Steven and Aoki were the most intuitive witnesses to how Volcarona disappeared.
She had been in the sky, the place closest to the sun, feeling its scorching temperature. After her final brilliant flash, her entire body burned away, turning to ashes that scattered across the desert.
She had already obtained what she desired most, and Aoki, who had helped her in the end, received the greatest reward she could offer.
Aoki looked at his palm, where the tiny, warm scale powder had condensed into a fiery red, claw-like fragment.
Feeling the lingering warmth, Aoki used his system to analyze the last remnant Volcarona had left him.
Item Name: Legacy of Volcarona
Description: A Volcarona with the strength of a Champion, in her final moments, burned away, leaving behind this unique, unmelting substance.
Function: Enhances a Pokémon's perception of fire energy, increases fire-type talent, and boosts the power of fire-type moves by 20%.
Was this Volcarona's final gift of gratitude before her fiery end?
Aoki carefully stored the Legacy of Volcarona. Currently, the only Pokémon he had that could benefit from this item was his Combusken.
Not only did it amplify fire-type move power, but it also heightened fire-energy sensitivity and improved innate fire-type potential. Among all the held items Aoki had encountered so far, none had such an overwhelming effect.
Of course, it was also possible that his current standing simply hadn't allowed him access to items of this caliber before.
Regardless, Aoki hadn't truly expected anything from Volcarona.
He had merely felt that such a powerful Pokémon deserved better than to perish forgotten in the depths of the underground.
So, within his means, he had helped Volcarona break free from her restraints, allowing her to ascend like a miniature sun, joining the true sun in the sky.
She had become the true Messenger of the Sun.
"System, rename this item… The Glory of the Sunbringer," Aoki commanded internally.
Beep! Item successfully renamed:
The Glory of the Sunbringer!
Steven stood silently nearby, having witnessed everything. He remained lost in the awe of Volcarona's self-immolation and radiant transformation.
As for the item in Aoki's possession—Volcarona's parting gift—Steven felt no envy.
Aoki had aided Volcarona, and in return, she had left him this treasure. There was nothing to covet.
Moreover, the item seemed tailored exclusively for fire-types. For other Pokémon, it would be useless—perhaps even detrimental.
Steven didn't own any fire-type Pokémon, so the matter ended there.
Then… both of their communication devices rang simultaneously.
Checking, Steven's screen displayed "Father", while Aoki's showed "Teacher".
The two exchanged a knowing, resigned glance.
Well, things had escalated. Their superiors were calling for answers.
Steven stepped aside to answer his father's call—Mr. Stone—while Aoki remained where he was, answering his mentor, Matsuda.
"Aoki, I just heard from the League officials that you and the Stone boy were dispatched to the Hoenn Desert on a mission. Does that sudden second sun in the sky have anything to do with you?" Takeshi's voice crackled through the communicator.
There was no hiding it now. Aoki admitted his involvement, though some details couldn't be explained over the call.
After a brief summary, Aoki attempted to shift the topic. "That's the gist of it. Teacher, weren't you in the middle of an experiment?"
"An experiment?!" Matsuda huffed. "When a second sun nearly appears in the sky, do you think I'd still be hunched over a lab table? You're heading to the League HQ to report, aren't you? Once the League's done with you, I expect a full explanation!" With that, he hung up abruptly.
Aoki blinked in mild bewilderment.
Meanwhile, Steven ended his own call with a sigh, rejoining Aoki.
Judging by his expression, their conversations had followed similar trajectories.
"League HQ?" Steven asked.
"Yeah," Aoki confirmed.
Both exhaled in unison.
They understood—this wasn't just about the incident. A near-second sun, lasting mere seconds before vanishing, wasn't enough to warrant the League's full attention. Stranger things happened daily in the Pokémon world.
No, something bigger was at play.
Perhaps… the Sinnoh Conference?
For now, they mounted their Flying-type Pokémon. The Hoenn League HQ wasn't a short trip, and given the urgency, they set off immediately, soaring southeast.
Unlike most regions, the Hoenn League wasn't located on the mainland. Instead, it stood on an island southwest of the region, north of Slateport City, accessible via the Victory Road.
This was Aoki's first visit to a regional League HQ, but Steven, familiar with the route, led confidently.
The journey passed in contemplative silence. Steven likely pondered future Pokémon captures, while Aoki strategized his team's training.
From the Hoenn Desert to the League HQ spanned nearly half the region, granting them ample time to reflect. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel★fire.net
Currently, Aoki's Marshtomp, Poliwhirl, and Combusken had all reached their second-stage evolutions. The Hoenn starters—Marshtomp and Combusken—would fully evolve upon reaching Level 36. However, Aoki hadn't yet secured the necessary enhancement supplements for their final forms.
Finances were tight. Pokémon growth outpaced his budget. Training resources, TMs, held items—it all added up.
Then there was Larvitar and Aron, steadily progressing but draining his funds further. Without the small mine he'd secured, their upkeep would've bankrupted him.
And soon, Bagon would require rehabilitation and training.
Worse, once Slowking and his other near-Champion Pokémon advanced, their dietary needs—Pokéblocks, specialized supplements—would skyrocket in cost.
Aoki, who'd thought himself moderately well-off, now felt poorer than ever.
The sting worsened when he glanced at Steven, who trained without financial constraints.
Frustrating? Absolutely.
But for now, the League awaited.