"Shaymin is the Gardenia family's final trump card."
"Without the Gracidea flowers, Shaymin's strength is gradually waning. The family wouldn't awaken her unless it was a matter of life and death. Her resurgence proves the situation is far graver than we imagined," Professor Carolina said, her voice heavy with concern.
"Without our help, the Gardenias might be reduced to ash by the combined pressure of the Temple, the Bounty Hunters' Guild, and the League. The Temple is moving because they know the Gardenias lack a Heavenly King to protect them—and because they want to provoke us in Celestic Town."
"The Gardenias control ninety percent of Sinnoh's food and dicinal supply. We must prepare for battle. If an alliance fails, we must at least secure their resources before the Temple seizes them. Cynthia, your priority is to push your strength to the Champion level. Give the Temple a reason to fear you. I will handle the resources you need," the Professor concluded.
The True Jewel of Life
Back at the Gardenia estate, Feng Che sat in the high seat, dismissing the elders to map out the clan's future.
According to the ga lore, he mused, the 'Jewel of Life' currently held by the five families is just a clever imitation. Damos created it to appease Arceus after the original was lost. The real Jewel of Life is actually buried deep in the silt of the lake beneath the Sinnoh Temple. No one would ever think to look there.
Once I reach the Heavenly King rank, I'll take a trip to the Temple and reclaim the true artifact. But first, I need to stabilize this ss. Damalanchi's operation to capture Lugia at the Sevii Islands is approaching. I need to leverage the Gardenia resources to break my core team into the Heavenly King tier so I can compete for that Lugia egg.
Damalanchi is a tragic figure—he captures Mythicals only for them to escape every single ti. After the Sevii Islands, I'll head to Mount Chimney to start Ho-Oh's Rainbow Hero trial.
The Swarm Approaches
"Lord Patriarch! Ergency!" Seventh Elder Yuan Qi burst in, sweat beading on his forehead. "Second Elder Tian and his team are trapped at the primary berry orchard! They're being sward by crazed Mothim and need imdiate extraction!"
Feng Che didn't hesitate. He threw on his black cloak and donned his signature smiling mask. "Lead the way."
The Berry Orchard Siege
The orchard sat on the edge of the Eterna Forest, the lifeblood of the Gardenia's trade. Now, it was a war zone.
Second Elder Yuan Tian was panting, surrounded by a literal cloud of Mothim. Thousands of the orange-winged Pokémon were diving recklessly at his team.
"Curse it! These things are acting like they've lost their minds!" Tian roared. His Torterra, a massive, tank-like Pokémon with an oak tree and jagged rocks growing from its shell, was struggling.
Torterra's heavy legs were rooted into the earth, using the Ingrain move to slowly recover stamina. It fired a Stone Edge barrage—sharp rocks flying like Gatling gun fire—shredding any Mothim that got too close. But for every ten that fell, a hundred more took their place.
"If they keep eating at this rate, the entire orchard will be a graveyard by morning," Tian grumbled. Mothim are the evolved form of male Burmy; they thrive on honey and nectar, but this was no natural feeding. This was a Pokémon Calamity.
A silver-grey helicopter bearing the Gardenia crest roared overhead.
"Patriarch, look at the scale of it," Seventh Elder Qi whispered from the cockpit, his face pale. "It started two nights ago, but this morning, the Burmy population underwent a mass, forced evolution. They don't fear death. The Second Elder says even if they're torn in half, they keep crawling. You have to destroy the head to stop them."
Feng Che looked down from the open bay door, his masked face peering at the undulating black-and-orange carpet of insects below.
"Their minds are being suppressed by sothing," Feng Che noted coldly, his eyes tracing the patterns of the swarm.
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