"All the world's famous Flying-type experts have gathered here. High above eastern Hoenn, from a specific aerial route, competitors will depart Fortree City, reach the Scorched Slab, continue to Lilycove City, then turn back toward Mt. Pyre!"
"Mt. Pyre is where life reaches its end. After that, competitors will cross the water route south through Pacifidlog Town, then head east to Sootopolis City. The Cave of Origin in Sootopolis is where life begins!"
"From Sootopolis, competitors will fly over Route 131, then finally reach the finish line of this competition at the northernmost edge of the sea: the Sky Pillar! Perhaps you may even catch sight of the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza!"
"Everyone, I hereby declare the competition officially open!"
Thunderous cheers rose from the forest city. Most of the Trainers here used birdlike Pokémon, though there were also a few more eccentric participants mixed in.
And at the competition site...
"Wow, so that's Winona? I heard she's only a little older than me, but she looks so mature."
Game Winona. Hoenn period, age sixteen.
Skyla. Black and White period, age eighteen.
Skyla looked around at the Flying-type Trainers in confusion, then dialed a number.
"Hello?! The Hikaru Sky Competition has already started! Where are you? Did you not make it in time to enter? We clearly agreed on this before. I can't believe you stood me up!"
Hikaru said, "[That? Don't worry. I didn't break my promise. I'm just participating internally. At the final moment of the competition, you'll definitely be able to see me. I'll be west of the Sky Pillar, in the direction where the sun sinks and the stars rise.]"
"[Skyla, this competition is anything but ordinary. But in the end, the champion will definitely be you. I believe that. Because my final goal isn't the Sky Pillar. It's the stars and the sea.]"
"Hey, you make it sound like I'd lose if you showed up. I'm not going to lose, you know!"
She said that, but Skyla only grew more puzzled.
And the competition prize was a treasure of the sea, yet abnormal phenomena like harsh sunlight had appeared. It was hard not to think of the disaster from two years ago.
But in the next instant, as a pilot, she abruptly noticed something in the sky.
Clouds. Wind. Birds. No, something much faster.
Dragons.
Two Pokémon were flying at high speed, streaking across the sky from northeastern Hoenn. Their destination was the direction where the sun set.
Skyla said, "They're so fast! What... what are those?"
"Excuse me. I heard you mention someone who interests me. May I ask you something?"
A young girl's voice suddenly called out to Skyla.
Skyla herself was still young, but this girl seemed... well, about the same age as her?
Still, her voice sounded more girlish. Wait. Skyla herself was only seventeen this year!
Skyla looked thoughtful. "Um, sorry. Have we met somewhere?"
"No. Nowhere." The mysterious girl in the white hat was staring at Skyla with an appraising gaze. "I heard someone say that he believes the champion of this competition will be you. What caught my attention is his name."
"That name is very similar to the king I finally managed to ask about before."
"And I saw the profile picture on your Pokégear during your call. No question about it. It was the same as the portrait."
"Sorry?" Skyla grew even more confused. "What are you talking about?"
The mysterious girl said, "What I'm saying is, I originally thought the Island King would appear here. That is why I traveled all the way to Hoenn to complete my island challenge, participate in this competition, and obtain the treasure of the sea."
"I'm a Trainer from Alola. Let me introduce myself. My name is Kahili."
"In order to claim the title of island challenge champion and compete for supremacy in the world, I am currently training and entering all kinds of competitions."
"You probably don't understand where my hostility comes from. But it comes from our region's customs. An outsider became the Island King. That much is fine. But that guy has delayed taking office again and again, so the grand trial still cannot begin."
"At first, we didn't even know his name. We only found it out by pressing the guardian deity for answers, and that ended up angering the island's god."
"But I really wanted to see what kind of person the new king chosen by the guardian deity actually is. In the end, I still didn't run into him."
"And you are the champion candidate he has his eye on? Then let's compete. You and me. Let's see which of us can become champion."
Skyla was deeply surprised. She had not expected this girl to suddenly challenge her.
"Guardian deity? I don't really understand. But since you also seem connected to him, I won't lose either."
In any case, plenty of people came up to her out of nowhere wanting to battle. As a Gym Leader, Skyla had already seen more than enough people like that. Especially younger girls who wanted to prove their own strength.
Sure enough, Kahili immediately spoke with a serious expression.
"I train more than ten hours every day. Six hours of swinging practice, four hours of battling. No matter what, even back home, I am one of the top Flying-type specialists. I will absolutely win."
"The western stars and the sinking sun. Alola also has stories of the sun, the moon, and the star ark."
Kahili. Alola period, Flying-type Elite Four member, age unknown. Currently, perhaps fourteen.
The two girls began competing in a strange sort of rivalry. Among these Flying-type experts, there were also certain people who had not wanted to come at all, only to be temporarily sent as participants.
One of them was a dispirited man in a suit carrying a briefcase. He looked at the enthusiastic crowd around him and shook his head in speechless resignation.
Just as a certain capitalist champion had once said to a certain office worker at a certain academy: "So you'll do anything as long as it's work? There's a competition being held in some region, so I signed you up without asking."
"Feels like something awful is about to happen again. I want to clock out early."
Western Hoenn. Forina.
After a long stretch of high-speed travel, the Infinite Pokémon arrived at the battlefield.
The sunlight here had already become unbelievably intense. Two primeval beasts had battled to the edge of the world, grinding away every rocky peak in the entire stone forest terrain.
Team Magma's drill had successfully reached the location of the device controlling Jirachi. The arrival of the Infinite Pokémon immediately injected everyone present with a powerful dose of hope.
"Latios! Latias!"
Ash stopped playing the Eon Flute, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and let out a breath of relief.
"Long time no see! How have you been?"
"Lati!"
Latias immediately threw herself into Ash's arms, while her older brother Latios looked displeased. Still, now was not the time to fuss over that.
That said, the situation here really was dangerous. Hm? Wait.
Why did this girl in front of him have the aura of another Latios on her?
May said, "Please, Latios. You can sense it, right? I've been to Southern Island too!"
"Please let me ride on your back and fight together with you! Please help us!"
Latios did not refuse May's request, because this was why they had come here in the first place.
So Latios did not hesitate for long. He immediately nodded, revealed his Mega Stone, and used telepathy.
[The situation is urgent. Prepare for Mega Evolution.]
May's eyes lit up. Seeing Ash still a little dazed, she quickly tossed him a Key Stone.
"I don't know whether it'll work, but let's try Mega Evolution right here!"
"Ash, let's fly up in one push. I can already see Jirachi. It's on that land demon's tail!"
"Team Magma will repair the device. We'll attack it with moves and cut off its tail!"
"Okay! Then let's go! I don't know what Mega Evolution is, but please explain it to me during the battle!"
Ash climbed onto Latias. The younger Eon Pokémon was smaller than an ordinary Latias, but Ash himself was not very big either. After all, he was still only a ten-year-old kid.
And during this period, the younger sister had trained too.
"Follow my movements. Unite the human heart with the Pokémon's will, and let bonds and wishes produce a powerful phenomenon. Even Pokémon that have already reached the final stage of evolution can rise one step higher through Mega Evolution!"
"This phenomenon releases the hidden energy inside a Pokémon's body, temporarily allowing it to exert power beyond ordinary evolution. It can even rival the power held by mighty Legendary Pokémon!"
"In other regions, this phenomenon seems to have been discovered only recently, but in Hoenn, this power has been passed down for more than a thousand years!"
"Though it may not necessarily succeed..."
Sweat rolled down May's face. It was not only because of the high heat and the scorching air, but also because of the tension in her heart.
She did not share a bond with this Latios, so she might not be able to successfully transmit life energy to him.
"According to the secrets unraveled by the Draconids, there must be a powerful transmission and resonance between the human spirit and the Pokémon. That resonance triggers a change in the body, so Mega Evolution also requires a specific physical change as a condition."
"The life energy contained in a Key Stone is gradually consumed when Mega Evolution is used, causing the Trainer to feel physical fatigue as well."
"I'm starting, Latios. Although this is our first time meeting, please trust me!"
[I trust you. You carry the aura of another Latios. I once received help from them, so I will unconditionally trust the person they trusted.]
In that instant, the spiritual resonance between two lives was complete. Amid scattered, shining light, Latios transformed.
"Latios, Mega Evolve!"
May panted lightly. After Latios Mega Evolved, he could soar through the sky at a supersonic speed of Mach 4. With that kind of speed, even the land demon could not possibly catch him.
This was also Latios's first time Mega Evolving. He felt his power strengthen, along with an uncontrollable surge welling up inside him.
Fortunately, Psychic-type Pokémon were best at calming the mind. And he had also trained for a while.
So...
[There is some burden, but it is not a problem.]
Ash suddenly looked puzzled. "Wait. The Draconids you mentioned... are they the same people Mr. Maxie was talking about?"
May froze slightly. "Huh?"
"Ahem. There's been another intelligence issue. Coordination has never gone smoothly. I can't believe we weren't informed of this."
Maxie coughed once.
"I think I understand now. The craftsmen who created the Eon Flute, the people who unraveled the secret of Mega Evolution, and even those who know the AZOTH Project inside and out, who have been providing us with information the whole time."
"They are all the same person. And right now, the one controlling Groudon in battle is him."
Because Hoenn's inheritance was relatively complete, Kalos had only just begun researching Mega Evolution, while the secret arts of the Tower of Mastery, hidden within history, were gradually surfacing.
Of course, the fact that Mega Stones were born from the Kalos ultimate weapon's blast three thousand years ago did not contradict Hoenn's ancient traditions. First, there was a difference in timing. Second, Mega Stones could clearly appear through different methods.
Even in the movie, there had been a Mega Wave that could forcibly induce Mega Evolution without a bond. That was precisely the technology of the Azoth Kingdom, a kingdom closely connected to the name AZOTH.
In short, burning away one's life force was only an ideal method. Evolving through bonds reduced the burden on both Pokémon and human. But if other methods were used, the burden on both sides increased. If the Mega Wave was used, then only the Pokémon bore the burden, while the human was unaffected.
Life energy and natural energy were interchangeable in certain respects. However, how natural power could be converted into life power was a secret known only to the Azoth Kingdom, which possessed Soul-Heart technology. It was also part of AZ's legacy from three thousand years ago.
"Now everything connects," Brock said from behind them, rubbing his chin. "Looks like we really did happen to run into someone extraordinary."
Although Brock usually handled the opening of movie-style plots, he was not responsible for resolving their endings. Of course, when it came to being a strategist and analyst, he was always reliable.
"I see! The fog in my mind has cleared. Still, Mr. Hikaru really does know a lot of strange secrets!"
Ash gripped the Key Stone in his hand.
"Then, just like before, he'll probably pull off something incredible from somewhere and solve this mess, right? Like in Alto Mare. Even though he wasn't there, a flute he made appeared!"
"I heard this was a precious item, but I didn't expect it to be connected to a legend."
Brock looked helpless. "I think we talked about that last time... No, maybe we didn't."
Ash's forgetfulness made even Brock uncertain.
"Life. Bonds. Right, back at the Crystal Tower, I felt something like that before."
"Is it similar to Aura?"
The boy in the cap closed his eyes. Under May's astonished gaze, both he and Latias began radiating an intense light.
Ash murmured, "I once heard this phrase from Mr. Hikaru."
"The Aura is with me."
Powerful ripples spread outward from the boy. Amid the dazzling light, it was complete.
"Latias!"
"Mega Evolve!"
"A-Aura?!"
This was May's first time seeing that kind of power. That was only natural, since Aura had not really been passed down in Hoenn. If an Aura Guardian had appeared here, then the matter of Mega Evolution would not have needed to be treated as such a mysterious secret.
Of course, Archie, Maxie, Steven, and the others all firmly believed in the bonds between humans and Pokémon. So even though the two besides Steven had done evil things, they themselves did not think of it that way. They were simply fighting for their own ideals. Because of that, they could also perform Mega Evolution.
After all, the versions of the two leaders in the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire worldview were somewhat different from their original versions. Though the two men did repent at the end of Emerald, in the Rainbow Rocket event, the way the two of them behaved was completely unhinged.
Officially, the older versions from the old generations had basically been abandoned in favor of focusing on the new-generation versions of the two leaders. So although they were different versions of the same two people, they should really be treated as four different people. Even their life experiences had deviated severely. Aside from looking alike, what else was the same?
"It seems to be a power from a faraway region. Truly unbelievable. Just who is this boy? As expected of a child who can hear the voice of the stars."
Maxie pushed up his glasses and looked toward May.
"Then I'm counting on you as well."
Mega Latios and Mega Latias launched fierce attacks at the land demon's tail.
Ash shouted, "Dragon Pulse!"
May shouted, "Luster Purge!"
"Graaah!"
The land demon sensed its attackers and repeated its old trick. Or rather, its only available method of combat was attacking with tentacles.
May called, "Ally Switch!"
Latios released a mysterious power, swapping his position with Latias.
In the instant they changed places, the tentacle attack missed.
"Whoa! What an amazing move. It can instantly shift your own position. I never saw that in Alto Mare!"
Ash was also very surprised, while Latias let out a cheerful cry.
Of course. That was a move she had worked so hard to learn during this period.
And there were even more wondrous moves.
Still, that girl could immediately tell what moves her brother could use. That was incredible.
"I heard she's Professor Birch's daughter!"
Ash answered, but seeing the younger Eon Pokémon's confused expression, he could only give an apologetic smile.
"You probably don't know what a professor is. Never mind!"
The land demon's attack missed. It intended to release more slime tentacles, but at that moment, Groudon charged over fiercely.
Once again, it pinned the creature down, used Seismic Toss, lifted it up, and slammed it away.
The tentacle assault was interrupted. Along with the blazing high-temperature fire Groudon spat out, the land demon turned its body again. The brainless creature only knew how to attack the living being with the greatest natural energy. It immediately forgot the attack it had just suffered and placed its target back on Groudon.
Hikaru said, "So that's it. Because I can't hear the voice of the stars, I didn't know where Jirachi was. After all, that is something only friends can do."
"Sometimes, knowing a little more information means you end up knowing nothing at all."
"But as long as we've seen through the opponent's weakness, that won't matter. Speaking of which, if Jirachi is in the tail, using an overly powerful attack might injure the Star Child while destroying the tail. Better to leave the direct attack to the boys and girls."
"Cutting off the tail and removing its power... What is this, a Saiyan Great Ape?"
"But there is a move that destroys the opponent's body. And it happens to be one Groudon is very good at."
"Groudon, use Thunder!"
The special move it had used at the Embedded Tower. Groudon could gather the static electricity in the air and release it as lightning at an ultra-high multiplier.
It gathered all of Forina's electricity. And the land demon was a Normal-type existence, so...
This was a rare scene where an Electric-type move could affect a Ground-type, or pseudo-Ground-type, opponent.
Primal Reversion Groudon raised both claws, and violent golden lightning formed just like that. Even without dark clouds or rain, the lightning's power did not weaken in the slightest.
And even if its accuracy was halved, the land demon's body was far too enormous.
Even a blind throw could not possibly miss.
"Ruuuuurgh!"
Thunder appeared under intense sunlight. A true bolt from the blue.
The fierce lightning brought the land demon's movements to an abrupt stop. The powerful electric shock in the atmosphere, the blast of high temperature and pressure, caused its body to begin cracking and melting as it let out a shrill howl.
In the end, even if it did not waver before any move after fighting Groudon for so long, Groudon also possessed the ability to absorb natural energy.
Therefore, the longer the battle went on, the more it was fighting against all of nature itself. The power of the earth was endless. Even if it drained all the land energy in Hoenn, beneath the ocean still lay seabed earth that had yet to rise.
May saw the land demon's rigid state and sensed it too.
The voice of the stars.
"...This is the chance. I was waiting for this exact moment! In its tail... there!"
"Latios, you have telepathy. You should know that only you and I can precisely locate that spot. So please!"
"Listen to the voice of the stars with me!"
"Charge Beam!"
Mega Latios charged his body full of electricity. He nervously glanced back at May and found that this super Hoenn girl seemed completely unconcerned by the lightning coursing over her body. It seemed he was controlling it well.
Training had paid off.
However, although this move involved charging electricity, it was not the kind of attack that required waiting before firing.
It dealt damage to the target. It fired an electric beam at the opponent. Because it was filled with electricity...
There was a 70% chance of raising the user's Special Attack by one stage.
Latios's electric shot precisely struck a focal point. Along with the melting caused by Thunder and Charge Beam, a silver glow appeared at the land demon's tail.
Jirachi's voice was calling out. After losing the response and energy of the comet, Jirachi had been unable to break free from the demon's restraints. But now, it could.
Electricity burst outward. The silver-shining Star Child shot out like a meteor. Having lost that energy source, the land demon immediately became restless and agitated. The slime tentacles all over its body began flailing wildly, determined to seize Jirachi back.
Mega Latios had no choice but to dodge among the tentacles, while Jirachi, exhausted, could no longer float in the sky.
It was falling.
"Latios, hurry... Jirachi!"
May was frantic. But at that moment, an invisible light suddenly refracted into view. From below, it caught Jirachi, then flew out from beneath the land demon's abdomen, avoiding the tentacles' assault.
Ash gave a thumbs-up.
"Its whole body is covered in tentacles, but there aren't any on its belly or underneath!"
"Jirachi, secured!"
"Ash!"
May looked at the figure that had suddenly appeared with delight and immediately understood what had just happened.
Invisibility.
Latias could wrap her body in glasslike feathers, refracting light to alter her appearance and conceal herself.
"It's safe once we get here!"
Ash and May broke through the blockade of tentacles and arrived on a rocky peak near Groudon. There, they saw Hikaru, who had stayed behind and was making a special Poké Ball.
Ash said, "Long time no see, Mr. Hikaru!"
May said, "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Draconid!"
The contents of their greetings were completely different, but Hikaru did not mind. Instead, he looked at the weakened Jirachi.
"The AZOTH Project... or perhaps I should call it the New AZOTH Project. Now we can begin the most important step. We send the Star Child into the high heavens."
"Only after it absorbs the power of the Millennium Comet again can the Star Child help us fulfill our wish and return everything to its origin. A is the beginning. Z is the end."
Its energy had been drained dry. Even Sacred Ash could do nothing in this situation.
Every Mythical Pokémon had different lore, as well as a corresponding place within nature.
May said, "Send it into space? In other words, according to the original plan, we're supposed to have the backup candidate wear a spacesuit? But we don't have a corresponding Pokémon that can rise to high altitude!"
"So are we going to the Mossdeep Space Center? The rocket there should be prepared as a backup plan!"
Hikaru pointed toward the sky.
"On the scale of the universe, looking down from that height is enough to take all of Hoenn into view. We don't need to go to the Mossdeep Space Center."
"Besides, the Draconid successor Zinnia is currently at the Sky Pillar, waiting to ascend."
"The finish line of the Sky Competition, the final place where everyone's wishes will gather, is also the Sky Pillar."
"As long as Jirachi is there, the power of those wishes can gather upward from the Sky Pillar and spread into outer space above all of Hoenn. Just like the legend from a thousand years ago. All we need is for enough people to gather at the Sky Pillar."
"So we don't need to go to Mossdeep City. Our destination is the Sky Pillar. Rising from the western sky and reaching the eastern sea. Aside from Rayquaza, the Pokémon capable of reaching outer space is right here."
Hikaru patted Aerodactyl, praised it for doing well, and returned the pterosaur to its Nest Ball.
Immediately afterward...
A colossal figure, like a rocket, appeared. Though it had long since been prepared, facing an actual launch still brought considerable worry.
"Celesteela!"
May was deeply shaken. "I-It's huge! Why does it look like a rocket? What kind of Pokémon is that?!"
Ash, out of habit, pulled out his Pokédex and scanned it.
However...
[No data. Unknown Pokémon.]
"How could a Pokédex from Kanto, Johto, or Hoenn possibly scan Team Member Celesteela? She's a Steel- and Flying-type Pokémon. You can tell just by looking, can't you? She's a launch vehicle!"
(End of Chapter)
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