Pokemon: I Transmigrated Twice

Chapter 254: Pokemon: I Transmigrated Twice [254]

Chapter 254 - Pokemon: I Transmigrated Twice [254]

Mount Pyre, Hoenn.

Like the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town or the Lost Tower in Unova, this place was made to bury deceased Pokémon.

The current caretakers were Phoebe's grandparents.

Today, the mountain shrouded in mist received two groups of uninvited guests.

Midway up, led by Maxie in red, the Magma Team met Archie in blue, leader of the Aqua Team.

Upon meeting, their subordinates instinctively reached for their Pokéballs.

"No sudden moves."

Their admins, Courtney and Shelly, stopped their teams.

"What a coincidence, huh?" Archie, all muscle and pirate attitude, raised an eyebrow.

The skinny Maxie adjusted his glasses with the embedded Key Stone and glanced at the hooded figure behind Courtney.

Yesterday, he'd heard from Magma's new number one, Zinnia, that the Red Orb was here at Mount Pyre.

Archie also looked at the masked woman behind Shelly—Aqua's number one, Blue.

He'd also learned from her that the Blue Orb was here.

"Our agreement still stands?" Maxie asked.

They'd already agreed to a truce before awakening the gods.

"Of course!" Archie, though he looked like a brute, was shrewd.

He'd planted spies in Hoenn TV long ago to control public opinion.

Now wasn't the time to fight—the depraved Team Rocket was involved.

If they didn't get Kyogre's power soon, Team Rocket might wipe them out first.

Silently, both teams continued up the mountain to a small house—Phoebe's grandparents' home.

According to Zinnia, the orbs were inside.

Just as Archie went to open the door, it swung open on its own.

Before anyone could react, the two orbs—one red, one blue—on the coffee table drew everyone's attention.

"The Red Orb!"

"The Blue Orb!"

Maxie and Archie lunged as if they hadn't seen a woman in three months.

But just then, the two hooded and masked figures each grabbed a Pokéball.

Bang! Bang!

Two Salamence appeared.

Wait!

One looked different—fiercer, more extravagant feathers.

"Salamence, Flamethrower!"

"Dragon Breath!"

The dragons attacked in unison.

The second trainer shouted, "Zinnia, didn't we agree not to go too far?!"

But the attacks landed in an instant.

Maxie and Archie were so fixated on the orbs they couldn't react, but their executives managed to send out Pokémon to block.

But two Champion-level attacks flattened the humble house.

And out of the shockwave, a Mightyena was sent flying.

Maxie and Archie stumbled in, but never took their eyes off the orbs.

Then another dragon swooped down and caught both orbs.

Noivern!

The dust settled.

Everyone's attention was on the two Salamence beneath the two figures.

"Zinnia! What are you doing?!" both admins shouted.

Then both turned to stare at each other: "Your Zinnia too?"

The two figures removed their disguises.

Aqua and Magma's expressions didn't change much for Zinnia, but when they saw each other, they were shocked.

Team Rocket high executive, one of the Seven Warlords—Green!

"These are the necessary items to awaken Groudon and Kyogre? But can't our King just use Hoopa's power to summon them directly?" another voice asked.

Everyone turned.

A woman had appeared next to Noivern, holding the orbs.

Her right hand looked normal, but her left looked demonic.

Another Seven Warlord—Aster!

"Cousin, you forgot? The orbs are needed for Groudon and Kyogre's primal reversion. To summon Rayquaza, we need to make a scene."

Zinnia tore off her Aqua Team uniform, revealing a Team Rocket "R"!

"Zinnia! You betrayed us? Or were you always Team Rocket's spy?!"

Archie roared.

"No, no, uncle, don't flatter yourself. Aqua's not even worth Rocket sending a spy..."

Green rolled her eyes.

No point explaining, better send them to jail quickly.

"Zinnia, Aster, don't go too hard," Green reminded.

Zinnia flicked her hand.

Salamence opened its jaws, flames sweeping aside the grunts' Pokémon.

She hadn't even used Mega Evolution—she was holding back.

"Sharpedo! Mega Evolve!"

"Camerupt! Mega Evolve!"

Archie and Maxie sent out their trump cards.

Aster handed the orbs to Noivern and rushed out, appearing beside both Mega Pokémon.

"Dragon Ascent!"

Blue energy cloaked Aster as she crashed into Mega Camerupt, which then smashed into Mega Sharpedo.

Noivern looked on, confused—who was the trainer and who was the Pokémon?

Before the teams arrived, Aster and her group had already taken over Mount Pyre and seized the orbs.

What about the old couple?

If Sird had come, they'd be dead.

Luckily, Green was in charge.

...

"Uh... who... are you people... really..."

At the base of Mount Pyre, the old couple, out of breath, stared at Marnie, who had escorted them down.

Marnie just gestured for them to leave.

Yes—after retrieving the orbs, Green had Marnie escort the old couple away.

She didn't trust the lorekeeper sisters with it.

Marnie looked back at the mountain, still shrouded in mist and rumbling with falling rocks and distant battle sounds.

