I pushed through the glass doors of the Pokémon Center, the cool air-conditioning a sharp contrast to the humid morning outside. I didn't have to look far for the source of the "priority communication." The large monitor in the corner of the lobby was blinking with an incoming call from Sandgem Town.
When the screen flickered to life, I wasn't greeted by a faceless operator. Instead, the imposing, weathered face of Professor Rowan filled the screen. His white beard was as sharp as ever, and his eyes—hidden behind those stern brows—seemed to be scanning my soul for any signs of laziness.
"Julian," Rowan's voice boomed, deep and authoritative. "Long time no see. I've been keeping an eye on your data uploads. Three Gym Badges already, I see? And from the reports, you didn't just beat the junior leaders; you went up against the senior Gym Leaders themselves."
I let out a shaky laugh, scratching the back of my neck. "Well, you know how it is, Professor. I spent enough time at the lab watching you grill trainers that I picked up a few things. But honestly? Gardenia almost wiped the floor with me. It was a struggle just to keep my head above water."
Rowan gave a rare, almost imperceptible nod. "Don't sell yourself short. Most trainers don't even see a senior-level Gym Match until their fifth or sixth badge. To pass the Eterna Gym under those conditions proves your research into the Fairy-type isn't just academic—it's practical."
"I appreciate that, Professor," I said, leaning closer to the screen. "But I know you didn't call just to give me a performance review. You've got a mountain of research on your desk and about ten different field teams to manage. What's the real reason for the call?"
Rowan's expression shifted, becoming more serious. "Perceptive as always. A few days ago, I received a visit from Cynthia. She mentioned your meeting in Canalave City and the... interesting theories you shared with her regarding ancient legends."
My heart skipped a beat. Right. The Cynthia talk. I'd may have let a few too many "theories" slip during our coffee chat—things that a normal researcher shouldn't know yet.
"She went back to Celestic Town to consult with her grandmother," Rowan continued. "They've uncovered an artifact—an ancient relic that has been sitting in their archives for some time. Cynthia believes your unique perspective might be the key to identifying it. She's officially inviting you to Celestic Town as a consultant."
"An artifact? Like what?" I asked, though a cold dread was already settling in my gut.
"A strange white orb," Rowan said, stroking his chin. "I saw a similar sketch in Professor Juniper's notes from the Unova region, but the history of Sinnoh is unique. Since you seem to have a 'special' intuition for these ancient stories, Cynthia wants you to confirm its origin."
A white orb. Celestic Town. Cynthia. My mind raced. It was almost certainly the Lustrous Orb, the relic tied to Palkia. In the games and the show, this was a major catalyst for Team Galactic's shenanigans. If I went there now, I'd be walking straight into the heart of the lore.
"I understand," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm in Eterna right now. Celestic Town isn't exactly a hop, skip, and a jump away, but it's on the route toward Hearthome City if I cut through Mt. Coronet."
"I'm counting on you, Julian. Juniper is already digging through ancient texts based on the breadcrumbs you gave Cynthia. If this leads to a breakthrough in understanding Sinnoh's space-time myths, it'll be the discovery of the decade."
The screen went black as the Professor hung up. I stood there for a long moment, staring at my own reflection in the dark monitor.
I really should have kept my mouth shut, I thought, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. I was trying to avoid the "main character" drama, yet here I was, being summoned by the Champion to identify a legendary artifact. If I identified it too accurately, I'd look suspicious. If I played dumb, I'd be wasting their time.
And then there was Team Galactic. Right now, Cyrus was still seen as a brilliant businessman and a generous philanthropist. They hadn't started their open-air terrorism yet. If I tried to "report" them now, I'd just look like a crazy conspiracy theorist.
"Butterfly effect, here we come," I muttered. "I just hope I don't provoke the hornets before I'm strong enough to handle the sting."
I spent the next hour at the Pokémon Center's library, pulling up topographic maps of Route 211 and the Mt. Coronet pass.
Mt. Coronet was the spine of the Sinnoh region—a massive, snow-capped labyrinth that split the land in two. It wasn't just a mountain; it was a sacred site with its own unique magnetic field. Pokémon that lived there were notoriously tough, and the environment was even tougher.
"If we're going through the mountain pass to get to Celestic Town, we need gear," I told myself, making a list. "Heavy coats, thermal packs, and plenty of high-calorie snacks. And the Pokémon..."
I retrieved my three Poké Balls from Nurse Joy and walked over to a quiet corner of the lobby. I released them, and the three of them looked up at me expectantly.
"New mission, guys. We're heading to Celestic Town. But to get there, we have to cross a portion of Mt. Coronet. It's going to be freezing, and the wild Pokémon there don't play around. It'll be the perfect place to level up our combat skills."
"Floette! (If it's cold, do I get a tiny sweater? And extra soup?)"
"Fly-ah~ (Snow? I hope my ribbons don't freeze...)" Sylveon looked a bit skeptical of the "frozen mountain" idea.
Togepi, however, tugged at my pant leg. "Togepi-pi! (But I want to help too! Mama, don't leave me out!)"
I knelt down and picked up the little guy. He looked so small compared to the challenges ahead. He still didn't have any real offensive moves, and in a place like Mt. Coronet, a wild Bronzor or Meditite could do serious damage to a baby Pokémon.
"It's not that I want to leave you out, Togepi," I said, softening my voice. "But the mountain is dangerous. I don't want you catching a cold."
Togepi's lower lip quivered. He looked over at Sylveon and Floette—his "big sisters"—who were always out front, protecting him. He wanted to be the one protecting me for once.
"Togepi-pi... (I'm not just a baby! I can do the thing! The tactics we practiced!)"
I sighed, stroking his shell. He had been working incredibly hard on his Helping Hand and Follow Me tactics. Even if he couldn't hit hard, he was becoming a master of distraction.
"Alright, alright," I laughed, giving him a gentle squeeze. "You can participate in the training sessions, but the moment it gets too cold or too dangerous, you're going back in the ball. Deal?"
"Togepi-pi! (Deal, Mama!)"
I winced at the "Mama" part. I've been his trainer for weeks, and he still thinks I'm his mother. Maybe when he evolves into Togetic, he'll realize I don't have wings or a shell.
"Okay, everyone back in. I've got a lot of shopping to do. We need insulated blankets, a new heating stove for our campsite, and enough supplies to last us a week in the caves. We leave at dawn tomorrow!"
As the red beams pulled them back into their balls, I felt a familiar tingle of excitement. Eterna City had been great, and the badge felt heavy in my pocket, but the real mystery was waiting for us in the ancient town of Celestic.
I walked out into the afternoon sun, heading toward the local "Outdoors & Mountaineering" shop. The road to the legends was open, and for better or worse, I was walking right down the middle of it.