Chapter 4: Legends Watching, Shadows Rising
The rain had eased into a soft drizzle over Goldenrod City, leaving the air crisp with the scent of wet pavement and blooming Cheri trees. Inside Souichi Kiruma's apartment, the glow of his laptop screen bathed the room in a bluish haze, the PokéNet livestream interface alive with the frenetic energy of his growing fanbase. The chat scrolled at a breakneck pace, a riot of memes, cheers, and playful jabs that filled Souichi with a mix of pride and pressure. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, guiding his virtual Butterfree through another *Pokémon Masters* doubles match, its Hypnosis Powder cloaking the field in a shimmering veil that sent the opponent's team into a slumbering heap. The victory screen flashed—another clean sweep—and the chat erupted: *"Emperor Souichi strikes again!"* *"Sleep meta OP, nerf this man!"*
Souichi leaned back, his trademark grin flashing across his face as he adjusted his headset. "What's that, Johto squad? Too dirty for you? Blame Silk for inspiring the chaos!" He gestured to the Caterpie curled on a cushion beside him, its pink antennae twitching as if basking in the spotlight. Silk chirped softly, a sound that carried an uncanny weight—like a whisper of the draconic power it had briefly wielded in Hoenn. The system's holographic panel flickered in Souichi's vision, unbidden but ever-present:
[Task Update: Finishing Touch Proficiency: 35%. Caterpie's draconic aura strengthening. Objective: Reach 50% proficiency to unlock partial transformation stability. Warning: Primordial activity detected in Hoenn—prepare for escalation.]
Souichi's grin faltered for a split second, the system's warning a cold jolt to his system. *Primordial activity? Already?* He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the stream. His audience didn't know about the system, the Rayquaza spark in Silk, or the gods that haunted his dreams. To them, he was Emperor Souichi, the cheeky Johto streamer who'd memed his way to fame with a bold claim about taming Hoenn's titans. The truth was heavier, but the show had to go on.
"Thanks for the love, everyone!" he said, voice bright as he scanned the chat. A new Master Ball gift streaked across the screen, its dazzling effects sparking another wave of hype. The sender, *StarlitDrifloon*, was at it again, their generosity fueling both his bank account and his suspicions. *Who are you, throwing cash like that?* "Big shoutout to StarlitDrifloon—keeping Silk in energy cubes and me in coffee. Let's run one more match to celebrate!" The chat roared approval, demanding another dose of his "dirty" tactics.
Across the Kanto region, in the serene quiet of Pallet Town, another screen glowed with the same livestream. Red, the legendary Kanto Champion, leaned forward in his childhood bedroom, the walls still plastered with faded posters of Charizard and Pikachu. His crimson cap sat askew, dark eyes locked on Souichi's smirking face as Butterfree's Hypnosis Powder dismantled yet another opponent. Beside him, Yellow—her blonde braid tucked under a straw hat—watched with equal intensity, her cheeks faintly flushed as she clutched a steaming mug of tea. The cozy room, warmed by the faint crackle of a fireplace, contrasted sharply with the electric tension of the battle unfolding onscreen.
"That's three teams in a row," Red said, his voice low but laced with admiration. "This kid's Butterfree is a menace. Perfect move synergy, flawless item picks—Compound Eyes with Hypnosis Powder is brutal." He leaned back, arms crossed, a rare smile tugging at his lips. Known as the "Fighting Man" of Kanto, Red was a legend forged in battle, his journey from Pallet Town to the summit of Mt. Silver etched into Pokémon lore. He'd toppled Team Rocket, claimed the Quartz Conference, and faced challengers in blizzards that would break lesser trainers. Yet here he was, glued to a Johto streamer's channel, captivated by tactics that turned a humble Butterfree into a battlefield tyrant.
Yellow nodded, her eyes flicking between Souichi's face and the game. "He's not just spamming sleep moves. It's the timing—knowing when to pivot, when to bait a switch. It's like he's fought a thousand real battles." Her Butterfree, a stalwart companion from her own adventures, fluttered nearby, wings catching the firelight. She glanced at Red, her blush deepening as their eyes met. "You think he's a trainer in real life, don't you? No way he's this good without hands-on experience."
