Hello, it is the 28th and I am back with a whole chapter. Wow, I can't believe it's only been a month since I uploaded anything but it truly feels like so long! Probably because I only went and foolishly smashed my laptop screen plus the screen repair wasn't perfect so I've been without my usual laptop about ten days of the month and having to use my old clunky thing to create! It feels good to be back briefly and will be great to be officially back over on Pikachu Tales soon. For now, though, here is some love and good news from Ash to Delia. I hope you enjoy!

Dear Mom,

I'm coming home!

I know I've said those words to you a lot. I know that I've said them in passing. I know that I've said them and meant something else. Mom, I'm coming home, is there going to be food for me? Mom, I'm coming home, can my friends stay? Mom, I'm coming home. But I'll be gone again soon.

This time, I don't mean it as a way to lead on to other things. This time, I don't mean it temporarily. Mom, I am coming home for good.

I need to be at home for a while. The world has always been so enticing to me, its never-ending paths teasing me with possible adventure and greeting me with open arms and lessons for me to learn. I still feel that way, I really do. A part of me still feels restless and dying to explore. But I guess I'm ready to explore other things.

I have Misty now, don't I? I mean, she's always been there, hasn't she? But these days, we're Ash-and-Misty, not just me on my own and her on her own. She doesn't need me around. If I turned around and said there were horizons waiting for me, I think she'd understand. She has a life beyond me. She has a life at the Cerulean Gym, and I will always encourage that.

But even if there are horizons waiting for me, they can wait a while longer. I want to stay in the one place and see what the journey with my girl can bring. I want to stay in the one place and see many people a little more. Mom, you're one of the people that I want to see a lot more.

I hope you've never felt on the sidelines. Even when I was so eager to start a new adventure and slam our front door behind me and race on my way, I hope you never felt like I had forgotten you. I really hope that you didn't, because, how could I? None of this would have been possible without you. And I don't mean the little things you did for me like packing my bag and reminding me to change my underwear!

I mean, I wouldn't have had the courage to leave my hometown at ten years old with my head held in the air without you. Your own courage modelled it perfectly to me. I don't think I've ever told you that, but I mean it. And now that I'm going to be around a lot more, I'd like to tell you a lot more things too. I would love to get to know you better.

I know your life hasn't been on hold since I left, even if you worry about me which I know that you do. So, I'd like to know everything.

I'd like to tell you about everything too. There's so much you do know, of course. How bummed I was when I lost the Indigo League way back. How I felt to depart from my first travelling companions for the first time. How I knew that I was thinking of Misty as more than just a friend. And then, how over the moon I was that she felt the same way back.

There are a lot of things I didn't tell you either. And I have a feeling that we will really enjoy getting into that over a milkshake or something. Not at your restaurant, Mom, don't worry. I'll take you some place nice.

The world awaits me, it really does. But I feel like other things need me right now. My relationship with Misty deserves attention. I want to hang around in Pallet Town with my old friends, see how Tracey and Gary are doing, and maybe invite some of my newer friends like Cameron to see my stomping grounds too.

There are things here that need my attention. Maybe Pallet Town is one of them. After all, it is the town that gave me my confidence as you did, Mom, and taught me everything I needed to know before seeing what else was out there.

And besides, the new Frontier Brain of Pallet Town needs to be a formidable source, doesn't he? Not just in his prowess in battle but for his knowledge too.

Heh, that's right, Mom. You don't need to worry that I'll be bouncing off the walls with no journey to embark on. I accepted the offer from long ago to be a Frontier Brain. And I cannot wait for that adventure!

And yet, the one that I am most excited for, is to spend a little more time with you.

I always knew that you would be there waiting for me whenever I came home. But now it feels extra sweet that you will be there in the same house with me again, and enjoying a new bond, as well as remembering the one that we had before I left the first time around.

I can't wait to come home, Mom. I can't wait to see you. I can't wait to hug you. I might be slowly achieving all of my dreams but my biggest one came true the day that I got to be your son.

I mean that.

Love, Ash.

P.S: I know I said I didn't want anything else but… you will make sure there's loads of food in for me, won't you?

There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :) I can't remember if this idea was born out of the love for my own mama or the fact that recently it's come to everyone's attention that Ash will be leaving the anime. So sad! In my stories, he finishes journeying after Kalos to accept the offer of being a Frontier Brain. Of course, he does also become champion eventuall, but it happens differently than how we've seen in the anime. Of course, it goes without saying that that the departure will not put a stop to any creation of mine! I sure hope everybody has a good send off. Thanks again for reading and I will be back again on February 8th over on Pikachu Tales so see you then! I hope all is well with everybody!

Amy signing out :)