Dealing with relatives had always been a bit of a headache for John, especially when he was younger. It wasn't until his late thirties, after years of navigating family dynamics, that he'd finally learned how to flow with the conversations at these gatherings. Now, he could share his opinions with a bit of confidence, and, most of the time, his views were actually respected. In a strange way, it felt...relieving.
There was a warmth in these gatherings now—something he hadn't felt in years. It hadn't been this lively since he was a kid. From now on, he had a feeling that coming home for the holidays would bring more joy, more noise, and a lot more good times.
With a smile, John raised his glass to toast with his relatives, chatting about everything from life to his upcoming studies at Riverstone University. The conversation flowed easily, and for the first time in a long while, he felt completely at ease with them.
A bit sooner than expected, his official acceptance letter from Riverstone University arrived. Even before it was posted online, his parents had already received the letter. John hadn't even made it home yet, but there it was, waiting for him.
The fact that it was from such a prestigious place as Riverstone University made it an even bigger reason to celebrate. Naturally, his parents went all out, setting up two tables of food and inviting the whole extended family to join in. Everyone was eager to hear the news and congratulate him.
Hearing about his plans to attend a Pokemon University, his uncles pooled together to give him a very generous 200,000 pokedollar "growth fund" to support his future. His parents, graciously accepting on his behalf, thanked everyone warmly.
John felt something shift inside. He was in a good spot financially now, but he wasn't sure how to express his gratitude in a meaningful way—or how to repay this generosity. Once he got settled at university, he'd think about taking up a part-time job as a breeder. It seemed like a perfect start.
His parents fully supported his decision to attend Riverstone University. They had always dreamed of opportunities but hadn't been able to pursue them themselves. Now, in a way, they were living through their son's success, and they couldn't have been prouder.
That night, after a glass (or two) of celebratory wine, John skipped his usual late-night gaming session and headed to bed early. The excitement was still buzzing through him, but the wine soon did its work, and he drifted into a deep, contented sleep.
The next morning, he was woken by the crowing of roosters. Just as he was about to fall back asleep, a small voice piped up at the door.
"Big brother! Let's go fishing at the river!" Brian, his younger brother, stood at his bedside, tugging on his sleeve with a determined look and a nose that was, predictably, running.
John groaned. Dealing with younger relatives had never been easy, and Brian—with his endless questions and boundless energy—was no exception.
He handed the boy a candy and nudged him gently. "Go find Connor instead. He'll take you fishing."
Brian, slightly deflated but undeterred, scampered off in search of his other brother. John watched him go, relieved to reclaim his peace.
Slowly, he got out of bed. Soon enough, he'd head back to his apartment in Aethermere City, where it was quiet and a lot cleaner than this little village. But for now, he had one more day to enjoy the simplicity of home. No Gameboy yet—especially with his hyperactive brother still on the prowl. The less interaction with the little ones, the better.
After breakfast, John decided to take a walk. He followed the river, wandering in the direction of The Burning Mountain, which loomed over the village. As a kid, he'd spent hours here, collecting snails from the streams halfway up the slope. The mountain was mysterious; there was an abandoned mine at its base, a relic from the 1980s, when rare ores had been discovered only for the site to be abandoned when the supply proved too small.
The mine was a place of local legend. As a kid, John had been warned to stay away from it. Adults told stories of a ghostly miner who'd died in an accident and now haunted the depths, and of a monster with a big mouth waiting to swallow any misbehaving child who ventured too close. Back then, those stories sounded absurd. But now, after all he'd experienced in this strange world of Pokemon, they didn't seem quite as impossible.
Could there really be a ghost in the mine? Maybe it was a Ghost-type Pokemon. And the "monster with a big mouth" could easily be something like a Toxapex, Gumshoos—or even a Gengar.
As he neared the entrance, John felt a surge of curiosity. This seemed like the perfect place to encounter some rare Pokemon. Untended and unexplored for years, the wild areas around here could hold something amazing.
Sure enough, right by the mine's entrance, he spotted three Geodude, looking unbothered as they lingered near the rocks. John felt a grin spread across his face.
"Makuhita, let's show them what we're made of!" he called, tossing out a Pokeball.
With a flash, Makuhita appeared, wasting no time. The little fighter let out a shout and charged forward, delivering two swift punches to the unsuspecting Geodude, sending it crashing to the ground in seconds.
"Makuhita use Arm Thrust!"
"Nice work, Makuhita." John said, patting his Pokemon on the back as it bounced happily beside him.
With the mine just ahead, he couldn't shake the feeling that something interesting was waiting deeper inside.
The light grew dimmer as he ventured further into the tunnels. He called upon Kirlia, who appeared with a gentle flash of light, casting a warm glow over the area. The calm presence of Kirlia eased his nerves as they moved forward.
After about an hour of exploring, Makuhita had knocked out a few more Geodude and Roggenrola, but none were what John would consider "rare." It wasn't until they reached a large cavern at the mine's deepest point that things took an exciting turn.
In the corner of the cavern, something glinted. At first, it looked like ordinary stones, but under Kirlia's light, they sparkled with an eerie brilliance. John moved closer, intrigued.
Upon closer inspection, he realized they weren't just rocks—they were crystals, large and gleaming. He reached out to touch one, marveling at how hard and cold it felt.
"Could these really be diamonds?" he mused, then chuckled. "Nah, just crystals."
Yet there was something about them that kept drawing him in. Without hesitating further, he ordered Makuhita to pick one up.
But as Makuhita lifted the largest crystal, a loud rumble echoed through the mine. The crystals along the wall seemed to be connected, and with a sudden crack, a section of the mine wall split open.
From the dark gap, a massive head emerged, its eyes blazing with an intense, fiery stare.
John's breath caught. The sight was awe-inspiring...and a little terrifying.