The sky darkened.
Natsu steadied himself, preparing to bid farewell to Professor Rowan.
Helping Natsu-sensei complete his registration had been Professor Rowan's goodwill.
Natsu wouldn't actually hold a grudge.
But certain nas might just earn another mark in his ntal notebook…
"Let show you around the backyard once more."
Professor Rowan stroked his mustache, his voice low. "If needed, you can leave your Pokémon here to acclimate."
Typically, when a Trainer carries more than six Pokémon, they'd deposit the extras at a local research institute.
But Natsu was also a decent chef (allegedly)…
With his current team of seven, the only real risk was property damage—otherwise, he could manage just fine.
"No need, Professor Rowan."
Natsu smiled, then asked curiously, "Does the nearby hillside count as part of the backyard?"
Professor Rowan nodded.
"From here to the base of Mount Coronet, all fall under the institute's care. Rangers patrol regularly."
Rangers, first introduced in Diamond and Pearl, were a specialized role with their own spin-off gas.
Unlike Officer Jenny's police force, Rangers excelled in wilderness combat, curbing poaching effectively.
They also handled wild Pokémon outbreaks and herd conflicts.
A vast facility like Rowan Research Institute naturally employed such personnel.
"So Ash didn't actually need to release his Pidgeot."
Natsu paused mid-thought. "Wait, that wasn't a release—it was a 'wait here until I finish my business'…"
Sinnoh's days were short, its nights long.
By six in the evening, darkness had already swallowed the outdoors.
Professor Rowan offered to let Natsu stay for dinner.
But Sylveon tugged Natsu's sleeve with its ribbon, eyes darting toward the exit:
"Sylveon~"
As if! Institute Pokéblocks could never compare to homade als!
"Then, until next ti."
Professor Rowan chuckled before suddenly rembering sothing. "Ah, Natsu… This year's research conference is in Canalave City. Would you consider joining my project team?"
Professor Rowan's forr assistant had been Mr. Berlitz of Sinnoh.
His daughter, Platinum Berlitz, was one of Sinnoh's special edition protagonists.
But Platinum was still too young to assist a Professor.
Cynthia, a mythologist, had recomnded Natsu to Rowan—specifically praising his linguistic skills.
Rowan himself held Natsu in high regard.
If Cynthia's claims hold water… he mused.
With Natsu onboard, a gold award this year might not be impossible…
Natsu's expression twitched.
A research quest just popped up, and now you pull this?!
If slacking off could still net a gold award, what then?!
"Professor, I'm not really cut out for research…" Natsu declined politely.
Professor Rowan nodded understandingly.
With his talents as a Trainer… his ambitions surely lay elsewhere.
Cynthia, too, had once paused her scholarly work to challenge the Champion League.
Perhaps Natsu aid for the Elite Four—or even the Champion title itself…
Rowan didn't press further, smiling warmly.
"Then, best of luck in your league challenge!"
Natsu exhaled in relief. After saying his goodbyes, he turned.
"Let's go, Gengar. Ti to head ho."
"Gengar~!"
Though challenging the league wasn't his main goal…
For now, staying far from academia seed wise.
Natsu stepped out of the institute, his emotions tangled, footsteps heavy.
Professor Rowan watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.
Scholar and Trainer—the duality reminded him of Cynthia.
"Natsu studies Ancient Language, correct?"
Rowan recalled Cynthia's remarks, murmuring to himself.
"If he expands into Sinnoh's mythological legends…"
"Who knows what breakthroughs might follow…"
...
Sinnoh, Sunyshore City
The city flickered between light and darkness, its power grid failing.
Cynthia simply turned off the lights and lit a candle.
Bathed in its glow, she focused intently.
Balancing league duties with her upcoming conference paper.
"Random ruins' stone tablets… Eterna City's murals…"
Her fingertips traced the pages until they brushed a small, handwritten note.
Recognizing it, she allowed herself a faint smile.
Then returned to work.
The candle cast shadows over her draft—where the author field seed to list two nas…
...
The visit to Professor Rowan's concluded.
The System finally ca online after a long absence, only to deliver a heavy blow right off the bat.
Still, with such an Expertise-heavy task, the chances of completing it were slim—no need to worry too much...
Stepping out of the Research Institute,
Natsu looked up at the sky.
