Pokemon: Legacy

Heavenly fire rained down upon the barren ground, igniting the dry grass with ease. Flames blazed fiercely, transforming the area into a hellish inferno. Thick black smoke billowed into the air, further obscuring the battlefield.

Even though this was a remote area, such a commotion was bound to attract attention from Town. It was only a matter of time before Officer Jenny's patrol car, sirens blaring, would show up.

This needed to end quickly.

Besides Eric, Mimikyu extended its massive Shadow Claw, slicing through stray flames to shield him. As Eric raised his gaze to meet Moltres's searing red eyes, he stood firm, unshaken by the legendary Pokémon's overwhelming presence.

"Dragonite!" he shouted.

A powerful gust of wind roared past, and with a single beat of its wings, Dragonite was already hovering in front of Moltres.

Moltres's pupils constricted. It could barely process Dragonite's speed before realizing something even more infuriating Dragonite was flying higher than it was.

The audacity of this insult to its dominance sent Moltres into a fury. Letting out a piercing screech, it unleashed a wave of searing Heat Wave, embers dancing in its wake.

"Roar!"

Dragonite countered by flapping its wings with tremendous force, stirring the air into a tempestuous Hurricane.

The swirling winds neutralized the Heat Wave and unleashed countless slicing wind blades upon Moltres, leaving visible scars across its fiery plumage.

As the storm intensified, Dragonite let out a thunderous roar that echoed across the sky. Dark clouds gathered swiftly, and rain poured down in torrents, drenching the battlefield.

The combination of Rain Dance and Hurricane was a masterstroke. The downpour extinguished Moltres's flames with a hiss, cloaking the aerial battleground in thick steam.

Despite its legendary stamina, Moltres could do little more than endure the relentless onslaught.

Escaping Dragonite's storm prison was no easy feat.

Moltres attempted to counter with its own Hurricane, only for its winds to be overpowered by Dragonite's. Desperation drove it to unleash Flamethrower, hoping to carve a path, but the flames fizzled under the rain. Dragonite dismantled its efforts with ease.

Mimikyu's Shadow Claw formed an umbrella-like shield above Eric's head, deflecting stray droplets. The fierce winds tugged at his coat as he observed Moltres with calm precision, analyzing its movements and strategies.

"This Moltres is young," Eric mused. Its lack of battle experience was evident in its raw, unpolished techniques. Despite its innate power, it couldn't fully exploit its potential.

An older, more experienced Moltres might have found the weak points in Dragonite's weather-based strategy.

For example, during Eric's Champion Assessment in Paldea, a Glaive Rush from a Baxcalibur shattered a similar synergy with brute force alone.

Just as Eric completed his assessment, Moltres seemed to find a breakthrough. Summoning all its energy, it cloaked itself in blazing azure flames, turning its body into a raging Brave Bird.

With a defiant cry, it charged forward, tearing through Dragonite's storm at the cost of deep, self-inflicted wounds.

Dragonite blinked, unfazed by the breach of its domain. Hovering steadily, it watched as Moltres panted heavily, clearly exhausted from its desperate manoeuvre.

Eric noted the rapid regeneration of Moltres's injuries as a testament to the resilience and superior genetics of legendary Pokémon.

Not only had it pinpointed the storm's weakness, but it had also displayed the courage to sacrifice itself to escape.

"Legendary Pokémon really are in a league of their own," Eric thought, his admiration for Moltres growing.

But there was no time to waste. Raising his right hand, he commanded, "Thunder!"

Dragonite responded instantly. The storm clouds above growled with anticipation before a colossal bolt of lightning cracked through the sky, illuminating the battlefield.

The golden surge struck Moltres with divine ferocity, a wrathful punishment from the heavens themselves.

The thunder's deafening roar reverberated across the plains, shaking both air and ground. Watching the display, Luxray's golden eyes gleamed with approval.

"This Thunder has a touch of my style," Luxray thought, smugly.

Meanwhile, in Town, Officer Jenny opened her window, her Growlithe growling at the sudden, localized storm forming over the outskirts. The sky above her remained perfectly clear.

Gripping her patrol car keys tightly, Jenny muttered, "If I die in the line of duty, at least there's insurance."

Back at the farm's lake zone, Eric observed the massive crater Dragonite's attacks had carved into the earth. Turning to Mimikyu, he mused, "Once we fill this with water, let's call it Thunder Lake. What do you think?"

Mimikyu nodded eagerly, fully supporting the idea.

The barrage of thunder continued for a full minute, each strike hammering down with merciless precision.

When the storm finally subsided, Moltres's battered form emerged from the dissipating lightning.

Most of its feathers had been scorched black. Its once-mighty flames flickered weakly, and even its innate ability to fly seemed compromised as it wavered unsteadily in the air.

There was no doubt Moltres was at its limit.

Yet it stubbornly kept its unfocused eyes open, refusing to fall. Such was its pride as a legendary Pokémon.

"Man, the stamina on legendary Pokémon is just insane," Eric muttered, a mix of admiration and respect evident in his tone.

For reasons it couldn't fully understand, Moltres stared at Eric's calm figure below untouched by the rain, unmoved by its fiery wrath. It wanted to commit his image to memory.

Moved by Moltres's unwavering spirit, Eric decided to end the battle with dignity. He raised his hand once more and commanded, "Dragon Pulse."

Dragonite summoned a blazing draconic aura, which roared through the air and engulfed Moltres in its entirety.

---

When Moltres regained consciousness, night had fallen.

Officer Jenny, who had arrived earlier to investigate, had already been sent away with a hastily fabricated explanation. Moltres's injuries had been carefully tended to, with even its deepest wounds nearly healed.

"You're awake?" Eric greeted, sitting by a crackling campfire. Tossing a log onto the flames, he glanced at the now-alert Moltres.

Moltres chirped weakly, its eyes filled with confusion. Why had Eric treated it? And why didn't it feel the binding presence of a Poké Ball?

Despite its youth, Moltres understood its predicament. Legendary Pokémon like it were prized above all by trainers. In its weakened state, it would have been impossible to resist capture.

Eric tilted his head as if understanding the unspoken question. With a small smirk, he replied, "Why would I capture you? Would you even want that?"

Moltres hesitated. Had it woken up inside a Poké Ball, it would've resisted with every fibre of its being, ignoring any commands.

"Exactly," Eric said, dusting off his hands. Leaning closer, he added with a grin, "Besides, your power isn't strong enough to make me want to catch you."

Moltres turned its gaze away, a mix of humiliation and something unidentifiable stirring within it.

Deep down, it knew Eric's words were true it couldn't defeat any of the Pokémon at his side.

But why, amidst its indignation, did it also feel... disappointed?

----

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