Indeed, Sabrina's timing was impeccable. She struck at the perfect moment—right as Lunala was caught in the brief lag after unleashing Moongeist Beam.
She attacked at the very instant Lunala was at its least agile.
And her Alakazam was no pushover to begin with—after Mega Evolution, its psychic power skyrocketed to terrifying heights.
Under such circumstances, Sabrina's counterattack was more than enough to deliver a decisive blow.
Granted, her Z-Move wasn't Psychic-type but Ghost-type, meaning it couldn't fully benefit from the same-type attack bonus.
But let's not forget one crucial detail—Lunala, that regal "Moon Queen," is four times weak to Ghost.
Even if Alakazam wasn't a Ghost-type Pokémon, that quadruple weakness was still enough to completely overturn the situation with a single move.
After all, when it comes to raw power, Z-Moves far surpass even Dynamax moves!
Against a target four times weak to Ghost, Alakazam's Z-Move hit harder than a rain-boosted Hydro Pump from a Water Tera Specs Greninja.
However… Pokémon battles are never that simple.
If victory were determined solely by power output, everyone would just line up for a "move vs. move" contest and call it a day.
And Rayquaza—wielding V-Create—would be the undisputed king of the world.
In truth, just as some people like to shout, "We humans can transform!", Pokémon could just as well declare—
"We Pokémon have abilities!"
So, the question now is—what's Lunala's ability?
It can't possibly be something useless like some Mega Legendary's "Steadfast Heart," that's "courageous" in name but still flinches when it shouldn't, right?
Of course not.
Lunala may not have broken abilities like Protosynthesis, Hadron Engine, Desolate Land, or Primordial Sea, but her own ability is far from meaningless.
It's called Shadow Shield.
As the name suggests, it's an ability that reduces incoming damage—a kind of "advanced Multiscale."
In the games, as long as Lunala is at full HP, any damage it takes is halved.
And interestingly, Lunala also boasts solid natural bulk, as well as access to moves like Cosmic Power and Calm Mind to further boost her defenses.
While she can't recover her HP like Lugia or Ho-Oh, using her as a setup tank to boost and then strike back is still a very viable strategy.
Pair her with Leftovers or have Rillaboom set up Grassy Terrain—it's a fine synergy.
After all, Shadow Shield doesn't just vanish after one use; as long as she can somehow heal back to full, she can keep triggering it to halve damage again and again.
Against low-damage teams, she can become practically unbreakable—a wall that simply refuses to fall.
And in reality…
That ability becomes even more formidable.
Instead of only triggering at full HP, Lunala's Shadow Shield manifests periodically as an energy barrier, stronger and longer-lasting than ever before.
So even though Sabrina's Z-Move was devastating—strong enough to make even Legendaries crash—it failed to deliver a killing blow once it struck that spectral shield.
It did wound Lunala—but was it fatal?
Clearly not.
A mere less-than-double-type advantage wasn't nearly enough to turn Alakazam into shattered watermelon pieces under the moon.
Impossible—how could Lunala's endurance be that high?!
That was Sabrina's full-power attack!
Now, she looked like a fallen idol of truth, trying to maintain her calm facade while panic and fury churned beneath the surface.
Truth be told, she did understand Lunala to a degree—but that understanding was far too shallow.
Having never witnessed Lunala in an actual battle, she couldn't have anticipated its true ability.
In fact, Shadow Shield was already merciful by comparison.
If Lunala had something like a Ghost- or Psychic-type version of Desolate Land…
This entire situation was clearly unfolding exactly as that man had planned. Seeing Sabrina falter only made him all the more ecstatic.
"How dare you harm my noble body… you've signed your death warrant."
"But since you've already played your final card… it's time for me to reap what's mine."
"Keheheheh… become the stepping stone to my ascension, my dear 'senpai.'"
"Lunala, unleash your strongest move—end her!"
Then he paused, and his grin twisted wider.
"No, better yet—end this entire island! I'm sick of all this tedious ritual!"
