"Kyrii." (Wait—do you want to come with us?)
Seeing Zapdos about to take off, Articuno called out, trying to stop it.
"Jiji?" (Go where? To a human city?)
Zapdos paused mid-flight and stared at Articuno, confusion in its voice.
Honestly, it couldn't make sense of this.
This same Articuno had just spent ages ranting—scolding and lecturing—and now it was suddenly asking Zapdos to go with them?
"Kyrii." (Yes. Just like the human beside me said: human cities have all kinds of novel foods. As for the electricity you like to absorb—maybe you'll find different flavors to sip in a city.)
Articuno tapped its plumage with its beak; crystalline flecks drifted down, sparkling differently in Zapdos's eyes.
A moment ago, Zapdos had looked down on human cities.
But hearing that from the Articuno that beat it, its heart wavered.
"Jiji." (Are human cities really that good?)
Zapdos mused. Most of what it'd heard about human cities wasn't great.
Incidents, one after another.
A friend from overseas said that in its old region they even had those so-called "zero-dollar purchases."
It made Zapdos feel that human cities were dens of scheming, where people squabbled daily over scraps.
"How to put it… the human world isn't as bad as you imagine. It's not exactly paradise either. For me, the city I'm in is under a certain crisis right now. So I need to gather strength."
"If you want electricity, I can cover your intake for a while. But not forever. It depends on how much you draw… and on the utility bill."
Grey spoke plainly, hiding nothing. He laid out Saffron City's situation so Zapdos could weigh it.
Normally, he didn't sell Pokémon pipe dreams.
He cooked the pancake fresh in front of them.
"Jiji…" (I see… It won't cause you unnecessary trouble?)
Thinking of the impact it had just caused these wild Pokémon, Zapdos's tone softened a lot.
Compared to the earlier arrogance, it now sounded hesitant.
"It won't—so long as you don't make trouble."
Grey didn't mind this part.
Electricity? That's what money solves.
Worst case, he'd have the system swap out some items to feed Zapdos instead.
"So? Want to come with me?"
Grey palmed an Ultra Ball from his pack, pretending to rummage, then held it up to Zapdos.
"Jiji." (Going with you isn't impossible. But letting you catch me just like that makes me look cheap.)
Zapdos was firm on this point.
You can catch it.
But not that easily.
In other words, it wanted to see Grey's value.
Power.
Only if Grey showed power would it enter the ball.
"Jiji." (Oh, and you can't use Articuno. Who knows how strong it was when you caught it? If it was already a monster, then you two are just scamming me together, aren't you?)
Zapdos's brain didn't quite connect the dots: if Articuno had always been that strong, what kind of human could tame that?
Before it could think further, its aura surged.
Furious thunder detonated first.
Every quill stood on end; blinding currents ran across its wings.
Snakes of lightning writhed through the air, heating the metalwork for dozens of meters around until it glowed red.
It had to be said—Zapdos did have some teeth.
Aside from Annihilape and Articuno, maybe the dojo's Blaziken could trade a few blows with it.
Of course, Grey had one more "legend-catcher" on hand.
"Breloom—let's go with you!"
Grey sent out the classic old partner—Breloom.
"Kyrii…" (Ugh, that stinky mushroom again…)
By Grey's side, Articuno felt a twinge of PTSD.
Last time it was running its mouth in a fight…
And bam—Spore from Breloom, lights out, one-ball capture.
Didn't expect to watch it live this time…
And honestly…
Pretty satisfying!
"Kyrii!" (Keh-keh-keh-keh!)
Articuno let out a villain's laugh, which gave Zapdos the sudden urge to grab a bucket and run.
Couldn't blame Zapdos—Grey himself, hearing that weird cackle, half-expected a flaming lotus to bloom out of nowhere and incinerate someone.
"Jiji!" (Fine—fight me!)
Lightning flowed over Zapdos like a nightclub wash of color.
Arcs skittered across the metal floor, lacing into a web that spread toward Breloom!
"Mach Punch."
Grey still liked opening with Mach Punch.
He hadn't expected Zapdos to skip the trash talk.
That scrapped his plan to go straight for Spore; he'd have to find an opening to close in first, then pop Breloom's signature capture move.
No denying it—Spore was so good.
Better than Sleep Powder.
"Bre!" (That your speed? Not much to look at!)
Breloom's body flashed white, then ripped the air and vanished.
Sonic booms blossomed overhead, setting the steel rafters thrumming.
Afterimages flickered like teleports, so fast even Zapdos struggled to track the approach.
In its pupils, only a few pale streaks lingered.
Boom-echoes rolled past its ears; Zapdos nearly sucked in a cold breath.
This speed…
Way too fast!
"Jiji!" (No—!)
Before Zapdos's nerves could turn shock into action, battle instinct fired first.
It snapped its wings in, golden current weaving between them in an instant, a crackling thunder shield.
Electric arcs crawled its feathered guards, ionizing the air with a sharp stink for three meters around.
Breloom was already on top of it—its fist smashed into the folded wings guarding Zapdos's chest.
The impact drove through; Zapdos had to flare wide, exposing its stern visage.
"Now!"
Breloom didn't need Grey's order to know the next move.
The legend-grabber—Spore!
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