Pokemon: Resurgence

Hi all,

Here’s the first chapter of the week. From now on, author notes will be at the end of the chapter. I realise now that I’m giving details of the story away to non-patreon members, due to how posts are shown.   

Chapter 84

The atmosphere in the conference room grew tense as discussions resumed following the Porygon demonstration. Lucas sat uncomfortably rigid in his chair, acutely aware of the scrutinising gazes fixed upon him. World leaders leaned forward on their elbows, their expressions ranging from suspicious curiosity to outright hostility.

"Let's address the situation which prompted this emergency summit," the Sinnoh Prime Minister began. "Mr Walker, your apparent relationship with legendary Pokemon—particularly Rayquaza—requires explanation."

"There's not much to explain,” Lucas said. “Rayquaza chose to relocate its structure to land I happened to purchase. I didn't request or expect this."

"A remarkable coincidence," the Galar Prime Minister commented, his tone dripping with scepticism. “Rayquaza established a residence on your property within hours of you purchasing it."

"I understand how it appears," Lucas replied, "but I assure you—"

"Assurances mean little when faced with such extraordinary circumstances," interrupted Pryce, the Western Kanto Elite Four member. His white hair and lined face belied the sharpness in his ice-blue eyes. He stood from his chair, commanding attention with his quiet authority.

"A private citizen with apparent influence over multiple legendary Pokemon represents an unprecedented security concern," Pryce continued. "These Pokemon possess power equivalent to weapons of mass destruction. What guarantees do we have that this influence won't be exploited for personal gain?"

Shichiro raised his hand. "Let's not leap to unfounded conclusions. While his encounters with legendary Pokemon are unusual, we've found no evidence suggesting nefarious intent."

"Your assessment lacks credibility," Pryce countered. "Walker is not only your citizen but he’s romantically involved with your niece."

Shichiro's jaw tightened. "You're also part of Kanto, Pryce. Or have you forgotten that fact?"     

"With respect, Prime Minister," the Unova representative interjected, "intent becomes secondary when discussing potential catastrophic outcomes. We've all witnessed the destruction wrought by Moltres on Cinnabar Island and the recent incident in Hoenn. If legendaries begin responding to human direction—"

"I don't control them," Lucas interrupted, his patience wearing thin. "I've never claimed to."

"Yet Rayquaza responded to your presence," the Kalos Prime Minister pointed out. "The Rangers' reports indicate you communicated with it regarding the wild Pokemon on your property, and it accommodated your request."

Lucas raked fingers through his hair. Where did they get that information from? Had they spoken with Blake and put the pieces together? 

"I made no such request. Whatever the wild Pokemon are doing, it has nothing to do with me."

The questions continued relentlessly for the next half hour, with everyone taking turns to probe his story for inconsistencies. They circled back repeatedly to the same points, rewording questions in hopes of catching him in a contradiction. 

Lucas navigated through most inquiries by denying direct responsibility. He maintained that his encounters with the legendary Pokemon were coincidental, emphasising that Rayquaza's decisions remained entirely its own. Without concrete proof of direct control, they couldn't substantiate their accusations.

"Let's discuss your encounter with Mew," Pryce said, changing tack. "The incident was witnessed by millions on live television. What occurred after Mew teleported you from the studio?"

Lucas hesitated, weighing his response carefully. Revealing details about Mewtwo would only complicate matters, yet fabricating a story could backfire on him as well.

"I'm afraid I can't answer that question," Lucas replied.

A ripple of murmurs swept through the assembly.

"Can't or won't?" Pryce pressed, leaning forward.

"Can't," Lucas affirmed. "Mew shared information with me in confidence. Revealing private matters without permission might anger it, which I'm sure none of us wants."

The Sinnoh Prime Minister removed his glasses. "Mr Walker, you're asking world leaders to simply trust you when you claim a relationship with one of the most powerful entities on the planet."

"I'm not asking anything," Lucas countered. "I'm merely stating a fact. Mew chose to interact with me for its own reasons, and those reasons aren't mine to disclose."

"Convenient," Pryce remarked coldly. "Unlike Rayquaza, you are openly admitting to your involvement with Mew, yet you refuse to provide any substantive details about these interactions."

Lucas spread his hands. "I gave my reasons. I don’t know what else to say. Mew has had encounters with humans before, so I'm not really breaking new ground here.”

"He raises a valid point," Maeve interjected. "Mew has proved to be the most amiable of all the legendary Pokemon. Establishing a strong connection with it will require more evidence.”

