Above the rolling peaks of Mount Coronet in the Sinnoh region, a Garchomp soared through the sky.
The May holiday had just ended, and Cynthia was preparing to return to Celestic Town to visit her grandmother, Professor Carolina.
"Back to work right after the break," Cynthia murmured with a light sigh, though her tone carried no urgency. She stood gracefully atop Garchomp's back, poised and regal.
"Garchomp!" Garchomp glanced back at her.
"Oh, you mean Natsume and Gengar?" Cynthia smiled as the wind swept through her golden hair, partially obscuring her face. "They're probably investigating ancient ruins in Johto right now."
Before setting off, Natsume had mentioned his destination to her.
Normally, a veteran ancient language expert like him would already know about the connection between the Ruins of Alph and the Sinjoh Ruins.
So Cynthia hadn't pressed further.
But Caitlin's "prophetic dream" had put her on guard.
The black-haired young man in the prophecy who would save the world… perhaps only someone like Red possessed that level of strength and charisma.
Yet for some reason, Cynthia's instincts kept pointing her toward the "timid" Natsume.
The tremors in spacetime, the awakening deity… it all felt eerily similar to the disaster in Alamos Town.
If the legendary creator, Arceus, were to awaken, the world would face unprecedented chaos.
Natsume hiding the truth and heading alone to the Ruins of Alph could only mean one thing—
He intended to handle the crisis himself, just like before.
A warmth stirred in her chest.
Cynthia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze sharpening as a faint smile played on her lips.
Still… it seems I've been underestimated.
There is only one Champion of Sinnoh.
One unbeatable golden-haired beauty.
One unstoppable Garchomp.
"Let's pick up the pace, Garchomp."
Leaning forward, she gently stroked the protrusion on Garchomp's head, her voice calm but firm.
"We have a mission."
"Garchomp!!"
With a fierce snarl, Garchomp cut through the sky, leaving a contrail in its wake as the ancient Celestic Town came into view.
...
"You're taking both Orbs?"
Inside a glass case, the Adamant Orb shimmered like a diamond, while the Lustrous Orb gleamed like a pearl.
Carolina leaned on her cane, her expression grave.
"Cynthia, wielding these Orbs places an immense burden on a human."
"More importantly," she added, locking eyes with her granddaughter, "the Orbs didn't choose you. They chose Natsume."
"I know."
Cynthia's smile remained unshaken, her eyes glinting with quiet determination.
"All I need is to be ready to support him if the time comes."
"You're starting to sound like his caretaker, Cynthia," Carolina grumbled.
Cynthia blinked, then chuckled. "Just being cautious. You know Caitlin's visions are never wrong."
Carolina's frown deepened as she turned away with a sigh.
"I understand… But the spacetime monitor shows no anomalies. Either this is a false alarm—"
"Or," she warned, looking back at her granddaughter, "we're dealing with something beyond spacetime itself."
"Is it a Pokémon?" Cynthia's eyes gleamed.
Carolina paused, studying Cynthia's resolute expression before nodding silently.
"If it's a Pokémon, then it can be defeated."
With that, Cynthia turned, lifting two briefcases effortlessly. Her golden hair cascaded over her slender waist as the hem of her black trench coat swayed.
"And that," she said softly, her gaze fixed on the horizon, "is the reason Trainers exist."
...
A hunched old man steered his wheelchair down a rural path, a sleeping Swinub nestled in his lap.
The bushes were thick, the trees towering. Young bug-catching trainers passed by laughing, swinging their nets and occasionally sticking out their tongues at the old man.
The old man smiled kindly, feeling the sunlight warm his aged body—but his eyes and heart remained cold, hard as ice.
Slowly, he moved toward the distance, where the crumbling ruins of the Ruins of Alph stood.
The sunlight bathed the collapsed structures, as if piercing through history itself, brushing away the dust to reveal glimpses of grand temples and fervent people.
A mocking smile curled on the old man's lips as he spoke, his voice like chiseled ice.
"False gods."
Even with mortal strength, one could defy a deity.
Pryce had done it. And he had succeeded.
He had captured Ho-Oh and Lugia, seized Celebi, and finally plunged into the river of time—where he reunited with the Lapras he had lost long ago in a blizzard.
If fate was unjust, then humans would seize control of time itself. Defying gods meant nothing to him.
Having returned from the river of time, Pryce's heart had hardened like Kurt's steel.
Only in its softest corners did memories remain—of Silver, Green, and the others.
Pryce closed his eyes, quietly savoring the cool sunlight and the distant calls of Natu.
Suddenly, the sound of bickering erupted from the end of the path. A young man in a cap grumbled:
"Investigating is such a hassle! Why not just blast through the strata and get straight into the ruins?"
"I wonder if the ruins' bedrock is edible—uh, I mean, don't do anything stupid!"
"Relax! We're just here to investigate. No funny business, haha!" Professor Hale chuckled.
A handsome black-haired young man floated beside a grinning Gengar, sighing softly.
Pryce watched the group from afar, his eyes reflecting a silent red-haired youth.
He extended his adjustable cane and tapped the ground lightly.
