2 0|2 : Two Years

The Doduo let out its morning cry, as the sun was rising over the horizon. The awkward cry combined with the demands of his growling stomach, waking Ash from his dreamless sleep. Before even opening his eyes, his nose picked up on the smell of Grumpig bacon and his stomach released a loud protest. Nausea washed over him, refusing to allow him to stand. He groaned in pain, curling up against Pikachu as the thought of food made him sick.

He wished silently that he had eaten something before his nap. "Pika-pi….?" The yellow mouse cuddled deeper against him as it whined, likely afflicted with the same ills. He heard a laugh from behind him, but he couldn't bring himself to move.

"Won't the two of you be getting up to eat? Gary is making you a plate."

Ash snapped at the old man in his misery, "Don't talk about food right now else Pikachu and I may puke on your beloved couch."

The old Professor responded with a chuckle before they heard footsteps leaving. The pair of suffering partners groaned in unison as the smell of bacon grew even stronger and they dug their heads into the pillows to escape the smell. Time passed slowly, but finally, the wave of nausea that assaulted them loosened its hold. With quick speed, Ash scooped Pikachu into his arms and made a dash towards the kitchen. Immediately his hand descended upon the bacon before shoving a piece into both Pikachu's and his own mouth.

They both froze as their mouth was filled with the taste, fighting their reflex to gag. With an auditable gulp, they swallowed the piece of bacon and sighed as their stomachs accepted the tribute.

"That's why you shouldn't skip meals, loser." A warm voice snickered at their struggle from across the counter. The pair paid him no mind, however, stuffing their facing before they grew nausea again. The voice sighed before placing more bacon on the emptying plate.

Before even the next serving was done, the plate had been cleaned of its contents. A content sigh escaping the pair of partners, "You're a life-savior, Gare-bear."

A soft cry of his partner followed. "Pika!"

"Well, you're welcome, loser." Gary smiled softly at his childhood friend and rival's words.

"Umbree!" The cry of his own partner sounding out its greetings as it walked inside with the Professor.

Ash smiled at the Moonlight Pokemon, petting it as it rubbed its head against his legs. "Good morning to you as well, Umbreon." The cat-like Pokemon purred. Ash glanced up at the smiling old Professor with a glare.

"I told you to wake me up after a few minutes, it's been more than a few minutes." The Professor smiled awkwardly at the threatening gaze. He hadn't expected the boy to give up his mask so easily after being in it for a few years. Luckily, a pleading look at Pikachu and his grandson saved him.

"Pikachu." The yellow mouse gaze its trainer, a concerned look that immediately softened his eyes. Gary taking advantage of Pikachu's strike laughed as he ruffled his friend's bedhead more.

"It's not like you can complain about having a good night's sleep."

Ash sighed in reluctance, "You're right I can't complain about it but it doesn't mean I'm happy about being tricked." He really couldn't complain, he felt a lot better after getting some rest. Still, it didn't sit well with him since he had wasted so much time. Every single second was precious to achieve his Pokemon's goals.

"Umbreon." The black Pokemon nodded its head in agreement with his words, making him smile.

"Tch." Gary clicked his tongue at seeing his partner be buddy with his rival. "If Umbreon had been yours, it probably wouldn't have taken her so long to evolve, she's so attached to you."

Ash laughed as the scowl on his friend's face as he pet the purring eeveelution. "Haha, she's attached because your attached to me. If you weren't, she wouldn't give me the time of day."

His laughter ran off into a sigh as he pulled out a chair, pulling Umbreon into his lap while Pikachu perched on his head. "It's good to see you both again."

There was a moment of silence, as Gary sighed as well, a sad smile on his face. "Yeah, we both miss you coming around. It's been quite a long time since we've seen you." Gary didn't tell Ash the whole. How Umbreon and he would stay up late at night wondering if he was safe and doing okay, that they would secretly help keep the League off his friend's back. Nor that they would train his Pokemon left at the lab whenever they were visiting. Ash was extremely important to Gary.

The Professor looked at the sad faces of his grandson and Ash sighing. He really didn't want to bring it up, ruining their reunion, but it was important. "Ash," he paused as the boys turned to look at him, "the League is requesting your presence."

The effect was immediate as Ash's hands clenched into fists while Gary's smile turned into a deep scowl. "What the heck do they want with him?" Another sigh escaped the Professor at the anger and protectiveness laced in his grandson's words. Umbreon and Pikachu shared Gary's sentiment as one growled and the other's cheeks sparked.

