The Clash on the Volcano

Leaving the Pokémon Breeding Facility, Yuga headed straight to the Pokémon Center. There, he transferred the newly acquired Wooper, as well as the Tropius and Mienfoo he had captured in the Safari Zone, back home. He instructed Wigglytuff to arrange accommodations for them.

Afterward, he met with Kiriha to discuss the collaboration with the Joy family. The next day, he set off for Veilstone City, accompanied by his Shoryu and Audino.

Veilstone City was very close to Pastoria City, practically adjacent, so Yuga decided against taking public transportation. Instead, he chose to walk with Audino, treating it as an experience to simulate a novice Trainer's journey. Since they weren't in a hurry, it was a leisurely option.

Shoryu also walked alongside them to get some physical exercise. When Shoryu got tired, Yuga would release Sawsbuck for Shoryu to ride.

The journey was pleasant as they enjoyed the scenery along the way in a lighthearted mood.

On the route from Pastoria City to Veilstone City, they would pass by Lake Valor, one of Sinnoh's three famous lakes. According to legend, the trio of Lake Guardians from Sinnoh's mythology resides in these lakes. Lake Valor is home to Azelf, representing willpower.

Yuga knew these legends were true. During Team Galatic incident, all three of these legendary Pokémon had appeared. Their intervention had played a role in the downfall of Hunter J and her hunter organization.

Since they were visiting such a renowned location, it was only natural for Yuga and his companions to take a look.

Lake Valor was indeed beautiful. Many rare Pokémon resided there, and even wild Milotic could occasionally be seen. However, capturing Pokémon at the lake was prohibited.

There was also a famous restaurant by the lakeside where Yuga and his companions had lunch. Although the food was expensive, it was undeniably delicious. Audino, captivated by the food's quality, nearly went to seek cooking lessons from the chefs before Yuga stopped it.

While the scenery at Lake Valor was captivating, they didn't linger too long. After lunch, they continued on their way.

Yuga had originally expected something exciting to happen during the journey—like the kind of adventures Ash often encountered during his travels. However, the journey was calm and uneventful.

As they drew closer to Veilstone City, Yuga felt that the trip was too tranquil. When he noticed a volcano marked on the navigation map nearby, he proposed visiting it.

Unlike Hoenn, Sinnoh had very few volcanoes, which made the idea intriguing.

Shoryu, who had been bedridden for a long time and was now fully recovered, was curious about everything and eagerly agreed to Yuga's suggestion. As for Audino, it naturally followed Yuga wherever he went.

The trio then set out toward the volcano.

The route from Lake Valor to Veilstone City was along Route 214. To reach the volcano, they would have to veer off from Route 214 into the wilderness, significantly extending their journey.

However, Yuga didn't mind. At worst, they could spend a night camping outdoors.

As they approached the volcano, the vegetation along the way became denser. By the time they reached the base of the volcano, the area was covered in lush, dense forest.

This volcano had once been active. The volcanic ash from its eruptions had enriched the surrounding soil, making it fertile. Yuga wasn't surprised to see the vegetation flourishing so vibrantly here.

After all, Verdanturf Town in Hoenn had grown and prospered in a similar way, benefiting from the nearby Mt. Chimney.

Shoryu's body was still not suited for climbing, so Yuga released Charizard to carry Shoryu into the air. Charizard flew at a safe distance, following Yuga and Audino from above.

This extinct volcano was home to many wild berry trees, which supported a diverse population of Pokémon, making the mountain lively and vibrant.

Along the way, Audino rescued a wild Buneary that had broken its leg. After Audino healed it with Heal Pulse, the grateful Buneary gifted Audino a berry.

Audino was overjoyed by the gesture, small as it was, and shared the berry with Yuga. Together, they enjoyed the treat, sharing a moment of camaraderie.

Before long, Yuga and his companions reached the summit of the volcano. To Yuga's surprise, the crater still contained bubbling magma. The bright red magma churned and hissed, raising the surrounding temperature significantly.

After setting Shoryu down, Charizard excitedly flew over to the magma and dipped its tail into it. As it absorbed the fiery energy from the magma, the flame on its tail burned even brighter.

However, Yuga found the situation strange. Given the environment, it seemed like an ideal habitat for Fire-type Pokémon. Yet, there wasn't a single Fire-type Pokémon in sight.

Charizard, in high spirits, performed daring aerial maneuvers near the magma, showing off for Shoryu, who cheered and clapped enthusiastically. Charizard, energized by Shoryu's cheers, grew even more exuberant, roaring and soaring with increasing excitement. The summit rang with Charizard's passionate cries and Shoryu's delighted laughter.

But Yuga soon noticed something unusual. The magma pool began to boil violently, and the surrounding temperature climbed rapidly.

If Yuga could sense the change, Charizard, being highly attuned to Fire-type energy, certainly noticed it too. Halting its movements, Charizard fixed its gaze on the magma pool, its expression tense and wary.

Charizard felt an ominous presence lock onto it, causing its body to tremble involuntarily.

Gurgle… Gurgle… BOOM!

With a thunderous roar, the magma exploded, sending fiery droplets flying in all directions. Audino immediately stepped forward, shielding Yuga and Shoryu with its body.

Moments later, a blazing figure shot out of the magma like an arrow, its gaze locking onto Charizard the instant it emerged.

Screech!

The figure let out a piercing cry and launched a direct attack on Charizard.

When Yuga saw the Pokémon, his heart skipped a beat.

...

[ Moltres ]

Type: Fire/Flying

Ability: Flame Body

Gender: None

Potential: Unknown

Level: Unknown

Moves: Wing Attack, Fire Spin, Ember, Agility, Flamethrower, Safeguard, Air Slash, Sunny Day, Heat Wave, Solar Beam, Roost, Hurricane, Burn Up, Double Team, Aerial Ace, Overheat, Sky Attack, Inferno Overdrive, Fire Blast.

...

Yuga hadn't expected his casual search for excitement to deliver such a thrilling encounter.

Screech!

Moltres spread its wings and unleashed a towering cyclone, spiraling toward Charizard. Before the attack could end, it breathed flames into the cyclone, dyeing it a fierce red.

This was a combination of Hurricane and Flamethrower. The wind fed the flames, amplifying the destructive power of both moves.

Roar!

Charizard bellowed, firing a stream of flames to counter the incoming fiery vortex. However, the flames were absorbed into the cyclone, intensifying its force even further.

Seeing Charizard's struggle, Yuga hurriedly took out Lapras's Poké Ball. Charizard stood no chance against Moltres, and Lapras might help even the odds.

But before he could act, Moltres let out another shrill cry and hurled a fiery orb toward him. The fireball exploded at Yuga's feet, leaving Audino unable to block it in time.

Yuga froze, abandoning the idea of summoning Lapras. As Charizard continued to struggle against the fiery vortex, Yuga called out decisively.

"Charizard, Mega Evolve!"

Roar!

Charizard responded to Yuga's command with a roar, its body radiating a brilliant multicolored light as its form began to transform.

Charizard evolved into its Y form, ready to face Moltres in a fiery showdown.

However, just as Charizard's evolution completed, it was swept into the fiery whirlwind.

"Charizard!" Yuga's face changed, and he called out in worry.

After Charizard was engulfed by the firestorm, Moltres refrained from continuing its attack. Instead, it hovered calmly, lightly flapping its wings, its gaze fixed intently on the burning and rotating fire pillar.

Each passing second felt like an eternity to Yuga, as if several days had stretched into those few minutes.

Then, suddenly, Charizard's invigorated roar echoed from within the pillar of fire, filling Yuga with joy.

The firestorm rapidly began to shrink, condensing into a blazing fireball within moments.

Another triumphant roar erupted, and Mega Charizard Y's silhouette emerged from the fireball. From its sharp horn to its bold wings and long tail, the transformation was evident.

Mega Charizard Y inhaled sharply, drawing all the flames into its body. Its abdomen glowed with a distinct red light, the location of the ruby orb and the Moltres' Heart.

For a moment, Yuga thought he was imagining things, but Charizard suddenly appeared more energized. Unable to resist his curiosity, he activated his Insight ability.

As expected, Charizard's level had increased by one, and the aura representing its potential shone brighter than before.

At this moment, Moltres, which had been waiting silently, launched another attack. A massive, blazing fire-shaped symbol descended from above, striking Charizard squarely and knocking it into the magma pool below.

"Roar!"

Within seconds, Charizard leaped out of the magma pool, retaliating with its own Fire Blast aimed at Moltres.

Moltres remained unfazed as it flared its fiery plumage. Its crimson feathers seemed to dance with the flames as it accelerated and charged directly into Charizard's Fire Blast. The fiery explosion shattered upon contact with the legendary Pokémon.

Using the move Flame Charge, Moltres not only broke through the attack but also gained speed with every second.

Boom!

Charizard was hit and crashed to the ground, leaving a massive crater. The heat from the flames scorched the sand and dirt within the crater to black, while the resulting heatwave forced Yuga and his companions to retreat further.

