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

Chapter 46: Watching the Road Ahead

Route 38 slowly changed as we continued west, and the grassland began opening toward wider fields. The road no longer carried Ecruteak's heavy quiet or the Contest Hall's polished feeling. It felt like Johto was stretching toward the sea, even though we had not reached Olivine yet, and the air already carried a faint promise of salt.

Granbull walked beside Lillie with the small cloth still held carefully between her teeth. She looked fierce enough to scare strangers, but every few steps she checked whether Lillie was still nearby. Lillie noticed each glance and answered with a gentle smile instead of reaching too quickly.

"She is doing better," Reisa said softly, walking close enough to see Granbull but not close enough to crowd her.

"She is," Lillie replied. "I think both of us are."

Granbull huffed and checked Lillie again without meeting anyone's eyes, "I am not worried; I am checking because responsible partners always check."

Pikachu leaned from my shoulder with narrow eyes and an amused spark, "That is exactly what worried Pokémon say while pretending they feel fine."

I smiled but did not translate that part. Granbull had earned a little dignity after yesterday.

East checked the map and pointed ahead. "Route 39 should start before long. Moomoo Farm is in that direction, and Olivine is past it."

"Moomoo Farm," Ethan said dreamily. "After ghosts, legends, contests, and hair-biting Fairy-types, I am ready for milk."

Kris looked down at Natee's Poké Ball on her belt. "You keep saying peaceful things before something happens."

"Then I will say nothing," Ethan decided, holding both hands up.

He managed exactly three steps of silence before Politoed croaked cheerfully and ruined the solemn promise for him. Ethan pointed at his partner as if the Frog Pokémon had betrayed him, but Politoed only puffed his throat with obvious pride.

"That does not count as me talking," Ethan said.

"It counts as your team continuing your thought," Kris replied.

Reisa smiled faintly, then looked toward the fields ahead. "I hope the farm is peaceful too. But if it is not, I would rather know before something is already hurt."

Reisa had been watching things differently since losing the Contest. She still wanted to win, but now she paid closer attention when Croconaw or Bellossom hesitated instead of pushing straight into another attempt. Losing to Solidad still bothered her, yet she had started using the loss instead of only resenting it.

Almost as soon as she said that, my Natu's Poké Ball shook at my side. A second later, Kris's Natee pushed out of her Poké Ball without waiting for Kris's command. The small Psychic-type landed on a fence post and stared west without blinking.

My own Natu came out too, fluttering onto my arm. His eyes fixed on the same direction as Natee's, and the air around both Pokémon felt strangely still.

"Natu?" Lillie asked carefully, slowing her steps.

Natu's eyes flashed with broken images while his claws tightened around my sleeve, "Something is wrong ahead. I see a tall light by the sea, wings over water, and I hear a cry when the salt smell gets stronger."

Kris stepped closer to Natee, her notebook already half open, though her face showed more worry than curiosity. "Natee, what do you see?"

Natee gave one soft cry and did not turn away. Kris followed the lowered wings and closed her notebook.

"It is not looking at us," she said. "It is looking through the road."

Reisa folded her arms, listening to the silence between the birds. "The rhythm feels like a warning. Not danger right here, but something waiting further ahead."