As Ash and Serena left the Lavaridge Pokémon Center behind, they looked out towards the coast where they had to go in order to find Sky Pillar and, hopefully, May and her captor. Serena took a deep breath to stay calm as she glanced at Ash.
"How are we going to get there in time…?" she asked him.
"We're going to fly," he said simply as he opened a pokeball, releasing the majestic Charizard to his side. The fiery creature, with scales glinting in the sunlight, let out a resounding roar that reverberated through the air. Caught in the spectacle, Serena could only marvel.
"Oh... well, that'll probably work then," she commented. Charizard turned his imposing gaze towards them, acknowledging their presence. Serena, sensing the urgency within Ash and still a bit uneasy as she witnessed his serious attitude, voiced her concern. "We should go..."
"Already gone." Without hesitation, Ash mounted Charizard's back, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Serena climbed on behind him, not daring to speak right now as she knew better. "Alright, Charizard. Start flying towards Pacifilog Town," Ash commanded, a determination etched in his voice. The mighty Pokémon nodded, and with a powerful beat of his wings, they soared into the vast expanse. Serena, holding onto Ash by his torso, couldn't help but feel the gravity of the moment. Ash, oblivious to the proximity, focused solely on the mission at hand. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one centered on the rescue of May.
As they embarked on this airborne journey, the winds carried not only the physical weight of their bodies but also the emotional weight of their shared mission. As they soared over Pacifilog Town, the towering presence of Sky Pillar loomed in the distance. Its peak, obscured by the clouds, hinted at the challenges awaiting them. Serena, her gaze fixed on the imposing structure, couldn't help but express her realization.
"That must be Sky Pillar..."
"Land there Charizard," Ash instructed his Fire type. The majestic Pokémon nodded and gracefully touched down in front of the towering structure. As they dismounted and Ash recalled Charizard to his pokeball, a familiar face at the main doors turned to greet them.
"Ash, good to see you. Just wish it was under better circumstances," the Sootopolis City Gym Leader acknowledged them, a hint of concern in his eyes.
"Yeah, Wallace... really wish it was," Ash responded, his focus unwavering.
"Steven filled me in on everything. I can let you into the Tower, but that's as far as I can go. With Kyogre and Groudon about to reawaken, I'm needed at the Cave of Origin. So you two will be on your own." Wallace explained the situation.
"Alright then," Ash affirmed.
"Understood," Serena added, ready for the challenges ahead. With a nod, Wallace walked over to the base of Sky Pillar. Ash observed and Wallace, holding his Rain Badge, approached the door. Placing the badge on the door caused it to glow, slowly swinging open to reveal the mysteries within.
"Wow..." Serena whispered in awe.
"Whoa..." Ash echoed her sentiment.
"Good luck to you both. Please rescue our Princess," Wallace encouraged.
"I will." Ash declared. With a final nod, Wallace wished them well as they ventured inside the towering edifice. The door closed behind them, leaving them to face the challenges that awaited within the confines of Sky Pillar. As they stepped into the ancient tower, they were greeted by a breathtaking sight – a massive mural adorned the back wall, stretching the entire length of the structure. Gasping in awe, Serena couldn't help but express her wonder.
"Whoa...That's incredible... " Serena marveled at the grandeur of the mural. Ash looked up, slightly captivated by the intricate artwork despite the situation before them.
"Wonder how it looked before it became ruins... Certainly looks like something grand," he mused, his gaze lingering on the ancient masterpiece. Their contemplation was interrupted by a chuckle from above. Zinnia, perched on a floor above them, acknowledged their arrival.
"So you came for me. Thanks for that. That's really good, Ash. I really feel it, right here." She placed a hand over her heart, a sly smile playing on her lips." Mm-hmm…"
"Zinnia!" the raven-haired trainer growled, immediately forgetting the mural of the ruins and facing her instead. "Where is she?! What have you done with May?!"
"Well, I'll tell you what, since you've been a good boy, I think I'll give you something I've been keeping," Zinnia responded, unfazed. She tossed a small object toward Ash. Catching it in shock, Ash examined the item with a horrified expression. It was May's half of the Terracotta Ribbon.
"What is tha-" Serena began, but Ash's rage interrupted her as if she wasn't even there.
