novelraw Chapter 799: Miss Zhulan Wants Me to Propose
Chapter 799: Miss Zhulan Wants Me to Propose
March 20th, Sunday, Spring Equinox.
The mountain slopes were blanketed in ice and snow, the vast sky stretched endlessly, with a sea of clouds swirling around, brushing past the figure of a Skarmory.
Mount Hokulani stood at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the highest point in all of Alola. Whether day or night, climbing Mount Hokulani always offered the best views in Alola. The observatory at the summit was a holy site for astronomy enthusiasts worldwide.
It was said that the starry sky over Mount Hokulani was the clearest in the world.
And before the stars appeared, arriving at Mount Hokulani offered a chance to witness one of the most beautiful sunsets on Earth.
The summit housed four large optical telescopes, their bright silver casings reflecting the snowy ground. A circular planetarium stood in the center, managed by one of the future Elite Four members, the Steel-type Elite Four member, Molayne.
The path to the summit was a single winding, hilly two-lane road. The road conditions were extremely dangerous: Magnemite darting onto the highway, Graveler tumbling down the slopes.
And when driving onto gentler stretches, clouds and mist spread out like a blanket.
Some had managed to snap photos of Altaria. There was even a chance to observe the rare Magnezone.
At this moment, an "Exeggutor Bus" was traveling along the mountain road, its body painted with the long-necked Alolan Exeggutor. Looking through the bus windows, the interior was empty except for two tourists.A black-haired young man and a golden-haired beauty sat facing the window. The seats jolted, with Lu Ye leaning half his body against the railing by the door, while Cynthia, with Togepi on her lap, nestled close to Lu Ye's side.
The driver's seat was empty, with Haunter wearing N's baseball cap, sitting brazenly in the driver's seat.
The Rotom from the transportation company, hidden right in the center of the steering wheel, angrily demanded Haunter leave.
"Gengarrr~" Haunter grinned, holding an iced cola, clinking it against the steering wheel in a toast.
Outside the window, clouds and mist unfurled like a scroll, bringing the chill of high altitude.
"How much longer," she said softly.
"Half an hour," Lu Ye observed the bus decorations. "The 'Exeggutor Bus' is an Alolan specialty, so I wanted to take this to the summit."
"Mhm," she made a soft nasal sound, tilting her head to rest on Lu Ye's shoulder, her black and gold hair accessory touching his neck, causing a ticklish sensation.
Lu Ye looked down. Golden hair concealed her face, spilling over her waist and knees. She rested with eyes closed, her eyelashes long and delicate, her cheeks snowy white and exquisite.
Looking out the window, the mountain slopes continuously receded behind them, the altitude gradually rising, a sea of clouds swirling, the sky canopy growing heavy.
"Reaching the summit, we'll just make it in time for sunset," Lu Ye thought, lightly sniffing the fragrance of her golden hair.
At 6:15 PM, the "Exeggutor Bus" stopped at the planetarium station, still a ten-minute walk from the summit.
Haunter, carrying a small backpack, was the first to hop off the bus.
Turning around, Haunter picked up Togepi, who was waving its little hands, and carried it down the steps.
"Togi-togi-doo-ii~" Togepi giggled as it stepped into the snow.
Lu Ye, wearing a scarf, stepped onto the crunching snow, exhaling a puff of white mist.
"Who would have thought, in tropical Alola, we'd still need winter clothes."
"Mount Hokulani rises 4,000 meters above sea level, but if measured from the seafloor, it's a towering 10,200 meters tall."
Cynthia, clad in a black coat, hugged her chest, elbow propped on her arm, and said, "Taller than the world's highest peak."
Lu Ye looked up towards the observatory at the summit.
Ula'Ula Island's prototype was Hawaii Island. Mount Hokulani's prototype was Mauna Kea in Hawaii. It was hailed as one of the world's best astronomical observation sites.
The "Exeggutor Bus" drove away from the station. Lu Ye and Cynthia stood beside the bus stop sign, a row of footprints left in the snow.
"That way is a shrine, enshrining Tapu Bulu. Want to go take a look?" she said.
