Dr. Mortimer Phene - In search of legendary pokemon Kyogre

This journal is designated separate for the purpose of recording my day to day progress in the region of Hoenn for purposes of observing and recording the physical health of the Legendary pokemon Kyogre. Events of note will be recorded below. A separate sketchbook is set aside for anatomical drawings of pokemon encountered which will improved on in detail and will accompany by end findings. On my journey I am accompanied by Clear, a Beldum of unusual coloration, who will serve to record my diction as needed.

Table of Contents:
-Prelude
-Day One
-Day Two
-Day Three
-Day Four
-Day Five
-Day Six
-Day Seven
-Day Eight
-Day Nine
-Day Ten
-Day Eleven
-Day Twelve
-Day Thirteen
-Day Fourteen
-Day Fifteen
-Day Sixteen
-Day Seventeen
-Day Eighteen
-Day Nineteen
-Day Twenty
-Day Twenty-one
-Day Twenty-two
-Day Twenty-Three
-Day Twenty-Four
-Day Twenty-Five
-Day Twenty-Six
-Day Twenty-Seven
-Day Twenty-Eight
-Day Twenty-Nine
-Day Thirty
=Day Thirty-One.

Here be spoilers

Entry begins

14/11/2014

I have been contacted by a person of repute in the Hoenn region, Mr. Steven Stone. He is recruiting various trainers for an important task in the region. Time is short but Clear and I have decided to accompany him.

Hopefully we can gain more information about the task on arrival. I have not been granted a trainer’s license in the region yet but my medic’s license is enough to allow me travel when with a qualified trainer and Mr. Stone has impressive qualifications.

More impressive is the Latias he has shown mastery over. Certain Pokémon are so rare their existence itself is doubted and it is for the purpose of examining one that I am travelling to the Hoenn region in the first place. These Pokémon are colloquially known as legendries, proven to exist but with little documentation. The process of capturing one of the Pokédex is near impossible. It is for the purpose of this proper documentation that I have submitted a request for a Master Ball.

Mr. Stone is in possession of another of these reputed ‘legends’. The psychic abilities of the Eon Pokémon are renowned and his aptitude in capturing both is admirable. Latias are by nature a flighty Pokémon. To not only be able to approach one but convince it to carry passengers is a sign of a patient and gentle-hearted trainer.

Though my original departure for Hoenn through the services of a local teleporter was planned later the essentials of my research equipment have already been gathered and shipped to the local professor. I should have amble time to assist in this case before they arrive. The destination set is Mossdeep City which should be reached within the day. The flight will be entirely over sea between destinations. There is nothing else to report for the day.

15/11/2014

Travel is swift. Latias’s body and abilities are well developed for efficient flight. The structure of the wing is shared by that of its companion Pokémon Latios and forms of modern aircraft. The Latias I travelled on shows healthy sheen of feather from regular exercise. Its diet also appeared to be balanced. It denied the opportunity to be sketched, turning invisible when it felt observed for too long.

Arrival is Mossdeep city is welcome. The city is a hub of Astrological knowledge. Its facilities for processing DNA and its difference in the Pokémon genomes of PNA are ground-breaking. It also contains the launch sites of the probes sent to celestial bodies. I am thankful for the opportunity to visit it yet the reason for my visit prevents me from staying long. I have been

On our approach to the Professor’s residence we were accosted by two of the group Team Magma. The hostile group, advocating the manipulation of the legendry Pokémon Groudon to increase land mass, has resurged. They are known for their dismal and frequent damage of public property.

I had little time to defend myself. Thankfully I was the only one not prepared for battle. I was lent a pokeball containing a healthy specimen of a male Grovyle, one of the regions three starter Pokémon for new trainers. It was a simple matter to order a Leaf Blade against the opponent’s Poochyena but the two we faced had been stalling and left hurriedly after the battle in search of a “mega evolving pokemon” I cannot pretend to understand the motivations of this ‘Team Magma” but the phenomenon of Mega Evolution is rapidly becoming more significant. Mega Evolution is by far a recent phenomenon but it still remains unexplained. There is an unfortunate spike in those who attempt to use any scientific discovery for personal gain.

The components needed for Mega Evolution are notably rare. The first component is a semi-rare mineral called Key Stone found primarily in the Kalos region that has been used to make jewellery for millennia. Recently these items have increased rates of export. The second is an incredibly rare mineral that only reacts when held by a specific Pokémon such as Gardevoir’s Gardevoirite. Due to the difficulty of discovering and testing these stones they are not only immensely valuable but more of these “Mega Stones” are being discovered by the day. The third element, being a metaphysical one of a bond between Pokémon and trainer, is more difficult to quantify but serves as a catalyst for the transformation as the Pokémon applies their abilities to the shift in form.

As a medical researcher it offers a wonderful opportunity. While Mega Evolving Pokémon undergo distinctive biological changes many have yet to catalogue in detail. As Mega Evolution is a temporary process there is little detailed information on these alternate forms. No doubt I have been shortlisted for this mission due to my medical expertise. I have the sufficient medical qualifications to provide care for this Pokémon.

I have had a brief tour of the city. Most of the residents are locked inside their houses though some have emerged now the threat seems to have passed. Some damage must have been done to the gym as the leaders have cordoned off the Gym Area, though that could have been for protective reasons. Clear is curious but I have little knowledge of the area and cannot allow him to wander. They have located Steven’s house but cannot enter because of ‘a big fluffy in the way’. I have no idea why the Beldum thinks this is important.

Grovyle is of a tenacious nature and seems to dislike the red uniforms of the Team Magma members. This is unlikely to be its first encounter with the group. A short journey across the thin spit of land to the cave entrance and I am already mindful of the diverse environment. As I am not registered to own a Pokémon (my borrowed Grovyle is clearly still registered to Mr. Stone) I have been provided with no pokeballs. Seeing as I lack the formal training of the Pokémon trainer I am largely reliant on Grovyle’s combat experience.

There are multiple hostile trainers in the area. Whether it is a conflict or interests or a conflict of values it is not only members of the new Team Magma that are in the nearby area. Members of the other thought defunct organization Team Aqua have also approached the area. The two groups share much of the same ideals but in inverse. One feels that humans and Pokémon require a vast expansion of land, the other a vast expansion of sea. Both rely on flawed science and ecological terrorism to back up their ideals. This conflict has been long standing. According to my most esteemed sponsor Mr. Stone both groups have the same target; a Pokémon both capable of mega evolution and the relevant Mega Stone. Fortunately both groups are united in loathing of each other. Locating and capturing this Pokémon has been hindered by the intrusion of the other group. Team Aqua and Team Magma are both known for their violent extremism not their security; the plans had been leaked enough to gather a task force. Despite being a medic in this endeavour I continue to be impressed by my borrowed Grovyle’s will to fight.

Aided by another trainer more combat related than myself I have travelled deeper into the area. The cavern is large and the native Pokémon population are much disturbed by the amount of humans invading their habitats. While providing healing and allowing the other trainer to command the battle strategy the Grovyle has evolved into a Sceptile. Much progress was made into the interior of the cave before serious opposition was encountered. In addition Steven has thankfully caught up with supplies for the upcoming battle. Sceptile appears to be waiting for some sort of order from him. Steven’s reputation in the field of geology has not been overstated. He has acquired several rare artifacts before this battle. He has given me an item known as a Mega Bracelet, containing a Key Stone and a Mega Stone for my borrowed Sceptile.

At this point Clear was very surprised to see Steven’s pokemon of choice is a Metagross of the same colors as itself. They have expressed considerable interest in obtaining their own Mega Stone to effect the same transformation. I’ve promised to do what I can. The battle itself was over in two hits before I could attempt Mega Evolution. If I am lucky I’ll be able to examine the biology of Mega Metagross and Mega Sceptile at a later date. For now the priority lies in checking the targeted pokemon is safe. Initial signs indicate the distraction provided by the miscreants is amble.

16/11/2014

Though attempting medical treatment was difficult the Glalie eventually submitted to a medical examination. The female Ice Type is in peak condition and was captured by Steven Stone. It was in possession of a form of Mega Stone identified as Glalitite after being caught by Steven but not before giving Sceptile some bad freezer burn. I provided rapidly treatment to the afflicted area. The Ice typed attack against Sceptile’s Dragon and Grass Type when Mega evolved made this capture more of a challenge than necessary but proved the Glalie was in no way injured

In the time while I wait for the results of my Trainer Exams I have been entrusted the care of the Glalie until the damage to the cave can be repaired. I have given her the nickname of Verglas and am taking this opportunity to further study Mega Evolution in Mossdeep.

Spoiler:

Addedum

17/11/2014

I have done some training alongside considerably younger trainers with Steven to learn how to battle properly. Clear has been ordered strictly only to observe as I am not yet qualified to train a Pokémon.
The area is one with many small islands of differing environments. I have been performing simple field work to check the Pokémon populations of these islands. To date I have confirmed the presence of Poochyena, Skitty and Shroomish populations on separate outcroppings and have composed research separately. I have also participated in the search for and recovery of a missing child.
Though I cannot draw any pay Mr. Stone has been generous with his rewards. When my trainer licence arrives I will be in a prime position to begin recruiting Pokémon to my party.

Spoiler:

21/11/2014

It has been a month since my last entry of note. Many preparations have been made which I have listed in my other journal. I have prepared a travel pack complete with tent, research equipment, medical supplies, water-proof notebook and my necessary medication for the month. My letter of acceptance as a new trainer has arrived. With it my trainer card is being sent to the starting point of all new trainers; the professor’s laboratory. My equipment is fully set and my preliminary tests have proved successful. My grant for a Master Ball is in the second stage of approval. I will start my journey without it. As Kyogre’s current location is entirely unknown the grant will likely be approved before I encounter it.
I have spent the day in Littleroot town getting used to the region. The town is rural, as favored by most professors, for its closeness to the natural environments of Pokémon. Professor Birch is apparently known locally for his enthusiasm for fieldwork. Having met one of his two children, a girl named May, I have invited to follow her to route 101 to locate her father. Professor Birch is currently doing some sterling research on Pokémon diversity in regards to their ecosystems. As well as being published in several scientific journals Professor Birch is noted author of The History of the Hoenn Region, The Ecosystem of Pokémon 3,000 Years Ago, The Pokémon of Kalos and Hoenn, The Coexistence of People and Pokémon, The Fieldwork 101 and the national edition of Distribution of Pokémon Species. With these impressive credentials he has shown an interest in sponsoring my work in the region. The Pokédex of Hoenn has been completed to an immaculate degree by the efforts of past trainers; I will not need to make a study of every Pokémon of the region. However I will sketch select specimens at will.
May has allowed me to select a Pokémon from the three species kept for use of new trainers. Until I have a Pokédex Clear cannot be officially registered as belonging to me so I will require a Pokémon for protection. I have selected a female Mudkip to accompany me with description included below. For a name I have selected Alpha, as she is the first Pokémon I have officially encountered in the region.
Having encountered Professor Birch having being separated from his Pokéballs by a wild Poochyena I have participated in my first battle. A quick spray of Water Gun was enough to convince the Dark Type to turn tail. The Professor’s daughter, being a young woman of some skill, has offered to instruct me properly in battle. Apparently the Professor has a reputation for incautious acts regarding his fieldwork. Incidents like the one I witnessed are not uncommon. However I can hardly fault his enthusiasm when it has such impressive results. Curiosity is the driving force behind discovery after all.

