Hisui, the Ancient Retreat.
Although winter still held the land in its grasp, the first pulse of spring lay hidden beneath the accumulated snow.
The Ancient Retreat stood where the old city of Celestica had once existed. The Pearl Clan, the Diamond Clan, the Temple of Sinnoh, the Ancient Retreat... Everything from the past would one day disappear.
"Once it shone upon us all, with all the warmth of welcome sun. But now we weep, to grief we fall, starved of light now it has gone."
A white-haired woman dressed as though she were in mourning gazed at the sun hanging in Hisui's sky.
She had only just returned to the ground after patrolling the heavens.
Patrolling?
That might have sounded strange, but in one version of history, Irida, leader of the Pearl Clan, had indeed asked the black-clad woman before her:
"You appeared the instant we gathered all three materials... Were you watching us from the sky the entire time?"
The woman had answered:
"Yes. An exceptionally powerful Pokémon gave me a great deal of help."
"Yesterday's sunset can be seen again today. Whose footsteps will today's traveler follow? Whether there is laughter or sorrow, trust or betrayal, time alone continues its unyielding march."
"Old Verse Seventeen..."
"'Once there was a god of field,
and once there was a god of spring.
Upon Hisui's winds it wheeled,
brought life to every growing thing.
"Where go you when you are not here?"
asked I one day the god of spring.
No answer would it give me clear,
but still did I have an inkling.
There is no great dark truth untold;
it simply does not like the cold.'"
The god of spring mentioned in the verse was Enamorus, and that Pokémon belonged to the white-haired woman.
Cogita finished brewing the tea and shifted her gaze from the sun to the distant mountains.
Somewhere within the lands of Sinnoh and Hisui was a great stretch of wilderness, perhaps even a space of its own, firmly cut off by Mount Coronet. Ancient ruins resembling the Temple of Sinnoh stood atop the enormous mountain within that land.
It was an inaccessible place northeast of Hisui.
To its west lay the Alabaster Icelands, home of the Pearl Clan.
To its southeast were the Cobalt Coastlands, Veilstone Cape, and an uninhabitable region surrounded by rows of stone mountains.
Farther south lay the warm, damp Crimson Mirelands, where the Diamond Clan lived.
To the southwest were the Coronet Highlands, where the people of Celestica had lived since ancient times, excavating massive stones and using them to construct magnificent buildings. Even the Ancient Retreat directly to the south stood within that region.
Surrounded on every side by the remnants of the old Celestica people was the Michina Wasteland.
The priests there possessed Pokémon called Bronzong. Long ago, Bronzong had represented the Celestica people. Even now, those ancient bells continued living in the Ancient Quarry left behind by Celestica.
Since the distant past, Bronzong had been revered as Pokémon capable of summoning rain clouds. People even worshiped them as gods who called forth the rain.
When Bronzong released their bell-like cries, caves leading to other worlds would open.
The ancients worshiped them as gods of abundant harvests.
"Imitation..." Cogita murmured sorrowfully.
A voice suddenly came from the mountain pass nearby.
"Hello, Cogita! It's been a long time. I've come to study myths and legends again."
A traveling merchant with golden hair entered the Ancient Retreat with a backpack slung over his shoulders.
His face looked almost identical to Cogita's, although he was a man.
"Volo, are you shirking your duties again?"
"I'm not shirking anything!" Volo protested. "Learning the local myths is an important part of being a merchant. If I don't use exciting legends to attract customers, how am I supposed to sell my merchandise at a higher price?"
"It's especially fascinating to learn that my ancestors once lived in Hisui. No wonder certain unusual clothes were passed down through my family. They're extremely stylish!"
"And I heard the poem you were reciting. Is that a new verse you wrote? In some distant region, isn't the god of spring called Moltres?"
Cogita shook her head.
"According to legend, ancient people used music, dance, and clothing to portray the power of almighty Sinnoh. Many new people have come to Hisui over the past two years."
"However, I'm not in the mood to teach you myths today. You should return to work. You only just came back to Hisui, yet you're already slacking off, avoiding your duties, and complaining."
"Ginter, the head of your guild, would probably be furious."
"What? But you look like you're in an excellent mood!" Volo replied. "You even prepared two cups of tea! Isn't that because you already guessed why I came?"
"The great settlement vessel reached Prelude Beach and brought an enormous number of people with it. You may always remain here in the Ancient Retreat, but you must know what's happening in distant Jubilife Village!"
"You're always so mysterious, as though you understand everything and know every secret!"
