Ok, I am going to roll a dice, 1 is Mallow, 2 is Lana, 3 is Kiawe, 4 is Sophocles, 5 is Lillie and 6 is Reroll. And that will decide who is getting swapped with Ash.
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Ash shifted in his plane seat, legs swinging slightly as he watched the clouds pass by through the tiny window. Pichu was curled up in his lap, dozing quietly with his paws twitching every now and then, like he was dreaming of zapping a balloon or something.
He glanced at the digital clock on the seat screen.
"11:05 PM..."
"I'm almost eight," he whispered to himself, a little smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Before he left, Delia had thrown him a tiny, rushed early birthday party with a Pikachu-shaped cake and a tight hug that almost broke his ribs. She cried a little, and Ash had pretended not to notice, even though he'd held her hand for way longer than usual.
'I wonder how everyone's gonna react when they realize I'm not showing up to school,' he thought, leaning his chin on his fist. 'Only Gary, Green, and Yellow know where I went. Maybe I'll ask Gary what people said when I get back… if he doesn't punch me first.'
He gave a sleepy little giggle at the idea.
'Alola's supposed to be kind of… backwards? But I guess it has Z-Moves. And Professor Kukui sounds cool. Still, it's probably too late to change what happened to Mallow's mom… she looked super little in that memory. Four or five, maybe. Wish I could've helped.'
Ash hugged his arms around himself and looked back at Pichu. The little mouse Pokémon made a tiny "pip!" sound in his sleep and rolled onto his back.
Ash smiled. "At least I've got you."
About an hour later, just as Ash's eyelids were starting to droop, he suddenly sat bolt upright—heart thudding, eyes wide.
"Whoaaa—!" he gasped, nearly waking Pichu, who flailed a little before curling back up again.
A huge rush of Pokémon knowledge had just slammed into his brain like a tidal wave. Move data, weird trivia, training ideas, food recipes, everything.
'Gah! I'll never get used to that!' Ash thought, rubbing his head. 'But… that must mean it's midnight. I turned eight. And I got my rewards!'
He blinked, sifting through his new knowledge. 'Wait, I got extra stuff this time… oh! I know how to make those crazy Alolan pancakes that help Psychic-types, sweet…literally.'
He looked around and whispered, "How do I open my storage space again…?"
Okay, open," he muttered, nothing, "Uh… storage?" Still nothing.
Pichu blinked awake and tilted his head. Ash sighed and grumbled, "I feel like it works when I don't think too hard about it. That's kinda annoying."
Pichu climbed up onto Ash's lap, pawing at the air. Suddenly the pocket space shimmered open again. Ash gawked. "You did it just by waving?! That's not fair!"
Pichu beamed smugly, his tiny chest puffing out.
Ash reached inside again, just to make sure he could, and grabbed something soft and squishy. Pulling it out, he stared at what looked like… a little plush PokéDoll shaped like a Cleffa.
He blinked. "I didn't ask for this."
There was a note attached to its foot: [For emotional regulation. Hug during tantrums.]
Ash's eye twitched, "Oh he thinks he's funny…" he gave it to Pichu, and tried again
After a moment of focus, a shimmering ripple appeared in the air in front of him like jelly. Slowly, Ash reached forward. It felt cold and squishy, like sticking his hand into Jello and pulled out a small silver chip and a folded note.
[Hello, you probably already figured this out, but I threw in a little extra in each of your rewards. You'll figure out what each of them does when the time comes. PS: This note will disintegrate once you finish reading.]
As if on cue, the note crumbled into sparkly ash in his fingers.
Ash stared at his now-empty hand, "Huh…That was kinda cool," he whispered.
He tucked the Pokédex chip back into his space and closed it with a thought. Pichu gave a happy chirp and flopped over his shoulder, licking Ash's ear.
"Heh, thanks, buddy. Guess for now I should go through what I just learned and see if there's anything else fun."
Ash leaned back again, opening his mental notes as Pichu curled back up, tail twitching like a sleepy question mark.
—-
Back in Kanto, first day of school…
Gary sat at his desk with his arms crossed and an egg in his lap.
The egg wiggled slightly now and then, warm and smooth under his hands. He wasn't used to sitting still for this long, and the whispers around the classroom weren't helping.
"Where's Ash?"
"Did something happen?"
"Pichu's not here either!"
"Do you think he got in trouble?"
Gary gritted his teeth and stared straight ahead, trying not to snap at someone. 'Why'd you have to leave, Ash? Now everyone won't leave me alone. Gramps better announce it soon or I'll lose it.'
The worst part? Silver and Paul were sitting two rows behind him, and somehow their silent brooding made the whole classroom feel ten degrees colder, i mean at least Silver sometimes acts chill since Green is around, but Paul is just always like that
He glanced down at the egg. 'At least I've got you now...'
He remembered the moment after camp when he'd finally asked Professor Oak for a Pokémon. And, of course, Gramps had only agreed after making him call him "Grandpa." not gramps, Grandpa.
Gary had rolled his eyes so hard it hurt, but he'd done it. And Gramps looked like he'd won the lottery.
The egg in his lap wobbled again, and he reflexively pulled it closer. "Easy," he murmured, rubbing it with his sleeve.
Just then, Professor Oak stepped onto the stage at the front of the assembly hall, tapping the microphone.
"Hello everyone! I hope your summer was refreshing. I know some of you are wondering about the absence of a certain student." he said gesturing to the seat next to Gary
Everyone leaned in.
Professor Oak smiled. "Ash has joined a special exchange program between our school and the Alolan region. He'll return next semester. In the meantime, I'd like you to give a warm welcome to your new classmate, who'll be with us this year."
A small boy with orange hair and a backpack that looked way too heavy shuffled nervously onto the stage.
"U-uh, hi. I'm Sophocles. It's nice to meet you all."
(Author's note: yep got a 4 on the dice so Sophocles was the lucky child, which makes sense I do think he is probably the one that would benefit the most from normal school.)
Gary let out a long sigh and muttered under his breath, "Yep… gonna be one of those years."
—--
(Back to Alola – Ash's First Day)
Ash blinked rapidly as he stepped into the humid Alolan sunlight, Pichu clinging sleepily to the strap of his backpack. The tiny Pokémon let out a tired, "Pii…" before curling up against the fabric again, still trying to adjust to the new time zone. The salty air mixed with the tropical breeze made Ash feel like he'd stepped into a completely different world—and in a way, he had.
He barely had time to soak in the warmth before he was greeted by two very different but equally striking men.
"Alola!" boomed the taller, tanner man with the rainbow-trimmed cap and easy smile—Professor Kukui.
The second one, Samson Oak, gave Ash a firm handshake and said, "Ahh, you must be Ash! My cousin told me you'd be arriving today. Welcome to the Alola Region, young man."
Ash nodded politely, trying not to look too impressed, even though Pichu peeked out and tilted his head curiously at Kukui's shades.
Professor Kukui grinned and reached out a finger to tickle Pichu's chin. "Hey there, little buddy! You ready for a whole lotta sun and surf?"
Pichu chirped back with a pleased squeak, wiggling its ears. Ash chuckled and said, "He'll probably eat more malasadas than I will."
Kukui laughed. "Wouldn't be the first time a Pokémon ran up my snack bill."
Samson clapped his hands once. "Right then, let's not waste too much daylight. Ash, you'll be staying with Kukui while you're here, and I'm the principal at the Pokémon School. You'll be attending class with a few of our other students."
Ash nodded again. "Cool. Uh… is it normal here for schools to have Pokémon battles during lunch?"
Both professors blinked. Then Kukui gave a sly smile, "It is now."
{Inside the School}
The classroom was bright, filled with large windows and tropical plants along the back wall. There were four students sitting in a circle of cushions around a low table, all clearly about Ash's age. When Kukui stepped in, all eyes turned.
"Okay gang, I've got some news!" Kukui said, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Since Sophocles is participating in a student exchange with our friends in Kanto, we've got a new classmate joining us for the semester."
