Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 121: An Eevee with 175 Days Left to Live

"Wasn’t it training over here just a moment ago?"

"Did it go to buy food?"

Outside the Celadon Gym, Rio looked around, puzzled to find no trace of Gengar and Froakie.

"Forget it—I’ll deal with them later. First, I need to find that Eevee."

He had just defeated the Gym trainee and was about to challenge Erika when she threw in another condition: their Gym had lost an Eevee, and he had to find it before she would accept his challenge. Otherwise, no battle.

This is just using a Gym challenge to turn me into free labor. You lost your own Eevee, and I have to find it?

"Fine—I’ll play along. Once I find that Eevee, I’ll make sure to take it out on you in the battle," Rio muttered, glancing back at the Celadon Gym before releasing Charizard.

Charizard carried him into the air. Rio scanned left and right—and the first thing he spotted was Gengar floating out of a bush, followed by an Eevee being levitated by Psychic, and finally Froakie hopping out from behind.

Rio patted Charizard’s neck, and Charizard descended in front of Gengar.

"What are you two doing?" Rio asked, jumping down.

"Hey, kid—perfect timing!" Gengar said.

"Froakie~" Froakie sounded equally relieved.

The Eevee was floated right up to Rio. "This little one seems to be in bad shape. Give it some medicine and see if it feels better," Gengar said.

Rio frowned at the Eevee, which was trembling in pain. He was about to wonder if this was the Eevee the Celadon Gym had lost—when his pupils contracted. Right before his eyes, the Eevee evolved into a Jolteon, then a Flareon, then a Vaporeon, cycling through all three forms.

"What’s going on?! How can this Eevee shift between three evolutions like that?" Rio was dumbfounded. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming.

Is this even an Eevee—or some kind of Arceus-Eevee? He rubbed his eyes repeatedly to confirm he wasn’t seeing things.

Just then, the Eevee’s info panel appeared before him:

[Pokémon: Eevee]

[Level: 28 (Afflicted by illness; time until next level: 205 days)]

[Talent: Elite Four]

[Friendship: -20]

[Ability: Adaptability]

[Gender: Female]

[Moves: Tackle (31%), Helping Hand (31%), Quick Attack (30%), Bite (30%), Covet (29%), Take Down (28%), Ember (27%), Water Pulse (27%), Thunder Shock (27%)]

[Description: This Eevee was born in a Team Rocket research lab. Through various evolution experiments, it gained the ability to freely evolve into Flareon, Jolteon, or Vaporeon. This power is unique and powerful, but it comes with severe side effects—genetic instability causes it frequent pain and drastically shortens its lifespan. It now has only 175 days left to live.]

Reading this, Rio finally understood. If Team Rocket was behind this, everything made sense. They love this kind of research—that’s how the Red Gyarados was created.

"Kid, what are you standing there for? Give it some medicine! Don’t tell me you’re out!" Gengar urged.

"Froakie~" Froakie chimed in.

Snapping out of it, Rio quickly pulled a Revival Herb from his bag. "Eevee—open up. This will ease the pain," he said gently.

But Eevee seemed wary of Rio, shaking its head frantically even in pain, refusing to open its mouth.

"Trust me—I’m not a bad person. I’m Froakie and Gengar’s trainer," Rio said.

"He’s right—even though he looks like a bad guy, he’s actually not," Gengar added.

Damn it—can you just not talk? When have I ever looked like a bad guy? I only look like one when I’m standing next to you! Rio shot Gengar a glare.

Gengar added: "Oh, and by the way—he’s not my trainer. My trainer is Gus, a Champion. Don’t you dare take credit, kid."

Rio took a deep breath, seriously tempted to recall Gengar with his free hand.

Just then, Froakie jumped up and snatched the Revival Herb from Rio’s hand.

"Froakie~" Froakie took over the task, chirping soothingly at Eevee. Though Rio couldn’t understand what it was saying, he could see Eevee’s resistance gradually fade. Even Gengar—the unhelpful ghost—did his part by making funny faces to coax Eevee into opening its mouth.

Eventually, Eevee opened up and took the Revival Herb. Moments later, its pained expression eased, and it reverted from its Flareon form back to its normal Eevee form.

"Froakie~"

"Little Eevee—feeling better now?"

Froakie and Gengar looked relieved.

"Eevee~" Eevee cried out gratefully toward Froakie and Gengar—but completely ignored Rio, the one who had actually provided the medicine, as if he were invisible.

Rio sighed. Nothing new—I’m used to it. You can’t expect a Pokémon with negative friendship to be grateful. At least it didn’t attack me.

"Froakie~"

"No need to thank us, little Eevee—it’s the least we could do. As long as you’re feeling better."

Meanwhile, Froakie and Gengar were acting like eager puppies, completely smitten by Eevee’s single cry.

"Big sister—it’s them! That mean Gengar is the one who bullied me!"

A furious voice rang out from nearby. Rio turned to see a little boy with two long snot trails dangling from his nose, stomping toward them angrily. Behind him followed a young woman in a kimono—

Erika, the Celadon Gym Leader.