A New Girl in Town

Ships: None…yet

Summary: Ash has decided to make a major life decision, but is scared of how things will turn out. Luckily he has great friends to help HER out.

Part One of a longer story as requested by TheDoctor1998

Ash sat in the living room, glancing at the clock.

''2:30," he muttered. "They should've been here by now."

Nervously, he gave Pikachu a squeeze.

"Do you think they'll accept me, buddy."

Pikachu smiled, and climbed up to his shoulder to nuzzle his face. Ash smiled and stroked his partner's fur, making Pikachu pur happily.

"Thanks, pal."

"Pi."

"I'm sure they'll be here soon, sweetie,'' Delila said, making Ash nod.

"Thanks for supporting me in this, mom. I know it's a big decision, but…I want this.''

Delila smiled, and pulled Ash into a gentle hug.

"You're my child, Ash. No matter what you choose, I support you."

Ash smiled, and hugged her back.

"Thanks, mom. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie."

An hour later, their guests arrived. Misty, May, Dawn, and Iris entered the Ketchum household curiously.

"Hi guys, thanks for coming."

"Is everything ok? You sounded urgent on the phone.''

"Um, yeah…there's something I need to tell you guys. I want to tell Brock, Max, and Cilan eventually, but I want you guys to be the first to know so you can help me…"

Confused, the four girls sat in the living room, Mr. Mime passing out tea.

"So…you guys know how during our journeys I wound up crossdressing at some point?''

"Wait a minute, you mean you did that more than once?" Misty asked, bewildered, only to get shushed by the others.

"Yeah…well, at first I didn't like it. At least, I thought I didn't. But after the third time, I kind of started to enjoy it…"

"Ash, no offense, but if the only thing you wanted to tell us is that you're into crossdressing, you could've done it over the phone," Dawn said, somewhat exasperated, but Ash just shook his head.

"That's not it. At first I thought it was, but it's more than that. Being a boy just…doesn't feel right anymore, I guess is the best way to put it. Watching you perform in those pretty dresses, Dawn, I got…jealous…"

At this point, the girls began to catch onto what Ash was implying.

"Wait…" May began. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Ash nodded.

"I'm transgender, and…I want to make the transition. I've been lying to myself about who I really am for too long."

For a few minutes, everyone sat in silence, taking the information in. Ash closes her eyes, waiting for the rejection…

Only to feel a pair of arms wrap around her, and then another, and another, until all of her friends had her in a group hug.

"It's okay, Ash," Misty reassured her. ''I think it's great that you want to do this."
"You do?"

"Totally!" May told her. "Everyone should be able to be who they truly see themselves as."

"And I have a lot of old dresses you can try any time!" Dawn piped in.

"I always wanted a sister!" Iris finished. With tears in her eyes, Ash embraced her friends.

"Thanks. You're the best friends a girl could ask for."

MIsty went with Ash to his first treatment session. Misty was surprised when Ash explained what kind of treatment she would be receiving.

"Ditto realignment therapy? What's that?"

Ash shrugged.

"I don't know the specifics of how, but somehow scientists have found a way to use ditto DNA to alter people's biological makeup."

"Biological makeup? That's some big words coming from you," Misty said teasingly, playfully bumping her shoulder, making Ash roll her eyes.

"Basically, it means they can change my body so it was like I've been a girl my entire life. It'll take longer than most other treatments, but it'll be worth it."

At long last, Misty and Ash were led into the operating room, where Ash was instructed to sit on the exam table.

"So, how does this work?"

Ash felt a slight poke in her arm, and then a bandage being put on it.

"There you go!"

"Really?"

"Well, of course we'll need to check in on you in three months, but for now just let the serum do its work. But if you feel anything go wrong, be sure to call us urgently!''

Confused, but no less satisfied, Ash and Misty left.

''Huh,'' Ash thought out loud. "That was quick. Can't say I expected that.''

''Please tell me you didn't sign up for this without any idea of what it would entail."

"Of course not! It was just a lot of technical stuff that I didn't understand…''

Misty sighed, and shook her head. She wanted to say she couldn't believe it, but considering it was Ash, she really could.

"Is all of this really necessary?" Ash asked as May led her into the changing room with armfuls of dresses, skirts, and other such clothes. "I really only need a few changes of clothes."

"Of course it is!" May said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We're reinventing your entire look, we need to go through as many options as possible. Besides, now you get to discover one of the best parts about being a girl: shopping!''

Ash rolled her eyes. She knew May meant well, but she doubted she would ever develop a love for the activity as much as May had. Still, she knew fighting this would be a pointless endeavor, so she took the gathered clothes and entered the changing room.

''Remember, I want to see everything you try on!''

Ash rolled her eyes, and undressed. Still, as disinterested as she was in shopping, she was excited to be able to try on some new clothes. Even after she had come out, she had been nervous to actually try out feminine clothes in public, sufficing on dresses her mother had outgrown. Here with May she felt safe.

Once she had the first outfit on, she took a look at herself in the mirror. A month had passed since the first treatment, and naturally there wasn't much of a noticeable difference. Her Adam's Apple had disappeared, and her hair was longer, but not much else was visibly different.

''Someday…"

"Getting cold feet in there? Come on!''

With a chuckle, Ash stepped out, allowing May to see her. May glanced her up and down, before shaking her head.

"Eh, keep it as a maybe."

So Ash went back and changed again. This went on for about an hour, with some being keepers and others were definite returns. At long last, they reached the final outfit, and when May saw Ash in it she gasped.

"Oh my…this is perfect!"

The outfit wasn't anything special, really. It was just a dark blue shirt, with a red-miniskirt, but Ash felt comfortable in it.

"You really think so?"

"Absolutely, you look so cute!''

Once Ash had changed back into her regular clothes, they went and paid. Ash was about to take out her wallet, but May stopped her.

''It's my treat!''

Once everything was paid for, they thanked the cashier and made their way out of the store.

''You two ladies have a good day!''

Ash paused for a minute, something May caught on to.

''Ash?''

''She said ladies…''

''Yeah?''

''I just…no one other than you guys have called me by a female pronoun before. I didn't think it was noticeable yet, but…I'm glad she did.''

May smiled, and took her hand.

''Well, get used to it, because you're going to turn out beautiful!''

''Ugh…''

''Sorry dear, almost done now!''

Ash groaned, but tried to stay still as the woman scrubbed her hair while another did her nails. Dawn had taken her to the spa against her wishes.

''You've been too stressed lately, you need to unwind!''

Ash failed to see how being probed and prodded was supposed to be relaxing, but Dawn refused to take no for an answer.

''There! That wasn't so hard, was it?''

Ash raised her hand up to examine her nails, and she had to admit they looked stunning. A few minutes later, her hair was done, and she was handed a mirror.

"Well, what do you think?"

Ash stared at her reflection for a good long while.

''Something wrong, miss?"

"No, not that! I just…is it possible for you to dye my hair?"

The stylist smiled kindly.

''Certainly! What were you thinking?"

An hour later, Ash exited the salon, her hair now blonde and in a style similar to Dawn's.

"Looking good! But why blonde?"

Ash shrugged.

"Just felt right."

''Well, I think it looks great!"

Time went on, and as Ash attended more sessions her progress grew. Her hair grew longer, reaching down to her shoulders now, her chest was starting to develop, her ''manhood" had vanished, and her body was internally changing from male to female. According to the doctor, one more appointment and she would be complete, and she couldn't wait.

Unfortunately, not every part of being a girl was great, as she would find out.

"Oh god, my body feels like I'm on fire…" she moaned. Pikachu wished he could help, but even the slightest touch set Ash off, so he kept his distance. Iris soon returned with more care items.

''Get used to it, this will happen a lot more," she said, though she did offer a kind smile. Ash returned it, before kindly accepting the products.

''Yeah, but I knew that when I made the decision. Still sucks, though."

"I know, let's take your mind off it! Have you decided what your going to call yourself after everything is said and done?''

Ash blinked in confusion.

''I can't just call myself Ash?''

Both Iris and Pikachu sighed.

''You're such a kid! This is a whole new you, you need a new name!''

''Huh, I never thought about it like that…''

''Obviously. Luckily, I'm here to help. How about Ashley?''

Ash shook his head immediately.

''Too easy. If I'm going to need a new identity, it shouldn't be so similar to my last name.''

''Yeah, good point. Hmm…Alexis?''

Ash thought for a minute, but declined.

''I don't know, somehow that doesn't feel right.''

''Amber?''

''No.''

''Angelina?''

''...No.''

Iris let out a loud groan.

''Well, what do you want to be called, then?''

Ash thought for a long minute, before she smiled.

''Actually, I think I have an idea.''

Three months later, May, Dawn, and Iris were waiting for Misty and Ash to return. They weren't waiting too long, for the two girls soon entered the house. When they saw her, they gasped.

"Wow…"

"Looking good, Ash!"

"How do you feel?"

Ash blushed, and shyly pushed away strands of her hair.

''Perfect. Thanks for all your help.''

"Have you decided on a new name yet?''

''Alison, or Alice. I don't know why, but I really like it.''

''So cute!'' May clapped. ''So, what's next?''

"Well, the doctor said I need to take a month to make sure everything went right, but after that I'll be headed to Kalos.''

"That's our Alice,'' Iris said. ''Always on some grand adventure!''

''Well, no matter what you have our full support!'' Misty said, making Alice smile.

"Thanks, girls.''

A month later, Alice headed for Kalos. Having landed in Lumiose City, the first thing she did was head straight for the gym, intending to earn her first badge right away…

Only for some robot to kick her out for not having four badges, leaving her very sore on the ground.

"Well, that was rude," she grumbled as she stood up. "Pikachu, are you alright?''

''Pi!"

"Excuse me miss, are you alright?"

Alice looked up to see a boy her age and a little girl about Max's age, probably his little sister, approaching. With a smile, she accepted the boy's hand.

"Yeah, just a little sore."

Before anything else could be said, the girl squealed happily, and knelt down in front of Alice, much to her confusion.

"Miss, you would be perfect for my brother! Won't you please marry him, you'd make such a cute couple!"

"Ack, Bonnie! I told you not to do that!"

Bonnie pouted as her brother lifted her into the air with a mechanical arm, something that caught Alice's eye.

"You need someone to take care of you, Clemont!"

"That doesn't mean you can propose to every girl you see on my behalf!"

Bonnie huffed, but said nothing more as Clemont set her down before turning to Alice.

"Sorry about that, Miss…"

"Alice, and it's fine. Clemont, right?"

"Yeah. I take it you just tried to challenge the gym?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

As it turned out, Clemont was the gym leader of the city, or at least he had been. Wanting to be able to better split his attention between his inventions and his gym duties, he had invented a robot to act as gym leader if he was occupied…only to be kicked out of his own gym because he didn't meet his own criteria. Luckily, Alice was able to help him reclaim it, and in the end she gained two new friends.

That night, Alice lay awake in bed, replaying the events of the day in her mind. Pikachu, noticing his trainer was still awake, gently nuzzled against her hand, allowing her to pet him as she thought out loud.

"Bonnie…she didn't even think twice about asking me to marry Clemont, did she?"

"Pika Pi?"

"All she saw was a pretty girl…"

Alice's smile grew as she pulled Pikachu into a loving hug.

"You know what buddy? I think our new beginning is off to a great start, what do you think?"

Pikachu smiled, and nuzzled his trainer's cheek.

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

With a smile on her face, Alice drifted off to sleep.