Seeing Steven suddenly faint, the others were startled.
Leon hurriedly steadied Steven, only to find Steven's face extremely pale.
"Steven!"
Wallace's face twisted as he started to rush toward Steven, but his hands and feet were tied, so he couldn't stand at all.
Caitlin, seeing Leon and the others rushing over, eyes glittering faintly, picked up her phone and looked.
Sure enough, Damian had already messaged her.
Then Caitlin had Alakazam control Wallace's float, ignoring his screams, and hurled him toward Nemona's Baxcalibur.
"Altaria!"
Nemona immediately had her Mega Altaria rush over to catch Wallace.
"That's so hot!"
Leon reached out to touch Steven's forehead in alarm; Steven's forehead was scorching hot.
"We need to get him to hospital now," Giovanni said in a deep voice.
"Head to Lilycove City."
Cynthia glanced at the others; Caitlin had quietly stepped back in front of Archie and Gladion, clearly having received the message as well.
Cynthia's expression was complicated; at this moment she clearly felt a chasm had opened between her and Caitlin that was almost insurmountable.
...
Sky Pillar.
A thousand years ago, Rayquaza descended to stop the war between Groudon and Kyogre and once again saved the Hoenn Region.
So the Draconid people built Sky Pillar to worship Rayquaza for resting.
Strictly speaking, Sky Pillar is Rayquaza's dwelling.
Today, this tower—sealed for who knows how long—reopens again.
Zinnia descends from Mega Salamence, walking slowly into Sky Pillar, climbing step by step.
Sky Pillar has stood for a thousand years; the tower shows age‑old traces from long neglect.
But Zinnia pays no mind.
She ascends, observing the murals bearing "history," and finally reaches the top of the tower.
The summit is a spacious altar; Zinnia steps to the front, lifts her head to the sky that seems within reach.
A grim smile has vanished from Zinnia's face; she glances at Whismur at her feet—this Whismur is her most important Pokémon.
Its name is Aster. (Whismur by Zinnia shares the same name with Aster.)
"From now on, you stay right here, don't worry, I will succeed."
Zinnia crouches down and gently strokes Whismur's small head; her voice is soft.
Whismur chirps anxiously but obeys, slowly stepping back.
"Next…"
Zinnia pulls a stack of Key Stones from her pocket, placing them on the ground.
Then Zinnia rises slowly, takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and begins to pray with devotion.
The Lorekeeper of the Draconid people masters the ritual to summon Rayquaza, aiming to imitate the Draconid rituals from a thousand years ago.
A thousand years ago, the Draconid people prayed to the Grand Meteor Delta, causing Rayquaza to descend again.
A thousand years later, the Lorekeeper begins the prayer again.
This ancient rite is always shrouded in mystery, like a ritual dance inherited by the Johto region's dancers.
When the prayer ends, Zinnia opens her eyes and raises her arms high.
"Rayquaza!!"
A sky‑piercing blaze of green motes rain down, landing on the large pile of Key Stones.
A strong wind blows, flapping Zinnia's cloak.
Zinnia raises her right arm to shield her face, but the eyes that show are filled with elation.
Because she sees it!!
In the sea of green motes, the silhouette of a gigantic creature is faintly visible; her prayer has succeeded!
The dense green motes fade, and a Rayquaza falls from the sky above, its imperious dragon eyes gazing down at Zinnia.
"Rayquaza!!"
Zinnia looks at the Rayquaza in excitement—she really did it!
She summoned Rayquaza, and if she can cause Rayquaza to Mega Evolve, she can resolve the Draconid prophecy crisis.
In other words, she has completed Aster's long‑cherished wish!
In reality, Rayquaza's gaze toward Zinnia is not entirely friendly, but rather questioning.
It senses that Lorekeeper's prayer summoned it, but that doesn't mean it will necessarily accept.
In the words of its father, it is a mighty Rayquaza line creature!
Yes, it is the Shiny Rayquaza that helped in LaRousse City.
But when Rayquaza surveys Zinnia's foot location, its dragon eyes tighten.
That familiar Mega Anklet again—Rayquaza recalls the incident; that girl wore such anklets.
"Who are you to Aster and me?"
A heavy Telepathy echoes in Zinnia's ear.
Zinnia's face changes slightly.
"Aster… is my sister."
The black‑haired Lorekeeper bites her lip and whispers.
"She is… Rayquaza remains silent, gazing at the Mega Anklet with complex meaning."
Rayquaza had thought of revenge for Aster after her death, but Rayquaza is not Groudon or Kyogre; Rayquaza is prideful and would not attack humans.
Besides, that Embedding Tower battle had shown that humans are not completely powerless.
It doesn't want its father to act, because this is Rayquaza's own matter, so it has been waiting for a new Lorekeeper too.
"Aster has always accompanied me! I will fulfill her wish too!"
Zinnia reveals a fearless iconic smile, declaring boldly.
"I will also get revenge for her!!"
Hearing the Lorekeeper's declaration and the conviction in her voice, Rayquaza is taken aback, then its eyes soften considerably.
In truth, Rayquaza did not initially like Zinnia; you could tell Zinnia's heart was not pure.
Zinnia's will to break the Meteorite prophecy for Hoenn is firm, but the will behind it is not solely to protect Hoenn or the humans and Pokémon living there.
It is because this is the mission of the Lorekeeper, the last hope of the Draconid people.
And destroying the Meteorite to save Hoenn is also Aster's wish.
Therefore Zinnia wants to fulfill this vision.
Rayquaza's first impression of Zinnia is not good.
A person who lives to fulfill the wishes of others, and who is proud, Rayquaza isn't fond of such a person.
"Then come, Lorekeeper."
Rayquaza Telepathy is still low and distant, though it has some hope for Zinnia after her words, it's not enough.
One more thing!
"Yes!"
Zinnia's face becomes serious, she looks up at Rayquaza.
What matters most now is for Rayquaza to Mega Evolve.
But Zinnia believes she will succeed!
She uses the Mega Anklet that Aster used, and the Key Stones she has collected are more numerous than those Aster used.
For this moment, she has prepared for a long time; she has a reason she cannot fail!
Zinnia takes a deep breath; the Mega Anklet on her leg and the many Key Stones on the ground begin to shimmer faintly.
At the same time, Rayquaza glows with a pale green radiance.
Will it succeed?
Zinnia looks at Rayquaza with great anticipation, but…
One second, two seconds, three seconds…
Rayquaza's green motes of light continue to shimmer, but the Mega Anklet and Key Stone fade slowly.
Zinnia's face drains of color.
This is… a failure?!!
"Why…?"
Zinnia stares blankly at the pile of Key Stones, utterly unable to believe it, and in a panic.
Is it the Key Stones' problem?
Zinnia tries to check the Key Stones, but her legs go weak and she collapses to the floor, knees scraped on the cold ground.
She trembles, unable to support herself.
"Why… why…?
Her head aches like needles; the history and legacy of the tribe, Aster's death, the Meteorite catastrophe—she bears all that, yet she fails.
The world grows dim, and the eyes of the Lorekeeper begin to lose their light.
Rayquaza sighs heavily as it looks at Zinnia lying on the ground.
It cannot Dragon Ascent, so it must rely on external help to Mega Evolve.
But when it comes to a human partner, it cannot avoid this delicate relationship of recognition.
If the two could work together, perhaps Rayquaza would accept the bond.
But Rayquaza's impression of Zinnia is not good, even if it has warmed somewhat.
That still leads to Mega Evolution failing.
"Lorekeeper, pull yourself together."
Rayquaza's voice, though softened, remains firm; this Lorekeeper is Aster's younger sister.
But Rayquaza's Telepathy continues.
"Ooo～"
A low, dulcet wail sounds from the sky.
What is that sound?!
Rayquaza's eyes sharpen, its body tensing, turning toward the source of the sound.
In the distance, a giant gold‑blue Pokémon spreads its wings and flies in.
It is Primal Kyogre!
Rayquaza's dragon eyes harden; what is Kyogre doing here?
Rayquaza is nervous—it cannot Mega Evolve now, it is not Kyogre's equal.
Besides, last time Kyogre beat its father!
Kyogre glides toward Sky Pillar, landing above Rayquaza and glancing coldly at it.
Rayquaza stiffens.
But Primal Kyogre does not threaten Rayquaza's ideology; after all, it's in a good mood since filling Groudon's belly.
Noting Rayquaza's urgency, Kyogre is even happier.
That is Kyogre's intimidation!
A mere young Rayquaza, can it do anything about this?
Oh right, stupid lizard can't fly yet, it's still "spewing water."
Primal Kyogre lazily sways its tail.
This little Rayquaza— has already defeated Shiny Rayquaza, so what?
Primal Kyogre even felt like greeting this little Rayquaza.
" Oh, isn't that Rayquaza? How's your dad doing?"
~~~
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