Zygarde's power has a suppressive effect on Yveltal and Xerneas. This effect is similar to Rayquaza's dominance over Groudon and Kyogre.
Under the pressure of red-eyed Zygarde's aura, Xerneas trembled slightly.
But this effect didn't work on Mewtwo.
Caleb pulled out his Poké Balls. In a series of white flashes, all his Pokémon appeared before the stunned crowd.
Dragonite and Hydreigon flew over, lining up side by side to face Zygarde in the distance. Lucario, unable to fly, stayed back to protect Caleb.
On the ground, every battle halted. All eyes turned skyward.
The rain grew heavier, threatening to drown everything.
In the downpour, the two Mewtwos vanished from their positions and reappeared beside Zygarde. In the next instant, a tidal wave of psychic aura crashed down, engulfing Zygarde in an instant.
Caleb's eyes glowed green, indicating the use of the Viridian Power. He tried to awaken Zygarde, but the moment his consciousness entered the Order Pokémon's mind, he was met with a sea of chaotic red.
The red energy detected the intrusion and surged toward him like a tidal wave.
Violent, destructive thoughts flooded into Caleb's mind. Feeling his body begin to react with agitation, he quickly withdrew his Viridian Power.
'Since purification didn't work, then the only option was to defeat it head-on...' Caleb thought.
This wasn't Zygarde's complete form. Its 50% Forme had a base stat total of 600, which was lower than a single Mewtwo's. The Genetic Pokémon could suppress Zygarde head-on without even needing to Mega Evolve.
Caleb watched calmly as Zygarde was pinned down, then turned to Lysandre and said, "It seems like your plan is failing too."
Lysandre seethed, eyes wide with disbelief, "Damn it! Why?! Why do you have two Mewtwos?! Even though I managed to control Z, why am I still failing?!"
"Because Z isn't in its Complete Forme," Caleb said, looking up at Zygarde, "End it. Psystrike."
Both Mewtwos unleashed a devastating wave of psychic energy. As Psystrike hit, a deafening sonic boom erupted from the battlefield.
Lysandre stared blankly at the explosion in the sky, muttering, "Not the Complete Forme…"
Then, the shockwave hit him. He coughed up blood, flew backward over ten meters, and collapsed motionless in the rubble.
Zygarde also lost consciousness. Its massive form dissolved into shimmering green particles, leaving only a battered, glowing Core behind.
'It's over...' Caleb picked up the Core.
Confirming it was stable, he channeled his Viridian Power into it. Under the green glow, Zygarde's Core slowly opened its eyes and gave Caleb a look of deep gratitude.
Xerneas stepped forward said: >..Thank you, human..<
The unconscious Yveltal woke up at this moment. Although its nature wasn't as amiable as Xerneas's, it still gave Caleb a respectful nod.
With Lysandre defeated, the remaining Team Flare grunts were no threat. After witnessing that battle, they had lost their will to fight.
The Kalos region's Officer Jenny and her team arrived late, but quickly arrested the remaining grunts.
Xerneas and Yveltal carried Zygarde away.
Before vanishing, Zygarde cast one last meaningful glance at Caleb...
After seeing them off, Caleb turned toward the Elite Four of Kalos.
He didn't approach them, he simply gave a distant nod and used the Warp Beacon to leave.
Zapdos, his transport, left with him.
Wikstrom looked at this scene, somewhat baffled, "He just left like that?"
Siebold leaned against a wall with his arms crossed, looked up at the sky, and said, "He probably has something urgent left to do."
The crisis wasn't over yet.
"Hmm…" Drasna tapped her chin in thought, then asked, "What do you think, should we send the token of our gratitude to Kanto or to Sinnoh?"
...
Siebold was right; there was one last matter to resolve...
Worried about the situation with Groudon and Kyogre, Caleb didn't linger in the Kalos region and directly teleported to Slateport City in Hoenn.
Watching the waves crash against the shore, he turned to Zapdos and said, "Hey, Bird Bro, mind leading the way?"
Zapdos huffed proudly: >..Get on!..<
As a gesture of gratitude, it would carry him once more...
Caleb found this Zapdos oddly likable. He climbed onto its back and asked, "Do you know Articuno and Moltres?"
Zapdos replied: >..Of course I do. You want to meet them?..<
"Can I?" Caleb hadn't seen Moltres in person yet.
Zapdos thought about it and said: >..It's not impossible. I think they'd be happy to see you..<
"How do you know?" Caleb asked, amused.
Zapdos answered seriously: >..Because no Pokémon can resist the aura you carry..<
That aura of nature itself made those around him feel peaceful and safe. If it were anyone else, Zapdos wouldn't give them the time of day!
"Is it addictive?" Caleb hoped it wasn't like some kind of Pokémon catnip.
Zapdos scoffed: >..Of course not! We have excellent self-control..<
"Good to hear," Caleb sighed in relief.
With Giovanni and Lysandre defeated, only Archie and Maxie remained.
For the first time in days, Caleb could finally breathe.
He took the opportunity to ask Zapdos for some insider information regarding Legendaries, "Have you met Ho-Oh?"
>..No..<
"What about Entei, Suicune, Raikou?"
>..I've seen them..<
"How strong is Suicune? Do you think it could get captured by humans using a net?"
>..What kind of net could possibly hold us?..<
"I've seen a Suicune caught in one before," Caleb said skeptically.
Zapdos imagined it, then laughed mockingly: >..Then that Suicune was too dumb!..<
As they bantered, the ocean ahead began to change.
Caleb spotted a path of hardened magma stretching across the sea. It was likely Groudon's trail.
Zapdos called out: >..Ready? We're almost there!..<