Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 43: Team Rocket’s Influence; Cynthia’s Shock

All around lay bound Team Rocket members, still in a deep sleep. About seven or eight meters away lay her Alakazam, now covered in wounds—especially noticeable were bite marks and severe burns.

"All of this was caused by that one move?" Sabrina thought of the all-consuming darkness. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead. She never wanted to experience that feeling again.

"What kind of move was that? It put every member of Team Rocket—Pokémon included—into a deep sleep," Sabrina wondered to herself. With her psychic power, the ropes binding her hands automatically came undone.

After scanning her surroundings to confirm no one was watching, a Full Restore flew from her belt into Alakazam’s mouth. Soon, Alakazam’s wounds began to heal at a visible rate. After about ten more seconds, Alakazam opened its eyes. It started to move, but Sabrina communicated telepathically, telling it to keep playing dead until it had fully recovered.

While Alakazam continued to recover, Rio and Cynthia walked over. Rio crouched down beside a bound Rocket member and started patting him down.

"Rio, what are you doing?" Cynthia asked, puzzled.

"What else? Collecting payment! We fought Team Rocket—if we don’t take their money, we fought for nothing," Rio replied, pulling out a phone and grinning.

Cynthia tried to object: "Is that okay? Officer Jenny is on her way—they’re supposed to be handed over to the Pokémon Police."

Rio ignored her, using the man’s finger to unlock the phone and transfer the funds. "Sis, that’s exactly why we need to move fast—before she gets here. Think about it: if I hadn’t used Munchlax to stop this crisis today, what do you think would have happened to your Gabite?"

Cynthia frowned, recalling Team Rocket’s reputation from the news. Her face paled: "They’d either use it for research or sell it on the black market to the highest bidder."

"Exactly. They do things far worse than that. So isn’t it only fair that we take all their money before Officer Jenny arrives?" Rio said.

"Fair enough—you’re right. If my Gabite, who’s been with me since I was little, got taken by them, I’d be devastated. Let me help." Cynthia suddenly found Rio’s logic quite convincing. She crouched down and joined the search.

Soon, they reached Sabrina. Rio reached out his right hand to pat her down—and immediately felt a murderous glare. His hand was slapped away.

"What are you doing? Don’t you know she’s a woman? I should be the one searching her!" Cynthia glared at him, pushed him aside, and prepared to do it herself.

But just as she was about to touch Sabrina, Sabrina suddenly looked up and met her eyes.

The next second, Cynthia was sent flying.

Rio jumped back in surprise—and then he was flying too. Luckily, Charizard, not far away, reacted in time and caught him with its wings.

By the time he gathered himself atop Charizard, Sabrina was already standing with Alakazam, several mid-level Rocket executives floating beside her.

"Rio. I’ll remember you." Sabrina’s icy voice reached his ears.

Rio’s response: "Charizard, Flamethrower!"

After evolution, Rio had noticed that Charizard had already mastered Flamethrower as a learned move.

"Roaar~" Charizard pulled its head back, then unleashed a blazing column of fire from its mouth. Just as it was about to hit Sabrina, Alakazam’s and Sabrina’s eyes flashed.

The next second, Alakazam, Sabrina, and the several Rocket executives vanished. The Flamethrower hit nothing but air.

"Teleport, huh." Rio frowned, scanning the area from Charizard’s back. He spotted them at Lavender Town’s entrance. Two seconds later, they vanished again.

Rio didn’t pursue. Munchlax was still recovering, leaving Charizard as his only fighting force. Though Charizard had evolved, its move proficiency hadn’t caught up yet. In a straight fight, it still couldn’t beat Sabrina’s Alakazam. Chasing them would only lead to defeat.

"Let me down, Charizard." Rio patted Charizard’s back and climbed down.

At that moment, Cynthia emerged from some bushes, groaning.

"Are you okay, Cynthia?" Rio went over and helped her up.

"Who is that woman?! How can she use psychic powers?" Cynthia fumed. "I’ll remember her—and I’ll get revenge one day!"

"She’s Sabrina, the Psychic-type Gym Leader of Saffron City in Kanto—a natural-born psychic," Rio explained calmly.

"The Psychic-type Gym Leader of Kanto?" Cynthia looked up in shock, clearly having just heard some major gossip. "But then why is she part of an underground organization like Team Rocket? Shouldn’t she be affiliated with the Kanto Pokémon League?"

"I don’t know—you’d have to ask the League higher-ups if they’re aware that one of their Gyms is under Rocket control. I just found that out myself." Rio shrugged, avoiding a direct answer.

He knew that if he told Cynthia the full extent of Team Rocket’s influence, she’d be terrified. Not to mention the Johto region and other islands—just in Kanto alone, aside from Pewter City and Cerulean City, almost every other Gym was connected to Team Rocket: Saffron City’s Psychic Gym, Vermilion City’s Electric Gym, Fuchsia City’s Poison Gym, Cinnabar Island’s Fire Gym, and Viridian City’s Viridian Gym. Oh, and Celadon City—while its Gym wasn’t under Rocket control, Team Rocket had a base there. The scale of their power was horrifying. They truly were the underground kings. If the League leadership didn’t have Rocket infiltrators, he’d smash his head against a wall.

"I don’t think the League knows," Cynthia said, unaware of Rio’s thoughts. "Otherwise, they wouldn’t let a Team Rocket member hold a position representing a region’s strongest trainer."

"Rio, we should report this to the League—tell them the Saffron Gym Leader is with Team Rocket!"

Rio raised a finger and wagged it. "I’d advise against it. Just hand these Rocket members over to the police and leave it at that."

"Why?" Cynthia was confused.

"Because we’ve already captured this many Rockets for the League. If they interrogate them properly, they’ll find out the truth. But if you speak up yourself, you might face a situation you won’t like."

"What situation?" Cynthia’s brow furrowed deeply.

"What if—even after you report her—Sabrina still keeps her position as Gym Leader? What would you do then?"

"That’s impossible! If the League finds out, there’s no way Sabrina stays in Saffron City!"

Seeing Cynthia’s determined expression, Rio smiled. "Then let’s bet on it. I bet that after this incident, Sabrina will still be the Psychic Gym Leader of Saffron City."

"Fine, bet! How much? I refuse to believe the League would let a Rocket operative control a city’s most important facility—unless the Kanto League leadership is full of idiots!"

It’s possible they are, Rio thought with a silent sigh.

He held up one finger: "Ten thousand League coins. Let’s give it two months and see if Sabrina steps down from the Saffron Gym Leader position."

Cynthia agreed without hesitation: "Deal! Ten thousand it is. I refuse to believe I’ll lose this bet to you!"

"Youth is bliss," Rio sighed again inwardly. Then he turned back to continue collecting the Rockets’ money.