Johan halted Tinkatink and the others from fooling around and followed the group into the research institute.
The Sinnoh Historical Research Institute in Celestic Town was divided into two sections: the front housed translated historical documents, while the back contained relics from ancient times.
Upon entering, Johan immediately noticed ancient stone pillars, crumbling statues, and stone tablets.
He turned to Tinkatink with a stern warning:
"We can't afford to replace any of this. Don't smash anything."
Tinkatink proudly patted the "Mini-Nose" statue on its shoulder, as if saying, I've already got what I need.
"Fair point," Johan said, relieved. No way these relics contain more precious metals than that statue.
Walking with Cynthia and Professor Carolina, Johan passed through a corridor.
On the walls were depictions of Sinnoh's legendary dragons:
Dialga, the Master of Time, and Palkia, the Master of Space.
Haunter and Vulpix stopped to stare at the murals of the two dragons, seemingly mesmerized.
Johan, however, wasn't fazed. One day, when these two clash, you'll know how terrifying they are.
Meanwhile, Professor Carolina was explaining something to Cynthia in a language Johan didn't understand. Likely, she was sharing discoveries about the historical documents she'd been researching.
The group walked further, passing shelves piled with ancient texts and data, and entered the deepest room of the institute.
Hanging prominently in this chamber was a massive ancient mural.
"This mural..." Johan stopped, taken aback.
Unlike the previous depictions of Dialga and Palkia, which were modern recreations, this was an authentic ancient artifact.
"Do you recognize it?" Professor Carolina asked with a smile.
"It depicts the Lake Guardians, the trio of Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, who represent wisdom, emotion, and willpower respectively. They reside in Sinnoh's three lakes: Lake Acuity, Lake Verity, and Lake Valor."
Cynthia and Professor Carolina exchanged a surprised glance.
"You actually know about them?" Cynthia asked.
Previously, Johan had downplayed his knowledge, saying he only knew "a bit" about Sinnoh's history. But recognizing the Lake Guardians caught her off guard.
"Just a little," Johan replied modestly.
"Legend says they reside in the lakes, but no one has seen them for countless years. Whether they still dwell there remains uncertain..." Carolina said, trailing off.
They're there, Johan thought but kept quiet.
Professor Carolina didn't dwell on the subject and handed them a list.
"Since you know your history, could you and Cynthia help organize the documents on this list? We'll need them for the conference shortly."
"Of course," Cynthia replied, taking the list and walking over to Johan.
The two of them worked closely to comb through the documents.
It became clear that Carolina's expertise in ancient history was leagues beyond Johan's casual knowledge. Even a single line of ancient text could inspire an entire thesis when analyzed with supporting evidence.
Together, they compiled a large stack of materials.
"Could you help me move something else?" Carolina called from the doorway.
At the entrance was a flat cart holding a finely crafted glass case. Inside were two radiant orbs displayed on a pedestal.
The Adamant Orb and the Lustrous Orb!
"These will be sent to the Eterna Historical Museum for exhibition soon," Carolina explained. "This conference is a rare chance for everyone to see them together."
These orbs were the keys to summoning Dialga and Palkia.
In the future, Team Galactic's Cyrus would use these very orbs to summon the time and space dragons.
If summoned now without control, the devastation could easily destroy half of Sinnoh.
Thankfully, no one currently knew how to use these orbs—or about the importance of the Spear Pillar.
Suddenly, Johan heard a soft rolling sound.
He turned to see Tinkatink staring at the Adamant Orb, utterly captivated. It had even abandoned its prized "Mini-Nose" statue.
Oh no.
"Tinkatink!"
Its eyes sparkled as it lunged toward the orb.
"Haunter! Vulpix!" Johan shouted.
"Ka-kah!"
"Oowu!"
Understanding Johan's urgency, Haunter and Vulpix each grabbed one of Tinkatink's arms.
However, their combined strength wasn't enough to stop Tinkatink's determination.
To Johan's shock, Professor Carolina calmly opened the glass case, took out the Adamant Orb, and smiled at Tinkatink.
"Do you like this, little one?"
"Chu! Chu!" Tinkatink nodded eagerly, its eyes gleaming.
Carolina chuckled. "Not now. After the conference, maybe you can play with it for a bit."
Seriously? Johan thought, stunned.
Telling it to 'play' with one of Sinnoh's most dangerous artifacts?
Tinkatink pouted but nodded obediently, clutching its hammer tightly.
Carolina patted its head affectionately.
"It's fine," Cynthia reassured Johan. "I used to play with these when I was little—along with Gible."
"...What?" Johan blinked in disbelief.
Cynthia explained, "It's part of the research. Sometimes, letting curious Pokémon or people interact with the orbs can reveal new secrets."
Carolina added, "The less deliberate the attempt, the more likely it is to uncover something unexpected."
Uncovering the orbs' mysteries was one of Carolina's main research goals.
This practice was based on old legends. For instance, in the Sinnoh anime, Ash and Dawn were allowed near the Lustrous Orb after vaguely sensing the presence of the Lake Guardians.
Later, Johan and Cynthia helped Carolina push the orb display and accompanying documents to the main conference hall.
This time, Johan stayed put and sat with Cynthia at the back of the hall, listening quietly.
By evening, the conference had ended.
Vulpix was curled up in Cynthia's lap, fast asleep.
As for Johan...
Cynthia lightly nudged the sleeping head on her shoulder.
"Hmm?" Johan stirred groggily, shivering slightly as he woke up.
He turned to see Cynthia's Garchomp glaring down at him. Its cold, emotionless eyes conveyed a single thought: I will end you.
Realizing he had been leaning on Cynthia while he slept, Johan sat bolt upright.
"Uh, sorry!"
Cynthia chuckled softly, not saying a word.
"It's over? How long was I out?" Johan asked.
"About an hour," Cynthia replied. Given his exhausting schedule, she was surprised he lasted as long as he did.
"Where's Haunter and the others?"
Cynthia pointed up.
Haunter was snoring on the ceiling, a bubble forming and popping with each breath.
Meanwhile, Tinkatink was still diligently hammering away at the "Mini-Nose" statue. The statue had visibly shrunk, but it was still far from being absorbed into the hammer.
Noticing Johan had woken up, Tinkatink's eyes lit up with anticipation.
"Grandma said we can head over now," Cynthia said.
Johan sighed. "Alright, let's go."
"Chu!" Tinkatink shouldered its statue and followed eagerly.
In the research institute's courtyard, Professor Carolina stood with the orbs in hand, smiling warmly.
She explained that they allowed anyone—human or Pokémon—who showed interest in the orbs to interact with them briefly.
This method, they hoped, might reveal clues about the orbs' secrets.
Johan vividly remembered how, in the Sinnoh anime, Ash and Dawn were granted special access to the Lustrous Orb due to their connection to the Lake Guardians.
"Only here, though," Carolina reminded firmly. "They can't leave this space."
"Chu!"
Tinkatink practically snatched the Adamant Orb, while Haunter and Vulpix got to handle the Lustrous Orb.
"Ka-kah?"
"Oowu?"
Haunter and Vulpix examined the Lustrous Orb curiously but didn't seem particularly affected by it.
Johan, however, kept a close eye on Tinkatink, worried it might suddenly smash the Adamant Orb.
Surprisingly, Tinkatink remained calm.
It held the Adamant Orb carefully, examining it from every angle. Then, after a moment of contemplation...
It squinted, stuck out its tongue, and licked the orb.
"Chu~~"
A brilliant white light erupted from Tinkatink's body.
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Powerstones?
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