The Reward!

Wednesday, clear skies.

Vulpix lazily crawled over Johan's head, playfully brushing its six tails across his face before burrowing into the blanket on the other side.

In his dreams, Johan saw a Gigantamax Gengar trampling over his face, and Dratini suddenly evolved into Dragonite, giving him an enormous hug. He woke up in a panic.

Johan blinked, surveying his surroundings.

Gengar had one foot hooked on the chandelier, drooling in its sleep, looking ready to fall at any moment.

The blanket, courtesy of Vulpix, was frozen solid, making it colder than the outdoors.

Tinkatuff sprawled in a starfish position, occupying most of the bed. Thankfully, its kicking hadn't yet reached Johan.

And Dratini…

"Dratini!" Johan exclaimed in alarm.

Dratini's head was somehow stuck under the bedframe, its tail flailing helplessly.

Johan's shout startled all the Pokémon awake.

Gengar dropped to the floor with a dull thud, rubbing its head and yawning loudly.

Vulpix arched its back and stretched luxuriously, its six tails spreading out elegantly.

Tinkatuff sat up straight, looking disgruntled as if it hadn't gotten enough sleep.

Johan rubbed his temples.

"Coming home only to have nightmares feels like a bad omen…"

As for the morning chaos, he had grown accustomed to it.

He crouched down and pulled Dratini out from under the bed.

"How did you even get stuck under there?"

"Driii~~"

Dratini squirmed, looking uncomfortable.

Johan quickly pieced it together.

"About to shed, huh? Couldn't find the right spot for it?"

"Driii~~" Dratini nodded eagerly.

Johan patted its head.

"Don't worry, I planned for this. I ordered something last night; it should be here soon."

Hearing this, Dratini's eyes sparkled.

Johan turned to Gengar, cupped its plump cheeks, and squished them together.

"All right, out with it—why were you still sleeping so late? What were you up to last night?"

Gengar blinked rapidly, jolted fully awake.

"Ka-kah! Ka-ka!"

Nothing! I didn't do anything!

"Really…" Johan narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

He glanced over at the other Pokémon.

Vulpix dove back under the blanket, leaving its little tail poking out.

Tinkatuff grabbed its hammer, pretending to inspect it for imaginary imperfections.

Johan's lips twitched.

Only Dratini stared back at him innocently, blinking cluelessly.

He sighed in relief.

"All right, everyone—go brush your teeth!"

Gengar jumped to attention, leading the others enthusiastically to the bathroom.

On the way, out of Johan's line of sight, Dratini and Gengar exchanged a conspiratorial glance, and Gengar gave a thumbs-up.

"Gengar, why are you brushing your teeth out here?"

Carrying breakfast out of the kitchen, Johan saw Gengar fiddling with its toothbrush and cup outside the bathroom, looking exasperated.

"Ka-kah…"

Gengar gestured irritably toward the bathroom. Inside, Vulpix, Tinkatuff, and Dratini had taken over, leaving no room for it.

Johan chuckled wryly.

"Looks like it's time to seriously consider moving to a bigger place."

Knock knock—

The sound came from the door.

"Ka-kah!"

Gengar perked up instantly, tossing aside its toothbrush and rushing to open the door.

Standing there was a Machamp deliveryman carrying a large package.

The package contained a sizable potted plant.

Inside the pot was a large rock covered in damp moss, supporting a well-grown fruit tree that had yet to bear fruit.

According to Lance's Dragon Mastery Manual, Dratini thrived in deep water environments and was rarely seen in the wild. The legend that spotting a Dratini brought good luck stemmed from its rarity.

A quality water source supported Dratini's growth and molting process.

Lance had suggested building a large water tank, but Johan couldn't afford that. Instead, he settled for this potted setup, with its damp moss and sturdy stone, perfect for helping Dratini shed its skin.

"Driii?"

Dratini poked its head out of the bathroom and, upon seeing the plant, its eyes lit up with excitement. It immediately slithered over to begin its shedding process.

"Looks like you like it," Johan said with a satisfied smile.

With Dratini settled, Johan clapped his hands.

"All right, breakfast is ready! Finish brushing, and come eat!"

On his way to the academy, Johan deliberately took the main road, checking out the surrounding areas for potential new housing.

Finding a good place wasn't something that could be rushed, but Johan wanted to plan ahead, considering the future growth of his Pokémon and the possibility of adding new team members.

At Rustboro Pokémon Academy's administration building, Johan arrived at the principal's office on the top floor, where he was greeted by the academic director, Martin.

"Mr. Johan," Martin said warmly, "the principal is expecting you."

Johan nodded, feeling slightly nervous—it was his first time meeting the enigmatic principal.

Knock knock—

"Principal, Mr. Johan is here," Martin called out.

Crash! Bang bang—

Sounds of a scuffle came from inside.

"Ka-kah?"

Gengar peeked out of Johan's shadow, its curiosity piqued.

"Come in!" a voice finally called out.

The door creaked open, and Johan stepped inside—only to freeze in disbelief.

Inside, an elderly man in a green suit, with a wiry frame and graying hair and beard, was being pinned against the wall by a Pangoro gripping him by the collar.

Johan: "..."

What kind of introduction was this?

The elderly principal, his face red from the pressure, weakly gestured for Pangoro to let go.

Pangoro snorted, dropping him unceremoniously to the floor, before giving the newcomers a disdainful glance and chewing on its bamboo stalk.

"Well, then… I'll leave you to it," Martin muttered, hastily retreating.

"Ka-kah…"

Gengar, unfazed, was now eyeing the bamboo in Pangoro's mouth with great interest.

"Ahahaha! No need to worry, Mr. Johan," the principal wheezed as he straightened up, still rubbing his neck. "I was just sparring with Pangoro to keep my old bones moving!"

Johan had no idea how to respond.

Fortunately, the principal quickly got to the point.

"I'm very impressed by your performance in the instructor exam. Your battle strategy is extraordinary—better than I could ever dream of! As a reward…"

"Principal… this isn't going to be a Pokémon, is it?" Johan interrupted hesitantly.

He didn't dislike the idea of a new Pokémon, but raising one properly would strain his limited resources.

The principal seemed surprised but then chuckled.

"Not this time. But in the future, our academy's breeding center will be introducing new Pokémon for selection. When the time comes, you might just meet your destined partner."

Johan sighed inwardly. No escape, huh?

"For now," the principal continued, "you'll receive one of three exclusive TM sets: Swords Dance, Hyper Beam, or Giga Impact. Each comes with premium materials for training."

Johan's eyes widened—these were rare, highly sought-after moves!

Without hesitation, he chose Swords Dance. While the raw power of Hyper Beam and Giga Impact was undeniable, the versatility of Swords Dance suited his team far better.

"Excellent choice!" the principal said approvingly, handing over the TM and the accompanying materials—items like Scizor claws, Zangoose talons, and Garchomp scales, worth an astronomical sum.

But just as Johan was about to express his gratitude, the principal dropped another bombshell.

"Oh, one more thing. Rustboro University is sending some instructors and students for an exchange. I'd like you to host them."

"Me?" Johan blinked, caught off guard.

The principal clapped a hand on his shoulder with a knowing smile.

"It'll be a great opportunity to learn from each other! I'm also planning for you to lead a team to another academy for interregional exchanges soon."

Johan: "...So the two rewards come with strings attached."

"Fine," he muttered, resigned. "But I'll need students to assist."

"No problem!" the principal declared grandly.

Johan left the office, clutching the TM, wondering what exactly he'd gotten himself into.

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Powerstones?

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