Who I Am - Lightning99
Chapter 1:
Welcome Home
Ash Ketchum felt fulfilled. His recently concluded journey around Kalos had been a success. He had matured as a trainer, maybe as a person too, and made friends he would adore for a lifetime, with who he forged memories that time and exaggeration would only embellish. He had even helped save the region from Team Flare and Lysandre's tyranny. He was no longer the boy he arrived in Kalos as. He was a thriving, headstrong, and compassionate young man.
Resting snugly in the window seat of a Dragonite Airliner with Pikachu curled on his lap, Ash reflected on his Kalos adventure as the plane readied for take-off.
He reminisced on the Kalos League first. Winning would have been phenomenal, but he was content with placing runner-up since it was to Alain. They had become close rivals over their short time knowing each other, and while the Kalos League final had been a grand stage to determine the strongest, Ash felt their rivalry had concluded prematurely. He wondered how a battle would end if he challenged Alain with his strongest Pokémon, but they had already said goodbye. For now.
Ash thought next of Greninja and Goodra and Clement and Bonnie. Their time together was special – abnormally so in Greninja's case – so he knew their farewells weren't final. They would meet again. Somewhere. Somehow.
Finally, he thought of Serena, the girl rooted in his head firmer than an Ingrain. Her pretty face and chipper, gentle voice invaded his thoughts whenever he had a spare moment to think. Saying goodbye to Serena had been agonising, especially after their kiss. The warm, tingling sensation still lingered on his lips now, two weeks later, an illusory tether to what they had.
There was only one thing Ash regretted that year: immersing himself in his journey to avoid confronting his rising feelings for Serena. He had worried about ruining their relationship, but when he watched as the escalator slowly dragged her away, Ash wished he had said something. He yearned for their next meeting, and he wouldn't hesitate when it happened. He had to tell her.
"Pikachu, pika!" Ash looked down into Pikachu's big, smug eyes that gleamed with mischief. He sighed knowingly.
"Yeah, Pikachu, I'm smiling because of Serena — yes, again, don't judge me."
Mysteriously, after emerging from the Kalos Crisis with nothing more than some bruises and bloody scrapes, Ash discovered he could understand Pikachu. He heard his distinctive cries as usual, but now he knew what Pikachu meant more certainly. It was as if his mind subconsciously translated the exact meaning. Pikachu wasn't the only one he understood, either. He could understand his entire party's indecipherable language and Serena's and Clemont's. The sensation mimicked that of his and Greninja's bond evolution, so Ash assumed the two events were somehow linked.
Thus far, Ash had kept it a secret. He didn't know what his friends' reactions would be. The first person he wanted to tell was Brock. After all, Brock was his most trusted and loyal friend. For now, he silently enjoyed interpreting the conversations Pokémon had in the background, musing when he overheard Pikachu bragging about his wins over two pseudo-legendaries.
Ash stretched his arms upwards. "It's been an awesome journey this time around, buddy! I'm sad to see it end."
"Pi… Pikachu!"
"Yep, we're getting closer. I have to become a Pokémon Master – and that means at least winning one league first – but when do you think we'll get to meet him?" Ash asked, elated.
"Pikachu! Pi, pika!"
"Yeah, I can't wait! I'm psyched to see everyone else again, too. We'll visit them at the Professor's lab straight away."
"Pikachu!" he responded.
A minute later, the plane awoke with a stuttering rumble and lifted into the perfect cloudless sky whereon the glittering stars danced, and Lumiose City's golden lights waved back at Ash. A final farewell. Ash could almost see Clemont standing at the top of Lumiose Tower waving at him too.
Flashing a melancholic smile, Ash drew down the window shade and closed his eyes to get some sleep, his hand gently rustling Pikachu's fur. It was going to be a long journey home.
After half a day of travelling prolonged by a bothersome delay at customs, Ash finally dashed into the crisp Kantonian evening with Pikachu bounding at his heels. He inhaled a gallon of fresh air that the humidity in Kalos hadn't permitted. It felt euphoric in his chest, revitalising; it was the heavenly feeling of being home after a year of travelling.
Pausing at a crossroads, Ash scanned Viridian City, absorbing the quaint atmosphere like he did every time he returned. As he had eagerly anticipated, nothing had changed: the old guide sat on his bench drinking a coffee, and Pokémon roamed freely, mingling with the locals beneath the dim, warm streetlamps as the first hint of dusk faded across the sky.
Viridian's rusticity was another world to the Kalos cities Ash had become accustomed to. The peacefulness of a settlement without skyscrapers and industry was calming after spending so long in Lumiose's bustle. He preferred downscaled cities like Viridian to any metropolis. After all, to him, that was home.
Spending little time scrutinising the sights, Ash hastened into Viridian Forest. The tangled green periphery was the first old friend to welcome him home.
As Ash breezed over the dusty paths meandering between the ageing oaks and tall grass – a route now engraved in his memory – and he glimpsed the frolicking wild Pokémon, he reminisced about his earlier journey. A new memory resurfaced every time he passed a landmark that was historic only to him: the long straight whereon he and Pikachu formed their everlasting bond after clashing with the battalion of Spearow; the riverbank where he 'borrowed' Misty's bike; even the small outcrop where he met Serena as a child.
Finally, Ash arrived at the hill he'd once dragged a neglectful Pikachu along, and Pallet Town came into view, looking more glorious than ever. He paused, admiring his home for a moment, before dashing into town.
Ash glided along, happily waving at the surprised-faced natives who responded with gestures of acclamation. Ash assumed they had watched the Kalos League. Since Kalos was a high-standing region, it made sense they had televised the event globally. That meant his mother would have watched it, too, a thought that filled him with pride.
As he jogged past the Oak family's mansion where Daisy Oak sat upon their front-garden bench leafing through a book, Ash wondered whether his proud childhood friend was home from Sinnoh. He was eager to talk to him. Placing runner-up in a Pokémon League would surely repress Gary's cockiness for a short while.
Ash veered onto the long stretch where the town expanded into charted green hills and fields, and he finally saw it: his charming beginnings wrapped in fences and a newly blossomed front garden. The white-walled haven where his journeys always began and ended. He stopped breathlessly outside the white gate. He was home.
A deep adoration overcame him at that moment; it was a feeling akin to being entranced by Attract, or a fraction of the infatuation kissing Serena gave him. It made him so nervous that he approached the building like it was a mirage threatening to vanish. He hadn't informed his mother of his early return either, which only doubled his nervousness.
His hands shook as he grasped the door handle; Pikachu's wide eyes and shuffling in his peripheral vision seemed to mimic him as if they were one.
When Ash opened the door, his mother was humming sweetly to herself on the other side, her back facing towards him. Ash smiled.
"Hey, Mum. I'm home."
Delia did a Rapid Spin, dropping the duster wrapped in her palm onto the floor with a clack. Noticing Ash, she covered a disbelieving gasp with her hands. Grinning, Ash widened his arms, and Delia flung herself towards him, her eyes releasing waterfalls of tears onto her cheeks. The hug was warm and filled with every pent-up emotion their separation created – love, worry, happiness, delight. Now Ash felt at home.
For the first time, Ash dwarfed his mother in their embrace. Although he hadn't realised it, he had physically grown throughout his Kalos journey. He was a few inches taller now, leaner, more athletic, and his skin sported a light tan. His hair was slightly longer and messier but complimented his teenage handsomeness perfectly. Now, he looked like a young man. He looked like a real Pokémon trainer.
Drawing back from the hug, Delia wiped her cheeks and held Ash's shoulders, keeping him as close as possible.
"Oh, Ash, I've missed you!" She sniffled. "Look at my little boy! You're so grown up!"
"I've missed you too," Ash said warmly.
"Pika pi!"
Delia squealed, quickly whisking the electric mouse into her arms.
"Pikachu! You're as adorable as ever!"
"Pika!" Ash rolled his eyes as Pikachu's playful smugness resurfaced.
"Welcome home, both of you! Come in, come in, take your hat off. I've got lots of questions about your journey!" Delia skipped around Ash to close the door, then eagerly ushered him into the living room and onto the settee. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming home so early?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise. And it was worth it!"
