The cold wind howled.
In the distance, the towering peak of Mt. Coronet loomed, stretching across the Sinnoh region, shrouded in misty white fog and snowfall.
High above, two figures flew from Hearthome City toward Celestic Town.
The upcoming Pokémon Researchers' Conference was set to take place in Celestic Town, nestled halfway up Mt. Coronet. The Celestic Historical Research Center was to serve as the conference venue.
Perched on Dragonite's back, Johan barely felt the biting chill, thanks to the considerate Pokémon shielding him from the rushing wind with its body.
Haunter, however, was delighted, clinging to Johan's back as it eagerly peered around. Its excitement over exploring Sinnoh for the first time was evident.
Johan's expression, on the other hand, was far less composed.
His face was tense, his lips pressed firmly together, and his complexion was slightly pale.
Riding on Garchomp nearby, Cynthia noticed Johan's unusual demeanor. She tilted her head slightly, a hint of curiosity in her gaze.
"Are you afraid of heights?" she asked.
Johan turned his head stiffly, his movements betraying a touch of defiance. He shook his head resolutely.
He wasn't afraid of heights—he had spent plenty of time looking out of the plane window earlier.
"Hm?"
Cynthia tilted her head further, puzzled.
Haunter, meanwhile, let out a mischievous cackle, patting Johan on the back before extending a claw toward Cynthia. The claw shot forward like a bolt.
"Ka-kah~~"
He's afraid of speed.
Cynthia raised an eyebrow, a spark of understanding lighting her expression.
Ah, Johan wasn't afraid of flying—he was afraid of going fast.
The last time he'd been in a high-speed situation, riding with an officer Jenny, he'd barely been able to speak the whole trip.
Speed, huh?
Cynthia studied Johan for a moment before she couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Even Garchomp turned to snicker, its jagged maw curling into a toothy grin.
"Roar~~(｀)σ"
What a weakling.
Seeing Cynthia laughing uncontrollably, Johan glared at her.
"Don't all men hate going too fast?!" he protested inwardly.
Cynthia smirked playfully and teased, "If you keep glaring at me, I might ask Dragonite to use Extreme Speed."
"Rawr?"
Dragonite blinked, tilting its head.
The blood drained from Johan's face. He quickly produced a few Pokéblocks from his pocket, offering them to Dragonite as a peace offering.
"Rawr~~(`)"
Dragonite happily accepted, thrilled to earn an unexpected snack.
Cynthia tapped her lips thoughtfully, her gaze playful as she looked up at the misty moon. "Hmm... Now I feel like eating your cooking."
Taking advantage of the situation, huh? Johan thought.
Still, he had no choice but to nod obediently.
Can't argue with the person controlling the dragon.
"Alright then," Cynthia said with a satisfied smile. "Dragonite, let's slow down a bit."
She gave Garchomp a gentle pat as well.
"Roar~~"
Garchomp shot Johan a disdainful glance.
Weakling.
Johan pretended not to notice Garchomp's scorn.
You'd better hope I don't catch a Dragon Pokémon one day, he thought to himself. I'll do nothing but spam Dragon Dance in front of you.
With their pace slowing, Johan finally felt he could breathe a bit easier.
Though their speed had decreased slightly, they were still making good time toward Celestic Town.
As they neared Mt. Coronet, soft, glittering snowflakes began to drift down, swirling gently in the wind like tiny feathers.
Cynthia reached out to catch one, her eyes lighting up with delight. "It's snowing!"
Johan glanced upward.
While snow on Mt. Coronet was common, it typically fell on the mountain's far side due to the wind. For it to snow here, outside the usual range, was somewhat rare.
"It really is," Johan remarked.
"Ka-kah~~"
Haunter extended its head beyond Dragonite's protective airflow, opening its mouth wide to gulp down the icy air.
It smacked its lips thoughtfully.
"Ka-kah~~"
It tastes different from snow created by Pokémon moves.
Johan shot Haunter a glance but wasn't surprised.
Haunter had already sampled snow conjured by Vulpix's Blizzard before, so it was no surprise it would compare.
"Look," Cynthia said, pointing ahead.
In the distance, tiny pinpricks of light, like fireflies, dotted the mountainside.
As they drew closer, the lights revealed themselves to belong to a small settlement nestled on a flat plateau halfway up the mountain.
Celestic Town!
With a soft thud, Johan's feet touched the ground once more. He exhaled deeply, relieved to be off Dragonite's back.
He gave the Pokémon a grateful pat, then pulled out a generous handful of Pokéblocks.
"Rawr~~"
Dragonite happily accepted the treats and flew off in high spirits.
Johan glanced around.
Compared to Hearthome City or Rustboro City, Celestic Town was far less developed.
Its charm lay in its close connection to nature—its air was crisper, its atmosphere quieter, and its snowy surroundings gave it a serene, almost otherworldly beauty.
However, a practical concern arose.
Where do I stay?
In a bustling city like Hearthome, accommodations would be easy to find. But in this remote town, was there even a Pokémon Center?
"Why are you just standing there?"
Cynthia's voice pulled him from his thoughts. She waved him over.
"Oh... okay," Johan replied, following her.
They arrived at a wooden house that exuded a warm, rustic charm.
Is this... Cynthia's home?
Though he had visited the location countless times in the games, this was his first time seeing it in real life.
Cynthia pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Her Pokéballs automatically opened.
Garchomp and Lucario took their positions at the entrance, their gazes sharp and unyielding as they scrutinized Johan.
"Why aren't you coming in?"
Cynthia peeked back, her expression puzzled as she held out a pair of guest slippers.
Johan mustered a stiff smile and cautiously approached the door under the watchful eyes of Garchomp and Lucario.
As he passed them, he pulled out two small handfuls of premium Pokéblocks.
These weren't ordinary Pokéblocks but ones Johan had crafted based on his and Wallace's combined expertise.
"Let's call it a peace offering," Johan said with a grin.
The two Pokémon exchanged a look, then nodded in unison.
Johan slipped into a pair of guest slippers.
Why are these slippers so... adorable? he wondered, looking down at the pink, chubby Jigglypuff design.
Inside, he released his own Pokémon from their Pokéballs.
Vulpix and Tinkatink immediately joined the others in exploring the cozy space. Haunter, meanwhile, had already cozied up next to Garchomp to watch TV.
"Chu!"
Tinkatink, spotting Lucario, lit up with excitement and scurried over, clutching its little hammer.
"Eevee!"
Seeing Vulpix, an Eevee also dashed over, its eyes sparkling.
"Vee!"
"Oowu!"
Soon, the room filled with playful noises as the Pokémon frolicked together.
Johan settled onto the sofa, taking in his surroundings.
Cynthia's home was spacious yet cozy, with a predominantly wooden interior. Decorations were simple but tasteful, with drawings and stickers adorning the walls, adding a touch of warmth.
"Fss... fss..."
Spiritomb floated over, carefully balancing a steaming cup of water, which it offered to Johan.
Johan chuckled. "Thank you."
"Fss... fwap... o(////▽////)q"
Roserade soon followed, elegantly plucking purple petals from its left-hand flower and sprinkling them into the cup.
Johan: "..."
He watched the petals swirl and sink, dyeing the water a light lavender.
Tea?
But wasn't Roserade's left-hand flower... poisonous?
After a moment of hesitation, Johan cautiously took a sip.
To his surprise, the flavor was delicate and pleasant, a subtle sweetness mingling with floral notes and just a hint of bitterness.
"It's delicious," he said, smiling at Roserade as he patted its head.
"Rosé?"
Roserade's eyes widened in astonishment, clearly touched by the compliment.
Just as Johan was relaxing, a faint hiss and the sight of black smoke billowing from the kitchen snapped him to attention.
Something's burning.
He bolted toward the kitchen, mentally berating himself.
How could I be so careless? I forgot who's in there!
Two minutes later.
Cynthia stood at the kitchen door, her face smudged with soot, holding
a spatula in her hand.
Behind her, Johan stuck a paper sign to the door: "Cynthia and Haunter are banned from entering."
"Ka-kah?! Σ(дlll)"
Johan turned to Cynthia, his expression stern.
"You..."
But the weight of Garchomp and Lucario's glares stopped him mid-sentence.
"...should go take a shower first," he said, swallowing his frustration.
"Okay..." Cynthia replied meekly.
Far away, in a fragmented world.
A colossal being stirred, its glowing crimson eyes filled with a rare hint of curiosity.
This time... the sensation feels closer.
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Powerstones?
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