In the courtyard, Cynthia's Garchomp roared loudly, chasing after, who was screeching in panic as it flew around the garden.
Nearby, Ninetales, Tinkaton, Dragonair, and Kubfu silently watched the chaotic scene unfold.
They were joined by Cynthia's Pokémon, including Lucario, Spiritomb, Eevee, Milotic, and Roserade, all quietly observing the chase.
Gengar zipped around frantically.
To be fair, Gengar's strength had improved considerably.
At least enough that Cynthia's Garchomp had a hard time catching up.
It wasn't even mad about the old pranks anymore—Garchomp had figured out that the one responsible for the photos and videos back then wasn't Johan, but Gengar!
If things got worse, Johan was tempted to call out Ninetales.
With Mist, a bit of snow, and a well-timed Blizzard, even Garchomp would think twice before continuing.
Those two were like siblings.
Gengar stopped mid-air, panting heavily with its hands on its knees.
"Garrr?" (Tired already?)
Garchomp narrowed its eyes, still breathing heavily, clearly worn out from the chase.
"Ka-kah!" (Hey, I've got a new show to share!)
"Garrr?" (A new show?)
Seeing that Garchomp was interested, Gengar mischievously grinned and waved it over.
"Ka-kah!" (It's not even out yet—exclusive content!)
And just like that, Gengar successfully distracted Garchomp with an unreleased season of Meowth and Pichu.
"Ka-kah!" (I can even get you an autograph from the main characters!)
"Ka-kah!" (But first—call me bro!)
"Garrr!!" (Dragon Rush incoming!)
"Ka-kah!!" (Bro! Please, I'm sorry!)
"You've grown stronger recently, Johan."
From a distance, Caitlin's soft, serious voice broke through the garden noise.
Johan turned toward her with a puzzled expression.
He bit his tongue before blurting that out.
If he said something stupid, Cynthia's Garchomp might demolish the entire village.
Instead, he politely replied, "You're imagining things."
But Caitlin, with her golden hair and regal demeanor, was as serious as ever.
Johan blinked, taken aback by the sudden challenge.
But before he could respond, Cynthia intervened with her signature calm smile.
"Maybe later, Caitlin."
"Why?" Caitlin frowned.
"Johan has a match tomorrow," Cynthia explained, patting Caitlin gently on the head.
"Oh... okay..." Caitlin blushed slightly, pouting as she agreed.
Cynthia smiled warmly before ruffling Caitlin's hair, turning her elegant hairstyle into a messy nest.
Caitlin crossed her arms and puffed up her cheeks in protest, looking like a grumpy kitten.
Watching the scene, Johan felt like he was seeing a mischievous owner teasing her spoiled pet.
Cynthia turned to Johan with a gentle expression.
"Good luck tomorrow."
"Thanks. I'll give it my all."
So many friends had gathered to support him—it would be a shame to let them down.
There was a strange energy in the air, as if everyone believed he was destined to win.
Still, his opponent, Goodrian, wasn't weak.
There was always a chance he was hiding a trump card.
Cynthia, Lance, Steven, even Flint... They were all here, hyping him up.
That kind of pressure could be dangerous.
Better stay cautious.
No room for mistakes.
The Indigo Plateau was buzzing with excitement.
Crowds gathered outside the stadium, waiting eagerly for the gates to open.
Colorful fireworks lit up the sky, while the warm morning sun broke through the remnants of yesterday's rain, creating a dazzling rainbow.
Inside the stadium, staff ran final checks on the battlefield.
"Funny... I thought last night's rain would put a damper on things," one staff member mused, staring at the blazing sacred flame burning in the cauldron.
"Don't be silly. That's Moltres' flame—no rain can extinguish it."
"Still... it seems brighter today. Maybe Moltres knows it's the finals?"
After confirming everything was ready, the staff signaled for the gates to open.
In minutes, the stadium was packed to capacity, with even more fans spilling out onto the plaza to watch the match on giant screens.
In the stands, Johan's "cheering squad" had taken their seats.
Among them, a bruised and battered Ash stood out like a sore thumb.
His "training session" with Bruno yesterday hadn't gone well.
However, it had been enough to pique Bruno's interest.
Something tells me Ash and Bruno aren't done with each other yet...
In the locker room, Johan sat quietly.
"Come to think of it... I haven't seen Blue around lately."
Likely, with fewer competitors left, her services as an informant weren't in high demand anymore.
In truth, Blue was currently engaged in a fierce "business battle" with Team Rocket's Jessie, James, and Meowth.
While Blue might have them beat in battle, when it came to business dealings...
When the staff signaled him, Johan stepped out of his private room and found Goodrian waiting outside.
A celebrity from Unova, Goodrian had once been an actor before pursuing his passion for Pokémon battles.
This was his fourth attempt at a league tournament, and his best performance yet.
He was satisfied with how far he'd come.
Still... he wasn't ready to give up.
"Johan!" Goodrian greeted with a broad smile.
"I've been looking forward to this match."
They shook hands, but Johan couldn't help feeling amused.
Is he playing the underdog card?
"Friendship first, competition second!" Goodrian declared, trying to keep the mood light.
Johan raised an eyebrow.
Still, he nodded with a friendly smile.
"But I promise to give it my all," Goodrian added, nervously scratching his head.
Johan patted him on the shoulder with a serious look.
Wait... that's not what I meant!
The announcer's voice echoed through the stadium.
"WELCOME to the Indigo League FINALS!!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
"Our first finalist, all the way from Unova—please welcome Goodrian!"
Goodrian entered the arena to polite applause.
He waved nervously at the crowd.
Please don't send out a Legendary, Johan... Please...
"And his opponent, from Hoenn—Johan!"
The roar of the crowd doubled.
Johan had captivated the audience with his flawless performance throughout the tournament.
He hadn't lost a single Pokémon yet.
Such skill, combined with his unique battle strategies and charismatic presence, had made him the crowd favorite.
"Trainers, prepare for battle!"
The referee raised his flags.
Notably, today's referee stood atop an Aegislash.
After what happened yesterday, the League wasn't taking any chances.
Goodrian's first Pokémon was a large Crustle, a Bug/Rock type with a massive slab of stone on its back.
Its claws hit the ground with a heavy thud.
From across the field, Johan tossed out his Poké Ball.
A bright pink figure emerged, twirling its massive hammer playfully.
Seeing Johan choose Tinkaton instead of some mythical beast, Goodrian let out a relieved sigh.
Thank Arceus... Johan really is a nice guy.
Goodrian took a deep breath.
"Crustle, Sandstorm!"
Winds whipped through the arena, kicking up a fierce sandstorm.
Johan gave a subtle nod.
"Alright, Tinkaton... let's smash."
Gripping her hammer tightly, Tinkaton charged forward.
The finals had begun.
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates