Chapter 306: Unpredictability is Everything
Serena caught Ryan's bewildered expression and gave a tired smile. "You get used to it eventually. It seems like it's just part of Rowlet's nature — its moves work sometimes and don't other times. That's exactly why everyone calls it the most unpredictable Pokémon on Ash's team. You never actually know if its next attack is going to land."
Ryan was genuinely at a loss for words. He'd seen a lot of unusual things in battle, but a Pokémon whose own moves randomly fizzled out mid-execution was something else entirely. The power behind that Brave Bird had been genuinely impressive — and then it just... stopped. Right in the middle of a dive.
System, scan Rowlet. Tell me what's going on with it.
Ding. Scan initiated — scan complete. An anomalous energy has been detected within Rowlet's body. Analyzing. Ding. Analysis complete. The energy is a fragment of Necrozma's crystallized light. The fragment is interfering with Rowlet's own power output, causing its moves to destabilize mid-execution. Additionally, Rowlet has an Everstone lodged within it. If left unaddressed, evolution will be permanently suppressed.
Ryan held up a hand. "Ash, hold on. There's something inside your Rowlet — I need to take care of it before we keep going."
Before Ash could respond, Ryan extended his psychic power, gently restraining Rowlet and drawing it over into his hands. Rowlet seemed to sense that Ryan wasn't a threat and didn't resist — which was notable, because Ryan could tell that with its actual strength, it probably could have broken free if it wanted to.
Ryan held the little Pokémon in both hands and immediately noticed how remarkably round and dense it was.
It's so plump. Genuinely impressive.
Rowlet suddenly went very still. A chill ran through it for reasons it couldn't quite explain.
Ash and Serena had already crossed the arena to stand beside Ryan. Ash looked down at his Pokémon with a small frown. "Luo — Ryan — what's inside it? How come I never noticed anything?"
"It's a fragment of a certain Pokémon's body. Somehow Rowlet absorbed it, and that's what's been throwing off its power." Ryan turned the little owl over carefully in his hands. "My research team has been looking for a sample to work from. Now that we have one, we can start developing a way to counter it properly." He placed his palm over the top of Rowlet's head. "Hold still."
Drawing carefully on his psychic abilities, Ryan began pulling the fragment free. Thin tendrils of dark, crystallized energy rose slowly from Rowlet like wisps of shadow smoke curling upward. Rowlet's whole body relaxed — it practically melted in his hands, eyes half-closed with visible relief.
Ash let out a breath when he saw Rowlet's expression. "Okay, it looks fine. But Ryan — this fragment you mentioned, from that Pokémon — what exactly is going on? You said something about Arceus earlier, and I still don't really follow."
Ryan carefully sealed the extracted energy crystal away and straightened up. "Right, I haven't had a chance to catch you up. I met with Arceus and got answers to a lot of questions I'd been sitting on. That Pokémon you're thinking of — the one connected to these fragments — it's real, it's out there, and it's going to be a problem. The original White Kyurem you saw earlier has also fully reclaimed its true form with Arceus's help. I've named it Ryusei. Professor Oak is registering its data right now so it'll be cleared for the Pokémon Master Title Tournament."
Ash's expression shifted rapidly through confusion, surprise, and then indignation. "Okay — wait. Back up. My Rowlet had fragments of that thing's power inside it messing with its moves. You talked to Arceus about that thing. And — the Pokémon Master Title Tournament?!" His voice pitched upward. "I'm the one who's going to become a Pokémon Master!"
Serena gently put a hand on Ash's arm before he could fully spiral. "Ash. The Pokémon Master Title Tournament is a special competition — you can only apply once you've qualified as a regional Champion and caught at least six Legendary Pokémon. It's a doubles format, six consecutive battles, and you need to bring twelve Pokémon to compete."
Ash processed this for about two seconds. "Oh. That's it?" His confidence snapped right back into place. "I've already caught way more than six Legendaries. So I'm already qualified. I just have to beat the Champion, right?"
"In theory, yes," Serena said, in the tone of someone choosing their battles carefully.
Ryan set Rowlet down on the ground. "Extraction's done. I also pulled the Everstone out while I was at it. Whether you want Rowlet to evolve now is your call, Ash."
He tossed a smooth white stone across the arena. Ash caught it, turned it over in his palm, and recognized it immediately. He looked at Rowlet for a moment, then smiled quietly and tucked the Everstone into his pocket.
The moment the Everstone's influence lifted, Rowlet began to glow.
The soft white light expanded around its round little body, and when it faded, a Dartrix stood in its place — composed, elegant, and already fixing its new feathered beret with an air of quiet dignity.
"Dartrix!" Ash started forward with his arms open—
Dartrix glowed again.
All three of them froze.
Ryan stared. Ash stared. Serena pressed two fingers to her temple.
"Of course," she said quietly.
The second evolution completed, and a Decidueye stood where Rowlet had been just moments ago — tall, sharp-eyed, its Ghost-typing visible in the cool, measured stillness it now carried. The playful unpredictability of Rowlet was gone, replaced by something quieter and considerably more dangerous. Its eyes swept the arena with calm precision.
"It's not as cute anymore," Serena observed.
Ash didn't seem to register this at all. He rushed forward and threw his arms around Decidueye with the same enthusiasm he'd have given any Pokémon, regardless of type, height, or number of razor-sharp appendages. Decidueye accepted this with measured patience, flexing its new form experimentally. Lycanroc and Incineroar padded over, clearly happy for their teammate.
Ryan sealed the Necrozma energy crystal securely in an inner pocket and turned back toward his end of the field. "Alright. Let's see what Decidueye can actually do now. Back to the battle."
Ash was already sprinting back to his side. He looked across at Diancie, still composed and waiting, and shouted, "Decidueye — show them your new move! Shadow Sneak Arrow!"
Decidueye moved with fluid precision. A vine extended from beneath its wing feathers, curving into the shape of a bow. In one smooth motion it drew a feathered arrow, nocked it, and released — all in under a second. The arrow crossed the arena like a shooting star, trailing a faint shadow behind it.
Ryan tracked it — barely.
Diancie raised both hands reflexively and summoned another Diamond Wall.
Ash grinned. "That won't work this time!"
An instant before impact, the arrow lost its physical form entirely. It passed through the Diamond Wall like it wasn't there at all, dissolving into the shadow the wall cast on the ground — and then erupted back out of that shadow directly beneath Diancie, striking clean.
Ryan clicked his tongue, genuinely impressed despite himself.
Alright. That was something.
(End of Chapter)
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