Chapter 298:
November 23rd.
It was a sunny day.
Early in the morning, after breakfast, Hayashi Kaede packed a series of cooking utensils into a storage capsule and also brought a small bag.
He told all his Pokémon that he would be away for a while.
The large group of Pokémon was immediately taken aback.
"Ninetales?" (Going out?)
Alolan Ninetales was the first to react, then asked excitedly, "Ninetales!?" (Where to?)
It thought they were going out to play.
But Hayashi Kaede's next words made its excited expression fall.
"Good girl... This time, I'm only taking Dragonite and Mewtwo. There are some matters to attend to."
Hayashi Kaede patted Alolan Ninetales's head.
"Ninetales...." (Aww....)
Alolan Ninetales pawed at Hayashi Kaede's shoes, clearly unhappy.
"Eevee...."
The Eevees also stared blankly at Hayashi Kaede.
"Indeedee?"
The Indeedee siblings also looked at Hayashi Kaede in surprise.
"I know it's a bit sudden, but this matter is better handled sooner. I'm hoping to resolve it before the New Year. So, I'm temporarily entrusting the house to you two, alright?"
Hayashi Kaede crouched down and rubbed the Indeedee siblings' cheeks.
"Can you help Gardevoir and me manage the house?"
"Indeedee..."
"Indeedee..."
The two Indeedee were instantly rubbed into a daze, only capable of nodding.
"Blaziken..."
Blaziken also looked at Hayashi Kaede reluctantly, even licking its lips.
"Don't worry, I won't let you go hungry!"
Hayashi Kaede laughed.
"Goodra...."
Goodra looked at Mewtwo, who replied, "Stay home and behave."
"Goodra...."
Goodra felt very wronged.
But it wasn't absolutely necessary to stay by Mewtwo's side anymore.
Sprigatito walked over to Hayashi Kaede, asked for a hug, then obediently got down.
"Serperior?" (When will you be back?)
Finally, Serperior asked the last question.
Hayashi Kaede hugged it. "Maybe soon, or it might take a few days. But I'll definitely be back within seven days."
"The new house is decorated now. Once the beds are delivered today, everyone can move into the new house starting today."
Hayashi Kaede added another instruction, then patted the somewhat excited Dragonite. "I'm counting on you~"
"Dragonite~"
Dragonite let out a long cry towards the sky.
Once Hayashi Kaede was on its back, it flew into the sky.
Down below.
After seeing Hayashi Kaede fly into the sky, the group of Pokémon, who had just finished breakfast happily, immediately became listless.
Growlithe's tail drooped as it walked towards its post.
Alolan Ninetales's nine tails, though still in the air, no longer stood tall.
Milotic and Primarina on the water surface sank beneath the waves.
Sprigatito, noticing the weather today, leaped up onto the Breeding House roof in a few jumps to sunbathe, though it occasionally blinked and glanced in the direction Dragonite had flown.
Steenee looked at Gardevoir, its mouth moving slightly, but ultimately didn't speak.
Serperior watched the departing Dragonite for a good while before slithering towards the center of the plantation.
"Ninetales...." (Wait.)
Alolan Ninetales immediately chased after Serperior.
"Serperior?"
Serperior looked back.
"Ninetales?"
Hearing Alolan Ninetales's question, Serperior shook its head and instead touched Alolan Ninetales with its tail. "Serperior..."
"Ninetales ..."
Alolan Ninetales didn't press further.
It turned and ran towards Gardevoir.
This was the first time Hayashi Kaede wasn't by its side. So the moment he left, a sense of unease filled Alolan Ninetales's heart.
Soon, it found Gardevoir.
"Ninetales?"
Looking at the somewhat dejected Alolan Ninetales, Gardevoir comforted it, "Gardevoir.." (He will return. Don't worry.)
Alolan Ninetales lowered its head and walked towards the Breeding House.
Without Hayashi Kaede, it didn't know what to play today.
"Alolan Ninetales!"
"Wow, it's been so long! Youngster Hayashi's Alolan Vulpix actually evolved!"
Even the exclamations from the people around couldn't capture its attention at all.
.....
In the sky.
"Why are you so happy?"
Perched on Dragonite's back, looking at the overflowing joy on its face, Hayashi Kaede couldn't help but ask.
"Dragonite...." Dragonite replied happily.
Whoosh whoosh...
But because the wind was too loud, Hayashi Kaede couldn't hear a thing.
He couldn't help but look at Mewtwo flying alongside them.
Mewtwo's speed was no less than Dragonite's.
I wonder how it compares to Latias?
Amidst his random thoughts, Dragonite soon flew out of the Eastova League's territory and over the ocean.
Looking at the sparkling sea surface,
To be honest, this felt quite novel to Hayashi Kaede.
Although he had been in the Pokémon world for eighteen years now,
he had actually never seen the ocean in this world.
The sea in this world was incredibly azure, reflecting the sky's color. With his eyesight, he could sometimes even see fish swimming below.
Hayashi Kaede couldn't help but say, "Fly a bit lower..."
"Dragonite~"
Dragonite immediately complied.
As long as it didn't fly too low, the air currents from its flight wouldn't affect the water surface.
And now, in the water, perhaps sensing Dragonite's presence, a large school of fish frantically leaped out of the sea.
Hayashi Kaede had asked Dragonite before; they are the top of the marine food chain.
But relatively speaking, Dragonite usually don't prey on other Pokémon in the ocean.
They generally eat ordinary fish.
So, in the ocean, some ordinary fish can easily become startled and jump when they see a Dragonite.
But here, because Dragonite's speed was so fast, some fish had just startled and jumped out of the water when Dragonite had already passed over them.
"Hey, there are Finneon."
Hayashi Kaede, sharp-eyed, spotted a few Finneon mixed in with the fish school.
This is a very human-friendly Pokémon. Under normal circumstances, even if a ship passes by, they aren't afraid and might even actively swim around it.
Unfortunately, because they needed to travel now, they couldn't stop and stay to pet these Finneon.
Soon after passing this area, Hayashi Kaede had Dragonite gain altitude.
Over the sea, after spotting a group of Lapras crossing their field of vision, the sunlight gradually became brighter, and the wind whistling in their ears became less sharp.
Hayashi Kaede knew they were very close to the Alola region now.
After a while, a vast island appeared before Hayashi Kaede's eyes.
Alola... they had arrived.