Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Chapter 153

That was true even in an ordinary world, and in a world where practically everyone carried creatures capable of breathing fire, throwing electricity, or launching psychic attacks, it was even more inevitable.

A few hot-blooded young Trainers had apparently become too excited and started challenging each other to battles before the fireworks began.

At first the surrounding spectators were delighted to get some free entertainment and formed several circles around the battles.

Normally, that would have been harmless enough.

Tonight, however, there were far too many people packed into too small an area.

One poorly aimed Flamethrower suddenly shot beyond its intended target and headed straight toward a mother and her young daughter.

Joy’s expression changed instantly.

"Arcanine, move!"

Arcanine sprang forward—

but a yellow blur was already faster.

Beedrill appeared directly in front of the mother and child, raising one long stinger like a spear and cutting through the incoming Flamethrower.

The flames split apart around him.

When the attack finally dispersed, Beedrill remained hovering in front of them, dark scorch marks visible across his body.

His red eyes locked onto the Chimchar responsible, and even through the festival mask covering part of his face, the killing intent in that stare was enough to make Chimchar immediately retreat behind its Trainer.

Beedrill then looked back toward the little girl hiding behind her mother.

He gave her a small nod before returning to Mike.

Mike reached out and lightly tapped one of his stingers.

"Nicely done, my most loyal knight."

Beedrill quietly shook his head.

"Bee..."

[It’s what a good knight should do.]

Mike grinned and raised a thumb.

"Very impressive. You’re right up there with Master Gengar."

Gengar immediately approved of this comparison.

The night deepened, and the festival noise gradually settled again.

Joy took the Trainer who had nearly caused the accident aside for a rather unpleasant conversation.

Some time later, he reluctantly pulled out money, which Joy accepted before dividing it in half.

She gave one portion to the mother and daughter and brought the other to Mike.

Mike looked at the money.

"What’s this?"

"Fine money."

Joy handed it over.

"Half goes to the people who were nearly hit, and half goes to the Pokémon that protected them."

Mike accepted it without argument and passed it directly to Beedrill.

"You earned it. Keep it as spending money."

Beedrill accepted the cash, then immediately handed it to Gengar for safekeeping.

Joy checked the crowd again.

"I should get back to patrol. Next time you’re actually staying in Jubilife for a while, I’ll buy you dinner."

"Take care."

"You too."

Once Joy left, Mike pulled a Potion from his bag and treated the scorch marks across Beedrill’s body.

As he worked, he couldn’t help noticing how little Beedrill seemed bothered by the burns.

"You’ve gotten a lot tougher."

Mike gently applied the medicine.

"Most Bug types hate fire, but you don’t even flinch anymore."

Beedrill remained silent, and Mike didn’t push him.

That change could probably be traced back to their battle against the Pokémon Hunters.

After evolving during that fight, Beedrill had stopped showing the same instinctive fear toward flames.

Once the treatment was finished, Mike pulled out his Rotom Phone and switched it to video recording.

The festival was nearly ready.

Gradually, the surrounding conversations faded.

Then came a sharp whistle through the sky.

The first firework rose on a brilliant silver trail.

BOOM!

Golden light burst across the darkness, spreading outward like the petals of a giant flower before countless sparks began drifting toward the earth.

More fireworks followed immediately.

Scarlet, deep blue, silver-white, pink—one explosion after another painted enormous blossoms across the night sky, each flash illuminating the river and the thousands of people gathered along its banks.

The booming impacts rolled across Jubilife City hard enough to vibrate through Mike’s chest.

Reflections scattered across the water below, turning the river into a constantly shifting ribbon of color while the silhouettes of people and Pokémon along both banks appeared and vanished beneath each burst of light.

Glameow lay comfortably in Mike’s arms.

She had pushed her mask up onto the top of her head with one paw so it wouldn’t obstruct her view, and her crystal-blue eyes remained fixed on the sky.

Every new explosion of color reflected perfectly within them.

Mike found himself watching her for a moment.

Then even he became absorbed in the fireworks.

For once, nobody said anything.

Gengar leaned against the streetlamp with his bamboo staff resting across one shoulder, slowly chewing on a Toxic Orb as he watched fireworks for the first time in his life.

Beedrill hovered above Mike, the beating of his wings gradually slowing as his attention remained fixed on the sky.

Snivy gently took hold of Mike’s trouser leg and tilted her head upward.

For several minutes, the five of them simply watched.

...

Beautiful moments had an annoying habit of ending quickly.

Before long, the final fireworks faded from the sky, leaving behind cheers, wishes, excited conversations, and the lingering smell of smoke and sulfur.

Mike released a quiet breath.

He gently lowered Glameow’s mask back into place and put his Rotom Phone away.

"It’s getting late. Let’s head back."

Still carrying Glameow, he joined the crowd slowly moving toward the station.

As they walked, Mike found himself admiring the wide variety of yukata passing around him, each with different patterns, colors, and accessories.

They reached the station just in time for the final train of the night.

Mike and his Pokémon boarded, and the sky train departed Jubilife City on a route that would carry them back past Floaroma Town.

Gengar immediately returned to his favorite position with his round face pressed against the window, this time watching the thousands of city lights glowing beneath them.

"Gar—"

[The fireworks were pretty.]

"They really were."

Mike stroked Glameow’s head.

She looked up at him.

"Meow?"

[Can we watch them again tomorrow?]

Gengar, Snivy, and Beedrill all turned toward Mike as well.

He smiled and scratched gently beneath Glameow’s chin.

"Probably not tomorrow. Jubilife’s fireworks festival only happens once a year."

All four Pokémon visibly deflated.

Mike immediately continued.

"But that doesn’t mean we can’t see fireworks somewhere else."

Their attention returned to him.

"We still have a ridiculous number of cities ahead of us. Eventually we’ll stumble across another festival, and if we don’t, we can always look up the schedules and deliberately visit somewhere when they’re having one."

He smiled.

"How does that sound?"

"Gar—!"

[YEAH!] ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Sni~"

Beedrill nodded.

"Meow~"

With everyone reassured, the four Pokémon returned their attention to the window and began watching the nighttime scenery below.

Mike took out his phone.

The first person he sent the fireworks video to was Grandma.

[Mike: Grandma, I happened to catch Jubilife City’s fireworks festival tonight. Hope you enjoy the video. Wishing you good health, plenty of happiness, and many, many more years with us.]

A voice message arrived soon afterward.

[Grandma: Sweetheart, I saw it. Those fireworks are beautiful. They reminded me of the festivals your grandfather and I used to visit together when he was still here.]

Her voice remained warm as she continued.

[Grandma: Thank you for thinking of me. You need to stay safe out there too. Make sure you and Gengar and the others are eating properly. If you get tired, don’t force yourself to keep traveling. Come home and rest whenever you need to...]

Grandma continued for quite a while.

Mike listened to the entire message without skipping anything, then sent several replies of his own before opening the fan group and uploading the festival video there as well.

[GengarStoleMyDrumstick: Accidentally ran into Jubilife City’s fireworks festival tonight.]

[GengarStoleMyDrumstick: Hope everyone who watches this becomes rich, stays healthy, sends me lots of gifts, and—most importantly—stops asking when the next video is coming.]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: You went to the fireworks festival? Looks pretty good.]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: Your underwater equipment should arrive tomorrow.]

Mike stared at the second message.

[GengarStoleMyDrumstick: ...]

[Jordan: Hahaha. Mike literally just said to stop rushing him.]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: I didn’t rush him. I merely informed him that the equipment is arriving.]

[Mad Silence: Stop asking for updates? Not happening!]

[Juice Bro: YOU BASTARD, UPLOAD SOMETHING ALREADY!!!]

Then another message appeared.

[IDontWantOvertime: Update already. GengarSoulLeavingBody.jpg]

Mike stared.

[GengarStoleMyDrumstick: ???]

[GengarStoleMyDrumstick: YOU TOO?! Lucian, you normally don’t do this!]

[IDontWantOvertime: I’m working overtime while you’re out watching fireworks.]

[IDontWantOvertime: Look me in the eyes and tell me why that’s fair.]

[IDontWantOvertime: Enough excuses. Upload something!]

Even through the screen, Mike could practically feel the resentment radiating from Lucian’s messages.

He quickly locked the phone and shoved it into his pocket.

Terrifying.

If he stayed in that chat much longer, Lucian’s overtime misery might somehow become contagious!

-------

This is not a pokephilia fanfic! can’t say about human romance part but there is pokemon x pokemon romance happened from time to time, like nidoking and nidoran or beedrill later for example. dont count on gengar tho!

Sorry, got a message on how he was behave around glameow, is it really that sus ? i tho it was normal for a cat people.