"Oh, I'm just so happy to have you back home! Now, tell me about your adventure! I want to know everything, from why you jumped off Lumiose Tower to the whole Kalos Crisis and how you're involved–"
"Hang on—"
"–and don't even try to deny it, mister! A situation like that has your danger-attracting name written all over it. That includes every instance when legendary Pokémon appeared too. I swear! It's as if you are a magnet for rare Pokémon! Oh, yes, and don't leave out your relationship with Serena! I want all of the details! As a proud mother, I believe I'm entitled to know everything."
Ash sighed and started talking. He spent the next hour recalling and explaining the events of his Kalos journey in vivid, augmented detail. Unable to contain his excitement, he leapt off the settee multiple times, punching his fists and amplifying his voice. Ash settled when Serena filtered into his story, speaking red-faced and passionately. His love for Serena was probably as clear as Kalos' waters in how he expressed himself, and he saw the pride in his mother's eyes.
"I guess it started early on in our journey. I learned more about Serena every day, and we kept getting closer. She's just so great. She's amazing, Mum. I never thought I would say this, but I think – I think I love Serena."
Ash smiled softly. Confessing those three words aloud made them sound more literal than saying them in his head ever did.
"Aww, that's wonderful, Ash," Delia said, hugging him again.
When Ash finally concluded by awkwardly explaining their parting kiss, the golden sun pierced the windows at eye-line, establishing that evening's dusk.
"Phew," Delia said, fanning herself, "I think I need to lie down after hearing all of that. I might have a heart attack if I hear you almost died again! I worry about you so much, Ash."
"I know, Mum."
"But it seems like you keep on improving every day."
"Yeah! I feel like I'm getting closer to my goal, and when I do, I can finally have my dream, just like you said! But I think I'll spend some time at home before I go off adventuring again," Ash said.
"I'm so proud of you, Ash. It will be amazing to have you home for a while. You can help around the house, or maybe you can help Samuel with his research for a while. I'm sure your discoveries in Kalos will help him a lot."
Ash gasped, jumping to his feet, "Ah! I was so caught up in my stories that I forgot about visiting Oak's lab!"
"Right now? Are you sure?" Delia asked.
"Yeah, sorry, Mum! I promised Pikachu we would go!" Ash said.
"It's ok, Ash. Just make sure to take your Pokégear with you. It came back from the repair shop just as you left for Kalos. Typical. I'll have supper ready when you get back."
"Oh, yes! Clemont's meals are tasty, but nothing beats your food. I've missed it," Ash said, strapping his Pokégear to his left wrist.
"Pikachu!" His partner agreed.
"See ya later!" Ash said, waving, then dashing out the door, Pikachu perched on his shoulder.
Behind him, Delia exhaled through a smile, "That boy. He's so focused on that dream of his. He's so much like him…"
The orange-navy sky wispily blended as if via the gentle bristles of a brush enriched Pallet Town beneath it, overlaying a warm, serene evening aura. A flock of Butterfree swaying with the soft breeze over the lab-on-the-hill, which was a beautiful black silhouette, was barely visible. Each glowing window in the houses dimly illuminated the streets, colouring everything amber.
An aroma of fresh food wafted from the chimneys like a Sweet Scene as Ash ran along the paths, enticing his appetite for his return home later, and the whooshing air chilled his skin. That diverse, nature immersed environment engulfing his hometown was something Ash had desperately missed, the simplicity and the feeling of freedom it provided.
Ash crossed the bridge at the foot of the hill, tussled open the unusually locked fence and ascended the steps two at a time with Pikachu matching his strides. If not for the sun's remnant embers and the artificial glow bleeding through the glass doors, the lab would be shrouded in darkness. It looked deserted.
"Professor! I'm back!" Ash announced himself, parading through the sliding door, startling the only figure in the room. But it wasn't Samuel Oak.
"No way! Ash Ketchum?! Is that you?!" Instead of Samuel Oak, his son replaced him, otherwise known as Gary's father and a previous champion of Indigo Plateau.
"Mr Oak?!"
Gary's father swivelled in his chair, jumping to his feet. He dragged a hand through his spiked ginger hair, striding proudly towards Ash, a grin making his facial features striking. Seeing him in person now, after countless years, Ash finally understood Gary's extreme desire to achieve greatness. He had prideful mannerisms, evident in his swaggered walk and confident tone. He was imposing; his handshake was firm and meaningful. Comprised in him appeared to be the qualities of an experienced trainer: a Pokémon Master.
