League Calendar, Year 210, March 1st.
Hayato carried a backpack stuffed full of Pokéblocks, with the camera he had bought in Rustboro City two years ago hanging around his neck, and stepped aboard a ship bound for the Kanto region.
His demeanor didn't resemble someone heading off to face a trial at all. Rather, it looked as if he were going to meet an old friend he hadn't seen in years.
The sky was blue. The sea was clear.
Standing at the rail with Gengar by his side, Hayato gazed at the endless line where water and sky met.
By coincidence, this ship was the very same one he had taken on his last trip to Kanto.
It was on this ship that he had first encountered Kanto's Ghost-type Elite Four member, Agatha.
Back then, her Pokémon had sensed something unusual about Gengar's aura, which had led her to challenge him.
Unknowingly, a year had already passed since then.
Hayato couldn't help but marvel at how quickly time flew. Hard to believe—it had already been nearly three years since he came to this world.
From one boy and one bird at the start, to the big family he had now, he had met so many Pokémon along the way.
This time, he wasn't just going to Kanto because of the promise he'd made to Marshadow—he also wanted to see Suicune and Entei again, and hopefully take this chance to complete his photo collection of the three Legendary Beasts.
He had already met both Suicune and Entei. The only one missing was Raikou.
Hayato was deeply curious about what this world's Raikou would be like.
Before leaving, he had specially asked Marshadow, who was familiar with Raikou.
At the time, Marshadow had cast him a sidelong glance and said faintly:
"Raikou dislikes humans. It roams the wilds far away from human cities and rarely shows itself before people."
Hayato: "…"
Judging from Marshadow's tone, Hayato couldn't shake the suspicion that the hidden meaning was: Raikou's fur is not for petting like Entei's or Suicune's.
Keeping a straight face, Hayato had replied, "I never said I wanted to pet Raikou's fur."
Marshadow hadn't answered, only staring at him in silence for a very long time.
Hayato had pretended not to notice, turning away to play with Kirlia instead.
Now, those words replayed in his mind.
From Marshadow's description, Raikou seemed to be a solitary, aloof feline that had no love for humans.
Compared to the fur-less Suicune and the shaggy-maned Entei, Raikou truly sounded like a big cat.
Its prototype seemed to be a saber-toothed tiger, though it resembled a leopard as well.
But Hayato would have to wait until he saw Raikou with his own eyes.
The journey from Hoenn to Kanto was long. By ship, it would take three whole days.
Three days. Seventy-two hours. Four thousand three hundred twenty minutes. To Hayato, it felt like the longest wait ever for a meeting with the Legendary Beasts.
But then, a question came to mind.
Why hadn't he just flown to Kanto on Zapdos?
Straightening up, Hayato frowned in thought.
Perhaps he had been in such a rush to leave that he hadn't considered it.
Well, no matter.
With a lazy sigh, he leaned back over the railing again.
After all, this was a journey. And the essence of traveling was freedom—going wherever you wanted, whenever you wanted, as long as you were happy.
"Come to think of it… Ash should be setting out on his journey this year too."
Hayato recalled the events of the Kanto storyline.
The anime had always revolved around Ash's perspective. Events like the encounter with the Giant Dragonite or the Super-Ancient Pokémon would stir up massive social waves in this world as well.
He knew as much from Hoenn's TV broadcasts.
People brimmed with love and curiosity for Pokémon. Some would even risk trekking into deserts just to investigate unverified rumors.
After his own trip into the desert, Hayato had once watched Mauville TV's desert expedition program with Gengar, purely out of boredom.
And beyond those "small" events, there were colossal incidents—Mewtwo, for instance.
Things an ordinary Trainer might never encounter in a lifetime.
"Maybe that's what they call protagonist's aura," Hayato mused to himself.
But those matters didn't concern him—for now. Even if he wanted to join, he lacked the power.
After all, he didn't know exactly when Mewtwo's creation or its rebellion would occur.
And he wasn't about to tail Ash around like Team Rocket just to get involved.
That wasn't Hayato's style.
Once he had had enough sun, he returned to his cabin with a few Pokémon to read.
As a Trainer, there was still much he had to learn.
Not long after he left, a red-haired young man in a cape stepped onto the deck where Hayato had been standing.
"…Strange."
The youth frowned, scanning the area, but saw no one.
"Did I mistake it?" murmured Lance.
"What is it?" A bespectacled red-haired woman walked up beside him, glancing around. "Did you spot someone you know?"
"Probably just my imagination." Lance shook his head.
They had come to Hoenn for the World Championship, an event featuring Champions and Elite Four members from many regions.
Lance and Lorelei represented Kanto.
As for the other two members of Kanto's Elite Four…
Giovanni had vanished, leaving Agatha to temporarily run the Viridian Gym. With rookie Trainers now setting out on their journeys, Gym Leaders were swamped with challengers.
Bruno, the Fighting-type Elite, hadn't joined either—he was deep in the mountains training, unreachable by anyone.
Today, with the tournament concluded, Lance and Lorelei were on their way back to Kanto.
While relaxing on the upper deck, Lance had glimpsed a familiar figure below.
The mysterious Trainer he had met last year while undercover in Team Rocket.
Since that farewell, he had heard nothing of him.
And now, out of the blue, he thought he saw him again.
The urge to go speak with him welled up instantly. There were still things about Team Rocket and Giovanni he wished to ask.
But by the time he came down, the figure was gone.
Perhaps he had imagined it.
With a sigh, Lance let it go.
Three days later, the ship docked at Vermilion City.
In the crowd, Hayato and Lance brushed past each other without ever realizing it, each heading in different directions.
Back in Vermilion City after a year, Hayato first went to the Pokémon Center to call Slowking on the videophone and assure him of his safety. Then he bought a ticket for a train to Viridian City.
The final destination of the Hero's Trial lay atop Mt. Silver's highest peak: Bell Tower.
The Mt. Silver range sprawled across the border of Kanto and Johto, a vast wilderness of complex, dangerous ecosystems.
For ordinary Trainers, it was a perilous place.
Remote and untamed, its endless mountains hid countless powerful, hostile wild Pokémon.
Yet, despite the danger, many Trainers ventured there each year.
Because it was home to the mighty Tyranitar.
Said to collapse mountains while making its den, Tyranitar's strength drew those who pursued power.
But Hayato wasn't interested in a scaly, hairless Tyranitar. He only needed to reach the outer ridges of Mt. Silver.
Seated in an old-style train, Hayato listened to the rhythmic clattering of the wheels. Outside, green fields stretched endlessly, rushing by.
It reminded him why, in his past life, some people loved traveling this way.
Compared to high-speed trains, this slower, leisurely rhythm was oddly enjoyable.
The year 210 of this world resembled his old world's 2008—people still used button phones, still rode in green-painted trains.
Through the window lay farmlands, meadows, golden sunlight—a living oil painting.
Beside him were his Pokémon. Together, they traveled the world.
It felt like a dream.
After admiring the scenery awhile, he pulled out his Kanto map.
To reach Bell Tower, he needed to first reach Viridian City, then head west through forests and lakes. At the journey's end would rise a rainbow-touched mountain.
A day later, the train arrived.
He lingered briefly in Viridian City, buying supplies and even stopping by the Gym.
Last year, his Cramorant had reduced it to rubble.
Now, a brand-new building stood there.
But its Leader was no longer Giovanni, but an elderly blonde woman in a purple dress and witch-like garb, leaning on a cane.
Hayato knew who it was—because Agatha walked out right as he passed by.
Their eyes met.
Hayato: "…"
Agatha studied the vaguely familiar youth, then remembered—they had met on the ship last year.
"So it's you." Her gaze was as dark as a Ghost-type's as she asked, "Here to challenge the Gym?"
Hayato shook his head. "No, just passing through."
Agatha's brow twitched. She opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing, only giving him a long look before walking away.
Hayato: "…"
Poor old woman. Seems Professor Oak must have really gotten under her skin in her youth.
Though, part of it was her own stubborn temperament.
Either way, such grudges between the older generation had nothing to do with him.
What mattered was Giovanni's disappearance.
If the timeline was right, then not long after Ash's journey began, Project Mewtwo would soon succeed.
A pity he didn't know New Island's location. Otherwise, he might have spirited Mewtwo away early as his "house-sitter."
That would save him the trouble of begging others to research the Regi ruins for him.
But dreams were beautiful—reality was cruel.
After taking one last look at the rebuilt Viridian Gym, Hayato turned and set out toward Bell Tower, guided by Marshadow.
On the third night after leaving Viridian City—
Hayato and Marshadow camped in a vibrant forest, pitching a tent by the river.
As dinner ended, a thin veil of mist began to drift through the trees.
A premonition stirred in Hayato's heart.
He lifted his gaze across the river.
Through the fog stood a blue figure, mysterious as the north wind, watching him silently.
The figure's ribbon-like tails swayed with the breeze. The river trickled at its feet. The scene was serene, harmonious.
Around its neck still hung the box of Pokéblocks he had given it before. Hayato couldn't help but smile.
With a graceful leap, Suicune crossed the river and landed before him.
A gentle voice echoed in his mind:
"You've come."
Hayato nodded softly. "I'm here."
He stepped forward and wrapped Suicune in a hug.
Suicune lowered its head, pressing its forehead against his.
From the Shadow World, Marshadow watched quietly.
Even it felt a faint stir within.
Perhaps this—these meetings and reunions—was the purest bond between humans and Pokémon.
Hayato glanced at the Pokéblock box around Suicune's neck. Empty.
He recalled Suicune sitting on the ground, batting the box with its mouth, nibbling the Pokéblocks. A chuckle escaped him.
Loosening his hug, he led Suicune to the campfire. From his pack, he produced Pokéblocks he had made with Slowking.
"Here. A gift for you."
Suicune lowered its head, eating slowly.
Yes… the familiar taste.
"Will you travel with me this time?" Hayato asked once it finished.
"I will," Suicune replied.
Though its duty as a guide and guardian was only to accompany him along its part of the path… this chosen one was special. Suicune didn't mind staying with him to the end.
Success!
Hayato was overjoyed. At last, he would complete his collection of photos with the three Legendary Beasts.
But as he watched Suicune lie beside him, clearly intending to spend the night there, he couldn't shake the feeling he'd forgotten something important.
What was it…?
He furrowed his brow in thought.
Meanwhile, somewhere above a Kanto forest—
A certain being soaring through the skies suddenly sneezed.
(End of Chapter)