On the first day of winter break, taking advantage of the good weather, Zane slung his backpack over his shoulder and set off on an impromptu trip with Gengar, Roselia, and Cramorant.
The quickest way to Rustboro City was through Petalburg Woods, but since it was still closed off, he had to take the long way around.
A bus with a Torchic painted on the side drove smoothly along the paved asphalt road. Soft, gentle piano music played over the speakers, filling the bus with a harmonious atmosphere. Passengers, strangers just moments before, chatted quietly with smiles on their faces, talking about Pokémon, the recently concluded League Conference, and their hopes for their own journeys.
But Zane was completely immune to the cheerful vibe. He slumped in his seat, staring out the window with a look of utter despair.
Ugh, this young body... gets carsick.
Maybe it's just because I haven't ridden in a car in forever? He thought miserably.
Gengar, the only one not confined to a Poké Ball, floated out of its Sealing Orb. "You don't look so good," it observed curiously.
Zane slowly turned his head to look at it, his face blank. "I think I'm gonna puke."
Gengar: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ!
"Are you sick?!" it asked, shocked. He'd been perfectly fine just before getting on the bus. How could he have gotten so weak in such a short amount of time? "Are all humans this fragile?"
Before Zane could answer, a pleasant voice came from beside him. "Eating an orange might help you feel better."
Zane looked down and saw an orange being offered to him.
"No thanks," he mumbled, instinctively refusing. "I'll be fine if I just close my eyes for a bit."
The girl who had offered the orange didn't seem offended by the rejection. Instead, she looked around curiously. "Who were you talking to just now?"
Zane froze. "..."
Oh, shit! I forgot that other people can't see Gengar!
"I was talking to an annoying ghost," he said flatly.
Gengar immediately bristled at that. "Hmph! Yesterday you were calling me your 'cute little Gengar,' and now I'm an 'annoying ghost'? You're the annoying ghost!"
Zane just sighed. "..." To prove he wasn't just talking to himself, he had Gengar reveal itself to the girl.
Her eyes immediately lit up. "Wow! A Gengar! Are you a trainer?"
"Something like that," Zane said. "You can chat with it for a while." He really didn't feel like talking.
The girl realized this and looked apologetic. "Oh, sorry. You should get some rest then. I'll wake you up when we get to Rustboro City."
"Mmhmm," Zane grunted, closing his eyes again.
Drifting in and out of awareness, he could hear the girl chatting quietly with Gengar. They seemed to be getting along quite well.
Half an hour later, Zane arrived safely in Rustboro City. The moment he stepped off the bus and breathed in the fresh air, he felt like he'd been brought back to life.
Compared to Petalburg City, Rustboro was significantly larger. Cars and trucks filled the streets, heading off in different directions along various routes. Rustboro's location was pretty interesting, geographically speaking. To the east was the Rusturf Tunnel, to the south was Petalburg Woods, and to the north lay Meteor Falls, a place rich in minerals. Add to that the presence of major locations like the Devon Corporation headquarters and the Rock-type Gym, and it was no wonder Rustboro was one of the most popular cities in the entire Hoenn region.
If his ferry weren't about to depart, Zane would have loved to explore the city properly.
Once aboard the ship, Zane and Gengar leaned against the railing, watching the coastline recede until only the endless expanse of the blue ocean remained. Through the sparkling surface of the water, they could faintly see the shapes of Water-type Pokémon swimming below.
Roselia, having lived its whole life in the forest, had never seen the ocean before. Zane let it out of its Poké Ball so it could enjoy the view with them.
Just then, a voice came from behind him. "That's a very well-raised Roselia you have there!"
Damn right it is, Zane thought. I've been painstakingly raising it with the best nutrients money can buy. He turned around and saw a man in a tuxedo walking towards them, radiating an air of aristocracy.
The man pulled a Poké Ball from his pocket, but it wasn't a standard red-and-white one. It was a glittering gold Luxury Ball. With a click, a Delcatty with sleek, glossy fur materialized in a flash of white light.
"How about it?" the man asked with a smile. "Would you like to trade Pokémon with me? My Delcatty for your Roselia."
Zane didn't even have to think about it. "No thanks," he said flatly. He remembered Ash doing something similar on the S.S. Anne, trading his Butterfree for a Raticate, only to immediately regret it and trade back after remembering all the times they'd shared.
A look of disappointment crossed the man's face. "Alright then. To be honest, I've always wanted to catch a Roselia, but I've just never had the chance."
Zane gave him a look. "I'm pretty sure Budew are common around here. You could just catch one and raise it yourself."
"I've tried," the man said with a helpless sigh. "But I spent a long time with them, and they never evolved into Roselia."
Zane stared. "..." He looked at the Delcatty, which was trying to nuzzle affectionately against its trainer. But the man's attitude towards it was clearly indifferent, almost dismissive. Their relationship didn't seem like that of partners on a journey, but more like a haughty master and a disposable pet.
From that alone, it wasn't hard to guess why his Budew had never evolved.
Not everyone treats their Pokémon like companions, Zane thought, his expression hardening.
Seeing the look on his face, the man chuckled. "Don't be nervous," he said. "Trading is a perfectly normal thing for trainers to do. And besides, trades only happen if both trainers agree. If you don't want to, I won't force you."
If you do try and force me, Zane thought darkly, my Cramorant would scatter your ashes across the sea in about one second. He forced a neutral expression. "Did you ever ask the Pokémon being traded if they wanted to?"
The man looked genuinely surprised, almost confused. "Why would I ask their opinion? As long as we trainers agree, isn't that enough?"
Zane just stared at him. He couldn't comprehend the guy's logic. "We clearly have different paths," he said curtly. "Goodbye."
With that, he scooped up Cramorant and Roselia and walked away.
Gengar, the thousand-year-old relic, was curious about everything in the modern world. "Why didn't you trade with him?"
Zane shot it a look. "If you like him so much, I can trade you to him instead."
Gengar choked and quickly shook its head. "No way!"
"...Then why ask the obvious question?" Zane said, exasperated.
Gengar just gave an embarrassed grin.
Yeah, Zane thought. What Pokémon wouldn't prefer a human who treats them like a partner?
<><><><><>
Binge Read 15+ Advance chapters on my Patreonat : - Patreon.com/MightyJahseh