Seeing Suicune's conflicted look, Lucas glanced at the Silver Wing he wore as a pendant alongside his Key Stone.
He confirmed his guess.
Looks like… Suicune sensed the Silver Wing's aura and came because of it.
"Oooh————"
Suicune broke the silence first, letting out a clear, ethereal call, then motioned with its eyes for Lucas to follow.
Forget whether this human was chosen by Lugia—a being equal to Ho-Oh—Suicune had picked him for his character. The urgent thing was to bring Lucas to treat that little one.
Lucas was briefly taken aback by Suicune's gesture, but he somehow understood: it wanted him to come along.
Which surprised him. Did Suicune have some other matter for him, besides checking out the Silver Wing?
Or was it taking him to Mount Tensei, the highest mountain in the Raizen Mountain Range, to meet Ho-Oh?
On second thought, Cianwood City was probably one of the farthest Johto cities from Kanto's core. Suicune likely had another purpose.
He summoned Dragonite, mounted up, and in a blink rose to Suicune's level.
Noting the powerful aura and the similar vibe to Lucas's Silver Wing radiating from Dragonite, Suicune was a bit surprised. It turned away, called the north wind, and bounded lightly toward a spot in the mountains.
With Dragonite along, Suicune didn't worry about Lucas keeping up.
Suicune finally stopped by a cliff near the summit of the highest peak in this area.
There was a cave there that seemed to be some Pokémon's lair.
Dismounting, Lucas felt a sudden inexplicable sadness, which made Suicune glance at him a few times.
Do humans shift emotions this quickly now?
Instant mood swings.
What Suicune didn't know was that during the flight, it was as if all of Lucas's luck exploded at once. He saw a Riolu practicing martial arts on a boulder by a cliff, a carefree Bagon running around, and a silvery Beldum blended into a cluster of Magnemite—
Having to pass up such cool and powerful Pokémon left him a bit dejected. He was actually handling it pretty well.
He could only deal with Suicune's matter first, then circle back to see if there was another chance.
Suicune led the daydreaming Lucas into the pitch-black cave.
The cave wasn't big—about Lucas's height tall, but a bit narrow. Lucas could walk in fine, but Dragonite, being a bit rotund, couldn't squeeze in and now sulked outside.
After twenty or thirty paces, Lucas could barely make out Suicune's back ahead. In this absolute silence, the cave felt cool and damp despite the summer heat.
Just as Lucas thought to have Victini light a flame, Suicune stopped. Water-type energy surged around it, condensing into dewdrop-like beads.
Under Suicune's control, the beads spread across the interior. They glowed faintly aqua, illuminating the cave.
In the center sat a huge, irregular rock, pocked with holes about sixty centimeters across, like something had burrowed them.
It was too dark inside to see anything.
Surely not Suicune's eggs, right?
"Oooh~~~"
Suicune let out a drawn-out call, as if summoning something.
But after a minute, nothing emerged.
Unable to contain its curiosity, Victini floated up. Just as it leaned in to peek, a smooth yellow… turtle-like head timidly poked out.
The look that had nearly haunted Lucas's dreams made his pupils shrink. He was struck dumb by the sudden joy.
But the surprise wasn't over. From another hole, another identical smooth yellow head poked out.
They were the heads of the very Pokémon Lucas had come to Cianwood City for—Shuckle!
As Suicune's water beads flowed into the hollow rock, the two Shuckle's pained expressions—and their bodies—were revealed.
Lucas's excitement was doused like a bucket of cold water.
It was replaced by heaviness—and understanding.
Sensing the shift, Victini's smile faded, and Vulpix's eyes softened with pity.
Lucas said gravely, "Suicune, is this why you brought me here?"
Suicune nodded slightly.
"Oooh~~~" (I rescued them from a forest fire yesterday. I'm not good at healing, so I can't cure their severe burns.)
Its noble, elegant voice rang in Lucas's mind.
"A forest fire… yesterday."
Lucas, used to legendary Pokémon chatting telepathically at the drop of a hat, nodded and quickly searched his phone.
Sure enough, a small forest on the other side of this mountain had been set on fire by arsonists.
The blaze was put out by a sudden downpour—clearly the miracle Suicune had summoned.
So Suicune had doused the fire, then found two severely burned, critical Shuckle. Distrustful of humans, it brought them here and went off to find a trustworthy human or Pokémon who could heal them.
In the end, it probably chose him because of the Silver Wing.
With the situation clear, Lucas didn't ask why this noble legend didn't just heal them—
Ironically, though Suicune is a Water-type and has some Psychic proficiency, it can't learn any move that heals other Pokémon's injuries or status.
Like how Lugia can't learn Teleport, and Garchomp can't learn Dragon Dance.
Suicune can purify water and cleanse filth, but it can't heal pure injuries or status ailments. It could only use its purification to keep the Shuckle from deteriorating.
Which forced Suicune—who had parted with humans alongside Ho-Oh—to show itself and seek Lucas's help.
Without hesitation, Lucas took out a Poké Ball and said softly, "Comfey, please."
"Comfey~"
A pleasant floral fragrance filled the cave as Comfey's small body appeared.
A healer's intuition and professionalism instantly alerted Comfey to two critically injured patients. Its cute face turned serious as it floated over the severely burned Shuckle—shells charred black—and hovered above their heads.
Sweet aroma and pink energy harmonized. Under Comfey's Floral Healing + Aromatherapy, the Shuckle, who had endured burn agony, finally showed a hint of relief.
Seeing their changed expressions, Suicune's visage softened with visible relief. Watching Lucas deploy Comfey to heal wild Pokémon, Suicune felt even more certain about him.
