400Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.
Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. Lucas finds something unexpected while exploring Viridian Forest and is interviewed on live television.
Chapter 61
Lysandre watched flames dance across his palm, their heat caressing his skin. He shaped the fire into patterns suspended in the air. Suddenly, the flames surged upward, mirroring his internal rage.
With a clenched fist, he extinguished the fire and stood up. The confined space of his hideout barely contained his restless energy as he paced back and forth.
Since the break-in at his lab, he'd maintained a low profile. He'd scrubbed the facility clean of Team Flare's activities before the police arrived. The rapid police response suggested someone had betrayed him. Someone had targeted Team Flare specifically, not just the Zygarde Core.
How had they identified him as the leader? What motivated them? How had they located his secret lab? The intruder's aura abilities might explain it. His powers, limited to controlling flames, proved destructive but tactically limited outside combat.
A tremor ran through his hands. Lysandre massaged his temples, the beginnings of a migraine pulsing behind his eyes. Sleep had eluded him for three days straight. Dark circles carved hollows beneath his eyes, his normally immaculate appearance now dishevelled. He poured himself a measure of cognac, the amber liquid sloshing over the rim as his hand shook with fatigue and fury.
The police manhunt forced him underground. This hideout provided temporary shelter, but the disruption had devastated his plans. If he ever uncovered the intruder's identity, he'd ensure their suffering.
He couldn't afford weakness now. Not when everything hung by such a fragile thread. His fingers traced the scar along his forearm—a reminder of past failures, of lessons learnt through blood and pain. Never again would he allow an adversary to catch him unprepared.
Outside, thunder rumbled across the Kalos countryside. Rain lashed against the reinforced windows of his bunker, nature's fury echoing his own. He'd built redundancies into his operation, of course—secondary labs, backup data, contingency plans—but the loss of the primary facility represented a significant setback. Months of meticulous planning undone in a single night.
The door hissed open, interrupting his thoughts.
Malva strode in, her heels clicking against the polished floor. Her tight expression replaced her usual languid demeanour.
"We have a problem," she announced.
Lysandre's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
"The church circles the café like vultures," Malva said. "They're digging for information about your whereabouts."
"Why are they interested in me?"
Malva grimaced. "Someone tipped them off about your Aura Guardian status. You know their zealotry when they discover one outside the Rota Kingdom. Even if the police clear you, the church won't stop until they learn the truth."
"The thief must have done it," Lysandre growled. "I'll stay hidden for now. Damn them."
"How did they escape you?" Malva asked.
Lysandre laughed without humour. "Our intruder shares my Aura Guardian abilities. They created a barrier against my flames, buying time for their Pokemon to teleport them away. The irony—exposed by one of my own kind."
Malva lowered her sunglasses, concern evident. "This complication threatens everything we've built. An opponent of this calibre could unravel all of our work."
"I'll deal with them soon enough," Lysandre said. "How did you explain my absence?"
"I told them you left on an extended business trip," Malva replied, sitting on his desk. "They don't believe it. Someone spotted you at the café hours before everything exploded."
"Fools. They've no idea what they're interfering with."
"Indeed," Malva agreed. "But they persist."
Lysandre resumed pacing. "We need to find whoever breached the lab."
"Do you want me to handle it? What can you tell me about them?"
Lysandre paused. "A man. Tall, around six feet. Had a Gardevoir."
"Any other distinguishing features?"
"No. His face remained hidden."
"What about that day? Did you notice anything unusual? Anyone suspicious nearby?"
Lysandre's brow furrowed as he searched his memory. "I met two trainers outside the café that evening. Lucas Walker and Sabrina Kuroi."
"From the ruins?"
"Yes," Lysandre confirmed. "I dismissed their presence at the ruins as a coincidence. Now I wonder."
"You suspect their involvement?"
Lysandre's lips thinned. "We can't ignore the possibility. The Core theft suggests they discovered something in the ruins. Perhaps they accessed the secret chamber."
Malva stood, smoothing her skirt. "I'll investigate. I'll contact our mole, check if those two entered the chamber. I need to visit Kanto as well. My reporter cover should grant access without suspicion."
