Sootopolis City
After the recent battle, the entire city lay in ruins.
Due to the extent of the destruction, combined with Sootopolis City's isolated location deep in the ocean, the Hoenn League decided to prioritize rebuilding coastal cities on the mainland first.
Sootopolis City's reconstruction would have to wait.
Amidst the desolate ruins, a flash of vibrant green suddenly appeared.
Having foreseen a great battle in the Hoenn region from the future, Celebi had traveled nonstop from Kanto in an attempt to stop it. But now, hovering over the ruins, Celebi wore a puzzled expression.
"Bi?"
It had clearly seen Groudon and Kyogre's clash in the time rift. Yet by the time it arrived, it seemed everything was already over.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed nearby.
The floating Celebi quickly darted behind a crumbling wall.
From a distance, two trainers walked closer.
"The Tech Hunter is incredible. If it weren't for him, Groudon and Kyogre's battle would've destroyed more than half of Sootopolis City," one trainer said with admiration.
"No kidding!" his companion replied. "That Team Magma and Team Aqua bunch caused so much trouble. If they hadn't disbanded, I'd love to teach them a lesson myself!"
"Speaking of which," the first trainer said, rubbing his chin, "what do you think of Team Rocket? I heard they haven't done anything bad recently, and their benefits are pretty good."
The other trainer's eyes lit up.
"Sounds great! I heard new recruits get one of the Team Rocket starters. Why don't we give it a shot?"
"Let's go together!"
Their footsteps faded into the distance as Celebi emerged from its hiding spot, its face full of confusion.
From the trainers' conversation, Celebi learned that someone called the "Tech Hunter" had stopped Groudon and Kyogre's fight.
Though Celebi had never met this Tech Hunter, its pure heart immediately deemed him a good person.
But then there was mention of Team Rocket…
The same Team Rocket that had once chased it in Johto? How was this Tech Hunter associated with them?
Good people and bad people were on the same team?
Celebi scratched its head, thoroughly baffled.
However, Celebi's cheerful nature prevented it from dwelling on the matter. It flitted through the city's ruins, gathering information.
Finally, it soared into the sky, spreading its arms wide.
As Celebi flew over Sootopolis, countless green lights rained down.
Where the lights touched, withered grass regained vitality, growing into towering trees as thick as a person's embrace.
This transformation occurred throughout the city, quickly blanketing the ruins in lush greenery.
The residents clearing debris from the ruins stopped in their tracks, staring wide-eyed at the miraculous scene.
"…We just cleared that area!"
"How are we supposed to build houses with all these trees in the way?"
"My house was still standing a minute ago…"
Hearing the rising complaints, Celebi froze midair, its expression stiffening.
Had it… done something wrong?
Feeling a pang of guilt, Celebi prepared to flee.
But just as it turned to leave, a playful voice called out behind it.
"Causing trouble and running away?"
Startled, Celebi jumped.
Before it could react, it felt a hand grab the back of its neck, lifting it off the ground.
Celebi turned its head and saw a figure clad in black armor—a perfect match for the description the residents had given of the Tech Hunter.
Remembering the stories it had overheard, Celebi hesitated to escape. It had already decided the Tech Hunter was a good person.
Hearing the figure's words, Celebi nervously murmured, "Bi…"
It wasn't expecting him to understand, but it felt the need to defend itself.
To Celebi's surprise, the Tech Hunter seemed to comprehend.
"Is that so? Well, I guess I can't blame you."
"Bi?" Celebi's large eyes blinked, filled with curiosity as it studied the human.
The figure smiled. "It's a special ability of mine."
As he spoke, he extended his hand, releasing a gentle wave of Virdian Power.
Feeling the familiar, comforting aura of the forest, Celebi's heart swelled with trust.
The man let go of its neck, and Celebi began to float around him excitedly.
For Luo Yuan, the encounter felt surreal.
He had come to Sootopolis, hoping to trace Celebi's presence and use the tracker given to him by Pryce.
Yet by sheer coincidence, he had run into Celebi itself.
"Bi-bi!" Celebi chirped, flying close to Luo Yuan. It asked how it could make up for its earlier mistake.
Luo Yuan chuckled softly.
Unclipping a Master Ball from his waist, he summoned Deoxys, which materialized beside him.
With a nod from Luo Yuan, Deoxys shifted into its Speed Form, becoming a streak of light as it darted across the city.
In an instant, the trees growing across Sootopolis fell in unison, transformed into neatly stacked logs. Simultaneously, the debris on the ground was swept into orderly piles under Deoxys's psychic control.
The residents, witnessing this spectacle, instinctively looked up to the figure floating above.
As the Tech Hunter stood in the sky, the entire city erupted in cheers.
Even those who had doubted his intentions couldn't help but feel grateful.
After all, since his emergence, the Tech Hunter had targeted only major corporations and organizations, never harming ordinary people.
Whatever Team Rocket's reputation might be in Kanto, here in Hoenn, they had undeniably helped the region.
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Amidst the crowd's celebration, Luo Yuan turned to Celebi with a smile, then recalled Deoxys and returned to the Team Rocket airship.
Intrigued by Luo Yuan, Celebi couldn't resist following him, slipping into the airship alongside him.
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T/N: i made a discord server link is good for 6 days https://discord.gg/ZJsEjAHH