11
The stream was off, but the world was still buzzing. The "Petalburg ICU Incident" had become the most-clipped moment in Twitch history. While the lobby was a circus of Jenny's questioning the suits and fans trying to peek through the windows, I stepped into the quiet, sterile room where Raven lay.
Part 1: Raven's Voice
The Absol was awake, her white fur looking dull against the hospital sheets. As I approached, a cool, velvet-like resonance vibrated in the back of my skull. It wasn't sound; it was pure thought.
"The shadow-bringers... they seek the pulse of the earth," Raven's voice was feminine, weary, and ancient. "I did not save you by chance, Reincarnate. I saw the fracture in the timeline you carry. You are a beacon of 'What Should Not Be.'"
I froze. "You know about... where I'm from?"
"The stars whisper. They call you the 'Anomaly with the Golden Tongue.' Those men... they weren't after me. They were using me to find the Stone. It is a key to a door that must remain locked."
She looked at Kage, who had followed me in. "The lizard carries the spark of the Sun. Keep the Stone. But know that to wield it is to invite the storm."
She closed her eyes, exhausted. She had officially joined the team, though she made it clear she was the "Guardian" of the group, not a pet.
Part 2: The Mega Stone Dilemma
Outside the ICU, Professor Birch was waiting, looking like he'd run all the way from Littleroot. He was poking at the Sceptilite with a pair of specialized tweezers.
"It's genuine, Jake! A Sceptilite of the highest purity!" Birch exclaimed. "But there's a problem. You have the battery, but you don't have the ignition. You need a Key Stone."
"And where do I get one of those? Amazon?" I asked, leaning against the wall.
"Actually," Birch lowered his voice, "my sensors picked up a massive surge of Mega Evolution energy deep in the Petalburg Woods. There's a traveler there—a man in a tattered cloak who's been defeating every trainer in the forest with a single move. People say he carries a Key Stone in the hilt of a broken sword."
Kage's grip on his ironwood stick tightened. He looked at me, then at the Sceptilite. The "Ninja" wanted that power. He wanted to be the storm Raven warned us about.
Part 3: May's Breaking Point
As Birch talked, I noticed May wasn't listening. She was staring at Jerry, who was currently grooming his new platinum-silver fur with an air of extreme superiority.
"Jerry evolved," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Kage is using 'Breathing Styles.' Even the new girl talks inside people's heads." She looked at her own hands—hands that could crush boulders, but felt "ordinary" compared to the supernatural growth of the team.
"Jake!" she suddenly shouted, grabbing me by the collar and lifting me six inches off the floor. "We're going to the Gym. NOW."
"May! Put the streamer down!"
"No! My Dad is the strongest Normal-type trainer in Hoenn! If I'm going to keep up with you and your... your 'Main Character' energy, I need to learn how to punch through the fabric of reality!"
The Petalburg Gym: Father vs. Daughter
We didn't wait for a formal appointment. May marched into the Petalburg Gym, dragged me to the challenger's box, and pointed a finger at Norman.
"Dad! Teach me the Giga Impact! Or Focus Punch! Or whatever makes the ground explode!"
Norman, a man who radiated "Strict Dad" energy, stood up from his seat. He looked at May, then at me, then at the Rotom-drone hovering nervously. "Jake Callison. I've seen your streams. You have a silver tongue, but your stamina is... well, it's pathetic. And my daughter is acting like a Primeape with a grudge."
He stepped onto the battlefield. "I won't teach you, May. Not yet. But I will show you what 'strength' really looks like. Jake, you will command May's Pokémon in a spar against my Slaking. If you can survive three minutes, I'll give you the lead you need for the forest traveler."
[Chat Log - Reconnected]
GymBro_Chuck: NORMAN VS JAKE?! IS THIS HAPPENING?!
IceCreamQueen_C: Be careful, Jake. Norman doesn't hold back, even for family.
SilentRed: [GIF: This is fine (in a room on fire)]
"Lens!" I yelled, my Nat 20 Charisma kicking back into high gear as the adrenaline hit. "Title the stream: 'CANCELLING MY FATHER-IN-LAW'! May, get in there! We're doing this!"
The Slaking yawned, but the sheer pressure in the room made the floorboards groan.