Charizard writhed in pain, struggling to rise again. Before it could regain its footing, another Fire Blast descended, engulfing its body entirely.

Flames surged within the crater as Moltres hovered in the air, silently observing, without making further moves. Yuga also quietly observed the legendary bird, piecing together the reason behind its agitation.

As suspected, Moltres had been drawn here by the Moltres' Heart within Charizard's body.

The flames in the crater began to shrink again, revealing Charizard's form. The Red Orb and the Moltres' Heart in its abdomen glowed even brighter.

Charizard's level had once again increased by one, and the brilliance of its potential aura grew even more radiant.

Charizard shook off the flames, flapped its wings, and leaped powerfully into the air, now level with Moltres. Despite the overwhelming odds, its fighting spirit burned brighter than ever.

Although Charizard was clearly no match for Moltres and was utterly outclassed, it refused to back down.

Seeing Charizard's courage filled Yuga with pride. He couldn't help but recall how, when Charizard had first joined him, it was just a crybaby prone to tears. Now, it faced a legendary Pokémon with unwavering bravery.

The two Pokémon faced off for several seconds before Charizard initiated an attack, unleashing a stream of flames with Flamethrower aimed straight at Moltres.

Moltres' fiery aura intensified as it accelerated to meet the incoming flames head-on.

At that moment, Moltres seemed like a slender, unstoppable blade, cutting through Charizard's Flamethrower with ease and charging directly toward its opponent.

The dispersed flames exploded in mid-air like fireworks. Some embers fell into the magma pool, while others landed right at Yuga's feet.

Boom!

The flames were completely pierced through by Moltres, and Charizard was knocked headlong into the magma pool.

Cry!

After Charizard fell into the magma pool, Moltres let out a long cry and dove in as well. The surface of the magma rippled a few times before returning to calm.

Both Pokémon vanished simultaneously, and an eerie silence fell over the mountaintop. The aftershocks of their battle had left the Pokémon living on the mountain trembling in fear.

The Pokémon on the mountain were unaware that Moltres had been slumbering within the magma pool, nor did they know that the volcano's dormancy was due to Moltres' suppression.

For a long time, neither Charizard nor Moltres emerged from the magma pool. Yuga paced back and forth anxiously at the edge of the pool. Shoryu asked, "Big brother, how's Charizard? Will it be okay?"

Yuga tried to calm himself and reassured him, "Don't worry. Charizard will definitely be fine." He speculated that Moltres had no intention of harming Charizard, but he couldn't help but remain uneasy.

Yuga waited anxiously for nearly an hour.

Suddenly, the previously calm magma pool began to boil. The magma seemed to come alive, bouncing and surging within the pool.

Boom!

Two red figures shot out of the magma pool one after the other. The first was Charizard, and the second was Moltres.

By now, Charizard had reverted to its normal form. Its entire body was wreathed in flames, with fiery bird-like figures swirling around it.

The two Pokémon hovered motionlessly in the air. The flames on Charizard's body burned more and more fiercely, while Moltres remained still, quietly observing from across.

Roar!

Charizard let out a powerful roar, and the flames on its body suddenly exploded outward, accompanied by a dramatic surge in its aura.

...

[ Charizard ]

Type: Fire, Flying

Gender: Female

Ability: Blaze

Potential: Purple

Level: 86

Moves: Scratch, Ember, Hidden Power (Electric), Dragon Dance, Outrage, Smokescreen, Iron Tail, Flamethrower, Fire Fang, Scary Face, Sunny Day, Fire Punch, Fire Blast, Dragon Pulse, Dragon Claw, Steel Wing, Brick Break, Shadow Claw, Iron Tail, Overheat, Inferno, Heat Wave, Flare Blitz, Air Slash, Tailwind.

...

Charizard's stats had undergone a massive transformation. Not only had its potential improved, but its level had also leaped to match that of Lapras, surpassing Absol, Chimecho, and Dragonite in one fell swoop.

Moltres gazed at Charizard for several seconds before diving back into the magma and vanishing. Yuga watched the magma pool gradually return to calm and couldn't tell whether the battle he had just witnessed was real or an illusion.

Roar!

Charizard roared at the magma pool, seemingly expressing its gratitude to Moltres.

Afterward, Charizard flapped its wings and landed beside Yuga. Through a series of gestures and cries, Charizard explained the situation to Yuga. He finally understood that the Moltres' Heart in its body was in a crystallized state and couldn't be absorbed.

When Moltres discovered the existence of the Moltres' Heart, it decided to help Charizard to absorb it completely, which led to the battle they had just witnessed.