Chapter 6: The Emperor's Call
The soft hum of Goldenrod City's nightlife filtered through Souichi Kiruma's apartment window, mingling with the fading echo of his livestream's end chime. The screen went dark, but the PokéNet chat lingered in his mind, a whirlwind of memes, cheers, and playful accusations of "dirty" tactics. Souichi slumped back in his chair, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His latest *Pokémon Masters* match had been another Hypnosis Powder masterclass, his virtual Butterfree locking down the opponent's team while Machamp delivered the knockout blows. The chat had loved it, dubbing him "Emperor Souichi, King of Sleep," but it was the private message from *FightingMan*—Red, the Kanto Champion—that set his pulse racing.
Souichi's Pokégear buzzed on the desk, the golden ID of *FightingMan* glowing like a beacon. The message was short, direct, and almost surreal: *"Love your streams, kid. Your tactics are something else. Ever thought of battling for real? Let's connect."* Souichi stared at the words, his heart caught between disbelief and a spark of reckless ambition. *Red. The guy who took down Team Rocket at ten, claimed Mt. Silver, and made Pikachu a legend.* And now, the Champion wanted to be *friends*? It was the kind of opportunity trainers dreamed of, the kind that could change everything.
He glanced at Silk, his Caterpie, sprawled on a cushion with a half-eaten energy cube cradled between its tiny legs. Its pink antennae twitched, catching the neon glow from outside, and for a moment, Souichi swore he saw a faint green shimmer ripple across its green hide. The system's holographic panel flickered in his vision, unyielding as ever:
[Task Update: Finishing Touch Proficiency: 42%. Caterpie's draconic aura intensifying. Objective: Reach 50% proficiency to enable controlled transformation. Alert: Strategic alliance with high-profile trainer confirmed—leverage connection to advance objectives.]
*Strategic alliance?* Souichi's lips quirked into a wry smile. *The system's acting like I planned this.* Red's interest wasn't just a boost to his ego—it was a lifeline. Groudon and Kyogre's grudge loomed like a storm on the horizon, and Souichi wasn't naive enough to think he and Silk could face them alone, even with the system's bizarre power-up. *Red's a legend. If anyone can help us survive Hoenn's gods, it's him.*
"Okay, Silk," he murmured, scratching the Caterpie's head. "Looks like we're catching bigger fish than we planned." Silk chirped, nudging his finger with a warmth that steadied his nerves. He opened his Pokégear and typed a reply, keeping it cool but respectful: *"Yo, FightingMan, stoked you're vibing with the stream. Real battles? I'm just a freshman with a Caterpie, but I'm down to talk. Heading to Hoenn soon for… reasons. Keep an eye on the news."* He hit send, his stomach flipping. *Hoenn. The Sky Pillar. Rayquaza.* The plan was insane, but waiting for the primordials to hunt him down was worse.
Across the Kanto region, in the cozy glow of Pallet Town, Red sat cross-legged on his bedroom floor, his laptop balanced on a stack of old Pokédex manuals. The livestream had ended, but Souichi's final words echoed in his mind: *"There are no useless Pokémon, only trainers who fail to see their potential."* Red's eyes gleamed with approval, a rare warmth softening his battle-hardened features. Beside him, Yellow sipped her tea, her Butterfree fluttering lazily above a bookshelf. The room smelled of cedar and nostalgia, a quiet haven far from the blizzards of Mt. Silver.
"He's going back to Hoenn?" Yellow asked, her voice tinged with curiosity as she peeked at Red's Pokégear. "After running into Groudon and Kyogre last time? That's either brave or crazy." Her straw hat tilted as she leaned closer, her blonde braid brushing Red's shoulder. "You think he's really tied to that Rayquaza sighting?"
Red nodded, his gaze fixed on Souichi's message. "He's not just chasing clout. That 'keep an eye on the news' bit? He's planning something big." He tapped his chin, mind racing. Hoenn was still reeling from the primordial clash—Steven Stone was buried in relief efforts, Wallace was rallying Gym Leaders, and Team Magma and Aqua were ghosts, their whereabouts unknown. Souichi's decision to return now, after his viral post and the mysterious dragon sighting, wasn't coincidence. "Kid's got a spark. I want to see where it leads."
Yellow smiled, her eyes softening. "You just want a new rival." She nudged him playfully, but her tone held a hint of awe. "If he's half as good in real battles as he is online, he could shake things up. His Butterfree tactics… they're not just game smarts. It's like he *knows* Pokémon, inside and out."
Red chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, he got my attention. And Misty's, even if she's still sulking." He'd ignored her latest text—a string of angry Psyduck emojis and a rant about Souichi's "dirty tricks." Red didn't blame her; Souichi's Hypnosis Powder spam had been ruthless, a masterclass in exploiting every edge. But it was more than that. Souichi's strategies felt alive, adaptive, like he'd faced real stakes. *If he's got a Caterpie pulling Rayquaza moves…* Red's pulse quickened at the thought. *I need to see it for myself.*
Back in Goldenrod, Souichi paced his apartment, the weight of Red's message sinking in. The chat had gone wild at the Champion's appearance, memes of *"Red betrays Misty for Emperor Souichi!"* flooding the PokéNet. His fans were already hyping his next move, unaware of the stakes. *They think I'm a gym leader-level trainer hiding as a freshman.* He snorted, glancing at Silk, who was now dozing on the cushion, its body faintly glowing with draconic energy. *If only they knew the truth.*
The system's warning pulsed: *Primordial activity increasing. Prepare for Hoenn escalation.* Souichi's jaw tightened. He couldn't sit still, waiting for Groudon and Kyogre to track him down. The Sky Pillar was his best shot—find the real Rayquaza, harness its power, and end the primordials' threat for good. But he needed allies, and Red was the biggest card he could play. *A Champion in my corner? That's a start.* He opened his laptop, pulling up maps of Hoenn's Route 131, where the Sky Pillar loomed, shrouded in myth and mist. *If I can get there, convince Rayquaza to step in…*
His Pokégear buzzed again—a new message from *FightingMan*: *"Hoenn, huh? Bold move. I'll keep tabs. If you're in Kanto first, swing by Pallet Town. Got a field we can test those tactics on."* Souichi's breath hitched, a grin spreading. *A spar with Red? That's a detour worth taking.* He typed back: *"Pallet Town sounds dope. I'll hit you up before Hoenn. Bring your A-game."*
Outside, Silk stirred, crawling to the window to gaze at the starry sky. Souichi followed, the city's neon glow reflecting in his gray eyes. "We're not just streamers anymore, buddy," he murmured, ruffling Silk's head. The Caterpie chirped, its antennae pulsing with a faint green light, as if sensing the path ahead. The system hummed: *Alliance secured. Next objective: Prepare for Hoenn expedition.* Souichi's grin widened, fierce and fearless. Red, the Sky Pillar, the primordials—it was all converging. The world was watching, and the Emperor was ready to answer its call.