Striaton City. Striaton means three stars lined up together, and the stairways designed to facilitate snow removal here are reminders of the settlers’ memories of their homeland.

On the way to Striaton City, the Entralink Tree felt a new will – feedback from Fennel. Her emotional fluctuations were so great that—

[The Entralink Tree has felt a powerful will and dream, and some decayed branches have been restored!]

When people with special powers reveal their dreams and focus their will, the Entralink Tree recovers even more!

For the Entralink Tree, natural dreamers like Fennel are rare treasures. In fact, in the Pokémon Special world, the hero chosen by the Light Stone, Black, also possessed such dream power, strong enough to sense the Entralink Tree’s existence in reality alongside Hilda.

“This is where Professor Fennel lives now.”

Professor Juniper had sent a message to Fennel, saying someone wanted to see her and asking if Champion Alder had been looking for her recently.

But Fennel hadn’t replied.

When Hikaru and Professor Juniper arrived at the top floor of an apartment building on Striaton’s eastern edge, it was Fennel’s younger sister, Truffle – one of the developers of the Pokémon storage system – who came to greet them.

She looked like an elementary school-aged girl but wore an oversized lab coat, making her appear both adorable and comical.

“Ah, Professor Juniper, you should’ve told me you were coming!”

“I sent a message, but your sister didn’t reply, and no one answered the communicator either.”

Professor Juniper was helpless. Truffle paused and slapped her forehead.

“Oh no, I forgot! We were testing dream equipment earlier, and Sis is still sleeping. She turned off her communicator to avoid interference.”

She hurriedly invited Juniper and Hikaru in. As Hikaru entered, Truffle looked puzzled.

“Big brother, are you Professor Juniper’s new assistant?”

“No, he isn’t my assistant,” Juniper said, patting Truffle’s head. “He’s a psychic. He came because he’s interested in dream research.”

“Dream research?! Wow! So you believe the dream world exists too!” Truffle instantly brightened. “Then you’re not Professor Juniper’s assistant – you’re here to be Sis’s assistant!”

“I told you he’s not an assistant. Hurry up and let us see Fennel,” Juniper interrupted her excitement. She wanted to see if Fennel had made progress lately. If not, it would be her turn to spend time alone with Deoxys! Meanwhile, Hikaru would be discussing research with Fennel – they couldn’t waste this precious opportunity.

Of course, Juniper was also extremely curious about the medicines Hikaru had stored in his Master Ball. She’d never seen such medicines in any herbal shop or Poké Mart, and they could fully restore a Pokémon’s abilities and even grant life. It was beyond comprehension.

Even Max Revives and Revival Herbs didn’t have such effects. Was Hikaru also… a pharmacologist?

An artist, a pharmacist… Were these the standards for item crafters these days? Unova didn’t really have a “crafter” profession, so Juniper didn’t know. Though she used to be a backpacker herself, backpacker ≠ crafter.

If anyone counted as one, Champion Alder barely did?

Juniper’s mind was full of thoughts.

“I have something important to discuss with Professor Fennel… and with you as well.”

Truffle, though very young, was truly a genius child and Fennel’s assistant in dream research.

“If you want to learn about the dream world, you’ve come to the right place!”

Truffle raised her hand proudly. “Since Professor Juniper brought you, you must be amazing! We’ve worked with psychics before to research dreams. I’ll show you our great invention!”

When she opened a room on the top floor, the clutter of equipment and devices fully revealed itself to Hikaru. Professor Fennel lay sleeping on the bed, wearing a strange device that looked about 80% like an Exp. Share.

Professor Fennel – Unova’s foremost expert on the dream world – was a long-haired woman with half-rim glasses and a pink flower hairpin.

“This is the Dream Machine, also called the Dream System. Its official name is the World Synchronization Connection Device! Cool, right? The thing on her head is the dream tester!”

Truffle ran to the computer, her expression turning serious as she checked the waveforms.

Hikaru looked at the screen and found the patterns oddly familiar.

It was like the brainwave monitors the scientists used on Amber and Mewtwo in Mewtwo Strikes Back.

Well, brainwave detection tech is similar everywhere. Since the dream world is connected to consciousness, it made sense Unova had such technology. What was strange was that Kanto’s scientists used it for cloning life, while Unova’s were exploring the dream world.

On the bed next to Fennel was a Pokémon also wearing a dream testing device – a Pansage, one of the elemental monkeys native to Striaton.

“Hmm… The dream wave is stable, and the crossing moments are short. This experiment is…” Truffle was about to say “a failure” but, noticing Juniper and Hikaru’s gaze, quickly corrected herself.

“This experiment still has plenty of room for improvement!”

Hikaru and Juniper: “…”

A genius child indeed. Her verbal reflexes were impressive.

At that moment, Truffle ended the test, and Fennel stirred awake.

As for Pansage, its dream waves weakened, signaling it was about to wake up too.

“Whoa! Why are there so many people around me?!”

Fennel sat up with a sudden jolt, knocking off her dream tester. It dangled powerlessly from the machine.

“Ah! My glasses fell off!”

Because of her abrupt movement, her half-rim glasses fell to the floor, and she fumbled around blindly until Hikaru picked them up and handed them to her.

“Ah, thank you so much! My glasses… whew! Wait, who are you?”

Fennel looked at Hikaru’s face.

He seemed younger than her – much younger. But then again, she was only in her early twenties herself.

I’m still a young woman!

“Hello, Professor Fennel. I’m Hikaru, an item crafter, artist, and psychic.”

Hikaru introduced himself. “I’m very interested in your dream research, and… I have something important to discuss with you.”

“Psychic?!”

The words “crafter” and “artist” didn’t interest Fennel at all, but “psychic” caught her full attention. She jumped out of bed and began scrutinizing Hikaru. Only then did she notice Professor Juniper standing awkwardly nearby.

“Ah! Juniper, long time no see!”

“We saw each other just a month ago. Striaton isn’t far from Nuvema Town.”

Fennel smiled awkwardly.

She quickly changed the subject.

“This psychic boy is your assistant?”

“No. He has things about dreams to discuss with you,” Juniper explained again. Truffle was also fascinated – after all, each psychic’s powers were unique.

The most basic psychic power was telekinesis – a power with vast differences in potential.

“Psychics have powerful mental energy. Their dreams are more active, making them indispensable in dream tests. We’ve worked with psychics before at the Dream Research Lab. Some are still training near the ruins…”

“But honestly, there haven’t been any breakthroughs,” Fennel shrugged and sighed.

They’d gathered all possible data, run countless tests, but couldn’t enter the dream world or prove its reality.

Many researchers believed dreams were just… dreams. A place seen in sleep didn’t mean it was an alternate dimension.

“Anyway, allow me to formally introduce myself. I’m Fennel, and this is Truffle, my sister. Pleased to meet you!”

Fennel explained,

“My original research aimed to develop clean energy from dreams. But I became fascinated by Pokémon dreams themselves, so I shifted to creating the World Synchronization Device.”

“In Johto and Sinnoh, they have massive global terminals connecting Trainers worldwide. Here, the Battle Company is developing similar virtual battle systems. But I want to go far beyond battles!”

“I still believe the dream world is an otherworldly dimension. Pokémon dreams have real power. If we can harness dream energy, Trainers could meet in their dreams, become friends with Pokémon there!”

“You could see neighbors in your dream world, customize your avatar, trade Pokémon, join big events… Dreams hold endless potential! That’s what I believe!”

“But the problem is… We don’t know how to enter it. Despite so many tests… Ah, today’s experiment failed again!”

Fennel held her forehead in frustration.

“That just means our theory has room for improvement. The future is bright,” Truffle muttered softly, but seeing her sister’s darkening expression, she fell silent.

“Our current research focuses on Trainers and dreams. In any case, I’m delighted you’re willing to participate as a psychic. Please lend us your power!”

“This experiment will definitely succeed!” Fennel said, clenching her teeth.

“Of course, registering Trainer data for the system only applies to those who’ve used a special device. Trainers without such records won’t have their data transmitted… But that device…”

“Unfortunately, development of the C Device has stalled—”

“The C Device has a bright future!” Truffle interjected, then quickly shut up.

“…”

Hikaru cleared his throat. “I wanted to ask – has Champion Alder been in contact with you?”

“Huh? Champion Alder? Ah! Now that you mention it, he did ask me to help someone looking for a place called the Entralink Forest. He said it might be related to dreams! Was that you?!”

Fennel was shocked. “He said the person lived far away!”

“Yes. I’m from Sinjoh.”

Sinjoh? None of them had heard of that place. Fennel, Truffle, and Juniper exchanged puzzled looks and shook their heads.

“There’s no need to know where Sinjoh is. The point is, I asked Alder for help. I came here to enter the Entralink Forest. No one can enter it now, so let me be direct.”

Hikaru looked at Fennel. “I’m here to help you develop the C Device. I have insights in mechanics and radio wave science.”

“Huh? You’re also a mechanic and a radio wave scientist?” Juniper’s confusion deepened.

Just how many identities did this boy have?

“Whether it’s art, machines, radio tech, or anything else, it’s all for crafting tools. These are just ‘things.'”

“My dream… Well, it used to be having my products spread throughout the region. Now, I want to obtain all the craftsmanship knowledge in this world.”

Hikaru threw a dice. As it landed, it sprouted a radar-like umbrella, instantly blocking the dream machine’s signals!

“Ah! My machine – what is this?!”

“A radio jammer,” Hikaru said. “It blocks all signals. I made it myself to prevent tracking.”

“This shows my mechanical skill. I have an important companion in that forest, so I must help you. And only you can help me.”

Seeing Fennel’s shocked face, Hikaru threw out another bombshell.

“Dream power is real. Want to see it?”

He released a Poké Ball. A blue Riolu emerged, ears floating as green Entralink Aura formed in its hands!

In an instant, Fennel saw an incredible vision within that Aura!

“What was that just now?!”

The illusion faded, but Fennel wasn’t afraid – she bounced on her toes with excitement!

“I saw… a tree. It felt like it was watching me!”

“A tree?” Juniper didn’t understand.

“That’s the Entralink Tree – the embodiment of Unova’s ancient will. It doesn’t exist in this physical world,” Hikaru explained, seizing the moment.

“My Riolu was granted a special Aura by the Entralink Tree. It can help you develop the C Device by synchronizing Aura.”

“The Entralink World connects to the dream world. With the C Device, you can access both, but you need Dream Mist.”

“Dream Mist requires a Musharna – evolved from Munna with a Moon Stone.”

“Wait, hold on!” Fennel waved frantically. “That’s too much at once – Entralink Tree, Aura, Dream Mist… I need to process this! First, what is Aura?”

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

This psychic boy was unlike any she’d met before!

“Strange, Fennel, you don’t know Aura?” Juniper was surprised, then looked at Hikaru. “Didn’t you say your Riolu has Aura from the stars? What’s this Entralink Aura?”

“My Riolu has three kinds of Aura.”

“Ri!” Riolu nodded proudly.

To be gifted Aura by the stars and Entralink was its greatest honor.

“Three kinds?!” Juniper stared. “Normally only Lucario can use Aura, and Riolu can only see its waves. Incredible. I want to study your Pokémon so badly!”

“The same species can differ so much depending on environment… This supports my origin theories. Sorry, please continue explaining Aura.”

Fennel was dizzy with information.

Hikaru explained:

“Aura is the spiritual energy every lifeform has – the source of life’s mind. Some people can sense Aura and become Aura Guardians. Such Guardians were once called heroes.”

“In Pokémon, Riolu and Lucario use a move called Aura Sphere – it’s their Aura materialized into an attack.”

“Each creature’s Aura has a different color and properties.”

“Aura can scan surroundings, read minds, telepathically communicate, sense and see through objects, project illusions, create energy blasts or shields, transfer life force and power to others…”

“My Riolu has three types because it was blessed by both the Entralink Tree and the Cosmic Heaven!”

Juniper suddenly understood. “So when you faced Deoxys—”

“No, that power wasn’t Aura, but something similar,” Hikaru said.

To obtain Aura himself, he needed his art to be celebrated by tens of thousands in Unova, earning the “Aura of Time.”

“Anyway, it’s an amazing psychic power!” Truffle said simply. “Like something from a story. Way cooler than ordinary psychic powers!”

She tried to pet Riolu, but it dodged skillfully, leaving her pouting.

“Let me pet you!”

“Ri! (No.)” Riolu waved firmly.

“Now, about the Entralink Tree – it’s an ancient tree that embodies Unova’s people and will. The stronger Unova’s will, the stronger the Tree.”

“To create the C Device that connects all Trainers, you need its help.”

“It’s your land’s ancient elder, caring for all life since old times.”

Hikaru’s words sounded like a missionary sermon. Even the Entralink Tree itself felt embarrassed.

Caring for all life? After its will broke and it decayed, all it could do was watch… It felt it was doing nothing.

Perhaps “doing nothing” was what triggered Hikaru’s appearance.

“Forests having a will… I’ve heard legends like that,” Juniper recalled her father. Professor Juniper Sr. had deep reverence for Unova’s ancient relics and forests.

“Finally, Dream Mist.”

Hikaru looked at Juniper. “I thought Musharna had been thoroughly researched already.”

Juniper shook her head. “No way. Understanding behaviors, types, and moves is just the basics – each takes decades to research.”

“I know Munna evolves into Musharna, but they’re rare. Dream Mist is not something we can casually study.”

“So it evolves with a Moon Stone? No wonder we never figured out how to evolve it. We only deduced their evolutionary link by appearance.”

Hikaru realized:

Things obvious to game players were mysteries here. Pokémon classification takes decades, especially since they’re far beyond ordinary animals – plus, they evolve.

He continued:

“Musharna shares ancestry with Hypno. It’s always drowsing and dreaming, and can materialize dreams it eats into mist.”

“This mist changes color and forms objects based on the dreams it consumes.”

“If it eats nightmares, black mist emerges… and those nightmares come true.”

“Nightmares come true?” Hikaru paused.

He recalled Cresselia mentioning those trapped in nightmares.

Two nightmare-linked Pokémon…

Munna that ate Fennel’s dream in Striaton City…

Wait, it was Musharna!

Though the Striaton incident stemmed from Keldeo’s power residue and Deoxys’s nightmare, in the Strange House Girl event, maybe Darkrai caused a nightmare, Musharna ate it, and that nightmare became reality – killing the girl.

Hikaru fell silent, deep in thought, confusing the three Professors.

Fennel quickly refocused:

“So if we get Dream Mist, we can use the C Device to enter the dream world! I didn’t know Musharna and Munna’s mists were different!”

They had only studied Munna’s mist, which merely showed dream illusions. Musharna’s mist was entirely different.

Though many technical hurdles remained for the C Device, those could be overcome with breakthroughs!

“Alright, let’s depart for the Dream Ruins!”

“I’m going to catch a Musharna!”

(End of Chapter)

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep