Ash’s journey through the Johto region had finally come to an end.
After leaving Mt.
Silver following the conclusion of the Silver Conference, Ash and his friends began heading back toward Pallet Town.
On the way, they made a stop in Viridian City.
“I wonder what kind of Pokémon is going to hatch from that Egg.”
Brock walked beside Ash while staring curiously at the Pokémon Egg in his arms.
Ash lowered his gaze slightly.
The Egg rested quietly against his chest, wrapped carefully in a soft cloth.
Its shell was primarily emerald green, decorated with elegant red-and-white markings that looked strangely mysterious.
Ash had tried remembering every Pokémon species he knew from both the anime and games
But he still couldn’t identify it completely.
At first, he thought it might belong to Larvitar.
But the markings didn’t match.
Not Pupitar.
Not Tyranitar either.
Still…
The life growing inside it made Ash instinctively smile.
“Yeah,” he admitted softly.
“I’m looking forward to meeting it too.”
This Egg had been awarded to him personally by Charles Goodshow after winning the Silver Conference.
Along with the championship trophy, Ash had received:
100,000 Pokédollars,
a rare Pokémon Egg,
and the right to choose one Johto starter Pokémon from Professor Elm’s Laboratory later.
Compared to the original timeline
The rewards this time were significantly better.
Probably because Ash had won the entire Conference instead of stopping in the Top Eight.
As Ash continued thinking quietly, Brock suddenly glanced toward Misty.
“Hm?”
“You’ve been unusually quiet since this morning.”
Ash blinked and turned as well.
Sure enough, Misty looked distracted the entire walk.
“Huh?
Me?”
Misty immediately forced a smile.
“I’m totally fine!”
Then she quickly pointed ahead.
“Look, we’re already at the Pokémon Center!”
The moment they entered
Brock instantly transformed.
“Nurse Joy!”
He rushed forward dramatically and struck a pose.
“My name is Brock!”
“A passionate Pokémon Breeder striving to become the world’s greatest!”
“Though my eyes may appear narrow…”
“My heart burns brighter than anyone else’s!”
“Please accept my feelings!”
The nearby Nurse Joy blinked awkwardly before smiling politely.
“I’m sorry… but no thank you.”
CRASH.
Brock collapsed onto the floor like his soul had left his body.
Ash laughed helplessly before walking over.
“Sorry about him.”
Then he smiled warmly.
“Nurse Joy, I’m Ash from Pallet Town.
We’ve visited this Pokémon Center before.”
Pikachu waved cheerfully from Ash’s shoulder.
“Pikapi!”
But Nurse Joy tilted her head apologetically.
“I actually transferred here recently.”
“However, the previous Nurse Joy told me about all of you.”
Then she looked toward Misty.
“You’re Misty, right?”
Misty blinked in surprise.
“Uh… yeah?”
“Your sisters from Cerulean City left an urgent message asking you to contact them immediately.”
“My sisters?”
Confused, Misty quickly used the Pokémon Center videophone.
Moments later, Daisy, Violet, and Lily appeared onscreen
Surrounded by luggage.
“We won a luxury around-the-world vacation!”
“We’re leaving today!”
“So the Cerulean Gym is yours now, Misty!”
“Good luck!”
Before Misty could even respond
The screen went black.
“…Huh?”
Misty froze completely.
Brock looked jealous immediately.
“A round-the-world vacation…”
“What incredible luck…”
But Ash quietly understood the truth.
The three older sisters constantly teased Misty
Yet they genuinely cared about her deeply.
For years, they had maintained the Cerulean Gym largely so Misty could continue traveling freely.
But now
They believed she was finally capable of standing on her own.
Misty wanted to become a true Water Pokémon Master.
And the sisters trusted she could now protect the Gym herself.
That “vacation” was probably just an excuse.
Misty puffed her cheeks angrily.
“This is terrible!”
“Why do I have to stay behind and manage the Gym?!”
At that moment, Nurse Joy suddenly wheeled over a familiar bicycle.
“Oh right this belongs to you, doesn’t it?”
Misty froze instantly.
“My bike…”
The repaired bicycle gleamed beautifully beneath the Pokémon Center lights.
Ash also stared blankly.
Countless memories flashed through his mind.
Their first meeting.
Pikachu’s lightning destroying the bicycle.
Misty furiously chasing him afterward.
Their arguments.
Their adventures.
Their laughter.
And before they realized it
They had already traveled together for years.
“The previous Nurse Joy repaired it completely,” Nurse Joy explained kindly.
Misty slowly touched the bicycle handles.
Ash scratched his cheek awkwardly before smiling.
“She really went above and beyond…”
But the moment he laughed
Misty suddenly lowered her head.
“You really don’t understand anything at all…”
Then she turned and ran outside.
“H-Hey?!”
