Seafloor Cavern
A stream of bubbles surfaced as the Seafloor Cavern One submarine finally emerged after days of travel.
Hiss!
The sound of a pressurized hatch opening echoed through the cavern. Led by Archie, Team Aqua members wearing sailor uniforms and bearing the team's emblem filed out in an orderly line.
After briefly surveying the two pathways before them, the group headed down one of the passages without hesitation.
Following them, Maxie of Team Magma disembarked with his crew.
"Boss, those Aqua scumbags got ahead of us," grumbled Courtney, one of Maxie's top lieutenants, clutching a Poké Ball as she glared in the direction Team Aqua had taken.
Using their knowledge of the submarine's structure, Team Aqua had locked Team Magma behind an airtight door, delaying them just enough to claim a head start into the Seafloor Cavern.
"Let them enjoy their little head start," Maxie said, his lips curling into a cold smile.
While Team Aqua's familiarity with the submarine played a role in their lead, Maxie had allowed it intentionally.
Their shared goal was to awaken Groudon and Kyogre, but the real challenge wasn't the awakening—it was escaping afterward.
By holding back and keeping control of the submarine, Maxie had ensured that when Team Aqua awakened Kyogre and tried to leave, they'd find themselves stranded.
The mere thought of Team Aqua's panic brought a quiet chuckle to Maxie's lips, though his outward demeanor remained composed.
Turning to another of his lieutenants, Tabitha, he ordered, "Stay here and secure the submarine. Wait for my signal."
"Yes, Boss!" Tabitha saluted.
Hearing this, the rest of Team Magma realized their leader's true intentions. Their earlier frustration melted away, replaced by a renewed sense of purpose.
"The rest of you, follow me!" Maxie commanded as he led his team into the second passage.
Unbeknownst to either team, a Barraskewda clung to the underside of the Seafloor Cavern One, a blinking red tracker on its back emitting a faint signal.
---
Hoenn Region, Southern Seas
The sky was a brilliant blue, with a few clouds lazily drifting overhead.
A Pelipper, gliding through the air for hours, finally spotted its prey: a lone Luvdisc.
Luvdisc, typically a social Pokémon, became sluggish and vulnerable when isolated—perfect prey for predators like Pelipper.
After circling the area to ensure there were no threats nearby, the Pelipper made its move.
With a powerful beat of its wings, it surged forward.
Wind swirled beneath its wings, creating a burst of thrust that launched the Pelipper like a cannonball.
Whoosh!
The Pelipper dove sharply, tearing through the air with a piercing shriek.
Hearing the sound, the Luvdisc darted frantically, trying to escape.
But the Pelipper, its dive perfectly timed, quickly closed in. Spreading its wings to stabilize its descent, it opened its beak, poised to snatch its prey.
Then, a faint blue glow enveloped both the Pelipper and the Luvdisc.
Pause.
The Pelipper, mid-dive, and the fleeing Luvdisc seemed frozen in time.
A Poké Ball fell from above, striking the Pelipper on the head and sucking it inside.
The ball disappeared into the sky, and the Luvdisc, now free, resumed moving.
Not wasting a second, it darted into the depths of the ocean, unwilling to question the predator's sudden disappearance.
---
Several thousand meters above, inside an invisible airship
At a table sat Giovanni, Luo Yuan, and Matori.
After accepting Lance's assignment to assist Hoenn, Luo Yuan had wasted no time heading there.
But unlike the League's official report of him arriving by helicopter, Luo Yuan and Giovanni had taken a more proactive approach, using their privately owned airship to arrive ahead of schedule.
Luo Yuan examined the newly captured Poké Ball in his hand.
Matori glanced at him curiously. "Why the sudden interest in a Pelipper?"
Luo Yuan rarely caught wild Pokémon, so his actions seemed unusual.
"This one has decent potential. With a little training, it could be a valuable asset," Luo Yuan replied.
Matori nodded, trusting Luo Yuan's judgment. If he said the Pelipper had potential, it undoubtedly did.
Of course, Luo Yuan had another reason for catching the Pelipper.
"I recall you don't have a Water-type Pokémon yet," Luo Yuan said, sliding the Poké Ball across the table to Matori.
Matori froze, her cheeks flushing slightly before she quickly composed herself, glancing at Giovanni for a reaction.
Giovanni, who had been reviewing documents, looked up just in time to witness the scene.
With a small cough, he placed a hand on the head of his Persian and spoke.
"Hunter J has provided coordinates. The Seafloor Cavern One lingered at a location for some time, likely marking the entrance to the Seafloor Cavern."
Originally, Giovanni had planned to let Luo Yuan handle the situation independently, but now it seemed he would be joining as part of the reinforcements.
This unexpected development required some adjustments to their plans.
Giovanni turned to Luo Yuan, who met his gaze thoughtfully.
After a brief pause, Luo Yuan said, "Our original strategy was to wait for Team Aqua and Team Magma to create chaos in Hoenn before swooping in to restore order and take control of the region."
"That approach made sense when our resources were limited," he continued.
"But now that you've brought Mewtwo, Giovanni, I think we can afford to be more ambitious."
"Oh?" Giovanni leaned forward, intrigued.
Luo Yuan's lips curved into a sly smile.
"There are three legendary Pokémon in Hoenn," he said.
"Team Aqua and Team Magma have their sights set on Groudon, the embodiment of land, and Kyogre, the embodiment of the sea."
"But perhaps… we should focus on the third one instead."
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T/N: PEAKKKKKK