"Are you planning on going back to Kanto now that Team Plasma has been taken care of?" Professor Juniper asked me, as she handed me a cup of coffee- we were sitting in her lab.
"Yes, I've done what I came here for and all the lose ends have been dealt with," I answered, though my mind was on Ghetsis parting words. "Not to mention, Riley has gone back to Sinnoh to spend time with his boyfriend and Max is in Hoenn to be with his family, before going to Kanto for my boot camp. Trip will be joining us too!" I smiled at the professor, doing my best to forget that bastard's parting message. "There's nothing left for me to do here, even all of my pokemon that wanted to evolve have evolved."
"You can take the cruise ship to Kanto, the one that stops in the Delecore Islands," Porfessor Juniper suggested. "It could be a present from the Unova Ranger Commisson for your aid in Unova."
"They already gave me a Garchompite," I replied. "I will buy my own ticket, even Iris and Cilan's. They wanted to come with me and visit Pallet Town, as they've never been to Kanto before."
"Well, then I hope you all have a good time," Professor Juniper said with a smile. "It had been a pleasuere and an honor to have you in my region. Let me thank you for all of us in Unova, you've done us a great service."
I swallowed hard and tensed under the sincere look of Professor Juniper. It's been two years since I've become a real ranger and I have not gotten used to this at all. So, I just smiled back and left the lab to tell my friends the great news. However, I did not find my friends, but someone I was not expecting to see back so soon.
"N, what are you doing here?" I asked him surprised. "Are your sisters doing ok?"
"Yes, they and the pokemon are doing great," N answered with a small smile. "We've found a nice house in the community of the People of the Valley." I raised my eyebrow at the news, how things go full circle sometimes never ceases to take me by surprise. "They've mellowed down, especially after hearing that Ghetsis has been arrested. It will take them longer to fully understand that not all humans are bad... but Lenora and the People of the Valley have been aiding them to move on from the trauma slowly."
"I'm glad," I smiled at my friend.
"I was wondering if you would mind one more person joining your party?" N asked shyly. "I've never been outside of Unova and I would truly like the experience."
"The more, the merrier!" I answered him beaming.
I then dragged him towards Cilan and Iris, who received him as happy as I did. The plan of taking a cruise through the Decolore Islands to Kanto was one everyone was delighted with. Pikachu and I were also very happy with it, because even though we had been to the islands for work we did not have the time to look around annd get to know the place as much as we liked to. The best thing of the cruise, was the private rooms and being able to wake up in the amrs of my boyfriend. Did I forget to mention that Gary was in vacation from his studies and had decided to join us? Oops, well he did and I love it!
"Wake up Ashy," Gary whispered in my ear, making me shiver in delight. "Ashy," Gary chuckled as I snuggled closer to his bare chest. "The cruise is making its first stop in Honey Island today. Home of the world-famous sweet honey produced by the Combee that live there, as well as some of the sweetest dessert treats anyone has ever tasted!" Now that got my attention and I was fully awake. "Of course, the moment I mention food you will wake up!" Gary laughed. "Come on sleepyhead, I booked us a table at the best restaurant. We are having a double date with Pikachu and Blackie."
"Partner, did you have anything to do with this?" I asked Pikachu surprised, he was cuddling at the end of the bed with Gary's Umbreon.
"Maybe," Pikachu asnwered with a smirk, before nuzzling cheeks with Blackie.
I shurgged, leaving the bed and getting ready for my date. I was having a date with Gary! I was so excited! The restaurant was adorable and totally not a place I would expect Gary allowing himself to be caught in. However, once the decadent sweets began to roll in I knew why he had chosen it.
Velvet Honey-Chocolate Pudding, chocolate empasizing the distinctive, full-flavored, amber-hued honey. Leaving a pleasant yet mysterious taste sensation. Honey Panna Cotta, the panna cotta being the perfecct canvas for the most delicious and precious honey. Mild, not overly sweet honey with floral notes such as oran berry. Drizzles oof honey cascade in narrow rivulets down the sides of the pannna cotta. There were many other sweets like Honey Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Salted Honey Peanut Brittle, each and every single one of them tempting works of art. I've never been happier to possess aura, which allows me to burn calories much faster than other humans.
