158 Jhoto

The month of January was spent meeting actors then going to Alola to have a well deserved vacation. Alola was fun for them mostly, Ash, Gou, Chloe, Misty and Brock met up with Kiawe, Mallow, Sophocles, Lana, Lillie and Gladion. Meeting Lillie's mom was quite an experience, she was like a hurricane rushing from one place to another. The most hilarious part was watching Brock try to flirt with her only to realize Lusamine had already left.

Ash snickered to himself just remembering Brock's dejected face, it was too funny to not laugh. There was a bit of a hiccup when Tapu Koko approached him at night in his private room in the hotel. That sounded so wrong to even think about, yikes! Tapu Koko visited out of curiosity about the Aura Guardian that was visiting Alola for a while. The Alola island Guardian had talked to Lugia during the last meeting between the Alpha Legendaries and his fellow island Guardian had spoken of the young Aura user. He had visited to see the young child for himself only to have a water gun, flame thrower and vine whip thrown at his face.

Ash had woken up from his sleep at the screeches thanking silently the sound proof rooming. It had taken a while to calm all the Pokemon down but after a few minutes they were all sitting in the room, Ash's Pokemon surrounding him facing Tapu Koko suspiciously. The island Guardian looked amused rather than annoyed by the attacks and waved the apologies off before looking at Ash up and down. The conversation that followed was enlightening to say the least, Yellow had already told him about the negative effects of using too much aura. To have a Legendary berate him in a similar manner, kind of drove the point home.

Ash, 'Who knew having a Legendary look at you with worry would be the same as parents looking at a child with worry? But then again considering their age, I guess most of us are no different from being children in their eyes.'

Ash looked at the three crystal neck piece, the Island Guardian had given him before he disappeared over the horizon. At first he thought it was an evolution stone but on a closer look Lucario explained it was a balancer. The crystal was to help Ash regain his balance again after the forced awakening and usage of aura. There was a good reason the youngest user was fifteen and most users were adults, the usage was draining and borderline fatal.

Ash winced remembering how close it had been for him, 'At least I have this to help me now.'

Misty, "Okay! Before I leave for Orange Island. Where?"

Gou, "Huh?"

Chloe, "She means the neck piece Ash. Where did you get it?"

Ash touched the crystal, "Tapu Koko gave it to me."

Brock looked at him both ecstatic and worried, "What? The Alola Guardian? Did he want something?"

Ash shook his head, "He didn't say anything if he wanted something, but he told me I was out of balance and it was dangerous. He basically told me what Yellow did before giving me this."

Gou frowned, "Ash... If Tapu Koko is worried about your condition then."

Ash, "He said it would help me heal faster and I'll be back to normal soon."

Misty didn't look convince, "Ash, you sure?"

Chloe took a breath when he nodded, "OK!"

Brock, "Huh? Just like that?"

Chloe, "Well think about it guys, the Legendaries have worked and communicated with Aura Guardians longer than any of us even knew they existed. If anyone can help Ash, it's them. Also after the trouble you went through for them just a few months ago, it's the least they could do."

Ash chuckled when Chloe huffed, "You are right. So are you ladies all packed?"

Misty grinned, "We are just waiting for Serena, we promised her mom, she could journey be with us. Kalos' trainer's age limit is fifteen which is still one year away."

Gou mumbled, "From what I heard they are planning on making it sixteen, after what happened in Ambrette town."

Chloe scowled, "They were attacked by people who called themselves, Team Flare. Do you think that's the real reason Grace is bringing Serena here."

Brock, "It could be, the tension is high in Kalos after that attack that killed thirty people last week."

Misty sighed, "We, or rather I told Grace, we would help Serena train her three Pokemon up, which are Starmie who evolved from Staryu last month, a Ponyta, she was gifted by her cousin and a Fletching that apparently decided she was her trainer, no one else."

Gou snickered at the last part, "I think I see them."

Misty perked up, "Serena!"

Chloe, "Over here!"

Serena rushed towards them, "Girls! Guys! I'm here!"

