Johan — Don’t Make Me Flip the Table!

The five Genesect—Apocalypse Bugs—transformed into disc-shaped flying crafts like small fighter jets and shot out in formation from the Plasma Frigate.

Inside the frigate, screens projected the visual feed from each Genesect's perspective. Under the precise control of Plasma agents, the five Pokémon maneuvered with the synchronicity of aircraft in a military exercise.

Colress, however, paid these projections little mind. He trusted in his creations.

"Though I'm really interested in you… for the sake of the DNA Splicers—"

He manipulated the tablet in his hands.

"—Sorry."

He had already discovered the data port left behind by Porygon-Z.

As curious as he was about this Pokémon capable of traveling through data networks, he had to prioritize the DNA Splicers, which meant cooperating with Sage Zinzolin.

To help Zinzolin complete his plan, they couldn't afford interference.

So Colress, "with a heavy heart," shut down the port.

"As long as I have Genesect… you'll come back, won't you?"

Once the port was closed, Porygon-Z lost contact with the Genesect.

At the same time, Johan, in mid-flight with Dragonite and navigating via Rotom, lost track of the moving coordinates.

"Stop, Dragonite."

"Draaa?"

Dragonite flapped its wings, halting in midair, and turned its head in confusion.

What now?

Johan's face was pale as he frowned—on the map, the moving red dot had vanished.

"Target cannot be located, Loto," Rotom confirmed.

"So they noticed… and cut the connection?" Johan exhaled.

He'd anticipated this. That's why he'd chased them in the middle of the night.

But Colress had moved even faster than expected.

"Final coordinates confirmed, Loto."

The signal had cut off near Reversal Mountain.

A towering snow-covered mountain on the eastern peninsula of Unova—not quite as high as Mount Coronet in Sinnoh, but one of the tallest in Unova nonetheless.

"Head to Lentimas Town."

If the signal was lost at Reversal Mountain, they'd head there and search for clues.

"Draaa~"

"Affirmative, Loto! Navigation starting!"

Destination: Lentimas Town!

As the first light of dawn broke through the darkness, the orange sunlight cast a brilliant sheen over the snowy peaks.

Lentimas Town, nestled on the mountain, was small but well-known throughout Unova. Tourists visited for the snowy scenery—and to see the dormant volcano.

In the games, Reversal Mountain was home to a cave where Heatran could be awakened.

Whether that held true in this world was unclear.

Despite its size, Lentimas Town boasted a train station and a small airport—quite luxurious for a mountain town.

Most of the buildings were log cabins. Many of the people walking around were clearly hikers, likely with Geodudes or Onixes in tow.

"Red-Hot Darumaka Bento! Fresh and fun!"

As they entered town, that cry rang out.

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar floated out of Johan's shadow, rubbing its belly. Larvitar looked at him with a pitiful expression.

"Yoji…"

Growl—

Their stomachs rumbled in sync.

"Right. We've been chasing all night without breakfast."

Johan patted Gengar's head. "Let's check it out. I've heard Darumaka Bentos are the specialty here."

"Ka-kaah!"

"Yoji!"

They raced off toward the food stall.

"Red-Hot Darumaka Bento! Tasty and fun! After eating, the box becomes a toy or wind chime!"

The vendor—a girl in an apron with long bluish-purple hair—beamed as she advertised.

"Ka-kaah!"

"Yoji!"

Gengar and Larvitar ran up to her, calling out excitedly.

"You two want bentos?" She smiled at their eagerness.

"…Why does this all seem so familiar?" Johan muttered, before stepping forward.

"Could we get… thirty, please? Thirty Darumaka Bentos."

Thirty?

Her eyes lit up.

Big spender!

"Right away! Please wait a moment!" she said, hurrying to prepare the food. "Our frozen mountain blueberry fruit is also a hit! Picked fresh at dawn and flash-frozen for flavor—another specialty!"

Frozen mountain blueberries?

Johan smirked. Without even looking, he knew Gengar and Larvitar were giving him the puppy eyes.

"Alright. We'll take ten of those, too."

"Thank you! Vanilluxe, bring out the berries!"

"Doooo~!"

The Vanilluxe beside the freezer opened it and pulled out bundles of chilled berries, releasing a frosty mist.

They looked incredibly fresh—even the stems were still vibrant.

"Alright, everyone, come out!"

All of Johan's Poké Balls popped open on their own.

Eager Pokémon tumbled out—Ninetales, Tinkaton, Dragonite, Urshifu, Ceruledge…

"So many Pokémon?" the girl gasped.

"They're my partners."

"You've gotta try the freshly blended mountain fruit juice and mountain plum ice cream then!"

Johan: "…"

Everything's a specialty here, huh?

Still—

"Let's try it."

"That'll be 1,450 Pokédollars."

He chuckled and paid.

The quality really was good.

Then Johan asked, "Did you prepare all this today?"

"Of course!"

Hands on her hips, she said proudly, "Vanilluxe and I were picking ingredients around 2 or 3 AM this morning! Everything's freshly made!"

2 or 3 AM?

Johan's eyes narrowed.

"Did you notice anything strange in the sky last night?"

"Huh?"

She blinked. "Just stars and the moon… wait! Right, there was this one weird cloud!"

"A weird cloud?"

"It came and went really fast, even though the forecast said today would be sunny. Vanilluxe and I were startled."

Strange clouds on a clear forecasted day were bad news—especially for people foraging on a snowy mountain at night.

"And which direction did it go?"

"Hmmm…" She pointed north. "That way!"

North…

North led to Humilau City.

"You're heading that way? You can take the train. It goes straight to Humilau."

"Thanks."

"Want me to buy your ticket? I can help~"

Johan: "…"

Aboard the train to Humilau.

Having lost the Genesect's coordinates, Johan knew there was no need to rush. He settled in with his Pokémon in a private car, everyone enjoying their bentos.

They were delicious. Big portions, too.

Everyone was stuffed and happy.

Just then, Johan received word from Alder and Schultz.

The Plasma Lab at P2 Island—captured.

Though some Plasma members tried to destroy it, Alder broke through the lab's defenses by himself.

Much of the lab was damaged, but a wealth of intel was recovered.

Including horrifying Pokémon experiments that left Professor Juniper speechless.

The Unova League now had enough evidence to formally declare Team Plasma a criminal organization.

But Alder also warned Johan.

Many Plasma members had escaped that night—including the wanted "Dark Scientist," Colress.

If Johan needed help, Alder would send backup.

Johan reported back that he had lost the trail but was continuing pursuit.

They exchanged intel.

"There's always someone hiding evil behind a noble-sounding cause…"

Reading the lab reports, Johan sighed, staring out at the snowy woods.

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar growled, cheeks puffed with food.

Let's wipe 'em out! Wipe 'em all out!

He took a furious bite of his bento.

"Wipe them out?"

Johan glanced at Gengar.

"Ka-kaah~"

Gengar smirked mischievously.

SMACK!

Johan slapped the back of its head. "Been watching too many dramas?"

"Ka-kaah~"

Hey, just trying to cheer you up!

"Cheer up, huh?" Johan rubbed his temples.

"Wait! Put that tongue away! You're how old?! Ninetales, help me!"

He sighed.

You do what you can. What you can't fix… you leave to others.

Let Alder handle Plasma.

Belly full, everyone lounged in their seats.

"Ka-kaah?"

Suddenly—

Gengar zipped outside to the roof of the train.

"What is it?"

THUD!

Something heavy landed on the roof.

"Ka-kaah, Ka-kaah!"

Gengar poked its head back in, gesturing frantically.

A badly injured Pokémon had fallen onto the train.

"A wounded one?" Johan narrowed his eyes. "Ceruledge, assist."

"Goka!"

Ceruledge nodded, leapt out the window, and joined Gengar.

Soon, they returned—carrying a small, pony-like Pokémon with a light-blue mane on its neck and tail, and a reddish-brown tuft on its head.

The most striking feature—its horn was broken.

Johan froze.

That was… Keldeo?!

The mythical colt Pokémon—Water/Fighting-type. Apprentice to the Swords of Justice.

A train… a wounded Keldeo… a broken horn…

Keldeo vs. Kyurem: The Movie?!

So wait—

Was Kyurem coming too?!

Johan stood up, heart racing.

"Gengar, check for threats!"

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar nodded seriously.

Before it left, Johan added, "No fighting!"

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar vanished.

Johan looked down at the unconscious Keldeo, face scrunched in pain.

This was trouble… but he couldn't ignore it.

"Larvitar, bring me two Revives."

"Yoji!"

Larvitar dug behind its back and handed over two blocks—its secret stash.

"Dragonite, water. Ninetales, Urshifu, Ceruledge—help Gengar scout. Tinkaton, carry Keldeo to the bed."

The team moved into action.

Keldeo's breathing steadied, though it didn't wake.

Gengar soon returned: no threats.

No Kyurem?

In the movie, Keldeo had defied the Swords of Justice and challenged Kyurem alone—only to be completely defeated and saved at the last moment.

But now… no Kyurem?

Wait.

"Does that mean Plasma hasn't caught Kyurem yet?"

Johan's eyes sharpened.

"They were headed north… beyond Humilau is Giant Chasm. Kyurem's territory."

Plasma's goal… is Kyurem?!

Timeline? Who cares. It's long since broken.

Continuing to channel aura to heal Keldeo, Johan resumed his deduction.

"If Plasma's after Kyurem, their weapons are Colress's 'Colress Machine'… and five Genesect."

Genesect could even battle Mega Mewtwo.

With Plasma's tech and planning, it wasn't impossible.

Especially if it was base Kyurem, not fused.

"Damn it…"

From Genesect to Keldeo…

Now the Swords of Justice, Kyurem, and Genesect?!

"Don't make me flip the table, you guys…"

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Powerstones?

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