pokemon Fighting Dreamers

Bea woke up early in the morning, feeling light as a feather, all that pressure, all those problems, they just vanished, it had been a long journey up to that point, but it had all been worth it, now she could finally start her new life. Her new life with Ash. Bea jumped out of her bed and the first thing she did was search for the orange-white dress Gloria gifted her, it was their first day together, she had to make it special.

"But what if he doesn't like it?" she asked herself with the dress on her hands, kinda funny, she didn't care about her appearance that much until she met Ash. "I-I mean he liked it last time, but shouldn't I buy something new to surprise him? ...hmm, it's not like I know about fashion, but I need to look good for...my boyfriend." Bea blushed and giggled after hearing herself saying those last words, she decided that the best she could do was ask Cinderace for help, so she put on her hairband and she did so, the rabbit came out the Premier Ball expectantly, after all, Bea didn't call her last night so she didn't know what happened, but then she looked at Bea, that wide smile that sparked joy said more than enough, that sight relieved her so much.

"Well, it looks like things played out better than we expected." Cinderace returned the smile. "but why are you so happy, uh?"

"Oh, I don't know." Bea laughed a bit. "Mayyyybe someone just...got a boyfriend."

"...What?!" Cinderace shouted after processing that.

"Yes!" Bea assured with excitement.

"W-When?! D-Did you-?!"

"He did it! I-I told him everything, he forgave me and accepted me despite all that and then... T-Then he asked me to be his girlfriend and I obviously accepted! This is...this is really going to work out, Cinderace!"

"Saito...Saito, I'm so happy!" Cinderace jumped to hug her and Bea hugged the rabbit as well. "I'm so so so proud of you, I knew you could it."

"I owe this one to you." Bea answered. "If you...if you hadn't pushed me all those times I probably would've still keep it hidden."

"It's alright, it's alright." Cinderace patted her head. "You were the one who decided it was enough, and for that, I'm proud...my little baby is all grown up, she's got a boyfriend and everything, I promise I'll take care of your kids so you two can spend more time alone, they're gonna love auntie Cindy!"

"R-Right!" Bea blushed as she imagined the scene for a moment and then tried to calm herself. "Uh, actually, I was going to go and see Ash right now, but... I don't know, I want to use this dress I used in our date at Motostoke, but I'm not sure if he'd like it."

"You're seriously worrying about that?" Cinderace giggled at her. "Bea, listen to me, that boy loves you and you know it, I'm sure he'll think you look beautiful anyway."

"You think so?"

"I know so!"

"Thanks, Cinderace." Bea smiled at her. "Fine, I'm taking the dress."

"Go for it, Bea!" Cinderace cheered on. "Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go!"

"Ok, I get it." Bea stopped her.

"Wait, I need to reach the 21 or I'll feel like I failed." Cinderace took a deep breath. "Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, gooooo!"

A few minutes later.

Now with her dress on, Bea went to Ash's room along with Cinderace, the girl took a deep breath to calm her nerves as she stood outside of the door. "First day as a couple, don't freak out, it's gonna be great." She said to herself, Bea then knocked the door three times and waited, but nothing happened, not even a sound, so she supposed Ash was still sleeping, happened sometimes. "Wake up, sleepyhead." Bea called in a playful tone. "The greatest good you're ever gonna get is right here waiting for you." Once again, no life sign was heard. "Ash?" Bea knocked the door again as she started to worry. "Ash, are you there?"

"Hmm...let me try something" Cinderace used her ability to change her Type into ghost and walked through the door opening it from inside for Bea, the girl then entered and looked around, quickly noticing neither Ash or his Pokemon were anywhere to be seen.

"He's...not here?"

"Maybe he's just out training." Cinderace said.

"His backpack is not here either." Bea replied worried. "H-He took all his things." Bea then took her Rotom Phone and called Ash several times, but every time the call was cut. "H-He's not answering, this isn't... C-Cinderace, did he-?"

"Hey, don't jump into conclusions." Cinderace tried to calm her down. "Ash would never leave you like that."

"A-And why wouldn't he...?" Bea started to cry a little. "A-After all I did, a-all those trouble I caused him, I-I should have know it wouldn't be that easy."

"Bea...Come on, you can't just give up." Cinderace continued.

"But he..."

"If he really left...then we'll find him and we'll make him change his mind!" Cinderace suddenly took Bea's arm and guided her to the reception of the center.

"N-Nurse Joy." Bea talked to her after Cinderace pushed her to do so. "Please excuse me, have you seen Ash Ketchum?"

"Oh? Yes, indeed, he left pretty early in the morning." She answered.

"What?" Bea asked. "Why would he-"

"Move!" Cinderace shouted as she dragged Bea out of the Center and they started searching for Ash through the streets of Wyndon.

"C-Cinderace!" Bea called her, but her starter continued to drag her as she ran.

"No! I won't let you give up! You've come so far! Y-You been through so much sh*t! You deserve to be happy!"

"I..."

"INFERNAPE!" Cinderace shouted once she spotted the Sinnoh Starter carrying a bag of berries.

"Oh-oh..." Infernape started to run away after he saw them.

"Hey!" Bea and Cinderace started to follow him. Cinderace eventually performed a High Jump Kick, landing on Infernape's back and pinning him down to the street.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Cinderace asked.

"How are you keeping me down with those sausage arms of yours?!" Infernape replied receiving a Sucker Punch from Cinderace on his head. "Hey!"

"Infernape, where is Ash?" Bea asked him, but the Sinnoh starter simply shook his head. "Infernape..." Bea called him again with a furious tone as she clenched her fists.

"You better tell her where the boy is!" Cinderace threatened him with a Shadow Ball on her hand.

"I can't tell her." Infernape said.

"Why not?!"

"Because Ash told me so..." Infernape whistled and the Flamming Nimbus came from the sky knocking Cinderace down and giving him the chance to escape flying on it.

"Oh, no you ain't!" Cinderace ran following him and Bea did the same, the Nimbus eventually took Infernape to the city's park where Ash was preparing something along his Pokemon.

"Infernape, finally." Ash said as the starter landed next to him. "I needed those berries like half an hour ago."

"Fernape! Infer! Fer! Fernape!" The monkey shouted.

"Uh, what's the matter?" Ash asked and Infernape tried to play charade to explain. "Ears...kick...running, I don't get you, Lucario would you mind?"

The mentioned Pokemon walked to Ash and the latter put a hand over his shoulder.

"He says that Bea and Cinderace found him and they're following him here." Lucario explained.

"She's coming this way?!" Ash shouted. "Why didn't you just fly in another direction?!"

"Nape..." Infernape scratched the back of his head.

"Great, that's just great." Ash sighed. "We'll have to work with what we have."

Bea and Cinderace eventually made it to the park, they passed by some people and Pokemon, but none of them where who they were looking for, Bea then noticed something red in the distance and they walked to it, it was no other thing than Ash's hat, simply resting in the grass in front of some bushes.

"What is-"

"SURPRISE!" Ash exclaimed along his full Pokemon team as they all jumped out of the bushes.

"ASH!" Bea ran at him.

"HAPPY BIRT-" Ash tried to talk, but he was interrupted by a tight hug.

"I-I thought you had left me!" Bea shouted hugging him tighter.

"Bea-" As was about to complain about the lack of air, but Bea pulled him away and put her hands on his shoulders to look at him directly.

"Never go away without telling me again, you hear?!" She shouted as tears started to appear in her eyes.

"S-Sorry..." He looked down. "I didn't mean to worry you..."

"What are you even doing here?!" Bea continued her rant.

"I was..." Ash took a pause and sighed. "Preparing your birthday party."

Bea simply blinked. "...My what now?"

"Uh, yeah, didn't you say it was July 8?"

"Well, yes, but..." Bea looked at her Rotom Phone noticing that the date was in fact her birthday.

"Me and my horrible sense of time." Cinderace looked at the date as well.

"I...I didn't even realize it..." Bea said.

"You serious?" Ash asked. "I thought you had already figured it out, that's why I didn't answer your calls, sorry again."

"With all these revelations I guess didn't notice it..." Bea then blushed in realization as she looked at Ash. "Wait, uh...you-you were making me a birthday party?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know it's kinda cheesy, but since it was our first day as a couple I thought it would be proper to do it, hope you don't mind, although since I only found out last night when you told me, uh, well, I didn't exactly have time to invite people, it'll be just you, me and our Pokemon, but I spent the whole night planning everything, I know it's not much but-" Ash stopped talking as Bea started to caress his cheek and went for a quick lip kiss.

"You talk too much." Bea laughed at him. "Whatever you prepared I'm sure it'll be lovely, thank you."

"I think I can get used to that too." Ash said under his breath.

"What was that?" Bea asked with a smile.

"A-A-Anyway, follow me!" Ash held her hand and guided her to a more secluded part of the park, he wanted privacy for them after all, it was a clearing between the trees, there were some picnic tables with plenty of food on them, mostly sweets, and the decorations were simple, with some balloons and banners hanging from trees, nothing too exaggerated. "...I told you it was cheesy." Ash said slightly embarrassed and Bea gave him another kiss on his lips. "I-I..."

"I told you I could do that any time I wanted now...Thank you, my lovely dork." Bea hugged him as she looked around. "So this is what a birthday party looks like."

"Yeah... considering what you told me about your life, I'm gonna suppose you didn't have much birthday parties."

"Nope, not a single one at all." Bea then released her whole team as well. "But I don't care, that's in the past, I only care about the present and sharing it with you, so, what are we doing first?"

"Well, there's something I want to do before anything, everyone, please round up." He called and all their Pokemon stood infront of them. "You probably already noticed it by now, but..." Ash took Bea's hand and gave a wide smile. "I'm happy to tell y'all that Bea and I are a couple now!" All their Pokemon cheered at that, finally, no more drama, they were all happy knowing that their trainers liked each other so much, they knew the two of them would be very happy together, all of them, except for Pikachu, although they didn't notice it, he wasn't cheering, nor smiling, he was just standing there, simply not sure of this, while Bea had proven to be of trust most of the time, her lows were really low and even after Ash explained him everything last night, the mouse was still thinking that he forgave Bea way too easy.

"One more thing." Ash continued. "Uh... it's kinda silly too, but, uh, Cinderace, can you come here?"

"Cin?" The rabbit approached Ash as he asked.

"Well, I...I suppose we won't be seeing Bea's father for a while, so I was wondering if you could give me your blessing to be with Bea?"

"Cin?" Cinderace tilted her head.

"Ash..." Bea giggled at this.

"I'm just saying, since Bea and you are so close and she's always talking with you... I promise you I'll love Bea with all my heart and I'll always protect her from all harm, I'll take care of her and-"

"Ash, you're embarrassing me infront of my Pokemon." Bea said with another laugh.

"Heh, I think you get the point..." Ash laughed as well. "So how's that? Do I have your blessing?"

"...Cin-Cinderace." She told him with a nod.

"What did she say?" Ash asked Bea.

"...You are the right one." She answered. "That's something I can definitely agree on."

"My, thanks." Ash said at the rabbit and he then looked at Bea again. "Well, where would you like to start?"

