Chapter Text
The sun shines brightly on the Hoenn Region, letting all people and Pokémon bask in the rays. Surskit skate on the ponds as Luvdisc swim from below, and Swellow spread their wings and soar through the skies. One Swellow narrowly dodges the wings of a plane, which just so happens to be carrying two particular people.
“Wake up, Ash. Only twenty more minutes before we land in Slateport City!” The tan-skinned teenager shakes his companion awake. Ash slowly wakes up from his peaceful slumber and groggily looks at his friend.
“Really, Goh? It seems like we just got on here an hour ago…,” Ash said, stretching his arms. He laid his hands on the mouse Pokémon on his lap. Pikachu purrs and snores, still happily asleep.
“Well, the pilot just said we would be landing in twenty minutes, which gives us twenty minutes to look over the assignment that Professor Cerise gave us.” Goh takes out his Rotom phone and goes to his email. Ash starts to do the same while petting Pikachu’s back.
“You remember to put your phone on airplane mode, Ash?”
“Oh...whoops.” Ash puts his phone on airplane mode and is soon dismayed that he can’t get his email.
“Did you log onto the airplane wi-fi, Ash? There’s a pamphlet in front of you,” Goh said matter-of-factly. Ash flashes an awkward smile and quickly reads through the pamphlet and connects his phone to the airplane wi-fi.
They both started rereading the email that Professor Cerise sent them. Ash started to feel the excitement coursing through his veins as a smile slowly inched across his face. Meanwhile, Goh felt kind of uneasy in his stomach.
“Ugh, I forgot about where we were going specifically. Apparently, Mt. Pyre is having a... weird problem. According to researchers in the area, there is an unnatural amount of energy at night, seemingly from some sort of monster. But when the researchers try to record things overnight, they find all of their cameras destroyed,” Goh said unnerved.
“Woah, cool…,” Ash said.
“Yeah, cool if you want a monster to rip you to pieces in the middle of a graveyard! I guess that makes things convenient…”
“But Goh, there’s going to be all sorts of cool ghost Pokémon to catch!” Goh slightly perked up at the idea of catching a new Pokémon.
“That’s true. Maybe this monster is a never-before-seen Pokémon?!” Goh said with a massive smile on his face. “Even if it isn’t, catching it will be one step closer to my goal!”
“Now that’s the spirit. Look at the bright sides, even if we are doing this at night!” Ash said. Some Swellow from outside the window caught his eye. “Woah, did you see those Swellow fly past us, Goh?”
“Where?” Goh looked out the window along with Ash and saw a flock of Swellow fly down on the city of Slateport. As they escaped Ash and Goh’s sight, they flew close to the water, snapping at a few Magikarp. They flew up again and raced to the city buildings before landing on a hotel roof to rest their wings. From their view, they see a girl holding two bags with a Slurpuff using psychic on two more. The blue-haired girl looked to see the flock of Swellow and smiled before quickly going inside the hotel.
She set down the bags and wiped some dirt off her blue vest and shorts and straightened her orange tie.
“That darn Nincada, getting my clothes all dirty…I need to get Slurpuff to a Pokemon Center too...,” she said to herself, looking at her slightly injured Slurpuff. “Anyways, I have all of the ingredients for the Poké-puffs and macarons, along with some necessities. We can always go back if we need anything else.” She picks up her bags and walks to the elevator.
After a ride to level three, she gets off and walks to her room. The girl takes out her hotel card and scans it on the door. The door immediately unlocks and she opens it. When she opens it, she sees a honey-blonde-haired girl sleeping comfortably under her covers. The honey blonde snores and tosses to the other side of the bed, drooling on top of her pillow.
The blue-haired girl huffs. “Serena, it’s 10:30!” She and Slurpuff put down the bags and walked towards her. “Are you seriously oversleeping right now?” Serena responds with a loud snore. “Of fricking course you are. I need something to wake you up in the morning,” she says. She shakes her shoulder and leans towards Serena’s ear.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty! You have a life!” Serena stirs in her sleep.
“Serena! Wake up!” she says harshly. Serena’s eyes slowly begin to open before they slowly close back again.
“Damn it, Serena. I didn’t want to do this, but you left me no choice,” she said, looking knowingly at her Slurpuff. Slurpuff nodded and it looked at Serena intently. Slurpuff’s eyes turn blue and a blue outline appears around Serena. Suddenly, Serena is shot up out of her bed, throwing the covers in the air.
“Miette,what the hel-AHHHHH!” Serena screamed as Miette laughed. Serena spun around in the air before being set down on the floor.
“Hey, you’re finally awake. Get dressed, we have to practice for the big contest in a couple of days!” Miette grabbed a towel and threw it at Serena’s face. Serena picks it up off the ground and begins walking to the bathroom.
“Why didn’t you just wake me up like a normal person?” Serena said rolling her eyes. Miette put a hand on her hips and sneered.
“I tried, but it’s not my fault you sleep like a Snorlax. And snore like one too. How could Ash travel with you when you sleep like that?” Serena was dumbfounded at the comment and felt her face become really hot.
“I DON’T SNORE! AND LEAVE ASH OUT OF THIS AND...UGH!” She went in the bathroom door and slammed it shut.
“That’s weird, cause you definitely snore,” Miette said matter-of-factly. Serena came out of the bathroom to quickly give Miette a very rude gesture. Miette raised her hands in faux outrage. “An up-and-coming Kalos Queen would never do THAT, y’know?” She said with a smirk.
Serena slammed the bathroom door and groaned. “Ugh, that Miette is such an annoying travel partner!” She set her towel down and laid her head on the bathroom counter. She held her head up and looked at herself in the mirror.
“Good morning, me. Time for another day. I know it’s hard, but you got to keep going, even if your friend is annoying. Never give up till the very end!” she said to herself.
“SERENA! I DON’T HEAR THE WATER RUNNING!”
“SHUT UP!”
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“Hello, Hoenn! It’s good to be here again!” Ash said as he got off the plane. Goh was close behind him, checking his phone. Ash turned around and smiled at him. “So, what do you want to do first?” Goh looked up from his phone to see a big grin on Ash and Pikachu’s faces.
“What do you mean?” he said.
“What do you mean ‘what do you mean’? There are so many shops in Slateport...and maybe some opportunities to catch some Pokémon!”
“...true. I do want to catch a Silcoon. But shouldn’t we research more about Mt.Pyre?” Suddenly, Ash grabbed Goh’s hands, causing him to blush due to the sudden contact.
“We can do that later, let’s have some fun!” Ash took off running, dragging Goh with him. They ran out of the airport and hit the streets of Slateport.
“Ash, do you have any idea where you’re going?”
“Definitely! I’ve been here before, so I know where everything is...probably.” Ash weaved through people and looked at where they could stop to get a bite to eat. “Maybe we can find some places to eat near the harbor?”
“Okay, but can you PLEASE slow down?” Goh shouted. Ash stopped and allowed Goh to catch his breath. “Thank you. Now then, where do you want to go?” Goh asked. He saw Ash look around in deep thought.
“I want to get to the harbor to get a bite...but I kinda forgot where it was. It’s been a while,” Ash said sheepishly. Goh rolled his eyes.
“Look, why don’t we just go to the Pokémon Center and ask Nurse Joy? She’ll probably know and we can rest from all that flying.”
“That sounds like a great idea! Now, where would I be without you Goh?” Ash said. Goh blushed and flashed a prideful smirk. Ash and Goh walked to the center of town passing many vendors and stores to get to the Pokémon center.
“You’re right, Ash. There are so many stores here. I’ve heard that Slateport is famous for its markets, but jeez…,” Goh looked around at what the markets were selling. Incenses, weird note blocks, sweets, and so much more.
“Hey, boy! The one with red highlights holding hands with the other boy!” Goh turned around to see a vendor shouting at him. “Yes, you! Come ‘ere! You seem like the catching type!” Goh raised an eyebrow at the comment and let go of Ash’s hand.
“Hey, Ash, I’ll be right back. Wait for me at the Pokémon Center, okay? Don’t wander!” Ash flashed Goh a thumbs up and walked towards the Pokémon Center. Goh walked to the bald vendor who was holding a case of something.
“How did you know I like catching Pokémon?” Goh said.
“Seller’s intuition! I can tell just by looking at you! And I have just the thing you need!” The vendor opened a crate and it was filled with black and green balls.
“These balls are special, see? By day, they’re just like any other Pokéball, but at night? Oh ho ho, they’re a super Pokéball! They’re my own patented, Dusk Balls™!”
“Pokéballs that are good at night?” Goh asked.
“Yeah, kid! That’s what I said! Use ‘em in a cave or under the moonlight, and you’ll be swimming in more Pokémon than water Pokémon swim in water!”
Goh was intrigued at the sound of that. He’s heard of variants of Pokéballs. It would certainly add some flare to his Pokéball arsenal.
“I’ll take them!” Goh said excitedly. Money signs practically shot out of the vendor’s eyes. After Goh paid, he put the Pokéballs in his bag. Afterward, he waved goodbye to the Vendor and headed towards the Pokémon Center.
“Hey, kid! Yeah, you with the Pokéballs!” yelled another vendor. “If you gots a water type, I have something that can make them really powerful!” Goh sighed and walked towards the other vendor.
“This will be a while…,” he thought.
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“How do you like that mystical water, Inteleon?” Goh said, walking into the Pokémon Center.
“Inteleon,” Inteleon said suavely, eyeing the water that was in a necklace. He could feel some newfound energy course through his hands. Goh smiled at the satisfied Inteleon and looked at Cinderace.
“How do you like your charcoal, Cinderace?”
“Cinder, Cinder!” Cinderace said, nuzzling the fuel against his cheek. Cinderace was clearly pleased. Goh looked around the room but couldn’t find Ash anywhere. He walked up to the Nurse Joy with Cinderace and Inteleon in tow.
“Excuse me, Nurse Joy. Have you seen a boy about my age with a Pikachu on his shoulder?”
“Oh, I think I did. He asked me where the harbor was and where the best places to get food were,” she said. Nurse Joy chuckled a bit. “I also heard his stomach growling. After that, he ran out the door.”
“Dang it! I told him to stay here!” he said to himself. Looking down on the ground, he thought about where he would be. “He must be looking for someplace to eat. Ash is always thinking with his stomach…,”
“If you want to know, the harbor is in the northeast of the city. There are multiple cafes near there too if you’re hungry as well!” Nurse Joy said.
“Thank you! Now if you don’t mind, I’m about to find my friend…,” Goh said, turning around and walking back to the door.
“Why does Ash always rush into things?! It can be so annoying sometimes!” Goh thought. All that thinking caused Goh to bump heads with someone entering the Pokémon Center.
Goh clutched his head in pain while the other person did the same.
“I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going!” the stranger said.
“No problem, it’s my fault too,” said Goh. He started to look up at the person and noticed a teenager about his age, clutching her blue hair in pain. The girl gave him a shy smile, her red eyes looking into his blue ones.
He immediately started blushing. His heart felt so weird too, going faster than it was a couple of seconds ago. Goh suppressed a big smile that was starting to form on his face and settled for a smaller one.
“How’s your head?” He asked.
“It’s been better. But it’ll be fine. Thanks for asking!” She said, moving towards Nurse Joy and holding out a Pokéball. Goh looked at her, really intrigued for some reason. The way she moved seemed so graceful to Goh, as he was enamored by every step.
“Cinderace?” Cinderace tapped on Goh’s shoulder, snapping Goh out of his trance. Goh looked up at Cinderace and nervously rubs the back of his neck, embarrassed.
“Sorry, I was…um…anyway, on to find Ash!” He said, nearly walking out the door.
“Wait up!” The girl said to Goh. Goh immediately blushed again. “Nurse Joy said you were looking for someone near the harbor?”
“Y-yeah. I am.” Goh said nervously. Goh looked at the Nurse Joy behind the girl and he could have sworn that Nurse Joy winked at him.
“I know the area pretty well. And I’m waiting for a friend of mine to get ready for something, so I have time to burn. Maybe I can help you out?” At those words, Goh shot up.
“Yes, of course! Thank you!” Goh said excitedly.
“Then it’s a deal then. I’m Miette, by the way.” She said holding out her hand. Goh stared at it for a second before quickly grabbing it. He then tried to give the most charming smile he had in him.
“I’m Goh! It’s nice to meet you!” He said, shaking her hand. He let go, hoping it was the right amount of time for a handshake. “Shall we?” Goh tried to open the door for Miette and collapsed at the already open automatic door.
He got up and smiled an awkward smile.
“After you!” He said, waving his hands at the door. Miette chuckled and went through.
“Thank you, Goh. That was very…nice of you!” She said with an awkward smile. Goh followed her, leaving a facepalming Nurse Joy alone in the Pokémon center.
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“Now, which should I wear?” Serena said, looking at the bed with multiple clothes strewn about. One set was a black tank-top, a red skirt, black stockings, and a dark pink hat with a beautiful black bow. Memories of the first part of her journey flashed in her mind and she smiled.
Another set was a light pink dress with a vibrant red vest and a bright pink fedora. The blue ribbon that made Serena’s heart flutter was laid on top of the dress.
Serena then turned her eyes to the last set. It was a light blue tank-top with a fluffy white dress. Her eyes were immediately drawn to striped blue stockings and a striped blue tie. Her mind went immediately to the current Kalos Queen.
Her face scrunched to frown as she looked more closely at the stockings. They weren’t exactly her style, and she didn’t even know why she brought them out. But she continued staring at them, till something ringed in her head
“An up-and-coming Kalos Queen would never do THAT, y’know?” Serena thought. She knew Miette was just joking. They always joke like they hate each other. That's just how they are. But those words continued ringing in her head.
“Well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…” she said to herself. However, just saying those words made her feel weird. After putting her clothes on, she looked at herself in the mirror. She put on a half-smile.
She thought she looked great…but it still felt so wrong.