TDBigJ's message: Hey guys, what are you up to? Hell, nothing new for me. Weeks been just as eventful as ever. I was being sarcastic. But hell, still had a good time. Sometimes doing the same thing never gets boring, at least for me that is. Week in week out I've just been playing Xbox, watching WWE, the same old, same old. Also I've been typing this chapter, that's another thing. I'm glad my Mariners are looking like they are starting to bounce back. Hearing one of my dogs bark and the other jump all over me, sometimes becomes too much. It's hard to believe that this story is already half over. Man, time flies. Now, I think I should get busy responding to the reviews.
Oliverqueen01: As a matter of fact, I LOVE WWE! But unfortunately, I only got into it about a year ago, about last April, so I don't think I've seen that event. Luckily due to my curiosity, I've been watching a lot of WWE videos on youtube but not one of them was that specific moment, so I don't have a general idea, but I will look for it and see how it played out. Sweet! The Kalos League has started! Go get them Ash! Thanks for the review!
Pokemonmeat: Sorry that the Amourshipping rate was low last chapter. I don't know why, I just couldn't seem to fit any in the last chapter. But glad you liked the chapter nonetheless. Thanks for the review!
Rams30 (Guest #1): If you want her to. Thanks for the review!
Espeon44: Me too. Thanks for the review!
Klay (Guest #2): Yes, Ash. But Braixen, no, she doesn't. Thanks for the review!
49ers (Guest #3): Maybe they might, I'll consider it. Thanks for the review!
Rays3 (Guest #4): All right. Thanks for the review!
Bryce (Guest #5): Don't worry, she won't. Thanks for the review!
Raiders89 (Guest #6): I hope you like it. Thanks for the review!
Jaguars5 (Guest #7): It could happen. Thanks for the review!
Mariners23 (Guest #8): I think I did. Maybe not, but I appreciate the suggestion. Of course they do. Thanks for the review!
Mariners34 (Guest #9): Yeah, King Felix does rule! I was thinking about making that possible. Thanks for the review!
Wolves22 (Guest #10): Glad you liked it! Thanks for the review!
Guest #11: If you want him to. Well, you'll find out who was at the door. Thanks for the review!
Angels5 (Guest #12): No, don't worry, I don't hate the Angels. The only team I really hate is the Yankees mainly because I'm also a Red Sox fan and that pretty much explains it. Currently none of them are in a relationship, except maybe the first one or two. Thanks for the review!
Guest #13: The crossover fic is progressing nicely. I'm almost done with the first few chapters. I will give you a release date later this month. Don't worry, it's not that much longer. Thanks for the review!
Brig nodrm2347: You're right. That is a lot like a routine school day. You wouldn't believe how many times I felt that way when I was in school. In high school, I pretty much had to get up between 4:30-5:30 in the morning. It was hell. It wasn't like that every day though, but whenever it was, I hated it. I wished school started like at 11:30 in the morning or noon, and end at 1:00. I'm glad you liked the fact that one of Serena's Pokemon finally evolved. I'm sorry I didn't get back to you like I promised before *Man I suck*. Seeing if it's Ash's birthday, well, you'll find out won't you? I wish we got something like that in the anime. Thanks for the review!
Shadic4566: You might be right about this chapter. I won't be the one to tell you if you're right or wrong, I'm not a party pooper *Oops! I guess I kind of spoiled the chapter. Or did I? Thanks for the review!
Mad Ass Dragon: Yeah, I love that line from Ted. Great movie! I can understand your situation in the morning. I feel the same way. Every morning I still feel tired when my oldest brother wakes me up to turn on the shower for him *There's a reason why I do that*, and afterwards I go right back to bed. Tuesdays through Thursdays I have to get up prior to nine because he has to go to work and I have to lock the front door and I spend my whole morning until he gets home downstairs watching tv. I usually perk up after a while but I sometimes fall asleep again. Occasionally, I drink an energy drink to wake me up, it always makes my day. Glad you liked the chapter even the fact you thought it was different and weird, but it's good you liked that. Yeah, once again, sorry for the Christmas chapter. Thanks for liking my English skills. It's good to know somebody appreciates it. Thanks for the review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or it's characters, they belong to Game Freak and Nintendo, and… whoever else.
