"" - Human speech

'' - Pokémon speech (humans cannot understand it)

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon and am not in any way affiliated with it.

Hey guys, I hope you enjoy my story! I know this is a day early, but I wanted to get it posted before tomorrow since I'll be gone the whole day, and couldn't let it be late xD. Anyways, once again, enjoy the story, and feel free to comment your ideas for the story, characters, or whatever you want :).

I promise you guys they will be in the Alola Region next chapter! I didn't mean to stretch this on so long, but it had to happen :P. Also, Gary is going to be introduced next chapter! Hopefully that will make it much more interesting :). Thanks so much for all you guys for sticking with this story, I really appreciate it 3.

Also, if you get the book reference in the 5th paragraph, you're awesome :D

By the way, a line break is a time pass (no other way worked :( - any suggestions?).

Ash stopped in his tracks, his mouth agape, and his eyes finding only the phone in his mother's hand.

"It's not possible. It's not possible. It's not possible."

Ash gripped his hair, pulling it up and causing him to stand like end, looking as if he had just seen a ghost. Which in reality, it's almost like he had.

"It's not possible." He repeated. "This is all a dream."

Professor Oak and his cousin, sensing the importance of the current events, backed away slowly, understanding the need for Ash to be alone. Even Delia began to head back towards home, but as she turned back one more time, you could see the pity written clearly on her face. Subconsciously, he had stretched his arms out in front of him, a pleading look on his face, almost like a slave asking for his next dose of warmweed. Delia had then gently placed the phone in his hand, though she doubted he even registered the movement.

All of a sudden, as Delia and the two researchers began to fade away in the distance, a voice rang out through the speakers, loud and clear in the still night.

"Hello?"

It was a sweet, slightly high-pitched voice, but to Ash it was the most beautiful thing in the world. Slowly and carefully, as if it might drop and shatter into a thousand pieces, he held the phone to his ear.

"Hello?" Ash responded.

There was no response.

And then it hit him. He vaguely recalled having met a young girl in the woods when he was very little. She had been frightened off by a Pokémon, and was lost. She had said her name was-Serena! She really does exist. Could it be?, he thought. All other thoughts vanished as all he could think of was that one girl who he had met on that very night years and years ago. He remembered how vulnerable she had looked, and thinking there had to be some way to help her.

"Serena? Is that you?" He barely managed to make out the words, as his breath came out in short little gasps.

There was a moment of silence, before the speakers crackled with the sound of static on the other end as Serena began to speak.

"I'm sorry but who is this? I think you may have the wrong number."

And just like that, all of Ash's hopes were crushed, and he crumpled to the ground like a rag doll.

"Excuse me. Are you okay? What's going on?" Despite her concerns that this was some sort of late-night prank, she had heard what sounded like sobbing on the other end, and for some reason, her gut was telling her to help this stranger.

"It's Ash. Of course you don't know me. Or maybe you do. I don't know. No one is real. But you are. So is everyone else?" He stammered over the words, blurting out nonsense as he fought to find what to say.

"Ummm… I have to go now… sorry." Serena said slowly.

"No!" Ash cried, more aggressively than he had intended to.

"I'm sorry. It's just that, I know you don't know me, but I'm pretty sure I do. Do you remember that one day in the forest, when you were lost, and got scared by a Poliwag? How I bandaged you up and led you out of that forest? I'm that Ash." He amended.

He heard a quick intake of breath on the other side of the line, and knew she remembered.

"Is it really you? After all these years?" Serena finally managed to respond.

"Yes." Ash replied. And on an impulse, he asked a question that had been lurking on the edge of his subconscious, something he hadn't even realized he had been wishing until he said it aloud. "And do you want to travel to the Alola region with me?"

It had been almost a week since the phone call with Serena. Since then, Ash's spirit never seemed to lower, and there always seemed to be a smile on his face as he skipped -in a manly way of course- around the gardens, humming under his breath. Even Pikachu had been affected, and let's just say more than one tree burned down because of it.

The loyal Pokémon didn't seem to mind that Ash had forgotten all about their training, as he sensed something was on his mind, and didn't want to deprive him of the joy it had so obviously caused him., being the wonderful friend he was.

One day, as Ash was searching through the Pokédex, having finally decided he needed to continue his training, Delia approached him, holding a bulky parcel in her hand.