"Do it! Sink the island! Let everyone die here!"
As time went on, his mental state became increasingly deranged. He had completely transformed into a battle-crazed god of destruction.
Giovanni's plan? What plan?
If anything stood in his way, he'd destroy it. The more he killed, the better he felt.
His expression was now eerily similar to Yami Marik's—anyone watching would've thought a Yu-Gi-Oh! villain had wandered in from the next universe over.
Seeing the manic gleam in his eyes, Sabrina's mind raced to analyze his condition.
Perhaps… this was some kind of side effect from experimental modification?
His ability to control Lunala—and his psychic powers so similar to hers—could very well have come from Rocket's human experimentation.
Unbelievable, yes—but if anyone could do something like that, it was Team Rocket.
Their black tech went far beyond anything she'd seen—even as a former Rocket executive herself.
But still… knowing all that, what could she do about it?
As if sensing her hesitation, the man grew even more frenzied. He licked his pale teeth and screamed at the top of his lungs:
"Z-Move—Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom!"
Lunala's wings spread wide like black holes, devouring every source of light nearby. The lighthouse beam, the distant headlights, even the starlight itself—all swallowed into a void of violet.
The stolen radiance gathered at its wingtips, coalescing into a beam of pure light. Inside that pillar, ghostly quantum particles seethed and twisted, while the ground beneath shimmered with eerie blue phosphorescence—like moonlight condensed into dust.
And then, Lunala's form began to change.
Its wings turned pale, blending with its body to form a glowing full moon.
The beam erupted forth—a cataclysmic torrent of energy, far surpassing the earlier Z-Move Sabrina's Alakazam had unleashed.
You see, while many Pokémon can use standard Z-Moves, certain species have unique signature ones—like Pikachu's Catastropika or 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, or Eevee's Extreme Evoboost. Even the Alolan starters have their own exclusives.
Naturally, as one of the twin deities of Sun and Moon, Lunala possessed its own unique Z-Move.
In the games, its base power was an absurd 200—double that of Moongeist Beam.
And unfortunately for Sabrina, her Alakazam was weak to it. So that "double" in theory became a quadruple in practice.
Forget Alakazam's mediocre bulk—even if you evolved it another stage into "Mega Alabridgezam," it wouldn't matter.
When that move landed, even a powerhouse like Alakazam would be reduced to nothing but stardust.
No good. I can't let that hit him.
No—even the ground can't take it! If that beam strikes the unprotected island, it might just sink it outright!
Her only option was to meet power with power—to fire her own devastating Z-Move and try to neutralize the blast.
But Z-Moves could only be used once per battle. Attempting to use another immediately could have severe repercussions for both Pokémon and Trainer—fainting, or even physical collapse.
Even so… there was no choice left. Survive first—only then could she fight back.
If she died here, everything would end.
"Alakazam! One more Z-Move! Push it back!"
"Alakazaaam—!"
Alakazam understood. It forced out every last drop of its strength, igniting its soul for one final attack—a Ghost-type Z-Move to counter the lunar apocalypse descending upon them.
But when the two Z-Moves collided—
Though much of the Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom's energy was neutralized, Alakazam's body could no longer withstand the strain. It reverted instantly, collapsing under the backlash.
The Pokémon that had stood its ground against not one but two Legendaries now lay sprawled out, mouth open, eyes tightly shut—like a battle-worn knight meeting his end.
As for Sabrina—she looked even worse.
Her knuckles were white as she clutched the Poké Ball, its metal surface still warm from her grip.
She staggered back half a step, hair sticking to the sweat on her neck, the ribbon she'd worn all day now askew—dirtied with dust and crushed grass.
Finally, her knees gave out. She fell to the ground, completely drained.
Truthfully, her performance had already been nothing short of brilliant. Had she not misjudged the situation, she might've actually defeated Lunala.
But one misstep—one wrong move—and the price she had to pay… was her life.
"How exquisite," the man murmured. "Though this power… is still not complete…"
Perhaps because he had finally witnessed the "scene of his dreams," the man pressed a hand against half his face and let out a frenzied laugh.
"But this… this is still the power of a god! Do you see it, my dear senpai? Have you ever possessed such divine might?"
As he said this, his expression suddenly hardened.
"What a pity. You won't get another chance."
"You barely survived my Z-Move by sheer luck—but this next strike will end you! You'll die, do you hear me? You'll die!"
"Lunala! Finish that woman off—reduce her to ashes with your final blow!"
Wild-eyed and ecstatic, he raised both arms high, ordering Lunala to deliver the killing strike—a "finisher," and with its signature move, no less.
Lunala, of course, resisted the command, but the control exerted over her was absolute. Against her will, she began to gather her moonlight once more, the power around her rapidly surging to its peak.
I'll die… If that Shadow Beam hits me, I'll really die—!
Sabrina's instincts screamed the warning over and over.
But after exhausting everything she had to block that last Z-Move, both she and her Pokémon were spent. Even if she called out another Pokémon now, the attack's aftermath would melt them all together in that blinding "moonlight."
Releasing them would only drag them into her death. Keeping them sealed away might at least give them a chance to survive.
Am I really going to die here?
The thought rose unbidden in Sabrina's mind.
In that instant, she felt a long-lost emotion—despair.
It shouldn't be like this… She had only just escaped Team Rocket, had only begun to chase the life she'd dreamed of—so why was she ending up like this?
Was betraying them… a mistake after all?
She wasn't the only one feeling it. Far away in Alola, Lillie too was overwhelmed by a similar sense of dread and guilt.
She had already contacted Haru, but she hadn't expected the battle to end so soon.
Now Sabrina was seconds from death—could Haru really save her in time?
It seemed impossible.
Damn it… it's all my fault.
If I hadn't tried to guide Sabrina's movements underwater… she might not have ended up like this.
As for Lunala—her face showed no visible emotion. She hadn't changed expression even after Sabrina's Z-Move.
But deep down, there was a flicker of regret.
That human had been a useful pawn. Losing her was… wasteful.
And yet, just when everyone believed Sabrina was doomed—
That dreadful violet-black beam of annihilation never struck her or her Alakazam.
It was blocked.
Blocked—by a human?
Even though Lunala was under mind control, she couldn't suppress her surprise.
Since when… could a human stand against the signature move of a Legendary Pokémon?
Could it be… the mythical "Super Hisui Human"?
But she quickly dismissed that absurd thought.
No—this wasn't human.
If anything, the presence before her exuded the aura of a predator.
Yes… it was Necrozma—
The god who hunted and devoured light.
To Necrozma, both Lunala and Solgaleo were little more than walking batteries.
Hmph… given the chance, it'd probably snatch up George Washington too, just for the sunlight.
After all, the sun—well, you can always kill a few more.
But how could Necrozma appear here—disguised as a human woman, no less?
And dressed so flamboyantly… was she trying to attract a mate?
No, impossible! This was the predator of the sun and moon gods! How could she turn into something like this—and so perfectly molded to human aesthetics?!
Could it be… that she had already submitted to humanity?
No. Impossible!
Even she, who had been under human control for so long, hadn't bowed her head—how could the mightier Necrozma possibly yield to humans?
Even if she wanted to, no human would be worthy of possessing her!
Perhaps because she'd once been beaten senseless by Necrozma in the past, Lunala's feelings toward the being were a twisted blend of terror and reverence—a kind of tsundere worship of her own natural enemy.
To her, Necrozma was the very definition of invincible. A weak, human-serving Pokémon could never be the same being.
And yet—before her eyes stood none other than Necrozma herself.
Even in her unmerged form, Necrozma's Psychic type made her technically weak to Ghost—but in practice, she had the upper hand against both the sun and moon deities.
To her, they were living juice boxes—portable packs of "Light Up and Get Stronger™."
That Shadow Beam hadn't even scratched her.
"..."
