In a Black World —
Ash's words undoubtedly stirred up bad memories for the Rocket trio.
Yes… they spent all their funds on building robots, which meant they basically only ate one meager meal a day. There was nothing they could do about it!
For their faith! For Pikachu!
The hardship was worth it!
As the saying goes, if you are given a great task, you must first suffer your mind and body! You still have to toil every day!
Misty looked at Team Rocket, who continued eating as if nothing was wrong, and felt they were both funny and pitiful.
Then, she casually asked,
"Now, I want to ask… if you actually did catch Pikachu, what would you do afterward?"
Jessie, James, and Meowth almost unanimously stopped what they were doing and began pondering Misty's soul-searching question.
For the sake of faith, they wanted to capture Pikachu. But… after capturing Pikachu, what would they do?
And even if they really caught Pikachu, would they keep it in a cage forever?
They no longer had a boss to present treasures to.
Although Team Rocket still existed and they had a nominal boss in Apollo, he wasn't Giovanni. They weren't that loyal to Apollo.
So they had no desire to curry favor with him.
In the past, the Rocket trio thought they wanted promotion, wealth, and Giovanni's approval. Now they understood… they just wanted Giovanni's approval.
Now, even though Giovanni was in prison, before he left, he had already acknowledged them…
Now their only life goal was to capture Pikachu.
If they caught it… where would they go?
"Hey, Misty, do you think I'd just stand by and let them keep Pikachu if they caught it?"
Ash said teasingly, stroking Pikachu's head on his shoulder.
"Not to mention you can't snatch Pikachu from me, even if you did manage to take Pikachu away… no matter how many times, I'd get Pikachu back!"
Hearing this, the dull eyes of the Rocket trio gradually brightened.
Right! Even if they snatched Pikachu, the twerp would definitely take it back!
Then they'd snatch it again!
They'd keep fighting until one side couldn't move anymore!
There was a saying: fighting with others was endless fun!
This was the Rocket trio's current life philosophy!
Maybe… they wanted to keep fighting the twerp until the end of time?
"Hm?"
Seeing the Rocket trio deep in thought, Ash didn't disturb them.
He originally planned to turn and enjoy the sea breeze, but suddenly, a strange Aura signature entered his perception.
When he first started his journey, he had to actively use his Aura power to sense others' Auras.
But now, as his Aura power had grown, he could passively sense movement around him.
Why 'a little'? Because he couldn't passively detect weaker Auras, or he'd probably be driven mad by the overwhelming number of signatures.
This Aura that had just appeared within his detection range… felt very strange.
Not strong, yet of a very high caliber!
And it felt familiar!
Familiar… Had he sensed a similar Aura before?
Puzzled, Ash looked at the several sea whirlpools beside them.
They had entered the Whirl Islands area, where whirlpools often churned in the sea. However, this yacht wouldn't get caught in them; it seemed equipped to handle sea currents and whirlpools.
The Aura Ash sensed was precisely beneath a whirlpool!
"What's wrong, Ash?"
Sabrina noticed Ash's strange behavior and asked softly.
"There's something under the whirlpool… should be a Pokémon."
"A Pokémon? How can that be? Twerp, you haven't gotten dizzy from the wind, have you? How could anything be under a whirlpool…?"
Before Jessie finished speaking, a waterspout suddenly erupted from the sea!
The violent water column made the stable ship shake uncontrollably. Waves churned, and the continuous motion made the whole vessel rise and fall!
"Whoa!! What's happening?!"
"I'm gonna hurl! I'm gonna hurl, meow!!"
"..."
The Rocket trio nearly vomited from the violent shaking!
They had just eaten!
Well, technically, they hadn't finished eating!
They were at most 70% full just now, but Misty's question prompted deep thought, leaving a lot of food unfinished.
Now it was fine—no need to eat. It was all going into the sea.
If the boat kept rocking like this, they'd probably throw up everything they'd just eaten!
Ash and the others watched the water column soaring into the sky with solemn, wary expressions.
Especially Ash. He could feel a weak yet powerful Aura signature from the water column!
It was strange.
In theory, strong was strong and weak was weak. This was the first time he'd encountered an Aura that felt both weak and powerful!
The point was, this Aura was very familiar…
"Tsk—"
The soaring water column suddenly exploded!
Sprays of water flew everywhere. Terrifying air currents burst from the column's center, pushing the ship back nearly ten meters in the blink of an eye!
Misty, Brock, and the Rocket trio were almost thrown overboard!
Fortunately, Sabrina and Ash used Psychic power and Aura to pull them back.
Though… the people inside the boat probably weren't feeling great.
They were likely enjoying a world-shaking meal right now…
As the water column dispersed, Ash and the others finally saw the figure within clearly…
"Lugia?!"
Everyone's shocked cries rang out in unison.
Even Ash hadn't expected to meet Lugia here!
But this Lugia… seemed a bit small?
Floating in the air, a pair of large, watery eyes looked at them. This Lugia looked very cute.
Compared to the Lugia from the Orange Archipelago, this one was probably not even one-tenth the size.
However, from its ability to control water and air pressure just now,
it had clearly mastered some of Lugia's power.
Ash finally understood why the Aura felt both weak and powerful.
In terms of raw power… this little Lugia's Aura was quite weak,
not even at Gym Leader level.
But… it was Lugia!
Things like Legendaries couldn't be completely measured by so-called 'levels.'
For example, Articuno, which mastered ice and snow—if he hadn't encountered Pidgeot, who partially mastered the Wind Priest's power, it would have been a tough fight even at the same level, let alone across levels!
So, the reason this Lugia's Aura felt powerful to Ash was because of the immense, inherent presence carried by the Lugia species itself!
That said…
By the way, with this Silver Wing, you can look for my children in the Johto region in the future. For safety, I've had my mate and child live in Johto's waters. When the time comes, you can take my child on a journey. I believe if it's you, Ash, you can help my child thrive and even reach where I am now.
Lugia's words echoed in Ash's heart. He subconsciously released Noctowl and took out the Silver Wing fused within it.
Now that Pidgeot's wind power was nearly complete and it had reached Elite Four level,
the feather's role wasn't as significant. So, Ash usually kept the Silver Wing with Noctowl.
For this Shiny Noctowl,
the Silver Wing's boosts to Flying- and Psychic-type power had greatly improved it!
So now its mastery of both types had increased a lot!
Little Lugia saw the Silver Wing in Ash's hand, and its eyes instantly lit up happily. It flapped its little wings and rushed toward Ash, making joyful sounds.
Ash instinctively opened his arms and caught the little Lugia flying toward him.
"Woowoo"
Dad Dad
Ash: ????
Wait, what the heck?
Did his Aura translation mess up?
What did it just say?!
"Woo~"
Dad, you're finally here!
Ash: …
Okay, he heard right…
But why was little Lugia calling him dad?
Was it because of the Silver Wing and mistaking him?
...
[Lance: Pfft—What the heck is 'dad'!! Hahaha~]
[Caitlin: Shocking! A ten-year-old boy called 'Dad' by a Legendary! Is this a distortion of human nature or a loss of morality? Let us stay tuned for the next episode of Lugia Seeks Its Relative!]
[Cynthia:Ahem, what a mess!]
[Ash: What the heck!! What is Miss Caitlin talking about?]
[Ash: But having said that, that headline makes me want to see the next part…]
[Caitlin: Haha, awesome! This is what I recently learned from the Pokémon News Department! It's called a clickbait title!]
[Lugia:Ahem, alright, alright… The reason little Lugia thinks Ash is its father is because I sent it to Johto's waters right after it was born.]
[Lugia: In other words, little Lugia has never seen me since birth, but it's very familiar with my power. After all, it's my child!]
[Lugia: So, it's natural for Black Ash, who possesses the Silver Wing imbued with my power and the 'Sea Guardian's Blessing' I gave him, to be considered its father.]
[Ash: Wait a minute… what's this 'Sea Guardian's Blessing'?]
[Lugia: ...]
Hiss…
Did I accidentally spill the power I secretly gave Black Ash?
