"Will that be enough? I'm sure you're satisfied with it, Simon."
Oak took the opportunity to jab at his old friend, his tone light but pointed. Simon almost coughed at the remark, a short laugh escaping him as he shook his head. How could he not be envious?
An old fox like Oak landing a trainer with this kind of potential—it was unfair.
With someone like Ash around, Oak's future research would be smooth sailing. Ancient Pokémon, legendary traces, dangerous ruins—those things didn't just require knowledge.
They required a monster-tier trainer capable of surviving them. And while Ash's path wasn't fixed yet, the potential he showed today was undeniable.
"Haha… Trainer Ash, right?" Simon said, straightening slightly. "In the future, we might even work together as fellow League members. I hope you'll grow much stronger by then."
Ash blinked, genuinely confused.
'Why would a guy from Team Rocket say something like that?'
"He's standing in the grey zone," Oak explained calmly, having already noticed Ash's expression. "Because of his research value, he's considered a high-level professor like me. That gives him clearance to move freely—even in cities like this."
"Oh…"
Ash let out a quiet breath, his feelings turning complicated.
At that moment, the weight of this world truly settled on him. This wasn't a simple story of good and evil. It felt real—messy, layered, and uncomfortable.
"Heh. Don't overthink it, kid."
Simon waved his hand casually. "The League isn't as clean as you think."
Ash's eyes widened slightly.
Beside him, Oak gave a small, silent nod.
He didn't deny it.
Ash wasn't just some passing acquaintance to him—he was a student. And if Ash was going to walk this path, Oak wanted him to see the world as it truly was. There was no point in dressing reality up.
Even Misty looked stunned. She had always known things weren't perfect, but seeing Oak agree—without a single word of objection—made Simon's words hit harder.
The Gengar boy sneered quietly. With his background, this wasn't news to him at all.
"Then, we'll be going," Simon said.
He released his Pidgeot, the powerful bird spreading its wings with a sharp cry. Lint and the other trainer moved closer, stepping onto its back with practiced ease. Simon followed, settling in without hesitation.
With a heavy flap of wings, they rose into the sky, the wind rushing downward as their figures quickly grew smaller—until they vanished beyond the treeline, leaving the clearing eerily quiet.
Ash stood there for a moment longer, eyes fixed on the sky.
This world…
It was far more complicated than he remembered.
"Now that that's done… Ash, return with me." Oak's voice was calm and decisive. Ash went silent for a moment, his gaze drifting away. The road ahead still called to him. He was still in the middle of an adventure, and to be honest—he didn't want to return just yet.
Oak clicked his tongue softly. "I know, brat." Then he added, as if it were nothing, "I'll ask Alakazam to send you directly to Cerulean City later."
Ash's eyes lit up instantly. That meant skipping days of travel. No random encounters. No unnecessary trouble. And more importantly—rest. A proper one. There was nothing better than home after all the chaos.
"Alright," Ash said without hesitation. "I'll do that."
Oak smiled faintly and raised his hand. From deeper within the forest, a tall figure stepped forward, as if it had always been there—silent, unseen.
"Alka~" Alakazam greeted Ash calmly. The moment their eyes met, Ash smiled. He alone understood the words that followed. 'He'll teach Frogadier Shadow Ball.'
Ash's mood lifted immediately. With Frogadier's future evolution carrying Dark typing, Shadow Ball fits perfectly. The thought alone made him excited.
Then another thought crossed his mind. 'Wait… how does he know I even have Froakie?' A second later, Ash recalled it. 'Right. Froakie stayed with Oak for a while.'
The confusion faded just as quickly as it came. "Here we go," Oak said. Ash subconsciously closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the forest was gone.
He was back. Back in the laboratory he had known since childhood.
The familiar scent of machinery, books, and faint disinfectant filled the air. Yellow smiled softly the moment she recognised the place. Misty, on the other hand, looked around with open curiosity. This wasn't the simple lab she had imagined.
Unlike what people casually pictured, Oak's laboratory was massive—layered floors, advanced equipment, holographic displays, sealed research chambers, and a controlled ecosystem area at the back.
Misty was surprised again and again as she looked around.
Yellow, clearly familiar with the place, began explaining things excitedly—what certain machines did, which wings were restricted, and which areas Oak used for Pokémon recovery versus research.
"Oh, right," Oak said, suddenly remembering. "Ash, go meet your mom. Leaf and that girl are also there." Ash nodded, then turned toward Yellow.
"Are you coming?" Yellow shook her head gently. "I'll visit my aunt's house first. I'll come back later." Misty stretched slightly.
"I'll stay here for now. I'll head out with Yellow later." With that, Ash was left alone. He broke into a light jog through the town, his presence immediately drawing attention.
"Ash! That battle was amazing—we all watched it!" People waved, smiled, and shouted greetings from shops and street corners.
Ash grinned brightly. "Thanks. Just keep watching. This conference is mine."
"Alright! We will—so don't go losing!"
"Don't jinx him, idiot!"
"We're cheering for you, Ash boy!"
Laughter and voices overlapped, filling the streets with warmth and noise. Ash waved once more before slowing down. He stopped in front of a familiar door.
The house he had grown up in. For just a moment, he stood there quietly, letting the noise fade behind him—before reaching out and opening it.
"Click." The door opened. Ash stepped inside, and the familiar hallway greeted him—warm lighting, neatly arranged shoes, and the faint scent of home. Sitting calmly in the hall was his mother, exactly where he expected her to be.
"Ash. Finally back, huh?" Delia looked up with a knowing smile. She wasn't surprised in the slightest. With Leaf and Elsa already here, she had heard everything that mattered.
"They're showering," she added lightly. "I'll make some food later. How about we talk first? I want to hear about your journey."
Before Ash could reply, Delia gently pulled him toward the sofa and made him sit. Her movements were natural and practised—this was something she had done countless times since his childhood. Ash began talking.
He spoke about the road, the battles, the people he met, and the forests and towns he passed through. There was a small, unconscious smile on his face as he recalled it all. Delia listened quietly, not interrupting once, her expression soft yet attentive.
The journey was thrilling—there was no denying that. But beneath the excitement, Delia could hear the danger too. The risks. The moments where things could have gone wrong. Then Ash spoke about Ho-Oh.
About the radiant feather, glowing with rainbow colours, still safely with him. Delia's heart tightened—then filled.
She knew exactly what that feather meant. It was not just proof of an encounter. It was a symbol. A legendary being had acknowledged her son. Chosen him. A Rainbow hero.
To Delia, nothing in the world carried more meaning than that. "Ash. You're back." Elsa stepped out from the shower, her hair still damp, water droplets trailing down her shoulders.
She looked stunning—natural beauty mixed with an effortless charm. Ash scratched the brim of his hat awkwardly, glancing away for half a second. Delia noticed.
She smiled to herself.
She had raised him. She knew him better than anyone. And moments like this reassured her—her son wasn't just a battle maniac after all. "That was a great fight," Elsa said openly. "Butterfree is really strong."
Ash's grin widened. "Right? I trained it like that. I don't know why people keep looking down on its kind." There was pride in his voice. And rightfully so.
Butterfree's strength hadn't come easily. Ash's team had grown at an abnormal pace, and it wasn't without cost. Daily intense training, constant recovery sessions, and Viridian healing pushed to its limits—both for the Pokémon and for Ash himself.
Using Viridian Essence wasn't effortless. It drained him too. "Wait," Ash suddenly paused. "You watched it? How?" Elsa smiled just as Leaf appeared from the side, freshly changed and relaxed.
"It's thanks to Yellow," Leaf explained. "We had a video call going. She recorded everything with her Rotom." She moved closer and hugged Elsa from the side with casual familiarity.
"Say… what about that…" She whispered something into Elsa's ear.
Ash didn't hear a word. He only saw the two suddenly standing too close, exchanging looks. He tilted his head slightly, confused by the sudden shift. Elsa smiled and nodded.
Then both turned toward him. "Say, Ash," Elsa said, "let's have a picnic outside tomorrow."
Ash blinked.
A bit surprised—but he nodded. "Sure." Delia chuckled softly. Her son could be surprisingly dull at times. Thankfully, the girls around him weren't.
Later, Yellow and Misty joined them, and the living room slowly filled with conversation and laughter. Stories overlapped, details were added, and perspectives were shared. Delia listened, slowly piecing together the full picture of Ash's journey—and she enjoyed every moment of it.
Eventually, Ash found himself back in the kitchen.
Cooking. He didn't mind.
He enjoyed it. And seeing his mother resting, chatting comfortably with the girls, made it even better. If they liked his food—and they clearly did—then there was no reason not to cook dinner himself.
For now, this warmth… This was enough.