Things got rather anticlimactic after Siebold massacred the Rockets who weren't able to escape his trap. The battle at Olivine didn't last very long either. News of Team Rocket beating a hasty retreat from Olivine reached us not long after Siebold and I were done cleaning up whatever we had to do at Whirl Islands.
Our victory came to us too easily, to the point that I'm certain that the Rockets are definitely falling back on their Plan B, whatever their Plan B may be. From the look on Siebold's face, I could tell that he has a similar line of thought as well.
"Something's fishy."
"I agree." Siebold nodded with a thoughtful look on his face as his water types started to slowly return back to his side. "This is most unusual indeed."
"So, what do we do next?"
"Personally, I would like to track the Rockets down to find out where they are retreating to, but something is telling me that a bigger storm is on its way. I have a feeling that the Rockets are planning to bring out their more sinister plans. There are reports that they had tried to conduct a gassing on Blackthorn after all, who knows what they are really capable of when pushed?"
"Gassing?"
"They tried to cover the entire Blackthorn in poisonous smog. Thankfully, Flint of Sinnoh was there to put a stop to it."
I winced. I could only imagine the casualty count if Team Rocket managed to have their way at Blackthorn.
"Sir." One of the operatives from the STAR forces assigned to assist us approached Siebold, catching our attention. "Our next orders?"
I tuned out whatever they were saying next, my eyes instead turning towards the sky in the direction away from Olivine. The dark clouds that are brewing in the distance were not there a moment ago, is it really possible for dark clouds that huge to be formed in such a short period of time? Maybe the prowess of Siebold's water types had made the weather go all wonky? They were throwing about a lot of power around after all.
"-will do for now. Hang on, someone is trying to comms me. This is Siebold speaking, please come in."
I idly fiddled with my earpiece out of habit to try and see if I could glean some useful information about the state of the war thus far. I heard Steven's voice over the comms.
"Siebold? What's the situation on your end?"
"I wiped out everyone that could not escape my trap. However, I see that the Rockets on your end are starting to beat a retreat. Do you want me to stop them?"
'Human. The skies, something's not right.'
Blob's message got me to turn my head and look at the gigantic dark clouds once more. I squinted my eyes in order to try and get a better look. I could see the occasional flashes of lightning within it and it does look like it is pouring heavily in wherever the dark clouds are covering. They will reach the Whirl Islands soon, we will need to seek shelter.
'Those are some really huge clouds.'
'It's not just that.' I could feel Blob's irritation and dare I say, unease, in those words he spoke. 'Couldn't you feel it? The power within? Something powerful is coming! Something on the level of a Legendary!'
I broke out in a cold sweat. In our investigations thus far we do know that Team Rocket do possess the power of Legendaries on their side. There is Mewtwo, which we now know had been successfully freed of its restraints and is now assisting in our cause. Then there is the Legendary Birds, whose current locations are unknown but we had heavily suspected that they might have already fallen into Team Rocket's hands.
I heard Steven's voice through the comms once more.
"Jasmine suspects that they may have a hidden card. Help us to keep a lookout."
The dark clouds are moving towards the direction of Olivine at a rapid speed, too fast for it to be natural. I snapped out of my thoughts immediately. There is no more doubt in my mind that the formation of those dark clouds are definitely not natural and that Olivine is going to be in very big trouble if we do not act soon.
"Under-"
I quickly tugged at Siebold's sleeve, perhaps a little too forcefully but the situation does call for it. He saw what I am pointing at and by this point, we could all see the swiftly approaching dark clouds and three creatures flying about high up in the skies. These are creatures that are very rarely seen by man and the only time we could take a good look at them are picture books that document the accounts of people who had actually seen them in person centuries ago.
The Legendary Birds are here.
"Siebold?"
"Merde." Siebold let out a silent swear, something which he rarely does, as the Legendary Birds flew past us this instant and straight in the direction of Olivine City. They are definitely not in the mood to be making friends.
"Steven! Hurry with the evacuations! The shelters won't be enough! Everyone is to get out of Olivine right NOW!"
"Siebold?!"
"It's the Legendary Birds! There's no mistake! Team Rocket definitely has the Legendary Birds under their control and they are heading to Olivine right this instant! They are hiding themselves within the dark clouds!"
The atmosphere plummeted in that instant. Members of the STAR forces that were with us are exhibiting various reactions. Some are obviously afraid, others agitated, but there is no doubt that we are all worried whether Olivine could survive the disaster that is about to strike it.
"I'm heading back to Olivine immediately." Siebold declared with a firm voice, determination lacing his tone. "Everyone else stays out of the impending battle, this is way out of your league. Instead, assist in the evacuation of the city. Olivine needs every help it can get right now."
"YES SIR!"
With their new orders given, the STAR forces swiftly moved out to execute them, leaving Siebold and I alone.
"Nova."
"Siebold, I-"
"You stay here."
"And leave you to fight against Legendaries alone?! It's not just one Legendary Bird, Siebold, but three! THREE! You are going to court death itself!"
Siebold simply smiled in return.
"I am an Elite Four, to protect the innocents with my power is my responsibility. You, however, have no need to undertake such a risk. Besides, if even Elite Fours like me have little hope in stopping them, ordinary trainers like you and the operatives from the STAR forces will only end up as part of the casualty count. It's simply more prudent to have you stay far away from all the fighting."
This time, I was unable to form a reply. I opened my mouth again only for Blob to beat me to the punch when he surprised us by hopping out of my pocket and smacked Siebold on the forehead, causing him to stumble a few steps backwards.
'Humans, still as foolish as ever. What do you take me for, eh?! Even children know that it takes a Legendary to go against another Legendary and what are you idiots here doing wasting everyone's time?! Where are we now? The Whirl Islands! And who is the owner of the Whirl Islands? Lugia! And have you forgotten that there's another Legendary right in front of you?! You bumbling fools!'
Siebold stared at the little green speck of slime-like creature hopping about angrily by his feet before staring back at me, as if asking me just what was going on. I simply facepalmed and sighed.
"Blob, you do remember that only I can hear and understand whatever you are talking about, right?"
'THEN TRANSLATE FOR HIM!'
"Siebold, meet Zygarde, or so he claims. I simply call him Blob. Blob, you already know about Siebold."
"Zygarde?" Siebold's voice went a few tones higher at the mention of our region's legendary Overseer, although it's obvious that the look that Siebold is giving Blob had changed. I simply shrugged.
"Like I said, that is what he claims to be."
'What is that doubtful tone I am hearing?! Ye Lord is not pleased with that tone you are using, you hear me?! I AM the mighty Porion!'
"Alright, assuming we somehow managed to find and convince Lugia to help us fight our battles, that is still one against three. If we add you into the mix, that brings us to only two against three, and how are you going to stop the Legendary Birds in this state?" I deadpanned.
'The cube! The mighty Overseer cube! Give it to me!'
Oh right, that.
I took out the old looking cube Blob had me safekeep for him and placed it on the ground beside him, curious as to what he is about to do next. I could sense that Siebold is equally curious as well, our worries for Olivine temporarily forgotten at this moment.
Everything changes when Blob simply pressed an indent in the cube. Instantly, the ground quaked as if an earthquake had occurred, nearly causing Siebold and I to fall onto the ground. I could see the cube magically unravelling itself as countless of Blob's Cells started to flood out of the Cube and surround Blob himself, obscuring him from view as the mass of green began to glow white and started to take form.
The earth howled and erupted in a booming crash as the mass of green finally stopped glowing white and had taken a specific form. I couldn't see Blob anywhere, right in its place is a massive black and green hound-like pokemon staring right at us with an air of regality surrounding it. The power it is emanating is unreal, tangible enough to be felt pressing against our senses.
This is... Blob? The Blob that does nothing but rant about nonsensical stuff in my mind all day long?
'Oi, I can sense what you are thinking about, human! I have told you many times, I AM Zygarde!'
The earth shook once more at Blob's proclamation. If there were any more doubts in our mind that Blob is really Zygarde or not, they were all erased as of this moment. The amount of power Blob is exuding is too much for him to not be a Legendary pokemon.
"N-Nova? You had a Legendary with you all along?"
"I wasn't expecting for Blob to be a real Legendary pokemon. I simply thought he was a new species of pokemon all alo-"
I was interrupted by what was a massive shockwave occurring from seemingly out of nowhere. Siebold had immediately tried to shield me with his own body as our pokemon did the same.
"W-What was that?!"
"That was from the direction of Olivine! Did the Legendary Birds do this?!"
'Well, geniuses, who else has the power to do such a thing?!'
If so, we are in way bigger trouble than we had pictured it to be.
Obviously, Blob wasn't happy with my words earlier before the interruption from the shockwave, but due to the urgency of the crisis we suddenly found ourselves in he had chosen to make his way back to Olivine instead of staying to argue with us.
That, however, doesn't stop him from making one last rant as pieces of land arise from the bottom of the sea to pave a road for Blob to race back to Olivine and offer his assistance.
'Listen up, you puny humans! I will say this only once! I'm the one who watches the land! I'm the one who monitors the state of the world! I'm the judge! The Jury! And the executioner! I'm the dutiful overseer, the omnipotent watcher of the world's ecosystem! Fear me! Worship me! Bow before me! Bow before your lord and saviour-'
The sight that followed next was something my photographic memory will never allow me to forget. Just like how the skies had screamed of carnage in response to Zapmolcuno's power, the land under Blob's command roared back in challenge as Blob leapt towards Zapmolcuno, landing a powerful blow that blew the chimera legend away from Olivine.
'THE MIGHTY ZYGARDE!'
I smiled.
Legends do appear in our time of need after all.
Siebold had immediately left the Whirl Islands to help defend Olivine after Blob had offered his assistance. Due to the information Blob had revealed before he left to stop Zapmolcuno, Siebold had left me behind at Whirl Islands to complete a single task. A task that if completed successfully, might help to turn the tides of the battle in our favour.
Locate Lugia, and convince it to fight for our cause.
Blob's confirmation that Lugia does indeed rest within the islands is enough motivation for me to dive headfirst into the depths of the island's infamous underground labyrinth despite having made no prior preparations before starting my exploration. My ground types are a great help in trying to map out the entire place and to find a way to navigate ourselves into the deepest part of the Whirl Islands where Lugia supposedly resides in accordance to the various myths and legends we know about it, but even then the island is simply too huge, the network of underground tunnels too complex for us to be able to deduce a quick way to make our journey downwards.
We simply don't have the time.
I was standing at a fork in the path with my ground types beside me, trying to figure out the correct path to take when somebody who I least expect to bump into called out my name from the direction behind me, riding on her pidgeot.
"Skye?"
"Hop on!"
My body reacted and did what I was told immediately. Without slowing down in her flight in the slightest, Skye had reached out a hand to grab me and I took the hand offered without hesitation. In the meantime, my other hand immediately worked on recalling my entire team of pokemon back into their pokeballs. Any experienced trainers worth their salt would have perfected the art of calling out and recalling back their pokemon from their pokeballs in a matter of seconds. It is a skill that is highly overlooked but yet undisputedly necessary if you want to survive any dangers thrown your way out in the wild.
"Why are you here?"
"Why are you here?" I answered Skye's question with my own. Skye's pidgeot did not slow down in its flight even with two passengers on its back. The fact that it can fly so swiftly within the narrow passages of an underground labyrinth spoke volumes on how well-trained it is. From this alone, there is no doubt in my mind that Skye is a very skilled flying type trainer, one deserving of her title as Flier.
"I don't know! I keep hearing a voice in my head to come here so here I am! What about you?!"
Voice in her head? Psychic type, perhaps?
"Blob told me to go down to wake Lugia up before he went to stop Zapmolcuno!"
"That small little green thing that is always with you?"
"That one!"
"And Lugia?! Holy mother of Jesus I was really talking to Lugia?!"
Wait a minute. What?
The queries that arose from my confusion in our short little conversation came to an abrupt end because we saw the exit right in that very instant. Skye's Pidgeot flew through it and we arrived at an impossibly huge underground cavern that has both an underground lake and a roaring waterfall. The scenery is like something you would see from a fantasy movie. Sacred, beautiful, untouched by man. It is a home fitting for a legend.
We are where we are supposed to be, aren't we?
My amazement was cut short when we realised that we are not alone. Somehow, Team Rocket is here as well. I have no idea how they came to be here without me, Siebold, and the STAR operatives detecting their presence but this is not the time to ponder over the question. What I could see is that they have quite a number of high-tech equipment placed all over the place, ruining the otherwise beautiful view. A small glowing orb of light floats in the middle of the raging waterfall.
Skye reacted instantly by releasing the rest of her team out of their pokeballs. The first thing I noticed about her pokemon is that they are undoubtedly exhausted despite their willingness to forge ahead. Skye is a Ranger of Johto's 1st Ranger Regiment, a place where only the best Rangers in Johto gather. Given the situation outside, I have no doubt that she had already been through her fair share of battles today.
Suddenly, I could not be any gladder that Volkner had placed me here. I may not be able to help out on the battlefield unlike how Siebold and Volkner could, but at the very least, I can offer my assistance in this war right here, right now.
