a stunned Stantler in the headlights.
"You know good and well that we should at least decide on the order of rooms first before going out and having fun," Delia responded. "We will be on the ship for a couple days, so that's very important, Ash!"
Ash laughed, ducking his head. "Oops! I guess you're right, Mom!"
"Pika Pika..." Pikachu said, shaking its head in exasperation.
"Well, that's easy to decide, Mrs. Ketchum!" Misty put forth with a confident smile. "I think you and Ash should get the same room while we're here! I mean..." And here she smirked. "You two are family, after all!"
Ash looked horrified at the suggestion, but Delia popped her leg and locked her arms. "Ooh, it will be just like old times, won't it, Ash? Before you went out and became a big, grown-up Trainer."
"Yeah, just like old times..." Ash muttered, sending Misty a glare.
"Cabba and I should take the second room," the close-eyed Gym Leader suggested reasonably and Cabba shot him a quick, inquisitive glance; Brock draped a warm hand on his shoulder. "You've only been on Earth for a day — you need someone who has more experience to look out for you. I'd like to volunteer."
Cabba just stared at him for a few minutes, then he nodded, eyes shimmering from emotion. "You mean like a... a big brother?"
"Sure!" Brock said amiably. "Who else do you have to turn to?"
"Well... okay, I accept," Cabba uttered with a thick voice. I guess it's not so bad being trapped here on this alien world when you have such exceptional friends willing to watch after you standing alongside you!
Brock turned back to face the others, still smiling.
"Then Misty, that means you and Gohan get the third and last room," the Pewter Trainer stated, even as Misty's eyes widened angrily.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Misty protested heatedly. "I never agreed to that! Why don't you stick Cabba with him and be done with it? I mean — they're both Saiyans, after all, so they should get along better!"
Gohan favored Misty with incredibly sad eyes that had her heart recoiling in shock, fear, and... was that a small hint of shame?
"Don't you want to sleep in the same bedroom as me, Misty?"
"I... er... that... uh... doesn't matter!" Misty insisted. "But what must Mrs. Ketchum think regarding all of this? It just isn't proper at all!"
"Oh, that's all right with me!" Delia said cluelessly, and Misty turned blue. "After all, Son Gohan seems like a nice boy, quite like my Ash! I know that he would never take advantage of a young lady like you!"
Misty sighed, already resigned to the inevitable. "I guess if it's okay with Mrs. Ketchum here, then I should have no problems with it."
"SUPER!" Gohan exclaimed, looking very happy as he actually jumped up and down for joy. "I can promise that you won't regret it, Misty!"
Misty actually smiled. I guess sleeping in the same room with Gohan isn't quite as bad as it sounds...
And just like that, Delia made her way towards the door.
"Well, I'm off to go sunbathing!" she announced cheerfully. "Please behave while I'm gone, Ash — the same goes for Pikachu, too!"
And with that, she was gone, closing the door behind her.
"Oh Mom, why are you always embarrassing me wherever I go?" the brown-eyed boy groaned, grabbing at his face from mortification.
"Pika..." the yellow Pokémon added, hanging its head.
"I understand," Cabba said, looking at Ash with sympathy. "I know I wouldn't like it if my mother came along with me on my missions!"
Ash actually chuckled a bit, poking his index fingers together.
"Anyway, did you want to explore the ship, Ash?" Brock questioned.
"Oh, YEAH!" Ash exploded, building back into a full head of steam. "It's going to be totally awesome! All those Trainers and their Pokémon!"
"Why don't you come with us, Cabba-kun?" Gohan said with a smile. "We can teach you all about the new planet you've ended up on!"
Cabba jerked back, blushing furiously, though whether it was from the offer itself or how Gohan had addressed the boy remained uncertain.
"Oh do you really think I should? I mean, I won't be a burden to you, will I?" the spiky-haired Saiyan said anxiously.
"Oh nonsense!" Brock insisted dismissively. "You're here now and you're trapped on Earth. You might as well make the best of it!"
"Yeah, the more the merrier!" Ash broke in, pumping his fists.
"Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu said, nodding its little head in agreement.
"Well... okay..." Cabba said nervously, and he bowed low. "I promise to pay you hospitable people back for all of your troubles one day."
"So polite!" Misty sighed. "He's just as friendly as Gohan!"
And Cabba just blushed from all the attention as he, Ash and Pikachu, Brock, and Gohan all made their way toward the polished oak door.
"Aren't you coming with us, Misty?" Gohan inquired as he finally realized the fiery tomboy was not following after them.
"You guys go on and have fun!" Misty said with a casual tone. "I think I'm going to stay here and check out this marvelous room for a bit!"
Gohan stared at her in deep concern, but Ash just laughed.
"That's just like a girl for you, wanting to stay indoors when there's a whole ship to explore!" he stated brusquely. "Suit yourself, Misty!"
"Keep talking to me like that, and I'll give you a few new bruises to explore!" the orange-haired Gym Leader said with a harrumph.
"Come on, guys, let's go," Brock stated, and with that, the four boys and the little Electric type left the room, and Misty sighed wearily.
Well, they bought it... she thought. Now what do I do?
She glanced up at the door leading into the bath, at the sparkling clean surfaces and the glimmering black-and-white floor tiles.
That Jacuzzi sure looks nice...
Decided, she made her way up the stairs towards the bathroom.
"So how many different Pokémon types are there?" Cabba asked, eyes wide as he took in all of the various wonders that Earth had to offer.
"Fifteen," Ash explained easily. "There's Fire, Fighting, Water, Flying, Normal, oh, and then Grass, Poison, Electric, uh... what else... and Ice and Ground, Psychic... Rock, Bug, Dragon, and, er... I think Ghost is pretty much all of them."
"Actually, Ash, from what I've read, there are three more types than what you listed," Gohan interrupted. "Dark, Steel, and Fairy type."
Ash hung his head as a dark cloud surrounded him. "Oh, when am I ever going to know something that you don't know...?"
"In all seriousness, Gohan, I've never even heard of those types before," Brock said simply. "Where did you hear about them?"
Gohan chuckled softly. "I read about them in All You Need To Know About Pokémon."
"OH! OH! There's another one!" Ash burst out, aiming his Pokédex at the Pokémon in front of him, which looked like a brown raccoon.
"No data," Dexter chirped, flashing a big red question mark.
"What?! Again?!" Ash complained. "But that's the fifth time this has happened, urgh... I think I need to update my Pokédex soon..."
Probably mine too, Gohan realized, staring down at his own.
"Pika Pikachu, Pi Pika!" Pikachu said, happily strolling along. "Pika!"
