Brendan awoke with a startled gasp, unprepared for his return to consciousness. He glanced over at the alarm clock, and it read 4:47 AM. An hour earlier than he usually woke up. Zinnia was still asleep next to him, and he took great care not to wake her, as he left the bed.
He knew there was no chance he would fall back asleep now. All I can do now is think. Brendan put on a pot of coffee, and Aster ambled towards him, the sound-sensitive Pokémon having been awoken by his movements.
Stroking the Whismur's head, Brendan considered what his next actions should be. Though he was loath to leave Zinnia to train and prepare for her next match alone, he could hardly ignore what Rayquaza said.
"How to conquer my fear, though…" he murmured to himself. "That's going to be a tough one. Maybe Rayquaza means I should fight a Gyarados, and beat it? That way, I'll know I have nothing to fear from them." Deep down though, Brendan wasn't convinced.
He was so focused on his thoughts, he forgot to put sugar and milk in his coffee after he poured it. Taking a sip, he recoiled at the bitterness, and spat it back into his mug. Brendan heard the bed covers move behind him.
Zinnia had risen up slightly, disturbed from sleep by his spit take. "5 AM is too early, even for you," she said with a tired voice, rubbing her eyes. "Definitely too early for me."
"Sorry," he replied. "I had a… weird dream. Couldn't go back to sleep." Brendan walked to the fridge, retrieving the half and half, along with a teaspoon and sugar. He looked back on Zinnia's face, which was etched with worry. "Not a nightmare," he reassured her.
She pushed aside the comforter, and fully rose out of bed, stretching. "Why was it weird, then?" She walked over to the coffee pot, and retrieved a mug. He watched as she poured, searching for the best way to start his story.
"Rayquaza visited me," Brendan started. Zinnia placed the pot down, and spun around, fully alert. "And… it talked to me. Telepathically, which never happened before. It gave me advice… about my… my trauma. And my powers."
His fiancee looked totally enraptured. "No one has ever talked to Lord Rayquaza before. Or at least, talked with it." Her eyes shone with reverence for the Legendary her people worshipped.
"Well, unless I'm delusional, Rayquaza talked to me. He told me to 'conquer the fear' Gyarados puts in me. Then I should find a Pokémon called Necrozma, who will supposedly help me master my aura. Rayquaza left, but not before warning me something is coming, and that I should gather allies."
Zinnia was silent, mulling over his words as she sipped from her mug. She set the coffee down, and crossed her arms. "You're not sure if you want to do that, aren't you?"
Brendan sighed. "No, I don't want to. I would have to leave you to train by yourself." He hesitated for a moment. "You know… you have Lance."
She walked towards, grabbing his shoulders and giving him a shake. "I can handle it," she said firmly. "Besides, this is so much more important than a tournament."
"Fine," he replied tiredly. "Fine. I'll set out tomorrow, to Poni Island. Then I'll ask around about this Necrozma."
"Rayquaza said something about allies," Zinnia reminded him, releasing him from her grasp. "Who do you have in mind?"
Brendan shrugged. "You, Wally, Steven, Clair, my dad. Maybe a few others." His fiancee started pacing, antsy. "What is it?"
"Allies. Not just friends. That's what Rayquaza said, right?" He nodded in confirmation. "They have a massive airship full of guys, at least two League members, a fleet of helicopters, a super powerful Pokémon, and not to mention Deoxys. We're going to need more help. As in groups of people."
She continued. "Team Aqua and Team Magma owe you a big favor. And I bet they still want to redeem themselves." Zinnia paused. "...and my people, the Draconids in Blackthorn… your bond with Rayquaza would almost force them to help."
"And maybe now they'll finally accept you as Lorekeeper after seeing all the good you've done," Brendan replied with encouragement in his tone.
Zinnia turned away briefly, arms crossed. "Maybe… though I'm not sure if I want to be their Lorekeeper anymore. I didn't realize how cruel they were to me until I left for good, how bigoted they are."
She turned to face him again. "But maybe if they saw you, learned how much stronger you are than any of them, they wouldn't be so prejudiced against outsiders."
"We don't have to worry about all this just yet," he reminded her. "There's plenty I have to do first."
"Right. Right." Zinnia pulled her arms closer together, essentially hugging her own torso. "Just don't think you have to do all of this by yourself."
Poni Island
Brendan wished he could have spent more time planning for the match with Lance. They hadn't come up with an inkling of a strategy, but Zinnia rushed him out the door this morning all the same.
She was adamant that Rayquaza's task was far more important than a tournament. He knew she was right, but he was loath to leave her by herself. Even though she won't really be alone. Zinnia still had Aster, her grandmother, and even Brendan's friends and family.
I guess I'm the one who will be lonely. The last nine months he spent with Zinnia made him realize how much his self-exile sucked. He had company in the form of his Pokémon, but they could never relieve the phantom pain caused by May's loss. Nor could they stop the festering of the emotional wound inflicted by her death.
It was a wonder that they hadn't grown sick of each other, glued together as they had been. Brendan guessed their mutual clinginess to be the result of years spent alone. He found it almost unsettling, how emotionally dependent he was on Zinnia. It was unlike his relationship with May, in which he was often seperated from his then-girlfriend.
But now, he was on Poni Island now in search of the Pokémon related to the killer of his first love. The island was home to some of the strongest Pokémon that could be found in Alola, making it the best place to begin his search for a Gyarados to battle.
Brendan hadn't fought a Gyarados since that day. He hoped that a victory against one of the ferocious Water-types would remind him that they were just Pokémon, and stoppable. Rayquaza said I have to conquer my fear. To conquer is to fight, and defeat utterly.
His questioning of the residents of the Seafolk Village led him to Poni Breaker Coast. Unlike the western beach near the village, this piece of coast was craggy and brutal. The waves crashed against it mercilessly, and they were capable of steering all but the largest of ships to a rocky doom. Any captain with a lick of sense kept their distance, until they reached the safe harbor of the Seafolk village.
Brendan had always found that harsh conditions made for harsher Pokémon, and Poni Breaker Coast was no exception. Thus, it was his best shot at finding a Gyarados.
He took his Super Rod out of his backpack, extending the retractable, high-tech rod. Casting it into the rough sea, Brendan settled in as much as the uncomfortable terrain allowed. Looking up at the sky, he could see dark clouds approaching. Hopefully this doesn't take long.
It was quite some time before he felt a nibble at the end of the fishing line. Covered in sea spray, he stood up, though he was too excited. The nibble came again, and it was far too weak to be the bite of a Gyarados.
Brendan reluctantly reeled his catch in, and sure enough, it was a Magikarp. He drew a Poké Ball from his belt with a sigh, sending out Swampert. "Muddy Water," he ordered half-heartedly.
Forcing dirt into the ocean water, Swampert sent a wave of brown water towards the Magikarp. But the attack missed, and Brendan groaned in response. "Can this thing take a hint?" he asked with irritation, as the pathetic red fish continued to gnaw on the bobber of his fishing rod.
Suddenly, the Magikarp began flopping in the water. Brendan figured the fish was just using Splash, until he saw a dark form beneath the surface. Oh. Right.
Alolan Pokémon had the peculiar habit of summoning other wild Pokémon to help them, when the going was tough. Elio said that oftentimes, their cry for help went unheard, at least unheard by Pokémon willing to help.
This wasn't one of those times. With a splash and roar emerged a Gyarados, ready to protect its much weaker relative. Swampert hunched his back and went on all fours, growling with rage.
This is it, Brendan thought to himself. A mixture of fear, anger, and loss ripped through him. He wanted to run, fight, and curl into a ball all at the same time.
But he recalled what was a stake. His chance to finally be free of his nightmares, and guilt. If I beat this monster, I can truly live again. And May's ghost can rest easy.
Unadulterated fury won him over, driving away his fear. An urge to utterly annihilate the sea creature totally enveloped him, and Brendan activated his Mega Ring.
"Swampert, Mega Evolve!" The transformation happened quickly, and the normally lithe Mud Fish Pokémon gained incredible muscle mass, most notably in his arms and back.
The Gyarados lunged forward, maw opening to perform a Crunch or Bite attack. It never got the chance to land the blow. "Swampert, Ice Punch!" Brendan shouted.
Swampert cocked a massive fist, surrounded by cold. The Water-type inhaled deeply, inflating the organs on his back. A method to build up pressure, increasing the power of the Mud Fish Pokémon's physical attacks. Gyarados closed the gap, with eyes burning like coals.
Swampert perfectly timed the punch, casting Gyarados backwards with great force. The serpent hit a rock jutting out of the water, pinned to it. The Ice Punch attack had left it frozen.
"Stone Edge!" Brendan ordered with authority. "That rock is perfect!" Swampert hastened, prodded on by his own eagerness to mete out vengeance. The Pokémon smashed his burly arms against the ground, and a second later, a group of big spiky rocks quickly protruded out of the boulder.
Gyarados was pushed off the rock, and back into the water. It disappeared under the waves for a few moments, then finally resurfaced. The massive serpent did not move of its own accord, merely bobbing and rolling with the waves.
Brendan didn't know what he expected to happen, when he defeated a Gyarados. Vertigo, a sense of pride and accomplishment? He felt neither of those. Just emptiness. Does that mean I conquered my fear? Because I don't feel anything?
He looked towards Swampert. The Water-type stared at his fallen adversary, and he could tell that the Pokémon was feeling the same things as him.
Brendan looked at his tricep, where he always tied May's bandana. He carefully untied the knot pinning the cloth to his arm, and hoisted the garment up. Part of him considered throwing it into the sea.
But he didn't. He guiltily tied it back onto his tricep, unable to let go of the only momento of May he had left. A drop of water hit his head, and Brendan looked up. The dark clouds had taken ownership of the skies, and rain began to pour down.
Brendan hastily made his way towards shelter. He briefly thought of going into the Ruins of Hope, to take shelter there, but he decided against it. Nightfall was close, and his stomach was empty. The ruins probably had nothing but untrustworthy mushrooms to eat. He instead ran back towards Hapu's home, the kahuna having graciously allowed him to room there for some time.
Her ranch wasn't too far, but he was still soaked through after the ten minute journey. Brendan returned Swampert to his Poké Ball, and entered the house. He took care to wipe his muddy shoes on the door mat, and set them on a floor shelf that held many other shoes and boots.
The kahuna's grandmother greeted him from the living room. "You're back, young man. Did you find what you were looking for?" She was holding a rag and a spray bottle, clearly having been in the process of cleaning the wood furniture.
"Yes. But, maybe not. I did what I thought I had to do, but I'm not sure if it was what I needed to do." Brendan sighed. "Sorry, I'd prefer not to dive into specifics."
The old woman waved her rag in a dismissive gesture. "Of course, don't feel the need to apologize. Hapu will be back shortly. Her Mudsdale hates the rain, as odd as that sounds."
Brendan nodded, and headed to the guest room to change out of his wet clothes. After doing so, he sat down in order to think about his next move. I should ask Hapu about this Necrozma. As kahuna, she probably knows more about it than anyone on this island.
Not much later, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Brendan said. The door opened quickly to reveal the woman in question.
"You wanted to see me?" the short kahuna asked. He nodded, and rose up from the mattress.
"I need to know about a Pokémon I've heard about," Brendan began. "Do you know anything about a certain Necrozma?"
Hapu was silent for a moment, seemingly surprised by the query. "I know of it, yes. I have even had the opportunity to witness it, though not in its true form."
True form? "Well, what is Necrozma? And where is it?" he asked with some excitement.
Hapu sat down in a chair, and Brendan followed suit by sitting back down on the bed. "Necrozma is a Legendary Pokémon. It is an intergalactic traveler, that brought light to Alola, and to the world. But it sustained injuries at some point in the past, and lost its light. I remember hearing that an alien people from a world called Ultra Megalopolis were responsible. In an effort to regain its power, it would steal light from places and beings, such as the Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo and Lunala."
"Alolans began calling it the pillager of light. The Solgaleo and Lunala of that ancient time battled Necrozma, but were defeated and absorbed. A heroic youth, with the help of the tapus and the kahunas, managed to drive it off, and recovered the stolen light. Solgaleo and Lunala were freed, and Necrozma was banished."
"A few years ago, four humanoid beings arrived in Alola. Aliens, really. They called themselves the Ultra Recon Squad. Necrozma had stolen the light of their world. Their people had managed to trap it in a tower, but it was in danger of escaping. They needed help to stop it."
"Lusamine, with whom I think you are familiar, foolishly attempted to defeat Necrozma herself. But she failed, and the Legendary followed her back to Alola. Solgaleo was prepared to fight, but Necrozma overcame it, and absorbed the Sunne Pokémon into itself. Elio and Selene defeated Necrozma, but it escaped back to the Ultra Megalopolis."
"Elio and Selene gave chase, using the Lunala the Ultra Recon Squad used to get here. In the meantime, Necrozma had fully regained its true form as Ultra Necrozma. I was told it was… beautiful. More beautiful than the sun and moon put together."
"Elio and Selene managed to defeat it, and separate it from Solgaleo. Necrozma reverted to its base form, and plummeted through a wormhole back into Alola, crashing onto Mount Lanakila. Elio captured it on his way to the Pokémon League. He and Selene had learned Necrozma was in great pain, and only stole light to heal itself. The Z-Crystals scattered about Alola were parts of its body, lost when it was injured by the denizens of the Ultra Megalopolis when they got greedy for its light."
"Solgaleo and the Lunala from Ultra Space take turns merging with Necrozma, keeping it content. In return, Ultra Necrozma stays in Ultra Megalopolis, providing it with natural light."
Brendan silently absorbed the tale in his mind. "So, if I want to meet Necrozma, I have to go to space?" he inquired. Hapu shook her head.
"It is more complicated than that. You need Lunala or Solgaleo to help you reach Ultra Megalopolis. I don't know which is with Necrozma now, and which one is still here. You'll have to ask Selene or Elio."
Brendan nodded. "Thanks, Hapu." The kahuna departed the room to prepare dinner with her grandmother. He didn't bother offering to help. His attempt the last time he stayed at the ranch to help with cooking was vehemently denied. Rural sensibilities, he supposed.
After the meal, he returned to the guest room to ponder the meaning of Necrozma's light. Could it be aura, in a more physical form? Brendan knew that Z-Crystals had a connection to aura. A bond between the aura of the Trainer and the Pokémon was established during a Z-Move, similar to the bond that existed during Mega Evolutions.
Necrozma's light has to be connected to aura in some way, he concluded. Rayquaza wouldn't have sent me searching for it otherwise. Perhaps only Necrozma could show him how to unlock the full potential of his power.
Pondering these thoughts, Brendan slowly drifted off to sleep, dearly hoping for pleasant dreams.
Tide Song Hotel
Zinnia missed Brendan, though his absence did allow her to indulge in habits that irritated him and Lucario. Currently, the annoying habit in question was blasting Metallica's Kill 'Em All album at near max volume.
Lucario outright hated metal and hard rock. Surprisingly, he didn't much care for the folk rock and classic country music Brendan enjoyed. Zinnia had tried to peg him down as liking classical music, but the Aura Pokémon was neutral to even the best of Mozart and Bach.
Pop, synthwave, and hip-hop were all misses as well. Finally, Brendan gave up the secret that was Lucario's favorite musical genre; ska. Zinnia had never even heard of the genre before.
She listened to a few songs that were apparently the Pokémon's favorites. I must've laughed for a whole minute. The very idea that the taciturn Fighting-type liked such a ridiculous type of music was gut-bustingly funny. Punk music for nerds, Brendan had called it.
Zinnia was currently studying film from Lance's previous fights, to the dulcet tones of Seek and Destroy. Brendan actually liked Metallica (though he claimed he only tolerated it because she loved them), but he had a hard time focusing on the film while music was playing.
She was much the opposite. It was strange, given her more rural upbringing, but she needed background noise in order to focus on a task.
As it was early afternoon, Zinnia was unlikely to disturb anyone. Ninety-five percent of the people staying in the hotel were probably enjoying the beautiful weather, instead of staying in to watch tapes of old Pokémon battles.
Lance's style was similar to her old one; attack, attack, and attack. He trusted heavily in the raw power of his dragons, and in the training he had put them through in order to keep them disciplined and tough.
Zinnia would've been more than happy to engage in an old-fashioned slugfest in the past. But Brendan had given her an appreciation for more nuanced tactics. She needed something that would give her more than 50 percent chance of winning. She had to find a weakness in Lance's team. Or in Lance himself…
There was a knock on the door, and she paused the film. Zinnia strode to the door, and peered through the eye hole. Clair was on the other side, alone. Perfect, she thought to herself.
She opened the door, allowing the Gym Leader in. "Hey Clair," she said in greeting to the older woman. "I saw you won your match. Was it a tough going?"
Her friend shook her head. "No, not really. Faced Brock, the Rock-type Gym Leader from Kanto. Pretty favorable matchup for Kingdra, so we swept all but his last Pokémon. An Alolan Golem, had Sturdy, so it survived Hydro Pump. Landed a mean ThunderPunch."
"Kingdra went down, she was already weakened a bit. Threw out Druddigon to finish the job." Clair grinned. "The crowd always loves a shiny. But enough about that. I'm here to help you beat my cousin."
Zinnia chuckled. "I was trying to think of a non-awkward way to ask. Kind of thought you'd be rooting for him, so you could beat him yourself."
Clair sighed heavily. "I really wanted to. I obsessed over my training for the tournament. I thought I stopped being insecure over being in his shadow years ago, but I was wrong." The blue-haired woman shook her head, eyes glistening sadly.
"It wasn't good for Steven and I. It's hard for us to spend a lot of time together, me being a Gym Leader, him being in charge of the largest corporation around. And here we were in the most beautiful region in the world… I was so stupid. Training all day, barely sleeping."
"Steven wasn't with you while you trained?" Zinnia inquired. She found it hard to believe that the former Champion wouldn't train with his fiancee. Until now, Brendan had been with her for every workout. Steven was semi-retired from battling, but someone who competed at that level never truly lost interest in Pokémon battling.
"He was, every time. But I treated him like he was nothing other than a sparring partner. He didn't mind at first, because he understood the competitiveness. But the weeks went by, and I was still distant."
"We weren't spending any real time together. I wouldn't sit down for a meal with him, we never went out on a date, never even had sex for a month. I didn't even give him a peck on the cheek for two weeks straight."
"Steven kept trying to drop hints that he wasn't happy, but I didn't pay attention. All I could think about was beating Lance, and proving myself to the world. Finally, we had a big fight about it, a month ago now."
"He beat me in training, and I lashed out at him when he told me I was too focused on Lance. He said that my obsession with beating my cousin was what was keeping me in his shadow, and that I wouldn't be my own person until I realized that."
Clair shook her head, seeming to be in disbelief at her old self. "I got angry of course. I didn't even know that being my own person was what I wanted. Sometimes, I think he knows me better than I do."
"Anyway, I know now I don't need to beat Lance to prove myself. Or do anything other than beat whoever I face in this tournament. Which is why I'm going to help you beat him. Now, start up that tape."
Poni Island
Brendan could only watch as the Gyarados razed the block, mercilessly slaughtering everyone in its path. The stench of the dead, and the screams of the dying assaulted his senses. The piercing gaze of the great serpent's eyes fell upon him, and there was nothing but rage behind them.
His limbs were like wet noodles, completely unresponsive to his brain's desperate commands. All he could do was scream. The Gyarados roared, and lunged forward towards him, jaw unhinged and ready to devour him.
He woke with a deep gasp, flinging the covers off of himself. Brendan turned his head to the doorway, where Hapu was standing. Her eyes were wide with fear, and he realized he had been screaming in real life.
A few moments passed, with Brendan breathing heavily, collecting his thoughts. "Are you okay?" Hapu timidly asked.
No, I'm not. If he had another "episode", then defeating the Gyarados didn't work. He sat up from the bed, and turned on the lamp. It was still dark out, likely early in the morning.
"I need to go back to Poni Breaker Coast," he replied, grabbing his pack. The ruins. Brendan turned towards Hapu. "The Ruins of Hope. Can you take me there?"
Two hours later
Clad in ponchos and carrying electric lanterns, Brendan and Hapu made their way across the craggy terrain, toward the Ruins of Hope. It made sense for the ruins to be here, in such a merciless place. He wondered if hope ever saved the sailors who possessed the misfortune of smashing their vessels against the unyielding rocks.
The kahuna led him down a natural stone staircase. "If you don't mind my questioning, why are you so determined to face a Gyarados and a Legendary Pokémon? Not simply to train, surely."
Brendan hesitated in telling her about Rayquaza, worrying she would laugh at the possibility. "Are you familiar with Rayquaza, the lord of the skies?" Hapu answered in the affirmative. "We used to be partners. It's not a story I'd like to delve into right now, but the other night… It came to me in my dreams."
Hapu stopped walking, and turned to look at him. Her face was serious, containing none of the amused disbelief he had feared it would. "What did it want?"
He looked away, gazing upon the entrance to the ruins. "It wanted me to "conquer my fear" of Gyarados, by seeing them for what they are. I'm hoping to get more clarity here."
"Seeing them for what they are… that was the exact choice of words?" Hapu inquired. Brendan nodded. "Fear and anger often warp our perception, especially of the source of that fear and anger. Perhaps Rayquaza means to say that you must change your perception of Gyarados?"
Brendan sighed. "Maybe. But that's easier said than done." The kahuna gave him a look of pity, and continued on towards the entrance. He had to duck slightly, in order to fit through the modest opening.
Inside, however, was a great hall leading to a more grand gateway. The hall was really a large stone bridge that crossed a pool of water. "Once we enter that doorway, we shall be in the tapu's chamber. I will recite an incantation, and if it deems you worthy, the tapu will appear," Hapu explained.
"And what then?" he asked. "Do I pray, or, ask it nicely to help me?"
"Prostrate yourself before the tapu, state your request, and hope that it grants it. Now, follow me. When we enter the room, stand just past the doorway. Do not advance until the tapu appears, and remain totally silent."
They continued to the entrance to the sacred chamber, and Brendan did as Hapu instructed. He stood perfectly still, as the kahuna approached the altar, which sat upon a raised wooden platform. She sat on both knees, and bowed her head before the altar.
As Hapu muttered her incantation, he peered around the room. Despite being centuries old, maybe older, the chamber was in near flawless condition. The wood showed no signs of rot, though it was clearly ancient. Moss and other plant growth, besides the floral arrangements, was non-existent. Brendan wondered if the kahuna was responsible for the stellar upkeep, or if Tapu Fini was.
Hapu soon finished her prayer, but she did not change her position. So neither did he. A few moments passed by, with no discernible change in the chamber, or any sign of the tapu.
A sudden urge to rest his eyes overtook him, and Brendan indulged the desire for a couple seconds. When he reopened his eyes, he saw that a thick mist had enveloped the chamber, obscuring his vision past a meter.
"Hapu?" he called out. But there was no answer. He walked forward cautiously, and attempted to sense his surroundings with his aura. But there was nothing to sense. Only fog thicker than vanilla ice cream.
"Tapu Fini?" Brendan tried. No answer from the tapu either, though this was clearly its power at work. He then heard a noise ahead, like two people whispering to each other. With soft and careful steps, he tracked the sound to its source.
His heart skipped a beat when he reached the speakers. It was himself, and May. The day she died. Neither she nor his younger self seemed to notice him. His other self was cradling her dying form in his arms, grief and disbelief holding lordship of his face.
"...please don't go," the younger Brendan pleaded. May smiled sadly, and said with her dying breath: "Don't… blame…"
Death took her then, just as it had six years ago. Other Brendan and May dissipated into mist, leaving him alone. "Why?" Brendan asked the tapu with tearful anger, who was still nowhere to be seen. "Why make me relive that?"
The mist cleared around him cleared, revealing a purple and blue painted shell, shaped like a horned fish. The shell opened, and from it emerged a mermaid-like Pokémon, with long blue hair and piercing blue eyes that were tinged with purple and yellow. Tapu Fini.
The guardian spirit did not speak to him. Instead, it began to manipulate the mist again. Gradually, an ocean scene was created. A pod of three Gyarados swam in the glittering waters. They breached the water, flying through the air and colliding with each other.
Brendan thought they were fighting at first, but he soon realized that they were actually playing with each other. It was the sort of roughhousing you would expect to see from a pack of Houndours or Growlithes.
Suddenly, the Gyarados began seizing up, shaking uncontrollably, as if possessed by a demonic force. Their bodies began to warp in a horrifying fashion, growing and changing color. Mega Evolution? But it's so… perverted.
The three Mega Gyarados howled in unison, screaming in pained rage. They darted through the waters, the agony driving them insane. The vision panned to a rear view of the serpents like a camera, showing the three Pokémon making a beeline to a port city, that he recognized as Lilycove.
The vision disappeared into the fog, and was soon replaced by another. He was now in a laboratory, outfitted with computers, monitors, and all manner of gadgets. Every screen was focused on the Gyarados, or on Lilycove's harbor. Two men appeared, one of whom he figured to be Giovanni.
The other man was a bespectacled scientist, who stood straight as a rod. "The live test is underway, Boss. The subjects immediately headed for the nearest major population center. Though Lilycove was only five kilometers west of their position, we did not expect them to be so focused."
"Impressive," Giovanni replied. "But can they be made to stop? Though casualties caused by this test are of little concern, I require that the subjects can at least be made to heel. More sensitive operations will require the Pokémon subjected to forced Mega-Evolution to be more... discerning, in how they deal with targets. In addition, we need to be sure they will not attack our own."
The scientist nodded. "Of course, Boss. Unfortunately, that hasn't been possible thus far. Though we can artificially induce Mega Evolution, we can't truly replicate the bond that occurs between Trainer and Pokémon."
"Does Mewtwo require more power?" Giovanni asked simply. The scientist pushed up his glasses, perhaps a nervous tic, preparing to give an answer that the Rocket boss wouldn't like.
"It's… unlikely. Mewtwo was Mega Evolved when he forced the subjects to Mega Evolve. It took all of its power for it to just do that. There's no way for us to increase Mewtwo's power, without causing permanent damage. Including death."
The Boss sighed. "Very well. Disappointing, but the subjects may still be useful. Let us continue to observe the test." The vision was whisked away by the mist that had formed it.
Tapu Fini was before him again. Brendan heard May's voice, though he was not sure if it came from the tapu or his mind.
"Don't… blame…" Her dying words, repeated. "Don't… blame… don't… blame… don't… blame… don't… blame…" The repetition ceased, replaced by the voice of Rayquaza.
"See them for what they are, and they will cease to terrorize you. See them for what they are…" The mist began to clear away, as Tapu Fini turned to mist itself. Brendan closed his eyes again, only for a second.
He opened them, to see Hapu staring down at him. A hard surface pressing against the back of his body told him was on the floor. "Are you okay?" the kahuna asked. "You collapsed, and hit your head pretty hard. The tapu found you worthy, did it not?"
"It did. I know what I have to do now." Brendan stood up with a grunt. "I need to go back to Poni Breaker Coast, and face another Gyarados. But differently this time. I have to go alone. Thank you for your help, Hapu."
"No need," the kahuna replied. "It is my duty after all. I hope you fare well in your endeavour. I must return to the ranch, regardless. Waterfalls will flow upwards before beets tend to themselves!"
Hapu left him, and Brendan returned to the surface. He took out his fishing rod once more, and pulled Swampert's Poké Ball off of his belt. The Pokémon needed to face Gyarados too.
He cast his rod, and waited with May's former starter. The rain continued to pour, and the ferocious wind antagonized the waves. The preferred weather for a Gyarados. He wouldn't have to wait long for one to surface.
Sure enough, it was only minutes before another one of the monstrous Pokémon took his bait. Brendan detached the line to avoid being pulled into the water, and threw his fishing rod aside. Swampert prepared for a fight, growling and crouching low to the ground.
