April 30.
Sinnoh Champion Cynthia, back in the thick of her historical research, finally had a rare moment of leisure.
In her room at the Celestic Town Historical Research Institute, she wore pink pajamas, towel-drying her long, damp golden hair as she muttered to herself.
"Who would've thought the Spear Pillar ruins we found were just the beginning?"
"According to ancient Sinnoh texts, once the ritual items are gathered, a temporary channel opens to communicate with the Twin Deities of Time and Space."
"And only with their approval can one enter the Hall of Origin, where the Original One slumbers…"
"But… why go to such lengths?"
"Did ancient Sinnoh people really speak directly to the Creator?"
Back in her chair, Cynthia shook her head.
"So often, humanity's greatest mistakes stem from curiosity."
"I should call Grandma and recommend we pause this research—it's already brushing against the realm of gods."
"At the very least, we must confirm it won't trigger a crisis for Sinnoh."
Resolved, she picked up her phone to call her grandmother—Professor Carolina.
But just as her finger touched the screen, it vibrated.
A notification from Pokémon TV popped up:
[The channel you follow "Azure Wings" has posted a new video!]
Aiden?
Cynthia blinked, glancing at the calendar.
It's Thursday… He usually posts tactical guides only on Sundays.
So today's video must be…
Her eyes lit up with a playful smile.
Ah—the "Mythology Explained" series is back! After the Mewtwo episode…
Even after moving away from Celestic Town all these years, Aiden still nurtured his passion for mythological history. He'd not only met countless Legendaries but gathered fascinating insights.
Which Legendary will he cover? Could it relate to Sinnoh?
Exciting~
She tapped the video.
And she'd guessed right.
Today's title read:
"Pokémon Legends: Rayquaza!"
Straight to the point—no mystery about the star.
Rayquaza—the "Sky Lord" of Hoenn, the revered guardian said to have shielded the region from catastrophe time and again.
It was a pity he hadn't covered her beloved Twin Deities this time… but learning about other regions' myths was refreshing.
Consider it a post-work gift from Aiden!
I'll call him tonight to discuss the video~
She hit play.
[OMG, it's been forever! Teacher Azure finally updated "Mythology Explained"! I thought it'd become an annual series…]
[FYI: Last update was two months ago. This delay is unacceptable!]
[But… Rayquaza?! For the sake of the mighty, handsome Sky Lord, I'll forgive you this time~]
[Feels like last time—he probably met Rayquaza firsthand! When's the next episode?!]
As always, the screen flooded with rolling comments the moment the video loaded—despite being live for only a minute.
Most early comments jokingly scolded Aiden for his slow uploads.
Cynthia typed quickly:
[+1~]
Satisfied, she watched as the video began.
"Disclaimer: Parts of this episode lack concrete evidence. Treat it as Teacher Azure's whimsical storytelling—don't take it too seriously~"
"Now, let's begin."
The familiar disclaimer faded, and Aiden's tone turned solemn.
On the pitch-black screen, an ancient mural appeared.
As a mythologist, Cynthia recognized it instantly.
A cornerstone of Hoenn folklore: Rayquaza vs. the Two Gods of Land and Sea.
"Let us return to the dawn of chaos," Aiden narrated gravely.
"After creating Groudon and Kyogre to shape land and sea—the foundations of life—the Original One, Arceus, foresaw a new crisis."
"Molten lava met ocean currents, forging stable land. Yet the sea's endless tides drowned all in their path."
"But land and sea, driven by instinct to expand, soon clashed. Each claimed the world's finite energy—knowing the other's gain meant their own loss."
"Thus began an eternal war—one that rages even now."
"Groudon's mere swing shattered mountains, hurling boulders like blades."
"Kyogre's roar summoned tidal waves that smothered the earth."
"Their battle plunged Hoenn—and the world—into apocalyptic chaos."
Cynthia's gaze fixed on the mural's twin giants:
Groudon, embodiment of land.
Kyogre, sovereign of the seas.
Locked in primal combat.
This was well-documented. Hoenn scholars long confirmed it through archaeology, and coastal folk preserved the cataclysm in songs.
Legends claimed Groudon and Kyogre awoke every millennium at their ancient battleground to settle the land-sea feud.
It seems pausing Spear Pillar research was the wise decision, Cynthia sighed.
Humanity couldn't survive their collateral damage.
But the title hinted…
Today's focus isn't them.
Aiden's last "Arceus Creation Myth" episode mentioned this too—ending with…
Rayquaza quelling the gods' fury?
The video continued.
"Witnessing this, Arceus knew: unless their rage ceased, its creations would destroy the world."
"So it forged a third deity—a mediator."
The mural zoomed in on a serpentine form coiled in the heavens.
Like a green comet, even in stone, it radiated sacred, awe-inspiring might.
Rayquaza—the Sky Lord.
"The land-sea conflict was theoretically unsolvable—their natures clashed. Yet Rayquaza resolved it."
"How? Simple: overwhelm them with superior force."
As the mural showed:
Rayquaza, majestic and wrathful, summoned meteor showers upon the battling titans. Even gods flinched—ending the apocalypse.
"Their first clash ended with Rayquaza fulfilling its duty."
Exactly as Hoenn's myths recount, Cynthia nodded.
Most Hoennians view Rayquaza as mightier than the two gods of land and sea.
But Aiden's wording gave her pause.
"First?"
So there's a twist coming?
Precisely.
"For millennia, sky, land, and sea balanced—life flourished in their cyclical strife."
"Until 2,000 years ago—when an anomaly shattered Arceus's equilibrium."
A new mural appeared.
The deities' forms had changed—and humans now stood among them.
"2,000 years ago, a chromatic meteor struck Hoenn, unleashing subterranean energy."
"Groudon and Kyogre awoke, absorbed its power, and reverted to primordial forms."
"Torrential rains and scorching sunlight—harbingers of global annihilation—returned."
"This time… Rayquaza was outmatched."
"To stop the rampaging titans, Rayquaza—a meteor-eater by nature—consumed the chromatic meteor, amplifying its power."
"It worked."
"The meteor's energy resonated with Rayquaza's Delta Stream organ, unleashing unprecedented power that transformed its body."
"Thus, the first Pokémon to Mega Evolve—Mega Rayquaza—was born."
[??? Rayquaza can MEGA EVOLVE?! Teacher Azure's joking… right?]
[Mega Evolution needs Trainer-Pokémon bonds! How could a god do it alone?!]
[That's why he gave a disclaimer! Just enjoy the story—it's hype!]
The chat overwhelmingly dismissed Aiden's claim.
But then—the screen shifted.
A photograph appeared:
A jet-black Rayquaza, its golden markings swirling like living flames against the sky.
It differed from documented depictions Cynthia knew.
"Many doubt Rayquaza could wield Mega Evolution," Aiden said.
"But I confirm it's true—because yesterday, I witnessed Mega Rayquaza's power firsthand, as it once again drove back Primal Groudon and Kyogre."
"This photo? I took it then."
"Though that's irrelevant—just proof to make my tale credible~"
"…"
Cynthia paused the video, speechless.
What is Aiden even saying?!
He's nonchalantly mentioning meeting Rayquaza—a once-in-a-lifetime miracle!
Even knowing that black Rayquaza favors him (it appeared during the Dragon-type Masters final!), this sounds like humblebragging!
But…
If he claims "Rayquaza was the first to Mega Evolve," he must have new evidence.
Suppressing her urge to call him, Cynthia kept watching.
"I say this for a reason," Aiden continued.
"As we know, 1,000 years ago, a meteor brought Mega Evolution energy to Hoenn."
"That energy crystallized underground for centuries, forming Key Stones and Mega Stones, later surfacing in Hoenn and Kalos."
"But records from the Draconids of Meteor Falls—Rayquaza's ancient devotees—reveal: they first harnessed this power 1,000 years ago."
"And the first Mega Evolution with humans—to avert another crisis—was Rayquaza itself!"
Cynthia's eyes widened.
The murals!
The second mural didn't just show transformed deities—it featured humans.
And one figure held a glowing stone.
The light around them? Mega Evolution's radiance.
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