Author's note
This story stems from the lack of Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny pairings with Ash, and with only Marble being the only known spouse of an Officer Jenny that is given a actual name and her own story in the anime, I thought I filled in the void and create a harem story with the two iconic reoccurring characters in pokemon myself. I roughly have an outline of the pokegirls I wished to add into the story but do bear in mind that the harem aspect of the story would be slow going. But once it ramps up, the relationships should hopefully feel natural and not too forced. Ash in this story would be more on the inexperienced and idealistic side, so it should come to no ones surprise if all of his love interest would be older than him.
The furious screech from the flock of Spearow was dampened by the torrential rain that engulf him, swift on his feet with his injured starter firmly safe in his arms, the young man leaped over the fallen logs that obstructed his path. The sound of footfalls splashing against the puddles water and the flashes of lighting branching across the sky made the entire scene more disorientating. Pelted by rain, wind and the heaven themselves, the young trainer pushed through the elements through grit and determination.
"Hold on Pikachu, just a bit longer!" He gave a quick reassurance to his starter Pikachu, the electric mouse groaned by the intense pain coursing through his body but the heartfelt gratitude he had for his trainer was evident. The fuzzy electrical starter was injured when he valiantly defended his trainer from an aggressive Spearow that attacked them on sight, sadly while the type effectiveness dealt with the small fry, it was no match compared to the sheer number of Spearows that charged towards them with reckless abandon.
The young man narrowed his eyes as he felt the exhaustion kicking in, his legs was starting to wobble and sore, the burning sensation in his calves were slowly creeping up in intensity. If he does not reach a safe harbor or get rid of the Spearow flock, this might be the end to his journey as a trainer, and to think he only just started today, just his luck. Fate seemed to double down his misfortune by disguising a slippery rock with mud and grime, causing the young man to step on it and lose his balance at that very moment. The young man let out a barrage of profanities as he tumbled downwards the steep hill he was descending. He clutched his starter tight to his chest as his body absorbed most of the damage and falls, the agonizing pain of each protruding rock and uneven surface wrecking his body, this was most certainly the end for him.
'Pikachu, I'm sorry.' His final thoughts lingered on his starter, none of this would have happened if he didn't foolishly entered Spearow territory by accident and now his Pikachu would pay the price for his unruly transgression. The squawks from the Spearows become increasingly louder with every flap of their wings, the young man steeled himself for inevitable attacks and mustered the remnants of his strength to flip his body around with his back facing the sky, sheltering his starter to the best of his abilities. He closed his eyes and braced for the incoming assault, sharp talons, serrated claws and jagged beaks, all of them would be painfully felt on this day.
And yet it never came.
"Shinx Charged Shot!" A commanding feminine voice roared with much authority and confidence, before the young man could comprehend what was even happening, the sound of static electricity building up in rapid intensity quickly alerted him of a potential attack, he ducked head down with his starter as a bolt of lighting zapped the flock of Spearows in one painful blow. With heavy casualties and charred wings, the remaining flock of Spearows attempted to make one final assault on the humans when a deceptively enchanting voice knocked them off their balance.
"Skitty Sing." With the Spearow's fury quelled by the charming purrs and meows, the kitten pokemon sung a sweet lullaby to lure the rest of the dazed Spearow to slumber, successfully thwarting the Spearow attack. As the immediate threat was no longer an issue, a fair teenager with a pink colour ponytail rushed to the young man side while her other friend remained vigilant with her stalwart Shinx standing guard.
"Ash?" The Pallet town teenager who managed to survive the entire ordeal gaze upon his two saviors. A flabbergasted expression rested on his face once he recognize the very people who saved his life, they were his classmates! While he wasn't necessarily close to them as they were more of an acquaintance he occasionally say hi when passing by, Ash did considered them good friends. It was just his luck that they are now here to save him from an untimely demise! The young man winced in pain as he finally sat upright with the pouring rain still pelting him like no tomorrow, it was a miracle that they ran straight into him after tumbling down a slope like an idiot, otherwise he would have become Spearow food.
"Kayla? Marble? What are you two doing here?" The young pink haired girl, also known as Kayla administered some much needed first aid on him after rummaging through her backpack for a medical bag. Her expertise in medicine and first aid remains unparalleled compared to her peers or even seniors, so Ash is in capable hands. The young woman nursed a stern look and silenced him by putting a hand on his chest, indicating that this was not the time or place to talk about it.
"We can discuss that later, can you walk?" The voice of genuine concern from her send a blaze across the young man's heart. He let out a sigh as he tried to move his leg, but the sheer stinging pain made him growl in pain. Seeing his dejected expression, Kayla placed a comforting hand on his damp shoulders and smiled at him, reassuring him that everything would be okay at that very moment.
"I fell down from that slope, so uh my leg is a little sprained." The calm and deadpanned tone from Ash earned a grin from Marble, she placed a hand on her hips and stared at the steep hill littered with the fainted bodies of Spearows that had swirls on their eyes. She eyed up the size of the hill and was astonished that Ash tumbled face down from that height, the sheer amount of bruises on his body was enough to make her winced.
"Don't worry, Viridian City is just nearby." He mustered a nod as he was still cradling his beloved starter in his arms, today was absolutely the worst. What started out as the most momentous and happiest occasion of his life quickly descended into horror and despair when he realized he was near the brink of death. Cases of wild pokemon attacking or killing humans are not uncommon and Ash was almost at the receiving end of it. Still, the would do little to dampen his spirits, in fact it inspired him to train even harder with his pokemon so they can better protect themselves. He lowered his gaze to his conscious starter, it reached for his hands with its stubby little paws which earned a chuckle from Ash over the adorable antics of his starter even when injured.
"Pikachu I need you to go inside your pokeball okay? You need to rest." The electric starter gave a begrudging sigh but nodded nevertheless, he loathed being confined inside the pokeball but given it was a life or death situation it would be extremely petty of him to throw a huge fit, not that he had the energy to do anything anyway. With a flash of light, Pikachu was absorbed inside to his pokeball, completely safe and dry from the elements as Ash clipped the pokeball back to his belt. He winced in pain at the stiff movement of his arms suffered with cuts and bruise, he was not sleeping well tonight that's for sure.
"Hold on Ash, we get you there." The young man gave a nod in response to his classmates, with both arms wrapped around their shoulders, they supported the raven haired teen as he limped his way towards the city. Despite the slippery road and the mudded beaten path, Marble was able to determined the exact route towards the city and thus, the journey to Viridian city was a slow but sure path.
