Chapter 283: The Prince of the Sea
"Hehe, Piplup weighs 30 kilograms now. It's impossible for you to lift him, May."
Lorelei, amused by the red-faced May trying to lift Will, reached out and pinched the little girl's cheek.
"Alright, don't stand in the doorway. Let's go to the living room and talk over tea," Norman waved his hand.
He picked up his daughter and the little penguin together and placed them on a single sofa in the living room.
May's arms never left Will's round head.
This was one of the consequences of not evolving. He would be targeted by children instantly.
To think that he, a dignified Elite Four-level Pokémon, the nightmare of countless opponents on the battlefield, the idol of countless Water-type trainers... was constantly reduced to being a plush toy for children.
Sad. So sad.
"Mwah~ Fluffy~"
May's voice still had a babyish lisp, which was admittedly cute.
Will reached out and ruffled her pigtails, smiling slightly.
Among all the female protagonists, the future "Princess of Hoenn" was his favorite, bar none.
May's screentime and character development in the anime might not match Dawn or Serena, he had to admit. The Diamond & Pearl anime had dual protagonists, so Dawn's development was detailed, on par with Ash. And Serena from XY was the only female lead to clearly express romantic feelings for Ash, making her the "official ship."
But May just had a special charm.
"I mentioned this on the phone earlier, Caroline, do you remember?" Lorelei looked at Norman's wife.
She was around Caroline's age, so calling her by name wasn't rude.
"Yes. I never expected my identity as a Person of the Water would be useful now." Caroline's expression turned serious, and she nodded.
"Person of the Water?!"
Will's ears perked up, a lightbulb going off in his head.
It had been so long, he had forgotten.
No one in May's family was ordinary.
Or rather, Norman might be the most ordinary one. He was just a mortal who became the Petalburg Gym Leader, a trainer with the potential to become a Hoenn Elite Four member within ten years.
But the other three family members were something else.
Caroline. She was a descendant of the legendary "People of the Water."
And May and Max inherited Caroline's bloodline, making them People of the Water too. A clan that could communicate telepathically with Water-type Pokémon.
However, by May and Max's generation, the genes of the People of the Water were probably very diluted. Otherwise, May wouldn't have gotten a face full of water from a cute little Mudkip at the start of the anime.
The People of the Water were now scattered across the world.
Some, like Caroline, had integrated into ordinary life.
Some performed underwater Pokémon shows.
Some used their affinity with water and Water Pokémon to roam the seas as pirates or rangers.
And some had forgotten their identity entirely.
"What do you need me to do?"
"I can help too!" Norman put one arm around Caroline's waist and a fist over his heart, looking at her deeply. "I won't let you face danger alone."
"Dear~"
"Darling~"
Will, Lorelei, and Max stared at the couple in silence.
May was busy studying Will's tail, seemingly used to her parents' public displays of affection.
"Ah, no need. This mission is extremely dangerous. I don't want you involved. You have to understand, this mission was originally intended for Wallace."
Lorelei shook her head decisively.
"Wallace?"
Will frowned.
Wallace was a big deal. The current Wallace should still be the Sootopolis Gym Leader. But he was already a Top Coordinator and definitely had quasi-Champion level strength. His ace, Milotic, was at least Lv. 85.
In less than two years, he would become the universally recognized Contest Master! And in the future, he would replace Steven as the Hoenn Champion. Even though in the new versions (ORAS) Steven stepped down voluntarily, no one doubted Wallace had the strength to hold the title.
Lorelei said, "Originally intended for Wallace."
That meant the Hoenn League took this mission extremely seriously. It was an event only a quasi-Champion level trainer could handle.
Thinking of this, Will's expression turned serious.
What kind of event in Hoenn required Wallace?
Team Magma? Team Aqua? Or Groudon and Kyogre fighting?
"What?! I heard a few days ago that Wallace was injured in a performance accident..." Norman's eyes widened.
"No, it wasn't a performance accident. He was injured on a mission. And he's still in a coma due to severe injuries," Lorelei shook her head.
"Lorelei, maybe you shouldn't go," Caroline grabbed Lorelei's arm worriedly.
"No. This matter can only be resolved by a Water-type trainer. The strongest Water-type trainers in the northern hemisphere are Wallace and me." Lorelei shook her head.
"Only a Water-type trainer... what does that mean?"
"I might have to fight deep underwater. Or at the very least, on the surface of the sea."
Lorelei frowned and sighed, beginning to explain the situation.
In the ocean, there is a drifting structure called Samiya (Temple of the Sea). It was built by the People of the Water in the homeland of Manaphy, the "Prince of the Sea."
Inside Samiya is a treasure called the Sea Crown.
Legend says that whoever possesses the Sea Crown becomes the King of the Sea, able to command all Water Pokémon in the world, including Kyogre.
With such a legend, there were naturally people chasing it.
So, some people began trying to find a way into Samiya.
But Samiya drifts aimlessly in the vast ocean, and when it's underwater, it's invisible. How could ordinary people find it?
Those people eventually found only one way.
Manaphy or Phione.
Phione is a Pokémon hatched from an egg produced by Manaphy and Ditto. It's not a Legendary or Mythical, just a normal Water Pokémon with a base stat total of 480 and no gender.
Manaphy and Phione can find their home in the ocean. By following them, you can find Samiya.
However, Manaphy, being a Mythical Pokémon, isn't easy to find.
And Phione is even rarer. Because unless humans intervene, Manaphy won't breed with Ditto.
But an accident happened.
A group of pirates found a Phione egg in a Daycare in Sootopolis City.
According to the Daycare owner, their Ditto had been saved by Manaphy the previous year. When it came back, it brought an egg, which hadn't hatched yet.
The pirate captain was also a descendant of the People of the Water, and a direct descendant with very pure blood. So he sensed something special about the egg. He predicted it might contain a Phione.
So he immediately took his men, stole the egg, and fled to the sea, heading east.
Upon learning of this, the Hoenn League immediately sent Wallace, who lived in Sootopolis, to pursue them.
But when he caught up to the pirates and started fighting...
Manaphy arrived.
It sensed its egg moving rapidly, so it came to check.
Seeing its egg being held by strange humans, Manaphy went berserk. It didn't even listen to Wallace's explanation, directly summoning massive waves to attack.
Wallace was forced to fight back to save his life, but he was severely injured and fell into a coma. His Pokémon brought him back to Sootopolis.
And the pirates took advantage of the chaos to flee east with the Phione egg.
"What a despicable bunch," Caroline clenched her fist.
"East of Hoenn... isn't that..." Norman thought about the geography and frowned deeply.
"Yes... Alto Mare, the City of Water. The hiding place of Latias and Latios. If those pirates hide in Alto Mare, the rampaging Manaphy will definitely attack the city with tidal waves, and then..."
Lorelei nodded.
Will gulped.
Alto Mare. Lorelei had taken him there two years ago. It was known as the most beautiful city in the world, basically the Venice of the Pokémon world.
Back then, Will had wondered if he'd have a chance to meet the Eon Duo.
Well, now he might.
If they really clashed...
Manaphy, and the Eon Duo...
Manaphy's level was probably no lower than Mew, at least Lv. 86.
The Eon Duo should be higher than the Regi trio and the Legendary Birds, at least Lv. 84.
No wonder Wallace couldn't beat a rampaging Manaphy.
"Manaphy vs. Latias and Latios... it'll be a war."
Norman's gaze was grave. Now he understood why Lorelei wouldn't let them come.
Involving three Legendary Pokémon... this was indeed not something ordinary people could interfere with. Even an Elite Four member might not be much help. Only a Champion-level powerhouse could intervene.
"What do I need to do?"
"The People of the Water seem to possess a cyan scale called the Water Scale? I need that."
Lorelei stated the reason for her visit. "Only the Water Scale can calm Manaphy down enough to listen to me and trust me."
"Water Scale... I think I have something like that! Let me look for it!"
Caroline frowned, then ran back to her room.
A moment later, she came out holding an old, somewhat broken bracelet.
"This was passed down from my mother. It should be what you're talking about."
Caroline handed the bracelet to Lorelei.
"Thank you for your help, Caroline."
"It's nothing. This mission is too dangerous, you must be careful!"
"Mm, I know. Don't worry, Steven has already arrived in Alto Mare. He'll help me."
Lorelei nodded and stood up to leave.
"Won't you stay for lunch before you go?"
"No, time is tight. I'm afraid those people might have already reached Alto Mare."
Lorelei shook her head, picked up Will, and headed for the door.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter