Pokémon: The Renegade Trainer

"What did you find, Eevee, Luxio?"

A Pokémon ranger was investigating a grotto. 'That's the five grottos in total. Just how exactly do they find these places so easily?'

It was strange. If one wasn't a master scout or a ranger, it would be near-impossible to find one grotto. But this culprit managed to ransack five hidden grottos within three days.

That was his thought process until he felt something strange. "Ruiz! Ruiz!"

A woman's voice resounded in his head, and suddenly, the space shifted around Ruiz. When he gathered himself, the ranger could see an entirely different Grotto.

There were Exeggcute and Exeggutor going about peacefully when a Murkrow smoked their place with [Haze] and rain started falling down without warning.

It was blurry, but Ruiz managed to see a man in all black and the Murkrow perched on his shoulder. His face was unfortunately covered by a gas mask.

But the ranger was sure, from the sack filled with items and the leaf stone the crow handed to the man. This was the one, the criminal he was searching for! 

That was the end of the vision, and Ruiz found himself waking up to a familiar face.

"Iizumi?"

"Ruiz, finally you're awake."

A girl no older than 16 was pouting, while Eevee was beside him, shaking him awake.

"What happened?"

"You were unconscious when I picked you up at a Grotto. What were you doing?"

 "It's the normal ranger stuff, y'know. How about you?"

"I came to visit my grandpa."

The atmosphere turned solemn between the childhood friends as silence ensued and only the wind could be heard from within the wooden Cabin in the middle of Eterna forest.

"It's alright, Ruiz. It's not your fault." Iizumi wore a sheepish smile, twirling her green hair.

"I'll guide you to the manor."

"But I'll be fine--"

"I insist. Were going the same direction anyway since I'm leaving the forest."

"O-okay."

A duo formed as Ruiz and Iizumi began to trek their way to the haunted mansion.

Despite her fragile looks, Iizumi hailed from an ancient clan and was a capable Intermediate class trainer.

But as the saying goes, the bigger they come, the harder they fall. After a long feud, they were eventually stripped of their status and land. And the only thing that Iizumi inherited was the bad public image and a broken down mansion infested with ghost types.

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One week later, Eterna forest...

Ruiz and Iizumi stood before a towering Manor. It was mostly charred, but the structure was strong enough to endure. 

"Wait, why's the door open?" the ranger commented.

"Must be the work of Ghost-types. Don't mind it, were going to the backyard." she said before one of her Pokémon jumped out of its Pokéball.

"What is it, Munna?" Iizumi asked, seeing as the pinkish psychic type was showing a worried look of concern.

"Mu--Munna!"

"But, were only here to visit my grandpa."

"Munna!" 

The girl turned to Ruiz, "We're going in. Munna says someone's in trouble inside."

The ranger didn't delay as he jumped right into the Manor.

"He never changes."

Iizumi followed him and guarded Ruiz's rear. As they entered, the door behind them closed shut. Their hosts were hospitable, announcing that they won't be getting out so easily.

Munna guided their way as they navigated through the dark hallways. Being a Psychic-type, its senses were second-to-none under normal circumstances. 

But things are never normal once a Dark-type is involved, much like how Murkrow disoriented the Exeggutor group in the Grotto. And just like how the wild Sableye before them was threatening Munna...

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Meanwhile, Haunted Manor...

It was inside a hidden room that Maguro had been eyeing to explore for a long time. 

'It's only because I wasn't strong enough that I couldn't enter here. But having a Black-potential Pokémon really changes a lot of things.'

Gyarados was the main reason why Maguro could reach this deep inside the Manor. With a ton of Ghost-types residing in this place, having [Crunch] came in clutch.

Because of their environment, none of them really posed a challenge against the big dragonfish. Most ghosts enjoy playing pranks, and even those who had a knack for battles weren't even that strong at all.

After all, the wild Ghost-types in this manor won't level up as they weren't exposed to harsh situations that much. And so, Maguro reached his destination without much trouble. 

Inside this room was a very rare Pokémon he had been hunting for just as long as Gyarados. Maguro wanted to catch the 100-year old Rotom living in this mansion. 

It was no surprise that older Pokémon have more experience, but it was different when they are constantly exposed to dangerous situations. With this Rotom entrapped in this one room for a long period of time, its skills as a combatant Pokémon had diminished.

'Come here.' Taking out a charged battery, he lured out his target.

Soon enough, an orange phantom with two lightning bolts on both sides was attracted happily to the electricity thinking it was food.

Rotom were species that only ate for thrill, instead of the need for sustenance. But almost all the the time, that electricity would return to its source.

"Murkrow, use [Pursuit]!"

Startled, the Plasma Pokémon tried to flee by using its Ghost-type energy. However, this only strengthened Murkrow's [Pursuit].

Maguro saw how the Rotom changed pace to offense even after being hit by a super-effective move. 'It's potential isn't just for show after all.'

Rotom's skills may have dulled over the decades, but it's talent for combat was still obvious and there was no mistaking that Rotom was a Black-potential Pokémon. 

"[Assurance]!" Murkrow was hit hard Thunderbolt, but it used this to double the move's power.

Rotom was using [Charge] as it prepared for its next attack, only to get struck by [Pursuit].

Without delay, Maguro threw a Pokéball and captured it as it suffered a ton of damage from a 120 power [Assurance].

Just as he was about to leave, he was greeted with a chill on his spine. But instead of freaking out, Maguro smiled as he greeted the Pokémon responsible for this spooky presence.

Even though he couldn't see it, he talked. "I caught this one fair and square, you've no right to attack me. Let's talk this out, Greg."

"Mun-Munna! Munna!"

"I don't know who you are, but Munna here says that you should release that Pokémon back to the wild or else it'd be bad for both of you."

Out of the blue, two people entered the room. It was a girl with greenish hair in a cute dress and a Ranger that he recognized.

"Oh? Perfect timing." Maguro closed in on Ruiz and said, "Battle me, Ranger."

""EH??""

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[TO BE CONTINUED]