Pokemon: Resurgence Chapter 61

Hi all, 

Apologies for the lateness of the chapter, but I’m still finding it hard to get over my writing slump. I need to knuckle down and get the chapters out. The next Pokemon chapter will be out later today.

Chapter 61

Flames writhed across Lysandre's palm, their heat a comforting caress against his skin. He shaped the fire with practised precision, coaxing it into intricate patterns that hung suspended in the air. Suddenly, the flames flared, resisting his control. They roared higher, a mirror to the rage that burned within him.

Lysandre extinguished the fire with a clenched fist. He stood up and began pacing the confines of his hideout, his thoughts racing. 

Ever since the intruder broke into his lab, he had kept a low profile. He hurried to wipe the lab clean of any trace of Team Flare’s activities, and managed to leave before the police arrive. The speed at which the police responded suggested that the intruder tattled on him. Which meant they weren’t there just to steal the Zygarde Core, but to target Team Flare. 

How did they know he was the leader? What grudge did the person have against him? How did they find his secret lab? The fact that the intruder was an Aura Guardians like him could be the reason. Who knows what other abilities they possessed. He was unfortunate in that his aura powers only allowed him to control flames. Sure, it was destructive, but it was completely useless outside of combat. 

The police were searching for him, so he had to lie low for the time being. He had set up shop in one of his hideouts, but the disruption had dealt a significant blow to his plans. If he ever found who the intruder was, he was going to make sure they suffered greatly.

The door hissed open, breaking his concentration. The fire winked out.

Malva strode in, her heels echoing sharply against the polished floor. Her expression was tight, a far cry from her usual languid demeanour.

"We have a problem," she announced without preamble.

Lysandre's eyes narrowed. "Explain."

"The church is circling the café like vultures," Malva said. "They're digging for any scrap of information about your whereabouts."

"Do you know why they are interested in me?"

Malva grimaced. “They had a tip off that you are an Aura Guardian. You know how zealous they can get when they get a sniff of one that is outside the Rota Kingdom. Even if you were to be cleared by the police, the church won’t give up until they have determined the truth.”

“It seems like the thief tipped of the church as well,” Lysandre growled. "I'll be playing the role of ghost for the foreseeable future. Damn them to hell."

"How did they slip through your grasp?" Malva asked.

Lysandre released a mirthless chuckle. "Our intruder is an Aura Guardian like me. They conjured a barrier against my flames, buying time for their Pokémon to whisk them away. The irony isn't lost on me—outed as an Aura Guardian by one of their own."

Malva lowered her shades, concern etched in her eyes. "This is a complication we can't afford, boss. An opponent of this calibre could unravel everything we've built."

“I will deal with him soon enough,” Lysandre said. “How did you explain away my absence?”

 "I fed them a story about you leaving the region on an extended business trip," Malva replied, perching on his desk. "But they're not buying it. You were spotted at the café mere hours before all hell broke loose."

"Fools. They have no idea what they're meddling with."

"Indeed," Malva agreed. "But they're persistent.”

Lysandre resumed pacing the length of the room. “We need to find the intruder who breached the lab."

“Do you want me to take care of it? What can you tell me about them?"

Lysandre paused. "The intruder was a man. Tall, maybe six feet. Had a Gardevoir with him."

"Any other distinguishing features?"

"No. His face was obscured.”

"What about that day in particular? Did you notice any unusual occurrences? Anyone suspicious hanging around?"

Lysandre paused, his brow furrowing as he sifted through memories. "I encountered two trainers outside the café that evening. Lucas Walker and Sabrina Kuroi."

"The ones from the ruins?"

"Yes," Lysandre confirmed. "I didn’t think they were working against me just because they defended the ruins. I thought it was a matter of being in the wrong time and place.  Now… I'm not so sure."

"You think they're involved?"

Lysandre's lips thinned. "It's a possibility we can't ignore. The theft of the Core suggests they've gleaned knowledge from the ruins. Perhaps they accessed the secret chamber that was uncovered."

