After placing the Taillow eggs safely in the nursery, Rex let out a long breath. He was soaked to the bone, his body covered in mud.
If it weren't for his strong physique, he'd probably have fallen seriously ill by now.
Most of the Pokémon had been relocated. Even the Swellow flock from the orchard had been temporarily moved into the Miltank shelter. It was a bit cramped, but in the face of a natural disaster, comfort had to take a back seat.
"Yuli, you're back! How's the orphanage?"
That evening, Yuli returned to the farm under the protection of Swellow. Though she wore a raincoat, she was still drenched.
"Yeah, Grandma Nieno had the windows and doors repaired a while ago. The building should hold up against this storm."
She accepted the towel Rex handed her and began drying off.
The eye of the storm was still offshore east of Slateport, but the outer bands had already brought torrential rain, strong winds, and thunder to the surrounding regions.
Rex thought he had taken the storm seriously, but witnessing the damage caused by its outskirts alone, he realized even his caution hadn't been enough.
Through the window, he could see the wind howling, lightning crackling, and branches and debris being hurled into the air.
It reminded him of a memory from his predecessor—a storm they had encountered while traveling to Hoenn by passenger ship. Even though it was just inherited memories, the recollection of that chaos and helplessness sent a chill down his spine.
What puzzled him most was how such a massive storm had formed so suddenly. With the advanced meteorological systems of this world, it shouldn't have gone undetected until right before landfall.
He recalled the news: the storm had formed due to "unknown reasons." It had appeared almost out of nowhere and was already barreling toward Slateport.
Unbeknownst to Rex, at the center of the storm, two mysterious beings were locked in fierce combat.
Their clashing energy had fueled the storm, making it stronger by the minute.
The culprits? The mythical Pokémon Tornadus and Thundurus.
Tornadus had assumed its Therian Forme—an avian-like body with wings for arms, violet-tipped feathers, a pair of purple diamond marks on its chest, and a red gem at its navel.
Thundurus remained in its Incarnate Forme—muscular arms, sharp blue ears, a spiraling horn, and a trailing chain of spiked orbs. His bottom half was enveloped in storm clouds.
Their battle, centered around a powerful artifact known as the Reveal Glass, was what had triggered the atmospheric chaos.
Previously, their clash had also been the cause of the strange weather that delayed Rex's return from Kalos.
Tornadus had won that battle, fusing the Reveal Glass into itself and shifting into Therian Forme. Though stronger, it hadn't fully mastered the artifact.
Now Thundurus had returned to challenge it again, unwilling to accept defeat.
The storm that surrounded them was merely the residual energy of their clash leaking into the environment—energy potent enough to sustain a massive superstorm.
Back at the farm, Rex was still unaware of the true cause. He simply hoped the storm would pass soon so he could begin repairing the damage.
Based on the current situation, he suspected the orchard would take a major hit—but there was little he could do now.
Unfortunately, the storm exceeded all expectations. Even after three days, it showed no signs of stopping.
Centered offshore near Slateport, the storm had already caused severe flooding in multiple areas.
Thankfully, Rex Farm was on high ground and had been spared—for now. But Moon Jade Lake had risen to dangerous levels. If the rains didn't stop, it too would flood.
Even Rex, no expert in meteorology, knew something was very wrong. A storm this size needed vast, sustained energy to remain active this long.
Natural storms had a limit. They surged, they peaked, then they decayed.
So what was fueling this one?
"Hello? Is this Rex?"
Just as Rex was brooding over the storm, his phone rang. It was Officer Jenny, her voice tired and strained.
"Yes, Officer Jenny? Is something wrong?"
If she was calling now, it must be serious.
"Rex, do you know the Nozawa couple who run the Mareep nursery near your farm?"
Her question caught him off guard.
"Of course! I bought the Mareep egg from them."
"...Their nursery has been flooded. They're trapped on the second floor. I know it's a huge ask, but... can I rely on you to bring them to safety?"
Her tone was apologetic—she hated having to make such a request. But there were too many emergencies, and she was overwhelmed.
(End of Chapter)