Neither Ryuuske nor Sabrina wanted the mud beneath their feet to dirty their shoes. One continued to stroll leisurely about ten centimeters above the ground, while the other rode on the back of a Dragonair, slowing its pace to match Sabrina's as they made their way toward Lavender Town.
Along the way, Ryuuske tried to strike up many conversations with Sabrina. However, she remained aloof the entire journey, her arms crossed and her face cold, completely ignoring him no matter how eloquently he spoke.
Ryuuske simply shrugged, unbothered by her attitude. Sabrina's refusal to engage with him only proved her unease—she was afraid that interacting with him might affect her mental state.
The endless stretch of graves finally began to thin as they approached Lavender Town. Gradually, they spotted a few pedestrians hurrying through the heavy rain. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the world in flashes, while what looked like bats flitted high above. True to its name, Lavender Town was dominated by shades of purple, though it lacked the regal elegance the color usually conveyed. Instead, it exuded an eerie, unsettling stillness.
Entering the town, they found no trace of modern skyscrapers. Aside from the towering Pokémon Tower visible from anywhere in town, none of the buildings rose higher than three stories. Even the townsfolk they passed kept their heads down, silent and indifferent, barely sparing a glance at the two obvious outsiders.
"Supposedly, Lavender Town is often shrouded in fog even without the rain. According to population records, quite a few people live here, yet the place feels completely lifeless. Anyone born and raised here would probably end up with a face as expressionless as a corpse," Ryuuske remarked with a click of his tongue.
Lavender Town looked like the setting of a ghost story, with only the small shops and stores offering any semblance of a place where living people might dwell.
Sabrina suddenly turned to glare at him, her eyes flashing with displeasure.
Ryuuske was puzzled for a moment before realizing what he'd said. "...I wasn't calling you expressionless, Miss Sabrina. Please don't take it personally."
Sabrina wanted nothing to do with him now, thinking to herself how sharp-tongued this man was. If she weren't aware that she could no longer easily kill him, she might have dismembered him on the spot and buried him right there.
"Keh keh keh... The people of Lavender Town haven't always been this cold. Though the atmosphere here has never been cheerful, children used to play in the streets. But ever since last month, when several disappearances occurred, the townsfolk have grown silent toward outsiders."
Suddenly, an old woman's voice came from behind Ryuuske and Sabrina. Her tone was hoarse and gloomy, like a whisper in a dark room, yet strangely, it wasn't unpleasant—instead, it carried a sense of warmth and kindness.
Both Ryuuske and Sabrina stiffened, exchanging a glance filled with shock. Despite their psychic abilities, neither had sensed the old woman's approach.
[She appeared out of nowhere. I was about to warn you.]
Mewtwo's voice echoed in Ryuuske's mind, easing his tension slightly. At least she couldn't completely evade Mewtwo's perception. As expected of Mewtwo.
Ryuuske and Sabrina spun around, their bodies tensed for combat. Dragonair and Alakazam moved forward, shielding their respective trainers.
The woman before them was short and elderly, with graying hair and a slightly hunched posture. She wore a purple dress suited for her age and leaned on a cane, as though she might collapse into a coffin at any moment.
But Ryuuske could tell this old woman was in excellent health—her nearly sixty-year-old face bore few wrinkles, a testament to good care. However, her age wasn't the most important detail. What mattered was that Ryuuske recognized her identity: Agatha of the Kanto Four Elites!
Among the Elite Four, Lance and Agatha stood on a completely different level from Lorelei and Bruno. Even among elites, there were hierarchies, and Lance and Agatha undoubtedly belonged to the very top. But while Lance maintained a façade of low-key confidence, this old woman was the true enigma.
Little was known about her. Like the Ghost-type Pokémon she specialized in, her past was shrouded in mystery. Aside from a few elders, no one knew her history, and she was the least publicly seen of the Elite Four, almost never appearing before others.
Ryuuske hadn't expected to encounter the most elusive Elite Four here with Sabrina. And judging by the situation, Agatha was undoubtedly connected to the recent disappearances in Lavender Town—including those of Blue and Koga.
Aside from her, no one else could make a Gym Leader vanish without a trace.
But why would Agatha reveal herself to them now? Was she so confident that she planned to attack directly? That didn't seem right. Given Agatha's personality and expertise, Ryuuske could guess her combat style relied on stealth and ambush.
A master of concealment and surprise abandoning her greatest advantage—was she assuming they wouldn't recognize her?
In that brief moment, Ryuuske's mind raced. He quickly glanced at Sabrina, whose eyes also flickered with recognition and wariness. As the Gym Leader of Saffron City and one of Team Rocket's three executives, of course she would recognize the Elite Four, Kanto's strongest publicly acknowledged fighters.
And Agatha shouldn't have made such a mistake.
Unconsciously, Ryuuske and Sabrina moved closer together. The meter-wide gap between them vanished, their bodies nearly touching. No matter how much Sabrina disliked him, she knew to prioritize survival in a crisis.
Their psychic energies intertwined, allowing them to share their thoughts, if not full sentences like Ryuuske could with Mewtwo.
In an instant, they reached the same decision: if Agatha attacked, they would immediately summon Mewtwo and Alakazam to escape. Even if Agatha abandoned her usual tactics, Ryuuske and Sabrina had no confidence in defeating her on her home turf.
In this moment, they cooperated seamlessly, like the closest of partners.
"That's the way it should be. Even when young couples quarrel, the boy should know when to coax and when to apologize. And the girl shouldn't be too stubborn—if it's not a matter of principle, she should be willing to forgive."
Agatha's smile was kindly, her voice slow and gentle, like a grandmother dispensing wisdom to bickering lovers.
Ryuuske and Sabrina exchanged bewildered glances. The tone felt completely off. At Agatha's words, Sabrina's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
But then, Agatha's tone darkened.
"...However, little girl, you must remember—men are no good. Never trust their sweet words!"
A chilling aura seeped from Agatha's body, sending a shiver down Ryuuske's spine. His expression instantly turned grave.
To be continued…
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