"The Galaxy Team is currently evaluating whether this land is suitable for permanent settlement. Apparently, they're about to launch a major ecological survey."
"Right, I was planning to visit the ruins of the Temple of Sinnoh afterward... Anyway, I'm thirsty."
He reached for the tea as he spoke, but Cogita stopped him.
"That tea isn't for you. It was prepared for someone coming from Sinjoh."
"You've been wandering around and neglecting your duties, yet you haven't heard the rumors? The Pearl Clan has appointed a new Warden, the one known as the 'Swordfighter of Lightning'..."
As Cogita spoke, whispers arose beside Volo's ears and within his heart.
They echoed endlessly.
His heartbeat accelerated, and he struggled to breathe. Fragmented images seemed to flash before his eyes, offering glimpses of some unknown event.
"Sorry... It seems I'm acting strangely again today. I suddenly feel extremely unwell."
"The moment I heard that title, it felt as though my head were splitting apart. As a merchant, I should investigate unusual people and objects while maintaining an insatiable curiosity, but..."
"I hear that swordsman possesses strange magical powers. Perhaps he cursed me. Hisui has legends about curses, doesn't it?"
"I did intend to ask you about Sinjoh. The rumors were vague, but the more I think about them, the worse my head hurts."
"For now, I'll have to empty my mind."
"It seems today truly isn't a good day to study mythology!"
Volo breathed heavily. He eventually shook his head helplessly and patted his chest, trying to calm himself.
"My condition suddenly worsened, so I may need to rest for a while. I'll investigate him later."
"They say he descended from the sky, severed lightning itself, and personally defeated a savage dragon like Garchomp."
"If you want to call this slacking, then fine. I'm slacking. Just don't tell Ginter where I went. Please!"
Cogita nodded.
"Then forget about him for now. You could find a Bronzong and ask it to use Hypnosis on you. That may ease your headache."
"You should also stay away from the ruins of the Temple of Sinnoh for the time being. It would be better for you."
"Once certain emotions grow beyond control, they can make people and other living beings behave strangely. It's as simple as that."
"Many ancient disasters and betrayals were born from such feelings."
"Spring will soon come to Hisui. When it does, the land will recover its vitality, flourish, and come alive once more."
"The Swordfighter of Lightning is apparently a doctor as well. Once spring arrives, the illnesses brought by the harsh winter will pass."
"You'll recover your strength, and business should become easier too."
"If you sleep outdoors or seek shelter somewhere in the wilderness, remain wary of the bandits. Wanted notices have been issued for them. Apparently, they were responsible for the earlier attacks against the Ginkgo Guild."
Volo looked thoughtful.
"What do you mean by winter and spring? Even when spring arrives, Hisui could hardly be called fertile."
"The land is somewhat barren, and the climate is excessively cold. Minerals may be found everywhere, but there isn't much soil suitable for cultivation."
"The timber and stone found here are excellent, though. Wasn't that why people originally came here, to harvest timber and quarry stone?"
"Places like the Alabaster Icelands are especially desolate."
"And why do you believe something will happen to me if I visit the ruins of the Temple of Sinnoh?"
Cogita merely smiled without answering.
Volo could not help feeling as though she had seen through his heart.
What an incomprehensible woman...
Of course, he truly did have a reason for visiting those ruins.
During his previous stay in Hisui, he had encountered a certain Pokémon there.
It must have been a Pokémon's voice.
The whisper was eerie and tempting, but if Volo could establish a connection with it, perhaps he could learn more about Sinnoh.
That Pokémon wanted to meet almighty Sinnoh.
It had also promised to reveal what the true almighty Sinnoh was.
For now, the two sides remained in a stage of mutual testing and had yet to fully trust one another.
For some reason, however, Volo could no longer hear its whispers after returning to Hisui.
Had it moved its nest or gone somewhere else?
Giratina's presence...
That overwhelming presence had disappeared.
"I need to investigate," Volo muttered. "I don't like it, but I should avoid the Swordfighter of Lightning for now."
"Other people may be afraid of him, but I'm not! That story about a swordsman cutting lightning is nothing more than a rumor! I saw you pretending to conduct your investigation from a distance, and that's what I planned to say. Damn it!"
"How did you find me?!"
"I announce the arrival of warm spring to banish the bitter winter! I'm Coin, the beautiful and elegant youngest sister!"
"And defeat tastes as sour as an unripe plum...!"
Near the Primeval Grotto in the Coronet Highlands, Hikaru and Irida had successfully extracted Origin Ore with the help of Lian and Sneasler.
