Ash pointed. "There!"
Thank you. Lugia panted briefly, then turned towards the distant Electric-type flying steadily for Lightning Island.
Ash and Pikachu clung on as he accelerated downwards, the wind whipping at them through the air-shield.
This is going to be tricky, Lugia informed his passengers, as Zapdos grew from a dot to a tiny cross-shape. Zapdos is probably the one who can harm me the easiest, especially under stormy skies.
As if to accentuate the point, spots of rain began to fall.
"Why did he head off?" Ash asked, voice raised a little from excitement.
I do not know. We should ask him.
Lugia flapped his wings, once. Let me see, now... Pikachu, you have Lightningrod?
Pikachu nodded confirmation. "I do."
Excellent. Lugia judged times and distances. I don't think we're going to get him before he reaches Lightning Island, so my first idea won't work.
"So he's headed all the way back to Lightning Island?" Pikachu asked, frowning. "Now, why would he do that, I wonder."
Ash squinted, looking with both Aura sight and regular sight, as their target crossed over the cliff face on one side of Lightning Island onto the level ground itself.
Then he did a double-take, and glanced back at his backpack. "So that's where it went! Zapdos must have found the Lightning treasure!"
Ah, that explains that. Lugia wobbled his wings slightly, shedding speed. He may think he just has to carry it back to the island to 'win' or something.
"Now that's silly," Ash agreed.
"Don't we just have to carry the treasures back to Shamouti to win, here?" Pikachu asked.
"Uh..." Ash began, frowning.
That's different. We know it'll work, Lugia replied. He backwinged slightly, and raised his mental voice as he cleared the crater rim. Zapdos!
The Electric Pokémon turned, wings snapping with electricity, and the Lightning treasure back in place at its shrine. "Lugia, I've won! I'm the one in charge of the other two now!"
That is not how it works, Lugia thought, with a frown.
"But I'm stronger! I retrieved my treasure, and the other two didn't!"
"Actually, that's mostly because the Lightning treasure fell out of the flying battleship," Ash said, speaking up.
Zapdos blinked, flying a little higher. "You have a human on your back?"
Yes, Lugia replied simply.
"Have you gone insane?" Zapdos pressed. "Humans just captured all three of us! They planned to capture you!"
They-
"Hey!" Ash called, pointing at Zapdos. "Charizard, Squirtle, Pikachu and I are the ones who freed you three!"
Pikachu hopped up onto Lugia's head. "That's gratitude for you."
That is correct, Lugia said, over the top of Pikachu's somewhat undiplomatic comment. This human is most certainly our friend. He is one of the Chosen, if it matters.
"Seriously?" Zapdos asked. "He's, what, ten?"
"Twelve!" Ash replied hotly. "Just..."
Lugia settled to the ground. Ash, perhaps you should go get the Lightning Treasure.
"No!" Zapdos called out, wings spread threateningly.
He has already activated the other two Treasures, and is the one at the heart of the festival to boot. Lugia moved forwards, wings ready to defend Ash. He has every right.
Zapdos screeched, and aimed a warning bolt of lightning in front of Ash. It arced towards his feet, then curved away, and discharged into Pikachu.
The legendary turned incredulous eyes on the little electric mouse.
"What?" Pikachu asked, nonchalantly.
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. Finally enraged beyond endurance, Zapdos launched himself into the air and started calling down bolts of lightning from the growing storm.
Ash, go! Lugia said, taking flight himself. Pikachu, keep him safe. I'll pick you up in a few minutes.
"Okay, good," Misty said, looking between the trio of Floatzel. "You understand?"
They nodded. "Yes!" one said, with a grin. "Find the Legendaries, lead Wailord to them."
"And you?"
The colossal Wailord floating offshore boomed her understanding.
"Right. You'd better hurry," Misty said, and they set off – the three otters shooting off into the stormy sea cloaked in Aqua Jet, followed by the slower Wailord.
"Good work," Tracey said, sitting down with a sigh.
"Thanks," Misty replied. "It's tricky to understand most Pokémon, if I don't know them, but Water-types are easier. And I just realized – you know, last time they hit the ice, but this time there isn't any."
"Right." Tracey nodded. "Like I said, good thought. Is there a reason you didn't have Togekiss lead them in, though?"
Misty looked up. "Actually... where is she?"
She raised her voice. "Guys?"
Team Rocket looked around from where Meowth was attempting to interpret between the two humans and a curious flock of Swellow.
"Yeah?" James said, raising an eyebrow.
"Have any of you seen Togekiss?"
"What, didn't ya know?" Meowth pointed. "She went off dat way. We tought you sent her."
Misty paled. "...Oh no. Why did she..."
Tracey put his hand on her shoulder. "She wanted to help. She's the only Pokémon either of us have got who can both fly and fight, at anything like that level... and I think you're selling her short, Misty."
The Cerulean gym leader looked back at him. "What?"
"She's not a baby any more, Misty. She's fully evolved, and she's been fighting for years – you know that."
"...You're right, I do know that." Misty slumped. "But she's my daughter, and I don't want to see her in danger."
From the area the Rockets were, there was a chatter of raised Swellow voices. Meowth's cut over them. "Oh, fer cryin' out loud! It was a joke, ya bird-brains!"
"So... all of it?" Melody asked, quietly. "The whole thing's real?"
"It is," the Slowking informed her. "It isn't supposed to get this bad, this is quite a mess, but the Great Guardian seems to have things under control."
"Right." She looked down at the ocarina in her hands. "What about me? Do I have to-"
"You might," Slowking said, putting a companionable arm around her shoulders. "The song is connected to Lugia, and helps to empower him and to calm the discord of the titans."
The powerful psychic gave her a smile. "Don't worry. All you have to do is play the music, nothing more. It'll make sense at the time."
Lugia focused, catching the bolt of lightning aimed at him in a Psychic and deflecting it away harmlessly. Sparing a glance down, he saw that the one aimed for Ash and Pikachu had been caught by the Pokémon, and that the young trainer had reached the shrine.
He held up the yellow orb as it flashed to life, caged-lightning matching the internal-fire and wash of cool ice from the other two, and Lugia nodded to him.
Zapdos dove forward, pointed beak first, and aimed straight for Lugia in a Wild Charge.
Lugia frowned, came to a decision, and slipped sideways in the air to ensure the attack missed. Before Zapdos recovered, Lugia made things worse for him by firing a Hydro Pump that caused the Wild Charge to ground into Zapdos himself.
Screeching, the Electric-type wobbled in the air, and Lugia took the opportunity to compound his troubles with an Ice Beam, then finally a Psychic attack to slam him into the ground.
Seeing Ash and Pikachu had already cleared the crater rim, Lugia accelerated and came down to float alongside them. Jump on.
Ash pushed aura into his boots again. One step was normal, the next was impossibly high, and he landed on Lugia's back just before Pikachu did.
Right! Lugia added, wings churning the air. Full speed to Shamouti.
Lawrence III shook his head, groggy with sleep.
That damned Grass type...
Pushing himself up from the place he'd been sleeping, he walked stiffly over to a console and examined it.
Systems were mostly down, as before. There was one reactor online, though, and the remote power control was still working.
Sensors... operational, at least some of them, which gave him a clear picture of Shamouti Sound and the air over it.
None of the great birds was still flying. Had he missed his chance?
Then a caret appeared on the display, highlighting a very familiar silhouette.
"There you are..." he mused, and flicked switches. One final press, and four triangular shapes launched from the remains of the weapons module.
Spinning briefly to orient themselves, they set off north-west on an interception course.
"It's been… weird," Ash admitted. "Doing it all again, I mean."
I can imagine it would be, Lugia replied. It's strange enough remembering doing this before.
His wings beat in the air, increasing their speed. Ho-Oh mentioned it, but I didn't know what to think, until now. But Ash, I should-
"Lugia! Look out!" Ash called, pointing east.
Lugia glanced to the side, and spotted the incoming capture rings. Not again!
He inhaled, an eerie light forming around his mouth as air rushed in. Three seconds in, it flashed yellow as the heat and pressure drove it to form a plasma.
"How is that still a Flying-type attack?" Pikachu asked, clinging on as Lugia twisted to open his firing line.
It's all done with air pressure, Lugia informed him tautly.
