Pokemon: Resurgence Chapter 46

Hi all, 

Here’s the first chapter of the week. I’m going to switch things around and post the Plot Bunnie chapter next, before the Artisan’s Path chapter. My muse has presented me with an interesting concept, and I cannot wait to write it.

Chapter 46

The carriage departed the city, tracing its route south along Route 1 towards Pallet Town. Inside, Lucas anxiously bounced his leg while awaiting his destination. Following a phone call from Daisy’s kidnapper, events unfolded swiftly.

The kidnapper had instructed Lucas to meet him outside the city and not tell anyone or bring anything with him. Not even his pokéballs. They apparently had people watching him to ensure that he followed their instructions. Despite this, Lucas wasn’t too worried. They didn’t know that he had an inventory and could keep his pokeballs and any other items concealed inside it. 

There was also Salem. The Pokemon was secretly following him, so he was confident that he could deal with whatever threat he faced. Although he was going to refrain from involving Salem directly in confronting the kidnapper; instead, he assigned the Pokemon a different task, operating under the assumption that he knew the identity of the culprit.

"Are you prepared?" Lucas asked.

Salem materialised at his side. "Banette."

"I'll take that as a yes."

Lucas pulled his team's pokeballs from his inventory and handed them to Salem. He had long ceased concealing his ability to produce items seemingly out of thin air from Salem. Given Salem's constant presence, Lucas assumed the Pokemon was already aware of it and had kept it a secret. Besides, it could be written off as an aura guardian ability, which Salem was aware of as well. 

"You know what to do," Lucas instructed, passing another item to him.

Salem nodded, and vanished,

After another five minutes, he noticed a fallen tree alongside the road, which was what he was looking for. Instructing the driver to halt, Lucas disembarked and proceeded off the main road, navigating through fields towards the forest periphery. Given that he still had Max's pokeball in his inventory, he wasn't too concerned about coming under attack from wild Pokemon, but he didn't want to reveal him in case anyone was looking.

He suspected Zero was responsible for kidnapping Daisy and luring him outside to ambush him. He was the only person he could think of besides Team Rocket who would do such a thing, and he had already threatened Lucas on multiple occasions. If it was him, he probably had at least one church member following him as well to make sure he complied. However, Salem hadn’t detected anyone, raising the possibility that Zero was bluffing.

Lucas ventured into the forest outskirts and followed a trail of red ribbons tied to trees, which led him to his destination. As he entered a clearing, he noticed someone on the other side brandishing a knife at the bound and kneeling Daisy, who was wearing a blindfold. The man's face was obscured by a mask, but his height was comparable to Zero's, so it could very well be him.

“It’s about time you got here,” the man said, his voice distorted. "Have you followed my instructions?"

“Wouldn’t you already know if I did or not?” Lucas asked, before spreading his arms to show that he wasn’t carrying anything. “Don’t worry, I was a good little boy. Now, release Daisy."

“Lucas?” Daisy’s voice trembled as she raised her head. "Why have you come? This is a trap."

Lucas snorted. “Yes, I figured as much. How did you let this weirdo capture you?”

"I was caught off guard," Daisy confessed. "But forget about—wait, do you know who's behind this?"

"Absolutely," Lucas affirmed. "I have a strong suspicion. Here's a hint: This man has zero chance of redemption. Zero chance of prevailing in this confrontation. Zero chance of evading justice. And there is zero chance of the church shielding him from the repercussions."

"The church?" Daisy exclaimed. "What beef do they have with you?"

Daisy fell to the ground after the man viciously kicked her in the back. "Silence. Lucas, move towards me slowly."

A rustling sound from behind Lucas drew his attention. He didn’t have to look back to see that a Pokemon was waiting for him, ready to pounce.

“You need to let Daisy go first,” Lucas said. “I’m not taking another step until you do.”

The man seized Daisy's hair, forcing her head back with a cruel grip, the knife poised at her throat. "Do you believe you have a choice? Move closer, or I'll end her."

"Go ahead," Lucas challenged, prompting Daisy to protest. "Do you think Professor Oak will allow you to escape unpunished for harming his granddaughter? Not even the church can shield you from his retribution."

"Enough about the church," the man snapped irritably. "I have no ties to them."

"Fine," Lucas acquiesced, raising his hands. "You can't possibly be Zero. He lacks the intellect for such a scheme. What a pathetic individual."

"Shut up!" the man bellowed. "Will you come or not? Even if I kill her, Oak will never know who did it."

Lucas shook his head. "I left a message at home, revealing my suspicions about who Daisy's kidnapper could be. If you truly aren't Zero, then I offer him my deepest apologies for drawing Oak's fury upon him."

The man paused, as if contemplating what Lucas had just said. It all but confirmed Zero's identity behind the mask. He could almost see Zero's internal struggle, knowing Lucas had put him in a difficult situation. 

Zero stood up and pulled Daisy to her feet. He pulled off her blindfold and shoved her forward. “Run, Miss Oak, and don’t stop. I have Pokemon patrolling the forest, so if you dare to stick around, I will not hesitate to have them attack."

Daisy took a few steps forward, wobbling as she found her footing. When she passed Lucas, she attempted to speak, but he silenced her.

“Don’t worry,” Lucas said quietly. “I have a plan. Just get out of here.”

Daisy looked torn. “He still has my Pokemon, the bastard. He caught me unawares, and I didn’t have a chance to summon them.”

“I will get them back. Meowth will escort you safely back to Viridian City. Head immediately to the police station and report the attack.”

Lucas turned and watched as she disappeared into the trees. He noticed an Espeon was standing there, observing him intently—the same Pokemon he had sensed earlier. He wouldn't be surprised if Zero had all of his Pokémon surrounding him; however, as Lucas scanned the area, he couldn't spot any additional Pokémon lurking in the trees. He hoped Salem was already positioned and ready.

"Since Daisy is already gone, why don't you quit hiding our identity," Lucas said. "I know you're not going to let me leave here alive, so it shouldn't really matter."

"You're right," Zero responded, his voice devoid of its previous distortion as he removed his mask. He bowed. "Greetings, Lucas. I hoped the circumstances of our next meeting would be different."

Lucas's scowl deepened. Zero's sudden shift back to a benevolent facade didn't fool him.

"Cut the act," Lucas retorted. "No one likes someone who is so insincere. Then again, your entire religion is built on a lie—on greed and intolerance."

Zero's eyes narrowed. "Don't disrespect the church. That's why you find yourself in this situation."

Espeon advanced further into the clearing, accompanied by Mienfoo, Emolga, and an Aipom. Lucas recognised Mienfoo and Emolga from the battle arena. All of them were formidable opponents hovering around levels twenty-seven to twenty-nine, similar to Lucas's own team. The impending battle promised to be interesting.

"Are you acting on your own, or are you following the church's orders?" Lucas questioned. "If you intend to eliminate me, why not satisfy my curiosity?"

Zero sneered. "I would never act without the church's approval. They dislike the trouble you've caused, particularly with Miss Kuroi and the incident in Pallet Town."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "The church's actions are reprehensible. They're becoming as corrupt as Team Rocket. What if the truth about the church's cold-blooded murders came to light?"

"You don't have to worry about that," Zero said, taking a menacing step forward. "You're going to meet your end here. May you find peace in your next life."

"Before that happens," Lucas interjected, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "care to see a magic trick?"

Zero stared at him in confusion. He was unable to understand why Lucas seemed so unafraid. 

Lucas theatrically cupped his hands together and gave them a quick shake, before revealing a vial in his hand. "Ta-da!"

“What is that—”

Lucas hurled the potion towards Zero's feet, shattering the vial upon impact. A dense cloud of smoke billowed out, swiftly enveloping Zero in its murky haze.

In a split second, complete mayhem ensued as multiple things happened simultaneously.

