Chapter 153: Jirachi: Invincible Kyogre, You're My Absolute Hero!
Legendary Pokémon — the category sometimes called "mythical and legendary Pokémon" as a whole — can be understood as the keystone figures of the Pokémon world's mythology.
In game terms, legendary Pokémon tend to possess extraordinary power and exist in vanishingly small numbers. Some are revered as gods or divine messengers. Some are believed to be the creators or custodians of fundamental aspects of the world. Some have caused catastrophic disasters in the distant past.
Mythical Pokémon and Ultra Beasts were once categorized under this umbrella too.
Ultra Beasts we'll set aside for now. Whether they still deserve the prestige is debatable — though they did used to carry a certain mystique, and their base stats were generally nothing to laugh at.
As for Mythical Pokémon — they sometimes get folded into the legendary category as well.
By game logic, most Mythicals can't be obtained through normal gameplay. They're distributed through special events as Mystery Gifts, or via event items that trigger hidden encounters.
In the Pokémon world itself, Pokémon that have been spotted rarely enough, and documented poorly enough, sometimes earn the informal label of "Mythical."
The Lugia from the films, for instance. The Dratini that hadn't yet been reeled up by any fisherman. The Pokémon described in the Scarlet Book as resembling Ho-Oh's escort. The mysterious Pokémon in the Violet Book resembling the Swords of Justice.
(The high-water mark of Dratini's mystique, that.)
The Manaphy that Jirachi had mentioned was likewise a member of the Mythical category.
Most Mythicals possess some form of unique ability. Celebi can traverse time. Jirachi can grant wishes. Victini bestows victory. And Manaphy was no exception — born in the frigid deep sea, it carries an innate power to bond with any Pokémon, communicating heart to heart.
Incidentally — in the games, Manaphy is the only Mythical Pokémon that can produce an Egg with Ditto, which hatches into Phione.
"It's not quite the same situation, Jirachi."
Mammon's expression was a little conflicted. Manaphy had ridden Kyogre — that probably wasn't a boast. It had actually happened in the film. By lore, Kyogre was quite possibly the origin of the ocean itself. Even if that was too strong a claim, as the Lord of the Deep Sea, Kyogre having a warm relationship with Manaphy — a Pokémon literally born at the bottom of the ocean — made perfect sense.
After all, Manaphy's natural ability to bond with any Pokémon was essentially the universe declaring it a walking charisma stat. For ocean-dwelling Pokémon especially, Manaphy was probably the group mascot. Under enough of Manaphy's wheedling, Kyogre agreeing to a ride made complete sense. Manaphy was adorable. What was one little indulgence?
But Jirachi was not Manaphy.
"Aww. Really can't~?" Jirachi's voice drooped, the disappointment written all over its tiny face.
"Well — it's not that you can't. Why not ask Kyogre directly?"
Even Mammon found it difficult to hold out against that expression. The damage output was genuinely excessive.
He did respect his Pokémon's autonomy. Kyogre was a proud creature — it wasn't a mount that just anyone could climb. Right now, other than Mammon himself, the fat fish would refuse to carry anyone.
By Kyogre's own reasoning: it had defeated the black Rayquaza. It was the Lord of the Deep Sea. It had standards.
"Really?!" Jirachi's enormous eyes immediately lit up like stars.
"Come on out, Kyogre."
Mammon produced a deep-crimson Luxury Ball — he'd given Kyogre an upgrade in accommodations. The Luxury Ball was rare and expensive, its deep-red surface distinctly setting it apart from standard Poké Balls.
Mainly, the Silph Co. hadn't yet manufactured the Master Ball, which would have been the obvious choice. For now, the Luxury Ball was the best available — and Mammon had no shortage of money. Higher-quality Balls meant more comfortable living quarters for his Pokémon. No reason to make them put up with less than the best.
The Ball opened. Kyogre materialized above them, its enormous body shimmering with a faint blue radiance — elegant and imperious.
It didn't activate its weather ability. A quick scan of the area confirmed no enemies present.
Kyogre looked at Mammon with mild puzzlement. What was this about? It had been perfectly comfortable sleeping.
