From the seas off the Johto Region, many Eon Pokémon came flying in.
Just like in the legends, Latios and Latias's kin brought a new Soul Dew, driving away the evil and darkness that had assaulted Alto Mare.
That azure treasure reflected a pure, noble spirit, and was returned once more to the device in the Secret Garden.
"This light feels so warm."
"Yeah. It's the warmest light in the world."
"Please protect this city forever."
The children's sincere prayers were heard by the Soul Dew.
It would take the place of the shattered previous dew, and begin its work.
And so, the waters in the garden began to flow again, and Alto Mare gradually returned to normal.
The Phantom Thief sisters were arrested by Officer Jenny-san and transferred to the Grand Prison.
When daylight arrived and the bells of the Great Cathedral rang out, the summer sea breeze swept through the streets and alleyways, brushing over the boats. After staying in Alto Mare for one more day, Ash and his group were ready to set off on their journey again.
Only now, the cap-wearing boy had one more precious item in his hand.
It was the Eon Flute, capable of calling Latios and Latias.
Riding a speedboat, Ash and the others bid farewell to Lorenzo-san. However, Bianca, who should have come to see them off, did not appear.
As the speedboat passed through the canals, Ash once again saw the mysterious girl that Latias had transformed into.
She was waving to him, and it looked like she was holding a painting scroll.
So, at the port of Alto Mare, the speedboat stopped. Ash stepped onto the pier and watched as the mysterious girl came running toward him from afar.
Was that Bianca, or was it Latias?
No, if she wasn't wearing a hat, then it should be Latias, right?
Brock said, "You've already got the Eon Flute, and you still can't confirm who she is?"
Ash scratched his head awkwardly.
"Bianca?"
But the mysterious girl only smiled, not minding at all.
Then, by the sparkling shoreline, the sunlight reflected off the sea and illuminated the boy and the girl.
In her heart, the mysterious girl was thinking:
Even though the Hoenn senpai had already taught me how to use telepathy, I still didn't manage to learn it in time for today.
But it's fine. The Eon Flute is the bond that connects us.
Maybe the ancient people of Hoenn were the ones who, because of this flute, formed an unbreakable tie with our ancestors.
That wasn't a relationship between a Trainer and a Pokémon.
We're friends.
Really, really good friends.
The mysterious girl handed the painting scroll to Ash.
Then she gave him an "angel's kiss."
As long as you still carry the Eon Flute, no matter where you are, I'll hear your call.
If you need me, then come summon me.
I'll always be waiting for you.
Until, with her bright eyes turning slightly, the girl ran off into the distance. On the speedboat, Misty and Brock immediately wore astonished expressions. Even Togepi slipped out of their arms and flopped onto a thigh.
Pikachu, meanwhile, looked like it was enjoying the spectacle.
Misty said, "Just now, was that Bianca, or Latias?"
Brock said, "Man, that's nice— No, it should be Latias! She didn't say a single word!"
Pikachu tilted its head, making a comically thoughtful face, like it was eating popcorn and watching drama.
But Ash didn't react much at all. He just stared blankly at the mysterious girl's retreating figure, then opened the painting scroll in his hands.
And after seeing the drawing on it, he suddenly showed a relieved smile.
"It's Latias."
"Your voice… I think I heard it."
It was a very strange feeling.
Latias probably still hadn't learned telepathy yet.
But for some reason, Ash could sense Latias's thoughts, as if—
Brock said, "You're saying you heard Latias's voice?"
Ash said, "Yeah. I remembered. It feels the same as it did back on the green prairie."
The cap-wearing boy still didn't know the true name of that power.
His talent for Aura was about to awaken.
But for some reason, Ash recalled something a former companion, Sorrel, had once said. This feeling was the same as that Pokémon he'd seen, the one called Lucario.
Misty said, "And besides that, you don't feel anything else?"
Ash looked confused. "Anything else?"
Three people and one Pikachu looked at each other.
Ash laughed. "Right! The Silver Conference is coming up soon. After the Conference ends, how about we head to Hoenn for our next travel destination?"
"Hoenn has different kinds of Pokémon, and that's Latios and Latias's homeland, right?"
——————
[Learned Legendary Music: Mysterious Girl / Kanon (Bianca).]
[Effect: Romance Atmosphere +100%, Hypnotic +100%. Causes living beings who listen to the music to experience a wonderful, dreamlike sensation, and can relieve a living being's suffering.]
[Learned Legendary Music: Dream of Soaring the Skies.]
After the Alto Mare incident ended, new legendary music was obtained.
That was something he didn't expect.
And "relieving suffering" should be very useful. Maybe later it could be used as background music in the Dream World or the Dream Sky Tower?
As for Dream of Soaring the Skies, it corresponded to Phantom of Soaring the Skies. The two pieces represented day and night, and their effects should be the same.
"The Alto Mare story is over. Now, let's talk about our story, shall we?"
Yesterday evening, Hikaru had already said goodbye to Kousa.
Leaving behind the painting, finishing the Hunting Cursor, and bringing the partners back, Hikaru returned to the far southwest corner of South Province (Area One)!
There were lakes, swamps, and fractured cliffs here. And among the Treasures of Ruin, one of the four calamities—Wo-Chien's sealed location, the Grasswither Shrine—was right here.
From the high mountain near this shrine, looking across the sea toward the opposite shore, you could vaguely see the peninsula where Cabo Poco was located. Along that blurred coastline, the beach, and the lighthouse near Cabo Poco.
Of course, ordinary people couldn't see Cabo Poco across such an enormous distance.
Even Hikaru, with pilot-level eyesight like Skyla's, still needed super binoculars at this range just to make out a little.
"So, Charcadet. How's the result of your training?"
Hikaru looked toward the apprentice knight among his companions.
"Cadet!"
Charcadet looked at Entei, then nodded firmly at Hikaru!
Entei-sensei's training was remarkably effective!
Even though I still haven't grasped the essence of Sacred Fire, I already know how to make flames burn more fiercely!
Entei-sensei produced living ash. After absorbing that ash, I feel like my flames have become even stronger!
So I learned a new move too—Fire Blast!
"The essence of Sacred Fire is understanding the vitality contained within fire. I also obtained that move, but before I studied it carefully, I didn't realize that."
Entei gave a slight nod. "Charcadet learns quickly. Larvesta does as well. My training plan is specialized practice tailored to their respective survival habits and species traits."
"For example, Larvesta. If it wants to learn Eruption or Blue Flare, then in theory, it's impossible for it to learn them. But there are exceptions to everything. As a sun god, it once saved people who suffered bitter cold in the past. So training in a volcanic region might be best. And that volcanic region must also have cold air."
"The Sinnoh Region you mentioned is a good place."
"And Charcadet is burning charcoal, so it naturally shares a bit of similarity with Sacred Ash. I used my Sacred Fire to burn out some living ash. It can't reach Ho-Oh's Sacred Ash in power, but it can still help boost its fire energy somewhat."
"So, if you want to learn Sacred Fire, we still need to find Ho-Oh's Sacred Ash. Maybe there'll be clues in the tower at Ecruteak City. Or we could ask the real Entei."
Hikaru was rather amazed. "Even though you're basically teaching them 'illegal' moves, the learning process is surprisingly feasible."
Entei bared its teeth in a grin. "What do you mean, legal or illegal? Plenty of Pokémon in nature can master unique moves. They learn them under special conditions. Didn't you say so yourself?"
"When we met Heatran in Unova, it couldn't use Flamethrower. But you said that, in a faraway region, there's a Heatran that learned that move."
"True." Hikaru rubbed his chin.
Just like in Guardians of the Water City.
Even though little sister Latias didn't have much fighting power, she really did have a move that ordinary Latias can't learn.
That kiss at the end, when she lightly pecked Ash.
It was the move Sweet Kiss.
Kissing the target cutely like an angel, causing the target to become confused.
So some people say that after Alto Mare, Ash turned into a block of wood because Latias put him into 255 turns of confusion.
So, in a special environment, if you want to learn a move, as long as you work hard, there's nothing you can't learn!
"Alright! Since you're full of confidence, let's begin the challenge!"
Hikaru pressed the Interdimensional Ring against the lid of the Grasswither Shrine.
A faint sound came from inside.
From within the lid, a pair of sickly eyes opened—listless, indifferent, and faintly apathetic.
"Wo-chien…"
A Grass-and-Dark snail, its body like a mix of dead leaves and soil, slowly crawled out through the Interdimensional Ring—carrying spiral wooden tablets on its back.
"Someone once recorded a king's evil deeds onto wooden tablets and was punished for it. Their hatred wrapped itself in dead leaves and became Wo-Chien."
"It absorbs the energy of plants, causing forests to wither instantly and crops in the fields to fail."
"The emotion Wo-Chien represents is very similar to Chien-Pao's."
"What Chien-Pao represents is the hatred of those who died under a sword."
"And what Wo-Chien represents is the resentment born from suffering after being punished."
Hikaru introduced this new "Calamity Boss" to the partners. But Chien-Pao shook its head and wore an innocent, adorably blank expression, trying to play dumb and slip past the accusation.
Just because we can use that hatred to unleash Ruination doesn't mean we ourselves feel the same way, right!
Look how obedient I am as a hakimi-cat right now! Meow-ha!
Chien-Pao's antics drew Wo-Chien's attention. Freshly unsealed, Wo-Chien's eyes looked like it hadn't woken up. It glanced left and right, seeming not very eager to fight, and yet it gave off a terrifying sense of disdain toward everything.
At the same time, the surrounding plants began to wither.
The game never truly showed Wo-Chien's power.
Centered on Wo-Chien's body, spreading in a ring, any place it crawled turned to wasteland, and the ground became barren.
Torterra and Lilligant stared unblinking at Wo-Chien, both Grass-type Pokémon brimming with curiosity!
They had long wanted to see this "demon king" from the "horror stories" meant specifically for Grass-type Pokémon!
If those disobedient Grass-type Pokémon keep causing trouble, they'll get frightened by the legendary craftsman!
If you don't behave, Wo-Chien will crawl over and take you away!
"Wo-chien?"
Wo-Chien noticed the two Grass-type Pokémon. Its eyes narrowed further, making it look even more like a squinting-eyed creature.
The Grass energy on Torterra and Lilligant was exceptionally dense and powerful, and it even made Wo-Chien feel a hint of fear. Especially that Torterra—its energy was the complete opposite of Wo-Chien's. That sacred aura felt like it was about to purify Wo-Chien!
And that tree… Why is the trunk white?
A normal Torterra's colors don't look like this, do they?
Wo-Chien's true body was wooden tablets. Among the Treasures of Ruin, it was the scholar, and the first to awaken consciousness. So it knew many secrets from many regions, picking up countless things from merchants' bragging and casual conversation.
"Oh, you're afraid of sacred aura, huh?"
Hikaru rubbed his chin and saw Wo-Chien shrinking back. "Little snail, in that case, the power of White Forest might do wonders for you. It could remove the power in you that makes plants wither."
"Even though your power can be useful under certain conditions, you can't just release it casually."
"Your power is too strong. So, you must be sealed!"
Nearby, Chien-Pao blinked, then let out a leopard laugh.
Ha! None of the four of us is getting away!
Wo-Chien sized up Hikaru. It could tell the human in front of it was no ordinary person, and it couldn't help groaning inwardly.
Just out of the wolf's den, and straight into the tiger's mouth!
This human… doesn't seem much different from that tamer a thousand years ago! Not a normal human at all.
And also—
"Wo-chien?"
"Little snail" what kind of name is that?!
How dare you insult me, a being of wooden tablets! I will record your name onto the Tablet of Hatred!
"Yo?"
Aegislash went up as usual to say hello. Since Chien-Pao remembered Aegislash, Wo-Chien naturally remembered it too.
After a brief look, it confirmed Aegislash's identity!
Even though its appearance had changed drastically, it really was from that old batch of goods—one of the cheap products.
Some sort of ancient sword brought from a foreign land, wasn't it?
So that's how it is.
Wo-Chien nodded.
So you're the one who led the tamer here! I knew from a thousand years ago you were no good. You sold for so cheap, of course you were defective!
Aegislash instantly got angry.
After turning into Pokémon, these four really became arrogant beyond measure. Their personalities were awful, and they were way too full of themselves!
I am the king!
"?"
Wo-Chien didn't understand what "king" meant. It looked at Aegislash with a baffled gaze, then let out a low chuckle.
"Geh? (What's your evaluation of me?)"
"Wo-chien! (He doesn't look like a true ruler!)"
Aegislash's eyes widened.
Fine, fine, fine. When you're beaten to your knees, you'll apologize to me!
"Emmmm…" Hikaru started thinking aloud at the side.
"If swords, cauldrons, and jade are valuable, then are wooden tablets valuable?"
"Aren't you basically the free throw-in that costs nothing?"
When those words fell—
The field sank into a long silence.
Wo-Chien seemed to be enraged!
"Wo-chien?"
"Wo-chien!"
Wooden tablets are extremely important! Don't underestimate the power of culture, human! The history and truth recorded on wooden tablets—how could they be measured by something like money?!
Use history as a mirror, and you can know the rise and fall of the world!
The historian records events as they happened, without changing a single character!
You have insulted thousands of years of tablet history. Apologize at once!
"I said it on purpose."
Hikaru made no attempt to hide it. He stated openly that he was provoking the little snail, and at the same time he analyzed Wo-Chien's personality.
It was "straightforward."
But too straightforward, to the point of stubbornness.
Which fit perfectly with the behavior of recording history onto tablets.
"You haven't recorded history for a thousand years. That must have been painful, right?"
"But trust me. That pain will be relieved very soon!"
"Go, Charcadet!"
"Cadet!" Charcadet swung its fire hammer and charged in!
Wo-Chien looked at Aegislash and shook its head.
Then it looked at Chien-Pao and let out a questioning cry:
Chien-Pao, why are you just watching?! If those Pokémon are forcing you, blink your eyes!
Then the leopard just flopped down.
Wo-Chien stared at the leopard for a long time before it finally, incredulously, confirmed one thing—
Damn it, you surrendered?!
You coward with no backbone. A rat, a rat!
I've recorded it already. Chien-Pao slaying its lord—so it's true. That's exactly what you are. A hakimi-leopard that's arrogant when it can win, and plays dead the moment it gets beaten!
So it turned its head to face Charcadet, which had entered the battle. Even against those blazing flames, the Grass-type Wo-Chien showed not a trace of retreat!
There is no such thing as grass being unable to defeat fire in this world!
I insist on trying it!
(End of Chapter)
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