The tunnel was pretty well-lit and kept for the most part: several torches lined up the path and ensured there were no blind spots save for the occasional boulder tucked on the side.

Zinnia had managed to gather a group of twenty or so Draconid warriors with just as many Dragon-types at their side, and the Elder led them all through the ancient path. Steven had opted to remain behind them all, and judging by the occasional mean look the Draconids tossed at his side, he probably made the right decision. Metagross floated right next to him, ready to pull up another Protect in case. With what had just happened, it was better not to trust the Draconids too much.

The Champion scanned the cave walls with mild interest, noticing a few purple stains over the walls. He had heard that Poison-types were used in the last few wars against the Draconids, and that was probably a remnant of those times.

He instinctively clenched his fists. The effects of the Draconid skirmishes were still felt in many of Hoenn's biggest cities, and Team Zenith could potentially lead the way to something even more scarring and disastrous than anything Draconids ever did.

Steven took a deep breath and massaged his forehead. There was too much at stake, and he couldn't fail.

"Mr. Stone, is everything alright?"

Steven snapped to attention and turned back to his side, finding Sawyer blinking at him while Beldum floated at his side. He briefly stood before he reacquired his habitual smile. "Why the sudden question?"

"You were rubbing your forehead. You only do that when you are nervous or something isn't going well, like during the last match of the Ever Grande Conference."

Steven blinked, massaging his forehead further. He did do that a lot, now that he thought about it. The Champion couldn't help but chuckle again as he closed his eyes, his smile growing wider.

"You've got a keen eye." He opened his eyes again, took a deep breath, and examined the rocky terrain, his stare hardening. "It's nothing too bad. I just don't like this situation, and I want to end Team Zenith's ambitions quickly."

Sawyer gulped and gazed downward himself. "Were you really going to hurt those grunts earlier?"

Steven didn't know what to answer on the spot. However, it didn't take long for him to shook his head and look at Sawyer solemnly.

"No. A part of me really wanted to, and maybe I almost wished I could, but I would've never hit them." Steven frowned and looked ahead. "We're the good guys, and there are lines we should never cross."

"You don't seem too happy about it."

Steven's expression cracked just a little as he clicked his tongue, rubbing his forehead again as unwanted memories flooded back in.

"I faced Team Zenith over and over, years ago. I can't help but wonder if I should've gotten rid of their leader sooner." Steven looked forlown as he glanced at Sawyer. "This was a problem of my generation, and now it's spilling into yours."

Sawyer was the one to remain silent. Steven turned away and sighed. He wasn't surprised, that was a complicated argument to approach even for an adult after all. He went back to analyze the cave walls with only cursory interest. He heard steps though, and saw Sawyer inching closer and staring back at him.

"I don't know what to say, really." He gulped and gripped his hand around his notebook. "But I don't think being a good guy is a problem. And even if Team Zenith returned now, they can still be defeated again, right?"

The boy flashed an unsure yet bright grin back at him. Steven blinked at the boy, thinking about what he just said. It was a very simple, almost naive response, and yet he couldn't help but smile back at the youngster.

"Good point." He looked back to the road ahead, and his smile widened. "We must make sure they're defeated for good this time, then."

"We will make it for sure."

Steven gave him a nod in response, and Sawyer's expression brightened just a bit more. Then, he finched and turned around, checking the path behind them. Steven crooked an eyebrow and did the same, finding nothing but the occasional rock.

He quickly turned back to Sawyer. "What is it?"

"I felt someone was after us." He scratched his head, only to shrug. "Must've been my imagination, but it's better not to lower our guard."

Steven contemplated the young boy as he peeked back again just in case, still on his toes while Beldum floated right next to him. Then, the Champion gave him a good-natured chuckle.

"Perceptive, brave, and cautious." Steven nodded. "You've definitely got a bright future as a trainer ahead of you."

Sawyer stopped immediately, turning back to the Champion with his face a thousand shades redder. He opened his mouth to reply, only for his gaping jaw to stay still.

He shook his head and rubbed his neck with unease, his gaze set toward the ground. "D-do you think so?"

"Hmh." He observed the young Psychic/Steel-type afterwards. "Beldum seems happy to be with you, too."

Sawyer looked at it as well, with the lump of metal pivoting in the air while humming a happy tune. Sawyer beamed, then faced Steven again as he gave a respectful nod. "T-thanks a lot, this means very much for me."

Sawyer's smile slowly faltered however, as his gaze was diverted back to the rocky path. He exhaled.

"I made a promise with a friend once, to see who would become the most famous trainer." He forced his smile back up. "I was pretty sure I would've lost the bet by now. I'm weak and powerless, after all."

Steven took a few seconds to absorb the boy's confession, and for just a moment Sawyer felt way more familiar than he had been so far. Afterwards, he was quick to shake his head and rise a finger, just like Roxanne would've done.

"A friend of my father always said we humans are powerless and weak by nature, and the only reason we came up ontop was because we are smart." He traded a glance at Metagross as he passed a hand over its metallic head. "I thought the same of myself as a kid. That I was given everything and would've been nothing in my life without it."

"Really?" Sawyer blinked, only to withdraw sheepishly back to the ground. "I mean, I knew you wanted to make a name of yourself, but I thought you were strong to begin with."

"Oh, sure. I managed to claim the title of Hoenn Champion, but I would've never reached it if I didn't work hard and took the long road." Steven's eyes glinted just barely as memories flowed back in his mind. He closed them and gave Sawyer a confident grin. "And every road looks scary, when you start walking it. The trick is preventing the fear from stopping you."

Sawyer listened carefully, then nodded again as he opened his notebook. "I understand. I'll never forget this."

And then, the boy started jotting down notes as he loved to do, with Beldum floating above his head and checking the handwriting up close. Steven felt even more familiarity at that scene, and quickly turned back to Metagross. Wordlessly, trainer and Pokémon agreed with a nod, before the Champion faced Sawyer again, clearing his throat and catching his attention.

"You know, that Beldum is the son of my Metagross. I was keeping it with me for training, while my Claydol took a rest." He saw Beldum whirl around Sawyer, and then folded his arms. "But it seems to have taken a shine on you. If you want, you can keep it."

Sawyer fell silent, tilting his head and contemplating Beldum as the Pokémon did the same. He ended up taking a deep breath however, and then gave Steven a solemn look and shook his head.

"I'm flattered, really, but I don't think I can accept. I already know who my starter Pokémon will be."

"Really?"

Sawyer opened his notebook in response, and Steven was quite impressed as he saw a simplicistic drawing of a Treecko surrounded by several notes, scribbles, diagrams and theories crammed on every angle of the page. The boy's smile grew bigger as he tapped over the drawing.

"Treecko is the best option for me. They are easy to manage and can be extremely resourceful. I already studied an optimal training regime, a way to enhance its strong points, and, well..." He giggled, as his grin turned sheepish. "It's very cute, isn't it?"

"Definitely." Steven laughed, then pocketed his hands. "You already befriended one, right?"

"Y-yeah." Sawyer blushed again as he placed the notebook back in his pocket. "I visit Professor Birch's laboratory in Littleroot Town in my spare time and sometimes run errands for him, and there's a Treecko that took a liking for me there. Professor Birch was kind enough to tell me he would save it for me. I need to at least finish the next school term before I can become a trainer, however."

Steven observed the boy once more. Most trainers would've just chosen a Pokémon based on the first impression, and even he only got Beldum as a gift from his father. He couldn't help but smile once more.

"Well, it's good to know you have your ideas clear already." He then glanced back to Beldum. "By all means, though, keep it with you for now. We can't really risk anything with Team Zenith around."

"I'll do my best," Sawyer said. He then grinned at Beldum as well. "Say, can you show me your moves? I'd like to plan some strategies."

Beldum hummed an affirmative, and Sawyer pumped his fists. The boy walked away from Steven with the Pokémon in tow as they spoke, the Beldum shimmering and displaying some of its attacks along the way.

Steven looked on with a hint of pride at the impromptu training session, only for some heavy steps to catch his attention. He raised his gaze to meet Zinnia's, with her Salamence at her side. His smile faded away as he turned serious.

"You should've left that kid behind. You will just endanger him this way." Zinnia crossed her arms as her well-honed glare pierced through him.

Steven matched her intensity as he shrugged. "He can hold his own, and to put it bluntly, I'm not that sure he'd be safe among Draconids."

"Now you know how it feels." Zinnia's frown intensified. "This is how my people have had to feel for generations among you Sootopolitans."

This time, Steven didn't fall for the jab. Instead he shook his head, looking pensive before he met Zinnia's gaze again.

"You keep bringing that up. Sootopolitans here, Draconids that." He placed his hands akimbo. "I don't want to erase history or pretend that your people don't deserve compensation, but I think both of our sides have faults in the current situation."

"Easy for you to say. How's that moral high ground?"

"It's not that. Have you ever noticed how your daughter plays around?"

Zinnia flinched, only for her stare to grow even more intense. "Why are you asking that?"

"I'm not a parent, probably will never be, but I've spent enough time among kids to appreciate their drive and optimism." He stole another glance towards Sawyer, and smiled again. "They have a much simpler vision of the world than we do, and it's almost admirable, really. If a Sootopolitan were to play with your daughter, I'm sure she wouldn't object."

"Where are you trying to go with this?"

"Maybe we should stop thinking of this as Draconids against Sootopolitans with no way out. It's the mistake our people and even we have continued to repeat." Steven faced Zinnia again. "Maybe it will be a hard path, with a lot of old wounds to heal on the way, but there can be a solution. If we can march to face Team Zenith together, why can't we apply this to other issues?"

"We can build a new future, together, for our next generation." He smiled once more as he offered Zinnia a hand. "What do you say?"

Zinnia remained silent as she studied Steven's arm. Steven could see her expression morph ever-so-slightly, as if she was considering the offer. However, she quickly scoffed and slapped the hand away.

"I say that you should focus on what matters first. I thought you were the 'no time to waste' guy here." She turned around and strided back to the front. "Prepare your team, we'll be on Mt. Chimney soon."

Steven remained silent as the Lorekeeper left to the head of the entourage once more. Steven sighed and rubbed his forehead; if nothing else, he had tried to make it work. He couldn't expect her to change her worldview overnight.

His gaze moved back to Sawyer, with the boy shouting commands while Beldum showed him what it could do. That kid was a rare one, but one that truly deserved the future ahead.

And now he had to do everything he could to ensure that future shone brightly ahead of Sawyer and all the new generation.

----------------------------------------

Mt. Chimney had always been a popular tourist location, as one of the last few active volcanoes in the Hoenn region and the source of Lavaridge Town's famous hot springs. However, not even the bravest tourists were keen on going all the way to the top, where lava brewed freely and heat was almost unbearable: the few who made it to the top tended to either be researchers of volcanic activity and the like, or young trainers looking for a good training spot for Lavaridge Gym.

As such, it was quite unsettling to find the path to the top of the mountain filled to the brim with Team Zenith grunts, all moving up and down and patrolling the place. Steven, Sawyer, Zinnia and the Draconid warriors made sure to stay hidden behind several rocks as they observed each enemy pacing about. The Elder was following along too, even if she was keeping her distance due to not being battle-ready, something about wanting to see if Zevie was involved or not.

"This is definitely where they plan to act." Steven squinted his eyes, trying to spot any familiar face among the Team Zenith members.

Zinnia contemplated the grunts with a sneer. "So, what are we waiting for?"

"Clues about what's going on. We can't just rush into things while we're in the thick of it." Steven frowned as he continued to study his old foes.

The average grunt of Team Zenith wasn't particularly strong, but the amount of them was large enough that they could've slowed down their ascent. He could see a few scattered machines, including a large tubular one towards the top of the mountain, too far away to discern. He was almost impressed that they could set up all that stuff in what he assumed was a tight schedule, and without being tracked to boot, but that wasn't the time to praise Team Zenith's diligence. They needed to understand their plan in full, and then find a way to stop it.

At his side, Sawyer appeared just as vigilant, until he widened his eyes and turned to Steven again. "Hey, someone's coming," he whispered while pointing to his left.

Steven crooked an eyebrow and looked that way, and he almost faltered before clenching his jaw. Not too far from them two women were walking, both clad in Team Zenith's green cloaks: one had a quite imposing and muscular figure and wore short blue hair, while the other was far more diminutive and frail-looking, almost pale girl with square glasses and long, black hair. They were a few years older than he remembered, but those looks and imposing presence were unmistakable: they were among Zevie's most trusted followers, and what one could've called the Admins of Team Zenith.

All the grunts dropped their tasks as they bowed at the women's passage. Among them, a girl struck a military salute while approaching the newcomers.

"Master Carly, Master Taylor, we didn't expect you to arrive so soon," she said in a courteous tone. The burly woman and the bespectacled one nodded in return.

A smile lit up Carly's face as she cracked her fists. "I couldn't wait to see the seeds of our hard work finally bear fruit. I trust nothing bad happened so far?"

"Master Zevie is currently putting the finishing touches for the operation. Some grunts have been captured by the Draconids as they made it out with the lore scroll, while the one in charge of the Flower retrieval was almost busted by the Hoenn Champion. Retaliation is expected."

At that, Taylor adjusted her glasses. "Let them come, then. We've been preparing this plan for years, there's no way they would be able to stop the Megalith."

Hearing that name, Steven couldn't help but pause. He quickly glanced back at the tubular structure, now finally able to make up the veiny, large chunk of rock held inside, and he could feel all his hair stand on ends. Until then, he could've still hoped that they were still in the process of finding a piece of that rock. If that was the real deal and it was as dangerous as Zinnia had told, however, that was no time to stare and hesitate.

Pressing his back to the rock, Steven frowned and glanced at the Draconids. "We've got to reach the mountain top, let's-"

"Not so fast, Stevie."

Steven and everyone else froze, and the Champion rolled away just as an Air Slash pulverized the rock that was hiding him. Steven rose back up, eyes on Carly and Taylor as they stared through him, a Tropius at Carly's side and every other Team Zenith grunt ready to unleash their Pokémon.

Steven pulled off an uneasy grin. "Carly, Taylor, long time no see."

"Did you expect to waltz in and disrupt our plans without running into Master Zevie's right-hand women?" Taylor shook her head.

Without further words, eleven Poké Balls were tossed: Dodrio, Skarmory, Gyarados, Crobat and a Mightyena joined Tropius at Carly's side, while Beautifly, Ninjask, Masquerain, Swellow, Pelipper and another Mightyena materialized around Taylor. All the Pokémon stared at the intruders, while several Poochyena, Mightyena, Zubat and Golbat joined their ranks from the sidelines. Swiftly, Steven's team found itself outmatched as the higher ups and grunts closed the path around them.

As the opposing Pokémon increased, Steven and Metagross shared a grimace. They then turned to the two women ahead and Metagross stepped forward, only for Zinnia to raise an arm towards them.

Steven blinked, then frowned. "What?"

"This is obviously just a way to prevent us from reaching their boss." Zinnia turned halfway and stared back at him. "Leave these small fries to us for now."

"Oooh, look, the troglodyte called us small fries." Carly chuckled, hands on her hips and a wicked grin on her face. "I think we should teach this cave dweller where she and her scum belong, don't you think?"

Taylor adjusted her glasses as she glared coldly and mechanically at her opponents. "All intruders will be eliminated, for the glory of Team Zenith."

Team Zenith's army of Flying-types and assorted Pokémon advanced slowly, but neither Zinnia nor her fellow Draconids yielded or walked away; instead, the Lorekeeper grinned as her Salamence blasted a Flamethrower to the sky, all the other Draconid Pokémon joining it in similar displays of power. Then, the Draconids marched ahead as one.

Steven's muscles tensed as he studied the two factions: a part of him wanted to stay there and help the Draconids fight, but he knew what his actual duty was. He spared a glance to the side, where Sawyer and Beldum remained hidden behind a rock several feet away. The boy faced the Champion almost instantly, and man and boy held a silent conversation through their locked stares; the meaning was clear, and went both ways. Don't do anything reckless.

And thus, they both nodded at once. Steven gave a relieved smile before he shook his head and turned to the path to Mt. Chimney's peak. Wordless, Steven and Metagross sprung forward and rushed towards the mountain top, as war cries erupted and deadly moves were unleashed right behind him.

As Steven's heart thumped against his chest, the world around him felt like a blur. Metagross was soaring right next to him, and while he and his partner were determined to reach the top, the heat from the lava brewing around them was already starting to take its toll on them.

Nevertheless, they persisted, even as Team Zenith grunts stationed overhead blocked the path and sent Pokémon against the intruders.

With swift moves, Steven's allies joined the ascent. As the Champion and Metagross continued further, he could spy Cradily hurling an Ancient Power against the Golbat at her side, Armaldo tossing a Mightyena on the ground, Aggron tackling a Swablu on a nearby rock and Skarmory cornering a few groundbound grunts and Pokémon with a spray of Toxic. As soon as they were finished, they joined the rush to the top as well, only taking their distance when it was time to face other opponents. Steven didn't need to give them orders or direct their actions: they were a well-oiled, efficient fighting unit, worthy of the title of Champions of the Hoenn region, and Steven knew he could trust their autonomy.

And so, as the ascent progressed swiftly and the grunts and their Pokémon fell around him, Steven thought. And among the sea of thoughts, one emerged stronger than any other.

Even if Team Zenith returned now, they can still be defeated again, right?

We must make sure they're defeated for good this time, then.

Steven steeled his gaze as Sawyer's words burned in his head. This would've been Team Zenith's final battle, no matter the ultimate outcome.

As the Hoenn Champion clenched his fists, he finally reached his destination; the top of Mt. Chimney was even hotter and harder to walk through for the heat and lava boiling right under them, but that wasn't the focus of neither him nor his team. That would've been the giant tube containing the Megalith shard, and the console attached to it at its base, where a man was typing calmly while giving the Champion his back. Steven's stance shifted, his whole body tensing up as he stared at the man's figure, with his whole team standing on guard.

Steven cleared his throat and locked his gaze on him. "Team Zenith Boss Zevie. It's been a while."

The man calmly paused his endeavor as he turned around. He wore an elaborate labcoat with Team Zenith's emblem over the heart, with spiky green hair and a thick beard framing his aged face, with a pair of goggles standing proudly over his forehead. He was a few years older than he remembered, but aside from that nothing of his demeanor or appearence seemed to have changed.

The man clasped his hands together as he sent the Champion a warm smile. "Just as punctual as ever. It's a pleasure to meet you again, Hoenn League Champion Steven Stone."

"Spare me the formalities." Metagross' fists glowed brightly as Steven paused his walk. "We've fought each other more times than I wished to. This is the end."

Zevie's smile only grew brighter as he nodded and placed his hands behind his back, pacing towards the other man.

"You're quite correct, this is the end." His gaze turned serious. "For years, Team Zenith has tried to bring forth an utopia for humans and Pokémon alike, allowing them to reach their highest peak as living beings. But I was too reckless, too ambitious, and I surrounded myself with too many brilliant minds. As a result, our plans and ideology was never as fully formed as I hoped for, and while my personal aim was to take control of Rayquaza to lead humanity's development from the skies, our actions never matched the intention."

He shook his head and stared in the distance, where the majority of the Team Zenith grunts were currently engaged in an all-out war with Steven's allies.

"This is what costed me my alliance with the Draconids, too, as a contingent of Team Zenith members thought to steal Draconid scrolls right as I was reaching for their support, in an attempt to gain power in the organization. And that was but one of the many failures of our attempts to lead humanity to a brighter tomorrow. I can understand why so many of my brothers and sisters decided to flock over to Maxie and Archie's side, when they split off to form Team Magma and Team Aqua."

Zevie clenched his jaw for a second, sighing and rubbing his forehead slowly before he stared back at Steven.

