As Clear as Crystal

Emily received a call from Professor Oak in the Pallet Town. The boat arrived safely and now the rescued Eevee were living in the fields surrounding his laboratory. Mary and Adam showed up on the monitor and said 'hello' to Emily and their children. The building that had been condemned is now in the process of being remodeled and built into a sanctuary, but it'll still take a few weeks for it to be complete. Emily said it was all right. She and her friends would keep traveling through the Johto Region and Adam and Mary and the rescued Eevee would stay with Professor Oak under his care.

Usually, the last gym battle is the toughest, so the boys decided to prepare Emily with some training. Yugi challenged her first. He called on Togepi and asked her to watch the battle and learn. He would be battling with Tyrogue. Emily called on Undine to battle. Lumina would have the advantage, but Emily didn't want to be unfair. It wouldn't really be good training or teaching.

Undine made the first move by attacking with Water Gun. Tyrogue dodged and used Jump Kick on Undine. She got back on her feet and froze the field with her Aurora Beam. Tyrogue tried to keep his balance, but Undine knocked him down with her Water Gun. Tyrogue climbed up a tree and attacked with his Mach Punch. Undine had enough and conceded the battle. Tyrogue cheered for himself for his victory and began glowing. His limbs grew longer and his head became triangular like a top. He evolved into Hitmontop.

Togepi walked into the field. "Togepi, do you want a chance to battle?" Yugi asked her. She nods and gets in front of Yugi. Emily decides to battle with Luna. Togepi attacks with her Charm to make Luna lower her guard. Luna gently brushes Togepi with her tail to tickle her. Now that Luna's guard is down, Togepi can put her in a trance with her Sweet Kiss. Luna becomes confused and dazed like she's having a daydream. Togepi waves her fingers, which can only mean one thing: she's about to use Metronone. Emily pleads Luna to come back to her senses, but it's too late. The Metronome becomes Leaf Storm and Luna is knocked out. That was surprisingly impressive, but it always turns out that way when nothing is expected from the smallest things. With this kind of training, Togepi would grow up strong and healthy and ready to battle anything. And although Emily didn't win her battles this time, her Pokémon still gained some experience.

On the way to Blackthorn City, the heroes saw plenty of electric Pokémon climbing the hills. There was an Electabuzz, a Raichu, a Jolteon, a Voltorb, a Magnemite, and an Ampharos. They were curious to know where they were going, so the heroes followed the Pokémon. There was a lake in the middle of the mountain and the electric Pokémon were all swimming in it. Some of the electric Pokémon looked sick or tired and the water was healing them. But it wasn't the water that was nursing the electric Pokémon back to health. It was what was in the water that was doing it. In the middle of the lake was crystal that contained the power to restore the energy of the electric Pokémon that rested in the lake water. Centuries ago, a rain brought a great flood to these mountains and a temple collapsed and fell to the bottom of this lake. The ruins remained at the bottom of this lake with the crystal since then.

Joey and Emily decided to let their Pokémon rest in the lake too, so they called on Sylphid and Flaaffy. They went into the water and found it refreshing. Just then, the heroes heard a weak crowing sound coming their way. They faced the sky and saw a yellow bird coming down at the lake.

Joey was the first to recognize it. "Guys, look! It's Zapdos!" he cried.

His friends saw that he was right. They also notice that Zapdos was flying weakly. "It looks like it's hurt," said Kaiba.

Zapdos couldn't fly anymore and landed at the edge of the lake. Joey could sense that Kaiba was right and Zapdos was really weak. "Come on, let's get him into the water." And he and his friends carefully lift Zapdos and get him into the water.

Zapdos was slowly starting to feel better. He opened his eyes and faced the heroes. "Who are you," he weakly asked.

"It's all right," Joey said softly. "We're friends. We came to help you." He couldn't understand what Zapdos was saying, but he still reasoned with him by saying he and his friends meant no harm. "By the way, Zapdos, do you recognize us? A lot of legendary Pokémon like you have. We're the chosen warriors of Millennia."

Zapdos became more alert when he heard that. "The chosen warriors of Millennia?" he echoed. He got out of the water and bowed before the heroes respectfully. "I am truly honored to be in your presence and I am also grateful to you for your help."

"What happened to you?" Emily wondered.

"I was having a practice battle with some of my friends," Zapdos explained. "I took it too far and got injured, so I came to this lake to get healed. But I never thought I would get to meet the four of you. You see, I heard that Millennia's chosen warriors have been traveling through these lands. I also heard of your battle against the Pokémon sovereign."

"Yes," Emily was saying. "We battled him for the Cobalt Star shard and won. We've been keeping it safe since then."

"Very good," said Zapdos. "The Pokémon sovereign is wise to put his trust in you. And though you have fulfilled your task, you are always welcome in this world as friends. And if you ever need assistance from me or my brethren, we will be there. We are but your humble servants, my princess."

"Thank you, Zapdos, but that's really not necessary," Emily insisted. "Please, let us be friends and nothing more or less."

Zapdos respects her request. "As you wish." He approaches Joey and gently nuzzles his face against him. "I admire you, young man. You are as loyal as you are determined; always helping your friends and all others in need. A fire burns deep in your soul and it is a special fire; one that can only be ignited by the storm of friendship. So as long as that storm rages inside of you, the lighting will continue to ignite the flames inside."

Joey couldn't understand what Zapdos was saying. For all he could assume, the bird of lightning was expressing gratitude. Joey smiled and petted Zapdos. The electric bird bids his friends goodbye and return to the skies.

"That was pretty cool," said Yugi. "A lot of legendary Pokémon have been coming before us."

"That's because they know who we are," said Kaiba.

"They want to help us in any way that they can if we need it," said Emily. "I told Zapdos they don't have to do that, but he insisted. But it's not because we're the chosen warriors of Millennia. It's because they trust us and they consider us their friends." She faces Joey and tells him, "He also complemented you, Joey, about your element."

"Yeah," Joey wondered. "What did he say?"

She smiles and replies, "As long as you stay true to your element, the storm of friendship will always ignite the flames that burn passionately inside of you."

"The storm of friendship will ignite the fire in my soul," Joey repeated. He liked that and agreed. He always had a thing for fire when he started out as a fighter, but he embraced the fact that lightning matched his element perfectly. Fire also seemed to be the perfect match for his second virtue renewal. He had a double header of elements to represent; fire for renewal and lightning for friendship.