Sunyshore City is a famous port city in the Sinnoh region and a crucial gateway to the Pokémon League. Many of its buildings are constructed on narrow capes, and to compensate for the lack of space, the city uses solar panels as roads, which also provide energy to the city.
"Lenka, what are your plans now?" Rex asked after he and Lenka exited the airport.
"I plan to go home first. After all, I'm practically penniless right now," Lenka said somewhat helplessly.
"Oh, do you need me to lend you some Alliance Coins so you can take a cab home?"
"No, no need, thank you, Rex. My house isn't far from here. I can walk back."
"That's good to hear. Well, let's part ways here then. Stay in touch," Rex waved his phone and then waved goodbye to Lenka.
Though they had only known each other for less than a day, Lenka already considered Rex a good friend. So when it came time to say goodbye, she felt a bit sad.
After Lenka walked away, Rex began planning his route.
Although Sunyshore City and Sandgem Town, where Professor Rowan's lab is located, are not very close, with the help of Swellow, Rex estimated it would only take about half a day of flying to reach the destination if they went in the right direction.
To prepare for the upcoming long journey, Rex decided to find a restaurant first and fill his stomach before setting off on his adventure in the Sinnoh region.
Soon, Rex found a well-known local restaurant. Since it was an open-air restaurant, Rex chose a quiet spot and released his Pokémon from their Poké Balls.
Having been inside their Poké Balls for quite a while, the Pokémon stretched out their bodies once released. Rex then took out some Pokéblocks, distributing them according to each Pokémon's appetite. Perhaps due to hunger, the Pokémon happily ate the Pokéblocks.
Shortly after, the food Rex ordered was served. After taking a few bites, Rex found that although the Sinnoh region's cuisine was different from Hoenn's, it had a unique flavor that whetted his appetite.
Whether it was due to hunger or the fact that the food suited his taste, by the time Rex left the restaurant, his stomach was completely full, to the point of being a bit overstuffed.
"Swellow, let's get going." After satisfying his hunger, Rex returned all his Pokémon to their Poké Balls and then directed Swellow to fly towards Sandgem Town.
During the flight, Rex observed the distribution of Pokémon species, which was quite different from that in Hoenn. Most of the Pokémon flying in the sky were Starly, with a few Staravia as well. There were also some common Pokémon like Hoppip, Yanma, and Beautifly, and Rex even spotted a few solitary Combee, though they were rare.
Initially, Rex considered catching some of the Combee, but after noticing the ornaments on their bodies, he realized they were most likely owned by other trainers. This confirmed what Yuli had mentioned—wild Combee were indeed rare in the Sinnoh region, and most were raised by people.
Although a bit disappointed, Rex knew he would have to take things one step at a time and wait until he reached Floaroma Town to assess the situation further.
After flying for over two hours, Rex had Swellow land by a lake for a rest. Despite Swellow's abundant stamina, flying at high speed for such a long time had made it sweat.
Since time wasn't a pressing issue, Rex decided to let Swellow rest for a while before continuing, ensuring they had enough energy to handle any unexpected situations.
Being in a wild area, Rex and Swellow's arrival startled some wild Pokémon, making them wary. However, sensing Swellow's strength, most Pokémon chose to avoid confrontation. Rex noticed a Bibarel hiding in the reeds, watching them closely, and a few Starly observing them curiously from the branches. A Roselia and Cherubi in the grass trembled in fear whenever Swellow's sharp gaze swept over them.
For most wild Pokémon, as long as Rex and Swellow didn't pose a threat, they wouldn't provoke any trouble either. This was their way of surviving.
Rex didn't disturb them for long. After letting Swellow rest for about half an hour, they continued on their journey. As a gesture of goodwill for intruding on their territory, Rex left some basic Pokéblocks as a gift.
Once Rex and Swellow departed, the wild Pokémon emerged from their hiding spots and cautiously approached the Pokéblocks Rex had left behind. After some inspection, they began to eat them. For these wild Pokémon, the Pokéblocks were a rare feast, not only filling their stomachs but also being quite tasty.
"Excuse me, do you know where Professor Rowan's lab is?" Rex asked as he had Swellow land on a clearing in Sandgem Town. Coincidentally, a girl riding a bicycle passed by, so Rex asked her for directions.
"Hi, I'm Dawn. To get to Professor Rowan's lab, just follow this road, and you'll reach it soon," Dawn replied, stopping her bike and pointing in a direction.
"Thank you, Dawn. I'm Rex. Nice to meet you." Rex responded politely, not realizing that the girl he had randomly met was Ash's travel companion in the Sinnoh region. He remained polite without being overly enthusiastic.
"Rex, is that Swellow by your side? It looks like it's from the Hoenn region, and I remember Swellow isn't usually this big, right?" Dawn, seeing Rex's friendly demeanor, asked curiously. She was still a few months away from receiving her starter Pokémon, so she was eager to learn more about Pokémon.
"Dawn, you sure know your stuff. Yes, we came from the Hoenn region. As for why my Swellow is bigger than usual, I'm not entirely sure myself." Rex replied, impressed by Dawn's knowledge. He wasn't surprised, though, knowing that her mother was a top Coordinator, and Dawn would naturally have a deeper understanding of Pokémon than most.
After a bit more casual conversation, Rex and Dawn exchanged phone numbers, finding they got along well.
Rex then bid farewell to Dawn and headed in the direction she had pointed towards Professor Rowan's lab.
At one point, the path led through a small forest where a few Ariados tried to attack Rex, but they were swiftly defeated by his Haunter, who was hidden in his shadow and used Shadow Ball.
After passing through the forest, Rex saw a large, modern building in the distance. He knew he had reached his destination.
Given the size of the building in such a small town, Rex couldn't imagine it being anything other than the lab of a Pokémon Professor.
(End of Chapter)