The moment he heard that, Professor Sycamore immediately became serious.
His pen began moving rapidly across the notebook.
Chen Shi continued:
"Diantha got a close look at Xerneas yesterday."
"I don't know if she mentioned this to you, but Xerneas resembles the letter X."
"The shape of its eyes also resembles the letter X."
"That's why it's known as the X Pokémon."
"The same principle applies to Zygarde and Yveltal."
"There are reasons they're called the Z Pokémon and the Y Pokémon as well."
Professor Sycamore paused his writing and looked up.
"Do you have more specific information?"
"Things like typings, Abilities, moves..."
"You know how researchers are."
"We're especially interested in those kinds of details."
Chen Shi thought for a moment.
In the end, he decided not to hide anything.
After all, none of that information was particularly sensitive.
So he briefly explained some of the Kalos Trio's typings and Abilities.
Finally, he added a reminder:
"Simply put, Zygarde and Xerneas are both lawful-good Legendary Pokémon."
"Yveltal is different."
"You all saw what happened yesterday."
"The Winding Woods was almost completely destroyed when it awakened."
"It has a terrible temper."
"Don't try to provoke it."
"Otherwise..."
"You might end up as a stone statue."
Professor Sycamore's expression stiffened.
At this point, who in the world didn't understand how terrifying Legendary Pokémon were?
After seeing the Winding Woods transformed into a petrified forest yesterday—
Who would dare provoke Yveltal?
After a brief pause, Professor Sycamore voiced his final question.
"Diantha mentioned something."
"She said the disappearance of Fairy-type energy was connected to Xerneas."
"Is that true?"
"It is."
Chen Shi nodded.
"I asked Xerneas about it myself."
"But she wouldn't tell me the exact reason."
"All I know is that Fairy-type energy disappeared worldwide because Xerneas fell into slumber."
He omitted the part about the Fairy Plate.
That matter was far too significant.
Keeping it to himself was better.
Professor Sycamore frowned.
"Is Xerneas really that important?"
"How could one Pokémon's slumber cause an entire type's energy to vanish?"
It was the same doubt Chen Shi had once held.
Surely Xerneas sleeping alone shouldn't be enough to erase an entire elemental type.
Chen Shi shrugged.
"I don't know."
"Xerneas didn't explain further."
"But Fairy-type energy has completely returned now."
"In the future, Fairy-type Pokémon won't need Energy Cubes to awaken their Fairy powers anymore."
Professor Sycamore nodded.
"That certainly makes things easier."
After chatting for a while longer, Chen Shi finally brought up his plan to leave.
Professor Sycamore tried to persuade him to stay.
But seeing how determined Chen Shi was, he eventually gave up.
Instead, he simply wished them a safe journey and asked Chen Shi to pass along his regards to Professor Oak.
Naturally, Chen Shi agreed.
Soon afterward, the group left the laboratory and headed straight for the airport.
Their luck was excellent.
There happened to be a flight departing for the Kanto Region in just over an hour.
The destination wasn't Viridian City, though.
It was Saffron City.
Chen Shi didn't mind.
As long as they reached Kanto, everything else was easy.
Mew could simply Teleport them back to Professor Oak's Laboratory.
......
That afternoon—
Their plane landed at Saffron City Airport.
The moment they stepped outside, Steven turned toward Chen Shi.
"Old Chen."
"Where are we going now?"
"Straight to Pallet Town."
Chen Shi answered casually before looking at Mew on his shoulder.
"Could you take us there?"
"Please teleport us to Pallet Town."
Pallet Town?
Wasn't that where it first met Shi'er?
Still half-asleep from napping on the plane, Mew took a moment to remember.
Then it wrapped everyone in psychic energy and used Teleport.
Several flashes later—
The scenery changed completely.
A dense forest surrounded them.
A small stream flowed nearby.
Steven blinked.
"Where are we?"
"This looks like Viridian Forest."
Chen Shi sounded uncertain.
It looked very similar to the camping area where Professor Oak had once taken the children.
But forests all looked somewhat alike.
He couldn't be completely sure.
So he looked at Mew.
"Where exactly is this?"
Mew yawned lazily and replied through telepathy.
[This is where we first met.]
Well.
That confirmed it.
Viridian Forest.
Chen Shi felt a little speechless.
He had asked Mew to take them to Pallet Town.
Instead, Mew had dropped them right in the middle of Viridian Forest.
Turning back toward the others, he said:
"Pallet Town is very close."
"We'll be there if we walk a bit."
After determining the direction, Chen Shi led Cynthia and Steven toward Pallet Town.
Not long afterward—
The outline of the town became visible in the distance.
Then—
A childish voice suddenly echoed through the forest.
"Little Buddy~~"
"Where are yooou?"
"I'm coming to find you~~"
Steven looked around in surprise.
"Why is there a little kid here?"
This was Viridian Forest.
Even the outer areas contained wild Pokémon.
A child wandering around alone was dangerous.
Chen Shi frowned.
"Probably a kid from Pallet Town who snuck out."
"Let's go check."
"Wouldn't want anything to happen."
"Some parents are way too careless."
He immediately headed toward the source of the voice.
Steven and Cynthia followed behind.
Soon another childish voice reached their ears.
"Froggy~~"
"Little Buddy~~"
"Little Buddy is lost~~"
"Hide-and-seek isn't fun anymore~~"
"Let's go home-home~~"
Before they even found the speaker, the three quickened their pace.
Moments later—
They discovered a little girl standing beneath a large tree.
The instant they saw her—
All three froze.
The little girl wore her hair in two tiny buns.
A pure white dress covered her small body.
She looked absolutely adorable.
Her cheeks were soft and round.
Her bright eyes sparkled like precious gems.
She resembled a beautifully crafted porcelain doll.
Standing beside her—
Was a Greninja nearly two meters tall.
"What an adorable little girl."
Cynthia couldn't help smiling.
Chen Shi, however, frowned.
For some reason—
The moment he saw her, the psychic power within his body resonated.
It felt strangely familiar.
Like meeting someone of the same kind.
Nearby, Cynthia was just about to greet the little girl.
But the girl's next action instantly froze the smile on her face.
"Daaaddy~~"
"Did you come take Yan Yan home-home~~?"
The little girl's eyes immediately lit up.
Then she happily rushed straight toward Chen Shi.
Chen Shi: ???
Steven: ???
Cynthia: !!!!
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon → [email protected]/lucarioTL (replace @ with a)