From Silas's point of view, this Ninetales was actually quite compatible with Brock.
Of course, he didn't mean the beautiful female illusion it created, but rather the strange coincidences between them.
After all, not everyone could resemble someone that closely, and not every Pokémon could live for such a long time.
In the Pokémon world, perhaps this counted as a different kind of bond.
Maybe Brock was even the reincarnation of Ninetales' deceased master.
Still, everything depended on the choice of the Ninetales before him.
If it merely wanted freedom, Silas didn't mind helping it out.
Judging from its earlier behavior, this Ninetales was quite gentle and reasonable as long as the topic of its former Trainer wasn't involved. It likely wouldn't cause any trouble.
After all, it had once belonged to a Trainer and wasn't abandoned willingly, so it held a high level of acceptance toward humans.
Ninetales and the illusion named Lokoko both fell silent as they stared at Brock's photograph.
Its ruby-like eyes flickered softly.
"As you can see, I am merely an illusion.
"Two hundred years ago, my master asked me and the servants to watch over the house while he went traveling alone.
"Normally, he should have returned within a month, but even after ten years, he never came back.
"Ten years after my master left, the last servant in the mansion also departed. Only I remained here, waiting for my master's return.
"Then twenty years passed. Thirty years passed. The estate became more and more dilapidated, but I continued waiting. I believed my master would definitely return."
Lokoko held a suddenly appeared umbrella and gazed absentmindedly into the depths of the distant forest.
"After one hundred years, I realized my master was probably no longer alive, so I resolved to leave this place.
"But I discovered that I couldn't. It felt as though some kind of power was binding me here."
Its voice carried confusion.
If the person in the photograph, the one who resembled its master so closely really existed, then what should it do?
Leave or follow him?
Silas thought for a moment. Two hundred years ago, according to world history, Poké Balls were still more akin to "seals" than simple restraint devices.
Forget a mere Elite-level Ninetales that had lived for two centuries, even the far stronger ancient Pokémon from prehistoric times had been unable to break free.
The Master Ball developed by the Silph Co. was the best example.
It wasn't that modern technology lacked Poké Balls capable of forcibly capturing Pokémon with absolute certainty. Rather, after centuries of development, people preferred to communicate and bond with Pokémon through mutual understanding.
Poké Balls merely served as a medium that accelerated and simplified the process.
Silas did not recall Ampharos or Blaziken.
"How about this? Why don't you take me to your home as a guest?"
Ninetales thought for a moment before nodding.
Lokoko gave a slight bow.
"Please follow me."
As she spoke, the umbrella in her hand transformed into a lantern that dispersed the surrounding fog.
"An illusion capable of affecting reality… what a fascinating power."
After checking with Blaziken and confirming there were no Psychic-type energy fluctuations, Silas clicked his tongue in amazement.
That was why Pokémon powers remained one of the world's greatest mysteries. Despite humanity's long years of research, they still understood very little.
Under the guidance of Ninetales and Lokoko, the human and his three Pokémon soon arrived before the gates of a massive estate.
"Uh you don't really need to maintain the illusion for my sake, you know."
Looking at the mansion whose walls and buildings appeared completely intact and brand new, Silas spoke helplessly.
"Miwu~"
Ninetales slightly raised its head, the red glow in its eyes intensifying once more.
In an instant, the once-pristine estate became significantly more decrepit.
Collapsed walls, shattered buildings, and overgrown vegetation littered the grounds.
Lokoko said, "I've already done my best to preserve this place as it once was, but unfortunately my strength is still insufficient."
It hadn't been this powerful since the moment its master disappeared. It had only broken through to the Elite level and gained the ability to create illusions within the last fifty years.
Before that, as a Fire-type Ninetales, it could only rely on its species' natural Psychic powers to barely prevent large-scale collapse.
Silas entered together with the curious Blaziken and Ampharos.
"This was the place where my master spent most of his time. That was once my dwelling.
"However, for the past two hundred years, I have been unable to enter it."
Ninetales and Lokoko led them into a small room with a portrait hanging on the wall.
The man in the painting indeed looked extremely similar to Brock. Without careful observation, it was difficult to tell the difference.
In his arms was a Ninetales.
"An old-style Poké Ball, huh?"
Silas directly picked up what Ninetales referred to as its "former dwelling" and carefully examined it.
Compared to modern Poké Balls, this antique model was larger and much more colorful. The lower half appeared to be made of wood, while the upper half had several ring-like structures.
"If I remember correctly, I think you need to return the Pokémon into the ball first before releasing it."
Silas recalled the knowledge he had learned before.
Fortunately, he had read enough books. Otherwise, most people's first reaction would probably have been to smash the antique Poké Ball.
That would indeed free the Pokémon, but it would also be an enormous waste.
As a two-hundred-year-old antique, this old Poké Ball possessed significant collector's value.
Silas looked toward Ninetales.
"Then come back, Ninetales."
He raised the Poké Ball toward it.
Silence.
"Blaze."
Blaziken stretched out a claw and poked the ancient Poké Ball.
Was this thing broken?
Ninetales also wore a confused expression.
"My master used to call me back like this," Lokoko quickly explained to Silas.
Which raised the question:
Why wasn't it working now?
Could it possess some kind of identity-recognition mechanism?
Silas shook the ancient Poké Ball in his hand. He didn't believe such an ancient Poké Ball could possibly contain such advanced technology.
Ninetales obediently sat in the room, its nine fluffy tails swaying freely.
Silas tried many other methods.
Including, but not limited to, directly touching the Poké Ball against Ninetales or changing poses while calling it back.
Without exception, every attempt failed.
"This is seriously strange."
He was completely puzzled.
As his gaze swept across the hanging portrait, a sudden flash of inspiration appeared in Silas's mind.
"Could it be…"
He set down the old-style Poké Ball and opened his Pokétch.
Fortunately, even though they were deep in the wilderness, there was still a faint signal available, enough to send messages.
[Get over here within half a day. Huge prize waiting for you.
(Location attached.)]
Without hesitation, Silas sent the message to Brock, who was all the way back in Pewter City.
Or rather, "all the way" wasn't exactly accurate.
Pewter City was located in western Kanto, quite close to Johto. In terms of straight-line distance, it was only about a third of Kanto away.
A Pidgeot could cover the trip in half a day with ease.
[Half a day??? Are you insane??]
Brock replied almost instantly, disbelief practically pouring out through the screen.
He didn't have a Pokémon like Pidgeot or Dragonite capable of high-speed flight, nor did he have Psychic-type Pokémon that could keep him alive during such travel speeds.
Crossing regions in half a day to reach Silas's coordinates sounded utterly impossible.
Silas casually sent another message:
[There's a homeless Elite-level Ninetales waiting for you. Also, it developed a unique psychic ability.]
No further explanation was necessary.
That alone was enough.
[You win. Wait for me. I'll be there in three hours.]
After sending those two messages, Brock vanished completely offline. He didn't even reply to Silas's follow-up questions.
Ninetales blinked its crimson eyes.
Stretching his stiff neck, Silas smiled faintly.
"I called the person from the photograph over here. You don't mind waiting a little, right?"
Ninetales' tails instantly stiffened midair.
"T-This…" Its illusionary form, Lokoko, stammered nervously.
"Relax." Silas gently patted Ninetales' silky fur. "Once you meet him, you'll understand. They aren't the same person after all."
He mercilessly shattered Ninetales' fantasy.
Silas deeply respected Ninetales' loyalty toward its former Trainer, but even Pokémon had to continue living.
Ninetales itself had admitted that it wanted to leave a hundred years ago, it simply couldn't.
Compared to spending the rest of its life wandering in the wild, finding a new Trainer might be the better choice.
Ninetales' tails drooped sadly.
It said nothing more. The illusion of Lokoko faded away, and the fox Pokémon quietly lay on the floor, staring toward the manor gates with unwavering red eyes.
Just like it had done for centuries.
Time slowly passed.
Silas leisurely cooked lunch over a fire in the courtyard of the ruined estate.
"Ampharos, charge this for me."
He casually pulled out a power converter and pointed it toward Ampharos.
No electricity out in the wilderness? No problem. Electric-type Pokémon made the perfect portable batteries.
RUMBLE—
Suddenly, violent tremors shook the ground. The converter slipped from Silas's hand and clattered onto the floor.
"He's here."
Blaziken, wearing an apron and holding a soup ladle in one claw, lifted its head and spoke calmly to Silas.
It had sensed a familiar aura.
Picking the converter back up, Silas twitched his ears.
"Yeah. I heard it too."
Creeeak—
The manor's old gates slowly opened.
A familiar voice echoed in from outside.
"So this is the place?"
A dark-skinned man with perpetually closed eyes walked into the courtyard.
"So alike They really are identical…" Ninetales slowly stood up, and Lokoko's illusion reappeared beside it.
"She" covered her mouth, tears glimmering in her eyes.
Silas waved enthusiastically.
"Yo, Brock! Over here!"
Seeing his old friend again immediately put him in a good mood.
"My beautiful lady, might I have the honor of knowing your name? Meeting someone as lovely as you here must surely be fate!"
To Silas's utter disbelief, Brock completely ignored him and walked straight toward Lokoko with hearts practically shining in his eyes.
Silas was covered in question marks.
Wait a second, he clearly remembered Brock not being this hopelessly lovestruck the last time they met at the Pewter City Pokémon Center.
"I need to ask Forrest what kind of training his grandfather put Brock through…"
Silas was suddenly extremely curious.
Did becoming stronger as a Trainer require this kind of side effect?
Still, there were more important matters to handle first.
Silas pointed at Brock.
"Blaziken, snap him out of it."
"Blaze."
Blaziken set down the ladle and nodded.
Blue aura began radiating from its body as it prepared to "greet" Brock properly.
"Sol."
A voice that seemed to resonate directly within the heart suddenly stopped Blaziken's actions.
An orange, spherical Pokémon appeared behind Brock.
It had eight yellow rocky spikes protruding from its sides, with vertical patterns made from many small yellow stones across its body. Two rocky mounds sat near the ring-like stone formations on its back.
Its eyes were especially striking large, with thick semicircular eyelids and narrow black slits revealing crimson pupils. Ring patterns and three black protrusions surrounded each eye.
Silas narrowed his eyes.
"A Rock/Psychic-type Solrock and at near-Elite level too. So it belongs to Brock's family. No wonder he got here so quickly."
This Pokémon species was often found near meteor impact sites. Its counterpart was Lunatone.
Rumors claimed both species originated from outer space, one drawing power from the sun, the other from the phases of the moon.
The stronger the sunlight or the fuller the moon, the more active their powers became.
The floating Solrock slowly rotated in midair before turning its face directly toward Ninetales.
Psychic-type Pokémon generally possessed the ability to read emotions and intent. Since neither Silas nor Blaziken had bothered concealing anything, the highly intelligent Solrock immediately understood that neither human nor Pokémon before it meant any harm.
By contrast, the emotional fluctuations coming from Ninetales were highly unstable.
Suddenly, Lokoko's illusion glitched like static before dissolving into the air.
Stroking his chin thoughtfully, Silas muttered,
"So Psychic power can interfere with these illusions, it's just difficult."
Even though he had a Gallade himself, he had no intention of trying to use an Advance-level Psychic-type to break through a Elite-level illusion technique.
The gap in strength was simply too massive.
The instant the beautiful woman vanished, Brock immediately snapped back to normal.
He unconsciously took a step backward, sweat forming on his forehead.
"W-What was that…?"
"That's Ninetales' special ability," Silas replied irritably from the side after being ignored for so long.
Ninetales, now sitting upright instead of lying down, clearly wanted to leap into Brock's arms and enjoy being petted.
Unfortunately, under Solrock's emotionless stare, it didn't dare make any unnecessary movements.
Brock waved toward Solrock.
"Solrock, relax a little."
"Sol."
Solrock glanced at him before lazily floating out of the manor.
Everything seemed fine. That chicken could clearly beat the fox if necessary, so there was no need to worry about the junior member of its Trainer's family being in danger.
Besides, this was a good chance to stretch itself after being cooped up underground for so long.
"Miii~!"
The moment Solrock left, Ninetales pounced and knocked Brock flat onto the ground, enthusiastically licking his face nonstop.
"Hahahaha! It tickles! It tickles!" Brock laughed until tears nearly came out. "Can someone explain what's going on here?!"
Struggling beneath the fluffy fox, he looked desperately toward Silas.
Silas leisurely crouched beside him, casually poking Brock's face with a blade of grass as he briefly explained Ninetales' story.
...
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