"According to the last message from Lord Rayquaza, it is slumbering within the Sky Pillar," Zinnia explained, her expression tight. "The Pillar is hidden within a spatial pocket in Hoenn and can only be accessed on specific days."
"The tower is filled with powerful Dragon-types. To reach the summit where Rayquaza rests, one must defeat the sentinels guarding each floor. Historically, fewer than five people have ever successfully navigated the Sky Pillar. With our current strength, reaching the Lord will be no easy feat."
A knock at the door interrupted them. Aster (希嘉娜) entered, offering a quick smile to Feng Che before turning to Zinnia. "Lorekeeper, Steven Stone of Devon Corporation is here. He says he has something of critical importance to discuss."
"Show him in immediately," Zinnia commanded. She knew that despite their past friction, the current partnership between the People of the Meteors and Devon meant Steven wouldn't come unless it was urgent.
Steven entered, stopping briefly when he saw Feng Che. "Feng Che, it's been a while."
Steven must be here for the same reason I am—the awakening of the Titans, Feng Che thought, nodding back.
"Zinnia," Steven said, getting straight to the point. "I was exploring a ruin recently. The murals warned of an incalculable disaster that will befall Hoenn when Groudon and Kyogre wake. The final image showed an emerald dragon descending from the heavens to quell the storm. Rayquaza is our only hope. I'm here to find the Sky Pillar."
Zinnia's face grew grave. "I know its location, but it isn't 'open' yet. The Pillar is anchored in a hidden dimension. According to our tradition, it only manifests when the sky is split—blazing sun on one side, a torrential storm on the other. If you go there now, you'll find nothing but empty sea and ancient debris."
She pulled a weathered map from her desk. "This has been passed down through generations of Lorekeepers. It marks the coordinates where the Pillar anchors."
Steven scanned the map into his communicator. "I'll investigate the site regardless. Perhaps there are residual energy traces we can use to force an opening." With a determined nod, he hurried out.
"If the warnings are manifesting," Zinnia murmured, "I must find another way to reach the Lord."
"Zinnia, I have missions of my own to attend to," Feng Che said. "Contact me once your Council makes a decision regarding the trade agreement." He then departed Meteor City.
The Gates of the Afterlife
While Zinnia pondered the future of her people and the blockades of the Greater Mauville Holdings, Feng Che didn't head for Mt. Chimney. Instead, he made a beeline for Mt. Pyre.
At the summit, the elderly guardians were busy. They had just finished a fierce skirmish, successfully sealing several aggressive spirits back into the Spirit Realm.
"Something is wrong," Grandpa muttered, picking up a stray Poké Ball. "The number of Ghost Pokémon surging through the portal is increasing daily. Yet, I feel the 'shackles' of the Spirit Realm tightening. It's as if the pressure inside is building up."
"Could Giratina, the Lord of the Distortion World, be involved?" he wondered.
"The apostles of the Land and Sea Gods are resurfacing," Grandma added. "They are hunting for the Red and Blue Orbs. Eventually, they will find their way here to Mt. Pyre. We must be ready for a war."
"We have generations of Ghost-type guardians stationed around the mountain," Grandpa reassured her. "If they want the Orbs, they'll have to survive a Ghostly Cataclysm first."
The Ghostly Cataclysm
Feng Che reached the outskirts of Mt. Pyre. The area was a labyrinth of ancient, crumbling tombstones. Weeds grew three meters high, and a thick, violet mist clung to the ground.
The temperature here was at least five degrees colder than the surrounding coast. Blue-green Will-O-Wisps floated over the graves, and the air was filled with the unsettling, cackling laughter of unseen spirits. Murkrow circled overhead, their caws sounding like omens.
Through the mist, Feng Che saw silhouettes moving with a strange, disjointed gait. Closing in, he realized some Ghost Pokémon were physically animating the skeletal remains of long-dead Pokémon.
Using Mewtwo's psychic shroud to mask his presence, Feng Che navigated the graveyard. He was stunned by the sheer density of the spectral population.
"If I didn't know this was Hoenn, I'd swear I'd accidentally stepped directly into the Spirit Realm," Feng Che whispered. "Why are there so many?"