"Teacher Johan participating in competitions like this is really... too much bullying!"
Outside a café on the Wind Festival venue island, under a parasol, Johan heard the "complaints" of passing trainers and couldn't help pulling down his hat brim.
Glug glug—
The juice in his cup was finally finished, and Johan smacked his lips.
"It's nice to drink juice occasionally, changing flavors isn't bad."
A nearby passing contestant was still muttering.
"Exactly! Isn't this bullying? When we find him, I'm definitely going to... make him give me three autographs!"
"Three? Are you kidding? I'll name a number—thirty! Won't let him leave until he signs them all!"
"I heard someone saw Teacher Johan at the ferris wheel..."
"Let's go, let's go! Hurry!"
Tap tap tap—
Several people quickly ran off.
Johan breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Wonder if I have enough points for the championship now..."
As for... bullying?
Ridiculous!
A fair competition—where's the bullying? The Z-Crystal was quite valuable, and even if he didn't use it himself... collecting a complete set and selling a few would easily net several small goals.
Then he'd achieve financial freedom and buy a small island for vacation!
Johan thought happily to himself.
"Ka-kaah!"
"Yoji!"
"Sudo!"
Gengar returned with his "muscle" Larvitar and "intelligence officer" Sudowoodo after being busy for a while. Looking at the number of blue Poké Balls on Gengar's waist, their harvest seemed quite abundant.
"About done?"
Gengar, along with Larvitar and Sudowoodo, plopped down in their seats and immediately "chugged" the juice Johan had ordered for them.
Only Sudowoodo looked careful, seeming somewhat restrained and afraid.
Johan pointed to the chair beside him and said to Sudowoodo:
"Sit and drink. Don't copy them. Here, a straw."
"Sudo..."
Sudowoodo sat dazedly in the chair, taking the straw Johan handed over, feeling somewhat unaccustomed.
When it was at the Day Care, everyone didn't eat like this...
"Ka-kaah~"
When I make a move, of course it's easy work!
Gengar wiped its mouth, showing a row of white teeth.
"Yoji!"
Larvitar clenched its fists, swinging left and right, acting like it had just beaten down several opponents and was super amazing.
Johan just smiled, his peripheral vision glancing toward the rooftop of a building across the street, where a small green figure was secretly watching.
It was the Snivy from before.
Since Johan sat outside this café, it had been secretly watching. This naturally couldn't escape Johan's aura sensing, but he hadn't said anything.
But now...
"Want some?"
Johan picked up an "extra" glass of juice and gently shook it toward the Snivy across the street.
Suddenly discovered, Snivy almost fell off the rooftop, but seeing Johan's gesture, it crossed its arms and jumped toward the alley behind.
"Sni!"
Hmph~
"Alright then."
Johan put the juice on the table, stood up and stretched:
"Let's go. The competition isn't over yet. Let's see how Cynthia's digging is going."
Many people were looking for him now. If he wasn't careful, he'd be surrounded. Since the championship was secured, he should leave quickly and come back for the awards ceremony.
After leaving their seats and walking some distance, Johan suddenly stopped.
"Ka-kaah?"
Under Gengar's puzzled gaze, Johan smiled and looked back.
"Sni-Sni?"
Snivy suddenly raised its head from the juice cup, its face covered with red watermelon juice, eyes full of shock and fright.
Meeting Johan's gaze, Snivy's face turned completely red with a "whoosh," opening its mouth to defend itself but finding it couldn't...
"Sni!! (▼皿▼)"
"Hahaha—"
Johan laughed heartily, taking the similarly grinning Larvitar, Gengar and the others away.
In the flower field behind Fula City.
Cynthia held a small shovel, wandering through the flower field. Sometimes she thought this flower was nice, sometimes she thought that one over there seemed better, falling into a dilemma.
Meanwhile, Garchomp lay back in nearby flowers with two Flabébé playing on it.
This usually fierce-looking guy showed some gentleness when facing such cute Pokémon as Flabébé.
In contrast, Cynthia's Glaceon seemed much more lively, chasing Vivillon through the flower beds.
Johan approached with Gengar and the others.
He quietly walked behind Cynthia, showing a mischievous smile on his face. He wiped some mud on his hands and looked at Cynthia's clean face, quickly smearing the wet soil on her cheek.
