Chapter 120. The Lost Little Diglett, A Zygarde-like Existence
By the time everyone returned, Ash Ketchum had already defeated Koga.
"This is the Soul Badge for the two of you."
At dusk by the gate, Aya handed them a heart-shaped Badge.
"Huh? Aren't Natsume and I two people?" Ash asked, puzzled.
Aya smiled slightly, split the heart-shaped Badge in two, and placed each half into Natsume's and Ash's palms.
She reached out and held both their hands.
When Aya let go, the split halves each restored themselves, becoming two complete Badges.
"Wow, amazing, just like that street busker who made my coin disappear!"
Ash's eyes lit up.
Aya: "…"
If you're going to flatter me, keep it coming.
"I'm a ninja, okay!"
Misty tugged Ash by the ear and dragged him away.
"Let's head into Fuchsia City and get some rest," Brock suggested.
"Yeah, and dinner's at the Pokémon Center," said Ash, who then, just like when they first entered the mountain path, dashed ahead of the group.
"I told you, if we take the mountain path we don't have to detour."
Brock hauled Ash back and led the way deeper in the opposite direction.
Fuchsia City, Pokémon Center.
As soon as he arrived, Natsume went to the local research labs.
Unfortunately, there weren't any League-funded labs here; they were all privately run.
After a round of looking, Natsume found some of the facilities were not even on par with a Pokémon research lab.
Helpless, Natsume dropped the idea of upgrading the Ultra Ball Rotom and returned to the Pokémon Center.
"Natsume, are you trying to study that strange black haze on Rotom?"
Seeing Natsume come back, Ash handed him a cup of Moomoo Milk and asked curiously.
"Mm. I plan to try again back at Professor Oak's Laboratory."
Ash's words snapped Natsume awake.
Right, his Rotom had that weird haze inside it that could make certain machines come to life.
It hadn't acted up these past few days, and Natsume hadn't noticed anything new.
But if, while he was developing the Ultra Ball Rotom, that strange haze suddenly showed up—
Natsume shivered.
If all the instruments came to life and ran wild, wrecking the entire lab, Natsume couldn't even imagine the astronomical compensation he'd face.
Even a small lab could wipe out the little nest egg he'd saved these past few months, and he'd still end up in debt.
As for Professor Oak's Laboratory—
In Natsume's second year there, for certain special reasons, Professor Oak—under the pretext of fire safety—fixed every instrument in place, even locking them down, and did a daily inventory.
Even if the instruments came to life, they wouldn't be able to get far.
The next day, everyone bid Fuchsia City farewell.
On the road, the group walked at an easy pace, especially relaxed.
By Natsume's reckoning, they were collecting Gym Badges at a pretty good clip.
He even felt that after they gathered eight Badges, he'd still have time to swing by Professor Oak's Laboratory and finish developing the Ultra Ball Rotom.
"Where's the next Gym!"
Ash was hyped, flipping open his collar.
The six Badges on it gleamed brightly.
"Sigh, we should slow down.
Otherwise we might collect all the Badges and still have a month or two left before the tournament," Misty said, pulling the excited Ash back.
Gary Oak's appearance earlier had made Ash a little tense.
After all, when he only had five Badges, Gary already had seven.
So last night, Ash called Professor Oak's Laboratory and checked in with his mom.
Counting Natsume, there were five Trainers who had set out from Pallet Town.
Two of them had already given up and gone crying home to their mothers.
"Hahaha, I'm top three in Pallet Town!"
Ash let out a belly laugh.
"Come on, there are only five of you," Misty rolled her eyes, let go of his collar, and let him run off.
"Whoa!"
Ash had barely gone a few steps when he tripped and fell.
"Quack-quack-quack!"
A yellow duck waddled out of Misty's Poké Ball and stared blankly at Ash.
Thud!
Misty pulled out a brick and seized the chance to bonk it once.
The three head-feathers on Psyduck shook visibly, and a big lump swelled on its head.
Psyduck turned back and stared dazedly at Misty.
"Ahaha, sorry, Psyduck.
I'll go easier next time."
Misty raised the brick apologetically, ready to swing again.
"Ta-ga—"
Psyduck jumped up and tapped the Poké Ball at Misty's waist.
K-chak—
A red beam flashed, and Starmie popped out.
"Gah?"
Psyduck looked at it, puzzled, wondering why it hadn't been recalled.
Wham!
Another brick came down, and Psyduck collapsed holding its head.
"Uh, sorry."
Misty said, sprayed Potion on them, and recalled both Psyduck and Starmie.
Meanwhile, Ash had found the culprit that had tripped him.
"What, a Diglett?"
Rubbing his backside, Ash peered curiously at the Diglett that had popped up in front of him.
It was like firing the first shot—after that Diglett appeared, countless Diglett popped out of the road.
"Chitter-chitter—"
The Diglett surrounded the group, chattering nonstop.
"It seems like they want something from us," Brock said, turning his gaze to Natsume.
Before Natsume's translation software hit the market, he was the best candidate to act as interpreter among them.
Natsume's eyes were locked on his Rotom Phone.
On the screen were the model and data for Gary's motorbike.
Up to now, Natsume was still replaying why the car-form Rotom he built turned so weird after transforming.
Although the big Rotom was no longer usable, once the little Rotom leveled up, he could keep refining the Motorbike Rotom research.
Honora rested her head on Natsume's shoulder, her nose brushing his ear, a faint blush rising.
In name she was studying, but her eyes were fixed straight on Natsume's profile.
She liked Natsume best when he was in thinking mode, unmoved by the outside world.
She could take the opportunity to get handsy and wouldn't get noticed.
Suddenly, Honora felt countless gazes on her.
"Um, ahem, Mr. Natsume, everyone seems to need you."
Honora quietly lowered her head, tidied her clothes, and spoke with a straight face.
Natsume looked up and found Ash and the others, with a crowd of Diglett behind them.
A faint wisp of smoke drifted up nearby.
Natsume turned and saw Honora's ears and cheeks red.
Why was his little assistant triggered again?
"Okay, tell me, what's going on?"
After getting the gist of it, Natsume moved to the front of the Diglett crowd.
Before long, a Dugtrio that seemed to be the leader popped up.
"Chitter-chitter, chirr—"
The Dugtrio's voice carried a hint of urgency.
A bluish glow rose in Natsume's eyes as he established a mind link.
"They say a little Diglett in their ranks has gone missing."
Natsume translated the Dugtrio's words for everyone.
[Ding! S-rank task—"Zygarde-like Form?"—issued.]
What does this have to do with Zygarde, the Order Pokémon that keeps the ecosystem in balance?
Natsume was baffled.
But judging by the timing, this task was related to the lost little Diglett.
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