At home in Pallet Town, Delia Ketchum had already prepared for this moment.
"Ash, I knew you'd be heading out on a new adventure soon, so I've spent the last two months getting everything ready for you. Here—new clothes, a new backpack… Oh, and don't worry, Anabel, I got one for you too!"
She handed both Ash and Anabel their respective sets of travel gear.
"Huh? I get one too?" Anabel blinked in surprise, holding the neatly packed bag in her hands. Her eyes shimmered slightly with emotion.
"Of course! I see you as family too," Delia said with a warm smile. "Right, Pikachu?"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu nodded eagerly.
Ash grinned. "Thanks, Mom. You're the best."
Delia gently straightened his collar. "So, have you decided when you're leaving for Sinnoh? I'm guessing you'll be meeting up with Gary over there too. When you make new friends, don't forget to bring them home to visit me, okay?"
"Yeah, Mom. The next time I come back will probably be after the Lily of the Valley Conference in Sinnoh. But this time… I'm bringing home the championship trophy!" Ash declared with unwavering determination.
"Pika!" Pikachu clenched its tiny fists in agreement.
Delia chuckled. "Yes, yes, I'm sure you will. But before that—let's eat. You'll need a full stomach before heading to Professor Oak's lab to pick your team."
"Alright! Time to dig in!"
For the past two months, when Ash wasn't training atop Mt. Silver, he spent his time at home, keeping his mother company. Anabel, too, had rediscovered the warmth of having a family.
Delia never pried too much—she knew that some things were better left for Ash to figure out on his own. Misty, May, Anabel…
Who would he choose in the end?
Ash: Can't I just choose all of them? 😳
At Professor Oak's Lab
After lunch, Ash and Anabel made their way to Professor Oak's lab.
"Ah, Ash! Your Pokémon are all ready. Except for Wartortle—Officer Jenny came by yesterday to take it back to the Squirtle Squad. The rest are waiting for you in the yard."
Professor Oak barely looked up from his work. He was busy putting the finishing touches on Sinnoh's Pokédex—something he had completely forgotten about until today.
Ash exchanged a glance with Anabel before stepping into the yard.
"Char!"
"Gengar!"
"Snorlax!"
"Ivy!"
The familiar calls of his Pokémon filled the air.
"Wow, Ash! Everyone seems so pumped!" Anabel observed happily. " Ivysaur makes a great leader."
Ash nodded. "Yeah, but I can't take too many with me this time. Feeding them all would be a nightmare on the road."
After careful consideration, he made his selection.
Sceptile and Pidgeot (both capable of Mega Evolution)
Gengar (his Shadow Hand ability could prove useful in the Space-Time Tower)
Tyranitar (a powerhouse in battle)
Latias (who had secretly been living at Ash's house, away from Professor Oak's curious eyes)
Charizard, meanwhile, chose to stay behind. It had set its sights on defeating the strongest Charizard in the Charicific Valley.
(Don't worry, Charizard will make a grand return later! This is just an opportunity for it to push past Level 80 and become even stronger!)
"Alright, everyone," Ash addressed the Pokémon remaining at the lab. "Even if you're not coming with me this time, I've designed a special training plan for you. Follow it well and keep getting stronger!"
He turned to Ivysaur. "You're in charge while I'm gone. If anyone slacks off, let me know, and I'll deal with them when I get back."
" Ivy-saur!" Ivysaur gave a determined nod.
"Bayleef, you're close to evolving—keep up the good work!"
"Bay…leef…" Bayleef pouted, clearly unhappy that Ash was leaving again.
Ash spoke to each of his Pokémon personally before finally saying his goodbyes. Before he left, Tracey handed him a beautifully drawn sketch—a picture of Ash, Anabel, and all of his Pokémon, standing together as a family.
Ash smiled as he carefully stored it in his bag.
And with that, it was time to go.
Setting Sail for Sinnoh
"Toot! Toot!"
The ship's horn sounded as it departed from the harbor.
"Pika?" Pikachu's ears twitched as it glanced toward the staircase.
A familiar figure scurried up onto the deck—Aipom!
Ash sighed, shaking his head. "Of course. I should've known you'd sneak aboard again."
"Pika…" Pikachu sweatdropped.
Anabel giggled, scooping Aipom up into her arms. "Since it followed us all the way here, why not let it come along?"
Ash scratched his head. "Yeah, yeah. I guess we've got one more teammate."
The ship sailed forward, carrying them toward a new land, a new adventure.
And waiting ahead in Sinnoh… was a certain blue-haired girl who constantly said, "No need to worry!"
But in reality, she had plenty to worry about.
Sinnoh, here we come!
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T/N:
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