Next, everyone would need to part ways temporarily.
Sun Wuming would take Serena and Xerneas back to Vaniville Town to help break Yveltal's petrification, led by Serena's mother Grace.
And with such a major incident in the Kalos League, Carina, as the League Champion, needed to head immediately to the Kanto region, which served as the League headquarters.
To report this matter to Chairman Drasna.
...
...
At Lumiose Airport.
"Well then, Miss Carina, we'll see you in Vaniville Town," said Serena, waving to her. After spending time together, Serena had become more casual in how she addressed Carina.
Carina returned a charming smile and waved before turning to board her private jet.
But the moment she turned to enter the cabin, Carina's smile collapsed.
The Kalos League was in big trouble this time.
About ten hours later.
The private jet slowly descended onto the Indigo Plateau.
While still on the plane, Carina had already briefly relayed the general course of events to Drasna via phone.
Drasna was shocked and had arrived at the League headquarters building on the Indigo Plateau to wait for her before Carina's plane even landed.
At the same time, Lance and Karen, who resided there, were also present.
Though Lance's family territory was in Blackthorn City in the Johto region.
Lance didn't like staying there, and besides traveling worldwide as an investigator.
When resting, Lance spent most of his time at the Indigo Plateau.
Moreover, as Lance delved deeper into his investigation.
He increasingly understood just how depraved Team Rocket was as an organization.
Not only did they engage in illegal Pokémon trafficking and steal others' Pokémon, but more despicably, they conducted illegal experiments on Pokémon.
For Lance, who deeply loved Pokémon, this was absolutely unforgivable.
He vowed to root out this organization completely!
...
...
Now, in the conference room at League headquarters.
Drasna had finished listening to Carina's account of the entire incident from start to finish.
The elderly man who had dedicated his life to the Pokémon League felt his head was about to explode.
"Not just Malva, but even Lysandre was..."
Earlier when the Kalos League reported Malva's true identity, though Drasna was startled, he eventually calmed down.
But now it turned out that not only was an Elite Four member involved, but even the President Lysandre was a traitor.
Drasna felt completely numb.
"Hmph, to let criminals climb to the highest position in a regional League - as expected of the weakest League, Kalos."
Lance sat on the other side with his arms crossed over his chest, his lips curled up in his signature dragon master smirk.
"You wouldn't happen to be a traitor too, would you, Champion Carina?"
"What did you say?!"
Even though Carina was usually even-tempered, Lance's words made her furious.
She had just been through a major battle and received no comfort.
And now this mockery!?
"Am I wrong? After all, when both the League President and an Elite Four member turn out to be criminals, isn't it only natural to consider the Champion suspicious too?"
Lance retorted.
"You—"
As Carina was about to argue back.
Drasna's sharp rebuke cut them both off.
"Enough!"
Even with Lance's imposing personality, he had to show some respect to the elderly man before him.
"Lance, mind your words. How can you suspect your own allies like this?"
Drasna scolded.
"...I'll take my leave. The Team Rocket investigation awaits."
Lance left the conference room without another word.
Hmph, it was precisely because there were too many incompetent people in the League that he couldn't let his guard down for a moment.
The conference room door closed with a "thud."
Drasna turned to Carina with an apologetic expression:
"I'm sorry, Carina. Don't take that boy Lance's words to heart."
"Please don't worry, I've heard about Lance's personality."
Carina smiled slightly, but in her heart she was cursing him thoroughly.
He's even more unlikeable than the rumors suggested.
Compared to him, Carina even found Sun Wuming's personality rather endearing.
"Though it was dangerous, according to your report, everything has been resolved, correct?"
Drasna asked.
"Yes, it's all thanks to Sun Wuming and his group."
Carina nodded.
"That man again?"
Drasna recalled Sun Wuming's amazing performance at the Galar Star Tournament.
Then he looked at the report Carina had submitted—
Sun Wuming possessed combat abilities allowing him to physically fight Legendary Pokémon.
When he saw this line, Drasna's eye twitched.
Was this real?
In all his years sitting in this position representing the entire League, possibly the highest authority in the Pokémon world.
He had seen many trainers with powerful individual abilities.
Cynthia from Unova, Sabrina from Kanto, all fell into this category.
But their powers at most could match Elite Four level Pokémon.
Legendary Pokémon?
You must be joking?!
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either, but this is the absolute truth."
Carina replied with a serious expression.
"...Let's set that matter aside for now."
Drasna put down the documents and continued:
"Now that Lysandre is dead and Malva has been arrested, do you have any recommendations for the new President and Elite Four position?"
Carina rested her chin on her hand, radiating an alluring intellectual beauty, and after hesitating for a moment replied:
"For the new President, I recommend Professor Sycamore, and as for Malva's replacement as Elite Four... I'd like to recommend one of Sun Wuming's new disciples, though I'm not sure if she'll agree..."
"That man's disciple again?"
Drasna's mouth fell open in shock.
After all, at the previous Galar Star Tournament, the spectacular performance of Bede and Gloria, who had received Sun Wuming's guidance.
The memory was still fresh in Drasna's mind.
"There's one more thing I'd like to ask of you, Chairman."
Suddenly, Carina's expression became extremely serious:
"Regarding what happened in Kalos, I hope we can..."
"Keep it from the public, right?"
Before Carina could finish, Drasna had already guessed her thoughts and nodded in agreement.
"I was thinking the same thing, not just for the Kalos region, but for the stability of the entire League."
...
...
After receiving Drasna's instructions, Carina didn't stay in Kanto a second longer, rushing back to Kalos.
She had the private jet land at the airport closest to Vaniville Town and hurried over without delay.
To be able to make a round trip between Kalos and Kanto in just 24 hours.
Sun Wuming and the others who had just arrived in Vaniville Town were shocked when they saw Carina.
That was incredibly fast!
"You're quick,"
Sun Wuming couldn't help but comment.
"I couldn't stand to stay in Kanto for another second."
Just thinking about Lance's words made Carina feel sick about breathing Kanto's air.
At this moment, Siebold, one of the Kalos Elite Four, came over and said:
"The petrified townspeople have all been gathered in the plaza."
Everyone turned to look at Vaniville Town plaza, which was filled with terrified statues, or more accurately, townspeople who had been petrified by Yveltal.
Not just townspeople, but many petrified wild Pokémon as well, including the ace Pokémon of Siebold and the others that had been petrified during their earlier battle with Malva in Lumiose City.
"Please, Xerneas, help my mom and the others..."
Serena bit her pink lips, looking at the Life Pokémon with tears in her eyes.
Xerneas stepped forward with an unwavering gaze, its X-shaped antlers gleaming with the same rainbow light as before.
It slightly raised its right foreleg, then brought it down the next moment as lightly as a dragonfly touching water.
It had done this countless times over 3,000 years, as naturally as eating or drinking.
The moment its hoof touched the ground, a warm circle of life energy spread outward.
The aura emanated rich life force, and everywhere it passed, whether flowers, trees, or the petrified townspeople and Pokémon, all returned to life.
The restored townspeople looked around in confusion.
Grace looked around puzzled, "Why am I in the plaza? I remember I was..."
"Mom... waaah!"
Before Grace could finish speaking, Serena had already thrown herself into her arms, emotions accumulated over several months finally bursting forth as she lay crying in Grace's embrace.
Grace looked surprised, but quickly realized something must have happened to make her daughter show such an expression.
And it wasn't just Serena who was crying.
There were also many townspeople who had regained life, and the Elite Four members who saw their beloved Pokémon revived.
"Thank goodness, Blastoise."
Siebold said, pinching his tingling nose.
"Blast!"
Blastoise returned a smile.
"That's amazing."
Carina marveled as she held a newly revived Fletchling in her palm before releasing it, looking at the Life Pokémon with deep emotion.
"Thank you for your selflessness, Xerneas."
However at this moment, Carina suddenly noticed that Xerneas's eyes looked tired.
"What's wrong?"
Carina's expression changed drastically.
"After sharing its life force, it needs to enter hibernation."
Sun Wuming explained:
"This is how it and Yveltal have lived for 3,000 years."
[I'm leaving]
Xerneas's tone remained unchanged.
After cleaning up after Yveltal each time, it would find a quiet place to return to its tree form and enter hibernation.
Long used to it.
At this moment, both Carina and Marnie couldn't help but feel solemn respect.
Such a selfless legend would probably never exist again in this world.
"Thank you! Xerneas!"
Serena waved gratefully at Xerneas's retreating figure.
The other rescued townspeople and Pokémon also realized then that it was that Pokémon who had saved them.
They too waved at Xerneas's departing figure, expressing their heartfelt gratitude.
...
...
To celebrate their survival, Vaniville Town held a grand festival that night.
This was certainly something Sun Wuming was happy to see.
Eat and drink with abandon!
Serena, Marnie and the others also released their Pokémon to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
[So happy! So fun!]
Hoopa Confined flew around with all sorts of sweets in its tiny hands.
"Oh no, Cosmog, you can't just come out whenever!"
Lillie quickly stuffed the mischievous creature that had poked most of its head out back into her bag.
"Glug glug glug~"
Sitting beside Sun Wuming, Carina drained a beer in one go, her pretty face flushed red as she complained without any champion-like dignity:
"That damn Lance! He really needs to be taught a lesson! He's even more annoying than you!"
Sun Wuming, holding a giant Nidoking-sized drumstick in his left hand and a whole 36-inch pizza in his right, looked innocent.
Go ahead and curse him all you want, what's it got to do with me?
— — —
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