I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

Two towering spires stood opposite each other;

the one on the left was named "Space," the one on the right "Time."

The tower peaks soared into the clouds, a fissure splitting open near the top, constantly twisting.

A terrifying roar echoed.

A blade of light slashed out from the fissure, cutting diagonally across the sky, carving a black crack.

Below the towers, in the plaza, everyone held their breath, looking up at the colossal figure towering above.

"The God of Space, Palkia." Mikuri, wearing a white cloak, spoke hoarsely.

A terrifying and desperate emotion spread across everyone’s faces.

Boom!!

"Subspace Slash"—

The blade of light swept past a red brick building, which slowly disintegrated into black fragments, vanishing into the void. Like waking from a nightmare, screams erupted as everyone scattered.

"Let's get out of here!"

"Charge! Hide behind Teacher Lu!"

"Is there no one hiding behind Mikuri?!"

A young girl stared blankly, comparing the teams behind the two champions.

After a moment’s thought, the girl bit her lip and stepped forward.

She slipped quietly to the back of Teacher Lu’s group from behind the empty space where Mikuri stood.

Mikuri: "..."

Teacher Lu: "Looking at me like that won’t help."

Mikuri: "..."

"Maybe because..." Teacher Lu pondered, "I look more handsome than you?"

Mikuri held his green hair, sighing in resignation.

Then, he opened his deep green eyes and fixed his gaze tightly on Palkia’s movements.

As the last surviving member of the Rurisuto people, Mikuri had a natural affinity for beauty.

From Palkia, he sensed the beauty of 'space'... and its violent rage.

"It’s out of control." Mikuri clenched his Pokéball tightly, voice low.

"You don’t have to tell me that." Lu Ye turned to soothe the crowd, "Everyone, head to the nearest Pokémon Center for safety. Mikuri still has to fight! If you get in his way, it will affect his performance!"

Mikuri: "..."

Why do you look like you’re not planning to fight? What’s going on?

"As expected." Mikuri’s eyes flickered, "The trump card that saved Steven can’t be revealed so easily..."

Everyone understood, stealing another glance at the giant beast and swallowing nervously, still unable to move.

'Teacher Lu is stronger than Mikuri.'

'We would interfere with Mikuri, but not with Teacher Lu.'

This thought rose in everyone’s hearts—a mix of fear and a faint hope.

"Hey you, Lickitung Baron." Lu Ye called out, "Show your noble spirit—lead the women and children to safety, and the able-bodied to help others."

"It’s Albert, not Lickitung."

The chubby Lickitung angrily crossed its arms, turning to command imperiously:

"Did you hear me? Don’t stay here and cause trouble. Everyone, orderly retreat!"

The 'Lickitung Baron' had some face to lose, and since most townsfolk were familiar with him, they maintained rare composure.

Partly, this was out of trust in Teacher Lu... and Mikuri.

Rustling footsteps sounded, somewhat chaotic.

In the shadows, Darkrai observed the retreating crowd, a trace of gentleness appearing in its eyes.

Because it saw Alicia safe—Alicia’s granddaughter, Alice.

Now, it could fight without hesitation.

"Get lost—"

Mikuri turned around in surprise.

In the shadows, a slowly rising, swirling white mist appeared, revealing the pitch-black Darkrai.

Its shadow flickered with the wind, blue eyes locked onto Palkia, burning with rage.

"Leave this place!"

Suddenly,

Darkrai flew into the air, stirring a raging wind that blew Mikuri’s white cloak.

The massive Palkia looked down arrogantly but showed a hint of caution.

This Darkrai actually brought it some pressure!

"Dark Pulse"—

Darkrai spread its arms wide, black energy rippling outward like waves.

Buzz!

The space around Palkia trembled, transforming into a protective shield around it.

Without a sound, the "Dark Pulse" was absorbed into the shield and vanished.

Then, the pearls on Palkia’s sides and the patterns on its body glowed, and it swiped forward.

"Dragon Claw!"

A purple dragon-shaped shadow roared, crashing toward Darkrai.

For a moment, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and the entire White Poplar Town was enveloped in thick white mist.

Darkrai groaned, flying back several meters, but a gentle "Healing Pulse" surged into its body.

Turning around, its deep blue eyes reflected Mikuri’s Milotic.

After nodding in thanks, Darkrai roared fiercely and flew at Palkia once more!

"Darkrai." Lu Ye interjected, "Use Dark Void!"

"Don’t tell me what to do!!" Darkrai roared, claws forming a spinning black hole, which it angrily hurled at Palkia.

Palkia’s shield activated again.

The space around the "Dark Void" was completely torn apart by Palkia.

But the nightmare energy transformed into a pair of black giant claws that emerged from the annihilated space, fiercely striking Palkia!

"This Darkrai is so strong." Mikuri’s eyes narrowed, "There’s a chance to win."

Lu Ye’s eyelid twitched, "Don’t heal him, big brother. The big move on the other side hasn’t been unleashed yet!"

The next moment.

Space tore apart;

silence fell.

Palkia slashed a blade of light, "Subspace Slash" cutting off all the nightmare energy, striking Darkrai directly!

Mikuri: Σ(っ°Д°;

)っ

Lu Ye ‘slapped’ his forehead.

Boom!!

Palkia’s eyes showed disdain;

its claws opened and closed as it howled toward the sky.

The next moment.

A sudden time fissure appeared;

everything turned black and white.

A radiant silver-blue giant beast roared and burst from the fissure, charging and colliding with Palkia, knocking it away.

Boom!!

The two giant beasts fell from the sky together.

Buildings collapsed, leveling several kilometers, leaving only a crater where a meteorite had fallen.

The terrifying shockwave reached the Pokémon Center in the town’s heart.

Everyone looked fearfully at the falling debris from the roof.

"Don’t worry, the Lickitung Baron is here—"

Lickitung was patting its chest but suddenly collapsed. Baron Albert slowly regained consciousness.

His soul detached, nightmares ceased... all strange phenomena resolved.

"What… what’s happening?" Nurse Joy was stunned.

"Maybe Darkrai has no energy left to release nightmares because it’s been protecting White Poplar Town."

Alice looked toward the two roaring giant beasts in the distance and the exhausted Darkrai.

She bit her lip hard and shouted, "I have to get to Darkrai’s side!"

"Don’t be foolish, Alice." Baron Albert grabbed her arm firmly, his eyes cold and calm, speaking slowly and clearly, "If you go, you’ll only cause trouble for Teacher Lu."

"Even so." Alice broke free, shaking her head, "Darkrai is protecting White Poplar Town... shouldn’t we do something for it?"

"I’ll explain."

Everyone turned toward the firm, strong voice.

A blonde girl with a single ponytail, eyes clear and determined, spoke with strength:

"Staying here is the best way to trust Darkrai and Teacher Lu."

Her voice was like spring breeze, her small frame exuding a reassuring power.

Ash looked at Alice, recalling Teacher Lu’s instructions:

"Miss Alice, I will take you near Darkrai, but you must also prepare yourself mentally."

Alice nodded firmly, "If Grandma can do it... I definitely can too!"

[Ash and Tony have already headed to the Tower of Time to prepare the Oración. Our only task is to buy time.]

Teacher Lu’s instructions echoed in her ears as Ash held Alice’s hand.

[And you and Alice... can become Darkrai’s support... Please.]

[Celadon Anemone · Proxy · Ash!]

The blonde girl with a single ponytail stared with unwavering determination.

What Red can do, I can definitely do too!

"Boom—"

The aftershock of the battle between the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons again shook the Pokémon Center.

"Let’s go, Miss Alice." Ash threw out a Pokéball, summoning a Dodrio, "Ride on Dodrio first."

The two climbed onto Dodrio’s back. Ash wrapped his arms around Dodrio’s neck, and a misty white light appeared in his palm.

"Power of Viridian—"

"Help me out, everyone!"

In an instant, all three of Dodrio’s heads blazed with fiery eyes: "Shriek!!"

If expressed in numbers, Dodrio, originally in the low 30s level, suddenly surged past level 70!

This was Ash’s beloved wife (?) Ash, the one who cheats with powers!

Dodrio galloped away, kicking up dust and sand, racing toward the battlefield.

