Pokemon: Skybound

Coincidence my both pokemon Fanfiction is on Moltres arc.

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By the cliffside, a steep and narrow path formed between two mountain ridges led straight upward.

When they followed this trail to a concealed valley, Kai stopped at a bend, cautiously peering into the area ahead. After a moment, he pulled back.

"Well?" Lorelei asked.

Kai exhaled deeply and nodded. "You were right it's there."

Hearing this, Lorelei and Sabrina quietly moved forward to get a glimpse. Sure enough, a large avian Pokémon was resting on a smooth rock in the middle of the valley, its eyes closed as if napping.

The Pokémon resembled a majestic heron, its body covered in bright yellow feathers. Its long, sharp beak pointed outward, and brilliant red flames burned atop its head crest and wings.

This… must be the legendary Moltres!

According to lore, Moltres could heal its injuries by immersing itself in a volcano's molten lava. When it flapped its blazing wings, even the night sky would light up.

Its presence could bring early spring to frozen lands and illuminate mountain paths to rescue stranded travellers.

To avoid disturbing it, Sabrina and Lorelei carefully retreated.

"Well, it seems my tour guide duties have concluded successfully," Lorelei said, adjusting her glasses. She then turned to Kai. "So, what's the plan? Need my help?"

Kai shook his head, pulling two Ultra Balls from his belt. "No need I've got this."

Lorelei's gaze lingered on the Ultra Balls. She couldn't help but wonder what Pokémon Kai had inside.

Was it his champion roster?

No, if they were ordinary Pokémon, why store them in Ultra Balls?

They must be something rare and extraordinary. Still, with so many Pokémon species in the world, even she couldn't guess what this newly crowned Indigo League Champion might have up his sleeve.

Breaking from her thoughts, Lorelei smirked. "Aren't you curious why I didn't suggest flying here on Pokémon? Instead, I had us hike all the way up the mountain."

Seeing her expectant expression, Kai humoured her. "Oh? Please enlighten me, Lorelei."

Clearly enjoying the attention, Lorelei explained, "Simple! Flying here could have alerted Moltres, and this valley is well-hidden from above. Besides, don't you think hiking added a sense of adventure? And let's not forget the scenery you wouldn't want to miss such a rare view, would you?"

As she spoke, she shot Kai a playful wink, her gaze briefly flicking to Sabrina. The double meaning in her words was unmistakable.

Oh.

So that's what she meant by "scenery."

Clearly, Lorelei hadn't missed what happened earlier and was now teasing him about it.

Despite silently agreeing with her, Kai maintained a straight face, brushing off her remark with practised composure. "Scenery aside, I enjoy hiking. I actually thought it was because you didn't have a Flying-type Pokémon and were too embarrassed to ask for a ride."

Lorelei: …

'Did he really just say that?!'

Fuming silently, she regretted not choosing the longest, most exhausting route up the mountain just to spite him.

Meanwhile, Sabrina seemed oblivious to the subtext of their conversation, unaware that the "scenery" they discussed wasn't what she imagined.

Suddenly, the sound of wings flapping echoed from the valley. Moltres had awakened, likely sensing their presence!

Realizing the opportunity might slip away, Kai wasted no time. He glanced at Sabrina, and their eyes met in understanding. Sabrina nodded, then turned to Lorelei.

"Lorelei, I'm not feeling well. Can you escort me back down the mountain?"

"What?" Lorelei nearly choked on her words.

After all the effort to find Moltres, Sabrina wanted to leave now.

'This was clearly a ploy to send her away!'

The nerve to dismiss her so casually after she had guided them here. And she wouldn't even get to witness the capture?

Maintaining a forced smile, Lorelei's voice carried a hint of restrained frustration. "Of course. I'll take you down."

Her reluctance was evident as she cast several longing glances back at the valley while leading Sabrina away.

Once they were gone, and sure they wouldn't return, Kai released the Pokémon inside his Ultra Balls Zapdos and Articuno.

His secrecy wasn't due to selfishness but caution. After all, no secret lasts forever. The longer he kept these Pokémon's existence under wraps, the safer he would be.

For instance, during the bridge attack, having Articuno already in his possession allowed him to catch Team Rocket off guard and drive them away decisively.

As Zapdos and Articuno appeared, their presence immediately caught Moltres's attention. The legendary bird let out a piercing cry, its flames intensifying as it rose to confront the intruders in its territory.

Zapdos and Articuno, both recognizing Moltres as a fellow legendary bird, weren't intimidated. Without waiting for Kai's command, they spread their wings and took to the sky, flying into the valley.

"KRAAAAW!!!" Moltres screeched angrily, charging forward to face the two.

The three legendary birds formed a triangle in midair, a tense standoff preceding an inevitable clash. Despite being outnumbered, Moltres showed no signs of backing down.

Kai stepped out from behind a rock, his expression shifting into a mischievous grin. Mimicking Haunter's voice, he called out dramatically, "Moltres! Your doom has arrived! Surrender at once!"

Dropping the act, he turned to his Pokémon. "Zapdos, you'll take the lead in this battle. Articuno, your type puts you at a disadvantage, so focus on support and distraction."

To ensure nothing went wrong, Kai released additional Pokémon to stand guard, watching for any interference or attempts by Moltres to escape.

The tension in the air reached its peak.

The battle was about to begin.

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Don't forget to drop some Power Stones!

For early access to advanced chapters on p@treon.

P@treon/iamxeno

Thank you so much for your support and for reading!