"Damn it! You can't even keep track of one person?! Find him—find him!"
Inside Team Plasma's Castle, Ghetsis was in a furious rage.
Honestly, this was the first time Team Plasma members had seen him so angry.
All because their "King," N, had vanished again.
Last time he disappeared, Ghetsis hadn't reacted this strongly.
But what they didn't know was that this time, N's disappearance had an entirely different implication for Team Plasma.
They had planned to use N as their scapegoat, and now—he was gone.
It was only because Team Plasma had recently gone underground and the "Junior Masters World Championship" was drawing near that they had a little breathing room.
But if they couldn't produce someone to take the fall before the championship ended...
Then they'd face an even more intense manhunt from the entire Unova League!
"Yes, sir!"
The Team Plasma members quickly obeyed and dispersed.
None of them doubted they could find their "King."
After all, to most of the rank-and-file, N was still the true leader of Team Plasma.
"You can't hang everything on one tree…"
Once they had left, Ghetsis knew he couldn't bet everything on N alone.
He needed another way to make the Unova League hesitate—to make them think twice before striking at Team Plasma with full force.
His gaze turned to Colress.
Colress, immersed in his research, slowly lifted his head, smiling faintly.
"I happen to have a new research lead."
He turned his tablet toward Ghetsis, revealing digitized ancient texts recovered during the Nacrene Museum raid.
These texts described... the Abyssal Ruins—and the Reveal Glass!
An artifact capable of transforming and controlling the Forces of Nature of Unova. It might even aid his research in strengthening and controlling Pokémon.
"Ka-kaah!! (▼⊿▼)"
Gengar stood proudly on the beach, donning a Squirtle swim cap and triangle-shaped goggles, hands on hips, ready to dive in.
Beside it stood Urshifu with goggles, a taut and graceful Milotic, and a lazy-looking Gastrodon.
Johan, dressed in Alolan-style beachwear, raised a hand beside them.
"Go!"
With Johan's shout, Gengar dove into the ocean first.
Wearing a "Squirtle swim cap," how could it not win?
But…
Splash splash splash—
Urshifu used textbook freestyle form, slicing through the water and quickly overtaking Gengar, even raising an eyebrow mockingly as it passed.
"Ka-kaah!"
Unforgivable!
Gengar was fuming.
But just as it was about to go all out, the water ahead parted—Milotic elegantly burst from the surface, shimmering with droplets as it formed a dazzling arc through the air.
So fast?!
Well… at least I'm faster than Gastrodon… Gengar comforted itself.
Splash—
Waves surged again, but this time from behind. Cynthia's Gastrodon rode a wave, overtaking Gengar and even flipping it in the water.
Gengar: "…"
It surfaced, ripping off its Squirtle swim cap in frustration.
Lies! All lies!
The vendor said this cap would give it Squirtle-level speed!
Fine. I'll do it my way.
Gengar's eyes spun craftily—this wasn't over.
On the beach, Cynthia and Caitlin reclined under a parasol, grinning at the aquatic showdown.
Johan's expression was… exasperated.
Seriously, Gengar challenging three Water-types to a swimming race?
Meloetta, now fully recovered, was even more excited than Gengar, cheering from the shore.
"Yoji yoji~~"
Yoji (Larvitar) joined in, too.
"Gengar looks like it's going to lose~~" Caitlin teased.
Johan glanced at her, unimpressed. "You're underestimating Gengar."
"You think it can outswim Milotic or Gastrodon?" Caitlin raised an eyebrow.
"Garrr~~"
Garchomp, sunbathing in shades, snorted twice.
No way Gengar was faster—but it had tricks.
Even Garchomp knew what kind of Pokémon Gengar was.
On the water, Milotic and Gastrodon were neck-and-neck, with Urshifu trailing slightly. Gengar was nowhere to be seen.
Then—
"Ka-kaah!!"
Gengar suddenly burst from the waves near the finish, standing triumphantly on the reef, laughing maniacally.
"Huh?" Caitlin blinked.
Cynthia smiled. "It used Shadow Sneak."
"Cheating!" Caitlin huffed.
"No one said you couldn't use moves," Johan mimicked her earlier tone mockingly.
Gastrodon had used Surf, hadn't it?
Caitlin was furious.
