The four-day work trip came to an end.
After bidding farewell to Cynthia, Johan boarded a Devon Corporation plane and returned to the Hoenn region.
Cynthia, meanwhile, had to continue her unfinished ruins exploration, and so she and Caitlin headed back to Unova together.
Their trip to Cameran Palace for the festival? Strictly speaking, it was a bit of a getaway.
Still, they'd accomplished something significant: saving the Tree of Beginning and setting up a "Dreamscape Playhouse" for the legendary Mew.
Back at Johan's Café
Word of Johan's return had reached the Rocket Trio. Under the temporary leadership of Wobbuffet (as acting "boss"), they eagerly awaited his arrival at the café entrance.
"Cad... Cadre... Waaah!" Jessie began, but James and Meowth quickly tackled her, clamping her mouth shut.
Together, they greeted Johan enthusiastically:
"Welcome back, Johan-sensei! And you too, Boss Gengar! Thank you for all your hard work, nya!"
"Stoof! (salutes dramatically)"
Wobbuffet, wearing its usual bear cap and suspenders, gave a sharp salute.
Seeing the trio, Johan suddenly remembered.
Oh, right... I kinda forgot about them.
Is the house still intact?
He glanced past them, eyeing the café and living quarters behind it.
To his relief, both seemed unscathed.
"Ka-kah~"
Gengar, now wearing sunglasses, crossed its arms in a display of mock authority.
"Johan-sensei, per your instructions, I've been working on new dessert recipes! Please try them!" James eagerly presented his creations.
Jessie quickly followed, offering a cup of coffee:
"And here's your coffee, Johan-sensei!"
"And the earnings report, nya! Here's the revenue for the past few days!" Meowth chimed in, holding up the books.
"Hmm. Not bad," Johan said with a nod of approval.
The trio's faces lit up with joy, immediately lost in fantasies of promotion.
Could it finally be our turn to be acting boss?
"Dock them 500 Pokédollars."
Their daydreams shattered instantly.
Trio: (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ (in fantasy)
Trio: (╥_╥) (Why does this always happen to us?)
"Yes, sir..."
As Johan settled into his chair, Wobbuffet waddled over and began massaging his shoulders.
"Stoof! Stoof~"
Johan chuckled. "Good work, Wobbuffet. You've managed things well."
"Stoof!! (blushes furiously, vibrating with excitement)"
"Fine. I won't dock your pay."
"Johan-sensei, you're the best!" they cheered in unison.
Flipping through the earnings report, Johan smiled in satisfaction.
See? As long as they're not chasing Pikachu, they're geniuses in any field.
Still, just managing a café seemed like a waste of their talents.
What else could I have them do?
And yet...
Without their classic "What a horrible feeling!" antics, something just felt missing.
Oh well, maybe inspiration will strike later.
A Week Later
On a crisp, sunny day perfect for drying laundry, Johan decided to air out his bedding.
Having spent days away, and considering how often Vulpix's cold air froze his blankets stiff, they could definitely use some sunshine.
With Gengar's help, he set up makeshift drying poles in the yard.
The once-green lawn had begun to yellow with the season, but bright orange flowers dotted the grass, adding a touch of vitality.
"This is shaping up to be a harsh winter," Johan mused as he and Gengar lightly dusted the blankets with bamboo beaters.
"Ka-kah!"
Gengar gave him a thumbs-up.
Even in the afterlife, I'll stick with you.
Johan rolled his eyes.
"Without a Fire-type for warmth, I might have to resort to training my own body."
He really didn't want to be the first trainer to freeze to death because of his Pokémon.
Nearby, Tinkatuff was performing one-handed push-ups with its hammer balanced effortlessly on its back.
Thanks to Bruno's training advice, it had developed a methodical approach to building muscle strength.
Watching this, Johan couldn't help but think:
At this rate, I won't just freeze—I'll be stomped, crushed, or strangled too.
Vulpix had taken a more constructive approach, practicing "Aurora Veil" in a corner of the yard.
Thanks to Mew's guidance, it had finally mastered the move.
Why wasn't the snow covering the whole yard?
Because Vulpix had sealed itself inside layers upon layers of "Aurora Veil" barriers.
"Vulpix, don't trap yourself in there," Johan called out.
The little fox glanced back, mouth closed and tail twitching in confusion—it couldn't hear him through the barriers.
Still, Johan's worry was unfounded.
When it realized it had overdone it, Vulpix's tail glowed with metallic energy.
Iron Tail!
Bam! Bam!
Its six tails struck the barriers one by one, shattering them with practiced precision.
Johan: ...
What kind of Pokémon sets up barriers just to smash them down?
Meanwhile
Dratini splashed around in a newly dug pond in the yard.
Although it frequently gulped water by accident, the little dragon clearly enjoyed itself.
"Why do I feel like all my Pokémon are a little... off?" Johan muttered.
Gengar blinked innocently.
What about me?
Johan gave it a sidelong glance, then turned toward the gate.
Lined up neatly outside were two rows of wild Pokémon.
"Can you get rid of them?"
Gengar floated over, waved a hand dismissively, and said something indecipherable.
In moments, the crowd of Rattata and Meowth scattered, vanishing into the underbrush.
Watching Gengar adjust its sunglasses with an air of authority, Johan sighed.
It's really running a gang now. Where did I go wrong?
He resolved that his next Pokémon would be chosen with extra care.
I don't want to end up having tea with Officer Jenny...
Later, Johan dialed a number on his phone.
"Miss Diantha, sorry to bother you."
"Why, Johan, what a surprise! What's on your mind?"
"I've written another script. Could you take a look?" Johan said, smiling.
"I've sent it to your phone."
"Sure thing," Diantha replied. "I just wrapped up a shoot. Let me take a look."
Johan waited patiently.
This time, he had written a lighthearted, low-budget two-character comedy: "Meowth and Pichu."
Originally, he had considered "Meowth and Pikachu," but he wanted a dynamic duo with more contrast.
Meowth's sleek, upright figure paired perfectly with the tiny, adorable Pichu, creating a charming balance of strength and cuteness.
"Anything to keep you lot fed."
Johan glanced at his Pokémon.
Gengar's appetite was insatiable. Vulpix needed high-quality Ice Stones.
Tinkatuff consumed metals like candy, and Dratini—soon to evolve into Dragonair—would require resources by the bucketful.
Later
Diantha's call came back quickly.
"Johan, this is a fantastic script!" she said excitedly.
"I can already picture the adorable chaos between Meowth and Pichu—it's bound to be a hit! And the budget requirements are minimal compared to your previous works."
Johan chuckled.
"As long as it brings a little joy to people and Pokémon alike, that's enough for me."
There was a pause before Diantha spoke again, her tone softer.
"You're amazing, Johan. I think I finally understand your vision."
"Hmm?"
"You're not just writing these stories for entertainment—you're trying to heal the hearts of hurt Pokémon and trainers, aren't you?"
"Through shows like this, you can reach far more than you ever could alone."
Johan: "???"
Wait, it can be interpreted that way?
Still, Diantha's approval bolstered his confidence.
Now, he just needed to decide: live-action or animation?
The former was more fitting for the Pokémon world, but would undoubtedly cost more.
Well... I'll figure it out.
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Powerstones?
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