I Really Didn’t Want to Be a Trainer

Chapter 801: Jirachi and Hoopa

The journey to Mount Hokulani concluded perfectly.

Only one final matter remained—Sylveon's ascension.

Thanks to the experience accumulated from the previous three islands, Sylveon's absorption of Ula'Ula Island's aura was extremely efficient.

Teacher Lu and Tapu Bulu stood guard beside Sylveon.

Cynthia and Jirachi stood watch nearby, with Victini ready to 'recharge' at any moment.

"Bu-bii!" Sylveon's body glowed with the sacred light of Geomancy, its ribbons gently resting on the shrine's ground. Crystalline Grass-type energy, symbolizing vigorous life force, continuously flowed towards Sylveon's ribbons.

The island auras of Alola symbolized both the harmonious side of nature and its merciless side.

At this moment, ripples of light spread from beneath Sylveon's feet, rings of yellow, blue, pink, and green. In the next instant, the rings surged violently, converging to form a pillar of light that shot up with a roar, engulfing Sylveon!

This scene closely resembled the island deities' signature move, Nature's Wrath. When the auras of four islands stacked together, only the Sun God and Moon God could withstand it.

However, Sylveon had already laid a solid foundation when borrowing Arceus's Fairy Plate. Furthermore, by leveraging Xerneas's Geomancy, it had greatly enhanced its own abilities!Within the roaring pillar of light, Sylveon's gaze was sharp, its powerful mental energy forming a barrier.

Immediately, the mist Tapu Fini excelled at drifted out, forming an area-wide field that resisted the paralysis, poison, and other abnormal status effects of the light pillar. At the same moment, vigorous, crystalline life energy surged within the mist, just like Xerneas's Fairy Aura!

BOOM!!

The rings of Nature's Wrath scattered, symbolizing that Sylveon had officially mastered the auras of the four islands.

"Bu-bii!!"

Sylveon's ribbons fluttered within the golden aura, its gaze sharp, the corners of its mouth slightly pursed.

Sylveon is happy~

In the next battle, I can stand in front of my trainer too!

After nearly half a year of stagnation, Sylveon's level, which had been at champion peak, officially reached 'Battle Legend'!

The auras of the four islands provided Sylveon with different ability enhancements.

Namely, the power of beam-type moves, mental energy, resistance to abnormal statuses, and life force.

Combined with its own Overlord Aura, Sylveon's Fairy Skin could unleash an area effect similar to Fairy Aura.

Lu Ye's heart shook: "Another illegal ability added!"

Currently, two powerhouses in the team had reached Battle Legend status: Haunter and Sylveon.

With Sylveon's current strength, even against a newly evolved Solgaleo, its chances of victory were quite considerable.

As for Turtwig, who was on the verge of a breakthrough...

Lu Ye's mind wandered:

"In a couple of days, when Lana fishes up Kyogre, I can take Turtwig to spar a bit with Core Disturbance, grind some experience points..."

Considering the large group from Pallet Town visiting next week, Teacher Lu also seriously considered the matter of the 'friendship match'.

Green's team wasn't outrageous to the point of 'all members Legendary,' but Red's team might be a different story...

Lu Ye looked up at the sky.

Mt. Silver was out of the question.

Only by participating in baby cups could he barely maintain his legendary title.

...

March 23rd, Wednesday.

The Pokémon School welcomed its first school day after the break.

"Alola, everyone~" Lillie, with her golden hair in a single ponytail, walked into the classroom holding Snowy.

"Lillie." Mallow said in surprise, "You're back in class!"

After the Aether Foundation incident, Lillie had taken a week off to accompany her mother for recuperation. Today was her first day back at school.

Lillie nodded with a bright smile. "Yes, I'm back."

The students crowded around Lillie, chattering away, asking about the Ultra Defense Team's next mission and Little Nebula's current condition.

"Little Nebula is currently under Dr. Burnet's care. Due to insufficient energy, it's still asleep..."

Lillie said seriously, "But I believe the professors and Teacher Lu will definitely find a way!"

"That's true. After all, Teacher Lu is blessed by Victory Star," Kiawe said, crossing his arms.

"Little Nebula's energy source isn't the same as Victini's! It's power from the cosmos!" Sophocles exclaimed.

"Ah, I know, it's just aura, right?" Kiawe nodded to himself.

"Completely, not the same thing!" Sophocles said.

"Speaking of which..." Ash interrupted their staring contest, scratching his head, "Teacher Lu and Champion Bamboo Lan seem to be getting married."

In an instant, as if a thunderclap had struck, Lana, Mallow, and Lillie turned to stone, while Kiawe and Sophocles made exaggerated expressions.

From the treehouse-style school building's windows came everyone's shouts:

"Married!!?"

Ash covered his ears and chuckled awkwardly. "Teacher Lu mentioned it in the group chat... It's just a proposal for now, the specific wedding date isn't set yet."

The students completely ignored Ash's words, lost in blissful daydreams.

"Miss Bamboo Lan in a wedding dress must be so beautiful~" Lillie said dazedly.

"And Teacher Lu in a black suit!" Mallow said.

"I want to be a bridesmaid," Lana said, her eyes sparkling.

"Hey, sneaky, I already said it in my heart first!" Mallow pinched Lana's side, who dodged.

During the ten-minute break, the students were completely immersed in wedding fantasies, as if they could already see Haunter acting as the master of ceremonies, wearing a chubby suit.

Lana and Mallow scattering flowers along the path, Lillie with a '=v=' expression holding up the white hem of her dress...

"What are you all doing?"

Teacher Lu had already entered the classroom, standing at the podium with a strange expression.

"Teacher Lu!?" Everyone was startled.

When did he appear? Was it Teleport!?

Teacher Lu seemed to hear their thoughts and said helplessly,

"While you were arranging my wedding procession, I was already standing at the podium."

The students scratched their heads one after another, revealing silly smiles.

"There's no need for you all to worry about this!" Lu Ye said loudly. "Tomorrow we have an outdoor practical class. We'll go to a distant region to conduct field research on battle mechanics other than Z-Moves!"

"Could it be..." Kiawe's eyes burned, a towering Gigantamax Charizard seemingly standing behind him, "The Galar region!"

"Wrong." Lu Ye said calmly. "It's the Kalos region, the birthplace of Mega Evolution... That, Ash, explain Mega Evolution."

"Mega Evolution is a special evolved form achieved when a trainer and Pokémon connect their hearts, relying on the power of their bond."

Ash said with rare seriousness, "In theory, every Pokémon has a Mega Evolution form, though some haven't been discovered yet."

"Correct." Lu Ye nodded in satisfaction. "Tomorrow we're going to the Kalos region, and I'll be your host, treating everyone to the delicacies of Miare City!"

"Yay!" The students cheered.

"Champion Bamboo Lan will also accompany us," Lu Ye added.

"Hehe..."

"You guys, stop smiling so knowingly!"

...

The next day, the flight to Kalos included Ash and his group.

Ash held the sleeping 'Star Cocoon,' Cosmoem, curiously gazing out the aircraft window.

Lana, Lillie, and Mallow sat in one row, Teacher Lu and Cynthia in another.

Cynthia furrowed her willow-leaf brows, falling into contemplation again:

"Six... wouldn't that be too many..."

"What?" Lu Ye asked.

Cynthia: "Nothing!"

Professor Kukui and Nene Oak sat in the back row, whispering.

"Every time I see Ash holding Cosmoem, my heart trembles with fear, worried he might drop it..."

"Yeah, shivering like a 'Snom'!" Nene Oak said.

Jirachi sat obediently in Lu Ye's lap. It turned its head to look at the Little Nebula in Ash's hands, slightly lost in thought.

"What's wrong?" Lu Ye noticed the little one's expression.

'That... it's injured, I can help it.' Jirachi's pitch-black eyes were crystalline.

Lu Ye was taken aback, realizing both Jirachi and Little Nebula possessed Cosmic Power originating from the cosmos.

With Jirachi's 'wish' assistance, Little Nebula could awaken faster.

But the cost was that Jirachi would consume its own energy, causing its own condition to become listless.

Lu Ye fell into contemplation, then used the Power of Transcendence to sense:

"But, awakening Little Nebula will also cause you to fall asleep early."

No matter what, Jirachi would eventually return to the comet. But if Little Nebula awoke naturally, Jirachi could remain active and have more fun during these seven days.

Jirachi inherently had the playful nature of a child, and this trip was originally meant to take Jirachi out to play...

'It's okay!'

Contrary to Teacher Lu's expectations, Jirachi nodded its little head seriously, its wish-tag-like ornament swaying gently.

"Why?" Lu Ye was surprised.

It and Little Nebula had barely met for less than a day.

'Why?' Jirachi blinked its eyes. 'Because, I heard Little Nebula's wish of "wanting to protect everyone."'

'So, I want to help it fulfill its wish!'

Teacher Lu was momentarily speechless, stroking Jirachi's star-shaped head. It narrowed its eyes.

Jirachi's willingness to help Little Nebula stemmed from its innocent, selfless, and helpful nature.

Moreover, Jirachi could only awaken once every thousand years. It deeply understood the length and loneliness of slumber, thus empathizing with Little Nebula, who was trapped in dormancy.

"I understand your thoughts."

Lu Ye stroked Jirachi and said, "However, before fulfilling others' wishes, you can consider yourself a bit more."

"And."

Teacher Lu smiled. "For this trip, if you have any wishes, you can bring them up... Since you're fulfilling Little Nebula's wish, I'll also try my best to fulfill your wishes."

Jirachi raised its pitch-black eyes, gazing at Teacher Lu, slightly dazed.

People had always made wishes to Jirachi. No one had ever been willing to listen to Jirachi's wishes.

Teacher Lu believed that bonds were mutual... Since Jirachi was helping the little ones, he must also do his utmost to help it fulfill its wishes.

After a while, Jirachi revealed a big smile: 'Thank you, Lu Ye!'

"You're welcome," Lu Ye replied readily. "What is your wish?"

For the first time in thousands of years being asked about 'its own wish,' Jirachi hadn't thought about it at all.

'Can... I tell you after the trip?' Jirachi said softly.

"Of course."

The flight landed at Miare City Airport.

The first stop of the trip was the research institute of the Mega Evolution expert, Professor Sycamore.

Following the tour procedure, Professor Sycamore demonstrated Garchomp's Mega Evolution, battling against Kiawe's Fireinium Z Turtonator.

This was a showdown between Mega Evolution and a Fire Z-Move.

Teacher Lu preferred Mega Evolution, as it better showcased the bond between partners.

As for Z-Moves... if the awkward dancing wasn't awkward, then they were pretty cool. (Just kidding)

Subsequently, Teacher Lu led Ash and his group to the café located on the same Southern Street.

The wind chimes jingled.

Indeedee, wiping a glass, looked up in surprise, then smiled.

The owner is back!

"Teacher Lu, you also run a restaurant!?" Mallow said excitedly.

Lu Ye: "It's a café... but it also sells meals."

Lana pointed at the Haunter plushie and said with a slight smile, "This, so cute~"

Teacher Lu's Haunter floated sinisterly behind Lana, trying to startle her.

Unexpectedly, Lana turned around, pulled a flashlight from her overalls, shining it upwards on her face, expressionless: "As cute as Haunter."

"Gengarrr~Σ(っ°Д°;

)っ"

Haunter hid behind Teacher Lu, peeking out to observe Lana.

Lu Ye said helplessly, "Lana, put the flashlight away..."

Lana always had maxed-out skills in some strange areas, like telling ghost stories and playing pranks.

"Yes~" Lana put away the flashlight, smiling with her hands behind her back.

Cynthia observed the low-budget version of the World Tree in the courtyard, a trace of surprise flashing in her gray eyes.

A ring opened in the center of the trunk, from which Little Hoopa's head popped out, making a funny face and laughing, "Were you scared by Hoopa!?"

"It's you." Cynthia smiled slightly. "Perfect timing, let me introduce you to a new friend."

Little Hoopa tilted its head slightly, making eye contact with Jirachi.

'Hello~' Jirachi greeted first.

Hearing the telepathy, Little Hoapa covered its mouth and chuckled, saying,

"Hello, hello~! Is there anything you want? I can get anything for you!"

Jirachi blinked, adhering to the principle of reciprocity, kindly replying:

'Do you have any wishes? I'll try my best to fulfill them for you!'

"Hmm..." Little Hoopa puffed out its cheeks. "It's Hoopa who fulfills your wishes!"

'It's Jirachi who fulfills your wishes.' Jirachi replied seriously.

"Wah!" Little Hoapa whined to Cynthia, crying out, "Bamboo Lan, it's being unreasonable!!"

"Alright." Bamboo Lan placed a hand on her hip, looking down with a wry smile. "Both of you have the ability to grant wishes, I'm very aware... But before you make Lu Ye angry, please stop, okay~"

"Hmm..." Little Hoapa struggled for a moment, poking its fingers together, then made up its mind and extended a small hand to Jirachi. "Hello, let's start over. My name is Hoopa~!"

Jirachi's eyes glowed slightly, as if it had made a new friend, reaching out to Little Hoopa:

'Hoopa, let's play together!'

Little Hoopa's eyes slowly widened, sparkling, cheering and jumping around excitedly: "Yay, play together, play together!"

Teacher Lu stood at the entrance to the front hall, watching the figures of Jirachi and Little Hoopa laughing and playing, and smiled slightly.

I think I can understand what Jirachi's wish really is.

To find friends to play with... that is the greatest wish of Jirachi, with its childlike nature.

Jirachi and Little Hoopa might become very good friends.

"Teacher Lu!"

Ash's urgent call came from the front hall.

Lu Ye turned to see Ash running over, shouting loudly:

"Little Nebula, it, it's awake!"

...