"Alright here we are." Molly said as the group stopped in the garden separating Violet, Goldenrod, and Ecruteak Cities.
"Wait I thought we were headed back to Goldenrod." Ash said in confusion.
"Ash, that only makes sense for me, as it is you coming all the way here is way out of your way for getting back to Pallet Town." Molly pointed out.
"Besides this is a special place for our last lunch together." Casey said. "I feel it's where we really became a team."
"To be fair this was the place where we met back up with Molly and the three of us have been together for the most part ever since." Ash said, seeing the spot he'd caught his Sudowoodo. "Well if we're stopping here for lunch, Pikachu and I are going to go and get the water."
As Ash and Pikachu ran off, Molly turned to Casey
"So are you actually going to tell him today, you've literally run out of I'll do it tomorrows." Molly pointed out.
"I wrote him a letter, I just, even your Aunt Delia says he treats and talks about me differently, I just, I can't bring myself to risk telling him in person." Casey said.
"No, you need to tell him how you feel! If Aunt Delia said he treats you special then the risk shouldn't be there!" Molly groaned.
"But what do I even say, whenever I try to say something and we're all together I just get angry!" Casey hissed.
"Okay, I've got it. I'm going to go and get some stuff and just once you've had your chance, send Beedrill to come find me." Molly said excitedly.
"Molly this is a terrible!" Casey sighed as Molly ran off. "Idea."
"Those are three words I never thought I'd hear in one sentence." Ash said, already returning.
"Ash! You're back quick." Casey said.
"Yeah we found a spicket and Annihilape helped carry some buckets." Ash said, pointing to his fighting type carrying four buckets of fresh water.
"Guess you had the right idea bringing him along." Casey said.
"So what's this about Molly having a terrible idea?" Ash asked, setting his buckets down.
"Oh she's thinking of joining her dad on his next exploration." Casey half lied.
"Good for her, she can handle herself a lot better now than when the Unown event happened." Ash said. "What about you?"
"Me?" Casey asked.
"Yeah, I mean you're heading back home for a bit but where are you going next?" Ash asked.
"Oh, well I was thinking of going to Kanto, maybe even taking on a few gyms." Casey said.
"Hey that's a great idea, and with all the other Pokemon you've caught, I'm sure you'll do great!" Ash said enthusiastically.
"Yeah, thanks." Casey said nervously. "Ash, I wanted to tell you something for a while, and well this might be the last time I can."
"Why, even if we're not traveling together, we'll still be friends." Ash said obliviously. "You can always call or write a letter or even meet up! Then Pikachu and I could see just how much stronger you've gotten!"
"Ash, I just, I wanted to say I really enjoyed the time we've spent traveling together, even if I didn't always show it." Casey said.
"Hey, I've got an idea." Ash said, walking over. "Come on this'll be fun." He said, holding out his hand.
"W-where are we going?" Casey asked, suddenly being dragged to an open area.
"Come on, the first day we met, you battled me three on one and lost, your star three against one of mine." Ash said.
"Seriously, you came in top four, and you want to battle me?" Casey asked.
"Of course, what better way to spend time with someone than a battle to remember all the good times?" Ash asked with a smile.
"Alright, I want to fight Pikachu." Casey said.
"Good choice, but you're still not going to win." Ash said.
"Don't count us out yet. Elekid come on out! Use Dizzy Punch!" Casey called out.
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
Pikachu sped across the open area, flipping over Elekid's fist and striking the baby from behind.
"Elekid use Thunder Punch!"
"Pikachu use your own Thunder Punch!"
The two fists collided sending sparks between the two as both electric types were launched back, with Elekid taking a larger tumble.
"Elekid return! Beedrill let's go!" Casey called out.
Hearing Casey send out Beedrill, Molly made her way towards them to see the two engaged in battle.
"Beedrill use Twin Needle!"
"Pikachu dodge it!"
Pikachu leapt back, easily out speeding Beedrill's attack, before landing on all fours.
"Now use Thunderbolt!"
"Use Pin Missile!"
Two large stingers shot from Beedrill at Pikachu before being disintegrated by the bolt of electricity, striking the bug type at the other end.
"Now use Thunder Punch!"
"Beedrill use Twin Needle!"
Pikachu ran and leapt into the air, striking Beedrill, sending it crashing down.
"Beedrill return!" Casey exclaimed. "Come on out Bayleef!"
"What are those two doing? Casey has to know she can't win." Molly said to herself.
"Pikachu use Zap Cannon!"
"Bayleef use Razor Leaf!"
Pikachu sent out a blast of electricity that knocked Bayleef back as he was assaulted by sharp leaves.
"Now use Quick Attack!"
"Bayleef use Body Slam!"
Pikachu's smaller and more nimble body managed to outmaneuver the larger grass type, striking them from below and knocking them up into the air.
"Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt!" Ash called out, a bolt of electricity shooting straight into the air, striking and defeating Bayleef.
"I leave you two alone for two minutes and…" Molly paused seeing both trainers smiling. "You did exactly what you always do, you fought each other with everything you had."
"Technically we redid our first fight." Ash said. "Just with new Pokemon, sort of."
"Three out of four." Casey remarked.
"You actually landed a few hits this time too, you got a lot better." Ash said with a laugh. "Maybe next time you'll even score a knockout."
"Maybe." Casey said blushing ever so slightly.
Later after lunch
"Alright, you're all packed." Casey said, handing Ash his backpack back. "Take care of yourself Ash."
"You too Casey, and Molly best of luck working with your dad." Ash said.
"I will, I think he's been wanting me to join him this whole time but wanted it to be my decision." Molly said.
"Any idea where you'll be starting?" Casey asked.
"I want to reinvestigate those ruins, if the Unown pulled Gouging Fire from the past, there are countless other possibilities of what they can do." Molly said.
"And you're sure that's a good idea?" Ash asked. "Last two times you've had encounters with them you've been kidnapped."
"I'll be fine and more careful going forward." Molly assured. "Best of luck in your next league." She said hugging Ash.
"Alright Pikachu, let's get going." Ash said with a smirk.
"Pika!" Pikachu agreed as the two ran off towards the East and home in Kanto.
"You never told him?" Molly asked knowingly.
"He'll find a letter soon enough, but I know how he feels about me." Casey said with a smile. "Ash's heart belongs to battling, and him offering to battle me says a lot."
"And maybe one day you'll both be able to say those words to each other." Molly smirked, as the two friends went their own ways heading home as well.
Elsewhere between dimensions
"Good to see he's doing alright, but that ending certainly was different for his Johto League and that Annihilape, haven't seen many of us encounter one of them yet." Pokemon Master Ash said as he closed the window to this reality.