"I swear if you hurt her more than you already did-!" Ash's rage burned intensely.
"Relax, hero. She's fine. I'll even take you to her. I'm going that direction anyway," Zinnia smirked, adding a layer of intrigue. As Ash clenched his fists in anger, Zinnia stood up, briefly glancing at the mural. She explained, "Look... The paintings that cover the walls of this tower... See, these are the history of humanity, of Pokémon, and of nature itself. They're the tales that have been passed down by my ancestors, the Draconids, for thousands of years. And now...I will pass that history and lore on to you."
"What? Why?" Serena questioned her, clearly puzzled.
"It's a long climb. And maybe it'll help you two finally understand what I'm trying to do here." Zinnia shrugged.
"Not a chance! I don't have any intention of listening to you talk after everything you did!" Ash retorted, uninterested in her explanations.
"If you want me to take you to her, you have to climb with me anyway. It doesn't hurt you any to listen." Zinnia proposed a deal. Serena, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder, whispered in his ear.
"Ash, if you want to get to May, you shouldn't anger her..." Ash looked at her, conflicted. "She's the one holding the cards, remember?" After a moment of contemplation, Ash reluctantly agreed.
"Fine."
"Good boy. Come on, let's go." Zinnia, pleased, urged them to move. She started climbing, and Ash begrudgingly followed, with Serena close behind. The ancient tower held not only the key to May's whereabouts but also the unfolding mysteries of the past and future, painted on its walls.
As Zinnia continued her narrative, climbing higher through the ancient tower, the tale unfolded of a distant past shrouded in the mists of time.
"Thousands of years ago, in the primal age long lost, the world was overflowing with natural energy. Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre fought over that energy in endless, furious clashes. In the face of Primal Groudon and Kyogre's great power, people could do nothing. The only choice was to watch as disaster upon disaster swept over them. It was in such a time that a great many meteoroids poured from the darkness of space, from a place higher even than the heavens. And the meteoroids fell in their multitude upon a waterfall that had long been home to a tribe of Dragon-type-Pokémon users..." Zinnia began her tale. Ash remained focused on the mission to rescue May, only listening enough to know whether or not they were being tricked as they moved. Serena though, listened with a sense of curiousity, captivated by the the tale being told in the setting of their ancient surroundings.
"Wow…sounds like a bad time to live in…" she commented.
"Not much seems to have changed…" Ash commented, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of May. Undeterred, Zinnia continued her story.
"The meteors shone with a rainbow brilliance, as if some great life was held within. That was when, as if drawn by the brilliance, a Pokémon that shone in a blazing emerald hue descended from the heavens... That Pokémon was none other than Rayquaza. Rayquaza's power overwhelmed that of the two Primal Pokémon, and peace returned to the world. The people of Hoenn revered Rayquaza as a true savior. A thousand years after this time, the meteoroids once again fell. A huge meteoroid, far greater than any before, struck the planet, boring deep into the ocean and leaving behind it a crater larger than any other. The land born of this event later become known as Sootopolis." she explained.
"The city inside the crater…" Serena realized.
"The people had a wish—a memory from a thousand years before... They wished that the Legendary Pokémon clad in emerald light would appear again. The huge Meteorite that lay at the heart of Sootopolis gave off a boundless brilliance. In its brilliance, it resembled a vast and powerful Key Stone. And once again, Rayquaza descended from whence it came in the heavens. The people fell to their knees before Rayquaza and made a wish for salvation. As they did, a great change came over the Legendary Pokémon. It was enveloped in blinding light. As the light receded, they beheld a Rayquaza beyond all knowledge— a sublime figure, incandescent with overwhelming life force. It was humanity's wish that brought about Rayquaza's transformation in the face of the rainbow stone…" Zinnia paused and looked at the mural and holds her heart quietly. "Yes... A wish... An intangible thing, invisible to the eye. Yet this wish bound people and Pokémon together, enabling the Legendary Pokémon to change its appearance... Doesn't it remind you of something? That's right... It sounds like Mega Evolution, doesn't it?"
"I guess kinda…" Serena shrugged.
"So what?" Ash growled.
