"Is that a female Pikachu?" I asked shocked, as I stared at the mouse pokemon on May's lap.
"Yes! As everyone is catching an Alolan Pokemon I've decided to one myself. An Alolan Pikachu!" May exclaimed with a big smile. I blinked not being able to shake off the surprise. I've never thought of another member of the gang getting a Pikachu... that's Ash's thing. "Max also caught one. Though, technically I now have two of them. As Max cannot catch one without the presence of our dad. But hey, Max will be the one training him!"
"I know, it surprised us too," Brock sighed.
"Who would have thought the day someone other than Ash has a Pikachu in this group has finally come?" My grandfather chuckled.
"Then again, who better?" Auntie Delia giggled. "Ash did mentor them after all."
"I can't believe I have a Pikachu!" Max was practically jumping on his seat.
"I can't believe you already have a complete team, you haven't even started your journey!" Misty exclaimed, pointing at a small group of pokemon eating breakfast beside May's pokemon.
Looking closer I recognized a Ralts, a Shuppet, a Mightyena, a Shroomish, the male Alolan Pikachu May had mentioned, and a Chikorita. That's quite a good team for a boy who had not even started his journey. It's even a good team for those halfway through their journey. Wait! A Chikorita?!
"Is that Meganium and Sceptile's Chikorita son?" I inquired startled. "I thought that Ash would not send him to Max until he started his journey."
"That was the plan, but with all my pokemon bonding Ash did not want Chikorita to feel like an outsider when I start my journey," Max answered me. "He'll be coming to dad' gym two weekends a month, to bond and train with us."
"Not to mention, I discussed it with Chikorita's parents before making any plans," Ash commented as he joined us in the garden of the mansion, stopping for a second to pat Chikortia.
I could not stop myself from looking at his body, all the Aura and Ranger training did an excellent work on his shape. One could especially appreciate it as Ash was wearing only a pair of red swimming tracks and a white open shirt. Those abs...
"Good morning sleepy head!" Wake ruffled Ash's hair, pulling him into a tight hug. I still can't believe a worldwide wrestler star, like Wake Crasher is related to Ashy... who am I kidding? Of course, they are related! "How does it feel to be a success? The first day of The Saint Festival sold out all the merchandise and broke T.V viewing records in every region!"
"Unbelievable," Ashy answered with a tired but happy smile. "When I started my journey I wanted to be the very best... I did not even know what that was back then and I still don't believe I've managed it. But this truly makes me feel closer."
We all looked at Ash tenderly, we all knew how hard his journey has been and we've all seen him struggle with frustration and deception. I, more than anyone, know how hard it's been for him. How sometimes he felt like he had not advanced a single step towards his objective. Yet here he was, filling a stadium with people who had come all over the world just to watch him and his pokemon. The pride I felt for him could not be described in words. The pride I felt about myself was good for my ego, as I was the first one to recognize him as a worthy rival. I just knew... the moment I saw him talking to a hurt Butterfree and pushing him to recover fast at grandpa's ranch I knew. I knew the moment he told Butterfree goodbye with a smile and afterward cry in auntie's chest... I just knew he would be great.
And I was right.
We proceeded to finish breakfast silently, simply enjoying the beauty of the Islands of Alola. I can see myself coming here again. For research, for a vacation, for training, for my honeymoon with Ashy... wait... let's just stop this trail right here. Yeah, this did not just happen. It never happened.
"Gary," Ashy's voice snapped me out of my trance.
"Ye-yeah," I answered, voice going up a few notes in surprise. "What is it?"
"I was thinking that before I have to go to the Manolo Stadium, we could talk," he inquired.
"Of course, Ashy!" I teased, but instead of getting angry he blushed lightly and hummed pleased. My mind went blank. What was going on? I spent the rest of breakfast staring at Ashy confused, not even Blackie nuzzling my leg could stop me. Not that anyone seemed to care, Ashy and Pikachu were too busy stuffing their faces with food, and the rest were enjoying the show of me making a fool of myself and snickering. When Ashy was done, he stood up and went back into the mansion to change into his Ace Ranger uniform. "So, what did you want to talk about?" I asked him, as we headed towards the teleportation station, to wait for the Alakazam to take us to Manalo Stadium. No way we were taking the cruise ship with all of Ashy's fans waiting to attack.
