Pokémon：Trainer's Gambit Chapter 545

The small town nestled at the foot of Mount Coronet wasn't far from Gracidea fields. Team Rocket had chosen this location for their stall af

The small town nestled at the foot of Mount Coronet wasn't far from Gracidea fields.

Team Rocket had chosen this location for their stall after careful consideration.

The trio gazed at the sky, where bubbles rged into fantastical shapes—

owth presented the Gracidea flower basket to their ntor, as the latter's deep voice rumbled:

"A flower basket symbolizing gratitude? How thoughtful... Indeed, I'll need this to catch Shaymin."

"You three have rendered great service. From today, you're promoted to Sinnoh Region's Three Executives!"

The trio couldn't help but grin foolishly: "Feelin' good~~"

"Wobbuffet!"

Natsu approached the stand and rapped his knuckles against the counter, looking exasperated.

"Dear guest, how may we help—" owth's eyes widened. "E-Executive~nya!"

Jas swiftly shoved owth under the counter, scratching his head with an awkward laugh:

"What he ans is... how can we assist you?"

"I want that honey-preserved Berry. Looks delicious." Flint licked his lips.

"Of course, this one's on the house!" Jessie rubbed her hands together cheerfully.

"Huh?" Flint blinked in surprise. Ash nudged him: "We should get going soon."

Natsu sighed quietly, shooting Team Rocket a look that spoke volus.

It was a warning—cold and unmistakable:

『Follow us, and you'll be transferred to Africa!』

The trio froze montarily before noticing Shaymin perched on Ash's head. Understanding dawned.

『The Executive's intention is obvious, right?』 Their eyes communicated in silent team-speak.

『He definitely wants us to tail them and help catch that Mythical Pokémon, nya!』

『Pack up the stall imdiately! We're following the Executive!』

Natsu's departure was punctuated by Wobbuffet's loud "Wobbuffet!" cry.

"They seem kinda familiar..." Ash shook his head. "Eh, can't rember."

Natsu: "..."

Brock, his tanned face serious, adjusted his hiking backpack while unfolding a map. "Five more kiloters on foot, and we'll reach the flower field."

Flint tossed a Poké Ball and mounted his Rapidash with a boisterous laugh. "This'll be faster!"

"Shaymin..." Shaymin curled into a ball, its cheeks flushed feverishly.

Ash and Flint rode Rapidash while Natsu-sensei and Brock traveled atop Arcanine.

anwhile, Team Rocket pedaled frantically on their bicycles behind them. Jessie peered through binoculars and yelled:

"owth, pedal faster!"

"This is because Jessie spent all our funding on costics instead of building a robot..." Jas muttered.

"Excuse ?! That was for Pokémon Contests to earn bonuses!"

As the trio bickered, a nearby windmill's shadow yawned open into a dark portal.

"What's that?!" Their faces paled.

A powerful gravitational pull slowed their pedaling until they were sucked inside.

"What a Terrible Feeling!"

...

Not just Team Rocket—Natsu's group also halted abruptly.

A river blocked their path, its surface mirror-still as Gracidea fields' fragrance drifted by. Yet above the bridge, a void-like distortion swirled ominously.

The tranquil river reflected their tense expressions.

"Wh-what the hell is that...?" Flint stamred, eyeing the writhing shadows.

Natsu frowned as a gale-force wind targeted the weakened Shaymin on Ash's head.

"Shaymin...!" Shaymin shrieked faintly before being ripped skyward by the tempest.

In that instant, Natsu barked: "Gengar, an Look on Shaymin!"

Attempting to anchor Shaymin with 'Shadow Tag,' Gengar's eyes glowed blue—but its elongated shadow was devoured by the void instead.

Move failed!

"Useless."

Marshadow's tiny face tightened with realization. "All shadows... are aningless against that being."

Natsu responded swiftly: "What do we do?"

"Go to Mount Coronet. Pass the Rainbow Trial. Seek Ho-Oh's aid—" Marshadow's words cut off as—

"Shaymin!" Ash lunged, grabbing the airborne Shaymin before both were dragged toward the vortex.

Flint and Brock reacted instantly, grabbing Ash's legs—but half his body had already vanished into the darkness before being fully consud.

