Slick and his Pokemon appeared in the middle of a collapsing city. All around them, Rusboro was in chaos. People were swarming in every direction. Sparktail could see a blue hammerhead dragon whose wings were attached to the bottom of its arms, as well as an army of Rhydons, attacking people.
The dragon was crushed and smashed open a wide path of destruction. She trampled humans and cars, devastating houses and other buildings. In comparison, the Rhydons at her side seemed as insignificant as Magikarps, compared to this beast. The trainer staggered toward the Devon Corporation office building. "Garchomps don't live in Hoenn," he whispered faintly. "Welcome home, Slick."
Hoenn. His adopted homeland. And the farthest region of the country from Sinnoh. If Giratina's forces had come this far, then they must be swarming across Kyokujitsu. "Mew got it wrong," he muttered. "I was born in Viridian." But it was more painful to see Rustboro under attack than if he were to see Viridian in the same state.
Chunks of a collapsing building fell towards them. "Run!" ordered Slick, realizing he couldn't get to his Poke Balls in time. Slick, Sparktail, and Thalia all ran off into the street. As the falling debris impacted the ground, rock shrapnel flew through the air. Shaking the ground with each step, and yet moving faster than anything Sparktail had ever seen before, Garchomp charged through the city, launching itself towards the largest building.
Garchomp was joined by four Rhydons. They surrounded the building, smashing at the walls vigorously. Sparktail looked up at his trainer. But Slick stood there, not moving, maintaining the same expression of shock and terror. Desperately, the Raichu tugged at his trainer. They had to get moving!
Slick blinked. Slowly, he nodded. "Right," he whispered, trembling. I'm an Elite of Hoenn... I can't afford to lose focus." He stumbled through the chaotic streets and to the Garchomp, Sparktail and Thalia following him.
Slick said, "There could still be people in there. As Hoenn Elite, I'm honor-bound to get them out safely."
A voice behind him pointed out, "But you don't need to be alone."
Slick turned around to see Steven Stone, the Champion. "Sir, what are you doing here?" Slick asked.
"I don't think now's the time." replied Steven Stone, studying the Garchomp, who had not taken notice of them, but continued to tremble the earth and the Devon Corporation building. "You take out the Rhydons. I'll go after Garchomp." Sending out his Metagross and Aggron, Steven charged at Garchomp.
Slick, Sparktail, and Thalia approached a pair of Rhydons, one of which was larger than the other. As the duo turned to face the Elite, a whirling leaf-blade slashed the larger Rhydon across the chest. "Yah!" shouted Thalia as she sprang forward, throwing razor-leaves to finish it off. Growling, the smaller Rhydon charged at Sparktail, who landed a brick-shattering strike to the chest, following up with an iron tail strike to the head.
As the Rhydons fell to the ground, They moved onto the third Rhydon, who had stepped back from its demolition to survey its progress. Thalia leapt backwards as fireballs flew from its mouth. At Slick's order, Sparktail readied another iron-tail strike. But before Sparktail could act, the Rhydon swung an arm into Sparktail, sending him flying. Dodging fireballs, Thalia pounced and caught the Raichu in midair, gently setting him down.
"Good work!" called Slick as the Leafeon sprang behind the Rhydon and sliced its throat with a leaf blade. Landing, she tossed a grass-woven rope to Sparktail, who caught it as the fourth Rhydon came charging at him. Swinging the grass-rope wide, he tripped the Rhydon, causing it to hit the ground, hard. A tail strike to the head knocked it out cold.
In the courtyard, Steven continued to battle the Garchomp, riding on his Metagross. "You call yourself a Champion?" taunted the Garchomp as bricks and stones began to rain down. Blood trickled from thin, minor cuts all over her body, staining her scales red. "You are but a simple rock collector. But I? I am the Red Dragon. I am carnage. I am the Exile's sword-"
The ground was trembling as Slick returned, the building crumbling. Sparktail and Thalia raced forward as Garchomp lunged at the Champion. Sliding to a halt, the dragon spun to face them and kicked Sparktail, sending him flying. "Slick!" shouted Steven as his Metagross bombarded Garchomp with magnet bombs. "My father hasn't come out yet. Please find him!"
The Garchomp's kick sent Sparktail flying through a hole in the Devon building's walls, landing on the third floor surrounded by debris. Moments later, a second kick sent Thalia flying through a nearby window, landing next to the Raichu. "You okay?" asked Thalia. Sparktail nodded shakily, and they got up.
The floor was completely abandoned. "Where do you think everyone else went?" wondered Sparktail. "I wonder if they all got out safely."
Thalia didn't respond immediately. She stared at the large glass display case in the center of the room. Something abut it was making her uneasy. "What's in there?" she asked. "Let's take a look."
Trying to stay upright on the shaking floor, they approached the display case. Sparktail climbed onto Thalia's back and peered into the case. Inside was a stone tablet inscribed with a poem written in an ancient Pokemon script.
His eyes widened. He knew this language. They both did! "'Fire and water and earth and sky / Time and space and darkness nigh,'" he read aloud. "'At the ancient hero's mythic call / By light and life the shadows fall'..."
The tremors became extremely violent, and Sparktail was pitched off Thalia's back, landing next to the Leafeon. They both yelped as the floor caved under them, casing them to tumble down to the second floor. "Sparktail, Thalia!" called Slick from the stairs. "I already got Mr. Stone to safety-let's get out of here!"
They managed to escape the building as it collapsed behind them. Garchomp was nowhere to be seen, but the city was still burning, sullied, devastated.
Out in the courtyard was a man in a suit next to Steven Stone-his father, the president of Devon. Father and son, they stared at the rubble, all that remained of Devon. A lump rose in Slick's throat. "I'm sorry we couldn't salvage your company, Mr. Stone," said the Elite quietly.
Dazed, the man looked back at Slick. He shook his head sorrowfully. "Is that all you care about, young man?" asked Mr. Stone, looking out at the destruction. There were tears in his eyes. "Rustboro... they're innocent people here, boy. Innocent people... They didn't stand a chance."
Slick and Steven sent out their Skarmories. Slick handed Steven a revival pill, who fed it to Skarmory. Then Slick looked back at his two Pokemon. "Return, both of you," he said, activating both of their Poke Balls. As Sparktail and Thalia disappeared into their flashes of light, the three humans could be seen climbing onto Skarmory, and to safety.