Chapter Sixty-Four: The Three Sacred Mushrooms

Uxie and Mesprit had engaged in a fierce battle with Hunter J. After driving away Team Galactic, Uxie and Mesprit unleashed their prophetic ultimate move. At that moment, the rampaging Garchomp attacked the two Pokémon once again.

As Uxie evaded, Hunter J seized the opportunity and petrified Uxie, leaving only Mesprit remaining. Mesprit unleashed a burst of psychic energy, striking at Hunter J and shattering her glasses, the shockwave momentarily scrambling her mind. Yet, despite the attack, Hunter J pressed her advantage and, risking the assault, managed to petrify the last of the legendary trio, Mesprit. At that instant, Brock and Dawn felt a sharp pain in their heads.

“This isn’t good. We have to get over there and save them right now,” Ash exclaimed, eager to rush to the rescue after seeing all three sprites captured.

“But even if we go now, it might already be too late,” Brock warned.

“No matter what, we have to try!” Ash declared, bolting out of the Pokémon Center. Brock and Dawn hurried after him, and Cheng reluctantly had no choice but to follow. As they rushed outside, a car pulled up before them.

“Everyone, get in!” called a familiar voice.

“Champion Cynthia!” they exclaimed.

It was none other than Cynthia, the Champion of the Sinnoh region. The four of them piled into the car, and Cynthia sped off toward Lake Valor. After they left, an astonishing scene unfolded at the lake.

Hunter J handed the three legendary Pokémon over to Team Galactic and immediately boarded her airship to depart. But at that moment, Uxie and Mesprit’s prophetic attack took effect—they had foreseen and prepared for the assault. A tremendous force struck the airship, rendering it immobile. The craft plummeted vertically into the depths of the lake, vanishing beneath the waters. Not a single person escaped.

After all, they were legendary Pokémon, and their power was immense. Although it was unclear what technology Hunter J had used to petrify the trio, their strength remained formidable.

Back in the car, Cynthia contacted Professor Rowan. By then, Team Galactic had already vanished, and Professor Rowan had no idea where they had gone.

“Ash, do you know Looker?” Cynthia asked.

“Yes, we do,” Ash replied.

“Then try to contact him. He may know where Team Galactic went.”

“Alright.”

Ash connected with Looker, who was currently at Mount Coronet. It seemed Team Galactic was up to something there, though it didn’t appear to be their base.

“Blast it, where could Team Galactic have gone?” Ash was growing ever more anxious.

“We have to hurry and save Azelf and the others,” he insisted.

“But we don’t even know where they are now. How are we supposed to help?” Dawn asked.

“Team Galactic has all three of the lake guardians. No one knows where they’ll go next,” Brock added.

“Mount Coronet,” Cheng said suddenly.

“Mount Coronet? That’s the mountain where we ran into Shellos before, right?”

“That’s right. I believe Team Galactic’s destination this time is Mount Coronet,” Cheng affirmed.

“But they’ve already been there. Last time, they didn’t seem to find anything,” Brock pointed out.

“They may not have succeeded before, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing there. The conditions just weren’t right,” Cheng explained. “When I was there, I sensed a powerful energy, but the mountain was collapsing at the time, so I planned to return later. I didn’t expect Team Galactic to act so quickly. Their target must be Mount Coronet.”

“Then let’s head to Mount Coronet,” Ash decided.

“Cynthia, we’re counting on you.”

“No problem, everyone hold on. I’m going to speed up.”

It had to be said: a Champion is a Champion—even her driving skills were top-notch.

“By the way, Cynthia, how did you know to find us here?” Ash asked.

“I received word from Looker. He said Team Galactic seemed to be planning something big, so I came to help. He also suggested I check the Pokémon Center for you, and, as luck would have it, I found you there,” Cynthia replied.

“Do you remember the totem at the Celestic Ruins?” Cynthia asked as she drove.

“Of course,” Ash and the others recalled their experience at the ruins.

“Now Team Galactic has the three lake guardians and two Soul Gems. They have everything needed to summon Dialga and Palkia,” Cynthia said gravely. “It appears they intend to call forth both legendary Pokémon, but I doubt humans possess the power to control them—unless Team Galactic has mastered some ancient, formidable force.”

“An ancient power?” Cheng suddenly recalled the meteorites he’d seen before, sensing a strange energy within them. Perhaps this energy was the key for Team Galactic to control Palkia and Dialga.

Piecing together everything, Cheng realized the full extent of their plan: obtaining two gems from the ruins, capturing the three sprites to summon the deities, then using the unique power of the meteorites to control them. It was much like how Team Aqua and Team Magma had once controlled Groudon and Kyogre.

Suddenly, Ash, Brock, and Dawn all clutched their heads in pain.

“What’s wrong?” Cynthia asked.

“My head… it hurts worse than before!” Brock groaned.

“Ah!” they all cried out.

In the next instant, Ash, Brock, Dawn, and Pikachu vanished without a trace. Cynthia slammed on the brakes, leaving only herself and Cheng in the car.

“What just happened?” Cynthia wondered.

“It seems like teleportation. I think the lake guardians are summoning them,” Cheng replied, sensing a powerful psychic wave.

Cynthia glanced at the now-empty seats, worry etched on her face.

“It looks like the three of them were transported by the Pokémon. We must hurry,” she said.

“Alright, let’s get moving,” Cheng agreed.

“Wait, Cynthia, driving will be too slow. Now that our destination is certain, and it’s just the two of us, things are much simpler.”

“Come out, Abra, Kirlia,” Cheng called, releasing his two Pokémon.

“Let’s use Teleport. We may not reach Mount Coronet in a single jump, but it should get us much closer.”

“Very well,” Cynthia agreed. She stepped out and, with a display of advanced technology, folded the entire car away for later use.

“Alright, Cynthia, let’s depart.”

Both placed a hand on their Pokémon, ready to teleport.

“Kirlia, Abra, target: Mount Coronet. Teleport!”

Though the distance was too great for a single teleport, they made several jumps, drawing ever nearer to their destination. By then, both Pokémon were exhausted and could teleport no further.

“Thank you, Abra, Kirlia,” Cheng said, returning them to their Poké Balls. He and Cynthia then proceeded by car toward the mountain.

Meanwhile, Ash, Brock, and Dawn had been transported by the guardians to their location—onboard Team Galactic’s airship. There, they saw the three legendary Pokémon trapped in tanks of strange liquid.

But even as they saw the trio, they found themselves surrounded by Team Galactic members. As they prepared to fight, Team Galactic’s leader, Cyrus, intervened.

Cyrus declared he had no wish to battle and instead shared his ideals with Ash and the others, revealing Team Galactic’s true plan: to unleash Dialga and Palkia and create a new world, with the lake guardians being a crucial part.

When Ash freed the guardians, he discovered they were bound by a Red Chain—a device imbued with the power of Arceus, the creator god, capable of controlling Pokémon made by Arceus. As suspected, the Red Chain was forged from the meteorites.

Naturally, Ash and his friends were captured and loaded onto a helicopter bound for Mount Coronet. As they arrived, something was happening outside. Three people and a Pokémon were thrown in with them—Looker and Team Rocket.

Meanwhile, Cheng and Cynthia, speeding toward the scene, saw the helicopter fly overhead. Following it, they reached the base of Mount Coronet, where they encountered a Team Galactic member—the one with the Skuntank.

“Go, Garchomp! Use Giga Impact!” Cynthia commanded.

Watching Garchomp soar through the air, Cheng was stunned by its stats:

Pokémon: Garchomp
Type: Dragon, Ground
Level: 81
Class: Blue
Rarity: Epic
Ability: Sand Veil
Special Attribute: Rough Skin
...
Moves: Fire Fang, Tackle, Sandstorm, Sand Tomb, Double Hit, Slash, Dragon Claw, Dig, Crunch, Dragon Rush.
Learned Moves: Earthquake, Giga Impact.

Such power! This Garchomp could easily rival some legendary Pokémon. No wonder Cynthia was considered the strongest active Champion, and Garchomp hadn’t even Mega Evolved yet.

Garchomp’s Giga Impact left Skuntank unable to battle.

“Skuntank!” the Galactic member cried, but Garchomp quickly subdued her.

Cheng and Cynthia exited the car and approached the defeated member.

“Tell us—where are the children?” Cynthia demanded.

With her guidance, Cheng and Cynthia dispatched the remaining Team Galactic members and found Ash and the others locked up.

“Are you alright?” Cynthia asked as she opened the cell.

“Cynthia, you came to save us!” Ash exclaimed.

“And me, too,” Cheng added.

“Now isn’t the time for reunions—we have to stop them,” Cynthia reminded them.

They exited the helicopter and hurried toward the cavern.