"As for the concern regarding the Dragon Pokémon's anger, that is even simpler to resolve. I will personally communicate with the leaders of the Dragon clans," Shiori continued, laying out her solution with newfound clarity.
"For every portion of Meteoritic Iron we extract, we will provide a set amount of high-grade gemstones to the Dragon Pokémon. When that happens, I suspect the dragons will be even more enthusiastic about the excavation than our own people."
Shiori stood tall, her voice ringing with confidence. "By agreeing to open the mines, we don't just solve our immediate crisis; we secure the finest resources for the very Pokémon that protect us."
"I still disagree," an elder interjected, his voice trembling with indignation. "This remains a desecration of our faith in the Lord of the Sky!"
"On the contrary," Shiori snapped, her eyes flashing. "I believe it is those of you who let our people rot in poverty who are the true desecrators of our faith. You sit here in your positions of comfort while our people go hungry and our lineage faces extinction. Where is the faith in that?"
"The Lord of the Sky has mentioned to me more than once that he feels the devotion of the Draconids is waning. Why do none of you think of the source? Our ancestors established these traditions so that our people would thrive and endure forever. They could not have foreseen the world a thousand years later. We must take the essence of their wisdom but adapt to the currents of time."
"The Lord of the Sky has never said that mining ore is a desecration of faith. It is people like you who have over-interpreted his silence, creating a cage that stifles our development," Shiori declared passionately.
"Think carefully: do you choose a strong, thriving Draconid clan, or do you choose to cling to the past until we fade into nothingness? I am the High Priestess, the Dragon Messenger, and the voice of Rayquaza. The decision I make today is his divine will. I am not asking for your permission; I am notifying you of the new path. We will develop the caverns, move our people out of these cold, damp caves, and prioritize education and culture. The Draconids will be great again."
The room fell silent. Finally, the Great Elder—Shiori's grandmother—nodbed slowly. "Shiori, your vision is sound. I have thought upon it, and indeed, the Lord of the Sky never forbade the Earth's gifts. Our minds were the only things limited. Since this is his will, go forth with courage. I support you."
With the Great Elder's blessing, the remaining doubters fell silent, and the seeds of a new revolution were sown in Meteor Falls.
Mt. Chimney, Hoenn
Meanwhile, Feng Che found himself being tailed by a girl in a Team Magma uniform.
"Hey, handsome! Just give me that Vulpix of yours, okay? I really, really love it," she said, suddenly jumping out to block his path. "Name your price in resources; I can give you anything you want."
The girl was Courtney, one of the three Magma Administers. She was known for her eccentric obsession with "the most beautiful fireworks" in the world.
"No," Feng Che replied flatly. "My Vulpix is family. Family isn't for sale."
"Haha, then you might find it very difficult to leave Mt. Chimney," Courtney sneered, a playful but dangerous glint in her eyes. "This is Magma territory, after all. Ninetales, use Flamethrower!"
She released a majestic Ninetales—a noble, nine-tailed fox with cream-colored fur and piercing red eyes. It carried an aura of elegance and ancient mystery, its tails rumored to hold distinct secret powers.
Ninetales: Cyan Potential, Level 55.
Courtney was relentless, hounding Feng Che until he was cornered on a narrow cliff ledge. Finally losing his patience, Feng Che released Torracat.
"Oh my, what an adorable Torracat! Give that one to me too, okay?" Courtney's eyes lit up with predatory glee.
"In your dreams," Feng Che said coldly.
"Then I'll just have to make my dreams a reality. Ninetales, burn them!"
The Ninetales spat a stream of intense blue-tinted fire. "Torracat, counter with Flamethrower!"
Torracat exhaled a blast of searing white-hot flames. To Courtney's shock, the white fire tore through the blue flames and surged toward Ninetales. The fox's eyes flared with a pale blue light—Psychic—halting the white fire in mid-air.
"Swellow, join in! Use Flare Blitz!" Courtney called out.
"Corvisquire, Brave Bird!"
The Swellow, a master of the skies with its sharp red-and-blue plumage, transformed into a ball of raging fire, diving like a phoenix. Corvisquire met it head-on, shrouded in its blue aerial armor.
Swellow: Deep Green Potential, Level 59.
She's an Admin for a reason, Feng Che thought. That Swellow is at the peak of the Gym Leader tier, bordering on Pseudo-Elite. Corvisquire is at a level disadvantage here.
The two birds collided in a spectacular explosion of feathers and flame. Corvisquire used Peck at the moment of impact to pierce the Flare Blitz, but the level gap meant it took significant recoil.
"Ninetales, Will-O-Wisp!"
The fox summoned eerie purple-black flames that swirled around Torracat.
"Torracat, Flame Charge!"
Torracat ignited its own fur, the white-hot aura expanding until it looked like a literal demon of fire. When the Will-O-Wisp touched the white flames, they were absorbed and assimilated. Torracat lunged at Ninetales, the heat so intense the volcanic rock beneath its paws melted into flowing magma.
"Darn! Swellow!"
In a panic, Courtney grabbed Swellow's leg as it dove past, and the bird carried her into the sky. She recalled her Ninetales mid-air and circled above.
"Fine! Next time we meet, I'll turn you to ash!" she shouted before flying off into the distance.
Torracat panted, its stamina drained. "Wait... what's that?"
Feng Che looked at the fissure Torracat had smashed into the volcanic wall. A red shimmer pulsed from the darkness. He picked up a fragment of stone; it was encrusted with a gem-like fire crystal.
"A Fire Stone? A deposit this huge... could this be the entrance to the Groudon Shrine?"
He stepped into the rift and saw the walls encrusted with hundreds of Fire Stones. "Torracat, use Flamethrower to seal the entrance behind us."
As Torracat exhaled, the rock melted, sealing the gap. The cat took a deep breath of the energy-rich air. The Fire Stones began to dim as their essence was siphoned into Torracat's body, channeled by the Groudon scale it carried.
They reached the end of the passage and found a majestic temple forged entirely from fire crystals, glowing with a deep crimson light.
"Incredible... a shrine to the Earth God made of Fire Crystals," Feng Che whispered. A protective barrier of white fire rippled around the structure.
As Torracat approached, the Groudon scale on its collar began to glow with a dark red light. The barrier parted, creating a path just wide enough for them.
Groudon is the God of the Earth, yet this shrine is pure Fire. Why? Feng Che looked at the ancient murals lining the walls, depicting the "Omega" symbol of Primal Reversion. The scale flew from Torracat's collar, slotting perfectly into a groove on the temple doors.
CLACK.
The massive doors swung open. Feng Che looked inside. The temple was vast and empty, save for a single, brilliant Red Orb floating in the center of the hall.
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