"Gengarrr~(≧∇≦)ﾉ"
The "Badge Enthusiast" Haunter was holding up a badge, back turned to him, wiggling its little butt.
It had helped its trainer collect another badge~!
The Power of Transcendence relayed Haunter's cheerful thoughts, and Teacher Lu felt like crying without tears.
If you're going to ask for help, just ask for help... what does it an to use a badge as proof?
Even if they didn't co to challenge in person, the badge would grow wings and fly into my hands on its own!
[Badge Collection: (7/8)]
Only one badge remained — the Fairy-type gym leader Mallow, whom he'd only t once before.
They were already familiar faces—
It just felt like... an awkward dance was an unavoidable fate!
“...Did Ms. Olympia say anything else?” Lu Ye squeezed the words out between his teeth and forced the question.
On the video call, Clemont rubbed his chin, thought for a mont, and then said:
“She said that Hoenn might experience teors, and it's related to that 'Little Luxio' teor shower over Littleroot City. If strong champions co to Hoenn, they can handle ergencies.”
So far there was no news indicating Kyogre or Groudon had reawakened.
As for the teor Ms. Olympia ntioned, Lu Ye could roughly guess it had sothing to do with the stone tablet docunt Steven had sent him.
Steven once asked to help translate the tablet inscriptions. Together the two tablets read: "The path to the great stone begins with a gate;
the key that opens the gate is ford by two resplendent stones."
That matched the storyline of Pokémon XY: ga Evolution Special Episode, where Steven used his and Alain's two Keystones to find the source of ga Evolution inside the teor People's ruins — the Prismatic teor.
And in Pokémon Oga Ruby, there was ntion of another colossal teor from outer space.
That teor fell from the sky like a cot striking Earth — a catastrophe capable of destroying the whole world!
Compared to that other colossal teor, the Prismatic teor was clearly less risky.
With Steven and his company Devon Corporation handling it, they should be able to manage it properly.
The teor in Olympia's prophecy and Steven's tablet... all pointed to that Prismatic teor;
there was no sign yet of a catastrophic outer-space teor. 𝙧Â₦ôＢΕŞ
After hearing Clemont and combining it with his own deductions, Teacher Lu breathed a small sigh of relief.
In that case, the trip to Hoenn wasn't terribly dangerous!
Besides, champions like Wallace and Red could lend a hand;
mythical Pokémon such as Darkrai, the Sinnoh trio, and the Tao trio could act as muscle.
"According to the original plan, we'll head to Hoenn tomorrow to visit Manchong, stay a few days to watch the teor shower, then return," Lu Ye thought.
After all, he'd already promised Manchong;
canceling on a hunch would be a betrayal of his teacherly conduct.
And besides — could two teors really fall at once!?
I’ll charge in blind and clear the Hoenn dungeon on my first try!
"I understand." Lu Ye smiled at Clemont on the video call. "Please tell Ms. Olympia for —
"I will travel to Hoenn... and please thank her for the Spirit Badge. I will visit her in person when I have ti!"
Lu Ye deliberately emphasized "thank" and "visit in person."
At that, Clemont shivered oddly down his spine, pushed up his round glasses, and gave an awkward laugh:
"Haha, I'll pass it along!"
He couldn't shake the feeling... the Littleroot gym might not remain safe!
"Goodbye, Teacher Lu~" Bonnie waved both hands into the cara. "Have a safe trip!"
"Thanks for the good wishes." Lu Ye smiled, said goodbye, and ended the call.
Marshal knocked on the door, wearing olive camouflage, arms folded, baring his teeth:
"We're leaving tomorrow morning. The Waterflow is ready!"
"As a token of thanks, I won't train at Vermilion Gym tonight," Lu Ye accepted gracefully.
"Blastoise’s cry..." The shell, huddled in a corner, sighed faintly.
No training tonight...
Survival odds just dropped by several dozen percent!
Marshal's eyelids twitched.
He seed to have inadvertently dodged a disaster!
**
Hoenn region, teor Falls.
Steven knelt on one knee, holding a mining pick, gloves brushing powder from a mineral.
A Sun Stone — the kind that could evolve Gloom into Bellossom — produced a childlike smile on Steven's face as he carefully extracted it and placed it in a collection box.
"Steven really is mining!" Manon whispered behind him.
Alain had his hands in his pockets and a puzzled, unsure look. "Maybe... it's a champion's way of training."
"Let's go."
Steven rose, turned, and smiled. "We're almost where we need to be!"
"That legendary boulder?" Alain recalled the tale he'd heard in Sundial Town.
"That's right."
The light cast a shadow across Steven's profile. His gaze glead like sky-blue ore as he said calmly:
"The legendary source of ga Evolution, the treasure worshiped by the teor People — the Prismatic teor."
"I thought ga Evolution was discovered in Kalos? Why would the source be in Hoenn?" Manon interjected.
"That's the story, Mr. Steven."
