"Waa～ what a gorgeous flower. Can I have it?"
The clear, sweet voice suddenly rang right in everyone's ears, making them all jolt.
It was an adorable voice, with a hint of childishness.
Lillie and the others immediately looked around, but they didn't see anyone's silhouette.
"Telepathy?"
The next second, Caitlin and Lillie both realized what that voice was.
No doubt about it—that was Telepathy. Telepathy was communication from mind to mind, and it fit perfectly with how that voice had just popped up straight from the bottom of their hearts.
"Could it be…"
Damian raised a brow and quickly took the purple crystalline mass out of his bag—but its surface still looked completely unchanged.
"Is that you, Jirachi?"
With such a cute Telepathy voice, Damian instinctively thought of Jirachi.
"Yup～ I really like it. This pretty little flower."
The crisp Telepathy chimed again—and at the same time, a faint, almost invisible glow lit up over the purple crystalline mass.
"Incredible. The Millennium Comet hasn't even arrived yet, and Jirachi's already conscious early?"
Butler was stunned. This didn't match the Jirachi data he knew at all.
Hearing that, Caitlin and Lillie both wore strange expressions, but they were also excited. Were they about to see Jirachi?
"Then wake up now and I'll give you the flower, okay?" Damian immediately said to Jirachi.
But Jirachi didn't answer again. The crystalline mass stopped glowing completely, as if Jirachi had slipped back into deep sleep.
After waiting a full minute and confirming that Jirachi had gone completely quiet, Damian fell into thought.
"Why would it suddenly be a little conscious?"
Damian found it odd. Jirachi's sleep should've been incredibly deep—definitely no worse than Kyogre's.
Before the Millennium Comet arrived, even if you dug Jirachi up and hauled it off, it shouldn't react at all.
In the movie, that was exactly what Butler did. He dug up sleeping Jirachi a few days before the Millennium Comet and carted it away; Jirachi didn't react in the slightest.
It wasn't until the Millennium Comet started that the sleeping Jirachi used Telepathy to talk to Victor and convey how much it liked him.
"Could it be because of the power of Viridian?"
Damian mulled it over. If he had to guess the only abnormal factor, it would be that he'd just injected some power of Viridian into Jirachi.
But Damian couldn't be sure that was the cause.
"We'll test it again after we get back."
Damian put the crystalline mass back into his bag, planning to try again later.
Then—"In that case, I'll hang onto this rose for now and save it for this little one."
Damian stowed the rose away as well, narrowing his eyes slightly at Butler.
Butler keenly noticed Damian's look and instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
Crap. He'd really flubbed that attempt at flattery—he just hoped his boss wouldn't make things hard for him later.
Having found Jirachi's cocoon of sleep, Damian then took Caitlin and Lillie for a stroll around Forina.
Forina's scenery really was beautiful, and Damian even made a point of taking lots of pretty photos for the two girls.
Caitlin was elegant and composed, while Lillie was still much more shy—but a girl's blush beat everything, and the photos came out very cute.
After spending the afternoon in Forina, the three of them headed to Lavaridge Town to soak in the hot springs and get some rest.
"Lunala～"
On the battlefield, the gorgeous big bat wrapped its wings around Damian, rubbing its cheek affectionately against the top of his head.
"You're such a big kid now, and you still love being spoiled this much."
Damian couldn't help laughing as he patted Lunala's wings—but in his heart, he was very satisfied.
After all, this was Alola's legendary "beast that calls down the moon," Lunala.
"But I'm really happy I get to see you again." Damian's tone softened.
"Lunala～"
Lunala squinted its eyes, clearly just as happy.
Watching the close exchange between Trainer and Pokémon, Lillie smiled sweetly and took out her phone to record the moment.
Nebby and Mr. Damian really were surprisingly well‑matched.
...
Ever Grande City's Pokémon League.
Steven, looking exhausted, walked into his office and found Wallace sitting on the couch.
"How is Uncle?"
Seeing Steven come back, Wallace stood, concerned.
"Five years in prison."
"Five years?"
Wallace was stunned. Joseph Stone—the man who'd built Devon Corporation into a top‑tier global company—was actually going to spend five years in a cell? That kind of news was enough to cause a "Hoenn‑level" earthquake.
Devon Corporation was pretty much a household name in the Hoenn Region.