The work that remained consisted of repeatedly mining the ore and shaping it into a crimson sphere.
Although their activities were supposed to remain confidential, rumors about the Swordfighter of Lightning and the Pearl Clan's movements had already spread. Many people knew that the Pearl Clan was mining somewhere in the Coronet Highlands.
Normally, that would have been completely unremarkable.
Lian often brought people into the mountains to search for ore. Some members of the Galaxy Team also went mining, and the Diamond Clan was no exception.
However, the appearance of someone from Sinjoh had attracted too much attention.
Before long, certain people heard that the Swordfighter of Lightning was mining on Mount Coronet.
"It's still winter. Spring hasn't arrived yet, so there's no need to announce it."
"You heard that 'a valuable treasure was discovered on Mount Coronet.' But if you're searching for unusual treasures, wouldn't the Ginkgo Guild have more of them?"
"Theoretically, you reached the correct answer through the wrong process. No points!"
Hikaru looked down at the tightly bound Coin.
"If you came looking for gold, there are plenty of Nuggets here, and I'm also carrying objects made of gold. However, I won't give you a single one for free."
"Besides, you came here to steal with only a Toxicroak."
"Even if you underestimated me because I'm human, did you truly believe a noble Pokémon was weak as well?"
Sneasler released a mocking cry.
She had already knocked Toxicroak to the ground.
Both Pokémon were Poison types, so neither could poison the other. They also shared the Fighting type.
However, in terms of strength, Toxicroak was little more than an inferior imitation of Sneasler.
"Don't get so full of yourself!" Coin shouted. "Damn you and your Pearl Clan!"
"My sisters will rescue me!"
"You'll spend every night trembling inside a Ghost Pokémon's nightmare, praying that no one steals your satchel!"
"She's trying to threaten us, but it sounds ridiculous," Lian commented.
He stared in confusion at Coin as she lay tied up on the ground, shouting at the top of her lungs.
"You keep saying you hate the Pearl Clan, but weren't you a member of the Pearl Clan yourself?"
"Coin, what have you been doing since you left us?" Irida asked.
"I heard the Galaxy Team issued a wanted notice for you!"
"This ore is as precious as any treasure. You can't take it merely because you want it. It's directly connected to almighty Sinnoh."
"You've always been this inflexible," Coin replied. "Now that you've become the leader, the Pearl Clan will soon find itself suffocating!"
"Almighty Sinnoh? We can barely keep ourselves alive, so what use is faith?"
"Treasure has value, and anything valuable can be traded for the supplies we need to survive."
"We're already giving everything we have just to stay alive in Hisui!"
Irida frowned, but she felt no uncertainty about this particular issue.
"Isn't it our duty to treasure the land and customs passed down since ancient times?"
"We're learning new techniques from the Galaxy Team and gradually changing while preserving our customs and faith."
"That will allow us to survive more comfortably across the vast lands of Hisui."
Coin suddenly fell silent, puzzling Irida.
Then Hikaru spoke, and the young woman who bore such a striking resemblance to Saturn trembled from head to toe.
"It was still better than farming for the Galaxy Team, but after you left, the Galaxy Team continued making trouble for you. Isn't that right?"
"What does that mean?" Irida asked. "Did Coin join the Galaxy Team after leaving the Pearl Clan?"
"That's exactly what happened," Hikaru said. "After leaving the Pearl Clan, she tried joining the Galaxy Team to find a new way of life."
"However, the Galaxy Team believes that those who don't work don't eat. There's nothing wrong with that principle, but ordinary members face an exhausting amount of labor every day."
"She discovered that life there was even harder than it had been in the Pearl Clan."
"The villagers still rejected Pokémon as well, so she eventually deserted the team with two other women."
"I suspect they also attacked the Ginkgo Guild to obtain supplies."
Coin's face changed dramatically.
"H-How do you know that?! Have you been watching us from the sky?!"
"Setting aside the wanted notices, the three of you make an interesting group. You came from the Galaxy Team, Diamond Clan, and Pearl Clan."
"You also stole four experimental Poké Balls so you could carry your partner Pokémon with you."
The shadow behind them gradually stretched longer.
Coin's gaze began darting around, and Hikaru glanced sideways at the dark shape on the ground.
"Coin, you could no longer accept the Pearl Clan's customs and traditions," Irida said. "The Galaxy Team's work would naturally have been even more unbearable for you."
"The Coin I knew complained constantly, but you always completed your duties and helped when others needed you."
"You actually came to Mount Coronet because you were worried something might happen to the sacred mountain where almighty Sinnoh resides, didn't you?"