"So, Gohan," Cabba said, sidling up next to Gohan, his face radiating an intensely burning curiosity. "Can I ask you a couple questions?"
"Um, okay, I guess..." Gohan said with a shrug.
"COOL!" Cabba shouted, and then calmed himself down, but his eyes were still glimmering curiously in that way that Gohan felt was familiar to his own passion for knowledge. "Anyway, you said you come from another world like this in a separate dimension, correct?"
"Yes," Gohan said with a simple nod.
"Are you a full-blooded Saiyan, or a half-Saiyan like me?" Cabba said.
"You're not all Saiyan?" Gohan asked, blinking to take in this new information.
Cabba laughed easily. "Nah. My father was a full-blooded Saiyan, but he married somebody from an alien race we helped out... a Tuffle."
Gohan actually started, shocked to hear these words from him.
A Tuffle? But in my universe, the Saiyans destroyed the Tuffles! the raven-haired boy thought, and then he shook his head to clear it. He's so eager, so pure, so kind... I don't think he deserves to know what happened to his people in my reality...
"I'm a half-Saiyan too," he answered instead. "My mother was Princess Chi-Chi, a human and heir to the Ox Kingdom of Pleasant Mountain."
"Oh, I see..." Cabba replied. "These humans don't impress me much, but their pet creatures are another story."
"You bet!" Ash piped up. "Pokémon are awesome, right, Pikachu?"
"PIKA!" the Electric Rodent responded enthusiastically.
"So, you said the Saiyans in your universe were pirates?" Cabba said. "If that's the case then how did you ever become so nice like this?"
Gohan tensed up, wondering what on Earth he should tell the other half-Saiyan youth. He's way too innocent and way too trusting... just like I used to be. He has no idea what the Saiyans were guilty of...
"Ask me some other time," Gohan said, dodging the question as he turned to head back towards their room.
"Hey, Gohan, where are you going?" Brock demanded.
"Back on the room to check on Misty," he called back distractedly.
Soon he was gone, leaving Ash and Brock alone with Cabba.
"What was all that about?" Cabba asked. "Did I say something to offend him? He... he looked so upset when I asked him that..."
Brock sighed. "Well, it's a long story, Cabba."
The noble-hearted boy glanced at Brock through the corner of his eyes.
"Can you please tell me what all that was about?" he said as he now faced the dark-skinned boy fully. "Please. I... would like to know."
"OH BOY YOU GUYS, LOOK!" Ash burst in again, looking at Dexter. "It's almost two! I bet that Pokémon party will be starting soon!"
"Oh wow, can't miss that!" Brock agreed. "This will be Cabba's first time seeing a Pokémon battle!"
"Pika Pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu said with a nod.
And so the group turned and headed towards the ballroom.
"So, why did Gohan react so badly when I brought up the other Saiyans?" Cabba pressed, apparently not one to be deterred.
Brock sighed again, apparently bowing to the inevitable.
"Well, you see, Cabba, it's like this..."
Misty emerged from the bathroom, clad in a bathrobe with her hair down and running a thick hairbrush through the orange strands.
Ah, that Jacuzzi bath was heaven! she thought to herself, descending the staircase and making her way over to the luxurious couch with Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle plushies.
She sighed as she sat down on the sofa, still brushing her hair.
"That bath was so relaxing, so why do I feel so... empty inside?" the Cerulean Gym Leader asked herself, throwing the hairbrush aside.
Maybe it's just because you know how many people and Pokémon won't be joining you on this romantic cruise, Misty thought sadly. All those people... I've never seen anything so horrible, and I never want to see that again for as long as I live. Her eyes scrunched up as she struggled not to give in. Why... why did they have to die just so I could survive?
"Misty?" a soft voice said nearby.
Misty jumped, the bathrobe almost falling off her, as she turned to find Son Gohan standing there, and in a second, her anger built back up.
"Gohan?!" she demanded furiously. "What are you doing in here, you creep? Did you sneak back here just to catch me in the bath, huh?"
Gohan held up his hands in an attempt to try to placate the angry redhead. "Whoa, whoa, Misty, please calm down! I had no idea you were even in the bath, promise! You know I'd never try and peep, honest!"
Misty sighed, lowering herself back down onto the couch. It's just so hard to stay mad at you, and I don't even want to try anymore...
"I believe you," she said quietly, sounding as distracted as Gohan was.
The human hybrid sat himself down next to her but his face showed nothing but weary sympathy and deep concern for the young girl.
"Misty, what's wrong?" he asked her.
"Nothing," she said. "Everything. I don't know. But ever since we left the Vermilion Ruins, I... I've felt hollow inside. Cold. Like... like..."
"Like you don't belong with all of the other people around you," the kind-hearted Saiyan finished for her, nodding with understanding.
And Misty faced him, her eyes overbright, shining with unshed tears.
"How can you stand this, Gohan?" she whispered, her face now as naked and exposed as she herself was underneath her robe. Helpless and vulnerable. "So much death and suffering... it's... it's awful..."
"And it never gets easier," Gohan said softly, reaching out to place both his hands on her shoulders, his own eyes shimmering. "Misty, I never wanted any of you to see this; you, most of all. All that fighting and chaos, it's... it's who I am. Ever since I was old enough to crawl, I've been fighting monsters like Kotaga and Frost. It — it's something that needs to be done, but it's not easy and I hope it never will be."
He hung his head, his pain obvious, as Misty's heart broke for him.
"I wanted to spare you from that, so that you would not suffer along with me, and I... I was wrong," he said, his feelings clear as day in his voice as he finally turned his head up, the tears now flowing. "Please forgive me, Misty. I wasn't strong enough to protect you..."
"Not you, Gohan!" Misty insisted passionately, her tough front now a distant memory, reaching out to grab hold of his arm. "It was not you! You have to keep on telling yourself that! You didn't fail anyone! You saved us all, including me!"
"R-Really?" Gohan said, looking surprised.
Misty nodded. "Gohan, you stood up to that monster when everyone was too terrified to help you out, including me. You were brave."
"Oh Misty..." Gohan breathed as he hugged the girl in front of him.
Misty blushed DEEPLY as his powerful arms enfolded her slender frame, and she remembered that she wasn't really wearing anything underneath her bathrobe. He... he has such strong arms... and he was so noble and courageous standing up to Kotaga and Frost like that...
Slowly, Misty returned the hug, laying her head against his chest.
"I was so afraid I was going to lose you," Misty confessed, laying her heart as bare as she was under her robe. "They were so strong, and so cruel, but you never faltered. You were quite selfless, but it was also very dangerous. Please... next time, don't be so reckless."
"You're a special girl, Misty," Gohan choked out. "I don't know what I'd do without you. Ever since the moment I was trapped in this world, you've become very important to me, and I... I like you."
Misty actually jumped a bit. That... sounds like he cares about me...
Now feeling very awkward, Misty broke the hug and stood up, turning her back to the tailed boy as she stood there, now deep in thought.
"M-Misty?" Gohan stammered, feeling confused. Did I hurt her?
Misty, for her part, stood there, now feeling every inch of her bare skin beneath the bathrobe, as she clutched at the collar, blushing deeply.
He's so kind... and I've never felt this strongly for anyone... the Cerulean Trainer thought. Almost unbidden, the thought of his bare body intruded upon her thoughts, sleeping so soundly after his change into the Oozaru, and her hand went up to her cheek as she gasped. Does... does Gohan have those same feelings for me?
"Misty, is something the matter?" Gohan asked, now concerned.
And then, Misty spoke up, sounding uncertain, stammering, as if the confident, self-assured Water Trainer was no longer sure of herself.
"G-Gohan..." she uttered, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"Huh?" Gohan asked worriedly. "What is it, Misty?"
"I've seen you naked before," she remarked dreamily, in a voice that was quite unlike her own — strange, alien, and very, very nervous.
"Wh-What..." Gohan said, blushing too. "What do you mean, Misty...?"
What is she up to? Gohan wondered. Where is she going with this?
And Misty lowered her hand towards her belt, the last flimsy barrier between her concealment and total exposure before Son Gohan.
"After you transformed... back at Mt. Moon..." Misty whispered, cheeks now flaming. "You grew too big for your clothes, so when you turned back, you weren't wearing anything, and I saw you, all of you..."
And she pulled at the wrapping as the front of her robe slipped open...
"Wh-What's g-gotten into you, M-M-Misty?" Gohan stuttered. I've never seen her like this before!
The last thoughts to go through her head were, Does Gohan like me? Is he interested in my body? Does he think I'm pretty?
And the robe dropped, leaving Misty standing there, completely naked.
For a few seconds, the poor boy could only sit there, his eyes nearly popping out of his skull as he beheld the sight thus revealed, drinking in the beauty of Misty's slim legs, curving upward into a cute butt, firm and plump and full of baby fat, all of the lines and stretching tendons leading up her well-toned backside, the velvet texture of her peach cream skin...
She's beautiful... Gohan realized.
And she turned to face him fully as it struck Gohan just how young Misty looked — this was no full grown woman standing naked in front of him, but a girl's body with only the faintest hints of puberty, like her oh so adorable belly button, the final imprint of her mother's touch, a pair of flat, barely bulbous bumps around her perked nipples, a thin, skinny frame leading from her bare shoulders all the way down to her feet, and a bulge of flesh poked out in a smooth V shape with traces of orange peach fuzz, the fruit of life and love and all that was good and pure and innocent in the world.
"Well?" Misty asked, her face as red as a tomato, looking embarrassed beyond belief. "Wh-What do y-you th-think of my body, G-Gohan?"
"I... what... I..." Gohan managed, his brain frozen, locked into place, eyes gaping at her. "What... wh-why are y-y-you naked, M-Misty?"
"Oh for goodness sake!" Misty cried angrily, fed up with him.
Anger was very good — she could use that, rather than the confusing emotions tearing through her body, and the naked tomboy stormed up to Gohan, grabbed onto his shoulders, leaned in, and pressed her lips to his.
"Misty, wha — oomphf!" he said before losing himself to an ocean of sights, sounds, smells, and sensations, and soon he was swept up as Misty had pulled him up off of the couch and was pushing him down the hall, still kissing the living daylights out of him.
"Gohan..." Misty breathed, very close to him, nibbling on his lips, playing her tongue all around his mouth, tasting his cheeks...
"Misty..." Gohan whispered back, instincts urging him on, as she kept shoving him back further toward the door which led to their room...
(LINK TO AO3 FOR THE UNCENSORED SCENE: h-t-t-p-:-/-/-a-r-c-h-i-v-e-o-f-o-u-r-o-w-n-.-o-r-g-/-w-o-r-k-s-/-1-0-8-7-9-2-2-1-/-c-h-a-p-t-e-r-s-/-2-4-8-5-5-0-0-3 [Just remove the hyphens!])
"... and once Goku lost his memory, he turned into a peaceful child," Brock finished, as Cabba looked to be hanging on his every word. "He forgot the original mission from Frieza, then went on to live his life."
"I had no idea..." the spiky-haired hybrid uttered softly, and then he shivered slightly. "To think the Saiyans from other realities could be so barbaric. No wonder Gohan was too embarrassed to be tell me this."
"You're not going to blame him, are you?" Ash said worriedly. "I mean, it's not his fault his people were that way, and he's much nicer than they are."
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu said with an urgent agreement, imploring Cabba.
"Oh no, don't worry about all that," Cabba said. "I don't think a child should be held accountable for the sins of his others and if there's one thing my father taught me, it's that you're whoever you want to be."
"Wow, that's deep," Brock commented, nodding with approval.
"Most of that just flew over my head!" Ash admitted, rubbing his neck.
And just then the three entered the main ballroom and both Ash and Brock gasped at the sheer dimensions and opulence of the space.
"Wow, look at this place!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pika..." Pikachu breathed. "Pikachu!"
"What's the big deal?" Cabba wondered, carelessly shrugging his shoulders. "Why, Lord Frost's annual Peace Celebrations took place in a much larger area than this space, and far more decorated too."
"Are you serious?" Ash queried, and then he hung his head.
Meanwhile, Brock was floating in a cloud of hearts.
"Blonde! Brunette! Redhead!" he said, high on his own love-obsessed aroma. "Oh, there's so many, which one do I go say hello to first?"
"What's with him?" Cabba asked, blinking in confusion.
"OH WOW, LOOK AT ALL THE TRAINERS!" Ash exploded, sounding positively delighted while he took off towards a small gathering.
Cabba sighed, shaking his head slightly as he followed along with the brown-eyed Pokémon Trainer.
At least now I can see how the inhabitants of this world battle with their pets.
For the longest time, he lay there, only vaguely aware of himself and his surroundings, but slowly, memory returned to him, interrupting his bliss as the boy — Gohan, he recalled, I'm Gohan — became more in tune to where he was, suddenly learning he was pressed up against something very warm, hot to the touch, and the texture was smooth and silky, as if this other form were simply melting into his flesh...
"Gohan...?" a soft, confused voice called to him.
Recalling where he was with an instant clarity, a flash of recognition, Gohan recoiled from their shared hug, as if she were a live Ekans, and flopped onto the other side of the bed, now too embarrassed to truly think straight while his cheeks started burning bright and pink over what he'd just done.
