During the past week, Ash had been travelling between two cities to meet new friends and register for the upcoming Kalos League. He had arrived in Lumiose City with Pikachu, where he received the grass-like otter Chespin from the Kalos professor, Professor Sycamore. Along with the electric type and his new found buddy, he made his way towards Santalune City, where he caught a shy little bug Pokémon named Scatterbug and a rebellious tiny robin Pokémon named Fletchling. After two or so days, he challenged Viola, a bug type gym leader from the Santalune City Gym and won his first Kalos Badge valiantly. The ravenette planned on returning to Lumiose to challenge Clemont, an electric type gym leader from the Lumiose City Gym but little did he know that he was in for a big surprise upon arriving.

It was sad for him to go on his journey without farewelling his best friend and crush before leaving. Gary liked someone he didn't know. Correction: LOVED someone. He could have asked who but, knowing Gary, he probably wouldn't tell him as the sixteen year old hadn't been saying anything about this mysterious crush of his. Plus, he didn't really want to know. It was bad enough to have fallen in love with his best friend. He didn't want to know of any competition he was not willing to deal with. Ash was scared to show Gary the hurt in his eyes for knowing he cared for someone that wasn't him. Gosh, he was so stupid for even being jealous. He was the best friend. It wasn't as if they could be any more than that.

The Pikachu Trainer was trudging tiredly towards the end of Parterre Way, a route marked with colourful flowers and hedges that would then lead him to Lumiose City, an extravagant metropolis city of sorts. He hadn't gotten much sleep last night. He'd had a ridiculous nightmare about ghost Pokémon and Gary being in love with one and the ghost taking him far, far away to wherever ghost Pokémon lived to live happily ever after. Trust his mind to matchmake the Pokémon Researcher and his most hated Pokémon type.

Pikachu, who was perched upon Ash's left shoulder, tried to cheer the gloomy ravenette up by nuzzling into his cheek. "Pika-pi."

Ash smiled weakly, petting the thunder mouse on his head before whispering a faint, "I'm alright, buddy". He straightened up for a bit, took in a deep breath and threw an arm up in the air with a new found determination. There was no way he was going to sulk forever about this crush situation. He was going to be the greatest Pokemon master, he swore to Arceus, and win the upcoming Kalos League, whether he had Gary or not! Hmph!

"Well, Pikachu, we better win me that Lumiose City Badge now! Are you up for it?"

Pikachu's cheeks sparked up with glee. At least his trainer was finally smiling. He didn't like seeing Ash so down for Gary, and if only he could talk he would've told the boy that Gary loved him just as much. "Pika-pi! Pikachuu, chuu-Pikachuu!"

And with that reply, the two friends ran the last few hundred metres eagerly to Lumiose City, only to be stopped by a brown ball of fluff running towards them.

"Vee! Vee! Eevee-veeeee!"

The brown ball of fluff, also known as Eevee, trotted happily at the direction of the electric type and his trainer. Pikachu, upon recognizing the evolution Pokémon, quickly jumped off Ash's shoulder and greeted his friend with a playful game of running around in circles.

"Pikaaaaa!"

"Eeeveee-veee!"

Ash looked at their new visitor closely. Pikachu obviously knew the normal type, but Pikachu only knew one particular Eevee he was sure of. Said Pokémon had the same distinctive brown shade and twinkling licorice eyes that he could remember, which could mean only one thing...

"Hey Pikachu, is that Gary's Eevee?" Ash questioned, his heart rate speeding up quickly as he felt nervous of the thunder mouse's reply. If Gary's Eevee was here in Kalos, then Gary must be here too...

Instead of hearing a "Pika" from his yellow buddy, Eevee ran up to Ash, pawing at his blue jeans in an attempt to climb up the boy. Well, it was Gary's Eevee alright. She always greeted him with the nuzzling of his cheek.

Ash carried the Evolution Pokémon with ease and petted the normal type's furry collar lovingly. It was then that he felt a small but smooth papery thing placed in her collar, perhaps a forgotten note or something. The ravenette took it out and realized that it was a hidden Greet Mail, his name scrawled out on the envelope in elegant, cursive letters. Gary's handwriting, he thought, letting Eevee down on the ground so she could play with Pikachu once more.

It was an odd occurrence, really. First he meets Gary's Eevee in Kalos without her trainer, then Ash finds that Eevee was holding a Greet Mail addressed to him. If Eevee was in Kalos alone, then where was Gary supposed to be? Did he ask the brown furball to find Ash alone? Was the Pokémon Researcher in Lumiose City? Surely he was, as that was where the younger boy arrived via train from Nacrene City before making his way to Santalune City. He wouldn't just abandon Eevee in a new region. And if the brunette was here, then what was he here for? To conduct a new research perhaps? That was the most likely thing Gary would do anyway, since Ash knew for sure that the emerald-eyed best friend of his wouldn't dare go on a raiding party to search for HIM. Oh no, Gary would never do that. They were best friends, but Gary liked someone else. There was no use in hoping the seventeen year old would think of their relationship as more than just that.

But what was the mail for then? He was so confused. Bother, he wouldn't be so flustered if he wasn't so into Gary. Why did he feel so doubtful and confused from just seeing Eevee? Or more like, why did he have to fall in love with Gary in the first place? There were so many questions in his mind, and not enough answers to reassure him. Not even advice could help him now. Ash just had to open the mail to find out then. Better to get it done and over with - he had a gym battle to attend to shortly.

"Ash, I'm sure you're wondering what this is for. And why my Eevee isn't with me. Well, by the time you read this, I'll be sitting on a chair at the top most level of the Prism Tower. It's a nice view here, to be honest. Clemont is really quite the inventor and designer of this beautiful gym. Anyway, I figured I wouldn't see you in another one and a half years, so let me visit you on your journey for a while before the time you return to Pallet again. I'll be joining a team in researching Mega Evolution soon, so I may not have any more free time after that.

I'll get to the point, Ashy-boy. You left without a goodbye, and you didn't even know I would miss you so. Don't ever leave without farewelling me again! I want to tell you something, Ashy, and it concerns a sensitive topic. But I won't say it in this letter. I want you to play a game with me. I just hope you're willing to hear what I have to say and join, and I'll know that you are willing to if you choose to step into Lumiose.

The task is rather easy. I'll be sending you on a kind of scavenger hunt, really. There will be ten Pokémon to find around Lumiose, all holding Heart Mails with one sentence in it and the next place to visit. You have to find them all IN ORDER and piece together all the sentences. I trust you have a map of Lumiose City? If not, just ask a Gogoat to take you where you need to go.

This is important. You must remember the name of the Pokemon that has the mail. Write it down at the back of this letter so you won't forget just in case. Do whatever, just make sure you remember those names, you get me? Follow the directions on the mail you find, alright?

Have fun, my Ashy. I'll be meeting you at the Prism Tower once you're finished. Goodluck.

Gary

PS. Go to Vert Plaza first. The Pokémon and her trainer will be waiting for you. Oh, and can you please take Eevee with you? She missed having you and Pikachu around."

After reading the rather interesting letter, Ash was intrigued with delight. Gary really did come to Lumiose to find him. But what was so important for the brunette to say that he couldn't just call him or send him an overseas letter? But then again, he hadn't been picking up Gary's recent Holo Caster calls. That must be why the seventeen year old NEEDED to come to Kalos. Once again, everything was his fault for being an idiotic and ignorant person.

He turned to Eevee and Pikachu with a smile and carried them on his shoulders. "I guess the battle will have to wait, Pikachu. Eevee's probably told you of Gary's plan, and so I'll have to play along with his game for now. You'll support me right?"

"Pika-pi!"

"Vee-veeeeee!"

"Good! Well, Vert Plaza, here we go then!"

And off they went to complete the scavenger hunt, hoping to figure out the importance behind the Pokémon Researcher's actions.

In an almost nearby tower, the same Pokémon Researcher could be heard sighing as he looked out into the view of a prosperous city, wishing deeply in his heart with a hand on a box that this plan to confess would be as successful as he hoped it would be.

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A.N: OwO

I wonder...

*squeals in the background as she starts thinking*