"This flight will shortly be landing at Kanto Airport. All passengers, please fasten your seat belts and remain seated."
"The next shuttle bus to Viridian City will depart at seven o'clock sharp." I listened to the airport announcements.
Since there were no roads near Pallet Town, the quickest route home was to take a shuttle bus to nearby Viridian City, then walk the rest of the way.
I looked at the airport clock. It was six fifteen, with forty-five minutes left before the bus departed.
"Pikachu, are you hungry? Why don't we have dinner first? We've got a long bus ride ahead." I looked at the only Pokémon I had left, the Pikachu who had been through life and death with me.
"Pika!"
Just as we were looking for a restaurant to settle down in, three familiar figures appeared in front of me.
"Hey, twerp! Long time no see. Didn't expect to run into you here. What happened to you? You seem like a completely different person."
"Ha, do I...?"
"Look, we're executives now." Jessie pointed at her uniform.
"And Team Rocket has turned over a new leaf. We're working with the Aether Foundation to help abandoned and mistreated Pokémon," James added.
"That's right, meow!"
"Anyway, we've got work to get to. Let's catch up another time."
It was Team Rocket. Those small-time crooks from back then had finally made something of themselves and become executives.
After dinner, I boarded the bus to Viridian City. Before long, I drifted off to sleep...
"No! Stop! My Charizard can't battle anymore!"
"Kingdra, use Hydro Pump!"
"Nurse Joy, please save my Charizard!"
"I'm sorry. Hydro Pump hit the flame on his tail directly and extinguished it completely. There's nothing we can do."
"Aaaah!!!"
It had been a dream. I woke up on the