In stark contrast to the tense work atmosphere of the commercial hub Flycloud City, Raven City is a leisurely, vibrant entertainment metropolis.

Theme parks, music theaters, amusement parks, arenas... perfect for humans and Pokémon to live together.

And Raven City's music theater was exactly the venue where Teacher Lu and Cynthia were preparing to hold a concert for Meloetta.

The audience was mostly Pokémon;

gym leaders and trainers from nearby cities—like Caitlin and Fumiko—were invited.

Lu Ye also planned to invite the Team Rocket Trio to the concert, and if possible, to coax Meowth into singing a couple of songs.

It wasn't a formal concert so much as a karaoke club meet-up.

Haunter was already raring to go: “Gengarrr~ (๑`▽´๑)۶”

Lu Ye rubbed his chin, considering whether to prepare earplugs for everyone in advance.

“Jigglypuff is so unpredictable — I wonder if it’ll show up tonight...”

In the anime, Jigglypuff often appears with Team Rocket and Ash;

its greatest dream is to find an audience that can listen through an entire song without falling asleep.

Thinking of his brief encounter with Jigglypuff, Lu Ye couldn't help but smile.

Tonight's concert would draw a sizable audience;

he was fairly certain Jigglypuff wouldn't miss this chance...

Inside a Ferris wheel cabin.

Cynthia wore a stately, elegant black coat;

her blond hair was adorned with black accessories. She gazed out the window, propping her face with one hand, a faint smile curving beneath her high, noble nose.

Lu Ye was all too familiar with this scene—he had seen it once on the Ferris wheel in the magic city—and even now his heart still skipped a beat.

The Ferris wheel slowly rose;

the lawns, houses, and buildings outside shrank. Near the top, they saw the full panorama of Raven City.

“Very beautiful.” Cynthia stared out and said softly.

“It looks even prettier at seven in the evening. That's when the whole Ferris wheel lights up, the cabins spin with neon, and fireworks and flying swans cross the sky.”

Lu Ye looked out, recounting from memory of the travel guide. “When the cabin reaches the highest point, you can see the entire amusement park lit up by power lines in a riot of color... that design was modified by the Electric-type expert Elesa.”

“That sounds lovely.” Cynthia's eyes glinted slightly and her mouth lifted in a small smile.

“I like the Ferris wheel at seven in the evening, and I like Miss Cynthia the same way,” Lu Ye said.

Cynthia, seated in the cabin ahead of him with her black wide-leg pants crossed, turned to look at Lu Ye. A hint of shyness flashed in her eyes before she looked away.

“Hmm...”

Cynthia lowered her head briefly, then smiled, lifting her shimmering eyes. “Do you know something?”

“What?”

“This Ferris wheel is only for couples.”

Cynthia looked back outside;

the pale blush at her nape spread lightly as she spoke in a low voice.

Lu Ye was admiring Sylveon's cuteness and froze.

Only for couples?

No wonder the ticket clerk gave me that weird look!

Going to an amusement park, of course you couldn't just ride the Ferris wheel.

About the other activities to play next.

“Melo~!”

Meloetta pointed at the music-note icon marking the music theater outside, eyes sparkling.

“Nimi~!”

Victini pointed to the Battle Subway, as if he already smelled the waves of victory.

The Battle Subway is Unova’s battle facility, similar to the Battle Chateau or Battle Frontier. Its starting station is in Raven City.

Teacher Lu crossed his arms and said:

“How about... you guys do rock-paper-scissors?”

The two small Mythical Pokémon locked eyes, the tension palpable.

“Nimi~” “Melo!”

Victini threw scissors, Meloetta threw rock!

Victini: o(╥﹏╥)o

Meloetta: ξ(✿＞◡❛)

Lu Ye glanced at Victini’s scissors of ‘victory’ and then at Meloetta’s fist signifying a musical note end...

“Ahem... I kind of guessed Victini would do scissors.” Lu Ye coughed.

“That rule seems unreasonable.” Cynthia said.

“Uh... then let’s do palm versus back of hand—three, two, one!”

“Gengarrr!”

Between the two little downward-facing hands, a purple pudgy hand shot up.

Haunter grinned and pointed toward the nearby haunted-house shaped like a Reaper Coffin.

“Gengarrr! (￣▽￣)~*”

Let’s go play that one!

Victini and Meloetta exchanged looks and brightened with interest.

Lu Ye looked at the noble, beautiful Sinnoh Champion and found she was equally eager.

“The haunted-house staff are usually Ghost-type Pokémon.”

Cynthia smiled radiantly. “Garchomp and I will go first!”

A beam of red light burst from a Poké Ball;

Garchomp sharpened its twin scythes and glared haughtily:

"Khao! (▼皿▼#)"

Who’s scaring whom... it was getting hard to tell!

**

July 16, Friday.

The veteran haunted-house staff in Raven City—the Weeping Mask—would never forget this day.

Two uninvited guests arrived at today’s haunted house.

They looked like trainers, but there were plenty of trainers who had been frightened to tears by staff before.

Weeping Mask drifted forward in an eerie glow, hovering from a corner almost face-to-face with the black-haired young man.

Unexpectedly, the black-haired youth remained calm.

Lu Ye: “Is that it?”

Weeping Mask: (°ー°〃)

Cynthia asked curiously, “So this ‘human-skin mask’ segment refers to Weeping Mask?”

Lu Ye: “I get it. That mummy over there must be Dusknoir.”

Weeping Mask glanced at the two trainers chatting merrily and then at Garchomp.

Garchomp's face had become strange;

it rasped its scythes and its gaze turned bloodshot.

"Khao! (艹皿艹)" (You nearly scared me to death!)

Panic set in! Wind tightened and pulled!

As Weeping Mask tried to flee, it found a Haunter hanging inverted on the ceiling behind it, jaws wide open!

“Gengarrr~” Haunter dangled from the beams making a ghastly face, wobbling its tongue.

Weeping Mask's heart stopped in terror: o(╥﹏╥)o

For heaven’s sake, why aren’t you following the script?!

In another direction.

A hunched, old-looking Spiritomb and a bandage-wrapped, mummy-like Dusknoir moved closer.

Suddenly both were sucked into a nightmare;

ghostly shadows surged from all sides!

Darkrai emerged from the shadows and looked at the crying Dusknoir and Spiritomb, his mouth twitching.

“Nightmare” is an area passive... there’s nothing I can do—I'm sorry!

Darkrai pityingly took out two energy cubes and placed them on the ground.

“Here... consider it compensation.”

Darkrai picked up another cube and muttered, “Judging by quality, one cube would have been enough!”

They walked out of the haunted house into the brilliant sunlight.

“The haunted house wasn’t very scary after all!”

Lu Ye hugged his arms and commented.

“Gengarrr~” Haunter grinned, baring its fangs.

Those little buddies are pretty friendly!

“It was fun...” Cynthia pursed her lips and winked. “Though Haunter might have actually scared somebody... is that okay?”

“Hm... as old staff, they certainly wouldn't be scared so easily.” Lu Ye said confidently.

The Ghost-type Pokémon inside the haunted house stared at the black-haired youth’s retreating figure, filled with sorrow.

I’m not afraid of humans, but humans have wounded me all over!

Then the staff fell silent, turning to face the Haunter.

“Gengarrr~ (￣▽￣)／”

The ‘outlaw’ Haunter waved.

We had a great time today—goodbye everybody!

The Ghost Pokémon all froze, forced smiles as they waved back and exchanged glances of consensus.

We must report this to headquarters—this trainer and that Haunter need to be put on the haunted-house blacklist!

...

“VIP of the renovation crew,” “Berry fanatic,” “Haunted house blacklist”...

With odd new titles and prestige added, Teacher Lu prepared to head to Raven City’s music theater.

Passing an outdoor public training area, Cynthia asked:

“Have you started training with that Ultimate Move Tutor you asked about in the group?”

“Not yet.” Lu Ye said. “I heard the time to comprehend it relates to personal talent. With my talent, I might need to free up a month or two.”

Cynthia put a hand on her hip and looked down in mock exasperation:

“Your talent... you mean the talent to become champion within a year?”

At the Gongmen City arena, Teacher Lu once confessed his strength to Cynthia. Less than a year had passed since, and the kids’ power had rocketed ahead.

But steady Teacher Lu compared himself to people like Red, Green, and Dan Emperor, and came to his own conclusions.

Lu Ye paused, rubbing his chin.

“So that means... I really am a training genius?”

The Rotom Pokédex flapped its mechanical arms and its indicator lights blinked:

“Beep beep... already recorded into 'Teacher Lu’s Cold Jokes Collection', Roto!”

Lu Ye: “...Little Rotom, silent mode.”

“Beep beep... received, Rotom~ (⊙x⊙;

)”

Cynthia pursed her lips. “I almost want to see what cold jokes were recorded...”

Lu Ye sighed lightly. “They’re mostly stuff made by fans.”

Earlier, while lurk-reading forums and boards, Teacher Lu had come across some classic jokes.

For example: [Red, Dan Emperor, and Teacher Lu arrange a meeting.

Red arrives late and apologizes: Sorry, I was training at Mt. Silver.

Dan Emperor asks: What is Mt. Silver?

Teacher Lu asks: What is training?]

Given Dan Emperor had repeatedly admitted to being directionally challenged, Teacher Lu joked he rarely trained.

That comment quickly rose to the top.

Teacher Lu himself also kept a handful of cold jokes to roast himself on streams—

He really understood livestreaming!

“Can you show me that Tutor?” Cynthia asked.

