Chapter Text
In the sakuragi Institute two boys were confused by the scene they were seeing. Chrysa and Ren were packing their document paper and stuff, it made them feel like they're going to leave the institute and quit.
"Why are you guys packing? "Ash asked in confusion, mirroring gou, as if agreeing with his research partner's question gou nodded.
Chrysa finally noticing them looked up from her document "Did you guys forgot?, director sakuragi told us that the Institute will be on a maintenance, so everyone was ordered to take a break"
?!
Both Ash and gou look surprised, they looked at each other before shouting in unison.
"WHAT!?! "
"Since when??? "
"Why is that??"
"That so sudden!! "
"It was now?! "
Both Ren and Chrysa sweatdropped at their antics and barrage of questions, they tried to explain before a voice cut them.
"Don't tell me you guys forgot about that" a familiar voice of a girl sighed, followed by a bark of pokemon that was always accompanying her.
"Chloe?" Gou exclaimed while his friend focused more on the electric dog pokemon who greeted Pikachu and barked at him.
"Usually people would remember days where they get a time off, I didn't expect you to forget about it, gou" chloe looked at gou with an unimpressed look.
"S-shut up!! It's because I was busy doing a research! " flustered gou retorted.
"Never mind, here the teacher told me to give it to you" she handed him an important looking envelope from their school.
"A letter? " he snatched it, quickly started to read the content inside.
"A notice specifically, they were wondering when you be able to attend because final is almost there"
Go blinked a few times processing the information before his face turned pale and sweat started dropping from his face. "Crap... I have completely forgotten about the final"
"what didn't you forget these days?"
"Shut up! "
"arguing with you is not even worth it anyway. " hearing her word gou eyes twitch, he was ready to go into a full argument.
observing their bickering with each other ash cannot help but think that they're such a close friend, their friendship reminded him of his childhood friends which bring nostalgia to him.
"You guys are really a good friend"He praised both of them, his partner agreed with a 'chaa'
Hearing that gou and Chloe make a face at him and scoff at each other. "AS IF!!! "
shouted both of them at the same time.
"Now now everyone, let's calm down for a bit" A calm voice interferes. Followed by a chorus of 'director' shouted at him with mixed emotions of relief or embarrassed to get caught.
"Director!! Are you going to tell us again about the maintenance news?"
Director Sakuragi just let out his usual patient smile and walked to his usual spot where he can look at the children. "Well ash, gou, you both and the other will get a day off because sakuragi Institute has undergo a maintenance"
"Maintaince? " Both boys tilted their head in bewilderment.
"Yes, maintenance. you see, some pokemon have been breaking off the glass and other stuff frightenedly easy on the ranch lately" the screen behind him showed footage of pokemon having their move missed a target and accidentally shatter the rooftop glass, or some pokemon that was thrown by another attack crashed onto the wall.
There was a dent and dangerous glass lying around everywhere, not to mention too many trees and dirt had been terraformed. "So I've decided to undergo a maintenance for the safety of the pokemon and worker"
The boys nodded at his explanation, but gou feel something was off.
"But if the ranch is the only one who gets maintenance, why does the other get a day off? "Gou interject finding flaw in the explanation.
" You're sharp as always gou" at the director's praise, gou blushed and smiled with pride.
"Well for that.. " the director smiled bashfully. " officer Jenny told me yesterday that this Institute was a house of murder in the past and they were going to investigate"
The other paled.
"And she found multiple dead people remnant on some room, so she asked us to leave for the investigation"
"H-hey gou.. Do you think this is why there's a gengar here? Ash asked in fear.
Gou shivered, looking as scared as he was.
"I don't know for sure ash.. But all I know is that this is not a good news".
" What if Gengar is the spirit of the previous murder victim? "Chrysa can't help but joined the boys' conversation, " Ren shrieked.
"DIRECTOR WHY WOULD YOU STILL USE THIS PLACE EVEN KNOWING THIS?! " Ren shouted, his face pale and he looked like he would faint if chrysa didn't support him.
Apparently the director found the situation amusing as he laughed. "I think it just add for the thrill haha"
"It's not funny!! "Shouted all researchers.
Koharu sighed at his dad's antique and it wasn't a lie if she didn't feel chill, just thinking that she was here without any care and knowing that the Institute was a house of murder send shivers down her spine.
" and I've also been thinking that I should renovate the Institute, " added director sakuragi. "Maybe a we should add more pink or Sakura theme here and there. What do you think? "
" I think you should hire an exorcist while you're at it! “Ren begged.
And after that no one ever objects or asks his decision of letting the employees get a day off.
The two research fellows get back to their room to pack their belongings, or mostly it was gou packing his belongings while scorbunny was looking at him with sparkling eyes wanting attention.
Ash was swinging his feet on the top bunk bed humming slightly accompanied by Pikachu chorus of 'chaa' and 'pika' following ash tune, "I wonder what should we do with our long day off pikachu"
"Pikaa" Pikachu chirped, its ears twitching before gesturing for a scratch behind its ears. "You're so spoiled" laughed ash yet complied and spoiled it anyway, which earned Pikachu letting out delighted chirps and becoming a gooey mess.
Looking at Pikachu's behavior makes his chest tingle and let out a ticklish laugh.
After calming down he fell into a deep thinking, should he travel again and catch more pokemon that he missed on his previous journey?, or should he go back to alola and visit the others?
Come to think of it, Alola. Didn't Mallow say on their daily group call at night that she invented a new dish?, he wondered what kind of wonderful dish she invented this time.
Thinking about her cooking making him hungry.
Lana also said that she successfully caught a rare fish to compensate for not catching a manaphy and even proudly showed him its fish print, he congratulated her about her success. He also wont think about how manaphy was in alola, maybe it just swam around from hoenn and trying to explore new areas.
He understands its want and curiosity to explore.
Sopchles was boasting and bragging about how he went to Hoenn and saw a real rocket, explaining about the possibility and how great the space center is and a few fun facts about every pokemon that lives in space. Everyone was happy to hear about that.
Kiawe challenged a grand trial on Mele Mele island and got a fighting z-ring, he told him that he will challenge hapu'u next, and they promised to battle next time they met.
There was no news about lilie and gladion from everyone, but they all think that it just meant lilie and gladion were closer to finding their father, which they didn't mind. And they all send their respective prayers for them.
And as for his alolan family.. Didn't professor Burnet tell him that she was pregnant with a little sibling.. He can't believe that he has a little sibling but he is excited and wondered about what kind of little sibling he would have.
He doesn't think he minds whenever they're a boy or a girl as long as they're healthy and like pokemon! That's all the matter!.
He also heard that the pregnant mom needed spaces and was not good with a stressful environment, he didn't think she would appreciate him invading her and professor Kukui home. Especially when he knows that he brings stress and worries whenever he goes.
So alola is no go either..
"Hey don't you have anything to pack? "Finally done with his packing gou blurted which snapped him from his thoughts.
"Ah?.. Ooh! Yeah I'm already done!! " he said proudly. "I don't really bring much with me anyway! "
"
"That's true, you only bring a few change of clothes and some cleaning product"
"Yeah! I learned from my travels not to Overpack things, mainly it's because I kept losing it or that it got destroyed! " hearing his reply gou let out a deadpan expression.
"Seriously everytime I hear about your travel, the possibility of it being a normal one was decreasing" he said with an exasperated tone, yet he can't help but feel fondness for him.
"What does that mean!, I already told you I travel normally like the others!! "
"Yeah yeah." Gou sighed, sitting down on the bed and looking at his rotom phone, deep in thought. "Whatever gets you to sleep at night. "
"Hey gou? "
"Hm? "
"Aside from taking school what are you going to do while the Institute was on main some things"
"You mean maintenance? "
"Yeah! That's! "
"Well.. " he saw gou think for a while, scorbunny was on his feet looking up at him asking to play.
"I think.. no! I'm definitely going to complete my Kanto pokedex!!! "
Gou said with enthusiasm that he stood up and raised his fist to the sky. "I'm definitely going to complete my Kanto pokedex and achieve one step closer to my dream"
"Good luck gou!! " cheered him, Pikachu followed his suit and started to clap with him.
Gou looked embarrassed but his smile was still wide. He scratches the back of his head before turning around to look at him. "What about you ash?"
"Me? "
"Yeah, what about you?, are you going to do something on your break?. "
"I'm not so sure either. But I think I'll figure it out!! "
"Good luck with that"
"Thank you! "
a few weeks later at the oak laboratory.
He told gou that he will figure out but here he was, On top of snorlax belly woken up from his nap and surrounded by his pokemon like infernape taking a nap next to snorlax, oshawot and bulbasaur was snuggling with him and Pikachu.
Pokemon sound was heard chirping or talking with each other with occasional roar or screech, but he knows they're trying to quiet down so as not to disturb his sleep which he appreciated.
Ever since he arrived at pallet town all he did was play with his pokemon until he was tired and take a nap, he did not do anything productive like he said he would which frustrated him.
He tried to take a journey on Kanto again but got bored quickly because he already did that a long time ago.
Visiting Pidgeot was nice, but the fun did not last long when he didn't have a goal. Kanto was relatively peaceful so there was nothing interesting to do. Although he does hear some rumour about entei being spotted on some route, it is quickly solved by a passing trainer that discovered the entei was fake, which made him so disappointed.
No one complained about his lack of unproductivity, instead it did the opposite, his mom was just glad he didn't do anything dangerous and can call or visit him anytime. Professor Oak just let him be and occasionally shared his haiku or analysis about pokemon like he used to do back in the day before he started traveling.
And Tracey was doing his usual stuff of sketching pokemon nearby and sometimes near him, he notices that Tracey has been sketching Pikachu more often than the other.
When he asked about that Tracey just replied while scratching Pikachu's chin. "Well since Ash and Pikachu were here, it was my opportunity to sketch more of his pikachu".
At his reply Pikachu let out a happy chirp and seemed to melt under Tracey touch than when it was with him.
'Traitor' he thought.
Ash was bored. Gary wasn't here and he doesn't have any opponent to battle. And he can't even battle Kanto gym again because they're busy battling trainers to challenge the Kanto league.
And as per system stated he can't even battle them with no enrollment.
That means no battling with misty or other gym leaders.
Last time he heard Brock was in unova studying and trying to achieve his dream of becoming a pokemon doctor.
Thinking about his friend on their way of achieving their dream making him feel frustrated at his own laziness, he feels like a snorlax who can only eat, play and sleep on repeat everyday which makes him feel gloomy.
" Pikachu.." Hearing its name called Pikachu, ears twitched. Its eyes opened blinking and letting out a huge yawn.
"Pikachu... We should do something" he mumbled, still sleepy from waking up. Pikachu stood up from his chest stretched and then moved its body to lay and curl on his neck and head covering his mouth before continuing to sleep.
Oh wow.. Thanks Pikachu. This has certainly helped me with my unproductivity. He wanted to complain but his pokemon snuggled up with him even more and snorlax patting his stomach gently like soothing an unruly child made him sleepy.
He felt even more gloom.
A few days later of living his day with gloom and devoid of thrill, like an angel sent by the gods himself, professor Oak called him and handed him an envelope.
"What is this professor?" He asked with bewilderment at the fancy envelope. " This looked like it was super important, are you sure you are giving it to me? ".
Professor Oak coughed at his hands which made him look up at him, "I've been noticing your lack of enthusiasm lately in your free time, so why don't you take my place to see the galar opening ceremony? "
"Galar opening ceremony? "
"Galar Opening Ceremony is the official kickoff event for the Galar Gym Challenge, it was a big event attended by many important people. "Professor Oak explained.
At the mention of a new region to explore and 'gym Challenge' ash eyes lit up and he started to become giddy, Pikachu mirroring his movement.
"And my friend professor magnolia In galar always sends me invitations every year but I never have the time to attend. So why don't you take my place in my stead?. "
"Yes!!! Yes!! I want to!! Can I? Can I?! " buzzed with energy he replied enthusiastically to Professor Oak.
At his reply professor Oak smiled and nodded approvingly. Seemingly pleased that he returned to his usual enthusiasm.
"Now now.. Before you bolt and tell Delia, I have a request for you" at that ash immediately stopped moving and focused his attention on him again.
"Do you know about galar wild areas? "
"Yeah! Director sakuragi once asked me to go and investigate a pokemon that can grow big in galar! "
"Is that so?, then I'm glad you know a bit about wild areas. " Professor Oak nodded satisfied about the answer.
"But just in case I'm going to tell you again about it"
"Wild Area is a massive open stretch of nature where many different types of Pokémon roam freely in the overworld, rather than just appearing in tall grass.
The Pokémon inhabiting the Wild Area change drastically based on the weather, varying from bright sunny days to heavy thunderstorms.
Speaking of weather, in the galar wild area weather is very unpredictable, you never know when it is going to snow, sandstorm or even a heavy thunder hit you."
As Professor Oak explained to Ash he could see how Ash started to become more and more excited to leave to the galar region right away: he knew that if the boy could he would immediately bolt out and leave to the galar region without telling anyone.
"Pokemon in the galar region will be varied in the area, where the beginner friendly Pokemon will only appear on a specific route, and a strong looking Pokemon will appear outside of the beginner friendly route.
For example you can find a strong Pokemon in a dusty bowl or lake of outrage"
Cannot contain his excitement any longer ash and Pikachu shouted in unison. "I WANT TO GO! "
"PIKACHU!!"
"Wait a moment" like a flash of lights professor oak hands immediately grabbed the cuff of the boy jacket who already turned around and was ready to bolt out to his mom.
"But professor, why?!! "
"Please do listen here ash, I didn't even tell you my request yet" at that being said, Ash stopped his moves.
"Oh yeah right!, so what is it professor? "
"I want you to bring more than Pikachu or dragonite. “
"Huh? "
"I understand that you would always bring Pikachu, and that you bring dragonite because it was relatively still a new Pokemon. But I suggest you bring at least three or more with you"
"Bringing more Pokemon?, I mean I don't mind doing that but why? " asked Ash, still dumbfounded. It's no wonder he was confused, for professor Oak, who has been seeing the boy since he was a kid till he embarked on his journey, was understandable.
The boy likes to only bring Pikachu on every journey and start over with it, trying so hard to raise his strength so he would be a 'worthy trainer for his pokemon' or so he said. That is why he seems to be confused at his request.
"As I told you earlier the wild area has many strong Pokemon, and I need you to bring more for your safety reason."
"And judging by your adventure you're prone to cause trouble" added professor oak which made the boy groan.
Ash groaned in his palm" don't remind me! I know that!. "
"Pikachu.. " comforted the mouse pokemon and patted his legs.
"Okay now, I leave the rest of choosing your pokemon for you. And don't forget to tell delia"
"Okay! I will! "Like he never remembered his previous mood, Ash grinned widely and started to run toward his house where his mom is.
"The train departs early tomorrow! Don't oversleep! " he shouted, reminding the boy.
"Yes I will not oversleep, I promise!! "
"Okay Pikachu, who should we bring with us?" That night asked his partner, Pikachu, to look up from its toy shaped jigglypuff to tilt its head thinking.
Suddenly both of Pikachu's ears perked up -a sign of a good idea-. "Pi! Pi Pikachu! " it pointed towards a piece of paper in a jar.
" a star paper? "
Pikachu shook its head
"Paper? "
Pikachu nod with great enthusiasm
"I'm still confused. " Pikachu enthusiasm was depleted. Pikachu then searches for something it looks in the drawer and finally finds what it wants.
Pikachu shows ash. " Isn't this my homework where professor Kukui told us to name every pokemon that we know and write their type? "
"Pika!! " Pikachu nodded, then much to his surprise ripped a piece of paper, crumpled it into 3 and pointed at a jar before making a shaking motion.
Ash's eyes sparkle when he realizes what Pikachu meant. "You mean we should write everyone's name and then shake it inside the jar and choose randomly? "
Pikachu shouted in delight.
"Pikachu you're genius!!" Pikachu preen to his praise.
They spent around fifteen minutes making the paper and another 15 to turn it into a star paper. Pikachu 'star' paper looked more like a badly wrinkled paper than a star but Pikachu was very proud of it and that's all that mattered.
"Pikachu, are you ready?"
"Pikachu! "
"And who will be our traveling companion..? "
After shaking it, both of them take a random star and read it.
"That's it!!. "
-the day that he anticipated finally came, he would depart to the galar region and he couldn't wait patiently and just wanted to bolt there, but alas his mom accompanied him to the train station in Kanto. Since Kanto doesn't have any airport, he has to take a train to Vermillion city and depart to the galar region from an airport.
"Take care of yourself, okay?. Pika-chan please keep an eye on him okay? " Delia mushes upon her son, fixing his hair and any clothes, " Pikachu nodded and replied with enthusiastic "pika!" As if saying 'leave it to me!'. Which made her smile.
"I know it mom! Stop worrying! We're also going to be late! " whined her son in embarrassment.
"I'm your mother, how can I not worry about you? " her son became more embarrassed, she chuckled at the sight and pinched his nose playfully.
“Come to think about it. Did you sleep last night? “
Ash freezed, did it become too noticeable?? He was so excited to sleep last night that he didn't sleep at all. Pikachu was the same, looking at his partner having gaunt eyes on its faces and by how it looked grumpy and slightly messy with fur sticking out in every direction it should have been noticeable.
But he quickly shakes his head and replies a little bit too loudly to his liking. “o-of course not!We sleep wonderfully! Right Pikachu?? “
“Pikachu!!”
His mother sighed. She already knows their lie. “Just make sure you get plenty of sleep at the airport okay?. “
“Yes ma'am.. “
“Pika.. “
"Okay there your train, be careful okay? "
"I will!!" With a quick hug ash left. Pikachu waved from its seats on the ash shoulder.
The road to galar was long and arduous, when he arrived at Vermillion city he had to take a bus packed with people to the airport, and in the airport he had to wait for a long line. He could feel how Pikachu felt bored and tired of waiting.
He could not blame it, as he was also tired of waiting.
When they finally took their seat on the airplane they immediately crashed and slept all the way to galar.
Finally after a gruesome road they arrived at motostake city, the city was bustling with store vendors and tourists everywhere just like last time he visited with gou.
Speaking of gou, it is kind of weird not traveling with him now.
"Pikapi! "Pikachu called him excitedly.
" What is pikachu?"
Pikachu pointed at certain stores that sell something he was familiar with. His eyes lit up at that" nice-smelling tiny thingies! "
"Pika!! "
With nothing stopping them ash rushed toward the store. " uncle I want to buy those nice-smelling tiny thingies to go please!!"
"Got it! Please wait for a minute! " the store owner said.
While waiting ash was looking around the city, there was a huge advertisement flag and screen everywheres, showing the faces of the gym leader and their gym challenge. It all looked so interesting and exciting that it made him vibrate on his seats.
"Look Pikachu! They said that they also broadcasted the gym battle, whenever it's on tv or the stadium! " Pikachu eyes sparkle. "We're definitely going to watch them all in the front row seats right buddy? "
"Pika!" Pikachu readily agreed enthusiastically.
After that he and Pikachu were focusing themselves to look around galar, and discussing what they were going to do next.
Not long after the store owner immediately gave him his order. " Oh it's you!How is scorbunny doing with your buddy? "
Taking a bite of the nice-smelling tiny thingies he looked up at the nice store owner, chewing and finished eating the snack first before answering. " gou have been taking care of scorbunny well!, they're closer than ever"
"Is that so?" I'm glad. " the nice shop owner smiled. "If you don't mind me asking where is your friend? I don't see him anywhere. "
"Gou and me decided to split ash for a bit, so he was still in kanto"
"I see, thank you for answering and enjoy your food"
"I will! " Ash waved after paying and continued to explore the motostoke city, sometimes he would take a picture to send it to his mom. She told him that she has been curious about the galar region and asked him to take a picture to show her.
Ash kept continuing to savor the food with delight alongside Pikachu, and then his eye caught something. "Pikachu look there a giant bird carrying a passanger"
Pikachu looked at the bird with curiosity before it looked at it with a sparkling eye and let out a chorus of pika. "You're right Pikachu, they looked like they're made out of steel!, so cool"
With a quick snap he took a picture of it and sent it to his mom, before thinking of where he should go next since he had a few hours until the galar opening ceremony started.
"Pikapi! Pika! "Pikachu voices made him look up and see where Pikachu is pointing, there was a huge poster of how to survive a wild area with a wooloo as an example.
Suddenly he remembered what professor Oak said about the wild area.
His eyes sparkle upon remembering it.
" Let's go to the wild area! "