A/N: sithlorde1988 here, with another chapter of Pokemon: Shuffled Journeys! I know it's been a bit since the last update, but between the lack of reviews in the last chapter, being busy with other stories that I had the idea to write, and being immersed in reading a lot of other stories, this kind of delay is really not that surprising when you think about that. That said, I have a poll up right now to decide who makes it into Ash's harem in Shuffled Journeys (which at this point I might as well just confirm that this IS in fact going to be an AshxHarem story), but the votes sit at 1-1-1 with only one person having voted on the poll. As a point of clarification and a reminder, you can vote for up to three choices on the poll so don't be shy about voting and letting others know so they can do the same! I will keep the poll open until April 3rd (contrary to my initial decision to leave it open until March 27th since that's tomorrow at the time I write this A/N) so people have extra time to vote. The two (possibly 3) girls with the most votes will be added into the harem alongside the five girls I've already pre-selected for it, for a total of 8 girls in the harem. But anyways, per usual, I do not own Pokemon in any way, shape or form, nor do I own anything related to Pokemon. The actual owners of Pokemon know who they are. That said, on with the chapter!
Chapter 4- A Woolly Encounter! Shocks from the Past!
(In the Kalos region, at a house in Vaniville Town)
"So Chloe, how's things been going for you lately? Sorry I haven't reached out more, been busy trying to figure out what I want to do on my journey." A blonde-haired female asked her friend on a video chat, a brunette by the name of Chloe. Chloe shrugged, her brown hair whipping behind her before she spoke.
"I've been all right, Serena. Just keeping busy between school, helping my family and other things. I will agree we don't chat like this enough. It's really too bad this wasn't around a few years ago, since we could've kept in touch with all our friends so much more easily." Chloe replied to the now-named Serena. Serena nodded.
"True. Though do you honestly think anyone would've let a bunch of little kids into a video chat like this unsupervised?" Serena said, making Chloe shake her head in the negative.
"Probably not. Doesn't mean a girl can't be hopeful though, does it? Didn't you say your journey was delayed for a while for some reason though?" Chloe said to Serena, who frowned before nodding.
"Yeah, all because I missed the deadline to get a trainer license by all of five minutes. And because of that I have to wait a whole year to start my journey. On the upside, maybe some of my friends here in Kalos will be starting theirs then as well so at least I'll have travelling companions." Serena said.
"True. You know I'd travel with you if I wasn't all the way in Kanto, right?" Chloe told Serena. Serena nodded.
"I know. But I think we both know that it wouldn't just be us two travelling together if we had our way about it." Serena said to Chloe, smirking impishly as she spoke again.
"Besides, I think you'd have wanted a certain someone in particular to be travelling with us even if you and he didn't speak all that much while he was in Kanto for reasons beyond either your control or his. Or maybe I'm mistaken." Serena added teasingly, sticking her tongue out at Chloe in a playful manner. Chloe's eyes narrowed.
"Very funny, Serena. Ash and I were barely more than acquaintances, and we only spoke because we were both mutually friends with Leaf and you. Besides, I get the feeling Ash might be too obtuse to really know when a girl likes him. So our discussion is likely built on several moot points." Chloe replied evenly, then smirked.
"And don't try to deny you wouldn't also like him to travel with us? Because I don't exactly think it was a secret that we all were intrigued by Ash even back then. But I suppose it IS possible, however unlikely, that he's grown up quite a bit in the past few years while in Galar. But that's about as big a maybe as Daisy finally making a play for Red, which is pretty unlikely to happen between his disappearing act and the fact he was pretty publically seen talking to that blonde haired challenger from Sinnoh in his last match, and they seemed to be hitting it off fairly well.
Though could you imagine the look on Gary's smug face if both his sisters fell for the Ketchum brothers? He barely accepts that Ash and Leaf are likely interested in each other, even if neither will admit to it. Though thinking about it, how funny would it be if Ash managed to wind up with a really big harem and Gary doesn't? That would be pretty apt karma for as much as Gary picked on Ash over the years. The only thing is, would Ash be the type of guy to be entirely comfortable being with multiple girls at once, never mind the girls being able to share him?" Chloe added, voicing some thoughts she'd been having recently. Serena smirked.
"HA! I knew you liked him! And as for your harem idea, if nothing else, I think we can agree we not only both like him, but I doubt either of us would be bothered all that much by sharing him. And I feel like if it came to it, Leaf would feel the same way. Not sure who all else he'd meet so I can't say if all the girls will be open to sharing. But I do agree that it would just make Gary positiviely ill if Ash ended up being better than him." Serena said, giggling as she agreed with Chloe's suggestion. Chloe giggled as well, the image of Gary being ill over Ash being better than him being pretty funny. She then had an idea.
"Say, Serena?" Chloe spoke up, getting Serena's attention. Serena blinked, noticing the seriousness in Chloe's tone.
"Yeah? What's up?" Serena said to Chloe. Chloe paused momentarily, looking like she was steering herself, before speaking up.
"Not right away, but at some point in the future, maybe we should get together for a slumber party, if for no other reason than we don't hang out in person enough. Assuming it's just the two of us at said sleepover, we could then use that sleepover as a way to test how comfortable we would be being with each other. After all, IF, and that's a big IF, we not only somehow re-encounter Ash, but we both decide to share him.
Mind you said sharing would likely be with several other girls, it's not an impossibility that we wouldn't just be hooking up with Ash, but with each other as well. I do believe that's how harems work, from what I recall of the article I read on them. Of course, that stays between us since I'm pretty sure that would get me into a mountain of trouble if it was figured out I was researching harems since I doubt anyone would buy it was just extra credit research. What do you think?" Chloe proposed to Serena, noticing the expected confusion and embarrassment on Serena's face at the proposition.
"I didn't expect that from you, Chloe. But I admit your logic is sound. However, are we really able to handle something like what you're suggesting? Granted, we're both older than we were when we first met Ash, like a lot older. However, I'm pretty sure what you're talking about is something that only older teens and younger adults get up to as far as I know. So it could raise some serious eyebrows if it goes anywhere and we're caught. You did think of that in this plan of yours, didn't you Chloe?" Serena said uncertainly to Chloe.
As she did so, Serena deliberately avoided the topic of possibly hooking up with her as she honestly is conflicted on how she feels about the idea. On the one hand, it is true both of them are definitely into Ash, at least to some extent. But on the other, neither of them had ever even been interested in girls to Serena's knowledge so she was unsure if either of them could even get into what Chloe was suggesting. Chloe shrugged to Serena's response.
"Yes, I did think of all that. As for your question, honestly I have no clue, but you know what they say. You never know until you try. Besides, I never said that this hypothetical sleepover would be in the immediate or even near/foreseeable future. Just the future. So we can always wait until around your next birthday, just before your journey starts, to do the sleepover. Maybe even have it on your birthday so we can travel through Kalos together and have a chance to get used to each other more." Chloe replied. Serena nodded slowly in response to Chloe's suggestion.
"That idea I actually quite like. I was actually thinking of asking you if you wanted to journey with me anyways so this saves me a call if nothing else." Serena said honestly to Chloe who nodded. Both girls frowned as they looked at the clock.
"Bummer, I didn't realize it was that late already. Guess we gotta wrap this up." Chloe said as she saw what time it was. Serena reluctantly nodded.
"Yeah, we kinda do. We've been on this call much longer than we planned on. That said, so we're agreed that for now we table your idea but keep a note of it on record so when we revisit it later we can be able to remember it? And maybe we arrange for a sleepover in the next few months, say YOUR birthday, which I don't think is that far off, to re-convene and re-address your suggestion? Because I'll be honest, I'm uneasy of the idea, but I'm also open-minded enough to try most anything at least once. So maybe at that point we can try a few things then if we're both ready and comfortable with it. Sound good?" Serena asked Chloe.
"Perfect, sounds like a plan to me. And I agree we should be more comfortable with it down the line than we likely are now. But I knew we had to get the idea out there now so we could have time to think on it." Chloe replied. Serena had to turn away to hide the pink tints on her cheeks that indicated how embarrassed, yet oddly flattered she felt about Chloe's proposition.
"Excellent, it's a plan. Well, bye for now Chloe. Nice talking to you. Don't be a stranger, yeah? You know how to reach me now." Serena said to Chloe, a teasing smirk on her face as she found herself almost appraisingly giving Chloe a subconscious once-over while she spoke. Chloe appeared to be doing the same, albeit with a lot less embarrassment on her face.
"Yeah, I get it. Bye-bye, Serena." Chloe said, ending the chat with Serena as she put her phone away, deciding to go check and make sure she didn't miss dinner talking to Serena. Back in Kalos, Serena was doing the same, while also mulling the conversation she'd just had over in her head carefully. Neither Serena or Chloe could know that Chloe's suggestion would not only change both their lives a great deal, but those of Ash and several other girls as well...
(meanwhile, back in Galar with Ash and co.)
"GAH! Wooloo, come back!" Hop yelled as he saw the Pokeball Leon had given him with Wooloo in it being dragged away by a mechanical claw, chasing after it, not seeing the bewildered and confused looks everyone else (sans Leon and Iris who expected this reaction from Hop) exchanged at his abrupt actions. The others then took off chasing after Hop and following the claw that had Wooloo. As this was going on, the aforementioned claw eventually made it to a spot on the other side of Wedgehurst, fairly close to where Hop and Iris had gotten found by Sonia and led to the lab. Once the claw returned to where it came from, it showed a trio of people, two males and a female, wearing a black and pink uniform that looked a lot like the trio would belong in a rock and roll concert, the uniforms having a big magenta "Y" on the front in lower case writing. The female smirked at the males, looking very pleased.
"Looky there, it actually worked. We got us a blooming Pokemon! Score one for Team Yell! Now to take our haul to base!" The female said to the males.
"Hold on there, Brielle. Is all of us taking that to base wise? What if whoever that got pinched from followed the claw back and then follows us to base? Wouldn't that be counterproductive?" The skinnier of the two males pointed out, making the chubbier male snort at the skinnier male's cautiousness, while the now named Brielle rolled her eyes.
"Guv, you worry too much. Besides, I didn't say ALL of us would go to base. I would be the one to run the ball to base while you and Bob over there would run interference in case the claw was tracked. Does that answer your questions?" Brielle said to the now-named Guv, ignoring the now-named Bob's snort of amusement.
"I suppose we should go with that then. After all we don't know how long we have before-" Bob spoke up, being cut off mid-sentence by the sounds of footsteps from near their hiding place.
"OI! You three, give back that Poke Ball! That was a gift from my mom and brother!" Hop yelled at the Team Yell trio as he ran up to them, panting from having ran after the claw the whole way across Wedgehurst. Bob laughed at Hop's demand, while Guv and Brielle merely smirked.
"Kid, you've got guts standing up to us like that. But if we just did what you asked, Team Yell wouldn't have much clout or cred, now would we? So no, no we won't do that. In fact, we'll deal with you right here and now! Guv, Bob, get over here and help me dispose of this interloper! With all three of us he shouldn't stand much of a chance!" Brielle said, as Guv and Bob joined Brielle, all three throwing their Poke Balls and sending out their Pokemon, all three being the same Pokemon, all of which resemble black and white raccoons with star-print marks on one eye. Hop got nervous but threw his Pokeball anyways.
"Oshawott, help me out!" Hop said, sending out Oshawott. Guv, Bob and Brielle laughed.
"That little runt is supposed to stop our three Zigzagoons? Don't make us laugh!" Brielle said.
"Yeah, what Brielle said!" Bob agreed.
"That said, let's attack now, yeah?" Guv suggested, and Brielle and Bob nodded.
"ZIGZAGOON, USE TACKLE!" The three Team Yell members yelled in unison, as Oshawott found itself tackled in three different directions. As this happened, the rest of the group caught up to Hop. Ash and Iris both winced as Oshawott was hit in three different directions by Tackles, the otter hitting the ground painfully, but still barely on its' feet. Ash and Gloria frowned, but Iris and Sonia respectively put a hand on Ash and Gloria's shoulders to keep them in place.
"This is Hop's fight, for now. We will step in AFTER it's over, unless Hop defeats these three himself." Sonia said to Ash and Iris, who frowned, but nodded reluctantly. Oshawott at this point was wincing from the bruises it was sporting after the triple Tackle hit, glaring at the Zigzagoons. However, luck would not be on Hop's side in this battle.
"Zigzagoon, wrap this up with Headbutt!" Brielle called out, as the lone female Zigzagoon rammed hard into Oshawott's midsection, sending it into the wall where it slid down slowly, swirls in its eyes as it laid on the ground, knocked out by the Headbutt.
"Oshawott! You did the best you could. Return for now." Hop said as he recalled Oshawott disappointedly, but thanked Oshawott nonetheless. The Team Yell grunts noticed the others at this point.
"You lot! Are you here to stop us too? If so, then I'd think hard about if you're ready to fight us, because you'll likely end up like your friend over there, defeated." Guv said to the group.
"You creeps disgust me. Not only do you steal a Pokemon from a new trainer, but you steal one that was a gift from a family member! Then you have the gall to rub your win in our faces after the fact! So yes, we do plan to stop you!" Ash said, carefully brushing off Iris' hand from his shoulder, lightly squeezing it unintentionally as he did so, idly noting it felt really smooth, but didn't register that thought immediately as he was more focused on helping Hop. Gloria walked up next to Ash, followed by Iris.
"What say we have a 3 on 3 battle? Your Zigzagoons against our Pokemon? If you manage to win, we let you go about your business. If we win however, you have to give back that Poke Ball to Hop and apologize to him for stealing his Pokemon. Do we have a deal, or are you too scared to face us in an even fight?" Iris asked the three Team Yell members. Brielle and Guv exchanged wary looks before both looking at Bob, then all three shared a mutual nod, turning to Iris.
"All right kid, you want a battle so bad? You got it! And we agree to your terms! Never let it be said that Team Yell is anything less than sporting. We'll give you a chance to get this Pokemon back." Brielle said, setting down the Pokeball next to her, her arms crossing over her chest, her teammates readying their Poke Balls. On the other side, Ash, Iris and Gloria did the same. Guv, Brielle and Bob took the initiative, throwing their three Poke Balls out onto the field.
"ZIGZAGOON, LET'S ROCK THIS FIELD!" Bob, Guv and Brielle yelled in unison as they sent out their Zigzagoons.
"EXEGGCUTE/YAMPER, GO!" Iris and Gloria called out as they sent out Exeggcute and Yamper respectively. Ash reached for Rolycoly's Poke Ball, but before he could get it out to send out Rolycoly, a rustling sound could be heard from a bush next to Ash before a orangish-yellow blur shot out of the bush, eventually landing in front of Ash with a flip, revealing itself to be a Pokemon. Ash's eyes widened as he recognized this Pokemon.
"Pikachu? How did you get all the way to Galar? I thought you were with Professor Oak?" Ash asked the Pokemon, now revealed to be a Pikachu, potentially the one that was left in Kanto some time ago when Ash and Delia had had to flee to Galar. However, Gloria and Sonia both gasped, while Leon and Hop blinked in shock and Iris gaped, as unlike Ash, they spotted that this Pikachu was in fact a shiny Pikachu, as it's coloring was an inverted version of a typical Pikachu's coloring, with yellow cheeks and orange fur, but the ear tips were still black like a normal Pikachu. And the shape of his tail signified that Pikachu is a male. The now named Pikachu looked at Ash, smiling at him as he nuzzled his face into Ash's leg.
"PIK PIK PIKACHU! CHU CHU CHU PI!" Pikachu said to Ash, making him frown as he listened to Pikachu's explanation.
"So you're saying that you stowed away on our flight by hiding in our luggage then escaping at the airport and finding your way to Wedgehurst after a lot of getting lost? That's pretty impressive if that's true." Ash said to Pikachu, gently patting him on the head, gettiing a contented 'chaaaa' from Pikachu as he leaned into the pat. Ash then looked down at Pikachu.
"So, do you feel like helping me battle those three over there? They stole Hop's Wooloo and we have to beat them to get it back. Are you up to battling at my side as my Pokemon?" Ash asked Pikachu, pointing towards the Team Yell members so Pikachu knew who he meant as he spoke. Pikachu was caught offguard by Ash's request, but saw who Ash was referring to and then blinked before eventually smiling at Ash and nodding. Ash smirked.
"In that case, I CHOOSE YOU! PIKACHU!" Ash called out, sending out Pikachu who stared at the three Zigzagoons with a determined "PIKA!" as he went out onto the battlefield in front of Ash and next to Yamper and Exeggcute. The three trainers smirked as they stared down the Team Yell grunts.
"Zigzagoon, use Tackle on the Exeggcute before it can do much!" Brielle called out as her Zigzagoon rammed quickly into Exeggcute, sending it sliding back but not damaging it very much otherwise. Iris smirked.
"Perfect. Exeggcute, use Reflect while you move into range then hit that Zigzagoon with multiple Absorbs to get your health back!" Iris called as Exeggcute ran towards Brielle's Zigzagoon, a rainbow-colored barrier shimmering into existence over Exeggcute, Yamper and Pikachu before using many Absorbs on Brielle's surprised Zigzagoon, dealing her massive damage in the process. Ash and Gloria looked at each other, the former doing a quick scan of Pikachu with his Pokedex first, and nodded.
"PIKACHU/YAMPER, USE NUZZLE ON ALL THREE ZIGZAGOON!" Ash and Gloria called out simultaneously as Pikachu and Yamper both ran forward and hit all three Zigzagoons with an electrically charged nuzzle, causing sparks to fly off of all three to signify that they were paralyzed.
"Yamper, follow that up with Tackle!" Gloria called out while Ash looked at Pikachu.
"Pikachu, show us your Thunderbolt!" Ash called out to Pikachu, as both electric-types nodded and charged towards the Zigzagoons, Yamper ramming into the closest one while Pikachu let loose a giant burst of electricity that hit the three Zigzagoons, massively damaging the two male Zigzagoons, but knocking out the female due to the Absorbs she'd taken earlier in the battle. This prompted Brielle to return her defeated Pokemon, leaving it a 2 on 3 match. Gloria and Iris nodded to each other.
"Exeggcute, use Absorb on the closest Zigzagoon!" Iris called out while Gloria turned to Yamper.
"Yamper use Tackle on the other Zigzagoon!" Gloria said to Yamper. Yamper and Exeggcute nodded, charging forward and hitting the two remaining Zigzagoons with Tackle and Absorb respectively, leaving the two remaining Zigzagoons with swirls in their eyes. Guv and Bob groaned but returned their Pokemon, sighing as they looked at the group.
"Well, darn. You beat us fair and square. Take the bleedin' Pokemon then. We'll find another one to make off with. But mark my words, this isn't the last you'll see of Team Yell! We'll be back someday to get our revenge! Just you wait!" Brielle said in annoyance, tossing Hop the Poke Ball that Team Yell had swiped before she, Guv and Bob all ran off in a hurry towards the Pokemon Center, all scowling at the group. Hop quickly caught it. He then walked over to the others after Team Yell left the area.
"Thanks, everyone! We got back Wooloo! If it wasn't for you, who knows what would've happened! I can't believe Oshawott and I lost again!" Hop said, seeming down about his defeat. Leon smiled, gently patting Hop on the shoulder.
"Bro, try not to let this defeat bother you. Treat it as a learning experience, and a lesson to not charge in headfirst. If you'd have trained up Oshawott's moveset and level, you'd have won that for sure. You just got unlucky that they were more experienced and battled you three on one. So don't get discouraged. You just have to pick yourself up and focus on getting better as both a person and a trainer." Leon said to Hop encouragingly, ignoring the smiles on the faces of Ash and Sonia behind him at his motivational speech. Hop looked up at his brother, smiling as he nodded.
"Thanks, Lee! You're right. I can't let these guys get me down! This defeat is just the first page of our legend! Someday, that legend will culminate with me defeating you and becoming the new champion of the Galar region!" Hop declared, looking more confident than before. Iris groaned at the mention of Hop's goal while Ash and Gloria sweatdropped at Hop's ego.
"Is he always like that?" Ash asked Iris, who was closest to him. Iris turned to him and nodded slowly.
"Unfortunately, yes. He gets like this when he thinks about his dream." Iris replied to Ash.
"That's not a bad thing. It just gives him something to strive towards. If anything that's good since it'll give him motivation to improve! And that could in turn push you to get even better as a trainer." Ash pointed out to Iris, smiling at her as he spoke. Iris looked away afterwards, mostly to hide the light tinge of pink that had dusted her cheeks when Ash smiled at her. Ash, being Ash, chalked Iris' behaviour up to embarrassment. Gloria, meanwhile, walked over to Pikachu and smiled at him, gently petting his head affectionately.
"Hi there, Pikachu! You're a cutie. I'm Gloria, and I'm a friend of Ash's. Thanks for helping us defeat Team Yell before." Gloria said to Pikachu with a smile. Pikachu smiled, hopping up eagerly into Gloria's lap, relaxing into her touch, giving a 'chaaaaa' of content. Gloria giggled at Pikachu's antics.
"You really like that, don't you?" Gloria said, smiling as she kept petting Pikachu who was too busy sighing happily to answer her. Sonia and Leon watched this with amusement.
"I didn't know Ash had a Pikachu already?" Leon said, looking at Sonia in confusion. Sonia shrugged.
"This is the first I've heard of it too. Perhaps Ash could explain it?" Sonia suggested to Leon. Leon nodded as they walked over to Ash.
"Ash, care to explain when you caught a Pikachu?" Sonia asked Ash inquisitively, drawing his attention to her and Leon.
"Hmm? Oh, I didn't catch him. My brother Red did. However, he got himself captured by Team Rocket so Pikachu was sent to live with me and my mom, and Red asked me in a letter to look after him until he could escape and get him back. So he's technically a gift from my older brother moreso than a Pokemon I captured. Besides, Pikachu's Poke Ball is back in Kanto with Professor Oak so I couldn't capture him even if I wanted to right now." Ash explained to Leon and Sonia, prompting surprised gasps from Hop, Gloria and Iris who had overheard the explanation. Pikachu was too busy being shown affection by Gloria to notice he was being talked about. Leon nodded at the explanation as did Sonia.
"So, if we were to call Professor Oak, he'd be able to vouch for your story?" Leon asked Ash, who shrugged.
"If you can get ahold of him, then yes. But given he had to go into hiding as well after my mom and I moved here, I don't know if you'll be able to reach him to get that verifcation. But you could always go talk to my mom about it, and she'll verify what I told you." Ash replied.
"That's a good idea, Ash. I'll go do that myself shortly. As for Leon, I believe he has something for the four of you that he didn't get to give you with that whole debacle with Wooloo." Sonia replied, glaring pointedly at Leon for forgetting yet again. Leon sweatdropped at Sonia's glare.
"Yeah, I know. I'm doing it." Leon said, as Sonia walked off to go contact Delia to verify Ash's story. Leon then pulled out four envelopes, handing one each to Ash, Gloria, Hop and Iris. He then also handed each of them blank circle shaped objects. Hop frowned at the latter.
"Lee, what's with the circles?" Hop asked Leon. Leon laughed before speaking.
"Well brother, those are your Badge Cases, where you'll store your Badges as you get them. I'd give you more of an explanation, but once you four reach the Motostoke Stadium, you'll get a full explanation of the Gym Challenge. Which reminds me, here's your train tickets to get on the train to Motostoke. Can't forget those after all." Leon said, handing each of them a train ticket. The group accepted the offered items, nodding at Leon as they did so. Leon then looked at the group.
"Allow me to escort you to the train station so you can get on the train to Motostoke." Leon said to the group. All four nodded their agreement of Leon's offer. They then started heading for the station, but not before Ash made sure Pikachu was comfortable on his shoulder as he had shown interest in staying outside of a Poke Ball. If Leon found this unusual, he said nothing. After they reached the station, Leon addressed the group once again.
"Remember, board the train headed for Motostoke. Once you get there, head for the nearest Pokemon Center and ask directions to the stadium, where you can get fully registered as Gym Challengers, or as entrants of the Gym Challenge. At that point, there should be a presentation where the Gym Leaders come out onstage and you get to see them, assuming they all show up. I do know one or two like to no-show on occasion so it's possible not all of them will be there. But you'll understand more when the time comes. Lastly, you four are some of the most capable trainers I've seen in some time. So I would ask you four keep each other on your toes and push each other to your limits, as a friendly rival is often just the thing to keep a trainer striving to be their best. However, that doesn't mean having a go at each other at every opportunity. Most importantly, never forget to have fun and enjoy yourselves. Am I understood?" Leon asked the group who nodded, looking pointedly at Iris and Hop during the part of his remarks where he mentioned having a go at each other. Leon smiled at the group.
"Good. In that case, I wish you all the best of luck. Hopefully when next we meet, you'll all have gotten better. And Iris, hopefully you'll have caught at least one other Pokemon by then. I noticed you being the only one not to catch anything as of yet.' Leon said, leaving the group after his last remark to Iris who frowned. She looked at the others.
"Am I really the only one of us with only one Pokemon?" Iris asked. Hop and Ash nodded, but Gloria shook her head.
"Techincally, Ash only has one Pokemon still as well. He himself said Pikachu is his brother's pokemon so I don't think that counts as being his so much as him borrowing it from his brother. So no you're not the only one with just one caught Pokemon, Iris." Gloria pointed out, making Ash blink, but shrug since Gloria did have a point.
"Be that as it may, let's get on the train guys!" Hop said, heading into the station, the others close behind. Eventually, the quartet found themselves on the train bound for Motostoke. However, what none of them expected was that their trip would be anything but simple...
end of chapter
A/N: And there we have it! Another chapter down! Yes, I know this is kind of a shorter chapter compared to the previous ones, but there wasn't as much to fit in this one, and the train station I felt makes for a better stopping point than most. Also, Pikachu is finally with Ash! And before the reviews point it out, YES I know Pikachu isn't shiny in canon. But again, this series is called SHUFFLED journeys. Plus his OT is Red techincally, so if anyone could manage to pull a shiny Pikachu out of nowhere it'd be Red. As for the bit with Chloe and Serena at the start of the chapter, I realized I hadn't really given either any screentime as yet despite mentioning both by name in chapter 1. So this seemed a good time to rectify that. And those of you who are observant might spot some hints for future events within that conversation between them. And yes, before I get asked about it, there will be both male/female and female/female pairings in this story. I'm not promising anything, but I might look, at later points in the series, into an all-girl harem (not more than 4-5 girls if it gets that big) seperate from Ash's harem (which will not overlap with the aforementioned all-girl harem). Speaking of which, don't forget to vote on the poll I have up! Your votes can help influence who makes Ash's harem!
Next chapter will have more of the group's journey, and MIGHT (keyword MIGHT) have some other familiar faces make an appearance as well as another look in on Red and the remaining Kantonian Elite Four members. Might also throw in a capture or two for the group as well (mainly Iris if that happens). That said feel free to leave reviews or PM me with feedback and opinions on the story. I always enjoy hearing from readers. So feel free to do so, and until next update sithlorde1988 out!
Teams so far:
Ash- Rolycoly, Pikachu (on loan from Red)
Hop- Oshawott, Wooloo
Iris- Exeggcute
Gloria- Eevee, Yamper