Pokémon : Forced to Be a Ghost Champion

c16: Kaina Hypermarket

Alex and Ruby arrived in Slateport City just before noon, ferried by Old Man Hachi's modest boat. The coastal breeze carried the scent of salt and market spices as they stepped onto the dock, their minds focused on their next errand delivering Captain Stern's parcel from Mr. Stone in Rustboro.

Here, they unexpectedly ran into familiar faces.

"Oh Mom? Dad? You're in Slateport too?" Alex blinked in surprise. Standing in front of the Kaina Department Store were his parents and Ruby's mother, Mitsuko. It seemed Norman, Ruby's father and Petalburg Gym Leader, was still tied up with League matters.

"Yes," his mother replied with a smile. "We thought we'd browse the Kaina Hypermarket, Slateport has the best selection outside Lilycove. Oh, and Alex, Ruby, we brought you something."

"Wait, is this… an Amulet Coin?" Alex examined the two glinting objects she handed over. One was a deep burnished gold, the other a lighter hue. His mother explained that she and Mitsuko had each purchased one from a specialty shop on the third floor.

Alex and Ruby took their respective coins. Though different in color, the effect was the same boosted prize money after battles. In this version of their journey, the Amulet Coin's function had been subtly modified to behave like Helping Hand during wild battles amplifying trainer support and income, albeit modestly.

Initially, the boys planned to head straight to Stern's Shipyard to deliver the Devon Goods. But with their parents present, the schedule shifted. They'd have to visit the Kaina Hypermarket first and accompany their families—though Alex wasn't entirely opposed to this delay.

Privately, Alex had his own shopping plans. Don't let his father, Gang, fool you with his laid-back attitude, Alex came from a surprisingly well-off lineage. While his mother managed most of the family's wealth, there were whispers of their connection to a noble house from Sinnoh something to do with his grandmother's friendship with Professor Rowan. In their youth, Gang, Norman, and Dr. Odamaki had traveled Hoenn together as rivals.

Alex thought his own savings were sufficient especially with the Amulet Coin. He could farm wild Pokémon for money while training. Recently, in Granite Cave, he'd collected a handful of unpolished evolution stones, Moon and Dusk varieties that local collectors overlooked due to their poor aesthetics. But beauty didn't define value. Alex's pouch now bulged with overlooked treasure.

And now, seeing his frugal parents browsing the store like bargain hunters, Alex couldn't help but feel there might be something truly valuable hidden here—like a limited-edition TM or evolution item in one of the upper-level booths.

Alex began his shopping. He prioritized Curse and Ghost-type Gems—vital enhancements for his team, which included a mischievous Shuppet and a newly evolved Misdreavus. The real highlight, however, was a custom strength-training kit tailored for Ghost-types recommended by a specialist from the fourth-floor battle supply counter. With proper routines, this could raise his team's durability in double battles, a format heavily favored in the Slateport contest circuit.

Lastly, Alex stocked up on Ghost-type Energy Cubes gourmet Pokéblock substitutes that enhanced loyalty and contest stats. After that, nothing else on the shelves seemed to catch his attention.

Looking over, he saw Ruby who had a slightly thinner wallet still managing to snag several rare battle items. Curious, Alex peeked into Ruby's haul and was stunned. A Scope Lens, a Focus Band, even a Lucky Egg?!

"Wait, you picked these up?!" Alex's jaw dropped. "You mean… for free?"

Ruby scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Found them on Route 109. Some were half-buried. One of the Breeders was giving out samples."

Alex felt a thunderbolt of jealousy shoot down his spine. I spent 10,000 Pokéyen on a Lucky Egg… and he just stumbled on one? Was this the power of protagonist luck?

After Alex and Ruby finished shopping, they followed the adults aimlessly until Gang stopped in front of a stall featuring an unassuming stone.

"Boss, how much for this meteorite?"

"One hundred thousand Pokéyen. Take it or leave it," the grizzled vendor replied, arms crossed. He looked like one of those unassuming elite trainers who'd once appeared in obscure manga chapters scruffy, sun-worn, yet somehow commanding presence.

Old Man (inner monologue): Oops, I slipped. I'm actually Arceus. (That's clearly a mistake.)

Everyone's face twisted into the classic "Subway Sandwich Guy" disbelief meme.except for Gang and Alex.

Gang clearly recognized the meteorite. But Alex's shock came from the subtle prompt that flickered across his PokéNav screen the system revealing its hidden data.

Item: Seven-Colored Pattern Meteorite (Unawakened)

Effect: When brought into contact with the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza, this meteorite can resonate with Rayquaza's internal structure awakening the Imperial Organ necessary for its Mega Evolution.

Hiss… That old man's actually selling something like this? Could he really be a legendary-class collector? Alex shivered slightly. In Pokémon Adventures, rare artifacts like this usually showed up only when fate was involved.

"Bought it." Gang paid the full price without hesitation.

"Alright, big spender. You got yourself a deal~" The old vendor tossed the meteorite toward Gang in a lazy arc. Gang fumbled in momentary panic but caught the Seven-Colored Pattern Meteorite just before it hit the stone-tiled ground.

As if that weren't enough, the vendor nonchalantly reached under his tarp and placed a black-gold gem where the meteorite had just sat.

What the— Alex's jaw dropped. He'd seen that artifact illustrated in Sinnoh Mythology: Truth and Ruin.

That's Giratina's Griseous Orb.

Alex stood frozen. His Ghost-type intuition screamed at him. The orb pulsed with a faint hum of distortion, echoing the Reverse World's vibration frequency noted in the manga's Sinnoh arc. But he forced himself to stay calm.

Don't do it. For one, he didn't have the money. More importantly, taking that orb might mark him as a target.by Giratina itself or even by some dimension-obsessed fanatic from Team Galactic. Still, Alex forgot one thing—his unique affinity with Ghost-types meant he might've been the only one in the city who could've handled such an object without danger.

Eventually, Alex and Ruby exited the department store. The sunlight outside seemed gentler. After parting ways with their parents, they both sighed with palpable relief.

"Let's go, Xiao Xingzi," Ruby grumbled, rubbing his temple. "Shopping with my mom is exhausting. Seriously. Let's grab lunch.my treat."

"Yeah… okay, Lu Chi, you lead. You've got the travel guidebook," Alex replied, still distracted. His thoughts were tangled.pulling him in dangerous new directions.

Why would they come all this way for the Seven-Colored Pattern Meteorite… a stone tied to Rayquaza… and my family name is 'Xing'... Wait. Could it be…?

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