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That day, the sun had a bright figure, adorning the sky. Along with the star’s light, the heat waves made his body desperate to taste the refreshing sea. The afternoon bath became a thing three years ago, right after leaving the League’s building, going back to Melemele. Being involved in those waters always made him relax. It was only natural as sleeping in the bed that became his.
Soon, Rei will realize his big brother is outside, coming to him in a hurry that only a two summers old child can do, to his babysitter’s despair.
Then, he will hug him while Pikachu purrs happily, eyes full of joy, asking the little one about his day.
Ash knows what will happen after, and after.
“I am comfortable.” His own voice came from a lingering memory he is trying to suppress as much as he can. But it comes, anyway. It always gets him. The hazel eyed boy can feel his father figure’s hand on the top of his head.
“Feeling comfortable is nice, but you are holding on, Ash.” The same sand is escaping to invade his shoes. The sensation is unbearable, chaining him to the ground. “You know, Champions can enjoy vacations and travel to other regions.”
No. Not him. The idea makes the young man realize the invisible knife that constantly tortures his heart and his throat to close, as if forbitting him to breathe.
He is safe in Alola, ignoring all the apocalyptic events that still torture his dreams.
There is no danger, no one trying to kill the whole world, no one doing evil deeds unless Team Rocket, however, it seems that even them are more concentrated in something else than planning to steal any pokémon. Are they comfortable too?
For a long time, home was an odd word, The road was enough, he did not needed anything else than his partners, a bag and some food. Until he finally felt protected.
After the Kalos crisis, it was all he needed.
However, it seemed like he was acting unusually, zoning out naturally while dreaming about other sunsets and stars, running away from reality, all thanks to his mind.
He is safe. In Alola, he is safe.
Kukui and Burnet know that the region is a gentle breeze to him, they are aware of his many traumatic experiences and are happy to call him a son and treat him as lovingly as their actual biological son. Nevertheless, it seems like a parent will always worry.
He did not admitted it at all, but they were right.
Ash loves everything in Alola. The problem will never be any of its components.
But he is tired. Having responsibilities as a champion is not the main problem, but being incapable of seeing other landscapes is.
He misses the sensation of discovering a world that looks so different that it seems like it was invented months ago. A brand new reality, ecosystem, culture and language.
The nomad will only stop to drink water and cool off, always looking ahead, towards incommensurable adventures. He heard something close to it somewhere, at Mallow’s family restaurant, while enjoying the usual pinap juice and some pancakes with Pikachu. It was from a blonde girl, who talked with so much confidence that he actually decided to pay attention.
The society that once was nomadic became sedentary, building structures later called houses and inventing agriculture. Before that, all of them were nomadic subjects.
It is not easy, to live as a nomad. Sometimes, sleeping in the ground can be terrible when you wake up to see yourself completely wet by the rain. Or when your pokémon is almost malnourished from hunger. Also, the people you find in the way, some of them are amazing and others will do something ethically questionable.
The nomad. It looked so simple and so romantic from that girl’s perspective. Does she know how dangerous it is to be a nomad?
He misses the road.
-
He is pretty sure that Kukui only wanted to find a good excuse to help send him out, and seems like an amicable battle to strengthen ties with the Hoenn League became the perfect one.
But well, Ash agreed, in some way, Only a week and some days, he will survive.
He was excited, though scared, by seeing the sky he knows so well reveal diverse weights.
His hand was held during all the flight, as he and the Alola League’s president spent the hours experiencing relaxation techniques.
He thanked the other man, who apologized right away. The younger was quick to state that he wanted to keep going, and there was no need to fly back home on Braviary.
Landing was something else. They were in a fancy hotel after getting a cab from the airport. Surely professor Burnet would not talk bad about any of the sinks of that place, since they worked pretty well.
Refreshing. He saw Steven Stone again, who seemed to be surprised about him stepping out of Alola. Ash was smelling something magicarpy there, but he did not cared anyways.
Professor Kukui never came to Hoenn before, and the young Champion saw himself professing ten words for a second just to explain all that he knew.
-
Ash could not contact May and Max. He did not even knew how to start.
-
It was great. To battle someone different again, to enter the Battle Frontier installations. He can feel his father figure’s excited eyes.
“Hey boy, how was it?” He asked, before Ash gave him a hug, smiling to the point his lips could fall apart.
“It was so cool! You cannot imagine how many battles I had!”
-
Meeting people only to battle was way different than actually talk.
-
In the second week of their stay, he saw an adorable bunny pokémon, being held by a trainer.
“Hey! Oh, you are so cute! What is your name!?” That 's it! That is exactly what he needed.
“Who are you, uneducated brat? Go away and stop disturbing Raboot!” Said a loud, pinched voice. It seemed like they were the same age, though. He could not ask anything more, since the creature decided to kick his butt.
Ash fell on the ground. And even after getting older and becoming aware of his lack in the field of social skills, it did not made him feel humiliated at all.
“Ouch! Oh, you are strong too! I am happy to meet you!”
-
He wants to see Raboot again, to observe a new pokémon he never saw before.
-
“Hi!” Ash jumped on Raboot’s trainer, who presented himself at Goh, as quick as he saw him in the hotel’s pool. “Is Raboot here? Can I meet him?”
Kukui, of course, was laughing.
-
“Stop following me! Really.” The man had his face all red. Was he sick? Oh, that is not good.
“I am not following you! I just want to see what moves Raboot knows!”
-
At the same day, Ash found him again.
“Its for you. And please, rest.” Offered the dark skinner boy a thermos containing Roserade tea.
Goh was visibly disoriented, however, ended up accepting.
-
“Look, weirdo...”
“Ash.”
“Don’t give odd things to strangers, stupid.”
-
They could not spend more time in Hoenn. The Alola Champion is well aware that it would not be a problem for him to stay, since it was exactly his father’s plan, however, he is still not ready. Even enjoying the experience, he cannot wait to go home. It was enough for some months.
“You should call me, weirdo… To see Raboot. I mean, if you want.” Goh offered a piece of paper when Ash and Kukui were just about to get inside a cab
Yeah, Ash will call him. And take care of himself, for real.
It will take time. However, the Champion is determined to allow his desires a little more.
Maybe he can create his only way of becoming a nomad.