(After a tense dinner...)
(In Serena's Room)
Serena's lips formed a tight line as she took in the scene that had materialized in her guest room.
It felt less like her temporary sanctuary and more like a crowded situation room.
All the girls – Dawn, May, Misty, Green, and the surprising new addition, Jessie – were somehow crammed inside, occupying every available surface.
Dawn and May shared the small window seat, Misty leaned against the wall looking thoughtful, Green had claimed the desk chair, and Jessie was sprawled comfortably on the rug, looking entirely at home.
It seemed a 'girls' talk' had been spontaneously convened, entirely without her input.
Her vague, half-formed plans for later that evening involving a certain raven-haired trainer seemed increasingly unlikely.
"Ah... Green-san," Serena began, trying to keep her voice even, though a hint of exasperation crept in.
"Not that it isn't... lovely to see everyone, but could I ask why you've all decided to congregate in my room?"
Green had the grace to look slightly apologetic.
"Apologies, Serena," she murmured, adjusting her glasses.
She leaned forward conspiratorially, though her 'whisper' was likely audible to everyone in the suddenly quiet room.
"It was a bit impromptu. After... well, after everything at dinner with father-in-law's arrival, we felt we needed to discuss... things. Primarily," she nodded discreetly towards Jessie, "our newest arrival. To understand her connection to father-in-law, and, frankly, her potential intentions regarding Ash."
Serena sighed internally.
'So much for a quiet evening. Or my mischievous plans.'
The thought brought a fresh wave of frustration.
'Just when things were getting interesting with Ash earlier... now I'm stuck in a council meeting.'
With everyone present, sneaking out later would be impossible.
'My luck today has been just fantastic,' she thought sarcastically.
Oblivious to Serena's silent complaints, May voiced the question that seemed to be hanging in the air, addressing the newcomer with polite curiosity.
"Um, Jessie-san?" May asked, her tone gentle but direct.
"We were all a bit surprised earlier. Is the story about being adopted by... by Ash's father... accurate?"
Jessie looked up from examining a loose thread on the rug, a knowing glint in her eyes.
"Just Jessie is fine, May," she corrected easily, offering a relaxed smile.
"No need to be so formal, we're practically family now, it seems."
She stretched languidly.
"And yeah, the core story is true. Uncle Red took me in years ago when I was a street kid running scams in Saffron. He saw something in me, or maybe just didn't want me picking his pocket."
She chuckled softly.
"But," she added, her expression turning more thoughtful, "like I said, there's usually more to the story with Uncle Red."
"What kind of 'more'?" Misty asked bluntly, ever direct.
Jessie held up a hand, halting further questions.
"Hold on there. Information is a two-way street, ladies," she countered playfully, yet with an underlying firmness.
"Before I divulge potentially classified state secrets about the elusive Champion Red, how about you tell me your stories? How did each of you end up connected to Ash?"
Her gaze swept across the room, assessing each girl.
"You share, I share. Fair's fair, right?"
A hesitant silence fell.
The girls exchanged glances.
Sharing these stories felt personal, vulnerable.
But Jessie was right; they needed to understand her, and gaining her trust required offering some of their own.
Green sighed, seemingly taking the lead once more.
"Very well, Jessie. A logical proposition."
She straightened in her chair.
"Perhaps I shall begin, to establish... context."
Her usual analytical composure seemed slightly strained.
"My connection to Ash," Green started, her voice carefully modulated, "stems primarily from my grandfather and his relationship with both Professor Oak and... Red."
The other girls leaned in slightly, their full attention now on Green.
They knew so little about her past.
"My grandfather was a prominent researcher," Green explained, keeping her gaze fixed on a point just past Jessie.
"A contemporary of Professor Oak. They shared a complex friendship, often collaborating, sometimes competing fiercely."
"He was brilliant, but... difficult. Especially after my mother..."
She paused, her throat working for a moment before she continued, her voice flatter now.
"My mother passed away when I was young. An accident in Grandpa's lab, they said."
The air in the room grew heavier.
"After that, Grandpa retreated into his work. Became paranoid, obsessive. He rarely left his lab, rarely spoke to me."
"I lived in that big house mostly alone, surrounded by his research and his silence. It was... isolating."
"Then, one day, he was simply gone. Left a note saying he was pursuing vital research and couldn't be followed. And that he had arranged for his old associate, Red Ketchum, to oversee my care via Professor Oak."
"I was devastated, confused, angry... but also strangely relieved to be out of that house."
"Professor Oak was incredibly kind. He brought me here, gave me a place to stay, access to his resources... treated me like family."
She took a breath.
"And that," she concluded, finally meeting Jessie's eyes with a semblance of her usual composure, "is how I came to Pallet Town."
She attempted a wry smile.
"As for the engagement... well, that was less arranged and more... pragmatically requested."
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked softly.
Green averted her gaze again, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
"The initial plan Red conveyed through Professor Oak was for me to be formally adopted."
She admitted quietly.
"But... I refused. I didn't want a substitute family out of obligation. I wanted security, stability, on my own terms."
She looked up, her expression determined despite the blush.
"Given Red's apparent acceptance of responsibility for my future, and knowing Ash was his son... asking Professor Oak to formalize an engagement seemed like the most logical, secure path forward for me at the time. A binding tie, ensuring my place and future support, without the emotional complexities of adoption into a family I didn't know."
Silence followed her explanation.
The girls processed this – Green, young and grieving, making such a calculated, almost cold, decision for her own survival and security.
"Wow," Misty breathed out. "Seriously?"
Serena just stared, her earlier annoyance forgotten, replaced by a complex mix of surprise and newfound respect for Green's past resilience.
Jessie leaned back, regarding Green with a thoughtful expression.
"Okay," Jessie said slowly, a note of grudging respect in her voice.
"Asking to be engaged to the toddler son of the silent legend who was supposed to be your guardian because it was 'logical'... Green, you are definitely playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers."
She gave a slow nod.
"Interesting. Very interesting."
(Meanwhile, in Ash's Room)
Ash lay on his bed, the Rotom phone hovering nearby, its screen dark for now.
The chat with Cynthia and Iris had been a welcome distraction, a brief connection to a different, perhaps simpler, part of his complex life.
But now, the quiet of his room allowed the day's events to crash back in.
He groaned, rolling over to stare at the ceiling again.
Sleep felt miles away.
His mind kept replaying the kiss with Serena.
The surprise, the softness of her lips, the unexpected heat, the way he'd instinctively responded...
He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes.
"That was way too close," he muttered aloud, his voice slightly shaky.
"Way, way too close. I almost..."
He thought about how easily he'd lost control, how his body had reacted before his mind could process the implications.
The memories, the instincts from his past life, they were becoming more integrated, more him, but sometimes they led him towards impulses that felt wrong for his current age, his current situation.
He wasn't just that older dense Ash anymore; he was also this younger version, living this life, and more aware of the opposite sex but, he needed to remember that he is still young.
"Pika-pi. Chu."
Pikachu commented dryly from the foot of the bed, where he was pretending to groom his tail.
(Tch. More like you chickened out. Missed a perfectly good opportunity for some 'character development', as Serena called it.)
Pikachu's tone was teasing, but maybe held a hint of genuine observation too.
Ash shot a glare towards his partner.
"Hey! And who are you to determine if I've 'grown up' or not?!" he retorted, though without real heat, sitting up.
"It's called being responsible! And maybe not wanting to get hopelessly entangled before I even figure out who my dad is or why I have a surprise sister downstairs!"
He sighed, slumping back against the headboard.
"Besides, what do you know about 'character development'? Your idea of growth is learning a new way to steal ketchup."
"Pika!" Pikachu retorted indignantly, puffing out his chest.
(For your information, acquiring ketchup requires strategy, stealth, and impeccable timing! It builds character!)
Ash chuckled despite himself, the familiar banter easing some of his tension.
Having Pikachu back, really back with his memories, had been the single best thing to happen in this strange new timeline.
He looked at his partner, a deep fondness welling up.
"Yeah, yeah, master strategist," Ash conceded with a smile.
"Just... try not to get caught by Mom next time, okay?"
He was about to lapse back into brooding about the day's chaos, but a short, cheerful electronic ringtone from his Rotom Phone on the nightstand interrupted his thoughts again.
It chirped insistently.
"Hmm? Rotom, who is that from?" Ash asked the hovering phone, grateful for any distraction at this point.
"Roto-to! Incoming message detected! It's from PokeCord, bzzt! User @PlatinumBeauty Cynthia mentioned you in the #general_ketchum_chat channel, Roto!" Rotom answered cheerfully, displaying the notification icon.
Ash felt a small, tired smile touch his lips. Cynthia. Probably someone familiar too. A little bit of familiar, structured chaos from his wider circle might actually be welcome right now.
"Okay, open it up, Rotom." Ash said, leaning back against his headboard.
Rotom projected the chat interface into the air in front of Ash. The familiar avatars and usernames appeared.
#general_ketchum_chat
PlatinumBeauty_Cynthia: ...and that's why careful terrain analysis before initiating hyper-offensive strategies is crucial, especially against ground types with evasion capabilities. Right, Iris?
FutureChampionOfUnova - DragonHeart_Iris: Sure, Cynthia, if you have time for analyzing! Sometimes you just gotta hit hard and fast! Like my Haxorus! 💪
PlatinumBeauty_Cynthia: sigh Patience is also a virtue, dear Iris. Speaking of needing patience... @Ash_Ketchum_Official, you awake over there? Feeling a distinct lack of Kanto chaos in this chat tonight.
Ash quickly typed out a reply, a sense of normalcy briefly settling over him as he slipped into the familiar online dynamic.
Ash_Ketchum_Official: @PlatinumBeauty Cynthia Barely awake. And you mentioned me why? Did your Garchomp mistake your research notes for a midnight snack again?
PlatinumBeauty_Cynthia: Ash! You answered! ✨ Excellent! And no, my notes are safe (for now, Garchomp is eyeing them suspiciously). I was just discussing training philosophies with Iris here, and honestly, Undella Town feels unusually quiet tonight. Felt like checking in on my favorite Kanto enigma. 😉 How are things on your end?
Ash_Ketchum_Official: Things are... eventful. Let's just say Pallet Town isn't as quiet as usual tonight either. Met my dad for the first time. And apparently gained a sister. Standard Tuesday. 😑
PlatinumBeauty_Cynthia: Wait, WHAT?! Red finally showed up?! And you have a SISTER?! Ash, details! Now! 😱
FutureChampionOfUnova - DragonHeart_Iris: Whoa, hold on! Red?! Like the Red?! And a sister?! That's way more exciting than terrain analysis! Ash, spill it! And also, long time no talk! When are you coming back to Unova so Haxorus can finally meet your Garchomp?! Stop being a kid and come battle!
Ash sighed internally, but also felt a warmth spread through him at their immediate, concerned (and slightly demanding) reactions. Even across regions, through a screen, their connection felt real.
Ash_Ketchum_Official: @FutureChampionOfUnova - DragonHeart_Iris It's complicated! And maybe after I actually process having a newly discovered family tree? Also, Garchomp says Haxorus needs more drills before he's ready for a rematch! 😜
FutureChampionOfUnova - DragonHeart_Iris: Tch! 😒 Haxorus is PLENTY strong! You're the one being weak! Stop hiding!
PlatinumBeauty_Cynthia: Iris, dear, let him breathe! Ash, ignore her draconic impatience. But seriously? Red? And a sister? Are you okay? That sounds... incredibly overwhelming. Talk to me. Use DMs if you need to. We're here. ❤️
Ash looked at Cynthia's message, touched by her genuine concern peeking through the playful emojis.
Ash_Ketchum_Official: @PlatinumBeauty_Cynthia Thanks, Cynthia. I appreciate it. Yeah, it's... a lot. Overwhelming is a good word. Maybe I'll DM later when my brain unscrambles. Just needed to vent for a second, I guess.
PlatinumBeauty_Cynthia: Anytime, Ash. Remember that. Now, about this sister... 😉
Ash chuckled softly, shaking his head. Even long distance, Cynthia had a way of gently prying while still being supportive.
He typed one last message for now.
Ash_Ketchum_Official: Gotta go try and get some sleep before actual duties start tomorrow. Talk later, both of you. Don't let Haxorus break anything, Iris! 👋
He closed the chat, the projected screen vanishing. The brief interaction had helped, grounding him slightly. It was a reminder that his life, however strange, extended beyond the immediate chaos of Pallet Town.
He leaned back, the conversation with Cynthia and Iris echoing in his mind. Thinking about them, about Unova, Sinnoh, the wider world... it sparked the familiar feeling of restless energy, the call to adventure.
But first, he had to survive whatever tomorrow brought. His father. His sister. The girls next door currently analyzing his entire life.
He closed his eyes again, focusing on his breathing, trying to find that calm center amidst the storm. One thing at a time. Just get through the night.
Maybe.