After all, why not?
Why shouldn't I ship Ash with a girl who was revealed a week ago? I wanted to delay this a bit, but the internet is flooded with Iono pics, I couldn't help myself.
Welp, this a sequel to the Ash/Penny/Nemona fic I did some weeks ago, this time adding Iono, I could have uploaded this as a second chapter to that, but I feel like both work better as one-shots, like, this doesn't feel like an actual progress chapter, but more of a random extra story that could go later... or maybe I just couldn't come up with a good summary... I'm also just noticing that all my summaries have questions, huh.
Hopefully this one doesn't get upload problems too.
Somewhere in the Paldea Region.
Dear diary, it's Penny again, it's now been exactly one month since I met Ash and we started traveling together, which also means 3 weeks since Nemona joined us and one week since... her joined us, sure, I know I also kinda wrote the same about Nemona, but well, Nemona hasn't been as bad as I expected her to be, she's kind of a female version of Ash, I guess I can withstand that; and she also helps me with most of the things I ask her, but our new member... Iono... oh, for heaven's sake, I'm so done, so, to recap, she's a famous streamer and influencer and the third Gym Leader that Ash fought here in Paldea, she recognized him as the World Monarch and she pretty much forced us to stay in Levincia, even cutting her battle with Ash at the middle for 'the sake of the views' and then ending it the next day, it was so ridiculous, she spent the whole day taking selfies with Ash and the fact that Nemona is her fan didn't help at all, then, when the fight is over and we're finally going to leave the city...
"I'll tag along with you, people!" Iono shouted to them in the outskirts of the city.
"What?" Ash asked.
"R-R-Really?!" Nemona stuttered.
"Oh, hell no!" Penny shouted.
"That's R-I-G-H-T, fellas! The one and only Iono E. Nigma will be part of your crew now!"
"Yes!" Nemona shouted.
"No!" Penny continued.
"But what about your Gym?" Ash asked.
"Oh, ho, ho, my Gym isn't a place, my Gym is wherever I am! I'll take on the challengers we encounter on the road, you see, my stream is great and all, but it has always been here in Levincia and I don't want my fans to get bored and think it's monotone, dull, tideous or any other fancy word for boring. I need a new angle! And moving around sounds perfect! And who better to go along with than the World Monarch?"
"Really? That's exactly why I'm traveling with Ash!" Nemona exclaimed. "I also wanted new experiences and I knew he'd be the right person to help me!"
"You get it, Nemo!" Iono winked at her.
"No puede ser, she gave a nickname!" Nemona squealed.
"I'll stream our journey, battles and everything! It'll be super fun!" Iono continued. "You're all invited to the Iono Zone!"
"You don't know how long I've been wanting to hear you say that!" Nemona said.
"I'm so excited." Penny sighed uninterested.
"But are you sure you can get into a travel, uh, well, dressed like that?" Ash asked.
"Oh! That can be fixed!" Iono smiled. "What's that over there?!" She pointed behind the group and they all looked back.
"Uh, I don't see anything." Ash said and once the trio looked at Iono again she had her yellow jacket wrapped around her waist, while wearing a light blue blouse, a pink skirt and white shoes.
"How's this? My casual attire!" She said. "Of course I'm not letting my streamer style get scracthed in the road, I'll put it on only when I need it."
"How did you change clothes so fast?!" Penny asked. "We turned around for like 3 seconds!"
"You're so cool!" Nemona shouted.
"Is seriously no one going to question what just happened?!" Penny shouted again.
"Damn, you must be the soul of the parties." Iono said while her Magnemite flew around her two ponytails and joined them into a single one. "Tell me captain, am I in?"
"Captain?" Ash asked. "Ah, right, I guess that's me, well, I'm fine with it, but-"
"YES! Of course you can come with us!" Nemona shouted. "I can't believe I'll get to travel alongside my idol! Sí, cabron! Sí, Sí, Sí!"
"Well, that's 2 of 3 already so I guess it's a yes!" Iono said. "But what do you think? Uh... what was your name again?"
"I'm Penny..." She trailed off. "And I think our group is fine as it is."
"Well, It'll be even better from now on!" Iono replied. "You know what they say, three heads are better than two!" She smiled while singing the last part.
"But there's four of us now." Penny said.
"If you bit off more than you can chew." Ash continued.
"Wait, don't tell me you're all about to sing." Penny said.
"But ain't just anyone we let in our crew." Nemona followed them.
"Please don't."
"You gotta skippity-bop-bop-bowop-bop-bop-bop-biddly-diddly-doo." Iono, Ash and Nemona sang together while Penny held her head with a desperate look in her face.
"Thank you, Ash! This is gonna be the best journey ever!" She exclaimed hugging him while her Rotom Phone took a picture of them. 'And my views are gonna skyrocket.' She thought.
"Abrazos!" Nemona exclaimed hugging the two while Penny rolled her eyes.
Sure, because two extroverts against me wasn't enough, now there's three of them, and Iono is by far the worst, she's perky, vivacious and over-the-top; she's been recording every single second since she joined us; and those god damn Magnemites in her head, she insists that they're just hair clips (That don't actually clip anything when you think about it, since they can go flying away and her hair stays the same!), but they're always staring at me! All the time! And nobody notices it! And then when I want to point it out those weird things turn around like nothing happens and everyone says I'm exaggerating!
I'm just tired, But Ash... well, what can I say? He's been getting along with her, just like he gets along with anyone, he has been joining her in her streams, they're doing some kind of podcast or something right now, I dunno about those things; and of course, Ash still trains a lot with Nemona, both themselves and with their Pokemon, it's a little funny how Nemona treats him as his superior despite Ash being younger than her, and I'm... Kinda left behind between all that, sure, Ash and I talk a lot and he spends the time he can with me, but I don't have one exact thing to do with him. Like, Nemona's always turning to battles with him, Iono seems to know how to make the most of the status that Ash and her more or less share as celebrities, but I don't have something specifically in common with Ash, I'm... I think I'm jealous, is that what I'm feeling? ... why can't I just be like them? More expressive, more caring, more, uh, Kawaii? ...what am I even doing? ...to be honest, thing is that I've been a little silent and distant from Ash and I don't want to be-
"HEY, PENNY!" Iono shouted suddenly bursting inside Penny's tent.
"Argh! Do you mind?! This is my personal space!" Penny exclaimed.
"Whatcha doin', huh?" Iono asked suddenly grabbing Penny's diary.
"T-That's mine!" Penny threw herself over Iono, but she moved aside just in time to avoid her and made Penny fall face-first to the floor.
"So, a diary? That's totes adorable!" Iono exclaimed as she began to read it. "So you've been writing our whole adventure with Ash, just like I've been recording it, guess you and I are not so different."
"That is NOT the same!" Penny shouted taking back the book. "I record our adventures because they're important to me! You only do this for some stupid internet points! You're just using Ash as a tool to increase your popularity!"
"Weeeeeeeeell, listen, I'm not going to lie, this was solely for the stream at first." Iono admitted. "But I've grown to like him, he's just so charming, Ash and I have shared some moments and I really enjoy spending time with him; and with Nemona, even with you, and this whole thing of traveling like a 'normal' person is great! Sure, I loved being swarmed by fans in Levincia, but even I had to take break from that, Ash told me that's more or less what he's been feeling since he became the World Monarch, which is the reason he decided to travel here in Paldea."
"Hmm... where's Ash?" Penny asked.
"Our podcast is done, so he went to train a bit with Nemona." Iono answered. "What about you? Would you like to have an streamed battle with me? Bellibolt is out there playing with your Plusle and Minun after all."
"No, thanks, I don't understand the appeal of posting everything you do online."
"It's just to show everyone that you're proud of the things you do!" Iono answered. "It's better than being like you, always boring, always sad, always adjusting your glasses to act like you're smarter than everyone, like, can you even smile?"
"Of course I can, but I prefer to not go into those stupid mannerisms you tend to do."
"Come on. What is so bad about being a little silly from time to time?"
"I am all for a good laugh, but you cannot be serious for one single moment."
"Is that a challenge?" Iono asked. "Hey, wait, I could make it a challenge, a 'Let's get serious' challenge."
"Leave me alone." Penny pretty much pleaded.
"How about just a selfie then?" Iono asked.
"Just how many pictures of yourself do you really need?" Penny asked. "I mean, you're basically making the same expression in all of them."
"Would it kill you be more friendly? I only want to socialize."
"But I don't think we should." Penny answered.
"Find, let me find another topic..." Iono thought in silence for a moment. "I got it! Did you know my fans started some ship wars regarding us?"
"Ship wars?" Penny asked.
"Yup, listen to this, 90 percent of my viewers think I'm gonna end up being Ash's girlfriend, the 5 percent are rooting for Nemona, the 4.5 percent are rooting for a harem ending and then the 0.5 percent think you'll keep him to yourself."
"Does Ash know you're doing this kind of things behind his back?"
"Does Ash know you're writing this kind of things behind his back?" Iono asked holding the diary again as she walked out of the tent.
"W-What?! How did you even-"
"There's plenty of interesting stuff here, must I say." Iono laughed as she kept reading and Penny walked out of the tent. "A few things about you past crew aaaaand your little feelings, 'Sorry, Nemona... Sorry for falling in love with the same man as you', that's quite dramatic, I mean, sure, I guessed it with Nemona, but you're so unexpressive that I would have never guessed you liked Ash as well."
