Sigh...
Ash sighed, the weight of the impending shopping trip already settling on his shoulders like a ton of Snorlax.
Ash sighed as he tagged along with the Enthusiastic group of his Wives.
Wives huh...
Ash mumbled Inwardly.
'I guess It's the job of every husband to accompany his wife to shopping'.
It's not like he had a choice anyway, given the collective "you're coming, right?" look he received earlier, a look that brooked no argument.
But...
The chaos of shopping.
And having to carry the seemingly endless bags filled with who-knows-what because of being the designated guy.
Well it won't be too bad right.
Ash inwardly hoped.
He tried to sound optimistic in his mind, but a shiver of apprehension, as persistent as a wild Rattata, ran down his spine.
"Atleast I got You three with me".
Ash said as he looked up at the trio of his Pokemon walking beside him, their presence a small anchor in the swirling vortex of estrogen that surrounded him.
Gible And the two Charmanders X and Y echoed in agreement, their cheerful cries a small comfort amidst Ash's inner turmoil.
"Gib! Gib!"
"Char!"
"Char!"
"Ash what are you doing? Come quickly!"
Serena shouted from ahead, her voice laced with a hint of impatience and a playful pout, her hand waving beckoningly.
"Okay okay I am coming"...
Ash jogged to catch up with the group, his three Pokémon trotting faithfully by his side, their little legs working hard to keep pace.
Soon they were in front of a building.
The building had a sleek, modern design with a large, shimmering sign displaying the name: Abra Teleportations.
Abra teleportations.
It was a major Company which has branches In every place in the world.
Enabling Smooth and quick transportation.
The sign pulsed with a soft, psychic energy, a gentle hum emanating from within the building.
Though Teleportations aren't supposed to cross regions.
Ash frowned slightly, remembering Professor Oak's lectures about the territorial nature of Pokémon and the limitations of their psychic abilities.
This company made it possible by connecting psychic networks among different branches.
It was a marvel of modern technology, utilizing the unique abilities of Psychic-type Pokémon in a way that Professor Oak had only theorized about.
It made teleportations accessible throughout the world.
No more long journeys by foot or ship; instant travel was now a reality, shrinking the vast world of Pokémon.
"We didn't have that in my past Timeline right?".
Ash mused a bit confused, scratching his head, his brow furrowed in thought.
He distinctly remembered long, arduous journeys across various regions, filled with challenges and unexpected encounters.
"Ash are you not coming inside?".
Cynthia softly questioned him from beside, her gentle voice cutting through his thoughts, her blue eyes filled with a hint of concern.
"Ah I am coming just distracted by something".
Ash replied, rubbing his head with a slightly embarrassed smile, then headed inside the building, the futuristic interior a stark contrast to the familiar world he knew.
The interior was spacious and brightly lit, with several teleportation platforms humming softly, emitting a faint, pleasant scent of ozone.
Unbeknown to ash The reason such a major teleportation company is available now is because of one simple reason.
Fate, it seemed, had a hand in even the mundane aspects of his life these days, orchestrating events in ways he couldn't yet comprehend.
It's because Palkia is not being a slacker and properly maintaining the fabric of Space.
The Legendary Pokémon of Space was diligently fulfilling its cosmic duties, ensuring the stability of the very dimensions.
Before in the past both palkia and dialga always fought regularly obstructing any possible psychic connection and network to be established.
Their constant clashes warped the very fabric of space and time, making long-distance psychic communication nearly impossible and hindering the development of such advanced teleportation technology.
Only Machines and pokeballs could be teleported, their physical forms somehow shielded from the temporal distortions caused by the legendary dragons' squabbles.
Humans, however, were far more susceptible to these spatial anomalies.
Now because space-time is more stable no problem is faced with the teleportation of humans.
The world had become significantly smaller and more interconnected, traveling between regions now as simple as stepping onto a platform.
"So where would you like to go Sir and madams".
An old gentleman with a neatly trimmed white beard and a kind smile said, his gaze sweeping over the group, his eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement at their large number.
An old gentleman with an Abra on his shoulder said standing before a teleportation platform, the Psychic-type Pokémon calmly observing the group with its large, intelligent eyes.
