Master Craftsman of the Pokémon World

Every story had an ending. As Almia's beloved fairy tale, The Tears of Princes deserved a fairy-tale ending of its own.

"The ancient darkness that covered the earth, concealed the sky, and penetrated the depths of the ocean has vanished."

The Ranger Union still needed to survey the entire region and handle the aftermath. However, thanks to the widespread use of the Fusion Styler, the incident had caused far less destruction than originally anticipated.

"All the helicopters that attacked Ranger Union HQ were either shot down or frozen solid. Legendary Pokémon from Galar appeared throughout Almia, just as the ancient stories foretold."

"Legendary Pokémon are beginning to reveal themselves across the world, bringing an end to the conflicts ravaging the land."

Several teams dispatched by the great pirate Phantom had also been arrested. Phantom himself had gathered his remaining men and fled the area around Ranger Union HQ in disgrace.

As far as the great pirate was concerned, he had only been assisting in the attack. Once he realized the situation had turned against him, abandoning his useless subordinates and immediately retreating was simply the pirate way.

He still dreamed of finding the Prince of the Sea, gaining the power to control the ocean, and becoming an emperor who could rampage across the seas without restraint.

How could he allow himself to be arrested at the headquarters of an organization devoted to justice?

The next day, Professor Hastings reunited with Hikaru and the two young Rangers at Ranger Union HQ. His expression was deeply emotional as he told them about Altru Inc. and the situation throughout Almia.

"Did you get enough rest last night? All of you worked incredibly hard!"

"President Hall has also awakened from his long nightmare. He said he dreamed a horrifying dream, which is certainly an apt description. Another personality controlled him for decades. To the real man, it must have felt like sitting in a theater and watching a movie that would never stop playing."

"No, we should call him Wyatt Hall now. Blake was the name he received from the darkness, while Wyatt was his original name. Still, he said that even while trapped in that nightmare, he remained aware of everything he had done."

"So President Wyatt is going to 'atone in a distant place' now?" Hikaru asked.

That had been the president's original ending.

Ultimately, after being controlled by the Shadow Crystal, he had still been forced to shoulder the blame for the King of Almia's actions. His entire life had been thrown into chaos after his encounter with the Shadow Crystal.

If one accused Blake Hall of falling because he had been unable to resist the darkness within his heart...

That still didn't feel like a fair judgment.

"No."

To everyone's surprise, Professor Hastings shook his head.

"I don't know exactly what President Wyatt is thinking, but he asked us to put him in handcuffs. As for Altru Inc., he apparently intends to transfer control of the company to Isaac and reorganize its entire staff."

"He also gave us a complete list of Team Dim Sun's members. It appears Almia is about to enter an era of massive manhunts."

Kate waved a hand dismissively. "A list of every member? The organization's boss sold out all his underlings. Still, I suppose there's nothing wrong with that. Blake Hall founded Team Dim Sun, not Wyatt Hall."

Did the presidents of major corporations all end up in prison?

This president was apparently going to become Rose's fellow inmate, although the two of them would be held in different prisons.

"At least there's one thing we can feel relieved about," Professor Hastings said.

"When Altru Inc. was founded, its purpose was to develop new energy sources for this region. Now it may finally return to the path its founder, Doyle Hall, originally envisioned."

"For Almia's bright future."

Professor Hastings cleared his throat. Elaine, who was standing beside him, took the opportunity to speak.

"With Team Galactic's energy-conversion technology, we can now extract power from geothermal energy. We can also use the sunlight in the desert to generate electricity on a massive scale with extremely high efficiency. Once we add Galar's technology, our region will no longer need to rely on oil!"

"The Red Prince's volcano and the Yellow Prince's desert will both become large-scale power-generation sites. As for the Blue Prince's castle... Well, I think..."

"How about this?" Hikaru suggested. "We could send some Rangers to Almia Castle for Aura training."

"Aura training?" Professor Hastings repeated. "You mean..."

"The Blue Prince and his Lucario were among the progenitors of Aura. Those who wield Aura can sense the souls of other living creatures, along with goodwill, hostility, and emotions. They can even detect and avoid traps. If Rangers learned to use Aura, it would make their work much easier."

"Aura was once practiced throughout the world, but almost no one knows how to use it anymore. Many Trainers have Lucario, but becoming a true Guardian of Aura is extremely difficult."