Spoiler:

22/11/2014

I have arrived in Oldale Town. The people of this town are extraordinarily friendly; a combination of sympathy for a new trainer and the close-knit nature of a rural community. I have been gifted several potions, and more remarkably, a variety of local rock I am inclined to believe is a Mega Stone. I will have to wait for an expert to confirm which one but it has put me in high spirits. Clear is also cheerfully disposed. Though Beldum are native to the Hoenn region he was born and bred in Kalos and this is their first time visiting. Thankfully they get along well with Alpha. In fact Clear seems to have adopted the Mudkip as a form of elder sister figure and is very attentive to her advice.
I have also engaged in a professional Pokémon battle with May and her Treecko. In return she has informed me that my Pokédex has arrived and my journey can begin properly. Briefly I returned to Littleroot to thank the kindly woman who let me stay the night with her and the professor himself. From here on I will camping in the wilderness with my Pokémon. I have been able to use my remaining weekly allowance to purchase potions and Pokéballs. The Pokénav Plus is an impressively designed piece of hardware. It has been invaluable in uncovering the secrets of the region. Alpha has been rapidly gaining battle experience. Her adamant nature seems to give her an edge in combat. Though it is slow I feel we are bonding. She is still young enough to obey my commands without question and I am learning the pattern of battles. Her growth is astounding; yet more proof of the benefits to the symbiotic relationship we share with Pokémon.
I have captured and released many specimens with her aid. Now having expended the complementary Pokéballs given to me by Professor Birch I am approaching Petalburg to file my findings. There is a gym here; the premier facility for aspiring Pokémon trainers. I had the honor of meeting the leader of this illustrious establishment, a Mr. Norman. Though the growth Alpha is showing is impressive it is nowhere near the level needed to challenge a gym. However watching is equally interesting. I have been tasked with escorting a young child, Wally, in capturing his first Pokémon. I was initially nervous regarding my somewhat macabre appearance. Even to adults my mask is considered frightening. I tend to avoid children for this reason. Despite his nervousness Wally managed to capture a Pokémon and thanked me politely for accompanying him. I hope he is not too traumatized by having to spend time with me.
My next destination is Rustboro city.

Spoiler:

23/11/2014

I have spent the day largely alternating between gaining battle experience and bonding with my Pokémon. I have captured a new Pokémon, a Ralts like that possessed by Wally. I have named him Beta. I encountered Beta in the tall grass by Petalburg. He is small for his species but has an energetic nature. I am taking care to feed him properly. Ralts is a rare Pokémon for the region, closely resembling a human child. They are one of the species that has grown up in close contact with humans. According to Professor Birch’s novel The Coexistence of People and Pokémon Ralts’s humanoid shape evolved alongside humans. In the past Ralts children would be left in human villages to be raised alongside the children of the area. To this day the Ralts line has a stronger bond with trainers than many other Pokémon. He is of a rash nature but gets along well with Alpha. With the enthusiasm of them both I feel more confident for the challenge of the first gym.

Beta has already learnt how to teleport large objects as well as a stinging psychic type attack. He has also learnt basics of levitation. Psychic type’s become skilled early it seems. Clear on the other hand only knows a single method of attack, recklessly charging into an opponent head on. More often than I’d like I have had to administer medical aid. I feel Alpha is on the brink of evolution. I could never have gotten this far without her. I found a nice stream in the forest to bathe in and Alpha quickly came in to join me. Mudkip is truly an amazing creature being able to breathe on both and in water so easily. For some reason she loves it when I stroke the orange frills of her gills. The area is pretty sensitive from what I remember of my studies. It feels almost like thick hairs, each one woven tightly together but expanding out at the edges. I’m impressed she trusts me that much. Beta also came to join us. Initially he was nervous but as soon as he saw Alpha jump in he puffed out his cheeks and leapt in with a hug splash. I think he’s trying to show off to Alpha. Clear declined the offer to join us. They don’t like water that much.

In addition to some simple battles I have also been learning how to gather food. The Hoenn region is known for its fertile soils and lush wild berries. I have spent a profitable few hours playing with Alpha, Beta and Clear by scaling a tree with some difficulty and knocking down a few berries. All three seemed to think catching the falling berries was a terrific game. With my harvest I pureed the berries into a sweet paste and set them as treats. I feel I am getting closer to all three. Clear was always friendly but the other two are really starting to look up to me as a trainer. I feel a real sense of accomplishment.

I am setting up for my first night in the wild. Clear has attempted to help but his habit of barreling into things at high speed is better suited for battle than tent raising. Instead I have let him wander the area while I set up shelter. Petalburg woods is a rather spooky area. The canopy is thick and blocks out most light. Quite a few of the native Pokémon are poisonous as well and the area itself seems to be dangerous. I ran into another researcher earlier, one employed at Devon corp, who was making a study of the local Shroomish. With the low light and large amount of trees the leaf litter they feed on is exceptionally abundant. We shared a couple of cups of chilled Berry Juice while comparing our findings. Shroomish is exceptionally more intriguing than I realized. However this meeting was rudely interrupted by a self-professed member of the revived Team Aqua. If it hadn’t been for Beta we probably wouldn’t have seen his approach. Rather than introducing himself in a polite manner we were suddenly attacked by a Poochyena. Initially I thought it was wild but Beta’s concern warned me otherwise. Alpha, being quick to defend me, soon defeated it. Her growth is remarkable. She is swiftly reaching evolution point.

As thanks for my aid in battle the Researcher has given me an experience sharing device. This remarkable recent invention allows Pokémon to witness a battle while still inside their Pokéballs, allowing them to gain experience without having to participate in the fight. I plan on using this to prepare for the up-coming Gym battle.

Spoiler:

24/11/2014

With battles getting more challenging I find myself dipping deeper into my stores of potions. So far I have been successful in keeping my team healthy but challenges have been many. Clear has started to become distracted by his curiosity and has ignored some of my orders in battle. Both Alpha and Beta has grown stronger though and I feel Clear’s curiosity is not a thing I can fault. After a bath, a breakfast of the left-over berry snacks and getting properly dressed I continued the trek towards Rustboro. Everyone is well rested and ready for the walk. As a precaution against poisoning I have had Clear lead the party. Despite their tendency to get distracted by nearly everything they’re a good lookout. Sometimes I’m envious of how much they enjoys life. Everything seems new and exciting to them. Even the color of grass seems to be something the Beldum is fascinated by. The stories regarding Beldum’s extraterrestrial origin have some truth to them judging by the anatomical structures of the Pokémon itself. There have been many battles and I have come to be apprehensive about the move Bide. I have also managed to capture a Shroomish before leaving the woods. I have named her Gamma. She is a lonely natured Pokémon, even more nervous than Beta was. She is also smaller than the average range for Shroomish being the same height as Beta. I place her age as the youngest of the group. Even more remarkable is her ability. Due to my condition I find there are few Pokémon I can face unmasked. Many are frightened enough by the appearance to befriend me. Alpha, seeing my face for the first time, showed no fear of my appearance and Beta slowly seems to be warming up to me but…Gamma I already feel a special bond with. Thanks to her ability I can remove the mask around her. In fact the toxins of my breath are revitalizing for her. She is the only Pokémon I have seen besides Clear who can stand to be around me without the mask. I have been quick to pamper her.

Rustboro city is large and impressive. In contrast to the rural towns that have smoothly blended into the environment Rustboro is a more modern city with many buildings. Initially I had to look up my location on the Pokénav Plus to locate the Pokécenter. I have checked in at the Pokécenter, making sure neither myself of any of my Pokémon have picked up any ailments from the night in the forest. For safety’s sake I have insisted that my Pokémon rest with me in the tent. The tent is of good make and colored to prevent detection of most predatory Pokémon species. It was rather expensive to purchase and I am pleased to see it is serving its intended purpose well. I took the liberty of exploring the nearby area while preparing for the gym. Construction plans for a tunnel linking the town to the nearby Verdanturf have been delayed due to the tunnel becoming the preferred habitat of local Whismur. The loud cries of these Pokémon make it difficult to maintain construction work. The area however did give fruitful opportunities for training. If I am to be serious about my fieldwork I must work hard as a trainer. It seems my work is recognized. While attempting to defeat a Skitty Alpha evolved.

Pokémon evolution continues to be a bizarre and amazing process. Using stored energy from battle a nutrient cocoon is created and the anatomy of the entire Pokémon changes rapidly. The process is even more rapid than other forms of metamorphosis. In fact the rapidity of the change actually obscures it entirely from view though the heat and light produced as a side effect of this process. So far no measuring device we have can be used to determine exactly how and why the change takes place, only that it is instigated by the Pokémon itself. Regardless of the details the little Mudkip I started with is now gone. Alpha is now closer to Clear in size. Her tail has bifurcated and her skin has become a more pallid shade of blue. More significantly her arms and legs have grown larger and stronger, though less dexterous. I have spent an amusing few hours teaching her how to walk. At first she seemed to have trouble balancing upright but now she’s toddling along beside me with confidence. The change doesn’t seem to have affected her attitude, though Beta appears to be a bit jealous of her increased height on him.

We have also visited the gym, conveniently located within the local museum of geology. Seeing as a Gym Battle is a serious endeavor I have taken the time to get the stone I received in Oldale town appraised. My initial hunch is right; it is indeed a Mega Stone. As for which one that will take longer. The energy emitted by a Pokémon evolving is impossible to accurately measure but it is also on a unique wavelength that can be recorded. When a Pokémon that has already evolved to its highest peak attempts to evolve again a small amount of this energy is released. The Mega Stone resonates to that energy, forming a catalyst for another, temporary evolution. The equipment of the Gym is sophisticated enough to be able to bombard the stone with different evolution frequencies until one is found that reacts. While that experiment is going on I have stood up to challenge Roxanne. There are always young trainers around the leader of a gym, those who are officially training as the leader’s successors in the event they retire. Despite my age they still treat me as a new trainer. Gamma is growing strong. Despite her small size her roots are fine enough to slip into the cracks between rocks. She seems to be happy to battle. However when it comes to a Gym Leader I feel I must rely on Alpha. Despite her recent evolution she has gotten used to a bipedal gait far faster than any human could. Her water gun has also gotten stronger. With a quick hit she managed to defeat Roxanne’s Geodude and was very pleased with herself. I am starting to think that Alpha has a dislike for Nosepass. As soon as the Rock Type was sent into battle Alpha attacked it with a water gun. The powerful stream of water did more damage than usual and when the Nosepass attempted to retaliate with a shower of stones Alpha dodged the attack and landed another critical hit. I left her happily burbling on top of her defeated opponent while I collected the badge. I am very proud of her.

Spoiler:

25/11/2014

Already things are getting complicated. Team Aqua has launched another attack. I received a news feed on it as soon as I awoke. Rustboro is, like most of Hoenn, a hub of research and development. Exactly what has been taken in unknown but a research facility was attacked. I have nothing but contempt for these ignorant eco-terrorists. From what I have seen their manifesto of improving life is based on heavily flawed science and exploitation, they back up their extremist with anarchistic attacks against government facilities. The Shroomish loving researcher I met while camping was assaulted at home after the failed attempt to rob him in the woods. There is already a mob of trainers forming in protest. The Team Aqua vanguard had retreated into the Rusturf Tunnel nearby. I feel obliged to aid my fellow scientist. Team Aqua already display violent disregard for the research they have already stolen; it would be remiss of me to allow them to obtain equipment for their obscene science.

