Hoenn Part 21
After saying goodbye to Wally, Tyson and Morrison, Ash and his friends head back to Littleroot Town to meet Professor Birch and Brendan. They stay for a while before Insey and Trenor, as well as Reshow leave the group as well. Right now there are only 7 of them left.
That night, Ash and Lillie are outside watching the stars, Ash says, "The stars are really bright, don't you think?"
"Yeah, and I liked it a lot." Lillie smiles. "So we are going to travel together from now on, right?"
"What are you talking about?" Ash says. "We already are traveling together."
"True." Lillie says as she leans on Ash's shoulder. Then Ash takes out a pair of tickets and says, "Professor Birch congratulates me for winning the League, he bought two tickets to watch the Litleonid Meteor Shower in Mossdeep City. Want to come?"
"Only two of us?" Lillie asks with a tease.
"Only." Ash smiles back.
Lillie has a little pink on her cheeks. "Sure. I like to."
The next day, Ash and the others are training in the lab, until they see a person talking to a Whismur.
"Hey, you were the one that helped us defeat Team Magma and Team Aqua..." Ash says.
"Woah, are we in sync or what! You know, I was thinking about me." The girl says.
"About me?" Ash asks, and Lillie suddenly starts to feel jealousy.
"It's great to meet you!...It is our first real meeting, right? Yeah. That's right. Of course it is! The name's Zinnia. And you... Well, I know ALL about you. You're Ash Ketchum, of course. You're the Hoenn League winner! And you're one of those special few who use Mega Evolution to get even closer to their Pokémon... Now, aren't you?"
"Well, yeah." Ash replies.
"So why do you leave that early?" Lillie asks.
But then she sees that her Whismer is tugging Zinnia and she says, "Okay, I know, I know. I'll leave it alone. Look, I'm stopping! But this sure is a ni-i-i-ice place, isn't it? Littleroot Town. And everybody living here is just so ni-i-i-ice, too."
Then she turns to see Ash and his group are petrified on the spot, and then she says, "...Oops! So-o-o-rry. I didn't mean to go on like that. We should keep our first meeting short and sweet, don't you think? Until next time, then. Buh-bye!" Then the girl leaves as well as her Whismur.
"What is that all about?" May asks.
"I have no idea." Max says.
"Oh no!" They hear Brendan screams, so they go into the lab and Reisa asks, "What's wrong?"
"Oh, hey guys." Brendan says. "You guys are all right, huh?"
"What do you mean by that?" Ash asks.
"It all happened so fast that I couldn't do a thing, but...some strange woman came in my window, upstairs...And then she...She took my Key Stone from me..." Brendan says.
"What?" Mark says. "Your Key Stone?"
"Yeah, I tried to fight her off with my team, but...She was really strong... I didn't stand a chance. I think I heard her muttering under her breath as she left, though...something like Petalburg is next..."
"Then we must go to Petalburg for now." Minami says.
"But a strange woman...so far we knew that came is Zinnia...does that mean she was the one who stole it?" Ash asks.
"We don't know if we don't find out." Ash says as they rush to Petalburg City.
Once they go to the Petalburg, they see Wally being surrounded by the Team Aqua grunts, even though Team Aqua's leader and the admins are sent to jail, there are still some lackeys left. Ash and the others defeat them and then go to Wally.
"Wally, are you okay? What did they want with you?" Ash asks.
"Thank you so much, guys. Those guys demand that I hand over my Key Stone. The truth is I couldn't give it to them even if I wanted to. My Key Stone is gone..."
"Gone?" May asks.
"I left it in the house when I went out, and it just disappeared." Wally says. "Just what in the world is going on? If someone like that ever shows up again...I've gotta protect my mom and dad. You be careful as well."
Then after Wally enters his house, Ash says, "So Zinnia must have got the Key Stone as well...but what reason?"
"I don't know." Mark says. "But what are we going to do with them?" He refers to the unconscious Aqua Grunts.
