Pokemon: Spiritual Master

Johto Region, Ecruteak City.

Nighttime.

Johan and Morty, along with their Pokémon, visited the Ecruteak Dance Theater to watch the Kimono Girls perform.

To say the least, the Eevees were absolutely dazzling. They were stunningly white and unbelievably cute.

The Dance Theater was most famous for the five Kimono Sisters of Ecruteak, each owning a different evolution of Eevee: Flareon, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Umbreon, and Espeon.

The performances were clearly reminiscent of Pokémon Contests in their elegance and style.

After the dances concluded, the theater invited audience members onstage for battles with the Kimono Sisters, allowing them to choose one of the Eeveelutions to challenge.

Whether they won or lost, participants would receive small prizes from the theater—a tradition that had become one of its most iconic attractions.

Johan, however, was not particularly interested.

If the prizes were evolution stones, he would've been more enthusiastic, but clearly, giving out evolution stones every time would bankrupt the theater.

Occasionally offering them as special rewards was enough to draw in large audiences.

This, Johan thought, was yet another reminder of how much Pokémon battles pervaded this world. Even a dance theater had to include Pokémon battles to keep the crowds coming.

After the show, Johan returned to the Pokémon Center in Ecruteak City with his companions to rest for the night.

The next morning.

Johan groggily opened his eyes, then quickly shut them again, mumbling,

"Rotom, what time is it?"

"It's 6:30 a.m., Rotom!"

Hovering mid-air, the Rotom Pokédex cheerfully continued,

"Today's weather in Ecruteak City is sunny, with a mild east wind at Level 3. It's a great day for sightseeing, Rotom!"

"6:30, huh..."

Johan rubbed his eyes, burying his face into Ice Ninetales' soft fur. The cool sensation instantly jolted him awake.

He couldn't deny it—after evolving, Ice Ninetales had not only grown stronger in its Ice-type abilities but had also gained greater control over its powers. The uncontrollable chill it used to emit had been significantly reduced.

"Oowoo~~"

The little one puffed up its cheeks, clearly displeased at having its sleep interrupted.

Johan chuckled. "Rotom, play a song."

"Right away, Rotom!"

Soon, an intense rock song boomed from the Rotom Pokédex, with electrifying vocals and sharp rhythms energizing the team in no time.

"Oowoo~~"

Ice Ninetales stretched gracefully, its sleek body and nine elegant tails unfurling as it rose.

After everyone freshened up and started their morning routines, Johan noticed something odd.

The normally peppy little Pokémon seemed... melancholic.

"Hold on, Rotom," Johan called. "Whose song are you playing?"

Rotom displayed a photo of a rock band on its screen: a lead singer alongside four Pokémon bandmates.

The Pokémon were: a drummer Rillaboom, a guitarist Toxtricity (Amped Form), a bassist Toxtricity (Low Key Form), and a co-vocalist Obstagoon.

"It's the Galar Region's Spikemuth Band, Rotom! The lead singer is the 'Melancholy Nessa,' Rotom!"

Johan: "..."

No wonder. A rock band singing emo songs? That tracks.

"You know," Johan mused, "if anyone can sing, it's Meowth."

He hummed a bit. "Aoh-ee, Aoh-ee..."

Wasn't that how it went?

"Maybe we should get Meowth to go solo again," Johan joked.

Singing, acting in movies and TV shows...

Hmmm. Meowth might just become a triple-threat celebrity.

Johan shook his head and filed the idea away for later.

After breakfast, Johan took his Pokémon to the free training grounds behind the Pokémon Center for some light practice.

Later, he met up with Morty, and the two set off together for Bell Tower.

On the way to Bell Tower.

To reach Bell Tower, they first had to walk through Chime Path.

Lined with trees that glowed a permanent autumnal gold, Chime Path was home to many lively wild Pokémon.

The warm hues of the leaves created a serene and uplifting atmosphere, making it a popular spot for tourists visiting Ecruteak City.

Of course, the real draw of Chime Path was its end: the sacred Bell Tower.

Ordinary people couldn't enter Bell Tower, but Johan and Morty were on a special mission.

At Bell Tower's base.

A monk in gray-and-white robes was sweeping the steps leading to the tower. When he saw the two Trainers, he paused, bowed respectfully, but said nothing.

Johan couldn't help but give the monk a second glance.

As everyone knows, the person sweeping the entrance of a major temple or shrine is never an ordinary individual.

