Hello Everyone, Another chapter for your reading pleasure! Feel free to ask a question or leave constructive criticism in your review.

Now, on with the story.

Chapter 7: Joyous Gathering

(At Shalour City, Kalos.)

"Hey Ash! Long time no see!" Said a voice from a distance. Ash tensed up for a brief moment, but easily recognized the voice that caught him off guard. Turning around, Ash saw a boy with messy hair and blue eyes wearing a gray sweater with red accents sporting a Poké Ball design, a pair of black sweatpants, along with a pair of red socks and gray shoes with a Cinderace alongside him. "Goh?! How have you been?" Asked Ash. "Pika Pika. (Hello Goh.)" Cried Pikachu. "Great. Chloe and I are exploring the Kalos region at her father's request." Said Goh. "Really?!" "Yeah, she's at Professor Sycamore's lab at the moment. I see that Clemont, Bonnie, and Korrina are doing well." "Hello Goh. Everything's fine." Said Korrina. "Hello as well, and I'm glad to hear." Goh then notices Serena. "Who are you?" "Hello, my name is Serena. Eon." Said a shyly Serena, Introducing herself to Goh. "My name is Goh, It's nice to meet you. I like your Sylveon cosplay" Serena was a little shocked but not surprised by Goh's compliment, given the fact that this is likely the first time he has seen a live Hybrid. "Thank you. The pleasure is mine." Ash was a little dumbfounded on the inside, but knew that Serena was handling the situation very well. "Say Ash, I heard you got a girlfriend, who's the lucky gal?" Ash, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, and Korrina then tensed up at Goh's question. "Let's all go to the Tower of Mastery and, uh, we can continue talking there." Said Ash awkwardly. Korrina then noticed Ash was looking with an awkward smile, hoping to help clear themselves out of the situation. "Good Idea."

(At the Tower of Mastery.)

"Wait, so you're telling me that you're actually part Sylveon, and that you were kidnapped and experimented by Team Rocket!" Exclaimed a very shocked Goh. "Yes, It wasn't a pleasant experience, but I'm proud of who I am. Eon." Said Serena. "Dang, I really hope my compliment didn't rub you off the wrong way. I didn't mean to…" "It's fine. I've had people mistake me for a cosplayer or something of the like before when meeting me for the first time, so I've gotten used to it." Serena then wrapped Goh in a hug with her feelers, accepting his apology. "Right! Ash, you never told me who you were dating!" "Don't tell anyone this since we're trying to keep a low profile, but you're looking at her right now." Said Ash. Goh then turns his head towards Ash and Serena a few times before connecting the dots. "Wait a minute, you guys are dating?!" "We've been dating little over a year now." "A year and four months now, to be exact. Eon." "Why didn't you tell everyone else?" "I'd suppose Ash and Serena have their reasons." Said Clemont. "Serena had an increasing desire to reunite with her parents for the past few months and we initially agreed to not tell anyone outside of Alola so that they would be the first ones to know. But as we kept planning everything, we realized both of us wanted to explore Kalos as a couple. So we made a change in plans and notified Clemont first, but he didn't open the letter until the day we came to the region." "I see. I can understand the reasoning behind your original intentions, Ash. But do you two have a plan in case if they find out early or if you somehow both come across them?" Asked Korrina. "Surprisingly, no. We actually never thought about a situation like that, Korrina." Serena then places one of her feelers on Ash's shoulder. "But then again Ash-kun, you're also good at thinking of something on the flying-type when we're in a tight spot. Eon." Korrina then chuckles at Serena's statement. "That's true."

(A Few Hours Later, at Shalour City)

Ash and co. had an excellent time talking at the Tower of Mastery, and decided to relax at the beach leading up to the famed tower before leaving Shalour City before calling it a day. "Today was great, right Serena? Serena?" Asked Ash. Ash then sees Serena looking at the sunset. "Ash-kun, the sunset, it's so beautiful. Eon" Said an amazed Serena. "What are the sunsets like in Alola?" Asked Bonnie. Ash thought of an answer to Bonnie's question. "Bonnie, the sunsets in Alola are some of the best you'll ever see. Maybe one day you guys can visit and I'll show you." "One day, we'll definitely visit Alola." Goh then walks towards Ash and Serena. "Ash, Serena, I'm going to be honest, I think both of you make an amazing couple." Said Goh. "I agree." Said Korrina. "Let me explain, you've got Ash, who is ambitious, outgoing, and vivacious. Then you've got Serena, who is gentle, understanding, and absolutely gorgeous." Ash and Serena were both shocked at Goh's compliments, looking at each other while blushing nervously. "Wait, you never finished introducing me to all of your Pokémon." "Right! We completely forgot!" Said Clemont.

(Clemont and Korrina the draw out their Pokémon, while Bonnie Pulled Dedenne from her bag. Goh also decided to join in, drawing out his Cinderace and Grookey.)

All the Pokémon looked at Serena in shock, wondering what exactly they were seeing. "Hello, my name is Serena. I know you're probably wondering what I am, and I can answer that. I'm a hybrid between a Sylveon and a human. Eon." Said Serena, introducing herself. "Car?! Lucario Cari Lucario?! (What?! How is that even possible?)" Cried Lucario. "I was kidnapped from my family and experimented on against my will." "Bunnelby?! (Really?!)" Cried Bunnelby. "Yes. It's something I wouldn't want anybody to experience." "Wait, is she understanding Pokémon cries as if it's regular speech?" Asked Goh. "Yes. It's a neat ability of hers." Said Ash. "Your girlfriend is so cool, Ash!" "Thank you, and about that, can you keep me and Serena's relationship a secret for the time being?" "Of course. You have my word. It's getting late and we should get going Cinderace… CInderace?" Goh then sees Cinderace approaching Serena looking as if he had hearts in his eyes. However, he wasn't the only one, as Clemont's Chespin was doing the same before the bumped into each other. "Pin! Ches pin Ches pin pin?! (Hey! What's the big idea?!)" Cried Chespin. "Cin! Cinderace Cinderace Cin! (Ha! As if she would get into you!)" Cried Cinderace. "Chespin Chespin?! (What do you mean?!)" "Cinderace Cinder Cinderace Cinder Cinderace Cin. (I just think you are a little too short for a gal like her.)" "Chespin Chespin, Ches Chespin Chespin! (I may be short, but I'm not little!)" Serena wraps her feelers around Chespin and Cinderace pulls them apart to prevent them from fighting. "I'm surprised that the two of you are captivated by me, but I'm already dating Ash. Eon." The heartbreaking revelation causes the Spiny Nut and Striker Pokémon to look as if their eyes had turned white before looking at Ash with a bit of envy as they were released from Serena's feelers. "Well, it looks like it's getting late and Bonnie's beginning to fall asleep, do you guys want to call it a night?" Asked Clemont. "It is rather late, me and Ash-kun should start heading back to our hotel room" "I'll try and see if I can introduce you to Chloe tomorrow, Serena." "That would be nice, Goh. Eon." After the group exchanged good nights with each other, Korrina stayed behind at Shalour City while the others went back to Lumiose City before going their separate ways for the night.

*End of Chapter 7*

I hope all of you have an excellent weekend. See you all next friday.