May 8th, Saturday.
A cool drizzle drifted through the sky, sending ripples across the ocean's surface.
Natsume stood on the ship's deck, his black tousled hair ruffled by the sea breeze as his shirt fluttered at the edges.
"Up ahead is Olivine City, in the Johto Region."
Natsume lifted his gaze toward Gengar, who levitated beside him, and pointed into the distance. "See that? That's Olivine's Lighthouse."
"Gengar!" Gengar stretched his eyelids wide, peering through the misty rain at the coastline.
The stone lighthouse stood firm in the drizzle, its beam sweeping in steady circles. An Ampharos peeked out from the watchtower, waving cheerfully at the approaching ship.
Passengers on the deck chuckled warmly, and Natsume thought to himself, That must be Jasmine's 'Amphy.'
Olivine City was under the jurisdiction of Steel-type Gym Leader Jasmine and served as Johto's largest port.
Her Ampharos, nicknamed 'Amphy,' was responsible for keeping the lighthouse illuminated.
Lt. Surge's S.S. Aqua often departed from here, traveling between Sinnoh, Hoenn, Kanto, and beyond.
However, Natsume wasn't aboard the S.S. Aqua this time.
Instead, thanks to Professor Oak's VIP-class old boat ticket, he had boarded a passenger vessel.
Since this trip is basically an errand for the Professor, expenses should be covered anyway.
The May holiday rush had just ended, so the ship wasn't crowded. Natsume lingered on the deck, enjoying the breeze, when Gengar suddenly vibrated beside him.
Buzz… Buzz… Buzz—
"Gengar?" Gengar scratched his head, then pulled out his purple Special Edition Pokédex—equipped with communication functions—and activated the holographic display.
A blue light projected a screen into the air, revealing a young man in a snapback cap grinning widely.
"Hey, Natsume-sensei! Where are you now?"
The young man's eyes widened as he pressed his face against the screen. "Why is it Gengar who answered the phone!"
"Gengar~!" Gengar bared his teeth in a mischievous grin, then licked the projection, causing the image to flicker wildly.
"Ahem. I usually let Gengar handle my Pokédex," Natsume said, taking the device. He glanced toward the horizon. "We're almost at Olivine City."
"Already?!" Gold exclaimed. "We'll head out right away!"
Natsume raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're still at home?"
"Hah! No way!" (Actually, we stayed up all night playing Pokémon and forgot we were supposed to leave this morning.)
Gold laughed nervously, sweatdropping. "Alright, see you in Violet City, Natsume-sensei!"
He hung up abruptly, leaving Natsume with mixed feelings.
Something tells me traveling with this reckless guy… is going to be trouble.
"Still better than teaming up with Ash," Natsume reassured himself.
Otherwise, we might suddenly get ambushed by an angry Mewtwo or something.
Without superhuman endurance, it was wiser to tread carefully in major events like these…
Which was exactly why the wise and courageous "Rainbow Hero" had come to Johto—to seek Ho-Oh's protection.
A refreshing wind carried droplets of rain toward him, and Natsume spotted a dopey-looking Quagsire standing on the beach.
Nearby, a Slowpoke lazily dangled its tail in the water, fishing, then turned its head with a slow, puzzled blink. "lowpoke…?"
Natsume's mood instantly improved.
"No big deal," he said cheerfully. "Might as well treat this as a Johto vacation!"
The Poké Balls at his waist rattled excitedly, and Natsume raised a fist.
"Alright, team! Next stop—Slowpoke tails and Ilex Forest's famous leeks!"
"Gengar~ ( `▽´ )"
"Larvitar! ( ≧﹃≦ )"
"Sirfetch'd! ┗( T﹏T )┛"
...
Sinnoh Region – Ash's Training Journey
"Infernape, Flare Blitz!"
In an instant, Infernape's eyes blazed with fire as a scorching heatwave erupted from its back. With a roar, it charged straight toward an Empoleon.
The regal penguin crossed its arms defensively, but the impact still sent it flying several meters back.
"I surrender," the passing Trainer conceded regretfully, recalling his fainted Empoleon into its Poké Ball.
"Great job, Infernape!" Ash cheered, laughing as he hugged his fiery companion.
The Trainer smiled before suddenly adding, "By the way, since you're so strong, why not participate in the Battle Festival at Michina Town?"
