A/N: You guys are awesome. Thanks for all the support!
I'm working as fast as I can, but I work a lot + schoolwork. 3x a week is my goal. And we have a LOT of story to cover
Alas, you came here for a chapter and a chapter is what this chap shall provide, and so your humble scribe returns to the grind.
XYZ Ash in JN Chapter:
Latias Air flight to Melemele Regional Airport will start boarding in ten minutes, all travelers please report to gate E10.
"Goh, I understand your goal, but is it truly necessary to bring a suitcase full of poke balls? That's just unreasonable!" Chloe said frustrated
"Don't hate! I have my goals," Goh said with a humpf
"Uhhhh Goh, I think Chloe might be on to something, you've sorta overpacked, you know you can buy stuff there right?" Ash said, siding with Chloe
"Well, umm they're cheaper in Kanto!" Goh said defensively
"Goh, they're made in Kalos. They're only cheaper in Kalos. The rate is the same everywhere else, take this from me, because I actually study and do my homework," Chloe said
"I don't do any homework and I knew that," Ash said with a smile
Chloe rolled her eyes, "Yes Ash, I'm well aware your schooling isn't your strongest suit,"
Ash laughed at that, "Yeah, school never was my favorite place as a kid. I always hated math the most, those numbers never did stack up well for me," Ash said
Goh laughed, "Explains why you almost bought four plane tickets,"
"It was the website's fault," Ash said with his arms crossed, defending himself
"And my name is professor Samuel Oak, world-renowned pokemon researcher," Goh said sarcastically
"No it's no- oh wait," Ash said
Chloe rolled her eyes and walked towards the jet bridge, "You boys coming? You too Eevee!" Eevee headbutted a napping Pikachu who was next to her and walked off towards her trainer. Ash and Goh ran after her, each trying to get the window seat
Ash did not get the window seat, and he was stuck next to Chloe again. Or "stuck" would be the incorrect term here, he actually quite enjoyed her company. She was nice and always knew the right thing to say. Also, her Eevee clearly enjoyed Pikachu's company so that was a good sign. Pokemon usually reflect the feelings of their trainers. Ash briefly thought about if a pokemon cuddling Pikachu in his sleep meant that her trainer wanted to do the same but he shrugged off the thought. He'd have a long flight ahead of him, and hopefully, he'd fall asleep so he wouldn't be jetlagged to all hell when he got to Alola.
Ash dozed off, closing his eyes, dreaming of… something pleasant….. strawberries?
Ash opened his eyes, the plane was dark, so it was clearly night out. Ash felt a weight on his shoulder, was that….. Was that Chloe?
Indeed, Chloe was fast asleep on Ash's shoulder and he didn't want to wake her up. So he did the only logical thing, and let the girl sleep. And he fell asleep again.
A few hours later, Ash opened his eyes again, Chloe still asleep on his shoulder, when Goh put a torn out slip from the in flight magazine with a message scribbled on it.
My two favorite Lovebirds
-Goh
Ash looked at Goh and then at the message, and then back at Chloe and it finally clicked. Ash blushed and shook his head. Just then, the in-flight announcement system came on.
We will be landing soon, so please get ready to depart the plane soon. Throw all trash away etc….
The noise of the announcement woke Chloe up, and when she realized that she was asleep on Ash's shoulder, and he didn't stop her, she blushed immensely.
"Oh….. uhhhh hi Ash," Chloe said nervously
Ash decided to address the Donphan in the room and make her feel better "Don't worry about it, it was fine, I mean I sorta enjoyed it," Ash said, before realizing what he just implied, and blushed as a result.
Goh just started laughing, finding Ash's first pitiful attempt at flirting amusing to watch.
Chloe glared at Goh, and he stopped laughing.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that Ash," Chloe said with a smile and a hint of red cheeks
"No one cares about how my flight was," Goh said while crossing his arms
Ash and Chloe looked at each other with a knowing gaze, and just started laughing
Goh thought to himself, "Man, I am the best wingman ever. Ash won't ever know I leaned him into Chloe, and now they're flirting"
The plane touched down in Alola, and Ash got out of the plane
"Ya know, this will be fun! Can't wait to meet my new, I mean my old team,"
Goh laughed, "Come on, the professor is waiting! I actually think he's trustworthy of….. Your slight problem, you once called him the closest thing you've ever had to a dad. And coming from you, that probably means a lot, plus, he's super smart being a regional professor and all"
Chloe nodded, "Yeah, future you liked to mention him and your times in Alola every now and then, he clearly meant a lot to you. So I really would go and tell him your secret,"
Ash nodded, "This is why it's nice to have friends like you guys! You are both the best,"
Goh whispered to Chloe, "But I think we can agree he prefers one of us,"
Chloe glared at Goh again and he looked away innocently
Just then, Professor Kukui greeted the kids,
"Alola guys! How are you?! What's the reason for the visit? Don't get me wrong, but this seems really sudden, not like Burnet and I care, but it seems really out of the blue,"
Ash cleared his throat and looked at Kukui, "Hey…. uhhh Professor, can we talk somewhere more private?"
"Uhhhh yeah, sure Ash, is everything alright?"
*30 mins and an explanation of the time travel situation later*
"And here I am, looking for the final member of my team," Ash said
"Well… that was a lot to unpack," Kukui said
"But you believe me right?" Ash said
"Of course!" Kukui said with a smile, "Ash, you're a lot of things, but a liar is not one of them. Especially about something as serious as this,"
Ash smiled, "Thanks professor, thank you, seriously,"
Kukui looked at Ash honestly, "Look Ash, I get that this is sorta awkward, but just know that I'm here for you no matter what, and I still view you as a son, even though we've supposedly never met,"
Ash just looked at Kukui, "Wow… thanks….."
