Kanto seas.
Thick fog covered the sea as seasonal winds blew.
Lugia's descent was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the previously arrogant Tentacruel clan.
The pressure originating from a higher level of life made most Tentacool instinctively show fear.
Even the Giant Tentacruel looked at Lugia with hesitation and wariness.
It was certainly a hothead that had even wanted to test the Giant Dragonite.
After all, ever since it had mutated and grown to this size, the entire Tentacruel clan in these waters had no rivals.
Even the usually domineering humans, after that incident, had only sent people to reach a mutual non-aggression peace treaty.
Arrogance was natural, but the sudden intervention of Lugia was a different matter.
At the very least, the Giant Tentacruel that had grown used to rampaging did not dare attack Lugia directly.
Truthfully, Lugia felt quite helpless right now.
A Sea God like itself having to mediate a conflict between Pokémon… if this got out, Ho-Oh would definitely mock it.
But there was no helping it.
During the time it had wandered the Hoenn seas with the Giant Dragonite, it had come to understand the loneliness the giant endured.
That was why Lugia had chosen to step in.
Although Lugia itself was not very sensitive to loneliness—sometimes even a bit dull—it still wanted to prevent conflict between the two.
After all, once a fight broke out, becoming friends and getting along would become much harder.
They weren't like its own three rebellious children who treated fighting as a habit—scrapping from time to time and feeling uncomfortable if they didn't.
Lugia's intervention was very effective.
The Tentacool stopped making trouble, and the Giant Tentacruel showed no sign of attacking with its tentacles at the slightest provocation.
Satisfied, Lugia retreated a few body lengths and gave the Giant Dragonite room to act.
The Giant Dragonite slightly lowered its head and opened with a question it had pondered for a long time:
"Grooh?" (Do you also feel troubled by your size?)
The Giant Tentacruel froze.
It had been wondering what Lugia and the Giant Dragonite were up to—whether they were here to steal territory.
But the Giant Dragonite had suddenly asked a question that first made the Tentacruel think What nonsense are you saying? before falling into abrupt silence.
Did it feel troubled by its size?
The Giant Tentacruel wanted to say no, but certain memories surged up.
Once, it had been an ordinary Tentacool with playmates, joys, and worries.
It often secretly poked the butts of humans swimming nearby with its friends, and relying on its rare Poison typing and numbers, it had tyrannized the coral reef it lived in, driving away other wild Water Pokémon.
But those joys had turned into worries after an unexpected disaster.
Humans had driven them from their home and even hired trainers to chase away those trying to reclaim it.
Even if some Water Pokémon said "what goes around comes around," they didn't care and simply stung the offenders while they slept.
That had been its worries as a Tentacool.
But all those joys and worries changed the moment a man in a white uniform with an R pattern threw a barrel of three-cup vinegar onto its head while it was among the group.
A strange principle triggered a special evolution.
The previously empty-headed creature grew smarter as its body enlarged. It even gained the ability to release neurotoxin through its tentacles to control other Pokémon—such as speaking through a Meowth.
Its size became unprecedentedly huge. The Tentacruel leader it had once admired could now be slapped hundreds of meters away with a casual tentacle flick.
Its former Tentacool friends began avoiding it. Even when it tried to approach, the water currents from its mere movement pushed them far away.
After taking revenge on humans, it naturally became the overlord of these waters and king of the Tentacruel clan.
But… it couldn't feel happy at all.
Everything familiar had drifted away, leaving behind a loneliness akin to standing at the pinnacle of the world.
Even if the Giant Tentacruel didn't want to admit it, it could not say the words "I'm not troubled."
Its nearly eighty swaying tentacles drooped. It fell silent.
The Giant Dragonite looked at it and softened its voice: "Boh" (Don't be afraid. I'm the same)
"Boh?" (Want a hug?)
The Giant Dragonite opened its arms. Its honest eyes were full of gentleness.
Having endured who-knows-how-many years of such solitude, it understood this special loneliness perfectly.
So the Giant Dragonite wanted to help the Giant Tentacruel—and in doing so, help itself.
"…"
The Giant Tentacruel shook its tentacles, showing no intention of moving.
But the Giant Dragonite seemed to understand its concerns. Looking at the hesitant giant, it called out again.
"Boh" (Don't worry about how I look. Over the years I've built up resistance to most toxins)
"…Duku." (Then… I'll reluctantly hug for a bit.)
This time the Giant Tentacruel did not refuse.
Amid the path cleared by the many Tentacool, its hostility gone, it slowly swam before the Giant Dragonite and tentatively wrapped its tentacles around it.
Truthfully, the scene looked rather bad. Lucas even had the impression the Giant Tentacruel was "devouring" the Giant Dragonite.
But for two Pokémon far beyond normal size, this might have been the first peaceful, worry-free hug they had enjoyed in a long time.
…
On Monsu Island in Hoenn.
At this moment, Team Aqua and Team Magma grunts were already fighting chaotically, with move effects flying everywhere. The scene had become extremely messy.
Yet even in this chaos, there were a few battle zones that both sides consciously avoided.
In front of Archie, a ferocious Sharpedo—using some technique to wrap water flow around its body and float in mid-air—bared its sharp teeth.
Maxie's expression remained unchanged, because in front of him stood a sturdy Camerupt watching the Sharpedo warily.
Aside from the two leaders.
The two admins holding each other's spies were also in a stalemate.
They both knew that if even they started fighting, some hidden "fisherman" might benefit.
This left Lance—mixed among the crowd—somewhat disappointed. But if evil organization leaders were so easily tricked, he as a Ranger wouldn't need to get involved.
Lance faintly sensed his Gyarados drawing closer. He had already gripped Dragonite's Poké Ball, planning to have the Gyarados attack Camerupt the moment it appeared while ordering Dragonite to suppress the Sharpedo.
