A/N: I'm back again! I've been bitten by the Lillie bug lately after I finished Pokémon Sun and decided that the small amounts of chemistry twinkled through the Sun and Moon game and anime weren't enough for a shipper like me. Oh well.

This is just the beginning of a mini series here. I plan on adding more very soon and showing the world what I have in store for these two lovebirds. So, stick around! Enjoy! Review!

See you!

The rocking of the cruise ship was slow and smooth. Despite large waves shifting alongside each aperture of the large boat, the people on board were comfortable.

In the vast open waters of Unova, a tournament is taking place. It's held as a reunion for participants in the global tournament in Driftveil City who might have lost their ranking due to losing battles. For others, this is a way to capitalize off of prior victories and to strengthen winning streaks.

Dozens of men and women entered the first rounds, and before long, the numbers were in single digits. Only the strongest trainers would prosper, and to a young Ash Ketchum, this would be his ultimate calling.

Months have passed since his loss in the Unova League Championship, and though he placed reasonably high in the brackets, the time for redemption had come. Deciding to give the competition one final attempt before rounding a new journey in a new region, Ash chose to train upon a typical frigate called the 'Battle Raft."

Coming in alone, Ash sits alongside the railing towards the nose of the frigate. His body is piercing the air and rifting his hair constantly while Pikachu clenches onto his shoulders, also peering into the darkness of the ocean. The moonlight reflections of cresting waves illuminate bird Pokémon still following the frigate even as night fell upon the area.

Months have passed since his experiences in Alola, and he couldn't pinpoint where his drive to participate in the Battle Raft stemmed from. Indeed, the motivation could be justified under his recent success and the need to improve constantly to back the victory and give it purpose. But, Ash didn't feel that way this time around.

Reaching into his belt, Ash felt along the pokeballs lining his side and counted the five extras, discounting Pikachu's, which was never used.

After compiling a perfect team assembled through his many endeavors through his various journeys, Ash felt like he would dominate in this location. All it's going to take is some victories and some precision.

"Pika?"

Pikachu was looking directly at him, and Ash didn't know until he heard his partner call his name. Snapping out of his daze, Ash looked over to his friend and stroked under his chin.

"Don't worry, buddy," Ash remarked, looking back out at the water, "we're going to get our first Battle Raft victory."

Pikachu felt settled after the affirmation and joined his master scanning the horizon. There were all sorts of noises coming from inside the large boat, but the outside was relatively silent save for Wingull and Pelipper as they swarmed the outside limits of the Battle Raft.

The thought appeared in Ash's mind once more as it had hours before when he enlisted in the activity.

What was the next step to be?

After finishing his adventure in Alola, Ash was forced to withdraw to Kanto to be with his family. But, something told him to participate in the Battle Raft. However, he couldn't pinpoint the source.

Better yet, he couldn't figure out where he would go once the tournament was over. The logical next step would be to relax with his mother and train in Kanto. But, for a while, these Pokémon would receive a long rest before needing to be called upon again. So, where is the next destination?

"Where do you think we'll go when we're done, Pikachu?" Ash asked, not expecting any form of answer from his partner.

"Pika... chu?" Pikachu responded.

"I was thinking the same thing... I don't know where we're going after that. I mean, all of our friends are hundreds of miles away..." Ash complained, looking down at the rushing foamy water crashing into the front of the boat. Before adding more to his complaint, Ash closed his eyes and briefly reflected on his recent experiences.

"Thank you so much! Thank you for everything!"

"Ash... I--"

"Let's have one more battle!"

All of these faces shimmered in his mental image. The friends that he spent months connecting with and loving, all of whom were miles and miles away. Surely, they would be happy with their new lives, but Ash wasn't.

Going home to Kanto meant loneliness. Even with his family and local friends.

To interrupt his thoughts, the chiming of the beginning bell rebounded his brain and sent him into full awareness. It was time to head inside and start the preliminary rounds.

"Ahh, what am I kidding...! Let's go, Pikachu!"

"Pika!"

Dozens of battles were taking place on the Battle Raft floating on the outskirts of Unova.

For a young Lillie, this allowed her to study Pokémon battles in all of their glory. To be a Pokémon trainer required strategy, and if she were to be one of the more successful trainers, she'd have to absorb as much information as she could.

Unfortunately for her, Lillie attended the Battle Raft alone without any company save for Snowy, her Alolan Vulpix. Even in her loneliness, she found herself making small talk with various trainers and shop keepers on the ship, even going as far as to buy goodies for her small ice Pokémon as well. With a fair amount of money to spend, Lillie stopped in every location.

The crowds were large, and she made sure to keep herself out from under many of the more extensive trainers looking to spar with their peers and rivals. In a sense, the blonde trainer felt out of place as these people likely expected her to battle, and she counted her blessings that nobody had asked her quite yet.

"Hey, are you participating?"

Lillie snapped out of her pondering as a voice called out to her - one she hadn't quite heard before. To be polite, she turned her head and offered a closed-eye smile.

"N-no, I'm just watching," Lillie admitted, keeping her conversation to a minimum as she attempted to carry on. She got a slight glance at the boy talking to her, a young teenager who had a Sableye clenched to his shoulders staring down at her. The presence of the dark Pokémon furthered her urge to leave this person's company quickly.

"Oh, well... my name is Harley. I'll be around if you want to talk!"

In a room full of so many people, Lillie internally giggled at the idea of meeting another person twice here. The rooms seemed to be so vast that she hadn't seen a person more than once since she entered. Shrugging off the awkward experience, she looked down at her tucked-in Pokémon and smiled.

"We're just going to keep to ourselves, right?"

"Vuuul," Vulpix agreed as she looked around in excitement at all the different shops nearby. There were still souvenir shops that she hadn't been to yet from other regions like Kalos and Johto.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a Pokémon battle taking place. Even if she wasn't a fan of Pokémon getting hurt, she admired the spirit between the two trainers as they seemed to be well enveloped into their respective strategies. It made the young girl reminisce about her Alolan adventures with everyone there... especially Ash.

The boy that did his best to breathe confidence into her wounded soul. Her heart was with his love for Pokémon and his desire to help those who needed it. Even if she hadn't seen him in ages, she was at least happy she got to say goodbye to him.

"These people wouldn't battle like Ash..." Lillie muttered to herself through the isolation of her consciousness. It was foolish to compare hundreds of trainers to one boy she met when she lived in her old region... but if she was there to witness Pokémon battles, she was going to critique them too.

As the thought of Ash began intensifying in her head, a picture of a Starly on a stand outside of a shop drew Vulpix's attention which caught her eye too.

"Aw! How cute!" Lillie shrieked as she walked towards it. "Do you want to go see what we can find, Snowy?"

As if Snowy would say no.

The battles had undoubtedly commenced with Ash participating in his full power. Even though he had nobody to cheer him on, he fought as though no one was watching. The complete confidence in his abilities was crystal clear, and many who faced off against him were done in by his friendliness even as he completely decimated their teams.

To those viewing, Ash was a force to be reckoned with. The crowds would explode as his Pokémon persisted through conflict after conflict, and his Pikachu became the icon of his battle ladder. What started as over one hundred trainers quickly turned into the top twenty-five, Ash cutting easily.

The enjoyment Ash was experiencing couldn't be matched in a league. Here, he felt free to prove himself to hundreds of people who hadn't adventured with him prior. Here, Ash was a new man. With his eyes on the top position, he couldn't help but feel the loneliness seeping into his performance.

In the past, his closest friends would support him through his efforts. Even if he were losing, Serena or Dawn would cheer him through his downfall. Here, Ash was alone.

To keep his consciousness at bay, Ash would remind himself periodically that this is just for the strengthened bond with his friends. But, deep down, Ash wished that someone would be there to support him even as he continued to rise the ladder.