Necrozma knew it. Lunala knew it. And Haru—her Trainer—knew it.
But the deranged Team Rocket agent… did not.
And so he froze.
The attack meant to sink the island itself had been blocked—by a "human" woman.
Could this truly be human power?
At the same time, the onlookers finally exhaled in relief.
"It's Mr. Haru! We're saved!"
Even Lillie—who often complained about Mew and Necrozma always clinging to Haru—felt genuine gratitude in that moment.
"Don't make me laugh! Losing in a place like this? Never!"
"I have a future to create with my partners—I won't lose to something like that!"
"Lunala! Pour all your power into one attack! Use that woman as your punching bag!"
Perhaps channeling his "Super Saiyan Gene," the Rocket agent suddenly transformed into a full-blown berserker—like some unholy fusion of Set and a fighting-game boss.
If not for the last shreds of reason in his head, he might've charged the battlefield himself, shouting, 'With these burning fists, I'll shatter the decaying earth!'
But alas, fate had other plans.
If Lunala could have fought back, she would have—but before she could even rise, Necrozma caught her midair and slammed her brutally into the ground.
The "Phantom Guard" barrier that Sabrina had struggled to pierce was torn apart instantly, like Cynthia's stockings under a careless tug.
"Damn it! Don't lose to her! Lunala, counterattack!"
"At this range, she can't dodge! This is your best chance!"
Panicked, the man roared commands—but they were meaningless.
Necrozma was a being that could fight both Sun and Moon gods simultaneously. One Lunala posed no threat at all.
Before her next move could even form, Lunala was seized again, wings crushed, and slammed back into the floor, sending shockwaves of dust flying.
Then Necrozma reached out, grasped Lunala by the head, and her expression turned eerily serene—eerily similar to that moment when Haru had first "awakened" her.
"This… this is power. Light, once more—become my blade."
A flood of radiance burst forth, wrapping both Necrozma and Lunala in a massive cocoon of ghostly blue light.
When the glow faded, the girl's body had vanished.
In her place stood a transformed Lunala—
Still bearing her spectral blue wings, yet her core was now sheathed in a layer of black crystal, as if corrupted by some abyssal power.
But even then, the transformation wasn't done. The immense, alien force continued to build within her, warping her very essence.
The moonlit blue faded into a blinding, golden brilliance.
A searing pain stabbed through everyone's eyes. Irises burned, retinas branded with impossible geometric afterimages—shapes too perfect to exist in nature, each angle etched with divine precision.
Crackle—!
The cocoon shattered. Time itself seemed to pause.
The first thing to pierce the clouds was a dozen spiral-shaped wings of light—each composed of millions of refracting prisms.
As they unfurled, the ocean mirrored their image in luminous reflection. Then came the draconic form—armor of white-gold flowing with liquid photons, plasma mist hissing from its glowing joints.
"RaaAAAAHHHHH!!!"
The dragon unfurled its wings and roared—a sound that tore through the heavens.
Powerful. Beautiful. Eternal.
Just looking at it forced those words into everyone's minds.
Yes—though Lunala was a Legendary Pokémon, this being existed on an entirely different plane of divinity.
"Wh… what the hell is that?"
The man, who had received intelligence about Lunala directly from Giovanni himself, knew she was a god of the moon.
That a girl in distant Alola—Lillie—also possessed one.
He had planned to defeat Sabrina, claim her title, and then go eliminate that "child."
But… Giovanni never mentioned this.
Lunala could transform into something like this?
No—was this even Lunala anymore?
Had Lunala already died, replaced by something else entirely?
The turn of events was so abrupt that even the once-mad Rocket member felt a flicker of sanity return.
And just then, a calm, teasing male voice came from his right:
"Let me answer that question for you."
"The answer is… the legendary Radiant God—Ultra Necrozma."
The voice belonged to none other than Haru.
Yes—that arrogant look, that anti-gravity coat—it could only be the Rocket syndicate's most wanted man, the thief who had stolen their prized creation.
And from what he said, it was clear that the "woman" who had blocked the attack wasn't human at all—she was Necrozma herself.
"I suppose I should thank you," Haru said with a smirk. "If not for your little stunt, my Necrozma might not have achieved her complete form for quite some time."
"She's already conquered her dependence on light—but indulging once in a while isn't so bad, don't you think?"
And he wasn't bluffing.
For Necrozma to reach her complete form, she had to merge with either the Sun God Solgaleo or the Moon God Lunala—then unleash a Photon Geyser to attain perfection.
Ordinarily, Necrozma could never access her full power.
But there was a catch—Lunala, the Moon God, belonged to Lillie. Necrozma couldn't exactly turn Lillie into a wearable accessory.
Solgaleo, on the other hand, was a truly wild Pokémon. Necrozma could, in theory, "borrow" his light.
But Haru disliked that kind of forced subjugation. He wasn't some mad collector who hurled Poké Balls at every rare creature he saw.
Although his reputation among Pokémon trainers might be a little… eccentric, he still had his own code of conduct.
If a Pokémon wasn't truly willing to be captured, then no matter how many times he brought even a Legendary to its knees, he would never just throw a Poké Ball.
In fact, he might even turn around and heal his opponent to ensure it didn't suffer any lasting harm.
Meanwhile, ever since Necrozma had awakened the "feminine side" in her heart, she'd become utterly disgusted with Solgaleo.
Sure, Solgaleo was technically genderless—but she only ever had eyes for Lunala.
So now that she had a chance to become the Radiant Deity again through Lunala, she couldn't possibly be more thrilled.
With the power she now wielded, she could probably—no, definitely—take on the entire damn world by herself!
So this is... Necrozma's true power?
From behind the jagged rocks, Mew No. 2, who had gone out with Haru, stared in stunned disbelief.
Necrozma was something like her "nanny," or maybe even her "stepmom." Before she was even born, it had been Necrozma who cared for her.
Naturally, she'd heard the story—that Necrozma's power had never been truly complete.
Considering how overwhelmingly strong Necrozma already was, Mewtwo had always assumed that "incomplete" meant perhaps ten or twenty percent short of full strength.
Not like those poor Pokémon in Legends: Arceus whose abilities got halved for no reason.
But now… she realized she had completely underestimated it!
Necrozma's hidden power was far, far beyond anything she'd imagined.
"Radiant Deity... is this your true form?"
Mew No. 2's eyes gleamed with near-fanatical admiration.
So strong—too strong. She couldn't help but long for power on that same level.
"I'm guessing that face you're wearing isn't really yours," Haru said, smiling faintly at the man. "So why don't we see who you really are?"
—-
While Sabrina was off "bonding" with her old colleagues, a certain "beautiful incident" was unfolding at the Altomare Grand Cathedral.
Contrary to Little Lugia's expectations, her mother Lugia hadn't dozed off in her chair.
Even though Haru and the others had already been gone for a while, Lugia still looked rather... excited. She kept squirming in her seat like a restless cat—or a puppy who couldn't sit still.
The single white ahoge on her head constantly changed shape—sometimes forming a question mark, sometimes twisting into a heart.
That, of course, deeply fascinated Professor Oak. He began to wonder if Lugia might possess some previously undiscovered trait—expressing emotion through her feathers.
And that long head-feather, which only adult Lugia seemed to have... could it possibly be a breeding plume?
Hmm... some birds did have such features, didn't they?
Lugia was, after all, a bona fide Flying-type—one that could be classified as avian.
So the possibility wasn't all that far-fetched.
True, breeding plumes were usually a male characteristic—but hey, these were Legendaries. For all he knew, the females were the ones who did the courting!
Professor Oak's speculation went off the rails for quite a while. Though he couldn't confirm any of it, he still meticulously recorded every bit of his "findings."
After all, Lugia was a first-rank Legendary Pokémon—so rare that even a single unique feature like that ahoge deserved documentation and study.