And then he almost jumped when he felt a pair of slender arms wrap around his solid waist when Misty pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Silly boy..." she giggled. "What do you think you're doing?"
She leaned in to kiss him, but Gohan jerked back from her touch.
"Misty, I'm so sorry," Gohan muttered. "I-I was just confused."
"Now, now," Misty said, sounding both very worried and a little hurt. "You're not regretting what happened between us now... are you?"
And finally, Gohan turned to face her, seeing her green eyes quivering.
"Don't... don't you?" he said, his reaction making it clear that he had expected her to, and that it was tearing up at his heart, seemingly at a loss on how to interact with her now. "I mean, sure, it was very nice, but it also felt kind of... awkward."
"Idiot!" Misty hissed, smacking at his bare shoulder. "It's supposed to be awkward the first time! But I don't regret it, not even a tiny bit."
"But why?" Gohan asked, blinking owlishly. "I mean, aren't we... isn't this stuff supposed to be for older people than us?"
"Maybe," Misty admitted, before building back up to a head of steam. "But we're aboard the Ship of Love, on the most romantic cruise in the world, and we've been through so much together in just such a short time... you stupid boy! Can't you tell that I have feelings for you by now? And, after what happened yesterday, maybe we just grew up a little faster. But that doesn't matter... I wouldn't change a thing, so don't you dare start thinking that way, or I'll slug ya again!"
And, finally, Gohan laughed for the first time. "And that's the Misty I know, scolding me for being stupid." And he hugged the orange-haired tomboy back, relishing the feel of her naked skin pressed up against his bare chest. "You're right, Misty. I shouldn't regret a thing, because... well, I have feelings for you too."
"Oh Gohan..." Misty whimpered, her defenses falling once again as she leaned in for a close kiss, mixing their tongues together and savoring on the rich flavor of the other's mouths.
Once they broke the kiss, they just lay there for a few minutes staring up at the ceiling, before Gohan ventured forth a tentative question.
"Misty?" he put forth hesitantly, sounding nervous.
"Hm?" she answered. "What is it, Gohan?"
"Are... well, what I mean to say is... I..." he stammered uncertainly. "Do you think... am I... are... are you m-m-my g-girlfriend now?"
"What do you think?" she replied coyly.
And Gohan pulled her close again, hugging her tightly.
"Oh Misty, you're the best girl in the entire world!" he said, feeling as if his insides were soaring upward on a billowing cloud of warm air.
Misty clutched at the tailed boy protectively, smiling happily.
"Just don't expect us to be doing something like this for a very long time," the tomboy warned, as she faced him again. "However..."
And she brought her lips down onto his mouth with another fiery kiss.
"This doesn't mean we can't do something like this," she purred.
Gohan moaned as he leaned into the kiss, planting his hands down upon her buttocks, as his world once again became perfection...
"Excuse me, but are any of you guys Trainers?"
The gaggle of young girls and boys cut off as the voice of Ash Ketchum interrupted their discussion, and they glared down haughtily at him.
"How rude!" one of them, a black girl, sniffed. "What a little kid!"
"Didn't your mother teach you any manners?" a blond boy demanded.
"We were having a private conversation here!" another boy with red hair said, tossing his long, curly hair back in a dramatic gesture.
"Sorry, sorry!" Ash apologized, chuckling sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head, and Pikachu threw its arms up in exasperation, like it always would when faced with its Trainer's antics. "I just thought you guys might like to battle me is all!"
"You have to forgive our friend here," Brock offered sensibly, walking up alongside Ash with his right hand raised in a peace gesture. "He has the habit of getting, er, too enthusiastic for his own good."
"Please don't hold it against him, he's just too sincere," Cabba said with a polite bow of his head, and he inclined his torso forward.
"Oooh, he's so noble!" many of the girls giggled, apparently impressed, as Cabba blushed deeply by what they said.
The black girl planted her hands on her hips.
"What do you think gives you the right to butt into other people's personal affairs?" she asked. "Are all Kanto Trainers like you?"
"You're not from the Kanto Region?" Brock questioned.
"I'm from Unova," she answered, holding her nose up in the air.
"You're a long way from home then," Brock stated, amused.
Just then, the black girl pointed dramatically at Ash.
"Hey, you! You there!" she burst out, suddenly all serious. "Little kid!"
Ash pointed at himself, looking angrily shocked. "Hey, who are you calling 'little kid?'"
The black girl ignored this.
"So, you wanted to have a battle, didn't you?" she pressed on, now offering a cool, confident smirk. "Well, let's do this — right now!"
"A battle? Really?" Ash said, eyes glowing cheerfully. "All right! Yeah!"
Brock stepped forward. "If you don't mind, I could be the referee."
"Yeah, sure," the black girl said casually. "Fine by me."
Soon, a small space was set up to allow for the two Trainers to battle.
"So what's your name?" he wondered. "I'm Ash from Pallet Town."
"The name is Iris, Iris Hellfire, and this is my trusted partner, Axew!" the black girl replied.
"Axew!" a tiny Pokémon chirped, poking its head out from her long, wavy mane of purple hair.
"Wow, what's that Pokémon?" Ash said, pointing Dex at the little creature.
"No data," the Pokédex intoned, yet again, for the sixth time in one day, much to Ash's mounting chagrin.
"Not again..." Ash grumbled. "This is really getting old!"
"Ash, if she comes from another location, isn't it logical to assume this girl might have unusual Pokémon you've never seen before?" Cabba asked reasonably. "Like all those other times."
"Uheheh..." Ash said, pointing both his fingers together while a truly silly expression came across his face. "I guess that makes sense."
"Pi Pika, Pi Pikachu," the yellow rat sighed, exasperated that its Trainer had, once again, failed to spot the obvious that even an alien warrior from another planet had been able to understand somewhat easy.
"What a kid!" Iris said, holding her arms up in similar exasperation. "This battle is going to be a walk in the park for me and Axew!"
Brock held up both his arms high in the air and stepped forward.
"Trainers, choose your Pokémon," the shut-eyed boy answered professionally, not commenting on the byplay between them.
"For me, it's no contest!" Iris commanded. "Go, Axew!"
"Axew!" the little Dragon type cried out, hopping onto the field.
"All right, Pikachu, this is your time to shine!" Ash replied steadily, pointing his index finger forward in very dramatic fashion. "Go!"
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu squeaked, leaping to meet Axew.
"This will be a one-on-one battle, no time limits and no substitutions," Brock announced calmly, and then he slashed both his hands down. "Let the battle commence!"
And Ash and Iris both stared one another down confidently as their Pokémon got into position on the other side of the battlefield...
Not so far away on the ship, in one of the corridors leading to the main ballroom for the Pokémon party, a redhead and a tailed boy could be found wandering the decks, walking very close together, with their hands entwined together.
"Wow, everything feels so... so different now," Gohan shared softly. "Walking through this ship after what we've just been through, well, it feels like something has changed in me, with how I see everything."
"Silly, that's how you're supposed to feel around your girlfriend," Misty giggled. "And this is the Ship of Love, after all, where dreams come true!"
Gohan favored her with a happy smile, and Misty noticed that there appeared to be something different about it this time, something less guarded and uncertain, as if Gohan had really found his place in the universe and was totally, completely content with it.
"When I first came here, all I wished was to return home, to be back with my family and the friends I'd made in my own reality," the hybrid confessed. "But now, after what we've done, making friends my own age, and especially, most of all, meeting and growing closer to you, Misty, my goal... has become secondary; all that I care about now is staying here now, with the people I belong to, and to continue making you as happy as you've always made me... no matter what it takes."
Misty grinned back, too caught up in her own emotions to really, truly register what it was Gohan was saying, though it certainly made her feel... nice was a vague word, but the closest she could articulate.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a sly, very Hispanic voice called out.
"Hey, you! You there!" it urged with an oily tone. "You kids!"
Misty and Gohan turned their heads around, searching for the source of the sudden and unexpected voice. "Hey, did you hear that...?"
"Over here!" the voice went on, still in the same smarmy way.
They turned as one to find a Mexican man standing there dressed in white, with a white strip around his forehead and very rough facial stubble, like he hadn't shaved in a very long time.
"Were you talking to us?" Misty said, pointing at herself.
"Sure!" the Mexican man said, rubbing both his palms together. "Come closer — I want you lovebirds to have a look at this here Pokémon."
Confused, but cautiously curious, Misty and Gohan walked over to take a look at the Pokémon the salesman had in his tank, and when they got there, they saw —
"Ugh, a Magikarp?" the Cerulean Gym Leader said disdainfully.
"Yes, the king of all carp, Magikarp!" the Latino salesman pitched, evidently oblivious to her change in tone that strongly suggested she was not interested. "Now, you kids, do you see how healthy it is?"
And like that, he handed the Magikarp to Gohan, which began flopping around in predictable fashion, but after a spell, he rubbed it gently.
"Hey, hey, hey!" he urged it, stroking its scales. "Shh, just calm down. It's gonna be all right, I promise! You don't have to be so terrified."
And just like that, the Magikarp settled down in Gohan's arms.
"Look, it responds to you!" the Mexican salesman said gleefully. "You just have to buy this Magikarp! Why look at it! It's like you two are already the best of friends!"
Misty planted her hands on her hips with a huff.
"Who'd want to buy a Magikarp?" she demanded. "All they do is flop around all day. They're totally useless when it comes to Pokémon battles unless you can evolve it into Gyarados!"
Gohan shot Misty a stare, his face falling in disappointment.
But you have a Magikarp too, Misty, he said to himself.
"Oho, just this between you and me, but a Magikarp is like a Pokémon gold mine," the Hispanic man said carelessly, oh so casually, like he was reluctant to spill this precious information.
"A gold mine?" the redheaded girl challenged fiercely. "How?"
"You see, that Magikarp there lays a thousand eggs at a time," the salesman went on, rubbing his hands together again in his simpering manner. "Then Magikarp lays a thousand more — and then a thousand more to make a million Pokémon... then from those million Pokémon another thousand are laid! That's a billion Magikarp!"
"Gee, who'd want over a billion Magikarp?" Gohan asked rhetorically.
"I am getting to that, my dear child," the brown-skinned man added unctuously. "You see, if you sell each of those Magikarp for a hundred dollars, then in three generations, you'd make billions and billions of dollars!"
"Ha, as if!" Misty said haughtily. "That just brings me back to my first point. Who'd want to buy a Magikarp for a hundred bucks? No one wants to buy a Magikarp!"
No one? Gohan thought, staring down sadly at the Pokémon which had calmed down within his arms, gently muttering, "Karp, Karp, Karp..." Doesn't that mean it is more deserving of some special care?
"Ohohoho!" the Magikarp salesman said, rubbing his hands together some more. "I can see you are quite a feisty, discerning customer, so if you'll excuse me for a minute, I'll find you a Pokémon that may be more particular to your advanced intelligence..."
"Yeah, don't count on it, buddy!" the fiery tomboy shot back.
"Let's see..." the salesman's voice echoed back from deep within his shop. "Where is it, what did I do with that blasted... ah, here it is!"
And he came back carrying another quite unusual Pokémon in his arms with a brown, mottled torso, and four blue fins arrayed around itself.
"Chlchlck!" the Pokémon uttered, flopping about as equally as the Magikarp.
Hey, that's a Feebas! Gohan realized, recognizing it from All You Need To Know About Pokémon.
"Here you go, young lady!" the Hispanic salesman said simply. "If you are not so fond of Magikarp perhaps this Pokémon would be more to your liking?"
Misty looked just as unimpressed as before.
"Doesn't look like any particularly useful Pokémon to me," Misty sniffed. "I know what this is. You're a con man trying to get us to waste all our money on some useless Pokémon no one else wants to buy! Well, I'm not falling for it! Come on, Gohan, let's get going!"
After staring between his girlfriend and the Latino salesman, whose face had seemingly fallen, Gohan finally had made his decision.
"So it's two hundred for both this Magikarp and the Feebas, right?" Gohan asked.
Misty gasped from her stunned surprise. What's he doing?
"Oh, yes, yes, yes, two hundred dollars altogether!" the slimy salesman simpered, spotting new hope in what Gohan said.
"Gohan, no!" Misty admonished him. "You're just wasting money! No one wants to buy a Magikarp and... whatever that other Pokémon happens to be!"
"But you have a Magikarp too, Misty," Gohan said sadly. "Remember? You got it from that girl, Melanie. How can you say things like that?"
"Listen, adopting a lost Pokémon to give it a nice home and actually wasting money on a common, everyday Pokémon that can't fight well or looks cute are two totally different things, Gohan!" Misty insisted.
"You know, you shouldn't judge the Pokémon based on looks, Misty," Gohan said earnestly, sincerely, which had her wincing in... was that a hint of shame? "I know Magikarp may not look like much, but I think it's horrible that no one wants to give it a little bit of love."
He reached down to pet the Magikarp.
"Isn't that right, Magikarp?" he cooed in a gentle way.
"Karp, Karp, Karp..." the Fish Pokémon groaned, shivering at the beloved Trainer's touch that it had already fallen in love with.
After a few minutes, Gohan returned his gaze to Misty.
"As you said, if you train Magikarp hard enough, it evolves into a Gyarados, one of the strongest Pokémon there is, and I think that's something me and Magikarp can aim for the top and shoot for!" Gohan said passionately, pumping a fist the same way that Ash always did.
This spells trouble, I just know it, Misty mused with a huge sweatdrop, and out loud she demanded, "And what about the other Pokémon? Don't tell me you're trying to start your own aquarium!"
"That's a Feebas, and it's indigenous to the Hoenn Region," Gohan said with a laugh. "I figured it would make a perfect present for my lovely girlfriend!"
And he sent her a truly beautiful look with his eyes that had Misty disarmed and in a dilemma, unsure what to do or what to say.
"But, what I am supposed to do with it?" she questioned.
"Trust me," Gohan said, reaching out to grab his wallet, "if you knew what Feebas's evolved form looks like you wouldn't be saying this."
Misty sighed, shaking her head in a weary but loving manner.
I can see I'm going to have my hands full with him, but somehow... And she smiled as she watched him seal the deal, trading him a couple hundred dollars for what seemed like two useless Pokémon, and she giggled again.
Somehow, I think it's worth it.
With an explosion, a golden light surged forth, out of the gathered collection of orange orbs scattered near the base, resolving itself into the shape of a green dragon, while the nearby Z Warriors watched with the typical awe they always felt at times like this.
"Amazing, unbelievable!" Yamcha said.
"I swear for as long as I live, this will never get old!" Tien added.
"If you think that's impressive, you should see what it's like summoning Porunga on Namek," Krillin told them all.
Piccolo just stood there with his arms folded, feeling unimpressed.
Finally, the huge, hulking form of the Eternal Dragon, Shenron, glared down at them from up above, opening his mouth to speak to them.
"You have gathered all seven Dragon Balls," he said with a loud, booming voice. "Thus, as it is written, I will now grant you any two wishes which are within my power. Now... tell me your wishes."
"All right!" Krillin exclaimed, pumping his arms. "Finally, after all this time, we're going to find out where Gohan is! You can't beat that!"
"Yeah, to be honest, I didn't think we could gather all seven Dragon Balls so soon," Master Roshi mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, maybe we just had a special motivation to do so," Piccolo said.
"Yo, Dragon!" Yamcha called, walking up a bit so that he was standing right in front of Shenron. "We all have a wish we want you to grant!"
"Then speak it, now, so that I can grant it for you and go!" Shenron said impatiently.
Yamcha gulped nervously. "Right. Better get to it then."
Clearing his throat, Yamcha held up his arms.
"Eternal Dragon, please tell us the location of the half-Saiyan child named Son Gohan!" the former desert bandit inquired hopefully.
For a few seconds, everyone stood there, smiling happily, before the next words Shenron spoke brought hard reality crashing down onto them.
"That is beyond my power," the Eternal Dragon informed them.
"WHAT?!" Krillin exclaimed.
"No, it can't be possible!" Piccolo burst out, eyes going wide.
"But I thought for sure he'd know the boy was!" Master Roshi added.
"If Shenron can't tell us, who can?" Tien said, sounding horrified.
"Dragon, please, you've just gotta help us!" Bulma said. "Our friend's missing and possibly in terrible danger! We just have to find him!"
"Yeah, what gives?" Yamcha muttered. "Why can't you tell us where he is?"
Shenron cleared his throat. "As you know, I cannot grant any wish that exceeds my creator's power. Although I am familiar with the boy you know of as Son Gohan, I hold no insights as to his present location and where it is that he wanders now; where Son Gohan has gone... is information which only Son Gohan knows."
Yamcha turned back to the others, now feeling hopeless.
"Well, guys, what do we do now?" he demanded sadly. "Shenron was our last hope, and he doesn't have a clue where Gohan has gone!"
"Surely there must be an answer," Master Roshi pondered.
And just then, Bulma stepped forward.
"Eternal Dragon, please, can you at least answer one more question?" the blue-haired scientist inquired, a wary expression on her face.
"You may ask," Shenron grunted.
"Given your current limitations, where would you guess Gohan might have gone?" Bulma queried, eyes shining with suppressed emotion.
There was silence for a couple minutes, but then, right when it seemed like no one could take it anymore...
"If I had to guess, I would say that the boy has likely traveled to one of the other 150 universes across the cosmos," Shenron answered.
"Other 150 universes?" Tien said, chancing a glance with Yamcha, who shrugged, equally confused.
"Yes, the 150 universes within the multiverse," Shenron boomed.
"Shenron, please, can you tell us more about those other universes?" Master Roshi piped up. "It's absolutely vital that you explain this."
Shenron growled, as if he really hated having so much of his precious time disturbed, but he plowed forward regardless.
"Across the cosmos, there are 150 universes that occupy a unique point throughout space and time," Shenron explained. "Each universe contains within itself an infinite number of possible parallel timelines and other what-if realities but in the end there are 150 universes that remain connected to one another. Each universe that adds up to 151 forms a twin universe, and the universe you're currently residing in would the seventy-sixth universe."
"Wow, I had no idea!" Bulma breathed. "That's remarkable!"
"Now, make a wish!" Shenron insisted, scowling at them.
"Hey, Shenron, you've been really helpful!" Yamcha shouted. "You can go away now! If we need to talk to you again, we will let you know!"
"So be it," Shenron rumbled, as he vanished into a bright golden glow. "Fare thee well."
And like that, the seven Dragon Balls lifted off the ground and scattered themselves about to the far corners of the globe.
"So what now?" Tien wondered. "I feel like we're back to square one."
"Well, he didn't tell us exactly where Gohan went to, but there was a lot of new stuff that Shenron told us which could be useful in future explorations," Bulma said, musing to herself. "Especially when it comes to these 150 universes Shenron talked about..."
"What good does that do us?" Piccolo said gruffly. "If he's gone to some other universe, and there are an infinite number of timelines in each universe, the odds are pretty good we'll never find him even if we had an eternity to spend trying to locate him... which we don't have."
"Not necessarily," Bulma offered simply. "If there are 150 different universes, then there has to be something that makes them different from each other, some kind of special subspace frequency or harmonic distortion, and if I can pinpoint that specific kind of a difference, then our chances of finding Gohan become a lot greater."
Piccolo grunted, staring out at the crystal-blue waves capped off by white foam, his mind working through everything Bulma had said.
I swear, if it takes me a thousand years, I won't stop searching until I've found you and brought you home where you belong, Gohan.
And he turned and walked away, his cape blowing in the wind.
I won't give up on you, kid. Count on that.
By now, Iris's former companions were cheering her on.
"Go, Iris!" the blond called. "Show these Kanto Trainers who's boss!"
"Kick him to the curb and go beyond lightspeed!" the red-haired boy insisted. "And send him back to the hick town he came from!"
"We're in this to win!" Iris commanded. "Go, Axew! Use Scratch!"
"Axew, Ew!" the Tusk Pokémon cried, running up to Pikachu.
"Oh, so this is how a Pokémon battle goes!" Cabba whispered quietly to himself.
"Ha, we won't be taken down that easily!" Ash avowed confidently. "Pikachu, dodge that and counterattack with a Thundershock!"
"Pi Pikachu!" the Electric Rodent cried, effortlessly evading the blow.
"Axew, keep it up!" Iris grated with stubborn encouragement.
"Axew, Ew!" Axew said, charging head-on for Pikachu, though it was probably too late as Pikachu started charging up for its signature move.
"Pika... Pika Pika! KACHU!" Pikachu screamed, throwing off waves of powerful electrical energy that hit Axew straight on!
"Oh no, Axew!" the dark-skinned girl said, sounding worried.
"This looks like it could be bad..." Cabba muttered with a sweatdrop.
And like that, the electricity slammed into Axew, shocking it intensely as Axew's eyes bugged right out of its skull from the sheer power.
"Axew, Ew, Ew!" Axew exclaimed, and once the waves of electricity had finally abated Axew fell, smoking like a cinder, onto its side.
"No way!" the yellow-headed boy said. "Axew's down and looks like a heap of charcoal!"
"Wow, that much damage?" Ash said, rubbing at the back of his head. "Sorry, miss, I had no idea your Axew was so weak compared to my Pikachu."
"Oh don't you have any sense of courtesy at all?!" Iris wailed in despair. "Oh dear Axew, can you still battle? Are you all right? That brute of a Kanto Pokémon hasn't put you out for good, has it?!"
"A... xew... Axew... Ew..." the green Pokémon whimpered, making its way back to its feet. And then it nodded once at Iris. "Axew, Ew!"
Iris pointed. "Okay, we can still do this! Axew, go! Use Dragon Rage!"
"AXEW EW!" Axew declared, with a bright blue light forming in its inner core.
"It's already over," the redheaded boy said coolly.
"Yeah, Iris has got this in the bag for sure," his friend agreed.
"Ash, this doesn't look good for Pikachu!" Cabba called.
"Whoa, that's Dragon Rage!" Ash smirked happily. "Should be pretty powerful, eh, Pikachu? Well, don't give it time to power up! Go!"
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu burst out, diving forward into battle.
"Go, Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash ordered.
"PIKA PI PIKACHU!" the Mouse Pokémon answered back.
"Now Axew, go!" Iris stated. "Release Dragon Rage!"
"AXEW!" Axew chanted, as it opened its mouth to release the blast... but before it could do so, Pikachu sped up at an impressive clip to smash directly into Axew's stomach as its mouth closed.
"PIKA!" Pikachu shouted determinedly.
"AXEW!" Axew mumbled, as the blast caught within Axew's throat and blew up within its body, enshrouding the battlefield with a thick layer of smoke.
"Wow, that's impressive for such tiny creatures," Cabba mused.
"What was that?!" Iris yelled desperately. "Who won?!"
But once the dust had cleared, it revealed Axew, laying there, eyes swirling with the twin Xs of defeat, having apparently taken too much damage which it could afford to in order to stand and keep fighting.
"Ew... Ew... Ew... Ew..." the Dragon Pokémon groaned, totally beaten.
Brock raised one of his arms. "Axew has been knocked out and is unable to battle, therefore the winner is Ash from Pallet Town!"
"No way!" the blond said, blinking in shock.
"Iris was just beat by a Trainer from the boonies?" the redhead stated.
Iris, for her part, stood there, slowly growling as Ash walked up, still clueless.
"Er, Ash, is this really the best idea?" Cabba wondered, sweatdropping again with nervousness.
"Hey, that was a good match!" Ash complimented her. "We should really get together for a rematch one of these days!"
And just like that, Iris exploded upon him, waving her arms around in dramatic fashion like always.
"What's the point of a rematch if I haven't even won a single time?!" Iris shouted scornfully, frightening Ash and Pikachu, who recoiled.
Just like that, Iris reached down to pick up Axew.
"Don't you worry, Axew," she promised the tiny Pokémon. "Help is on the way!"
And with that, she made her out of the ballroom as her gaggle of friends from before slowly disbanded and went their own way.
"Ash, you did very great," Brock praised him. "I can tell you're slowly growing as a Pokémon Trainer."
"Yes, thank you so much for showing me what it's like to battle with the creatures of this world!" Cabba thanked him, bowing deeply.
Ash rubbed his head and flashed the peace sign.
"Oh well it was nothing, you know..." he murmured as his nose grew to Pinocchio length. "Just the day in the life of a Pokémon Trainer."
And he laughed confidently, as Pikachu shook its head wearily.
"Pikachu, Pika Pi Pika," it whispered exasperatedly. "Cha..."
"Geesh, he sure hasn't let this go to his head, has he?" Brock said distastefully.
"Ash, Brock!" a feminine voice suddenly called out for them. "Cabba!"
The group turned to find Misty and Gohan walking up and holding hands.
"Misty! Gohan!" Cabba said, waving the two of them over.
"Huh? Oh hey, it's you two again!" Ash commented. "Sure took you long enough!"
"Well, you know, it's a big ship," Misty replied with a light giggle.
Ash blinked in confusion. "Well, that's a new one! I thought for sure you'd let me have it, but you seem almost... nice... like a girl..."
"Oh she's definitely a girl, I can vouch for that," Gohan stated with an equally light giggle.
"Pika?" the yellow Electric type wondered, as a sad look of cautious disappointment crossed its features.
"Hey, why are you two holding hands?" Cabba inquired tentatively. "Wait, Misty, and Gohan, you two aren't... I mean, did you...?"
"AH! I knew something was up when you got back!" Brock exclaimed wildly. "You two... you're thick together, aren't you? Hooked up a lightbulb? Connected two hearts? You're an item, aren't you?!"
Misty put her hands on her hips with another harrumph.
"Oh leave it to Brock to figure it all out," she said, and then she held her nose up high in the air. "Very well then. Gohan, well... he's my boyfriend now, and I couldn't be happier!"
"YOUR BOYFRIEND?!" the others reacted with complete shock.
"PIKA PI?!" Pikachu demanded, bouncing all across the text.
"Oh it figures that if anybody would be finding all the happiness in their hearts, it would be you two and not me!" Brock said, holding up an arm over his face as the tears flowed. "Oh, the curse of being Brock runs deep and I don't know if anyone who's been in love can ever truly understand the pain of the path I now find myself on... woe is me..."
Ash just favored Brock with a horrified/exasperated expression, twitching where he stood over all which Brock had just said.
"Wow, I can't believe it!" Cabba said, holding his arms up. "I couldn't be more pleased for you guys. It's just... well, you seem so happy together..."
Misty and Gohan shared a glance.
"We are," the tailed boy affirmed, eyes locked with her.
"Well, I don't really get it," Ash complained. "But if it makes you guys happy then I don't mind it. But I still think girls are nothing but bad business."
"Oh of course you would think that!" Misty burst out. "You're hopeless, Ash. I suppose nothing will ever penetrate that thick head of yours, certainly not love and romance!"
Ash laughed. "Oh yes, Misty is certainly back to normal now!"
And soon the others were laughing while Misty just sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. Sometimes, I don't even know why I bother...
"Excuse me, matey!" a voice suddenly barked down at them.
And the group turned to spot who it could be...
Yet another update in less than a year. HOORAY! And, this is my first story to hit 20 chapters, with over 150,000 words and 340 reviews! My biggest fanfic to date. So yes, guys, as Dawn would say, "No need to worry!" Pokémon Tails is back and here to stay! Awesome, right?
Wow, quite a lot that happened in this chapter! Lemme run down my thoughts.
For one, it seems Misty and Gohan have, finally!, consummated their relationship! As I hope this chapter made clear, however, it was more of a post-traumatic "Hooray, we're still alive!" type sex as a result of growing hormones and an unrequited crush. Misty had seen Gohan naked before back in Chapter 9, and she does think that he's very brave, which is attractive, but there will be a lot of confusion about their feelings the closer they grow. For now, just rest assured that making love is not something they intend to do frequently.
Oh boy, I just stepped into a huge bag of controversy by introducing Iris in this fic, didn't I? Now, before you guys tie me up to a stake and start lighting me ablaze, let me explain. Just because those adventures in Unova won't take place does NOT mean the characters are going to be so easily discarded. Personally, I'm sad to say that I was, unfortunately, among those fans who initially loathed Iris before I found out what it was that really bothered me, and that was just how hard the reset button was hit for poor Ash — calling Ash a little kid and making him out to be a rookie (which is what the story was selling us on) after he's saved the world many times, battled countless Gym Leaders, encountered tons of Legendary Pokémon and even brushing shoulders with gods, is just stupid, and I think Iris wouldn't have been received so negatively if she had come into the story much earlier, so I do wanna try and do justice to her character when it still makes sense story-wise, before the story gets too old.
But why is she even here? My explanation is that Iris was always aboard the St. Anne, but Ash and the others never encountered her. However, what changed would be that because Ash and the others spent so much time checking out their luxury room that Gohan gave them, and talking with Cabba and Gohan, is that Ash got to see more foreign Pokémon, and they entered the ballroom a bit later and missed the gentleman that Ash battled with, instead meeting Iris who will be joining their party, rest assured, for you Iris fans out there.
Now, ONTO THE REVIEWS!
thedarkpokemaster: It was NOT my intention to remind you of that. I'm sorry. I just thought it was a rather funny joke. And you're right of course — what COULD she do against a pair of super strong beings?
ChosenOne358: Yeah, long hiatus, huh? And trust me, they will be making an appearance soon, along with other characters from U6 as well as the Omni-King and others! And yes, I'm very much in favor of the Gohan/Cabba friendship... so rest assured, I have plans for that!
X3runner: I meant I would be using Mystic in other fanfics, and not in this fic. But yes, it probably wouldn't be that hard to get Gohan to get the Super Saiyan God forms.
SomeOne Random: That is an interesting way to think of it, especially since we all know about Mewtwo. From here on, that's my version of it. Other than that, you'll have to be patient like everyone else! XD
Alex Lagos B: Espero que esto sea suficiente para satisfacer tus ansias. Traducción por LSSJ2 Gohan.
dsonic 10: As you can see for yourself, the answer is yes! I refer you to what I said earlier above to get an explanation as to why. LOL.
kitsunelover300: Indeed. The Pokémon world shall not be forgetting this soon. And just be patient. There will be more interactions for Gohan and Cabba. :)
ChaosDestruction: That was kind of the idea. :P
Firesgone: Glad someone else noticed that!
Jawisian: Sure thing! Hell, I don't even know if the main cast will be flying by the time of Hoenn, much less earlier. Rest assured that a lot of the stuff coming up will be light-hearted and fun, but I do plan to have huge, world-shattering, dramatic turns every so often, so be prepared for that.
joebob323: Honestly, so did I. Thank my friends for giving me a good kick in the rear whenever they could (kitsunelover300, LSSJ2 Gohan, and Prism Bunny90) not to lose faith in myself, so these stories are enjoying an unusually long time remaining up, and it's giving me tons of confidence that I CAN finish these stories if I just try hard and put my mind to it.
ssj3gohan007: Nice, very nice, thanks for going through all the new edits! Though, yeah, my profile was nuked. It was just supposed to be until I could edit it, but then the Word doc it was saved on ended up getting deleted accidentally, so my profile is gone for good.
JensenDaniels32: HELLO! Good to see all the gang back together to keep this story alive and going strong!
SILVER: Indeed.
Author - Jack Andrews: What warrior do you mean? All of the U6 cast will at some point be showing up, don't worry. And yeah, changed it at the behest of kitsunelover300. Read Chapter 16 and 17 to get a clear idea of the new edits.
As a personal note, I am having a hard time deciding what should be stuff that would have never taken place originally in the timeline, or which are new additions to this composite universe my fic takes place in which still would have happened. In other words, what is a result of Gohan coming into this universe, and what isn't. So bear with me if I screw things up a bit. Of course, the anime was never consistent on that (I mean, really, Ash is still 10 years old?), so who knows?
I guess that's it for now. When will Chapter 21 be up? I don't know.
Thanks to Prism Bunny90 for finding information on the St. Anne for me!
You know what to do. Please hit that button and review! :D
KoS
EDIT (8/30/2018): Given the way that a few of my reviewers are reacting, I have gone ahead and edited the post-love scene which is available uncensored here on FanFiction-net. I really don't want to make my readers uncomfortable. However... I stand by my decision that Misty and Gohan hooking up this early is not unreasonable, and in the next update I fully intend to explore all the changes that brings to their relationship, and as Misty herself noted, they aren't doing this for a long time. I'll also provide a far better explanation there. I do want people to accept this, and it's not going to crop up that often again. Also, no. Don't worry so much; Misty and Gohan are within the same age range. There is no age disparity (ew!).