Master Craftsman of the Pokémon World

The legendary "phantom heroine" Green was one of the earliest characters ever conceived for the Pokémon world. Yet she originally had no actual name. She appeared only as a Lass positioned alongside Red and Blue, showing that each of the three first partner Pokémon had its own Trainer.

That first nameless girl associated with "Blue" eventually gave rise to Green from Pokémon Adventures, Leaf from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, and Green herself, who finally made her official debut in Generation VII.

In other words, Green was technically the original, yet she was the last of the three characters to make a proper appearance.

At the same time, because Leaf had already occupied her niche in Pokémon Masters EX, Green only managed to secure the title of Ace Trainer in a promotional animation.

However, her love of hunting for "treasures" and her extensive knowledge of Evolution were both traits inherited from her Pokémon Adventures counterpart.

Green would seek out rare items, then either give them away or sell them.

As for the part about her being an expert on Evolution, that had been changed into expertise in Mega Evolution!

Beyond that, Green was even more enthusiastic than her manga counterpart when it came to...

"That's right! The reason I came here was to search for rare and powerful Pokémon!"

"I even collected tons of Apricorns and had Kurt make special Poké Balls for me, all so I could use them when the perfect opportunity came. But I still haven't found anything worth catching!"

Green looked thoroughly frustrated. Now that they had become acquainted, she tapped a finger against her temple and twirled it in a circle, all while staring intently at Miraidon from head to tail. Then she began circling the cybernetic dragon.

Her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Hikaru said, "Wait. That look on your face... Don't tell me."

Green suddenly exclaimed, "That's it! Shopkeeper, how would you and Miraidon like to become my Pokémon together?"

"Agias?" Miraidon cried.

What the heck are you talking about?!

Hikaru sighed. "Don't suddenly say things that leave everyone completely confused."

What did that even mean?

Then again, this was a signature habit of Green's. The first time she encountered the player in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, she mistook them for a Pokémon and threw a Poké Ball at them.

After being defeated, Green gave the player the Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y, then asked the player and Mewtwo to become her Pokémon. She even threw five Poké Balls at the player in a row.

She would continue doing it while waiting in Cerulean City, too.

"You're not about to throw a Poké Ball at me next, are you?" Hikaru asked. "I'm warning you now, if I pick it up, I'm not giving it back."

"And the one you just threw was an Apricorn Ball. That should be one of the valuable special balls Kurt makes, right? Those things are expensive."

After being rejected, Green's shoulders slumped.

"So you won't accept my offer no matter what... Red and Leaf were the same way. Why don't you give it some serious thought?"

"Throwing a Poké Ball at a human could never work in the first place."

"That's not true!" Green protested. "I read Blue's research paper. He told me that humans were an evolved form of Pokémon. Apparently, someone may have already proven that hypothesis!"

"That someone was me, but the original paper wasn't nearly that simple."

Green froze, then stared at him in astonishment.

"You proposed that theory, Shopkeeper? But doesn't that prove I was right?"

Hikaru sighed.

"What exactly do you mean by asking someone and their Pokémon to become your Pokémon together? Are you seriously planning to put a human inside a Poké Ball? Would they even be allowed to broadcast that?"

"Still, if all you want is to catch a particularly rare Pokémon, I can point you in the right direction."

Mewtwo had only spent a brief time wandering around Cerulean Cave before leaving, so Green had never triggered the part where she was supposed to catch Mewtwo there. On top of that, the Mewtwo from New Island was far too powerful. Even if the protagonists of Let's Go appeared, they would only be defeated.

After all, those two characters had not even existed during the events of Mewtwo Strikes Back.

"Lapras only appears here once a week," Hikaru explained. "They say it searches for its few remaining companions at dusk, singing in a voice that sounds almost mournful. No one knows why it appears in these underground waters. Apparently, someone has been investigating the matter and plans to publish the results, hoping to gain the same fame and status as Professor Elm."

"As for when Lapras appears... Friday is usually the easiest day to encounter it. You'll need to go down to the waters on the lowest level, where the underground lake connects to the sea."

A Poké Maniac named Calvin had been investigating the phenomenon inside the cave. His research had also drawn several Ace Trainers there, including the Eevee specialist Gwen and the devoted Poliwhirl fan Emma. They had all come after hearing about Lapras.

Clearly, Green was no different.

"So it isn't here, but in the waters farther below? And today is... It's Friday! What incredible luck!"

Green folded her arms.

"No wonder something felt strange. I heard the Pokémon Music Channel could attract certain rare Pokémon, so I even called to ask about it. I already obtained the EXPN Card that lets me listen to additional stations. So Lapras simply isn't affected by the music channel?"

"That isn't all," Hikaru said. "Some channels don't even have a host."

"They don't have... a host?!"

Her expression changed slightly, though she quickly laughed it off.

"Oh, come on. You're not about to tell me another ghost is hosting a radio show in Lavender Town, are you?"

"No. It's a Legendary Pokémon."

"Have you ever tried listening to the radio at the Ruins of Alph? The programs broadcast in Kanto and Johto are different. If you tune the radio to frequency 13.5 while at the Ruins of Alph in Johto, you can hear... this."

Hikaru took out the Celestica Flute and played a short melody imitating the sound of the Azure Flute.

An incomprehensibly eerie atmosphere descended upon the cave. For a moment, Green's mind went blank.

"That music just now... What was it?"

"The Azure Flute."

Hikaru put his flute away.

"Some channels aren't normal programs. You must have heard stories like that when you were a child. Things about turning on the television at a specific time and discovering a secret channel broadcasting from the past or future."

"Of course, Hoenn Sound and Sinnoh Sound are programs created to broadcast music from those two regions. Those programs have a proper host. Ben is quite famous in Johto."

"If you're that determined to find rare Pokémon, why not visit another region? Paldea, for example."

Hikaru began making his recruitment pitch. Green probably could not become Champion in Kanto anyway, considering how many towering mountains stood in her path.

"In Paldea, the climate and environment have made many rare Pokémon so common that it practically feels like they're being handed out at a clearance sale! We also have Area Zero, where mysterious Pokémon appear."

"Exploration, battles, training, challenges... We have everything you're looking for. With your strength, you could certainly become a Champion-ranked Trainer there. Don't you want to give it a try?"

Green's expression became strange. She rubbed her chin and raised an eyebrow.

"That sounds like you're trying to trick me into moving there so you can put me to work."

Still, the invitation was right up her alley, and her expression even grew slightly melancholy.

The idea of failing to become Champion in Kanto, leaving for a distant land, unexpectedly catching a rare Pokémon, and then rising to become the strongest Champion...

What a story that would be!

"The process of catching rare Pokémon is a form of training in itself," Green said. "That's why I'm here now."

"I kept imagining that maybe Mewtwo would sense my heart and suddenly appear inside the cave. I guess I was expecting too much. No matter how many times I visit Cerulean Cave, or how many caves with strange rumors I explore throughout Kanto and Johto, what can't be found simply can't be found."

"So I had an idea."

"Shopkeeper, Leaf said she traveled through time and was truly taken away by the guardian of the forest. Blue and Professor Oak both confirmed it, right?"

As she spoke, Green continued deeper into the cave. A massive Pokémon walked beside her.

Blastoise!

"Blast!"

Blasty knew about Green's dream, so he gave her a complicated look. Green made no effort to hide her intentions.

"I didn't come here just because I heard the legend about Lapras. I also heard another Pokémon lives here, one capable of seeing the aura of living beings. When that Pokémon attains a further Evolution, it undergoes an astonishing transformation!"

"That Pokémon can sense changes in life aura. Mega Evolution consumes a Trainer's stamina and leaves them exhausted, so a Pokémon like that would be absolutely indispensable to any Trainer!"

"I'm a Mega Evolution expert, even if the title is self-proclaimed!"

"You mean Medicham?" Hikaru asked. "It can perceive a living being's aura."

"But the only Pokémon attracted here by Hoenn Sound should be Meditite... No, perhaps it isn't impossible."

Medicham could indeed be found in the Wasteland area of Johto's western Safari Zone, and they could reach as high as level 44.

However, the Safari Zone's areas had to be assembled. Warden Baoba transported specific soils and materials from other regions, then used them to perform major renovations throughout the Safari Zone. The entire facility was divided into twelve areas, each containing a fixed selection of Pokémon.

After all, the place existed specifically to let Trainers catch particular Pokémon.

The Johto Safari Zone was also situated in a very peculiar location, near the Embedded Tower.

In other words, it stood in a place with an exceptionally rich natural environment.

"Among the martial artists I know, there are experts who use Meditite, such as Maylene from Sinnoh," Hikaru continued. "But everyone I know who uses Medicham is stronger than Maylene."

