As the group of trainers reluctantly transferred their winnings, one of them hesitated, turning toward Aurelius with a stubborn frown.
"Can we at least exchange contact details?"
Aurelius, already scanning for any lingering tricks, smirked. His plan had worked perfectly. With a confident, almost theatrical air, he responded, "Only those who defeat me are worthy of that honor. Losers like you? Just remember this—I'm a member of The Temple."
"The Temple?"
The trio froze, exchanging bewildered glances.
Aurelius chuckled under his breath, leaning into his elaborate fabrication. "It's no surprise you don't know. You're not qualified. But soon, The Temple will rise, and the entire world will recognize our power."
His words only deepened their confusion.
"Is this some kind of new group? Like Team Rocket or something?" one of them whispered to the others.
"Maybe it's part of the league system?" another guessed.
Still skeptical, one trainer stepped forward cautiously. "Wait… are you even a trainer like us?"
Aurelius raised a brow, pretending to mull over the question. Then, with a dramatic smirk, he said, "I'm a player… in life. Our mission is to shape this world, bringing peace and order to it."
The trio collectively sighed. His over-the-top speech confirmed their suspicion.
"He's definitely some kind of NPC," one muttered. "Only NPCs talk like that."
They started to relax. Losing to an NPC wasn't as shameful as losing to another trainer. Aurelius's Pidgey was just part of the game's balancing system for newcomers.
But one of them, a bespectacled boy, was still curious. "Senior, how did you train your Pidgey to be so strong?"
Aurelius blinked, caught off guard by the question. Still, he recovered quickly, shifting into his "mentor" persona. "Training? Ah, yes, it's quite simple. You must bond with your Pokémon. Eat with them. Train alongside them. When working on Hyper Beam, drink a ton of water together for stamina. When practicing Steel Wing, smash into trees alongside them. And when mastering Double Team…"
The trio listened, confused, until one of them whispered, "This makes no sense."
But then Aurelius dropped what seemed like a vital clue. "My Pidgey? I caught it on a full moon in Ecruteak City."
"Ecruteak City?!"
The trainers' eyes lit up. Ecruteak, the city tied to the legendary Ho-Oh, seemed the perfect place for a rare Pokémon. They quickly made mental notes to visit the city on the next full moon.
Aurelius fought hard to keep from laughing. His bluff had worked flawlessly. After confirming they'd sent him all their money, Aurelius straightened up.
"Pidgey, Fly!"
With dramatic flair, Aurelius grabbed his Pidgey's tiny leg as the bird flapped furiously to carry him away.
"Poor Pidgey," one trainer muttered.
"Yeah… that thing deserves a break," another agreed.
---
Once they were safely in the forest, Aurelius let go, landing lightly on the ground. He leaned against a tree and burst into laughter.
Pidgey shimmered and transformed back into its true form—Mew. The pink, playful Pokémon floated nearby, tilting its head in confusion.
"What's so funny, Master?" Mew asked telepathically.
"Oh, just those gullible trainers!" Aurelius managed between chuckles.
Mew floated closer. "So, where are we going next?"
"Good question." Aurelius smirked. "Do you want some Pokémon friends to play with, Mew?"
"Of course!"
"Perfect. Then we'll head back to New Bark Town to see Professor Elm. We'll get a Pokédex, and after that, we'll start hunting for some Legendary Pokémon—Ho-Oh, Lugia, and maybe even Mewtwo!"
Mew hesitated. "I don't think they'll want to play with me. Most Legendary Pokémon are… proud. If I show up, they'll just shoo me away."
Aurelius waved the concern aside. "Don't worry. With me around, they won't ignore you. If we meet one, I'll make sure they respect you!"
Mew considered this before floating closer. "I did meet a Pokémon made from my genes once. It was on a small island, leading others in a fight. But when it saw me, it attacked me right away. It was really mean."
"Mewtwo!" Aurelius exclaimed, his excitement shining through. "Where did it go?"
"It left with its group after the fight. I don't know where it is now."
Aurelius frowned, disappointed. "What about others? Have you met any other Legendaries?"
Mew nodded. "I've seen Ho-Oh once. It was flying through the sky, leaving a rainbow trail behind it. But I don't know where it lives."
Aurelius's shoulders slumped slightly, but he pressed on. "Anyone else?"
Mew thought for a moment. "I saw Rayquaza once. It lives in the Sky Pillar in the Hoenn region. I tried saying hello, but it completely ignored me. So rude."
"Rayquaza, huh?!" Aurelius's eyes gleamed with excitement, but when he noticed Mew pouting, he quickly softened his tone. "You're right, that's totally rude! Don't worry, Mew. When we meet Rayquaza, I'll make sure it apologizes—and calls you its big brother!"
Satisfied, Mew nodded.
Most of Mew's stories didn't provide specific locations, but Aurelius wasn't discouraged. With determination in his heart, he set his sights on Professor Elm's lab. He needed a Pokédex and supplies before his real adventure could begin.
With Mew floating happily at his side, Aurelius left the forest, ready to make his mark on the world of Pokémon.
--------------------------
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