Lucas keenly noticed the berry trees' flower buds about to bloom.
It wouldn't be long before the trees blossomed, and most required Bug-type Pokémon with nectar-collecting habits for pollination.
Beedrill, Butterfree, Vivillon, and Combee were all suitable.
Usually, wild Bug Pokémon nearby would handle pollination, but Lucas's farm couldn't allow wild Pokémon to come and go freely. Luxray's job included driving away wild Pokémon attracted to the crops.
He couldn't risk them threatening the farm or his Pokémon, so he had to be strict.
But recently, thanks to Nemona's Teddiursa, Lucas had built a good relationship with a Vespiquen and Combee colony in a nearby grove.
With this friendship, he could now make a deal with Vespiquen.
The berry trees and the flowers in Comfey's flower fields were about to bloom. Lucas could invite Vespiquen's colony to collect pollen—deepening their bond, ensuring pollination, and earning extra Combee honey.
It was a win-win.
Lucas decided that after getting the evolution item for Milcery from Katy, he'd visit Vespiquen to discuss the arrangement.
Once all this was settled, Moltres would hopefully have lost enough weight to take Lucas and Growlithe to the volcano for evolution.
…
Kanto Region, Old Coast Pier.
Delibird sighed in relief after seeing the drenched trio and Pikachu dash into the ferry terminal.
But when it realized this was the same dock it had originally landed at, it felt exhausted.
It never imagined humans could be this ridiculous. Had it known they'd end up here, it wouldn't have spent half a month lost in the wild with them.
The boy in the cap—Ash, if it remembered right—thought their good luck got them through all the dangers. Actually, Delibird had been secretly helping, since it needed them to lead it to the Dragonite leader. That was why it intervened at crucial moments.
Delibird had also kept Team Rocket's antics at bay—every time Pikachu got captured by their robots, Delibird created an opening for Ash's group to escape.
Perched on the terminal roof, Delibird listened to the humans' conversations and pieced together information from Ash's group.
It glanced out at the pouring rain, the black clouds, and the raging sea—finally understanding the reason.
An invitation from the ["World's Strongest Pokémon Trainer"]...
Delibird frowned. In its mind, Lucas was the strongest.
It wanted to challenge this so-called strongest, but first, it had to investigate the Dragonite leader and their connection.
Lucas's notebook had warned: Don't act rashly out of boredom; keep calm.
Delibird took this advice seriously.
While Delibird pondered, a commotion broke out. Many trainers released their Pokémon, intent on braving the storm to reach New Island.
Officer Jenny's warnings couldn't stop these fired-up trainers. Even Ash's group and Pikachu boarded a wooden boat heading to the island.
Memorizing the island's direction, Delibird looked at the boat's passengers, easily spotting Team Rocket's disguised members.
It muttered inwardly how persistent those three were, but decided not to interfere—after all, Team Rocket would always fail.
Instead, Delibird grew excited at the prospect of challenging the storm.
It loved testing itself against nature.
Staring at the storm—so fierce that it likely contained a hurricane, according to what Dragonite and Dragonair had taught it—Delibird fearlessly dove in.
"Delii~!"
Breaking through the clouds, Delibird soared above the storm, where a clear full moon shone.
Beneath, the storm raged, but above, all was calm and peaceful.
Delibird was mesmerized by the view—until a pink figure darted into sight.
"Delii~?"
Delibird was startled—another Pokémon had conquered the storm and reached above the clouds?
It blinked, trying to see more clearly, but the pink figure vanished like an illusion.
Delibird paused, thinking it must've been a trick of the eye. Shaking its head, it prepared to descend.
But as it turned, a pink cat face silently filled its entire view.
"Delii!~?"
Delibird nearly jumped out of its feathers. When had this thing appeared behind it?
"Mew mew mew!~"
Mew, delighted by its prank, giggled innocently—not mocking, just unable to hide its emotions.
Delibird, now calm but a bit embarrassed, mentally scolded itself for being frightened after braving the storm. It scratched its head and asked, "Delii~?" (Who are you? Why are you here?)
"Mew~?" (Who are you? Why are you here?)
Mew tilted its head, deliberately returning the question.
Delibird was baffled by the counter-question.
But its curiosity about this powerful, mysterious Pokémon overcame it. "Delii~!" (I'm Delibird. I crossed the storm below to investigate the island!)
"Mew~?" (Disaster?)
"Mew mew mew~!" (But this storm was created by a Pokémon's psychic power!)