"Battle Festival?" Ash scratched his head in confusion. "What's that?"
"It's a celebration held in honor of Arceus, who transformed this land into a fertile paradise centuries ago."
The Trainer continued warmly, "There's also another legend—a messenger who carried a thunderous beast once saved this land."
"That's why the winning Trainer of the festival is granted the title of 'Beast Messenger.'"
He glanced at Pikachu perched on Ash's shoulder and grinned. "You and Pikachu seem like perfect candidates!"
Ash and Pikachu exchanged determined looks before pumping their fists.
"Alright! Next stop—Michina Town!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu's ears twitched excitedly.
Had Natsume witnessed this scene, he would've groaned in realization.
Of course. It's Ash—the unstoppable protagonist of every movie opening!
Is this what they mean by 'No one can defeat me in my own BGM'? (Except for Greninja's theme, of course.)
Michina Town – A Land of Bounty
Clear streams wound through the small, prosperous town, surrounded by lush greenery.
Michina Town was adorned with festive decorations, its architecture rising in geometric tiers. At the highest point stood an imposing palace-style ruin—the Temple dedicated to Arceus.
An Absol, known as the 'Disaster Pokémon,' watched the temple with calm, gleaming eyes, its gaze reflecting Ash's retreating figure.
Among legendaries, Absol possessed the ability to foresee calamities, appearing whenever disaster loomed—earning it an undeserved reputation as an omen of misfortune.
Its expression remained impassive as it studied the temple before turning its gaze toward the distant sky.
Absol sensed impending catastrophe, yet... an unusual sense of tranquility accompanied it.
Confused, it shook its head before vanishing into the forest depths.
...
Johto Region – Violet City
The ancient city thrived with verdant foliage, its buildings exuding timeless charm. In the distance stood the iconic Sprout Tower, a symbol of Buddhist influence.
Natsume sipped tea in silence, locking eyes with the red-haired young man across from him, who sat rigidly with equal quietness.
Finally, Natsume sighed.
"...Where's Gold?"
"Sprout Tower," Silver answered tersely.
Natsume blinked. "Why there?"
Silver remained silent for a long moment before deadpanning, "Today, the geisha from Ecruteak City are performing in Violet City."
Natsume: "..."
Instead of getting angry, Natsume simply stood and headed for the door.
Silver stiffened. "...What are you doing?"
Natsume: "I'm going to watch the geisha dance too."
Silver: ???
...
Violet City's Unexpected Gathering
Violet City's Gym Leader Falkner, whose secondary professions included bird-keeping expert and League inspector, currently stood in a cardigan, giving a deadpan stare at the baseball-capped young man beside him.
"Whoa, those geisha are amazing!"
Gold clutched his cheeks, hearts practically floating in his eyes.
"Togekiss!" Togebo beside him wore an equally lovestruck expression.
The quintuplet sisters, dressed in elegant kimono with hair ornaments, danced gracefully with folding fans, their five differently typed Eevees moving in perfect sync.
"Kobayashi, Umeko, Momo, Sakura... They're all so cute!" Gold crossed his arms, nodding sagely. "But yeah, Zuki's definitely my favorite!"
"...You actually remember all their names?" Falkner said flatly. "They're identical quintuplets!"
"Idiot, I can tell from Eevee's type that you are a fake Follower!" Gold scoffed, side-eyeing him.
Falkner blinked, then sighed deeply. "Kagura dances are sacred rituals for prayer and offerings. Disrespect might invite divine retribution!"
Gold wiped his nose smugly. "Pfft, I've seen that 'deity' in Bell Tower. Just a glowing Fearow, really!"
Falkner: "..."
Blasphemous as it sounded, Falkner couldn't help feeling this guy had... a unique gift.
Being just an egg-hatching specialist almost seemed beneath him.
This must be Professor Oak's eye for choosing Pokédex holders, Falkner mused.
As the dance neared its end, he asked Gold, "Do you know who the other Pokédex holder Professor Oak mentioned visiting Johto is?"
"Obviously." Gold grinned. "Natsume-sensei!"
Natsume-sensei... Falkner stiffened.
The legendary trainer who'd saved Sinnoh multiple times, a Champion wrapped in countless tales and rumors.