Ash waved a little awkwardly. "Hi. Uh, I'm Ash and this here is my buddy Pichu,"
Pichu gave a wave and sparked his cheeks, as he crossed his arms looking proud,
"Hey, I'm Kiawe," said the shirtless boy in flame-patterned shorts, "Do you like Pokemon battles?"
Ash perked up. "Yeah! I mean, not officially me doing the battling, but i like watching it on TV,"
A green-haired girl with a cheerful grin added next, "I'm Mallow! This is my Bounsweet." She held up the tiny Pokémon, who waved a stubby leaf-arm.
"I'm Lana," said the blue-haired girl beside her, gently patting her Popplio.
The last to speak was a quiet girl with long platinum-blonde hair, nervously brushing a strand behind her ear. "M-my name is Lillie…"
Ash smiled and gave her a little wave, and she relaxed a tiny bit.
Soon, everyone was talking at once.
"Did you see a Nidoqueen in real life?!"
"Do Kanto Pokémon really evolve without dances?!"
"Is it true you almost caught a Zapdos?!" (Ash didn't correct that one. It sounded cool.)
Wanting to make a good first impression, Ash leaned fully into what he called "super cool mode."
"I really like cooking," he said scratching Pichu's ears, "And I also dance a little, like Dragon Dance. And Swords Dance."
Kiawe raised an eyebrow. "You mean your Pokémon do."
Ash blinked. "...Right. Totally."
Pichu face pawed and shook his head. "Pi."
Eventually, Kukui chuckled. "Alright, alright! Everyone will have time to get to know Ash later. For now, let's get started. Ash, since it's your first day, how about you pick what we study?"
Ash thought hard, then asked, "What do you study, Professor?"
Kukui's face lit up. "Moves! Pokémon moves, to be exact. They're the bread and butter of battling, and my job is to figure out how they work, how they evolve, and how trainers and Pokémon can use them better. I study combos, training styles, and Z-Moves."
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a glowing crystal and a strange bracelet. "These are Z-Crystals and a Z-Ring. With one of these, plus a strong bond and the right dance, you can unleash super powerful attacks, Z-Moves!"
"Why the dance, though?" Ash asked, wrinkling his nose. "That feels... kinda weird."
"The dance," Kukui said with a grin, "connects your spirit to your Pokémon. It's more than just a move, it's a bond in motion!"
Ash crossed his arms and thought, 'Or maybe Aura could do that without the silly twirling. Hmm. I'll test it later.'
Pichu, still on his shoulder, suddenly perked up and zapped a tiny spark into Ash's hair.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"Piii," Pichu said with a smirk.
"Alright, alright," Kukui said, barely holding back a grin. "Let's channel that energy into a demonstration. Lana, Kiawe, you two up for a mock battle using some basic move combos?"
"Let's do it!" Kiawe said, springing to his feet.
As the class moved to the small outdoor battle ring just behind the classroom, Ash leaned back on his elbows, Pichu perched comfortably on his chest. Despite himself, Ash felt a grin creeping across his face, maybe he could convince Pichu to start training instead of being a bum all day.
As class ended, Ash blinked. That was it? One class? In Kanto, school felt like it never ended. Here? It felt more like a warm-up.
Kukui clapped his hands. "Great first day, everyone. Go enjoy the sunshine. Ash, feel free to explore the campus with your new friends."
The second they stepped outside, Ash barely had time to stretch before he was surrounded again.
"So, you like dancing?" Kiawe asked, squinting like it was a test.
"And cooking! That's so cool!" Mallow added, eyes bright with curiosity.
"Do you like fishing?" Lana asked with a soft smile, brushing her bangs aside.
"What kinds of Pokémon have you met in Kanto?" Lillie asked, hugging her arms nervously but genuinely interested.
"Okay, okay!" Ash raised his hands like he was under attack. "One at a time!"
Pichu, perched on his shoulder, let out a tiny squeak of "Pii-chuuu!" like he was backing Ash up. The other kids giggled.
Ash puffed his cheeks and exhaled dramatically, pretending to faint from all the questions, which made Mallow and Lana laugh again.
"Alright, for real this time," he began, holding up fingers as he counted off answers. "Dancing? My friend Tierno, he's awesome, fun guy to hang out with. He started a Pokémon dance club, and kinda dragged me to be vice president."
"Cooking? That's my mom. She runs the only restaurant in Pallet Town, She taught me how to cook, and well i've been learning, even if i kinda sucked at it for a while, but i learned…eventually."
Mallow clapped her hands, "Wow, really my family runs a restaurant here too, you should come by one day, we can go now if you want!"
"Maybe, as for fishing, well it's relaxing, but the lakes over in Pallet town usually have nothing but Magikarp in them, there was one time Poliwag got pulled out and slapped me with its tail though…" he said getting a laugh from everyone,
"So, you said you knew Professor Oak?" Kiawe asked, "Well I mean, your Professor Oak, not our Principal Oak".
"Yeah I get what you mean," Ash nodded "Yep! He's like... my neighbor who gives me science homework."
"Do you touch the Pokémon there?" she asked softly.
Ash tilted his head, and gave a small shrug, "I mean, not all of them," he said slowly, "Sometimes I just sit with 'em. They come to me if they feel like it. You don't have to force it, you know?"
Lillie blinked and smiled just a tiny bit.
After that, they chilled under the shade of a palm tree. Kiawe showed off how fast his Turtonator could dig. Mallow gave everyone mini fruit slices she'd packed from home. Lana got into an intense debate with Ash about whether fishing rods should have glittery lures, and Lillie told them about a time a Cutiefly landed on her hat and she didn't freak out…much.
And just like that, days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.
The school year in Alola wasn't like anything Ash expected. Classes were more like talking circles, and field trips happened whenever Kukui had a 'brilliant research idea.' It was more like Pokémon summer camp than real school. He didn't mind. He even taught Kiawe a simplified version of Double Team, and helped Mallow figure out how to use Sweet Scent to attract Comfey for her garden. Even Pichu got in on the fun, occasionally zapping the snacks by accident during cooking practice. Once, the fruit salad had a little 'Pika-sparkle' on it, tangy but edible
The most exciting event? The pancake race he didn't understand the rules, and honestly, neither did Kukui. But it was chaos and syrup and cheering, Pichu wanted to join in hearing that if he won he'd get a bunch of pancakes, but not even a few feet in and Pichu accidentally got stuck inside a pancake for five minutes.
Ash noticed a few things while he was there. Lillie was scared of touching Pokemon, since she never once went near a Pokemon not even Pichu, so that meant the Nihilego incident already happened, which is concerning, also explains why he didn't really see Gladion around
And Lusamine, who visited once for Parent Day, was... really nice. Too nice. Her smile was big, but she felt off almost, and they didn't talk about Mohn, so Ash's best guess was that she wasn't crazy…yet.
Then came the last day: The goodbye day.
Kukui handed Ash a small snack box and a hug that nearly knocked the wind out of him. Samson Oak gave him a fruit necklace and told him to "study hard like a Slowpoke, with purpose."
At the airport, the whole gang showed up, Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, Lillie. Even Bounsweet and Popplio looked kind of teary.
Ash faced them, bouncing Pichu gently in his arms.
"Hey," he started, rubbing the back of his neck. "Come on, don't look like that. I'm not falling into a volcano or anything."
"You're going," Mallow sniffed.
Ash smiled. "I am. But just for now. You know, it's a good thing this hurts, means this friendship was real. So don't think of this as goodbye. Think of it as... 'hello again,' but later."
Lillie dabbed her eyes. "Will you really come back?"
"I promise," Ash said, smiling, "You see, sometimes friends have to go away, but a part of them stays behind with you, so i promise, i'll come back one day, and you better be ready"
Pichu raised both paws with a proud "Chuuu!"
The plane started boarding. Ash gave one last wave, face pressed to the glass, grinning like a kid who knew the best was still ahead.
One more year. Just one more.
And the same was with Pichu, he kept thinking, 'Just one a little longer, then I'll leave.'