"Kyogre~!!"
The moment it appeared, Jirachi's eyes lit up with tiny sparkling stars. It drifted right up to Kyogre's face, voice absolutely brimming with admiration.
Kyogre tilted its head at this small wishmaking star. It knew of Jirachi's existence, if only vaguely.
It gave Jirachi a cool, measured nod — neither warm nor dismissive.
"I sort of saw you, you know! Kyogre~ You actually beat Rayquaza! That was so incredibly amazing!!"
Jirachi's admiration was completely genuine. Even as a sleeping crystal in Larousse, it had sensed something of that earth-shaking battle.
And that was precisely why it wanted to ride the big fish. This big fish had beaten Rayquaza!
The moment those words landed, Kyogre felt the warmth spread through every inch of its body. It regarded this little star-headed creature with a deeply satisfied look.
Well well. This one had excellent taste.
"Kyogre — Jirachi just woke up. Would you carry it on a short flight around the area?"
Mammon, reading the positive energy between them, asked with a smile.
Carry the star-head around.
Kyogre fell into genuine deliberation. It had a favorable impression of this small creature — but it was the distinguished Kyogre. Aside from Mammon, the one human it recognized, it had no interest in letting other beings ride it.
"Can youuu~? You're my absolute hero for beating Rayquaza, Kyogre!!"
Jirachi leaned into it — possibly entirely on purpose — and brought it up again.
"Uuunn~"
Kyogre was instantly defeated by the soft little telepathy. It raised its head with a resonant call and gestured for Jirachi to climb on.
"Hehehe~!"
Jirachi floated up to the top of Kyogre's head with barely-contained delight, its face scrunched up in a grin.
"Woooow!!"
In a chorus of Jirachi's excited cries, Kyogre let out a low rumble, spread its massive fins, and soared out over the open sea — then dove straight down into the depths.
Back to its beloved ocean. Though it remained to be seen whether Jirachi could breathe underwater.
With Kyogre there, nothing would go wrong.
"That little one seems rather clever."
The sea breeze moved gently through Caitlin's long golden hair, setting it drifting — a genuinely beautiful picture.
Her comment was, of course, pointed. Whether Jirachi was naturally guileless or quietly calculating was an open question — because Kyogre had just been thoroughly charmed.
"Jirachi is a very pure Pokémon… probably."
Mammon was thoughtful. Honestly, the things Jirachi had said to Kyogre had been devastatingly effective. But if memory served, Jirachi was genuinely innocent in character — a little playful, a little mischievous, but without any real scheming…
Probably.
Though it was slightly suspicious that it referred to Kyogre as "big fish" when talking to him, but switched to "Kyogre" when talking to Kyogre directly. That was a subtle distinction.
Had someone been teaching his precious Jirachi to play people behind his back?
Mammon pondered this. Was there someone who had been quietly coaching Jirachi in the art of manipulation while he wasn't looking?
"Does Mammon have a wish for Jirachi?" Lillie asked curiously.
"Actually, yes. Do you have one, Lillie? Caitlin?"
Mammon chuckled. He did have one small wish in mind — though whether it even qualified as a proper wish was debatable. He knew Jirachi's abilities had limits, so nothing excessive had crossed his mind.
"Mm… I do have one little thing…"
Something seemed to occur to Lillie, and her cheeks went faintly pink. She turned her head away, not quite able to meet Mammon's eyes.
Her voice dropped until it was barely audible.
"I do as well."
Caitlin admitted it composedly, though her eyes drifted slightly.
"Oh? What would you wish for?" Mammon was curious.
"A girl's secret. Even Mammon doesn't get to know."
Caitlin held a perfect, unhurried smile and refused without a moment's hesitation.
"Fair enough." Mammon shrugged and didn't press.
Girls having secrets was perfectly normal. Even if Caitlin's wish was for a two-cup-size upgrade, he wouldn't have been particularly surprised.
Speaking of which — Caitlin and Cynthia were similar in some ways. The poise, the face, both completely flawless. Slender figures that looked like they might snap if you weren't careful.
Their one possible shortcoming, if you had to name one, was perhaps the chest situation. Lillie too, in that regard.
Though petite had its own appeal — more refined, in a way.
Mammon was unbothered.
About ten minutes later, Kyogre came soaring back with Jirachi aboard.
"Wooow!! That was SO amazing, thank youuu! Invincible Kyogre~!!"
Jirachi floated back over to Mammon and perched itself cheerfully on his shoulder, calling out to Kyogre with unbridled enthusiasm.
Kyogre nodded with enormous satisfaction. This star-head really did know exactly what to say. It was very fond of it.
Then Kyogre voluntarily returned to its Luxury Ball.
"Happy now?" Mammon poked Jirachi's tiny cheek with one finger.
"Hehehe~ It was SO good, Mammon~! The ocean is SO beautiful down there — so many pretty corals and all these schools of fish!"
Jirachi's bright little voice was full of pure delight. For a creature that woke for only seven days every thousand years, a journey through the deep sea like that was a genuine first.
Well worth all the flattery it had poured on Kyogre.
"Glad you enjoyed it. Come on — let's head home." Mammon felt the joy radiating off the little Wish Pokémon and found his own mood lifting.
"Mm-hmm~ Okay~!"
Jirachi's enormous eyes curved into happy crescents.
Back at Caitlin's villa, Jirachi floated around examining everything with open, boundless curiosity — the pure wonder of a being encountering ordinary objects for the first time.
Lillie followed patiently, providing introductions.
This wasn't technically Jirachi's first time in the villa — it had spent considerable time here as a sleeping crystal. But that was rather different.
In the kitchen.
Having just finished explaining the function of a rice cooker, Lillie snuck a careful glance at Mammon and Caitlin on the living room sofa, then turned to the small creature hovering beside her.
"Jirachi, Jirachi."
"Mm? What is it, Lillie~?"
Jirachi was frowning at a spatula, turning it over with great concentration. It tilted its head toward her.
"Could you help me with one little wish? Just one."
Lillie held up a single slender finger.
She couldn't afford to wait. Lusamine had called last night — she had to return to Alola within the next few days.
And she hadn't made any progress with Mammon at all!
She'd found herself on the verge of confessing several times, but Caitlin was always right there beside him — which was making things extremely difficult for Lillie.
Caitlin was genuinely something else. Aside from sleeping hours, she was basically attached to Mammon's side constantly, leaving absolutely no opportunities for any time alone.
Infuriating!
A girl's intuition was reliable, and Lillie's was telling her clearly: Caitlin's feelings for Mammon were not purely professional.
A rival. A serious one.
For her own sake — and for Mitsuki, her dear friend — Lillie felt she had to make her move before she went back to Alola.
"Hm? A wish? Hmm… okay~!" Jirachi blinked and agreed immediately without hesitation.
"Really?!" Lillie's face lit up.
"Of course! I like Lillie~ Although I should mention — I don't have a lot of energy right now. If it's a difficult wish, can you wait two more days? I can absorb a bit more starlight energy and then it'll be easy."
Jirachi said it with complete earnestness. Its abilities weren't unlimited.
Tonight was its first night awake. The comet energy it had absorbed was only a small amount so far. There were many things it still couldn't manage.
"That's fine — my wish is very simple!"
Lillie was thrilled, carefully keeping her voice low.
"Then tell me and I'll make it happen~"
The Wish Pokémon was full of confidence.
"Well… it's just…"
But now that the moment had come, Lillie went shy, reaching up to tuck a strand of golden hair behind her ear.
"?" Jirachi tilted its head in puzzlement.
"Could you make Mammon…"
"Mammon?"
"Could you make Mammon fall in love with me?"
Lillie's pretty face went completely red. As expected — for someone as easily flustered as her, saying that out loud was almost physically painful.
But she pushed through the embarrassment and got the words out.
"Eh?"
Jirachi stared at her, the picture of confused innocence, one tiny finger held to its mouth.
"Fall… in… love…"
Jirachi's enormous eyes held the purest, most genuine blankness.
Fall in love with Lillie?
For a Wish Pokémon with exactly zero experience of romantic feelings, those words were thoroughly mysterious.
(End of chapter)
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