Chapter 439:
April 25th, Sky Challenge Arena.
A Roselia, blue and red bouquets open in its hands, stood on the ground. Soaring above was a Pidgeot, wings beating, its expression cold and aloof.
"Double Team, then Flash!" commanded the challenging Trainer.
Several illusory, yet tangible-seeming "Roselias" instantly appeared on the field. Pidgeot's eyes gleamed sharply as it spread its wings, unleashing a violent gust of wind that swept down and scattered the Double Team clones. However, behind the decoys, Roselia had already leaped clear of the Gust's area. Its body erupted with a blinding light, causing everyone around, including the Pidgeot, to instinctively blink.
By the time vision returned, two "Roselias" occupied opposite sides of the Sky Challenge arena. Pidgeot couldn't immediately discern which was real, but without overthinking, it picked one at random and dove.
The moment its talons struck, that "Roselia" dissipated into mist.
Clearly, Pidgeot had guessed wrong.
And with that, this challenge came to an end.
This challenge was undertaken by Mona from the town. Kaede saw it and stopped to watch, as over the past month, this kid had been attempting the challenge about three times a week.
She lived close by, coming straight here after school.
Still, after a month, she'd finally cleared the first stage of the Sky Challenge.
That was actually quite impressive.
Considering she was still in high school—and under the Eastova League's current norm where new Trainers typically start their journeys after graduation—she could practically be called a "prodigy"!
At the very least, her future Gym challenges would likely be much smoother.
Not lingering further, Kaede strolled toward the Breeding House.
His mind turned to Mew, wondering when it would return.
The last time it came back was five days ago. Judging by its usual patterns, it typically returned at least once within a fifteen-day window.
That meant it would probably be back before May 10th.
Thinking of Mew inevitably led his thoughts to the Tree of Beginnings. In his understanding, the Tree was not welcoming to humans. His own presence there would trigger the Tree's immune system, causing it to generate Pokémon and even absorb the Pokémon of human Trainers.
This was precisely why Kaede hadn't tried to visit the Tree yet.
While Serperior had the Tree's recognition, and he himself possessed a trace of it... but what if? What if he accidentally triggered the immune system, causing the Tree to weaken? That would be catastrophic, and a responsibility he couldn't bear.
As far as he knew, even the "Pokémon Charmer"—Ash—hadn't gained the Tree's recognition immediately.
Speaking of Ash... if the Indigo League was finished, then the Johto League journey should be starting soon, right?
And the Johto League...
Wasn't that where the incident of the Alto Mare took place!?
When would that happen?
Kaede's thoughts wandered aimlessly.
Just as this idea surfaced, a ripple of Aura reached him from Gardevoir.
In the kitchen, Gardevoir had been helping Latias make Energy Cubes. Suddenly, Latias—in her human guise as 'Kanon'—froze, her expression stiffening. The ingredients floating before her scattered and fell.
"Gardevoir?"
The abnormal fluctuation in Psychic energy was immediately detected by Gardevoir.
Seeing the light gathering in Latias's eyes, Gardevoir didn't immediately ask what was wrong. Instead, she quietly observed as Latias's face shifted to one of acute anxiety. In a flash, she reverted to her true form and darted toward the outdoor Reservoir, frantically tapping the water's surface with her "hands."
She clearly wanted to return to her home in Alto Mare via the Distortion World.
But it wasn't "off-duty hours," and Giratina hadn't opened a portal.
Gardevoir, who had followed, though unsure of the specifics, immediately sent a pulse of Aura to Kaede.
Within moments, Kaede arrived before them.
"Latias! Latias!" Latias, upon seeing Kaede, became even more agitated, waving her arms, too flustered to form coherent words.
"I know, I know. Right away, right away."
Given the timing, Kaede had a good idea what was happening. The only thing that could make Latias this frantic was likely her brother being under attack.
He quickly retrieved a bottle of Grepa Berry Wine from a storage capsule and poured it into the Reservoir.
This was his method of communication with Giratina. He couldn't enter the Distortion World, and his Aura couldn't penetrate it. Most of the time, only Giratina could initiate contact.
But occasionally, Kaede wanted to chat, so he devised this method: pouring wine into the Reservoir. If Giratina saw the water change color, it would know he was calling.
As the wine tinted the water, Latias buzzed anxiously above the surface, fearing that even a second's delay could mean disaster for her brother.
Kaede felt a twinge of tension too. He knew the rogue sisters' goal was to use Latios and the Soul Dew to control all of Alto Mare. If Latios was already calling his sister for help, things might indeed be getting serious.
*'Don't fail me now, Lord Giratina!'*
Kaede watched the water, silently pleading. Out loud, he tried to soothe Latias. "Don't panic. Use Sight Sharing to show me what's happening with Latios."
Sight Sharing was a move both Latias and Latios knew, allowing them to project mental images to those linked by Psychic power.
Latias immediately extended a thread of Psychic energy toward Kaede.
Instantly, as if space had shifted, Kaede's vision changed.
The scene before him transformed into the underground garden of Alto Mare.
Having been there once, Kaede found the surroundings familiar.
His gaze swept the area. Nothing seemed amiss, and Latios appeared unharmed.
Kaede was puzzled.
This didn't look like an emergency.
"Latias! Latias!" (*It's the Soul Dew! The Soul Dew was stolen! And 'Bianca' was captured too!...*) Latias finally managed to explain the reason for her panic.
"Whew..."
Hearing this, Kaede let out a sigh of relief.
As long as things hadn't reached an irreversible point, it was manageable.
At that moment, ripples finally stirred on the water's surface, and Giratina's head emerged.