บท 16: RV

A/N: After thinking about it. I decided to add her. Why? I don't know myself. I just want her to join. So, I asked myself. Why am I writing this fanfic in the first place? Isn't it because I want Ash to have a massive Harem of all the girls that were left unattended by the original series?

I know many of you don't like my decision. But who cares. It's my decision that matters.

After burning most of my brain cells, I was left with an answer. I can't leave Giselle. Period.

Why do I ask if I want her in the end? Welp, I was trying to get an idea from you. After all, your ideas can also help me.

........

After the small battle between Ash and Giselle. The result was even more pitiful than Team Rocket blasting off. Her pokemon Cubone got knocked out before it could inflict damage to its opponent.

Giselle was looking despondent. Before the battle, She was slightly confident she would win but never would have thought it was a one-sided battle. Her knowledge about pokemon is vast but she lacks experience.

Ash inwardly sighed after the battle. He was watching Giselle's expression and didn't know what to do. To tell the truth, Ash doesn't know how to console girls.

He approaches Giselle and said with slight hesitation."That was a good battle."

Giselle turns her head to Ash and plainly said. "Don't flatter me. It was a one-sided battle and I lost terribly. I don't need your sympathy..."

"..." Ash scratches his cheek helplessly.

"Though, I appreciate your attempt. I now have a slight understanding of why that tomboy falls for you. She was relatively a runt from what I remember, Now I saw her again she's like an idiot clinging onto you." Giselle smiles a little as she shook hands with Ash. It's a common courtesy after the pokemon battle.

Ash held her hands for a few seconds and feel her smooth and slender hands. He reluctantly let go of her.

"Thank you, Ash Ketchum, for broadening my mind. I always thought you only need the knowledge to become a pokemon master. Now I know that what I lack. This place wouldn't be able to help me for so long." Giselle look up and sighed. She reminiscing the past where she studies hard enough to know every pokemon to become a pokemon master. "I'm thinking of leaving this place."

"..." Ash listened to her quietly. It was the best he shouldn't do it but Ash can't help it. He opened his mouth.

"Giselle, you said you want a favor from me after you've won, right?"

Giselle slowly snaps out from her thought and look at Ash before nodding.

"Can I ask what is it?" Ash.

"..." Giselle just stared at Ash without answering. She was hesitant to tell him now she lost.

"It was a stupid favor to level up my ego. I planned to use the battle if I win, I wanted you to break up with Misty. Honestly, If I think clearly about it, it was because I'm annoyed with Misty, she is always ahead of me." In the end, Giselle confessed everything. As they say, the loser is the bandit and the winner is the king.

"I see." Ash nods in understanding.

"You understand?" Giselle is confused. She didn't think this boy would understand her.

"Well, I have a childhood friend who has a strong rivalry against me. Because of that the two of us became rivals, we would do anything just to win against each other." Ash also shared his experience of what he and Gary did in the past.

"So we're the same, huh?" Giselle mused. Didn't think she could find a comrade.

"You said you would leave this place, are you going on a journey perhaps?" Ash suddenly asked her. Truthfully, Ash wanted her to go with them, it was his heart that was telling him.

Giselle nods. "To further improve my self I need experience. I can't stay here."

"If you want, you can go with us?" Ash said without hesitation.

Giselle looks Ash in the eyes feeling a little bit surprised. However, her head turns to Misty who was watching them, and sighed. She said. "I think that isn't a good idea. Traveling with my rival, I have a feeling the journey will be in jeopardy."

Ash scratches his head and thought. 'Why am I so keen on inviting her to my group, did I fell in love with this girl? Seriously? How fickle is my heart?' Multiple questions pop up inside his mind making his gears running to the fullest.

"Although, it's not my position to say this, can you reconsider? From what I've noticed so far, it's only you who decided the two of you are rivals." Ash said. Then bluntly added. "To tell you the truth, The reason I wanted to invite you is that I admire you. I don't know why but I'm eager to have you... Also, it seems you know Misty quite well, I want someone to teach her how to be a lady."

Giselle's eyes widened in shock after hearing Ash's reasoning. She didn't think this boy would be so shameless. "You have Misty as your girlfriend, why do you want me? I'm a noble lady, I don't think I can accept a vulgar man like you. I thought I can have peace in mind that you are worthy of Misty, consider it as my worries for my rival. But now, you plan on two-timing her? Young man, you're overestimating yourself."

Giselle got annoyed as she spouted harshly. Ash just listened to her rambling before she finishes. Ash knew it's quite a normal reaction.

"I was just honest of myself, Giselle. Do you see that girl over there? She's also my girlfriend." Ash points his finger to Leaf, who waves at him with a sweet smile.

"Huh!?" Giselle's mind stops working as she couldn't comprehend what Ash said. Her face became red, as she tried to slap his face. "You scumbag. Leave Misty now."

Ash quickly grab her wrist stopping her from slapping him. "Don't rush, Giselle. I'll explain to you."

Ash told her everything about his relationship with Misty and Leaf. He also told her that if she joined them. She can teach Misty about relationships. She's not only knowledgeable about pokemon, but Giselle is also quite a smart girl.

After explaining everything to her. Ash released his hand from her wrist. "What do you think?"

Giselle glared at him before saying bluntly. "You just want to use that as an excuse so you can have me right?"

"You're smart." Ash smiled.

Whether it's a good decision on his part. He doesn't know. He has a feeling not everyone would accept his decision. What can they do? They can't change his mind. After all, After arriving in this world, not only he's gonna catch all the pokemon but gotta catch them all.

"Give me time to think." Giselle frowned and said.

"You'll have two days to think. I think it's plenty enough to consider. Don't worry, even if you decided to come. I will not do anything that would make you hate me." Ash spread his arms and said.

"Hmph, better be. Even if I decided to come with you. I will not accept your advances." Giselle's brows raised and plain said with confidence in her voice.

The two separated as Giselle goes back to the school. Ash approaches his group with a smile plastered on his face.

Leaf crossed her arms with a smirk. "Ash, tell us what the two of you were talking about."

"I really can't hide anything from you Leaf." Ash's smile twitched as he wraps his arm around her waist. "Misty, what do you think about Giselle joining our party?" He also pulled Misty.

"That's great! I want to talk with her for so long." Misty eyes sparkle as she enthusiastically said.

"Well, it depends if she accepted my invitation." Ash.

"Are you going to be like Brock, Ash?" Leaf worriedly whispered.

Ash looks at her and shakes his head. "No, it just I find Giselle's existence pitiful. Despite her personality, she always tries to do her best."

After all, In the original, she was introduced for the sake of filler and left forgotten. Ash is a bit sympathetic to the forgotten girls in canon.

"How do you know about that?" Leaf is a bit confused.

"From my experience. Giselle and I have something in common," Ash said with melancholy. Ash also has a lot of pride but is different from Giselle.

"..." Leaf became silent and didn't say anything else. She's a smart girl, she knew Ash is hiding something from her. She can only wait for Ash to tell her.

....

Two days later. Ash's group prepared to go back to their journey. As they reach the gate, there they saw Giselle waiting. Ash smiled.

They approach her as Ash asked. "Did you decide?"

Giselle nods and said. "I will come with you."

"Great!" Misty happily exclaimed."Giselle, I've heard from Ash that you've decided to be my rival. Honestly, I was surprised because I have never thought of you like that. I will always think you were a weird girl... Giselle, can I be your friend instead?"

Misty approached Giselle and grab her hands. Her eyes were looking forward. Giselle is feeling a little bit startled by Misty's enthusiastic personality.

Giselle nodded and said. "Okay. I'm sorry for not telling you. It was childish of me."

"Don't worry, I think you're mature and I kinda wanted to be like you. My sisters always think I'm childish too." Misty didn't mock Giselle, instead, she talks about how her sisters treated her.

Giselle wry smiled and she thought. 'I guess why they call you like that. But for me, If not for Ash's insights, I would've remained childish. That battle hit me hard.'

"Anyway, let's go." The scene between Giselle and Misty brought a smile to Ash and the rest.

"Wait!" Giselle stops them.

"What?" Ash turns around and looking confused.

"Are we gonna walk all the way?" She asked.

Ash nods. "Yeah. Kind of."

"No no no, I can't accept that... If I didn't prepare In advanced I would have suffered. Anyway, I brought my family's RV." Giselle pointed at the big bus-like vehicle behind her. "What do you think?"

Ash raised his brow and said. "Isn't it a bit exaggerated?"

"Ahem! It has a large space inside with 5 bedrooms food for two each, one master bedroom, a library, a gym for work out, a gym for a mock battle, a large bathroom, a large dining room, a large living room, a large gaming room, a large garden....." Giselle continued to explain about the vehicle. She was very proud of it.

Ash, Misty, Leaf, and Brock, their mouth wide open. It's not uncommon for such technology to exist. After all, The bag they always carry has a large space inside. Ever wondered where they carry their tools, table, and tents?

So it's not common for vehicles to have large space inside. After all, Pokemon live inside their Pokeball which also has another world in there.

But the RV in front of them is not only luxurious but also mind-blowing. They were thinking at the same time 'How rich is her family?'

"Can we use it?" Leaf asked carefully. She got excited when she heard there is a large bath.

"Of course you can. Truthfully, I don't want to walk. I hate getting dirty and sweaty." Giselle complains about the downside of walking. Leaf and Misty fully agreed with her. "Furthermore, It takes too long to arrive at the next city."

Ash also agreed. He understands it when he started his journey. From what he knew so far, Kanto is just a small region. Johto is even bigger. He suddenly thought of how long will it takes to explore the whole world. He would be an old man at that time if he resumes traveling slowly.

There are numerous regions for him to explore. Walking seems fun at first because it feels adventurous, however, after he experienced it for few weeks. It became bland, though not to the point he got bored because Misty and Leaf were with him, and there is Brock to talk to. If he were alone, he gets a feeling he'll get bored but not lonely since he still has Pikachu.

The group entered the RV and was greeted by a new world. It was like entering a pocket world. When Ash looks outside he was amazed, his inner desire as a boy ignited.

"Amazing." Misty and Leaf look around with sparkling eyes. They approach Giselle and asked. "Giselle, can you guide us around here."

"Sure." Giselle obliged and sweetly smiled. She also wanted to ask them about how they got involved with Ash and why they like him. She pulled the two girls with her and left the two boys.

Brock was also looking around and end up in the kitchen. When he saw it, Brock's slit eyes opened wide. Though, no one was able to see it. Because Ash was walking around.

"Hahaha, I didn't anticipate this to happen." Ash scratch his cheek. "Well, who cares about that. Who's driving?"

That question is better left unanswered.