13:13, the 13th day of the 13th month.
Mossdeep Space Centre, Celestial Observatory.
Disaster has struck! The meteoroid's trajectory has suddenly changed direction. It now lies on collision course with our planet. The meteoroid is expected to make impact somewhere southwest of Sootopolis, on a small island on Route 131. Current theories on the sudden change in trajectory lie almost exclusively in the realm of life being on the meteoroid…
Team Magma Grunt 008 stood atop the Sky Pillar, her trusty Whismur standing beside her. She discarded her Magma outfit, feeling the breeze again at long last.
"Thank goodness we're done with that stupid team, Aster… but we've only got weeks… no, maybe days…" Zinnia told her companion.
"Hm?" Aster asked.
"Things have gotten tricky now, since that girl managed to stop Groudon from being revived like it should've been. What was her name again? May, was it? Well, it's not like that's a big deal. I have a new plan. But I'll have to make sure May's on board with this one… and I'll also need to tweak around with a Key Stone…" Zinnia said.
"Miss Zinnia?" Aster asked.
"Aster… I will protect you," Zinnia said.
EPISODE DELTA
May awoke with a smile on her face. It had been a week or two since she had reached Rank 10, and she had been out and about. She smiled at her newest companion, a small little Chikorita, before looking about at her team. As it turned out, her home in Littleroot had space for them all, and there was clearly something sturdy in the floor. She got up, yawned, and headed downstairs, Chikorita following her.
"Morning, May!" Norman called out. May absently waved, before doing a double-take. She hadn't taken the time to meet her father since reaching Rank 10, and she had just realised what a mistake that was.
"I've heard you reached Rank 10," Norman said.
"Yeah… all thanks to my friend. I owe some of it to you, I guess," May said.
"Oh, and Melissa stopped by. She wanted to catch you awake, but she had a bit of pressure following her impromptu vacation with you," Norman said, handing May a pair of tickets.
"Tickets to a star show in Mossdeep?" May asked.
"She wanted to go with you. She'll be available then, but she just had a little problem with her Lisia identity," May's mother said. Norman waved goodbye, before returning to Petalburg Gym.
"Oh, that dad of yours… he's so focused on his work. I know being a Gym Leader's a big job, but when it seems like being a celebrity is less work…" her mother said. The TV started to blare out, and both May and her mother turned.
*At last the Litleonid meteor shower returns to illuminate Hoenn's night sky! The star show held at the Mossdeep Space Centre will provide the best view of the shooting stars from the centre's lofty viewing deck!* the TV said.
"Ah… the Litleonids, hm? I remember seeing them with your dad 11 years ago when they last passed by… oh, that night was magical…" May's mother said.
"Bringing back a few bad memories there…" May said.
"Oh… well, nothing like that'll happen to you! You're going with a girl!" May's mother said. May smiled and laughed, heading outside. Her Chikorita had a little training, so she was fine leaving her Pokémon behind for a little. She came outside, to see an odd looking girl sitting on Birch's roof. She slid off, and rolled up to May.
"Hello there, May! I was just thinking about you! Are we in sync or what?" the woman asked.
"Huh?" May asked.
"Oh, where are my manners? The name's Zinnia. I know who you are, of course. May August, the newest Rank 10 Trainer and friend to the Lisia Starlight. You have the potential for Mega Evolution, correct?" Zinnia asked.
"Miss Zinnia?" a Whismur beside her asked.
"OK, OK, I'll stop. But this is a nice place, isn't it? Littleroot Town. I can see why you still live here instead of over with Lisia. Well… I guess we shouldn't drag on our first meeting, don't you think? Until next time…" Zinnia said, before walking into the trees and disappearing into the wind.
"…What a weird lady. I wonder if we'll meet again?" May asked herself.
"May… who was that lady?" Chikorita asked.
"I don't know… and I'm rather fine not knowing," May said. Even still, she quickly went upstairs to retrieve her Pokémon. She came back downstairs, to hear Steven's voice sound. She looked around, before pulling out her Pokénav.
"Steven?" May asked.
*Yes, May. I'd imagine you'd be a little shocked. Truth is, this is a communication mode that Devon is still currently developing. A version of it has been inserted into every Pokénav Plus. It's designed only to be used in emergencies… but I reckon this counts as an emergency. I need you to come to the Devon Corporation in Rustboro. There's something I can only say in person…* Steven said. The Pokénav shut off, and May pocketed it. She blushed slightly, before calling on Latias to soar to Rustboro.
May landed beside the Devon Corporation. Steven waved at her as she approached, and she blushed. She blushed even more so to see Melissa standing by his side. Now that her double identity as Lisia was an open secret, Melissa had delighted in wearing dresses just to delight May, and this occasion was no different. A sunshine yellow sundress rolled down her sides, the Latios Pendant prominent on her neck, but Melissa's expression captivated May's attention much more. Although she was delighted to see May, there was confusion behind her eyes… May hated to see her like that.
"Sorry about summoning you so suddenly," Steven said, drawing May's attention back to him. He opened the door to Devon, and May entered, Melissa following. The three went to the top floor, to Mr. Stone and his fabulous stone collection. Melissa went ogling while May, Steven and Mr. Stone discussed other matters.
"Welcome, May. It's been a while, has it not? But alas, this is no time for jokes or joy or generosity… 3,000 years ago. There was a great war, in a region far away from here. That war was brought to an end by a weapon created by one man. Powering that weapon… life energy of Pokémon," Mr. Stone said. May gasped, and her Chikorita cried out. Melissa jumped, and ran over to start stroking it.
"The energy gathered from so many Pokémon… some would call it reprehensible. However, my grandfather thought otherwise. He sought to use the energy to improve the lives of people and Pokémon. And so he created our greatest development, Infinity Energy," Mr. Stone said. Both Chikorita and Melissa were shivering, and May was wondering if she'd have to join the hug.
"Anyway, our Infinity Energy has allowed us to become behemoths in the industry. The Devon Parts you delivered to earn you that Lopunnite and the Eon Pendants you and Melissa wear were used to power a submarine using Infinity Energy. And then we moved on to exploring space… where the real issue starts. A huge asteroid, more than six miles in diameter, is currently on track to collide with our planet. We and Mossdeep have been collaborating to come up with a plan to save us… but for our plans to succeed, we need a Meteorite Shard," Mr. Stone said.
"You want her to get the shard for you?" Steven asked.
"Of course! Good work, m'boy. May, I want you to make your way to the Granite Cave near Dewford. We suspect that Meteorite Shards can be found there. Son, I want you to head to the Space Centre and start the preparations with the Link Cable," Mr. Stone said. Steven nodded. May was thinking about Granite Cave… that was where she first met Steven. Her life had changed forever on that day…
"Anyway, May, if anything comes up, I will contact you," Steven said, leaving Devon.
"Be careful, Steven," Mr. Stone said.
"I'm counting on you, May. You and Steven will save the world here…" Mr. Stone said. May got to her feet, and nodded.
"Are you coming with me, Melissa?" May asked.
"Yes!" Melissa said, jumping up. She came up next to May, still holding Chikorita. May nodded, and the pair departed for Dewford. Melissa played May's Eon Flute, summoning Latios to come with them. May looked over at her, surprised, but now wasn't the time for concerns like that.
May and Melissa entered Dewford Cave, to see Zinnia studying the wall painting, muttering to herself.
"Who's she?" Melissa asked.
"Zinnia… and that's all I know," May said back. Zinnia turned around, and spotted May and Melissa.
"Oh, hi, May! Nice to see you again! Are you here for the painting… or are you here for that? The Meteorite Shards with power for the Legendary Pokémon of the heavens?" Zinnia asked.
"The latter," May said.
"…May… I can't hold it back. I need to battle you," Zinnia said.
"Really?" May asked.
"Of course! But are you ready to battle me?" Zinnia asked. May nodded, and Zinnia charged forward, sending out a Salamence. May sent out her Latias, and commanded Dragon Pulse. Salamence was sent backwards, before it charged forward with an Outrage. Latias dodged to one side, and fired another Dragon Pulse, defeating Salamence outright.
"That's it! That was what I was looking for… I really felt that battle, short as it was. Here, take this Meteorite Shard!" Zinnia said. She handed the Meteorite Shard to May, beaming oddly all the while. She looked at May, and spotted the Meteorite from Mt. Chimney in it.
"I'd keep a hold of both of those, May," Zinnia said. She started leaving the cave, before turning back to May.
"The actions you're taking now… are they based on the ideals you cling to? Or are they based on actual truths? If they are… how much of the truth do you think you know?" Zinnia asked. She left, her Whismur following her.
"What?" Melissa asked.
"Philosophy when the world's on the line… couldn't have picked a worse time," May said. Her Pokénav started ringing, and May pulled it up.
"May? Did you find the Meteorite Shard?" Steven asked.
"Yup," May said.
"In that case, we need you to get to Mossdeep Space Centre. We have little time left," Steven said. May and Melissa nodded to each other, and ran back outside Granite to Soar over to Mossdeep as quickly as possible.
May and Melissa ran up to Mossdeep Space Centre, and came up the building to see Steven and Professor Cozmo. Steven looked up.
"Ah! Thanks for coming!" Professor Cozmo said, looking up as well. Melissa walked up to the pair, and handed Professor Cozmo the Meteorite Shard.
"I'm surprised you know the professor, actually… you are quite the connected little one," Steven said, smirking. May shrugged modestly.
"Anyway, my dear May… our plan at current involves using the Infinity Energy in our rocket, combined with the energy found within Key Stones. We start by artificially replicating the massive energy triggered during Mega Evolution. We will fire this massive energy into space, and create a warp hole. By creating this warp hole in the meteoroid's path, we hope to be able to transport it somewhere far, far away from here," Professor Cozmo said.
"And where would that be?" Melissa asked.
"Not here," Professor Cozmo said vaguely. "At any rate, this technology has already been used in some common devices. Like warp panels," Professor Cozmo said.
"Never seen 'em," May said.
"Anyway, our Link Cable should be able to do the trick. But we'll need a bit more energy than we anticipated… maybe one more Meteorite Shard?" Professor Cozmo asked. May sighed, before the sound of someone entering the room echoed. May and Melissa turned, to see Zinnia again.
"Hi," May said out of habit.
"Nice… so this is the heart of the Space Centre…" Zinnia said, as usual, somewhere very perpendicular to the here and the now. Her Whismur jumped up and down happily.
"Excuse me! You can't just let yourself in here!" a lady said, calling out from the stairwell.
"She does that a lot," May remarked.
"Yeah, don't be such a stick in the mud! What's the harm?" Zinnia asked. She turned.
"Anyway, boys, the name's Zinnia. Just a regular old tourist!" Zinnia said.
"…From how much you show up, I highly doubt that," May said.
"Yeah, why not? So this is what has come of human technology and hope and blood and sweat and tears and everything else I'm forgetting. I know all about this thingymabobber of yours… and that energy you're using to fuel this rocket. That abominable technology humanity first thought up 3,000 years ago… you're going around claiming that this is best for humanity, or the best for the whole world…" Zinnia said.
"I don't like where this is going," May said.
"It's a snap of your fingers to repeat the sins of the past. Worse… if what I happened to hear is true, you're on your way to commit an error more abominable than before!" Zinnia said.
"So you'd rather we sit here wringing our hands, waiting for the meteoroid to strike us?" Steven asked.
"Your problem being…?" Zinnia asked. She turned to May.
"You're a Rank 10 Trainer, and from what I hear, there's a good head screwed on those shoulders. Do you have some better idea?" Zinnia asked.
"Uh… wait, something's coming… nah… hm… something's spinning about in there," May said.
"That's promising! You'll have to tell me, so we can set these guys straight!" Zinnia said.
"I never told you I had more than nuggets in the rough! I don't even know if they're gold or bronze yet!" May said.
"Look, boys, I'm not here to criticise the way you guys are looking at this. But I want to be sure you've thought this through very well. There are necessary sacrifices, and unnecessary sacrifices. And, what a surprise, this is the best you could come up with. Instead of trying to make something out of nothing, you decide to just recycle the mistakes of the past right out? Boy's heads were a lot more screwed on back in the good days…" Zinnia said.
"I fail to see how we're recycling the mistakes of the past…" Professor Cozmo said.
"Actually, same here! You're compounding on them! That takes the cake! You boys need some imagination. Wait… you were in a conversation or something, right? Sorry about that… we'll take ourselves out of this mess," Zinnia said. She led Aster from the building.
"Who was that woman…" Steven asked.
"I've met her twice before, and I'm only slightly better informed," May said.
"Anyway… we need to collect another Meteorite Shard, an extremely pure one… they can only be found at Meteor Falls," Professor Cozmo said.
"Meteor Falls?" May asked.
"North of Rustboro, dividing Routes 114 and 115. There's no Gyms or anything like that up there, so we had no reason to go there. There's a Contest Hall there, though, so I'm quite familiar with Fallabor… I don't think I've been in Meteor Falls too much, though," Melissa said.
"There'll no doubt be more than a Meteorite Shard… girls, follow me as quickly as you are able," Steven said. May and Melissa nodded, as the three left Mossdeep Space Centre, and let Skarmory, Latios and Latias fly them on their way.
The three arrived in Meteor Falls, an explosion of mixed colours for a rather neat effect. The three started searching for a Meteorite Shard, which Steven found. He let May know a little later, so that he might meet someone at the Fall's top-rear. May arrived, for Steven to introduce May to a descendant of the Draconids.
"I am one of the Draconid people. One of those ancient folk tasked with passing down the knowledge of Mega Evolution and the great lore of Lord Rayquaza, the beginning of all. 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 distant space. At others, the Primal Reversions of our own super-ancient Pokémon brought us to the brink of destruction. Each time, it was Lord Rayquaza that saved us from doom," the Draconid said.
"I see… so we must call upon Lord Rayquaza now?" May asked.
"It is not that easy. A chosen Lorekeeper, standing before a stone shining with rainbow light, offered up a wish to the great one. And Lord Rayquaza's body was suffused with a brilliant light to transform. In its transformed state, Rayquaza's power was more devastating than any other, almost even rivalling the Creator, and certainly more than a match for the super-ancient Pokémon in their Primal form," the Draconid said.
"A rainbow-coloured stone… an invocation from the Lorekeeper… and a Rayquaza unlike any other ever seen… Mega Evolution, perhaps?" Steven asked.
"A Pokémon, a person, a stone of power… the bonds that tie them together… this is Mega Evolution, all right. Or what later peoples called Mega Evolution," the Draconid said.
"So this mechanism for Mega Evolution was discovered as a result of the first meeting between humanity and Rayquaza…" Steven said.
"I always heard it was Lucario," May remarked.
"One last question… about the Lorekeeper…" Steven said.
"The Lorekeeper is the one who inherited the knowledge and power to summon Lord Rayquaza when disaster imperils the world. The true Lorekeeper of this generation is called Zinnia. The disaster approaching our planet… Zinnia has been trying to avert it in her own way. She joined an organisation that sought to revive the super-ancient Pokémon. She taught them the secrets needed to bring back these threats and summon the great Dragon itself. She's quite unhappy with you for thwarting those efforts, by the way," the Draconid said.
