Master Craftsman of the Pokémon World

Speaking of which, who in the world brought more than thirty Pokémon to compete in a sports tournament? If the local athletes saw them, they would probably declare them unbeatable on the spot.

This was practically smurfing. However, in some events, the Pokémon competed entirely on their own without receiving any instructions from their Trainers. Perhaps the medals would not simply fall into their laps after all.

Green hummed cheerfully as she walked beside Hikaru.

"Oh, a battle where Trainers aren't allowed to give instructions? I feel like I've heard of something like that before. Right, the Battle Palace at Hoenn's Battle Frontier! The Pokémon decide when to fight and which moves to use entirely on their own. The challenger can only watch and isn't allowed to issue any commands."

"The Battle Palace is led by Spenser," Hikaru said. "According to that old man, the Palace is a place that tests the bond between hearts."

Silver fell into thought.

"A battle where Trainers don't participate and the Pokémon make their own decisions..."

He was extremely interested in everything Green and Hikaru discussed.

The three of them had performed some aura training near Union Cave's Route 33 exit. Naturally, neither Green nor Silver could learn how to wield aura after only a short period of training. Green, however, had already taught Blastoise how to use Aura Sphere, so she thoroughly understood its principles.

Silver struggled a little more.

After all, he did not possess a single Pokémon capable of learning Aura Sphere.

Hikaru laughed.

"You don't necessarily have to learn how to use it. You only need to understand how aura exists and what it represents. Even without wielding aura yourself, you can still achieve your goal of improving your relationship with your Pokémon."

"Besides, this is also preparation for Feraligatr's potential Mega Evolution."

The three of them left Route 33 and traveled together to Kurt's house. Since they were all heading in the same direction, they had naturally become temporary traveling companions.

"We're back in Azalea Town..." Green said. "This place has a legend about a Slowpoke's yawn bringing rain. I've also heard that Slowpoke tails are common food in some faraway places, but selling them is prohibited in Johto."

"Slowpoke are sacred Pokémon here."

That was also why only one shady merchant in the entire Johto region sold Slowpoke Tails. He demanded one million Pokédollars for his delicious tails, but since a person could carry no more than 999,999 Pokédollars, it was impossible to buy one.

Kurt's home was enormous and included an entire stretch of mountains and orchards.

Evidently, Kurt's ancestors who had traveled to Hisui gradually disappeared into obscurity there. Meanwhile, the branch of the family that remained in Johto preserved its traditional craftsmanship and passed its superb techniques down through the generations.

Of course, every gain came with a loss.

Jet Balls and Gigaton Balls, for example, were unique products of the Hisuian era. Even the finest modern craftsmen seemed incapable of recreating them.

Not even Kurt's secret Apricorn Ball manuals contained their recipes. Regardless of the world, no version of Kurt knew how to make those Balls.

When the three of them arrived, Kurt was quite surprised to see Green and Silver.

Silver had appeared in Azalea Town during Team Rocket's Slowpoke-poaching incident. Like Ethan, he had performed remarkably well while fighting Team Rocket.

Green, meanwhile, had only recently left the town.

"What's wrong, Green? Have you already run out of Poké Balls? If you brought more Apricorns, I can make some for you. Apricorn Balls can't shrink, though. That's a troublesome limitation. You might not have enough room in your bag for so many."

Then Kurt turned toward Hikaru.

"And Hikaru, you finally made it here. I never expected you to arrive with Green and Silver."

Kurt took a deep breath.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time. You've accomplished many things in other regions. Even my old friends have been praising you."

"I apologize for taking so long to visit you," Hikaru said.

Kurt laughed heartily. He did not mind in the slightest, and his happiness came from the bottom of his heart.

"It's fine. Everyone has important things they need to do. Seeing what you've accomplished makes me very happy."

"You've also earned quite a reputation as a craftsman!"

"Oh, right! It's rare for the three of you to visit together, and I recently researched something interesting. I'll give you each one of these special Balls, which I haven't made in many years, as a souvenir."

He looked at Hikaru.

"Then again, you seem to have already mastered all the techniques I intended to teach you. I heard you even unraveled the secret of the GS Ball?"

Hikaru looked slightly embarrassed.

Before coming here to study, he had already learned how to make nearly every variety of special Poké Ball from manuals originating in other worlds.

Apricorn Balls had always existed primarily as rewards. Although they were rare varieties of Poké Balls, some of them were less practical than the specialty Balls produced by Silph Co. and the Devon Corporation.

"I learned how to make several types of Poké Balls in Sinnoh," Hikaru explained. "I also learned... a few methods in Unova. It seems people created special Poké Balls long ago and left manuals behind. I also encountered knowledge that transcended time itself..."

Hikaru briefly explained how he had acquired his crafting techniques.

When he heard the part about time, Kurt repeatedly nodded in sudden understanding.

"Craftsmanship transcends time. Even the guardian of the forest has a close connection to a particular Ball. I understand that now."

"Hmm. You mentioned the Ransei region... To be honest, while my family has passed down many old stories, I don't remember anything about a region with that name."

"Perhaps it was like some of the knowledge lost in Sinnoh. A member of the family might have traveled abroad and established another branch. Maybe our ancestors migrated here from some distant land, or perhaps someone eventually returned home. Any of those possibilities could be true."

"As for Sinnoh, someone in our family really did travel there long ago. I've heard that one person even abandoned woodworking and Poké Ball craftsmanship to pursue medicine. Apparently, he became one of the oldest and most famous physicians of the modern era."

"Unfortunately, several migrations occurred around that time. People who left their families and traveled to distant lands rarely left detailed records, so much of that history was lost."

"Given everything we know now, we shouldn't jump to conclusions about the true origins of Apricorn Balls. People sometimes lose far more than we realize. The history of crafting Poké Balls from Apricorns stretches back four hundred years, but according to what you've told me, similar sealing vessels existed in even more ancient eras."

"That makes sense. Ultimately, a Ball is merely a container. More importantly, it allows anyone to remain together with a Pokémon. Most older vessels required the user to possess at least some kind of special power."

Kurt chuckled.

"People with superhuman abilities aren't exactly found on every street corner!"

Hikaru's gaze shifted.

As expected...

It was Alec.

"What kind of special commemorative Ball are you talking about, Mr. Kurt?" Green asked curiously. "Is it the Premier Ball sold in stores?"

Kurt rubbed his chin.

"No. That's merely an attractive white Poké Ball made using modern technology. It doesn't possess any unique qualities."

"Although, now that I say that, the new commemorative Ball I want to give you doesn't possess any special abilities either. It would be more accurate to say... Well, it's an old design passed down from the past, but it doesn't seem to have any unusual effects."

"Its crafting process is extremely complicated and difficult, though. That makes it particularly valuable."

"Here. This is the one."

Kurt had prepared it in advance. He reached into his sleeve and produced a brilliant red Ball.

It was a Ball even more mysterious than the Strange Ball.

It was also the first unobtainable Poké Ball ever introduced, which made it one of the rarest Balls in existence.

Hikaru's eyes lit up.

"That's... a Cherish Ball?!"

"Oh, you know about it! Of course you do."

Kurt was briefly taken aback, but quickly showed an expression of understanding.

"When I began making these Balls again, I suddenly realized that their crafting method was remarkably similar to the Hisuian series you created."

"Perhaps this Ball was passed down to commemorate some event in ancient Sinnoh. I have no idea what that event could have been, though."

"Since it doesn't possess any special effects, I've always treated it as a souvenir. I only made a few of them in the past."

When a Pokémon emerged from a Cherish Ball, it was surrounded by a special red animation. Apart from that, its catch rate was no different from an ordinary Poké Ball's.

It was a special red Ball created exclusively for distributed Pokémon.

However, the moment the Origin Ball appeared, everyone immediately understood that the Cherish Ball had been created to commemorate it.

"Green Apricorns are the most common variety," Kurt explained. "White and red Apricorns are the rarest."

"You make this using a Red Apricorn and a red gemstone. Red Apricorns are ordinarily used to make Level Balls, but adding different materials produces a different result."

"When people think of rubies, they think of Mt. Ember in the Sevii Islands. In other words, we can consider rubies minerals formed from the energy of volcanic eruptions. There must be something unique hidden within them."

After inviting the three of them inside, Kurt handed Hikaru his notes on crafting Cherish Balls.

"The basic process is no different from making any other Apricorn Ball. The only additional step is incorporating the gemstone."

"I never found the process particularly easy, but with your current skills, it should suit you perfectly."

"These Balls were once described as priceless treasures. Of course, almost no one in modern society even recognizes them. You wouldn't earn much by selling one to a shop."

Kurt's complaint naturally referred to the Cherish Ball's official sale price.

Even Hikaru could not help laughing.

The Ball was called a treasure. It was impossible to obtain through normal means. Despite all that, it somehow possessed a sale price of...

Only five hundred Pokédollars!

What a catastrophic drop in value!

It was being treated with utter contempt!