The entire sequence took under a minute.

The twisted shadows dissipated, winds dying as the portal sealed shut.

Could Ash handle this alone? Could he pacify Giratina's wrath?

No ti to ponder.

Natsu stepped forward, gripped by the lingering pull, Poké Ball clenched tight.

"What are you doing?" Marshadow trembled within Natsu's shadow.

"I understand Giratina's habits better."

His voice barely carried over the howling wind: "I can find a solution!"

Hidden in Natsu's shadow, Marshadow clutched the Dim Rainbow Wing tightly.

Natsu's complete trust made stealing the wing effortless.

As Natsu disappeared into the abyss, the Rainbow Wing's glow dimd further, as if drowning in stillness.

Yet Marshadow's heart pounded violently, flas flickering in its eyes.

Perhaps he wasn't a conventional Trainer—passive, reclusive.

But when necessary, he could charge forward fearlessly.

This was radiant Courage, the Bond between Trainer and Pokémon, the path illuminated by rainbow light.

"Marshadow!"

Marshadow's resolve solidified as it plunged into the shadows after him.

The Rainbow Trial's evaluation continued!

...

A breeze swept across the Wilderness Zone as Flint and Brock stood frozen in place.

Natsu-sensei and Ash had vanished before their eyes, as if everything had been an illusion.

"What was that?"

Flint muttered under his breath, cursing himself. "That was Giratina… I should've realized sooner!"

"Don't bla yourself, Flint of the Elite Four. It's not beyond saving." Brock's voice was steady and firm. "We should contact the other Elite Four mbers now. They might have leads."

Flint took a deep breath and pulled out his Communicator from his pocket. Lucian answered almost imdiately.

"Thank goodness. Finally got through."

Lucian, dressed in a wine-red suit, stood calmly amidst a swarm of frenzied Wild Pokémon. He adjusted his glasses with a composed flick of his finger.

"The Pokémon at Mount Coronet are in an uproar. Aaron, Bertha, and I are handling it. We can't offer backup right now—"

Ahead, a Rhyperior with blood-red eyes flexed its muscles, launching a devastating Rock Wrecker. Behind it, an ancient Yanga flapped its wings, a blinding Hyper Beam gathering in its maw before erupting forward.

Lucian held his phone, snapping his fingers.

Bronzong's Confusion expanded into a do, the patterns on its body flickering as a wide-range Psychic wave enveloped the Wilderness Zone.

The blinding light swallowed the rampaging Wild Pokémon. Lucian stood with his back to the explosion, his voice low.

"You're on your own over there."

"Understood." Flint inhaled sharply. "Don't underestimate this old man."

"I'm exhausted," Lucian suddenly admitted. "After this, I'm taking a vacation back ho… Huh. They hung up already?"

Brock turned to Flint, who had regained his composure. "Well?"

"We need to find the entrance to the Reverse World." Flint said. "Since Giratina appeared, there must be shadowy wormholes nearby. We find one, get inside, and back up Natsu-sensei and the others."

Brock narrowed his eyes, nodding slightly before looking up at the sky.

The entire horizon was dark, devoid of light—as if swallowed by so terrifying shadow.

...

Reverse World.

Natsu walked upside-down through the air, staring at the floating tiles below in disbelief.

"So this is the Reverse World, huh?"

Kinda gives off ID:Invaded vibes…

Ash, clutching Shaymin, glanced around before turning to Natsu-sensei. "What do we do now…?"

"Shh."

Natsu tensed, sensing the ripple of aura spreading toward them.

In this gravity-defying world of floating debris, Giratina in its Origin For erged before them.

Its dark golden body, six hovering wings, black-red patterns, and regal helt all radiated an oppressive presence. Crimson eyes glead from beneath the armored crest.

"Shaymin…" Shaymin trembled in Ash's arms, letting out a faint whimper.

Natsu reached over, gently stroking the grass on Shaymin's back, offering a silent smile.

"Shaymin?" Shaymin lifted its head, its dark eyes glimring faintly.

Whoosh—

Giratina darted forward, levitating toward them with terrifying speed. The sheer pressure shattered the floating tiles around them.

"Can you talk to it, Natsu-sensei?" Ash asked.

Noticing the intruders' shadowy presence, Giratina's expression darkened. A terrifying blue orb gathered in its maw.

Natsu's face stiffened. "Does it look like it wants to chat?"

"So what do we do?"

"So we dodge the Aura Sphere, obviously!"

The blue energy blast roared toward them. Natsu and Ash leaped onto a floating tile just as a human voice shouted from the distance.

BOOM!

"Over here!" A man with a large travel pack and high-tech gear waved frantically.

Was this Professor Newton, the researcher of the Reverse World from the movies? Or Cyrus, the exiled Team Galactic leader?

No ti to think. Natsu grabbed Shaymin from Ash and glanced back.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"Pikachu—CHUU!" Pikachu's Thunderbolt clashed with Giratina's Aura Sphere, forcing the legendary beast to stagger.

Holy—

You're not holding back now, huh, Pikachu?!

Then again, Giratina wasn't inherently malicious. It just needed to be cald down.

But first, they needed an opening to negotiate!

Natsu steadied his breathing and turned to the middle-aged man, who introduced himself:

"I'm Newton Graceland, a genius scholar researching the Reverse World. I've been living here for—"

Natsu-sensei cut in. "Do you have an apprentice who likes flying fortresses?"

Newton blinked. "No…?"

Natsu exhaled in relief. At least that particular villain wasn't part of this scenario.

Honestly, capturing Giratina with just high-tech gadgets? Even for a movie plot, that was pushing it.

Newton glanced at Natsu and Ash who ca running up, cutting straight to the chase:

"Giratina fought with Dialga, severely wounding it, but got itself trapped in the Reverse World as well."

He then looked at Shaymin in Natsu's arms. "Shaymin's Seed Flare can open dinsional pathways. That's why Giratina is following it."

"Then let Shaymin use Seed Flare!" Ash shouted.

"Shaymin..." Shaymin fearfully glanced back at Giratina and shook its head violently.

For the hedgehog-ford Shaymin, facing Giratina - practically the incarnation of hell - was an impossible ask.

Newton frowned. "It's not that simple. According to my years of research, Giratina isn't in a normal condition right now."

"Perhaps Dialga's Roar of Ti has awakened Giratina's latent negative emotions—"

He gave a bitter smile. "After all, among legendaries, Giratina was banished to the Reverse World precisely because of its violent temperant."

Outside their hiding cave, Giratina roared soundlessly, the ripples in the air translating into piercing shrieks in their ears.

Natsu's eyes flickered.

Ancient Language isn't working... Only Aura of Ripple can communicate with Giratina.

Too bad Aura of Ripple can't calm emotions. If only we had Aura of Viridian or Transcendence...

Natsu gently stroked the trembling Shaymin in his arms, thinking:

"Seed Flare absorbs negative emotions. That's why Shaymin is called the Gratitude Pokémon and can open shadow pathways."

But.

He looked up at the circling Giratina, expression complicated.

Can I really withstand a berserk Giratina's assault long enough for Shaymin to purify it...?

BOOOOM!!

Giratina roared again.

Distant screams echoed: "Help owth!"

"I don't wanna die with Jessie!!"

"Moron! I don't want you either!" Jessie yelled angrily, then suddenly teared up. "Executive!!"

Natsu's expression turned complicated.

Of course these three would show up in this scenario too!

"This way, quick!" Newton said urgently.

Thanks to Newton's knowledge of the Reverse World, the group soon found shelter—an open floating platform with an ancient temple. Eerie shadows flickered across its surface as Giratina circled overhead.

It looked like a natural battlefield. Natsu took a deep breath and made his decision.

"Ash, I'm entrusting Shaymin to you." Natsu had Gengar take out a Gracidea bottle and handed it to Ash. "If it can evolve into Sky For, have it use Seed Flare."

"But," Ash cradled Shaymin, "Shaymin can't evolve at night in its current form!"

"Shaymin..." Shaymin shuffled back on its tiny white feet.

"We'll find a way."

Natsu looked up at Giratina. "Either hide in the temple until dawn... or I'll hold it off."

"E-Executive, just hide with us, ow!" owth urged.

Natsu chuckled. "I'm not stupid. If I can't win, I'll run."