"I called Ms. Ketchum to come take them away, so it should be fine for now." Lillie says.
"After Aurora arrives and takes them away, then she asks, "So you mean both Brendan and Wally's Key Stones are gone?"
"Yeah, we still don't know who the culprit is, but for now, Zinnia is the main suspect for us." Ash says as she nods. But before she can say anything, Ash's PokeNav starts to ring.
"…'Lo? Hello? …Is that you, Ash? It's me. Steven. Have you been doing well? Heh...I imagine you must be quite shocked. This is a communication mode that Devon is still currently developing. It comes installed on every PokeNav Plus. I thought I would only use it if I needed to contact you urgently...But it looks as though that time has already come. Anyways, congratulations on being the winner of the Hoenn League. I'm sorry to ask this of you, but I need you to come to the Devon Corporation in Rustboro. There's something I have to talk to you about–in person… I'll be waiting for you there."
Once the call ends, Ash says, "Uncle Steven wants to find me?"
Mark says, "Well things are getting wierder."
"Let's go there and check it out." Reisa says.
Once they bid farewell to Aurora and the others, they go to the Devon Corporation and find Mr. Stone and Steven there.
"Hello Ash, and you guys, it is nice to see you again. I am so sorry about summoning you so suddenly. It's well known how often my intuition turns out to be right. But I never imagined we would be meeting again this soon!" Steven says.
"Indeed. So what is this about?" Ash asks.
Mr. Stone says, "First, my son here wants to congratulate you on your win in the Hoenn League, so he wants to give you this."
Steven takes out a Pokeball and opens it, it is a Shiny Beldum with the Metagrossite on its leg. "Is this for me?" Ash asks.
"Of course, though it will be Lillie's as well, since you are having a joint account." Steven says.
"Thank you so much." Lillie says as they scan the Pokemon.
Hoenn Dex Entry No.123 Beldum: The Iron Ball Pokemon: Steel and Psychic Type. When Beldum gather in a swarm, they move in perfect unison as if they were but one Pokémon. They communicate with each other using brain waves.
Once Ash recalls his Pokemon, then Steven says, "Now back to the topic, I am sorry to say it isn't happy news that brings us together. Dad?"
Mr. Stone nods and he says, "Ahem! Oh, I know. I know what you want to say. My, what a hasty, impatient one you are! What are we to do with such an impatient one for our Pokemon League winner?" Oh wait, your title is taken by Wallace. Then I guess we'll never break you of that impatience after all, Steven!"
"Dad!" Steven yells at him, causing them to be surprised.
"I know...I know...can't you take a joke..." He turns to the group and says, "Now then, I'm afraid that I'm planning to start in on a rather long and quite heavy topic. Are you sure that you're ready to take all of it in?"
"We are sure." Lillie says.
"Hm...then I suppose I should begin. Let me first take us back 3,000 years, to the days when this story began...
There was a great war at that time, in a region far from here. That war was finally brought to an end by a weapon created by one man."
"That is the legend of Kalos, right?" Mark asks.
"Indeed. And what energy source could power such a dreadful weapon? Do you know? You see... It ran on the life energy of Pokémon. The energy that could be gained by the sacrifice of so many Pokémon... There are surely many people who would call it reprehensible. But my grandfather, the president of Devon before me, said this... "Couldn't we use the energy to improve the lives of people and Pokémon?" And so he developed our greatest creation here at the Devon Corporation: Infinity Energy."
"Infinity Energy?" May is confused.
"Thanks to Infinity Energy, Devon was able to become one of the top industries in Hoenn and developed into the giant you see today. You may be surprised to learn that the Devon Parts you once recovered for us were in fact parts of a motor that would make it possible to power a submarine using Infinity Energy. It was not long before we began to expand our attempts to further human development."
"Wow..." Reisa says.
"Next, we moved into exploring space. The rockets launched from the Mossdeep Space Center using our Infinity Energy... They are the true results of our dreams, our passion, and our technology. But never did we imagine they could end up as the best hope for saving our world."
"Okay, so what does it have to do with us?" Max asks.
"My preamble has been quite long, but we arrive at last at the real issue. That is the overwhelming catastrophe which now approaches us. A huge asteroid, more than six miles in diameter, is currently on track to collide with our planet."
As Steven shows the video captured by the satellite, the group are shocked. "The Asteroid?"
Ash says, "Is it going to hit the Earth? What should we do?"
"Calm down, Ash. Let my father talk."
"Thanks, Steven. We have been working together with the Mossdeep Space Center, which was first to recognize this danger. We are devising countermeasures that would use our rockets, but... In order for these plans to succeed, though, we need a Meteorite Shard."
"So that's it...you want him to go and get that shard for you." Steven says.
"Hah! That's my boy, all right! I knew you'd understand at once." Mr. Stone says.
"Well...it was hardly a deduction worthy of praise..." Steven sighs.
"Okay, so where are we going to get it?"
"At the Granite Cave near Dewford. According to our surveys, you should be able to find the kind of Meteorite Shards that we need there. And you, Steven...I want you, Son, to head for the Space Center at once to start the preparations, using that Link Cable that I gave you."
"The Link Cable? So it is to be a warp system… Yes, I understand. But Granite Cave… Ah, I see. The floor with the ancient wall paintings. It is true there were many shards of meteorite scattered about there."
"The ancient wall paintings?" Minami asks.
"Yeah. It looks as though it's decided then..." He turns to the others, "Ash, Lillie, I trust you guys to go to the Granite Cave?"
"Sure. We will go." Ash says.
"What about us?" Reisa asks.
"We will head for the Space Center in Mossdeep I will need some help with the preparations." He turns to Ash and Lillie. "If I learn anything, I will contact you at once. Though it will end up as another one-sided message like the one I sent you, I'm afraid. Good luck."
"Okay." Then Ash and Lillie leave the building.
Ash and Lillie arrive at the Granite Cave, and then they find the floor that has the wall painting, but they aren't the only ones there, as Zinnia is also there with her Whismur, Aster.
They get inside the cave and find Zinnia looking at the wall painting.
"Hm, hm, hm. Well, seems like it's true. It really is just like the wall painting there. This one shows Primal Reversion... While that one shows Mega Evolution... I guess that proves it once and for all. Our great ancestors once lived here, too. The ancestors who passed down through me the knowledge of how to protect the world... How to avert the threat that will appear from space, as long was foretold... From a place higher even than the heavens..."
Aster notices them coming, he tugs Zinnia's leggings.
"What is it, Aster? Oh?" Zinnia notices Ash and Lillie as they walk towards them.
Ash says, "Hey Zinnia."
"Ash and Lillie. We do seem to meet an awful lot."
"Yeah. So what are you doing here?" Lillie asks.
"Nothing, just to see the old painting. Are you also interested in this old painting? Or are you here for the other? For one of the Meteorite Shards that can serve as a source of power for the Legendary Pokémon that lives in the heavens above." Zinnia asks.
"You know about the Meteorite Shards?" Before Ash can ask more, Zinnia suddenly gets close to Ash, causing Lillie to be a little angry.
"Either way... You know I adore you. That's it! I can't help it! I have to battle you! I'll play nice, though, and ask first... You're ready to battle me, right?" She asks.
"Sure..." Ash says.
"That's my boy. Now let's do it! Give me a good taste of everything you and your Pokémon have to offer!" Zinnia says as they battle. Ash manages to defeat her Tyrantrum, Altaria and Salamence with the help of Sylveon, Walrein and Pikachu.
"Yes! That's it! That's just what I was looking for!" She recalls her Salamence and walks towards Ash, "Niiice! Real nice, Ash! Ohhh, I really felt that one! Full points to you! That settles it! You get this Meteorite Shard as a reward!"
