This is P2K done MY way! No Ash Ketchum, no Pikachu, no other Pokemon, no Jirarudan, no Team Rocket, no Misty or Brock or Professor Oak or Ash's mom, just the birds we all know and love! It's set in a world where Pokemon doesn't exist. There are only Lugia, Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos and Houou. I used the Japanese name for Houou because Ho-Oh is the lamest name I've ever heard. Lugia is called Lukia in this story to emphasize how different she is from the Lugia we were introduced to in Revelation Lugia. Yes, she. She's a girl bird. That, and I think it sounds better. Lugia sounds disturbingly like `loogie'. There are absolutely no spelling errors in this work. You see, I'm completely anal-retentive when it comes to that. Shamouti Island is called Rainbow Island because, as I said before, this isn't the Pokemon world. I still incorporated the whole `and thus the earth shall turn to ash' thing, but in my own way. It takes a different turn at the end. It may be a little heavy on the descriptions, but that's to give it an authentic feel. I even made up my own song. I also found theme songs for Moltres and Zapdos. If you have ever seen the movie Fantasia 2000, you'll know these. It's even got humor. Articuno and Zapdos bicker constantly! Moltres is nuts on the subject of food!
//...// means that those words are being spoken by Lukia.
The Revelation of the Sea Goddess
Emily stood atop the cliff overlooking the sea, playing the ocarina as she always did. Every single day she stood there and played her song, so sweet and low and mournful. She couldn't recall where she'd first heard the song, for she'd known it all her life. Whenever she was sad, it brought her comfort. Whenever she was lonely, it made her feel better. On this day, as on all other days, she was alone. She was always alone and always sad, ever since…no, she would not think of that. The song was all she had left. She faced the dawn, watching the sun rising over the sea, and played her song for the morning. The wind stirred her long brown hair, made her blue eyes wince and water. Was it the wind that caused the tears in her eyes…or was she crying again? She'd done an awful lot of that lately. She dreamed of an end to the pain, and wondered if she had the strength to seek solace in death. How many times had she come out here to throw herself off the cliff, only to turn back in fear of the abyss? Only this day, she felt, was different. The weather was totally screwed up. It was July, yet there were three inches of snow. Something was amiss, somehow. Somewhere something had gone wrong somehow. It seemed as if the whole world was waiting. The very heavens seemed to hold their breath. Something within her held its breath as well. She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something big was going to happen. Her eyes wandered as she played, her gaze drifting out over the waves. Then she saw the strange thing that lay in the shallows. Something within her urged her on, and she was heading down toward the beach before she knew it.
When she got closer, she could discern that it was some form of creature. It was very big, to begin with, about the size of a small single-engine airplane. It looked a little like a bird and a little like some kind of a dinosaur. It had blue and white feathers, and two parallel rows of deep blue dorsal plates ran down its back. Its wings evidently doubled as arms complete with functioning hands. It had a beak, but it also had sharp teeth. Twin upswept tufts of cerulean blue feathers graced its noble visage, framing a face as white as new snow. Its neck was long and its back legs were almost like those of a cat. It had a long sinuous tail, complete with deep blue feather-barbs at the tip. Its chest was covered in soft, downy light blue feathers. Whatever it was, it inspired a sense of true awe in her. It was beautiful! Beautiful or not, it wouldn't matter if the creature was dead. Emily moved closer to check. She saw its chest move slightly as it breathed. It was alive, but it also appeared to be badly injured. It was beat up very badly and its right wing was broken.
She didn't even have to think to figure out what came next. She had to help the injured bird-creature. Wondering just where to begin, she took a smallish step closer and the creature, which she thought had been out cold, reacted to that movement. An instant later, she found herself face to face with the creature. Their eyes locked, blue to pale green. She screamed. It screamed too. Evidently it was just as frightened by her as she was by it. She retreated quickly, on the verge of fleeing the scene completely. The creature forced itself to its feet and spread its wings to fly away. Attempting to use its broken wing only aggravated the injury, and it screeched in pain. Emily's fear immediately died and she moved closer again. She said to it quietly, "No, no, no. Mustn't fly now, beautiful bird. Wing's broken bad. You'd best stay here for a little while. I, after all, will not hurt you. So just settle down and relax a little bit, marvelous feathered friend. Let me help you."
It settled down immediately, folding its good wing and just letting the broken one hang limply by its side. Seeing the way it quietly obeyed her, an idea struck her. She said, "Say… You can understand me, can't you." //Yes, I can understand you. Who are you?// Emily jumped, very startled, and said haltingly, "Um… Well… My-my name's Emily. My full name is Emily Ash, but I haven't even thought of that since…since… Sorry. Who are you?" //I am Lukia, the goddess of the sea.// Emily said, "So you're a girl bird?" //I am.// Getting down to business, Emily said, "Well, Miss Lukia, you're hurt pretty badly. How does one properly address a goddess? Uh, can I call you Miss Lukia?" //Don't call me that. I am Lukia, and that is that.// Emily said, "Your wing's been busted up pretty bad. Better let me handle that. Gonna take you a while to get better, though." She took a closer look at Lukia's injuries and exclaimed, "Holy cow! How in the name of all sanity did you managed to get burned, frozen and electrocuted all at once?" //It's a very long story. I'll tell it to you later. I'd say I have bigger problems now.// Emily said, "I live on top of that cliff up there. My home is a fully functional farm. There's a big barn full of soft hay and I'm sure I can scrounge up a few spare sheets. But how are we gonna get you up there?" //It's okay. I can walk. I'm graceful in the air, but I'm a major klutz on the ground.// Lukia stood up on her hind legs and padded a bit closer. Emily turned and led Lukia up a long staircase cut out of the stone of the cliff. Lukia walked almost like an oversized pigeon, bobbing her head with each step she took. Her broken wing dragged on the ground. //Wow, does that ever hurt.// Emily said, "I'll take care of it. Don't worry."
A few minutes later, Lukia roosted in a pile of hay, obediently holding still as Emily bandaged her wing. To distract her from the pain, Emily asked, "Well, how did you get hurt so badly?" //Well, far across the sea, there are three small islands. Perhaps you've heard of them. I'm talking about Fire Island, Ice Island and Lightning Island. Have you heard of them?// Emily replied, "Yep. I've heard of them. Aren't they over by Haiti and Cuba? And isn't there a legend about those three islands?" //Well, there is a legend. And it's a true legend, too. On each of those three islands lives a very special bird, the only one of its kind. The bird living on Fire Island is named Moltres. The bird living on Ice Island is named Articuno. And the bird living on Lightning Island is named Zapdos. Moltres is the god of fire, and he's the original firebird. Articuno is the goddess of ice, and she can freeze just about anything in no time flat. Zapdos is the god of lightning, and he's a real shocker. And then there's little old me, the goddess of the sea.// Emily said, "Okay, then. A fire bird, an ice bird and a lightning bird. And you're the sea bird. I got it. But if they're all the way over there and you're right here, what do they have to do with you?" //Those three birds really dislike each other a lot, and they are always looking to expand their territory. Usually the three birds have a sort of armistice going, and that means the elements they represent have an armistice going too. That armistice is the basis of the world's order. If or when the three birds squabble, the earth goes all screwy. All the nastiest, weirdest weather, such as hurricanes that come out of season and tornadoes happening where there usually aren't tornadoes, result from the hostilities between the three birds. That's where I come into the grand scheme of things. In the grand scheme of things, we're a quartet. If they act up, I am supposed to go in and keep them quiet.// Emily cut in, "So you're the peacekeeper, huh? Does that mean that you're stronger than they are, or are you on a level? Do you mediate or do you kick feathery butt whenever they act up?"
//I do both, if the situation ever calls for it. But I do much prefer to get the three of them to quiet down by singing my special little hypnosis tune. Hey, I sing it all the time. And I even sing it to myself as I swim underwater. But, this time, my song didn't work and I had to try to fight them. But that didn't work either…// She looked sad, even devastated. Wanting to cheer her up a little bit, Emily reached into her pocket and took out her little ocarina. She said, "I have a special song, too! I play it whenever I'm sad. It might work for you and make you feel a little bit better. It seems to have some sort of mysterious power…" She slowly lifted the ocarina to her lips, closed her eyes and began to play her special song, so sweet and soft and ethereal. Savoring the satisfied peace it brought her, she played with slow, elegant grace. This time the melody seemed to hang in the air, each note flowing into a great river of pure sound that filled the whole barn. It was flawless, marvelous, staggering, as it flowed forth from the core of her soul.
As the last note hung in the air, she opened her eyes and looked at Lukia. Lukia was staring at her with a flabbergasted look. //What the- How did you- You just played my special hypnosis song! How in the name of Houou did you know it?// Emily put her ocarina away and said, "I've always known it, right from the day I was born. My mom and dad used to tell stories about how I used to hum that song all the time when I was just a little kid. In fact, Mom said I didn't cry when I was born-I sang!" Lukia shifted where she sat, taking special care not to jar her broken wing, and fixed Emily with her piercing jade-hued gaze. //If- If you know the song, then that might mean…// She let out a soft sigh and her feathers seemed to droop. //If this means what I think it means, then I'd better tell you the rest of the story. And it's a long one.// Emily sat down beside Lukia and said; "Long stories are okay by me. And I wouldn't miss this one for the world. Tell away, Lukia. I'm listening." //Okay, then. There's a prophecy and it goes like this.
'Disrupt not the harmony of fire, ice and lightning,
Lest these forces wreak destruction on the world in which they clash.
Though the water's great guardian shall arise to stop the fighting,
Alone the song shall fail.
Thus the world will turn to ash.
O Chosen One…
Into your hands bring together all three,
The treasures together shall set the world free.
From each of three islands ancient spheres you shall take
And between life and death, all the difference you'll make
Climb to the altar to right what is wrong
And the world will be healed by the guardian's song.'
And I now believe that the prophecy is coming true. The balance has been disrupted in a major way, and my song has failed. The Chosen One…// Lukia let out a queer squawk and fairly jumped ten feet straight up into the air and nearly hit her head on a high rafter, thoroughly shocked by whatever thought had just entered her mind. Emily jumped as well, but she jumped backward. //Quick, quick, Emily! Tell me your name again! Tell me your full name!// She quickly settled back down and then replied bitterly, "If it makes you feel any better, my last name is Ash. Though I don't see how that could ever make any difference. It's just a name. How could it ever make any difference? That's just it. It can't!" //No, it can! It does! The prophecy… 'The world will turn to ash'! What if it doesn't mean ash as in destruction, but a specific person with that name? Don't you get it now? Can't you see it? The answer lies hidden in your name! 'The world will turn to ash'…your last name is Ash…the world will turn to you! Emily Ash…You are the Chosen One!// Emily promptly fell over with a loud thump. She said, "Man, I dreamed of doing something great, but I didn't dream anything as big as this… I dreamed of inventing something to make the world nicer, not saving it outright!" Greatly agitated, Lukia began flapping her good wing, kicking up a terrific windstorm as she tried in vain to fly. //If the prophecy is starting to come true, then time is running out and fast! We have to go collect the spheres of power to bring Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos under control! You've seen the screwy weather, haven't you? That means there isn't much time left to act on the prophecy! We have to go right now! We have to get going to the islands and find the three spheres of power quickly!//
Emily stood back up and said sternly, "Calm down, Lukia. You're hurt badly, remember? Remember your broken wing? You're grounded for a while." //But…the prophecy…// She asked, "How old is it, Lukia? Can you tell me that? When was the prophecy first made?" //About ten thousand years ago, I think.// Emily concluded, "It's waited ten thousand years. I think it can wait another six to eight weeks. You're staying right here until your broken wing heals, Lukia, impending apocalypse or no impending apocalypse." Lukia settled down again, grumbling agitatedly. Emily said, "Since you're gonna be here for a little while, you gotta know the rules. No trying to fly. If you do that, I swear I'm gonna lock you in here. Hide if there are other people around. There are people around who'd pay through the butt to own a creature like you…as if you were an object… You can wander around the farm if you want, but don't harass the animals. Some of them can do you serious hurt if they're scared or angry. Don't go too far. You might get lost or something. Clean up after yourself. If you shed feathers, take them with you and hide them. People don't have to see you to know that something weird is going on." //I can live with that.// Lukia settled down, almost like a dove in its nest. Emily settled down as well.