The wooden door behind them creaked open. Both turned as Gold cheerfully announced:
"Speak of the devil—here's Natsume-sensei!"
Falkner jolted to his feet, bowing slightly. "I'm Falkner, Violet City's Gym Leader and Flying-type specialist. It's an honor to meet you, Natsume-sensei."
"The pleasure's mine."
Natsume reciprocated the politeness, seamlessly taking a seat to watch the quintuplets' performance.
"Almost over already?" Natsume asked.
"Yep, you're late," Gold said.
"More like someone stood me up," Natsume replied, smiling sweetly.
Gold's hair stood on end. He cautiously peeked at Natsume-sensei just as his phone buzzed violently.
One glance at the screen made him pale. "NO! I just got out of mute jail!"
[Group Member 'Gold' has been muted for 24 hours by Group Owner 'Natsume-sensei'!]
Lance: "Oh? Muting shift's with the owner today?"
Yellow: "O-oh no, Gold..."
Lorelei: "Deserved."
Lt. Surge: "HA! No wonder the group's been peaceful lately!"
Green: "Try bribing Natsume-sensei. Might shave off a few hours~"
Crystal: "J-just apologize properly, Gold..."
Gold sneakily observed Natsume-sensei, who was now studying the quintuplets' Eevees.
"Still, my Sylveon's cuter," Natsume murmured fondly.
"Sylveon~ o(｀^｀)o"
Sylveon abandoned thoughts of trouncing these 'wild Eevees,' instead elegantly wrapping a ribbon around Natsume's arm.
"Natsume-sensei," Gold whispered desperately, "unmute me, and I'll be your assistant this trip?"
Natsume blinked. "Wait, you weren't already?"
Gold grinned, rubbing his nose. "Well, yeah! I am the star trainer who saves the world!"
Silence. Then Natsume-sensei calmly extended the mute duration by another 24 hours.
Gold: "!!?"
As the dance concluded, Gold clutched his phone in agony. For a chatterbox, being muted and losing 'Dragon King' streaks was a fate worse than death.
Silver wordlessly dragged him by the collar, trailing after Natsume-sensei.
"Won't you stay in Violet City tonight, Natsume-sensei?" Falkner asked.
"We've got someone waiting in Azalea Town," Natsume explained.
Professor Hale, an ancient script researcher, was expecting his bodyguard—and Research Assistant Natsume—there.
(Though Professor Hale believed in learning from all sources and wouldn't mind calling Natsume 'sensei.')
"I see." Falkner nodded regretfully—then startled as Natsume-sensei suddenly produced a QR code. "Uh, what's this?"
"Since we're here anyway," Natsume cleared his throat, "might as well let me scan you for my Trainer Pokédex!"
Falkner: ???
...
After bidding farewell to Falkner, the trio left Violet City at dusk, heading toward Azalea Town - famous for its Slowpoke Well.
Additionally, Azalea Town was home to one of the finest craftsmen of Apricorn Balls, Mr. Kurt.
Natsume rode atop Arcanine, following Rotom's navigation along the path.
Gold, wearing goggles and lounging on Exbo's back, yawned loudly with his arms behind his head. "How much longer?"
"Ten minutes," Silver replied curtly, dangling from Honchkrow's talons mid-flight while fiddling with his phone. "We're almost there."
Natsume glanced at Silver curiously. "I've always wanted to ask - doesn't that hurt your hand?"
"..." Silver paused. "Gloves."
That's not the point!
These people's physical abilities are ridiculous - Red literally hangs from Aerodactyl's claws to fly!
Natsume rubbed his chin.
Though my Blastoise can do rocket jumps too... can't really judge others...
"My Pokédex keeps beeping nonstop," Gold complained, pulling out his Special Edition device.
"That's the notification sound when Pokédex holders gather," Silver said flatly.
"I know! I'm just saying it's annoying."
"Strange..." Silver murmured. "Unless it's not the gathering alert, but another holder nearby?"
The red-haired youth turned to Natsume-sensei. "Natsume-sensei, where's yours?"
Natsume pointed ahead at Gengar floating nearby. "Right there."
"Gengar?" Gengar drifted back to the group, and the beeping ceased.
Silver fell silent.
Gengar was becoming more like Natsume-sensei every day... in every possible way.
As the sun set, Noctowl took flight through the twilight while Sentret rustled through bushes.
Azalea Town came into view, passing the famous Slowpoke Well where numerous Slowpoke yawned lazily.
"Natsume-sensei," Gold suddenly grinned, "how about teaching me another battle strategy? Might help us coordinate better."
The Professor Oak-endorsed Pokédex holder and 'Strategist' Natsume blinked. "What did you have in mind?"
"Anything! Weather teams, Perish Song teams—" Gold pointed at the redhead. "Mr. Stoneface over there has a Kingdra! My Polibo could pair perfectly with it!"
"No," Silver answered coldly.
"Hey, we're partners!" Gold protested.
Silver silently looked away, focusing on his phone.
Natsume adopted an Auntie Lorelei-esque smile before coughing. "Honestly... even if I taught you, you probably wouldn't get it."
Gold froze.
"Everyone has strategies that suit them," Natsume encouraged. "As for you, Gold, just keep being the relay team benchmark!"
"...!?"
Gold's eyes widened before breaking into a grin. "Knew I had some strategic talent!"
Silver: "...idiot."
Gold: "Hey, I heard everything!"
Amid the bickering, the group arrived at Azalea Town, not far from the famous Ruins of Alph.
At the designated meeting spot, Natsume encountered Professor Hale, researcher of ancient texts.
"Long time no see." Professor Hale shook Natsume's hand vigorously. "Your thesis on archaic scripts was incredibly enlightening!"
"Haha, it was nothing, just some casual translations," Natsume said modestly.
Professor Hale: ???
(Admittedly simple with pen and paper, but that wasn't the point.)
According to Professor Hale, their expedition into the Ruins of Alph might encounter attacks from Unown.
"That's when we'll need your help," the Professor Hale told Silver and Gold.
Silver remained silent while Gold grinned. "No need! Natsume-sensei's actually a Champion-level trainer!"
Professor Hale startled, looking at the deadpan Natsume-sensei.
"Rumors," Natsume said. "Though my girlfriend is."
"I see—wait, what?"
Your girlfriend's a Champion? That would mean...
Professor Hale reeled from this revelation before composing himself.
"Ahem... We'll begin tomorrow morning. Tonight we'll survey the perimeter."
"Notably, deep within the Ruins lies another ancient site—"
"Hold up!" Natsume interrupted. "Another ruin?!"
Professor Hale nodded. "Yes, recorded in Johto legends as the Sinjoh Ruins, dedicated to Arceus."
Instantly, Natsume-sensei paled, a familiar chill running down his spine.
I've been had! This is a trap within a trap!
Building an Arceus temple in Johto...
Are you disrespecting Big Beak Bro—er, Ho-Oh?!
Is this the HeartGold/SoulSilver plot I accidentally skipped?
Natsume silently turned to Gold.
"Why're you looking at me like that?" the cap-wearing youth asked.
"Nothing." Natsume sighed deeply. "I need some alone time."
"Of course," Professor Hale smiled. "We depart at dawn."
"Don't worry, we're just studying inscriptions and Unown. Nothing else could possibly happen!"
Natsume: "..."
I sincerely doubt that.
...
Night fell.
A Hoothoot stood on a branch, calling "Hoo-hoo."
Azalea Town's Gym Leader Bugsy hosted Natsume-sensei's group, nervously declining Gold's offered alcohol.
"I-I don't drink!" Bugsy flushed.
"Pressuring someone to drink isn't proper," Professor Hale chided.
"I'm male," Bugsy stated.
Gold threw an arm around Bugsy's slender shoulders. "Then bottoms up!"
Silver, maintaining his stoic expression, noticed Natsume-sensei's gloomy mood.
"You seem troubled."
"Ash just sent a photo," Natsume sighed.
Silver checked the chat group.
[Ash: Just won Michina Town's Battle Festival! (Photo)]
Congratulatory messages poured in. Brock commented: "That's quite a prestigious title."
Ash scratched his head: "Heh, dunno why, but I was in perfect condition today!"
Michina Town... Site of Arceus's temple, where its avatar allegedly descends.
In other words, the setting for every movie opening where 'Ash' goes on a rampage...
Natsume clutched his chest, overcome by familiar suffocating dread.
Trying to escape, yet destined to stay!
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