Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Rio’s eyes narrowed as he noticed Arbok’s stats change along with its abdominal pattern.

[Pokémon: Arbok]

[Level: 66]

[Talent: Elite Four]

[Ability: Cursed Body]

[Gender: Female]

[Moves: ----]

Not only had its typing changed from Poison to Ghost, but its ability had also shifted from Unnerve to Cursed Body—the same as Gengar’s—and it had gained several Ghost-type moves. In a sense, it was like facing a completely different Pokémon.

"Arbok—Shadow Ball!" Agatha raised her cane and struck first, while Rio was still processing the change.

"Charba~" Arbok opened its mouth and gathered a sphere of dark energy.

"Charizard—Sacred Fire!" Rio smirked. Even if Arbok could change its pattern to mimic a whole new Pokémon, it was no match for overwhelming power. He simply wouldn’t give it another chance to switch.

"Roaar~" Mega Charizard Y tilted its head back. Purple flames swirled in its mouth, then erupted just as Arbok’s Shadow Ball approached. The flames met the Shadow Ball—and devoured it instantly. Without pause, they surged forward and engulfed Arbok.

"Charba~" Arbok cried out in pain—and collapsed in a single blow.

"Th-this..." Agatha’s jaw dropped, her eyes filled with disbelief. She had already mapped out several cunning strategies against Charizard in her mind, imagining all sorts of battle scenarios. But the one outcome she never expected was her ace—Arbok—being one-shot right out of the gate.

What the hell?

I, Agatha—the longest-serving Elite Four member, the most mysterious and unpredictable of them all—sent out my ace, Arbok, and it got one-shot? How is this possible?!

"Why does your Charizard know Sacred Fire?!" Agatha suddenly realized the critical question. How could a Charizard wield the flame of Ho-Oh and Entei? Even with all her years of experience and knowledge, she had never imagined seeing purple flames from a Charizard.

"No reason—my Charizard just learned it," Rio shrugged, brushing off the question. He couldn’t exactly tell her he had a system.

"Elite Four Agatha—you should send out your second Pokémon now."

Agatha stared at him for a moment, then recalled Arbok. "Little Arbok—that loss wasn’t your fault. It was unexpected—this old woman was too narrow-minded. I never imagined a Charizard could use Sacred Fire."

She murmured to the Poké Ball, then sent out her second Pokémon—a Level 65 Misdreavus.

"Misdreavus—Perish Song!" Agatha commanded without hesitation.

Rio’s eyelid twitched. Can’t win fair, so you’re going for dirty tricks? A one-for-one trade?

"Charizard—Sacred Fire! Don’t let it sing!"

Unlike the battle against Lorelei’s Jynx, Charizard’s Sacred Fire struck Misdreavus and took it down—but not before it managed to sing for one second. Rio noticed a faint black aura swirling around Charizard after the victory, slowly expanding. Once it enveloped Charizard’s entire body, the move would claim its life.

"Perish Song has been successfully cast. Your only option now is to recall Charizard—otherwise, it will surely fall," Agatha said, leaning on her cane with a smile.

"Then I’d appreciate it if you’d hurry up and send out your third Pokémon," Rio said, frowning.

As expected of a Ghost-type Elite Four—she plays dirty. I never expected Perish Song right out of the gate. Now I’m forced into a choice: either recall Charizard temporarily to cancel Perish Song—but then it won’t be able to Mega Evolve again when it comes back, since it needs rest—or keep fighting and try to take down two more of Agatha’s Pokémon before Charizard falls.

"Come out, Crobat."

Agatha sent out her third Pokémon.

"Charizard—Sacred Fire!" Rio struck first this time. He decided to let Charizard take down as many as possible before falling—then leave the rest to Annihilape and the others. Winning with one-hit knockouts didn’t depend solely on Charizard.

He still had his lucky charm—Munchlax.

"Crobat—Double Team to dodge!" Agatha smiled. Her goal was to stall, forcing Rio either to recall Charizard or let it fall. Even if it came back later, it wouldn’t be able to Mega Evolve again.

Charizard’s Sacred Fire swept across the battlefield, dispelling Crobat’s illusions one by one.

"Charizard—don’t stop the fire! Burn it!" Rio commanded.

"Roaar~" Charizard roared in fury, flames chasing Crobat. It could feel something wrong inside its body.

Seven or eight seconds later, Crobat fell.

"Too bad." Agatha looked slightly disappointed, recalling Crobat. She watched as Rio finally recalled Charizard just before Perish Song could claim it.

"Now it’s this old woman’s turn to shine," Agatha said with a gentle smile. Rio’s strongest Pokémon was back in its ball—and when it came out again, it wouldn’t be nearly as powerful. But Agatha still had her strongest Pokémon waiting.

Now it was her chance to replicate Rio’s three-Pokémon sweep—maybe even six.

"Come out, Gengar."

With a flash of light, Agatha sent out a Level 68 Gengar.

Rio smiled as he released his second Pokémon. "Come out, Munchlax—let’s show the Ghost-type Elite Four something new."

"Ka~" With a flash of light, Munchlax appeared.

Munchlax—perfect, Agatha thought, her old face beaming even more. She didn’t believe this Munchlax could match Charizard’s performance—especially when she heard Rio’s command.

"Munchlax—Metronome!"

"Ka~"

Has he lost his mind? Or is he giving up? Who opens a battle with Metronome? Like all of Rio’s previous opponents, Agatha’s preconceptions led her to scoff.

"Gengar—Dark Pulse! Since he wants to lose, let’s give it to him," she said, raising her cane.

"Gengar~" Agatha’s Gengar opened its mouth and fired a spiraling beam of dark energy at Munchlax, who was still waving its paws.

But just as the attack was about to hit, Munchlax vanished—as if it had disappeared into thin air. The Dark Pulse passed through empty space.

Agatha’s smiling face froze instantly. What move did it just roll? Invisibility? A Ghost-type move?