Ash woke up from a long nights sleep. He didn't feel drowsy, in case you were wondering. He stretched his arms out and scratched his hair. He rubbed his eyes and looked around the room. Light shined on the blinds and made his room have an orange aura, with plain streaks going where the blinds split. Ash got out of his bed and went downstairs first, which was new for him. When he reached the kitchen, his mom was standing there, appearing to be half awake, wearing her bathrobe.
"Morning mom. Have a good night's sleep?" He asked.
"Eh, it was a hit or miss." She answered. "You?"
"Great! Never better." He responded as he took a sip of coffee that he had just poured.
"Well, at least you did. I wish mine could have been a little better." Delia stated.
"Oh don't worry mom. One night isn't going to hurt."
"I wish I had the alertness to agree with you. Remember you had a bad night a little while ago?"
Ash didn't want to remember the day where he felt like a downer. That day was hell up until he got home after defeating all those Beedrill. But then that night was the exact opposite, but luckily he got sleep after what seemed like an hour of trying to get some shut eye in any way. Plus, he didn't feel drowsy the following morning, happy that he didn't have the same kind of day two days in a row. Now THAT was rare.
"I'd rather not think about it." He commented.
"Okay." She said. "You ready for today?"
Ash shrugged his shoulders. "I guess. I just want a normal day today."
"Really? Come on honey, you say that every year. Why wouldn't you want to celebrate this day however you want it?"
"It wouldn't matter to me. But today, I just want to live it like I normally do." He said as he took another swig of coffee.
"Well, for the meantime, why don't you go take a shower and get dressed and get ready for the day and from there we can do whatever you want." She stated.
"All right, I'll go do that." He gulped down the last of his coffee and ran off upstairs.
And with him now out of sight, Delia revealed her actual state. She took off her bathrobe, showing that she was really fully awake and appearing that she was already dressed. Once she heard the shower turn on, she whistled, and Serena came from behind the wall.
"Okay, you ready?" Delia asked. "Remember, this is your idea."
"I'm ready. We need to make this day memorable for him."
"But what about him asking for a normal day?"
"Sure he says that now, but when we surprise him, he'll be glad he got it differently."
"So what do we do first?" Delia asked.
"The first thing we have to do is to get someone to keep him away from the house long enough for us to get all the stuff set up." Serena answered.
"Like who?"
"I think I know the right person."
Serena then took out her phone and dialed her desired number and put the phone up to her ear.
Ash had finished preparing himself. Since he didn't plan on leaving the house yet, he just left his jacket off, just wearing his black t-shirt. He had already put his shoes on though. Some days when he was just sitting back and relaxing, this is usually how he would present himself. He went back downstairs. But as soon as they heard his footsteps, Delia told Serena to hide again so that Ash wouldn't see her and he would think they were up to something. Delia got her bathrobe back on and went back to pretending she was drowsy.
"Mom, you're still down here? Why don't you go get in the shower, get your day started?"
"I will in a few minutes but I've got something to do first." She answered.
"Well, if you need me, I'll be in the other room." Ash said and went into the other room to watch tv.
Delia, now seeing that Ash was downstairs, went to the other side of the wall that Serena was standing behind. They needed to do this someplace else so that Ash wouldn't catch them in the act or get suspicious. Since Ash suggested that she go take a shower, Delia thought they would go up to her room and plan everything out. Delia thought they could do it in Ash's room but immediately shoved that idea to the side, thinking that Ash at one point would come back up to his room to fetch something, so they would have to settle for her room. They went into her room and closed the door. Delia didn't even bother locking the door. She knew Ash was a smart kid. If he wanted to know something from her and the door was closed, he would knock first.
"So what next?" Delia asked.
"Now we've got to get all of his friends on board and have them come over and help us. Once they're over here, and everything is set up, when he walks in the door, we all jump out and, you know, the usual thing at surprise parties." Serena explained.
For the next ten minutes they planned the rest of the stuff out. Suddenly a knock was heard at the door. Quickly, Serena hid under the covers as Delia covered her with them, putting a few pillows over for good measure so Ash for sure would not know Serena was there. Delia went over and put her ear up to the door.
"Yes honey?"
"Before you open the door, are you all dressed?"
"Yes I am. Come on in."
And she opened the door, letting Ash walk in. Ash noticed the pile of pillows on his mom's bed, but decided that it was none of his business of why they were like that. She probably just threw them there when she woke up. No need to ask.
"So, what do you need?" Delia asked.
"Just wanted to come up and see if you needed anything. Do you?" Ash asked.
"Nope honey, I'm fine. I will let you know when I do, okay?"
"All right mom. I'll be downstairs if you need me."
After that he went back down the stairs, and when he was out of sight, Delia closed the door and went over to the bed to uncover Serena. Once Serena was completely uncovered, she took a big gasp of air.
"Oh man, it was hard to breathe under there." She commented.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. It wasn't like I was going to die or anything."
"Okay, now, what's next?"
Ash was watching tv downstairs, Pikachu right next to him. There was actually something on today, as a matter of fact, there was a lot, but he couldn't watch it all at once so he chose something and stuck with it. He was flipping through the guide looking at the other programs when all of a sudden, he heard the doorbell ring.
"Ash, could you answer that please?" Ash's mom shouted from upstairs.
Ash got up from his seat and went towards the front door. Once he opened it, he saw Gary.
"Oh, hello Gary, what brings you here?"
"Oh nothing really. Just thought I'd stop by, see if you were doing anything." Gary replied.
"Not really. Why?"
"I was just thinking if you wanted to go hang out today. You up for it?" Gary asked.
Ash rubbed the back of his head. "Uh, sure Gary. Since I don't have anything planned, I guess I could go out. Let me go get my shoes on and then we'll go." Ash explained.
"Sounds good. I'll wait here." Gary responded.
Ash went up to his room and got his shoes on and tied them. He got his jacket and cap and put them on. Once he was set, he went to his mom's room to tell her. Luckily, she had already made Serena get under the covers again when Ash came upstairs, so they were good for the moment.
"Hey, that was Gary. He wants to hang out with me today. Is that cool?" Ash asked.
"Not a problem, honey. Go right on ahead." Delia answered.
"All right, I'm heading out. See you a little later today." Ash called out as he ran down the stairs and out the door. Delia uncovered Serena once again, Serena having to catch her breath again from being nearly unable to since there was barely any oxygen under the comforter.
"Okay, Gary got Ash out of the house. We've got all the time in the world." Delia said.
"All right. Let's do this!" Serena exclaimed and they set their plan into motion.
Gary and Ash went over to Oak's lab so Ash to say hi. Ash realized that it's been a while when he and Gary had actually hung out. After their summers in Kanto and Johto, there were only a few instances where they spent time together, whether it was just the two of them or with other people. They had really gotten along since their days as rivals on summer journeys.
"So you sure you want to go to my grandpa's lab? I'm pretty sure there are other things we could do first. I mean, we could do other things afterward, but you want to do this to start off your day?" Gary asked.
"Seeing my Pokemon in the morning will probably make them happy. Since I'm at school all the time, they never really get to see me at the start of their day, even on the weekends." Ash explained.
"Yeah, I'm the same way. I never see mine during the mornings. I usually see them after school just like you. The only time I ever really get to see them all the time is during the summer." Gary explained.
"I just wish that I could see them every day, but with the schoolwork I have to catch up on a regular basis I can't. Only when I don't have homework is when I can see them."
"Well, just be happy you can see them today. I'm pretty sure they will be happy to see you today, based on what it is today." Gary stated.
"Yeah, I guess so." Ash said. "I just wonder what my mom is going to do while I'm gone. I feel bad that I'm spending the day away from her on this day. What will she do?"
"Oh I'm pretty sure she will find something." Gary said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Ketchum residence
Serena hung up the phone after making a phone call to one of Ash's friends. She crossed the name off of her list. She was finally done after twenty minutes of calling.
"Okay, May's on board. That's everybody." She said to herself. "Okay, all of our friends said they would be here within an hour to help out. Let's get to setting up."
"All right. Now here comes the hard part. Is your mom coming over to help as well?" Delia asked.
"One step ahead of you."
Suddenly, the front door opened and in came Grace. She appeared to be ready.
"So, are we going to get this done or what?"
With those words being said, the three of them got to work. They had to get this right, they wouldn't want the surprise to be dull and mediocre, they wanted to be sure that when the Ash entered the house, that the surprise would make him faint bigger than a Pokemon ever could.
Ash was out back behind Oak's lab, with every single one of his Pokemon. Ash wished that he could for the heck of it train them a bit but he didn't come here for that. He just wanted to spend time with them. He was pretty sure they would want just that anyway. Besides, they knew what today was. Oak and Gary looked at Ash and his Pokemon from inside the lab.
"It's sure good to see Ash and all the Pokemon he trained just relaxing. Seeing them doing something other than training is a sight to see." Oak commented.
"I agree, Gramps. I remember Ashy boy when he was just a beginner. I never would have imagined him being like this at one point. But yet again, he's gotten older. Every human being changes as they age. I'm just glad he has. I'd hate to see him a whiny, immature kid his whole childhood." Gary explained.
"I'm glad you think so, Gary. But that last part got me a bit. Why would you think he would be whiny and immature? For as long as I've known Ash, he has never been like that"
"Well, you've never travelled two regions with him as your rival. I admit that he got a little better after a while." Gary explained.
"I'm glad you think so Gary. Ash, just like Pokemon, has evolved since he started as a trainer eight years ago. It's good that he isn't what you described him anymore." Oak stated.
"Well, Gramps, that's past. I've got to look at the present and future." Gary stated.
"Good way to look at that."
While they were talking, Ash had come up, already having putting his released Pokemon back into their Pokeballs.
"You ready to go Gary?"
Gary shuddered after hearing Ash's voice. "Oh yeah, let's go. Bye Gramps."
"See you two later." Oak said, waving goodbye to the two prodigies. As soon as Ash and Gary left the lab, Oak's smile grew a little wider.
"I'll be seeing you two later all right. Now I've got to get over to Ash's house immediately."
Within an hour, all of Ash's friends had showed up at his house to help Delia, Serena, and Grace set up. Everyone was in a frenzy to get the place to set up everything. But why were they worried? Ash was occupied enough. They just hoped that his arrival wouldn't be premature.
"Man, I hope Gary can keep Ash away long enough for us to get done and in position to surprise him." Dawn said.
"Hey, I have confidence everything will go fine. If anyone can keep Ash away for a long period of time, it's Gary." Brock said.
"Good job choosing him to do it. Considering the history between those two, I think you made the right choice." Misty commented.
"You guys can thank me later if Gary gets Ash here after we're done. Right now, just focus on setting up." Serena said, in a hurry to get everything done. She wanted this to be just right. This was the party of the most important person in the world to her. Well, other than her mother.
Gary had brought Ash to a park where a lot of people brought their Pokemon to enjoy the nice day out. It was a clear sunny day, so it really made it great.
"I'm surprised that this many people are out today with their Pokemon." Ash commented.
"Well, it's nice out. Did you really think they would do differently?" Gary asked.
"Nah, I guess not. I mean, I would do the same thing."
They looked at all the people and their Pokemon. Some people were just playing with them, like throwing a Frisbee or a ball. Some people actually brought out their Pokemon to train, whether it was like a coordinator, practicing the beauty of their moves, or just simply trying to make them more powerful whenever they had a battle in the future.
"I got to tell you Gary. Seeing all these people's Pokemon, man, it makes me wish I had caught a few of them on my journeys." Ash commented.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. I'm pretty sure every trainer has felt the same way at one point. When they see a Pokemon they really like but didn't have a chance to catch it when they travelled. Trust me, I've felt that way a few times. Many times I regretted it, but within some time, I got over it." Ash explained.
