Pokemon: Resurgence Chapter 93

Hi all, 

Here’s the second chapter for the week. As promised, this chapter is longer than usual.

Chapter 93

Lucas stood on the island structure, holding the Red Orb in his hands. How Rayquaza had convinced Groudon to relinquish the orb remained a mystery. 

The dynamic between the three legendaries fascinated him. Rayquaza had a strong connection with Groudon and Kyogre, or perhaps he was more like their leader. How else had it convinced them to move to the island? Lucas hadn't developed a relationship with them yet, but it wasn't a priority at the moment, as long as Rayquaza could keep them in line. With his permanent Mega form, the legendary Pokemon shouldn’t have any problem doing that.

A notification popped up, breaking his train of thought.

=======

Legendary Quest Completed: Primal Balance
Reward: +2000 favourability with Raijin (Current: Respected 3900/8000), +3 skill points

=======

Lucas dismissed the notification and summoned Raijin. 

"Here." Lucas extended the Red Orb. "Time for round two."

Raijin snatched it immediately, clutching it against his chest with both talons. The absorption process began instantly—red tendrils of energy spiralling up his legs and spreading across his body.

Lucas sat down and waited. Last time, absorbing the Blue Orb had taken some time. The process would move faster this time because Raijin had some experience under his belt.

An hour passed. The Red Orb continued shrinking, feeding its primal power into Raijin. Lucas checked his phone, scrolled through messages, anything to occupy his mind during the wait.

Finally, the orb disappeared. Raijin opened his eyes and spread his wings. Lucas was about to examine the Pokemon when light erupted from his body—the light of evolution. 

Lucas' eyes widened. "What the hell is going on?"

He scrambled to his feet as Raijin's form began changing. The Zapdos stretched upward, its body elongating and growing larger with each passing second. Lucas watched in amazement as the single head began to shift and divide. The skull stretched and morphed, slowly splitting into three distinct craniums—one taking on a red colouration, another shifting to blue, and the third maintaining a yellow hue similar to his original form.

The transformation lasted a full minute. When the light finally faded, a completely different Pokemon stood before him. Lucas blinked several times, struggling to process what he was seeing.

Raijin's new form commanded immediate attention. His body had become sleek and aerodynamic, built for speed and manoeuvrability in the air. Three sets of powerful wings had emerged from his back. The three heads moved separately from each other, turning to observe different angles of their surroundings. Each head represented a different element—Electric, Fire, and Water. Raijin had turned into a kind of hybrid Pokemon. It was like starting with a Dodrio, then giving it the power to fly and assigning each of its three heads a different type.

The Pokemon's overall size had increased substantially, standing nearly twice as tall. He now matched his parent Zapdos in size. His feathers had transformed as well, displaying intricate patterns that seemed to flow between the three elemental colours.

Lucas activated his Insight skill, scanning Raijin's new parameters.

========= 

Species: Primal (Legendary) 

Pokemon Gender: Male 

Favourability: Honoured: 2300/16000 (+20% stats) 

Level: 67 Next: [1%] 

Exp Cache: [0] 

Current Level Potential Met?: Yes 

Stats obtained from EV's [300/300] 

Special Ability: Primal Force [Locked]

==========

Attack: 302 [252]

Special Attack: 401 [335]

Defence: 297 [249]

Special Defence: 301 [251]

Speed: 392 [328]

Luck: 234 [196]

===========

Moves 

Mastered: Thunder Wave, Thunder Shock, Light Screen, Ancient Power, Agility, Hydro Thunder

Unmastered: 

Charge: 90% 

Tri-Strike: 85% 

Lightning Bolt: 92% 

Hydro Pulse: 88% 

Flame Burst: 90% 

Aerial Ace: 95% 

Hurricane: 73% 

Inferno Bolt: 65%

===========

Description: Raijin has undergone an unprecedented evolutionary transformation, becoming the legendary Primal Pokemon, with three distinct heads representing the Electric, Fire, and Water types. His sleek, aerodynamic body houses incredible speed, while his ability to shift between secondary typings makes him unpredictable in battle. 

===========

Hidden Stats

Intelligence: 11

Endurance: 12

Energy: 15

Aptitude: 12

Affinities

Thunder: 75%

Flying: 75%

Psychic: 51%

Rock: 44%

Water: 75%

Fire”: 75%

========

Inherent Traits 

Electric Elemental (Master) - Massively increases the power and effectiveness of electric-type moves. 

