Mismagius slept deeply, her dream-filled slumber reflecting her emotions. She smiled, wept, and seemed fully immersed in the beautiful memories woven into her dream.
Johan, his Pokémon, and the Team Rocket trio stood vigil by her side, each lost in thought.
The emotional weight of Mismagius's story touched them all.
The most dramatic reaction came from Team Rocket and Wobbuffet.
Huddled together, tears streamed down their faces.
"So touching!" ×3
"Wobbaaa~!"
Although they didn't know the full details of Mismagius's dream, Johan's narration during the dream-weaving process, combined with Mismagius's heartfelt expressions and her whispered words (translated by Meowth), deeply moved them.
As Cynthia often said: When two lives meet, something extraordinary happens.
Such beautiful bonds etched themselves into memory.
Johan cleared his throat, breaking the sobbing spell.
"Relax. When you die, you'll just turn into Gengars."
The group froze.
Johan was reminded of a short Pokémon special he once watched titled "Did I Just Turn Into a Gengar?"
The point wasn't what one became, but whether someone remembered you.
Even if they did become Gengars, as long as their companions recognized them and life continued as before, appearances wouldn't matter.
Perhaps this was why Gengar himself had almost forgotten he was a ghost.
The trio and Wobbuffet turned their eyes toward Gengar.
"Turn into Gengars?"
"Ka-kah!"
Gengar bared a toothy, mischievous grin.
Even if you die, I'll still be your boss!
The trio blanched, their smiles trembling.
"J-Johan, you're amazing at comforting people!"
"Thanks!"
When Mismagius woke, she solemnly thanked Johan.
Even if it was just a dream, it had been enough. That fleeting beauty couldn't be captured by time, but it was forever sealed in her memory.
"If it's possible, could you help me with something in return?" Johan asked.
Mismagius blinked, realizing she was in a café.
Humans here seem to use money... or gold and silver? But I don't have any of that...
As she pondered nervously how to repay Johan, he spoke again:
"Could you do me a favor? Like Gengar, could you leave your mark on this wall? Just the same message he left."
Johan gestured to the café's blank wall, long undecorated because he hadn't known what to do with it—until now.
"Woo?"
Mismagius blinked, stunned by the simplicity of his request.
After a moment's thought, she nodded without hesitation.
Her eyes glowed with psychic light, and the gems on her chest shimmered. Three tiny indentations appeared in the wall, resembling the marks left by gemstones.
The meaning of these marks? Only certain Pokémon could understand:
This is a place that helps Pokémon in need.
"Thank you," Johan said sincerely.
Following her lead, Gengar, Vulpix, Tinkatuff, Dratini, and even Meowth and Wobbuffet added their own marks to the wall.
Each left the same message.
One day, when enough marks adorned the wall, any Pokémon entering the café would understand its purpose.
Johan also decided that from now on, every café advertisement would feature the wall prominently, spreading warmth to Pokémon who needed it most.
Afterward, smiles spread across everyone's faces.
"It feels like we just did something incredible, nya," Meowth said, rubbing his nose. His sense of purpose had shifted.
"Have you thought about where you'll go next?" Johan asked.
Mismagius stared at the wall for a long moment before gazing into the distance.
"The wisteria flowers Saori loved have withered. I'd like to replant them."
Johan's expression softened.
"If you need help again, you can always find us."
Grateful, Mismagius nodded.
Shrouded in black mist, she vanished into the horizon.
On the café table, a small "Dusk Stone" spun quietly in her wake.
Johan sighed.
Turning around, he saw his Pokémon and Team Rocket watching with teary eyes.
Even Gengar's misty gaze carried a hint of... excitement?
Was Gengar really getting thrilled at the thought of Johan becoming a Gengar?
Johan was speechless.
Is this how you see my future?
"Suddenly, I feel like living a thousand years as a 'legendary old man.'"
Surely some Legendary Pokémon could help with that, right?
Shaking his head, Johan made another announcement.
"James."
"I'm here!" James cried, his face blotchy from crying.
"Starting tomorrow, we're adding a new dessert to the menu: wisteria flower pastries."
Everyone—Pokémon and Team Rocket alike—paused, then broke into smiles.
"Got it!"
That evening, Johan noticed his Pokémon training with a renewed vigor.
He had an inkling why:
His earlier words about cherishing the present had struck a chord.
But... their training methods were something else.
Gengar had split into seven or eight shadows and was darting between them seamlessly, creating the illusion that any shadow could launch a Shadow Ball.
Meanwhile, Vulpix was... stacking barriers?
Having transitioned from snowman building, she was now perfecting her ability to shape Aurora Veil into different forms.
As for Tinkatuff?
She remained single-mindedly obsessed with physical training, proclaiming:
"Forging my hammer is forging myself! Same goal!"
Johan had no rebuttal.
In the bathroom, Johan scrubbed Dratini's smooth body.
"Dratini," he said, holding a rough sponge.
"Driii?"
Relaxed against the tub's edge, Dratini looked over with curiosity.
"Have you gained weight?" Johan asked, his tone suspicious.
Living together made gradual changes hard to notice, but during bath time, it was undeniable.
Recently, Dratini's appetite had skyrocketed. She now ate more than Vulpix and Tinkatuff combined, second only to Gengar.
The pressure of raising a pseudo-Legendary was becoming real.
"Driii!"
Dratini puffed up indignantly.
Me? Fat? Never! This is muscle! MUSCLE!
Johan patted her glossy body and chuckled.
"It's fine. I think it suits you."
Privately, he hoped her final evolution wouldn't turn out overly muscular.
Cute, chubby Dragonites were the best!
Still...
Her size was unusual. At over 2.5 meters long, she was far larger than average.
Is it leftover energy? Or the effect of the Giant Dragonite Scale?
Johan shrugged.
Not that it mattered much.
"Dratini, does this feel good?"
"Driii~~"
"What about here?"
"Drii~ (//▽//)"
"What's with that expression?"
"Driii!"
"Wait—don't! Give me a second! I need to breathe!"
Rocket HQ, Viridian City
"Boss, take a look at this proposal."
Matori handed Giovanni a tablet.
Recently, Matori seemed more relaxed around Giovanni.
While her respect and admiration for him remained unchanged, she no longer seemed as distant.
Perhaps it started when Giovanni began accepting her homemade snacks...
Giovanni set down his pen, sipped his tea, and picked up the tablet.
"The Adventures of Persian and Pichu? A Devon Corporation project... What's this got to do with us?"
"Boss, look at the scriptwriter."
"Hm?"
Flipping to the last page, Giovanni paused at the name: Written by Johan.
"Johan's at it again, huh?"
It didn't take long for Giovanni to grasp the implications.
His fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"This is... cultural influence? And... public perception?"
His gaze sharpened as his hand rested on Persian's head. The crimson gem on his ring glimmered faintly.
Using television to subtly reshape public opinion about Rocket...
At the right time, public narratives could even be steered.
"This is step two in normalizing Rocket's image."
Step one: Control essentials like food.
Step two: Establish cultural influence.
"No wonder he's a teacher." Giovanni smirked.
"Boss, your orders?" Matori asked.
Giovanni set down the tablet.
"We'll join this project."
Matori nodded.
"Don't hold back. Secure the collaboration—whatever it takes."
"Yes!"
Matori hesitated before asking:
"But... what role should we play?"
"Role, huh..."
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Powerstones?
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