Ash, "Good to see you again."

Serena beamed, "It's great to be here. And even better I get to go on a journey. How cool is that?"

Gou grinned, "Very! I remember when my mom finally said I could go on a journey as well. I could not sleep at all."

Chloe grumbled →_→, "And kept me up in the process with all his messaging."

Gou struck his tongue out, "You were awake too. If you saw all my comments instead of putting your phone on sleep mode."

Chloe rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah!"

Misty heard the ship horn, "Come on girls! Our ride is here."

Serena, "My journey begins. Wow hoo!"

Grace, "Bambi!"

Serena gave an oomph as she was hugged, "Mom! Stop! Not infront of my friends."

Grace laughed, "Sorry Bambi, it's just you are going on a journey. Your Dad would be so proud."

Serena teared up a bit before shaking her head and giving a confident smile, "And I will make him more proud. I heard their Orange Archipelago's twentieth Pokemon contest season is starting up this week. I am taking part in it, while Misty is going the gym route and training with Lorelei."

Delia, "Ash, sweetheart, while in Jhoto, drop in at Silver's place, would you?"

Ash beamed, "Of course mom. We were planning on it."

Gou, "Yeah, maybe we can convince him to travel with us."

Brock nodded, "I'm pretty sure he won't be against that. Silver adores the two of you."

Gou, "Eh he he he! Really?"

Chloe, "We should get going."

Ash nodded, "Safe journeys girls. I think Melody said she'll join you on your trip too."

Brock, "Have fun!"

Professor Oak joined them after the girls had left, "Ash the young trainee that you had applied to guide has arrived here."

Ash, "Max is here?"

Gou, "Max? Oh the one from the Polytech school."

Max ran up to them grinning, "Guys! I'm here."

Brock, "Hello there Max, it's been a while."

Gou grinned, "Yeah."

Samuel, "Ash, I have a favor to ask. Do you remember this?"

Ash blinked at the familiar ball, "That's... "

Gou, "The Gold - Silver ball."

Samuel nodded, "Correct and the favor I require is that, I need you to bring this with you to Professor Bert."

Max, "Isn't he the one who developed the latest pokeballs?"

Samuel laughed, "Yes, yes he is. So Ash, would you do this old man a favor?"

Ash, "Of course Professor, we were planning on visiting him anyway. I have been curious about the difference between normal pokeballs and the special pokeballs. I mean cherish and heal balls are obvious but the others."

Gou, "Oh yeah, you won a set back on the ship."

Brock, "Yeah, I get what you mean. We can capture Pokemon after battling them too. So why the special set for certain types?"

Samuel nodded, "Indeed, you will learn that and more. Safe journey kids."

Ash, "Bye mom! Bye professor!"

The group waved farewell to the adults before heading towards Jhoto region. Ash thought about how different things were for him from the anime and grinned, he would not have it any other way.

Max, "That's the poke egg you won in the Grand Festival, right?"

Ash smiled, "Yes, yes it is."

Max, "So what Pokemon is it?"

Ash, "They didn't say and honestly I kind of want it to be a surprise so I don't mind."

Lucario, -Surprises are always fun.-

Eevee nodded, "Vui."

Abra was napping inside Ash's bag while Pikachu kept Eevee company by running around on the path. The little pup was easily excitable and full of energy, Max cooed over the two baby Pokemon. The group shared stories about how they met their starters getting wide eyes from the young boy who was vibrating in excitement.

Max, "That's so cool! So Ash, you and Gary met your starters as a poke egg, Gou and Chloe met his starter in the wild, Misty's starter was a rescue, and Serena and Brock's starters were gifts, given by Misty and Brock's dad. I wonder what my starter would be."

Cinderace grinned patting the young boy, "Ace, cinderace."

Lucario, -He is right, just let it be a surprise.-

Brock snickered, "Your Dad could also give you a Grimer."

Max made a face, "Uhhhh?"

Gou, "Koga's starter was a Grimer right?"

Ash nodded, "The strongest Muk in Kanto."

Max, "Oooh! I remember watching his previous battles recording. They were awesome."

Ash grinned as they crossed the border between Jhoto and Kanto without any of the legal problems. There papers and ID were all in order and soon they entered the Jhoto region officially.

Gou, "New region, here we are!"

Max, "Yeah!"

Brock, "We should get registered first."

Ash, "Breeder competition like last time?"

Brock, "That and I'm also officially registering as an on field medic."

Gou, "I'm still registered as an OFRH, an On Field Researcher and Helper, in simple words an information collector for Professor Sakuragi."

Ash, "What about you Max?"

Max, "Me? Um.... I am not sure."

Ash, "It's okay if you are not sure. There are lots of things you can do."

Max smiled, "Are you going to take up coordinating and gym battles again?"

Ash, "You bet! It's fun after all, coming up with new strategies and combinations. Not to forget, it lessens the tension."

Gou, "Between trainers and coordinators?"

Max, "Is it that bad?"

Brock sweat dropped remembering a few fights, "It can be, yes."

Max, "Huh... I see the Pokemon centre!"

Ash, "Let's get registered and get a place for the night."

The registration went without a hitch for them and seeing it was not completely dark yet, the group decided to check the town out. The town was close to New Bark town, where they would be visiting Professor Elm so that Gou could drop off a packet from Professor Sakuragi. It was a pretty peaceful and old fashioned town with old Japanese style houses and stalls. Brock was reading out from a pamphlet, the town was pretty famous for its honey based candies also known as Senjaku or Manuka, depending on how it's made. Senjaku was more on the medical side then Manuka, and given to kids who would have throat problems.

Brock, "We should get a pack each."

Gou, "They honestly sound delicious and isn't this town famous for its Apiary fields?"

Max, "It is, mom loves the honey that comes from here. She always orders a carton and uses it on desserts and tea a lot instead of sugar."

Ash smiled as they talked, 'Peaceful.'

Lucario nudged him, connecting with him, -He's sweet.-

Ash, 'And let's hope he stays innocent and nothing happens to destroy it as long as we are here.'

Lucario, -Melody had quite a shock but she also looked like she expected something to happen.-

Ash nodded watching Abra, Eevee and Pikachu run around them, the poke egg secure on his front. Despite receiving curious looks, no one in town had bothered them much and were very polite to them. Ash half wondered if Jhoto would be the Japan of Pokemon world, he remembered the country was known for politeness. It would be very interesting to observe and learn, he decided. They entered a traditional looking shop and checked the menu that had rice, nori, furikake, tsukudani, soup, pickles, salad and various meat and vegetable dishes. The waiter that approached them to get their order was dressed in the traditional Japanese waiter clothing. Ash had always suspected Jhoto gave a more Japanese vibe then Kanto, he didn't expect to notice so early.

The dinner they ordered was the traditional dinner, plus drinks with extra chopsticks to use. The Pokemon received more fruits and berries then the humans did and there was a funny moment with Pikachu trying to use chopsticks. The yellow Pokemon gave a sheepish laugh when he dropped the chopsticks and Ash told him to eat normally and promised to get chopsticks the right size for him. Pikachu perked up at that and settled down to eat only for Abra to inquire if he could get one too, Ash agreed to get a set made once his evolution and growth was complete as any chopsticks he made now would be of no use for the evolved version. The psychic Pokemon shrugged at that but agreed before eating his food.

Gou, "You spoil them."

Ash, "They are my babies."

Brock snorted, "Makes you wonder how spoiled your human baby will be in the future."

Max was just looking at then with starry eyes, "I can't wait to have my own Pokemon."

[A. N.: I absolutely hate being sick with the flu! I can't focus on work or enjoyment. The songs I love grate on my nerves, the computer screen give me a splitting headache and food taste like sand.

Absolute torture!

Sorry for the rant and long wait but I have been sick with the bug and it sucks. The Doctor said I'll be okay in a few days so that's good I guess.

Hope you all are doing okay. Till next time my lovely readers!]