Malva rose, smoothing her skirt. "I'll investigate. I'll reach out to our mole, and see if the two were in that chamber. I'll need to make a trip to Kanto as well. My reporter cover should grant me access without raising suspicions."

"Find out if Walker's our culprit. And Malva? Be discreet."

A ghost of a smile played on Malva's lips. "Always."

As she turned to leave, Lysandre called out, "Keep an eye on the church. We can't afford any more complications."

The door sealed shut with a hiss, leaving Lysandre alone with his thoughts. He sank into his chair, the weight of recent events pressing down on him like a physical force. 

Almost against his will, his eyes were drawn to the corner of the room. There it stood – the stone tablet, its surface unmarred and enigmatic. 

Lysandre's jaw clenched. He'd thrown the full might of his resources at the damned thing. His most powerful Pokémon had barely scratched its surface. His own flames, hot enough to melt steel, had licked harmlessly across its face. The tablet's material defied classification, unlike anything he'd encountered in all his years of research.

Rising from his chair, Lysandre approached the artefact. His fingers traced its edge, feeling the microscopic imperfections. Tantalising secrets lurked just beyond his grasp, maddeningly close yet impossibly far. Every fibre of his being screamed that this was the key – the map to locating Zygarde's scattered Cores and Cells.

Each passing moment brought the risk that his enemies might bet him to the prize. If they gained that crucial information about Zygarde, everything he'd worked for would crumble to dust. His weapon, the linchpin of his grand design, would remain forever dormant.

Lysandre's hand clenched into a fist, flames dancing between his fingers. He would crack this code. He had to. The future of the world – his perfect world – depended on it.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Lucas pushed through the undergrowth, his boots crunching on fallen twigs and snow. The forest hummed with the sounds of unseen Pokémon, a symphony of chirps, buzzes, and rustles.

Meowth padded silently beside him, whiskers twitching as he scanned for hidden items. Ashe and Nero were ahead of him, scouting out the area for potential threats. Raphael trailed behind, pausing every so often to sketch interesting flora.

The latter three Pokemon were the ones that he had been focusing on training lately, as he wanted to get them up to parity with the rest of his team. All of them were close to meeting the requirements to evolve. 

The only thing holding him back from evolving Nero were the Black Glasses he needed for one of his bonus evolutionary requirements. He was beginning to suspense that he wouldn’t find them out in the world, but something he had to purchase. He had searched online for any mention of the item, but had found nothing.

Lucas breathed deeply, savouring the earthy scent of the forest. His exploration of Viridian Forest served multiple purposes – grinding experience for his Pokémon, gathering ingredients for his alchemy, and searching for another of Zygarde's Cores. 

Considering the size of Viridian Forest, it should come as n surprise there was a Core hidden in somewhere within its depths. The issue was locating it. He didn’t have a specific location other than the forest itself, so it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. He started out by flying over the forest on Saphira, but after a nasty encounter with a flock of Spearow and a Fearow, he decided to stick to the safety of the ground. 

Once he got a few miles within range of it, he would be able to sense it, but it would take him a bit longer to find it.

His mind wandered to Butch, his overzealous manager. The man's enthusiasm was both a blessing and a curse. In the weeks since hiring him, Lucas's public profile had skyrocketed. A fan club website had sprung up overnight, its membership growing at an alarming rate.

Lucas winced, remembering Butch's latest scheme. "Merchandise, my boy!" he'd exclaimed, eyes gleaming. "T-shirts with your face on them! Action figures of your Pokémon! The possibilities are endless!"

At least Sabrina had it easier. She'd taken off to train her Pokémon after using his Effort Value Reset Potions on them, leaving Butch to focus his manic energy on Lucas. He already had an interview with the local news station coming up soon, and he was preparing himself for mentally for it.