"Ash. I have a surprise for you."

Ash looked up, startled. He had been so engrossed in what he was doing, he hadn't even heard his mom approach.

"Oh hey mom, how are you?" He said, not noticing what she was holding.

"Well, you know how I've been working on something for you? Well, it's finally finished."

Understanding dawned on the young trainer's face, and he stood up eagerly.

"Well, what is it?"

Delia smiled at his never-ending curiosity, and handed him the parcel. Tearing it apart in a matter of seconds, Ash pulled out the bundle, revealing a bundle of clothes. Disappointment was etched in his face, but he tried his best not to frown.

"Clothes? You know I don't need any…"

Delia, knowing where Ash's reaction had come from, casually said she could always take it back if he didn't like it. But she had waited until Ash had unfolded the entire uniform, and was staring in awe at the gift in front of him.

Included was a plain gray undershirt, with a striped blue and white collared shirt that stopped just before the elbows. In the center was a plain blue circle, signifying a pokéball. As for the pants, they were a light gray with red pockets and lining. However they ended just after the knees, serving a practical purpose for both the adventure and climate that came with the Alola region.

Delia had even gone out of her way to get custom-made shoes, which were dark blue at the top and light blue at the bottom, divided by a thin strip of white. The soles were also the same white, as was the small circle on the very tops of his shoes, resembling a cotton ball.

But the best part of the clothing was the hat. As Ash emptied the package, he noticed something tucked away in the corner. Slowly unfolding it, he revealed a red hat with a blue trim and white underneath. In the center was a logo that looked like two sideways brackets, and Ash loved it.

He rushed over, embracing his mom, unable to contain his happiness.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Ash recalled having told his mom how he had received most of his outfits from her throughout his journey while in the coma, so she must have gotten the idea from there. And, honestly, he was secretly quite glad she had.

"Well, I just hope you don't get it all dirty the first day." Delia joked.

Ash smiled, stepping back, more anxious than ever to start his journey.

Ash bounced up and down, rubbing his palms together, barely able to resist the urge to run towards the street in front of his house.

Ash couldn't stop staring, and he tried to preserve this moment in his mind; the way the sun reflected off her and made her glow. The way she walked, like a queen, with her head held up high, as a wide grin spread across her face. She's beautiful, he thought. And she truly was.

Walking up the path to the house he had lived in all his life was a slim, blonde figure with short-cropped hair, and wearing a red-pink hat with a black ribbon running around it. She wore a simple, light pink dress, covered with a red coat that had its pockets full of various different trinkets. Nearly reaching all the way to her dress were enormous, light gray socks that protected her feet from the brown boots that encased her feet. To finish it off, she wore a petite, light blue bow tie hanging from the very top of her dress, adding a nice touch of color.

As she spotted Ash, her cheeks began to turn a rosy red, and she covered her face, embarrassed. Ash, she noticed, looked like an idiot. An extremely cute one, but still and idiot. He was grinning from ear to ear, and was peering out the window intently, not even realizing how creepy that was.

At last Serena reached Ash's house, and opened the door slowly, suddenly nervous at the thought of seeing her childhood crush once again.

"Serena!" Suddenly Ash rocketed off towards her, holding her arms out wide. Luckily, he had stopped just before crushing Serena in a hug, realizing she still barely knew him.

He stopped awkwardly, unsure of how to continue. But Serena's wide grin broke the silence. She stepped forward, embracing Ash. Her hat poked into his neck, but he didn't notice. And if he did, he simply didn't care, because he was seeing Serena again.

Suddenly Ash felt the heat in his body rise as Serena clung on to Ash longer than friends should. He felt as if he would explode had Serena not finally stepped back when she did.

"I'm so glad to see you Ash! I can't believe it. This is going to be amazing!" She squealed, the excitement getting to her at last.

Ash grinned, forgetting all about what had just occurred, and instead focusing on what lay ahead of them.

"Oh, about that. I forgot to tell you. We're leaving tomorrow." Ash said, as Serena's eyes widened, in both surprise and confusion.

"First, you two need to eat dinner." Delia Ketchum was suddenly standing at the doorway to the main living area. They had no idea how long she had been standing there, and Serena blushed once again.

The last thought Serena had before she was dragged off to the kitchen, was Well this is going to be an interesting journey.