The "Song Dedicated to the Gods" concluded gracefully, its haunting melody trailing off into the still air.
Melody's performance ended with warm applause echoing through the conference hall. The atmosphere of reverence merged with excitement as the celebration prepared to continue.
"When the Earthquake is angry and the world is on the verge of destruction, the God of the Sea will rise, working alongside exceptional controllers to restore the balance and calm the fury of the gods..."
Melody declared dramatically as she ascended the stage steps, her tone imbued with theatrical flair.
Her graceful movements and striking presence captivated the room, drawing all eyes to her.
Ash blinked as Melody approached him, lowering herself to kneel with exaggerated formality. Her piercing gaze locked onto his.
"Mr. Ash," she began dramatically, "if you really are a remarkable controller, please... provide proof of your excellence."
Misty scowled, her irritation becoming visible as her eyes sharpened. She crossed her arms tightly as she glanced between Melody and Ash, bristling as jealousy flared within her.
If Ash showed even an ounce of appreciation for Melody's theatrics, she silently vowed to ignore him for at least a week—maybe longer.
"Uh... excuse me? How exactly am I supposed to provide this 'proof'?" Ash asked awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
He recalled this part of the "Legends of Lugia" tale, realizing that the major events were about to begin in earnest.
"Relax, it's not a big deal. This is just part of the tradition—it happens once a year." Melody's demeanor turned from formal to casual as she stood back up, grabbing a piece of fruit from the nearby table and plopping into a chair beside him.
"All you need to do is go to three islands: Fire Island, Ice Island, and Lightning Island. There are treasures on each island—you just need to retrieve them, bring them back here to the main hall, and..."
She paused, raising the fruit in a mock toast, before continuing, "I'll play my song again to dedicate it to the gods."
As if to emphasize her point, she briefly played a lively but much simpler tune on her ocarina.
The notes, far less serene than her earlier performance, felt lighthearted—a signal that this task wasn't supposed to feel sacred or dangerous.
"And then... the celebration is over!" she concluded with a dramatic flourish.
"In that case," Ash said eagerly, his excitement bubbling over, "I'll get started immediately!" He was itching to begin, ready to witness the unfolding events firsthand.
"Wait—there's no need to rush!" Melody exclaimed, looking surprised by Ash's enthusiasm. "The celebration doesn't end until tomorrow anyway..."
"She's right," Misty added quickly, her voice tinged with worry. "The waves are still rough right now—it wouldn't be safe to go out to sea this late."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Ash reassured her with a confident nod. "Blastoise can handle the rough waves, and besides..."
His voice softened as he glanced at Misty. "I know Marshadow's watching over me. Nothing bad will happen."
Misty hesitated, her lips parting as if to argue further, but his words—and his determination—silenced her. She lowered her head slightly, letting out a reluctant sigh.
"Alright," she murmured finally. "Just… be careful, okay? And don't take any stupid risks."
"I won't. I promise," Ash said with a grin, giving her a thumbs-up as he stood.
"Pika!" Pikachu chirped from the table, already dashing toward the hall's exit.
Ash followed quickly, glancing over his shoulder at his friends. "I'll be back soon. You guys just wait here, okay?"
Maren entered just in time to offer Ash her boat, but before she could say anything, Ash had already disappeared into the night.
"Be careful!" Misty called after him, her voice rising with concern. Ash didn't reply, merely giving her a final thumbs-up over his shoulder.
Melody watched him go, raising an eyebrow. "Has he always been this impulsive?"
"No," Tracey replied, his tone far more serious. "Something's different. He knows something we don't. He's not going out there recklessly—there's a reason."
Meanwhile, Ash and Pikachu dashed toward the harbor. The bay's water was relatively calm, but beyond the protective embrace of the inlet, the waves crashed violently against distant rocks.
"Blastoise! Let's go!" Ash called, tossing his Poké Ball into the air. With a flash of light, the massive blue turtle Pokémon appeared, its cannons locking into place as it stood firmly in the moonlit harbor.
"Blas-toise!" it bellowed in affirmation.
Ash climbed onto its back, extending his arm to Pikachu, who leapt into his waiting hand. "We're heading to Fire Island first! Are you ready?"
Blastoise growled in agreement, lowering itself slightly before diving into the water. It moved through the calm harbor with ease, but beyond the estuary, the sea was far less forgiving.
Ash clung tightly to Blastoise's shell as the waves surged, but the Water Pokémon pressed forward with unwavering strength, its powerful limbs and shell cutting effortlessly through the frothy swells.
Ash had prepared for this, knowing Blastoise's hard training would allow it to handle the rough waters with ease.
Thanks to their speed and determination, Fire Island wasn't far off—Ash estimated they'd reach it within fifteen minutes.
Meanwhile, aboard an enormous floating fortress, Lawrence observed the progress of his plan.
The "Forbidden God Cage" shimmered with faint energy, sealing Moltres within its confines.
The legendary bird's once-blazing flames had dimmed, leaving its form weak and visibly fatigued as it drifted into unconsciousness.
Lawrence smiled faintly. The first step had succeeded. The balance between the three gods was now broken, and as a result, the next piece of the puzzle would soon fall into place. Zapdos would respond, and then Articuno, and eventually...
"Yes, Lugia. You "will" appear," he muttered, his gaze focused on the intricate monitor displaying an energy map of the Orange Islands.
"Master," the artificial intelligence interrupted, "a thunderstorm indicative of Zapdos's presence has been detected near Fire Island. The God of Thunder is active."
"The equilibrium is breaking faster than I anticipated," Lawrence remarked, placing his hands behind his back.
"And so, the God of Thunder awakens… drawn by the imbalance and the absence of Moltres."
He turned to the screen displaying Moltres's injured and weakened form, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"This pitiful state..." Lawrence said softly. "Moltres, is this what remains of your former strength? What have you become during your dormancy?"
He knew now: the power of these gods was far more limited during their dormant stages.
A fully awakened Moltres could have incinerated his fleet with ease. Timing, therefore, had been the key to his operation.
With a slight bow of his head, Lawrence turned toward the controls. "Prepare the fortress and redirect to Fire Island. We'll wait for Zapdos there."
"Yes, Master," the artificial intelligence replied smoothly.
As the fortress powered up, Moltres stirred weakly in its cage, its dim eyes flickering with fury.
Though its flames had been diminished, the legendary bird still burned with rage. However, even its fury wasn't enough to overcome the toll the cage had taken.
It fell back into restless slumber, the confines of the "Forbidden God Cage" holding it firm.
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