@Silverwing23
Darkrai's perfect life for Ash was one without worry. Not a perfect life for him in reality. And I really enjoyed using the surplus of Ash's unique Pokémon to fight off Darkrai the previous time.
"Goh is still going to be out for a bit, in the meantime, you two will continue your research." Professor Cerise said to Ash and Chloe. "This was taken a few hours ago in Kalos."
On screen popped up a group of Dedenne destroying a garden. And then another, and another.
"Normally the Dedenne have a field where they eat, but they've gone far out of their normal area in search of food." Professor Cerise continued.
"So do you want us to find what caused it, or observe what's happening?" Chloe asked.
"I would like for you two to do both. Take care of who or what caused them to migrate that far out, and then observe the patterns, there may be something worthwhile behind all of this." Professor Cerise said.
On the plane
"I'm worried about Goh." Ash said deep in thought.
"Ash, if Goh wanted us to be there, I'm sure he'd ask." Chloe said.
"This isn't about us not being there, he's been gone a while, and I'm worried about how he's holding up." Ash explained.
"We can try calling him when we land, see how he's doing?" Chloe offered.
"I bet he'd like that." Ash said, relaxing a bit.
"Now take it easy, we still have a bit before we even make it to Kalos." Chloe said pulling out a book.
"I guess you're right." Ash said, leaning back to take a nap.
"Ash, psst. Ash wake up." Chloe said gently nudging him.
"Wuzzat whosser?" Ash asked groggily. "Oh, Chloe are we there?"
"No, and I just connected to a signal. Local gym leaders and enforcement took care of the issue." Chloe said showing him the photo.
"So let's just turn around." Ash said, still half asleep.
"Ash, we're on a plane, and we'll still be on it for another eight hours. We can't exactly turn around." Chloe explained softly.
"Then we turn around when we get there. Yawn." Ash said before going back to sleep.
Later after landing
"So my dad says earliest tickets he can get us are in four days. Looks like we're stuck here for now. How's Goh?" Chloe asked.
"No response, I'll try later. For now we need to find something to do for at least four days." Ash said, deep in thought. Turning to look at Chloe's pleading face. "No, no we are not doing that." Ash said defiantly.
"One day, please!" Chloe pleaded.
"Last time we did one, I ended up with Jaír down to my waist!" Ash said.
"And you kept it for a while! If it helps I promise to not let them do anything without your permission." Chloe offered.
"Just for today. Then tomorrow it's my choice." Ash bargained. "No arguments."
"Deal." Chloe said shaking his hand.
"I'm beginning to regret my decision." Ash said looking at the sign.
Chloe had found them a spa/boutique in Laverre City, the name being 'The Princess Day Spa'.
"Come on, you agreed to this, besides I already made the reservations." Chloe said walking in.
"Wait! You tricked me!" Ash accused.
"Tricked, never. I just planned ahead." Chloe said, faking being hurt by Ash's comment. "Look, the treatments are personalized, so you should actually be relaxed by this."
Later
"Ash are you okay?" Chloe asked.
"Relaxed, sure. My massage felt like I was being snapped in two. Over and over again. My body was described as one big knot. Then they don't make you leave unless you're in one of these dresses." Ash groaned.
"Cute tail." Chloe said between giggles.
Ash had gone for one designed after Pikachu, which also included a tail in the back. He felt ridiculous.
"Come on, let's see if there's any rooms left at the Pokémon Center." Ash said, ready to get out of his dress.
Chloe could barely contain her laughter. While she had gone with a short furisode, something she was told was quite popular among girls in the city, watching Ash walk away, Pikachu Tail wagging back and forth was adorable.
"You go first Chloe." Ash said.
Nurse Joy like many before her had mistaken Ash for a girl as well. At this point Ash found it easier to agree than try and correct them. The room had a connected wash room, and both trainers had a bit of a long and sweaty day. While the spa was nice, Ash didn't feel like sleeping in whatever they used on him.
Ash picked up his phone again. Trying to connect to Goh's phone, after a few rings, it finally picked up.
"Goh! It's good to see you!" Ash exclaimed.
"Hey Ash, sorry I've been gone for a bit." Goh apologized.
"Don't worry about it, how are you doing?" Ash asked concerned.
"I'm fine, everyone's okay, just a scare is all." Goh said.
"Is that Goh?" Chloe said, rushing out of the washroom.
"Hey Chloe, where are you guys?" Goh asked.
"Laverre City in Kalos. We were supposed to look into Dedenne's but it cleared up before we got here." Ash said.
"Goh you have to see this!" Chloe said, grabbing Ash's phone before walking back. Ash in his Pikachu dress in full view.
"Uhh Chloe…" Goh began, before being interrupted.
"Goh who is she? Is that your girlfriend?" An old woman's voice said, pushing herself on screen.
"Grandma that's Ash, a fellow researcher." Goh tried explaining.
"Goh, why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend!" Goh's grandmother scolded.
"Grandma, Ash isn't…". The phone cut off.
"I suddenly feel bad about what I did." Chloe said.
"You think! Now go get cleaned up, so I can as well." Ash complained.
The Next Morning
"Pikachu dress, Pikachu hoodie, is there something you aren't telling me?" Chloe accused.
"Yes, big secret, my starter is Pikachu. I relate to him a bit." Ash said with a laugh.
"Pika!" Pikachu said excitedly.
"What are we doing here anyways? I thought what you wanted to do was in Lumiose." Chloe said.
"That's for dinner, for now we're just exploring." Ash admitted. Doing a quick spin in the process.
"Hold on Ash!" Chloe said grabbing his hair.
"Ow, ow, ow. That's connected to me Chloe!" Ash yelped.
"You didn't tell me you got your hair dyed yesterday!" Chloe exclaimed seeing the inner layers of Ash's hair red.
"You didn't ask, now will you let go please." Ash asked.
"Sorry." Chloe said letting go of Ash's hair. "Wait, did you get even shorter?" Chloe said surprised.
"Stupid Darkrai. Yeah, whatever they did to me in Alola did all of this!" Ash said angrily referring to his entire body.
He had noticed it yesterday, while it wasn't by as much this time, he was even shorter than before, his eyes being at level with Chloe's chin.
"I think it's cute you're this tiny." Chloe said, embarrassing Ash.
"Don't remind me I'm this short." Ash complained. "The lady at the spa thought it was nice my big sister took me out for a girls day." Ash groaned.
That night
"Ash, this place looks expensive. How are we going to pay?" Chloe asked.
"You pay upfront 10,000. After that it depends on how good you are." Ash said as they walked in.
"How good at… oh." Chloe said seeing the large battlefield.
"Lumiose has a couple of these, this is the four star one." Ash said getting onto the arena. "I was second place in a Kalos League, helped save Lumiose City, and am a champion in my own right, and even I'm not able to get a reservation at the five star."
"So how does this work exactly?" Chloe asked.
"There are three courses, before each one we battle. If we win, the course is free, if we lose, well you get the picture." Ash said.
"Slurpuff it's dinner time!"
"Kecleon you're up!"
"Pikachu I choose you!"
"Rookidee let's try our best."
"Slurpuff use Energy Ball!"
"Kecleon use Slash!"
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
"Rookidee use Peck!"
Pikachu collided with the Slurpuff, as Rookidee flew back from the Kecleon's attack.
"Slurpuff use Body Slam!"
"Kecleon use Shadow Ball!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Rookidee use Steel Wing!"
Ash and Chloe traded targets, as both hit for extra damage. The Kecleon was no match for Pikachu as it fell to the ground defeated. The Slurpuff however was still going."
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Rookidee use Peck!"
"Slurpuff use Moonblast!"
Pikachu and Rookidee outspend their opponent's attack, hitting the Slurpuff from either side.
"Congratulations ladies, here's your appetizer." The waiter said bringing out the first course.
"That seemed easy." Chloe said wearily.
"It always does." Ash said focused.
"Ninjask let's keep this quick!"
"Shedinja keep them where they are!"
"You ready Pikachu!"
"Best of luck Rookidee."
"Ninjask use Double Team!"
"Shedinja use Shadow Ball!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Rookidee use Peck!"
Pikachu sped through Ninjask after Ninjask, their speeds matching each other. Rookidee hit the Shedinja taking it out in a single hit.
"Chloe look out!" Ash called out. Max had done something simmilar as the real Ninjask appeared behind Rookidee, hitting it hard.
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
"Ninjask dodge with Double Team!"
Pikachu was having a head time keeping up with the much faster Ninjask.
"Dee!" Rookidee shouted as it flew back up, diving straight forward.
Rookidee hit the Ninjask square, sending it tumbling.
"Now Pikachu finish this with Thunderbolt!" Ash called out.
As the second course was served Chloe brought up a question.
"How was Rookidee able to hit that Ninjask?"
"If I had to guess, Aerial Ace. The precision on that move is crazy good." Ash said. "Rookidee didn't outspeed the Ninjask so much as it outmaneuvered it."
"Do you think it might mean Rookidee is close to evolving?" Chloe asked.
"Hard to say, I don't know what kind of training you've done with it." Ash said honestly.
"Vanilluxe prepare them for dessert!"
"Shiftry let's do this!"
"Pikachu let's go!"
"Rookidee the Shiftry is ours!"
"Vanilluxe use Ice Beam!"
"Shiftry use Leaf Blade!"
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
"Rookidee use Aerial Ace!"
All but Rookidee flew into battle.
"Ash i thought you said Rookidee knew Aerial Ace!" Chloe said frightened.
"I guessed! And I guessed wrong!" Ash called back.
"Vanilluxe use Mirror Shot!"
"Shiftry use Extrasensory!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Rookidee use Peck!"
As Pikachu deflected Vanilluxe's attack, Rookidee was stopped in midair.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
"Vanilluxe use Ice Beam!"
Pikachu shoved the Shiftry into the path of Vanilluxe's attack, as Rookidee freed itself.
"Now Rookidee use Steel Wing!"
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
The two Pokémon struck the Vanilluxe winning them the match.
That night
"I'm sorry Ash." Chloe admitted.
"Chloe, we won it's fine." Ash said.
"No it isn't. The past month has been rough. You're usually there to help Goh and I out of jams, and I should be better at battling so we don't always have to rely on you." Chloe said sorrowfully.
"Chloe, if that's what I bring to the group, then that's fine. You can both handle yourselves in battle enough to not worry. There will be tough battles, but that's just part of the journey." Ash said. "Now onto more important matters, we still have a day here in Kalos, what are we going to do?"
Authors note
As we are quickly closing in on Chapter 100, I thought about doing an AMA to be posted with it, anything is welcome