Given that Professor Acerola had escaped with Kyurem, the top priority now was to confirm the status of the two sealed stones of the black and white dragons.

According to Mayor Drayden, the Dark Stone sealing Zekrom was located in the 'Dragon Spiral Tower' at the outskirts of Snowpoint City.

Hundreds of miles away from the 'Dragon Spiral Tower' stood the 'Sword of the Land' tower, which sealed Reshiram's Light Stone.

Right between these two towers lay the ancient battlefield from Unova's legends where the two black and white heroes had clashed.

Drayden contacted Unova Champion Alder to investigate the 'Dragon Spiral Tower'.

Lu Ye and Ash headed toward the 'Sword of the Land', relying on Lu Ye's memory of the storyline to directly confront Kyurem.

This was like a linear quest - to arrest Professor Acerola, they first needed to confirm his whereabouts.

However, having already read the script in advance, Lu Ye simply gathered his comrades and charged straight in.

"Still need to be cautious about Professor Acerola playing the fusion card," Lu Ye stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Before heading to the Giant's Chasm to confront Kyurem, let's first confirm the situation at the 'Sword of the Land'."

The 'Sword of the Land' was located at the center of the ancient kingdom 'Ein Doach', the setting for the movie "Victini and the Black/White Hero".

This particular movie was quite unique - divided into Black and White versions, yet the content merely swapped Zekrom and Reshiram's roles while somehow maintaining seamless continuity.

This was the classic PM series dual-version tactic (cash grab operation)!

As for the plot details, Teacher Lu had mostly forgotten them, only remembering that Victini was adorable.

Legend said Victini possessed an 'Infinite Energy' buff - in the original, with this buff, Ash could leap several meters from flat ground, almost equivalent to flying.

If Victini gave Ash a blessing, I wonder if Kyurem could handle it...

The next day in Twinleaf City, as Lu Ye prepared to depart for Ein Doach and was packing indoors, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

Cynthia sat on the sofa, her straight, slender legs crossed beneath black wide-leg pants as she read a book. Meloetta lay beside her, chin propped on hands while swinging legs toward the ceiling.

Having cared for the sick Meloetta, their relationship had improved significantly, and Meloetta wasn't as shy as when it first arrived.

Hearing the doorbell, Meloetta floated up. Cynthia lowered her gaze and said calmly, "Little Rotom, please get the door."

"Beep... received, Rotom~!"

Wait, that's supposed to be my Little Rotom, right?

Thinking that he could also pet Glaceon's fur, Lu Ye resignedly went to the door and found the suspicious-looking trio.

"What's wrong?" Lu Ye's first thought was that these three had caused trouble again.

"We have something good to give to you, Boss! Meow~(✪ω✪)"

Lu Ye paused - he'd just obtained the 'DNA Splicers' yesterday, was someone else coming to scam his 'Aura'?

Passing through the living room, Lu Ye brought the trio to the reception room. They bowed and scraped toward Cynthia, who smiled back before returning to her book.

She had a good impression of the trio - the talking Meowth was cute, and their ice cream was quite delicious.

Though still not quite as good as Lu Ye's.

In the reception room, Meowth explained: "We received orders from Boss Giovanni, meow! To bring you the rewards from this Twinleaf City operation~ meow!"

"Rewards?"

"This right here." Jiro magically produced a box like a magician, flipping it open with a flourish. "Ta-da!"

Musashi cheered: "An item containing Landorus's power - 'Sandstone'!"

Lu Ye looked at the 'Sandstone' that shone like black metal, his eyelid twitching.

This was actually a legendary resource from the world's number one Bug-type, Landorus!

Landorus had Ground/Flying dual typing, but typically carried the Bug-type move 'U-turn'. Besides dealing damage and switching, U-turn could achieve double Intimidate effects, making it extremely valuable - hence Landorus was jokingly called a 'Bug-type' Pokémon.

It had exceptional compatibility with Boss Giovanni, who specialized in Bug and Ground types.

Now that I think about it... this 'Sandstone' really was Boss Giovanni's carefully selected product?

"With this," Meowth flattered, "the Pupitar after evolution will definitely be the kind of powerful Pokémon that can level entire mountains, meow!"

"Exactly, exactly." Musashi and Jiro rubbed their hands together smiling.

"So~ nansu!"

Lu Ye: "..."

Leveling entire mountains... that didn't sound like a good thing.

"Saji~(இωஇ)" Pupitar stayed in the corner of the reception room, gaze full of resentment, overwhelmed by sadness.

