Chapter 0724: VS Yveltal! The Real Main Characters—Team Rocket(Two-in-One)

Deep within Allearth Forest, no light could be seen.

The riverbed was dried up, tree branches jutted into the sky like jagged white bones, blood-red mist hung thick in the air.

This was the core zone enveloped by the Dark Aura; not a single Pokémon could cross the boundary and survive in the depths of the forest.

All except one—among legendaries, the god of death, Yveltal.

A giant of a white-haired man, one eye hidden beneath his bangs, strode through the thriving outer woods, stepped across the boundary, and entered the Dark Aura without hesitation.

On the outskirts, Bunnelby stared in terror at the man, unable to fathom why he would walk willingly into the heart of darkness.

As the man’s tall figure was swallowed up by the blood-red haze—

Deep within, a stagnant pool of lifeless water.

A dark red cocoon lay submerged at its center, sensing the presence of life, sending ripples across the still surface.

During the half hour that Natsume and Diancie basked in Xerneas’s Fairy Aura—

AZ entered Yveltal’s Dark Aura, and stepped to the edge of the shadowy pool, eyes fixed on the massive, black-red chrysalis at the center, throbbing like a gigantic, beating heart.

Blood-red translucent filaments were wrapped tightly around the Cocoon of Ruin, siphoning energy from every direction and channeling it to the slumbering Yveltal.

AZ stared at the oppressive scene before him, and suddenly understood why the Holy Diamond of the Anci Kingdom had withered.

It was because Yveltal needed to absorb every ounce of energy—including that of the underground veins—to awaken itself.

Fear and anticipation flickered in AZ’s gaze. He knew now this journey was not in vain; he realized that this great bird of the night would bring death to all living things.

For this release, AZ had wandered in repentance and pain for three millennia—he was now just one step away from freedom…

AZ waded into the deep water, like a newborn lamb stepping into a river waist-deep.

The blood-red translucent threads pulsed continually, torrents of black mist surged toward AZ, but upon drawing close, scattered away as if in fear.

“Yveltal—”

AZ said, “I have come to seek death.”

The water around him abruptly began to boil and rumble; the transparent filaments instantly dimmed, turning to dull crystals, cracking and crumbling to dust with a snap.

BOOM!!

The entire underground began to tremble, the forest shook with dread as the massive Cocoon of Ruin suddenly opened blue eyes!

The cocoon “unfolded,” as if opening its arms in welcome.

Yveltal, its body shaped like a giant letter “Y,” tail branching out into wicked claws, beat its blood-red wings and hovered above the water.

AZ tilted his head back in shock, meeting Yveltal’s gaze.

He saw a flash of distinctly human mockery in those eyes.

“I will not grant you mercy, human… Now, keep living.”

The titanic black bird spread its crimson wings, let out a razor-sharp screech, and whipped up a cyclone that pierced the clouds.

AZ’s eyes widened. The fall of his kingdom, the lover who left, the curse of immortality—death itself had become the ultimate luxury!

At that moment, black winds stirred, dark clouds rolled in, and the Dark Aura at the core kept spreading outward.

Within the area shrouded in black mist, trees withered and rotted at a terrifying pace, while Pokémon caught unawares were turned to stone before the eye could even follow, frozen in place.

“Screeeee!!”

Yveltal, beneath the churning dark skies, spread its wings to blot out the world, and sent a long, mocking cry toward the distant Tree of Life!

With a heavy thud, AZ fell to his knees, tears streaming down. Images flashed through his mind—Diancie’s smile, Natsume’s fist bump, orange streetlights along the highway at night—swiftly fading to black, until all that remained was the disappointed gaze of the eternal flower as she left him.

Overwhelming despair crashed into him. The old king’s hoarse sobs echoed, while the forest behind crumbled into ash and vanished.

……

Brackish Town, clock tower, video conference.

Bang!

“You three idiots!”

Giovanni, his face stern and lined, slammed the armrest of his sofa; the Persian in his lap jumped in fright while the trio trembled pitifully.

“Why didn’t you deliver such critical information—that Diancie was heading to Allearth Forest—right away?!” Giovanni thundered.

“B-because… Executive, you never mentioned the Cocoon of Ruin, meow…”

“Right, the Pokémon Center only issued an evacuation warning, that’s when we realized there was a legendary Pokémon like Yveltal…”

James, drenched in cold sweat, snuck a glance at the silent Giovanni, then quickly bowed his head.

In less than ten minutes, Yveltal’s Dark Aura had already affected several towns nearby. Jenny led an emergency evacuation, citizens were gripped by panic.

Among the legendaries, the god of death had truly awakened—surely that was just some three-thousand-year-old myth parents used to scare kids, wasn’t it?!

And now, there were possibly still Trainers yet to escape Allearth Forest, and swathes of Pokémon habitats… the consequences were unthinkable.

Luckily, after facing Groudon and Kyogre in Hoenn, every region already had fully developed emergency protocols.

Team Rocket had even prepared specific countermeasures to control legendary Pokémon—

“You’re to move out now, to the Secret Base in Allearth Forest,” Giovanni commanded.

“Secret Base?!” Team Rocket echoed in shock.

“Idiots, knowing Yveltal and Xerneas both slumbered here, did you really think I’d take no precautions in Kalos?”

Giovanni slammed his hand on the armrest. “Now, get over there by Matori’s coordinates and make sure your Executive is safe! Understood?!”

Honestly, even if those three end up tanking Yveltal’s Oblivion Wing with their own bodies, it’s safer than letting Natsume face it alone!

Team Rocket snapped to attention: “Understood!”

The call ended.

Giovanni, sensing something amiss, rubbed his temples.

“What’s wrong, Boss Giovanni?” Matori asked with concern.

“I forgot to tell them… where I left the Team Rocket aerial battleship’s operating manual…” Giovanni said, a headache coming on.

……

Allearth Forest, Ash and his group dashed onto a broad cliff with an open view.

“Yveltal!!”

Yveltal beat its blood-red wings, spewing a surge of purple energy in a sweeping beam across the forest floor.

Every living thing struck by that purple energy was instantly petrified—forever devoid of life.

Xerneas raised its neck, eyes heavy with worry.

“That’s… Yveltal’s Oblivion Wing. It possesses the power to drain the strength of life itself.”

“All the Pokémon we saw just now… they’re all stone statues now.” Bonnie hugged Dedenne, covering her cheeks, her eyes brimming with sadness.

Dedenne tried to comfort Bonnie, and Diancie bowed her head, hesitating as she looked at her palm.

“The way I am now, I still don’t have the strength to create a ‘Holy Diamond’…”

“Natsume-sensei, did you see Mr. AZ?!” Steven suddenly called out.

Natsume shook his head, something dawning on him—his brows furrowed tight.

AZ was never really here to help his friend Diancie save her kingdom.

He came to seek out Yveltal, hoping to end his own life.

Even without AZ, Yveltal’s awakening was inevitable. But he and the King had made a promise.

AZ hadn’t even reunited with his beloved eternal flower yet.

Natsume’s gaze sharpened, staring up at the rampaging Yveltal in the sky. He shouted, “Ash, head to the core and try to find AZ! Clemont, take care of Serena and Bonnie!”

“Leave it to me.” Pikachu leapt onto Ash’s shoulder, and Ash dashed forward, sliding down the cliff’s slope.

Serena gasped, covering her mouth in surprise.

“Watch out for its Oblivion Wing!!” Natsume called.

Yveltal, having spotted a swiftly moving lifeform below, shrieked in challenge and spewed a vast purple blast.

“Waaah!” Ash sprinted frantically—the sweeping blast of purple energy petrifying everything in its path, but Ash dodged with flawless agility.

Bonnie’s eyes went wide. “Ash… you’re amazing!”

Natsume’s mood was mixed.

Movie dungeons really do favor Ash with maxed-out physique; if only someone on hand could revive others and draw even more aggro, it’d be perfect!

“I don’t know how you intend to help me defeat Yveltal, human,” Xerneas said telepathically, its gaze unwavering. “But I promise—I'll face it with all my strength.”

With that, Xerneas leapt lightly like a deer onto a stone outcrop, rainbow light dazzling from the tree-like antlers atop its head.

“Yveltal!!” Yveltal, eyes locked onto Xerneas, left Ash behind and swooped lower beneath the storm clouds, its wings stirring up tangible, razor-edged Air Slashes.

Boom-boom-boom!!

Air Slashes kept blasting into Xerneas’s Light Screen, each impact a chain of explosions. Xerneas raised its neck, a dazzling ray of light shooting skyward from its brow, piercing into the clouds.

Yveltal looked up. In the hole the clouds left, a dangerous full moon was revealed—Yveltal’s pupils contracted, as the power of moonlight fell earthward like a bomb!

BOOM!!

Yveltal crossed its arms above its head. The explosion faded—its blood-red wings now scorched and smoking. It shrieked in anger, unleashing a savage pulse of rage straight at Xerneas!

CRACK!!

The antlers splintered as the blast struck home—through the thick smoke, Xerneas’s antlers flickered unsteadily, the outcome grim.

Natsume was still amazed. That Moonblast, amplified by the Pixie Plate, almost overwhelmed the Y-bird…

But the problem was, Xerneas never fought with a true will to win or lose!

“Mr. Natsume…” Diancie looked up, shielding her chest, her voice trembling. “What…what should I do now?”

“Just trust yourself.”

Diancie looked up, bewildered, as the black-haired young man gently patted her on the head and smiled, before withdrawing a Poké Ball.

“Serena, Bonnie, and your kingdom all need you to protect them.”

“For the Pokémon standing behind you, for those who believe in you—you’re bound to become stronger.”

Natsume’s gaze lingered, leaving behind the battered, battle-worn silhouette (well, almost), and called out, “Latias, prepare for launch!”

“Latias~” Latias responded, dazzling feathers shimmering, eyes crescenting with delight.

On the other side, the white Metagross clanged its iron fists, radiating the spirit of a champion: “Metagross!!”

Steven knelt atop his Metagross’s head, muttering to himself:

“Whenever I travel with Natsume-sensei, it always ends in a clash with a legendary… it’s truly something else.”

Darkrai nodded with folded arms amidst the darkness.

That’s just how it is!

Clemont stared, rattled, at the two airborne Pokémon and the trainers beneath them.

One left, one right—Latias and the white Metagross rose and advanced, drawing nearer to Yveltal as if this were just another everyday trial!

“I must be dreaming… Humans battling legendary Pokémon, there’s no logical way,” Clemont muttered, slapping his own cheeks in disbelief.

“Are you okay, Diancie?” Bonnie gently held Diancie’s hand in concern.

Diancie lowered her eyes, thoughtful, and slowly shook her head.

“Mr. Natsume said that for the Pokémon standing behind me, I’d definitely become much stronger.”

“That must mean your Carbink friends!” Bonnie giggled.

Diancie tilted her head.

“They’re all waiting for their princess to return. So do what I do, Diancie—cheer up!” Bonnie made a muscle pose atop Dedenne.

Diancie blinked, nodded quietly, and smiled. “Yes. Thank you, Bonnie~”

……

Allearth Forest, deep within.

“Pikachu, there he is!”

Ash discovered AZ, kneeling statue-like in the river, slowing as he approached. “Please don’t let me be too late.”

“Pikachu!” Pikachu’s ears twitched, signaling that AZ still showed signs of life.

Ash quickly circled to face AZ, wading into the river, and found AZ’s eyes glazed over, face streaked with tears.

“Hey, hang in there!” Ash shook the old man’s shoulder.

The white-haired man raised his head dazedly, his gaze slow to focus. “…Ash…”

“What are you doing here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

Ash reached out his hand. “Let’s go back. I still have to battle with Natsume-sensei!”

“Battle…” AZ’s gaze grew haunted, recalling that war three thousand years ago that claimed Floette’s life.

AZ gripped Ash’s hand, teeth chattering. “Promise me, don’t let your Pikachu battle…”

“Hey, what’s gotten into you?”

“Promise me!” AZ roared.

Thud!

Ash pushed AZ away. The old man collapsed on his side in the shifting river.

“If we don’t battle, even more Pokémon will lose their lives.”

Ash shouted, “I’m a Trainer—Pikachu is my partner! That’s why we fight together.”

“Pikachu.” Pikachu’s eyes shone with conviction, cheeks sparking with embers.

“…What exactly is a Trainer?” AZ smiled bitterly.

“Sorry. Guess I pushed a little hard. Is this your Poké Ball?”

Ash picked up a floating, minimized Poké Ball, tapped the button to enlarge it, and pressed it into AZ’s palm.

“…Poké Ball…” AZ remembered Golurk, the companion he’d caught after fishing a stray Poké Ball out of a trash bin. It was convenient, so he just kept carrying it around.

Ash said, “If you have a Poké Ball and a partner, you’re a Trainer too! Come back with me—let’s battle Yveltal together!”

AZ froze.

My partner…

His sight slowly cleared, memory scenes crowding back in—every moment with Floette gushed through his mind.

And so many memories: sleeping atop Golurk, huddling with Torkoal for warmth in a snowy cave, feeding berries to Sigilyph…

It wasn’t immortality that brought pain, but the obsession that could never forgive himself.

AZ stared at his withered hands, the tiny Poké Ball in his palm, tears plopping into his palm.

“Could I also…become a Trainer…?” The man knelt there in the river, cradling the Poké Ball in his hands.

“Okay, let’s go home.”

Ash reached for AZ, flashing his brightest smile. “Let’s go help Natsume-sensei, Diancie, and the others!”

