"Tepig?" (What am I even supposed to realize from that?)
Tepig looked confused. Wasn't that just some fairy tale Grey had told, about an Emboar?
Stories like that had stopped working on it a long time ago.
How could a Tepig like the one in that fairy tale really end up spending forever with a Buneary?
Was that even possible?
No. Not even a little.
At least, Tepig refused to believe it.
"You've already been with me this long, and you still don't believe in that kind of thing? Before you met me, did you ever think your strength would grow this fast?"
Grey explained it with heartfelt seriousness.
When Tepig heard that, it had to admit Grey had a point.
Before meeting Grey, Tepig had thought leveling up was supposed to be a painfully slow process.
But after being caught by Grey, just one night had been enough to raise its strength by an absurd amount, and there was no sign of that pace slowing down.
The whole thing felt unbelievable.
But it was true.
Its strength really was rising that quickly.
So quickly that in less than a day, it had already beaten every Tepig in the nursery.
No, not even a full day.
Just one night.
"Tepig..." (But that fairy tale still doesn't feel real...)
Tepig shook its head and looked at Grey with deep suspicion, unable to understand what he was trying to accomplish by telling it that story.
"That's because you're missing the point. Doesn't matter whether it's real or not. Just suppose, for a second, that you're actually the reincarnation of that Emboar. Would you believe it then?"
Grey's tone suddenly turned serious. He then pulled out a script Hilda had given him earlier and showed it to Tepig.
"And not just that. This one is your past life too."
It was the same script from before, Rise of the Swine.
It starred a pig as the main character and told the story of an underdog who rose from nothing, proving that no one should ever look down on someone just because they started poor and powerless.
"Tepig..." (Th... this is really me?)
Tepig wavered.
After just one glance at the script for Rise of the Swine, its blood surged, and the sense of immersion hit it so hard it felt as though the Tepig in the script really was it.
Compared to Lord Embermane from before, this Tepig's story somehow felt much easier to believe.
"Don't give me that look. Your cheat, Reshiram, is with me too. If even a major legendary like Reshiram is around, do you really think this can't be true?"
Grey crouched down, looking like he could not believe how stubborn Tepig was being. "Tepig, this is a trial from the heavens, you get that? This is only the first hurdle. There's a whole gauntlet of trials waiting for you after this. Are you really going to give up at the very first step?"
"Tepig?" (The first step? Give up? No, I can't give up! I'm going to stand back up and take back everything that belongs to me!)
Tepig seemed to cast itself into the roles of Lord Embermane and the pig from the script alike. In its mind flickered the images of several female Pokémon.
"Tepig... when I become Elite Four level... no, that's not enough! I'm going to become a Tepig stronger than the Elite Four, stronger than even Champions! Gardevoir, Buneary, I'm going to save you too!"
"Good, that's the spirit. That's exactly the spirit I wanted to see. Believe in the future. Those Gardevoir and Buneary out there will definitely be waiting for you."
Grey gave an approving nod.
Yes. Very good.
"Tepig." (Boss, I was wrong before. From now on, I'm not a Tepig bound by the past anymore!)
Grey's speech had worked.
At the very least, he had completely talked Tepig around.
Watching Tepig rebuild its confidence, Grey let out a relieved breath.
At least he had managed to gather back together the spark Tepig had lost earlier. What to do next, though, was another matter.
If Tepig got older and hit a rebellious phase later, would it still believe any of this?
Of course, now was not the time to think about that. The important thing was to get through the first step.
"All right, now that you're fine, I'll take you to Virbank City."
Before leaving Unova, he wanted to see Sabrina first.
If she did not want to keep making movies, he would take her straight back with him.
If she still wanted to keep filming, then he would stay with her for a while before leaving.
Either way, Grey really did want to go see Sabrina.
For obvious reasons.
...
...
Unova Region, Virbank City, Pokéstar Studios.
"Gym Leader Grey! I've heard so much about you! Welcome to Pokéstar Studios! I never imagined a Trainer like you would set foot here. Your presence truly honors this humble place!"
The owner of Unova's Pokéstar Studios was Stu Deeoh, an old man in purple-and-gold robes with thinning blond hair and a gleaming bald crown.
