5 bonus Chapter's coming out at 11 AM EST. So I ask that you save you're powerstones until then.
"Finally, it's over!"
At the gates of Kanaz Pokémon Academy, Flannery threw her arms wide and let out an excited roar.
Her enthusiasm didn't draw any strange looks from the people around her—except for Johan, who simply watched her antics in silence.
After several days of grueling exams, Steven, Roxanne, and Flannery had finally wrapped up their semester by finishing their last test.
As their teacher, Johan couldn't let them get too complacent.
"So, how many subjects do you think you'll fail?" he asked casually.
It definitely wasn't because he wanted to see Flannery's smile fade. No, no—he was just a concerned teacher. Absolutely.
As expected, Flannery's cheerful expression instantly crumbled, and she clenched her teeth.
"Teacher! Can't you let me be happy for just one moment?"
Johan chuckled, raising a hand in apology.
After a brief pause, he asked again:
"So... how much homework do you have for the break?"
"AAAAHHHH!!!" Flannery screamed in frustration, mimicking a finger gun aimed right at Johan.
From his shadow, Ka-kaah the Gengar peeked out, pointing at Flannery with a mocking grin.
On the side, Steven and Roxanne both smiled a little wider.
With their grades, they had nothing to worry about.
"But it's true," Steven said thoughtfully. "Now that the exams are over, we could use a little trip."
"Mt. Chimney? Mt. Pyre? Or maybe Meteor Falls?" Johan suggested.
Steven blinked in surprise.
Johan shot him a look.
"Your idea of a trip is just an excuse to dig up rocks, isn't it?"
Steven rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, I've already been to those places several times. Maybe we should go somewhere new."
As they chatted, the group made their way toward Johan's café.
"Johan, I heard you've had challengers showing up at your café lately?" Steven asked curiously.
Johan nodded. "Yeah, apparently that's been happening."
After winning the Indigo League, Johan's fame skyrocketed, and a steady stream of challengers had begun seeking him out.
Most of them were reckless rookies or edgy teens.
Some were more strategic, hoping to use Johan's reputation to make a name for themselves.
"But how come you don't seem to know about it?" Flannery asked, confused.
"Because they're not challenging me directly," Johan explained with a shrug.
Roxanne swiped through her Pokédex tablet and pulled up a video.
"Most of them go straight to your café," she added, pressing play on the screen.
In the video, a cocky young trainer—probably eighteen or nineteen—stood at the ready, commanding a Walrein.
Opposite him stood Indeedee (the big sister), who appeared calm and serene.
Next to the battlefield, someone had appointed themselves referee and called out:
The trainer wasted no time.
"Walrein, Aurora Beam!"
Despite its hefty build, Walrein moved quickly. It opened its mouth, releasing a shimmering beam of icy light toward Indeedee.
But the psychic-type showed no fear.
Instead, her eyes sparkled with excitement.
With a graceful wave of her hand, Psychic Terrain spread across the battlefield, threads of psychic energy twisting and weaving through the air.
Then, with a simple upward motion, she conjured a Light Screen, blocking Walrein's attack with ease.
"What?!" The young trainer was stunned.
Before he could react, Indeedee's horns began to glow.
A mysterious ring of light formed beneath Walrein's feet.
In an instant, psychic energy surged upward, wrapping around Walrein like chains.
Walrein's eyes rolled back, and it collapsed to the ground, knocked out in one strike.
The young trainer gawked in disbelief.
"What... what move was that?!"
The onlookers gasped.
"That Walrein wasn't weak... and it lost in one hit?"
"And that's just the café's staff?!"
"Did she just wave her hand and end the battle?"
"The legendary runner-up, Gudrian, keeps proving his worth!"
Back in the present, Flannery's jaw dropped as the video ended.
"There are plenty more like that," Roxanne said, scrolling through more videos.
Each one featured Indeedee effortlessly defeating challengers.
Some of the videos had even gone viral.
The comments section was buzzing:
"Terrifying! If Johan's employees are this strong, what kind of monster is he? Gym Leader? Elite Four? Or maybe even...""I'm useless! I can't even beat a café employee!""The Indigo League barely showed Johan's true power. His café is just the tip of the iceberg!""I'm in tears. Indeedee even heals the challengers afterward and politely asks if they want a rematch!"
In just a few days, A Touch of Sunshine Café had become one of Rustboro City's urban legends.
The café was now considered a top battle destination, second only to the Rustboro Gym.
Steven, Flannery, and Roxanne turned to Johan, their gazes curious.
But Johan was lost in thought, mumbling to himself:
"...Maybe I should raise the café's entry fee."
Question marks popped up over their heads.
"Hey, I'm not forcing anyone to buy anything. They all come willingly. And they get coffee and snacks for their money. It's fair."
Seeing their confusion, Johan clarified:
"Oh, and that move Indeedee used? It's called Expanding Force."
[Expanding Force – Psychic Move. Base Power: 80. If used under Psychic Terrain, its power increases by 50%, and it targets all opponents.]
"Why does that matter? We weren't asking about the move..."
What they really wanted to know was:
How is that cheerful, sweet Indeedee so terrifying in battle?
"Because she's MY Pokémon."
Later that day, back at the café...
At a table by the window sat a man and two children.
The man, wearing a red jacket, radiated a quiet strength. Despite his slim frame, there was an air about him that made people hesitate to meet his gaze.
The girl wore a red bandanna and black tights, looking around the café with curiosity.
The boy, wearing a white hat and carrying a bag, seemed lost in thought.
Indeedee (the little brother) arrived with their coffee and snacks.
The girl shrank back slightly at the sight of him.
"It's okay, May," the man said gently.
The boy, Brendan, turned to his father.
"Dad... this café's Pokémon are really strong, huh?"
The man glanced at the Indeedees and nodded.
Brendan asked curiously, "If you battled them... would you win?"
The man simply smiled.
"Normally, you'd want to challenge strong trainers, right?" Brendan pressed.
But his father shook his head.
"Not this time, Brendan. We're here to ask for help."
Brendan nodded solemnly.
The café's doorbell chimed as Johan entered.
Seeing him, the Indeedee siblings rushed to greet him.
The older sister hugged him warmly.
"Looks like it's quiet today," Johan said with a smile, patting both Indeedees on the head.
The little brother blushed before gesturing toward the window table.
Johan followed his gaze and froze.
Flannery and Roxanne gasped in unison.
"It's the Petalburg Gym Leader!"
Johan blinked in surprise.
"...What kind of combo is this?"
Norman approached with a polite smile.
"Johan, sorry to bother you. We need your help."
Norman's expression turned serious.
"There's... a problem with one of my Pokémon."
For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates