The next morning, Ash woke up in a bit of a daze. He felt a weight in his arms that definitely wasn't the familiar shape of Kirlia or Pikachu. He looked down to see Elesa still fast asleep, her breathing steady and peaceful. In an instant, the memories of the previous night—and the fact that he had truly made her his—came rushing back.
"Ah, right... Elesa is officially mine now."
"Mmm... you finally realized it?" Elesa murmured, opening her eyes and snuggling deeper into his chest. "You certainly didn't hold back last night. I'm exhausted."
"I'll have my staff bring up some breakfast. Mom is probably already brewing some recovery soup as we speak," Ash said, reaching for his phone.
"You're not going to get it yourself?"
"No," Ash said, his voice dropping into a tone of absolute, ironclad resolve. An intense aura radiated from him—the aura of a man protecting his family. "Right now, my place is strictly by your side. I'm not leaving you alone while you're like this."
Elesa smiled, her heart fluttering at his sudden display of husband energy.
A short while later, Delia entered the room carrying a steaming tray of chicken soup. Seeing Ash and Elesa already dressed and sitting up, she gave them a knowing smile.
"Now, now, don't be shy with me," Delia teased. "Ash, you should be spending every second looking after your new bride."
"I am, Mom. I even helped her get dressed..."
"Oh my!" Delia's eyes twinkled as she saw Elesa's face turn a bright shade of crimson. "Well, in that case, I have some things I need to discuss with my daughter-in-law. Out you go, Ash!"
"But Mom, is the soup seasoned correctly? Do you need me to add any medicinal herbs? Are the ingredients top-grade? Let me test a spoonful—"
"My cooking is fine, you worrywart! Out!"
Delia pushed a protesting Ash out into the hallway and shut the door. Waiting for him in the corridor was Meowth, wearing a grin that could only be described as diabolical.
Meowth: "Boss, you look like you had a very... productive night."Pikachu: "Pika-pi!"Chansey: "Lucky!" Kirlia: "MZ"
Ash ignored the teasing, his expression turning solemn. "Last night changed things. I've realized that my power isn't just for winning battles or making money. It's for the responsibility I now carry—the responsibility of a family. I have to be strong enough to protect all of them."
As he spoke, a terrifyingly dense aura began to seep from his body. It was a pressure so heavy that even Professor Oak and Gary, who were watching from around the corner, felt a chill.
"Ash... he's changed," Professor Oak whispered, shivering slightly.
"Is he getting stronger again?" Gary muttered, his bravado completely gone. He knew that if he tried to prank Ash right now, he'd probably be buried ten feet under before he could finish a sentence.
Because Elesa needed time to rest, the group's departure was delayed. During the break, Giselle approached Ash with a somewhat conflicted expression.
"Ash, my family called. There's an emergency back at the estate, so I won't be able to continue the journey with you for now."
"I see. Do you need me to send a private jet for you?" Ash asked. He didn't pry into family matters, but his support was absolute.
Giselle nodded. "If it's not too much trouble. They want me back in Sinnoh as soon as possible."
"That works out," Cynthia interjected. "I'm heading back to Sinnoh too. I need to deliver those Rare Candies to my grandmother and finalize some... engagement details."
Ash quickly mapped out the logistics. "Alright. My ship will take you both to the private airfield. From there, a Continental Hotel jet will fly you straight to Sinnoh. Does that sound good?"
"Perfect. Thank you, Ash," Cynthia said.
"Thanks, Miser," Giselle added with a faint smile.
Ash then turned to Delia, Daisy, and the Professor. "Mom, Daisy, Grandpa—you should all take the Going Merry back home. It's faster and much more comfortable than the public ferries."
While they were waiting at the private dock for the ship to arrive, Misty spotted something struggling in the shallow water—a wounded Horsea. The small Pokémon was chirping frantically, its eyes wide with terror.
"Meowth, what is it saying?" Ash asked, his protective instincts immediately flaring.
Meowth listened intently, his ears twitching. His face went pale. "Boss... he says the Tentacool and Tentacruel swarms are gathering. They're planning an all-out invasion of Porta Vista, nya!"
"What?!"
In a flash, Ash moved to the front of the group, shielding his friends and family. The aura he had manifested earlier exploded outward, calming the panicked Horsea instantly.
"Horsea," Ash said, his voice calm but resonating with power. "Can we talk? Tell me exactly why they are angry."
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