Ryuuske noticed Gary lost in thought and asked curiously,
"No, it's nothing. Just that Pokémon capable of taking human form are… fascinating to study."
Gary closed his eyes and turned his head away, his tone steady.
"Yeah, I'm pretty fascinated myself."
Ryuuske looked down at Mew, his gaze flickering. In her loli form, Mew seemed curious about everything. Though she could mimic the appearance of any Pokémon, taking on a human shape might have been a first for her.
"Mew?"
Noticing Ryuuske staring, Mew tilted her head in confusion and let out an adorable chirp.
Despite being tens of thousands of years old, Mew acted as if she knew nothing, her personality eternally childlike. Legendary Pokémon, it seemed, didn't mature emotionally.
"Thank goodness! Ryuuske-kun, Gary, Ash—you're all okay!"
A relieved voice called out from afar. Ryuuske turned to see Daisy supporting an unconscious Green as she staggered toward them. With a wave of his hand, Ryuuske used his psychic abilities to lift Green from Daisy's arms, gently laying her on the ground.
"Sis."
Seeing his sister unharmed, Gary finally relaxed.
"Your injuries look serious. You should get treated as soon as possible."
Daisy's voice was urgent as she took in the trio's battered state—especially Ash, who lay pale and motionless, his condition particularly alarming.
"It looks worse than it is. Nothing vital was hit. Some basic treatment to prevent infection will do for now. Besides, Saffron City doesn't have any functional medical facilities left. Until the Gym Leaders completely purge Team Rocket, the city won't recover."
Ryuuske surveyed the ruins around them. The most economically developed city in Kanto had been reduced to rubble in mere hours. The devastation wrought by Pokémon battles was no less brutal than modern warfare—perhaps even worse, given their flexibility. Even a single powerful Rattata could gnaw through a skyscraper with its incisors.
"War really is cruel. In the seventy years since the League's founding, Kanto hasn't seen casualties on this scale."
Daisy sighed, her expression dimming. But she quickly perked up and reassured Ash,
"...Everyone from Pallet Town is safe. They're in an underground shelter now. Ash, your mom's fine too."
"Hah… That's a relief."
People in this world held deep ties to their hometowns. Having grown up in Pallet Town, Ash had been the most worried when its residents—including his own mother—were taken hostage by Team Rocket.
"This area should be safe for now. The fleeing Rocket grunts aren't worth worrying about."
Ryuuske handed Daisy a Poké Ball. "...This is Green's Blastoise. Give it back to her when she wakes up."
Accepting the ball, Daisy blinked in confusion. "...You could've given it to her yourself. Ryuuske-kun, are you… planning to do something?"
Her heartbeat quickened, fearing he was about to charge into danger again.
"Haven't you noticed Sabrina's gone? And Lt. Surge and Koga, who you defeated earlier—they've disappeared too. In their condition, they couldn't have gotten far. I'm going after them. Don't worry—all three are heavily injured. Even if Mew's the only Pokémon I have left in decent shape, she's more than enough to bring them back."
Ryuuske smirked. Even at full strength, he could take on any of the Rocket Executives with just Mew. Now that they were on their last legs? It'd be child's play.
Of course, he had no real interest in Surge or Koga. Sabrina was his true target—but he wasn't about to say that outright.
"Mew?"
Daisy's eyes widened as she finally noticed the little girl hovering near Ryuuske. Instantly, her face lit up. "...Wow! Such an adorable little girl!"
Girls could never resist cuteness.
Mew floated back a step—not walking, but gliding—easily dodging Daisy's hug. Interpreting it as a game, she giggled behind her tiny hands and darted behind Ryuuske, clutching his sleeve while peeking at Daisy with doll-like innocence.
Seeing Daisy about to pounce again, Ryuuske cut in, "...Let's go, Mew. Time to hunt them down."
A pink glow enveloped them, and in the next instant, both vanished.
Daisy gaped at the empty space, utterly baffled. She had no idea the "little girl" was actually a legendary Pokémon.
"Sis, let's find somewhere to rest."
Embarrassed by his sister's behavior, Gary coughed and suggested they move.
Flushing slightly, Daisy awkwardly scratched her head and helped Green up. The group settled in a relatively intact corner of the ruins.
Before long, hurried footsteps approached. Ash and Gary tensed, ready for a fight—until they recognized Erika, the Celadon City Gym Leader.
"Erika? What are you doing here?"
Ash, who'd met the gentle woman a few times, waved cheerfully.
Erika's eyes brightened at the sight of them—but when she noticed Ryuuske wasn't among them, a flicker of panic crossed her face. Suppressing her unease, she forced calm into her voice. "...Where's Ryuuske-kun?"
Her words trembled slightly, her body tense with unspoken dread.
She'd assumed the worst—that he'd been caught in the cataclysmic battle at the city's heart, the one that had flattened entire districts.
"He went after the Rocket Executives."
Oblivious to her distress, Ash answered bluntly.
"After the Executives…?"
Erika's brows furrowed.
Unlike Ash, Gary picked up on her hesitation. "...Is something wrong, Erika?"
"Well… When we breached the city, I asked the League Chairman how to handle the Rocket higher-ups. He said that as long as Giovanni's identity as their mastermind is exposed and all blame is pinned on him, the Gym Leaders of Vermilion, Saf, and Ffronuchsia could be given a chance to reform—provided they surrender, cooperate with investigations, and accept temporary restrictions. They might even keep their positions."
Erika explained calmly.
She understood the reasoning. Punishing four Gym Leaders at once would cause massive unrest.
Half of Kanto's Gym Leaders turning traitor? The public would panic, distrusting the League's governance. People might assume the system itself was corrupt rather than blaming the individuals. For stability's sake, the League couldn't afford to purge all four at once.
Politically savvy, Erika knew maintaining order was the ruling class's priority—everything else was negotiable.
"So… Ryuuske going after them was pointless?"
Ash scratched his head, finally grasping the implication.
"That's what I meant… I just hope he stays safe."
Erika murmured, her worry masked as general concern rather than something far more personal.
"Relax. Those three are barely standing. They're no match for him."
Ash grinned, far more confident in Ryuuske' abilities than Erika was.
"I hope you're right…"
Erika sighed, reluctantly setting aside her fears. She knew Ryuuske was cautious—he wouldn't recklessly endanger himself.
(If only she knew about his battle with Giovanni, she might've thought differently.)
---
Meanwhile…
Ryuuske stood before a collapsed building, took a deep breath, and stepped inside.
Sabrina… You can't run anymore.
To be continued…
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