Ash grabs the Meteorite Shard, which glows and connects to the one in his backpack.
"That glittering Meteorite that you've got there... Hmm... It's sure giving off some vibes. I'd keep a tight hold on it if I were you, along with that shard I just gave you."
She tries to leave, but turns back with a frown.
"... Hey... The actions that you're taking now... Are they based on the ideals you cling to? Or are they based on actual truths? And if they are... How much of the truth do you think you know?"
"Well…" Before Ash can reply, Aster starts to call to Zinnia and she groans, "Yes, ma'am! Moving out! Such a spoiled girl you are, Aster... So what'll be our next stop, hmm, sweetie? Oh well, see you." She then leaves.
Lillie says, "She sometimes are getting on my nerves..."
Ash flinches a little and then he gasps, "Crap, I forget to ask if she is the one who steals Wally's and Brendan's Key Stone?"
"We can ask her later. Right now we have a much bigger problem." Lillie replies.
"You are right." Ash says, and then Steven calls them.
"…Ash, Lillie. Were you able to find the Meteorite Shard that we need?" Steven asks.
"We got it." Ash says.
"Good, if you were able to secure it, could you hurry back to us at the Mossdeep Space Center? I'm afraid we don't seem to have much time left… …I'll be waiting for you."
"Okay." Ash says as they all head to the Mossdeep City Space Center.
Once they arrive at the place, they find Steven talking to Professor Cozmo.
"Ash nice to see you again." Cozmo says.
"Same here, Professor." Ash says.
"Even still, thank you for coming, and you brought the Meteorite Shard with you. Well done!" Cozmo says.
"I was rather surprised to learn that you knew the professor. You really do seem to make connections everywhere you go. Now then, Professor… Could I ask you to explain once more about the current plan?" Steven says.
"Indeed... Please come this way." Cozmo says as they go to the main control room, where the others are there.
"I imagine that you've heard some of the situation from President Stone already. Our current plan involves using the Infinity Energy within our rocket, combined with the life energy of humans found in Key Stones... We will start off by artificially replicating the massive energy that is triggered at the time of Mega Evolution! We will fire the energy produced from our rocket into space... And create a warp hole."
"A Warp Hole?" Minami asks.
"By creating a warp hole in the path of the incoming meteoroid, we hope to be able to transport it somewhere far away from here. As a matter of fact, this technology already exists and has been incorporated in some of our commonly used devices."
"Really?" Mark asks.
"I think you know what I mean. Those panels than spin you about and then out you come, warped to another spot. I imagine you've stepped on a few such?"
"An audacious plan… And using such technology you would… May I ask where exactly the asteroid will be warped to?" Steven asks.
"Well. We're not entirely sure, but... We do have a device that links the warp holes. We've named it the Link Cable. But there's no need to worry. Based on our theory, we can at least guarantee that we will be sending it away from our planet. However, we've realized that we will need more energy than originally anticipated to control the Link Cable properly... I'm sorry to ask this of you, but with one more Meteorite Shard..."
Just then, they hear a crash and then they go check it out, and then they see Zinnia and Aster there.
"Nice! So this is the heart of the famous Space Center everyone talks about! Pretty impressive, huh, Aster?" Aster nods at her words.
"Excuse me! Young lady! You can't just let yourself in here!" One of the staff says.
"Oh? Where's the harm in it? Don't be such a stick-in-the-mud!...Right?" She suddenly makes a cute puppy face and the staff is backing off. "Ugh..."
"Who...are you, you're no sightseer..." Steven demands.
"Oh me, we do seem to keep running into one another. You are really busy, Ash, Lillie." Zinnia says.
"Wh-who are you?! What're you doing here?!" Professor Cozmo asks.
"Me? I'm Zinnia. Just your regular ol' tourist, nothing more. Dreaming of taking a little trip into space... Heh." Zinnia then looks at the plans and she reads them fast.
"Oh, I seeeeee... So this is what has come of human technology and of hope and blood and sweat and tears and... Well, the list gets kinda long and boring. But it contains everything, huh? I know all about it. About just what kinda energy you're using to fuel this rocket thing... The abominable technology humanity first thought up 3,000 years ago... So you're once again planning to claim that this is best for humanity, or best for the whole darn world... It's a snap of your fingers to repeat the sins of the past. Worse, if what I overheard is true... This time, you're about to commit an error more abominable than before!"
"What do you mean by that?" Mark asks.
"Tell me, would you rather we sit here wringing our hands, waiting for the meteoroid to strike us?" Steven asks.
Zinnia laughs and says, "Ahahahaha! What's up with that? You're a pretty simple guy for a former Pokémon League Champion. Then I guess I'll hang my hopes on what our current Champion will have to say. So how about it, Ash, Lillie? What do you think? Do you have some better idea?"
"You bet we do." Lillie says.
"Oooh! Really? Well, that's promising... You'll have to tell me so we can set these guys straight."
Then she continues, "Look, I'm not here to criticize the way you guys are looking at this. But I want to be sure you've thought this through well and good. You know, there are necessary sacrifices, and there are unnecessary sacrifices. What a disappointment! This is the best you could do with all your knowledge and technology? Instead of trying to make something outta nothing, you'd rather repeat the mistakes of the past, straight up? No, you're gonna add new mistakes on top—that really takes the cake. You guys need some imagination."
"Then what is your idea?" Reisa asks her.
"That will be you to figure it out." She says. "Oops! But you were all in the middle of a conversation or something, right? Sorry about that. I guess we'll just let ourselves out, then. C'mon, Aster." Then she leaves with her Whismur.
"… Who was that woman? And the way she spoke to us… It's almost as if she came here for some sort of confirmation… And yet… I feel as though I should know her from…somewhere." Steven says as he turns to Cozmo, "Ah, Professor, forgive me. I believe you were trying to tell us something before that woman interrupted us?"
"Uh... Yes... Ah, you see... In order to complete the warp hole, we will need another Meteorite Shard, an extremely pure one..."
"Then shall we head to Granite Cave again?" Ash asks.
"No... The kind of Meteorite Shard we need this time can only be found at Meteor Falls."
"Meteor Falls?' Steven exclaims as the others look at him in confusion. "I see...Perhaps we will learn something there…I will head to Meteor Falls at once. Follow as soon as you are ready. I feel we might discover even more than a Meteorite Shard there…"
"Okay, Uncle." Ash says as he and Lillie head off while the others stay here to prepare.
They arrive at Meteor Falls, where they meet an elderly woman talking to Steven.
"Ash, Lillie. We have the Meteorite Shard. And I have come to understand many things, as I suspected might happen." Steven says.
"Okay." Ash says, but then the woman says, "Mighty Arceus, I have been waiting for your arrival."
"Um, who are you?" Ash asks.
"Allow me to introduce you. The honorable lady you see before you is a descendant of the ancient Draconids." Steven says.
"Yes. I am one of the Draconid people. One of those ancient folk tasked with passing down the knowledge of Mega Evolution - with the great lore of Lord Rayquaza, who was the beginning of all."
Then she starts to tell a story while the three listen on. "Since times long gone, Hoenn has repeatedly suffered great disasters. At times, the destruction took the form of a huge meteoroid, which fell upon our land from distance space. At other times, the Primal Reversions of our own super-ancient Pokemon bought us to the brink of destruction. Each time, Lord Rayquaza has saved us from doom. The chosen Lorekeeper, standing before a stone that shone with rainbow light, offered up a wish to the great one. And Lord Rayquaza's body was suffused with a brilliant light and transformed. In its transformed state, Rayquaza's power was more devastating than ever before, overcoming even the super-ancient Pokemon with all their primal power."
"A rainbow-colored stone… An invocation from the Lorekeeper… And a Rayquaza unlike any ever seen…" Steven says.
"I see. It does resemble what we know of the process of Mega Evolution…" Lillie says.
"Yes, it does indeed. A Pokemon, a person, a stone of power. The bonds that tie them all together...The transformation of the Pokemon that occurs as a result of this phenomenon was called Mega Evolution by later peoples."
"So the mechanism of Mega Evolution was discovered as a result of the first meeting between humanity and Rayquaza… Hmmmm." Steven says.
"But I have one last question. That Lorekeeper you spoke of…" Ash says.
"The Lorekeeper is the one who has inherited the knowledge and power to summon Lord Rayquaza when disaster imperils this world. The true Lorekeeper of the current generation is the one called Zinnia."
"Zinnia..." Lillie mutters.
"The disaster that now approaches our planet, as it has twice before...Zinnia has been trying for some time to avert it...in her own way. To draw Lord Rayquaza to our sphere, she joined a certain organization that sought to revive the super-ancient Pokemon. She taught them the secrets needed to bring back these threats and summon the great Dragon itself."
"So that is why she joined Team Aqua back then..."Ash says.
"And now it seems she travels the land, scouring the world for Key Stones..."
"So it was true… As I had suspected, that woman who appeared at the Space Center was one of the Draconids… But I never dreamed she was involved in the attempted revival of the super-ancient Pokémon… In full knowledge of the power they held, fully understanding the terrible changes they would wreak upon our world…"
"Still she helped that situation about? Did she give a thought to the many people and Pokémon whose lives were put at grave risk by her actions? Could she accept the inevitable sacrifice of so many lives, in order to protect the planet from the coming meteoroid?" Lillie asks.
"Balance must rule this world. History is doomed to repeat itself...While our people have overcome many disasters in the past, it was always through great, great sacrifice...Yet we have continued to struggle to preserve peace for as many years as we can. That is how we have protected this world, upon which we now live. People...Pokemon...All Nature...And, yes, even you. I don't know exactly what you plan to do. But do you believe that you are not sacrificing anything for your own protection? Zinnia will follow her convictions until the very end. Even knowing the sacrifices that they will require. Even if the sacrificial blade is leveled at her own heart."
This causes surprise to them and then Steven says, "… Is that right? … I understand. Thank you for everything."
Then Steven feels something and he says, "What is this… This vague sense of apprehension… And my intuition has often proven true. I am going back to Rustboro first. I have to get back to Devon."
After Steven leaves, Ash says, "So she steals the Key Stones, only to try to mega evolve Rayquaza. And she is willing to sacrifice herself to save the world… Thanks for telling us everything."
After bidding farewell, Lillie asks, "So should we stop her?"
"I don't know. But we need to see her again."
Then they go back to the Devon Corp, and then they see that Aurora is helping Steven fighting the Team Aqua and Team Magma. Ash and Lillie join in the fight and then they defeat them.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Ash asks.
"Maxie and Archie, as well as Courtney and Matt have escaped our custody..." This causes surprise to them as she says, "Don't worry, we will find them and we will also take them back to where they belong."
Ash and Lillie nod, Steven says, "But first, we need to go back to the Mossdeep Space Center."
Once they go there, they see that Matt and Courtney are leading the grunts surrounding the Space Center. Mark and the others are battling against the grunts as Ash, Lillie, Steven and Aurora are facing Matt and Courtney.
"Team Aqua and Team Magma..." He notices the device in their hands and asks, "What do you intend to do with that device? You do realize that this is the last hope we have of saving this planet?"
"...Last...hope...?" Then the two people start to laugh out loud, then Courtney says, "My team...The team I put all hope into...Leader Maxie...was broken. He was broken! He was broken by this brat!"
"I ain't laughin' one bit. …Punk. My bro… My bro whom I loved so much… Are you trying to tell me that everything we've done up till now… The ties that bind us… all of it was a mistake? My bro has changed since he got mixed up with you!"
"How convenient it must be for you to put all the blame on another." Aurora says.
