Dragonair glided effortlessly through the open ocean, surrounded by endless blue on all sides. The warm sunlight bathed them in a soothing glow, lifting their spirits. Ryuuske leaned back against Dragonair's sinuous spine, half-lidded eyes gazing at the sky, occasionally humming to himself. Eevee had scampered up to perch on Dragonair's head, enjoying the sea breeze, while Green sat across from Ryuuske, engrossed in a book.
Dragonair's size was perfect for two—any more would have been cramped. Its proud head remained raised, its beautiful eyes fixed on the distant horizon, its tail lazily swishing behind it.
The ride was smooth, undisturbed even by the roughest waves—precisely why Dragonair ranked first as the ideal long-distance ocean traveler.
Coastal Pokémon kept their distance under Dragonair's draconic aura, while deeper-sea dwellers were avoided entirely—not out of fear, but because most deep-sea Water-types traveled in schools. Fighting them would waste too much time, and Ryuuske wasn't about to delay his journey.
"What're you reading?"
The deep ocean had spotty signal, making his Pokédex's internet connection frustratingly unreliable. It left him irritable, nostalgic for the S.S. Anne's luxury. No matter how comfortable Dragonair was, it couldn't compare to a cruise liner.
Bored, he turned to Green for conversation.
"Hm? Just a novel."
Green looked up from her book, flashing him a smile before waving it slightly.
The title suggested it was the kind of romance novel girls adored—definitely not something Ryuuske, as a guy, would ever touch.
"Should've brought a book myself."
He sighed inwardly. While he'd spent time in remote forests before, it had always been for training, with every minute packed full. Now, adrift in the open sea, he realized just how unprepared he was for downtime.
"Hehe~ That's an experience thing. Next time you plan something, feel free to consult Big Sis Green~"
She winked, wagging a finger. Their exact ages were debatable, but Ryuuske knew they were roughly the same—just differing in birth months. Still, Green insisted on the "big sister" act, and he didn't bother correcting her.
Eh, sister or not, what's the difference?
With nothing else to do, Ryuuske simply stared at Green. Her skin glowed under the sunlight, smooth and flawless, while her legs—stretching from beneath her skirt—were slender and well-shaped. Her delicate feet, nestled in crystal sandals, had toes painted a soft pink.
Those petite, perfectly shaped feet seized his attention entirely.
As a foot guy, I'm beyond saving.
"What're you looking at?"
Ryuuske's gaze was intense enough to make Green fidget. She lowered her book, eyeing him suspiciously.
"Nothing."
He panicked internally but kept his voice casual.
"My shoes?"
Assuming that was the target, Green lifted a leg, bringing her foot closer to his face.
Too close. The urge to bite those pristine toes surged within him.
"When I'm free, I love shopping for cute shoes and earrings. See? These are new."
She happily tucked her hair behind an ear, showing off heart-shaped earrings—no longer the Gym Badge replicas from before.
Like a child proudly displaying a toy, Green seemed thrilled to share her favorites with him.
"Bought them? I figured you just stole everything."
His deadpan remark made her freeze. "...Do you even know how to hold a conversation? You murder them!"
With a huff, she buried herself back in her book.
Ryuuske exhaled in relief. Good. She didn't realize I was staring at her legs and feet. If this sharp-witted girl had caught on, she'd never let him live it down.
Turns out, no matter how street-smart she is, Green's still just a sixteen-year-old girl. Her knowledge of men has gaps!
"Are those the Seafoam Islands?"
In the distance, twin landmasses emerged faintly on the horizon. Marked on Kanto's maps, these islands were more like miniature continents—vast and untamed.
Green glanced over. "...Yeah, that's Seafoam. Deep-sea location, freezing temps, tons of strong wild Pokémon. Rich in resources but uninhabitable. Some sailors claim they've seen Articuno there, but who knows?"
"...Wanna camp there tonight?"
While Dragonair was great for travel, sleeping on its back wasn't ideal. They'd been stopping at small, uninhabited islands each evening—safety wasn't an issue with Pokémon guarding them.
"Nah. If that's Seafoam, we're two-thirds there. If it's packed with strong wild Pokémon, landing might just waste time. Let's bypass it and head straight to Cinnabar."
Ryuuske weighed the options and dismissed the idea. He remembered Seafoam Islands from the Pokémon games—home to Articuno—but the real version spanned millions of square kilometers, second only to Cinnabar in size within Kanto. Untouched by humans, its Pokémon were undoubtedly fierce. Finding Articuno here without an army of searchers was impossible.
Only Team Rocket or the League could muster those kinds of resources.
"Your call."
Green had deferred to Ryuuske's decisions the entire trip, never overstepping.
"Dragonair, pick up the pace!"
At his command, Dragonair abandoned its usual method of travel, tapping into its draconic power instead. Their speed doubled instantly.
——
The night passed quietly. After skirting Seafoam, they rested on a small, deserted island before resuming at dawn. By late afternoon, Cinnabar Island loomed ahead.
"Blaine isn't in the northern settlements. To evade Team Rocket, he's hiding in the southern mountains—his secret lab's there, along with active volcanoes. Perfect for his Fire-types."
Ryuuske explained as he directed Dragonair toward the island's southern tip.
Their route had already taken them close to Cinnabar's southern coast. Soon, towering peaks and smoking volcanoes came into view. The setting sun bathed the island in orange, painting the clouds in fiery hues—like flames licking the sky.
"Wow!! Cinnabar's famous 'burning clouds'? So pretty!"
Green stood on Dragonair's back, shielding her eyes as she admired the spectacle.
Ryuuske, however, tensed. "...No. Those aren't clouds. There's real fire up there."
SCREEEEE—!!!
A piercing cry—like rolling flames—split the air, sharp and furious. The "burning clouds" darkened to a deep crimson.
At the sound, Green's face paled, her body swaying unsteadily.
To be continued…
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