"Of course, they don't necessarily need to reach the level of a full Guardian. If they can gain a basic understanding of Aura and reach an apprentice's level, I think that will be enough."

"As the heroes who saved Almia, perhaps the two of you should go there and give it a try."

Mass-produced Guardians of Aura...

Hikaru found the idea rather amusing.

"Every living creature possesses Aura. Through rigorous training, anyone can learn the fundamentals of using it!"

Kellyn and Kate both froze.

Kate was the first to complain.

"What?! I really don't want to walk through that hellish castle again."

Kellyn scratched his head. "I'm very interested, but Almia Castle really is... Well, I suppose it would make a suitable training ground."

"Besides, Captain, you're the real hero."

Hikaru shook his head.

"There were three Tears of Princes. One person might be capable of doing everything alone, but what I want you to understand is that teamwork is what matters most. And..."

"As a Top Ranger, the greatest contribution I can make to the Ranger Union is training stronger successors for the next generation. In fact, both of you have already become much stronger than you were originally supposed to be."

"Every Ranger is a hero in their own right. That is what the 'power of the people' truly means. As for me, I am merely a swordsman from a foreign land."

The atmosphere immediately became livelier.

Professor Hastings smiled and spoke again.

"A man from a distant foreign land came here and left behind a new story. He set the flames flowing and transformed them into light. That would make an excellent addition to our records! What the three princes wished to convey and leave behind was also connected to the radiance of the soul."

"It seems that the heart still conceals countless secrets! How wonderful. Let us continue our research with anticipation!"

"And there's also the regional Browser. Yes, I've been thinking about that ever since I returned from the conference. We must investigate the distribution of Pokémon throughout Almia, from the frozen lands to the volcano and then the desert. Hikaru, you managed to collect a great deal of data, didn't you?"

"Although the survey isn't completely finished, I recorded information on most of the Pokémon we encountered."

"Exactly." Professor Hastings looked toward the two young Rangers. "After this, I intend to entrust the completion of the Almia Browser to both of you. You will record every Pokémon inhabiting this region."

"Of course, that won't begin immediately. First, there's something I need to announce."

Kellyn and Kate were surprised, but neither tried to refuse.

Professor Hastings then announced something even more important.

"From this moment onward, you are the Ranger Union's thirteenth and fourteenth Top Rangers!"

In only a few days, they had soared from ordinary small fry all the way to Top Rangers. Their potential had been fully developed as well.

Hikaru thought back to the two mighty guardians of Haruba Desert's ancient palace.

They certainly wouldn't be easy opponents.

Regigigas, which was connected to the Yellow Prince, was a hidden capture target in the game and was exceptionally difficult to deal with. It could be considered one of the strongest Pokémon in the entire Almia region.

Even the Fusion Styler struggled to capture it. Every time Regigigas moved, it created tremendous shock waves, sent enormous boulders crashing down, triggered violent earthquakes, and fired Stone Edge in every direction.

"Congratulations!"

"This feels like a dream..."

"Thank you, Captain."

The Ranger Union had welcomed two new Top Rangers.

Hikaru noticed that Elaine wore a complicated expression. He could hear her quietly muttering about Nema.

The young prodigy had surpassed the older genius.

Nema had combined technology from several different organizations, enabling everyone to use the Fusion Styler. That had caused the Ranger Union's overall strength to skyrocket.

As a fellow Mechanic, Elaine couldn't help confronting reality once again.

How could it be described?

It felt as though the next generation had arrived like a giant wave and slapped her facedown into the sand.

"Elaine, you seem a little anxious about all this machinery. Oh, that reminds me. Have you ever considered taking on a second job?"

"A second job?"

"That's right. I heard your favorite Pokémon is Dragonair."

"What?! Where did you hear that? How did you know?"

"You're aware that I'm a member of Paldea's Elite Four, right? To put it simply, we're preparing to build several special challenge facilities and need people who understand machinery. Would you be interested in working part-time in Paldea? By the way, there are so many Dratini in our region that they're practically like stray dogs."

"If Professor Hastings has no objections...?!"

Using the same method he had employed to persuade Penny, Hikaru successfully recruited another workhorse.

He cleared his throat and declared that everything he did was for the region's development and prosperity.

Meanwhile, Nema emerged from the laboratory on the third floor. The blue-haired girl rushed upstairs and arrived on the highest floor before Hikaru could leave, waving both arms wildly.

"Wait a moment, Captain Hikaru!"

"Captain?"

"Um, everyone else calls you that! Hello! I'm Nema!"

The blue-haired girl's eyes shone with burning excitement.

"You're the one who recommended me to the Ranger Union, right? How should I put this... I've gotten to touch, examine, and personally build so many fascinating machines here! The Fusion Styler and the energy-amplification device are my greatest masterpieces."

"Back in Oblivia, I was also researching special energy machines. Things like a machine that could purify polluted air instantly. I heard there's a Pokémon in a distant region that can do something similar, so I'm very interested..."

"Anyway, thank you so much!"

"And Professor Hastings said you're an incredible expert on history, mythology, local customs, and all kinds of other things. My mother didn't attend the conference, but after she heard what happened here and learned that you knew about Oblivia's history, she wanted to ask you some questions!"

"My mother is the famous archaeology professor, Leanne!"

"Oblivia..." Hikaru murmured. "The Ranger Union is about to begin operating there, so there are indeed several things I need to explain. Please give me a moment."

"I wonder whether the Aether Foundation will discover something dangerous in that distant lost paradise. Compared to Almia, Oblivia is considerably more dangerous. What lies hidden there is truly terrifying."

Professor Hastings nodded.

"We will also send personnel to Oblivia. One prophecy after another is coming true."

"Before that, Wendy must train them to use Fly. Perhaps they should also learn a little Aura."

Rangers who could expertly ride large Staraptor over long distances were known as Flying Rangers. Only Flying Rangers could rapidly cross enormous distances to perform missions in other regions.

Professor Hastings had therefore prepared a list of people who would travel to Oblivia.

"As the heroes who saved Almia, I feel deeply apologetic about sending you on another mission so soon. However, the purpose of the Ranger Union is to protect the lives of people and Pokémon and prevent the destruction of the natural environment. That is the very reason our organization exists."

"Your captain, Hikaru, will temporarily leave this region and return to a distant land. A foreign Top Ranger cannot remain beside us forever. But when you travel to a new land, I'm certain you will eventually reunite with this island king."

Kellyn and Kate had never performed a mission in a distant region.

Despite their high ranks, they lacked the experience that Lunick and Solana possessed when it came to fighting far from home. However, Hikaru knew that these two developed at an astonishing speed.

That was right.

In only half a year, they would advance from rookies who had never performed a mission outside Almia to the superiors of the original Pokémon Ranger protagonists. During the Diamond and Pearl era, they would even travel to Sinnoh.

Now, however, Hikaru's intervention seemed likely to alter their assignments.

"Yes!" Kate declared. "We guarantee that we'll complete the mission! As new Top Rangers, we must accept the corresponding responsibilities!"

"This is part of our duty as Rangers," Kellyn agreed.

"But if you're leaving Almia, Captain, are you returning to Alola?"

"Not quite yet," Hikaru replied. "But we'll definitely meet somewhere nearby. Oblivia and Alola are both warm archipelagos, and they share similarities in their geography, climate, myths, and legends."

Professor Hastings handed Hikaru a document.

"This concerns some of the matters you previously discussed with me. I rewrote and organized everything in detail. We truly don't have a moment to rest, so I'll ask you, as their captain, to issue the mission yourself. It concerns Oblivia!"

Hikaru looked through the list.

"I see. After I leave the team, the number of members won't decrease. It'll actually increase."

"This mission has an all-star lineup."

"The number won't decrease?" Kellyn repeated.

"Oh, right," Kate said. "Where's Keith? I didn't see him at all yesterday."

"Keith is also on the personnel list," Hikaru explained. "But Professor Hastings will probably have both of you undergo Fly and Aura training first. With your talent, I think you'll quickly reach the apprentice level."

"Honestly, that will already be enough."

"Then it's time to issue our final mission!"

"Yes!"

Kellyn and Kate placed their hands behind their backs. Their expressions became solemn as they accepted this lengthy investigation mission.

The fierce battles of the past several days, the new world they had witnessed, and the incredible power of souls would all become some of the most precious experiences of their lives.

"Investigate the truth of Oblivia!"

"Our three-person team will be expanded into a six-person team. Nema will remain here as your Mechanic and provide remote assistance."

"In addition to the Mechanic, the new personnel will include the Ranger Union's eleventh Top Ranger, Keith."

"You will also be joined by two Flying Rangers who specialize in aerial combat: Ben and Summer!"

Hikaru thought that if they truly intended to concentrate their forces on a thorough sweep of Oblivia, then the first-generation protagonists, Lunick and Solana, should also have been included.

That would have created a six-plus-one formation containing all six protagonists and one rival.

There would have been seven Top Rangers and one elite Mechanic operating in Oblivia at the same time!

A joint operation on that scale would have been unprecedented.

When disaster struck Oblivia later, the Ranger Union's powerful forces would have been able to intervene and stop the enemy immediately.

For now, however, even without Lunick and Solana, this lineup was already close to perfect.

Ben and Summer were the two protagonists of the third Pokémon Ranger game. It was unclear whether they were older or younger than the protagonists of the second game. They seemed to belong to roughly the same generation, despite not appearing in the second installment.

In the third game, they would simultaneously investigate Oblivia and participate in the Pokémon franchise's first battles fought while soaring through the open sky.

High-altitude flight, riding Pokémon, Poké Assists...

Many mechanics that appeared in later generations of the main series had first been introduced in Guardian Signs. Oblivia had therefore ushered in a new era for Pokémon, earning it the position of a true pioneer.

"Ben and Summer?" Kellyn asked. "A boy and a girl?"

"I've never heard those names before," Kate admitted. "But since we're still newcomers, I suppose that's normal."

Professor Hastings cleared his throat.

"They haven't been Rangers for much longer than you. They've simply been performing missions elsewhere. Both are pursuit specialists trained for aerial operations, much like Wendy."

"However, Hikaru mentioned them to me before. One of them is connected to Oblivia's legend of the Hero of Light, although we cannot yet determine which one."

"And to discover the Hero of Light's identity, we will probably need to find ancient tablets or records."

Kate blinked. "If we're trying to find the Hero of Light, why would we need records from the past?"

Professor Hastings smiled mysteriously.

"I'll let your captain explain that."

Hikaru looked at the two confused young Rangers.

"This is the most important information I need to give you about this mission."

"First, as a member of the International Police, I must warn you about the dangers that may be hiding in Oblivia. I also have a friend in the region. It is an immensely powerful Pokémon, but I haven't contacted it for a long time, and I don't know its current location."

"Considering its ability to change its appearance and erase the memories of its enemies, it may currently be hiding on one of the islands and conducting an investigation."

"Its name is Mewtwo."

The two young Rangers froze.

At present, neither of them understood the power represented by that name.

Professor Hastings already knew about these matters. He nodded slightly and continued.

"Mewtwo is an artificially created Pokémon belonging to an entirely new category, yet it possesses power equal to that of Legendary Pokémon. It is classified as the Genetic Pokémon."

"Some of the researchers from New Island who participated in Mewtwo's creation may have traveled to Oblivia. Therefore..."

"The confirmed Mewtwo specimens are presently designated Specimen One and Specimen Two. The friend Hikaru mentioned is most likely Specimen One, whose whereabouts remain unknown after it was confirmed to have been in Kanto."

"We also possess substantial evidence that some researchers intend to use ancient power to create an even stronger Specimen Three."

"Your mission will therefore include liberating Specimen Three, or preventing its creation altogether."

The two young Rangers' expressions became extremely serious.

So this new final mission involved far more than a simple investigation.

Hikaru nodded.

"The six of you must work with Oblivia's local Ranger, Rand, who is Nema's father. Together, you will locate several important individuals involved in the mission, then place them under surveillance and control."

"During this process, the enemy may panic and react violently. They may even attempt to kidnap Nema and Professor Leanne, so you must be careful."

"The hostile organization hiding in Oblivia is known as the Pokémon Pinchers. Their superior organization and true leadership is the Societea!"

"The Pokémon Pinchers are subordinates hired by the Societea. What we currently know is that their commanders are Purple Eyes, an expert in archaeology; Red Eyes, a skilled combatant; and Blue Eyes, a female commander who pilots their submarine and specializes in machinery and reconnaissance."

"The three commanders form the organization's executive leadership."

"Their primary base of operations is an enormous submarine, much like the vessel used by the great pirate Phantom. They also use special Z.Z. Flyers that allow them to operate freely at high altitudes. That is why the Ranger Union is sending Flying Rangers capable of battling them in the sky."