"Give. Me. That. Back." Penny told her with an aggresive stare.
"Yes, I could, but I already know everything." Iono grinned again. "I could just tell Ash, right?"
"If you do that-"
"What are you gonna do, huh?" Iono interrupted. "You're gonna punch me or something? What would Ash think? What would your excuse be? You wouldn't have written this if it wasn't true, you think I can't convice Ash to read this?"
"I-I-I-"
"Heh, I get it now, Penny." Iono continued. "That's why you're always so distant, you think you're better than us, you're acting as if you were really our friend, but the truth always comes out in the end."
"W-W-What?" Penny stuttered.
"...I'm just kidding, gal!" Iono laughed out loud and gave the book back to Penny. "Geez, you should have looked at your face, you were so scared. It's fine! We all have our secrets, I'm sure you'll tell Ash when you're ready."
"W-Wow, uh, thanks, I... I guess I misjudged you."
"Pfft, it's okay, you think that just cause I'm a streamer I'm something of a 'Give me your money today' type of person, right?"
"I do feel bad for the people who give you their money just so you call out their names in your streams."
"Eh, that's their choice." Iono stuck out her tongue.
"Here you are, people." Ash said walking to them. "Penny, you haven't left your tent all day, are you feeling okay?"
"Uh, yeah, Ash, I'm fine." She answered.
"Hmm... well, Nemona and I are done training for today, I wanted to start cooking the dinner, but Nemona insisted a lot so I'll let her do it tonight instead."
"Ash, she's gonna burn down the whole forest." Penny said.
"Then I guess I should go with her to make sure that doesn't happen." Iono said walking away. "It seems like you two could use a little chat, right, Penny?"
"What do you mean?" Ash asked, Iono simply shrugged shoulders and kept walking to where Nemona was preparing the dinner, leaving Ash and Penny alone.
"Hey, you sure you're okay?" Ash asked. "I feel like you and I are talking less and less lately."
"I-It's nothing Ash, but thanks for worrying." Penny replied.
"Come on, Penny, don't try to fool me, just tell me what's bothering you." He insisted. "Is it... is about Nemona and Iono, right?"
"What? No, of course not." Penny let out a nervous laugh. "...Eh, maybe."
"Guess that makes sense, this journey was supposed to be just the two of us at the start."
"It was, but it's not like I'm going to ask you to kick those two out." Penny said. "It's seriously no bother, I've gotten to take a like of Nemona as time has gone by, I'm sure it'll be the same with Iono."
"Still, sorry if I've been making you feel left behind, I'll try to spend more time with you starting from tomorrow, how does that sounds?"
"I appreciate that, but don't act like it's an obligation, it's not like we're in a relationship yet."
"Yet?" Ash asked with a small smile.
"I-I said nothing!" Penny shouted blushing.
"HASTA EL FUEGO!" Nemona shouted from afar.
"Wait, don't do that!" Iono exclaimed and Ash and Penny then heard an explosion.
"What did I tell you?" Penny asked adjusting her glasses.
"Yeah, we should go and help them out." Ash replied.
A few moments later.
"You know, there's a reason why Ash has been the one to cook since we started this travel." Penny talked while she treated some small burns over Nemona. "And that's because he is the only one out of us that knows how to."
"Hey! I can cook too!" Iono complained while Ash healed her burns. "I do streamings while I'm cooking all the time! I'm just used to do it in my own kitchen and not in the outside."
"Well, you should have thought that before coming with us." Penny said. "Like, did you expect us to carry a full folding kitchen or something?"
"It's fine, Penny, I'll start cooking as usual once I'm done here." Ash said.
"Aww, thank you for taking care of me." Iono smiled at him. "How about a selfie?"
"Is that seriously what you're thinking about at the moment?!" Penny complained. "You both could have gotten seriously hurt!"
"Oh! Can I join the selfie?" Nemona asked.
"At least wait until I'm done with your burns." Penny said.
"You know what? Now that the four of us are here, I feel like we could use this moment to get to know each other better!" Iono said. "Go on guys, ask me anything."
"...Are your teeth real?" Penny asked.
"They sure are." Iono answered to then look at the sides.
"When did you start as a streamer?" Ash asked.
"Around 5 years ago, it was something small at first but it has grown a lot since then."
"What's your favorite video of yours?" Nemona asked.
"Probably my collab with Elesa, it was great having her as my guest and do a fashion show in Levincia." Iono answered. "My turn, a question to Ash, what's the craziest adventure you ever had?"
"Well, it's hard to pick one, I've been through so many things that it's quite complicated to say one is 'The craziest'."
"Though that makes me wonder if we'll have to stop the world from ending too." Nemona said.
