In Unova, Hikaru had acquired several blueprints for special machines, but he lacked a proper place to manufacture them!
As it happened, Nimbasa Gym was full of gadgets and mechanical contraptions!
Although most of the facilities were built for entertainment, that only meant they required even more precise technology to function properly.
"Ara ara, when a famous model invites you to dinner, a true gentleman should talk more about the arts... yet you ended up getting absorbed in machinery? Well, I do like that about you," Elesa remarked with a chuckle.
It's said that all Electric-type Gym Leaders have some talent for mechanical tinkering. Lt. Surge of Vermilion Gym had switches hidden in trash cans, Wattson completely overhauled an entire city, and Volkner's experiments caused a total blackout in Sunyshore City.
Although Elesa wasn't as obsessed with mechanics as those experts, she still had a fair amount of experience—especially in areas like entertainment and fashion technology.
"Huh…?"
She eyed the machine in her hand suspiciously. Honestly, Hikaru's speed at assembling these devices had caught her off guard. She hadn't even figured out what all the components were for when a fully functional device had already been constructed!
"Huh? Is this a Scope Lens? No… weird. What's it supposed to see?"
She strapped the device onto her head and looked around. Unlike standard scope lenses, it didn't change how people looked—just made the screen slightly bluer?
[Item: Silph Scope (Special Edition)!]
[Description: One of the highest scientific achievements, it allows users to see mysterious forces invisible to the naked eye—including Ghosts, Psychic power, Aura, and other special energies. It can also see through smoke screens and reveal hidden figures. A very convenient and mysterious multi-tool device!]
Hikaru: "Have you heard of the Silph Scope before?"
"This one is a custom-made variant I built based on the real thing. I figured it might come in handy during upcoming tasks. I don't really need it myself, but… it's not just for seeing ghosts."
"Eh?! Did you just say 'seeing ghosts'?!"
Elesa flinched and immediately looked around in alarm.
Aside from the people nearby, she didn't see anything out of the ordinary—just Lacey blinking with her big, curious eyes.
"Whew…"
Elesa hurriedly pulled the scope off her face and handed it to Lacey, who began examining it from all angles.
"You can really see ghosts with this?"
"Of course. And not just ghosts," Hikaru explained. "It can detect hidden psychics, Aura users, what's behind smokescreens… basically, it's a device tailored for the mysterious."
"So Silph Company never released this thing to the public, huh…"
The Silph Company of Kanto really did feel like it had a bit of Ork DNA in it.
Forget the lack of future generations of scope lenses—the Master Ball alone already seemed like a tool designed to be restricted outside of Kanto. Their tech was downright mystical at times, but always tackled the supernatural using science. Their motto was practically: "Science can solve anything!" and then they'd go and slap together a miracle device.
Honestly, Team Rocket trying to invade Silph wasn't entirely unjustified. Green-skinned goblins attract each other, and losers end up as fart sprites.
Also, crafting a Silph Scope wasn't impossible. As long as you had the right parts and tools, and knew the techniques, it could be done. After all, in the Special manga, the Silph Scope wasn't even made by the Silph Company.
It was made by Blue. She built it from scratch and later sold the patent to Silph.
Blue in her early days hand-crafted all kinds of devices. Just like Hikaru now. Definitely part of the green-skinned faction.
Hikaru: "I made two of these Scopes. If you need them, go ahead and use them. Nimbasa Gym really lives up to its name—so many gadgets and components all in one place!"
"I just hope we don't have to use them…" Elesa muttered, shaking her head, though Lacey looked utterly excited.
Ghosts? Supernatural stuff? That was thrilling!
"And next, we have this—"
[Item: Metronome]
[Description: A rhythm tool created through musical knowledge. Originally a tempo device. When held, it boosts the power of repeated moves. The bonus resets if the move changes.]
[Effect: The Pokémon holding this item will see a 20% power increase every time it repeats the same move, up to a maximum of 200%!]
