5 bonus chapter's coming out at 11 AM EST. So I ask that you save you're powerstones until then.
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"Really?"
Pryce's voice became even lower and raspier.
"Of course. At least, that's what my dream showed me," Johan replied with a serious nod.
"Ka-kah…"
Gengar muttered softly, turning its head slightly.
If I didn't know Johan so well, even I'd have believed him...
"I didn't understand the meaning of the dream at first," Johan continued, "but after hearing your story, Pryce, I finally pieced it together."
"Where?"
Pryce's voice now carried a slight tremor.
Johan shook his head. "I think you might already know better than I do."
Pryce's pupils shrank.
He recalled a distant memory—years ago, when Mamoswine was injured, he had taken it to a remote valley in search of medicinal herbs.
But then, there was an avalanche, burying the valley under a thick blanket of snow.
Even so, he vaguely remembered the location.
Without another word, Pryce started pushing his wheelchair in that direction as fast as he could.
Behind him, Jynx hurried to assist him, but Pryce seemed to be moving faster on his own.
Johan and his Pokémon exchanged glances.
"Let's follow him and see," Johan said.
He and his team trailed behind.
They passed through a forest, skirted by a waterfall, and soon arrived at a steep cliffside crevice.
Pryce rose from his wheelchair, intent on climbing down, but Johan stopped him.
"Leave it to us, Pryce."
There's no way someone in a wheelchair should attempt this.
Without waiting for a reply, Johan signaled Dragonair with his eyes.
"Draaa~~"
After returning his other Pokémon to their Poké Balls, Johan climbed onto Dragonair's back, holding tightly as it carried him down the cliff.
"Why do I keep putting myself through these situations..." Johan grumbled, clutching Dragonair with all his might.
Dragonair looked back with an amused smile.
Because you're you, Johan.
Fortunately, the descent wasn't too long, and Johan soon felt solid ground beneath his feet again.
"Ka-kah~~"
Gengar poked its head out from a nearby wall of rock.
There's a tunnel here.
"This must be it," Johan said, stepping aside.
"Dragonair, use Aqua Tail."
"Draaa!!"
Crash!
The pale-blue tail, surrounded by swirling water, shattered a section of rock, revealing a dark tunnel.
Johan called out Charcadet.
Under Charcadet's flickering flames, the pitch-black passage lit up.
"Ka-kah!"
Gengar, moving ahead, picked up an abandoned anklet from the ground.
"That confirms it," Johan murmured.
This had to be the cavern where Mamoswine had been frozen—hidden beneath the avalanche's snow for decades.
As they ventured deeper, the rocky walls gradually transitioned into glistening ice.
"Charcadet!"
Charcadet's Aura detected something deep within the icy chamber: a Mamoswine encased in a thick layer of ice. Bandages were still wrapped around its massive body, and in its mouth, it clutched a bundle of medicinal herbs meant to treat burns.
Seeing this, Johan fell silent.
He had been moved by Mamoswine's loyalty when he first saw this in the animated series.
Now, having formed deep bonds with his own Pokémon, Mamoswine's actions struck him even harder.
His Poké Balls opened on their own.
The sight of Mamoswine deeply moved Johan's Pokémon, their expressions shifting into a mix of respect and sorrow.
If Johan were in Pryce's position and they were Mamoswine, would they go to such lengths for him?
The answer was clear: they absolutely would.
"Ninetales…"
Ninetales softly pressed against Johan's side, curling its tails around his arm as it whimpered gently.
Even Gengar, usually playful and cheeky, wore an unusually serious expression.
Sensing their thoughts, Johan gently patted Ninetales' head.
"Don't worry. I'm not like Pryce. I know when to fight and when to back down."
That was true.
Johan always knew his limits.
He'd refused Pryce's challenge earlier because he knew he couldn't win.
But…
For Johan's sake, his Pokémon silently vowed: we'll never let you reach your limit. We won't lose.
"That's Mamoswine! It's really Mamoswine!"
From behind, Pryce's voice echoed down the corridor.
Unable to hold himself back, he had descended into the cave, supported by Jynx and Quagsire, the latter helping steady him with its sturdy frame.
Both Quagsire and Jynx looked exasperated, clearly having tried to stop him.
When Pryce finally saw the ice-encased Mamoswine—still clutching the bundle of herbs—tears welled up in his eyes.
This moment hit him harder than any battle.
Johan sighed softly.
"Let's get Mamoswine out first."
"Cha!"
Tinkaton eagerly hefted its hammer, ready to smash the ice apart, but Johan quickly stopped it.
Letting Tinkaton handle this might turn Mamoswine into rubble.
Who could carefully handle this?
Johan scanned his team, wiping a bead of sweat off his forehead.
None of them screamed "delicate touch."
"Charcadet, you do it. Be gentle."
"Charcadet!"
Charcadet nodded confidently.
When it came to handling Pokémon-related problems, it was the expert.
Whoosh!
Flames flickered to life around Charcadet.
Crack!
A large fracture immediately appeared in the ice encasing Mamoswine.
"Careful! Be gentle!" Pryce shouted, his voice tinged with panic.
He had seen Charcadet's powerful flames in battle and was terrified it might overdo it.
Thankfully, Charcadet was precise and cautious.
The ice steadily melted, revealing Mamoswine's frozen form.
"Dragonair, use a gentle Thunder Wave to wake it," Johan instructed.
"Draaa~~"
A soft electric pulse passed over Mamoswine.
Moments later, its massive body shuddered as it began to stir.
"Mamoswine…"
Pryce sighed in relief and staggered forward to embrace his old friend.
Though Mamoswine hadn't fully recovered, it sniffed twice, recognizing Pryce's familiar scent.
Tears streamed down Pryce's face as he hugged Mamoswine tightly, overwhelmed by guilt and longing.
"Encased in ice for decades… it's a miracle it survived, likely thanks to its thick fur and its Ice-type nature," Johan mused aloud.
"Ninetales…"
"Dragonair…"
Ninetales and the others wiped at their eyes, deeply touched by the scene.
Even Gengar, ever the mischief-maker, seemed lost in thought.
Restored and reconciled, Pryce's heart began to thaw in more ways than one.
Though his attitude would take time to change, the moment marked a significant turning point for him and his Pokémon.
But back atop the cliff, Johan had another realization.
Now that Pryce believed in bonds between trainers and Pokémon again, might he start dwelling on the deaths of his two Lapras?
Could this lead him to spiral into despair, like the Pryce from the Pokémon Adventures manga?
Johan shuddered at the thought.
The Pokémon world could afford to lose Pryce—but it couldn't afford Pryce becoming the Masked Man!
Fortunately, Pryce wasn't strong enough to casually capture Ho-Oh like the Masked Man in the manga.
"Thank you, Johan."
Back at the cliffside, Pryce expressed his sincere gratitude.
"This scroll contains insights from years of training Ice-types. Consider it a gift of thanks."
He handed the scroll to Quagsire, who dutifully passed it to Johan.
Johan accepted it with a smile, giving Quagsire some Pokéblocks in return.
Quagsire glanced at Pryce for permission before happily eating them.
"Quaa~~"
Johan chuckled, patting Quagsire's slippery head.
Ninetales' "infinite layered defense" would undoubtedly reach new heights with this.
"What are your plans now, Pryce?" Johan asked cautiously.
"Plans?"
Pryce paused before letting out a long sigh.
"Perhaps… it's time to reconnect with old friends like Oak and Agatha."
Hearing this, Johan felt a sense of relief.
Though Pryce wasn't fully healed yet, this was a promising start.
If nothing else, Professor Oak could keep an eye on him.
Johan and Pryce exchanged contact information, ensuring they could keep in touch.
At that moment, Dragonair tugged at Johan's sleeve, pointing toward the horizon.
It looked like rain was coming.
The once-bright sunset had been swallowed by dark thunderclouds, golden lightning crackling within them.
And those storm clouds…
They were heading directly for them.
Johan's heart sank with a bad premonition.
He glanced discreetly at the Rainbow Wing in his pocket, his expression stiffening.
Of course.
He coughed lightly and muttered, "It's probably here for you, Rotom."
"Ro-Rotom?! Σ(дlll)"
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Powerstones?
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