Want to read ahead. You know where
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"Everyone, stand up."
Sam's calm voice carried through the cavern.
The Meteor Clan, who had been kneeling before him, slowly rose to their feet.
Dust drifted through the air, carried by the faint tremors that still shook the ground.
At the front of the group stood an elderly woman dressed in a faded gray robe.
Her hair was white as snow, her expression lined with the marks of time and experience.
She bowed deeply, her movements steady despite her age.
"Master Inheritor," she said respectfully.
"I am the elder of the Meteor Clan. Everyone here calls me Elder Mira."
Sam gave a short nod.
When the giant meteorite fell from the heavens earlier, he had known that time was running out.
Every second mattered now.
There was no space for ritual or flowery ceremony.
"Tell me," he said directly, "how do I obtain the full inheritance?"
Elder Mira's expression softened.
"Honored Inheritor," she began, her tone calm yet reverent, "you need only step into the secret realm of our clan. There, the true inheritance awaits. Please, follow me."
Without hesitation, she turned and began to lead the way deeper into the ancient ruins.
The faint glow of torches reflected against the rough stone walls as the Meteor Clan followed silently behind them.
As they walked, the elder spoke again, her voice low but steady.
"Master Inheritor, you must be wondering about the cause of this catastrophe. Allow me to explain."
Sam nodded, motioning for her to continue.
"A long time ago," Elder Mira said, "our ancestors made grave mistakes. Their arrogance disturbed the balance of nature, and thus began the conflict between Groudon, the God of the Land, and Kyogre, the God of the Sea."
Her eyes dimmed, as though she were seeing the memory herself.
"The world was torn apart by drought and flood alike. No one knows how long their battle raged, until finally, the Dragon Lord, Rayquaza, descended from the skies. It was Rayquaza who ended the clash, restoring balance to both land and sea."
The elder paused, her steps slowing.
"But peace never lasts forever. Not long after, a massive meteorite fell from the heavens, awakening a celestial being… a god born from beyond the stars."
Sam's expression hardened. He could already guess the name.
"At the same time," the elder continued, "the meteor's strange energy caused Groudon and Kyogre to enter their Primal Reversions. In that form, even Lord Rayquaza could not suppress them."
Her hand trembled slightly as she spoke, though her tone remained reverent.
"In those desperate times, the prophets of our clan used a radiant, multicolored stone. With it, Rayquaza was able to ascend further, achieving what we now know as Mega Evolution. In that form, Lord Rayquaza's power became supreme, and he subdued both the land and sea once again."
Sam listened in silence, piecing together the fragments of myth and history.
The elder's words matched what he already knew about Hoenn's ancient legends, but now they carried a new layer of truth.
"After that great war," she said, "our ancestors built the Sky Pillar to honor the Dragon Lord. And from that time on, our clan guarded a single prophecy, one that foretold another calamity."
She stopped before a massive stone gate engraved with ancient runes.
"It was said that after three thousand years, a being from the stars, known as Deoxys, would descend upon the world, heralding a new disaster. With its arrival would come another meteorite, one so large that it could destroy all of Hoenn."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"To stop that destruction, Lord Rayquaza must once again achieve his Mega Evolution form. Only then can the catastrophe be averted."
Sam took a slow breath. The pieces fell into place.
So that was why Rayquaza pursued Deoxys so relentlessly.
It wasn't just a battle of pride or dominance.
It was destiny… a cosmic cycle.
"The multicolored stone you mentioned," Sam said, reaching into his jacket.
"Is it like this?"
He revealed the brilliant gem Zinnia had entrusted to him long ago.
It shimmered faintly, even in the dim light.
Elder Mira's eyes widened.
She stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Yes," she said with awe.
"That is indeed the Rainbow Stone, the key to awakening Rayquaza's Mega Evolution. But… it's incomplete. The stone's energy has faded over the ages. Without its missing counterpart, Lord Rayquaza cannot achieve his true form."
Sam frowned slightly, closing his hand around the stone.
"Then where can I find the rest of it?"
The elder turned toward the gate.
"That answer lies within the secret realm. Beyond this door, the inheritance of the Meteor Clan awaits you, Master Inheritor. But be warned… the trials within are not meant for the faint of heart."
The stone gate began to tremble as ancient mechanisms shifted.
Light spilled out from the cracks, flooding the cavern in a soft golden glow.
Sam took a deep breath.
His pulse quickened, not from fear, but anticipation.
He wasn't just some traveler anymore.
He was a man who knew the path ahead, someone who had read this story long before he ever stepped into it.
So this is it, he thought.
'The trial of Rayquaza's chosen.'
And with that, he stepped forward into the light.
"Only through the Meteor Mystery Realm can one obtain the complete inheritance," Elder Mira said solemnly.
"Only then can Lord Rayquaza's full power be awakened."
As she spoke, she led Sam through a narrow passage lined with ancient carvings.
The air grew heavier with every step, humming with the faint pulse of hidden energy.
At the end of the tunnel stood a cavern entrance, its mouth veiled by a shimmering curtain of light that rippled like liquid glass.
Even the divine presence of Groudon, Kyogre, or Rayquaza could not pierce this veil.
Whatever lay beyond was sealed completely from the outside world.
Elder Mira stopped before the glowing barrier and turned to Sam.
"Master Inheritor," she said with quiet reverence, "this is the sacred land of our clan, the Meteor Mystery Realm."
Sam studied the ever-shifting light, his reflection distorted within its flow.
"Once I enter," he asked, "how do I obtain the full inheritance?"
The old woman hesitated, shaking her head slowly.
"For thousands of years, no one has entered the realm and returned. Even our clan's records do not say what lies inside."
Sam's gaze hardened.
"That's fine," he said.
"I'll find out for myself."
Elder Mira lowered her head.
"May the Dragon Lord guide your steps."
Without another word, Sam drew a deep breath and stepped into the radiant veil.
The light swallowed him whole.
Inside, silence gave way to a rush of sound, wind, thunder, the roar of an unseen ocean.
Energy surged through the air, thick enough to taste.
In an instant, that energy converged on Sam, flooding into his body like a storm.
Pain followed.
It wasn't the dull ache of battle wounds, it was searing, tearing agony.
His body felt as if it were being broken down and rebuilt from the inside out.
Every vein burned with fire as the energy forced its way through, opening hidden channels he never knew existed.
He gritted his teeth, but the pain was overwhelming.
A hoarse cry tore from his throat despite his will.
The process was merciless, worse than what he endured back in Viridian Forest.
His consciousness blurred; time stretched and twisted until moments felt like eternities.
He didn't know how long it lasted.
A day and a night passed in the real world, but within the realm it felt like years.
Then, at last, the storm of energy began to fade.
The pain ebbed away, replaced by a deep, calm strength that pulsed in every breath.
The light surrounding him dimmed, revealing the entrance once more.
Outside, the Meteor Clan waited in solemn prayer.
All knelt before the cave, hands clasped, their chants echoing softly through the mountain.
"Lord Rayquaza, the covenant of fate has been opened…"
The veil of light rippled once more, and then Sam stepped out.
He looked different. His eyes were sharp and steady, gleaming like tempered blades.
His posture carried the quiet confidence of someone who had faced the impossible and returned stronger.
The faint aura around him rippled with invisible power, calm yet immeasurably vast.
"Master Inheritor!" the Meteor Clan called out as one, bowing deeply.
Elder Mira stepped forward, her old eyes shining with hope.
"Have you obtained the inheritance?"
Sam nodded once.
"Yes."
Without another word, he raised his hand and released a Poké Ball.
A flash of light revealed Little Lugia, who spread its wings with a cry that shook the sky.
The air around them stirred in response, the clouds above parting as if recognizing its presence.
Sam looked toward the distant Sky Pillar, where the Dragon Lord awaited.
His expression was calm, but determination burned behind his eyes.
He could feel it now, the connection, the resonance between the Rainbow Stone and the power that slept in the heavens.
The inheritance of the Meteor Clan was his.
He now possessed the strength to awaken Rayquaza's Mega Evolution, and with it, the hope to face the coming catastrophe.
With Silver by his side, Sam turned toward the horizon.
The wind rose around them, carrying the scent of rain and ozone.
The path ahead was uncertain, but he no longer hesitated.
"Let's go," he murmured.
And together, they soared toward the Sky Pillar, where destiny awaited.