Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 354: Flygon Begs to Be Captured

Watching Gengar knock down the terrifying Groudon with a single Shadow Ball, Butler was stunned. Diane was stunned. Evan’s family was stunned.

"This is the power of the Kanto Champion?" Butler murmured.

"It’s nothing special — it’s just that this Groudon is weak." Rio said with casual understatement.

No sooner had he spoken than the fallen Groudon rose again, using the vines on its back to prop itself up. Once standing, the Land Demon turned its gaze toward Rio and the others — all the vines on its back surged toward them.

"Watch out! It’s going berserk!" Diane cried out in terror.

"Old Ghost, Roar of Time." Rio shrugged.

"Gengar~" — Watch Old Ghost show his stuff!

Gengar floated into the air, using its psychic power to block all the vines, then gathered time energy in its mouth. Moments later, Roar of Time erupted, sending the Groudon flying from one end of Farns Forest to the other.

"Incredible — truly incredible. Is this really a Gengar?" Butler murmured.

Beside him, Diane and the others shared the same thought — they couldn’t believe a Gengar could beat the legendary Groudon like that.

"Calm down — I haven’t even used half my power yet," Gengar said, having watched their expressions from the ground. Seeing their shocked faces gave it great satisfaction.

"Half your power?" Butler and the others exchanged stunned glances, their awe for Gengar growing even greater.

Such simple people, Rio shook his head. They believed everything Gengar said without question. Did Gengar really only use half its power? Don’t make it laugh. It had used Roar of Time under Rio’s command — that was at least seventy or eighty percent of its strength.

But then Rio frowned. He saw something peculiar — the Groudon was flying. Yes, flying. Its vines had lifted it from the other side of the forest and carried it back like a spider, moving extremely fast. It was flying in its own way — the real Groudon could never reach such heights, even with a jump.

Gengar, seeing the Groudon get up again, was furious. It had just claimed to have used only half its power, and now this thing was standing again, looking even fiercer. That was a slap in the face. Unacceptable.

"Watch closely — I’ll use another half of my power to finish it!" Gengar’s voice echoed in everyone’s minds. Its body dissolved into black mist, surging toward the Land Demon. Before long, all the vines were drawn back into the mist.

About a minute later, a brilliant blue light spread from Gengar’s mist. Wherever it touched, the withered forest rapidly recovered. The Pokémon the Land Demon had absorbed reappeared in the forest. Absol returned to the group.

"Is it over?" Evan’s father murmured.

"It should be," Butler replied. "I never expected Groudon to be taken down so easily by the Kanto Champion’s Gengar."

Just then, Gengar’s cackling laughter rang out. Its black mist quickly condensed back into its form — and the Land Demon was gone.

"The little Groudon has been defeated by Old Ghost with half my power!" Gengar floated back proudly.

"Amazing!" Jirachi, still in Evan’s arms, exclaimed in awe.

"Of course — I’ve lived for hundreds of years," Gengar said smugly.

"Hundreds of years? That’s short — I sleep through that in one nap," Jirachi replied.

Gengar’s smug expression froze. It glared at Jirachi, wanting to call it a brat, but not sure how — after all, it was true that Jirachi could dismiss centuries as short. Finally, Gengar just snorted: "Go to sleep already — the seventh night is almost over."

That reminder sobered everyone, especially Evan. They all turned to Jirachi.

"I won’t forget you, Jirachi," Evan said sadly.

"I won’t forget you either, Evan," Jirachi replied.

"Thank you, Jirachi." Evan hugged it gently.

Half an hour later, everyone returned to the cave entrance. Jirachi floated up, facing the comet, and opened its Third Eye. A blue beam shot toward the comet, which responded with a multicolored beam. After receiving it, Jirachi’s body slowly transformed back into the meteorite they had first seen.

"Jirachi!" Evan called out.

Jirachi turned to look at Evan and the others. "I’ll miss everyone," its voice echoed in their minds. Then it fully transformed into the meteorite and fell to the ground.

Absol caught it and placed it in a prepared pit, burying it alongside Flygon. Once done, Absol looked at the group and called out — the meaning was clear: you should leave now. You won’t see Jirachi again.

"Let’s go, everyone — it was wonderful meeting you all." Rio smiled.

They nodded. They held deep respect for Rio, the Kanto Champion. After they left, Rio lingered at the burial site.

"I’ve caught so many legendary Pokémon already — I wonder if I’ll live a thousand years," he muttered. "If I do, I’ll come back and surprise Jirachi."

With that, he left. Outside the cave, he said: "Until we meet again. If you’re ever in Kanto, come find me." He released a Poké Ball — Charizard appeared.

"We will," Evan’s family said.

Rio crouched down and pinched Evan’s cheek. "Evan, I have high hopes for your future. One day, I’d like to see you come before me as a Pokémon Champion."

"I’ll work hard," Evan said firmly.

Rio smiled. He figured Evan, chosen by Jirachi, had some destiny about him — making a name for himself shouldn’t be hard. Building a good relationship with him couldn’t hurt.

"And you — you nearly ruined this beautiful forest, but since you showed regret, I’ll let you off. I won’t hand you over to the Hoenn police." Rio turned to Butler. "Don’t try reviving Groudon to get back at Team Magma. They’re not worth it. Your talents could be put to better use."

"No, I won’t revive Groudon again," Butler shook his head frantically, then caught Rio’s implication. "What better use, Mr. Rio?"

Rio smiled: "You could come to the Kanto League. We’re always happy to welcome clever scientists like you."

"To the Kanto League?" Butler looked at Diane, who nodded slightly. He beamed: "Thank you, Mr. Rio — I’ll definitely come!"

"I’ll be waiting for you in Kanto." Rio grinned, climbed onto Charizard’s back, and said goodbye to Evan and the others.

"Too bad — no Jirachi, no Land Demon. The only gain was seeing what Jirachi is like after a thousand years," Rio sighed.

But as he sighed, a Pokémon blocked his path — Flygon. It looked at him earnestly.

"Fly~"

"What does it mean?" Rio raised an eyebrow.

"Flygon says it wants to follow you," Gengar’s voice echoed in his mind.

"Follow me?" Rio looked at Flygon in surprise. "Flygon, you want to travel with me?"

Flygon nodded and called out again.

"Fly~"

Gengar translated: "Flygon says it’s been waiting for a strong trainer. But every trainer it’s met so far has been unimpressive. After seeing my unstoppable performance tonight, it decided you must be a strong trainer. It wants to see the wider world with you. You should thank me, Rio."

"Good eye." Rio gave Flygon a thumbs-up. This was the first time a Pokémon had recognized his strength so proactively. Flygon puffed out its chest proudly.

"Fly~"

"It’s asking if you agree."

"Not exactly." Rio rubbed his chin.

Flygon, who had already mentally prepared to become Rio’s Pokémon, froze — confused. It couldn’t understand why anyone would turn down a Pokémon of its strength and talent. Trainers used to chase after it desperately, only to be driven away. Now it was offering itself, only to be rejected — unacceptable.

"Fly~!" Flygon cried out in disbelief.

"It’s asking why — why won’t you agree? It says it’s very strong."

Rio smiled at Flygon: "You are strong, I agree. But compared to my current Pokémon, there’s a huge gap. Most of my Pokémon could easily beat you."

"Fly~"

"It says that’s impossible — your Pokémon can’t be that much stronger. It thinks you’re bluffing."

"How about this, Flygon — come with me, see my Pokémon’s strength for yourself, and then decide if I’m lying." Rio smiled.

Flygon stared at him for a moment, then nodded.

"Fly~"

"It says it accepts — it wants to see if you’re bluffing. It still can’t believe its strength is so far behind mine and Charizard’s. Poor Flygon — it’ll never catch up to Old Ghost."

"Then follow me. I’ll show you the strength of this Kanto Champion — just try not to be scared." Rio patted Charizard’s back. Charizard gave Flygon an appreciative glance, roared, and took off from Farns Forest. Flygon followed, speeding after them.

Two hours later, Flygon followed Charizard to Lavaridge Town in Hoenn — more precisely, to Mt. Chimney behind the town.

"If I remember correctly, Groudon sleeps in the magma beneath Mt. Chimney." Rio looked down at the dormant volcano.

The mountain was guarded by Hoenn police officers, stationed there on Steven’s orders to prevent Team Magma remnants from disturbing Groudon.

"Old Ghost, I need your help again." Rio released Gengar.

"Rio, you really can’t do without me — everything needs Old Ghost!" Gengar boasted as it emerged.

It floated down, releasing black mist. Soon, the officers stationed below all fell asleep.

"Move them away so they don’t get caught in the battle." Rio landed on Charizard.

"Fine, fine — Old Ghost is just the errand boy." Gengar followed orders, using Psychic to move the officers away.

"Follow me. You’ll soon see the kind of battles I face." Rio glanced back at Flygon and entered Mt. Chimney. Flygon followed silently.

After walking for a while, Rio got lost. "Old Ghost — need you to guide me again," he called out.

Gengar looked back in exasperation. "Am I your nanny? Why do I handle everything?"

Despite its words, Gengar went ahead and searched for Groudon’s resting chamber. It returned shortly and led Rio deeper. In just five minutes, they reached the deepest part — Groudon’s resting place.

Groudon stood in the magma, eyes closed, radiating a terrifying aura — far more intimidating than the Land Demon. Flygon visibly showed fear.

"What’s wrong — already scared? How can you be my Pokémon if you’re this timid?" Rio’s voice rang out.