Red's smile widened, a spark of battle-hunger in his gaze. "Exactly. His game sense is too sharp—reads opponents like he's been in the arena himself. Even Misty couldn't keep up." He chuckled, recalling the Cerulean Gym Leader's defeat earlier that evening. Misty's *Pokémon Masters* team had crumbled under Souichi's sleep lockdown, her Gyarados and Starmie snoring through a one-sided thrashing. Red had texted her afterward, a gentle rib: *"Tough loss, but this guy's a beast. Don't sweat it."* Misty's reply—a string of frustrated Magikarp emojis—had only confirmed her wounded pride.
Yellow tilted her head, studying Souichi's easy grin as he bantered with his chat. "Misty said his name sounded familiar. You think it's because of that Hoenn post? The one about Rayquaza?" The PokéNet thread was still trending, a wildfire of speculation tying Souichi to the mysterious trainer spotted during the Groudon-Kyogre clash. Grainy photos of a green dragon—not quite Rayquaza, but eerily close—had fueled rumors of a Johto kid with a Caterpie-turned-legend. Red and Yellow, seasoned trainers with a nose for truth, sensed more than just hype.
"Could be," Red said, his tone thoughtful. "That post wasn't just bravado. The timing, the details—it's too specific. And his Caterpie obsession…" He gestured to the stream, where Souichi was jokingly hyping Silk as "the future Sky High Pokémon." "Either he's the best troll in Johto, or he's hiding something big."
Yellow's eyes widened. "You don't think… his Caterpie actually—" She cut off, glancing at her Butterfree, as if imagining it wielding draconic power. "No way. That's impossible, right?"
Red's gaze didn't waver from the screen. "In this world? Nothing's impossible." His mind flashed to his own battles—facing Mewtwo's psychic storms, staring down Articuno's icy wrath. A Caterpie with Rayquaza's spark wasn't crazier than half the things he'd seen. "I want to test him. Not in a game—on the field. If he's half as good as his streams, he's worth a challenge."
Yellow laughed softly, nudging him. "You just want an excuse to leave Mt. Silver again." Her teasing held a hint of warmth, her admiration for Red's relentless drive shining through. "But yeah, he's got something. Maybe we should reach out. See if he's in Johto for real."
Back in Goldenrod, Souichi wrapped his final match, another Hypnosis-fueled rout that left the chat chanting *"Emperor!"* He stretched, cracking his knuckles, and glanced at Silk, who was now nibbling on an energy cube with exaggerated delight. "You're stealing the show without even trying," he muttered, ruffling the Caterpie's head. The system pinged: *Proficiency: 37%. Draconic aura stabilizing. Warning: External attention detected—high-profile trainers monitoring activity.*
Souichi froze, his pulse spiking. *High-profile trainers?* The system's cryptic alerts were maddening, but this one hit differently. He scanned the chat, half-expecting to see a Champion's verified account pop up. *StarlitDrifloon* gifted another Master Ball, their message simple: *"Keep slaying, Emperor. The world's watching."* Souichi's grin returned, but it was tighter now, laced with unease. *Who's watching? And why?*
In Cerulean City, Misty was still stewing, her Pokégear buzzing with Red's message: *"That streamer's a monster. Don't take it personal."* She huffed, tossing her ponytail. "Monster, huh? I'll show him a real mermaid's wrath next time." But curiosity gnawed at her. She pulled up Souichi's stream archive, rewatching his banter about Rayquaza and Hoenn. The name *Emperor Souichi* echoed in her mind, a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit—yet.
As the night deepened, Souichi signed off, the chat begging for an encore. He powered down his laptop, the room falling quiet save for Silk's soft chirps and the distant hum of Goldenrod's nightlife. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling, the system's warning looping in his head. *High-profile trainers. Groudon and Kyogre stirring. Silk's power growing.* The world was closing in, legends and champions alike turning their gaze toward a Johto kid with a Caterpie and a dream.
He glanced at Silk, its antennae glowing faintly, a promise of power beyond comprehension. "We're in deep, buddy," he whispered, a fierce grin breaking through. "But if Red himself is watching, let's give him a show worth seeing." The rain outside tapered to a whisper, and Souichi felt the stir of destiny—a storm brewing, not just in Hoenn, but in the heart of a trainer ready to rewrite the rules of legends.