"Rayquaza once again confronted Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. The golden filaments that sprang from his body covered the sky. An emerald brilliance illuminated the area. A terrible wind rose. The wind and emerald light visibly sapped the power from Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. Drained of their primal powers, the two vanished into the depths of land and sea. Rayquaza watched them go, regaining his usual appearance. Then he soared back up into the heavens where he dwelled. A witness to this series of events, a tall visitor from a distant land, said, "It is the Δ (Delta), born of the great disturbances in this 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 their great tower, to hold the rainbow stone that had granted Rayquaza his power, and to try to get a little bit 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 concluded.
"Wow..." Serena couldn't help but express her amazement. Ash too was somewhat amazed by the story, but he remained silent as he intended to give Zinnia no satisfaction of impressing him. Certainly not while May was still at her mercy. As Zinnia climbed to the last floor before the roof, she unveiled the next chapter of the story.
"A thousand years of peace followed after that disastrous time. But the Draconid people, learning from their long history's cyclical nature, foretold that the meteoroids would fall on this land again. The meteoroid to come, they prophesized, would be far greater than those that had come before it. This meteoroid would be great enough to break the world forever...In order to prevent this great calamity, those who held the knowledge of the past arrived at a plan. Their plan was to invoke Rayquaza, the great savior, and summon it to this land before the meteoroid could strike."
"All the way back then, they knew about the meteor...?" Serena wondered.
"And that's it. That's the end of our... of the Draconids' tale." Zinnia nodded, concluding the Draconids' tale. "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 the knowledge and the power... One who bears the heavy wishes of those who could not...live up to that fate... Well, I had to be really creative, you know?"
"I-" Serena was about to respond, but Ash, fueled by his determination to save May, couldn't remain silent any longer. He confronted Zinnia about her actions and intentions.
"And yet, you ignored what your tribe and even your own grandmother told you about your plan! All because you are so desperate to prove to Rayquaza that you're worthy; stealing Key Stones from two formerly evil organizations and two of Hoenn's most famous icons! One of whom you almost got killed before kidnapping her! All because you want to use them as offerings to your Dragon Lord to allow him to Mega Evolve! You're not worthy of your title! You stole, badly hurt and trapped people, kidnapped, and nearly killed the Princess of Hoenn! All because you believe what you're doing is righteous!" he exploded.
"I'd say saving us all from destruction is quite righteous," Zinnia countered, undeterred as she climbed up to the roof. Ash, fueled by anger and frustration, climbed after her, Serena following closely. The ancient tower echoed with the weight of history and the intensity of the unfolding conflict within its walls as the trio finally arrived at the top of the tower. At the head of the group, Zinnia walked over to Aster, who was waiting for her nearby.
"Hi, sweet girl." she smiled as everyone's attention turned briefly towards the sky. Above them, the fragments of the large meteor began to break off, creating a spectacle of shooting stars across the sky. Amidst this celestial display, Zinnia addressed her Whismur with affection, reflecting on the beauty of the Litleonids. ".. See that, Aster? You always wanted to watch them, right? The Litleonids. A million glittering stars falling from the sky... The show is about to start."
"Mum…" Whismur whispered softly.
"Aren't we happy now? Yes, what could be better, dear Aster? Ha ha…" she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, sighing to herself with the weight of the moment. But Ash, consumed by worry for May, interrupted the poetic moment forcefully.
"Enough of this! Where's May?!" he demanded. Zinnia, unfazed by his threat, whistled, and her Salamence flew over, setting May down on the ground. The sight of May, unconscious and bearing visible bloodstains, prompted Ash to rush to her side. "May!" he exclaimed, gently lifting her up. The woman he loved laid in his arms, unconscious from the blood loss with stains on her clothes from the fang marks in her waist. "May…"
"It's time." Zinnia declared, maintaining her composure. "Welcome to the Dragonhark altar, Ash. You know what I am trying to do here by now, don't you?"
"Rayquaza..." Serena uttered, understanding the gravity of the situation after listening to Zinnia's story.
"That's right. I will summon Rayquaza to this world to destroy the meteoroid headed for Hoenn. That is my... It is our duty," Zinnia explained, her gaze fixed on Aster.
"Whis." Whismur nodded.