If only he could travel with Haru longer, he might even get to observe Little Lugia growing her own ahoge someday.
Little Lugia, however, had already guessed what the old man was thinking. She said nothing—just pretended she didn't even know her mother.
How mortifying. Her mom was being so unbelievably embarrassing.
Where was her dignity as a Legendary Pokémon? She looked more like a hyper grade-schooler on a field trip!
What in the world was she getting so excited about?
But just then, Lugia's expression suddenly changed—growing solemn, as if she'd sensed something grave.
"What's wrong?"
Professor Oak, who'd been watching her closely, immediately leaned forward in concern.
"There's something I must attend to right away. If I don't handle it properly, my body could suffer severe adverse reactions."
"If that happens, the task that human entrusted to me might not go as smoothly as planned."
Her tone was deadly serious. Even the ahoge on her head stood rigid and upright.
"Oh?"
That only piqued Professor Oak's curiosity further.
What could possibly threaten the physical well-being of a first-rank Legendary Pokémon?
Still, alongside his curiosity, genuine concern welled up in his heart.
As someone who truly saw Pokémon as partners, Oak couldn't stand to see any of them in distress—especially not a Legendary.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
The old man in the lab coat grew solemn as well.
Meanwhile, in a corner just out of his sight, Little Lugia twitched her mouth.
She didn't know what her mom was up to—but her gut told her this idiot woman was about to embarrass herself again.
As Lugia's daughter, she could easily sense that her mother's body was in perfect condition.
So whatever she'd just said was total nonsense.
Which meant whatever "serious request" came next was bound to be some kind of absurdity.
"Ah yes, there is something I must ask of you," the humanoid white-haired "hoo-hoo" said gravely.
"This task can only be properly handled by a human... meaning it must be you."
"But... are you sure you're up to such a burden?"
"Of course! It's true I haven't been an active Trainer for many years, but my skills haven't declined that much. As long as it's not too difficult, leave it to me!"
"Go ahead—whatever it is, I'm ready."
Perhaps it was the first time a Legendary had ever asked for his help, but Professor Oak's heart swelled with a sense of purpose.
He even began daydreaming—if he helped Lugia, maybe she'd agree to cooperate with his research later.
That would be amazing.
"Very well. Since you've said as much, I'll entrust this arduous mission to you."
"Please... be careful."
With that, the white-haired "wife" took a deep breath, lowered her voice mysteriously, and declared:
"I'm hungry. Please buy me lunch."
"I don't eat cilantro or beef. And bring me a big ice cream on the side."
"Remember, my lunch must include three dishes and one soup."
"The first dish must be made from fish. The fish meat must be minced so finely that not a single piece larger than a fingernail remains."
"The second dish—also fish. Steamed crucian carp. There must not be a single bone left in the flesh, and the fish must remain perfectly intact."
"The third dish—still fish. Tilapia. The flesh must have absolutely no fishy odor and may not be seasoned in any way."
"As for the soup, anything simple will do."
"...?"
Professor Oak froze on the spot.
What the hell? Was he being played? And what was with these ridiculous food requirements?!
"What's wrong? Didn't you already agree to help me? Or are you planning to go back on your word?"
"Ah... I see. I really shouldn't have trusted a human so easily, should I?"
Seeing his conflicted expression, Lugia sighed dramatically.
"No... I understand. If you insist."
Suppressing the urge to go take an angry cold shower, Professor Oak finally nodded and agreed.
Well, fine—this could still count as research. Buying lunch wasn't that hard. After all, the poor chef would be the one suffering, not him.
Still, maybe everyone had been wrong about the temperament of Lugia-type Pokémon.
Maybe their personalities were actually closer to that of the Mew who hung around Haru—mischievous and borderline sadistic.
...Which would also explain perfectly why Lugia and Haru got along so quickly.
They were two peas in the same chaotic pod.
With a complicated mix of emotions, Professor Oak finally left the Grand Cathedral, leaving a few Pokémon behind to keep watch.
