Pokemon: The Legacy of Dragons

"This guy… still so cocky…"

Red rubbed his nose and slowly stood up from the ground. The burns and the nerve damage he had suffered earlier had mostly been treated with medicine. Though the injuries hadn't fully healed, at least they wouldn't get worse.

He glanced toward Caitlin, who was still standing quietly, gazing at the distant sky like a statue carved in longing. After a moment of hesitation, Red spoke up:

"…Miss Caitlin?"

"Hmm? Oh… thank you, Red, for your help earlier."

Caitlin seemed to return to her senses. She gave Red a graceful smile and nodded slightly.

"Ahaha, not at all! That was a result of both me and Logan fighting together."

Red scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. Truth be told, he was never very good with girls.

"How are your injuries, Mr. Red? If you'd like, I can lend you my villa in the Johto region. It'd be a good place to recover."

"No, no, really, it's just a few scratches. Once we reach the next supply island, I'll figure out a way to return to Kanto. There's no need to trouble you with a detour to Johto."

Red waved his hands in refusal. Just like Logan, he didn't want to waste time here. Logan had already left, flying off on Dragonair, and Blue had departed from Vermilion City even earlier. Red had always considered them his rivals—he couldn't afford to fall behind.

But his current Pokémon lineup was… problematic. None could fly, and none were suited for sea travel. Poliwhirl, though a Water-type, wasn't built for long-distance ocean travel—rivers maybe, but not vast seas.

So, he had no choice but to rely on human transport to get back to Kanto.

"In that case, I won't delay you, Mr. Red."

Caitlin offered a polite smile and bowed slightly before turning to leave.

"Sheesh… how did Logan get so friendly with her so fast?"

Red tilted his head in confusion. Though Caitlin was polite to a fault, she definitely gave off the vibe of a cold and distant noblewoman. He couldn't imagine her being so animated as he'd seen before.

But Red was never one to overthink. With movement possible again, he quickly recalled his Ivysaur and headed toward the Saint Anne's medical bay. Of all the Pokémon injured in the battle, his Poliwhirl was in the worst shape and needed urgent care.

Elsewhere, Caitlin's stewardess, Shilan, had joined the recovery efforts aboard the Saint Anne. Once the luxurious cruise ship was no longer in danger of capsizing, the passengers collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the ship wouldn't sink, both its main and auxiliary engines were completely ruined. Sailing again was out of the question. It would need to be towed to a shipyard for major repairs. Thankfully, the ship's core structure was intact, and with about a year's time, it could likely be restored.

As for repair costs? None of the passengers cared. The Saint Anne was insured, and any insurance company capable of covering such a vessel surely had deep pockets. Even if they suffered a huge loss, they wouldn't go bankrupt. And if anyone wanted compensation… well, good luck catching Team Rocket.

"Milady!"

Caitlin, walking through the ship's corridor, came face to face with Shilan. She stopped, let the steward approach, then suddenly declared:

"…Shilan, you're fired."

"Huh?"

Shilan blinked, clearly confused by the sudden proclamation.

Caitlin smiled gracefully, her voice soft:

"…I've decided to accept the family's request. Once I return to Sinnoh and gather what I need, I'll head to Unova. I'll travel as a true Pokémon Trainer. As for you, Shilan, it's time you pursue your own life."

"…You've worked so hard these past two years. I always knew you were an exceptional Trainer, yet you spent all this time caring for a selfish girl like me."

The noble lady bowed deeply, her tone serious, expressing her sincere gratitude to the woman who had served as her caretaker.

Shilan accepted the bow with a kind smile. Adjusting her glasses, she replied warmly:

"…You've finally grown up, milady. That boy really changed you, huh? Thinking about it, he was only with you for three days, and yet he had more impact than I did in two years. That stings a little."

She chuckled. Caitlin blushed but quickly composed herself.

"Time is tight. I can't waste it on slow transportation like ships anymore. I need to get back to Sinnoh as fast as possible, and then head for Unova."

Caitlin clenched her fists.

She was already behind others. To catch up, she had to use every second wisely, even if it meant enduring more hardship.

"Shall I book a flight from Johto?"

"No. Even airplanes are too slow."

Caitlin hesitated, then said softly:

"…It might be troublesome, but I'll ask Cynthia to come get me with her Garchomp. And maybe… take me to Unova afterward."

She lowered her head, a bit embarrassed. Even with her close relationship with Cynthia, this felt like a big favor.

But Shilan just laughed:

"…Milady, you don't need to worry. If it's Cynthia, she wouldn't mind at all. That's the kind of person she is, isn't she?"

"Well, you're right about that… Cynthia really is that kind and dependable. She's the one I look up to most."

Caitlin looked up as if in prayer.

"…I hope that one day, I can become as strong as she is."

"You'll get there, milady."

"That's why I've decided: once I arrive in Unova, I'll aim to become the Champion there! Cynthia's the Sinnoh Champion, Logan wants to be Kanto's Champion—I can't fall behind!"

"Milady, becoming a Champion is going to be harder now. The league structures are changing. In the future, becoming a Champion will be nearly as difficult as the rumored 'Master Position.' At the very least, it'll be as hard as the Elite Four Challenge."

Although he didn't want to discourage her, Shilan still felt compelled to give a dose of reality.

"If I can't be Champion, then I'll become an Elite Four in Unova!"

Caitlin said confidently.

Shilan smiled wryly. Even now, she was still just as headstrong.

Champion or Elite Four—those aren't titles one achieves so easily. Each of them represents the very peak of power in a region.

Still, that ambition and confidence were good. Better to encourage her than dampen her spirit.

As the two looked out to sea, rescue ships finally appeared on the horizon.

Meanwhile, Cynthia, ever the woman of action, had already received the request.

From the skies above Sinnoh, her Garchomp—like a jet fighter—blasted across the clouds at speeds beyond Mach, bound for Johto to retrieve Caitlin and help her on her journey to destiny.

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T/N:

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