novelraw Chapter 126: Could the Legend Be True?
Chapter 126: Could the Legend Be True?
Chapter 126: Could the Legend Be True?
Natsume's mind was racing.
He pulled out an Ultra Ball and tried fitting it into the slot—it didn't match.
He took out a Great Ball—still no fit.
Finally, he placed a standard Pokéball on top, and it sat perfectly, snug and seamless.
"This doesn't make sense."
Natsume was stunned.
Judging by the geological conditions here, this temple must have been built at least a thousand years ago.
How could there have been Pokéballs back then?
As far as he remembered, according to the League's records, the ancient Pokéballs were more like sealing devices—massive in size.
They were nothing like the small, portable ones used today.
Staring at the indentation, two possibilities formed in Natsume's mind.
Either it wasn't a Pokéball at all—just something similar, maybe a valuable gem like a pearl…
Or it truly was a Pokéball—one that Celebi had brought here.
But why would Celebi leave a Pokéball in this place?
Natsume frowned deeply.
Then again, maybe it wasn't Celebi who placed it. Celebi could bring people briefly back to the past—it might've been someone else's doing.
He took out his phone to contact Professor Oak, but there was no signal at all.
Some kind of device must be blocking electronic transmissions.
Shaking his head, Natsume raised his lantern and began photographing every corner of the place, leaving no blind spots.
After passing through a formation of Beedrill standing like terracotta warriors, he reached the end of the temple and found a fresh hole in the ground.
Beneath it lay a partially eaten Berry.
"Looks like it just left."
Natsume glanced at the hole. There was no other path, and he didn't intend to drag the Diglett out by force.
Its direction was still toward the Safari Area—he'd catch it there later.
Activating his telekinesis, he scanned the massive temple from top to bottom several more times, determined not to miss a single useful clue.
He had no choice; his knowledge of the legendary Pokémon was far too limited.
That lack of understanding made him uneasy.
After thorough searching, his effort finally paid off—he discovered a stone tablet buried under the dust in a corner.
"Arceus Plate?" he muttered in surprise.
He picked it up.
Unrecorded Plate — Damaged.
The system's analysis came up, but Natsume's frown didn't ease.
He had never seen this plate before.
There were plenty of League records about Arceus and its eighteen Plates, each representing a different type.
Natsume remembered all their appearances clearly.
But this one didn't match any of them.
On its surface was an image of a thriving grassland, teeming with life.
Could it be the Meadow Plate?
No—the scene also showed groups of Pokémon and humans coexisting.
The tablet was extraordinary, about the size of a picture frame, its artistry so vivid that Natsume could almost feel the lush, ancient prairie of two millennia past.
The very air seemed to radiate the essence of natural selection—the survival of the fittest.
"Fertility…?"
Natsume recalled the old chief's words and grew even more puzzled.
Forget it. He'd ask the chief about it when he returned.
With that decision made, Natsume searched the temple inside and out several more times.
He found nothing else.
The only thing he could be sure of was that Team Rocket likely possessed extensive research on legendary Pokémon—perhaps even more than the League itself.
Whether it was Team Rocket's hands-on ability or their intel about legendary Pokémon, Natsume felt a growing sense of urgency.
He needed to make a name for himself quickly—gain enough power and status.
Only then would Giovanni come to him.
Natsume had no intention of seeking Giovanni out.
The one who goes knocking usually pays a higher price in negotiation.
Unless it's for free, of course.
Returning to the spot where he had fallen earlier, Natsume thought for a moment, then decided to dig his way up.
This seemed to be a one-way path—he couldn't find any exit.
Finding a softer patch of ground, Natsume surrounded himself with telekinetic energy.
A few shovels floated up and began digging.
The soil that was pulled out was soon levitated back and pressed down again, restoring the tunnel's appearance perfectly.
"Let's congratulate Ash on becoming the Champion!"
Aboveground, with Nash's loud announcement, the camera zoomed in on Ash and Rapidash as the crowd erupted in cheers.
"That's amazing, Ash!"
Lara ran forward and hugged him.
"I didn't expect Ponyta to evolve into Rapidash at the last moment!" Misty exclaimed, placing Ash's cap back on his head.
"Congratulations, Ash!"
Even Brock stepped up proudly.
"Hahaha! So this year's Laramie Warrior isn't from the Laramie clan at all! Just like that old legend from two thousand years ago!"
A hearty laugh rang out.
Everyone turned and saw the old village chief from the night before.
"A legend from two thousand years ago? What's that?" Brock asked curiously.
"Mr. Natsume just sent a message," Giselle said. "He asked to buy one of every traditional Laramie craftwork and to record the related legends in detail."
"Hahaha! Come with me then. I'll tell you the story while I award our brave warrior his honor!"
The chief led everyone to his home.
Inside, everyone sat down in turn, and an elderly woman served milk and mochi treats.
"Wow, I thought it'd be something like milk tofu," Ash said in surprise.
"Hahaha, our Laramie clan keeps up with modern life. Don't think we're old-fashioned," the chief chuckled.
"Nature and civilization should coexist—not like my brother who moved to the city and lost that blessing."
As he spoke, the chief handed Ash a ring.
"This is the symbol of the Laramie Warrior."
"Whoa, so cool!" Ash took the ring, his eyes shining.
"Let me see! Let me see!" Misty and the others crowded around.
The ring was made of emerald jade, engraved with the image of a pine tree.
"Grandpa, why is there a pine tree on it?" Brock asked.
"That's tied to a legend from two thousand years ago," the old chief said slowly.
"Before that time, no one had ever seen the hero. But when the Laramie people faced their darkest hour…"
"He burst forth from the ground—just like a pine breaking through the earth."
Crack!
The floor suddenly broke open, and Natsume poked his head out.
The chief froze. "???"
"What are you staring at?"
Natsume climbed out, brushed off the dirt, and used his psychic power to seal the hole beneath him.
"Go on. Pretend I'm not here."
He then pulled up a chair beside the chief, sat down, and held his phone close to the elder's wrinkled face.
"Uh, Natsume's our friend!" Ash quickly declared.
"Y-yeah, Mr. Natsume must have… uh, been digging to find that Diglett!" Brock added hurriedly.
"Right! Don't mind how he looks—he's actually, um, very easy to talk to," Misty and Brock said, clearly forcing their smiles.
"Diglett?" The old chief blinked in surprise.
After everyone explained, he finally understood.
"Haha, I see! Mr. Natsume is just like the great benefactor our Laramie tribe once had—kind and full of compassion. Not like my brother who moved to the city."
The chief clapped his hands and began his story.
Long ago, this grassland was barren.
The various Pokémon species here lived in constant conflict, fighting every day.
Until one day, a warrior descended from the sky—accompanied by a mysterious green Pokémon floating at his side.
He possessed a wondrous power that allowed him to communicate with Pokémon, and he could heal their wounds as well.
"With that person's help, the Ranch enjoyed a brief period of peace, paving the way for the arrival of the God of Fertility."
When the old chief finished, he looked around at everyone.
They all stared blankly.
"Haha, I know it sounds ridiculous! Aside from that Rocket Company boss, everyone who's ever heard this story looks at me the same way!"
The chief laughed heartily, unconcerned by their disbelief.
Meanwhile, Natsume put away his phone.
A mysterious green Pokémon floating beside the hero—likely Celebi.
A power to communicate with Pokémon and heal them—likely the Viridian power.
The more he heard, the more it sounded like Giovanni.
You can read more (around 100+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https://ravenarchives.com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.