Seeing the report, Stephen wasn't surprised at all.
Kanto and Galar used to argue with each other in the media all the time.
But now, with the League's reputation at rock bottom, it wasn't the time for infighting.
Stephen picked up his phone to check online comments.
With Goodshow's power of hope and both top League champions now owning a legendary Pokémon, the public was much calmer.
At least, comparing the two sides' lineups, the League once again had the upper hand over Team Rocket.
"Stephen! Any plans for today?"
Just as Stephen sat down, Will bounced back to life.
Stephen glanced at him, "I need to discuss the first Alola League Conference with Lusamine, no time to play."
Will pouted in protest.
A moment later, Giovanni called, saying he planned to intervene in the League's raid on Team Plasma next week.
He had already found out Colress recently joined Team Plasma, but N got arrested right after.
Giovanni speculated that at this time, Colress wasn't loyal to Plasma yet—making it the perfect time to poach him.
Stephen couldn't help but laugh.
Even in the original story's later parts, Colress was never loyal to Team Plasma—he didn't hesitate at all when taking down Ghetsis.
Stephen frowned, "Going to Unova is risky, uncle. Lance now has Kyurem—an enhanced version."
If it was just Lance + Kyurem vs Giovanni + Dark Mewtwo, the latter would probably win.
Normal Mewtwo might lose to Kyurem—popularity doesn't equal power—but Dark Mewtwo needn't fear Kyurem at all.
But now, Kyurem had been powered up as well.
Although Stephen hadn't seen Kyurem absorb Zekrom in person, he was sure the fusion of the two dragons wasn't a simple 1+1=2.
Not to mention, Lance had probably already gone looking for Reshiram by now.
Stephen seriously suspected that after learning Leon had Eternatus, Goodshow hadn't launched a blitz on Team Plasma right away just to give Lance time to seek out Reshiram.
"Don't worry, I'm just there to poach Colress, not fight that mad dog. Even if he comes after me, if I can't win, I can always run away, right?"
Unlike the almost pathologically proud Lance, Giovanni never found running away shameful.
With Dark Mewtwo's Teleport, among all Pokémon, maybe only Mew could match him.
Even if Kyurem in its complete White/Black form is too strong, I'll just teleport from Unova back to Kanto—you can't stop me!
"Alright, I was worried you'd lose your mind on seeing Lance, but guess I was overthinking."
Stephen smiled.
"The urge to kill him's still there, but I won't lose my mind."
Giovanni grinned, then remembered something. "But Stephen, don't you think Lance is acting kinda different lately?"
At this, Stephen fell silent for a second. "Yeah… a bit. Who knows, maybe one day he'll want to wipe out humanity and create a world of only Pokémon."
He joked, referencing Lance's rumored manga ambitions.
"Oh? How so?"
Giovanni was intrigued.
Stephen put his phone on speaker and explained.
A few days ago at Twist Mountain in Unova, Stephen had been stunned by Lance's actions.
In his impression, Lance was proud but loved Pokémon—not the type to say things like,
"Become Kyurem's food," and,
"You're next, Reshiram."
Stephen had heard Reshiram refused Lance, too.
If Lance hated the truth dragon for that, Stephen had no words for him.
It's not wrong to pursue someone, but it's also not wrong for them to refuse you.
"Feels like Lance is going a bit psycho, just like when Shirona first found out my identity last year," Stephen sighed.
Cynthia, returning with Aster for lunch, heard this and her chest heaved in indignation,
"You're the psycho!"
Stephen shot her a teasing look.
Honestly, with the way Cynthia had been spiraling then, if he hadn't helped her, she'd have sunk into depression.
Lance's current situation was a bit different, but not by much—he was struggling internally.
Will, watching the drama, quipped, "Lance has been fighting you since seven or eight years ago, right? He's never beaten you, and then from three years ago at Indigo Plateau, he started fighting Uncle Giovanni too—never won once… guess I get why he turned out like this."
Cynthia and Aster sat down, joining the conversation.
Soon, Karen, Sonia, and the others came downstairs after changing clothes.
"The difference is, when Shirona was spiraling, someone helped her. With Lance, even if someone tried, who knows if he'd listen."
Stephen mused, "He's just one step away from turning evil."
This time, Cynthia didn't argue.
Remembering how painful it was when she'd learned Stephen's secret two years ago…
If he hadn't helped her…
"Interesting. If he does turn, that'll be fun."
Even without seeing his face, Giovanni's voice through the phone spoke volumes. "So, Stephen, want to play along?"
"Uh… I think Team Galactic might act while the League's focused on Plasma. I'm worried Shirona can't handle them alone—I want to keep an eye on Sinnoh."
Stephen scratched his head.
He didn't dislike Lance like Giovanni did—he just didn't care much.
Messing with him seemed a bit much.
"What, you slept with the Sinnoh Champion?"
Giovanni raised an eyebrow.
Cynthia's face instantly turned red.
Such a pervert!
I used to respect you—what was I thinking?
"No, I haven't."
Stephen gave a wry smile, regretting putting the call on speaker.
Even if Karen and the others turned a blind eye to his Harem shenanigans, he couldn't just say it outright.
"Then go ahead and do it. Don't let her take advantage of you for nothing."
Giovanni said, "Galactic shouldn't take up much of your time. Once you're done, come join me. A complete Kyurem is tough enough—add Eternatus and even I'll feel the pressure."
With that, Giovanni hung up.
The living room fell into an awkward silence.
"I—I'm going to train!"
Cynthia jumped up and ran out, skipping lunch.
"Surprisingly pure, Miss Cynthia," Mary blinked.
"Someone must be happy—the cabbage he's raised for a year is almost ready to eat," Karen teased.
"Don't say that, I'm not thinking that at all," Stephen quickly denied.
Karen stuck her tongue out playfully.
"Ah!?"
Suddenly, Cynthia's startled cry came from outside.
"It's not even night yet, what's she yelling for?" Karen glanced out the window—and her pupils shrank.
Above Cynthia's head, a dazzling white figure plummeted from the blue sky.
Elegant, beautiful, regal—
But marred by black scorch marks all over its snowy feathers.
"Reshiram!?"
Cynthia, just outside, called out the noble white dragon's name.
With her knowledge of Unova's history, she naturally recognized the most famous of the region's legendary dragons.
As Reshiram landed, still ten meters above the ground, its delicate brow twisted in pain.
The next moment, its body lost all strength and it crashed onto the Aether Paradise plaza with a thud.
"What's going on!?"
Stephen and the others rushed out from inside.
"Why would Unova's dragon god come to Alola?" Mary wondered.
"White dragon Reshiram… It refused Lance as the hero of truth, right? It's still Lance and Kyurem's target," Karen reasoned, propping her chin on her hand.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Will pointed skyward in disbelief, but everyone had already felt the terrifying pressure from above.
"Dark… Kyurem!"
Cynthia looked up, naming the second dragon charging their way. Two seconds later, she saw the defiant man standing on its neck—"Mr. Lance!"
[W-Who is… St, Stephen?]
Just then, a feminine, ethereal voice echoed in everyone's mind.
Everyone instinctively looked at Reshiram, who was half-dead on the ground.
"You know me?"
Stephen asked.
Reshiram struggled to crawl to him, using the last of its strength:
[Y-Your courage will become truth…]
Stephen: "…"
I've seen a lot of movies, don't try to fool me.
Shouldn't you first ask, "What is your truth?"
Zekrom and Reshiram always ask prospective partners, "What is your ideal?" and "What is your truth?"
Then choose based on the answer.
Stephen wondered what Kyurem would ask if it chose a hero—maybe "What is your dream?"
"Reshiram, that's enough!"
Above, Lance, standing on Dark Kyurem's back, shouted coldly.
Dark Kyurem's massive arms glowed fiercely and slashed down as if to cleave the sea and tear the sky.
Dragon Claw!
[Hurry! Partner, save me!]
Reshiram's desperate voice echoed telepathically.
Stephen: "…"
Now I see why Reshiram chose me.
"Bewear!"
Stephen called out.
A Poké Ball on his belt shook.
Bewear leaped out, its right fist crackling with dark red lightning, colliding with the incoming Dragon Claw.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The shockwave split the Aether Paradise's white floor, and the surrounding sea cracked open, sending Love Discs, Whiscash, Wishiwashi, and other Water-types fleeing.
"Damn!? It blocked Bewear's punch?"
Will exclaimed.
In last year's God Battle in Lumiose City, Kyurem couldn't withstand Bewear's punches at all.
"So this is the power it gained from absorbing Zekrom?"
Karen murmured, remembering that battle.
Suddenly, the two clashing forces rebounded violently.
Bewear did a somersault to dodge the backlash, while Dark Kyurem tried to fly away, but realizing it was too late, raised an arm to block.
[It's you…]
Dark Kyurem, after parrying, recognized Bewear standing in the air.
Lance frowned, but before he could act, he realized the whole area was surrounded.
Not just Bewear in front, but Galarian Moltres to the left, Galarian Articuno to the right, and below, Mew studying him curiously…
A whole crew of legends, boxing in him and Kyurem.
"Coming to someone else's turf to cause trouble—got a lot of nerve, Lance," Karen said coldly.
After a moment, Lance retorted, "I came for Reshiram. I was so focused, I didn't realize I'd entered Alola."
"…Just get lost. You're not welcome here."
Karen, after thinking, chose not to start a fight—especially with the League's big plan tomorrow.
Lance's gaze fell on Reshiram, now cowering behind Stephen.
He couldn't help but think Reshiram looked a bit smug, peeking out from behind Stephen.
[The white dragon is MINE!]
For the first time in a year, Kyurem's ancient voice echoed as it tried to force a landing to grab Reshiram.
"You think we're here for decoration?"
Karen flicked her finger, "Moltres, Dark Pulse!"
Will: "Articuno, Freeze-Dry!"
Sonia: "Mew, uh… do your best!"
She froze—she'd never actually battled with Mew before.
After all, even using Diancie in the Contest felt unfair to regular trainers—using Mew would just be mean.
"Mew~"
Mew glowed pale pink, unleashing a wave of psychic power that looked gentle but was overwhelmingly forceful.
With three attacks pressing in, even the powered-up Dark Kyurem had to fall back.
Reshiram, hiding behind Stephen, perked up—
Whoa, awesome!
Zekrom, Reshiram, and Kyurem were all once one.
So they could sense each other anywhere.
Last week, when Zekrom was absorbed by Kyurem, Reshiram knew immediately—
'Kyurem found the Light Stone?'
Normally, Kyurem didn't get along with the other two but didn't bother them.
Even if they met, Kyurem might just beat them up—no big deal.
But with the stone, Kyurem could absorb them completely!
Reshiram guessed she'd be next after Zekrom.
But she also knew—running was pointless.
Kyurem would always find her.
So there was only one answer—find someone strong to cling to!
She couldn't lower herself to beg other legends for help.
And she couldn't think of any Pokémon stronger than Kyurem with Zekrom absorbed.
So she looked to strong humans.
She hadn't chosen a hero of truth yet, after all.
Living in the Dragonspiral Tower for so long, she knew Unova hadn't produced any worthy trainers in recent years.
So, for the first time in two millennia, she looked worldwide.
After some research, Reshiram found there were two strongest trainers alive—Stephen and Joker.
She chose Stephen—because he lived in Alola.
As for Joker—no one knew where he was.
Decision made, Reshiram raced to Alola.
Lance and Kyurem, of course, chased her the whole way.
Reshiram thought she was doomed, but in the end, she made it.
…
"Mr. Lance, Reshiram is already Stephen's Pokémon."
Seeing things get tense, Sonia—the family's top peacemaker—spoke up.
"…The truth dragon is surprisingly cunning," Lance mused, eyes narrowed.
No way he could catch her now.
"Giving up?"
He looked at Dark Kyurem.
He was asking for Kyurem's opinion, but he knew—Reshiram was out of reach.
[…Don't let me catch you next time!]
Dark Kyurem, like a villain from a fantasy novel, left a threat and stormed off.
He wasn't stupid.
In last year's battle, aside from that damn evil Hoopa, the thing that impressed Kyurem most… was this bear.
Now, with even more troublesome Pokémon around, it was hopeless.
Reshiram ignored Kyurem's threat, puffing out her chest in pride.
Like you'll ever get the chance!
From now on, I'm staying right by this guy's side!
"Huh? This one looks familiar…"
As Kyurem left, Hoopa popped out, holding its broken arm, studying Reshiram.
Reshiram nearly fainted in shock.
She remembered—one hundred years ago, this little guy used a weird ring to pull her somewhere strange and beat her up.