Day One: Alola

"Wow, look at that!"

"Pika!"

Continuing his journey to become a Pokemon Master, Ash Ketchum – with his partner Pikachu – are journeying to the region of Alola, a tropical new start for our heroes.

Staring out the window of the plane, Ash's eyes widened at the palm trees – something he'd only ever seen a few times in his life – and the crystal clear waters of the region. He pointed out each island to Pikachu, and the yellow mouse Pokemon cooed in his arms.

"Ash, honey," Mrs. Ketchum hastily called from where she sat beside Professor Oak and Mr. Mime, "make sure your seatbelt is on! We're landing soon!"

"Mooooom," Ash groaned. "I'm seventeen now. I think I can remember to keep my seatbelt on," he chastised while quietly clicking his belt.

"Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you can have a tone with me, young man," she said in a harsher tone.

Ash grimaced and Pikachu's ears folded down.

Professor Oak chuckled. "Some things never change, I suppose. I'm excited to introduce you to my cousin, Ash. He's been studying a lot of Pokemon at his research lab, and he's promised you can bring one along with you to start your journey through Alola."

"Alright!" Ash yelled, pumping his fist in the air. "You didn't tell me that!"

"It's your birthday present from me," he replied with a wink and a glance at Mrs. Ketchum.

"You'll be getting your present from me after that," she said with a smile.

"We can't wait to meet all of the new Pokemon here!" Ash exclaimed. "Right Pikachu?"

"Pika-pi!"

Within a few minutes, the plane touched down on the eastern-most island. Ash immediately unbuckled and ran to the door of the plane, running down the stairs.

"Ash! Wait for us!" Mrs. Ketchum called. "Professor Oak wants to introduce you to his cousin!"

"Right!" Ash said sheepishly, turning around. "Sorry," he added, scratching the back of his head.

"There he is, over there!" Professor Oak said.

"Samuel!" the older, tanned Oak exclaimed coming over to shake his cousin's hand. "It's been so long!"

"I want to introduce you to my friend, Delia Ketchum," Samuel Oak said. "Delia, this is Samson."

"A pleasure to meet you," she said, taking his hand.

"Good to meet you," he said with a nod. He looked over at Ash, whose eyes were wide, scanning the area. "And who might this be?"

"I'm Ash Ketchum," he said, pointing a finger to his chest. "And this is my partner, Pikachu!" Pikachu chirped out his name in greeting.

"Well it's very nice to meet you, Ash and Pikachu. I've heard an awful lot about you from your friend." he explained.

At this, Ash raised an eyebrow briefly but then shook it off. He must have been referring to Professor Oak. Ash supposed he was his friend, but he had always viewed him as more of a mentor.

"Truth be told, you'll be getting your new Pokemon from a friend of mine, Professor Kukui. His lab is where I've been doing my research here. Why don't you all come along with me?"

"Great!" Ash said. He hurried ahead of Samson Oak and hopped into the backseat of the open-top car he was heading toward.

The two Oaks and Delia chuckled.

"He doesn't know yet, does he?" Samson Oak whispered to Delia.

"Not a clue," she said, shaking her head.

Within half an hour, the car pulled up to a wooden hut with a porch and a fenced yard. Ash rushed out of the car and leaned up against the fence, staring in wonder at all of the Pokemon he had never seen before.

"Wow, there's so many new Pokemon!" he exclaimed.

"Indeed there are," a new voice agreed. Ash turned to see a taller, tanned man with sunglasses and a baseball cap headed their way. He wore a lab coat, so Ash guessed it was the Professor. "I'm Professor Kukui! And you must be Ash Ketchum," he said, holding out a hand. "Welcome to my laboratory!"

"Hi there! It's nice to meet you," Ash said, grasping his hand.

"Hmm," the professor mused.

"Is something wrong Professor?" Ash prodded.

"Nothing at all. I just thought you'd be shorter from the description she gave me."

"My mom described me to you?" he asked, now getting really confused.

"No, no," he said, waving him off. Delia shot the professor a look and he straightened slightly. "You know what? Your birthday present should be here any minute!"

"Yes!" Ash said, jumping up and slightly startling Pikachu. "I can't wait to meet my new Pokemon!"

"Not that present!"

Ash stopped cold.

He knew that voice.

"Sorry I'm late! The Pokemon Center was packed with people coming off the plane!"

Slowly turning around, Ash heard the wheels of a bike grind to a halt behind him. When he finally made eye contact with the new arrival, his breath caught in his chest.

Sporting a low ponytail and a tropical tank, the red-headed girl wiped the beads of sweat off of her forehead. The blue sea lion Pokemon in the bike's basket looked up at her trainer in wonder. When the red-head also made eye contact with Ash, she stopped, mentally stumbling.

He was much taller than she remembered, taller than her now. He had grown some muscle, not the little kid she used to know. She bit her bottom lip, trying to hold back the emotion she didn't want to surface. She didn't want to upset him, not on his birthday. She never wanted him to know how much she truly missed him, how much she wanted… no… needed him in her life. She said the first words she could finally muster as she dismounted her bike. "Hi Ash."

Gaping in disbelief, Ash finally swallowed and dragged his feet toward the best friend he hadn't seen in years. After a moment, he walked, then jogged, then ran. Finally, he practically collapsed into her arms as she let out a loud huff. He arms circled around her waist and gripped onto her in a way she had never felt him hug her before.

"Hi Misty," he mumbled into her shoulder. Her shoulder was wet with tears.

Letting herself get buried in his embrace, she at last reciprocated and entangled her around over his shoulders and around his neck. She breathed in the familiar scent of her long-time traveling companion, and she let out a sigh of relief, letting some of her own tears fall down her cheek.

"Happy birthday, Ash."