TO FIND THAT WHICH[break]
WAS SENT AWAY

JOSH & HOWARD

THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF A REGI RUIN HAVING EXISTED. Perhaps, there was no Regi Ruin at all. If there was any, the development of NEW MAUVILLE has swiped it clean off the face of Hoenn in the name of progress. Of science.

The abandoned humanmade hallways are sterile, save for the detritus of time and the Pokemon who have slowly returned to reclaim them.

However, what the two do find are remnants of the Megalopolan war effort during The Three Day War. Scorch marks on the walls: some from the dynamaxed Xurkitree and some from the Ultra Wormhole they had used to warp it in.

It appears that fate has cursed Regidrago and Regieleki to similar fates. Sent away to other worlds...

Perhaps, their status as castaways has been predetermined. Perhaps, their exiles have been foreseen and designed: a contingency plan should the 99943 Meteno fail to destroy its mark.

Josh Devlin howard slayte

Josh had at last come to his senses, giving one last look toward Rime's body before returning to Howard's side. He was vaguely familiar with the Three-Day War from his long discussion of it with Alexei Ivanov so long ago. "These markings..." Josh pointed toward the scorched walls, the patterns different than the Max moves the Toxtricity used. "They're... familiar. I remember seeing something similar at Ultra Plant. When I caught Jiujiu."

The Mauville Leader would let Howard give his piece on both the marks from the Ultra Wormhole and the electric attacks. He still looked somewhat preoccupied about losing Rime. Anyone would. "...We should probably head back to Mauville and get our Pokémon some medical attention. You did keep a good map, right?"

"The Three Day War..." Howard crossed his arms in thought. That war would live in history as mankind's great struggle against Ultra Space. It was a war they won, but it was only one act of a greater conflict. Such an event would mark a generation, but when it was part of much bigger events, it almost felt like a footnote.

The war had been bloody, and Howard had made a point to not fight in it. The admin was no warrior, and had simply traveled the world when Hoenn looked like a bad place to be.

"There's nothing here." The admin sounded defeated. All that existed were hints of the Three Days War. There were no ruins, no hints at what existed. For most, a dead end. For Howard, a blank canvas. He looked around and rubbed some blackened stone between his fingers. It crumbled.

The weight of war was sinful indeed.

Something glimmers in the darkness, near the end of New Mauville. A glimmer that he had only passingly seen thanks to his treks through the Ultra Deep Sea with Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki.

"Dynite Ore?" Howard touched the metal, and it glimmered and distorted. "How...? That's impossible. That can only be found inside the Ultra Deep Sea. Why is it here?"

He needed to report this to Rocket. The League had sat on their monopoly of Dynite Ore for far too long. It was a premium to buy, impossible to steal, and Navy kept a sharp grasp on Granite Cave. Any Rocket who attempted to mine any for themselves was caught. If it could be found here, then it was unregulated.

Five spots on the map in the Island Cave. Five Regi Ruins. If they were all built on deposits like this...

"Josh." Howard turned to the Gym Leader. "This was not in vain."

Step. Step. Step. Step. The sound of boots clicking against the floor filled the room as Howard crossed it to reach the Mauville Gym Leader. He put a hand on Josh's shoulder and brought him close for a hug. A hug to comfort the Gym Leader, and a celebration of success.

"Thank you."

Rime's death had not been in vain. It had brought a great boon. For Rocket.

Glory to Rocket.

---

Josh Devlin