"I don't know..." Bea looked around at the decorations again. "This is all new for me."

"Come on, it's your birthday, just let yourself loose, here, how about a cupcake?" Ash offered the small chocolate cake, Bea smiled at him and then hid her arms behind her back. "Uh?"

"What? Isn't it my birthday?" She asked in a teasing tone.

"Oh..." Ash blushed once he understood. "S-Sure, I mean-"

"I'm waiting..." Bea insisted and then closed her eyes. "aaaah."

Ash gave in and brought the cupcake closer to Bea's mouth, she ate with a single bite and her face lighted up as everytime she ate sweets, Ash let out a short chuckle afterwards.

"What's so funny?" Bea asked.

"You, em...you got some leftovers there in your cheek." He pointed at the spot.

"And you're not gonna do something about it?" Bea looked at him with an innocent smile still with her arms behind her.

"I..." Ash quickly understood what she meant, but due to the embarrassment, he simply took a napkin across her cheek to wipe off the leftovers instead, causing Bea to laugh again.

"I thought you'd use something else." She said with the same teasing voice.

"Uh, maybe another time." Ash looked into another direction embarrassed.

"Pfft, coward." Bea took a cupcake herself to bring it closer to Ash's mouth, he obliged and closed his eyes as he opened his mouth, but Bea then purposely pressed the cupcake against his cheek and before Ash could complain, she stuck out her tongue and licked clean the leftovers. "That's how you do it." She laughed again at his reaction, seeing Ash's blushing face was just priceless.

"B-BEA!" Ash was about to complain, but Bea interrupted him with another lip kiss.

"What? My boyfriend made me a whole birthday party, it's only fair that I spoil him a little to thank him..." She pressed their foreheads together and looked into his eyes. "Not only for this, but for everything, I have so much to thank you for...that I don't even know where to start."

"I already told you that don't have to thank me." Ash answered as he cupped her cheeks. "How many times will you keep saying that?"

"How many times are you gonna make me feel like the luckiest girl in the world?" Bea asked as well.

"Every time I can." He replied with that sincere smile of his.

"There's your answer." Bea went for another lip kiss and the couple laughed together, they then noticed all their Pokemon were looking at them, smiling, happy to see the secrets were over.

"C-Come on guys, don't just stand there." Ash said. "You're all part of the party here!"

All the Pokemon gave a cry in unison and started to celebrate together, sharing their food, playing and dancing together, they even had a little Karaoke Machine and Lucario and Gallade were killing it.

"Looks like everything worked out." Infernape approached Cinderace.

"Thankfully." She answered. "I just hope it stays like this."

"I'm sure it will, I mean, just look at those two." Infernape pointed at Ash and Bea, who were feeding each other with cookies, they both were blushing madly with embarrassment, but their wide smiles proved that they were definitely enjoying it. "I'll admit I was kinda rooting for Dawn, but this is great."

"Hmp, yeah, those two are made for each other."

"Yeah...so..." Infernape looked to the sides embarrassed, much like Ash did earlier. "Since they made it work out, I guess we still have something to talk about, you know, you and I?"

"Oh, yeah, about that..." Cinderace tapped her fingers together. "Look, you're cool and all, but Lucario and I have been talking and-"

"WHAT?! LUCARIO?!" He shouted. "OUT ALL OF THE POKEMON IN THE GROUP YOU HAD TO PICK THE OTHER SINNOH FIGHTING TYPE?!"

Cinderace tried to contain the laughter from his reaction, but she failed miserably. "Ha! I got you! you-you! You really thought! HAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHA!"

"T-That's not funny!" Infernape shouted blushing.

"No, it's not funny, it's hilarious! HAHAHAHA!" Cinderace continued until her laughs ran out after 5 minutes.

"You done?" Infernape asked annoyed.

"Y-Yes." Cinderace cleaned some of the tears that came out during the laughing. "But hey, at least that gave me the answer I needed."

"What are you talking about?"

"Now I'm sure about how you feel..." Cinderace blushed as her tail wagged. "So I want you to say it."

"S-Say it?"

"Say it." Cinderace put their faces together as they both blushed. "Say that you like me."

"I...I like you." Infernape admitted.

"Well, that was easier than I expected." Cinderace suddenly hugged him. "I like you too."

"Oh...T-This is nice." That was all Infernape could say as he returned the hug.

"Look at those two." Bea said at Ash as they looked at their fire starters.

"Yeah, those two were made for each other." Ash laughed and Bea gave him the last cookie. "Thanks, now time for the big guns..."

"Big guns?" Bea looked as Ash brought a big box from underneath the table, he then opened it and revealed a five story white cake decorated with orange hearts and some cut berries on top. "Holy..."

"Of course! What kind of birthday would this be without a cake?" Ash asked content at her reaction.

"W-Where did you even get this from?" Bea asked as she looked at the cake in awe. "Wyndon's bakery works by request, they wouldn't have made it in time."

"I knew that, so I made it myself!" Ash answered with a proud grin.

"You what?!" She exclaimed

"Yup, I brought the rest of the things pre-made, but I wanted to make your cake, so I bought the ingredients last night and I asked Nurse Joy to let me use the Kitchen of the center, it took me a couple hours, but I think it came out really good."

"You...you baked this for me?" She asked in disbelief.

"You bet I did!" Ash assured her confident. "Although I was in the nick of time so, I almost messed up... seriously, my life flashed for a second there in the oven... anyway, I hope you enjoy it, go ahead." Ash offered a knife so she could cut the cake.

"T-Thanks...uh." Bea was still processing what Ash just said, but she took the knife and was about to start.

