After that came the Draconid People, whose fate was the most lamentable of all.
They had once served as the bridge between Rayquaza and humanity, acting as intermediaries who could communicate with the sky sovereign. Yet as generations passed, no descendant among them was able to gain Rayquaza's recognition again. Because of this, Rayquaza no longer responded to their ceremonial summons.
From that moment on, the Draconid People abandoned their homeland, scattering across the world in search of a way to reconnect with Rayquaza, clinging to the hope that one day they might restore that lost bond.
As time went on, the name of the Draconid People gradually faded from the Hoenn region, leaving behind only faint traces within a handful of ancient texts.
Only the people of Sootopolitan endured, their lineage never once broken.
The meaning behind Sootopolis Island and the "Sootopolitan" could not have been more obvious.
Sootopolis City itself was formed from a volcanic crater created by an undersea eruption. Surrounded entirely by water, it resembled a brilliant gem set within the vast blue ocean, a true "city upon the sea."
And the reason the people of Sootopolis had managed to survive through the ages lay at the very core in Kyogre.
Compared to Groudon, whose temper was notoriously volatile and who possessed a severe waking temper, and Rayquaza, who was proud, solitary, and rarely ever appeared, Kyogre, as the embodiment of the ocean, had a far gentler disposition and was far more willing to respond to the goodwill of humans.
For generations, the Sootopolitan had passed down rituals to communicate with Kyogre. Among these, the annual Water Festival was the most important.
Every year on December 12, the Water Festival of Sootopolis City was one of the grandest events in all of Hoenn.
It was said that if the prayers and offerings during the festival were sincere and moving enough to satisfy Kyogre, the legendary Pokémon would reveal itself, bringing down life giving rain to bless Hoenn's seas with favorable weather and calm tides.
That was why, whenever the festival approached, not only the residents of Sootopolis eagerly awaited it, but trainers and tourists from surrounding regions would also make the journey, hoping to catch a glimpse of Kyogre's true form.
The new generation inheritor of the Sootopolis people was none other than the current Hoenn Champion, known as the "Prince of Water," Wallace.
The droplet shaped ornament he wore on his chest was carefully polished from one of Kyogre's scales. It was the core artifact of the inheritance ritual and the key to communicating with Kyogre.
As for Wallace's teacher, the previous inheritor Juan, he was a legendary figure in his own right.
Although Juan rarely appeared in public now and his fame seemed overshadowed by Wallace and Steven, in his younger days, his reputation had been no less brilliant than theirs.
Juan was known as the "Artist of Water," excelling at combining Hail, Whirlpool, and Rain Dance into intricate defensive counterattack strategies. His battling style was both beautiful to watch and highly practical.
More importantly, he was the founder of the very first Contest, and it was his innovation that gave rise to the profession of Coordinators, influencing not only Hoenn but other regions as well.
The Devon Corporation's rapid expansion throughout Hoenn, even to the point of rivaling the long established Silph Co., could not have happened without Juan's influence.
After all, Silph Co., as the pioneer of Poké Ball technology, had deep rooted foundations. Devon, as a newer company, had forcefully carved out a significant share of the Poké Ball market from Silph.
How could Silph have simply let that happen?
The reason Devon expanded so smoothly was largely due to the deep friendship between Juan and the founder of Devon, Joseph Stone.
In their youth, the two had been inseparable friends, often exploring ruins and traveling together. Though their ambitions eventually diverged, with Juan becoming a trainer and pioneer of Coordinators, and Joseph Stone devoting himself to invention and technology, their friendship had never once changed.
As a member of the Sootopolitan lineage capable of communicating with Kyogre, Juan's influence alone was enough to make any opposing force think twice, indirectly clearing the path for Devon's rise.
As for why Steven and Wallace were as close as brothers, that too stemmed from their shared upbringing.
As the son of Joseph Stone and the disciple of Juan, they had grown up together since childhood, practically inseparable.
Although Steven was nominally the former Champion of Hoenn, in truth, the position of Champion was shared between him and Wallace.
Whenever one of them grew tired of holding the position and wished to travel, they would temporarily step down and leave the responsibility to the other.
…
Just as Theo was still deep in thought, a sudden flurry of hurried footsteps came from behind him, accompanied by a distressed howl.
Turning around, he saw Deino tumbling toward him, practically rolling as it rushed over. It clung tightly to his pant leg, desperately trying to hide behind him, its bangs parted just enough to reveal eyes filled with a clear plea for help.
In the next moment, Larvesta came chasing after it, wearing a fierce expression, clearly not finished with bullying Deino.
"Alright, alright, that's enough," Theo said helplessly as he bent down and scooped Larvesta up.
The chubby bug continued to struggle, its little claws flailing in the air as it chirped in dissatisfaction.
Placing it on the bed, Theo gently tapped its head.
"Stop bullying Deino all the time. Tyrantrum will be back in a few days. Why don't you go play with it then?"
The moment Larvesta heard the name Tyrantrum, it immediately calmed down, its round eyes lighting up with excitement.
It had not ridden its exclusive "mount" in a long time. Every time it lay sprawled across Tyrantrum's broad back, it felt like the strongest Pokémon in the world.
At that thought, Larvesta instantly forgot all about Deino and began pestering Theo to bring out his phone so it could video call Tyrantrum and see how it had been doing recently.
Theo chuckled and handed over the phone, letting it fiddle with it while he turned to comfort Deino.
The little one was rubbing against his leg pitifully, as if lodging a complaint about Larvesta's "atrocities."
…
Early the next morning, just as dawn began to break, Theo boarded a passenger ship bound for Sootopolis City with his Pokémon.
In his arms, he held one white Vulpix on the left and one red Vulpix on the right. Both little foxes were still half asleep, their fluffy tails draped over his arms as they let out soft, sleepy breaths.
This cruise ship, named the Ocean Miracle, was even larger than the one that had taken him to Mossdeep City. The deck was already crowded with people.
Most were trainers and tourists like Theo, heading to attend the Water Festival. There were also quite a few reporters carrying cameras, their faces filled with anticipation.
Theo found a reclining chair and sat down, letting the two small foxes rest on him as his fingers gently played with their soft, fluffy tails.
The fire type Vulpix squinted contentedly, nuzzling against his palm, while the ice type Vulpix curled into a ball, burying its face into the crook of his arm, leaving only its fuzzy ears exposed.
At that moment, the ship gave a slight jolt, and the captain's steady voice came through the broadcast system.
"Attention, passengers. A large group of wild Pokémon has been detected ahead. We will be slowing down temporarily. Please remain cautious on deck. Thank you for your cooperation."
(End of Chapter)