After Dragapult and the others finished eating, the two of them checked out downstairs.
Moments later, they set off toward Meteor Falls, riding on Dragapult and Garchomp.
The distance from Rustboro City to Meteor Falls wasn't far. After a little over an hour of travel, they arrived.
The area had long since been developed into a tourist attraction, with a steady flow of visitors coming and going.
Given their current fame, Chen Shi and Cynthia put on masks to avoid unnecessary attention.
Once inside Meteor Falls, Chen Shi didn't rush toward the depths. Instead, he accompanied Cynthia around the outer areas first.
"Meteor Falls truly lives up to its name," Cynthia murmured as she gazed at the magnificent cascade. "I wonder how such an enormous waterfall was formed."
"Legend says it was created by a meteor impact," Chen Shi explained, his own eyes fixed on the spectacle. "As for the exact details, no one really knows anymore."
The waterfall poured down like a silver river descending from the heavens, majestic and overwhelming.
Even though Chen Shi had seen it before, the sight still left him awed.
"Ge-kiss."
Togekiss refused to return to its Poké Ball and stayed outside. It seemed less interested in the scenery, instead whispering to Cynthia's Togetic beside it, clearly discussing something animatedly.
"Alright, we've seen enough. Let's head deeper."
Cynthia nodded and followed him further into Meteor Falls.
...
"Wait… I definitely came this way last time. Why isn't this right?"
Chen Shi stared at the stone wall in front of him and scratched his head in silence.
After a moment, he pointed down another passage. "Let's go that way. I'm sure this time it's correct."
"Ge-kiss!"
"Ge-kiss!"
Togekiss and Togetic immediately protested, blocking his path.
Cynthia stood off to the side with her arms folded, her expression gradually darkening.
They had already been wandering around for over three hours, repeatedly taking wrong turns.
"This time it's definitely right." "Trust me one more time." She had lost count of how many times she'd heard those lines.
Finally, she couldn't hold back anymore. "Do you even know the way?"
"You've said that so many times. When have you actually been right?"
Chen Shi knew he was in the wrong and didn't dare argue. He muttered under his breath, "But last time, Aida really did take me along this route…"
"So why isn't it working?"
He swore he wasn't directionally challenged, nor was he intentionally leading Cynthia in circles.
Aida had indeed taken him this way before.
So why wasn't it right now?
Chen Shi found a rock and sat down, completely baffled.
Mew, as usual, looked entirely unconcerned, lying on his shoulder and dozing off.
"Didn't they give you anything to help you find the way?" Cynthia sighed softly, not knowing what else to say.
"No…" Chen Shi replied awkwardly.
Great.
Here he was talking about finding Rayquaza, yet he couldn't even locate the Draconid people.
What Rayquaza?
This was like secretly planning to sneak out for a massage, only to arrive and realize you forgot your wallet.
Utterly devastating.
Cynthia folded her arms and looked at him steadily. "So what do we do now?"
"It's already noon. If we keep wandering like this, how long will it take?"
Chen Shi scratched his head. "Let me think of something."
Time passed bit by bit as she watched him pace around, scratching his head in frustration. For some reason, her anger faded, replaced by an urge to laugh.
Chen Shi had always given the impression that he was dependable in any situation—like nothing could go wrong as long as he was there.
And yet now, he couldn't even find a path.
Look at how anxious he was getting.
Under Cynthia's teasing gaze, even Chen Shi's thick skin, tempered over two lifetimes, began to falter.
In the end, he sighed in defeat. "How about we head back and see if we can contact Elder Drake? He should know where the Draconid people are."
Cynthia pressed her lips together, barely suppressing a smile, and nodded.
Just as they stood to leave, the stone wall behind them suddenly shimmered and turned illusory. A figure stepped out from within it.
"So it's Brother Chen Shi. I was wondering who kept wandering near our entrance. It's been a long time. Welcome to the Draconid village."
Chen Shi froze, then turned around, his face lighting up.
"See? I told you I wasn't wrong! It wasn't my navigation!"
The one who stepped out from the illusory wall was none other than Aida of the Draconid people.
The last time Chen Shi had come with Steven, they had even fought Team Magma together.
Cynthia gave him a flat look.
Now you're acting smug.
Who was it that had dragged me in circles for hours?
I'm only sparing you the embarrassment because there are outsiders present.
Chen Shi pointed at the wall and looked at Aida with mild resentment. "What's with this? Why hide the entrance like that? I've been searching for ages and couldn't find the original path."
Aida laughed heartily. "After five Bagon went missing last time, we were worried others might disturb our lives again. So we concealed the village entrance."
Chen Shi didn't know what to say.
They hadn't done anything wrong. The previous incident had indeed resulted in five Bagon being taken.
So he changed the subject. "Aida, I came this time to see your Great Elder. Could you take us to her?"
"Of course. The Draconid people welcome you as our guest, my friend."
Aida nodded immediately. The Great Elder had instructed them before—if Chen Shi or Steven returned, they were to be treated with courtesy.
Earlier, he had simply noticed someone lingering repeatedly near the hidden entrance and came out to check, assuming it was a lost tourist.
He hadn't expected it to be Chen Shi.
"Follow me. The wall is only an illusion. There's nothing to worry about."
With that, Aida turned and walked through it. Chen Shi and Cynthia followed without hesitation.
Soon, under Aida's guidance, they arrived at the Draconid village.
It looked much the same as before.
From time to time, Dragon-type Pokémon soared across the sky above.
Cynthia observed with interest, though she wasn't particularly shocked.
Unlike Chen Shi and Steven during their first visit, she had grown up with access to a Dragon-type secret realm in her own family. Many Dragon-type Pokémon lived there, and she often trained within it.
Her Garchomp was the youngest child of the current clan leader within thatsecret realm.
So what she felt now was curiosity—not astonishment.
...
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