"Shut it! I… I'm…" "Enough! I've have enough of this world!" The two of them say at the same time.
"Know what? That rocket's full of crazy amounts of energy! It's even more awesome than the ultimate weapon that ended the war 3,000 years ago, right?" Matt says.
"I think we're in for an impact so big it will surpass the massive explosion that ended the war! I don't know what all this talk of a meteoroid is, but I have no need of it. Here, by our own hands... We'll make this rocket explode...And bring an end to this world..." Courtney says.
"Wha–?!"
"If we use this Key Stone we found at Meteor Falls, we can force the energy inside the rocket to explode… It'd be like Mega Evolution for the rocket! Muwahahaha! Who needs a meteoroid? We're gonna bring an end to all things with our own power!"
"We will...fix...Project AZOTH! Of course, we'll also destroy this dimensional shifter that's supposed to warp the asteroid away someplace, too."
"…Ash, Lillie. These fools! These incredible fools really intend to do it! If we don't stop this now, our whole world will be embroiled in the destruction!" Steven says.
"Yeah, we should stop them." Then they fight their Mega Camerupt and Mega Sharpedo against them, but they are failed.
"Whoa... Ohh... Ohhh..." Matt says.
"Why? Why must...you always...Always, always, always, always...Get in my way!" Courtney yells.
"Now is our chance! Take the dimensional shifter and–" Before Steven can finish, Aster comes and snatches the Dimensional Shifter.
"Wha-?" The crowd are confused.
"Nice one, Aster!" Zinnia enters the room.
"You are the-" Aurora says.
"The Draconid, yup. Or you could just call me Zinnia. Aster!" Aster hands over the shifter and says, "Thank you, dear. Now then... That is an impressive machine. Snap your fingers, the asteroid vanishes, and we all live happily ever after? Ahahahah! Indeed! It's like that former Champ said! This thing is the best hope we have of saving this planet and everything on it. But you know... It could also be the worst tragedy imaginable for some other world and everything on it."
"…What are you trying to say?" Steven demands.
"I'm not talking to you. You don't get it." Zinnia says causing Steven to be in rage.
"But you, Ash, Lillie... Hope for our world... Tragedy for another... You get it, don't you?"
"So what if we do?" Ash asks.
"And you come through again! You never disappoint me. My people know it. From generation to generation, we pass along the lore about the distortions in the world borne by the Mega Evolution mechanism. And about the existence of another world, which we have long observed to be just like this one and yet not the same... That's right. A Hoenn region that's almost exactly like this one we live in. Filled with Pokémon and people like us. A world where maybe the evolution of Pokémon took a slightly different path, where Mega Evolution is unknown... A world where that war 3,000 years ago...never happened. A world where the ultimate weapon was never even built. And in that Hoenn of that world... What would happen if one day, out of the blue, a meteoroid appeared? What would happen to the people of that world, without the technology to destroy the meteoroid or the power to warp it away? ... Looks like it's beyond the power of your imagination."
Then she just crushes the shifter in her hand, much to everyone's surprise.
"What kind of fool are you!" A scientist yells. "You have no substantive proof, and yet you claim another world, one just like our own, exists? Out of this fantasy, you-you have destroyed our only hope!"
"What have…you done…" Steven asks.
"Farewell, brief hope..."
"Y-you! Do you even know— Now what are we to do?!" Cozmo asks.
"Calm down there, Prof. It'll be OK. I... We... We can protect this world...and the other." Zinnia says.
"Who exactly is "we"? What are your intentions?" Aurora asks.
"Oh yeah! Silly me... I forgot the other thing I came for." Then she goes and snatches Matt and Courtney's Key Stones, much to their surprise. Wha...Errgh..."
"And that's the Key Stone gotten... Now I'll put it together with the Key Stone they've got in their base..." She turns to Ash and Lillie. "Looks like my next appointment is calling, so I'll excuse myself now. Later!"
"Th-that punk! How dare she try to take my bro Archie's Key Stone?! Not cool, man! Not cool!"
