Chapter 828: I Never Lost When I Teamed Up With Him
Kazuya discussed with his companions.
Since they didn't have a specific route, they might as well follow Greninja, help him chop some trees, and complete Team Flare's commission along the way.
Until one day.
The group of seven Pokémon arrived at the northernmost part of the Kalos region.
Laverre City.
In the anime, this place is described as a quaint, large city, with its buildings and facilities predominantly featuring a classical style.
Kazuya was naturally no stranger to this place either.
The Laverre City in both worlds was pretty much the same.
The Laverre Town of League Calendar Year 30, he had seen it.
The Laverre Town of League Calendar Year 187, he had seen it too.
This Laverre City of League Calendar Year 237, it wasn't his first time here either.
During his time as an Empoleon, when he traveled the world alone, he had set foot in Laverre City in League Calendar Year 237.
He didn't expect that in this reversed League Calendar Year 237, he would arrive here once again.
"It's as if destiny had already made its choice."
Kazuya looked at the giant tree in the distance and murmured.
A mysterious giant tree that is 1,500 years old.
It is a major folktale of Laverre City.
Some say it's the incarnation of Xerneas, others say it's the legendary Eternal Tree...
Opinions vary.
No one knows which legend is true.
Kazuya didn't know either.
Perhaps AZ knew the origin of this tree, after all, that man's age was twice that of this tree.
But he didn't care.
Neither did the others.
People just found these legends interesting, which was why they passed them on; they didn't truly want to know the answer.
Some questions are only remembered and considered meaningful when they have yet to be answered.
"Why hasn't that tree withered? Could it really be the Eternal Tree?"
Dragonite looked at the giant tree in amazement.
She had traveled with humans when she was young, but that was a long, long time ago.
Back in the Magical Beast Era.
Given the transportation and social environment of that time, they couldn't travel very far at all, let alone to the Kalos region on the other side of the world.
So this was Dragonite's first time in Laverre City, and she knew nothing about this tree.
"That's not a tree, that's a piece of wood. The original leaves were stuck on by humans, it's just that no one knows why this piece of wood hasn't decomposed after so long."
Scizor shrugged.
He was the local tough guy of Laverre City.
No one knew this city better than him.
He had watched this place develop from Laverre Town to Laverre City.
In his over three hundred years of life, Scizor had spent at least a hundred and fifty years in Laverre City.
Keep in mind.
Greninja was only over a hundred and sixty years old.
"Scizor and I first met on the plains outside Laverre City. He was arguing with a big cat at the time."
Kazuya smiled and told the companions around him.
He had also stayed in this city for three years.
His feelings for Laverre City were definitely better than for other cities.
"Master, please don't tell them about those old things."
Scizor scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.
"Hehe, alright."
Kazuya nodded with his eyes narrowed.
The group continued forward.
The former Laverre Giant Tree was nothing more than a scenic wishing spot, but in the League Era, it became the location of a Gym in the Kalos region.
Laverre Gym.
This would be their residence for the next few days.
Staying in human cities was already familiar territory for everyone.
The next day.
Everyone went out to do their own things.
Dragonite and Skitty ran to the shops in Laverre City, looking for the source of the fragrance in the city.
Lucario, Greninja, and Mewtwo teamed up to train in a quieter place nearby.
Normally, Scizor would have gone with them.
But today, Kazuya specifically asked him to stay.
Sitting at the port in the northern part of Laverre City, Scizor dangled his legs in the seawater, swinging them back and forth, and looked at Kazuya somewhat uneasily: "Master?"
Master called him over but didn't say anything.
Did he do something wrong again?
Scizor's sense of unease was very pure, stemming entirely from his identity as a "disciple" and "student."
"It's nothing, just feeling a bit nostalgic. I called you over to keep me company."
"Oh."
Hearing this, Scizor breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile.
His mood instantly improved!
Master didn't call anyone else, he only called him!
This proved that he was the most trusted right-hand man in Master's heart!
Tears welled up.
Scizor moved himself deeply.
"How much do you know about your ancestor? I mean the Scyther from over a thousand years ago."
Kazuya turned his head and raised his hand.
Then he pointed to the Scyther stone statue standing in the corner of the port, constantly gazing north.
"He's the only ancestor I've ever learned about, but... I don't know much either. I only know he came here with a woman a thousand years ago. Later, I also actively tried to learn a lot..."
Scizor turned to look and shared what he knew.
About that Scyther.
About that woman.
As he spoke.
