Chapter 588: Delta Episode (3)
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Next Day, Pallet Town – Sky's Airship]
Azure woke the next morning to the gentle rocking of his airship, a soft reminder of its journey, even as it remained anchored silently at the outskirts of Pallet Town. Sunlight streamed through the observation windows, painting the dining room in a warm, golden hue.
Bolt, his Pikachu, stretched languidly on his shoulder, letting out a small, contented yawn. Eevee had migrated from his head to curl up beside him on the plush seat, her tail swishing. The Mew, disguised as Pichu, was still tucked deeply into his jacket, a faint, sleepy warmth.
The first order of business was feeding his little charges. Manaphy and Phione, now wide awake, splashed playfully in their water beds, their cheerful chirps a welcome sound. Azure patiently scooped out their special nutrient-rich seaweed paste, watching them gobble it down with gusto.
He chuckled as he fed his two Mythical Pokemon, "Easy there, you two. You'll get a tummy ache if you eat too fast."
As they ate, he settled into his chair, a steaming mug of Lum Berry coffee in hand, and switched on the large flatscreen TV embedded in the wall. The news channel was already buzzing with a frantic energy that immediately put Azure on edge.
*BUZZZZ*
The anchorwoman chirped, her smile forced and bright, "Good morning, Kanto! We have breaking news this hour regarding unusual celestial phenomena! Reports are coming in from across the globe – falling meteorites, observed in various regions!"
Azure's coffee mug paused halfway to his lips as he thought, 'Falling meteorites? It was too soon, too… public.'
His gut clenched. He'd explicitly stressed the need for secrecy.
*Whoosh*
The screen flashed to live footage: a dark, star-filled sky, streaked by fiery trails as small fragments of rock plummeted towards the planet. A distant, muffled boom reverberated, even through the television.
The anchorwoman continued with a nervous expression and forced smile, "Scientists are scrambling to understand these events, though some preliminary theories suggest these are precursors to a larger celestial body! We cross live now to Professor Elm in New Bark Town, Johto, for more..."
Azure sighed, a deep, exasperated sound that resonated with Gengar and Rotom. He muttered, shaking his head, "Someone leaked the information."
Rotom buzzed from the Arc Phone clutched in Azure's hand, its screen flickering with graphs of information spread, "Bzzzt! Leak detected, Azure! Someone spilled the beans! Data dispersal rampant, bzzzt!"
Gengar grumbled in an annoyed tone from Azure's shadow, "Careless humans. Always jeopardizing the plan."
Azure watched, his expression grim. The anchor moved on, her voice growing more urgent. Her forced smile finally cracked, revealing genuine terror, "Hold on a second folks… Reports now suggest that the meteorites signal the coming of a huge asteroid, which reliable sources indicate will collide with the planet and destroy the whole region! We repeat, a… planet-destroying asteroid!"
Azure scoffed inwardly at their intolerance, 'Destroy the whole region? They'd already sensationalized it, then downplayed it.'
It wasn't just a region; it was the entire planet. He knew exactly who was likely behind this premature leak. Malva.
The Kalos Elite Four member, a known Team Flare operative. Her penchant for chaos and a twisted sense of 'justice' would drive her to expose this, not to save the world, but to sow panic and further her own unpredictable agenda.
Or perhaps one of Steven's own scientists, overwhelmed by the truth, had buckled under the pressure and spread the apocalyptic news. He could only sigh at how everyone's reactions and the masses were going to react.
Panic, chaos, desperate hoarding.
It would make Steven's job, and his own, infinitely harder.
*BEEP*
Just then, his Arc Phone rang, vibrating loudly on the table. Steven's face appeared on the screen, his expression a mixture of fatigue and frustration. Steven's voice was clipped, "Azure, have you seen the news?"
Azure replied, picking up the phone, "Just did, Steven. Looks like someone from your side, or maybe Kalos, decided to ignore the confidentiality agreement. They've gone into great detail about the Grand Meteor Delta."