"Huh, wait! The candle!" Ash exclaimed causing her to stop flat, he quickly ran to his backpack and returned with a single white candle which was lighten up by Cinderace and then he put it on top of the cake.

"Just one candle?" Bea asked.

"Yeah, I mean, since it's your first birthday party and all that."

"Sounds good." Bea smiled. "Besides, it's my first birthday as Bea too... right, uh, I'm supposed to wish for something with this, yes?" Bea asked.

"Correct, just blow it and make your wish." Ash answered.

"Well..." Bea thought in silence for a moment as she looked at the small flame, she then smiled and got closer, softly blowing the candle in the first try. "There, said and done."

"Congratulations!" Ash exclaimed as all their Pokemon cheered, he then approached her to whisper at her ear. "...Hey, could you tell me what you wished for?"

"Hmm... it's a secret." She answered.

"Come on, just let me know." Ash insisted with Rockruff eyes.

"That's a nope." Bea laughed poking her nose. "Now let's hand out this." The birthday girl cut the cake and gave a piece to each of their Pokemon, once there were only two pieces left, she took one for herself and gave the other to Ash, sitting next to him on a picnic blanket.

"So how does it taste?" Ash asked as Bea gave the first bite to the cake, her eyes instantly turned into stars and that easily answered the question, much to his own relief honestly.

"I love vanilla!" She squealed. "Ash, you know how to bake!" It was delicious of course, but the fact that Ash baked it for her was what really made Bea feel Butterfrees in her stomach as she ate it.

"Guess you can thank my mom for that." Ash laughed at her reaction. "Seems like those days at the restaurant were worth it... now that I think about it, she'll surely like to meet you."

"You think your mother will like me?" She asked a little unsure.

"Of course! I'm sure she'll love you."

"Heh, then I'll be looking forward to meeting her." As Bea kept eating the cake, Ash noticed some leftovers close to her lips, so remembering what happened earlier, he decided to get a little revenge and got closer to her, licking the leftovers clean and brushing her lips a little with his tongue.

"Uh..." Bea simply blushed while looking at him. "I-I thought it embarrassed you."

"Maybe a little...but it's your birthday after all." Ash gave her the same innocent smile she used on him earlier and this caused Bea to blush even harder, but then she smiled as well, she'll definitely be enjoying this flirting seesaw of them.

After everyone finished eating, the Pokemon started to clean everything so the couple could have more time for themselves, Ash spent some time explaining how he got most of the things at either late night or at first hour in the morning.

"Yeah, it's a jungle out there." He said. "Grookey had to beat an old lady with his stick to get those cookies."

"Wow..." Bea smiled, but she was feeling a bit of guilt, thinking about all the trouble Ash went through for her. "Thanks Ash, that was an amazing birthday."

"Was? What are you talking about?" He asked with a short laugh. "The party is just the beginning!"

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that today, I, Ash Ketchum, will take my lovely girlfriend." He suddenly took her hand. "On a date!"

"A-A Date?!" Bea exclaimed.

"Our first date as a couple!" He answered happily. "A second first date, if you may, just the two of us, how does it sounds?"

"A-A-Are you sure?" She stuttered, while she was in love the idea, she also thought Ash had already done too much for her that day. "Shouldn't you go to your reunion with Rose?"

"It's alright, I called Miss Oleana and she told me I could go tomorrow, so I'll be all yours for the rest of the day!"

"All mine, uh? Well, what are we waiting for?" After their Pokemon cleaned everything, Ash and Bea returned them and then went back to the center, but Pikachu still had a worried look about the whole situation.

Meanwhile in Hulbury.

"It's almost done, girls." Valerie was giving the final touches to Nessa's wedding dress, it was her idea to begin with, so she had to take responsibility, Sonia and Nessa were both sitting in her bed waiting for her to finish. "There, how does it look?"

"Valerie..." Nessa stood up and looked in awe at the dress, it was mostly light blue with a design of white water lilies all around, Nessa held her tears and then gave the designer a big hug. "This is so perfect, thank you."

"Glad you like it." Valerie returned the gesture. "Wedding dresses may not be my specialty, but I've done quite a few before and this one is definitely special; and I managed to meet all your requests, light, easy access and well... resistant." Valerie blushed at that last bit.

"Resistant?" Sonia asked.

"It's just in case..." Nessa blushed at the thought as she looked at the dress again.

"Do you want to try it out now?" Valerie asked.

"I...no, I think I'll wait for the day." She answered.

That statement caused Valerie to give her a rather worried look. "...Nessa, I know you love him and from what you told me, he likes you too, but what if he... you know, what if he ends up with Bea or, uh, someone else for that matter?"

"I'd keep trying..." She answered. "I won't give up on my feelings..." Nessa then started to caress the cheek where Ash kissed her. "He's everything I ever wanted, he means everything to me, I'll show him that, I know it's just a matter of time..."

"What's wrong, Valerie?" Sonia asked. "You think our girl Nessa is not gonna make it?"

"I'm not saying that, but..." Valerie looked at the dress she made, feeling somewhat guilty. "I just think it's a bit dangerous that you feel so sure, you know there's always that possibility."

"I don't care about possibilities, I'm going to do it..." Nessa's face was suddenly filled with determination. "Valerie, this is the first time I've been in love and... gosh, it feels so wonderful, it's not just that I'm always thinking about him, but rather it's about how thinking about him makes me so happy, my head is filled to the brim with thoughts about him, from dusk to dawn, at home, at the gym, even during my photo sessions...I-I feel so pathetic but so joyful at the same time, I wonder what he's thinking about...if he's thinking about me." Nessa then took the dress out of the mannequin and held it in her hands. "Now I look at this dress and I can't stop thinking how much I want to wear it, how much I want to marry him..." Nessa could feel her cheeks burning as those ideas took form in her mind. "I'd like to propose to him for real one day... that time he kissed me, all those moments we had... they mean so much to me and I'm sure they mean a lot for him too... You can't tell me it was all worthless."

"And that's why I'm Team Nessa!" Sonia cheered on as she rested her elbow on Nessa's shoulder. "Soon enough you two will be Mrs. and Mr. I'm sure of it!"

"Next time we meet, Sonia." Nessa hugged the dress close to her. "Next time is the definitive, I can feel it!"

'I'm... I'm such an awful friend.' Valerie thought as she looked at the scene in silence. 'How could I fall for Ash too? I have no right, she loves him so much, I-"

"Uh, Val, are you crying?" Sonia asked.

"I'm just..." Valerie did her best to act calm and looked at Nessa. "I'm really happy that your feelings for him are so real, sorry for doubting you... Ash and you... you'll be so happy together, I wish you the best."

"Thanks, Val." Nessa gave the fairy expert another hug.

"Well, how about this trio of besties goes to the Cafe, uh?" Sonia suggested. "Today's on me, gals."

"Sounds good." Valerie nodded.

"Yeah, let's g-" Nessa was about to agree as well, but her Rotom Phone suddenly ringed and started to float in front of her.

"Miss Nessa, you have a call from the Chairman." The phone informed her.

"Uh, that's kinda weird." Nessa took the phone in one of her hands while holding the dress close to her chest with the other and then answered the call. "Mr. Rose? Is there a problem?"

"Oh, no, not at all." He answered in his office. "I just... happened to see those pictures that Ash and you took for that magazine, you two seem rather close I must say, I was wondering if you two were together perhaps?"

"Uh, no, we're not." Nessa looked down at the dress and hid it behind her. "It was just a photo session, I mean, we've been talking, but it's nothing official...yet." She whispered the last bit. "May I know why you ask that?" She asked since the Chairman rarely showed interest in the Gym Leaders' personal lives.

"Nothing, nothing, you know, publicity and all that, sorry about the bother." Rose then cut the call with Nessa and looked at a picture that one of the employees had sent him, a picture of the moment when Peonia kissed Ash to be more precise. "Hmm...I think I can make something out of this."

Back with our heroes.

Bea was waiting outside of Ash's room, it was afternoon already, around 2:00 PM.

"Ash, come on! You've been there for like an hour!" She complained.

"I'm going, I'm going!" Ash replied finally opening the door, wearing the Tuxedo he used when he fought Jasmine.

"...You serious?" Bea asked.

"What? I thought you like the Tuxedo."

"And I do..." Bea was blushing by just looking at him like that. "But you didn't have to go through all that trouble for me, don't you think it's too much?"

"Yeah, you're right. Gosh, I knew I'd mess this up." Ash scolded himself.

"Don't say such a thing." Bea reached out to him and took off the jacket, the vest and the bow-tie of the Tuxedo, leaving Ash with only the white shirt along the black pants and shoes. "There, that's more than enough, you don't have to play elegant for me."

"Sorry, it's just..." Ash set his sight on her as he blushed as well. "You look so beautiful in that dress..."

"Oh? So I'm not beautiful without the dress?" Bea asked with a tone of sarcasm, but it wasn't enough for Ash to notice.

"N-No! Sorry, sorry! T-That's not what I mean, I-" Ash was once again silenced by Bea as she hugged him closer to her so they faces met.

"Who gave you the right to be so cute?" She asked with a giggle before giving him a little peak on his lips.

"Sorry, I...you're my first girlfriend and all that, this is our first date as a couple and it's on your birthday on top of that, I don't... I just don't want to screw this up."

"Just what did I do to deserve you?" Bea asked with a wam smile as she hugged him a little tighter. "Believe me, I'm just as nervous... but we'll be fine, we have each other after all, don't we?"

"Of course." Ash broke the hug to stand by her side and take her hand. "You and I?"

"You and I." Bea answered. "So, where is my boyfriend going to take me today?"

"I got it all planned." Ash assured her. "You're gonna love it."

"Alright, but let's avoid the Cafe." Bea suggested with a dead stare. "Considering what happened with the last two I'm afraid things might escalate."

"Fine, no Cafe." He accepted as they left the place, while Pikachu watched them go and then entered Ash's room.

'I really doubt the problems are over.' The mouse thought for himself.

Meanwhile inside the Wyndon Cafe.

"Something bothers you, Steven?"

"It's nothing, Roxanne, I just...I kinda feel like someone important should come through that door...right now!" Steven stood from his chair and pointed at the door dramatically, but the only thing that came through was a pair of preschoolers. "Uh..."

"Just what exactly were you expecting?" The Rock expert asked while taking a cup of tea, yes, she was the type of person to order tea in a Cafe.

"I don't know, it's like some weird tingling feeling telling me a great battle is close to me."

"Is that so?" Roxanne took another sip not quite believing him. "Well, whatever, thanks again for coming in this stone hunting expedition with me."

"There's nothing to thank, in fact, I was looking for some time off." Steven sat down again. "Wallace and I may be married, but we need a break from the other here and there."

"I always had a feeling with you two." Roxanne giggled. "The tension was so palpable."

"Yes, but what about you?" He asked. "Perhaps you should find your Luvdisc as well."

"And who do you suggest?" Roxanne asked with sarcasm.

"Well, our expedition is going to Circhester, isn't it?" Steven took a quick glance on a map. "I've heard the leader there is a Rock specialist, maybe you two could get along."