"Not really in the mood to do that honestly." Penny said.
"Streaming an apocalypse or two would surely get my views high." Iono replied. "I have another question, this time for Penny."
"I never said I was okay with you asking questions." Penny said.
"Why exactly are you traveling with Ash?" Iono asked anyway.
"What do you mean?" Penny asked.
"I mean, Nemona and I decided to go along with him to kinda expand our horizons, she wanted new battles, I wanted new content, so, what about you?"
"That's... I guess it's because of the way he makes me feel... I've always been much of a lonely loner and spending time with Ash makes me feel like I actually belong somewhere, like I don't have to be alone anymore." Penny answered to then look at him. "So, thank you for that."
"Heh, it's nothing." Ash smiled. "Now, a question for Nemona, let me see... how was your first Pokemon battle like?"
"It was great!" Nemona answered. "It was Pawmi and me against our friend Florian and his Farigiraf, we lost, but we gave our all, we really loved it and we both knew for sure that was what we wanted, to continue to fight together and grow stronger as a team."
"Well, I have one last question." Iono grinned. "Ash ketchum, out of the three of us, who is your favorite?" She asked and the three girls stared at him.
"Oh, no..." Ash trailed off. "I'll start with the dinner, fine?"
"W-Wait, you're not going to answer?" Nemona asked.
"I'm kinda curious now as well." Penny said.
"Go on, Ash, we're waiting." Iono said.
"T-To be honest, I think that all-"
"Please, don't you with the 'you all got your charm'." Iono interrupted him. "Just be honest, which one of us do you prefer to spend time with?"
"I like to spend time with all of you, you know? As cliché as that sounds." He answered. "You all act different and like different things and I enjoy those things, besides, I've never been a fan of having 'favorites', not even for Pikachu."
"Pika!" The mouse complained while playing with the rest of the group's Pokemon.
"So, to put it clear, I like you all." Ash answered and the three girls blushed. "Very well, we're done, hope the answer satisfied you, I'll start with the dinner. Anybody knows where the pot ended up after the explosion?" He asked standing up and leaving the three girls alone.
"Hmmp, he just admitted to like the three of us." Penny said.
"Yeah, pretty sweet on his part." Nemona added.
"Look at this, the harem ending fans just rose up to 15 percent." Iono said looking at her phone.
"You've been recording this whole time?!" Penny shouted while Nemona tried to stop her from hitting Iono who was simply laughing at her.
"That's all for today!" Iono smiled at the stream. "Thanks for following us, ladies and gents, don't forget to favorite and review! er, I mean, like and comment! The supercharged streamer! Whosawhatsit? Iono signing off! See ya!"
"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST RESPECT OUR PRIVACY?!" Penny shouted.
"I personally don't mind." Nemona said.
"SHUT UP!"
And that's it!
Quite a shorty, in fact, this is the shortest thing I've written since the very first chapters of Fighting Dreamers back in 2020.
As with my other one-shots, I'd like to make a quick reference list just for fun, keep in mind that some lines had to be changed a little from the original to make sense in the story, yada yada:
The title of this one-shot 'Ionize me, Hypnotize me, Oxidize me, Digitize me' is taken from the lyrics of the song 'How do I do it?' from Milo Murphy's law.
Iono's middle and last names "E. Nigma" come from her spanish name 'E-Nigma', heh.
"My Gym isn't a place, my Gym is wherever I am!" could be a refernece to "Asgard isn't a place" from Thor Ragnarok.
The song that Ash, Iono and Nemona sing together is 'Best Served Cold' by Jt Music.
"I think I'm jealous, is that what I'm feeling?" - She-Hulk: Attorney at law.
"Always adjusting your glasses to act like you're smarter than everyone." - Foot 2 Rue/Street Football.
"Come on. What is so bad about being a little silly from time to time?" "I am all for a good laugh, but you cannot be serious for one single moment." - Teen Titans Go!
"Just how many pictures of yourself do you really need? I mean, you're basically making the same expression in all of them." - Criminal Minds.
"I only want to socialize." "But I don't think we should." - Lyrics from Spooky Scary Skeletons by Andrew Gold.
"You think you're better than us, you're acting as if you were really our friend, but the truth always comes out in the end." Quite modified lyrics from Sharks by Imagine Dragons.
"HASTA EL FUEGO!" from Bad Boys for Life, but like they say in the movie, it's not even correct spanish, but it kinda means 'Until the fire'.
.
Speaking of that, like last time, Nemona's spanish quotes:
"No puede ser" - "It can't be."
"Cabron" is hard to translate honestly and it depends on the context, let's just say is a good word.
"Abrazos! - "Hugs!"
That's all for today, I'll get back to Fighting Dreamers.
Holdonlupin is out.
