The story continues far ahead on Patreon. If you enjoy the adventure, you can unlock all the latest chapters and stay ahead by supporting there.
Link: Patreon.com/lord-of-myths
X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X---X--X--X---X---X---X
"Ugh—"
"Pikachu, Tyranitar, what do you two think—ugh—"
Indeed, Ash was currently in the Orange Islands, and the situation was not very favorable for him.
According to the message sent to Professor Oak by the local professor of the Orange Islands, a Lapras herd had recently been seen near a small island group called Emerald Island.
To get there, Ash had specifically rented a speedboat and hired two old captains from the local area, but he didn't realize how aggressively the old captains would drive the boat.
With nearly an hour of travel remaining, Ash was already terribly seasick.
Tyranitar and Pikachu, on the other hand, were comfortably lying on the deck, enjoying a long-awaited sunbath.
"Ugh, Jessie, James, Meowth, I'm about to give up too. Jessie, do you even know how to drive a boat?"
"Don't nag! I don't have time to learn all that stuff. As long as it moves, it's fine!"
Jessie fiddled with her pinkish-purple long hair while gripping the boat's control stick, her tone quite impatient.
"Since neither you nor James can drive, it's up to me to steer, ahahaha, I truly am gifted!"
As she spoke, the boat's direction shifted once again, and one side of the hull tilted high into the air.
Meowth rolled uncontrollably to one side, struggled to stand up, and soon after, he started retching into the trash can again.
James was slightly better; he hadn't thrown up, but his face was deathly pale, as if he was trying hard not to lose face, his lips tightly sealed, unable to utter a single word.
Ash outside the boat was equally disheveled.
Under Jessie's masterful boating skills, what was originally an hour-long journey was forcefully cut down to half an hour.
The moment he stepped back onto land, Ash's entire body felt weak, and he involuntarily collapsed onto the ground, with Pikachu unable to help.
Fortunately, Ash had brought Tyranitar and Primeape with him. The two Pokémon supported Ash, one on each side, and Tyranitar also lifted Pikachu onto his shoulder.
Ash rested for quite a while in an open space before he regained his ability to move.
Recalling his past acquaintance with Lapras, an indescribable warmth and anticipation welled up in Ash's heart.
At that time, Ash had accidentally encountered an injured Lapras during his journey in the Orange Islands. Out of kindness and care for Pokémon, he meticulously nursed Lapras back to health.
During those days of traveling together, Ash and Lapras crossed turbulent oceans, watched beautiful sunrises over the sea, and together earned badges from the Orange Islands Gyms, forging a deep friendship.
However, later, to allow Lapras to return to its herd, Ash reluctantly let it go. But that deep emotional bond remained firmly tied in Ash's heart, never breaking.
This time, Ash really wanted to see it again.
The boat remained anchored in the shallows of Emerald Island, with Jessie and James taking turns trying to revive Meowth. After such a long period of torment from Jessie, Meowth finally fell unconscious.
Looking at the unresponsive Meowth, James was filled with anxiety. On this small, named but undeveloped island, where could he find medicine to wake Meowth?
James gradually fell into thought, but he overlooked a crucial factor: Jessie's patience.
Jessie balled her fist and swung it at Meowth's face. After five heavy blows, Meowth "startled upright from his deathbed."
"Meow, Meowth thinks I just saw my great-grandmother!"
"Hiss!"
Suddenly, Meowth shrieked. He caressed his already swollen face, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes from the pain.
James heard the commotion beside him and instantly understood what had happened. He gave Meowth a pitiful look, but he couldn't tell Meowth the truth, because if he snitched, Jessie would tear him to shreds!
"The twerp is here to find Lapras, hehe."
"As long as we capture these Lapras."
"Promote to executive, promote to department head!!!"
Jessie, James, and Meowth were lost in their beautiful fantasies of the future.
Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. For five consecutive days, the Lapras herd did not appear at Emerald Island. Ash's food supply was also running out, reaching the point where he had to go to an island with a town to resupply.
But Ash still wanted to wait, just in case Lapras appeared while he was resupplying.
Suddenly, he heard a familiar Growl.
He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a large Lapras leading a group of Lapras gradually approaching Emerald Island.
Ash recognized it at a glance; it was his former companion.
The Lapras now was much larger, with several new scars on its body. The most noticeable was a small scar on its face. These scars did not detract from its beauty; instead, they exuded an aura of majesty. The former Lapras had clearly become the leader of the herd.
Ash excitedly ran over, shouting, "Lapras! It's me, Ash!"
Lapras, hearing the shout, first paused, then turned its head, a flicker of surprise in its eyes. It slowly swam towards Ash, gently nuzzling Ash's body with its head, emitting joyful Growls. Pikachu also jumped up happily, greeting Lapras.
Ash stroked Lapras's body and said:
"Lapras, I missed you so much. Come with me, let's continue our adventure together."
Lapras listened, its expression somewhat joyful, but soon a hesitant look appeared in its eyes.
When a tender cry came from the young Lapras group, its pupils involuntarily constricted. A small Lapras with an injured wing was flapping around—a child it had rescued from a hunter's trap three days prior.
Lapras let out a complex whimper from its throat, half yearning for adventure, half for the fish it hadn't swallowed, the food it had caught for the young Lapras that morning.
It looked at the herd behind it, then at Ash, and let out a low cry.
At this moment, an elder Lapras slowly swam over, its speed very slow, as if it were a withered tree, with not much time left. It was the elder of the herd, experienced and exceptionally wise.
