Chapter 59: Déjà vu

It was around seven in the morning by the time Ash and Pikachu started making their way through Jubilife City.

Their destination: Route 202.

They spent the next few hours walking through the Sinnoh forests, admiring nature's beauty. Ash expressed his excitement at not only meeting their friends, but for the inevitable adventures they're about to go on.

While Pikachu showed his own excitement, it was secretly for very different reasons. Ever since arriving in Sinnoh, the mouse had been pondering what exactly he should talk about with Buneary, having spent the last few months catching up and all. The task turned out to be more difficult than he had anticipated as the girl had borne witness to the many mishaps and extreme predicaments he and his group frequently found themselves in. Not to mention, that often she herself was a participant of such craziness.

So that being said, finding a topic of conversation that not only was memorable but one that she didn't even know about, was quite difficult.

It took him three hours before he finally came upon a good story to tell.

And boy, was he excited for it!

It was just before noon when they spotted the first signs of blue hair.

"Hey! Over here!" Dawn called out; her hand cupped to her mouth as she excitedly waved them over. Next to her leg was Piplup who danced from one foot to another.

"(Look alive!)" Piplup said with a smirk.

The Kanto partners peered over the road and saw their old friend. Right on cue, Ash called back out to her.

"I see ya! We'll be right there!" The champion excitedly shouted before he and Pikachu promptly ran down the road. Seeing them, Dawn did the same. A minute later, they stopped a few feet away from each other.

"It's great to see you again!" Dawn happily exclaimed before she reached out to high-five Ash.

"Same to you!" Ash laughed as he returned her gesture and the two's hands made contact.

Right next to them, Pikachu and Piplup did the same.

"You been waiting long?" Ash asked with a smile.

Dawn merely shrugged. "Nah, not at all. We left our house yesterday."

Ash's excitedly held his fists in front of himself. "Well, I can't wait to get this show on the road!"

Dawn laughed. "Alright, if you insist~!"

With that, the four of them went back up the road that Ash and Pikachu had just come from with Jubilife City being not too far away.

As they walked along the road, they talked, catching up on anything else that they hadn't been able to discuss over the phone.

"(...And it's been frickin' crazy ever since Buneary's modeling career took off!)" Piplup exasperatedly said though he was smiling.

"(Wow, so are you guys competing in another contest festival after this?)" Pikachu asked, tilting his head a little as he walked by his friend.

Piplup nonchalantly twirled his flipper. "(Of course! There's no way I'd let myself get rusty!)"

Pikachu held back a smirk. Heh, figures...

"(Is everyone else with you right now?)" Pikachu asked.

Piplup nodded his head. "(Mhmm...all of them. Dawn really didn't feel like switching her party. She figured that if she trains the same 'mons, they'll get super strong! I'll bet that if we keep at it, we'll be champions in no time!)"

Pikachu's grin widened a little. Well...it was certainly going to be great to see everyone again! It really will be just like old times!

"(Well that's good to hear. I'm sure you'll do amazing...)" Pikachu muttered with a little smirk as he looked away.

Almost immediately, he looked back when he felt Piplup nudge his shoulder a little.

"(And don't you worry, Dawn brought her along too~)" He chuckled.

Pikachu merely looked at him and swallowed hard, hoping that he wouldn't notice his reaction.

Yup...definitely like old times!

About an hour later, the group decided to stop in a clearing in the woods. Dawn was the one to suggest it, having felt bad that Ash and Pikachu were walking back to where they had just come from.

As soon as they settled down, Dawn released her party so they could get some fresh air. Immediately upon being released, they each expressed their joys for being outside.

And as soon as Pikachu laid eyes on Buneary, he felt a shiver go up his spine.

It had felt so long since he had actually seen her...

When they made eye contact, they both smiled at each other. Then Pikachu walked up to her.

"(Hey...)" He quietly said, keeping his nervousness down to a minimum.

"(Hi...)" She said with a little bashful smile, holding her fluff a little.

When they started to make idle chit-chat, the other members of Dawn's party smiled and backed away.

It was almost as if they were anticipating it...

A few minutes later, everyone was resting up with Ash and Dawn. All together, they were checking out a map to see what the best route to take would be. Nearby, Dawn's Pokémon were hanging out in a little group of their own, keeping their mutterings to low whispers as they hid behind Mamoswine's large body.

"(So how're they looking now?)" Piplup quietly asked.

Quilava quickly peeked around Mamoswine's leg. He saw Pikachu and Buneary sitting in the grass nearby with their backs to them. Not wanting to risk getting caught, he quickly turned back to his friends.

"(They're still talking but I can't hear what they're saying.)" The fire stout pouted.

Togekiss put her wings together. "(Oh my, it's so romantic~!)" She gushed. "(Their love hasn't faltered one bit after so long!)"

"(Heh, don't jump to conclusions just yet.)" Mamoswine whispered, looking down at everyone. "(We don't know what they're talking about. They could just be catching up.)"

Pachirisu twirled in place, unable to keep his excitement down. "(I'll bet it's lovey-dovey stuff!)"

Piplup nodded his head in amusement, his flippers on his side. "(Well, knowing those two...)" He muttered before glancing back at the ex-couple with a smile. "(Who knows what they're talking about.)"

"(YOU WERE ARRESTED?!)" Buneary nearly squealed, her paws up to her mouth in shock.

Nervously scratching the back of his ear, Pikachu chuckled. He sweat-dropped as he realized just how insane the whole experience sounded. Well...she did ask him what the craziest thing was to have happened to him sooo...what better opportunity than to use the most interesting story he had in his back pocket? It didn't compare to many of those other crazy misadventures he'd been on but hey...she'd already heard those stories!

"(Eheh...yeah. But I didn't do anything though!)" He laughed.

Buneary's paws went down her face and her expression softened a little. "(Ohh...okay. So you're saying that it was just a misunderstanding?)"

"(Yeah, of course!)" Pikachu chuckled.

"(So you weren't actually arrested then?)"

"(No I was. Handcuffs and everything, and then they took me downtown to-)"

"(DOWNTOWN?! Wait...handcuffs?!)" Buneary shouted in disbelief, nearly knocking Pikachu onto his back.

"(Yeah...except they didn't fit so they just slipped off.)" Pikachu said with a nonchalant shrug.

"(Then what happened?)" Buneary asked, her eyes wide as they could go as she put one-hundred percent of her focus on him.

"(Then the guy took me into an interrogation room.)" Pikachu said, putting a paw up to his chin in an attempt to remember that whole weird experience.

"(Oooh...were you scared? Was it awful?)" Buneary asked, leaning forward a little in sheer apprehension.

"(Actually, I was quite comfortable. The guy gave me a bowl full of pellets and I ate the whole thing!)" Pikachu laughed.

"(...Really?)" Buneary wondered aloud, clearly having a hard time believing it.

"(Yup, I'm not really sure what his strategy was but hey, free food!)" Pikachu replied with another shrug.

Blinking at him, Buneary paused. Then she snickered, holding back a strong urge to laugh.

It didn't work. She looked away as she let out a rather loud chuckle.

"(Oh man, leave it to you...!)" She giggled.

Feigning anger, Pikachu puffed his cheeks out. "(Hey...! What's that supposed to mean?!)"

Still showing that incredibly adorable smile, Buneary turned around and – while still laughing – extended her ear and gently patted him on the head.

"(I mean that no matter where you go, whacky shenanigans always follow you!)" She replied, her voice full of mirth.

"(Hmmph!)" Pikachu scoffed, looking away while folding his arms over his chest. He tried his best to look mad. "(I'll have you know that I got blamed for a crime I didn't commit!)"

Taking a moment to catch her breath, Buneary merely smirked at him. "(Lemme guess, Team Rocket right?)"

Actually a little surprised that she was right on the money, Pikachu's faux frown was briefly replaced with astonishment. Well...he figured he shouldn't be all that surprised right? She'd known him for what...? Around two years now?

Pikachu slowly turned to give her a side-glance. He saw how she was clearly awaiting his response. "(Er...yeah that's right.)" He muttered only to see her give a rather proud smile.

"(Hee~! I knew it! You troublesome mouse!)" She laughed.

Sighing, Pikachu gave a little smirk and eased up. "(So what about you? Any crazy contest or modeling stories that you haven't told me so far?)"

Buneary looked elsewhere in silent contemplation. "(Oh, all of that business is pretty crazy by itself. Lemme see...hmmm...)"

Pikachu watched as she clearly struggled to think of something. Then his mind flashed back to the magazine he saw on the plane.

"(You know...I saw you on the cover of Poké Chic.)" He gently said, his words jolting her out of her thoughts as she stared back at him.

"(O-Oh you did?)" She stammered, a light pink blush appearing on her face.

"(Yeah. You looked incredible Bun.)" He said with a tiny, genuine smile.

Her face only reddening, Buneary's paws fiddled with her fluff and she looked away from him.

"(O-Oh, th-thanks Pika.)" She managed to say, her cute voice conveying her sincere gratitude.