"I used to resent them, you know? To think they just abandoned me even if we shared the same broad goal. But then, as I saw their actions, I understood: as Magma and Aqua they were smaller, yes, but more focused, stronger, harder to match. That's what Team Zenith needed to be from day one, but I was thinking too big to understand it."

The man grinned again. "And so, we planned from scratch. We studied everything down to the last detail, gathered all the members still loyal to Team Zenith's cause, and then enacted our final operation. For too long has the world been at the mercy of conflicting whims, and if we won't be able to influence their progress, then we will be the rock that will derail it: it doesn't matter how, but this world will have to change now."

Zevie extended his arms to the side, his grin only widening. Through it all, neither Steven nor any of his Pokémon made a move, simply observing Zevie's every action. And then, Steven smiled.

"Nice speech." He closed his eyes.

A green barrier rose around Steven and his team, just as the Draco Meteor shards rained all over them. Zevie seemed only mildly surprised, as Steven adjusted his jacket with nonchalance.

"You were never one to ramble about your motives." He observed the fragments of rock beating over the Protect with mild interest.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The rain slowly petered out, and an Altaria became visible. It slowly flew back to the ground, just as the Protect faded. Zevie gave a shrug. As Altaria flew back at his side, the scientist chuckled and palmed his Poké Balls. "Oh well, it just means I will have to defeat you legitimately."

Five Poké Balls flew up, and Mightyena, Crobat, Xatu, Dodrio and Pelipper joined Altaria around their trainer. The opposing Pokémon teams stared at each other, and Zevie couldn't help but smile.

"This brings back memories, you know? I think our first battle started almost exactly the same way."

"I'm not here to reminisce, Zevie." Steven glared at the man, setting a foot ahead. "The new generations deserve their chance to make a better tomorrow on their own terms. As the older generation, we can only help them on their path rather than dictating it."

"Ever the champion of free will. You never disappoint, Steven Stone." Zevie adjusted his goggles and then stretched his fingers, never losing his grin. "Let's see who has the strongest convictions between us."

Neither Steven nor Zevie needed further prompts: Steven hopped above Metagross, traded another glance with Zevie, and Champion and Zenith Boss pointed at each other. And then, they shouted at once.

"Flamethrower!"

"Flash Cannon!"

The blazing tongue of fire from Altaria and the sparkling sphere of steel from Metagross met halfway and exploded, coating the battlefield in smoke; clad in blackness, both teams lunged at each other, while Steven and Metagross aimed further ahead than Zevie was. Unfortunately for him, Zevie saw through that.

With nonchalance, the scientist snapped his fingers. "Team, activate the Wind Shield strategy."

At once Xatu and Crobat soared above the smoke and started flapping their wings while twirling on themselves, unleashing a flurry of Air Slashes in every direction. Metagross braced instantly as Steven ducked under the onslaught of sharp winds, forcing them to recede; once outside the Pokémon's range, Steven and Metagross could clearly see how the slashes were surrounding the Megalith shard and the console; he could see Cradily toss a serving of Ancient Power towards the wall, only for the slashes to disintegrate the rocks.

Steven frowned as he observed Xatu and Crobat's continued efforts: it was a simple yet effective defense, much like that Wind Works move that Unovan Gym Leader created. But he had no time to find a way through it, as a Flamethrower almost caught them both as Altaria soared towards them.

The Champion gritted his teeth. "Zen Headbutt!"

He hung tightly over his partner as Metagross rammed headfirst towards Altaria, with the Dragon/Flying-type swiftly dodging and circling around Metagross.

Steven jabbed immediately at the Altaria. "Psychic!"

Metagross' eyes glowed a pale blue, and the psychic outline blocked Altaria in place. Steven allowed himself a smirk.

"Now, use-"

Four wormholes suddenly tore the sky apart around them. Metagross twisted out of the way of the incoming Future Sight just in time not to be blasted to oblivion.

Steven clutched a hand over his racing heart and searched through the battlefield, only to notice Xatu's eyes glistening of a pale blue while sending further rocks throughout new wormholes, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Altaria, in the meantime, had managed to break free of the psychic restraint, and was now readying its next assault as it circled through Metagross and blocked its path again.

Steven gave a quick look at how the groundbound battle was progressing, only to frown even more: Cradily and Armaldo were currently locked in a stalemate as they traded Ancient Powers and Rock Blasts with Pelipper's Ice Beams and Dodrio's Tri-Attacks, with Pelipper constantly blocking any attempt at long and short range offensive with liberal usage of Protect; Skarmory fared only marginally better as it dodged Fire Fangs and tried to deal Aerial Aces against Mightyena, only for his attack to constantly be matched even with puddles of Toxic and Spikes scattered all over the battle, with Mightyena attempting to force Skarmory in falling for his Swagger, just like Aggron did as he attempted to strike down Skarmory with his Stone Edges. None were stuck in impossible situations yet, but they were all divided into smaller groups, and Zevie clearly wanted to prevent him and Metagross from regaining control of the flow of battle.

Steven clenched his fists as he met Zevie's nonchalant and satisfied grin, only to quickly recompose himself and pass a hand over Metagross' steely body: it was already warming up considerably, and the more they would've fought, the more sad heat would've become detrimental and dangerous. They couldn't afford the odds to turn even more against them than they did already. They were the Hoenn Champion and his team, and they braved far harsher strategies to reach the top.

"Let's do our best, Metagross." He stared through Altaria a few feet away. "We're fighting to win."

And with that declaration, Altaria and Metagross clashed once more.

----------------------------------------

Sawyer had no words to describe what he was witnessing. He had studied wars before on books and in classes, but being stuck in the middle of one was completely different.

Team Zenith grunts and Draconid warriors clashed, Flying-types against Dragon-types in a pure show of power, with Carly and Zinnia leading their respective factions and ordering them around with trained skill. It was completely unlike a normal Pokémon battle: neither side was fighting to win or to have fun, they were fighting to annihilate their opponents, with Dragon Breaths, Claws and Tails blasting Flying-types and Team Zenith grunts alike, while Draconids and their Dragon-type partners had to constantly dodge and parry Air Slashes, Hurricanes, Brave Birds and the occasional Bite.

It was pure chaos, but one in which Sawyer could see a clear method: the Draconids were trying to make up for their lower numbers by sheer force and ganging up on their opponents, with only Zinnia showing any amount of strategy and finesse as she surveyed the battlefield above her Salamence and ensured that each weak point in their formation was covered; by contrast, most Team Zenith members were showing some degree of strategy whether they fought together or in tandem with other grunts, while Carly ordered her Tropius and the rest of her team to destroy any Draconid on her path, and she seemed to be having a very good time doing so as she cackled madly.

Regardless of their different approaches, however, one thing was clear: they were all strong, most of them were skilled, and he wasn't even remotely close to their level.

The boy clenched his fists before he spotted Beldum circling at his side. Even if it was probably stronger and more versatile than an average Beldum, that didn't change how little they could've contributed. As usual, he ended up being useless and outclassed. Wally would've probably tossed himself headfirst in battle and won the whole thing with Ralts at his side.

Sawyer gulped as he felt the knot on his stomach tighten up. He quickly shook away his worries as he hid better behind the rock, studying the battle again as he tried to be as incospicous as possible. If he couldn't contribute, he could've at least made sure not to impede, even if his boundless curiosity only made him more intrigued by the war ahead, as scary and as violent as it was. Fortunately, at the very least, Team Zenith grunts and Carly were pretty far from his position.

And then, Sawyer remembered Carly wasn't the only Team Zenith Admin around there.

He tried to look for where her colleague was, until he heard the sound of harsh wind from behind his back. He and Beldum dove to the side, and rolled right under the slashing force of a Wing Attack. Sawyer held his breath, and turned ahead to see Taylor stare at him through her glasses, Swellow in front of her and the rest of her team at her side.

"Remarkable. I thought you wouldn't dodge it," she said matter-of-factly.

Sawyer gulped while he tried to stand up again, sweating cold. "What do you want?"

"Your clothes seem quite modern, I've seen how you looked at Steven Stone, and you're avoiding to engage the conflict." Taylor checked him thoroughly, and then adjusted her frames. "Ergo, you aren't a Draconid, have a connection with the Champion, and you're not in a position to fight evenly with us."

Sawyer felt a knot in his stomach, even moreso when Taylor stepped closer, all her Pokémon ready to strike. "Therefore, you will make a nice bargaining chip to force Steven Stone to surrender."

As the Admin and her Pokémon strode slowly towards him, Sawyer didn't know what to say. He was being cornered, there were too many opponents, and no one would come to his rescue. There was no way he could make it.

As he continued to step back, however, he also felt a heavy nudge at his side. He glanced there, and saw Beldum with its rear claw clenched and his eye full of determination. The meaning was clear: we're not done fighting yet.

And at that, a confident grin shone on Sawyer's face. Steven Stone would've never surrendered, neither would've Wally, and he had no intention to be different. Thus, he stared back at Taylor as he took a battle stance.

"You'll never defeat Mr. Stone." Beldum floated above him, and Sawyer's grin widened. "And you aren't going to catch us, either."

"That's all to see." Taylor paused and snapped her fingers. "Bug Squadron, Attack Pattern Theta."

Masquerain, Beautifly and Ninjask quickly surrounded Sawyer and Beldum, charging several attacks; which ones Sawyer didn't identify, as he rolled back on the ground and scurried over for cover. As attacks flew around and almost hit him, the boy managed to scamper out of sight and barely make it behind a large rock; he pressed his back over the flat stone, sweat pouring down his face and heart thumping over his chest. Beldum gave an once-over to the other side, then shook his head. Taylor didn't make it to them yet.

Sawyer sighed in relief, and then observed Beldum again. They needed a plan, and fast: through all their fighting and training, he understood that he had Hold Back, Iron Head, Zen Headbutt and Iron Defense, a lot more moves than the average Beldum but still a moveset that relied heavily on getting close to the opponent, not the best when outnumbered and overpowered. And yet, Sawyer was sure there could've been something he could do now.

And then the rock was blasted to pieces, and Sawyer rolled over the ground again. He felt pain as his back met another stone, but that took a backseat as he saw Taylor walking back towards him, Bug-types still in formation and Mightyena, Swellow and Pelipper ready for further orders.

Sawyer gulped, then homed back on Beldum, and traded a nod with it. He faced Taylor again. "Beldum, Iron Defense and Iron Head on the ground!"

Beldum shimmered a metallic hue and slammed over the floor with added weight. The localized earthquake made Taylor and her Mightyena lose her footing, and Sawyer sprung up to run again. He needed some time to reorganize his thoughts, plan something, and-

Ninjask blurred right into Sawyer's face, and the boy flinched and fell on the ground. Beldum tried to Zen Headbutt the Bug-type out of the way, only for a Signal Beam to blast him next to Sawyer. The shiny writhed in pain, and only barely managed to get back up. And as he did, Taylor had already reached him, all her Pokémon closing on Sawyer in a circle. The girl seemed to frown as she fixed her glasses and stared over Sawyer.

"Pathetic." Taylor shook her head, almost disappointed. "Do you think I haven't planned things over? I set up Masquerain and Ninjask to block your way out with their superior speed, Beautifly to be ready to unleash status effects in case you ran too far from us, Swellow to be able to search quickly for you, Mightyena to recover you swiftly, and Pelipper to block your path if all else fails, and this was but one of the seventeen combinations I came up with so far. I analyzed you before attacking, and that's why I'll win."

The Admin strode closer, while Sawyer could only back down until his back was once more on a rock. Taylor allowed herself a small grin as she nudged at Masquerain. "Knock him out."

Masquerain nodded, and charged the multicolored light of a Signal Beam. Beldum weakly floated between the attack and his temporary trainer, but Sawyer knew it would be for naught. The boy closed his eyes and braced himself for the impact, as the light turned into a beam.

And then, a voice rose. "Gust!"

The brief gust was enough to thrust the beam out of the way, leaving Taylor and Sawyer puzzled. The Team Zenith Admin stepped back, frowning and holding her glasses. "What? I didn't gather data on that while I analyzed-"

"Analyze this!"

From their left, an angry blue ball flew at Taylor and tackled her to the ground, sending her team in disarray as they scrambled towards their trainer. Sawyer blinked in confusion, until he felt someone grab his hand. As he looked at his side, he widened his eyes as Ryuga and his Swablu stared back at him.

He tried to speak, but the Draconid boy shook his head. "Later. Let's run now!"

Sawyer agreed, and he and the Draconid ran away with Beldum in tow. From the corner of his eye, Sawyer could see Bagon jumping off Taylor and rushing after them, a well-aimed Dragon Breath by it and Swablu stopping the Team Zenith Admin and her Pokémon from following them. Ryuga jumped from depression to rock with quick, pointed jumps, with Sawyer struggling to keep up even with adrenaline kicking in, and with Bagon destroying rocks and small pillars around them to keep Taylor busy. The frantic race continued until Ryuga found a large enough rock, allowing him, Sawyer and their Pokémon to finally stay still.

The young Draconid gave a quick look to their surroundings, then smiled and pressed his back on the rock, relief on his face.

"That witch won't find us here, we can rest." He turned back to Sawyer, arms folded. "You alright?"

