Chapter Text
Welcome… to the wonderful world of Pokémon!
The world we live in is one we share with all sorts of amazing, colorful monsters; strange, strange creatures with countless secrets to uncover. While there is still much to learn, though, our scientific consensus has dubbed them "Pocket Monsters." Or, Pokémon, for short!
A wide, spanning view of rural grasslands and forests could be seen over southwestern Kanto. Lakes, rivers, rock formations, and small hamlets, leaving nature almost untouched by man.
Some Pokémon live in the grass…
A couple of Rattata scampered through the grass, with their incisors jabbed into Oran berries that they carried in their mouths. They stopped, rustling the tall grass, when they heard horns clashing against horns. A couple of Pinsir were butting heads nearby, attracting an audience.
They squeaked when a Mankey almost stepped on them, not seeing them in the tall grass. Mankey snorted, and jabbed a thumb towards the dueling stag beetles. One Rattata took the Oran out of her mouth, and chittered something or another, pointing at one of the Pinsir.
The second Rattata nodded towards the other Pinsir, and Mankey snorted in agreement. It seemed they were picking favorites, for the little public bout!
Some Pokémon live in the skies…
Up above Route 1, a Spearow started pecking at a Pidgey, until two Pidgeotto flanked him. Spearow got the message, and flew off with a fright. Pidgey chirped happily, thanking his elders. The two Pidgeotto lectured him for wandering off too far, and he hung his head. Then, they returned to flying amongst their flock, where Pidgey joined his fellow fledglings at the tail end.
Some Pokémon live in the seas…
A nearby waterfall emptied into a pond, where a Magikarp made continuous efforts to Splash his way up the incline, moving against gravity and the tide. Every time, he was knocked back down.
A Slowpoke sat splayed out on a nearby rock, sunbathing. He couldn't be bothered to move.
Some Pokémon live in communities among one another…
Hoppip floated along the hills and valleys, scattering seeds while riding on the breeze. A troupe of Oddish danced below them, sewing their own in tandem. They chattered a tune happily in harmony with one another, while a couple of Poliwag and Poliwhirl doused the fields with their Water Gun, planting a hardier cluster of root vegetables, before winter came in full swing!
Some Pokémon prefer to live on their own…
Several Nidoran scampered frightfully behind a large boulder, with one of them tripping over their feet and falling flat on his face. The female Nidoran scrambled back to pull on his little paw, and yanked him into hiding. Just in time — the very ground beneath them trembled in fear!
A large Rhydon stomped by, idly scratching his hide. He looked over his shoulder, and saw nothing. He grunted in indifference and kept marching, to the hiding Nidorans' great relief.
…And some Pokémon prefer to live in harmony with humans!
Focus shifted away from the beauty of the wilderness towards the humble human abodes rolling across the green hills and valleys of Pallet Town. A web of dirt roads connected houses, small shops, and even Oak Laboratories. But, even beyond the venerated Professor's center of study in importance was the true home of Pallet Town: A two-story building near the northeast end of town, with a lovely, woodcarved sign displayed over the front entrance: "PALLET HOUSE INN."
This was the compound restaurant and bed-and-breakfast passed down through several generations by the family that, as many families do these days, had no surname. These days, though, they were known colloquially and legally as the Ketchum's. The head of household, and the owner of the business was none other than Delia Ketchum: a lovely woman known as the heart and soul of Pallet. Her lovely auburn hair was secured in a ponytail, and she wore a lovely cream yellow apron over her favorite pink blouse. Beautiful, doe-ish brown eyes glimmered with a love for her home and community that never faded.
"That was certainly fast~!" She teased, as she collected several plates, polished off with nothing but crumbs and ketchup stains remaining of her work. "Don't go running back to work too quickly, or you'll get a stomach ache!"
"Aha, I'll do my best, Miss Ketchum!" A straight-laced man with dark, short-cut hair and a sweater vest laughed warmly, even as he adjusted his tie in a hurry and grabbed his briefcase. He was accompanied by an Abra, who was munching on what remained of a small sandwich.
He placed his tab down atop the table. "You try to pace yourself too, won't you?"
"Oh, I'm doing just fine~!" Delia smiled sweetly, pocketing the cash, and collecting one clacking dish on top of another. "Aside from the usual help, I've been lucky enough to have my lovely son around, for once! He and his little sweetheart have done a lot to keep things moving a little more smoothly."
The salaryman blinked, adjusting his spectacles. "Sweetheart? You mean that Coordinator? I thought she left a couple-" He was interrupted by the beep of his wristwatch. "...Ah! I'll be late!"
He scooted out of the booth and held his hand out. "Sorry, Miss Ketchum! Until tomorrow! Use Teleport, Abra!"
Abra took the man's hand, and they both vanished in a flash.
A bead of sweat rolled down Delia's head. Teleporting made out-of-town business so much easier, but she had to wonder if the convenience made his employer even more demanding…
She sighed, shaking her head. "Nothing I can do, I suppose." With that, she carried the small stack of plates towards the small window to the kitchen. "Ash, honey~! Just a few more!"
"Just one sec, Mom!"
A pair of olive-toned, calloused hands reached over the window sill, taking hold of the stack.
Delia smiled to herself. "Finish up with those, and you're free for the day!"
"Alright! We're at the home stretch!"
On the other side of the walls was a kitchen, with overlapping scents of a freshly used griddle, savory, overlapping aromas, and the sterile smell of dish soap. A lanky teenager picked up the dishes, blanching and sticking his tongue out at some of the grease sticking to his fingers.