I was in honey heaven!
"Tell me, did you get to visit James, Jessie, and Meowth?" Gary asked me, as he took a sip from his coffee.
"I did!" I exclaimed, with a beaming smile, before taking a bite from my cookie. "Their baby daughter is adorable! Did you know they named her Ashley?"
"Now that's adorable," Gary snickered. "There will be two Ashy's around. Oh, how will the world survive it?" I stuck out my tongue at him for his teasing. "I will need to visit them and give them a present, I have yet to see the baby."
"Go, she is gorgeous," I told him, smiling at the memory of my adorable niece- she had James' hair and Jessie's eyes.
She was perfect!
"I will," Gary assured me. "Now what's this I've heard about you going ballistic on Unova and the International Police Commission?"
"They've earned it," I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest.
"They did," Pikachu agreed, from the next table over- where he was having his date with Blackie.
"Unova was blocking Looker and his team from getting involved because of politics, running my team to the ground!" I growled, still furious. "No wonder every member of my Unova Ghost Team decided to join us in the Orange Islands. Luckily, John was on our side and helped us get everyone involved fired."
"Have I ever told you that you look hot when angry?" Gary asked me seriously, putting down his coffee cup. I blushed under his intense and burning gaze, he normally only ever looks at me like that when we are in bed. "Because you do. So hot."
"Well," I coughed, trying to get the conversation going, otherwise I will self combust. "As for the International Police I simply made it known that if they do not deal with the Jenny Clan, I will get involved. They seem to prefer dealing with the issue themselves."
"Of course, they did," Gary snickered. "You do realize that you are almost as bad as auntie when it comes to your scoldings. And that's saying something!"
"If people do not want to get scolded, they better start behaving better," I shrugged, taking it as a compliment- especially, after watching Gary gulp in fear. I smirked behind my coffee cup and drank the delicious beverage. I did not like coffee until I came to Unova, they've converted me. "Let's change the topic! I do not want to sour the mood! Did you know that Squirtle kidnapped Bulbasaur, leaving Pidgeot in charge of my pokemon, to take him to a spa date? They went to the new resort in the Orange Islands made by James' parents."
"That sounds like something that tortoise would do," Blackie snorted.
"Be good," Pikachu warned her, but he had a fond smile on his lips.
"I am!" Blackie replied coyly.
"This is still weird to me," Gary commented, being able to understand them thanks to my aura powers. He was looking at our pokemon with a weirded expression. "How did you guys fix your problems? We let it be for a year now and we still haven't heard a thing from you!"
"Did you guys know that Feraligtr and Typhlosion began dating last month?" Pikachu turned to us with a faked surprise tone. "I was shocked!"
"Really? I did not know!" Blackie followed his game. "Now that I think about it, they suit each other."
"They do, right?!" Pikachu replied.
"Stop it with the theatrics," I told them drily, with a raised eyebrow. "Explain."
"Ah," Pikachu sighed. "There's no big reveal. We just realized that our fight was affecting Jolteon and decided to face the music. We had a matured conversation and shared our emotions. Why we did what we did, how we felt, what we were feeling... we then decided to give us another try. This time while we were both on the same page."
"That's quite mature," Gary commented impressed. "Why not tell us then?"
"Because it was private and we had never bared ourselves in that way before," Blackie answered her trainer, taking comfort on Pikachu's side.
"We are sorry for making you share this much then," I apologized. "But I just wanted you to know that I am very happy you guys fixed your relationship."
"Us too," Pikachu agreed, smiling at his mate, who smiled back.
We then continued the rest of our date discussing various topics, like Gary's thesis, our plans for Kalos, our pokemon.
All in all, it was a lovely date and I can't wait for the next one!
