(May and Sapphire could be considered counterparts from parallel dimensions.)
Fuchsia City was located at the southern tip of the Kanto region. Its most famous attraction was the Kanto Safari Zone—the largest wildlife reserve in the area. This artificially created wilderness was home to many wild Pokémon, and for a fee, visitors could safely observe these Pokémon in their natural habitats.
For trainers, after paying an additional fee, they could venture deeper into the reserve without their own Pokémon, relying solely on the specialized Safari Balls provided to capture wild Pokémon.
Although the inability to bring their own Pokémon significantly increased the difficulty and danger of capturing wild ones here, the Safari Zone was known to house extremely rare species—even Dratini had been sighted before. This attracted countless trainers hoping to catch a rare Pokémon.
At the southernmost edge of Fuchsia City was the entrance to the South Sea. With its bright sunshine, fine sand, and calm waves, it had become one of Kanto's most famous beaches, drawing countless tourists every year.
On Fuchsia Beach, rows of parasols dotted the shore, with bikini-clad girls everywhere. Middle-aged men in Hawaiian shirts, straw hats, and sunglasses lounged on beach chairs, sipping cold drinks and enjoying the lively scenery.
Children ran around, building sandcastles, their laughter filling the air. Pretty girls played beach volleyball or lay on chairs applying sunscreen, chatting and giggling.
Out on the ocean, yachts floated on the waves as people fished, while surfers cheered, riding the swells.
By all appearances, it was just another ordinary day—nothing out of the ordinary.
Yet, amidst the crowd on Fuchsia Beach, one little girl stood out starkly. While everyone else wore swimsuits or tropical attire, she was dressed in an elegant princess-style dress, her short brownish-gray hair adorned with a delicate lace headband. Pure white cotton socks covered her slender legs, tucked into a pair of polished leather shoes—like a little princess straight out of a castle.
The girl looked to be barely ten years old. Her unusual outfit, combined with her adorable features, made her stand out conspicuously on the beach, drawing frequent glances from those around her.
She fidgeted nervously, standing with her head bowed shyly, her small hands twisting together. She gave off an impression of quiet, well-behaved sweetness, her sapphire-blue eyes as clear and bright as gemstones.
Her name was Sapphire Birch. Her father was the renowned Professor Birch of the Hoenn region. While not as globally famous as Professor Oak, Professor Birch was still one of the world's leading Pokémon authorities. In his youth, he had worked at Professor Oak's lab, making him one of Oak's former students.
Professor Birch and Sapphire lived in Littleroot Town, a small settlement surrounded by forests—perfect for a researcher like Birch, who preferred fieldwork.
In Hoenn, Professor Birch was as beloved as Professor Oak was in Kanto. Both enjoyed gifting starter Pokémon to aspiring trainers. As long as someone demonstrated genuine determination and potential, these professors would provide them with a Pokémon to begin their journey.
This time, Professor Birch had come to Kanto to study the region's wild Pokémon habitats, bringing his only daughter, Sapphire, along. As a former assistant at Professor Oak's lab and one of his students, visiting Oak was a must during his Kanto trip.
Unfortunately, Professor Oak was away on business, leaving only his granddaughter, Daisy, to oversee the lab. Missing the chance to see his mentor disappointed Birch, but his research in Kanto couldn't be postponed. Thus, he set out with his Pokémon and daughter to survey Kanto's wilderness.
Regarding his daughter, Professor Birch felt both pride and a tinge of regret.
Sapphire loved dressing up and had a gentle, quiet personality—the very image of a perfect little girl. She was well-behaved, never caused trouble, and was as sweet and obedient as could be. Birch doted on her like a precious jewel, taking her everywhere to broaden her horizons while ensuring her safety.
Yet, her docile nature also made him sigh. Such a temperament wasn't suited for a trainer's life. Trainers needed resilience, courage, and a fighting spirit—qualities Sapphire lacked. She was so timid she wouldn't even roughhouse, let alone face aggressive wild Pokémon.
Though he regretted it, Birch consoled himself. The path of a trainer was fraught with hardship and danger—one misstep could be fatal. As his only child, he'd rather she live a safe, peaceful life. Even if she couldn't become a trainer, becoming a Pokémon breeder or researcher through hard work was still a fine future.
Professor Birch wasn't the type to obsess over research at the expense of family—a lesson he had learned from Professor Oak and was eternally grateful for. In his youth, Oak had taught his students that while research was important, family came first. Neglecting family for the sake of study was putting the cart before the horse.
Birch had taken those words to heart. Even now, while conducting fieldwork in Kanto, he made sure to take Sapphire out for fun. His current research route happened to pass through Fuchsia City's Safari Zone, so he brought her to this famous beach for a day of relaxation.
"Sapphire, I'm going to buy some drinks. Stay right here, okay? Your favorite—Pecha Berry flavor—sound good?"
The weather was hot, and seeing everyone around them enjoying cold beverages, Birch turned to his daughter.
"Mm! I'll wait here, Daddy!"
Hearing her sweet voice, Birch felt at ease and went off to buy drinks. He knew his daughter was too well-behaved to wander off.
Left alone, Sapphire stood awkwardly by the shore, acutely aware of how out of place her outfit was. But her timid nature kept her from saying anything—she simply lowered her head and stayed quiet.
Then, without warning, dark clouds swiftly blotted out the sky, obscuring the sun.
Though the direct sunlight had been bothersome, sunshine and bikinis were the essence of a beach day. The sudden gloom drew complaints from the crowd.
"Huh? Where'd these clouds come from? The forecast said no rain today!"
"Yeah, this is weird. They came out of nowhere."
"Does anyone else feel like something's off? The waves are getting bigger—look, those surfers are getting knocked over!"
"This feels like the start of a storm. Fuchsia Beach rarely gets storms, right?"
"Quick, look out there!! Are those—tornadoes?! Oh my god, why is this kind of weather hitting the coast? This should only happen in the deep sea!!"
Panic spread through the crowd. Hearing the commotion, Sapphire lifted her head and gazed toward the horizon.
Against the darkened sky, several towering waterspouts had begun to form—twisting columns of wind and water that connected the heavens to the ocean.
To be continued…
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