Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. Lucas searches for Bill, and a massive storm approaches his location. But is it an act of nature, or something else?

Chapter 36

Lucas continued on his way after spending a few hours in the pub talking with the residents of Rifure Village. They had shared everything they knew about Bill's disappearance. There wasn't much more information, aside from an interesting tidbit about the man's Eevee collection. Bill had built an elaborate habitat for them at the back of his cottage, but the Eevee were nowhere to be seen when the villagers searched the area.

It was possible that Bill had travelled somewhere else with his Eevee, and the villagers were overreacting to the situation. However, there was no explanation for the unlocked cottage or the food left on the table. Furthermore, Bill usually let them know when he was going somewhere, as the villagers relied on him to monitor the lighthouse. Thanks to Bill's help, it was fully automated, but he still needed to keep an eye on it in case something went wrong.

As he got further from the village, the terrain became more difficult. Instead of a paved road, a poorly maintained dirt trail led to the Cape. The roadside was lined with thick foliage and numerous trees, and Lucas saw wild Pokemon for the first time since leaving the city.

The area was home to a mix of Kanto and Johto regional Pokemon, with Oddish, Gloom, and Bellsprout particularly prevalent. He observed that he could obtain special attack effort values from the first two and attack effort values from the latter. Though he was tempted to grind some effort value points, he needed to head directly for Bill's cottage to see if he could locate him. Besides, it was too cold to hang around.

Their level ranges were between sixteen and twenty-seven, which was quite the variance, but still, it was ideal for grinding. He could not only earn effort value points but also gain valuable experience. The only drawback was that he didn't receive additional rewards for fighting evolved Pokemon, so fighting the initial evolutionary form was more efficient.

He didn't have to fight any wild Pokemon, as they avoided him. This was most likely due to Icarus and Icaria patrolling the skies, as well as the presence of the other team members who were surrounding him.

"I think my tail has frozen," Meowth said, shivering as he walked alongside Lucas.

"I don't see the others complaining," Lucas replied. "If you are cold, I can put you back in your pokeball."

"No way," Meowth snorted. "Who will watch out for you if I am not around? Max? Good luck with that, partner."

Max launched a Thundershock at Meowth, who had to dodge it quickly to avoid being zapped. "Watch it!"

"Good idea, Max," Lucas remarked, patting his head. "If you get Meowth to move faster, he is bound to warm up."

"I don't think that was his intention, Meowth."

Max smirked.

They continued for a few miles until Lucas heard the sound of waves against the shore, indicating that he was getting close to the sea. The trail wound around a massive cliffside, and when Lucas got to the other side, he was met with the sight of a plateau. It was a small, grassy area overlooking the sea, with a spacious cottage. A lighthouse stood to the left of it, at the plateau's highest elevation. It shined a beam of light out to sea, a beacon for any ships approaching the shore.

The cottage had a second floor, a small garden out the back, and a fenced area that must have been the habitat where the Eevee were housed.

"Tini," Saphira cried out, nudging his shoulder, and Lucas looked at Meowth to translate.

"She wants to swim in the sea," Meowth told him.

"It's too dangerous," Lucas told her. "Have you forgotten about being pursued by the Feraligatr the first time we met?"

Saphira looked away, dissatisfied with his reply.

"Wait until I get a water-type Pokemon," Lucas comforted her. "There should be a sea habitat you can explore."

Saphira trilled, looking slightly happier.

Lucas approached the cottage and took out a key to unlock the front door. The villagers had locked the house when they left, and they gave him the key after he convinced them that he wanted to find Bill. They only handed it over when he pointed out that a locked door was hardly going to stop someone from breaking in if they wanted to.

He stepped into the cottage, and Meowth ran off to explore the place.

"Don't you dare steal anything," Lucas called after him.

The rest of his team sat down next to the large stone fireplace, which conveniently had some wood stacked beside it. Max lifted some wood into the fire, and Ashe unleashed a stream of flames, igniting the wood. His Pokemon lay down on the rug, looking like they were going to have a nap.

"Sure, make yourself at home," Lucas muttered. "I'm sure Bill won't mind in the least."

Lucas started searching the first floor, seeing if he could find clues to Bill's whereabouts.

The interior was an open floor plan, with open entrances leading to other areas. It had a rustic vibe, with exposed beams, natural materials, and a colour palette of warm earthy tones and neutral shades. The first floor incorporated the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room.

There was nothing noteworthy on the first floor, so Lucas climbed the stairs to the second floor. Because the man was an inventor, he expected him to have a room where he could store his tools and equipment. However, the second floor proved to be equally disappointing as the first, with nothing beyond what was usually found in a house. When he returned to the first floor, he stood there indecisive, unsure what to do next.

His attention was drawn to the lighthouse visible from the window. "Maybe something is there."

Lucas exited the house and followed the path towards the lighthouse.

"Wait for me," Meowth said, running after him. "There is nothing in there but junk. What a pauper."

Lucas disregarded his comment. When he got to the lighthouse, he opened the heavy metal door. The first floor housed the service room, which generated power for the searchlight and other essential operations. It was powered by an electric generator, which was an expensive piece of equipment. Because mass-produced items were no longer available, they were handcrafted on a much smaller scale, raising the cost significantly.

Lucas climbed the staircase to the top, and briefly explored the area around the searchlight. There was nothing to suggest Bill had been here recently. He looked through the thick panes of glass to the sea below and spotted an island in the distance. It held the plants he needed to complete the adventurer guild's missions.

There was also a hidden set of steps descending to a small dock, where a small boat was moored. He didn't think he was brave enough to travel across the sea to the island. Fortunately, he could use his Pokemon to retrieve the plants in his place.

"Banette!" Salem appeared beside him.

"What's the matter?" Lucas asked. Usually, Salem only appeared when he wanted to show something to him.

Salem moved over the staircase, and Lucas followed him to the bottom. Meowth was still poking around, but he didn't appear to have any luck finding anything.

Salem led him to the far wall, concealed behind the generator. He phased through the wall before reappearing and pointing at the wall.

"Banette."

Meowth appeared beside him. "He says there is a concealed stairwell behind the wall. I can't believe I didn't find it myself."

"A hidden stairwell?" Lucas examined the wall. "Where is the mechanism to open the door?"

Could this be where Bill was hiding? Did anyone else know about this place? Considering the man went to such lengths to hide it, he assumed he hadn't.

"Here," Meowth said, pointing to a stone block at the base of the wall. He reached out and pressed the stone, which sank into the wall. The next moment, the wall rumbled and shifted to reveal the stairwell beyond.

"Nice work," Lucas told him.

Before descending the stairs, he returned to the house to retrieve Max. He had no idea what he would find down there, so it paid to be cautious. Meowth had no fighting experience so he couldn't rely on him.

Max led the way down the stairs, followed by Lucas and Meowth. At the bottom, he discovered a corridor with a few closed doors. He opened each one to see that Bill had set up an emergency bunker, as there was a living space, amenities, and enough supplies to last him for years. Was Bill expecting trouble when he built this, or did someone else build it?

After searching each room, Lucas approached the door at the far end of the corridor. If Bill were here, this was the only place he could be because he had already explored everywhere else.

"Cast Protect over us, Max," Lucas instructed, and Max complied.

A blue barrier appeared in front of him. If there was anything dangerous in the room beyond, he would be protected.

Lucas opened the door to reveal an expansive space. It was some kind of research facility, and there was a sea of scientific equipment everywhere, arranged in a haphazard manner that made navigation difficult, especially with all the cables running across the ground. Along the walls, there were well-stocked shelves with various tools and materials. He moved through the room, inspecting everything with curiosity. This was the type of workspace he expected to find at Bill's house, but the man appeared to believe it was necessary to conceal it. Given his reputation in the scientific community, it was probably a wise precaution. Who knows if he was targeted because of one of his inventions? Because his cottage was isolated, he could not rely on others to assist him if trouble arose.

Lucas paused when he noticed a pair of pods near the centre of the room. They were linked to some sophisticated computer stations that hummed quietly.

"There is a Pokemon in there," Meowth exclaimed, sprinting forward and climbing on top of the pod to peer through the glass covering the front of the pod. There was a crack in the glass as if the Nidoran trapped inside had tried to escape.

"Kid!" Max followed him and tapped the glass to attract the Pokemon's attention.

