Alto Mare, the City of Water

"Let's begin."

Laika's expression turned solemn. "Put the Mana Stones in place."

"Yes, my lady!"

One of the black-clad figures immediately crouched and opened a suitcase. He took out two red, diamond-shaped crystals and slotted them into the recesses at the center of the two aqua-blue Stasis Pods. The others kept a wary watch on their surroundings.

Boom!

A red glow surged outward, linking the two aqua-blue Stasis Pods.

The eerie light writhed as though it were alive, then slowly faded.

Crack, crack. Two sharp sounds rang out.

Cracks spread across the Mana Stones on both pods. At last, the stones burst into a red crystalline mist and vanished into the air.

Bang!

The Stasis Pod on the right slid sharply to the left, and a thick arm reached out.

Laika smiled and hugged the Egg Incubator tighter. "Let's go. Alto Mare is next."

At the same time, the Gorgeous Stone inside the Egg Incubator withdrew its mysterious power.

Buzz!

Dian's head swam, and his eyes closed of their own accord. When he opened them again, he was back in his Ranger Academy dorm room. Everything that had just happened seemed like an illusion.

But he knew it most likely hadn't been.

"Alto Mare..."

Dian thought for a moment, then glanced again at the mysterious spherical gem around his neck. It seemed unchanged. What was that power...?

His gaze deepened. Was it coincidence, or was it inevitable?

Alto Mare lay offshore, not far south of the peninsula where Azalea Town stood in the Johto Region. It was a jewel on the water, treasured by Johto and the world alike.

Now that regions, cultures, and economies were intertwined and the world had become a single whole, the great city on the water remained a source of pride for the people