The morning sun filtered through the cracks in the cave, falling upon Ash's face. He rubbed his bleary eyes, looked at the still-sleeping Misty, and quietly got up to search for food.
As he reached the beach, a sight greeted him that made his eyes widen in pleasant surprise a small lifeboat was heading toward the island, and the person standing at the bow waving vigorously was none other than Brock!
Even more thrilling was that Brock wasn't just accompanied by Pikachu. Standing beside him were Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Butterfree, Pidgeotto (Shiny), and Scyther. Every single Pokémon Ash had been traveling with was there, safe and sound on the boat, crying out excitedly toward him!
"Brock! Everyone!" Ash shouted in excitement, immediately running back into the cave. "Misty, wake up! Brock and all the Pokémon are back!"
Startled awake by the good news, Misty was instantly alert, a brilliant smile blossoming on her face.
The lifeboat soon docked, and the long-lost companions embraced one another with fervor.
Pikachu skillfully leaped onto Ash's shoulder, Bulbasaur gently wrapped its Vine Whip around his arm, and Charmander and Squirtle nuzzled against his legs affectionately. Butterfree and Pidgeotto circled overhead in delight, while Scyther stood coolly to the side, though its eyes betrayed a sense of relief.
"Ash, Misty, I'm so glad you're okay!" Brock let out a long sigh of relief. "When I woke up, I found myself on the same lifeboat as the Pokémon. Later, we were rescued by a passing merchant ship. They took us to nearby Porta Vista, where we got checked out and recovered at the Pokémon Center. I borrowed this boat and followed the faint sense the Pokémon had of your Aura. Luckily, we didn't miss you!"
"That's wonderful... everyone is safe." Misty looked at the Pokémon surrounding them, her eyes moist as the weight finally lifted from her heart.
"Thanks for the hard work, Brock!" Ash clapped him on the shoulder, his gratitude beyond words. He carefully checked every partner, and only after confirming they were in good condition did he feel completely at peace.
"We heard some news while we were resting in Porta Vista," Brock continued. "Apparently, there's a wealthy tycoon named Nastina who is pushing for a massive land reclamation project. It's caused a huge uproar; many fishermen and environmentalists are protesting."
"Land reclamation project?" Ash frowned slightly. His Aura power made him particularly sensitive to the balance of the natural environment. "Altering the coastline on such a large scale will definitely affect the Pokémon in the ocean."
"We heard about it too," Misty added. "It sounds like they're making a lot of noise, and people are already very unhappy."
"Since everyone is back together, let's head to Porta Vista first," Ash decided. "On one hand, we need a proper rest, and on the other, I want to see what this land reclamation project is all about. If it's destroying Pokémon habitats, we can't just sit idly by."
Having gone through so much, Ash's strength wasn't the only thing growing; his sense of responsibility as a Pokémon Trainer was becoming stronger by the day.
Everyone agreed, and they boarded the lifeboat Brock had brought, setting course for Porta Vista.
Porta Vista was a port city even more bustling and prosperous than Maiden's Peak. The docks were a forest of masts, and the streets were filled with people, pulsing with vitality.
As soon as they entered the city, Brock led them familiarly back to the Pokémon Center to give all the Pokémon especially Ash and Misty's, who had endured being soaked in seawater and drifting at sea a more detailed health check.
Nurse Joy and Chansey greeted them with smiles, welcoming them back.
Ash went to a shop to have his Pokédex repaired the old one had been completely ruined by water damage and successfully got in touch with Professor Oak. He reported that they were safe so the Professor wouldn't worry.
Misty and Brock went to restock various supplies needed for their journey.
While recuperating at the Pokémon Center, they felt the tense atmosphere permeating the city due to the land reclamation project more clearly.
Many trainers and fishermen were discussing the matter, their concern evident in their voices.
"It seems this situation is more serious than we imagined," Brock remarked.
"Yeah," Ash nodded, his gaze firm. "Once we've rested, we'll head to the construction site tomorrow to see what's going on."
With the whole team successfully reunited, a new challenge was right before them.
The storm surrounding the Porta Vista land reclamation project was waiting for them to intervene.
[Ding! Host has successfully reunited with all companions and Pokémon. Team integrity restored.]
[Regional Event Investigation Task Triggered: Porta Vista Land Reclamation Project.]
Author's Note: Pidgey and Krabby have already been sent back to Professor Oak's Laboratory. I forgot to mention it during the previous plot developments, so I'm adding it here to clear up any confusion.
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/kleinmoretti to access 100+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).