Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 62: The Silver Wing and the Ancient Poké Ball

"You’re willing to risk your life?" The hotel owner was baffled when Rio came back to rent diving equipment. She had thought her earnest warnings had convinced him otherwise—but here he was again.

"I transferred my Water-type Pokémon from the Pokémon Center," Rio explained calmly. "That should be fine, right?"

"Even so, you’re underestimating the dangers of going out to sea. If something happens, won’t your family come after me?" The owner still refused.

"Bro, going out in this weather isn’t a game. Without a professional guide, you’re just asking to die," the bronze-skinned young man chimed in. "If you really want to go, I can take you around for ten or fifteen minutes later—free of charge."

"Ashō, is that okay?" the owner asked doubtfully.

"No problem—I’m a professional." Ashō puffed out his chest confidently. "Know what that means? It means this stormy weather is tough for others, but for me, bringing one or two people along makes no difference."

To show off, he tossed a Poké Ball outside. A Level 32 Tentacruel with Elite talent appeared.

"Wow, amazing—as expected of you, Ashō!"

"Of course—I’m a professional."

Watching these two carbon-based life forms suddenly get all lovey-dovey right in front of him, Rio wore a deadpan expression. He really wanted to leave one here and toss the other into the Distortion World, just so they could experience what it meant to be born too late.

"Thanks, but I don’t need a professional companion. I’ll sign a waiver. If I die at sea, it’s my own bad luck," he said flatly.

Ten minutes later, Rio successfully rented a set of diving equipment from the hotel.

Fully geared up, he walked to the shore. Glancing at the rough, churning sea and the overcast sky, he took out a Poké Ball.

With a flash of light, the Red Gyarados appeared at the water’s edge. This time, it didn’t immediately charge a Hyper Beam. Instead, it lowered its head submissively, allowing Rio to climb on.

Once on board, Rio looked at the treasure map in his hand. After a moment, he pointed in one direction.

"Let’s go—when we get back, I’ll have Primeape give you a beating."

"ROAR!" The Red Gyarados roared and plunged into the sea.

Before long, Rio’s vision was filled with countless Water-type Pokémon—Seel, Shellder, Magikarp, Carvanha, Tentacool, Horsea, and more—though Magikarp were the most common. These Pokémon had been leisurely swimming along, but the moment they saw the Red Gyarados’s fierce expression, they scattered in terror.

"This way."

"Now that way."

"Keep going—that’s right."

Following the map’s instructions, Rio and the Red Gyarados pressed onward. Though other Water-types attacked them from time to time, the Red Gyarados handled them all.

Eventually, they reached a deep-sea area. Here, the familiar Water-types became scarce, replaced by more powerful deep-sea dwellers—Chinchou, Tentacruel, Mantine, Kingdra, Starmie, Wailord, and the like.

"How am I supposed to find the way now?" Rio studied the map, stumped.

The map said that once he reached this spot, new guidance would appear—but he saw nothing.

"Did I go the wrong way?" Rio muttered, a little nervous.

If he was lost, where was the right path? In this vast ocean, he could wander forever.

Just then, the treasure map began to glow, as if drawn by some force. It floated up and drifted in a certain direction.

"Quick, quick—follow it!" Rio exclaimed excitedly.

The map glowing meant he was on the right track.

"ROAR!" The Red Gyarados quickly followed.

Meanwhile, back on Blaze Island.

The hotel owner stood on the shore, watching the increasingly violent waves and water spouts with growing concern.

"This is bad—the weather’s getting worse by the minute. Ashō is a professional, so he should make it back safely, but that young man... I fear the worst."

"I should have been more firm and refused to rent him the equipment. Young people these days—they’ll risk their lives for fun, not understanding how terrifying the sea can be. How foolish."

She sighed heavily and turned back to the hotel, already prepared to pull out the waiver if his parents came looking.

"Gyarados, Dragon Rage!"

"ROAR!!!"

Outside an ancient shipwreck deep underwater, Rio commanded the Red Gyarados in battle against a Kingdra.

The treasure map had flown into the shipwreck, and they were about to follow it in when a Level 33 Kingdra appeared and blasted a Dragon Breath at them. Fortunately, the Red Gyarados reacted quickly, or they would have been hit.

After a short exchange, the Kingdra was driven off.

"Good work, Gyarados."

The ship’s entrance was too small for the Red Gyarados to fit through, so Rio recalled it and went in alone.

Inside, he saw the treasure map again, still glowing, as if waiting for him. When he drew closer, the map continued leading the way.

He passed human skeletal remains and Pokémon skeletons along the way, eventually following the map to a single room. There, he found what he was looking for.

The Silver Wing.

It floated quietly in the seawater, radiating a soft glow.

"Finally." Rio’s face lit up with relief.

He’d put in so much effort for this feather. Now, with it, he could go to the Whirl Islands and meet the legendary Lugia. Of course, that was just a thought—he wouldn’t go now. Going now would waste this hard-earned feather.

After admiring it for a moment, Rio tucked the feather into his jacket.

"Hm?"

Just as he was about to leave, something caught his eye—a spherical object resembling a Poké Ball.

He picked it up.

"Is this an ancient Poké Ball?" He examined it closely. It matched the description of ancient Poké Balls that Mr. Fuji had mentioned during their ancient script lessons with Cynthia.

"There shouldn’t be any Pokémon inside, right? Even if there were, given how old this ball looks, whatever was inside is probably long dead," Rio muttered.

He reached for the button, thinking, Let’s just take a look.

But then he pulled his hand back. "No—what if something dangerous comes out? I’m deep underwater—the risk is too high. If I die here, that would be a huge loss."

He decided to put the ancient Poké Ball away for now and open it safely back on Blaze Island.

Leaving the shipwreck, Rio released the Red Gyarados again.

"Let’s go back to the island."

"ROAR!"

The journey down had been long, but the return was fast. Half an hour later, Rio and the Red Gyarados surfaced, with Blaze Island visible in the distance.

But as they reached the surface, Rio heard someone shouting for help.

He turned to see another diver in full gear being chased by a Level 35 Wailmer. Believing that good deeds bring good fortune, Rio chose to help. He commanded the Red Gyarados to fire a Hyper Beam.

The Wailmer fled.

"Climb on," Rio said, inviting the other diver aboard.

But when he pulled the person up and got a clear look through the diving helmet, both of them froze.

"It’s you?!"

The bronze-skinned young man stared at him in shock.

Rio said nothing at first—just uttered three words: "Professional?"

The young man’s face flushed red with embarrassment, and he immediately turned his head away in shame.