Meanwhile...
Pallet Town, Oak Research Institute
Professor Oak, clad in his white lab coat, waved with a smile.
"Ash, have you arrived in Ever Grande City yet?"
On the video call, Ash grinned with Pikachu perched on his shoulder.
"Yep! The opening ceremony's tomorrow, so Pikachu and I are heading to the contestant village now."
"Pikachu~!"
"Good. I was worried you'd miss the deadline."
Professor Oak nodded in relief, then hesitated.
"Ash, let me ask you something..."
His expression turned complicated.
"Did you register your contestant data with the organizers yet?"
"Huh?" Ash froze.
"This year's Ever Grande Conference is different—you need pre-registration as a trainer."
Professor Oak sighed. "My fault for not reminding you earlier... But you can still make it if you hurry to a Pokémon Center."
"But the Pokémon Center's packed!"
Ash panicked. "Maybe I can find Nurse Joy... When's the cutoff?"
"I'll handle your registration remotely. Just send your Pokédex data to Ever Grande City. But remember next time."
Ash blinked, then teared up. "You saved me! Thanks, Professor Oak!"
"Pikachu~! (T^T)"
Despite being a two-time tournament veteran, Ash still had the scatterbrained energy of a rookie.
"Haha, no problem."
Used to this, Professor Oak scratched his head. "By the way, didn't you guys have a group chat after that party?"
"Yeah?" Ash tilted his head. "Want me to add you?"
"No, no. Just checking if anyone else is joining a League Tournament this year."
Professor Oak explained, "Different conferences have different rules. Early registration helps."
Busy as he was, this was an easy favor. Most group members were his juniors anyway.
Ash pondered, then brightened. "Actually, yeah!"
"Natsume-sensei's competing in this year's Indigo Plateau Conference!"
Professor Oak stared blankly.
Natsume-sensei... Natsume, entering the Indigo Plateau Conference?!
"Ash, are you sure?"
He coughed awkwardly. "At his power level, that seems... unnecessary?"
"He already collected all eight badges."
Ash pointed at his own eyes. "I saw them myself!"
"Yikes..." Professor Oak winced.
The Indigo Plateau Conference wasn't some rookie tournament—he'd won it himself back in the day.
After Kanto and Johto merged, the event absorbed Silver Conference contenders, raising the difficulty.
But for someone who saved the Tree of Beginning to enter...
It felt almost unfair?
"Don't worry, I know Natsume-sensei!"
Ash declared confidently. "He loves these baby cups!"
Cough "Noted..." Professor Oak sighed. "Focus on your Ever Grande Conference for now. Call me if issues arise."
"Thanks a ton, Professor Oak~!"
After hanging up, Professor Oak stroked his chin thoughtfully.
He could easily register Natsume using existing Pokédex data. Still, consent mattered—especially since Natsume was fielding a newly bred team.
A League challenge wasn't unreasonable...
BOOM!!
An explosion rocked the backyard.
A soot-covered Crystal trudged back inside, shoulders slumped.
"Professor Oak... That Pokémon got away again. It just keeps exploding!"
"Even you can't catch it?" Professor Oak gasped.
As The Capturer, Crystal had logged data on Legendary Birds and Beasts alike. Yet this Pokémon—transferred from Cameran Palace for research—was trouncing her.
Quite the personality, huh?
"It self-destructs the second I throw a ball! Then we have to rush it to the Pokémon Center..."
Crystal groaned. "Zero window for capture!"
"I see..."
Professor Oak chuckled, reminded of the institute's old shock-happy Pikachu.
"Don't blame yourself."
He patted her shoulder warmly.
"We'll find someone to catch it later. For now, let it be."
Natsume might be... enthusiastic, but his care for Pokémon mirrored Professor Oak's own values.
Like Ash's Pikachu, self-destruction might just be its defense mechanism.
The right trainer could rewrite its story entirely.
"Should we prepare more lawnmowers and bikes as temporary housing?" Crystal asked.
"Handle that as you see fit."
Professor Oak nodded.
"Right now, I need to call Natsume about tournament registration."
Crystal brightened. "So Natsume-sensei is joining the League Tournament!"
"'Is'?"
"Everyone's talking about it in the group chat." She laughed. "Of course he wouldn't miss a rookie tournament!"
A... rookie tournament...
Professor Oak sighed deeply, feeling the generation gap widen.
"Is this what aging feels like?"
Muttering, he dialed the special Pokédex hotline. The video feed activated—
"Gengar?"
—to reveal Gengar's giant face filling the screen.
...
Saffron City, Psychic Gym
Natsume stood at the edge of the battlefield, his sunglasses-wearing Blastoise looming before him.
"Blastoise ヾ(■_■)"
Sabrina, her jet-black hair cascading to her waist, observed him with narrowed eyes. A subtle shift in his aura—something only her Psychic senses could detect—sent a ripple through her composure.
Since when did Mentor radiate such overwhelming energy?
This "Ripple Aura" felt even more potent than Psychic power itself.
Why didn't I notice this last time?
Her grip tightened.
...Or was it simply beyond my perception?
Now, he was attempting Mega Evolution.
No—executing it.
For a Trainer of his caliber, Mega Evolution came as naturally as breathing.
A gust of aura-laden wind swept through the gym, tousling Natsume's hair and jacket. The Key Stone embedded in his glove erupted into a prismatic blaze.
"Blastoise!" Natsume raised his hand.
"BLASTOISE!" The Blastoise roared, flinging its sunglasses aside with dramatic flair.
In an instant, raw aura erupted around them, swirling into a visible vortex with Blastoise at its core. Sabrina's hair whipped backward as her stoic mask cracked—just for a second.
She hurled a Poké Ball.
"Mr. Mime, Light Screen!"
Sabrina's pupils shrank slightly.
Still a step too slow!
Dazzling white light merged with azure aura, weaving into tangible chains that linked Natsume and Blastoise. A snap of his fingers—
BOOM!
The shockwave sent Sabrina skidding back, arms shielding her face.
"Blastoise—MEGA EVOLUTION!"
"BLASTOISE!!"
The transformation engulfed Blastoise in radiant energy. When the light faded, its cannons had morphed into tank-sized artillery, humming with ominous power. Wrist-mounted launchers extended from its arms, pulsating with barely restrained energy.
The surrounding aura funnelled into its Mega Launchers.
Aura Sphere: Charged. Ready.
Sabrina paled.
You call this Mega Evolution?!
My Alakazam never did this when it Mega Evolved!
Natsume's expression mirrored her panic.
"MINIMUM POWER! MINIMUM—"
KABOOM!!
The gym trembled. Windows shattered. Even with Light Screen's protection, debris rained down.
Sabrina licked her dry lips.
And that was just the aftershock.
If Blastoise had fired that Aura Sphere at full power—
Unthinkable.
"Let's... stop here."
Natsume exhaled sharply as Blastoise reverted to its normal form, both panting heavily.
"Blastoise..." It wiped sweat from its brow.
Energy Roots. Now.
Even for Natsume—a man with 6V-tier stamina—commanding Mega Blastoise was draining. Maybe he just lacked finesse.
Sustaining it through an entire battle? Impossible.
Not that he planned to.
This trump card stays for emergencies.
Sabrina inhaled deeply.
Her understanding of Mentor's strength had just been rewritten.
Yet as she surveyed the wreckage—cracked floors, shattered windows, a fresh skylight—one thought crystallized:So this is why Lt. Surge warned me.
My gym's in ruins!
Natsume coughed into his fist.
"I, uh... have a VIP renovation team on speed dial?"
Sabrina's deadpan stare lasted three full seconds before she nodded.
Meanwhile, the rest of Natsume's team watched in stunned silence.
Even that brief display had redefined "overpowered."
"Sirfetch'd! "
Tears streamed down the leek warrior's face.
They're flying while I'm still crawling!
When will justice come for Sirfetch'd?!
"Sylveon... (▼ヘ▼#)"
Sylveon turned heel, marching toward the training grounds with newfound resolve.
Unbeknownst to Natsume, Mega Blastoise's debut had ignited a fire in his team—
"Gengar! ︿(￣︶￣)︿"
Gengar nodded approvingly.
So long as their Trainer's dreams were fulfilled, it didn't matter who grew stronger.
But...
Its tiny fists clenched.
I won't fall behind either!
Beep beep beep—
Suddenly, his special Pokédex began to ring.
"Gengar?" Gengar opened the Pokédex, and a holographic projection of Professor Oak appeared.
"Oh, it's you, Gengar."
Professor Oak waved. "Where's Natsume?"
"Gengar!" Gengar adjusted the camera and pointed to the side.
Natsume was shakily sitting down.
So tired… This is worse than playing games with Cynthia all night!
"Well, it's nothing urgent."
Professor Oak rubbed his chin. "I just wanted to ask if Natsume plans to compete in the Indigo Plateau Conference."
"If he's joining, I can register him directly—"
"Gengar!" Gengar bounced up excitedly.
Fired up after recent encouragement, it clenched its fists, practically burning with determination.
The Indigo Plateau Conference was the perfect training opportunity!
"Gengar! (`^´)"
"Got it, calm down…"
Professor Oak said, sweating slightly:
"I'll sign Natsume up then…"
As Natsume's partner Pokémon, it naturally understood his thoughts.
After confirming, Professor Oak stroked his beard.
"It might be a bit unfair…"
Professor Oak chuckled.
"But I'm really looking forward to seeing Natsume take on the League Tournament!"
Meanwhile.
Natsume was negotiating with the renovation captain.
The renovation captain laughed loudly. "Don't worry, we'll give you a 30% discount on all services!"
Natsume: "Thanks!"
Suddenly, Natsume froze.
A system notification echoed in his ears.
[Ding! Quest Updated!]
[Objective: Reach at least the Top 4 in the Indigo Plateau Conference.]
[Mission description: Becoming a League Champion… isn't that easy as pie?]
Natsume blinked slowly, then silently typed a single question mark.
Natsume: ?
--------------------------------------
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