They stayed there in comfortable silence for a beat before Pikachu's smile grew.

"(You're welcome.)" He said.

Unbeknownst to either of them, the rest of Buneary's group were watching in absolute awe from a distance.

Not long after, the group was back on the road to Jubilife City, not entirely sure if they would make it by the end of the day.

And while everyone else was put in their Pokéballs, suspiciously only Buneary was left out so she could walk alongside Pikachu.

"(And then Togekiss used Sky Attack and Pachirisu used Discharge while riding on top of her!)" Buneary excitedly said, recalling one of Dawn's latest contest techniques that they had used in Kalos.

"(Woah, I wish I could've seen it!)" Pikachu replied, wondering how such a sight would appear.

"(Yeah! Then they were cloaked in electricity! It almost looked like they had armor on!)" Buneary beamed, going into her own little world as she remembered how wonderous it appeared.

"(Really? I think I tried doing that once. Not for a contest though...)" Pikachu said, looking up at the sky as he tried to remember that moment in his life, a feat that was easier said than done at this point.

"(Anyway, that was the last contest we participated in before my modeling jobs started up again.)" Buneary said with a small sigh.

Noticing that, Pikachu looked back at her. "(Hmm? You okay Bun?)"

"(Yeah, it's just that...sometimes this modeling stuff takes up so much time away from participating in festivals. I feel sort of bad to be honest.)" She said, holding her arm as she walked alongside him.

Pikachu tilted his head at her. He figured that she had been busy but this was sort of unexpected...

"(Well, I wouldn't feel too bad about it. I mean, you're a supermodel now right? Your whole party must be totally over the moon!)" Pikachu said, his voice intentionally bright.

"(Yeah I guess. It's just that we haven't won a league yet so we're still more or less in the same spot as before.)" Buneary said with a shrug.

"(Hey, I wouldn't say that. You've always had some stiff competition. Heck, it took me and Ash forever to become champions, remember?)" Pikachu gently replied.

Buneary briefly looked at him and then stared forward. "(Yeah, I guess that's true. Heh, I still remember how you took down a latios! And before that, you beat Brandon's regice!)"

"(Yup. With people like Brandon and Tobias, it's no wonder why we took so long to get where we are. So don't sweat it! I've seen what you can do, just keep at it and trust me, you'll get there in no time!)" Pikachu determinedly said with a confident smile.

Buneary looked at him again. Then she smiled and turned away. "(Thanks Pika. You really know how to cheer a girl up you know that?)"

"(Hmm?)" Pikachu wondered aloud; his confident smile being replaced with a perplexed stare.

Buneary continued to elsewhere. Then she started to glance all around, her expression turning rather curious.

"(Say Pikachu...do you know where we are right now?)" She finally asked.

Not expecting that question, Pikachu also glanced around. It looked like any other route in the woods, right?

"(Uhh...Route 202?)" He muttered, staring off at the trees.

"(No. Well, yes...but I meant something else.)" Buneary said before she smiled at him. "(This is the place where we first met!)"

Pikachu immediately looked back at her. "(Huh? It is?)"

Buneary giggled and pointed forward. "(Hee~! Yup! I'd recognize this place anywhere! I lived here for like a full year!)"

"(Huh...I guess you're right.)" Pikachu mumbled as he looked around again. "(I wonder if this is the same road you saved me from being run over.)"

"(Well I dunno. I don't remember that road having cobblestones on it.)" She laughed, pointing down at the ground. Pikachu looked down and saw that she was right, the road they were walking on was paved with grey and black stones.

"(Oh yeah...guess you're right.)" He said with a sheepish smile, one paw over the other.

Buneary giggled and looked back at him. "(You silly mouse~! But we're pretty close from where you guys captured me!)"

"(Really? Does that include the spot where you kidnapped me?)" He laughed.

Buneary gave him a slightly confused look. Then her cheeks began to glow red and she looked away. "(N-No! I mean...I-I don't think so...)" She embarrassedly said.

Now it was Pikachu's turn to snicker at her.

"(Well in any case, it's nice to be back here. Crazy how you recognized it right away Bun.)" He gently said, looking ahead.

"(Well it's sort of a special place to me.)" She nearly squeaked, her paws gripping her fluff.

"(Me too...)" He whispered, too embarrassed to look back at her.

Buneary gave him a side-glance but instead of saying anything else, she smiled.

The next few days were spent with the group traveling on the road. As per usual, they came across the occasional friendly face, a person or Pokémon in need of assistance and the occasional Team Rocket detour. Same old same old. Honestly for the crew, it was sort of nice to retread old ground...

Well, save for the fact that Ash would sometimes get recognized and before they knew it, several people were clamoring around to get his autograph. Some folks would specifically ask for Pikachu's signature yet all the mouse could really provide was his inked pawprint.

And just when they thought that they had gotten past it all, the same would happen with Buneary.

Strange how things seemed to be the same yet so much had changed since they had first been down these roads together huh?

And although his smiles were genuine, Pikachu never forgot the task at hand: admitting how he felt. The more they traveled, the more the mouse secretly agonized over the details of how he do would it, where he would do it, what would her reaction be...

Not to mention that on top of all those questions, the biggest one would be if she even remotely felt the same.

He loved her. He knew he loved her, there was no doubt in his mind that he loved her and she had said the same thing to him at one point...

...But what about now?

It was about two weeks after first reuniting with everyone did Ash and Dawn's group enter the nearby vicinity of Mount Coronet. All along the way, Pikachu caught up with every member of Dawn's group. He heard of the many expeditions they went on and the sights they saw, some of which were stranger than even he could imagine! When asked about Ambipom, they said how she had gone through thick and thin before securing victory as the ping-pong world champion, a feat that they were able to witness for themselves unlike Pikachu who had only heard through word of mouth.

Each member of Dawn's party had one-on-one time with the electric mouse. Togekiss gushed about how wonderful their journey to Kalos was, Quilava and Piplup boasted their progress in contests, Pachirisu practically talked the mouse's ear off going from one story to the next. And Mamoswine...well he didn't talk too much but when he did, he had some rather interesting stories about some of the fine folks they came across in the past year.

As for Buneary, she had the most amount of time to talk with him although whether that was because they had more to discuss or because the others were finding excuses to leave them alone was anybody's guess. Regardless, the two continued to recollect the many mishaps and side quests they had gone through together along with the various ups and downs throughout their adventures. The conversation soon turned back to the progress Dawn's crew was making and how they were getting ready to undertake another serious attempt at participating in a different festival soon.

Despite the girl's reservations, from the sound of things, the group as a whole was clearly on the cusp of becoming champions themselves given the immense amount of improvement they've made in their strategies plus the impressive techniques they've developed since he had last seen them.

By around the sixteenth day of traveling, the gang managed to stop at a little village near the base of the mountain to gather some supplies.

Sitting on Ash's shoulder, Pikachu's eyes floated over to Dawn who was deciding which potions she should purchase. His gaze slowly went over to the backpack she wore which housed the girl who occupied most of his thoughts these days.

He silently groaned and tilted his head back, making sure not to slump too much on Ash's shoulder so as not to be noticed by the boy.

He really needed to think of something...

Pikachu's eyes drifted around the room. They rested on a literature stand which housed numerous brochures.

Something meaningful...yeah. Some sort of heartfelt gesture that she would appreciate. It didn't have to be grand with fireworks or anything but something to say "hey, I care about you enough to think about this really hard".

But what on earth could he do to-?

Pikachu's ears flickered and he blinked at the literature stand. One of the brochures featured several routes around Mount Coronet.

The mouse tilted his head and without thinking, he jumped off Ash's shoulder and made his way over to it. Ash – making idle chit chat with the store owner – barely even noticed him do so.

Pikachu walked over to the brochure and opened it. He scanned through its contents, his mind racing as he flipped through the pages.

By the time he got to the fifth page, he saw something.

An idea.

Pikachu nearly gasped at what he saw. He looked back at the two trainers and it was clear that they were too preoccupied to take notice of him yet.

He looked at the literature stand and saw how the brochures were free to take. Smiling, he closed the little booklet and put it under his arm.

It was perfect...

He knew how he was going to do it! He just needed to hash out some of the details...but it was a great idea!

Pikachu whipped his head around the store and scanned the area. Off in an aisle, he saw several items that could be used for a picnic.

Smiling, he cheerfully walked over to gather them.

Author's Notes:

Ooh wee! A perfect plan? Well gee whiz, I wonder what that could be!

In the meantime, I'd like to give a shoutout to ThatOneWriterFromShef! They've written a few Pokémon stories like "Rescue Team Chronicles: Facing the Music" and "After Explorers – The Return: Redux". I figured that it was appropriate to give them a shoutout since their stories involve time marching on and the characters getting on with their lives or confronting their past in some way which is sort of what's happening here! So here's to you ThatOneWriterFromShef!

We're coming up on the last two chapters of Act III so buckle up folks, we're about to hit an emotional rollercoaster!

Carson55...out!