Chapter 22 Road to Hulbury
Once the two of them are back at the Nursery, the sky is getting dark. But thanks to the Nursery Woman, she offers four rooms for them as they decide to share. As for Ash, he decides to let Alice stay with him in one of the rooms, causing jealousy in the girls.
That night, everyone is sleeping except for Ash and Alice, since they are enjoying the moon together. Ash says, "Alice... since you have confessed to me, I want to ask you if you want to be my first girlfriend?"
Alice smiles, "I know you had told me about a harem, but yes. I am glad that I can say that I want."
Ash smiles as he kisses her on the lips, as she kisses back. After breaking the kiss, they get to the bed as Ash decides to give him a gem.
"What is this?" Alice asks.
"This is the Ketchum Gem, right now I have a total of 7 different colors of it. This is the Blue Gem. I will give the four of them to other girls."
"Then what about the other 2?" Alice asks in confusion.
"I don't know, there might be someone that I love that isn't traveling with me, and I will find it eventually. Right now let's have some rest." Ash says as they sleep at the bed, but Alice smiles as she goes towards Ash's bed, she says, "Wait a second. I want to sleep with you."
Ash is surprised. But he nods as he lets Alice sleep with her, and then they cuddle together as they fall asleep.
The next day, Ash and his group leave the Nursery. And then they see Ash holding hands with Alice. Dawn says, "All right, Alice. Spill the beans. Why are you holding hands with Ash?"
Alice is confused, but then she notices her arm and she blushes, she says, "I am so sorry, Ash. I didn't mean to..."
"It's fine." Ash says as they agree to keep the relationship a secret. "Besides, what's the problem with two friends holding hands together?"
Serena says, "So can we also have our turns?"
"Sure. But one at a time. I don't want you guys to drag me around, especially since I am a prince." Ash laughs, then the girls understand as they let Alice go first.
When they get to the bridge that goes to Hulbury, they see Team Yell grunts harassing a bike owner.
"Oi! Just hand over the bike already! We need it to cross the long bridge!" The female grunt says.
"We're gonna use that bike to chase around Gym Challengers! It'll be a scream!" The male grunt says.
"How barbaric. It wouldn't work anyway. You didn't even have your smartphone with you!" Then the owner says, "Can you guys lend a hand? They are trying to steal my bike."
"Are you serious? Team Yell?" Ash says in surprise.
"Please, if you could give them a good thrashing. I would be in your debt." The owner says.
"Well, we can also do some training from them." Alice says.
"Oi, we're not tryin' to steal the bike! Only borrowing it!" "We're gonna use it to chase after Gym Challengers and make'em all tired!"
"I don't think that Marnie will like to see you guys do that, right?" Gloria asks, causing them to flinch.
"She does make a point. What should we do?" The male asks the female.
"Well. Alright, but I'm thinkin' you deserve a special shout-out. I'm gonna crush you in a battle."
Then the female sends out Zigzagoon and Thievul, but Ash's Pikachu and Meowth defeat them easily.
"Gah...you crushed my attempt to crush you..." The female says.
"Why you...I want that bike! Don't get in my way!" The male sends out Sableye, but Gloria uses Kirlia to defeat it with ease.
"You're too strong! If you stay in the Gym Challenge, you're gonna cause problems for our lady."
"You 'aven't seen the last of us! We're gonna make sure you stay out of our lady's way!" Then the two grunts flee.
"My, you are a strong trainer, and you also have a smartphone too." The bike owner says.
"I can understand your first statement, but what is with us with the smartphone?" Ash is confused.
"You know. I am a Bike salesman, my store is in Hulbury. If you come by, feel free to get one of my bikes for free each of you. Better you have it than Team Yell!"
"Thanks." Ash says as the bike owner leaves.
Once they get to the middle of the bridge, Hop is there waiting for them. "Hop?" Ash asks.
"There you are, guys. I am warning you, though...any closer than that and we're going to have to have a battle- you and me." Hop says with confidence.
Gloria says, "Oh, yeah? Why don't I have a battle with you? We're both Gym Challengers who've earned ourselves a Grass Badge. This is the perfect training."
"I guess you will also be okay." Hop says. And Gloria feels annoyed that he looks down on her. But she uses Kirlia to defeat his Wooloo, Chewtle to defeat the Corvisquire, and in the end, her Raboot defeats the Thwackey.
"We both got ourselves the same Grass Badge, so how come you're so much stronger?" Hop groans.
"Maybe you shouldn't look down on me since I am a girl." Gloria smirks.
"You've got strong, Gloria. Seems I've got to train even harder from now on." After Hop smiles, he says, "The next up is Nessa, the leader of the water gym." Then he leaves.
"He just here for a battle, huh?" Ash sighs. "Same old Hop." Gloria sighs.
When they get to the Hulbury, they see a commotion. They decide to check it out and see a woman standing in front of a man, a boy, and a girl. Ash recognizes the boy as Bede, and the other one is the Gym Leader of Bermingsteel: Elena, the Steel Type Gym Leader.
"Our sincerest apologies! The chairman is quite busy at the moment..." The woman says. "Everyone, please disperse! Please leave now!"
"Okay, see you later, Chairman!" The crowd leaves. Ash and the group realizes that the man with a casual outfit and sunglasses is actually Chairman Rose, without the formal suit, they almost can't recognize the man.
"No need to rush off! I can still do more autographs! I'll even give you my Pokemon League Card!" Chairman Rose yells, but Elena sighs as she drags his arm.
"Papa! I know we need the support of our fans to keep doing what we're doing, but this is too much." Elena says. "But Oleana, chasing them off like that...aren't you being a bit too harsh?"
"Fans are very important, of course. That's why your father needs to keep doing his work- for their sake."
"And I'll promise to do everything in my power to assist you, too, Chairman." Bede says as he walks towards them. Elena glares at the boy and mutters, "Nobody asked you, Mr. So-called winner guy..."
"I daresay I'm impressed how far you've come since I gave you that Pokemon all those years ago, Bede." Rose says. "Will you be the one to win the Gym Challenge? Or perhaps it will be one of the trainers endorsed by the Champion."
"Or maybe it is Prince Ash of course. He is the wonder of battling." Elena says with a little dreamy tone, but nobody has noticed it.
"I'll prove your faith in me was well placed, Chairman. I won't lose to anyone." Bede says. "Anyway, I'll be on my way now."
When Bede leaves, Ash and the others walk close to them. Rose notices them and he says, "Ah, Ash. We were just talking about you, Alice, and Gloria."
"Good to see you again, Chairman." Ash says.
Gloria recognizes Elena and gasps, "Wait, you are Elena, one of the Gym Leaders in the Gym Challenge..."
Elena says, "Yes. I am the gym leader of the Bermingsteel, I specialize in Steel-type. It is nice to meet Gym Challengers like you."
"By the way, I admit I am curious about Leon's reasons for endorsing you." Rose says to Gloria. "Ah, I just had a good idea, as I tend to do! You three are going to face gym leader Nessa soon, yes?"
"Well, we did get two badges, so the next is Nessa's gym." Alice says.
"If you get a Gym Badge from her, I'll hold a celebration. I'd like to get to know you a little better after all." Rose says, causing them to get surprised, since it is not very common to have the Chairman treat them for a dinner.
Oleana looks at the time and says, "Chairman, we should really be going..."
"But..." Rose has something to say, but Elena says, "Papa, don't worry. I want to see how they fare in Nessa's Gym. I'll watch over them."
Rose sighs and he says, "Sure, Elena. Please do your best." He turns to Ash, Alice, and Gloria. "For the sake of Galar's future."
Then as the two leave, Dawn asks, "So not only you're a Gym Leader, you're also the daughter of the famous Chairman Rose? You must be really rich."
"Well, it is true since my papa wants to make us all happy." Elena says. "By the way, he will be heading to this town's seafood restaurant. We should go to the gym so you three can get the gym badge and join him. Dad is a little impatient."
"Sure." Gloria says.
"By the way, I am sure you need these." Elena gives them her League Card. Which has the number 892 on the card.
"Thanks." They put the card away as they go to the gym, only to find that Nessa is not at the gym. "If you are looking for her, she's off at the lighthouse." The staff says.
"The lighthouse is, well...if you head toward the sea from here, we shouldn't be able to miss it." Elena says.
"Okay." Ash says as they go there. Once they get to the lighthouse, they find Nessa watching the sea.
"There you are, Nessa." Elena sighs.
"Oh, Elena, what a surprise. What are you doing here?" Nessa asks in surprise.
"Coming with an errand with my dad." Elena says. "By the way, Prince Ash, Alice and Glora, the trainer endorsed by Leon is here to battle you."
"Oh." Nessa turns to the two people. "You two become something of a hot topic among the Gym Leaders."
"Thanks?" Gloria asks.
"Here you go, Mr. and Ms. Famous. I already heard about you, so you should learn about me, too." Then she gives them each a League Card with the number 049 on it.
Once they put them away, Nessa says, "I am going back to the stadium. Though I love fishing, but I love Pokemon battles even more and I'm itching to battle with you tomorrow." Then she leaves.
"Why not today?" Serena asks in confusion.
"Well, she has been busy these days as the third Gym Leader." Elena says with a sigh. "As the third Gym Leader, she is quite exhausted for a lot of trainers challenging her."
"I see." Ash says, "So how much do you know about Nessa?"
Elena says, "Well, her father is a fisherman and her mother is a market saleswoman. So she lives with the style and she is close to Water Type Pokemon. Not to mention that she is a rival with Sonia and Leon when they are younger."
"Wow. She must be very strong." Lillie says.
Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, Ash and the group meet Elena, the Steel-type Gym Leader. In the next chapter, I will be writing about the third date with Ash. I hope you like this chapter.
Ash's New Pokemon: Thwackey, Skwovet, Corvisquire, Dottler, Thiveul, Eldegoss, Wooloo, Chewtle, Yamper, Carkol, Applin x2, Arrokuda, Toxel x2, Linoone (G), Meowth (G), Farfetch'd (G), Alcremie x63
Mark's Pokemon: Blaziken, Gyarados, Ninjask, Shedinja, Arrokuda, Dottler, Alcremie (Strawberry, Ruby Cream)
Trenor's Pokemon: Skwovet, Gloom, Swampert, Pumpkaboo, Onix, Basculin, Noibat
Alice's Pokemon: Wooloo x30, Butterfree (Pink), Sizzlipede, Drizzile, Eldegoss, Pikachu, Eevee, Applin
Gloria's Pokemon: Minccino, Tranquill, Liepard, Raboot, Chewtle, Ferroseed, Eevee, Woobat, Kirlia
Dawn's Pokemon: Buneary, Noctowl, Mudbray, Duskull, Piplup, Quilava, Wingull, Gloom, Pachirisu, Wobbuffet, Mamoswine, Togekiss
Serena's Pokemon: Diggersby, Pancham, Drifloon, Budew, Vespiquen, Drilbur, Braixen, Steenee, Nuzleaf, Sylveon
Lillie's Pokemon: Eevee, Hitmonchan, Gastly, Magearna, Shellder, Yamper, Cherubi, Espurr, Vulpix (A)