Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 336: Zoroark’s Day (Two-in-One)

Seeing Lucario agree, Rio smiled and extended his hand. Lucario looked at Rio and reached out its own. Thus, the pact was sealed between them. Its friendship rose accordingly — from 8 to 10. Once inside a Poké Ball, Lucario would need only 10 more points to unlock its first reward.

"Come, enter this ball." Rio was a man of action and immediately pulled out a Luxury Ball.

"What is this?" Lucario, however, had never seen a Poké Ball before and stared at it blankly.

Rio paused, then remembered that in Lucario’s era, Poké Balls didn’t exist. "This is a Poké Ball. It lets Pokémon rest inside when not in battle. Think of it like Sir Aaron’s scepter — it can contain you. But this ball is much more comfortable than your scepter. You’ll feel very relaxed inside, and you can come and go as you please."

Lucario’s confused expression faded. "How do I enter?"

"Press this red button — it’ll draw you in. Don’t resist for the first few seconds." Rio said, about to press the switch. But curious Lucario touched it first. A flash of light, and Lucario had captured itself. The Luxury Ball shook three times and clicked.

Rio laughed — this was going smoothly. A moment later, he released Lucario. Its friendship had indeed reached 40.

"How is it, Lucario? Being inside?"

"Wonderful. The environment inside is excellent." Lucario was amazed.

"Excellent? Better than my home here?" Mew, floating around, asked curiously.

"Much better." Honest Lucario nodded. "It felt like I had my own golden palace — magnificent and glowing. It had everything except food, and the environment was wonderful. There was a fragrance I’d never smelled before — it made me feel incredibly relaxed."

Then it looked at Rio, feeling somehow more familiar with him than before.

"That good?" Mew covered its mouth with its tiny hands, amazed. It then looked at Rio’s belt pouch. One Luxury Ball flew out and hovered before it. Mew’s tiny hand touched it. A flash of light — Mew was drawn in. The ball fell to the ground, shook three times, and clicked.

Rio: "..."

The happiness came so suddenly, he was caught off guard. He had imagined countless ways to catch Mew — through persuasion, through battle, even thought he might never catch it. But he never imagined Mew would enter the Luxury Ball voluntarily. How absurd was that?

The heavens are smiling on me tonight. He thought to himself.

Mewtwo, who had witnessed everything, was speechless. It wasn’t like Lucario, who had lived for centuries without worldly knowledge. Being with Rio, it knew exactly what entering a Luxury Ball meant — it meant Mew would become Rio’s Pokémon, just like it, and their battle comrade.

"Kid, if you want to laugh at such a naive Mew, go ahead." Mewtwo was exasperated. It couldn’t believe it was created from the genes of such a foolish Pokémon. And to think it had once been so obsessed with proving who was the "real one." If being the original meant becoming that stupid, Mewtwo would gladly pass.

"Don’t slander me. I’m not smiling because of Mew — I’m smiling because Lucario has joined us in protecting world peace." Rio retorted. But despite his words, he picked up the Luxury Ball, brushed off the dirt, and pressed the button to release Mew.

Mew immediately reported its experience: "Wow, it’s true! That ball really is like a golden palace — so dazzling! And the fragrance inside is amazing! I’ve never smelled anything so pleasant in all my years. I could stay in there forever!"

"Right? I thought so too." Lucario nodded.

Rio seized the opportunity: "Mew, since you want to stay in there, you can come to Indigo Plateau whenever you like — I’ll let you stay in the Luxury Ball often." Mew couldn’t stay far from the World Tree for too long, or the world would be affected, so he’d have to keep it on a long leash.

"Yes, Indigo Plateau. I’m the highest authority there. If you come find me, you’ll have plenty of good food, fun activities, and like-minded friends." Rio smiled. "Charizard, Munchlax, Greninja, Gengar, and Eevee will all be there."

"That does sound interesting." Mew was intrigued. It was getting bored of just playing around Rota. A change of scenery sounded good — and Indigo Plateau wasn’t far from the World Tree, still within Kanto.

"Of course it is. You helped me win the Hero title — that alone guarantees you’ll be well taken care of." Rio played along.

Mew’s eyes lit up. That was true — it had contributed. If it visited, Rio would surely treat it well.

"Alright — I’ll come play with you often." Mew agreed.

And so, Rio caught two Pokémon in one day — a level 70, Champion-talent Lucario with powerful Aura, and the legendary progenitor, Mew. He left the World Tree beaming. As for the three Regi — Regirock, Regice, and Registeel — he had no interest in them. Even as legendaries, their sheer numbers had made them less appealing.

A week later, at Indigo Plateau, in Rio’s Champion office.

Only Rio and the snow-white Zoroark were inside.

"Zoroark, starting today, you need to learn to mimic my every move and speech pattern." Rio looked at Zoroark seriously.

"Why?" Zoroark was confused by the sudden task.

"Because sometimes I need you to stay here in my place." Rio smiled. He had just remembered a major task he’d overlooked — training Zoroark. He had caught it specifically to serve as his stand-in when he was away from Indigo Plateau. Now was the time to prepare.

Apollo had said Rainbow Rocket would arrive in six months to a year, bringing at least six legendary Pokémon — top-tier ones. So Rio needed to expand his combat power now, not at the last moment.

"But haven’t I been mimicking you just fine?" Zoroark said.

"No — your imitation only fools people who don’t know me well. Those close to me would spot the difference easily." Rio shook his head.

"Impossible! My illusion can’t be seen through by anyone!" Zoroark denied.

"Alright then — later today, Serīna will likely come to report on work. Let’s see if she can tell the difference." Rio smiled.

"Fine — I’ll show you why I’m called the Phantom’s Overlord." Zoroark said proudly.

Rio patted its head. Just then, the door knocked. Rio raised an eyebrow at Zoroark.

"Leave it to me." Zoroark’s telepathic voice echoed, as white mist enveloped it. The next moment, it had transformed into Rio and sat in the office chair. As for the real Rio... "Don’t move — to her, you’re just a potted plant now." Zoroark explained.

Then it called out: "Come in." The voice was identical to Rio’s. Serīna, hearing nothing unusual, entered and began reporting.

"Mr. Rio, we’ve just received news — Dr. Spencer Hale, who was researching Unown ruins in Johto, suddenly disappeared last night."

Dr. Spencer Hale? The real Rio, transformed into a potted plant, wondered. The name sounded familiar.

"Suddenly disappeared?" Zoroark-as-Rio put its feet up on the desk. "How did it happen? Where? Was anyone else there?"

Serīna frowned slightly. She felt something was off about Rio today. He never put his feet on the desk during work reports. Still, she continued: "Dr. Spencer Hale was at a ruin near Ecruteak City in Johto, along with his student, John."

"According to John, they were studying ancient Unown inscriptions on the walls. He was photographing the text as instructed — when he heard a notebook fall. He turned around, and Dr. Spencer Hale was gone. Only a box containing 26 small stone tablets with Unown symbols remained. The room had only one exit, which was beside John. The disappearance shocked John, and he immediately reported it to the League."

"But that’s not the most alarming part. This morning, John returned to Dr. Spencer Hale’s home to inform his daughter and hand over the box. Shortly after, a huge swarm of Unown appeared at the house, throwing everyone — servants and John — out with psychic force. A crystallizing energy spread from the house, covering the entire green town. It’s now a life-forbidden zone."

"Some League officials want to know your thoughts on this."

Crystal Tower Emperor? The real Rio, still as a potted plant, raised an eyebrow. This sounded exactly like the storyline of the Crystal Tower Emperor — a researcher disappearing, his daughter summoning Unown with his remains, the Unown creating Entei to fulfill her wish for a father, and locking down the town. As for his thoughts — simple: Catch them. All of them.

But Zoroark-as-Rio gave a different answer: "My thought is — fight! Send in forces to take down those Unown and rescue Dr. Spencer Hale’s daughter!"

"Fight? Take down the Unown?" Serīna frowned. This Rio felt even more unfamiliar. The Rio she knew would likely take action himself, not delegate to subordinates.

"Yes! Those Unown dare to kidnap a League official’s family — unforgivable! Send all four Elite Four members!" Zoroark waved its hand.

"All four? You mean Ice-type Lorelei, Fighting-type Bruno, Ghost-type Agatha, and Flying-type Lance — all four together?" Serīna’s eyes widened. "Mr. Rio, isn’t that overkill? We only have a locked-down town so far. One Elite Four member might be enough."

"More hands, less work. Don’t argue — I said all four!" Zoroark’s tone brooked no argument.