"Me...and Gordie?" Roxanne asked. "HAHAHAHA...oh wait, you're serious...then let me laugh even harder! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Roxanne started to slam her hands on the table and the rest of the people in the Cafe looked at them, normally the employees would tell her to leave, but she was being accompanied by a champion, it's not like someone was going to question him.

"Fine, fine, then how about..." Steven took a magazine he had with him and quickly passed through the pages, randomly stopping in one. "Would you look at that..."

"What?" Roxanne asked once she recovered from the laughs.

"Did you ever met a kid named Ash Ketchum?" Steven asked.

"I did, I was his first Gym battle in Hoenn actually."

"Well, take a look at him." Steven offered the magazine to Roxanne to reveal a double page spread collage of the photo session Ash and Nessa did together back in Motostoke.

"I..." Roxanne took the magazine in her hands and looked at the pictures, paying special attention to the ones where Ash was posing alone, he definitely had grown a lot since they last met and he looked really good in that white suit, a slight blush started to form in her cheeks and Steven smirked as he noticed that, Roxanne then looked at the pictures of Nessa, most specifically, the one where she was sitting on Ash's lap. "Uh, who's the person with him?" She asked with a bit of jealousy in her tone.

"That's Nessa, a Gym Leader here in Galar." Steven replied with an even wider smile, Roxanne used to tease him about Wallace before the two were a couple so it'll be fun to get some payback at last. "Why the interest?"

"N-None of your concern!" Roxanne exclaimed closing the magazine and putting it inside her purse. "I'm keeping this...for research purposes, I saw... an interesting rock article."

"Of course." Steven made a short laugh. "Well, according to the article with the collage it seems like Ash is in Galar as well, if we get lucky we'll meet him again."

"I...yes, it'll surely be interesting." She replied excited.

Back with Ash and Bea.

"Can you at least tell me where we're going?" She asked.

"It's a surprise!" Ash answered.

The couple was now waiting outside of the center until a double-decker bus passed, Ash paid for two tickets and the duo entered it, they spent a part of the travel silent, simply holding hands, until Bea brought up something.

"Ash, uh, not like I'm complaining, but considering all you bought for the party and now this, how are you affording all these things?"

"Yeah, I just happened to have a conversation with my Mom last night."

"Mom, Rinko told me about the royalties."

"Uh..."

"...Let's just say we won't have to worry about money for now." Ash answered.

"I see..."

"This is our first stop!" He shouted.

"W-Wait, Ash!"

Ash suddenly stood up as the bus stopped and guided Bea outside, the bus had stopped next to the river of the city and a male Macro Cosmos Employee was waiting for them in a speedboat.

"Hey there, so this is the lucky girl." The employee in the boat greeted them.

"Thanks for waiting." Ash said.

"No problem kid, I got orders anyway." He answered as he started the engine. "Jump in and put on your seatbelts."

"Orders?" Bea asked.

"Maybe I asked a little favor to Miss Oleana." Ash scratched the back of his head. "This city is really harsh with reservations."

"Ash!" Bea shouted at him. "I-I told you you didn't have to go through so much trouble for me!"

"It's nothing, really, it's your special day after all, I wanted to make it count." He caressed her cheeks again causing Bea to blush embarrassed. "We'll just have a quick trip through the river and it'll take us to the next stop, nothing to worry about."

"Wait, wait, wait." Bea tried to slow him down. "How many stops are we having today?"

"Just wait and see." He smiled.

After the duo hoped into the speedboat and secured themselves, this quickly went down the river, passing many of Wyndon's places of interest, including the Stadium, which was even bigger than the ones Ash had been so far in Galar.

"The Galar League is held in that stadium, right?" He asked.

"Yes, that's the place." Bea nodded.

"...I can't wait." He smiled excited as the speedboat stopped.

"Here we are, kid." The employee said.

"That was fast, thanks a lot." Ash answered as he left the boat, he then helped Bea do the same and the two started to walk away together.

"And now you're even helping me get off a boat?" Bea asked with a laugh. "Who are you and what have you done with Ash?"

"Well, I'm not just Ash now, I'm your boyfriend too."

"But you don't have to change to be my boyfriend." Bea stopped walking to look at him. "I fell in love with the lovable idiot Ash after all, didn't I?"

"I guess..." He looked down embarrassed. "I was just trying to impress you."

"Impress me? Ash, you've been impressing everyday since we met! You always do such amazing things, e-even now, you somehow planned my whole birthday in a few hours."

"I-It's nothing really." He replied. "Let's keep moving, I don't want you to lose anything." Ash was to continue the walk, but Bea stopped him again.

"...Ash, tell me what was your plan for today."

"But it's a surprise!" He complained.

"Ash Ketchum..." She gave him a serious look that scared him a bit.

"Well, I..." Ash gave in and started to explain. "F-First we were going to Cinema, then to the museum, then to the observatory, then we'd have a dinner at the local restaurant and-"

"Then I hope you can get your refunds because we won't do any of those things." Bea interrupted him.

"Uh, what?"

"Listen, forget all the fancy stuff, ok? I know you spent the whole night planning it and I'm really thankful for that, but I don't want you to be some kind of dreamed blue prince, I just want my Ash, I may be your girlfriend now, but I'm still your friend too, so, where does Ash wants to take me today?"

"Well...how about we go to the opera?" Ash suggested.

"The opera?" Bea asked.

"COME, FRIENDS, WHO PLOUGH THE SEA!"

"..."

"..."

"...Nah." The two said together.

"Then...uh, the cable cars are pretty close from here." Ash pointed out. "What do you say we hop into one and see the city from up there? Maybe that could give us some ideas about what to do."

"Now that sounds more like Ash." She answered with a smile.

Ash then led the way in a different direction and they quickly made it to the cable cars, while enjoying the view from above, the couple made a more simple plan to spend the day, they tried out some street food, spent a while in the sky garden and then took a stroll through the lavender fields, they learned three things that day, first, spicy food isn't a good idea, second, the sky garden isn't that impressive after you've fallen from a flying giant robot, and third, Bea is allergic to lavender, but everything was pretty fun nonetheless, the night finally fell and there was one more place they wanted to visit.

"Well, this is our last stop." Ash said. "Wyndon's eye, my original plan was to end the day here so I'm glad we can do at least."

"A Ferris Wheel to end a date, you just can't get cheesier." Bea giggled a little as she took his hand again and looked up at the wheel. "Y-Yeah, uh, it'll be fun." She stuttered a little.

"What? We already traveled in the cable car, don't tell you're scared of heights." Ash teased her.

"Of course not!" Bea exclaimed. "I-I mean... it's just that considering how things are normally for us, it'll probably get stuck while we're at the top or something like that."

"Well, there's no one I'd rather be stuck in a Ferris Wheel with than you."

Bea just laughed at the phrase with a blush. "That sounded oddly wholesome...Fine, let's go!"

And just like that, the duo went alone inside a cab, Ash had to pay extra for that but he didn't mind, the two sat together and closed the door, shortly afterwards the wheel started to rotate and the couple was simply looking over the city at most of the places they had visited that day, they were holding hands and enjoying each other's company, but of course, like most of the time, Bea had something in her mind.

"Ash..." She finally talked and he looked at her. "Do you really forgive me?"

"Of course I do." He answered without a shadow of doubt. "I'll admit I'm not totally happy that you hid all that, but you had your reasons, you already promised me you wouldn't lie to me anymore, you'll stick to that, right?"

"O-Of course."

"Then we're cool." Ash smiled at her and she held his hand a little tighter.

"...H-Hey, I'm sorry." She continued.

"Bea, you already apologized a fair amount of times."

"It's not about that, I mean ...back in the morning, when I woke up and I didn't find you..." Bea was starting to feel guilty again. "I really thought for a moment that you had left...I can't believe I doubted you even after all this, I just thought that after all I had done maybe I would have deserved that."

"No, you wouldn't have." Ash took both her hands firmly. "You've been through so much, I'm sorry about disappearing like that...the last thing I want is to see you suffering more, Bea, I'd never leave you alone."

"...I honestly don't understand what you see in me, I've been only causing you troubles."

"Bea...you remember that inscription we saw in the chamber yesterday? 'Gray clouds are also part of the landscape'?"

"What's with that?"

"Well, I think the message is quite simple, in the midst of everything that can happen to us we must give thanks and look at the beauty of what surrounds us. Every trial brings with it a teaching, just like what we're doing now, relationships come with fights, conflicts and troubles, that's what relationships are, but it doesn't matter as long as we're there to support each other and keep moving forward...what I'm trying to say is that that's what I see in you, you said you were a person with troubles, but you're also a person who's willing to learn from her mistakes and start over and I love you just the way you are, mistakes and everything, no one is perfect anyway."

"...Ash..." Bea started to shed some tears. "A-Ash, I don't even know what to say."

Ash chuckled at this and then gave her a hug. "You don't have to say anything."

"I love you." Bea hugged him as well. "I love you, I love you, I love you."

"Bea..."

"This is really happening..." Bea smiled but continued to cry a little. "Y-You and I... we're really together."

"Of course we are." Ash smiled and broke the hug a moment to clean her tears. "I asked you to be my girlfriend yesterday, did you forget already?"

"How could I forget? Your face when you asked me, you were blushing so much." She took a hold of his cheeks making him look at her. "I love your blushing face, you look so cute."

"So I can't call you cute, but you can call me that?"

"You..." Bea pulled his face closer to hers planting another lip kiss. "Hehe, how many kisses we've got today? Five?"

"I-I think I lost count." Ash replied embarrassed.

"Your lips are really tasty." Bea covered her own lips in embarrassment as she said this. "If you don't watch out... I might get addicted to them."

"And you said said Flannery was the pervert." He answered causing them both to laugh.

"Heh... how did we even get here?" She asked still covering her mouth.

"Haha, don't know." Ash took her hand off her face to see her lips again. "But maybe we should...keep going?"

"Who's the pervert now?" Bea asked as he started to caress her cheeks.

"W-Well, I'm just saying you've been kissing me the whole day, at least let me get my turn." He tried to give a point while Bea kept laughing.

"Then go ahead." Bea gave him permission and let Ash go for a kiss, but this time it was different, their kisses so far had been short and rather innocent, and while Ash wasn't trying anything new, Bea liked the feeling of letting Ash take care so she returned the kiss in a more passionate way, she opened her lips a little and Ash did the same, but they didn't use their tongues, both were somehow still embarrassed of the idea, however, as the session lasted more and more, Bea then started to explore Ash's body a little, running her hands across his chest and then going a bit lower...and lower.

"B-Bea, wait-" Ash tried to call her, but she was too focused on his lips. "I...we...W-Wait."

"What's wrong? I..." Bea snapped as she realized where her hands were going and quickly pulled herself away from Ash, hitting her back against one of the walls of the cab. "A-Ash! I-I just thought- I'm s-so sorry! I don't where that came from! I-I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable!"

"Bea, i-it's ok! I liked it!" He was just trying to calm her down, but the choice of words wasn't ideal, and as if the two weren't blushing enough, that sentence that came out of Ash's mouth just turned them both full red.

