Ash sighed as he sat up, all but giving up on getting any sleep. Whether it was because he wasn't home was neither here nor there, but for whatever reason, the 17-year-old couldn't fall asleep. Looking around, Ash smiled slightly at his sleeping pokemon before looking out the mouth of the cave, the smile widening when he noticed the sun peeking over the large ocean that surrounded the island, "Morning. Finally" He stated as he stood up and stretched, his bones clicking from having been lying down on uncomfortable grounds for so long.
After waking his pokemon up and recalling them to their poke'balls, promising to let them out as often as he could, Ash waiting for Pikachu to jump onto his shoulder before exiting the cave, stopping dead in his tracks as he looked ahead.
"What are you three doing here?" Ash questioned upon seeing the three other "chosen ones" standing in front of them. Darwin and Nicole still looked half asleep, their hair slightly messy and their clothes disheveled, whilst Zack looked wide awake, "You said we would be leaving first thing in the morning right?" Ash grunted slightly, knowing he had said that HE would be leaving in the morning. He had planned to leave on his own. He didn't want to travel with the three trainers. Last time he had travelling companions, it had all gone south.
"Actually, I said I would be leaving in the morning. When you three decide to leave is of no concern to me." Ash stated in irritation as he walked past the three with his eyes closed, being sure to bump shoulders with Zack, who stumbled back slightly before glaring at Ash, "Well...were all going to the same place, so we might as well travel together!" Zack exclaimed, already regretting letting the professor talk them into traveling with the boy.
"Whatever. I'm leaving. Whether you chose to follow me is your choice" Ash stated as he began walking, stopping when he realised he didn't know were to go, "You have no idea where to go, do you?" Zack stated knowingly with a smirk, making Ash growl as he continued to keep his back to the boy, "This is why we should travel together! Me, Darwin and Nicole grew up in Alola, so we know are way round!" Zack insisted, watching as Ash sighed before reluctantly nodding, "Fine, we will travel together" Zack smirked, feeling like he had won one over on Ash, but stopped smirking when Ash turned to look at him with a death glare, "But we are not friends. We won't become friends, don't think anything you do will change that. I am merely traveling with you because i don't know this region. Thats all. Got it?" Zack frowned but nodded, "Thats what you think..." He thought as he and his siblings, who had barley being listened, started following the raven haired trainer.
"What's the quickest way to the first captain?" Ash asked, stopping once the four trainers were off the beach and were knee deep in long grass, "We have to go through Hau'oli City, that's where he captain Ilima lives, and his trial is just on the outskirts" Ash nodded, watching as Zack and his siblings took the lead, Ash trailing behind them a few steps - as much as he wanted to get to the trial then and there,he didn't feel comfortable walking close to the three trainers.
"Hey, Ash?" Nicole spoke up after a little while of traveling, making Ash grunt as he looked at the black haired girl, "What region are you from?" Nicole questioned, making Ash tense up, "Sinnoh" He stated simply, looking through and ahead of the girl as she nodded, an intrigued look on her face, "That's awesome! I've always wanted to go to Sinnoh! What's it like?" Ash just grounded his teeth, clearly not in the mood to talk, "It's nice"
"Just nice? Come on! It must be awesome! What are the gym leaders like? what kind of pokemon live there?" Nicole continued, making Ash growl softly at the barrage of questions. Nicole clearly didn't notice, or she didn't care that Ash was getting irritated as she continued to barrage the irritated boy with questions, "Now that i think of it, why does your Pikachu not go in his poke'ball? does he not like them? Do pokemon not like-"
"STOP!" Ash finally shouted, his face tinted red from frustration, "I said sinnoh is nice! If you really want to know, go and find out for yourself!" He snapped, watching as Nicole's eyes widened, small tears brimming her eye lids.
Upon seeing this, Darwin and Zack came to a halt, turning back to face the still irritated Ash with hard, but angry eyes, "You know what?!" Zack started, his fists clenching as he reached for the hammer on his back, "You have been acting like a jerk ever since we met! You have clearly been hurt in the past, i get that, but this behaviour is unacceptable, especially snapping at my little sister who has done nothing wrong! Now this is what's going to happen: your going to put aside these shitty memories you have, put a smile on your face, or i will smack the living daylights out of you!"
Ash chuckled before it turned into full blown laughter, making Zack hesitate as his hand gripped the handle of his bag pack hammer, "Shut your fucking face Zack. Don't act like you know me, that you know what i have gone through. You sister wasn't doing anything? how about barraging me with questions when i am clearly not someone who wants to talk? Are you three stupid enough to think i would instantly trust you? I dont know you, and you don't know me, so don't act like you know how i feel."
Zack growled, pulling his hammer of his bag pack, "That's it! You need some sense knowing into you!" Zack shouted as he swung his hammer, but Pikachu was faster, deflecting the hammer and seeing it flying away with his Iron Tail.
"So now your going to attack me? You have guts, i will give you that. but next time you threaten me with that stupid hammer - will break it in half" Ash stated simply watching as Zack ran to grab his hammer, inspecting it for any damage, "Now, do you two have anything to add, or can we continue on and get this day over with?" Darwin and Nicole both shook theri head violently, making Ash smile, "Good. Let's go"