"Hey! You!"

Ash perked up at the sound of a female voice, which called him over. It was a T.V. News Caster Crew with cameras set on him and Pikachu alone. Upon seeing the lit camera, Ash smiled and waved.

"We've been watching your battles, and you seem like an extremely young yet experienced trainer!" The woman asked with the microphone to her mouth, "Are you by chance Ash Ketchum?"

Immediately following the recognition of his title, Ash blushed and laughed with a nervous hand behind his head. It wasn't often that he was recognized in public, and he fought the urge to back off right away.

"Yes, actually...! I'm just here for some training before I return to Kanto!" Ash responded with a smile.

"Incredible! We've followed your story from Alola and were hoping to see how you're holding up here on the Battle Raft! Do you think you'll achieve victory and take home the Battle Raft Gold Amulet tonight!?"

Winning wasn't always the objective to a young Ash Ketchum and today wasn't the day he planned on changing that for a second. If he were going to win, it would be through hard work but not overconfidence.

"I hope so! But there are some great trainers here tonight, so we'll see. Thankfully, Pikachu can handle any situation we're in, right buddy?"

"Pikaaaa!" Pikachu exclaimed as he stood on the top of Ash's hat with a look of boosted confidence and ego. Ash chuckled as well.

As the conversation through the news report continued, Ash found himself getting ready for the next battle that he would participate in. In the top 25 of trainers on the Battle Raft, Ash wasn't about to give it any less than his best, and so with an adjustment of his hat, he cracked his fingers and made his way back to the arena.

Lillie sat with her hands grasping a hot chocolate with the opposite seat occupied by her Vulpix, Snowy. Together they enjoyed their snacks and drinks as many people made their rounds around them. Lillie kept her eyes low, only scanning the room or peering up at the T.V.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lillie spotted the teenage boy who attempted to talk to her less than an hour earlier. Whoever this boy was, Lillie made a mental note and briefly listened to what was being talked about around her.

"I'm getting ready for my next battle... me and this guy named... Mash, was it?"

What a unique name. Oh well.

Lillie looked back to her Vulpix and shot Snowy a cheerful smile. "Are you enjoying your drink, Snowy?" Lillie asked her Pokémon, that cheered in response but continued drinking.

Seconds later, she saw Snowy look over Lillie's head at something hanging over her. At first, Lillie didn't notice and only caught on when she saw Snowy light up in excitement. Immediately, she spun around in her seat and looked up at the screen to see a familiar face on a headline.

"Kantonian Trainer 6-0 as Battle Raft makes its way into the top 25."

The headline above was none other than Ash Ketchum, and Lillie immediately felt her heart sink. A rise of excitement and happiness quickly took over as instinctively she looked over at the arena where she could see Ash facing off with another trainer.

She couldn't believe her eyes. Ash Ketchum was here, and neither of them knew about each other until now.

"Talonflame! Dodge it!"

There was no mistaking it; that's Ash.

As her heart fluttered, Lillie realized that the boy she saw earlier likely just admitted to having to battle Ash next. If she were going to be lucky, maybe she would get to see him again. So many things she's wanted to say and do since she left Alola. So many things she's spent hours thinking about, crying over, and wishing. All of which were escaping through her rosy cheeks.

Maybe there was more to this 'Battle Raft,' than just shopping. Maybe... Lillie could see someone she missed more than anything.

Lillie launched to her feet and swept up Snowy before bolting to the closest vantage point, where she began screaming encouragements for her former travel companion. Even if her voice fell short of audible through the hundreds of cheers, she put her love out into the air.

"Oh, am I going to see him once this is over...? What am I supposed to say?"

Her heart began twisting itself into knots as she started feeling uneasy about the whole ordeal. The feelings that she had been repressing for months were starting to come to light as she practically melted at the sight of such a hard-headed young boy. With blossomed cheeks, Lillie shook off her fears and cheered on for her friend.

"I wanna tell him how I feel... before it's too late and I never see him again!"