Chapter 0684: The Rainbow Meteorite! Rayquaza Appears (1/3)(Two-in-One)

"Gengar~( ≧◇≦)"

The ever-enthusiastic "Badge Collector" Gengar proudly waved the newly acquired badge, its tiny backside wiggling triumphantly.

Another badge for Trainer!~

Through The Power of One, Natsume could practically hear Gengar's jubilant thoughts—and wanted to cry.

Couldn't Olympia have sent a normal request? Did she have to use a badge as her calling card?

Even when I don't challenge gyms, badges just fly into my hands!

[Badges Collected: (7/8)]

Only one remained—Valerie's Fairy-type badge. Given their existing rapport...

That awkward dance performance seems inevitable now...

"...Did Leader Olympia mention anything else?" Natsume forced out through gritted teeth.

Clemont stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"She said meteorites might fall in Hoenn—connected to Sootopolis City's 'Litleonid meteor shower.' Having powerful Champions there could prevent disasters."

So far, no reports indicated Kyogre or Groudon had awakened.

As for Olympia's "meteorite" warning, Natsume recalled Steven's stone tablet translation:

"The path to the monolith begins at the gate. The key lies in two radiant stones."

This aligned with Pokémon XY: Mega Evolution Act's plot—where Steven and Alain used their Key Stones to uncover the Rainbow Meteorite, origin of Mega Evolution, in Draconid ruins.

Pokémon Omega Ruby also featured a cataclysmic extraterrestrial meteorite capable of global annihilation.

Compared to that doomsday rock, the Rainbow Meteorite seemed manageable. With Steven and Devon Corporation handling it, risks should be minimal.

Olympia's prophecy, Steven's tablets—all pointed to the Rainbow Meteorite. No signs yet of the apocalyptic variant.

Reassured, Natsume exhaled.

Hoenn's crisis might not be so dire after all!

Especially with allies like Wallace, Red, and other Champion-level Trainers—plus legendary heavy hitters like Darkrai, Sinnoh's dragons, and the Tao trio.

Stick to the plan: Visit Wally tomorrow, stay for the meteor shower, then return.

Breaking promises over rumors would be unprofessional. Besides—

What are the odds of two meteorites striking at once?

This dungeon run's in the bag!

"Understood." Natsume smiled at Clemont. "Please tell Olympia—"

"I'll go to Hoenn. And thank her for the Psychic Badge. I'll visit her personally later."

His emphasis on "thank her" and "visit" made Clemont's spine tingle.

"R-right! I'll relay that!"

Anistar Gym's structural integrity might be short-lived...

"Bye, Natsume-sensei~!" Bonnie waved vigorously. "Tailwinds on your journey!"

"Appreciated." After ending the call, Lt. Surge knocked on the door—

"Departure at dawn. S.S. Aqua's ready!"

"In gratitude, I'll skip tonight's... training session here," Natsume said.

"Blastoise..." Blastoise, who had been hiding in the corner, sighed faintly.

No training means survival odds just dropped...

Lt. Surge's eye twitched.

Somehow, I dodged catastrophe.

……

Hoenn Region, Meteor Falls.

Steven knelt on one knee, his pickaxe in hand. Wearing gloves, he brushed away the powder covering the minerals.

A Sun Stone—capable of evolving Gloom into Bellossom—elicited a childlike smile from Steven as he carefully extracted it and placed it into his collection case.

"Mr. Steven is actually mining!" Mairin whispered behind him.

Alain stood with his hands in his pockets, a hint of confusion in his expression. "Maybe... this is part of a Champion’s training?" he muttered, less than confident.

"Let’s go."

Steven rose to his feet and turned back with a smile. "We’re almost at our destination!"

"That legendary giant rock?" Alain recalled the legends he’d heard in Anistar City.

"Correct."

The light cast a shadow across Steven’s profile, his eyes gleaming like rare blue ore as he spoke calmly:

"The origin of Mega Evolution among legendaries—the treasure revered by the Draconid people—the Rainbow Meteorite."

"But Mega Evolution was discovered in Kalos! Why would its origin be in Hoenn?" Mairin interjected.

"Is it that legendary, Mr. Steven?"

Alain looked at Steven, who gave a slight nod. Alain then explained to Mairin:

"The colossal titan that shifted the continental plates split Kalos and Hoenn apart in ancient times. Kalos retained the unique aura of Mega Evolution, while Hoenn became the landing site of the Rainbow Meteorite. Back then, the meteorite even sparked a conflict between Groudon and Kyogre, which was eventually quelled by the Draconid people’s so-called ‘Dragon Deity.’"

Mairin’s face filled with awe. "So... we’re investigating ruins tied to something that powerful?"

"Don’t worry," Steven reassured her with a smile. "Metagross will protect you."

"Metagross!" The white Metagross ahead turned its head, its iron claws snapping together with a metallic clang.

Mairin instinctively shrank behind Alain, who met the Pokémon’s gaze squarely.

"I’m the one who protects the weak—me and Charizard."

"Who’s weak?!" Mairin huffed indignantly, though Alain ignored her.

Steven’s deep eyes locked with Alain’s before a faint smile touched his lips. He turned and continued walking.

"You’ll become an outstanding Trainer, Alain."

Alain walked in silence beside Steven before finally asking, "Why?"

"Because..."

A flicker of reminiscence passed through Steven’s eyes.

"Trainers who understand how to protect others will inevitably grow into formidable individuals."

Steven Stone, the former Champion who had shouldered the fate of all Hoenn, had once carried the region forward through sheer will.

Unaware of this history, Alain replied bluntly:

"I protect who I want to protect. The rest don’t concern me."

Without turning, Steven gazed at the sliver of light beyond the cavern and said with a smile,

"When the time comes, the choice won’t be yours, Alain."

The chirping of birds echoed as they passed through the dim cavern into the ruins’ interior, where the light was blinding.

Alain shielded his eyes briefly before surveying the surroundings, stunned.

"The inside of these ruins... has structures like this?"

Towering stone pillars, etched with ancient patterns, stretched toward the sky. Moss-covered steps led to a circular platform high above, flanked by tangles of vines and yellow wildflowers swaying in the breeze. The sight was both desolate and solemn—an altar of forgotten rituals.

"This is..." Steven paused. "The altar where the Draconid people worshipped the Dragon Deity and the Rainbow Meteorite!"

Alain’s pupils contracted as he stared at the sunlight converging at the pillars’ peaks. A mix of reverence and inexplicable dread toward the ancients welled within him—a fear of colossal forces, as though the altar enshrined not a legendary Pokémon, but an incarnation of calamity.

"Hoenn has always been a land plagued by floods, droughts, and disasters."

Steven stood before the altar, his gaze lifted as he spoke, almost to himself:

"Humans and Pokémon have rebuilt their homes and faith time and again. Some chose the earth as their totem, others the sea... and some, the sky."

He turned, and Alain suddenly felt the insurmountable distance between himself and a Champion. The blue-haired man smiled and said:

"And this place—this is the embodiment of the sky, the ancient ruins of the Draconid people."

"So amazing..." Mairin murmured, at a loss for words.

"Let’s go, Alain."

Steven ascended the stone steps slowly, speaking to Alain over his shoulder:

"According to the stone tablet translations by Natsume-sensei, we’re about to witness the brilliance of the Rainbow Meteorite."

Alain nodded silently. The two climbed the towering central platform in wordless unison.

"What do I need to do?" Alain asked.

"See the grooves on either side of the platform?" Steven said. "If I’m right, placing a Key Stone into each will cause their light to intersect... and open a new path."

"Why are you searching for this legendary Rainbow Meteorite?" Alain suddenly demanded.

It was true—the Hoenn Champion’s actions were unusual. Why would he seek out ruins tied to such ancient power?

If disaster struck because of this, Steven would bear the blame.

Alain had come to these ruins seeking strength, but Steven... was it really just his obsession with minerals?

Steven’s blue hair fluttered in the wind as he glanced at the cloudless sky. His voice was calm:

"It’s about a meteor shower predicted by the Mossdeep Space Center."

"A meteor shower?"

"I haven’t told anyone else, not even Wallace."

Steven’s gaze turned unusually sharp as he looked at Alain and revealed the impending catastrophe.

"According to the Mossdeep Space Center’s projections, in twenty days, a meteorite of unprecedented size will crash near Mossdeep City. Its impact could devastate all of Hoenn."

He continued solemnly:

"And the Draconid people prophesied this disaster a thousand years ago... staking everything on the Dragon Deity and the Rainbow Meteorite!"

"What?"

Alain’s voice came out hoarse. "That’s... impossible!"

Steven smiled bitterly. "Given my close ties to the Mossdeep Space Center, I’ve suppressed this information to prevent panic. But soon..."

He clenched his fists. "I’ll resolve this before panic can spread!"

"A meteorite... And why tell me? We’ve only known each other for three days!" Alain’s voice was strained.

"You have someone to protect."

Steven’s eyes flicked toward Mairin, who was crouched nearby playing with a blade of grass, then back to Alain’s tense expression.

"And my duty is to all of Hoenn."

"You... bastard."

Alain didn’t want Mairin involved. His jaw tightened as he glared at Steven.

"I thought the Hoenn Champion would be a paragon... not someone who exploits others!"

"Think what you will."

Steven’s smile returned—gentle, yet shadowed by guilt. He extended a hand to Alain.

"I need your help... and the Key Stone you carry, Alain."

There was no time left to retrieve another from Devon Corporation. Steven had to convince Alain now.

In this moment, he wasn’t the kind, approachable Steven—he was a Champion who had once fought and died for Hoenn.

Even if it meant being called despicable, even if it meant dragging Alain and Mairin into this, he had no choice.

