[Steven Stone: You were right. Team Magma and Team Aqua really did attack the Weather Institute and the shipyard i City.]

  Naoki, who had just sat down on his sofa, read the message and replied immediately.

  [Stranger No. 1: What was the oute?]

  [Steven Stone: Since we were prepared in advance, we sed out the real Submarine Explorer 1 at Steport Shipyard and hid it in a secure location. However, things didn't go as smoothly at the Weather Institute.]

  [Steven Stoeam Magma and Team Aqua infiltrated the institute beforehand, disguising themselves as staff members. While the Hoenn League trainers were stationed outside, thinking they were preventing an attack, the real operation took pce from within. As a result, they successfully stole data reted to the a Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre.]

  Reading this, Naoki sighed inwardly.

  "As expected," he muttered to himself.

  It was no surprise that the Hoenn League had critical information on Groudon and Kyogre.

  Both the games and the anime hi this fact—Groudon and Kyogre weren't just myths, they were well-doted Pokémon whose movements were closely monitored by the League. If either of them stirred from their slumber, the Hoenn League would be the first to know.

  With this in mind, Naoki typed another question.

  [Stranger No. 1: What do you think their move will be?]

  There was a short pause before Steven responded.

  Steven sat in his study, staring at the message. He was deep in thought.

  'This Stranger No. 1… he knows too much.'

  His knowledge of Hoenn's history was remarkable. It was evident that he had spent siderable time researg the legends of Groudon and Kyogre.

  However, Steven knew something that this mysterious individual might not:

  Long ago, the myths of Groudon and Kyogre weren't just stories. Alongside these legendary Pokémon, two a artifacts were passed down through history—

  The Red Orb and the Blue Orb. These two artifacts weren't just relics. Legends stated that whoever possessed them could and Groudon and Kyogre.

  And the current location of these orbs?

  They were stored deep within Mt. Pyre, carefully guarded by the grandparents of Hoene Fhost-type Trainer, Phoebe.

  If Team Magma and Team Aqua had stolen data on Groudon and Kyogre… then their arget was obvious.

  'They'll be heading to Mt. Pyre !'

  Steven's heart pouhere was no time to waste.

  He immediately tacted Phoebe, instrug her to secure the orbs at all costs.

  Then, without a moment's hesitation, he left his mansion, stepped outside, and dialed another number.

  Within minutes, a Devon Corporation private jet, embzoned with the pany's logo, desded onto the nding strip.

  Steven climbed aboard and, as the pook off, he sent one final message.

  [Steven Stone: I've figured out their move. I'm heading there now.]

  Reading Steven's message, Naoki smirked.

  'So he really did guess it—Mt. Pyre and the Red and Blue Orbs.'

  If Team Magma and Team Aqua wao awaken Groudon and Kyogre, those orbs were the key.

  More than that, the a Primal Energy within them had the ability to restroudon and Kyogre to their true, inal forms.

  [Stranger No. 1: Good luck. Hope everything goes smoothly.]

  After sending the message, there was no immediate response.

  Naoki wasn't worried. He simply made himself a cup of bck tea aled down, waiting patiently for updates.

  As he waited, a new message popped up—not from Steven, but from Iono

  She was thanking him for letting Dragonite fly her home safely.

  Along with her message, she attached a picture of a Sunny Day Doll.

  She wrote:

  [I'm really grateful for your hospitality, Naoki. I sent a little gift for the ranch!]

  Seeing the photo of the tiny handcrafted doll, Naoki couldn't help but smile.

  When Dragourned, Naoki and the other Pokémon hung the Sunny Day Doll outside the ranch's eaves, as a symbol of good luck.

  At exactly 10 PM, Naoki's Rotom Phone buzzed again.

  It was Steven.

  [Steven Stone: Everythi well. We successfully stopped Team Magma and Team Aqua's pns, thanks to a few ued Pokémon that showed up at just the right moment.]

  Naoki raised an eyebrow.

  [Stranger No. 1: Ued Pokémon?]

  [Steven Stone: Yeah. A Teddiursa, a Zapdos, and a small feline-like Pokémon with pink fur and blue eyes.]

  Naoki: "???"

  'Isn't that The Hero Expedition Team?'

  Meanwhile, in the Hoenn region, atop Mt. Pyre…

  As Steven watched the three Pokémon disappear into the distance, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

  That had been far too close.

  When he and Phoebe first arrived, Team Magma and Team Aqua were already in a fierce struggle, each determio seize the two legendary orbs and prevent the other from g them.

  But the moment the two of them stepped in, the rival teams immediately put aside their differences and joined forces—taking Phoebe's grandparents hostage.

  Had it not been for the timely arrival of those three mysterious Pokémon, things could have ended very differently.

  One of them, a small pink Pokémon, had used its psychic powers to swiftly rescue the elderly couple from their captors.

  With the hostages freed, Steven and Phoebe seized the opportunity to unch a terattack, managing to take down both teams in one swift, decisive blow.

  Now, as the chaos settled, Phoebe watched the three Pokémon disappear into the night sky with a look of curiosity.

