Originally, Ash planned to head straight to Saffron City. But… life happened. The reason?
"Ash, not to interrupt your… marathon… but are you sure this is healthy?" Brock asked, dead-eyed, as Ash mixed herbs for a new potion.
"Lusamine's just… passionate. Plus, she's heading back to Alola soon. Gotta cherish every moment, right?"
"You've been 'cherishing' for a week straight! Are you a robot?!"
"Thanks for the compliment~"
"THAT WASN'T ONE!"
Brock's meltdown earned him an eyeroll as Ash handed a completed vial to an assistant. "Run clinical trials."
"Yes, sir!"
"Now, I've got dad duty!" Ash chirped, strolling off to play with Lillie. Brock sank into his chair, muttering about "unfair genetic blessings."
To be fair, Ash had been productive. He'd taken Lillie to Mt. Moon to catch a wild Cleffa, teaching her how to mix "moon milk" favored by fairy-types. The Cleffa even gifted Lillie a Moon Stone for future evolution. When Gladion mentioned battling? Ash dragged him to Viridian Forest and let loose a swarm of his trained Alpha Pokémon—only to get scolded by Delia afterward.
"First Lilith, now this?!" Delia yanked his ear. "You're worse than your father!"
Still, she instantly embraced Lillie and Gladion as "grandkids," melting their hesitance with cinnamon rolls and bedtime stories. After millennia-old Lilith, Delia barely blinked at Ash's reincarnated lover. Priorities.
Meanwhile, Ash's Beedrill returned from Giovanni's "boot camp," its needles gleaming with venomous energy.
"Buzz!"
"Show me Vampire Fang!" Ash ordered.
Beedrill zipped past a tree, leaving a gash that withered into rot.
"BUZZZZ!" (Translation: Nailed it!)
Giovanni clapped, impressed. "This move took months. But it waited for you to debut it."
"Thanks, Beedrill! Now, polish Twin Needle Assault."
"Buzz!" (You bet!)
As Beedrill drilled holes into a dummy, Giovanni smirked. "Heard I'm a 'grandpa' now?"
"Yep. Try not to spoil them too much."
"Hmph. Focus on your… 'projects.' Speaking of—rumor says you've met Mew?"
Ash shrugged. "Maybe? My memories are fuzzy…"
Change of topic. "So, Rocket's still into world domination?"
"Retired. I'm… hunting someone now."
Ash smirked. "Old dreams die hard. But domination's outdated. Let me pitch an upgrade."
"Oh?"
"You can't conquer continents—too many Legendaries. But control the shadows. Like my Continental Hotel."
Giovanni raised a brow. "Explain."
"Black markets. Information brokers. Let others think they rule. Rocket pulls the strings. Oh, and blame that Attila guy in Johto for the St. Anne fiasco. Win-win."
"And Rocket's 'rebranding'?"
"Call it… Team Continental."
Giovanni chuckled darkly. "You've grown dangerous, boy."
"Learned from the best."
Elsewhere, Gladion collapsed mid-pushup, wheezing. Note: Never challenge Ash to a "Dad-off." Ever.