Cooperation?
Hearing this word, the three cloud gods halted and turned to look at the strange human before them.
Lucien nodded, his gaze slowly sweeping across the three legendary Pokémon as he explained calmly,
"It means that you help me with certain matters, and I help you in return. A mutually beneficial exchange."
"For example, Landorus is skilled at enriching the soil and ensuring abundant harvests. If you help the people under my rule achieve stable crops and fertile land, then I will help you fulfill a wish of your own."
Hearing this, Landorus's heart stirred.
The large orange tiger raised its head slightly and asked through telepathy,
"Can you make the land beneath my feet bloom with flowers and grow abundant crops?"
Lucien paused for a moment, then smiled in understanding.
"You want this land to flourish with life?"
Landorus nodded slowly.
Unlike the other two, it was never fond of battle. After absorbing the energy generated by wind and thunder, it did not keep that power for itself. Instead, it returned it to the earth, making the soil fertile, the grass lush, and the crops abundant.
Watching the land grow was what truly satisfied it.
Seeing this, Lucien's eyes brightened.
Landorus, who loved nurturing life, aligned perfectly with his own ideals.
"No problem," Lucien said without hesitation. "If you are willing to cooperate with me, I will have people cultivate the land, plant crops, and grow flowers. Together, we will restore fertility to this entire region."
"Landorus, are you willing to work with us?"
The great tiger lowered its head in thought. After a brief pause, it nodded.
"I am willing," Landorus replied.
"Excellent."
Lucien then turned his gaze toward Tornadus and Thundurus.
From what he had observed, Landorus relied on the surplus energy created by the clashes between wind and thunder. On its own, that power was insufficient.
"Tornadus. Thundurus. What about you?" Lucien asked.
The two storm gods exchanged glances.
Finally, Thundurus spoke, its voice sharp with ambition.
"Can you make us stronger?"
Tornadus nodded in agreement.
Lucien immediately understood.
"You seek power."
"Of course," Lucien replied calmly. "Not only that, I can ensure that every human on this land knows your names. Your strength will be known, feared, and respected."
Thundurus's eyes gleamed.
Who could resist such temptation?
After a brief moment, both storm gods nodded.
They agreed.
At once, three notifications appeared before Lucien's eyes.
[Landorus has joined your territory.]
[Thundurus has joined your territory.]
[Tornadus has joined your territory.]
Like the Holy Swordsmen before them, this meant Lucien could now access their detailed information. However, he did not rush to check it.
Instead, he smiled and said,
"Then welcome."
The three cloud gods nodded.
Lucien's vacation was not yet over.
Since the three had little experience interacting with humans, Lucien did not immediately return to the capital. Instead, he brought them back to Undella Town to finish his three-day rest.
When they returned, dusk had already fallen.
After the storm, the sky was clear. Sunset clouds stretched across the horizon, and a gentle sea breeze brushed against the golden sand.
Tourists and nobles walked along the beach, enjoying the peaceful evening.
"So beautiful," Lucien murmured.
Dragonite sat to his left. Serperior stood to his right. Golett and Larvesta rested quietly nearby.
Landorus, Thundurus, and Tornadus hovered behind them, watching with mild confusion. They did not quite understand why humans found such scenes captivating.
Lucien simply smiled and enjoyed the moment.
Later, he finally checked their information.
Pokémon: Landorus
Type: Ground/Flying
Gender: Male
Ability: Sand Force
Moves: Rock Tomb, Block, Mud Shot, Stomp, Rock Slide, Earth Power, Psychic, Sandstorm
Friendship: 15
Background: Omitted
Pokémon: Tornadus
Type: Flying
Gender: Male
Ability: Defiant
Moves: Taunt, Astonish, Leer, Tailwind, Air Slash, Rain Dance, Hurricane
Friendship: 10
Background: Omitted
Pokémon: Thundurus
Type: Electric/Flying
Gender: Male
Ability: Defiant
Moves: Thunder, Leer, Swagger, Bite, Thunder Wave, Agility, Volt Switch, Discharge, Rain Dance
Friendship: 10
Background: Omitted
Without a doubt, these were three exceptionally powerful Pokémon.
However, their affinity values were still quite low. Lucien understood why. For now, they were merely cooperating, not bonded.
"Thundurus, Tornadus, Landorus…" Lucien muttered thoughtfully. "If I remember correctly, there should be one more."
Enamorus.
The fourth of the cloud quartet.
Enamorus first appeared in ancient records from the era later known as Legends of Arceus. It was said that when the long winter ended, Enamorus would cross the sea to the northern lands, spreading compassion and ushering in new life. Because of this, it was revered as the God of Spring.
But judging by the current situation, Enamorus did not seem to be present in Unova.
Or perhaps, as the only female among the four cloud Pokémon, she simply preferred solitude and did not associate with the other three.
Unable to be certain, Lucien turned to Landorus.
"Landorus, do you know Enamorus?" he asked.
Landorus nodded slowly.
"She left this land a long time ago and traveled to distant regions. We no longer know where she is."
Lucien nodded to himself.
Just as he suspected.
If his memory was correct, Enamorus was likely somewhere in the Sinnoh region, the ancient northern continent.
That meant gathering all four members of the cloud pact would not be possible anytime soon.
Lucien felt a trace of regret, but quickly let it go.
The three-day vacation passed quickly.
Three days later, Lucien rode Dragonite back to the royal capital.
The moment he landed, Elif hurried forward to report.
"Your Majesty Lucien, news has arrived from the outskirts. A strange storm recently appeared between Undella Town and Black City. Local villagers witnessed two unknown Pokémon fighting within the storm."
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
The news had spread faster than he expected.
Elif continued, his tone relieved.
"Fortunately, the two Pokémon did not harm the village. According to the villagers, the storm was eventually stopped by a third Pokémon. That Pokémon released a miraculous power that caused crops to ripen instantly."
"They are now planning to build a Shrine of Abundance to worship it."
A Shrine of Abundance?
Lucien paused, an odd expression appearing on his face.
He remembered such a shrine from ancient records, one dedicated to Landorus.
Could this be its origin?
"That Pokémon that can make crops ripen instantly…" Elif sighed. "If such a being could belong to our territory, hunger would no longer exist in the kingdom."
Hearing this, Lucien smiled.
He raised his hand and called out calmly.
"Landorus. Thundurus. Tornadus."
At once, three cloud-wreathed figures floated out from behind him, their arms crossed as they hovered in midair.
Elif froze.
His eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat.
"Your Majesty… these are…?"
"These are the Pokémon the villagers saw," Lucien said with a faint smile. "Allow me to formally introduce them. Tornadus. Thundurus. And Landorus."
"Landorus is the one responsible for the miraculous harvest. Of course, that power would not exist without the energy produced by Tornadus and Thundurus as well."
Elif stood there, utterly stunned.
Your Majesty only stepped away for a short rest… and returned with three powerful Pokémon?
Seeing Elif's reaction, Lucien chuckled softly.
"Do not be so surprised. They have agreed to cooperate with us."
"Summon the ministers. There are matters to arrange."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Elif replied at once, turning and hurrying off to gather the officials.
Soon, the throne hall filled with ministers and administrators.
Lucien sat upright upon the throne, his gaze sweeping across the assembled crowd.
"Gentlemen," he said calmly, "allow me to introduce three new allies who have joined our territory."
At his side, three strange yet awe-inspiring Pokémon floated upon clouds, arms folded, silently observing the humans below.
"They are Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus," Lucien said calmly.
"As you can see, although their appearances resemble humans, their true identities are still Pokémon. To be precise, legendary Pokémon."
"They possess immense power. Tornadus and Thundurus can stir the atmosphere, summon storms, and unleash lightning. Landorus can absorb the energy generated by them, nourishing the land and allowing crops to mature in an instant."
At first, the officials were merely stunned by the mention of storms and lightning.
Such power alone was already terrifying.
But when they heard that Landorus could make the soil more fertile and cause crops to ripen instantly, their expressions changed completely.
"What… what did you say?"
An elderly official from the Agricultural Bureau stared in disbelief, his voice trembling with barely restrained excitement.
"Your Majesty… is what you said truly possible?"
Lucien nodded with a gentle smile.
"Of course. You should all have heard about the strange storm that occurred between Undella Town and Black City recently. The villagers there witnessed it personally. After the storm passed, the crops in the village matured overnight."
"All of that was the work of these three."
It was true.
The old man's eyes reddened as emotion surged through him.
He had grown up during wartime famine. Enemy forces had burned fields and destroyed granaries. To keep him alive, his parents had given him their last scraps of food and starved to death themselves.
No one in this hall understood the value of food more deeply than he did.
If such power truly existed…
Then no one in this land would ever need to starve again.
"Landorus has already agreed to cooperate with us," Lucien continued once the room had settled.
"Next, I plan to dispatch teams across the entire kingdom. They will carry seeds, accompanied by Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus, using their power to improve the fertility of every region under our rule."
"Excellent!" the old official cried out. "Your Majesty is truly wise!"
Lucien raised a hand slightly, signaling for calm.
"However, you must understand this clearly. Their power is meant to improve the land itself. Although Landorus can accelerate crop growth, that power is ultimately external."
"It cannot replace human effort forever."
"Humanity must rely on its own strength if it wishes to go further."
Everyone present was sharp-minded. They immediately grasped the deeper meaning.
Making the entire kingdom's soil richer and more fertile was already an overwhelming advantage.
The future was obvious.
An unprecedented harvest awaited them.
"Landorus, Thundurus, Tornadus," Lucien said solemnly, "I ask you to work with humanity and make this land beneath our feet even more abundant."
Landorus's eyes shone brightly.
It had never imagined such cooperation before, but now, with humans working alongside it, its long-held wish might truly be fulfilled.
Lucien then turned to a woman among the officials.
"Christina, I want this reported in the newspapers. Let the entire kingdom know what Landorus, Thundurus, and Tornadus have done for humanity."
Lucien had not forgotten his promise.
Strength alone was not enough. Fame and recognition were power as well.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Christina replied immediately.
Thundurus and Tornadus exchanged a glance, then nodded in satisfaction.
Excellent.
They could already envision it.
People across the land calling out their names. Shrines erected in their honor. Voices raised in gratitude and awe.
That feeling…
It would be magnificent.
...
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