Chapter 118: Celebi

Serena, Lillie and I safely made it to Fuchsia City after a full day of travelling on the Cycling Road. Thankfully we made it just as the sun was setting. Compared to Celadon City where it was just tall-rise building after building, the buildings in Fuschia seemed more centralized, with the Pokemon Center right smack dab in the middle of it.

To the south of this cul-de-sac like city were more rundown buildings, showing the age of old Fuschia. An old and out of commission train station could also be seen. Fortunately for travelers though, a more up to date airport and train station could be seen further to the north.

I guess they wanted to preserve what old Fuschia was like? If there was a modern term for it, I guess I would call it the slums, since every so often, a person would still pop out over there, only to quickly hide again.

Besides that, most buildings around us were either shops or restaurants. We would eat well no matter where we go.

One key interest beside that after we arrived was right before the Pokemon Center. It was a single grass park with one large sole pine tree soaring into the sky.

"This tree looks really grand.", Serena said, gauging the size of the tree. Compared to a normal pine tree, it was quite large.

"Well, according to Fuschia City, this tree has been with them since Fuschia City was built back in the old times. To the people, it's essentially their number one landmark. They also use it for festivities a lot. That's what this brochure says anyway.", Lillie said as she held out a pamphlet in her hand.

"It's been around for that long?", Serena replied with interest.

As Serena wondered that, I heard a giggle strike directly into my ears, which caused me to come to a stop. Looking up, I saw Mew, who I have not seen for a good while since we have obtained our badges from Celadon Gym.

"Heh, I guess Mew decided to see where we would go next.", I suddenly said, only to see Mew gently floating in the sky above, which drew Serena's and Lillie's attention.

"I was wondering what Mew was up to lately.", Serena responded.

"Mmm, it really has been a while.", Lillie also nodded her head.

As we talked for a bit, we saw Mew swerve around the giant pine tree, showing more interest in its eyes.

Unexpectedly, we saw the giant pine tree suddenly glow in a subtle white light, which caused the three of us to become surprised. And what came next immediately drew my attention.

"Bii!", A suddenly voice called out, as if it came from inside the tree.

"That voice...", I began to utter. For some reason, it felt very familiar. Unbeknownst to me, the silver wing and rainbow wing in my possession began to reveal a subtle glow as well, but it was so faint that I did not know at the time.

Before we could react, we saw a figure suddenly emerge from the giant pine tree. It's size was actually pretty small, and seemed to be around Mew in height. The one stark contrast though was the color. Mew was dominantly pink, while this creature was mostly green. This creature appeared as if it was the forest itself.

Among us three while I had my attention immediately drawn to this new Pokemon, Serena was dazed while Lillie had a stunned look in her eyes.

"...I'm not seeing things, am I?", Lillie uttered in shock, seeing this Pokemon appear out of the giant pine tree.

"If you are seeing this too, then I'm not dreaming either.", Serena also responded in shock.

"...This Pokemon, it's Celebi, isn't it?", Lillie decided to ask, after pausing for a moment to make sure what she was currently seeing was right.

"Yeah. It looks like this tree holds some sentimental value to Celebi.", I calmly responded with a nod of my head.

That's right. The green forest-like creature was indeed the mythical Pokemon much similar to Mew, Celebi. Known as the Guardian of the Forest, it was the very same Pokemon that appeared in the ancient book Giovanni gave to me.

If I had to take a guess, Celebi was likely resting in this particular pine tree, and sensing Mew, it came out to see Mew?

Thinking that, the subtle white glow on the tree vanished, completely revealing Celebi. Celebi looked around, only to spot Mew further up in the sky.

"Bii?", Celebi asked, seeing Mew. As to whether Mew had known about Celebi before this, I had no idea.

"Mew.", Mew responded, as if it was answering Celebi's question, only to start swerving around more. Even then, Celebi stayed wary.

