"Ash, wake up. There's a problem." Chloe said shaking him.
"Five more minutes." Ash mumbled.
"No, you need to get up now!" Chloe argued, kicking him lightly.
"Chloe how'd you even get in my room this early?" Ash asked.
"I'm not, you and Serena fell asleep in the lounge." Chloe said. "Look, there's a pirate ship at the docks. They want you on board."
"And I was supposed to be on a yacht last night, so they can get in line." Ash grumbled.
"It's a challenger for the world coronation." Chloe informed.
"Next time, lead with that." Ash said getting up, the blanket falling on Serena.
"Ash. Did you two, you know?" Chloe asked in shock, pointing at his waist.
"Huh, no. No no no no no." Ash reassured. "My shorts must've fallen off in the night."
"Well either find them or get back to your room, it's kinda weird, seeing you in just that." Chloe admitted.
"You literally saw me in less when you helped me into that dress last night." Ash countered. "Forget it, I'll find them later probably." Ash said, tugging his shirt as he scooted to his room.
Professor Cerise sighed, as he saw Ash awkwardly try and get to his room. The two were old enough, but he should have a talk about these kinds of things with them.
A bit later
"Where'd Serena go?" Ash asked, slipping on his bag.
"She said she was meeting up with her mom while she was in town." Chloe said. "And Goh and Ren didn't come back from the movie last night, so it's just us."
"Well then, let's go." Ash said, as Pikachu ran up to him.
At the docks
"Guzzlord really did a number out here last night." Chloe said as they walked pasts the destruction.
"Good news is he's contained for now, and the Aether Foundation should be stopping by soon to help return him home, and make sure Naganadle is healthy." Ash said.
"Well there's the boat." Chloe said, pointing at the pirate ship.
"No way, I know who this is!" Ash said excitedly, running onto the boat. "Drake of the Hoenn Elite Four, I challenge you to a battle!"
"About time you showed up." Drake said, with a hearty laugh. "I accept."
'The Super Rank match between Ash and Drake will now begin!' The Rotojudge announced.
"Salamence! Come on out!"
"Pikachu I choose you!"
"Of course that's who he went with." Chloe deadpanned.
"Salamence use Dragon Claw!"
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
Elsewhere
"Hey mom, thanks for staying in town for a bit, I know yesterday was a bit much." Serena said.
"I'm sure it was just an off day." Grace reassured. "Your face says otherwise."
"It can be exhausting, I'll admit. Never knowing just when the next threat will strike." Serena said. "But the work we do here is rewarding."
"I know you're happy here, but if you'd like a break from it all." Grace hinted.
"I still have a bit of school left, I can't just leave." Serena pointed out.
"A few days, then how about you come back home for a relaxing vacation, I won't even practice with Ryhorn in that time." Grace said. "Just relaxing family time. What do you say?"
Back at the docks
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Salamence use Flamethrower!"
The plasma based attacks collided, an explosion of smoke covering the area.
"Pikachu quick use Quick Attack!"
"Salamence use Double Edge!"
The two Pokémon collided, as Pikachu was launched back, knocked out at Ash's feet.
"You did great buddy. Take it easy." Ash said, giving Pikachu to Chloe for the remainder of the match.
"Come on, bring out Frosmoth, or Impidimp, or even Glalie." Chloe said hoping for Ash to make the right choice.
"Sceptile, I choose you!" Ash called out.
Chloe had to catch herself from stumbling from the shock of Ash's choice.
"Sceptile use Dual Chop!"
"Salamence use Flamethrower!"
Sceptile pushed onwards getting swiped by the flames before sending Salamence towards the water.
"Now use Slam!"
"Salamence get out of there!"
It was too late, Sceptile pushed Salamence further down, defeating it.
Elsewhere with Ren and Goh
"No, don't go in there!" Goh screamed, throwing popcorn everywhere.
"Come on! You're smarter than this!" Ren shouted tears rolling down his face.
"They do know the movies over, right?" One theater attendant asked.
"This is their eighth movie in a row, I'm not sure they have a grasp on reality anymore." The second said.
Back at the docks
"Altaria use Aerial Ace!"
"Sceptile use Slam!"
Sceptile's tail slammed into Altaria, rocketing off with the dragon.
"Sceptile's tail can detach!" Ash said in shock.
"Ash, you've been mega evolving Sceptile for FIVE YEARS AND DIDN'T KNOW THAT!" Chloe screamed.
"It never happened before." Ash defended himself. "Now Sceptile let's finish this with Dual Chop!"
"Altaria use Sky Attack!"
Sceptile leapt from the mast, breaking Altaria's concentration as she fell to the boat.
'Altaria is unable to battle, the winner is Ash.' The Rotojudge declared as Altaria hit the ground.
"You've gotten craftier, you would have made a fine Elite Four member." Drake said.
"What do you mean would have?! Ash would be great at it!" Chloe defended.
"He wouldn't just be great, he'd be perfect. He'd also be wasting his time doing it now." Drake said. "We may be strong, but Ash is on a different level. The bond he shares with his Pokémon, it's unparalleled." Drake said as he watched Ash and Pikachu congratulate Sceptile on his win.
Later at the lab, in Professor Cerise's office
"Look you two, I know you're eighteen, and what happened last night is natural, but you have to be careful, and maybe more discreet about those things." Professor Cerise said. "What if one of the younger researchers had seen you this morning Ash."
"What do you mean?" Serena asked.
"Oh Areceus." Ash said, his face beat red.
"Look, just remember to use protection, and maybe go away for a weekend next time, I won't blame you." Professor Cerise said.
"You think we!" Serena said in shock.
"This is just a huge misunderstanding, nothing happened, I just couldn't find my shorts this morning." Ash said.
"I did." Serena commented.
"Great, really helpful right now." Ash said. "We passed out in the lounge last night, nothing happened at all."
"Oh. Well don't I look foolish." Professor Cerise said.
"But we will be more careful about those things, so Ash doesn't have to do a walk of shame again." Serena joked.
"Hardee har har." Ash said. "Look, I'm going to check on how Naganadle is doing, if we're done here?"
"Go right ahead." Professor Cerise said, as Ash left. "Serena, you're free to go as well."
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you." Serena said, once she was certain Ash was out of earshot.