"Shut up! That isn't why I'm here!" Coin snapped. "Stop flattering yourself. Just wait. Soon, all of you will..."
She suddenly paused.
"Wait. Aren't you cold?"
Irida blinked. "No. If anything, I feel slightly warm."
"...."
Coin had forgotten that her former leader was the world's greatest champion of cold resistance.
This slight chill did nothing to her!
Forget the Swordfighter of Lightning being a monster.
Was Irida supposed to be a normal human?!
What part of her was normal?!
Did she have Flame Body?!
Even Hikaru laughed when he heard that.
As Irida famously declared in Pokémon Masters EX:
"I'd rather avoid volcanic areas... I'm terribly sensitive to heat..."
"But glacial areas don't bother me. I could even jump into the sea!"
"Simply lowering the temperature won't work on you."
"There's a Pokémon that slips into people's shadows at midnight and gradually steals their body heat," Hikaru explained. "Once it targets someone, they'll feel an uncontrollable chill throughout their entire body."
"But it doesn't seem to have any effect on Irida. The results are negligible."
Irida stiffened.
"Is this... a Pokémon knowledge quiz?"
"That's right. However, at the end of this quiz, you'll get to see the actual Pokémon!"
"Spiky, use Thunderbolt on Irida's shadow."
"Piiiii-chu!"
A bolt of lightning suddenly struck the shadow.
The Spiky-eared Pichu shone brilliantly as a dark figure cried, "Gengaaaar!" and was blasted out of Irida's shadow.
"Eek!"
The enormous Gengar's smug grin vanished. It staggered backward several steps and stared at the small Pokémon that had released such overwhelming electrical power.
Wait a minute!
Wasn't that one of those baby Pokémon occasionally found in the wild that knocked themselves unconscious whenever they discharged electricity?
How had she released so much power without fainting?!
Wasn't Pichu supposed to have weak electricity?!
"This is... a Pokémon!" Irida exclaimed. "Why is it so enormous? What is this thing?!"
"It was hiding in my shadow?"
"Was that knowledge quiz about this Pokémon?"
"You said it steals body heat and makes people feel cooler, but I didn't notice anything."
"...."
Gengar looked at Coin's twisted expression and seemed to strongly agree with her.
It copied the same face and repeatedly nodded.
Coin was absolutely right.
An amateur might merely think that this blonde girl possessed excellent heat resistance, but only a professional Ghost Pokémon could recognize the truth.
This girl was not human.
"It isn't supposed to make you feel cooler," Lian said. "It's supposed to make you freeze."
"But I've never found any part of Hisui cold," Irida replied. "If anything, everywhere feels hot."
"See? Even that monstrous Pokémon looks discouraged after hearing you say that!"
The pair slipped naturally into the role of delivering sarcastic commentary, leaving Gengar trapped in an awkward spiral of self-doubt.
Their attention soon shifted from making jokes to discovering what kind of Pokémon it was.
"It's Gengar," Hikaru explained. "They're extremely difficult to encounter in nature."
"You normally see only Gastly and Haunter, whose bodies resemble clouds, mist, and gas. Gengar evolves from Haunter after exposure to a special magnetic influence."
"It's known as the Shadow Pokémon."
"On the night of a full moon, if your shadow begins moving by itself and starts laughing, that's surely Gengar's doing."
"The grinning face floating in the darkness belongs to a Gengar delighting in placing curses upon people."
"Haunter... Gastly..." Irida murmured. "Are those the ghostly Pokémon wandering around the Crimson Mirelands?"
She had traveled there many times.
Those eerie creatures appeared at night. The Diamond Clan also told stories warning people not to approach the wetlands after dark, and some members were deeply afraid of the wandering spirits.
Gastly and Haunter constantly harassed people.
Rumors even claimed they had poisoned and killed members of the Diamond Clan. Their victims had been forced to seek Antidote Pills from the Pearl Clan because the Pearl Clan understood poison through living beside Sneasler.
Eventually, certain people within the Diamond Clan also became skilled at handling toxins.
However, poison was not the most important issue.
The real problem was that those Pokémon were ghosts.
"If you see your shadow laughing on its own, you should immediately clutch an amulet and drive away the evil spirit," Hikaru said.
"Some Gengar steal human lives. According to one legend, they do so because Gengar itself represents the eventual fate of humans."
"In a distant world, a human once betrayed his partner Gardevoir and told a terrible lie. Because of that sin, he was cursed and transformed into Gengar."
A woman's voice suddenly came from nearby.
"You know a great deal about Pokémon. Are you truly a scholar?"
"I hear you know Alec and possess medical knowledge. You even detected the Gengar hiding inside a shadow."
"Is the Swordfighter of Lightning from a foreign land truly capable of mysterious magic, just as the rumors claim?"
A second voice followed.
"But one setback won't make us surrender!"
"Return Coin to us, or your treasure will remain the object of our desire forever!"
Smoke erupted across the ground.
Two figures appeared within it, one an older woman and the other a younger woman.
That was only natural.
"I'll be taking your items," Charm declared. "Don't blame us. We're risking our lives to survive."
"Like an evergreen pine that never loses its beauty, I am Charm, the forever-young eldest sister!"
"Hand over your worthless treasures!" Clover shouted.
"Never knowing what it means to wither, bringing forth fresh green growth, I am Clover, the flourishing middle sister!"
"We are the Miss Fortune sisters, pine, bamboo, and plum: Charm, Clover, and Coin!"
"One member didn't get to introduce herself, so you're no longer three sisters," Hikaru said. "It seems Gengar's power is how you steal things without making a sound."
The Miss Fortunes were a bandit group formed by three women who had deserted three different organizations.
Charm had left the Galaxy Team and was the ancestor of Agatha and Bertha. Clover, an ancestor of Candice, had come from the Diamond Clan. Coin had once belonged to the Pearl Clan.
Even the Pokémon they used were closely connected to their descendants.
However, none of them yet knew that their future destinies would undergo a drastic change.
"Can't you feel it, Clover?" Hikaru asked. "That familiar presence..."
"What? Do you know me?"
"I don't know you, but I know someone who looks remarkably similar to you."
"Then she has absolutely nothing to do with me! Stop acting as if we're friends!"
"Do you think I'll hold back against you? Go, Abomasnow!"
"Then I suppose I have no choice," Hikaru said. "If I capture you, will the Diamond Clan and Galaxy Team pay me the bounty?"
He had only recently defeated Candice at the martial arts tournament.
Now he was about to beat up her ancestor too.
If Candice ever searched through her family records and discovered the documents Clover left behind, she would probably be astonished.
"I'll show you the queen of the Diamond Clan!"
"Let the winds of her homeland, the winds of Sinjoh, sweep across this land!"
"Lilligant!"
A green figure appeared with the speed of lightning.
Her dance was graceful and her leaps elegant. Other than a difference in size, she looked almost identical to the noble Lady of the Ridge.
"Sneas!"
"The Lady of the Ridge?! Wait, you have a noble Pokémon as your partner?"
"No, that isn't right. It's a different individual."
"But this one seems incredibly powerful. She's even stronger than that giant Ghost Pokémon from earlier!"
Sneasler did not hesitate to praise her.
Every one of Hikaru's companions seemed impossibly powerful. However, it was precisely because he possessed such strength that Sneasler had noticed him and sensed his arrival in advance.
The strength of her partner was also the strength of the noble!
Thinking about it that way made her feel considerably better.
Still...
"She has almost the same face as the Lady of the Ridge. I don't like that!"
Was that jealousy she saw reflected on her own face?
"He's supposed to be the Pearl Clan's partner, yet he's using a Diamond Clan Pokémon!"
"But that woman over there once belonged to the Diamond Clan, so perhaps this is how humans settle their internal disputes."
"Clans resemble Pokémon packs. Different packs fight one another. I suppose that's all this is."
Sneasler scrutinized the green figure.
Hisuian Lilligant turned and glanced back at her.
"Lilligant!"
This powerful Pokémon was the reason her Trainer had been able to peacefully coexist with the people of this cold region.
Therefore, Lilligant needed to feel grateful.
She could not suddenly leap out and complain like Flutter Mane had!
Besides, Hikaru would only spend a few months with Sneasler.
That meant this queen posed absolutely no threat!
Clover was even more shocked when Hisuian Lilligant appeared.
"The Diamond Clan's... Lady of the Ridge?!"
The information was wrong!
Sneasler was standing nearby, so how could the Lady of the Ridge also be here?
Wasn't Warden Arezu supposed to care for that noble?
When had the Swordfighter of Lightning taken her place?
"Don't worry," Charm said. "That queen may be powerful, but she can't hit a Ghost Pokémon. Gengar will handle her easily."
"That isn't necessarily true," Hikaru replied. "I was planning to use a sword technique capable of cutting incorporeal enemies, but I'll use something easier to demonstrate."
"Look. This is one of those 'worthless treasures' you wanted."
"Sneasler, please use the move I've been teaching you these past few days."
"Switcheroo."
"Mrrreow!"
Sneasler's eyes lit up.
As expected, he still needed her at a time like this.
Then she glanced at Victini, who was happily running in circles nearby, and at the Spiky-eared Pichu.
Fine. It seemed those two possessed similar skills.
"Stealing doesn't suit the dignity of a noble, but my partner asked me to do it. It can't be helped."
"A Pearl Clan Pokémon can't lose to one from the Diamond Clan!"
"Accept this gift with gratitude!"
A flash of white light passed over Gengar.
Something was stolen from its body.
Sneasler grinned as a glittering treasure appeared between her claws.
"Oh! A Big Nugget! Humans seem to consider this extremely valuable. Not a bad trade!"
"Gengar?!"
Gengar's mouth drooped into an expression of absolute horror.
It had always stolen from others, yet today someone had stolen from it!
Wait, that made no sense!
All its treasures were hidden inside its gluttonous stomach, which connected to the "fourth dimension."
How had Sneasler stolen something from there?!
"Did you honestly believe your stomach was a four-dimensional pocket?" Hikaru asked. "It still has a long way to go."
"They say the world within shadows is connected to nightmares and the Distortion World, but who knows whether that's true?"
"Pokémon moves are mysterious, aren't they?"
"When speaking of Sinnoh, Switcheroo is a move steeped in sin, one that runs throughout Sinnoh's history. Sometimes, however, it can be used for a righteous purpose."
"Someone once switched a god's treasure and deceived even their own descendants. When the Day of Judgment arrived, they presented the counterfeit as an offering."
"As for the treasure you've received..."
"It's a Ring Target!"
"Lilligant, use Axe Kick!"
The sword technique that cut intangible enemies allowed its user to enter a state resembling Foresight. It was a martial art.
Even Aerodactyl had learned that little trick and successfully mastered Foresight, although it had naturally been capable of inheriting the move several generations ago.
Hisuian Lilligant, who had trained for many years, had long since mastered the same technique.
There was only one reason she did not use it directly.
Sneasler deserved an opportunity to participate!
Hisuian Lilligant understood perfectly.
She unleashed a vicious kick!
Gengar had never imagined that a Ghost Pokémon like itself would one day be sent flying by a Fighting-type move.
The Ring Target had been placed inside its stomach.
"If you don't remove that item, it will continue releasing electrical signals," Hikaru explained. "Combined with Gengar's spiritual energy, those signals will leave it permanently vulnerable to Fighting- and Normal-type attacks!"
"The Ring Target is an item developed in a distant land."
"A Pokémon holding it can be struck by moves that would normally have no effect because of type compatibility!"
"And now..."
After kicking Gengar away, Lilligant performed a backflip and landed on Abomasnow's head.
The Lady of the Ridge radiated an overwhelming pressure.
Despite being four times weak to Ice-type attacks, she made Abomasnow feel frightened.
After all, ice was fragile before powerful fists and feet, especially the might of the Fighting type.
"Strong Style, Close Combat!"
The white beast of snow was defeated with ease.
Lilligant's violent strikes shattered the hardened ice, and she began performing a victory dance.
Clover fell backward onto the ground in terror.
"Such sharp and ferocious command over Pokémon!"
"You're just like the legendary hero of the Diamond Clan!"
"How is this possible?!"
Charm looked equally astonished.
Her expression quickly became tense, and cold sweat poured down her face as she reached for her second Poké Ball.
"Rhydon?"
Hikaru nodded, ignoring Charm's stunned expression.
"Can we talk?"
"I happen to have work suitable for the three of you. It won't be as exhausting as farming for the Galaxy Team, and it will completely respect your beliefs."
"Wait, I misspoke. It will respect the beliefs of those two. It has nothing to do with yours."
"But you're the eldest sister, so I'll let you make the decision."
"Stop looking down on us!" Charm snapped.
"We swore we would escape the endless suffering we endured in the Galaxy Team!"
"We struggle to survive every day, and the villagers constantly criticize us."
"We only want to live freely!"
"We hate the Galaxy Team, and we also hate the Diamond and Pearl Clans!"
"Life became this difficult because the Diamond and Pearl Clans are narrow-minded little groups."
"To live freely across the vast lands of Hisui, we need to tame powerful Pokémon!"
"This will be our once-in-a-lifetime final battle!"
"Come, Rhydon!"
The enormous rocky monster appeared.
Rhydon was, in the truest sense, the "first Pokémon ever created."