The wind blew through the flowers.
Cynthia looked up, seeing Johan who had suddenly appeared, and smiled, saying like showing off a treasure:
"Look, these flowers are even more beautiful in daylight."
Johan smiled and raised his mud-stained finger in front of Cynthia, indicating he had just done something "naughty."
But Cynthia wasn't surprised by this, as if she had noticed it long ago.
Realizing this, Johan asked:
"Why didn't you dodge?"
"Why should I dodge?"
Cynthia smiled like a flower, grabbed Johan's hand, and smeared it on the other side of her face.
The elastic skin transmitted through the thin layer of soil to his fingertips, and her fair cheek gained another trace of mud.
I...
Johan immediately felt guilty.
Damn, Johan, you're being a bit of a jerk!
"Garrr!!"
Garchomp, who had been lying in the flower bed, witnessed the entire process and immediately stood up, transforming into a fierce beast.
Johan, you dog, I want you dead!!!
Fortunately.
Gengar hugged its arms from behind.
"Ka-kaah! Ka-kaah!"
Calm down! Sister Shark, calm down!
Johan "snatched" the small shovel from Cynthia's hands and started digging directly in the ground.
He knew Cynthia's choice paralysis had struck again, so he might as well... pack everything up and take it all!
Cynthia smiled sweetly, holding the juice Johan had brought, squatting beside him watching him dig while sipping in small mouthfuls.
"Don't dig all their topsoil bare, that's not good."
"It's fine." Johan wiped sweat from his forehead. "They're all wild anyway. I'll ask someone to help later, and they'll grow back quickly."
Zygarde core: Help? Who?
"Aren't you participating in that 'Pokémon Catch Race'..."
"Cynthia."
Before Cynthia could finish, Johan suddenly stopped his work and called her name.
"Hm?"
Called by name, Cynthia was stunned, not understanding why Johan suddenly called her.
She heard Johan turn his head, look into her eyes, and say quite seriously:
"I like you."
Hearing this, Cynthia was stunned again. Johan's face turned slightly red as he buried his head and huffed again.
Then she heard Cynthia also call out.
"Johan."
"Mm?"
"I like you too."
Hiss~
Johan stopped his actions and looked at her again, finding her eyes curved like crescents. The blush spread from her fair neck to her face and ears, but she just tilted her head looking at him.
Phew—
Johan let out a long breath, feeling his heart beating rapidly, hearing "thump thump" sounds in his ears, his whole body seeming filled with strength.
In Larvitar's words, that would be... Power!!
Plop—
From Johan's shoulder, the Zygarde core jumped down by itself.
Damn it!
It didn't come along to eat dog food!
It might get kicked off again later, so better be proactive.
"When did it start?" Before he could get excited for long, Cynthia blinked curious eyes and asked.
Johan: "..."
Do all girls ask questions like this?
Then it would be love, how much love, how long love, do you have someone else, and so on.
Previously Johan had only seen these online and found them amusing, thinking guys had it rough. He hadn't expected it to be his turn this time...
But he was straightforward. Since he'd already said the hardest words, he had nothing to be coy about.
"From the very beginning." Johan kept his head down, continuing to dig flowers while speaking.
"The very beginning?"
Cynthia blinked twice again.
"When we first met?"
It couldn't possibly be the first phone call, right?
That would be a bit much.
So...
"Garrr!!" Garchomp, held by Gengar, roared again.
You're shameless! You just lust after our cabbage's body!
"What about you?" Johan asked back.
Cynthia smiled mysteriously.
"Not telling you."
Johan: "..."
"You've dug quite a lot." Cynthia changed the topic.
"Still okay."
Looking at two buckets full of flowers.
Well, it was quite a lot.
"In the future, I'll plant you a flower field!" Johan patted the full buckets.
"I'll wait for it."
"Garchomp, come carry buckets." Johan stood up, inserting the small shovel into the flower bucket.
"Garrr—!!!"
Don't you dare order me around!
"Ka-kaah~ Ka-kaah~"
Calm down, calm down. The world is so beautiful, but you're...
"You still haven't said—weren't you participating in the competition? How did you end up here?"
"The competition was easily..."
