Spiritomb

[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: You really seem to know quite a lot about Sinnoh's history?

After chatting for a bit, Johan learned that Eevee Eats Cabbage had been preparing for an exam in Sinnoh Historical Studies over the past few days.

The two continued talking about Sinnoh's history, and Eevee Eats Cabbage gradually realized that Johan was surprisingly knowledgeable about it. This was thanks to Johan's predecessor's excellent academic performance and Johan's own dedication as a Pokémon enthusiast.

Forget Sinnoh's history, he could probably dig up the history of Hisui too.

[Grain in the Field]: I know a bit here and there.

Who knows, maybe I could even help you with your answers.

[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: But my exam is a bit different from a normal one.

[Grain in the Field]: Don't tell me you have to explore some ruins instead of taking a written exam?

Johan quipped.

[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: How did you know? (Surprised Pikachu Face.jpg)

Wait, seriously?

Soon, Eevee Eats Cabbage sent over a photo.

The picture showed a dimly lit stone chamber, with walls engraved with ancient text and barely discernible patterns.

At the center of the photo was a peculiar altar, not too big or small.

On the altar rested a peculiar, grayish stone with a distinct crack down the middle. From this crack, a swirl of purple and green gas seemed to be seeping out.

That stone—is it a Keystone?

And the gas coming from the crack—that was the actual body of Spiritomb.

Spiritomb, the Forbidden Pokémon, a Ghost/Dark-type formed by the aggregation of 108 malevolent spirits, born from sinister thoughts and dark intentions.

[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: You recognized it immediately.

Wait a minute!

Johan paused as he processed the sight of the Spiritomb.

Eevee Eats Cabbage, wealthy, known for Feebas, Spiritomb, Sinnoh history, archaeology… All these clues together pointed to one name that flashed in Johan's mind:

Cynthia!

The future Sinnoh Champion!

Johan gulped nervously.

[Grain in the Field]: You wouldn't happen to have a Garchomp too, would you?

Far away in Sinnoh, Cynthia sat on a bench in her garden, glancing at her Garchomp not far away.

"Graa?"

Garchomp tilted its head in confusion.

Cynthia chuckled softly and shook her head.

[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: No, why do you ask?

No Garchomp?

Johan let out a sigh of relief.

Just as he thought, it wasn't Cynthia. After all, Cynthia's signature Pokémon was the Garchomp she had grown up with.

[Grain in the Field]: Ah, nothing. Just wondering.

[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to ask you to take a look at Spiritomb.

Take a look at Spiritomb?

Johan felt a twitch at the corner of his mouth.

This was a Pokémon made up of 108 spirits! Even if some of those spirits were fused together, it still had the potential for some serious multiple personality issues…

However, Johan couldn't help but feel a rising thrill of curiosity.

His inner Pokémon psychologist was eager to explore this rare case.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, almost as significant as studying Mewtwo!

But there were some issues…

[Grain in the Field]: It's not impossible, but unlike Feebas, Spiritomb isn't something I can assess through photos alone. I'd at least need videos that show its distinct traits or any problematic behaviors…

[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: That's true. But there's no rush. I only just caught it, and it's not exactly calm.

In Sinnoh, in Professor Rowan's garden in Sandgem Town:

A timid and terrified Spiritomb found itself surrounded by Lucario, Garchomp, Roserade, Gastrodon, and Eevee.

"Hissss… (S-Stay back! I-I'm really fierce and dangerous…)" Spiritomb muttered nervously.

Meanwhile:

Your account received a deposit of 100,000 Pokédollars. Remaining balance: 278,923 Pokédollars.

Johan received a notification from his bank.

[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: Here's a prepayment for your consultation.

Look at this!

This is what a real patron looks like!

[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: It's been a while since we did a calming session. Feebas is really looking forward to it.

Ah, right. A patron and a debtor.

After all, she still hadn't used up all the "monthly package" sleep therapy sessions from before.

The debt just kept growing.

[Grain in the Field]: Hold on, I'll finish up this batch of Pokéblocks and then I'll come over.

However, a thought suddenly struck Johan.

Steven's shiny Metang hadn't evolved into Metagross yet, so what if Cynthia's Garchomp hadn't fully evolved either?

It wasn't impossible, right?

[Grain in the Field]: Pardon me for asking, but do you have a Gabite or Gible?

[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: Smiling emoji.

Smiling?

What did that mean?

Could it really be Cynthia?

If it was, then maybe Volkner's situation could be "saved."

The Berry Blender stopped, snapping Johan back to reality. He quickly collected the freshly-made Pokéblocks.

Judging by their color and clarity, this batch seemed to be of even higher quality than the last.

Satisfied, he patted the "big guy" proudly.

"You're going to help me keep my family fed from now on," he remarked.

He picked up his phone and headed toward the balcony.

Passing by Haunter and Vulpix, who were busy with their studies, Johan suddenly had an idea and flipped through his phone's photo gallery.

"Haunter, what do you think of this?"

Displayed on the phone screen was a picture of Spiritomb.

Both belonged to the Amorphous egg group, after all.

Come to think of it, there were plenty of strategies to develop for Spiritomb. Its Ghost/Dark-typing made it virtually without weaknesses—except against Fairy-type moves.

"Ka-kah!! Σ(дlll)"

Haunter shrieked in fright.

A ghost!!

"Oowu~~"

Vulpix couldn't help but burst out laughing.

But Haunter, you're also a ghost!

"Ka-kah…"

Oh, right.

The following morning.

Johan woke up to his familiar sensations of "paralysis" and "chill," though the "paralysis" seemed stronger than usual today. He had a hunch Haunter was "getting revenge" for yesterday's prank with the Spiritomb photo.

To be fair, Johan was more than used to it by now.

"Oowu~~"

Yawning, Vulpix wrapped its tails around the vibrating phone and brought it to Johan.

Hmm?

He took the phone with some surprise and saw that Steven was calling.

He pressed the answer button.

Click. "Steven? What's going on so early?"

"Johan, I might need you to come over…," Steven's voice sounded unusually grave.

Hearing this, Johan immediately perked up, realizing this wasn't a trivial matter.

"Where?"

"East Outskirts, by the Verdant Tunnel construction site. You and Lance were there last time, remember?"

"The Verdant Tunnel?"

Johan frowned at the mention.

He recalled that the construction of the Verdant Tunnel had severely damaged the ecosystem in certain areas of the Verdant Hills, affecting the habitat of many wild Pokémon.

"I might need—"

Before he could finish, Johan glanced at his phone.

"Johan, there's already a helicopter waiting for you on the rooftop."

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Powerstones?

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