A deep violet nightscape, dotted with stars.
Compared to Saffron City's neon-lit streets, the rural Starry Sky here felt far clearer.
Natsu took a deep breath of the damp, fresh air and tossed a Poké Ball:
"Co on out, Arcanine!"
The nightti chill instantly lted away under the warmth of the Fire-type Pokémon.
"Arcanine~(｀0｀)" Arcanine let out a proud roar, the tips of its mane faintly glowing red.
Natsu scruffed its fur. "Quiet! People are sleeping—you'll get us complaints!"
Heh, what's the point of a Bike? They still need to get around!
"Alright, let's head back for a midnight snack!"
With a rumbling growl, Arcanine stretched its powerful limbs and dashed into the night, its fiery figure cutting through the darkness...
...
February 23, Monday, Clear
The morning mist gradually dissolved under the rising sun.
"Blastoise…ヾ(■_■)"
Blastoise carried a watering can, inspecting the plants in the Yard before nodding in approval.
"Sylveon! (〝▼皿▼)"
Sylveon slipped out through the Cat flap, eager to greet the nearby Wild Pokémon first.
Natsu stood on the second-floor Balcony, stretching alongside Gengar.
"Third set of calisthenics!"
The Rotom Pokédex played a nonsensical instructional voiceover.
"Gengar!!"
Gengar strained to touch its toes, sweating bullets before finally giving up.
"Togepi doo-ee~ヾ????"
anwhile, Togepi happily circled Gengar and Natsu.
Sirfetch'd trailed behind, Leek in hand, frantic: "Sirfetch'd!!"
Slow down! What if you trip?!
Natsu blinked. "Oh… right, it's your turn to babysit today?"
"Gengar!" Gengar grinned, flashing sharp teeth, radiating 'day off' energy.
Amid the chaos of Togepi and Sirfetch'd,
Natsu gazed at the shimring Beach in the distance, feeling at ease.
By his count, this was his third day since moving to Sinnoh.
The rural life in Sandgem Town was growing on him—so different from Tokyo or Saffron City.
More importantly,
Sandgem Town had no Gym. The nearest one, in Oreburgh City, was two hours away. No need to worry about Gym Leaders showing up uninvited...
"Another perfectly peaceful day!" Natsu mused cheerfully.
Beep beep beep—
"Incoming call, Rotom~!"
Natsu glanced at the screen, then answered the video call with mild surprise.
Purple-haired Team Rocket Secretary Matori appeared on-screen.
Just had to jinx it. Natsu sighed. "What's up?"
Matori hesitated. "I heard you've arrived in Sinnoh?"
Natsu had only signed for a Rocket Delivery package yesterday. He nodded.
"Well…"
She cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Those three idiots apparently ca to Sinnoh for so 'research'..."
"I can't reach them. If you run into them, please… keep them in line."
Natsu paused.
Those three are in Sinnoh too?
And not for Pikachu—but for TCG research to boost Ptcg profits?!
Touched, Natsu declared solemnly:
"Don't worry. I'll steer them back on the right path!"
Why chase Pikachu?
If they'd just worked hard from the start, they'd have made a fortune by now!
Matori was taken aback by his conviction. Adjusting her round Glasses fras, she coughed.
"There's… one more thing."
"Yeah?"
"Lately, Boss Giovanni has been acting… strange."
After a long pause, she decided to report to her ntor:
"He locks himself in his Room a lot. And there's… Persian noises inside."
Natsu: ???
Maybe he's filming a cat vlog?
It sounded innocent, but the way she said it made it seem… not innocent.
"Did he ask you how to upload videos online?" Natsu asked.
"Huh?"
Matori blinked. "Like a Team Rocket address? He hasn't ntioned anything."
"Never mind. Later!"
Natsu coughed, opting to leave her in the dark.
He still hadn't forgotten the stink bomb incident.
After all, he bore no ill will toward Cynthia, Professor Oak, or even Boss Giovanni…
Matori: ???
Why do you seem to know Boss Giovanni better than I do?
Am I about to lose my job?!
Natsu: "Oh, send the owth Coin's GPS coordinates."
He recalled Jas owning several Villas in Sinnoh.
One of them was likely Team Rocket's local base.
