After resting at home for half an hour, Ash asked Misty to stay and continue resting while he and Brock went to Professor Oak's Laboratory.
"Professor." In the lab, Ash found Professor Oak talking to two researchers.
"Oh, it's Ash, when did you get back?" Professor Oak had already been notified that Ash was coming to visit, so he wasn't surprised to see him.
"I got back recently." Ash nodded slightly to Professor Oak.
"Wait for me; I'll be done soon." Seeing this, Professor Oak immediately knew that Ash had something to ask him. After speaking, he gave some orders to the two researchers.
Although Professor Oak spoke quietly, Ash and Brock, standing at the door, could still hear something related to the abnormal weather that had occurred in Old Coast City.
Although Mew and Mewtwo had modified everyone's memories, the incident was too significant, and some aspects of cognition couldn't be changed, such as the abnormal weather.
The League had determined that the unusual weather was caused by a battle between two powerful Pokémon. However, detailed research required Professor Oak's expertise.
Professor Oak was currently researching these matters, hoping to uncover clues about the two battling Pokémon's origins.
The League had also sent people to investigate New Island. The shattered island had been restored to its original state by Mewtwo and Mew's immense power, but Mewtwo's fortress had vanished.
Additionally, all information about the Mewtwo Ball, a special Poké Ball developed by Mewtwo, had been destroyed. The existence of such a device could have thrown the world into chaos.
"Okay..." After instructing the researchers to continue, Professor Oak walked out and led Ash and Brock to the reception room. He sat down, took a sip of hot tea, and asked, "Is there something you need from me?"
"It's like this, Professor Oak..." Without waiting for Ash to explain, Brock expressed his request to Professor Oak.
"I see..." After listening to Brock's request, Professor Oak laughed and nodded happily. "Of course, it's no problem, but I'm a bit busy these days, as you saw just now. So, I might not be able to teach you anything for at least a week."
"It doesn't matter, as long as I can stay here and study in the lab!" Brock said excitedly.
"Then welcome, Brock," Professor Oak said with a smile.
"Thank you! Professor Oak!" Brock bowed to Professor Oak. He knew how rare this opportunity was.
He was well aware that countless people dreamed of studying or working in Professor Oak's Laboratory, many even more qualified than him. Professor Oak had agreed for Ash's sake, and Brock was deeply grateful.
"We're friends and partners!" Seeing Brock's gratitude, Ash waved his hand. He was happy to help.
Brock didn't speak but nodded vigorously.
In the evening, Ash returned home alone. His mother, Delia, was back and preparing dinner with Mr. Mime and Misty in the kitchen.
Delia was the main chef, Mr. Mime was assisting, and Misty was helping with serving and other tasks, as her cooking skills were not good.
"Ash!" Misty's eyes lit up as she greeted Ash, who walked into the living room from the corridor.
"You're back? Brock didn't come back, which means Professor Oak allowed him to stay and study?" Delia, holding a spoon, smiled as she spoke, having heard the commotion in the living room.
She already knew from Misty that Brock wanted to study at Professor Oak's Laboratory. Seeing Ash return alone, she figured Brock's request had been granted.
"Hmm..." Ash sat on the sofa and leaned back. Pikachu jumped directly into Ash's arms from the side, and Togepi also snuggled close.
"Take a break; dinner will be ready soon." Seeing this, Delia knew Ash must be tired, so she didn't say much and asked Misty to bring Ash a glass of water.
"Thank you..." Ash put down the two Pokémon in his arms, but Misty drank the water in one gulp and then let out a long sigh of relief.
"Do you want to continue intensive training tomorrow?" Misty asked curiously.
"Well... Time waits for no one. If I want to get a good ranking in the Indigo Plateau Conference, I have to work hard!" Ash nodded in response to Misty while putting down his glass.
"Brock is staying with Professor Oak to study, and I'll do my best to help you with logistics." Misty said seriously.
"We can do it together; after all, you also need to train." Ash didn't want to leave everything to Misty, as she also needed to train.
"Then let's do it together!" Misty smiled sweetly upon hearing this.
"By the way, I've always been very curious..." Misty's gaze shifted slightly to the Z-Ring on Ash's left wrist. She and Brock had already noticed this peculiar bracelet earlier,
But she had never asked about it. Now that she had the opportunity, she wanted to know, "What is this bracelet...?"
"This is... a Z-Ring." Ash didn't hide anything. He took off the Z-Ring, along with the Mewnium Z on it, and handed it to Misty.
"Z.....Ring?!" Misty was startled, then widened her beautiful eyes and looked at the bracelet in surprise, "Is it that Z-Ring? When did you get it?"
"It's the Z-Ring. When we were in Old Coast City, while you were resting, the iridescent feather transformed into this Z-Ring." Ash concealed part of the truth; after all, Misty had already forgotten about the Mewtwo incident.
"It's unbelievable, the iridescent feather turned into a Z-Ring..." Misty looked at the Z-Ring in her hand and gave it back to Ash. The Z-Ring was too precious.
"Why don't you put it on again?" Misty asked, a little puzzled, after seeing Ash take back the Z-Ring but not put it on again.
"The Z-Ring alone is useless. It must be combined with a Z-Crystal for Pokémon to perform Z-moves, and I don't have any Z-Crystals right now." Ash explained.
After a slight pause, Ash suddenly remembered that he hadn't used the lucky draw yet, and he had forgotten about it. He had completed the goal of "[eight Badges]" and won a lucky draw reward. If he was lucky, he might be able to get a Z-Crystal.
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