Chapter 5 Mossy Town
Ash and Alice finally walk through Route 1, they are now at the next town, Mossy Town.
Ash: (Smiles) At least we can stay a night at the Pokemon Center instead of camping today.
Alice: Yeah. I can't wait to sleep on the bed. Don't get me wrong, camping is a great experience, but it will be better if we sleep on something soft instead of a sleeping bag.
Ash: That is true after all. (Walks into the Pokemon Center and notices the Quest Floor has some people sitting) There are two people there, how about we try to help them out?
Alice: Of course, you can try it out for your first time.
They decide to help the boy out as they take out their Pokegear, trying to ask for the problem.
Ash: Excuse me, are you the one that needs some help?
Boy: (Surprised to see both Ash and Alice are offering their help) Hey. I'm a new trainer. I walked through Route 1, and then I saw this beautiful girl... I don't have the courage to talk to her, but I wrote a letter! Could you bring this letter to her, please?
Ash: (Takes the letter from the boy and nods) Sure, we will like to help out.
Boy: Wow! Thank you so much!
They walk back to Route 1 as they find the girl near the beach.
Girl: Oh. What's that? A letter from a boy who saw me on this Route? Wow! That's so cute! Wait for a second while I read it...
Ash and Alice are patiently waiting for the girl to read the letter, they are also curious about what the letter has written.
Girl: Oh. He wants to meet me in the Pokemon Center in Mossy Town. Thank you so much! I have to go!
Once Ash and Alice are back at the Pokemon Center, they see that the two people are talking happily.
Boy: (Notices Ash and Alice) Thank you so much! I never thought that the girl liked me, but she came! I have a gift for your effort!
Then they are given a Rare Candy, and they decide to give those two some alone time.
Alice: It seems like those two are really in love.
Ash: Yeah, I wonder if I have the chance to experience first hand... (Realizes what he said and quickly covers his mouth)
Alice: Ash...(Blushes a little) I know it is sudden, but have you ever been in love before?
Ash: (Blushes at first, but frown in the end) Well...I did, but that love is broken ever since they betrayed me...
Alice: (Surprised) You mean you loved one of the traitors who killed your Pokemon?
Ash: No, two of them. Their names are Serena and Lillie...Serena was my childhood friend, she travels with me just because she wants to find me after those years, and she follows the motto of never give up until it is over. Heck, she even gives me a kiss when we are leaving the airport. (Notices Alice's jealousy) But her betrayal also hurts the most.
Alice: How about the other one?
Ash: I meet Lillie at Alola, at first she is unable to touch any Pokemon, but after we helped her family with the Ultra Beasts, you know, Pokemon from another dimension, and then she starts to show some feelings for me. We even dance together at Professor Kukui's wedding ball, and we even enter the League together...but in the end, she also betrays me. (Holds his face with sadness, feeling his eyes being sour) After everything I have done for them, they still killed Professor Oak and my Pokemon...they also injured me and Mother...
Alice: (Hugs him and thinks) Poor Ash...just how much sadness did he keep in his heart...I promise that I will repair your heart no matter what.
Ash: (Takes a while to feel better) What about you? Alice? Did you ever feel love before?
Alice: (Looks away a little with sadness) My life has always been a mess because of bullies in my school, so I don't know what it feels like to be loved. Rodney is my only friend back then, but come to think of it, I never consider him a boyfriend or something else, instead, I feel like he is like my brother.
Ash: I see.
Ash sighs in relief, which is noticed by Alice.
Alice: (Thinks) Is he sighing in relief? Why is he doing that?
Ash: (Also confused by his own reaction) Why am I relieved? What was wrong with me?
They also find the second person on the Quest Floor, and he looks like he is a bird keeper.
Bird Keeper: Hello there! You look like a trainer, aren't you? I need someone who can do me a really important favor...My wife is feeling really bad, but I can't call our family doctor from Serpentine City...It seems he has mislaid his phone and I'm too weak to go through Mossy Forest to ask him face-to-face...Could you go to Serpentine City and tell him that we really need his help?
Alice: But we are not going to Serpentine City until tomorrow. If no one tries to help you out, then we will keep it in mind when we go there.
Bird Keeper: Thank you so much! I hope you can find him as soon as possible!
Just then, they see both Rodney and Keira in the Pokemon Center, so they greet them.
Keira: Hey guys, how is your journey?
Ash: Great, I managed to capture three more Pokemon. By the way, the Professor has something to give you, Keira.
Keira: (Looks at the Pokedex) Cool! A Pokedex! This will come in handy! I do wish it was pink though...
Alice: The Professor has a hard time making this, just make it do with.
Keira: Anyway, Rodney told me that you're going to take on the gyms as well, right?