He was still thinking about how he was going to sell the potion. If he went into business himself, his persona as Enigma would likely get exposed. He would prefer it if he could keep his involvement a secret, but that may not be possible. For the time being, he was going to return to the auction house to introduce the potion to the public. He would need to use his disguise again. 

A flutter of movement caught Lucas's eye, snapping him back to the present. A Butterfree hovered nearby, its wings shimmering in a patch of sunlight.

"Raphael, it’s your turn to fight!" Lucas called out.

Raphael dropped his art supplies, his eyes narrowing with determination as he faced the Butterfree. The forest clearing suddenly became a battlefield, the air thick with tension. Lucas took a few steps back to give the combatants room while he observed the fight. He decided to let Raphael fight without giving him any instructions, to say how much he had improved. 

He had stopped using Battle Commentator, as he found the voice to distracting, and the information it provided was unnecessary. By this point, he had a lot of experience, and could judge how a battle was going by observation alone. He still got a summary report of each battle, which provided some key insights, so the skill wasn’t completely useless.  

Raphael's’ cheeks bulged as he inhaled deeply, then released a powerful jet of water. But the Butterfree was ready, its wings catching a breeze and carrying it effortlessly to the side. The Water Gun sliced through empty air, barely misting one of the Butterfree's wings.

Undeterred, the Butterfree's antennae began to glow. The air shimmered as waves of psychic energy pulsed outward. Raphael's eyes widened, then glazed over as the Confusion attack took hold. He staggered, his usually graceful movements becoming erratic and uncoordinated.

Shaking his head vigorously, Raphael fought against the disorientation. His eyes refocused just in time to see the Butterfree's wings start to beat more rapidly. Recognising the impending danger, Raphael 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 finally died down, Raphael emerged, mostly unscathed by his temporary retreat.

With renewed focus, Raphael took aim once more. This time, his Water Gun found its mark. The pressurised stream caught the Butterfree mid-flutter, throwing it backwards through the air.

But the Butterfree wasn't finished. It began to beat its wings furiously, releasing a cloud of glittering particles into the air. The Stun Spore drifted downward, a beautiful but deadly mist.

Raphael's eyes widened in alarm. In a split-second decision, 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 by the spores.

The Butterfree, seeing its attack thwarted, dove in close. Its compound eyes began to glow 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 the Butterfree directly in the face. The Bug Pokémon tumbled backwards through the air, somersaulting end over end as it struggled to regain control. Its wings, now thoroughly soaked, beat erratically as it fought to stay aloft.

Raphael, sensing victory was near, took careful aim. His final Water Gun was precisely controlled – powerful enough to overcome the Butterfree's remaining strength, but not so strong as to cause unnecessary harm. The jet of water struck true, and the Butterfree fluttered weakly to the ground.

For a moment, the two Pokémon locked eyes. Then, the Butterfree sank to the ground in a dead faint.

Raphael watched it go, his chest heaving from exertion but his eyes shining with the thrill of victory. He turned to Lucas, a proud smile on his face. Without a word, Lucas knelt beside his Pokémon, offering a well-deserved Potion and a gentle pat on the shell. 

“Good job,” Lucas told him.”

“Squirtle.”

They pressed deeper into the forest, encounters with wild Pokémon becoming more frequent. He used all three of Pokemon interchangeably, and even Meowth was in on the action against certain Pokemon. Even if his potential was low, he proved effective against certain Pokemon with his speed.

They stumbled upon a small clearing around noon. Lucas, feeling the bite of the lingering winter chill, decided to make camp. He set about gathering wood for a fire, his movements practised and efficient.

"Ashe," he called softly.

Ashe understood immediately, exhaling a controlled stream of flame onto the gathered wood. The fire roared to life.

Lucas summoned the rest of his Pokémon, distributing their meals before preparing his own lunch. Between bites, he accessed Arceus' Emporium, his eyes scanning the available items. He was tantalisingly close to the next shop level, and he was tempted to spend the pokedollars to get over the line, even though he didn’t need anything. 

His thoughts drifted to his finances. Meowth's talent for finding hidden items had proven invaluable, easily covering his daily expenses. His wealth, while not growing by leaps and bounds, was steadily increasing.

The growth potions were about to reach the market, and he was anticipating the imminent influx of royalties from the growth potions. The mining venture also promised substantial returns in the future. With all the revenue streams Butch was pursuing, his wealth was only to continue to grow rapidly in the future. 

He purchased two Secret Base kits, and his shop level advanced to level three. He browsed through the unlocked items, and saw that many of them were locked behind specific achievements like the last level. A new category of items had been unlocked though, which was available to purchase right away. They were evolutionary items, and it had the Black Glasses he needed for Nero’s bonus requirements.

“I suspected this was the case,” Lucas murmured. 

Without hesitation, he spent thirty-three thousand pokedollars and purchased the Black Glasses. Even with the new shop discount he received from the level up, it was still an expensive item.

He turned to Nero, the Sandile lazily sprawled near the fire. "Looks like there's nothing holding you back from evolving now, buddy."

Nero's head snapped up, his eyes gleaming with sudden interest. A low, anticipatory growl rumbled in his throat.

Lucas held up a hand, tempering the Pokémon's enthusiasm. "But let's wait until we're back home. I want to capture this moment properly."

Nero's jaws snapped shut with an audible click, his eyes narrowing in clear displeasure. 

Meowth snickered. “He’s not pleased that he has to wait.”

“I got that, thanks,” Lucas muttered.

After lunch, they continued moving through the forest, making sure to keep an eye out. He considered summoning Max for some additional protection. They were traversing a narrow strip of land populated by level twenty Pokémon, but Lucas knew that more dangerous zones bordered this area. One wrong turn could lead them into the territory of far stronger wild Pokémon.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

As the sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Ashe's keen nose caught an unusual scent. The Vulpix's ears perked up, her eight tails swishing with curiosity. Lucas, walking beside her, noticed her sudden alertness.

"What is it, Ashe?" he murmured, crouching down to her level.

Ashe yipped softly, her nose twitching as she led Lucas off the main path. They weaved through the dense underbrush, pushing past branches and stepping over gnarled roots. As they pressed on, Lucas began to notice something odd about the foliage ahead.

Upon closer inspection, what had appeared to be thick vegetation was a clever camouflage net, strung between the trees to conceal something beneath. Lucas carefully lifted a corner, revealing a narrow dirt road that snaked through the forest.

Intrigued, Lucas followed the winding path, Ashe trotting beside him, her senses on high alert. After a few minutes of walking, the trees parted, revealing a small, abandoned town. A dozen or so houses lined the single dirt road, their windows dark and empty. Weathered clap board siding and rusted metal roofs spoke of years of neglect. Nature had begun to reclaim the town, with vines creeping up walls and saplings pushing through cracks in the pavement.

Lucas stood at the town's entrance, a chill running down his spine despite the warm evening air. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. Ashe pressed close to his leg, her fur standing on end.

"Hello?" he called out, his voice seeming unnaturally loud in the stillness. No response came.

“This place is freaking me out, partner,” Meowth said.

Nero snapped his jaw in agreement. Even Raphael was looking around warily and didn’t reach for his paintbrush to capture the place on paper.

Curiosity warred with caution as Lucas took a few steps into the town. The dirt road was almost completely obscured by overgrown foliage.

He approached the nearest house, its front door hanging askew on rusted hinges. Through a grimy window, he could make out the shadowy outlines of furniture, frozen in time like a tableau of a 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 with it a sound—so faint he almost missed it—like a distant, mournful wail. The hairs on the back of 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 even 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, the Gardevoir materialising 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 pokeball and placed his other hand on Dante's shoulder. In a blink, they vanished, leaving the mysterious settlement for now.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The bright studio lights beat down on Lucas as he settled into the plush armchair, trying to appear relaxed despite his nerves. Across from him, a smartly dressed reporter from the Viridian News Network adjusted his microphone, flashing a practised smile.

At Lucas's feet, Nero fidgeted restlessly, his scaly hide gleaming under the harsh lighting. The Sandile's eyes darted around the studio, a low growl rumbling in his throat. When the reporter leaned in, extending a hand in greeting, Nero's jaws snapped shut mere inches from the man's polished shoes.

"Good heavens!" The reporter recoiled, his practised composure slipping for a moment. "That's quite the feisty companion you've got there."

Lucas winced, offering an apologetic smile. "I'm terribly sorry. Nero's a bit… on edge today."

In truth, Nero's agitation stemmed from yesterday's events. Upon returning from the forest, Lucas had been ambushed by an overzealous Butch. The moment Lucas mentioned Nero's impending evolution, Butch's eyes had lit up with dollar signs. "Hold off, kid!" he'd insisted. "We'll capture it live on air. Think of the ratings!"

It was common knowledge that Pokémon could sense their approaching evolution and delay it if necessary. But convincing Nero had required no small amount of bribery and sweet-talking. Lucas could sense the Sandile's patience wearing thin; any further delay might result in outright mutiny.

The red light on the camera blinked on, and the interview began.

"Good evening, Viridian City! I'm here with Lucas Walker, the rising star who's been making waves across Kanto. Lucas, thanks for joining us."

Lucas nodded. "Happy to be here."

"Let's jump right in," the reporter said, leaning forward. "That night at the power plant – you faced off against Zapdos and Team Rocket. Can you walk us through what happened?"

Lucas took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words. "It was… intense. Sabrina and I were just trying to protect the Zapdos egg from Giovanni.”

"And 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 just focused on keeping the egg safe and buying time for Lance to take out Giovanni."

"How did that feel to battle alongside Lance?"

Lucas allowed a small grin. "Surreal. Lance is an incredible trainer. Working with him, even briefly, was an honour."

“What are your thoughts on the new legendary Pokemon? From what we understand of the situation, Giovanni created a device to try to control it, but it wasn’t very effective.”

Lucas knew he was treading on delicate ground. The government didn’t want it to get out that Mewtwo was created in a lab, as others may seek to replicate the feat. Furthermore, Shichiro had still yet to introduce Porygon to the public, and he wanted it known that it was the first of its kind to be created in a lab. 

“It was foolish to try to control a legendary,” Lucas replied. "Even if such a thing were possible, we all saw how Mew intervened. While legendary Pokémon typically maintain their distance from each other, they're not afraid to unite when the need arises."

The reporter hummed thoughtfully. "Some theorize this new legendary might be related to Mew, given their apparent similarities. What's your take?"

Lucas shrugged. "It's certainly possible. But proving such a connection would likely require asking them directly."

"A task I wouldn't recommend to our viewers at home," the reporter quipped, offering the camera a wry smile. "Now, let's discuss your Pokémon team. Keen-eyed viewers have noticed that many of your companions are… larger than the norm. Rumours are circulating about your use of the new growth potion. Care to shed some light on this?"

Lucas felt a bead of sweat form on his brow. "You're right," he admitted. "Thanks to my girlfriend, I've had access to the potion before anyone else. They've been a game-changer."

The reporter's eyebrow arched. "Some might cry favouritism."

"A fair point," Lucas conceded. "But it's important to note that this advantage is temporary. The Kuroi family has already announced plans to make the potion widely available in the near future. I've simply had a small head start."

The reporter nodded. "I notice your Sandile here seems to be of standard size. Why is that?"

Lucas glanced down at Nero, who was now glaring daggers at the reporter. "Ah, well, Nero here is a bit… particular. He decided the potion wasn't for him. I didn't want it affecting his speed or his ability to move through the sand."

Nero snapped his jaws in agreement, causing the reporter to flinch slightly.

"Speaking of Nero," the reporter said, regaining his composure, "I understand he's on the verge of evolution. Any chance we might see that happen today?"