"I think," Sawyer said as he held his chest, his breathing shallow and his heart in overdrive. However, he couldn't help but notice the various bruises and cuts over his body. "You?"

Ryuga checked his body, and then gave him a quick shrug. "It's just a scratch, I've been hurt worse."

Sawyer blinked, unsure if to find that impressive or worrisome. In the end he shook his head, and chose to change topic.

"Why are you here? I thought they only called warriors to come with us."

"Oh, I just followed you and the others from the distance. There were a few things I wanted to talk about." Ryuga smiled sheepishly, until his gaze shifted back to the battle waged near them. "I didn't expect you all to get into an actual war, though."

Sawyer swallowed as he looked back as well. "Neither did I."

The ongoing battle was still pretty even, but it was clear that the tide would turn soon: the Draconids were being pushed into the corner more and more by well-aimed Flying-type attacks, while the Team Zenith grunts focused on reducing their area control and Carly took care of destroying every Draconid on her path. There didn't seem to be any actual casualties yet, but both boys could see that it was only a matter of time before the battle would turn bloody. Sawyer turned back to Ryuga, and was concerned to see even the fearless Draconid was afraid.

"They're strong." Ryuga frowned, before he went back to Sawyer. "You're smart, right? Any super special plan to destroy these guys?"

Sawyer rubbed his chin in thought, glancing both ahead and down towards Carly, currently ordering several Shadow Balls with Mightyena against a barrage of Shelgon.

"That girl and the other one down the path seem to be the leaders of the operation. They need to be dealt with."

Ryuga beamed and pumped his fists. "Great! Let's kick their butts, then!"

The boy tried to jump up and into the fight, until a familiar blowing wind cut the air and Sawyer pulled the Draconid down just in time to not lose his head. He forced Ryuga closer on the rock, as he eyed Taylor approaching in the distance with Swellow slicing every potential hiding place on her path. She got closer and closer, the wind blows growing stronger and further reaching, and the boys held their breaths. The Admin didn't stop, continuing closer, and closer, until she was mere feet from their hiding place.

She glanced over the rock, and Sawyer could feel his heart skipping a beat. And then, she turned around, probably searching elsewhere first, with Swellow flying overhead.

Sawyer sighed in relief, but his heart continued to race. With Flying-types looking for them, they didn't have much time on their side, even moreso as he and Ryuga noticed the large amounts of craters and rubble left in Taylor's wake. They waited until she and Swellow were distant enough to breathe again and look back at each other, still keeping an eye for any of Taylor's other Pokémon.

Sawyer clenched his fists and furrowed his brow. "We can't win this with a battle."

"And how, then? They're way too strong and there's too many of them."

Sawyer opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He tried to think, to analyze, to plan, but his mind came up with nothing, even as he turned to his notebook, Taylor in the distance, and even Ryuga. Too many doubts, too many variables, and not enough possibilities were all coalescing together, and there seemed to be no way out. Sawyer rubbed his forehead, and struggled to breathe.

"I don't know," the boy said, gulping and sweating.

Ryuga's gaze turned serious as he patted Sawyer's shoulder. "Hey, calm down. A true warrior can't let fear get to them in the heat of battle."

Sawyer tried to breath slowly, his heart calming just a bit as the Draconid gave him a thumbs up. Compared to how dumb and impulsive he could be, Ryuga seemed almost a different person now, as he gave him a supportive smile and rubbed his shoulder. He then felt two bumps on his legs, and turned to see Beldum and Bagon both rubbing their bodies close to Sawyer while sending him serious looks. The boy appreciated the gesture, and rubbed both their heads. Once again, the meaning was clear: they were ready to fight if needed, and awaiting orders. Sawyer smiled at that, and observed both Pokémon until he noticed the many little scars dotting the Dragon-type's helmeted head. And then, something clicked.

"Uhm..." Sawyer squinted his eyes towards Bagon, and then rubbed his neck. "I'm sorry to ask, but can you help us out?"

The Dragon-type nodded and smiled back. Ryuga crooked an eyebrow, instead.

"Did you get an idea?"

"Maybe." Sawyer smiled, observing Bagon's head again. "You said this is the angriest Bagon of Meteor Falls, right?"

"Yeah. Even before the injury he was all about headbutting walls and the like."

Sawyer touched Bagon's head slowly: even with the clear wear it had, it was still sturdy and battle-ready. He then analyzed Swablu, Beldum, and the area around them, and the tangled mess of fears and worries unfurled into a plan. He raised both hands and formed a rectangle with his fingers, studying the area through it.

Ryuga titled his head. "What're you doing now?"

"Thinking." Sawyer held his rectangle closer, without losing focus.

Ryuga seemed confused, only to grin right after. "You got the super special plan, so?"

"I'm not sure if it will work, but it's worth a try." Sawyer stopped his analysis and turned back to Ryuga, holding a clenched fist. "But to do that, I'll need your help."

"Sure, Sootopolitan." Ryuga thumped his chest proudly. "The bravest Draconid warrior is at your service!"

Sawyer couldn't help but smile again. "Thank you. So, this is what I have in mind..."

And thus, Sawyer explained his idea in detail, with Ryuga following every single detail. It was probably crazy and very risky, but it was the only chance they probably had to win quickly, and Sawyer wouldn't let that stop him from trying.

----------------------------------------

Ryuga had always been a brave child, though most of the other Draconids preferred to call him 'boneheaded' instead. Regardless of words, one thing didn't change: in his veins flowed the blood of the ancient Draconid warriors, and he would've done anything to uphold said legacy.

Sure, it was hard to be getting closer to that dangerous woman with glasses and her scary Flying-types, but he had to trust the Sootopolitan on that plan; thinking that he was cooperating with one was still pretty odd, but there wasn't much else he could do now and the kid had twice Ryuga's brain on his side. Plus, Ryuga doubted there were many chances he could punch his way out of problems this time.

And thus, Ryuga sighed and focused back on the area, sticking his head out of the rock he was hiding behind only to find no trace of Taylor anymore. The boy gritted his teeth and looked around, body pressed over another rock. Even after several minutes, however, he saw no trace of the Team Zenith Admin.

Ryuga gulped, gathered his courage, and took the first steps out of his hiding spot. Once again, no trace of his opponent, even if she seemed to patrol the path. Ryuga raised an eyebrow: where had she gone? Did she go for the Sootopolitan instead and ignored him? Dread washed over Ryuga, and he turned around and tried to run away.

And then, he ducked just in time to avoid Masquerain's Signal Beam. Ryuga rolled out of the way and back on his feet, dodging an attempted Slash by Ninjask in the project. As he stood again, Ryuga frowned as he saw the two Bug-types circling around him, until he eyed a short passage to the side, half-hidden by a rock. Without a pause, he rushed that way and slid over the hard rocks and into the passage, ignoring the pain as he left the Bug-types behind, with Ryuga praying the Dragon Lord for the passage to not be a dead end.

Thankfully it wasn't, and Ryuga enjoyed the light again before he stood and walked back towards the valley. He needed to get away from that place, and-

A sharp wing struck the boy on the side, blasting him several feet away and making him keel over the ground. Ryuga held his stomach as he gazed ahead, where a Swellow landed and stared him down. It was soon joined by a Beautifly ready to spore him, a Pelipper aiming for him skyward, and a Mightyena holding the ground near Swellow. And then, the Admin with glasses arrived, Masquerain and Ninjask in tow.

"Damn." The boy grimaced, as the Admin strode closer to him.

"Lulling your enemy in a false sense of security and then striking at them is a basic but always effective tactic," the woman explained. Ryuga didn't know if she was talking to herself or to him, but that didn't matter as she squinted her eyes and checked him out.

"You're a Draconid kid, yet you were looking for me instead of joining the big battle." She reached up to the boy, and grabbed him by the chin. "Ergo, either you're a runt way over your head, or you're trying to cover for the kid I'm looking for. Given your attempt to run away, I wager it's the latter."

She squeezed his cheeks, and her stare grew colder. "Therefore, you'll lead me where he is, now."

"Like I'd do that, jerk!" Ryuga yelled, teeth bared and stare burning.

Taylor continued to look him with some amusement for a few seconds. As the boy's expression remained unchanged, she shook her head.

"You've made your choice, I see." She nudged at Beautifly. "String Shot."

The Bug-type flew right on Ryuga's face, then swiftly sprouted the silk all around the Draconid's body: before he could fight back, his whole form save for his head was encased in a makeshift cocoon. The boy fell on the ground, and Taylor crouched and stared again at him.

"I could kill you here and now. A Draconid kid dying would probably be quite a shock for our opponents." She adjusted her glasses and studied the silk. "But you'll be more of use alive right now."

She rose back up, and gestured at her team. "Carry him."

The Bug-types, Swellow and Pelipper heard the order, and they swiftly set Ryuga over Mightyena as they followed Taylor. Ryuga held his breath and sweated cold as he stared after the Admin, and they walked back towards the brawl.

----------------------------------------

The battle between the Draconids and Team Zenith was still raging, but by now it was clear who the winner would've been. The tribe was being pushed more and more into a corner, while the Zenith grunts were free to gang up on them and pick each Draconid warrior a few at a time. Sure, there was the occasional clever tactic by Zinnia or someone else that allowed the Draconids to briefly gain the upper hands, but the advantages were quickly nullified by Team Zenith's teamwork and strategy.

Carly was more than happy at that turn: with all the time Team Zenith had spent in hiding, it had been ages since she last was in a nice big brawl. Fighting was her life, and being thrust in that triumph of violence was the best reward Zevie could've given her.

She surveyed the battlefield over her Tropius, mirth shining in her eyes at every explosion or knocked out Draconid. She swiftly dodged a couple of Flamethrowers and an incoming Dragon Breath, before she replied in kind with a well-aimed Solar Beam or Wing Attack. The explosions and screams that ensued were music to her ears, and she laughed at her foes while the rest of her team dealt with the groundbound enemies.

"Yes! Just like that! Blow them to bits, Tropius!" She yelled, and her trusty Grass/Flying-type was more than happy to oblige: another Solar Beam flew, slicing through the side of a mountain and almost blowing up several Draconids, which were forced to retreat right into a contingent of Zenith grunts. She patted her partner's head, and they shared a healthy grin. "Good work! Now, let's do that again!"

"Careful, or you'll cause a rockslide."

Carly's smile died just a little as she eyed the ground, seeing that Taylor had returned from her little 'recon trip', or whatever she wanted to call it this time.

"Sure, sure, Taylor, don't worry." She gave a dismissive wave as she and Tropius flew towards their colleague. Taylor dropped off her partner, and walked towards the other Admin. "So, what's the status update?"

"The Draconid forces are slowly losing ground." A rare smile lit up Taylor's face as she analyzed the cornered Draconids. "Their defeat is estimated in fifteen minutes at best."

Carly huffed and stared at the enemy forces with a frown. "Already? Oh, come on. I hoped for this to last longer."

"Efficiency takes priority over enjoyment."

"Killjoy." Taylor rolled her eyes, until they fell on Taylor's Mightyena and the encased boy it carried. "What's that?"

"Bait." Taylor took off her glasses, and cleaned them absentmindedly. "He'll lead a precious pawn straight in your hands, if his friend decides to play hero and save him."

Carly yawned and focused back on the battle. "You and your complicated plans. Why get so complex when a good beating is enough?"

"Sometimes a little bit of finesse is just what is needed to end a war."

"Not that things will change much." She raised her gaze, and contemplated Zevie's Altaria aiming for Steven's Metagross and forcing it on the defensive. "Zevie's almost done and is keeping Stevie in check. We've won already."

Taylor put her glasses back on beforeshe shrugged. "Better safe than sorry."

Carly didn't dignify that of a response: they had been colleagues for years, but the two Admins would've never seen eye to eye on the art of battling. Taylor would've always preferred the coward way instead of blasting their opponents in fair combat, but at the very least it brought results, and that was all that mattered for the glory of Team Zenith.

The muscular Admin shook her head and looked back at her opponents and jumped back on Tropius. If she only had fifteen minutes of so to fight, she would've sure as heck enjoyed them.

"Heh heh heh."

Both Carly and Taylor paused, then turned towards the kidnapped boy. He wore a face-splitting grin, and seemed far more amused than worried.

Carly squinted her eyes. "Why are you laughing?"

"Nothing. It's just fun how you think you'll win."

Carly stared at the happy kid puzzled, before she faced Taylor. In a rare display of emotion, she seemed just as clueless as Carly was. Her colleague folded her arms and stared back at the boy.

"Looks like you don't realize the situation you're stuck in now." Her glare sharpened. "You're here, defenseless, and your kind is on the losing side. And the moment your friend comes for us, we'll be ready to capture him too."

The kid's smile only widened. "Oh, really? You should get ready, then."

Carly didn't understand, but Taylor froze at that comment. She turned around and searched every rock, until her gaze fixated on the top of a nearby rock. Carly turned that way as well, finding a green-haired kid looking down at them with a challenging glance.

Taylor didn't waste time, and pushed up her glasses. "Attack Pattern Tau."

All of Taylor's Flying-types heard the cue, making a beeline for the kid with Beautifly in tow. The boy jumped off the rock and ran out of sight, but not before yelling something of his own.

"Now!"

