Meeting the Hales
Ash was not pouting, not at all, he was just really worried. He had talked to Red a few days ago during his weekly call and his older brother looked haunted by something. He wanted to ask him so badly what it was but refrained from doing so, hoping Red would tell him. Gary was no less better than him in the situation. He had complained to Ash about his brother having dark circles under his eyes. Green who always cared about how he looked had dark circles. Blasphemy! Ash looked up from his assignment, looking outside at the busy field, a month ago the Professor had them write an exam like he did every few months. This time however it was not just any exam.
The two of them had cleared Junior School with really good marks and now they were Junior High students. They had both been baffled by it but after a few minutes ecstatic. Red and Green had been very proud of them but looking at the older siblings condition kinda put a dampener on the mood. Gary wanted Green and Red home for the celebration and Ash agreed with him on it. Their brothers had been working hard for six months now and they deserve a break. Sabrina agreed under the condition Green took some of the younger students with him while Riley on the other hand had to literally drag Red from the training grounds back to his home.
Riley gave a sigh as they saw the town that had become a third home for him now, "Here we are."
Red glared at his tutor, "You had to drag me? People were looking at us weird... And I would have come anyway."
Riley gave a shit eating grin, "Of course, my darling student ~ Funny how both you and your lover keep procrastinating the visit though."
If looks could kill, Riley would be dead, ten times over. The Aura Guardian simply grabbed Red and started to pull him towards the town again. Red sighed and let his tutor do what he wanted knowing full well, he would find a way to do it. His new Pikachu whom he had caught in the wild watched her trainer and the strange teacher, her trainer had very curiously. Lucario sighed at his partners antics before picking Pikachu up and running after them.
Pikachu held on to Lucario's shoulder, -Are humans always so weird?-
Lucario snorted, -Only with those they care about.-
Pikachu, -Huh! Weird!-
Lucario, -You get used to it.-
As they moved down the path they came across Green who was walking with two younger girls and a boy that looked similar to him in age. Red brightened up on seeing him and jogged up to greet him. Green gave a smile seeing Red once again, getting curious looks from the three younger kids who never saw their senior smile that way. They were curious who the new person was.
Red hugged Green, "Green, I missed you! How have you been?"
Green much to the shock of the three kids hugged back, "Red, I missed you too. I'm okay... Well as okay as I will be. How are you? Is that your new Pikachu?"
Red smiled, "Yeah! She wouldn't stop following us after she saw us train. I offered her a place on my team and she accepted."
Green, "Cool. Ah! Let me introduce you to these three. These beautiful lovely ladies are twins, Tsukki and Yuki Takahashi. This handsome guy here is Harvey Dent."
Yuki blushed hiding behind her older sister, "Hello."
Tsukki smiled, "Nice to meet you."
Harvey was a little pink, "So you are Red. Green always talked about you. It's nice to finally meet you."
Red smiled, "Pleasure is mine. This here is my tutor, Riley Gen."
Riley smiled, "Hello kiddos ~"
The group walked towards the town together talking about their Pokemon, adventures, the trouble Team Rocket caused them. Harvey told Red how Green had saved his older sister from getting raped by some of the grunts from Team Rocket. Red looked at Green with pride making the brunette blush a bit. Riley chimed in with his own story of how Red had come up with a plan to defeat Team Rocket in Mt Moon. Red had huffed saying it was teamwork but Green had smiled at him impressed so he didn't refute it that much. A little observation that Riley filed away for later.
They soon reached the town and Harvey sighed, "We are here. Phew, I never thought journey on foot would be exhausting. That too just from Viridian to Pallet."
Green laughed, "Do you understand now why your P. T.s are necessary?"
Tsukki giggles at Harvey's pink face, "Let's go. I want to meet your younger siblings."
Red laughed as he led the way to his home which was pretty next door to the Oak's, "This way."
Yuki looked around curiously, "This place is so lively."
Red knocked before entering, "Mom, I'm back. Guess who I brought along."
Delia looked out of the kitchen, "Red? My baby, you are back."
Mr Mime, -Welcome back!-
Delia hugged Red as he laughed before turning to Green, "Welcome back Green, Riley. Who are your young friends?"
Green smiled warmly, "It's good to be back. These are my juniors, Tsukki and Yuki, they are twins and this young man is Harvey Dent."
Delia smiled, "Welcome, welcome! The more the merrier! Why don't you wash up? We can all go to the ranch together."
Delia got a chorus of 'Okays', before she sent off the dishes filled with food to the ranch. The helpers were all excited about the party, it had been a while since the last one. Red and the others came down after half an hour, they had all changed from travel clothes into casual party wear. Red was grinning as he pulled Green along with him, though the brunette didn't seem to mind much. Delia laughed as she followed them beside Riley, who was telling her about how Red had met his newest Pokemon, Pikachu.
Delia giggled, "They are definitely brothers."
Riley smirked, "They match too."
They soon made it to the ranch where they were greeted by music and the Professor's Blissey, who welcomed them. Tsukki and Yuki had stars in their eyes as they watched the healing Pokemon direct the other Pokemon with ease. Harvey grabbed his friends and walked after the two older boys towards the party. Once they were outside, they had decided to release the Pokemon so they could enjoy the party and mingle with the other Pokemon.
Red's Pikachu got off from Lucario, his Snivy was a Servine now and Charmander was Charmeleon, while Green's Fennekin had evolved into a Braxien while Kadavra finally evolved into its final form Alakazam and Squirtle was now a Wartotle. Riley let his Milotic and Houndoom out as well to enjoy the party. Harvey released his Solosis and Psyduck while, Tsukki took out her Munna and Yuki her Mr Mime. The Pokemon looked around before joining the others at the Poke corner where tables of Pokefood and items were kept for them.
Red looked around, "Where's Ash and Gary? Aren't they supposed to be here? This party is for them."
Delia, "For them and you and Green too. We couldn't just not celebrate your successful apprenticeship."
Rosalind walked over hugging Green, "Welcome back, sweet cake. And Lia is correct. You didn't think we would not celebrate your successes now did you?"
Green looked away, "That's nice mom, but you know Red and I don't like crowds."
Rosalind laughed, "If you plan on becoming Champions, then you better start getting used to crowds from now though."
Green pouted, "I'll find a mountain to hide on."
Delia laughed, "If you want to know then, your brothers are right now in one of the upper rooms. On the second floor, they are taking online classes as well.... Rosie and I don't feel comfortable letting them stay alone away from home at such a young age."
Red perked up, "Ash got enrolled in Vermillion Junior High while Gary got enrolled in Celadon Junior High, right?"
Rosalind nodded, "They wanted to compare two different schools so."
Green, "Is class still in session?"
Delia looked at her watch, "It should be over by now. They are probably finishing their assignments. Like they usually do whenever they get them or... "
Riley who was listening quietly looked curious, "Or what?.... Don't tell me they are socially awkward too?"
Delia gave him a small smile, "A bit, yes they are."
Riley sighed, "We will get them. Let's go."
Red ran after Riley, "Riley? Wait a minute!"
Green ran after them, "Hey, wait up!"
Delia turned to the three left behind, "Why don't you three help us out with the decorations? There is still an hour before the party starts."
Harvey, Tsukki and Yuki smiled and agreed to the suggestion going after the bright woman. Rosalind shook her head when she saw how easily her friend charmed everyone around her, she sometimes wondered how she would have turned out if she had become a trainer. She went to the banquet area to make sure everything was going fine before deciding to call her husband and tell him Green was home. Her poor husband almost had a heart attack when he heard Green was fighting with Team Rocket. She frowned thinking about how she had almost lost her baby before smiling again, a quiet promise being made in that smile.
Riley meanwhile had reached the lab, "Hello Professor."
Samuel turned, "Ah! If it isn't Red's tutor, the elusive Aura Guardian himself."
Riley grinned, "Yup, that's me ~"
Red sighed before greeting the man, "Hello Professor."
Green hugged the older man, "I'm back Gramps."
Samuel hugged Green before looking him over, "Welcome back. You had us all worried you know."
Red ducked his head, "We're fine, Professor."
Green nodded, "Yeah Gramps! You should have seen the other guy."
Samuel shook his head, "It doesn't stop us from worrying son. We could have lost you."
Red sobered, "Do they know?"
Samuel looked contemplative, "Who knows? They might know something but they are not talking. They are probably waiting for you to say something about it first. You know very well that outside of each other, you and Green are the only people they share their secrets with."
Green smiled a little smug at that, "Let's go get them. We can't have a party for them if they are not there."
Red smiled but before they could go, the door opened and two blurs ran out tackling him and Green to the ground. Riley snickered and stood next to the Professor as he watched the four children fondly. Ash and Gary had seen the older boys talk to Professor Oak and had promptly run down to greet them, forgetting about their reluctance to join the party.
Ash grinned at Red, "Welcome back."
Gary snuggled with Green, "We missed you."
Red gave a carefree laugh holding his baby brother, "I'm back."
Riley sighed in relief. Samuel decided to ask the Aura Guardian on what happened later, for now though. It was time for the party to start.
Green got up holding the snuggling child close to him, "Hey, sorry, we worried you."
Gary shook his head, "Do not apologize. It was not your fault. It was never your fault."
Green relaxed before he and Red got up and along with Riley walked towards the party which was now in full swing. Red smiled watching the festivities with his brother, it was comforting. As they moved around the party grounds, Delia called for them.
Delia, "Red, Ash, come here! I want you to meet someone."
Ash looked curiously at the three people that Red seems to recognize, "Yes Mama."
Delia smiled, "Boys, this is my cousin,and your Uncle Spencer Hale, his wife Betty Hale and their baby daughter Molly Hale. They live in Greenfield in the Jhoto region."
Aah brightened, "Nice to meet you."
Spencer laughed, "Wonderful to meet you too, young man."
Betty smiled, "It's always good to meet family."
Red smiled, "Hello Molly."
The baby in Spencer's arms blinked before yawning and promptly fell asleep. The adults cooed while the younger ones giggled, Delia offered to set them up in the nursery while they were here so Molly could sleep peacefully. Betty took the sleeping Molly and went with her while Spencer stayed back to mingle with the others. Gary looked at the older man curiously, he had no idea Ash had family outside of Kanto and it seems Ash didn't know either, he could easily tell how curious his best friend was as well. Red and Green huffed out a laugh when they saw the curious looks the young boys had.