Lugia island, late afternoon, deep in the forest.
The forest shimmered under the noonday sun, silver-green leaves reflecting light like the scales of a sleeping dragon. The air was thick with salt from the far-off sea and the hum of wild energy that only Lugia Island carried.
Through Shuffled baskets and footsteps, Short conversation filled the air. In a small clearing, A young girl crouched in front of a berry push, picking away carefully as to not mess with any roots. Beside her sat her pokemon and a half full basket containing various fruits- from strawberries to blackberries, to even Tomato and Pecha berries.
"Luc." Her Lucario called out. It had a boundsweet resting on its shoulder as it approached with another basket packed to the brim. Every step it took more of its berries fell out. Nova blinked and gave a quiet laugh.
Nova: "hey hey, didn't I tell you not to overfill it this time? And the ones in your basket- they're all crushed! You have to be careful when you pick them!"
The Hatena sitting on Nova's head who'd been quiet until now quickly chirped in agreement. Then, it used psychic and moved the few non-crushed berries into the basket Nova was using. Lucario's ears dropped as it moved to sit beside Nova, giving her a small pout.
Lucario: "Luc? Lucario.." Nova tsked at the pouting lynx and handed it an Oran berry. "You know I can't understand you when you don't use telepathy to speak Cairo."
Lucario's ears twitch as it huffed, taking the Oran berry from Nova and turning away dramatically to stare into the trees. The Bounsweet let out a noise similar to laugher and hopped off its shoulder, rolling over to help sort the baskets.
A soft, musical call answered her. One recognized as Vaporeons Voice. She emerged from the brush with a woven basket loosely tied to her tail trailing after her.
Behind her, she heard small pattering steps approaching. Nova didn't have to turn to know it was another of her trusted partners. As she refocused on picking more berries she called out. "Sirein, if you bought any fish remember to bring the basket to hoopa!"
A quiet, beautiful noise called out as confirmation. It was Vaporeon who had spent her whole morning hunting with a basket loslely tied to her tail. Nova sighed, and wiped her ds face, earning a noise of complaints from Hatena.
Nova: "Okay! I think we've gathered enough for lunch, let's head back- ah wait, Lucario, boundsweet, didn't Hoopa go with you? Where he run off to?"
Lucario let out a noise of faint annoyance as it waved its paw to signal it didn't know. Boundsweet chose not to respond as it was busy rolling around in the baskets. "Not the answer I wanted, but it's fine Hoopa knows where-"
Right on cue, a golden ring appeared above Lucario, and a flood of fruit fell repeatedly on its head. It let out a loud groan as Hoopa flew out its ring. "Hoopa heard its name! Hoopa brought back fruit as well!"
The clearing filled with startled shouts and laughter. Vaporeon's tail flicked, splattering droplets everywhere as it let out a trill of amusement. Nova paused and blinked at the the sence in front of her before she clutched her stomach as she laughed.
Nova: "H-Hoopa! You-"
She cut off mid-sentence when Lucario emerged from the pile, coated in crushed berries and leaves. It gave the most dramatic sigh imaginable, staring down at itself in disbelief before letting out a long, suffering groan.
Hoopa, absolutely pleased with itself, clapped gleefully and circled around Lucario's head, giggling all the while.
Then—
Everything stopped.
Lucario's dramatic act faded. Its ears twitched once, sharply. It turned to stare at its trainer who was still laughing, the noise beginning to grow quieter as her eyes twitched. The other pokemon quickly followed its gaze after sensing the mood switch. "Luc? Lucario!" Its aura flared as he approached the Novas side.
Her vision tunneled — the forest light dimming, her heartbeat thudding sluggishly in her ears.
Nova: "Hey, I feel weird." She gave them a lopsided smile as her knees bucked. "I'm really tired.."
Her words slurred as she fell. Lucario reacted quickly and caught her before she hit the ground The other Pokémon cried out at once, Bounsweet's voice trembling, Vaporeon darting forward in panic, Hatena shaking at the emotions around her.