Flying Elemental (Master) - Massively increases the power and effectiveness of flying-type moves. 

Water Elemental (Master) - Massively increases the power and effectiveness of water-type moves. 

Fire Elemental (Master) - Massively increases the power and effectiveness of fire-type moves. 

Special Attack Aptitude (Master) - Increases special attack stat training efficiency. 

Special Attack Boost (Master) - Massively increases special attack stat potency. 

Speed Aptitude (Expert) - Increases speed stat training efficiency. S

Speed Boost (Expert) - Sharply increases speed stat potency. 

Perfect Conditioning - The energy and endurance stats massively improve the Pokemon's condition. 

Legendary Potential: Born with hidden stats surpassing ten.

Learned/Acquired/Unique Traits 

Energy Control: It's more efficient with its energy consumption, requiring less to execute a move. 

Tri-Type Mastery: Considered a Flying-Type, but can shift secondary typing between Electric, Fire, and Water at will. 

Elemental Synthesis: Combination moves gain thirty percent additional power when mixing different elements. 

Primal Force: ???????????? 

Storm Sovereign: Can generate and control complex weather phenomena spanning multiple kilometres. 

Thermal Regulation: Immune to temperature-based status effects, can thrive in any climate.

=========

Growth Stages 

Stage 2(Level 60) [Current]: +30 to all stats, two new traits, a new move, and two random hidden stat increases.

Stage 3(Level 80): +40 to all stats, one new trait, a new move, and two random hidden stat increases.

Stage 4(Level 100): ??????

===========

Lucas stared at the status screen until his eyes watered. Level sixty-seven. His strongest Pokemon by far—not many trainers had Pokemon that could match Raijin's power, if any at all. The transformation had elevated him well beyond what he had thought possible.

"Incredible," Lucas whispered. "You're magnificent."

He browsed through Raijin's parameters to get a proper understanding of his new level of strength. The transformation had changed more than his appearance—every aspect of his capabilities had been enhanced beyond recognition.

His favourability had undergone a massive jump from Respected to the Honoured status. Was this because Lucas had helped Raijin evolve into a completely new Pokemon? The system seemed to recognise that Lucas had played a direct role in Rajin’s evolution. Whatever the case, reaching Honoured status provided a twenty percent boost to all his stats, making the numbers even more impressive.

His stats soared after he gained twenty levels in one leap. Raijin could hold his own against some legendary Pokemon now. At the very least, he wouldn't be defeated easily and could escape with his life. And he was only level sixty-seven—still thirty-three levels away from the hundred-level barrier. What would happen when he broke through that threshold? 

Raijin was classified as a flying-type now with variable secondary typing. He could shift his second typing between electric, water, and fire at will, providing significant tactical advantages in battle. Lucas could adapt Raijin's elemental weaknesses and resistances depending on the opponent they faced.

Moreover, his move pool had expanded dramatically to include techniques from all four typings. The new combination attack particularly caught Lucas's attention—Inferno Bolt combined electric and fire damage. These hybrid moves couldn't be resisted by single-type immunities and packed more power than standard techniques.

He couldn't wait to test out Raijin's new abilities in actual combat. 

A new notification appeared.

=========

New Legendary Quest: The Legendary Stone

Description: Arceus has observed Raijin’s transformation with interest. The Creator has provided an opportunity for further enhancement by creating a legendary stone. Locate the stone hidden somewhere within the Pokemon World to unlock his true potential.

Reward: Unlock Primal Force ability, ????

=========

"Well," Lucas said, looking up at Raijin. "Since we have Arceus' approval, we can't disappoint him."

Raijin bobbed his three heads.

“Your name doesn’t fit you anymore. Should I give you a new one?”

This time, Raijin shook his three heads, clearly saying no. Even after his evolution, the proud Pokemon refused to communicate over their bond. 

Lucas smiled. The Red Orb had served its purpose. Raijin had received a massive upgrade. And he had a new quest, a new goal. Finding the legendary stone would take time and effort, but the potential rewards would be worth it.

A familiar pink glow materialised in his peripheral vision. Mew's arrival startled him—the legendary Pokemon appeared without warning, floating several metres above the ground with its characteristic playful demeanour.

Raijin's reaction was immediate and violent. All three heads turned simultaneously towards the intruder, releasing a piercing screech, his wings flaring wide.

"Calm down, Raijin," Lucas said. "He's a friend."

The blue head—representing Raijin's water typing—bobbed once in what appeared to be agreement. However, the fire and electric heads turned away sharply, their expressions radiating unmistakable disgust. Lucas studied this curious behaviour, wondering if each head possessed its own distinct personality. The implications of such a development would be fascinating to explore.

Mew paid no attention to Raijin's hostile display. Instead, the psychic-type began circling the Pokemon, examining him from multiple angles. 

Who would have thought a human possessed the power to create a new legendary Pokemon, Mew's voice materialised directly inside Lucas's mind. I wonder if this was Arceus's goal all along.

"The primal stones created him," Lucas replied. "I simply helped facilitate the process."

Semantics. How is your breeding business progressing? Do you think you could create a legendary Pokemon from an egg?

Lucas considered the question carefully. "Hard to say. If not a legendary, then at least the strongest among normal Pokemon. With Raijin here, who needs another?"

Perhaps. Mew paused. Some of our siblings may not appreciate your creation of another one of us, even if external methods were involved.

"I can think of one Pokemon who wouldn't agree with me, no matter what I do," Lucas muttered

Are you referring to Azelf?

"Who else? I was partly responsible for kicking its church out of Kanto. Somehow, I don't think I'll receive a Christmas card from Azelf in the mail."

Azelf's displeasure with you is only going to increase.

Lucas frowned. "What do you mean? How could it possibly get worse?"

Mew didn't answer. Instead, it changed the subject. I came here to cash in my favour.

"Alright. What do you want?"

I want to use the island as a meeting place for my siblings.

Lucas blinked. "Come again?"

I am concerned about how fractured we have become. I wish to gather my siblings in one place so we may have a discussion.

Lucas could hardly imagine such a scene. The legendary Pokemon, all gathered in one place. Would the island survive such a meeting? He couldn't predict how they would react to each other, let alone to his presence. Outside of the ones he had encountered personally, these legendary beings remained complete mysteries to him. Their temperaments, their alliances, their potential conflicts—all unknown variables in an equation too dangerous to calculate.

A sudden realisation struck him. "When you say all your siblings, you weren't being literal, were you?"

Azelf won't be invited.

"Azelf's not who I'm worried about. At least, not as much. What about Palkia?"

Palkia remains in exile. Until it can figure out a way to escape its prison, you have nothing to worry about.

"I still say it's a bad idea," Lucas protested. "What assurances do you have about keeping them in line if they break out into conflict?"

I have a trick I can use if needed, but it might damage my relationship with them. I will only use it if the situation demands it. Either way, you will be protected.

Lucas stared at Mew in disbelief. "Wait, I'll be there?"

Yes. You are one of our siblings, after all.

"You're still going on about that." Lucas paused as another thought occurred to him. "Have you considered how people will react to this? They'll think it's the end of the world if they see all the legendaries gathering."

Your problem to solve. You should consider starting the new religion that's been proposed in Kanto. It could help you gain more influence.

"You're trolling me."

The meeting will take place in three months. 

Lucas rolled his eyes. “Great. Don’t forget to send a guest list.”

Mew disappeared, leaving Lucas alone with his restless thoughts. Did the Pokemon truly realise what position it had put him in? The magnitude of organising such a gathering went far beyond simple logistics.

Beyond his anxiety about meeting so many legendary Pokemon in one place, there was the staggering issue of concealing their presence from the rest of the world. 

He attracted significant attention now, but imagine how people would react if they witnessed all the legendary Pokemon gathering on his island. The current media circus surrounding his activities would pale in comparison. He wouldn't get a moment's peace. 

Lucas rubbed his temples, feeling a headache building behind his eyes. He would have to become a complete hermit, severing all connections to the outside world. 

He paused, his imagination drifting to an unexpected image—him and Sabrina lying on a secluded beach somewhere far from civilisation, unconcerned with worldly affairs, wrapped in their cocoon of peace and tranquillity. Just the two of them, and their Pokemon, living quietly away from the chaos his life had become.

On second thought, it wouldn't be the worst outcome. The idea held a certain appeal that surprised him with its intensity.

A notification appeared before his eyes, breaking his train of thought.

========= 

New General Quest: Aura Mastery 

Objective: Master the Aura Lance skill to unlock a new aura skill.

