Kanto Region, Viridian City, Pokémon Center, High-Level Ward No. 857.
At this moment, Amber -now fully recovered- was staring at the stubborn Trish beside the bed.
"Why are you still trying to go back out there? Do you have…any idea… how DANGEROUS IT IS OUTSIDE!?"
Amber, who had never once spoken harshly to Trish, couldn't help raising his voice.
After experiencing the trauma of being kidnapped by Team Rocket, his only thought was to bring Trish back to Shadownight Gym and never let her leave Shadownight Town for the rest of her life!
Trish lowered her head, eyes red and filled with tears, though she fought hard to keep them from falling.
Seeing her silent defiance only made Amber angrier. But in the end, he deflated like a balloon and slumped back against the bed.
Even if it was for safety's sake, how could he, Amber, force Trish to hide away in a greenhouse her whole life, when she was still in the prime of youth?
Besides, he was only the butler of The Riches family. Though he was like family, he wasn't truly related by blood.
"You want to go…"
"Amber, if I stayed in Shadownight Town for the rest of my life… would that really be safe?"
Amber was just about to give up and let her do what she wanted when Trish suddenly interrupted him.
He was momentarily stunned, instinctively wanting to refute her… but then he thought of Viridian City's current situation.
If one day, Team Rocket -or some other dark force- invaded Shadownight Town while Sato and the others weren't there, who would protect Trish then?
Relying on those few old Pokémon of his, already past their prime?
Not just Sato, but even Sina and Sia… none of them would stay confined to the tiny Shadownight Town forever.
Even if they all wanted to protect Trish, they weren't her bodyguards. They couldn't be by her side 24/7.
Seeing Amber frozen and speechless, Trish clenched her fists tightly and continued, "Sato once told me… the only one in this world who can unconditionally protect you… IS YOURSELF!
Dad left me enough money to last a lifetime. He left me you, Amber, who's cared for me my whole life. He placed me in Shadownight Gym, a place a thousand times better than any school to learn and grow.
With a start like that, how could it be just to spend my life being a delicate flower!?
I'M ZILLION'S DAUGHTER! I… I don't want to be seen as the girl who always NEEDS protecting!"
Her tears had long since evaporated. Trish's clenched fists trembled, her flushed cheeks burning with determination!
And this vibrant, fiery energy was something Amber had never seen in her before…
Outside the room, Sato, Joseph, and Mark leaned quietly against the door, listening silently to the exchange inside, eyes filled with pride and emotion.
Mark even couldn't help shedding two catlike tears, mumbling about how much Trish had grown!
That little girl hadn't shrunk back after being kidnapped by Team Rocket… instead, she'd grown more determined!
Mark couldn't help but think back to the first time he met Sato and Joseph…
If not for those two bringing him out of the tiny Shadownight Town, he might've spent his whole life scraping by in the Forest of Shadows, selling Pokémon intel just to survive.
Let alone ever meeting Togekiss, Phione, or Lucario!
…But if Sato found out Mark was getting sentimental like this, he'd probably smile and say…
"I only kept you around because you're lucky! And not as handsome as me, heh~"
"Mmh~ She really has grown up a lot."
Joseph said with a smile. As the head of Shadownight Gym's logistics team, he had taken care of Trish more than anyone besides Amber.
Sato nodded, signaling to the other two before turning to head for the elevator.
It was better to leave the room to Amber and Trish. If Trish really made up her mind to continue traveling, Amber would probably insist on going with her.
And that… was something the two of them would need to hash out.
As Sato stepped out, Joseph and Mark naturally followed.
The three strolled casually into the Pokémon Center's backyard. Everywhere they looked, young Trainers were training or battling with their Pokémon.
"Sigh… Seeing them really brings back memories of when we used to train together at the Gym, all fired up like that!"
Mark looked at the group of Trainers and sighed, pretending to be all "mature and wise".
Sato and Joseph glanced at him, sharing a silent look as they deliberately said nothing, refusing to give him the satisfaction of playing it cool!
After a moment of silence, Mark could only pout to himself. But honestly, he was already used to it…
This was their own kind of unspoken understanding~
But the next moment, Sato was the one to break the silence.