"Your Pikachu would make a speedy recovery Ash, he just needs rest. He exhausted a large amount of his energy, so all he needs is plenty of sleep and softboiled eggs!" The enthusiastic tone from Nurse Joy brought a smile to Ash's face, he glad that his starter would be just fine. Thanks to Kayla and Marble's efforts, the young man is currently resting in the comfort of the Viridian City Pokemon Center. The ambient noise of the thunderstorm can still be heard within the insulated walls, but fortunately the rain was more of a gentle lullable than an actual nuisance. Ash managed a grateful nod to the nurse, painfully aware of the awkward movement of his bandaged limbs and torso.
"That's good, I'm glad Pikachu is okay." The kind nurse nodded and inspected Ash's body for further injuries, she frowned at his condition and gave of a little sigh.
"On the other hand your injuries is serious, but nothing permanent or life changing, you just need rest. No strenuous movements and no travelling, you staying in the center for a week." The curt and straightforward tone from the nurse drew a disappointed groan, he has to stay here for a week? He would be way behind schedule where most of his peers would already have a gym badge or two, he would still be a greenhorn trainer with no new pokemon to his name.
"A week? That long?" The nurse narrowed her eyes and spoke sternly with her hands placed on her hips, she understood his feelings of helpless perfectly but she isn't going to allow a child to venture out in this condition.
"Considering what your body has been through Ash, a week is already very generous of a time. Rest and don't worry about your pokemon journey, you won't want your body to collapse in the middle of an adventure right?" Seeing her logic, Ash begrudgingly nodded. To collapse in the middle of the forest with no contact to the outside world seemed like the scariest thing.
"That is true... okay I will stay, thank you so much Nurse Joy." The pretty nurse smiled at his cooperation and gave a nod, she held the medical report of her patients in her hand and eyed the young man before her. The detail of his injuries and the suitable remedies for it were tabulated perfectly.
"Hmm you have Kayla and Marble to thank, they are the ones who saved your lives after all~" As if Ash could forget! Speaking of his saviors, the young man darted his eyes around the room and was concerned over their lack of presence. He shortly lost conscious after they rescued him, the sheer fatigue and stress on his body was too much for him to handle that he just collapse on the spot, what happened later was a mystery to him.
"Where are they? I lost conscious halfway through the journey, are they alright? Are they okay?!" The panic and worry of his voice made the young nurse chuckle, the man was truly a sweet person. Kayla's description of him were not wrong after all.
"Don't worry Ash, they are safe and sound. They are just at their rooms right now, probably having a nice hot shower. The rain has been horrible as of late, hypothermia would have been another thing to be concerned about if you were camping alone in the woods." Ash clicked his tongue lightly, they were so many factors that goes into a pokemon journey that goes beyond collecting gym badges. Thing such as starting up a fire, setting up tents, personal hygiene, all of that and more is often overshadowed by the romanization of acquiring gym badges and winning contests. Amidst he train of thought, the gentle knock on the door earned his attention, soon the door opened and an pink oval shape pokemon appeared with a tray of food in its stubby arms. The bright and cheerful smile on its face soothed Ash's worries as it began to wobble cutely towards him.
"Chanse!" The Egg pokemon's jubilant greetings earned a headpat from Nurse Joy. The bubbly pokemon placed the tray of food on the nearby nightstand, the fragrant smell of the bowl of porridge mixed with chives and chicken shreds were a delight to the senses. Though he wasn't one for porridge, at this point Ash would take anything for lunch.
"That smells good." Chansey smiled it's eyes closed as it placed a softboiled egg on the side. Nutritious and filled with rejuvenation properties, a softboiled egg from a Chansey is said to heal internal injuries and wounds, mending scars and physical lacerations, it is a miracle food all things considered! The raven haired teen extended his gratitude by patting the pokemon's head, though it was painful process due his injuries, Ash would never resist the urge to pat a cute pokemon for a job well done.
"Hehe thanks." The sudden intrusion from Kayla brought a wide smile to Ash, in the doorway stood his two classmates who saved Pikachu and him. Dressed in their respective trainer clothes, Kayla wore a cardinal coloured jacket with white stripes adorning the long sleeves, a black sleeveless blouse and a pair of gray pantyhose. Her sneakers were in the shade of a dark pink with the whole general motif of her outfit giving off cool sporty vibes. Her hair tied in the usual ponytail hair with a side bang adorning her cheeks while her bright indigo eyes sparkled with intelligence and grace.
Marble on the other hand wore a skintight sleeveless black top and a pair of short black pants, with long blue yellow stripe stockings to boot, matching the colour pattern of her starter Shinx. Thankfully, she was also wearing a navy blue jacket with yellow motifs suited for travelling and the cold weather. Like many of her relatives, she retains her teal colour hair and brown eyes reminiscing of hazel chocolate.
"I helped Chansey to prepare lunch for you, it's congee. Easy to digest and eat, helps with wound inflammation as well." Kayla spoke in a matter of fact tone as she took the hot bowl of congee and stir it with the spoon, she sat on the edge of his bed and pulled the nearby wooden bed tray to positioned it nicely in front of Ash. For the young man, such maternal display of behavior from Kayla quickly had him touched.
"Thank you Kayla, I feel so bad relying on the both of you." Marble waved him off at the apologetic and guilt-ridden tone. Out of all the classmates they had, Ash was arguably the nicest one to them. He didn't treat them as invisible and was always courteous to them whenever they do talk. She did the find the young man quite dorky with how enthusiastic he was over pokemon but honestly who can blame him? Pokemon are awesome.
"Oh don't say that Ash, we're classmates right?" It was a matter of life and death, Kayla and Marble barely had the time to register what was going on when they spot a body laying on the ground. Their worst fears were realized when they saw the incoming armada of bloodthirsty Spearows squawking their way towards them, everything happened so fast but Marble was quick to order her starter Shinx to use Charge to gather large amount of electricity before discharging all of it in one singular bolt of lightning to decimate the flock.
"Still, thank you so much. Pikachu and I owe you our lives." Kayla sighed and shot Ash a deadpanned look, he was starting to sound like a broken record player now.
"Well you can make it up to us by making a speedy recovery." The Pikachu trainer mustered a nod as he began to eat the congee graciously prepared by Kayla and Chansey. Seeing that the young man is eating his meal, Kayla stood next to her best friend and leaned against her shoulders for warmth when a train of thought passed her mind. An urgent errand they need to run.
"Marble and I would be staying overnight at the Pokemon Center, we come visit tonight after we finish stocking on supplies okay?" Ash blinked at the fact the two are willing to visit him again, they didn't need to do this but the fact they are willing to do it speaks volumes of their character. He calmed his bubbling emotions of gratitude that threatened tears but he gathered all of his might to compose himself. It may be trivial to others, but for Ash their willingness to visit him afterwards was touching.