Gengar, meanwhile, found the monk's actions amusing.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar mimicked the monk's bow, folding one hand in front of itself and bending slightly at the waist.

The monk paused, clearly caught off guard. Though his rigorous training typically kept him composed, he couldn't suppress a faint smile.

"Your Pokémon has a strong connection to the Buddha," the monk said with a serene nod.

Johan raised an eyebrow. A ghost like Gengar, connected to the Buddha? That's a strange image.

Gengar, on the other hand, was loving the attention. It bowed again.

"Ka-kaah~~" Why, thank you!

No one was actually praising you! Johan thought.

Inside Bell Tower.

The Bell Tower was much larger than Johan had expected. Even the first floor felt vast and open.

Thanks to Morty's connections, Johan—acknowledged as someone who had earned Entei's favor—was granted access to the upper floors after a brief check of his identity.

As they climbed the creaky wooden stairs, they passed monks on every level.

Some were meditating, others studying ancient texts, yet none seemed to pay the visitors much mind.

Wild Pokémon roamed freely throughout the tower as well, which Morty explained was by design.

The Bell Tower, like the Burned Tower, had been built to celebrate the harmony between humans and Pokémon. It welcomed wild Pokémon to come and go as they pleased.

Reaching the top floors.

At the staircase between the ninth and tenth floors, Johan and Morty came across a large wooden carving.

It depicted none other than the legendary Pokémon, Ho-Oh.

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar pointed at the carving excitedly. The one holding the camera!

Morty: "???"

Johan sighed, rubbing his temples.

"Johan-sensei, have you seen Ho-Oh before?" Morty asked, finally catching on.

Morty's family had worshipped Ho-Oh for generations, which was one reason he was allowed access to Bell Tower. Yet even his ancestors hadn't seen Ho-Oh since it had left the tower.

"We encountered it once in Pallet Town," Johan explained.

Morty's eyes lit up in understanding.

No wonder.

No wonder Entei sought him out and granted him its blessing.

"And the 'camera' thing?" Morty asked.

Johan coughed awkwardly. "Uh, don't worry about it." He quickly moved on.

The top floor.

On a large cushion sat an elderly monk with snow-white eyebrows cascading down to his shoulders.

Two strong, muscular young monks stood at his sides, exuding an air of discipline.

"Honored Elder," Morty greeted with a respectful bow, and Johan followed suit.

Gengar, too, mimicked the motion.

"Ka-kaah~~"

The elder smiled warmly, his gaze lingering on Gengar.

"This little one is deeply connected to the Buddha," he said.

"Ka-kaah, ka-kaah~~" Gengar puffed up with pride, giving Johan a smug look.

See? Even the old master says I'm great!

Johan resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Morty explained Johan's request, and after hearing the story, the elder nodded toward one of the younger monks.

The monk returned moments later, carrying a large, sturdy log.

Thud!

He placed it on the ground with a heavy thump.

"This wood," the elder said, "comes from the very perch where Ho-Oh once rested. It is exactly what you seek."

Before Johan could respond, the elder added, "May I see the Rainbow Feather?"

Johan and Morty both froze.

Morty was stunned that Johan had the Rainbow Feather.

Johan, on the other hand, wondered how the elder even knew about it.

Still, he retrieved the shimmering, multicolored feather from his pocket.

Seeing it, the elder nodded knowingly.

"So vibrant, so full of life... You are truly someone who has earned Ho-Oh's recognition."

The Rainbow Feather pulsed faintly, as if in agreement.

The elder chuckled. "Even the Rainbow Feather seems pleased with you."

Johan laughed nervously, tucking the feather back into his pocket.

The elder continued, "This wood is yours. It once supported Ho-Oh itself and should serve your needs well."

Johan was surprised. That easy? No strings attached?

He had been prepared to fight—or at least negotiate. Instead, they'd just handed him the wood.

Even Gengar looked confused, scratching its head. No battle?

The elder smiled knowingly.

He had heard about the destruction at Ecruteak Gym the day before. Someone capable of clashing with Entei and earning its blessing wasn't someone he wanted testing the tower's durability.

"Go on," the elder said, dismissing them with a wave.

As they left, Johan glanced at the massive log in Tinkaton's hands.

If Ho-Oh ever returns and finds part of its tower missing...

Well, that would be a problem for future Johan.

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Powerstones?

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