Ron the True Fan: A lot of people have been messaging about Birch's name. Fun fact: I only know three Professors by heart: Oak, Elm and Kukui and I haven't played ORAS in well over two years at this point.
Outside Littleroot Town, Hoenn Region - 1138 hours local time - Day 780 of Ash Ketchum's Pokemon Journey
Mimikyu was more of a playful Pokemon than a fighter. Perfect practice for Torchic.
Of course, Max snarked that if Mimikyu took it seriously, Torchic would be launched into the next prefecture. May didn't need to know this.
She knew Ash was a dangerous trainer. One normally does not walk into Orre and conquer it, after all.
"Normally, you'd give out orders to your Pokemon, but my team has enough experience that I only have to give orders if I see something they don't." Ash said gently, May noticing Zinnia watching her and Ash, seemingly nodding approvingly. Apparently, this was how the Draconids did things, too. Torchic then launched a kick at Mimikyu, who rolled away, eyesmiling. "Now, your Torchic only knows Scratch right now, but that doesn't mean you can just rush in. Try dashing in a zig-zag to get closer."
May nodded. "Torchic, zig-zag, get in close!" she ordered, the bird rushing in to attack Mimikyu before trying to kick the Disguise Pokemon with his clawed feet.
Mimikyu only barely got out of reach. But there was no shame in this. This was a practice match against a more seasoned combatant.
"Maybe Torchic can use his wings to get some lift?" May suggested. "An aerial attack?"
Ash nodded approvingly, making her smile. "You have a good eye. Maybe you should try contest work." he 'suggested', knowing May's true talents. "I have no doubt Torchic would do well there."
Ash did not want to change May more then this damned history already had. He couldn't be blamed for wanting some consistency.
"Maybe… but I would like to take the gym challenge as well." May said, Ash staring in a mix of confusion and horror, which she noticed. "Unless you have a problem with girls taking the challenge."
"No, just surprised." Ash smoothly half-lied. May noticed this as well, but did not comment. He KNEW her before they met somehow. "You don't seem the type."
"After nearly…" May cut herself off. "I need to defend myself."
Ash nodded respectfully, but there was a hint of absolute rage in it. He wanted to kill the man who tried again and again AND AGAIN-
"Satoshi, your face is unnerving." Zinnia said in her own language, Ash translating to 'Satoshi'. "Perhaps you should calm down."
May saw the anger, too, but it was directed anywhere but here. And it was directed not at her, but FOR her. He wanted to protect her, to avenge her.
It was sweet. Really.
Day 797 - Petalburg City - 1123 hours local time
The Olympic, grand old lady she was, made a port of call at the city, using its' deep water port to offload cargo and passengers, barely within the city limits to be called Pedalburg Port.
"About time we got here." Misty Waterflower groused, getting a look from Hikari.
"Ano… don't you…" she said, struggling with the modern tongue. "Like water?"
"The first time I was on this ship, we were being boarded by Team Aqua jackasses." Misty replied. "The SECOND time, we nearly got sunk in the middle of a naval battle."
"So where is Ash?" Iris asked. "He could be halfway across the region and we wouldn't be able to find him."
Kyoji pulled out his advanced Pokedex. "Well, he has a tracker in his Pokedex, so I should be able to-"
He never finished as Serena rushed forth. "POKEMON CENTER!" she declared, running like an Ash-seeking missile towards the location in question.
After a moment, Kyoji closed the Pokedex. "Or Serena could track him down like a Gible does a head." he said with a chuckle, his own land shark eyesmiling at the comparison. "Come on, let's go find the idiot."
Robin was two steps from shanking him for that comment, but let it pass in favor of getting to her master.
Zinnia was a woman of nature. This concrete jungle did not feel right to her. And the only person who could understand her, seemingly with the blessings of the gods, was Ash Ketchum.
His name translated to 'Satoshi'. He apparently found it amusing. There was context she did not have and she wanted it.
"I'm sorry, but the rooms aren't coed." the woman with pink hair said, Zinnia barely understanding it. "You'll have to find another room."
"But Ash suffers from nightmares." Max implored, trying to reason with her. "He might hurt himself in his sleep."
"I'm sorry, but rules are rules. There are children here and…" the woman looked at Zinnia and May. "They don't strike me as anyone to keep their distance."
May scowled while Zinnia got the implication she'd been insulted.
Any argument was rendered moot with a golden haired missile shooting past them, straight for Ash's room, where the man was already asleep.
The woman stopped just long enough to GLARE before stepping in.
"…Not going to stop her?" Max asked dryly, the woman snorting.
"I have a feeling my head would be on a pike if I tried." said the healer. Zinnia was amused by this, even if she barely understood a damn word.
As per usual, Ash's dreams were hellish. Guilt and self-loathing, not to mention a not-so-healthy dose of 'help' from his 'guests', was slowly driving him insane.
He thought it was a fitting penance.
Then a hand gripped his and dragged him out of the pit of lost and damned scrambling for his soul, lifting him into the light.
How typical that the angel, wings and all, looked like Serena. The love of his life.