"Hah, it is you! It's been years! How've you been?" he asked.
"I've been good, thanks! Where've you been for so long?"
"Oh, y' know, here and there, meeting old friends and making new ones, as is the way of the Pokémon trainer." He smirked, dropping a doting hand onto Ash's shoulder, poking at his muscle. "But, man, you look great! You're not scrawny anymore, eh? Now I wonder who the lady-killer is, you, or my son!"
Ash smiled, "Tell that to Gary, I dare you."
Gary's father laughed, "Hah, yeah! If he's anything like his old man, then he'll be a cocky son-of-a-gun."
"He's calmed down a little bit with age, but yeah! Anyway, what brings you back home? I was expecting the Professor," Ash said.
"I figured it was time I return to my family. But lo-and-behold, my wife tells me Gary is away adventuring around Sinnoh, and the great 'Professor Oak' allegedly has more important things to do than see his only son – who's been away for nearly six years, might I add. He's always been a bit of a Meowth."
"Gary's not home yet? That sucks. I wanted to talk to him about my journey. Maybe brag a little bit here-and-there."
"Hah, nice one! His mum called him earlier, so he should be home in a few days."
"Alright, thanks!" Feeling a tugging at his trouser leg, Ash looked down, "Oh, yeah! Mr Oak, this is my partner, Pikachu!" The electric mouse leapt onto Ash's shoulder and cried out happily.
"Blue, please, Ash. That's my name!" Seeing Pikachu, Blue whistled. "He looks like a powerful one; there's a good look in his eyes. Nice to meet ya, little buddy!"
Blue tousled Pikachu's head.
"Well, Ash, I won't keep you much longer if you need to see my pops. He's out back, doing whatever's more important than seeing his son. Hey, while you're here, do you want me to look over your Pokémon? Overseas I dabbled in Pokémon doctoring, and if one of your Pokémon caught Pokérus, that'd be a helluva discovery!"
Ash nodded, retrieving Noivern, Hawlucha, and Talonflame's Pokéballs from his belt. "Thanks, Blue."
"No worries, kid. Now, go give the old geezer a heart attack!"
Giving one last wave, Ash retreated from the lab and rounded the corner towards the ranch. Blue watched him go.
"Jeez, they're so similar… Why did it end up like this? I wish you could meet him, Ash. I really do." He shook his head, disappearing out the door.
Ash rounded the building, his excitement electric, but he froze at the gate to something his elated mind hadn't anticipated, a scene that even a clairvoyant couldn't have foreseen. His many Pokémon were scattered around the floral yard as ever, playing, sparring. But then he saw huddles of his past companions interspersed between them, from his closest friends to fortuitous acquaintances – from Misty and May to Stephan and Ursula. Ash noticed Professor Samuel Oak walking sternly between them, his lab coat sweeping behind him like a cape, his eyes calculating as a Braviary's.
Ash frowned. He hadn't told anyone about his homecoming, so why were they all there? The naivety he embarked to Kalos with would have concluded that they were planning a surprise for his return, but his maturity and the fresh nightly air that was somehow stifling told him otherwise. Scanning the pensive scowls and the poorly masked remorse on the faces of his friends, Ash knew it was something else – something worse.
That question became a secondary concern when he saw his companions from Kalos surrounding his slumbering Snorlax at the side of a lily-edged pond. He saw Bonnie first, who used the sedentary Pokémon's body as a trampoline, while Clemont, fidgeting intensely, was unsuccessful in coaxing her down. An unfamiliar boy stood in Ash's shoes beside Clemont, but Ash didn't indulge a second glance. The girl beside the boyimplored his full attention. She was entrancing, the thief of his thoughts and his heart. Serena Yvonne. Ash couldn't help noticing how beautiful she looked, but he suddenly wondered if it was a beguiling beauty. She wasn't in Hoenn. Why was she there?
Ash lingered momentarily, his hand hovering over the latch, then apprehensively opened the gate and stepped through. The light clack of it closing again was like a sonar as heads turned on him in a domino effect. Everyone wore their surprise like an accessory; they hadn't expected him. Swallowing his sudden cautiousness, Ash moved towards the silenced group.