Professor Cerise slowly walked into the side room attached to the main laboratory of Cerise Labs. It was the end of another typical day and he felt ready to head home. As he walked, he glanced at the trio of tan, Sandshrew eggs sitting securely on the raised platform in the middle of the room. Chloe's current project had gone another day without any activity. He looked to the side at his maroon haired daughter and found her sitting at a desk, slowly tapping at the keyboard of a computer. He smiled as pride filled his heart but he also felt a little tinge of sadness. Things weren't the same at their house since Chloe had moved to her own apartment. He stepped toward his grown-up girl and opened his mouth to speak.
"Any success on that Dugtrio research, Chloe?" he said in a friendly voice.
Chloe absently tapped at the keyboard a couple more times before turning her head toward her father. "Not really," she groaned, propping her chin up on the palm of her left hand. "No matter what repellants I try, they just dig right past the barriers."
The Professor frowned for a moment and then put on a happy face. "Well, at least you're finding what doesn't work," he said.
Chloe made a sour face. "Mmm, hmm," she hummed unhappily.
Chloe's father gestured toward the Sandshrew eggs. "Anything going on with our guests?" he said.
Chloe sighed again. "Nope, nothing," she moped, glancing toward the eggs. "They're still paperweights."
Professor Cerise hesitated for a moment. Things were currently slow at the lab and he wished there was more exciting work he could give his daughter. He finally smiled and spoke in an upbeat voice.
"Well, at least they're being well cared for," he said.
"Mmmmm," Chloe hummed while maintaining a flat expression.
Silence hung in the air for an awkward moment. Then, the eggs all started to brightly glow! The Professor turned toward the eggs and smiled. Chloe straightened up and grunted in surprise.
"Huh, that's way ahead of schedule," the maroon haired girl said.
Professor Cerise eagerly clasped his hands together and stepped up to the raised platform. "Ah, looks like these three little ones are eager to get out into the world!"
Chloe spun around in her chair and a small smile pulled at her lips. She peered at the glowing eggs with her green eyes and waited. More light flashed from the eggs and suddenly there was some movement. A moment later, the light began to fade and three curled up Sandshrew were revealed. Their eyes were closed, their faces pinched and their smooth backs a shade of bright, pale blue!
Looks of utter confusion took hold of Chloe and her father. They stared wide-eyed and speechless at, not the traditional sand-colored variety, but a trio of slightly bulkier Alolan Sandshrew.
"Huh?" Professor Cerise finally grunted.
"That's not how that works…" Chloe said absently.
Chloe's father scratched at his chin for a few moments before leaning toward the newly hatched Pokémon. "Well, you're full of surprises, aren't you," he said in a friendly voice.
All of the Sandshrew turned toward Professor Cerise and blinked their eyes. The professor smiled warmly and chuckled.
"Welcome, I'm Professor Cerise and this is‑"
One of the Sandshrew made a series stilted of grunting sounds before suddenly sneezing right in the Professor's face. The blast of freezing air caused Professor Cerise's glasses to ice up and his hair to suddenly sparkle with tiny crystals of snow. Chloe's father cringed and staggered backwards a step.
To the side, Chloe pursed her lips, rested her chin on the palm of her right hand and made an unhappy groan. "I'll bet this lab report is gonna be a doozy."
The back door of the main building swung open and a blast of frigid air swirled inside. Serena, her head covered by a red cap and her mouth with a red scarf, stomped and shivered her way inside and promptly shut the door. Her heavy, brown boots were caked with snow and her black snow pants sparkled with countless specks of winter fall.
The woman from Kalos let out a huff and pulled at her scarf with her red-gloved hands. "I don't remember it being this cold last winter," she groaned in a tense, chilled voice.
A few feet away, Ash was in the process of discarding his winter gear. His cheeks were rosy from the cold and his black hair speckled with snow. The two of them had just finished a few hours of necessary work outdoors. Ironically, they had been making sure the Pokémon were safe and warm, whilst slowly freezing themselves.
"Yeah, it's not normally this cold," he replied in an unhappy voice. "But every few years we have a pretty bad winter.
Serena pulled off her scarf and cap, discarded her gloves and immediately, rapidly rubbed her hands together. She held cupped her hands over her mouth and breathed some warmth into her freezing fingers. She let out a moan of chilled discomfort and started unzipping her puffy, red coat.
"You know, Ash," she began in a humorous tone. "I'm really glad to be back, but it was summer time in Kalos. I'm kinda missing that right now…"
Ash chuckled and shrugged. "Well, can't win 'em all I guess," he replied. "It's always winter at some point."
Serena chuckled and rubbed her hands together again. "Yeah, but personally, I prefer bikinis to snow boots."
A wry smile pulled at Ash's lips. "I do too…" he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Serena smiled subtly and hung her coat up. "How's soup sound for dinner?" she asked.
"Sounds great," Ash replied.
Serena awkwardly pulled off her boots and set them aside. She gave the man she loved a playful caress across his back and stepped toward the laundry room to finish changing.
It didn't take long for Serena to cook up a pot of hot soup for them to enjoy. Soon, she and Ash were slurping the tasty meal and munching on some cookies Serena had baked previously. It had been a tough and unpleasant day, but now that they were inside, they were feeling much better. They exchanged happy glances and talked about the day.
Once dinner was finished, they washed up the dishes and retired to the living room. Serena sent Ash a sly look and made the comment that she was still feeling a bit cold. Ash smirked and sat down on the couch, inviting Serena to join him. Serena sat down on Ash's lap and had just leaned back so her feminine form could melt into his when the reserve's phone suddenly rang.
Ash and Serena sighed unhappily at the interruption and the girl from Kalos rolled off of her man. Ash moved to the phone and activated the video system. A moment later, Professor Oak appeared on the screen.
Ash immediately brightened and spoke in a very happy voice. "Hey, Professor, it's great to see you!"
Professor Oak chuckled and nodded subtly. "It's good to see you too, Ash," he replied.
Serena's unhappiness disappeared as well and she stepped up to stand beside Ash. "It's been a while," she began. Her eyes immediately went to the background of the call and she saw that Professor Oak was on a beach with the sun shining brightly all around him. "Oh, uh, looks like you're enjoying yourself," Serena added, feeling a bit sad that she wasn't on a nice, warm beach as well.
Professor Oak glanced to the side and smiled. "Yes, it's another nice day here in Alola!"
Ash chuckled. "It's always nice in Alola," he replied.
Serena eyed the sandy beach, the shining sun and the Professor's suntan. She wished she could go outside and work on a getting suntan. Instead, she was avoiding catching hypothermia…
"Indeed my boy," the Professor said, answering Ash. He paused for a moment before continuing in a more serious tone. "So, I guess you're wondering why I called."
Ash shrugged. "Not really," he replied.
The Professor chuckled. "Well, there's been a very interesting development at Cerise Labs."
Ash brightened again. "Oh, did Goh find some sort of rare Pokémon?"
Professor Oak smiled and took a sip from a straw of a nice looking glass of fruit juice. Serena remembered having one of those when she'd been on a beach in Hoenn. She'd really enjoyed it…
"Nothing quite so dramatic," the silver haired man continued. "It seems that they had some Alola form Sandshrew hatch from eggs which were colored like a normal form."
Ash's face scrunched up in puzzlement. "Huh, I've never heard of that happening," he said.
Professor Oak nodded. "Yes, it's the first recorded time that we know of." He chuckled in an amused and happy manner. "Aren't Pokémon mysterious creatures?"
Serena stared longingly at a man and woman frolicking in the background of the call. They were wearing skimpy bathing suits and splashing around in the ocean. She turned her head, glanced out a window and saw the leafless trees swaying as the freezing wind blew outside. Professor Oak was a lucky man…
"Anyway," the Professor continued. "I've spoken with Professor Cerise and he agreed that it would be best to send the Sandshrew here. Because we have more experience studying that form, we're hoping to figure out why they hatched from differently colored eggs."
Ash nodded. "Oh, I see," he replied. "So, why call me?"
Professor Oak smiled. "Well, Ash, I was hoping that you could bring them here, personally."
Ash frowned in puzzlement while Serena's face lit up with excitement. "You mean travel there; to Alola?!" the Kalos native said enthusiastically.
Ash scratched at the back of his head. "Uh, but why do you need me to take them to Alola?" he said in a perplexed and unenthused tone. He gestured at the nearby Pokémon transporter before continuing. "Can't you just use the Pokémon transportation network?"
Serena's face scrunched up in dismay and she looked to the side at the man who's chances of bedding her in the near future were dropping dramatically.
Professor Oak reached down and lifted a pair of sunglasses over his eyes. "The reason we can't use the transportation network is because we don't want to capture them in Pokéballs."
Ash cocked his head to the side in puzzlement.
The Professor continued. "We don't want the capture process to affect their current state. This way we can compare them to the natural Alolan Sandshrew, here, and see if there are any differences." The man in Alola chuckled. "Who knows, maybe we're dealing with a whole new subspecies."
Ash's face brightened in understanding. "Ah, I see. That's why you need them to be flown there."
Serena started to beam at her secret husband. She rocked from side-to-side, anticipation roaring through her at the idea of setting foot on a warm, sandy beach. She could practically feel the sand slipping between her toes…
"So, can I count on you to bring them here, Ash?" Professor Oak asked.
Serena stared at Ash and watched him slowly fidget and frown. A pit-like feeling took hold of her stomach.
"Uh, well, geez," Ash began awkwardly. "I mean, I'd love to… but if all we're doing is hauling some Pokémon over there; I've got a bunch of work here to take care of."
Serena stared at her soon-to-be-sleeping-on-the-couch boyfriend, took a step back so she was out of view of the video call and subtly cleared her throat to get his attention.
Ash scratched at his chin. "I mean, we've got a heater in the grass area to replace and the one aviary needs‑"
Serena cleared her throat again and Ash finally looked over at her. He stared at his secret wife and she responded with a few gestures and expression which left no doubt about her desire to assist him in transporting the Sandshrew to Alola.
Ash worked his mouth for a second before turning back to face the screen. "Uh, you know, I think a trip to Alola sounds like a great idea."
Serena smiled from ear-to-ear and lovingly batted her eyes at the man she loved.
Professor Oak made an approving sound and adjusted his sunglasses. "Excellent, my boy. I'll let Professor Cerise know you're on the job."
A day later, Ash and Serena stepped off a bus at the entrance of Cerise Labs. They each pulled along a rolling suitcase while Pikachu dashed along nearby. They began the slow walk up the steps to the lab just as the chilly wind started to blow. Serena was wearing her coat and cap and she grimaced slightly as the wind blew, however her exuberant expression lost none of its cheeriness. The girl from Kalos chuckled happily and glanced over at Ash.
"We're finally going to Alola, Ash!" she chirped, her blue eyes sparkling with dreams of warm beaches and beautiful sunsets.
Ash chuckled and nodded a couple of times. "Yeah, it has been a while," he said without irony.
Serena giggled and let out a happy sigh. She blew out a breath, which condensed into a vapor cloud, and spoke in a more casual tone.
"So, why do you think these Sandshrew evolved into their Alola form?" she asked.
Ash pursed his lips and thought for a moment. "I really don't know," he said. "There's so much we don't know about Pokémon eggs and how they hatch."
The wind blew again and Serena held up an arm to shield her face. "Well, you wanna know my thought," she said in a tense voice.
Ash nodded an affirmative and the golden haired girl promptly continued. "I think they sensed the weather was miserable and they changed their forms 'cause they didn't want to be cold!"
Ash chuckled a couple of times before shrugging and smiling sheepishly. "Hey, it's as good a theory as any," he replied.
Serena grinned happily and sent her man a loving look. He returned it just as the wind blew again, causing both of them to grimace against the cold.
"I really can't wait 'till we get to Alola!" Serena said in a tense, pitchy voice.
The front door of the lab swung open and Chloe shivered as the cold air swirled in and circled around her legs. She reached down to keep her skirt from billowing up while managing an awkward smile as Ash stepped through the door.
"Hey, Ash!" she said happily.
Ash smiled back at her. "Hey, Chloe!" he replied.
A moment later, Serena stepped through the door and Chloe's expression brightened considerably. "Serena!" the maroon haired researcher exclaimed happily.
Serena shut the door, let out a grunt of chilled discomfort before looking up at her friend. "Chloe!" she replied in an equally happy voice.
The two girls chuckled and stepped forward into a friendly embrace. They shared a short hug before pulling apart and giggling.
"I'm so happy you were able to make it," Chloe said. "I'd heard it was just Ash picking up the Sandshrew."
Serena smiled and subtly shook her head. "Nope, we decided to make a trip out of it. We're going to spend a few days in Alola!" she said, barely able to contain her excitement.
Chloe gasped in an elated breath. "Oh, that's so wonderful! I'm so happy for you!" Chloe sighed wistfully and canted her head to the side. "I wish I could go to Alola…"
Ash brushed some snow off of his coat and started pulling at the zipper. "Maybe you and Goh could take a trip sometime. You two had a lot of fun the last time we were there."
Chloe frowned slightly. "Uh, Goh, why him?" she said guardedly.
Serena suppressed a bashful smile and leaned a little closer to Chloe. " 'Cause you two are really close, right," she said in a friendly whisper.
Chloe pursed her lips and averted her eyes downward. "Uhh, well, I don't know if I'd say that, exactly…" she replied in a dismissive tone.
Serena hesitated for a moment. "Uh, I thought you two were always hanging out together," she said in a soft voice.
Chloe shrugged indifferently and put on a disinterested expression. "Well, I mean… we see each other every now and then, but not as much as we used to…"
Ash hung up his coat and Serena was about to say something else when Chloe abruptly clapped her hands together and spoke in a spirited tone. "So, who wants to see the Sandshrew?!"
Ash chuckled and stepped toward the lab. "Can't wait," he said with a grin.
Serena's shoulders fell slightly and she felt some unhappiness wash over her. Previously, she'd hoped that Chloe would get together with Goh. The two of them were such great friends and seemed to possess great chemistry. Now, however, it sounded like they were drifting apart. The girl from Kalos let out a mournful sigh and looked at Ash as he happily trotted toward the lab interior. She was so grateful her relationship with him was solid. So many others suffered heartbreak instead of happiness.
After a short walk, Ash and Serena stepped into the lab. They found the room was empty except for the three newly hatched Sandshrew sitting inside a small, sealed, container. The accommodations for the Sandshrew was a cube on an elevated stand, made out of glass, with a ventilation pipe hooked up to the top of it. Chloe stepped up to the frost covered cube and spoke in a casual tone.
"That's one of the nice things about winter; we don't have to run the air-conditioning. We just pump in the outside air."
Inside the glass cube, two of the Sandshrew were milling about while the third was munching on a berry. As Ash and Serena approached, the three Pokémon all stopped what they were doing and looked at them. Serena bent close to the glass and spoke in a very friendly voice.
"Hi there! I'm Serena! You all look really cute!"
One of the Sandshrew appeared puzzled, another embarrassed while the third seemed pleased. They exchanged a few grunts and returned to what they had been doing. With a pleased smile on his face, Ash stepped up and inspected the ice types.
"Looks like they're settling in pretty well," he said.
Chloe scoffed and rolled her eyes. "That's only because we put them in there. We tried keeping them with the other Pokémon but these guys are really feisty. They kept getting into trouble."
Ash grinned and playfully wiggled his right index finger in front of one of the Sandshrew. The Pokémon intently eyed the moving digit and pressed its nose against the glass.
"Well, I think I can handle 'em," Ash said. "Sometimes you've just got to let them get it out of their system and show them who's boss." He grinned and chuckled. "I have a feeling they want a good battle to see what they can do."
Serena smiled kindly and stepped up behind her secret husband. "Yes, Ash, but we'll be on an airplane, not on the reserve," she said in a politely chiding tone.
Ash's face abruptly fell and he frowned. "Oh…. yeah…." he said slowly. He scratched at his chin and thought for a moment. "Can't really let them run wild…" he mumbled.
Chloe let out an amused chuckle. "Don't worry, we already thought of that," she said with mild chastisement. She walked over to a corner of the lab and picked up a small, rectangular container. The device was colored grey and was completely enclosed except for a glass window on the front of it. "You can transport them inside these," she said proudly, holding up the container.
Serena frowned while Ash appeared incensed. "What, you want to stuff them inside that little box for the entire flight?!" he said sharply.
"It doesn't look like they'd be very happy in there," Serena added in a more diplomatic tone.
Chloe's expression flattened and she sent both of them critical stares. "Give us some credit here…" she grumbled. With an exasperated sigh Chloe set the container on a table and invited Ash and Serena over for a look.
"We built this thing to keep them at a comfortable temperature for the entire trip. We also knew they wouldn't want to be cooped up the entire time so we decided to install a sleeping gas emitter inside." Chloe took a step back and folded her arms whilst sporting a slightly aloof smile. "They'll be completely asleep during the entire trip. In fact, they'll probably be more comfortable than you'll be."
Ash's expression changed to one of approval and he eyed the container while slowly nodding. "Huh, that does sound pretty good."
Chloe nodded and made a satisfied sound. "We even included some food for when they wake up."
Serena smiled and eyed the container. "Hmm, that sounds really great."
Chloe continued to pridefully smile until the sound of her phone vibrating on a nearby desk caught her attention. Her face fell for the briefest of moments before she regained her composure and looked back at Ash and Serena.
"Okay, if you're ready to get going, I can get the Sandshrew packed up," Chloe said.
Ash glanced around the room, looking at the empty desks. "Say, where is everyone?" he asked. "I was hoping to say 'hi' to professor Cerise."
Chloe shrugged. "My dad's giving a lecture at the college, Ren is home sick and Chrysa took a day off to go skating. It's just me here today."
Ash frowned and his shoulders slumped. "Aww, man," he groaned.
Chloe's phone vibrated again and her eyes flitted in its direction before she turned her attention to the containers. She opened one of them up and then turned toward the glass cube holding the Sandshrew.
"Okay, time to go," she said in a friendly tone.
It took a more than a few minutes to get the cantankerous Sandshrew into the containers. Ash and Serena quickly saw why they'd decided to keep the ice types separated from the other Pokémon. Each one of the pale blue creatures squirmed and cried out as Chloe tried to load them into the carriers. Once they were inside, and the sleeping gas was turned on, they soon fell into a peaceful sleep. It took an effort, but Ash, Chloe and Serena got all of the rascally Pokémon safely stowed away.
Chloe stepped back from the last of the containers and let out a relieved sigh. "Phew, I'm glad that's over," she said, brushing a stray strand of her maroon hair back behind her right ear.
Ash squatted down so he could see inside the containers. All of the Sandshrew had their eyes closed and were breathing slowly.
Serena crouched down next to the man she loved. "They look so peaceful," she whispered.
Ash smiled and nodded. "Yeah, this should be really easy. Just like carrying them in Pokéballs."
While Ash and Serena exchanged a few words, Chloe's phone vibrated yet again and she looked over at it. She made a consternated sound and then slide-stepped over to her desk. She picked up the phone and saw that she'd received half a dozen texts from Goh. All of them were asking about if they were still planning to meet up in her apartment that evening.
With her cheeks ever so slightly flushing, Chloe surreptitiously glanced at Ash and Serena before tapping out a quick confirmation of their plans for that evening. Ash and Serena rose to their feet and Chloe quickly put on a smile. She started to put down her phone but it vibrated again. She glanced at the screen and saw it was another text from Goh. Her cheeks became even rosier as she saw the words "Can't wait! See you soon!" pop up.
The girl from Vermilion City cleared her throat and clicked her phone to darken the screen. She then spoke up in an exaggerated, cheery tone.
"Well, I sure hope you have fun in Alola!"
Serena practically squealed with excitement. She jittered on her feet and looked toward Ash with sparkling eyes.
"I'm sure we will," Serena replied in an extremely happy tone.
Ash chuckled and sent Serena a loving gaze. They paused for a moment before turning toward Chloe.
"Thanks a lot Chloe," Ash said in a grateful tone. "I'll make sure they get to Alola, safely."
Chloe smiled and nodded. "I'm sure you will," she replied. As the words left her mouth, her phone vibrated one more time. Ash and Serena began picking up the carriers and Chloe used the opportunity to glance down at the message on her phone. To her horror, the text read "I really loved cowgirl last week. What do you want to choose for tonight?"
With her cheeks turning red and her face fixed in a grimace, Chloe turned the phone's screen away from Ash and Serena, then smiled and waved as they lugged the carriers out of the lab. The second her friends were gone, Chloe brought up her phone and quickly hammered out her reply.
"Goh, don't text me stuff like that while I'm at work!"
Chloe let out an embarrassed squeak and wiped some nervous sweat off of her brow. A few seconds later, Goh replied.
"Sorry!" the message said.
Chloe let out a sigh and sat down in her chair. She idly tapped her phone against her chest for a few seconds as she thought. A moment later, with her cheeks once again turning rosy, she tapped out another message.
"Let's start with missionary."
Many hours of flying later, Serena pressed her face against the glass of the airplane window and let out a happy laugh. The sun was shining high overhead and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The woman from Kalos grinned broadly as she took in the idyllic sight of Melemele Island surrounded by the gorgeous, shimmering, deep blue ocean. Ash smiled and chuckled in amusement as he watched his secret wife squirm and sigh in anticipation of arriving. Finally, she turned around to look at him.
"Wow, it's just as beautiful as you said," she breathed in an amazed tone.
Ash nodded in reply. "Yep, and just wait until we land."
Serena let out a girlish squeal and turned back to the window.
The plane circled the island before setting down at the airport. After a short wait, Ash and Serena disembarked and went to retrieve their luggage. Ash watched as the carriers containing the Sandshrew were unloaded and he was pleased to see they were still sleeping. He loaded the carriers onto a rolling cart and was about to go find a taxi when Serena spotted a small gathering of booths selling various local trinkets. She promptly dragged her man over and spent the next half-hour examining and trying out various knick-knacks.
Once the excursion was finished, Ash hailed a taxi and loaded the carriers inside. The Sandshrew were finally awake and quietly munching on the food inside their containers. The taxi dropped them near the large mall and Ash was just turning toward the path to the Pokémon School when Serena squealed in delight and dashed toward a booth featuring a bunch of Alola style hats.
Ash glanced down at Pikachu and shrugged. "Looks like we're doing some shopping first," he said in an amused manner.
Pikachu let out an exasperated sigh and started slowly walking toward Serena. Ash started to pick up the carriers but glanced around at the many people milling about and grimaced. He casually pulled out his red cap and pulled it down over his head, a little lower than usual. He then picked up the carriers and started hauling them toward Serena.
Serena rapidly moved from one booth to another. She bought a cute sunhat and then picked up some earrings made of seashells. Ash, meanwhile, lurked around, trying to keep out of sight of the booth owners and passersby. After Serena acquired a small, elegantly painted, jewelry box, she raised a curious eyebrow at Ash's behavior and walked over to him.
"What's going on with that?!" Serena asked in a playful voice, tipping the bill of Ash's hat with the tip of her right index finger.
Ash let out a tense laugh and straightened his hat. "I'm trying to keep a low profile," he said in a subdued voice.
An amused smile spread across Serena's face. "Low profile," she replied. "Why in the world do you want to do that?"
Ash half grimaced, half smiled. "Well, see, if we want to get these Sandshrew delivered and have some time to ourselves, the people here can't know I'm in town."
Serena's face scrunched up in a perplexed yet amused expression. "So you're gonna skulk around like a secret agent?" she joked. "Why? Are you afraid of the people here?"
Ash shifted awkwardly. "Uh, no, definitely not, uh," he mumbled. "But let's just say that they can be a little enthusiastic when it comes to celebrations."
Serena chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Okay, Ash, whatever you say," she said with a smile. She turned back to the booth and suddenly a familiar voice sounded a few steps away.
"Well, well, if it isn't Ash and Serena," Mimo called out.
Ash tensed up while Serena glanced over in surprise. Kiawe's teenage sister was standing a short distance away, a plastic bag of groceries dangling from her right hand.
"Oh, hi Mimo," Serena said in a friendly voice.
Ash subtly raised a hand and offered a half-wave. "Hey," he said in a low voice.
A sneaky grin spread across Mimo's face and she sniggered a few times as she looked towards Ash. "Alola to you too," she said sarcastically. "What's going on Ash? Did Detective Laki recruit you to go undercover?" she said in a teasing tone.
Ash cringed while Serena's eyebrows went up again. "Ash, did you do some stuff in Alola you haven't told me about?" she asked with curiosity.
Ash cringed even more and started to turn red. "Uhhh, no…." he croaked, leaning his head down so the bill of his cap concealed his face.
Serena regarded her man for a moment before turning back to Mimo. "Well, I'll bet this is a surprise for you," she said to the brown and yellow haired girl.
Mimo smiled and chuckled. "Yeah, I'll say," she replied. The teen looked at Ash and spoke in a slightly louder than necessary voice. "Hey Ash, you know everyone on all four islands is gonna want to see you, right?"
Ash seemed to be slouching lower and lower by the second. "Yep, I know…" he said in a gravelly voice.
Serena started to chuckle. "I really don't get why you're so shy," she said in a kind tone. "You're going to say 'hi' eventually, right?"
"Uhh, yeah," Ash replied. "I just want to show you around before our trip gets hijacked."
Serena cocked her head to the side in puzzlement. "Hijacked?" she repeated.
Mimo glanced around and suddenly smiled broadly. "Hey, Ash," she spoke up. "There's Professor Burnet. You should go and say 'Alola!' "
Serena let out a happy hum and spun her head around in the direction Mimo was looking. Even though she'd never seen Professor Burnet in-person, she'd seen enough pictures of her that she could instantly recognize the white haired mother. The woman who'd married Professor Kukui was currently chatting with a vendor of vegetables. She looked every bit as dashing and beautiful as the pictures made her out to be. Sporting a cheery expression, Serena turned back toward Ash.
"Hey, Ash, we really ought to go say 'hi,' " she said.
Mimo chuckled and leaned closer to Serena. "Actually, you say 'Alola' here when you greet someone," the teen said.
An uncertain look crossed Serena's face for a moment. "Ohhh, okay," she replied. "I was wondering why everyone kept saying the name of the island." She turned back to Ash and spoke in a cheery tone. "We should go say 'Alola' to Professor Burnet."
Ash appeared very conflicted. "Uhh, not here in public, Serena. Not if you still want to have a vacation…" he replied in a low voice.
Burnet finished purchasing a few items from the vendor and turned toward the three of them. Ash promptly turned away and shuffled to the side so he was mostly hidden behind the vendor. Serena frowned at his behavior and pursed her lips. Mimo, however, hummed happily and sauntered up to Serena.
"Hey, Serena, have you been getting any souvenirs to take home?" the teen sang.
Serena blinked and looked over at Mimo. "Uh, I've gotten a few so far," she replied.
Mimo grinned and reached over to place a guiding hand on Serena's back. "Well, let me suggest that you should pick up an Alola charm necklace!" she said, subtly pushing Serena toward a booth a few paces away.
Serena wasn't crazy about being pushed anywhere, but the second her eyes took in the sight of the many different necklaces for sale, her uncertainty instantly vanished. She let out a happy chuckle and moved to inspect the necklaces.
"Awww, these are so neat!" Serena exclaimed.
Sensing a potential customer, the burly man at the booth immediately put on a big smile and spoke in a boisterous, amiable voice. "ALOLA miss!"
Serena grinned joyfully and chuckled. "Alola to you as well!" she replied in a sweet tone.
The man kept smiling and promptly continued his spiel. "This is a traditional Alola charm necklace. No matter who you are, you can find one which will align with the threads of your life and bring you good fortune!"
Serena smiled and looked at the man. "Oh, really!" she replied in an intrigued voice.
The man nodded in response and continued to smile. "Definitely!" He leaned toward Serena and spoke in a charming voice. "So, little lady, what are you looking for?"
Serena let out a bashful chuckle while Mimo stepped up to the booth and pointed at a specific necklace. The decoration wasn't made of jewels or metal. It featured several carved stones spaced with small bits of seashells. The stones were polished which caused the entire necklace to shine in the bright sun.
"I think you should get this one!" Mimo said without hesitation.
