Kalos region, Dahara City.
Meray's residence.
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar took a deep breath, its body inflating like a balloon as it slowly floated upward.
"Amazing!"
Watching Gengar's "performance," Hoopa couldn't help but clap, its eyes twinkling as it looked at the now-chubby Gengar.
"Transforming Gengar"—this was a move little Hoopa didn't know.
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar put its hands on its hips, showing a proud expression.
"Gengar, are you imitating Jigglypuff again?" Seeing this scene, Johan couldn't help but tease.
Whoosh—
The gas inside Gengar streamed out as it made faces at Johan, sticking out its tongue.
Bleh bleh bleh~ You're just envious and jealous of my talent!
Johan just smiled and didn't say much more.
But little Hoopa on the side seemed to have an epiphany, its eyes spinning twice before covering its mouth and giggling secretly.
"Then let the great Djinn Hoopa show you Hoopa's talent!"
Speaking.
Light flickered in its eyes as the two golden rings hanging from its horns floated out, constructing two dimensional portals beside it.
"Hoopa is amazing~!"
The next moment.
Both Johan and Gengar's eyes widened.
From the dimensional portals Hoopa had constructed... one Gengar after another came running out.
"Ka-kaah? Ka-kaah?"
"Ka-kaah~"
"Ka-kaah!"
In just a few breaths, the spacious room was suddenly occupied by over a hundred Gengar!
Moreover, possibly influenced by the purple chubby one, the Gengar little Hoopa had summoned this time were all... somewhat imitating other Pokémon.
True Transforming Gengar!
Even.
Among them were several Ditto that looked like Gengar but only had two small black bean eyes!
Gengar was greatly shocked by this.
And Johan...
"..."
The scene that happened to Ash and Pikachu had actually occurred to him and his Gengar.
More importantly.
Gengar were naturally lively and mischievous Pokémon, and with so many Gengar suddenly gathering in one place, it inevitably caused...
"Ka-kaah!" (Why are you stepping on my foot!)
"Ka-kaah~" (Don't push me~)
"Ka-kaah?" (What did you drag me here for?)
"Ka-kaah~" (Want to hold a concert together~~)
Hearing some Gengar mention singing, Johan's expression immediately changed.
If over a hundred Gengar performed a "death chorus," then... tomorrow Dahara City's headlines would become—Shocking! Dahara City Becomes a Ghost City Overnight!
"Hoopa..."
However, just as Johan started to speak, he heard Hoopa float to mid-air, asking quite proudly:
"Guess which one is your Gengar~"
Johan held his forehead.
Among the crowd of pushing, embracing, tongue-sticking Gengar, he found his purple chubby one disguised as an ordinary Gengar, trying to increase Johan's difficulty.
"Ka-kaah~ (｀▽*)"
You found me so quickly~
Gengar directly gave Johan's cheek a lick.
"So amazing..." Hoopa was amazed by Johan's speed in finding Gengar.
Johan, who took a bite of a Cheri Berry, was quite speechless.
Any trainer who had built deep bonds with their Pokémon would be able to find their own among a hundred similar Pokémon.
Even someone like Flint wouldn't find it difficult.
"Hoopa!"
At this time, Meray, who had finished hosting the meeting between Flint and the mayor, saw a whole living room full of Gengar and immediately knew what was happening, showing an angry expression.
Hearing Meray's voice, Hoopa immediately shrank its neck.
Its expression was exactly the same as when Gengar got caught making trouble by Johan.
"Hoopa, quickly send everyone back!" Meray put one hand on her hip and covered her forehead with the other, quite troubled.
"Okay, Hoopa knows..."
Hoopa was still very obedient to Meray, just...
Summoning spirits was easy, sending them back was hard.
Especially when summoning a bunch of ghosts—a bunch of cunning Gengar.
Hoopa opened dimensional portals again, but only three or five Gengar went back, including two that were actually Ditto transformed into Gengar.
And Johan's Gengar, looking at the chaotic scene in the room, suddenly reacted.
"Ka-kaah!"
It pounded its fist into its palm, showing sudden understanding.
Right! Isn't this my, no, isn't this His Majesty's "Ghost Legion"?!
It had also studied with Elite Four Agatha's Gengar for a while.
That was something to envy.
Elite Four Agatha's Gengar had a large group of Ghost-type Pokémon following behind it, including many Gengar, and when Elite Four Agatha needed them, these Ghost Pokémon formed the so-called "Ghost Legion"—just looking at that formation made one envious.
Moreover, Elite Four Agatha's Gengar could gather Ghost-type energy without having to painstakingly condense it alone like it did.
If not for the "electronic pet's" remote support, it wouldn't have learned that move back then.
Now it was good.
Little Hoopa had given it, no, given His Majesty an "army"!
Thinking carefully.
In the future, going out with a hundred Gengar behind it, all wearing sunglasses in unison, a dark mass—just thinking about it was imposing, no, just thinking about it would better protect Johan's safety!
Moreover, its Ghost-type energy condensation speed would definitely be faster, and when using "Ghost Aura," everyone could get huge bonuses...
Slurp—
Thinking about it, Gengar drooled.
So.
Gengar immediately floated to the ceiling, shouting at the chaotic hundred-plus Gengar below.
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar! Your emperor has returned! (chest vibration)
Hearing this, the hundred-plus Gengar all looked up at the ceiling.
"Ka-kaah?" (Emperor? What's that, can it be eaten?)
"Ka-kaah?" (That's not right, why can you float?)
"Ka-kaah!" (Right! This must be a fake Gengar! It infiltrated the people!)
"Ka-kaah!" (Brothers, get it!)
"..."
Instantly it was another chaotic mess of "Ka-kaah."
Just like how each of Pikachu's "Pika" had different meanings based on pronunciation and pauses, each "Ka-kaah" from the Gengar also had different meanings.
Johan's scalp was tingling from listening.
"Ka-kaah..."
Damn it!
Seeing such an insubordinate appearance, Gengar was immediately furious.
"Gengar!" Johan couldn't watch anymore and immediately spread his aura.
Buzz—
Invisible energy with emotion-soothing effects immediately made the chaotic room quiet, and pairs of crimson eyes all looked at Johan.
"Ho-Hoopa?"
Hoopa also felt the aura Johan released, and while feeling peaceful, couldn't help murmuring:
"So amazing..."
As a descendant of Arceus's messenger, although Meray's abilities weren't as powerful as her great-grandfather's, she could still feel the aura's rhythm, and her respect deepened.
Truly worthy of being an Arceus messenger like great-grandfather, no, in terms of calming Pokémon emotions, Teacher Johan might be even better...
"Send them back." Johan said to his Gengar.
How could he not know what his purple chubby one was planning?
A "Ghost Legion" was certainly good—even he was quite envious of Elite Four Agatha's "Ghost Legion," especially with so many Gengar present. The quantity might not match Elite Four Agatha's, but the quality... was only higher.
No joke.
If his Gengar really got a proper "Ghost Legion," Johan felt it might have a decent chance of going toe-to-toe with legendary first-class gods, maybe even winning.
But the problem was...
One Gengar had nearly drained him dry, no, drained his wallet dry back then. These hundred-plus Gengar would bankrupt him even if he sold himself!
Even if these Gengar ate much less than his own, but...
Just thinking about it made Johan's heart pound.
Waking up in the middle of the night to a house full of Gengar, in cups, on the ceiling, in walls, on his head... his house might as well stop being a café and become a haunted house.
"Ka-kaah..."
Hearing this, Gengar drooped its ears and scratched its butt.
It felt... the imposing scenes of "Bewitching Ghost" strutting through the streets, "Purple Armor Throughout the City" all shattered like bubbles.
His Majesty failed before even starting!
But Gengar still listened to Johan's words.
So.
"Ka-kaah!" Gengar patted its chubby cheeks and immediately recovered its spirits, grinning.
Fine! Let me show you all His Majesty's, no, my strength one last time!
Buzz—
With Gengar at the center, surging black mist immediately spread outward. The rich Ghost-type energy immediately made all the Gengar present show shocked expressions.
Ghost Aura!
"Gengar." Johan took out several boxes of energy cubes. "Consider these parting gifts. Sorry to trouble them."
So.
Under Gengar's full "Ghost Aura," Gengar after Gengar took energy cubes and happily went back through Hoopa's dimensional portals.
Thus.
The "Gengar Disaster" was nipped in the bud just as it showed its first signs.
But it planted a seed in Johan's family Gengar's heart.
After sending away the Gengar, Meray breathed a long sigh of relief, while Hoopa quietly floated to Johan's side, its little nose twitching.
"Hoopa saw it, delicious food!"
Johan smiled.
Having given snacks to so many Gengar, how could he not spare one for little Hoopa?
"Here." Johan took out energy cubes.
He didn't take out Gengar's favorites.
Not because he was stingy, but because Gengar's energy cubes contained some poison. Although both were Ghost-type Pokémon, Gengar was Ghost and Poison type, while Hoopa was Ghost and Psychic type—there was still a big difference.
He also didn't take out Ceruledge's and Rotom's energy cubes.
Ceruledge liked super spicy energy cubes, while Rotom's were more numbing—probably not suitable for Hoopa either.
So even among Ghost-type Pokémon, differences in secondary types meant different preferences.
Even Pokémon with identical types often had different preferences, which was what truly tested breeders.
But fortunately, Johan had many friends and had seen all kinds of Pokémon.
What he took out this time might be average in energy and nutrition, but the taste and flavor were absolutely exquisite!
"Delicious Hoopa! Delicious!"
Indeed.
Hoopa was completely conquered by this energy cube after just one small bite.
This point was still very similar between Hoopa and Gengar.
Gluttonous and fond of good food, quite enthusiastic about delicious cuisine.
"Quickly thank Teacher Johan." Meray stepped forward, pressing Hoopa's head.
This time Hoopa didn't resist, just playfully winked at Johan, then said:
"Thank you... Little Jo~ Little Jo is amazing~!"
Seeing Hoopa's "Little Jo is amazing, Little Jo's food is delicious" appearance, Johan suddenly thought of a Pokémon—Jirachi!
Speaking of which.
Jirachi had just fallen asleep, and when it woke up again, who knew what the world would look like.
But then his thoughts stirred.
Could Hoopa summon Jirachi?
If he could see that little one again, everyone would be very happy, and he missed that little one too...
"Teacher Johan..." Meray helplessly apologized again for Hoopa's mischief.
Johan naturally didn't mind much.
As long as Hoopa wasn't "unleashed," there were no big problems.
Just then.
A strong and robust Braviary flew in from outside, landing in the garden.
"Little Ba is back!"
Hoopa stuffed the energy cube in its mouth and hurried to greet it.
The arrival was Meray's brother, Barza.
A young man wearing similar clothing to Meray jumped down from Braviary's back.
Barza's appearance made Johan's just-relaxed nerves tense again.
In the movie "Hoopa and the Clash of Ages," Hoopa's "Shadow" power was released by Barza after being influenced by the "Shadow" power, ultimately leading to a series of incidents.
"Hoopa, Meray." Barza smiled as he patted both Hoopa's and Meray's heads, seemingly showing no abnormalities.
Johan also didn't see any trace of the "Prison Bottle" on him, which made him sigh in relief.
Good.
Rare that things didn't develop according to his worst expectations.
For a moment there, he felt like war was about to break out, catching him somewhat off guard.
"Brother, this is Teacher Johan..."
Then Meray began introducing Johan and Barza.
Mainly introducing Barza to Johan, because both Barza and Meray were familiar with Johan as "Arceus's messenger."
After introductions, Meray asked what Barza had been doing.
Speaking of this, Barza's expression became serious.
"The village elder sent word through someone, saying..." He glanced at Johan subtly, then seemed to think of something before continuing: "Saying the seal seemed to be showing some abnormalities, asking me to check."
Seal?
Hearing this, Meray's expression also became serious, and little Hoopa shrank behind her, looking very frightened just from hearing those two words.
Johan couldn't help but pause.
The seal Barza mentioned, if there were no accidents, should refer to... the seal of "Shadow" Hoopa's power.
"Seal abnormalities?" Meray looked worried.
"It's fine." But Barza relaxed, waving his hand. "Although the seal is solid, sometimes there are inevitably some movements, like wild Pokémon accidentally running into the cave."
He had handled such situations before.
"Mm!" Meray pursed her lips and nodded.
Actually, she'd always had a bold idea.
That was to actively break the seal and let little Hoopa regain its complete power!
Of course, the prerequisite was that little Hoopa could control its power rather than being controlled by it, unlike the Unbound Hoopa of the past.
As someone who grew up with Hoopa since childhood, Meray and Barza were very familiar with little Hoopa. After living together for so long, aside from being mischievous, they hadn't seen any "Unbound" shadows from it.
So Meray's idea was to wait a couple more years until little Hoopa matured more under her guidance, then try!
"But what if the seal really has problems..." Meray said quietly.
Then she looked at Johan and asked: "Teacher Johan, although this is presumptuous, but... could you go with my brother to check the seal?"
If it were Teacher Johan, even if the seal loosened, he could easily suppress it... Meray thought.
In her eyes, Teacher Johan, like her great-grandfather, was "Arceus's messenger," so suppressing seals should be easy.
After all, her great-grandfather alone had sealed and suppressed Hoopa, and Teacher Johan was not only "Arceus's messenger" but also a powerful trainer comparable to Champions.
Speaking, Meray bowed ninety degrees with an extremely sincere attitude.
After being stunned, Barza also reacted.
Right.
Teacher Johan was here!
If the seal was just abnormal due to wild Pokémon accidentally entering, that was fine, but if the seal was really loosening... Teacher Johan might even be able to reinforce it.
Seal?
Me?
Johan really wanted to say, what do I know about seals?
But considering...
No matter what, going to see for himself would be most prudent.
Actually, even if Meray hadn't said it, Johan wanted to go confirm the situation.
So after brief contemplation, he nodded:
"Alright."
Meray and Barza were overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.
"I'll go prepare right away!" Barza said and quickly left.
Little Hoopa, lying behind Meray, looked at Johan with blinking eyes, not knowing what it was thinking.
At the same time.
Flint also finished meeting with the mayor and walked in.
"Teacher Johan."
Coming to Johan's side, Flint lightly nudged him with his elbow, quietly asking:
"Dahara City's mayor asked me to sound you out—want to make an appearance together? Have an exhibition match? After all, we're already here, and the appearance fee... would probably be substantial."
Appearance fee?
Hearing this, Johan's eyes brightened slightly.
But looking at the siblings before him.
He still didn't know what the seal situation was.
So he could only shake his head: "Forget it, I have other important matters to handle..."
Compared to making money.
Confirming Hoopa's situation was indeed more important.
Moreover...
They hadn't invited him initially, and now with him hitching a ride with Flint, it seemed like he was "begging" for an appearance, or being "brought along" by Flint.
Hmph.
Was Teacher Johan someone you could choose not to invite and then invite whenever you wanted?
He was famously petty.
Kalos region, among the continuous mountains and valleys, a lush valley came into view.
"Teacher Johan, ahead is the Valley of Creation, where Meray and I grew up."
Kneeling on Braviary's back, Barza pointed at the distant valley with some pride.
The Valley of Creation was said to be the original place where Arceus created the world, so everyone there worshipped the Creator God Arceus.
At the same time, because locals all strived to harmonize with nature, people from the Valley of Creation all possessed some special abilities to varying degrees, like Meray and Barza, and their powerful great-grandfather.
Moreover, people from the Valley of Creation all wore "Millennium Wrists" similar to Johan's—these were tokens representing Arceus.
