Gotta Catch Some Sun

Author's Note:

Hi...um...long time no see, huh? Yeah...something like two and a half months I think. Many of you are sitting there, wondering whether or not "Lumiose University" has died, I expect. Well, no, it has not. I just got very busy this summer with work and some other personal matters. Still pretty busy, but I don't think we'll get to another two and a half month dark age again. Hopefully not.

Anyways, as you probably can see...this is not LU. In fact, it's a oneshot...set in Alola...in the "Gotta Catch That One" universe. I decided that, considering I'm feeling pretty rusty with the writing right now, I'd do this to get back into it. And, GCTO is my original story, so why not go back into that world. So, this is set about three years after the end of GCTO. So...before the time skip seen at the end of the original story and the "Gotta Tell The News" oneshot.

Hope you enjoy.

Gotta Catch Some Sun:

"Ahhh," Ash sighed in contentment, lying down on the Pikachu-patterned towel he'd laid down next to Serena. As he laid back, putting one arm behind his head, and reaching out the other to take his girlfriend's hand, he looked out towards the ocean where their Pokemon were playing together, along with a few kids who were out with their families.

"I told you Alola would be the perfect place to take a break, didn't I? I'm so glad Professor Oak knew about this place. I can't wait to meet his cousin!" Serena said, turning on her side and looking at Ash with her bright blue eyes, before slipping on Pancham's sunglasses that she'd borrowed.

Ash laughed, looking back at her. It was hot here in Alola, on the sunny beach, but he felt perfectly comfortable lying there with Serena, the occasional ocean breeze cooling them. In fact, Ash hadn't felt this relaxed in about three years, since taking on the Kalos Champion's League, and emerging victorious over the Elite Four and, for the second time, Diantha.

"Yeah, it's good to get away for a little bit. I'll need all the rest I can get before Bonnie comes for my title." He smiled, looking back out towards the beach, watching as Pikachu sprayed the other Pokemon by hitting the water with an Iron Tail attack. "We should recommend Alola to her once she's trained a little more. It looks like there's a lot of cool Pokemon here." He glanced at Serena, knowing she could predict his next words as she'd gone silent. "I wouldn't mind checking it out a little more."

Serena sighed, sitting up and looking seriously at Ash, tilting her sunglasses back up. "You can't leave the Elite Four alone too long, Ash. And I have to get ready for the next Masterclass. Miette seems convinced she's going to beat me this time."

Ash nodded, shrugging at the expected answer. He sat up as well, and the two of them watched the Pokemon for a few minutes. "I miss the adventures," he couldn't help but admit. "I mean, I'm happy to be Champion, and I know I've been doing my best to help Ho-oh with its quest, but..." He trailed off, staring down at the sand in front of him and running his fingers through it.

Serena then gave his hand a light squeeze, shifting closer to him and putting her arm around him. Despite the hot sun beating down on them, the warmth of her being close was comforting. It might have been a freezing cold day, and her closeness was like sitting in front of a fire. "You miss seeing new places. Meeting new Pokemon." She sighed, running her fingers through her honey-blonde hair, which was still a little damp from their swim a few minutes earlier. "I get it, Ash. I feel the same sometimes. Since becoming Kalos Queen, life's been pretty hectic. I miss our adventures with Bonnie and Clemont. But...we still have fun. We still do what we love."

"I know," Ash whispered, squinting as he watched a strange black and white bird Pokemon with a red stripe on its head fly by overhead. "It's just...I used to always be on the go. Going to gym battles, going to contests and performances and looking for new Pokemon. I still get to battle and travel now, but I'm doing it to keep what I've got. Sometimes I wonder why Ho-oh came to us that day. I try to show people how to be with Pokemon and understand them better, but how much can I do if I can't leave Kalos for more than a few weeks?"