"Nope, not even possible." Ash said looking into his mirror. For fun he tried to see if he could pass for a guy still, and while he cared less than he used to, even wearing a binder didn't give off an impression of a small guy, just a flat girl.
"It's the face. You'd need serious makeup skills to hide those features." A familiar voice said.
"Eva!? What are you doing here?" Ash asked in surprise. Partially because she was in his room.
"Professor Cerise has me covering for you all while you're gone, and on a more important note. It's not just the face, you may be a guy, but you hold yourself like a girl." Eva said. "Most guys utilize pockets when they're relaxed, and pants."
Ash blushed forgetting he wasn't wearing any, his mirror only showed chest up, so he hadn't bothered trying to disguise his lower half. He quickly tried covering himself up, between putting his hand in front of him and pulling down his shirt.
"See, more unmanlike tendencies. They don't hide, and they definitely don't wear panties." Eva laughed. "Besides I've seen you in bikinis before so relax. I've roomed with less feminine girls than you."
"I'm still going to put on some pants if you don't mind." Ash declared.
A bit later
"So I'm sure you're all curious about why Eva has returned." Professor Cerise said.
"Nope." Ash said bluntly. He still hadn't forgiven her for breaking in earlier.
"Yes." Chloe said.
"Kind of." Goh pointed out.
"Who is she?" Brittany asked.
"And why are we all here?" Parker added.
"We will be heading out for a family vacation of sorts in a few days. Eva is one of a few other researchers I've asked to watch the lab while we're gone." Professor Cerise said.
"Now by family vacation, do you mean the lab as a family, or all of our families?" Xavier asked.
"All of our families. I figured with both teams being in the lab more often, maybe we could use a bit of time away from the lab, as big as it is, it's still one place." Professor Cerise said.
"So a chance to show our parents what we do?" Lauren asked.
"A bit of that, and a bit of time to have fun, you are all kids still and that's important to remember." Professor Cerise said.
Chloe quickly rose her hand.
"No you don't know where we're going. It's a surprise to you kids." Professor Cerise said. "That goes for you as well Ash."
Ash slowly put his hand back down.
"You will need to pack for colder weather though, snowy levels of cold." Professor Cerise said. "In the meantime, I expect this lab to act as per normal. You are dismissed for now."
Most of the staff disbursed into other parts of the lab, only Ash and Professor Cerise were left.
"Ash before you ask, she isn't here right now, so no she won't be coming with us. She has been informed we won't be here though." Professor Cerise said sternly.
"She's a part of the lab, she deserves to go!" Ash argued.
"Serena is at home with her mother in Kalos, this vacation is so we can all have some space, just try and enjoy it." Professor Cerise said. "And just a reminder, you'll have to pick up your mom and I guess Mimey is getting a seat of his own. She asked for two tickets."
"That's weirdly normal for my family." Ash pointed out. "And I figured, being the only one who isn't a local."
"Going to pass as a guy on vacation?" Eva jokingly asked as she walked with Ash.
"Are you trying to make me angry?" Ash asked.
"No, just you were the first to truly give me a chance when I was here, and I've missed you." Eva admitted. "You're like the weird little sister I always talk about but would never want around my friends."
"Thanks I think. Anyways no, I just talked with my mom, and she's asking for the 'mother-daughter time' I promised a while back." Ash said. "So Ashlynn will be going on vacation."
"A way to differentiate your buy and girl sides?" Eva asked.
"Makes more sense than just going by Ash all the time. Plus it's a way to keep consistent." Ash said.
"I wasn't lying, about what I said." Eva said.
"You've said a fair bit of odd things in the short time you've been here, would you like to be more specific?" Ash said.
"About you being like a weird little sister. I've kept up on your world coronation rankings. I'm always cheering you on when I can." Eva said.
"Hey, wanna see something weird?" Ash asked.
"Is that even a question!" Eva said excitedly.
"Come on, just promise not to tell anyone." Ash said leading her to the park, then to his tree.
"Meet Guzzlord. Destroyer of worlds." Ash said, the tree revealing a secret compartment where the beast ball was stored. "Are you awake Guzzlord?"
The ball flashed twice.
"It can understand you, and communicate?" Eva said in shock.
"So far we've only done yes or no questions, but I feel like I'm making progress." Ash said, looking down at the ball.
The ball flashed twice.
"Does that mean yes or no?" Eva asked.
"Two flashes for yes, and one for no." Ash said. "It's not great conversation, but I'm hoping one day that he won't have to stay in his ball."
"And who knows about this?" Eva asked.
"You, me, and Guzzlord." Ash said.
"So why show him to me?" Eva asked.
"Guzzlord, this is Eva. I'm going to be away for a while, but she'll check in on you when she can." Ash said, holding the ball out to Eva.
"Hi Guzzlord?" Eva said, lightly touching the ball. "So you just want me to make sure he stays in there?"
"I think he gets lonely, so having you visit will be nice." Ash admitted.
"Ash! Eva! Is that Guzzlord's Pokeball!" Professor Ceris shouted.
In shock, the beast ball fell, breaking free Guzzlord. Guzzlord turned and looked at Professor Cerise, swinging a claw at him.
"Guzzlord! Stop!" Ash said, summoning an aura barrier, blocking the claw. "He's a friend!"
"Ash! You know how dangerous Guzzlord is, why are you taking him out!" Professor Cerise scolded, as another claw swung towards him.
"I haven't had an issue with him before you made me drop his ball!" Ash argued. "Guzzlord, please listen to me!"
Guzzlord continued, slamming on the aura bubble surrounding the Professor.
"Eva be careful!" Both Ash and Professor Cerise exclaimed as she walked up to him.
"Guzzlord was it, do you recognize me, from a few minutes ago?" Eva asked. Standing directly in front of his mouth.
Guzzlord's mouth flashed twice.
"Now Ash trusted me with you so that means we're friends right?" Eva asked.
Again Guzzlord's mouth flashed twice.
"And friends don't hurt friends, right?" Eva asked.
For a third time Guzzlord's mouth flashed twice.
"Now Professor Cerise is my friend, so can you not attack him?" Eva asked, as Guzzlord lowered his claws.
"Incredible, in a short time you've made that much progress that Guzzlord trusts you." Professor Cerise said taking a step forward, only for Guzzlord to growl. "But apparently not me."
"I think it will take some time, and until I'm back, Guzzlord should stay in a beast ball, for everyone's safety. Including his." Ash said, grabbing a spare he kept nearby just in case. "Now Guzzlord, this is great progress, and maybe when I get back we can try introducing you to some of my other friends, okay?" Ash asked.
Guzzlord's mouth flashed twice before he lightly touched the Pokeball, the ultra beast disappearing inside.
"Amazing. I had no idea that was even possible." Professor Cerise exclaimed.
"And it isn't." Ash said, returning the beast ball to its holding spot. "Until I've got him completely trusting of me, this doesn't leave the three of us. Not the Aether Foundation, not the lab staff, no one." Ash said sternly. "He's clearly not ready for that many people at once."
"Okay Ash, you're his trainer, so if you think that's what's best, I'll trust you, but don't do anything to dangerous, okay?" Professor Cerise plead.
"Okay. I'll take it slow and steady." Ash agreed.