Slap!

Alain knocked Steven’s hand away and shoved his own into his pockets, turning toward the opposite side of the platform.

"Did you ask Wallace? Or Natsume? Or Red?"

"If things spiral out of control, I will."

Unaware of the group chat’s plans to witness the meteor shower together, Steven had spent sleepless nights on this crisis, leaving no time for messages.

When the meteorite fell, no one would be spared.

Steven wanted to ease Alain’s burden, taking full blame himself to redirect the boy’s fear into anger.

‘Am I doing the right thing?’

Watching Alain’s back, Steven hesitated.

‘Maybe lying would be easier... but I can’t lie to myself.’

His gaze returned to the altar.

This was the last chance. If it failed, he’d have to seek other Trainers’ aid.

Alain seemed to reconsider. He walked back and said quietly,

"Lie to Mairin... Don’t tell her about the meteorite."

He paused. "Please."

Steven nodded. "I’m sorry—"

"Don’t apologize. This is your duty as Champion."

Alain removed the Key Stone from his Mega Bracelet. "Besides... I’m curious to see what this legendary Dragon Deity is capable of!"

As Steven and Alain placed their glowing Key Stones into the grooves, a gale erupted. The engraved patterns lit up, and the ground trembled.

Boom!

At the same moment, a draconic roar split the sky above.

Steven’s sky-blue eyes fixed on the fissure opening at the altar’s center. A stone platform rose, bearing a radiant, multicolored meteorite—the legendary giant rock, the origin of Mega Evolution, the Rainbow Stone!

Then—

A thunderous roar shook the heavens as an emerald-green dragon coiled through the clouds!

"Mr. Steven! Alain! Look!" Mairin cried in alarm.

The Rainbow Meteorite’s glow intensified, its energy surging uncontrollably. In an instant, Metagross and Charizard Mega Evolved without command, their Trainers staring in shock.

This energy surpassed the limits of Key Stones and Mega Stones, triggering evolution by sheer force. Even Groudon and Kyogre might be drawn to such power!

Steven looked up, meeting the crimson gaze of the green dragon hidden within the clouds. Its overwhelming presence radiated from its eyes, its form half-veiled in mist—only its emerald horns and golden tail markings visible.

The legendary sky Pokémon—Rayquaza!

"ROOOAR!!"

A thunderous roar shook the heavens as Rayquaza bellowed with unrestrained might—the ancient Pokémon that dwelled in the ozone layer, the deity symbolizing the sky itself!

The violent gust of wind tore Mairin’s cap right off her head, sending her tumbling onto her backside as she gaped at the emerald dragon amidst the storm.

Alain threw an arm in front of Mairin, shielding her as Mega Charizard X beat its jet-black wings, muscles tense but unwavering in its protective stance.

Steven’s gaze flickered toward Alain, a glint of understanding in his eyes.

When someone has a person they want to protect… both Trainer and Pokémon grow braver and stronger!

"Are we… fighting it, Mr. Steven?" Alain gritted his teeth.

Steven’s blue hair whipped in the wind as Mega Metagross clenched its four iron fists. His answer was calm but firm:

"No… Rayquaza sensed the energy of the Rainbow Stone and returned from outer space."

"It wants the stone, Mr. Steven!" Alain shouted over the gale.

Steven’s eyes narrowed. He took a deliberate step back, allowing the Rainbow Meteorite to rise into the air on its own.

Yet when the meteorite reached Rayquaza, it simply… vanished. Not even a pulse of energy remained.

"Gone?" Mairin whispered, stunned.

The Rainbow Meteorite possessed the ability to traverse space.

Rayquaza showed no surprise. It coiled within the clouds, its crimson gaze fixed on Steven.

"You awakened me, human."

"I need your help," Steven said, placing a hand over his heart without flinching.

"The time is not yet right.»"

Rayquaza turned its attention to the empty space where the meteorite had disappeared, its voice carrying an almost lazy indifference.

"Perhaps… you may send a successor to seek me at the Sky Pillar."

Then, with another earth-shaking roar—this one almost like a yawn—Rayquaza spiraled through the air before soaring toward the direction of Hoenn’s Sky Pillar.

From arrival to departure, less than three minutes had passed. Yet the green dragon had left behind an indelible mark of its overwhelming power.

The echoes of its roar still rumbled in their ears as Alain muttered, dazed:

"Mr. Steven… did we… succeed?"

"In a way."

Steven studied the contrail left by Rayquaza, his gaze piercing through the sea of clouds.

"At the very least, Rayquaza has returned to Earth… and we now know where it resides."

Only a successor… can earn Rayquaza’s recognition, huh?

Lost in thought, Steven turned back. "Alain."

"Yeah." There was newfound trust in Alain’s voice now.

"You and Mairin—come with me to Devon Corporation in Rustboro City."

Steven’s brow furrowed with concern.

"I fear… the disappearance of that giant rock may trigger further complications!"