"There's the Black Belt Zaiemon from Unova, Chuck of Cianwood Gym in Johto, Brawly of Dewford Gym in Hoenn, and Dendra from Paldea."

Theoretically, Greta, one of Hoenn's Frontier Brains and the Arena Tycoon, had also used Medicham. However, that was only her team in the animated series.

In the games, her strongest Pokémon was Breloom, just like Gardenia's. Despite being a martial artist, Greta also carried Shedinja and Gengar, Pokémon specifically suited to countering Fighting types.

As for Candice, hidden among her collection of Ice-type Pokémon was an actual Fighting-type Pokémon...

Now that Hikaru thought about it, Candice was Maylene's friend and had spent every day undergoing special training against Fighting types. It seemed the "Maiden of Diamond Dust" had come prepared for this tournament.

Still, Candice was not a martial artist.

She could not use Diamond Dust, either.

Then again, Sinnoh had always been notorious for type specialists who did not actually have enough Pokémon of their chosen type. Flint, a member of Sinnoh's Elite Four, had once used both Steelix and Lopunny.

There was also Marshal of Unova's Elite Four, though he only added Medicham to his team during Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.

That was the appeal of Pure Power. Medicham's base stats might look terrible in its normal state, but Pure Power compensated for everything. Once it advanced another step...

Green glanced back with a smile.

"Then, Shopkeeper, have you ever heard of Mega Medicham?"

"Of course. Mega Evolution grants it limitless mental power. It can use that immense psychic power to give physical form to its aura, creating additional arms."

"The stronger Medicham's mental power becomes, the more lifelike those arms appear and the more freely they can move. It defeats enemies with imaginary arms imbued with murderous intent!"

Its base Attack became 100 while it retained Pure Power, which doubled its effective Attack during damage calculations.

Through the power of yoga, its physical attacks became twice as powerful!

At level 50, a normal Medicham with maximum Attack investment could reach an effective Attack of 246, surpassing even a fully invested Groudon at 222.

Mega Medicham, the true master of yoga, had even accomplished the astonishing feat of kicking an Incineroar to death after being Intimidated twice.

In Terastallized battles, it could also employ the bizarre combination of Normal Tera Type, Pure Power, Life Orb, and Fake Out. One slap could even knock out a Steel-type Pokémon, earning the technique the nickname "Tathagata Palm Fake Out."

Bringing a Medicham to a Fighting tournament was an excellent choice. It possessed the Fighting type while also resisting Fighting-type moves.

Another 114,514 Incineroar fell to High Jump Kick today. Why not try it yourself?

"That's incredible," Green said. "I'm planning to catch both Medicham and Lapras, then enter the Pokéathlon that's about to begin!"

"No, I suppose it should be called the World Martial Arts Tournament now!"

"I'll enter together with my Blasty. That's why I came here."

"Blast!"

Blastoise thumped his chest and gave Hikaru and Miraidon an extremely confident look.

He was doing this to help Green fulfill her wish!

"My wish..." Green murmured.

"I want to catch Mewtwo! I have something I absolutely must give it."

"After I found the treasure I had been seeking, the strange thrill it gave me made my heart pound!"

"You should remember, Shopkeeper. There was a period after Leaf returned from that distant place when I wasn't in Kanto either."

"I found something incredible somewhere else."

Green reached into her satchel and removed two treasures of similar color.

Hikaru's eyes widened.

"Those are Mewtwo's two Mega Stones...?!"

Green looked surprised. "How did you know? I wanted to show them off..."

"I still haven't confirmed that these stones truly belong to Mewtwo. I heard rumors about the Unknown Dungeon in Kalos, and I found these two stones inside it. They emit some kind of wave identical to Mewtwo's."

"It's strange. Far too strange, don't you think, Shopkeeper?"

"Mewtwo was an artificial Genetic Pokémon created by Team Rocket many years ago. So why would these two stones exist inside the Unknown Dungeon in Kalos?"

"Or am I simply overthinking it? Are they nothing more than two useless rocks?"

"I have this uncontrollable curiosity and desire inside me. I want to know why they exist, and then I want to meet Mewtwo! Before that, I heard about the martial arts tournament and about Leaf traveling through time!"

"She's an outstanding investigator, and she completed her Pokédex faster than I did. No matter how unbelievable Leaf's story sounded, I believed her."

Green inhaled deeply. A flame seemed to burn within her eyes.

"That's why I want to meet the guardian of the forest. I want to meet the deity of Ilex Forest! I want to meet those gods!"

"The Pokéathlon's origins lie in an ancient story."

"Long ago, an incurable disease appeared in a certain land. The sickness spread everywhere, and humans and Pokémon continued dying. Then one human and three Pokémon stepped forward."

"They heard the voice of some being coming from the heavens. After overcoming ten trials, they reached the end of the world and discovered a way to cure every disease."

"They shared that cure with everyone. To praise their friendship and express their gratitude, people passed down their story as the tale of great heroes."

"Everyone praised those heroes and began imitating the ten trials they had overcome!"

"The being that guided them might have been Celebi, Ho-Oh, or perhaps something even greater," Hikaru said.

"You want to borrow Celebi's power, return to the past, meet Mewtwo, and prove the true purpose of those two stones?"

Green had always possessed an obsession with catching Mewtwo. After all, she was the only person who would say something like, "How about you and Mewtwo become my Pokémon?"

Leaving aside the Mewtwo from New Island, Individual Two, the Mewtwo from Unova, did not like traveling alongside humans either. She preferred the freedom of unspoiled nature.

If Green absolutely had to find a Mewtwo...

Individual Zero from the legends of Ransei or Individual Three from Oblivia might be suitable choices.

According to the plot of Pokkén Tournament, the Ferrum region, which had turned a sporting competition into a fighting tournament, also had a Mewtwo.

It was the immensely imposing Shadow Mewtwo, a Pokémon frequently depicted throughout the franchise.

The circumstances surrounding that Mewtwo's birth were extremely strange.

Still, Shadow Mewtwo was merely a state caused by possession. After returning to its original condition, it was an ordinary Mewtwo.

Then again, wild Mewtwo could appear within the Ultra Space Wilds during Generation VII. Other Mewtwo clearly inhabited different parallel worlds, and their origins might not all be the same.

Green clenched her fists in excitement.

"If I become Champion of the martial arts tournament, I can obtain the method to cure every disease! Some people say it's a medicinal herb, while others say it's something connected to Ilex Forest. But no matter what it is..."

"If I demonstrate the bond between humans and Pokémon during the tournament, then, just as Professor Oak said, I might earn the forest guardian's recognition. With Celebi's power, I'll be able to find Mewtwo!"

"I was following the earlier academic conference, too. Some of the information about Mewtwo that was given to Professor Oak came from my investigations. I simply never expected Mewtwo to appear on New Island."

"Someone from Pallet Town encountered it that time, too."

"I'll catch Medicham, Mega Evolve it, and use it to win this tournament! It's one of the very few Fighting- and Psychic-type Pokémon, and I'm the only one who can help it reach its next Evolution!"

"I'll catch Lapras as well, because it can help me battle the guardian of the forest!"

As Hikaru listened to Green speak so passionately about her dreams, only one thought crossed his mind.

Was Celebi actually good at fighting?

Some Celebi certainly were. The one from the Pokémon Adventures world was rather capable.

In the game timeline during the events of Gold and Silver, the true master of the shrine in Ilex Forest was also skilled in battle. After all, it had a battle and capture interface.

The Celebi from Pokémon 4Ever, the one Professor Oak had encountered, was not particularly good at fighting.

Then there were the Celebi from Almia and Oblivia, both of which could hold their own in battle.

The Celebi from Ferrum was on an entirely different level. As a Support Pokémon, its move could not be blocked.

"A self-proclaimed Mega Evolution expert wants to demonstrate her bond with her Pokémon?" Hikaru said. "That's an interesting idea, but gaining an audience with Celebi probably won't be so simple."

"Ethan has met Celebi, and so has Lyra," Green replied. "They met it at the shrine in Ilex Forest. Leaf met it too, and so did you, Shopkeeper. Isn't that right?"

"A journey in pursuit of Mythical and Legendary Pokémon was never going to be easy. If I want something, I have to accomplish it myself. That's where the fun lies!"

"It doesn't matter if I fail. I just have to keep chasing my dream."

"As long as nobody catches Mewtwo, my dream will never end!"

"Even so, Mewtwo already has a Trainer of sorts," Hikaru said. "If you investigated what happened on New Island, then you should know that the bond it formed with a certain boy from Pallet Town is nearly unbreakable."

"Are you confident enough to attack Mewtwo directly with your own fists?"

The seemingly ridiculous question made Green stop and seriously consider her answer.

The two humans and their Pokémon continued toward the deepest part of Union Cave. Before long, a vast underground lake appeared ahead of them, along with the scent of seawater.

