In Undella Town, Unova, inside Caitlin's villa:
Cynthia lounged lazily on the couch, her golden hair cascading like a waterfall. She playfully kicked her bare feet in the air, holding an Eevee that let out soft cries of both surrender and affection.
The sight made Caitlin, seated nearby, burn with envy.
On the balcony, Garchomp sat cross-legged, holding a phone and laughing heartily at Meowth and Pichu, displaying a rare "goofy" side.
Lucario stood with its arms crossed, exuding a cool exterior, but its occasional glances toward the phone screen and faint smirks betrayed its genuine interest.
"Cynthia~," Caitlin called sweetly.
Today was a rare day off for the two.
Before Caitlin could speak further, her butler, Rishan, entered with a knowing smile.
"Lady Caitlin, Miss Cynthia, Mr. Drayden will arrive in an hour. Miss Shauntal also said she'd be joining us for dinner tonight."
Caitlin's head drooped in disappointment.
So much for her exclusive time with Cynthia!
Soon, Cynthia would finish the tasks Professor Juniper had assigned her and return to Sinnoh...
"And," Rishan continued, "the Indigo League has also commenced."
"The Indigo League?" Caitlin blinked, puzzled.
What does that have to do with us?
Rishan explained with a smile, "Johan has signed up to compete."
Hearing that name, Caitlin's eyes flashed with a hint of hostility.
Garchomp's ears perked up, and its face lit up with a grin that didn't mask the "intent to kill" in its eyes.
So, Johan dared to flaunt that dancing video, huh?
Lucario glanced sideways, recalling its hammer-wielding pupil.
Milotic felt nostalgic—hadn't it been a while since they last saw him?
Meanwhile, Spiritomb flushed, coiling up shyly.
"Shhii-spaa~ o(////▽////)q."
"Isn't Johan bullying people by entering the Indigo League?" Caitlin pouted.
Cynthia chuckled, pulled out her phone, and sent a quick message.
[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: Good luck! (Gengar grin.jpg)
[Grain in the Field]: Don't worry, I'll even let them have a Pokémon advantage. (Garchomp taking flight.jpg)
Two days later at the Indigo Plateau:
Johan read the message thread and chuckled.
Aside from Cynthia's message, he'd also received ones from others:
Steven:Teacher, as soon as we finish this course, we'll come over! (This clearly represented Roxanne and Flannery too.)Lance:[Photo]
The moment Johan saw it, he hastily turned his phone away.
Lance! How could you casually send a photo like that?
It was him undercover in Team Rocket, dressed in the infamous uniform and giving a thumbs-up to the camera.
Still, Johan mused, there was no way Lance—a righteous G-Man with zero tolerance for wrongdoing—could truly join Team Rocket.
"Guess I can't blackmail him with this," Johan muttered, feeling disappointed.
"Wait..." A thought struck him.
Would Clair find interest in her cousin's "exclusive Team Rocket skin"? Maybe he could trade it for some Dragon Scales to treat Dragonair.
Of course, this was just a fleeting idea.
Lance trusted Johan enough to send such a photo, and Johan wouldn't betray that trust.
Once Team Rocket was reformed, he'd use it to tease Lance instead.
Other messages poured in too, from Lorelei, Erika, Sabrina, Matori, Leon, Sonia—even Mustard.
[Master Mustard]: Little Johan, I didn't expect you to enjoy baby tournaments too. Next time, let me teach you some tips, okay?
Baby tournaments?! Don't belittle the Indigo League!
For all they knew, some trainer might bring a Legendary Pokémon!
[Grain in the Field]: Master Mustard, please explain in detail.
These were just a fraction of the messages.
Johan had also gained connections with numerous people across the Pokémon world: Officer Jennys, Nurse Joys—he was building quite a network.
After replying to everyone, Johan looked ahead.
A series of stone steps climbed the mountainside, leading to the Indigo League's athlete village and the towering walls of the competition arena.
At the top, a blazing flame burned bright, even under the sunlight.
The sacred flame of Moltres.
"Who designed these ridiculously long stairs?" Johan sighed, starting the climb.
Ninetales, its tail wrapped around Johan's arm, let out a soft cry.
Want me to carry you up?
Johan patted its head.
"All that working out wasn't for nothing. Look at that guy in shorts—he's doing fine."
Fireworks exploded in vibrant colors, drawing the gazes of climbers.
For countless trainers, the Indigo League symbolized their ultimate goal.
Even Johan couldn't help but reminisce.
As a child, he'd dreamt of this moment too.
Behind them, in the shadow of a rock, a small figure emerged.
The Pokémon, shaped like a dark humanoid silhouette, gazed up at the seemingly endless staircase and groaned.
"Maaa-shaaa... (〃＞＿＜;〃)"
Reaching the top, Johan's view opened wide.
The Indigo Plateau buzzed with life, far busier than he had imagined.
Most weren't competitors but spectators. The Indigo League was an annual festival in Kanto, drawing crowds and boosting the economy.
"Let's register at the Pokémon Center and settle into the athlete village."
Johan walked toward the center, passing the sprawling arena with its primary and secondary battlefields.
The main stage would only be used during the quarterfinals onward.
The secondary fields included rock, ice, grass, and water terrains.
To the left of the square lay the athlete village, home to various hotels, from Galar's Budew Inns to Ionia Hotels and more.
On the right was a bustling commercial district featuring cafés, boutiques, and shops from regions like Kalos and Unova.
Johan was sure Team Rocket's trio would be found here, enjoying their "hard-earned" vacation.
At the Pokémon Center:
Professor Oak waved, standing amidst a dispersing crowd.
Even now, his popularity among trainers was undeniable.
"Professor Oak," Johan greeted with a smile.
"Ha ha ha!" Oak laughed heartily. "You've arrived just in time. I'd like to introduce—"
Oak turned to find... no one.
"Don't tell me it's Red," Johan said, raising an eyebrow.
"Red? I wanted to bring him, but he said he'd prove his strength by earning his spot in the Indigo League!"
"And then Blue decided he'd do the same."
A tale of two best friends chasing their dreams together.
"Anyway..." Oak's eyes lit up. "They're here!"
Johan turned to see a graceful woman accompanied by a slightly awkward-looking boy holding an ice cream cone.
Ash Ketchum, without his trademark outfit and hat, looking... oddly normal.
"Johan-sensei!" Ash's face lit up as he ran over.
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and I'm going to be the world's greatest Pokémon Master!"
Gengar and Ninetales exchanged worried glances.
He wants to surpass Johan? Not allowed! Absolutely not allowed!
Gengar snickered and gave Ninetales a knowing look.
How about a little... accident?
"Whoa! Are these your Pokémon, Johan-sensei?"
Ash's attention shifted to Gengar and Ninetales.
Gengar stared at Ninetales.
That's not intimidating at all.
What? I'm scary enough!
"They're so cool! I can't wait to have my own Pokémon!" Ash reached out to pet Ninetales.
"Wait!" Johan quickly intervened.
A burst of cold air froze Ash in place, covering him in frost.
Gengar flinched, recalling the many times it had been flung around by Ninetales' psychic powers.
Maybe intimidation wasn't the right approach.
Ash, however, seemed unfazed.
"Brr... so c-cold!" he muttered, shivering but otherwise fine.
Ash's superhuman Pallet Town genetics were something else.
Even Johan struggled with Ninetales' freezing aura post-evolution, yet Ash barely felt it.
"Sorry about that. Ninetales doesn't like being touched," Johan apologized.
"It's our fault. Ash is too impulsive," Delia said, bowing slightly.
"That was terrifying!" Ash stammered.
"Even scarier than Professor Oak's Lapras or Glaceon!"
So that's how you've been training...
Johan registered at the center and joined Oak and the others at the main arena.
As Moltres' sacred flame roared to life, it signaled the start of the Indigo League.
The journey had officially begun.
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates