*Note: if you want to read the Pokémon League before anybody... suscribe to my Patreon! Link at the end of the chapter!
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After winning my eighth Gym badge and saying goodbye to Miyamoto, it was time to head back to the Pokémon Center to report that I had obtained all 8 badges and register for the Pokémon League. Yes, I had plenty of time to do this, but I was eager to get it done, so it was the first thing I would do.
"Well, I think I'll head home," Aurora, Celeste's grandmother, said.
"Aren't you coming with us to the Pokémon Center?" Celeste asked curiously.
Her grandmother often stopped by the Pokémon Center to help her aunt, so it was strange that she wasn't going with them.
"I'm a bit tired from standing for so long and I want to rest. These old bones can't even handle standing for a few minutes anymore…" Aurora said.
In reality, her back hurt a little and she wanted to relax at home.
"Then I'll go with you. Ash, could you go with the others to register for the Pokémon League?" Celeste said.
It had been a long time since she had seen her grandmother and she wanted to spend some time with her, especially if she wasn't feeling well.
"There's no need, I can manage on my own," Aurora said.
But Celeste completely ignored her.
"I don't mind. In fact… why don't you all go with Celeste? I won't take long and you can keep Celeste's grandmother company," I suggested.
Registering for the Pokémon League was just a simple formality and I didn't need company for it.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Celeste asked.
"Of course not," I said.
It was just a formality, not an important event. I could do it alone. Besides, I doubted it would take more than 10 minutes, and since I knew Nurse Joy… the process might be a little faster.
"Thank you," Celeste said.
"It's nothing, it's not important," I said, downplaying it.
"Then we'll go with her and rest a bit there. The stands at the Gym were too hard. I need to sit somewhere softer," Roxanne said.
"Then I'll go with them too. Are you coming, Molly?" Celia said.
"No! I finally get to spend time with my brother and I'm going to make the most of it," Molly refused.
It had been weeks since she had spent time with her brother. And now they wanted to separate her from him? She knew it wouldn't be for long, but she wanted to be with him every second.
"Let her come with me. We'll take a walk and then come back," I said.
"Fine, but listen to your brother in everything. Okay?" Celia said.
Even though they had spent little time together, Celia trusted Ash completely because the love he showed for Molly was like they were blood siblings. No, they even got along better than biological siblings. That's why it had never crossed her mind that Ash could ever hurt Molly in any way, and she doubted Molly would disobey Ash. After all, she adored him more than anything. She even seemed to love Ash more than her own father, which caused a bit of jealousy in Spencer and an amused laugh from Celia.
"Of course! Molly will obey her brother without complaint!" Molly nodded.
Celia sighed inwardly. This girl was extremely well-behaved and obedient when she was around Ash, but when he wasn't there, although she was a very good girl, she was quite mischievous and it was hard to keep her calm.
Despite having seen her so calm in the movie, this was the original Molly. Only, due to the loss of her mother and then her father, her personality had changed to a more withdrawn and introverted one. But after getting her parents back, gaining a brother and a second mother, Molly's personality had returned to how it used to be before losing her mother, with the difference that now she was much happier. She didn't know if it had been Arceus who heard her and returned her to her family, but every day she was grateful for having such a wonderful family. From having everything to losing it and then gaining it back with numerous additions. Molly had experienced a myriad of emotions, but that was over now. They were all together and no one would separate them.
After saying goodbye to the girls, we headed straight to the Pokémon Center. We walked hand in hand while Molly hummed a song with a smile on her face.
"Molly. How have you adapted to life in Pallet Town? Do they treat you well at school?" I asked curiously.
As a child, Molly attended a school in Pallet Town, which, although it was a small town, did have a school.
"Yes! Everyone is very kind to me and I've even made several friends! But…" Molly said.
"But? Is someone bothering you? Tell me and your brother will teach them a lesson," I said, frowning.
While hitting a minor was also a crime in the Pokémon world, that didn't mean that if someone messed with my sister I couldn't send Mew invisible to give the kid a beating. No one would find out, and if he tried again, I'd beat him over and over until he locked himself in his house and didn't come out. No one in this life could mess with my little sister while I was still breathing!
"No, it's not that. It's just that Molly feels lonely without you… Yes, I have friends, but I'd trade them all to be able to be with you forever," Molly said.
Without her brother nearby… it was simply as if something was missing, as if she was incomplete, as if her brother was the last piece of a puzzle.
Hearing her, I felt a wave of sadness, so I lifted her into my arms.
"Brother?" Molly asked.
"Molly, I'm a Pokémon Trainer and my dream is to become the best," I said.
"I understand…" Molly said.
"But that doesn't mean I forget about my family. I love you too and I'd like to spend much more time with you, but right now that's impossible," I said.
I'd also like to live with her, but my adventures have just begun. My harem isn't as big as I want it to be yet. There are too many waifus in this world that I need to conquer, many regions to travel, many adventures to live, and many battles to win before reaching the top. So I can't be with them all the time. I can visit Pallet Town from time to time, but I can't stay there for long periods, at least not until my journey is over.
"I…" Molly started to say.
"But I have an interesting idea that I think you'll like," I said.
"What is it?" she asked curiously.
"Simple. I know perfectly well that school gives you some vacation days. What do you think if next school year, when you have vacation, you come traveling with me for a while? It could be fun," I said.
Right now it's impossible, but in the next region and when she has vacation, I can take her with me for a few days so she can experience what traveling is like. It will be good practice before she starts her own journey in a few years.
{Note: This is very curious and interesting. First, let's be clear that Pokémon has no end. They will keep inventing regions and Pokémon for who knows how long, and they might even continue after I die if I live to be old. But back to the topic, in this fic Ash does age, so each region will be one year for him. Obviously I don't know how long this fic will last, although I would like to have him travel through all existing regions. That's impossible, so I'm thinking of continuing his legacy with Molly. Don't get any weird ideas — Molly is his sister now, but I can't say the same for the future. So obviously there would be romance with Ash, but we would change the protagonist to Molly. It's something I've been considering for a while, changing the protagonist, but don't worry, because first, I don't know if that will happen, and second, I don't know how many regions Ash will travel before that happens. With that said, your opinion in the comments would be interesting to know what you think about it.}
"Really?! You'll take me with you?!" Molly said, surprised.
She had expected words of comfort, but this… this was so much better! She was already imagining it — traveling with her brother would be fantastic!
"Of course," I nodded.
"But what if Mom doesn't let me?" she asked, a little sad.
"I'll convince her. When has your brother ever lied to you? If she doesn't let you, I'll just convince her. Trust me," I said with a smile.
I don't think she'll refuse. After all, it will only be a few days and there's still a long time until then.
"I trust you!" Molly nodded.
If she didn't trust her brother… who else should she trust?
I was going to say something else, but at that moment a girl — or rather a teenager — approached us. She was, to be honest, a complete beauty. Her hair was split in two colors: the right half was blue, while the other half was yellow. The girl was wearing a short-sleeved yellow T-shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers. She also had fairly tanned skin.
"Excuse me… could I talk to you?" the girl asked.
This girl's appearance… I've seen her somewhere before, but I can't remember where.
"And you are?" I asked curiously.
"I am the one who will become the most famous streamer of all — Naria!" Naria said with a confident smile.
Now I remember. This was Naria, a character who appeared in the Pokémon Legends Z-A game! Naria was a shut-in streamer who played video games and was greatly admired by her fans, who weren't limited to Lumiose City. However, the Naria I remember and the one in front of me are quite different, especially because this one is younger — probably a teenager. I think I've run into the younger version of Naria, the Naria who isn't yet a famous streamer.
"Naria? Molly watches some streamers and I know you," Molly said.
It was just to entertain herself in the afternoons and what she watched were streamers playing video games. Her favorite was Iono.
"Ughh… I'm just starting… Besides, I've decided to become famous first on social media so that when I start streaming, a lot of people will watch me. I couldn't stand starting with only one person watching," Naria said.
"Oh, don't worry. Even Iono started like that, I suppose," I said.
"Do you know Iono? I'm her biggest fan and my inspiration!" Naria said excitedly.
Every time someone talked to her about Iono she got this excited.
"Iono is my favorite streamer," I nodded.
I watch her from time to time since I met her in person.
"And mine. I like watching her from time to time," Molly nodded.
"Two Iono fans! My luck is great!" Naria said excitedly.
"Ahem, I don't want to be rude, but… may I know what you want?" I asked.
Having a beauty like her talk to you is a privilege, and to be honest I'd like to have her in my harem, but I have an image to maintain.
"Right! This… I know it's wrong, but I recorded your Gym battle," Naria said.
"Excuse me? May I know why you did that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
First, before getting angry or saying anything harsh, I would listen to what the other party had to say and act accordingly.
"I… was walking around and out of curiosity I peeked through the Gym window and saw you battling the Gym Leader," Naria said.
"That doesn't answer my question," I said.
"I don't want to lie. Lately I haven't been doing very well on social media, so I thought that with a Gym battle my followers could increase, especially if that battle featured… such a handsome guy like you. But as I expected, I can't upload the video without the trainer's consent, so I followed you and waited until you were alone. But since that didn't happen… I simply approached before I lost the opportunity," Naria explained.
At least she's honest. That's something to appreciate. As for posting my battle on social media…