Pokemon: Psychic Master

With the opening ceremony complete and after sitting through a long-winded speech by League Chairman Charles Goodshow, the Indigo League officially began amidst great fanfare!

Johan's luck held strong—he drew the Grass Field for his match.

After the ceremony, he followed the flow of participants and spectators toward the Grass Field arena, accompanied by Professor Oak, Delia, and Ash.

Although the Kanto League is considered one of the toughest leagues, over 100 trainers had managed to collect the required eight badges to qualify.

Among them were not only Kanto natives but also trainers from other regions—like Reiji, whom Johan had encountered before.

Many competitors were repeat participants in League tournaments and had built small fanbases thanks to their previous achievements.

Johan's match wasn't scheduled to start immediately. He had two matches to wait through, so after entering the waiting room, he released his Pokémon to stretch and prepare.

His opponent's name was Daida, but beyond that, Johan knew little.

His Pokémon, however, were brimming with enthusiasm and clamored to participate, particularly Kubfu, who had yet to experience an official battle.

"Wow, your Pokémon are so rare!"

The quiet murmur drew Johan's attention to the waiting room's side door, where a young girl in a black dress hesitantly stepped inside.

Johan narrowed his eyes at her.

"I have a truly exceptional Pokémon," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity as she pulled out a Poké Ball. "Why not trade with me? You could go so much further with this one!"

She tossed the ball, revealing... a Wurmple.

Johan stared at the little bug Pokémon, which looked just as surprised as he was.

Suppressing the urge to facepalm, he muttered internally: So it really is you…

"Evolution Prodigy" Blue.

He hadn't expected to run into her here, though upon reflection, it made sense given her personality and the tournament setting.

"How about it? This Wurmple is amazing! It'll be so ferocious once it evolves into a Beautifly or Dustox!" Blue's attempt at charm was accompanied by a playful wink.

"Ferocious?" Johan's expression turned peculiar.

He glanced at Gengar.

Gengar cackled, stuck out its tongue, and pulled a grotesque face at the Wurmple.

"Ka-kah! (▼皿▼)"

The Wurmple let out a panicked squeak, its eyes rolling back as it fainted on the spot.

"Ah! Wurmple!" Blue jumped back, startled, but quickly recovered with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Johan interrupted her.

"Enough, Blue. Do you have any information on the competitors?"

Blue froze.

"You know me?!" she exclaimed.

Because I've read Pokémon Adventures.

However, Blue's focus shifted quickly to Johan's question. She rummaged through her bag, producing a stack of cards.

"Who are you looking for?"

"Someone named Daida," Johan replied.

After a moment of flipping through cards, Blue grinned and pulled one out.

"Here it is! That'll be 1,000 Pokédollars."

Johan smirked.

"20."

Blue gawked at him.

"You can't be serious! Who haggles like that?"

1,000 reduced to 20? Might as well have slashed the price by 100 times!

Johan held up a crisp 20 Pokédollar bill and waved it teasingly in front of her.

"Take it or leave it."

Blue's eyes followed the bill, her cheeks puffing up in frustration before she relented.

"Fine!"

She snatched the money, handed over the card, and muttered bitterly under her breath:

"Swindler!"

"Swindler?" Johan chuckled.

To be called such by Blue of all people—wasn't that an achievement in itself?

Most likely, Blue hadn't made these trainer cards herself. They were probably obtained through her trademark bartering schemes.

Even so, for Johan, the information was worth the modest price. After all, by the end of today, Daida's trainer card would lose any practical value.

As Blue turned to leave in a huff, Johan called out to her again.

"Mind exchanging contact info?"

"Huh?" She hugged herself protectively, eyeing him warily.

Johan resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Relax. It's just in case I need to buy more cards later."

Blue's defensive posture instantly melted, replaced with a bright smile.

"You should've said so earlier!"

After exchanging contact details, she paused.

"By the way, what's your name?"

"Johan."

Blue repeated his name under her breath as she walked away, off to swindle some other unsuspecting trainers.

After her departure, Johan leaned back and mused to himself:

"Where Blue appears, Silver can't be far behind."

1:00 PM.

Grass Field Arena.

"Is it Johan-sensei's turn yet?" Ash asked eagerly, his eyes glued to the display screen.

"Indeed." Professor Oak chuckled, amused by the boy's enthusiasm.

Johan had garnered quite a bit of attention lately. His tactical teaching videos were one thing, but the Ice Sculpture Competition in Kalos, involving Articuno, had catapulted his fame.

Many viewers had begun investigating his other exploits, leading to even greater curiosity about the enigmatic trainer from Rustboro.

"Do you think he'll summon a Legendary Pokémon?"

"Maybe Articuno?"

"I heard rumors about him being involved with Zapdos recently in Vermilion City…"

These whispered speculations didn't go unnoticed by Blue, who was working the crowd.

She froze mid-step, suddenly recalling Johan's earlier words and her own forgetfulness about asking how he knew her name.

Now, though, she was fixated on the spectators' chatter.

Wait... did I almost trade Wurmple for a Legendary Pokémon?!

Meanwhile, Johan exited the tunnel to the battlefield, catching bits of the murmurs as he passed.

So I'm the "Legendary Trainer" now?

On the opposite side of the field stood Daida—a chubby, nervous-looking teen who was visibly sweating.

Daida's mind raced: A Pokémon psychologist? An ice sculptor? A tactical expert? Why is someone like him competing here?!

The cherry on top? Johan's League registration listed him as a "Beginner Trainer."

If Johan brought out Articuno or Zapdos, Daida had already resolved to forfeit immediately.

"Both trainers, send out your first Pokémon!"

The Grass Field matches were all 3v3 battles, with no substitutions permitted once a Pokémon fainted.

Johan's choice was simple.

"Ku~! (－ω－) zzZ"

A snoozing Kubfu materialized on the field, facing Daida's Stantler.

"Wait... his Pokémon is asleep?!"

Daida's eyes widened in disbelief.

Ash was equally baffled.

"Professor Oak, why would Johan-sensei send out a sleeping Pokémon?"

"Perhaps it was just tired," the professor replied with a calm smile.

The referee signaled the start of the match.

Daida seized his chance.

"Stantler, Zen Headbutt!"

Stantler charged forward, its antlers glowing with psychic energy, as it barreled toward the napping Kubfu.

However, just as the attack was about to connect—

"Kubfu, dodge. Brick Break."

In a blur, the "sleeping" Kubfu rolled out of the way, its tiny paw glowing as it delivered a sharp karate chop to Stantler's neck.

BAM!

The deer Pokémon crumpled to the ground, knocked out instantly.

Gasps echoed through the audience.

"What just happened?!"

"That Pokémon was asleep, wasn't it?!"

Even Daida stood frozen in shock.

Johan adjusted his glasses.

"Fighting-type versus Normal-type. Isn't it obvious?"

Kubfu yawned, the bubble of mucus on its nose inflating and deflating rhythmically as it prepared for the next round.

Three flawless knockouts later, Daida had no choice but to accept defeat.

"Winner: Johan from Rustboro City!"

The crowd erupted with applause and laughter.

"Defeating three opponents while asleep—do you even know how to play?!"

Kubfu remained as composed as ever, quietly drifting off for another nap.

To sleep... perchance to sweep.

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Powerstones?

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