"Determine if Walker's our culprit. And Malva? Discretion is essential."
"Always."
As she turned to leave, Lysandre called, "Monitor the church. We can't afford more complications."
The door closed shut, leaving Lysandre alone. He sank into his chair, recent events weighing on him.
His gaze drifted to the corner. There stood the stone tablet, its surface unmarked.
Lysandre clenched his jaw. He'd thrown all his resources at it. His strongest Pokemon barely scratched it. His flames—hot enough to melt steel—passed harmlessly across its surface. The tablet's material defied classification, unlike anything in his research experience.
He approached the artefact, fingers tracing its edge, feeling tiny imperfections. He didn't know if this would lead him to the location of Zygarde's scattered Cores and Cells, but he sensed that it concealed something important.
Each moment increased the risk that his enemies might obtain crucial information about Zygarde. If that happened, his work would collapse. His weapon, central to his grand design, would remain forever dormant.
Flames danced between Lysandre's fingers. He would crack this code. He must. The future—his perfect world—depended on it.
Lucas pushed through the undergrowth, boots crunching on fallen twigs and snow. The forest hummed with unseen Pokemon, a symphony of chirps, buzzes, and rustles surrounding him.
Meowth padded silently beside him, whiskers twitching as he scanned for hidden items. Ashe and Nero scouted ahead for potential threats while Raphael trailed behind, pausing occasionally to sketch interesting flora.
Lucas had focused on training these three Pokemon, hoping to bring them up to parity with the rest of his team. All neared their evolution requirements, with only Nero lacking his final prerequisite—the Black Glasses needed for his bonus evolutionary condition. Despite searching online, Lucas had found no mention of where to acquire them.
He breathed deeply, savouring the earthy scent of the forest. His exploration of Viridian Forest served multiple purposes—building experience for his Pokemon, gathering alchemical ingredients, and searching for another of Zygarde's Cores.
The forest's immense size made locating the Core like finding a needle in a haystack. He'd initially tried flying over the forest on Saphira, but after a nasty encounter with a flock of Spearow and a Fearow, he'd retreated to the safety of the ground. Once within range, he'd sense it, but covering the necessary distance would take time.
His thoughts drifted to Butch, his overzealous manager. In the weeks since hiring him, Lucas's public profile had skyrocketed. A fan club website had sprung up overnight, its membership growing alarmingly.
Lucas winced, remembering Butch's latest scheme. "Merchandise, my boy!" he'd exclaimed. "T-shirts with your face on them! Action figures of your Pokemon! The possibilities are endless!"
At least Sabrina had escaped, training her Pokemon after using his Effort Value Reset Potions. This left Butch to focus his manic energy on Lucas, who already had a local news interview looming.
He still needed to decide how to sell the potion. Going into business for himself risked exposing his Enigma persona. For now, he planned to return to the auction house in disguise to introduce the potion publicly.
A flutter of movement snapped Lucas back to the present. A Butterfree hovered nearby, wings shimmering in a patch of sunlight.
"Raphael, it's your turn!" Lucas called.
Raphael dropped his art supplies, eyes narrowing with determination as he faced the Butterfree. The forest clearing transformed into a battlefield. Lucas stepped back to give the combatants room, deciding to let Raphael fight without instruction to assess his improvement.
He'd stopped using his Battle Commentator skill, finding the voice distracting and the information unnecessary. With his accumulated experience, Lucas could judge battles by observation alone. But the skill still provided summary reports with key insights after each encounter.
Raphael's cheeks bulged as he inhaled deeply, then released a powerful jet of water. The Water Gun sliced through empty air, and the Butterfree dodged the move effortlessly.
The Butterfree's antennae glowed as waves of psychic energy pulsed outward. Raphael's eyes widened, then glazed over as Confusion took hold. He staggered, his usually graceful movements becoming erratic.
Shaking his head vigorously, Raphael fought against the disorientation, eyes refocusing just in time to see the Butterfree's wings beating more rapidly. Recognising the impending danger, he retreated into his shell.
The Gust attack hit with surprising force, sending Raphael's shell spinning across the forest floor like a top. When the wind died down, he emerged, mostly unscathed.
With renewed focus, Raphael took aim once more. This time, his Water Gun found its mark. The pressurised stream caught the Butterfree, throwing it backwards through the air.
The Butterfree beat its wings furiously, releasing a cloud of glittering particles. The Stun Spore drifted downward, a beautiful but deadly mist.
Raphael's eyes widened in alarm. He tucked into his shell and began to spin. The rapid rotation created a vortex, dispersing the paralysing powder before it could settle on his skin. He emerged moments later, slightly dizzy but unaffected.
The Butterfree dove in close, compound eyes glowing ominously as it prepared another Confusion attack. But Raphael was ready. Still spinning from his defensive manoeuvre, he used the momentum to his advantage. He burst from his shell, unleashing a point-blank Water Gun.
The powerful blast caught Butterfree directly in the face. The Bug Pokemon tumbled backwards, somersaulting end over end as it struggled to regain control. Its soaked wings beat erratically as it fought to stay aloft.
Sensing victory, Raphael took careful aim. His final Water Gun was powerful enough to overcome the Butterfree's remaining strength. The jet struck true, and the Butterfree fluttered weakly to the ground.
For a moment, the two Pokemon locked eyes. Then, the Butterfree sank to the ground in a dead faint.
Raphael turned to Lucas, his eyes shining with the thrill of victory. Without a word, Lucas knelt beside his Pokemon, offering a well-deserved Potion and a gentle pat on the shell.
"Good job," Lucas told him.
"Squirtle."
They pressed deeper into the forest, the encounters with wild Pokemon becoming more frequent. Lucas rotated his three Pokemon, even allowing Meowth to battle specific opponents where his speed proved effective, despite his limited potential.
Around noon, they stumbled upon a small clearing. Feeling the bite of lingering winter chill, Lucas decided to make camp. He gathered wood for a fire and called Ashe over.
She understood immediately, exhaling a controlled flame onto the gathered wood. The fire roared to life.
Lucas summoned the rest of his Pokemon, distributing their meals before preparing his lunch. Between bites, he accessed Arceus' Emporium, scanning the available items. He sat tantalisingly close to the next shop level. He was tempted to spend the pokedollars to cross the threshold even though he didn't need anything.
His thoughts drifted to his finances. Meowth's talent for finding hidden items easily covered daily expenses. His wealth increased steadily, if not dramatically.
With growth potions about to hit the market, Lucas anticipated an imminent influx of royalties. The mining venture would also provide a steady income. Between all the revenue streams Butch pursued, his wealth would grow rapidly.
Deciding to take the plunge, he purchased two Secret Base kits, advancing his shop to level three. Browsing the unlocked items, he noticed many remained locked behind specific achievements. However, a new category of evolutionary items had become available, including the Black Glasses Nero needed.
"I suspected this was the case," Lucas murmured.
He spent thirty-three thousand pokedollars on the Black Glasses. Even with his new shop discount, they remained expensive.
He turned to Nero, lazily sprawled near the fire. "Nothing holding you back from evolving now, buddy."
Nero's head snapped up. A low, anticipatory growl rumbled in his throat.
Lucas held up a hand, tempering the Pokemon's enthusiasm. "Let's wait until we're back home. I want to capture this moment properly."
Nero's jaws snapped shut with an audible click, eyes narrowing in clear displeasure.
Meowth snickered. "He's not pleased about waiting."
"I got that, thanks," Lucas muttered.
After lunch, they continued through the forest, remaining vigilant. Lucas considered summoning Max for additional protection. They traversed a narrow strip populated by level twenty Pokemon, but Lucas knew more dangerous zones bordered this area. One wrong turn could lead them into much stronger wild Pokemon territory.
As the sun dipped low, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Ashe's nose caught an unusual scent. Her ears perked up, eight tails swishing with curiosity.
"What is it?" Lucas murmured, crouching to her level.
Ashe yipped softly, nose twitching as she led him off the main path. They weaved through dense underbrush, pushing past branches and stepping over gnarled roots. Lucas noticed something odd about the foliage ahead.