"Ech, you have enough grease to start a new order stuck to this thing," he complained.
"That's why you're supposed to wear the gloves, dear~!" Delia sing-songed from the other side.
"I know, I knowwww." The youth drawled. He was a tan-skinned young man, with striking dark brown eyes, messy black tresses secured under a hairnet, and a couple of peach toned scars decorating his complexion; a few bands on his triceps, and one running up his left jawline.
This is Ash Ketchum — a Pokémon Trainer from Pallet Town. A young man of humble beginnings, Ash has gone on to make a major name for himself across many a region. Just recently, he conquered Kanto and Johto's Champion's League, placing him in the Hall of Fame!
Atop his many accomplishments, Ash has recently started calling himself a Pokémon Master!
"Think fast!" With a toothy, mischievous grin, he slung each plate across the room like a frisbee, one after another! Each was snatched up at the last second, by four different dexterous vines.
Each vine led to a leafy collar sitting around the neck of a stocky yellow sauropod, standing at about four feet tall. There was a smile in the Pokémon's striking red eyes, and she tilted her chin up proudly, flicking the proud leaf atop her head over her back. "Your aim is getting better every day!"
"You mean yours," Ash shot back.
"I mean yours," she corrected. "Be glad I can't tell your mother how many plates you've broken with those passes of yours." She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes, smiling knowingly.
"...Zip your lip and line those up for a scrub." Ash pouted, making his way over to the large sink meant for handling the high volume of tableware and cutlery.
The Pokémon smiled, knowing she'd won the argument. "I'll play nice," she cooed, while drawing in each of her vines to expertly arrange the dirty dishes up in a neat row. She took great pride in her strength and control, when it came to those vines. Who was this, though, exactly…?
Ash grinned, aiming the high pressure nozzle. With a flick of a thumb, he blasted the dirty plates with a pressure wash, scraping most of the leftover foodstuffs and grease away in one go!
Unfortunately, and predictably, the spray splashed off the plates' surface and doused the dinosaur arranging them! Water dripped down her face and made her leaf droop. She blinked.
"...Uh-oh." Ash's smile was nervous, and his eyes wide. He knew what he'd done.
"...Oh, it's on." She swung her neck around, flicking her large leaf through the dishwater, splashing Ash with grimy water and suds.
"Ack! Hey! You did that on purpose!" Ash guarded himself with his hands. His lips parted in a mischievous grin, and he smacked the surface of the sink's reservoir, splashing her in return.
The Pokémon gently set the dirty dishes into the suds, and took several steps back. She lifted and wiggled her rear; her cute, stubby tail wiggling behind her. With a look of determination, she lunged at him.
"Oh shi—" was all Ash could muster, before the weight of Arecus themself smashed into his torso, and his open, waiting arms. Just as the wind was knocked out of his lungs, a glittering pink heart expanded from the point of impact, and popped like a bubble.
The might of her love made the entire kitchen quake! Even from a distance, it had broken one of the hinges holding a shelf of pots and pans! In a sweat, Ash stumbled backwards towards it.
"Heads-up!" He alerted the Pokémon in his arms.
"Got it!" She cried, and her vines shot out of her collar, catching one panhandle, and then a pot by one of its hinges. A third caught a large cooking pot, making Ash stumble to bear the weight.
That was all the grace they could manage, before a pot fell atop each of their heads. With a buck of their shoulders, they wore the cooking ware like backwards hats atop their heads.
They stared at each other, blinking dumbly, before erupting into laughter. The Pokémon initiated rubbing her snout up against her trainer's nose, and Ash reciprocated giddily, before tilting his head for an affectionate peck on the lips. The sud stains on their aprons and hides mattered not.
And, this loveable wrecking ball is Bayleef! A Pokémon who joined Ash on his travels in the Johto region, roughly four years ago! A stubborn fighter prone to swinging above her weight class, and a determined lover who has held affections for Ash since the day he caught her!
After Ash's victory over the Champion's League, they rekindled old sentiments lying dormant, candidly embracing their young love! But, this union raises a very important question that I'm sure all of you viewers are curious to know the answer to . . . !
"Ash! Leefy? What is all of that ruckus!?"
The muffled voice of Delia jolted Ash and Bayleef out of their kiss. They could only look on like deer in headlights when the door to the kitchen swung open, and Ash's mother stepped in.
Delia was treated to quite a sight: dirty dishes floating in suds, which were also sent flying in the aftermath, a shelf broken halfway off of its hinges, and two very guilty parties in the center of the room. Ash was holding Bayleef by her haunches, and their aprons were smeared and soaked with dishwater. Their heads were capped with upside down pots, and guilt was written all over their faces that more so resembled a child getting caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
Delia clicked her tongue. "Now Leefy, you know what I've told you about using Return indoors."
"Sorry, Mom." Ash pouted. "I guess we got a little carried away."
Bayleef apologized as well, which sadly only amounted to a "Bay-bay" to Delia's ears.
Delia sighed dramatically. "You know I can't stay mad at you two - especially seeing you both so happy together! But, if you're going to help around the Pallet House, then you need to act like grown-ups!" She walked over to the shelf, experimentally tilting the wooden surface. Only one half of it was broken, and it didn't look irreparable. "Your shift is over, anyway. You two clean up and you're free to go… and fit this shelf back in place before you head out!"
Bayleef groaned and rolled her eyes. "I really need to mind where I use that move."
"No need to worry," Ash soothed, as Delia closed the door behind her. "With us working together, we can clean up in no time! Just a little bit more, and we can get out of here!'
This was enough to perk Bayleef up. "And, then what?" She cooed in anticipation.
Before Ash could open his mouth, the door swung open again. "Oh, one more thing!" Delia shouted. "Can you both be dears and stop by the Mamenos' on the way home? We're running low on soymilk. I wanted to bake later and it really adds a sweet touch! It'll be on your way!"
"Aha-ha-ha…" Ash laughed, even as his face was twisted in exasperation.
Bayleef grumbled and looked away, looking more displeased.
. . . Can a Pokémon and a Trainer truly fall in love?
Ash knew the dirt roads branching across Pallet Town like the back of his hand. He didn't even have to open his eyes while he marched with a pep in his step, humming an upbeat tune under his breath. He had an empty bag slung over his shoulder for groceries, with his opposite hand occupied by Bayleef's vine, tenderly wrapping its bud in his fingers and thumb. "Hm-hm-hm~!"
Bayleef marched in tune with her trainer's humming, soothed by the sweet serenity of his voice. A quick errand couldn't be that terrible, with her trainer's infectious cheers, at least. "Bay-a-ay~!"
"Oh, Ash, dear!"
An older woman's voice roused them from their upbeat tune. A middle-aged couple was more-or-less directly in their path; a portly woman and a shorter man with thinning hair.
Two faces Ash had known since he was young.
"Frank! Lisa!" Ash stopped, smiling to greet the two small towners. They were family friends, who had checked on him even during his darkest hours, earlier this year. He raised his hand to greet them, though notably, he didn't once release Bayleef's vine to do so. "Nice day, ain't it?"
"It is, it is!" Lisa cooed, brushing her hair behind her ear. "We were just out for a walk; enjoying the fresh air before it gets too nippy for our old bones."
"Aw, c'mon. You're not that old!" Ash laughed. His good mood leaked into his voice, and his smile stretched his cheeks, nudging the scar running up his jawline aside. "I feel you, though. We'll all probably need to start bundling up soon. Maybe throw a winter coat on this one." He nodded his head towards Bayleef with a wink.
The sauropod rolled her eyes bemusedly. "I think my hide can handle a chill, thank you."
"Not when you're a Grass-type, goofball." Ash shot back. He smiled and flicked his eyes toward Bayleef, then turning his attention back to his elders. "I'll end up bringing her hot soup all winter, at this rate."
Frank and Lisa's smiles were polite; stretched a touch thin. It would be hard for Ash to spot the unease in their tired eyes. Lisa cleared her throat. "A scarf probably would do it some good."
Ash's smile faltered a touch at the use of 'it,' but he ignored it. At least until Frank added on.
"Right! Right. We've, ahem, heard the whispers around town with… you two." Frank also cleared his throat. "Delia said that you've, ahm… been spending a lot more time together?"
"Oh, yeah!" Ash perked back up immediately, leaning his weight just a bit into Bayleef's neck, which she gladly reciprocated. "It's been kind of in the air for a long time, but we're official, now!"
"Oh, dear… Isn't…" Lisa clicked her tongue. "Don't you think that's… odd?"
"Odd?" Ash's brow furrowed. "Not particularly. We're just like anyone."
Lisa opened her mouth, but hesitated, as if picking and choosing her words carefully. While she mulled, Frank swept in to take over, giving her a comforting pat on the shoulder. "Oh, it's not that out of sorts, honey. It's just a youth thing! You hear about those trainers, and their Gardevoirs…" His bushy brow furrowed; not with any sort of ill will, but the way his face creased; wrinkles brought by age connecting ones wrought by this topic; scripted a clear picture of unfamiliarity.
Even so, he managed a smile of what he thought was good humor. "It's a phase!"
Lisa pulled off a smile of her own with her husband's - in her mind - well-woven landing point. "Ah, of course! Of course. You kiddies will get it out of your system."
"A phase." Ash said flatly. "I don't do phases. If I commit to something, I stick to it!" He thumped the fist holding a tote bag against his chest with candor. "On my honor as a trainer."
Their politely constructed smiles fell, and the old couple exchanged a glance. "Sorry, sonny, if you don't mind me asking," he asked, before going on to ask anyway. "What about your, uh… little girlfriend! The Coordinator."
"Oh, Dawn?" To the couple's mild relief, perchance, the pitter-patter he felt upon hearing the Sinnohan's name reached his eyes. "Still with her! The whole thing was her idea," he stressed.
Lisa tutted and shook her head. "Perhaps she could use a little more self-worth…"
Ash and Bayleef exchanged a glance. Their mouths thinned and squiggled into smirks that they couldn't hold back. Both of them burst into a fit of laughter at the very idea.
"Uh, sonny…?" Frank urged.
"Sorry," Ash laughed, flicking a tear from his eye. "But Dawn has more self-worth than any of us could ever know what to do with!"
"And every bit of it, earned!" Bayleef chirped.
"Listen, dear…" Lisa smacked her lips, trying to put her words together. "Are you sure about this…? I mean, how are you supposed to, well, have a family?"
"We'll figure it out then— hey, hold on!" Ash snapped, releasing Bayleef's vine to hold both of his hands in front of him. "Who said anything about… Isn't it a little early to be worrying about that? I mean, I'm only sixteen, and Bayleef is…" He looked to her for help.
The Herb Pokémon was looking off in another direction, impatiently tapping her claw against the dirt. Her eyes narrowed, accompanying a scowl. "I don't know. Old enough," she said shortly.
The middle-aged couple stared expectantly. Right. Of course. They couldn't understand her. Frank spoke up in lieu of his wife. " 's a bit hard to even ask those questions when it can't answer-"
"Of course she can answer!" Ash snapped. He saw the shock written across Frank and Lisa's faces. As angry as he was, being raised in Pallet Town, knowing them as elders, made him defer to some degree of respect. He exhaled through his nose. "I appreciate this and all, but if you've never been a trainer, then you might not understand." He hiked the bag over his shoulder, and walked around the couple, beckoning Bayleef. "But, a Pokémon Master can."
He turned and nodded politely, and curtly. "Have a good rest of the day."
"Ahem. You too, sonny! Say hi to your mother for us!"
"Make sure to stay warm!"
They saw him off as well, as if they hadn't just dissected his personal business like it was an art.
"Finally," Bayleef huffed, happy to keep pace with Ash. She leaned in to brush her cheek against his side. "Can we get this over with, now?"
"Yeah. That sounds great," Ash agreed, and gently patted her shoulder. "I can see the Mamenos' place just up the bend, anyway. We'll drop it off, and head back to the lab."
You were Ben Mameno.
Your parents ran a soy farm in town, where you cultivated soybeans, soy milk, and just about anything else that fit into the little novelty shop that you headed while your parents were busy with the farm, which tended to send its produce out more directly by the bulk.
You'd tried to be a trainer at ten years old, on April 1st; the same day as Gary, Leaf, and Ash. The less said about that little excursion, the better, so fame and fortune were out of the question. If not for the circumstances, you almost wouldn't mind. Fame sounded complicated.
Life was simple when you blended in, in a quiet town, and sold your family's wares to get by. It was nice to see familiar faces come in every day, where the greatest source of excitement was a new dish being spun at the Pallet House, or Pallet's most prodigious trainer scoring some new achievement, or bringing some nice Pokémon back to the ranch with him. Leaf would spot them on her rounds, or Tracey would have something to say when he swung by. Pokémon were more-or-less out of his life, by now, but it was just exciting enough gossip to keep up with.
Ah, and there was the celebrity, himself! A jingle of the shop's door alerted you to Ash Ketchum walking in. After his big win against Lance, as you'd heard, he'd been in loud and high spirits!
"Hey, Ben!" Ash greeted with a wave. He was wearing jeans and a sweater with some Pokémon resembling a pumpkin on it that he didn't recognize. He shuddered as he let the door swing behind him, after one of his Pokémon. "Man, how're you managing, here? It's getting nippy!"
"Oh, hi Ash!" You greeted him with a kind smile. "There's heating in here. Don't go worrying about me." You shook your head. It was really worse for entering customers than it was for you, when you sat behind the counter in the back. "But, it's getting to be that time of year…" Your fingers drummed on the counter, in rhythm with the small talk you were used to. "The usual?"
"Huh? Yeah! Mom said she's baking something soon, so the order is two cartons of soymilk." You took Ash's grin as a sign he was excited for said baking, and you couldn't blame him. "Hey girl, could you go get the milk out of the fridge over there?" He nodded towards the refrigerator inside the store. It wasn't safeguarded or anything; this was Pallet Town. There were no thieves.
"Bay!" The Pokémon chirped in turn, and walked over towards the fridge. Ah. It was his Bayleef. A Johto Pokémon. You shouted out to warn her, "it's the one without the Miltank on the carton!"
"Don't worry, she knows." Ash rested his arm atop the counter between you and him, waving a hand dismissively. She must recognize the pictures, you figured. "You know…" Ash started. You didn't like the look of his toothy grin. "Soy Milk is just how milk introduces itself in Paldea!"
You sighed. Heavily. If you'd sighed any harder, your lungs might shrivel up, and your frown might give you wrinkles before you hit eighteen. "Yes, Ash, I've heard that one before. Probably a thousand times now," you muttered.
"Look," Ash countered, waving his hand about, "I work with the material you give me, here."
You snorted. It was hard to stay mad at Ash's affable personality. "I guess you've got me there."
"Bay-bay-bay~" Ash's Bayleef hummed as she trotted along - you didn't know that Pokémon had a sense for music - and placed the two cartons atop the counter with her vines.
"Hah, thanks, Bayleef!" Ash rubbed her head, before she chirped a response and wandered off to browse the shop. The scented soy candles caught her attention, and she sniffed at them.
"You've got a little helper on your hands!" You chuckled, watching her with some amusement. It was kind of cute.
"Heh, yeah." Ash leaned against the counter, watching the Pokémon wander fondly. "If I'm gonna go through the daily grind, having a girlfriend around definitely makes it easier."
You felt your noggin rattle around a little, there. Had you heard that right?
You assumed it was a joke. Ash was known as the class clown, when you were both little. It was also the only sensible conclusion. "Ahahah. She does stick to you like one, doesn't she? I hear some Pokémon are pretty clingy to their trainers." He hadn't been one long enough to find out.
Ash exhaled through his nose. "I don't mean like a girlfriend, I mean she is my girlfriend, Ben."
You endeavored to look Ash in the eye. He looked dead serious. Almost angry. Oh, dear.
Did that… How did?
"...Oh." You said meekly, finding yourself short of anything else to say.
Ash's scowl became more pronounced. "Is that a problem?"
"N-no, I don't…!" You stammered. You hated confrontation. It had never been your strong suit. But, that didn't change how… odd that was. "I'm not saying…" A lightbulb clicked in your head, that unfortunately, would only make things worse. It came out of your mouth before you could self-regulate. "Ash, that's not… What about that Dawn girl you were seeing!? That's not right!"
Ash wouldn't be disloyal, would he!? It betrayed everything he knew about the trainer's character! You weren't sure whether that, or the… Pokémon kissing? was harder to wrap your head around, and it was giving you a headache to entertain either.
It all just rolled around in your gut and made you feel weird.
Ash slamming his hand down on the countertop was worse than weird. You flinched. He looked more like he was going to berate you than hit you, and even with his monstrous strength he was known for, you were pretty sure you would've preferred the latter. "Listen, Ben. I wouldn't cheat on anybody, ever!" He pulled back to a sensible degree of personal space and crossed his arms, looking more pouty than angry, now. "It was all Dawn's idea, okay?"
You fiddled with your hands, trying to survive the tension you'd whipped up by accident. You didn't think you liked Ash's choices - whatever those were or why - but him being mad and sour because of your prying didn't feel much better. You cleared your throat. "I'm sorry, I… erm. Could you explain that to me again, Ash?" Maybe there was something he was missing?
Ash exhaled, centering himself. Was that good or bad? "Look. It's like this. Dawn and I are still a thing. She's the coolest, prettiest gal in the whole wide world." Bayleef must have looked over because he quickly tacked on a "you too," before continuing. "But, she figured out that the two of us…" He nodded his head toward the other end of the shop. "...had something going on that we buried, from when we were kids. Younger kids. And, Dawn…"
Ash exhaled, but in a dreamy sort of way this time. His warmth for the girl from up north reached his eyes. "...She told me something, before she left. About how she wanted me to reach my dream of being a Pokémon Master. And, the way she believed I could do that was by being honest with myself, like a Pokémon would? So, she wasn't going to let us sit on something we were putting away. So, that's why she pushed me at Bayleef!"
"Wow, that's…" You scratched your cheek, finding your throat dry. Were you… choking up?
Was it normal to find this compelling!? "That's… incredibly sweet! Odd, but sweet," you conceded. Putting aside any potential jealousy, as far as you knew, to help Ash find something important to him? He couldn't very well look down on Dawn for it for the little he knew about her.
"But, I just… Sorry, walk me through this." You scratched your neck awkwardly. "Bayleef, uhm…" You looked across the shop, where she was nudging the candles. "Does she… even understand what we're talking about? It doesn't look like she's listening. So, how…"
"Bay-leef-Bay!" She cried from the other end of the store. You looked to Ash for clarification, as if that might help.
"She understands exactly what's going on," Ash relayed. "But, her opinion and mine are the only ones that matter if it's between us, right?"
Bayleef… nodded. That was an oddly complex thought. Was that what she was saying?
You weren't sure how he could even tell. You couldn't help but smile, anyway. If anyone could understand a Pokémon, it must be a 'Pokémon Master.' Whatever that was. And, you found it very hard to imagine garden variety livestock carrying that sentiment, let alone relaying it.
"That's… strangely romantic." You laughed nervously. "I guess I shouldn't be getting in your business." You bowed your head, perhaps a little too deep, sheepishly. "Sorry for the trouble."
"Ahhh, you're fine." Ash shrugged his shoulders. "Look, you're not the first person to ask us about it today. It's gotten kind of annoying."
"Sorry," you apologized again.
"Hey, at least you listened to us!" Ash defended you. "Frank and Lisa didn't."
You swallowed. "Oh. Yeah. They probably didn't take that well." They were… gossips. They tended to parrot things and ask even you too many questions for your liking, and you were about as interesting as the weeds sprouting out of the grass. "Sorry to you too, Bayleef."
"Bay," she responded, not sounding like she cared either way in particular. At least she understood.
You cleared your throat. "Now, why don't I ring up that soy milk, and get out of your hair?"
Ash chuckled, regaining his mirth. "Sounds good. Nice to see you again, Ben." He extended his fist over the countertop, even as you rang him up. You were pretty sure 'again' and 'Ben' rhyming was intentional, because this was Ash. You awkwardly tapped his knuckles with yours.
"You too, Ash. You two take care! And, tell Miss Ketchum that I said hello!"
"Well, that was a pain in the ass."
Ash walked down the dirt roads of Pallet, out of the town square, and towards Professor Oak's laboratory. His arms were folded behind his head, and his lips pursed in burgeoning annoyance.
"You're telling me," Bayleef grumbled, walking in pace beside him. But, Ash didn't notice the way she studied him out of the corner of her eye; this one furrowed, and the opposite raised.
"I mean, that's what, twice now? Who are they to decide what our bond is?" His jaw tightened. "Is this what people are saying, when we're not around? About you?"
"How should I know?" Bayleef rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, screw 'em! I know how great you are. I know what's in your heart, and that's that." Ash slid his hands into his pockets, and sighed. "Whatever. What's say we hang out at the ranch, and forget about it?"
"That sounds… great," Bayleef trailed off. Her enthusiasm didn't match her words, and she couldn't quite pin down why. She liked spending the afternoon and evening hours with Ash. It was just about everything she'd ever wished for, in the preceding years. So, why wasn't she excited?
It wasn't Ash. Her heart still did a little pitter patter, knowing that he was so eager to defend her.
Something just…
"Heyyyy, look who it is!" A rowdy, raucous voice dragged both Ash and Bayleef out of their funks, and directed them towards a brunette sitting atop the fence atop the nearest hill.
Leaf was parked up on the edge of Oak's laboratory's borders, with one leg folded over the other. She'd traded her plain black dress for a more travel-suited teal top, red skirt, and a white, wide-brimmed hat with a red Poké Ball logo. Her Ivysaur draped herself over the fence lazily.
"Were you just sitting there, waiting for someone to come by to look cool?" Ash asked flatly.
"Hey, hey, hey! What's with you?" She hopped off the fencepost and stumbled down the grassy hill, collecting herself before she tripped facefirst into the dirt. "I thought I'd just run into the Pokémon Whisperer, not the Grump Master!"
Leaf had retired from her Pokémon journey rather early; before the first Indigo League Ash and Gary had competed in. She'd fallen short of defeating the Gym circuit, after several nasty defeats at the hands of Sabrina. So, in the midst of personal studies she never cared to tell Ash about - and he never bothered to ask - she'd picked up a part-time job in catching Pokémon to recruit for work that locals needed doing, or any particular Pokémon Professor Oak or Tracey sought to study at the lab. She was essentially a one-woman talent agency.
Or, at least she liked to describe herself that way.
"But, Pokémon Whisperer ain't cutting it now, eh?" She leaned her elbow on Ash's shoulder. "You've upgraded to Pokémon Kiss-perer!" Her wide grin shone like the mischief in her eyes.
Ash yanked his shoulder away, scowling. "Knock it off, Leaf. I'm not in the mood."
"Aww, c'mon! you thought people wouldn't notice?" She poked Ash in the chest. "You should change up your routine. Something like…" She stepped back and cleared her throat, dramatically extending a hand. "...Bayleef! I choose you… to be my Valentine!"
"Shut up," Ash grumbled.
"But nah, that's too far off. It's barely November." She tapped her sneaker against the dirt thoughtfully. "Oh, I've got it!" She held a hand out again. "Here, Bayleef! It's a mistletoe! Now, use Sweet Kiss!"
Her Ivysaur trotted over, and met eyes with Bayleef. The Herb Pokémon nodded her head towards Leaf in a very 'get-a-load-of-this-guy' fashion. On a better day, she would've found this hilarious, or even cute. But, today wasn't a better day.
Ivysaur rolled her eyes, as if to apologize for her trainer's behavior. 'You get used to it.'
"Hey, Earth to Leaf," Ash snapped. "I get the point!"
"Oh, oh. Hold on. You don't still keep her in that dingy regular Poké Ball, do you?" She took Ash's shoulders in her grip. "C'mon! You've got to at least upgrade it to a Luxury Ball."
"Actually," Ash reached for his belt, retrieving the very Love Ball he'd used. "She has a Lo— hold on!" Ash shook out his head, and shoved Leaf away. "I said knock it off, already!"
Leaf finally got the message; brown eyes shrinking to pinpoints, and her sclera widening significantly. "Whew! What's crawled up your butt, Ketchum! I was just busting your chops."
"Yeah, well, they've been busted enough." Ash folded his arms, shifting away from her. "That's not normal,' this. 'Can she even understand you,' that."
"You've been asked twice," Bayleef muttered.
Ash didn't seem to hear her, throwing his hands up. "Since when is it anyone else's business!?"
Leaf's mouth made an 'o' shape, as the pieces came into place. "Alright, alright. My bad, y'dweeb. I didn't know I was following a sour act. Did enough of that when we were growing up."
Ash snorted. He was simmering down, somewhat. "You're telling me."
"Listen." The brunette was right back in Ash's personal space, throwing a hand on his opposite shoulder. "This is all jokes! If you wanna go around being proud of your green thumb, who am I to rain on your parade? You went through the friggin' Hall of Fame! What's anyone in this town done in that time? Clip some fresh coupons? I think you have a pass to be a couple of freaks."
"Well… thanks, I guess." Ash shrugged. So, Leaf didn't care, Ben got over it… Maybe this wasn't as bad as he initially thought. He gave her a light punch in the arm. "Nice to know us 'freaks' have someone in our corner. She makes me happy, you know?" He reached out for Bayleef, expecting to palm the side of her neck. But he only grabbed thin air. She was at a distance, conversing with Ivysaur. "...Well, you get the idea. Both her and Dawn!"
"The former local nerd has two girlfriends. Go figure." Leaf tutted, and pulled back. "Look, I've gotta split. I made some good moolah trucking it back from Mt. Moon with a Clefairy, and my legs are gonna give out on me. Catch you freaks later!" She waved, and started to retreat, beckoning her Ivysaur over. It was only then that Ash realized her stumbling wasn't just from the hill's decline. Her Ivysaur spared them one more apologetic look, before they departed.
Bayleef trotted over, looking up at her trainer with concern. "...Was she always like this?"
"Honestly, she's a lot better now than she used to be," Ash replied.
Bayleef winced. "At least it's over."
"Mhm." Ash hummed, and waved his hand to beckon her, before ascending the steps to the front of the lab. "C'mon. Let's go."
"Go… in the lab?" Bayleef frowned, trotting after him. "Why this way? We can clear the fence."
"Yeah, well, I need to talk to the Professor… or Tracey. Anybody." Ash said. "I need to clear my head."
Bayleef sighed, and followed him. "If that helps you."
"...And, that's what happened."
Ash sat cross legged on the couch in the laboratory's den, with his hands folded in his lap. He still wore a scowl; explaining the past half hour or so had gotten him fired up, all over again.
Bayleef walked about the den, pulling books off the shelf, looking them over to pass the time. If she was paying attention to the conversation, she wasn't showing it; eyes half-lidded in a disinterested glaze.
"I see… I'm really sorry that you had that experience, Ash." Tracey sat in one of the nearby reclining chairs, frowning and absently tapping a pencil on the sketchpad he carried around habitually. The young man chewed on his lip, considering his words. "Honestly, I feel like I hold some blame in this. When I encouraged you to pursue Bayleef…"
"I don't regret that!" Ash snapped. More than anything, his eyes carried determination. "I don't care what anyone says. We are what we are!"
"I wasn't suggesting that," Tracey said gently. "I was saying that we should have prepared you for the kinds of attitudes that people might have towards it. Letting that slide was an oversight."
"Well, how was I supposed to know?" Ash asked. "Pokémon are just like us! No one threw a fit when Dawn and I got together…" A pause. "Kenny might've, but that was a different story."
"You see Pokémon as just like us," Tracey corrected Ash. "To many people, to varying degrees, Pokémon are a mystery. Why do you think that the Professor is a leading authority on the subject? People have a hunger for knowledge and a natural curiosity for the unknown." His eyes flicked towards the Grass-type, who he noticed wasn't carrying herself with Ash's temperament.
"To a couple of old… fuddie-duddies," Tracey chose his words carefully, "...who have spent their whole lives in a small town, and have never trained a Pokémon, Bayleef is a mystery."
"Yeah, and they talk about her like she's… stupid, or something" Ash waved a hand in the air. "Look. Now her feelings are hurt, she's in a funk, and she has to worry about what every bozo has to say about her! All because half of Pallet Town couldn't bother to pick up a Poké Ball!?"
"Is that how she feels?" Tracey asked pointedly, but gently. "...or is it how you feel?"
Ash calmed from his furor, sitting up with widened eyes. "What do you mean?"
"I don't mean this to be accusatory," Tracey said, "but I believe that you might be the one feeling bothered by these things, and that you're projecting them onto Bayleef."
"I mean… look at how she's acting!" Ash gestured to the sauropod, who looked over her shoulder from reading one of the glowing reviews on the back of a text. "She's all grumpy."
"I'm 'grumpy,' because you're not focused on me!" She said pointedly, frowning.
"I am focused on you!" Ash argued.
"Are you?" She asked. "You've been on about what Pallet Town thinks for the past hour."
"Yeah, but…" Ash's words trailed off. His shoulders sank, and he shrunk into himself.
"I may not be a Pokémon Master like you, but I am a Pokémon Watcher," Tracey interjected, letting the slightest levity slip into his tone. "And I may not even need to be that to understand what's happening here, Ash." He folded his hands in his lap. "I believe you may be encroaching upon the close of your honeymoon phase."
"...Honeymoon phase?" Ash echoed. "What's that?"
Tracey clicked his tongue. "I don't want to speak ill of your relationship with Dawn. You two are a wonderful pair! But, I think all the circumstances of this year have deprived you of the chance for a normal adolescent relationship." Before Ash could second-guess his words, he continued.
"Normally, when one enters a relationship, they're mesmerized with the other person; just being in their presence is enough to light their heart aflutter! It's almost like a trance, in a way."
"Like if you got hit by Attract!" Ash suggested.
"...In a way!" Tracey maintained his smile, trying not to laugh. Ash's one-track mind was charming, sometimes. "It is somewhat similar, in that the spell comes and goes, but that doesn't mean that your feelings do. It means that you're put back in reality, and normality sets back in."
Ash leaned back, looking towards Bayleef. "Do you feel that way, Bayleef?"
The plant showed the first smile she'd had in a while and walked over. "I think so. I still love spending time with you! But, it… feels normal, now. And, normal is…"
"Is normal… not good?" Ash asked hesitantly. She couldn't be losing interest with him, already!?
"It's not a mark against you," Tracey explained. He could see the doubt in Ash's eyes. "It just means that your lives have a new status quo. Love isn't self-sustaining. You have to nurture it!"
"Nurture it, huh…" Ash hummed thoughtfully. "I mean, I'll try. But I show you plenty of attention, don't I?" He asked Bayleef.
Bayleef hopped up on the couch Ash occupied, smiling. "Oh, plenty! It's been wonderful. It's just…" She paused, considering her words. "...It's just the same thing every day. The lab, and chores. Over, and over, and over again." She sighed. "We used to travel, you know?"
"...Yeah. I guess it is kinda same-y," Ash conceded. "And here I thought I wanted to take a break from traveling."
"It doesn't have to be badges," Bayleef replied. "Not that I'd mind that, either. Just something!"
Tracey watched the two converse, even if he could only functionally understand half of it in the way that Ash could. "...You know, I might have an idea that can solve both of your problems."
"You do!?" Ash turned towards Tracey quickly. "Tell us!"
"Anything!" Bayleef pleaded.
"...I'm afraid I can't. Not just yet." Tracey smiled apologetically. "We've already thrown you into hot water without considering the consequences once. I'm going to run a few things by the Professor first."
Ash and Bayleef both grumbled in frustration, each displaying a matching pout.
It was cute, Tracey thought. They really were alike. He got up from where he'd sat, setting his sketchbook with notes scribbled down facedown. He placed a comforting hand on each of their shoulders. "Just listen to me. The world may be full of mysteries regarding Pokémon. You may have a better grasp than the next person you run into, about your own. And, there may be things about her that you might not yet know!" He smiled at Bayleef.
She exchanged a glance with Ash. Ash nodded. "I guess I learned that today, didn't I?"
"That's right! And, that's okay! Relationships aren't one-and-done when you decide to make one. They're a process! And there are likely all sorts of things you have left to learn about each other!" He raised one finger. "But, the only ones who can define that relationship are you two."
Ash met Bayleef's eyes, and let the tension in him melt. He'd downed a healthy, and somewhat bitter taste of humility. "What about it, Bayleef? Do you think you can forgive me? Are we cool?"
