Ash, "Ruby, welcome bac.. You look like shit."
Ruby, "Gee thanks, I feel like one too."
Gou, "Ruby is back. Dang! It is past midnight. I will grab something for you to eat."
Ruby, "You had a call and your own meetings."
Ash, "It went as well as you'd expect. Some of the Gym Leaders like Grant, Ramos and Riley's dear distant Korrina insists I should travel in Kalos. Others like Olympia, Viola and Wulfric support my decision to travel other regions."
Ruby, "Korrina is probably feeling protective. You are Riley's student, so she probably thinks of you as family already."
Ash, "Maybe, Aura can be weird that way. From what Riley told me Korrina's Aura is similar to a kick boxer. Hence her closeness to fighting type Pokemon. She is a battler Aura user, while I am a power booster."
Gou came in with a piping tray, "It is so weird to hear you talk about yourself that way. It is like you are describing an evolution stone."
Ash, "Yeah? I guess it is, but then again I did get Diance to raise so maybe it is not a far off assumption."
Ruby paused midbite, "I did get Orion's egg after I stopped Groudon and Kyogre from another fight successfully. The Alpha Rayquaza had been observing me and was very impressed apparently."
Ash nodded, "I guess that would be a good advertisement to Rayquaza about capabilities."
Gou, "Speaking of Orion, have you heard about the LaRousse City observation tower?"
Ruby, "Yes, it is being built to observe the night sky located a few miles from the City."
Ash, "I think we should visit. It will be fun."
Ruby nodded, "Definitely, by the way, the Hoenn Gym Leaders did not give you a hard time, did they?"
Ash smiled, "No, they did not. They were mostly worried about us, especially after hearing the news."
Ruby finished his dinner after a few minutes, "Makes sense, the smoking tower attracted a lot of media attention."
Gou, "I am more impressed by how you handled it."
Ruby smirked, "I had practice ever since I was a kid. My parents would not let me step out of the house otherwise."
Ash, "Ah! Have they called?"
Ruby, "They did to ask about my safety but aside from that they do not care. As long as their prodigal son is alive and in one piece."
Gou, "Oh! That's kinda cold, isn't it?"
Ruby shrugged, "I am used to it. Honestly speaking, I consider Wallace and Steven my actual parents at this point."
Ash smiled at the last part, "I think they consider you their kid too, Ruby. They were pretty worried about you during the call. The only reason they were not here physically with you is because of the meeting they have to deal with."
Ruby, "Tomorrow, I want to stop by somewhere first. It is an old friend's farm."
Gou perked up, "A farm? Awesome, think we can get some fresh produce?"
Ruby, "I will give them a heads up before sleeping. We should got to bed and I appreciate you waited for me. Next time though just sleep, yeah?"
Ash, "We do not mind, right Gou?"
Gou, "Yeah, you are our friend, Ruby. Even if we do go to bed early, rest will not come easy because we worry about you."
Ruby ruffled both their hair, "You two are too sweet. Well then good night."
Gou pouted at his hair being messed up, "Night!"
Ash, "See you tomorrow."
Ash joined his Pokemon who were snuggling together on his bed and different places around the room. Ash chuckled seeing Lucario get snuggled by Diance and little Lugia on the portable bed he uses. Absol was looking at him sleepily from the bed as Ash climbed up and laid down patting him gently. Abra was floating fast asleep above Ralts who was also sleeping inside a bubble made for her by Abra. The next day May, Max and Molly were discussing which route to take over breakfast. Ruby was humming and giving points and telling them about places they could catch a break and grab a bite in after travelling for a bit. The area was actually pretty well used by trainers of all kinds and one of his friends had a pretty popular farm on one of the routes. That caught Ash and Gou's interest and they chimed in they should go through the farm route, as it usually means fresh produce.
May, "Well, we need more raw ingredients. What farm is it?"
Ruby, "A watermelon farm. They grow other crops too but it prides in being the largest watermelon producer."
Max, "Oooh! That farm? May we have to go. It is where mom gets her watermelons for summer from.'
May nodded, "Fresh watermelons here we come."
Ash, "Great, let's go!"
Ruby, "Wattson wants to meet us first. Come on!"
Wattson was waiting for them at the Gym, "Ah! Kids you are here."
Ash was curious, "Is something going on Mr Wattson?'
Wattson, "No, no, nothing. I just wanted to ask a favour from you kids."
Gou, "Oh! What sort of favour?"
Wattson, "Ruby mentioned you kids have taken care of poke eggs and very successfully at that."
Max puffed up, "Yes sir, we did our best."
May, "Why is that important?"
Wattson, "Well I have four poke eggs here, and no time to care for them. The breeding centre is already at it's limit so they are out of the question."
Ruby, "Last month was the electric type breeding season. Let's just say it was pretty successful season."
Ash, "Oh! Well, my poke egg just hatched a few weeks ago. So, I will decline for now."
Wattson looked at the young Ralts being being held, "I understand, young Pokemon require attention. Especially when you have more than one."
Ash smiled, "Yes, especially then."
Gou, "I don't mind taking one. It has been a while for me."
May, "Me too."
Max pouted, "My roster is full. So, I cannot legally take one either."
Molly, "It will be my first time but I will try my best."
Ruby, "I will take the last one. I know my Pokemon will be happy to have a baby to pamper after three years."
Wattson, "Perfect! Thank you, truly. I was worried I would not find someone to care for them."
The group fussed over the poke eggs they were receiving while Ralts was looking at them curiously. Abra was telling her she was a poke egg too before she was born making Ralts look fascinated. Max's Kirlia was cooing over their new additions, though they were not joining his clutch they were still an extended family. Ash though was wondering if he should catch another electric type, he only had Pikachu so far. Yes, he is an undeniable power house, with the ability to knock down Legendary Pokemon if he put his mind to it. Ash wonders if he could take another adorable electric type and make it scary for the rest of the world to see. His Pikachu certainly makes other trainers wary especially with his speed and electric attacks that seemed to ignore typing rules.
Ash, 'Something to think about in the future.'
Ruby, "That is a cute older Molly."
Molly, "Thank you, mom brought it for me, just before I joined Ash."
Ash, "It suits you Molly. Looks like she chose the same colour as your eyes and hair."
May, "Very cute."
Gou, "I wonder what they will hatch into. I am actually excited."
Max, "Yeah, having new Pokemon hatch would be so cool."
Ash smiled as they travelled and May requested his help with evolving her Silcoon into a Beautifly. She was getting a little worried her Wrumple had taken so long to evolve to begin with, bug types never took that long. Ash had hummed and advised her not to worry as his Caterpie took his sweet time to evolve as well. His Butterfree was no push over either and could kick anyone's ass if provoked. That calmed May down though she still fussed over Silcoon who just eye smiled at her then turned his attention towards the poke egg that was now part of their group. That night Ralts was too excited to sleep which made Diance too excited to settle down. Lucario was getting exasperated and looked at Ash who chuckled and decided to sing a very old tune he remembers from a game. Maybe it was the new addition or perhaps it was the full moon in the sky that triggered the memory. Ash started to sing Aria from Genshin Impact getting the attention of his Pokemon especially Diance who was enthralled.
Ash sighed mumbling as they went to sleep, "Lullabies are supposed to make sleep easier. so, why was Diance more excited."
Lucario snorted, -Probably because it was a very enchanting tune, Meema. Get some sleep.-
Ruby stared in his direction from where he was before turning around, 'Emerald would like that song. I should ask Ash to teach me.'
Molly, "What was the song you sang last night?"
Ash, "Last night? Ah! The lullaby for Ralts and Diance, you mean."
Max, "It was soothing."
Ash smiled, "It was a song of the moon sisters. A very old story."
May, "Local legend? Because I have never heard of it."
Lucario, -No, it is a bedtime story Meema made for us.-
Ash, 'Thanks Lucario.'
Ruby, "Sounds like something I want to listen to as well. Would you share it with us sometime, if you are okay with it."
Ash, "Sure why not. It is more of a draft, really. I never got into organizing and stream lining it. It was for the baby Pokemon, especially baby Lucario."
Lucario smirked amused, -It was nice.-
Molly, "Um.. Can you sing it again tonight, please?"
Ash, "Okay, but you have to promise to sleep."
Max, "Promise!"
May, "Yeah!"
Ash smiled, it belonged to a game he was barely able to play before he was thrust into this world but still remembered fondly. The fondness was mostly from the beautiful music and how it sent literal goosebumps yet calmed him down. He wonders how far that game has gotten now, maybe new characters or new regions. Ruby then announced they were at his friend's farm introducing them to a very energetic farm girl called Natasha. She was very proud of her farm and work as she showed them her farm and it's produce very proudly. Her giant Electrodes were standing guard over the farm and watching the borders vigilantly. Apparently, some thieves had been trying to steal her watermelons but since the thieves were Pokemon and not human she was letting her Electrodes decide what to do with them.
Natasha, "As much as I do not like being stolen from, those Pokemon are just trying to survive."
Ash nodded, "Yeah, that's true. I still wonder what would have prompted the Pokemon to steal from your farm."
Natasha, "I do not know. I am not a Detective though I have given the officer a heads up about the situation. He said he would investigate and get back to me."
Max, "You don't think it is a group of abandoned Pokemon, do you?"
Natasha frowned, "I hope not. If it is, I have a lot to say to those irresponsible trainers."
May, "Can we buy some fresh produce in the meantime? We will pay of course."
Natasha, "Absolutely! Customers are always welcome. I also sell at a discounted compared to the big market."
Molly, "Cool! That is most appreciated."
Natasha, "I noticed you have poke eggs with you. Do you know the typing?"
May, "We are pretty sure they are mostly electric types."
Natasha, "Figures! Especially with the booming season that happened. Heck! My Electrodes increased in number too because of it. I am not complaining of course."
Ash chuckled, "More bodyguards?"
Natasha, "Yes! No, fresh produce is this way. I have something for baby electric types too as I have taken care of them as well."
Ruby, "We appreciate this Nat. Thank you."