wtwo was lost in thought for a long ti. Lucas didn't rush it, simply waiting as wtwo processed everything on its own.
After a while, wtwo finally spoke, word by word: "The road ahead is still long. Since being the strongest isn't my only aning for existing, I want to take them and search for answers together."
"Good," Lucas replied, withdrawing his right hand in satisfaction. The biggest issue with wtwo had always been the curse of being the strongest, resorting to force for everything.
Now that it understood how vast the world was, and that there were countless strong beings out there, breaking free from that curse allowed it to see itself more rationally.
After their conversation, Lucas, only carrying the Poké Balls for Dragonite and Luxray—without Comfey or any healing items—couldn't help treat wtwo. Thankfully, wtwo knew Recover and, after their long talk, had regained enough energy to use its moves. Several Recover uses later, it was mostly back to normal.
Watching this, Lucas and Luxray couldn't help but feel a bit envious. Legendary Pokémon were infamous for their stamina and energy reserves.
No longer hostile, wtwo stood and turned to Lucas. "I want to erase the mories of all those humans regarding New Island, then return them to where they ca from."
Lucas nodded in agreent. He, too, thought that was best. If the events of New Island got out, it would attract countless ambitious people—especially Team Rocket, who operated in the Kanto and Johto regions.
wtwo closed its eyes, and a surge of psychic power swept across the island. It erased all mories of New Island from those it had brought here, then teleported them all back to the Old Coast Wharf.
After finishing, wtwo opened its eyes and frowned. "While I was unconscious, w escaped."
Lucas recalled Dragonite and Luxray to let them rest, then picked up Delibird, puzzled. "Are you still obsessed with it?"
"Not really. I summoned you because w provoked ," wtwo replied, shaking its head, then recounted everything w had done. To prove its story, wtwo even took out a slipper—it had used to summon Lucas.
Lucas: ...
Growlithe, I owe you an apology.
But from wtwo's description, this w didn't quite match Lucas's impression of a mischievous, innocent troublemaker. This one was too good at shifting bla.
When w was ntioned, Delibird, its mind muddled from the earlier philosophical debate, suddenly snapped to attention. It flapped its wings and broke free from Lucas's arms, nearly forgetting why it had co to New Island in the first place!
Now that wtwo wasn't hostile, maybe it could undo the mind control that w couldn't?
Delibird squawked at wtwo, demanding to know why it had toyed with the Dragonite leader's mind.
Lucas, not understanding Delibird, was completely baffled.
Thankfully, wtwo gave a brief translation, letting Lucas know why Delibird had co to the island.
So, it had always been keeping an eye on the search for the Dragonite leader...
"wtwo," Lucas began, but wtwo raised a hand to interrupt. "As for that Pokémon, it's best if you see for yourself."
A wave of psychic power, and wtwo brought Lucas and Delibird into a dusty attic.
"Is that the Dragonite leader?"
Lucas looked at the familiar Pokémon with a black satchel, interacting with nothing. His feelings were complicated.
His Poké Ball opened on its own, and Dragonite appeared, locking eyes with the dazed Dragonite leader, its face full of sorrow.
Dragonite could feel the blood ties connecting them. This was the very leader the Dragonairs had waited for, its own mother.
The gentle, powerful Dragonite leader the Dragonair described was now like this.
Sensing their questions, wtwo didn't hide anything. "The trainer it cared for most passed away a long ti ago. After that, it was heartbroken and lost the will to live."
Lucas's eyes widened.
wtwo continued, "Of course, I won't deny that I picked it up for its flying ability and created a phantom only it could see, using it to control the Dragonite."
wtwo explained everything, including the mories it had read.
wtwo was ready to face its actions honestly, even if it ant Lucas would think less of it. Honesty was necessary to find answers in one's heart.
However, Lucas didn't get angry. Instead, he said, voice full of complex emotions, "But you still saved it from despair. Thank you."
He bowed deeply to wtwo, with Dragonite and Delibird following suit.
wtwo, prepared for bla, was stunned.
Lucas glanced at the Dragonite leader, surprised by the truth. He had known the leader once had a trainer—the Dragonair had ntioned it. But there were things even they didn't know.
The leader had left its egg behind because it didn't know its trainer had already passed. The elderly trainer had promised to et again in thirty years. The trainer likely wanted Dragonite to move on, thinking ti would heal the pain, but clearly underestimated her importance in Dragonite's heart.
When the ti ca, Dragonite returned to that cherished place, only to find a lonely gravestone.
wtwo didn't explain the leader's ntal journey, but when it found the Dragonite, it was in utter despair, ready to follow its trainer in death.
It was a tragedy in every sense.
wtwo asked, "Should I undo it? Without the phantom, it would likely return to that state."
Lucas looked to Dragonite for input.
Dragonite shook its head sadly. Even if it's only a phantom, it could at least bring so comfort.
In the end, Lucas temporarily caught the now-free Dragonite leader in a Poké Ball. Its condition just wasn't right to remove the phantom yet—he'd have to find a way to heal its heart first.
He could think of only three beings who might help: Celebi and Dialga, who could traverse ti, and Tapu Fini, whose mist allows one to et the departed.
It would take ti to figure out a solution.
…
Sowhere on a New Island cliff, wtwo stood with the cloned Pokémon it had created, gazing at the sunrise, lost in thought.
"Where will you go now?" Lucas's voice brought it back. wtwo shook its head—it hadn't decided.
Lucas suggested, "Then maybe visit the temple on Shamouti Island. There's a wise Slowking there; you might enjoy a talk with him."
Looking at the sunrise, wtwo felt unprecedented calm. It nodded gently. "After I settle them down, I'll go."
wtwo hesitated, then said, "If possible—"
Lucas cut in, "You're welco at my farm any ti. I'll prepare plenty of delicious food for you."
For the first ti, wtwo's stern expression softened. "Thank you. Your Delibird still wants to travel. What about you? Should I teleport you ho, or do you want to stay out longer?"
"If I disappear without a word, the Pokémon at my farm will worry. I'd better head back."
User Comments
0 comments from readers