Bonus for 500 powerstones, once again thank you.
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[Grain in the Field]: Uh, sure, what's up?
[Forever Eighteen]: Are you currently in the Hoenn region?
Johan paused, puzzled by the unexpected question.
But since his trainer card clearly marked his location, he saw no harm in answering honestly.
[Grain in the Field]: I am.
[Forever Eighteen]: Great! (sigh of relief.jpg) I'll be in Hoenn soon for a tournament and was wondering… if maybe I could stop by afterward? My Smoochum has been dying to meet your Vulpix.
Hm?
Soon?
A tournament in Hoenn?
Could it be... the Youth Exhibition Match?
[Grain in the Field]: Sure, no problem.
On the other side of the conversation, Lorelei exhaled in relief; this would let her properly thank Johan face-to-face, and she already knew just how.
Putting his phone away, Johan glanced at Vulpix, who was busy building a snowman with Cynthia's Eevee, both of them seemingly having a great time.
So Vulpix might actually get to meet Smoochum after all… though how it might feel about an unexpected new "rival" was anyone's guess.
As for Haunter…
It was nearby, eagerly receiving pointers on Shadow Ball from Lucario.
It seemed to be getting along quite well with Cynthia's team.
Of course, among all the Pokémon here, none could rival the rivalry brewing between Garchomp, Metagross, and Dragonite.
All three pseudo-legendary Pokémon felt the intensity of each other's power.
Especially Lance's Dragonite and Cynthia's Garchomp, while Steven's Metagross took on more of a "mediator" role—though its personality wasn't quite as combative as the other two.
Johan couldn't make out what the three were "discussing," but he could guess…
it probably involved Dragon Dance.
Before long, Steven and Lance finally lost interest in the "Proclamation Tablet."
The two had intended to have a sparring match, but just before they could begin, Lance received a sudden task, forcing him and Clair to leave.
Shortly after, Steven also got a call from work, apologized to Johan and Cynthia, and flew off on Metagross.
"Well, guess it's just us 'idle folks' left." Johan sighed.
They were certainly busy people.
Cynthia smiled faintly without replying.
She didn't get many vacations, so this quiet time was a rare treasure.
The two began heading toward the estate gates.
Steven had arranged for them to be taken care of at the manor, but both expressed their thanks and politely declined to stay.
On the way, Cynthia remarked, "Haunter seems to be having trouble mastering Shadow Ball."
Haunter, floating beside Johan, fiddled anxiously with its hands.
Cynthia continued, "Of course, it only got it yesterday."
Despite Lucario's guidance, it hadn't been long since Lucario had mastered Shadow Ball itself, and for it, Shadow Ball was more of an optional improvement, useful for covering additional types.
For Haunter, though, it was a crucial move.
Johan chuckled.
Maybe this was a blessing in disguise.
Haunter had learned new moves quickly before and had been getting a bit… big-headed about it.
"Ka-kah!!"
Suddenly—
Haunter shouted, startling both Johan and Cynthia.
They watched as its hands darkened, Shadow Claw activating.
It swiftly rubbed its hands together.
Slowly, a dark sphere formed between its palms. Although it took some time, this Shadow Ball looked far more stable than the one from earlier.
Johan's eye twitched. It was a good thing he hadn't voiced his doubts, or Haunter would've instantly proven him wrong.
But also…
What was with this technique? Was it rubbing the move together like a Rasengan?
Haunter then lobbed it into a flowerbed nearby.
Boom!
A decent-sized crater appeared.
The Pokémon in the garden scattered in alarm.
"Using Shadow Claw to cast Shadow Ball?" Cynthia remarked with intrigue.
This new technique was something she'd never seen before.
"Ka-kah!ヾ(▼▼;)"
Haunter quickly slipped its sunglasses back on, nonchalantly waving at Cynthia.
All in a day's work!
"You better remember to pay Steven for that garden repair," Johan said dryly.
"Ka-kah!! Σ(дlll)"
Haunter immediately darted toward the gates.
Johan just shook his head.
At the gate, a luxury car Steven had arranged was waiting.
As they got in, Johan cautioned Haunter, "Don't get too cocky. Sure, you learned it, but do you plan to use that technique in a battle?"
The Shadow Claw trick just doubled up on moves to create a single one, and its power wasn't all that high.
After all, Red's Eevee could topple a mountain with a single non-STAB Shadow Ball.
"It's already impressive enough," Cynthia laughed.
Behind her, Haunter beamed as it gave her a shoulder massage.
"Ka-kah ka-kah~~"
Exactly, exactly!
Johan rubbed his temples.
Great, it had "backing" now, huh?
Did it think Cynthia was sticking around?
"But, I think I know someone who might help Haunter master Shadow Ball," Cynthia said.
"Oh?"
"Ka-kah?"
Cynthia put a hand under her chin, glancing out the window as if musing to herself:
"Hm, what should we have for dinner?"
"Ka-kah!" Haunter jumped in.
Let Johan treat us!
Johan's cheek twitched.
What manners!
Just then, Vulpix raised its head and gave a soft "Oowu."
It suggested Johan cook; he made such delicious food, after all.
Alright, now Vulpix, too?
Cynthia's eyes brightened, intrigued.
"You can cook?"
Johan turned to the window.
"Not anymore."
"Hm?"
"Haunter inhaled all the gas."
"Ka-kah!! Σ(дlll)"
At a quaint little café on a quieter street in Rustboro City…
A nostalgic phonograph played soothing harmonica blues with a touch of sorrow, while wind chimes made of ceramic jingled at the door as Johan and Cynthia stepped inside.
In a cozy corner of the café sat a woman, dressed warmly with an air of elegance, savoring a slice of chocolate cake.
Cynthia led Johan toward her, her face lighting up with a warm smile.
The woman glanced up, smiling back, and the two shared a light hug.
Watching them, Johan felt a twinge of unease.
The woman removed her wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, revealing her exquisitely made-up face, blue eyes, and ash-brown bob.
It was Diantha, the famous actress—
And Cynthia's best friend, and the future Champion of Kalos!
Diantha smiled, extending her hand toward Johan.
"So, you're Johan? Cynthia has told me a lot about you."
Momentarily taken aback, Johan shook her hand politely.
"Never thought I'd meet Ms. Diantha here in Hoenn…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Haunter's wide-eyed expression fixed on Diantha in shock.
"Ka-kah!!"
It remembered her!
But then, it felt a sudden chill from the "death glare" directed at it from behind.
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Powerstones?
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