AZ’s gaze grew steady, taking Ash’s hand as he hauled his great frame upright.

“Thank you, Ash.”

AZ’s voice rasped. “Now I finally feel free… I’ve let go of the sorrow that once drove me to create the Ultimate Weapon…”

“What was that?” Ash scratched his head.

“Nothing.” AZ managed an awkward smile and, not very skillfully, tossed out his Poké Ball.

“Golurk…” AZ hesitated, “Please—take us back.”

The colossal Golurk’s eyes glowed, it hefted Ash and AZ up, jets flaring from its feet.

As Ash yelled “Waaah!” they raced toward the battlefield overhead with Yveltal.

……

“Latias, Draco Meteor!”

“Metagross, Flash Cannon!”

Beneath the brooding sky, streaks of attacks slashed through the air.

Yveltal darted at high speed, dodging, as Latias’s Draco Meteor chased after it like a barrage of missiles.

Boom! Boom!

Yveltal soared higher, Draco Meteors missing and bursting in sprays of sparks.

BOOM!!

Metagross’s Flash Cannon scored a direct hit to Yveltal’s back. It shrieked in fury, circled once, and flung out a pair of razor-edged Air Slashes!

Latias’s Light Screen shattered instantly; the next moment, Gengar joined the fray, hurling a Shadow Ball to collide with the Air Slash.

BOOM!!

Through thick smoke, Latias dived—Natsume raised his right hand, the fingerless glove shining, gaze locked skyward.

Thunder rumbled overhead.

Spell interrupted.

Steven and Natsume both stared in shock at the distant sky.

Yveltal, pausing in midair, also turned to look toward a massive, oddly transparent battleship emerging on the horizon.

The roar of its engines was oppressive—a massive airship that dwarfed the forest.

With the shifting light, the battleship’s cloaking faded, revealing black-gold armor with a gleaming crimson “R” shining in the sun!

Clemont’s jaw dropped. “That’s—”

“Team Rocket!?” Serena exclaimed, wide-eyed.

Natsume’s eyes went wide.

It’s Boss Giovanni’s aerial battleship—the one that went toe-to-toe with Red in the arena!

It’s been showing up way too much lately!

“Yveltal!!”

Yveltal let out a warning shriek, wings flaring as it faced off against the battleship.

A momentary standoff filled the air with tension.

White Metagross drew close to Latias; Steven and Natsume stood shoulder to shoulder averting their gaze to the battleship.

They watched as the Team Rocket battleship and Yveltal stared each other down, then the air filled with a loud radio broadcast:

“Since you’ve asked so sincerely—”

“We’ll be merciful enough to answer!”

“This patch of Allearth Forest is now under our Team Rocket command, meow!”

Natsume: “……”

How…did those three dorks persuade Giovanni to hand over the battleship controls…?

“Fighting legendary Pokémon with the power of science, huh.”

Steven looked uneasy. “A lot of people have tried—they’ve all failed…”

“Usually, in Ultraman movies, the defense team’s battleship is only there for show,” Natsume muttered absentmindedly.

Still…with Boss Giovanni’s signature ride and the unbeatable ‘ace pilot’ trio…

Natsume’s eyes flickered.

Maybe this Team Rocket battleship really could do something useful!

“Screeeee!!”

Yveltal targeted the battleship, launching a probing Dark Pulse. The battleship shook for several seconds—and then emerged totally unscathed.

“Heh-heh-heh~” Meowth, at the console, keyed the mic. “Don’t underestimate Team Rocket’s science, meow!”

“Meowth, which one’s the missile button?” Jessie’s voice echoed from the background.

“Don’t just start pressing things, you dummy!” Meowth yelped, “I haven’t even read the operation manual yet, meow!”

Boom! Boom!

The radio cut out as the battleship’s missiles launched in a volley at Yveltal!

Natsume was floored.

“The power of science really is amazing!”

“Yveltal!!”

Yveltal’s purple beam instantly petrified the missiles midair, sending them plummeting into the river.

Then, Yveltal dove, ramming the battleship with its blood-red wings—

BOOM!!

The battleship erupted in explosions—Team Rocket clung to each other: “We hate this feeling~!”

Natsume pinched the bridge of his nose.

For a moment there, I almost believed they were the true heroes destined to save the world…

But it can’t drag on any longer.

Natsume sensed something heating in his pocket—no time to check—his Key Stone shone with brilliant radiance.

Gengar grinned wide, and before everyone’s stunned eyes, moved to stand between Yveltal and the others. “Gengar!”

“Gengar—!”

Natsume raised his hand. “Mega Evolution!!”