"Here we are, home sweet home." Peony said. "Make yourselves comfortable, I'll set up some rooms for you three."
"Peony, you don't have to do this, we can get a hotel." Delia said.
"Nonsense, you three are family, and we have plenty of room." Peony reassured.
"Ash can room with me." Nia offered.
"Nia, Ash isn't a, well…". Peony struggled to explain.
"Dad, I've roomed with less feminine girls, it'll be fine. Remember Charlene, she had a beard if she didn't shave daily." Nia commented.
"Fair enough. Rich, you and Delia can take my bed, I'll take the fold out." Peony offered.
"Peony, we can't kick you from your own bed." Richard sighed.
"Nonsense, it's too big for me anyways. I'll do fine on the fold out." Peony reassured.
"Come on, I'll show you around." Nia said to Ash. "You can drop off your things and we can see the city."
"Trust me, I've seen more of Wyndon than most people." Ash said, thinking back to the Eternatus events.
A little while later
"So tell me, what's it like?" Nia asked.
"Care to be more specific, or should I just tell my life story?" Ash joked.
"Traveling the world, seeing amazing Pokémon, battling legendaries. What is it like?" Nia asked, pointing a spoon at Ash.
"This is going to sound crazy, but it's actually weird for me not to be having those adventures. Ever since my first day, I've been going from one crazy experience to the next." Ash said, leaning back. "At times it's frightening, but when it's happening around you, you don't have a lot of time to be afraid."
"So this entire trip has just been normal for you." Nia joked.
"Not even close, this was stressful, even for me. How about you, you don't have any Pokémon, so what have you been doing?" Ash asked.
"Boarding school. Dad uses the summers to spend quality family time together, but honestly, I don't think he knows the slightest about me." Nia said, letting go of her spoon. "I honestly think he doesn't care at times."
"Take it from someone who's dad didn't care, yours does care, a lot. When you were in a mini coma, he didn't stop. If he wasn't trying to fix the crisis, he was by your side. I think he honestly wants you to be better than him." Ash admitted, looking down at his own ice cream. "Kinda like my dad wants from me."
"Come on, let's find something a bit more uplifting to do." Nia said.
Back at the house
"So, if you don't mind me asking, what's it like with Ash being this feminine?" Peony said bluntly.
"Startling." Richard said.
"Challenging." Delia corrected. "Ash started this a while ago, but I long decided to let him make his own choices, and I couldn't be prouder."
"What if these choices he's made, he ends up regretting?" Peony asked.
"I'm guessing you're worried about Nia." Richard realized. "I know I'm not the best to give advice on this, but if this trip has taught me anything, it's to let them be who they are no matter their choices. I wanted Ash to be this peak picture of a young man, and I went a tad overboard when I realized he was like this."
Back with Ash and Nia
"Ash, relax a bit. I don't think a legendary is going to attack us." Nia joked.
"First off, you never expect it, it's more of a surprise, secondly I'm seeing something worse." Ash said. "Don't turn around, but a guy has followed us from the ice cream parlor."
"Maybe it's just a coincidence, don't be so quick to jump to conclusions." Nia said.
"Nope, him and another guy are walking towards us." Ash commented.
"You're right, blondies a stalker, we need to go." Nia said turning around.
"Well fancy meeting you here Nia." The blonde one said.
"Derek, I thought I told you to stop following me." Nia said coldly.
"Who's your friend?" The one with a shaved head said. "My names Marick."
"We were leaving." Ash said.
"Oh come on, let us show you around, no harm in that." Derek said.
"Let's go Nia." Ash said grabbing his bag.
"Hey skirt, there's no rush." Marick said, blocking Ash's path.
"You two are trainers, how about a battle. You win, we'll go with you. We win, you leave us alone." Ash said.
"Ash, I don't have a Pokémon." Nia reminded.
"Don't worry I have this covered." Ash said. "Double battle sound good?"
"Just so you know, we both have earned eight badges, a cutie like you doesn't stand a chance." Marick commented. "Sandaconda, come on out!"
"And without Nia, this'll be easy." Derek said. "Druddigon let's go!"
"The two of you against just me. Doesn't seem too fair. Do you need some backup?" Ash taunted. "Pikachu I choose you!"
"Druddigon use Dragon Claw!"
"Sandaconda use Slam!"
"Pikachu use Iron Tail on the ground!"
Pikachu leapt out of the way, his two opponents striking each other instead of him.
"Oh right, I forgot to mention. I have fifty two badges, competed in seven leagues, beat the Battle Frontier and the Orange Crew, and I am the reigning champion of Alola." Ash said listing them off. "And you two, just messed with the wrong trainer." Ash said, showing his Z Ring. "Pikachu use Corkscrew Crash!"
From in the air, Pikachu began spinning, drilling down at his opponents, sending them flying into their trainers.
"And now we leave." Ash said.
"Hey skirt! I don't think I said we were done!" Marick said, grabbing Ash's arm. "No one disrespects us like that."
"You disrespected yourselves." Ash said plainly. "Now let go."
"I think you should listen, Ash here is a trainer who you won't beat." Leon said walking up. "Or you could try against me and Charizard."
Marick and Derek quickly looked from Leon to each other, to their defeated Pokémon and quickly ran away.
"Thanks for the help Leon, but I had it handled." Ash said.
"I know, but it looks bad when someone like us has a one-sided match that bad." Leon said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I still need to find my way to the new ice cream stand."