Chapter 114: Saffron City Arrival

The wind whipped through my hair as we soared high above the trees, the sky a pale canvas painted with soft hues of morning. Pidgeot's wings beat a steady rhythm beneath us, his powerful form slicing through the air with ease. Shadow, seated in front of me, muttered lazily, "I'm hungry."

From behind, Erin's soft voice echoed his words, calm as always. "I'm hungry too."

I pulled out three apples from the pocket of my black jacket. Infinite storage came in handy sometimes. I passed one to Erin, who was still hugging me tightly from behind, her slender arms wrapped around my waist. I handed the other to Shadow, who grabbed it with a halfhearted swipe, not bothering to open his eyes. I bit into my own, the crunch filling the momentary silence.

"We're making good time. If we keep this pace, we'll reach Saffron City before nightfall." My voice felt relaxed, though my mind was always moving, always calculating. Saffron Gym was the next target.

As we flew, something caught my eye. Balloons. Dozens of them floated lazily below us, drifting on the winds like oversized bubbles.

I took another bite, chewing slowly before speaking. "It's Butterfree's egg-laying season."

"Beautiful," Erin said, her tone soft, admiring the scene below. 

I nodded in agreement. Shadow shifted slightly, his small black form pressing against my chest as he dozed off again, content. I glanced at Erin. "Do you want to see it up close?"

She shook her head. "No, let's keep going."

I nodded, gripping Pidgeot's feathers a little tighter as we passed the balloons. The day dragged on, the sun dipping lower as the city finally came into view, its lights glowing against the twilight sky.

By the time we landed outside Saffron, it was dark. I slid off Pidgeot's back and returned him to his Pokéball. Erin was silent, her calm demeanor as steady as we walked through the city gates. The streets were quieter than I expected for such a bustling place, but that suited me just fine. No distractions.

We found a five-star hotel without any trouble. Once we were in the room, I tossed my bag onto the couch and stretched, feeling the weight of the day starting to settle in.

Erin sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes trailing after me.

I pulled Raichu's Pokéball from my belt and tossed it into the air. He appeared with a burst of light, landing in my arms, his body warm and familiar.

"Stay here," I said, placing him on the bed next to Erin. "I'll be back after I win the badge."

Raichu nodded, curling up beside her. Erin laughed softly as she rubbed his belly, her fingers tracing the lightning-bolt pattern on his fur. Shadow, still perched on my shoulder, licked my cheek, his form light as air.

I left the room, the door clicking shut behind me.

Saffron City at night was... alive. The neon lights flickered against the towering buildings, casting long shadows across the streets. Shadow sat quietly on my shoulder.

"This city is beautiful," I muttered, taking in the sight.

"Master," Shadow's voice had that same relaxed tone, "you should check your Pokémon moves. They reset to Gen 1."

I stopped dead in my tracks. "What?"

"Because of me," Shadow added, licking his paw as if this was no big deal. 

I glanced at him but decided not to push it. There were some things about Shadow I wasn't going to understand, not yet. 

"Master, I advise you to buy a Charmander egg from Horizon Shop. It will be helpful in the future," Shadow said lazily as we resumed walking.

I nodded, my mind already racing. "I'll get the points after the Indigo League. Then I'll collect all the starters, customize them… make them special."

Shadow nodded in agreement. "Which one do you want now?"

"I already have Venusaur, Pidgeot, Raichu, Gyarados, Alakazam, Dratini... Gengar, Primape, Nidoking are next. But I've been reconsidering... I want Charizard."

Shadow licked my cheek again as we neared the Saffron Gym.

Inside, the place felt eerily silent. I passed a group of people trying to bend spoons with their minds, their faces twisted in concentration. One of them noticed me and approached, a spoon clutched in his trembling hand. Shadow remained on my shoulder, watching with disinterest.

"Kid," the man began, his voice shaky, "you're here for the gym badge, but I'd advise—"

I didn't let him finish. I focused, reaching out with my mind. The spoon in his hand bent effortlessly. His eyes widened, dumbfounded, and he gestured for me to enter.

Inside, the battlefield was lit with an almost ghostly glow. Across from me stood Sabrina, her cold eyes locked on mine. A creepy doll floated in front of her, its eyes gleaming with unnatural light.

"If you lose, you'll have to play with me," the doll giggled, its voice grating against my nerves.

"We'll see," I said, my tone calm.

Sabrina stepped forward, her voice just as cold. "One match. One Pokémon each."

I nodded and tossed Alakazam's Pokéball onto the field. The flash of light revealed his tall, imposing figure, his eyes burning with determination. Sabrina's Kadabra materialized across from him, the air between them crackling with psychic energy.

The doll floated forward again, its voice taunting. "You have an Alakazam… I've been trying to make mine evolve for years."

"Let's begin," I said quietly.