Comfey's healing was just as effective as it had hoped.
As the Pokédex says, Suicune holds a gentleness like spring water. Aloof and elegant outside, it treats all things with kindness.
After nearly twenty minutes of continuous treatment, the Shuckle's condition stabilized and improved.
But by then Comfey was a bit exhausted.
Healing two critical patients at once had taxed its energy and focus.
Small hands settled over Comfey.
Startled, Comfey looked back to find Victini with a "leave it all to Victini" grin.
Victini's golden aura flared, lighting the cave. Not only were Comfey's energy and stamina replenished, but its treatment efficiency soared.
Comfey gasped in wonder, then refocused, continuing the Shuckles' therapy.
Suicune stared at the tiny Victini. So the strange energy riding the forest-wide frost wind was closely tied to this one.
With an energy reserve perhaps rivaling even Lord Ho-Oh's, and with incredible versatility—both empowering and replenishing—Victini seemed the very embodiment of miracles.
It might even supply the natural energy needed by those two super-ancient Pokémon across the nearby sea and in the deep ocean.
Watching Comfey's turbocharged healing, Suicune couldn't help but feel sincerely grateful.
It seems its luck had been good lately—it found the right person fast.
"Comfey~"
Comfey's voice was a little weak—even with Victini's help, treating two critically injured patients who survived only on their Pokémon vitality was draining.
"You've worked hard. Rest in your ball for now."
Lucas spoke gently, already planning a dinner that would satisfy Vulpix's open menu and nourish the tired Comfey and Victini.
With a flash of red, he recalled Comfey, clipped the minimized ball to his belt, then looked at the two now-restored, lively Shuckle playing hide-and-seek with Victini and Vulpix inside the huge hollow rock, smiling slightly.
Suicune stepped lightly to Lucas's side, a barely noticeable gentleness in its eyes.
Unlike complex-minded humans, it favored pure-hearted Pokémon, roaming the world to purify waters and support Pokémon living in balance with nature.
"Oooh~~" (Among humans I've met, you're one of the better ones. Thank you for saving those two children.)
Suicune transmitted telepathically.
If Lucas hadn't already formed a bond with Lugia, Suicune might have observed him longer after this and then reported him to Lord Ho-Oh, asking for the Rainbow Wing to initiate the Rainbow Hero's trial.
Thinking that made Suicune feel a bit regretful—and envious on behalf of its superior of Lugia, who rarely intervened and hadn't shown itself since sundering the Whirl Islands and parting from humans.
Lucas chuckled at the praise. "It's nothing. Since I can help, and you came to me, it was just lending a hand."
"By the way, should we send the Shuckle back to the forest? I can have Dragonite fly them there."
Suicune gave him a long look. When Lucas first saw the Shuckle, Suicune had sensed emotional ripples from him, enough to judge he was very interested in them.
He'd likely come to this human-run reserve specifically to find Shuckle.
Even so, he resisted his desire. Suicune appreciated him even more.
"Oooh~~" (I regret that by the time I sensed an abnormal concentration of Fire energy in the air and reached the forest, my slow movement had cost dearly. Most of their colony had perished; I could save only these two.)
Suicune shook its head, tinged with guilt, and revealed that the Shuckle were now homeless, without a clan.
"Oooh~~" (So I'd like to ask you to take them in. Will you?)
Suicune made an offer Lucas couldn't refuse.
After a brief silence, Lucas didn't make a show of hesitation and accepted.
Indeed, he needed Shuckle. In front of this emblem of purity, better to be honest.
The two Shuckle were timid, but grateful and somewhat trusting of the human who sent out a Pokémon to heal them.
With Suicune as witness, Lucas took out Safari Balls and temporarily captured them.
Since all empty Poké Balls must be handed in upon entry—to prevent disguised criminals from poaching—he had no standard balls on him for the capture.
He could transfer them after leaving.
…
Outside the cave, Dragonite gave Lucas a wounded look for taking so long.
Lucas asked, "Are you leaving?"
This time Suicune didn't use telepathy. It nodded, leapt off the cliff, and vanished in a few bounds.
Staring at the mist-wreathed drop of unknown height, Lucas sighed, "Suicune is like a wandering hero—coming and going without a trace, purifying polluted waters across the world, saving countless Pokémon."
Dragonite, Victini, and Vulpix nodded.
Perhaps that's why legends endure: among those whose very existence spells calamity, there are also Pokémon who inject new vitality into the world and guide it along the right path.
In this moment, Suicune, which Lucas had once thought of as a "legend caught by a hunter's net," returned to the awe he'd felt when first seeing its artwork, deeds, and myths.
As for a certain rich guy's Suicune—that must be the clan's embarrassing cousin.
Feeling oddly tired despite not having done anything major, Lucas stretched and muttered, "Time to head back."
Before riding Dragonite off the cliff, he glanced down one last time. Though weary, he smiled. He was in good spirits.
After all, in this world, partings are always for better reunions.
In the end, he couldn't resist and had Dragonite retrace their route.
But perhaps he'd used up his luck—having caught two Shuckle and even met the elusive Suicune.
The Riolu, Bagon, and shiny Beldum were nowhere to be seen.
After handing in the Safari Balls and exiting the Zone, Lucas hurried back to his hotel.
From his spatial pack, he took sand he'd bought for Arcanine's sand baths to clean off the sooty black from the two Shuckle.
But after his labors and seeing the two Shuckle blissfully enjoying their sand bath, Lucas froze.
Of the two Shuckle, one looked normal, with a red shell and cute soft limbs and head.
The other had a blue shell!
Which meant… it was a shiny!
A massive surprise smashed into Lucas.