"Sorry for saving the world…" May said.
"She travels the land, scouring for Key Stones…" the Draconid muttered.
"So that woman at the Space Centre was a Draconid… and she was involved in that attempted revival of the super-ancient Pokémon… knowing of Groudon's power, understanding the terrible changes it would wreak upon our world…" Steven said.
"Not going to lie, I don't trust her with the fate of our planet," May said.
"Well, tell us what your idea is," Steven said.
"I'm still working on it… plus she's given me some more idea to work with," May said.
"Balance must rule this world… history is doomed to repeat. Our people have overcome a great many disasters, but it has always been through great, great sacrifice. Yet we have continued to struggle to preserve our peace for as many years as possible. That is how we have protected this world upon which we live. I do not know how you plan to move forward. But do you believe you are not sacrificing anything for your own protection?" the Draconid said.
"Between you and Zinnia, I'm not even sure of my own name," May said.
"Zinnia will follow her convictions to the end. Even knowing the sacrifices they require. Even if the sacrificial blade is levelled at her own heart," the Draconid said. Silence descended upon the group.
"Hey, guys! When were you going to help me?" Melissa asked, scrambling up the ledges on Meteor Falls. A Bayleef was at her side.
"…Melissa, I am returning to Rustboro, to Devon. I have an odd sense… and my intuition tends to be correct," Steven said.
"Oh man, don't tell me I'm climbing back down!" Melissa said.
"Those cliffs are meant for jumping down," Steven said. May took pity on her, and helped her down and out of Meteor Falls. She returned her now evolved Bayleef to her Poké Ball, too big to fit on Latios's back, before the two soared off in Rustboro's direction.
The pair landed back in front of Devon, to see a scientist bolt out. May landed, looking about in concern. Melissa landed behind her, and looked into the building.
"This is bad… Team Magma stole the control device for the Link Cable…" the scientist said.
"Magma?" May asked.
"Oh yes, a dimension shifter. The person who stole it was short and pretty, with a nasty look in her eyes. They must've headed for the Mossdeep Space Centre…" the scientist said.
"Quite the run-around…" May muttered to herself, as she climbed on Latias's back yet again.
The pair landed in Mossdeep, and spotted Courtney. Something about her looked off, as she looked around while walking and made a few missteps here and there. May shivered, worried about how the girl was reacting with her mechanical parts. The two followed her into Mossdeep, watching her as she moved up the stairs to the second floor.
"Courtney… what do you intend to do with that device?" Steven asked. "That is our last hope of saving this planet."
*Last brzzt hope? Whirr… broken… team… magmanisation… brzzt… broken… May… May… May…* Courtney said.
"Courtney… I don't know what's wrong with you, but there's no need to be so rash. You should really take a seat if things aren't going well for you," Steven said.
*Enough… I can't… enough… please…* Courtney said, holding out the dimensional shifter, before moving about. Steven reached out for it, but didn't want to risk hurting himself, Courtney, or the shifter.
"Courtney… Courtney, relax!" May said.
"May… there's no choice. We have to somehow disable her before she destroys our last hope of salvation, intentionally or otherwise!" Steven said.
"Right… Steven, try to stop her moving! There has to be a failsafe switch somewhere… we have to shut her down!" May said. Steven and Melissa rushed forward, pinning Courtney to the ground. May started searching Courtney's entire form, finding little but unexpectedly fleshy parts. She finally found a hinge, in Courtney's neck. She pried it open with all the strength she had in her lone arm, using her stump as leverage. It pulled open, with a button on the inside. May pushed the button, and Courtney's struggling abated. She let out the sound of whirring slowing down and stopping.
"…Wait a minute…" May said, horror dawning upon her. She looked to Melissa, for whom a similar realisation was sinking in. Steven took the dimensional shifter, and May started checking for a power-back-on button. The cry of a Whismur sounded, and May looked up.
"Again? Now's not the time…" May said, as Zinnia followed after the Whismur. The Whismur jumped up, and snatched the dimensional shifter from Steven.
"Nice one, Aster… what the hell happened here?" Zinnia asked.
"Courtney malfunctioned… we had to shut her down," May said.
"Oh… uh…" Zinnia said nervously.
"…I don't want to ask this, but… did you mess with her programming?" May asked. Melissa took over attempted rebooting.
"I didn't mean to kill her! I just meant for her to get this!" Zinnia said, holding out the dimensional shifter. "Quite the impressive machine, is it not? Snap your fingers, the asteroid vanishes, and we all live happily ever after? The best hope we have of saving this planet and everything on it?"
"You're mad, Zinnia… there was no reason to risk Courtney like that just for it! Her oil is on your hands!" May said.
"Let me finish. This meteoroid could also be the worst tragedy imaginable for some other world and everything on it. Hope for our world just for tragedy on another… you get it, don't you?" Zinnia asked.
"…So, what you're saying is…" May started.
"My people, from generation to generation, 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 observed to be just like this one and yet… not the same. A Hoenn almost exactly like this one… and yet, at the same time, completely at odds with it. Brendan siding with the righteous Team Magma to prevent May and the villainous Team Aqua from awakening the super-ancient Pokémon of the oceans, Kyogre. No robots. No Melissa. And, most importantly… no Mega Evolution. The evolution of Pokémon did not follow their world as it did ours. Infinity Energy is unknown to them. Boy, I wonder what would happen to that world, a world of heroes, if one day, out of the blue, a meteoroid appeared?" Zinnia asked.
