Note: It's been a while. I know it has taken me a long time to get this arc finished, but that's what school, work, and burnout does to ya.
Admittedly this might have been the most difficult arc to write just cause of the sheer a-m-o-u-n-t of characters present in the Alola series. Keeping track of all these characters was quite the challenge.
But as I said a long time ago, my goal is to create a completed pokemon anime/manga crossover fic, and that hasn't change. So here's the Alola arc. As always, chapters will be uploaded once per week, and the next arc will only be uploaded once completed. Whether that will be in a few months or a year... who knows.
For now, enjoy. Favourite, comment, all that jazz.
Alola (arc 4): Family
A picture is worth a thousand words… or so they say.
Ash had a lot of them, almost a hundred pictures taken during his travels. He should probably have a lot more, but he never took any himself. Luckily, there were plenty of strangers who wanted to take pictures with him and his friends, and of course, he had collected a sizable collection of commemorative photographs taken during special competitions, leagues and otherwise. He rarely found himself looking through them, but right now felt different. Maybe it was because he was traveling to Alola, his home away from home, or maybe it was because he finally sorted out his feelings with a certain girl from Kalos. Whatever it was, he was feeling nostalgic, and he had plenty of time to kill on the plane ride to Alola. He flipped through the laminated pages of his photo album, Pikachu leering over his shoulder.
The trip down memory lane was always a little awkward, especially in the early sections. Looking through the pictures from Kanto was always a shock. Almost 12 years ago now, the smile staring at him belonged to a stranger, a kid who loved pokémon more than anything in the world… and not a clue as to how to properly train them. Combine that with a chip on his shoulder towards… well… everyone, and it wouldn't be out of place to refer to said kid as a real brat.
"Pika-chuuuu." Pikachu pointed at himself in the images.
"You haven't changed a bit, Pikachu." At least, physically. The feeling of electricity coursing through his nerves was etched into his memory, in no small part due to Pikachu's' temperament back then. It's not like it was even something that had stopped when he reached adulthood, as he was well reminded of the feeling every time he didn't wake up on time for special occasions.
"Pikaaaa," Pikachu smiled at his trainer. Ash gave the little pokémon a big one-armed hug, his cheek rubbing against Pikachu's.
"Back then you woulda shocked the life outta me right now," he said with a chuckle.
"Chuuu…" Suddenly, Pikachu's red cheeks flared with electricity, a mischievous grin on his face. Ash hoped that Pikachu wasn't feeling nostalgic.
Luckily, Pikachu spared him, and the two went back to flipping through the pages. The young boy from earlier was getting a bit taller as the photos went on, though not by much. He wasn't particularly tall, 5'6 last time he measured. Guess it wasn't surprising that he was never taller than the various women in the photos. Not that he ever minded…
"Mind if I take a look?" Yellow's voice startled him. He thought she was still asleep.
"Oh. Yeah, sure."
She leaned over, gripping the edge of the album.
"Awwwweee… look at you. Lil' teenage Ash."
"Oh, come on Yellow…" he didn't even try to hide his embarrassment.
"Pika-chuu?"
"You're cute too, Pikachu." She rubbed the little pokémon's head. "You still are."
They turned through the pages, going through Unova, then Kalos, then Alola…
She stopped turning near the end of the album. The photo she paused on seemed to have been taken after his travels in Alola, with the Ash in the image looking identical to how he looked now. He was next to a taller man in a lab coat and… no shirt? Ash himself seemed to be holding something in a small blanket. On closer inspection she realized that poking out of it was a small head. It was a baby.
"That's Professor Kukui. He was my teacher during my time in Alola," Ash said.
"Teacher? You went to school?"
"Yeah, a pokémon school. Why do you sound so surprised?"
"I mean…" In their time together, she would never take him for an academic.
"You meaaannn?"
"Oh nothing, just…" She was cut off by his snickering.
"I'm messing with ya. I know I don't seem like the 'sit down and study' type. I'm gonna guess Red wasn't much for that sort of thing either."
"You know it." she snickered in turn.
"Anyway, I ended up staying at his place during that time. He even got married to another teacher while I was there, Professor Burnet. That's their son, Lei." He pointed at the small child.
"One big happy family, huh. Two teachers, their adorable son, and big brother Ash."
"Professor Burnet always calls me that. It's funny, I never had any siblings growing up."
"It was just you and your mom, right?"
"Yep."
"No dad?"
"Not for a long time. He left on his own pokémon journey when I was still little. He never came back."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Yellow was quite aware that this wasn't an uncommon scenario. The life of a pokémon trainer is long and arduous. Many people leave their families, intending to return once they find their fortune and fame. Many never returned.
"It's alright. It never really bothered me anyway, and I always had my mom, and now I know so many people that care about me" His smile couldn't have been warmer. "We're not all related, but I don't think that really matters. Kukui, Lei, all my pokémon and friends. You're all my family, you know?"
He seemed to catch himself, as if sobriety had returned to him, though he hadn't drunk anything as far as she knew. His smile didn't fade, but there was at least a twinge of self-awareness now present.
"Sorry. Just got a little carried away."
"No, it's fine, really." She tried to suppress a giggle for his sake. "It's nice to see you like this. Alola must mean a lot to you."
"Well, I am the Alola champion."
"So, you're a local hero to boot. Guess we should expect some special treatment while we're here, huh?"
"We do get a beachside view."
"But Ash… it's Alola. We'll always have a beachside view."
"Yep!" He burst into laughter. She joined him, shaking her head. However, their fun would be cut short by a voice on the intercom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching Melemele Island and will be landing shortly. This is a reminder that access to Ula'ula Island is currently restricted and will be for the foreseeable future. Have a nice day."
They've heard the warning a few times on their ride. They expected the worst.
"A whole island. You think it could be Giratina?" Ash asked.
"Maybe but… that's a lot. I mean we saw him taking over underground caverns and a tower but… now an entire island? So soon?"
Ash shrugged, not saying anything else for the rest of the trip. If what they suspected was true, then they may be running out of time.
He never got tired of it.
Alola was just unlike any other region he had ever visited. Sure, they all had their specific cultures and distinctions that gave them their unique identities, but nothing could really compare to the small island chain. Of course, the first thing anyone would think of was the weather. Always bright and sunny, the Alolan sun was the primary reason for the emphasis on tourism in the region. Tourists looking to escape the chilly Kanto falls and the harsh Sinnoh winters would flock to Melemele's sandy beaches. It's what brought him here in the first place, before he even knew about an entire pokémon school that was looking for new students with a knack for pokémon training. At the time he was 18, and considering he was fresh off a runner-up spot in the Kalos league, they were quite eager to take him in.
It was midday, and the sun was still high in the sky. The heat was far from oppressive, though it did help that the taxi windows were wide open. Usually, Kukui would have greeted him at the airport directly, but he couldn't make it today. Understandable, all things considered. As per usual the Oaks had filled in the professors in Alola about Ash's vision, and getting to the heart of the great Volcano on Akala Island would likely be a daunting task, if the shard was even there.
The taxi drove through the streets of Hau'oli city, one of the largest cities in the region. Smaller than the imposing Silver Town and Jubilife city, Hau'oli certainly had its own charms. Alongside the usual chain centers and malls were plenty of open stands selling all sorts of locally made foods, souvenirs, and other oddities. Tourist traps were aplenty here, but so were the earnest smiles. As Ash looked out his window, he noticed a handful of people waving at him, people he was sure he had never met before.
"Alola Champion Ash!" They called him. He waved in turn.
"Pikaaa!" Pikachu stuck his head out of the window.
"Alola!" Ash called back. He noticed that it was a woman who called out to him. A near identical looking woman stood beside her, looking puzzled. He guessed it was her look-alike.
"Looks like you really are a local hero," Yellow said.
"To half these people anyway. I wonder who's the champion here in your world."
"I don't think they ever had a league here. Though I'd say they were a bit more focused with the ultra-beast problem around a year ago."
"Ultra-beasts? We had a similar problem when I was at the Pokémon school. A bunch of them even attacked right after I won the league."
Ash looked out the window again as they reached the border of the city. Larger apartments gave way to smaller, lightly built households. Alongside them was a sight that was new to him. Dozens and dozens of tents everywhere, with a lot more people around them than they expected, even after the merge.
"A lot of people… probably from Ula'ula," Yellow said.
"Not a lot of people lived there from what I remember. Still…"
It was hard to get a good look, but they could see people carrying over supplies and other items to the tents. Ash wasn't surprised. Alolans prided themselves on their hospitality, and such boastfulness would be quite unearned if they didn't deliver during times of duress. Still… These people couldn't stay like this forever.
Kukui's house was located on the outskirts of Hau'oli, close to the beachhead. A humble white wooden home with a blue roof, it was quite the cozy looking abode. Hopping on the sizable deck, Ash eagerly knocked on the door. It didn't take long to get a response.
"Professor Kukui!" The door opened to a tall individual. His black eyes and hair would usually mark him as unassuming, if it weren't for his peculiar choice of wardrobe, or lack thereof. He wore a set of track pants and a lab coat… unbuttoned with no undershirt.
Guess it helps with the heat… Yellow thought as he watched the man give Ash the biggest hug he probably could.
"Ash! It's good to see you!" Kukui said.
"Great to be back!"
"He's here? Already!" They heard the voice of a woman scrambling towards the door. Her erratic white hair stood in contrast with her plane, blue shirt and pants.
"Ash! Welcome home!" She joined them in their joint embrace.
"Burnet! It's great to see both of you!"
"Pika-chuuu!" Pikachu swung his tail side to side in glee next to Yellow. She smiled; it was a sweet sight.
"Oh, how could we forget your friend!" Kukui said as they released each other. "Alola, Yellow!"
"Oh hell… um… Alola professor Kukui, and you must be Professor Burnet."