  "Where did those three even e from?" she mused, tilting her head.

  The most peculiar detail, she noted, was the Zapdos carrying a shoulder bag strapped around its chest.

  Steven, ever the posed gentleman, shook his head. "I have no idea," he admitted, "but either way, we owe them a great deal."

  Phoebe's eyes sparkled with intrigue.

  "Three Pokémon—each from different species, each with different typings—w together like that… You don't see that every day."

  From their coordinated movements and seamless teamwork, it was obvious these Pokémon weren't wild.

  And that bag…

  "Could they belong to a trainer?" Phoebe wondered aloud.

  Meanwhile, Steven surveyed the surrounding area. Many of the buildings and shrines on Mt. Pyre had sustained heavy damage from the battle.

  His gaze turoward the bushes where the Red Orb and Blue Orb had been discarded during the fight.

  His heart skipped a beat.

  The orbs were gone.

  "What?" His calm demeanor cracked for just a moment.

  Phoebe, notig his arm, rushed to his side.

  The two of them bed through the bushes, searg frantically for the missing orbs.

  But no matter how much they looked, the precious relics were o be found.

  A dark expression clouded Phoebe's face.

  "You don't think… they were stolen by Team Magma or Team Aqua?" she asked, her voice tense.

  Steven exhaled, colleg his thoughts.

  "No," he said firmly. "That's impossible."

  After all, every st one of Team Magma and Team Aqua's members had been apprehended and were currently being escorted into police custody.

  None of them had the ce to take the orbs.

  Which meant…

  "Then where did they go?" Phoebe muttered, her deepening.

  ...

  High Above the Hoenn Skies.

  Amidst the swirling clouds, Zapdos soared at breakneck speed, cutting through the night sky like a golden lightning bolt.

  The sheer energy radiating from its wings caused the once-clear sky to turn into a brewing thuorm, fshes of lightning illuminating the nd below.

  Oreets below, Hoenn's citizens gnced upward with .

  Lately, the weather had been growing more and more erratic. Those paying attention to the news knew something was brewing.

  But what no one could see—hidden among the rolling thunderclouds—was a small pink Pokémon and a tiny bear-like Pokémoed fortably on Zapdos' back.

  Both were clutg two radiaones—one glowing a deep crimson, the other shimmering a brilliant azure. The lowed brighter than ever before.

  As the two Pokémon examihem with wide, fasated eyes, the little bear—who had been the first to spot the discarded treasures—let out aed squeak.

  It had instinctively seheir incredible value.

  While Mew was busy helping the elders, the Teddiursa had wandered into the nearby bushes, where something shiny immediately caught its eye.

  Two beautiful glowing orbs y discarded on the ground.

  Its little paws trembled with excitement as it picked them up, eyes sparkling.

  "Teddi" "These are so pretty!" Teddiursa thought. "If I bring them back to Naoki, he'll definitely love them!"

  Determio surprise its traihe little bear carefully cradled the scarlet and indigo orbs and scurried back toward its friends.

  Later that evening, when the Expedition Team found a safe pce to rest, Teddiursa eagerly hahe orbs over to Zapdos, asking it to fly them back to the ranch as a gift for Naoki.

  ...

  Meanwhile, at the Ranch…

  That night, just as Naoki was getting ready for bed, his Rotom Phone buzzed again.

  It was another message from Steven.

  [Steven]: There's been a ge iuation. The two important artifacts that Team Magma and Team Aqua were trying to steal… have vanished!

  Naoki's drowsiness disappeared instantly.

  He kly what Steven was talking about.

  Those two artifacts could only be the Red Orb and the Blue Orb.

  [Stranger No. 1]: What happened?

  [Steven]: I have no idea.

  Steven proceeded to expiire i.

  All of Team Magma and Team Aqua's members had been arrested by Interpol, yet the two orbs had pletely disappeared.

  They had searched every st grunt—no sign of the orbs.

  It was as if they had vanished into thin air.

  Naoki rubbed his in thought.

  That didn't make sense.

  Could one of the grunts have used a Psychic-type Pokémon to teleport the orbs away?

  He immediately sent his theory to Steven.

  [Stranger No. 1]: Could they have used a Psychion to teleport them somewhere else?

  [Steven]: Unlikely. Team Magma and Team Aqua don't use many Psychic-types. Their rosters mostly sist of Mightyena, Sharpedo, and Camerupt.

  That was strange.

  Naoki pondered for a moment, but si was gettieven decided to leave it for now.

  [Steven]: Thanks again for your help. I'll resume my iigation tomorrow.

  [Stranger No. 1]: Got it. Good luck.

  After logging out of the Pokémon Forum, Naoki tio puzzle over the missing orbs.

  But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't e up with an answer.

  At least, not yet.

  The M

  Early the day, a Zapdos with a small backpack swooped down onto the ranch.

  The moment Naoki saw it, he knew what was ing. The Expedition Team was back… with another "delivery."

  With a sigh, he reached into Zapdos' bag. His fingers brushed against two smooth, round objects. The moment he pulled them out, his entire body stiffened.

  Two glowing orbs rested in his hands—one crimson, one deep blue. And then, the system notifications popped up.

  [Red Orb: A scarlet-glowing artifact that holds deep ties to Hoenn's a legends.]

  [Blue Orb: An indigo-glowing artifact lio Hoenn's legendary Pokémon.]

  "...WHAT?!"

  Naoki almost dropped them in shoo woeven couldn't find the orbs.

  The Expedition Team had picked them up like a casual souvenir! Just then, his Rotom phone buzzed again.

  Seeing the caller ID, Naoki took a deep breath and pressed Answer.

  It was Mew and Teddiursa.

  The video call ected, and Teddiursa and Meeared on the s, their faces full of excitement.

  Through the Rotom Phoeddiursa immediately noticed the glowing orbs in Naoki's hands.

  With a proud smile, it asked, "Naoki! Do you like them? I found these beautiful treasures in the grass!"

  Naoki: "…"

  He k.

  No woeven couldn't find the orbs—Teddiursa's natural ability, Pickup, must have activated!

  Seeing that Naoki remained silent, the little bear's expression quickly turned puzzled.

  Its ears drooped slightly, and it asked in a softer voice, "You… don't like them?"

  Naoki snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. "That's not the problem."

  It was an absurd ce that the Expedition Team had stepped in to help Steven, but now, a bigger issue had surfaced.

  You 't just take things that belong to others!

  Taking a deep breath, Naoki asked, "Yesterday, you helped an elderly couple on top of a mountain, right?"

  At his words, both Teddiursa and Mew were shocked.

  "How did you know that?!" they excimed in unison.

  Their words were automatically transted by Rotom Phone's built-in transtor.

  Naoki sighed. "Because I heard it from someone else. One of the people you entered yesterday told me about your appearahey didn't reize Mew, but based on their description, I had a feeling it was you."

  Uanding dawned owo Pokémon.

  "Ohhh… so that's how you knew!"

  Still, Teddiursa was fused.

  "But why don't you like them?" It tilted its head.

  Naoki patiently expined, "Because these orbs are extremely important to the people who live there. They aren't abareasures."

  The realization hit Teddiursa like a Thunderbolt.

  It had made a mistake.

  The little bear's ears drooped even lower.

  Naoki had always taught it o take things that belong to others, and Teddiursa had always remembered that lesson.

  But this time… it messed up.

  Somewhere in Hoenn, Steven robably searg frantically for these two artifacts.

  Naoki frowned as he gnced down at the two legendary lowing in his hands.

  There was no reason to hide the truth anymore.

  Taking out his Rotom Phone, he sent Steven a message.

  [Stranger]: The orbs are with me.

  Steven's response was immediate.

  Naoki rubbed his temples a another message.

  [Stranger]: It's a long story, let's add another at as a friend.

  With that, he sent his ID.

  Within seds, a friend request from Steven Stone appeared.

  Naoki pressed Accept and quickly expined everything.

  [Gold King]: The Teddiursa from yesterday is my Pokémon. It has the Pickup ability, and when it saw the orbs lying on the ground, it thought they were abareasures and picked them up.

  Oher end, Steven fell silent.

  This expnation… actually made sense. Pokémon with the Pickup ability were known for colleg random objects they found.

  But Steven couldn't shake a feeling of curiosity.

  That meant all three of those Pokémon from yesterday beloo this person.

  How had they just so happeo be in the right pce at the right time?

  And why was this person so informed about everything?

  Had he pnned all of this?

  Steven's thoughts were spinning.

  But then, another message popped up.

  [Gold King]: Hello, let me properly introduce myself. My name is Naoki, and I currently live in the Paldea region. I've traveled to Hoenn before and have always been fasated by its history and legends.

  Steven blinked in surprise.

  Steven: Wait… you're in Paldea?

  Naoki had already anticipated his fusion and responded calmly.

  [Gold King]: That's right. The Zapdos you saw yesterday flew the orbs to Paldea. It was an act. Just send me your location, and I'll have my Pokémon deliver them back to you.

  Steveated.

  It was undeniable that the two orbs weren't safe in Hoenn right now.

  If Team Magma and Team Aqua made atempt, they could succeed.

  Perhaps… it would be better to keep the orbs hidden somewhere outside of Hoenn until things calmed down.

  But… could he really trust this person? After careful thought, Steven made his decision.

  Steven: If possible, I'd like you to hold onto them for now.

  Naoki paused, a little surprised.

  But he quickly uood why.

  [Gold King]: If you trust me, I have no problem keeping them safe.

  Steven stared at his s, his fingers h over the keyboard. There was still ohing he o know.

  After a moment of hesitatioyped:

  [Steven]: Who exactly are you?

  After all, Zapdos wasn't the kind of Pokémon just any trainer could have.

  And from what Steven had gathered, Naoki's Pokémon were currently traveling through Hoenn—pletely unsupervised.

  What kind of trainer has Pokémon like that?

  And then… the reply came.

  [Naok: Me? I'm just a rancher.

  Steven: "..."