After some thought, Lucas grasped the silver feather and silently wished:
"Come help me… come help me…"
Nothing happened.
No psychic waves, no sudden glow, no disappearance.
Maybe Lugia was ignoring him, or the feather was useless, or maybe it was a reusable artifact that could summon Lugia based on their relationship.
Either way, Lucas decided to be prepared. He patted Dragonite, signaling it to stop the departing giant Dragonite.
"Rooaar?" (Is there something else?)
The giant didn't understand why these two kept stopping it.
But, as it had thought before, these two little ones were rare—they actually wanted to talk to it.
Even its numb heart became more patient.
Luckily, even if Lucas couldn't understand its cries, the giant Dragonite could understand his words.
Not scientific, but very Pokémon.
Lucas said bluntly, "I know a Pokémon who might know where your companions are."
"But it'll take some time to get here. Even though it's Psychic-type, it can't teleport. I hope you can wait here quietly until it arrives."
The giant Dragonite's eyes widened.
Maybe there was news?
That "maybe" might seem like a vague promise to others, but to the giant Dragonite, it was the first glimmer of hope it had seen in its endless search.
Even if it ended in disappointment, so be it.
It had waited so long already—a little longer wouldn't matter.
It was used to disappointment anyway.
"Rooaar!"
It nodded vigorously, hope shining in its eyes. Its call was thunderous.
Just its nod sent a strong wind sweeping by.
Fortunately, Dragonite was skilled at manipulating air currents and could offset the gusts.
Seeing the giant agree to stay, Lucas pointed toward Alfornada.
"That's our human settlement. If you show up there, it could cause panic. Please don't go any closer."
The giant listened for a while before understanding. It stared at the giant rock in the distance.
Forgive it—Lucas was so tiny in its eyes that, if not for good eyesight, it wouldn't have known what he was pointing at.
Even hearing him required holding its breath and straining to listen.
The giant gazed at the rock for a long time, noticing the lights twinkling like fireflies.
So, that was a human settlement too?
The giant Dragonite knew little ones liked to live together, but its own presence was like a natural disaster to them.
It always carefully avoided such places, using the thick fog that followed it to hide as it wandered the vast oceans.
Because of the rock's height, the giant Dragonite hadn't realized there was a human settlement there at all.
But it was just searching for its companions—it wouldn't attack unless provoked.
With this in mind, the giant Dragonite used its actions to show Lucas it agreed.
Then, like a child waiting for school to end, it quietly stayed in place, only its head above water, waiting with Lucas and Dragonite for Lugia's arrival.
….
Lucas wrapped things up in under ten minutes, including his "heart-to-heart" with the giant Dragonite.
Alfornada's defenses hadn't even had time to react before he finished.
He sent Geeta a message: the situation was under control, and she could tell everyone to relax and rest.
Geeta trusted Lucas so much she didn't even ask for details.
She did insist on coming over. As League President and Paldea's top Champion, she had to take responsibility for the region.
Lucas agreed, only reminding her not to bring anyone overly impulsive or timid—just in case.
If the giant lost control like the big Dragonite in the Dragon's Den, only Calyrex could subdue it.
After making preparations, Lucas pondered his next steps.
Honestly, even he wasn't sure if the giant's so-called "companions" really existed.
All he could do was use his "connections" to ask legendary Pokémon if they knew anything.
First, Lugia, with its similar cry and background.
Second, Calyrex—though its memory had been muddled after waking.
Third, Mewtwo, who claimed they'd never meet again, but Lucas wasn't convinced.
Calyrex said Mewtwo's "Black Ball" still sent out psychic pulses.
Though Mewtwo, as an artificial god, might not know the past, Lucas was after someone connected to Mewtwo: Mew.
Mew surely knew something, but to get help from that mischievous Pokémon, he needed Mewtwo.
There was also Celebi, Dialga, and maybe even a time machine.
Lucas's only thought: there's always a way.
If modern times couldn't provide the giant's companions, they'd "send it" back to ancient times.
As for whether the three ancient Pokémon Ash encountered near Mt. Hideaway in Pallet Town were its companions, that was debatable.
Lucas didn't think so.
Those three had mysterious patterns, were smaller, fought immediately, and the giant Dragonite had no markings and was much gentler.
At the giant's invitation, Lucas and Dragonite used its head as a small island to rest.
Lucas even released Gyarados and Feebas.