"He won't come. Not to you. Not after everything you did." Ash growled, glaring daggers at her.
"Ash…" Serena whispered. Zinnia remained silent and resolute for a moment, only turning her gaze back up towards the sky as she responded.
"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 there... so that my tears would never, ever fall. What about you? Have you ever had to do something like that?" she asked the two trainers, glancing back at them with a genuine curiosity. Serena glanced at Ash, unsure of how he'd respond to such a question. As emotions swirled, Ash's eyes fell upon May's crystal bracelet, a silent reminder of a past where he, too, faced tough decisions to save those he loved.
"I did. I have done that before… but I didn't do anything like you did to solve it…and I never would," Ash asserted.
"Right…" Zinnia acknowledged his words, reflecting on her lost friend as she looked towards the sky once more. "... I used to watch the stars like this all the time... Together with Aster. We were always together. In good times and in bad. I loved her. I loved her with everything I had... But I still lost her."
"Wait... You mean this isn't...?" Serena questioned, slowly realizing the true nature of Whismur that accompanied Zinnia everywhere.
"... Hahaha... ... I want to see her... I want to be with her again... My sweet Aster…" she paused again and took a deep breath. "I will, won't I? With this... Just a little longer…"
"So... you named this Whismur after your friend…? That explains a lot…" Ash finally admitted.
"...She was my whole world...my only comfort now is that I'll see her again soon..." Zinnia confirmed.
"...You don't plan to survive this crisis...do you...?" Serena gasped, finally realizing Zinnia's full intentions. Zinnia lowered her head silently, a wordless confirmation of Serena's realization. As the truth unfolded, Ash held May closer as if a way to comfort them both as he spoke.
"Zinnia, Aster wouldn't want any of this. She wouldn't want you to become what you have…and she certainly wouldn't want you to throw your life away to see her. She would want you to keep on living for both you and her!" he asserted.
"... Enough. I think it's time I gave it a shot." Zinnia, undeterred, prepared to proceed with her plan. She walked forward a few steps before stopping short, turning back towards the trainers. "I'm sorry...for all the trouble I caused you. If something happens to me... Please... Take this little one..." She nodded to Aster.
"Mum…" Aster whimpered, looking at Zinnia with a sad expression.
"Go on...they'll protect you…" She assured the little Whismur. The Normal type whimpered, but obeyed and scampered over to the group, standing by Serena's legs.
"Zinnia…" Serena whispered.
"... ... ...OK. Here I go." The tower trembled violently as Zinnia, with the Key Stones in hand, began her summoning ritual as she held the stones up towards the sky. "With jewel bright and borrowed might from the spirits of the departed... Through sacred rite, in thy great sight, my life as well I offer..." The Key Stones began to glow, responding to the ritual with their power. "...Ugh...ngh...gh...I summon thee...to aid...this fight... and save us...from disaster!" the intensity of the glow increased as she continued. "Realize them...upon this world...! For this I do summon thee! Rayquazaaa!" the light from the Key Stones expanded into a full on flash of light, blinding everyone with its brilliance. Zinnia's voice echoed as the tower shook.
"Ah!" Serena yelped as she shielded her eyes from the light. Ash too covered his eyes and held May as close as he could, determined not to let any further harm come to her. As the light faded, the group turned their attention back to the altar. Hovering above the tower, Rayquaza made his majestic appearance.
"Rayquaza..." Ash whispered, awe-struck by the Legendary Pokémon's presence.
"Ray...quaza!" Zinnia gasped as she slowly smiled. "I did it! I...I did it! Now the world...will be saved! Aster... Aster, I did it!"
"I-Incredible…" Serena mumbled.
"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 pleaded, offering the great dragon the Key Stones in her hands. However, Rayquaza hovers in place above the alter, making no move towards the Key Stones.
"He's not moving…" Serena whispered.
"Huh?! H-how can this be?! I gathered all of the Key Stones that could withstand your great power... and summoned you here... You came... And yet... Why?!" Zinnia gasped, stunned by Rayquaza's lack of response to her. "Come on! Do it! Mega Evolve! Why?! Why won't you…"
"Quaza…" Rayquaza softly growled, a voice far weaker than the ones before.
