Want to read ahead. You know where
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Time flew by.
Sam and Cynthia had been enjoying a wonderful holiday together.
Every day was a blissful routine—shopping, feasting, exploring, and relaxing.
No obligations. No pressure. Just the two of them.
At the moment, they were seated comfortably in a luxury flight cabin, headed toward the Whirlpool Islands.
The soft clatter of wheels on the track created a calming rhythm in the background.
"Honestly," Sam said, his gaze drifting lazily to the sea outside the window.
"I thought the League would've picked a suitable ocean area in Sinnoh for the Lapras group by now. Somewhere to settle them properly."
"Mmm… That was the original plan," Cynthia replied, leaning into him, her tone relaxed and half-asleep.
"But after they surveyed the coastlines… turns out there wasn't a spot that suited them."
She yawned lightly, then added, "So I contacted Lorelei from Kanto to get her take on it."
Sam nodded knowingly.
Lorelei—the Ice-type Elite Four member.
She had made protecting Lapras her personal crusade over the years, tirelessly battling poachers and smugglers to safeguard the species.
"She suggested relocating them to the waters around the Whirlpool Islands," Cynthia went on.
"Said the habitat, There is much more suited for Lapras. And since it's her hometown, she can keep an eye on them directly."
"That makes sense," Sam murmured.
"She's probably the biggest expert on Lapras in the entire League."
Their train continued to cut across the coast, nearing its destination.
This trip was just a short visit—Sam and Cynthia were going to see how the relocated Lapras group was doing.
"Sam~" Cynthia sang suddenly, stretching the syllables as she wrapped both arms around his.
"I'll have to head back to Suzuran Island after this. Got League business to handle… and I have to start prepping for the Champion's qualifying match in four months."
She pressed her cheek into his shoulder, sighing softly.
"I'm already starting to miss you."
Sam chuckled, brushing a hand through her silky blonde hair.
"Go on then," he said with a small grin.
"Before you leave, I have something for you. Might be helpful."
"Oh?" Cynthia perked up, intrigued. "
What is it?"
"I came across something in one of those old regional texts I've been reading. Mentions a mountain, somewhere north of Mt. Coronet. Inside it... There's supposed to be a hidden cave."
He paused for effect.
"And in that cave, a Mega Stone for Garchomp."
"Garchomp's Mega Stone?!" Cynthia sat upright, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Where exactly is it?!"
She was already imagining the boost in power.
Her Garchomp was a beast—already at Champion level.
But with Mega Evolution, it could transcend to a whole new tier.
Sam smirked. "Well... that's the thing."
He scratched his head with mock confusion.
"I can't quite remember the exact location right now…"
Cynthia narrowed her eyes, instantly catching on.
"You're messing with me."
She leaned in, draping herself on his arm again, her voice suddenly soft and sweet by his ear.
"Sam~ Baby~ You're always so good to me… just tell me already…"
As she spoke, her fingers gently brushed against his earlobe.
A shiver shot down Sam's spine.
Damn it.
Even with all his inner training—Aura, Psychic, even his so-called "Dao heart"—he nearly lost control right there.
Power flowed through him instinctively—Aura, Viridian, psychic focus—cycling rapidly to keep him grounded.
Only then did he manage to keep a straight face.
He cleared his throat.
"Ahem. W-Well then…"
"I did spend quite a bit of time researching it. It's not just something I found overnight."
He tried to sound serious, but Cynthia was already watching him with a mischievous glint.
"You want me to repay you, hmm?" she said playfully.
She leaned in close, whispering something into his ear—soft, sultry, and just vague enough to make his mind go hazy.
Sam inhaled sharply and glanced at the time.
10 AM.
He exhaled slowly.
Suddenly, he was looking forward to the evening with great anticipation.
"…Alright, alright," he muttered.
Cynthia smiled victoriously, brushing her hair back behind one ear.
"Now tell me where it is~" she whispered into his ear again.
"And don't you dare try to trick me. I've read a lot about Mega Stones—if you're lying, I'll know~"
Sam finally gave in.
He couldn't resist.
Could anyone?
"Okay, okay. I'll tell you. You win."
Cynthia beamed, pleased with herself as she hugged his arm tightly.
"Hmph~ Men are so easy~"
The plane touched down gently on the island runway, its engines humming to a stop.
A light breeze swept over the tarmac, carrying with it the scent of saltwater and lush vegetation.
The moment Sam stepped outside, he took a deep breath of the fresh sea air.
"Mmm… the weather here is something else."
It wasn't just pleasant—it was the kind of breeze that made your shoulders relax without realizing it.
"I heard from Lorelei that the climate here barely changes throughout the year," Cynthia said, stretching beside him.
"Mild, breezy, stable. Perfect for travel… or a quiet vacation."
The two of them strolled hand-in-hand down the coastal path, the ocean glimmering beside them under the afternoon sun.
Shops and food stalls lined the road, but neither of them was in a rush. Just walking together and soaking it all in was enough.
Eventually, they came to a stop before a towering sculpture.
A massive Lugia stood in stone, wings spread as if embracing the sea itself.
Its head was tilted skyward, expression serene yet commanding.
Sam tilted his head slightly, eyes fixed on it.
"Lugia… the so-called guardian of the sea."
There was something hauntingly majestic about the sculpture.
Not just artistry, but reverence—it was clear the people here placed deep faith in it.
"They say Lugia lives around the Whirlpool Islands," he murmured.
"The patron of these waters."
"Even though it's a Flying and Psychic-type," Cynthia added thoughtfully, stepping closer to read the inscription at the base, "people still call it the God of the Sea."
Sam chuckled softly.
"Technically, the one with dominion over the sea is Kyogre—the true sea god. Lugia... manages the stormy aftermath."
"Right. Kyogre," Cynthia nodded, "the one who fights Groudon every time it appears, throwing the whole ecosystem into chaos."
"The monster of the sea," Sam smirked.
"Compared to that overgrown tuna, Lugia is downright graceful."
Cynthia laughed, brushing her hair behind one ear.
"There's an old story about this place. Back when the island was whole."
Sam glanced over, listening.
"They say that, in ancient times, Whirlpool Island was one single landmass," she explained.
"But the people who lived here were constantly fighting over territory, ownership, dominance, and greed. Lugia, watching from the depths, became disappointed."
She gestured out toward the ocean.
"And in its fury, it summoned lightning from the sky. The island was split into four by that divine strike. That's how the current Whirlpool Islands were formed."
"Lugia's judgment," Sam mused.
"Like a divine reset."
"Exactly," Cynthia nodded.
"But after that… the people came to their senses. They started living in harmony. And from that day on, they began worshiping Lugia as the guardian of peace."
The breeze shifted again, stronger now.
The waves rolled gently, crashing against the rocky cliffs in the distance.
Sam turned back to the sculpture, squinting thoughtfully.
"Who knows," he said lightly, "maybe we'll run into the real Lugia while we're here."
Cynthia smirked and tapped his forehead with a finger.
"You wish."
"Hehe."
"Lugia's a legendary, you know? Encounters like that don't just happen."
Sam shrugged, unconvinced.
"Not necessarily~"
Cynthia rolled her eyes playfully but didn't press.
Knowing Sam… sometimes his casual predictions weren't so casual.
She had a feeling he knew more than he let on.
But in truth, Sam was joking.
Kind of.
Sure, he was a transmigrator. Sure, he knew the structure of this world better than most.
But that didn't mean he expected to run into a legendary Pokémon like Lugia during a simple vacation stop.
It was just a passing comment.
Or at least… that's what he thought.
Because fate had other plans.
And soon, Sam would come face to face with the legendary Lugia—…And everything would change.