Reward: +300 Aura 

Time Limit: 30 days

=========

Lucas frowned. The timing couldn't be coincidental. First, Mew's request for a gathering, now the system was pushing him to advance his aura skills. He doubted that mastering the Aura Lance skill would protect him if a legendary Pokemon attacked him. It meant this was about the new skill. Would it be useful for the upcoming gathering?

He dismissed the notification and considered his current aura capabilities. He still had a long way to go before mastering his Aura Lance skill, and a month was a tight deadline. What would happen if he failed to complete the quest in time? Would he miss out on an amazing new skill? 

What new skill would complement his existing arsenal? His Aura Projection had proven invaluable for creating convincing illusions, while his Aura Barrier allowed him to create protective barriers that have saved his life on more than one occasion. 

Perhaps the new skill would focus on detection—the ability to sense approaching threats or hidden enemies. With government agents, Team Rocket remnants, and various other factions monitoring his activities, such a capability would prove invaluable.

Lucas shook his head. Speculating was pointless because he doubted he could even come close to guessing the new skill.

"Thirty days," He murmured, flexing his fingers as wisps of blue energy danced between them. "Better get started."

===============

Lucas teleported into his bedroom and recalled Dante back to his pokeball. 

He tried to get the Pokemon to explain what happened with Lysandre, but Dante stayed quiet. What past did Dante have with the criminal that affected him so deeply? Lucas had more than met the requirements to know Dante’s situation, but it seemed like the Pokemon still had some reservations. 

He'd spent the morning talking with Maggie and decided to hire her. He'd made the choice for several reasons that had become clear during their campfire discussion. The woman possessed an impressive combination of practical skills and local knowledge that made her invaluable for the island project. Her familiarity with the area meant she could navigate the complexities of working in Hoenn waters, whilst her construction experience—something she'd mentioned whilst they'd sat around the fire—ensured the infrastructure projects moved forward efficiently. 

More importantly, she already knew his secrets and didn't seem particularly intimidated by the legendary Pokemon presence, mainly because she believed they were under his control following the incident on the island. Her ferrying business hadn't been going well, so the steady work and generous pay had left her quite pleased with the arrangement. Lucas appreciated having someone with such a good head on her shoulders to look after things when he wasn't on the island.

As for Butch, the man had seemed almost relieved to return to Hoenn and focus on the negotiations with the Prime Minister. 

Lucas changed clothes and headed downstairs, already hearing voices from the main living area. He found Brock, Daisy, and Cassidy clustered near the front window, their attention focused on something outside. 

"What's going on?" Lucas asked, approaching the group.

Daisy pointed towards the window without taking her eyes off whatever had captured their attention. Lucas moved closer and peered out through the glass. In the distance, where the main road approached their property, a massive crowd had gathered. Even from this distance, he could see people holding signs and banners, their voices creating a constant din of noise that carried across the grounds.

"What's this about?" Lucas asked, though he suspected he already knew the answer.

"Mew's church," Cassidy replied. "The idea is rapidly gaining traction. It doesn't help that your antics with Rayquaza and Groudon were caught on camera."

Lucas winced. "They caught that? I thought I was being discreet."

"Not discreet enough," Brock said, shaking his head. "They waylaid my siblings when they left the property and barely managed to get back inside."

"Sorry. I never expected it to get this bad. Maybe I should speak to Queen Ilene about removing them."

"I doubt that will work," Daisy said. "It's a public road. As long as they don't enter the property, she can't do anything."

"But they're allowed to harass people entering and leaving the property?" Lucas asked. "How is the store going?"

"The new hires are managing the store well," Cassidy reported. "There's not much disruption there."

"I'll say," Brock interjected with a grin. "There's this cute girl working there that I've got my eye on."

"No traumatising the staff," Lucas warned.

Daisy laughed.

"Maybe I should send Bree out there to scare them," Lucas mused.

"That would certainly do the job," Cassidy agreed. "At least in the short term."

As if summoned by the mention of her name, Bree popped her head into the room. She clutched a pair of knitting needles in her mittened hands.

"You called?" she asked.

Lucas stared at the needles, noticing something distinctly unsettling about their appearance. "Are you taking up a new hobby?"

"It's surprisingly fun to knit something. Plus, the needles make excellent stabbing weapons if the need arises."

She held up the implements, and Lucas realised with horror that she had sharpened them to lethal points. 

Lucas winced. "That's great. I'm sure Sabrina would appreciate it if you made her something nice before she returned."