Serena looked at the necklace while the booth owner let out a belly laugh. "So, you want the queen's necklace?!" he said in a loud voice.
Serena felt a small thrill shoot through her. She still felt a little disappointed over giving up on her dream of becoming Kalos queen. Now, by chance, she'd happened across a necklace that was somehow associated with a queen in Alola. Perhaps this was fate offering her a consolation prize…
"So, what's the queen's necklace?" Serena asked of the vendor.
The man leaned forward and planted his right elbow on the booth's display table. He grinned before speaking in a larger-than-life voice.
"Back in ancient times, the queens of Alola wore necklaces with these charms on them! It was a sign of their royalty and position!" The man's grin got even larger and he continued. "It brought them good luck and happiness!" he sniggered and lowered his voice a little. "Plus, some extra success with their husbands…" he added in a sneaky tone.
Serena tried not to laugh but failed. She blushed slightly and covered her face out of embarrassment. Mimo, meanwhile, only grinned. Serena caught her breath and stared at the necklace for a few seconds before smiling.
"I'll take it!" the golden haired girl declared.
The shop owner laughed again and soon the trinket was hanging around Serena's neck. She started making her way back toward Ash, looking down at her new acquisition. She hummed happily, eyeing the neat symbols carved into the stone. She wondered if they had meaning or if they were just decorative. Serena's thoughts were interrupted by Mimo suddenly cackling.
"Uh oh, looks like Ash is about to be busted," the teen said in a tone which was gleeful and ominous at the same time.
Serena glanced up and saw that Professor Burnet had wandered over in their direction. Ash had done his best to keep out of sight by moving behind the small vendor booth, but he was a black haired, young man wearing a red cap with a Pikachu at his side. There wasn't much he could do once the professor set her eyes on him.
Serena watched as Burnet looked in Ash's direction, slowed to a stop and canted her head to the side in curiosity. A moment later, the white haired, middle aged woman let out a supremely excited squeal and dropped the bags she'd been carrying.
"ASH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" she bellowed in a shocked and elated tone.
Ash grimaced and slowly lifted his gaze so his face wasn't concealed by the brim of his cap. "Alola, professor," he said in a tense voice.
Burnet chortled like a schoolgirl and dashed to Ash. She immediately wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight.
"OHH, we've missed you soooo much!" Burnet continued. "Everyone's going to be so surprised!"
To Serena's side, Mimo continued to snicker. Serena stared at the touching sight of Ash and Burnet's reunion. She smiled and let out a happy sigh. Alola sure seemed like a wonderful place. If she wasn't firmly wedded to Pallet Town, she'd probably consider moving here.
The owner of the booth Ash had been hiding behind finally turned around to look at the commotion and immediately gasped in amazement.
"BY THE GUARDIANS, IT'S THE CHAMPION!" he exclaimed, his eyes stretching wide.
Mimo's snickering increased in intensity and Serena rolled her eyes. Kiawe's sister had a strange sense of humor. The golden haired girl stepped over to where Ash and Burnet were standing just as the professor held him out at arm's-length and eyed him up-and-down.
"WOW, you've gotten so big!" she said, pride dripping from every word. "You're all grown up now!"
Ash looked beyond uncomfortable. He grinned sheepishly and managed to croak out a reply.
"Uhhh, yeah! I sure have…" Ash glanced to the side and spotted Serena. He immediately turned toward her and opened his mouth to speak. "Uhh, professor‑"
Burnet let go of Ash's shoulders and chortled happily. "Please, Ash, its Burnet. You don't have to call me professor. You're practically family and you're not a kid anymore."
His train of thought interrupted, Ash froze for a brief moment. To the side, a pair of booth owners, one man and one woman, stepped out from their stalls and moved closer.
"It really is the champion!" the man said in an amazed voice.
"He's finally returned from conquering the world!" the woman said.
Ash glanced to the side at the two newcomers and offered them a subdued smile and wave. "Uh, Alola," he murmured. He glanced back at Burnet and gestured toward Serena. "Professor, I'd like you to meet‑"
Burnet glanced over her should at Serena just as the booth owner who'd sold Serena the necklace shouted out in a big bold voice.
"EVERYONE, THE FIRST CHAMPION HAS RETURNED!"
Every head in the entire market turned to look at Ash.
"THE CHAMPION OF ALOLA AND THE WORLD!"
Every face in the entire market brightened and countless gasps and shouts of joy rang out. Instantly, a crowd formed and began to crush in toward Ash.
"You've finally returned!" a random man said.
"Where have you been traveling?!" a random woman said.
"I knew you'd make it back before I died!" a random old man said.
Ash glanced all around, doing his best to smile and act mature. "Uh, hello…" he said. "It's nice to be back…"
"Are you going to win another championship?!"
"How long are you going to stay?!"
"Is it true you battled and defeated a Rayquaza?!"
Serena struggled to keep from laughing as she watched Ash fumble for words. She felt bad for him but she also found the whole situation very humorous. Now she understood why he'd been trying to keep a low profile.
Serena was about to step forward to assist her man in dealing with the crowd when the burly man who'd sold her the necklace bellowed another pronouncement.
"THIS OCCASION DEMANDS A FEAST IN THE CHAMPION'S HONOR!"
A huge shout of enthusiastic agreement rose up from the crowd. A chant of "CHAMPION! CHAMPION!" began in earnest and Serena couldn't help but giggle at the sight of so many people fawning over her boyfriend. A few seconds later, the crowd crushed even closer to Ash and he was suddenly lifted up into the air. With Serena openly laughing, Ash was hoisted up onto the shoulders of the crowd and began to be carried away.
"Uhh, hey! Uhhh…" Ash stammered, desperately looking around. His gaze finally found Serena and he shouted out to her. "Make sure the Sandshrew are okay!" he yelled.
Serena clutched at her stomach as tears of mirth rolled down her cheeks. "Sure, Ash, I'll take care of them!" she shouted back at him.
A second later, Pikachu was hoisted up by another part of the crowd and both trainer and Pokémon were quickly hauled away by the chanting mass of people. As her stomach continued to jiggle with sniggers, Serena briefly wondered if Ash would be all right. She supposed he could die of embarrassment, but otherwise she suspected he would be okay. She would just have to find where they'd taken him…
A couple steps away, Burnet let out a happy sigh and turned to face Serena. "Well, that sure was exciting!" she said in a bubbly tone.
Serena giggled a few more times before turning to face Burnet. "Ash was a little shy about coming here. Now I see why."
Burnet smiled subtly and nodded. "Yes, the people here can be very enthusiastic." The professor cast one more glance in the direction the crowd had carried Ash off before focusing on Serena. "I'm Professor Burnet, by the way. Welcome to Alola."
Serena let out a happy chortle and spoke in a gracious voice. "Yes, Ash has told me all about you, Kukui and Lei."
The professor's eyebrows went up as a surprised expression crossed her face. She slipped into a relaxed pose and looked at Serena with curiosity.
"Huh, well I'm afraid you've got me at a disadvantage," Burnet said in an amused tone.
Serena blinked and realized that despite all the stories Ash had told her about Alola, Kukui and Burnet, they apparently knew nothing about her. "Oh, uh, right," she said in a slightly embarrassed tone. "I'm Serena. I've been living with Ash in Pallet Town."