What appeared to be thick vegetation was actually a clever camouflage net strung between trees. Lucas carefully lifted a corner, revealing a narrow dirt road snaking through the forest.
Intrigued, he followed the winding path with Ashe trotting beside him, senses on high alert. After a few minutes, the trees parted, revealing a small, abandoned town. A dozen houses lined the single dirt road, windows dark and empty. Weathered clapboard siding and rusted metal roofs spoke of years of neglect. Nature had begun reclaiming the town—vines creeping up walls and saplings pushing through cracked pavement.
The silence hung oppressively, broken only by occasional leaf rustles in the breeze. Ashe pressed against his leg, fur standing on end.
"Hello?" he called, his voice unnaturally loud in the stillness. No response came.
"This place is freaking me out, partner," Meowth said.
Nero snapped his jaws in agreement. Even Raphael looked around warily, making no move to capture the scene on paper.
Curiosity warred with caution as Lucas took a few steps into the town. The dirt road lay almost completely obscured by overgrown foliage.
He approached the nearest house, its front door hanging askew on rusted hinges. Through a grimy window, he made out shadowy outlines of furniture, frozen in time like a tableau of life long abandoned.
As Lucas reached for the doorknob, Ashe suddenly growled, the sound low and warning. A gust of wind swept through the town, carrying a sound—so faint he almost missed it—like a distant, mournful wail. The hairs on his neck stood up.
Something about this place felt wrong. The clever concealment, the abandonment, and the lingering sense of something watching. What was a town doing here in the forest? Where were the residents?
"Time to go," Lucas said. Whatever secrets this town held, he wasn't prepared to uncover them this late in the day.
He released Dante, who materialised in a flash of light.
"Remember this place," Lucas instructed, gesturing to their surroundings.
Dante nodded, his eyes glowing briefly as he committed the location to memory. With a final, uneasy glance at the abandoned town, Lucas returned his Pokemon to their pokeballs and placed his hand on Dante's shoulder. In a blink, they vanished, leaving the mysterious settlement behind for now.
Studio lights blazed down on Lucas as he sat in the plush armchair, trying to look relaxed despite his nerves. The smartly dressed Viridian News Network reporter adjusted his microphone and flashed a smile at him.
At Lucas's feet, Nero fidgeted restlessly. His eyes darted around the studio, a low growl rumbling in his throat. When the reporter leaned forward to offer his hand, Nero's jaws snapped shut centimetres from the man's polished shoes.
"Good heavens!" The reporter jumped back, his composure slipping. "That's quite the feisty companion you've got."
Lucas winced. "I'm terribly sorry. Nero's a bit on edge today."
Nero's agitation stemmed from yesterday's events. After returning from the forest, Lucas had been ambushed by an over-eager Butch. The moment Lucas mentioned Nero's evolution, Butch's eyes lit up. "Hold off, kid! We'll capture it live on air. Think of the ratings!"
Although Lucas had complete control of his Pokemon's evolution, convincing Nero to wait required bribery and sweet-talking. He sensed the Sandile's patience wearing thin; further delay might cause outright mutiny.
The camera's red light blinked on, and the interview began.
"Good evening, Viridian City! I'm here with Lucas Walker, the rising star making waves across Kanto. Lucas, thanks for joining us."
Lucas nodded. "Happy to be here."
"Let's jump right in," the reporter said. "That night at the power plant, you faced off against Zapdos and Team Rocket. Can you walk us through what happened?"
Lucas chose his words carefully. "It was intense. Sabrina and I were just trying to protect the Zapdos egg from Giovanni."
"Yet you stood your ground amidst the battle between two legendaries. That must have been terrifying."
"Honestly, there wasn't time to be scared," Lucas replied. "We focused on keeping the egg safe and buying time for Lance to take out Giovanni."
"How did that feel to battle alongside Lance?"
Lucas grinned. "Surreal. Lance is an incredible trainer. Working with him was an honour."
"What are your thoughts on the new legendary Pokemon? From what we understand, Giovanni created a device to control it, but it wasn't very effective."