The two of them talked together to pass the time. Emily asked, "What's my role in all this funky prophecy stuff?" //You have to go to the three islands and get the spheres of power. Only in the hands of the Chosen One shall they be kindled to become anything more than just colored crystal. Then you must take them to a great altar on an island between the three. Place them on their pedestals and wait for a sign. Then I shall sing. You play your ocarina. With the spheres aligned and both of us singing, the Great Power of the Sea will be released.// Emily asked, "At first thought it doesn't seem like all that much. But we'll have to deal with three hostile birds, none of which want us to get the spheres, right? I'm betting Moltres can spew flames, Zapdos can live up to his name and you said Articuno can freeze whatever she darn well pleases. I'm also betting that they'll be willing to put aside their quarrel to go after us. I just want to know one thing. How are we going to get by the lot of them? Believe me, I'd rather not get frozen, barbecued or zapped. Or all three at once." //I'll carry you over to the islands, Emily. I can shield myself, so I can shield you too if I carry you there on my back. Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos will probably give chase and I'll end up dodging blasts, so you'll have to hold on to me very tightly. And please let me know if you get airsick…so I can duck?// Emily asked, "As it is, we'll be on a very strict time limit during our quest. With three angry birds hot on our trail, we won't have any time to dawdle. It'll have to be in and out, like a surgical strike. So, to save us some confusion and precious time, what do these spheres of power look like?" //They're about the size of baseballs, or your fist. The one on Lightning Island is yellow. The one on Ice Island is blue. The one on Fire Island is red. They look like balls of colored glass. But when the Chosen One lays their hands on the spheres of power, they burn brightly, shining like stars…// Emily interrupted, "Don't bother with the details. I just need to know the bare basics. So the spheres of power look like colorful glass balls the size of baseballs. It'll be hard to miss those if I know where to look. Where can I find each of them? That'll save us even more time and confusion." //At the center of each island is a small temple. At the center of each temple is a statue representing that island's particular bird. The sphere of power for that particular island will be in the statue's beak. They might be wedged in there, though. Be ready to pull on them hard. I'm also betting that the birds don't want us to get our hands on any of those spheres and they're willing to do anything to stop us. You may have to grab them fast.//
//...// means that those words are being spoken by Lukia.
The Revelation of the Sea Goddess
Emily stood atop the cliff overlooking the sea, playing the ocarina as she always did. Every single day she stood there and played her song, so sweet and low and mournful. She couldn't recall where she'd first heard the song, for she'd known it all her life. Whenever she was sad, it brought her comfort. Whenever she was lonely, it made her feel better. On this day, as on all other days, she was alone. She was always alone and always sad, ever since…no, she would not think of that. The song was all she had left. She faced the dawn, watching the sun rising over the sea, and played her song for the morning. The wind stirred her long brown hair, made her blue eyes wince and water. Was it the wind that caused the tears in her eyes…or was she crying again? She'd done an awful lot of that lately. She dreamed of an end to the pain, and wondered if she had the strength to seek solace in death. How many times had she come out here to throw herself off the cliff, only to turn back in fear of the abyss? Only this day, she felt, was different. The weather was totally screwed up. It was July, yet there were three inches of snow. Something was amiss, somehow. Somewhere something had gone wrong somehow. It seemed as if the whole world was waiting. The very heavens seemed to hold their breath. Something within her held its breath as well. She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something big was going to happen. Her eyes wandered as she played, her gaze drifting out over the waves. Then she saw the strange thing that lay in the shallows. Something within her urged her on, and she was heading down toward the beach before she knew it.
When she got closer, she could discern that it was some form of creature. It was very big, to begin with, about the size of a small single-engine airplane. It looked a little like a bird and a little like some kind of a dinosaur. It had blue and white feathers, and two parallel rows of deep blue dorsal plates ran down its back. Its wings evidently doubled as arms complete with functioning hands. It had a beak, but it also had sharp teeth. Twin upswept tufts of cerulean blue feathers graced its noble visage, framing a face as white as new snow. Its neck was long and its back legs were almost like those of a cat. It had a long sinuous tail, complete with deep blue feather-barbs at the tip. Its chest was covered in soft, downy light blue feathers. Whatever it was, it inspired a sense of true awe in her. It was beautiful! Beautiful or not, it wouldn't matter if the creature was dead. Emily moved closer to check. She saw its chest move slightly as it breathed. It was alive, but it also appeared to be badly injured. It was beat up very badly and its right wing was broken.
She didn't even have to think to figure out what came next. She had to help the injured bird-creature. Wondering just where to begin, she took a smallish step closer and the creature, which she thought had been out cold, reacted to that movement. An instant later, she found herself face to face with the creature. Their eyes locked, blue to pale green. She screamed. It screamed too. Evidently it was just as frightened by her as she was by it. She retreated quickly, on the verge of fleeing the scene completely. The creature forced itself to its feet and spread its wings to fly away. Attempting to use its broken wing only aggravated the injury, and it screeched in pain. Emily's fear immediately died and she moved closer again. She said to it quietly, "No, no, no. Mustn't fly now, beautiful bird. Wing's broken bad. You'd best stay here for a little while. I, after all, will not hurt you. So just settle down and relax a little bit, marvelous feathered friend. Let me help you."
It settled down immediately, folding its good wing and just letting the broken one hang limply by its side. Seeing the way it quietly obeyed her, an idea struck her. She said, "Say… You can understand me, can't you." //Yes, I can understand you. Who are you?// Emily jumped, very startled, and said haltingly, "Um… Well… My-my name's Emily. My full name is Emily Ash, but I haven't even thought of that since…since… Sorry. Who are you?" //I am Lukia, the goddess of the sea.// Emily said, "So you're a girl bird?" //I am.// Getting down to business, Emily said, "Well, Miss Lukia, you're hurt pretty badly. How does one properly address a goddess? Uh, can I call you Miss Lukia?" //Don't call me that. I am Lukia, and that is that.// Emily said, "Your wing's been busted up pretty bad. Better let me handle that. Gonna take you a while to get better, though." She took a closer look at Lukia's injuries and exclaimed, "Holy cow! How in the name of all sanity did you managed to get burned, frozen and electrocuted all at once?" //It's a very long story. I'll tell it to you later. I'd say I have bigger problems now.// Emily said, "I live on top of that cliff up there. My home is a fully functional farm. There's a big barn full of soft hay and I'm sure I can scrounge up a few spare sheets. But how are we gonna get you up there?" //It's okay. I can walk. I'm graceful in the air, but I'm a major klutz on the ground.// Lukia stood up on her hind legs and padded a bit closer. Emily turned and led Lukia up a long staircase cut out of the stone of the cliff. Lukia walked almost like an oversized pigeon, bobbing her head with each step she took. Her broken wing dragged on the ground. //Wow, does that ever hurt.// Emily said, "I'll take care of it. Don't worry."
A few minutes later, Lukia roosted in a pile of hay, obediently holding still as Emily bandaged her wing. To distract her from the pain, Emily asked, "Well, how did you get hurt so badly?" //Well, far across the sea, there are three small islands. Perhaps you've heard of them. I'm talking about Fire Island, Ice Island and Lightning Island. Have you heard of them?// Emily replied, "Yep. I've heard of them. Aren't they over by Haiti and Cuba? And isn't there a legend about those three islands?" //Well, there is a legend. And it's a true legend, too. On each of those three islands lives a very special bird, the only one of its kind. The bird living on Fire Island is named Moltres. The bird living on Ice Island is named Articuno. And the bird living on Lightning Island is named Zapdos. Moltres is the god of fire, and he's the original firebird. Articuno is the goddess of ice, and she can freeze just about anything in no time flat. Zapdos is the god of lightning, and he's a real shocker. And then there's little old me, the goddess of the sea.// Emily said, "Okay, then. A fire bird, an ice bird and a lightning bird. And you're the sea bird. I got it. But if they're all the way over there and you're right here, what do they have to do with you?" //Those three birds really dislike each other a lot, and they are always looking to expand their territory. Usually the three birds have a sort of armistice going, and that means the elements they represent have an armistice going too. That armistice is the basis of the world's order. If or when the three birds squabble, the earth goes all screwy. All the nastiest, weirdest weather, such as hurricanes that come out of season and tornadoes happening where there usually aren't tornadoes, result from the hostilities between the three birds. That's where I come into the grand scheme of things. In the grand scheme of things, we're a quartet. If they act up, I am supposed to go in and keep them quiet.// Emily cut in, "So you're the peacekeeper, huh? Does that mean that you're stronger than they are, or are you on a level? Do you mediate or do you kick feathery butt whenever they act up?"
//I do both, if the situation ever calls for it. But I do much prefer to get the three of them to quiet down by singing my special little hypnosis tune. Hey, I sing it all the time. And I even sing it to myself as I swim underwater. But, this time, my song didn't work and I had to try to fight them. But that didn't work either…// She looked sad, even devastated. Wanting to cheer her up a little bit, Emily reached into her pocket and took out her little ocarina. She said, "I have a special song, too! I play it whenever I'm sad. It might work for you and make you feel a little bit better. It seems to have some sort of mysterious power…" She slowly lifted the ocarina to her lips, closed her eyes and began to play her special song, so sweet and soft and ethereal. Savoring the satisfied peace it brought her, she played with slow, elegant grace. This time the melody seemed to hang in the air, each note flowing into a great river of pure sound that filled the whole barn. It was flawless, marvelous, staggering, as it flowed forth from the core of her soul.
As the last note hung in the air, she opened her eyes and looked at Lukia. Lukia was staring at her with a flabbergasted look. //What the- How did you- You just played my special hypnosis song! How in the name of Houou did you know it?// Emily put her ocarina away and said, "I've always known it, right from the day I was born. My mom and dad used to tell stories about how I used to hum that song all the time when I was just a little kid. In fact, Mom said I didn't cry when I was born-I sang!" Lukia shifted where she sat, taking special care not to jar her broken wing, and fixed Emily with her piercing jade-hued gaze. //If- If you know the song, then that might mean…// She let out a soft sigh and her feathers seemed to droop. //If this means what I think it means, then I'd better tell you the rest of the story. And it's a long one.// Emily sat down beside Lukia and said; "Long stories are okay by me. And I wouldn't miss this one for the world. Tell away, Lukia. I'm listening." //Okay, then. There's a prophecy and it goes like this.
'Disrupt not the harmony of fire, ice and lightning,
Lest these forces wreak destruction on the world in which they clash.
Though the water's great guardian shall arise to stop the fighting,
Alone the song shall fail.
Thus the world will turn to ash.
O Chosen One…
Into your hands bring together all three,
The treasures together shall set the world free.
From each of three islands ancient spheres you shall take
And between life and death, all the difference you'll make
Climb to the altar to right what is wrong
And the world will be healed by the guardian's song.'