Serena flinched internally at saying such a thing. Up until now, she'd avoided so directly linking herself to Ash. People would naturally assume she and Ash were sharing a bed. Before, she hadn't wanted people to think such things. Now, however, it just didn't seem as important. She wanted to be with her man and she wanted people to know she was his.
Burnet's face scrunched up for the briefest of seconds before she smiled and held her arms out in a welcoming gesture. "Well, it's wonderful to meet you Serena!" she said in a friendly voice.
Serena felt relief and joy wash over her. She'd been a little nervous over whether Burnet and Kukui would accept her. Now, all looked well.
Burnet folded her arms and looked at Serena with a causal expression. "Ash never told us he had a cousin in Pallet Town."
Serena flinched at the word 'cousin' and had to strain to keep from laughing. A snigger still escaped her pinched-together lips and she waved her right hand in a halting motion.
"Wait, uh, no no no!" the golden haired girl said quickly. She took a breath, suppressed another laugh and began to speak in a bashful tone. "I'm not his cousin. See, Ash and I are together and‑"
As the words started leaving Serena's mouth, Burnet's eyes suddenly became as wide as dinner plates. Her mouth fell open and her hands rose to her cheeks in a feminine expression of all-consuming excitement. The middle-aged woman squealed like a school girl, flushed a bright red and almost seemed to float off the ground.
"OHHHHH, ASH NEVER TOLD MEEEE! HA HA HA HAAA!"
Utterly at a loss for what was going on, Serena stood dumbfounded with her mouth partially agape. "Uhh, professor?" she said slowly.
Burnet let out another girlish squeal before jittering up to Serena's side and wrapping an arm tight around her shoulders. "EVERYONE, QUICK, WE NEED TO GET THIS GIRL TO WHERE ASH IS!"
The remaining people in the marketplace, mostly women, all turned to look at Burnet. Serena also looked over at her, complexly puzzled by her change in behavior. Serena started to say something, but Burnet continued in her loud, energetic voice.
"THE CHAMPION CAN'T CELEBRATE WITHOUT HIS BRIDE!"
Serena couldn't quite describe the burst of emotions which roared through her insides. Horror, confusion, excitement, naughtiness and embarrassment all roiled together and made her stomach flip-flop. The girl from Kalos let out a gasping croak and tried to put together a response.
"Gahhh, nnnnnnnuhh uhhhh, th-that's not quite‑"
Just as had happened with Ash, a crowd instantly formed around Serena.
"The champion is married?!" A woman squealed.
"You're so beautiful!" another woman breathed.
"He's chosen his wife well!" yet another woman said.
Serena awkwardly turned from one commenter to another. "Uh, Alola," she managed in a wavering voice. During her time performing, she'd dealt with crowds of fans, but never anything like this.
"Where are you from?!"
"Your skin is so fair, are you from Kanto?"
"Your children will be so beautiful!"
The crowd crushed closer and closer. Serena smiled tensely and tried to move. However, there was no place to go.
"Alola!" she said, more as a plead than a greeting.
A moment later Serena let out a cry of distress as she was lifted up into the air on the shoulders of the crowd. She started being carried in the same direction Ash had been abducted. Serena twisted around desperately looking for Burnet. She finally found the woman, still standing where she'd been before.
"Professor!" Serena called out. "I need to take care of those Sandshrew!" she said, pointing at the trio of containers.
Burnet let out a laugh and waved at Serena. "Sure thing, Serena!" she replied. A moment later, a couple members of the crowd, having heard Serena's request, lifted the containers with the Sandshrew up on their shoulders and began chasing after the wife of Alola's first champion.
Ash didn't know how it was possible, but the people of Melemele Island had managed to erect a large pavilion and assemble a huge spread of food atop many different tables. After the joyous crowd finally set him down, he found himself being greeted by every important and unimportant official on Melemele Island. He saw a few people he knew and a great many he'd never met before. He kept an eye out for Kahuna Hala, Professor Kukui or one of his other friends but none of them appeared.
Once the line of people greeting him was depleted, the masses shuffled Ash over to sit at the middle of a massive table piled with every type of Alolan delicacy imaginable. Pikachu was plopped down in a chair next to him and a hefty man, Ash believed to be the mayor, stood up. There were a dozen other large tables all laid out in front of Ash, each piled with even more food and surrounded by people sitting in chairs. Everyone turned to look at the mayor and at Ash.
"PEOPLE OF ALOLA!" the mayor said. "THE VICTORIOUS CHAMPION HAS RETURNED!"
The gathered people let out a loud cheer and Ash felt like sinking underneath the table. He really hadn't done all his battling to gain fame and fortune. He'd just wanted to be the best trainer there was…
"NOW THAT WE'RE ALL HERE, LET'S FEAST!"
An even bigger cheer rose up from the crowd and all of them began to chow down on the plentiful bounty before them. Normally, Ash was a fan of food, however the situation had put a bit of a damper on his appetite. He turned to his left to look at Pikachu.
"Hey, buddy, this is pretty craz‑" his words trailed off as he saw his sidekick was currently gobbling down a pile of candied berries topped with caramel. Ash chuckled and rolled his eyes. He breathed in the smells of the bounty and felt his stomach rumble. It had been a long flight and his appetite was quick to return. He glanced around and wondered what Serena was doing at this moment. He hoped she could find him…
As if to answer his question, he saw a crowd of several dozen women round the corner of a nearby structure and begin rapidly moving toward the pavilion. Ash let out an astonished chuckle as he saw his girlfriend, looking quite distressed and embarrassed, being carried atop the gaggle of women.
"I guess they decided you should join the party…" Ash mumbled to himself in an amused tone.
Once the group of women arrived, Serena was lowered to the ground and several people exchanged words. In a flash, the people next to Ash and Pikachu relocated and made way for the newcomers. The Sandshrew were unloaded from their carriers and some Pokémon manicurists promptly gave their smooth, hard backs a good polishing. The Sandshrew were then seated to Pikachu's left while Serena was plopped down immediately to Ash's right. Very close to Ash's right…
Ash smiled sheepishly at Serena as she sat down. "Alola…" he said with some irony.
Serena, her face tense and her cheeks a bit red, glanced around at the people nearby before meeting Ash's gaze. "You weren't kidding about people wanting to meet you."
Ash chuckled and shrugged helplessly. "Yeah, the championship is a big deal here." He kept his gaze fixed on Serena and noticed her continuing discomfort. "Hey, is everything okay?" he asked.
Serena swallowed and let out a nervous chuckle. "Uhhh, I'll tell you in a bit," she said in a subdued voice. Before she could say anything else, the mayor walked up so he was standing in front of them, on the other side of the table.
"Champion Ash!" he began in a supremely proud voice. "May I be the first to offer you congratulations!"
Serena tensed and Ash chuckled. "Uh, thank you!" he said, smiling at the mayor.
The mayor nodded to Ash and then looked to Serena. "To you as well, madam!"
Serena had a toothy grin fixed to her face. "Thank you," she said stiffly.
The mayor grinned gleefully and walked away. Ash glanced over at Serena and pointed to one of the trays of food before them.
"You've got to try some of this," Ash said.
Serena's pasted-on smile wavered a bit. "Uh, I'm not really feeling that hungry," she mumbled, nervously glancing around.
Ash stared at Serena for another second before shrugging and grabbing a steaming dinner roll. "Well, I sure am!" he said. Ash took a big bite of the appetizer and glanced over at the Sandshrew. "Hey, Pikachu, make sure‑"
Ash had been about to tell Pikachu to ensure the Sandshrew ate their fill, however, as he looked over at his best buddy and the trio of ice types, he saw that all of them were gorging themselves on the freely available food. Ash chuckled and turned back to Serena.
"At least they're enjoying themselves," he said.
A few beads of sweat were forming on Serena's forehead. She cringed and leaned over toward Ash.
"Uh, Ash, you should know…" she began.
Ash had just taken another bite of the roll and he turned toward Serena while letting out a muffled grunt. Serena hesitated and opened her mouth to speak. Just as that moment, a wiry, young man with a large camera walked up on the other side of the table.
"Champion, Ash," he began in a humble tone.
Ash grunted again and turned his attention to the man. The newcomer pointed at his camera and continued.
"Can I get a picture for the Alola Daily?"
Ash glanced to the side at Serena, saw her smile tensely and looked back at the man. "Suurrr thuung," he mumbled through a full mouth. He grunted again, swallowed hard and smiled. "Sure," he repeated, smiling sheepishly.
The camera man took the picture, thanked Ash and walked away. Ash chuckled and began looking for something else to consume. To his side, Serena nervously tapped the tips of her fingers together, wrestling with how to proceed.
"Ash," she finally said in a quivering voice.
Ash glanced over at her just as someone grabbed both of them from behind, wrapping a slender, tanned arm around each of their shoulders.
"HA HA HAAA, IT'S SO WONDERFUL!" Professor Burnet said gleefully.
Serena whimpered in distress while Ash awkwardly chuckled. "Uh, hi, uh… Burnet," he said.
The white haired woman let out another excited squeal and let both of them go. "Kukui couldn't make it; he's taking care of Lei today and had a lot of work at the school."
Ash merely shrugged. "That's fine, I was planning to come and see you two tomorrow."
Burnet couldn't help but smile. Her eyes sparkled and she continuously fingered the wedding band on her left ring finger while glancing between Ash and Serena. She laughed before replying in a jovial tone.
"Ahh, you were planning on surprising us!" she sang. "I guess I spoiled that one, HA HA HA!"
Ash chuckled while Serena sank lower in her seat. "Yeah, I guess so," Ash said ironically.
Burnet glanced up and saw a small crowd of people was gathering on the other side of the table. "Well, it looks like you've got a fan club!" she said sweetly. "I'll leave you to it!" She took a step back and waved. "See you two tomorrow!" she sang.
Ash chuckled and waved goodbye. "Bye Pro‑… I mean Burnet," he said.
Burnet disappeared from sight and Ash turned around to see about two dozen people, of all shapes and sizes, lined up in front of him.
"Champion," the first one began. He was a well-built, deeply-tanned, middle-aged man, who spoke in a raspy voice. "It's such an honor," he said, reaching across the table to offer his hand.
Ash promptly reached out and shook it. "Thank you," he said.
The man grinned and glanced at Serena. "Congratulations, to the both of you!" he said.
Serena smiled and Ash chuckled. "Uh, thanks," he said.
The man nodded politely and moved aside for the next person in line, a young, black haired, woman, carrying an infant. She smiled, giggled once and spoke in a shy voice.
"I wish you the best, Champion," she said.
Ash chuckled and nodded gratefully. "Thanks," he said.
To the side, with sweat running down her face, Serena grabbed a glass of water and took a long drink. In that brief moment, she wished her beverage was spiked with vodka.
The sun was lowering toward the horizon when the celebration party started to die down. Ash finally managed to excuse himself but he was quickly waylaid by the owner of the large hotel in town. The man from Pallet Town was about to dodge the conversation when the owner said that he was going to put him and Serena up in their best room at no charge. They even had a special venue where Pikachu and the Sandshrew would be taken care of. With as tired as they were, Ash could hardly refuse a free bed in a fancy hotel.
Ash and Serena said some final goodbyes and started making the trip to the hotel. The short walk took far longer than it should have. Nearly everyone they ran into wanted to wish Ash well or have their picture taken with him. Often times, both.
They finally reached the hotel and rode the elevator up along with the owner to their complimentary suite. After a short walk down an elegant hallway, they reached their room and opened the door. Serena let out a happy sigh as she took in the sight of their accommodations.
Their suite was divided into two rooms. One room featured a kitchen, living area and balcony. The other half contained the bedroom, bathroom and some closet space. The bed was huge, the kitchen lovely and the bathroom contained a hot tub. Ash and Serena were both grinning from ear-to-ear when the owner walked to the door and turned to go.
"Wow, I really can't thank you enough!" Ash said in a grateful and humble tone.
"Yes, it's all so lovely," Serena added sweetly.
The owner grinned and nodded in acknowledgement. "Only the best for the champion of Alola!" he said in a proud voice.
An embarrassed expression briefly crossed Ash's face and he hesitated before speaking up. "So, is there like a fold-out bed, somewhere we can set up?"
The owner promptly laughed before speaking in a big voice. "Oh, no, there's only one bed here!" he said. "This is our honeymoon suite after all!"
Serena's face turned white while Ash's face scrunched up in puzzlement. "Huh?!" the champion of Alola grunted.
The owner laughed again. "Of course! Only the best for the champion and his wife!"
Ash's eyes bugged out. "WIFE!" he blurted out in utter shock.
Before Ash could say anything else, the owner grinned broadly, stepped back and yanked the door shut. Ash was left staring at the wooden barrier, eyes wide and mouth partially agape. After a few seconds he slowly turned his head towards Serena. The golden haired girl had a tense, guilty smile on her face and looked at Ash with apprehension.
"Wife?" Ash finally said to the girl he loved.
Serena let out a nervous laugh. "Uhhh, there might have been… a little bit of a misunderstanding…"
Ash continued to stare at Serena. Tense silence hung in the air and Serena pressed her lips together before continuing.
"Well, look at it this way," she began in a humorous tone. "We just saved a whole lot on the reception."
Ash snorted and Serena started to laugh. Both of them spent a moment giggling and shaking their heads at the situation.
"I was wondering why they kept saying 'congratulations' to me like I'd just won the championship again," Ash said in a wry tone.
Serena started to laugh but it quickly turned into a sob. Her eyes teared up and she stared down at the floor, her shoulders shaking. Before she could say a word, Ash stepped forward and cradled her in his arms.
"Hey, don't be sad!" he said in an insistent tone.
Serena sniffed back tears, looked up at the man she loved and let out an appreciative sigh. He wiped the tears from her eyes and she clutched at his hands with hers.
"I should have said something," Serena breathed in a tone tinged with regret. "It all just happened so fast and then everyone thought I was married to you."
Ash smiled kindly and nuzzled against her forehead. "Don't worry. We'll see Professor Kukui and Burnet tomorrow and clear all this up."
Serena frowned. "Yeah, but all these people think we're married," she said in a concerned tone. "What if they start getting us gifts or‑"
Ash gently placed his right index finger over her lips to silence her. "Well we did make vows to each other, so…"
A warm smile blossomed on Serena's face and she snickered a few times. She let out a happy sigh and leaned her head against Ash's chest.
"Mmmmm, you're right," she exhaled. "We're practically married as it is."
Ash held her close and they slowly rocked in each other's arms. After a few long moments, Serena spoke again.
"We'll get it worked out," she said. "Thanks dear," she said with a smirk.
"No problem, honey," he replied in a humorous tone.
They giggled a few more times and then stared deep into each other's eyes for a time. Neither of them spoke; they didn't need to. Ash leaned forward and Serena opened her mouth. Their lips pressed together and their tongues slid forward. They hadn't kissed like this in quite a while and they savored ever moment and every flavor.
Ash wrapped his arms around Serena and his right hand drifted down to her buttocks. He delivered a squeeze and she replied with a squeak. A few seconds later, they broke the kiss and took breaths of fresh air.
"You know," Ash began in a throaty tone. "If we're married now, we need to consummate the relationship."
A naughty and excited smile instantly spread across Serena's face. "Ash Ketchum, are you saying you want to share a bed with me?"
Ash snickered and nodded. Serena hummed and used her right index finger to playfully draw on her man's chest.
"We're not actually married, though," Serena breathed in a sultry tone. "It might be scandalous!"
Ash softly kissed her on the lips and replied in a sexy voice. "We'll just have to keep it a secret, then."
Serena paused for a few moments and seemed to consider something. She then smiled and whispered into her man's ear.
"Take me, Champion of Alola!"
Ash's eyebrows went up and he looked at Serena with surprise. "I thought girls didn't want to be taken," he said with a wry smirk.
Serena's cheeks began to flush and she grinned while sniggering. "Well, it's not every day you suddenly find yourself married to the world's greatest Pokémon trainer."
Both of them started to giggle. They shared a few intense stares before Ash looked toward the door leading to the bedroom. He gave Serena a small nudge and they began moving toward the neighboring room. As they stepped, the sunset came into view through the large windows framing the balcony. The sun was just at the horizon and it caused the entire sky to glow orange and the ocean to shimmer with colors of gold and yellow. Ash had seen this sight many times, but Serena had never taken it in.
"Ohhhhhhhh!" the girl from Kalos breathed. "That's so beautiful."
They stopped next to the door and stared at the slowly setting sun. Serena's eyes sparkled and she gently clutched at Ash's shirt. The man from Pallet Town smiled and gave Serena another nudge, this time guiding her toward the balcony so they could watch the sun set.
Ash slid the glass door aside and they stepped out on the concrete platform. They were on the very top floor of the hotel, so there were no balconies above them. There were a couple of white, sun chairs and a collapsed umbrella on the balcony. It was all so beautiful!
With Serena nuzzling against his shoulder, Ash stepped up to the elegantly constructed railing and leaned against it. Serena wrapped an arm around his waist and both of them looked out at the gorgeous setting‑
"CHAMPION! CHAMPION!"
The cry of a thousand enthusiastic voices jolted Ash and Serena out of their romantic daze. They flinched and gasped. A moment later they looked down and saw that the beach eight stories below their balcony was completely filled with people. The gathered masses all let out a massive cheer as Ash laid eyes on them.
Serena worked her mouth and struggled to find words. "Uhhhguh, okayyy," she managed in a disbelieving tone.
Ash chuckled sheepishly and glanced over at Serena before looking back at the crowd. After a few moments, he raised his right arm and waved at the crowd. The crowd promptly cheered again and began to chant.
"CHAMPION! CHAMPION!"
Serena started to snigger nervously and looked over at her man. "You really weren't kidding about your popularity."
Ash offered a tense smile and shrugged. "Uhh, like I said, the champion thing is a big deal here."
Ash waved again and Serena smiled down at the crowd. She was feeling a little less awkward now, having recovered from the surprise not being alone on the balcony. She raised her right arm and joined in waving at the people. They cheered and she laughed happily.
Serena glanced over at Ash. "At least we don't have to worry about them carrying us off," she said mirthfully.
Ash let out an ironic laugh and half nodded to Serena. The two of them spent a few more seconds playing to the crowd before Serena turned to her man and whispered in a sultry tone.
"You want to go inside and have some alone time with your wife?"
Ash sniggered and nodded. They started to turn back toward the entry way when a bold female voice suddenly sounded from just beyond the balcony.
"Champion Ash, we're so glad to have you back in Alola!"
Serena yelped and nearly jumped out of her skin from surprise. Ash, having heard the voice numerous times during his stay in Alola, merely cringed and turned around to see, Anna, the Pokémon news reporter, floating on her Magnezone, as she always did.
"Uhhh, Alola…" Ash managed.
Serena gasped in a breath to calm herself and held a hand over her heart. She turned around to see who had disturbed them, and when she saw the sight of Anna floating in midair atop her trusty Pokémon, her expression twisted up into a cross between disbelief and incredulity. What lengths were people willing to go to so they could speak with Ash?
Anna was wearing her typical orange/white top and her transparent orange visor with headset and microphone. "So, what brought you back to the site of your first championship?" she said in a cheery yet insistent voice.
Ash awkwardly glanced between Serena and Anna. Serena finally relaxed a bit and gave him a subtle nod to proceed.
"Uh, well, I actually got a call from a professor in Vermilion City about a trio of Sandshrew," he began in a reluctant voice.
Fifteen minutes later, Ash and Serena reentered the honeymoon suite and secured the glass door behind them. Serena then drew the sliding blinds and let out an exasperated sigh.
"I can't believe this…" she groaned, rubbing at her temples with her fingers.
Ash helplessly shrugged and offered a sheepish smile. "I did warn you about getting noticed."
Serena nodded a couple of times and let out another sigh. She lowered her arms and leaned toward the blinds. She pulled one of them aside and peeked outside, wary of there being more of Ash's fans trying to spy on them. She saw no one and stepped back from the window.
"Ughhh," Serena groaned again, turning to Ash. She looked him over and felt a bit of remorse. Before the crowd had surprised them, she'd been ready to crawl into bed with him and be ravished in every wonderful way imaginable. Now, knowing that there were at least a thousand people eagerly waiting outside to catch any glimpse of them, sex wasn't appealing in the slightest.
Serena pulled at her golden locks and sent Ash an apologetic expression. "Well, that really killed the mood," she said unhappily.
Ash sniggered grimly and nodded. "Yeah," he replied.
Serena blew out a breath and absently glanced around. She really didn't want to have sex while countless people were lurking outside. The mere thought gave her the willies. The problem was that they only had one bed…
Ash seemed to sense where Serena's thoughts were going and he gestured over his shoulder at the couch. "I'll take the couch," he said.
Serena nearly sobbed with gratitude. She gasped in a breath and sighed before looking with admiration at her man.
"Thanks, Ash," she breathed.
Ash smiled. "No problem," he said with roguish charm.
Serena giggled and stepped up to him. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a brief hug before heading to retrieve her suitcase.
"I love you," she sincerely.
"Love you too…. Wifey," he added wryly.
Serena sniggered and shook her head. This vacation to Alola was going to be very interesting.