After basking in the sun for more than an hour, Aoki returned his Pokémon to their Pokéballs, deciding it was time to leave. The break had been beneficial for both him and his Pokémon, allowing them to relax and recover their energy.
However, just as Aoki was about to depart, a sudden gust of wind swept through the valley, causing the trees to sway violently. Smaller branches snapped under the force, and the air grew tense. Aoki's expression shifted as he sensed something unusual.
Looking up sharply, he spotted a Pokémon hovering directly above him, its silhouette obscured by the blinding sunlight. A moment later, another Pokémon appeared in the sky, both radiating immense power. Without warning, the two clashed violently, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Even from a distance, the force was strong enough to make Aoki stumble.
When the two Pokémon separated, Aoki finally recognized them.
Regice, one of the legendary titans known as the Regis!
And opposing it—Articuno, the Freeze Pokémon, one of the legendary bird trio!
Two legendary Pokémon locked in battle!
Aoki's heart pounded. What were these two doing here?
He quickly reassured himself—while both were powerful, neither was at the level of a mythical Pokémon like Mew or Celebi. Still, the fact that they were fighting at all was puzzling.
Regice, despite being a titan of ice, was not naturally capable of flight. However, like its brethren Registeel and Regirock, it could manipulate electromagnetic energy to hover, simulating flight. Articuno, of course, had no such limitations—its majestic wings allowed it to soar effortlessly.
The two legendary Pokémon remained locked in a stalemate, the air around them growing colder by the second. Even under the sun's rays, Aoki felt no warmth—only a biting chill.
Then, another figure approached—a Charizard, its wings beating steadily as it carried a Trainer toward the battlefield. The Charizard flew toward Articuno, and the legendary bird let out a cry upon seeing its arrival.
This Articuno had a Trainer!
Aoki's mind raced. In the Hoenn region, there was only one person known to possess a legendary Pokémon like Articuno—
Noland, the Factory Head of the Battle Frontier!
Aoki recalled that in the future, when Ash challenged the Battle Frontier, he would face Noland, who would use Articuno in battle. That meant this Articuno was undoubtedly one of the strongest Pokémon in the region.
And yet, here it was, clashing with Regice, one of the three titans said to be eternal guardians.
Why was Noland fighting Regice?
Was he trying to capture it?
But if Aoki remembered correctly, the Pyramid King Brandon of the Battle Frontier already possessed all three Regis. Had he not yet obtained them at this point in time?
More puzzling—could this Regice be the one that had disappeared from the Ruins of Mew on Neverland?
The thought struck Aoki suddenly. If only his system scan could reach them, he might be able to confirm it.
From what he could see, Noland seemed to be trying to communicate with Regice, but that was impossible—the Regis were not known for understanding human speech.
The only reason Brandon could command them was due to his title as the Pyramid King, a role tied to ancient ruins. The Regis obeyed him because he was recognized as a guardian of the ruins, a position passed down through generations.
But Noland? He had no such connection.
Regice was growing visibly impatient. Articuno was strong, but Regice was confident in its own power. If this human continued to block its path, it would fight with full force.
Noland, atop his Charizard, understood the situation. If it came to a battle, he could hold his own—but the destruction would be catastrophic. The safari grounds would suffer, and countless wild Pokémon would be caught in the crossfire.
Aoki hesitated.
He could communicate with Regice—through Telepathy, a rare ability some Psychic-types possessed. But interfering now might provoke Regice further.
And then there was the matter of the Battle Frontier's influence.
The Battle Frontier was a powerful faction within the Hoenn League, its leaders each possessing strength comparable to the Elite Four. Noland, as the Factory Head, held significant authority—second only to the region's top Trainers.
If Aoki acted recklessly, he could make an enemy of not just Regice, but the entire Battle Frontier.
Yet… if this Regice truly was the missing guardian from Neverland, then its presence here was no coincidence.
Something bigger was at play.
And Aoki was right in the middle of it.