"Our...leader...Leader Maxie's...Key Stone. Is she trying...to steal it?! No...no..."
The two of them are surprised, and Aurora uses the chance to arrest them.
"Confound it all… She must be making for Team Magma's or Team Aqua's hideout next…" Ash says, "And maybe Maxie and Archie that were escaped are there as well..."
Aurora says, "Then you have to go there to stop Zinnia." The two of them nod as they leave the place.
Here is the first of the two part Delta Episode chapters, Maxie and Archie also escaped and they are hiding in their bases to tell the truth. Now that Zinnia is going after them for the Key Stone, what will happen next?
Ash and Lillie's Current Pokemon:
Butterfree, Pikachu, Lapras x2, Mewtwo, Mew, Meganium, Azumarill, Espeon, Steelix, Mantine, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Sceptile, Blaziken, Swampert, Mightyena, Linoone, Beautifly, Dustox, Ludicolo, Shiftry, Swellow, Pelipper, Gardevoir, Masquerain, Breloom, Vigoroth, Ninjask, Shedinja, Exploud, Hariyama, Nosepass, Delcatty, Sableye, Mawile, Aggron, Medicham, Manectric, Plusle, Minun, Volbeat, Illumise, Swalot, Shapedo, Wailord, Camerrput, Torkoal, Spinda, Flygon, Cacturne, Altaria, Zangoose, Seviper, Lunatone, Solrock, Whiscash, Crawdaunt, Claydol, Cradily, Armaldo, Milotic, Castform, Banette, Chimecho, Absol, Glalie, Walrein, Huntail, Gorebyss, Relicanth, Luvdisc, Salamence, Beldum, Latias, Latios, Kyogre, Groudon, Jirachi, Gallade, Sylveon
In Home:
Venusaur, Blastoise, Pidgeot, Raticate, Fearow, Arbok, Raichu, Sandslash, Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Clefable, Vileplume, Venomoth, Dugtrio, Persian, Golduck, Primeape, Poliwrath, Alakazam, Machamp, Victreebel, Tentacruel, Golem, Rapidash, Slowbro, Magneton, Farfetch'd, Dodrio, Muk, Cloyster, Gengar, Hypno, Kingler, Electrode, Exeggutor, Marowak, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, Weezing, Rhyperior, Kangaskhan, Seaking, Starmie, Mr. Mime, Jynx, Pinsir, Tauros, Gyarados, Ditto, Omastar, Kabutops, Aerodactyl, Snorlax, Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Dragonite, Typhlosion, Feraligatr, Furret, Noctowl, Ledian, Ariados, Lanturn, Xatu, Ampharos, Bellossom, Sudowoodo, Politoed, Jumpluff, Sunflora, Umbreon, Slowking, Unown x28, Wobbuffet, Girafarig, Forretress, Granbull, Scizor, Shuckle, Heracross, Ursaring, Magcargo, Corsola, Octillery, Delibird, Skarmory, Houndoom, Kingdra, Donphan, Stantler, Smeargle, Miltank, Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Larvitar, Tyranitar, Lugia, Honchkrow, Weavile, Lickilicky, Yanmega, Porygon-Z,
In training: Charizard, Charla
Reisa's Current Pokemon:
Feraligatr, Quagsire, Azumarill, Slowking, Blastoise, Politoed, Omastar, Kabutops, Seaking, Octillery, Starmie, Tentacruel, Gyarados, Lanturn, Corsola, Lapras, Mudkip, Relicanth, Ludicolo, Sharpedo, Corphish, Pelipper, Huntail, Sealeo, Surskit, Whiscash, Gorebyss
May's Current Pokemon:
Blaziken, Beautifly, Delcatty, Venusaur
Mark's Current Pokemon:
Blaziken, Lucario, Breloom, Hariyama, Meditite
Minami's Current Pokemon:
Primarina, Carbink, Mawile, Togepi, Swablu