"You and Bruno stayed at Base A3 for so long last night. How come you haven't bragged to us about your loot this time?"
"AHHHHH!"
Mark suddenly smacked his forehead and groaned, "I forgot!"
"…"
"…"
"Speaking of last night's haul, it was ridiculously good, hehehe~"
Before Sato or Joseph could say another word, Mark was already grinning ear to ear, launching into his storytelling with boundless enthusiasm.
And as it turned out, when it came to luck, not even Bruno could compete with Mark the Luck -mascot- King.
"Anyway, it all happened fast~ First, I studied the layout of the underground base carefully and marked several spots that seemed most likely to hold hidden treasures, hehe~
Then, using my brilliant mind, I mapped out the fastest route to hit each marked locatio-"
"GET TO THE POINT!" x2
"…"
"FINE! Bruno and I decided to split up and search separately after a quick discussion.
Two minutes later, I got lost…
While wandering around, I came across this huge steel door that was REALLY bothering me!
I had Lucario blast it open and found… a small warehouse.
A warehouse full of Pokémon Items."
Sato and Joseph exchanged a look, the words "Pokémon Items" already giving them a bad feeling…
"What kind of items… exactly?"
Finally, Sato couldn't resist asking.
After another burst of loud laughter, Mark straightened up and said, trying to sound "modest".
"Not much, really~ I won't mention the minor stuff like Mystic Water or the Energy Stones and Energy Crystals… there were dozens of those.
The better ones included Tree of Beginning Leaves, Dark-type Origin Ore, Never-Melt Ice, Fighting Spirit… Oh, and according to the manual, there was a Healing Heart, perfect for support Pokémon!"
Sato and Joseph both took a deep breath. Seeing Mark's smug expression, they almost couldn't stop themselves from jumping him.
Lucky was lucky, but being this infuriatingly lucky? How were Joseph the money-burner and Sato the system cheater supposed to live with that?
And what was this nonsense about treasure hunts that came with an Item Manual?!
Then Mark turned and pulled out two little boxes, handing one each to Sato and Joseph.
"The Healing Heart's obviously for you, Mama Joseph~ I don't have any Grass types, so the Leaf goes to the boss's Cacturne.
The manual said the Dark-type Origin Ore can regularly catalyze Dusk Stones when placed properly. Perfect for the Murkrow line!
Oh, and Phione seems to really like that Never-Melt Ice~ The Fighting Spirit went to Lucario!"
As he mentioned keeping two of the items for himself, Mark scratched his messy hair sheepishly, feeling like he hadn't quite shared the wealth fairly.
…But Sato and Joseph were already full of mixed feelings. Each of those items was incredibly rare. Even Sato had only learned about some of them after becoming Drake's protégé.
And now Mark had given them away without a second thought… Both Sato and Joseph felt a twinge of guilt.
They really had bullied him too much before, sigh…
…But in the next second, Mark's embarrassment melted into pride again. After another fit of laughter, he said boastfully,
"Fuehehehe~ These were just things I found lying around. Next time I find more, I'll split them with you guys again!"
"…"
"…"
Both of them fell silent. They suddenly realized they couldn't afford to be too nice to Mark!
…Or he'd develop Levitate and start thinking he could reach the sun.
Sato and Joseph accepted the gifts without argument. Under Mark's expectant "Aren't you guys moved~?" stare, they calmly turned and started walking back to the hospital room.
'Sure, we're moved… Move your face right now so we can hit it!'
---◓---
Time passed quickly… three days in a blink.
Amber's body had mostly recovered, but Sato and Mark weren't planning to return with them.
Drake had been waiting for them at the League Headquarters on Indigo Plateau. They had promised to join the Investigators, and they weren't about to break that promise.
So only Joseph stayed behind to accompany Amber and Trish on their way back. It was essentially an escort mission, though Joseph wasn't in a rush with his own plans anyway.
Seeing that, Amber finally understood that helping Trish grow on her own might be the best form of protection after all.
"Team Rocket's been active all across Kanto lately, so even if you continue your journey, I suggest you start over somewhere far away."
Before parting ways, Sato patted Trish on the head, speaking like an old father.