"…I think I get the picture…" May said.
"Why, of all things, am I completely removed from reality?" Melissa asked.
"That's what strikes you about this mirror-world? What kind of world is it that I'm the evil one?" May asked.
"…Looks like it's beyond the power of your imagination," Zinnia said. She threw the dimensional shifter into the air. All eyes watched is descent in what seemed like slow motion, as it reached the floor, and smashed. Zinnia's foot came forward, and pushed the shifter back down, breaking the shifter even further.
"What kind of fool are you? You have no substantive proof, and yet you claim another world like our own exists? Out of this fantasy, you have destroyed our only hope?" Professor Cozmo asked.
"And, if that's truly how the world looks, why is it worth sparing?" May asked.
"You just don't get it, do you? Is it really up to us to determine the fate of their world? Why is it that we are more morally advanced than they? Is it because their villains are our heroes? It is a world where the perspective is different, not deficit, and here you are, going on about how our world is so much more worth protecting!" Zinnia said. May opened her mouth, but had been humbled.
"Anyway. We can protect both this world and the world on the other side. Anyway… I also need this," Zinnia said. She walked up to Melissa, and pulled the Mega Tiara from her hair. Melissa hurriedly dived down, and May rushed over to fix her wig before her identity as Lisia came out.
"What the hell?" May asked.
"Well, it looks like my next appointment is calling, so I'll excuse myself now. Later," Zinnia said, leaving everyone in complete confusion.
"On a scale of one to ten, she ranks about a nine on the weird scale," May said.
"Thirteen, even! She's doomed us all and I don't think she realises it!" Professor Cozmo said.
"Melissa, go to Mt. Pyre, and bury her. I've got to go tell her family," May said, running out of the building to the Team Magma Hideout.
May entered the place, shivers still going down her spine at her memories. She looked around, before finding Maxie, Tabitha and Brendan. Zinnia was standing before them.
"Again?" May asked, before making herself less prominent.
"And the winner is Zinnia!" Zinnia exclaimed. Maxie was growling at Zinnia. Presumably, something bad had happened, like Zinnia maybe having owned up to Courtney's death: not likely, considering she was nowhere near sombre enough.
"I have fallen to this woman? How…" Maxie said in disbelief. Tabitha went to comfort his father, while Brendan stepped up to Zinnia.
"Who are you?" Brendan asked, one hand on a Poké Ball.
"Now that's a surprisingly difficult question. I couldn't become who I was supposed to be, so who does that make me now? …Haha! Whatever. Enough introspection and soul searching… May!" Zinnia cried out.
"Darn it… now what, Zinnia? You told them yet?" May asked.
"I was expecting you to come over and admit to that," Zinnia said.
"Don't you dare blame me. Who was it who made me do it in the first place, huh?" May asked.
"What are you talking about?" Brendan asked. May looked at him, a sad light in her eye.
"Brendan… Courtney's been shut down," May said.
"What?" Tabitha cried out.
"Im… Impossible… her emergency shut-down switch was sealed! Besides, who'd want to shut her down?" Maxie asked.
"Ask her. She tampered with her programming to try and get her to destroy humanity's hope," May said.
"Well, that's not me breaking open the emergency shut-down switch and activating it by force, is it?" Zinnia asked.
"Zinnia, you still haven't told me why you think that was justified beyond saving a world where I'm the bad guy," May said.
"…What's the difference between that one and this one now, May? You're the hero, you're the one who's meant to save the world, and you've gone and shut down a perfectly serviceable robot!" Zinnia said.
"Courtney was no robot…" Brendan said.
"May, where is she? I'll try and put her back online," Maxie said.
"Melissa took her to Mt. Pyre," May said. Maxie pushed past May and Zinnia, Zinnia nicking Maxie's Key Stone on the way.
"Well, that's it for me. I can do what I need now. May, you go pick up your girlfriend and meet me on Sky Pillar. That's where I'll be doing my thing. I really do hope you'll chase me down," Zinnia said, before darting away.
"Who does that girl think she is?" Tabitha asked.
"I don't know for certain… but I'm going to find out," May said.
"May…" Brendan said.
"Sorry, Brendan… I hope there'll be no hard feelings," May said. Brendan came up close to her.
"Did… Did Courtney shut down in peace?" Brendan asked.
"…She was full of glitches… it was… it was hard to look at…" May said.
"…Mercy… Mercy override… thank you…" Brendan said. Tabitha looked at May.
"…Avenge her for us, will you?" Tabitha asked.
"…Acknowledged," May said.
May (and after a brief stop, Melissa), headed to the Sky Pillar on Route 131. The pair of them attempted to fly directly to the top, only for some odd wind currents to give their efforts pause. Melissa looked around, before guiding May a short distance away, before a large door. May could see no opening in the Pillar itself, so she assumed that this door would be the entrance.
"You have a key?" May asked.