Boom!!
Suddenly.
On the road between the Wind Festival venue and Fula City, a deep purple smoke exploded like a mushroom cloud.
This smoke didn't cause much damage, but spread toward Fula City at an exaggerated speed.
"What the hell..."
Seeing the deep purple smoke, Johan was stunned and instinctively spoke.
"This is..."
Cynthia was also stunned by the sudden explosion, somewhat confused.
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar released Garchomp, putting its hand to its forehead to look.
Fireworks? Strange fireworks, purple ones too. I like them~
Purple has the most charm.
"Garrr!" Garchomp glanced at it irritably.
Idiot! This is obviously an attack!
"Ka-kaah?"
Larvitar, who had been sitting in the flowers gnawing on roots, scratched its head and stood up.
Big explosion?
They, including Cynthia, didn't understand what happened, but Johan knew something. He immediately took out his phone and called Matori.
"Teacher Johan?" Matori's voice came through the phone.
"Where are they?" Johan got straight to the point.
"They? They're filming on location in Hoenn."
"Got it."
Hanging up, Johan rubbed his temples.
Team Rocket trio was filming on location in Hoenn, so the explosion definitely wasn't caused by them. Then who could it be?
In the movie "The Power of Us," because Team Rocket trio took researcher Toren's research achievement "Spore Medicine" and accidentally caused the medicine to leak and explode, the spore medicine rapidly expanded and spread, threatening Fula City and wild Pokémon outside the city.
This "Spore Medicine" was extracted from the Pokémon ability "Spore," which would put people or Pokémon who accidentally inhaled it into a "paralyzed" state.
But...
With Team Rocket trio not here, who detonated this "Spore Medicine"?
"What's wrong?" Cynthia looked at Johan putting away his phone.
Johan squeezed his temples, shaking his head: "Don't know, but something definitely happened. That smoke looks like Pokémon spores."
"Spores?"
Cynthia frowned slightly.
Looking at the smoke's spread rate, plus the smoke's effects...
The entire city would probably be in trouble.
There were quite a few people who came to Fula City to celebrate the Wind Festival.
More importantly.
If this "Spore Medicine" leak was just accidental, that would be one thing, but if someone did it deliberately, then...
"We need to go check the situation quickly." Johan also understood the situation's importance.
Even if it wasn't deliberate, once the paralyzing smoke fully spread, people driving, cooking, bathing... major accidents could happen!
"Yes!"
Cynthia called Garchomp over. Johan also threw out a Poké Ball to summon Dragonite, quickly putting on protective gear and recalling the other little ones.
"Let's go! Dragonite!"
"Draaa~~"
Dragonite soared into the sky.
Garchomp wasn't snarling at Johan anymore at this time, just flying beside Dragonite.
The two quickly headed toward the explosion area.
Half-crouching on Garchomp's back, Cynthia suddenly asked:
"Was that a girl on the phone just now?"
"Huh?"
Outside Fula City, abandoned buildings.
"I brought you food, Moomoo Milk and Oran Berries." Risa walked lightly, curiously looking around while speaking softly.
But after waiting a while, there still wasn't any movement around. Risa showed a disappointed expression.
"I'll leave it under the tree, don't forget to eat."
Risa carefully placed the items under the tree on the ground, stepped back two steps, and waited a while more.
But there still wasn't any movement.
"Teddi~"
Teddiursa, who came with her, gently tugged at Risa's pants, pointing at the food under the tree.
"No, Teddiursa, didn't you just eat? You can eat more when we get home. This is for it."
"Teddi..."
Teddiursa drooped its ears.
"Ditto~"
Also coming with Risa was a Ditto, which seemed to discover something, pointing toward the dense forest not far away.
As soon as Risa looked over, she saw a Diggersby frantically darting out from the forest, looking very nervous.
The next second.
Bang!!
Like a gunshot, a large net shot out from the forest, pinning Diggersby to the ground.
"Diggersby!" Risa cried out.
"Now we're even catching trash Pokémon like this..."
"No choice, times are tough. We catch whatever we can."
Two burly figures walked out from the forest, cursing and holding net launchers.
Obviously, they were the ones who netted Diggersby.
"Once we get to the city, it'll be better. Didn't they say we'd do something big together?"