"Celadon city"
May said with an excited grin, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet, her anticipation for the shopping trip palpable.
And the gentleman nodded, his smile widening slightly at her enthusiasm, clearly used to excited shoppers.
The Abra on his shoulder blinked its large eyes and gave a small psychic nod, as if acknowledging their destination.
"Please stand on the platform. I will initiate the teleportation".
He said curtly but with a polite tone, gesturing towards the glowing circular platform with a wave of his hand.
"Got it"
Everyone stood on the platform, bunching together slightly, a mix of excitement and slight nervousness in the air.
Everyone stood on the platform and the gentleman did something on the computer.
The old gentleman tapped a few keys on a holographic keyboard, and the platform began to hum with increasing energy, a soft blue light emanating from beneath their feet.
Then waved at them.
He gave them a reassuring wave, a silent wish for a pleasant journey conveyed through his kind eyes.
"Have a safe trip".
Then in a blink of an eye the surroundings changed a bit differently but in a similar place.
One moment they were in the bustling lobby of the Pallet Town branch, the next they were in a similar but subtly different space, the transition seamless and instantaneous.
It's the Celadon City Branch Of the company.
The air in the Celadon City branch felt slightly different, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers and a hint of perfume, a testament to the city's floral reputation.
"Welcome to Celadon City Branch of Abra teleportations".
A elderly Gentleman with an Abra on his shoulder greeted, his voice warm and welcoming.
He looked remarkably similar to the previous gentleman, with the same kind smile and gentle eyes, suggesting a strong family resemblance.
But Ash already realised the Reason.
'Of course what other than They being cousins or brothers'.
It was a common occurrence in the world of Pokémon, these families with shared talents and appearances, like the Officer Jennys and Nurse Joys.
"Same Thing with Joy and Jenny Family".
Ash mused, a small smile playing on his lips as he observed the familiar pattern, a sense of comfort in the predictability.
"Huh? Did you call me Ash?"
Lina asked, tilting her head from behind, her pink hair swaying slightly as they walked outside the building and onto the busy Celadon City street, the sounds of city life washing over them.
Ash began thinking of an excuse quickly.
His mind raced, trying to come up with a plausible explanation for his mumbled words, his cheeks flushing slightly.
"Nothing just thinking How cute you are"
But Accidentally Let out his inner thoughts about her.
The words slipped out before he could catch them, a genuine, albeit accidental, compliment.
Which made Lina Blush, her cheeks turning a lovely shade of rose, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Ah okay" she stumbled a bit, a surprised and flustered expression on her face, her hand instinctively reaching up to touch her cheek.
She tried to regain her composure and speed up to catch up with the most excited Girls Serena and May, who were already chattering animatedly about their shopping plans, their voices filled with infectious enthusiasm.
But inwardly she thought "Ash You Stupid Idiot you can't just compliment me out of nowhere".
Her heart did a little flutter despite her embarrassment, a warm feeling spreading through her chest.
Can't help It was the First Compliment she ever got From Ash.
It was a simple, unintentional compliment, but it meant more than he could possibly know, lingering in her thoughts like a sweet melody.
"Oops did I mess up" Ash sweat dropped, realizing the awkwardness of the situation and the slight widening of Cynthia's eyes beside him.
He scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit foolish and wishing he could take back his slip of the tongue.
.....
In Front of the Celadon Department store.
The largest and most famous department store in the city loomed before them, its many floors promising a shopper's paradise filled with the latest fashions and goods.
The Group Of Ketchum Family were standing.
The girls were practically vibrating with excitement, their eyes wide with anticipation as they gazed at the towering building.
The girls were excited for the Shopping spree.
But Ash was Already Exhausted.
The mere thought of navigating the crowded aisles and waiting outside fitting rooms for what felt like an eternity was enough to drain his energy and fill him with a sense of impending doom.
He longed for the simplicity of a Pokémon battle, the thrill of adventure, or even just a quiet walk in the woods with His Pokemon.
"Ahh When will she come I am tired of waiting".
Misty exclaimed in frustration, tapping her foot impatiently on the sidewalk, her arms crossed over her chest.
Dawn nodded in agreement, her expression mirroring Misty's impatience, her usual cheerful smile replaced with a slight frown.