But when they saw the giant under the water, they were so frightened they returned to their Poké Balls and refused to come out.
Lucas realized that most wild Pokémon would be afraid of such a giant. Maybe that's why the giant was so friendly to him and Dragonite?
He and Dragonite considered their next steps as they waited for Geeta.
….
Rumble, rumble, rumble—
The sound of helicopter rotors came from above. Lucas looked up.
As expected—it was Geeta's personal helicopter.
Aside from the pilot, she was the only one aboard.
She'd chosen the lowest-risk approach—bringing no escorts.
As long as she didn't bring anyone unreliable, nothing could go wrong.
Cutting off risks at the root—no wonder she was such a master of human nature!
"What are you thinking about?"
Geeta's thoughtful voice came from behind.
Lucas blinked and replied, "Nothing."
He knew—it had to be Dragapult she rode down.
Riding a flying Pokémon was much more fitting for a Trainer than climbing a ladder.
Geeta didn't care what Lucas was thinking. Her only concern was the "giant monster."
"I've already heard Jenny's report and ordered a temporary fishing ban in this area."
"So, where's the giant Dragonite?"
Stepping off Dragapult and returning it to its Poké Ball, Geeta eyed Lucas suspiciously. Had he secretly captured it?
Lucas simply pointed at his feet and hugged a flattered Dragonite.
Geeta: ???
Before she could speak, a disturbing tremor shook the ground.
Geeta realized she was rising higher!
The intense sensation of weightlessness was overwhelming.
Even someone like Geeta went pale and nearly lost her footing.
Luckily, Lucas had Dragonite grab her, saving her from falling nearly a hundred meters into the sea.
"Th-this is—!"
Geeta stared blankly at the equally stunned pilot. Now, they were at the same height!
Could it be—the "island" beneath her feet was…
Refusing Lucas's help, Geeta steadied herself and looked down in disbelief.
First, she saw a bald orange head with little horns, then the rise and fall of wings, and two feelers drifting in the wind.
Geeta instantly understood.
The "island" was the giant Dragonite's head!
Suppressing her shock, Geeta released Dragapult again, calmed the two restless Dreepy, and flew in front of the giant, studying it in awe.
It was just as Jenny had said—no, even bigger!
With such a size, it wouldn't need Hyper Beam—just a Dragon Pulse would be a calamity.
Even its movements were a natural disaster.
Just imagining the destruction it could cause made Geeta break out in cold sweat.
Thank goodness Lucas had managed to communicate with it.
Geeta shot Lucas an admiring look, deciding she'd have to reward him later. Then she faced the giant Dragonite, pressed her gloved right hand to her chest, and bowed slightly.
"Hello, I'm Geeta—the manager of these vast lands."
The giant only nodded, uninterested in her status, but looked at Lucas, eyes brimming with anticipation, and called out twice.
"Rooaar—?" (Is it here yet?)
Lucas shook his head and soothed, "We still have to wait a bit longer, please be patient."
Even without a translator, Lucas knew what the giant was asking.
He was already thinking—if Lugia didn't show soon, maybe he'd call Calyrex.
Even though the giant ignored her, Geeta wasn't offended. She turned to Lucas and asked, "Did you make some deal with it?"
"Mm."
Lucas nodded and briefly explained the giant Dragonite's goal.
"In short, it wants to find its companions. Even though it's the same species as Dragonite, that's not what it's looking for."
Geeta was silent for a few seconds.
"...I'd like to help too, but as far as I know, there aren't any others like it in Paldea."
Lucas nodded slightly. "I know. So we're waiting for another Pokémon to arrive."
"Another Pokémon?"
Geeta looked confused.
But since Lucas didn't elaborate, she didn't ask. She simply kept him company in the air, waiting for things to be resolved.
As League President, she had to see things through.
…
About an hour later, the sun had fully risen, the sky filled with a hazy glow. The sea, kept calm by the giant Dragonite, began to stir.
An ethereal, melodic sound like whale song rose from the distant depths, carrying a mysterious rhythm.
The sea's surface grew restless, as if something was rising from below.
The giant Dragonite sensed something; its feelers quivered and it stared into the sea, eyes filled with emotion.
The next moment—
A waterspout soared from the sea, and in Geeta's shocked, disbelieving gaze, a pair of white wings spread within the spout, revealing a noble, powerful form.
Geeta's fingers trembled. She turned to Lucas, her voice barely steady.
"You actually called the sea god Lugia!?"
…
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