Pokemon: Psychic Master

Private Airstrip on the Outskirts of Cameran Palace

"Young Miss, Miss Cynthia, the plane will be ready to depart in about an hour."

An elderly butler in a tailored uniform spoke respectfully to Cynthia and Caitlin.

Since Cynthia's work exploring ruins wasn't finished yet, she needed to return to Unova with Caitlin.

This trip to Cameran Palace for the festival? Strictly speaking, it was a spontaneous detour.

Unova was far away, so preparing the plane required extra time.

As for Steven's plane, it was ready long ago, but his gentlemanly nature compelled him to wait until the ladies departed before leaving himself.

"Are you visiting Mr. Drayden of Opelucid City?"

Hearing Cynthia's plans, Johan raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"You know him?"

"Well, he's the Dragon-type Gym Leader of Opelucid City, headmaster of Opelucid Academy—who wouldn't know of him? Of course, he doesn't know me," Johan replied with a casual shrug and a smile.

"Hmm..."

Cynthia nodded thoughtfully.

Drayden doesn't know Johan?

Not necessarily, she thought.

"Drayden discovered something with significant historical value and reached out to my grandmother for insight. She asked me to go check it out for her," Cynthia explained.

Johan blinked, then teased: "So you decided to make a quick detour to Cameran Palace while heading to Opelucid City?"

Cynthia gave him a playful wink, but didn't answer.

Her words sparked a thought in Johan's mind.

Drayden found something historical... could it be?

"Johan, battle me!"

Caitlin suddenly interjected, clenching her little fists, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Her psychic energy stirred around her, causing her golden locks to float as if in a breeze.

Finally, a chance!

"You're adorable, Caitlin," Cynthia said with a soft smile.

Johan cast Cynthia a sidelong glance.

Are you serious right now? Where's this sour jealousy vibe coming from?

To be fair, Caitlin did resemble an elegant porcelain doll when she was upset.

"W-well, not really!"

Caitlin's fierce expression melted into bashful embarrassment.

But when she noticed Johan's bemused look, her eyes narrowed again.

Floating up into the air, she gazed down at him imperiously.

"So? What do you say?"

Johan chuckled and replied with a simple: "Sure."

Both Cynthia and Steven looked at him in surprise.

In their experience, Johan wasn't one to casually accept battle challenges. He wasn't exactly a battle junkie.

Before Caitlin could speak, Johan added:

"How about this? The loser owes the winner a favor. Deal?"

Caitlin smirked, her gaze briefly flicking to Cynthia before returning to Johan with determination.

So this is a fight for Cynthia!

Her conviction was palpable, though Johan had no idea why. He let her believe whatever she wanted.

"Fine!" she declared. "But give it your all—I don't want to yawn mid-battle out of boredom. Got it?"

Johan rubbed his chin thoughtfully before responding:

"Noted. But let's be honest, there's a clear gap in our strength."

If Caitlin chose to disregard the rules, he'd have to resort to some "unsporting" measures.

Fortunately, Caitlin's pride made her susceptible to provocation.

"Quiet!"

She huffed.

"This lady aims for a graceful victory."

Johan smirked.

Graceful, huh? You're addicted to arrogance.

The Battle Begins

On an open grassy field near the airstrip:

"Go, Bronzong!"

Caitlin sent out her Psychic/Steel Pokémon with an air of confidence.

"Gengar, you're up," Johan said calmly.

Against a Psychic-type opponent, Gengar was the obvious choice, even if Bronzong was immune to Poison-type moves due to its Steel typing.

"Ka-kah!"

Gengar emerged from the shadows with a sinister grin.

Caitlin seemed unsurprised by his choice.

What she didn't know was that Johan had also anticipated her selection.

"Begin!" Roxanne declared as referee.

"Trick." Johan's voice was calm and measured.

"Ka-kah~"

Without hesitation, Gengar stood its ground, beginning to gather an unsettling energy.

Just a heartbeat later:

Hum—

The ancient Bronzong emitted a faint vibration, and a dark, rectangular barrier expanded outward, enclosing the battlefield.

Trick Room.

Caitlin blinked in confusion.

What kind of opening is that?

Using Trick Room on Bronzong was standard for setting up slower Pokémon, but opening with a stat-boosting move like Nasty Plot on Gengar? Risky.

Wasn't he afraid of being hit and fainting immediately?

For the first time, Caitlin felt a strange sensation.

Did he predict my move?

A Psychic like her... being outmaneuvered?

If Johan knew what Caitlin was thinking, he'd probably roll his eyes.

A Bronzong's options were hardly endless: Trick Room, Calm Mind, Iron Defense, and maybe a Psychic-type move like Future Sight.

Knowing that, leading with Gengar's Nasty Plot was almost always a safe bet.

And once Johan saw Bronzong's stats in his Pokédex, his confidence solidified further.

Caitlin shook off her surprise and refocused.

Even if Gengar had boosted its Special Attack, Trick Room had flipped the speed advantage in her favor.

"Use Psychic!"

The Bronzong let out a deep, metallic hum as its Psychic energy surged, forming a sharp arrow aimed at Gengar.

"Gengar, Sucker Punch," Johan ordered.

"Ka-kah!"

Dark energy enveloped Gengar as it launched a surprise attack, bypassing the Trick Room effect to strike first.

Its shadowy figure darted behind Bronzong and delivered a vicious blow.

CLANG!

"Wait—what?" Caitlin was stunned.

Who uses a physical move after boosting Special Attack?

She quickly regained her composure.

"Bronzong, Gyro Ball!"

But before Bronzong could act, Gengar had already charged another move.

"Shadow Ball!"

Johan's voice cut through the air.

"Ka-kah!"

A swirling, ominous orb formed in Gengar's hands and shot toward Bronzong with incredible force.

The powered-up Shadow Ball collided with Bronzong just as it moved to counterattack.

Boom!

When the dust settled, Bronzong was down. The Trick Room field dissipated with its defeat.

The match had ended faster than Caitlin could process.

Aftermath

Caitlin stared in disbelief.

I lost?

She struggled to accept it.

I only lose to Cynthia!

Worse, this meant...

She had lost Cynthia?!

Her psychic energy surged uncontrollably, rippling outward.

"Caitlin!"

Cynthia's voice cut through her distress.

Hearing it, Caitlin's power subsided.

She turned to Cynthia, tears welling in her eyes.

Johan, meanwhile, walked over with Gengar.

Caitlin braced herself for some triumphant proclamation of victory.

Instead, Johan handed her a notebook.

"Here."

"Huh?"

"My condition is that you follow the methods in this book to better control your psychic powers," Johan said.

Caitlin blinked in confusion, then opened the notebook.

"These are..."

The notes were techniques Johan had acquired from Sabrina to help stabilize psychic energy. They had worked for Vulpix, so they might help Caitlin too.

"Why?" she asked, still dazed.

Johan shoved his hands in his pockets, tilted his head back at a dramatic angle, and sighed.

"You're strong, but you're not using your psychic powers properly."

"And as a Pokémon psychologist, I have a duty to help my 'patients.'"

Roxanne, Flannery, Steven, and Cynthia all looked at Johan with newfound admiration.

As for Gengar...

It bared its teeth in a wry grin.

What the heck, he actually pulled it off!

On the Plane to Unova

Caitlin curled up like a kitten on Cynthia's lap, mumbling softly:

"Cynthia... sometimes I wonder if I'm good at anything... if I can do anything right..."

Cynthia smiled warmly and gently stroked Caitlin's hair.

"Didn't Johan say you're strong?"

Caitlin sniffled.

Thinking of Johan made her angry at first, but then she remembered how much effort he had put into helping her Duosion...

"Fine, I'll forgive him... this time!"

Cynthia chuckled and ruffled Caitlin's hair playfully.

Johan had earned her trust, even if he made her cry.

Flipping through the notebook, Caitlin muttered under her breath:

"He's... not so bad, actually..."

"Isn't he?" Cynthia replied with a knowing smile.

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Powerstones?

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