Hoopa immediately floated to nova's side and grabbed her arm to shake her.
Hoopa: "hey! It's lunch time not time for sleeping, Nova! Your scaring Hoopa!"
It's voice cracked at it proaded at her arm. "Cario, Lucario!" Lucario gave Hoopa a look of alarm as it called out, Hoopa understood its meaning quickly. Take her home. Hoopa's rings crackled, gold light spilling through the clearing. Lucario carefully picked Nova up and waited impatiently for the ring to fully open.
One by one, the Pokémon and the baskets vanished in flashes of gold, pulled through shimmering portals that led back toward the tiny hut they called home. The last thing the clearing heard was the echo of Vaporeon's voice, soft and worried, before the rings sealed shut.
~~~~~
Lugia Island, late afternoon, Nova's hut
As soon as they apeared back in front of the familiar sight of their hut, the others who had stayed home approached, confusion flashing into panic the moment they saw Nova limp in Lucario's arms.
Raichu was the first to reach them, electricity sparking erratically from his cheeks. He darted up to Nova's side, pressing a paw against her arm as if trying to jolt her awake.
The others followed quickly, surrounded and following Lucario as it walked into the hut and played her down. Hatena slid past the others and took her place beside Nova's head, eyes glowing faint pink as it tried to read her aura—but the signal came back weak, flickering. The little psychic shook its head at the others gaze, visibly full of confusion and worry.
The pokemon talked amongst themselves, each giving ideas on how to fix the problem, or even figure out what the problem was, before Hoopa fell silent. It blinked and turned its gaze for off into the distance.
"Noi noi?" Noibat noticed, it called out in question. What are you looking at?
It's yellow eyes glew as it stayed silent, even squinting and tilted its head as it stared. After a beat of silence Hoopa was sure, there was something out there. A movement, far beyond the forest, over the ocean.
Far beyond the island's misty edge, across the waves — voices. Laughter. A ship's heartbeat, alive and loud and full of people.
Hoopa gasped softly.
Hoopa: "Someone's outside!"
Every Pokémon looked up at Hoopa, each expericing different feelings to what it had said. Lucario's gaze went from Hoopa to the direction it was staring
Lucario: "Rio?" What, who?
Every pokemon knew no one could Board this island, not with the whirlpools surrounding it, not with Lugia watching.
Hoopa's face suddenly became excited, filled with hope. It glanced at the others as it waved the ring on its body excitedly.
Hoopa: "there's people, many people! Hoopa can bring them here, Hoopa can ask for help! "
Lucario reacted instantly, its aura flared up as it glared at Hoopa. "Lucario!" Its meaning was clear- people are dangerous.
Vaporeon growled low. Hatena's glow deepened to a determined pink. Vaporeon turned and agreed quickly to Lucario's words. She needs help
The two glared at each other before others voiced their opinions, primarina was first, she let out a loud cry of disagreement, but Vaporeon didn't back down. Hatena quietly chirped, a meaning of: I agree with Sirein.
Lucario turned on them with a low, warning rumble — but their minds were already made up.
Hoopa looked between them, panic in its eyes. Then — slowly — its expression steadied. It knew that no one would go against Vaporeon and hatenas wishes- they were the first two caught after all.
Hoopa: "Hoopa go. Hoopa bring help. Promise."
Lucario barked again, but softer this time — a reluctant protest that trailed into silence. Whatever
A golden ring split open the air, Hoopa glanced at it with determination.
Hatena floated forward, her psychic energy brushing Hoopa's as if saying be quick. Vaporeon's tail slapped once against the floor it meant approval.
With one last look at Lucario's conflicted stare, Hoopa dove through the portal.
The ring snapped shut — leaving the hut silent again except for the sound of Nova's shallow breathing.
Lucario sighed, ears drooping.
Lucario: "…Rio."
Outside, the sea wind changed direction. The sky shimmered faintly, as if the island itself had felt the choice. Far away, somewhere above open water, a golden circle began to form, and on the Going Merry, a crew of pirates was about to meet a legend.