In the Black World —
Lugia said that after gathering the three treasures, calming the Legendary Birds was only the secondary goal.
The real priority was restoring the world's climate—thrown into chaos by the birds' rampage.
If simply "talking it out" could restore peace, then Lugia wouldn't have gotten beaten up for nothing!
In fact, Lugia could've just smacked those three birds down and forced them to behave.
So Ash couldn't help asking—
If you use force to subdue the Legendary Birds, will it affect using the Lugia Flute later to restore balance?
…No.
And after you subdue them, will they hold a grudge once they calm down?
…Also no.
So why not just beat them into submission, take the last treasure smoothly, and restore peace?
Lugia: "…"
"…Maybe because… I'm peace-loving?"
"A god that loves peace!"
"You didn't expect that!!"
Meanwhile — the Legendary Birds
The black-screen feed cut from Ash and Lugia to the three Legendary Birds.
Mewtwo was beating them up.
Hard.
Facing a sudden powerful enemy, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres attacked together.
But the "Legendary Birds" were also known as the Three Dumb Birds for a reason.
Tactically, they were getting completely outplayed.
If those three truly coordinated perfectly, even Mewtwo would have to back off—at least for a while.
Mewtwo was stronger than during the earlier incident, sure…
but not quite at Lugia's level.
The problem was, the birds were already in a constant state of fighting each other.
They didn't communicate, didn't coordinate, and didn't trust one another.
So Mewtwo exploited every opening—
luring attacks into friendly fire.
Moltres's flames blasted Articuno.
Articuno's ice struck Zapdos.
Zapdos's lightning slammed Moltres.
On top of that, Mewtwo peppered them with Dark Pulse, Psychic, and Shadow Ball between gaps in their rhythm.
For a time, the majestic Legendary Birds looked downright miserable.
As the fight dragged on, the three birds finally came to their senses.
Who is this?!
They'd never seen him, never heard of him—
yet he had the strength to suppress them.
He used Teleport so freely they couldn't lock onto him.
And whenever they thought they had him cornered, he'd flick a Psychic force backhandedly and yank one of them into the line of fire as a shield.
That terrifying psychic grip made it hard for any of them to break away.
By now, the birds' exhaustion was over seventy percent—
and more than half of that was directly from Mewtwo's beating.
Ice Island — the last treasure
While the Legendary Birds were being pinned down, Ash and Lugia reached Ice Island and obtained the final treasure.
Now, as long as they brought it back to Shamouti Island and placed it at the shrine, the world's climate could be restored.
On the return trip, Lugia told Ash to ride on its back—it would be faster.
So Ash recalled Pidgeot and climbed on.
Perhaps sensing the end was near, Lugia started chatting.
"Ash… that Pokémon called Mewtwo. Where did you meet it? And why does it feel… similar to Mew?"
Ash answered honestly.
"Mewtwo is a clone of Mew. In the beginning, he was lost—he thought a copied life had no meaning. He even wanted to destroy the world that created him."
"But after everything that happened, he corrected himself. By accident, he became 'my Pokémon'… though he doesn't stay with me all the time."
"I told him to go out into the world. See more, learn more. Fill his life, find what he truly wants."
"When he understands what he wants—if he still wants to travel with me, I'd welcome it."
Ash laughed softly. "But lately, he seems to prefer battling."
"Because… back then, I beat him, and I asked him, 'Do you still think you're invincible?' After that, he started challenging strong opponents everywhere to improve."
"And it looks like he really has improved. A single Legendary Bird isn't his match anymore."
Lugia's eye twitched slightly.
Hold on. Did this human just say he beat Mewtwo?
Ash saw Lugia's doubt and snorted. "Huh? Yeah. I beat him."
"Don't look at me like that—I may look slim, but if I throw one punch, Lugia, you might crash."
Lugia: "…"
Was it hearing things?
This human—riding on its back—was claiming he'd beaten the same Mewtwo currently suppressing the Legendary Birds?
Lugia had lived deep in the sea for ages, but it wasn't ignorant about humans.
This sounded ridiculous.