Garchomp had a "called it" look—thank goodness it didn't join the race. How do you win when someone cheats?
"Melo!!"
"Yoji!!"
Meloetta and Larvitar cheered loudly for Gengar.
These fun antics happened a lot during their days in Undella Town.
With Gengar around, joy was inevitable—alongside frequent absurdity.
Still, Johan didn't mind.
He always valued his Pokémon's interests more than just forcing them to train. Their joy often brought unexpected growth.
As for Meloetta—
After recovering, it hadn't left immediately. Perhaps it stayed out of gratitude—or maybe it simply enjoyed the fun.
But to show its thanks, Meloetta had quietly disappeared for half a day.
When it returned, it held an ancient-looking box, covered in dirt.
Even its own face and body were smudged.
"You went digging?"
That's Larvitar's favorite hobby.
Yoji tilted its head—"Why didn't you invite me?"
"Melo~~"
Meloetta danced through the air, beaming, and handed Johan the box.
"What is it?"
Johan opened it with curiosity.
The material was strange—wooden or stone?
Inside was something that made Larvitar's eyes go wide.
"Y-Yoji…"
It didn't know what it was—just that it smelled amazing. It gulped.
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar peeked in too.
"These markings…"
Cynthia noticed the patterns and brushed off the dust, making them clearer.
"You recognize them?"
As a scholar of mythology, Cynthia didn't just know Sinnoh lore—she'd studied Unova as well, even recently borrowing Shaga's DNA Splicers for research.
"Hmm…" She nodded slowly, then said, "They seem to signify a ritual for honoring the earth."
"Honoring the earth?"
Johan's expression shifted as he looked at Meloetta.
Others might not know its past, but Johan did. Meloetta was deeply linked to the Forces of Nature.
It wasn't just connected to the Reveal Glass, which changed their forms—but also one of the few Pokémon able to calm them.
Tornadus and Thundurus fought on sight. Landorus usually mediated—but sometimes they all clashed.
Meloetta's song could soothe them.
So this "earth ritual" box… could it be an offering left by ancient people to Landorus?
Or maybe… something that belonged to Landorus?
"Melo~ Melo~~"
Meloetta nodded eagerly and motioned that the gift was for Johan.
As for who could use it—well, that was obvious.
Larvitar was already bouncing, eyes sparkling.
"I can feel the earth energy," Caitlin murmured, eyes closed.
No doubt about it—a legendary artifact linked to Landorus!
And now, Meloetta had gifted it away.
Landorus—nicknamed "World's Strongest Bug"—despite being Ground/Flying, often carried the Bug-type move U-turn in battle for Intimidate support.
Thus the meme.
Johan's suspicion deepened. Giovanni's original "Storm Plan" had aimed for Landorus.
A Ground-type matching "Earthbound Giovanni." A Bug-move user, fitting his ace—Beedrill.
Ahem, back to the story.
"Will it cause problems?" Johan asked cautiously.
"Melo~ Melo~~"
Meloetta leaned in, resting her hands on Johan's cheeks and nuzzling him.
Well then.
With such a heartfelt gift, how could he say no?
Under Larvitar's eager gaze, Johan handed it the earthy, sand-like relic.
"Yoji!!"
Larvitar squealed with joy, kicking its little feet excitedly.
Johan, however, felt a tinge of nervousness.
It already had a shard of the Earth Plate. Now it held Landorus's relic—the Land Stone.
Would it one day stomp and flatten a mountain?
Watching it stomp the sand, Johan half-expected a crater to form.
Thankfully, it didn't.
But he made a firm decision.
Never let Larvitar use any moves indoors—not one!
As for now…
If something collapses, oh well—Caitlin's loaded anyway.
"Larvitar's final evolution, Tyranitar, is Dark/Rock… but I feel like its Ground-type moves will be devastating someday."
As long as it stands on solid ground—it will never fall!
After all, it's now the Pokémon of a man with both an Earth Plate shard and the Land Stone.
Still… it's just a Larvitar.
Eating at this level already? Johan had a headache.
Should he rush its evolution? Then it'll eat more.
But if he delays? It'll stockpile strength and still eat more.
Trapped either way.
In the end, Johan decided to go with the flow.
Worst case… he'd use all his championship prize money to feed Larvitar!
His hunger for the prize money just grew a little stronger.
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Powerstones?
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