We were able to get aboard the ship relatively easily. I felt that familiar feeling of adrenaline and as if my senses were heightened.

I looked around the ship's deck and spotted a door. Without a word being spoken Gallade ran at the door and punched it down. We ran through the door and down a flight of stairs into the ship itself.

We ran into a Team Crown grunt while trying to navigate the maze of hallways.

He reached for his Pokeball, but Gallade shocked the man with electricity.

The grunt crumbled against the wall and passed out.

I felt an unfamiliar urge to keep pressing forward without taking much time to stop. We ran ahead and entered an open area of the boat.

Dozens of Team Crown grunts were lounging about and seemed to be waiting for something to happen.

The room was relatively empty with only a few cots lining the walls and some tables in the center. There was choppy patchwork decorating the walls and rust coated the floor.

A speaker overhead crackled to life. "Attention Team Crown Members! Prepare to disembark!"

The Crown members cheered and applauded. It didn't take them much longer to notice us standing there.

Uh oh. Looks like we're in a bit of trouble. Gallade said.

Brendan and May reached for their Pokeballs but I looked back at them and shook my head. "Gallade and I can handle this. You guys will need your Pokémon for later."

"Wally, are you sure?" May confirmed.

I nodded. "Gallade and I can do this. Just trust me." I told them.

Brendan wanted to say something in protest but shook his head. "Alright, Wally. We'll be ready to jump in.

Gallade seemed equally as surprised as Brendan and May but punched his fists together. Alright! Action time! 

The grunts were using a large amalgamation of various Pokémon. I couldn't care less about identifying them. We just had to beat them.

I recalled some of the research I had done into move combinations back when I was studying everything I could on Pokémon training. "Alright Gallade, use Psycho Cut and Thunder Punch!" I said.

Gallade's arms began to crackle with electricity and glow. He fired large psychic waves of energy into the crowd of Pokémon. The waves also crackled with electricity and created large shockwaves upon impact.

The grunts commanded their Pokémon to attack and many small Hoenn Pokémon began to leap at Gallade. "Hit then into each other Gallade!"

Gallade blocked attacking Pokémon with his arms and swatted enemy Pokémon out of the air and into others.

My arms began to slightly ache after the onslaught was finished. My entire body felt sore. As if I was the one doing the battling.

There were only a few Pokémon left. I just needed one showstopper. "Gallade get up close and hit as many Pokémon as you can with Brick Break and Thunder Punch!" Gallade dashed into the crowd and brought his powerful arms down on any enemy Pokémon remaining.

Before long all of the Pokémon were defeated and the grunts ran out the other exit.

I wiped some sweat from my forehead and tried to slow my breathing. For the first time in my journey, I began to remember why I hadn't gone on an adventure originally.

The stale air of the ship did nothing to help my struggling breathing. Gallade identified the issue and used his psycho cut to punch a hole in the wall.

I was able to slowly get control of my breathing back now that there was fresh air flowing in. I also noticed that the ship was on the move.

May and Brendan took some supplies from the room and looked back over at me. I gave them a thumbs up and we continued further into the ship.

We arrived at a locked door and Gallade broke the door down with ease. At that moment I noticed how tired he was. Keeping up this form was draining us both quickly.

The room we entered seemed to lead back up to the deck. The room was large and open. With multiple catwalks and staircases leading up to the top of the boat.

In the center of the room, two familiar faces were waiting for us. Ruby and Sapphire.

"Well look who happened to show," Ruby smirked. "Those three brats who have given us so much trouble."

Sapphire put his hands together. "You're about to learn what happens when you mess with the royal bloodline."

Brendan tried to keep from laughing. "You guys really think you can beat us? Alright then. Let's do this." He sent out his Marshtomp.

May reached into her bag and tossed her Pokeball into the air. It popped open and Combusken appeared. She made eye contact with me. "Go find Emerald. There's no telling how much time we have before that weapon thing destroys Hoenn. Brendan and I can handle these goons."

I nodded to Gallade and he ran off, jumping onto a flight of stairs and climbing up. As I made my way to the staircase I felt a sense of disorientation. As if I was trying to do two completely different things at once.

I focused and saw Gallade fighting off a grunt somewhere above me. I clutched my forehead and pushed up the stairs.

After I was partway up one of the winding staircases I checked on the battle below. Ruby and Sapphire had sent out their Delcatty and Flygon respectively.

For the time being Combusken and Marshtomp seemed to have them completely overwhelmed.

I returned to trying to progress up the stairs. The openness of the boat allowed me to at least keep going despite the exhaustion I was experiencing.

I walked along a catwalk once I reached the top of the staircase and encountered a Team Crown grunt.

The man charged at me with his fists raised and I froze for a moment before feeling a surge of courage.

I let the man get close to me and ducked under his fist, suddenly my arm swung forward and I punched the man in the gut. The grunt groaned and fell to the ground.

I quickly ran over him and to the next staircase. You're welcome, Wally! Gallade said. He must've given me some of his strength so I could defend myself.

I was starting to get a pretty good understanding of how the Mega Evolution seemed to work. It was as if we had become Mega Stones and our energies were exchanging. Creating a sort of mixed consciousness.

I was fairly high up at this point and couldn't make out much of the battle below. I looked up and saw the top was very close. I began to run across a catwalk. WALLY LOOK OUT!

I turned around to see a projectile flying at me. I jumped out of its way but the blast obliterated part of the catwalk.

It began to slant downward and I started to slide towards the ground. I reached to grab for something and grasped part of the guard rail.

Suddenly I felt something strong grip my two shoulders. I looked up to see a large metal bird holding me in its talons with Steven Stone aboard it.

I let go of the guard rail and he carried me up to the deck of the ship. The Skarmory gently set me down and Steven hopped off of the Pokémon.

Gallade ran up to us and suddenly he reverted back to his original form and passed out. I quickly returned my friend and felt a gap in my mind.

"I didn't expect to see you here Wally. Though I must say, seeing your Pokémon Mega Evolved was a treat." Steven said.

I looked the man in the eyes and thanked him. "I know you s-said not to get on the ship but w-we're pretty sure they're going to destroy everything and we couldn't just sit there and-" Steven held up a hand.

He smiled at me. "Don't worry about it, Wally. Tell me, do you know where your friend is?"

I looked around. I had no idea where Emerald was. I had just hoped he was somewhere up here. I shook my head.

"Well," Steven said. "I've studied this boat's schematics before. I believe the captain's quarters are over there." He pointed to a small building on the boat's deck. "Perhaps your friend is in there."

We briskly walked to the small room and tried to open the door. Of course, it was locked. But Steven simply had his Skarmory and the Pokémon inserted its talon into the keyhole until the door popped open.

"Wow. I had no idea that Skarmory could to that." I said.

Steven chuckled and returned his Pokémon. "Every Pokémon has secrets. You just have to unlock them."

We went inside and I was filled with relief when I saw Emerald lying on a small bed. He looked up at us and grinned. "Wally! You're alright!"

He ran up to me and embraced me, I was caught off guard by his display of affection. "I was certain my father had... done the unthinkable after I passed out." He took another look at me. "What happened to your eyes?"

"I-it's a long story," I said. Emerald seemed to be no different physically. But he was much more eccentric than when I had last seen him.

Steven looked out at Hoenn. The region was getting farther and farther away from us. "Emerald. If I'm not mistaken, your father has begun his doomsday plans. Where is he doing this?"

Emerald's smile faded. "Ever Grande City. The old castle is beneath Victory Road. That's got to be where he's doing this from."

Steven nodded and sent out his metal bird once again. "I must go then. Wally, can you and your friends get off of this ship?"

I wasn't sure if we could. Emerald nodded. "My Salamence can take us. I just have to retrieve my items from my cousins."

Steven made eye contact with me and then boarded his Pokémon. "Then I'm going to go and stop this destruction before it is too late. Stay safe Wally." Steven said and he flew off.

Emerald pulled my attention away from Steven as he started to move back to where May and Brendan were fighting the division leaders. "Wally, let's find my things and then go." I nodded and ran after him.

Fortunately, we didn't have to worry about the destroyed catwalk as there were multiple ways down. Emerald made quick work of any grunts who tried to stop us.

"So Wally. Tell me what's happened while we were separated." Emerald said.

"W-well. When I went into that energy pool I guess the energy went inside me and now Gallade can Mega Evolve while we're in sync. It's really strange." I said. "...I-I'm glad you're alright. I was really worried after we woke up and you were gone."

Emerald brushed some of his hair out of his face. "It seems my father wasn't interested in any of you after you were passed out. You seem, different Wally, more... more confident." Emerald told me.

I grinned as we reached the bottom of the stairs. "Really?"

Emerald nodded. We then focused on the battle to see that it had gotten down to May's Combusken against Sapphire's Flygon.

"Flygon! Use Dragon Claw!" Sapphire shouted. His Pokémon rushed forward with its claws bared.

May's pokemon seemed to be fairly exhausted. "Combusken jumped over it and use Slash!" Her Pokémon shook itself and jumped into the air. Flygon swatted it out of the sky and the Pokémon flew back. Landing right at May's feet.

She nearly returned it when the bird Pokémon stood up again.

The Combusken screamed into the sky and began to glow bright white. Its body shape began to morph and change. The Combusken's legs grew substantially and gained more feather mass, covering up its feet.

Feathers grew from its head and its beak grew outward to create a sort of mask. Its arms didn't change much but the Pokémon's hands gained extra talons and became more like human hands.

When the Pokémon stopped glowing it was now a mix of dark red, white, and yellow feathers. The Blaziken readied itself and faced down the Flygon.

May was taken aback by the evolution and grinned. "Alright! Way to go Blaziken! Let's hit them with everything we've got! Use Blaze Kick."

The Blaziken rushed forward and began to kick the Flygon in the face with its flaming feet. Quickly wearing down what was left of the enemy Pokémon's strength.

"Now! Use High Jump Kick." Blaziken took a step back and slammed its knee into Flygon's stomach. The blow knocked the dragon unconscious and its trainer clenched his teeth as he returned the Pokémon.

"Wow! May that was amazing!" I said.

May grinned and nodded. "It sure was! And it's all thanks to my Pokémon."

Brendan rubbed the back of his head. "It seems like I'm always getting carried by one of you guys. I really need to step up my battling game."

"You kids think you've won! You'll never beat King Hoeńal!" Ruby growled.

Emerald sighed and approached the two. "Give me my possessions if you know what's good for you." He threatened.

The two looked at each other and begrudgingly handed Emerald his sword and bag. He checked to make sure everything was there and then walked back over to us.

"I'm going to go stop my father. Your Champion's efforts are respectable but he won't be able to take on my father and stop the disaster alone." Emerald told us. "I'd like all of your help... if that wouldn't be too much to ask."

Brendan and May looked to me and I nodded. "Yeah. We'll help you Emerald."

He smiled and sent out his Shelgon. "Then let's leave right now. Evolve, Shelgon!" The shell Pokémon began to grow and change.

It quickly morphed into a large lizard beast. It had two giant red wings and a long tail and neck. Its back was large enough to hold all of us aboard it and it proudly shot flames into the air.

"Is everyone ready?" Emerald asked. We all nodded and began to board the Pokémon.

Sapphire scoffed. "You'll never beat the king! You fools don't stand a chance." Emerald paid him no mind as his Pokémon began to take flight, flying out of the pit we were in.

We set our course for Ever Grande City and the journey began. The wind blew in my face and I felt relieved to have the warm sun beating down on me.

I didn't want to even think of looking down. It was terrifying to be up so high, so I made conversation. "So Emerald.... what are we going to do about your dad?" I asked.

Emerald sighed. "Anything it takes. That man cannot be allowed to hurt any more people than he already has." Emerald said definitively. I felt a twang of fear as we rode through the sky.

Could we even beat someone as strong as the king? And even if we could... what would it take. My eyes fell on Emerald's clenched fists.

We flew over Hoenn and I looked down at the tropical island I called home. Nothing had happened yet. And seeing it all I felt an overpowering urge to protect it. I wouldn't let the king destroy this place.