It was often partnered with Ground-type experts, and many people admired its imposing appearance.
Unfortunately, it lost some of that visual appeal after evolving into Rhyperior.
"Destroying the village would be easy, but then the new Sinnoh would disappear with it," Hikaru said.
"Sinnoh will save the suffering people of Hisui. That happened in the past, and it will happen again in the future."
"You aren't strong enough to call this a 'final battle' while standing before me."
"Come back after evolving one more stage."
"I'm not looking down on you. I offered this proposal precisely because I want you to live freely in Hisui."
"Let me ask again."
"Considering Gengar's current condition, do you truly have no intention of making peace?"
"If necessary to achieve my objective, I have no objection to using even greater force!"
An enormous shadow suddenly covered every human and Pokémon present.
Lady Kaguya had once stood six meters tall. Perhaps because she regularly consumed meteorites, her body had gradually grown to approximately eight meters.
She was no longer an underdeveloped bamboo shoot.
"Um... You should probably listen to the Captain. This is for your own good."
"Otherwise, your life will become like a candle flickering in the wind, and you don't have an HP lock."
"Please! Say that you want to live!"
Celesteela's voice roared like a rocket engine.
She was offering completely sincere advice, but to Rhydon, it sounded exactly like a threat.
The Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon stared in horror.
The three sisters wore the same expression.
Then Rhydon slowly turned toward Charm.
"You expect me to fight that thing?"
At an average height of 1.9 meters, Rhydon was already considered enormous among Pokémon.
What was it supposed to call something more than eight meters tall?
If one of those iron arms slammed down, Rhydon would be flattened into a potato cake!
Being a Ground-type Pokémon did not mean it wanted to be pressed against the ground.
Charm, are you conscious?
At this rate, the entire bandit gang will be destroyed!
Forget this. I'm not fighting!
This time, I'll actually die!
Even without understanding its language, Charm could read that entire speech from Rhydon's face.
"This Pokémon... Wait!"
Even Irida and Lian could not hide their astonishment.
"S-So enormous!" Lian exclaimed. "And so impressive! She's almost like the Lord of the Tundra!"
"No, she's still quite a bit smaller than the Lord of the Tundra," Irida replied. "But she's already larger than the Kleavor you serve."
"Seeing such an enormous Pokémon feels like a dream!"
Size carried an instinctive sense of intimidation.
The Pearl Clan's strongest fighting force was the Lord of the Tundra served by Gaeric.
Because of that noble's existence, the Pearl Clan remained capable of balancing the Diamond Clan's strength even after their Lord of the Isles died.
Kleavor was also enormous compared with ordinary members of his species.
The Pearl Clan's noble Pokémon all possessed immense bodies.
Even Sneasler, the smallest among them, far exceeded her species' average height of 1.3 meters. She was taller than Ingo, despite his Unovan heritage.
"Let's talk. I don't want to use excessive force."
"Until now, no Pokémon has ever withstood Lady Kaguya's Heavy Slam."
"With her immense rocket-like body, she can cross the distant blue sky, reach the darkness of space, and travel through it for years."
"Her power transcends the heavens. She's a visitor from the distant universe and resembles an embodiment of human civilization!"
Hikaru raised three fingers before curling them into a fist.
"Do you still intend to fight?"
"I'll give you an exact number."
"Every visible Poké Ball on my body can be opened, and every one contains a Pokémon."
"If a battle begins, all of them will awaken."
"Roaring dragons, legendary warriors, ancient legions, colossal turtles bearing the earth, messengers of aura, masked knights, a king's sacred sword, treasures of ruin, heroes from the cosmos, incarnations of the sun, steel bridges piercing the heavens, and children of the stars..."
"Every one of them is watching you through my Poké Balls."
"I have more than thirty partners like these!"
....
"Was it truly all right to release them?" Irida asked.
"Can we really entrust that work to them? Can they be trusted?"
"And somehow... this doesn't feel right."
"If we need to visit the other settlements and ancient cities, shouldn't I go as the clan's leader?"
"We're gradually accepting new things from the outside world."
"I think it's time we showed our sincerity to those people who severed contact with us."
"Even if the almighty Sinnoh they worship is completely different from yours?" Hikaru asked.
"Before the truth is revealed, they'll continually criticize you for it. Will you still be comfortable going?"
"The Pearl Clan values customs and history above all else. That's why people call you an old-fashioned and conservative leader."
"You may have accepted my explanation, but the Pearl Clan still calls the Diamond Clan's almighty Sinnoh a false deity."
