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Shu gave a silent nod, then dove beneath the surface of the lake.
Moments later, he resurfaced this time with a stunning companion gliding beside him: a sleek, white Pokémon with gentle eyes, large fin-like wings resembling arms, and a graceful blue tail.
Even at a glance, the group recognized it immediately.
The legendary guardian of the seas Lugia.
But unlike the enormous creature once seen soaring over the Orange Islands, this one was noticeably smaller roughly the size of a young child. It was a baby. A rare, juvenile Lugia.
Shu beamed. "This is my friend—Silver! Silver meets the Guardian of the Sea and his companions. Say hi!"
"Urrrrr"
Silver let out a cheerful cry, eyes curving into crescent moons. It wasn't afraid of them on the contrary, it seemed downright playful.
Ash, Misty, and the others were momentarily frozen in awe. Then they scrambled to return the greeting, bowing and stammering in unison.
"H-Hi, Silver!"
"I'm Ash!"
"I'm Misty!"
It was the first time they'd ever been this close to a Lugia. Even Ash and Misty had only glimpsed one from a distance back in the Orange Islands not like now, where they could practically reach out and touch it.
For Misty, especially, who idolized powerful Water types like Lugia and Kyogre, it was a moment of pure, breathless wonder.
Brock and Ritchie were equally stunned. Though Silver was clearly still young, the sheer presence of a legendary Pokémon, even one not yet fully grown, was overwhelming.
Erika, however, seemed curiously composed. Traveling with Kai, she'd already encountered several legendary Pokémon. By now, the shock had faded.
Sure, it was her first time seeing Lugia in person but to her surprise, the awe didn't overwhelm her. She simply found herself… quietly intrigued.
Maybe this is what it means to broaden your horizons, she mused.
She glanced at Kai beside her. As expected, he wore a calm, almost detached expression unfazed by the legendary before him.
After everyone had introduced themselves, Shu explained how he and Silver had a hidden base nearby. Every time strangers came to the island, Silver would hide there to avoid being seen.
That shadow Kai spotted earlier? Silver had been trying to sneak off unnoticed.
Still stunned, Misty finally broke the silence. "Shu… how did you meet Silver?"
The question flustered him.
Faced with the bright-eyed girl in front of him, Shu's cheeks turned crimson. He ducked his head, too shy to meet her gaze.
"Well… I was playing near the beach one day, and… I just found him there. And then… we became friends."
By the time he finished, even his ears were burning red.
Compared to Ash's obliviousness, Shu was clearly far more emotionally aware at least when it came to girls. It was likely his first time meeting someone like Misty, and his innocent crush showed through without subtlety.
It was also a testament to Misty's charm. Despite constantly proclaiming herself "the world's greatest beauty," there was truth behind her confidence her fiery personality, bright smile, and natural presence could easily make a young boy's heart race.
Misty chuckled. "You're lucky. And… did you name Silver?"
Shu nodded sheepishly. "Yeah. His body's mostly silver, so… that's what I called him."
"Well, I think he likes it," she smiled.
The praise made Shu's heart practically leap out of his chest.
Nearby, Ash tilted his head, completely missing the tension. "If you and Lugia are that close… why didn't you just tell us earlier?"
It was a simple question but a telling one.
Before Shu could respond, Ritchie stepped in to explain. "Because he was protecting Silver. He didn't know if we were good people. If we were poachers or worse, revealing Lugia could've put it in danger."
Shu nodded in agreement and… stole a quick glance at Misty.
Now back on shore, the group sat in a circle. Noon sunlight warmed the clearing, and Brock instinctively got to work preparing lunch.
Seeing him pull out his cookware, Erika joined in. Between them, the savory aroma of cooked food quickly spread.
Shu and Silver both perked up, sniffing the air with anticipation.
For Shu, it was just a new flavor teasing his appetite. But Silver, who had clearly never encountered human cooking before, stared wide-eyed at the food, drooling shamelessly.
The sight of the baby Lugia practically begging for lunch was so disarming that everyone laughed.
Whatever sense of divine reverence they had for the legendary faded just a bit. Now, it was easier to see Silver for what he really was: a young, hungry Pokémon with a big appetite and a bigger heart.
Soon, lunch was ready.
Brock carefully served Silver a heaping spoonful and the little Lugia dove in with gusto.
The others grabbed their bowls and sat comfortably on the grass, enjoying their own meals. For a while, everything was peaceful.
But far away, among the craggy outcrops surrounding the island, danger lurked.
Two men in black wetsuits crouched behind the rocks, their chests emblazoned with a bold red "R."
They were watching.
One of them activated a communicator. "Search Team C, reporting. We've found the target."
The radio crackled, followed by a raspy but commanding voice.
"For the last time—it's Dr. Namba, not Dr. Tamba! How many times do I have to correct you?!"
"Ah! S-Sorry, Dr. Namba!" the Team Rocket grunt stammered, wiping sweat from his forehead. He composed himself. "We've located Lugia on an island near Blue Point Isle. Awaiting further orders."
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