"So we're expected to operate on blind faith?" Pryce challenged. 

The Kalos Prime Minister tapped his pen against the table. "This lack of transparency only heightens our concerns, Mr Walker."

"I understand," Lucas replied. "But sometimes transparency must be balanced against discretion, especially when dealing with beings as powerful as legendary Pokemon."

Pryce's expression hardened. "How convenient that discretion consistently shields you from accountability. I propose implementing monitoring measures. Mr Walker's activities, communications, and movements should be tracked. For security purposes."

Lucas slammed his palm on the table. "Absolutely not. I refuse to be treated like a criminal when I've done nothing wrong."

"This isn't about criminality," Pryce replied, his voice frigid. "It's about responsible management of potential threats."

"If monitoring is unacceptable," the Unova representative added, "perhaps geographical restrictions would suffice. Confining Mr Walker to Viridian City would limit any potential incidents."

"You want to put me under house arrest?" Lucas stood, his chair scraping across the floor. "I'll walk out of this room right now."

"Please, everyone," Shichiro intervened, rising to his feet. "Let's approach this reasonably—"

A pink shimmer interrupted him. The air above the conference table rippled, particles of light coalescing into a familiar shape. Gasps echoed throughout the room as Mew materialised, hovering inches above the polished wood directly in front of Lucas.

The legendary Pokemon's blue eyes surveyed the assembly, its tail swishing playfully behind it. Everyone was frozen in astonishment.

Then Mew's voice resonated inside everyone's mind, bypassing their ears entirely:

Lucas Walker is under my protection. I will not permit harm to come to him.

The telepathic communication sent ripples of shock through the assembly. Several leaders recoiled in their seats.

Your fears are understandable but misplaced, Mew continued. Even if Lucas wished to command legendary Pokemon for personal gain—which he does not—such control lies beyond human capability. We choose our own paths.

Lucas stared at Mew, equally surprised by its appearance. 

The bond between Lucas and certain legendary Pokemon exists for reasons beyond your comprehension. It threatens no one. Your proposed restrictions would serve no purpose except to antagonise forces best left undisturbed.

With those final words lingering in their minds, Mew vanished—disappearing as suddenly as it had arrived.

Silence blanketed the room. Far from reassuring the assembly, Mew's intervention seemed to heighten their unease. Leaders exchanged alarmed glances, while aides whispered urgently to their superiors. Yet no one dared speak openly against Lucas now.

Lucas slapped his forehead, groaning. His entire argument had just collapsed with Mew's unexpected appearance. The legendary Pokemon had confirmed exactly what he'd been denying—a special connection existed between them, only for Mew to declare him under its protection before the world's most powerful political figures.

Even if Mew's intervention temporarily shielded him, Lucas understood the long-term implications could prove worse. They now had confirmation from a legendary Pokemon itself that he wasn't ordinary. The scrutiny wouldn't decrease—it would simply shift form.

Pryce rose from his seat, jaw clenched. Without a word, he strode from the room, the door slamming behind him.

"What's his problem?" Lucas asked, turning to Shichiro.

The Prime Minister sighed, stepping closer to speak privately. "Remember how I mentioned the Western region showing signs of rebellion? Pryce spearheads this movement, supported by other Elite Four members. Your presence—and apparent legendary connections—represents an obstacle to Johto regaining independence."

Lucas frowned. "Would Johto's independence be such a disaster? The war ended decades ago."

"Even if I wanted separation," Shichiro said, "our regions are too economically and politically intertwined for a clean division. Furthermore, Team Rocket has deeply entrenched itself throughout the Western territories. The criminal organisation must be dismantled before any political reorganisation could be seriously considered."

Lucas nodded. It served as a stark reminder that Giovanni remained at large, his influence spreading like poison through Western Kanto. The question hanging unspoken between them was whether Team Rocket would involve itself in the brewing rebellion. Giovanni had already demonstrated his willingness to manipulate politics for his own advantage. 

"Why did you allow Pryce to attend if you knew he would cause trouble?" Lucas asked quietly.

"Optics," Shichiro replied. "If I denied his attendance, it would only add fuel to his separatist cause."

Lucas frowned. Pryce was going to be a problem. He searched his memory for what he knew about the man. Pryce was a former gym leader who became an Elite Four member when the role was divided between the two territories. It was done to appease the naysayers, who complained about the Western territories not having enough autonomy. As far as he knew, Pryce had never publicly revealed his opinion on the issue of Johto’s independence. Was that about to change?     

Shichiro rose to his feet, addressing the room at large. "I suggest we take a brief recess to process these unexpected developments. Shall we visit the exhibition? Let's not forget the primary purpose of these summits—for regions to showcase their innovations and to establish trade partnerships and alliances."

The assembled leaders nodded. They rose from their seats, murmuring among themselves as they filed toward the exit.

Sabrina slipped her hand into Lucas's as they followed the procession. She leaned in and whispered, "Am I paranoid, or do the legendary Pokemon enjoy messing with you?"

"You're not paranoid," Lucas said. "I'm almost certain they're messing with me."

"At least Mew intervened on your behalf. Things would have become quite interesting otherwise."

"True. But there's another consideration. Now that I can't deny my involvement anymore, and the news is bound to spread, I might as well play my hand."

"Are you seriously going ahead with it?"

Lucas grinned. "There have already been some fireworks today. What's a little more chaos?"

They descended in the lift to the first floor. As the doors opened, they were greeted by the bustling sounds of conversation and demonstrations. The exhibition sprawled across the first three floors of the Silph Company building, and would be around for the next week.  

The exhibition represented a significant investment from each participating region—a showcase of technological prowess designed to attract potential investors. 

Kanto had secured the hosting rights purely by circumstance, as the summit was originally scheduled for Unova the following month. The sudden change to Saffron City, prompted by the Rayquaza situation, had occurred with unprecedented speed. This likely explained the Unova Prime Minister's particularly aggressive questioning of Lucas. The man was clearly bitter about losing such a prestigious event to a rival region at the last minute.

Lucas and Sabrina made their way through the crowds. Their destination stood out immediately—a sizable display area near the main entrance.

"There they are," Sabrina pointed towards Brock and Daisy, who manned the exhibition stand alongside a familiar blonde figure.

Clemont's animated gestures punctuated his explanation to a small crowd gathered around the display table. He provided detailed technical specifications to the gathered crowd, highlighting how the Voltaic Amplifier Potion increased electrical efficiency by six hundred percent. 

The Voltaic Amplifier Potion was the centrepiece, but there were several improved affinity potions on display as well. Lucas had made eight, which mainly benefited his and Sabrina’s Pokemon. 

Despite the exhibition having opened just two hours ago, their stand had drawn significant attention.

"Quite the setup," Lucas remarked, surveying the area. A digital timer on the main display counted down—not long until the next reveal.

Brock spotted them and waved. "You're back earlier than expected. How did the meeting go?"

"About as well as you'd expect when Mew decides to make a surprise appearance," Sabrina replied dryly.

Brock's eyes widened. "Mew showed up at the summit?"

"Long story," Lucas said. "I'll fill you in later."

Daisy approached them. "The morning's gone brilliantly. We've had representatives from three major retail chains, asking about bulk orders for the affinity potions."

"And this is just the beginning," Lucas said. “By the time today is finished, I’m going to be drowning in business.” 

The Kuroi family's connections had secured them nearly triple the standard allocation—a generous area allowing for multiple display stations. He didn’t need that much space, but he was worried about how crowded it would get later. 

He moved behind the central display table and retrieved three pokeballs from his belt. Brock and Daisy began subtly reorganising the display, creating space at the front, while Lucas retrieved a folded sign from beneath the table.

As curious onlookers gathered, drawn by the activity, the final seconds ticked away on the timer. A soft chime sounded when it reached zero.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Lucas announced, projecting his voice across the exhibit space. "Welcome to the future of Pokemon breeding."

He placed the sign prominently on the display table:

LUCAS WALKER'S BREEDING STORE: Opening soon in the Rota Kingdom - Specialising in superior Eevee eggs with a GUARANTEED evolution. Choose your evolution for an additional fee!

Without pausing to let the murmurs subside, Lucas released three Pokemon onto the table. Umbreon appeared first. Followed by Leafeon and Glaceon. 

The reaction was immediate and chaotic.

"Guaranteed evolution?" a man in a researcher's coat scoffed. "Impossible!"

"You can't control Eevee evolution!" another shouted.

Others pressed forward, questions overlapping:

"How much?" "What about Espeon?" "Is this a scam?"

Lucas raised his hands, waiting for the noise to subside. 

"I understand your scepticism," he said when silence finally fell. "The claim sounds extraordinary because it is. I'm not offering speculation but certainty—and I'm prepared to back it with a guarantee."

He tapped the sign. "If I fail to deliver the evolution you choose, you receive a full refund plus the Eevee egg free of charge."

"And what about your methods?" A woman in a laboratory coat pushed to the front. "Evolution has established triggers. You can't simply override those."

"If that were the case, why hasn’t the Eevee evolution line been figured out yet?" Lucas argued. "Evolving an Eevee is more accidental than anything else. But my breakthrough comes from recognising that each Eevee is unique. Their evolutionary potential comes from specific internal parameters that can be identified and targeted during breeding."

For those interested in the science, Dr. Bill Eckely has published a research paper examining this phenomenon, beginning with Umbreon. The full paper is available through our website, which will also keep you updated on our opening date and the pre-order options."

Lucas pointed to a nearby computer, which displayed the website. "The auction is live now. The first twenty customers will receive priority. Their Pokemon will be ready on the day of the opening."

The crowd surged forward, many pulling out mobile phones to access the website immediately. Among the crowd, Lucas spotted several regional representatives, who studied the display with poorly concealed interest.

For the next hour, Lucas, Sabrina, Brock and Daisy fielded the non-stop questions. They seemed under the impression that he would reveal his secrets and became rather pushy when he didn’t.  

When the crowd finally moved on, Lucas flipped the display sign to "Returning in One Hour" and led his exhausted team toward the food court.

"I need coffee before I collapse," Daisy sighed as they secured a table in the corner.

"Make that two," Brock added, slumping into his chair. "I've never talked so much in my life."

Lucas pulled out his phone, refreshing the auction page. His eyebrows shot up. "The bidding has already passed five hundred thousand per egg."

Sabrina leaned over to look. "And climbing. Those numbers are ridiculous."

"Worth every penny," Lucas grinned. "All of them are asking for specific evolutions. We're offering something nobody else can provide."

Brock whistled. "At these prices, I'm thinking I need a raise, boss."

"Me too," Daisy chimed in. 

Lucas laughed. "Don't worry. You'll both be well rewarded for your efforts. You’re going to demand a raise after the next reveal. It’s going to get crazy."

"When's the next reveal?" Brock asked.

Lucas glanced at his watch. "In forty-five minutes. It’s a change in plans, but I feel more secure about it after the meeting.”

"Are you going to tell me?" Daisy asked. “Judging by Brock’s smirk, he already knows.”

“Why ruin the surprise?”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

After lunch, the four returned to Lucas' exhibition space. The crowd had already started to gather, anticipating the next reveal. Lucas ducked behind the display to where their supplies were stored.

"Everything ready?" Brock asked.

Lucas grabbed a box from under the table. "Almost." 

He placed it prominently on the display before disappearing back behind the partition. When he returned, he shifted uncomfortably, adjusting something hidden beneath his shirt.

The timer ticked down its final seconds as the crowd pressed closer, creating a bottleneck in the exhibition hall. Security staff attempted to maintain order, but the growing mass of spectators threatened to overwhelm them.

When the timer hit zero, Lucas stepped forward. He opened the box with a theatrical flourish, revealing a row of neatly arranged vials—the standard growth potion.

Murmurs of confusion rippled through the audience.

"Growth potions? Those are already widely available," someone called out.

Lucas nodded. "Indeed they are." 

He reached into the box again, extracting several more bottles and arranging them on the table.

The confusion intensified as recognition dawned on the faces of several attendees.

"Those are Effort Value Reset potions," a woman exclaimed. "They're only available through the Payday Auction House at exorbitant prices."

Through the shifting crowd, Lucas spotted Shichiro approaching the front row to watch the spectacle. They'd already finalised the manufacturing agreement for mass production of the Effort Value Reset Potions—an arrangement even more favourable to Lucas than their previous deal. Shichiro was still unhappy about it, which explained how grumpy he had been lately. But the man could hardly complain, as he was making his family a lot of money. 

A reporter pushed to the front, microphone extended. "Mr. Walker, what exactly are you demonstrating here? These products are already known to the public."

Lucas smiled. "The truth is..."

He reached under his shirt and withdrew a plain white mask, raising it to his face. "I am Enigma."

The revelation triggered pandemonium. The crowd surged forward, nearly toppling the display table. Questions erupted from all directions as reporters scrambled to get closer, photographers' flashes creating a strobe-like effect throughout the hall.

Shichiro's bodyguards materialised from the crowd, forming a protective barrier around the exhibition space. They pushed back against the surge, creating breathing room around the display.

"Please, everyone," Lucas called out when the initial chaos subsided. "There's no need for this commotion."

The crowd slowly settled, though the buzz of excited conversation continued.

"I don't think it's necessary to hide my identity any longer, now that I'm starting to grow my reputation in alchemical circles with my real name," Lucas explained, removing the mask. “I’m here to announce another collaboration with the Kuroi family. The Effort Value Reset potion will be available to the public in the next few months.”

The reporter who'd questioned him earlier managed to push forward again. "Enigma's research on effort values is well-documented. Do you have any new ground-breaking potions to share?"

"Stick around to find out," Lucas replied, enjoying the moment. "In two hours, I'll reveal details of a pill in development. You don't want to miss it."

Sabrina caught his eye from the side of the display, shaking her head slightly at his theatrics. 

The revelation of Lucas as Enigma spread through the exhibition hall like wildfire, drawing even more curious onlookers to their already crowded display. Whatever the international summit might decide about his status with legendary Pokemon, Lucas had ensured his business ventures would benefit from the attention.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Lucas and Sabrina teleported to their home in the Rota Kingdom. Lucas fought to keep his eyes open. Beside him, Sabrina massaged her temples, equally drained from the summit's intensity.

"I never want to attend another political event as long as I live," Lucas muttered.

Despite the triumph of revealing himself as Enigma and showcasing the Effort Amplifier Pill, the day had rapidly deteriorated from there. 

The pill demonstration had gone exceedingly well, with many influential figures clamouring to place orders. For many trainers, being able to squeeze more performance out of high-level Pokemon was difficult. Yet, here was Lucas promising to double a Pokemon’s effort value capacity. 

Lucas hadn’t even made the inferior version yet, but he was already announcing it. But he couldn’t help himself. The opportunity was too good to pass up. Plus, he enjoyed seeing the look of shock on Shichiro’s face. He hadn’t told the man about the pill beforehand. If there was one thing he knew about Shichiro, it was that he hated to be surprised.  

After the exhibitions, Lucas had been summoned back to the meeting room. The world leaders, having recovered from Mew's unexpected appearance, renewed their interrogation. Their questions came less aggressively but more persistently.

On and on it went, for nearly four hours. Their distrust remained palpable despite Mew's warning. Eventually, the discussion shifted to Porygon and the implications of allowing a digital Pokemon to access the global network. Only then had Lucas and Sabrina managed to slip away.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. Lucas switched it off without checking the notifications.

"Butch again?" Sabrina asked.

"Probably. He's been ringing non-stop since I revealed myself as Enigma. Something about capitalising on the publicity."

"You'll have to speak with him eventually."

"Tomorrow. I can’t be bothered right now," Lucas said, heading towards the breeding enclosures.

Brock and Daisy were already there, distributing food among the various pens. Lucas joined them, grabbing a bucket of specialised feed for the Eevees.

"Quite the day you've had," Brock remarked. "Every news channel is talking about you."

"Brilliant," Lucas replied flatly.

As he moved among the enclosures, the scale of his operation struck him anew. Over fifty breeding Pokemon required substantial resources, and that number would only continue to grow. The feed alone cost thousands of pokedollars weekly. He had plenty of money, but he wanted his breeding business to be profitable.    

"I need to accelerate our launch," Lucas muttered.

After finishing the evening feeding, Lucas opened his menu, navigating to his skills 

Increasing his Skilled Breeder skill would reduce the egg incubation time. But the upgrade required ten skill points, and he currently possessed only seven. 

He closed the menu with a sigh. He needed more experience points or quests to earn additional skill points.

A shout from outside yanked him from his thoughts. He bolted through the door, nearly colliding with Daisy in his haste.

"What's happening?" he demanded.

Sabrina pointed skyward. "Look."

Circling above the property, its rainbow-hued wings catching the last rays of sunlight, was Ho-Oh. 

Lucas hadn’t seen the legendary Pokemin since it gave him the Sacred Ash. Lucas was happy to see it, but he wished it didn’t attract so much attention. 

While Sabrina, Brock and Daisy watched the legendary bird with apprehension, Lucas accessed his quest menu, finding a quest that had been retroactively added after the system update:

========= 

Legendary Quest: 

Path to Ascension: Assist Ho-Oh in improving its strength.

Reward: +1000 favourability with Ho-Oh, +4 skill points.

========

Lucas frowned. How did Ho-Oh know about the pill? Had it been chatting with Rayququaza? Was there a legendary Pokemon chat-line? 

Ho-Oh descended in a spiralling pattern, landing on the grassy expanse before them. Its size dwarfed them completely.

Lucas approached slowly. "I know why you're here, but I need time to make another pill. I've only produced enough for Rayquaza and my team."

Ho-Oh screeched, the sound reverberating across the property. Several Pokemon in the nearby pens whimpered in response. The legendary bird spread its wings and lifted off, settling on the roof of the main building.

Brock stepped forward. "What just happened?"

"Nothing to be concerned about," Lucas replied.

"Are you going to explain what's going on?" Daisy asked.

Lucas glanced between his confused companions. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. Just leave Ho-Oh alone and take care of the Pokemon. They're probably nervous about its presence."

Without further explanation, Lucas headed for his alchemy hut. The expanded facility dwarfed his Viridian City setup, with improved ventilation systems and an expanded storage for his ingredients. With his new property in Hoenn, he had enough supplies to last him for a long time. 

Creating another Legendary Amplifier Pill took nearly an hour of meticulous work. After inspecting the pill, Lucas returned outside.

Ho-Oh remained perched on the rooftop, its piercing gaze tracking Lucas's approach. The legendary bird descended, coming to rest before him with wings partially unfurled.

"Here." Lucas held out the pill. "This should help strengthen you."

Ho-Oh extended its neck, delicately taking the pill from Lucas's palm. With a single graceful motion, it swallowed the offering. The legendary bird remained still for several moments. Then, with a triumphant cry that echoed across the valley, Ho-Oh launched skyward and disappeared into the darkening sky.

A notification chimed:

=========

Quest Completed: Path to Ascension 

Reward: +1000 favourability with Ho-Oh (Current: Respected: 1780/4000), +4 skill points

=========

Lucas immediately accessed his skills menu. He spent ten skill points to upgrade his Skilled Breeder skill to level four, improving the egg production speed to forty-five percent. The final level would cost twelve points—a goal for another day.

Sabrina approached him. “Is this going to become a habit? Legendary Pokemon showing up on our doorstep like beggars looking for handouts?”

Lucas shrugged. “I get compensated for my trouble. Trust me.”

“That’s not the problem. What are the odds this incident makes it on the news? You can’t afford to attract attention, especially after today.”

“The farm is remote enough,” Lucas said. “And it’s late. I doubt anyone saw Ho-oh.”

Sabrina raised an eyebrow. “You mean the big glowing ball of fire that lights up the sky?”

Lucas winced. “Maybe it will be mistaken for a meteorite.”

Sabrina was struck speechless.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The branches rustled softly as Marcus adjusted his position. His dark clothing blended seamlessly with the shadows of the woodland. With binoculars pressed against his eyes, he studied the property that belonged to Lucas Walker.

Marcus possessed a rare talent among the Aura Guardians. Where most people could be detected through minute energy signatures, he could completely mask his presence. It wasn't about physical concealment—it was an ability to suppress his energy so completely that even the most sensitive Pokemon would pass him by unnoticed.

He'd been tasked with watching the property, gathering intelligence for Team Aura's leadership.

Shifting slightly, Marcus inched closer. The approaching darkness would provide additional cover..

A sudden sound cut through the evening quiet. The flapping of wings. Marcus froze.

Ho-Oh burst into view. The legendary Pokemon was impossible to miss, a living beacon against the darkening sky. Marcus dropped instinctively, pressing himself into the undergrowth.

Heart racing, he watched as the massive bird descended onto the property. From his vantage point, he could see Lucas Walker approach the legendary Pokemon. They seemed to communicate, though the distance made precise details impossible to discern.

Walker disappeared for what felt like an eternity. Marcus remained motionless, binoculars trained on the legendary Pokemon.

When Walker returned, he approached Ho-Oh and appeared to hand something small to it. He couldn’t be certain, as his view was blocked by the legendary Pokemon.

Ho-Oh rose into the sky. Marcus held his breath as the legendary bird flew directly towards his position. It passed overhead, seemingly unaware of his presence.

After waiting a minute, Marcus began packing his surveillance equipment. 

The implications of what he'd witnessed were significant. The summit meeting had already provided interesting information. They had an informant inside who had shared the details of the meeting. Now, his surveillance had uncovered more troubling news. It looked like Lucas Walker’s influence on legendary Pokemon was far worse than they feared.

Marcus retreated into the trees. Unbeknownst to him, a small figure watched from the shadows.

As the last rustling of leaves marked his departure, Bree emerged from her concealment. Salem materialised beside her, zipper-mouth stretched in a predatory grin.

"Looks like we have an unwelcome visitor," Bree murmured, one mitten-like hand raised to her chin. "What do you think? Shall we have some fun?"

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, another time skip, and Lucas’ breeding store is open for business.      

Thanks for reading.