I have set out towards the tunnel. On arrival I found that Team Aqua have taken hostages. Local authorities and trainers have surrounded the area. Everything is barricaded. It is evident they did not expect the alarm to be raised so early or the tunnel to be blocked. While negotiations are in progress attempts are being made to starve the fugitives enough to get them to surrender. A local fisherman by the name of Mr. Briney has had their Wingull, Peeko, stolen and had to be escorted from the area in tears. A skilled group of trainers are attempting to infiltrate the tunnels. With my qualifications I have talked my way into the group to provide medical support. While the bulk of the battle has been going on ahead a younger member of the organization managed to slip past to where I saw stationed. He had a hostage of his own, a terrified Wingull that refused to listen to his orders. He looked terrified. Gangs like Team Aqua, they recruit from the lower levels of society, from people that feel the world owes them. Half the time they end up following anyone who promises them a brighter future ad by the time they see what those people want from them they’re too deep to get out. He was younger than I expected…

Meeting me when he thought he had escaped the battle only served to amplify his shock. I am ashamed to say I took advantage of his fright to get him to let go of the Wingull. Without a hostage he attempted to battle me using a stolen Pokémon. Without any badges the Pokémon turned on him instantly. I am sorry to say I had to have off my mask to calm things down. The stolen Pokémon, a Milotic of bright golden scales, immediately began to throttle the boy and I had to intervene. Milotic is known to be a peaceful Pokémon. I shudder to think what it has been put through to exhibit this kind of behavior but from the shock on the Team Aqua boy’s face he had not seen it before. He passed out from stress before I managed to free him from the Milotic’s coils. I gave him a complete check-up but the only damage is some bruising. Things could be much worse. I feel sorry for the poor boy caught up in all this. Like the rest of the Team he has been arrested and will be interrogated over the operation. I have put in a good word for him but I feel that is the most I can do in this situation. I am a medic, not a lawyer. The Milotic processed to make the situation more difficult. Not recognizing its trainer in the area it lashed out violently in the cave. With Gamma’s help I managed to calm into down and get it to return to its Pokéball. After turning said Pokéball into the authorities it was discovered that the location of the Milotic’s trainer is currently unknown. Until they are found I have offered to take care of the Water Type. His name is Sunny and he is a stunning specimen. Aside from his unusual coloring he is a strong and healthy looking specimen despite his trust issues. Unusually for the species he also seems rather arrogant. Despite officially being his temporarily caregiver he has initially refused to acknowledge me unless I am feeding him. He has been through a lot and I cannot blame him.

The stolen equipment was safely returned to Devon Corp. After the devastation the original Team Aqua caused everything regarding their actions is treated as serious business. I spent most of the day also in interrogation about the actions of Team Aqua. The Wingull has been returned to their proper owner and I have received a commendation for my actions alongside the rest of the team. There have been some injuries and I have been very busy with the aftermath of the main battle but I have yet to see anything more severe than a few broken limbs. I have also had the personal pleasure of meeting the president of the organization, a Mr. Stone. My next destination is Dewford Town and I have offered to deliver a letter regarding the situation to Steven Stone. The analysis of the stone I left in the museum has been completed. It is Metagrossite. Clear was very excited to hear that. They were flying around in excited circles when I gave it to them to hold. They are currently keeping it tucked in between their neck and their scarf despite the fact they cannot actually use it to Mega Evolve. Either way Clear appears to be perfectly content with ‘the shiny rock’ and it’s nice to see them so enthusiastic. Now I have finished in Rustboro the next leg of my journey is to Dewford Town via the ferry. I have booked tickets for the end of the day. It is an overnight journey which I plan to spend attempting to get through to Sunny.

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Spoiler:

26/11/2014

I have arrived in Dewford Town. After spending so much time in the ship I have begun with bond with Sunny. His initial violent reaction seems to have been sparked by fear. By talking calmly to him and making sure he is well fed and watered he has allowed me close enough to groom him. He seems a lot less skittish now. While he dislikes battling his well-maintained scales indicate a position as a contest Pokémon. The Hoenn region is in part well known for its displays of the bond between human and Pokémon. Even if I feel it would be irresponsible to throw Sunny into too many battles I am already researching the basics of Pokémon contests.On arrival to the Dewford Town dock I find myself in another cozy rural town; this time a quaint fishing village. I have explored for it a bit in the search of the recipient of the letter I have been given. So far there is no luck. The nearby Granite Cave is the most likely place of encounter but it is currently inaccessible.

Until then I have turned my sights towards the Pokémon Gym. The Gym is known for specializing in Fighting Type Pokémon and Beta seems keen to face the challenge. I found an out of the way corner for training. In addition to the Zubats and Geodude that usually inhabit this area Beta has also pracised battling the local Makuhita. Alpha, still fresh out of her victory in Rustboro, has seemed amenable to staying out of this fight. Clear and Beta have resolved to take center stage. I think Beta is a little jealous of Alpha’s evolution. He wants to prove he is strong as well. I believe in his abilities so I have decided he can fight for himself as long as it is safe. The gym itself is reasonably small, serving not just as a Pokémon battle facility but as an actually gym as well. Many trainers there with their Pokémon ended up challenging us. There is much to be said for Beta’s skill in battle. He is not a Pokémon that relies on his psychical attacks but his strange mental strength. The actual battles were surprisingly easy. Beta would simply give a charming cry as cute as he could manage and his opponents would give up in the end. He’s very sly. As well as his charming manner he also packs quite a punch with his psychic attacks, both moves being very good at taking down fighting types. Clear got very excited watching him fight. Being able to watch the battles is good experience and they seem to be getting very hyped up over everything. They started rattling around in their Pokéball and I had to let them out for a moment. When they did Clear divided in two as smooth as a cell. The metallic plating of his body behaved in a disturbingly fluid manner as it replicated itself then the halves fused together in a glare of light. Evolution. The Beldum line are one of the few Pokémon of undeniably extraterrestrial origins. Their hard shells contain high levels of iridium and other rare metal elements. They are entirely mechanical in nature but as sentient and emotional as any living being. They have no blood and are powered entirely by magnetic force. They can communicate with their own kind over incredible distances using magnetic pulses and can communicate with humans through telepathy. Many scientists believe they are probes sent into space by another civilization that have ended up here. Either way this duplication then fusion has not seemed to harm Clear’s personality in the slightest, apart from their despair at no longer being able to wear a scarf. In distress they picked it up again and again in an attempt to tie it to a non-existent neck until I tied it around their arm and the battle could be resumed.

Following this we encountered the Gym leader of the region. Mr. Brawly is a cheerful natured man with a love of exercise. Beta was determined to face him. I am sorry I ever thought he couldn’t handle this challenge. Beta is a strong and confident fighter in addition to his type advantage. He not only made short work of both Brawly’s Pokémon he has also evolved. He seems proud of his new and rather elegant form. His body is even more humanoid but taller than Alpha. The loose skin that covered his legs as a Ralts has split open and dangles around his legs in a skirt. His new extended limbs are tender skinned and he stands on the tip of his toes to avoid hurting them. His hands have divided inside their cocoon, giving him full fingers. His horns have shifted; the growths are related to the emotional state of the Pokémon and often shift depending on mood at time of evolution. He holds his hands out in front of himself defensively as he balances on his toe tips. His evolution also comes with a tendency to pose dramatically with every attack. I think he is enjoying himself a bit too much. Either way I have received my second badge. This is sure to be of use. Mr. Brawly has given us directions to Mr. Stone’s current location. The cave painting of Granite Cave has only recently been unveiled to the public. The ancient pigments are very fragile and it has taken much careful effort to get to the point that historians and other researchers are even allowed inside. This is where we will find Mr. Stone.

Spoiler:

27/11/2014

The Granite Cave is a wonderful place to hold such a marvel. The object of my search, the legendary Pokémon Kyogre, is clearly displayed on the mural from ancient times. The pigments have faded over time but scans show this image of Kyogre was painted in life-like colors not as hardy as the black pigments. This shows that in this time period thousands of years ago Kyogre was seen by these people in the flesh. Recently Kyogre, Groudon and Rayquaza were awoken due to the actions of the original Team Aqua and Team Magma. Disturbed by the damage to their environment they started a rampage and were held in check only by each other. After that they disappeared. There is little information on them but there are eyewitness accounts from many sources. The discovery of Mega Evolution in such a measurable way has offered insight into the study of Pokémon evolution as a field. Before our knowledge was limited to what we could observe when Pokémon evolve. These forms of Mega Evolution, an accession beyond the believed peak of Pokémon evolution sparked by a close bond with a human partner, hold the key to understanding the place of humanity on this world. This mural of the ancient Kyogre, worshipped and feared by people of the past, is yet another piece of evidence that we will never truly understand Pokémon. They adapt themselves in humans can never hope to match or control, merely witness. Though I find myself awed Clear keeps attempting to touch the wall through the psychic barrier that keeps it safe. Thankfully Mr. Stone finds this amusing rather than disrespectful. He has a fondness for the Beldum line. Apart from that little slip I managed to deliver the report without further hindrance. My next destination is Slateport.

Slateport is a more bustling portside city than Dewford. It is the shipping center of Hoenn. The parts I am delivering will be needed to aid in the construction work. I am not an engineer; what the parts do is a complete mystery but they are valuable enough to be worth stealing. After taking the ferry for the half hour ride I have found that Mr. Stern who this package is addressed to is taking a break from work at the museum of oceanography. It really is a most stunning city. Hoenn is a region of great diversity. I love to see how they have adapted their production to the environment. The beach looks wonderful. After delivering the package I planned to take a day’s rest. I have heard of a nearby tourist attraction; an artificial reef that may be worth exploring later. I will be needing more sketches for my book. There are many samples of deep sea soil with fossilized wave patterns and other impressive samples in the museum. I had agreed to meet up with the captain there to exchange the parts. Unfortunately I found myself the target of the revived Team Aqua.

On the way to the Museum’s upper floor I was ambushed by two members of Team Aqua. I have Sunny to thank for my life. He is very gentle around me but also very protective. He caught on of them in a Wrap attack before I even noticed their presence. I am currently in hospital following the removal of a Carvanha fang from my arm. It didn’t sink too deeply but I needed a couple of stitches afterwards. They were armed beside their Pokémon and Sunny was tazed. He has recovered easily but in the time when he was unconscious I was attacked by their Pokémon. I am very proud of Sunny. He didn’t release his grip even after they stung him with electricity and they were forced to retreat without the parts. A metal suitcase swung hard is a formidable weapon. The third member, who had not participated in the attack, identified himself as also part of the revived Team Aqua. He left an ominous warning about how their actions are to purify the seas polluted by humans and provided a clean world for Pokémon. In his ideology he is not far from the truth. All life originated from the sea. We have found fossil Pokémon in seabed that are older than any other Pokémon fossil found on land. The ocean covers most of the planet and has the most diverse forms of life ever seen. There is more similarities between humans and bacteria than there is between some water types. However from all the facilities I have seen Hoenn is serious about finding alternate sources of power to keep the environment clean. This random vandalism and assault does nothing to help Pokémon. Impeding progress does nothing to fix things. If you want change you have to start it yourself. That is how Mr. Stone started Devon Corp. Despite their high ideals Team Aqua are not acting beyond Eco terrorism.

I managed to get the parts safely delivered. Both Sunny and I require a rest after this event. I will not be keeping a journal for a few days until I am sure we are both in top health.