"Mhm, I already talked it over with Amber. I'll be heading to the Sinnoh Region for my journey. Dad had a lot of old friends there, and Amber says they're very trustworthy."
Trish answered obediently, completely unlike the "fierce and determined!" version of herself from three days ago in the hospital room.
"That's good. When you come back, let's have a battle!" Sato smiled and made a promise.
"Mhm, it's a deal!"
After that, Sato and Mark watched as Joseph, Amber, and Trish boarded a flight to Goldenrod City in Johto.
"If only Shadownight Town had its own airport… Joseph and the others wouldn't have to travel around so much," Mark muttered wistfully as he watched their figures disappear.
"There will be planes. Everything will come," Sato replied, then turned and teased, "As long as your luck in Team Rocket's bases holds up, forget an airport, you could probably buy all of Johto, hahaha!"
"Heh~ Luck like mine… not impossible, HAHAHAHA!" Mark scratched his head and let out an arrogant laugh.
Sato twitched at the corner of his mouth. This guy actually believed it!
"Man, it was better when Joseph was around. Just one look and he'd know what I was thinking. That's the only way mocking Mark is fun…" Sato thought.
Come to think of it, this was the first time the three of them had gone their separate ways since meeting…
And once they arrived at League Headquarters, he and Mark would split up again to carry out their assigned duties.
Former teammates would all grow up eventually, each following their own path.
But hopefully, when that day came, they would still be the same boys they used to be, unchanged in spirit…
---◓---
The plane landed. Sato and Mark had officially arrived at League Headquarters ◓ Indigo Plateau!
"You two finally showed up! If you were any later, Drake would've been pissed!"
At the airport exit, Fitzwilliam greeted Sato and Mark with a big Ursaring hug.
"Let's go meet Drake first, then handle the formalities. Be careful though, lots of people here at HQ are just itching to use you as their stepping stone."
Fitzwilliam had already arranged everything down to the minute and didn't give them a chance to argue, dragging them straight to the underground garage.
Half an hour later, Sato met with Drake, in a beautifully decorated villa.
Of course, on the surface, Drake couldn't exactly scold them for being late. He simply asked about the situation in Viridian City.
After all, Sato had gone to rescue someone; it wasn't like he was playing around or trying to avoid responsibility.
To Sato, becoming an Independent Investigator for the League felt no different than joining a company.
Orders from the top, hard work from below.
The only difference was that his job came with a lot more freedom. Since he'd be out in the field all the time, the League couldn't really micromanage him anyway.
After meeting with Drake, Sato was dragged off again by Fitzwilliam to the real administrative building of League Headquarters.
"This building… looks kinda… you know… old." Mark muttered bluntly the moment he laid eyes on it.
"Of course it's old. This building's been in use for nearly a hundred years. Of course it can't compare to the ones in the Kalos League. But look over there, that's where the new building will go.
President Charles Goodshow made it clear, the new HQ will be the biggest and most magnificent of them all!"
Fitzwilliam was dutifully explaining everything while guiding the two toward a massive construction site surrounded by barriers.
Yeah… you couldn't see anything.
"Hah! Who are these country bumpkins daring to disrespect our historic headquarters?! People like you shouldn't be here. You're a stain on the League!"
Sato blinked, turning his head in surprise. 'Seriously? This kind of young master face-slapping drama still existed? Not worried about turning readers away, huh?'
"AND WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?"
Mark had been riding high these past few days. But now someone was openly picking a fight? He wasn't about to take that lying down!
Fitzwilliam raised a hand to stop him, calmly turning his eyes to the "challenger".
"Jules, go get your brother. If you want to test Sato's friend, don't use such pathetic tricks.
What… you still mad that he took your brother's slot in the Elite Four candidate roster~?
If your skills aren't up to par, don't be surprised when people talk."
"Ohhh?"
Sato blinked. So it wasn't so simple after all. He and Mark hadn't even made it to the front door, and someone was already trying to jump them.
Seriously though… this setup was way too cliché…
So boring…
•
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Have you seen this, sniff…?[1]
[1] YOUTUBE:【公式】ポケモンアニメ 「明日もサーナイトと」 【POKÉTOON】