Ash's Secret

Chapter 1: Koharu's Discovery and a Shocking Surprise

Hello everyone! FiresongTheScorbunny is me and FiresongTheScorbunny is now posting the first bit of this story! This is a new Pokémon Fanfic that I thought of a few days ago. Yeah yeah, I know, my dreams are weird lol! This is just the first chapter, told from Ash/Ashly's perspective. Anyways, with all that out of the way, I hope you enjoy reading this story. Now, without further ado, let's take flight.

oOo

I shifted nervously under Koharu's calm but stern gaze. I had kept my secret hidden up until Dawn had found out once by accident and I had kept it hidden ever since that little slip up. But now? I think Koharu has figured at least something out, but I have no clue as to what it could be.

"Listen, Ash," Koharu paused for a moment before continuing, "I've noticed that you've been acting pretty strange lately, my parents, as well as the other Pokémon here in the lab have noticed it too, I'm sure. So spill it, what's up with you?" Koharu said while leaning in close to my face. I sighed softly and stared at her with a calm gaze. I knew that there was no point in keeping it hidden from Koharu, she's already noticed my strange behavior, and if I don't tell her right now, then she'll just keep pressing me for answers until I tell her the truth.

I took a deep breath to prepare myself as I told Koharu everything, from my childhood, to my many adventures, my other traveling companions, and finally, I told her my most well kept secret... mostly well kept anyways. By the end of it, Koharu just stared, wide-eyed, not saying anything. Koharu had just opened her mouth to say something, when Goh and Scorbunny came rushing into the room.

"What's wrong with you two? And Koharu, why do you look like you just saw a ghost?" Goh asked, blinking in confusion while Scorbunny walked over towards me. "Hey, Scorbunny? What are you doing? Now your acting strange too, what's going on with everyone today?" Goh asked while tilting his head in confusion as he crossed his arms and stared at his Pokémon with a raised eyebrow.

Goh called for Scorbunny but the Pokémon was in a trance as it stared at me intently with it's wide red-brown eyes. It was right at that very moment that I realized Scorbunny had figured it out by my strange scent. It made sense though, I had started my menstruation cycle the day before.

"Oh, um, it's nothing important. No need to worry Goh," I had picked up on Dawn's little catchphrase. Goh just blinked and stared at me with a confused look on his face. And after a few more moments, Scorbunny stopped staring at me and went back over to Goh. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come on! Let's go catch some more Pokémon!" Goh exclaimed, running off with Scorbunny following close behind. I sighed softly and shook my head at Goh's eagerness to catch more Pokémon.

Once I was sure that Goh was out of hearing range, I turned back to face Koharu, who still looked a bit shocked. Dawn had had the same reaction when she found out. "Well, now that I think about it... that actually explains a lot of things. But I just have one question, well, actually... I guess I have two questions," Koharu replied with a nervous smile forming on her face. I gave her a reassuring smile and nodded my for her to continue speaking

"Well, first off, is your name really Ash? Or is that just a nickname?" She asked me. I smiled widely at her in response. "It's just a nickname, my real name is Ashly," I said and Koharu nodded her head. "That's a cute name, anyways, my second question is... would it be ok if we tell my parents?" She asked me. I thought for a moment before I nodded my head and together, the two of us made our way back into the kitchen where Koharu's mom, Talia, and Professor Cerise were chatting with Koharu's younger brother, Parker. However, they all looked up when we entered the room.

"Hi you two, what's up?" Koharu's mother asked, tilting her head to the side curiously. "Oh, um, there's something that we need to talk to you about," Koharu said, shifting nervously and fidgeting with the hem of her school uniform as she looked up at her parents.

"What is it?" Professor Cerise asked the two of us with the same look on his face that Koharu's mother had. I was the one who answered this time, "Well, you see... to be completely honest with you, I'm not really a boy. I'm actually a-" but before I could finash my sentence, Goh yet again came bursting into the room. I gave an exasperated sigh, rolling my eyes at Goh's horrible timing.

"Come on, Ash, what are you waiting for?" Goh asked me with a small frown and a raised eyebrow. I could tell that he was starting to get a bit impatient as he stared at me with a confused look on his face.

I sighed softly and shook my head while staring straight at Goh, who was still waiting for my answer. "I'll be there in a sec," he opened his mouth to speak but I spoke up before he could say anything. "I just need to talk with Professor Cerise and then I'll catch up with you," I replied, motioning with a hand for Goh to wait for me outside.

Goh opened his mouth to say something but Koharu spoke up before he had the chance," Please just wait for him outside, Ash will catch up with you in a few minutes," she paused to glance over at me before turning back to face Goh. "And don't ask any questions, it's a personal matter. Now just go do something until we've finished our discussion," Goh took one look at Koharu's expression and nodded his head, quickly leaving the room to let his two friends speak with Professor Cerise in private.