Now that the Mauville Gym battle was behind them, Natsui had to decide on the next leg of the journey.
Originally, when he first entered Hoenn, he had a clean route mapped out. But after passing through Rustboro City three separate times—and losing a significant amount of time because of it—that original plan was no longer practical.
At this point, they were in central Hoenn. No matter which Gym they challenged next, they would inevitably have to backtrack at some stage and retrace steps in the opposite direction. That kind of looping would only waste more time.
After thinking it through—and discussing it with Misty—Natsui made a decision.
They would head south to Slateport City first, then take a boat to the island in the southwest and challenge the Dewford Gym. After Dewford, they would turn back and take on the Petalburg Gym, clearing the western side of Hoenn efficiently and closing out that entire section of the journey in one clean sweep.
Misty had no objections at all. The plan made sense, and the two of them agreed immediately.
So, after leaving Mauville City, they followed the main road south.
As they walked, the towering buildings that marked the city's skyline slowly faded behind them, replaced by dense greenery. The further they went, the more the scenery shifted into forests and open routes—classic Hoenn wilderness, quiet and wide.
In terms of distance, Mauville and Slateport were far from close. Between them lay a long elevated stretch of roadway—bridge-like in its scale and layout—built to connect the northern inland routes to the southern coast. If they traveled purely on foot, it would take at least two full days.
And that was the "clean" estimate—without counting meals, rest stops, camping, or unexpected detours. In reality, it could easily stretch longer.
Still, this was travel. Complaining didn't shorten roads. As long as they kept moving in the right direction, they would arrive sooner or later.
They spent half a day crossing through the forested stretch, and before long, the smell of salt began to creep into the air.
When they emerged at the coast, Misty stopped and stared.
Ahead of them, the road rose into a long, winding elevated track that stretched out over the water and coastline like it had no end—disappearing toward the horizon.
Misty clicked her tongue.
"What a long road… How far do we have to go before we're finally on the other side?"
It was Natsui's first time here too, so he couldn't give her a meaningful answer.
Fortunately, there was a solution right at the base of the elevated route: a bike rental shop.
You could rent a bicycle at the entrance, ride the entire length comfortably, and return it at the other end—fast, efficient, and far less punishing than walking.
With an option like that, there was no reason to stubbornly march on foot. They headed straight into the shop, paid the deposit, and rented two bikes.
And honestly, the owner was a genius.
Rent at the north end, return at the south end. Rent at the south end, return at the north end. Either way, anyone who wanted to cross quickly would end up paying him. As long as that elevated road stayed standing, he could live off that business for a lifetime.
When Natsui mentioned it, Misty laughed.
"What, are you jealous, Natsui? When you get tired of traveling, why don't you open a shop like this? I'll definitely come work for you!"
If someone thought she was just joking, they were being naive.
That line—"I'll definitely come work for you"—carried an unspoken promise: no matter where you go or what you do later, I'll still be there.
But Natsui completely failed to catch the meaning. He didn't bite at all. He just shook his head casually.
"Guard a road like this for a lifetime? Forget it. I'd rather live on some deserted island than waste my years watching people ride past."
Once they were up on the elevated road, the difference was immediate.
The wind carried salt from the sea, cool and steady, brushing against their faces as they rode. The bikes moved smoothly, and the distance that would have taken hours on foot began shrinking rapidly.
They rode side by side, overtaking pedestrians one after another.
Every few kilometers, there were spacious rest platforms—built specifically for travelers to stop, drink water, stretch, or take a breather. Since this route was a major connector between cities, trainers passed through it constantly. And because those rest areas existed, it wasn't unusual to see battles happening right there on the platforms—heated, intense, and loud.
The space was being used to its absolute limit.
A few trainers even tried to flag Natsui and Misty down, clearly looking for a quick spar.
But Natsui didn't want to be stuck on the elevated road after dark. He shook his head at them and pedaled straight past.
It turned out to be a very wise decision.
By the time the sun sank and the sky turned dusky, Natsui and Misty finally rolled off the elevated road and put their feet on solid land again.
Anyone behind them—especially those who wasted time battling—would now be forced to rush the remainder in the cold wind and fading light if they didn't want to spend the night out there.
It was the classic trap:
Battling earlier felt refreshing.
Rushing afterward would be miserable.
Slateport City—a port where humans, Pokémon, and nature all collided in constant motion.
Located on the southern coast of Hoenn, it was said that Slateport had grown rapidly in its early years due to clean water and abundant food, becoming a bustling market hub before gradually expanding into a major port. Now, ships came and went every day, and the city's scale had long surpassed its origins.
After more than a day on the road, Natsui and Misty arrived on the morning of the third day.
Even from a distance, they could see the giant lighthouse rising in the south of the city. Not far away was the Oceanic Museum, and nearby—standing out with its own unique architecture—was a Contest Hall as well.
As they entered the city proper and began heading toward the port district, a familiar group appeared on the other side of the street.
At the front was a boy in a blue hoodie and a red cap, wearing that same familiar backpack. A Pikachu sat on his shoulder.
The outfit, the posture, the expression—even the Pikachu.
There was no mistaking it.
Ash.
And behind Ash were three others.
The tallest was Brock—the squinty-eyed "big brother" type who somehow always managed to come off like a shameless flirt whenever women were nearby.
And next to him were the siblings Natsui had met before at the Petalburg Gym: May and Max.
Natsui paused.
So they came here too?
And they actually ended up traveling together?
At the same time Natsui and Misty recognized them, Ash spotted them as well.
"Natsui-nii! And Misty!?"
Ash's eyes lit up. He sprinted toward them like he'd just found treasure. Pikachu looked just as excited—when Ash got close enough, it leaped off his shoulder and dove straight into Misty's arms.
"What a coincidence," Natsui said, glancing Ash over. "When did you get here?"
"We've been here for several days already—and I've already got two Badges!"
Ash proudly pulled open his jacket and showed them the Stone Badge and the Knuckle Badge.
Then—before Natsui could even respond—Ash turned sharply toward Misty, his face twisting with indignation.
"Misty, you liar! Didn't you tell me you weren't traveling with me anymore, and that you were going back to the Cerulean Gym? Then why are you with Natsui now!?"
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Pokémon Legend — Status: Ongoing — Latest Chapter: 719 — Next: 800 (Coming Soon)
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