Then came the most tragic fate of the Meteor People.
They were once the bridge between Rayquaza and humanity, but because no one among their descendants could gain Rayquaza's approval, Rayquaza ceased to respond to their festival summons.
From then on, the Meteor People left their home, searching the world for a way to re-establish contact with Rayquaza.
As time passed, the name of the Meteor People gradually faded from memory in Abundance, leaving only scattered traces in a few ancient texts.
Only the Glass People's lineage remained unbroken.
The meaning of "Glass Island" and "Glass People" is now crystal clear.
Glass City, a city transformed from a volcanic crater formed by an underwater volcanic eruption, is surrounded by water, like a pearl embedded in the azure ocean—a true "city on the sea."
The core reason the Sootopolis people have survived to this day lies in Kyogre:
Compared to the grumpy and grumpy Groudon, and the aloof and rarely seen Rayquaza, Kyogre, as the embodiment of the sea, is gentler and more receptive to human kindness.
The Sootopolis people have passed down rituals for communicating with Kyogre, with the annual Water Festival being a crucial part of this tradition.
The Sootopolis Water Festival, held annually on December 12th, is one of the grandest events in Hoenn.
It is said that if the prayers and sacrifices at the festival are sincere and moving enough to satisfy Kyogre, this legendary Pokémon will appear, bringing rain and ensuring favorable weather for the Hoenn seas.
This is why, as the festival approaches, not only do the residents of Sootopolis eagerly anticipate it, but trainers and tourists from surrounding areas also travel there specifically to catch a glimpse of Kyogre.
The new generation's successor to the Hoenn people is Wallace, the current Hoenn Champion, also known as the "Prince of Water."
The teardrop-shaped ornament he wears on his chest, meticulously crafted from Kyogre's scales, is the core prop of the succession ceremony and the key to communicating with Kyogre.
Wallace's teacher, the previous successor Juan, is an even more legendary figure.
While Juan is less visible in the public eye today, and his fame may not seem as widespread as Wallace's or Steven's, in his youth, he was no less formidable than either of them.
Juan is known as the "Artist of Water," specializing in using hail, whirlpools, and rain to create intricate defensive and counter-attacking tactics. His battle style is both visually stunning and practical.
More importantly, he was the initiator of the first Pokemon Contest. It was his idea that gave rise to the profession of Trainer Coordinator, influencing the entire Hoenn region and beyond.
Juan's role was indispensable in Devon Corporation's rapid expansion in the Hoenn region, even allowing it to rival the established giant, Silph Corporation.
Silph Corporation, as the pioneer of the Poké Ball market, had a deep-rooted foundation. Devon Corporation, as a newcomer, carved out a significant portion of the Poké Ball market from Silph.
How could Silph Corporation possibly give up?
The reason Devon Corporation's expansion was so successful was largely due to the deep friendship between Juan and Devon Corporation's founder, Joseph.
The two were inseparable friends in their youth, often exploring ruins and traveling together.
However, their ambitions differed. Juan chose to become a Trainer, pioneering the path of a Coordinator; Joseph, obsessed with invention and technology, ultimately founded Devon Corporation, but their friendship never wavered.
As a Crypt Lord capable of communicating with Kyogre, Juan's influence was enough to pave the way for Devon Corporation's expansion. The close bond between Steven and Wallace, like brothers, stems from their childhood friendship.
As the son of Joseph and the brother of Juan, they've played together since they were little, practically childhood sweethearts.
Although Steven is nominally the former Hoenn Champion, the title is actually shared by Steven and Wallace.
When either of them gets tired of the position and decides to go on a trip, they temporarily step down, letting the other take over.
Just as Lionel was deep in thought, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind him, accompanied by a howling cry for help.
Lionel turned around and saw Deino scrambling towards him, grabbing his trouser leg and desperately trying to burrow behind him. Its eyes, visible through its loose black hair, were filled with the plea for help.
The next second, Larvesta followed closely behind, its face contorted in a fierce expression, clearly not yet done bullying Deino.
"Alright, alright, stop fooling around."
Come here.
Lionel reluctantly bent down and picked up Larvesta.
The chubby bug was still thrashing about, its little claws flailing in the air, making dissatisfied "squeak" sounds.
Lionel placed it on the bed and gently tapped its head:
"Stop bullying Deino all the time. Tyrantrum will be back in a few days, then you can go play with it, okay?"
Upon hearing the words "Tyrantrum," Larvesta instantly quieted down, its round eyes flashing with excitement.
It hadn't ridden its own Tyrantrum, its personal mount, in a long time. Every time it lay on Tyrantrum's broad back, it felt like the most powerful elf in the world.
Thinking of this, Larvesta immediately forgot about Deino and pestered Lionel to let him video chat with the Tyrantrum on his phone, wanting to see how it was doing.
Lionel smiled and handed it the phone, letting it fiddle with it, while he turned to comfort Deino:
The little guy was rubbing against his leg with a pitiful expression, as if accusing Larvesta of its "tyranny"...
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lionel boarded the passenger ship bound for Sootopolis City with his Pokémon.
He carried a small Vulpix on his left and a small Vulpix on his right, the two little guys still half asleep, their fluffy tails draped over his arms, making soft purring sounds.
This ship was named "Ocean Wonders" The "Traces" passenger ship was significantly larger than the boats heading to Mossdeep City, and its deck was already packed with people.
Most were trainers and tourists like Lionel, who had come specifically to attend the Water Festival, along with many reporters carrying cameras, their faces filled with anticipation.
Lionel found a deck chair and sat down, letting the two little foxes lie on him, gently stroking their fluffy tails with his fingertips.
The Flame Vulpix comfortably squinted its eyes, rubbing its head against his palm; Ice Vulpix curled up into a ball, burying its face in his arm, only its pair of furry ears showing.
Just then, the passenger ship suddenly rocked slightly, and the captain's steady voice came over the loudspeaker:
"Attention passengers, a large number of wild Pokémon have gathered in the waters ahead. We will be slowing down slightly. Please be careful on deck. Thank you for your cooperation." "
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