32. Ash's Reborn Story

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.