"They're requesting his assistance with establishing a League in a small island chain region known as Alola. We only just recently got the idea accepted thanks to the new Professor living there." Professor Oak said helplessly.

Gary raised a brow, "Is that all?"

The old man shook his head, "My cousin works there as the Principal of Alola's Pokemon School, he has ties to the League as well and requested that some participants of League be sent over. Also, there's an organization over there, Aether Paradise, that they want you to help them investigate."

The scowl on Gary's face grew deeper, "And if he refuses?"

The Professor sighed. "They will investigate his actions and involvements with the various 'evil' teams he's encountered, and place his trainer license on probation."

"Of course they will!" Gary shouted, his hands clenched tightly into fists.

A sigh escaped Ash as he heard the 'request' and consequence of refusal. He couldn't fault the League, he had started his journey off rather horribly, and it was rather odd for any trainer to encounter what he had. He had also been the one who foolishly signed a contract with the League to act as an agent. The League caution right now was acceptable as well, especially after Lysandre nearly took control of him. "When is the opening of this new League?"

"Five years." The answer was short, but it filled him with relief. He wasn't only an agent of the League, but also Arceus' Chosen. Likewise, Arceus had already informed him he would need two years to complete his next task. Similar to Greninja, Ash was tasked with ridding the world of the 'vines' that emerged because of Lysandre's plot. However, he would do so in an unknown region which Greninja could not reach. It was both an exciting and exhausting thought.

For the next two years, he would be alone with little to no human contact outside of the small native population living there. And while he was okay with being alone, he wasn't used to it after having traveling companions forced on him time and time again.

"Inform them, I understand. I will be there when I'm called." He said resigned to his fate. Gary's head shot towards him at his response.

"You—!" He started.

"Enough Gary, it is up to Ash to decide." The Professor stopped his grandson before he said something he might regret. Ash never liked it when others questioned his decisions.

"Tch." He clicked his tongue in annoyance, "Idiot. I'll go feed the Pokemon outside." As he said such, he ignored them both, departing towards the outside of the Lab. Ash's shoulder's slumped as his friend's back disappeared, while the Professor sighed for the nth time.

"Forgive him for his behavior, Ash. He's been worried about you for a long time now." Professor Oak explained.

Ash shook his head. "It's fine. I understand. He's the best friend I could ask for." He paused as he released Umbreon, who went to search for her trainer, "Give me two years."

The Professor blinked. "Two years?"

Ash nodded. "I'll be leaving for another two years. Arceus is sending me to a hidden remote region so I'll be leaving my Pokedex. I won't be able to contact either of you."

"Leaving so soon, huh?" The Professor sighed, "Gary will not like that one bit."

"He won't but it can't be helped." Ash raised his hand to scratch his partner's chin. "But in two years I'll come back for him. It'd be great if we could live out that fantasy from young that we travel together."

The old Oak smiled. The two really do care for each other. "I understand. Will you be taking your Pokemon along? Or will you be catching Pokemon there?"

At his question Ash turned to look at him, "Arceus declined that request of mine." The Professor could see the pain in his eyes at the thought of not seeing his Pokemon for a whole two years. "The region is far too remote and old. It's complete wilds over there, and the people that live there are primitive but not like cavemen. I am not to bring any kind of technology from our 'world' there. The Pokemon that live there differ completely from those here and in other regions as well. I'd attract too much attention if I brought a bunch of unknown Pokemon along."

"And Pikachu?" He asked cautiously. The two never separated since they met each other, it'd be cruel of Arceus to separate them now.

The bed-headed boy grinned, "Pikachu can come with me, otherwise I'd have quite the hard time surviving in savage woods. A single odd foreign Pokemon is easier to explain then a team full of them."

The old man released the breath he was holding in relief. That was good. With Pikachu around, he wouldn't be completely isolated. His thoughts paused. "Have you told your mother this yet?"

The boy tensed at the question and seemed to age ten years at the mention of Delia. Samson sighed, of course the boy didn't. "You're not planning on telling her, are you…"

Ash scowled, "As far as she knows I'll be away at Diantha's training camp. It's nothing new, just a year longer."

Professor Oak groaned, "I don't understand this aversion you have towards her."

"Eh, even after all these years?" Ash gave him a lazy smirk, "Then I don't believe you'll ever understand why."

Standing up he stretched, "I'm going to go say my farewells to Gary and my Pokemon, before heading home. See ya later, Professor."