"Nothing really, I just wanted to give Pikachu and Blackie an excuse to talk." Ashy hummed back, pointing at our pokemon, walking a few meters before us, with his head. "They need to discuss and try to fix the situation between us, no need to bring Jolteon into their problems any longer." He turned to me with a small smile. "Sorry, if you had something to do and I am making you waste your time."
"There's nothing like you wasting my time, Ashy," I answered him honestly, smiling back. I raised my hand to tenderly caress his cheek when I saw him blush again. "I think we both know why..."
"Gary... I... I am not ready for anything..." Ashy apologized, breaking our eye contact as he looked down. "Riley might have fixed my issue and the secondary effects might be gone now, but my Riolu is still an egg and in no place to help me. And do not make me start with my psychological issues," he shook his head, chuckling humorlessly.
"I'll wait, I think I've been waiting since the day I met you..." Ashy looked up startled at my words, eyes widening in wonder. I smiled tenderly, raising my other hand and gently capturing his face between my hands. "I did pull your pigtails a lot back then... sorry. But honestly, waiting a little bit more is nothing. You are worth it."
"Gary," Ash's eyes clouded by all the unshed tears in them. But then, the most beautiful smile I've ever seen spread through his lovely lips. "Thank you!"
Before I could even open my mouth to reply, Alakazam appeared before us, ready to teleport us to the Manolo Stadium. With a smile and a gentle hug, Ashy told me goodbye and left to get ready for another hard day of battles. I kneeled and patted Blackie behind her ears and asked her: "Everything worked out for you and Pikachu?"
"Umbreon!" She yipped happily.
"Well, then let's better go and get something to eat, before going to our seats," I told her.
We got some malasadas and a drink, before heading towards the stadium's bleachers. Soon we were joined by the rest of our group, except for Wake, as they were trying to keep their familiar relationship low-key. As expected today was harder than the previous day. Not only was it the Advanced Stage, but someone had won against Ashy yesterday which gave this new group of trainers the hope that they might be the next ones to defeat him. They entered the battlefield with the determination of winning, not thinking they'd already lost. For which I am quite happy for Ahsy, he had not taken it well with the way they've behaved yesterday.
"They are more motivated today," Max commented halfway through the day, as Ashy took a break from the fight backstage and ate something in private. The rest of us had gone to the only restaurant on the artificial island. Perks of knowing Ahsy and the ones who had organized the event. We got a private room with a great view of the ocean. "Even when no one has won yet, they keep on coming ready to bring Ash down."
"Ash must be having a blast!" Brock laughed, relieved this turned out to be an event our friend could end up enjoying.
"Gladion gave them hope of winning," Misty commented, having deduced the same as I.
"Ash chose the pairs wisely, to give each group a fair and just fight. If they had gone with a different mentality more would have won." Grandpa explained. "The ones in Ash's teams for the Beginner Stage are good, but they still have not trained a lot with Ash and are not from the most powerful species of pokemon. If anything the Shedinja and Ninjask team should have been brought down a few times, as the Minun and Plusle pair. Gladion defeated the strongest pair Ash had chosen for that stage."
"About that, could someone please explain to me why most of them seem more concerned about fighting against Altaria and Vibrava?" Dawn inquired confused. "Everyone knows Espeon and Sylveon are the pair to look out for, Not only their Special Attacks are too powerful, the psychic link that Espeon easily keeps between them makes it impossible to know what they'll do next. It is very dangerous battling Ash. After all, it's Ash!"
"Think it this way, if it were any other trainer, would you be more concerned about fighting a pair of eeveelutions or dragon pokemon?" Riley asked Dawn.
"Well... Ash has ruined my common sense when it comes to battling and pokemon, hasn't he?" Dawn deadpanned, making us all break into laughter.
"Yes, he has," I laughed. "As you said, it's Ash!"