"This person, I will be taking her with me. You should have already notified the members of the League, haven't you?"
Lucas's eyes fell calmly upon Zinnia, who at this moment was unusually quiet and subdued. He spoke these words lightly toward Steven, who stood nearby.
As for Zinnia's Salamence, it had already been forced to withdraw from its state of mega-evolution. Its strength had been drained, its spirit exhausted, and now the dragon lay collapsed weakly upon the ground.
At the same time, all of the Poké Balls belonging to Zinnia had already been taken away by Lucas; he had thoroughly searched her and seized them.
Yes, Zinnia had already been captured by Lucas.
While speaking, Lucas casually used one of her own Poké Balls to return the weakened Salamence back inside.
"…I believe that perhaps handing this individual over directly to the League might be more appropriate."
Steven frowned as he spoke, his sharp eyes sweeping briefly over Zinnia, then flicking toward Lucas's Gardevoir standing faithfully at his side, and toward the strange, shiny Dragonair hovering high above in the skies. After hesitating for a moment, he voiced his thought.
He already knew full well how terrifying Lucas's power was. But now, having just witnessed with his very own eyes the way Gardevoir had taken control, and then how Dragonair had so effortlessly subdued Zinnia's Salamence and even forced it to cancel its mega evolution in only a few moves… Steven's understanding of Lucas's strength was refreshed once more.
And that was still without Lucas's Reshiram even being summoned! The potential force hidden behind this man was beyond comprehension.
"No, no, no. This one is my spoils of war."
Lucas's voice carried a faint laugh, but his tone was unyielding.
He was certainly no kindhearted or virtuous trainer. Someone he himself had captured—why should he hand her over to the League without reason?
"…Fine. I have already contacted Wallace earlier. He should be bringing people on the way even now."
Steven finally nodded slightly after hearing this, speaking in a low tone. He had noticed that Lucas seemed to show an unusual interest toward Zinnia.
Although Steven knew clearly that allowing such a dangerous man to get close to such a dangerous woman could hardly lead to any good outcome…
But he could only admit the truth to himself: he had absolutely no way to seize Zinnia back from Lucas's hands.
Moreover, he did not wish for the Hoenn League to clash with Lucas unprepared. Such a confrontation would bring nothing but devastating losses to the League.
"Since the League will come to clean up the aftermath anyway, I'll be leaving with her first."
Lucas returned Gardevoir into its Poké Ball, then tossed out his Galarian Moltres. The crimson-black fiery bird spread its vast wings, the air around it distorting from its ominous flames.
Clearly, he was prepared to depart from Mt. Pyre immediately.
As for Steven, of course he had to remain here to calm the two elder guardians of the mountain, and also to oversee the capture of the many members of Team Magma and Team Aqua who had been detained below.
Soon afterward, riding upon Dragonair and the Galarian Moltres, Lucas and his three companions—Zinnia included—took flight, heading swiftly toward the direction of Lilycove City.
"What on earth are you truly trying to do?"
Steven tilted his head upward, watching the figures of Dragonair and Moltres vanish into the distance of the horizon. His lips murmured softly in doubt.
He truly could not guess what purpose Lucas had in coming to Hoenn. Was it really for Kyogre and Groudon?
But then why, just now, had he not intervened to stop Zinnia from seizing the Red Orb?
With Lucas's strength, Steven was nearly certain that he could have stopped Maxie from escaping. Yet he chose not to.
And then there was the Blue Orb…
Now that Blue Orb had already fallen into Lucas's hands. This was absolutely not good news.
"…Hopefully, you truly are only here for travel and sightseeing."
With thoughts turning again and again in his mind, Steven let out a long exhale, whispering the words quietly to himself.
At the very least, in all their interactions so far, Lucas had not displayed any overtly destructive intent or clear dangerous ambition.
But it was beyond doubt that Lucas was very, very interested in the legendary Pokémon of Hoenn. And that—above all else—was what Steven feared the most.
----------------
Lilycove, a celebrated as the place where the land comes to an end, and the sea begins.
This city was Hoenn's greatest port, a city that thrived upon the waves. On the map, Lilycove stood at the far eastern edge of the land. It was one of the largest urban centers of the region; indeed, only Mauville City could rival it in scale and prosperity.
It was to Lilycove that Lucas and his companions soon arrived.
For of course, from Mt. Pyre, Lilycove City was the nearest major city. Lucas would never choose to travel farther than necessary.
After finding a restaurant, he booked a private room.
"I thought you would resist more. Never imagined you'd be this obedient."
Once Green and Marnie had finished ordering food, Lucas lit himself a cigarette and turned his gaze upon Zinnia, who had remained completely silent since they arrived. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he spoke.
At the same time, he tossed her Poké Balls back onto the table.
Indeed, he was returning them to her.
Zinnia's character was interesting. Though she had appeared in the anime only faintly, in the games and in the special manga adaptation of the Hoenn arc, she was no small figure.
In the games, Zinnia was a Draconid, her face often wearing a fearless smile. In the end, after testing the protagonist, she had passed on the title of successor to them.
In the special manga, however, she was portrayed as a desperate antagonist, one who would stop at nothing to claim Rayquaza.
Of course, the background there was different. In that telling, her elder sister, had been murdered by powerful corporate families allied with Devon Corporation, who had been scheming to control Rayquaza.
Thus, Zinnia bore hatred in her heart. Her path in that story aligned far more with that of an extremist villain.
Furthermore, in that version, she was not even the true successor officially recognized by the Draconid elders she had self-declared herself as such.
In the end, when she finally confronted Rayquaza, she was not acknowledged. Instead, she was struck down grievously by Rayquaza itself, and only then did she awaken to reality.
"…Who exactly are you?"
Zinnia said at last, her voice cool and serious. After receiving back her Poké Balls, she raised her head to look straight at Lucas and asked the question.
She truly had no idea what his purpose was in capturing her, nor even who this man really was.
She had been away from Meteor Falls for some time already, and yet she had never heard a single rumor of Lucas within Hoenn.
"The world is vast. Hoenn, after all, is but a single piece in the great mosaic of it."
Lucas chuckled lightly, replying in a deliberately evasive manner.
"…I see."
Though his words were somewhat off-topic, Zinnia still understood.
So, Lucas was not a native of Hoenn.
"My name is Lucas Blackthorn. I am a member of the Blackthorn clan from the Johto region. The Blackthorn are a family of Dragon Masters, a lineage devoted to the Dragon type. In this way, you might say, we bear quite a resemblance to your own Draconid people."
Lucas inhaled smoke, then tapped rhythmically upon the tabletop with his free hand. His gaze fixed upon Zinnia, who frowned faintly as she listened.
"…You know about the Draconids?"
Zinnia's eyes widened in surprise. Their people, the Meteor Falls-dwelling Draconids, almost never stepped into the outside world. They lived reclusively within Meteor Falls, in the hidden Draconid village. Outsiders had almost no information about them.
If not for the ancient prophecy of a falling meteor, Zinnia herself would never have left Meteor Falls to search for Rayquaza.
As for this "Blackthorn clan"… she had never even heard of them.
After all, the Blackthorn clan was secluded as well, and their influence was mostly within Indigo. Hoenn was far away, and Zinnia herself had little interest in worldly affairs.
Besides, even the Blackthorn's long lineage could not compare to the antiquity of the Draconids.
For the Draconids were truly an ancient clan, with a history reaching back not hundreds, but thousands of years. They were not only ancient, but directly bound to the legend of Rayquaza itself.
The Sky Pillar itself had been built by the Draconids, out of faith and reverence for Rayquaza. The towering monument had become a place where Rayquaza itself sometimes descended to rest.
Of course, a lineage's association with legendaries did not necessarily mean they were always mighty.
For instance, in Johto, the Ecruteak City kimono girls—the five sisters—were likewise descendants of an old clan. Their traditional dance, passed down for generations, was bound to Lugia and Ho-oh.
In the original story, the Bell Tower and the Brass Tower had each once been the dwelling place of those two legends. When one possessed the Clear Bell or the Tidal Bell, and the five sisters danced the sacred dance together, Lugia or Ho-oh could be summoned to descend.
Would anyone truly believe that their ancestry had no link to the two divine birds?
Ecruteak, after all, was a city steeped in history. Once, Ho-oh had dwelled upon the Bell Tower, and Lugia within the Brass Tower later burned to ruin. Only later, due to various misfortunes, did both legendaries abandon Ecruteak.
"…The Draconids…"
Green and Marnie exchanged glances, surprise evident on their faces.
They had never heard the name before, but from the sound of it, the clan must have been extraordinary.
"Yes. Personally, I have long been fascinated by the histories and hidden legends of other regions. So naturally, I have made an effort to learn and understand them."
Lucas's faint smile, his calm composure, his collected air—together, he exuded an aura of absolute confidence.
The Draconids? For him to know of them—was that really so strange?
Zinnia fell silent.
"So then, tell me why has your reclusive clan chosen to emerge now? And more than that, why have you aligned yourself with Team Magma? Can you share your reasons with me?"
Lucas's voice was smooth, his smile unchanging.
"I have no reason to tell you. Even if you were to know, it would not be something you could change."
Zinnia's head shook slowly, her tone calm and composed. She did not wish to reveal the secrets of her people.
Though her clan did not meddle in worldly affairs, they were not foolish. Among the elders of her clan were some gifted with the power of prophecy. And what was prophecy?
It was the ability to foresee that which was yet to come.
Such a gift could bring endless turmoil to the hearts of men. Were it known by outsiders, the Draconids would never again know peace.
"One more ally is one more strength. Personally, I hold a favorable impression of your people. After all, we are both dragon clans."
Lucas shrugged, his smile easy.
"I am curious about you, yes but I harbor no hostility. Surely, you can sense that much already."
At this, Zinnia's brow furrowed faintly, imperceptibly.
Yes. She had sensed it as well. Lucas bore no malice toward her. If he had, back on Mt. Pyre, he could have struck her down immediately from the very beginning.
"…Would you help me?"
After long hesitation, Zinnia finally raised her eyes again, asking the question directly.
She was beginning to feel the burden weigh heavily upon her. Especially after what had just transpired atop Mt. Pyre.
Team Magma and Team Aqua were utterly useless. She herself might be strong, but she could not forever shield these two incompetent groups from the League's pursuit.
Was she truly meant to be their caretaker?
Yet, though tempted, Zinnia still could not bring herself to fully trust Lucas. He was simply too mysterious, too powerful. Her heart could not be completely at ease.
"Of course. But not without terms. I can help you but when the time comes, when I have need of you, then you must also help me in return."
"We are all adults here. Surely, you understand the meaning of cooperation and transaction, do you not?"
Lucas extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray, the corners of his lips curling into a deeper smile as he looked straight into her eyes.
Yes sometimes, instead of hiding one's intentions, it was far more effective to state them plainly. By laying everything bare, one could dispel a portion of the other's suspicion.
"If I am not mistaken… this is what you seek, isn't it?"
From his coat, Lucas drew forth the Blue Orb. Even here within the dim-lit private room, the orb shone with its soft cerulean glow, mysterious and entrancing.
Zinnia's eyes instantly fixed upon it. And in that moment, it was unmistakable the desire that flickered within the gaze of this so-called successor of the Draconids.
(End of Chapter)