Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 537: Meloetta and Undella Town!

April 27, Sunday, sunny skies.

"Johan, please battle me!"

Marshal took up a martial artist's stance in the garden, solemnly issuing a challenge to Johan.

As Alder's student and a dedicated fighter, Marshal had actually wanted to battle Johan ever since the Opelucid City incident.

But the timing hadn't been right back then, and later there was just too much going on, so it was postponed until now.

Marshal deeply respected Johan's strength—especially the moment he and Mewtwo had stood firm against Kyurem's ice cannon.

Still, to shrink back just because of a strength gap—that's not what a true Trainer would do.

A Trainer must always challenge stronger opponents, grow through battles, and become better.

Victory or defeat is important, sure—but the battle itself matters more.

"Marshal, I think... maybe we could save this match for the 'Junior Masters World Championship.' What do you say?"

Johan had already anticipated this request, and prepared an answer.

With the tournament only days away, it made little sense to battle now when they might end up facing off during the real event. Fighting now could affect either's momentum going into the championship.

Marshal thought for a moment and nodded. Johan had a point.

And as for whether they'd meet at the tournament...

Marshal was confident—in his own abilities and in Johan's. As long as they kept winning, they'd meet.

Having made his decision, Marshal didn't linger in Opelucid City. Instead, he set off on foot for Mistralton City, framing it as one final training journey with his Pokémon.

This had been a small episode during Johan's time in Opelucid City.

At the moment, Johan was preparing—more or less—for the Junior Masters World Championship.

Not just him.

Cynthia and Caitlin were too.

And from Hoenn came Steven, from Sinnoh came Flint, Volkner, and Aaron, from Kanto came Lance, Lorelei, and others—all arriving in the Unova region.

They weren't all headed to Opelucid, though; each had their own agenda. But the meeting point was set for Mistralton City.

After another large-scale crackdown by the Unova League against Team Plasma, and determining that they wouldn't resurface anytime soon, preparations for the championship officially began.

The hype around this championship was immense in Unova.

Especially after it was revealed Johan would participate.

As the hero who saved Opelucid City, Johan's stand against Team Plasma had protected countless residents and Pokémon, winning him massive support overnight.

And not just in Unova—across the entire Pokémon world, excitement was high.

Lance from Kanto, Cynthia from Sinnoh, and others had massive followings too.

Having said goodbye to Shaga, Johan, Cynthia, and Caitlin headed to Undella Town.

A seaside village where Cynthia and Caitlin often vacationed during breaks—a perfect spot for their "final training."

And the method of travel?

Flying and train were both options, but Johan and the others chose... to drive.

Partly because the road from Opelucid City to Undella Town was smooth, and partly to enjoy the scenery.

To be honest, ever since arriving in Unova, Johan had been rushing or busy—he'd barely had a chance to appreciate the region's beauty.

When Shaga learned of this, he generously provided them with an off-road jeep.

Thus, with Rotom driving, Johan, Cynthia, and Caitlin hit the road toward the coastal town.

"Rotom, don't go too fast—we're here to enjoy the scenery," Johan reminded.

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"Understood, Roto!"

Rotom's voice buzzed from the engine.

"A psychologist afraid of speed and heights, tsk tsk..."

Caitlin teased Johan from the back seat, while Cynthia simply smiled.

Those close to Johan knew about his "fears."

In the passenger seat, Johan clicked his tongue, propping his chin with one hand as he gazed at the passing landscape, muttering:

"Mewtwo's been gone a while... next time, it can come find me in Undella."

Hearing "Mewtwo," Caitlin's face instantly stiffened.

The fearless Caitlin... afraid of Mewtwo? Johan had her weakness now.

He couldn't resist pressing it!

That's just the kind of petty person he was.

Gengar sat in the driver's seat, grinning and holding the steering wheel.

Since Rotom was actually driving, Gengar was just pretending—and enjoying it thoroughly.

"Ka-kaah~~"

What a nice day~ Grandpa's feelin' good~~~

In high spirits, Gengar even started humming a tune.

It sounded... well... not great. But at least it wasn't causing a car crash.

"By the way..."

Johan looked at Gengar. "Did we forget something?"

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar scratched its head.

Huh? Did we?

In the Ruins of the World, Giratina stared at the wreckage of the Plasma Frigate.

What kind of "gift" was this?

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar didn't care. It just wanted to keep singing.

"Ka-kaah~~ Ka-kaah~~ Ka~kaah~~"

Johan quietly pulled out a pair of earplugs.

Cynthia and Caitlin, however, didn't seem bothered by Gengar's howling and were chatting happily in the back.

The jeep drove smoothly along the road, accompanied by Gengar's "melody."

"Melo~~"

In the forest between Lacunosa Town and Undella, a gentle tune floated like a spring breeze, drawing wild Pokémon to pause and listen.

A Pokémon, cloaked in invisibility, danced lightly through the trees.

Sometimes visible, sometimes not.

Flowing green hair, a gem-studded headband, and a black mic-like accessory on its head.

"Melo?"

Reaching a cliff edge, the little Pokémon was thrilled—everyone always loved its song.

Then it heard a strange "Ka-kaah~ Ka-kaah~" coming from the road below.

Not pleasant... but cheerful.

No technique, but full of feeling.

"Melo~~"

Thrilled to find a fellow "singer," it revealed itself and peeked down from the cliff.

"Gaa?"

Just then—

A Mandibuzz flying overhead spotted the "green caterpillar" hair from afar. Its eyes lit up.

