Unforgettable memories
Chapter 2: Travels and secrets
'Everything is fine. It's just a vacation. It's not like he'll be there. He may be in another region right now, right? What are the chances?' Were some of the thoughts rummaging through the mind of a teenage blonde haired performer whilst she was waiting to board a plane in Lumiose City with destination to the Hoenn region, to then take a Ferry towards Johto and then another one towards Kanto.
It all was happening so suddenly. She still could remember everything that she felt at that moment that her mother decided to tell her about their little, unexpected vacation. It was a huge mix of emotions. Panic, Desperation, Anxiety, Excitement, Joy, Doubts, Anger and Fear. It wasn't really healthy for her heart to feel all that while eating her breakfast as quickly as she could at 10 am in the morning on one of her days off.
As she was waiting for her call to aboard the plane towards Hoenn, whilst her mother went to buy some snacks for the trip, she started remembering all the distress that she've been through in the past 24 hours.
She had just woken up from a nice, long and definitely deserved sleep. She had been in a great mood, until her mother said out loud those words that almost made her completely choke with a bit of pancake inside her mouth.
"W-w-wait! M-mom! W-what do you mean we're going to Pallet? Why now? How? There's so many questions!" Exclaimed the honey blonde teen after finally swallowing the bit of food that was almost suffocating her with the help of some juice.
"Relax, sweetie. Enjoy your breakfast, I'll explain later. Although, you need to pack." Simply answered the older woman in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone. "We'll be there for, maybe a couple weeks, so, take that in consideration. I'll be packing my stuff in my room if you need me."
And as soon as she finished that sentence, she went upstairs to start with her packing. While that happened, she tried to relax and convince herself that it was just a nice trip with her mom. Sure, maybe it was out of the blue and maybe it was all rushed and to Pallet, specifically, and...and...
"AAAAAGH! Why does this happen to me?" Practically lamented herself before taking another bite of her breakfast and sulking in her place. Due to this, her Sylveon came to the kitchen to see why her trainer was feeling down, only to find the next scene in front of her.
Serena had her head rested on the table, besides her plate with a pout plastered around her face. She was sulking. Her left cheek rested near her plate with food and she didn't try to make excessive motions to eat.
Her mom came down the stairs once she heard the scream a little worried, but repressing a smirk. She saw her daughter in that dramatic pose whilst her pokemon tried to console and cheer her up with it's feelers. Therefore, she decided to cheer her up herself. By teasing her. As a mother usually does.
"Huh?~ Why are you getting so worked up? I thought you wanted a vacation after all that work you did through Hoenn?" Grace spoke from the middle section of the stairs, where she just stopped her descent to watch the scene unfold in front of her eyes.
"I...I want to. I-it's j-just..." started to answer the blonde before her mother interrupted her with mock offense. "What? Is it because you don't want to have a vacation trip with me? Do you not want to be with your mother?"
"No, mom. That's not it." Was the only reply of her daughter.
Or so she thought initially before listening to a sentence that was spoken in a lower volume.
"It's just...I'm nervous. I don't know if I'm ready to see him again."
After listening to her daughter's worried words, her teasing intentions died and her maternal instincts kicked in. Grace finished her descent down the stairs and headed towards her daughter. As she placed her left hand in her back and started to rub it to try to calm her, a question came out of her lips.
"See him again? Who are you talking about?" Although she practically knew the answer and was trying to calm down her daughter, that didn't mean she wouldn't have fun with it. And a little teasing didn't hurt anyone once in a while. "Oh my!~ Are you meaning to tell me that you've got a boyfriend?~"
After listening to her mother's sing-song tease, her face exploded and turned as red as a ripe Tamato Berry.
"I-it's n-not that! I-I don't...he's n-not..." were some of the only words that escaped Serena's mouth after her mother's question whilst reddening even more. Sylveon could only laugh lightly at her trainer's predicament.
And after a few moments of enjoying her daughter's squirming and nervous babbling, Grace decided to drop it.
For now.
"Anyway, we seriously need to pack. I got plane tickets for tomorrow and as I said before, we'll be there for a week. Or maybe two at most." At this, Serena calmed down a little and smiled towards her mother, before nodding and trying to finish her breakfast whilst trying to down the huge blush that was present on her face.
After a light chuckle, Grace left to continue her packing whilst her daughter finished eating. Once she reached her bedroom, she started rummaging her drawers to find a specific photograph that she knew was somewhere in her room.
It took her a few minutes and a lot of discarded clothes in her room, but she found the aforementioned photograph. "Don't worry dear, you'll soon see your prince again" spoke the matriarch of the house as she chuckled lightly before proceeding to continue her packing.
As she finished recalling the memories of the last day, unknowingly like her daughter, whilst walking back with snacks for their trip, Grace smiled. She would surprise her daughter. Hopefully for the best. Although much of their relationship had been mended after her daughter's trip across Kalos, she still felt as if there were rough spots that needed patching or fixing.
This will be good.
Yeah.
It has to be.
And just after spotting where her daughter was waiting for their plane's calling, she went towards her, not before making sure that she had an old photograph in one of her pants' pockets.
'Oh dear, I hope you like this surprise, because if I'm right...we might have to arrange more trips to Kanto from now on.'
Meanwhile all this happened in Kalos, our raven haired trainer was enjoying his new battle-focused training with his partners. After only training during an afternoon, he could see a big improvement in the majority of his companions. Although, a few questions remained inside his head regarding them.
"Um...Tracey, can I ask you something?" Spoke a little unsurely the raven haired teen to his old friend who was busy feeding some of his pokemon and tending some of the others' injuries.
"Sure man, shoot." Replied happily the professors' assistant. "Although, don't you want to talk inside? I can prepare something for us while the pokemon eat and play here"
"Um, yeah, sure. That'd be really nice. I'll go get Gary too." Answered the raven before heading for his other friend.
After a few minutes of arguing between the redhead and the black haired teen because the latter interrupted a training session with his arrival, the pair of trainers headed back inside the lab to meet the artist who already had a platter of snacks and some tea ready for them.
Once the three young adults were comfortable, Ash spoke his questions aloud.
"So, Tracy, can I ask you how did you manage to find and get all of my old Pokemon back? I was sure that I wouldn't see Lapras, Pidgeot, Primeape or Butterfree again, to name some." He then took a sip of tea before continuing. "Not that I'm complaining, it's great to see them all again, but it really took me by surprise."
The assistant chuckled lightly before answering. "To tell you the truth, searching for them wasn't that easy. But we had some help." After a slight and happy sigh, he continued. "I asked some of your past traveling partners to tell me about some of the Pokemon that you caught and had to release for some reason. Brock being there for most of those travels, helped a lot. I had to actually make some calls to Unova, Kalos and Alola, you know? To a guy called Cilan, another one named Clemont and to Prof. Kukui, who seems to think of you as a son, Ash."
As he finished, he saw the energetic trainer act a lot more bashful that usual. This got some snickers from the redhead besides him and a huge grin plastered on the sketcher's face. "After contacting them, and knowing which and where they were released or left training, well, we had to sent some of your other Pokemon to aid in our search. Lapras was by far the hardest to find, you should know that it took us almost two months to find him." He continued with a chuckle whilst the black haired teen just blushed due to embarrassment.
"It was difficult to convince some of them, because most didn't know me, so your other companions helped with that part. Primeape was really eager to come back, just so you know. And that's most of it, we started doing it after your travel through Johto, so we didn't lose track of all of the ones you were catching on other regions." Concluded the oldest of the three with a smile.
After listening to all of this, the young champion smiled and thanked deeply to his friend. It was true that he had to release or leave behind some friends and he didn't exactly like that a lot, so seeing them again was something that gave him huge amounts of joy. He decided that, training for the day was enough after the little conversation and went with their two friends to tend and play a little bit with his Pokemon.
He made a mental note to message Brock, Cilan, Clemont and...maybe everyone of his friends. Just to catch up. At least to keep him occupied when he's not training for the PML and...to keep him from thinking about her.
At least...to see if he could get her out of her mind.
After a few more hours spent with his Pokemon and friends, he went back home with Pikachu perched on his right shoulder, not before promising to come back the next day.
Whilst on the way, he started rummaging through his phone and started typing messages to his old friends so as to see how they were doing. Deciding not to pay attention to their answers until he got back home, he pocketed his phone and enjoyed the little afternoon trip with his best buddy by his shoulder.
Meanwhile, once his son had left for the Professors' lab, Delia started to communicate with Grace to arrange the meeting times and schedules of their travel. Mostly to surprise the two teenagers.
During the day she received updates of their travel status and kept talking with Grace about the surprise that both their kids will be facing.
When Ash came back, Grace had already texted her that they had already arrived to the Hoenn region and that they'd be taking a ferry towards Johto during the night. Basically confirming that their arrival would be the next day during the afternoon. Maybe early evening.
Delia could only smile at his son's enthusiasm and happy demeanor when he told her about what happened at the Professor's lab. He was really happy because pretty much all of his old companions had returned and after speaking with them about his current goal, all of them were really pumped up and ready to participate.
After a little conversation with his son, he went towards his room to freshen up without her telling him to (which surprised her a lot, thank you very much), promising to come back downstairs in a few minutes to have dinner with her. Pikachu stood downstairs with his mom and Mr. Mime, trying to give his trainer some space and relaxing time after a long day.
And after watching her son walking up the stairs calmly and with a smile plastered on his face, Delia could only smile happily with a few tears forming in her eyes. Her little boy had grown up into a young adult. He was still sometimes pretty energetic but right now seemed much more mature. More calm and focused, even better mannered. After claiming the championship that had been escaping him for such a long time, he seemed less tense. As if he had actually achieved some part of his lifelong dream. And she was really proud of him for it.
Adding to this the surprise that would occur in this house in a few more hours, well, she hoped that her little boy's life would continue bringing him happiness after all the bad and sad memories of losses and events that had occurred in his life.
Yeah.
It has to work. She'll fight to continue watching his son's smile as the one he had today.
Once in his room, Ash quickly rummaged through his clothes to get a pair of comfortable pants, clean underwear and a shirt. Quickly leaving his phone and other belongings in his room, he headed towards the bathroom. He definitely needed to take a bath.
Whilst in the shower, he remembered an important task that he hadn't done since he was forced to come back home due to the incident in the lab. He hadn't contacted Goh.
He had been busy with the travel, his visit to Professor's Oak lab, his reencounter with old friends and his mom teasing, that he had forgotten to send a message to his newest friend and traveling companion. He remembered that he had promised to send him a message when he arrived home, but he forgot about it once he smelled his mother's cooking from outside his house the day of his arrival.
So, doing the rational thing, he sent him a text message once he was in his room after his shower.
Private Chat: Ash (TheAlola'sChamp) and Goh (Mew'sFuturePal). 8:47 pm
TheAlola'sChamp is online
TheAlola'sChamp: Hey Goh, sorry 'bout not texting.
TheAlola'sChamp: I forgot hehe
Mew'sFuturePal is online
Mew'sFuturePal: Why does that not surprise me?
TheAlola'sChamp: Hey! I said I'm sorry
Mew'sFuturePal: Yeah, yeah
Mew'sFuturePal: Heard you the first time lol
Mew'sFuturePal: Anyway, hows it been there?
TheAlola'sChamp: Really cool! I have a lot of stuff to tell ya! Remember what I told you of the Pokemon that I've captured?
Mew'sFuturePal: That you leave them at a ranch?
TheAlola'sChamp: I DIDN'T SAY THAT!
TheAlola'sChamp: Anyway
TheAlola'sChamp: A friend of mine has been helping Prof. Oak retrieve my old partners
TheAlola'sChamp: I've seen almost all of them in the lab
Mew'sFuturePal: That sound's great! You should send me a pic
Mew'sFuturePal: I still don't believe that you have that many, but if you say so…
TheAlola'sChamp: WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!