She turned to go back, only to hear a voice cry, "You're... the sister of Gym Leader Piers that Leon mentioned!?"

She turned to see Hoenn Champion Wallace!

Next to him was a boy her age in a white beanie.

Wallace had been heading to Slateport to judge the upcoming Pokemon Contest and to show his new protégé the ropes.

He'd noticed Ruby's talent and, being Norman's son, wanted to train him.

On the way, they heard the commotion from Mount Pyre.

To his surprise, he ran into Marnie.

The mountain still thundered, rocks falling everywhere.

A massive one was about to crush a wild Shuppet.

"Hey! Watch out!"

Ruby reflexively tried to help.

But Marnie was faster, tossing a Pokéball.

Her Pokémon, glowing with white light, unleashed a Dark Pulse that shattered the boulder.

"Is that... Hydreigon?" Wallace gasped.

It looked much like Unova's pseudo-legend, but mechanical and with glowing purple fur.

"No, not the time for that."

Wallace forced down his questions and sternly asked, "Those were Phoebe's grandparents, right? What's happening on the mountain? Is Team Rocket involved?"

Marnie said nothing, eyeing Ruby's Swampert.

A kid, but his Pokémon's aura... not to be taken lightly.

Time to get serious.

She threw a second Pokéball.

The ground shook.

A massive, monstrous beast, Guzzlord, opened its jaws at them.

Ruby gaped, "M-Master, w-what is that?!"

"You have a Pokédex, check it, but now's not the time..."

"Air Slash!"

Before Wallace could finish, Marnie acted.

Steel wings slashed the ground, crescent-shaped blades rushing toward them.

"Milotic! Protect!"

Milotic cast a shimmering white shield, blocking the attack, but was pushed back by its force.

"The rumors about the Seven Warlords being Champion-level are true..."

Wallace murmured.

"Dragon Rush!"

Even as her first attack was stopped, Marnie launched another.

Guzzlord glowed blue, charging like a tank.

"To think she's even scarier than that other violent girl..."

Ruby cried.

So cute, yet so fierce.

He remembered the girl he'd made a bet with, but Marnie was stronger and prettier.

Despite his shock, Ruby's commands were fast.

Swampert tried to block Guzzlord.

The size difference was ridiculous—like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

But with a heavy thud, Swampert wasn't knocked away.

It grabbed Guzzlord's jaws, digging in as it was pushed back, leaving deep ruts.

Marnie's eyes flashed.

Stronger than expected.

But, a second later, she was calm again.

"Knock Off."

Guzzlord's tentacles slammed down.

"Nana! Coco! Help!"

Seeing his Swampert outmatched, Ruby sent out Mightyena and Delcatty.

"Hammer Arm!"

Guzzlord raised its claws and smashed the ground, sending all three Pokémon flying.

"It's dangerous to multitask, little lady, especially against a Champion."

Wallace's Milotic, using its serpentine body, wrapped Guzzlord's neck, making its three heads gasp for air.

Milotic gathered icy energy in its mouth.

Wallace said, "We don't want to fight, just tell us—"

But Marnie was glancing past him. He followed her gaze.

A flash of light streaked in, striking Milotic and freeing Guzzlord.

Salamence!

Wallace paled—he knew this Salamence.

For the third time now.

Ruby's reaction was even more extreme, dropping to the ground.

This Salamence had appeared five years earlier, back when he lived in Johto...

"Having trouble?" Zinnia asked from Salamence's back.

"A little," Marnie admitted.

"The Hoenn Champion... too bad he's not Joseph Stone's son."

Zinnia looked at Wallace with a sour face.

Everyone knew about Steven and Wallace. And as the Champion, Wallace was not getting a friendly look. "Finding Rayquaza for my cousin is more important. Let's go, we're done here."

Marnie climbed onto Guzzlord and left with Zinnia.

Wallace tried to heal Milotic, but as they left he shouted, "Wait! What are your goals?!"

He thought he'd heard something shocking.

Rayquaza? The Sky Dragon of Hoenn legend?

"Ask your chairman," Zinnia sneered, and as they took off, ordered, "Salamence, Fire Blast!"

Salamence unleashed a massive "?" shaped flame.

Wallace and Ruby had Milotic and Swampert use Water moves to block.

Steam billowed, and when it cleared, the two were gone.

"She just said... the Chairman knows... what is..."

Wallace stared at the sky, baffled.

He quickly called the Hoenn Chairman and repeated Zinnia's words.

The Chairman was silent for a long time before, in a guilty voice, finally described what the Hoenn League and Devon had done at the Embedded Tower in Johto six years ago.

In the end, the Chairman sighed, "After that operation, the cleanup crew never returned, as if vanished. I suppose Team Rocket was there, and after Mr. Stone caught Rayquaza, they killed Devon's people and rescued that girl... This is our retribution."

"How could this be..."

Wallace was stunned.

He never imagined the League he loved had such a dark secret.

Ruby, only eleven, was even more shocked.

So, the tragedy that happened to him five years ago—was it Zinnia's fault? Or the League's?

The chairman took a deep breath, "Wallace, come to Mauville. We need to discuss how to handle this."