He had once been a talent scout and had personally cultivated many famous actors.
Even Diantha, Kalos's Champion, had crossed paths with him more than once.
It could be said that in the movie industry, this old man was the equivalent of a battle-legend-tier figure.
"Mr. Stu Deeoh, I'm here to see my Sabrina. Which set is her film crew on?"
Grey got right to the point and made it clear that he had come for Sabrina.
He even emphasized the words my Sabrina.
Anyone could hear the urgency in his voice.
"Of course, of course. Come with me, Gym Leader Grey. Gym Leader Sabrina has been filming the Magic Kingdom movie series lately. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. She's a born actress."
Stu Deeoh's eyes were practically glowing with greed for profit.
Just one movie release had earned him enough money to let many Trainers live comfortably for the rest of their lives, and he had no intention of letting his cash cow walk away.
At worst, he could make a little less money himself and raise the actors'待遇 a bit.
As long as the actors stayed, that was what mattered.
"Magic Kingdom? Oh, right, I know that one. That's the movie series you've been making with Unova's hottest young actress, Rosa, isn't it?"
Grey remembered what Rosa had told him.
Back then, the Magic Kingdom series had been missing its single most important villain role.
And Rosa had believed that in terms of status, temperament, and special abilities, Sabrina was the perfect actress to play the cold and commanding Psychic Queen.
It was practically tailor-made for her.
"That's right, that's right, that series exactly! Gym Leader Grey, you have no idea, our entire studio is living off that franchise now."
Stu Deeoh sounded deeply moved.
The project had originally been on the verge of collapse.
It was the kind of movie everyone had already written off as a guaranteed flop.
Then Rosa brought Sabrina in, and Sabrina single-handedly breathed life back into the entire production.
A powerful psychic playing an icy villainous queen of psychic power, it was a divine casting choice.
One right move led to one right move after another.
It was, without question, the best decision he had ever made.
Talking as they went, the two men arrived at the Magic Kingdom set.
Rosa and Sabrina's scene was already nearing its end.
"Heh heh heh, Princess Rosa, you've stayed in this world too long. Your powers have weakened, haven't they?"
Sabrina let out a cold laugh, using her psychic powers to raise the fan in her hand and cover her mouth.
Because she was a real psychic, most of the effects in her scenes did not need any added visual tricks at all. What the camera captured was basically the real thing.
"N-no! It's not my body! It's my heart!!!"
Rosa clutched at her chest. But as she looked at the Sabrina who was mocking her, her gaze softened instead. "Sabrina... after being here with you this long, I realized I've fallen for you!"
Grey: ?
Standing off to the side, Grey heard that absolutely unhinged line and began to question Stu Deeoh's ability as a director.
"Brother Stu, tell me honestly, is the movie scene around here just a little too... simple... for a plot like this to actually make it to the big screen?"
Grey lowered his voice and put it as diplomatically as he could.
"No, this is one of the hottest genres right now. Who says girls can't end up with girls? Besides, a lot of male viewers love seeing two actresses getting all cozy together, so I think this plot works perfectly."
Stu Deeoh's eyes blazed with a kind of light they had never held before.
This was the new road he had discovered over the years, and that unusual road had made him more money than most Trainers would ever see in a lifetime.
So Stu Deeoh firmly believed that innovation mattered in everything.
Especially in movies.
At worst, you made one bad film.
More often than not, though, a clever and unconventional plot was exactly what won the audience over.
Grey was speechless for a long time after hearing that.
What was he supposed to say?
If he said Stu Deeoh's stories were bad...
Well, if they made money, then apparently they were good stories.
And Stu Deeoh had struck gold with them. One hit had made him famous.
But Grey personally just could not watch this kind of plot.
He had expected something classic and familiar.
This level of innovation was simply too far ahead of its time.
The filming wrapped up quickly after that.
The ending was that an innocent eighteen-year-old princess and a hundred-and-eight-year-old psychic queen fell in love and lived together forever.
Well...
Happy ending, roll credits.
That was about all Grey could manage to say.
He had plenty more thoughts, but in the end they all turned into a sigh.
Modern movie plots really were moving too fast for him.
