It wasn't that Ethan Gale was afraid of clashing with this Darkrai. As Champion, fear was the last thing on his mind. But carrying the weight of that title meant every decision required caution. He couldn't simply act on personal instinct anymore.
Still, when he heard Darkrai's unusual request, his expression grew strange.
It wanted him to find a Pokémon. Not just any Pokémon, but one that was strong, and another that contained its energy. Three vague conditions. Three riddles, really.
None of which gave him a single useful lead.
"How on earth am I supposed to find that?" Ethan muttered under his breath, falling into deep thought.
...
Back at the nursery, Lin Feng was busy leading Mewtwo to the orchard gardens. He glanced at the psychic legend, now appearing in the form of a young man, and raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"
Mewtwo's reply was calm, stripped of its earlier hostility. "My travels are over for now. I came here."
Lin Feng noticed the difference immediately. Unlike the first time they met, the heavy aura of bitterness and anger no longer hung so thick around Mewtwo.
"There's another reason," Mewtwo added lightly. "This time I plan to take Dragonite with me. I need it to deliver messages."
Lin Feng blinked in surprise, then quickly pieced it together. Wait. Was this the beginning of the events he knew as Mewtwo Strikes Back? If Mewtwo was about to summon trainers using Dragonite as a courier, then…
Would Lin Feng's involvement soften the way Mewtwo treated Ash and the others later?
Mewtwo glanced toward Dragonite, who was lounging lazily under a tree, its belly noticeably rounder than before. Its tone carried an odd undercurrent. "It seems to be living quite well here."
That tiny spark of jealousy was hard to miss. Dragonite looked far too content, its plump figure practically radiating the good life.
Lin Feng laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, it's the biggest eater around here."
Mewtwo's face remained neutral, though its eyes flickered briefly.
"How long do you plan to keep Dragonite with you?" Lin Feng asked casually, unaware of the subtle shift in tone. "I might still need it in a few days. We're rebuilding the path outside the nursery, and it helps a lot with heavy lifting."
"Three… maybe five or six days. Not long," Mewtwo answered in an even voice.
"That's fine then." Lin Feng nodded, then offered, "Want something to eat? I was about to start lunch."
For the first time that day, Mewtwo's expression softened into a faint smile. "The same as last time will do."
"Meat steak and soup, right? Got it. I'll prepare it at noon," Lin Feng replied enthusiastically. His eyes lit up as he added, "It's been a while since you came. I've learned plenty of new recipes. You should try them all while you're here."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted to Mewtwo's status panel.
[Pokémon: Mewtwo]
[Gender: None]
[Ability: Pressure]
[Potential: Divine]
[IVs: HP (28), Attack (31), Special Attack (31), Defense (28), Special Defense (29), Speed (31)]
[Level: 100]
[Moves: Disable, Confusion, Swift, Ancient Power, Life Dew, Psychic…]
[Joy Value: 60]
[Friendship: 70]
Lin Feng exhaled slowly, reassured. Even Mewtwo had reached a friendship level of seventy with him. With strength like this, who in the world would dare to cause trouble here?
Around them, the nursery Pokémon peeked curiously at the newcomer. Most were startled. After all, apart from Melody Huang, Lin Feng never allowed outsiders into the orchard. Pidgeot often circled above, keeping watch and scaring off customers who wandered too close. Everyone knew this was a sanctuary meant only for Lin Feng and his Pokémon.
But today was an exception.
Of all the residents, Gardevoir's reaction was the strongest. Normally the picture of laziness and grace, it instantly tensed upon sensing Mewtwo's immense psychic power. This was no ordinary trainer's aura. This was something greater an overwhelming force, sharper and heavier than its own.
Fortunately, Mewtwo radiated no malice. On the contrary, its relationship with Lin Feng seemed almost… comfortable.
Lin Feng, meanwhile, casually picked fresh vegetables while chatting. "So, what have you been up to lately?"
"I visited Johto," Mewtwo replied plainly. "And then Kalos."
"Planning to return to Kanto after this?"
"Yes." Mewtwo hesitated for a heartbeat before revealing more. "I intend to host a game there. A tournament. I will invite human trainers to participate… to test an idea that has been weighing on my mind."
Lin Feng chuckled. "A game, huh? Do I get an invitation?"
Truthfully, part of him was curious. He wanted to witness firsthand the people he once thought of as the main characters of this world like Ash.
Mewtwo fell into silence.
Lin Feng quickly raised both hands. "Relax, I'm joking. I can't just leave all these Pokémon behind to play games with you."
He stored the picked vegetables into a Pokéball-shaped container, then patted Mewtwo lightly on the shoulder. Just as he was about to return to the nursery, Serperior slithered over, tapping him with its tail.
"Shoo shoo…" (Look at this.)
It guided him toward a corner of the garden. Lin Feng's eyes widened when he saw several stalks of leek bright crimson in color, glistening under the sun.
"Well, now. Ever since luck started favoring us, these mutated plants just keep popping up," Lin Feng said, both amused and amazed.
Curiosity piqued, he examined one of the stalks.
[Flavor Leek Can be added to dishes, enhancing both taste and rating by one grade. Alternatively, it can serve as a weapon for certain Pokémon. When wielded as a weapon, it grants unique effects.]
Lin Feng blinked. "As a weapon? What kind of Pokémon would use a leek as a weapon?"
The answer was obvious. Farfetch'd.
And if it were holding a red leek like this one?
The mental image nearly made him laugh out loud: a proud Farfetch'd marching into battle with a giant crimson leek over its shoulder.
Shaking his head, Lin Feng plucked a stalk. He didn't have a Farfetch'd anyway, so weapon use was off the table. Cooking, on the other hand, was fair game.
"Looks like you came at just the right time," he said to Mewtwo, tucking the leek under his arm.
Mewtwo said nothing. The orchard had changed so much since its last visit that it felt unfamiliar, almost foreign. Rather than wander and risk disruption, it stayed close behind Lin Feng.
At that moment, Rotom zipped out from the direction of the nursery. "Loto! Loto! Master, there's a message. Looks like it was sent by the League to all citizens of Haikou City and the surrounding towns. Do you want to read it?"
"The League?" Lin Feng's mind leapt immediately to the news Rotom had broadcast that morning. Could it be connected to Darkrai? Was it trying to use humans to help search for its missing Gardevoir?
"Let me see it," Lin Feng said firmly, beckoning Rotom over.
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