Skye turned to face me after she released her pokemon, who is growling menacingly at the Rocket's pokemon who are cautiously trying to circle us in.
"Nova? I don't think I had ever asked you about your skill level but please tell me that you are good enough to hold your own in battles."
I had made my decision.
"Drop me down. Tell your pokemon to pull back, I alone will be enough."
Team Rocket made the first move right after I said that, not giving us time to prepare ourselves. Skye's pokemon intervened immediately as the fight officially started. I released my entire team, but not before telling Skye one last thing.
"Remember, Skye, whatever you see me do next is classified."
Without any further hesitation, I invoked the power of Mega Evolution.
"Only when one clears all obstacles to stand at the top and also understands the weight behind the power known as Mega Evolution will they be worthy of using this power."
At the very moment Core started glowing in a rainbow hue, I think I finally understood the words Gurkinn spoke to me the day I became his successor.
Core marked his evolution into a mega garchomp with a trembling roar. He vanished in a blur and reappeared among our enemy's lines, pushing them back with a simple use of Bulldoze.
"What IS that?!"
"National level secret! I will tell you about it later! Core, Bulldoze! Rumble, Sandstorm!"
Core's ability as a mega garchomp is Sand Force, an ability that increases the user's offensive powers in a sandstorm. Mega Evolution has a time limit. Right now, we need to do all we can to allow Core to rampage and devastate our enemy's forces as soon as possible. Good news is, we are in a huge cavern with lots of earth and rocks to work with. We are in our element.
Pieces of earth were overturned to swallow our enemies, rocks emerged as jagged spikes to impale them as my team worked with a ferocity we had never experienced ever since our encounter with the infamous Beryl Pirates so many years ago that nearly cost us our lives.
Skye worked in tandem with us as she and her pokemon provided invaluable air support from above. Her flying types utilised long range attacks to destroy any of Team Rocket's machineries that they could see. I quickly got the memo. Whatever these Team Rocket's machines are here for, it obviously cannot be anything good for Lugia. Reducing them to rubble can only be beneficial for us.
The orb of light glowing in the middle of the waterfall lost its shine as soon as we destroyed the last piece of machinery. The earth trembled once more but this time, I am sure that this isn't the work of any of my pokemon. My eyes quickly registered just what was going on.
From behind the waterfall.
The atmosphere changed instantly, almost as if an invisible weight was descending on us and its sudden appearance almost choked the air out of my lungs. Thankfully, that pressure lessened considerably as soon as it had come.
'Ah, my apologies, it's been a long time since I had humans for company. I keep forgetting just how fragile you humans are.'
A gigantic creature emerged from behind the waterfall, marking the end of our battle with the Rockets as some sort of powerful psychic intervention tossed them into a blissful slumber immediately. The creature responsible for it briefly hover in midair within the spacious cavern before descending to face us, the force generated from a simple lazy flap of its wings nearly blowing us off our feet. I recognise this creature.
Lugia.
'So this is how you look like.' Lugia communicated with us telepathically, its attention drawn to Skye before turning its head over to look at me in what I assume is a look of curiosity.
'Oh hello there, Watcher, I see that you have met my old friend Zygarde. Quite a peculiar fellow, isn't he?'
"Uh, yeah." I replied lamely. Blob and Lugia had known each other? Isn't Kalos far, far away from Johto? How had they met?
The island shook once more and everyone except for Lugia fell from the shock.
'Alas, we don't have time to chitchat. Both of you, recall your pokemon. Time is of the essence, I will bring us out of here.'
Skye and I did as Lugia told, who levitated and placed us to ride on its back the moment we were done. Lugia brought us down to the bottom of the lake with a nosedive, the water magically parting for us to allow Skye and I to breathe underwater. Lugia's psychic abilities must be at work here.
Lugia swam through a series of complicated twists of turns in the network of underwater tunnels that it is bringing us through. Before long, we emerged out from the sea and into the open, the sunlight shining down on us once more.
'It's been a long time since I've last been to the surface. Hmm, I couldn't quite recognise Olivine now. It seems that a lot has changed.'
"Olivine will be changed into a wasteland if we don't hurry." Was Skye's answer as we bore witness to how Blob and other Pillars are engaged in a titanic clash of power against Zapmolcuno.
'Whoever dared to awaken the Thu-Fi-Zer was either extremely foolish, or extremely desperate, maybe a little of both. Individually, Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno are the embodiment of instinct, valour, and wisdom. Combined, they are wrath incarnate and impossible to be reasoned with. There was a very good reason why they were kept separate from each other and why the ruby and sapphire crystals were stored on the Sevii Islands instead and not on the Kanto mainland.'
