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Two Pikachu were chasing each other around playfully nearby, sparks flying as they giggled and darted back and forth.
Ritchie hadn't noticed the subtle change in the group's expressions. He remained in high spirits as he spoke excitedly, "Before I got here, I did some digging on that mysterious Pokémon. I haven't figured out exactly what it is yet, but based on online posts and rumors, I've narrowed down a list of possible sighting locations. Out of all of them, this Island seemed the most suspicious so I rushed over."
Credit where it's due, Ritchie had done well for himself. While Kai's team had made it here thanks to intel from Trinity, Ritchie had relied entirely on his own investigation.
And now, it looked like both sources pointed to the same conclusion: the mysterious Pokémon was most likely near the Island. That meant Kai and the others had definitely come to the right place.
It was only now that Ritchie seemed to realize something and asked, "Wait… why are you guys here, anyway?"
Ash opened his mouth to answer but then paused. He glanced over at Kai, then closed it again.
That hesitation was all the proof needed Ash really had matured. The old Ash would've blurted it out without a second thought.
Thankfully, this wasn't some deep secret. When Ash looked to him for the go-ahead, Kai simply replied, "Actually, we're here for the same reason as you."
Ritchie looked surprised. "You mean… you're also after that mysterious Pokémon? I thought I was the only one chasing it."
His expression grew more serious. If they all had the same goal, that meant only one person could succeed and the rest would walk away empty-handed.
There was more than just competition at stake. Kai might've been a respected rival who had bested him once before, but Ritchie had grown close to Ash they shared a bond as kindred spirits. Losing that over a Legendary Pokémon? That wasn't something Ritchie wanted.
But Kai picked up on his concern and offered a reassuring smile. "Our reason is a little different. We're not here to catch it… we're here to protect it."
"Protect?" Ritchie blinked, then his eyes widened. "Wait… do you know what the mysterious Pokémon is?"
Kai nodded calmly. "It's Lugia—the Guardian of the Seas."
"Lugia?!" Ritchie gasped. His eyes went wide in shock. "You're telling me… the mysterious Pokémon is Lugia? Are you serious?!"
Kai confirmed it with a firm nod.
Ritchie was stunned. He had imagined many possibilities, a rare variant, maybe even a Shiny, but Lugia? That was on a whole different level.
As he stood there trying to process it all, Kai continued, "We received intel that Team Rocket has their eyes on it. That's why we were asked to come our mission is to protect Lugia before they find it."
"I see…" Ritchie took a deep breath. Then, eyes resolute, he declared, "Count me in. I'll help you protect it too!"
Kai raised a brow. "What? You're not planning to catch it anymore?"
Ritchie shook his head, a bittersweet smile on his face. "It's the Guardian of the Seas. A Pokémon like that shouldn't belong to any one Trainer."
Kai was surprised by his sincerity. Few people could show that kind of self-restraint.
Too bad Kai hadn't been quite so noble. They were still quietly resting inside his Poke Balls.
With their goals now aligned, the group decided not to waste any more time. It was time to begin the search for Lugia.
But before setting off, Ritchie shared something important. "Actually… before you guys arrived, I already searched every inch of Island. I didn't find any trace of Lugia."
Kai nodded. "In that case, let's focus on the nearby islets."
They all turned their attention to the nearest island much smaller than Storm Island, covered with dense forest and ringed by two towering peaks. Isolated and untouched, it looked like the perfect place for a Legendary Pokémon to rest.
Back on the beach, the group released their Pokémon to cross the sea.
Kai rode his Charizard, pulling Erika up behind him. Misty called out Starmie to carry her and Brock, while Ash summoned Lapras and offered Ritchie a seat.
The island was only about two kilometers away, and with the speed of their Pokémon, they crossed the waters in no time.
Kai landed first. He pulled out a map, only to find the island wasn't labeled at all.
"Another nameless island, huh…"
The rest of the group touched down shortly after, and together, they headed inland.
They hadn't gone far when they stumbled upon a small pool nestled in the forest and in it, a young boy was floating with a Lanturn.
The boy, no older than six or seven, wore nothing but swim trunks. He had a bowl cut and stared at them nervously. His Lanturn swam protectively beside him, its glowing antennae pulsing softly in the water.
Ash, quicker than Kai, had already pulled out his Pokédex and scanned it.
Pokédex: "Lanturn, the Light Pokémon. Water and Electric type. Lanturn dwells in deep ocean trenches and is known as the 'star of the sea.' It uses dazzling light to stun prey before electrocuting them and swallowing them whole. Due to the scarcity of food in the deep sea, it often competes fiercely with Chinchou for survival."
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