"Your clan severed relations with other settlements because everyone's beliefs differed."
"If you consider the feelings of the Pearl Clan's people, you can't simply visit them."
"The Diamond Clan's almighty Sinnoh... is a false deity," Irida murmured.
"Even if you tell me there are four almighty beings, I still can't completely accept that."
"Perhaps Coin was right. My conservatism may eventually suffocate the Pearl Clan."
"That's why we should let the Miss Fortunes handle it," Hikaru said. "Their arrival was perfect timing!"
"They already have wanted notices issued against them. The Galaxy Team's notices will spread with its leaflets to every corner of Hisui."
"No settlement will believe they're acting on behalf of the Pearl or Diamond Clan."
"A bandit group is simply a bandit group."
"But this is also a necessary step toward fighting for Sinnoh."
"I have work I must complete so Hisui's history can successfully reach the age of Sinnoh."
"There are also people waiting for me to return to that world."
"Do you know how the Temple of Sinnoh originated?"
"I do," Irida replied. "The ancient people of Celestica supposedly built it, and it was connected to the Ancient Quarry."
"Is there an Old Verse about that too?"
"That's right. Old Verse Eleven."
"'Let our wishes reach heaven's crown,'
the people together vowed.
So they and their Pokémon bore stone
to the peak of heaven's mount."
"Just as the Pearl Clan's proverb says, everyone has a stage. They simply haven't found the place best suited to them yet."
"The same is true for you. You don't need to remain troubled."
"People may call you conservative, but from my perspective, you're the person most capable of accepting new things. You simply haven't convinced yourself of that yet."
"After you learn how to battle, preserve that belief in protecting history and stand upon the Stage of Light!"
Irida blinked, and her expression gradually changed.
The turmoil within her heart slowly faded.
The ancient verses revealed a history unknown to anyone.
The world continued growing wider.
"Yes," Irida said. "I'm the leader of the Pearl Clan!"
"On behalf of our people, I'll present everything we possess to almighty Sinnoh!"
"I'll offer the history we've treasured, preserved, and passed down to the present!"
"If humans and Pokémon can understand one another, we can learn even more about this vast world."
"Pokémon battles... We can use battles to convey our feelings!"
"Does that mean you were praising me?"
"Even though I'm so insignificant...?"
"Thank you! I remembered certain things from when my mother was still alive."
However, Irida could no longer clearly remember her mother's face.
"Then where exactly did you send the Miss Fortunes?"
"I sent them northeast," Hikaru answered.
"They're traveling to a ruined city in an inaccessible wilderness surrounded by descendants of Celestica."
"Beneath the ruins of Michina's great mountain, they'll search and investigate with everything they possess."
"They can freely make use of their specialties."
"If they complete the work, I'll give them whatever compensation they want. Supplies, treasure, or the fulfillment of a wish, anything is acceptable."
"Even if they betray me and try to keep the treasure for themselves, it won't matter."
"As long as they find the Jewel and carry it out of the ruins, every other problem will cease to be a problem."
"I know that if they want to live freely in Hisui, they must eventually bring the Jewel here."
"Someone really will be watching them from the sky."
"The woman who has lived since the distant past and rides upon the clouds as she patrols Hisui will be watching."
"Furthermore..."
Hikaru fired a ray of light from his Capture Styler.
A Staraptor flying through the sky was enveloped by the radiance. It descended and tilted its head as it studied Hikaru.
Once he gave it some Berries, Staraptor nodded contentedly and flapped its wings, flying in the direction the Miss Fortunes had taken.
It would return regularly to eat free Berries and Pokéblock-like food.
Then again, perhaps the food was not truly free.
"That Staraptor..." Irida murmured. "Did you summon it?"
"What was that light?"
"And what is that strange new machine?"
"It's a Capture Styler used by the Hero of Light in a distant land," Hikaru explained.
"It conveys a person's heart to Pokémon. Even without sharing a language, it lets the Pokémon understand your thoughts."
"It can quickly turn even an unfamiliar Pokémon into a friend."
"Old Verse Nineteen, the first half."
"'When first this land was formed,
man and 'mon lived happily,
sharing all that they could see,
by kind acts born and warmed.'"
"In other words, every Pokémon across Hisui is my friend."
"They are also my eyes and ears!"
"The Miss Fortunes will recover what was lost beneath the ancient city and buried under generations of dust and earth."
"The true Jewel of Life, not the counterfeit that the people of Michina guarded so closely."
"Within those ruins, in the world God once desired..."
"The greatest treasure of all is waiting!"
(End of Chapter)
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