Want to read ahead. You know where
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Sootopolis City.
The heavy doors of the conference room opened, and people began to file out into the warm, sea-scented air.
"Professor Samuel, welcome!"
"We appreciate you coming out here!"
Wallace led a small group of Hoenn's elite trainers, his usual elegance wrapped in genuine enthusiasm.
He stepped forward to greet Sam, who had just landed on Lugia's back, drawing curious and astonished stares from nearly everyone present.
Sam returned the greeting with a polite smile.
His gaze drifted to the crowd, locking briefly with Cynthia's.
A subtle nod passed between them; nothing more needed to be said.
But the others weren't so composed.
Their eyes were glued to the majestic figure behind Sam, Lugia.
Especially those who specialized in Flying-types.
Winona's breath hitched slightly.
Her eyes shimmered like a sky reflecting a sudden sunrise.
She took a slow step forward, almost reverent.
Even Glacia, one of the Hoenn Elite Four known for her calm demeanor and command of Ice-types, couldn't help but smirk.
She slipped her arm through Cynthia's and leaned closer with a teasing whisper.
"No wonder you've been hiding him."
"A professor, a powerful trainer, and easy on the eyes? If it were me, I wouldn't want to share either."
Her voice lilted with playful amusement.
"Too many women around to risk that kind of attention."
Cynthia rolled her eyes but didn't respond.
There was something frightening in her eyes.
She wasn't in the mood for banter.
Half a month ago, when they'd last parted ways, Sam didn't have a Lugia.
Now?
He was casually descending from the sky on one.
A flicker of suspicion crept into her thoughts.
Just how many secrets is he hiding...?
She made a mental note: next time, ask questions—a lot of them.
Sam gently patted Lugia's side before returning it to its Poké Ball.
The murmurs of awe finally faded, though some lingering glances remained.
After all, no one could ignore a legendary Pokémon, even if there were bigger things to worry about.
Like Groudon and Kyogre.
The two titans were converging.
And disaster was brewing.
The group made their way back into the conference room of Sootopolis City, tension hanging in the air like a thunderstorm waiting to break.
Once they'd all settled, Wallace stepped forward with a carefully wrapped bundle in hand.
He set it gently on the table before Sam and unwrapped it to reveal a weathered, timeworn book.
"Professor Samuel," he said solemnly, "this is an ancient text passed down by the Sootopolis clan for generations."
"Our elders say it contains the oldest legends of the Hoenn region. Unfortunately, none of us can read the script anymore. It's too ancient, too obscure."
"That's why we called you."
"We were hoping you might find something in here... anything that could help us stop Groudon and Kyogre before things spiral out of control."
Most in the room looked uncertain.
Desperate, even.
But not Sam.
He already knew the key.
To stop Groudon and Kyogre?
Simple.
Wake up their boss.
Rayquaza.
Only he could command both titans.
But therein lay the real problem: finding Rayquaza.
The modern world had changed.
Regions had merged, maps redrawn, and landmarks renamed or forgotten.
Where exactly was the Sky Pillar now?
And even if he found it...
How do you wake a god?
Yell into the sky?
Blow a horn?
Sam didn't say any of that out loud.
Instead, he took the ancient book with calm hands and began flipping through the pages.
To most, the script would've looked like scribbles or incomprehensible diagrams.
But to him, the symbols and patterns were as familiar as breathing.
One glance and the meanings rose to the surface, like memories etched into his very bones.
Then, he began to read aloud:
"The god of the earth, Groudon, holds dominion over land and heat. Its power can dry up seas, call forth volcanic eruptions, and expand landmasses."
"The god of the sea, Kyogre, commands storms and the endless tide. With rain and waves, it expands the ocean's reach, washing over the land."
"When these two beings clashed, the world trembled. Their battle, lasting three months, left no victor."
"Instead, it brought only ruin."
"Forests burned. Cities drowned. The people could do nothing but pray."
"And then..."
"From the sky, a cry, a roar like thunder and wind."
"A green dragon descended."
"With a single sweep of its power, it quelled the gods of land and sea."
"Groudon retreated into the molten heart of Mt. Chimney."
"Kyogre sank into the ocean's deepest trench."
"And the green dragon, henceforth called Rayquaza, was revered as the guardian of balance."
"The Sky Lord. The world's judge."
"In honor of its might, the people of Meteora built the Sky Pillar."
"A sanctuary of legend. A monument of warning. A call to the heavens, should chaos return."
Sam closed the book gently.
The room was silent.
Now they had the truth.
They just needed to act on it.
And fast.
Because Groudon and Kyogre weren't just waking up,
They were heading straight for each other.
And if no one stopped them this time...
The world wouldn't survive a second war.
"And take a stone left by Rayquaza as a token."
"Only those who hold this token may enter the Sky Pillar."
Sam's voice echoed in the quiet room, carrying the weight of ancient legend.
Everyone listened intently, holding their breath as if the past were unraveling right in front of them.
And then, he stopped.
The sudden silence pulled everyone out of their reverie.
Sam slowly closed the book, his expression... less than satisfied.
"…That's it?"
Wallace blinked in disbelief.
"Yes," Sam confirmed with a sigh.
"That's where it ends."
He tapped the closed cover with a hint of frustration.
"This whole book dances around in circles. Lots of poetic build-up, sure, but no concrete answers."
"No directions. No location. Not even a hint about what this so-called token is."
He leaned back in his chair, visibly disappointed.
"It's just more buildup."
Wallace's shoulders slumped.
The reverence he'd held for the ancient text vanished like mist in the sun.
They had waited for this translation for years, hoping for it.
Believed in it.
All for a glorified bedtime story.
"Three months," Wallace muttered darkly.
"The last battle between Groudon and Kyogre… it lasted three months."
"Don't even say it," Steven murmured, voice grim.
"If they fight like that again…"
"Sootopolis won't last a day."
He glanced toward the window, out toward the peaceful lake at the center of the crater city.
"If they clash here… there won't even be ruins left."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
The weight of that possibility sank into every corner.
Everyone understood what was at stake.
Two ancient powers, the gods of land and sea, are about to collide.
And no clear plan to stop them.
Sam closed his eyes briefly.
Rayquaza is the key… but where are you?
"We don't have time to mope," Wallace said suddenly, his voice sharper now, cutting through the dread like a blade.
"We might not have all the answers, but we know what happens if we do nothing."
He turned to the others, gaze steady.
"We start evacuating Sootopolis. Now."
"Get as many people out as possible before the situation escalates."
"Do your best," he added, more quietly.
"And trust the rest to fate."
Steven straightened, rallying.
"Right. I'll coordinate with the League personnel."
Wallace nodded.
"I'll handle the trainers in the inner city."
He glanced once more at the closed book on the table.
Legends wouldn't save them this time.
People would.
As the conference room turned into a flurry of motion, orders issued, calls made, plans formed, Sam remained still for a moment longer, lost in thought.
Somewhere, far from the noise and worry...
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A quiet corner of Sootopolis City.
Perched above the rooftops, on a rocky outcrop overlooking the water, a lone figure watched the gathering below.
A girl, clad in black and red, with a flowing cloak that fluttered in the sea breeze.
Her wild dark hair framed eyes burning with purpose.
Zinnia of the Meteor Clan.
In her hand, she held a stone, glimmering faintly green, smooth and ancient.
She clutched it close to her chest, unable to keep the smile from her face.
Her gaze locked onto the figure of Sam through the open window of the conference hall.
"So you're the one…"
Her voice trembled with emotion, though she spoke to no one but the wind.
"Master Inheritor…"
"I finally found you."