Chapter 0626: Oh No, I've Become the Stand-in!(Two-in-One)

"Larvitar… (í_ì)"

The now sober Larvitar hung its head low, the picture of perfect repentance. Behind it, the garden lay in complete devastation.

Behind it, the garden lay in ruins.

Conkeldurr bellowed work chants while the Renovation Captain from Kalos twirled his mustache, supervising with a serious expression.

Natsume crossed his arms, noticing Larvitar sneak a glance upward before quickly bowing its head again.

"Togepi doo-ee! (｀▽｀)" Togepi trotted over and took Larvitar’s tiny hand, beaming with its signature heart-melting smile.

Natsume’s anger had already mostly faded. Seeing Larvitar so stiff with guilt, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

Right now, the priority was checking Larvitar’s physical condition.

It had just swallowed an entire Tyranitarite. Riding the surge of energy, it had somehow mastered the Earthquake move.

As one of the ultimate techniques from Giovanni’s Manual, the difficulty of mastering Earthquake was no joke.

Who would’ve thought it’d learn Tyranitar’s signature move in advance through this… pay-to-win training method?

Rubbing his temples, Natsume called out to the Renovation Captain.

"How long will it take to restore everything to its original state?"

"Please trust in our expertise—no more than three days, tops!"

"Conkeldurr!!" Conkeldurr, its bulbous nose flushed red, hoisted two massive concrete pillars overhead, flexing its brawny arms.

A red beam shot out from the Premier Ball on its own.

Sirfetch'd stared at the concrete pillars, then mournfully at its leek blade.

"Sirfetch'd...~(っ╥╯﹏╰╥c)"

The length... I've been outmatched!

Expression stern, Natsume recalled Sirfetch'd.

First Gengar, now this - when did everyone develop this "auto-eject" habit!

After finalizing details, Natsume studied the working Conkeldurr.

A Life Orb + Mach Punch Conkeldurr... now that was a classic singles ranking team composition.

"The back building's intact at least."

Natsume glanced at the connected structure. "Small mercies..."

Though the café's reopening would need postponing again.

His sigh was interrupted by Rotom Dex buzzing around the renovation captain, snapping photos.

Click!

Flash illuminated the scene.

The captain struck a pose, flipping his curly bangs dramatically. "Truth be told, Natsume-sensei, I used to be a Coordinator!"

Natsume blinked. "And then?"

"Then I discovered renovation pays better."

Natsume: "..."

Little Rotom floated back, whispering: "Beep... new Pokédex entry unlocked, Rotom!"

Natsume: "..."

At this rate, we might complete the regional variants collection.

Shaking his head, Natsume led Larvitar inside. After having Gengar Disable its Earthquake temporarily, he had Rotom run full diagnostics.

"Larvitar..." Larvitar clutched its red scales, tilting its blunt horned head at the hovering Rotom Dex.

Blue scanning beams washed over it. "Beep... no abnormalities detected, Rotom!"

Natsume exhaled in relief.

For certainty, he video-called Professor Oak.

"WHAT?" The professor's face filled the screen. "It ate the Evolutionary Stone?!"

"Larvitar..." Larvitar scratched its head sheepishly.

"Any side effects?" Natsume whispered.

Professor Oak cleared his throat. "Larvitar consume soil and rock. After devouring a mountain's worth, they pupate for growth."

As Natsume winced at imagined costs, he continued:

"Hence why few raise them. Some substitute other minerals for the 'mountain'..."

"Mega Stones, while rare, are viable nutrition." He added quietly: "Though it's... exceptionally extravagant. Precedent is scarce."

Natsume seized the key point. "So this has happened before?"

"With Sableye. They consume Carbink and ores. There are recorded cases eating Mega Stones."

Reassured, Natsume studied Larvitar's contented chewing motions - clearly reminiscing about its gourmet experience.

Professor Oak chuckled through the screen:

"At this rate, you'll need quite the Mega Stone stockpile for its evolution!"

Natsume: "..."

"Did I say something wrong?" The Professor Oak noticed his expression.

"Nothing. Enjoy your weekend." Natsume hung up.

Master and Pokémon locked eyes.

"Others' Larvitar eat dirt..."

Natsume's eye twitched. "Mine dines on Mega Stones?!"

But with Earthquake mastered, evolution could proceed sooner.

