Chapter 12

The Hoenn region sprawled out beneath them, vibrant and alive. From the small window of the plane, Dawn pressed her forehead to the glass, eyes wide with excitement as she took in the lush green forests, glittering coastlines, and distant mountains. She'd seen pictures of Hoenn before, but the real thing was breathtaking.

Alain, seated beside her, glanced over and couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "First time in Hoenn?"

She turned to him, nodding, her eyes still shining. "I've always wanted to come here. It feels... like an adventure waiting to happen."

Alain chuckled, crossing his arms casually. "Well, there's no shortage of places to explore here. I think you'll like it."

The plane began its descent, and Dawn's grip on her seat tightened, a small, excited shiver running through her. "So, where are we heading first?"

Alain raised an eyebrow, teasing her with a smirk. "Do you trust me?"

She laughed, rolling her eyes but feeling her cheeks heat up. "I guess I'll have to, won't I?"

Soon after landing, Dawn and Alain took to the skies on Charizard. The sun was rising, casting a golden glow over the rugged mountains and lush forests of Hoenn. High above, Charizard glided effortlessly, his wings cutting through the cool morning air. Dawn held on tightly to Alain, her laughter ringing out as they soared higher, the thrill of flight filling her with exhilaration.

For Alain, there was something new about this moment—a sense of openness he hadn't felt before. Usually, he'd be focused on the mission, eager to jump into their work, but here he was, circling above the region with Dawn, letting her excitement become his own. He glanced back at her, catching the sparkle in her eyes as she took in the sweeping views. It was breathtaking, and in a way he hadn't anticipated, it felt freeing.

"This is incredible!" Dawn shouted over the wind, grinning. "Hoenn is so beautiful from up here!"

Alain nodded; his usually stoic expression softened by a faint smile. "It's… something, isn't it?" He hadn't realized how much he'd been missing moments like these, how different it felt to just be in the moment, taking it all in with her by his side.

As Charizard circled lower, Dawn pointed out a cascading waterfall spilling down the cliffs, and Alain guided Charizard closer, giving them a better view. The cool mist from the falls brushed their faces, and Dawn couldn't help but close her eyes, savouring the sensation.

Alain watched her, feeling a quiet contentment settle in his chest. For once, it wasn't just about the journey or the destination—it was about the experience they were sharing.

Dawn's face lit with excitement, her eyes wide with wonder. The vast landscape unfurled beneath them—rolling hills, sparkling rivers, and the endless stretch of the Hoenn coastline glinting in the morning sun. Normally, Alain would be focused on getting to their next destination as efficiently as possible, but today, he'd allowed himself a slower pace, giving them time to take in the sights.

Dawn's hands tightened on his waist as she leaned forward to get a closer look at a flock of Wingulls gliding below them. "This is incredible!" she exclaimed, her voice barely carrying over the wind but filled with pure joy.

Alain felt a small smile tug at his lips, a sense of contentment welling up inside him. It surprised him, how much he was enjoying this—how much he liked seeing the world through her eyes. He hadn't planned this detour; he simply wanted her to see Hoenn the way she saw things: vibrant, boundless, full of possibilities.

"Thought you'd like it," he replied, his tone softer than usual.

For a few moments, neither spoke, both lost in the beauty of the world around them. It was a rare moment of quiet for Alain, who was usually so focused on his goals, always moving forward. But today, he allowed himself to be fully present, appreciating not just the journey, but the person beside him.

Charizard soared over a lush, forested valley, with sparkling rivers winding through the dense greenery below. Dawn leaned forward again; her eyes sparkling as she pointed out landmarks in awe.

"Look at that waterfall over there! I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before," she said, her voice filled with pure wonder. Alain, feeling her grip on his waist tighten, glanced back, catching the light in her eyes. For a moment, he felt his heart skip—a feeling he was starting to grow used to around her.

"Hoenn has a lot of places like this," he said, his tone almost thoughtful. "It's different from Kalos… but I never really took the time to notice until now."

Dawn smiled softly, sensing his shift in perspective. "Why am I not surprised" she teased. They shared a quiet laugh, the sound carrying into the open sky, and for a moment, it was just them and the landscape, with no urgency to move on, no battles to win. Just… a sense of peace and companionship that felt new, yet perfectly right.

As they flew over a ridge, Alain noticed a clearing below and guided Charizard into a gentle descent, landing in the grassy field so they could stretch their legs and take a break. Dawn slid down, landing beside Charizard with a bounce and giving him a pat on the snout.

"This was amazing, Charizard! Thanks for the ride," she said, beaming as Charizard gave a soft growl of acknowledgment.

The clearing was peaceful, with wildflowers scattered across the ground and a gentle breeze rustling the tall grass. The sun was fully up now, casting a warm glow over everything.

"Let's let everyone out," Dawn suggested, already reaching for her Poké Balls. "They deserve a break too!"

Alain nodded in agreement, and together they released their Pokémon.

With a flash of light, Dawn's Pokémon—Piplup, Lopunny, Fennekin, and Pachirisu—appeared, each of them letting out happy cries as they took in their surroundings. Alain's Charizard joined them on the ground, and Alain released the rest of his team: Greninja, Bisharp, Absol, Gallade and Charcadet.

The Pokémon scattered, exploring the field. Pachirisu and Charcadet bounded off to chase each other through the flowers. Lopunny and Bisharp found a spot to sit together, both silently enjoying the peaceful view, while Piplup splashed around in a small pond nearby, chirping happily as it paddled in circles.

Alain and Dawn sat down in the grass, watching their Pokémon relax and play. Dawn leaned back onto Alain's chest, taking a deep breath of the fresh, floral-scented air. "This is perfect," she murmured. "I wish we could have more days like this."

Alain nodded; his gaze fixed on his Charizard as it stretched its wings in the sun. "Well, then we'll just have to make sure we do this more often, won't we?"

They sat in comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's company. Now and then, Dawn would laugh as Piplup splashed her with water, or Alain would call out to Charcadet, cautioning it not to wander too far. Greninja meditated quietly by the edge of the pond, while Absol lay down nearby, looking as serene as ever.

After a while, Dawn pulled out some snacks she'd packed and offered Alain one. "I thought you might get hungry," she teased.

He took it with a grateful nod, his usual stoic expression softening into something more relaxed. As they ate, they watched their Pokémon, who seemed just as content as they were, basking in the freedom and beauty of Hoenn's wilderness.

But the calm didn't last long. Dawn noticed Piplup wandering off, chasing a Beautifly with single-minded enthusiasm. As the little Pokémon waddled after it, he failed to notice the steep hill just ahead. Dawn's eyes widened in alarm.

"Piplup, watch out!" she shouted, lunging forward, but it was too late. Piplup took one step too far and began tumbling down the slope, flapping his tiny wings in a desperate attempt to regain balance.

"Piplup!" Dawn cried, rushing to the edge. She watched helplessly as he rolled, bouncing between bushes and branches. Just when she thought she'd have to scramble down to rescue him, a figure emerged from the shadows at the bottom of the hill, moving swiftly and gracefully.

The man knelt down and reached into the brush, parting the branches with care. Within moments, he scooped up Piplup, who was now thoroughly tangled in twigs and looking quite indignant about it all.

"There you are, little one," the man said, his voice calm and reassuring. With gentle hands, he freed Piplup's flippers from the snare of twigs and leaves, carefully checking for any injuries. Piplup, realizing he was safe, let out a soft trill of relief, gazing up at his rescuer with wide, adoring eyes.

Dawn hurried down the hill, her relief turning into surprise as she spotted the man

The man turned at the sound of her voice, still cradling Piplup as she approached. "I believe this little one belongs to you," he said with a slight smile, holding Piplup out as it gave a small wave to its trainer.

"Oh, thank you so much," Dawn replied, relieved. She gently took Piplup from him, who gave a little huff, clearly enjoying all the attention it had just received.

Dawn looked back at the man, her curiosity piqued by the man's composed demeanour and the way he seemed so at ease. She smiled, her eyes widening slightly as she connected the dots. "No way. You're Steven Stone. Look Piplup you got rescued by a Champion what do you think of that?"

The small penguin chirped and flapped its flippers to show its excitement.

Steven smiled warmly taking in the sight of the excitement of the Pokémon. "A piplup, I assume you're visiting here from Sinnoh, are you here to challenge my league?"

"No no, I'm a co-ordinator, but I'm actually here to look for Mega Stone's"

This peaked the Champions interests. "Really? I would have guessed you're here for the Wallace Cup."

"No way, I thought the Wallace Cup was only a one-off event, did you here that Piplup, we might actually get to enter a contest sooner than I thought." Piplup let out a cry of excitement.

"I'm surprised you didn't hear about it, after the success of last year it was decided it would become a permanent addition, held in a different region every year. You must be very distracted by these Mega Stones to miss that announcement."