"Yep. It's great to meet you. Come inside, we have a lot to talk about." His enthusiasm seemed to dim somewhat. The group entered the household. It was a humble home, with the main hall containing the living room and a small kitchen. Papers were scattered everywhere around said living room, with dozens of stacks of sheets placed just between the television and couch itself.
"Sorry for the mess, but as you know there's a lot we have to do," Burnet said.
"Sit down, there's a lot we have to talk about," Kukui said, motioning Ash and Yellow towards their dinner table. The trainers took a seat. Pikachu hopped up on the table as Kukui sat on the other end. He looked at Burnet and nodded. The other professor simply nodded back before she went upstairs.
"I'm not gonna lie to you Ash, I'm not so sure of these visions you've been having. I mean… mount Akala? Sure the volcano's been dormant for some time now but…"
"I know it's strange, professor. But these visions haven't been wrong yet. Each one led us to another shard piece."
"Ash… I trust that you're doing the right thing, but…" Kukui lowered his head, speaking under his breath. "No, not a chance…"
"Hm?"
"Professor?" Yellow asked, concerned.
"No, I was…" He raised his head, now smiling. "I was trying to think of a way to talk you two out of this, but knowing you, that's impossible."
"No can-do professor. We gotta save everyone from Giratina, and Red's counting on us to find him."
"Red? Oh right, your look-alike."
"Yes… and my fiancé," Yellow said.
"Fiance? oh… I see." Now he looked almost guilty. "Of course, I understand. Well, we're going to need some more time. We can't just go in there without a plan. We're trying to scan the Volcano to see if there's any specific route we can take. Also maybe get any strange readings to clue in on where your shard can be. Normally it wouldn't take us too long… but we're having other problems."
"Ula'ula island, right?"
"The island has been completely overrun by the distorted pokémon you've been fighting. They swarmed the island seemingly from nowhere. They're starting to pop-up in other parts of the world too."
"This is getting bad," Yellow said. "We have to get the shards soon. This pokeball is apparently the only thing that can stop Giratina."
"Right… well hopefully by tomorrow we can…"
"A… Al-o-laa."
From the staircase they heard a high pitched voice that could only come from a toddler. Looking at the staircase they saw Burnet holding the hand of a small child, awkwardly waddling down the staircase together.
"Alola, Lei!" Ash said with a smile. It wasn't the first time he had heard Lei speak, though the last time he was here it was barely audible, single word sentences. Lei hobbled over to him, holding a piece of paper in his hand. He stuck it out to him.
"Here… take paper?" he said with a struggle. Ash took the sheet. On it was a crudely drawn yellow and red circle.
"The sun, right?" Ash asked.
Lei nodded, before hobbling over to Yellow, pointing up at her intently.
"Who… are… you!?"
"My name's Yellow."
"Yellow!"
He looked over to Burnet, who nodded in approval.
"He's getting so big now," Ash said. ", and he likes drawing too, now."
"Oh you know it, and he's becoming a bit of a handful too. Now he won't stop talking."
Lei nodded again, though Ash doubted he understood what his mother precisely meant. He went over to Ash again, tugging his hand.
"Big… brother… Ash!"
"He's always asking to see you. He misses you when you're not here," Kukui said.
"Well… I'm here now, at least for a bit," Ash said, following Lei to the living room. Pikachu followed close behind. Standing in the center of the room, the small child attempted to arch his arms, one over the other, with one hand facing up and the other, facing down.
"Practicing Z-moves, huh?" Ash said, crouched down eye to eye with him. He noticed Pikachu attempting the same.
"Hey be careful Pikachu. I don't think the professors would appreciate a gigavolt havoc right in the middle of their living room.
"Pika-chuuuuu!"
"I think I heard about those," Yellow said.
"Yep. All you need is a Z-crystal, and you just…" He stood up, creating the visage of a lightning bolt with his arms and hands. ", and then you scream out the name. Gigavolt Havoc!" he yelled as he stuck out his fist.
"That's easy, huh?" Yellow chuckled.
"Well… there's a bit more to it than that. But he's got the bas…" Kukui looked at Ash, his son trying to mimic the older boy and nearly falling over. "Spirit."
"Ash did always learn more by doing. Considering he mastered Z-moves so quickly," Burnet said.
"I suppose he did beat me in our exhibition match," Kukui said, scratching the back of his head. "Maybe I should reconsider my teaching methods."
A sudden ringing could be heard from Kukui's pocket. He pulled out his phone, quickly answering it.
"Yes… already… okay good." He hung up, placing the phone back into this pocket. 'Sorry. Hafta cut this short. We gotta head to the lab."
"Right now? But Ash and Yellow just got here, and what about Lei?" Burnet protested.
"We can stay back and watch over him. Right Ash?"
"What? Oh… yeah. We'll take good care of him," Ash said.
"Thanks Ash." Kukui was already at the door.
"We'll be back soon," Burnet stopped by Lei. "You behave now."
Lei nodded again, as Burnet and Kukui left the house.