He retrieved Max’s pokeball from his inventory and pressed the button, before he tossed it behind his back. Max materialised, poised for battle, just as Mienfoo lunged towards Lucas. Max swiftly countered with a Protect, shielding himself from Mienfoo's Force Palm and retaliating with a Thunder Wave that paralysed the opponent. Max picked up Mienfoo, and began swinging him around to ward off the other opponents that were now starting to attack him.

[Battle commencing…]

Lucas swiftly disabled the battle commentator, eliminating the unnecessary distraction. He charged into the dense smoke, crashing into Zero who was gasping for breath from the noxious fumes. Their collision propelled them out of the haze and onto the ground, initiating a fierce struggle for dominance.

His Pokemon team emerged from the trees, released by Salem, and launched into an assault on Zero's own Pokemon. Espeon, Emolga, and Aipom broke away from Max to confront the opponents. The ensuing battles unfolded in four separate skirmishes, each threatening to spill over into the others as the confined space of the clearing limited their movements.

Espeon and Icarus locked eyes, both Pokémon sizing up their opponent with fierce determination. Icarus spread its wings, ready to take flight, while Espeon stood poised on the ground, its psychic powers humming with energy.

Before Espeon could respond, Icarus blurred into motion, streaking towards him like a bolt of lightning. Espeon's eyes glinted with focus as it anticipated Icarus’ attack. At the last moment, Espeon let loose a Confusion, sending a wave of psychic energy towards Icarus.

The Confusion struck Icarus directly, causing him to falter and veer off course. Icarus managed to right himself in midair, but the Confusion attack had left him disoriented and vulnerable.

Espeon's gem on its forehead glowed brightly as it focused its psychic energy, shaping it into a powerful beam of light. The Psybeam shot forth from Espeon's forehead, streaking towards Icarus with pinpoint accuracy.

Icarus recovered just in time, his quick reflexes saving him from Espeon's impending attack. With a quick movement, he activated his Double Team, creating multiple illusory copies of himself that darted around the battlefield, confusing his opponent and concealing his true location from Espeon's view.

Before Espeon could react, one of the copies flew forward with a Quick Attack, striking the psychic-type Pokémon. Espeon was launched across the clearing, narrowly avoiding disrupting Icaria and Aipom's ongoing battle.

Aipom launched a barrage of star-shaped projectiles at Icaria. The Swift attack rained down on her, forcing the flying-type Pokémon to dodge and weave through the incoming stars with rapid flaps of her wings.

Icaria evaded the majority of Swift's projectiles, taking only minor hits that fueled her determination. Icaria took advantage of the opening created by Aipom's barrage and ascended higher into the sky, gaining altitude for her next move.

Icaria dove down like a swift arrow, her wings cutting through the air with a sharp whistling sound as she closed in on Aipom. It attempted to dodge, anticipating her opponent's movements, but Icaria adjusted her trajectory at the last second, closely following Aipom's evasive manoeuvres.  With a resounding crash, her Wing Attack struck true, delivering a devastating blow to Aipom. The force of the impact sent Aipom spiralling backward.

Aipom's luck took a turn for the worse as it inadvertently crossed paths with Max's attack; his foot connecting mid-swing. The force of the blow sent Aipom hurtling backward, prompting Mienfoo to swiftly evade its partner to avoid colliding with it. Seizing the opportunity, Max unleashed a powerful Thundershock, jolting Mienfoo and sending it crashing to the ground.

As Aipom struggled to regain its footing after the devastating Low Kick, Icaria used the opportunity to unleash a barrage of Wing Attacks and Quick Attacks, overwhelming the normal-type Pokémon with her relentless assault. Aipom's condition deteriorated quickly under the onslaught, eventually succumbing to the combined strikes and collapsing to the ground, unconscious and defeated.

Meanwhile, Saphira and Emolga were further away from the other battles, allowing them to fight uninterrupted.

Emolga wasted no time in making the first move. It exploded with electrical energy, releasing a crackling Thundershock that arced through the air in a dazzling display of sparks and static.