"Please take your time, it's not like I'm not going anywhere." The Joy and Jenny duo nodded and waved their goodbyes, with the head nurse of Viridian City following suit. Now completely alone in the confines of his room, Ash found himself in the tranquil silence with the pipping hot steam from his congee sitting before him. Fortunately, his phone was within reach of his nightstand so he could browse through the internet for some form of entertainment. But times like these made Ash reflect on his current situation more than anything, more specifically about his two wonderful classmates who saved his life.
Growing up in Pallet Town, Ash could safely name all of the kids growing up in the small and unassuming town. Paddy fields stretch far and wide as they shimmered in the light of the morning sun, while sprawling forests and coursing rivers run through the heart of the town, providing local wildlife much needed habitat and safety. The harmonious design of the town meant pokemon and human live together in peace, this was a result of a local law decree that ensured that human development and progress shall not compromise the habitat and sanctuary of the local pokemon. It was this law that attracted world renowned pokemon researcher, Professor Oak to establish a laboratory and research facility in Pallet Town 15 years ago. The grand laboratory rest on the tallest point of Pallet Town and it towered over the rest of the town, providing the community with various amenities and services that is highly sought by veteran trainers alike. A small community like Pallet Town also meant that every child in town knows each other, so it came to no surprised that Kayla and Marble attended the same high school with him. Though they were classmates, Ash won't necessarily say he was close friends with them. The duo are two years older than him at the age of 17, but due to the low number of children in Pallet Town, Professor Oak decided it was best that the graduation ceremony for trainers be held once every two years rather than every year to ensure a sustainable amount of trainers graduate together to prevent fledgling trainers travelling the outer wilds alone. Undoubtedly it must have sucked for Marble and Kayla to delay their journey by two years, but they used that time to hone and pick up new skills.
They are after all, the daughters of Pallet Town's Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny.
In truth, the two never stood out in class and their lineage as Joys and Jennies resulted in many assumptions and dismissiveness from their peers, doubting their skills and abilities as a pokemon trainer. To the other classmates, they were nothing more than just a Joy and Jenny, destined to be just officers and nurses. They weren't bullied in school but they weren't acknowledged either, which arguably feels even more shallow. Ash would consider himself to be on good terms with them, and he for one was glad that the two are able to stretch their wings to explore their own ambitions and aspirations rather than being chained to the life expected of them. He pondered about his classmates more and find them to be quite the interesting individuals, Kayla was quite the shy and quiet person in class, but despite her reserved nature, her love for pokemon and compassionate nature to the sick or injured shine through in situations most dire. Marble on the other hand was more outgoing, spunky, tough and full of assumptions. Her observation and deductive skills was incredible to say the least, her intuition and behavioral analyst skills made her a terrifying trainer to confront, though her spontaneous behavior did masked her skills pretty well.
The young man gave a sigh over his current condition, this was the first time he was this injured, to the point of immobility, hopefully he can make a speedy recovery or else his dream of travelling around the world would be in shambles. With nothing left do, Ash entertained himself by watching Youtube videos on his phone, the abundance of trainers uploading their first ever pokemon journey was a sting to Ash, a bitter reminder that many kids are starting their journey today while he would be bedridden in a Pokemon Center. Still, things could be worse and Ash is grateful that he is alive and well. After hours of watching a Galarian bloke travelling across Kanto on a bicycle, a knock on the door brought Ash to reality. He glanced at the digital clock on his phone and realized he has been watching Youtube videos for 4 hours straight now, a frightening realization really. Soon the door opened with the Joy and Jenny duo holding a plastic bag filled with snacks and drinks from the nearby convenient store.
"Hey Ash." The raven haired teenager stared at the plastic bag filled with unhealthy snacks and treats, it seems the two are serious about visiting him and are prepared for a long conversation with him. Truthfully, it was strange for them to go so far from him, but Ash interpret it as the fact he has been a good classmate to them and they are repaying his kindness in return. Besides, it won't hurt to get to know them better too.
"Thanks for visiting. You two didn't need to do this you know?" Ash watched as Marble and Kayla loosened their jackets and place them around their chairs, they soon got comfortable by plopping down on their respective seats with their hands already rummaging through the plastic bag in search for the elusive potato chips.
"Well we got bored in our room, and we feel bad for leaving you here all alone." The daughter of a nurse spoke with the faintest of smiles, she could tell that Ash was envious at the pile of snacks they brought. Unfortunately for him, no unhealthy food is allowed, so he could only watch in horror and despair as they munched on salt and vinegar crisps sent by the heavens themselves.
"Don't be, it's my fault that I got into this mess." The self loathing tone from him quickly changed the mood, the two friends exchanged concerned glances before Kayla sat closer and put a comforting hand on his shoulders, earning a small smile from Ash as the obvious worry from his two classmates shine through their beautiful eyes.
"Ash what exactly happened?" With a deep sigh, Ash retold his encounter with the Spearow flock. From naively waddling through Spearow territory, to Pikachu attacking the ferocious Spearow that attacked him on sight. It was honestly impressive that he got himself at that situation on the day of his grand journey.
"I see, you accidentally entered the Spearow's territory." The young man nodded as he gripped his cup of hot tea to warm his hand, Earl Gray was honestly one of his favourite tea to drink due to the bergamot and the citrus like taste akin to grapefruit or orange. It would be even better if he can have a packet of potato chips right now but sadly none were in sight, well except the ones being munched by Marble.
"I didn't know that, they usually mark their range with nests or claw marks on trees. I guess I didn't see them because of the fog and rain." Kayla nodded with her arms crossed, that make sense. The Spearow flock is notorious in Route 1 so most trainers steer clear of them, Ash must have walked into their territory because of the heavy rain that obscured his visions and senses. The rose haired beauty ponder for his situation before snapping her fingers, there is one person they should inform regarding Ash's injuries.
"Did you call your mom yet?" On the mention of his mother, Ash's face went pale as he vehemently shook his head in defiance. The erratic movement swiftly earned a painful stings to his limbs, though Ash was more concern on the fact his mother would learn of his condition.
"No please don't, first day of the journey and I'm already in this state. My mom would freak out!" Kayla rubbed her temples, this was not against the rules but she did felt morally responsible informing Delia about this. She is a single mom who treats Ash as her world, if anything were to happen to him then well of course Delia would panic and worry. But Kayla also know how important this journey is for Ash, so maybe some white lies and untold truths is needed here.
"Alright we keep it between us." With her cooperation secured, Ash breathed a sigh of relief and slowly sipped on his tea. He felt a sudden tug on his legs tucked inside the blanket and peered his head over, only to be greeted by the sight of Shinx and Skitty prodding his bandaged legs as if it was some kind of toy.
"Hey Skitty, Shinx, Pikachu and I owe you one." The pink feline meowed and snuggled close to his body for warmth, the sight of the kitten purring made Kayla's heart beat rapidly at how adorable her starter looked, but she maintained her stoic facade to hide her internal screams of adoration and wholesomeness. Not wanting to be outdone, Shinx lay on top of Ash's stomach and let out a lazy yawn, its warm fur felt good in the cold night as Ash ran his fingers through its fur.