Can't eat it, so sad~

Lu Ye glanced at the trembling, teary-eyed Pupitar staring fixedly at the 'Sandstone' and stroked his chin.

Well, at least we won't have to worry about food after Pupitar evolves... probably.

The 'Sandstone' was like a comprehensively enhanced version of Sasha Rock, further strengthening Pupitar's Sandstorm weather control while boosting Ground-type moves.

Lu Ye accepted the item and asked the trio: "After this operation, do you plan to stay in Unova?"

Meowth: "Team Rocket's plans in Unova are already complete, meow."

"So... we might vacation somewhere like Kalos." Jiro said.

Musashi clenched her fist: "I've been looking forward to the Triple Princess competitions for performers for so long!"

Lu Ye nodded understandingly.

Musashi had always dreamed of being an actress, showing unique talent in coordination and performance, even once reaching the semifinals in performance master tournaments.

"In that case, set up stalls in Unova to earn funds first... I have a new mission for you when I return."

"What?" the trio asked in unison.

"Release a single, produce an MV." Lu Ye said.

Both Meloetta and Meowth had their own character songs.

If Meowth agreed, they could release "Meowth's Ballad" and have Jiro and Musashi star in the MV.

They might even attract Jigglypuff to record a "Jigglypuff's Song" -

The vast population of insomnia sufferers would be saved!

"Gengarrr~"

Lu Ye glanced at Haunter diving in the shadows and thought:

"Maybe... record a special edition of Haunter's Perish Song too?"

The trio's eyes shone, quite willing to take on this mission themselves. They bid farewell happily and went back to their stall.

Lu Ye watched them leave and nodded to himself.

Releasing a single was secondary... keeping them out of trouble and properly earning money through their stall was the real goal!

Selling Angry Steamed Buns to Bruno, capes to Lance, doujinshi to Aunt Lorelei...

With so many business ventures, capturing Pikachu was thinking too small!

Returning to the living room, Lu Ye lightly tapped Meloetta's head with his finger. The little Pokémon floated mid-air, blocking with its small hands: "Melo~"

Eventually, he managed to ruffle Meloetta's head.

Lu Ye looked at Cynthia and asked: "Where are Ash and Alice?"

"They went to Twinleaf Gym to help Mr. Drayden clear snow." Cynthia lifted her eyes from the book.

After last night's blizzard, most buildings in Twinleaf City remained frozen, with massive snow piles still lining the roads.

Meanwhile, media reported both the UFO incident in Twinleaf City and the heroes who saved Unova. The aftermath continued to develop, though it didn't currently concern Lu Ye.

Lu Ye gazed at Cynthia's golden hair reaching her waist, her lotus-like arms extending from her blue shirt, her untouched yet charming lips, and felt a stir in his heart.

Hmm? So Ash and Alice wouldn't be back for a while?

Just as he planned to use his 'Power of Transcendence' to block the little ones' senses and was about to act, the doorbell rang again.

Ding-dong, ding-dong.

Lu Ye and Cynthia exchanged glances. A faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth as her high-heeled foot nudged Lu Ye.

"Go answer the door."

"Haunter." Lu Ye said through gritted teeth, "Come with me to answer the door."

"Gengar! ψ(*｀ー´)ψ" Haunter brandished two fate spoons.

Lu Ye: "...Wait, did you steal these from Alakazam?"

Haunter tossed the two spoons, reached into its pocket, tossed again, reached again while simultaneously playing catch.

"Gengar~ヽ(￣▽￣)ﾉ"

You really are something, Doraemon ghost.

Apparently waiting too long, the doorbell ringing turned into impatient pounding.

Bang bang bang!

Clearly not guests, and clearly seeking their own demise.

Lu Ye even put on his fingerless gloves, the embedded Keystone glowing faintly as he walked toward the front door.

**

Larry was bald with tribal tattoos on his shoulders and a pendant hanging from his chest.

His partner was a Golurk, and this trip was to retrieve the lost Meloetta and bring it back to the tribe.

The Larry clan had taken protecting Meloetta and the underwater temple as their duty for generations. When Meloetta went missing, the entire tribe was thrown into turmoil.

Later they discovered that Meloetta might have run away on its own...

Though the possibility of being exploited by villains couldn't be ruled out.

The Unova region wasn't peaceful - when Larry departed, even Team Plasma hadn't been dealt with yet.

Thus Larry traveled anxiously on Golurk to Undella Town upon first sensing Meloetta's energy fluctuations.

Golurk's feet could shoot flames for propulsion, giving it flight capability.

However, when Larry reached Undella Town, he found Meloetta's location had changed again!

And this time, it was heading toward Twinleaf City, which was under alert status!

Larry hurriedly traveled through the night on Golurk, resting briefly in the wild and completely missing the major events, finally arriving at Teacher Lu's doorstep this morning.

"I'll definitely make that guy who kidnapped Meloetta--"

Larry glanced back at Golurk, clenched his teeth, and said firmly: "Teach him a proper lesson!"

Bang bang bang!

Larry: "Open up! I know someone's in there!"

The door opened.

"You..." Larry's words caught in his throat.

He saw the 'Legendary Trainer' Teacher Lu, someone he'd only ever seen on television.

The Meloetta he thought had been kidnapped and exploited was sitting intimately on Lu Ye's shoulder, swinging its legs beneath its skirt, yawning cutely.

Larry stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

M-Meloetta-sama, being this close with a human?!

His gaze shifted between Larry's reflective bald head and Meloetta.

"Do you know this guy?" Lu Ye asked Meloetta.

Meloetta squinted, examining Larry carefully, before finally shaking its head regretfully.

"Melo..." (Don't know...)

Like a bolt from the blue, Larry's jaw dropped, overwhelmed by a sense of defeat.

Why doesn't Meloetta-sama remember me, yet is so close with Teacher Lu...

Could it be, could it be because Teacher Lu is handsome?!

Lu Ye waved his hand in front of the dazed Larry: "Do you have any other business?"

He didn't have much patience for people coming to pick fights: "If not, please leave."

Larry sighed: "Actually, I'm from the tribe that protects Meloetta-sama and the underwater temple... Our whole tribe has been anxious since Meloetta went missing, so Golurk and I were sent to track Meloetta's whereabouts."

"And then." Larry swallowed, "we ended up at your place..."

Lu Ye paused in surprise.

I remember there was indeed such a tribe in the original storyline.

In the Pokémon BW anime, Meloetta bid farewell to Ash's group and returned to the tribe with Larry.

It seemed Meloetta had its own bonds too.

Lu Ye looked at Meloetta, who blinked its innocent large eyes.

Meloetta: •́ω•̀)¿¿¿

"Melo..."

Who exactly is this guy...

Suddenly, Meloetta smacked its small hand with realization, a lightbulb appearing above its head.

Remembered now, it's that bald guy from the tribe!

"Melo!" Meloetta shook its head, refusing the request to return together.

Larry choked up: "B-but..."

"With me here, there's no need to worry about Meloetta's safety."

Lu Ye said: "The key question is whether you're protecting Meloetta or the underwater temple."

After a silence, Larry said: "Actually, Meloetta is connected to the underwater temple, and the underwater temple relates to the safety of all Unova..."

"Does your tribe have any Champions?"

"Huh?" Larry was taken aback.

"We have two here."

Lu Ye said seriously:

"Whether legendary Pokémon or mythical Pokémon, they all have their own wills that won't change because of human desires."

"Therefore, I think you should listen more to Meloetta's heart rather than forcing it to return in the tribe's name."

Teacher Lu had been quite diplomatic, but Larry trying to take away Meloetta after it refused made him unusually angry.

Larry's intentions weren't wrong - initially, the tribe was founded with the pure wish to protect Meloetta.

But over time, the tribe had ended up restricting Meloetta's freedom.

"Melo~" Meloetta hid behind Lu Ye's ear, looking somewhat timid.

Larry didn't doubt Teacher Lu's strength. Looking at Meloetta, he finally sighed softly:

"I understand... I'll report this to the clan leader and continue protecting the underwater temple with our people."

"If the clan leader agrees... then the ancient Poké Ball that carries Meloetta might need to be entrusted to your care..."

Lu Ye looked at Meloetta on his shoulder, leaving the choice to Meloetta.

Meloetta showed hesitation, but thinking of the joy during their performances together, the warmth when he healed her during illness...

Its eyes became clear and determined. Meloetta floated in the air, pressed a hand to its chest, and nodded toward Larry: "Melo~"

I want to stay with Lu Ye!

"...I understand." Larry rubbed his bald head, "Then, the matter of protecting Meloetta..."

"Leave it to me." Lu Ye replied.

Larry nodded, turned and walked toward Golurk. As Golurk's feet shot flames, they gradually disappeared into the sky.

Cynthia emerged from the room, chin in hand: "What happened?"

Lu Ye looked at Meloetta on his shoulder, who showed a sweet smile, the connection through 'Power of Transcendence' growing stronger.

"Nothing much."

Lu Ye said with a smile:

"Just gained a new companion."