Luther was stunned. His first reaction was pure disbelief.
'Black Hole', that was Darkrai's signature move. More than that, it was supposed to be exclusive to it.
The idea of Mismagius pulling off something like Black Hole? That was as absurd as a Raticate using Roar of Time.
Luther looked up, only to find Cynthia and Diantha watching him with grave expressions, a stark contrast to the light-hearted mood from earlier.
"Is… is this even possible?" Luther managed to ask, struggling to find the right words. His thoughts were a complete mess. He didn't see Mismagius learning Black Hole as something exciting or lucky. On the contrary, it was horrifying.
The device Mismagius had been wearing wasn't some standard battle enhancement gear. It was a specialized prototype, built to push the limits and collect combat data on high-tier Pokémon.
Mutations brought on by tampering with a Pokémon's mind and body… who knew what using a Move like that could really do to Mismagius?
"A few years ago, I thought it was impossible too," Cynthia said softly. "But during the enhancement device incident in Kalos, Diantha witnessed a Hippopotas that could use Flamethrower."
After a pause, Cynthia asked, "Have you heard of Rainbow University?"
Luther nodded.
"They've been leading new research efforts: experimental Move development, regional Move variations, habitat-driven traits, mutation studies, all fields that only recently started receiving serious attention and funding."
"Back then, investment in this kind of research was almost non-existent. But after what happened in Kalos, things changed. That Hippopotas using Flamethrower spurred every region to act."
"…What happened to that Hippopotas?"
"It died."
Cynthia's voice was quiet, but to Luther, it might as well have been a thunderclap. His ears rang, and his mind went blank.
Nearby, Gardevoir moved closer to Diantha, sensing the shift in atmosphere.
"I'm fine, really," Diantha murmured, offering a tired smile to reassure Gardevoir.
Cynthia gave Diantha a quick glance, sighed, and didn't speak again right away. She tapped the stone table lightly with her fingers, giving Luther a moment to gather himself.
"…How did it die?"
"I killed it."
Luther stared at Diantha, stunned. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
"Pyra and I relocated Hippopotas to a specially designed preserve for Ground-type Pokémon. At first, everything seemed fine. It had suffered injuries during the enhancement device incident, but slowly, it started recovering."
"Once its condition stabilized, we moved it to a permanent League habitat for Ground-types. That's when things changed."
"Hippopotas began to show signs of aggression. It attacked any wild Pokémon that wandered near. At first, the researchers and I thought it was just reacting to the new environment, but the behavior got worse."
"When there were no Pokémon left to drive off, it turned on itself, slamming into boulders larger than its body. It shattered one and was buried in the rubble. We arrived in time to save it, but the injuries were severe."
"We managed to heal it, but it didn't help. At first, the pain kept it in check. But then… the pain just made it more violent. We sedated it and ran a full examination. The doctors concluded it had gone completely mad."
Cynthia gently placed a hand on Diantha's shoulder.
"That's enough. You don't have to go on."
"No. Luther needs to hear this. He needs to understand the danger."
"In the end, Hippopotas was just… empty. It only responded to hunger. It only rested when it collapsed from injury. The League doctors began discussing euthanasia. I gathered all my Pokémon, hoping Gardevoir could reach out, sense something, anything, that showed Hippopotas was still in there."
"But Gardevoir felt nothing," Diantha said with a bitter smile. "That same day, I interrupted the doctors' meeting and asked them to let Hippopotas go. It was the only kindness left we could offer."
The air grew heavy, and silence settled over them all.
Luther wanted to say something, anything, to comfort Diantha, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cynthia give a small shake of her head.
"Will Mismagius… end up like that?" Luther asked, his voice strained as he clenched his teeth.
This little one, the same Mismagius who had recognized him in his dreams, meant far more than just a partner. Affection wasn't a strong enough word. Even love fell short.
To Luther, his Pokémon were a part of his soul. An extension of his very being.
Now, after hearing such a chilling story, his whole body trembled.
"Hippopotas was pushed far beyond safe experimental limits," Cynthia said carefully. "We found detailed notes in the incident reports. Based on what Lucian recorded, your Mismagius hasn't undergone those later-stage modifications. But… we can't be sure. I won't make any guarantees."
Mismagius, having listened to the entire story, was trembling too. Luther felt her shift in his arms and tried to steady his breathing, he didn't want her anxiety to grow.
He traced a gentle finger along her chin, playfully teasing her in an attempt to soothe her nerves.
"…What should I do?"
"Give Mismagius to, "
Before Cynthia could finish, Diantha quickly cut in.
"Give Mismagius to me."
Diantha met Luther's gaze directly as she continued, "We need to reassess Mismagius's condition from the ground up. After a full examination, no matter what we find, she'll need to rest under observation. During that time, we'll gradually introduce high-intensity battles to test for lingering effects."
"Slaking was cleared not long ago," Diantha added. "After multiple battles and evaluations, no abnormalities resurfaced. That tells us Mismagius's case hasn't yet reached a critical point."
Luther hesitated. He looked down at Mismagius, and she looked back at him.
There was still a flicker of mistrust in her eyes when it came to others. He worried about her emotional stability.
"Medical care, diagnostics, long-term rest… all of it costs money."
Diantha's words silenced what Luther had been about to say. She'd hit the mark.
He really was short on funds. But for Diantha, money wasn't even a concern. Mismagius had heard her too. She gently slipped out of Luther's arms and looked up at him, her gaze calm and steady.
"Do you want to stay with Diantha for a little while?"
Mismagius turned to glance at Diantha, her lips pressed tightly together. Gardevoir stepped forward and extended her hand.
Luther swallowed the urge to stop her. He didn't say a word.
Mismagius slowly floated toward Diantha. As she reached her, Diantha gently placed a hand on her side, and Luther rolled Mismagius's Poké Ball across the stone table.
Mismagius fought past her fear of strangers and focused intently on Diantha's aura. She had heard every word of their conversation and understood the risks inside her body.
Only by resolving them could she truly stay by Luther's side.
(End of Chapter)
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