Mossdeep—this place was best known for two things: its Space Center and its Psychic-type Gym. Among the many Gyms across the Hoenn region, Mossdeep's Psychic Gym had an especially high level of popularity.
The reason was simple—the Gym Leaders were a pair of cute twins, and that alone was enough to attract a massive fanbase.
Of course, in terms of sheer fame, even they couldn't surpass Wallace's Water-type Gym.
Wallace, the so-called Prince of Water, was beloved across the entire Hoenn region. His reputation and the sheer elegance of his battling style had made him wildly popular—almost to a ridiculous extent.
At least in Edward's opinion, it was a little absurd how high his popularity had soared. But truth be told, in many ways, Wallace really was the only person suited to be Hoenn's future Champion. His charisma was unmatched, and his strength was just as impressive.
However, this time Edward's visit to Mossdeep wasn't about sightseeing or battling Gyms. He was simply here to pick up his custom suit—and, incidentally, to head out with Rayquaza and save the world.
"Brother."
The moment he stepped off the plane, Edward spotted his older brother, Steven, waiting for him with a serious expression, standing silently in place. Edward wasn't particularly surprised. He had already guessed that his brother would be waiting here for him, so seeing him in person didn't come as a shock.
"Brother, what brings you here?" Edward asked with a grin. Steven didn't answer immediately—his face remained solemn. Edward's smile stiffened a bit at his brother's demeanor, and a trace of awkwardness passed between them.
Steven looked quietly at his younger brother, feeling a tangle of emotions well up inside him. He and Edward had always been close, but now all he could do was stand by and watch his brother go off on a dangerous mission—to save the Hoenn itself. It wasn't a pleasant feeling. His heart felt heavy, but there was nothing he could do to stop him.
"When you go up there, be careful," Steven said seriously. "Above all else, prioritize your own life. Understood?"
Edward nodded earnestly. "I know."
Though he believed nothing would go wrong—after all, Rayquaza was with him—he still appreciated his brother's concern. Unless something catastrophic like what happened with Cyrus occurred, there shouldn't be any problem.
He wouldn't brush off Steven's kindness. Seeing his little brother's composed attitude, Steven sighed and led Edward toward the city's Space Center. Though it sounded grand, in truth, it was more like an advanced research base than an actual launch site.
After all, no one could even think about launching rockets while Rayquaza's threat still loomed overhead. And even if they could, with the current level of technology, it would be an incredibly risky venture. Edward was well aware of this. Unless Game Freak decided to suddenly announce an "Outer Space Series" in the future, he figured these rockets weren't going anywhere anytime soon.
"Edward, sir—this is the spacesuit our research division has developed over the past few months. It should meet your requirements," said one of the enthusiastic staff members, presenting him with a thick, sturdy-looking spacesuit.
"Thank you."
Edward ran his fingers across the material—it seemed high quality. The only problem was that it hadn't been tested in actual space yet, so no one could guarantee its durability out there. Still, it was definitely better than trying to cross the vacuum of space unaided.
He tried it on—it fit perfectly, and the breathability wasn't bad either. He couldn't help but be impressed by how efficient the League had been in getting everything ready. After making a few inquiries, Edward also learned that the meteorite was now even closer to Hoenn. It had come so near that, at night, it could already be seen with the naked eye—no telescope needed.
"So, does the League have any backup plans?" Edward asked, peering at the meteorite through a telescope.
The staff exchanged confused looks. Steven, however, silently placed a hand on Edward's shoulder. He didn't need to say a word—Edward immediately understood what he meant.
So, the League did have a backup plan. It just wasn't something they intended to use unless absolutely necessary—perhaps because it carried a heavy cost, or because of certain risks. They were waiting for Edward. If he succeeded, all would be well. If not, then the League would make its move.
Of course, such a plan would definitely be classified information, known only to people like Steven. The rest of the staff had no idea. Edward scratched his head, oddly relieved—at least the pressure felt a bit lighter.
"When would be the best time for me to go up?" Edward asked later as he sat inside the base.
One of the scientists, adjusting his glasses, replied carefully, "It's not yet the optimal time. According to our calculations, it would be best to wait about another week. By then, the meteorite will be closer, and the risk for you will be lower."
Edward chuckled helplessly. "Alright, another week it is."
He had arrived early anyway—an extra week wouldn't hurt. He could spend the time training and preparing for anything unexpected.
"This schedule has been carefully calculated," Steven explained. "A week from now, the meteorite will be at the perfect position. And even if it breaks apart, the fragments will burn up in the atmosphere due to gravity."
Edward gave a wry smile. "I see." He didn't comment further.
The two brothers then left the base and went to Steven's house in Mossdeep—a large villa. Edward vaguely remembered that in the games, the protagonist obtained the King's Rock here. Of course, in this real world, such items didn't actually exist. Sometimes you could get similar effects in battle, but that was purely due to fighting spirit, not magic items.
There was no such thing as an item that made opponents flinch when struck. Well… unless you smeared your hands with something indescribably gross—then your opponent might be very eager to dodge.
"By the way, brother," Steven said one evening after training, "the reviews for your The Grudge 2 film are… interesting."
Edward shrugged casually. "Can't expect everyone to like it."
He couldn't control how people felt. Some would love it, some would hate it—and that was fine. Fortunately, the criticism hadn't affected its success much. The movie had already broken one billion at the box office, and at this rate, it might just pass two billion soon.
About seventy-five percent of the reviews were positive, while the rest were mixed or just outright bashing.
Steven chuckled, then frowned slightly. "Your Mimikyu seems… off lately."
Edward blinked, then nodded thoughtfully. He'd noticed it too—his Mimikyu had seemed unusually lethargic these days. Normally, Q would be all fired up at the sight of Steven, eager to challenge him to a battle. But now, it just curled up in Edward's arms and napped.
"I'm not sure," Edward admitted, scratching his head. "Maybe it's just tired?"
He looked closely at Mimikyu. Physically, it seemed fine—no visible injuries or ailments—just listless.
"Did you take it to the Pokémon Center?" Steven asked, concerned. He was an experienced trainer himself and could often spot small irregularities, but this time even he couldn't tell what was wrong.
Edward nodded. "Yeah, I took it in for a checkup recently. Everything came back normal. The nurse said it might just be a mental issue—stress or fatigue."
Following Nurse Joy's advice, Edward tried various ways to help Mimikyu relax. Other than that, he spent the rest of his time training—refining his skills and preparing for any emergency.
And finally, the long-awaited day came. The day he would fly into space.
"Take care, brother."
Steven gripped Edward's shoulder firmly. Edward nodded, smiling faintly. Their father, Joseph, wasn't here—they had chosen not to tell him. If he knew, he would have been worried sick.
It was better to wait until everything was over; once Edward returned safely, it would only ease his father's lingering guilt.
Even though Zinnia would likely never forgive their family, helping avert the meteorite crisis would at least bring some comfort.
Edward straightened his clothes, then lifted the meteorite shard in his hand high above his head. In that instant, a streak of green light flashed across the night sky. Rayquaza descended silently, its golden eyes gleaming as it gazed down at him, excitement flickering within them.
The League staff nearby froze in awe—and fear. After all, this was Rayquaza, the legendary sky dragon that reigned supreme over Hoenn's skies. Even Steven's heart raced. His younger brother already had Groudon, and now he had Rayquaza as well.
Even if these legendary Pokémon didn't completely obey Edward, just having them by his side made him a figure impossible to ignore. Steven suddenly felt a headache coming on. With Devon Corporation's vast resources and his brother's growing power, it was a good thing the League was strong—otherwise, Edward might've been unstoppable.
Edward, unaware of his brother's worries, climbed onto Rayquaza's back. With a thunderous burst of energy, Rayquaza soared upward, slicing through the clouds and hurtling toward space.
Edward felt his chest burning, his heartbeat quickening. He immediately understood what was happening—Mega Evolution.
Normally, a Pokémon's Mega Evolution put strain on its Trainer's body, but for a Legendary like Rayquaza, the energy output was on another level entirely. If Edward hadn't spent months training his physical endurance, he probably wouldn't have been able to breathe right now.
"The universe… is so beautiful," Edward murmured.
He turned and looked back. Below him was the planet—blue and shimmering, not so different from his previous world's Earth, except with more ocean and fewer continents, scattered like islands across the surface.
But there was no time to admire it. His heart suddenly raced again—Rayquaza was transforming. With a brilliant flash, Rayquaza underwent Mega Evolution.
"So that's the meteorite…" Edward muttered, his gaze locking onto the massive glowing object ahead. He steadied his breath, suppressing the strain on his chest, and patted Rayquaza's scales.
"Let's finish this."
Rayquaza's entire body shone with divine light.
"ROOOAAAR!!!"
Though sound could not travel through the vacuum of space, Edward could feel the cry in his bones. The dragon's scales turned golden—the ultimate move, Dragon Ascent!
With unimaginable speed, Rayquaza charged straight toward the meteorite.
Down below, Steven waited anxiously at the launch center. Moments later, countless streaks of light rained across the sky—meteor fragments burning as they fell. He froze for a second, then exhaled deeply.
"Edward… he did it."
All that was left now was for his brother to come back.
"…My goal, in the end…"
Far away, at Sky Pillar, Zinnia stood beneath the night sky, staring blankly at the meteor shower above. Her heart felt strangely lost and hollow.
(End of Chapter)