The risk would be high, but compared to both sides being on high alert, this chaotic situation was a golden opportunity.
Lance wasn't sure there would be another chance later, and hesitation would only bring change. He was ready to go all out.
Soon, the rumbling sounds from the forest near the altar drew the attention of many Team Aqua and Team Magma members.
Amid collapsing trees, a massive, strikingly red Gyarados burst out violently.
Lance's eyes brightened, but when he saw the six human figures on the Gyarados's back—most of them teenagers—his vision went black.
No way?! Didn't I specifically instruct the Gyarados to drop Brock and the others before landing?!
And why has the number doubled?!
Not only had Ash still not been rescued—this was practically toying with him!
No one could understand Lance's inner collapse and helplessness at that moment.
"Who goes there?!"
Archie and Maxie shouted simultaneously. Their Sharpedo and Camerupt ignored each other and turned their aggression toward the six intruders and the red Gyarados.
The two organizations might quarrel and fight among themselves, but when facing an external problem, their first reaction was to unite against the outsider.
Even the grunts who had been battling each other showed signs of pausing.
In response.
The fearless Nemona was the first to jump down from the red Gyarados's back.
She directly used one of her teacher's favorite lines: "Just a passing ordinary Trainer!"
"Dusclops, use Shadow Punch on him!"
Nemona threw a Poké Ball with a crooked trajectory. A Pokémon wrapped entirely in bandages with a pair of red single eyes flew straight at Archie and threw a punch.
Paul immediately sent out his Skeledirge and launched a Fiery Song attack at Maxie.
Shizuka's Chansey waved its wicked little hands, dropping two waves of gravity from the sky that pinned Archie and Maxie in place for a moment.
Their trainer instincts and coordination were almost as if someone had specially trained them.
Not just Brock's group and Lance—even Archie and Maxie were completely stunned.
Wait, how are you kids so skilled?!
But the two were still leaders of evil organizations that had terrorized a region. They naturally had defensive forces.
In the critical moment, Matt instantly pushed aside the captured Courtney and released a Crawdaunt to protect Archie.
Tabitha did the same, placing a Magcargo in front of Maxie.
Bang!
Dusclops's and Skeledirge's attacks were blocked by the two Pokémon!
"Tch."
Paul frowned. Sure enough, as Teacher Lucas had said, this kind of surprise attack only worked on lone "bad guys."
Once there were more people, accidents happened.
"—Damn it!"
Realizing he had nearly been ambushed by brats, Archie roared. His Sharpedo, filled with rage, slammed into Dusclops.
The Dark-type move Sucker Punch was extremely effective.
Dusclops was instantly knocked to the ground.
A full-powered angry strike from Archie's Sharpedo was indeed too much for a newly evolved Pokémon.
Experience had shown its importance.
Nemona had wanted to use Dusclops's Ghost typing for a surprise victory, but her consideration had still been insufficient.
"Sorry, my oversight. Return and rest."
After clumsily recalling Dusclops with the ball Shizuka had picked up, she regretted not bringing Decidueye so Dusclops wouldn't have had to take the risk.
But she could still distinguish priorities. Without hesitation, she sent out her ace.
"Pawmot!"
On the other side, Paul had his Skeledirge, which had been pushed back by Magcargo, return to his side for now and did not plan to switch.
Shizuka had Chansey provide emergency treatment for Dusclops and called out her Venusaur to guard the trio against sneak attacks.
In a flash, the first round of clashes ended.
"Wailmer!"
"Torchic!"
Brock and May, who had finally reacted, also sent out their Pokémon.
They could only serve as support, however.
At this moment, the group—including the red Gyarados—were solidly surrounded by six opponents.
"You brats have gone too far!"
Archie glared at them with a dark face, completely unaffected by the red Gyarados's threatening roar.
So close! If not for Matt beside him, even if he hadn't been injured, the vermilion orb in his hand might have been taken.
Unforgivable!
As an evil organization leader, Archie lacked no decisiveness. Though he hadn't minded letting Maxie release Brock's group earlier, he was now truly enraged.
Matt and the freed Shelly followed Archie's will and turned their spears toward Nemona's group.
Maxie's side was similar. Together with Tabitha and the freed Courtney, he advanced step by step on Brock's trio.
Several Pokémon began charging moves in their mouths.
Brock glanced at May and Max beside him and thought, This is bad.
He hadn't brought his main gym-leader team on this trip!
Wailmer? Or Forretress? Neither seemed able to solve the current crisis.
May wasn't good at battling, and Max wasn't even a Trainer. The only one they could rely on seemed to be the Gyarados behind them.
At that moment, a loud male voice suddenly rang out from among the Team Magma grunts.
"Gyarados, use Hydro Pump!"
The instant it heard the voice, the red Gyarados unhesitatingly fired a fully charged Hydro Pump, blocking the scorching attacks of the three Fire-types on Maxie's side.
At the same time, Lance—who knew he could no longer hide—flipped back his hood and threw a Poké Ball.
"Dragonite—!"
"Extreme Speed!"
The moment the Poké Ball opened.
An orange-yellow figure shot forward with speed unfitting its size, charging behind Maxie and snatching the indigo orb from his hand with a single swipe!
"—What?!"
Maxie froze, never expecting someone hidden behind him.
On the other side, the confident Archie also suffered a major setback in his life.
Believing Dusclops represented Nemona's full level, he watched in disbelief as his Sharpedo was chased and electrocuted by Pawmot.
Seeing that Paul and Shizuka were struggling against the Team Aqua admins Matt and Shelly, Nemona simply called out her Tauros and Ursaring as well. Without commands, she had them block the Crawdaunt and Walrein.