Chapter 71: Lighthouse Reflections and Confessions

The lights from the towering lighthouse flickered over the calm waves of the sea, casting an almost eerie glow across the horizon. I leaned against the iron railing, the salty breeze brushing my face. Somewhere down below, the beacon swung slowly, illuminating the water in regular intervals—Bill's little invention working hard to guide ships.

Behind me, I could hear the clattering of tools and the occasional murmur from Brock, Misty, and Bill as they fiddled with the machine. Ash stood to the side, Pikachu nestled comfortably in his arms, watching the endless sea. Raichu, my ever-joyful partner, came bounding over to me, his little paws thudding lightly against the stone terrace. His wide eyes gleamed in the dark as he jumped into my arms. 

"Hey, buddy," I said, ruffling his fur as he nuzzled into my chest. 

I shifted my gaze to Erin. She stood near the fence, staring out at the water like she was trying to solve a puzzle that only she could see. Her oversized green hoodie fluttered in the wind, the sleeves rolled up to keep them from dangling over the railing. Erin was always like this—calm, eerily calm. But I had learned by now that behind that calm, there was always something more.

I sauntered over to her, Raichu still in my arms, and leaned on the fence beside her. "Beautiful view. Beautiful girl." I let the words roll off my tongue, relaxed, but watching her reaction closely.

She turned her head slightly, her hazel eyes meeting mine, and said with that same unnerving calmness, "I want to jump."

I blinked, momentarily stunned. I scratched the back of my head, feeling Raichu's curious gaze on me. He pressed his paw against my face as if saying, 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. I sighed, a small smile playing on my lips. 

"Yeah, let's not do that," I said casually. "Here, hold Raichu instead." Without waiting for a response, I gently placed Raichu in her arms.

Raichu gave me a betrayed look, his eyes wide with confusion. He squirmed a little, glancing back at me as if to ask, 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?

I chuckled, reaching out to hug them both, ignoring Erin's slightly stiffened posture. Raichu, ever the affectionate one, licked my face in return, his tail wagging like crazy. I laughed, wiping away the slobber. "Erin," I said, still grinning, "let Raichu lick your face."

"No," she replied, the calmness in her voice blending with the awkward honesty that was so uniquely hers.

Raichu, still nestled in her arms, looked between the two of us, visibly confused now.

I shook my head, keeping my tone light. "You're going to have to get used to my Pokémon sooner or later. Start with Raichu, then we'll work up to Pidgeot."

"Why?" Erin asked, her brows furrowing slightly. 

"Because," I said, still keeping it casual, "I'm traveling with you for your sake. If it weren't for that, I'd already be in Vermilion City by now."

Erin nodded, her face unreadable as always. I took Raichu from her arms, then with a mischievous smile, brought him up to Erin's face. Raichu, catching on to the game, gave her a devilish grin and licked her cheek. 

Erin flinched but didn't pull away. A moment later, something in her expression shifted, and she leaned into it, almost enjoying the affection. Then she hugged me, surprising us both.

Raichu jumped from her arms to the floor, satisfied with his work. I chuckled at the sight. 

A sudden shout from Bill interrupted the moment. "I'm sending the signal—get ready!" His voice rang out, sharp against the steady hum of the lighthouse.

I glanced back toward the sea, just as the giant shadow appeared in the distance. It moved gracefully through the water, its silhouette dark and imposing. And then, the singing began. A low, melodic hum that vibrated through the air, beautiful and haunting all at once.

Brock turned to Misty with a grin. "Let's dance," he said, grabbing her hand before she could protest. They started twirling clumsily around the terrace, Misty's giggles breaking through the tension in the air. 

Bill and Ash, with Pikachu perched on his shoulder, watched the approaching Pokémon in awe, but my focus was on Erin.

I moved closer, leaning in just enough. "Shall we dance?" I asked, my voice soft, tinged with something a little more… intimate.

Erin blinked up at me, her expression as unreadable as ever. "What is dance?"

I slapped my forehead, resisting the urge to laugh. "You'll see." I gently took her hand, placing it around my arm, guiding her movements slowly. We moved in time to the hum of the Pokémon, our steps awkward at first. Slowly, though, our faces inched closer, and in one breathless moment, Erin kissed me. 

It wasn't soft or hesitant; her tongue flicked against mine, catching me by surprise. I kissed her back, letting the moment carry us until—

A sudden explosion rocked the terrace.

I jerked away, eyes scanning the sky. Two rockets fired from below the cliff, the screech of their launch cutting through the night. They tore through the air, slamming into the massive shadow that loomed over the water, pushing it back.

Bill's voice broke through the chaos. "Please, don't leave!" He shouted toward the Pokémon.

The giant figure let out a roar, its anger palpable. Hyper Beam shot from its mouth, a searing beam of light that ripped through the cliff where the rockets had been launched. Team Rocket blasted off, their cries echoing into the distance. The Hyper Beam arced, smashing into the lighthouse terrace, the stone crumbling beneath our feet.

"Everyone, get out of here!" I shouted. Ash grabbed Bill, and they bolted down the stairs. Brock and Misty were right behind them, Pikachu sprinting after Ash.

Raichu bounded to my side, his eyes wide with urgency. I grabbed Erin's hand, yanking her toward the stairs as the terrace began to give way. We ran, the ground trembling beneath us, Raichu following close behind.

Once we hit the bottom floor, I called out, "Bill, you good now?"

He nodded, still panting. "Yeah, let's get out to the cliff!"

We burst out of the lighthouse, just in time to see the giant Dragonite hover above the sea, its song fading into the night.