Lucas knew he trod on delicate ground. The government wanted to hide that Mewtwo was created in a lab, as others might try to replicate it. Also, Shichiro hadn't yet introduced Porygon to the public and wanted it to be known as the first lab-created Pokemon.
"It was foolish to try to control a legendary," Lucas said. "Even if such a thing were possible, we all saw how Mew intervened. While legendary Pokemon typically keep their distance from each other, they'll unite against humans when needed."
The reporter hummed. "Some theorise this new legendary might be related to Mew, given their apparent similarities. What's your take?"
Lucas shrugged. "Possibly. But proving such a connection would mean asking them directly."
"A task I wouldn't recommend to our viewers," the reporter quipped with a wry smile. "Now, let's discuss your Pokemon team. Keen-eyed viewers have noticed that many of your companions are larger than normal. Rumours suggest you're using the new growth potion. Care to comment?"
"You're right. Thanks to my girlfriend, I've had access to the potion before others. It's been a game-changer."
The reporter's eyebrow arched. "Some might cry favouritism."
"Fair point," Lucas conceded. "But this advantage is temporary. The Kuroi family plans to make the potion widely available soon. I've simply had a small head start. Plus, I'm not competing in any Leagues."
The reporter nodded. "I notice your Sandile here seems standard-sized. Why is that?"
Lucas glanced at Nero, who glared at the reporter. "Nero's a bit particular. He decided the potion wasn't for him. Didn't want it affecting his speed or sand-diving ability."
Nero snapped his jaws in agreement, making the reporter flinch.
"Speaking of Nero," the reporter said, regaining composure, "I understand he's about to evolve. Any chance we might see that today?"
Lucas feigned surprise. "You know what? Why not? Nero's ready. What do you say, buddy? Want to show everyone your new form?"
Nero's eyes lit up, all grumpiness vanishing. He scampered to the studio's centre, vibrating with anticipation.
Lucas spent Nero's remaining experience points, and he reached level twenty-nine.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a brilliant white light engulfed Nero, growing and shifting. The studio crew gasped as the light faded, revealing a much larger, bipedal form.
Where Nero the Sandile had stood, a powerful Krokorok now towered. His red and black scales shone under the studio lights, menacing eyes staring at them.
"Incredible!" the reporter exclaimed. "Ladies and gentlemen, you've just witnessed a live Pokemon evolution!"
Lucas activated his Insight skill to check Nero's parameters.
Nero
Species: Krokorok; Desert Croc Pokemon
Gender: Male
Status: Owned
Favourability: Neutral 630/1000
Favourite Food: Dryad Dust.
Condition: Perfect
Level: 29
Next: [71%]
Exp Cache: [0]
Stats obtained from EV's [70/100]
Current Level Potential Met?: No
Special Ability: Anger Point
Attack: 150
Special Attack: 67
Defence: 78
Special Defence: 70
Speed: 149
Luck: 45
Moves
Crunch: 73%
Torment: 65%
Sand Tomb:52%
Mud Slap: 49%
Swagger: 73%
Dig: 85%
Sand Storm: 1%
Description: Nero has evolved into a Krokorok. A bigger, meaner, and stronger version of his Sandile form. His temper hasn't improved, but he is slowly learning to trust his trainer and integrate with the team. As long as his appetite for battle is satisfied, he shouldn't cause too many problems. His potential, as always, is enormous, and he is already looking forward to evolving into Krookodile.
Hidden Stats
Intelligence: 6
Endurance: 10
Energy: 8
Aptitude: 9
Affinities
Normal: 35%
Ground: 56%
Dark: 56%
Traits
Inherent (Can be passed onto offspring)
Ground-type Aptitude (Intermediate) - Increases ground-affinity training by twenty-five percent.
Dark Elemental - (Intermediate) - Moderately increases the power and effectiveness of dark-type moves.
Attack Boost (Expert) - Significantly increases attack stat potency.
Speed Aptitude (Intermediate) - Increases speed stat training efficiency.
Paralysis Ward - Immune to the paralysis status condition.
Burn Resistance - 50% chance to resist the burn status condition.
Freeze Resistance: - 50% chance to resist the freeze status condition.
