That icy touch could only come from metal—or a blade. Mannes's body went rigid.
His Adam's apple, usually hidden by his fat, bobbed as he tried to speak, but one of the three white-haired, masked intruders who had somehow slipped into the archives hissed a warning in a voice as cold and raspy as a snake's tongue:
"Don't move. Don't make a sound. Do exactly as we say. Or else—you know."
Cold sweat soaked Mannes's back. With the dagger wielder's permission, he gave the slightest nod to show he understood.
The man called Shadow curled his lips beneath his mask, apparently pleased with Mannes's obedience. He asked directly, "Tell us everything you know about the dragons of Truth and Ideals."
"And don't even think about lying. We've got ways to test that. If we catch you—you know what happens."
Mannes felt the knife press closer to his throat as the man tightened his grip. Panic-stricken, he could only nod minutely again.
Shadow nodded, satisfied. The Shadow Triad owed their lives to Ghetsis. Now they served as his sharpest blades in the shadows, each adopting Shadow as their name. For Team Plasma's future, this mission had to be flawless.
Prodded by the three, Mannes reluctantly began recounting the history of Eindoak and, in the end, stated bluntly that the two dragons had become the Dragon Stones and had shattered the castle's rock as they vanished into the sky.
The Sword of the Vale no longer held slumbering dragons.
When he finished, one of the Shadow glanced sideways at the portable lie detector devised by Team Plasma's chief scientist. Realizing Mannes hadn't lied, he frowned deeply.
Another Shadow placed a hand on his shoulder, signaling him to remain perfectly calm, then asked in a low voice, "Then, about the Victini in that story—how much do you know?"
Beads of sweat rolled down Mannes's temples. Under threat of death, he gritted his teeth and slowly revealed that Victini was currently traveling with a Trainer.
…
Far from the archives and near the castle's top, Luxray lay at the corner of a large bed, watching Lucas drift into sleep while Victini sprawled on top of him, snoring sweetly. The sight drew a faint smile from Luxray.
Just as Luxray decided it was time to sleep, he sensed something. His head snapped up, golden light blazing in his sharp eyes.
Pouring more power into his eyes, he saw ever more, until his vision pierced several floors to the archives below. The moment he saw the scene there, Luxray sprang up and roused Lucas without hesitation.
By the time Lucas and Luxray reached the archives, they found Mannes terrified and collapsed on the floor, books strewn everywhere, and a window letting in a frigid draft.
…
A short while earlier, outside the castle, the Shadow Triad had been conferring in the shadows.
"Shadow, are we just leaving? According to the mayor, Victini is inside this castle, right?"
"Shadow, remember Lord N's order: this operation must not harm innocent Pokémon. That definition is too broad. To avoid angering Lord N, we can't risk it."
"Shadow is right. We'll report to Lord N that the dragons no longer slumber here. After he departs, we'll return, prepare, and then seize the Victini accompanying that human for Dr. Colress."
…
Lucas brewed a pot of hot tea and poured a cup, setting it before the trembling Mannes. He pulled up a chair and sat.
"You're saying three white-haired masked people, like ninjas, held you hostage, asking for information on the dragons of Truth and Ideals," Lucas said gravely.
"And when they learned the dragons had vanished, they switched targets and asked about Victini?"
Guilt-ridden, Mannes glanced anxiously at Lucas and Victini, who peeked at him from behind Lucas. Clutching his head, he trembled. "I didn't want to, but they had a knife to my throat. I'm sorry. I'm sorry…"
Juanita rushed in, opening the door just in time to hear his quavering apology.
She gave Mannes a helpless look. She wanted to be angry, but what could she say? It was a life-or-death crisis. From her position, she couldn't condemn him.
A swirl of emotions ended in a sigh.
She met Lucas's gaze; they exchanged a nod. "How are the students?"
"I've checked them all. They're fine, sleeping soundly," Lucas replied.
Juanita patted her chest in relief, tension draining from her. If anything had happened to the students Lucas had brought—students she'd suggested sleep in the castle—she'd have felt guilty for a long time.
A crackle of electricity sounded as Luxray vaulted in through the window. After a brief exchange with it, Lucas looked unsurprised.
If he was right, the trio who had held the mayor hostage were Ghetsis's subordinates—the Shadow Triad of Team Plasma.
It was easy to pinpoint them: white hair, ninja style, a group of three, hunting the legendary dragons—too many obvious markers.
In the games, they came and went like ninjas, leaving no traces or scents. And they likely carried some Plasma tech on them. It wasn't surprising that Luxray had found nothing nearby.
Lucas shook his head at Juanita's questioning look. She blanched. "Then what do we do? Without the dragons as their goal, they'll set their sights on Victini."
"Should we hide somewhere, cancel tomorrow's battle festival, have Officer Jenny lock down the city?"
Resting a hand on Luxray's back, Lucas pondered, then spoke with a plan in mind. "We don't do anything. The festival proceeds as normal. Their only targets will be me and Victini at my side. With that intel, we can do a lot."