With the coordinates, he could just knock on their door…
Matori gave a half-hearted "Mm." Then Natsu added:
"What's Team Rocket's current mission in Sinnoh?"
In the ani, the villainous Team Galactic had appeared here.
Team Rocket had played a key role in stopping them.
But in this shifted Worldline, Natsu hadn't heard any rumors about Team Galactic.
Still, he wanted confirmation.
"Let check."
After a pause, Matori read aloud: "Objective one: Shift focus to tertiary industries to create jobs for Team Rocket mbers."
"Objective two: Promote innovation in energy and aerospace engineering—"
"Enough!" Natsu cut her off, rubbing his temples.
So in this tiline, Team Galactic's already dealt with.
Ash's solo Travels sotis overlapped with ani plotlines.
But given Ash's Movie-level luck…
Running into Legendary Pokémon drama was practically inevitable.
Hanging up, Natsu shuddered.
"I cannot team up with Ash in Sinnoh. Gotta stay far away!"
...
Sinnoh Region, near Twinleaf Town.
"It's all Jessie's fault for dragging us to this wilderness, ow!"
"You're the ones who said following the twerp would lead us to an Executive!"
"I'm starving... so hungry..."
The trio trudged along dejectedly when suddenly, an expansive estate ca into view.
"What a luxurious house, ow..."
Jas blinked in surprise. "Huh? That looks like my family's place."
"???"
Inside the manor, Jas picked up the landline and dialed the butler:
"Could you prepare a simple lunch, please..."
When an extravagant feast was laid out, owth gulped.
"This is way too fancy, ow..."
"Jas, don't tell —!" Jessie gasped. "Is this entire estate yours?!"
"Not exactly."
Jas scratched his head. "This one's just a sumr ho. I stayed here as a kid... The estate across the hill belongs to so House of Berlitz or sothing."
Jessie and owth let out an "Oh."
By now, they were used to Jas being a rich heir.
Right now, their top priority was serving the Executive well and earning his recognition...
If they could strike it rich with Ptcg and snag Pikachu along the way—
The trio looked up at the sky, their minds conjuring up a scene:
[A shadowy figure extends a large hand, stroking Sylveon's head. Sylveon licks its paw, casting a haughty glance, as the ntor's deep voice echoes:
"Jessie, Jas, owth—your performance has been outstanding. From this day forward, you are promoted to Captains!"]
"Feelin' good~~"
"Wobbuffet!"
Ding-dong—
The doorbell rang.
"Who'd visit at this hour, ow?" owth glanced at Jas, puzzled.
Jas paled instantly. "N-No way... Is it... Jessebelle?!"
"Who's Jessebelle?" Jessie asked around a mouthful of food.
The girl who looks exactly like you—Jas' fiancée, ow! owth internally groaned.
"Let's get out of here!" Jas shot to his feet.
"Is she that scary?" Jessie frowned.
"A hundred—no, a thousand tis scarier than you!" Jas yelped.
"Uh, I don't think it's her, ow~"
owth dragged a chair to the window, climbed up, and peered outside—then froze.
"E-Executive?!"
"Executive?!" Jessie and Jas rushed to the window, gasping.
...
Natsu stepped into the hall as the trio sward him, fawning eagerly.
"Executive, you could've just called! No need to trouble yourself with a visit!"
"It's because I can't get through."
Natsu sighed. "Heard you were in Sinnoh, so I dropped by."
Of course. Even in a new region, these three idiots are unavoidable...
I told them to stop chasing Pikachu, but it clearly didn't work.
Guess they're just... Ash's eternal rookie exp?
"It's actually out of service!" Jas was shocked.
"Hurry up and ask Butler to top up the phone, ow!" owth pulled Jas' sleeve.
Natsu waved a hand. "As long as you're fine... I'll let you know if there's a good business opportunity."
"YES!" The trio snapped into a salute.
A Carnivine crept up behind Jas and happily engulfed his head.
"Cut it out, Carnivine! We have a guest!" Jas flailed.
Jessie and owth crossed their arms, utterly unfazed.
"By the way," Natsu said, equally accustod, "have you reported to Boss Giovanni since arriving in Sinnoh?"
Jessie and owth shook their heads.
"Perfect."
Natsu called out, "Jas, mind if we borrow your video comms?"
"Mmph—sure!"
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