"Not a key… this door can only be opened by the hand of someone descended from the ancient people of Sootopolis…" Melissa said. She took off her wig, and handed it to May. She stepped squarely in front of the door, and moved her arms about in a fascinating manner. May would have admitted she wasn't entirely sure what she was doing, before a bright blue-green light appeared at Melissa's breast. Melissa pushed the light forward, into the door. The door shone the same blue-green, before disappearing.
"Phew… didn't think I had enough Sootopolian blood…" Melissa said. She took the wig back, before the two set foot into the tunnel. May sent out Bayleef to keep the pair company.
May and Melissa emerged from the tunnel into a ruinous tower. Pieces high and low had crumbed about everywhere, and ladders had been added here and there. Whatever the tower's original design was, it had been lost to time. In the midst of looking around, May found herself bumping into Zinnia.
"You…" May said.
"You came. Thanks for that. I'm really feeling it… right here…" Zinnia said.
"Zinnia… what's going on?" Melissa asked.
"…Look… at the paintings that still remain on the walls of this tower… these paintings are the history of humanity, Pokémon, and nature itself. The tales that the Draconids, my ancestors, have passed down for thousands of years… I shall pass that history and lore on to you," Zinnia said.
"…You have me interested," May said.
"Thousands of years ago, in the primal age long lost… the world was overflowing with natural energy. Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre fought for that energy in endless, furious clashes. Torrents lasting for days, followed by intense droughts. But in the face of that Primal power, people could do nothing. They could only watch as disaster upon disaster swept over them. In such a time, a great many meteoroids poured from the darkness of space, from a place higher than even the heavens. The meteoroids fell in their multitude upon a waterfall that had long been home to a tribe of Dragon Pokémon users… and that's chapter one," Zinnia said.
"There's more?" Melissa asked.
"We'll need to climb higher before I can tell you more," Zinnia said. She jumped up the ruins, and gestured for May and Melissa to follow. Melissa started climbing, her and Bayleef helping May to navigate the ruins.
"The meteors shone with a rainbow brilliance, as if some great life was held within… as if drawn by the brilliance, a Pokémon in a blazing emerald colour descended from the heavens… Rayquaza," Zinnia said.
"Rayquaza…" May remarked.
"Rayquaza's power overwhelmed that of the Primal Pokémon, and peace returned to our world. The people revered Rayquaza as a true saviour. A thousand years after this time, the meteoroids once again fell… a huge meteoroid, far greater than those that came before, struck the planet, boring deep into the ocean and leaving behind it a crater larger than any other," Zinnia said.
"That land becoming my home, Sootopolis," Melissa said.
"Well… that's chapter two!" Zinnia said. She started jumping again, and the three started following once more. There was a near miss with May struggling to catch onto a pillar, but Melissa and Bayleef felt they were making good help for May.
"Now, our tale reaches the best part…" Zinnia said.
"I think I know it… Sootopolis was born from a great meteoroid strike. It was the first of many disasters to befall humanity. But, when it punched into the planet, a great welling of natural energy blossomed from the crack beneath it… in the Cave of Origin…" Melissa said.
"Now who's telling the story here? Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre awoke, in search of that massive energy. The people had a wish… a wish for the Legendary Pokémon of emerald light to appear again. The Meteorite that lay at the heart of Sootopolis gave a boundless brilliance… in that light, it resembled a vast, powerful Key Stone. And Rayquaza descended from whence it came. The people fell to their knees and made a wish for salvation. As they did so, a great change came about the Legenday Pokémon. It was enveloped in blinding light. As it receded… they beheld a Rayquaza beyond all knowledge. A sublime figure, incandescent with overwhelming life force. Humanity's wish brought about Rayquaza's transformation in the face of the rainbow stone… A wish. An intangible thing, invisible to the eye. Yet the wish bound people and Pokémon together, enabling the Legendary Pokémon to change its form. Are you not reminded of something?" Zinnia asked.
"A Mega Evolution," May remarked. Zinnia progressed up wordlessly, and May and Melissa resigned themselves to following.
"Did you have to drag us up this tower bit by bit?" May asked.
"Don't complain now… the story's at its end! Rayquaza once again confronted Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. The golden filaments that sprang from its body covered the sky. An emerald brilliance illuminated the area. A terrible wind rose. That wind and light visibly sapped Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre's power… Drained of their primal powers, the two vanished into the depths of land and sea. Rayquaza watched them go, regaining its usual appearance, before soaring back up into the heavens where it dwelled. A witness to the events, a tall visitor from a far land, said, 'It is the Δ, born of the great disturbances in the world. By the bonds born of mankind's wish and the power of the stones, it will calm the troubles that plague the world'. That was when the Draconids constructed the great tower, to hold the rainbow stone that granted Rayquaza its power, and to try to get a little closer to Rayquaza in the heavens above. To record the history of their trials and the great feats of mighty Rayquaza for all to know, they left behind the murals you see here," Zinnia said.
"Impressive… if a little big," May said.
"You try fitting all this lore on one tiny wall! Well… I suppose it's time for the last chapter in our tale…" Zinnia said, taking in a breath.
"You're still going?" Melissa asked.
"A thousand years of peace followed that time. But the Draconid people, learning from their history's cyclical nature, foretold that meteoroids would fall on this land again. The meteoroid to come was prophesised to be far greater than those that had come before it. Enough to break the world forever…" Zinnia said.
"That meteoroid you stopped Mossdeep from sending away?" May asked.
"It was going to destroy another world… are you really still going on about that?" Zinnia asked.
"…No…" May said dejectedly.
"In order to prevent this great calamity, those who help knowledge of the past arrived at a plan. The plan to invoke Rayquaza, the great saviour, and summon it to this land before the meteoroid could strike. And that's the end of the Draconid's tale..." Zinnia said.
"Finally," Melissa muttered.
"I spent a long time thinking about how I could protect the happiness of as many people as possible… what I must do, as one who holds both knowledge and power… the one who bears the heavy wishes of those who could not live up to that fate…" Zinnia said, before looking over at Aster.
"…We must move forward," May said. Zinnia gestured, leading the three to the top of the pillar.
May and Melissa looked about.
"Welcome to the Dragonhark Altar, May. You know what I intend to do here now, don't you?" Zinnia asked.
"Of course. You want to summon Rayquaza and destroyed the meteoroid that way. You know, you could've just told us from the get-go," May said.
"I had higher hopes for your people's morality…" Zinnia remarked.
"Yeah… ours…" Melissa snarked. Zinnia turned up to face the sky.
"Ever since I was a little girl, I have always turned my eyes up to the sky. When I was so full of uncertainty that I felt my heart might be crushed by it… when I was so grief-stricken and alone I thought my heart might break of it… I turned and looked up… so my tears would never, ever fall…" Zinnia said. May and Melissa looked between each other, wondering what was up with Zinnia.
"What about you, May?" Zinnia asked.
"…Ever since I was young, I was always teased about my missing forearm. So I worked. I worked and worked, so that I might live my life without ever remembering my handicap…" May said.
"My parents weren't the nicest… I cried into the clouds of my Swablu, and then Altaria, several times a night… and then Uncle Wallace came… and helped me into the world of contests…" Melissa said.
"Right… I used to watch the stars all the time… together with Aster. We stood together, in good times, and in bad… I loved her. I loved her with everything I had. But I still lost her... May… promise me… promise me Melissa won't ever have to go through what I have…" Zinnia said. May and Melissa both nodded.
"Just a little longer… I think it's time… I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you…" Zinnia said.
"…You were only trying to do the right thing…" May said.
"With jewel bright and borrowed might from the spirits of the departed… through sacred rite, in thy great site, my life as well I offer…" Zinnia said. She held up a bunch of Key Stones, Melissa's Mega Tiara among them. They shone with a bright light.
"I summon thee… to aid… this fight… and save us… from disaster! Realise them… upon this world… for this do I summon thee!" Zinnia added. The earth roared and shook, and May grabbed Melissa. The two tried their hardest to stay in place. A beam shone upon the top of the Sky Pillar, and a green snake appeared atop it. Patterned in gold and red trim, Rayquaza stood before the trio.
Now what? Rayquaza roared.
"I… I did it… the world… will be saved… Aster, I did it… Great Rayquaza! Hear my wish! Achieve your Mega Evolution! Take hold of your true power! Show me your true face! The Rayquaza that will save this planet!" Zinnia commanded.
…And how are you planning to help me do that? Rayquaza asked.
"How… Rayquaza… I have all the Key Stones that could withstand your power… and summoned you here… you came…" Zinnia said. "Come on and Mega Evolve!"
"Do you have a Rayquazite?" May asked.
No, you fool… Rayquaza said.
"But then what? Surely you'd have the power you need? The Meteorites in your body aren't enough?" Zinnia asked. "Has everything I've done… up to now… been… Aster…"
"If it helps, I have a spare," May said, burrowing through her bag, and pulling out her Meteorite. It began glowing, and Rayquaza roared. He reached out, and swallowed it. Light began spilling from within Rayquaza's body.
"…May, swallowing meteorites allows it to store as much power as a Mega Stone… Your Meteorite has summoned the power needed for Rayquaza to Mega Evolve! Amazing!" Zinnia said.
Child who granted this power unto me… challenge me. Defeat me in single combat, and my power shall be granted onto you for this juncture… Rayquaza said. May nodded, and pulled out a Poké Ball. She chose to send out Latias, and Mega Evolved it.
Latias faced against Rayquaza, the god among Dragons. Latias fired off a Dragon Pulse, only to be met by Rayquaza's own Dragon Pulse. Latias began circling Rayquaza. Rayquaza fired a Hyper Voice, which Latias dodged at high speed. Latias focused, and dropped a Thunderbolt on Rayquaza. Rayquaza flailed, and a light bulb appeared over May's head. She opened her bag, and began searching through the TMs she had amassed during her time as a Rank 10 Trainer. One of them had the move she wanted… she found it, and pulled it up.
"Latias!" May cried out. Latias appeared beside May, and May held out the TM. Latias traced it with her hand, and nodded. She shot up to Rayquaza. Rayquaza prepared to fire a Hyper Voice at Latias, but she was ready. She held out her hand, and fired an Ice Beam. The Ice Beam shot straight through the Hyper Voice, and struck Rayquaza where it counted.
