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Chapter 390 - Prison Bottle-I

The Pokémon of the Hero Expedition Team stood nearby, watching Hoopa and Ash's interaction with cheerful smiles.

Meanwhile, Baby Bear pulled out the Rotom Phone, eager to call Naoki and let him know about their encounter with Hoopa.

The call connected quickly.

Naoki's familiar face appeared on the screen, framed by the warm light of his ranch home.

"Mew? Baby Bear?" Naoki smiled when he saw the two Pokémon on the other side. "Where are you exploring now?"

"Nini!" Victini zipped into frame from off-screen, waving excitedly.

"Long time no see, Victini!" Naoki greeted with a chuckle.

"Nini!" Victini nodded happily, floating beside Mew and Baby Bear.

The three little Pokémon huddled closer to the camera, their faces lighting up at the sight of Naoki.

After exchanging warm greetings, Baby Bear quickly got down to business.

"Teddi!" (Naoki! We found Hoopa! But how do we help break its seal?)

"Hoopa?" Naoki blinked in surprise, then his eyes widened. "You actually found it?"

"Miu!" (That's right!) Mew chirped and tilted the phone to show what was happening behind them.

The camera flipped, revealing Hoopa playing joyfully with Ash and Pikachu in the desert plaza.

Naoki's expression shifted the moment he saw it. That was Hoopa, without a doubt.

He instantly realized what was about to unfold.

The movie plot of "Hoopa and the Clash of Ages" was coming to life.

Back in his previous life, that film had left a deep impression. Legendary Pokémon filled the screen, culminating in an all-out clash in the heart of Dahara City.

It was the famous scene where Shiny Rayquaza stood alone against seven Legendaries, and Groudon walked all the way back to Hoenn after the battle.

Naoki hadn't forgotten any of it.

If he remembered correctly, Meray's older brother, Baraz, would soon return with the Prison Bottle, only to fall under the influence of Hoopa's sealed power. He'd accidentally break the seal, releasing a dark form of Hoopa created from its rage and resentment. That twisted clone would attempt to take Hoopa's place.

In the chaos that followed, dozens of Legendary Pokémon would descend on Dahara City, battling for control.

The anime didn't go into full detail, but Naoki knew well that when those Legends truly fought, even the smallest move could unleash devastation.

Let alone now, with Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre having awakened and absorbed massive amounts of natural energy, they were even stronger than in the movie.

If the situation played out like it did in the movie, Dahara City would be in serious danger.

But…

Without going through this trial, Hoopa would never be able to reclaim its original power.

"Miu?" (Naoki, do you know how we can help Hoopa remove the seal?)

Mew glanced back at Hoopa, who was now gleefully showing off his powers to Ash and the companions he had just summoned.

Everyone was marveling at his ability to reach into his ring and pull out people and objects from far away.

Naoki's gaze grew serious.

"It all depends on Hoopa," he said calmly.

"Only when Hoopa understands the true meaning of punishment, and is ready to embrace the power it's run from all this time… only then will the anger sealed for a hundred years finally fade."

"And when that happens, Hoopa will regain its true power."

"Miu…" (Hoopa…)

Mew softly repeated Hoopa's name under her breath.

In the next moment, Hoopa's cheerful voice echoed through the Rotom Phone.

Unnoticed until now, Hoopa had floated up behind them and squeezed herself into the middle of the screen, her big eyes full of curiosity.

"Hoopa's here! Huh? Who's this?"

"Nini!" Victini flapped excitedly. (That's Naoki—the one who helps with everything for the Hero Expedition Team! He's helped both me and Baby Bear before. Naoki is a super amazing human!)

"Naoki…" Hoopa rubbed her hands mischievously. "Hehe! Then let Hoopa bring him here to play with us!"

Suddenly, a golden ring materialized beside Naoki at the ranch.

Before Naoki could react, Hoopa poked her head through the ring with a sly grin and reached out a hand.

"Hey, wait—!" Naoki barely had time to speak before Hoopa's magic pulled him through the portal with surprising force.

In an instant, the tranquil ranch disappeared, and Naoki found himself standing in the middle of the sandy desert plaza in Dahara City, far away in the Kalos region.

Naoki blinked, speechless.

Baby Bear and Victini's eyes lit up the moment they saw him.

Naoki's here too, great!

Not far away, Ash and his companions also noticed the sudden appearance.

Ash ran over, eyes wide in surprise. "Mr. Naoki?! What are you doing here?"

Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont rushed over behind him, equally stunned.

"Mr. Naoki?" Serena asked, tilting her head.

Ash nodded eagerly. "Yeah, that's him! He's a really strong Trainer!"

Naoki rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "I didn't expect to see you all here. Long time no see, Ash. Pikachu."

"Pika!" Pikachu greeted with a happy spark.

Hoopa floated in circles overhead, delighted. "So everyone knows each other, yay!"

Just then, Meray returned from her donut run, only to stop in her tracks at the sight of several unfamiliar people and a new Trainer standing with her Pokémon.

She blinked. "What… happened?"

Ash quickly filled her in, while Naoki borrowed Mew's Rotom Phone to check in with the ranch and explain everything that had just happened.

Then, he turned his attention to Meray.

Meray looked sincerely apologetic. "I'm really sorry… for dragging you all into this."

"It's okay!" Serena said kindly. "We were actually just traveling through here anyway."

"Yeah! And Hoopa brought everyone together!" Hoopa added proudly, flying in excited loops.

Naoki, still recovering from the surprise teleportation, simply let out a quiet sigh. "…"

At that moment, Naoki suddenly felt a familiar presence coming from Bonnie's direction.

He glanced over and noticed a small, cell-like creature peeking out from her backpack.

'That's… the Zygarde Core,' Naoki realized. 'The green one—Squishy, wasn't it?' The one Bonnie had nicknamed during her Kalos journey.

The Zygarde Core, sensing Naoki's stare, turned its tiny head. A moment later, its eyes widened in recognition, it had picked up traces of Cell and Z2 from Naoki's aura.

Squishy froze for a second.

Naoki looked away, smiling faintly to himself. 'So much for never calling it by that name again… guess it grew on me after all.'

But then again, the one he had seen back then was Z2, not Squishy.

But then again, the one he'd seen before wasn't Squishy… it was Z2.

Still, as Zygarde Cores, they were essentially fragments of the same being. In the end, it was all Zygarde, just different pieces of the whole.

...

Bonus @1500

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