"That's even after taking into account all the years of contributions my father's made to Hoenn, plus the fact that he voluntarily turned himself in and showed a good attitude about admitting guilt."
Steven rubbed his brow. His expression was deeply tired, his tone utterly drained, his eyes even bloodshot from a sleepless night.
Right after yesterday's meeting ended, Jenny's commander had brought him the news that Joseph Stone had voluntarily turned himself in.
Steven had been utterly shocked. He knew exactly what kind of person his father was—
He'd even suspected, at first, that this might be one of Damian's schemes. After all, for Joseph Stone to turn himself in right after being kidnapped by Team Rocket…
It was hard not to connect the dots.
But after visiting Joseph Stone and talking it through, Steven finally understood the whole story.
The psychological impact on him was huge. He never would've imagined that his deeply respected father had done something like that in the past.
"Why… why would he do that?"
Wallace couldn't make sense of it.
Steven fell silent for a while, then, with an extremely complicated look, repeated what Joseph Stone had confessed.
Once he'd finished, Wallace could only feel that Joseph Stone really did deserve every day of that sentence.
"He killed an innocent girl—and used a technological device to try and forcibly catch Rayquaza—"
Wallace was genuinely speechless. These were all major crimes.
The Pokémon League was a humanitarian organization, and they'd long since set it down in the rules that Trainers were forbidden to use technological devices to forcibly catch Pokémon.
If you were caught, punishment would be swift and heavy.
On top of that, Joseph Stone had gotten Rayquaza's Trainer killed. That made the whole thing even nastier.
"And that Trainer who died protecting Rayquaza… was Zinnia's sister."
Steven gripped his own hair, voice thick with dejection.
That also neatly answered his question about why a Dragon‑type Champion like Zinnia would rather join an evil organization like Team Rocket than the Hoenn League.
"Huh?" Wallace was dumbfounded. There was actually something like that behind it?
"So what do we do now—"
"Whatever happens, Team Rocket has to be driven out."
Steven spoke in a low, steady voice. Even if his family had been hit by disaster, business and personal matters were separate.
And besides, even if Joseph Stone was his father, Steven knew very clearly—since these were his father's own past crimes, then it was only right that he bear the consequences.
Steven's moral compass was still very straight. Of course, it did hurt that it was his own father.
He felt a mix of emotions: grief for the sins his father had committed, and a heavy, tangled pain over seeing that father end up behind bars.
"Yeah! That's the Steven I know!" Wallace gave him a big thumbs‑up.
"As for the Mega Stones, Professor Augustine Sycamore in Kalos has already sent a reply. He's still researching, but he's basically confirmed that Mega Evolution's real."
"Mega Evolution requires Pokémon to hold the corresponding Mega Stone, and the Trainer needs a Key Stone to resonate with it."
"That matches exactly what we saw when Damian's group used Mega Evolution, so I don't think that part's wrong."
Wallace filled Steven in.
"Professor Sycamore can provide some Mega Stones and Key Stones, but we'll have to figure out which Mega Stone goes with which Pokémon ourselves."
"That's fine. If a Mega Stone corresponds to a specific Pokémon, then the Pokémon itself should be able to sense it a little."
Steven thought it over. Even if they couldn't tell the Mega Stones apart by type, maybe each Pokémon could recognize which one was meant for them?
"Exactly. That's how Professor Sycamore suggested we try it too." Wallace nodded.
"Then let's give it a shot. Once the Mega Stones and Key Stones arrive, have Champion Cynthia and the others come by."
Steven rubbed his aching temples.
"As long as our main rosters can all Mega Evolve, we can mount another organized offensive. Champion Cynthia and the rest can't stay here too long—we've gotta move fast."
In the end, Cynthia and the others were just "borrowed." Cynthia and Leon were both Champions, Giovanni was a Gym Leader, and Nemona was still traveling for her second Paldea League challenge.
They couldn't possibly remain in Hoenn for long.
"Okay. Steven, get some rest first. You're in really bad shape right now."
Wallace urged him gently. In all the time he'd known Steven, he'd never seen him looking this worn‑down.
"I'll grab a nap in a bit. Where are Champion Cynthia and the others now?"
"Champion Cynthia and Nemona left Ever Grande City to clear their heads. Gym Leader Giovanni said he was going out for a walk as well. If anything happens, they can be contacted right away. Champion Leon is at the training grounds out back, special training."
Originally, Leon had planned to go check out Ever Grande City too. After all, this was his first time in Hoenn.
But after what had happened in Rustboro City, Leon felt it was probably better if he didn't "wander off" for the time being.
"Assign a guide for Champion Leon, have them take him around the area." Steven said helplessly.
They couldn't have Leon fly all the way to Hoenn just to grind special training every day. That would've been way too rude of Hoenn League.
...
LaRousse City, a high‑tech city near Lilycove City.
Technology here was extremely advanced. They had automatic walkways and block robots patrolling the streets, but what LaRousse City was most famous for was its Battle Tower.
After spending a night resting in Lavaridge Town, Damian's group arrived in this futuristic city.
"This city's so developed."
It was Lillie's first time seeing a place like this, and she was absolutely fascinated. Back straight, bag on her back, she tilted her head up to stare at the rows of high‑rises on either side.
"LaRousse City's pretty much a model example of a modern city. But because it leans so hard into the high‑tech vibe, it actually feels a bit short on people and warmth."
Damian said with a smile.
Sure, this kind of futuristic high‑tech city was eye‑catching, but in the context of the Hoenn Region, LaRousse City actually wasn't all that famous. Let alone on a global scale.
The world's main theme was still humans and nature, humans and Pokémon. Most people who came to LaRousse City for their journeys did it out of curiosity about the tech—and for the Battle Tower.
Only a tiny fraction actually wanted to settle here long‑term.
"Still, it's absolutely worth visiting at least once."
Damian glanced at the map in his hand. His destination was very specific.
"Mm‑hmm～"
Lillie watched the little robots rolling past her and was still full of wonder.
The three of them took a quick lap around LaRousse City and finally arrived in front of a lab.
"You are?"
A young female researcher with dark brown long hair opened the main doors of the lab and looked at the three of them in puzzlement.
"Hello, we'd like to visit Professor Lund."
Damian wore a warm smile. His handsome face, gentle expression, and sunny aura made it basically impossible to feel wary of him.
Professor Lund was the top person in charge of this high‑tech research facility—and he was also the one who had brought back one of the Meteorites four years ago.
Because Professor Lund had personally witnessed Deoxys appear alongside the Meteorite, as well as the subsequent battle between Deoxys and Rayquaza, he'd developed a deep interest in Deoxys's ecology and habits.
He'd been working nonstop to try and revive the Deoxys inside the Meteorite—but had never succeeded.
"Please come in."
The young woman invited Damian's group inside.
In this world, it was common for scholars and travelers to visit famous local researchers. It wasn't strange at all.
"My name is Yuuko. I assist Professor Lund with his research. Are you three Trainers?"
Yuuko led the way, asking Damian's group curiously.
"Yeah, this is our first time in the Hoenn Region." Damian answered with a smile.
Chatting as they walked, the three of them entered the inner part of the lab. In one of the labs, a serious‑faced, blue‑haired middle‑aged researcher was studying a data report.
"Professor Lund, you have guests who'd like to see you."
Yuuko knocked on the lab's main doors, then opened them and went in.
This lab wasn't small, and at its very center stood a large experimental tank. The most eye‑catching thing inside it was a Meteorite, and in the very middle of that Meteorite was an emerald‑green crystal.
"That's it—Deoxys!"
Damian's eyes flickered slightly as he stared at the gem‑green crystal on the Meteorite.
That was Deoxys's core—also the most important part of Deoxys. As long as that core crystal wasn't destroyed, even if its entire body was shattered to dust, Deoxys could slowly regenerate and revive.
This green‑crystal Deoxys hadn't fully awakened yet.
As for the purple‑crystal Deoxys, Individual One—four years ago, it had fought Rayquaza, which had treated them as intruders, in order to search for Individual Two.
The result of that battle was that Individual One's entire body was blasted apart by Rayquaza's Hyper Beam, leaving only a single core crystal to fall into the ocean.
But it had to be said—if Deoxys Individual One hadn't underestimated its opponent and charged in recklessly back then, this particular Rayquaza really might not have been able to beat Deoxys.
Yeah—definitely the weakest Rayquaza.
~~~
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