In reality, though, Serena was gripping him tight, putting an ear over her heart and not letting go. But his calming breath, his lack of fearful fidgeting… all was well now.
"This will not happen again, amour." Serena warned. "We will NEVER be separated from each other."
Call it creepy if you want. Devotion like that was never unwelcome between true lovers.
The next morning
Gible did not like this. The nice lady, May, was two steps from grabbing a pointy stick and shoving it in Kyoji's face.
"Look." his trainer started, his hands above his head. "I'm not going to hurt you. But I would like to get to know you better. We're going to be seeing a lot of one another-"
May's eyes widened in terror. Gible took this as the sign to strike, to prevent violence with the most sacred of Gible acts!
CHOMP!
Sure, the pretty lady was yelling and running around, but better this than stabbing!
Ash awoke to…well…
Serena. He knew there was no escaping her, but… he loved her too much to care.
"Morning, love." Serena said as she awoke, before kissing him like they hadn't seen each other in years. Ash did not protest. IF anything, he was just as passionate.
He never knew how much he needed her until she was gone.
"I'd kick you if you weren't being you." she added, breaking off the kiss. "Seducing May just by being yourself?"
"I am NOT-" Ash protested, both for himself AND May's sakes, Serena giving him an even look. "She was nearly RAPED. I will not EVER manipulate her into anything like that!"
Serena smiled. "And that is why I said 'by being you', love." she retorted. "Slow and steady wins the race. Make her comfortable, make her secure. She already has a foothold in your heart like all of us, so why should you or I fight it?"
Ash groaned. Serena knew him too well and having her past timeline self as a 'ghost' who had all his memories to boot did NOT help.
Then he remembered May had a crippling fear of men. "Tell me Kyoji didn't come with you." he pleaded.
"He did-" Serena started before Ash pushed her off - circumstances being what they were, Serena would forgive him, given May's total terror - and rushed out.
May was in the entrance hall with… well, everyone. Misty, Hikari and Iris were surrounding her in a kind of phalanx to shield her from any hostile presence. And keep Kyoji at a safe distance.
Speaking of, he was talking to Zinnia, who was… actually understanding him?
Ash was not dumb. Ranseian and Draconid were similar languages. The two could communicate. He was probably asking what the hell happened to have her join the team, as it were.
Zinnia looked a mix of mad and annoyed, directed at Ash. Apparently Kyoji had given her the impression Ash was a ladies man. He most certainly was NOT. His first kiss was with Serena, not counting Bianca's peck on the cheek. Unless that was Latias in disguise.
He didn't want to think about that.
Regardless, any seductions were accidental and he had a vow in place to keep him from even thinking about it until Greenfield and… Serena.
All roads led back to her.
Kyoji then cackled before noticing Ash. "Hey, Ash." he greeted, getting everyone to look at him. "Whatever plan you had, it didn't work."
"My plan was to get May situated and move on from there." Ash retorted. "I didn't want to overwhelm her with my usual insanity unless and until she was good and ready or, preferably, ever."
"And our dragon lady?" Kyoji said, referring to Zinnia.
"The Tyranitar I thought I drowned washed up on her home's shores and killed her people." Ash answered, self-recrimination clear. He fucked up. "My fault. She can do with me as she wills."
Zinnia looked at Ash and saw him for what he was: a broken, worn down husk of his former self who wanted to die, but would not until Cyrus was dealt with first.
"You will repay the debt to my people, Satoshi." Zinnia said at last. "And you will repay a thousand fold."
Kyoji's grin was unnerving. "You are SCREWED." he said.
Ash rose an eyebrow. "She wants me dead. That's what I ex-"
"No, no, she doesn't want you dead." Kyoji said, resisting the urge to LAUGH. "She expects you to REBUILD the Draconid Tribe."
Ash rolled that in his head until he finally came to the realization.
Zinnia wanted children. LOTS of children. And he was going to be the baby daddy.
Pikachu, sipping on coffee, rose a paw and counted down.
Rustburo City - same time
Roxanne Tsutsuji was a pretty young woman, arguably the youngest teacher in the region that was also a gym leader.
"Good morning, class." she greeted.
"Good morning, Ms Tsutsuji!" her bright and eager class replied, filling her with pride.
"Now, I hope everyone is eager to learn!" she said cheerfully. Oh, they'd learn something.
"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKK!" came the voice of an irate man.
Roxanne recognized it. Ash Ketchum. He was in Hoenn. Ash Ketchum was in Hoenn.
"Fuck!" said one of her students.
'That was NOT what I planned on teaching today!' she thought as her entire class parrotted the word.
Ron the True Fan: Hehehehehehehehehehehe. Hoenn IS supposed to be the funny arc.
Takeshi Yamato: That it is. And, of course, it is the wont of children to pick up words heard around them. Including the 'dirty' ones.
Ron the True Fan: Not the point. It's Ash's reactions to everything at the moment. A May wanting to do gym battles? Zinnia being there? Serena being SERENA? And finally, his debt to her people. (Cackles)
Takeshi Yamato: Ah, yes, that. That was funny, as was everything else.
Ron the True Fan: It's going to be rocky, but that's the nature of things.
Ja Ne!