Lu Ye followed her gaze. A Hawaiian-style shrine stood there, its torii gate adorned with wind chimes, with a pink Oricorio perched nearby.
"Can we pray for marriage there?" Lu Ye joked.
"Who knows," Cynthia said with a light smile.
The sky reflected on the snow, growing grayer. The two walked through the snow, their bodies leaning against each other. The torii gate and rooftops were piled with snow, but the dojo in the center was lush with green grass, with Charjabug crawling within, faintly discernible.
"Tapu Bulu has the ability to control plants and grass, with the Ability 'Grassy Surge,'" Lu Ye said. "Rillaboom's Ability is also 'Grassy Surge.' Combined with 'Grassy Glide,' it's more practical in battles than Tapu Bulu."
"Speaking ill of the island deity at the shrine will bring punishment."
"I'm just telling the truth."
Above the shrine, Tapu Bulu revealed its majestic presence, descending to gaze down upon the uninvited guests who had entered the shrine.
Its tail hung with a golden bell, a nose ring adorned its face. It stared at the two, frowning slightly.
Then, Tapu Bulu gave up on revealing itself, swiftly departing towards the horizon.
Scram, scram!
Lu Ye and Cynthia left the shrine.
They strode towards the observatory at the summit.
The observatory stood above the sea of clouds, with minimal atmospheric interference, making it the best observation spot.
The curator, Molayne, received them, scratching his head with a smile:
"Because tonight's meteor shower has potential risks, we've closed the facility to ordinary tourists. But for two Champions, naturally, there's no problem."
"I recall, you're a relative of Sophocles, right?" Teacher Lu inquired.
"Yes, I'm his cousin. That kid has been under your care."
"Not at all. I think Sophocles's dream of becoming an astronaut must have been influenced by his elders."
"Hahaha, that kid still has a long way to go. Come on, you two, sunset is soon. I'll take you to the observation tower."
"Um..." Lu Ye hesitated.
"The observation tower is due west. I have data to process, so I won't disturb you two!"
The observation tower was about six meters tall. At its top were placed an astronomical telescope, a bench, and small white metal spheres along the edge.
Climbing to the top of the observation tower, a chill greeted them, bringing a refreshing sensation. The view suddenly opened up.
Before their eyes surged a sea of clouds, white clouds spread like a giant carpet without a single gap, as if one could stroll upon it, walking towards the golden sun at the horizon.
The high altitude of Mount Hokulani meant the observation tower already rose above the sea of clouds. Standing at the tower's top, their eyes were filled with nothing but spread-out clouds.
At the horizon of the sea of clouds, the sunset was incredibly magnificent. Golden sunlight radiated in all directions, refracting a faint rainbow in the azure sky. The sea of clouds was dyed a fiery orange-red.
Lu Ye's chest rose and fell as he breathed the fresh air. Haunter floated behind him, hands pulling at its cheeks, staring blankly: "Gengarrr..."
The sun seemed to hover above the sea of clouds, as if about to sink beyond the snow-covered horizon. It descended at a slow yet certain pace, the rainbow refraction becoming more apparent, the orange-red glow growing more intense.
Suddenly, a cold, soft little hand slipped into Lu Ye's palm. He turned to look at Cynthia.
Her profile glowed brilliantly under the remaining sunlight, a faint blush on her cheeks. Her nose was exquisitely high-bridged, a curve at the corner of her mouth as she gazed at the distant sun.
So, holding her hand, they sat on the edge of the lookout tower, like two still sculptures. Haunter floated on the left, Garchomp stood on the right.
The two sat on a bench over 4,000 meters above sea level, leaning against each other. The sea of clouds swirled around them, facing the sunset, their backs leaving black silhouettes.
Time became slow and eternal. The sun turned from gold to fiery red, half-sinking into the sea of clouds. The rainbow contracted into a thin orange-red line. Just as the sun was about to fall, a halo suddenly flared brilliantly, then completely vanished.
The sun set, night fell.
...
At 7:15 PM, Molayne led Teacher Lu and Cynthia on a tour of the observatory, introducing the alien meteorite carrying Deoxys's genes.
At 7:45 PM, Teacher Lu borrowed the observatory's kitchen to cook a meal, inviting Molayne to dine together. Trainers and Pokémon enjoyed a sumptuous dinner.
At 8:30 PM, data indicated the meteor shower was imminent.
At 8:40 PM, based on data inference, the meteor shower would arrive precisely at 10:30 PM.
"There's a very strange phenomenon."
In the observatory's data room, Molayne scratched his head and said, "The comet passing by tonight has an 80% probability of carrying life forms... I can only hope it's not Deoxys."
"Look on the bright side."
Lu Ye said reassuringly, "It could also be Eternatus."
Molayne was slightly stunned. Eternatus, like Deoxys and Jirachi, was also a cosmic Pokémon that arrived on Earth following a comet.
"If it really comes to that, Lu Ye and I will help deal with it."
Cynthia said calmly, then looked at Lu Ye and gave a light smile. "But I have a feeling... it might be a Pokémon we're familiar with."
Lu Ye: "I'm also familiar with Deoxys... ouch..."
Talking is one thing, but she's pinching me!
Originally, camping wasn't allowed on the summit, but Molayne made an exception and agreed, stating he would stay in the research room all night, tracking the comet's movements in real-time.
The tent was a specially insulated model, its design still the 'Gigantamax Haunter' style. Lying inside the giant Haunter-shaped mouth gave a unique sense of security.
Amidst the rustling night wind, the vast sky felt lonely, clouds surging in the darkness on all sides. It felt as if the entire observatory was flying through the air, constantly moving.
The camping site was very spacious, enough to release all of Teacher Lu and Cynthia's Pokémon.
Lucario stood at the edge of the high platform, gazing up at the night sky;
Garchomp stood guard behind Cynthia.
Blastoise appeared silently from behind Lucario's shoulder, pushing up its sunglasses. Lucario's eyes widened in surprise.
Pupitar tried to swallow the white meteorite at the observatory entrance, only to be frantically stopped by the Rotom Pokédex.
Spiritomb retracted its keystone face, found a reliable teammate, and hid behind Sirfetch'd.
"Quack!" Sirfetch'd's gaze was sharp, holding its big leek and sword shield, standing with eyes open, fast asleep.
No one knew what Ducklett had gone through just to slack off!
Togepi walked back and forth in front of the campsite holding a phone, trying to find the best signal.
Arcanine stood majestically, towering and unmoving at the edge of the cliff, gazing up at the night sky.
The former goofball now faintly possessed the bearing of Green's 'Lion King' Arcanine.
Darkrai rested aloofly with eyes closed;
little V happily nibbled on a macaron;
Meloetta hummed softly.
Latias cried out cheerfully, racing alongside Togekiss in a flying competition, circling around the planetarium.
Sylveon used its ribbons to bind the Glaceon trying to snuggle up:
"Bui! (▼ヘ▼#)"
No lewdness allowed!
"I-fuu~(つД`)" Glaceon shook its icy crystal fringe.
Glaceon reminisced about the little Sylveon from back then, delicate, soft, and easy to push over, but now it actually took the initiative... (misunderstanding)
Lu Ye and Cynthia stood at the edge of the observatory, gazing at the starry sky.
The azure, nearly deep purple sky was filled with stars large and small, without any visual obstruction, without any atmospheric pollution, enveloping overhead with no dead angles. Clear, beautiful, brilliant. As if all the starlight had gathered for this one night.
"It feels like I could reach out and touch them," Lu Ye said softly, looking up and reaching out his hand.
"So beautiful," Cynthia's gray eyes sparkled.
Lu Ye glanced sideways at her.
Their gazes met as if by agreement. Her eyes were as brilliant as stars, shining brightly.
Lu Ye really wanted to say something. A childish impulse surged in his chest, a strong desire to shout words that would soon be swallowed by the snowy mountain at this 4,000-meter summit.
But breathing was difficult, his heart pounded like a great drum beating in the darkness. He said softly:
"Bamboo Lan, I love you."
Cynthia's gray eyes gazed at him, a smile curling at her lips, her eyes curving into crescents:
"I love you too."
At that moment, 10:30 PM, the starry sky above them seemed to rotate into a vortex, streaking with meteor after meteor.
"Gengarrr gengarrr!" Haunter exclaimed loudly, opening its mouth wide, flopping onto its back to look at the sky.
"Togi-togi-doo-ii~" Togepi also put down its phone, looking up, its little eyes sparkling.
Lu Ye and Cynthia looked up simultaneously. Meteors streaked across the starry sky, brilliant as sparks. An extremely beautiful blue comet, trailing a long tail, seemed to hang motionless in the night sky.
"When did that comet appear?" Cynthia asked softly.
"Don't know... but it's very beautiful, just like Bamboo Lan," Lu Ye replied.
A smile lifted the corner of Cynthia's mouth. She stepped back lightly, hands behind her back, and said with a laugh:
"A wishing star, of course, you have to make a wish."
Starlight illuminated her silk-like golden hair. She smiled radiantly, her black and gold hair accessory glittering.
In that instant, his heart skipped a beat. Lu Ye said:
"Then what wish did you make?"
"Won't tell you," Cynthia said proudly.
"Then I can probably guess," Lu Ye said.
"Your wish, I can guess too," she said with a light smile.
"Then close your eyes, make a wish upon the meteor, and we'll say it together."
"That's very childish," Cynthia chuckled. "But well, we can try."
She gently closed her eyes, her eyelashes long and delicate, lips tender, skin snowy white and smooth. She said softly:
"Have you finished making your wish?"
"Wait a bit longer."
"Ten, nine, three, two, one!"
She opened her eyes, confidently saying, "Lu Ye—"
"Bamboo Lan."
Cynthia's pupils contracted, reflecting a radiant Master Ball. The ball's lid opened, revealing a flawless Diancie Stone embedded in red velvet, like the world's most precious diamond ring.
Lu Ye held the Master Ball, his black hair swaying in the wind, his gaze gentle, saying with a smile:
"Please marry me."
Meteor after meteor streaked across the sky. Under the magnificent, grand meteor shower, a beautiful blue comet trailed its long tail.
Her satin-like golden hair swayed. Her gray eyes shimmered, breath caught, images flashing through her mind one after another.
Their date under the Donghua meteor shower, holding hands at Christmas, him standing before the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons in White Poplar Town.
Their embrace after the great battle in Michina, the confession in Masago Town, the raging flames in Barren City...
Her eyes reddened slightly. A smile touched her flawless, beautiful face, but she soon pressed her lips together, brushing aside the golden hair on her cheek.
"If you want to catch a Pokémon, you have to risk shedding tears."
Lu Ye's black eyes glimmered: "But we will both need each other. When I think of you, looking at the vast stars in the night sky, I feel happiness too."
"So, Bamboo Lan."
Lu Ye held the Master Ball, his gaze gentle, and said:
"Please catch me."
All was silent, the stars trembling faintly in the wind.
Cynthia's eyes were slightly red. She smiled tenderly:
"I do."
The starry sky swirled like a vortex, the meteor shower grand and brilliant.
Lu Ye looked at Bamboo Lan, his eyes shimmering, then shyly scratched his cheek.
His response was a scorching body temperature, a shy yet passionate kiss.
At the 4,000-meter summit of Mount Hokulani, the silhouettes of the two blurred.
The night was long. In the snow stood only a single 'Gigantamax Haunter' tent.
The blue comet seemed to open its eyes, a beam of light shining from within, illuminating the observation platform.
"Gengarrr~" Haunter, enveloped in the light beam, looked up curiously.
A small meteorite gradually descended within the light beam, landing right in Haunter's palm.
"Gengarrr..." Haunter examined the meteorite in its hand, scratching its head.
This meteorite... why does it feel somewhat familiar?
"Graaawr..."
Garchomp glanced back at the two.
That's my cabbage! ﾍ(;
´Д｀ﾍ)
But...
Garchomp nodded deeply.
I reluctantly approve of this marriage!
...