"I'm with you on that too Ash. When I was a trainer, there were some good and powerful looking Pokemon that I had my eye on but never got around to catching, and just like you, I regretted it at first but eventually got over it. It's like what they say: You can't always get what you want." Gary explained.
"That's true." Ash confirmed.
With that being said, there was something definitely to be learned. Even if there's one thing you want so bad but can't get, sometimes you have to face reality and find out that you may never get it. But there's no harm in trying to obtain it, just as long as it was in a reasonable way.
"I wonder what my mom is up to." Ash asked.
"Oh she's probably doing something. You know her." Gary answered.
"Yeah, I guess so. Even though she's a stay at home mom she always finds a way to keep herself busy." Ash stated. "Anyway, ready to go back to my house? I'm pretty sure I will find out what my mom is doing."
"Yeah sure. Let's head back." Gary replied and the two got up and left the park, remembering their little conversation.
Back at the house, everyone was getting the final parts of the party set up. It was just about perfect. And Ash wasn't home yet, which meant that they had good timing, plus, Gary had been doing his job of keeping Ash away from the house, so that was another plus.
Once the final decoration was set in place, Serena went to the back wall and made a square shape with her index fingers and thumbs.
"Yep. That should just about do it." She said to herself.
"Is that it?" Clemont asked.
"Yeah. Now we just wait for Ash and Gary to get back and then we'll surprise him."
Suddenly, her phone vibrated. She took it out and looked at it. It was a message from Gary.
"We're on our way back. Be there within ten minutes."
Now that she saw that, she had to get everyone prepared to surprise Ash. She put her phone back in her pocket and faced forward to address everyone.
"Okay, Gary just texted me and said they would be here in ten minutes, so once we see Ash and Gary approach the house, hide somewhere and we'll surprise him once he walks in." She said to everyone. They all sat down and waited for the two to get back.
"Who will be on the lookout?" Serena asked.
"I'll do it." Max replied. He went to the front window and looked outside at the front, making sure he had a good view of Ash and Gary when they got near the house.
Meanwhile, Ash and Gary decided to walk back to Ash's house. They had spent enough time away for the day, and they thought they would spend the rest of the day back at the Ketchum residence, which Gary didn't mind.
"So Gary, how is the research career going for you?" Ash asked.
"Oh, it's great. Nothing new though." Gary answered.
"Anything this past summer?"
"Only a couple things, but other than that, not really."
"Why did you decide to become a researcher over a trainer anyway?" Ash asked.
Gary thought for a minute. "Hard to say. It was mainly to help Gramps out. Besides, being your rival was taking a toll on me."
Ash chuckled. "Don't worry, I've had numerous rivals after you that have kept me busy."
"I guess they have been doing me a favor then." Gary remarked. The two of them laughed afterwards. Ash didn't mind that comment, he had gotten a good sense as to what they meant as he got older. He knew how to take them as being serious and a joke at the same time.
"Some of them were my friends and rivals, some of them were just rivals. You were the latter when we traveled Kanto and Johto, but now you are the former. Funny how things turn out right?" Ash stated.
"Yeah. You aren't as whiny and impatient as you used to be. I got used to you after that." Gary said.
"I guess I was a little bit like that when I was ten. I'm glad I'm not like that anymore." Ash stated.
Ash then started to wonder something. "Hey Gary! Why did you decide to spend the day with me? Of all days?"
"Oh, no reason. Just wanted to hang out I guess."
The two approached Ash's front door. Ash turned the knob and opened it.
"Come on, there has got to be some reason."
When they walked in, Ash turned on the light, but then…
"SURPRISE!"
"AH!"
Due to the loud yelling from so many people, Ash freaked out for a second and stumbled backwards and fell. Feeling like he should lend a hand, Gary pulled Ash up after the shock.
"What's this?"
"It's a surprise party, silly." May remarked.
"But why?"
"It's your birthday. You got to celebrate it." Brock answered.
