"We're getting close." Clemont said looking at his device. "I think we're here. Look!" Chloe said pointing forward. Out in the distance was a yellow and purple Pokémon. Goh pulled out his phone to scan it. "I can't believe it! It's Raikou!" Goh exclaimed, readying a pokeball. "How are we going to stop something that powerful?" Chloe asked, concerned. "Simple. By having a raid battle." Goh said with a smirk. "You've been spending way too much time with Ash lately." Chloe complained.
"Let's do this!" Goh said.
"Come on out Cinderace!"
"Eevee you're up!"
"Bunnelby I choose you!"
"Dedenne let's try our best!"
Goh looked down the line, silently wishing Ash was here. "All right Raikou's an electric type so ground type moves are good against it. Bunnelby use Mud Shot!" Clemont said with confidence. "Eevee use Double Edge!" "Dedenne use Play Rough!" "Cinderace use Pyro Ball!" The four attacks hit, and that caused a slight problem. Dedenne and Eevee were caught in the crossfire. "Dedenne!" "Eevee!" Bonnie and Chloe cried out recalling their hurt pokemon. "Now what?" Goh asked with a concerned tone. "I don't know. If I at least knew why Raikou was here maybe I could get it leave but this entire situation is highly illogical. "I may be no trainer but perhaps I can help." A voice said from behind them. "Kenan! I was wondering where you've been!" Clemont said happy to see help. "I've been out, come back and this place has gone crazy. Don't worry though I brought help." Kenan said as Goodra and Florgess came in. "I think I should switch strategies." Goh said, recalling Cinderace. "You're pretty new, but should do the job. Come on out Quagsire!" Goh said, throwing out the pokeball. "It's pink?" Chloe said, confused. "So the rumors were true. There really was a shiny Quagsire out here!" Kenan said with a chuckle. "All right one more time!" Goh said. "Bunnelby use Mud shot!" "Goodra use Ice Beam! Florgess use Moon Blast!" "Quagsire use Mud Bomb!" This time the attacks hit Raikou, and it wasn't happy. Sparks flew outward hitting everyone. "Bunnelby stick into the ground!" Clemont yelled. "Quagsire use Mod Bomb while its distracted!" Goh yelled. As soon as he said it Raikou had moved. "Come on Ash, where are you?" Chloe said trying to call her friend. "Bunnelby use Mud Shot! Goodra use Dragon Pulse! Florgess use Solar Beam!" "Quagsire use Hydro Pump!" Goh said while he sent out his phone to get data.
This time after the attacks hit Raikou fled. "Oh come on!" Goh yelled. "What's wrong?" Clemont asked. "I was gonna catch it." Goh said, defeated. "Hey Goh, Eevee got pretty hard, can we maybe get it to a center?" Chloe asked, looking at her pokeball. "No need. It may not be a center but my cabin should have what we need to help it. Plus you helped the wetlands. It's the least I can do!" Kenan said with a smile. "We're lucky that you have Pokémon as strong as that Goodra and Florgess!" Goh said enthusiastically. "They aren't even his. The Florgess is wild, and that's Ash's Goodra." Bonnie said gleefully. "Hey I just got a message from Ash, he ran into some trouble but is back in Lumiose!" Chloe said happy to have gotten contact. "What kind of issue, could have caused him to go back to Lumiose before trying to meet up with us.
"Stupid roots destroying my clothes, stupid boutique prices, stupid skirt." Ash muttered. His overalls were far too damaged to attempt wearing back, and the only clothes shop open right now was Boutique Couture. He walked out pulling the skirt of his dress hoping it would cover more. It was a mostly red dress with the collar and puffed sleeves being black. It came with a pair of black tights, and red Mary Janes. "The flight back to Kanto can't come quick enough." Ash said defeated. "Oh! A message from Chloe. They took care of the storms! That's good to hear." Ash said, sending a reply for them to meet up at a cafe near Lumiose Tower. Ash began walking to the cafe, to wait for them.
"Thanks for inviting us along Chloe." Clemont said. "Of course it'll be a nice surprise for Ash to see some old friends." Chloe said, looking for the cafe. "Hey Bonnie." Clemont whispered. "Yeah Clemont?" Bonnie whispered back. "What about her?" Clemont said pointing to a girl waiting over by the gym. "She's cute, wait, you think she's cute too!" Bonnie said a bit louder than he'd have liked. "Yeah, I don't know what it is but she's just really cute. What should I say?" Clemont asked nervously. "I don't know, but I think Goh is beating you to it." Bonnie said pointing towards the girl as she was talking to Goh. "Hey guys! Come on over here!" Goh shouted, waving them over. "Well here goes nothing." Clemont said walking over.
"Hey Clemont, hi Bonnie." Ash said regretting the purchase. This wasn't exactly how he expected to meet them again. "Wait, Ash!" Clemont said shocked at the voice. "Yeah…" Ash said, rubbing the back of his head. "You look just like a really cute girl from a distance." Bonnie said. "Bonnie!" Clemont shouted embarrassed. "What? You said it first!" Bonnie retorted. "Don't worry, you aren't the first to mistake me for a girl, and wait did you think I looked cute like this?" Ash asked shocked. "Yes." "Yep." "Pretty much." "I wasn't going to say it." His friends said in a chorus. "To be fair the dress and tights aren't exactly manly." Chloe said, taking a picture. "Hey that's for research only!" Ash said, reaching for the phone. "Yeah and I want to know what research you did that involved shopping!" Chloe said, taking more pictures while running away.
"So is this a new thing or…" Clemont asked, curious. "It's sorta new. It started as an accident, but I've grown to enjoy it." Ash said. This was the first time an old companion had seen him like this, and it was an awkward conversation. "Look about the cute girl thing, I." Clemont began before being cut off. "It's fine I get it, I kind of send a mixed message these days." Ash said with a laugh. "So enough talking, how about some lunch." Goh said as his stomach grumbled. "So, have you told Serena about this yet?" Clemont asked as they sat down. "Honestly, you are one of the first people to find out about this. I'm not sure how to even approach her about it, let alone how she'll react." Ash said looking down. "Hey, it's Serena, if anyone will be accepting of you it's her." Clemont said putting a hand on Ash's shoulder.