Chapter 83: Riolu, I Choose You!, Part 1
Ming Rizhao had already taken off the poacher's long coat. She hugged her Ralts and watched from the rear of the group of Pokémon as the humans busily treated the injured.
When the middle-aged man walked up to Ming Rizhao, a hint of excitement suddenly rose on her originally somewhat sad little face.
"Ah, you, you are... the Gym Leader of Verdant Leaf City, Mr. Norman?"
Hearing the question from this young girl, whose face was grimy with dust, the middle-aged man was taken aback for a moment, then immediately nodded.
Ming Rizhao was overjoyed. Forgetting even the Ralts she was holding, she hurriedly fumbled in the side pocket of her short skirt for something.
Norman, the Gym Leader of Verdant Leaf City, glanced around and then asked, "Have you been here all this time? Can you tell me what happened?"
Ming Rizhao, still fumbling for her things, recounted all the events that had just transpired in detail.
Rio, standing next to Ming Rizhao, saw the middle-aged man called "Norman's" face grow increasingly serious, a barely suppressed anger brewing within.
"...That's roughly the whole story. I'm very sorry we let those poachers get away."
"No, no, I should be the one to apologize. To think that my carelessness almost allowed this group of people to succeed."
Norman reached out and patted Ming Rizhao's shoulder, his solemn face softening a little.
"Thank you very much for your help. However, if you encounter such a thing again in the future, please pay attention to your own safety. If you need any help in the future, you can come to the Gym in Verdant Leaf City to find me."
Hearing these words, Ming Rizhao immediately and excitedly took out a handkerchief and a signing pen, holding them up to Norman.
"M-Mr. Norman, as a Pokémon Trainer, I admire you very much. Could you please give me your autograph?"
Norman hadn't expected the young girl before him to be a fan of his. He smiled, a rare touch of gentleness in his expression.
"Of course."
While Norman was signing the autograph for Ming Rizhao, Rio secretly used his Aura power to connect with Ming Rizhao, asking some questions he had in his heart.
"This Mr. Norman is?"
"Ah, you don't know... Oh, you're a wild Pokémon, so it's normal not to know. Mr. Norman is a very famous and powerful Pokémon Trainer. He previously served as one of the Elite Four of the Middel Region and is also the father of Mr. Ruby, who is known as the master of gorgeous gems. Although he has now resigned from his position as an Elite Four member for family reasons and is stationed in Verdant Leaf City, his strength is beyond question."
"So it really is that Norman..."
"Hmm? You know him? But speaking of Mr. Norman, his most famous deed has to be during that earth-shattering legendary Pokémon battle ten years ago. Mr. Norman controlled the super-ancient legendary Pokémon—Rayquaza—to stop the duel between the legendary Pokémon and then saved the world. Just thinking about that scene makes one's heart surge with excitement and longing."
"Ten years ago? But weren't you just a child then?"
Rio looked Ming Rizhao up and down. By his estimation, Ming Rizhao was only about 5 or 6 years old ten years ago.
"The adults back then told this story every day. Over time, it left a very deep impression, hehe."
While these two were communicating telepathically, Norman over there had also seriously finished the autograph.
Ming Rizhao excitedly took the handkerchief, folded it up as if it were a priceless treasure, and then asked with great curiosity, "Mr. Norman, I heard before that you challenged the Middel Champion. I wonder what the outcome was?"
"The challenge..." Ming Rizhao's words clearly stirred up Norman's memories. He said with a hint of emotion, "That child, Sapphire, has already become very strong..."
Then, Norman once again patted Ming Rizhao's shoulder.
"The world will always move forward. The future belongs to young people like you. We, as the guardians of this era, can only quietly watch over you in the time we have left."
Ming Rizhao nodded, seeming to understand yet not fully comprehending.
"Sorry, I said some things you might not understand... Alright, thank you again for your help. If there's a chance, let's meet again."
Norman waved his hand, glanced at Ming Rizhao's Ralts and Rio standing to the side, and said, "Cherish your Pokémon. Their potential will certainly not disappoint you."
Ming Rizhao secretly glanced at Rio and said with some embarrassment, "Ah, this Pokémon is not one I've captured."
"Is that so?" Norman turned and walked away with a meaningful expression, leaving only a single sentence hanging in the air. "Some opportunities, you must seize them well."
Watching Norman's departing figure, Rio was also pondering:
"Ruby's father, Norman, and the regional champion, Sapphire... The legendary Pokémon battle from ten years ago... Rayquaza saving the day... Hehe, very interesting."
A world completely different from the games and anime in his memory, yet it integrated many characters and events familiar to Rio. This feeling of being both similar and different made Rio feel even more excitement and anticipation.
And just then, Ming Rizhao's voice sounded in Rio's ear.
"Handsome doggy, we're leaving."
Ming Rizhao looked at Rio with some reluctance. Although she really wanted to capture this Pokémon she had liked since their first meeting and make it her partner, she also understood how much autonomy a Pokémon so intelligent that it could rival humans would have. Moreover, the stronger this autonomy, the higher the requirements for its trainer. And she herself was just a fledgling rookie trainer, with only one Pokémon in her possession—Ralts—which she had only owned after raising it from childhood.
Hugging Ralts again, Ming Rizhao walked towards Verdant Leaf City, looking back every three steps.
"…"
Rio watched silently, his heart conflicted.
Finally, he made up his mind, making a decision that could very well change this world.
"Wait!"
Sensing the message transmitted into her mind, Ming Rizhao stopped in her tracks.
Ming Rizhao slowly turned around, meeting the earnest gaze of that Riolu.
"Come on, let's have a Pokémon battle!"
"!"
Ming Rizhao was pleasantly surprised.
"But I..."
The girl still hesitated in her heart. How could she not have been struggling with this as well? She wanted to capture this Pokémon, yet she also understood that as a rookie trainer, leaving aside whether she could even raise this mysterious Pokémon well, she didn't even know if she was qualified to be its trainer.
But looking at Riolu's serious demeanor, a soaring fighting spirit also appeared in Ming Rizhao's eyes.
"Seize the opportunity. Yes, it's time for me to seize this opportunity!"
"Come on, Pokémon battle, begin!"
"Come out, Ruru!"
Leaping from Ming Rizhao's arms to the ground, Ralts sensed its trainer's heart, and the entire Pokémon also appeared full of spirit and energy.
"Iya! (Pokémon Language) Come on, let's battle!"
On the left, a lv10 Psychic-type Pokémon—Ralts, and her human trainer—Ming Rizhao.
On the right, a lv20 Fighting-type Pokémon—Riolu, with no trainer.
At this time, after all the commotion, the sky was already dawning.
Many of the humans nearby had finished their work. Seeing a young girl trainer begin a Pokémon battle with a mysterious, never-before-seen Pokémon, they also gathered around with great interest to watch.
And the Gym Leader of Verdant Leaf City, Norman, also stood not far away, watching this battle. On the surface, he was calm and unperturbed, but in reality, his attention was mostly focused on that Pokémon he also didn't recognize.
"This Pokémon... has such a strong power hidden within its body..."
It had to be said, as a former member of the Elite Four, Norman possessed a keen perception that ordinary people could not match. In his perception, that Pokémon with blue-black fur and slender limbs seemed to have a power suppressed within its body that made even him feel a palpitation.