"I can't help you with that."
Hearing Victor's words, Lugia gently flapped its wings, not blaming him.
The voice resounded in Victor's mind again.
"Victor, let's make an agreement."
How did we suddenly jump to an agreement?
Victor was having a hard time keeping up with Lugia's train of thought.
"The next time they cause an incident, I will leave it to you to resolve."
"Your human Champion is very strong."
"Perhaps, after they experience the strength of humans, they will change."
Victor's brow furrowed.
"You know that I can restrain them, but it is only temporary."
Lugia looked at the young man in the moonlight, its mind recalling a person it had met in another world.
Although their strength was vastly different, their connection with Pokémon was just as strong.
Therefore, it decided to let Victor try.
Besides, he seemed to have some connection with the Sinnoh region's Champion.
"As long as you can go and stop them, I will promise you one thing."
"Whatever it takes."
"Just once is fine. If it still doesn't work, then I will handle it from then on."
Listening to Lugia's words, Victor fell into thought.
The three legendary birds had a huge impact on people's lives.
Zapdos could cause an entire city to lose power, Moltres could start forest fires, and Articuno could cause temperatures to plummet.
If he could solve their problem, maybe they would become more restrained.
As for strength, if he communicated with Cynthia and the others beforehand, it shouldn't be a major issue.
After all, the legendary birds weren't on the same level as Lugia or the Sinnoh Dragon Trio—their power wasn't that ridiculous.
Finally, Victor nodded.
"Alright, I promise."
"I have not misjudged you, Victor."
"You are very much like him."
"Him? You mean Ash?"
"Ash? That name is very familiar."
Victor's eyes widened.
"Are you talking about the boy in the hat, the one with a Pikachu by his side?"
Lugia suddenly remembered that boy.
A boy who also held infinite possibilities.
He and his companions had helped Lugia a great deal.
Even the problem with these three birds, he and his friends had helped resolve it once.
"But it is not him."
Not Ash? Then who?!
Besides Ash, who else is there in this world?
It couldn't be... those two, could it?
The "color" protagonists.
"Who?"
Lugia chuckled.
"It seems others call him the 'Nurturer,' and his friend, the 'Fighter.'"
Victor understood immediately.
"But the silent one... he is very much like Ash."
Victor smiled along with Lugia.
Ah, so it's them. That makes sense.
But according to Lugia, it's been to their world?
The ability to freely cross dimensions...
Is it because of that Pokémon?
"You've been to their world? I mean, Red and Green's."
Lugia was shocked by Victor's words.
"You... how do you know their names?"
"I do not believe I told you their names."
Victor's heart tightened, then he gave a slight pout.
"Because I know them."
They just don't know me, that's all, Victor thought to himself.
Lugia stared at Victor for a long time, then nodded.
"I knew it. I was not wrong about you."
"Did you help them deal with that Pokémon?"
"That Hoopa."
Lugia was even more puzzled. It was as if he knew everything about these events.
But it still shook its head.
"Their strength... did not require my help. I merely had a fight with that Pokémon."
Lugia said it casually, but Victor looked at it with new respect.
As expected of Lugia.
Its power is still top-tier.
"Alright, it's settled then."
Lugia rose higher into the air.
"Victor, I will be watching you. I believe in you."
With that, Lugia flew off towards the ocean, following the moonlight.
The three legendary birds all glanced at Victor one last time, then followed Lugia.
They disappeared from the Breeding House, vanishing under the moon.
Victor let out a sigh of relief.
"It's okay, everyone. Let's go to sleep. When we wake up tomorrow, everything will be back to normal," he called out.
He and Gengar stood on the balcony, watching the Pokémon in the backyard.
The Pokémon looked up at the light from the balcony and the figures of Victor and Gengar, then, reassured, they went to sleep.
Victor watched the backyard with a smile, but his attention was captured by the text appearing before his eyes.
[The Agreement: The next incident caused by the legendary birds will be resolved by you.]
Huh? Didn't it say it would be resolved by us "humans"?
[After making the agreement, Lugia has left you some gifts.]
[Gift 1: Favorable Winds and Rains]
[Your Breeding House will now have four distinct, clear seasons: a warm spring, a hot summer, a cool autumn, and a cold winter. It will be unaffected by severe weather, and the growth rate of crops will increase.]
[Gift 2: Echo of the Sea]
[The ocean currents and sea monsoons now seem to whisper of your Breeding House. Its reputation will resound in the hearts of Pokémon overseas. Listen closely... it seems an old friend may be coming to visit.]
[You have obtained Lugia's Promise.]
[Lugia's Promise: Call my name when you are near the ocean.]
Victor went back inside and lay down on his bed, staring at the text, lost in thought.
That's Lugia for you.
Even the descriptions of its gifts are so elegant. Come to think of it, Lugia is a Psychic/Flying-type, but it knows ridiculously few Psychic moves. Instead, most of its moves are Dragon and Water.
That's Lugia, alright.
...
Elsewhere, under the moonlight, Lugia reached the middle of the ocean and dived.
Watching it disappear, the three legendary birds exchanged glances, then flew off in their own directions.
As Lugia swam deep in the ocean, heading for the Galar region, it recalled its agreement with Victor.
His bond with his Pokémon is incredibly deep.
That was why it had decided to make this agreement with him.
Plus, he seemed to know those other two.
Lugia smiled at the thought.
Victor.
It gently spoke the name.
[Lugia's Friendship: Lugia has acknowledged you and formed a friendship with you.]
[The Water-type Pokémon at your Breeding House will now grow better and will learn Water-type moves more easily.]
[Forest and Sea, Trees and Monsoons: Both Celebi and Lugia have left gifts at the Breeding House. They met in the distant past and seem to have formed a friendship.]
[The gifts they have left have formed a connection.]
[Favorable Winds and Rains (MAX): The Breeding House will now bloom with flowers appropriate for each of the four seasons. The suitable climate and flowers will bring a change to the Pokémon of the Breeding House. Their moods will be greatly uplifted, their psychological trauma will be healed at a much faster rate, the effectiveness of medicinal herbs will be doubled, the yield of berries will be doubled, and the taste of vegetables will be doubled.]
[Old Friends: Oh, distant friend. Although we have not seen each other for a long time, we are still friends. But now, through the connection of the Breeding House, we have sensed each other.]
["Old Friends": The food you make will now have a much higher chance of triggering a "Culinary Crit." The effects of Culinary Crits for Gengar (Dali, Erli, Sanli, Lilligant, Vespiquen, Mime Jr., Vulpix, Gothita, Roselia, Marill) have been enhanced.]
["Old Friends": Your luck will be increased.]
[This will last for a period of time.]
"Cele?"
Celebi, in another time, looked at the small wooden tag around its neck.
It sensed another of its friends.
It happily flew a few circles on the spot.
"?"
Lugia, in the sea, paused.
Then it continued on its way.
It sensed that it had now formed a connection with Victor.
"Victor, the price of forming a connection with a god..."
...
And Victor, looking at the new text, was speechless.
"I—"
His mouth fell open in astonishment.
This—
They can combo, too?
System, you're awesome—! (voice cracking)
Although most of the effects were for the Breeding House, if the Breeding House benefited, didn't that mean he benefited too?
Victor smiled fondly.
...
Get 10 chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"