Chapter 307: Sky Pillar
~Azure S. POV~
[Hoenn Region, Later, Sky Pillar]
The wind whipped around me, a familiar caress against my face as Salamence banked, his powerful wings beating a steady rhythm against the vast, darkening sky. Below, the jagged peaks of Hoenn were beginning to be swallowed by twilight, and the colossal edifice of Sky Pillar pierced the horizon like a weathered fang.
I'd had my team rested, their energies replenished, and my assurances prepared. All that remained was the journey.
I checked my Arc Phone, smirking, seeing the Map App giving me the exact location of where to find Sky Pillar. Certainly, makes hunting all that much easier for me to locate where to find locations no one knew about.
Today, however, was about more than just gym badges or contests. It was about destiny, about the very fabric of Hoenn. I checked my gear one last time, patted Pikachu's head, and gave Eevee a reassuring scratch behind the ears.
My Salamence, magnificent and powerful, lowered itself to let me mount. With a powerful beat of its leathery wings, we ascended into the vast sky, leaving the familiar terrain behind and pointing towards a landmark steeped in mystery: Sky Pillar.
By rights, I shouldn't have been here. The ancient tower was a sacred site, its access restricted to the Draconid people, the descendants of the original Sootopolitans. But the Draconids, I knew, were in hiding, their traditions veiled from the modern world.
And Wallace, the current Water Type Gym Leader and Descendant of the original Sootopolitan, was preoccupied with a Pokémon Contest in Fallabor Town, a well-placed distraction that left my path open. It felt almost too easy, a curious void in the usual protective aura surrounding such a pivotal location.
*Fwp*
*Zooom*
Almost too easy, until a flash of crimson caught my eye far below. My gaze sharpened, focusing on a figure moving with unusual speed across the rugged terrain, heading straight for Sky Pillar. My journey, however, seemed to have an unexpected companion... Zinnia.
A frown creased my brow. It seemed the path wasn't entirely clear after all.
I'd spotted her earlier, a flash of her distinctive attire as she made her way towards the same hallowed ground. Sky Pillar wasn't a place you just casually stumbled into, but for her, I suppose it makes sense.
Her presence here, at this precise moment, confirmed my suspicions about her true intentions. This wasn't merely a coincidence.
It was guarded, sacred ground, accessible only to the Draconid people and those of Sootopolitan lineage. With the Draconids in hiding and Wallace otherwise occupied, I'd anticipated a clear path. Clearly, I was mistaken.
The sun began its slow, majestic descent, painting the sky in fiery hues of orange and purple as Zinnia, surprisingly agile, reached the base of the tower on foot. Salamence, with a powerful dive, brought me down shortly after.
I dismounted, returning my aerial partner to its Poké Ball, and with Pikachu and Eevee scrambling up to their usual spots on my shoulders, I began my chase. Zinnia was already ascending, a blur of red and black against the ancient stone.
Sky Pillar was every bit as formidable as the legends described. Worn by millennia of wind and rain, its structure groaned and shifted underfoot. Each step was a gamble, the ancient monument unstable, crumbling slowly back into the earth it had sprung from.
I pushed myself, lungs burning, the thin mountain air biting at my throat. Pikachu and Eevee, ever my staunch companions, were incredible assets.
Pikachu, light and quick, would occasionally scamper ahead, testing a precarious ledge before me, its tail sparking with protective energy. Eevee, with its remarkable agility, would sometimes brace itself against my leg, offering a surprising anchor when a handhold proved too slick or loose.
*Rmbl*
A section of the floor just behind me groaned ominously, then gave way with a sickening crack, sending a shower of dust and debris tumbling into the abyss below. I scrambled, heart hammering against my ribs, barely catching my balance.
*CRACK*
I gasped, clutching a crumbling stone lintel, "Whoa, that was close!"
Pikachu squeaked in alarm, while Eevee dug its claws into my shirt, a shiver running through its small body. High above, a peal of laughter echoed down the desolate stairwell, hearing her voice.
Zinnia's voice, surprisingly light given the perilous climb, carried a note of genuine amusement, "Congratulations, Azure! You made it this far! Few manage to navigate the Sky Pillar's whims without meeting a rather… permanent end."
I finally reached a more stable, albeit still dilapidated, platform where Zinnia waited. Her smile was enigmatic, her hands resting easily on her hips. She began, her voice taking on a more resonant, storytelling quality, "Now that you're here, allow me to share the saga of my people, the Draconids."
The fuck? Is this bitch seriously giving a backstory monologue?
Oh fuck… she is.
Literal character backstory monologue? IN REAL LIFE!!
As she spoke, the painted murals adorning the crumbling walls around us seemed to stir, their ancient pigments glowing with an internal light. Zinnia continued, her gaze sweeping across the vibrant depictions, "One millennium ago, a great meteorite, a harbinger of destruction, struck the Hoenn region."
The murals flickered, showing a fiery comet streaking across a darkened sky, impacting with devastating force. Oh, fuck I'm getting the Pokémon Evolutions treatment seeing the images in real life.
But focus returned to Zinnia as she went on, her voice deepening, "The immense power unleashed by that impact awakened two titans, primal beings of unimaginable might: Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre. They clashed, not seeking balance, but to claim that raw energy for themselves."
The murals exploded with vivid imagery. Kyogre, a leviathan of the sea, surged forth, its body radiating an oceanic glow, unleashing a devastating Origin Pulse. Groudon, a terrestrial titan of molten rock, roared in defiant challenge, its form shimmering with magma, tearing the earth asunder with Precipice Blades.
The painted figures moved, became almost three-dimensional, their attacks radiating a palpable, terrifying energy that seemed to shake the very foundations of the tower. The sheer intensity of the illusions was overwhelming.
I flinched back, a sudden surge of ancient fear rippling through me. Pikachu cried out, its fur standing on end, while Eevee pressed itself tightly against my neck, whimpering softly about the illusions.
This wasn't just a story; it felt like a memory, a primal echo. My metaknowledge, for all its power, hadn't prepared me for the visceral impact of witnessing these legends unfold as shown from The Wish in Pokémon Evolutions.
Taking a shaky breath, I forced myself to move, continuing to scale the tower after Zinnia, who had already resumed her ascent. Her voice now carried a note of fierce pride, "My people faced utter annihilation. In their desperation, they came together, their fervent wishes coalescing into a single, desperate prayer: that the great Sky High Pokémon, Rayquaza, would descend from the heavens, clad in emerald light, to save them from the crisis."
The murals shifted again, depicting the Draconid people, their faces etched with fear and hope, gazing skyward. Then, a streak of emerald light as Zinnia explained, her voice hushed, "The strength of their collective wish was so powerful that it not only summoned Rayquaza, but it changed its very appearance. Through an act of sheer will, it Mega Evolved!"
A colossal, emerald dragon, its body alight with incredible power, unfurled majestic wings across the mural, its eyes burning with serene intensity. Zinnia continued, "Rayquaza, in its Mega-Evolved form, successfully banished Groudon and Kyogre back to the depths of the sea and the heart of the land, restoring balance to Hoenn!"
She paused, allowing the weight of the legend to settle. She gestured around us, to the precarious walls, the ancient stones, "The Draconids, in gratitude and reverence, then built this Sky Pillar. To house the 'rainbow stone' that granted Rayquaza its power."
As she spoke, her hand instinctively went to a pendant around her neck, revealing a shimmering Key Stone, its facets catching the fading light. Just then, my foot slipped on a patch of loose gravel, a delayed reaction from the intensity of the illusions.
I stumbled, catching myself against the wall, sending a small shower of dust into the air. Pikachu's worried cry snapped me back to the present, "Pika! (Azure!)"
As I recovered, I reached into my bag, my fingers closing around the smooth, cool surface of the Meteorite I possessed. Its presence was a stark contrast to Zinnia's Key Stone, but I knew its significance would become clear soon enough.
We finally reached the summit. The air thinned further, colder now, tinged with the scent of ancient stone and faint ozone.
We stood in a circular room, open to the vast, darkening sky. But there was no further staircase, no obvious path to continue higher.
But I recognized this area from my metaknowledge, that strange, inherent understanding of this world's underlying mechanics, clicked into place. I remembered this.
I muttered, more to myself than to Zinnia in an annoyed voice, "This area… is designed so only an adult and a child can pass."
My eyes scanned the room, landing on a raised circular platform in the center and a small lever set into the wall nearby as I continued, "Someone stands on the circle, and someone else pulls the switch."
My gaze flickered to Pikachu and Eevee. Then, to the circle adding on, "The beam repels Pokémon and moves, too."
It was a clever, almost whimsical, security measure, ensuring only those of a certain dynamic could proceed through here. These ancient people certainly have some interesting security measures in place.
But my attention was quickly drawn back to Zinnia. She had moved to the edge of the platform, gazing out at the sprawling Hoenn region below, now bathed in twilight. She continued, her voice somber, "The Draconids… also foretold a darker prophecy. A larger meteorite, far greater than the one that sparked the primal clash, would one day fall upon Hoenn. A meteor so vast, it threatens to shatter the entire region."
Her hand tightened around her Key Stone, her knuckles white. Her resolve was palpable, a burning conviction in her eyes as she stated, "These Key Stones I've gathered… they are to summon Rayquaza. They are to save Hoenn."
I approached her slowly, stopping at a safe distance away. Pikachu and Eevee, sensing the shift in atmosphere, dropped from my shoulders, their small bodies tensing, readying themselves for whatever was to come.
Their battle instincts were keen reminders of the champions they were. Zinnia turned, her expression hardening. Her eyes, usually so playful, now held a glint of steel as she stated sternly, "My story is concluded, Azure Sky. Summoning Rayquaza to save Hoenn has always been my duty. Every action, every calculated move, has been for this moment. Team Magma, Team Aqua… they were pawns, tools to awaken the Ancient Pokémon, to lure Rayquaza into its role as the next Lorekeeper."
She glared at me, her intent unwavering. She spoke determinedly, "I am prepared to do anything for this dream. Even if it's against one of my own."
Her thoughts, I knew, were a whirlwind of misdirection. She didn't know how much I knew. Our meeting at Jagged Pass, when I saw through her Team Magma Admin disguise, must have thrown her for a loop.
When I mentioned her connection to the Draconids, her mind, so steeped in her people's lore, must have jumped to the only logical conclusion for her: I was a descendant of a Draconid who left Meteor Falls generations ago, settling in another region.
It was a convenient misinterpretation, one I was prepared to let stand for now. Unaware of her internal machinations, I remained vigilant, my stance neutral but ready.
Zinnia retrieved a Poké Ball from her belt, her fingers tightening around it. She declared, her voice ringing with authority, "Azure Sky! I challenge you to a Pokémon battle! You will return the Key Stones you possess, and the TM Scroll for the Dragon Lord! It is clear you are a descendant of the Draconid People, and these artifacts belong to us!"
I feigned a look of well-practiced confusion, a slight tilt of my head. I murmured, letting a hint of genuine bewilderment tint my tone, "Draconid descendant? I confess, that's a new one..."
But I quickly rolled with it. This was an unexpected turn, yet one I could exploit. Accepting her challenge, I countered, "Very well. If I win, however, you will help me activate the final mechanism needed to reach the Sky High Pokémon."
I let a glint of ambition enter my eyes as I added, "I aim to be the Pokémon Master!"
My words, however, clearly irked her. Zinnia gritted her teeth, her brow furrowing, but she nodded curtly as she declared, "… Well then. I agree to your terms. But you underestimate my resolve, and my Pokémon!!"
She was confident. Good.
With a flourish, she sent out her first Pokémon, "Go, Salamence!"
*Pop*
The magnificent Dragon/Flying-type burst from its Poké Ball, roaring defiantly, its scales gleaming. I could immediately discern the faint shimmer of its Held Item: a [Dragon Fang], boosting its already formidable Dragon-type attacks.
A powerful opponent, indeed. But unfortunately for her, I'm on the clock and truly don't have time to waste playing with her.
Granted, I could always try to grind my team. But frankly?
I could just solo her whole team with my ace in the hole. Just with one of the Regi Trio alone is enough to take her down, and I very much doubt her Pokémon can do anything against it.
I merely smiled, a genuine, slightly predatory curve of my lips. I conceded, my hand reaching for a specific Ultra Ball on my belt, its distinct markings a secret I'd kept well, "A Dragon Master like yourself certainly deserves a challenge. I had planned to reserve this Pokémon for Rayquaza itself, but you, it's just as dangerous."
I stopped talking, letting the dramatic pause build, watching Zinnia's eager, challenging expression slowly morph into curiosity, then dawning realization as I brought the Ultra Ball forward. The air in the summit room began to change, a subtle shiver running through the molecules.
*Wooosh*
*CHILLL*
The very atmosphere started to chill, a faint mist forming on my breath. Zinnia's eyes widened, a gasp escaping her lips as I launched the Ultra Ball into the air, yelling, "Regice, appear!"
*Pop*
A blinding flash of light erupted, momentarily engulfing the summit. When it receded, a colossal figure stood before us: the Ice Titan, Regice. Not only that, but with its held item [Never Melt Ice], it boosts its Ice Moves.
Its body, composed entirely of ancient, crystalline ice, radiated an unearthly cold. The air, already thin, became frigid, biting. Frost began to creep across the ancient stone floor, and a visible cloud of vapor plumed from Regice's colossal form.
Zinnia, her Salamence momentarily forgotten, stared, utterly startled, her confident smile crumbling away. My secret weapon, revealed as I said boldly, "Now then, Lorekeeper Zinnia… can you take down a Legend. Regice… Strong Style Blizzard."
I hope you make this worth my time. Our battle shall be –
/////
[Hoenn Region, 10 Mins. Later, Sky Pillar]
"A great disappointment."
*THUD*
Those words were uttered from my mouth as I took down her entire Dragon team. Granted, she didn't have Mega Evolution, but still, this is just sad, as I one-shot her Noivern.
Zinnia stood there in disbelief as her entire team fell like a stack of cards. Goodra, Tyrantrum, Altaria, Noivern, and her Salamence all fell.
It was no kidding, considering that all her team as a fucking HUGE weakness to Ice-type Pokémon. And it certainly didn't help her case, as I just spammed Blizzard each time against her Dragon Team.
They just fell like a deck of cards. Granted, she did try to Flamethrower against it, only for said fire to freeze, crash, and burn.
As for the chain holding the contraption, I had Regice grab it and freeze it in place. So, no worries and no assistance from her. Although I highly doubted she would keep her word to begin with, this was just an insurance policy.
Her eyes looked blank as she stared at me. She gritted her teeth as she lunged forward straight at me, "DAMN IT! I WON'T – "
*SMACK*
And Marshadow comes in for the save, smacking her over the head. I should've seen this coming, honestly.
I mean, when Rayquaza accepted Ruby and Sapphire to be its partners, she had to go and ruin it by trying to kill them. Or knock them off its back, can't remember which one, but all I needed to know she was a sore loser in that regard.
With her Pokémon taken out and herself fainted from the strike, all that was left was to crawl my way through a tunnel and let the light take me up. After that, it was time to battle the Sky High Pokémon.
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 100 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!