"The power of a legend is never something one can obtain easily. If you do not possess enough willpower, strength, and capacity to bear the weight of a legend, then in the end, you will simply be crushed beneath that overwhelming burden."
Lucas spoke with a faint smile that seemed caught between mockery and sarcasm. Did they really believe that legendary Pokémon could be controlled by relying merely on trinkets and artifacts? That kind of thinking was true foolishness.
Even if, by some chance, they managed to control such a being temporarily, it would only last for a brief moment. Inevitably, the legend itself would strike back and consume them whole.
The only person who had ever forcibly subdued a legend and managed to walk away unscathed was Pryce…
But Pryce was an absolute anomaly, a living bug in the system. He hadn't relied on schemes or mystical artifacts to control his legendary Pokémon. Instead, he had faced them head-on, crushed them with the overwhelming might of his own main Pokémon, and then subdued them afterward.
That was why even Ho-Oh and Lugia, after breaking free from Pryce's control, had never dared to pursue vengeance against him. Because deep down, they knew clearly that Pryce was not someone they could afford to provoke.
------
"...What you say does seem to make sense."
Steven's eyes flickered with uncertainty. While he could more or less understand the meaning behind Lucas's words, it was still impossible for him to simply stand by and watch Team Magma and Team Aqua walk away with the two orbs.
Preventing disaster before it happened was his duty. True, Archie and Maxie did not seem very strong in Lucas's eyes, and Steven himself was not blind to their shortcomings. But what if? What if the worst came to pass?
Lucas might not care in the slightest, but Steven could not simply gamble the fate of the entire region. He had to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
At this point, Steven had seen enough to realize something: Lucas had absolutely no interest in dealing with Maxie and Archie. To Lucas, those two were nothing but insignificant clowns, not even worthy of consideration.
"However… that orb…"
Lucas's gaze lingered on the blue-colored orb in the old man's hands, his eyes flickering thoughtfully. After a moment, he finally lifted a Poké Ball from his belt and tossed it forward.
"Gardevoir!"
With a burst of radiant white light, the elegant and graceful figure of Gardevoir emerged, standing gracefully at Lucas's side.
"He's finally making a move."
Steven's pupils shrank slightly as he caught the motion from the corner of his eye, carefully observing the Gardevoir that had just appeared. He was no stranger to this species of Pokémon—after all, Hoenn itself was home to Ralts, Kirlia, and Gardevoir.
But even so, the aura surrounding Lucas's Gardevoir was far from ordinary. This was no common Gardevoir.
"Psychic!"
Gardevoir, perfectly in tune with Lucas's intent, raised her slender arms gracefully, her deep-blue eyes flashing with a brilliant glow.
Instantly, the blue orb clutched tightly in the old man's hands was wrapped in shimmering azure light. It tore free from his grasp as if it had a will of its own and shot across the air, racing toward Lucas at great speed.
"Damn it!"
Archie's face twisted the moment he realized what was happening. How could he not understand? That boy intended to steal the orb that he had long coveted!
Without the slightest hesitation, Archie barked orders. He and his subordinates immediately turned their focus on Lucas, launching a barrage of attacks in unison.
Bubblebeam, Hydro Pump, Water Pulse, and countless other water-type techniques surged forth like a torrential wave, all aiming directly at Gardevoir.
"Pathetic fools."
Lucas sneered.
Gardevoir cast a sidelong glance at the incoming onslaught, then raised her arm delicately. In an instant, a shimmering, multi-colored barrier of psychic energy burst outward.
Psychic!
The storm of attacks was crushed effortlessly, shattered like fragile glass before the overwhelming tide of Gardevoir's psychic might. The energy didn't stop there—it surged onward, crashing toward Team Aqua like a tidal wave of mental force.
Archie's pupils shrank to pinpoints, and he immediately dove out of the way with the aid of his Pokémon.
----------
"Such incredible power… What Zinnia said was true."
Courtney's eyes widened with shock, her voice trembling. Among that barrage of moves had been attacks from Archie's very own ace Pokémon.
And yet, against Gardevoir's psychic might, those attacks had been utterly insignificant, annihilated without resistance.
There was only one explanation: Lucas's Gardevoir was operating on an entirely different level from the Pokémon of Team Aqua.
Even Maxie's eyes flashed behind his glasses. This man was far too strong. If he chose to ally with Steven…
No, this place was far too dangerous to remain any longer.
His decision was swift—retreat was the only option. After all, they had already secured the crimson orb.
-------
"Boss, you must retreat with the orb first."
Zinnia's thoughts aligned with Maxie's immediately. She quickly rushed to his side, solemnly pressing the crimson orb into his hands.
At the same time, she cast a wary glance at Lucas.
"Understood. You've done well, Zinnia." Maxie's expression grew grim, pocketing the crimson orb without hesitation.
"You won't be allowed to leave with it! Hand over the orb!"
Steven caught sight of their movements instantly and leapt forward to intercept.
"Skarmory!"
Skarmory let out a piercing shriek as its steel wings gleamed with white light, preparing to strike down Maxie's group.
But before it could reach them, a beam of dragon energy burst across the battlefield—Altaria's Dragon Pulse forced Skarmory to veer away.
"Young lady… do you even understand what you're doing? If you allow Maxie to awaken Groudon, it will bring nothing but devastation!"
Steven's voice was laced with anger as he addressed Zinnia, who had remained behind to hold him back.
He didn't recognize her. If Team Magma had always possessed such a powerful trainer, there was no reason the Hoenn League would not have caught wind of it.