"What?!" Zinnia stammered. Another similarly weak growl was her response. "It can't be... The one without enough power...is you, Rayquaza? The Meteorites that should lie within Rayquaza's great body...aren't enough? Have these thousand years drained them of their power?"
"Oh no…" Serena mumbled.
"This...can't...be... I can't... I... I…" Zinnia collapsed to her knees, dropping the Key Stones, overwhelmed by the realization that her efforts might be in vain. "Everything...I've done...till now…"
"Mum…" Aster cried out, scampering over to her side as tears formed in Zinnia's eyes.
"Aster... I can't... I can't take any...more..." she sobbed, leaving Ash and Serena with an equal sense of dread. The honey blonde turned towards her friend with worry etched into her blue eyes.
"...Then...is there nothing we can do to stop the meteor...?" she asked. Ash was unsure how to respond to her question, but suddenly, Rayquaza's attention shifted as a light emanated from Ash's bag. "Huh?! Ash your bag!"
"What the?!" Opening it, Ash discovered the strange rock given to him by Brock at Mt. Chimney was glowing brightly, responding vividly to something. Rayquaza roared eagerly at the sight of it, which drew Zinnia's attention as well.
"That's—?!" she gasped as Rayquaza's roars only grew louder. Her eyes widened in realization and shock as she figured out what was going on. "What? That Meteorite?! It's just like...a Mega Stone?!"
"Quaza!" Rayquaza, convinced of the meteorite's significance, roared louder, signaling that he was ready for Mega Evolution.
"Give it to him!" Zinnia ordered Ash with great urgency. Ash, understanding the situation, tossed the meteorite to Rayquaza, who consumed it with a triumphant roar. A glow filled his body and his energy seemed to return, already looking far stronger than he had just moments ago.
"That did it!" Ash declared.
"Swallowing meteorites allows him to store as much power as a Mega Stone. Your Meteorite summoned forth the power needed for Rayquaza to Mega Evolve! Hah! It's amazing!" Zinnia realized. With newfound power, Rayquaza turned his attention to Ash and directed a growl toward him, prompting confusion and concern.
"Now what...?" Serena wondered.
"Lord Rayquaza...?" Zinnia asked the Legendary dragon. A look in Rayquaza's eyes gave her the answer she was looking for. "I see…"
"See what?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow. She looked towards Ash and took a deep breath.
"Rayquaza wants to test you...the one that gave him this power! Use everything you've got and win over Rayquaza! You have to master him! This is the Legendary Pokémon that all Hoenn views as our great protector! And the only one who can direct him now... It's you! You have to do this!" she declared, causing both Ash and Serena to gasp at the same time.
"Wait...he has to beat Rayquaza in a battle...?!" Serena asked, stunned.
"What?! That's insane! Even if I beat him, I can't Mega Evolve him! I don't have a Key Stone!" Ash protested. However, Zinnia glanced at May in his arms before looking back at him.
"You care for her don't you?" she asked.
"What? Of course I do! I care deeply about her!" he answered, almost offended that she felt the need to ask. Serena kept her mouth shut, even though hearing him say such a thing was another jab at her own feelings from her perspective. Zinnia, understanding the importance of bonds, handed May's Key Stone to Ash.
"Then use this. They always respond to bonds and feelings," she suggested. After a moment's hesitation, Ash accepted it.
"...Fine. But I'm giving it back to her after all this is done." he pledged.
"As you should." Zinnia agreed. Serena was quiet off to the side, but knew deep down that right now, Ash needed support from her more than anything. And that meant putting her personal problems aside for the moment and taking action. After taking a deep breath, she knelt down beside Ash which drew his attention.
"I'll watch her for you, Ash," Serena offered, taking May's unconscious form in her arms.
"...Alright then." he nodded. With his help, Serena gently took May's upper body from Ash and let May rest in her arms.
"Just be careful…" Serena begged him.
"I will Serena." He stood up and walked a few steps forward, standing alone against the powerful Pokemon before him. On his shoulder, Pikachu conversed with him in a low voice.
"We're going to need everyone's help…"
"Right…no going back now." Ash agreed. He looked up as Rayquaza growled in anticipation, signaling the beginning of the intense battle that lay ahead.
To be Continued...