Sensing that it was almost time to say goodbye, Silver kept circling around Mai and Luther. Every now and then, she tugged gently at their clothes with a wing, and at one point she even threw herself onto Chansey, refusing to let go.
Lugia looked deeply into Luther's eyes. "Would you be interested... in taking care of Silver for a while?"
Just as Luther and Mai were about to climb onto Flygon, Lugia's telepathic voice echoed in their minds. The two of them slowly turned around like malfunctioning machines. For a moment, they thought they'd imagined it.
Then Lugia spoke again.
This time, even Silver heard it. She immediately lit up with excitement and happily climbed onto Chansey's head.
Lugia's expression was completely serious; Luther didn't think she was joking.
"Silver once had a human friend on the Isle of Rage, far from here," Lugia said telepathically. "But at the time, I had no desire to become more involved with humans. As I continued training her, we gradually drifted farther and farther away from that place. I know she hasn't truly been happy. Staying with me, she can't make friends. She can't live alongside other Pokémon. I wanted her to understand that this is simply our fate... but she clearly doesn't accept that."
Lugia lowered her head until she was almost touching Luther.
"Ho-Oh has already taken the first step, and I want to follow her choice. I still carry prejudice against humans. I still reject human society... but Silver doesn't. So let her learn about your world in my place. Just like Ho-Oh, I'll give you three years. In three years, I'll return to the waters off Sinnoh and take Silver home. ...Would you accept?"
Lugia's forehead gently rested against Luther's. It wasn't a request from a legendary Pokémon; it was a mother's trust.
"I'll teach her everything my Pokémon know," Luther promised. "She'll have everything my own Pokémon have. My Pokémon and I will do everything we can to make her happy. We'll give her a place she can call home. I promise she'll never be harmed, and I'll show her the beauty of the human world."
Lugia smiled. She called Silver over, lowered her head, and gently rubbed her face against her daughter's while quietly whispering something only the two of them could hear.
At first, Silver had been overjoyed at the thought of having new companions, but little by little, her expression turned gloomy. She looked back and forth between Lugia and Luther, clearly torn.
Seeing her hesitate, Lugia straightened up and let out a sharp, commanding cry, unmistakably the voice of a mother disciplining her child.
Silver flinched, but then determination filled her eyes. She floated up and gently rubbed her head against Lugia's wing. Lugia's stern expression softened.
After the two stayed together quietly for a long moment, Lugia gently nudged Silver toward Luther. She slowly retreated from the shore and slipped beneath the sea.
"In three years... Ho-Oh and I will return to Sinnoh. My child... I'm leaving her in your care."
A towering spray of seawater shot into the air as Lugia disappeared completely beneath the waves.
Silver stared at the dark silhouette fading into the depths. She fought the urge to chase after her mother, hurrying over to Chansey instead and hugging her tightly.
Lugia was gone. Mai gently stroked Silver, trying to comfort her.
It was Silver's first time living apart from her mother, and she would need time to adjust, so Mai's touch was as gentle as could be.
The sound of footsteps crunching across the sand drew Luther's attention. He turned and saw Mira approaching.
After watching Silver for a while, Mira pressed her lips together, gathered her courage, and looked Luther straight in the eye.
"I'm coming with you."
Luther blinked.
"...Coming with me? Why?"
Mira clenched her teeth. "Whatever needs doing. You tell me what to do, and I'll do it. You told me, 'Just keep doing good deeds. Don't worry about what lies ahead.' You saved my life, so you should be the one to witness me atone and become a better person."
Luther stared at her blankly. "But... I don't actually need you to do anything. I don't have anything that requires your help. I can handle everything myself."
This development was the last thing Luther had expected. Mira following him simply made no sense. It wasn't that Luther was overestimating himself, Mira wasn't a better battler than he was, and she probably wasn't any better at handling everyday affairs either.
As for everything else... with his Pokémon around, there honestly wasn't much she could contribute.
"How about you go work for Cynthia instead?" Luther suggested. "I can even give you a recommendation."
"I owe 'you', not Cynthia!" Mira declared, determined not to back down. "Once I've repaid my debt, I'll leave. Don't worry."
'Yeah, right.'
And how exactly was she planning to decide when that debt had been repaid?
Was she just going to move into his house, grab an extra pair of chopsticks, and freeload for the rest of her life?
Mai tilted her head and studied Mira carefully. She let go of Silver, stood up, walked over to Mira, and slowly circled around her.
The fearless Mira, who had been willing to argue with Luther moments ago, suddenly shivered. She silently let Mai inspect her hands, brush aside her hair, and examine her from head to toe without saying a word.
"You know..." Mai said thoughtfully, "we should have enough money to buy land and build a house soon. We really do need a butler."
Luther covered his face. Honestly, he'd wanted to invite old Mr. Cyrus to be their butler instead. With the International Police thrown into chaos, now was the perfect time for the old man to retire. Letting him spend his retirement at their place sounded wonderful.
Besides, Mr. Cyrus could train him physically. Maybe one day he'd even be able to wrestle Fighting-type Pokémon with his bare hands.
"That's not appropriate," Luther tried to protest.
"I think it's perfect." Mai nodded to herself before turning to Mira. "Then it's settled. You don't have any objections, do you?"
Mira nodded immediately.
Luther had no room left to argue. The memory of Mai clinging to him and crying the previous night surfaced in his mind again. He still felt guilty toward her, and at a moment like this, he simply couldn't bring himself to keep opposing her.
Besides... this was the first time Mai had openly said she wanted something.
After letting out a long, helpless sigh, Luther helped Mai onto Flygon's back, then lifted the still-flightless Silver up beside her.
Mira didn't stand on ceremony either. After checking all of her Poké Balls and retrieving her backpack from the cave, she climbed onto the borrowed Skarmory.
By the time they departed, it was nearly sunset, much like the day Luther had left aboard Wailord. The fading sunlight painted the sea in brilliant gold, and Water-type Pokémon leaped from the shimmering waves every now and then, creating a breathtaking view.
Silver was completely captivated. So was Luther, who rarely had the chance to enjoy flying like this.
Suddenly, Silver excitedly pointed toward the ocean with one wing and cried out. Luther and Mai looked down.
Below them, countless Water-type Pokémon were swimming swiftly beneath Flygon, following the exact path of their flight. Among them, Luther recognized the very Wailord that had carried him here, along with entire schools of Chinchou.
The sea's surface was filled with Water-type Pokémon silently watching them pass, while beneath the waves, a massive shadow with outstretched wings glided alongside them.
Luther cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the sea: "I'll take good care of Silver! See you in three years!"
Deep beneath the surface, Lugia stopped swimming. After a long moment, she slowly rolled over, closed her eyes, and sank into the deeper waters.
In the direction Lugia disappeared, dark storm clouds gathered across the horizon as a great hurricane began to form.
(End of Chapter)
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