30/11/2014

Both Sunny and I have recovered well. Sunny has refused to leave my side since I was hospitalized and I have accompanied him to every one of his appointments. My assailants have yet to be captured but now the parts have been delivered I see no reason to believe I will attacked again. I have been given care of a Pikachu while I recover who I have fondly nicknamed Bandit. She is a hardy Pokémon with a touch of mischief and she loves the spotlight almost as much as Sunny. I have taken a break from battling to learn some new skills. I have learnt how to fish. So far I have only caught Tentacool and Magikarp but I am getting much more skilled with the fishing rod. I have released all my catches back into the ocean but provided some sketches. My arm is healing nicely. The wound is not too bad but I am resting it by not battling for a while. In addition to learning how to fish I have met a local celebrity. Lisia, the poster girl for contests in Hoenn, showed up at the local contest hall by the hospital with her Altaria. I was in the area while exercising Sunny and she called us over for the camera crew. I admit I was terrified to have so many people looking at me but Sunny enjoyed the attention. Lisia seemed to realize I was uncomfortable and drew the attention of everyone to the Milotic instead. Sunny is a gorgeous Pokémon and apparently has a natural cuteness about him. I can’t deny he photographs well.

Lisia gave me a keycard, called a Contest Pass, to allow me to officially enter contests. As part of a promotion offered by her company I have signed a waiver that grants me a fancy new outfit for contests, provided I only wear that outfit. Sunny seems to be much happier in the dressing room than in a gym. Pokémon contests are an art form on their own, less physically strenuous but still a matter of great talent. I agreed to enter one with Sunny. Not being very skilled I was afraid I’d make a mess of it but for such a large Pokémon Sunny really is adorable. I found myself having so much fun I didn’t pay any attention to the score until the winner was announced. To my surprise Sunny has managed to pull off a near perfect score! After the contest I met with Lisia again and asked her opinion. To her practiced eye Sunny has been bred for contest excellence. It shows in his nature as well as his form. I have resolved from now on, to understand fully the nature of my Pokémon that I will challenge contest halls as well as the gyms. It’s a whole new kind of challenge and one that I look forward to. If nothing else it certainly makes Sunny happy. We even have fans. I don’t know what has happened to him while Team Aqua owned him but he is finally warming up to humans again. I am so close to him I am almost dreading his trainer returning.

In addition to my team of fighters I have also started to put thought into gathering a group of Pokémon to show off the unique appeal of contests. I’ve been talking to a costume designer of the contests and she has agreed to make up a special outfit for Bandit. She really is proud of new new red-leather jacket. Everything she does just screams cool. She’s even learnt a special move. It’ll be nice to have an electric type around and she gets along well enough with Sunny. Her Striking Chronicle is a thoroughly cool display. I am in awe just watching it. Lisia seems very impressed. As well as meeting Lisia I also got to meet her self-proclaimed rival Chaz. They don’t seem to get along too well but I guess the life of a celebrity isn’t all glamour. The world of Pokémon contests really is interesting. In addition to Poképuffs I have learnt how to make Pokéblock, a blended berry candy that adds a sheen to a Pokémon preferred in contests. Bandit is determined to show how cool she is in contests and we have been working hard over these past few days. Now she has obtained the coveted Master of Coolness Ribbon it is time for us to move on.

Spoiler:

1/12/2014

I have been taking my goal of obtaining a team for contests very seriously. As well as Bandit and Sunny I have recently caught a Pokémon for the Cuteness contests; an adorable little Zigzagoon I have nicknamed Babydoll. She is useless in an actual fight but it’s nice to have her sit on my knee and eat Pokeblocks. She is a young Zigzagoon, perfectly willing to be caught in exchange for a few sweets and a warm place to nap. She loves it when I scratch behind her ears. She has a mild nature and dislikes being in the spotlight but when she gets excited she really shows a cute appeal. In so far as she has one her signature move is Babydoll eyes. Her spectacular talent, Pretty Shining Road, is more or less just her running around excitedly but it is very cute! In fact she is a master of cuteness! We had out last performance at noon and as we set off down Route 110 I had a good feeling about the day.

Route 110 is a long one and I have been doing a lot of research. There are many electric types in the area. I have also met up with May again. She has been telling me about her father’s latest piece of research. In the past there used to be a much greater diversity of Pokémon in the region. She is helping her father with researching what even caused the decline of diversity. We had a brief battle and to my surprise Gamma has evolved. She hasn’t gotten too much larger but her entire body stricture has changed and she had gained some sturdy extendable arms. I feel I have learnt a lot from observing May’s battle techniques. I have been working hard to catalogue all the species of the route but have taken a break to explore Mauville city. I have met Wally again. He’s already going off to challenge the gym with Pokémon of his own. I have a new challenge to face; learning how to ride a bike. Thankfully I’m wearing casual clothing not my lab coat otherwise things would be even more difficult. Beta seems to be amused by my attempts to pedal whereas Clear is way too enthusiastic about the entire thing and has made me crash more than once. I think I’ll just stick to one Pokémon out while I’m riding and let Bandit ride in the basket. I’ve been getting quite good at this sort of thing. I ate at the food court, had quite a few battles, got Sunny a massage and a ribbon for his good work in the contest, took Babydoll for a walk on the rooftop garden and took a bike ride by the Pokémon daycare where Sunny had a battle. It’s been a busy day. Sunny’s been very happy and has gotten very strong. Mauville is a very fancy city with ties to Lumiose in Kalos and it shows in the opulent shopping centers and pristine rooftop garden. There is a lot to do here and there’s no way I’ll have everything done in a single day. I’ve spent enough time window shopping and learning to bike, now it’s time to train. I have another addition to my growing contest team, a Roselia I captured while training for the gym. She’s a feisty little Pokémon with many poisonous moves. I’ve taken to calling her Siren She is very smart. I’m taking the cycle road down to Slateport this afternoon. Maybe I’ll enter her in some Cleverness Contests.

Spoiler:

2/12/2014

This is Alpha’s time to shine. I have spent time enrolling her in a special class and she has leant a new move much more powerful than her former Water Gun, Water Pledge. Apparently this move has a special effect when combined in double battles but for now I am merely impressed by its power. Waving her three fingered hands Alpha can now summon a powerful jet of water from the ground underneath an opponent. As a Marshtomp she’s also completely immune to shocks of any kind. Her pale blue skin is non-conductive and grounds any electrical attacks and the Gym Leader of Mauville City is a specialist in electric type Pokémon. Mr. Wattson is a cheerful man who seemed to have no hard feelings over the fact that none of his Pokémon’s moves seemed to work against her. I have another badge to add to my collection, the dynamo badge. To celebrate I bought a new ribbon for Alpha and, at her insistence, Bandit as well. Then Clear got jealous at all the Pokémon with “pretty ribbons” so I bought one for them as well. They looked so proud of it I’ve decided I might as well enter them in some contests as well.

Well it was a quick bike ride back to Slateport. They got very enthusiastic about the idea and initially I had trouble persuading them to listen to me. On the positive side they are very tough. Attacks never seemed to bother them; after all their primary mode of transportation as a Beldum was slamming into things. I’ll admit they do seem enamored by ribbons. For such a large and strong Pokémon they really appreciate simple, pretty things. Sunny has been slowly persuaded to listen to them and teach them some contest tricks. As a Steel and Psychic Type Clear has two kinds of Spectacular Talents he can use to great effect. Bandit seems on board with the idea. Now I just need some more berries to make Pokéblock with. They really are popular with the team. I’ve had to plant more berries, the soil is very good for it and they’ll be growing in no time. I’ve set off towards Mount Chimney and have been doing a lot of training. The area is a wonderful spread out place for hiking. It seems everyone wants to battle me and Beta has evolved! His skirt has grown longer so now it is brushing the ground. His horn has shifted to his chest and has swelled in size. He now has short fins sticking from the sides of his head. He’s also gotten very tall, much taller than Alpha for once. He seems proud of himself. I’m proud of him too. He’s an impressive figure of a Pokémon. Now for once he’s lording his increased height over Alpha. She’s getting pretty close to evolution so I doubt he’ll be able to brag for long. I’m checking in to the Rest Stop before I try and make the rest of this journey.

Spoiler:

3/12/2014

Mt. Chimney is a wonderful area for a picnic. After getting up from the rest stop I spent some time in the grass having a nice lunch with the team. Mt. Chimney, named for its distinctive billowing of black smoke when mapped, is an active volcano and home to many Fire Types such as Numel, Torkoal and the deeper down Slugma. I’ve also encountered many Machop in the area. This humanoid Pokémon is known for its building of the body and many enjoy the mountain for the sheer amount of rocks to practice smashing. I even shared some sandwiches with one while it was taking a break from training. Clear had some fun with breaking boulder too. We’ve found some pretty gems, a few useful stones and annoyed more than one Geodude. The fiery path, being a tunnel through the volcano itself, provided much information on Pokémon in the hot and toxic environment. I find myself running low on Pokéballs as I approached Route 117.

In the shadow of Mt. Chimney the wind blows all the ash over to one side of the mountain. This small route is choked with dark soot that falls from the sky like flakes of snow. My mask is struggling to filter the ash from the air. I’ve had to stop and replace the filters twice to stop myself from suffocating. The soil here is a grey-green and powder for a few inches down. With every step my feet break through a thin crust and leave my footprints stretching behind me. The wind is high and howling overhead, blowing the ash off the ground and into the air. The sun is covered by the clouds and the shadow of the mountain. Everything is colored by the falling flakes, like a grimy snow. The entire route looks like some post-apocalyptic ruin. Everything is choked with ash but, even here there is life. The plants here are all dark with angular leaves. Most of them are permanently covered in a layer of grime as they thrust through the powder towards the scraps of fading sun. They are probably poisonous and their stems grow wooden and twisted but it is life. It’s a strange thing, as a trudge through the powder with falling ashes completely coating my clothes, life is everywhere. I am nervous about sending out my Pokémon. The ash here isn’t toxic but I worry about them breathing it in. I have swiftly made my way through the Route with Sunny at my side. Some conflict is, unfortunately, inevitable. Sunny and I were attacked by a Skarmony whose tree we must have gotten too close to. The Steel and Flying Types are really territorial. Sunny was nearby thankfully. He seems to blame himself for the injury I got when attacked by Team Aqua. As soon as I heard the piercing cry of the Skarmony diving he smashed it out of the sky. The poor bird ended up with a bent wing. I caught him in a Great Ball to carry him to the Pokécenter in Fallarbour Town.

Under the overhang of stone there is less ash falling down here. I can breathe free (metaphorically). Sunny is back from his check-up. He has barely a scratch on his sturdy scales from the Skarmory. I am proud of him and have given him lots of Poképuffs to make sure he feels appreciated. With Team Aqua in the area I feel more in danger than I have doing field work before. It’s nice to feel I can rely on him; on all my Pokémon. I feel rather sorry for the poor bent winged Skarmory. I’ve called named him Skywarrior (I’m feeling sentimental) and I’ve been feeding him some Pokéblocks to make him feel better. He’s warming up to me, mostly because I’m feeding him, but he’s left a few little scratches on my arms. There’s a Contest Hall here as well. I’ve got quite a few ribbons now and Skywarrior can’t do any fighting on his crooked wing. I met up with Lisia again. She is proud of my progress. I have quite a little fan following now. People still point but I don’t feel like they’re laughing at my mask anymore. I even saw myself on Buzznet news. Everyone thinks it’s just a fashion statement. It’s strange to be recognized. After my first contest with Skywarrior I saw Lisia and Chaz again. She was happy to see me, I’m one of her more successful scouts. Chaz was less happy to see me but he was still open to the idea of entering in a contest together. Sunny, Machierie and Ali looked wonderful on stage together. Standing up there under the lights listening to the applause was one of the proudest moments of my life. Chaz didn’t seem too torn up about me beating him. He just seems to want to improve. He’s even mentioned starting a training regime and challenging the gyms. Lisia seemed to think it was a wonderful idea. The bond between humans and Pokémon can been improved in so many ways. She’s even invited me to compete against her again sometime but it’ll be a long while before any of my Pokémon are as good as Ali. As thanks for all my hard work I talked with Lisia for a while and Ali even agreed to let me sketch her Mega Evolved form.

4/12/2014

I was woken up this morning by the sound of breaking glass. A rock had been thrown through the downstairs window and was lying in a pool of shards on the ground. At first I thought it was an act of harmless vandalism but as I was cleaning up I saw that the symbol of Team Aqua had been crudely scratched into the surface with a knife. I am being targeted. For their own sinister means Team Aqua is targeting scientists from all fields and any similar facilities. Now they are specifically trying to hunt down me. I found myself short of breath and had to take several doses of my inhalers. I didn’t sleep for the rest of the night. Sunny was kind enough to wrap himself around me and hold me until the sun came up. I let the others sleep in. I am terrified. Team Aqua are ruthless, zealous and vengeful. As soon as the sun came up I took everyone to report the incident. It wasn’t just the rock throwing Team Aqua were up to. Fallarbour Town is nearby Meteor Falls; an area marked by the impact craters of a powerful meteor storm. The minerals there are quite different to that of other areas. A specialist in extraterrestrial minerals, Professor Cozmo, lives nearby. I had planned a meeting for him today but things have taken a turn for the worse. Last night the professor was abducted by Team Aqua. They carved their symbol on his door. We have one eye witness in his wife who says they were taking him toward the falls. It’s still too early to organize a large rescue effort.

I admit that I had to take a moment to throw up. In my last encounter with Team Aqua I was hospitalized. This time they went out of their way to warn me not to interfere. I am afraid for Professor Cozmo’s safety but I am also terrified for my own. Sunny provides some comfort. He was kept by Team Aqua for Arceus knows how long and he seems to recognize my fears. He wrapped his body around me, the scales gleaming a vivid pink, to calm my beating heart. This incident isn’t going to go away. I can’t let Team Aqua intimidate me. They are not going to stop. I was on high alert when we moved out to Meteor Falls. It’s a large area so there’s multiple search groups. I am partnered with May who was in town for similar reasons. She young but a talented trainer and it’s nice to see someone I can trust. I confessed to her that I was a bit nervous following the events of last night. She recommended we stop for a moment and take a break. The area is beautiful with a smooth river and the rust-colored mountain rising ahead. I drew a sketch of a local Swablu to calm my nerves before I felt brave enough to move on.

There is a small passageway May has found. From there we slipped inside and were lucky enough to catch sight of the professor not too far away. Two Team Aqua members were with him. We were spotted on approach. Sensing my unease everyone stepped up to defend me. Battling alongside May Beta dealt a powerful blow to our opponents Grimer with Psychic then Alpha finished it off with a Rock Slide. I felt my heart leap into my throat when I was then attacked by a Carvanha but Gamma swiftly batted it away with a Force Palm. One of the Aqua members, a girl with long black hair, drew a knife and tried to attack me. Alpha quickly smashed it away and begun to evolve. While the defeated Team Aqua members were dazzled by the light reinforcements arrived wearing bright red. The one at the front, displaying a high degree of arrogance, attempted to cuff them himself. They shoved him aside and managed to attack the Professor. His head was smacked pretty hard into the wall as they stole the meteorite they had abducted him to find. Right now he is in the hospital recovering. There doesn’t appear to be any permanent damage but the brain is a delicate thing. The man in red, straightening his glasses, introduced himself as the leader of the newly revived Team Magma and left us to care for the injured professor until the search parties arrived. He did leave a small tip; that the two we defeated would likely be heading for Mt. Chimney. As to how much this tip can be trusted I am not sure but I have reported it to the authorities along with my contact details.

Spoiler:

5/12/2014

I have been contacted, though not by any due authority. The members of the revived Team Magma are planning a raid on Mt Chimney. I have been invited personally and left a good faith gift of a Torkoal. I feel like I should report this to the authorities but whatever Team Aqua is doing I have a feeling it is dangerous. Team Magma hardly has a better reputation but right now it is my best chance to stop what they are doing with that meteorite. I’ve struck a deal with one of the Magma Admins. I promise first of all to aid in foiling Team Aqua plans with the meteorite, heal any injured Pokémon or grunts and to not report any of this until everyone is well away. I thought I was too old for this sort of rebellious behavior but right now it’s my best option. I left with a group of disguised members of the team. We used no names and they wore large hoods so I couldn’t identify any of them. Any questions of mine got a yes or no answer. It was a harrowing trip up the mountain side. Once the cable car reached the top my companions spread out and began the ambush. The Team Aqua members defending the area were caught off guard but their numbers were greater. I took advantage of the confusion to make a beeline for the machine. There were only two Team Aqua members guarding it; the dark haired girl who tried to stab me earlier and one other. Beta and Gamma blew through them as I ran towards the machine. A massive platform had been set up over the magma of the volcano itself with a solid but transparent floor. The volcanic crust is thin and curls of smoke are rising from cracks in it. Whatever the machine mounted on the edge of the platform does it is disturbing the volcano. If Mt Chimney erupts thousands will die. My mask filters struggled to cope as I ran up to the machine. My chest was tight and I had to stop and cough. Running so much, especially in this heat, is really bad for my lungs but there wasn’t time to take off my mask and take my inhaler. If the man at the screen of the machine is qualified I’ll eat my lab coat.

The man seemed to recognize me. He was with the Team Aqua members that hospitalized me in Slateport. It seems my alliance with Team Magma is the final straw, moving me up from annoyance to threat. Assured that no matter what I have moved up a few places on Team Aqua’s hit list I sent out Alpha, Beta and Gamma while I tried to deactivate the machine. He sent out a Sharpedo, Mightyena and Golbat and left them to fight while I wrestled with the controls. What exactly it was programmed for I can’t tell but there’s information about Mega Stones and Key Stones displaying on the screen. My Pokémon know excessively well their own weaknesses and strengths. One Force Palm, Draining Kiss and Rock Slide later and I was left alone to wrestle with the machine. Despite being faced with three angry Pokémon defending me my opponent didn’t seem in the slightest fazed. He was talking on a communicator, apparently to his subordinates. I heard the words Mt. Pyre and something about an orb over Alpha’s growling before I managed to wrench the meteorite out of the machine. Whatever it was supposed to do I’ll likely never know but without the rock it shut down and Team Aqua retreated. As per our agreement I immediately set to healing the wounded. There were a few bites and cuts but the conflict was swift and there were no serious injuries. The worst I had to treat was a broken arm but after that the Team Magma members seemed to pack up and get ready to go. I was approached by their leader once more, Maxie, and thanked for my assistance. He didn’t mention anything about the meteorite and I assume there is no issue with me returning it to the professor. I mentioned to him what I had heard the Team Aqua leader say, something I now regret. Whatever these orbs that he’s discovered are they must be important. This I cannot avoid reporting and I mentioned as much to Maxie. He seemed disappointed and mentioned he was planning on offering me membership into the team but he seems to at least respect my decision enough to allow me free reign. He said I could keep the Torkoal but as docile as the fire type seems to be I feel like keeping it would be indebting me to Team Magma. My clothes are covered in ashes and I am tired but whatever was happening here is stopped before it started.

I have arrived in Lavaridge town through the Jagged Pass. As much as I feel obliged to return the meteor I am in desperate need of a bath. The ash is clinging to my skin and I’ve gone through five filters in my gas mask. I took three doses of my inhaler and my breathing has settled down but my chest still aches. Lavaridge has Hot Springs and a gym. I have to settle my heart and a bath seems the best thing for it. This close to Mt. Chimney the river dips underground and is heated by the active volcano. Pools of it are way too hot for humans or Pokémon; they are used for cooking the town’s specialty dishes. Others are the perfect level of warmth for a bath. I requested a private bathing spot and spent some time with my mask off. Clear insisted on joining me. Thankfully he seemed content to splash around in the water instead of asking too many questions. A good soak and the flakes of ash just peeled away and left me feeling much cleaner. Seeing as the area doubles as a Gym I thought I might as well scope out the area. Warm water is quite relaxing and I heard from a few bathers that the Gym Leader specializes in fire type Pokémon. I even met another trainer willing to look after Team Magma’s Torkoal. Their name is Alexander and in exchange for the Torkoal he has traded me a Bagon he caught in Meteor Falls. I have named him Delta. He is getting used to the rest of the team slowly. He seems to dislike being told what to do. He has bitten me but I feel it is in play rather than spite. I have given him a stick to chew on while I prepare for the gym.

Spoiler:

6/12/2014

Delta is getting more trusting of me. He still doesn’t have any teeth besides the two crushing molars at the back of his jaw. His play bites are more exploratory than painful. He seems to learn about things by putting them in his mouth. He spent a good part of the day contentedly chewing on Clear’s forearm while the Metang meditatively strokes the arched horns of Delta’s head. I would say they’re getting along but it’s difficult to be sure. The Bagon was chewing Clear’s arm after all but they don’t seem to mind. At least I don’t think they mind. I have has another soak in the Hot Springs and gone to challenge the Gym. The Gym Leader is new and still adjusting to their position but it was a riveting battle surrounded by the bright red leaves of the nearby trees. I have earned another badge from the battle. I am acquiring quite the collection. Even better Delta has begun entering his chrysalis phase following the fight. Following the battle with Flannery Delta’s crest has extended to cover his entire body. Only a hexagonal gap for his eyes and slits for his legs remains uncovered during the metamorphosis. He has finally stopped chewing on Clear’s arm with his evolution but has started butting against him whether they meet. Clear still doesn’t seem to mind, mostly because it isn’t attacking and the Metang is as solid as a rock. The next gym I have to prepare for is that of Petalburg City.

From Lavaridge I have acquired a heavy duty filter for my mask. I was not quite prepared for the level of air pollution I would face here. After replacing the filters damaged by ash I have been running low and some heavier duty filters seem like a wise investment, especially since I am planning on moving through the desert on Route 111. The expansive desert is home to many unique Pokémon, including the endemic Baltoy and Cacnea. It is also an area known for its never ending sandstorm which the native population has adapted to withstand. While I don’t require goggles to keep the sand from my eyes my mask is a sensitive piece of equipment and was in need of an upgrade. I have had some luck exploring the sands. The Pokénav Plus has a GPS built in so even through the sand I can navigate. I have heard that fossils can be found in the area. The strata has been worn down by the constant storm to expose layers of prehistoric rock. The fossils in these rock layers can sometimes be exposed and the fossils fall into the desert. There is a constant archeological presence along the mountain walls that border the desert, scouring the sands for any new finds the winds may have uncovered. I have found one myself; a fossilized claw I just managed to save from the sand. If possible I will have check it into Rustboro after the Gym Battle to see if it can be identified.

Spoiler:

7/12/2014

I have stopped by the Rustboro Gym once again. With the help of the talented researchers there and Roxanne herself we have identified the fossil I managed to liberate from the desert. It is the remains of a claw, insectile rather than reptilian, encased in the harder wearing sea rock. The desert used to once be an ocean before the division of continents and plate movement thrust up the former sea floor into a canyon. The claw belonged to a prehistoric Pokémon called Anorith. Anorith now only exist as specimens revived from Fossils but in the past it was one of the first Pokémon to make the ancestral journey from the sea to the land. I have decided not to attempt to revive the fossil. The claw is a beautiful keepsake by itself and the fossil would destroyed by the process of reviving it. Next it was a leisurely walk to Petalburg City for my next gym match. Gamma is a swift and powerful fighter. The Petalburg Gym favors normal type Pokémon, in particular Delcatty. Gamma may be small but she uses that to an advantage. A Breloom’s small arms rest on a coiled spring of muscle. A Force Palm to the stomach is enough to K.O a grown man. Two were more than enough to floor both of Norman’s Slaking within a few turns and leave her chirping triumphantly on the Gym Floor. Norman didn’t seem too happy about being beaten by a single Pokémon but I have obtained by next badge without delay. I even met Wally again. He is making rapid progress in his own journey and already looks much healthier than the last time I saw him. I have no doubt that is due to the company of his Ralts. A psychic type is good for providing companionship and Ralts is known for its ability to connect well with trainers. He seemed rather shy about approaching me but has kindly gifted me an HM, Surf, to travel to the next gym. He is heading in that direction as well and, seeing as HMs can be used multiple times and are expensive to acquire, he decided to give me a hand. I am grateful I seem to have made at least one human friend, even if he is rather young. There’s no point in delaying any longer. Wally has been kind enough to save me a day’s worth of biking and teleport me straight to Mauville City. From there I spent a few moments teaching Sunny how to Surf. He seemed happy to let me ride of his back as he cut through the waves. He really deserves his beauty ribbons, he’s very elegant in the water. Beta used his powers to keep up from encountering any trouble and it was an easy journey towards Route 119.

While the Pokémon of the ocean seemed content to give Sunny wide berth (he is of impressive size even for his species) I spotted a familiar sight overhead. Shortly afterwards I was hailed on the Pokénav and asked to make land as soonest convenience. As I arrived on the beach I was approached in a hurry by Mr. Stone and his Latios. Urgent medical assistance is needed on a southern island for an injured Latias. I was the closest qualified trainer Mr. Stone could contact; Latias is by nature a flighty Pokémon but a powerful one. A detonation across the island has injured the Latias’s wings and broken its mirage based camouflage. The island on which it nests has been targeted by Team Aqua who are now pursuing it. Latios was in the area and alerted Mr. Stone to the danger. There was no time to delay; with its injuries Latias can neither hide itself with mirages, fly away nor fight off any attack by Team Plasma. This is a Pokémon species so rare it has only recently been confirmed to actually exist. Protecting it and its environment is incredibly important. Latias only nest in areas free from disturbances, disguised by the mirage generating properties of their downy feathers. As they only briefly stop and are near invisible during this time places they can be found are very rare. The island is ringed with sharp rocks that make approach by sea near impossible. That must be the reason Latias chose that place to rest. Now, with the island compromised, it’s unlike any Latias will ever return to the area. We landed in a forest clearing nearby the Latias’s nesting site but not near enough to startle it. Mr. Stone asked me to go ahead while he wanted close by with Latios. Currently I probably smell enough like Latios down to put the Eon Pokémon at ease. Latias and Latios often form mixed family units, protecting each other against threats. The familiar scent should prevent the Latias from trying to flee at least. Providing treatment for its injuries is still up to chance.

Latias is an exceedingly beautiful Pokémon. It was curled up in a nest of grasses at the edge of the cliff. Its feathers flickered with a weak attempt to form a mirage but despite the hazy patches most of its body was clearly visible. One wing showed dark speckles of blood against the natural red of its feathers. The bone did not appear broken but it obviously cannot fly without straining it. Approach had to be slow and careful. I did not attempt to conceal myself but stepped out immediately then waited in complete stillness. While initially startled Latias calmed when it saw I would not attack. I approached slowly, pausing whenever the Eon Pokémon puffed out its feathers and shuffled along the edge of the cliff. Latias’s nesting site close to the edge of the cliff is obviously meant to facilitate a speedy escape in these kinds of situations but with its injured wing I doubt the Latias will be able to glide far. It seemed to know this too and, while it appeared uncomfortable, it didn’t attempt to jump from the cliff and let me approach enough to extend a hand to it. After a careful sniffing on my fingers it recognized the scent of the Latios and decided to show its trust by head-butting my palm. Its feathers are surprisingly light and soft. I was permitted to start my examination however it seems I had delayed too long. Team Aqua has located Latias’s nest and I find myself in a battle to defend Latias. Clear, being the least threatening member of my team, and Steven’s Metang fought to hold them off while I tried to heal the Latias’s wing as swiftly as possible. Latias seemed content to rest against the cliff, closely watching the battle with golden eyes, while I directed Clear’s attacks. Clear was initially more interested in seeing another Metang than battling but quickly adjusted to the situation with a few Bullet Punches. Seeing they were outnumbered the Team Aqua members decided to retreat, stating they’re willing to abandon this opportunity for mega evolution. As far as I can tell Team Aqua is near exclusively targeting powerful Pokémon capable of mega evolution, first Verglas then the experiments at the mountain then this Latias. One, introducing himself as Matt, seemed to laugh off the defeat and mentioned it was nice to fight someone with a bit of spirit and that next time I’ll be crushed into a bloody pulp. Team Aqua is terrifying but thankfully they seem to have spread themselves too thinly to continue this battle.

I returned to treating Latias’s injured wing. A spray of potion to disinfect, a quick cleaning and the wound is exposed. It isn’t deep but there’s no way Latias will be able to fly long distances before it is healed. Delving into the supplies in my pack I applied an anesthetic to the area. Latias disliked me touching it and bit my hand but not hard enough to break the skin. In a few moments the numbing paste had seeped in enough to completely numb the flesh and let me glue the gash shut. With the flesh held together with liquid stitches the wing should be as good as new in a few weeks. To prevent any dirt getting in the wound I also shaved some of the feathers from the around the wound and wrapped in in bandages. The liquid stitches are tough enough to withstand flight and Latias should be able to fly again. The anesthetic is long lasting, dulling the pain of the wound significantly though the wing is still probably very tender. Latias experimentally twitched a wing and cheerfully bit my head before elegantly dropping off the edge of the cliff. The outspread wings caught the breeze perfectly and carried it away. Perfect.

Spoiler:

8/12/2014

I am surprised to find Latias has returned. After leaving the island I set up camp on the beach front. I was woken by Clear cheerfully exclaiming he had found ‘big fluffy’ on the beach then by Latias sticking its head through the flap of my tent. Good thing I sleep with the mask on. Accidentally poisoning our new friend would be a poor start to the day. It transpires that with the repair of its wing Latias has regained their camouflage abilities. Apparently the Latias’s wings have healed but not enough for it to find a new island to nest on. Remembering I helped it the Eon Pokémon had followed me so it could have a safe place to rest. After checking over its wing I found that the wound hasn’t reopened but Latias is avoiding long flights. Latias’s rigid wings are designed to be held outstretched in the manner of a hang glider’s wings. Each wings has a small range of independent motion to facilitate sharp turning and breaking. With the wing damaged Latias cannot glide for the extended periods it is used to. More likely it can only make short hopping flights between locations which is why it sought me out instead of staying airborne in an attempt to find another nesting site. Latias is very affectionate and seems to like me. It was also very hungry after the flight to find me and I spent the morning making sure it got enough to eat. After chomping down some Poképuffs, Pokéblock and quite few berries the Latias spat up a lump of bright rock from its crop on my lap while I was sketching it. It appears to be a Mega Stone, likely one linked to Latias itself. Latias was probably using it to grind up tough berries before it decided to gift it to me and fill its crop with Sitrus berries instead. It’s a sign of trust between us that Latias has decided to entrust this slightly damp rock to me. After eating and scratch between the feathery ears Latias watched me pack up the tent and surrounded its body with a gleaming mirage. Now completely invisible unless there’s specific focus on that one particular spot of air that is a bit hazy Latias is cheerfully followed along behind me while I head towards Fortree. For now the Latias seems content to stick around. I have nicknamed her Epsilon.

After making my way through some very tall grass I’ve arrived at the Weather Institute. It seems I can’t go a single day without running into Team Aqua. Epsilon is, understandably, rather spooked. I have asked her to hide in a patch of tall grass nearby while I investigate things. It is far too late now to back down. Team Aqua will no doubt attack me on sight. I was just lucky to spot them before they spotted me. Epsilon heeded my suggestion to hide in the grasses next to the center, burrowing into form a small nest still hidden by the tall grasses. I reassure her I will be back soon and set off for the Institute. Beta led the way as we plunged into yet another dangerous situation. This place is another research facility hit my Team Aqua, this time one that studies weather patterns. I forced my way through the grunts at the entrance with Beta’s help. Charts and screens on the wall measured the air pressure with warm fronts and cold fronts making their slow way across the screen. Nothing is broken. It looks like those downstairs were here to guard against intruders. Any other trainer would have been given some trouble except they appear in the process of leaving. Quickly I rushed upstairs to find the Aqua Admin with the knife holding a chart in one hand and threatening a sobbing researcher with the blade in the other. Beta managed to wrench the knife from her hand with his psychic power before she noticed us. I demanded to know why Team Aqua was attacking a meteorological station of all things. She claimed it was to do with the weather record from 3,000 years ago, the time when the weather ran rampant because of the two ancient legendries Kyogre and Groudon due to absorbing power from the earth and sea. Another form of mega evolution, in a way, but triggered by something other than a mega stone. Hoenn scientists studying this new phenomenon called it Primal Reversion, a return to the earliest form of the Pokémon. I feel it is somehow related to that portrait of Kyogre I saw in Granite Cave. The cave painting had only been recently discovered but it was dated to the same period, the period of the Great Kalos War. According to Professor Birch’s books Hoenn and Kalos used to be a lot closer, maybe even connected. After Professor Sycamore finally published his paper on Mega Evolution many different kinds of Mega Stone, and more impressively, an ancient vein of Key Stone has been discovered here. There was a battle but it seemed rather lackluster. Whatever it was Team Aqua came for they seem to have gotten it, now they are just using the fight to cover their escape. After having consulted with the researchers we find the area has been left in a mess but nothing has been taken. For once it appears they have been after knowledge rather than anything physical. Something about what that girl said rubs me the wrong way however. Reverting the world to its original state, the world of the distant past…However Team Aqua plans to achieve this goal it’ll mean trouble for everyone.

On a more cheery note after staying behind to clean things up Epsilon seemed to have calmed down enough to release her camouflage. She’s not the only one who feels more relaxed now Team Aqua is gone. The Weather Institutes Castform have also come out of hiding. These tiny gelatinous Pokémon are a boon to anyone in weather research. The sensitive central orb of their body is covered in a viscous membrane they reshape to suit the weather conditions, sometimes hours ahead of the changes being recognized. They also can alter the weather locally as a defense mechanism. One, owned by a researcher at the labs, allowed me to sketch all four of its forms. It seemingly delighted in the beauty of transformation, its membrane twisting and changing color to reflect the best of each weather. It behavior altered as well, become vibrantly colored and filled with energy during sun, melancholy and slow during rain then finally mischievous and unpredictable during hail. Thankfully sheltered by the institute walls I managed to get sketches of every form before bidding the normal type goodbye and finishing the journey to Fortree. Latias was content to settle invisible on the Pokécenter roof while I finish my journal for the day and begin preparations for tomorrow.