Steven ran a hand over his face and continued, "Indeed. My initial thoughts lean towards one of the scientists. They must have decided to ignore my words and give this information to every news outlet around the globe. The panic is already starting in Hoenn. Wallace is doing his best to maintain order in the cities while my Elite Four deals with the bigger issues. The other Champions are dealing with similar situations."
Azure mumbled, taking another sip of his coffee, "Figures. Any good news?"
Steven said calmly, a flicker of relief crossing his features, "Fortunately, the materials for the spacesuit are nearly complete. We expect to have it fully assembled by the end of the day. You should plan to arrive at Mossdeep City by then to prepare."
Azure let out a genuine sigh of relief and answered, "Alright. Good to hear. I'll make my way there. Keep me updated on the situation."
The call ended, "Will do. Steven out."
*BEEP*
Azure announced casually, standing up, "Alright, boys, girls, and amorphous blobs. Time to pack for space."
He turned to his core team, who had gathered around him – Pikachu, Eevee, and the Pichu-Mew as he said sadly, "Sorry, everyone, but this mission isn't for you. You can't survive outside the vacuum of space... You'll have to stay on the airship and keep an eye on Manaphy and Phione."
Pikachu let out a mournful cry but then nodded, understanding the gravity of the mission. Eevee whined softly, rubbing her head against his leg, but then looked up at him with clear, understanding eyes. Even the Pichu-Mew gave a solemn nod, its bright eyes reflecting a wisdom beyond its perceived form.
Azure smiled as he turned to his shadow, saying calmly, "Good. Gengar, Darkrai, Marshadow, you need to stay as well. This is space after all."
Gengar rumbled, "Understood, Boss."
Marshadow and Darkrai nodded in understanding. Then Azure turned towards his team for this mission, calling out, "Rotom, Porygon-Z, you're coming too. Mewtwo, Rayquaza, and the two Deoxys – you're the muscle."
From the hangar, a powerful roar resonated. Rayquaza, magnificent and colossal, was already waiting. Beside him, Mewtwo floated, its psychic energy a contained tempest, and the two Deoxys, Organism No. 1 and No. 2, hovered, their forms shifting subtly with anticipation. Porygon-Z materialized with a series of digital chirps and whirs.
Azure said, his voice firm, "Let's go..."
He climbed onto Rayquaza's mighty back, Rotom's Arc Phone now secured on his wrist. He declared, "Hoenn, here we come!"
*WOOOOSH*
With a mighty surge of power, Rayquaza burst through the open hangar doors, ascending rapidly into the Kanto sky. The airship, left in the capable paws of his other trusted Pokémon, grew smaller below.
Azure groaned, muttering to himself, "I hope we can deal with this soon. I really need to get back to relaxing."
But even as the words left his lips, a part of him knew that relaxation was a luxury he wouldn't afford for a very long time.
/////
~Silver POV~
[Johto Region, Meanwhile, Goldenrod City]
The muted panic of Goldenrod City was a dull thrum beneath my feet, even from my perch on the rooftop of the Radio Tower. I preferred the quiet, the strategic vantage point, far from the frenzied crowds that now surged through the streets below. My eyes, usually sharp and calculating, were narrowed, tracking the news reports flickering across the massive public screens...
Falling meteorites.
Huge asteroid.
Planetary destruction.
I scoffed, a bitter taste in my mouth, "Tch."
This was precisely why I hated incompetence. The sheer idiocy of leaking such catastrophic information prematurely.
It solved nothing, merely amplified the chaos. I knew enough about planetary mechanics to understand the immediate impact of such news: widespread panic, civil unrest, and a complete breakdown of any organized response.
My Feraligatr, usually so fierce, let out a low rumble beside me, his cold scales a familiar comfort against my arm. He seemed to sense my frustration, perhaps even my apprehension, a rare emotion for me.
My focus, however, wasn't on the public's hysteria, but on the details. The names mentioned: Steven Stone, Cynthia, Alder, Leon, Geeta. No mention of Kanto's champion, Red, or that enigma, Azure.
