Chapter 28: The Earth Is Round If We Keep Walking, We’ll Get There
The video continued playing.
Raina stood by the ocean, holding the Water Stone. After shouting in the direction where Lapras had disappeared, she lowered her head and looked at the blue-glowing stone in her palm, then at Eevee resting on top of her head.
"Eevee."
"Eevee?"
"Why do you think... it gave me this?"
Eevee leaped down from her head and landed on her shoulder, gently brushing its tail against her cheek.
"Eevee, Eevee."
Raina thought for a moment before smiling.
"That’s true. Since it accepted my blanket, that means we’re already friends."
She carefully placed the Water Stone in a separate compartment of her backpack and patted the bag.
"All right, let’s go! Onward to Vermilion City!"
Eevee jumped back onto her head and swung its tail forward like a navigator pointing out their route.
"Eevee!"
"That direction leads back to Cerulean City."
"...Eevee."
Eevee silently pointed its tail in the opposite direction.
[Regular-Seat Chat Group]
"Eevee, you pointed in the wrong direction just now, didn’t you?!"
"Eevee: The Earth is round. If we keep walking, we’ll eventually get there."
"The person above is a genius."
"Raina understands Eevee far too well! Hahahaha! It only had to raise its tail for her to know the direction was wrong."
"So whose fault was it that they got lost yesterday?"
"I vote for Eevee."
"One vote for Eevee +1."
"+2."
"+10,086."
[VIP Chat Group]
[Dawn]: Hahahaha! Eevee pointing the wrong way and then pretending nothing happened is so adorable!
[Piplup]: Piplup, Piplup! Agreed!
[May]: But that Water Stone... Raina already has an Eevee, and now she’s received a Water Stone. Does that mean she plans to evolve Eevee into Vaporeon?
[Max]: May, Evolution shouldn’t be forced. I don’t think Eevee wants to evolve right now.
[Professor Oak]: Hmm... I’m more interested in that Lapras. Judging by the quality of the Water Stone it gave her, it definitely wasn’t an ordinary wild Pokémon.
[Cynthia]: Professor Oak is right. Lapras rarely approach the shoreline of their own accord unless...
[Diantha]: Unless it came because of Raina?
[Lance]: It may have sensed something from her.
[Lorelei]: Water-type Pokémon possess a natural sensitivity to Water-type energy. Perhaps that Lapras sensed a unique presence surrounding Raina.
[Bruno]: Or perhaps it was simply fate! All of you always make things more complicated than they need to be!
The scene continued.
Vermilion City Harbor.
An enormous ocean liner was docked beside the port, its horn releasing a deep, rumbling blast.
The pier bustled with activity. Trainers dressed in clothing from various regions moved through the crowds. Some exchanged information about Pokémon, while others transported cargo. Several sailors in uniform leaned against the railings and smoked pipes.
The faint scents of sea salt and machine oil drifted through the air.
Raina walked along a street beside the docks with Eevee lying on top of her head. The girl and Pokémon looked around curiously in every direction.
"Vermilion City is so lively..."
Raina’s eyes darted from one sight to another.
"Wow! There’s so much delicious food!"
A middle-aged sailor passing nearby noticed her excitement and couldn’t help laughing.
"Is this your first time in Vermilion City, little miss?"
Raina nodded.
"Mm-hmm! I’m here to challenge Vermilion Gym!"
The sailor raised his thumb approvingly.
"You’ve got ambition! Vermilion Gym’s Leader, Lt. Surge, is no easy opponent. His Electric-type Pokémon have sent plenty of challengers home in tears."
Raina’s eyes lit up.
"He sounds really strong!"
The sailor paused.
"You’re not afraid?"
"Of course I’m afraid!"
Raina answered as though it were obvious.
"But being afraid and choosing whether to battle are two completely different things!"
The sailor burst into hearty laughter.
"That’s the spirit! I hope you win your first match!"
He then pointed toward the harbor.
"By the way, there’s a restaurant near the docks that makes incredible seafood risotto. Trainers receive a twenty-percent discount, so remember to try it!"
"Thank you, sir!"
Raina waved goodbye.
Eevee also raised one paw and waved.
[Regular-Seat Chat Group]
"Being afraid and choosing whether to battle are two different things... She’s starting to sound more and more like her father."
"Can someone please explain who her father actually is? I’ve been confused this entire time."
"Her father is Asher. He appeared several times in the earlier videos, but if you ask me to explain exactly who he is... I can’t."
"That sailor was so nice! Are the sailors in the real Vermilion City that friendly too?"
"I’m from Vermilion City, and I can confirm it. They aren’t just friendly—they’ll drag you out for beer and tell stories about shipwrecks until sunrise."
"...Never mind, then."
[VIP Chat Group]
[Lt. Surge]: Hahahaha! That little girl has guts! I like her!
[Ash]: Lt. Surge! Do you remember me?!
[Lt. Surge]: Oh! Ash! Of course I remember you! Your Pikachu performed pretty well back then.
[Pikachu]: Pika, pika! Proud!
[Lt. Surge]: But my Raichu is much stronger than it was then! When are you coming back for another battle?
[Ash]: I definitely will!
[Brock]: Lt. Surge hasn’t changed at all. The moment he sees a Trainer with fighting spirit, he becomes excited.
[Lt. Surge]: Of course! A Trainer without fighting spirit might as well go fishing!
[Iris]: Aaaaaah, all the street food looks delicious! Is the food around Vermilion City secretly the true focus of this episode?
[Elesa]: Food is part of traveling too. Still, Raina looks quite stylish in that traveling outfit. She would appear even better on camera with a different hairstyle.
[Skyla]: There you go again, Elesa.
[Elesa]: It’s called professional instinct, thank you very much.