Pokemon: Spiritual Master

The galaxy stretched vast and serene under the cloudless sky.

As Jirachi fell back into its thousand-year slumber and the Millennium Comet gradually disappeared from view, the night returned to tranquil stillness.

Johan and his team sat on the soft grass, gazing up at the sparkling stars.

"Oowoo…"

Is Jirachi asleep now?

Ninetales, lying quietly across Johan's lap, whispered as if afraid her voice might disturb Jirachi's dreams.

Johan smiled gently, stroking Ninetales' soft fur, and nodded.

"Yes, it's asleep."

"Ka-kah?"

Will it have sweet dreams?

Gengar, too, couldn't hide its sadness.

In just seven days, they had formed a wonderful bond with Jirachi, playing and laughing together like close friends.

"It will," Johan said confidently. "Because I made a wish to the Wish Pokémon, Jirachi."

"In its dreams, Jirachi might still be playing joyfully with us—with Steven, with you all—filled with laughter."

"That's wonderful…"

Roxanne wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, then smiled. She took a deep breath and said:

"All in all, Jirachi had a fulfilling time, and we've had a beautiful journey."

"Who knows? Maybe we'll meet it again someday," Steven added with a small smile.

Somehow, he had a gut feeling this wouldn't be their last encounter.

"Maybe," Johan murmured, as he held the same faint intuition.

As they spoke, Johan took out a green shard that had fallen from the sky when Jirachi went back to sleep.

The fragment, about the size of a thumb, bore faint, glowing patterns that pulsed intermittently.

What is this?

Since it fell when Jirachi slumbered, it likely had something to do with its power. Jirachi's ability worked on the principle of equivalent exchange, so this might have been teleported from somewhere else.

Humming softly to himself, Johan reached into his inner pocket and pulled out two feathers: the radiant Rainbow Wing and the softly glowing Silver Wing.

Again?

Both feathers seemed to stir, reacting to the shard.

Last time these feathers "acted up," Jirachi had awakened. Johan couldn't shake the feeling that these items had some level of self-awareness.

Especially the Rainbow Wing, which lately had been "demanding" his Aura energy.

Wait… Aura?

Johan frowned slightly, his gaze shifting to the green shard.

Jirachi wouldn't hurt me… would it?

With a deep breath, Johan channeled a steady stream of blue Aura energy, letting it flow into the shard.

The shard pulsed with blinding light as the faint patterns on its surface sharpened into a clear design—a triangular symbol.

A triangle…

Wait a second!

A triangle… Delta "Δ"?

The bright light seemed visible only to Johan; Steven and the others didn't react at all. However, his Pokémon appeared to sense something.

Ninetales, Gengar, and Dragonair all perked up, gazing intently at the shard.

Dragonair, in particular, seemed affected. The blue orbs on its neck began to emit a faint, milky-white glow.

As the shard shone brighter, Johan's vision began to warp.

Suddenly, he found himself suspended above a vast, boundless sky, surrounded by drifting clouds.

Amidst the mist, a green, serpentine figure streaked through the air. Its body was adorned with red and yellow patterns, and it had sharp claws and four pointed horns.

The figure twisted and coiled gracefully, its body surrounded by swirling white energy.

When Johan finally recognized the figure, his eyes widened in shock.

That's… Mega Rayquaza?!

No, it was Rayquaza, the Sky High Pokémon!

Johan's mind raced.

Last night, while playing cards, he had grumbled repeatedly about wanting a Rayquaza card. Did Jirachi overhear and interpret it as a genuine wish?

Seriously?!

This must be the shard's doing.

Johan's thoughts turned to a specific term: the Jade Orb.

In ancient legend, Groudon and Kyogre were controlled using the Red Orb and Blue Orb, respectively. Similarly, Rayquaza had its own corresponding artifact—the Jade Orb.

So, Jirachi couldn't summon Rayquaza directly, but it gave me a piece of the Jade Orb instead?

Well, that's one way to "see" Rayquaza.

Johan could almost imagine Jirachi's proud expression: "Look! Aren't I amazing? Praise me!"

"Roar—!!"

A thunderous cry interrupted Johan's thoughts.

Rayquaza, weaving through the clouds, finally noticed his presence.

The Pokémon's body shifted gracefully as it roared, causing waves of clouds to scatter.

Rayquaza's ability, Air Lock, activated. The weather effects in the area disappeared entirely.

In a flash, the legendary Pokémon twisted its body and descended in front of Johan.

Its crimson, emotionless eyes locked onto him.

For Johan, Rayquaza had always been a symbol of power. He recalled the movie Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, where a shiny Mega Rayquaza took on seven legendary Pokémon at once.

Then there was the battle with Deoxys in Destiny Deoxys, where it fought valiantly but struggled.

Now, seeing it up close, Johan felt its overwhelming presence.

[Human…]

A deep voice echoed in Johan's mind.

[Who are you, and why have you appeared here?]

Johan's vision cleared further. He realized he was standing atop a towering structure—a column-like building.

He forced a smile.

"I could say I don't know why I'm here… Would you believe me?"

[Hmph!]

Rayquaza snorted, its tone carrying a hint of… laziness?

Johan's keen observation as a Pokémon psychologist kicked in.

Could it be that Rayquaza was bored? Perhaps it had just eaten and was ready for a nap.

Did you eat the Millennium Comet, by any chance?

"Rayquaza," Johan began, "could it be… that you're feeling lonely?"

Rayquaza froze, startled by the unexpected question.

Johan continued, "Why else would a powerful creature like you care so much about bonds with a 'chosen one'? You yearn for companionship, don't you?"

Rayquaza's eyes narrowed as it let out a low growl, clearly displeased.

[Bold human!]

Johan smirked inwardly. He had struck a nerve.

"Let me guess—you're looking for someone like Aster, the original Lorekeeper?"

Rayquaza's body tensed slightly.

"A companion. A friend. That's what you're really seeking."

Johan decided to push further.

"What if I told you I might know where to find another Rayquaza?"

Rayquaza paused mid-movement, its crimson eyes betraying a flicker of curiosity.

Another Rayquaza?

Johan referenced the Ancient Hero story, where a black Rayquaza appeared as one of the six Pokémon in the hero's team.

"Think about it," Johan said. "You wouldn't have to be alone anymore."

Rayquaza snorted and turned away, feigning disinterest.

[Foolish human! I need no such help.]

Suddenly, Johan's surroundings began to blur.

Rayquaza's misty form faded into the clouds, its voice echoing faintly.

[If you wish to prove yourself, come to Sky Pillar and face my trials.]

With that, the vision ended.

Johan found himself back at the campsite, holding the now dim shard.

He felt utterly drained, as if the shard had consumed all his Aura energy.

"Ka-kah?"

Gengar waved a hand in front of Johan's face.

"Are you okay? Did you see a ghost or something?"

Johan glared at Gengar.

"Ghosts? I'd take that over what I just saw."

Gengar scratched its head, puzzled.

Johan turned to Dragonair and handed it the shard.

"Here, try eating it."

Dragonair blinked in confusion but obediently took the shard.

After a moment, it spat it out, shaking its head.

"Draaa…"

Too hard. Couldn't digest it.

Johan sighed.

"Figures."

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Powerstones?

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