Alain looked at Steven, who nodded slightly. Alain explained to Manon:
"In ancient tis, continent-moving giants split Kalos and Hoenn apart. Kalos retained the unique aura of ga Evolution, while Hoenn was where the Prismatic teor fell. Back then, the teor even sparked a battle between Groudon and Kyogre, ultimately cald by the 'Dragon God' revered by the teor People."
Manon’s face registered awe. "So the site we’re investigating now is... that kind of powerful ruin?"
"Don't worry." Steven smiled. "tagross will protect you."
"tagross!" The white tagross ahead turned its massive iron claws with a tallic clang.
Manon instinctively tucked behind Alain, who t her gaze and said:
"The one who protects the weak is and Charizard."
"Who are you calling weak?!" Manon complained, ignored by Alain.
Steven exchanged a deep look with Alain, then smiled and walked on:
"You'll beco an excellent trainer, Alain."
Alain fell silent as he walked beside Steven, then after a while asked, "Why?"
"Because..."
A flicker of mory crossed Steven's eyes.
"A trainer who knows how to protect others will grow into soone who can stand alone."
The forr Hoenn champion who protected Hoenn, Steven, once bore the region's burden on his shoulders.
Alain didn't know these tales and replied bluntly:
"I only protect the people I want to protect. Others are none of my concern."
Steven didn't turn. He gazed at a sliver of light outside the cave and smiled:
"Back then, it wasn't up to you, Alain."
Birdsong wandered through the dim cave and reached the ruins, where the light was exceptionally harsh.
Alain shielded his eyes with his hand, then looked around in awe:
"The interior of the ruin... actually has structures like this!"
Towering stone pillars carved with ancient patterns pierced the sky;
moss-covered stone steps led to a circular platform above. Vines grew thick along the stairways and yellow wildflowers swayed in the breeze — a desolate, solemn ceremonial altar t their eyes.
"This is..." Steven paused, "the altar where the teor People worshiped the Dragon God and the Prismatic teor!"
Alain's pupils narrowed as he watched the sunlight converge at the pillar tips, feeling an awe and naless fear for ancient people.
It was the kind of fear inspired by colossal things and mighty forces, as if the altar's object of worship wasn't rely a legendary Pokémon but an embodint of calamity.
"Hoenn has always been a region of frequent floods, droughts, and disasters," Steven stood before the altar, looking up as he spoke to himself:
"Humans and Pokémon rebuilt hos and faith countless tis. So chose the earth as their totem, so the sea, and others... the sky."
Steven turned. Alain suddenly felt reverent distance for the champion and saw the blue-haired man smile as he said:
"And this place is the embodint of the sky — the ruins of the teor People."
"Amazing..." Manon, lacking words, could only repeat blankly.
"Co, Alain."
Steven stepped up onto the stone steps and said to Alain behind him:
"According to Teacher Lu’s translation of the tablets, we can witness the Prismatic teor’s radiant colors."
Alain nodded silently. The two chose to climb the central platform by foot.
"What should I do?" Alain asked.
"See the grooves on either side of the platform?" Steven said. "If I'm right, placing the Keystones into those grooves, when the light of both stones intertwines, will open a new gate."
"Why are you searching for that legendary Prismatic teor?" Alain asked suddenly.
Indeed, Steven's behavior was odd — a champion seeking an ancient relic left by earlier peoples.
If it led to catastrophe, Steven would bear inescapable responsibility.
Alain had co to the ruins to get stronger and try his luck;
Steven... could it really be simply mining enthusiasm?
Steven's blue hair fluttered in the wind as he looked up at the cloudless sky and replied evenly:
"It was Littleroot City's astronomy center that predicted a teor shower."
"A teor shower?"
"I haven't told anyone else about this, not even Wallace."
Steven's gaze grew sharp and rare in its severity. He turned to Alain and spoke of an unimaginable catastrophe.
"According to Littleroot City's space center, in twenty days a teor larger than reason predicts will fall above Verdanturf Town in Hoenn. Its size is enough to destroy the entire Hoenn region.
The teor People foretold this disaster a thousand years ago... and they pinned all their hopes on the Dragon God and the Prismatic teor!"
"What?"
Alain's voice gained a hoarseness. "That's nonsense... how could that be!"
Steven gave a rueful smile. "I have close ties with Littleroot City's space center. To avoid panic, I've tried to suppress this. But soon, I fear—"
"No..."
Steven's eyes hardened. "I'll resolve this before panic erupts!"
"That's a teor... and why tell ? We've only known each other for less than three days!" Alain's voice was rough.
"You have people you want to protect."
Steven's gaze flicked to Manon who was half-squatting and playing with foxtail grass, then to Alain clenching his fists.
"And I have all of Hoenn behind ."
"You... bastard."
Alain couldn't bear Manon being dragged into this and clenched his teeth, glaring at Steven.
"I thought the Hoenn champion would be a perfect champion... I didn't expect you'd use others!"
"Call what you like."
Steven smiled again, breezy as spring air, but the smile held a shadow of remorse. He reached out to Alain:
"I need your help, and the Keystone you currently hold... Alain."
There was no ti to return to Devon Corporation for another Keystone... Steven had to convince Alain.
At this mont he wasn't the gentle, amiable Steven — he was the champion who carried Hoenn and had once fought long wars for it.
Even if accused of being unscrupulous and dragging Manon and Alain into this, Steven had no alternative.
Slap!
Alain shook off Steven's hand, hands back in pockets, and walked to the other side of the platform. He turned and asked:
"Have you reached out to Wallace, Lu Ye, Red, and the others?"
"Before things spin out of control, I will find them."
Steven didn't know the group chat was assembling to watch the teor shower. In truth, he had spent sleepless nights over this matter, let alone keeping in contact with chat groups.
When a teor fell, no one could stand aside.
Steven tried to ease Alain by taking all responsibility onto himself, hoping Alain's anger would lessen his fear.
'Did I do the right thing?'
He watched Alain's retreating figure and suddenly doubted.
'Perhaps lying to Alain would be easier... but I couldn't lie to myself.'
Steven's gaze fell on the altar.
This was the last chance... if it failed, he would have to call in other trainers' help.
Alain seed to think of sothing and returned beside Steven, lowering his voice:
"Lie to Manon... don't tell her about the teor..."
Alain paused, then said: "Please."
Steven nodded and apologized: "I'm sorry..."
"No need to apologize. It's your duty as a champion."
Alain removed the Keystone from his ga Bracelet. "I'm kind of looking forward to seeing that legendary Dragon God — what can it even do?"
When Steven and Alain placed their two gleaming Keystones into the grooves, a sudden gale rose and the inlaid patterns along the stone grooves illuminated.
Rumble!
At the sa mont, Alain heard a dragon's roar from the blue sky above.
Steven's sky-blue, crystalline eyes stared into a crack opening in the altar. A stone platform slowly rose, placing upon it an incomparably dazzling, iridescent massive teor!
The legendary boulder, the source of ga Evolution — the Prismatic Rainbow Stone!
In an instant,
a thunderous roar exploded overhead, and a pale green dragon silhouette coiled within the sea of clouds!
"Steven! Alain! Look!" Manon cried out in panic.
The Prismatic teor's brilliance intensified, and its surging energy nearly burst out. tagross and Charizard imdiately completed their ga Evolutions, then looked around in surprise at their trainers for no command.
This energy had surpassed what Keystones and ga Stones normally produced;
they ga Evolved without instruction. It wouldn't be surprising if the surge attracted Groudon and Kyogre's attention!
Steven stared at the sky and locked eyes with the coiling green dragon in the clouds. The oppressive dread swelled from its crimson eyes;
half of its body was hidden in mist, but its forehead bore a pale green horn, and golden circular patterns dotted the dragon tail!
The legendary sky Pokémon — Rayquaza!!
"Roar!!"
A thunderous roar split the air as Rayquaza howled, the archaic being that dwelled in the ozone layer — the god of the sky!
A strong gust blew Manon's hat away. She plopped down on the ground and stared blankly at the green dragon in the storm.
Alain stepped forward to shield Manon. ga Charizard X spread its obsidian wings, body tensed but still protecting Alain!
Steven's eyes flicked to Alain with sothing like admiration.
When soone exists to protect... trainers and partners beco braver and stronger!
"Are we going to fight it... Steven?" Alain grit his teeth.
Steven's blue hair swept in the wind. The ga tagross retracted its four iron fists and answered:
"No... Rayquaza has sensed the Prismatic Rainbow Stone's energy and returned from outer space to Earth!"
"It seems it wants the stone, Steven!" Alain shouted.
Steven's gaze shifted, he stepped back half a pace, and let the Prismatic teor rise of its own accord.
However, when the teor reached Rayquaza, the teor vanished — its energy fluctuations disappeared without a trace!
"Disappeared?" Manon murmured.
The Prismatic teor possessed spatial teleportation abilities.
Rayquaza showed no surprise. Coiling in the cloud sea, it fixed its gaze on Steven.
"You have awakened , human."
"I ask for your help." Steven pressed his hand to his chest, eyes steady without evasion.
"Not yet the ti."
Rayquaza stared at the space where the teor had vanished, its voice casual.
"Perhaps... you can send a successor to seek at Sky Pillar."
Then Rayquaza opened its mouth in a roar, as if yawning. After hovering in the sky for several circles, Rayquaza flew toward Hoenn's Sky Pillar.
From appearance to disappearance in under three minutes, the green dragon left an indelible terror in their minds!
The thunderous vibrations still echoed in their ears. Alain stood stupefied:
"Steven... did we succeed?"
"Sort of."
Steven looked at the flight trail Rayquaza left, staring toward the depth of the cloud sea.
"At least Rayquaza returned to Earth and learned this stone's location."
Only a successor... could gain Rayquaza’s approval?
Steven's face took on a pondering look as he turned back. "Alain."
"Yes." Alain felt an extra asure of trust toward Steven.
"You and Manon — co back with to Devon Corporation in Kanaz City."
Steven's brow tightened:
"I'm worried... that the vanished teor might trigger other events!"
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