Look, I know I said I'd take 2 weeks off of this fic, and considering how much I grinded the more recent chapters I probably should. But I've been planning it a lot, and I just re-watched a recap of Pokémon Advanced, which made me want to pick this story up again 1 week earlier than planned. Please note, despite this chapter coming out on a Wednesday, this story's schedule will be returning to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. However, that won't be until next Tuesday. I just wanted to get the first chapter out to give myself a starting point to work with. I know I should slow the uploads down, but I know myself too well, and I know that if I take too long to write this series, I'll eventually grow bored, which is why it needs to come out as quickly as possible. As a final note, I will reread this part a lot more than I did with Kalos, because holy shit there were many retcons in there simply because I forgot about a plot point I added in. I will try to avoid that. Anyway, I'll shut up now, and let you get onto the first chapter of the second part of this series. Enjoy!
Chapter 1:
Hello to a New World
When Max Maple first suggested that Bonnie Citron come with him to Hoenn, this isn't what he had in mind at all. In his head, he pictured the two of them flying over to Petalburg on an aeroplane, with May and Drew in a different part of it. As soon as they touch down, he would guide Bonnie to where he lived as quickly as possible, so that he could introduce her to his mum and dad as his friend before May can implant the idea that there was anything more going on between them. What he hadn't expected was for Meyer, Bonnie's father, to be so on board with the idea that he insisted that the whole family, including Clemont's girlfriend Korrina, should go there as a family holiday. On top of that, Max's old travel buddy Brock and his fiancé Olivia have finally decided where they wanted to throw their wedding. After spending pretty much all of the rebuilding of Kalos after Team Terra's heinous attack, the two compromised and threw a dart at a map, which landed in Hoenn.
And, because the duo had invited everyone initially involved in stopping the Second Kalos Crisis, everyone is now on their way to Hoenn on Iris's Private Plane (because of course she has one). So now, instead of just him and Bonnie alone on a plane, he's stuck with Meyer sitting between them on the fanciest plane Max has ever been on. If it was under any other circumstances, Max would be enjoying this flight a whole lot more. Not that he isn't enjoying it, of course. His seat has its very own miniature TV, with just about every movie under the sun on it. Not to mention the near limitless amount of snacks the plane had to offer. Then there was his best friend, Bonnie Citron herself. Max would never ever admit this, but he's been developing a huge crush on her during their time together. And now, looking at her as she marvels at the region below her, he finds a sight more amazing than any pokémon he's ever seen.
But, these thoughts are interrupted by a metal hand knocking him lightly on the head. Max panics and refocuses on the film he's watching. From behind him, Bonnie's older brother Clemont gives him a sour look for staring at his sister the way he is. "Aw, leave him alone Clemont," Korrina tells him. "He isn't doing any harm. Besides, it's not lie you've got no thoughts of your own going on in there." She lightly knocks his head a bit. Clemont goes beat red at this, much to Max's amusement. He notices that Bonnie has stopped staring out the window to listen in to this conversation too. "I d-d-don't know what you're talking about!" Clemont protests, but it's clear to see he's lying. Korrina has chosen to wear a summer dress for this occasion. While it isn't revealing in any way, the fact that it's so unusual to her more tomboyish get-up has addled Clemont's brain a little bit, which is something Korrina has been having a lot of fun with. "You know," she says teasingly, "I've always wanted to be initiated into the Mile High Club." Clemont goes even redder at that. But before he can say anything, Bonnie asks, "What's the Mile High Club?"
At this, Meyer stands up. "Right," he says. "That is the end of that conversation! Come with me you two, I'd like to have a word with you about talking about things like that in front of impressionable children!" And with that, he leads the two lovebirds away from Max and Bonnie, leaving the two of them alone for the first time since they first boarded the plane. Bonnie notices this fact and quickly looks out the window. Max decides to take a risk and scootches next to her. "Nice view huh?" he asks. Bonnie nods enthusiastically. "Your home region is so pretty!" she tells him. "I can't wait to see all the different kinds of pokémon live here!" Max nods, looking out the window with her. Down below are loads of forests and grasslands, with a few towns and cities dotted around. The sight of everything down below causes Bonnie to start practically bouncing in her seat. Max leans over some more to get a better view. He's finally returning after a full year away. He hasn't told Bonnie yet, but today just so happens to be his 11th birthday. He hasn't told her yet because he doesn't want her to worry too much and make a fuss.
However, that plan is quickly thrown out the window by the arrival of his older sister May. "Oh, by the way Max, mum and dad want us home as quickly as possible," she tells him. "They have something planned for your return. Most likely it's something to do with your birthday too." Max closes his eyes in annoyance while Bonnie's widen, which May notices. She looks like she wants to comment on this, but Max interrupts her before she can. "Yeah, thanks May. Can you go back to your boyfriend now please!" May goes bright red and tries to stutter out a comeback, but it's clear that she's more concerned with how loudly Max said that. Luckily for her, no one seems to have heard him, so she just gives him a death glare, then returns to her seat next to Drew, the boy she's spent the last 5 years crushing hard on.
Max turns back to Bonnie to find her staring at him with amazement. "Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?!" she asks him. Max shrugs, a bit bashful all of a sudden. "We were focused on coming here," he says. "I didn't want anyone to make a fuss about it on the plane. Plus, I kinda forgot it was my birthday until I saw Hoenn a few minutes ago." Bonnie stares t him like he's just grown three heads. "How do you forget your own birthday!?" she asks. Max shrugs again. "It happens more times than it doesn't," he admits. "I think there's only been twice in my entire life where I woke up remembering it was my birthday." Bonnie continues to stare at him like he's a brand new, never seen before pokémon. To avoid continuing this conversation, Max turns away from Bonnie to look at what everyone else on this flight is doing.
Gary, Goh and Lukas are sitting around the same screen watching what Max can only assume is something informative. Barry sits with them, holding hands with Lukas, however he's long since fallen asleep from how bored he is of the programme. Chloe was sitting with Goh earlier, but she's long since migrated to sit with Dawn, who along with Zoey are in the middle of a conversation about contests. May is sitting with them as well, along with Drew. Much to Max's amusement, both of them look rather flustered to be sitting right next to each other. Shauna also manages to drag Tierno into this conversation as well, and he seems to be very interested in the idea of contests. On the other side of the plane, Iris and Georgia are sitting together, pretty much in their own world. Paul and Miette are sitting quite close to them, both quite uncomfortable with this arrangement. Even Max can see the way they both glance over to the couple, then back at each other when they think the other isn't looking. They're not the only ones doing that either. Dotted around the plane are Lillie and Elio, Gladion and Hau, and Lana and Mallow, and all three pairs are doing the same thing as Paul and Miette. The only ones who aren't doing that of the Alola gang are Kiawe and Sophocles, who are playing some competitive video game together. Misty and Tracey are also watching a film together, although they aren't paying too much attention to it. Like Clemont and Korrina, Brock and Olivia have gone off to a different part of the plane, although for different reasons to being told off by a parent. Cilan has been flitting between the plane's bar and his seat next to Burgundy, as if he's looking for something to cook. Burgundy manages to get him to sit down, but judging by her slightly red face, it seems she's staring to regret that now.
The whole jet is lively with everyone chatting and mingling. Except for a small corner at the back of the seating area, just within Max's line of sight. There, Ash Ketchum sits quietly, staring wistfully out the window, with Serena sitting next to him, holding his hand and looking worriedly at him. Max has never been sure why, but after the events of The Second Kalos Crisis, Ash hasn't been the same. He seems more shaken up, and melancholic than he used to be. Serena seems to spend a lot of her time trying to comfort him, but will never answer any of Max's questions as to why Ash is like this. But something happened after he, Bonnie, Megan and Sophocles left Ash and Serena to deal with Sub-Admin F, and considering the large hole in the window of the top floor of Lumiose Tower, it isn't hard for Max to assume a general gist of what happened.
Max is brought out of his train of thought by a tap on his shoulder. Looking back at Bonnie, he realises that she's been talking to him for ages. "Sorry," he says, "I wasn't listening." Bonnie rolls her eyes. "Of course you weren't," she says. "I was just wondering what you'd like for your birthday, but then I realised that it would be better if I surprised you instead." Max raises his hands at this. "I told you, you don't need to make a fuss. There will be enough of one made by my mum and dad when we get to Petalburg!" Bonnie laughs at this. "I know, I know," she assures him. "But I want to at least get you something! Anyway, the reason I tapped your shoulder is because I wanted to let you know that we're landing." Max looks past her and out the window, and sees that she's right. Right out the window, Petalburg is quickly approaching from below. As the plane descends, Clemont, Korrina and Meyer return. Meyer sees that Max is sitting in his seat, but decides to allow him to continue sitting there, and sits in Max's former seat. Everyone else sits down as the plane finally comes to a landing.
Max and Bonnie are the first ones off the plane, and grab their stuff as quickly as possible. "Slow down there you two!" Meyer calls. "You need to at least wait for your families!" Both of them apologise and wait around while May, Drew, Meyer, Clemont and Korrina gather their things. Some of them consider waiting for the rest of their large group, but they all have plans of their own, thus were all going to separate as soon as they left the airport. So, with that settled, they bid farewell to everyone and leave the airport. Immediately, Max tries to race off to his house with Bonnie, hoping to at least manage to get the introductions over with before May has a chance to taint Norman and Caroline's perspectives of Max and Bonnie's friendship. But unfortunately for him, Bonnie is very quickly distracted. She stares around in wonder at the new region that lies before her. "Max, you never told me how beautiful your home is!" she exclaims. Max shrugs at this. "Well, I've been desensitised to it," he tells her. "So I don't find it particularly amazing. It's a bit like Kalos for you." Bonnie nods to this. "I suppose," she says. "But still, it's amazing."
Max finds himself growing a bit impatient, which he supposes is how Bonnie felt during their travels through Kalos. "Yeah, it's nice I guess," he tells her, "but come on, my house is this way." "Why are you in such a rush?" Bonnie asks. Max looks over to where May and Drew are standing, only to find that they aren't there anymore, which causes him to swear under his breath. "I wanted to get home before my sister, so I can introduce you to my mum and dad before my sister gets to them first and gives them the wrong impression about us," he explains. "But she's gone off now, so no doubt it's a bit late for that." As Max says that, he can feel his face heat up, and doesn't look at Bonnie so she doesn't know this. But because he isn't looking at her, he misses the fact that her own face goes very red at this thought.
"well, if that's the case, then surely a bit of time in town can't hurt right?" she asks him, struggling to keep how flustered she is out of her voice. She doesn't want to admit it, but she has also been developing a major crush on this clueless brainiac. Max considers this, before sighing and nodding his head. "I suppose I can show you around Petalburg a bit," he says. "We can delay the inevitable slew of questions regarding our friendship a bit longer." Bonnie shakes her head to remove her fluster, then nods. "Let's do it!" she exclaims. "Not to mention it gives me a chance to get you a birthday present!" Max wants to protest again that she doesn't need to get him anything, but decides not to. So, he sighs, then leads her into the town he grew up in. As much as he has become desensitised to the place, he has to admit, it's good to be home after the year he's had.
So, that was the first chapter of the second volume. I don't know how this story is going to go, but from what I have planned so far, this volume is on a smaller scale to the rest of this series. I hope you liked this set up, but the next chapter won't be out for another 6 days. This is so I can continue with my break, and also so I have a better idea as to where this story will go. I'd like to thank everyone who made it this far into the story, and I'll see you all in 6 days with chapter 2!