However, Saphira was able to avoid the attack. With a graceful twist of her serpentine body, she unleashed a powerful Dragon Breath, a swirling vortex of energy that smashed into her opponent. Emolga took the full force of the attack, sending it tumbling backwards before quickly recovering with a defiant chirp.

Emolga retaliated with a series of sharp Air Slashes, razor-sharp gusts of wind slicing through the air towards Saphira The dragon-type Pokémon deftly weaved through the attacks, her slender body moving with sinuous grace to avoid the incoming strikes.

Saphira unleashed a Twister, a swirling vortex of wind and energy that enveloped Emolga in a cyclone of power. The Pokémon struggled to stay aloft in the high winds, but eventually broke free.

Emolga responded by unleashing a powerful Electro Ball, a sphere of crackling electricity that hurtled towards Saphira. The dragon-type Pokémon met the attack head on, using Protect to form a shimmering barrier of energy that absorbed the brunt of the impact.

As the dust settled, both Pokémon paused, catching their breath and assessing the damage from the intense exchange of blows. Emolga had taken a lot of damage during the fight, but Saphira appeared pristine and completely calm.  

Saphira unleashed an Aqua Jet, a powerful beam of water that streaked towards Emolga. Her opponent attempted to dodge but could not completely avoid the attack, taking a direct hit that sent it spiralling to the ground. 

Saphira slithered across the ground, delivering a Dragon Tail to her downed opponent, not allowing it to recover. Emolga twitched and lay motionless, falling into unconsciousness.  

Amid the chaos, Salem hid in the trees, holding a camera, and filming the entire event. He focused on Lucas, who had gotten on top of Zero and was raining punches down on him, who was desperately trying to defend himself with his raised arms.

Salem gave a creepy chuckle. Lucas never failed to amuse him—or, should I say, her. Bree was in control at the moment because she didn’t want to miss out on all the fun.

Lucas had instructed her to record the confrontation in the hopes of incriminating the church, and she had done an excellent job so far. Bree decided to keep recording the fight, but she would intervene if necessary. However, she understood why Lucas had her sit out the fight. Salem couldn’t fight all of his battles for him, and facing adversity would only make him stronger.

When she noticed Zero had fallen unconscious, she turned her attention to Max's fight. She found him to be the most impressive of all the Pokemon in the fight. He was handling Mienfoo with ease while also protecting Lucas's back. Max had undergone a massive transformation after evolving, but much of the credit had to go to Lucas. 

Back in the clearing, Mienfoo lunged forward with a Drain Punch, attempting to regain some of its lost condition from previous attacks while inflicting damage on Max. He spread his arms, allowing the attack to land on him. Mienfoo was paralysed after being triggered. Max grabbed Mienfoo and squeezed it tightly before delivering a series of Thundershocks to the incapacitated Pokemon. Mienfoo was unable to recover from its paralysis and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.  

Silence followed in the wake of the battle. Icarus had managed to defeat his opponent, bringing all of Zero’s Pokémon under control.

Lucas rose to his feet and looked down at Zero, whose face was swelling from the repeated blows he had received. He felt a sense of satisfaction when he saw Zero's condition. It felt appropriate given all of the trouble Zero had caused him.

He looked around, to see that everyone on his team was standing. They performed admirably. “Great job, guys.”

Sahphira and Icaria raised their voices in protest. 

"And ladies," Lucas hastily corrected himself.

“They were barely a challenge,” Max’s voice echoed in his mind. “I was expecting better.”

"I know I could have performed better," Icarus admitted.

Before Lucas could reply, Salem emerged from the trees. “Did you get the footage?”

Salem nodded and handed him the camera. Lucas' face lit up with a mischievous grin; he wanted the video to be seen by the public. The video, which depicted the church's involvement in the kidnapping of Professor Oak's granddaughter, had the potential to cause serious problems for them.  

Lucas retrieved Zero’s pokeballs from his belt, planning to surrender them to the authorities when they arrived. The snapping of a twig caught his attention, and his guard went up until he recognised Daisy stepping into the clearing with Meowth by her side.