"So what were you two doing at Route 1? Professor Oak said you two left early." It was a good question to start, everyone had already gathered in front of the laboratory when Ash arrived. Most of his classmates were travelling in packs or small groups, Ash was the only person travelling alone. Marble set aside the chips and leaned forward with her elbow supporting the weight of her head.
"We did, but weather decided to turn sour just as we finished resting up. We happen to pass by and well, we saw your body lying on the ground." The uncomfortable strained voice in her voice was obvious, perhaps to Marble and Kayla the experience was more traumatic than he thought. To suddenly stumble upon the body of someone you know lying lifelessly on the floor while flocks of Spearows marched towards you with bloodshot eyes, it must be horrifying.
"Was it that bad?" Marble assumed a serious expression and nursed a small frown, her heart sunk at the sight of a battered and bruise Ash laying on the floor with an equally injured Pikachu in his arms. She assumed the worst but thankfully the little shivers and groans from him staved off her worst fears.
"You have no idea bud, we thought you were-" The brief side eye glare from Kayla instantly shut Marble up and the awkward silence of the conversation set in. The young Ketchum assumed damage control mode and cleared his throat, feigning in a goofy and dorky expression to lighten up the mood. Perhaps they should move beyond the Spearow incident.
"I'm alive and I'm grateful. But maaaaan, it sucks to be bedridden for a week straight." Kayla bit her tongue lightly, mildly irritated by the sound of Marble crunching on chips without a care in the world. She turned to her just slight and gave an unamused look to her best friend and confidant who obliviously ate the rest of the junk food without her. She was doing this on purpose to annoy her, she has to be.
"You would recover in time Ash." The young man hoped so, travelling across the world is the only thing keeping him going. He examined the two girls for a brief moment and noted that the flow of conversation was running out. So he quickly came up with a topic to keep the conversation going.
"Oh that reminds me, what's your guys next stop? Is it Pewter City?" Marble managed a nod after skillfully tossing the empty bag of chips into the trash can. She dusted the crumbs off her hands and wiped them with a wet wipe meant for disinfecting wounds, a little overkill if you asked Ash.
"Mhmm, but we're just passing by, Vermillion City is actually where we want to be." The port city is known to be an international hub for wayward travelers and tourists. It is the third most developed city in Kanto with its deep water harbor hosting cargo ships and cruise liners. However trainers who speedrun their way to Vermilion City immediately after their journey begins are known as floaters, essentially a term given to trainers who wished to departure immediately from Kanto to travel the other regions. Since Vermillion City is the only place that host cruise ships and ferries, it was no surprise. Ash didn't expect Kayla and Marble to want to leave Kanto immediately, but it made sense given they probably travelled all over Kanto as junior Joys and Jennies before and were itching to explore the other regions.
"You're taking the ferry?" Kayla sighed and shook her head, her legs crossed as she assumed a stoic expression.
"That was the original plan, but we are heading there to handle some personal matters." The emphasis on personal meant that it was a sensitive and private matter that didn't need to be discussed further.
"Ah okay, well good luck! It was great seeing you guys, I thought I won't meet anyone in class after we graduated. The WhatsApp group is practically dead." Kayla won't know that, she practically muted every group she is in with unless someone specifically tag her, and even then she would pretend to not see it. She missed the days where everyone is not so connected and the need to be online 24/7 was absent, now its feel likes you're missing on memes, pop cultures and real world events if she is not switch on all the time. Kayla pushed away those pensive thoughts and focused on the young man, he did seemed awfully intent on getting rid of them by saying his goodbyes so quickly.
"Chasing us away already?" The teasing tone from the two older girls earned a vehement head shake from Ash, he nervously tilted his head to aside and rambled his explanations.
"N-No it's just- you should be on the move right? There's no need for you two to be here." Marble could see his logic but even if they wanted to leave Viridian City, they can't. Typhoon Gyarados had made landfall in Kanto and the sheer disruption to roads and transport just make travelling impossible. The best thing ill-equipped travelers can do right now is to wait out the storm and hope it passes soon.
"Not at this weather Ash, Typhoon Gyarados has descended upon us." Marble choice of words made the typhoon sound more ominous than it actually is. As if it was some kind of eldritch horror abomination that emerged from the sea and took the form of a cyclone. A description not too far from the stories of legendary pokemon if Ash had to be blunt.
"Many roads are closed and the authorities had warned against travelling, so we're stuck here." Ash did feel a little better that he isn't the only one stuck here, but it was a guilty feeling knowing the two people who saved him are forced to stay indoors. Storms in Kanto are notoriously bad due to coastal high winds and the geographic location, the flat lands of Kanto and the lack of mountains meant storms can easily descend upon and wreck havoc on coastal towns and inland lowlands.
"That bad? Our journey starts on the day that a monsoon hits Kanto?" The weather report promised sunshine, instead what they get is a torrential rain that warrants an ark to be built. Ash was not impressed by the monsoon, and neither was Kayla and Marble.
"No one could have predicted it, but it is pretty unlucky. Kayla and I waited two years for this and now we have to delay our journey again, unbelievable." Ash nodded absentmindedly, he was paying more attention to the adorable pokemon that slept by his side more than anything. The rhythmic rising of Skitty and Shinx's body and the little mews and purrs they give was truly a blessing for the soul. Ignoring his injuries and common sense, he scooped the two pokemon in his arms and held them close to him, completely oblivious to the envious look of their trainers who wondered why the hell their own starter never cuddle with them like this.
"When would the storm pass?" Kayla shrugged, his guess is as good as hers. The weather is unpredictable and with the pokemon's ability to change the weather on a whim, who knows when would the storm pass. Maybe they can bribe a Castform to cast Sunny Day to change the weather to their favor.
"No idea, maybe in a few days the wind and rain would die down. But until then, you are stuck with us." Ash chuckled at the deadpanned voice from Marble, he placed a hand on Skitty's head and ruffled it softly. He sat comfortably in the warmth of his bed and eyed his two newfound friends whom he find endearing and interesting.
"You two make it sound like it's a bad thing." The nonchalant voice from him was meant in jest, but Ash swore he saw a shade of pink plastered on their face.
Shortly after Ash and Pikachu was discharged from the Pokemon Center, the group decided to celebrate their recovery and freedom on feasting on the local cuisine. Finding solace and refuge from the monsoon in an unassuming Kantonian Izakaya, the small restaurant were filled to the brim with customers having a jolly good time with their friends and family. The young man smiled at the warm and friendly atmosphere before he heard his name being shouted, Pikachu poked his cheeks and pointed at the very people who called out to him.
"Ash! Over here!" Marble waved with her arms, completely oblivious to Kayla too absorbed in reading the menu of this fine establishment. For such a rainy and cool day, they crave for something warm and hearty, perhaps a nice pot of sukiyaki filled with beef broth and leaks? That sounds delectable right now. The young Joy pondered for a moment before Pikachu jumped right in front of her, her stoic expression broke into an adorable smile as she patted Pikachu's head, earning a coo of content from the fuzzy electric type.
"Hey Pikachu, glad to see you have recovered." The electric mouse did a small nuzzle to show his appreciation and thanks to Kayla before Skitty leaped onto the table and stared at Pikachu with its head titled in curiosity. She had seen Pikachu before as they battle briefly in school grounds and the Spearow incident, but this was the first time she actually seen the electric type properly in pokemon. The cat and mouse duo exchanged greetings and chatted briefly with a snoring Shinx lying on top of Marble's lap.
"Have you guys ordered yet?" Kayla shook her head and placed her phone aside on the table, she already decided what to order for the group. The past week Marble and her spent a lot of their time with Ash in the center or in the park, so they did picked up Ash's eating habits and favouirte food here and there. There wasn't much to do when it's pouring everyday and the streets are inundated with flood water, but thankfully it is nothing too serious.
"Nope, we're waiting for you and the waiters are a little busy." The sound of waiters frantically serving orders and repeating the dishes the customers ordered filled the restaurant. Ash merely nodded and sat down on the comfy cushions, he peered over the menu held in Marble's hand, the prices of the restaurant was a little on the expensive side but given Viridian City is a large metropolitan city, it made sense it is more expensive compared to the countryside. Soon enough, a waitress came to their table and had their tablet ready.
"Hello sorry for the delay, we're short on staff! What would you like to order?" Kayla assumed head leader of the table and pointed at the various food items on the menu.
"One pot of sukiyaki, and then give us a bowl of tai meshi and a plate of karaage. Oh please add on a plate of gyoza as well." The waitress gave a nod after rapidly dancing her fingers across the tablet's screen, she turned to the rest of the group to confirm the orders.
"Is that all?" Marble raised her hand an extended three fingers while patting her sleeping Shinx with the other.
"Hot ocha for three." With the orders confirmed, the waitress left to the central kitchen. Ash raised his eyebrows over the abundance of food and placed his phone on the side of the table next to the chopsticks container.
"Don't you think you ordered a little bit too much Kayla?" The young Joy shrugged but was a little amused by Ash complaining about over ordering, the past week had taught her that Ash is quite the gluttonous fiend when it comes to food. The man devours everything and anything, the type of patron to be banned from all-you-can-eat buffets for a fear of bankruptcy.
"You complaining about too much food Ash? That is a first." Marble nodded and chimed in.
"We're celebrating you and Pikachu's recovery, besides Kayla and I could never order so many dishes to try. Two people can only order so much."
"Well I'm glad to be of service then." Marble couldn't tell if Ash is being genuine or sarcastic but she would let that comment slide for now, she turned her attention to her phone and began to browse for the weather report in search of the forecast for next week. She beamed at the good news and eagerly shared it with her friends.
"The news report says the storm would subside on Monday, so perfect timing." Ash and Pikachu glanced at each other before exchanging a giddy high five, much to Skitty and Kayla's amusement.
"That's good, I'm raring to go already." Amidst his fiery passion and adventurous spirit, Kayla gave a look to Marble who simply nodded in response. Mustering much of her courage, she leaned behind the cushioned chair and bit her lower lip to cope with the nervousness. She let out a sigh over how overdramatic she was and decided to roll with it.
"Ash, Marble and I have been talking." The raven haired teen noted the sense of urgency and seriousness behind her voice, which meant it was a topic that requires all of his attention. He managed a pensive expression as the occasional booming thunder in the distance began to make its way towards the Izakaya.
"Hmm?" Before Kayla could continue, the waitress whom recorded their orders earlier came back with a tray of hot green tea.
"Your ochas." Once the waitress placed each individual cup down one by one, Ash managed a nod to show thanks to the waitress providing them service.
"Thank you." With the waitress gone, Ash turned back to the young nurse and held the hot ocha in his arms, completely immune to the boiling hot tea that is perfect for cold rainy day like these.
"What is it? It's nothing bad right?" Straight as ever, Ash was never one to beat around the bush. He eyes gave a subtle sideways glance to Marble and observed that she too showed signs of nervousness, this was seriously getting concerning now, what's with the secrecy and hesitancy? But fortunately, Kayla was quick to pick up the conversation.
"We've been discussing for a few nights now, you're travelling alone right?" The young man was starting to realize what Kayla was insinuating, he nodded as Pikachu was busy admiring the bottle of the complimentary ketchup on the table.
"Mhmm I am."
"Don't you think it's too dangerous for you to travel alone? At the very least you should travel with a friend." It was deja vu to Ash at this point, indeed his decision to travel alone was met with much resistance. He knew it was a foolish choice, a child with no experience camping outside in the woods should not be left completely alone. At the very least if he as a companion by his side, they could bail him out or suffer with him together. His mother was definitely the most vocal opposition, though given his status as an only child, it was warranted.
"I know, I know, Miss Roxanne and Professor Oak has been pestering about this too. Not to mention that I almost pay the price of travelling alone when the Spearow flock attacked too... if I didn't run into you guys, well things could have ended badly."
"Then don't you think it's time for you to find a group to travel with?" With Marble joining the conversation Ash decided to lay it out straight for them, he crossed his arms and placed them on top of the lacquered wooden table. He maintain a calm outlook and spoke in a low and brief tone.
"Are you guys suggesting that I travel with you girls?"
"Mhmm." It was a simple and straightforward answer, but the two seemed oddly serious about this. Make no mistake, while Ash realistically only known the two for a week now, he felt like he knew them his whole life. The two were seriously awesome with Kayla's cool and calm nature, and Marble's enthusiastic and cheerful antics. But he was still a stranger to them and more important a guy, which is a little weird.
"Are you sure?" Marble nodded as she pushed the ocha just slight to touch Ash's bare forearm, earning the reaction she sorely expected. The little glare from him earned a chuckle from the young Jenny and a eyeroll from Kayla, that was one way to lighten up the mood.
"Well not permanently, just temporarily until we reach Vermillion City. Afterwards we can go our separate ways." Pikachu who successfully opened up the cap of the ketchup bottle intended to feast on his well-earned reward after minutes of unscrewing the cap, but alas Ash while still maintaining eye contact with the girls, used his other hand to sealed the ketchup bottle tight and snatched it away from the dejected electric mouse.
"But why do you want to travel with an amateur like me?" Ignoring his sulking starter for a brief moment, Ash placed the ketchup bottle on the other side of the table and patted the young mouse head, quickly earning his forgiveness and a content squeak.