Grr… I hate to admit it, but you have bested me… Rayquaza said. May smirked, and returned Latias.
"Congratulations, May… history has chosen you… the truth remains that Rayquaza has chosen you, and not me… I don't know how to put this into words… I think I understand why… May, take this," Zinnia said. May held out her hand, and was surprised to find Zinnia's flowing poncho in her hands.
"You will be the successor to our long history now. You have the strength to control legends… and now, I pass unto you the final key to Rayquaza's true power. A move that only Rayquaza can perform… Dragon Ascent," Zinnia said. She held out her hand, and a bright light shone. Rayquaza's eyes widened, as the power of Dragon Ascent entered his conscious.
"And now… my final duty as Lorekeeper… prove to me, May, that you can master the power of Lord Rayquaza. In battle. That is my final duty of the last Draconid Lorekeeper! Show me that you can exceed the history we have clung to until this day!" Zinnia said. May nodded, and the two locked eyes for battle.
The battle, if you could call it that, was shorter than that of Latias against Rayquaza. May's fervent wish to Rayquaza shone brightly, and Rayquaza Mega Evolved into Mega Rayquaza. The golden highlights flowed in the breeze, and the aerodynamic blades changed form into lethal-looking aerodynamic blades. A mysterious air current rent the field, and Rayquaza's power was sufficient to wipe out all five of Zinnia's Dragons in one move apiece. Tremendous might, indeed.
"Just as I had expected…" Zinnia remarked.
"Wow…" May said, eyes wide.
"It falls on to you now… You should be able to beat that meteoroid that's approaching the planet. You and Rayquaza… together… I am leaving this task to you, our new Successor. Successor May. You and Rayquaza must protect nature, Pokémon, people…" Zinnia said. Melissa reached into May's bag, and pulled out the Magma Suit for her to wear. May breathed in deeply. She hopped astride Rayquaza, and the pair launched high into the heavens, into space. Melissa and Zinnia smiled at the sight.
May rode Rayquaza from orbit, Rayquaza Mega Evolved and slicing through space with ease. It shot towards the meteoroid, slicing through it and destroying it without a problem. May and Rayquaza stopped and turned, looking back at where it was. A triangle remained… perfectly cut, and at odds with its background.
"That's…" May started. The triangle moved about in an odd pattern, before sprouting four tentacles.
Child… allow me to handle this… Rayquaza said. May gulped, watching as an orange creature appeared, blue markings about it, and the tentacles resuming form as two arms. May didn't know what it was, but she wasn't guessing friendly. The creature shot forward, and knocked a Poké Ball free of May's grip. As May reached to grab it and put it in place, an idea came to her. She focused, pushing the Poké Ball from the Magma Suit quickly and easily. She shuddered slightly, watching Rayquaza's moves strike the being. She threw the Poké Ball forward, and the creature entered it. The Poké Ball shook once, twice, thrice…
May caught it. May didn't know what it was, but she caught it.
"…Let's get back to Sky Pillar…" May said, still reeling from the encounter. No matter what the creature was, that would not be an easy encounter to forget.
May landed back on Sky Pillar, and allowed Rayquaza to return to his sky home. She removed her Magma Suit, and accepted a hug from Melissa. May looked around, and noticed a Whismur and a Bagon.
"Where's Zinnia?" May asked.
"…She's gone, May. She told me that she could bring everything to an end… and that we should forge our beginning. She bade us farewell, before… May… she jumped off the tower. Knowing her, I don't think it was lethal…" Melissa said. May turned to the Bagon, who was smiling at May, and the Whismur, who was sitting beside the Bagon happily.
"She left behind Aster?" May asked.
"I think she'd have wanted to let go of her past…" Melissa said. "If she survived the fall… she'd be wandering the earth, looking for her own goal…"
"So… we look after the Bagon and the Whismur?" May asked. Melissa shrugged, and May threw a pair of Poké Balls at them. They were caught, and May decided that she'd do it regardless.
A few days had passed since then. May and Melissa had returned the Key Stones that Zinnia had stolen, and sorted around a few outstanding affairs, before the day of the Litleonid shower was due to arrive. In the interests of not taking up too much space, May took only the Bagon and Whismur from Sky Pillar, as well as her recent partners Bayleef and Tepig. May met Melissa inside the Mossdeep Observation Deck, and sat beside her to watch the Litleonid shower.
"…May… this was amazing… I don't think I've felt this way for a good long while…" Melissa said.
"Nor I, Melissa…" May said. Bayleef nudged May to the side, so she was sitting almost directly beside Melissa, her arm having to go around Melissa's shoulder. Tepig sat on their laps, making sure they couldn't get up.
"Tee hee…" Melissa said, turning a bright pink. May smiled, and lay her head on top of Melissa's. The two smiled, watching the Litleonids pass overhead, before eventually finally standing, ready to leave. As the two left the station, Melissa turned to May nervously.
"What is it, Melissa?" May asked. She leaned forward, and gave May a kiss on the cheek. May started furiously blushing, as Melissa boarded her Latios and headed to Mossdeep. May stepped astride Latias, and shot into the sky for Littleroot.
She'd have a lot to think about going forward.