Aʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ Wᴏʀʟᴅ

The End of the Alola Journey

Ash

"Goodbye!" shouted Mallow, waving to me as I prepared to step onto my plane. "We'll miss you," grunted Kiawe. "Yes! Thanks for everything!" squeaked Lillie, looking like she was trying not to cry. I stepped forward and gave her a hug, which she wasn't expecting. Lime green eyes met amber, filled with gratitude. "This is probably my last journey," I said slowly, the sadness of the realization burning in my eyes. "So I should celebrate it with a... trip. Around the world," my mourning smile started to morph into one of happiness. "A trip!" gasped Mallow, looking giddily at Kiawe. He smiled back softly. "It's just too bad that Lana and Sophocles can't join us," mentioned Lillie. "Hmm," the four of us stared at the Alolan sunset.

"Can we come too?" piped a familiar voice. I turned around and saw Dawn standing behind me, her bright grin piercing through my soul. She stepped aside and I saw all my previous traveling companions, beaming at me. Tears filled my eyes and trickled slowly. "This is the best reunion ever," I breathed, rushing forward and hugging the first person I'd ever traveled with. Misty's bright orange hair shone in a similar light, her green-blue eyes glittering. Her ten-year-old features had changed into that of a beautiful sixteen-year-old. Her body was enviable and she still had the same pale skin as when I had first met her. "Ash," the Cerulean City Gym Leader was tall, almost taller than me. She rested her head on my shoulders. "It's been so long," Next I darted to the person I'd traveled with the longest. Brock was now maybe 6 '2, with the same spiky black hair and squinted eyes. I gave him a warm hug and then rushed to pull May into an embrace.

Like Misty, the daughter of a Gym Leader had grown up to be a gorgeous young woman. She was still petite, maybe 5 '5, but her blue eyes shone a little brighter, her chestnut hair longer and curled into waves. May's clothing was more sophisticated, a black top with flowy mesh sleeves, white jeans, and tall heels. "I really missed you," I muttered, kissing the girl I considered my sister on the cheek. Then I bent down and hugged Max. He was now thirteen, but still adorable. He had the same blue hair and no resemblance to his sister but was taller and thinner. He still had glasses and shorts on, even after six years. And there stood Dawn. She was radiant, even bare-faced. She had on a black minidress and the same dark velvet stilettos as May. Her long deep-sea hair flowed down her back in cascading curls, her lips and cheeks touched a pretty shade of red. She had pale skin and a curvy yet thin figure that was accented in her dress, and her eyes glowed navy. The most noticeable thing was her height, however. She must have been 5 '7, only three inches shorter than me. "God, Dawn," I gulped. Pikachu let out an excited shriek and leaped onto her shoulder. She giggled lightly. "I've missed you too, Pikachu. And you too, Ash," Cilan and Iris also exchanged fond gestures with me, but in the end, remained holding hands. I was starting to suspect something going on between them.

Bonnie and Clemont still shared the same lemon hair and vibrant blue eyes, but Clemont had lost his lightning-bolt spike on his head and Bonnie was no longer a little girl. Serena had grown like May, Dawn, and Serena, her personality too. She greeted me with a nod and kissed me on both cheeks like she'd forgotten about her crush and done it just because it was a Kalosian custom. "I'm dating now," she blushed, motioning to a tall, thin young man. "This is Calem," I bowed to him respectfully and finally reached the others. "Drew," I shook hands with the handsome man. "I suppose you're May's boyfriend?" the green-haired boy nodded. My amber eyes darkened. "You'd better take care of her, or else you'll have to learn how to swim across the ocean real fast," I nodded towards the churning evening waters of Alola. "Don't worry," he grunted. "She's safe with me," "Ash! I'm not a baby anymore," May grumbled. "But you'll always be my protégé," I reminded her. The brunette giggled and pecked me on the cheek.

"So," I mentioned, wiping tears away from my eyes. "We're going around the world. But what about the hotels and cruises and planes?" "Well...we did save Kanto from Team Rocket," said Misty. "And Hoenn from Team Magma and Aqua," "And Sinnoh from Team Galactic. We also saved a Shaymin," "Shaymin?" said Mallow in surprise. "Yep," replied Dawn. "Cool," the green-haired girl released her own Shaymin. Dawn smiled sadly. "How I miss that Shaymin. I wonder how it's doing," she stared up at the sky. "Same with Manaphy," a single tear traced its path down May's cheek, and Brock and I pulled her in for a hug. "I'm sure they're both fine," Cilan spoke up, Iris nodding in agreement. "And we saved Unova from Team Plasma," she said. "And Kalos from Team Flare," "And Alola from...er...Ultra Beasts!" piped Kiawe. "So I'm guessing we'll get free stuff like, everywhere," emphasized Serena.

"That's a good idea," I admitted. "Hey ticket man!" shouted Brock. "When does the last cruise leave to Kanto?" "There ain't none to Kanto," the hooded man replied. "How about to Hoenn?" tried May. "Left ten minutes ago," he grunted. "You kids are a waste a' my time," he turned to leave, but Misty, May, Brock, Iris, Cilan, Max, Serena, Clemont, Lillie, Kiawe, Mallow, and Dawn rushed to him. "Do you know who you're talking to?" gasped Misty. "I'm the leader of the Cerulean City Gym!" "And I am of the Opelucid Gym!" "The Striaton Gym!" fired Cilan. "The Pewter Gym!" "I'm the daughter of Petalburg City Gym Leader Norman and Hoenn Top Coordinator!" "My dad's Norman too!" "Top Inventor of Kalos!" "My father owns Aina Cafeteria!" "My grandfather was the Island Kahuna of Akala Island!" "My mother's the founder of the Aether Foundation!" "I'm the Kalos Queen and daughter of famous Rhyhorn Racer Grace!" "And I'm the Top Coordinator of Sinnoh and the daughter of a previous Top Coordinator of Sinnoh!" "TAKE BACK YOUR WORDS THIS INSTANT!" the twelve teenagers thundered. "Sorry. No can do," he grumbled, preparing to leave.

"But you can't say no to the Alola Champion, can you? Who defeated Tapu Koko?" I drawled slyly. "Too many famous kids," he groaned. "Fine. Take the private cruise boat to Hoenn. I'll get Henry to drive you," then the ticket man stumbled off to get a man in a white uniform with gold epaulets. "Hello!" Henry saluted them respectfully and whistled sharply. A silver cruise boat was driven into the harbor and the sixteen companions boarded up the wooden plank. Henry barked to his crew in sharp Kalosian and the door closed. "Ready?" he asked in perfect English. "Then let's go!" he got into his cockpit and the cruise boat zoomed off to Max and May's home region.

Wow. Has anyone realized how many titles these people would have if they fulfilled their dream? Top Coordinator...Kalos Queen...Inventor...Pokémon Master...and lots and lots of Gym Leaders. Hope you liked the reunion and idea of the story! See ya in the next chapter!