A red light burst from a Poké Ball, materializing into a sharp-eyed Delibird carrying a pack full of explosives.
"Follow them. Don't let them notice you," Pryce murmured.
"Delibird! (〝▼皿▼)" Delibird nodded and trailed Natsume's group.
Even Natsume's Aura of Ripple detection was completely blocked by this Delibird…
...
Natsume was preparing to explore the Ancient Ruins with Professor Hale.
Better finish this quickly—maybe he could still catch a flight back.
"Stay here."
Natsume crossed his arms in an "X" gesture at Gold.
"I'm afraid you'll do something stupid and wake something up."
"Come on! I've been here before—it's just a bunch of Unown!"
"Unown can rearrange themselves into Entei…" Professor Hale muttered.
Gold & Natsume-sensei: "Shut it!"
Professor Hale: (⊙x⊙;)
This professor really had a talent for jinxing things. Rubbing his temples, Natsume noticed his Dive Ball shaking slightly.
"Huh? Blastoise, what's wrong?"
Inside the Dive Ball, Blastoise adjusted his sunglasses, sweat beading on his forehead. "Blastoise…ヾ(■_■)"
He'd sensed a terrifying aura just now—then it vanished.
Even if it wasn't hostile, better play it safe.
Tucked in his ball, Blastoise's shell gleamed metallic as he used Iron Defense…
Natsume's eye twitched.
Blastoise, that move isn't legal!
Wait, Red had Pikachu charge up inside its Poké Ball too. Never mind.
"Just to be safe," Professor Hale said, "Gold, stay outside with the Escape Rope. Pull us out if things go south."
Gold: "Tch. Don't order me around."
Natsume-sensei: "Gold, stay outside with the Escape Rope."
Gold: "You got it!"
Professor Hale: "…"
Coiled Escape Rope stretched hundreds of meters. Gold tied one end to Sudowoodo and saluted.
"Flash the signal if there's trouble—I'll see it!"
With ropes secured around their waists, Natsume nodded at the Professor Hale.
"We're only investigating the outer ruins. No going deeper."
"Of course." Professor Hale chuckled.
Natsume and the red-haired youth exchanged a glance, then said in unison:
"You go first."
Professor Hale: "…"
Good-natured, the professor led the way, flashlight cutting through dusty air.
Footsteps echoed ominously in the ruins. The group held their breath.
Natsume checked his phone—no signal. Two missed calls:
"Vanilla Ice Cream" and "Matori (Recommends Herbal Tonics)."
Moe-Moe! Probably back in Sinnoh after vacation. He'd call later.
Why Matori? Something about Boss Giovanni?
A bonus for Pokémon's success?!
Natsume's brow rose—then fell at the "No Service" icon.
"Seems like separate chambers," Professor Hale mused, studying murals. "We're nearly through…"
Natsume: ???
Walls were covered in dormant Unown, coiled like tiny serpents. Their patterns formed an ancient verse:
"We walk with them. We depart with them." Natsume murmured.
Professor Hale gave him a surprised look but said nothing. "These inscriptions are invaluable. Let's document and leave."
Natsume exhaled slightly—the oppressive atmosphere unnerved him.
Suddenly, the redhead whirled, Poké Ball ready.
A terrifying vortex erupted inside the ruins! Unown tore from walls, eyes blazing crimson.
"Hidden Power!" Professor Hale gasped.
Levitating Unown swirled into a tornado, shaking the ruins. Boulders crashed down!
Natsume threw a ball: "Larvitar, Bite!"
Larvitar landed back on the ground, chewing the rock into pieces before swallowing it whole: "Larvitar~(￣～￣)"
Boom!
More rocks continued to fall as Larvitar's eyes gleamed, charging wildly through the Ancient Ruins chamber: "Larvitar! "
"Gengar, keep an eye on it!" Natsume instructed while looking up.
The Unown whirlwind grew larger, more symbols being drawn into it. The entire Ruins of Alph trembled dangerously!
"What's happening?" Silver asked with a frown.
Professor Hale took a deep breath: "They're frightened—trying to escape by rearranging themselves!"
Something scared the Unown?
Natsume's eye twitched, a chill running down his spine.
This was bad. Really bad.
"Weavile, Icy Wind!" Silver commanded as the ruins shook again.
Weavile's freezing breath solidified the collapsing walls, temporarily stabilizing the ruins.
He turned: "Natsume-sensei, let's retreat the way we came."
Professor Hale objected: "No! The exit's swarming with Unown! We need to calm them first!"
Natsume frowned slightly. The disturbance originated from deep within the ruins—Gold outside wouldn't have time to reel in the Escape Rope.
Now it was just restricting them. Natsume removed the rope and looked at the swirling vortex.
"Give me one minute."
He began walking toward the center of the chamber where the Unown storm raged.
"Come back, Natsume!" Professor Hale shouted. "That concentrated Unown energy can tear a human apart!!"
A red light flickered beside Natsume as Sylveon materialized, creating a crystalline barrier against the crushing wind pressure.
Professor Hale froze in surprise.
Natsume clenched his fist, gathering light in his palm before opening his hand.
"Aura resides within me."
Waves of brilliant blue aura radiated outward, the energy ripple nearly filling the entire chamber.
Facing the Unown storm, Natsume issued an absolute command:
"Stop!"
Yet the raging winds continued tearing at the ancient structure.
Silver stood impassively, using Red Gyarados' massive body to shield Professor Hale.
"Natsume, are you sure about this?!" Professor Hale cried urgently. "That many Unown—no human can stop them!"
"Trust Natsume-sensei," Silver said firmly, his red hair whipping in the wind.
Natsume tried using his Aura Ripple to soothe the Unown's fear while communicating in Ancient Language.
But there were simply too many of them—like panicked crowds during a disaster.
No matter how loudly Natsume-sensei called out, it made no difference.
More Unown peeled from the walls, joining the vortex and faintly forming what looked like a giant "gate."
As Natsume struggled to calm them, his mind raced.
Unown could combine their terrifying power to open pathways to other places—even interfere with space-time.
The more there were, the stronger this energy became.
Which left only one solution.
Natsume's eyes hardened.
First beat them all into submission. Then talk reason.
...
Gold stood outside the Ancient Ruins, watching as dark clouds blotted out the sun.
A thick white mist rose around the Ruins of Alph, eerily similar to the fog that once swallowed Alamos Town.
"What's going on?" Gold shielded his eyes with his hand, squinting ahead.
The winding river suddenly swelled beyond its banks. Water pillars spiraled upward, forming a vortex where a crackling lightning gate materialized.
"ROOOAR!!!" A cobalt-blue beast erupted from the gateway, its terrifying roar causing nearby vegetation to wither instantly!
From beneath the beast's feet, crimson eyes glowed in the shadows.
A black-and-red figure unfurled hellish wings, teleporting behind the blue beast before slashing down with platinum claws!
BOOM—
Inside the Ancient Ruins, more Unown streamed out, forming another gateway in the sky.
Space itself seemed to fracture as something monstrous prepared to emerge.
The two titanic beasts—each dozens of meters tall—roared at each other. Dialga and Giratina clashed once more!
"Whoa—"
The cap-wearing young man gaped before breaking into an excited grin.
"Now that's what I call a showstopper!!"
Meanwhile, within the Ruins of Alph...
"Guess we'll skip the pleasantries."
Seeing communication fail, Natsume stepped forward as Sylveon leapt to his side.
"Sylveon," Natsume commanded, "Dazzling Gleam!!"
"Sylveon!!"
Sylveon's bow erupted with blinding radiance, illuminating the cavern until it shone like daylight.
The light seared through the Unown whirlwind, compressing it into a single burning line.
Unown rained down like hailstones—yet more kept pouring from the ruins' depths!
Silver acted fast: "Weavile, freeze the exit with Ice Beam!"
"Weavile!" Weavile's icy blast erected a glacial barrier, trapping swarms of Unown.
"Nice work."
Natsume nodded at the now-thinned swarm overhead.
"Enough," Natsume ordered.
Gentle blue light bathed the chamber.
The Unown stopped panicking, blinking at the trainer.
Then they noticed their "fallen" comrades... and the white demon with the glowing bow.
Unown: !!!
You're scarier than the monsters outside!
Natsume tried again: "Explain what's happening."
"Or," he smiled sweetly, "I'll scrape every inscription off these walls."
Unown: !!?
Cowed, the Unown floated dejectedly as their leader arranged a message:
『When the Deity born of the Starter Gate returns, spacetime and void shall tremble』
Natsume snapped: "Stop with the riddles! Someone translate properly!"
After much deliberation, another Unown reshaped the message:
『Temporal Dragon and Reverse World God are fighting HELP』
Natsume: "..."
Of course. Old acquaintances!
Couldn't you two brawl in Sinnoh instead of dragging Johto into this?
Doubtful even my negotiation skills can handle those two...
Sighing deeply, Natsume said, "First, get us out. Then we'll deal with your friends."
Unown: ???
White light flashed as Natsume ordered: "Blastoise, Heal Pulse!"
"Blastoise!" Twin geysers of revitalizing tea drenched the "fallen" Unown.
Revived Unown floated up nervously, eyeing Natsume before forming an energy-charged gateway.
"So this is a legendary warp portal..."
Natsume turned. "This should get us out."
Professor Hale and Silver stared dumbfounded.
Not just translating—he commanded Unown?!
Silver murmured: "Well... it is Natsume-sensei..."
Professor Hale thought: "Maybe I should retire as an ancient language expert!"
CRACK—
Just as they moved to leave, the ice wall shattered.
Not Unown—but a murderous-looking delivery penguin stood silhouetted in the light.
Natsume blinked: "Wait, our neighborhood Delibird?"
Silver frowned: "Looks familiar..."
The Delibird shot Natsume a glare before strutting toward the exit.
It had orders from Pryce to return immediately.
Natsume's fingers itched. As it passed—flick—he bopped its forehead.
Delibird: ??!
"Huh. Different texture," Natsume mused.
Silver whispered: "Natsume-sensei... That might be Pryce's personal one."
Natsume: ??!
Watching the seething Delibird, Natsume's eye twitched.
Turns out the real crisis wasn't outside—but right here?!
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