Mew'sFuturePal: HAHAHAHAHA jk
Mew'sFuturePal: Just wanted to see ya react like that lol
Mew'sFuturePal: Hey, now that we're speaking…
Mew'sFuturePal: Can I tell you a secret? Before I have to go get dinner with my parents
TheAlola'sChamp: Sure, shoot
Mew'sFuturePal: Ok, cool
Mew'sFuturePal: I…I've been feeling weird. Like happy and mortified lately, as if my stomach's gonna rip apart any second. I thought that it may have been something that I ate, but my stomach doesn't hurt
Mew'sFuturePal: This started happening after we left the institute
TheAlola'sChamp: Wow, sounds serious
TheAlola'sChamp: Do your parents know?
Mew'sFuturePal: Of course not! That's why it's a secret!
Mew'sFuturePal: Lemme finish
Mew'sFuturePal: This is weird. It only happens when I talk or think about Chloe
TheAlola'sChamp: …
TheAlola'sChamp: U serious?
Mew'sFuturePal: What?
TheAlola'sChamp: OH MY GOD! U are!
TheAlola'sChamp: HAHAHAHAHAHA
Mew'sFuturePal: What's so funny?!
Mew'sFuturePal: I'm worried and you're laughing at me. Shouldn't have told you…
TheAlola'sChamp: No dude! Relax hahahaha It's just
TheAlola'sChamp: Oh my god hahahaha sorry
TheAlola'sChamp: I mean hahaha you're not sick or anything
Mew'sFuturePal: I'm not?
Mew'sFuturePal: What makes you say that?
TheAlola'sChamp: Dude…you have a crush on Chloe HAHAHA you're just dense
TheAlola'sChamp: And this is coming from me HAHAHA
Mew'sFuturePal: A-a c-crush?! Wh- H-h-how? W-why? How do you know that?!
TheAlola'sChamp: Don't worry, your secret's safe here
TheAlola'sChamp: As to how…well…
TheAlola'sChamp: I might also have one of my own…
Mew'sFuturePal: Wait… WHAT?!
Mew'sFuturePal: And you never told me before?!
TheAlola'sChamp: I mean…we never talk about this stuff so hehehe
TheAlola'sChamp: Hey, if you want to know, I'll tell you tomorrow
TheAlola'sChamp: Mom's calling me for dinner
TheAlola'sChamp: Don't worry, tho
TheAlola'sChamp: You might have a chance with her
TheAlola'sChamp: In fact…
Ash created a new groupchat.
Ash has added Goh and Chloe.
Ash has named the chat Chloe and her detectives
Private Chat: Ash (TheAlola'sChamp) and Goh (Mew'sFuturePal). 9:31 pm
TheAlola'sChamp: There
TheAlola'sChamp: Have fun
Mew'sFuturePal: WHAT? WHY DID YOU DO THAT?
Mew'sFuturePal: ASH?!
Mew'sFuturePal: ASH?!
TheAlola'sChamp is offline
"OH MY GOD HAHAHAHA! This is gonna be great!" could only exclaim out loud the raven-haired teen after learning about his friend's secret crush in his childhood friend. He decided to interrogate him about it tomorrow during his training breaks. It was nice knowing someone that was in the same boat as himself, even though his friend could definitely be denser than him. And THAT was something.
He knew he was dense but, could you blame him? He had always searched and fought for a single dream. A League championship was one of the first steps towards his goal of being a Pokemon Master.
So, he didn't think about most topics and stuff about life that weren't related to it. At least, not until Kalos…
But those thoughts could wait for a while. Right now, his stomach was controlling his body and it took him towards the kitchen of his house, where he greeted his mom and partners, joining them for dinner.
Those thoughts can wait.
Yeah, for a little while.
As soon as his meal was finished, Pikachu and his trainer went upstairs to get some rest. Unbeknownst to them, once he was out of sight, his mother took out that little photograph and smiled at it just after receiving a message from Grace saying that they would be arriving to Johto by the next morning.
'I hope you like this surprise Ash…' thought the Ketchum's household matriarch, before smiling and preparing to go to sleep.
Meanwhile, in a ferry directed towards the Johto region, a certain honey-blonde was stirring in her sleep because she was stressing about a lot of stuff.