Then released the attack.
At first, the plasma was carried along with the air stream – then it collimated, coalescing into a single bolt of incandescent air in the centre of a cooler but still intense wind.
One of the rings was caught directly in the beam, and began to glow cherry-red and steam in the hissing rain. It attempted to spin out of the area of the attack, failed, and exploded.
Lugia swept the Aeroblast across to another ring, which turned face-on to him and let the attack go harmlessly through the centre.
Then the other two were on him, discharging energy into his body, and he was forced to end the attack and switch to Light Screen.
Ash cried out in pain as the lightning bolts ran through him. He was used to Pikachu's electrical attacks, but these were... different. Almost... empty, like they took energy instead of delivering it.
Pikachu? Lugia asked, struggling to break out of the encirclement. Can you-?
Pikachu winced, firing out another bolt. "I've been trying! These things are really tough, and I've been doing a lot of high-powered electric attacks today!"
Ash gritted his teeth, and pushed out a Protect – taking the pressure off Lugia's damaged shields for a moment. "Gah!"
Thank you. Lugia began gathering the energy for another Aeroblast, turning frantically to keep at least one of the rings in his sight line.
Rose-golden coloured fire rushed past his wing, coming in from the north, and enveloped another one of the rings. It spun free in a moment, then was caught again.
It visibly deformed in the few seconds of sustained fire before the attack ended. Once free, it wobbled, spun for a moment, and then fell apart.
What? Lugia asked, blinking. Ho-Oh? What are you-
"I'm flattered," said the squeaky voice of his saviour. "But no, I'm just the understudy."
"Togekiss!" Ash called, beaming. "Thanks for the help!"
Lugia and both his passengers winced as the remaining two rings flashed lightning across them again.
"Stay close!" Togekiss called, swooping around to try to line up on another ring. They seemed to be wiser now, though, and gave her a wide berth.
Stalemate, Lugia observed, wings beating more slowly now. The rings hovered at a distance, ready to pounce if their guard dropped. And we can't move on to Shamouti like this.
"Can't you blast the fortress?" Ash checked.
I've barely got enough power for a single Aeroblast left. If I miss, then we're doomed.
"Don't move," Lucario instructed Hunter J.
She snorted bitter laughter.
He inspected the bent metal tying her hands behind her back to a girder, nodded, and set off at a run through the corridors.
It had, at first, seemed like the Hikokyu was completely ruined by the crash. But now that clearly wasn't the case, what with the capture rings that he'd seen shoot off into the distance – straight towards the sparkle of Aura which indicated Ash, Pikachu, and what could only be Lugia.
Coming to the bottom of some stairs, Lucario skidded to a halt.
The route to the control room was collapsed. Damn.
Closing his eyes to enhance his Aura sight, Lucario scanned the wreck of the flying battleship. There had to be something-
Aha.
A point, deeper into the ship, which shone like a small star.
Another sprint, faster still this time. Lucario's hindpaws glowed with blue aura, increasing his speed, and he no longer bothered to open doors – smashing through them with a succession of small Aura Spheres.
In less than a minute, he reached the source of the light.
It was quite a sight to behold.
There was a spherical glass outer layer, connected to thick cables leading off elsewhere into the ship. Inside it, a succession of independently rotating bronze-coloured rings, marked with letters in an unknown language – strange lightning-flashes, vertical lines marked with diamonds, and something with a dot in the centre of an n-like shape were only a few of the runes on display.
Right in the middle was a blue spark, flashing alternately brighter and dimmer.
Lucario came to a quick conclusion. Break things.
Channelling aura around his paws, he picked a spot on the glass sphere and rammed a Force Palm directly into it. The whole assemblage shuddered, and the lights flickered for a moment.
Again, and small cracks started to appear.
The third blow made the cracks widen. The fourth, they joined up, and his chosen point dished in slightly from the impact.
The Aura Pokémon smirked slightly, pivoted on one footpaw, and slammed a roundhouse kick into the weakened spot.
The whole sphere shattered, the rings sized up, and the lights went out.
Lugia blinked as the remaining two capture rings abruptly froze in the air, then dropped from the sky.
...well, I'm not complaining... he said, then beat his wings again and turned to face Shamouti. We should hurry.
"No argument here," Ash said, shielding his eyes against the rain trying to get into them. "Pikachu? Can you check we've got all of them?"
Pikachu nodded, poking his head into Ash's backpack. "Fire and Lightning in here... and Ice?"
"That one's here, in my pocket." Ash held it up, then gave it to Pikachu to put with the others.
"Hey, look!" Togekiss said, indicating the stormy sea below with a nod of her head.
Ash looked down, seeing a strange sight. Three Floatzel hauling Articuno onto a Wailord, which had a wet-looking Moltres already on its forehead.
"Huh," he said, blinking. "Not sure what to make of that."
For a wonder, the trip back to Shamouti Shrine itself was uneventful.
The tired Lugia floated gently down to land outside the shrine, and his passengers disembarked.
"Lord Lugia," the Slowking said with a small bow. "And the Chosen One, as well. Do you know what is to be done?"
"Yeah," Ash agreed. "Put the treasures in the shrine – each one in the corresponding window."
"Wonderful." Slowking paused, as Ash walked up to the altar itself. "If you don't mind my asking – what is your name?"
"Ash," Ash replied, taking his backpack off and removing the three glowing treasures.
"Ah, I should have known." Slowking's voice took on the air of one quoting.
"Disturb not the harmony of fire, ice and lightning,
lest these titans wreak destruction on the world in which they clash."
Ash blanched. "Oh, I know where this is going..."
"And though the water's great guardian shall arise to quell the fighting,
alone its song will fail, and thus the earth shall turn to Ash."
"I'd almost forgotten that. Again." Ash placed down the last of the three spheres, then stood back.
They glowed and began to activate.
"Togekiss!" Misty called, voice uncertain. "I... why did you... I don't know whether to thank you or scold you, young Pokémon!"
"I love you too," Togekiss replied, landing in front of her and embracing her. "Sorry for making you worry, but I had to do it."
She did, Lugia agreed, chest heaving as he gathered his breath. Without her, I would probably have been overcome.
He turned his focus to Melody. Now. Young woman – I need your help, as well.
"Me?" Melody asked, looking up at the focus of her island's entire religion – one which she'd not really believed in, not until today.
I am too tired to use the Great Song alone – you must accompany me. It is the very tune you know for this festival.
She looked uncertain, glancing down at the ocarina. "But – I'm... this is just some silly festival... or that's what I thought this morning."
Panic crossed her features for a moment. "If I've got to- I don't know if I can do what you want me to."
I am certain you will be fine. The Legend's voice was quiet, but full of confidence. He turned, and spread his wings, taking off to hover just over the shrine itself – now transformed into a stone circle of glowing green crystal. Begin when you wish; I will follow your lead.
The pure notes resonated in the air, alone at first. With each sweet sound, one of the seven stones glowed a cool blue-green colour.
After the first thirty seconds or so, Lugia, already looking much better, raised his voice and wove into the song – accompanying it, not mastering it, and letting Melody's ocarina set the pace.
The rain began to slacken, and then stop entirely.
Little flickers of movement, far out on the wave-tossed sea, showed first Articuno and then Moltres taking flight from the Wailord on which they had been recovering.
Further still, almost hidden by distance, the yellow dot of Zapdos flew out from his island.
Green energy pulsed out from the shrine, glowing like a heartbeat, and covering the whole of Shamouti Sound faster than even a Pidgeot could fly.
Ash closed his eyes for a moment, letting the song wash over him.
This was why he fought so hard. This was the very kind of moment which made everything worthwhile.
That timeless instant where the world was put to rights.
Ash, a silent voice said to him.
He opened his eyes again, already half-guessing what it was. Lugia had landed in front of him, and turned – offering him a ride.
Grinning like a loon, the trainer took his offer. Lugia beat his wings, once, and took off into the clearing air as the song swelled.
The flock of Swellow who Meowth had been arguing with earlier watched, silent and waiting, alongside other Flying-types from all over the Orange Islands, as the four Legendaries took their place in the now-brilliant blue sky. Lugia in the middle, with the three Birds forming a triangle around him.
Then the sea split open.
