Return Journey

"Who would have thought we'd gain so much today?" After recording some data on Mega Blastoise, Professor Sycamore set down his pen and looked up at Gary beside him. "I really have to thank you for your help this time, Gary."

"You're welcome." After hearing Professor Sycamore's thanks, Gary shook his head. "I should be thanking you, Professor, for giving Blastoise the chance to Mega Evolve."

"You two don't need to keep thanking each other. You helped each other achieve this. Perhaps this is fate's arrangement."

Professor Rowan, standing nearby, spoke after seeing them thank one another.

"That's true." Hearing this, Professor Sycamore sighed with emotion. "If I hadn't suddenly come back to see my teacher today, I might have missed this opportunity."

"Sometimes fate works in mysterious ways." Gary smiled softly.

After chatting with Professor Rowan and Professor Sycamore for a while, Gary suddenly remembered something. He handed the Key Stone he had been clutching tightly to Professor Sycamore.

Facing Professor Sycamore's puzzled gaze, Gary said, "Professor, now that the experiment is over, it's time to return this Key Stone to its rightful owner."

After hearing Gary's words, Professor Sycamore immediately understood. He pushed the Key Stone Gary had handed over back toward him.

"Professor, you..." Seeing Professor Sycamore's action, Gary had a faint guess in his heart.

"Thanks to you today, Gary, I was able to make such a great discovery. So take this Key Stone as payment. It's yours."

Professor Sycamore placed the Key Stone in Gary's palm as he spoke.

"But..."

Before Gary could say anything further, Professor Sycamore added another sentence.

"No refusing."

Seeing Professor Sycamore's expression that brooked no refusal, Gary could only "accept it through tears." Of course, he did not forget to offer his thanks.

Seeing Gary accept it, Professor Sycamore's face gained a hint of a smile.

"That's more like it."

After the two had finished speaking, Professor Rowan stepped forward. "All right, it's getting late. We should head back to the research institute."

Recording the data on Mega Blastoise had taken Gary and the others a long time, and dusk was now approaching.

Seeing the sky gradually darken, Gary and Professor Sycamore nodded together.

Afterward, Professor Rowan warmly invited Gary to stay the night. Since it was already late, Gary agreed.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Gary bid farewell to Professor Rowan and Professor Sycamore.

"Thank you for your hospitality last night, Professor." Before leaving, Gary did not forget to thank Professor Rowan.

"You're welcome." Professor Rowan still wore his stiff expression as he replied.

"Gary, come visit the Kalos Region when you have time. I'll treat you well," Professor Sycamore added from the side.

"I will." Gary had already planned to visit the Kalos Region, so he agreed.

"Then I'll be on my way."

After accepting Professor Sycamore's invitation, Gary took the initiative to say goodbye.

Then, under the watchful eyes of Professor Rowan and Professor Sycamore, he gradually disappeared into Sandgem Town.

"All right, we should head back too." Watching Gary vanish from sight, Professor Rowan spoke to Professor Sycamore beside him.

"Okay." Professor Sycamore immediately agreed. "There happens to be something I need to ask you about, Teacher."

As their voices faded, Professor Rowan and Professor Sycamore closed the research institute's doors and walked inside together.

After leaving Sandgem Town, Gary began his journey home.

To save time, Gary did not choose to travel by ship. Instead, he chose the fastest method: flying back to the Kanto Region.

The bustling Jubilife City naturally had an airport. After purchasing the nearest flight back to Viridian City, Gary set off on his journey home.

After an uneventful flight, Gary's plane arrived safely and on time at its final destination: Viridian City.

Following the crowd off the plane, Gary looked at the familiar surroundings before him, and a nostalgic expression appeared on his face.

"It's really been a long time since I came back!"

Ever since he had gone to challenge the Johto Region, Gary had never returned. He could not help feeling a little emotional.

Just as Gary was sighing to himself while walking out of the airport, a shout from ahead pulled him from his homesick reverie.

"Hey, Gary! I'm over here!"

Gary looked in the direction of the shout and quickly spotted a healthy-looking elderly man at the exit, waving and calling out to him.

Without a doubt, the person calling out to Gary was his grandfather, Professor Oak.

Seeing his grandfather, Gary was a little surprised.

After walking over to Professor Oak, Gary asked curiously, "Grandpa, why did you come here?"

"I knew your flight schedule, Gary. I happened to have nothing to do, so I came to pick you up." Professor Oak smiled as he looked at Gary.

After hearing Professor Oak's words, Gary felt a warm sensation in his heart, something he had never experienced in his previous life.

"By the way, Grandpa, here's the information you wanted." Gary had not forgotten the purpose of his trip, so he prepared to take the materials from his waist pouch and hand them to Professor Oak.

"Don't be in such a hurry. We can discuss that after we get back to the research institute. For now, let's go home first." Professor Oak stopped Gary and said.

"Okay."

And so, Gary followed Professor Oak, who had come to pick him up, and drove back toward Pallet Town.

After returning to the research institute, Gary handed the materials he had brought back to his grandfather, then told him about some of the things that had happened during his time in the Sinnoh Region.

"I never expected something like that to happen!" After hearing about Gary's experiences, Professor Oak became interested in Pokémon Mega Evolution as well.

"You'll have to show Grandpa sometime!"

Seeing his grandfather focus on Pokémon Mega Evolution, Gary was speechless for a moment, but he still nodded and agreed.

Just as Gary had rested for a short while, he suddenly heard a burst of hurried footsteps outside.

Very soon, the research institute's door was violently pushed open, revealing a figure.