He belatedly remembered that the woman named "Liese" was not only his ancestor's Trainer but also seemed to be his Master's Trainer.
What a terrifying woman...
I heard she was a queen too.
He imagined her as an incredibly powerful and majestic iceberg of a woman. Only someone like that would be worthy of standing beside Master.
Thinking of this.
Scizor narrowed his eyes, and the image of Liese gradually fleshed out in his mind.
At this moment, Kazuya wasn't paying attention to Scizor, but was immersed in his own world of memories.
"How did Master and my ancestor meet?"
"Oh? Didn't I tell you before?"
"No."
Scizor shook his head blankly.
"..."
Kazuya was stunned for a moment.
Only then did he remember that three hundred years ago, he hadn't told Scizor anything, simply deciding to stay and teach him for three years.
Even when it was time to leave in the end.
He only told him that Scyther came from Mt. Silver.
It was estimated.
That Scizor only realized the true nature of the relationship between Kazuya and Scyther when he learned that Kazuya had a past life as "Aran."
"That was my oversight. In that case, let me tell you about it... The story of him and me, having no tribe, training together on Mt. Silver over a thousand and three hundred years ago."
Kazuya smiled, raising his head to look at the sky.
That story.
Was truly too long ago for Kazuya.
His memories were somewhat fragmented, but when he really started recalling them, many parts were incredibly clear.
Kazuya started from Scyther's defeat in the leader battle, to how he later fought his way back and took away a few tribe members;
Then from their first time teaming up against the Ariados swarm, to finally teaming up against the Alpha of Viridian Forest.
"Even though we weren't really considered strong back then, I never lost when I teamed up with him."
Kazuya sighed, his brows furrowed tightly, unable to relax for a long time.
"..."
Listening to these stories, Scizor opened his mouth, then closed it again.
He didn't know what to say.
He was shocked.
Shocked that Master and his ancestor had such a good relationship over a thousand years ago.
Shocked that Master had also experienced such a weak and difficult period in the past.
Shocked that his ancestor would take Master's place and spend the rest of his life protecting that woman.
He suddenly seemed to understand.
Over three hundred years ago.
Why Master decided to stay and teach him for three years after hearing about that Scyther.
He had once thought it was because of his good talent.
Now he knew.
It was because he was basking in the glory of his ancestor.
At this moment.
Scizor felt somewhat joyful, but also somewhat disappointed.
Joyful.
Because he discovered that the relationship between himself and Master seemed closer and more intimate than he imagined.
Disappointed.
Because he felt Master treated him so well because of his friendship with his ancestor.
This made Scizor's imagination run wild.
To him, Kazuya.
Was more than just a Master.
He was the first person to pat his head, the first person to give him care and affection...
There's a saying in human society.
A teacher for a day, a father for a lifetime.
In Scizor's eyes, this saying was not wrong at all.
But now.
The feeling seemed to have changed a bit.
Just as Scizor's mood was gradually sinking.
Kazuya suddenly spoke up: "I know what you're thinking."
Scizor froze for a moment, lifting his head to look at him.
But a large hand covered his head, blocking his vision.
"I don't deny that I initially decided to stay and teach you for three years out of guilt and gratitude towards Scyther."
"However, during those three years together, I had truly come to see you as my disciple. My teachings and care for you had nothing to do with Scyther anymore, so you don't need to overthink it."
"I have four disciples in this life, two Pokémon and two humans. You are my first disciple, and also my proudest."
"Of course, if you ever have the chance to meet them in the future, don't mention this. One of your junior brothers has a rather troublesome personality; he might chop you if he hears it."
Kazuya chuckled and rubbed Scizor's cold, hard head, then stood up and walked toward Scyther's stone statue.
He still had some things he wanted to say to Scyther.
To talk about what he had seen and heard over these past few lives.
To talk about Scizor's growth.
To talk about the recent situation of this world.
"Master..."
Scizor stood up, instinctively wanting to follow.
But Kazuya raised a hand to stop him.
"This next part is adult conversation time. I have some private words to say to your ancestor, so don't follow me."
With that said.
Kazuya left alone.
Leaving only one sentence drifting into Scizor's ears: "If Scyther knew of your existence, he would definitely be proud of you, right?"
"Just like me."
Watching Kazuya's retreating back, Scizor's pupils trembled. He then lowered his head, raised an arm to wipe his eyes, turned around, and went to find Lucario and the others.
The proudest thing in my life is becoming your disciple.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter