Chapter 587: Delta Episode (2)
~Azure S. POV~
[Kanto Region, Later, Pallet Town – Sky's Airship]
The hum of the airship's engines was a low, comforting thrum against the vast silence of the Kanto night. Below, Pallet Town twinkled like scattered embers, a peaceful sight that belied the cosmic horror now looming over their heads.
I stood on the observation deck, hands clasped behind my back, the cool night air whipping gently at my coat. My Pikachu was a warm weight on my shoulder, his small snores a familiar lullaby. Eevee, affectionately named Sparky, nestled comfortably on my head, her soft fur a ticklish presence. In my jacket pocket, a miniature Pichu (Mew) stirred slightly, radiating sleepy contentment.
Gengar's voice, a raspy, playful whisper, floated from behind me, "They're down for the count, Boss."
I didn't even need to turn. Gengar phased through the bulkhead, a mischievous grin playing on her translucent face, finishing, "Manaphy and Phione are tucked into their water beds. Little squirts were out like a light."
I replied, a small smile touching my lips, "Thanks, Gengar."
My heart softened thinking of the two young Mythicals, barely a few weeks old, totally oblivious to the impending catastrophe. They deserved to grow up in a world, not merely a memory.
Just minutes prior, I'd been on a rapid-fire series of phone calls, the Arc Phone clutched in my hand, its Rotom buzzing with frantic energy. The news, when it finally coalesced, had been grim, a chilling echo of past crises, but amplified tenfold.
I murmured, the phrase tasting bitter on my tongue, "World endangered… again."
It felt like a broken record, a cosmic joke played at humanity's expense.
The Airship, a sanctuary I'd come to call home, felt strangely silent now. The usual bustling energy of my Pokémon team was subdued, most of them resting, unaware of the Sword of Damocles hanging precariously above their heads.
Only the ones most attuned to my aura, or those privy to Rotom's hushed whispers through the Arc Phone, understood the gravity of the situation. Steven Stone, the Hoenn Champion, had been the one to break the news, his usually calm voice laced with a tremor I'd rarely heard.
His sources, deep within the space exploration community, had confirmed it: the Grand Meteor Delta. Gigantic. Unstoppable. 10 days. 10 days until it hit. 10 days until this planet, our home, was utterly annihilated.
I closed my eyes, the image of that monstrous celestial body burning behind my eyelids. Earth rendered null. The thought was paralyzing, but I couldn't afford paralysis as I faced the worst. I'd faced down Groudon and Kyogre, Dialga and Palkia, the Legendary Titans, even Arceus itself.
I'd won four Pokémon League Tournaments and conquered two Battle Frontiers by the age of 17. Transmigrated from another world, I carried knowledge and abilities that no one else possessed…
This wasn't just my problem; it was everyone's. And somehow, it always fell to me.
The plan Steven had relayed was audacious, bordering on insane. I was to be the spearhead. I was to become the one-man army, soaring into the vacuum of space with Mega Rayquaza to shatter the meteor.
Steven, with the unprecedented cooperation of the world's superpowers – Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Galar, Paldea, and more – was already designing a specialized spacesuit for me. It had to be ready in 2 days.
2 days to equip myself for a suicide mission.
The list of attendees on those calls had been a who's who of regional power: Steven, flanked by his Hoenn Elite Four and a grim-faced Zinnia; Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion, her gaze piercing even through the holocaster screen; Alder, the Unova Champion, looking unusually somber; Diantha from Kalos, her usual elegance replaced by steely resolve; Leon, Galar's undefeated Champion, with Chairman Rose and Oleana by his side, their faces etched with concern; and Geeta, the Chairwoman and Champion of Paldea, with her Elite Four, all sharing the same grim expression.
Even the various Pokémon Association Chairmen, sans Galar and Paldea, had been present, their faces pale with the weight of the news. They had all heard the plan, discussed and debated it, but ultimately accepted it as their last, desperate hope. Still, a chilling doubt pricked at the edges of my mind…
Malva, the former Team Flare Admin, was a loose cannon.
Under Lysandre's command, she easily could – or would – spread this information. Panic was a tool Team Flare cherished, a means to control and reshape the world to their twisted vision.
Was keeping this quiet truly an option?
Or merely a temporary deferral of the inevitable chaos?
Pikachu nudged my cheek, his small voice a question, "Pika…"
Eevee stirred on my head, letting out a soft purr. Even Mew, from my pocket, radiated a subtle wave of concern through my aura. They sensed my unease, the storm brewing within me.
I whispered, stroking Pikachu's head, "It's nothing, guys. Just… a lot to think about."
*WHOOOSH*
Before I could sink deeper into contemplation, a familiar ripple in the air, a profound shift in the very fabric of reality, brushed against my aura. It was distinct, powerful, unmistakable. A grin, genuine and relieved, finally stretched across my face.
They were here.
*Thwips*
With a series of soft thwips and shimmering distortions in the air, they materialized. First, the imposing figure of Mewtwo, hovering with an almost regal stillness, its purple tail flicking gently. Its eyes, usually sharp and intense, held a rare depth of concern.
Then, two graceful, almost ethereal forms of Deoxys appeared, their crystalline bodies reflecting the faint light of the airship, ready and alert. Following them, a magnificent emerald streak, Rayquaza, roared softly, its serpentine body coiling effortlessly in the limited space, eyes burning with a primal power.
Finally, Celebi, the Guardian of the Forest, fluttered into existence, its delicate wings iridescent, its gaze ancient and wise. Gengar exclaimed, her form flickering with excitement, "Hooooo! Lookie here, Boss! The big guns arrived!"
Mewtwo's voice resonated directly in my mind, a clear, powerful link, 'Indeed. Your summons did not go unnoticed, Master.'
My Arc Phone, still in my hand, buzzed again. This time, it wasn't Rotom's frantic energy, but a series of notifications. Each of the Legendary Pokémon now held small, specialized Rotom Phones, a custom I'd put in place for emergency communication. I'd sent them the urgent text message earlier; the stark reality of the incoming danger lay bare in concise, chilling words. They understood.
I said calmly, my voice rich with genuine gratitude, "Thank you for coming, all of you. The situation is… unprecedented."
I looked at each of them, my resolve strengthening, continuing, "As you know, the vacuum of space is… unforgiving. Out of all the Legendary Pokémon I've befriended, only the four of you, along with Rotom and Porygon-Z, possess the natural resilience or adaptability to survive out there."
Porygon-Z, my digital partner, wasn't physically present, but its essence was always accessible through my Arc Phone, ready to deploy, adding, "I'll need your combined strength and support to even attempt this."
Rayquaza let out a low rumble, a sound that vibrated through the deck. It was a challenge, a readiness for battle etched into its very being. The Deoxys shifted, their forms subtly changing, ready for whatever crisis their cosmic kin might present.
I began, turning my full attention to Celebi, and asked, "Before we move to strategy, I need to understand something. Celebi, you have the sight of time. How did this Grand Meteor Delta appear? I caught the first Deoxys that should have caused it, the one from the original timeline. Something else must have happened to trigger this event."
Celebi tilted its head, its large blue eyes seeming to gaze into eternity. It nodded, a gentle understanding passing between us. A soft, shimmering glow emanated from its body, expanding rapidly, encompassing all of us in a dome of iridescent light.
*Ripple*
Time ripples, like iridescent waves, began to distort the air around us, forming a window into the past, or perhaps, a branching future that had become our present. Even Gengar, ever curious, phased closer, her eyes wide.
The vision unfolded before us. We saw the vastness of space, a swirling canvas of nebulae and distant stars…
*SHERRRR*
Then, out of nowhere, a tear- a shimmering, unstable portal- ripped open. And through it, impossibly fast, spewed the colossal Grand Meteor Delta, hurtling towards our world like a vengeful god. The sheer scale of it was breathtaking, terrifying.
The Pokémon and I watched in baffled silence. This wasn't a natural orbital body. This was… placed.
*Ripple*
The vision shifted, diving deeper into the temporal ripples. Now, we saw another timeline, another world. There was Steven Stone, younger, perhaps more desperate. He stood before a massive rocket, a complex array of machinery humming around it.
Next to him, a team of scientists, frantic but determined. This was his first plan; the vision showed, using something called the Dimensional Shifter. The goal: to launch the rocket into space, intercept the meteor, and, rather than destroy it, warp it away.
Then, a new presence flickered into the vision.
A vibrant young woman with wild, dark hair and an earnest expression, clad in Draconid tribal attire. Zinnia. She spoke, her voice echoing faintly through the temporal distortion. Her words were a warning, a desperate plea for caution.
*Shiiii*
But as quickly as she appeared, Zinnia's image began to waver, fading like smoke in the wind. Her voice dissolved into static, her form flickering, then gone. My mind clicked. A cold dread seeped into my bones, followed by a surge of understanding that was almost sickening in its implications.
That Zinnia… she didn't exist in that timeline. She faded because her intervention, her wisdom, her very presence, was absent there.
Celebi's time ripple shimmered, then collapsed, the vision receding into the ether. The silence that followed was heavy, pregnant with a new, horrifying truth. Mewtwo articulated, its mental voice laced with a rare inflection of disbelief, 'So… Their solution was to… eject the problem into another reality?'
One of the Deoxys gave a faint, almost imperceptible shake of its head, its crystalline plates humming softly. The other brought a limb-like arm to its forehead, a gesture that perfectly mimicked someone rubbing their temples in exasperation.
My Pokémon understood. My eyes scanned their faces, seeing their collective realization. In one timeline, or perhaps a parallel world, Steven Stone's brilliant but morally ambiguous plan had succeeded.
He'd saved their world by dropping the hot potato – or rather, the extinction-level meteor – directly into ours. And because the Zinnia of that timeline hadn't existed, hadn't been there to voice her crucial concerns, Steven and his father, Director Stone, had likely proceeded without truly considering the consequences for other dimensions.
I sighed, a long, weary exhalation that felt like it carried the weight of multiple realities. I mumbled, running a hand through my hair, "Well, that explains it. Good job, alternate Steven. Thanks for the present."
It was dark, gallows humor, but it helped cut through the initial shock. I sighed, stating, "Doesn't change our current problem, though."
I looked up at Rayquaza, whose eyes were now glowing with a fierce, anticipatory light. I added, a small, wry smile touching my lips, "Still, on the bright side, at least you get to eat it, huh?"
Rayquaza let out a triumphant roar, a sound of pure joy and power, happy at the prospect of devouring such a massive, celestial snack. Its serpentine body coiled tighter, eyes fixed on the distant stars, already envisioning the feast. The sheer, terrifying absurdity of the situation almost made me laugh.
I turned to the two Deoxys, their forms still shifting subtly, radiating an alien grace, asking, "Speaking of eating… the Delta Episode usually involves fighting another Deoxys. Did either of you sense… any of your kin inside that thing?"
The two Mythicals paused, their forms going perfectly still. They extended unseen tendrils of energy, probes reaching out across the vast interstellar distances, attempting to sense through the echoes of the time ripples.
It was a moment of profound concentration, the air around them thrumming with their psychic efforts. After a long, tense beat, both gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod. Another Deoxys. Of course.
I sighed again, running both hands over my face this time. I muttered the phrase, a familiar refrain in my life, "Mythical Pokémon problems. Always a Mythical Pokémon problem. Alright then…"
I looked at my two Deoxys, asking curiously, "You'll help, right? To communicate to… convince it? If it needs convincing."
The two Deoxys gave more definite nods this time, their resolve clear. They would stand by me, as they always had.
I exclaimed, feeling a renewed surge of determination, "Excellent."
This was it. No matter the origin, no matter the absurdity, the problem was here, and I was the solution.
The airship's engines hummed on, carrying us through the Kanto night. The stars above remained brilliant, indifferent to the fate of the small blue planet they adorned. But that indifference wouldn't last.
In 10 days, the entire world would either vanish or be saved. And for the next nine, I had a job to do. A very big, very planetary-saving job. My glance drifted to my Arc Phone, still in my hand. Rotom was quiet now, sensing my focus. Porygon-Z, ever vigilant, was undoubtedly ready inside its digital realm. Mewtwo, Deoxys, Rayquaza, Celebi – my celestial task force. They were ready.
The quiet calm on the airship, overlooking the tranquil Pallet Town, felt like the last breath before diving into the deepest, darkest ocean. Soon, the world would know. Soon, panic would erupt.
But for now, in the solitude of my airship, I held the secret and the burden, alone.
/////
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, Mossdeep City – Mossdeep Space Center]
Elsewhere, a middle-aged man with tidy hair, an office shirt, and square glasses sat at a terminal in the Mossdeep Space Center. His name was Arthur, though that was merely a convenience.
His real allegiance was to Team Flare. A Holocaster Phone hummed to life on his desk, an Admin's face glowing in the projection. The orders were clear: spread chaos. The information about the impending doom, the secret conversation amongst the Champions – it was all to be leaked.
Arthur's lips curled into a malicious grin. He was a small cog, but a crucial one in Team Flare's machinery of disruption. The email had arrived moments ago, containing the encrypted video of the Champion's meeting, their futile attempt to keep the meteor's threat quiet to prevent mass panic.
Arthur sneered as he thought, 'What fools. Panic was precisely the point.'
With a series of deft, practiced keystrokes, Arthur attached the video file to an email. He wasn't sending it to just one news station. He was sending it to all of them. Every major news outlet, every online video platform, every public broadcast channel.
The Grand Meteor Delta, the 9 days remaining, the planet's impending destruction – it would all be laid bare. He muttered, a self-satisfied chuckle escaping his throat, "Promotion incoming."
This would solidify his position in Team Flare, a crucial step towards Lysandre's grand vision. He imagined the headlines, the screams, the utter breakdown of society. He mused, a cruel glint in his eyes, thinking of Kalos, his intended destination, "The countryside station will disappear."
He'd be far away, safe, watching the world burn from a comfortable distance.
With his task complete, Arthur stood, stretching lazily. He could already picture it: everyone watching the evening news, abruptly told that the meteorites they'd seen were merely the harbingers of a colossal asteroid, one that would collide with the planet and annihilate everything. He couldn't wait to witness the unraveling.
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!