[Ding! Congratulations to the host for earning the recognition of the Sea Temple! Title awarded: King of the Sea!]
King of the Sea: Allows unrestricted movement in any oceanic region!
A permanent ability?
Ash was momentarily stunned before sheer joy surged through him. Unrestricted movement in any ocean meant he could breathe underwater!
This was an absolute game-changer!
At the same time, May, Anabel, and the others— Lizabeth, her parents, her grandfather Shep, and Jack—witnessed Ash floating in midair.
"This is the reward for earning the Sea Temple's recognition. It's truly unbelievable… but such power will only be useful when the Sea Temple manifests in the world."
As a descendant of the People of the Water, Shep naturally understood these things best.
Everyone was overjoyed.
"The only regret is that we couldn't capture that Phantom and Galen…" Jack sighed as he gazed at the Sea Temple, which had now surfaced.
Ash remained silent. There was no need to worry—Phantom's reign of terror was permanently over.
Half an hour later, after everything settled down, Ash and the others stood aboard the cruise ship, watching the Sea Temple.
May and Manaphy both realized it was time to part ways.
"Manaphy…" May's voice trembled as she looked at the small Pokémon, unwilling to say goodbye.
"Perhaps… perhaps…"
Manaphy repeated the word it had learned, as if clinging to hope. It didn't want to leave May either.
But this was destiny.
Manaphy had a duty and a mission to fulfill. It was the guardian spirit of the sea and its Pokémon. The Sea Temple was its rightful home.
It was born for this.
"May, I promise—I'll bring you to see Manaphy again."
With his King of the Sea title, Ash could find the Sea Temple at any time, even outside of the eclipse. Though others wouldn't be able to see it, he would.
He could take May to visit Manaphy whenever she wished.
"Like… May…"
Manaphy blinked its large eyes and uttered the words softly.
Tears streamed down May's cheeks.
"Mm-hmm! May likes Manaphy too…"
She had showered the little Pokémon with her love, nurturing it like a mother.
"Goodbye, May…"
Manaphy hesitated, reluctant to leave, but it understood its duty.
"Goodbye, Manaphy…"
With a splash, Manaphy dove into the sea, paddling toward the Sea Temple.
As it entered, the temple's mystical power activated, enveloping the entire structure in a shimmering aura.
Slowly, the Sea Temple sank back into the depths of the ocean.
It wouldn't appear again until the next total eclipse…
But Ash could bring May there whenever she wished.
A bittersweet farewell, yet not without hope.
A New Journey Begins
Jack approached Ash, giving him a firm thumbs-up.
"Ash, your help was invaluable in this mission. In fact, you contributed more than I did! I'll report this to the Pokémon Ranger headquarters and apply for an honorary Ranger membership for you. It'll bring you great benefits in the future. Now then, let's head back!"
With that, the group set sail. Ash, May, and Anabel were dropped off at the nearest port to Hoenn, while Shep and the others continued on their way.
Thus, Ash, May, and Anabel began their journey toward Petalburg City.
A World of New Opportunities
After saying goodbye to Misty, and now May, Ash couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.
But like he had told himself before—temporary separations lead to better reunions.
Misty and May both needed time to grow on their own.
Now, with Anabel and Latias accompanying him, Ash set his sights on Rustboro City in Hoenn.
His goal? To meet Mr. Joseph Stone, CEO of Devon Corporation and Steven Stone's father, to discuss a potential business partnership.
For the next week, Ash, Anabel, and Latias (disguised as Bianca) traveled leisurely, enjoying Hoenn's local delicacies and taking in the sights.
By the time they finally arrived in Rustboro City, the meeting had already been arranged.
Joseph Stone was well aware of Ash's accomplishments. Upon hearing that Ash wanted to collaborate with Devon Corporation, he personally arranged a meeting.
Even Steven Stone was present.
Ash laid out his proposal—research into Miracle Candies and Mega Evolution Energy Stones.
Upon hearing this, both Joseph and Steven immediately recognized the significance. If they could successfully unlock these mysteries, it would be a revolutionary breakthrough in Pokémon science!
Without hesitation, Devon Corporation agreed to fully invest in the research and development of both projects.
Ash also provided crucial insights— Miracle Candies temporarily trigger Dynamax energy, but they aren't enough to sustain it indefinitely.
Instead, they should expand their research beyond Hoenn, looking into Kalos and even regions beyond it.
With the deal sealed, Joseph instructed his staff to draft a formal contract.
If their research succeeded, not only would they usher in a new era for Pokémon evolution, but Ash would also receive a daily flow of Poke Coins as passive income.
Now this was the ideal setup—earning massive profits without lifting a finger!
Ash wasted no time contacting Professor Godard, the leading scientist on Miracle Candy research, as well as Luna from Commerce City.
Luna had promised to help convince her father to support Ash's research.
Now, the time had come to fulfill that promise.
Another Major Breakthrough!
Just as things were settling into place, Ash received a call from Professor Oak.
His research on Eevee's multiple evolution forms had just been officially published, sparking widespread discussions throughout the Pokémon world!
As a result, the Pokémon League sent out a research grant, which Professor Oak promptly transferred to Ash's account—10 million Poke Coins!
A perfect windfall.
...
As Ash, Anabel, and Bianca tended to their Pokémon, Steven approached with a smirk.
"Ash, I have to say, since our last meeting, your growth has been astonishing."
His gaze shifted to Ash's Charizard, sensing its overwhelming power.
"This Charizard… it feels incredibly strong. How about it? Care for a battle?"
--------------
T/N:
Access 40 Chapters in Advance on my
P@treon: p@treon.com/PokePals