Dawn nodded.
"Wait a Bit. She'll arrive In a bit".
Serena said reassuringly, checking her phone as if willing that person to appear sooner through the sheer force of her desire.
Ash became confused by the talk.
He glanced around, noticing the expectant looks on the girls' faces and the hushed whispers amongst them.
It seems he still didn't know They were actually Waiting for Someone.
"Who are we waiting for?"
Ash questioned, his curiosity finally getting the better of him, his confusion evident in his voice.
"Ah we didn't get to tell you right? Sorry".
May apologised with a sheepish grin, her hand reaching out to playfully punch Ash on the arm.
"We were too busy planning our shopping strategy," she added with a wink, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"We are actually waiting for Erika to join us. After all, it's her Home Ground".
May explained, gesturing towards the street with a flourish.
Erika???
It finally clicked For Ash.
His eyes widened slightly in realization, another name adding itself to the ever-growing list in his head.
.... Another!!!
The list of his… Wives… seemed to be ever-expanding, each new addition bringing a fresh wave of bewilderment and a touch of panic.
It's not like he doesn't know he is engaged or should we say married to Erika as well.
He had met the girl a few times in his memory of this time, a sweet and elegant Young Lady with a fondness for Grass-type Pokémon.
But It's more Formal About her than the girls here.
Their relationship felt more like a formal agreement, a polite arrangement, than the close bonds he shared with the others, which were often filled with playful teasing and heartfelt moments.
After all they only met a couple of times, their interactions are always polite and somewhat reserved.
His main concern is.
His practical mind immediately went to the most pressing issue, the one that truly mattered in this moment of impending retail therapy.
'I wouldn't have to carry things right?'
He inwardly prayed, his eyes glancing at the already substantial number of bags the girls were likely to accumulate.
Then he realised something.
A thought struck him, a question that had been nagging at the back of his mind.
"I am surprised You Girls have contact with each other".
Ash questioned, genuinely curious about the dynamics of this unusual group and how they managed to coordinate everything.
"Well duh! We needed to Know and manage your Harem after all. Can't depend on you for that!"
May teased playfully, nudging Ash with her elbow and winking conspiratorially at the other girls.
"We even made a Server on PokeCord To Share every information and also chat with others".
Serena added with a nod, pulling out her phone and showing him the app icon with a smug smile.
Information....
Ash's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his mind reeling at the implications.
"What do you mean by Information?"
Ash questioned, a hint of nervousness creeping into his voice, his eyes darting between the girls.
"Umu about you and especially everything about you".
Dawn added thoughtfully, her gaze a little too knowing for Ash's comfort, a mischievous glint in her bright blue eyes.
Ash had a blank expression.
His mind went completely blank for a moment, trying to process this unexpected revelation.
'ah there goes my privacy as well'.
He imagined a digital dossier filled with his most embarrassing moments, his quirky habits, and every silly thing he had ever said.
"Why are you only focusing on him? It's also for all members to share their interest, You know".
Misty commented with a sigh, rolling her eyes slightly at the others' fascination with Ash, a hint of her competitive spirit surfacing.
"Actually, how about adding ash?" Cynthia said calmly, her voice cutting through the playful banter with its usual authoritative tone.
"It seems rude not to add the person we are talking about,"
She said logically, her usual composed demeanor in place, her gaze meeting Ash's for a brief moment, a subtle smile gracing her lips.
But...
Her real intention was to Talk with Ash, to have another way to connect with him and perhaps understand his sometimes baffling thought process.
'Hehe I can talk with hubby even without staying right beside him.'
She inwardly thought, a small, secret smile playing on her lips, her fingers already hovering over her phone screen.
"Well, We can talk about that later. I can already see Erika approaching from Afar".
Green said, her sharp eyes spotting their missing member in the distance, to make them aware of the new addition, her voice practical and observant as always.
"Ah sorry Everyone I am late! I had to attend a tea ceremony,"
Erika said, her voice soft and melodious as she approached the group, a serene smile gracing her elegant features, her presence radiating a calming aura.
But her eyes looked at ash a bit curiously, a hint of something unreadable in their depths, a flicker of intrigue in her usually placid gaze.