The Grass-type's smile reached her beautiful, ruby eyes. "Of course we're cool! Don't feel bad, okay?" She didn't want to see Ash mope. And so, she slowly backed away, raising her rear.
"Ah-ahh!" Tracey stammered. "No Returns indoors!"
Bayleef stopped, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "I doubt you want to spend even more hours working to compensate him for all of the broken furniture…"
Ash laughed sheepishly. "Maybe not… Let's just settle for a hug!" He opened his arms wide.
Bayleef smiled, and threw herself into Ash's arms, hugging him with her forelegs. "Bay-ay~"
"Ah, young love…" Tracey smiled fondly, before inspiration struck like a Thunderbolt. "...Wait a sec. I could totally sketch this!" He rushed for his pen and pad, committing the reconciliation he'd fostered to memory, before so many lines and shades painted a picture to be remembered.
Perhaps it would be the first of many for a new project they were about to undertake.
The study room of Professor Oak's laboratory was typically abandoned at this time of night. Its two human inhabitants were usually in bed by this hour. The overhead lights were off, but the stubborn golden glow of a tableside lamp illuminated its immediate surroundings.
Tracey sat at that very desk, his flowing hair messy and unkempt. He had a glossary unfolded in front of him, and occasionally brushed dust off the pages, and winced at how it dirtied and dried out his hands. He should go and wash them, but he was trapped in an intense focus. The kind of commitment to your work that persisted, even if your stomach growled with hunger, or when your eyelids felt as heavy as a Snorlax, nudging you towards your baser physical needs.
However, that deprivation made the aroma of a fresh cup of coffee that much more noticeable. Tracey looked up just as a 'click' came with a flick of the study's light switch. Tracey squinted in displeasure. "Was the lighting in here always so bright?"
"Sandshrew from Mt. Moon: The light of Flash confounds them! They scatter and flee." Professor Oak teased, with an edge of mirth in his voice, and a cup of coffee in hand. "Reading under dim light is bad for your eyesight, you know."
"Professor?" Tracey rubbed his eyes, hoping to rid himself of the spots he was seeing. "I would have thought that you'd already be in bed."
"Well, I would certainly like to be," Oak grumbled, "but I have a conference call scheduled in roughly an hour. Why it hinges on the schedules of Aurea and Cedric, I couldn't wager a guess." His lips creased in displeasure. As a hardworking stoic, he wasn't in the business of complaints beyond passive aggression. "I could ask the same of you, but you seem to be hard at work!"
"Ash came by the lab earlier," Tracey replied.
Samuel's dark brow creased in confusion. "Well, that seems to be the case most days, lately."
"He was with Bayleef," Tracey continued. "He expressed concerns over some of the town's more… judgmental residents."
The Professor clicked his tongue sympathetically. "We should have prepared him for this."
"We all were thinking it, I think," Tracey added, "the night of their union. But no one had the heart to dampen their mood… Nor would anything stop Ash, even if we tried to."
"That is his nature," Oak hummed, "as it is Bayleef's. You would have better luck in a bout of fisticuffs with a Machamp. Any attempt to discourage them would only make them dig their feet in further. Nor do I have any interest in doing so. The bonds of humans and Pokémon take many forms. We know this because we spend our days alongside them. Pallet Town…"
"It's generally been supportive," Tracey suggested, "I've heard whispers of endearment towards the pair around town. But the tone often seems to suggest it being a silly phase. Which leads me to believe that they know Ash a lot less well than they might think," he chuckled.
The professor heaved a sigh, and took a seat in the study, sipping from his mug. "Ash has never really been understood by Pallet Town, because his heart reaches far beyond it and its borders. Since his youth, he's loved and dreamed of Pokémon as his friends – as companions. He was more interested in befriending them than the other children, to an extent, even. His eyes were ever forward. Pallet Town, as lovely as it is, is stagnant – disconnected from the rest of the world as it changes. Some of our neighbors have cats, or dogs — even a fish in a bowl! — because they see Pokémon as a mysterious other, or a beast of burden they can't tame."
"That would color their view of Bayleef, I'm afraid," Tracey mulled, cupping his chin.
"In my youth, humans used to fear Pokémon; far moreso than now," Oak explained. "That fear was part of what drove my passion to study them. Through research – through knowledge – we can all become closer to Pokémon."
"That's exactly what I had in mind!" Tracey replied with a smile. There was a glimmer in his eye, more vibrant now that his mentor was on the same page. "This is great timing. As it just so happens, Ash's dilemma just might be just what I need for my doctoral thesis. If I could help a dear friend and get started on that, isn't that perfect?"
"Of course, though you'll want to make sure to let him know that your ends are part of the picture," Oak replied. "Transparency and ethics and such."
"Of course, of course!" Tracey hurriedly agreed.
"More to the point, I'm surprised, Tracey. I was starting to wonder if you'd ever quit procrastinating on that front!"
"It's been… difficult. I've been rotating a this idea in my mind for a while, but the execution seemed so far away…"
"Well, an idea without a plan of action has no legs. But it seems that you've come to the same conclusion." The elderly man took another drink from his mug. "I'm glad I heated up a cup, because I'm going to need it. I have roughly an hour before the conference call…"
Tracey sat up, smiling hopefully. "You mean you'll help me, Professor?"
"You may forget, with how much responsibility you've picked up around here," the professor replied, "but I am still your mentor. Don't get arrogant!" He folded his arms, putting on a stern scowl reflecting authority – one that in his softening elder years, he rarely ever meant. But, it still made Tracey swallow and stand up straight. "I will do my best to advise. Now, let's get to work, shall we?"