"Are the Zapmolcuno really that powerful?" I cannot help but ask. Details and descriptions of the power legendaries hold are often vague. As a result, nobody could really properly quantify or estimate the kind of power they wield.
'Have nobody ever wondered why no other Legendary pokemon other than those three made their home in the Kanto region? It's because if their powers ever merged into one, they are near unstoppable, even for us fellow Legendaries. Not only that, their power will steadily accumulate and grow, starting from when they first come together as one until somebody separates them somehow. The collective power they wield as a single entity is the reason why nobody wants to make their homes near them.'
Skye then raised a valid point.
"If what you said is true, that even other legendaries will be wary of Zapmolcuno's power and it will keep accumulating power without limit since its formation, they had already been formed for quite a while. Will you be enough to stop them?"
'Do not fret, Flier, for there's a very good reason why Ho-oh and I chose to make our homes in the Johto region. We are the only ones capable of stopping them if they ever become the Thu-Fi-Zer. Besides, Zygarde is already helping and- oh, who is that?'
"I think that is Mewtwo. A man-made Legendary pokemon, apparently."
I squinted my eyes after hearing Skye's words. From afar, that unknown pokemon does look like Mewtwo, but what is it doing here?
'Man-made? You mean similar to a spiritomb or a golurk?'
"Uhh, I don't even know how those pokemon came to existence to begin with. Nova, do you know?"
I rattled off what I knew out of habit.
"There are ancient records left behind that suggest that pokemon like the golurk and spiritomb species were originally artificially created before they managed to proliferate and thereby becoming an entirely new species of pokemon on their own. As to how they were created in the first place, it's still a mystery that we are still trying to find out."
'I see. Well, we can leave this conversation for another time. Right now, we have to quell the Thu-Fi-Zer. Hold on tight!'
Lugia closed the distance between us and the site of the battle with a few flaps of its wings. Lugia then sucked in a breath before releasing it in a terrifying blast, pushing Zapmolcuno further away from Olivine in a single move.
Was that Aeroblast? Definitely looked like it.
Lugia kept up the pressure by firing off a barrage of Aeroblasts, succeeding in pushing Zapmolcuno out of Olivine. Lugia's participation in this battle brought about a brief pause before Zapmolcuno decided to retaliate, forcing Lugia to erect walls made up of Light Screen and Reflect to serve as our shield.
However, it is obvious to even me that those barriers barely held. Zapmolcuno is unfathomably powerful, far more powerful than we could possibly imagine and gave it credit for.
Mewtwo teleported to our side just as Skye and Lugia discussed the best way to separate Zapmolcuno back into their individual selves. Lugia had mentioned that we need to find the ruby and sapphire crystals, whatever that is. Apparently, these items are responsible for their merger to form Zapmolcuno and similarly, can be used to separate Zapmolcuno back into its original forms.
'- I possess more than enough power to hurt it, so can I trust you to defend the city and the people behind us?'
'I am referred to as Johto's Guardian of the Seas for a very good reason.' Lugia replied to Mewtwo's question as they briefly introduced themselves to each other. Mewtwo gave us one last sweeping glance, its feline eyes felt as if it could peer into our innermost secrets.
I'm not going to lie, Mewtwo's gaze gave me the shivers.
'Good.'
Mewtwo vanished and reappeared in the thick of the battle, recklessly throwing around its limitless power in its fight against Kanto's legends. Lugia let out a songful cry as the sea swirled in response to its powers, giving us its wordless promise to defend Olivine and humanity from Zapmolcuno's mindless rage.
A fight among legends is starting to unfold right in front of my very eyes, and I am about to bear witness to its entirety.
Character and pokemon list:
Nova Labelle, Age: 26, Female, Ground Specialist, Historian, Niece of Lysandre
Pokemon on hand:
1. Mamoswine (Berg), Male
2. Golem (Crust), Female
3. Excadrill (Solid), Male
4. Golurk (Drift), Genderless
5. Garchomp (Core), Male
6. Claydol (Vision), Genderless
7. Whiscash (Seis), Male
8. Marowak (Tinen), Female
9. Torterra (Terra), Female
10. Gigalith (Mantle), Male
11. Tyrantrum (Jaws), Male
12. Aurorus (Sail), Female
13. Sandile (Rumble), Male
14. Zygarde (Blob), Genderless