Looking at the dopey green junior dinosaur, Natsume felt reluctant. Yet unlike the others, this little one had demonstrated its warrior spirit during the Lily of the Valley Conference preliminaries -

A future monarch of sandstorms, symbolizing overwhelming power.

"Wonder who it takes after..."

Natsume mused: "Certainly not Sirfetch'd."

The incident concluded with Larvitar's stone-snacking and Earthquake mastery.

Honoring his agreement with Professor Sycamore meant securing another Tyranitarite for Mega data collection - manageable, if painful.

The garden repairs were merely a matter of time.

Natsume glared at Larvitar:

"You are not allowed to eat chips for three days!"

Larvitar: "Larvitar...(ー`´ー)"

Natsume-sensei: "...Two days, no less!"

……

Night deepened over Lumiose City, its neon lights intertwining as Prism Tower stood tall beneath the starry sky.

The iron tower remained intact.

But soon, an unexpected visitor would challenge this iconic landmark.

In the pitch-black night, an exhausted Natsume had already fallen asleep.

A purple, rotund figure materialized from invisibility, covering its mouth with a mischievous grin: "Gengar~"

Gazing through the moonlit window at the distant Prism Tower, Gengar bared its teeth in a smile.

Badges would be collected tonight!

"Gengar~" Gengar ceased levitating and plopped onto the carpet.

Mimicking Natsume's thoughtful pose, Gengar stared intently at the Poké Ball before it, deep in contemplation.

Type advantages... what type works against Electric types... Emmm...

"Gengar!" A lightbulb figuratively appeared above Gengar's head as it clapped its hands in realization.

Ground type!

Natsume might weep if he saw this.

While Ash still hadn't memorized all type matchups, Gengar had mastered them all.

This Pokémon was clearly too smart for simple Gym challenges - it could probably get into university.

"Sylveon~"

Sylveon stretched lazily with a yawn, its baby-blue Baby-Doll Eyes glinting in the darkness as it licked its paw.

Tonight... the wild Pokémon of Lumiose City would learn...

Who truly ruled these streets!

Each with their own agenda.

Gengar tucked the Dusk Ball containing Larvitar under its arm and floated toward Prism Tower beneath the starry dome.

Sylveon strolled through Lumiose's avenues like an Elite Four member slumming it.

"Blastoise..." Blastoise opened its eyes within the fish tank, aura enveloping the entire café in vigilant watch.

Tonight would be another sleepless night.

"Sirfetch'd!~(っ╥╯﹏╰╥c)"

Sirfetch'd found itself dragged into the garden for simulated battles by an energetic Arcanine.

All I wanted was a good night's sleep! Is that too much to ask?

......

Prism Tower, Lumiose Gym.

The towering Prism Tower pierced the clouds, housing accommodations, training facilities, and battle arenas under one roof.

Late at night, white curtains fluttered by the window as a blonde little girl rubbed her bleary eyes in bed.

Releasing her tight grip on the Dedenne plush, Bonnie sat up halfway and let out an enormous yawn.

Noticing light spilling in from outside, she puffed her cheeks:

"Still tinkering this late... Brother is hopeless!"

Clutching her Dedenne plush, she hopped out of bed, slipped into her slippers, and headed toward the workshop.

"That's odd... The noise seems to be coming from the challenge room."

Bonnie glanced around, tying her blonde ponytail with one hand while shaking her head lightly, her small face alight with curiosity.

Hugging the walls like a detective, she crept toward the challenge room.

Suddenly—

Bonnie jumped at the shadowy figure, squeaking: "Eek!"

The figure startled too, quickly saying: "It's just me!"

Bonnie peeked through one eye, surprised: "Brother?"

The bespectacled blonde young man pressed a finger to his lips. "Shh."

"A challenger this late at night—"

Clemont peered toward the lit challenge room, whispering: "I think it might be an intruder."

"Then let's go see!" Bonnie tilted her head.

As she spoke, the Gym's automated announcement system activated with the electronic voice of proxy Leader, Clembot.

"Pokédex registration complete... Accepting challenge from Trainer, Natsume!"

Clembot was Clemont's robotic invention that handled Gym challenges during his research absences.

Hearing the announcement, both siblings froze.

