"Looks like even hitting it won't wake it up."
Seeing Wallace about to go full red‑screen rage, Cynthia stepped in tactfully.
"Yeah. Normally Water‑types beat Ground‑types, so what now? Keep attacking?"
Leon agreed.
And Wallace had at least given them a data point: even Milotic's full‑power Hydro Pump had gotten some reaction out of Groudon.
Maybe if they used an even stronger move, Groudon really would wake up.
"But if we do that, Groudon's probably gonna be pissed, right?" Giovanni said after a moment's thought.
"It's in a really deep sleep right now. Mr. Wallace's attacks showed that much. If we keep hammering it until it wakes, it might go berserk."
He voiced his concern.
"That's… very possible." Cynthia glanced at Giovanni and nodded.
"Then what do we do? It's such a shame. We don't have the Orb."
Nemona sighed. Groudon was right there in front of them, and they still couldn't do anything.
If so, wouldn't the last few days of effort have been for nothing?
"There are two other options."
Giovanni spoke up after thinking it over, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
"First, we lure Team Rocket here and fight nearby. The noise and Kyogre's aura might wake Groudon."
Leon and the others all fell into thought.
"The idea works on paper, but how are we supposed to draw Team Rocket here?"
Steven frowned. If they really fought near this place, it could work. The trouble was how to bait Team Rocket over.
Team Rocket might be an evil organization, but Damian and his people weren't stupid. And honestly, getting Team Rocket to come challenge the Hoenn League was incredibly difficult.
Just finding Team Rocket at all was hard enough, never mind dragging them to this cave.
Cynthia nodded; baiting Team Rocket here would be extremely tough.
"Then there's the second option—catch Groudon here and now." Giovanni pulled out an Ultra Ball, his voice low and firm.
"What?!"
"Huh?"
"Senior, don't be reckless!"
Steven and the others froze, then rushed to talk him down.
"Gym Leader Giovanni, Groudon is a Legendary Pokémon. Even if we stuff it into an Ultra Ball right now, once it wakes up the ball might not be able to contain it."
Steven addressed Giovanni directly. Catching Groudon like this was just too risky.
Plenty of strong Pokémon flat‑out ignore an Ultra Ball's restraints—never mind a super‑ancient Legendary like Groudon.
If it suddenly woke up and realized it'd been captured in its sleep by humans, who knew how angry it would be—or if it'd attack the trainer who'd 'taken advantage'?
"This is the only way. If we seal Groudon inside an Ultra Ball, we can at least take it with us."
Giovanni's eyes were resolute. He'd already made up his mind.
"That's too risky, Gym Leader Giovanni." Cynthia's brows drew together.
"Right. If anyone's gonna take that risk and catch Groudon, it should be me. Gym Leader Giovanni, you…" Steven's tone was grave.
He was Hoenn's Champion. He was the one who should be offering up everything for Hoenn.
No matter how you looked at it, this sleeping Groudon should be caught by him. If Groudon woke up halfway through, the risk was his to bear.
"Damian is my son. A child turns out wrong, that's on the father. I'm responsible for what he's become. One way or another…"
Giovanni's voice dropped. His gaze was heavy with both sorrow and stubbornness.
"I will beat him. I will drag him back to what he used to be, no matter what it costs."
His conviction rang so hard and clear that Steven and the others felt it in their bones.
"So let me be the one. I'll shoulder all the risk alone."
"For the League, and for justice."
Giovanni's voice boomed like a bell.
His words left Steven opening his mouth, then closing it again without speaking.
"Then we'll leave it to you, Gym Leader Giovanni."
Wallace spoke sincerely. Back before Giovanni arrived, he'd even been suspicious of the man.
With a son in Team Rocket's executive ranks, who wouldn't suspect the father?
But after spending time together, Wallace wanted nothing more than to slap himself twice.
You idiot. You doubted Gym Leader Giovanni? Are you even human?!
"Groudon…"
Giovanni took two steps forward, staring at the slumbering titan in the magma. The corners of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.
The legendary creator of land, crimson lord of the earth—
It should be very compatible with him.
With his back to Steven and the others, Giovanni's slight smile slowly deepened into thick malice.
He flicked the Ultra Ball straight at Groudon.
According to what Damian had told him, a Groudon in deep slumber was highly unlikely to resist, which was exactly why Giovanni had waited for this chance.
This was the best possible opportunity.
This was the legendary "overlord of the earth." In a desperate enough situation, Steven might very well think of the same thing—seal Groudon in an Ultra Ball and haul it away.
To prevent that, Giovanni had brought the idea up first, insisting that he be the one to put Groudon in an Ultra Ball.
Compared to the League Champion walking off with Groudon, Giovanni felt it was much more appropriate for him to do it.
Steven, Cynthia, Leon, and the others were undeniably strong, after all. With the right fate and timing, they really could earn Groudon's acknowledgment.
So, to be safe, this "risk" should fall to him.
The Ultra Ball traced a perfect arc through the air and struck Groudon's body. In an instant, its colossal form dissolved into red light and was sucked into the Ultra Ball.
It went in! Would it hold?!
Steven and the others all tensed up.
Nemona in particular clenched both fists, eyes locked on the Ultra Ball floating in midair.
Beep~
The Poké Ball shook once in midair.
Ding～
A moment later, with a light chime, the Ultra Ball clicked still.
Capture complete.
Leon and the others were stunned. That was it? It worked?
With a whistle, a Beedrill zipped past the Ultra Ball, snagged it, and carried it back to Giovanni.
Giovanni took the Ultra Ball, and an unconscious look of satisfaction crossed his face.
He was genuinely pleased—but having heard Damian's explanation of Groudon and Kyogre's current state, he knew this was only step one.
"It's done, everyone."
Giovanni turned back to Steven and the others with a small smile.
"Congratulations, Gym Leader Giovanni."
Steven's feelings were a little complicated.
The three great super‑ancient Legendaries were Hoenn Region's historical guardians. Yet Kyogre had already been caught by Damian.
Now Groudon was in Giovanni's hands. Only the sky‑drake, Rayquaza, remained…
"That was awesome, Senior Leon! I mean, that's Groudon!" Nemona was practically vibrating with excitement.
This was her first time seeing someone catch a Legendary Pokémon with her own eyes.
No, this wouldn't do. Once she got back to Paldea, she had to look for any leads on Legendary Pokémon. She was way too into them now.
Mostly because that LaRousse City battle had shown her—up close—the massive gulf between regular Pokémon and Legendaries.
Those beings that sat at the very top of the Pokémon food chain were terrifying… and incredibly alluring.
"It's only sealed in the ball for now. An Ultra Ball can't truly restrain Groudon. Unless it accepts me, that's not really 'catching' it."
Giovanni shook his head, staying completely clear‑eyed and calm.
"True. But you've taken the first step. As long as Groudon's not too extreme about things, Gym Leader Giovanni, you do have a shot at truly catching it."
Leon agreed. He figured Giovanni had a solid chance.
If the situation had been different, Leon would've had the resolve to toss a ball at Groudon himself just now.
Of course, that was assuming Groudon wasn't too extreme. Otherwise…
Just imagine: it's the middle of the night, Giovanni's sleeping peacefully. Inside the Ultra Ball, Groudon wakes up, realizes it's in a ball, snaps it in rage—
And Giovanni dies in his sleep on the spot.
That'd be nightmare fuel.
"Champion Steven, the next step is clear. We have to track down Damian's location. That's our top priority."
Giovanni nodded, then looked over at Steven, voice deep.
"Right!"
Steven nodded back. He knew that all too well—and that it was urgent.
The longer they dragged this out, the more danger Giovanni would be in.
...
In Caitlin's villa in Lilycove City.
Seeing the message on his phone, Damian couldn't help but smile.
"What is it? Good news?"
Caitlin set a fruit platter on the coffee table in front of him, then smoothed her skirt and sat gracefully at his side, curious.
"Old man just caught Groudon. Hoenn League's busy trying to find our base location." Damian said with a grin.
Sure enough, Giovanni had just sent him the latest update.
Caitlin's fine brows arched slightly at that.
"Hoenn League is getting played in the palm of you two's hands, father and son."
She took a sip of water from the glass on the table, smiling lightly.
Hoenn League would never dream that the "plans" they'd worked out were actually the result of careful guidance—
And that their supposed hope of beating Damian simply didn't exist.
Even setting that aside, without the Red Orb, Groudon wasn't even close to a match for Primal Kyogre.
If Giovanni suddenly turned on them mid‑battle, Hoenn League would be finished beyond repair.
Of course, Caitlin knew Giovanni wouldn't flip right now. That would do nothing but mess with Steven's head for a minute.
Because in this battle, Hoenn League had no chance of winning in the first place.
"It's not that exaggerated. I honestly didn't expect Steven to hand that opportunity over to the old man."
Damian crossed one leg over the other with great interest. It was a shame he couldn't see the scene in person.
He really wanted to know how Giovanni had "snatched" the chance to catch Groudon out of Steven's hands.
By all rights, as Hoenn's Champion, Steven should've been the one to throw a ball at a slumbering Groudon.
"Are we going to 'respond' to this?"
Caitlin peeled a grape with her elegant, slender fingers and handed it to Damian, asking softly.
"Of course～" Damian opened his mouth and bit down.
Feeling his lips brush her fingers, Caitlin blinked her bright eyes, cheeks faintly warm.
"It's about time we showed them what real power looks like." Damian's grin stretched wide.
"And this is the perfect chance to settle Zinnia's business too."
A full‑blown clash between sea and land—just right for letting Zinnia draw out Rayquaza. He just wasn't sure if Zinnia would deliver.
"So when are we doing this?"
Caitlin peeled another grape, watching Damian with clear anticipation.
Seeing him eat the fruit she fed him made her chest feel warm and sweet.
"Tonight's when the Millennium Comet passes. Let's see if this little one wakes up."
Damian looked at the purple crystal on the table. He was definitely interested in Jirachi, this "little one."
"Mhm～" Caitlin nodded lightly.
If Damian didn't want to expose himself, it'd be very hard for Hoenn League to track him down at all.
Night fell. Tonight was the night of the Millennium Comet. On a seaside hill overlooking Lilycove City—
Damian, Caitlin, and Lillie were sitting together on a picnic blanket. Jirachi's slumber crystal rested on the blanket between them.
"Legend says beautiful singing can wake Jirachi. Lillie, I'm counting on you."
Damian watched the brilliant white comet slide into view across the night sky and smiled at Lillie.
"Mm‑hmm～ leave it to me!"
Lillie answered with full confidence and pulled a Sun Flute from her bag. Off to the side, Lunala's gaze turned downright resentful.
Those Sun and Moon Flutes were supposed to be its exclusive tools, thank you very much.
But Lillie didn't notice at all. She lifted the Sun Flute to her lips.
A clear, flowing melody drifted out, like a stream of pure, cool water washing away all the negativity in a listener's heart.
The beautiful notes wound their way through the night as the Millennium Comet shone above like the brightest star in the sky. Invisible to ordinary people, flecks of white comet energy rained down, all of it being absorbed by Jirachi's purple crystal.
A radiant white glow flared from the stone as the purple crystal slowly floated off the blanket.
"It's really working!"
Feeling the crystal's change, Lillie stopped playing and stared up at it, amazed and delighted.
The Wish Maker Jirachi, who could grant any wish according to legend!
The white light grew more intense. Then a small yellow‑and‑white figure emerged from the purple crystal, slowly opening its big, bright eyes.
"It's so cute～!"
Lillie's eyes shone.
This Jirachi really was ridiculously cute. It was very small, maybe 0.3 meters tall, with a star‑shaped head and three green wish tags hanging from its points. Two ribbon‑like streamers trailed behind it like wings.
Its body was white, with a thin black "line" across its belly, and its stubby arms and legs were unbelievably adorable.
"Mmm～ Damian～!"
As soon as Jirachi woke up, it quickly scanned its surroundings. Its gaze landed on Damian, and its big eyes narrowed into little crescent moons as it lazily floated over.
It flopped onto Damian's neck and nuzzled in with pure affection, just like a spoiled kitten.
Lillie and Caitlin both did a double take. That was way too soft and cute.
And this was a universal wish‑granting machine on top of it!
"Damian, Damian～ I woke up."
Jirachi's clear, childish telepathy sounded like a young kid whose gender you couldn't quite place.
It was very close to Damian. After all, while it was still half‑asleep, he'd been the one chatting with it and feeding it energy.
"Congrats, Jirachi." Damian smiled, hands sliding under its tiny arms to pry it off his neck and lift it up high.
Jirachi stared down at him, big innocent eyes sparkling, the very picture of adorable.
Then the cute little Wish Maker made its first "wish" after waking.
"Damian～ I wanna ride the big fish."
"…Huh?"
Damian froze. For real? Kyogre was not guaranteed to be on board with that.
"What's wrong? Damian, you promised me." Jirachi tilted its head.
"I wanna ride the big fish. Somebody told me riding a big fish feels amazing." Jirachi said earnestly.
"Who told you that?" Now Damian was genuinely thrown.
"Manaphy told me～"
~~~
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