Chapter 112: Home
That evening, Sora awoke from her nap in the courtyard. She looked down to see a small blanket covering her. It was Skitty's.
"Meow," a voice rang out. Sora looked down and saw Skitty rubbing against her pant leg.
"Oh, Skitty, are you hungry?"
"Meow~" she shook her head.
"Not hungry?" Sora looked around for her cane, and in less than two seconds, Skitty had brought it to her.
"Good girl~" The clever Sora immediately realized that Ryu must have said something to her.
When she followed Skitty into the living room, she found Ryu reading a book on world history, focused on the section about the Johto region.
"Are you interested in this, Treecko? Let me tell you about it. This happened a thousand years ago," Sora said, sitting down beside him. "The Johto region was ruled by a queen from the Dragon Tamer Clan, who established a country called the Royal Dragon Kingdom..."
From her words, Ryu learned what happened after his death. He never expected that Liz would abdicate at 38 and leave the kingdom she had worked so hard to build.
"I'm also very curious where the founding Queen went during those sixty years she was missing," Sora mused.
"Grandma, I want to go here," Ryu said, pointing to an illustration of the thousand-year-old Royal Capital.
"Hmm... the Royal Capital? The plain where it used to be is now all mountains and forests," Sora explained, turning to a modern map. "The city itself is long gone, but the people who used to live there moved to Blackthorn City."
"Look here," she continued, pointing to a spot between Kanto and Johto. "This was originally a mountain road, but in a great war, a Tyranitar dozens of meters tall emerged from Mt. Silver. With just one Earthquake, it blocked the road, and it has been a mountain ever since. It's said that Queen Liz's Pokémon, Alan, the 'Guardian Dragon,' was even stronger than that Tyranitar."
Ryu scratched his head, confused. He didn't remember being stronger than a Tyranitar.
"Do you want to go to Blackthorn City, Treecko? Grandma can take you in a few days."
"No, I'll go by myself," he shook his head, patting his chest. The journey would be too exhausting for an old woman like Sora.
"That's too dangerous!"
"I must go!" His tone was firm, and Sora understood.
"When do you plan to leave?" she asked, no longer trying to persuade him.
"Now," he stood up, deciding it was better not to prolong the farewell.
"Let's go tomorrow. Grandma will take you to the port tomorrow," she said, allowing no room for refusal before going to make dinner.
That last meal was hearty and cooked with great care.
"Grandma knows a captain at the port. I'll ask him to take you to Cherrygrove City in the Johto region," Sora said at the table, her voice filled with worry as she gave him advice for his journey. "You're still so young... what if you meet a bad person..."
As she spoke, she looked like she was about to cry. Skitty, hearing how miserable Ryu's life would be, lost her appetite and shared her own food with him.
"...Grandma, don't worry. I can survive," he said, comforting her.
After dinner, Sora disappeared into her workshop. The next morning, she led Ryu and Skitty to the port.
"Treecko, this is Tom. He will take you to Cherrygrove City," she said, introducing him to a sturdy, middle-aged man. By his leg was an energetic-looking Corphish.
"Go on," Sora said, handing Ryu a small backpack she had made.
"Okay!" He gave Sora and Skitty a final hug, then jumped onto the speedboat.
As the boat gradually left the port, Tom spoke without looking back. "Aren't you going to look in the backpack? A man should say goodbye loudly and clearly!"
Ryu opened the bag. Inside were a few pieces of children's clothes, a box of macarons, and a letter. There was also a small glass plate containing a single pressed flower—one of the cherished white flowers from Sora's garden.
At that moment, his eyes and nose stung. He looked up towards the shore, where Sora and Skitty were still waving.
"Treecko!" Sora's gentle voice reached him across the water. "You must be safe! If you're unhappy outside, just come back, remember! Peaceful Nursery in Ever Grande City... this will always be your home!"
In this unfamiliar era, he finally had a home.
[Inorin Note:
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