The little blonde's face lit up with excitement as she shook Clemont's arm:

"Brother! It's Natsume-sensei! The challenger is Natsume-sensei!"

Clemont adjusted his thick round glasses in surprise: "How do you know about him?"

"Hmph, I read the news too, you know. I'm not a baby."

Bonnie lifted her chin proudly, then sparkled: "Besides, Natsume-sensei's Pokémon are super adorable www!"

"Sylveon, Togepi~ I want a Pokémon of my own so bad~"

"No way! You're still too young to travel with Pokémon," Clemont refused firmly.

"Meanie..." Bonnie puffed her cheeks, scuffing her slippers against the floor.

"Gengar?"

A strange cry floated from the challenge room.

Clemont tensed, shielding Bonnie behind him as he said nervously:

"I-I'll check first. Bonnie, stay here."

"I'm going first~"

Bonnie dodged past Clemont's arm and happily skipped toward the challenge room.

"Bonnie, wait!" Clemont hurried after her.

……

Lumiose Gym, Challenge Room.

The robot proxy Leader, Clembot, was explaining the rules to challenger 'Natsume'.

"The battle will be 3v3 singles. Victory is achieved when all opposing Pokémon are unable to continue."

"Gengar!" Gengar stood on the battlefield, crimson eyes narrowed as it bared its teeth in a grin.

I understand perfectly!

Clembot announced mechanically: "Very well. Battle Begin."

Poof!

A beam of light shot from the mechanical arm's Poké Ball, revealing a Magnemite.

"Gengar~" Mimicking Natsume's mannerisms, Gengar solemnly tossed a Dusk Ball, releasing a white beam.

"Larvitar~"

Larvitar roared hungrily, Rock-type energy coalescing into massive boulders above Magnemite, crashing down mercilessly.

Rock Slide!

BOOM!

Magnemite was buried under the rubble, its single eye spinning dizzily, barely conscious.

"Larvitar~"

Larvitar scampered forward, giving Magnemite a gentle poke with its claw. The Steel-type wisely fainted.

The entire match lasted less than a minute. Clembot froze for three full seconds.

"Comprehension exceeded... Surrender advised. Repeat, surrender advised!"

From the sidelines, Bonnie blinked at Clemont:

"Brother, did you program it to give up this easily?"

"No... That's not standard protocol," Clemont sweatdropped. "I think Rotom hacked into Clembot's systems."

The floating Rotom Dex widened its eyes indignantly: "Beep... Slander! Rotom!"

"More importantly," Clemont ignored Rotom, paling as he stared at Gengar. "That's Natsume-sensei's Gengar..."

Bonnie clasped her cheeks, eyes sparkling: "Gengar is so cute!"

Clemont: "C-cute?!"

"Yeah~" Bonnie giggled. "I wanna raise a Ghost-type too!"

Clemont turned pale: "Absolutely not!"

Meanwhile, Clembot sent out its second Pokémon—Heliolisk.

The Electric-type's frill expanded, ready to charge and intimidate.

"Larvitar! (▼へ▼メ)"

Yet upon seeing Larvitar's fierce glare, Heliolisk wisely took a step back.

Only then did the siblings realize Natsume-sensei wasn't present.

"Eh? Is Natsume-sensei hiding somewhere?" Bonnie looked around.

"No... This must be that urban legend circulating among Gym Leaders—"

Clemont swallowed hard. "Natsume-sensei's Pokémon... challenge Gyms on their own."

"Larvitar~"

Larvitar roared, rearing back to unleash an Earthquake at Heliolisk.

Clemont immediately recognized the super-effective move and shouted:

"Clembot, we surrender!"

No one conquers Lumiose Gym before its Leader surrenders!

"Larvitar?" Larvitar paused, tilting its head.

Gengar struck a serious pose, mimicking Ash by adjusting an imaginary cap.

"Gengar!"

I've won the Lumiose Gym Voltage Badge!

……

Morning light streamed through the window as Lumiose City welcomed a brand new day.

Natsume stretched contentedly after a good night's sleep, only to hear a long-absent notification chime.

[Ding! Lumiose Gym challenge completed!]

[Detecting Kalos Region... New mission distributing...]

Natsume-sensei shook his head.

I must be dreaming.

He lay back down, pulling the covers over his head. After a moment's pause, he threw them off dramatically.

"Oh no, I've become the stand-in!"