Chapter 309: Dreams End [Bonus]
~Azure S. POV~
[Hoenn Region, Sky Pillar – Dragonhark Alter]
The air atop the Sky Pillar still crackled with residual energy, a testament to the brutal, beautiful fight we had just finished. Rayquaza was magnificent, a serpentine behemoth whose roar could shake the clouds.
I stood beside the Master Ball, its custom lacquer catching the faint sunlight filtering through the ozone layer. It felt heavy in my hand, not just from the presence of the Sky High Pokémon contained within, but from the weight of the responsibility I had just accepted in capturing it.
In my hand is the Master Ball containing Rayquaza. I genuinely didn't think it would be this tough to get this Pokémon.
But… here I am. Holding onto it.
I murmured, glancing down at my inseparable Partners, "Thanks a lot, you guys. You were vital in this battle."
Pikachu perched on my shoulder, his fur slightly singed but his eyes shining with exhilaration, while Eevee sat patiently at my feet, nuzzling him affectionately. Ho-Oh then spoke telepathically as it flapped its wings, 'You earned this, Rainbow Hero.'
*Fwp*
It flapped its wings as it said telepathically to me with a serene grin, 'With this, I believe my role in your journey is over. I must return to my duties, Rainbow Hero, but if disaster does strike, you know how to call me.'
*Fwp*
Ho-Oh flapped its beautiful wings, leaving the Sky Pillar. I placed its Poké Ball in my [Sub-Space] for safekeeping with a knowing smile. Seeing Ho-Oh's fleeting Rainbow trail filled me with pride.
The battle had taken everything we had, blending the raw power of Ho-Oh's power, Pikachu's trust, Eevee's assistance, and the unwavering spirit of. But winning was only the beginning.
Smiling, as I did everything possible to earn its trust, showed me just how strong Rayquaza was despite the debuffs it had. Using this chance, I had my Arc Phone scan it, reading its data and info.
[Rayquaza, the Sky High Pokémon. Rayquaza has a strong and endless desire to do heroic deeds for the Pokémon world. Rayquaza is said to be equal to both Groudon and Kyogre. For that reason, it is the only one that can halt the endless battles of the other two super-ancient Pokémon by overpowering them and forcing both back into their slumber, even in their Primal Forms.
Rayquaza is also the only one who can stop the two and restore order to nature that they disrupted. Rayquaza is said to have lived for hundreds of millions of years in the ozone layer, where it feeds on water and other particles.
There, it feeds on meteoroids, which include Mega Stones and even Minior. Rayquaza is rarely seen by people; even in flight, its appearance is indistinguishable from that of a meteor. For living in the ozone layer, it can breathe in outer space.
Rayquaza possesses some of the strongest attack power out of any Pokémon, and can easily summon cyclones to overwhelm its opponents. It can soar into the sky and drop out into its foes at high speeds, causing huge damage.
Thanks to its weather-manipulation powers, it can eliminate weather effects. Rayquaza was worshiped by the Draconid people as the savior of the region since ancient times. Thus, they built the Sky Pillar to honor it.
Additionally, it can be summoned atop Sky Pillar by multiple Key Stones. The Draconids referred to it as their "Dragon Lord". It is one of the longest-lived Pokémon species. Inside its body lies an organ that contains the same power as a Mega Stone, which was named the "mikado organ" by a Devon Corporation scientist.
Rayquaza possesses a strong rivalry with Deoxys, an extraterrestrial Pokémon that repeatedly invades its territory, with the two often clashing with each other in space. Rayquaza is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Dragon Ascent. It is also the only known Pokémon that can have Air Lock as an Ability.]
|Name: Rayquaza (Sky High Pokémon)
|Type: Dragon/Flying
|Level: 70
|Gender: Genderless
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Air Lock
|Nature: Serious
|Moves: Scary Face, Rest, Tailwind, Dragon Dance, Protect, Draco Meteor, Twister, Dragon Claw, Outrage, Air Slash, Dragon Pulse,Aerial Ace,Dragon Tail,Sky Drop, Giga Impact, Extreme Speed, Hyper Beam, Ancient Power, Crunch, Hyper Voice, Aqua Tail, Iron Tail, Blizzard, Water Pulse, Energy Ball, Hurricane (IM), Fly(IM) (15 Moves left to learn)
Not bad moves. Could use a bit of training, but first I must make it remember its long-lost move to be able to Mega Evolve… Dragon Ascent.
I released Rayquaza from the Master Ball. The shift in atmospheric pressure was immediate, the massive green dragon coalescing in a flash of white light, filling the summit once more.
*Pop*
He looked physically unbroken, but the fatigue of having fought us must be on par with the Legendary Groudon and Kyogre was visible in the slow coil of his movement. I reached into my bag and pulled out the Sacred Ash.
This was a gift few Trainers ever possessed, capable of restoring a Pokémon from complete physical exhaustion. I didn't hesitate; the world needed this dragon fully operational, and I needed its trust.
*Wooosh*
A shimmering ash, smelling of ancient incense and pure life energy, settled around Rayquaza. The Sky High Pokémon inhaled deeply, and I watched the subtle tightness around his eyes relax. The residual wounds, the last remnants of the chaotic rage Rayquaza had unleashed, dissolved. He regarded me then, his eyes narrowing, studying the Trainer who had somehow managed to best him in battle, aided by a miniature electric mouse, a nimble normal-type, and the Rainbow Phoenix.
I stated, pulling out a large, heavy parchment scroll—the TM for Dragon Ascent, "We have one more step, Partner."
This move was not something that could be taught through brute repetition; it required a deep understanding of atmospheric manipulation and the power of flight. Fortunately for me, I stole this from Zinnia.
I didn't need to explain the mechanics. As I unrolled the scroll, displaying the ancient script and swirling diagrams of celestial energy, Rayquaza leaned down, its immense head hovering just inches from my own.
Doing so, I got some notifications. I smiled reading them.
[You have used the TM Scroll on Rayquaza!]
[Rayquaza has relearned its Inherented Move Dragon Ascent!]
[Due to your strong bond and the move Dragon Ascent, Rayquaza can now Mega Evolve freely in battle!]
It absorbed the information not merely visually, but fundamentally, the essence of the move flowing straight into its core being. A low, resonant hum vibrated through the stone floor, making Pikachu's cheeks spark nervously.
Rayquaza's scales began to glow faintly, an inner storm brewing, regaining its true power again. I encouraged, stepping back, Pikachu jumping clear onto Eevee's back, "Show us Rayquaza. Dragon Ascent."
*Zooom*
The movement was instant and breathtaking. Rayquaza didn't just fly; he ascended. He shot straight up, the air around him shearing apart with a sound like tearing silk. He banked sharply, diving back down in a controlled, terrifying trajectory, cloaked in a brilliant green and gold aura... it was stunning.
*BOOM*
He leveled off just above the Sky Pillar, creating a sonic boom that echoed across the Hoenn sea, then soared upward again, executing a dizzying, perfect spiral that culminated in a blinding burst of speed toward the azure dome of the sky.
This was Dragon Ascent: raw, uninhibited power channeled into flight. As the echoes of the phenomenal display died down, a new sound punctuated the relative silence—the scuff of boots on stone, "WHAT! YOU'VE CAUGHT THE DRAGON LORD?!!"
I turned quickly, my hand instinctively reaching for the Key Stone set into my custom-made glove. A woman stood near the entrance to the summit, watching us.
It was Zinnia. She had been observing us, or perhaps she had been resting nearby, recovering from the initial chaos of the Legendary conflict. Her cloak was dusty, her gaze wide and unfocused.
She looked like a sleepwalker who had just stumbled out into a nightmare. She whispered, the syllable catching in her throat, "No…"
Her eyes weren't fixed on me, or Pikachu, or Eevee. They were locked onto Rayquaza, who was slowly descending now, settling back onto the Sky Pillar, satisfied with its new mastery of Dragon Ascent.
Zinnia's expression hardened, shifting rapidly from disbelief to a frantic, agonizing recognition. I saw a flicker of something ancient and terrible pass over her face—a memory flash back.
By god, that's a lot happening here in Hoenn lately. I knew enough of Hoenn lore to understand what I was witnessing: the shattering of a dream.
She took a shaky step forward, then another. I recall the way her body language shifted—from the warrior poised for battle to the child whose favorite toy had just been snatched away from her. This was supposed to be hers.
She breathed heavily, her voice barely audible over the rush of the high-altitude wind, "The stories. Aster… the prophecies… The Lorekeeper always guided the Dragon Lord. Prepared for this day."
She looked at me, really looked at me, and I saw a desperate plea fighting against years of ingrained pride and duty. Zinnia said, finally finding her voice, though it trembled with forced conviction, "You… you cannot have taken it."
She stepped fully into the light, casting a long, slender shadow toward Rayquaza. She addressed the giant Pokémon, ignoring me completely, "Dragon Lord! You must recognize me! I am Zinnia, the last of the Lorekeepers! I know the ancient secrets, the chants, the history of the Sky Pillar! This is my birthright, my duty! I am meant to be the savior of the world! Recognize me!"
Pikachu tensed, a low, warning growl escaping him. Eevee backed up slightly, sensing the sheer emotional volatility radiating off Zinnia.
Rayquaza merely tilted its massive head. It didn't roar in affirmation, nor did it hiss in rejection. It simply, fluidly, moved.
