Grand Jipang felt grateful that Ash was back to their lives as he had visitors see him over a few days. Carrot, Onion, Pepper, Aisa and Orika were happy to see Ash up after his bout with the family. Each day, Ash became stronger and could eat more freely. "So, what was it like fighting in that burning castle?" asked Onion.
"Oh, not for the faint of heart," Ash admitted. "Can you imagine trying to keep your cool while surrounded by fire?"
"We can't," Aisa shook. "It had to have been terrifying."
"Not to mention that you were also blind," Orika added. "How did you fight them like that?" Ash laughed to the question.
"I have a family secret about it," he shrugged. Pepper glanced to Robin.
"What family secret is that?" he asked. Robin giggled while she shook her head.
"This apparently is from his original parents, not me," she clarified.
"Oh, really?" awed Orika as she turned to Ash. "You're unbelievable!" Ash giggled as Viola came by.
"Ash, how are you doing?" she asked.
"Still in some pain, but I'm getting better," Ash replied. Viola smiled at the news.
"That's wonderful. I just received word that the Tontatta Kingdom has arrived."
"They're finally here?" Everyone wondered who the people of the Tontatta Kingdom were.
Moving On! Ash's Steps to Recovery!
Robin's flat was soon met by a few tiny people. They were no bigger than Pikachu. "You're from the Tontatta Kingdom?" gasped Robin.
"We are," a brunette tiny man mentioned. He wore a green robe and crown with a point bent.
"We're dwarves," an old, white haired tiny man addressed. He wore sunglasses and a large crown. He also wore a purple robe. "I am Gancho, the Tonta-Chief." A young dwarf came forward with blond hair much bigger than her. She had green flowers tied to create pigtails as she wore a white robe. "This is my daughter, Princess Mansherry."Ash and Mansherry gazed to each other before Ash offered a hand to let Mansherry board. He lifted her to meet face-to-face.
"I'm sorry," she nervously apologized. "When… I heard about… the Summoner, I wasn't expecting… him to… be so young."
"Hey, it's not a problem," Ash assured. "I mean, you're actually cute." Mansherry blushed.
"I guess, albeit for someone who's 25." Her age made Ash blink.
"Whoa, 25? I would've guessed that you're about my age!"
"That's why I was surprised to see you as young as you are. If you were a little older, I… I might…"
"Don't worry about it. I have… three others who've been vying for me." The brunette dwarf sighed in relief.
"That's a relief," he sighed. "I didn't want Mansherry to go after a kid." Gancho bopped the brunette dwarf in the head.
"Be respectful, Leo," he warned. Tears started to wallow in Mansherry's eyes.
"I do wish that your love further extends," she wished. She wiped her tears which splashed on Ash. Suddenly, his body began to glow. Everyone watched before the glow stopped.
("What was that?") asked Pikachu. Suddenly, Ash started to move more freely.
"Hey, I don't feel any pain!" he gasped. "What did you do?"
"My tears can heal anyone," Mansherry briefed.
"Wow, that must be pretty useful," Robin awed. Mansherry blushed to the compliment as Ash stood up.
"Wow, I feel so much better!" he awed. "Thank you so much…" Mansherry smiled, happy that she could help.
"Of course!" she gleefully replied. "Could I be closer to your face?" Ash sensed what Mansherry wanted.
"Sure," he allowed. Right by his face, Mansherry gave Ash a kiss to his cheek. Pikachu and Robin giggled to the sight.
"Another princess to show love, huh?" teased Robin. Pikachu squeaked up with a request.
"Did you want to give Mansherry a ride, Pikachu?" guessed Ash. Pikachu confirmed with another squeak before lowering himself onto all fours. Ash lowered Mansherry to Pikachu
"Oh, thank you," Mansherry awed before she came to and kissed Pikachu on the cheek as well. Pikachu squealed happily before she hopped onto his back.
"No fair!" complained Leo. "Why should she be on her and not-"
("I can hold you as well,") Pikachu offered. He pointed to his back. Leo seemed to awe the invite.
"I can join?" he believed. Pikachu nodded. Leo came to and hopped on Pikachu's back with Mansherry helping out. Robin hoisted Gancho in her arms.
"Let's take you around town," she offered.
"That is much appreciated," Gancho replied. Everyone exited before they started to journey through Grand Jipang. Ash took a big breath of fresh air.
"It's good to be back outside," he awed.
"Viola told us about your harrowing rescue of Grand Jipang's children and the mermaids of the Ryugu Kingdom," Gancho pointed out.
"Trust me, it's also where I learned about who killed my parents," Ash added. "It wasn't my intention to make it personal."
"At least we're all in peace," Robin pointed out. They made their way to the Pinwheel where Onami and Omao saw the group.
"Ash, you're finally walking!" awed Omao as she came to and hugged Ash. Onami joined at a slower pace.
"Hey, Omao," Ash greeted. Onami saw Pikachu and his riders.
"You must be from the Tontatta Kingdom that took their time to get here," she teased.
"Just be glad we made it," Leo sneered. Onami knelt as Omao released Ash.
"I'm Princess Mansherry of the Tontatta Kingdom," she named herself.
("She healed Ash with her tears,") Pikachu squeaked.
"Well, I'm Onami," she named herself. "I run the Pinwheel behind me. As a matter of fact, Hachi came by and offered his takoyaki to us." Ash awed the thought of food.
"Takoyaki…" he repeated. "One of the first things to eat after my time cooped up at home."
"Yep, why not come in and see?" offered Onami. She offered her arms to which Pikachu leaped into them. They entered inside where Luffy, Usopp, Ocarrot, Owanda and Sanji saw Ash entering.
"Ash!" cheered Ocarrot as she tackled him to the ground. She performed her garchu on his ear. "Youteia can move again!" Ash giggled to Ocarrot's behavior.
"Welcome back to the living, Ash!" greeted Luffy. Usopp bashed Luffy's head with a bowl.
"He was never dead, you idiot!" he snapped. Sanji came out of the back with the pipe between his fingers.
"So, how long were you gonna be in bed before I had to drag you out of there?" he asked as Ocarrot pulled him up.
"As long as I needed my body to heal and go back on patrol," Ash retorted. Sanji scoffed as Owanda came to Ash and Pikachu hopped on the table.
"It's so nice to see youteia on your feet after so many days," Owanda cried as she gave Ash a tongue bath.
"THAT TICKLES!" laughed Ash.
"You gotta admit, he deserves that reward," Onami giggled. Seeing Mansherry, Sanji offered his hand to her.
"It's true what they say," he swooned. "The biggest surprises come in small packages. Perhaps there will be a chance that I can make a meal big enough for you to savor." Mansherry gasped and trembled at Sanji's offer. Leo hopped off and had a sword the size and shape of a steel toothpick.
"I will protect the princess with my life if I have to-" he challenged before Sanji slapped him away.
"You're nothing!" he groaned. Leo flew into Ash who caught him.
"I gotcha," he told. A hand appeared from the table and grabbed Sanji by the nose. Looking, Ash and Leo saw Robin's arms crossed. Sweating nervously, they anticipated Robin's move. Sanji froze before the arm grabbed and slammed Sanji to the table. Sanji stopped moving altogether.
"Well, that was expected," Luffy shrugged.
"Anyone with boobs, and he's hounding for some action," Owanda sighed.
"Should I heal him?" asked Mansherry.
"He'll be fine," Onami and Ocarrot sighed. Owanda came to Ash again.
"By the way, I was told that youteia had some rewards by the visiting lords and Lord Cobra," she reported.
"Oh, for the rescue of the children and the mermaids, right?" guessed Ash.
"What else?" voiced Usopp. "You're the one who ended the Imperial Dragons' reign. Of course, we had you in our corner when we needed it." Hachi came forward with a tray full of takoyaki.
"You're no longer bedridden?" he asked. Ash turned to see Hachi. "Sanji told me that you're a great judge of food." Ash laughed to the notion.
"I am," he chuckled. "Are you doing okay?" Hachi snickered to the identification.
"I am," he replied. "By the way, I did make some takoyaki for everyone to try." Ash picked up a takoyaki as Mansherry also noticed.
"This is takoyaki?" she asked as she picked up a piece that was more than she could handle. Pikachu helped Mansherry stay upright.
"Yep," Ash admitted. "It's pretty sweet." He shoved the ball into his mouth. His eyes lit up. "Try it, I doubt dwarves have had takoyaki before." Mansherry ate one with Pikachu supporting her.
"Oh my gosh!" she awed. "This is so tasty!" She broke some of the takoyaki before giving it to Pikachu. "You wanna try?" Pikachu took the piece and ate it. Tasting, Pikachu shrilled in enjoyment. Just then, Blue-Nose and Kaya soon entered at hearing the conversation.
"Ash, you're moving again!" awed Blue-Nose. Kaya reached and hugged Ash.
"Oh, thank goodness that you're okay!" she cried. "I thought with how badly you were mangled, you wouldn't move again!" Ash sighed as he felt the embrace.
"Thanks, Kaya," he replied. Kaya released her hug, but she still faced Ash.
"Promise me that you will be a little more cautious next time," she wished before kissing his cheeks. Ash blushed to the kisses.
"Soak in the rewards!" cheered Luffy. "You can't say you didn't deserve them!" Ocarrot came forward.
"Youteia know, I can't help but want to spend more time with youteia," she admitted. "I fell for youteia at first sight and I nearly lost it after the castle collapsed."
"Don't think you're the only one," Rebecca voiced. Everyone turned to Shirahoshi and Rebecca arriving. "We heard that Ash was up and about. It's a good thing news like that isn't lying." Shirahoshi swam to Ash as their blushing cheeks formed.
"I'm glad to see you walking again," she confessed. "Though, I would've wanted to take care of you, regardless." Ash shook his smiling face.
"It wouldn't feel right," he admitted. "After all that we have gone through in these many days, I want to be there to help out." Mansherry saw and awed Shirahoshi.
"The mermaid princess of the Ryugu Kingdom," she awed. Shirahoshi turned to Mansherry and awed her.
"A very tiny human?" she guessed.
"I'm Princess Mansherry of the Tontatta Kingdom," she named herself.
"Oh, the kingdom of dwarves, right?"
"Yep."
"That is wonderful to know of another kingdom."
"Same here." Reaching, Rebecca offered her hands.
"Is it alright if I had a chance to hold you?" she requested. Mansherry gulped at the new young woman but boarded Rebecca's hands. "This is the first time I've held a dwarf, let alone a cute one."
"Doesn't it make you feel like a princess again?" teased Shirahoshi. Rebecca laughed to the thought.
"I'm just a little worried that Ash would come after her," she believed. Ash came to the girls with Leo on his shoulder.
"I've got enough love with you two and Ocarrot as it is," he denied.
"Not to mention that I'll be the one to protect Princess Mansherry," Leo promised. Owanda patted Leo's head gently.
"Aren't youteia so brave," she teased. Everyone had a laugh. A little while later at the castle, Ash and Robin faced Cobra, Neptune, Momonosuke and Riku.
"Young Summoner, it is good that you're on your feet again," Cobra addressed. "We feared that you would not wake up, let alone be with us."
"It wouldn't be the same if we lost our great protector of the children," Riku added as Vivi held Pikachu.
"It is with honor and service to praise your efforts- jamon," Neptune spoke. "That is it within our discretion to give you a new moniker. Being called 'the Summoner,' it will lead others to pursue and attack without cause. Instead, we can name you 'Ash, the Grand Sage'." Ash awed the effort to change his title.
"Grand Sage," he repeated. "Thank you, Lords. It's… an honor."
"On top of that," Momonosuke started. "We will designate the festive holiday in your honor. A celebration of your rescue and liberation from the Imperial Dragons."
"You have any idea how humbled we are because of this offer?" questioned Robin.
"It is not that we don't know," Riku voiced. "What your son has done through the anguish in great fortitude defies average basis of samurai and shogun capabilities."
"Him appearing in Grand Jipang became a blessing that forgone all miracles that have occurred," Cobra added.
("That's for sure,") Pikachu squeaked. Vivi petted his head to ease him.
"In addition, Princess Shirahoshi and Former Princess Rebecca have made a unique request," Neptune spoke up. "They wish for your hand in marriage." Ash's eyes lit up.
"Are you serious!?" he gasped. "Shirahoshi, and Rebecca? They want to marry me!?"
"They have explained to us the reason," Riku relayed. Ash sighed to the news.
'I have done a lot for them,' he admitted. 'For this to be their response… but I can see how they do love me.' He looked back. "Lord Neptune… Lord Kyros… I humbly accept." Smiles came to everyone inside. At Robin's flat, Ash, Shirahoshi, Rebecca and Ocarrot snuggled together. To Shirahoshi and Rebecca, Ash was willing to marry and become a family. Ocarrot would not let her favorite lesser Mink go without a fight… but the fight was over… and the three would hold Ash for themselves. The festivities were soon approaching after the long delay.
TO BE CONTINUED...