At the Pokémon Center, Baron Albert watched the departing figures. Turning around, he looked wistful.

"I kind of miss... being Lickitung. What do I do?"

...

Boom!

Above the town, the mist churned, like roaring waves, interspersed with lightning and thunder.

In the plaza’s center, the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons faced off, eyes blazing with anger, bodies colliding with thunderous force.

"This isn’t a battle mortals can interfere with."

Standing hundreds of meters from the crater, Mikuri muttered.

Lu Ye glanced sideways, "Are you mortal?"

"Me?"

In an instant, Mikuri’s eyes cleared, chin raised with noble confidence, he smiled gracefully at Lu Ye.

"You are quite right. Teacher Lu, thank you for your enlightenment."

Teacher Lu: ?

"We are all mortals. But we carry missions that must be fulfilled."

Teacher Lu: ??

"That is." Mikuri suddenly tore off his white cloak, tall and slender, green hair swaying in the wind, "the duty of a champion!"

Teacher Lu: ???

You want to suddenly add drama to yourself?

Even Steven couldn’t handle a first-stage Legendary God and collapsed from exhaustion.

Now there are two first-stage Legendary Gods. Just support Darkrai honestly!

"Teacher Lu." Mikuri’s eyes dimmed, he smiled self-mockingly, "If I ultimately fall in Sinnoh..."

"Don’t worry, I’ll send you back to Hoenn..." Lu Ye added, "Hold your cloak."

Mikuri nodded lightly, taking a letter from his chest pocket, "I’ve already written a family letter in advance."

"Can I open it?"

"Of course, there’s nothing embarrassing."

Lu Ye took the letter and slowly unfolded it, stunned for a moment:

"Wow, such cheesy love words, and you say there’s nothing embarrassing?"

"Cheesy? It’s fine. I often say things like that to Naki."

"...No wonder she can’t stand you."

"Oh, love must be expressed, or how else will the other person know?" Mikuri laughed.

Lu Ye was silent, then nodded, "Makes sense."

Lowering his gaze, quickly scanning the letter, Lu Ye was very surprised.

"You even wrote your own will?"

"Artists draft their wills at twenty."

"What the hell, and in sonnet format?"

"Reciting sonnets as arias at funerals isn’t romantic?" Mikuri smiled.

"Beneficiaries—"

Seeing it wasn’t himself, Teacher Lu lost interest in reading.

"I prepared one with Master Adam, Naki, Ruby, and Shafiya." Mikuri looked at Lu Ye, hesitating, "If you, Teacher Lu..."

Lu Ye interrupted, "Where’s Steven?"

"That guy has more money than me." Mikuri sneered, "He might as well write my name."

Lu Ye was stunned, you two really are best bros!

Manly bromance upon me... Lu Ye cleared his throat, "You’re quite humorous."

"Artists don’t have to be bitter." Mikuri smiled, "Teacher Lu, you’re no different."

Lu Ye suddenly gained a deeper understanding of this Hoenn Champion Mikuri.

He created the Mikuri Cup and nurtured juniors, protecting Hoenn in a different way than Steven.

In some ways, he was like himself—a teacher.

"Stop chatting!"

Exhausted Darkrai fell from the sky, roaring angrily:

"I can’t hold on much longer!"

Boom!!

Under their gazes, Darkrai crashed into rubble, gasping heavily.

Lu Ye stepped forward, helping Darkrai up and rummaging in his arms.

"Glutton, have a Revival Root."

Darkrai bit the herb, chewed, then spat it out, "Tui!"

Mikuri: "Milotic, Healing Pulse!"

"Fuu~" Milotic shook its long hair, gentle and crystal-clear waves turning into sparkles that soaked into Darkrai’s body.

Lu Ye was startled.

This felt like the coach and trainer massaging a boxer mid-fight!

Darkrai looked up at the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons and roared:

"Get the hell out of here!!"

Lu Ye shouted, "Go, Darkrai, it’s decided to be you!"

"Screw you."

"Use Dark Void!"

"...Five cans."

"I’ll give you six cans, listen to me and use Dark Void!"

"Oh oh oh oh!"

In an instant, Darkrai’s blue eyes shone brightly, exploding with white waves as it flew straight ahead.

Mikuri crossed his arms, hand on chin:

"Teacher Lu... really good at commanding Pokémon."

Boom—

The unprecedented battle raged on.

Dialga raised its forelimbs, pupils shining, its diamond and markings glittering brilliantly.

"Roar of Time"

Strange ripples covered all of White Poplar Town;

the Tower of Time’s clock hands spun rapidly, buildings rapidly weathering and withering.

Lu Ye saw children in the distance crying loudly, now grown into toddlers lying on the ground, sucking their fingers confusedly.

An old hunchbacked grandmother reverted to a stunning young beauty.

"Is this even possible?" Lu Ye was stunned.

"Fallen behind? We have to get them to retreat quickly." Mikuri frowned.

Lu Ye threw a Pokéball: "Please take them to safety."

"Gengarrr~"

"Quack!"

A white light flew out of the ball, Ducklett happily emerged.

"Sirfetch’d, come back here!!"

Boom—

Palkia’s shoulder pearls and purple patterns flickered, a circular blade slashed out.

"Subspace Slash"

Space and time collided, the great path was erased.

The aftershock tore countless small holes in the nearby mist, gradually enlarging.

Even the sky gradually faded in the expanding holes, becoming a void of black and white.

"If this keeps up..." Mikuri frowned, speaking softly, "the entire White Poplar Town will disappear."

Lu Ye also frowned.

My strongest battle power, Mega Blastoise, is only at the Champion level.

Still some distance from the top tier Champion...

"Do I have to be drafted too?" Lu Ye muttered.

"I must fight." Mikuri’s eyes sharpened;

he threw out a Pokéball, summoning a Comfey.

"Take me to the battle." Mikuri said sternly, "I will stop the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons!"

Lu Ye did not stop him.

His original plan was for Mikuri and Darkrai to work together to buy time for Ash and the others.

His strongest ability was commanding Darkrai.

Otherwise, even a Champion joining the battle would interfere with the plan.

Lu Ye frowned deeply.

In the sky, Darkrai appeared again, warning sharply:

"You two, get out of here!!"

This time, both Palkia and Dialga looked toward Darkrai.

The Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons’ eyes showed a hint of human-like mockery.

Then, the two dragons turned, opening their huge mouths as fierce energy pulses gathered.

Boom!!

Amid dust and smoke, Mikuri’s Comfey evolved brilliantly into Mega Comfey.

Dialga’s Dragon-type moves were not only ineffective against Mega Comfey,

but were absorbed by Feather Dance and transformed into a sharp storm counterattack!

Lu Ye was shocked.

"No wonder it's a Dragon insider—if you can’t win, join the Fairy type!"

Meanwhile,

Darkrai faced Palkia again, both hands forming a twisted black hole, the shadows on its shoulders fluttering in the wind.

Lu Ye: "Now, use Dark Void."

Darkrai roared: "I said, no orders from you!"

The terrifying "Dark Void" swept out, engulfing most of the sky, successfully hitting Palkia.

"Good job, Darkrai."

"Screw you."

"Seven cans, seven cans of energy cubes!" Lu Ye shouted.

"Hmph, small favors, I don’t want them."

Darkrai obeyed Lu Ye’s command and continued to wrestle with Palkia.

On the other side,

Cold sweat streaked down Mikuri’s face, gritting his teeth, lips bleeding.

Facing the two gods, within a few minutes he was nearing his limit.

At this rate... Mega Comfey won’t be able to withstand Dialga, the Steel Dragon God.

This time, Dialga chose "Flash Cannon," which counters Fairy types.

Brilliant light gathered around Dialga in the air;

a trace of regret appeared on Mikuri’s face.

It ends here.

Boom!!

In the shockwave, Darkrai bore the "Flash Cannon" on its back, its azure eyes coldly fixed on Mikuri.

"Human, survive."

Then, it threw Mikuri down from the sky.

Turning, it faced the pincer attack of the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons alone.

"Come on."

Darkrai’s eyes showed provocation, even tracing a human-like smile.

"You two, attack together."

...