Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 292: Lugia, Your Dad Is Here

The next day, Rio called his secretary Serīna.

He asked her to find some scientists to study Deoxys’s meteorite and figure out a way to revive the lifeform inside.

"Mr. Rio, could you tell me what kind of meteorite this is?" Serīna was confused by Rio’s request.

"It’s a meteorite from outer space. I suspect there’s a lifeform inside." Rio explained with a smile.

He could only entrust this meteorite to the League for safekeeping. First, because he held the League’s authority, so he didn’t have to worry about anyone stealing it. Second, he couldn’t just sit around guarding the meteorite all day—he still had work to do.

"A meteorite from outer space... with a lifeform inside?"

Serīna’s eyes lit up. She understood that a new Pokémon species might soon be revealed to the world.

"Understood, Mr. Rio. I’ll arrange it right away." Serīna turned and left.

After she was gone, Rio began his daily routine—shooting, promotions, and guidance visits to Pokémon schools.

Time passed. Two months later.

Rio finally welcomed a new vacation. And he finally got his chance for revenge.

It was time to capture the legendary Pokémon, the Sea Guardian—Lugia.

Whirl Islands.

"Lugia, your dad is here."

Above the Whirl Islands, Rio stood on Charizard’s back, looking down at the raging whirlpools below. He was incredibly excited.

Why? To vent all the frustration from working a 9-to-5 grind at the League for months without a break. And also because he’d been thinking about this vacation for so long—waiting for the chance to get his revenge on Lugia.

He’d been building up his resentment all this time, and just last night, after finishing his last shift, he’d flown straight out of Indigo Plateau with Charizard and arrived at the Whirl Islands in the Johto region.

"Charizard, good work. Rest well inside your Poké Ball."

"Roooar~"

With a flash of light, Rio recalled Charizard and sent out Mewtwo instead.

The moment Mewtwo appeared, it saw Rio falling after recalling Charizard and immediately caught him with Psychic.

Their relationship had improved significantly. He was now only three points away from unlocking the first level of friendship rewards.

"Mewtwo, take me down!" Rio called out after being caught.

Mewtwo didn’t say anything—it simply followed the command, carrying Rio down toward the raging whirlpools.

Moments later, Rio arrived at the bottom of the Whirl Islands. Without Mewtwo’s protection, even with diving gear, he probably would have been torn apart.

Below the surface, Rio saw a network of dark caverns, interconnected like an underwater maze. Outside the caverns swam various Water-type Pokémon. Rio scanned them—all at least level 40 or higher.

"So... how do I get in?"

Rio studied the underwater caverns. They were all connected, making it difficult to find the entrance. Of course, there was a simple solution—fire off a few Aura Spheres and blast a hole through the cavern. But that would flood the entire place, destroying Lugia’s home and making it hate his guts.

He could do it, but he didn’t need to. So he had to find another way.

As he was thinking, the backpack at his waist began to glow. Rio remembered the Lugia Feather. He quickly pulled it out and let go.

The Lugia Feather drifted forward like a guiding light, weaving through the caverns.

"Follow it." Rio said to Mewtwo.

The two of them followed the feather through one underwater cavern after another, until they reached an entrance. It looked similar to the underwater caverns in Hoenn—once you entered, it was a straight path into darkness.

The difference was, after reaching the end of that path, there were forks.

"Damn it. Which way do I go now?"

Rio suddenly felt the Lugia Feather was pretty useless. It had only led him to the entrance of the cavern—it didn’t guide him to Lugia itself. How long would it take to search through all these branching tunnels?

"Mewtwo, how about you scout ahead?" Rio looked at Mewtwo.

"Two bottles of liquor."

Mewtwo didn’t agree outright—it made a demand. A drinking demand. Since Rio was the League Champion, he couldn’t drink with Mewtwo every day, so Mewtwo had come up with a system: it would follow his commands, but only if Rio drank with it afterward.

"Deal. Two bottles it is." Rio shrugged. He was actually getting thirsty anyway—it had been a while since he’d had a good, unrestrained drink.

With Rio’s agreement, Mewtwo drifted off alone into the maze-like caverns.

About twenty minutes later, Mewtwo returned to Rio.

"I found it. But..."

"But what?" Rio looked at Mewtwo, confused by its half-finished sentence.

It couldn’t possibly have found a dead Lugia, could it?

"Come with me and you’ll see." Mewtwo was being mysterious. It used Psychic to carry Rio deeper into the tunnels.

A short while later, with Mewtwo leading the way, they passed through tunnel after tunnel and finally arrived at an undersea temple. At the end of the temple was a throne, and behind it, a mural of Lugia controlling the sea’s whirlpools.

But Mewtwo didn’t take him toward the throne. Instead, it led him to a side chamber on the right.

There, Rio saw Lugia.

And he didn’t quite know what to say.

[Pokémon: Lugia]

[Level: 30 (2401 days until next level)]

[Talent: Legendary]

[Friendship: 0]

[Ability 1: Pressure]

[Ability 2: Multiscale]

[Gender: —]

[Moves: Gust (34%), Whirlwind (34%), Ancient Power (34%), Weather Ball (34%), Mist (34%), Safeguard (34%), Hydro Pump (34%), Calm Mind (34%), Zen Headbutt (34%)...]

[Description: This is a legendary Pokémon, known alongside Ho-Oh as one of the legendary giant bird Pokémon. It symbolizes the sea, cyclones, silver, and a soul as pure as the ocean itself. A single flap of its wings can cause storms lasting up to forty days. In folklore, it is known as the Sea Guardian! However... at this moment, it is still a juvenile. ]

Staring at that level 30, Rio understood—he had found a baby Lugia.

This little Lugia was currently splashing around in a pool inside the side chamber. The moment it saw Rio, its eyes lit up with excitement. It rushed right over to him.

And then a voice echoed in Rio’s mind:

"Who are you? Are you one of Mom’s friends?"