----
After exiting the forest, Kai and Erika soon reached a fork in the road.
Two paths lay ahead.
If they continued westward for a few more kilometers, they would arrive at National Park, a lush reserve known as a paradise for Bug-type Pokémon.
Every year around this time, the park hosted the famous Bug-Catching Contest, drawing Trainers from across Johto.
Armed only with Park Balls, contestants would scour the reserve, capturing rare Bug-types for a chance to win exclusive prizes.
The event was so popular that merchants and vendors flooded the park's entrance during the festivities, setting up stalls to sell souvenirs, snacks, and Pokémon merchandise.
It was one of the liveliest events of the season.
But Kai wasn't in the mood for bug-hunting.
He had no particular Bug-type Pokémon in mind to catch, and Erika, being a Grass-type Gym Leader, preferred to keep her distance from Bug-types altogether.
So, after a brief discussion, they took the northern route instead, heading straight toward their next destination:
Ecruteak City.
---
Ecruteak is a city steeped in memory and shadow.
Tucked between the rugged Mt. Mortar and the sweeping western plains of Johto, Ecruteak wasn't like the modern cities they'd passed through before. Here, ancient history whispered through every rooftop and rain-washed stone.
As the sun dipped low behind the skyline, casting golden hues across wooden beams and tiled roofs, Kai and Erika strolled down a quiet street lined with cobblestones.
The city felt like it was preserved in time.
Everywhere they looked: traditional pagoda-style buildings, tiled towers, arched stone bridges, and clear-water canals running alongside narrow paths. People in kimonos and geta clogs walked slowly and gracefully, chatting softly or simply enjoying the cool evening air.
Kai stole a glance at Erika.
She was still wearing her form-fitting traveling kimono, elegant, practical, and perfectly in place here. With the wooden sandals and her serene presence, she could've passed as a local.
"Something wrong?" she asked, catching his gaze.
He smiled faintly. "Nah. Just thinking… You really fit in here."
Erika returned the smile with a soft, almost knowing laugh. "I like it too. The pace here is calming."
They ventured deeper into the city, flipping through a travel guide as they went. The guide highlighted Ecruteak's most famous landmarks: the Bell Tower and the ruins of Brass Tower.
The towers stood at opposite ends of the city, one to the east, one to the west,, and had once symbolized the harmony between humans and Pokémon. According to legend, the towers were constructed over 700 years ago as beacons of peace.
Climbing to the top of the Bell Tower offered a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire city.
More than that, folklore claimed that Ho-Oh and Lugia once roosted atop the towers.
But everything changed 150 years ago, when lightning struck Brass Tower and set it ablaze. The fire raged for three days and nights, reducing the once-magnificent structure to ash. Though rain eventually extinguished the flames, only a crumbling base remained.
Today, the ruins are known simply as Burned Tower.
And from that tragedy, another legend was born.
According to oral tradition, three unnamed Pokémon perished in the fire but were resurrected by Ho-Oh, rising from the ashes as Entei, Raikou, and Suicune.
Ever since, both Ho-Oh and Lugia had vanished.
And no one rebuilt Brass Tower.
Kai frowned at the memory.
Ho-Oh, huh…
He still hadn't forgotten.
It was Ho-Oh who had personally stopped him from capturing the Legendary Beasts not long ago.
'Tch. Don't show your face again, Ho-Oh. We've got unfinished business.'
Erika noticed his brooding expression.
"Are we heading straight to the Gym now?" she asked.
Like most major cities, Ecruteak had an official Pokémon Gym, this one led by Morty, a Ghost-type specialist. Defeating him would earn a Trainer the Fog Badge.
But the timing…
Kai glanced at the setting sun, then shook his head.
"Nah. It's late, and I'm starving. Let's find a place to stay first."
Erika nodded in agreement.
They followed the street to its end, where a charming, lantern-lit inn welcomed travelers with the smell of fresh rice and warm soup.
While checking in, the innkeeper chuckled when he heard their accents.
"You folks aren't from around here, are you? You're just in time!"
"Oh?" Erika raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?"
The old man leaned in, voice dropping with theatrical flair.
"Tonight, over at the Ecruteak Dance Theater, the famous Kimono Sisters are performing! If you've got time, you have to see them!"
Kai perked up.
The Kimono Sisters?
He recognized that name.
Thanks to the anime, he knew exactly who they were: five elegant women, each dressed in vibrant kimonos, dancing in perfect harmony alongside their Eeveelutions. A signature performance that blended traditional Johto artistry with the spirit of Pokémon partnership.
He remembered they were sometimes called the "Eeveelution Sisters."
Erika, however, looked puzzled.
"Kimono Sisters? Are they famous?"
The innkeeper looked genuinely shocked. "You don't know? They're not just Ecruteak's pride, they're renowned all across Johto!"
He practically swooned.
"Five graceful, gorgeous performers, each with a different Eevee evolution. Their dances are stunning. Their Pokémon move with them like poetry. Once you see them, you'll never forget it."
----
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