The events unfolding in the Johto region remained unknown to Ryuuske.
The sea along the way to Vermilion City's harbor was calm, with a few salty breezes ruffling Ryuuske's hair as he lay leisurely on Dragonair's back. His hands were tucked behind his head, resting against Dragonair's neck, exuding an air of utter relaxation.
Ryuuske had neither asked Dragonair to summon storms nor ridden it through the skies—simply because Dragonair's flying speed was far too slow!
The genetics of Pokémon were truly baffling. How could a slender and elegant creature like Dragonair bulk up so drastically upon evolution, becoming the robust Dragonite? And while Dragonair itself was a slow flier, its evolved form, Dragonite, was among the fastest-flying Pokémon in the entire world.
Though Dragonair wasn't suited for long-distance flights, it was voted by trainers as the ideal Pokémon for oceanic travel. Riding Dragonair across the waves was incredibly comfortable, and its movement wasn't reliant on physical strength—rather, it was an innate ability. Dragonair could control sea winds and waves to propel itself forward, effortlessly crossing entire oceans without expending any stamina.
Many Pokémon possessed unique abilities. For instance, Mr. Mime could create barriers with its fingers, and Garchomp could fly at speeds exceeding Mach. These abilities were as natural to specific Pokémon as eating and drinking were to humans, requiring no extra effort.
Of course, not all Pokémon could manifest these abilities—only those trained by skilled trainers and diligently honed could truly master them.
After reviewing the Pokédex entries, Ryuuske gained a basic understanding of Dragonair's capabilities.
Among Professor Oak's many achievements, Pallet Town and the Pokédex stood out as two of his greatest. The Pokédex, in particular, was a crowning accomplishment, containing nearly a lifetime's worth of research and compiled knowledge.
To be honest, Ryuuske had always found Professor Oak somewhat enigmatic. As the world's foremost authority on Pokémon, the professor's information was widely available online. After reviewing Oak's extensive records, Ryuuske was surprised to discover that this nearly sixty-year-old man had never encountered any real danger in his life.
This was utterly baffling. Having stayed at the Oak Research Lab for a month, Ryuuske was familiar with its security measures—they were designed to prevent theft but offered little defense against intrusion.
Given Professor Oak's immense value, it was astonishing that no individual or organization had ever targeted him over the years.
Ryuuske suspected that it wasn't that no one had ever considered targeting Oak—it was that those who tried simply couldn't succeed. Even the incident where Team Rocket kidnapped him seemed, in Ryuuske's view, intentional.
The enigmatic old man had likely known about Team Rocket's Mewtwo project all along and allowed himself to be captured to observe Mewtwo firsthand. After months of speculation, Ryuuske had arrived at a near-certain conclusion: Professor Oak was searching for a stabilizer for Mewtwo.
The Pokédex explicitly stated that Mewtwo possessed the most violent heart among all Pokémon—and since the Pokédex was Oak's creation, it meant the professor had long been aware of and studied Mewtwo's nature. Fearing that this newly born, terrifying Pokémon might wreak havoc and pose a grave threat to humanity, Oak deliberately placed himself near Mewtwo to find someone capable of restraining it.
And Ryuuske was that person.
Judging by Mewtwo's current state, Oak had succeeded—Mewtwo and Ryuuske were now inseparable.
Still, Ryuuske was certain that Oak bore no ill will toward him. The professor truly treated him like a grandson, and his emotional reaction when Ryuuske narrowly survived the Team Rocket lab incident had been genuine.
For this reason, while Ryuuske had questions about Oak, he felt no wariness or hostility toward him. Everyone had their secrets, and if Oak chose not to share his, Ryuuske wouldn't pry—though he might investigate privately.
Lost in these thoughts, Ryuuske eventually snapped back to reality, finding himself lying face-down on Dragonair's back. Dragonair's smooth, cool skin made for an exceptionally comfortable resting spot, further solidifying his resolve to prevent its evolution.
In Ryuuske's eyes, Dratini evolving into Dragonair was like a cute little girl maturing into an elegant young woman. But Dragonair evolving into Dragonite? That was practically a genetic mutation!
"Dragonair really is the perfect balance of beauty and coolness..."
Ryuuske sighed in admiration.
As if sensing his praise, Dragonair raised its graceful neck and let out a soft, adorable cry—more of a "mew" than a draconic roar.
[Ryū, something is following us.]
Mewtwo's voice suddenly echoed in Ryuuske's mind.
"Huh? A person or a Pokémon?"
Ryuuske immediately sat up, alert. Sensing his tension, Dragonair's playful demeanor sharpened into vigilance. The clear skies darkened as clouds began to swirl, ready to unleash a storm at any moment.
[A Pokémon. From the feel of it... it's Mew.]
"Mew? Why is it following us? Looking for revenge?"
Ryuuske grew even warier. Other Pokémon were one thing, but being stalked by a Legendary was no laughing matter.
[It doesn't seem hostile. I can sense its emotions—no anger, no ill will. Mew keeps testing the edges of my perception, making it hard to pinpoint its location.]
"Testing the limits, huh... Whatever. If it's not hostile, we won't provoke it. Still, Mewtwo, keep an eye out. Let me know immediately if Mew does anything."
[Understood. I'll stay vigilant.]
Reassured, Ryuuske relaxed, and Dragonair, sensing his calm, dispersed the gathering clouds and resumed its cheerful journey toward Vermilion Harbor.
Having Mewtwo as a radar was incredibly useful—it allowed him to foresee and neutralize dangers before they even arose.
Opening the Pokédex again, Ryuuske used its internet function to book a room at Vermilion City's Pokémon Center. He then placed an order at a high-end outdoor apparel chain for a premium survival outfit before splurging on a large stock of Pokémon food and snacks. Satisfied, he lay back on Dragonair's back and closed his eyes for a short nap.
Before heading to the next city, Celadon, he needed to restock his supplies thoroughly. Now that he had money, he could buy whatever he wanted!
To be continued…
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