Lucas feigned surprise as if the thought hadn't occurred to him. "You know what? Why not? Nero's certainly ready. What do you say, buddy? Want to show everyone your new form?"

Nero's eyes lit up, all traces of grumpiness vanishing. He scampered to the centre of the studio, vibrating with anticipation.

Lucas spent Nero’s remaining experience points, and he levelled up to 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 moments before, a powerful Krokorok now towered. His red and black scales gleamed under the studio lights, and a pair of menacing eyes stared at them.

"Incredible!" the reporter exclaimed. "Ladies and gentlemen, you've just witnessed a live Pokémon 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. 

==========

He was the first of his Pokemon to achieve a ten in one of their hidden stats. With how much he trained his effort values, Nero was already powerful. If he managed to keep his temper in check, he was going to be a formidable team member.

The reporter leaned in, fascinated. "What an incredible sight. Nero sure looks mean.”

Nero puffed out his chest, clearly enjoying the attention. He flexed his new, muscular arms, drawing chuckles from the studio crew.

"Fascinating stuff, Lucas," the reporter said. "Now, I have to ask – with your rapid rise to fame and your impressive Pokemon team, what's next for you? Any plans to challenge the Pokemon League?"

Lucas paused. “I have no interest in the League, as my focus is on my Pokemon Breeding business.”

“And how is that going? Is there anything you can share with the public?”

"Let's just say that the future holds some… unexpected evolutions," Lucas replied. "I'm expecting some truly remarkable developments in the coming months. Eevees have always been fascinating Pokemon, but what I’m working on could change the game entirely."

"That sounds intriguing," the reporter pressed. "Can you give our viewers any hints?"

Lucas chuckled softly. "I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. But let's just say that trainers who thought they knew everything about Eevee evolution might be in for quite a shock."

The reporter opened his mouth to ask another question, but his words were cut short by a sudden flash of light. The air in the studio seemed to ripple, and then, hovering just above the camera, appeared a small, cat-like Pokemon with large blue eyes and a long, thin tail.

Mew.

Chaos erupted in the studio. The reporter screamed and scrambled up from his chair before fleeing for the exit. Crew members gasped and shouted, following the reporter out of the studio. Within seconds, the studio was empty, save for Lucas, Nero, and the legendary Pokemon.

The camera, however, continued to roll, its red light blinking steadily.

Lucas stood slowly, his heart pounding. "Mew," he said softly, "this is… unexpected."

Mew gracefully glided through the air, landing on Lucas's shoulder. 

"I don't suppose you'd care to explain why you've decided to crash my interview?" Lucas asked, his voice low and measured. He was acutely aware that this surreal encounter was being broadcast live across Viridian City, potentially to thousands of viewers.

With a casual flick of its tail, the legendary Pokemon snapped its fingers. The camera's red light blinked out instantly.

"Privacy, huh? This must be serious." He reached for a pokeball at his belt and released Meowth.

The moment Meowth materialised, his eyes locked onto Mew. Horror dawned on his feline features. "Oh hell, no!" he yowled, fur standing on end. "Get away from me, you body snatcher!"

Meowth spun on his heel, ready to bolt, but froze mid-stride. Slowly, mechanically, he turned back around. His usual snarky expression had been replaced by an unsettling blankness.

"Sorry, buddy," Lucas murmured, before addressing Mew directly. "Alright, you've got our attention. What do you want?"

Mew's voice, or rather Meowth's voice infused with an otherworldly echo, filled the studio. "Mewtwo needs your help. I'm going to take you to where he is located."

"Mew, hold on a second—" Lucas's words were swallowed by the void as reality itself seemed to fold around them. The last thing he saw was Nero's bewildered expression before everything dissolved into a kaleidoscope of colour and light.

So, what do you think? Lucas is going to meet the infamous Mewtwo. What can Lucas do to help it?

Thanks for reading.