Hey everyone! This is a short story idea I've had for a while now, and after I got the motivation, I was able to finish it! I got this idea from watching Paul's return in Pokemon Journeys. I've always wondered what he'd been up to after the Sinnoh League and before he returned. Well, this delves into exactly that. This is gonna be as close to the canon show as possible. Most of this stems from my personal headcanons.
Hope you enjoy!
"Hey everyone, I'm home-WAAAHHH!"
The young Pallet Town kid was cut short as a herd of Tauros attacked him affectionately, sending him flying into the air. His best electric mouse friend cried in worry, but soon sighed in relief once he saw his trainer land safely on top of said herd.
He briefly adjusted his hat before chuckling at the warm welcome he usually received whenever he visited home. "I missed you guys too!" He exclaimed delightfully, petting one of his Tauros affectionately.
The Tauros placed him safely on the ground, as the young boy quickly responded with a grateful smile. Before he could say anything else, he heard something approaching from the distance and slowly gaining momentum, prompting him to turn around. He barely even had time to react, as he was immediately attacked again and fell to the ground, with all his Pokémon on top of him rejoicing cheerfully. The young trainer laughed at the affection just like always; it almost felt like a routine, especially one that would never get old. "Okay, I think you guys missed me more than I missed you. It's great to see all of you again!"
"Bay! Bayleef!" The familiar pale yellow reptilian exclaimed lovingly, continuing to hold Ash towards the ground.
Ash smiled widely as he reached out to hug and nuzzle her. "Aww, Bayleef! I missed you too!"
Once he was free from the adoring hostage, he was able to stand up, as he sighed a breath of relief…that is, until he heard an all too familiar petrifying ROAR followed quickly by him being engulfed in flames. He coughed before he said, "Wow Charizard, your Flamethrower's still as strong as ever…" He admitted weakly, as all his other Pokemon laughed in response. Charizard roared once again, as Ash sheepishly laughed, aware that this was his way of showing affection.
"Ash?" A young woman's familiar voice was heard a few feet away. "I knew I heard something. I'm so glad you're here!"
Ash was ecstatic to hear his mother's voice and Pikachu jumped excitedly onto Delia's shoulder. She rubbed Pikachu's ears lovingly, as Pikachu responded with a purr. Ash pumped his fist excitedly. "Of course, mom! How could I ever miss this?"
"Well, you haven't come home in so long…" Delia reminded him, a frown forming. She hadn't seen her son in what felt like ages after Ash had decided to continue travelling after becoming the World Champion. She knew that he always found immense joy in the idea of an adventure, but that didn't mean she didn't miss him.
He nervously rubbed the back of his head, as a slight chuckle escaped his lips. "Yeah…sorry, mom. But, I'm here right now and I'm so psyched, I can't tell 'ya! I can't wait to see everyone soon. It's gonna be so awesome!"
Today was officially the first-year anniversary of Ash's World Champion victory. It was unfathomable that a year had passed by that quickly. He could still remember it like it was just yesterday; his best buddy, Pikachu, up against Leon's undefeatable and incredibly powerful Charizard, both giving it their very all, until finally, Leon's Charizard fell, declaring him the winner. He remembered being momentarily stunned, a similar feeling he had in the pit of his stomach when he won the Alola League, but just like that victory, this, too, was real. He became the first person to dethrone Leon; he became the World Champion. It was a momentous event that he could never forget in a lifetime.
Delia smiled warmly at his enthusiasm, something that never changed regardless of all the journeys he had. "I know, honey. I sent out invitations to all of your friends for tonight's party. Why don't you help us get everything prepared?"
Ash nodded. "Of course!"
As he entered his humble abode with Delia following from behind, he thought how refreshing it felt to be home after years of travelling around the world. Ever since he became World Champion, he and Pikachu explored the rest of the world on their own, wherever his feet could take him. He was always so fascinated by new adventures, new people that he'd meet every day, new Pokémon, and especially the constant battles he'd have with trainers. It was safe to say that he'd never get tired of this feeling.
But at this moment, being with all his Pokémon and his mom, back at the very roots of his journey – Pallet Town – gave him a different kind of feeling. He looked at his partner on his shoulder, and grinned thinking about their first encounter, and thought how they had come a long way together ever since that day.
"Welcome home, Ashy boy."
Ash was pulled away from his thoughts as he looked over to see Gary and Professor Oak in their kitchen, and walked over to them excitedly. "Gary! Professor Oak!"
