So many days and nights.
So many hopes and dreams.
So many disappointments.
Victini stared at the shattered seal of the Pillars of Protection, its big, adorable eyes filling with tears that could no longer be held back. Like broken pearls off a string, they streamed down its cheeks.
Once, it had lived carefree.
It was the Victory Pokémon — the one who could bestow the power of life, who could give hope to the world.
Back when it followed the king, Victini had also been free.
But after that one chaotic upheaval of the earth's ley lines…
In order to help suppress the instability, the king died before he could free Victini.
Yet Victini never blamed the king.
Imprisoned within the Sword of the Vale for hundreds — perhaps thousands — of years…
It never blamed anyone.
It just wanted to see the ocean again.
Cynthia couldn't bear to see such a cute Pokémon crying. Even Sabrina was a little better at holding herself back.
Cynthia rushed forward and hugged Victini tightly in her arms.
And somehow, Victini's sorrow — the cry of the Victory Pokémon — stirred the hearts of everyone around it.
Even Reshiram and Zekrom looked visibly upset.
"Don't cry, Victini. Let's all go see the ocean together, okay?"
"Ti...ni?"
The little one's mood instantly lifted when it heard that everyone was willing to accompany it.
It carefully stepped beyond the spot where the Pillars of Protection had sealed it for so long — now, nothing could restrain its freedom anymore.
"TiniTi~ni!" it chirped, darting around, turning invisible and reappearing in flashes.
Pikachu was chasing it playfully from below, having a blast.
Damon watched the overjoyed Victini, and a deep remorse settled in his heart.
Fortunately, Ash had stopped him — and for that, Damon was immensely grateful.
The group made their way to the seaside, releasing all their Pokémon into the open.
Metagross, Lucario, Garchomp, Snivy, Pikachu...
Sabrina let out several of her own Pokémon as well.
So did Cynthia.
Reshiram and Zekrom, meanwhile, had not left — they stood nearby, quietly keeping watch.
Ash's gaze fell on Zekrom, deep in thought.
According to the Legendary Pokemon Tracker, there was supposedly a mysterious shadow above the Sword of the Vale — a black figure cloaked in powerful dragon energy.
He used to think it referred to Zekrom…
But clearly, it wasn't this guy.
Perhaps he could ask Zekrom for help later, and fly above the Sword of the Vale to investigate the truth himself.
Decision made, Ash turned his attention back to Victini, who was joyfully flying around.
"How about it, Victini? Are you happy?"
"Ti-ni-ti-ni!"
Victini nodded furiously, the tiny wings on its backside flapping like crazy.
"Pika, Pikachu!"
Pikachu leapt back onto Ash's shoulder.
Victini, not to be outdone, landed on Ash's other shoulder, settling into place.
Cynthia and Sabrina had also relaxed now, playing freely with the Pokémon.
"I've got tons of Pokémon back home I can introduce you to as friends," Ash said, grinning. "There's one that loves to play — I think you two would get along really well.
Victini, do you want to come travel the world with me and see everything this place has to offer?"
Ash extended the invitation.
This little one was just too cute — easily on par with Latias.
Both were adorable Pokémon, but Victini had something special — the power to grant life force.
If Mewtwo had received Victini's energy earlier, it could've taken down Reshiram even faster!
Victini adored Ash. It nodded eagerly, full of excitement.
Ash took out a Ultra Ball — one specially crafted by the system — and offered it.
Victini didn't resist in the slightest.
Just like that…
It was caught.
"Perfect! Victini is now part of the team!"
"Pika-Pikachu!!"
Ash had captured Victini!
"Come on out, Victini! From now on, I'll be counting on you!"
"TiniTi~ni!"
[Pokémon]: Victini
[Classification]: Victory Pokémon
[Type]: Psychic, Fire
[Ability]: Victory Star
[Potential]: Purple
[Level]: 90
[Moveset]: Focus Energy, Confusion, Quick Attack, Headbutt, Stored Power, Reversal, Zen Headbutt, Flamethrower, Inferno,
Flare Blitz, Searing Shot, Power Swap, Burn Up…
[Signature Move]: V-Create
This was Victini's stat profile.
Its level wasn't sky-high, but it was still Level 90 —
Just stepping into the ranks of a Tier-2 Legendary Tier.
But Victini's true value lay in its unique power: the ability to grant life energy.
___
With Victini's matter resolved, Ash had Cynthia and Sabrina head to Eindoak Town to tidy up some things.
Ash himself stayed back to talk with Reshiram and Zekrom.
He requested their help to fly over the Sword of the Vale and investigate what might be hidden there.
Given everything Ash had done to help the People of the Vale, the two dragon gods gladly agreed.
Ash hopped onto Zekrom's back with Pikachu at his side.
Together, they — and the two divine dragons — soared straight up into the sky above the Sword of the Vale!
Ash was determined to uncover the truth behind the Legendary Tracker's message.
Who was this mysterious "black silhouette"?
"Whoooosh… whoooosh…"
The wind whistled in Ash's ears as they ascended rapidly.
His gaze remained locked on the skies around them.
At the same time, he activated his Aura to its fullest, alert to every disturbance in the air.
He focused especially on the clouds — was there a black shadow lurking among them?
"Zzeeeaaoooon!!"
"Zraaaaoooo!!"
Reshiram and Zekrom understood Ash's intentions.
They released low, echoing dragon cries as they scanned the surroundings.
"Nothing? How can that be?" Ash frowned.
The system never made mistakes.
And yet — there wasn't even a trace of that black figure.
"Reshiram, Zekrom — could I trouble you both to use your Dragon-type moves to clash in mid-air?"
Ash patted Zekrom. The dragon nodded, understanding immediately.
It distanced itself from Reshiram, and the two unleashed Dragon Pulses that collided in a spectacular explosion high in the air.
"Zraaaaoooo!!"
Still…
Nothing happened.
Suddenly, Reshiram fired a Blue Flare into the sky.
It exploded with terrifying force, blowing apart the cloud layer for miles in every direction.
A boundless view unfolded.
Other than Zekrom… nothing black or shadowy in sight.
Ash had no choice but to give up for now.
If they went any higher, his enhanced body could take the pressure —
But he'd run out of oxygen before long.
"Guess I'll head to Roshan City and look for Kyurem next," he muttered.
If he could catch Kyurem — the companion of both Reshiram and Zekrom —
Then the system's Ultimate DNA Splicers might finally come into play!
The strongest dragon of the land might just be waiting.
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T/N:
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