[Lugia:Ahem, a little Sea Guardian's Blessing is nothing much.]
[Ash: Please, tell me what the Sea Guardian's Blessing is!]
[Lugia:Ahem, it's… that… similar to the mark I gave you, but with a bit more ability~]
[Lugia: For example, increased affinity with Flying- and Psychic-type Pokémon, training those types gets twice the results, can slightly control sea currents, etc…]
[Lugia: I hid this ability deep within Black Ash. It only activates upon meeting my child.]
[Ash: And you call that 'similar'?!]
Trembling with anger!
They're both Ash, why is the treatment so different!
Although their performances were quite different… but in the end, the results were similar!
They both saved the world, right?
Why did he only get a vague mark, while Black Ash got a mountain of benefits?
However, Ash didn't truly blame Lugia.
He understood this was Lugia's investment in that Ash.
From the fact the Sea Guardian's Blessing only activated upon meeting little Lugia,
Lugia intended it. If Black Ash never met little Lugia, the blessing wouldn't activate. So… it was fair to say rewards were based on merit. Ash was just complaining casually, not taking it seriously.
[Lugia: Hey, next time we meet, I promise to give you the same treatment as Black Ash! Can't have it seem I'm stingier than my other-world self…]
Ash didn't take it to heart, but Lugia felt a little guilty.
After all… this world's Ash also saved the world!
He had been a bit stingy with this Ash.
Moreover, Lugia realized that no matter which world, Ash could be called a chosen one.
Whether strong or not, it didn't prevent them from encountering various opportunities.
So… while White Ash was still developing, the best choice was to build a good relationship!
Lugia had a premonition that if the world faced another crisis, that young man would have to step forward…
...
In a Black World –
Ash held little Lugia, feeling utterly dumbfounded.
Suddenly becoming a father—who wouldn't be at a loss for words?
The Rocket trio were still in a daze.
They also knew of Lugia, but what the heck was this little Lugia?
Misty and the others knew a bit about little Lugia's origins.
Ash had told them about the Silver Wing and Lugia's presence in Johto.
However, a long time had passed, and they'd gradually forgotten. They never expected to meet it at the Whirl Islands!
Little Lugia had come on its own!
"Wow~ Is this the Lugia baby from the Orange Archipelago? So cute! Can I hold it?"
Misty looked at little Lugia, her girlish heart overflowing.
She trotted up to Ash and asked him and little Lugia.
Hearing this, Ash patted the baby Lugia in his arms and asked,
"Lugia, she's my partner and my girlfriend, Misty. Do you want to let her hold you?"
Hearing this, Lugia lifted its head from Ash's shoulder, blinked its dark eyes, then turned toward Misty.
In an instant, Misty's face lit up with joy. Sabrina and Brock also came over, looking at little Lugia curiously and eagerly wanting to hold it.
After all, it was the Sea Guardian's child!
For a moment, the deck was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
"What happened? Why did the boat lurch so hard just now?!"
A rough male voice came from a distance.
Ash and the others all looked. It was the ship's captain coming to check.
They instinctively shielded Lugia behind them.
As a Legendary Pokémon, if Lugia was discovered here… it would definitely cause an uproar!
However, upon sensing the approaching person, little Lugia instantly turned into a ray of light and entered the Silver Wing in Ash's hand!
Misty, who was about to hold Lugia, suddenly found her arms empty, looking at the air before her in confusion.
What happened? Where's Lugia?
Where's my big Lugia?!
Ash also looked bewildered at the Silver Wing in his hand. This thing… could hold Pokémon too???
The next second, the Silver Wing glowed slightly, then, under Ash's gaze, transformed into a Poké Ball made entirely of silver!
On top of the ball were two patterns resembling wings.
If Ash recognized correctly, they were Lugia's wing patterns!
So… what was happening now?!
Why did the Silver Wing turn into a Poké Ball???
Ever since Lugia appeared, Ash and even Misty were full of questions!
Things were developing in a direction they understood less and less…
Ash, have you found my child?
Just as Ash and the others were dealing with the captain's inquiries, a familiar voice sounded in Ash's heart.
This was… Lugia?!
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