"You... liked it?" She asked.

"Uh, yeah, I mean, H-How could I not like that?" Ash facepalmed after hearing himself. "Great, now I'm sounding like a jerk."

"N-No, Ash, it's not your fault..." Bea sat next to him again. "I-I was the one who got carried away...please, forgive me."

"I-It's no big deal, you just got, uh...a little wild all of a sudden ...it's not like it was a bad thing..." He was still trying his best to not make her feel guilty. "W-We're a couple now, there's nothing wrong with that...uh... were you really going to...y-you know?"

"I don't know, it's like my body moved on its own..." Bea couldn't help but scold herself in her mind after what happened, or rather, after what almost happened. "It's...it's still too early for that, isn't it?" She answered what seemed obvious.

"Yeah..." He answered.

"..."

"..."

"I'm a disaster." They said at the same time and looked at each other smiling.

"..."

"..."

"If it serves of anything..." Ash began. "I like...being a disaster with you."

"I love you, idiot." As Bea said this, their cabin finally reached the ground and they opened the door and left the place holding hands.

"So...you said that was our last stop." Bea said. "We're going back to the center now?"

"Well, I know what I said, but this is still your birthday." Ash then let out an unexpected yawn. "Is there somewhere else you want to go?"

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I'm fine, I told you I spent pretty much the whole night awake, I'm just a bit sleepy."

"Hmm, sleepy enough to not walk back to the center?" That smile told him what she was thinking.

"Bea, no-"

"Bea, yes!" She quickly carried him on her arms before he could complain. "You did all this for me, this is the least I can do."

"What am I gonna do with you?" Ash asked embarrassed, but he still let Bea go on with her idea, she carried him back to center without much trouble, fortunately, it was pretty close from the Ferris Wheel, however, as lovely as the moment was, Bea accidentally caused Ash's head to hit the doorframe while they were entering his room.

"Ouch."

"S-Sorry!" Bea adjusted their positions and walked inside the room, leaving Ash sitting on his bed, meanwhile Pikachu was sleeping on top of a drawer. "There...hey, is it still embarrassing for you when I carry you?" She asked.

"Do you still enjoy doing it?" Ask asked back.

"Yup." She answered satisfied sitting next to him.

"There's your answer." He replied as Bea reached out to him for a quick kiss, even though both of them were still kinda embarrassed about what happened in the Ferris Wheel.

"Sorry, but that'll be the last one for today." She said.

"Then I'll be waiting for tomorrow." Ash answered in an effort to fluster her, which he succeed at. "...Argh, god damn it!" He suddenly shouted.

"What's wrong?" Bea asked surprised by his reaction.

"I forgot your gift!" He exclaimed. "I'm so sorry! I was so busy preparing everything, I was going to buy it for last, but then you found Infernape and I forgot it! I can't believe it, I'm so stup-" Ash was suddenly interrupted by a soft punch that Bea landed on his forehead. "Ouch, guess I deserved that..."

"YOUR FORGOT MY GIFT?!" She shouted with anger. "Ash! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"I-I'm sorry, I just-"

"Ash, we went through this whole city together! You made me my first birthday party ever! Y-You baked me the most delicious cake I've ever eaten! You think those aren't enough gifts?!"

"You're...not mad that I forgot it?"

"Ash, today has been the most wonderful day of my life, this whole day has been a gift, believe me, if you wanted to make me happy, you filled the bar by a lot...Thank you, for everything."

"You deserved all that and more." Those cheesy words were enough to almost make her faint. "Sorry, I exaggerated...I still feel somewhat guilty."

"Guilty for what?"

"I think... I was too harsh on you when you first told me the truth, you know?"

"No, you weren't, you know that you were in you right...I took things too far, but now I can really leave all that behind and start anew...with you."

"And I'll be there for you." Ash took her hands again.

"...Well, I'll go to my room, good night." Bea stood up and tried to leave, but Ash didn't let go off her hand.

"Hey, Bea..." Ash paused for a moment with an embarrassed look. "Do you want to... sleep with me?"

"...eh..." Bea's mind froze for a moment as she blushed madly processing the question.

"S-Sorry, it was a weird thing to ask, right?" Ash quickly backed down from the idea and let her hand go.

"What!? N-No, I mean, it's not weird!" Bea talked quickly. "T-That's what couples do, right? I-It's normal, b-but it's, uh, w-we said it was a bit too early for that, d-didn't we?"

"I... It's not like I'm suggesting anything." Of course he was thinking about the Ferris Wheel as well. "I mean, just..." He blushed even more before continuing. "Cuddling and that stuff...do you wanna cuddle with me?" He asked in a surprisingly shy tone.

"WHY ARE YOU SO CUTE?!" She shouted. "Sorry, sorry, that sounds tempting, it really does, but you know, meat is weak and all that."

"Fine, we won't do it if you don't want to." Ash gave in.

"M-Maybe another time." Bea had to admit she was a little disappointed at herself for rejecting the idea. "Just sleep ok? You overworked yourself today and you still have your reunion with Rose tomorrow."

"Sure, I'll try to rest." He said. "Good night, I love you."

"Love you too...thank you Ash, for real, this is the first time in forever I actually enjoy my birthday."

Bea gave Ash a short hug and then left his room, thinking about the whole day as she walked to her room.

"For once since this all started..." She said to herself as she smiled. "I feel totally at peace, I feel like everything will be fine."

Stow-on-side Stadium.

"Are you sure it was her?"

"Completely, she was in Wyndon, but I decided to simply leave, she didn't notice me."

"I would have expected her to be pretty far by now..."

"What should we do, Sir?"

"...Bring her back."