It tucked its wings, swooped down like lightning.

"Melo!!"

Caught off guard, the little one panicked—it wasn't a fighter.

Mandibuzz realized it wasn't a caterpillar after all, but still, annoyed at being "fooled," it pecked.

"Melo!!"

Hurt and off-balance, Meloetta slipped and fell from the cliff.

Mandibuzz didn't stop—it dived after it.

Meanwhile, on the jeep, Gengar noticed the commotion and licked Johan.

Johan removed an earplug, bit into a Cheri Berry, and asked grumpily:

"What is it?"

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar pointed—Mandibuzz was attacking something, and it had fallen.

Johan's face changed.

"Gengar!"

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar ripped open a dimensional rift and vanished.

Next second—it appeared midair beside Mandibuzz, cackling, lightning in hand.

BAM!

Mandibuzz got smacked with a Thunder Punch and tumbled away, dazed, fleeing in terror.

The jeep stopped under the cliff.

A small, injured Pokémon staggered from the bushes and collapsed on the road.

"Melo..."

Cynthia and Caitlin jumped out with Johan.

"Meloetta?" Cynthia was surprised.

The mythical Pokémon from Unova—Meloetta!

Johan's mouth twitched.

Oh great. Can't even drive without running into a legendary.

"It's hurt," Caitlin said.

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar floated back.

Despite his grumbling, Johan scooped up the faint Meloetta.

"Melo... Melo..."

Its light green eyes fluttered, then shut in pain.

Its body was light, its cheeks red, its temperature clearly off.

Gengar laid a soft mat down.

Johan worked quickly, using a healing spray on its wounds.

"It has a fever too?" Cynthia asked.

"Yeah." Johan nodded.

He remembered the original BW plot.

Meloetta had been attacked by a trio and found by Ash and friends afterward—fevered then, too.

"Probably from fear."

Like a child—scared enough to spike a fever.

Despite being mythical, Meloetta was incredibly frail—even compared to Shaymin.

A true "glass cannon."

"Yoji~~"

Larvitar toddled over with a wet towel, blushed at the sight of Meloetta.

"Yoji... (〃￣ω￣〃）"

So cute~

Johan placed his hand on her wound, channeling aura to soothe it, while tossing out a Poké Ball.

"Ninetales, give us some crushed ice."

"Oowoo~~"

Ninetales exhaled a breath of cold, forming ice shards. Cynthia wrapped them in cloth and set it on Meloetta's forehead.

Meloetta visibly relaxed, even humming softly at Johan's gentle aura massage.

"Gengar, brew some herbal root tea," Johan ordered.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar got to work—table, teapots, herbs.

Caitlin blinked. "You carry a whole tea set with you?"

"Ka-kaah!!" Gengar puffed up proudly.

"Don't look so smug," Johan muttered. "Hurry up."

"Ka-kaah~~"

Rotom zapped the kettle to a boil, and Gengar brewed the tea.

This bitter stuff would lower friendship in the games—but Gengar drank it daily, and Johan never noticed any drop in affection.

"Meloetta, drink this." Johan gently lifted her head, blew on the tea, and offered it.

"Melo..."

Flushed and weak, she opened her mouth reflexively.

The bitter tea hit her tongue—she cried out and spit it back up.

"Melo..."

So bitter...

Johan sighed. "It's not bad, really. It'll help you feel better."

He demonstrated—gulped it down himself.

Hiss—his tongue went numb.

Damn, this stuff was nasty!

Still, he faked a straight face.

"Melo..."

Seeing him do it, she finally drank.

Still bitter—but at least she wasn't alone.

The fever began to subside, and everyone sighed in relief.

"You're surprisingly good at this," Caitlin said.

"School taught me well."

He had studied it.

"But this little one..."

Johan looked at the sleeping Meloetta with a frown.

It didn't have much battle ability. Its real purpose was as the key to the "Abyssal Ruins."

Where the Reveal Glass was sealed—used to show the true forms of the Forces of Nature: Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus.

Among them, the legendary "Bug God" Landorus in its Incarnate Form.

In the original story, Giovanni himself came for Meloetta to unleash the trio.

But now?

Giovanni probably didn't have such ambitions. That plan may never have existed.

No need to worry about Meloetta causing trouble.

"Let's take her. No way she can stay in the wild like this," Cynthia suggested.

"Yeah."

Even if trouble came, Johan couldn't just leave her alone.

Her "guardians" would probably come looking soon.

Carrying her, they resumed their journey to Undella Town.

Undella Town.

Located in eastern Unova—a beautiful seaside village backed by Reversal Mountain and facing the sea. A perfect retirement spot.

Once home to the wealthy Bourgeois family, now empty save for a grand villa.

Caitlin owned a large beachfront house there. Step out the back door, and there's golden sand and endless ocean.

Sunlight, sea breeze, glimmering waves.

The comfort made Johan lazy—who could think about "training" now?

Not that he had planned much training anyway.

Just regular routines—Gengar's boxing, Ninetales' snow sculpting, Dragonite's flying.

What Johan really wanted was quiet time to "digest" everything they'd experienced in Unova.

Like Ninetales' ice control, Gengar learning from Mewtwo's "psy-strike," Ceruledge's swordplay...

As long as everything went smoothly, Johan felt he could easily reach the top 8 in the championship—maybe even top 16 at worst.

If the matchups were fair, maybe even the finals.

If not... well, then no one gets to be fair.

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Powerstones?

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