Monday
As soon as they were out of the airport Chrysa and Ren greeted the group with three sets of bags, one for Chloe, one for Ash, and one for Serena. Before Goh could even respond they were all on their separate ways.
"Wait, what about me?" Goh said, realizing he was alone.
Not really ready to return to the lab, Goh took some time to go around the city. He had been here a few times in the past five years, but rarely for more than a day, and even rarer being out and about in the open. Had it been any other time, he would've been looking for Pokémon, but it just didn't feel right today. It was roughly noon, by the time someone fully approached him.
"Thought I'd find you here." Ash said, setting down two bentos.
"What's this?" Goh asked.
"Lunch, I usually have two, but you can have one." Ash said.
"Thought you guys forgot about me." Goh said picking at the food.
"We started going to school while you've been gone. We do missions on the weekends, and had to rush to class." Ash said. "Sorry."
"No skirt?" Goh joked.
"Yeah, I've been questioned about that before, I am still a guy though." Ash joked.
"What you said yesterday, about you and Serena, were you serious?" Goh asked.
"Yeah, I don't want to hurt her, but things have been weird between us lately, and I think for now it's for the best." Ash said.
The two are in awkward silence for the rest of lunch.
"I'll meet you back here after class, unless you want to head to the lab yourself." Ash said.
"I'll wait." Goh said, he still wasn't sure what to say.
A few hours later, Ash had kept his promise and returned to get Goh.
"All set?" Ash asked.
"Yep, I've got everything I had." Goh said sarcastically.
As they approached the lab, Goh looked in shock.
"Holy ginormous tree!" Goh exclaimed.
The once small but quickly growing aura tree now stood high above the lab and surrounding area.
"Yeah, it's mine, I think." Ash said. "Maybe I'll show it to you tomorrow."
As they entered the lab, Goh could see it had had a redesign at least once. Including a main entrance area they were currently in.
"Welcome to the Cerise Labratory." Ash said scanning his phone.
Gone were the small halls, and cluttered equipment. They were standing in a larger room, with a second floor balcony going around it. Three hallways on both floors going into further parts of the lab.
"Goh, you're finally here." Chloe said from the upper floor, leaning over the balcony.
"Welcome back Ash, and you too Goh." Professor Cerise said approaching from the ground level. "I can't believe you're really back."
"And you thought the tree was impressive." Ash joked.
"So the first floor is lab and research access, while the second floor is living quarters, and in some cases, private meeting rooms." Professor Cerise explained.
"So, where's my room after all this?" Goh asked.
"Your things were moved out, and given back to your parents, after well… we thought you were dead." Ash admitted.
"We can get you a room set back up, but as for your things, you'll need to see your parents." Professor Cerise said.
Tuesday
Goh watched as his friends once again left for school for the day. He wasn't a student, he was barely a researcher, and apparently for now he wasn't alive.
"Professor?" Goh asked hesitantly. "Have my parents moved, or are they still here in the city?"
"They did move to a different house here in the city, but as to where I'd have to look it up." Professor Cerise said. "I do know that Ash and Chloe have kept up with them since the move, if you'd rather wait."
"That's fine, I'll wait." Goh said. He still wasn't sure what to say to his parents after all this time.
After school, Ash and Goh were simply tossing a ball back and forth in Ash's room like old times.
"So, I saw the display case of Z Crystals, when'd we get that?" Goh asked.
"3 summers back, I went back to Alola and worked hard to get them." Ash said.
"Wait! Those are the real things!" Goh said shocked.
"Yep, did you see your Pokémon today?" Ash asked.
"I thought they'd have gone to my family, or something." Goh admitted.
"Nope, Chloe found a loophole to keep them here as they were part of lab research towards completing the Pokédex. You'll have to talk to her about getting ownership of them back." Ash said.
"Could we go and see them, and maybe the tree tomorrow?" Goh asked.
"Yeah, I mean we can do it today too." Ash said.
"I'm not sure yet. Also one other question, why do you have a shelf of tiaras?" Goh asked.
"Anthony, tournament, mistaken identity, Serena, Ashley reappeared for a week, mistaken identity, and Zamazenta." Ash said counting them off.
"Wait Ashley, as in your amnesia self?" Goh asked surprised.