Professor Oak smiled warmly at the young trainer, ecstatic to see him again. He could still remember the day when Ash arrived late at his lab, prompting him to entrust him with a Pikachu. He recognized how much he and Pikachu had grown since that day and how strong their friendship had developed, and he couldn't be prouder. "Ash! We've been waiting for you. How are you and Pikachu?"
"Pikachu and I are just fine," he replied. "But hey, what are you guys doing here in my house?"
Gary closed his eyes and smirked. "Listen, Ashy boy, I know you're the World Champion and everything, but you don't need to get rid of us."
Ash raised his palms in a defensive manner. "That's not it at all—"
Gary chuckled, still getting a kick out of teasing his childhood friend after all these years. "Relax! Your mom told us about the anniversary party you're having tonight, so we decided to help out by getting some supplies." He explained, briefly gesturing over to the several grocery bags that were currently sitting in the kitchen counter. "You can't expect your mom to do everything by herself, can you?"
Ash simply chuckled in agreement. "No, of course not."
"By the way," Gary started to say as he extended out his hand, as Ash glanced at it before waiting for Gary to continue, "Let me be the first to say…congratulations, World Champion."
Ash grinned in response and eagerly shook his hand. "Thanks Gary! I never got the chance to congratulate you on becoming a Chaser. Goh told me all about it!"
Gary returned a smile of his own, briefly recalling the adventures he had with Goh during Project Mew. The last time he had heard from him was when Goh challenged Misty's gym. Oak watched the two with a smile before recalling something. "Oh yes, that reminds me of something. Ash, Tracey should be here soon, with a surprise."
Ash's chocolate brown eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really? I wonder what it could be…"
"Look who's here!" Delia exclaimed, as she approached the kitchen, with a familiar young adult following from behind. He seemed to have something in the palm of his head as he swiftly hit it behind his back.
"Tracey!" Ash grinned, seeing how much the male had grown. He was much taller now, even standing a few inches above Delia. "Man, it's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Sure has! Last time I saw you was when you won the World Coronation Series. You know, everyone was watching that match on TV. It was amazing!"
Ash couldn't help but to rub his nose sheepishly at all the compliments, but still appreciated them, nonetheless. Ever since he became World Champion, he was basically considered a celebrity. His pictures were published in thousands of ads in every region, hundreds of fans would ask for a picture, or an autograph, and he'd been asked to conduct several interviews throughout these years. Admittedly, it got overwhelming at times, but he knew the fame was a small price to pay for this renowned title that he and his Pokémon had earned. "Thank you, Tracey, that means a lot."
Tracey pulled out what he was hiding behind his back, as Ash stared at it in slight awe. It was a painting depicting him and Pikachu holding the World Coronation Series trophy. "This is for you. It's something I worked on a while ago…well, sort of. It started off as a simple drawing, but I realized a simple drawing isn't enough for the World Champion, right? So, I painted this instead. What do you think?"
Ash took the painting in his hands and observed it more closely. Tracey had captured every intricate detail with each stroke. To say he was amazed was an understatement. "I love it. It's awesome, really! You're so talented, Tracey!"
Tracey rubbed the back of his head embarrassingly. "Of course, though it was the least I could do for an old friend."
Delia smiled warmly at the heartfelt discussion the two were having. "Ash, why don't you put the painting in your room? Then after, you can help us all with the preparations."
Ash nodded. "Sure," he said before sprinting up to his room, as Delia, Gary and Professor Oak all laughed at his eagerness.
He placed the painting carefully next to his desk, before he glanced at his trophies and badge collections, as his proud smile grew wider. They still looked fairly new and shiny, allowing Ash to suspect his mom regularly dusted them. "Aren't they all amazing, Pikachu?"
"Pika-pi!"
"All our badges from Kanto all the way to Kalos, the Z-Crystals, the Frontier Symbols…and who could forget the Alola League and Pokemon World Coronation Series trophies?" His eyes wavered in astonishment, reminiscent of all the journeys he had with his Pokémon. "We all worked hard to achieve every single badge and trophy on this desk. I don't think I'd ever be at this point without my friends." He looked towards Pikachu on his shoulder with a small smile.
