"Stand up first, let me think this through."
Damian sizes up Miki and Zuki from head to toe; these women stand before him saying, "I'll do anything."
To be honest, Damian is thinking a little naughty.
But he's not a person with no bottom line; a deal is fine, as long as the negotiation can go smoothly.
"Yes."
Miki straightens, a bit uneasy; Zuki also tense as she eyes Damian.
"I'll ask you a few questions, you answer honestly." Damian takes the Clear Bell from Miki's hand.
From the outside, it's an old golden bell, ancient and mysterious, and curiously, Damian can fidget with it without it making a sound.
Only when moved with the correct posture does it ring out with a clear, pleasant chime.
Ho-Oh's Clear Bell, and Lugia's Tidal Bell, are both special items in the game.
These two bells work similarly to Rainbow Wing and Silver Wing, used to summon Ho-Oh and Lugia.
"Please go ahead." Miki purses her lips, looking solemn.
"No need to be so nervous; just two simple questions. First, where did you two get these two bells from?"
Damian asks Miki and the others curiously.
This is one of the unsolved mysteries in the game: in the Johto region, the Five Sisters of Ecruteak City are a very special group.
In the game, after the protagonist defeats them, they gift Clear Bell (and Tidal Bell); when the protagonist heads to the top of Bell Tower and to the depths of the Whirlpool Island, they perform a ritual dance to help summon Ho-Oh (or Lugia).
Their role is similar to the Draconid Lorekeepers in the Hoenn region, because Lorekeepers can also summon Rayquaza through prayers.
But unlike the Lorekeepers, the origin of the Draconid people is fully explained, while these Five Sisters' origins are not.
"These were handed down through our ancestors' legacy." Miki speaks with a mournful tone.
"Seven hundred years ago, when Bell Tower and Brass Tower were completed, Ho-Oh and Lugia dwelled here; at that time our ancestors were favored by Lord Ho-Oh and were gifted Clear Bell and Tidal Bell."
Zuki's cool voice continues the explanation.
"Similar to shrine maidens and temple attendants in position?"
Damian ponders.
"Yes, at that time the shrine activities in Ecruteak City were all run by our ancestors." Miki sighs softly.
"But after five hundred fifty years, people's awe of Lord Ho-Oh and Lord Lugia waned, until the day a bolt from the heavens struck Brass Tower."
"Brass Tower burst into flames; that night, the people finally disappointed Ho-Oh and Lugia, and they left us."
"To this day, they never returned."
Zuki's voice is heavy with sadness.
"This is the consequence of disobedience to the gods; the gods will abandon you."
Zinnia, biting into an apple, scoffs.
Among the Draconid people who have deep faith in Rayquaza, this would never happen.
Isn't it funny?
Brass Tower is Lugia's dwelling; yet when Brass Tower burned, no one in Ecruteak City chose to extinguish the fire, letting the tower burn to ruin.
If not for the sudden downpour, Brass Tower might not have left even ruins.
And truthfully, that rain might have been Lugia's extreme disappointment.
If Sky Pillar and Embedded Tower caught fire, Zinnia believes her people would rush to extinguish the blaze—this is the difference.
"Yes, this is the ancestors' fault; we understand the mistake and want to do everything in our power to earn the forgiveness of Lord Ho-Oh and Lord Lugia, to regain their trust."
Miki speaks softly.
"If you're asking Ho-Oh and Lugia to return to Ecruteak City, I'd advise you to give up early; that's impossible."
Damian shakes his head; Ho-Oh and Lugia will not return to dwell in Ecruteak City, that's definite.
Lugia is utterly disappointed in Ecruteak City due to the fire, and Ho-Oh is equally disillusioned after witnessing everything and the city's attitude toward revived Suicune.
Those two Legendary Pokémon will not return to Ecruteak City.
That heart-felt disappointment cannot be erased easily.
"We don't pray for their return; we only want to request their forgiveness."
Miki shakes her head.
"Our ancestors have suffered and lived in self-reproach their entire lives because of this, and it's the end of them."
Zuki's voice is low; generation after generation, their goal has been to obtain Ho-Oh and Lugia's forgiveness.
"I see." Damian understands.
"Sir, if you can reach Ho-Oh, please convey our apology to them, can you?"
Miki looks at Damian with anticipation; she has always been waiting for someone who can contact Ho-Oh and Lugia.
That's also why they Five Sisters often go out.
"If you're willing to help us, we'll agree to anything."
"Really anything?"
Damian's lips curve into a sly smile as he looks at Miki.
Noticing Damian's gaze and the hint of mischief, Miki understands his meaning instantly.
Pressing her lips, Miki hardens her gaze.
"Yes, whatever you want, even serving you for life, I'll do it."
Miki stops Zuki from speaking and speaks to Damian seriously.
This matter has tormented them for so long, the ancestors' legacy brings not only history but also that "shackle" embedded in history.
Since childhood, their elders have instilled this guilt in them, and now they live under this "shackle."
Miki not only wants freedom for herself but, as the eldest sister, also wants her four little sisters to be free from it, not living in the shadow of history for generations.