The elder Lapras looked at Ash and Lapras, already understanding the current situation. It had heard from Lapras before that it had a trainer. It often gazed in the direction Ash had left, drifting alone on the sea, lost in thought.
The elder Lapras let out a long Growl, and large numbers of its kin gathered here.
The elder Lapras then spoke to the leader Lapras.
This series of unusual actions instantly attracted the attention of Team Rockets trio.
"Meowth, can you hear what they're saying?"
"Meowth is already listening. Be quiet, I'll translate for you."
"Child, I know the deep bond between you and this trainer.
I often saw you lost in thought, looking in one direction. Now it seems that was the direction where you parted ways with this trainer.
Child, you have done very well. Since you became the leader of our herd, we have rarely suffered casualties.
These young ones have also grown up and can continue to protect our herd.
So, if you wish to continue following this trainer, go ahead with peace of mind. You can achieve greater things.
Child, do not feel guilty about your choice. We will always support you."
Meowth translated, wiping away tears as he spoke.
"Meow, this is truly touching. Is this what selfless love is?!"
"Yes, yes," James also said with great emotion.
Meowth's ears trembled from crying. Was this what it felt like to have someone supporting and caring for him from behind?
He recalled a few years ago on the Kanto coast, when he was swept away by the waves, Jessie jumped into the sea without hesitation.
Translating up to this point, Meowth suddenly sneezed, tears mixing with snot dripping down.
Jessie's pinkish-purple long hair was disheveled by the strong sea wind.
She instinctively shielded Meowth, much like a Lapras protecting its young.
James touched the bottle in his pocket—it was the energy cube he bought for Meowth. Although they often lacked food and clothing, he always prepared some for Meowth in advance.
In his other pocket, he also had basic Potion, but it couldn't wake Meowth; it was for bruises and sprains.
However, it absolutely couldn't be used for injuries caused by Jessie, otherwise he would be torn to shreds!
The leader Lapras looked at the gathered herd, at several hungry young Lapras, its eyes filled with tenderness. Ash also followed its gaze.
After a long while, the leader Lapras raised its head, its eyes filled with determination.
It walked up to Ash, gently licked Ash's hand, then let out a long Growl, followed by several short cries.
"Ash, I am very happy to have met you, but this is the herd that raised me, and they still need me. Without them, I wouldn't be who I am today. Moreover, a group of hunters has recently appeared in the Orange Islands, and I must stay here to protect my kin. This is my responsibility.
If, in the future, the young ones in the herd can stand on their own, I will come to follow you then."
Meowth translated this, and James and Jessie were very moved.
"Responsibility, huh."
James murmured, staring at an exquisitely crafted, priceless ring he pulled from his bag.
Ash understood that Lapras had made its choice; it decided to stay and protect its herd.
Although Ash's heart was filled with disappointment, he also felt proud of Lapras.
He knew that Lapras had grown up, understood its responsibilities, knew how to make choices, and understood how to make difficult decisions for more important responsibilities.
Ash, holding back tears, said to Lapras, "Lapras, I understand your choice. You must protect your herd well. I believe you can do it."
Lapras nodded, its eyes also filled with reluctance.
After restocking his supplies, Ash stayed on Emerald Island for a few more days. He and Lapras played with the young Lapras, and he watched the leader Lapras teach them survival skills, such as how to find food in complex ocean currents and how to avoid dangerous Pokémon.
During these few days, Ash felt Lapras's love and sense of responsibility towards its herd.
Lapras always kept a close eye on every young Lapras, patiently guiding them. That meticulous care made Ash understand even more clearly that Lapras's decision to stay was the right one.
The day of departure always comes. Ash stood on the deck of the speedboat, waving goodbye to Lapras and its herd.
Lapras led its herd, following the speedboat, swimming for a very long time. Their massive forms rose and fell on the sea, as if expressing their reluctance to part.
Only when the sailboat disappeared at the horizon did Lapras lead its herd back to Emerald Island.
Ash returned to the main island of the Orange Islands. He found the local Pokémon Professor.
With Professor Oak's introduction and Helping Hand, Ash told the local Professor about the Lapras herd's situation and entrusted him with protecting Lapras and its herd.
The Professor listened, nodded solemnly, and said:
"Don't worry, Ash.
I will do my best to protect them. Lapras are very precious Pokémon, and their herd plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the Orange Islands' waters.
I will strengthen monitoring of this sea area and cooperate with the local Police Station to jointly prevent those poachers."
Ash looked at the Professor and said solemnly:
"Thank you, Professor. Lapras are very important to me, and I hope they can live safely in these waters."
The Professor smiled and said:
"You are a kind and loving child. Your Pokémon are very lucky to have met you. The bond between you and Lapras will always exist. This bond will become your motivation to move forward."
--- "Who are you people?"
"Since you asked so sincerely!"
"Then I will mercifully tell you."
"To prevent the world from being destroyed—"
"How dare you animals lay your hands on such wonderful Lapras! Today, we, Team Rockets, will take you down."
"Prepare to die!"
--- A few days later, good news came from the Orange Islands: the largest poaching syndicate in nearly forty years was defeated by a kind citizen. The Orange Islands official announcement stated that they hoped to find this kind citizen, willing to award him the Orange Islands Enthusiastic Citizen Award and the Orange Islands Honorary Citizen Award, along with a reward of 300,000 Pokémon currency.
The photo of the "kind citizen" in the official announcement was actually intentionally blurred by the local Professor. In the background of the photo, Team Rockets' balloon was drifting crookedly, its basket filled with confiscated hunter equipment.
X -X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X
This story is live because of Fans like you do support us on Patreon!!