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Chapter 1398 - The Lost Magby
After subduing Hoopa's evil thoughts, the very first thing Ariana did was to make it help her search for Kyurem's whereabouts.
With its summoning rings, Hoopa could indeed easily locate the various legendary Pokémon, so Ariana quietly headed to Unova Region with Hoopa's evil though in tow.
Sure enough, Hoopa's evil though quickly helped Ariana find Kyurem. However, near the cave where Kyurem resided, she encountered Team Plasma.
A clash soon broke out between the two sides.
But far away in Hoenn, Yuga knew nothing of this incident.
In the depths of the ocean, the battle between Kyogre and Lugia ended without a decisive winner. The two legendary Pokémon finally stopped fighting to the death, and Lugia left Hoenn, injured.
Once the battle between the two legendary Pokémon ended, the abnormal weather conditions across Hoenn also came to an end.
After the weather in Verdanturf Town returned to normal, life in the town was finally revitalized. Even some people who usually stayed cooped up indoors all day came outside for a change.
That day, Yuga received another phone call from Wallace. On the phone, Wallace told Yuga that a few days ago, a League forest ranger had accidentally seen Lugia flying out of a part of the ocean.
Later, the League sent people to investigate the area and unexpectedly found Kyogre, who had been missing for several days.
Currently, the League was negotiating with Kyogre, trying to bring it to the human side. Otherwise, with Kyogre causing trouble every other day, it was becoming a real headache.
Kyogre's attitude was relatively mild. It did not clash violently with the people sent by the League to negotiate. It even took the initiative to explain the recent cause of the abnormal weather.
Although people like Yuga who could communicate directly with Pokémon were rare in the League, there were still quite a few Pokémon with telepathic abilities. So communicating with Kyogre wasn't too difficult.
At the same time, the Hoenn League also learned about Hoopa through Kyogre.
When Kyogre was controlled by Hoopa's evil though, it wasn't completely mindless. On the contrary, its mind was quite clear — it was just that its body was out of its control.
When Kyogre and Lugia were summoned by Hoopa, Ariana — who had released Hoopa — was also present, and Kyogre happened to remember Ariana.
Back when they were fighting over the giant stone fragments, Ariana and Proton had brought Shadow Lugia with them. Although Kyogre didn't know who Ariana was, it had a deep impression of this troublemaker.
There weren't many people present during the fight over the giant stone fragments, so the League quickly figured out who Kyogre was referring to.
Upon learning that Hoopa had fallen into Ariana's hands, the League couldn't possibly stand idly by.
"We've already sent someone to secretly search for Ariana and Hoopa," Wallace said to Yuga over the phone.
"Who did you send?" Yuga asked curiously.
This was such an important mission — ordinary people probably wouldn't be up to the task.
"Steven, who else?" Wallace said casually.
Isn't Steven the type who loves wandering around? This mission was just right for him — he could even take the opportunity to tour other regions.
Now that Steven had stepped down from his Champion position, the thing he had the most was time. There was no one more suited for this mission than him.
Of course, Wallace didn't tell Yuga that it was he himself who had suggested Steven for the mission.
Naturally, Steven didn't go alone — he was accompanied by another person: Looker, the International Police officer.
Looker had long experience with all kinds of field missions and was particularly skilled at secretly tracking criminals. With his help, things would be a lot easier for Steven.
Wallace said, "Originally, the higher-ups wanted to send you, but then decided Steven was a better fit." (Actually, it was Wallace himself who thought Steven was more suitable and recommended him.)
Upon hearing that, Yuga quickly responded, "I also think Steven is more suitable."
After finishing the call with Wallace, Yuga had just come downstairs when he heard Suzuki Koen speaking to someone.
Turns out it was another neighbor delivering something to Yuga.
Thanks to the help Yuga and the Sunflora Ranch had provided recently, the fruit farmers had managed to salvage their year's harvest. Out of gratitude, the neighbors would drop off gifts every few days — sometimes vegetables, sometimes fruit.
But the person who came today wasn't just anyone — it was Aunt Aoba.
Aunt Aoba's family didn't grow fruit, but they did grow a lot of vegetables.
Aunt Aoba usually worked at the Paradise Restaurant, and both their homegrown vegetables and their stall at the market were managed by her husband.
This recent rain hadn't only affected the fruit farmers — it had also impacted Aunt Aoba's vegetable fields. If Yuga hadn't stepped in in time, who knows how many vegetables would have rotted in the ground.
Early that morning, Aunt Aoba's husband, Hayato Sena, had gone to the field to pick some fresh vegetables, planning for Aunt Aoba to bring them along to give to Yuga while she was heading to work.