Ash: Of course, what about you, are you going to do that as well?
Keira: I think I'll take on the gyms as well. It will be fun!
Alice: If that's the case. The first Gym is located in Serpentine City. It is across the Mossy Forest. (Turns to Ash and realizes something) Maybe we can find more of your friends in the Mossy Forest.
Ash: I agree. I am worried about every one of them after all.
Rodney: But first, we have to battle. Keira and I already have our battles, so it is your turn, Ash.
Ash: But not right here though. The janitors in the Pokemon Center are trying to clean the floor every time. Let's go outside to the battlefield. I'll battle Keira since I haven't battle her yet.
Rodney: Oh yeah...we battled in front of the lab. I guess it will be fair to have you battle Keira.
After getting to the battlefield, Keira and Ash are having a battle.
Keira: All right, let's do this! Ash! This is my second trainer battle, so please don't be too rough...
Ash: Don't worry, it is just a friendly match.
Keira: Go! Herovor!
Ash: Budcheep, I choose you!
Budcheep flies into the air as it is called to battle.
Ash: I know this is your first battle as a Budcheep, but let's do our best.
Budcheep nods and then the battle starts Herovor uses Leaf Darts first, but Budcheep dodges with Gust. Budcheep then uses Echoed Voice, causing the Herovor to Withdraw to lower the noise. In the end, Herovor is defeated by a Peck on the head.
Keira: I really need to train...(Recalls his Pokemon) That was awesome! You're gonna be so strong!
After Keira heals his Pokemon, Alice also congratulates the two of them, and so does Rodney.
Keira: Well, I'm going to head through Mossy Forest now. I hope I can find a cute Pokemon to catch! See you guys later!
As for Rodney, he also wants to go to Mossy Forest as well, so Ash and Alice are the only ones in the Pokemon Center as they are going to rest.
Ash and Alice finally book a room inside the Pokemon Center, but much to their surprise, there is only one master bed in the room.
Alice: (Mutters) A Master Bed...
Ash: Yeah, but this is the only room left for today...we aren't able to switch rooms.
Alice: (Blushes) Um...what should we do?
Ash: I guess that I'll use the Sleeping Bag. (He tries to open his backpack, but Alice stops him)
Alice: No, you are the prince, and prince shouldn't sleep on the floor. I'll do it.
This causes them to get awkward as they don't know what to do. Ash sighs as he knows that there is only an option left.
Ash: Why don't we share a bed?
Alice: (Blushes at the thought of sleeping with Ash) You mean...we sleep together in the same bed?
Ash: (also blushing with the thought of sleeping with Alice) That is if you want to...
Alice: I guess we should do it...
The two of them change into their pajamas and also take a shower. Once they are on the bed, Ash faces towards Alice.
Ash: Good night, Alice.
Alice: Good night, Ash.
They close their eyes, trying to sleep. In the dreams, Alice sees that she is now back in her old school days, she sees nine people, who have been trying to do some pranks on her. Her thoughts go to her first crush, the boy who saved her from being raped by rapists, but then the boy turns on her and he bullies her along with the others. There is one person who also bosses her and treats her like a slave, the person is actually the first crush's girlfriend, and that is why she is traumatized.
Just then, Ash feels the bed is shaking a little and he opens one of his eyes, and then he notices that Alice is trembling and her eyes are open with fear.
Ash: (Concerned) What's wrong? Are you having a nightmare?
Alice turns to Ash, who is looking at her with worry.
Alice: I am sorry that I wake you up, I just had a nightmare.
Ash sighs and then he wraps his arms around her, then he starts to sing.
Ash: Many nights we prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hope for a song
We barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains
Long before we knew we could
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
Its hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe somehow you will
You will when you believe
Ash: (Whispers in her ear) Feeling better?"
Alice feels the warmth from the hug and somehow she feels calm, and then she nods.
Alice: I guess so...
Alice: In this time of fear
When prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seems like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here
My hearts so full, I can't explain
Seeking faith and speakin' words
I never thought I'd say
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
Its hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe somehow you will
You will when you believe
Ash: My mother will sing this song to me when I couldn't sleep when I was a child. I think it may be helpful.
Alice: (Nods and smiles) My mother did the same thing to me as well, I am glad that you can sing this to me...
Both: There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail
Its hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve
When you believe somehow you will
You will when you believe.
Alice: (In a shy tone) Can you cuddle me for the rest of the night?
Ash: (Feels his face burning hot) If it will make you feel better...
Alice turns around and faces Ash as she snuggles into his chest, Ash also wraps his arms again and they close their eyes once more to sleep.
Here is a new chapter, and Ash and Alice start to give hints about their love to each other, when will they confess? Find out in the future chapters. The next chapter will be the traitors.