Chapter 116: Breakfast Plans and Goals

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the spread of food in front of me, letting the savory scent of eggs and toast fill my lungs. Shadow sat on his own chair across from me, tearing into his food with a relaxed, deliberate pace. His red eyes glowed faintly, that same unsettling aura surrounding him like it always did. Raichu, on the other hand, devoured his plate with reckless abandon, tail flicking with excitement as he shoved his face into the bowl. Erin, calm as ever, sat quietly beside them, her plate untouched for the moment. 

I took a slow bite of toast, chewing deliberately, before speaking with a relaxed tone, "Let's finish breakfast, then we'll go. Unless you want to roam around town?"

Erin lifted her head, her hazel eyes steady, calm as always. "Where are we going?" Her tone was soft, almost indifferent. 

I smirked slightly, wiping my mouth with a napkin. "Lavender Town. There's a Pokémon tower there that's more of a burial site for deceased Pokémon. A lot of Ghost-types haunt the place."

Shadow's ears twitched, his electric-blue streaks flashing for a brief moment as he continued eating without a care. Raichu's ears perked up at the mention of Ghost-types, but he stayed focused on his food. Erin, however, gave me a slight glance, her voice steady. "You're still planning to catch Gastly?"

I took another bite, leaning back again. "No," I said through the food in my mouth. "I'm going for Gengar."

She nodded quietly, as if it was the most normal thing in the world, her fork finally dipping into her food. I watched her from the corner of my eye.

Shadow let out a small grunt of satisfaction as he finished his meal, stretching lazily on his chair. I took one final bite, glancing at Erin. "After Lavender Town, we'll head to Celadon City," I continued, keeping my tone light. "There's a forest along the way where I can evolve Dratini. Might catch a few new Pokémon too."

Erin nodded, chewing her food slowly. No objections, no questions. Just compliance, like always. 

I stood, tossing a few bills onto the table to cover our breakfast. "Alright," I said, slinging my stylish black bag over my shoulder. Shadow hopped onto my shoulder, light as ever despite the storm of energy crackling within him. Raichu jumped into Erin's arms, and she caught him instinctively.

We stepped outside the restaurant into the crisp morning air. The city bustled around us, but my mind was already elsewhere—on Lavender Town, on Gengar, on what lay ahead. 

"Pidgeot," I muttered, tossing a Pokéball into the air. The ball snapped open with a bright flash, and Pidgeot soared into the sky with a powerful beat of its wings. The rush of air from its wings brushed past us, and I could feel Erin's slight shiver beside me.

Raichu disappeared into its Pokéball in Erin's hand, and I mounted Pidgeot, Shadow perched in front of me. Erin climbed up behind me, her small arms wrapping around my waist, hugging me tight as Pidgeot's wings stretched wide, catching the wind. 

"Let's fly," I muttered, and with a single motion, Pidgeot shot into the sky.

The day passed in a blur of clouds and wind, the landscape beneath us shifting from vibrant green to eerie shades of grey as night fell. The air grew colder, and the distant silhouette of Lavender Town came into view, like a ghost town carved out of the dark. The Pokémon Tower loomed in the distance, its spires reaching for the sky, casting long shadows over the ground.

I felt Erin's grip tighten around me as we descended, her fear creeping into her touch, though her face stayed as calm as ever. Shadow, on the other hand, smiled—a rare sight—his eyes glowing as the town's aura drew closer.

We landed just outside the town, the wind settling around us as I dismounted, Shadow hopping off my shoulder with a quiet thud. I glanced back at Erin, her arms still clutching me, her face as unreadable as always. 

"Ready?" I asked, my voice low, barely more than a whisper. 

She nodded once, though I could feel the tension in her grip. 

Shadow's smile widened, his eyes flickering as he looked toward the towering spires of the Pokémon Tower. I smirked. Tonight was going to be interesting.