Chapter 172. Zapdos Joins the Team
The next day.
"Natsume, we can go register our Pokémon for the tournament now!"
Half-asleep, Natsume cracked his eyes open.
He'd stayed up late helping center-parted and hadn't slept enough.
"Coming."
He turned to the desk.
Center-parted was sprawled over the keyboard, already asleep.
Natsume moved closer and found it had only finished half of an online course.
"Pika?"
Drowsy, center-parted felt itself being lifted by the scruff.
"Come register for the matches with me."
Hearing that, center-parted let out a long sigh of relief.
The next second, Natsume pressed a phone into its paws.
He also clipped two wires onto the sacs at the sides of its cheeks.
"The computer's too big.
From now on, use the phone to watch your course videos and charge yourself.
If you've got questions, the 'me' in your head will answer."
"Pika pika!"
Center-parted shook its head hard, insisting small screens are bad for the eyes.
"Hm?"
Natsume invoked Trainer authority, and a powerful engine roar thundered through center-parted's mind.
"Pikapi!"
Center-parted nodded at once, meaning, "Small screen, great picture.
Perfect to hold in my arms."
"Right, I also downloaded the digital version of that Legendary Pokémon field guide.
You can read it anytime."
At that, the lifeless center-parted jerked its head up, eyes sparkling.
"Creak~"
The door opened.
Outside stood Ash, Honora, and the others.
"Natsume, let's hurry to the stadium!
If we finish registration, we can still take part in the Torch Ceremony!"
Ash could barely contain his excitement.
He'd heard the League would pick a few lucky Trainers on-site to join the Torch Ceremony!
"Ah—don't rush.
During the Conference, lots of Nurse Joys are reassigned here.
Everything gets processed fast, so it's the same whenever we go."
Indigo Plateau Pokémon Center No. 1.
"Sorry, you've registered fewer than six Pokémon."
Nurse Joy gave Natsume an apologetic look.
With two Rotom, center-parted, Dragonite, and Diglett, Natsume only had five Pokémon.
"Ash, lend me your Pikachu for a bit."
Natsume hefted Pikachu over.
"Only Pokémon you've caught yourself can be registered, Natsume," Nurse Joy said through a tight smile.
"Natsume…"
Face flushed, Honora slipped a Poké Ball into Natsume's hand.
"I can see that," Nurse Joy's eye twitched.
"Please don't treat me like a decoration!"
"That's odd.
I remember in previous years it was 'up to six,' and you could register fewer than that and still compete," Natsume scratched his head, puzzled.
Six lets you field your full strength.
If you're confident, five or four is still an option.
"That's true, but yesterday Agatha gave us a lot of revision notes, and we have to follow the rules."
Nurse Joy explained with a smile.
Plenty of rules are understood without being said.
People usually look the other way and do what's convenient.
Just their luck—this year, Agatha, famous for being strict and old-fashioned, was serving as the Indigo League inspector.
What's more, Agatha seemed very worried about the hygiene here, especially the air quality.
First thing this morning, she and the other Nurse Joys organized a big cleanup.
"Natsume, you can go to the lab that issued your Pokédex and request to transfer one of your Pokémon over."
Nurse Joy spoke as she started ushering them along—there was still a long line behind.
"I see."
Natsume frowned slightly.
"We're done for.
If you show your face, all the Pokémon at the lab run away," Misty remembered the scene she'd seen through the Mt. Moon comms gear.
Most of those Pokémon had been caught by Natsume to breed starter lines for new Trainers.
They belonged to Professor Oak's Laboratory.
So it made sense they weren't close to Natsume.
"There are wild Pokémon around the Indigo Plateau too.
Should we catch one?" Brock suggested.
Natsume shook his head.
He might dislike trouble, but he didn't want to catch Pokémon casually.
Catching one means you're responsible for raising it properly.
You can't be careless.
He still planned to catch four more Rotom in the future.
As for other Pokémon, the fewer the better.
"What do we do, then…"
Ash drooped.
He'd been eager to join the Torch Ceremony.
Now Natsume seemed stuck.
"Let's go to the Torch Ceremony first.
We'll come back and register this afternoon."
Natsume waved his hand.
"Huh, what about you?" Ash asked, worried.
"It's not a big deal."
Natsume took the lead.
Worst case, he could hire Meowth to make it six.
Knowing Team Rocket's trio, they were definitely tailing them.
