Pokémon: An Unexpected Odyssey

Chapter no.42 Meeting Bill

Read advance chapters of all my works or want to support me.
https://www.p.a.t.r.e.on.com/Adamo_Amet
....
Join us on discord:
https://discord.gg/DXv2nkTB

••••••••••••••••••

The Cerulean Cape stretched out before Austin like something out of a dream. Lush green grass swayed gently in the breeze, dotted with patches of wildflowers that shimmered like tiny gems under the sunlight. To his right, the calm, expansive lake reflected the sky in a perfect mirror, its surface broken only by the occasional ripple of a Magikarp leaping up or the gliding form of a Goldeen. The gondola rocked gently as it moved through the canal, the sound of the oar cutting through the water blending with the distant calls of Water Pokémon.

"This is... peaceful," Austin muttered, leaning back slightly. Pikachu sat by his side, his ears twitching every time a splash echoed across the lake. Rattata peeked out of Austin's bag, her little nose sniffing curiously at the cool breeze, while Vee sat contentedly on Austin's lap, his tail flicking back and forth.

The gondolier, a grizzled man in his forties with a straw hat that had seen better days, gave a low chuckle. "Aye, peaceful now. But where you're headed, kid, things ain't so serene."

Austin glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

The man paused, digging his oar into the water to guide the gondola around a bend in the canal. "The place you're heading to—it's private property. Belongs to some mad scientist up on the cape. People around here call him the 'Madman of Cerulean.' Crazy rumors flying around, too."

"Madman, huh? What kind of rumors?"

The gondolier's face broke into a grin, his teeth a little too white against his tanned skin. "They say Pokémon go in, but they don't come out. Some folks reckon he's doing experiments—turning Pokémon into... I dunno, robots or something."

"Robots? Really? That's what people think?"

The gondolier shrugged, his grin widening. "Hey, I didn't come up with it. I just hear the talk." He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a mock-hushed tone. "But there's worse theories. Like him trying to merge humans and Pokémon—create some kind of freaky hybrids."

Austin laughed, shaking his head.

The gondolier joined in, his deep laugh echoing over the water. "I know, right? But people love their stories."

Austin glanced down at Pikachu, who was listening to the conversation with wide eyes. His little paws gripped Austin's leg tightly, his body visibly tense. Austin grinned mischievously, deciding to have a bit of fun. "Hey, Pikachu, you think he's gonna turn you into a half-human Pikachu? You could wear a little lab coat and start talking like Meowth."

Pikachu's cheeks sparked immediately. "Pika!" he growled, narrowing his eyes at Austin.

"Relax, buddy, I'm kidding."

But Pikachu wasn't having it. With a sharp cry, he zapped Austin with a quick jolt of electricity.

"Ow! Gah!" Austin yelped, his hair standing on end as the gondola rocked slightly from the sudden commotion. "Okay, okay, I deserved that!"

"You two are a riot. Not every day I get passengers like you," the gondolier said, chuckling.

Austin rubbed his arm, the faint sting of the shock lingering. "Yeah, well, keeps things interesting."

The gondola slowed as they approached the edge of the cape, the small building coming into view. It was modest, almost unassuming, surrounded by tall grass and artificial pools that sparkled under the sunlight. A thin fence marked the boundary of the property, though it didn't look particularly secure.