Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

The meeting concluded with swift efficiency. The matters that had been subject to debate were unilaterally decided and announced by Adams upon his arrival, allowing no opportunity for further discussion. This demonstrated the considerable authority he wielded as both Champion and Guild President of the Hoenn region.

His leadership position stemmed not only from his complete dedication to the Hoenn League but also from his overwhelming strength and decisive governance. In critical moments, his word was final.

Aoki's mentor, Matsuda, was unexpectedly appointed to temporarily assume the position among the Elite Four - a development Aoki hadn't anticipated. Upon reflection, however, this proved to be a masterful political maneuver that effectively resolved half of the internal conflicts within the Hoenn League.

Firstly, Matsuda possessed sufficient strength, being nearly on par with Wattson, making the appointment credible.

Secondly, as a recent addition to the Hoenn League who maintained good relations with President Adams but remained unaffiliated with any faction, his appointment wouldn't significantly disrupt the existing power balance.

Finally, given Matsuda's advanced age, he would likely step down within three to five years, by which time Aoki and his contemporaries would be ready to assume Elite Four positions with minimal controversy, as none could rival their qualifications.

This decision clearly illustrated Adams' determination to pave the way for Aoki and his peers, explaining his unconditional trust in Aoki. The meeting revealed numerous implications that required careful consideration to fully comprehend.

Regarding the investigation into the traitor, Adams imposed a one-month deadline. Regardless of whether the culprit was identified, the matter would be officially closed to prevent it from becoming an ongoing distraction for Hoenn's leadership, though covert investigations would continue. Perhaps when Wattson regained consciousness or when Steven and Phoebe returned, the traitor might be uncovered directly.

Thus, Adams effectively resolved an internal League crisis. Now the entire Hoenn League stood united, prepared to confront their adversaries and demonstrate Hoenn's collective strength.

Following the meeting, Adams retained the Elite Four members and family patriarchs for further discussion, as their interests were inextricably linked to the Hoenn League. Their potential betrayal would jeopardize over half of the League's current interests. Only Drake was absent, having already departed with Aoki for the mysterious cave.

Most found reassurance in the intervention of the Dragon Master Drake. Currently, Aoki and Drake were airborne, traveling on the back of Drake's Salamence to save time. While Salamence typically wouldn't permit riders besides their Trainer, Drake's deep bond with his Pokémon allowed him to convince it to accept Aoki's presence.

"Master Drake," Aoki inquired from his position behind the veteran Trainer, "what exactly is this mysterious cave? What significance does it hold that warranted Wattson personally leading an exploration team?"

Drake stood steadily on his Salamence's back, gazing toward the distant sea. "Truthfully, I'm not entirely certain of the specifics. I only know the cave holds great importance, potentially relating to Hoenn's future development. That's why Adams assigned the task to Wattson, who had availability. Normally, maritime matters fall under my jurisdiction, but I was unavoidably detained recently." A flicker of regret crossed Drake's features - had he been available, Wattson might have avoided his current predicament.

"Don't blame yourself," Aoki reassured. "This may prove fortuitous for Wattson. Retirement has occupied his thoughts for some time now."

A slight smile touched Drake's lips. "True enough. The once-fearless warrior has grown weary. Now he can rest properly. However..." His expression sobered. "We must recover Steven, Phoebe, and the others who accompanied him. They represent the League's future! Our efforts aim to prevent Hoenn from falling into incompetent hands."

Patting his Salamence's neck, Drake urged, "Onward, old friend. Time is of the essence." The Salamence responded with a resonant roar, increasing its wingbeats and accelerating by thirty percent as it flew at maximum speed.

Given the urgency, Drake had invited Aoki to ride with him, recognizing that Aoki's own Flygon and Altaria couldn't match Salamence's speed. Aoki rested his hand against the Salamence's back, feeling the dense dragon scales as he mentally catalogued the Pokémon's impressive attributes through his system.

Pokémon: Salamence (blue)

Gender: Male

Level: 82

Attributes: Dragon + Flying

Ability: Intimidate

Held Item: None

Egg Moves: Hydro Pump, Outrage, Dragon Dance, Dragon Rush

Basic Moves: Fly, Wrap, Dragon Tail, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Rage, Leer, Supersonic, Bite, Dragon Breath, Headbutt, Focus Energy, Crunch, Dragon Claw, Hammer Arm, Scary Face, Flamethrower, Charge

Learnt Moves: Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Aqua Tail, Thrash, Power-Up Punch, Sky Drop, Hyper Voice, Defog

TM Moves: Hyper Beam, Roost, Earthquake, Double Team, Fire Blast, Rock Tomb, Aerial Ace, Steel Wing, Giga Impact, Iron Tail, Rock Slide

Salamence's data explained the confidence others placed in Drake. Whether this was Drake's strongest Pokémon mattered little. By conventional standards, possessing three such Pokémon theoretically qualified a trainer to become a regional Champion.

However, modern League standards demanded more from Elite Four members - mere Elite-level strength no longer sufficed. True Elite Four members now surpassed that threshold, with some reaching championship level depending on their region's overall strength.

Becoming Champion required surpassing even these benchmarks, though no formal regulations dictated exact requirements for these prestigious positions once this level was achieved.