Chapter 249: Sinnoh Invitation and Hoenn Chaos
After leaving Giovanni’s cell, Rio answered the phone. The executive on the other end told him that the Sinnoh League had just extended an invitation—asking him to appear as a guest at the Sinnoh Lily of the Valley Conference, and if possible, to participate in an exhibition match against one of Sinnoh’s Elite Four members. They asked if he was willing to accept.
"I accept," Rio said after hearing the details. He chatted with the executive for another minute or two before hanging up.
Cynthia sure works fast, Rio muttered. I didn’t expect the invitation to come as a guest appearance at the Lily of the Valley Conference.
He knew this invitation had everything to do with Cynthia.
Buzz—
His communicator buzzed again. Rio looked down and smiled—it was Cynthia.
"Rio—did you get the invitation to our Sinnoh Lily of the Valley Conference?" Cynthia’s voice came through as soon as he answered.
"I did—two months from now, as a guest, with an exhibition match against one of your Elite Four," Rio said with a laugh. "Your side moves fast."
"Of course—my grandmother has a lot of sway in the League," Cynthia said, her tone carrying a hint of pride. "You just sit back and watch me win the Lily of the Valley Conference."
"Alright, alright—I wish you the best in becoming the Lily of the Valley Champion."
After a few more minutes of chatting, Rio hung up. A brief silence followed. Rio and Mewtwo exchanged a glance—one spoke, the other telepathed:
"Let’s go drink."
"Let’s go drink."
Both of them laughed.
[Mewtwo’s friendship increased.]
[Friendship: -5 (from -40 to -5)]
Rio’s smile widened. As expected—drinking is the fastest way to build a bond.
And besides, tomorrow he’d have to get back to work. Who knew when he’d have another seven-day vacation? So tonight—no holds barred. Drink until they drop.
Two months later.
Goldenrod City.
As a plane took off from Goldenrod Airport, several airport workers shed tears of emotion.
"We’ve waited so long—finally, today has come," one of them said, taking off his uniform hat and crying.
Why? Because they were Team Rocket. Members of Boss Giovanni’s Team Rocket. With Rio around, they’d had to lie low—completely low. They hadn’t dared cause any trouble, terrified that Rio would lead a purge and uncover their plan to rescue Giovanni.
But today, finally, the League Champion—Rio—had left Kanto and Johto.
"The rescue plan can begin. I, Lambda, one of Team Rocket’s Four Generals, just saw Rio board the plane with my own eyes," a man with purple hair said into his communicator.
On the other end, excited shouts rang out—like caged beasts finally set free.
High above Goldenrod City, Rio sipped his juice as he looked down at the city below. "I hope they don’t go overboard and give me too much work when I get back," he muttered.
His intuition told him that something big would happen while he was away. Team Rocket would almost certainly try to break Giovanni out of prison during his absence. They’d been far too quiet—ever since he took over the League, not a single Rocket attack had been reported. When things are too calm, it usually means something big is brewing.
When it came to Team Rocket, there was one thing he could always count on: their loyalty to Giovanni. They’d do anything to save him.
Meanwhile, unknown to Rio, the Hoenn region was in the midst of a major crisis.
In Lavaridge Town, inside a scorching hot cave filled with crimson magma, a colossal Pokémon covered in red scales lay sleeping. Before long, a man in a half-red, half-black uniform, wearing rimless glasses, entered carrying a blue orb. He looked at the sleeping Pokémon, and his calm expression slowly gave way to excitement.
"Finally—today is the day. I, Maxie, have obtained the Orb to awaken Groudon, the creator of the land!"
"Groudon—together, we will rule the world and destroy Team Aqua!"
The man shouted in excitement, raising the blue orb high. A brilliant blue light burst forth—and the sleeping Pokémon slowly opened its eyes. Crimson pupils glowed in the darkness. The mountain began to tremble. Magma erupted. Thick black smoke engulfed the sky above Lavaridge Town, creating an apocalyptic scene.
The man let out an ecstatic, maniacal laugh.
But soon, his laughter cut off. He felt like he was losing control. In his mind, Groudon appeared, jaws wide, as if about to devour him.
"No—this isn’t right. You shouldn’t consume me—I’m your master!" His expression shifted to terror. He screamed, begging for mercy.
But it was useless. The blue orb did not let him control the Pokémon—instead, it backfired. After a moment, the man calmed down. The fear in his eyes faded, replaced by a twisted, sinister look. He now exuded the same menacing aura as the beast behind him.
Elsewhere, another colossal Pokémon lay sleeping—a whale-like creature with wings resembling hands. It rested deep within an underwater cavern.
At that moment, a muscular, fierce-looking man entered, holding a red orb. He looked at the whale-like Pokémon, his face brimming with joy. He had waited a long time for this day—to witness this Pokémon awaken before him.
"Awaken, Kyogre! Help us, Team Aqua, crush Team Magma and conquer the world!" the man shouted, raising the red orb. A crimson light burst forth, and the winged, whale-like Pokémon slowly opened its eyes. The cavern shook. Tsunamis erupted. Countless Water-type Pokémon fled in terror as a terrifying pressure swept through the waters.
"Yes—let the world witness your power, Kyogre!" The man laughed, visions of a bright future flashing through his mind.
But a few seconds later, his excitement froze, replaced by shock. In his mind, Kyogre appeared, swimming toward him with its gaping maw.
"No—this isn’t how it was supposed to be!" he screamed in terror.
After a moment, the man calmed down—and now emanated the same chilling presence as Kyogre behind him.
With both ancient Pokémon awakened, Hoenn was struck by two extreme weather conditions.
Across the continent, cities were scorched by a sun so intense that people fell ill from heatstroke within minutes. Plants withered, and wild Pokémon desperately sought shelter from the blazing heat.
Out at sea, unprecedented rain poured down, and sea levels rose at a terrifying rate.
On a coastal cliff, a man in a black suit with an aristocratic bearing looked up at the two extremes of weather, his expression grim. Four others stood behind him.
"Today has finally come, hasn’t it?" he said. "No matter how hard we tried to prevent it, both Team Magma and Team Aqua have succeeded in awakening those two ancient Pokémon."