1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 100: Hoenn Ahead

Vermilion City felt familiar beneath my shoes, but I did not feel like the same person who had left Kanto for Johto.

The S.S. Aqua rested behind us while crew members prepared it for another voyage. The little girl from the ship waved from beside her grandfather, and Pikachu waved back from my shoulder with one paw. The harbor smelled like salt, oil, and breakfast from the nearby stalls. It was Kanto, but it was also the road after Johto.

Mom adjusted the strap of her bag. "Your dad and Professor Oak are waiting at Pallet. Lusamine and Alice should already be at the lab too."

Lillie walked beside me, quieter than usual. She had not cried when the ship reached Vermilion, but she kept glancing toward the sea as if Johto might still be visible beyond it.

Pikachu rested his head against my cheek. "Johto is behind us, home is ahead, and somehow both places feel close."

"Yeah," I whispered. "That is exactly it."

Togetic floated beside Lillie while Espeon walked close to her leg. Neither seemed eager to rush away from the harbor either.

Togetic looked back toward the S.S. Aqua. "That ship carried us away from our friends. I liked the granddaughter better than that part."

Espeon's ears shifted toward the inland road. "Home is waiting. Standing here will not move it closer."

Lillie smiled faintly. "Espeon has a point."

We traveled inland with fewer interruptions than I expected. Every familiar road carried memories from my first Kanto journey, including several I would have preferred to forget. I pointed places out to Lillie anyway, and Mom laughed whenever I remembered some embarrassing version of myself too clearly.

By the time Pallet Town came into view, my chest felt tight.

The town looked smaller after Silver Town, Mt. Silver, and the Johto League. It also looked warmer than anywhere else. Houses sat quietly beneath the afternoon light, and Professor Oak's lab stood above the hill like the place where every impossible road had first learned my name.

Dad stood outside the lab with Professor Oak, Lusamine, and Alice. "Dad!" I shouted.

I ran the last part of the path and hugged him hard. Dad caught me with a laugh, but his arms tightened around me almost immediately.

At the same time, Lillie hurried to Lusamine. Lusamine wrapped both arms around her daughter and held on long enough that Lillie's face disappeared against her shoulder.

Dad pulled back and studied my face. "How was your journey?"

"Great," I said, then stopped because the word sounded much too small. "I met a lot of friends. I won the Silver Conference. I defeated Lance."

I opened my case and showed him the Johto Champion recognition card and League documents Goodshow had given me.

Dad stared at them for a moment, then smiled in a way that made my throat hurt. "You really did it."

Professor Oak stepped closer. "Indeed he did. Ash is now recorded in the Johto Hall of Fame as Champion."

Alice bounced on her toes. "That is amazing! You actually beat Lance!"

"Thanks," I said, suddenly uncomfortable with everyone staring at me.

Pikachu stood taller on my shoulder and tapped the Champion card. "I was in that battle too. The card should remember that."

I translated because Pikachu deserved the credit.

Dad nodded solemnly. "Then Champion Pikachu deserves recognition as well."