Learned/Acquired/Unique
Sand Diver - Can swim beneath the sand as if it were swimming through water.
Berserker: When in critical condition, it sacrifices defence to raise its attack.
Evolution Conditions
Krookodile
Level 40
Condition: Perfect
Experience in Cache: 100000
Both Dark/Ground Type Affinity equal and greater than 80%.
Evolution Bonuses
Max Experience in Cache = 130000: 15 to All Stats
Water-type affinity = 50%: [Egg move] Aqua Tail learned.
Favourability with his trainer is at the Loved status = Intelligence 1
Defeat ten level 30 Pokemon in a row without healing: On the Edge trait learned.
Consume ten Evolution Stones to gain type resistance to the specific stone.
Nero became Lucas's first Pokemon to reach ten in a hidden stat. With his intense effort value training, Nero already packed serious power. If he managed his temper, he'd become a formidable team member.
The reporter leant forward. "What an incredible sight. Nero looks properly menacing."
Nero puffed out his chest, clearly enjoying the attention. He flexed his new muscular arms, drawing chuckles from the crew.
"Fascinating stuff, Lucas," the reporter said. "Now, with your rapid rise to fame and impressive Pokemon team, what's next for you? Any plans to challenge the Pokemon League?"
Lucas shook his head. "I've no interest in the League. My focus is my Pokemon Breeding business."
"How's that going? Anything you can share with the public?"
"Let's just say the future holds some unexpected evolutions," Lucas replied. "I'm expecting remarkable developments in the coming months. Eevees have always fascinated trainers, but what I'm working on could change the game entirely."
"Sounds intriguing," the reporter pressed. "Any hints for our viewers?"
Lucas chuckled. "Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. Let's just say trainers who thought they knew everything about Eevee evolution might be in for quite a shock."
The reporter opened his mouth, but his words were cut short by a sudden flash of light. The studio air rippled, and hovering just above the camera appeared a small, cat-like Pokemon with large blue eyes and a thin tail.
Mew.
Chaos erupted. The reporter screamed and scrambled from his chair before bolting for the exit. Crew members shouted, following him out. Within seconds, only Lucas, Nero and the legendary Pokemon remained.
The camera, however, continued rolling, its red light blinking steadily.
Mew glided through the air, landing on Lucas's shoulder.
"Don't suppose you'd care to explain why you've crashed my interview?" Lucas asked.
He knew this surreal encounter was broadcasting live across Viridian City to thousands of viewers.
With a casual tail flick, the legendary Pokemon snapped its fingers. The camera's red light blinked out.
"Privacy, eh? This must be serious." He reached for a pokeball and released Meowth.
The moment Meowth materialised, his eyes locked onto Mew. Horror dawned on his feline features. "Oh hell, no!" he yowled, fur bristling. "Get away from me, you body snatcher!"
Meowth spun to bolt but froze mid-stride. Slowly, mechanically, he turned back around. His usual snarky expression was replaced by unsettling blankness.
"Sorry, mate," Lucas murmured, before addressing Mew directly. "Right, you've got our attention. What do you want?"
Mew's voice—or rather Meowth's voice—filled the studio. "Mewtwo needs your help. I'm going to take you to where he is located."
"Mew, hold on—" Lucas's words vanished as reality folded around them. The last thing he saw was Nero's bewildered expression before everything dissolved into a kaleidoscope of colour and light.
The television screen flickered as the broadcast cut to static. In living rooms across Viridian City, viewers sat in stunned silence, processing what they'd witnessed.
Meanwhile, Lucas materialised on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. Waves crashed against the cliffs below as Meowth collapsed, released from Mew's control. The feline Pokemon retched dramatically, muttering about "never being clean again."
Mew hovered before them. Behind it loomed the entrance to a cave, darkness spilling from its mouth like ink.
"Why bring me here?" Lucas demanded. "What does Mewtwo want?"
Mew gestured toward the cave, its meaning clear without words.
Lucas squared his shoulders, bracing himself for whatever awaited within the cave.
So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Lucas meets the infamous Mewtwo next.
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Thanks for reading.