The only difference was that Johan's Millennium Wrist was gifted by Arceus and possessed special abilities.
While the "Millennium Wrists" worn by people from the Valley of Creation, including Meray and Barza, were actually just accessories and sculptures.
"Valley of Creation, Hoopa likes it!"
In Meray's arms on another Braviary, little Hoopa flew out and immediately expressed its approval.
Johan, lying on Dragonite's back, just nodded silently.
Originally he'd wanted to take the aircraft, but... while the Valley of Creation in the valley had flat ground for landing, the seal location's environment wasn't so accommodating, so he simply didn't take the aircraft.
Anyway, with Meray and Barza's Braviary flight speed, it was barely within Johan's acceptable range.
"The seal location we're going to is in an even deeper valley." Barza said.
Hoopa immediately shivered, thinking of the shadow in the "Prison Bottle," and quickly shouted: "No! Hoopa doesn't want to! Hoopa will disappear!"
"Hoopa, it's okay, Teacher Johan is here, my brother and I are here, you won't disappear..." Meray quickly comforted it.
The reason Hoopa acted this way came from when Meray was young.
A sudden instance of getting lost led her to accidentally bring Hoopa into the canyon mountains, unknowingly approaching the seal location.
At that time, Hoopa acted like it had a fever—body heating up, completely losing energy, just constantly saying "Hoopa will disappear." Later, with their great-grandfather's help, it recovered.
According to their grandfather Ghris, if the "Shadow" was released before little Hoopa could master its power, little Hoopa's consciousness would be devoured, equivalent to "disappearing."
So from then on, Meray and Barza had to move away from the Valley of Creation with little Hoopa, only occasionally returning.
Johan couldn't help but sigh.
"Isn't this just split personality?"
Hoopa's consciousness was split into little Hoopa and Unbound Hoopa "Shadow"—two completely independent self-consciousnesses, each believing itself to be the main consciousness, a textbook case of split personality.
The only difference was that other people's split personalities had extra personalities sleeping inside their bodies, while Hoopa's "Shadow" personality was stripped away and sealed by Ghris.
And regarding split personality, mental disorders... hadn't this hit right in Johan's wheelhouse?
This made Johan feel much more relaxed.
Fighting legendary Pokémon was very stressful.
But facing his own "patients"—that was his specialty.
"Hoopa, scared..."
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar flew out from Johan's shadow, floating beside Hoopa and smiling as it patted its head, then pointed at itself and grinned.
Don't worry, with me and Johan here, you'll definitely be fine!
But for safety considerations.
The Braviary carrying Meray and little Hoopa still descended toward the Valley of Creation.
The seal inspection would be left to Barza and Johan.
Flying directly over the Valley of Creation, after flying through the complex, craggy valleys for some time, Barza's Braviary slowly flew toward a valley perpetually shrouded in shadows.
"This is it."
Barza jumped down from Braviary, coming to a pitch-black cave entrance.
Then he threw out a Poké Ball.
"Solrock."
In flashing red light, Barza's other Pokémon was summoned.
"Flash."
Buzz—
Light emanated from Solrock, illuminating the dim cave.
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar curiously peered inside.
Where's the seal?
"Please follow me."
Barza led the way deep underground, and after walking for some time, they reached the deepest part of the cave where there was no more path ahead.
"Ka-kaah?"
Dead end—did you get the wrong place?
Barza didn't keep them in suspense, smiling slightly as he pointed to a corner with a seemingly special stone.
Solrock's light created some ripples in what appeared to be empty space, faintly forming refraction.
A barrier!
Gengar understood.
Barza closed his eyes, raised one hand, and solemnly chanted:
"Time, sky, all things in the universe, convey my words, break the ancient connection! Break!"
Buzz—
The Millennium Wrist hanging on Barza's chest released weak light, and the transparent barrier rippled again with greater movement.
Dimly, the scene hidden behind the barrier finally slowly revealed its outline.
Hm?
While Barza chanted the incantation to break the barrier, Johan pulled out the slightly warm Millennium Wrist from his inner pocket.
Apart from origin and material, the biggest difference between Johan's Millennium Wrist gifted by Arceus and Barza's chest Millennium Wrist was...
Barza's Millennium Wrist was pure gold, almost identical in outer outline to Johan's, but it lacked four mysterious little green gems at the four corners that Johan's had.
"So the real target that guided me to the Kalos region is right before my eyes..."
Johan murmured as he looked up.
Prison Bottle!
After the barrier retreated, bound by mysterious ropes was the "Prison Bottle" that sealed Hoopa's power!
Possibly due to the passage of time, the "Prison Bottle" already showed obvious rust or weathering.
Without Arceus's power and Ghris's power, how could Hoopa be sealed?
Looking at the "Prison Bottle," Barza frowned slightly, examining it while saying:
"I don't see any signs of the seal loosening, but this 'Prison Bottle' seems... to have aged quite a bit more."
"The ropes are intact, the bottle body is intact, and the power is also..."
"Barza!"
Suddenly.
Johan's voice exploded like thunder beside Barza's ear.
He jolted, looking back at Johan with some confusion.
But he saw Johan's serious expression, pointing at his feet.
Barza looked down in bewilderment and was also startled.
Though clearly standing below the platform, clearly still three or four steps away from the stone platform where the "Prison Bottle" was located, he had somehow already walked onto the steps, only one step away from the "Prison Bottle"!
When?
Barza hadn't realized he was gradually approaching the "Prison Bottle," even extending his hand to try touching it!
If not for Teacher Johan's shout stopping him, probably...
Coming to his senses, Barza quickly stepped back, saying gravely:
"Great-grandfather said Hoopa's 'Shadow' power comes from people's desires."
"From people's sloth of wanting something for nothing, envy of others' possessions and abilities, craving for delicious food, rage when things don't go their way, greed for power and wealth, pride from distorted self-perception..."
Hearing this, Johan was stunned.
You're talking about the Seven Deadly Sins here?
But fundamentally, Hoopa's "Shadow" power indeed came from endless desires.
"So..."
Johan, holding the real Millennium Wrist, wasn't affected by the "Prison Bottle" at all.
"Even sealed, the 'Shadow' power in the 'Prison Bottle' hasn't weakened but might have grown stronger?"
Barza shook his head. "Don't know if it's because the 'Shadow' is getting stronger or because the 'Prison Bottle' is deteriorating..."
This was why he and other "inheritors" in the Valley of Creation periodically came to check the seal.
Before Barza finished speaking, Johan suddenly shouted again:
"Gengar!"
He saw.
A wickedly grinning Gengar had already sneakily approached behind the "Prison Bottle," and an invisible, twisted force was isolating and interfering with Johan and Barza's vision.
"Ka-kaah~ (▼益▼)"
Gengar's eyes glowed red.
From the bottle opening of the "Prison Bottle" that resembled eyes, strange, twisted, evil red light also emanated.
"Oh no!" Barza was shocked, realizing the "Shadow" in the "Prison Bottle" was trying to influence Gengar to break free from the seal.
He immediately raised one hand while gripping the Millennium Wrist on his chest.
But Johan stopped him.
"Teacher Johan?"
Johan watched this scene with interest, asking: "Among the 'Seven Deadly Sins' you mentioned, are there sins called 'playfulness' and 'mischief'?"
"Huh?"
Barza was stumped by his question, thinking briefly before instinctively saying:
"No, no..."
Johan shrugged. "Then that's it."
Suddenly.
A cunning gleam flashed in the wickedly grinning Gengar's eyes.
"Ka-kaah!"
Hey! Give it here!
As soon as the words fell, Gengar reached out and grabbed, and the strange power spreading out trying to influence it transformed into a mass of red-black energy, condensing in Gengar's palm.
What's this thing?
Gengar stared at it for a while.
Opened its mouth.
Tossed it in.
Shadow Hoopa: ???
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Powerstones?
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