The Trio stared blankly. Ash clenched his fists. "Right! Pikachu, we're helping too!"

"Pikachuuu~~!"

Having the Pika God's help at a ti like this was reassuring.

Natsu fell into thought.

A rampaging Giratina was too dangerous, but with Gengar's mastery over gravity and shadow holes, they might last awhile.

Just then, Natsu felt a chill down his spine as darkness rose behind him.

Marshadow stood within Natsu's elongated shadow, gaze firm like a loyal warrior:

"Marshadow." (I'll help too.)

"Examiners can interfere with test content?" Natsu teased.

"Marshadow." (Just this once.) Marshadow said flatly.

Ripples spread through the void as Giratina continued searching for their hiding spot.

Natsu began formulating battle plans and escape routes.

After all, this wasn't like Alamos Town last ti—they were missing a legendary-grade Darkrai.

Even with Marshadow's help from the shadows... caution was still needed.

Natsu looked at his Insulated Gloves, which he'd already put on earlier for petting Pikachu.

The Key Stone embedded in them flickered faintly.

If you believe in your Pokémon, your Pokémon will answer.

Natsu closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Whether we can clear this dungeon cos down to this mont!

...

anwhile, in Alamos Town...

Nightfall descended quietly over the towering Space-Ti Tower, where a lone Darkrai lingered in the evening shadows.

Its deep blue eyes gazed at the sky as the shadows silently consud the clouds—the Reverse World had already begun its encroachnt.

Darkrai remained silent, its mind drifting to the image of that black-haired young man with his gentle smile.

...I hope my premonition is wrong.

With a heavy sigh, Darkrai, guided by its connection with Gengar, slowly dissolved into the darkness.

The shadowy mass darted swiftly, soon leaving Alamos Town behind as it surged toward the distant mountain range.

Its destination—Mount Coronet.

...

The present, Mount Coronet.

Thanks to the combined efforts of three Elite Four mbers, the frenzied horde of wild Pokémon gradually thinned—though their numbers still seed endless.

No one truly knew just how many Pokémon made their habitat within the mist-shrouded peaks of Mount Coronet.

As night fell, the chilling roars only added to the mountain's ominous aura.

"Hold out until dawn..." Lucian murmured, his burgundy suit stained with dirt. "...Though that might be asking too much."

Granny Bertha and Aaron held the eastern and southern fronts, respectively. With the tenacity of Ground-types and Aaron's swarm of Bug-types, the situation was temporarily stabilized.

Lucian, who had been maintaining high-intensity command and coordination, shook his head wearily.

"Am I really going to be the first one to retreat?"

Then, abruptly, his eyes widened as the night sky erupted in a blaze of teoric light.

BOOM—!

Lucian looked up. Against the brilliant canvas of the night, a fierce Garchomp roared defiantly.

Standing atop its back was a golden-haired beauty clad in black, her hair whipping in the wind, her expression as cold as ice.

"Draco teor!"

The sky turned bright as day. Massive teorites wreathed in flas rained down, shaking the very foundations of Mount Coronet.

The Sinnoh League was often seen as lax—perhaps because Sinnoh possessed the most beautiful and formidable trainer of all.

The Sinnoh Champion—Cynthia.

...

The Reverse World—the ancient temple teetered on the brink of collapse.

Natsu stood firm against the raging Giratina, his black hair tossed by the wind.

His Aura of Ripple brushed against the dark disturbances—only to be instantly repelled, unlike the usual resonance of Transcendence.

Natsu's expression darkened.

"Can we hold out...?" Newton muttered under his breath.

Facing a Giratina consud by madness—

How could re mortals hope to oppose a deity?

"Let's go." Natsu's voice was decisive. "Gengar. Marshadow."

Behind him, Ash and the others held their breaths, their eyes fixed on Natsu-sensei's unwavering back.

"Marshadow!"

"Gengar!"

Two shadows surged forward. The enraged Giratina, eyes burning crimson, charged relentlessly toward the ancient temple.

Natsu raised his right hand high—the Key Stone blazing with radiant light. His gaze sharpened.

"Gengar—"

"GA EVOLUTION!!"

In an instant, the dazzling light of evolution illuminated the entire Reverse World, turning night into day!

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