“What are you doing here?” Lucas asked, frowning. “Didn't I tell you to return to the city for help?"

Daisy looked sheepish. “I didn’t want to leave you to fend for yourself. What if something had happened to you?”

“I told you I had it handled. Even if I didn’t, how could you help me without your Pokemon?"

Ignoring Lucas' comments, Daisy ran over to Zero's side, quickly searching through his belongings until she found her shrunken pokeballs. With a sigh of relief, she reattached all but one to her belt and summoned a level 42 Venusaur.

"Venusaur?" The massive grass-type Pokémon looked initially bewildered by the situation. Daisy comfortingly patted its head.

"Keep an eye on him, Vivi," Daisy instructed, delivering a swift kick to Zero's family jewels that made Lucas wince. "He kidnapped me and roughed me up a bit."

Vivi fixed a menacing gaze on Zero. A vine extended from her back and reached out to wrap around his neck, threatening to end his life.

"No killing," Daisy added firmly. "Just restrain him until the police arrive."

Vivi reluctantly complied, giving Daisy a disappointed expression. She wrapped her vine around Zero's body, preventing him from moving.

“So, he’s from the church,” Daisy said. “Does this have to do anything with Sabrina?”

“You catch on quickly,” Lucas replied. “He disagrees with our relationship. This isn't the first encounter I've had with him, but I didn't expect him to escalate things to this extent. It was stupid of him to involve you."

Daisy furrowed her brow. "Is he acting alone?"

Lucas gestured with the camera he held. "No, he mentioned receiving instructions from higher-ups, though he didn't disclose names."

“You set him up. This will cause a commotion. "When my grandfather hears about this..." Daisy trailed off and groaned. “He’s going to be a nightmare. I was kidnapped the day after I moved away from home.” 

“This is my fault, so I will try to convince him to back off. I can't risk losing a great employer just because you were kidnapped on your first day."

Daisy laughed. "Can I ask for hazard pay for such risky work conditions?"

“I’m sure I can scrounge up something. For the time being, you can stay at my house, as it’s a lot more protected,” Lucas said, raising a hand when she started to object. "I'll inform Sabrina of the situation."

Daisy nodded reluctantly. “Do you think there are other members of the church around?”

“I don’t know,” Lucas said. "But with Salem here, we should be safe."

Daisy eyed Salem, who gave her a creepy smile in return. “Is he one of Sabrina’s Pokemon? You weren't truly in danger, were you?"

Lucas shrugged, retrieving his phone to contact the authorities. "Hello, I'd like to report a crime..."

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

Daisy also called her grandfather, and Lucas could overhear the man’s yells from over the line after she had explained the situation.  

"Grandfather's on his way," Daisy mentioned unnecessarily, a wry smile playing on her lips once she ended the call. "He'll probably beat the police here, knowing him."

Her prediction was spot on.

A few minutes later, Lucas looked up when a shadow passed over the clearing, and he almost had a heart attack. Above him, Professor Oak was riding Scarlett, his massive Charizard, who was beating her powerful wings to maintain her position in the air.  

"He sure knows how to make an entrance," Lucas muttered, his mouth dry.

Scarlett had the giant strain and stood out as the most imposing Pokémon he had ever encountered, excluding the legendaries. The effect of the giant strain on her size was evident, dwarfing even Lance's Dragonite that Lucas had encountered before. 

Scarlett descended into the clearing and landed with a thump. She lowered herself down, allowing Professor Oak to comfortably slide down onto the ground. He rushed over to Daisy and checked her over. Lucas stayed clear of him, as he imagined that the old man wasn’t too happy with him at the moment.

The police arrived a few minutes later, riding in on their flying Pokemon. The clearing was too crowded, which meant Professor Oak had to recall Scarlett. Both Lucas and Daisy were questioned, and Zero was taken into custody. Lucas watched them haul him away and realised that he needed to act fast before the church tried to conceal the evidence of their crime. He had forgotten that there was an irate grandfather in the clearing who was clearly pissed off at the church.

