Chapter 165:
"It's still here."
Mewtwo took out Salamence's Poké Ball. "When I left Team Rocket, I rescued a group of Pokémon. Most of them scattered and escaped during the destruction. Some were released during my travels. But there were also a few... had their personalities distorted by the torture, like that Salamence."
"How many are like Salamence?" Hayashi Kaede rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
That Salamence from the vision definitely couldn't be released casually.
Given the destruction it could cause, once set free, it would likely go on a rampage in the human world, only to be captured by professional Trainers. Then, based on its personality and the extent of damage, it would either be rehabilitated or eliminated.
But since it hasn't caused any harm yet, there's still time to salvage the situation.
"The most ferocious is Salamence. The others remaining... are a Goodra and dragonite." Mewtwo pointed at Dragonite.
"Goodra?"
"Yes, this Goodra..." Thinking of the Goodra in the Poké Ball, Mewtwo frowned. "It's a bit strange..."
"Strange?"
"Yes, probably because I saved it... it's very attached to me..."
Mewtwo had originally planned to release Goodra too. But... when it reached the Kalos region and found a suitable habitat for Goodra, something headache-inducing happened.
Because Mewtwo was traveling in human form at the time, after releasing Goodra, it actually found its way to the city, crying and looking pitiful.
Having spent time in Aogiri Town, Mewtwo felt a little pity, but in the end he took Goodra and release him back the second time.
But unexpectedly, after moving to another city, Goodra still follow him again.
Helpless, Mewtwo could only keep it by its side.
"What... a very clingy goodra that is attached to you..." Hayashi Kaede let out an incredulous "Huh?"
Attached to Mewtwo?
Really?
Dragonite here clearly isn't Attached toward Mew.
"Yes" Mewtwo nodded.
"So, the ones that ended up staying with you are these three Dragon-type Pokémon."
After murmuring this, Hayashi Kaede fell into thought.
Dragon-type Pokémon... three of them... how much would they eat in a day?
His headache intensified.
Looks like he'd need to make more satiating Energy Cubes tomorrow.
"Whatever, let's eat first. After eating, we'll check out these two big guys."
After all this time, fast eaters like Combusken were already almost done. Seeing Hayashi Kaede hadn't stopped, it had started munching on the afternoon's Energy Cubes.
"Alright, alright, Combusken, that's enough for you!"
Only after Hayashi Kaede called out did Combusken wipe the Energy Cube crumbs from its mouth, chuckling "Combusken" as it ran toward the plantation.
Just because it ate a lot at lunch didn't mean it would eat less in the afternoon~
Hayashi Kaede gave it a resigned look, then joined Mewtwo in eating his own meal...
....
Half an hour later.
On the open ground near the river outside,
Hayashi Kaede brought Mewtwo along.
Behind them, Mew followed leisurely.
Now, Mew didn't need to disguise itself as a "Pidgeotto" to tag along; it could simply follow in its true form.
But it didn't stay by Hayashi Kaede's side. Instead, it suddenly vanished.
Hayashi Kaede didn't pay it mind.
By the river, he saw Pidgeot's figure.
It was training its moves over there.
This was a rare sight since driving Fearow out of Pidgeotto's territory.
It made Hayashi Kaede wonder if Pidgeot had been spurred by Mewtwo and Darkrai that day.
After all, he had called Pidgeot down that day.
Shaking his head, Hayashi Kaede didn't call out to it or stop it.
Pidgeot was a grown bird now. Striving to become stronger was good. As long as the training was within reasonable limits, it was fine.
"Let's release Goodra first. I want to see it."
Compared to the aggressive Salamence, Hayashi Kaede decided to first look at the Goodra that was atatched toward Mewtwo.
Mewtwo nodded, took out a Poké Ball, and lightly tapped it. A Pokémon over a meter tall, pale purple in color, with emerald-green eyes, appeared before Hayashi Kaede. Its chin and hands were covered in sticky mucus.
Its two small hands weren't very long, but it had two long antennae on its head. Its tail had a round, green and circular pattern.
"Goodra ?"
The moment Goodra emerged, it looked around and quickly spotted Mewtwo standing to the side. Its eyes sparkled with adoration. It eagerly took two steps toward Mewtwo.
If Mewtwo hadn't raised a hand to stop it, Hayashi Kaede had no doubt Goodra would have pounced on it by now.
"This is how it is..." Mewtwo said helplessly.
"Uh..."
It really is clingy toward Mewtwo.
Hayashi Kaede looked at this Goodra, inwardly complained. But he quickly noticed something off about it.
Its size was slightly small.
Compared to an average Goodra, it was just around two meters tall, maybe even less—smaller than a newly evolved Goodra.
But its aura wasn't weak.
[Pokémon: Goodra]
[Gender: Female]
[Ability: Sap Sipper]
[Potential: Gold]
[IVs: HP (31) Attack (18) Sp. Atk (30) Defense (31) Sp. Def (31) Speed (14)]
[Level: 59]
[Moves: Teary Eye, Acid Spray, Dragon Breath, Absorb, Protect, Water Pulse, Rain Dance, Breaking Swipe, Charm, Draco Meteor, Dragon Cheer, Dragon Pulse, Earthquake, Endure, Hydro Pump, Hyper Beam...]
[Description: A Pokémon forcibly evolved using large amounts of energy-concentrated liquid. It feels a distending pain from the energy when using moves.]
[Friendship: 0 (It doesn't know you)]
[Happiness: 30 (Happy)]
Level 59, just one step away from Elite Four level.
That wasn't the key. The key was...
Although this Goodra had evolved, its actual age was only one year old, maybe even less.
In other words, it was still a baby?
Perhaps, this was why Goodra was so clingy toward Mewtwo?
Captured as a child and subjected to energy potions, forced to endure energy intensities beyond its age, it was terrified and yearned for someone to save it.
And then, at that moment, Mewtwo showed up?!
It sounds absurd, but the story unfolded something like this in my mind.