The Metronome was much easier to make than the Scope, so Hikaru made several and gave them to Elesa and Lacey as farewell gifts, to thank them for their help.
Elesa: "Battle items, huh? Now this I'm interested in."
Compared to ghosts and spirits, battle gear was more appealing!
Her Zebstrika loved using Flame Charge. With the Metronome, not only would its Speed go up, its power would also keep increasing. Challengers were in for a rough time!
And then, the final item Hikaru created:
[Item: High-Tech Photon Cannon (Handheld Version)]
[Description: A powerful technological device that should've been part of a Pokémon's arsenal. Created with the help of mechanical insights and heroic instinct. Originally required the 'Mechanic' profession, but knowledge gained from mechanical experts made it possible to build.]
[Effect: Fires an energy blast whose type depends on the installed cartridge. Currently only an Electric cartridge exists. Limited to five uses before needing a recharge.]
[Note: Special weapons are essential for facing dangerous threats—such as Pokémon Hunters or criminal syndicates. Further upgrades may be possible at the P2 Lab, where more advanced mechanical knowledge awaits.]
Psychic powers are great. Aura is handy.
But sometimes, you just need to shoot something. That's the American Iai slash.
The P2 Lab had been hinted at before when Hikaru gained mechanical knowledge. It was originally Colress's lab.
"A weapon that uses Pokémon moves? Sounds dangerous… but if you're going to Black City, you'll need it. You have to go through Black City to reach White Forest."
Elesa understood that Hikaru was determined. Still, she had gained something too—he had designed a brand-new outfit for her. As for the actual production? That would be up to Burgh!
And this time, it wasn't a replica but a genuine first creation. Burgh's artistic passion would no doubt ignite—even though he was never not excited.
[Design Blueprint: EX·Seasonal Set – Converging Star!]
It felt… oddly fitting. Why did she get such a strange feeling from this outfit?
Elesa chalked it up to "adaptability."
"Hey, Hikaru-nii, I overheard the Subway Chief inviting you to challenge the Battle Subway. If you get the chance, let's go together next time!"
Lacey said mysteriously:
"I heard that after reaching the end of the Super Train Line, there's a secret mode where you can keep going indefinitely—and the final stop is Golden Wheel Town! Supposedly, those who reach it are rewarded with legendary Berries that bring happiness!"
"You can get there by normal means, but it's way cooler if you go by Super Train!"
"I'll keep training and getting stronger! I know the Double Battle victory was really thanks to Mr. N, so I need to work harder too!"
Elesa's eyes shifted thoughtfully. "So, how are you planning to cross the Marvelous Bridge? Fly? It's really tall. The elevator's often broken, and some say there's a ghost haunting it. Don't tell me you're going there just because of the ghost?"
"I've been to that bridge plenty of times and never seen a ghost. Probably just a Ghost-type Pokémon playing tricks."
…Though, after seeing that Scope, she wasn't so sure anymore.
"No, the Marvelous Bridge malfunctions… I have a theory," Hikaru said, rubbing his chin.
The Marvelous Bridge—one of Unova's five great bridges—had a massive elevator leading up into the sky. It constantly broke down, and maintenance was ongoing. But it wasn't due to normal power issues—there was a Pokémon messing with it!
Or perhaps… a group of them.
"Rotom. Ever heard of that Pokémon? Nimbasa City ever have any strange blackouts?"
"Now that you mention it…" Elesa recalled, "There were some odd power issues, but they got resolved quickly. The cause was never found. Nimbasa Gym had some too."
Hikaru: "Rotom likes to sneak into appliances and machines, bringing them to life. It uses its plasma body to take control of machines and cause mischief. But it can also be used as a power source."
"The bridge malfunctions and the Nimbasa outages might all have been Rotom's doing. It's an Electric + Ghost-type Pokémon."
"That's why I left you the Scope."
"Whoa! That kind of Pokémon exists? Sounds fun!" Elesa was intrigued.
If it were a ghost, she'd be spooked. But since it's a Pokémon—an Electric-type no less—then its brightness would surely outshine its shadowy nature. Especially if it loved playing pranks. That just made it playful!
At this point in time, Cyrus's journal was still in the hands of the King of the Underworld, so Rotom remained largely unresearched by the scientific community.
The name "Rotom" was coined by Cyrus.
As for its origins—Rotom in Sinnoh appears in the Old Chateau, while in Unova it appears at the Marvelous Bridge. In Kalos, it shows up in an abandoned hotel.
The common factor between Sinnoh and Unova? Actual ghosts.
So Rotom likely originated from the Spirit World.
After all, there's an old theory that souls are made of plasma.
Rotom might be inspired by the real-life "Poltergeist Phenomenon."
Also known as noisy ghosts, this supernatural phenomenon includes unexplained sounds and moving objects.
Scientific theories speculate it could be caused by environmental factors—like static electricity, electromagnetic fields, infrasound, or underground water flows.
Eventually, Rotom's abilities were understood and it was artificially cloned. That marked the beginning of a thriving Rotom-based industry.
As midnight approached, Hikaru departed from Nimbasa and, bidding farewell to the two curious girls, passed through the checkpoint and entered the Lostlorn Forest.
Near Route 16, nestled beside a small town, this forest—though actually a plain under Zoroark's illusion—was still surrounded by dense greenery.
So, "Lostlorn Forest" could refer to both the illusion cast by Zoroark and the broader forested region.
Hikaru had one goal here: to obtain quality wood and craft a Ukulele Four-String Harp!
This tool would attract Electric-type Pokémon, useful for both luring and driving away Rotom.
As he entered the forest, he immediately felt a gaze from deep within the trees…
In the movie, the Zoroark from Crown City was originally captured from near Lostlorn Forest before being shipped to Sinnoh.
Later, the Zoroark mother and child returned to this forest, disguising themselves as a food truck vendor and his daughter, living peacefully, while the little Zorua occasionally ran off to Nacrene City to play as a human child.
But the Zoroark in Lostlorn Forest weren't just the ones from the movie.
"Yo! You've got a Pokédex! I love traveling the world and chatting with people!"
"Here to explore the forest too? They say it can make you lose your way if you're not prepared."
"Wanna come with me? I've conquered tons of forests!"
A backpacker approached Hikaru with a friendly attitude, offering to lead the way.
But Hikaru sensed something strange from him… that wasn't a human aura.
"Backpacker, huh…" Hikaru muttered, then pulled out his Silph Scope.
He hadn't expected to use it this soon, but—here we are.
Backpacker: "Eh? Is that an Exp. Share on your head? Haha, that's for Pokémon, you know!"
Through the Scope, Hikaru saw through the illusion—this backpacker was a Zoroark!
"…?"
Hikaru removed the Scope. That was just to confirm.
"I'm not here to explore. I'm looking for good wood to craft something."
The "backpacker" was a Zoroark.
In the games, this Zoroark is known for traveling the world disguised as a human.
It knew the Zoroark mother and child, and disapproved of their hiding lifestyle—thinking they were too naïve.
It probably returned now to talk to them. In the game, it seemed aware of the Crown City incident long before it happened—maybe it had come to warn them.
A true traveler, after all.
Still, Hikaru's strange behavior had sparked a bit of hostility from the Zoroark. But when that hostility flared, the blue crystal around Hikaru's neck began to glow.
His palm shimmered with soft light as well.
"I'm a Psychic. I'm just looking for good wood to make an instrument. I've got important work to do. If you'd help me, I'd gladly offer something in return. Deal?"
"Also, I can't foresee the future."
Hikaru's words were meant to soothe—he was telling Zoroark he didn't know who it really was.
Still, the Zoroark sensed something… but under the warmth of the blue crystal and sunlight, it felt no threat—only a gentle presence.
"…Ah. If that's the case, then come with me."
"There's plenty of good timber in this forest."
(End of Chapter)
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