The real reason behind Blaine's disappearance sent chills down Ash's, Misty's, and Brock's spines.
Pokémon gene fusion… artificially creating life… building a brand-new Pokémon from scratch…
If Professor Oak hadn't said it himself, Ash would never have believed such a thing was even possible. It sounded like science fiction. And yet, here he was, simply wanting to challenge a Gym, only to stumble into a secret that felt like it could shake the world.
"The League is searching for Blaine's whereabouts," Professor Oak continued. "The reason they haven't revoked his position as Cinnabar Gym Leader is to indirectly show goodwill, to let him know they don't intend to move against him."
Ash stared blankly.
"Why? Didn't Blaine do something the League can't tolerate? Wasn't that why he ran? Why would they suddenly decide not to pursue him?"
If they weren't planning to punish him, why force him into hiding in the first place?
Professor Oak sighed heavily.
"There are things you aren't ready to understand yet, Ash. And I can't explain all the details. Just know this: Blaine's research is something the world cannot accept. But because he already carried out the research, and has already succeeded, the League wants his results. For that, they're willing to overlook what he did."
Ash, Misty, and Brock fell silent.
The League wasn't completely righteous.
The villains of the world weren't entirely evil.
The world wasn't black and white, Ash simply hadn't seen the grey areas yet.
Professor Oak didn't want to tarnish Ash's ideals, but since Ash had already touched the edge of the truth, it was better to give him at least part of the picture.
Ash didn't fully understand everything, but he grasped the core:There was a reason Blaine vanished, and it had nothing to do with "annoying challengers." The ruined Cinnabar Gym, the League's silence, everything made sense now.
One thing was certain:
No one knew where Blaine was.
Which meant Ash had no chance of challenging him.
Ash sighed, already planning ahead for the next Gym.
Without Cinnabar, and with Viridian still uncertain, he was still short one badge. He would have to see if there were other Gyms he could challenge on their way back.
"Thanks for telling me all of this, Professor Oak. I'll hang up now," Ash said.
"It's nothing… But if, by chance, you do run into Blaine, have him contact me. We've known each other for many years. I understand how he thinks, but… some things need a conversation to resolve."
Ash let out a dry laugh.
"How am I supposed to find someone the entire League can't locate?"
"That's not necessarily true," Oak chuckled. "With your luck, you might run into him on the street."
Ash groaned.
What kind of absurd luck did Oak think he had? Running into Blaine on the street? That was pushing it, even for him.
"Okay, we're going now," Ash said hurriedly, hanging up before Oak could say anything else.
He then led Misty and Brock toward the hotel Erika had reserved for them.
Since Blaine wasn't on Cinnabar Island, they decided to stay for two days and treat it like a little vacation. Ash also wanted to try the hot springs, he had heard they were amazing for relieving fatigue. If they worked, he could even let his Pokémon try them.
Under Ash's lead, the three soon arrived at the hotel. It truly looked luxurious, its exterior decorations were far more refined than the other buildings around it, and the interior was even more magnificent.
Even though it was called a "hotel," it was essentially a five-star resort.
For Ash, Misty, and Brock, who were used to camping outdoors, traveling rough, and sleeping in Pokémon Centers, staying in such a place felt surreal. They were impressed… and a bit uncomfortable.
Their room was on the fourth floor: three beds, spacious layout, top-tier comfort. From the balcony, they could see the entire street below, packed with tourists.
Beyond the rooms, the hotel offered all sorts of amenities: hot springs, pools, a Pokémon battle arena, a Pokémon massage area, and more.
Erika's influence was frighteningly effective.
Without her, they wouldn't even be allowed to see this place.Now, it wasn't just expensive, money alone wouldn't get you a room here at all.
Even if it did, the cost would easily hit five figures per night.After all, this was the top hotel on one of Kanto's most popular islands.
After dropping off their luggage, the trio headed out again to explore Cinnabar Island. It was still early, so they could take their time enjoying the atmosphere and sights of the island.
They planned to return to the hotel in the evening, to finally soak in the legendary hot springs.
After more than three months on the road, this was probably the most relaxed Ash and his friends had felt.
Evening approached as they wandered Cinnabar Island, walking, exploring, stopping for snacks, sampling drinks. They had enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
Just as they were about to return to the hotel, Ash accidentally bumped into someone.
With Ash's physical conditioning, he only felt a light jolt in his shoulder.
The other person, however, wasn't nearly as sturdy, they were knocked straight to the ground.
"I'm so sorry, are you okay?!"
Ash quickly knelt down to help the person up.
But as he pulled them to their feet, the tuft of yellowish-brown hair on the person's head slipped off.
A perfectly smooth, shiny bald head reflected the evening lights.
Both Ash and the man froze.
In the very next second, the bald man snatched up his fallen wig and slapped it back onto his head with practiced speed.
Ash cleared his throat awkwardly. "S-Sorry… I really didn't mean to."
"It's fine. Just watch where you're walking next time," the man replied. His voice was low and hoarse, as if he were deliberately disguising it.
But he didn't seem angry and let the matter go generously.
"Gardevoir?"
Ash paused and turned. Gardevoir, who had been walking alongside them, let out a questioning sound, her red eyes fixed on the man's back.
"What's wrong, Gardevoir?"
"Gardevoir."
