Chapter 49 - 49 - Going to the City of Galen!

January came and a week after New Year's Day, everything in Kawayan City went back to normal as usual after a major event. The roads, avenues, and streets are now clean and stripped of numerous decorations. Businesses are now to their normal prices for their goods and services, and schools and universities are a week away from being reopened for class. So, for Rico, he wanted to go somewhere fun and exciting. Luckily for him, he was invited by Maneki and his father to come with them to the eastern part of the region to the city of Galen, a popular tourist destination famous for its strange location and millennium-old ruins of a bridge that used to connect Philas to Sinnoh. Rico, however, happily accepted this offer and asked his parents if they allow him to go with them. Lucas and Rosario then granted their son's request and told him to pack his bags for the afternoon flight.

Then, at Kawayan City International Airport, Maneki, his father, and Rico are now ready to depart. Lucas entrusted to Maneki's father about Rico's safety, telling him to keep Rico safe and sound. Maneki's father then accepted it, promising him to do just that. Then, before their 5 o'clock flight is about to depart, the three of them and their Pokémon wavered them goodbye as they entered the check-in halls.

In the busy and large check-in halls, they are now lining for their flight. A few days earlier, they had booked a flight to Galen and a hotel there for a cheap price, saving them money. Then, after some processes, they are now waiting at the waiting halls for their flight. Maneki was reading his favorite novels with his Pokémon and Rico was looking at the timetable for flights and their schedules and statuses.

"I'm so excited for this trip," he commented in mind and excitement. His Pokémon are with him. The atmosphere there was good, but busy and the majority of people there are anxious and nervous, especially those who had the fear of flying. Later on, Rico decided to buy a cup of hot chocolate before boarding, so he and his team went to a nearby cafe and bought a cup of hot chocolate for 50 Pokédollars; he then paid for it and exited along with a nice stirring stick and napkin. Going back to the spot where his friends where, Rico drink up his hot chocolate when he bumped into a Pokémon Trainer with light grey hair, almost spilling his hot drink into his clothes; luckily Rico tilted his drink immediately from spilling.

"I'm so sorry!" Rico apologized quickly as he straighten his position out. Riolu and Starly then responded with apology.

"Hey, watch it!" the Pokémon Trainer responded back seriously. Rico and his team then apologized once more before resuming to their spot.

By 5:10 p.m., it's boarding time. Those who are on that flight had aligned themselves to the first floor and into an exit gate where their plane, a turboprop one, was waiting for them. One of the airport staff checked their tickets and allowed them out if their tickets are present and valid. Walking across the tarmac, Rico and his team felt the cool breeze of the nightly horizon; the breeze was blowing swiftly against his hair and clothes as he looked at the plane.

Boarding the plane, Rico and his group checked their tickets and scram around to find their ȧssigned seats. After a few minutes, when they found them, they put their belongings in overhead bins and sat down on their seats, buckling up their seatbelts securely. Others managed to do so.

"Tomorrow, we'll see Angelina at her swimming pool at a resort," Maneki's father announced to them, "and go on a tour at the Galen Ruins for a day." This delights them a lot.

"That sounds cool, dad," Maneki commented in excitement.

Later, boarding is done, and the plane is now taxiing to the runway for takeoff. This takes them a little while because of the speed and careful taxiing through the commands of the control tower. But, it arrived at the start of the runway and stopped in order to prepare for takeoff. Once cleared for takeoff, the plane activated their engines and propellers in speed and, steadily, ran across the runway, and lift off in climbing speed and altitude, leaving the runway and airport bound to Galen, which was southeast of the region, as the moon rose over the horizon.

Later in the flight, everyone are in good mood as flight attendants gave them snacks and drinks to relax and fill up. Rico was eating a bag of almonds and 2 square chocolate brownies, and drink up with a bottle of water. Maneki was eating a bag of potato chips and 4 strawberry muffins, and drink up with a bottle of orange juice. For Maneki's father, he preferred a bag of corn chips, 3 chocolate chip cookies, 1 glazed donut, and a bottle of water. The atmosphere around the cabin is good and calm.

"Wow, this is so sweet!" Rico happily commented as he chow down in his snacks. His Riolu and Piplup then responded with happiness.

"I know right," added Maneki in positivity. "Their food are really good and tasty."

"It'll be more good when we arrive at Galen," Rico replied back. "And enjoy their waters."

"Yeah, it shall be," Maneki's father in cool and positive style.

"What?" Rico and Maneki responded with confusion. Chuckling in joking, Maneki's father responded back, "I'm just kidding." The kids and their Pokémon got surprised at first, and then bursted into laugher on how funny the joke is.

Later, by 6:20 p.m., the plane landed at Galen City's small airport without any problem. Upon parking at a vacant spot, the main door was open and a small mobile stairs came to give the passengers and crew a safe way to get off the plane. Once the seatbelt signs are turned off, everyone unlocked their seatbelts, stand up, and opened the overhead bins to get their belongings; others carried their Pokémon in their arms and on their shoulders as they carry their bags of various kinds. They then exited the plane and onto the tarmac in progress and calmness.

Arriving at the airport terminal, they cleared for security and most went to the small baggage halls to pick up their bulky belongings, mostly boxes. Most of the passengers, who had no bulky belongings or luggages, went straight to the Arrivals section where loved ones, friends, and public coaches are waiting for them. Rico and his group, in the meantime, decided to eat a quick dinner at a restaurant in the terminal before going to their hotel by coach. Their dinner was simple, but it fills their remaining hunger and thirst. After that, by 8:01 p.m., they exited the airport terminal with their Pokémon and belongings and hopped on a small, air-conditioned coach to their hotel in the city, White Flowers Resort.