"Individual One?" Green asked.

"That's what we call the Mewtwo from New Island," Hikaru explained. "In reality, another Mewtwo may have existed several hundred years ago. That could explain the existence of Mewtwo's Mega Stones."

"According to the latest research, Mega Stones have gradually formed over roughly the past one thousand years. After being exposed to a specific type of energy and wavelength, certain stones or minerals that already contained power were transformed. In other cases, they formed where an extremely high concentration of energy gathered in one place."

"For example, this."

Green's eyes widened.

"A Mega Stone?! But it isn't one I've ever seen!"

"It's a newly discovered one. This is a Falinksite. I obtained it in the Almia region."

"There appear to be many more Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution. What we can confirm is that Mewtwo truly possesses two different Mega Evolutions."

The light of the stone reflected in Green's eyes. Joy and anticipation filled her heart.

"Does that mean you'll enter the tournament too?"

"I'm a martial artist. Of course I'm entering. It's stranger for someone like you, who isn't a martial artist, to participate."

Green grinned.

"Wouldn't it be interesting if the greatest martial artist under heaven turned out to be someone who didn't know martial arts?"

"All right! I won't hold back. When the time comes, let's settle things with Mega Evolution!"

Her ears twitched.

A song echoed through the ancient cave, sounding like a hymn praising the ocean currents and sea breeze.

"Blasty! It's up ahead!"

Green jumped onto Blastoise's shell. He surged across the underground lake as though riding the waves.

Hikaru mounted Miraidon. Hadron Engine roared to life, and the thunderous engine split the water apart.

Green stared in amazement for several seconds before shouting over the noise.

"That's so cool! A flying cyber-dragon motorcycle! If I go work in Paldea, will you give me a Miraidon?"

"That probably won't be possible. This guy is technically an inheritance, and no second Miraidon has arrived in this world yet. If you truly manage to meet Celebi, though, maybe you can ask it to bring one here for you."

"What?! So that's how it is... Miraidon is connected to time travel?"

"I understand now! In that case, I'm definitely taking the championship!"

Hikaru studied Blastoise thoughtfully.

"Your Blastoise can locate echoes inside a dark cave and use them to detect the path ahead. Could it be...?"

"Of course. Since you're a Mega Evolution expert, Blastoise must possess that Ability."

"Mega Launcher! It dramatically increases the power of pulse- and aura-based moves!"

Green smiled confidently.

"Of course! If I'm going to enter the tournament with Blasty..."

"Then my Blastoise needs to master aura!"

"Aura allows us to form an even stronger connection, linking the hearts and lives of humans and Pokémon!"

Light shone from Blastoise's eyes.

At once, he detected everything within the cave.

Deep within the underground waters, they found a blue, shelled silhouette.

A Lapras was singing when it noticed the newcomers approaching from outside.

When Lapras was in a good mood, it sang beautifully here.

When it was in a bad mood...

Lapras looked somewhat irritated at having its singing interrupted.

"In the past, Lapras was nearly driven to extinction by illegal hunting," Hikaru said. "Later, people began protecting them so heavily that their population actually grew out of control."

During the events of HeartGold and SoulSilver, Lapras was still relatively rare. The population explosion would not occur until after the era of Sun and Moon.

In waters where too many Lapras lived, the number of fish Pokémon had supposedly begun to decline.

Wishiwashi: That's right. They mean me.

Blastoise stopped a short distance from Lapras. Green stood upright on his shell.

"Lapras is extremely intelligent and can completely understand human speech!"

"So, Lapras!"

"I came here for you. I like you, and I need your power. Please become my partner!"

Confusion and astonishment appeared in Lapras's eyes.

She had confessed her feelings the moment they met.

What was that supposed to mean?

Oh. She wanted to battle.

What a troublesome woman!

Lapras's gaze shifted slightly. It shook its head and immediately dove underwater.

Green blinked.

"What?! It ran away?!"

"You might need its power, but that doesn't mean it'll agree to be caught," Hikaru said. "Lapras dislikes conflict."

"Still, it hasn't left. It probably wants to see whether you can find it beneath the water."

"Be careful. These underground waters connect to the sea. And... I can sense other powerful presences."

"Some Pokémon approach people who possess the treasures they seek. In this case, I'm talking about Mega Stones."

The Medicham Green sought, which could only be called out by Sinnoh Sound, had probably already appeared somewhere inside the cave.

Meditite lived here, so it would not be strange for one to reach a high enough level to evolve after years of yoga training.

It had already been proven that Mega Stones could attract Pokémon. The legend of Lucario, the games, and the behavior shown by Pokémon in Pokémon Adventures all demonstrated that certain Pokémon actively sought this power.

However, some Pokémon could not distinguish one stone from another.

For example, a Poochyena living in a house on Hoenn's Route 123 would give the player a Gyaradosite.

That really was a precious gift from a random dog by the roadside.

"So you're here, Medicham?" Green said. "The power of yoga... All right, I'll catch every Pokémon I need right here!"

Her excitement soared. The Key Stone and Mega Stone in her hands shone with blue light, but Hikaru raised a hand to interrupt her.

"Roaring throughout an underground lake will attract other Trainers. Nobody knew there was a passage here before, but now..."

A cold young voice came from the far end of the cave.

"Outsiders have discovered the place where Lapras sings..."

"I already defeated every Trainer in this cave. But it seems more opponents worthy of a battle have appeared!"

"Defeated every Trainer in the cave..." Hikaru murmured. "Wait. That setup..."

"Who are you?" Green called. "Are you after Lapras too? You can hide in the darkness, but you can't escape Blastoise's detection!"

"I'm nobody," the mysterious boy replied. "I'm not here to catch Lapras. I'm only doing a little training and trying to get along better with my Pokémon."

"I'm just a passerby."

The red-haired boy's gaze swept across Hikaru. A trace of wariness entered his eyes, as though he had noticed something unusual.

Then he met the eyes of the girl named Green.

"Feraligatr, use Slash!"

The enormous blue alligator struck the water and charged forward, plowing through the waves.

At the same time, Hikaru heard Lapras singing.

"This is a test," he said. "Lapras wants to see what you're capable of, Green."

"The person across from you is the opponent Lapras has selected."

"And there are other presences watching from nearby... Yes, one of them is quite close."

As a psychic himself, Hikaru was highly sensitive to other psychic powers.

Aside from Medicham, Absol, and other Pokémon drawn here from distant regions by the sound, there might truly be another, far more unusual traveler inside this cave.

After all, Green was carrying numerous Mega Stones.

"Silver, the king of grinding out two-thousand-point scores at Pal Park! The rival of Indigo Plateau's fifth Champion!"

Hikaru recognized the red-haired boy at first glance.

Wasn't this the Silver from their own timeline?

Trainer class: Passerby!

He was the only character who had ever possessed that Trainer class.

Hikaru had met another Silver in a different world. He had even fought Arceus alongside the Gold, Silver, and Crystal trio.

However, this was his first time encountering the game version of Silver from his own world.

This battle was also quite interesting.

Silver versus Green.

It was an unexpected matchup.

Of course, these two were not siblings in the game timeline. They did not even know each other!

One was a character who debuted in Generation II, while the other was a phantom character who did not officially appear until Generation VII.

There was no connection between them at all. Their relationship from Pokémon Adventures had not been carried over!

"A score of two thousand at Pal Park?!" Green exclaimed, her interest immediately rising.

"After the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City closed, it was rebuilt into a place called Pal Park. Apparently, the park attracts Pokémon from other places because it's a natural Pokémon habitat!"

"But two thousand points at Pal Park... If I remember correctly, that's the highest possible catching score!"

"Does that mean he's an expert at catching Pokémon, just like me?"

"How interesting! This is going to be so much fun! Let's battle!"

Silver himself was even more shocked.

"How did anyone find out that I've been obsessively grinding two-thousand-point scores at Pal Park? If Ethan learns about it, then...!"

"And that man should be... If I remember correctly, I saw him on the news. He's a Champion!"

"Could he really be...?"

Silver recalled purchasing pickled vegetables that increased a Pokémon's strength from a certain shop a long time ago.

He had been training in the Dragon's Den at the time. Later, he had teamed up with Ethan for a practice battle against Lance and Clair.

The owner of that shop seemed to have been this very Champion.

"I'm the one who should be calling this interesting," Silver said. "The Sage Champion! I never expected to find you here."

"Did you come to participate in the Fighting tournament? That would explain why so many unfamiliar Trainers from other regions have recently appeared in Johto!"

"Compared to a Champion, though, that other person seems much weaker. A weak Trainer can never draw out a Pokémon's full power!"

Despite his mockery, Green only grew more excited.

"You're calling me a weak Trainer? That's a bold claim."

"If you want to challenge a Champion, you'll have to get past me first!"