"No, Swampert" Brendan said gently. "We aren't going to fight it. Relax, and sit with me."
Confusion permeated the Pokémon's aura, pushing aside the rage. "Trust me," Brendan said. "We won't make peace with May this way. Attacking that last Gyarados did not bury my fear, and it didn't get rid of your anger. May's last words to me were 'don't blame'. I didn't know what she meant until I met Tapu Fini, and saw the vision it gave me. Don't attack Gyarados. Please."
Swampert's gaze was piercing, unwavering. His eyes searched Brendan's, as if looking for a reason to doubt him. The Pokémon must have not found one, because he relaxed, albeit with reluctance.
He turned to the Gyarados emerge from the sea with a thunderous splash. The massive Water-type stared down at them, with its angry red eyes and open maw.
Brendan slowly got down on his knees, resting his hand flat on his thighs. Panic and fear were ripping at his insides, demanding he fight or run. He closed his eyes and exhaled sharply, wrangling the rogue emotions.
Peaceful thoughts. He recalled the cheerful and quiet moments of his childhood. Watching battles with his dad, cooking and gardening with his mother. The beautiful view from Olivine City's lighthouse. The fresh air of Littleroot. He and May's pond, running with Wally through Petalburg's meadows.
And the moments he spent with Zinnia. A romantic evening in Malie City. The sunset they watched from the peak of Mount Hokulani. Her consoling him when he had an episode at the tournament.
All these cherished memories helped him reach a peace he had never felt before. A feeling of pureness washed through his body, exceeding any bodily pleasure he had experienced prior.
Brendan's tranquil aura calmed Swampert's nerves, and the Mud Fish Pokémon settled down. He could feel the creature's aura, now as peaceful as his own. Without opening his eyes, he looked to the Gyarados.
The Atrocious Pokémon was not attacking. It seemed confounded by their behavior. He searched deep into Gyarados' aura. The Pokémon was old, experienced. It had fought in and survived many battles. Did this experience make this Gyarados more cautious? Or was its reluctance to attack caused by something else.
Brendan resolved to find out. He opened his eyes, and looked directly at the serpent. Taking great care to go slow, he stood up from the wet, rocky ground. The Gyarados reared back, but still did not attack. Its eyes looked him up and down, wary.
Brendan raised his right arm, outstretching his hand towards Gyarados. The serpent stared at the limb, and did not react to it otherwise.
He stood like that for some time. The wind continued to whip and nag at his poncho, the hard rain making a constant pitter-patter sound against the nylon. Brendan stood firm, not allowing the gusts to push him forward.
Finally, the Gyarados moved. It swam forward until its body rested against the side of the rock wall, and extended towards his arm. Its head stopped half a meter short of his hand. The two underdeveloped nostrils on its snout contracted then dilated, the Gyarados attempting to sniff his hand.
The ocean serpent retracted its head, and emitted a low grunt. It turned its back to Brendan, and dove back underwater. The rain and wind calmed somewhat, and the waves crashed a little less noisily.
Swampert ambled up next to him, staring at his right arm. The Pokémon walked in front of him, and raised the poncho up. His eyes were focused on May's bandana.
Brendan gently removed the old red headwear from his tricep. The bandana fluttered in the wind, as he considered it once again. "Don't blame them," he muttered. "That's what you were going to say. You always saw the best in people, and Pokémon."
"Gyarados aren't evil. It wasn't their fault that they were subject to those awful experiments. It's not my fault that Team Rocket unleashed them on you, and Lilycove. The only thing I can blame myself for is not having stopped them yet. But I will. I promise. Justice for you, for Lilycove, and for Hoenn. It's a Champion's responsibility." He sighed, eyes moistening. "Goodbye, May."
Brendan released the bandana. The wind carried it out to the sea. The rain stopped, and the sun almost poked through the clouds that constantly shadowed Poni Breaker Coast.
There was no fear or guilt left in him now. There was still fury, but cold. Directed, determined, and righteous. He would find Necrozma, learn all he could. Zinnia would win her tournament. And when Looker finally found out where Team Rocket's airship, he would make Giovanni pay for all the evil he had done to people and Pokémon alike.