“Lucas,” Professor Oak said, stepping in front of him. "I tried to persuade my stubborn daughter to return to Pallet Town, but she adamantly refused."

Professor Oak's piercing gaze seemed to lay blame squarely on Lucas, who couldn't deny some responsibility for the incident. 

"Daisy will be safe at my residence," Lucas reassured him. "We have robust security measures in place. Sabrina will also be moving in soon, and Salem is here to watch over things in the interim." 

Oak looked sceptical. "That's not enough reassurance for me. We're dealing with the church here. They'll move swiftly to conceal their involvement in Zero's crimes." 

“But what if their crimes are exposed in the national news tonight?” Lucas asked. 

Oak hesitated before noticing the video camera in Lucas's hands. "I see. How do you plan to get a news station to cover the story?" 

"I'll reach out to the prime minister," Lucas replied confidently. "I am confident he will not hesitate to use his influence to get one over the church." 

"Very well," Oak acquiesced, a smirk playing on his lips. "Meanwhile, Scarlett will accompany Daisy for her protection while I handle the aftermath of this incident."

Lucas swallowed nervously, uncertain whether Scarlett's presence would ultimately prove beneficial or detrimental.

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

Later that evening, Lucas sat in front of the television, awaiting the news broadcast to start. Daisy strolled into the room, carrying a bowl of popcorn and settled down beside him. Meowth, perched on the sofa back, snatched a handful of popcorn from the bowl. 

"Hands off," Daisy scolded, pulling the bowl out of Meowth's reach. "That's not good for you." 

Meowth burped, nonchalantly licking his paw, ignoring her. 

Daisy shook her head. "He really needs to learn some manners." 

"It's hopeless," Lucas remarked. "He's set in his ways. If you want to scare him into line, use Scarlett."

 "Meowth!" 

"Yes, she terrifies me too."  

"Shh," Daisy hushed, grabbing the remote to increase the volume. "The news is starting." 

The male news presenter began speaking. "We have a breaking news story. The church has been implicated in an attack on an individual who resides in Viridian City. Lucas Walker is a relatively unknown person to the wider public, but some may know that he is Sabrina Kuroi's boyfriend. I’m sure after tonight, his name is going to be spread far and wide.”

“Just my luck,” Lucas mumbled.

Daisy snickered. "You brought it upon yourself."

“The church has voiced strong opinions about Sabrina, perpetuating rumours that she is a psychic capable of controlling others' Pokémon. They consider her an abomination." 

The female co-anchor interjected. "Does that justify the church's attempt to harm someone simply because they disagree with him, Roger? Is the church above the law? It's almost reminiscent of Team Rocket. Perhaps its influence has grown unchecked. It seems to think it can act without consequence. The prime minister should scrutinise the church's power in the Kanto region, especially considering his niece is involved." 

Roger cleared his throat. "We're just reporting the news, Kylie, not sharing our opinions." 

Roger continued. “Additionally, the church kidnapped Daisy Oak, granddaughter of Professor Oak, to reach Lucas Walker. Reports indicate that Daisy has recently been hired as an employee by Lucas, an aspiring Pokémon Breeder." 

Kylie snorted, "What a grave misjudgment. Making an enemy out of one of the most respected and powerful figures in the Kanto region. Professor Oak is already on the warpath." 

"This is getting interesting," Lucas remarked with a smirk. "I wonder what the church did to provoke her." 

"Who cares?" Daisy laughed. "It's quite entertaining." 

"We have exclusive footage to substantiate the church's involvement in the incident," the news presenter announced, and the broadcast showed the encounter between Lucas and Zero, including their Pokemon batting. 

They watched footage of him and Zero talking, followed by the battle. It felt strange watching himself from afar, but he felt like he had conducted himself well enough. Fortunately, Salem hadn’t been focusing on him when he pulled the pokeball from his inventory. That would have been hard to explain. 

"I wonder how the church will handle this," Daisy pondered. "Will they sacrifice the members who carried out the order and deny any knowledge of the attack?" 

"Who's the leader of the church?" Lucas asked. "I've never come across any news reports mentioning his name." 