However, to anyone who understood the significance of this red Ball, it was a treasure that no amount of money could buy.

All three of them received a Cherish Ball as a souvenir. Green and Silver had very different opinions of it.

"Thank you very much!" Green exclaimed. "It sparkles like a precious jewel! Throwing a Ball like this at a Pokémon... Now that's what I call a treasure! I'll have to find someone worthy of it!"

Silver stared at the Ball.

"It looks like it might break when I throw it. Is it genuinely sturdy and practical, or is it meant more for display? It is beautiful, though. Uh... Thank you."

Hikaru, meanwhile, was thinking about something else.

The process of crafting a Cherish Ball was slightly more complicated than that of making an ancient Hisuian Poké Ball.

Still, incorporating gemstones into the crafting process was unmistakably a technique unique to Hisui. The technology had originally been developed by the Galaxy Team and incorporated part of Professor Laventon's research. That was why Hisuian Poké Balls released steam when they captured Pokémon.

The most unusual Ball was the Origin Ball, which combined Origin Ore with fragments of the Red Chain.

In other words, it could do more than capture any Pokémon. It could also suppress the tremendous energy and spiritual fluctuations released by its target.

After all, it was fundamentally an item created from fragments of space-time. Even its crafting method had been taught directly by Dialga or Palkia.

"If I used the same technique and incorporated the mass-produced Plates we obtained in Sinnoh, could I reproduce the effects of the Origin Ball?"

"After all, the fragments of the shattered Red Chain..."

When the incident in Sinnoh ended, pieces of the five chains had been scattered everywhere.

The chains themselves could only be created by completing certain trials or by using specialized technology to forge meteorites at unique locations. However, with modern technology, producing copies no longer seemed particularly difficult.

It was almost like activating a cheat code.

Still, the result would not be a genuine Stone of Creation, so a Ball made from it would undoubtedly possess different effects.

Plates were finished products processed by the power of space-time itself. Origin Ore was a far more potent raw material imbued with Arceus's divine power.

"So all I'm missing now is Hisui's Stone of Creation."

People in the Hisuian era had described that stone as possessing a mysterious vitality, almost like feeling the pulse of the earth itself.

Mining it, however, required specialized knowledge and techniques. Only Lian of the ancient Pearl Clan possessed that expertise.

His partner Hisuian Sliggoo's ability to excavate was actually the least important part.

"Mining... The simplest profession, yet also one of the most technically demanding."

"The Origin Ball itself only possesses a catching advantage against Arceus's creations. It probably wouldn't receive any special bonus against an alien trespasser like the Blinding One."

"Even so, it possesses considerable suppressive power against ordinary Pokémon. The strength of the Red Chain's fragments was demonstrated during the Diamond and Pearl arc."

"In that case, perhaps it's better to allow the Cherish Ball to continue existing as a rare commemorative Ball."

Furthermore, since it was made using a ruby, the Cherish Ball could also be treated as a ruby in its own right.

That meant it could be used by the Regional Habitat Amplifier to reproduce the environmental conditions of the Sevii Islands or Hoenn.

However, Hoenn did not possess any regional forms. Reproducing Hoenn's habitat would merely make the local environment more comfortable for Pokémon from Hoenn.

That did not sound especially useful.

Hoenn was suffering from the limitations of an older generation.

Then again, perhaps that was not entirely true.

If Faraway Island counted as part of the Hoenn region, Hikaru could combine the ruby energy from Cherish Balls with a Sapphire and the Regional Habitat Amplifier.

Following the Ecology Core's method of influencing an ecosystem, he could then transform the local soil until it possessed the same properties as Faraway Island's earth.

They could set aside the soil's other potential effects, such as allowing every Pokémon to thrive, calming rampaging Pokémon, or supporting the cultivation of every variety of Berry.

The most important point was that a region's environment could also influence moves.

In other words, perhaps they could legitimately "magically create" Pokémon that possessed all kinds of desirable moves.

After all, that island was the homeland of every Pokémon.

Hikaru carefully put away the Cherish Ball crafting instructions.

If he merely wanted to reproduce the Ball using red gemstones and Apricorns, he could use the Item Printer to mass-produce them.

There was no need to consume precious materials like Red Crystals or rubies. The artificially manufactured Red Jewels produced in Sinnoh would work just as well.

They were defective products synthesized through modern industrial techniques, but so what?

The catch rate would be exactly the same!

[Item Printer registration complete: Cherish Ball, Legends: Legendary Treasure!]

"What kind of Pokémon would be worthy of a Cherish Ball? Maybe I should put Core No. 5 inside one...?"

"Come to think of it, can a Zygarde Core even be caught by a Poké Ball? Should we test it?"

How about using this as a substitute for a Zygarde Cube?

Core No. 5, who had stuck itself to Hikaru's backpack and was using Camouflage to conceal itself, suddenly trembled.

["Big Brother... Please don't talk about this like you're performing an experiment! Besides, red isn't really... Sorry, but I prefer green!"]

Hikaru laughed softly.

At that moment, Kurt brought out something else.

"Take this too. It might have something to do with the ancient physician you asked about. It's a traditional handmade craft."

"To me, though, its value can't compare with that of a Poké Ball."

It was an old wooden box resembling a music box.

Yosegi-zaiku.

It was an ancient craft that had appeared in "Two Hues," the final episode of Pokémon: Hisuian Snow. Also known as Japanese marquetry, the technique created geometric patterns by combining natural woods such as cherry, lacquer, and quince. The patterns were formed through the natural differences in the wood's colors, with no artificial dyeing required.

Finished products included puzzle boxes, letter boxes, tea utensils, and even guitars.

The most famous were secret puzzle boxes that could only be opened by following a specific series of steps. They were essentially educational toys from the modern era's early history.

"A wooden puzzle box?" Hikaru asked.

"Something like that," Kurt replied. "Your family works with stone, while ours specializes in wood."

"Long ago, these wooden secret boxes were made as a type of puzzle game. Some people placed special gifts inside them and gave them to others, bringing happiness to the recipients."

"Take a look. Can you tell anything from it? Hmm... It isn't some extraordinary product, but it still possesses a certain commemorative value. Consider it a gift."

Not an extraordinary product...

As a work of art, it was actually quite impressive.

The more modern society became, the more popular and expensive traditional wooden handicrafts grew. After all, plenty of people pursued things that were "completely natural."

Hikaru silently grumbled to himself.

Kurt only dismissed it because his family possessed even greater Apricorn-working techniques.

If any ordinary carpenter possessed craftsmanship like this, they would preserve it as a family treasure and never teach it to an outsider.

Then again, every named woodworker in the Pokémon world seemed unusually talented.

Kurt, the Old Master Woodcarver, Booker Hastings...

Uh, they were all elderly men!

Among younger artists who worked with wood, someone like Brassius was actually the least practical and ranked near the bottom.

After all, how could an artist compare with someone involved in actual production? Everything those old woodworkers made had to be both practical and beautiful.

"Hmm... Red Berries."

Hikaru suddenly remembered something.

In the Oblivia region, there were trees that produced red fruit.

Giving someone one of those red fruits symbolized reconciliation.

Those fruits were probably...

Red Apricorns?

Then again, Tamato Berries, Spelon Berries, and Hondew Berries could also be considered red fruits.

It was probably nothing more than a small Easter egg hinting at connections between different regions.

"Red, gemstones, wood, fire... and statues."

"Looks like I can change classes and become a Buddhist sculptor now."

Northern Goldenrod City, Johto region.

The Pokéathlon Dome!

A settlement resembling an Athletes' Village had developed around the Pokéathlon Dome.

Unlike the Galar region, Johto's sporting competitions and Pokémon battles were treated as separate categories.

As the opening day steadily approached, competitors from other regions continually arrived.

Some stayed in the Athletes' Village and spent their days running through the mountains and fields surrounding Goldenrod City.

More powerful martial artists disliked the atmosphere of this crowded urban area. They lived alone in the nearby mountains instead, attempting to unite mind and body and attain a perfect state.

The Bug-Catching Contest was also held in the neighboring National Park every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

No entry fee was required, which made the area surrounding the Pokéathlon even more crowded.

During Generation II, the National Park's Bug-Catching Contest had contained an extraordinarily powerful glitch.

Players could artificially create hybrid Pokémon, magically generate illegal moves, and even raise a Pokémon's level as high as 255, although doing so could freeze the game.

Perhaps there were simply too many powerful people nearby...

Green looked at her Medicham.

Its eyes practically radiated an aura that had become tangible, and sweat poured down its body.

Life Aura was surging everywhere!

The area was filled with martial artists, powerful Trainers, and high-level Pokémon. You could fire off any random move and hit five masters!

Green repeatedly shook her head.

"I've already seen several people arrive with Medicham. What's going on?"

"I can understand preparing for the Pokéathlon's other events, but if they brought Medicham specifically for the Fighting tournament... This is practically a Pure Power competition!"

"Although I expected something like this."

Silver walked with both hands in his pockets while Feraligatr followed behind him.

"But you've already made your Medicham different from everyone else's, haven't you? After these past few days of meditation and training... No, I suppose this qualifies as last-minute cramming. Either way, it should display considerable strength."

Mega Medicham...

Silver muttered to himself.

Exactly how many "stones" had this wild older girl collected?

And before the competition...

"There are still several days before the Fighting tournament begins," Silver continued. "Since the Pokéathlon is a sporting competition, its various athletic events will take place first."

"The Queen of Cameran Palace is currently on her way here. Ferrum is one of the tournament's sponsors, so they'll also send powerful competitors."

"Today is only the opening ceremony, and many people won't even attend. Quite a few of the people gathered here are Trainers who have no interest in purely athletic competitions."

"As for the strength of your Pokémon, Green... I'll be direct. Blastoise is strong, but Medicham still has a long way to go."

"The martial artists here are famous throughout their respective regions. Their Medicham are bound to be stronger than yours."

"After all, Psychic-type Pokémon possess an advantage over Fighting types, and you aren't the only clever person in the world."

Silver explained the situation they would face.

As a Johto native, he wanted to knock out every outsider he encountered.

Unfortunately, he hated that he was not strong enough to guarantee it.

If he repeated his five consecutive defeats at the Ecruteak Dance Theater...

He would completely humiliate himself in front of Ethan.

"I'm not the only clever person," Green said, wagging a finger. "But I'm the only one with a stone!"

"There are still several days before the Fighting tournament begins! That's plenty of time!"

"Well... Someone once said that whether a Pokémon is strong or weak is nothing more than a person's selfish perception!"

Hikaru fell into thought.

Very little information existed about the Ferrum region.

After all, Pokkén Tournament was a game centered around fighting. Its story revolved around a girl named Anne and Shadow Mewtwo, but the actual plot amounted to almost nothing.

Everyone only cared about enjoying the battles. Who cared about the story?

The protagonist did not even possess a default name!

Who saved the Ferrum region?

Nobody cared!

Green's words were also something Hikaru had often quoted in the past.

They were the famous words of Karen of the Elite Four.

The quote might actually be more famous than Karen herself.

Most people remembered the new Elite Four member either for her counterpart battle against Green in Pokémon Adventures or for her final battle in the fan manga Festival of Champions.

Her ancestor Charm had arguably left an even stronger impression. The mural in Hearthome City's church depicting Mount Coronet's explosion had actually been painted by Charm.

"I heard that four of the Indigo League's current Elite Four and Champion will attend the tournament," Silver said. "They won't merely serve as judges. Some of them will also compete."

"Uh, to be precise, the only one who won't attend is..."

"Will," Hikaru said. "He'll remain behind to guard Indigo Plateau."

Hikaru laughed.

"It seems Psychic-type Elite Four members are naturally destined to work overtime. Psychic powers really are convenient."

In older generations, Psychic-type specialists possessed intimidating auras. They were usually immersed in oceans of knowledge or gave the impression that they could fall asleep anywhere at any time.

Lucian and Caitlin were good examples.

After Generation VII, however, Psychic-type Trainers had gradually turned into comedians.

"That's where they sell Aprijuice." Silver pointed toward a crowded stand in the distance. "It's a drink that can improve a Pokémon's performance. The locals make it using an Apriblender."

The shop had also appeared in the Diamond and Pearl anime, where it belonged to an anime-original character named Khoury. Lyra had even briefly promoted the shop for him.

Silver looked around.

"Hmm... Places with such a strong atmosphere of 'playing around' tend to attract that person..."

"Do you mean Lyra?" Hikaru asked.

Silver froze.

"Hmm... You know her?"

"Lyra and I aren't particularly close. Still, since I'm Ethan's companion, I should be more suited than she is to..."

"What kind of bizarre statement is that?" Green asked.

Silver had been frightened unconscious by the sheer power of New Bark Town friendship.

"Tch! What I mean is that Lyra is clearly strong, but she's always running around playing instead of seriously training."

"That's what I dislike about her. She's also far too cheerful. I'm not very good at dealing with her."

"That makes her unqualified to be a rival."

One of Lyra's famous lines was:

[If you spend all your time battling like Red, when are you supposed to have fun?]

How could anyone think like that?!

The worst part was that she spent every day playing around and was still almost as strong as Silver.

Damn it!

Did that make him the underachiever?

She was also constantly accompanied by a Marill that smelled like a dirty rag...

Silver silently complained to himself.

"Lyra doesn't seem to be here," Green said. "Anyway, let's watch the opening ceremony and then enter today's events."

Silver cleared his throat.

"The Pokéathlon also offers several special prizes."

"For example, the Golden Running Shoes have fan-like devices in their soles that compress air and allow the wearer to run at high speed. There are also a Golden Tracksuit and a Red Flag."

"If someone earns first place in the same event enough times, they can receive a commemorative 'Stay on Top' Poké Ball and a Golden Pokégear."

Theoretically, the latter two prizes required fifty first-place victories and one hundred first-place victories.

Although the Pokéathlon was held several times each year, meeting those requirements was nearly impossible.

Naturally, the conditions had been simplified in reality.

"Five first-place finishes and ten first-place finishes?" Hikaru asked.

"Exactly," Silver replied.

"That doesn't sound very difficult!" Green said. "Let's treat it as entertainment and have some fun!"

"The Speed and Skill events take place first," Silver explained. "Hurdle Dash, Relay Run, Pennant Capture, Goal Roll, and Snow Throw."

"After that come the Power and Stamina events: Block Smash, Ring Drop, and Circle Push."

"The Jump events are last: Lamp Jump and Disc Catch."

"You can use the same three Pokémon for everything or rotate several Pokémon between events. There are no restrictions in that regard."

"However, if you want to earn first place... You need to complete Hurdle Dash in under one hundred seconds just to qualify for the top ranking. The current mastery record is eighty seconds."

"The Relay Run record is sixteen laps. The Pennant Capture record is fifty flags for a single team. Snow Throw is fifty-five hits, while Goal Roll is nine points."

"I need to adjust the performance distribution of my Pokémon... Do either of you need Aprijuice?"

Silver looked toward the Aprijuice stand, then suddenly froze.

"Uh... Something's strange."

A crowd had gathered around the stand.

The man hired to sell juice wore a white cape, a purple formal suit, and a red bow tie. He was dressed incredibly fashionably.

Silver felt as though he had seen him in Cianwood City.

In front of the stand, two girls were adjusting their Pokémon's condition.

The younger one could be ignored for now. The slightly older girl, who was a little older than Silver and Ethan, had once proclaimed herself an "explosively beautiful girl."

"That's Whitney, isn't it?" Hikaru asked.

"It's definitely Whitney," Green said. "Hmm. I heard she's one of the Pokéathlon's all-stars."

Of course she was.

Silver stared at her.

"Terrifying Rollout Woman..."

Green laughed.

"What kind of strange nickname is that? Whatever you do, don't say it in front of her. She'll attack you in a fury. I guarantee it!"

Silver frowned as the situation continued to deteriorate.

Winning or losing was supposedly not important. His primary purpose was participating and improving his relationships with his Pokémon.

Why, then, did one troublesome opponent after another keep appearing?

Whitney, Goldenrod City's Gym Leader, was not considered exceptionally powerful in ordinary battles. However, Silver had heard that she was an incredible "beautiful-girl celebrity" who used Rollout to send her opponents scattering during Pokéathlon competitions.

Silver had seen her before while investigating Team Rocket in the Goldenrod Underground.

That was hardly surprising. She was Goldenrod's Gym Leader and loved radio programs. It would have been stranger if he had not encountered her.

"Whitney is one of the stars of the Speed Course," Hikaru said. "Meeting her here is perfectly normal."

Miss Rollout!

Although Whitney was canonically only an average Gym Leader among Johto's specialists, she represented the Normal type.

As Larry once said, simplicity was strength.

Misty had even defeated Whitney without taking damage in Pokémon Adventures.

However, countless players' first nightmare in Gold and Silver and HeartGold and SoulSilver had been Whitney's Rollout-spamming Miltank.

It beat them senseless and left them utterly helpless.

Its level was positioned perfectly around Level 20, before most Pokémon gained access to powerful burst-damage moves. Anyone who refused to grind was ruthlessly humiliated by Whitney.

Thus, the legend of the Terrifying Rollout Woman spread across the world.

The flamboyantly dressed man mixing Aprijuice in front of Whitney was, of course, Johto's indispensable Suicune chaser, Eusine.

His official Chinese name, Shuijing, might sound unfamiliar to some people, but anyone who heard his older translated names would immediately remember who he was.

"That makes sense," Hikaru murmured. "The Legendary beasts aren't mandatory captures in HeartGold and SoulSilver."

"Ethan saw Ho-Oh but didn't capture Suicune, so Eusine never returned to his hometown in Celadon City. He remained in Johto."

"Suicune isn't anywhere near Johto now, though. Ho-Oh dispatched the three beasts to a distant place connected to them."

"Since Ho-Oh has returned personally, it doesn't need its messengers to work for the time being."

Eusine's presence at a Pokéathlon event was not particularly surprising.

One of the duties of Ho-Oh's Legendary beasts was to observe the bonds and trust shared by humans and Pokémon.

A sports competition was the perfect place to witness those qualities.

Since Ho-Oh had recently returned to Johto, perhaps Eusine had also...

"You really saw Suicune?! Are you serious?!"

Eusine shouted as he continued selling juice.

The younger girl speaking with him beside Whitney was...

"Verity?"

Now this was interesting.

The man who spent his life chasing Suicune had finally encountered someone who had genuinely seen Suicune!

Verity was the girl from the twentieth Pokémon movie.

In that rebooted continuity, she had been one of Ash's first traveling companions during his journey to Mount Tensei.

She came from Twinleaf Town in the Sinnoh region, and her Japanese name originated from the concepts of honesty, truth, and justice.

She also seemed to be related to Cynthia.

"Come to think of it, Verity's mother looks remarkably similar to Cynthia, although their hair colors and Pokémon are different. Most people believe they're relatives."

"There's another possibility. She could be Cynthia's mother."

"After all, they possess the bloodline of ancient Sinnoh. Even after several decades, their appearances might not change very much."

"In the games, Cynthia actually has a younger sister whom nobody cares about and whose name has never been revealed."

"Perhaps Verity was designed using Cynthia's younger sister as her basis."

However, Cynthia's hometown was Celestic Town, while Verity came from Twinleaf Town.

That meant they could only be relatives. They certainly could not be sisters.

Silver silently approached the stall, bought his Aprijuice, and immediately returned.

As expected, Eusine did not remember Silver.

He cared far more about Verity's previous encounter with Suicune.

At that moment, Verity sensed something and suddenly looked toward Hikaru.

A strange feeling rose within her heart.

She had once sensed the same quality from Ash.

She had personally witnessed the Rainbow Wing releasing its radiance. Ho-Oh had guided her to Mount Tensei.

That sensation was the aura of happiness.

It was...

"The Rainbow Wing...!"

A confrontation between Rainbow Heroes?!

Ring...

"Huh?"

Verity turned when she heard a bell.

She looked at Eusine, whose mouth had also fallen slightly open in confusion and surprise.

That clear and melodious ringing had come from...

"The Clear Bell reacted...?"

Eusine held an old, translucent bell that sparkled like crystal.

Originally, Ethan had possessed it. He had received it from the five Kimono Girls of Ecruteak City, and it was one of the inherited treasures closely connected to the Ecruteak Dance Theater.

However, after learning that Ho-Oh had appeared, Eusine had tried challenging its trial as well.

According to the legends passed down by his grandfather, the Clear Bell also possessed a close relationship with Suicune.

Besides, Ethan was not the only person in the world who possessed one.

Eusine watched Hikaru, Green, and Silver disappear into the distance. His expression grew solemn as he exchanged glances with Verity.

"Are you going to watch the competition?" he asked.

"Of course!"

Under Whitney's bewildered gaze, both of them abandoned the stall and ran away.

"Huh? Huh?! What's going on?"

"Hey! I'm the competitor here! I haven't finished adjusting my Pokémon's performance yet!"

"How am I supposed to adjust their condition if nobody is here to sell juice?!"

"Time! I'm running out of time...!"

Whitney checked the clock.

The opening ceremony and first event were about to begin.

With no other choice, she hurried toward the stadium with Miltank.

The first day of the Pokéathlon had arrived.

The Speed Course began!

Long after everyone had disappeared...

A girl with twin ponytails and a Marill stared blankly at her abandoned stall.

She was Ethan's childhood friend, Lyra.

"Where did the person I hired go?"

"First event of the Speed Course, Hurdle Dash! Run, run, run!"

"I'm not bragging, but I'm really strong! My Pokémon are both adorable and powerful!"

Whitney had not finished adjusting her Pokémon's performance. However, as one of the Pokéathlon's Speed stars, her Miltank could still display astonishing performance by using Rollout.

Miltank could also restore her own stamina with Milk Drink.

That made Whitney one of the few Trainers capable of using the same Miltank throughout every event!

Every competitor entered three Pokémon in each competition.

In the Speed Course, Whitney would encounter an even stronger opponent.

The ultimate Pokéathlete named Jet!

"This time, I'll definitely break that guy's speed record!" Whitney declared. "I'm going to become the number-one Pokéathlete!"

"Dodrio, Rapidash, Tauros...!"

