Chapter 10: Echoes of the Sky Pillar
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over Goldenrod City, its golden rays filtering through the apartment window where Souichi Kiruma sat hunched over his laptop. The screen displayed a grainy satellite image of Hoenn's Route 131, the Sky Pillar's jagged spire piercing the clouds like a defiant claw. Souichi's fingers traced the route, his mind a tangle of plans and nerves. Silk, his Caterpie, lay curled on a nearby cushion, its green hide pulsing with a faint draconic glow as it nibbled a Dragon-type energy cube. The system's panel hovered in his vision, its cold text a relentless reminder of the stakes:
[Task Update: Finishing Touch Proficiency: 50%. Caterpie's draconic transformation stabilized. Objective: Initiate controlled transformation in a secure environment. Alert: Hoenn region instability critical—primordial activity detected near Pacifidlog Town. High-profile attention intensifying—multiple parties tracking host's movements.]
*50%.* Souichi's breath caught, his eyes flicking to Silk. *You did it, buddy.* The Caterpie chirped softly, its antennae twitching as if sensing the milestone. Controlled transformation was within reach, but the system's warning about "primordial activity" sent a chill down his spine. *Pacifidlog? That's too close to the Sky Pillar.* Groudon and Kyogre were stirring, and Hoenn's champions were watching him. The neighbors' gossip—a girl asking about him—only added to the pressure. *Who's on my trail? League scouts? Team Magma? Or just Red's crew?*
His Pokégear buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. A new message from *FightingMan*: *"Heard you're Hoenn-bound. Green's itching to meet you—says he's got theories about your Caterpie. Swing by Pallet before you dive into the deep end. We'll talk strategy."* Souichi's lips quirked into a grin. Red and Green, Kanto's twin legends, were doubling down. But the system's alert about "multiple parties" gnawed at him. He typed back: *"Pallet's a plan. I'll bring Silk and some tricks. Hoenn's calling—hope you're ready for the news."* He hit send, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and dread.
In Caiyou City, Hoenn, the conference room was empty now, save for Wallace and Steven. The psychic shield of Steven's Metagross still hummed, cloaking their conversation from prying ears. The photo of Rayquaza—and its mysterious rider—lay between them, a silent accusation. Wallace's fingers traced the blurred figure, his brow furrowed. "If this Souichi kid has a Pokémon that can channel Rayquaza's power, we need him. Now. Groudon and Kyogre won't stay dormant forever."
Steven nodded, his expression grim. "Devon's picking up seismic anomalies near Pacifidlog—small, but consistent with primordial activity. If those two wake up, and Rayquaza's still AWOL…" He didn't finish, but the weight hung heavy. "I've got my team scouring the region for Maxie and Archie. Their tech's advanced, but they can't hide forever. As for Souichi, PokéNet's got his streams on blast. He's not subtle—calling himself 'Emperor' and teasing a Hoenn return."
Wallace's lips twitched, a ghost of a smile. "Kid's got flair. Reminds me of you, back when you were chasing rare stones and titles." He sobered, his gaze returning to the photo. "If he's tied to that dragon, he's either a miracle or a target. We need to reach him before Magma or Aqua do."
Steven pulled out his Pokégear, pulling up Souichi's latest stream archive. A clip played—Souichi, grinning at the camera, hyping Silk as "the future Sky High Pokémon." The chat exploded with dragon emojis and *"Emperor!"* chants. Steven's eyes narrowed. "He's got a following. That's a double-edged sword—attention draws allies, but also enemies."
Wallace leaned back, his cape rustling. "Send a message. Discreetly. If he's heading to the Sky Pillar, he'll need backup. I'll coordinate with Drake and Phoebe—get them ready to move if things go south." He paused, a flicker of hope in his tired eyes. "A Caterpie that mimics Rayquaza… If it's true, this kid could change everything."
Back in Goldenrod, Souichi stood in his apartment's courtyard, the evening breeze carrying the scent of blooming Chilan Berries. Silk crawled onto his shoulder, its glow brighter now, almost electric. He'd spent the day training, pushing Silk through String Shot drills and low-intensity Finishing Touch bursts, careful not to overtax its tiny frame. The system's safeguards held, but Souichi felt the strain—every pulse of draconic energy was a reminder of the gods waiting in Hoenn.
His Pokégear pinged again, this time an unknown ID: *"Heard you're planning a Hoenn trip. Sky Pillar's no joke. Stay sharp—eyes are on you."* No signature, but the tone screamed authority. *Wallace? Steven?* Souichi's pulse spiked, the system's warning echoing: *Multiple parties tracking host.* He typed a cautious reply: *"Appreciate the heads-up. Just a trainer with a dream and a bug. What's the play?"*
Silk chirped, nudging his cheek, and Souichi laughed, the sound fierce and defiant. "They think we're a spark, Silk. Let's show 'em a storm." He opened his laptop, pulling up flight schedules to Hoenn. Kanto was the first stop—Red and Green awaited, allies who could tip the scales. But Hoenn was the crucible, where Team Magma, Team Aqua, and the primordials lurked. The Sky Pillar loomed, a beacon of hope and peril, and Souichi felt its pull like a tide.
In Pallet Town, Red and Yellow watched Souichi's latest stream clip, the Caterpie's glow unmistakable even through the screen. "He's not hiding it," Yellow said, her Butterfree fluttering nervously. "That Caterpie's no ordinary bug."
Red's eyes gleamed, his cap tilted back. "Good. I like a trainer who doesn't flinch." He typed a message to Green: *"Kid's heading to Hoenn. Sky Pillar, maybe. You in for a road trip?"* Green's reply was instant: *"A lunatic with a dragon-bug? Count me in."*
As night fell over Goldenrod, Souichi packed a bag—Poké Balls, energy cubes, a map of Hoenn. Silk crawled onto his shoulder, its glow a beacon in the dark. The system hummed: *Transformation ready. Hoenn awaits.* Souichi grinned, his heart alight with fire. "Let's go, buddy. Time to show the world what an Emperor can do." The dangers of Hoenn loomed, but so did the promise of legend—and Souichi Kiruma was ready to claim it.