186. Mother And Child Meet

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Ash still didn't know he was being targeted, but he didn't care. Even without that, he knew he'd have to deal with Team Rocket eventually.

The situation, however, made Ash realize that the changes in this world were different, and it wasn't just that his memory could be fully controlled.

But none of this mattered to Ash. He felt he should have been mentally prepared. At least, in this way, he knew he was real, whether in this world or another, not just a part of an anime.

After narrowly escaping, Ash, Misty, and Brock left the paradise. After walking for what felt like ages, they finally emerged from the forest and spotted the city.

"We made it out! It's the beach!" Misty exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. From the chaos on the S.S. Anne to the adventure in the Pokémon Paradise, it had been a whirlwind. Now, looking at the coastal city in front of them, her nerves could finally relax.

"Finally, we can stop and catch our breath," Brock added. Though he was a Gym Leader from Pewter City, he had never expended so much energy before.

Traveling with Ash always led to extraordinary experiences.

"Let's go!" Ash said, having calmed down. He gestured for the others to follow him.

The three made their way towards the city. The city before them was called Lampluge, known as a city of leisure. Unlike the bustling metropolis of Vermilion City, Lampluge combined tourism and trade but focused entirely on relaxation.

They had come here only for rest, to escape the stress of their journey. In fact, this city didn't even have a Pokémon Gym.

Due to the events aboard the S.S. Anne, their arrival had been delayed until now.

Though they were exhausted and eager to relax, Ash and his friends headed straight to the Pokémon Center. After all they had been through, their Pokémon needed care first.

Since the shipwreck, their Pokémon hadn't been properly tended to, so they wanted to make sure they recovered.

As they approached the Pokémon Center, the automatic doors slid open. The trio was still chatting when suddenly a figure rushed forward and wrapped Ash in a tight hug.

"Woo woo woo!!"

Ash barely had time to react and was nearly suffocated. Misty and Brock were startled as well, but after a closer look, they realized it was a familiar face—a beautiful woman.

"Ash! I'm so glad you're safe! You really scared me!" 

"Oh... Mom, let go of me!" Ash gasped, struggling to breathe. He was surprised to see who it was—his own mother, Delia. Hearing his voice, Delia quickly released him and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Long time no see, Ash!" another voice chimed in. The group turned to see Professor Oak standing nearby in a casual shirt.

"Mom! Professor, what are you doing here?"

"It's because of you, of course," Delia said, wiping her eyes again. "The police in Vermilion City contacted Professor Oak, saying the ship you were on sank, and they couldn't find you. Do you know how worried I've been?"

"Huh? Oh, this... We're fine!" Ash reassured her with a sheepish grin.

Ash was slightly taken aback when he heard that. He hadn't expected them to know about the incident. To be honest, if they hadn't found out, Ash wasn't planning to tell them. He knew his mother would worry if she knew.

"We figured that if you were okay, you might arrive at Lampluge according to the route, so we came here to check on you," Professor Oak explained.

"I'm sorry for worrying you!" Ash responded, feeling a bit emotional after hearing this.

"Haha! As long as you're safe, that's all that matters. It's normal to run into situations like this while traveling," Professor Oak said with a smile. "By the way, it's not just us—Gary's here too! Seeing you safe and sound puts my mind at ease."

Even though the situation had been dangerous, seeing Ash and his friends unharmed showed that their experiences had toughened them up.

"Gary? Where is he?" Ash asked.

"That, I'm not sure," Professor Oak admitted. "But I can tell you that Gary was worried about you."

He knew his grandson well. Even though Gary had claimed he was just bringing his girlfriend on vacation, Professor Oak suspected there was more to it. There was no reason for Gary to come here, especially since Lampluge didn't have a Gym.

The last time they spoke, Gary had been transferring a Pokémon when Professor Oak casually mentioned Ash.

"I know," Ash said, understanding. Even though Gary acted arrogant, deep down, he had a good heart.

Ash remembered when they were kids at summer camp—Gary had been the first to notice when Ash wasn't with the group. But because they were rivals, it wasn't something they openly discussed. Hearing Ash's words, Professor Oak smiled in satisfaction.

Afterward, Professor Oak and Delia asked Ash to hand over his Pokémon to Nurse Joy, then they found a place to sit down. Ash explained everything that had happened aboard the S.S. Anne.

"I can't believe all that happened! That was really dangerous!" Professor Oak said, surprised after hearing the full story.

Delia, on the other hand, was worried. Even though Ash tried to downplay the scarier parts, she was still his mother. No matter how small the danger, she would always worry.

"You're still as careless as ever, even after becoming a trainer. Thanks to Misty and Brock, my Ash didn't cause you too much trouble," Delia said.

Even though Ash had done his best throughout the ordeal, a mother's heart is always concerned. No matter how proud she was, she wouldn't show it too openly.