She wanted to know the real reason of her vacation trip with her mother. She wanted to know why to Pallet Town specifically. She wanted to know who was this friend of her mom that she hadn't ever heard about that lived in that town. She wanted to know about the urgency of this. She wanted to know if…
If he was there.
If he hadn't forgotten about her.
She was nervous and anxious. Mostly because she had wanted to get his contact information during her travel across Hoenn, but always cowered and never asked Clemont (who she knew had it).
She had been following news about him. He was always easy to track. He was almost every time in the news somewhere. But most importantly, she followed his championship matches in the recent league that he took part of.
The one that he won.
The day of his final match she had already returned home and was searching through the TV channels for something to watch, when she saw him. She rooted for him loud and sound in her living room, accompanied by her partners. Even if her mother gave her weird and quizzical looks, she cheered him on.
And when he won, well…
She was feeling extremely happy and proud of him.
She wanted to send him a message or call him to celebrate with him, but…
She was afraid. What if he hated her? What if he forgot about her? What if…that kiss...?
Without noticing it, she had started to cry silently. She only noticed it when she felt a few tears fall from her eyes into her palms while seated down. She paid no attention to it before turning her head towards the ferry's window and looking at the clear, starry night sky. After a few deep breaths, she calmed down, and started cleaning her eyes and cheeks to hide any remnants of her sad thoughts.
She didn't expect to have her mother embrace her in a side hug. At the sudden contact, the teenager whimpered a little, but relaxed into it when she saw that it was her mom.
"Are you okay sweetie? You were crying" asked the concerned older woman towards her daughter. She wouldn't let her be sad in front of her if she could do something to help.
"I'm fine mom…it's just…" answered Serena in between calming breaths, with a low tone in her voice. "C-could you please tell me why are we going to Pallet? Or at least about your friend that we're visiting?"
After listening to her daughter and practically watching her reaction to the news of this trip, she concluded something. Her daughter was stressed. About what? She didn't know, but she'll find out.
"Okay, I'll tell you. But first, can you tell me why do you seem so stressed out? I thought that you wanted a vacation. And no lying to me young lady!"
Serena could only sigh, but complied and spoke towards her mother. "D-do you remember Ash? The one I was cheering loudly on TV?"
After listening the boy's name, Grace smiled internally. She was right! But outwardly answered calm and easy. Her daughter needed support right now. "Sure. Your friend from your travel through Kalos, right? The one with the Pikachu. Nice kid. What about him?"
"W-w-weeeeeeeeeeeeell…I miiiiiiiiiiiiight have a liiiiiiiiiiiiittle crush on him…aaaaaaand….ImighthavepromisedhimthatI'dlookmorecharmingthenexttimewe'dseeneachotheragain." Serena answered nervous and hurriedly in a mumble like tone without taking a breath, whilst her mother could only look her start turning into a Tamato Berry at this point.
After processing what her daughter had told her, she only smiled and spoke to calm her down. "Hey, don't worry. I know. You're pretty obvious dear, do you know that?~"
This statement only got Serena's blush to deepen and her stuttering to appear almost denying the fact that she was as obvious as her mother claimed, but before she could refute it, her mother continued.
"Look, I wanted to keep it secret for a little while more, at least until we arrived to Kanto. But seeing you like this makes me want to do it right know. So…" Grace spoke happily whilst embracing her daughter and reaching for one of her pants' pockets.
She took a photograph out of it and gave it to Serena.
"We're going to be visiting them in a few hours. Delia and Ash Ketchum." Stated the older woman with a happy tone in her voice whilst giving her daughter the highly treasured photograph.
Seeing that old picture of their camp days and listening to her mother's words, made all of the feelings that she had been feeling since receiving the travels' news appear again. But she could only say one thing…
"A-ARE Y-YOU SERIOUS?!"
HEY GUYS! How's it going?! I'm really sorry if this took longer than I expected it, work has really taken a lot of my time and with the pandemic and preventing more stuff from happening, well…you get it.
I hope that you like this chapter and feel free to comment and give some feedback. I'll try to update sooner. This story won't be discontinued, that I promise you.
Hope you're all good and fine! Til the next time!