But the implication was clear. This was big. Bigger than anything Johto had faced, even with Team Rocket's resurgence.
I murmured, my voice low, "Honchkrow..."
My Honchkrow, perched on my shoulder, ruffled its feathers as I ordered, "Keep an eye on the city. Any signs of organized trouble, report immediately."
He squawked in affirmation, then took flight, a dark silhouette against the pre-dawn sky. I pulled out my Pokédex, reviewing the sparse data I had on the legendary Pokémon involved. Rayquaza. Destroyer of meteors.
So, that was the plan. And Azure… he was the one chosen, wasn't he? I'd heard whispers, rumors of his impossible strength, his connection to legendaries.
My mind instantly began to dissect the variables. A single trainer, a single Pokémon, against a celestial body capable of obliterating the planet.
The odds were astronomical.
*Bzzzt*
My Rotom Phone vibrated. It was Professor Elm as I answered with him, stating, "Silver! Have you seen the news? It's chaos down here! We need to ensure the Pokémon are safe and the reserves are secure! Are you with Gold?"
I stated, ignoring the question about Gold, "I'm on Radio Tower. The news is exaggerated but rooted in truth. I'm observing the situation. Focus on containment, Professor. Keep people calm, secure resources."
Elm's voice, though still frantic, seemed to find some anchor in my detached pragmatism, "Right, right! Excellent advice, Silver! Thank you!"
*BEEP*
I ended the call, my gaze sweeping over the city again. A faint, distant siren wailed, then another, joining the cacophony of panicked shouts and the blare of news reports from countless apartments.
This is going to be a long day, I thought, clutching my Pokédex tighter. And a miracle if they pull it off. My hands, however, were already instinctively moving, making a mental inventory of my own Pokémon, assessing their strengths, their readiness.
I might not be the chosen one, but I wouldn't stand idle. Not when my world, my future, was on the line.
/////
~Gold POV~
[Johto Region, Meanwhile, New Bark Town – Elm's Lab]
My voice probably hit frequencies only my Togetaro could hear, but I didn't care, "NO WAY! NO WAY, NO WAY, NO WAY!"
I was practically glued to the TV screen in Professor Elm's lab, a half-eaten bag of potato chips forgotten in my lap. The news anchor's face was plastered with fear, talking about… the end of the world.
I turned to Professor Elm, who looked like he'd aged ten years overnight, his hair even more dishevelled than usual. He was frantically pacing, muttering to himself, "Come on, Professor, this has gotta be some kind of prank, right?"
His voice cracked on the last word, "It's not a prank, Gold! The data… It's confirmed! A large celestial body! It's… astounding! Terrifying!"
My mind raced. Asteroid?
Planet-destroying?
What about all my Pokémon?
What about Mom?
What about… my game of Voltorb Flip I was about to win?!
This was seriously messing up my schedule!
My Ambipom, Aibo, moved around with an air nervously, hands flying. Exbo, my Typhlosion, let out a low, worried growl. And my Polibo, my Politoed, just looked confused, croaking softly. This wasn't like a regular bad guy scheme.
This was… too big.
Too big for us. I asked, my usual bravado giving way to a rare moment of genuine concern, "So, what do we do, Professor? Do we, like, build a giant net? Or get all the Pokémon to use Hyper Beam on it?"
Elm just threw his hands up as he exclaimed, "We don't know, Gold! The only information we have is this leaked report, and some of it sounds… impossible! A special trainer, a legendary Pokémon… It's all so vague!"
*Fwoosh*
The TV screen flashed, showing more meteorites falling, closer this time. A distant CRASH! Rattled the windows of the lab. My heart thumped against my ribs like a drum solo gone wild. Okay, this was real. Very real.
I muttered, grabbing Togetaro, who chirped worriedly, "This can't be happening. We just got Johto back in order! And now this?!"
I heard the distant yelling of crowds outside, a rising tide of panic. My Pokédex, forgotten in my pocket, started beeping frantically, probably receiving a million alarmed messages. I said, jumping up, "I gotta go. I gotta check on Mom! And then… then I gotta figure out how to stop this thing!"
My feet were already moving towards the door. Elm cried, his voice strained, "But Gold, where will you go?"
I yelled back in a desperate tone, already halfway out, "I don't know! But I can't just sit here! What kind of Dex Holder would I be if I let the world get blown up?! Someone's gotta rally the troops, crack some jokes to keep spirits up, maybe even teach that asteroid how to play billiards!"
My mind, for all its usual impulsiveness, was already formulating a plan, however outlandish. If some super trainer was out there dealing with it, then my job was to make sure this world, the one they were saving, was still worth saving.
And that meant calming people down, protecting the Pokémon, and maybe, just maybe, finding a way to help out, even from the ground. The sound of my rapid footsteps faded, mingling with the shouts of the panicked crowd.
*Bdmp*
*Bdmp*
My heart pounded, but beneath the fear, a spark of resolve ignited. Gold, against all odds, was ready to face the music.
/////
~Sapphire B. POV~
[Hoenn Region, Meanwhile, In a random forest]
The smell of ozone hung heavy in the air, thick and metallic, mingling with the scent of damp earth and crushed leaves. My usually keen senses were overloaded.
My eyes, accustomed to scanning the jungle for rare Pokémon, now tracked fiery streaks across the pre-dawn sky...
*CRACK—BOOM*
Another meteorite fragment hit, this one closer, shaking the very ground beneath my bare feet. A nearby tree shuddered, sending a shower of dewdrops raining down on me. I spat, wiping moisture from my eyes, "Agh! What in Arceus's name?!"
My Agron, Rono, instinctively curled into a defensive ball beside me, a low growl rumbling in his throat. My Tropius, Troppy, let out a distressed cry from above, its leaf wings drooping. The news had spread like wildfire, even out here in the depths of Hoenn's wildlands.
A meteor.
A planet-killer.
My blood ran cold, not just for myself, but for this land. Hoenn was my home, my jungle, my sanctuary. The vibrant ecosystems, the towering trees, the hidden springs – all of it threatened with utter annihilation.
The thought was a raw, visceral ache in my chest. I shouted, my voice hoarse, "This is insane! Who in their right mind would let something like this happen?!"
My father, Professor Birch, called me earlier, his voice a frantic rasp over the Rotom Phone as he exclaimed, "Sapphire! Are you safe? Get back to Littleroot! The cities are descending into chaos!"
I'd brushed him off, too stubborn to leave my jungle. But now, seeing the physical impact of these falling fragments, I felt a tremor of fear.
I looked at my Pokémon – Rono, my Aggron, his usually solid form tense; Kirly, my Gallade, whose distant cries would be unheard now. My Blaziken, Chic, stood ready, but what could even Chic do against a mountain of space rock?
I whispered, my voice barely audible, "This isn't an opponent we can punch, is it?"
I remembered overhearing bits of the leaked news, something about the Hoenn Champion, Steven. And a legendary Pokémon. Rayquaza. And then… Azure. Master. The rumors about him were always wild, but I'd seen him in action.
He was strong. Unnaturally strong.
But could he really… stop this?
*BOOOM*
A sudden, deeper boom echoed, making my ears ache. This wasn't just a threat anymore; it was already happening.
The world was literally falling apart around us.
My mind, usually so focused on battling and exploration, was consumed by a single, terrifying image: Hoenn, scarred and lifeless, choked by dust and silent beneath a ruined sky. The thought was unbearable.
I growled, clenching my fists, "No. No way. This isn't happening. I won't let it!"
I scrambled to my feet, my muscles tense. I didn't know what I could do, but I couldn't just stand here and watch. I had to protect this place, my Pokémon, the wild Pokémon. Even if it was just for these remaining days.
Even if it was just a futile gesture. My heart hammered, a wild drumbeat of defiance against the impending doom. Rustling leaves, the distant groans of panicked Pokémon, the incessant, terrifying booms.
I would fight for every leaf, every drop of water, until the very end!
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter and give each of you guys different POV's of the Dex Holders when this occurred.