Dawn looked to her Piplup and said "Gosh I really hope we can stay here long enough to enter, we just gotta win it again"

"I thought you looked familiar; you must be Dawn. Wallace told me all about your battle in the finals, he was so intrigued about how popular contests are in Sinnoh. In fact, he hopes to make contests more popular in every region"

"That's amazing, now we defiantly have to master mega evolution, that will really help it gain a wider audience"

"Ahh that makes sense, that's why you're so interested in Mega Stones"

"Well kind of, I'm also doing it to help out Professor Sycamore, speaking of which here comes his assistant"

Steven looked behind her to the young man approaching them.

"Are you alright?" he asked with a great deal of concern.

"Everything's fine, thanks to Steven here" She stepped aside to allow Alain to see the Champion.

Alain held his hand out "Thanks so much for your help, Sir"

Steven shook his hand replying "Happy to be of help"

As they were shaking hands, Alain couldn't help but notice a mega stone in his jacket pocket. "You have a Mega Stone, wanna have a battle?"

Steven smirked, "I may not look it, but I'm actually a busy man" trying to give the young man a chance to walk away, clearly, he didn't realise he was dealing with a champion.

Dawn perked up "Eh Alain are you sure that's a good idea?"

Alain replied with confusion "Why not, it's rare to come across another mega trainer"

"You do realise your challenging the champion of Hoenn"

Alain's eyes widened and his jaw dropped ever so slightly. Dawn looking towards Steven apologised on behalf of Alain "Excuse him he doesn't get out much"

Steven let out a small laugh "That's quite alright"

Thinking this was coming to an end, Steven was about to start going on his way when Alain shocked him. "All the more reason to battle, don't you want to test our strength against a Champion, Charizard"

Seeing the look in his eyes, Steven could hardly refuse, "Well so long as you know what you're getting yourself into. As the Champion of this fine region, it is my duty to show you the full strength of Hoenn. Let's see how well you and your Charizard fare." Charizard roared showing its determination.

Dawn quickly ran to a safe distance with Piplup in her arms, only to notice all their Pokémon had ventured over to see the commotion.

The clearing between them filled with a hushed anticipation. Alain called Charizard forward, and Steven sent out his Metagross, each Pokémon a testament to their trainers' dedication and skill. Charizard roared, flames dancing in its eyes, while Metagross hovered with an air of unyielding focus.

"Ready?" Steven asked, his hand moving toward the small device he used to trigger Metagross's Mega Evolution.

Alain gave a firm nod. "Let's go, Charizard. Mega Evolve!"

The air buzzed with energy as both Charizard and Metagross underwent Mega Evolution, their forms shifting into something stronger, more intense. Dawn and Piplup watched with awe as the Pokémon squared off in their enhanced states.

The battle commenced, with Charizard's flames searing through the air, and Metagross deftly countering with powerful moves, each attack a display of strength and control. Alain was completely focused, calling out orders to Charizard, as Steven maintained his calm, calculating approach.

But just as the battle reached a fever pitch, a shadow appeared at the edge of the battlefield. Alain's gaze flickered for a fraction of a second, and his chest tightened as he recognized the figure stepping forward.

Lysandre.

"Ah, Alain," Lysandre's voice resonated through the clearing, both commanding and unnervingly calm. "Quite the display of power. And here I thought you'd be off on another one of your assignments."

Steven's calm expression hardened as he took in the newcomer, realizing the gravity of his presence. Dawn felt the tension ripple between them, even though she didn't know exactly who Lysandre was.

"Lysandre," Alain replied, his voice low but controlled, masking the slight unease in his eyes.

Lysandre's gaze was steady, his tone casual, as if this meeting were entirely unplanned. "Alain. I didn't expect to see you here," he said, his voice carrying a smooth yet powerful undertone.

Alain's expression didn't shift, but Dawn noticed his hand tense ever so slightly by his side. He gave a slight nod in return. "Lysandre. What brings you to Hoenn?"

Lysandre's eyes flickered briefly to Dawn and Steven, then he offered them a cordial nod. "Just business. I was visiting some colleagues and happened upon you all. Quite the coincidence, isn't it?"

Steven stepped forward, extending a polite hand to Lysandre, his face a picture of calm curiosity. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Steven Stone. And you are…?"

"Lysandre," he replied, accepting the handshake with a smooth smile. "I'm involved in some energy research in Kalos. Alain and I have… worked together in the past." He turned to Alain with a subtle gleam in his eye. "He's proven to be quite an asset."

Steven's brows lifted slightly. "Energy research, you say? Interesting. I do some research myself, though it's more focused on stones and minerals," he said, his voice friendly but measured.

Dawn observed the exchange, sensing a tension she couldn't quite place. Alain's expression was composed, yet there was a certain set to his jaw, a slight tightness in his posture. She thought back to the moments Alain had looked irritated by his phone buzzing, the times she'd wondered if something was going on that he wasn't telling her.

Could Lysandre have something to do with those mysterious texts?

Trying to ease the atmosphere, she looked at Lysandre with a friendly smile. "It's nice to meet someone Alain knows from Kalos. Are you two old friends?"

Alain glanced at her briefly, and she caught a flicker of something in his eyes—was it warning? But before he could answer, Lysandre smoothly replied.

"You could say that," he said, his tone unreadable. "Alain and I have collaborated on several projects in the past."

There was something in the way Lysandre said "projects" that sent a small shiver down Dawn's spine, though she couldn't quite say why. She glanced at Steven, wondering if he'd noticed anything unusual, but Steven just nodded politely.

"Well, Alain's certainly a skilled trainer," Steven remarked with a smile, perhaps hoping to lighten the mood. "Would you care to watch use finish the Battle?"

Lysandre inclined his head, a faintly amused look in his eyes. "Of course. I'd be delighted to see Alain in action once more."

As Alain reached for his Poké Ball, Lysandre took a half-step closer to him. "Though… while I have you here, Alain," he said, his tone lowering, "could I have a moment to talk in private?"

Dawn blinked in surprise, exchanging a quick glance with Steven, who arched a curious brow. She felt a pang of unease as Lysandre motioned for Alain to step aside, though Alain's face remained impassive as he followed Lysandre a short distance away. They moved just out of earshot, but Dawn could still catch snippets of their low voices.

As she watched them converse, her suspicions only grew. What could Lysandre possibly want with Alain here, of all places? And why was Alain's expression so guarded, almost tense, as he listened?

As Lysandre led Alain away from the clearing, they moved out of earshot of Steven and Dawn, who stayed behind, curiously watching the two men. Alain clenched his fists, already anticipating the direction this conversation was heading. He'd hoped to keep things civil, but the sight of Lysandre here, now, in Hoenn, was enough to unsettle him.

Lysandre stopped by a grove of trees, folding his arms as he regarded Alain with a critical gaze. He appeared calm, almost fatherly, but there was a dark edge lurking beneath the surface.

Alain stiffened but kept his face impassive. "Do you really expect me to believe you're here by coincidence?"

"Believe what you wish, but you've been ignoring all communications. Is it so wrong to try and understand why?" Lysandre replied smoothly, his gaze drifting back to where Dawn stood, chatting with Steven.

"But it seems I've finally discovered the reason for your recent… distractions. Or perhaps, a change in priorities. She's quite lovely, isn't she?" There was a faint, unsettling smile on his face, his eyes narrowing with something almost like disdain. "I can see why she might occupy your attention."

Alain's expression hardened. "Leave her out of this," he warned, his voice low. He'd hoped Lysandre wouldn't catch on, but it seemed his mentor missed little.

Lysandre chuckled, a sound that was both amused and dismissive. "You're hardly in a position to give orders, Alain. I made you who you are. Everything you have, everything you've become—it's because of me. Are you really willing to throw it all away?"

Alain's jaw clenched. "I don't owe you anything," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "I gave you what you wanted. I completed the missions. I—"

"Did you?" Lysandre interrupted; his voice soft but laced with a dangerous edge. "Because from where I stand, it seems you've lost your focus. You're trying to abandon our work, Alain, without so much as a thought for the promises you made."

Alain's gaze faltered, and he glanced back toward Dawn, who was laughing at something Steven had said. It struck him how bright and free she seemed, how different from the darkness Lysandre was trying to keep him tethered to.

"This world…" Alain began quietly. "I've realized it's better than we thought. I'd rather fight to preserve what's good instead of changing everything."

Lysandre tilted his head, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. "Oh, Alain, I don't think you understand what you're saying. People like us… we don't just walk away. You're a valuable asset. And I wouldn't want anything… unfortunate to happen to those around you." His gaze flickered briefly in Dawn's direction, the threat clear even if unspoken.

Alain felt a chill run down his spine, his fists tightening at his sides. "You wouldn't dare."

Lysandre's smile was cold, calculating. "I wouldn't need to… if you simply remember where your loyalties lie. You owe me, Alain. And until I say otherwise, you're not finished." He stepped back, his voice softening again, almost soothing. "Just remember what's at stake, my boy. I'd hate for you to make a choice you might regret."

With that, he straightened, giving Alain a final, meaningful look before he turned to walk away, leaving Alain standing there, feeling the weight of the unspoken threat pressing heavily on his shoulders.