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After comparing Brock’s notes and Arven’s book, the four trainers, accompanied by their Pokémon, as well as Koraidon and Miraidon, set off for the South Province, where one of the Titan Pokémon had, possibly, been spotted.
As usual, once night fell, Brock insisted that they set up camp and rest for the night; though unsure about it at first, Arven relented, and even assisted Brock in preparing the dinner they would all share.
“Just like old times, huh, Pikachu?” Ash asked, watching them as he and Penny helped pitch the tents.
“Pika pikaaa,” Pikachu sighed.
“You two have known each other for a while, huh?” Penny asked.
“Yep, we sure have! I met Brock shortly after I started out my Pokémon journey, back when he was the Gym Leader of Pewter City—even then, he knew that battling wasn’t for him. He started out wanting to be a Pokémon breeder—he even took part in a Pokémon contest or two. But he was always really good at helping Pokémon heal and feel better, and he finally found his calling—though he may have strayed once.”
“He’s a good friend to have—you can tell he genuinely cares about people and Pokémon,” Penny said. “We need more people like him.”
“…As long as there aren’t any Nurse Joys around…” Ash mused.
“Huh?”
“You’ll understand eventually,” Ash said. “There, that oughta do it for the tents!”
He stepped back and admired his handiwork for a moment, but then his face fell as he looked through his Rotom phone.
“What’s wrong?” Penny asked.
“Well… I kinda committed to a task that someone else asked me to do, but then this Titan thing came up,” Ash sighed. “And I’ve got no way of contacting this person to let them know what’s happened. I don’t know if they will accept this…”
“Oh!” Penny exclaimed. “You know, I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Really?”
“Sure! If you have no way to contact them and let them know, that’s not your fault—you can let them know when you get the chance,” she said. “And I’m sure they’ll understand if you explain the situation to them.”
“You think so?” Ash asked.
“I mean, you are the World Champion—not like anyone can push you around,” Penny pointed out. “I mean, they’re lucky you even said ‘yes’ at all; I’m sure they realize that you’ve got plenty of other things going on.”
Ash gave Penny a thoughtful look.
“Maybe you’re right,” he admitted. “Well, if they contact me again for a follow-up, I’ll just tell ‘em—”
“Hey, you two!” Brock called to them. “Dinner is ready!”
“Great, ‘cause I’m starving!” Ash exclaimed.
Penny quietly sighed in relief as she followed Ash; she had come close to saying too much—perhaps she had, but Ash was a decent guy and a good friend, and he deserved to have his mind at ease and to be able to help Arven without feeling guilty about not pursuing Operation Starfall… even if he was the only one she trusted to handle it.
She owed him that, at any rate.