He hadn't expected that while he was picking vegetables, he would suddenly hear some rustling sounds coming from the vegetable patch. He quietly walked over, only to discover a vegetable thief.
"Look, boss, look—it's this little guy. My family's vegetables were seriously damaged by it this morning," Aunt Aoba said, pointing to a Breloom behind her. This Breloom was holding a baby Magby flailing its limbs in its hands.
This Breloom was specially raised by Aunt Aoba's family to help her husband with farm work. It had been raised for three or four years already. Although its potential wasn't great, it was tall and sturdy—definitely not something that a tiny Magby like this could resist.
"Magby~ Magby~ Magby~"
The angry Magby pouted and blew fire at the Breloom. But it was too small, and it couldn't properly use its Fire-type moves. All it could spit out was a little bit of black smoke, which had no effect on the Breloom at all.
"Hehe, this little guy is really cute," Suzuki Koen laughed as Magby's antics amused her.
Hearing Suzuki Koen's laughter, Magby pretended to glare at her fiercely, but it only made it look even cuter. Seeing this, Suzuki Koen laughed even harder.
"It's actually a Magby! That's not something you see often here in Verdanturf Town," Yuga said in surprise.
More importantly, Yuga used his Insight skill to observe and discovered that it was actually a blue potential Pokémon.
"Right?" Aunt Aoba agreed enthusiastically. "That's why I brought it over—to see if it could become a Pokémon for my little Arata."
"If it's that rare in Verdanturf Town, maybe it's a Pokémon that someone lost?" Suzuki Koen thought for a moment and said.
Aunt Aoba slapped her forehead. "Oh! Why didn't I think of that? If it really belongs to someone else, its owner must be worried sick."
"That's not out of the question," Yuga said as well.
It was rare and had great potential—not the kind of thing you'd just stumble across easily.
"How about this, boss," Aunt Aoba said after thinking for a moment. "I'll leave it here with you. You help me see if it belongs to someone else."
"That works too," Yuga agreed. "If it really is a wild Pokémon, I'll pass it along to Arata Sena for you."
"Alright, alright," Aunt Aoba said happily, then told the Breloom to hand the Magby over to Yuga.
Just as Yuga was about to reach out to take it, Magby refused and began swiping its little claws toward him.
At that moment, Gengar suddenly appeared beside Yuga, pulled a scary face, and lunged at Magby. Magby who is startled, pulled its tiny hands back. After a few seconds of silence, it burst into tears with a scrunched-up face.
Yuga knew that Gengar was trying to protect him and said helplessly, "Why did you have to scare it like that?"
Gengar paid no mind to Yuga's words, it stuck out its tongue at Magby, then grinned widely and slipped back into Yuga's shadow.
Suzuki Koen and Aunt Aoba were also startled by Gengar's sudden appearance.
"Boss, the restaurant is really busy right now, so I'll head back first," Aunt Aoba said hurriedly and left, leaving the Magby dumped on the ground by the Breloom, crying even harder.
At this moment, Smoochum and Mime Jr. walked over hand in hand. Seeing Magby sitting on the ground crying, they curiously approached to take a closer look.
Magby thought they were laughing at it. It opened its mouth and blew two small bursts of flame at them.
Mime Jr. dodged skillfully, avoiding the fire. But Smoochum wasn't so lucky—its face took the full hit.
Smoochum's level wasn't low now, so it wasn't harmed by the small and feeble fire bursts, but having its face scorched made it feel like its dignity had been insulted. It rolled up its sleeves and was about to fight Magby.
Fortunately, Mime Jr. quickly held it back. "Calm down, don't stoop to a kid's level."
Yuga also soothed it. "Smoochum, Magby is new here and unfamiliar with the place. Don't hold it against it."
As he spoke, he called into the kitchen, "Duo Duo, bring out my honey milk for today and give it to Smoochum."
"Audino~"
Hearing this, Duo Duo walked out of the kitchen and handed the cup of freshly prepared honey milk to Smoochum.
Smoochum took the cup filled with honey milk, took a satisfied sip, and then walked away grumbling.
Mime Jr. followed behind Smoochum, drooling and thinking: If I'd known there was a reward, I wouldn't have dodged! It didn't even hurt anyway...
So regretful!
After Mime Jr. and Smoochum walked off, Yuga squatted down, looked at Magby, and said, "Alright now, can we have a talk?"
If you want to find out whether the Magby is a lost Pokémon belonging to someone else, the fastest way would of course be to communicate with it directly.
But Magby had just been scared by Gengar, and now when it saw Yuga, it reacted the same way as it did when it saw Gengar, retreating backward in fear.
Oh no, could this little one have been traumatized by Gengar? Yuga wondered.