"You recognize him? Maybe you've seen him in passing somewhere before," Ash said casually, not thinking much of it.
Gardevoir's memory was exceptional. Psychic-type Pokémon often possessed near-perfect recall; even a brief glance at a face on the street could be remembered precisely.
If a human had such an ability, it would be considered hyperthymesia, an overwhelming burden on the brain.
But Psychic-types were different; their minds were far more developed. For them, photographic memory was effortless.
"Gardevoir!"
"No way…" Ash stiffened. "You didn't meet him after you hatched, you knew him when you were still in your Egg?!"
He whipped his head around, but the bald man was gone.
As if the collision had been nothing but a mirage.
Misty blinked, confused. "Ash… Gardevoir fell from the sky as an Egg, right? If she knew that guy back when she was still an Egg… then doesn't that mean he might be her original..."
She didn't understand Gardevoir's words, but Ash had already translated them.
That man had known Gardevoir before she was born.
Which meant…
He had been with her during her Egg stage.
Gardevoir's arrival in Ash's life had been a miracle.
She had literally fallen out of the sky, her past completely unknown.
"I'll find him. He can't have gone far."
Ash shut his eyes and unleashed his Aura Power.
In an instant, the entire world shifted.
Aura force, flooded outward from him like a wave, and with it came a torrent of sensations, emotions, and information pouring into his mind.
If his Aura hadn't been strong, such a rush would have knocked him unconscious.
But Ash's Aura was far from ordinary.
He gritted his teeth, enduring the sensation, extending his senses through the bustling streets.
While Ash searched, Misty bit her lip anxiously. Brock immediately understood her worry.
"Are you thinking… if that man is Gardevoir's original Trainer… what happens if he wants her back?"
Misty nodded. Ash wanted to find that man, maybe to thank him, but if the man saw a Shiny Gardevoir like this, would he really not want her back?
"You're overthinking it," Brock said calmly. "Gardevoir's bond with Ash is something no one can interfere with. That guy only held the Egg. Ash holds Gardevoir's Poké Ball. Even if the matter went to the League, the decision would favor Ash, unless Ash, in some moment of complete stupidity, returned her himself."
Brock spoke leisurely, completely unconcerned.
Ash might be straightforward and honest, but he wasn't foolish. His love for his Pokémon was unquestionable, and his bond with Gardevoir was already unbreakable.
And most importantly, Gardevoir recognized Ash as her one and only Trainer.
Even if Ash wanted to return her, it wouldn't matter. As long as he and Gardevoir refused, her ownership wouldn't change, not even if the League intervened.
Hearing this, Misty finally relaxed.
It was a relief knowing the situation she feared wouldn't happen.
But in truth, both she and Brock were wrong.
Ash wasn't chasing that bald man to thank him. Nor was he worried about "returning" Gardevoir.
He wanted to know where Gardevoir truly came from.
Others didn't know, but Ash did: Gardevoir wasn't just Shiny, her most outrageous trait was her six S-rank potential. Something like that shouldn't exist naturally.
She could learn moves no Ralts-line Pokémon should ever be able to learn. Her talents and potential were terrifyingly abnormal.These signs proved she wasn't born normally.
And while Ash hadn't detected any physical irregularities yet, with talent like this, he needed to know the truth. If Gardevoir suddenly developed a condition in the future and he had no idea why…That was what Ash feared the most.
Ash had never been blinded by her overwhelming talent.
As the experts in the group chat had said:
"A Pokémon with talent this extreme always pays some sort of price."
Now that there was finally a lead on Gardevoir's origin, Ash was naturally excited.
After several sweeps with his Aura, Ash suddenly opened his eyes, gaze sharp.
"He's still close, up ahead! Let's go!"
Without hesitation, Ash rushed forward with Pikachu.
Gardevoir floated behind him instinctively. Misty and Brock exchanged a helpless look and hurried after him.
Why was Ash so excited?
Weren't they just going to thank the guy?
But as Ash ran, the crowd grew thinner and thinner. Something felt off.
Ash slowed his pace, switching from active pursuit to quietly tracking the man's Aura signature.
Ten minutes later, the trio reached a very remote corner of Cinnabar Island.
They had assumed the entire island would be crawling with tourists, but here…
Not a single person.
The narrow paths eventually opened into a deserted clearing, where a lone, small house stood, weathered, dimly lit, and eerily quiet.
"Why does someone live here of all places?" Misty whispered.The scorching heat of Cinnabar Island suddenly felt cold and suffocating.
Evening had nearly fallen.
The sun hovered low, shadows grew long, and darkness slowly swallowed the area.
With no streetlights, the solitary little house looked unsettling, almost ominous.
"Maybe he doesn't like noisy places," Ash said. "Gardevoir, do you remember this place?"
Gardevoir scanned the surroundings, then gently shook her head.
In her Egg, she had only a faint sense of awareness.
Recognizing the man himself had already been the limit of her dormant memories. Maybe if she were taken to the exact place where her Egg once rested, she could recall more.
But here? No familiarity at all.
"Then let's just go in and talk to him," Ash said.
Misty reached out to pull him back, but her hand closed on empty air.
"Ash! Why are you rushing like this? It's not like the guy's going to run away!" she complained, hurrying after him.
As they approached the dimly lit house…
A red-and-yellow figure dropped from the sky, landing heavily in front of them, blocking the path entirely.