Spoiler:

9/12/2014

It has been a relaxing day spent exploring the area. Fortree is a beautiful place well in tune with its surroundings. Rather than cut down the expansive forest to form a settlement the sturdy tree trunks are used as the foundations to a healthy treetop community. The small city has worked to tame the local flying types and grass types to carry messages and other tasks. It’s a nice feeling being up this high and looking down at the paths below. There’s even a gym I am working on facing. The area is well known for its lush green environment, surrounding the forest are wide open lakes and thick grassy plains. Before challenging the gym I decided to do some exploring. Once we were far enough away from civilization Epsilon reappeared with a pop and nuzzled my cheek. She doesn’t seem to have any trouble following me; her wing will hold long enough for short flights and she doesn’t mind keeping her distance as long as she can see me (which with her vision is no issue) and as soon as I’m reasonably alone she’ll pop up to snuggle against me and ask for treats. I even encountered Mr. Stone again. He spends enough time with Latios for Epsilon to be skittish but soon she felt relaxed enough to come up to him. I explained the situation as best I could, that she is following me until she can find another place to nest and that I am working hard to keep her safe. Mr. Stone was rather concerned, considering I have been made a target for Team Aqua and she is still a Pokémon they would want to capture. She has shown enough sense to disguise herself when she feels in danger but to make sure she is safe Mr. Stone has given me some custom lenses for my mask. They filter out the distortion of air to allow me to see camouflaged objects, meaning I can keep a close eye on her even when she’s hiding with a mirage. As a side effect I can also see through the best camouflage effort of the local Kecleon who like to use their impressive natural invisibility to play tricks on the locals. There was one hiding outside the Fortree Gym. I observed it scurrying around and catching small insects on its long sticky tongue for a while. Kecleon has the unusual ability to disguise everything but the darker scaled band of scales around its middle perfectly. With this disguise it makes a good hunter and a hazard for any unwary humans who spring its trap. With my newly improved mask I spent some time observing one on the path to the gym and sketching it. When it realized I could see through its camouflage it scampered off through the tree tops and let me enter the gym.

Every gym is different and it’s a wonderful experience seeing the new environment all laid-out in front of me. Fortree gym is a Flying Type specialty area, set up in the local wind farm for the benefit of the flying types and the convenience of the town. The wooden windmills are expertly crafted from the trimmed branches of the trees and, for all their simplistic design, actually generate a lot of power. The entire area is practically a heritage sight. With a quick nod to Epsilon who I could see was curiously hovering just over the windmills I went to confront the Gym leader Winona. In the end the battle was a team effort. First Alpha blocked off the attacks of her Swellow using Rock Slide. Then, Delta managed to take down both her Altaria and Skarmory with well-placed Dragon Claw and Incinerate attacks. Finally Clear knocked down her Pelipper and triumphantly began to evolve. Again the energy gained from the battle caused their body to divide and refuse together, this time into a spider-like four-legged form. The scarf that hung down their neck as a Beldum is now a small band of yellow around one of their massive, crushing legs. Despite their fearsome metal-bound appearance and the increase in size and weight nothing of Clear’s personality has changed, though that is in a way a double edged sword. Sudden flying hugs from him had been problematic at the best of times; now they threaten to shatter my hip. My next destination is the Safari Zone where I will be spending a while sketching the Pokémon of this diverse region.

Spoiler:

10/12/2014

The Safari Zone is a wide open area with many environments for different Pokémon to roam. Most of the area is an open plain dotted with large stone plateaus and a few placid lakes. The grass is tall and many different Pokémon can be found in it, from Rhyhorn to Pikachu. I will be hard pressed to catalogue them all. I have been given permission to set up camp on one of the rocky outcroppings above the plains while I work. Now there is no admission fee the area is more or less a national park. People are welcome to wander in and catch a few Pokémon but there is an unofficial limit and the area isn’t the easiest to navigate. Even by using the cycling paths I have yet to discover the entirety of the park. I must return another time when I’m a bit better on my bike to see if I can get a complete record of the Pokémon here. Epsilon seems happy enough with the camping spot I have chosen and has already started gather grass for a nest next to the tent. Seeing as the area is reasonably safe and a Pokéball won’t capture an already registered Pokémon I have decided to let everyone roam around for a bit.

Clear is making loud thumping sounds when they stomp around until they cheerfully figured out how all their limbs work and got up some momentum. With a thud they slotted their limbs in and briefly became a hovering disc I have no doubt could survive re-entry into the atmosphere. Their transparent skin has decidedly alien organs visible through it which aid their abilities which is the only way I can think that something so heavy can flit around as lightly as a Swellow. Right now they have gotten into a headbutt contest with a Rhyhorn that seems considerably more invested in it than they are. Clear seems to think everything is a game. With a body made of a mineral more durable than any human alloy it is rather a relief that they have such a naïve and curious nature rather than anything intentionally destructive. They are content to explore the world as a gigantic metallic spider and, thankfully, I don’t need to keep too close an eye on them. Delta is wandering happily by their side, occasionally scraping against them to hone his plates. Sunny is enjoying a refreshing bath and several young trainers have nearly had heart attacks when they saw him breaching. Their faces on finding they couldn’t capture him was quite amusing. I suspect Sunny is doing it on purpose that and to show off the sheen of his scales. He gets grumpy when not praised on each new turn. Alpha and Beta are taking turns rolling down the hill and laughing while Gamma runs alongside them. I have started composing some sketches on the life the Oddish evolutionary line. I will be here a while.

Spoiler:

15/12/2014

I have spent a long while training but I didn’t want to update this journal until I have made definite progress. In this wilderness I have yet to be bothered by Team Aqua which I am thankful for. I have been working hard in training with my Pokémon. I have found a Mega Stone, one of the few I recognize from my text books. It has a good compatibility with Alpha and I have been working hard to boost my own compatibility through a combination of meditation, exercise and play alongside my Pokémon. Mega Evolution, the bond between Pokémon and humans that changes their form, is another thing I came here to study. Having this break as I journey towards Mt. Pyre is an opportunity to catch up on both my sketch work and my training into Mega Evolution. Mr. Stone, being a trainer of renown in the region, has given me some important information about obtaining Mega Evolution. Instead of focusing on battling I have focused on co-operating with my Pokémon to uncover more of this area.

Today I have succeeded in triggering a Mega Evolution with Clear. Perhaps the newness of their form has aided their ability but it’s equally likely that it is just Clear’s cheerful personality lends itself easily to the shift. Their change was preceded by a vibration from the Keystone given to me by Mr. Stone and a strange sensation of heat. The Metagrossite Clear keeps under their Scarf started to glow visibly and his body shifted in the same haze as evolution. A crisp shell of some crystalline solid encased their body in an orb before swiftly shattering into a fine powder. Their body has doubled again into a complex sprouting of limbs, forelimbs extended into large digging claws while an additional four limbs have sprouted from the back. By extending the hind limbs they can rocket forwards more rapidly than ever. Initially any transformation was very brief, being triggered for only one attack before fading but now I have the sensation of it I managed to get Clear to stay transformed long enough to be sketched. I have yet to measure the increase in power but the change in form is drastic enough, approaching the point where Clear’s mitotic method of evolution is becoming more of a hindrance than an aid. With so many limbs it is only a matter of time before they start getting in the way. Thankfully it is not an issue I have encountered. The form of a Mega Metagross is only activated when our desires are in complete synchronization. Truly it is a power born from the bond that joins humans and Pokémon.

Though I hate to uproot Epsilon from her comfortable nest I have exhausted the area of new data. Prolonging my stay is unlikely to turn up anything of use and, while there are areas I have yet to uncover, my Mega Evolution training had delayed me enough. With Clear’s new form to discover the mysteries of I am setting off in the direction of Mt. Pyre. I have no recent casualties to pay my respects too but a study of the ghost Pokémon of the region promises to be most enlightening.

Spoiler:

16/12/2014

I have arrived in Lilycove City with my team. This bustling metropolis has quite a few points of interest. I spent a few happy hours at the Department Store looking though things. A few pieces of furniture will brighten up my humble tent. I bought a new chair and a couple of nice rugs as well as a squishy beanbag that a Pokémon could sit on. As a souvenir I have also picked up a cute Pokédoll. Clear has thus far managed to avoid squishing it out of shape but they seem very interested in their new toy. Sunny, having spent some time getting admiring looks from some contest fans, was in a mood to match his name and we had a comfortable surf along the beach side towards Mt. Pyre. This sacred mountain, a volcano in the middle of the ocean, is one of the most important sites in Hoenn. An active volcano where the ashes from the volcano have mixed with those of deceased Pokémon and humans through the ages. It is a steep structure filled with gravestones and ghost Pokémon extending upwards so it could near touch the sky. The base of the mountain is steep cliff faces worn away by the constant pressure of the sea but on the upper levels grass grows and a few Pokémon thrive. My goal is the shrine at the top of the mountain where the Red and Blue Orbs. An ancient artifact from Hoenn’s distant past these orbs were removed from their shrine only once, in attempt to command Kyogye and Groudon. After which they were swiftly returned to their shrine. The power contained in them is too great to be channeled and I have a massive respect for whoever crafted them. After a brief interlude with an overly affectionate Duskull and taking care to avoid disturbing the mourners I exited the cave. Beyond a grassy verge dotted with white gravestones with a few larger craggy walls near the top and an unfortunately familiar uniform. Team Aqua is here. It was all I could do to stop Sunny from knocking them off the mountainside with his tail.

The security of the shrine is mostly in its isolation and a group specializing in water type Pokémon have evidently found a way to approach directly from the sea-side. The bulletproof plastic casing holding the orbs has been shattered by persistent blows by something heavy. The Blue Orb is missing, the Red Orb nestling in the broken glass by the sign warning against the separation of the two. Three members of indeterminate skill stood by the shattered case while a fourth examined the Blue Orb. The Red Orb teetered, dangerously close to being lost in the ocean below. I couldn’t delay any longer. I rushed out and reached for it, my gloved fingertips brushing its surface before a heavy blow crashed into my back. I was foolish to not consider such a set-up was an ambush. A Sharpedo, known for its rough skin, gashed a hole through my lab coat with its teeth. I rolled in time to prevent it drawing blood and flying into a frenzy. With a casual wave the Team Aqua member I remember from Epsilon’s Island was left to face me one on one while the others made their escape. The Sharpedo made another dive for me as I reached for the Pokéballs at my waist. I was swifter and managed to call out a Pokémon, Delta, though I didn’t know it was his Pokéball at the time. He managed to blunt the blow with his armored plates as he stood between me and the Sharpedo’s jaw. Struggling to chomp past the tough plates the Sharpedo’s distracted me enough for something hard to smack me across my face. My mask’s lens cracked and I slipped and fell on the shards. My hand was cut, not badly but enough to enrage the Sharpedo. It fought its way past Delta’s guard. With a cloud of poison billowing through my broken mask I exhaled as hard as I could and Delta set the cloud of gas alight. It exploded with a deep booming noise and a cloud of thick black smoke billowing over the mountain. The smokescreen distracted the water type long enough for me to find Gamma’s Pokéball. A few solid blows and the Sharpedo was withdrawn. A flare of light shone through the dark of the low-lying smoke screen. It grew, producing enough energy to forcibly clear away the clinging oily smog and when it had faded a Salamence was arching its crimson wings in front of me. The mountaintop was empty apart from the desecrated shrine and the thrown Red Orb now speckled with a few drops of my blood.