That could only mean one thing: Zinnia had joined Team Magma recently.
"Of course I understand. But this—this is the only correct way to fight against a calamity."
Zinnia's delicate features hardened, her expression resolute. She did not feel she was wrong in the slightest.
She knew full well that the awakening of Groudon and Kyogre would unleash chaos and devastation upon the land. But for her, that destruction was a necessary cost.
She had left Meteor Falls bearing a sacred mission. As one of the Draconid People, she carried a responsibility that could not be ignored—she must find Rayquaza!
"If that is your answer… then you leave me no choice."
Steven's expression darkened completely. With Zinnia blocking his way, he had no option but to break through her resistance if he wanted to stop Maxie.
It might already be too late, but it didn't matter. If he could capture Zinnia, the Hoenn League could then mobilize fully to hunt down Maxie's whereabouts.
"I must admit—you are strong. But you have chosen the wrong path. Forgive me."
Steven's voice was solemn. He could sense it clearly—Zinnia's strength was immense, on par with Wallace himself.
But still… it would not be enough to defeat him. Steven was confident he could bring her down, given time.
"I carry a mission of my own. If you stand in my way, then I will show no mercy to anyone!"
Zinnia's voice was unwavering as her gaze sharpened.
Her feelings toward Steven were complicated.
After all, her elder sister, Aster, had perished indirectly because of Devon Corporation.
Years ago, the great families and conglomerates of each region had conspired together to enact the so-called "Rayquaza Capture Project."
Aster, the previous heir of the Draconid People, had been blessed with unique powers. She had found Rayquaza, befriended it, and—with the aid of her Keystone and many Mega Stones—succeeded in bringing about its Mega Evolution.
But human greed knew no bounds. The great families, driven by their insatiable desires, set their sights on Rayquaza, which had accepted Aster.
In the end, Rayquaza destroyed those who sought to enslave it. But Aster, caught in the storm, lost her life.
And among those conspirators had been none other than Steven's father, Joseph Stone of Devon Corporation.
To this day, Zinnia's heart carried a quiet, burning hatred for Devon.
--------------
"Salamence!"
Without dwelling further on the past, Zinnia shouted toward her blood-winged dragon.
The Mega Bracelet fastened to her leg glowed brilliantly, shining with overwhelming light.
Her sister's duty had become her own. She would succeed where Aster had fallen. She would find Rayquaza—even if it meant sacrificing everything.
A violent, ear-splitting dragon's roar tore through the battlefield as Salamence's entire body erupted with radiant light.
"That glow… evolution? Impossible!"
Green gasped in shock, and Marnie's eyes widened in disbelief as well.
The light was unmistakably similar to the glow of evolution. But how? Salamence was already at its final evolutionary stage!
"Mega Evolution… So, you're indeed one of the Draconid People…"
Even Lucas, who had been quietly examining the blue orb, lifted his eyes toward the sky, narrowing them as he watched Salamence ascend in dazzling brilliance.
Yes—the Draconid People had indeed mastered the art of Mega Evolution long ago.
Years ago, Aster had guided Rayquaza itself into Mega Evolution with the aid of her Mega Bracelet and the vast power of countless Mega Stones.
Rayquaza's unique physiology allowed it to evolve without a stone once it had learned the technique of Dragon Ascent. But not every Rayquaza knew that move.
For those that didn't, like the one seen in the Deoxys movie—powerful, yes, but flawed—they required external aid to trigger Mega Evolution.
That was where the Mega Bracelet came in. It was essentially a differently styled Keystone, allowing Zinnia to push her Salamence into its ultimate form.
"Looks like Mega Evolution is about to spread publicly now. Should I begin selling the stones myself?"
Lucas arched an eyebrow in amusement. With Zinnia displaying Mega Evolution openly before so many witnesses, the secret could no longer be contained.
Of course, Lucas had already used his foreknowledge to stockpile a large number of Mega Stones and Keystones over the years.
Once the phenomenon went public, those stones would become the hottest commodities imaginable, worth fortunes and impossible to find. He could easily make a fortune reselling them.
"...No, perhaps it's better to wait and see."
He quickly dismissed the thought. For now, Mega Stones were still priceless and too rare to squander.
-----------
In the sky above, Salamence completed its transformation.
Its head, neck, and body had grown more slender, yet its overall frame had become larger and more imposing. And above all, those crescent-shaped blood-red wings shimmered with terrifying majesty.
"Salamence… it really can evolve even further?!"
Even Steven was stunned, staring in disbelief at the fearsome form of Mega Salamence.
He had seen much in his travels, but never—not once—had he heard that Salamence had another form beyond its final evolution.
His worldview threatened to shatter then and there.
And what was worse… he could sense it. This new form carried a power vastly beyond its former self.
"The blue orb…"
Having succeeded in Mega Evolving her Salamence, Zinnia did not immediately launch an attack. Instead, her sharp eyes turned toward Lucas.
The blue orb was already in his possession. Team Aqua had no chance of reclaiming it.
"…This is troublesome."
Her brows furrowed slightly. If she wanted her plan to succeed, then somehow, she would need to wrest the indigo orb away from him.
(End of Chapter)
AN: (Here, Mega Rayquaza's lore has been slightly adjusted: those who do not know Dragon Ascent require external aid to Mega Evolve, while those who do—like in the movie—can evolve freely. As for Mega Evolution itself, according to available sources, the Draconid People had mastered it long before it became widespread. In this story, their history with Aster and Rayquaza has been adapted slightly.)