"No one knows who the Pope is," Daisy explained. "There are six Patriarchs that work under him, managing the church's day-to-day operations. The Pope founded the first church in the Sinnoh region, but no one seems to recall seeing him. He’s a complete enigma."

Lucas grimaced at her choice of words.

“We have more breaking news! Roger announced, catching their attention. “There have been sightings of Zapdos in the skies over the Kanto Power Plant. A thunderstorm appeared in a matter of minutes and has spread out for miles surrounding the power plant. Authorities believe it’s hiding within the thunderstorm itself. So far, it hasn’t descended to the ground, but they are watching closely. What could be the cause of Zapdos’ appearance? It appeared recently when the S.S Anne capsized a few weeks ago…”

Lucas sat up. “What the hell is it doing here?”

This wasn’t good. Did Zapdos decide to make the power plant its home? Mew did say that the legendaries were going to make more appearances in the world, and even claim their own territories.

It made sense that Zapdos would choose the power plant, since it was a facility where electrical power was generated for the majority of the Kanto region. Zapdos' presence might disturb the electric-type Pokemon living there, or the legendary Pokemon might attack the facility, which could have an impact on the region's power supply as a whole. 

“I don’t know,” Daisy said. “But it can’t be anything good.”

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

Two days later, Sabrina arrived in the city with her uncle. Lucas, taken aback by Shichiro's unexpected presence when he opened the door, temporarily set aside his surprise to warmly greet Sabrina with a kiss. She embraced him, returning the affection with enthusiasm.

Shichiro, standing impatiently at the entrance, grumbled irritably, "I'm not here to loiter by the door. Aren't you going to invite me in?"

"Hello, Uncle," Lucas quipped. "You should have given me a heads-up about your visit. I would have rolled out the red carpet for you."

"The little bastard has grown bold," Shichiro muttered as he brushed past him. "I need to rectify that soon."

“Where are your belongings?” Lucas asked, ignoring Shichiro’s remark. 

Sabrina gestured towards the men in black suits carrying luggage up the pathway behind her. "They're bringing them in. Bree is in one of those cases."

“I bet she loves that.”

“I need to find a suitable room for her to settle in. She wants it set up like her old one.”

Lucas remembered the overly pink decor of Bree's room and shuddered. "I'm sure we can cater to her...unique tastes."

Sabrina chuckled. "No need to sugarcoat it. It's quite ghastly."

They entered the house, and found Shichiro seated in the living room, gently petting Saphira's head in his lap.

"How's the situation at the power plant?" Lucas inquired, settling down on a couch with Sabrina.

“Still unchanged,” Shichiro replied. “Zapdos seems content to hide inside its little thundercloud. However, productivity is down because the Pokemon are nervous, which has had an impact on the power grid.”

"Ah, I heard about a sighting of another legendary Pokemon in the Hoenn region." 

"Kyogre," Shichiro confirmed. "A brief appearance, but still concerning. Their sightings seem to be on the rise. With the news about Mewtwo, it's just one more worry added to the list."

Lucas decided against sharing what he knew from Mew, not wanting to add to Shichiro's burdens. "How's the church investigation progressing?"

"Slow," Shichiro admitted. "The church isn't cooperating, hindering the process. I'm considering involving the International Police, but even they struggle against the church's influence."

"We'll apprehend those involved in the attempt on your life," Sabrina vowed, her expression dark.  "But I am not sure how much damage it will do to the church’s reputation overall."

"Enough about that," Shichiro interrupted. "Lucas, I'm here for another matter. Let's talk about the growth potion."

Lucas was taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"Did you think I wouldn't notice your Electabuzz with the giant strain on national television?" Shichiro questioned. "There are countless inquiries about him, and I've had a hard time fielding them. Did you acquire one of those potions from the auction house, or did you create it yourself? Which one is it?"

Lucas let out a nervous laugh. “Is there a third option?” 

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Sabrina settles in, and Saphira evolves into Dragonair.

Thanks for reading.