Champion's Confidant

On Reunions

"We just got word from Lusamine! They found Mohn! Lillie is coming back to Alola!"

Chloe felt her eyes widen and her throat dry out.

'Lillie? Who's Lillie? And why would this Professor be calling to tell Ash about her...?'

Her mind went all the way back to Pallet Town, and the sinking feeling of dread she felt before had morphed into a real fear when the image of that slightly tattered Clefairy Doll sitting on Ash's dresser reemerged.

"Nah, this is a gift from a friend of mine. She left Alola right about the same time I did, and so she gave me this to remember her by."

Ash's words rang in her ears like he had just bashed a frying pan against a ladle.

Either not noticing or not caring, Professor Kukui continued talking.

"So after I got the news, I immediately reached out to Mallow and the others. We think it'd be a great idea for you to Zippy Zap over here to Alola so that we can throw a surprise party for Lillie and make it a huge welcome back for Mohn, too!"

Ash's eyes were wide and excited. "Wow... that sounds awesome!"

"Sure does! Does that mean I can come, too?" Goh asked.

Chloe turned back towards the couch to fully leave the scene.

"Sure, Goh," Ash said with a beaming smile before turning to Chloe who was still slinking away. "Chloe, you're gonna come too, right?"

She froze and swallowed her nervousness. "I-I mean... I wouldn't want to impose."

Ash approached her and took her by the hand before pulling her towards the hologram so that Professor Kukui could get a good look at her. "Professor, this is Chloe! She's a really good friend of mine and I'd like her to come, too. Is that okay?"

Chloe found herself face to face with the image of the Alolan Professor, her cheeks burning pink. Goh chuckled off to the side, and her father seemed to go quiet as well, but all Chloe felt was the Alolan Professor's gaze upon her.

"Ah, I see," came the words as the man's intelligent eyes looked at the girl. While Chloe couldn't read his mind, this did give her a better chance to size up the man. He wore sunglasses over his quick eyes, though Chloe could see them scanning her even behind them. He had a neatly trimmed goatee and a ring on his left hand - he was married. Chloe raised her eyebrows at that. The wide smile that grew across his lips reminded her of the one Ash had... was it something that Ash learned from this man, or was it something they just seemed to have in common?

Kukui gave Chloe a gentle smile. "Any good friend of Ash's is welcome in Alola," he said. "I'm sure Burnet would love having another woman to balance out all the men that are about to be around the house."

Chloe looked over to her father, blinking slowly. "Is... it okay if I go, Dad?"

There was a gentle smile on his face as Professor Cerise stepped closer. "You'll make sure she's safe in Alola, right Professor Kukui?"

"Safer than a Safeguard, more guarded than a Protect!" he said, smiling back.

Ash cheered, throwing his hand into the air. "Alright!"

It was at this time Chloe realized that Ash was still holding her hand and her face heated up even more.

Goh threw his fist in the air as well. "Alright! Next stop, the Alola Region! Let's go!"

As she sat on the plane between Ash and the window seat, Chloe sat with a book open on her tray table and a bundle of anxiety in her stomach. From the time they had spent together near Pallet Town during her spring break, Chloe felt fairly confident in herself in handling herself around Ash, and Ash seemed like he was excited and happy to have her around.