As we left Mt. Moon, I took out the map and spread it on a flat rock by the path.
The sun cast long shadows over it.
Meowscarada peered over my shoulder, her pink eyes scanning the paper. "Nyaa~?" she purred curiously, tail flicking.
Lopunny leaned in too, ears perking up. "Lopuu!" she hummed, sounding determined.
"See here," I said, pointing. "We're at Mt. Moon right now. We head east to Cerulean City first. From there, south through Route 5 to Saffron City."
The map laid it out clearly.
Both nodded, though I knew they didn't fully understand the lines and labels. Still, it felt good to share the plan... like one day it might actually come in handy.
I folded the map with a smile. "Let's go. If we keep a good pace, we should reach Cerulean City before nightfall."
They gave soft, agreeing purrs and hums that blended with the rustle of leaves as we set off together.
...
Before night, we actually reached Cerulean City.
The blue-tiled roofs gleamed under the setting sun, the city famous for its water themes and the Cerulean Gym.
Although I did want to see the Cerulean Sisters' show, it was a famous synchronized swimming performance I'd heard about even back in Viridian City, the must-see spectacle if you ever visit Cerulean City. I pushed the thought aside.
Ralts mattered more right now. Its condition came first.
Maybe one day, when Ralts was awake and healthy, I could come back here with it. We could watch the show together...
That hope felt like a quiet promise to myself.
For the night, we stayed in the Pokémon Center.
I gave Ralts to Nurse Joy, explaining the situation. She gladly took care of it.
After entering the room, my Pokémon followed close behind me.
We did some normal night stuff like always.
Lots of purrs and moans filled the room as we tangled together in the bed. Their warm fur pressed against my skin, hands and paws exploring with gentle, loving touches.
It was passionate but familiar, a comforting release after the day's walk.
...
Soon the next day arrived, bright and clear.
We were already heading south toward the center of Kanto, Saffron City.
From Saffron, lots of popular cities branched out, like my next destination: Lavender Town, considered the most haunted city in the Kanto region.
As I had never seen Ghost-type Pokémon up close, so it should be fun... maybe a little creepy, but exciting.
The road ahead felt lighter now, with Meowscarada and Lopunny walking close beside me, their presence steady and reassuring.
Mewo~ Meowscarada licked my face suddenly, her rough tongue warm and playful against my cheek.
I laughed, wiping it off. "Hungry, girl?"
I pulled out some food from my bag and handed it to her while we walked.
She munched happily, but her tail kept twitching, and she looked at me with those sparkling pink eyes.
It made her look even more adorable, cheeks puffed with food, a contented purr rumbling from her throat.
I chuckled. "I know, we've been walking non-stop. You can rest in your Poké Ball if you want."
She shook her head firmly, "Nyaa!" and leaped onto me.
Her weight hit my chest gently, knocking me back onto the soft grass.
Lopunny joined in with a soft "Lopuu~", catching my fall from behind so I landed gently between them.
Meowscarada started kissing my face, her soft lips pressing wet, affectionate smacks against my cheeks, forehead, and mouth. Her tongue flicked out, tasting my skin with eager, loving laps.
My face turned red. "O-okay, enough… I understand. Let's find a quiet place."
Both Pokémon purred happily, "Nyaa♡~" and "Lopuu♡~", their voices full of excitement.
We slipped into a secluded spot between the trees, hidden from the path.
High above, unseen in the fading daylight, a Team Rocket balloon drifted silently among the clouds.
Inside the basket, Viper leaned over the edge, binoculars pressed to her eyes.
"They've suddenly gone into the forest area," she muttered. "I can't see what they're doing anymore. What should we do, Commander?"
Nova stood leaning against the basket railing, arms folded tightly across her chest, expression sour.
She wasn't happy being assigned this surveillance job, but Boss Giovanni had personally ordered them to keep eyes on the kid, not capture him yet.
Which made her even angrier, slowly boiling inside.
She pressed a hand to her forehead, fingers brushing the spot where the bandage still covered the scar from their last clash.
Not to mention the stone-cold revenge she still owed him for that humiliating encounter.
"I'll take revenge a hundredfold, kid," she grumbled under her breath, voice low and venomous.
Viper glanced back. "Nova? Orders?"
She sighed, long and irritated.
"Let's take some rest for now. Lower the altitude a bit, keep the balloon steady. We'll watch from a distance when they come out. No point rushing in blind."
The balloon dipped slightly, humming softly as it drifted lower, staying just out of sight.
Day passed like that, slow, tense, full of waiting.
Nighttime soon arrived.
We set up camp in a small clearing.
The fire crackled low, casting flickering orange light across our faces.
I let Ralts out of the Dream Ball so she could sleep in the open air. I laid out a soft, padded blanket in the tent, something Nurse Joy had included in the supplies, designed to be comfortable for Pokémon in fragile states.
Ralts' small body settled gently onto it, breathing steady and calm.
Meowscarada and Lopunny finished eating their food quickly, exchanging a quick, knowing glance.
Then pushed me down…
But we weren't alone.
Somewhere a bit farther back, hidden in the shadows of the tall rocks, Viper and Nova had set up their own small camp.
Viper sat on a folded blanket, poking at their fire with a stick, but her eyes kept drifting to Nova.
Nova was eating her ration bar slowly, methodically, her sharp gaze fixed on the distant glow of our camp.
Viper watched the way Nova's lips moved, the small, precise bites she took, the faint furrow of concentration between her brows.
Oh god, Commander is so cute when she eats, Viper thought, cheeks warming in the dark.
She quickly looked away, heart thumping, hoping Nova hadn't noticed.
Nova, oblivious, took another bite.
The night stretched on, quiet except for the crackle of fires and the soft rustle of leaves…