Chapter 297:
The surroundings changed abruptly. When Hayashi Kaede regained consciousness, his whole body felt floaty.
Looking down, he realized he was already floating in the sky.
Below was clearly a water city. Turquoise-blue waterways crisscrossed, bluestone streets, buildings nestled against the water, various canals intertwined.
It didn't look like architecture found within the Eastova League, but more like the ancient Western European architectural style Hayashi Kaede remembered from his past knowledge.
looking at the streets below, you can see pedestrians walking.
He remembered being in bed just a moment ago, and now he was here.
There was only one explanation.
This was a dream.
Sure enough, Mew, covering its mouth with a giggle, and the floating, starry Jirachi suddenly appeared beside him.
"Jirachi ~"
"Mew~"
"You two... where did you end up during the day?"
Hayashi Kaede floated in the air, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Jirachi ~ It's the water city! A city where everyone lives on water!"
Jirachi flew happily towards Hayashi Kaede, then snuggled into kaede dream-self.
"Water City?" (Also known as Alto mare, it is an animated series-exclusive location in Johto and the setting of Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias.)
Hayashi Kaede was startled, then scanned the surroundings. Soon, in one corner of this water city, he saw two towering statues.
On top of the statues were two familiar Pokémon, making Hayashi Kaede pause.
They were two Pokémon with streamlined bodies, round eyes, and wings like aircraft wings.
Without a doubt, these were Latias and Latios - the Guardian Deities of Alto mare.
Then this water city should be the Alto mare from his memories.
Alto mare!
In the movie Pokémon Heroes, these two Latias and Latios were a sibling pair, protecting this water city together.
But later, a phantom thief appeared, attempting to steal the Soul Dew. The brother, Latios, sacrificed himself there to protect Alto mare.
When he watched that movie, Hayashi Kaede had always felt a lingering sadness.
Has Ash traveled here yet?
Hayashi Kaede couldn't help but wonder.
But looking at the scene below, it seemed he probably hadn't traveled here yet.
Because according to the story's plot, a water race was being held at the time.
That happened in summer.
Right now, judging by the scenes in the Alto mare town below, the pedestrians were wearing sweatshirts or cotton-padded jackets, clearly a winter season.
But the seasons in the Pokémon world are hard to pin down.
Hayashi Kaede asked, "How long have you been here?"
"Jirachi ?" (Mew just arrived, right?)
Jirachi looked at Mew.
It couldn't go anywhere in the real world itself; it could only visit Mew's dreams at night after Mew had experienced things during the day.
"Mew~" (Mhm mhm!)
Mew nodded, then pulled out a storage capsule. It shook the capsule and said matter-of-factly, "Mew... Mew..." (It's empty, empty.)
Hayashi Kaede found it even more amusing.
Mew meant the storage capsule was empty, running out of food.
What to do when there's no food?
Go back and get it yourself! Could I possibly search the whole world for you to deliver it?
He thought this to himself.
But what he said was: "No food? Can't you go back and get it yourself? But I might not be home for the next few days. You'll have to ask Gardevoir to help you."
"Jirachi? Where is Brother Kaede going?" Jirachi asked curiously.
Hayashi Kaede said, "I'm going to the Alola region to help Steenee find its mother."
Jirachi, like a curious child, asked, "Find its mother? Alola? Is it far?"
Hayashi Kaede patiently explained, "It's quite a distance from the Eastova Region and the Kanto region. But it's summer all year round there, a region surrounded by ocean."
"Do you want to come along?"
Hearing this, Jirachi's face showed strong interest, but it quickly deflated.
Because in the dream, it had no sensation of temperature or anything.
And they had just arrived in this water city; it felt there were still many places to explore.
"Jirachi..."
"Then after we wake up, I'll take you to see it."
Hayashi Kaede patted its head and smiled.
Jirachi nodded vigorously. "Jirachi!" (Mhm mhm!)
Hayashi Kaede asked curiously again, "By the way, why don't you go play with Victini? Isn't it in Eindoak Town? You've been there once, right?"
The personalities of these three should mesh well together.
Jirachi excitedly explained the reason, "Jirachi, it has to protect the Dragon Vein in Eindoak Town! So we plan to go there along this route, and then go home."
At this point, Jirachi's expression became a bit pitiful again,
"It's just that it can't leave Eindoak Town. It has to wait until I wake up before we can go to Brother Kaede's Breeding House together..."
"I see..."
Hayashi Kaede nodded thoughtfully, not delving deeper into the issue, but changed the subject,
"But speaking of Alto mare, this water city, do you know there's a very special thing about it?"
"Mew?"
"Jirachi ?"
The two Pokémon were immediately captivated.
"Jirachi, Jirachi ~" (Tell us, tell us~)
Jirachi couldn't help but wiggle out of Hayashi Kaede's embrace, looking at him with sparkling eyes.
Hayashi Kaede began his enthusiastic explanation.
"It's like this. In this town, there are two Pokémon who are the guardian deities of this city. One is called Latios, and the other is called Latias. Among them, Latias is one that likes to transform into a human and blend into the city."
"Besides that, it's also a Pokémon that loves painting. You could find it to play, become good friends or something."
"If you can persuade it to travel to various places with you, it could even help you record the scenery of each place!"
"Jirachi?" (Really?)
"Mhm." Hayashi Kaede nodded.
There was plenty of time; he wasn't in a hurry to tell the two little ones that bad guys would come in the future to steal the Soul Dew.
If Mew and Jirachi could really get along well with Latias, then Mew naturally wouldn't stand by and watch the future tragedy happen.
Jirachi's eyes shone even brighter.
A Pokémon that turns into a human and mingles among them? That sounded so interesting.
Jirachi quickly looked at Mew. "Jirachi~, Jirachi!"
"Mew~"
Mew immediately patted its chest, its expression proud, indicating it would handle this matter.
"Mew~"
In heaven and on earth, there was nothing Mew couldn't accomplish, and nothing Mew wouldn't dare to do!
"Bye bye~ Brother Kaede, I'm going to find Takagi Megumi now~"
Jirachi waved at him.
"Alright... then do your best~"
Hayashi Kaede patted Jirachi. Under the gaze of the two little ones, his figure gradually dissipated.