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From this point on, Kai had two possible routes to choose from.
After spending so much time earlier in Rustboro City, the original travel plan he'd made when first arriving in Hoenn was no longer practical.
Now standing near the very center of the region, no matter which Gym he challenged next, he'd eventually be forced to backtrack in the opposite direction wasting a considerable amount of time in the process.
After thinking it over and discussing it with Misty, Kai made his decision.
They would head south first to Slateport City, then take a ferry to the southwestern island and challenge the Dewford Gym.
Once that was done, they'd return to face the Petalburg Gym, effectively wrapping up their journey across western Hoenn.
Misty had no objections at all. With their plan settled, the two of them left Mauville City and followed the main road south.
As they traveled, the cityscape gradually faded into the distance. Tall buildings gave way to dense forest, and before long, greenery stretched as far as the eye could see.
Slateport City was a long distance from Mauville. Between them lay the famous Seaside Cycling Road, a massive bridge spanning the ocean. If they tried to cross it on foot alone, it would take at least two full days longer if they factored in meals, rest, and camping overnight.
Still, neither of them complained.
That was the nature of traveling. As long as you kept moving forward, you'd eventually reach your destination.
They spent half a day passing through the forest, then soon arrived at the coastline. Standing there and looking out, they saw the enormous bridge stretching endlessly across the sea, winding toward the horizon as if it vanished into the sky.
"That bridge is huge…" Misty muttered, staring in awe. "How far do we even have to go to reach the other side?"
Since it was his first time here as well, Kai could only shrug.
Fortunately, beneath the bridge was a bicycle rental shop. Travelers could rent bikes at one end and return them at the other, allowing them to cross the bridge quickly and with far less effort.
Naturally, they didn't hesitate.
They paid a deposit, rented two bikes, and set off.
Honestly, the shop owner was a business genius rent on one side, return on the other, and vice versa. With a bridge like this, he'd never be short on customers. As long as the bridge stood, he'd be set for life.
When Kai mentioned this to Misty, she laughed softly.
"What, Kai? Are you jealous? If you ever get tired of traveling, you could open a place like this. I'd totally come work for you."
If one thought she was just joking, they'd be mistaken.
What she really meant by "I'd come work for you" was simple:
No matter what you choose to do in the future, I'll stay with you.
Unfortunately, Kai completely missed the subtext. He shook his head instead. "Spending my whole life guarding a bridge? No thanks. I'd rather live alone on a deserted island than waste my time like that."
Once they got onto the bridge, their speed increased dramatically.
The salty sea breeze blew gently against their faces as they rode side by side.
They passed countless pedestrians and Trainers along the way. To accommodate travelers, wide rest areas had been built every few kilometers along the bridge.
Since it connected two major cities, the bridge was always busy with Trainers. Thanks to those rest stops, even battles could be seen happening right there on the bridge space used to its absolute limit.
Some Trainers tried to flag Kai and Misty down for a match, but Kai had no intention of still being on the bridge after nightfall. He simply shook his head and rode past them without stopping.
It turned out to be the right call.
By the time the sun dipped low and the sky turned gold, they finally reached the far end of the bridge and stepped back onto solid ground.
Anyone who'd stopped to battle behind them would now have to fight exhaustion, strong sea winds, and darkness just to avoid spending the night on the cold bridge.
The thrill of battle earlier would be paid for with misery later.
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Slateport City was a harbor where humans, Pokémon, and nature coexisted in harmony.
Located in southern Hoenn, it was a coastal city that had first flourished thanks to clean water and abundant food, making it a popular marketplace. Over time, it evolved into a full-fledged port city, with ships constantly coming and going.
After more than a day of travel, Kai and Misty arrived on the morning of the third day.
From afar, they could already see a towering lighthouse in the southern part of the city. Nearby stood the famous Oceanic Museum, and not far from that, a grand Pokémon Contest Hall.
Entering the city, the two headed toward the harbor when suddenly, a group of familiar figures appeared on the opposite side of the street.
Looking closer, Kai spotted a boy in a blue jacket and red cap, a cheerful grin on his not-so-bright face, with a Pikachu perched on his shoulder.
That outfit.
That backpack.
That Pikachu.
If it wasn't Ash Ketchum, who else could it be?
Walking beside him were three others. The tallest was the squint-eyed menace—Brock. And next to him were a boy and a girl: a brother and a sister.
May and Max.
The same siblings Kai had met back at the Petalburg Gym.
So they'd all ended up traveling together after all.
Just as Kai and Misty recognized them, Ash spotted them too.
"Kai! Misty!?"
His eyes lit up as he rushed over. Pikachu squealed happily and leapt straight from Ash's shoulder into Misty's arms.
"What a coincidence," Kai said, giving Ash a quick look. "When did you get here?"
"I've been here for a few days!" Ash said proudly. "And I already have two Badges!"
He pulled his jacket aside, revealing the Stone Badge and the Knuckle Badge. Then, before Kai could respond, Ash spun around and glared at Misty.
"Misty! What's the big idea?! Didn't you say you were staying at the Cerulean Gym and not traveling with me anymore?! So why are you here with Kai?!"
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
(Just remove the - hyphen to access normally)
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!