"Wow! Grey, you came!"
Rosa noticed him standing there after watching the second half of the shoot and immediately trotted over, clearly intending to throw her arms around him.
Except...
"Huh? Why am I not moving at all?"
Rosa ran for quite a while.
Yet she did not advance even a single step.
She was going nowhere.
At that moment, Sabrina walked past Rosa, still wearing the Magic Queen costume.
With her psychic powers lifting the hem of her long dress, she came to a stop in front of Grey. Her cool gaze softened with the faintest trace of a smile.
"Well? Do I look good?"
Sabrina's voice slipped into Grey's ears.
Hearing that question, Grey reached out, pinched her cheek, and said softly, "You look amazing."
"As long as you like it. I already bought this outfit. Later, whenever you want to see it again, I'll wear it for you."
Actors could get discounts on custom-made costumes like this.
And someone like Sabrina, an actress with such a promising future, could get pieces like this at a much lower price than the public would pay.
When Grey heard that, he actually blushed.
"Ahem. Anyway, I'm planning to head back to Kanto in a couple of days. What about you? Are you going to keep making movies, or come back with me?"
Grey finally brought up the real reason he was here.
"I still want to keep acting. I've made a lot of money lately, so I'll transfer some to you later. Don't worry, I kept plenty for myself. You don't need to worry about me being short on money."
Because the Magic Kingdom series had exploded in popularity, Stu Deeoh had been terrified Sabrina would walk away, so he had dramatically increased the amount she took home.
That was where all the money had come from.
She had even bought a house nearby, a full-cash ocean-view place.
"Stay at my place tonight. You can leave tomorrow. It won't make much difference..."
As Sabrina said that, her face turned slightly red.
And Grey understood perfectly what she meant.
"Ahem. In that case, let's go."
...
...
By the next day, Grey had to force himself upright in bed.
Staring up at the bright white ceiling, he felt his mind go completely blank. He did not want to do anything at all.
Clothes were strewn all over the floor in complete chaos. All night long, Sabrina had been showing Grey the outfits she had bought lately.
A sailor-style school uniform. A high-slit evening gown. Gothic Lolita dresses.
She had bought all kinds of things.
Grey had spent the whole night appreciating them.
By now, he had appreciated enough.
"All right, whatever. I'm heading out. Take care of yourself in Unova. If you run into any trouble, tell me. I'll ride over on Reshiram and back you up."
Grey tugged up his pants, fastened his belt, and gave Sabrina a thumbs-up.
"Okay."
Sabrina gave a small nod.
Though honestly, there were not many Trainers in Unova who could even touch her.
In fact, the only Trainer who could really compete with her psychic powers was Caitlin.
And Caitlin was on Grey's side.
Oh, right, speaking of Caitlin, Sabrina suddenly wondered how things were going between Grey and her.
"Grey, how have things been with Caitlin lately? Have you...?"
"No."
Grey waved both hands frantically.
"Oh. Then never mind."
Sabrina did not seem too bothered by it.
Caitlin would probably still get her chance later.
Probably.
"All right, this time I'm really heading back to Saffron City. I met so many partners on this trip... Whew. I wonder how everyone at the Fighting Dojo is doing. Think they missed me?"
Grey was already imagining what it would be like when he got home, with all his Pokémon swarming him the moment he walked in.
...
...
:)
One day later, Saffron City, the Fighting Dojo.
"Kids, I'm back! Did everybody miss me?"
Grey pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Anni." (Terrakion, your strength control is incredible. How do you make it that precise?)
"Gallade." (So Sacred Sword can be used like that too. As expected of one of the Swords of Justice. Just talking with you has taught me so much.)
"Vini!" (Three threes. Anyone topping that?)
"Melo!" (Four fours. Beat that!)
"Keldeo!" (Two jokers! My turn now!)
The Pokémon were all busy doing their own things and did not pay Grey any attention at all.
Even the Mythical Pokémon he had caught in Unova were using Genesect as a card table while they played cards on top of it.
Everything was thriving so peacefully that Grey suddenly felt a little unnecessary.
"Gym Leader Grey, welcome back!"
The only one who greeted him right away was the ever-considerate Lillie.
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