"Don't sell yourself short Ash, you're a competent and good trainer. Kayla and I wouldn't mind travelling with you, safety in numbers after all. The past few days we hangout pretty much every day, you're a cool person!" Marble's genuine tone was backed up by her slinging her arm across his shoulder with a bright grin, the young man felt his face flushed in red over the close proximity of a pretty girl and the fact she pinned her supple body against his side. For Ash, this is genuinely the first time someone complimented him in such an opened manner, and from a girl no less! Not necessarily something to brag or gloat about, but it was a heck of an confidence boost.
"I- this would be the first time I travel with someone, much less with two girls." Kayla could understand Ash's anxiety and logic, travelling with someone in the wilds is a different experience compared to hanging out with them in a safe and controlled environment like a city. But for his sake, Ash should travel in a group and after the Spearow incident, Kayla and Marble felt uneasy with the idea of Ash travelling alone.
"Ash we're your friends, not aliens. It would be fine, you always respect our privacy and boundaries so what's the harm of travelling together between friends?" Seeing the persistence from them, Ash mulled over his choices. He decision to travel alone was not because he was rejected, no it was out of his own volition and decision. He thought travelling alone would be a good learning experience for independence, to not rely on others and to grow as a person. But perhaps he shouldn't think of travelling in group as a hindrance to growth, but rather as a mean to grow together. What is the harm of travelling with two experienced companions? He has much to learn from them and it would be a fun experience! What more can he want from a pokemon journey?
"I accept." The sudden statement from him froze Kayla and Marble for a moment before their brain finally processed what he said, Marble slammed her hands down the table and stared at Ash incredulously, was he serious?
"Wait just like that?" Ash grinned at their reactions, it honestly cute to see them like this but saner thoughts told him he should leave those thoughts to himself. Instead, he turned to Pikachu and a gave a determined look to his starter.
"Pikachu do you like the idea of travelling with them?" The electric mouse felt all eyes on him, but the affable pokemon is a simple individual, he thought about how the two ladies saved his life and his trainer's, and that was more than enough to earn his approval and adoration.
"Pika pika!" With the electric mouse enthusiastically agreeing with its eyes closed, Ash chuckled at ruffled its head in jubilant joy.
"See?" Kayla's lip curled upwards, then it was settled. Ash officially joins them now, a travel buddy, another person to have their back but most importantly of all, they have a new friend joining their ranks. Together they would experience the good, persevere through the bad and work together to achieve their respective goals and aspirations, at least until Vermillion City.
"Great, we would make a move on Monday, you have our contacts saved right?"
"Yep. How long do you think it would take to reach the port city?" Kayla tapped her fingers against her chin in a thinking pose, she nodded to herself as she did a rough calculation in her head.
"Well on foot it would take maybe three weeks or so." Three weeks is an awful long time, if Kayla and Marble's intention was to leave Kanto as soon as possible, then why not take the taxi or even a domestic flight? It seemed odd they are doing the standard Kanto trainer route yet they have their eyes set on Vermillion.
"Actually I was wondering why not just take a transport straight to Vermillion, you don't need to do the trainer route." Before either of them could answer, the waitress finally make her triumphant return with a tray filled with food. Ash's neurons instantly activated at the sight of the sizzling sukiyaki, the crispy looking gyozas, the fragrant smell of the sea bream from the tai meshi, and of course who can forget the fried chicken friend in sweet soy sauce and seasoned with lemon zest. A lunch for the kings if Ash could call it one.
"Your order is here, please enjoy." The waitress left the group to their meals, and Ash did not waste time to give his thanks before devouring his meal. The fresh sea bream from tai meshi mixed with rice and gingers really brought out the hearty feeling of a dish in the cold weather months. But while Ash's attention was focus on the food, Marble picked up the conversation where they left off as she skillfully picked up the beef slices marinated with sweet sauce bubbled on top of the sukiyaki broth with her chopsticks. The fried enoki mushrooms and leaks accompanying the broth just the soup taste even sweeter.
"Kayla and I decided it's best we do the traditional trainer passage to encounter pokemon. Besides, us travelling to Vermillion City isn't exactly out of free will, if we can delay it then all the better." Pikachu and Ash halted their poor eating behavior, they sense the bitterness within their voice and could tell that it was an uncomfortable subject. Seeing the concerned expression from Ash, Kayla took control of the conversation and gently told him off.
"Let's leave it at that Ash, for now let's enjoy the food." And with that, the group left the conversation as it is and focus on their delicious food. Though Ash was enjoying his meal, he was interrupted by the constant bombardment of Kayla placing food in his bowl, as if he was some kid in the dinner table that needed to be fed by an adult.
"K-Kayla I already have enough Karaage and gyoza." The rose haired teen ignored Ash and wagged her index finger in front of him, justifying her actions with his injuries.
"You just recovered, so eat more." It was by far the most Kantonian thing Ash had ever heard but the smirk from Kayla did little to remedy the situation, so Ash turned to the only person who can help him, Unfortunately, Marble enjoyed the little show they were putting on for her as she sipped on her tea with a devilish grin.
"Just be a good boy and eat Ash." The young man wasn't sure what to feel right now, at one hand he felt patronized by the two older girls who were clearly treating him like some child that needs to be taken cared off and pampered. On the other hand, it felt really nice to have someone actively looking out for him in this manner. Other than his mother, he never really have someone looking out for him like this. So this was strangely nice and warm, though he would be lying if he didn't enjoy the idea of two older girls taking care of him.
"How do you like the food Ash?" The young man gathered his thoughts and chewed his food more slowly, enjoying the saltiness, the freshness and the suppleness of the meat. Izakaya food mostly taste the same, but Kayla managed to order an assortment of meals that were different from what he usually would order.
"This is pretty good, the sea bream is nice and zetsy with the lemon juice while the Karaage is just nice with the crunchy skin and juicy meat. The sukiyaki broth is just hearty and- what?" His explanation was stop short when the fit of giggles escaped from Marble and Kayla. He lowered his chopsticks and placed it on the bed of rice on his bowl before assuming a confused expression.
"Nothing, it's just- you sound like a desperate food reviewer trying to find the right words to describe the food you're eating." Ash had never felt so insulted in his entire life, they asked him how is the food and he gave an answer.
"Why do you have to call me out like that." The duo chuckled at his deadpanned expression, the little banters between them were honestly the highlight of their relationship. After becoming world's greatest food reviewer, Ash engaged in small talk the two girls, talking about their dreams, their ambitions and their favourite music genres. It was a surreal experience really, hearing their thoughts and opinions on everything and anything was great. But their conversation was short lived when Ash noticed a certain pink feline pokemon staring at the delicious Sea Bream they have been eating.