Kukui scratched his head, "Sorry about getting emotional there, but I felt that needed to be said. So uhhhh you never mentioned why exactly you're in Alola," Kukui said
"Oh, yeah! So I sorta released my Goodra so he could protect his homeland, so I need a final team member. And I've decided to pick up an Alola team member because Goh said I won an important battle with them,"
Kukui smiled, "Ash, do you have a half-hour to watch the recording of the greatest battle of my life?"
"That was random but I mean I love watching battles, who'd you battle against?" Ash said
Kukui laughed, "You Ash! I want you to see your choices of team members! You're still the Alolan Champion! Now watch this battle, and you can let me know later,"
Ash watched in awe with Goh and Chloe having already seen this battle, but still appreciating it.
Ash watched His Melmetal throw around Empoleon
He saw his Litten defeat Kukui's Inceneroar
He saw Rowlet strike down a Braviary before getting taken down by Venasuar
Ash watched inspired as he saw Pikachu defeat Tapu Koko with a Kamehameha-style attack.
At the end of the clip, Ash blinked a few times. He was inspired, now THAT was a battle if he'd ever seen one. And he had seen quite a large number of battles
"Your thoughts?" Kukui asked with a smile, "That battle was absolutely the highlight of my tenure as a professor no doubt,"
Ash finally spoke, "I…. wow… I don't know! I want to use all of them!"
Kukui nodded, "Yes, but who stood out the most to you?"
Ash thought for a moment and finally answered, "Well, truth be told. I am curious about that steel type pokemon who took down your Empoleon," Ash answered
Kukui nodded, "Melmetal you mean? He's probably the rarest pokemon in the world, not only is he insanely strong, throwing the heaviest punches, he's also made up of a colony of Meltan who were and still are the only known ones in existence," Kukui said
"Well, I think my mind is set, let me introduce my team to the Alolan pokemon and get a feel for battling with him," Ash said
"Sounds fun!" Kukui replied
—-
"Hawlucha, you good on your own?" Ash asked
"Lucha!" Hawlucha eagerly replied
"Awesome!"
"Alright Melmetal, let's do this!" Ash said
Ash's Alola pokemon were gathered on the beach with his Kalos team, each team watching the scene unfold
Hawlucha just grinned and lunged at the steel type
"Alright, use double iron bash!" Ash said, remembering the move that he used against Empoleon
Melmetal swung twice, Hawlucha barely dodging on both occasions
Ash's Kalos team cheered at the dodge
Hawlucha flew in close, landed on Melmetal's head, and started punching the hex nut before he was blasted off by a flash cannon fired off from that same hex nut that tormented Hawlucha.
Ash grinned at the scene, "Nice strike Hawlucha, and nice swinging Melmetal. Let's try something else, try just throwing a few hard punches!"
Melmetal showed off instead, showcasing a thunder punch in one of his hands, and an ice punch in another
Hawlucha was stunned and was struck square in the head, and sent flying into the beach
Ash's Alola pokemon started cheering, and it was clear who won. Hawlucha was on the verge of fainting, and Ash stopped the battle.
After a moment down on the ground, Hawlucha stood back up and walked off towards the Kalos crew.
Ash approached his Alola team,
"Hey guys, uhhhh you are all amazing, and I just want to battle with Melmetal a few times, but I promise I'll give you guys a fair chance to battle again soon, Inceneroar, I know you want to use your new form, Lycanroc, let's win another league together, Rowlet uhhh keep doing what you do best,"
Rowlet simply looked at Ash and gave him a look which spoke more than a million words could ever hope to
"Ummmm ok, thanks, guys!"
Ash walked into the house, and asked the professor,
"Uhhhhh I forgot to say, is it ok if I stay here?"
The professor just gave him a look and Ash laughed, assuming that was an enthusiastic yes.
There was just one more thing,
Ash ran towards the professor and asked, "So uhhhh how exactly did I use that crazy attack at the end with Pikachu? What's that called,"
Kukui just laughed, "You're in luck Ash, I found an abandoned Z ring the other day, and you, my friend are going to relearn an old skill. Because if you're gonna advance up the ranks of the series like you are, you're gonna need an ace up your sleeve not named Greninja,"
Kukui took Ash outside, and put the ring in Ash's hands, and started walking him through the method of performing and executing a successful Z move.
He wouldn't master it until morning, but then again, this was Ash Ketchum we were talking about here. He never gave up! And he never will.
Chloe walked towards Ash in the middle of his training session,
"Hey Ash, you still owe me a beach day. After you finish this training thing, we are going to the beach together alright?" Chloe said
Ash smiled, "Yeah, I like the sound of that," Ash said while looking at Chloe, making her cheeks slightly redden
Chloe looked at Ash and smiled, that determination was admirable, and she found herself looking forward to the beach day with him tomorrow. Or maybe just any time at all with him
Meanwhile…..
Gloria's Rotom phone rang, and the girl looked at the notification.
"Oye, have we a new match scheduled?
Her eyes widened and she laughed,
"Ha! Smack me arse and call me Maggie Thatcher! He's the wanker I've heard so much about, and I can not WAIT to beat his arse with a stick!"
Ash Ketchum's name and rank flashed on the screen
He was her next foe