"Where is this place? The moment I got close to the shoreline, I noticed something strange… there are barely any wild Pokémon nearby. Almost none at all."
Cynthia frowned, her elegant brows knitting together. She turned to Logan, waiting for his explanation.
Logan didn't reply immediately. Instead, he crouched down and scooped up a handful of soil. Compared to ordinary earth, this was different—lifeless, drained, as if it had been stripped of all vitality.
"This land is dead," he said grimly. "It won't recover for hundreds, maybe thousands of years."
Straightening, Logan glanced around the barren terrain before continuing:
"...This is the famous Abandoned Power Plant of Kanto."
"The Abandoned Power Plant? I've heard of it, even in Sinnoh," Cynthia recalled, her tone carrying a trace of sorrow. "They say there was once a massive leakage accident here… it nearly caused catastrophic devastation."
"That's right," Logan nodded. "Years ago, a powerful earthquake shook this area. The plant's reactors malfunctioned and toxic leaks spilled into the sea. The waters were poisoned, and the pollution spread with ocean currents all the way to Johto, Hoenn, even Sinnoh. It sparked outrage across the regions."
He continued as the three of them walked forward—Cynthia on one side, Yellow on the other.
"The land surrounding the plant was no better. Chemicals, radiation, toxins—everything seeped deep into the ground. Countless Pokémon died. The survivors abandoned their homes, fleeing in desperation. Even the Legendary Pokémon noticed… and they waged a battle against humanity right here."
"In the end, humans had no choice but to risk their lives. They shut the reactors down permanently to stop the Legendaries' wrath. And with that, they abandoned this so-called 'new energy source.' At the time, it was the cutting edge of technology."
Logan's voice was calm, but his words carried a heavy weight. As Kanto's Champion, he had read classified files from Professor Oak and the League—secrets hidden from the public.
To him, it was clear: this place had been a nuclear power plant. Nuclear energy—so powerful, yet so deadly when it failed. It was no wonder Legendary Pokémon had intervened.
And nuclear weapons? Logan understood why they had never been created in this world. Could a nuke tear open space? Could it reverse time? Could it defeat gods? Against Legendary Pokémon, such weapons were useless. And so humanity had chosen wisely: abandon them, lest they doom themselves. Until mankind could wield the authority of creation itself, this would remain a Pokémon's world—not humanity's.
Cynthia placed a hand on Yellow's shoulder, her expression soft but serious. "...Then, Logan. Is this place dangerous now? Is the pollution still active?"
"The radiation is no longer a threat," Logan reassured her, shaking his head. "Even at its peak, strong Pokémon auras could warp and neutralize it. Our Pokémon can easily withstand it, and nowadays, researchers come every year to monitor the area. Aside from the reactor core itself, the rest of the grounds are safe for humans."
He gestured toward the lifeless soil beneath their feet.
"But the land itself is still dead. It won't recover anytime soon. That's why only Ghost-types drawn to toxins, and Electric-types drawn to the residual energy, make their homes here. Other Pokémon avoid this place entirely."
"That's a relief," Cynthia murmured, nodding as her tension faded. She clasped Yellow's hand and they followed Logan further in.
He pointed toward the looming silhouette ahead. "The only landmark left is the abandoned power plant itself. It's the most likely place we'll find clues about Blue."
They reached the corroded front gates. Rust had eaten them away long ago, and the surrounding walls had collapsed into rubble. Logan and Cynthia both stopped abruptly—Yellow halted too, puzzled.
Their eyes weren't on the ruins. Instead, they had noticed the faint, flickering outline of a Gastly. One look was all they needed to know: this wasn't a wild Pokémon. It belonged to a trainer.
"You've been eavesdropping long enough," Logan said flatly. His fingers brushed the Poké Ball at his sleeve. "Will you come out on your own—or do I need to drag you out?"
"W-Wait, please!"
The weeds near a rusted barrel rustled. A young boy, no older than ten, stumbled out. His expression wavered between fear and desperation. He hurried to the Gastly at his side, then bowed his head before the trio.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to listen in on your conversation! But… just now, I heard you mention… Big Brother Blue?"
"Hm?"
Logan and Cynthia exchanged glances—surprise flickering in their eyes. They had been searching tirelessly, and now, by sheer chance, the clue they needed was right here.
"Have you seen Blue, little one?" Cynthia asked gently, her kind smile putting the boy at ease.
The boy nodded frantically, tears welling at the corners of his eyes. His voice broke as he spoke:
"...It's my fault. It's all my fault! Big Brother Blue was captured by that horrible old woman—because of me!"
"Easy," Logan soothed, crouching to meet the boy's eyes. "Tell us slowly. What happened?"
"I-I don't know exactly," the boy stammered, trembling. "That old woman… she was terrifying. I just looked at her once and lost consciousness. Blue fought her—he fought to protect me. When I came to, he had already… already sent me away, somehow. He told me to run. He gave me this, and told me to wait here for a month. If anyone came looking for him… I should hand it to them."
The boy dug into his pocket and pulled out a Poké Ball, clutching it with both hands. "I knew you must be looking for him! I didn't lie—when I saw you, the Pokémon inside started trembling! It knew you were the ones!"
Logan took the Poké Ball gently. He pressed the button and looked inside. His eyes softened.
"…Blue's Scyther."
He nodded firmly. "This is no mistake. Blue wouldn't have left his partner behind without reason. If he entrusted Scyther to someone else… then there's meaning behind it."
Inside the Poké Ball, the Scyther stirred—its aura fierce, loyal, restless. Logan fell silent for a moment, then turned to Yellow.
"Yellow. Come here."
"Me?" she blinked, surprised. Pikachu tilted its head on her shoulder.
Logan handed her the Poké Ball. "Scyther won't serve much purpose with me or Cynthia. But you— you already have Red's Pikachu with you. Now, I'll entrust Blue's Scyther to you as well. With both their partners at your side, I can rest assured of your safety."
Yellow hesitated, biting her lip—until Logan gave her a firm, encouraging nod. She straightened, holding the Poké Ball tight. "...Alright, big brother. I'll do my best."
"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu cheered beside her, sparks dancing in support.
"Good," Logan said softly. "Now, release it. Get to know Scyther properly."
Yellow nodded and pressed the button. With a burst of light, Blue's Scyther emerged. Its scythes gleamed as it cried out—its aura surging.
And then, right before their eyes—
Scyther began to evolve!
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