Chapter 43 Arriving at Chrysolia

Ash and the others are now searching for the train, and Ash also notices some cracks in the wall as he checks inside, he also finds a key that belonged to the Move Relearner in the Onyx Ward, and he decides to return the key after the children and the others are safe. Then he also notices a corrupted Poke Ball inside one of the places, he doesn't know what that does, but he can hear snoring from inside.

After heading south, they manage to find a train. When they get inside, they find that the train's engine can be worked.

Anna: Hello, train! I bet that'll do! I'll go get the others, okay?

After gathering everyone else on the train, Charlotte looks at the engine.

Anna: Well? What do you think? Can we use it?

Charlotte: What, you think I know anything about this stuff? Good one. But we sure can try. How hard can it be?

Noel: This isn't close to the exit.

Charlotte: Nope, but as long as the track is intact, all I really need to do is find the thing that makes it go forward and hope in all our lives it works.

Cain: And how about the brakes?

Charlotte: Who needs those?

Ash: So our first job has to be making sure the tracks connect, right?

Shelly: I did see a lot of switches out there...

Noel: Only twelve.

Cain: Plus some of the rails are all broken up, right?

Noel: That's advantageous.

Shelly: Um... H-how so?

Noel: If we ignore positions that lead to an immediate dead-end, the number of possible combinations is reduced from 46,656 to 8.

Ash: How do you know that?

Noel: Isn't it obvious? Brother Ash?

Ash is not used to having them call him brother, but he decides not to say anything.

Cain: Yeah... No.

Anna: So all we really need to do to find out if we can get the train to the rubble is check those eight combinations?

Charlotte: All right, Ash, you're up. If more than one person does this, we're likely to mix stuff up. Look for a route for this train to get to the exit and have Noel check it over. Then we can get this show on the road.

Anna: We'll wait outside for you. C'mon, Noel~

Being the eldest among the group, Ash sighs as he and Pikachu rush outside to flip the switches so that the tracks are intact. While they are flipping the switches, Noel and Anna decide to ask about Ash.

Noel: So Ash...I want to know...what is our mother like? We have never seen her ever since she died, and our father was so sad that he just took us to that orphanage...

Ash: Our mother is nice, even though sometimes he would tease you for something embarrassing. She is also the ones who found Nostra and Nomos and brings them to you.

Anna: We know...our Father did mention that. Will we get to meet her?

Ash: You will, but not right now because you guys are in danger because of Team Meteor. (Flips the last switch) This is the last one.

Noel: Indeed. Now the train can reach the exit now.

Anna: We did it! Nostra says congrats, you two.

Ash: Actually, Anna, I can hear what Nostra and Nomos are saying.

Anna: Really? That's awesome!

Noel is not happy, even Ash is paying more attention to her rather than him, but he shakes his thoughts as they all head back inside the train. But much to their surprise, Anna is not feeling well again.

Noel: Anna?

Anna: I'm okay! I just slipped. C-c'mon, let's get going!

While Noel is talking to Charlotte about the path, Heather pulls Ash's shirt as Ash bends down.

Ash: Yes, Heather?

Heather: Ash...I'm thankful for what you did to help us...but I don't want to be helped...I want to be able to help others as well.

Ash: I'm sure you can do it. Maybe you'll be able to find help once we escape the Reborn Region?

Heather: (Nods) After this is done, I think I'll leave with my Salamence to find someone who needs help.

Ash: Okay...just promise me you'll be careful. You almost get injured after your battle against Lin.

Charlotte: (Walks towards Ash) I hear the path's been blazed for us. You all set to do this?

As everyone nods, Charlotte goes to the train engine.

Charlotte: Sweet. All right, let's do this. (Starts the train) *Tschk* This is your captain speaking. We will be departing from the station shortly. Please keep all arms and legs securely inside the vehicle at all times, and hang the fuck on because we're in for a hell of a ride.

And when the train is moving, it goes faster and faster as everyone needs to hold tight to the other stuff in the train to stay still. And then they feel the train crash into something as it stops.

Shelly: U-um...

Cain: Did you change your mind about the brakes?

Charlotte: As if...

Shelly: So... So what just happened?

Charlotte: Only one way to find out. We got through the debris, but it doesn't seem like we can go further, so let's step out and take a look.


Ash is the first one as he steps out of the train, and he finds a forest in front of them and mountains behind them. He is surprised as he is out of the Reborn City.

Heather: (Whispers to Ash) I'll go for now.

Ash: Stay safe and contact often.

Heather nods as she takes out her Salamence as she jumps on it and leaves.

Shelly: Oh, oh, um... Okay, bye?

Cain: Aaaaaand second she sees sky, she's gone.

Shelly: Not like I wanted to help my friend or anything...

Cain: Heyyy, I'm still gonna go after her, all right? Just until I can make sure she's safe. I'll catch up with you guys later! (Rushes away)

Charlotte: See ya, princess.

Shelly: (Looks around) U-um... So... What exactly happened?

Charlotte: Seems like the tracks decided to just not. Awesome.

Shelly: But... If that's the case, shouldn't the stop have been much, much, um, worse?

Charlotte: What can I say? I'm just good like that.

Noel: (Looks at Anna) Anna's practically white.

Anna: N-no, I'm fine! It's Nostra who's not feeling well, promise!

Ash: I know, but you're not fine as well.

Charlotte: Uh huh. Then how about we get to my place so 'Nostra' and Anna can rest? Follow me, kids. (Leaves)

Noel: She says 'kids', but isn't she only a few years older than us? And Ash is the eldest among us.

Shelly: M-maybe it's best if we just get going...

Ash and the others head north as they are inside the mountain, they can also feel that the whole mountain is shaking, but they don't know why.

Charlotte: (Looks at the metals) This metal junk is new. I don't think that's a good sign.

Anna: And wh-what was that? (Referring to another earthquake)

Charlotte: I don't know. Let's keep moving.

As they find the path split into 5, Charlotte just walks to the second path.

Charlotte: Our place is just through here. The way through this place is pretty discreet if you're not looking for it. Makes it a cozy little hideout. Our family used it for years. Well, I'll go ahead.

When they get out of the cave, they find themselves in the Tanzan Cove. There is a mansion in front of them, and before they can go there, Charlotte looks at the flower rings.

Charlotte: These flower rings... (Counts the number of flowers) ... Eight. (Counts another flower ring) Sigh. Laura's been at it again.


After they get inside the house, they see the same pink-haired woman from before the orphanage surprised to see them.

?: Noel? Anna? What are you two doing here? (Notices Ash and Charlotte entering the room) Charlotte! But shouldn't you all still be at the Orphanage...?

Charlotte: We decided we'd had enough of the geezer, so we hooked him up to his own shock machine and gave him the once-through.

?: (Surprised) Wh-what, really...?

Charlotte: I wish. But we flew the coop, and need to lay low here for a while. (Turns to Ash and Shelly) Ash, Shelly, this is Laura. My sister.

Laura: Well, it's a pleasure to meet you both, if unexpected.

Shelly: Um, it's- um, nice to meet you too!

Charlotte: They helped us escape from the Doctor, and we thought it might be too dangerous for them to go back to the city. Well, not Ash, because he is strong and he is actually working with the police to stop the Doctor or Team Meteor. But they'll be staying here too for a while.

Noel: Is there anywhere Anna can lie down? Nostra isn't feeling well, apparently.

Laura: Oh... Right, of course. Follow me upstairs?

As Laura brings Noel and Anna upstairs, Charlotte decides to explain some things to them.

Charlotte: Laura was kept with us at the Orphanage too, until very recently. She just turned 18, so as a legal adult, she was finally free to go. So she came here. It used to be our parents' house, so it's the safest place for us right now. And by the looks of it, she redecorated...Again.

Shelly: Charlotte, whatever happened to your parents?

Charlotte: (Flinches) That's not important.

Shelly: O-oh, I'm sorry...

Laura: (Comes downstairs) Poor thing went right to sleep. She's running an awful fever...

Charlotte: Do we have any medicine around?

Laura: No, I'm afraid not. Though, I believe the PokéMart in Spinel Town was selling some Herbal Extract? It's a wonderful all-natural and cruelty-free cure-all made from the flowers Comfey gathers.

Charlotte: All right. Ash, go into town and get that Herbal Extract for Anna. Spinel Town is completely separate from Reborn City- just a little camp on the edge. If you go back from the cove and follow the train tracks east, you'll find it.

Laura: Oh, if you have to go out, you might want to rest up first. Follow me.

Laura then shows them their rooms to stay in if they want to rest up, and Ash is thankful for her. When he glances at Noel and Anna's room, Anna is sleeping in pain, and Ash knows that he has to go to Spinel Town to save her.

Laura: I heard from Noel and Anna that you're their blood-related brother, is that true?

Ash: Yeah...turns out that both of us were revived after we were seemingly killed by Team Meteor. My mom and I were just returned to this region as well.

Laura: I see...at least they still have their parents...unlike us... (Frowns)

Ash: I have heard from my mother, both of your parents were killed by a fire...

Laura: (Widens her eyes) How did you...

Ash: My mom seems to be friends with your mother. That's why.

Laura nods, but she asks Ash not to talk about this because it brings a lot of pain, and Ash respects her as he decides to take a rest since it is about night time.


And here is a new chapter, as you can see, Ash and the others are now at Chrysolia Region inside of Reborn. Anna is getting sick, so it is up to Ash to save her by going to Spinel Town. I hope you like this chapter.