Pokemon: Psychic Master

By the time Johan returned to Cerulean City, it was already the afternoon of the next day.

The post-production and review process for Meowth and Pichu had taken longer than expected. Even at this pace, it was still remarkably fast.

Of course, most of the delay came from finalizing sponsorship deals.

These included endorsements for MooMoo Milk from Verdanturf Ranch, Goldenrod City's Daycare services, Pokémon apparel, Pokémon accessories, and others...

(Well, Fuchsia City's Toxic Trials ads were crossed off the list.)

Celadon City's human floral arrangement model sponsorships seemed worth considering, though.

In the end, a variety of sponsorships were signed, but Johan rejected nearly half of them.

Some ads were simply too absurd.

Still, according to Matori's calculations, once these sponsorship funds were paid, Johan could enjoy some financial relief for a while.

This brought a genuine smile to Johan's face, even if it had cost him some extra time.

When Johan arrived back in Cerulean City, the water ballet performance at the Cerulean Gym had just ended. He couldn't help but feel a bit regretful—Cerulean's water ballet was famous far and wide, especially with the Cerulean Sisters' pristine costumes.

However, the show's conclusion offered the perfect chance to challenge the gym.

For Johan, this would be his first formal gym challenge in the Kanto region.

At the entrance to the Cerulean Gym, Gengar, donning sunglasses, posed dramatically and flashed a cheeky peace sign.

Click!

Rotom Dex snapped the photo.

Gengar chuckled wickedly, cracking its knuckles as it geared up to take on the "strongest" gym in Kanto.

Just as Johan's team was about to enter, a teenage boy around seventeen or eighteen years old, sporting purple hair and an arrogant expression, exited the gym.

Johan couldn't help but think of Paul, Ash's rival from Sinnoh, at the sight of the boy.

The teen cast a dismissive glance at Johan before scoffing and walking away.

"Ka-kah?"

Gengar raised an eyebrow.

What a cocky kid!

Johan shook his head, glancing at his own preening Gengar wearing sunglasses.

Pot, meet kettle.

But still, that boy's appearance... If he wasn't Paul, was he Reggie?

Reggie, Paul's older brother, had collected every badge in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh before facing Brandon and the Regis at the Battle Frontier. That encounter humbled him, turning him toward a calmer path.

"Hmph! What a jerk! He's totally never getting a girlfriend!"

A fiery voice interrupted Johan's thoughts.

He turned to see a teenage girl with orange short hair tied up in a ponytail. She wore a yellow crop top and blue denim shorts with suspenders.

Her furious outburst was directed at the boy who had just left.

As the girl finished her tirade, she noticed Johan and his Pokémon.

Gengar stood slack-jawed, and Ninetales stepped back warily, clearly intimidated.

The girl glared at them with a commanding presence.

Was this the leader of Kanto's strongest gym?

Johan, however, recognized her immediately—Misty, one of the original trio from the Pokémon anime, often nicknamed the "Land Gyarados"!

Her appearance matched the Misty from the anime, but her age and demeanor seemed closer to the Misty from the Pokémon Adventures manga.

Would this Misty have a connection with Ash or Red?

"You're... Johan-sensei?!" Misty's expression turned to one of delighted surprise.

"You know me?" Johan asked, startled.

"Yes! I watched the Ice Sculpture Contest in Kalos! Lorelei participated with you, right? Your sculpture was incredible—it even earned praise from Articuno!"

She paused, blushing slightly.

"Your 'Songbreaker Tactics' online really inspired me too!"

Johan laughed, beginning to understand. Misty was well-known as a Lorelei fangirl, so it made sense she'd recognize him.

"Um..." Misty hesitated, twirling her fingers. "Could you help me meet Lorelei someday?"

Gone was her earlier fiery demeanor.

Now, she looked as timid as her Psyduck.

Ninetales and Gengar exchanged glances, both baffled by how quickly her attitude had shifted.

"Of course," Johan replied easily.

As long as she wasn't asking to meet Red or Ash, it was fine.

Lorelei's personality wasn't far removed from Misty's—icy on the outside but warm underneath. They'd probably get along well.

"Oh! Are you here to..." Misty asked, finally noticing Johan's intent.

"To challenge the gym," Johan admitted with a small cough.

"Wait... the challenge letter from yesterday was from you?!"

She pulled out a crumpled piece of paper with a single Gengar handprint stamped on it.

Johan froze.

How did she get that from a simple handprint?!

Was there some secret language he was unaware of?

"Gengar-kah!"

Gengar proudly nodded, puffing out its chest.

"Yup! That was me!"

Misty scratched her head sheepishly.

"Thing is... that jerk from earlier just finished his challenge. My sisters' Pokémon were injured and need to be taken to the Pokémon Center."

"Ka-kah?"

"Oowoo?"

Gengar and Ninetales turned in the direction the boy had gone.

He'd beaten the Cerulean Gym's Pokémon to the point they needed medical attention?

"So... here."

Misty fished a small, water droplet-shaped badge from her pocket and handed it to Johan.

"Please just take this Cascade Badge!"

Gengar and Ninetales: ???

So anticlimactic?!

Johan smiled as he accepted the badge.

"Thank you."

"It's no problem. Honestly, we'd just lose anyway..." Misty muttered under her breath.

Handing out badges without battles wasn't unique to Cerulean Gym—it was a trait shared by its leaders, especially the Cerulean Sisters.

Rumor had it that even Siebold of Kalos's Elite Four once received a badge simply for cleaning the gym.

As Johan departed with Misty's number saved in his phone and the Cascade Badge in hand, Gengar and Ninetales still seemed stunned.

The "strongest" gym... had been won so effortlessly?

Their conclusion was unanimous:

That arrogant boy was to blame!

"Badges complete! Shall I register for the Indigo League, Rotom?"

Rotom Dex's prompt appeared immediately after the last badge was collected.

"Ka-kah!"

Gengar was more excited than Johan.

A championship win meant 12 million Pokédollars! Think of all the MooMoo Milk that could buy!

"But... six Pokémon are required for registration, Rotom!"

Every eye turned to Rotom.

Rotom Dex froze, slowly displaying a question mark on its screen.

"Rotom..."

"Help us out and round out the team," Johan said, smiling.

"R-Roger, Rotom!"

"Indigo League registration complete. Contestant: Johan!"

With registration confirmed, Johan pondered his next steps.

"Still a few days until it starts... What to do until then?"

Just as he began to consider his options, his phone buzzed.

The caller ID read: Professor Oak.

"Johan! I saw you registered for the Indigo League!" Oak's cheerful voice boomed through the line.

Wait.

Could Professor Oak also be competing?

"Yes, just now," Johan confirmed.

"Well, hurry to the Indigo Plateau for final verification. The deadline is the same as registration."

As Johan hung up, he murmured, "Guess it's time to head for Mt. Silver..."

Meanwhile, far behind his vehicle, in a patch of shadow under a tree, a dark figure emerged.

The creature, entirely black save for the fiery glow of its eyes, held a small stick, its expression somber.

Moments later, it discarded the stick, scratching its head.

It felt an ominous presence just now...

But why was the Rainbow Wing still shining?

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Powerstones?

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