"Yep, apparently Darkrai had put some key phrases into my head to bring her back out, they're gone now, but still, it was a crazy week." Ash said.
"Wow, I missed a lot." Goh admitted.
Wednesday
"It's hollow?" Goh said looking inside the tree.
"Yeah, weird right? Seems to be alive still, just big and open." Ash said.
"What's with all of the platforms, and roots, and we'll everything?" Goh asked.
"No clue, Ultima said I had to protect it until it could protect itself, but I have no idea what that means even now." Ash said.
"How is Ultima?" Goh asked.
"Well, she's under here." Ash said. "Happened about a year ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I read the reports on her working with you." Goh said.
"She had accepted it, she went peacefully." Ash admitted. "Come on, there's some unique Pokémon I want you to see."
Ash lead Goh through the field where they met one of the Pokémon.
"Is that, Melmetal?" Goh asked.
"Yeah, Rowlet, Inciniroar and Lycanroc are around here somewhere too." Ash said.
"What about the Ultra Guardians though, aren't they needed for that?" Goh asked.
"I think the new kids can handle it without my Pokemon." Ash admitted. "They've done well so far."
"Wait new kids, what happened to the old group?" Goh asked.
"Im not in Alola all the time, Kiawe has taken his training to another level and wasn't available as often. Lana is traveling the world by sea. Lillie started a program to help abused Pokemon at the Aether foundation, which took up most of her free time. Sophocles is prepping to go to the International Space Station, and Mallow took over The Family Restaurant." Ash said counting off the guardians. "Oh, and Gladion was only a part timer anyways."
"Nin!" Greninja said, leaping past.
"Not even gonna ask." Goh said.
"About two years back he just showed up." Ash said.
Thursday
"Okay Goh, we're going." Chloe said grabbing him by the arm. She and Ash had only just made it home from school and they were dragging him off.
"I haven't done anything wrong!" Goh struggled.
"No, but you haven't left the lab proper, and my dad told us you haven't seen your parents." Chloe said angrily.
"I'm not ready!" Goh plead.
"Can't be a researcher if you're dead, and we need them to verify it's you." Ash said.
Ash and Chloe took him to a small somewhat secluded house, letting go of him momentarily to knock on the door. Goh tried to run, only to come face to knut with Melmetal.
"We thought of that." Chloe said.
"Ash, Chloe. It's so nice to see you two. How are you?" Goh's mom asked.
"We're doing fine. We're actually here to talk about Goh." Chloe said.
"No, please if he's, if he's gone just don't tell me." Goh's mom said.
Ash grabbed Goh by his shirt and spun him around in front of them.
"When'd you get so strong?" Goh asked in shock.
"Goh?" Goh's mom said in tears.
"Hi mom." Goh said. "Sorry about this."
Goh's mom was overwhelmed with emotions, producing only a varied amount of odd sounds while holding her once dead son.
Friday
The lab staff was watching on baited breath. It was announced Leon had big news for around the world. Ash saw eight trainers he knew all too well stand as a group. Lance, Steven, Cynthia, Alder, Diantha, Raihan, Seb, and Leon.
"I am proud to announce that after a five year hiatus, we will begin a new World Coronation Series Tournament starting on Monday. Trainers around the world, I urge you to give it your all and apply as soon as it begins!" Leon said.
"And this time, I'm going all the way!" Ash said pumped for the tournament to begin.
Saturday
Seb had come back to Vermillion, partially to visit Chloe, and also to pack his things.
"So you're really leaving?" Ash asked.
"Yep, with the tournament back on, we're rivals again, and I need to be ready for our next battle." Seb said.
"And what does Chloe say about that?" Goh asked.
"She isn't thrilled, but understands." Seb said.
"So, why not wait until Monday and get the fight over with?" Goh asked.
"Because I won't sign up until Tuesday." Ash said. "There's a way to enter any Pokémon league with zero badges, but that's not the right way to do it. If I signed up Monday it's be like starting a Pokémon league with four badges."
"So you're signing up late, to ensure you're back at the bottom?" Goh asked, confused.
"Gives everyone a fair chance." Ash admitted.
"Well, I wish you the best luck." Seb said, having packed the last of his things.