“Of course... this.” Lu Ye reached toward DoremiA-ghost and shook the golden bracelet in his hand.

Cynthia rested her chin on her hand, eyes flickering.

“My grandmother mentioned a similar learning device... She said in ancient times trainers from Celestic Town used it to master Dragon Pulse.”

“If that’s so... it should stem from Arceus’s power.”

Lu Ye realized and said, “This golden bracelet resembles His golden wheel... and it corresponds to ultimate moves of various types!”

Cynthia glanced at Lu Ye and smiled: “You could try wearing this bracelet now... you should be able to learn an ultimate move quickly.”

“Now?”

“Mm.” Cynthia folded her arms and nodded slightly. “Because besides personal talent, trust with your Pokémon is also very important!”

Lu Ye thought for a moment, pulled out a Dive Ball, and released the sunglasses-wearing Blastoise.

Might as well try—having Cynthia nearby made it less risky than training alone.

A beam of red light landed as Blastoise stepped out, pushed up his shades, his shell glinting metallic in the sun before giving off a bright “ding”!

“Ka-may...ヾ(⌐■_■)”

Blastoise used Iron Defense!

“Still the usual character, Blastoise.” Cynthia smiled.

He’s steady as a spring...

No—Turtwig himself naturally regens HP with some spring water!

Lu Ye slipped on the golden bracelet. “Not a formal training session... just an experiment.”

“If I’m right, the Power of Transcendence should be able to trigger the bracelet’s power...”

Lu Ye thought to himself: “If there are ultimate moves, finding the Fairy Plate will also be safer!”

“Ka-may!”

Blastoise squatted like a sumo wrestler;

when his two legs hit the ground dust scattered and he gave Lu Ye a fierce look, nodding forcefully.

Lu Ye: “...”

Do you have to act like you’re facing a mortal enemy?

He closed his eyes and sensed the faint white light of the Power of Transcendence, trying to link that beam to the bracelet, then opened his eyes regretfully.

“No effect?”

“Hm... it seems my guess was wrong.”

“Maybe the Tutor you got has already been used.”

Cynthia said in a measured voice: “After all, these Tutors have passed down from ancient times;

such cases are not rare.”

Already been used?!

Lu Ye froze.

If the Power of Transcendence can trigger the bracelet, and Aura can strengthen the bond between me and Blastoise...

Lu Ye's expression became complicated as he looked at Blastoise.

Blastoise removed his shades and stared at Lu Ye with a sharp, calm look, silently giving a thumbs-up.

“Ka-may!”

Lu Ye: “...”

Don't tell me you learned an ultimate move just by taking one look...

Even if we have a bond, he’s going to report us for illegal training!

But a power originating from Arceus cannot be explained by normal logic...

Lu Ye glanced down at the bracelet’s dull, lifeless surface and murmured:

“It seems my talent is still a bit stronger than A-Jin’s... after all.”

**

Night fell.

Raven City, music theater.

Meloetta’s concert was about to begin and the audience was arriving in waves.

“Teacher Lu, long time no see.”

Having met before, Cheren greeted Lu Ye in a white shirt and said with feeling:

“I heard of your deeds in Unova... my students admire you greatly.”

Cheren didn’t finish the sentence about “and the PTCG you issued.”

After all, the PTCG’s popularity was almost affecting normal teaching. It did teach kids some things... and made Cheren, as a teacher, a little embarrassed.

“Teacher Lu, my name is Bailu!”

Standing next to Cheren, a girl wearing a hat and pushing up red-rimmed glasses said with some reserve: “I heard about you from Professor Juniper... honored to meet you!”

Cheren and Bailu were among the main cast of Black and White;

Lu Ye shook hands and smiled: “A pleasure... please come in, both of you.”

Other guests included Raven City’s gym leader Elesa. From her hair color, she appeared to be the Black and White 2 look.

Lu Ye was surprised by the arrival of a black-haired mature beauty.

N is supposed to have blue short hair in Black and White 2 movies, but because of filming he had let it grow back into shoulder-length black hair.

“N?” Lu Ye said in surprise.

“Not welcome?” N glanced over.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in Kanto?”

“Recently I’ve had engagements in Unova...” N said calmly. “I happened to sense Haunter’s psychic waves and came here.”

Haunter and N’s bond originated from Haunter working part-time at the Goldenrod Gym in Kanto to support the family.

Lu Ye saw N expressionlessly rubbing Haunter’s cheek.

Lu Ye blinked.

“You two are really close...”

After a moment, three oddly dressed weirdos arrived at the theater entrance.

“We're all friends, so no need to disguise...” Lu Ye sighed.

“As expected from a staffer—you saw through our disguise at a glance, meow!” Meowth said, quivering.

So many points to pick apart;

Lu Ye gave up on complaining and looked up at the full moon over the theater.

Under the round moon, on a beam, a pink little ‘pichu-ball’ was napping peacefully.

“Boli...”

...