Unova Region.
"Eco-dome"
N stood atop his castle, one hand holding down his hat as he gazed at the photos Johan had posted online. In the images, the once-homeless Shroomish and other wild Pokémon now smiled as they thrived in their new habitat. N's pale blue eyes glimmered with a fleeting spark.
His gaze shifted to the photo of Feebas evolving into Milotic.
"Is this showing me how to proceed?" N murmured.
"Though humans may destroy the habitats of wild Pokémon, they can also provide them with more comfortable living environments."
"Even in an ugly world, if we strive hard enough, beauty will prevail."
N slowly stood, spreading his arms as he closed his eyes, letting the wind on the castle rooftop envelop him. It was as if he were inhaling the breath of nature itself.
"He's already given me an example while I'm still wallowing in self-pity," he whispered.
"N, sir!" A maid's voice called out from below.
N tilted his head slightly, eyes hidden under the brim of his hat. He lowered it further, obscuring his view.
To the maid's shock and screams, N leaped from the rooftop without hesitation.
In the next moment, a Sigilyph emerged from below, catching him mid-air and propelling him forward with psychic power, carrying him far away.
Where he was headed, N didn't know. He only knew he couldn't do anything while staying in this castle.
It took a while before the maid fully comprehended what had just happened.
"N-N has escaped!" she cried.
Eventually, they would discover that N had not only escaped but had also "withdrawn" a substantial sum of money.
"Ka—ka— burp—"
Haunter clutched its mouth, wobbling as it floated towards the couch, almost too full to even levitate.
"See? I told you not to eat so much, and now people will think I've been starving you all along," Johan muttered, cradling a similarly stuffed Vulpix, his eyes tinged with a hint of exasperation.
He felt truly foolish.
He knew that Haunter's appetite had increased after evolving from Gastly, but he hadn't anticipated just how much.
He should have worn a mask and a face shield to the restaurant.
Not to conceal his identity, but to lessen the stares directed at Haunter's vacuum-cleaner-like inhaling.
Only when the stacks of plates surrounded their table, shielding them from view, did Johan feel a sense of relief.
"If Haunter evolves into a Gengar, I'll be broke within minutes," he lamented.
A million credits wouldn't be nearly enough to raise just one Pokémon.
Not to mention that once Vulpix evolved into Ninetales, its appetite would likely be no small matter either.
"Ka-ka! Σ()"
Seeing Haunter's expression, Johan's eyes widened in alarm.
"Hold it in! I'll get a bucket!" he exclaimed.
Before Johan could grab anything, Haunter wobbled once, and its body suddenly split, forming a smaller shadow that quickly condensed into another Haunter-like figure.
A Substitute?
And then…
Haunter wobbled again, creating yet another "Substitute."
As the two "Substitutes" materialized, Haunter's previously swollen form shrank back to its original size.
Johan opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.
Using Substitute to deplete physical energy, thereby speeding up digestion and reducing the strain from overeating?
Could that even work?
"Haunter Vortex?"
"You're a bloody genius!"
"Ka-kah~~"
Haunter's eyes squinted into waves as it lightly patted its now-satisfied stomach.
"Oowu?"
Nestled in Johan's arms, Vulpix watched with wide, twinkling eyes.
Jumping down, Vulpix stood with a rare expression of determination.
A faint glow detached from Vulpix's body, forming a smaller version of itself.
Johan's eye twitched.
Haunter's Substitute was understandable, given all its practice. But when did Vulpix learn it?
Although the mini-Vulpix was several times smaller and clearly unrefined…
Vulpix joyfully rolled on the ground, playfully wrestling with its smaller counterpart.
"Oowu~~"
It's so comfy~
"Ka-kah~~d(o)"
Haunter gave it a thumbs up.
That's the spirit of the 'Johan clan.'
Johan rubbed his temples.
Fine. At least their talents were exceptional, even if they made his job as their Trainer much more stressful.
Watching Haunter coach its two "Substitutes" into practicing punches to aid digestion, Johan resigned himself to his fate.
Alright, it seems like I'll have to incorporate Shadow Punch training from now on. That should help Haunter burn off some of that excess energy.
The thrill of earning over a million credits quickly vanished, replaced by the ever-present pressure. Johan dutifully returned to the Berry Mixer to continue making energy cubes.
While the mixer washed the berries or shaped the final product, he took the opportunity to answer messages.
The days passed quietly.
With the academy festival over, the vacation felt strangely long and left Johan slightly disoriented.
Primarily because the academy closed many facilities for post-festival cleanup and repairs, even the training rooms. So Haunter and Vulpix's usual training spots were inaccessible.
Though there were many battle clubs around Kanazumi City, their fees were prohibitively high.
Thus, Johan had to settle for alternating between the police station and the Pokémon Center's training facilities.
It wasn't ideal, but it sufficed to maintain their routine.
One day, after finishing a training session at the police station, Johan received a call from Steven.
"More wild Pokémon 'team fights'?" Johan asked.
Over the past weeks, he had frequently assisted Devon Corporation in dealing with wild Pokémon disturbances near the Karakuri Tunnel.
Thankfully, Devon's helicopters saved a lot of time.
And with Johan's help, the excavation work progressed significantly faster.
The wild Pokémon were also finding new places to settle down.
"No, Johan. I seem to have found something… interesting," Steven replied.
Interesting?
Steven sent over a photo.
The image depicted a cavern illuminated by his Metang's glow.
At the center was an underground spring. Amidst the bubbling waters lay a submerged tablet-like object, its surface etched with ancient patterns—possibly script or just decorative carvings.
Due to age and erosion, the carvings were barely legible, with parts missing.
"What is…?"
Johan stared at the photo, bewildered.
"Shouldn't you ask Professor Cozmo about this?" Johan suggested.
"I did, but you know, Professor Cozmo specializes more in meteors and cosmic studies, not ancient relics, so he didn't recognize it either," Steven sighed.
"Then I'm even less likely to know."
Johan felt equally helpless.
He wasn't some kind of all-knowing oracle.
"Alright…"
Steven sounded resigned, as if asking out of mere curiosity.
After hanging up, Johan kept studying the image.
"Haunter, do you recognize this?" he asked.
After all, Haunter was an ancient spirit—who knows, maybe it would remember something.
"Ka-kah?!" Haunter shot back an incredulous look, like Johan was joking.
"Hmm…"
Johan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Forget it. We need a specialist for this."
After some hesitation, he sent the photo to Cynthia.
[Grain in the Field]: Do you recognize these markings?
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Powerstones?
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