Want to read ahead. You know where to find it.
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When Sam's Lucario finally entered its ga Evolution state, a radiant blue light enveloped its body, crackling with aura energy.
But far from Canalave City—out in the vast, open sea—sothing far more sinister was unfolding.
"Woooo~"
"Woooo~"
The cries ca from the ocean.
High-pitched, haunting, and sorrowful.
The sound carried across the calm sea, echoing like a lant.
Dozens of Lapras—the source of the wailing—were fleeing in panic.
There had to be at least sixty of them, thrashing their powerful limbs to propel themselves through the waves.
It was an astonishing sight: the largest known Lapras pod in the entire Sinnoh region, now under threat.
At the front swam the group's elder—a larger, scarred figure leading the charge.
Its long neck whipped around constantly, checking behind as it urged the others forward.
But even together, their strength wasn't enough.
Because they were being hunted.
Behind them, slicing through the water with cruel precision, was a dark gray combat vessel—sleek, heavily modified, and built for one purpose: capturing Pokémon.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three cannon shells launched from the vessel's deck, landing in the water around the pod.
Towering waves erupted where they hit, drenching several Lapras and disrupting their formation.
The hunters weren't trying to hit them—yet.
They were herding them.
Pushing them toward sothing.
Onboard the ship, painted in sharp, cruel lines, was the insignia of Sinnoh's most infamous Pokémon poaching ring.
And at the helm of it all…
Stood as the coldest, most feared hunter in the business.
Pokémon Hunter J.
"Report, now," ca her voice—calm, asured, rciless.
A tall, muscular man with a jagged scar over one eye and a high-tech eyepiece stepped forward—Cyclops, one of J's most loyal n.
He bowed his head low, voice clipped and respectful.
"Master J, according to our current course and speed, we should reach the designated island by 1500 hours."
He swallowed.
"The Lapras pod will be in position by then. Once they're within the trap zone, we can deploy the containnt nets and initiate mass collection."
He kept his eyes on the deck the whole ti. No one—not even J's top subordinates—dared et her gaze.
J didn't respond right away.
She gave him one short, icy glance.
Then turned without a word and walked back into the ship's cabin, her long coat flaring behind her like a dark fla.
Cyclops let out a breath only once she was gone.
Every report to her felt like walking on a blade's edge. He'd seen her turn on her n before.
And she never missed.
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anwhile, back in Canalave City…
Lucario's ga Evolution had just finished.
Its aura pulsed brightly for a mont before fading, and Sam gave it a quiet nod of approval.
The streets were peaceful again.
Sam was making his way back to the hotel when a familiar tone chid from his pocket.
Jingle~ jingle~
He paused, fished out his Pokégear.
Unknown number.
Still, he answered without hesitation.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice burst through, high-pitched and distressed.
"Hi—are you Professor Samuel?"
Sam's brow furrowed.
"Speaking."
"This is Nurse Joy, from the Pokémon Center," she said quickly, nearly stumbling over her words.
"Sothing's happened. It's… It's the Lapras!"
Imdiately, Sam's eyes sharpened.
He didn't need to ask which Lapras.
The one they'd rescued.
"What happened?" he asked, already turning around.
"There's no ti to explain! Please, co quickly!"
"I'm on my way."
He ended the call, shoved the Pokégear into his jacket, and broke into a run.
Sothing told him this was only the beginning.
The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue across the quiet courtyard, but the atmosphere was anything but calm.
Lapras was thrashing in the Tolkowsky Pool, violently slapping the water with its paddle-like limbs.
Every few seconds, he slamd into the pool's reinforced railings, sending up splashes and echoing booms.
Nurse Joy rushed over the mont she spotted Sam.
"Professor Samuel!" she called out, visibly panicked.
Sam didn't waste ti. His eyes locked onto Lapras, narrowing as he took in the scene.
The usually gentle Pokémon looked frantic and distressed. Not just physically, but emotionally.
"What happened?" he asked, walking briskly toward her.
Joy wrung her hands, shaking her head.
"I-I don't know! Just a few minutes ago, he was resting fine. Calm, even."
"Then all of a sudden, he started panicking," she continued.
"He's been tackling the rails nonstop. Even my Blissey couldn't get close without him lashing out!"
Sam turned back toward Lapras, watching the Pokémon's behavior carefully. It wasn't just random rage.
No... it felt like Lapras was trying to break out. Do not lose control.
"He's not lashing out at us," Sam said quietly, more to himself.
"He's trying to leave."
Joy looked startled. "Leave the Center?"
Sam nodded once. "I'll try calming him down. Let get closer."
Without waiting, he stepped into the shallow edge of the pool.
The mont the cool water touched his boots, Lapras's head turned.
"Lapras," Sam said gently, raising his voice just enough to be heard over the splashing.
"It's ."
"Woooo~"
The cry was low, desperate—but no longer hostile.
Recognizing the human who had once rescued him, Lapras abruptly stopped its wild movents. The tension in his body softened.
With a groan, he swam forward, approaching Sam.
"That's right," Sam said softly, reaching out with both hands. He placed them gently on Lapras's neck, rubbing slow circles to reassure him.
"It's okay. You're safe."
As he soothed the distressed Pokémon, Sam activated the Aura.
And just like before, the connection sparked.
A subtle wave of aura opened between them.
Lapras's thoughts flooded in—fragnted at first, raw with emotion, but unmistakable in their ssage.
Fear. Pain. Desperation.
And then—voices. Cries. Other Lapras.
A call for help.
Sam's eyes widened slightly.
The riot wasn't random at all.
Lapras had sensed sothing. Others of his kind… they were in danger.
Sowhere far away, they were calling out to him.
And Lapras—compassionate to his core—couldn't sit by and do nothing.
As the connection faded, Lapras looked at Sam again.
Those large, watery eyes shimred with aning.
They weren't wild anymore. They were pleading.
Sam could feel it in his chest—the urgency, the pain of a creature unable to help its kind.
And he knew what he had to do.
"I understand," he said quietly.
"Lapras, I'll go with you."
"We'll help them—together."
Lapras gave a soft, grateful cry, the tension in his body finally lting away.
Sam turned to Nurse Joy.
"I'm taking Lapras with ."
"Understood," she said quickly, already pulling out her communicator.
"Also—please inform Officer Jenny," Sam added, his tone sharp now.
"Tell her we've confird Pokémon hunters targeting Lapras. Have her mobilize backup."
"She can trace my location through my Pokégear."
"Yes, Professor. I'll get on it right away!"
With nothing more to say, Sam gave Lapras a nod, and the two of them turned toward the edge of the yard.
Lapras raised his head, letting out one more mournful cry before they both disappeared past the fence, heading straight toward the sea.
Whatever was happening out there...
Sam had a feeling they were already running out of ti.
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