Chapter 490:
It was sent over a decade into the future, before disappearing.
That was roughly the situation.
But it wasn't just that; the finer details were somewhat unclear to Kaede due to the flow of time.
After being sent through time, Zoroark's first thought was to return to the past era and find its former Trainer again.
This was its obsession.
To return to the past, it had to find Celebi. But Celebi, a Pokémon that travels through time. How difficult could it be to find?
However, Zoroark soon discovered its eyes could see the future.
And within its visions, it saw Kaede, and Megumi... and one specific image: Celebi behind Kaede.
And so, after several more years of searching, it finally saw Megumi.
Hmm...
'So that means Celebi will appear near me?'
Withdrawing his hand, Kaede fell into thought.
Celebi...
The Time Travel Pokémon.
This Pokémon felt a bit strange. It was clearly stated that there were many of this Pokémon, or rather, it could travel across countless timelines, becoming countless versions of itself.
Alternatively, Celebi from other worlds could also reach this one.
But he didn't know any Celebi.
"Zoroark..."
The astonishment still hadn't faded from Zoroark's face, because Kaede's sensing had also taken it through its past memories once more.
The memory of its former Trainer reappearing in its heart made it feel a pang of sadness.
But now, Zoroark's heart was also filled with hope.
Because this human before it was far too mysterious and formidable.
Not only were the Pokémon by his side incredibly powerful, one after another, but he himself possessed various abilities.
But the next second, Kaede's words shocked it.
"I don't know any Celebi."
Then, another surprise.
"Celebi can travel through time, but I can ask Mew for you. It's a Pokémon that has lived a very long time and should know Celebi."
"Zoroark?" (*Where is it, where is it??!*) Zoroark asked urgently.
"Where it is now, I don't know. It returns periodically. It hasn't come back yet, so I don't know where it is!"
Kaede shook his head.
Mew's location—he truly didn't know that.
"However, the last time it returned was seven days ago. It will most likely return within the next seven days. Since you've already been at this point in time for so long, it doesn't matter if you wait a few more days."
"Zoroark, Zoroark..." Hearing hope once again, a light shone in Zoroark's eyes, and the corners of its mouth unconsciously lifted into a slight smile.
"Alright, I've decided to help you with your matter. But coming back to it, how do you plan to handle my issue?"
"Zoroark??"
"I will lay it out simply. Tying up Megumi, planning to ambush Dragonite, taking Dragonite's form, then coming to trick me?"
Kaede tapped the forehead of the girl eating a chicken leg beside him, listing its offenses.
Having just seen its memories with Viridian Power, all these things, these intentions—whether carried out or not—were now known to him.
Naturally, Kaede couldn't just let it slide.
"Huh?"
Megumi, who had been sitting to the side eating her snack and listening somewhat confusedly—only understanding that Zoroark probably needed Kaede's help—but not knowing Zoroark's story, immediately nodded emphatically when she heard Kaede standing up for her. "Yeah, yeah, yeah!"
At that time, she had gotten such a fright, thinking she was going to be taken away and eaten.
After all, this Zoroark looked pretty scary.
"Zoroark..?"
Zoroark, however, was immediately taken aback. Its hands fidgeted uneasily. Perhaps it had been too long since it had moved in human society, or perhaps it had been too long without a Trainer by its side, but it had no idea how to handle a situation like this.
As for Megumi, she quickly stated her condition. She pulled out a tissue, wiped her mouth, and pointed at Zoroark. "Hmph! You apologize to me!"
o_o .... : "Zoroark?"
This statement completely stunned Zoroark, leaving it looking dumbfounded at Megumi.
"Yeah, apologize!" Megumi said righteously.
"Zoroark..." (*I'm sorry...*)
This time, Zoroark lowered its head quickly.
After all, although it had spent several years in the wild, it was once the Pokémon of a kind Trainer. It still understood these things.
And Megumi didn't hold a grudge, quickly running back to the dining table.
"Want to eat something? You probably haven't eaten either." Kaede extended a hand toward it.
"Zoroark...."
Now, Zoroark clearly seemed a bit reserved. The delicious food on the table—it hadn't paid much attention at first, but after everything was settled and it heard hope, its attention had actually shifted to the feast.
Of course, noticing it was one thing; it couldn't possibly make any shameful demands like "I want to eat too."
But Kaede offering was different.
It nodded, feeling both reserved and somewhat embarrassed.
"Go on, go on. Let the sister Indeedee..." Kaede called out "sister," but both Indeedee and Megumi, who had just walked over, turned their heads.
"Ahem, I mean Indeedee..."
Indeedee then walked over.
"Here, prepare some food for it."
"Indeedee~"
Indeedee nodded, giving Zoroark its signature smile. "Indeedee~" (*Follow me~*)
Faced with such a formal invitation, Zoroark actually felt a bit unease, but it still followed, unable to resist looking around curiously.
"Sigh..."
Meanwhile, Kaede watched its retreating back, lost in thought.
During the earlier Viridian Power sensing.
He hadn't just perceived the events of Zoroark's past; he could also sense the changes in its state of mind over the years.
At the very beginning, both it and its Trainer were spirited and youthful, yet they bore the responsibility of guarding the ley lines.
But later, after failing to stop the corporation and witnessing its Trainer's death, its temperament underwent a subtle change.
In the memories, whether its Trainer tried to handle things with force or patiently reasoned with the corporation to no avail, Zoroark began to harbor other thoughts.
*Back then, if I had been just a bit more ruthless, could I have completely prevented this whole incident?*
This line of thinking had subtly influenced it over the years.
Transforming it from a very kind Pokémon into one that had become somewhat... obsessive.
Just like this time, wanting to meet him—it was willing to do almost anything to achieve its goal.
Megumi's situation, for instance, was brought about by it using illusions to lure her out.