Giratina’s 'Ecstasy'!

"What… is this?"

On the way back from their "winter outing," Johan looked at the tiny claw Gengar had secretly taken out. He wasn't too surprised.

After all, he knew his Gengar all too well.

For Gengar, venomous fangs, poisonous claws, and toxin-laced spikes from other Pokémon were just after-meal snacks.

This small, dull-looking claw was most likely just another trophy from a Poison-type Pokémon that had tried (and failed) to attack Gengar.

But then—

Johan's Pokédex, which hadn't reacted for a long time, suddenly lit up.

[Uxie's Claw]:

A claw shed by the legendary lake Pokémon, Uxie. Said to contain the light of wisdom, it grants young Pokémon increased intelligence.

(Only those possessing great wisdom can obtain it.)

Johan: "???"

Uxie's Claw?!

His mind filled with question marks.

From THE Uxie? The yellow mushroom of the Three Lake Guardians?

"You…"

Johan opened his mouth slightly.

"Did you steal Uxie's claw?"

He originally wanted to ask, "What did you do to Uxie?" But after thinking about it, he realized—Gengar couldn't possibly harm a legendary Pokémon.

Not to mention that Uxie was a Psychic-type, which naturally countered Gengar.

Gengar, knowing Johan far too well, immediately recognized his stunned expression as a sign that this claw was something unusual.

So, it confidently raised a finger, flashed a smug grin, and lightly wagged it.

"Ka-kaah~~"

It was a gift from Uxie.

"A… gift?"

Gengar proceeded to explain how it met Uxie, how it gave Uxie an energy cube, and how Uxie, in return, gifted it a claw.

"Ka-kaah~!"

Seeing Johan's highly skeptical expression, Gengar immediately vouched,

"Marshadow can confirm it!"

Johan stared at it for a moment.

While Gengar might embellish details, it was probably telling at least 80% of the truth.

Which led to a troubling thought.

When did my Gengar become so good at scamming other Pokémon?

Or rather…

WHEN DID UXIE GO BLIND?!

How did it mistake Gengar for a being of great wisdom?!

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar waved its hand in front of Johan's face.

What's wrong?

"Nothing…"

Johan shook off the thought and looked at the claw again.

Normally, Uxie's Claw wouldn't have much practical use.

At most, it might help certain Pokémon "awaken" their intelligence faster.

But—

This claw was also the key ingredient to creating a certain object.

An object Cyrus had obsessed over.

The Red Chain.

A tool that could bind Dialga and Palkia—

A tool that could CONTROL the gods of time and space.

And Gengar just got it… as a gift?

If Giratina ever finds out about this…

That thing would jump with excitement.

Aside from wanting to beat Arceus senseless, the only thing Giratina seemed to enjoy was bullying Dialga and Palkia.

With this claw, Johan now had a very valuable "bargaining chip" in any future dealings with Giratina.

It had been a while since he last contacted Giratina…

Gengar had probably been keeping in touch with it all this time.

Johan turned to Gengar, who was grinning with a "praise me!" expression.

He patted its head.

Actually, this Uxie's Claw wasn't useless right now.

The Pokédex description said it could make young Pokémon smarter.

And Johan just so happened to have an egg.

If the hatchling ended up as a genius, it would be perfect for his role as a Pokémon psychologist.

"Charcadet, this claw is for the egg."

"Goka?"

Charcadet tilted its head, puzzled.

But it trusted Johan's decisions, so it solemnly nodded.

It strung the claw onto a piece of string and carefully tied it to the egg.

Rustle—

The egg wobbled slightly.

As a Pokémon with the Flame Body ability, Charcadet was accelerating the incubation process.

The little one inside would likely hatch very soon…

The Next Day.

Nothing unusual happened in Snowpoint City.

In fact—

When Battle Pyramid's Head Brandon heard about what happened at Snowpoint Temple, he immediately flew over.

With Brandon stationed here, even if something else happened, he could hold the fort until the League arrived.

That meant—

Johan and the others were finally free to leave.

Before departing, Johan specifically visited Matori and Team Rocket's trio, giving them gifts.

At the same time, he asked Matori to deliver a "special gift" to Giovanni.

As the trio tearfully waved goodbye, Johan boarded the plane and left Snowpoint City.

Arrival at Celestic Town.

Here, the group went their separate ways.

Aaron headed to Eterna Forest, looking for a Bug/Water-type Pokémon. Cynthia stayed behind to finish a historical research report with Professor Carolina. Once the report was done, the League would approve a new round of research funding. Some of that funding was Johan's. (This had absolutely nothing to do with Cynthia's training facility being newly renovated.)

At first, Johan planned to stay and help.

But then—

Flint mentioned he was heading back to Sunyshore City.

And Johan changed his mind.

Because—

Volkner.

Johan hadn't forgotten how Volkner's Pikachu once asked him for help.

Volkner was suffering from severe battle fatigue, and even Cynthia's attempts to help him hadn't fully worked.

So, now that Johan was in Sinnoh… and Flint just happened to be heading back…

He decided to go too.

As for Lucian—

At first, he wanted to return to Canalave City to rest.

He had absorbed too much historical knowledge lately. The constant crisis situations had worn him out.

But then—

After a single conversation, Flint changed his mind.

Flint claimed he couldn't afford to rent a private plane. Meaning he had to go with Lucian to Canalave City first. And Lucian instantly knew—

If Flint followed him home… he'd never leave.

So—

Lucian chose to take the long route.

Johan and Flint secured a free ride. Celestic Town, Departure.

Cynthia stood in the plaza, hands in her pockets, her black trench coat sharp and elegant.

She smiled slightly and gave Johan a small nod.

Johan nodded back, feeling a bit sentimental.

Then, he boarded the plane.

"Rotom, take off!"

"Understood, Roto!"

Vrrrrooom—

The engines roared to life.

…Lucian was filthy rich.

This wasn't just any plane—

It was a high-tech aircraft powered by a Rotom engine.

Johan was already fantasizing about a "Rotom Mecha."

If that ever happened—

"Anti-Regigigas Armor." "Anti-Groudon Suit." "Anti-Arceus Exoskeleton."

Suddenly, these were no longer just dreams.

He might single-handedly rewrite the world's tech tree.

"Hey!"

Flint, face swollen from bruises, suddenly shouted:

"That website from last night—it's gone!"

Johan smirked.

Cynthia deleted it.

She found out.

Luckily, he saved the good parts.

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Powerstones?

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