"Red-haired boy, I'll show you my Pokémon's true power. In exchange, show me yours!"

"By connecting the bonds between humans and Pokémon, then sharing the Trainer's stamina with their partner Pokémon, we create the power known as Mega Evolution!"

"That is the technique I possess as a Mega Evolution expert!"

A Key Stone appeared between Green's fingers.

Her other hand held a Mega Stone.

"Here we go, Blastoise!"

"Mega Evolve!"

Golden light blazed.

A Mega Evolution phenomenon different from the usual one occurred. It was the same method Green had demonstrated in Pokémon Evolutions.

"What...?" Silver stared. "Blastoise got bigger?!"

Silver had spent all his time training in isolation, so he had never seen an Evolution that surpassed normal Evolution.

The same was true of Feraligatr!

The era of HeartGold and SoulSilver had only just ended.

How could Green suddenly pull out something from the age of Mega Evolution?

A small shell formed over each of Mega Blastoise's arms, and a water cannon emerged from each one.

At the same time, the two cannons on its back merged into one enormous cannon!

"Feraligatr, use Waterfall!" Silver commanded.

"Gatr!"

Feraligatr and Blastoise slammed their fists together.

The collision of their strength sent violent waves and ripples surging across the underground lake. The air roared and exploded around them.

Blastoise's enormous cannon aimed directly at Feraligatr's body.

At that instant, Feraligatr suddenly became unable to move.

It had flinched!

Silver froze, then heard Green's laughter.

"Fake Out!"

Green's Blastoise was one of the few known to carry Fake Out.

No matter how the rest of the battle unfolded, Blastoise would always strike first!

"Blast!"

A tremendous wave of power gathered inside Blastoise's cannon.

Ability: Mega Launcher!

The power of pulse and aura moves increased by fifty percent!

Green thrust a finger forward, her momentum soaring.

She would use this opening to finish her opponent in a single blow!

"Use Aura Sphere!"

————————

In a shadowy place deep within Union Cave, someone watched the fierce clash between the wielders of waves.

Blue and purple crystals lined the area. Crooked inscriptions, now so faded that they could barely be understood, had been carved into the walls.

It was not uncommon for Pokémon to be drawn toward the life energy released by Mega Evolution.

Some people came here in pursuit of Lapras's song.

Others hid within the cave to train their bodies and minds.

There were also Pokémon that traveled from distant lands, entered through the ocean currents, and came here to experience the power of Link.

Union Cave connected the sea south of Johto with the mysterious Ruins of Alph.

It was also known as the Linking Cave.

Union Cave.

A cave of union.

"We unite. Union means both Link and battle."

"The higher one's Link, the greater a Pokémon's abilities and potential for growth. That is why selecting a compatible Warrior partner is so important..."

In distant lands, people carried Pokémon inside balls.

The strongest martial artists and Fighting-type Pokémon in the world...

When the Shiny Rayquaza awakened, this ancient being had awakened as well, opening its eyes to a world four hundred years in the future.

It had sensed the convergence of aura and crossed distant skies and oceans to reach this place.

"When one possesses a powerful desire to meet a certain Pokémon, that Pokémon may be guided to their side."

"Or perhaps I was simply drawn here by that power."

"Four hundred years ago, I used my power near Kalos and was exposed to a certain kind of energy. To think the stone formed at that time would return to me in this fashion..."

Electrical light flashed.

Hikaru left the waters where the battle was taking place and entered the dark, open chamber.

Standing among the mysterious purple crystals was an ancient being from a distant land, a Pokémon possessing tremendous psychic power.

Zygarde Core No. 5, clinging to Hikaru's backpack, stared at the figure and vaguely remembered something.

"Whoa! Who is that guy...? He looks really familiar..."

Hikaru stared in disbelief.

"You've got to be kidding me... You actually appeared."

"You're... Individual Zero!"

The mysterious being spoke.

"No. I am the Legendary Pokémon... Illusio!"

Mewtwo was merely the name people of the future had given it.

As a memorial to the past, it preferred to call itself Illusio.

After all, the place of its birth had been the kingdom of Illusio in the Ransei region.

"It has been a very long time... You must be Nagamasa, correct?"

This was the Mewtwo Hikaru called Individual Zero.

It was a mysterious Legendary Pokémon that had existed during the age of Ransei four hundred years ago.

Before its existence was confirmed, every Mewtwo encountered thus far had been created as a clone using one of Mew's eyelashes as genetic material.

When a Pokémon appeared in the future, it could also appear in the past, almost like a paradox.

The same applied to Pokémon such as Electivire and Magmortar.

At least those Pokémon could be explained away through natural forces such as tremendous electrical currents, electromagnetic fields, and extreme heat.

If that explanation failed, there was always a spacetime distortion available to patch the hole.

Mewtwo's existence, however, was far more unusual.

"Now that I think about it, the story of the Ransei region did contain dialogue connecting it to Johto," Hikaru said.

"There were references to the Cianwood Pharmacy, Apricorns, and other construction projects. The historical period matches Ransei's timeline from four hundred years ago perfectly."

"There's no tension in its power, only calmness and stability. That immense strength is completely controlled."

"That's because its Ability isn't Pressure."

"It's Life Force!"

At the beginning of every turn, it restored one eighth of its maximum health!

"Nagamasa..." Hikaru murmured. "Another Pokémon called me that before, but I don't think I'm that person."

"Most importantly, I've never caught an Eevee."

Mewtwo, Individual Zero, looked at him.

"Is that so? Did I mistake you for someone else?"

"No. I could not have been mistaken!"

"This will be my first battle in four hundred years. Shall we test our strength?"

"Only a brief exchange before the true battle begins."

Psychic types were super effective against Fighting types.

After Mega Evolving into Mega Mewtwo X, Mewtwo looked like a superior Medicham based purely on its stats. In actual battle, however, its damage output could not compare with the true master of Pure Power.

Its Ability was practically useless.

It possessed a staggering base Attack of 190, yet its strongest reliable physical Fighting-type move with a same-type attack bonus was Brick Break.

If only it could learn Close Combat...

Its same-type move pool did include Focus Punch, an immensely powerful physical attack.

In a real-time battle, the issue of Focus Punch requiring preparation might not be so severe.

Hikaru had already met many powerful Pokémon capable of unleashing Focus Punch instantly or dramatically shortening its charging time.

The most recent had been the progenitor of aura.

"You mistook me for someone else," Hikaru said. "But are you planning to enter a human competition?"

"That competition is quite similar to a war," Mewtwo replied. "I was drawn here because of it."

"I do not believe any rule states that a Pokémon cannot enter by itself."

"Or perhaps I shall enter with that girl."

"Her pure desire to meet one of my kind contains no falsehood. I find her rather appealing."

"And then there are those stones..."

"But we can discuss that later."

"Nagamasa... Come!"

When it came to battling Mewtwo...

The two Mewtwo Hikaru knew were both his friends, so he had never fought them.

But if this was merely a training match...

"This would normally be the perfect time to demonstrate the power of Mega Evolution," Hikaru said.

"But when we're talking about a Mewtwo's destined rival, there can only be one partner!"

A powerful current of air erupted as a Master Ball opened.

A double helix of DNA transformed into blades and spikes capable of piercing anything!

When it came to Mewtwo's greatest rival...

It had to be Deoxys!

"Greetings, Individual Zero! I am Zoffy, Captain of the Space Garrison, and I come from the far reaches of the universe!"

A ferocious gale swept through the cavern!

The invincible Zoffy would never fall!

Focus Punch times two!

"Two Psychic-type Pokémon fighting hand-to-hand with Fighting-type techniques."

"It's practically a recreation of FireRed and LeafGreen!"

....

Ten minutes later, the aftershocks of the battle had shaken crystals loose throughout the deepest reaches of the cave.

Green returned triumphantly with Blastoise.

She had sensed the battle taking place above them long ago, but assumed Hikaru was merely testing his strength against Medicham or another Pokémon.

When she saw the destruction covering the chamber, both Green and Blastoise stared in shock.

"What... happened here?"

"What kind of Pokémon was here just now?"

"Shopkeeper, are you all right?"

Hikaru brushed the dust from his clothes. He had not suffered any injuries.

Miraidon peeked out from behind a rock and blinked its electronic eyes, looking as though it had greatly enjoyed watching the spectacle.

Victini and Zygarde Core No. 5 were perched on its head. One head sat above another like a stack of nesting dolls as they all peered out together.

"I'm fine," Hikaru said. "A very powerful Pokémon appeared and fought me for a little while."

"It has already left using Teleport."

"Medicham and the other Pokémon have come out as well, so now is the perfect time to fight them one after another."

"And Green..."

"You have every reason to be excited."

"Some very distinguished guests have traveled a long way to attend this Fighting tournament!"

(End of Chapter)

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