Caleb didn't know the exact situation in Hoenn, so just to be safe, he had Zapdos wait in place while he teleported back home to retrieve the two orbs that could control Groudon and Kyogre.
...
Meanwhile, in a remote stretch of ocean…
Groudon, controlled by Maxie through the Red Orb, was already locked in battle with Kyogre, controlled by Archie via the Blue Orb.
From his helicopter, Maxie held the Red Orb aloft, his eyes burning with fanaticism as he gazed down at the clash below.
In the opposite helicopter, Archie watched Maxie coldly and demanded, "You've already achieved your goal, why are you still fighting me?!"
Maxie shifted his gaze to Archie and grinned, "Still don't get it? My goal is to expand the landmass using Groudon, and your existence will only hinder my plan."
Archie sneered, "You don't even know, do you? Lysandre has also failed. Without me, do you really think you stand a chance against two Mewtwos?"
This was the latest intel he had received from a Team Aqua mole planted within Team Flare.
Sure enough, Maxie fell silent at those words.
Just then, several helicopters appeared in the distance.
"The meddlers have arrived," Archie noted indifferently.
"Then let's deal with them together first!" Maxie declared.
The orbs in their hands glowed red and blue. Below, Groudon and Kyogre immediately stopped fighting, their golden eyes emotionless as they turned toward the incoming aircraft.
Steven and Wallace stood at the open cabin doors, frowning at the scene below. They exchanged glances, nodded in silent understanding, and each threw a Poké Ball.
In twin flashes of white light, Milotic and Metagross appeared in midair.
Steven looked toward the enemy helicopters and said, "That kind of power is not something you can control."
Those who couldn't master the orbs would eventually be consumed by their power.
Maxie and Archie scoffed in unison, ""Enough talk! Groudon/Kyogre, eliminate them!""
"GROOOAR!"
"KYOOOO!"
The two ancient deities roared, their bodies erupting with red and blue light. The energy surged along the black patterns on their hides, converging at their heads.
Then, terrifying power erupted from Groudon, racing through the solidified magma below. It erupted beneath Milotic and Metagross like a colossal blade of molten rock, slashing upward with enough force to cleave cliffs.
Before Kyogre, golden rings materialized in the air. With a strange hum, several straight beams of white light shot forth.
Those were the iconic Precipice Blade and Origin Pulse...
""Metagross/Milotic, dodge now!"" Steven and Wallace shouted.
"Meta!"
"Milooo!"
Both Pokémon were battle-hardened veterans and were acutely sensitive to danger. Their bond with their trainers ensured perfect coordination. They dodged with swift precision, narrowly avoiding both devastating attacks.
With their companions having evaded, Steven and Wallace instantly issued their next orders:
"Metagross, Flash Cannon!"
"Milotic, Hydro Pump!"
Without needing to coordinate, they had already split targets.
Metagross engaged Kyogre.
Milotic faced Groudon.
Maxie sneered, "The power of the Earth deity isn't something you can withstand! Groudon, Precipice Blade!"
Archie echoed, "Origin Pulse!"
The signature moves came again...
Metagross's bulky frame moved with surprising agility, weaving between every beam of Origin Pulse.
Milotic dove beneath the waves. Wherever the Precipice Blades passed, seawater instantly solidified into hardened land.
Milotic calmly weaved through the terrain at top speed, narrowly avoiding the attack. Then it leapt from the water, a torrent of pressurized water coiling around it . The attack was released and slammed straight into Groudon like a cannonball.
Metagross's Flash Cannon struck Kyogre at the same instant...
And that was the scene Caleb witnessed the moment he arrived: Groudon's head was violently knocked off course, while Kyogre was engulfed in the blinding light of Flash Cannon.
Caleb stood stunned, 'Damn, Steven and Wallace are strong!'
They were each using only one Pokémon, and yet they seemed to be gaining the upper hand against two Legendaries!
Relief washed over Caleb as he realized that the battle was almost over.
He released Mewtwo, pointed at Maxie's helicopter, then calmly said, "Teleport."
In a flash, he appeared right behind Maxie. Caleb snatched the Red Orb from Maxie's hand and kicked him hard, saying, ""Down you go!"
Maxie let out a scream before splashing into the ocean.
Caleb repeated the move with Archie; grabbing the Blue Orb and sending him diving.
Now holding the Red Orb in his left hand and the Blue Orb in his right, Caleb issued a single command to both Legendaries: "Stop fighting."
He then canceled the forced control the orbs had imposed...
Steven and Wallace watched, utterly stunned.
Caleb hopped onto Zapdos, who'd come to pick him up, gave the two a nod, then landed before Groudon and Kyogre, "Alright, that's enough. Go back to sleep."
Groudon glared at him fiercely. Through the Viridian Power, Caleb sensed its fury toward humanity.
Caleb tried reasoning with it, pointing to Maxie and Archie who were flailing in the water, "They are the ones who did this, not humanity."
Groudon remembered the humiliation of getting smacked in the face by Milotic's Hydro Pump. Its eyes blazed with renewed fury.
At that, Caleb had no choice but to threaten, "Are you sure you want to keep this up? If you do, I'll just invite that one."
He projected an image of Rayquaza into both Groudon's and Kyogre's minds.
Groudon's anger instantly cooled. It shot Caleb a resentful look, then turned and unleashed Precipice Blade on Maxie.
Kyogre did the same to Archie with Origin Pulse.
Having vented their frustration, the two deities turned away and began retreating toward their respective lairs.
Caleb thought to himself: 'Groudon and Kyogre of this world are surprisingly reasonable...'
Watching Groudon's lonely retreating figure, an idea sparked in Caleb's mind: he wanted to following it to see how long it would take for it to walk home. He realized this might be his only chance to find out.
The more he thought about it, the more tempted he became. So he asked, "Hey, Bird Bro, do you need to head back right away?"
Zapdos: >..No..<
"Then how about we follow it? Fly high so it doesn't notice.."
>..What are you planning?..<
"You said the Cave of Origin is really far from here," Caleb finally voiced his burning question, "And Groudon can't fly, so how long would it actually take to walk all the way back?"
Zapdos hadn't cared at first, but now he was curious too. Still, he kept his tone indifferent: >..We'll find out if we go see..<
{T/N: Since Caleb insists on calling Zapdos 'bird bro', I'll assume the Pokémon is male and use the proper pronouns going forth...}
The pair decided to act without hesitation. They set off immediately.
With the crisis resolved, Caleb felt a huge weight lift from his shoulders. Light-hearted, he bid a quiet farewell to Steven and Wallace, then secretly trailed after Groudon...
...
Back on the helicopter, Wallace watched Caleb's retreating figure and asked, "That's the Trainer you mentioned, right?"
Steven nodded, "Yes. He is… exceptional."
"I heard he helped resolve the incidents in Unova and Sinnoh," Wallace said.
Steven looked at him, puzzled.
Wallace continued, "So… what do you think we should give him as a token of our gratitud?"
After all, without Caleb's intervention, this disaster wouldn't have ended so cleanly.
Steven understood. He thought carefully, "How about… a fossil?"
Wallace gave a wry smile, "Not everyone is as obsessed with rocks as you are."
"Well, what do you suggest? He doesn't seem to need money." After all, as part of Devon Corp, Steven knew Caleb earned royalties from Pokéblocks.
Wallace recalled a rumor, "Lance once mentioned he asked the Kanto League for a Dragonite. Maybe we should give him a Pokémon too?"
Steven nodded, "He does love Pokémon."
"Perfect," Wallace said, "The League happens to have an unhatched Larvitar egg. Let's send that over!"
A Larvitar egg was an extremely rare treasure anywhere. Giving it to Caleb was both a gesture of gratitude and a way to foster a good relationship.
After all, a trainer regarded highly by every region's League was someone Hoenn couldn't afford to overlook...