Mannes lifted his head, worried. "Are you sure?"
Lucas smiled faintly. "It'll be fine."
…
The next day, in Eindoak's largest plaza—
Though worried, Mannes forced a smile and announced brightly, "The rules are as before. I declare the festival battles celebrating the Harvest Festival—begin!"
Amid cheers and fireworks, Lucas and Nemona each received a wooden tag.
According to the rules, trainers wearing the tags could challenge each other. The last trainer still wearing a tag would be champion.
Each battle allowed only a single Pokémon, but trainers could use different ones in different battles.
Simple and easy to understand.
Lucas fingered the surprisingly well-crafted wooden tag. After saying goodbye to an excited Nemona, Eri, and the forcibly-dragged, dead-eyed Penny and Arven, he set off alone.
Carlita seemed intent on saving their match for last and didn't challenge him immediately. Lucas wandered the streets, feigning alertness, waiting for the others to make a move.
"Vee-tee…"
Hearing that someone was after it, the invisible Victini on Lucas's shoulder let out a nervous sound.
The Vulpix in Lucas's arms whispered comfort, promising to beat any intruder to a pulp.
Victini clasped Vulpix's tiny paw, deeply moved.
Though he couldn't see invisible Victini, Lucas knew what the two little cuties were up to. He shook his head helplessly—just as the first challenger appeared.
A young man—his name didn't matter. They were ships passing: one battle, and that was all.
At the ref's whistle, Lucas and the boy sent out their Pokémon amid cheers.
Samurott and Comfey!
By size, by gaze, by cutting aura, Samurott looked like a drawn blade compared to the delicate Comfey.
But the result stunned everyone.
Comfey danced through the flowerbeds, nimbly dodging Samurott's water-sheathed shell blade strikes. Like a dancer in blooms, she unleashed a storm of petals like whirling snow.
After only a few exchanges, Samurott fell before the adorable, harmless-looking Comfey, to a chorus of gasps.
If Arven had been here, he'd have heckled Samurott for daring to challenge Comfey. Once, a student accidentally provoked her, and he and his Pokémon nearly suffered trauma.
It was that kind of beatdown—brutal domination while she continuously healed you.
Painfully wholesome.
Meanwhile, atop a tall clock tower, the three Shadow—dressed like ninjas but scanning Eindoak through high-tech goggles—made for a bizarre sight.
They'd brought the devices overnight. They could even pick up invisible Pokémon silhouettes—Dr. Colress had modified them from a Devon Corp tool used to reveal Kecleon in Hoenn.
Lock onto the suspected Victini signal, press a button, and a strange magnetic field would force Victini to appear. Then they'd strike like lightning and snatch it in one go!
After a short search, they picked up a signal matching an invisible Pokémon—likely Victini.
Their gaze fell on a man, cradling a cute ice-blue Vulpix, walking down a quiet alley.
On his shoulder, the goggles read an enormous energy signature.
It was daytime, but opportunity passed in a blink. Grab Victini, and go!
The three shared a look, decided, and vanished in a blur.
…
Rounding a corner onto an uphill path, Lucas saw Eri's Annihilape crash to the ground. He glanced at her opponent and raised an eyebrow, surprised.
Carlita—the daughter of Juanita, about his age—and her roaring Hydreigon!
Hydreigon's main color was blue, covered in black fur, with three pairs of wings, and two rows of maroon markings on its belly. It had no hind legs, and as its name suggested, three heads—but only the central head had a brain and will.
After defeating Eri, Carlita turned her eyes to the passing Lucas and smiled. "Perfect timing!"
Eri handed her tag to the judge, slumped back to Lucas's side, and murmured, "Teacher Lucas, I lost."
He patted the tall girl's shoulder. "It's fine. She's raised a Hydreigon. As a newer trainer, it's normal for you to be outmatched. Don't sell yourself short."
"I understand."
Eri nodded and stepped aside to let the ref ask whether Lucas would accept Carlita's challenge.
No hesitation. Lucas had already promised Carlita he'd fight with his main team.
Not only Carlita was excited—even Victini, who scampered from his shoulder to the top of his head, beamed.
Besides poffins and sweets, Victini's favorite food was the victory aura that only it could see, radiating from its trainer after a win.
Victini loved absorbing victory. Following Lucas through the festival, it had watched him swap in Comfey and Alcremie to trounce more than a dozen trainers, the victory aura growing rich and mellow.
It hadn't had such a feast in a long time.
Victini was eager for Lucas's battle with Carlita, who herself radiated a faint victory aura. This would be today's biggest, tastiest serving!
The narrow slope wasn't ideal for Carlita and Hydreigon. At Lucas's suggestion, they moved to an open plaza. The battle was about to ignite.
On a nearby rooftop, the Shadow Triad landed silently, eyes fixed on Lucas setting his stance. They smiled, certain of success.
Victini, the mythical Pokémon that could make its trainer undefeatable—rumored to have infinite energy—
Perfect to serve Team Plasma, Lord Ghetsis, Lord N, and Dr. Colress—to further Team Plasma's goals!