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Not knowing when Team Magma might strike, Kai didn't take any chances. The moment they left City, he released his Dragonite and took to the skies, heading straight for Mt. Pyre.
The clouds drifted within arm's reach, and the land below blurred past in an instant.
Though the distance didn't look far on the map, in reality it would take most of a day to travel on foot especially with a stretch of sea to cross and increasingly rugged terrain near the mountains. As the main road disappeared and even side paths faded away, the journey became more treacherous with every step.
Fortunately, flying spared them all that trouble.
After several hours in the air, Dragonite carried them to a peninsula. Looking down, Mt. Pyre finally came into full view.
Contrary to its ominous reputation, Mt. Pyre wasn't a barren wasteland. It was a towering, verdant mountain. Forests blanketed its base, rivers and oceans surrounded it, and thick mist constantly shrouded its peak.
Yet despite its natural beauty, something was unsettling about it.
Perhaps it was the countless Pokémon laid to rest there, but the mountain exuded an eerie, almost haunting atmosphere. Rumors even claimed that terrifying apparitions appeared at night, leading locals to forbid anyone from climbing it after sunset.
To Kai, though, it was nothing more than Ghost-type Pokémon playing tricks.
Only those who didn't understand would be frightened by such things.
Following the coordinates Anabel had sent, Kai guided Dragonite to land halfway up the mountain. The peak was still some distance away, but the dense fog above made flying dangerous. Traversing on foot was the safer choice.
After sending a quick update to Anabel while they still had signal, the two began climbing.
The mountain wasn't just forests its interior was riddled with interconnected caves, forming a vast natural labyrinth.
These caverns served as both resting places for the dead and hiding spots for elusive Ghost-type Pokémon.
Even after climbing just a few hundred meters, they had already passed several cave entrances some large enough for people, others small enough only for Rattata to squeeze through.
A chill crept through the air.
Misty shivered. "If this were any other day, I'd never set foot in a place like this."
Kai climbed onto a rock and offered her a hand. "Actually, it wasn't always called Mt. Pyre, It used to be known as Mt. Chimney. Only later did people start burying Pokémon here, and over time, the name changed."
As they climbed higher, a thin mist began to gather around them.
Misty instinctively grabbed Kai's arm, nervously scanning their surroundings.
Following faint landmarks, they eventually found a narrow, worn path likely created over decades by Flannery's grandparents. After passing through several caves, they finally reached the summit.
Strangely, the thick fog vanished here.
Sunlight poured down, revealing a peaceful, isolated world. The eerie feeling disappeared entirely, replaced by warmth and fresh air.
More importantly, there were no signs of Team Magma.
Just as they were about to search for the guardians' home, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air—
A small stone flew straight at Kai!
Before he could react, Dragonite flapped its wings and deflected it effortlessly.
Looking up, they saw a girl standing casually on a tree branch, staring down at them with dark, steady eyes.
Her outfit was… bold, to say the least.
A blue top barely covered her chest, leaving her shoulders and midriff exposed. A slit skirt revealed one long leg with every movement, and she wore simple straw sandals. Despite the mountain setting, she looked completely at ease.
It was enough for Kai to recognize her immediately.
Flannery—one of Hoenn's Elite Four.
"You must be Flannery," he called out. "We were sent by Anabel to assist you with Team Magma."
"Of course, I know you're here to help," she replied casually, hopping down from the tree. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have greeted you with just a pebble."
She landed silently, like a wild Pokémon.
Misty stared in shock.
She's… the Elite Four!? She looks our age!
But after a closer look, she relaxed.
Flannery had short hair, tanned skin, and a rough, boyish demeanor. Despite her revealing outfit, she lacked the elegance or charm Misty associated with other girls around Kai.
To Misty, Flannery felt more like a tomboy than a rival.
Completely harmless.
Flannery, unaware of Misty's inner thoughts, studied them both before frowning slightly.
"I told Anabel how serious this situation is. Why send just the two of you? Where's Drake? I heard he was nearby."
Kai shrugged. "Don't underestimate us. We're more than capable."
"Yeah!" Misty added quickly. "We've dealt with Team Magma plenty of times."
Flannery watched them for a moment, then nodded. "If Anabel trusts you, that's good enough for me. Come on—this isn't a place to talk."
She led them to a small wooden house surrounded by a garden. Fruits and vegetables grew in abundance, and tools lay scattered about—it was clearly a lived-in home.
"My grandparents used to live here," Flannery explained. "But I've sent them down the mountain. It's not safe anymore."
They continued past the house to a stone shrine.
Inside, two indentations sat on a stone pedestal.
One was empty.
The other held a glowing red orb.
"That's the Red Orb," Kai said.
Flannery nodded. "The Blue Orb was stolen by Team Aqua. I won't let this one fall into anyone else's hands."
Kai hesitated but said nothing about the Blue Orb's true location.
Misty quickly changed the subject. "If it's so important, why not hide it somewhere else?"
Flannery's expression hardened.
"Hiding it won't solve anything. Running away never does. The only way to protect it… is to defeat anyone who tries to take it."
Despite her age, her resolve was undeniable.
Only then did they truly understand—
This wasn't just a girl.
This was one of Hoenn's Elite Four.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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