"You did nothing?"
Johan raised an eyebrow.
Really? The entire ancient city was swarming with agitated Ghost-type Pokémon. You expect us to believe you did nothing?
"Well, if I had to say…" Flint slapped his forehead, suddenly recalling something. He rummaged around in his pocket and pulled out a crude, ancient-looking stone orb.
"This, maybe? At first, Infernape and I thought it was food."
From afar, the orb did vaguely resemble a Sitrus Berry.
Considering Flint never carried many supplies, it wasn't surprising he'd start foraging. But…
Looking for Berries in a forgotten ancient ruin? That's… profoundly brainless.
Oh wait, Johan reminded himself—Flint had basically zero brainpower. That checked out.
"This object…" Cynthia's expression turned serious the moment she laid eyes on the orb.
Woooosh—
As she spoke, a cold, eerie mist surged from the stone orb and snaked its way into Flint's body.
In an instant, his eyes went vacant, only to ignite moments later with a maniacal gleam.
Arms akimbo, chin lifted in defiance, he let out a dark cackle:
"Ka-ka-ka!! After thousands of years, this king is reborn!!"
"Melo?" Meloetta squeaked, hiding behind Johan.
Larvitar and Gengar exchanged what-the-heck looks.
Johan's eye twitched.
Possession?
In a world filled with Ghost-type Pokémon, a person being possessed wasn't the strangest thing.
Even in the original series, Ash and Brandon once triggered an ancient trap that led to a spirit of an old king possessing Ash.
This? It looked eerily familiar.
"He's been possessed by a long-dead king from this ancient city," Cynthia said gravely.
Yup. Classic Ash move.
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar scratched its head and approached. Its gaze swept Flint from head to toe.
"What are you doing?!" 'Flint' snapped at Gengar, indignant at being approached so casually.
"Ka-kaah…"
Gengar murmured thoughtfully, rubbing its chin.
So humans really can turn into Ghosts…
It turned toward Johan with a curious gleam.
Johan's stomach dropped.
Great. Now Gengar had confirmation for its grand scheme. He did not want to become some ageless undead wandering the world!
"Hmph!!"
'Flint' scoffed, spreading his arms wide, laughing maniacally.
"Ka-ka-ka! No one can stop me now! The world shall be mine!"
Watching this overly dramatic performance, Johan muttered, "Feels like Flint is just… being his true self."
Cynthia nodded. "Sounds like something he'd say anyway."
Even Infernape looked confused.
It had Flint's voice, face, and tone—but something still felt… off.
Then 'Flint' finally noticed the trio, raising his chin with arrogance:
"Kneel before your king!"
But they were ignoring him, staring instead at Infernape.
Johan waved him over. "Infernape, come here. That's not Flint."
"Ku?"
After a moment of hesitation, Infernape ran to Johan's side.
Yes. That wasn't Flint.
Flint might be eccentric, but he wasn't this over-the-top.
Most importantly, Infernape couldn't sense his usual warmth.
Which meant—Flint really had been possessed.
Flames surged from Infernape's fists.
"How dare you ignore your king!" 'Flint' snarled. "Guards!"
Boom… boom…
Heavy footsteps echoed. From the depths of the ruins, massive Golurks marched out and landed beside 'Flint' with thunderous impact.
There were at least a dozen of them.
"Golurk, the Automaton Pokémon. Ground/Ghost-type. Created by ancient humans, they follow their master's orders with absolute loyalty, Rotom~!"
Yes, even in ancient times, humans tried creating Pokémon.
While not on Mewtwo's level, Golurk was still an impressive creation.
'Flint' grinned smugly. "See the might of your king?"
Johan, however, just looked relieved.
He'd thought the king might summon the ancient Volcarona. This? Just some Golurks and Ghost-types?
As a dead king, couldn't you just stay dead and not be a bother?
Cynthia and Caitlin reached for their Poké Balls—but Johan beat them to it.
Whirrr—
Six flashes of red: Ninetales, Tinkaton, Dragonite, Urshifu, Ceruledge, and Gengar (who was already out), plus Larvitar, all appeared beside him.
Cynthia summoned Garchomp; Caitlin called out Gothitelle.
They blinked at Johan.
Wasn't that a bit much?
Johan shrugged. "You don't reason with ghosts that hijack bodies. You steamroll them."
Fair enough.
The girls released all their Pokémon too.
Suddenly the once-spacious square felt a little cramped.
"You—you lot!!"
'Flint' turned pale, gawking at the squad of powerhouses.
Who were these people?!
Even in ancient times, someone with this many strong Pokémon would be a general, if not royalty.
"Ku!!"
Infernape let out a battle cry and charged straight at him.
Flaming fists blazing.
Whoa. You really wanted to punch Flint, huh?
"I'll try to reseal the ghost in the stone," Cynthia said.
Only she could handle that.
Johan nodded and gave the command:
"Go!"
"Draaa~"
Dragonite flapped its wings and charged a Golurk, ramming it with full force.
BOOM!
"Oowoo~"
Ninetales exhaled icy mist. Her pupils shimmered with frost as she froze a Golurk solid in a breath's time.
Gothitelle and Reuniclus unleashed psychic blades, smashing Golurks into the walls.
"Garrr!!"
Garchomp, no instructions needed, slashed two Golurks into the ground with a roar.
'Flint' gulped, eyes wide.
Who are these monsters?!
"Come forth, all of you!!"
More Golurks and Cofagrigus surged out from the ruins.
This was supposed to be his comeback.
With these spirits, he'd reclaim Unova!
But now? Even three people were overwhelming him!
"Fire!" 'Flint' shouted.
Click, crack—
Stone statues shattered, revealing Darmanitan in Zen Mode.
Darmanitan burst to life, flames roaring.
"Help thaw the frozen Golurks!" he barked.
They obeyed, fire pouring from their mouths.
Johan raised an eyebrow.
Still playing with fire, huh Flint?
But…
"Ninetales!"
"Oowoo~~"
Snow filled the sealed room. The temperature plummeted. Then Ninetales launched a freezing beam—not at the Golurks, but the fire itself.
CRACK.
The Darmanitan fire… froze.
Yes. Fire. Froze.
'Flint' gawked.
That's not even scientifically—
But it wasn't just the flames. The columns, the Darmanitan—everything froze.
An icebound world.
Ninetales exhaled contentedly.
She'd made progress mastering Kyurem's icy power.
Suddenly—
"Urgh…"
'Flint' groaned, face pale.
Poison?!
When did that happen?!
You're already ganging up on him, and now poisoning him too?!
So unfair.
"Ka-kaah…"
Gengar floated overhead, analyzing 'Flint' like a scientist.
So… even human ghosts could be poisoned?
Then what about paralysis, burn, flinch?
Was ghostified Flint still a human, or a Pokémon?
With Cynthia's Wise Glasses on, Gengar was now a Ghost Research Professor.
"I've got it!" Cynthia called. "Put the orb back in its altar!"
Orb?
Johan looked toward 'Flint's' hand.
"Hmph!"
'Flint' sneered. "You think you can just take what's mine? I am—"
"Ka-kaah!"
Yoink!
Gengar appeared out of nowhere and snatched the orb.
'Flint' blinked, dumbfounded.
My orb?!
Gengar returned to Johan's side, inspecting the stone.
Hmm… this wasn't the key to ghostification?
It scowled and glared at 'Flint'.
What was the point of all this then?
"Gengar, that's enough. We've beaten him. Put it back," Johan said.
"Ka-kaah."
Gengar stuck out its tongue and disappeared into the shadows.
"Stop it!" 'Flint' shouted.
Infernape answered with a flaming uppercut.
BAM!
'Flint' was launched into the air.
Meanwhile, Gengar carefully slotted the orb back into a recess in the altar.
Click!
"NO—!!"
Black mist peeled from his body, and Flint collapsed.
The other Ghost-types, now directionless, slunk back into the ruins.
All fell quiet.
"Ow…"
Flint stirred, clutching his bruised face.
"Who punched me?"
"Ku."
Infernape looked away innocently, arms crossed.
The trio also pretended to know nothing.
"Ka-kaah."
Gengar floated beside Johan, palm open, revealing—two Dusk Stones!
It had found them at the altar.
This place was steeped in Ghost-type energy; these stones formed naturally over time.
Flint hadn't noticed. He'd almost eaten one.
Now Johan and Gengar were two Dusk Stones richer.
Johan sighed.
Fine… Maybe Flint wasn't entirely useless.
And at least they didn't wake the ancient Volcarona.
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Powerstones?
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