Bree nodded before disappearing from the doorway.

"I will never get used to her," Cassidy said, shuddering slightly. "I still get nightmares about what she did to Malva."

"Well, it's not like you have to stay here anymore," Lucas pointed out. "Giovanni is taken care of, so you could return to your position in Viridian City."

"I doubt I'll get my old job back. Besides, I have come to enjoy it here. But my talents are being wasted working in the breeding facility."

"What do you want to do?"

"Give me a manager's position," Cassidy said. "Butch has too much on his plate. Let me manage things locally whilst he focuses on international matters."

Lucas considered the proposal. "Not a bad idea. I'll give it some thought."

"In the meantime, I'll see if I can deal with these pests," Cassidy said, gesturing towards the window.

"Go wild. Just no indiscriminate slaughter. Bad for business."

"That narrows down the options considerably.”

"Lucas, have you seen the morning news?" Brock interjected.

Lucas shook his head.

"Well, I recorded it. You'll want to see this."

"What's it about?"

"Why ruin the surprise?" Brock said, switching on the television.

The screen flickered to life, showing the logo of the International News Network. The lead anchor, a middle-aged man with perfectly styled hair, appeared with a serious expression.

"Good morning. Our top story today continues the developing situation regarding the Church of Arceus. Following the United Kanto region's decisive action, several other regions have now followed suit in removing the religious organisation from their territories."

The broadcast cut to footage of Pokemon and construction teams tearing down ornate church buildings.  Similar scenes played out across multiple locations.

"Reports are coming in from the Hoenn, Kalos, and Unova regions of coordinated efforts to dismantle Church of Arceus installations. The speed and coordination of these operations suggest this has been planned several months in advance."

The scene shifted to show a reporter standing outside a government building, microphone in hand, as she addressed the camera.

"I'm here with Prime Minister Maeve from the Hoenn region, who announced the decision just this morning. Prime Minister, what prompted this decision?"

The camera panned to reveal Maeve. "The Church of Arceus has operated outside normal oversight for far too long. Recent events have demonstrated their willingness to engage in activities that threaten regional stability. We cannot allow such organisations to continue operating with impunity."

"Are you concerned about potential backlash from church supporters?"

"We've taken all necessary precautions. The safety of our citizens remains our primary concern."

The broadcast returned to the anchor. "Attempts to reach the main Church of Arceus headquarters in the Sinnoh region for comment have been unsuccessful. Church officials have maintained complete silence since these developments began."

The news report ended, leaving Lucas in shocked silence. He'd never imagined other regions would follow Kanto's lead in ridding themselves of the Church of Arceus. The organisation had usually been deeply entrenched within every aspect of regional politics, which explained their massive influence.

The implications struck him immediately. How would Azelf react to this situation? The legendary Pokemon was losing followers at an alarming rate, which would directly affect its ability to grow stronger.

He was deeply concerned that Azelf might react violently to the situation. A cornered legendary Pokemon was never a good thing.

===============

The next morning, Lucas made his way to the breeding facility, checking on his operations. He stopped before a chamber that housed his most ambitious project—his first cross-breed species egg. He aimed to create a Pokemon with strong starting stats and the best combination of traits from its parents. He wasn’t at the level where he could pick and choose the traits accurately, but he had other options in that regard. 

The Arceus’ Emporium let him buy trait capsules for the simplest types, such as those that enhanced stats. He had been meaning to use them to improve his team’s overall performance, but hadn’t gotten around to it. 

Lucas put his hand on the egg and felt it tremble slightly. The egg would hatch today. It wasn’t something he wanted to miss.

He retrieved a specialised carrying harness that allowed him to carry the egg while keeping his hands free. With the egg safely secured, he began his routine property inspection. Just beyond the breeding facilities and the house, the first of the breeding habitats was being constructed. He had spent a lot of time designing them, using the System’s Pokemon Habitat as inspiration. 

As he walked the perimeter, he pulled up his interface, navigating to the reputation section he rarely examined in detail.

Western Kanto topped the list at 900 points, followed closely by Hoenn at 610. These weren't arbitrary scores—they represented tangible political capital that directly influenced what he could accomplish in each region.

Western Kanto's high rating made sense. His early assistance during the Team Rocket crisis, his cooperation with the Elite Four, and his role in resolving the separatist tensions had earned him significant goodwill. The recent summit appearance and his business he brought to the region had also played a part.

Hoenn's strong showing reflected his contributions during the weather crisis and his growing relationship with the legendary Pokemon. Prime Minister Maeve's willingness to sell him the island had been directly influenced by his reputation score. Without that established trust, no amount of money could have secured the purchase.

He delved deeper into the reputation system, discovering nuances he'd previously ignored. Territory ownership laws were intrinsically linked to regional standing. The higher his reputation, the more property he could legally acquire and develop. This explained why the Hoenn government had fast-tracked his island purchase—his reputation had essentially pre-qualified him for the transaction.

The implications for Butch's diplomatic efforts were significant. If Lucas could raise his Hoenn reputation further, it might provide the leverage needed to secure sovereign status for Twin Dragon Isle. 

The system offered other benefits as well. Higher reputation scores generated more quest opportunities, increased the likelihood of discovering rare resources, and even influenced random fortune events. 

He switched to the faction reputation tab, where the numbers painted a more concerning picture. Several organisations showed the Nemesis rating, the worst a relationship with an organisation could get. Team Rocket, Team Flare, Team Aura, and the Church of Arceus were included in this group. No doubt his recent actions had contributed to these scores. Team Magma and Team Aqua might join them, depending on future interactions.

These weren't merely statistics—they represented active threats to his safety and interests. Hostile factions would continue targeting him until the underlying conflicts were resolved. Traditional law enforcement seemed incapable of addressing these threats effectively, leaving him to manage the situation independently.

The idea of building a private security force once again entered his thoughts. He had the resources to recruit exceptional personnel and provide them with cutting-edge equipment. 

The first person he considered hiring was Bill Eckley. Not just because he was a genius, but also because then he would have access to the man’s teleportation devices. He could offer these devices to his security forces, giving them the ability to teleport anywhere they wanted. 

Lucas' brows furrowed. Should he make the call and get the process underway?

Alternatively, he could take a more direct approach and systematically eliminate the hostile factions. With Raijin, this now seemed like a more achievable goal. The world would undoubtedly benefit from the removal of these criminal organisations. However, it would be a huge task and might cause more problems than it’s worth.

The egg in his harness vibrated more intensely, drawing his attention back to the present. “When are you going to hatch?”

A new quest notification appeared, distracting him.

==========

New General Quest: Rescue Operation

Description: The Church of Arceus has launched an attack against your friends. Ash Ketchum, Misty and Delia Ketchum are currently being held captive somewhere in the Sinnoh Region. They may be killed if you don’t find them soon, or used as a bargaining chip to lure you to the region. Time is critical—every minute of delay increases the danger to them.

Reward: None

==========

Lucas's blood ran cold. The church had escalated beyond attacking him directly—now they were targeting innocent people connected to him. Delia and Ash had become like family to him, and he liked Misty. She had a spunky attitude and didn't put up with anyone's nonsense. 

He should have anticipated this happening. Having a Nemesis status with his enemies didn’t just put him in danger, but those around him. If anything happened to them, he could never forgive himself. 

Lucas shook his head. No time for recriminations. He needed to find them quickly. Any mistake could result in tragedy.

He left the incubation chamber, calling Brock’s name.

Brock popped his head out of a stall. “You called?”

Lucas took off his harness and handed it to him. “Something urgent came up. Take care of the egg for me. It’s about to hatch.”

“Alright.” Brock secured the harness around his chest. “What’s wrong?”

"Delia, Ash and Misty are in trouble," Lucas said. "The church has kidnapped them and is holding them somewhere in Sinnoh."

Brock's eyes widened. "Then you probably don't want to hear the news I have to share."

Lucas's stomach dropped. "What is it?"

"It was on the news minutes ago. Sinnoh has gone into lockdown. The church has taken over the government and sealed all their teleportation towers." Brock's expression darkened. "It's too early to say how closely they're guarding their borders, but considering their extreme response, I doubt getting into the region will be easy."

Lucas frowned. The news was disturbing, but he wasn't without options. Although he had never been to the Sinnoh region before, the same didn't hold true for Dante. The Pokemon had another trainer before him and had visited the Sinnoh region during that time.

He could get into the region, but he didn't know what state it would be in, or the level of security or scrutiny waiting for him. What could Azelf's objective be? Was it acting this way in response to the other regions kicking the churches out? Was it that petty?

"Brock, make sure no one leaves the property until I return," Lucas said. "You may be targeted as well."

