Dragonair glided gracefully across the vast ocean, its long body cutting through the waves as endless blue stretched in every direction. The warm sunlight poured down from the sky, painting the sea in a dazzling glow that eased the soul.
Leaning back against Dragonair's curved spine, Logan squinted lazily at the sky, occasionally humming under his breath. Eevee had scampered up to perch on Dragonair's head, ears twitching happily as it enjoyed the sea breeze, while Green sat opposite Logan, a book in her delicate hands.
Dragonair's size was just right for two people to ride comfortably. Any more, and it would have been cramped. Its proud head rose high, eyes fixed on the far horizon of the sea, while its long tail lazily swept through the water behind them.
Despite the rolling waves, riding Dragonair was steady as land—no shaking, no swaying. That stability was precisely why Dragonair was ranked the very best Pokémon for long-distance sea voyages.
The ocean Pokémon nearby dared not come close, deterred by the overwhelming aura of a dragon. And the ones in the deep sea? Dragonair would instinctively swerve around them. It wasn't because it couldn't fight, but because most deep-sea Pokémon moved in large groups. Starting a battle with them would be time-consuming, and Logan had no intention of wasting precious time here.
"What are you reading?"
The signal out here was patchy, and Logan's Pokédex connection to the network was frustratingly unreliable. No matter how he tried, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. It made him nostalgic for the comfort of the luxurious S.S. Anne. Even though riding Dragonair was steady and majestic, it couldn't compare to the comforts of that great cruise ship.
So out of boredom, he started talking to Green.
"Hmm? Just a novel."
Green's lips curved into a smile as she raised her face from the book, waving it slightly so Logan could see.
From the look of it, it was clearly one of those novels meant for girls, the kind Logan would never be able to sit through. As a man, it just wasn't his type.
"Should've brought a book myself," Logan muttered with a sigh. Back in the mountains and forests where he trained with his Pokémon, his days were always jam-packed—he never had spare time for leisure. Now, sailing the deep ocean, he realized just how underprepared he was.
"Heehee~ That's just experience, Logan. Next time you're planning something, you're always welcome to ask big sister Green for advice~~"
She winked playfully, wagging her finger. Though their exact birthdays were unclear, Logan knew they were about the same age—yet Green always insisted on calling herself his "older sister." He didn't bother correcting her.
After all, sister or not, did it really matter?
With nothing better to do, Logan let his gaze linger on Green. Her smooth skin glowed in the sunlight, and his eyes inevitably wandered to her long, shapely legs stretched out beneath her skirt. Her delicate feet rested in crystal-clear sandals, each toe polished with a soft pink gloss that caught the light.
As a confessed foot-fetishist… Logan was done for. He couldn't help himself.
"What are you staring at?"
Green's sharp instincts picked up on his gaze. Feeling uneasy, she lowered her book, giving him a puzzled look.
"Nothing."
Logan panicked inwardly but quickly forced himself calm, pretending to sound bored.
"You're staring at my shoes, aren't you?"
Thinking she'd figured it out, Green casually raised her leg, stretching her dainty foot closer to his face, as if to give him a better look.
The sight made Logan's throat tighten with an almost uncontrollable urge to bite.
"When I've got free time, I just love shopping for cute shoes and earrings," she said brightly. "Look—these are new too!"
Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, she proudly showed off a pair of heart-shaped earrings dangling from her lobes.
Like a child showing off her favorite toy, Green's joy bubbled over, her voice filled with delight as she shared it with him.
"I thought you always stole your accessories, not bought them."
The jab made her freeze, then her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger.
"…You are terrible at small talk! Absolutely hopeless!"
Pouting, she turned away with a huff and buried herself back in her book, refusing to look at him.
Logan sighed in relief. Thank goodness she hadn't realized his real focus hadn't been her shoes, but her legs and feet. If she ever found out, the mischievous girl would never let him live it down.
Yes—she was clever, witty, and quick on her feet. But at the end of the day, Green was still just a sixteen-year-old girl.
"Is that the Seafoam Islands?"
Far ahead, two connected islands loomed into view, their shape faint on the horizon. Logan recognized them instantly—Seafoam Islands, marked clearly on the Kanto maps. Large and wild, they were more like small continents than islands.
Green glanced up. "That's right. The Seafoam Islands are deep in the ocean. It's cold year-round, and home to incredibly strong wild Pokémon. Rich resources, sure, but it's impossible for people to live there. Some say that travelers have even spotted Articuno flying over those islands, though… who knows if that's true."
"…Are we staying there tonight?"
Dragonair was perfect for travel, but sleeping on its back at night was far from comfortable. Normally, by evening, Logan and Green would stop at an uninhabited island to rest. Safety wasn't the issue—with their Pokémon, that was covered—it was about comfort.
"No. If this is the Seafoam Islands, then we've already crossed two-thirds of the journey. The wild Pokémon there are far too strong, and landing would just waste time. Better we bypass it and head straight for Cinnabar Island."
Logan knew the game-version Seafoam Islands well, where they were complex cave mazes. But in reality, this place was massive, spanning nearly a million square kilometers—second only to Cinnabar itself in the Kanto region. With so many wild Pokémon roaming, searching for Articuno here would be impossible without an army of manpower. Only Team Rocket or the League could afford such a hunt.
"I'll follow your lead."
Green didn't argue—throughout their voyage, she had trusted his judgment entirely.
"Dragonair, speed up!"
At Logan's command, Dragonair unleashed its true power. Its pace doubled instantly, cutting across the sea with draconic might.
…
The night passed without incident. After passing the Seafoam Islands, they found a small uninhabited islet to rest on before setting off again at dawn. By late afternoon, as the sun began to sink, the silhouette of Cinnabar Island finally appeared on the horizon.
"The man I'm searching for—Blaine—doesn't live in the populated northern side of Cinnabar. To avoid Team Rocket, he built a hidden research facility deep in the southern mountains. The area is full of volcanoes, perfect for his Fire-type Pokémon."
Logan explained while directing Dragonair toward the southern end of the island. Smoke plumes and fiery breath from active volcanoes soon filled their vision, while the setting sun washed the island in an orange glow. The clouds above caught fire from the light, glowing like burning flames in the sky.
"Wow! That's the famous Cinnabar Island fireclouds! So beautiful!"
Green stood up excitedly, hand raised to shield her eyes as she gazed at the dazzling sky.
But Logan's expression turned grave. He sprang to his feet, glaring at the horizon.
"…No. That's not just fireclouds. That's real fire burning in the sky!"
"KREEEEEH!"
The air split with a sharp, piercing cry. From Cinnabar Island came the screech of a divine bird, flames rolling in its wake. The "fireclouds" turned crimson, glowing with searing rage.
Green's face went pale in an instant, her body trembling as her knees threatened to give way.
--------------------
T/N:
Check out my Patreon
[email protected]/FictionalRealms784 - (Replace '@' with 'a')
for 5 Advanced Chapters absolutely FREE—or unlock 35 Advanced Chapters
--------------------