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“Are you serious?” Ash asked Pikachu as they were stopped by a Machamp on the road to school. Seeing a cluster of logs piled on the road and a tipped over cart. A group of older men were a little up the road with a Tauros being calmed by what Ash could only assume as the trainer.
“Pika Pi.” Pikachu shrugs his shoulders. Leaning his head away from Ash to get a better look around the large Pokémon. He had been out of the house very early this morning to scout out the forest on their new property.
The mouse was not used to being stationary for long periods of time in a new region so he was out and about for a long time. Getting extra energy out from the stressful week they had so far and subsequently forgot to be Ash’s second alarm for the day. Making them really late to the Professor’s hut. Thankfully Ash had immediately called the man and he only chuckled and told them to get down their at their own time. What he needed them to do could wait.
“What happened?” Ash now faced the Machamp who blinked at the pair for a few seconds. Shock written on their face before they shook it away, poor ‘Mon probably wasn’t used to being talked to so casually.
“Ma… Ma Machamp.” Machamp started to slowly explain. Eyeing Ash and Pikachu wearily but seemed to relax when both kept their attention on them. “Cham Champ. Machamp Ma Ma Cha.”
Ash hummed in the back of his throat as Pikachu sighed heavily. “So Rattata and Raticate did all this?”
“Machamp.” The taller Pokémon was now eyeing Ash but more in a quizzical manner. Not used to being understood so fully by a human so casually like this young adult.
“A swarm? Like multiple?” Pikachu huffed at Ash’s shock. At least finding some kind of amusement out of this situation. Not unlike last night when he stood up for another two hours while the Professor talked with Ash at a completely abysmal time. “How can a couple Rat Pokémon create such a mess? Their so small.” He leaned to the side so both he and his buddy could get an even better view at the mess.
Now Machamp made a sudden understanding noise in the back of their throat. Bringing Ash and Pikachu’s attention back once more to them. “Ma ma machamp. Cham cham ma champ.” They moved two of their hands to show the size of one thing and the other pair of a much larger thing.
“Raticate are that big here!?” Ash felt his breath get knocked out of his lungs in surprise. Making him wheeze a little while he spoke. “Arceus. Alright, damn. Wasn’t expecting to learn that today.”
The Machamp snickered under their breath before explaining that Melemele’s Officer Jenny had gone in her squad car to pick up the other local Machamp to help with the mess and they’ll be back any moment and that there’s a longer path to Melemele that the duo could take.
In the end Ash and Pikachu came to an easy agreement and had waited with the Machamp, keeping the ‘Mon company as the others didn’t seem to bother with looking at the other and focused talking with each other and petting the Tauros who looked like they were getting a little to stressed with the amount of people around them. Just until Officer Jenny came back with a truck with other Machamp’s. The mess would still take an hour to clean with four of them since it was such a large heavy load.
Waving hello and goodbyes, in good faith, to the head officer. Ash and Pikachu were off on the path the Machamp pointed at earlier. It was a large half circle and they only needed to stay on the path, no detour’s necessary. It also gave Ash time to fully wake up from his panicked haze and actually admire Alola’s very lush green scenery. Pikachu had chosen to slip off his shoulder five minutes into the walk to pad alongside his best friend. Enjoying stretching his muscles even more.
Ash frowned a little at that acknowledgment. Maybe he should look into seeing if there was anything like Don George’s battle clubs here, it was worth a shot.
Charizard would like the heat.
Ash paused and slowed down his walking to a stop. Not noticing Pikachu walking a good distance before the mouse realized his trainer wasn’t side by side with him. Sitting up and looking back at Ash with a questioning gaze.
“Pika Pi?” His partner questioningly called softly. Padding back until they were side by side again and he looked up. Ears pinned back in worry.
The young adult had no idea where that thought came from. It came completely left field but Ash also couldn’t really disagree with the sudden thought. Charizard would love Alola’s sun on his scales, so would Infernape. Hell all of Ash’s Pokemon would adore Alola. Enjoying everything from the warmth on their rewears bones to happily swimming in the coral rich waters.
Pikachu watched as an almost touchable lightbulb popped over Ash’s head. Smiling slightly at the others obvious growing thoughts. He sat back quietly as Ash pulled out his beaten down dex and dialed the Professor again.
“Hey, Kukui. I’m on my way but I actually want to know if you have a transportation device at home or at your labs?” Ash asked. Starting to walk again but this time with a more serious determination than before. Pikachu happily hopping on all fours and keeping pace. “You do? That’s great! I have a few ideas for the class that you’ll just love. I’ll see you soon Professor.”
With a loud click of the device closing Pikachu launched forward just as Ash immediately picked up his speed. He has a pretty good thought on what Ash is about to do.
———
“Alright class!” Professor Kukui smiled as he turned around from leading his class to the middle of the School’s front grounds. Clapping his hands together and quickly counting all heads to make sure no one got left behind, not like they couldn’t find them but it was just a habit he picked up when he first started teaching.
“What are we doing out here, Professor?” Kiawe was quick to not beat around the bush. Eyeing the grounds like Kukui had hidden something with some kind of invisible cloak of some sort.
“Yeah.” Lillie piped up. “I thought we were going to have a study day for our test tomorrow?” The other three murmured their agreement while Kiawe folded his arms.
“Also Ash is late again.” Kiawe muttered. “This shouldn’t be so common as it is. He has a job anyways-“
A roar cut off Kiawe's angry muttering and made everyone flinch. Despite it sounding far away it still shook the ground slightly. Making the class kinda huddle behind Kiawe while Kukui looked to the gates of the school with a smile. Two distinctly different ones responded, a little closer than the first one.
“W…what was t…that!?” Lillie whimpered. Hiding behind Mallow and Kiawe.
“That, class.” Kukui turned back to his class with the smile he had on all morning during roll call and leading them out here. Suddenly something big and red zoomed from the bright blue cloudless skies of Alola and slammed into the dirt. Rocking the ground slightly before a smaller orange one came down and an even larger blur and darker red then the first joined the class.
They were all too surprised to even utter a stuttered breath at the sudden appearance of three new large Pokémon they'd never thought they’d see in their lives.
“Are Kantonian Charizard.” Kukui finished with his smile as wide as ever.