"It's a Nidoran," Lucas muttered before an insane thought occurred to him. "There's no way that can be Bill."

He remembered from the game that Bill had been experimenting with teleporting Pokemon, but due to an error, he ended up being combined with the Pokemon's body. He needed the player's help to return to his normal self; otherwise, he could have remained that way indefinitely.

Lucas could read the Nidoran's parameters, but he wasn't sure if they would reveal whether a human was combined with its body. In either case, he thought the idea was absurd.

At that moment, Nidoran opened its eyes and looked at him. The Pokemon sat up and pressed its face against the glass, calling out to him urgently.

"He wants you to release him," Meowth told him.

Since he wasn't hostile, Lucas searched for the mechanism to open the pod and found a button on the side. The lid popped open, and the Nidoran leapt out of it.

"Do you mind if I call you Bill?" Lucas joked.

Nidoran ignored him and ran off to another part of the facility. They followed the Pokemon, which led them to a small office area. Lucas spotted a brown-haired man lying on the floor next to a desk, and Nidoran was prodding him incessantly to try and get him to wake up. Was this Bill?

Lucas ran forward and crouched down next to him. He felt for a pulse on Bill's neck and was relieved to see that the man had one. But he didn't know what was wrong with him. Bill's complexion was pale, and he was breathing shallowly. There was also a gash on his head with a lot of dried blood. Had the man been lying here for over a week? The man shouldn't be able to survive without water for that long. Unless his current state was something that happened in the past few days.

"Kid." Max prodded Bill but didn't get a response.

"It's useless," Meowth said. "The dude is barely hanging on."

Lucas shook Bill, but he didn't respond. He made sure Nidoran wasn't looking his way and pulled out a potion from his inventory. After seeing how Brock kept a supply of them, he purchased some for himself.

The potion was used to provide an immediate injection of nutrients to people who were malnourished or feeling lethargic. He didn't know what else to do, as he was no doctor. If it didn't work, it wouldn't have any negative consequences. Because Bill appeared to require immediate attention, he couldn't leave here and seek help while hoping nothing happened to him in the meantime.

Lucas opened Bill's mouth and carefully poured the potion into it, massaging his throat to help him swallow. Nidoran kept a close eye on him, but he appeared to understand that he was helping Bill. After emptying the vial, he retrieved a first-aid kit from his inventory and began treating Bill's head injury. The wound wasn't that bad, and it had already started closing.

"It's working," Lucas exclaimed, smiling. Bill's cheeks were gradually regaining colour, and he just needed to wait and see if he woke up.

Bill began to stir, causing Nidoran to run around in excitement. His eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at Lucas with confusion. It took a moment for clarity to return, and he attempted to sit up.

"Wait a second," Lucas insisted, holding him down. "You must still be weak after your ordeal. Take a moment to rest before you start walking around."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Lucas," he said, holding three fingers for the man to see. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

He always wanted to say that.

"Three," Bill said, squinting. Nidoran nudged him repeatedly, and he gave in and petted the Pokemon. "I suppose you freed Nidoran from the pod as well."

"That's right."

"How did you find this place?"

Salem appeared in front of them, making Bill jump in surprise. "That explains it."

After Bill had rested for a while, Lucas assisted him in standing and sitting in the chair. His legs refused to support his weight, so it was best to leave him there for the moment.

"Can you tell me what happened?" Lucas asked.

Bill's stomach growled at this point, and Lucas laughed. "Let me get you some food first."

Lucas returned to the kitchen he found earlier and prepared Bill a meal. He brought a plate of food and water to the research facility. Bill got stuck into his meal and didn't start speaking until he had cleared most of the plate.

"That feels so much better," Bill said, patting his stomach. "Thanks for the meal, and for saving my life. I would be dead if you didn't come here. Why did you come, by the way?"

Lucas hesitated but decided not to hide the actual reason. It was better to get it out of the way now, rather than later. "Well, it has to do with Red Ketchum. Delia gave me the floppy disc he left behind, but I can't access it without your help."

Bill looked taken aback, having not expected that answer. He fell silent as he considered whether to share what he had with Lucas.

"Okay, I will give you the encryption programme and the location of the computer required for the floppy disc," Bill said. "As soon as I call Delia and confirm you are telling the truth. It's her property, and she can give it to anyone she wishes. "

Lucas smiled. He hadn't expected it to be that easy. Did Bill know what information was stored on the floppy disc? He had to have an idea because he was the lead researcher on the project Red Ketchum was a part of. But he wasn't going to bring it up, and risk having him change his mind.

"What happened to you?" Lucas asked.

Bill leaned back in his chair. "I was working on a concept that would allow me to teleport Pokemon, and I tripped over a wire on the floor and hit my head."

"There are Pokemon that can already teleport, though."

"I know. But I don't want to teleport Pokemon themselves, as I don't think it's possible without a Pokemon's assistance. I want to build a device to teleport pokeballs with the Pokemon inside. This would allow trainers to rotate their teams. I believe my chances of success increase if the Pokemon are in their formless state."

Lucas nodded. The anime featured such a device, but it appeared to have not yet been invented in this world. In the Pokemon League, you could only have six Pokemon until you became a senior trainer, at which point all restrictions were lifted. If Bill could succeed, it would help a lot of junior trainers when they first began their journey.

"What happened with the test?" Lucas asked.

Bill's shoulders dropped. "It was a complete failure. I was confident it would work, but rather than teleporting the pokeball, it exploded. Fortunately, Nidoran was unaffected and was released safely; otherwise, I would have been responsible for his death. But the incident was so shocking that I failed to look where I was standing and smashed my head as a result."

"How did you last for a week without water?"

"I didn't," Bill answered. "I was so disoriented after receiving a head wound that I wandered out of the room, forgetting Nidoran was still trapped inside the pod. I was in a daze for several days, but I was able to feed myself. But then I wandered back inside here two days ago, and I can't remember what happened after that."

"The villagers were looking for you," Lucas explained. "Maybe you should tell one of them about your secret bunker so this doesn't happen again."

"Maybe."

"Where are your Eevees?" Lucas asked. "They aren't in their habitat."

Bill froze. "Are you sure?"

"I haven't checked, but the villagers reported them missing."

Bill began to stand, and Lucas immediately supported him, fearing he would fall.

"I need to go check for myself," Bill said, his voice tinged with desperation. "I should have kept them with me while I was down here."

After searching the habitat, they discovered no traces of the Pokemon. While Bill rested inside his cottage, Lucas and his team conducted a more extensive search of the area but found nothing. The temperature had dropped significantly, and a thick curtain of snow obscured his vision, so finding clues for the missing Pokemon was almost impossible. He wouldn't be going anywhere today because there appeared to be a storm approaching. It was disappointing, but he didn't want to journey back to the village in these conditions.

When he came back inside, he found Bill on the phone, speaking angrily with someone. Lucas took a seat on the sofa and pulled out his phone. He needed to contact Brock and Delia and let them know that he wouldn't be returning today. Just as he was going to dial the number, it started ringing.

"Hi, Sabrina," Lucas said. "What's my favourite girl up to?"

"I just wanted to check up on you," Sabrina replied. "Where are you at the moment?"

There was a crackling sound over the line, which meant that the reception was spotty. He hoped he didn't get cut off in the middle of speaking to his girlfriend.

"I'm north of Cerulean City," Lucas told her. "I visited Bill Eckley but now I'm stuck at his cottage for a while. We are about to be hit with a storm."

"It has already arrived in Saffron City. The storm's massive and it's spreading out to cover all five cities in the east."

Lucas' eyebrows rose in disbelief. "That's insane. How is that even possible? This must be the worst storm the Kanto region has ever experienced."

There was a pause on the other end of the line.

"Sabrina?"

Sabrina sighed. "The legendary Pokemon, Articuno, has been spotted in the area. My uncle believes it is the cause of the storm we are currently experiencing."

What the hell was happening? The legendary Pokemon, who were previously so elusive, were suddenly appearing everywhere. He wasn't egotistical enough to believe he was the cause, but it was strange that they began to appear when he arrived in this world. Could this be a side effect of receiving Arceus' powers, or was he kidding himself?

"When was the last time Articuno appeared?" Lucas asked.

"It was over twenty years ago. First, it was Zapdos, and now it's Articuno. If there is a pattern, then what follows next is…" Sabrina trailed off.

"Moltres," Lucas finished for her. "I don't know about Articuno, but Zapdos appeared because Team Rocket was transporting an item it wanted. Have you discovered what it is yet?"

"No. Lance is leading that investigation, and he isn't going to tell me anything about it."

Lucas noticed that Bill had finished with his call, and he didn't want him to overhear their next conversation, so he moved to another room. He should have spoken with her in person about what he was going to reveal, but he didn't have the patience to wait.

He took a deep breath. "So, what do you think about moving to the Rota Kingdom?"

"Excuse me?"

"I discovered that I'm an aura guardian. I only recently realised I had this ability. Now the church has another reason to hate me."

He could almost see her thinking over the phone, the silence was so heavy.

"This is troublesome," Sabrina murmured. "If the church finds out, you'll be in serious trouble. Not even my uncle would be able to protect you from the backlash. Who else knows about it?"

"Brock," Lucas told her. "And Bree as well. She was probably waiting until I told you myself."

"We can talk about this when I come to Viridian City. If it's necessary, we will look at moving to the Rota Kingdom. I'm not going to miss out on much if I move since I'm a social pariah in Kanto."

Lucas smiled, glad she was taking it so well. He didn't know what he would have done if she had reacted differently to the news. He should have known better, considering her past.

"I miss sleeping beside you. "There are still so many things I want to do with you," Lucas said, his voice lowering. She gasped. "When will you leave Saffron City?"

"In two more weeks. It feels like a lifetime until then."

"There are things we can do over the phone to take the edge off," Lucas suggested.

"What kind of things?"

Lucas explained in graphic detail, and she hung up the phone without saying goodbye.

He looked at the phone, bemused. "Was it too much?"

He gave Brock a quick call and told him he might be able to return for a few days. Lucas returned to the living room and found Bill examining Saphira, who was sprawled out on the floor in front of the fire.

"You sure used up a lifetime of luck to obtain a Dratini," Bill said, looking up. "May I ask who you were speaking with?"

"Sabrina Kuroi," Lucas said, taking a seat. "My girlfriend."

"Ah, now I recognise you," Bill exclaimed. "I should have realised it sooner."

"Considering the circumstances, I can forgive you," Lucas said dryly. "The storm is likely to last a few days. Is the power going to be alright?"

Bill nodded. "Just like the lighthouse, it is powered by electric generators. If we are stuck here for a week, we might run out of power. I have a service that comes every two weeks to recharge the generators."

"Did you call the police?" Lucas asked.

"Yes, but they can't come here at the moment," Bill sighed. "I know they can't do anything in this weather, but it's frustrating. I don't even know where my babies are at the moment."

Lucas grabbed a bottle of whisky from the drinks bar and poured it for both of them. They stared into the fire, each lost in their thoughts. He had no idea what he was going to do while waiting for the storm to pass. His alchemy equipment was with Brock so he couldn't make some potions. Plus, there was nowhere to train his Pokemon.

Then he realised that he could work on his aura vision. The sooner he levelled up his new profession, the more skills he would unlock. But he needed to wait until he was alone, so Bill didn't suspect anything.

Bill eventually stood up and told him he was going to bed early because he had not fully recovered.

"Please help yourself to anything in the house," Bill told him. "You can sleep out here or in the spare bedroom."

Bill disappeared upstairs.

Lucas settled into a comfortable, cross-legged position on the floor, his back against the wall. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of pine from the crackling fire and the faint musk of his Pokémon. Closing his eyes, he focused on visualising the scene before him.

The task was far more challenging than he had anticipated. Unlike his previous attempt with Brock, where he had a singular focus, now he had to construct an entire scene in his mind's eye. It was like trying to paint a detailed mural while blindfolded, each brush stroke requiring intense concentration.

He started with the fireplace, imagining the rough texture of the stone, the dancing flames casting flickering shadows. Then, he added his Pokémon one by one: Meowth's sleek form curled up near the hearth, Ashe's tail flame provided an additional warm glow, and Saphira's scales reflected the firelight in iridescent patterns.

Lucas knew this was just the first step in mastering aura vision. His ultimate goal was to perceive his entire surroundings, to turn his head and see what lay beyond his normal field of view. It was a daunting prospect, especially with no guidance available.

Undeterred, Lucas persevered. He opened his eyes periodically, drinking in new details each time. The worn patches on the rug, the intricate grain of the wooden floorboards, the way Icarus's feathers ruffled slightly with each breath—all these minute observations were carefully catalogued and added to his mental image.

After what felt like hours but was likely only minutes, Lucas finally succeeded in constructing a complete mental picture of the scene. He could 'see' the entire fireplace, from the ornate mantelpiece to the pile of logs beside it. His Pokémon were there in vivid detail, their forms as clear in his mind as if his eyes were open.

Elated by his progress, Lucas attempted to push further. He tried to turn his head in his mind and peer into the corners of the room he knew existed beyond his mental image. The moment he did, it was as if a bolt of lightning struck his brain. The carefully constructed vision shattered like glass, fragments of images scattering into darkness. A sharp, unexpected pain lanced through his head, causing him to gasp and clutch his temples.

As the pain subsided to a dull throb, Lucas opened his eyes, blinking rapidly as the real world came back into focus. He massaged his forehead, a rueful smile playing on his lips.

"Baby steps," he murmured to himself. The path to mastering aura vision would be fraught with challenges but this small victory was a promising start.

Deciding he had pushed himself far enough for one night, Lucas rose slowly to his feet, his muscles protesting after the prolonged stillness. He made his way to the couch, the warmth from the fire beckoning him towards sleep. As he drifted off, his mind continued to churn with the possibilities and potential pitfalls of his newfound abilities.

An explosion shattered the night's stillness, jolting Lucas from his slumber. He bolted upright on the couch, his heart pounding as he blinked away the remnants of sleep. The room spun around him as he attempted to stand, his legs unsteady beneath him. Another blast, louder and closer than the first, rattled the windows in their frames.

Adrenaline surged through Lucas's veins, sharpening his senses. "What's going on?"

His Pokemon were already alert, their faces pressed against the window, eyes wide with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

"Trouble outside, boss," Meowth replied, his tail twitching nervously. "Big trouble."

Lucas stumbled to the window, joining his companions. The night sky, usually a canvas of stars, was alive with movement. Two Pokemon clashed in the air, their forms barely distinguishable in the darkness. Suddenly, the bigger Pokemon unleashed a colossal beam of blue energy, its light was so intense that it turned night to day for a brief, terrifying moment. Its opponent dodged, and the beam struck the sea below. Lucas watched in awe and horror as the water instantly froze, a mile-wide sheet of ice blooming from the point of impact.

The sheer power on display was beyond anything he'd ever witnessed. These weren't just Pokémon; they were forces of nature, capable of reshaping the landscape with a single attack. Lucas knew, with chilling certainty, that he and his team were woefully outmatched. One stray attack could obliterate them all.

With trembling hands, Lucas hurriedly donned his jacket and shoes. The sound of stumbling footsteps announced Bill's arrival, the man's face pale and drawn in the flickering firelight.

"What in Arceus's name is happening?" Bill demanded.

"Trouble," Lucas replied, struggling to keep his own voice steady. "Pokémon. Powerful ones. They could level this place without even trying. We need to get to the bunker. Now."

Bill didn't argue, turning towards the front door. Lucas felt Ashe and Saphira coil around him, their bodies trembling against his skin. He stroked them reassuringly, even as his fear threatened to overwhelm him.

"Bloody hell," Bill's curse, was nearly drowned out by the sound of shattering glass. The windows exploded inward, showering the room with glittering shards.

Lucas threw himself to the floor, feeling pinpricks of pain as tiny fragments of glass rained down on him. A bone-chilling wind howled through the broken windows, extinguishing the fire and plunging the room into near-darkness. A piercing screech split the air, and Lucas looked up to see a massive silhouette framed in the shattered window.

His Insight skill activated, showing him the Pokemon's details:

Species: Articuno

Level: 130

Condition: Excellent

Threat Level: Lethal

Lucas's breath caught in his throat. Articuno, the legendary bird of ice, was here.

"No way," Lucas whispered, his voice barely audible over the howling wind. "What the hell has this day turned into?"

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Lucas finds himself in a tough situation. How will he escape from a legendary Pokemon?

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Thanks for reading.