Dodrio could run at more than sixty kilometers per hour. With a base Speed of 110, it was an extraordinarily difficult opponent to overtake.

It held an especially overwhelming advantage in Hurdle Dash.

Rapidash and Tauros possessed base Speed stats of 105 and 110 respectively.

A divine horse and a divine bull!

Suddenly, a white figure rushed past at an unbelievable speed, overtaking Miltank in an instant!

"Hah!"

The Ruinous Pokémon of Snow had arrived!

The Cheese Snow Leopard, Chien-Pao!

Its base Speed of 135 dominated the entire field.

It could freely leap and tumble, and the little snow leopard had never experienced such exhilarating freedom.

It poured every ounce of strength into running wild!

When it came to speed, who could compete with a cheetah?

"Huh?! A white leopard? Whose Pokémon is that?"

Whitney stared in astonishment.

Two more Pokémon were following behind the leopard!

A green, masked "ogre" charged forward at unimaginable speed.

Crackling vines extended from beneath her green cloak and repeatedly lashed the red knight wearing golden armor beside her.

Was the knight an S or an M?

"No, wait?!"

Under Whitney's stunned gaze, the golden-armored knight grew faster and faster!

Ogerpon wore her mask and sprinted with a swagger that acknowledged neither family nor friendship. She turned toward the knight beside her.

["It's true! The more I hit you, the faster you become! Have you been adapting to this new Ability over the past few days?"]

"An Ability is a Pokémon's inner power," Armarouge replied. "Changing it can be uncomfortable."

"I'm also very fond of Flash Fire, just as Lady Lilligant refuses to replace Hustle without a good reason."

"This armor possesses special meaning to me. Therefore, this new Ability will only be used during competitions!"

"As a knight, I cannot bring shame upon my lord!"

"I shall charge forward openly and unleash my hidden power... Weak Armor!"

Whenever the Pokémon suffered a physical attack, its Defense fell by one stage while its Speed rose by two stages.

Every strike of a physical multihit attack could activate the Ability!

According to Armarouge, this was the true power of passion and bonds!

It was also the first lesson the Great Knight had learned after pledging itself to its lord:

Once a knight began a charge, it could never turn back!

"They're speeding!"

Whitney stared in amazement as the three unknown Pokémon left most of the field behind.

Even Jet, who commanded the leading team, was stunned.

What was happening?

Three Pokémon he had never seen before had suddenly appeared and caught up with him!

The white leopard sprinted past Dodrio!

The red warrior in golden armor charged beyond Rapidash!

Then came the green female Pokémon who resembled a young girl...

"Pon! Oger!"

Ogerpon touched the crystal embedded in her mask with one of the tiny hands beneath her cloak.

Once enough Tera energy accumulated, Ogerpon could Terastallize by herself!

["Masked Rider, transform!"]

["Embody Aspect!"]

Teal Mask: She drew strength from her memories, causing the Teal Mask to shine and raising her Speed!

Whoosh!

Like a violent gust of wind, Ogerpon leaped past Tauros!

Pokémon were not allowed to attack each other with moves during athletic competitions.

Abilities, however, were perfectly legal!

If a base Speed of 110 could produce the current eighty-second mastery record...

That record was about to be shattered!

All three Pokémon reached the front of the pack.

The event had transformed into a final race between Chien-Pao and its two teammates.

Ogerpon charged forward like an enraged ogre deity, wearing an enormous crystalline mask as her tiny legs blurred beneath her.

The Sun Knight's body blazed with fire and golden light!

Hey!

Were they bullying Chien-Pao because it did not possess a Speed-boosting Ability?!

Its base Speed of 135 was not merely decorative!

There was sweet juice waiting at the finish line!

"O Icerend Shrine, grant me strength!"

Armarouge stared at it.

["Who asks the object that imprisoned them to grant them strength?"]

Ogerpon looked back.

["Pao-Pao, you're in last place now! Run, run! Hurry up and do your best!"]

Chien-Pao's fur immediately stood on end.

"Hah!!!"

What the hell?!

It possessed 135 base Speed, yet it still could not win?!

If it had known this would happen, it would have entered Snow Throw!

How could two teammates slower than itself force it out through shameless power creep?!

Speed inflation had gone completely out of control!

It was going to report this to Arceus!

Using Abilities in an athletic competition did not make them heroes!

They should settle this on a proper battlefield!

Chien-Pao would remember this insult...

Just wait until next time!

"Hah!"

Whitney's eyes widened.

"Sixty seconds?! They broke Johto's record!"

(End of Chapter)

[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]

[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]

[Thanks for Reading!]