Chapter 150: Add a Safety Rail to the Saddle
"Or-ordinary?" Ruby was stunned. He carefully scrutinized Eevee and murmured, "That doesn't make sense… is it some other coordination technique?"
"Alright, stop standing there like an idiot!" Sapphire slapped Ruby on the back of his head. Wincing, he clutched his head. "Go help Teacher Lu with the luggage!"
"Ow—why don't you go?"
"I'm a girl!"
"What kind of girl wrestles Donphan barehanded?!"
Watching the two bicker again, Steven shook his head helplessly and turned to Lu Ye. "Teacher Lu, I do have another matter to trouble you with on this trip."
Lu Ye, deep in thought, silently mocked Ruby. You're calling others out? Weren't you the 5-year-old who outran a Salamence?!
"Of course. Please, go ahead." Lu Ye snapped back to reality, smiling. "It wouldn't have to do with Jirachi, would it?" Though the comet was indeed related to Jirachi, not every comet could summon a mythical Pokémon.
"You already know?" Steven's soft blue eyes showed a trace of surprise before he smiled. "Well, it's no surprise… I can't hide anything from Teacher Lu."
Lu Ye: ???
"Teacher Lu, have you met Jirachi before?" Sapphire crouched down and asked curiously.
"Uh… isn't that normal?" Ruby sighed. "He's the champion of Donghuang, after all!"
Meanwhile, Lu Ye tried his best to maintain a composed expression. "It's… really Jirachi?"
"Just a guess," Steven replied. "If it truly is Jirachi's meteorite, my goal is to return it safely to the stars."
Lu Ye rubbed his chin. With Steven here, there wasn't much to worry about. Besides, Cynthia might even show up later. "Where's the meteorite? Can I take a look?"
Steven nodded, pulling out a Poké Ball. A flash of red light revealed a Beldum, which held a jagged meteorite and handed it to Steven.
"You can try sensing it," Steven said, offering the meteorite to Lu Ye. "Perhaps it might awaken."
Lu Ye froze. Legend had it that Jirachi, who awakens once every 1,000 years, could only be roused by a pure heart and song… This isn't something you can just summon, right?
Taking the meteorite, Lu Ye observed it closely, but it remained unresponsive. "This thing is definitely fake!" Even someone as pure-hearted as me can't awaken it.
Steven chuckled. "Maybe it's just not the right time."
Behind them, Sapphire called out, "Mr. Steven, Teacher Lu! Let's go camping! Tororo found a great spot nearby. We can fly there!"
"Tororo?" Lu Ye was puzzled.
Before he could finish, a resonant cry echoed through the forest. From a distant peak, a Tropius flapped its massive wings, slicing through the clouds. With powerful gusts of wind, it landed gracefully, lowering its long neck and nuzzling affectionately against Sapphire.
"Hauunter?" Haunter's eyes lit up as it floated under Tropius's neck and yanked off a bunch of bananas.
Everyone: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
"Hauunter! (￣～￣)" Haunter munched on a banana and casually handed one to Lu Ye.
"Oh, thanks." Lu Ye took it, peeled it, and took a bite before suddenly realizing something was off. "Go apologize right now, Haunter!"
Realizing its mistake, Haunter plucked two more bunches of bananas and handed them to Ruby and Steven… Tropius crouched meekly on the ground, teary-eyed.
Sapphire laughed and patted Tropius on the head. "It's alright. I love eating Tororo's fruit too!"
Steven handed his banana back to Haunter and smiled. "Let's set up camp first."
"Hauunter! (*⊙~⊙)"
This was Lu Ye's first time riding a Flying-type Pokémon. The wind roared past, and although Tropius's wings blocked much of it, the gusts still made it hard to keep his eyes open.
"Teacher Lu! We're almost there!" Ruby, wearing goggles, shouted as he turned his head. Then, he froze. Lu Ye was wearing sunglasses, lying flat on Tropius's back, his expression calm as he stared ahead. "This reduces wind resistance, you idiot!"
Sapphire mimicked Lu Ye's position, yelling, "Watch out for the Pidgeotto up ahead!"
Ruby tilted his head, dodging the Pidgeotto that zoomed by. Teacher Lu really is a professional!
Steven, who had been standing upright, bent down after seeing the other three lying flat. "What are you all doing?" he asked curiously.
"Imitating Teacher Lu," the couple replied in unison.
Steven nodded thoughtfully but remained puzzled. And what exactly is Teacher Lu imitating?
Tropius landed on a rocky peak surrounded by forest. Primeape and Aipom darted through the trees, and a clear stream flowed nearby. Sapphire leapt off its back, cheering, "We're here!"
Still wearing his sunglasses, Lu Ye stepped onto the gravel, his legs wobbling. How could anyone willingly ride on Flying-types like this?! Taking a deep breath, he made a solemn vow. From now on, every Flying-type saddle must have a safety rail!
"Teacher Lu, are you alright?" Steven asked.
"I'm fine… just my first time."
Steven nodded knowingly. No wonder he used a prone riding style. He must have ridden high-speed Pokémon like Aerodactyl before.
"I'll set up the tent!" Sapphire volunteered. "Ruby, go scout the area!"
Sapphire's Blaziken helped pitch the tent quickly.
Lu Ye glanced at the meteorite in Steven's hand. "What if it's fake?"
"Even if it is," Steven said with a smile, "this trip would still be a pleasant journey."
As dusk fell, Eevee dozed off on Lu Ye's shoulder, Squirtle practiced its moves in the stream, and Haunter busied itself picking fruit from Tropius...
"Hauunter!" Haunter held an armful of fruit, nodding in satisfaction. Tropius, teary-eyed, remembered its trainer's warnings and dared not complain.
Lu Ye lay on the cool gravel, arms behind his head, gazing at the sky. Steven sat cross-legged, holding the meteorite. Suddenly, he smiled. "If it awakens now, it might even make it for dinner."
"I'll handle dinner," Lu Ye offered. "Cooking is one of my strong suits."
Steven nodded and retrieved a harmonica from his pocket. A red flash of light released a gleaming silver Metagross. A serene melody flowed from the harmonica.
As twilight deepened, a sudden water spout erupted from the stream, shattering a rock into pieces. Squirtle struck a triumphant bodybuilding pose. With dripping bangs, Lu Ye wore a complex expression.
Steven, who had narrowly avoided the splash, asked, "Are you okay, Teacher Lu?"
"Squirtle!" Lu Ye growled through gritted teeth.
"Squirtle! (≧ω≦)/" Squirtle happily raised its little paw. No need to thank me, Master. It's all part of my duty!
Sitting on a rock, Sapphire smiled. "Teacher Lu and his Pokémon have such a close bond." Suddenly, she froze. "Mr. Steven! Did you hear something?"
[Inorin Note:
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