Brock nodded.

Lucas exited the building before pausing. He retrieved his phone and rang Sabrina's number. The device buzzed twice before her familiar voice answered.

"Lucas? Why are you calling?"

"Where are you? Are you alright?"

"I'm working. What's the matter?" Concern crept into her tone.

Lucas quickly explained the situation. 

Sabrina fell silent for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice carried a deadly calm. "Wait for me. I'll be home soon."

"There's no need for you to get—"

"Would you like to finish that sentence?"

Lucas shut his mouth.

"I need to wrap things up here. Give me thirty minutes."

"Alright."

Sabrina hung up, and Lucas pocketed the phone. Relief washed through him despite his concerns about bringing her into danger. Although he didn't want to put her at risk, it was possible he already had. Better that she was beside him, where he could keep an eye on her.

Lucas frowned when a thought occurred to him. Should he head to the castle and inform Uxie of the situation? The Pokemon had previously visited Azelf and managed to get the legendary to back down, but it seems like negotiations were no longer working.

Since he had time, it wouldn't hurt to visit the Pokemon. At the very least, he might get some information about Azelf that would prove helpful for the rescue operation.

He summoned Dante, who materialised beside him.

"We need to visit Uxie at the castle," Lucas said. 

Dante stepped closer to place a hand on Lucas's shoulder. The world blurred around them, reality folding in on itself before reforming into the familiar stone corridors of Rota Castle.

They emerged in the courtyard overlooking the lake. Afternoon sunlight danced across the water's surface, creating ripples of gold and silver. Lucas approached the water's edge, searching for any sign of the legendary Pokemon beneath.

"Uxie," he called out. "I need to speak with you. It's urgent."

The lake remained still for several moments. Then the water began to churn, small whirlpools forming in the centre. A familiar yellow form rose from the depths, water cascading from its small body as it hovered above the surface.

The Being of Knowledge regarded him, its expression unreadable. When it spoke, its voice materialised directly in Lucas's mind.

You come bearing troubling news about my sibling.

"Azelf has escalated beyond anything I expected," Lucas said. "It's taken control of an entire region. Kidnapped innocent people. What's driving it to such extremes?"

Uxie's form drifted closer to shore, its twin tails swishing through the air. Azelf has always been volatile and selfish. But it believes deeply in its convictions, even when those convictions lead it astray. 

"I have to get them back," Lucas said. "Ash and his mother... They're like family to me."

I understand. But you must comprehend what you face. Uxie moved closer, its presence pressing against Lucas's consciousness. Azelf knows that region better than any living being. You walk into its domain, where it holds every advantage.

"Do you have any advice? Anything that might help?"

Uxie was quiet for a long moment, its small form bobbing gently above the water. Azelf's greatest strength is also its weakness. Its emotions rule it. If you can provoke the right response, it might make mistakes.

"What kind of response?"

Anger. Make it furious enough, and it will abandon strategy for a direct confrontation. But be warned—an enraged Azelf is capable of devastating entire cities in its wrath.

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed across the courtyard. Lucas turned to see Sabrina striding towards them, her expression set with grim determination. She'd changed into practical clothing—dark trousers and a fitted jacket that wouldn't impede movement.

"I see you've started without me," she said, her gaze moving between Lucas and Uxie.

“How did you know I was here?” Lucas asked.

Sabrina raised an eyebrow.

“Unfair,” Lucas muttered. “Even without your psychic abilities, you can read me like an open book.”

Sabrina. Uxie's mental voice interrupted them. Your psychic abilities will prove valuable in Sinnoh. Azelf's influence affects the mind directly. Your natural resistances may protect you where others would fall.

"Good to know," Sabrina replied. "What else can you tell us about what we're walking into?"

Chaos. Fear. A region under the control of a legendary Pokemon that believes itself betrayed by the world. Uxie's form began to sink back towards the water. Be careful, both of you. Azelf will not hesitate to kill those it perceives as enemies.

The Being of Knowledge disappeared beneath the surface, leaving Lucas and Sabrina alone by the lake. She moved to stand beside him, her hand finding his.

“Ready to invade a hostile region controlled by a psychotic legendary?" Sabrina asked.

Lucas squeezed her hand. "It sounds like the perfect date.”

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Lucas and Sabrina invade Sinnoh, and Raijin gets a chance to try out his new abilities.

Thanks for reading.