"Skitty is eyeing the Tai Meshi." Kayla blinked and turned to her starter who covered its face with her tail out of embarrassment. Such adorable behavior instantly earned Kayla's chuckle as she picked her starter in her arms to reassure her.
"Sea bream is her favourite, isn't it kitty~" The kitten perked up when her trainer place a generous portion of sea bream on her hand, it didn't hesitate to devour the fish whole and let out a content purr at the delicious human cooked food. It was an adorable sight for Ash especially seeing a cool and stoic person like Kayla acting all girly and dorky just for a moment. Satisfied with their meal, the trio paid for their lunch and headed outside the izakaya. The crisp cool air of the city was well met with the ambient lighting of the street lights reflected by the puddles of the city. The heavy rain had fortunately subsided though the little drizzles and soft muffled sounds of thunder were an indicator that the storm has not completely pass yet.
"Uwah that was satisfying, the air is crisp and cool too, any place we haven't visit yet in Viridian?" Ash peered over the the cars that drove through the wet streets, pedestrians clad in umbrellas and long sleeves clothes began to appear on the streets, while the local pokemon began to popped their head out of their burrows and shelters to enjoy the fresh earthly scent of petrichor, the byproduct of the smell of rain. Marble assumed a deep philosophical thinking pose before a bright lightbulb materialized on the top of her head, she hastily went through her phone and rapidly searched for the nearest tourist attractions.
"We can go visit the shrine temple here, its a popular tourist attraction. I wanted to take a few pictures of the shrine gates." Kayla peered over her friend's phone and slumped over her shoulders, she marveled at the photos of the ancients shrines enveloped in steam and smoke, the young Joy could practically smell the incense sticks and the sound of meditation prayers.
"Let's go then, shrines and temples often look more photogenic after the rain." The laminated wooden beams of a building darkened when it becomes wet, so it naturally provides a more vibrant contrast. Old traditions were still something Kanto hold onto dearly, especially when it comes to customs and culture. And thus the journey to the shrine begin, Ash marveled at the large metropolitan city of Viridian, towering skyscrapers and giant office building stood in contrast to the suburban neighborhoods filled with parks and greenery, it was as if this large sprawling city have little nature getaways away from the bustling traffic and packed pedestrians. He climbed up the stone stairs that led to the residential part of the town, the steep slopes and mountains were a welcome sight compared to the concrete jungle, but the young man's barely recovered body did felt the strain when it came to hiking upwards. Soon enough they reached the gates of the Viridian City shrine, the dreaded crowd they anticipated was no where to be seen due to the typhoon and storms, a win in Ash's book.
"Wow! I often come to Viridian City because of mom's work, but this is actually the first time I seen the shrine. It looks so majestic and traditional, I can see why it's so popular with tourist." Marble's was quick to pull her phone out and snap some pictures to post on her social media feed, the iconic red Torii gates and the pokemon statue shrines were plastered all over the place, with the occasional shrine maidens and priests sweeping away the rain puddles down the drain. Tourists were few and far in between but the sound of camera shutters going off were still an unwelcome distraction, really takes the magical experience out of this contemporary and profound moment. However Ash didn't mind that, instead he focused on paying respects to those who came before them, he took a moment to give his respects and pray at a shrine with Pikachu faithfully following his trainer's lead. Though Ash wasn't necessary pious or religious, paying respects to your elders and your ancestors for good luck and good fortune is never a bad thing. It was something he picked up from his mother at a young age.
With his prayers finished, Ash felt a tap on his shoulders. He turned around and smiled at the sight of Marble and Kayla standing in front of a picturesque spot that perfectly encapsulates the majestic nature of an ancient shrine filled with pokemon statues, iconic red Torii gates and the beautiful architecture.
"Hey Ash can you take a picture of us?" The young man obliged and took Marble's phone, he took a few step backs to get the perfect angle. He utilized the basic golden ratio of photography and aligned key interest subjects in the picture, capturing both the lovely ladies, the overall aesthetical layout of the shrine and the framing composition.
"Alright get ready! Three, two, one, smile!" With a camera shuttle going off, Ash captured the iconic landmark monument of Viridian city. He smiled at his handiwork as Marble giddily went to his side and to see how the photo turned out. She gave a satisfied smile and took back her phone, giving the younger man a thumbs up over a job well done.
"Nice shot Ash. Here take one with us!" The Pikachu trainer could barely comprehend her words before Kayla pushed a nervous looking Ash with her, sandwiched between the two girls, the young man let out a nervous smile as the two posed for the camera. Pikachu took a customary gleeful stance by giving a victory pose while Ash did his best to smile naturally in front of the camera held by Marble. With the mandatory cheeeeese from Marble, the trio forever captured the memory of visiting Viridian City shrine.
"Nice!" After the little photo session, the trio began to read up on the history of the shrine carved in the mountain stone. Apparently a Ninetails visited a monk during a dream and instructed him to travel from Hisui, modern day Sinnoh to Kanto to build a shrine. It was a weird story and Ash for one find it ridiculous that the monk must travel distant lands just to build a shrine dedicated to the kitsune. Still, it was thanks to the monk's contribution and dedication that a monumental and culturally important shrine is here on Viridian to this day.
"I heard the pokemon in Lavaridge Town all relax and bathe in the hot springs." The young man held Pikachu in his arms as Kayla showed them pictures of the local Marills relaxing in a hot springs with a content look plastered on their face. Torkoals and Lotads were also seen ferrying the other pokemon around in the hot waters, it was a super adorable and calming sight, so much so that the tradition of humans bathing in hot springs or onsen were inspired by pokemon themselves!
"That's cute~ I would love to go to Hoenn one day." The tropical waterlocked region is known for its pristine beaches and fascinating geographic location, interest locations such a Meteor Caves and the concerning active volcano Mt Chimney were the highlight of Hoenn. It was Marble and Kayla's dream to visit the region and explore the uncharted lands with their own eyes, perhaps even write about their own experiences in a diary or vlog it.
"We can Marble, once we finished our business in Vermilion we can head straight for Hoenn. Ash are you planning to leave Kanto any time soon?" The Pikachu trainer shook his head, for as much he wants to explore the other regions first, there is the saying that locals do not visit the tourist locations. So explore all of what Kanto has to offer before leaving it, at least that was what Ash believed.
"No, I plan to visit all of Kanto before leaving it, sorry." Kayla find it ridiculously that Ash has to apologize for deciding his own travel plans, this was his journey and he shouldn't let other people dictate how he should experience it. Sure, she and Marble convinced Ash to travel with them but that was rooted in the concern of his personal safety and ensuring he had a smooth initial journey! Once they reached Vermillion, he would be all on his own.
