Chapter 21: Foreseeing the Future from the Past
Sitting on Lapras's shell, as they journeyed, Water-type Pokémon would occasionally dart out from the water beside them, eyeing these two unfamiliar faces with curiosity.
After receiving the Golduck Leader's promise of help, Machop seemed to have unburdened himself of his worries, his expression becoming much more relaxed.
"By the way, Rio, did you know? Crescent Lake here is where the Squirtle Boss and I first met," Machop said in a nostalgic tone.
"After I lost contact with the Professor in this forest, I searched everywhere in Newmoon Forest. During my search, I came here to Crescent Lake. It was at that time I met the Squirtle Boss, who had come to negotiate with Golduck. Back then, I remember it was about the Poliwag? I don't recall it too clearly. I just know that both the Squirtle Boss and Vileplume are very kind Pokémon. After hearing my situation, they both offered to help me find the Professor's whereabouts. It's just a pity that I still don't have any clues about the Professor." Machop sighed softly.
"Huh? Doesn't the Golduck Leader here know the [Future Sight] move? Why not ask him to help search for the Professor's whereabouts?" Rio was a little puzzled.
Before Machop could answer, Lapras, who was carrying them, spoke up.
"The Leader's [Future Sight] cannot be activated so simply. To foresee an event, it must possess the two elements of 'past' and 'present' to obtain information about the 'future.' The so-called 'past' refers to memories related to the 'future'; the 'present' refers to a medium related to the 'future.' Only when both these elements are present can one trace back from the 'past,' use the 'present' as a foundation, and probe the 'future'."
"Moreover, [Future Sight] can only foresee future events, not probe the past, and it cannot foresee too distant a future. If there are no relevant clues in the near future, [Future Sight] actually won't be of much use."
The three elements of "past," "present," and "future"—it seemed there were specific conditions for activating [Future Sight] for prediction. But indeed, if a bug-like ability such as predicting the future had no restrictions, it would become terrifying.
Besides a move like [Future Sight], Rio wondered if there would be other moves that, when manifested in the real world, would also have similar requirements.
Rio thought absently.
Machop beside him was lost in thought, recalling past events, while Lapras also swam with concentration. For a moment, a silent atmosphere enveloped them.
"Splash, splash, splash—"
Lapras, carrying Rio and Machop, gradually approached the large waterfall on one side of Crescent Lake. The closer they got, the more they could feel the spectacular sight of a torrent "plunging three thousand feet." The water flow, like a pearl curtain hanging upside down, cascaded from the high cliffs. Where it met protrusions on the cliff face, it splashed into myriad droplets, and the rushing waterfall converged into the clear, bottomless lake, filling the air with a hazy mist.
"Huh, what's that?"
In the cascading waterfall, a glint of gold, constantly swimming, caught Rio's attention.
A group of Water-type Pokémon swam to Rio's side and said in a mocking tone.
"Don't mind it, that's the disgrace of our Crescent Lake."
"Yeah, other Magikarp can evolve, but that piece of trash can't. And it still foolishly thinks it can get stronger through training. Being so weak, it should just find a place to hide."
"Look at how much effort it takes just to swim up the waterfall, so pathetic, hahaha."
"It really thinks it's something special just because it has a golden appearance."
"…"
The Pokémon mocked as they effortlessly swam upstream against the waterfall, deliberately splashing water to taunt the golden gleam as they passed it.
"Trash, let's see if you can catch up to me."
"Impossible. Look at its pitiful state; it'll be lucky if it doesn't fall back down."
A few even more mischievous Pokémon stirred up the current, causing the golden-glinting Pokémon to lose its stable swimming posture and be washed down into the lake by the rushing waterfall.
Only then did Rio see clearly: it was a Magikarp, its entire body shimmering with golden light. Its scales were covered with injuries, large and small, yet its originally vacant large eyes were filled with determination.
Although the golden Magikarp fell back into the lake, it paid no mind, repositioned its tail, and once again strenuously swam upwards against the waterfall.
After teasing the golden Magikarp for a while, the mischievous Pokémon found it dull and left, laughing amongst themselves.
Rio was speechless for a moment. Since coming to the Pokémon world, his real interactions with Pokémon had begun in Sunrise Valley. And in Sunrise Valley, all Pokémon got along very harmoniously. Whether strong or weak, none looked down on others because of differences in strength. Even the seemingly cold Scyther—Rio had seen him more than once putting on a aloof act, seemingly reluctant, yet always diligently helping other Pokémon pick various Berries. Rio had secretly nicknamed him "Tsundere Scyther."
But the scene before him now profoundly showed him that the ingrained flaws of isolating a Misfit and despising the weak also existed among Pokémon.
"You guys don't manage this?" Rio couldn't help but ask.
Lapras said calmly, "The weak being prey to the strong is the law of nature. Being weak is inherently a mistake."
"But..."
"Alright." Machop gestured to Rio with his eyes, stopping Rio's further questioning.
It seemed Sunrise Valley was indeed a rather unique existence.
For some reason, Rio thought of the unevolved Squirtle Boss.
Lapras, unconcerned, continued swimming.
A moment later.
"You two, we've arrived. Please rest first. I will come back to pick you up when the Leader is ready."
Lapras stopped in front of the waterfall. Mobilizing its energy, the waterfall parted to both sides as if pushed by hands, revealing a spacious and clean cave within.
Rio put the matter of the golden Magikarp aside. Seeing this familiar scene, he couldn't help but laugh, "Aha, could this be the Water Curtain Cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain?"
"Water what? What mountain, what cave?"
Machop, at the side, asked with confusion.
"No, it's nothing."
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven obviously couldn't exist in this world. Rio mocked himself, then with a light leap, jumped into the cave.
"Ah, no, Eldest Senior Brother might still exist. I just don't know if I'll have a chance to meet Infernape. If I really do, will I need to prepare a Golden-Hooped Rod for him? Hmm..."
Rio amused himself with these thoughts.
Machop looked at his little brother's silly, happy expression, completely bewildered.
"Little brother, your head wasn't smashed by Gyarados earlier, was it?" Machop asked with concern.
"It's fine, it's fine, don't mind these details..." Waving his hand to indicate he was alright, Rio found a clean spot and sat down.
Taking out some Berries from the [Backpack], the two Pokémon ate and rested.
…
As time passed, the sky began to darken. Since Crescent Lake had nothing obstructing it, the bright moonlight could generously spill down, and the gently surging waves on the lake surface shimmered with rippling light.
"Swish-splash—"
Amidst the sound of flowing water, Rio and Machop, ferried again by Lapras, stood on the giant rock, looking at the Golduck Leader sitting cross-legged.
"Alright, let's begin."
The Golduck Leader said calmly. As soon as his voice fell, the round red gem on his forehead emitted a dazzling light in the darkness, and waves of energy that made the air vibrate spread out. Suddenly, two pink beams of light shot out from the Golduck Leader, connecting Machop and the bundle of fur placed to the side.
Rio stared unblinkingly at the scene unfolding before him. This was the first time he had seen a Psychic-type move. Unlike the visually apparent moves of Elemental or Fighting types, Psychic-type moves had an air of unfathomable mystery.
As the energy fluctuations grew more intense, a hazy image appeared above the Golduck Leader's head: numerous dark figures flapped their wings, flying through dark shadows; a small, dark figure fell in a jungle; then, a giant dark figure appeared…
"Snap!" Before the Pokémon could see clearly, the fluctuating energy suddenly shattered, and the pink beams of light also dissipated.
"Hmm?"
The moment the energy dissipated, Rio noticed a faint blue ripple emanate from the Golduck Leader for an instant. However, it lasted such a short time that he thought he had imagined it.
The Golduck Leader, having finished the [Future Sight] move, opened its eyes. "The clue lies within the foreseen future. Go now, continue your investigation."
Machop quickly expressed his thanks. "Thank you very much for your assistance." With that, he packed up the items placed on the ground and, pulling Rio, turned to leave by riding Lapras.
Rio scratched his head and prepared to leave with Machop.
The Golduck Leader's expression was calm. Seeing Rio turn, a faint light emanated from its body, and a small pink beam shot towards Rio. However, before the beam could reach Rio, it suddenly dissipated.
"Huh? What's going on?" Rio felt an itch on his back and couldn't help but scratch it with his paw.
Seeing the beam dissipate, a trace of gravity and doubt appeared in the Golduck Leader's eyes.
"Unable to probe? Is it a being without a past, or a presence whose future cannot be predicted?"
The Golduck Leader thought quietly. About this mysterious Pokémon, for the first time, he sensed an unknown of infinite possibilities.