Carly was even more confused at that call, until she and Taylor heard a distinct flutter of wings, and turned up to see a Swablu descending towards them, carrying a shiny Beldum on its rear claws and with a Bagon holding onto it. She raised an eyebrow at the weird formation, even as it meteored towards them.

Taylor instead frowned. "Team, switch to Attack Pattern-"

"I get it!" Carly grinned and jabbed at the trio of airborne Pokémon. "Everyone, concentrate on that Swablu!"

That earned her a wide-eyed stare from Taylor, but she paid no mind to it: if they had to annihilate three weak and unevolved Pokémon, that would've been an easy job. Her team and the majority of the Zenith grunts abandoned the battle and focused on the three Pokémon, and several kinds of blasts lit up the sky: Hydro Pumps, Air Slashes, Dark Pulses, Tri-Attacks and everything in between. Carly beamed at the spectacle of lights, the taste of victory as sweet as ever-

Only to turn very bitter as she saw the trio managing to swiftly navigate around each attach, which were instead blasting either Mt. Chimney's rocky walls or worse, their own Pokémon. This led only to more attacks, and the whole sky was engulfed in a confusing mess of hits and blasts.

Carly wasn't sure what to think, until she turned to her colleague; Taylor held her fists clenched, and her gaze was far harsher.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm taking care of those weaklings! You think about catching the kid!" Carly yelled as she kept her focus on the incoming Pokémon, somehow managing to keep their descent steady in the face of the barrage of hits.

Taylor placed her arms akimbo, her stare near murderous. "Recall that. We're just wasting time and moves by focusing on that alone, they're too small to aim properly. You know I'm the brains here."

Carly was tempted not to listen to her, until she heard many familiar cries and saw several Team Zenith Pokémon fall to the ground, friendly fire carpet bombing the battlefield. She turned back to Taylor, her expression unchanging.

"Okay, okay, calm down!" Carly raised both arms, then cupped her hands over her mouth. "Everyone, please-"

She screamed before she could finish as pain seared through her body. Lifting her arm, she saw the cocooned boy biting her, all while sending them a mocking grin. She widened her eyes, and even Taylor seemed appalled.

Carly shook the Draconid back to the ground, fists ready to hit. "You little-"

"The time's now! Do it, Swablu!"

As the other boy popped back up and gave his order, everyone faced the incoming Pokémon: Swablu took its cue and charged its rear claws, tossing Beldum forward. The Steel-type bulletted through the maelstrom of attacks, its speed raising further and further, until Bagon leapt off it and aimed down, head ready to struck as it reached terminal velocity.

Taylor was quick to raise a hand. "Defense Pattern Aegis!"

Her team flew back towards her trainer, and the Bug-types rose a Protect all around Taylor and Carly. They braced themselves for the Bagon turning into a blood splatter over the Protect, as Carly's Gyarados and Dodrio readied themselves to strike-

And then Bagon missed them completely, flying overhead and impacting straight on the ruined mountain wall behind them.

Carly and Taylor had no words, as the 'Defense Pattern Aegis' dissipated and they stared at the Bagon-shaped hole adding just a little more ruin to the disastered rocky surface. Then, Carly didn't waste much to grin again and look mockingly towards the green kid's hiding place.

"Hah! Nice move, loser!"

The boy didn't stop smiling as he looked over the mountain. For some reason, that brought shivers down Carly's spine.

Shivers that only heightened as a cracking sound was heard, and she felt Taylor grab her hand. "Run."

The burly woman didn't seem to understand yet, until the cracking sound ceased, and the rolling one started. And then she saw the mountain wall crumble, and a wave of rocks flowing straight towards them, with even more raining from the mountain top.

It didn't take an order from anyone before the Admins and the grunts rushed away from the incoming doom, swiftly recalling their groundbound Pokémon and focusing only on the road ahead. A few of the most foolish grunts tried even to fight back the wave, but at the first failed attempts everyone was quick to focus only on saving their skin.

The battle forgotten, the remnants of Team Zenith was scattered by the wave: some were hit and thrown to the side of the path with a few bruises, others managed to fly away on their Flying-types after narrowly avoiding the falling rocks, while most of the others simply ran further ahead and hoped for the wave to stop before they did. Carly and Taylor were among the latter, short of breath as they rushed to safety on their Mightyena, all while Taylor's held the Draconid kid in his mouth as he just laughed at their predicament. Carly would've probably decked him if survival wasn't her main concern.

Fortunately, the two Admins found safety right ahead, in the form of a small trench: without missing a beat, Taylor and Carly dove inside, and remained there as the rocks passed overhead. It took a few minutes, but ultimately the rockslide was over with no significant damage to either of them.

Carly sighed in relief and popped her head out of the trench, with Taylor and a few other Team Zenith grunts following suit. A majority of what used to be the battlefield was now covered in rocks, with the once proud mountain wall reduced to a few scattered and cracked pebbles. The Team Zenith Admin scratched her head, and her eyes wandered back to the destruction. "How did that happen?"

"I just calculated the momentum and the strength needed to trigger that. Physics did the rest."

Carly and Taylor tensed up, and turned to see Sawyer walking towards them. He was spraying some Potions over Bagon's somewhat bloody head, but that didn't prevent either him or the Dragon-type from grinning at them.

Taylor tapped her Poké Balls almost instantly. "Team, Attack Pattern-"

A Dragon Breath flying overhead silenced her, moreso when she and Taylor noticed several Flygon, Altaria and Salamence surrounding them and the remaining Admins. Above them, many Draconids appeared ready to fry anyone who even dared touching a Poké Ball, having taken the time to regroup and surround them in a complete reversal of the previous situation. Carly was appalled, while Taylor simply adjusted her glasses once again, a brief smile lighting up her face.

"Impressive," she said.

Now victorious, the Draconids didn't waste time rounding up the grunts and the Admins, ensuring that none of them fought back; a few tried even to escape, but with the tables turned and no one able to mount a counteroffensive, their attempts were doomed to failure. Team Zenith had lost the battle, no ifs and no buts, and Carly was trying hard not to be annoyed by that.

As the green kid helped destroying the silk around the Draconid boy, the latter grinned at them. "See what I told you? You lost now!"

Carly and Taylor stared back at them, then back at each other. In spite of their predicament, they both grinned at once, to the boys' confusion.

The Draconid boy tilted his head. "What's so funny?"

"You don't understand, right?" Carly chuckled, then gave the kids a smug grin. "From the beginning, we weren't trying to defeat you. We just needed to stall you."

The Draconid scratched his head in confusion, but the green kid understood, turning around to the top of Mt. Chimney and widening his eyes towards the Megalith.

Carly couldn't help but laugh at that. Yes, Team Zenith had lost the battle, but in a few scant minutes, they would've won the war. And there was nothing Steven and his cronies could do to stop them.