And because the Torch Ceremony was important, the trio would absolutely stir up trouble.
They'd run into each other then.
To be safe, before heading to the Torch Ceremony, Natsume still contacted Professor Oak's Laboratory.
The comm device flashed, and Professor Westwood V appeared on the screen.
He was drenched in sweat, and the lab behind him was a wreck.
Papers were scattered everywhere.
There were electric scorch marks on the walls, like it had just been robbed.
Even Professor Westwood V's face was covered in rings of goofy doodles.
"What happened to you, Professor Westwood?"
Natsume eyed him curiously.
"Don't bring it up.
Right after you left yesterday, a bunch of Pokémon broke in…" Westwood said, too tired to raise his voice.
"Huh?
Are you okay, Professor?" Ash asked, concerned.
"Nothing serious.
Must've been a misunderstanding.
Those stray Pokémon were probably just starving."
"I've settled them in the backyard.
Right—what did you need me for?"
Westwood finally remembered the point of the call.
"Here's the situation…"
Natsume summarized things.
"I see.
They might be stricter this year.
It's lunchtime anyway—I'll go ask."
Westwood spoke and walked toward the backyard.
"Professor, you should put on protective gear," Natsume advised kindly.
"Why would I wear that?
That's what rookies do!"
Westwood laughed and shook his head.
The Pokémon here were all very gentle.
Where would he need that?
At Professor Oak's Laboratory, the resident Pokémon and those entrusted by Trainers lived in two separate areas.
The former were kept in small houses under standardized routines.
The latter lived in nature, stretching all the way to the snowy mountains.
Westwood entered one of the breeding sheds, where all sorts of Pokémon were heads-down at their feed.
There were many Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Pikachu, and Eevee.
There were also quite a few Gardevoir, Onix, and Ditto.
Hearing him come in, the Pokémon who noticed looked up on reflex, glanced at him, and then looked away just as quickly.
"Anyone willing to go compete at the Indigo Plateau with Natsume?"
Westwood raised his phone high.
On the screen, Natsume beamed a big smile.
"Hi—"
The next second, the world spun and the screen went black.
"What was that?" Misty asked, curious.
"Bad signal?" Brock leaned in.
"Strange.
It sounds noisy over there.
What's happening, Natsume?" Ash looked to Natsume.
"Mm."
Natsume went quiet.
Professor Westwood V was probably getting into a bit of freestyle wrestling.
"Skree—naa!"
After a beat, the other end finally wasn't black anymore.
The fallen phone seemed to have been flipped by something, revealing the blue sky.
Tall stalks of hay framed the sides of the view.
It looked like the phone had landed in a haystack.
Suddenly, a ridiculous bald bird head popped into view.
"Skree—naa?"
The bald bird stared straight at the phone, then cocked its head and glared at Natsume, equal parts excited and angry.
But before it could move, Professor Westwood V scooped it up.
"Cough, cough, cough—alright, looks like this kid's willing to go.
We'll send it!"
As Westwood's voice sounded, Zapdos froze for a moment, then a flash of fire lit in its eyes.
Right now, Westwood looked absolutely awful.
His face was black-and-blue.
His glasses were shattered, and one temple was gone.
Clinging to Zapdos like a lifeline, he hurried back toward the lab.
"Ah—why are you discharging?
Bald Kilowattrel, don't zap me!"
Wails came from that end of the line.
Everyone looked at each other.
"Will Zapdos…really agree to help Natsume battle?" Brock wasn't optimistic.
The next second, a Poké Ball arrived via transfer.
"Alright, alright.
Don't call me for this kind of thing next time."
"Bzzzt—"
Westwood cut the connection.
At the same time, white light flashed from the Poké Ball, and out popped a plucked-looking chicken.
"Skree—naa!!"
Zapdos screeched, challenging Natsume.
But when it reflexively spread its wings, it looked exactly like a plucked roast rack of chicken.
"That's odd.
It's been two months.
Why hasn't any of your plumage grown back?"
Natsume stared at Zapdos in amazement.
Honestly, even if it had been tagging along with Primeape and going hungry, it should have grown at least a little fuzz in two months.
Yet it was still smooth and bare—comical to the extreme.
Hearing him, Zapdos also paused for a beat.
It was a little puzzled itself as to why its feathers weren't growing.
No—this wasn't the time for that!
"Skree—naa!"
Zapdos kept glaring at Natsume, eyes rolling as it scanned for a certain Pikachu's silhouette.
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