At that moment, Duo Duo picked up Magby from the ground. After a simple round of comforting, Magby's crying gradually came to a stop.
Yuga thought: Could it be that I lack the glow of maternal love?
"Audino~ Audino~"
Yuga, let me talk to it. Once I get some useful information, I'll tell you.
Audino who is holding Magby in her arms, said to Yuga.
"That's the only way, then. Sorry to trouble you," Yuga agreed with a nod.
Just like that, Audino carried Magby into the kitchen.
Half an hour later, Magby's emotions had calmed down, and its cheerful cries could be heard coming from the kitchen.
"Audino~ Audino~ Audino~"
I asked, and it said it came from Mt. Chimney in Lavaridge Town. It was accidentally caught by a Fearow and brought here to Verdanturf Town. It's not a wild Pokémon.
"Lavaridge Town?" Yuga suddenly understood. "Then it's not surprising at all."
Lavaridge Town is located near to Mt. Chimney, which is a volcano. Volcanoes have always been known for producing Fire-type Pokémon. It wouldn't be odd to encounter a Magby there.
"Since it's not a wild Pokémon, did you ask it who its owner is?" Yuga asked again.
"Audino~"
No, it couldn't give any other clear answers.
Audino shook her head.
"Alright, got it."
After learning that Magby came from Lavaridge Town, Yuga called Flannery.
"Wow, you actually called me? That's rare. So, what's up?" Flannery's energetic voice came through the phone.
Compared to when Yuga first met her, Flannery had matured a lot. Now, under her management, the Lavaridge Gym was thriving.
When Flannery had just taken over the gym, many people didn't think highly of her. If the Lavaridge Gym hadn't been such a well-established one, she probably wouldn't have even had the qualifications to inherit it.
Fortunately, she was ambitious and hardworking, and now she had proven herself through real achievements.
"I wanted to ask you something," Yuga said.
"Go ahead," Flannery replied, a little surprised. "I'll tell you everything I know."
So Yuga told Flannery the story about Magby.
After listening, Flannery exclaimed, "No way, such a coincidence?"
Yuga asked in confusion, "What is it? Do you know who Magby's owner is?"
"It's probably mine," Flannery said with emotion.
It turned out that a few days ago, something had happened on Mt. Chimney. The volcano, which hadn't erupted in many years, showed signs of a possible eruption, causing widespread panic in Lavaridge Town.
Of course, Mt. Chimney ultimately didn't erupt, or else Lavaridge Town would've already been in the news.
But just because it didn't erupt doesn't mean nothing happened.
When the magma in Mt. Chimney's crater started to become agitated, the Pokémon on the mountain somehow became extremely panicked, resulting in a huge mess.
Flannery's grandfather, Mr. Moore, had built a breeding facility at one of Mt. Chimney's craters. Yuga had visited there once and had even received a Vulpix as a gift from the old man.
After Mr. Moore retired, most of his Pokémon were raised there.
The Magby that Flannery lost was a descendant of one of Mr. Moore's main Pokémon. Since it was still a newborn and not yet ready for training, it had been kept at the breeding facility.
The panic on Mt. Chimney had also affected the breeding base, and more than ten Pokémon went missing from the facility as a result.
Fortunately, Mr. Moore happened to be at the base at the time, so most of the Pokémon were recovered in time. Only Magby had gone missing.
Several days had passed, and Flannery had almost given up hope of finding it. She never expected to hear news about it from Yuga today.
"That's really such a coincidence. Hold on, I'll start a video call so you can confirm whether it's the one I lost."
After hearing Flannery's story, Yuga also exclaimed at the coincidence.
Through the video, Flannery immediately recognized Magby. It was indeed the one she had lost.
"That's wonderful! I almost thought it would never be found again," Flannery said happily. "Hold on, I'll come pick it up right away."
Lavaridge Town and Verdanturf Town are close to each other, so the round trip wouldn't take long.
"Wait, I'll bring it to you instead," Yuga suddenly said.
Having just heard from Wallace about news of Kyogre, for some reason, he thought of Groudon, and his instinct was to go check Mt. Chimney.
If it turned out that his instincts were correct, that would be for the best. If not... then there could be a big problem.
Truly a troubled time—problems kept coming one after another.
"Eh? I can't possibly trouble you like that!" Flannery said in surprise.
Yuga smiled and explained, "It's nothing. We haven't seen each other in a while, and I'll take this chance to visit you. You're not going to say I'm unwelcome, are you?"
"Alright, if you're not afraid of the trouble, come ahead! It's not like I can't afford to treat you to a meal," Flannery said. She knew Yuga definitely wasn't just coming to see her. Since he didn't say, she wouldn't ask.
