After putting the Dark Ball safely away, Xia You leaned against the soft pillow and looked out the window.
Outside, stars already dotted the sky. The clear, bright moon faced the window, casting a streak of silvery moonlight onto his bed.
Soft snoring came from near his feet. Turning to look, he found Jolteon lying on the blanket, already fast asleep.
Beside Jolteon, Dratini had curled up snugly against Jolteon's belly and was sleeping just as soundly.
Perhaps drowsiness was contagious, or perhaps the warm, reassuring room had made Gengar irresistibly sleepy too. Gengar let out a huge yawn, wished Xia You good night, and slipped into the shadows.
Everything fell silent. In an instant, it felt as though he was the only one left in the world.
With a soft smile, Xia You switched off the light and picked up his phone from the bedside table.
Several new messages appeared on the screen. He opened his messaging app and tapped the first one.
It was from Misty. After leaving Pallet Town, she, Ash, and Brock had crossed the Indigo Plateau and reached the Johto Region. Their first stop was Elm Laboratory in New Bark Town, where they intended to hand the mysterious GS Ball, which had left both Oak and Ivy stumped, to Professor Elm for research.
Judging by the timestamp, the message had been sent at noon. By now, Ash should have reached New Bark Town and successfully registered for the Silver Conference.
As for Brock, whom Misty had mentioned in her message...
Apparently, just as in the anime, when Ash and Misty returned from the Orange Islands, Tracey had come along to Kanto. After meeting his idol, Professor Oak, he had volunteered to stay at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Brock, meanwhile, had joined the journey once again, reuniting