As he was about to leave, his eyes darted towards something silver, prompting him to stop. He placed the string between his fingers, the silver metallic objects dangling slightly. "The Soothe bells from that Hearthome Tag Battle…", he trailed off in thought. He recalled how Paul had no regard for the item and instead threw it towards him at the end of the tournament. And then he recalled how Paul helped him train for the Masters Eight Tournament. He felt like he owed part of his World Champion status to Paul; if it weren't for his training and advice, there was a possibility that he would have lost. He chuckled at the fact that the Paul he knew now was so drastically different compared to when he first met him.
"Pika-pi?" The electric mouse questioned what he was thinking about.
Ash was pulled back to reality. "Huh? Oh, it's nothing, buddy. I was just looking at these Soothe bells and how they reminded me of Paul." Suddenly, he had an idea as he pumped his fist in the air excitingly. "Hey, I know! If Paul's gonna be here tonight, we should totally give this back to him! I mean, it does belong to him, right?"
"Pi-Pikachu!"
"Alright then, it's settled! We'll be waiting for you, Paul!"
A few hours later passed and Ash found himself surrounded by all his friends and travelling companions. He had spent the last two hours reconnecting with everyone, enthusiastically sharing stories of his journey with Pikachu after he became the World Champion. He found himself rambling the more his excitement grew, as everyone watched curiously.
"Hmm," a teasing voice remarked, "You may be the World Champion, but you're still such a kid. Always over excited. I guess some things never change," Iris said, a smug look apparent on her face, as she winked. The tall yellow-green dragon Pokemon beside her started chuckling, much to Ash's dismay.
Ash smirked. "That makes two of us, ya know!"
Misty and Brock, who were currently standing next to Iris, couldn't help but to laugh at the teasing comment. "Hey, Ash." Misty called. "Why don't you introduce me to everyone else you travelled with? I'd love to meet them."
He nodded while smiling, thrilled about the idea. "Sure!" He directed her over to the group of familiar coordinators, who seemed to be currently chatting about something. The three girls directed their attention towards the two. "Misty, this is-"
"Misty!" May remarked happily, recalling meeting her while visiting Ash during his Hoenn journey. "Wow, it's been such a long time."
Misty nodded in agreement. "Sure has! I saw your Johto Grand Festival win. You and Mega Blaziken were awesome."
May laughed embarrassingly, as she rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, but appreciated the kind words regardless. "Thank you, Blaziken and I worked really hard. Drew was at the top of his game as usual, and it was a pretty close battle."
"Hey, but you won, that's all that matters!" Ash reminded her, and Misty nodded in agreement.
Her eyes fell on the other coordinator beside May whom she recognized as well, especially with Piplup on top of her head. "Dawn, right? I've heard so much about you!"
She seemed a bit shocked, as her sapphire blue eyes widened in response. "Really? Wow, thanks! I've heard a lot about you as well!"
"Congrats on winning the Grand Festival in Kanto!"
"You watched it?!"
Misty winked. "Why wouldn't I? With an adorable little Pokemon like that, I couldn't not root for you," she said, gesturing to the little blue penguin atop her head, who just replied smugly with a small chirp, resulting in everyone laughing.
Ash continued to laugh as he said, "Yup, Piplup's sure something else!"
The laughter ceased as Misty looked around for someone before eventually directing her question at May. "Hey, where's Max? I thought I saw him earlier."
She pointed towards a far corner where Max was currently in a heated battle with his Treecko against what apparently seemed like a Dedenne. "As soon as he was done hearing Ash's stories, he found someone to battle with. That's just like him anyway," she said, laughing at his usual antics.
"Oh, he's battling against Bonnie!" Another voice chimed in, and all eyes turned toward Serena. She chuckled awkwardly as several curious faces focused on her, eager for her to provide more context. "She's Clemont's sister. He's one of the-"
"Gym leaders in Kalos, right? Specifically the Lumoise Gym," Misty finished, leaving Ash appalled.
Ash dramatically cried, "How did you know?!"
Misty rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, her hand meeting her face. "Ash, you've talked about him countless times when you told me about your journey in Kalos."
"Oh, right," Ash said, chuckling in embarrassment.
Misty shook her head in disapproval, then turned her attention to the honey-blonde girl. "And you must be Serena," she said. "Ash has mentioned you before, but I also recognize you from some contests. I think I remember seeing you compete in Slateport's Contest Live alongside May."
Serena glanced towards May before looking towards Misty again. "Yeah, contests are really fun. And it was really fun competing with May, too. It was a shame that we lost, but I've learned a whole lot from her. It's not every day you get to learn from a Top Coordinator."
May waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, come on, Serena, don't embarrass me," she said with a grin. "And don't sell yourself short! You and Delphox pulled off some incredible combinations at the Slateport Contest Live!"
"That's only because I've watched your contests, along with Dawn's for a while!"
Dawn sweat-dropped, mirroring Piplup's reaction. "Oh great, now it's my turn to be embarrassed!"
Serena merely laughed. "So Misty," she continued, "Are you still handling the gym?"
Misty nodded. "Yeah, but I told my sister to take care of it while I was gone. After all, I couldn't miss this celebration," she said, hinting towards Ash's one-year anniversary victory. "And also, I figured I could get the chance to battle someone."
Ash looked towards Pikachu excitedly, grinning in the process. "Alright, Pikachu, I choose-"
"Not you!" Misty yelled abruptly, before she saw both Ash and Pikachu pouting. "Sorry, Ash, but we've battled plenty of times before. But there's someone else here who I'd love to battle."
Ash grew curious, as he raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Misty smiled, walking past Ash. He turned around and noticed her walking towards Iris. Once he understood what was happening, he looked at Pikachu who matched his exhilarated expression.
Before he could see the battle between his two best friends commence, a loud explosion distracted the young trainer, as he looked towards his right, only to see a contraption being utterly destroyed, being left to bits and pieces after the smoke cleared. He laughed once he saw Goh, Brock, Cilan, Kiawe and Sophocles's stupefied expressions, and approached the group.
"I thought for sure my Applause O Meter 5000 would work this time…" Ash heard Clemont say dreadfully towards his now dismantled and run-down machine.
Ash grinned, recalling all the times when his inventions blew up. It was good to know that nothing had changed. "Hey everyone!"
Everyone smiled towards the Pallet Town trainer but Goh was the first to respond. "Hey Ash!"
Ash smiled in response and was about to respond before he was interrupted by the familiar Pokemon Connoisseur. "I think this calls for…EVALUATION TIME!" He exclaimed excitedly, using his magnifying glass he pulled out of seemingly nowhere to inspect the machine while everyone sweat-dropped. "This is quite an interesting gimmick you have here."
Sophocles soon joined in and inspected the machine as well. "Maybe I can try to see what went wrong."
"Uh, what is he exactly evaluating?" Kiawe asked, whispering to Brock, referring to Cilan.
Brock didn't exactly know how to respond, only offering a chuckle. "Don't worry, it's something you get used to. By the way, Ash, I can't believe it's been a whole year since you defeated Leon."
"I know!" Ash pumped his hand in the air. "I'll never forget how psyched we were to battle him, right buddy?"
"Pika-Pikachu!"
"Don't forget you're still the Alola Champion as well," Gladion remarked from behind him. Ash turned around and his smile widened when he saw his former rival and Lillie beside him. He noticed Mallow and Lana closely watching with pride from behind as well.
Ash's eyes sparkled as he widened his arms in the air, recalling his first ever League victory. "Of course! We'd never forget about that."
Ash heard the sound of a camera shutter and turned over to his left curiously, where he saw someone he didn't really expect, but was pleasantly surprised regardless. He hadn't seen him since the Unova League. "Wow, it's Trip!" He ran over towards the blonde-haired trainer, as he commenced taking photos of the failed invention. "Hey Trip, I didn't expect to see you here!"
Trip acknowledged Ash with a miniscule but noticeable smile. "It has been a while."
"Uh, why are you taking pictures of my invention?" Clemont asked.
He placed the camera back in his travelling backpack. "I like to document things. It's a hobby."
"So, what have you been up to since the Unova League,Trip?" Ash couldn't help but grow interested to know.
He placed the palms of his hands in his pockets and closed his eyes. "Well, I trained a lot and had a battle with Alder. I managed to defeat him, but I realized I still have a lot to do if I wanna be a Champion. So…I think it'd be a perfect opportunity to battle Iris as well. I've seen her battle against Cynthia, and I know going up against her will be no picnic."
"Wow, Trip that's great!" Ash exclaimed happily, before realizing something. "Wait a minute, so does that mean you're not here to celebrate my victory against Leon?"
Trip shrugged in an attempt to be vague, a hint of a smile still visible. "Who knows?"