Zuki's eyes grow dim as she sees Miki's resolve.
"An exemplary resolve; I'm impressed."
Damian applauds Miki's resolve.
"But I cannot guarantee anything; in the end, what you seek is Ho-Oh and Lugia's forgiveness, but that's your own belief."
"Ho-Oh and Lugia may have stopped caring about this; I understand your ideology—what you want is basically closure."
Damian shifts his tone.
"I can try to arrange a meeting with Ho-Oh and Lugia, but whether you get that sense of 'closure' is up to you."
Damian weighs his words.
"Thank you! Thank you very much! That's enough!"
Miki is excited, busy brewing tea for Damian and the others.
For Miki, this is a glimmer of hope after a long time.
"As for timing, I can't say yet, but I can guarantee it will be within a year; if possible, it could be in a few days."
Damian takes a sip; the tea is fragrant, clearly the Five Sisters know their tea.
If he desired, he could summon Ho-Oh right now with Ho-Oh's feathers, but Damian isn't one to press his luck; these Five Sisters are extraordinary beauties, but their value isn't matched by the cost of summoning Ho-Oh.
Damian isn't that reckless.
"Remember what you said: once this is done, you'll be mine for life."
Damian's tone is completely straightforward; there's no guilt of favoritism here—this is a fair trade, and Miki herself said it, right?
"Yes, as long as you fulfill this agreement, I'll dedicate my life to you."
Miki's voice is soft; she believes the deal is worth it.
Caitlin's dark brows knit; she's measuring Miki with a wary gaze. Emotionally, she admires Miki's resolve, especially since she's offering her life for her little sisters' future.
But the problem is… who she would serve—Damian!
Caitlin finds Miki's offer almost ridiculous; in this day and age, is there such a thing as "a girl has no way to repay; she must serve the benefactor"?
Damn it! The ancient Johto city's architecture is special, but it's not to revive this "sell-yourself" drama.
Caitlin feels helpless; Miki, so beautiful and talented, who knows how long Damian would be enthralled?
Anyway, let's treat it as Damian adapting to this style, so that he won't be swayed after marriage by such a seductive figure.
Caitlin must comfort herself.
Leaving the private room.
"sister…"
Zuki bites her lip softly, with a complex look in her eyes toward Miki, her tone likewise tangled.
"Actually you don't have to—if elder sister and the little sisters knew, they wouldn't agree."
"Little sister, it has been too long." Miki sighs.
"When all is said and done, this is an opportunity, and…"
Miki turns to face Zuki, her hand brushing softly across her younger sister's cheek, smiling.
"Don't you think Mr. Damian looks very handsome? Being chosen by Lord Ho-Oh means he must be excellent; I'd be lucky to spend my life with a man like that."
"…."
Zuki's silence says it all; she knows Miki makes sense, but this isn't love, is it?
After spending a long while resting in the Ecruteak Dance Theater, Miki and Zuki take great care of Damian and the others.
There are many girls in the theater, making it inconvenient, so they prepared some private rooms for Damian.
At four-thirty in the afternoon, after Damian and Caitlin finish dinner, they leisurely stroll.
But as they walk, they arrive at the Burned Tower.
Thinking, Damian decides to go in and take a look, since Lugia once dwelled here.
But as they reach the Burned Tower's gate, combat sounds reach their ears.
Damian and Caitlin step inside; upon seeing the two sides, Damian's smile grows.
One is wearing a red long-sleeve top with black cropped pants, wearing a hat; bangs show at the forehead.
It's Ethan!
And facing Ethan is a boy with striking red hair, wearing a fitted top and purple pants, a gloomy face.
"Well, well, look who I've found."
Damian's smile widens; he's moved by the sight of the red-haired boy.
Silver! His own little brother!
And at this moment, the battle between Silver and Ethan ends as Feraligatr's Aqua Tail hits Typhlosion, who loses the ability to fight.
"Damn! So close!"
Ethan is furious at his ace going down.
"Hmph! So close yet again? A guy with no self-awareness."
Silver's cold laugh, recalling Feraligatr's taunt, pockets his hands and turns to leave.
"You, what do you mean by that? You…"
Ethan dashes forward, angry.
"I don't talk to the weak with no strength."
Silver's voice remains cold.
"Damn you! What the hell is so arrogant about you—stealing someone else's Pokémon!"
Ethan stomps, annoyed at how mouthy this redhead is.
And what good is arrogance? Even stealing Pokémon from a lab?
"So what?" Silver's cool gaze meets Ethan's.
"As long as I can get stronger, any means is fine."
This is his current ideology.
"That's not true!" Ethan thinks this guy must be wrong; what is his moral code?
"Hmph." Silver grows tired of the argument; he turns to leave, still wanting to train further and find Green sister too.
But he spots two people standing at the Burned Tower's gate.
And…
Silver's brows knit; he stares at the black-haired boy; a strange sense of familiarity and flutter stirs inside him.
Why does he feel so familiar? Does he know him? But there are no memories.
"Really long time… long time no see, Silver."
Damian slowly steps forward, looking at the red-haired boy, his smile gentle and warm.
"I'm your darling little brother."
~~~
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