"Wow, geez, guys, I don't know what to say." Ash said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You don't need to say anything. We're just all here to wish you a happy 18th birthday." Misty stated.
Ash looked at Gary. "So that's why you were hanging out with me today."
"Hey, that doesn't mean that I didn't have a good time with you." Gary said.
Ash faced forward again. "Wow guys. Thanks. But you didn't have to do this."
"Don't mention it. But this was all Serena's idea." Shauna stated.
Ash now looked at Serena. "Really?"
She nodded her head. "Well, I can't take all the credit. Your mom was in on it too."
Delia walked up, holding a cake in her hands. "Yeah, but it was mainly Serena's idea." She held up the cake higher. "Come on, honey, make a wish." Ash blew out all eighteen candles that were on the cake, everyone clapping afterwards.
"So what did you wish for?" Bonnie asked, being the curious little girl she is.
"I didn't wish for anything." Ash answered, leaving everyone perplexed.
"I already got what I wanted. All the most important people in my life threw me a birthday party."
Now that left a smile on everyone's faces. He went up to Serena and kissed her, telling her she was a gift alone, making everyone "aw" and thanked her for throwing the party for him. He went up to his mom and hugged her, thanking her as well for throwing the party. After that, the party commenced, and Ash's 18th birthday had to have been the best one he had.
Yep. It certainly was.
Author's note: Well how about that? I didn't know Ash was already 18. I'm just playing around. I know in the anime he is still 10 which confuses me. Why is he still 10? Why? Come on writers of Pokemon, ANSWER ME! You too Satoshi Tajiri! Why? I know they won't answer me, they don't know me. Looks like I'll have to live with it. While I write an angry letter to Pokemon, here's the preview.
"Come on, Red, do another one." Barry pleaded.
"I don't know if I should. I've already drank six." Red replied.
"Seriously Red, we'd all love to see you do another one. You are the gutsiest one out of all of us." Gary said.
"Well…"
"ONE MORE! ONE MORE! ONE MORE! ONE MORE!" All the guys chanted, seriously wanting Red to be the badass that he is.
"You know what? I'll do it! Hit me!" Red commanded and Clemont tossed another can of cola to Red, who opened it.
"Bottoms up!" Red exclaimed and bent his head back and put the can up to his lips and started gulping down the sugar and caffeine laden beverage. The guys all chanted "CHUG" as he drained the can. Within thirty seconds, Red had drank all the cola, crushed the can on his forehead, and screamed in victory, the guys cheering like guys ever could.
"You truly are bold, Red." Brock commented.
"Now, Clemont, it's your turn." Red stated.
"Wait, what?" Clemont asked, confused.
"Come on, Clemont, grow some balls. What will Shauna think of you if you don't?" Cilan asked.
"Shauna thinks what?"
"Uh, not important. Come on, dude, do it." Cilan took a can and tossed it to Clemont.
"Um, okay. Here goes nothing." Clemont said and opened the can and started chugging it. The guys did the same thing as with Red, chanted "chug" as Clemont drank the contents of the can. Once he was finished, he smiled and raised the can above his head.
"Now that's what I call cool, Clemont way to go!" Ash shouted.
"Yeah, that's right, I did it! Come on, give me-"
But within a second, due to the caffeine from two cans he had drank before, Clemont began to feel drowsy, and fell face first into the floor, passed out from a caffeine crash. The guys were surprised at first, then cheered, Clemont having proven something.
"Gee, I wonder what the girls are up to." Brock wondered.
Author's note: *Crumples up another piece of paper after another crappy rant and throws it* I can't really come up with anything good to say to the heads of Pokemon. Oh well, I'll think of something, although I'll have to write it in Japanese which will be freaking hard because I don't speak or write it fluently. I can't write it in English, who knows if they understand it? With the chapter, seems interesting. What are the guys up to? What are the girls up to? You guys will find out in a week, because I already know. *Slaps forehead* Don't be an ass BigJ. You guys will find out soon, see what crazy events happen in the next chapter. Until then…
TDBigJ out!
Nice potty mouth dirtbag!
-Austin Powers, Austin Powers in Goldmember