Ash had a blank look on his face before he just laughed awkwardly. He was happy to know that his former rival was a bit friendlier. Speaking of former rivals, that reminded him that he had to look for Paul to return the soothe bell. His eyes scanned the entire area for a few seconds until a frown formed when he couldn't locate him.
"What's got you so down, Ash?" Gary approached him.
"Huh? It's nothing. Hey Gary, have you seen Paul?"
He rubbed his chin in thought. "Hmm, can't say I have. Was he invited?"
He wasn't entirely sure, as the frown deepened. He had been looking forward to seeing Paul again. "I think so. My mom said she invited everyone. I guess he just didn't show up."
"Maybe he's running late?" Gary suggested.
He recalled the conversation he had with Paul a year ago, when he had offered to train him in preparation for the Masters Eight Tournament. "Actually, Paul doesn't like noisy crowds. That's why he probably didn't want to come."
Gary nodded in understanding but still seemed to be skeptical. "Even on a special occasion like this? I mean, you did say that Paul helped train you for the Masters Eight. I figured he'd want to be here after that."
Ash internally agreed, but just masked his disappointment with a smile. No matter how much he was looking forward to his arrival, it was important to respect his wishes as well. "Don't worry. There's always next time!"
Ash noticed Gary was about to say something, probably words of comfort before he heard Delia call out to him. "Ash!" She was standing behind a podium that had been recently set up. "Why don't you come up here and say a few words?"
Ash glanced at Pikachu, while chuckling heartily with his best friend, before running up to the podium excitedly, tripping over a rock, nearly losing balance. "Eaughh….woah….woah!" He yelled, the cries being echoed into the mic, as everyone watched worriedly. Once he managed to control his balance and stand upright again, he rubbed the back of his head and laughed sheepishly. "We're okay!" He exclaimed, as everyone sighed a breath of relief.
He scanned the area in front of him, as a smile appeared on his face looking towards the group of familiar friends. He was instantaneously reminded of all the adventures he had with his friends, the pokemon he befriended and the many things he learned along the way. "Hey everyone! I'd like to thank you all for coming…it means a lot to Pikachu and me. Being the World Champion means a lot to us, and I have so many people to thank. I have to thank Pikachu, of course!" He exclaimed proudly, looking at his best friend resting happily on his shoulder. "Without you, buddy, I don't think we'd ever be here!" Pikachu cooed in response and nuzzled against Ash's cheeks, and he rubbed his ears affectionately in response.
"I'd also never be here without all of you guys. I've learned so much while travelling with each and everyone of you," he said with a grateful smile, not taking his eyes off of his friends. "Plus, all the Pokemon that I caught and became friends with - I know they helped me through some really tough battles, especially against my rivals and in the Pokemon Leagues!"
"And of course, I have to thank my mom as well!" He looked towards her, and she responded with a proud smile.
He cleared his throat and looked at the crowd once more. All of his friends were watching him with eager and ecstatic smiles. "Even though I'm the current World Champion, I still have a lot to learn. Pikachu and I want to keep travelling, keep meeting new Pokemon and making new friends. And then I'll know that I'll truly be a Pokemon Master."
Ash stumbled back a bit once he heard thundering applause and roars of cheering that were directed towards him. He regained his composure, offering a grin before walking away from the podium and towards his friends again to celebrate the rest of the day.
A few hours later passed, and Ash found himself resting against a tree, with Pikachu laying against his lap. He gazed up at the sky, slightly squinting at the dazzling rays from the sun, soaking in the sun's warmth. He watched intensely as some clouds inched gracefully their way towards the sun. The warmth on his face slowly diminished; the once bright landscape transformed into a soft, muted glow as a shadow was now cast over the young trainer.
Smiling at the beauty of the natural spectacle, he reminisced over the celebrations that occurred a while ago, as his fingers caressed Pikachu's ears absentmindedly. As he closed his eyes, contentment washed over him and the cool breeze pierced his skin.
In a split second, lightning flashed from above the ground a few feet away, enlightening the evening sky, perplexing the young trainer and Pikachu. He sat upright, holding Pikachu in his arms, as the lightning struck again, but at a much closer distance this time. He glanced towards the sky above him; it didn't appear to be gloomy. "Pikachu, do you think that was…"
He couldn't finish his thought before a familiar figure emerged from behind a bush and was now standing before him, the large yellow humanoid Pokemon next to him. Ash remained too stunned to move, while his former rival simply watched him with a nonchalant expression.
