After dealing with the biker gang, Ash didn't make things any harder for them; he just had them handed over to Officer Jenny. After all, even though these guys had disturbed his and Rin's peace, they clearly cared about their Pokémon, so he spared them a physical beatdown.
With that settled, Professor Oak and the others were preparing to head back with Dragonair and the Dratinis. Ash took this time to give Gastly some final instructions.
"Gastly, you have only one mission. While Arbok is traveling with me, protect Rin, my mom, and Daisy well. Also, practice the moves I taught you; you're going to be fighting in the Indigo Conference. And let the guys in the back mountain know too. I'm going to need them to fight in the Indigo Conference."
Hearing Ash's words, Gastly's eye twitched. He asked uncertainly, "Boss, are you sure you want to do that?"
Seeing Gastly's 'You gotta be kidding me' expression, Ash looked at him weirdly. "What's wrong? The Indigo Conference is bound to be full of experts. I'm absolutely going to need everyone's help."
"...Boss, are you sure it's full of experts? You haven't confused what kind of tournament this is, right?" Gastly seriously suspected Ash was confusing a Regional Conference with a Champion League tournament. Winning a regional conference just gave you the qualification to enter the Champion League. Only by winning that could you challenge the Elite Four, and only by beating the Elite Four could you fight the Champion. The difference between the two was astronomical!
"Don't worry, Gastly, I haven't confused anything. When I helped Karen before, I ran into a guy with an Elite-level Hakamo-o. Even if it belonged to his family, who knows if some crazy dark horse will show up?"
"Uh... Boss, the guy you're talking about is basically an ancestor-level threat in human terms! Having one Elite-level Pokémon is already a miracle."
"Well, look at our guys, aren't they all Alpha Pokémon? How do you explain that?"
"Boss, you really have the nerve to say that... Do you have any idea what you did?! You fed them those rare candies like they were free! You constantly use premium herbs to heal their hidden injuries! The only reason they became Alphas so early is because of you!"
"Exactly! If someone like me has these methods, who knows if people from other regions have special tricks too? When you get back, tell everyone to prepare well. Do not drop your guard!"
"...Alright... You're the Boss, whatever you say..."
"..." Listening to Ash and Gastly's conversation, Professor Oak and the others, who knew the reality of the situation, wiped away cold sweat. Ash was great and all, but sometimes he really fought imaginary enemies in the air way too hard.
"Um, Ash, I don't think you need to bring out the guys from the back mountain... With the strength of the team you're training now, you should be completely fine. Besides, don't you have Pikachu and Meowth?" Glancing at the Absol resting beside Ash, Professor Oak's eye twitched again. A trainer who could act as a medic for his Pokémon was incredibly sought after; none of them ever had to worry about injuries. But Ash's habit of fighting the air...
Thankfully, seeing Professor Oak's awkwardness, Daisy stepped in to help. "Alright, Ash. Your current capabilities are more than enough for the regional conference."
"But I'm also doing this to let my old friends show off a bit! Think about it, how awesome would it be to enter a major tournament with all my old buddies? This is my first time participating in a tournament; it'd feel weird if they weren't there."
Hearing Ash say this, Daisy went silent for a moment, then turned to Professor Oak. "Grandpa, I'm supporting Ash on this one. The bond between Ash and his Pokémon is worth it. Just like Ash said, it really would be weird if he didn't let them debut."
"...Daisy, you aren't even married to him yet and you're already taking his side..." Professor Oak was speechless as his granddaughter instantly defected. She was already bending her elbows outward (siding with outsiders)! Seeing how unreliable his granddaughter was, Oak could only look to Rin. However, Rin was currently hugging Ash's arm, saying softly, "If only Lucario were here too..."
"Lucario... I don't know why, but hearing that name from you gives me a really strange feeling..." As he spoke, Ash realized to his surprise that tears were falling from his eyes. He clutched his chest and said, "I've seen Cynthia's Lucario plenty of times, but why do I feel like crying when I hear you say it, Rin?"
Gently wiping Ash's tears away, Rin smiled. "Perhaps you'll see Lucario again very soon. I have a feeling we might all reunite again shortly."
"Really? Then I'll look forward to it. Lucario, huh..."
Meanwhile, at Cameron Palace. Arceus's figure quietly appeared beside the staff where Lucario was sealed.
"Do you wish to go see him?"
"No. Even if we meet, I wish to offer my strength to Lord Ash."
"Is that so? Then I will come for you later. Be prepared when the time comes."
"Understood. Thank you for granting my wish..."
"It is merely a lift of a finger for me. But do you truly not want me to help lift your seal?"
"No need. I hope that when I truly awaken and open my eyes, the first person I see will still be Lord Ash."
"Are you not angry that he sealed you?"
"Never. The only thing I am angry at is my own weakness, and why I could not be with Lord Ash to the very end..."
"I see... What a beautiful friendship..."
"Yes... That is why I look forward to the day I truly awaken... so I can meet Lord Ash once again."
"...A truly wondrous friendship. But Ash, huh..." Regarding the friendship between Ash and Lucario, Arceus felt a deep sense of nostalgia. Because once, it too had briefly experienced that kind of friendship.
It was a friendship forged when it had intruded into another world after being injured defending against an alien invasion.
"So the Pokémon world really exists? If possible, how about taking me there to see it?"
"Hmph, don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You humans are far too easy to read."
"Then you can just kill me when the time comes. But really, you can't save me? My girlfriend's power is practically useless here..."
"Alright. Looks like I can only rely on myself..."
"Ah... So in the end, I still couldn't hold onto her..."
"Life, age, sickness, and death are just the norm. Look past it."
"Say, Arceus. If someone took that curse in your place, would you be able to recover?"
"Wait! What are you doing?! Stop, you'll be completely erased!"
"If possible... I really wanted to see the Pokémon world with my own eyes... It must be amazing, right?"
"You... was doing this worth it?"
"Who knows. I just got hot-headed and did it. I suddenly feel really stupid..."
"At least you know you're stupid."
"But it's pretty funny. I became friends with Arceus. If I go out and brag about this, people will probably think I'm insane, right?"
"I feel like you're insulting me..."
"Hahaha! Just consider it the self-comfort of a dying man... But Arceus, since your power is recovered, what about my girlfriend...?"
"Rest assured. In my world, she will be safe."
"Then I'm relieved... Thank you, Arceus. Knowing you wasn't too bad..."
"No... Thank you. This friendship... is incredibly precious to me."
Recalling its own excitement upon finding what seemed to be the reincarnation of that brief friend, Arceus smiled faintly.
"The world... truly is wondrous. Wouldn't you agree? My fleeting friend, Ash."
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