"Who knows how big this job really is..."
Before finishing, one of them noticed Risa in front of the ruins, along with her Teddiursa and Ditto.
The burly man's eyes lit up. "Look what I found—Teddiursa and Ditto! These are worth much more than Diggersby!"
Risa immediately understood their identity, quickly protecting Teddiursa and Ditto behind her. "You—you guys..."
The other, taller and thinner man waved casually. "Little girl, we're Pokémon Hunters. We won't trouble you. If you want to run, run quickly."
The burly man grinned. "Right. But you'll have to leave these two Pokémon."
They raised their net launchers.
"No, you can't!" Risa tensed her face, biting her teeth, protecting Teddiursa and Ditto as they retreated.
"Teddi..."
"Ditto..."
"Then don't blame us." The thin man sneered and pulled the trigger.
Bang! Bang!
Two nets shot out.
Risa closed her eyes in terror.
The next second.
Crackle—
A blue arc flashed, and both nets immediately shattered.
"What is this!"
The two looked at the sudden golden figure—extremely fast and a Pokémon they'd never seen before.
As experienced Pokémon Hunters, what Pokémon wouldn't even they recognize?
Only one answer.
Rare Pokémon!
And a rare Pokémon with considerable strength!
"Mightyena, Crunch!"
"Skuntank, Toxic!"
The two immediately threw Poké Balls, summoning their Pokémon.
"Zeraaa!"
Zeraora's eyes were sharp, lightning brewing around its body. The surrounding sky seemed to darken, leaving only blue lightning and eyes flashing with thunder.
All the lightning finally gathered in Zeraora's hands, and with its extreme speed, it punched out.
Plasma Fists!
Bang!! Bang!!
With lightning explosions and dull sounds, Mightyena and Skuntank were directly blasted away.
Seeing this scene made both Pokémon Hunters' expressions change, but then they were replaced by intense heat.
"Such fast speed!"
"This Pokémon must be very valuable!"
"Zeraaa!"
But as soon as Zeraora landed, as if touching some wound, it couldn't help half-kneeling on the ground.
"Zeraora, your injuries aren't healed yet!" Risa called out with worry.
Injuries not healed?
The two Pokémon Hunters exchanged glances, both showing smiles.
"Good opportunity! Mightyena, Fire Fang!"
"Skuntank, Sludge Bomb!"
"Zeraaa!"
Zeraora struggled to stand, spreading its hands like drawing a bow. Blue lightning blocked the charging Mightyena but was hit by Skuntank's Sludge Bomb.
Bang!!
"Zeraora!" Risa cried out.
Glug glug—
Zeraora staggered to its feet, purple poisoning symptoms appearing on its body.
It bared its teeth, trembling all over, and finally couldn't control itself, collapsing to the ground.
"Heh!"
Seeing this, the two Pokémon Hunters showed triumphant smiles.
Risa immediately ran in front of Zeraora, spreading her arms to protect it behind her, facing the two fierce Pokémon Hunters and shouting:
"If—if you dare come one step closer, I'll call people to arrest you! My dad knows very powerful trainers!"
"Very powerful trainers?"
"How powerful can they be? Hahaha—"
The two Pokémon Hunters didn't take Risa's words seriously at all, immediately pulling the net launcher triggers again.
Bang! Bang!
Two large nets shot out.
"Zeraaa!!"
Zeraora gritted its teeth, enduring pain trying to stand up.
Suddenly.
Bang—
A figure descended from the sky like a cannonball, stepping on both large nets and landing on the ground.
Rumble rumble—
The entire ground shook several times.
"What was that?"
"Yoji!"
Desert Tyrant cub Larvitar descended from the sky, roaring at the two Pokémon Hunters.
Do you want to taste my descending palm technique too!
"Lar—Larvitar?"
The two were stunned.
Then.
A figure appeared in front of Risa and Zeraora, wearing an Alolan floral shirt and beach shorts, flip-flops, hand pressing a cool hat, saying lightly:
"A trainer as powerful as me."
Continuing Risa's previous words.
"Who are you?" The thin Pokémon Hunter frowned.
At the same time.
Another graceful figure landed beside Risa, helping her up and smiling as she patted her head. "It's okay now."