"Mew~", Mew responded happily, seeing Celebi not leave in the sky. Wanting to play around, Mew quickly swerved toward Celebi, which caught Celebi off guard.

"Bii!", Celebi replied, somewhat angrily seeing Mew approach Celebi and the giant tree.

The moment Mew reached Celebi, we suddenly saw Celebi glow white, only to completely vanish from sight, along with its presence.

Seeing this stunned us as well, we could no longer detect Celebi anywhere.

"Mew...", Mew replied a bit sad, seeing Celebi no longer there.

"Haha, Celebi's a bit finicky, ain't it?", I laughed seeing Celebi completely vanish while Mew became dejected.

However before we could do anything, light began to distort before us. To me specifically. Right in front of the tree only a few feet away, we saw Celebi reappear after that sudden glow of light. Seeing this stunned me again, more so as Celebi turned its head my way.

"Bii?", Celebi questioned as it looked at me. I saw its gaze shift a bit, only to look downward and across. Seeing this caused me to blink for a moment.

"Are you perhaps...", I began to utter softly to not disturb Celebi too much. But seeing Celebi not flee, I could only think of one thing as Celebi looked downward a bit.

I reached into my coat, which kept my badge case and a few important items on it. Rummaging around, I felt two soft feathers and slowly took them out.

Surprisingly, Serena, Lillie and I saw the Silver Wing and Rainbow Wing release a gentle glow, we became surprised.

"Bii!", Celebi responded happily the moment I took these two feathers out. Before we could do anything, Celebi started to swerve around us. Unfortunately, Celebi's happiness only lasted for a brief moment before we saw Celebi release a white glow.

This time Celebi vanished entirely, along with its complete presence. We could no longer sense Celebi, and it seemed Mew was quick to pick up on it.

"Mew...", Mew responded, seeing Celebi now gone. Still, it worked its way downward to where the three of us were. Taking one last look at the tree, Mew arrived in front of me. Reaching out my hand, Mew nuzzled against it.

"Haha, I guess Celebi is shy.", I responded with a laugh. As I did, the faint glow of the two feathers also dimmed down. "Would you like to stay here for a while to see if Celebi comes back, Mew?", I decided to ask.

"Mew!", Mew said, responding happily as it bobbed its head a bit.

"I really didn't think we would encounter Celebi like that...", Lillie uttered softly.

"Yeah. I guess it just like this particular place very much.", Serena also said as she nodded her head.

"We have yet to reach Celebi's actual home in Johto, so until then we may not see Celebi again.", I also said, unsure.

"Hehe, you were keeping watch out for us too, right Mew?", Serena asked as she looked at Mew.

"Mew.", Mew responded as if it had answered Serena.

Now that I think about it, there were other people around us, going about their daily business, or also taking a break near the tree as well, but they didn't seem to notice the event that look place. Seeing this, I rubbed Mew again.

"Thank you for that Mew.", I said, only to look back at Serena and Lillie.

By now the sun had set and it was now nighttime.

"Shall we go check in? There are a couple places to look at, and one I'm most excited for which is the Safari Zone. You also said the Fuchsia Gym underwent a remodeling, right Lillie?", I looked toward Lillie.

"That's right. According to the pamphlet Fuschia City had recently removed its gym to a more modern one. It used to be held at Gym Leader Koga's private mansion on the outskirts. It's now being used as his own private house.

"Is that so? I was wondering what that large building toward the north was.", I said, only to spot a giant domed building to the north, which still had the Safari Zone way to the the north of it.

"Yeah. We should go check in and register for the gym. I can't wait!", Serena replied happily.

With that said, the three of us felt a hidden presence vanish, which I presume was Mew's barrier. Being able to use such a barrier was really handy.

After it vanished, we proceeded inside the Pokemon Center nearby, only to see it packed with Trainers and Pokemon alike. A stark difference from how we saw Lavender Town.

*

I thought Koga's mansion was silly, so I took it out.

Power stones please?