And that—was exactly the opportunity Lugia had been waiting for.
The instant Oak stepped out, Lugia eagerly pulled out the "manual" she'd confiscated from Mewtwo, sidled up to Mew, and said with burning determination:
"Master Mew, please teach me!"
"Foolish child... do you understand how many hardships await on the path to ultimate bliss? Are you sure you wish to learn?"
"Yes, Master! I must learn!"
Desperate for more "power," Lugia nodded frantically.
"Very well. Since your desire for enlightenment burns like iron, I shall impart to you all I have learned in my lifetime."
Mew accepted the stack of papers with a solemn, almost divine expression—though it only made her look even weirder.
Still, seeing such "gravitas," Lugia was convinced she had found herself a proper teacher—and her curiosity grew all the more intense.
...So what on earth were these two doing?
Little Lugia's head filled with question marks as she stared wide-eyed at her mother and the "pervert" Mew she had long since labeled as such.
A chill of dread crept over her.
No... no, she had to make sure they weren't about to disgrace themselves.
Determined, she got up from her seat to sneak a peek.
But the moment she moved, her mother's expression sharpened.
Her gaze snapped toward her daughter, eyes wary.
"My daughter, what are you doing?"
"I'm just... curious what you're looking at."
Little Lugia answered honestly.
But Lugia had no intention of explaining. She simply waved her hand dismissively.
"Shoo, shoo—grown-up business. Kids don't get to meddle."
"We're working on something very important. Go play somewhere else."
"Sorry, Little Lugia," Mew added with a dazzlingly sweet smile. "I'm going to have to borrow your mom for a while. You don't mind, do you?"
"..."
Why did she have an increasingly bad feeling about this?
Was there any chance those two could be doing something legitimate together?
Her mom wasn't getting tricked again, was she?!
Seeing how cautious they both looked—her mother's feathers already bristling—Little Lugia sighed and reluctantly gave up her plan to investigate.
Fine, then — as long as she kept following her mom, she'd find out the truth sooner or later.
No way her own mother could really keep something secret from her, her own bedside companion, right?
And so, the two Pokémon, each with their own schemes in mind, sat together in the grand hall dedicated to Latios and Latias, studying that so-called "forbidden secret manual."
Mewtwo leaned close, muttering "explanations" beside Lugia's ear while pointing animatedly at the stack of papers, and Lugia nodded eagerly at every word, attentive and reverent as a star pupil.
Before long, they turned past the first page—where Lugia suddenly let out an excited shout:
"I understand! So powerful! This—this is exactly what I need!"
"..."
Little Lugia's curiosity was now burning a hole in her heart.
She had to know what on earth those two were looking at.
But right then, all the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon present suddenly felt it—two immense forces flaring into being.
One was clearly psychic—something all of them could sense instinctively—while the other carried, beneath the psychic pulse, an eerie undertone of shadowy chill... unmistakably ghost-type energy.
"Necrozma...? She's reclaimed her original power?"
At that realization, Mewtwo's expression changed drastically.
She had once crossed paths with Ultra Necrozma in battle, and the sight of that overwhelming radiance was something she'd never forgotten.
Among every Pokémon she'd ever encountered, Ultra Necrozma stood unquestionably at the very peak.
Especially when she unleashed her Z-Move—Light That Burns the Sky—that devastating blaze of light was so intense it could melt everything around it to nothing.
It was a pity that afterward, lacking a "fusion medium," Necrozma had been forced to remain in an incomplete state.
Even so, she'd stayed incredibly strong—but nowhere near the unstoppable might she once possessed at her peak.
And now... she had managed to transform fully, even though Cosmog was still in Alola?
A cold shiver ran down Mewtwo's spine. She couldn't help but fear for her master's safety.
Who could say what might happen if the Radiant Deity, restored to her full power, suddenly snapped and unleashed that brilliance in an indiscriminate rampage?
"I'll leave you to keep watch here," Mewtwo said, her voice suddenly firm. "I'm going to find my master."