With a sound like the grinding of tectonic plates, the great dragon lifted its body and slid across the stone floor, bypassing Zinnia entirely. It stopped beside me, its head roughly level with my waist, a subtle, implicit gesture of allegiance.
The rejection was absolute, silent, and brutal. Zinnia froze mid-step, her outstretched hand dropping to her side.
The forced bravado collapsed instantly, revealing a core of utter devastation. For a moment, I felt pity for her—to have one's entire life built upon a singular prophecy, only to have a green, dragon god choose a stranger instead.
She looked at Rayquaza, then at me, then back at Rayquaza. The realization hit her like a Hyper Beam: I had been chosen. The regional savior was not the one raised in the shadow of the Pillar, but the one who had arrived from Kanto, bearing the endorsements of other Legendary Beings it knew.
Zinnia's face contorted, twisting the last remnants of her purpose into a razor-sharp challenge. Her hand went to a Poké Ball hooked onto her belt as she roared, "No. No! If you believe you are worthy of the Dragon Lord, then you must prove it to the Lorekeeper! You stole my destiny! You took Aster's legacy! I challenge you, Azure Sky! We battle for the right to stand beside Rayquaza! We battle for the title of Lorekeeper!"
My chest tightened. I knew desperation when I saw it.
This wasn't about winning; this was about forcing Rayquaza to reconsider, to see Zinnia's strength one last time. But I couldn't grant her that kindness.
Not after Pikachu, Eevee, and Ho-Oh fought so hard for my behalf, getting Rayquaza to recognize me. I shook my head firmly as I stated, bluntly refusing her request, "I won't fight you, Zinnia."
She flinched as if struck. She yelled back in frustration, "What? You coward! Refusing to take responsibility for usurping my role?"
My eyes narrowed at this girl. Unbelievable to think she can be chosen. I bluntly replied, eyeing her, "I am not fighting for a role, Zinnia. I am here to resolve a crisis and protect this planet. I don't want the title of Lorekeeper; I simply accepted the responsibility of saving Hoenn. And frankly…"
I gestured toward Rayquaza, who vibrated with silent loyalty beside me, "Rayquaza has already made his decision. Fighting you for a title that is already null and void would be meaningless, and disrespectful to the power I now command."
I looked directly into her furious, tear-filled expression. I replied, my voice cold and stern, "You need to understand, Rayquaza didn't choose me because of lineage or prophecy. He chose me because I proved myself capable in battle, and because I treated him as an equal, not just a tool of destiny."
I lowered my voice, feeling the magnitude of the moment added on, "This is a trust earned in fire. If you want proof of that trust, then I will show you."
I raised my arm, displaying the Key Stone in my glove. I had barely used the mechanism since arriving in Hoenn, saving its power for the highest-stakes moment. My bond with my partners was usually enough, but now, a demonstration was required.
I commanded calmly, my voice ringing out with confidence, "Rayquaza! Prove what we have achieved together. Mega Evolve!"
I pressed the Key Stone. The reaction was blinding.
*SHIII*
A torrent of multicolored primal energy burst forth from my glove, instantly connecting with the orb of light that appeared around Rayquaza's neck. The dragon roared, but it was not a roar of pain or struggle—it was one of pure, unrestrained power.
*THMBL*
The air thinned greatly. The great Sky High Pokémon began to change, fast and terrifyingly beautiful. Its jaw extended, revealing sharp obsidian points; energy flowed into the crystalline structures forming along its body; and the colossal, glowing wisps of its Mega form began to trail behind it.
*CRACK*
The light subsided, revealing Mega Rayquaza.
He was breathtaking. He was raw power made manifest, a being capable of shrugging off the meteor that threatened to destroy Hoenn or possibly the world.
Zinnia shielded her eyes, her jaw slack. She staggered back, stumbling over the rough stone. Her voice was a terrified gasp as she uttered, "Impossible! The legends! The ancient texts say the Lorekeeper must possess seven Key Stones—seven echoes of the primal link—to channel enough energy to fully Mega Evolve the Dragon Lord! You only have one! How... how is this possible?!"
I lowered my arm, gazing up at my newest partner. The feeling of the bond—the link that allowed me to synchronize with a Mega Evolved Legendary—was unlike anything I had ever experienced, even with my best Pokémon like Scizor, Gengar, or Dragonite.
It was deep, profound, and utterly based on mutual respect. I explained calmly, eyeing her with Rayquaza by my side, "The Lorekeepers of old needed seven Key Stones because they were trying to force the Mega Evolution through ritual and tradition, Zinnia. They were focusing on the mechanism, the physical requirement. But what if the mechanism is secondary? What if the true requirement is simply absolute, unquestioning trust?"
I looked at the Mega Dragon. A smile unfolded on my face as I continued, "Rayquaza and I just finished a battle where we faced each other at full strength, holding nothing back. We came out of that fight as equals, and now, we trust each other completely. That trust is the catalyst. That trust is stronger than seven pieces of jewelry."
Zinnia dropped the Poké Ball she was holding. It rolled harmlessly away.
Her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees, staring up at the incredible, terrifying form of Mega Rayquaza. The prophecy, her destiny, her vengeance for Aster—it all dissolved into dust before the undeniable, objective truth of what she was seeing.
*Pop*
From the crumpled Poké Ball at Zinnia's side, a large, dark figure emerged. It was Noivern, Zinnia's partner, the Pokémon she had inherited from her predecessor, Aster.
The large bat-like dragon turned its gaze toward Rayquaza, and an urgent, sorrowful series of clicks and sonar pulses filled the air. It wasn't a challenge; it was an appeal.
Using my Viridian Force, I can feel its sadness and understand its words. Noivern essentially asked the Dragon Lord, 'Why? Why not choose Zinnia? She carried Aster's memory. She carried her hope. Why reject her line?'
Rayquaza's Mega form shifted slightly, the glowing tendrils of energy rippling. Though I did not speak Draconic, the connection was so strong now that I could perceive the emotional weight and intellectual meaning of the Sky High Pokémon's response.
Rayquaza gazed down at Noivern, a flicker of profound recognition in its eyes. It recalled Aster, the previous Lorekeeper, the trainer who had honored and served it before her untimely demise at the hands of those she opposed—the Devon Corporation scientists who sought to weaponize and control Rayquaza.
The two dragons communicated in a language older than humanity. They spoke of bonds broken by fate, of duties unfulfilled, and the necessity of continuity.
Noivern lowered its head slowly, its vast wings drooping in defeat and sadness. Rayquaza's message was clear: It treasured its bonds with every Lorekeeper who had served it, and it would never forget Aster.
But Rayquaza was a long-lived Pokémon, a constant in the history of the planet since its birth. It must move on.
The danger was immediate; the prophecy was upon them, and the world needed a Trainer who was not burdened by the weight of the past, but ready to embrace the future. Rayquaza subtly projected its recent memories toward me, allowing me to fully grasp the depth of its choice.
It had chosen me not only for my battle prowess or my ability to restore its physical strength, but because a certain fire-winged Legendary Pokémon had spoken on my behalf. Ho-Oh had vouched for me, recognizing the enduring spirit of the Trainer who had journeyed to the pinnacle of mountains and overcome impossible odds.
Rayquaza had fought me—me, Pikachu, Eevee, and Ho-Oh, who battled with me against it—and when it lost, it recognized the Rainbow Hero. Its choice was sealed from that moment onward. I looked at Zinnia, still kneeling, looking impossibly small next to her defeated Pokémon. There was nothing more to say.
I had disrupted her life's purpose, but in exchange, I had gained the means to save everything. I returned Mega Rayquaza to its base form, letting the mighty serpent coil slightly so I could approach.
I told my partners, "It's time to go."
Pikachu leaped onto Rayquaza's head, a sign of instant familiarity. Eevee nimbly climbed after him, settling near the dragon's chin.
I placed my hand on Rayquaza's warm, powerful scales and climbed onto its back. It felt like mounting a living mountain range.
We rose slowly, silently, into the atmosphere. As we broke through the clouds, I looked back down at the Sky Pillar.
The summit was small now, a distant speck against the blue sea. I could just make out two figures standing there—Zinnia and Noivern. They were fleeting, fading figures, watching their entire world vanish into the distance.
I turned my face toward the Hoenn sun. The weight of the Master Ball, the power of Dragon Ascent, and the trust of the Dragon Lord settled heavily onto my shoulders.
The destiny was mine now. And it was time to move.
Grinning at this moment, I feel the wind brushing against my hair. I must wonder what the Pokémon Association of Hoenn would think about this?
Just learning that their years of capturing and controlling Rayquaza have all been thwarted. And to have someone else capture and command the Sky High Pokémon.
Heh. They would probably vomit blood.
But because I now own Rayquaza, they'll probably demand from me on the lines of wanting Rayquaza to research or possibly control it. Sadly for them, though, that won't be an option, and at the lightest they try something…
… I'll have them face a Mega Rayquaza attacking using Draco Meteor against the Hoenn Region. If they think they can kill me off… they'd better think again…
And besides that, now that Rayquaza is my Pokémon. Any enemies it has are my enemies now, but this requires some help dealing with the blows to Devon Corp, Mr. Stone, and the Chairman of the Hoenn Pokémon Association Branch.
Sigh… shaking my head, I had better things to worry about. What Pokémon should I use for the Tate and Liza Gym Battle?
/////
A/N: Reach the goal of 200 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!