The wound is not major, only one shard made a cut of significant depth. The damage to my suit and mask were much more severe. I can manage without accidentally poisoning my Pokémon but it is in desperate need of repairs. Having waited until the official incident report is filed is a luxury I cannot afford. I have taken charge of the Red Orb for now at the bidding of the couple who run the shrine and, with Delta raring to rest his new wings, set a course back for the mainland.

Spoiler:

17/12/2014

I arrived in Slateport City for repairs. Delta seemed happy to fly around and flex his wings for a while so I left him to soar while I got the crack in my mask fixed. The plastic of the lens is entire compromised and one of my filters slipped loose. Thankfully it was easy enough to slip it back into place and re-affix it to its proper position. I didn’t have to worry about accidentally poisoning the repairman while he fitted the new lens. The distortion cancelling lenses provided by Mr. Stone are still functional and, though they don’t enhance my vision properly, will do for now. Epsilon was greatly startled by my injury. As soon as I was away from the houses she arrived and quickly nuzzled at my injured hand, licking at it as if her saliva could close the wound. I smiled and tried to joke about how now we match but she could not be soothed until I curled up by her side and stroked her between her feathery ears. For someone who gets into a lot of trouble I’m surprised she has stuck by me. I was struck with the feeling that I have been a poor travelling partner for her. I am all she has for now. I spent a good while comforting her and making sure she feels safe. Her wing is healing nicely and I’ve changed the bandages. The wound is neatly covered with the feathers regrowth. Soon it will be sturdy enough for longer flights. With Delta wheeling overhead she seems to feel a bit bolder. I was worried she’d be spooked but apparently she recognizes that the large fire-breathing dragon means her no harm. Keeping at a distance she landed on a rooftop across the road from the museum, craning her long neck to see me. I have arrived at an opportune time; Captain Stern has returned from an aquatic voyage with news of an underwater cavern said to be home to an ancient water type of legend, possibly Lugia but more likely to be the Kyogre Team Aqua targeted in the past. The entire area is protected but a study of the cavern promises new information on Kyogre’s habitat. This ancient Pokémon, surviving since thousands of years in the past, can offer unmatched information on the past of this ancient region. I attended the press conference outside the harbor, making notes in my work journal about what has been gathered on this expedition. A much larger expedition is already being planned. No doubt I will eventually read about the results in the Hoenn Scientific Journal but for now plans have been delayed. Team Aqua could not ignore such a largely publicized event. The Harbor Building has the symbol of Team Aqua spray painted across the doors along with the ominous phrase ‘We’ll return this world to the beginning.’

The theft was recent. There was still two members of Team Aqua waiting for me. They were the same ones who assaulted me over the Devon Parts, they told me as much while they attacked me. Team Aqua’s ambush tactics have made me very paranoid. Sunny, per usual, was quick to defend me. He watches the shadows more than I possibly could and he alerted me seconds before the attack. In addition to a fierce Mightyena one of the Team Aqua members was wielding a baseball bat. I will not repeat what they said but suffice to say they were threatening and anatomically inaccurate. While Sunny lashed the ground with his tail Alpha shot water at the Mightyena. It doused the Dark Type’s fur and did a decent amount of damage. Not content to settle this dispute through the ancient art of Pokémon battle one of the two attempted to attack Alpha with the bat from behind. Before I could reach her the bat bounced off a growing crystalline shell. Alpha had mega evolved. Taller and with fists the size of her head she reached out and bent the bat in half. They ran like Poochyena with their tails between their legs. Whatever it is their planning they left me with a warning; if I showed up at Lilycove to stop them they wouldn’t show any mercy. Whatever their plan is I am sure it involves Kyogre. That ancient Pokémon, did they not learn their lesson from their previous failure?! Kyogre’s ability to grow the oceans through creating torrential rain is dangerous enough. While usually docile in deep sea trenches enraging it is enough to create sizable natural disasters. Controlling it against its will is near impossible. If Groudon’s deep cave is also disturbed there is no force that can tear them apart beside the aerial guardian Rayquaza. I have studied Kyogre for years and everything I have learned indicated that whatever they are planning will be destructive and not go according to plan. Like Epsilon the Pokémon detailed in ancient legend have their own methods of defending themselves. If Team Aqua use that submarine to antagonize Kyogre into surfacing then the casualties could be in their hundreds. Whatever fanatic beliefs they hold Kyogre cannot be controlled, only persuaded. By now I am on top alert with the local authorities due to my status as a target of Team Aqua. Team Aqua are now a national level terrorist threat and top priority for law enforcement. There have been no deaths but quite a few injuries that make it clear it wasn’t lack of trying. I apologized to Epsilon in private but right now I am the researcher with the most knowledge of Kyogre that has yet to be captured by Team Aqua. I cannot let this stand.

Spoiler:

18/12/2014

I writing this while crouched behind a bookshelf in Team Aqua’s hideout. This morning I arrived in Lilycove for the joint attack on the base. Though I have recently arrived preparations were already underway to launch an assault on their base. A group of trainers, including myself, volunteered to scour the coastline for an entrance to their base of operations. Exploring a likely looking cave with Sunny I found a set of stairs leading to the water. On entering the cave I was attacked by a single Team Aqua member who recognized me. I managed to end the battle swiftly and knocked him out. As my mask is still being repaired I have taken extra Pecha shots and taken one of the Team Aqua rebreathers and his bandana as a disguise, which I am largely hiding under my lab coat. I hid him behind a pile of stones after knocking him out with the aid of my med supplies. I can guarantee a few hours remain before they wake up. There are scientific staff, half employed and half coerced here. No-one has given me a second glance. After accidentally running into someone in the corridors and my heart leaping in my throat I literally bumped into someone. They slapped me on the shoulder and reminded me to stock up on snacks for the upcoming trip. The entire hideout is abuzz with activity, too busy to look for an intruder but I am worried my luck is wearing thin.

From what I have gleaned from overheard conversations while trying to appear busy every member of Team Aqua is a volunteer working for the ultimate goal of improving life for people and Pokémon by expanding the oceans. There are no set work or break hours and the facilities are open and decorated but simply with bright blue banners bearing the Team symbol. Elegant waterfalls of saltwater down the sea-stone walls and nourish the natural sea plants that liven up the area. I have seen the dormitories where the members sleep and the large conference table painted white and blue spread out like a war court. On the surface this is a charity run environmental group. Most of the members are teenager or young adults who seem passionate about protecting the natural environment but painfully ignorant about how they are doing more damage than good. My exploration is cautious but I have tried to appear like I belong here. I have accidentally uncovered more than I wish to know, including finding the room of Archie, thankfully while he wasn’t in it. There was a bookcase packed with common Pokémon magazines which did not appear to contain anything of importance and a picture of what appears to be a young Archie with the Legendary Wishmaker Pokémon Jirachi. This does not bode well but I couldn’t find anything else of importance before I lost my courage.

More fortunately on leaving I spotted a member of the team wearing a white coat and followed them at a distance to the research level. There were only two members of staff there, switching down the power after an experiment that left the air with a faint sensation of burning.
“Another failure.” The scientist said to me offhand. “We need to recalibrate the equipment and refill the tank before we can fire her up again.”
It was only after he said this that he turned and realized he didn’t recognize me. I was prepared to do battle before he could raise the alarm but he just frowned and said.
“You’re not Johnson, you’re that guy from....” He said and frowned but didn’t attempt to call out. “Fine, let me give you a rundown. This machine is part of an experiment to try and created an artificial Blue Orb.”
Here his voice lowered and he pretended he had been expecting me, hooking one arm around my shoulder.
“It’s for Project Azoth. The files are just over there. Read through them, no-one will stop you then get the hell out of here. There are camera everywhere. It won’t be long before they figure out you’re not supposed to be here.”
With a strained smile and a slap on my back like he had just told a joke the scientist went back over to the machine, subtly pointing out the bookshelf with one finger. Azoth, the legendary cure-all from the beginning of time that linked the alpha and omega. An ominous name that in no way prepared me.
Under the guise of an asthma attack (which I was on the brink of having anyway) I managed to sweep the files under my lab coat and leave.

Right now I am hiding in a corner of the Team Aqua dorms and pouring over these files. If what these papers say is true Team Aqua is attempting an act of violence on a scale not seen in 3,000 years. The weapon of ancient Kalos, that ancient and terrifying device, they plan to resurrect it with the power of Kyogre. Another file contains the specifics. Primal Reversion, a mega evolution bought about by utilizing the energy of nature itself as opposed to mega evolution which utilizes the bond between Pokémon and trainer. Devon Corps adaption of pieces of this ancient machine in an attempt to generate infinite energy and the theft of these parts. Each new file reveals more pieces of the puzzle. This plan…it terrifies me. I will finish reading these files then a quick nap. It was sunset when I arrived and already the base is going dark. I’ll sleep in the most private corner I can find with my finger over the release button of my Pokéball. I just need a small rest; when everyone else is asleep I can sneak out of here and hand over these files to the authorities.

19/12/2014

I overslept. I only meant to spend a few moments resting but I got a full night’s sleep instead. These beds are surprisingly comfy and there was no attempt to search them during the night. Perhaps they thought they could identify me by mask and have not searched the area. I was woken up by the noise of movement from the dorms. The hour is early as far as I can tell. Only a few members of the team were awake. I managed to roll out of bed and away down the corridors before anyone noticed. The Hideout is slowly but surely coming to life. The launch can’t be long. The lightning in here is all artificial but according to my Pokénav I have only been asleep a few hours. I don’t have long to escape. Preparations are nearly complete. I am exploring deeper into the base in the search of the Explorer One Submarine. The Seaflooor Cavern is deep, deep underwater. Breaking into it is a formidable task for any equipment. Thankfully in my wandering I have stumbled across the blueprints for the planned alterations. A large drill has been added to the front to deal with the thick rock of the sea bed. Do they not understand the incredible amount of ways this can go wrong? With this Project Azoth…what exactly are they hoping to accomplish with it? Increasing the ocean’s size by destroying landmass or are they just going to flood the world? Ecosystems would be destroyed, thousands of humans and Pokémon would die. It would be a calamity greater than the Kalos War, on par with the ancient event that caused the extinction of the fossil Pokémon in ancient times. Making my way through the labs towards the launch bay I have seen the development of an impressive outfit, a dive suit of impressive durability. No doubt this will be used in the actual retrieval. I have taken what files I can find on this as well. I have colleagues in Devon Corp who would find this information interesting…after the police are through looking at them. One positive of always wearing gloves is that I haven’t left any fingerprints. These files are important evidence and hopefully will be enough to determine who exactly was leaking this information.

Under the laboratory level was an open water system with narrow walkways leading to the submarine launch bay. Sneaking up to the area I got a good look at the submarine in its final stages of preparation. Work must have been done while I was sleeping. I failed to make my way any closer without being noticed. This area must have a designated personal list because I was recognized straight away and attacked from all directions by a horde of Poochyena. They roared one after another until my Pokémon were too busy cowering to work up the courage to get a single move it. I had no other choice; I ordered Alpha to collapse the ceiling. The falling rocks were enough to block off the area and send the Poochyena and their trainers running but I was too late to do anything but watch the submarine slip into the ocean. I managed to escape on Sunny but he can’t swim deep enough to catch the submarine. I managed to sketch a Sharpedo but today still feels like a massive waste of time. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

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