Putting Him In His Place.
Chapter Three.
Awareness returned to Lawrence slowly, and he stretched. The confining field he encountered, plus the unusual feeling of stretching in a Lugia's form brought him to full awareness and he opened his eyes.
His friend Cyril was stood before him, looking up with a pleased expression on his face. Then it turned worried.
"I'm sorry Lawrence hasn't been to see you yet, but he appears to be missing. The Shamouti Islanders went to rescue him but found nothing but his clothes above the tide line. They were wondering if he'd committed suicide, but I told them he was not like that, and had probably tried to swim for the island. The problem is, he never arrived on the island. 'Did he drown?' they're asking. Now I know that Lawrence is a very strong swimmer, and they say that after the storm, the water was calm, and that Chosen One of theirs is supposed to have seen Lawrence still on Lightning Island just after the storm had been stilled." Cyril sighed, and briefly looked at the floor before raising his eyes to meet Lawrence's.
"Look, I hope the Islanders were right about you being intelligent enough to understand humans. It is said that Lugia spoke with his mind to the Chosen One and his companions. If anyone might know what actually happened to Lawrence, it might be you. Did he drown, or did some other misfortune befall him?" Cyril's eyes darkened as he straightened up.
"Did you, Lugia, kill him, either accidentally or deliberately?"
Lawrence's shocked outburst came out as an outraged Lugia bellow. Mentally, Cyril heard a 'shouted' mental NO! A Lugia would not do such a thing!
"Ouch, okay, no need to shout!" Cyril, said, recoiling in fright even though Lawrence was helpless in the force-fields. "Do you have any idea what happened to him? I'm really worried. His disappearing like this is totally out of character."
Lawrence sighed. Yes, I know exactly what happened, but you would never believe me if I tried to explain.
"Try me." Said Cyril. "There is a lot I'd believe about Lawrence, and about you, Lugia. I have heard it said that the Legendary Pokémon have abilities we do not know about."
No, you would not believe me, I know you, Cyril Smart. Lawrence said. But I can assure you that I-I mean your friend Lawrence, is still alive, but is somewhat-indisposed. He closed his eyes briefly, wishing he could tell Cyril, but knowing the limits of Cyril's belief. I can tell you that he should be available after the next full moon, but until then, you will have to wait and see.
"Okay, I'll have to trust you on that, and hold on to the hope you have given me. In what way is he indisposed? Can you tell me?"
He's the captive audience of a very good friend of his. Lawrence said, unable to resist a small smile at his own expense. I'm sorry I can't tell you any more, but he is alive and well.
Cyril nodded. "My thanks to you, and I'm going to have a special environment with a cave and water to swim in built for you. I don't think that I could leave you in the force-fields like that for too long, and I'd like to be able to see you in a more natural environment, to draw and paint you, and possibly later swim with you. But until then, this is all I have." He took a small remote control out of his pocket, and pressed it. "To ease the waiting for you, I will send you back to sleep, so goodnight."
Lawrence felt sleepiness overtake him, and managed to direct one last, desperate thought to Cyril before the sleep-inducing field fully activated.
Don't go after the birds! It'll get turbulent and the world will end! Do you want to meet your death with your head down the toilet?
Cyril walked back to his lift to the outside. He had a whole new island to explore. The islanders had been very hospitable to him, and Cyril was sure he would enjoy this holiday. Then he paused, looking back at the sleeping captive bird he had.
The Lugia had said to him 'No, you would not believe me, I know you, Cyril Smart.'
How had it known his name? What did it mean when it said it knew him? This was the first time he had seen Lugia in any other form but pictoral, drawn in books and photos of stone carvings. So how could Lugia know him? And it's last comment? He could believe Lugia would think he would want to go after the birds by the fact he had caught Lugia itself, but how would it know he got airsick in turbulence? He would have put it down to the fact that Lugia was psychic, and had merely read his mind, except for one thing.
If Lugia had gained its knowledge by reading Cyril's mind, Lugia would not have needed to warn him off the birds. Between being satisfied enough with just possessing Lugia, and the dire warnings the Shamouti islanders had given him about not interfering with the birds, he had already decided to leave them well alone. If Lugia had read his mind, he would have found that out, so there had to be another explanation for it.
He would have to get back that night and have another conversation with that remarkable bird.