So Ash released his Aura.
A vast, clear presence spread outward.
Through Aura alone, Lugia could sense the sheer "weight" of strength inside Ash.
For a moment, Lugia fell silent.
He wasn't lying.
Lugia's first thought was—
Have I been asleep too long? Did the world change while I wasn't looking?
After more conversation, Lugia realized the truth:
Not "humans" had reached this level.
Ash was simply abnormal.
"O brave chosen one… your courage is moving. Your actions deserve a reward."
A silver feather drifted from Lugia's body.
The moment Ash saw it, he subconsciously thought of the rainbow feather he'd obtained before.
"This is…"
"This is a Silver Wing," Lugia explained. "It holds strong Flying-type power—and some of my own energy."
"If a Pokémon carries it, it can strengthen its power over time. And if it's carried long enough…"
"It may help it grow."
Ash stared.
Then, naturally, he asked the one question that made Lugia want to choke.
"…One thing, though. Aren't you the guardian of the sea? Why does your feather boost Flying-type power?"
Lugia: "..."
That's what you're focused on?!
Back in the commentary
Professor Oak's voice cut in, deadpan.
"Fun fact: Lugia is famously called the guardian of the sea, but its typing is Psychic/Flying."
Ash blinked. "Huh? Then why does everyone call it the sea guardian?"
Professor Kukui: "Maybe because it sleeps in the ocean most of the time?"
Lugia sighed. "That's a name humans gave me."
"If you're talking about ruling the sea itself, that's Kyogre."
"I'm more tied to currents and storms… but yes, I can influence the ocean as well."
Case closed.
A familiar power
Ash held the Silver Wing, feeling its pulse.
This power… felt familiar.
Then it clicked.
The GS Ball.
The GS Ball held two strange forces: one he'd already identified as Ho-Oh's…
and the other he'd never fully understood until now.
It was Lugia's.
So the GS Ball's seal contains Ho-Oh's power… and Lugia's power?
Ash wanted to ask immediately—but the situation was still urgent.
Lugia continued, voice solemn.
"Someday, when you reach Johto, you can use this Silver Wing to find my child."
"For safety, I had them live in the seas around Johto."
"If my child is nearby, the Silver Wing will respond."
Ash froze.
"So… in the future… I might meet a young Lugia?"
Lugia nodded.
"And if you're ever in danger… you can use the Silver Wing to call me."
"You can wield Aura. That kind of signal won't be difficult for you."
Ash went quiet.
A survival ace card… plus one.
Lugia was being ridiculously generous.
It wasn't just gratitude.
Lugia had judged Ash's qualities as a Trainer—and his strength—and decided entrusting its child to Ash wasn't Ash "benefiting."
It was Lugia making the best choice.
Legendary Pokémon lived for ages.
If a partner could help its child grow faster… what was wrong with letting that partner have support in return?
Two words:
Worth it.
One last problem — the collector
Ash tucked the Silver Wing away and lay back on Lugia's back, exhaling.
Orange Islands trip: huge gains.
New powerful ally, and even a future chance to meet a legendary child in Johto.
After returning the ice treasure and playing the Lugia Flute, everything should've ended happily.
Except—
that collector, Lawrence III, still wasn't letting go.
He might've been the politest villain Ash had ever met…
but crimes were crimes.
When this was over, he needed to be arrested and handed to Officer Jenny.
Just as Ash was thinking that—
several enormous black metal rings flew toward Lugia from the distance.
Ash's eyes narrowed.
"Those are… the capture rings used on the Legendary Birds?!"
"But his airship got destroyed—how is he still launching them?!"
The rings were aimed straight at Lugia.
Ash reacted instantly.
Two massive Aura spheres formed in his palms.
He hurled them—
"Wha—?!"
The rings snapped together into a square formation.
A strong electromagnetic field unfolded, dispersing Ash's Aura spheres in midair.
Ash stared, shaken.
"Human technology… can really reach this level?"
Note
Later in Johto, there are stories involving Lugia "parent and child," though Legendary Pokémon gender is… a messy topic.
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