A great column of water rose into the sky, glowing faintly with the unknown energy of the shrine. It formed a long arch in the heavens, crossing the whole of the small island group from east to west.
The beast of the sea, Lugia informed Ash softly. A major current which controls much of the world's climate.
Ash looked around, trying to take it all in – to see everything, because, hopefully, he would never see this again.
The massed Flying-types took wing. Clouds of Swellow, Pidgeotto and Pidgeot, Fearow, Golbat... too many species to count, with even a few Dragons among them, and three in particular – weary Pidgeot and Charizard, and proud Togekiss – in pride of place.
As the song began to fade, the Beast of the Sea crashed back into the water – tamed once more – and the wild Flying types dispersed, to return to their homes.
Lugia came back down to land before the shrine, followed by the trio he mastered and the friends' other Pokémon. He let Ash off, then bowed to Melody as the final notes rang in the air.
A masterful performance, he announced solemnly. My most sincere thanks, Melody of Shamouti.
Dozens of miles to the south, a bipedal Pokémon lowered his arms. There. No need for my help any more.
"You did well," Sabrina told him, nodding. "That can't have been easy."
Causing storms is more my forté, Mewtwo agreed. I'm surprised how powerful that one was, though.
The Mew sitting on Sabrina's shoulder smiled, and made a playful squeak. You should see what happens if Groudon and Kyogre fight!
I would rather not. Mewtwo glanced down at the calm sea. Perhaps we should return to solid ground?
The other Mew – the one who hung around Mewtwo whenever she was bored – giggled. I didn't think you were afraid of heights.
I'm not, Mewtwo returned. I just don't see any particular reason to keep spending energy on levitating when I've just been containing a storm that could have grown larger than the whole ocean basin.
It's good practice! Both Mew said that in unison, then exchanged a glance and giggled behind their paws.
"You two are as bad as each other," Sabrina said fondly. "Seriously, though, Mewtwo – I think this did you some good. It helps give you a purpose."
Agreed, Mewtwo nodded slowly. Perhaps it is appropriate that my purpose appears to be reducing the collateral damage from when Ash Ketchum saves the world.
His companion frowned. He's not that bad... is he? She spun upside down. Or maybe he is...
Lugia turned to face the three Legendary Birds. And as for you three...
Zapdos raised a wing.
No. You don't get to talk now. None of you do. Lugia glared at each one in turn. I hope you three realize that you nearly ended the world because of another one of your stupid arguments. You're supposed to be Legendary Pokémon with the solemn duty of safeguarding one of the most important climate control points in the world, not squabbling toddlers!
He shook his head. My son is more mature than you. My son!
Articuno looked up, blinking. "Your son Silver? But – he only fledged three years ago!"
Exactly my point, Lugia agreed.
He nodded towards the ruined flying machine in the far distance. One human shows up to catch you, and you promptly start arguing over who's in charge now. Idiots. You could have shot his ship down and be done with it if you worked together, you realize?
There was a series of muffled caws and embarrassed shuffling of wings.
I thought not.
In any case, Lugia resumed. He looked directly at Pidgeot. Can your trainer spare you?
She blinked, surprised to be brought into this. "Um... actually, I'm not sure. Ash?"
Ash nodded. "If you want to be available, you are."
"Then, yes," She nodded at Lugia. "Why?"
You seemed interested in my Aeroblast. Following the example of my fellow Legend, Ho-Oh... would you be interested in learning it?
Pidgeot gaped. After a moment, she recovered her composure, and nodded. "Yes! Yes please!"
Excellent. I look forward to working with you. Lugia then gave the three birds another look. It is also possible that I may be leaving in the future. Understand that, if you make trouble while I am gone, I will be returning – and not alone – to make sure you don't break everything again.
"We're not children!" Moltres burst out. "Stop treating us like children!"
I'm sorry, it must have been some other legendary Pokémon who nearly ended the world. Can you point me to them?
The birds shuffled, but none of them spoke up.
Good. Lugia then turned back to Ash. I should have asked this last time, chosen one. Do you have a spare Pokéball?
He smiled. I can't promise to travel with you, but I will be here if you need me.
Ash nodded, unable to believe his luck, and retrieved a simple red-white Pokéball. He held it out, and Lugia took it from his hand with telekinesis.
Thank you.
The ball thudded against his forehead, enveloped him in light, and fell to the ground in front of where he had been.
James raised a finger to his chin. "Is it me, or do we get loads of brilliant opportunities only now that we've given up?"
Jessie shook her head. "It's just you. We got hundreds of chances to catch or steal amazing Pokémon before, it just never worked."
Meowth looked up from his catalogue. "Sorry, did somethin' important happen? I was too busy lookin' for our next ride. Look, a tiltrotor!"
The other two Rockets crowded around it, looking impressed.
Ash picked up the Pokéball, and opened it wordlessly.
Once more, my thanks, Lugia said. Then he looked across to Ice Island. You may want to call the police, by the way.
"Oh, that's right!" Misty said. "Almost forgot about that..."
"Look at you!" Ash grinned, putting a hand on Lucario's shoulder. "Almost my size, now!"
"Indeed." Lucario looked down at himself. "This will take some getting used to, though. No more shoulder rides for me."
"Really?" Ash asked. "Why not?"
"...Ash, I weigh more than you do now. A lot more. My bones are made of steel."
"That's never stopped me before!" Ash declared.
"Actually, now I think of it... it really hasn't," Pikachu said, with a frown. "Didn't you carry a Hippopotas on your head once?"
"Yep!" Ash nodded. "Gave me a bit of a headache, though... whatever! Let's give it a go!"
Misty and Tracey watched, with some bemusement, as Ash tried to hoist Lucario up onto his shoulders.
"He's going to do his back out like that..." Tracey commented.
"Like that would stop him," Misty rejoined.
Hello? Lugia broadcast from outside. Ash?
Ash stopped trying with a quick apology, and hurried over. "What is it?"
You might want this. Lugia nosed the ground surface, on which a rather bedraggled blue hat sat. I remembered you lost it, and it seemed important...
"Oh, yeah! Thanks!" Ash picked it up, grimacing at the sea-soaked material. "Might need a quick dry, though..."
As they left the Shamouti island group that night, Misty saw Ash standing at the rear rail.
She followed his gaze, and saw he was looking at the peak of Ice Island. The highest spot in the whole group, it would be in view longer than anywhere else given the route they were taking – east, to Cleopatra Island.
"You alright?" she asked, leaning on the rail next to him.
"Yeah," Ash said, shrugging. "Just... thinking."
"Oh?" Misty pressed.
"Just... you know. We had warning, that time, but things were... different." Ash turned to look at her. "With J, I mean. We had all that time to prepare, but I didn't realize anything was wrong until after I got to Fire Island."
"You can't prepare for everything, Ash," Misty said.
"I know, I know. But... we time travelled, and I keep making mistakes like this. What if I make one that's too bad?" Ash groped for the words. "One that can't be fixed?"
"...I don't know," Misty admitted. "Maybe you just need to make sure you scout the place out?"
"All the places, you mean," Ash sighed. "There's so many, even with Shamouti sorted out. Not just Cyrus, either... there's Crown City, Alamos Town... I can't even keep track of them all."
Tracey leaned on the rail the other side of Ash. "Well, I'm sure Professor Oak and Damos are keeping an eye on things."
"Not enough of one, though," Ash said, frowning. "They need someone there to... someone..."
His expression brightened. "I think I know who."
"Who?" Misty asked, interested.
"Well, I'll have to wait to see if she says it's fine," Ash corrected himself. "But Pidgeot's fast, and she can look after herself."
"Good idea," Tracey agreed. "Especially if she can stay in touch with the Professor and I."
Feeling better now there was a solution, Ash looked back towards Shamouti.
A tiny flash of orange-red light on the side of the island's cone became a line, thinner than a hair and only as long as the width of a finger at arm's length, and he smiled.
Pidgeot was wasting no time, it seemed.
AN:
And done!
That's the last of the Power of One, at any rate. This whole movie was originally posted on my birthday, as a my-birthday present.
It's also where the rewrite ends. Everything after this point has NOT been edited, and (including the author's notes) is functionally the same as it was when it was originally posted. A few minor edits have been made to bring major events into continuity with the rewrite, but that's about it.