"Me?"
Johan was stunned.
"Seems my reputation among Pokémon Hunters isn't big enough..."
He clicked his tongue.
"Gengar."
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar's voice suddenly appeared behind the two Pokémon Hunters, putting arms around their shoulders with a fierce grin.
When did this happen?!
Gengar?!
Bang—Bang—
Both men's eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth as they fell to the ground.
Johan and Cynthia were on their way to Fula City when Gengar heard the battle sounds during flight, leading to this scene.
"Zeraora..."
Of course, Johan also noticed Zeraora's presence.
He hadn't expected... things would develop this way.
"Yoji~"
Larvitar walked to Zeraora, tilting its head.
Hey, buddy, you look pretty cool.
Zeraora: "..."
Larvitar offered status-restoring energy cubes.
Hungry guy, want some energy cubes to recover?
"Zeraaa."
Zeraora shook its head, staggering to its feet, looking toward Fula City with a frown.
The purple mist had gradually spread.
It had appeared earlier because it noticed this scene, plus Risa was in trouble.
"Eat it."
Johan also came over.
"Zeraaa?"
Seeing Johan approach, Zeraora frowned tightly, showing wariness and threat, then stepped back twice.
Toward humans, or rather toward humans other than Risa, Zeraora had an instinctive rejection.
Johan wasn't surprised by this. After all, this was a guy who had experienced the great mountain fire fifty years ago, plus being hunted by Pokémon Hunters—having rejection was normal.
So Johan didn't continue approaching, just spreading goodwill with his aura while saying:
"You want to help, right?"
"Zeraaa..."
"If you want to go, you'd better eat more and recover your condition so you can help more Pokémon." Johan said calmly.
"Yoji~"
Larvitar gestured again with the energy cubes in its hand.
"Zeraaa..."
After an internal "struggle," Zeraora finally grabbed the energy cubes Larvitar offered and roughly stuffed them in its mouth.
But as it ate, its chewing gradually slowed, its eyes slowly widened and began glowing.
This taste...
Johan smiled slightly.
Just eat it.
"There's more in this box, plus healing spray. Let me help you recover?"
"Zeraaa!"
Zeraora's fur stood up like an angry cat, seeming very resistant to Johan approaching, but...
The energy cubes' aroma entered its nostrils, plus... recovering more would help more Pokémon in the city. Zeraora tried to control its instincts and didn't speak.
Watching Johan approach with healing spray, Zeraora tried to control itself not to retreat.
But when hands touched its body, Zeraora's body trembled slightly, then it squinted.
So—so comfortable...
Why was it so comfortable?
Warm...
Zeraora's fur smoothed down, unconsciously showing a comfortable expression.
Zeraora: (≧ω≦)
Aura massage!
At the same time.
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar floated to Johan's side, having obtained "intelligence" from those two Pokémon Hunters.
So.
Because of the recent massive Pokémon Hunter raids in the Kalos region, many people fled to the relatively isolated Fula City, which hadn't been raided.
Among them, a group had infiltrated Fula City, planning to target the "Pokémon Catch Race" Pokémon.
Who knew they'd get information about "Spore Medicine" from a strange researcher.
Although the medicine wasn't mature, they valued it.
If all the people and Pokémon in the city were paralyzed, couldn't they catch as many as they wanted?
The original plan was to release it after leaving Fula City, but the plan seemed to have problems.
These two were Pokémon Hunters invited to participate in the "grand event," but encountered Risa and Zeraora before entering the city, then were intercepted by Johan.
After hearing Gengar's brief account, Johan showed some realization.
"So this incident can actually be blamed on me?"
If he hadn't massively arrested Pokémon Hunters, these guys wouldn't have fled to Fula City, and wouldn't have desperately planned something big before escaping.
Tracing back to the original cause, he could actually be assigned some of this "blame."
Of course.
It couldn't be calculated this way.
After all, arresting Pokémon Hunters benefited the entire region.
Zeraora, who had also heard Gengar's account, looked at Johan with slightly changed eyes.
This human... didn't seem as "bad" as imagined?
A figure suddenly flashed through Johan's mind.
Snivy!
That little guy was also one of those Pokémon Hunters' targets, right?
----------
Powerstones?
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