And I now believe that the prophecy is coming true. The balance has been disrupted in a major way, and my song has failed. The Chosen One…// Lukia let out a queer squawk and fairly jumped ten feet straight up into the air and nearly hit her head on a high rafter, thoroughly shocked by whatever thought had just entered her mind. Emily jumped as well, but she jumped backward. //Quick, quick, Emily! Tell me your name again! Tell me your full name!// She quickly settled back down and then replied bitterly, "If it makes you feel any better, my last name is Ash. Though I don't see how that could ever make any difference. It's just a name. How could it ever make any difference? That's just it. It can't!" //No, it can! It does! The prophecy… 'The world will turn to ash'! What if it doesn't mean ash as in destruction, but a specific person with that name? Don't you get it now? Can't you see it? The answer lies hidden in your name! 'The world will turn to ash'…your last name is Ash…the world will turn to you! Emily Ash…You are the Chosen One!// Emily promptly fell over with a loud thump. She said, "Man, I dreamed of doing something great, but I didn't dream anything as big as this… I dreamed of inventing something to make the world nicer, not saving it outright!" Greatly agitated, Lukia began flapping her good wing, kicking up a terrific windstorm as she tried in vain to fly. //If the prophecy is starting to come true, then time is running out and fast! We have to go collect the spheres of power to bring Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos under control! You've seen the screwy weather, haven't you? That means there isn't much time left to act on the prophecy! We have to go right now! We have to get going to the islands and find the three spheres of power quickly!//
Emily stood back up and said sternly, "Calm down, Lukia. You're hurt badly, remember? Remember your broken wing? You're grounded for a while." //But…the prophecy…// She asked, "How old is it, Lukia? Can you tell me that? When was the prophecy first made?" //About ten thousand years ago, I think.// Emily concluded, "It's waited ten thousand years. I think it can wait another six to eight weeks. You're staying right here until your broken wing heals, Lukia, impending apocalypse or no impending apocalypse." Lukia settled down again, grumbling agitatedly. Emily said, "Since you're gonna be here for a little while, you gotta know the rules. No trying to fly. If you do that, I swear I'm gonna lock you in here. Hide if there are other people around. There are people around who'd pay through the butt to own a creature like you…as if you were an object… You can wander around the farm if you want, but don't harass the animals. Some of them can do you serious hurt if they're scared or angry. Don't go too far. You might get lost or something. Clean up after yourself. If you shed feathers, take them with you and hide them. People don't have to see you to know that something weird is going on." //I can live with that.// Lukia settled down, almost like a dove in its nest. Emily settled down as well.
The two of them talked together to pass the time. Emily asked, "What's my role in all this funky prophecy stuff?" //You have to go to the three islands and get the spheres of power. Only in the hands of the Chosen One shall they be kindled to become anything more than just colored crystal. Then you must take them to a great altar on an island between the three. Place them on their pedestals and wait for a sign. Then I shall sing. You play your ocarina. With the spheres aligned and both of us singing, the Great Power of the Sea will be released.// Emily asked, "At first thought it doesn't seem like all that much. But we'll have to deal with three hostile birds, none of which want us to get the spheres, right? I'm betting Moltres can spew flames, Zapdos can live up to his name and you said Articuno can freeze whatever she darn well pleases. I'm also betting that they'll be willing to put aside their quarrel to go after us. I just want to know one thing. How are we going to get by the lot of them? Believe me, I'd rather not get frozen, barbecued or zapped. Or all three at once." //I'll carry you over to the islands, Emily. I can shield myself, so I can shield you too if I carry you there on my back. Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos will probably give chase and I'll end up dodging blasts, so you'll have to hold on to me very tightly. And please let me know if you get airsick…so I can duck?// Emily asked, "As it is, we'll be on a very strict time limit during our quest. With three angry birds hot on our trail, we won't have any time to dawdle. It'll have to be in and out, like a surgical strike. So, to save us some confusion and precious time, what do these spheres of power look like?" //They're about the size of baseballs, or your fist. The one on Lightning Island is yellow. The one on Ice Island is blue. The one on Fire Island is red. They look like balls of colored glass. But when the Chosen One lays their hands on the spheres of power, they burn brightly, shining like stars…// Emily interrupted, "Don't bother with the details. I just need to know the bare basics. So the spheres of power look like colorful glass balls the size of baseballs. It'll be hard to miss those if I know where to look. Where can I find each of them? That'll save us even more time and confusion." //At the center of each island is a small temple. At the center of each temple is a statue representing that island's particular bird. The sphere of power for that particular island will be in the statue's beak. They might be wedged in there, though. Be ready to pull on them hard. I'm also betting that the birds don't want us to get our hands on any of those spheres and they're willing to do anything to stop us. You may have to grab them fast.//