"It's alright, that is perfectly valid. Don't apologize for doing what you think it's best for yourself okay?" The warm advice from his two classmates brought a smile to his face, they are remarkably nice to him despite a week of knowing each other. He honestly felt like he could relate and tell them everything about himself and they would listen with the utmost understanding.
"Sure!" With that, the trio lingered around the local tourist spots of Viridian before grabbing a quick dinner. The row of street food vendors in a marketplace and the sight of meat being grilled on the barbeque was enough to bring Ash to the point of salivation. Darting from stall to stall, Ash ordered everything from yakitori, fried calamari rings and good old shaved ice, cold weather be damned.
"Didn't we just had lunch? You're already eating so much?" Ignoring Marble's concern for his carnivorous appetite, Ash doubled down by finishing his skewered chicken with fresh leak and caramelized onions. His starter gave a squeak when Ash offer a skewered of roast chicken laced with ketchup sauce, his trainer certainly know how to spoil and make him happy.
"It's not that much food." After successfully defending his food eating habits from the two, the trio waddled around the nightlife of the city when the looming storm finally approached them. The downpour resulted in many passersby running inside the sheltered malls for safe harbor, thus ending the wild nightlife of Viridian. With no where to hangout or have a fun night out, the trio decided to head back to the Pokemon Center and retire for the night. There would always be more places worth exploring on the morrow.
"Kay and I would hit the hay first, we're really drained from today." Kayla nodded tiredly as she let out a yawn, she leaned onto Marble's shoulders for a makeshift pillow while Ash gave a nod. He wasn't tired but given he has been stuck indoors for a week now, he would do anything to have an excuse and go out. Part of the charm of a pokemon journey is the unlimited freedom they have and while Ash wasn't one for the big glamourous city life, he was impressed by how fun it is. If he was older, he would definitely go to bar, plays some darts and chat with the friendly locals.
"Alright, good night Marble, night Kayla. I see you tomorrow?"
"Of course. Wake up bright and early tomorrow okay? Marble and I want to spare with you, both of us are itching to battle Pikachu and you." Pikachu perked up at the thought of battling, he reveled in the thrill of battle just like his trainer. The intensity, the adrenaline the mind games, all of it was so exciting!
"Ooh okay I like that! Pikachu and I would be ready, right buddy?" The electric mouse saluted and cried its name out enthusiastically. The two best friends chuckled at the fuzzy pokemon's excitement and approached closer to him.
"Night Ash, and good night to you too Pikachu~" The young man smiled when Pikachu closed its eyes in content when Marble scratched its ears, petting them softly in the process before giving one last squeeze on its red pouch cheeks. Kayla booped the nose of the electric type and bid her goodbye with her fingers, leaving the Ash and Pikachu in the main lobby of the Pokemon Center as the two retreated to the confines of their room. The Kanto native smiled at ruffled his starter's head, the electric type certainly enjoy the pampering from the two.
"Ash a moment?" The melodious voice of the Nurse Joy who nursed him back to health surprised him, he was near certain that the trio were alone in the center with the head nurse running her errands. He turned around and smiled when Nurse Joy waved to him with her faithful Chansey sitting next to her reading a magazine.
"Is something wrong Nurse Joy?" She shook her head and clasped her hands together, she struggled to find the right words but eventually nodded to herself to bolster her confidence. She eyed the young man before her and felt relieved that her cousin found a good friend.
"Nothing is wrong Ash, but if you don't mind me asking, are you travelling with Kayla and Marble? I know it's not my place to ask but knowing who my cousin is travelling with puts my heart at ease." Ash could certainly understand that, to her he was just a random stranger Kayla and Marble saved from doom, who he really is as a person remains a mystery so a little skepticism is expected.
"I understand and I am! The two are really awesome, they were nice to enough to invite me to join them. It won't be for long though, we part ways once we reach Vermillion City." Nurse Joy beamed and swiftly held Ash's hand, the sudden action from the pretty nurse brought a faint blush to his cheeks.
"That's wonderful! Frankly speaking, I'm happy they are travelling around the world right now, and it's all thanks to you." The grateful tone and relieved expression brought a curious expression to Ash, why should be credited with Kayla and Marble's decision to travel around the world? As far as he know, he had done nothing to influence their dreams and desire to travel around the world when they were in school.
"Huh? But what did I do?" The confusion on his face was adorable, but the head nurse decided that it was best that she remain hush around it.
"I leave that to them, just don't mention my name okay? They don't usually go out of their way for someone if they didn't deeply care for them." The comment at the end certainly left Ash even more perplexed, to say the two girls deeply care for him might be overstretching it. He was just some bloke they knew from school, not someone particularly close to them. Even after saving his life and hanging out with him, Ash was always conscious that the two girls treated him well because they felt obligated to look after him as his senior.
But quick to return to her duties, Nurse Joy went back to her business while Ash and Pikachu make their way back to their room. He let out a tired sigh once the warm insulated rooms of the center hit his skin, a nice warm shower and watching some cooking videos before sleeping sounds like a fantastic idea. He place his cap and trainer belt on the dressing room and stripped his jacket, tossing it skillfully on the nearby chair only to completely missed it. He ignored the snickering from his starters and hang the jacket around the chair, the crinkles and creases can be smoothen out in the morning.
After tending to his personal hygiene, Ash wore his undergarments and placed Pikachu in a plastic tub. He chuckled when the electric type sniffed the shampoo in his hands before giving it a little lick, the immediate reaction was swift as it cringe in disgust over the chemical taste of the body wash.
"Let's get you nice and clean buddy." The electric sighed in content when Ash massaged his body and scrubbed his fur with a brush filled with shampoo. It was oddly therapeutic for Ash to groom his starter like this, perhaps it was the pleased and content expressions from his starter telling him that he was doing a good job, or the fact his starter's adorable reactions was super infectious, everything about this felt really nice for the both of them. His mind soon drifted to Kayla and Marble, finding them constantly on his mind for a mirage of reasons now.
"Kayla and Marble are really nice Pikachu, I never thought you can become fast friends with people who you only know for a few days. It feels like you know them your whole life." The affable electric stared at his trainer's pensive expression, he knew his trainer better than anyone. Rarely does he ever get sentimental or reflective about others, the only person whom he showed this level of care and attention was his mother. Growing up in Pallet Town Ash didn't have many close friends where he can share everything with, that was not to say he was a loner, far from it! But close friends where you can let loose and confined your regrets and fears with are few and far between.
"Pika!" His starter place a reassuring paw on him, instantly breaking him from being overwhelmed by his own emotions. He shot a determined look and clenched his fists in the air, no time for sentiments, tomorrow they would be battling out with Kayla and Marble.
"Tomorrow we are going to wake up bright and early buddy, let's do our best!" The electric type grinned and in complete sync and unison, the two exchanged a high five. Next agenda on the list, is drying up and getting comfy on the bed for warm snuggling time!