At the refugee camp at the foot of the mountain, Summer squatted down and gently patted Shulan's head, whispering softly:
"Shulan, Yagen and I are preparing to climb Glaseado Mountain to defeat the disaster. I'm sorry, but we can't take you with us. During this time, stay here and get along well with everyone."
Shulan nodded silently. Experiencing life and death had caused her to mature quickly. She understood that following Summer would only burden him, so staying here obediently was the best answer she could give him.
"Please rest assured, Mr. Summer, we will take good care of Shulan," the young man named Lyle said earnestly. "This child is also a victim of the disaster, and as someone who is working to suppress it, your request is something we will definitely fulfill."
"Thank you, and I appreciate the supplies you've provided."
"No, no, the apples you've given us are worth far more than these supplies. In a place like this snowy mountain, apples are a delicacy only the wealthy can enjoy," Lyle said, somewhat flustered.
In his view, those who could command Pokémon belonged to a different world than theirs.
"Summer, please come back... I beg you," Shulan suddenly called out. She no longer wanted to see people lost in the blizzard.
Summer was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course, it's a promise."
With that, he picked up his pack and walked toward Yagen. Sensing Summer's approach, Yagen opened one eye and asked:
"Are you ready?"
"Yes, I'm ready," Summer replied, holding up an old map. "I have a map of Glaseado Mountain. Although it's snowing heavily up there, having a map is better than nothing."
"That's right, one should not lose their guide."
Yagen stood up and took the pack from Summer, placing it on Wyrdeer's back. Then he snapped his fingers, and a mystical blue light enveloped the camp.
"As long as you stay within the light's range, you will be invisible to outsiders. Understood?"
The refugees were stunned for a moment, then they began to express their gratitude one after another. This Pokémon emissary was protecting them in his own way. Now they didn't have to worry about encountering people like that man from before.
"Great, let's go, Summer. We can't let the disaster continue rampaging," Yagen said confidently, disappearing from sight along with Summer under the admiring gazes of the refugees.
Not long into their journey, Yagen showed signs of fatigue and quickly asked Summer to find a place to rest.
"Whew, I shouldn't have shown off like that. That move really drained my energy." Yagen swiftly munched on the rough biscuit Summer handed him.
"Here, some hot water."
"Oh, thanks, that feels much better."
In the blizzard, Brimwin, Wyrdeer, and Cresselia were maintaining the protective barrier, making it difficult for them to move. Ogerpon ran back and forth with a fire stick, distributing food and hot water to them.
Ursaluna also used its power over the earth to create a low stone wall, helping to share the burden.
Lucario, however, did not join them, standing still in meditation to gather strength for the battle against the disaster.
"Yagen, I don't need your reward. Instead, can you do me a favor?" Summer suddenly said.
"Sure, take care of Shulan, right? I've already agreed," Yagen replied nonchalantly, sitting cross-legged on the ground.
Summer looked a bit exasperated and asked curiously, "It's not surprising you figured it out with your Aura powers, but why did you agree to my request so easily?"
"I'm not a fan of constraints, as you might have noticed. It might seem strange to agree so readily to take care of a little girl, but I had to do it because I want to continue the legacy."
"A meddlesome old man saved me when I was on the brink of death. He taught me how to use Aura, giving me the means to survive in this world," Yagen sighed.
"He didn't ask me to become an Aura Guardian. He wanted me to live my own life, so I became a Pokémon emissary. But I don't want the techniques he passed on to be lost with me."
A faint blue light emanated from Yagen's hand as he muttered, "So I go around doing big things to attract people's attention, hoping to increase the chances of finding someone with the same gift as mine."
"Shulan... does she also have the potential for Aura?" Summer asked tentatively.
"Yes, I found her here unexpectedly. That's why I left the protective technique behind. I'm not that selfless," Yagen said with a relieved smile, then teased, "But you, Summer, you have the favor of Pokémon and should be capable of taking care of her, right?"
"I can't. We don't belong to this time and place. We don't know when we'll return to our original time, and when that happens, she'll be left alone again," Summer said frankly.
"Are you joking?" Yagen's smile froze.
"I'm telling the truth. Given your mysterious powers, you shouldn't be that surprised by something like this, right?"
"You're right," Yagen said, coughing slightly. "Summer, you won't return in the middle of the battle against the disaster, will you?"
"I won't... I think."
"Give me a definite answer, please!" Yagen slapped his thighs in frustration.
Then he fell into a brief silence and muttered, "The future... no, I live in the present and won't be bound by the future! At least the people of the future know about Aura, and that's enough."
Yagen stood up and stretched his wrists, looking ahead. "Moreover, we have a visitor."
A Pokémon wearing a pure white kimono appeared in the blizzard, its ice-blue eyes fixed on them. It bowed slightly as if expressing gratitude.
"Froslass... but why do you have such emotions?" Yagen was puzzled. His current control over Aura couldn't fully understand the Pokémon's thoughts.
"If I'm not mistaken, you must be Shulan's mother or sister, right?" Summer voiced his guess.
Froslass's eyes flickered upon hearing Shulan's name, first shaking its head and then nodding, indicating that it was Shulan's sister.
"What! I've heard of humans turning into Pokémon, but I didn't expect it to be true!" Yagen was shocked but soon wore a sad expression.
Becoming a Froslass meant that Shulan's familiar sister had vanished from this world, becoming a completely different existence. Yagen felt he was not qualified to judge whether this was fortunate or unfortunate.
"You must have appeared before us for a reason. Is there something you need to tell us?" Summer asked.
Froslass nodded gently, and various Ghost-type Pokémon appeared behind it. Their origins might be humans and Pokémon who perished in the snow disaster.
"Summer, I understand their intention. They want to guide us to the disaster's location because defeating the disaster is the reason they linger in this world," Yagen said, frowning.
It's said that strong resentment is key to becoming a Ghost-type Pokémon. With such a terrifying number, Glaseado Mountain was not only an icy mountain but also a mountain of vengeful spirits.
"We will defeat it," Summer promised firmly. "So lead us to the cause of this disaster, the calamity in the blizzard."
(Chapter End)