Pokémon: Chronicles of Freedom

"Lugia, my name is Cain! If you ever want to enjoy these meals again, you can always come to this island. You know where it is, and you'll be welcome anytime," said Cain after dinner, using telepathy for the first time to speak with Lugia.

Upon hearing his words, Lugia's eyes sparkled with excitement and it began nodding happily.

This place not only had delicious food, but also Pokémon like Ralts, who could be excellent playmates. Moreover, as it explored the island, it discovered that not only Ralts was fun — others like Pupitar, Lairon, and Combusken were also great friends. However, the one it got along with best was Ralts.

Watching Lugia's happiness, Cain smiled to himself.

"Such an innocent child," he thought.

Innocent children are the best. They're charming, easy to get along with, and most importantly, it's easy to earn their trust.

Cain was about to continue the conversation with Lugia when the latter suddenly lifted its head. It was as if it had heard something far away.

Cain immediately stood up and looked around. Aside from his own Pokémon, a few wild Pokémon, and the occasional crackle of the fire, there were no notable sounds.

However, Lugia seemed to be hearing something no one else could.

"Sorry, I have to go back. I've been away too long. But I'll return next time," said Lugia's voice in Cain's mind.

From its tone, it was clear Lugia was young. Its voice was soft, full of innocence, and with a hint of shyness.

After saying this, Lugia softly called out to Ralts before flapping its wings and soaring into the sky. In the blink of an eye, it disappeared.

Cain, looking at the empty sky, had an idea of who might have called Lugia, but didn't dwell on it.

The encounter with Lugia had been unexpected, but he had achieved something valuable: gaining its trust. Perhaps in the future, this would open an opportunity to meet the true guardian of the seas — the adult Lugia — and establish communication through his bond with the young one. It was like planting a seed for the future.

On the other hand, Ralts was especially happy that day.

Lately, Ralts had been busy learning psychic abilities with Slowking, but her days were usually filled with sleeping, eating, and playing. However, that phase was about to end. Cain already had a training plan in mind for her.

After all, a Pokémon needs strength to face the challenges of the world.

Cain had originally planned to explore the island's depths that day, but the unexpected meeting with Lugia had delayed his plans. He decided to wait for dawn to continue.

The night on the island was calm.

Ralts curled up in Cain's arms, and together, along with the other Pokémon, they drifted into a deep sleep.

The next morning, the sun rose, bathing the island in light.

Cain, accompanied by Slowking, Florges, Swampert, Politoed, Mismagius, and Altaria, prepared to explore the island's depths. Meanwhile, the other Pokémon remained on the surface, training under the supervision of Porygon2.

Over the past few days, Cain had given them a short break from their strict training routines. Now, it was time to resume a systematic plan.

Ralts, Bagon, and Horsea received special attention in their training. Porygon2, who acted on Cain's behalf even in his absence, oversaw every detail and ensured no one slacked off.

Bagon, for instance, was naturally competitive. He always sought to improve himself after seeing the rapid progress of the others. Cain had even assigned Honchkrow to supervise him, preventing him from overexerting himself and ensuring he took breaks when necessary.

Horsea, on the other hand, shared some traits with Politoed's past. Her time in the wild had left her with certain habits that needed to be gradually corrected. Luckily, Horsea showed a good attitude toward improvement.

Ralts, being new to training, was given light tasks. Cain wanted to ensure she grew accustomed to physical effort before increasing the intensity. She required close monitoring and constant encouragement.

Meanwhile, more experienced Pokémon like Lairon, Pupitar, and Combusken didn't need much attention. These three understood the importance of training and gave their best without Cain having to push them.

Even more advanced were Honchkrow, Weavile, Gengar, and Drapion. For them, training was already part of their daily lives. Even on rest days, they found ways to secretly practice. Cain knew this, but didn't stop them — he was proud of their dedication.

Lastly, there were Pokémon like Carbink, Flygon, and Miltank. Cain didn't impose strict training on them. These Pokémon had more freedom to decide how hard they wanted to work. However, the hardworking atmosphere of the team was contagious, and even the most relaxed ones felt the pressure to stay active.

Flygon, for example, had recently regained its relevance in the team and didn't want to lose it. Carbink, under the leadership of Minister Carbink, strived to meet Cain's expectations.

Miltank, on the other hand, having decided not to focus on combat, maintained light training just to stay in shape.

With all plans in motion, Cain and his team descended into the island's underground.

At the center of the underground lake, Cain stood before the four streams that emerged from the darkness.

Water flowed from an unfathomable black hole, covered by a thin membrane that had previously blocked Cain's progress. Now, with greater strength, he hoped to break through.

"Slowking, try to see if you can pass through it with your psychic abilities," Cain instructed.

The Pokémon nodded, releasing its psychic energy toward the membrane. Cain also extended his abilities to observe how the barrier reacted.

Although there was resistance at first, when Slowking increased his intensity, the psychic energy finally managed to penetrate it.

With a smile, Cain placed his hand on Slowking's shoulder. Together, they vanished from the surface, ready to face whatever awaited beyond.

(End of chapter)