Little Hoopa landed on Lugia's back.
Lugia glanced back at Little Hoopa.
"Please, Lugia!" Little Hoopa looked anxiously toward Steven and Rayquaza on the other side, then turned to Lugia.
Hoopa Unbound's main target was Little Hoopa itself.
That meant only by staying on Lugia's back could Little Hoopa fully draw Hoopa Unbound's hostility away from the others.
"Lugiaaa!"
Lugia wasn't bothered by Rayquaza's words. Its eyes stayed fixed on Hoopa Unbound, which had just risen back to its feet below.
Three Legendary Pokémon together couldn't touch me.
This time, in a one-on-one battle, I don't need to worry about being ambushed.
If I get hit, I'll simply use Recover, and my Multiscale will still be in effect. Attack me all you like — it won't matter. What will you do now?
Hoopa Unbound watched Little Hoopa settle onto Lugia and immediately fired off Dark Pulse!
Lugia saw the Dark Pulse coming and chose not to take it head-on.
It used its speed to weave through the air, dodging Hoopa's attacks.
Meanwhile, Rayquaza dove down, knocked Dark Kyurem aside with its tail, and fired a Dragon Pulse straight at Kyogre.
Kyogre spread its arms at once and released a surging torrent of water to meet the attack!
Origin Pulse!
BOOM—
Groudon watched Rayquaza descending and immediately raised both arms.
Its turn had finally come!
The ground shook, and a massive, jagged stone pillar shot up from the earth in an instant!
Its sharpened tip glowed with scorching gold light, and the air around it shimmered from the heat.
Precipice Blades!
Rayquaza twisted its body sharply to avoid the worst of it, but Precipice Blades still grazed its side, leaving a burn mark.
"Rayquaaaza!"
Rayquaza let out a roar, and a huge, translucent green dragon slammed violently into Groudon.
BOOM—
Groudon's massive body was thrown backward, crashing through a ruined building before finally stopping.
The heat radiating from Groudon melted what remained of the structure, and it collapsed with a low rumble.
Groudon hit the ground hard enough to shake the earth.
"Kyuuu!"
Kyurem's form shifted — the black portions of its body turned white, and its shape changed slightly.
White Kyurem!
A frigid blue flame shot toward Rayquaza.
Ice Burn!
"Extreme Speed!"
Rayquaza vanished in a flash, and Ice Burn struck Groudon instead, who was still lying on the ground.
Within seconds, the freezing air from White Kyurem's Ice Burn had encased Groudon in ice!
Rayquaza used Extreme Speed to close the distance to White Kyurem instantly.
It coiled its long body around White Kyurem and hurled it violently into a nearby building.
CRASH!
Debris rained down, burying White Kyurem beneath the rubble.
Groudon's whole body flared red-hot, and the heat melted the surrounding ice within moments.
It opened its jaws wide and unleashed a blazing wave of golden-red fire at Rayquaza.
Rayquaza climbed higher to dodge it.
"Kyurem!"
White Kyurem shook off the rubble pinning it down, letting out an angry cry.
An instant later, Groudon's attack sent it flying.
Kyogre, still airborne, watched Rayquaza sweep past and suddenly unleashed Origin Pulse.
BOOM—
The attack struck Rayquaza's tail, triggering a violent explosion.
Rayquaza's eyes narrowed, and it changed course, diving straight at Kyogre.
The huge green dragon opened its mouth wide and swallowed Kyogre whole in a fierce charge!
Dragon Ascent!
Kyogre took the full force of the attack and crashed to the ground.
Rayquaza's attention shifted toward a burst of flame rising from below.
It tilted its head slightly to avoid the attack.
White Kyurem suddenly ignited and charged toward Rayquaza.
"Rayquaaaza!"
Rayquaza let out a powerful roar.
Countless large boulders tore free from the ground and converged on White Kyurem from every direction.
CRACK—
The rocks struck White Kyurem's body one after another.
White Kyurem was knocked out of the sky mid-ascent!
The aura surrounding Rayquaza grew stronger.
Ancient Power's effect had triggered!
All of Rayquaza's stats rose at once!
In that moment, it looked like a king standing above all other kings —
carrying a presence powerful enough to command the entire battlefield!
...
Bzzt!
Hoopa Unbound suddenly trembled, and the dark aura surrounding its body flickered unsteadily.
"Hoopa?!"
Hoopa Unbound turned to look at Desert Tower, standing across from it in Desert City.
A powerful, ominous presence kept interfering with it.
"Lugia, please protect Desert Tower!" Little Hoopa called out.
"Lugia!"
Lugia understood at once. It spread its wings and moved to block Hoopa Unbound, who was heading toward Desert Tower.
"Don't get in my way!" Hoopa Unbound snarled, launching Dark Pulse straight at Lugia!
If Lugia dodged, the attack would strike Desert Tower behind it.
Lugia spread its wings wide and unleashed Aeroblast!
Countless white blades of wind collided head-on with the dark purple wave.
BOOM!
Hoopa Unbound saw that its attack had failed to break through.
It quickly threw down a ring and thrust its arm inside.
In front of Desert Tower, a massive hand belonging to Hoopa Unbound suddenly burst out from a glowing portal!
"Oh no!" Ash shouted, staring at the enormous hand reaching toward him.
He quickly rolled clear, out onto the ledge of Desert Tower, bracing against the fierce winds at that height.
Ash raised his arm to give Pikachu a clear path and started to shout:
"Pikachu, use Thunder—"
A blue Energy Ball slammed into Hoopa Unbound's outstretched hand before it could reach them, knocking it back!
Ash looked up sharply toward the top of the tower.
Standing atop the golden ornament crowning Desert Tower was a Lucario.
But this Lucario looked different from any he had seen before.
It was taller, its expression sterner, than an ordinary Lucario.
Its fur rippled in the wind, radiating the presence of a truly powerful Pokémon.
This was a Mega Lucario — stronger than any Pokémon belonging to any Trainer Ash had ever faced.
"Who is that?" Ash asked, stunned.
Beside the Lucario stood a young woman, her pale blue hair and black trench coat billowing in the wind.
She stood with one hand on her hip, watching Hoopa Unbound hover in the distance.
Ash studied her face, and his eyes widened.
She looked remarkably like Steven — enough that the resemblance was unmistakable.
"Lucario," the Pokémon said in a low voice.
"Yes, I know, Lucario." The woman gave a soft laugh.
"Latias has come as well."
"But still..."
Her expression softened, and her gaze drifted down toward the fierce battle where Rayquaza fought against three opponents at once.
"There's someone special down there too."