Logan wasn't aware of what had happened in the Johto region.

The sea near Vermilion City's harbor was calm and peaceful. A salty breeze danced across the surface, ruffling Logan's hair as he lay sprawled on Dragonair's back. Hands folded behind his head, resting lazily against the elegant Pokémon's neck, Logan wore an expression of pure ease and contentment.

He hadn't asked Dragonair to summon storms or take to the skies. Why? Because Dragonair's flying speed was just... too slow.

The genetics of Pokémon were sometimes wildly bizarre. Dragonair, with its graceful and slender frame, would evolve into the far bulkier and powerful Dragonite—a transformation that resembled a sleek ballerina suddenly bulking up into a heavyweight bodybuilder. And despite being slow in flight now, Dragonair would, upon evolving, become one of the fastest flying dragons in the entire world.

Still, though Dragonair wasn't built for long-range aerial travel, it was the top choice for ocean-crossing among all trainers. Riding atop Dragonair as it glided across the waves was sheer luxury. Better yet, its movement wasn't powered by brute strength. It was a natural gift—Dragonair could manipulate sea winds and ocean currents to propel itself forward without wasting an ounce of stamina.

Many Pokémon possessed innate abilities like that. Mr. Mime could generate protective barriers using only a flick of its fingers. Garchomp could fly faster than the speed of sound. These weren't learned techniques—they were biological instincts, as natural as breathing or blinking.

But not every Pokémon could master their unique talents. Only those who had been rigorously trained by exceptional trainers—those who pushed themselves beyond their limits—could fully unlock their potential.

As Logan read through the Pokédex, he gained a solid understanding of Dragonair's various capabilities.

Professor Oak's life was marked by several monumental achievements. Pallet Town and the invention of the Pokédex were two of them. The Pokédex truly stood as one of his greatest creations—a compendium of a lifetime's research, brimming with collected knowledge and field data.

Logan had always found Professor Oak mysterious. As the world's foremost authority on Pokémon, the man had no shortage of online biographies and academic papers. Logan had read many of them. What shocked him most was this: despite his fame and the dangers of the world he studied, Oak had never once been in any life-threatening situation. Not even once.

It seemed impossible.

Logan had once lived at Professor Oak's lab for a month. He knew every inch of that place. The security systems were focused on theft prevention but weren't equipped to stop a serious intrusion. Anyone with hostile intent could have breached the lab.

And yet... no one ever had.

To Logan, this wasn't a coincidence. It wasn't that no one wanted to target Oak—it was that they couldn't.

Even that infamous incident with Team Rocket where Oak was "kidnapped"—Logan didn't buy it. He was convinced Oak had let himself be taken. Why? To get close to Mewtwo.

After months of theorizing, Logan was all but certain: Oak was searching for a stabilizer—a counterbalance—for Mewtwo.

The Pokédex clearly stated that Mewtwo was one of the most dangerous Pokémon in existence—violent, unstable, and overwhelmingly powerful. And who built the Pokédex? Professor Oak. Which meant he must have known about Mewtwo's creation and its temperament long before the world did.

Logan was convinced Oak had allowed himself to be captured to evaluate Mewtwo firsthand—and then find someone capable of keeping it under control.

That someone... was Logan.

And from the current state of their bond, it was clear: Oak had succeeded. Mewtwo and Logan were now inseparable—two beings acting as one.

Still, Logan had no reason to believe Oak meant him harm. In fact, he was certain Oak truly loved him like a grandson. Back when Logan had nearly died inside that Rocket lab, Oak's reaction had been one of pure, raw emotion. There had been no lies in that moment.

So although Logan harbored doubts about the old professor's secrets, he felt no fear or suspicion. Everyone had their private truths. If Oak didn't want to share his, Logan wasn't going to pry—at most, he'd do a little private investigation.

As Logan's mind drifted through these thoughts, he rolled over and sprawled out on Dragonair's smooth back. The Pokémon's scales were cool and silky, and it felt like lounging on a cloud made of water. Logan sighed in pure bliss.

There was no way he was letting Dragonair evolve.

Watching Dratini evolve into Dragonair had felt like seeing a cute little girl blossom into an elegant young woman. But the thought of Dragonair evolving into Dragonite? That felt more like a graceful dancer suddenly mutating into a buff, orange bouncer.

"Dragonair really is the most beautiful dragon... and the coolest, too."

Logan murmured the words aloud, grinning.

As if she understood, Dragonair lifted her graceful neck and let out a cheerful, melodic "Mii-uuu~"—a far cry from the roaring cries of other dragons.

Just then, Mewtwo's calm voice echoed in Logan's mind.

[Logan, we're being followed.]

Logan instantly snapped to alertness, sitting upright on Dragonair's back.

"Is it a person or a Pokémon?" he asked, eyes narrowing.

Sensing his shift in mood, Dragonair also became alert. Her cheerful swimming slowed, and the bright sky above began to cloud over—as if the atmosphere itself tensed in response.

[It's a Pokémon. Judging by the feeling... I believe it's Mew.]

"Mew? What's it doing following us? Don't tell me it's here for revenge?"

Logan's tone grew serious. If it were any other Pokémon, maybe he wouldn't be so worried. But being shadowed by a legendary Pokémon? That was no joke.

[I don't sense any hostility or anger. If anything, it's being cautious. Mew is barely within my detection range—it's deliberately keeping its distance, staying just out of full view.]

"Like it's flirting with the boundary of danger...?" Logan muttered. "Well, if it doesn't mean us harm, we won't provoke it. Still—keep monitoring. If Mew makes any sudden move, I want to know immediately."

[Understood. I'll keep a close watch.]

With that, Logan let himself relax again. The dark clouds overhead dispersed as Dragonair resumed her cheerful swimming, skimming the ocean waves toward Vermilion City once more.

Having Mewtwo as a psychic radar had its perks. Dangers could be detected—and avoided—long before they even surfaced.

Opening the Pokédex again, Logan activated its online features. He booked a room at the Vermilion City Pokémon Center, ordered a full set of custom wilderness survival gear from a local outfitter, and stocked up on large quantities of Pokémon food and high-end snacks.

Only then did he recline against Dragonair again, letting his eyes close in peaceful rest.

Before heading to Celadon City, he needed to fully restock—and now that he had money, there was no need to hold back.

--------------------

T/N:

Check out my Patreon

[email protected]/FictionalRealms784 - (Replace '@' with 'a')

for 5 Advanced Chapters absolutely FREE—or unlock 35 Advanced Chapters

--------------------