You Don't Have To Be Alone: Satogou X Paldea AU

Part 1

Goh stepped through the gates, looking all around him as he walked through the crowd. He'd never been to Paldea before, but he barely thought of all the new Pokémon he could catch here, only glanced from one side to the other, searching for the person he'd been wanted to see so badly.

Goh's heart skipped a beat as he caught sight of a boy with a red hat and a Pikachu on his shoulder. Looking a bit closer, he could see that this was definitely who he was looking for. The boy was looking in all directions, but he hadn't yet seen Goh and Grookey.

It's Ash. He's right there right there right there.
Goh felt like he was frozen in place as Ash
glanced his way again, this time catching his gaze.
The expression of joy that flared across Ash's face made Goh's heart feel so full of happiness and life that he thought it might burst. He wanted to make Ash smile like this every day to let him know he was cared for and wanted (and something else Goh didn't dare put into words). Ash made his way through the sea of people over to his friend, finally stopping about two feet away.

"Hi, Goh- whoa-!" Goh had run forward and wrapped his arms around the other boy, not wanting to let go.

Ash looked surprised for a minute, but soon he, too, hugged his friend tightly. Goh looked up at Ash, laughing and not crying (not crying) as Ash smiled back at him. He let himself be fully enveloped in Ash's hug, in his cool skin and mysterious personality and beating heart. It was at that moment that Goh realized why he'd felt so empty in the last few months- Ash hadn't been with him. There was no way Goh was going to let that happen again. Not on his life. He drew in a quivering breath.
"I missed you so much."
--------------------------Ash POV------------------------
The two boys walked through the streets of Artazon, talking about everything that had happened over the past months they'd been apart, and more importantly, why Ash had told Goh to come to Paldea.

"So...is there any reason in particular that you called me all the way over here, Ash?" Goh joked. Because I missed you, you idiot. Ash thought ruefully. He'd regretted leaving Goh almost two weeks after they'd parted ways. He'd wished he'd said something...so when he found a professor trying to find out what was happening with the Pokémon in Paldea, he jumped on the chance to ask Goh to come.

"I...I need your help with something. So, this region has recently had new, unknown Pokémon just randomly popping up all over, some have even been spotted around here." Goh nodded, inviting him to continue.

"So I went to check it out, and Pikachu and I searched all around the outskirts of Artazon. And we did find..." He hesitated. "We found...something." Goh peered at him suspiciously. "Ash, what'd you do?" "Nothing. nothing! I just don't know what it is exactly. Come on, I'll take you to it."

Ash led Goh to a small gathering of trees near the very edge of town, Pikachu at his heels. When they reached the trees, Ash darted over to some bushes and began to nudge them. "Not this one... not here...dang it, where was it..." He muttered. "Ah, here!" one of the bushes fell away to reveal a purplish-black object a few inches above the ground. "Whoa... what is that?" Goh asked in awe. "I don't actually know." Ash admitted. "But it looked like one of the timespace rips that Dialga and Palkia made, so I stayed around for a while to see if any Pokémon came out...none did, though..."

It had been very hard for Ash to stay still and watch the strange portal for so long...it had been so boring. Goh blinked at him for a moment. "... You just... found that? That's why you brought me here?" He said slowly. "And... you didn't lead with that when you called me?!" "Oops...um. Should I have?"
Ash asked.

Goh sighed. "I don't know why I bother..." He reached out and waved one hand in front of it, then pulled back almost immediately. "Ugh." He shuddered. "It feels just... wrong." "Right?" Ash agreed. "Sort of like a zap! You know?"

He told Goh, who gave him a weird look, then snickered. "What?" "Nothing." Goh assured. "I really missed you." Tiny sparks of happiness ran all along Ash's body at this comment. He missed me. Just like I hoped he would. "...So, do we just cover it back up?" He asked. "Cover it-?! Ash! No, we go and find someone who knows about it." Ash's eyes widened. "Oh, I know someone! I met them around here a day or so ago." He said as Pikachu poked at the portal behind Goh. "Wait, what? And you didn't tell me about that either? Ash!" Goh said in exasperation. "Oh. Uh...heh, sorry..." Ash said sheepishly. "Aaaash... you have to tell me these things..." Goh sighed, covering his face with his hands. (though he was smiling). "PI, PIKA!" A cry of surprise from Pikachu made Ash and Goh snap to attention. "Pikachu!" Ash cried. The little electric mouse pokémon was in an attacking Position, all its burning energy focused on something that had appeared from the object.

"A Pokémon!" Goh cried. It was a Jigglypuff, but one unlike any Ash had ever seen before. Its pink tuft of hair was larger than usual, and seemed to be styled in a strange way. Its eyes were a brownish-amber, its fur messed up as though it'd just been in a battle.

Is that one of the Pokémon she talked about? But that would mean...this is where they're coming from! Goh peered at it curiously. "I've never Seen a Jigglypuff like that before. Do you think that's its Paldean form?" He asked Ash, pulling his Rotom Phone from his pocket. "There is no recorded data for this Pokémon." The Pokédex rang out.

"Goh," Ash said. "I think it's-" Goh had already thrown a Pokéball at it. The ball curved slightly before coming before an inch of hitting it, and the Pokémon's eyes flashed for a split Second before it whirled around, hissing. The Pokéball was smacked back so forcefully that the sheer impact cracked it.

"Uh-!" Goh gasped in surprise, grabbing Ash's hand in a way that seemed instinctive- his gaze never left the Pokémon. It leapt backward, opening its fang-filled mouth, and screamed. This wasn't any normal Jigglypuff cry. This was a high, shrieking sound like claws against a chalkboard; no one could ever fall asleep to this.

"Pikachu, Iron Tall!" Ash shouted, and the little yellow Pokémon lunged toward the Jigglypuff and slashed its glowing tail against the other Pokémon's head. It staggered back, momentarily dazed. Goh took this opportunity to hurl another Pokeball at it, this one making direct contact and trapping the Pokémon. He stepped forward, picking up the ball and turning it over in his hands.

"What was that?..." suddenly, Goh looked down at their hands, still clasped. To Ash's disappointment, he quickly pulled his hand away, blushing fiercely. Aw... "Er-sorry, Ash..." He apologized looking mortified. "No, it's okay!" Ash assured him. "I...I mean, it's no problem at all." There was an awkward silence for a moment or two. "... Who did you say knows about that thing you found?" Goh finally asked. "Do they know what kind of Pokémon that is?" Ash grinned sheepishly. "Ah-heh...well, I haven't exactly told you everything yet..."