"One point is worth mentioning. Blue Eyes is someone we may be able to win over. She wears a blue vest, white shorts, and long boots. She has short blond hair with a blue streak across her forehead."

"If you can gain her assistance, the entire mission will become much easier. However, she probably won't cooperate until her employers abandon her. Therefore, one of your first objectives in Oblivia is to capture this unfortunate young woman."

"As for the Tea Party, its official English name is the Societea."

"Several decades ago, its four leaders used their individual talents to operate as a group of phantom thieves. They traveled around the world stealing priceless treasures and became infamous."

"Eventually, age extinguished the passion of their youth, and their abilities declined considerably."

"At that time, they learned that the legendary Golden Armor was hidden somewhere in Oblivia. According to the legend, this armor came from another world and suddenly fell into ours. During the age of kings, the iron armor used throughout Oblivia was created by imitating the power of the Golden Armor."

"It is said that anyone who wears the Golden Armor will cease aging and obtain eternal life!"

Hikaru's information shocked everyone present.

Eternal life?!

Professor Hastings cleared his throat.

"Stories connected to eternal life also circulate in other regions, but the truth behind them remains unclear."

Kellyn's sharp mind immediately noticed the problem.

"Wait. If the person wearing the Golden Armor receives eternal life, then what happened to the armor's first owner?"

Hikaru smiled and nodded.

"Exactly. You noticed the contradiction."

"The Golden King is dead."

"The Golden King was named Ellios, although he was known as Euron in another version of the story. The circumstances of his death are divided between two branches of history."

"Time is a river, while different eras form its tributaries. Events that occur within one tributary do not necessarily affect the future's ultimate destination."

"However, people from the future can use extraordinary power to influence the past."

"The Societea's four leaders are currently known throughout Oblivia as four charitable individuals with excellent reputations."

"The first is Arley. He was once an immensely powerful wrestler and thief. He wears green clothing and a round hat. Now he lives in Cocona Village, where he helps the villagers cut timber, gather medicinal herbs, and make a living."

"The second is Kasa. She was once a thief skilled in disguise. She wears a pale-yellow coat and has pink hair. She lives in Aqua Resort and deceives the local elderly residents by pretending to be a noblewoman."

"The third is Hocus. He was once a thief specializing in stage magic. He wears black-and-white robes and a black top hat, and he has red hair. He frequently visits Mitonga Island to perform entertaining transformation tricks for the children."

"The fourth is Edward, the Societea's true leader. He wears white clothing, has white hair, and sports a curled mustache."

"He is now a traveling doctor. Throughout the past several decades, he has provided free treatment, cured illnesses, and saved countless lives. No one could possibly imagine that this doctor, who constantly performs good deeds, is secretly one of the legendary thieves who once terrified the world."

"They haven't begun taking action yet, probably because they still haven't found the ancient Control Gauntlets hidden in the ruins."

"The Control Gauntlets are extraordinarily powerful ancient artifacts, relics left behind by the age of kings."

"Oblivia possesses a history spanning four thousand years. Sometime between four thousand and three thousand years ago, an ancient ruler invented these gauntlets. They could shrink Pokémon and draw them into the gauntlet, storing them in an unknown space much like Pokémon transferred through a computer. The gauntlets could then control the Pokémon's mind and force it to battle."

"These were originally unique tools used by the ancient Steelheads. They are artifacts connected to Arceus, the creator Pokémon."

"Many Control Gauntlets and suits of armor remain hidden throughout Oblivia's ruins. Using a Control Gauntlet produces no side effects, but anyone who wears the armor may have their mind eroded by the consciousness of an ancient warrior. Their personality, habits, and behavior will gradually become increasingly similar to those of the warrior."

"As for the legend of the Hero of Light..."

Hikaru looked toward the curious Nema.

"Let's interpret Oblivia's Hero of Light and Legend of the Rainbow together."

"In the first version of history, the Golden King was deceived by the Elder of the Dark Temple and controlled by his own subordinate. They drained the life force of countless Pokémon, or perhaps used another method, to create an artifact known as the Shining Orb."

"It contained power derived from Arceus."

"With that power, the Golden King piloted the Sky Fortress and began oppressing the people below. He seized control of Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos, the three Pokémon known as the Sky Rulers. They were forced to provide energy for the fortress and generate a black barrier capable of repelling any invasion."

"The enormous fortress rampaged through the heavens. Its power may not have been inferior to the divine weapon created by the First King."

"The fortress carried a weapon known as the Judgment Beam, which imitated Arceus's power. It could shatter mountains, vaporize seas, and destroy entire islands."

"The Golden Armor could control every Steelhead. Kindhearted priests and fearless warriors alike were enslaved by its power. They attacked the people, destroyed the seven great temples they had once protected, and betrayed Arceus."

"The Hero of Light came from a distant land. Riding Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, the hero summoned Latios and Latias to split the heavens and began battling the Steelheads."

"The Steelheads fought by using Control Gauntlets to dominate the minds of Pokémon and force them into battle."

"The priests used an even stranger method."

"They carved the forms and paths of Pokémon into enormous pictographic stone slabs. During battle, they performed a series of movements, causing the slabs to rise from the earth with a tremendous roar. Beasts were then summoned from the light to challenge their opponents to a duel."

"Those slabs were called Heart Slates. Their origins remain unknown. They sometimes appeared after ancient Pokémon battled humans."

"The Hero of Light used the same paths and emblems. The hero also commanded a device resembling a spinning top, which allowed them to cooperate with Pokémon."

"Yes, that spinning top was the Capture Disc of a Capture Styler!"

"The hero drove back the Steelheads. To liberate the three deceived Sky Rulers, the hero raised the Rainbow Grail upon the Rainbow Dais."

"The ceremony for inheriting the grail has been passed down through generations in Oblivia's Cocona Village."

"The rainbow light from a distant place erased the Judgment Beam, calmed the chaos consuming the world, liberated ice, fire, and lightning, and destroyed the fortress in the sky."

"The Pokémon that brought forth that seven-colored rainbow was Ho-Oh, the master of Raikou, Entei, and Suicune."

"After that violent battle, the Shining Orb disappeared without a trace."

"Arceus, enraged by the betrayal, brought thunder and Judgment down upon the Golden King."

Everyone felt as though they had just listened to an ancient myth.

But the incident involving the King of Almia had proven one thing.

No, it had proven it once again.

Legends were true!

That meant Oblivia's story was also true!

Kellyn looked at the card previously entrusted to him.

"So that's where Guardian Signs came from! Communicating with Pokémon and using their signs was a more advanced method of summoning them. Before that, anyone who wanted to control Pokémon in battle needed enormous pictographic stone slabs!"

"A duel?" Kate pondered aloud. "That sounds so strange. Even when I try to imagine it, I can't really picture how that kind of battle would work. Still, it sounds like it would be pretty amazing."

Nema's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Captain, what about the second version of history?"

"That was the first one, right?"

"Why are there two versions? Are you saying the first history is false and the second one is true? And what did you mean when you talked about tributaries of time?"

"Outside Cocona Village, in front of the ruins in the plaza leading into the forest, there once stood a place known as the Forest Temple," Hikaru explained.

"Two stone structures remain there to this day. The structure on the right is an ancient tablet engraved with a sign. The one on the left is the time-travel monument."

"Only the Hero of Light can activate that monument. Celebi, a Pokémon from the world of the past known as the guardian of the forest, will then carry the hero into the distant past."

"As for the second version of history... No. Think of it as a beautiful hope. Travel through time and do everything in your power to make it real!"

"With the Hero of Light's assistance, the Golden King freed Arceus. The Elder of the Dark Temple stole the Shining Orb and disappeared forever."

"After regaining his senses, the king lowered the Sky Fortress into a lake and sealed it there for eternity."

"Arceus separated the Golden Armor into four pieces and sealed them upon four islands throughout Oblivia. Its fury subsided, and three thousand years later, Arceus would take the armor into the distant reaches of space, removing it from this world forever."

"The Golden King then said this to the Hero of Light."

["I am the one who should be thanking you, Ranger from the future. I cannot thank you enough. My carelessness gave the Elder of Darkness the opportunity he needed."]

["Please leave everything that follows to me. The Oblivia of this era is the homeland of those of us who live here."]

["Please do not tell me what the future will become. If we know the future, we may lose the will to strive for it. Therefore, I make this promise to you!"]

["The people of this land and I will preserve Oblivia's peace until the distant future. We will protect our world with our own hands."]

"Because of that, the seven great temples ceased to exist."

"The armor and Control Gauntlets were erased in the distant past, and Oblivia became a lost paradise where people and Pokémon lived together."

"Once the second version of history begins, the Golden King's son, Ravio, will travel from the distant past in the form of a spirit and guide you."

"I believe he will probably appear in Nema's home."

The ancient story had sounded incredibly epic and legendary, but Hikaru's final sentence nearly made the blue-haired girl's glasses fall from her face.

"What?! What do you mean?!"

"The spirit of the Golden King's son, the second ruler, will appear in my house?! Why? Why would he come there?"

She didn't doubt Hikaru's words in the slightest.

With her intelligence, she immediately understood what this might mean.

"C-Could it be..."

"He wants to change history?"

"But why my house? Is this some kind of Almian curse?!"

Almia meant "land of souls."

Had even Oblivia become infested with ghosts because of it?

"You're overthinking it," Hikaru said. "Your father Rand's house serves as the Ranger Base in Oblivia. All of you will gather there. If Ravio is looking for you, isn't appearing in your house the most logical choice?"

"Besides, this doesn't really qualify as a haunting, so don't worry."

"The two branches of history represent two different endings."

"If you're afraid of ghosts, call out beside the time-travel monument. Someone among you will undoubtedly be Celebi's long-awaited Hero of Light."

"Now, for the mission objectives in Oblivia!"

"Identify the members of the Societea and prevent them from activating the Sky Fortress. Recover the Control Gauntlets, the Golden Armor, and the Shining Orb!"

"Destroy the Pokémon Pinchers!"

"Then recover the ruins of the Rainbow Dais from the bottom of the sea and confirm the identity of the Hero of Light at the time-travel monument!"

This investigation possessed a tremendous number of branching objectives.

That was precisely why so many powerful Rangers needed to be sent to Oblivia.

"Once their mission in Hoenn is complete, I will immediately send Lunick and Solana to support you," Professor Hastings said cheerfully.

"Their Ranger ranks will also be raised to Top Ranger!"

"My, that means this mission will eventually include five Top Rangers, two Flying Rangers, one Mechanic, and a foreign captain."

"It will be an extraordinary suppression team equipped with intelligence, combat strength, rank, and logistical support!"

Professor Leanne received the interpretation and reply from the distant Ranger Union.

"Oblivia's ruins and legends... The important artifacts are the armor, the gauntlets, and the orb..."

The crucial information alone was enough to astonish her as a historian and archaeologist.

The explanations of the legends and the reports describing the ruins were so detailed that their author seemed to have witnessed everything personally. Even the precise locations of the legendary murals had been clearly marked.

"If I'd known, I would've attended that conference too!"

Leanne spoke with intense regret.

Because Oblivia's communication signals were poor and she had been obsessed with her local research, she had paid no attention to the academic conference.

Who could have imagined that what had originally been a relatively modest conference would suddenly transform into a world-class academic summit of unprecedented scale?

"Oblivia is a lost paradise formed from islands and ruins."

"So many mysteries here remain unsolved! Ah... I want to uncover all of them right now!"

Of course, that was only wishful thinking.

Professor Hastings had explicitly warned her not to begin a joint investigation until every elite Ranger had arrived. This precaution was necessary to prevent an accident.

She absolutely couldn't cause more trouble for everyone.

Redirecting seven Rangers to support Oblivia had already placed the Ranger Union under considerable strain.

"Still, there's something I've wondered about for quite a while."

"Raikou, Entei, and Suicune were supposedly born only one hundred and fifty years ago in the distant Johto region. Their legends should have begun then."

"So why do they appear in murals and ruins created in Oblivia three thousand years ago?"

"If someone traveled through time while bringing all three of them along, then everything would make sense, wouldn't it?"

"And the Rainbow Festival, whose origins had been completely forgotten, actually originated with Ho-Oh!"

"Information concerning the Golden Armor was recorded in Amun's mansion. Amun lived one hundred and fifty years ago, didn't he? His home is that ancient mansion on one of the islands... A revelation from one hundred and fifty years ago."

"He lived during the same era as Professor Laventon..."

Leanne became completely absorbed in inspecting and analyzing the documents, especially the sections describing Oblivia.

"Mysterious Emblems and Heroes, the Forbidden Nursery Rhyme, Oblivia's Four Thousand Years, Raikou and the Villagers, Daybreak Ruins and Entei, the Mirage Ruins Hidden Somewhere, the Islands of Ruins and Legends..."

"Ancient Oblivia: Beyond Time and Space..."

"All these books are inside Amun's mansion. I want to see them immediately!"

Leanne continued muttering, overflowing with excitement.

At that moment, she suddenly heard her husband calling her.

"Leanne..."

"What is it?"

"A rainbow."

As the Ranger responsible for protecting Oblivia, Rand hadn't experienced a major incident in many years.

But now...

He stared into the sky.

Leanne emerged from the house and looked toward the distant heavens as well.

A brilliant rainbow tore across the sky. It rose from one of Oblivia's islands, then swept through the air above their home!

"Is that a rainbow-colored Pokémon?" Rand asked. "A rainbow from a distant land?"

Leanne instantly became excited.

"Wait! Could that be..."

"Ho-Oh?!"

"What's happening? We only just received information from Ranger Union HQ about Ho-Oh's legend, and now it has immediately appeared!"

"Where is it going? That direction leads toward Almia...?"

"No, it's going somewhere even farther away. Much farther..."

"The Johto region!"

"Hi!"

Aboard the ship carrying him home, Hikaru saw a familiar man.

Jack Walker!

More accurately, Hikaru was familiar with Jack, while Jack didn't know him.

At least, that was what Hikaru initially thought. Jack immediately strode over and enthusiastically introduced himself as though they were already old friends.

"Of course I know who you are! You're the twelfth Top Ranger, a Champion-level Trainer, and the foreign swordsman who saved Almia!"

"I'm Jack Walker, merely an insignificant Rank Nine Ranger."

"As for why Professor Hastings asked you to board my ship..."

Hikaru laughed. "You found it, didn't you?"

"The second Prince's Egg!"

Jack smiled brightly.

"That's right! Following your hint, I infiltrated Phantom's pirate crew and remained undercover for several months. When he sent his men to attack Ranger Union HQ, I also obtained information from Altru Inc."

"I followed that information. Perhaps because the Pokémon in the ocean were rioting, I eventually found a Blue Gem carried to the surface by the ocean currents."

"We've found the Prince of the Sea, the second prince. You said there were three Princes of the Sea, didn't you? Just like the three princes of Almia."

"Still, that great pirate probably won't give up so easily."

Hikaru raised his head.

As the distant sea breeze swept past him, a Gliscor appeared on the horizon. It rose upon the wind, setting out to fulfill the journey of its dreams.

It would ride the sea breeze, break through the waves, and soar freely across distant skies.

After traveling around the entire world, it would finally return to the homeland where it had been born.

"As a Ranger, I can't casually capture Almia's Pokémon. But for Gliscor, the time has come to pursue its dream."

"Then, next..."

A greatsword appeared in Hikaru's hand.

He and Jack stood aboard a small boat built for two, watching as an enormous submarine surfaced in the distance.

The great pirate had furiously pursued them.

Even after losing so many men, he still intended to seize the Prince's Egg!

"Pirates will always chase after treasure." Jack spread his hands. "It seems we still have one final job to complete. Honored Top Ranger, would you lend me your strength?"

"Of course," Hikaru replied. "After assigning such an important mission to everyone else, I should also help any companion in need while returning to my homeland."

"In the name of the Pokémon Rangers, I shall set all things right."

"Besides, if they want treasure..."

A Luxury Ball attached to Hikaru's bag opened.

A giggling Gimmighoul emerged with its treasure chest and appeared beside him.

"The three princes gave us many things: crystals, sealed doors, candles, ancient books, and treasure!"

"I have no need for the royal city's treasure. But for you, I believe it has finally reached the amount you need."

"How many coins are you missing?"

Gimmighoul raised its hand.

Its total had reached 999!

Hikaru had originally intended to finish collecting the coins after reaching Alola, but completing the collection ahead of schedule was wonderful, wasn't it?

He raised his greatsword.

"Then I'll steal the pirate crew's treasure and help you complete your final evolution!"

"If they want treasure, they can come and take it themselves."

"When they do, use Make It Rain and give them all the gold they could possibly want!"

In a corner of the ship, a green Core secretly observed everything.

It raised its head.

A rainbow-colored light tore across the distant blue sky!

(End of Chapter)

[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]

[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]

[Thanks for Reading!]