Chapter 208: The Moon Is So Full Tonight
Chapter 208: The Moon Is So Full Tonight
Kanto, Red Lotus Island.
Situated at the southernmost tip of the Kanto region, this large island shares similarities with the town of Touku in the Hoenn region, boasting natural active volcanoes and hot springs.
It's a must-visit tourist destination for anyone traveling to Kanto.
Hoo, hoo—
The sea breeze, warm and tinged with a hint of sulfur, caressed their faces. Seagulls flapped their wings low over the azure sea.
It was undeniable.
Despite the approaching winter, the temperature on the volcanic Red Lotus Island was surprisingly pleasant.
As soon as they stepped out of the port, they were greeted by numerous attendants, mostly staff from the island's hotels.
The streets were lined with various shops, and the majority of the people on the road were tourists dressed in Alolan-style floral shirts and shorts.
Deciding to embrace the vacation spirit and local customs, Ethan (formerly Jing He) turned and led the little ones into a beachwear store.
"Aloha!"
The store owner, dressed in a blue beach shirt, greeted them warmly as they entered.
"Oh? An Alolan Vulpix, that's quite rare."
Clearly, the owner was from the Alola region and had opened this store on Red Lotus Island.
"Aloha."
Ethan smiled and returned the greeting.
"Aloha" is a friendly greeting in Alolan culture, meaning "hello," "goodbye," "I love you," and also conveying sentiments of "hope," "love," "peace," and "happiness."
It's a very warm and welcoming greeting.
Receiving a response and seeing the Ice Vulpix, the owner became even more enthusiastic, offering Ethan a significant discount.
When Ethan left the store, he was wearing a beach shirt adorned with pink cherries, and he carried the Ice Vulpix, now adorned with a beautiful flower garland.
Behind him were Gengar, wearing a purple floral shirt and protective goggles, and the Artisan, dressed in a small blue floral shirt.
As for Haxorus, it was wearing a large, pale yellow beach hat that covered most of its head, making it a bit hard to see.
"Haxorus, this way."
The island had many hotels, including several controlled by Team Rocket. However, with his experience, Ethan knew how to find a reliable hot spring hotel.
Night fell.
The trickling water led them down a winding path to a misty, open-air hot spring.
Tap, tap, tap—
Ethan, wearing wooden sandals and carrying a large fruit platter, approached the hot spring.
"You—"
Splash!!
Slosh—
Warm water splashed into his face.
Ethan: "—"
He wiped the water from his face, his expression stiff, and looked at Gengar, who had plunged into the hot spring and was now backstroking, causing the water to overflow.
This little fatty had caused the hot spring to overflow the moment he entered!
Gengar, who had bathed in hot springs before, was quite at ease and unashamed, waving at Ethan with a chuckle.
Then,
"Gengar!"
Bubbles! Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle—
It resurfaced and started swimming freestyle.
Next was the Artisan.
It tentatively placed one small foot into the water, feeling the slight warmth before taking a deep breath and mimicking Gengar by jumping in.
Splash!
However,
Bubbles—
Several bubbles rose, and it didn't resurface.
Seeing this, Gengar, already used to the Artisan's habit of carrying its hammer underwater, took a deep breath and dived to retrieve it.
Haxorus, experiencing its first hot spring, loved water and naturally slid in with a splash.
It took a while before it resurfaced, smiling at Ethan and burping.
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
What a mess.
"Uu, uu—"
If there was one Pokemon that feared water the most, it was Ice Vulpix.
It cautiously approached the hot spring, extending a small paw to test the water.
"Uu! (Too hot!)"
Too hot!
Ethan, knowing its nature, chuckled and said:
"Come on!"
He scooped it up and jumped into the water with it.
"Uu! Uu—!!"
Every time he bathed the little Vulpix, it was a chaotic affair.
But once it accepted it, it would feel very comfortable.
A few minutes later.
The hot spring gradually calmed down.
Five heads, each topped with a white towel, were neatly lined up along the shore.
Ethan, Gengar, Ice Vulpix, Haxorus, and the Artisan.
Oh, and the hammer, which was also leaning against the shore, mostly submerged in the water, covered with a white towel.
"Ah, so relaxing~" Ethan said, half-closing his eyes.
The little ones: (￣￣)
The hot spring was indeed very soothing.
Ding—
Just as they were relaxing, Ethan's phone rang.
He was slightly taken aback, but upon opening it, he saw a video from Cynthia, with Hydreigon as the star!
"Roar—!!"
In the video, Hydreigon's eyes were bloodshot, and it roared while swinging its sharp scythes.
If translated, it roughly meant:
"Look at me, brat!!"
Ethan's eyes twitched, and he nudged Gengar with his elbow.
“Huh?”
“It’s for you.”
Jing He showed the video to Gengar.
“Huh, huh?! Σ(дlll)”
Snap—
Jing He took a picture of Gengar’s expression and sent it to Cynthia.
[Jing He]: It should know it was wrong.
[EeveeEatsCabbage]: Gyarados says, don’t run after school next time (Gengar laughing.jpg).
Jing He: “.”
No.
Gengar sent the video, and Dratini performed the Dragon Dance. How is this related to me?
[EeveeEatsCabbage]: Are you in a hot spring?
But Cynthia quickly noticed that Gengar seemed to be in a hot spring.
Seeing an opportunity to change the subject, Jing He replied without hesitation.
[Jing He]: Yeah, next time you should join us.
But as soon as he sent the message, he realized his mistake.
His body shivered slightly, and he felt like Gyarados and Lucario were watching him from behind.
He was about to retract the message.
[EeveeEatsCabbage]: Sure.
Jing He couldn’t help but recall the swimsuit photos of Cynthia he had seen before, feeling a slight warmth in his nose.
Wait.
It’s just a hot spring, not a mixed bath. Why am I getting so worked up?
[Jing He]: Cough, cough, the moon is so round tonight.
[EeveeEatsCabbage]: Indeed.
Far away in Unova, Cynthia’s cheeks turned slightly red as she put away her phone.
Cynthia’s assistant, Galadrielle, immediately cast a suspicious glance, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just that the moon is very round tonight.”
Galadrielle looked out the window.
Where’s the moon?
After the hot spring, Jing He got dressed and prepared to take the little ones to watch the unique volcano movie on Red Lotus Island.
Just as he stepped out the door, a man suddenly appeared in front of him. The man was wearing a brownish-yellow wig and mustache, round sunglasses, and a bright red outfit that looked quite comical.
“Are you...” Jing He sized up the man, finding him somewhat familiar.
“Hey there, young man, want to guess a riddle? There’s a prize if you guess correctly,” the man said cheerfully.
Guess a riddle?
Before Jing He could respond, Gengar immediately raised its hand with a wicked grin.
“Huh!”
I’ll do it, I’ll do it!
Jing He finally recognized the oddly dressed man.
“So you’re... Saffron Gym Leader, Sabrina?”
The man suddenly shuddered and clutched his head.
“Sabrina? What Sabrina? There’s no Sabrina!”
Facing Jing He’s strange look, the man sighed and removed his wig and sunglasses.
“You really are sharp, Teacher Jing He.”
Jing He: “.”
So, you people in the Pokemon world are all so confident in your disguises?
Or is it that the disguises of Team Rocket members are just this level?
Gengar exclaimed, pointing at the man who had revealed his true identity.
“Huh?!”
It was a disguise?!
Sabrina laughed and said to Gengar, “That’s the normal reaction!”
Jing He: Can I pretend I don’t know them?
However, Sabrina’s appearance was both unexpected and reasonable.
After all.
Among the Team Rocket executives who were undercover, only Sabrina was left.
Jing He also knew a bit about Sabrina.
In the anime, Sabrina has a deep connection with Mewtwo and Entei.
Especially with Mewtwo, whose genetic material partly comes from Sabrina in the anime (so baldness is contagious, right?).
This creates a strong bond between Mewtwo and Sabrina, making him one of the few trainers who can command Mewtwo.
Of course.
He bears a significant burden for this, even pushing his body to its limits, and was eventually saved by Entei’s “Flame of Life.”
But based on the information from Mewtwo’s dreams and the events involving Mewone and Charmanderone, the Mewtwo in this world is the one from “Mewtwo Strikes Back,” created by Dr. Fuji.
So, Sabrina can’t summon Mewtwo.
As for Entei... that’s even less likely.
But one thing is certain: Sabrina’s strength is considerable.
After all, based on the Pokemon design, Sabrina is likely the counterpart to Ecruteak Gym Leader, Will.
However, Sabrina is not just a Gym Leader; he is also a well-known researcher.
In Team Rocket, his role is more of a researcher than a combatant.
Moreover, he seems to be the only trainer who can perform “Small Fire Blast” and “Medium Fire Blast.”
Gym Leader?
Hearing Jing He mention Sabrina’s identity, Glaceon, Steelix, and Dratini immediately perked up.
Especially Dratini.
After evolving, it was eager to see how strong it had become.
Feeling the enthusiasm of the little ones, Jing He sighed inwardly.
Well, since you all are so eager for a battle...
He took a deep breath, his gaze turning serious, and said solemnly:
“Please accept my Gym challenge, Gym Leader Sabrina!”
“Oh?”
Sabrina was taken aback, looked at the “Deepred Badge” in his hand, and quietly put it away, smiling.
“I was hoping for this!”
Tomorrow, I’ll finish writing the battle in one go~
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