Ash stared blankly.
Wait.
What did I do this time?!
Brock slowly stood back up from emotional devastation and sighed knowingly.
“She probably wants to keep traveling with us.”
Ash paused.
Of course he understood that.
The current Ash wasn’t nearly as emotionally oblivious as before.
After inheriting both memories and maturity from another life
Some feelings had become impossible not to notice.
Misty had always been straightforward.
She got angry easily.
Complained constantly.
Teased him endlessly.
Yet at the same time
She was incredibly gentle.
Ash remembered many moments clearly.
Like during the Orange Islands journey
When he and Brock became sick after exposure to Vileplume powder.
Misty had gone alone to gather medicinal herbs for them despite being exhausted herself.
Even when tempted by Team Rocket’s traps along the way
She never forgot about helping her friends first.
That was simply the kind of person Misty was.
Strong.
Stubborn.
Kind-hearted.
And far more caring than she usually admitted.
Ash suddenly smiled softly.
“Pikachu.”
“Let’s go find Misty.”
“Pikachu!”
Pikachu nodded immediately.
Brock followed behind with a knowing smile.
Meanwhile
Misty wandered through the streets of Viridian City absentmindedly.
Unfortunately, her bad mood attracted trouble quickly.
Three local Trainers blocked her path arrogantly.
“Hey, little girl.”
“You’re a Trainer, right?”
“How about a battle?”
Normally Misty would have ignored them.
But today
She accepted immediately.
“Fine.”
“One-on-one battle.”
The leader smirked.
“You got it.”
Misty sent out Politoed confidently.
But the moment the battle started
The other side cheated immediately.
Not only did they ignore the agreed rules
All three Trainers released Pokémon simultaneously.
Hitmonlee.
Arbok.
And Raticate.
The three Pokémon surrounded Politoed instantly.
“That’s cheating!”
Misty shouted angrily while clutching Togepi protectively.
But just as the situation turned dangerous
A familiar voice rang out.
“What do you think you’re doing to our friend?!”
Misty’s eyes widened.
Ash and Brock ran toward them immediately.
Brock laughed lightly.
“If you wanted a battle, you should’ve invited all of us.”
Ash stepped forward calmly.
“Three-on-three sounds fair enough.”
“Pikachu Thunderbolt!”
“Forretress, Rapid Spin!”
Lightning exploded across the street while Brock’s Forretress charged forward spinning violently.
Arbok and Raticate were blasted backward instantly.
Misty stared blankly at the two standing protectively in front of her.
Then suddenly
A familiar cap dropped gently onto her head.
Ash stood beside her smiling.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re our friend.”
“How could helping you ever count as meddling?”
Brock nodded warmly.
“We’ve traveled together this long already.”
Misty froze.
For the first time
She felt an overwhelming sense of security standing beside Ash.
Warm.
Reliable.
Safe.
Ash gently patted her shoulder.
“The finishing blow is yours.”
“Future Water Pokémon Master.”
Misty’s eyes trembled slightly before becoming determined again.
“Right!”
“Politoed, Bubble Beam!”
Politoed leaped forward enthusiastically.
A powerful stream of bubbles blasted directly toward the opposing Pokémon.
The three Trainers panicked immediately.
But before the attack connected
Two mechanical nets suddenly burst upward from underground.
“What?!”
Ash’s eyes narrowed sharply.
Blue energy flickered instinctively around his body.
Using Aura, he reacted instantly.
The nets froze midair before being thrown aside completely.
Misty and Brock stared in shock.
“Ash?!”
Then familiar voices echoed nearby.
“To protect the world from devastation!”
“To unite all peoples within our nation!”
Jessie, James, and Meowth jumped dramatically from the bushes.
“Team Rocket?!”
Ash sighed helplessly.
“I sensed your Aura from the beginning.”
Meowth immediately exploded angrily.
“What’s with that weird power anyway, twerp?!”
Jessie pointed furiously.
“Stop acting cool!”
The three local Trainers cried desperately:
“Please save us!”
Jessie immediately snapped back.
“You weaklings are hopeless!”
James sighed dramatically.
“But since we’re already here…”
“Let’s capture Pikachu instead!”
Ash cracked his knuckles lightly.
“Then let’s send them blasting off together.”
Misty grinned.
“Gladly.”
Brock adjusted his stance calmly.
“All together?”
Ash nodded.
“All together.”
“Pikachu, Thunderbolt!”
“Politoed, Bubble Beam!”
“Forretress, Rapid Spin!”
The combined attacks exploded forward simultaneously.
BOOOOOOM!
Team Rocket and the three dishonest Trainers were blasted high into the sky together.
“Looks like Team Rocket’s blasting off agaaain!”
Their voices faded into the distance like shooting stars.
Silence briefly returned afterward.
Then everyone burst into laughter.