It was a green, serpentine Dragon Pokémon, with rudder-like fins along its flanks and a similar fin at the tip of its tail. Golden, ring-shaped ancient patterns spiraled from the end of its tail all the way to the yellow ring on the crown of its head.
It had two limbs, each ending in three tyrannosaur-like claws, and atop its head stretched two long, flat, horn-like structures.
At this very moment, that sky dragon was staring at Kyurem with wary eyes and a face full of threat.
That was... Rayquaza!
The legendary god of the skies, a mythical Pokémon said to command the very air currents!
Why had it suddenly appeared here?
Draconis's heart fluttered with unease.
But one look into Rayquaza's eyes told him everything.
This Rayquaza had clearly sensed Kyurem's overwhelming Aura and taken them for trespassers on its territory.
Just like Deoxys in the movie—merely crash-landing from space had been enough for Rayquaza to chase it all the way to the South Pole for a beating.
"Hmm..."
Facing the dragon Pokémon opposite it, Kyurem slowly exhaled a plume of icy breath.
"Your Majesty Draconis, why has that Pokémon appeared so abruptly?" Aaron and Lucario had already sensed the mountain-heavy, rage-filled Aura radiating from the dragon.
Draconis didn't answer. He rose to his feet, walked to the crown of Kyurem's head, and tried to speak to Rayquaza.
"Rayquaza, we mean no harm; we're only passing through your—"
The word territory never left his lips. Rayquaza exploded into motion.
Sensing a foe far from ordinary, it unleashed its strongest move in an instant.
Green light blazed from Rayquaza's body as its slender form turned into a emerald beam, piercing the heavens as it shot straight at Kyurem.
"Begone!"
Kyurem roared with solemn majesty. A wave of absolute cold rolled out, capable of freezing sky and earth alike, and surged head-on toward Rayquaza.
The two clashing energies met mid-air.
A shrill boom tore through the air; a tsunami-like ripple born of the violent impact thundered outward in all directions.
In a heartbeat, the clash of the two legendary Pokémon turned the world around them into a dead zone.
Dragon Ascent was broken; Rayquaza's slender body was hurled backward through the sky.
In this first exchange, the fully restored Kyurem had the upper hand.
Yet in the next second—
The once-clear sky convulsed. With Rayquaza's fury, the weather began to change violently.
A titanic Roar burst from Rayquaza's throat. Its surging power dyed the heavens red; the gathering storm clouds twisted into eerie violet-crimson masses.
A blazing meteor of red energy, tail flaming, punched through the clouds and fell.
Then came a second, a third... as though the apocalypse had arrived.
That was... Draco Meteor!
Kyurem watched quietly and snorted.
Facing Rayquaza's all-out Draco Meteor, it neither dodged nor retreated, simply hovering in mid-air.
An Aura of ultimate cold burst outward; in a single heartbeat it sprang to life, racing in every direction.
In the blink of an eye the sea below was locked in ice, becoming a frozen wasteland.
Not only the water— even the air itself seemed to freeze.
The meteors, each capable of scorching the world, froze the instant they touched that chill.
Their flames died; the molten draconic energy inside them fell silent.
Draco Meteor was sealed in mid-air by ice.
This move was Kyurem's Frozen World!
At the terrifying sight, the enraged Rayquaza's pupils shrank; disbelief swept across its green draconic face.
"Rayquaza, I told you—we're only passing through; we're not invading your territory!" Draconis said grimly.
Only now did the sky dragon notice the human standing upon the ice dragon's back.
"Good Lord, we mean no harm. Kyurem and I are bound for the Kanto Continent; we merely strayed through your skies."
Aaron raised his staff, releasing Aura to convey his thoughts to Rayquaza.
Rayquaza studied the beings before it and slowly seemed to realize there had been a misunderstanding.
Its Aura subsided; the hostility in its eyes faded.
"Let's be on our way, Kyurem," Draconis said.
Kyurem gave a low grunt, beat its vast wings, and swept past Rayquaza, continuing toward the Kanto Continent.
Moments later, silence reclaimed the world.
Rayquaza was left alone, watching the departing group, thoughts unknown.
"It is strong." Once they had left Hoenn's borders, Kyurem's majestic voice echoed in Draconis's mind.
Draconis offered no argument; no one understood Rayquaza's strength better than he.
As the third deity of Hoenn, Rayquaza could easily defeat both Groudon, god of the land, and Kyogre, god of the seas, at once.
And this Rayquaza was still not at its peak.
It had not Mega-Evolved into Mega Rayquaza.
Worse, as a Dragon- and Flying-type, it was four-times weak to Ice—leaving it utterly checked by Kyurem.
"Had I not met you, I might not have bested it," Kyurem admitted, already counting Draconis as one of its own.
Since their meeting, its power had soared: it had fused Truth and Ideal, regained its primordial might, and gained the vast, unwavering faith that flowed from Draconis.
Now it was invincible.
Still, Kyurem remained intrigued by the sky dragon; this was the first being it had encountered that could match it in strength.
"No matter—we won't be its enemies," Draconis said.
Aaron started at the words. "Your Majesty Draconis, what... what is that Pokémon?"
Its power far surpassed ordinary Pokémon; its casual command of the weather seemed nothing short of divine.
"It is Rayquaza, sovereign of the sky. In this world it stands at the pinnacle. We call such beings Legendary Pokémon—or gods," Draconis answered quietly.
"A god..." Aaron murmured.
Draconis gave a soft grunt and explained, "They possess tremendous power—so great that their very existence can sway the world. Some could wipe out an entire nation without effort."
For example, Dialga the god of time, Palkia the god of space... Aaron's pupils shrank. He could not help asking, "Are they Pokémon too?" Could beings like that still be called Pokémon?
"Naturally. They are different from ordinary Pokémon, which is why they bear the title of Legendary. But don't worry—under normal circumstances they won't appear before humans. The vast majority of Legendary Pokémon are either asleep, in hiding, or quietly keeping the world in balance," Draconis reassured him.
So that's how it is, Aaron thought, finally letting out a breath of relief.
He dared not imagine what would happen if those Legendary Pokémon appeared in the human world—or saw how humans treated ordinary Pokémon. Three hours after leaving Hoenn, a stretch of land appeared again in the sea ahead.
Scattered across the surrounding waters were islands of various sizes.
Draconis watched the islands with keen interest.
When Aaron and Lucario saw the continent ahead clearly, joy instantly lit their faces.
"Your Majesty Draconis, the Kanto Continent has arrived!"
"We're here already? "Draconis marveled—Kyurem's speed was truly outrageous.
If that ahead is the Kanto Region, then these islands must be the Orange Islands from the anime.
The Orange Islands—setting of the movie "The Power of One."
The Fire God Moltres, the Thunder God Zapdos, the Ice God Articuno, and the Guardian of the Seas Lugia all make their home in this archipelago.
Aaron checked his bearings, pointed in one direction and said, "Your Majesty Draconis, Oldalun City lies that way!"
"Kyurem, let's go!"
With the destination almost in sight, Draconis felt a surge of anticipation.
The Kanto Region—the starting point of everything, Ash's hometown—he had finally reached it!
Kyurem skimmed past the Orange Islands and flew into Kanto.
Below, forests, mountains, plains, valleys and streams flashed away beneath Draconis's gaze.
At last, amid distant mountains, a towering castle came into view.
"Your Majesty Draconis, this is Oldalun City!" Aaron's voice rang with excitement.
At his words Kyurem accelerated toward it.
Yet Draconis's gaze drifted farther still.
Among the mountains a light mist veiled the air, and within that mist stood an enormous tree, so thick and tall it pierced the clouds.
Its vast canopy blotted out the sky, the top lost in the cloud layer; at first glance it seemed to join heaven and earth.
Kyurem also seemed to sense something and glanced that way.
Aaron and Lucario noticed their gaze; following Draconis's line of sight, Aaron volunteered, "Your Majesty Draconis, that is the Tree of Beginning."
Draconis feigned ignorance. "The Tree of Beginning?"
Aaron nodded. "They say the Tree of Beginning appeared when the world was born; it is the source of all life."
A fair claim, Draconis thought—after all, Mew's body holds the genes of every Pokémon.
While he pondered, Kyurem had already landed in Oldalun City.
At the sight of such a colossal creature, townsfolk and soldiers raised the alarm; soldiers gathered with weapons, staring nervously at Kyurem.
"Everyone, there is no need for alarm!" Aaron's voice rang out from Kyurem's back as he and Lucario leapt down.
The crowd froze at the sight of Aaron.
"Lord Aaron? Weren't you headed to the Kingdom of Eindoak?"
Queen Lynn, hearing the commotion, hurried from the castle.
She had golden hair, a scepter in hand, and an opulent gem-studded crown upon her head.
"Aaron? You're back so soon? And this is...?" The queen stared at Kyurem in astonishment.
"Your Majesty Queen Lynn," Aaron bowed, "the new king of Eindoak, His Majesty Draconis, brought me back. This... creature is called Kyurem; it is a friend of His Majesty!"
Only then did the queen notice the imposing young man behind Aaron.
"King... Draconis?" she murmured, uncertain.
"Greetings, Lady Lynne. I am Draconis, the new king of Eindoak. It is a pleasure to meet you," Draconis said softly.
Queen Lynn opened her mouth, shock plain on her face. Eindoak was so far from Oldalun City—how had he arrived so quickly?
And as a king, how could he leave Eindoak for Oldalun City? Wouldn't that place be in peril?
"I have come to visit you, Lady Lynne, and to discuss certain cooperations. This matter concerns the relations and development of both our realms, so I felt I must come in person," Draconis explained.
The queen felt as though she were in a dream; it took her several moments to collect herself.
"You may all withdraw!" Queen Lynn waved her hand, ordering the knights and guards to lower their weapons. Then she turned to the young king and said softly, "Lord Draconis, please come with me."
The group entered the castle's council hall, where the queen had maids bring tea and pastries and set them before Draconis.
"Lord Draconis, these are pastries from Oldalun City. You must be weary after your long journey—please have some black tea and refreshments while you rest. I have already ordered a banquet prepared," Queen Lynn said.
"Thank you," Draconis said, sipping his tea. "The war in Eindoak has ended; the land is entirely under my rule. Eindoak is now in a stage of development. To be frank, I have come to ask a favor of you."
"And what might that be?" the queen asked, curious.
After all, Oldalun City was but a small state in Kanto, far inferior in scale and development to mighty Eindoak, which now ruled the entire continent.
"I wish you to help me locate certain specific creatures," Draconis said. He had almost said Pokémon, but realizing these lands probably had not adopted that term, continued saying "creatures" so the queen could understand.
"Creatures?" The queen was even more surprised.
"In return, Eindoak will share with you the art of commanding creatures. It will help you better harness their strength to develop your realm," Draconis explained, choosing words the queen could grasp.
His words set off a tempest in Queen Lynn's heart.
The art of commanding creatures?
Her mind flashed back to the terrifying creature she had just seen.
Could Draconis be speaking of a way to command beings like that?
....
Power Stones PlZZZZ
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