"Stand up first. Let me think about this," Damian said.
Damian looked at Satsuki and Tamao. A woman like this was standing in front of him. She said she would do anything.
Honestly, Damian's thoughts went in a suggestive direction.
However, he was a good person with morals. Making a deal was fine. But he had to make sure the deal worked perfectly.
"Yes."
Satsuki stood up. She was a bit nervous. Tamao also looked at Damian with a tense face.
"I am going to ask a few questions. Answer me truthfully." Damian took the Clear Bell from Satsuki's hand.
It looked like an old gold bell. It was very old and mysterious. Even as Damian played with it, it did not make a sound.
It only made a nice, clear sound if a person shook it with the correct posture.
Ho-Oh's Clear Bell and Lugia's Tidal Bell were special items in the games.
These two bells were like the Rainbow Wing and the Silver Wing. People used them to call Ho-Oh and Lugia.
"Please, go ahead and ask," Satsuki said. She pressed her red lips together. She looked very serious.
"Don't be so nervous. It is just two simple questions. First, where did you get these two bells?"
Damian asked the two of them because he was curious.
This was a mystery in the games. The Kimono Girls of Ecruteak City were very special characters.
When the player beat them, they gave the Clear Bell or Tidal Bell. Also, when the player went to the top of the Bell Tower or into the Whirl Islands, they performed a dance to call Ho-Oh or Lugia.
These characters were like the Draconid people in the Hoenn region. Those people could also call Rayquaza through a prayer.
However, the background of these five sisters was never explained, unlike the Draconid people.
"Our ancestors gave them to us a long time ago," Satsuki said in a sad voice.
"Seven hundred years ago, the Bell Tower and the Brass Tower were finished. They brought Ho-Oh and Lugia to live there. At that time, Lord Ho-Oh liked our ancestors. He gave them the Clear Bell and the Tidal Bell."
Tamao's voice was a bit cold as she continued the story.
"So you are like shrine maidens or servants of the gods?" Damian said.
"Yes. At that time, our ancestors did all the religious work in Ecruteak City," Satsuki sighed.
"But five hundred and fifty years later, people stopped respecting Lord Ho-Oh and Lord Lugia. Then, one day, lightning hit the Brass Tower."
"The Brass Tower caught fire. That night, the people made Lord Ho-Oh and Lord Lugia very disappointed. They left us."
"They have never come back."
Tamao's voice was very low.
"You did this to yourselves. If you do not respect the gods, the gods will naturally leave you."
Zinnia said this while she ate an apple. She did not respect them.
The Draconid people believed in Rayquaza deeply. This kind of situation would never happen to them.
It was ridiculous.
The Brass Tower was Lugia's home. When the fire started, no one in Ecruteak City wanted to stop it. They just let the Brass Tower burn.
If it did not start to rain suddenly, the Brass Tower would be gone.
And maybe Lugia made that rain because it was very disappointed.
If the Sky Pillar or the Embedded Tower caught fire, Zinnia believed her people would fight the fire. That was the difference.
"Yes, this was our ancestors' mistake. We understand that mistake now. We want to do everything to get forgiveness from Lord Ho-Oh and Lord Lugia. We want them to trust us again," Satsuki said.
"If you want Ho-Oh and Lugia to come back to Ecruteak City, I think you should stop now. That is impossible."
Damian shook his head. It was a fact that Ho-Oh and Lugia would not live in Ecruteak City again.
Lugia was disappointed in the city because of the fire. Ho-Oh was also disappointed after seeing how people treated Suicune and the others.
Those two Legendary Pokémon would not return to Ecruteak City.
That deep disappointment was not easy to fix.
"We do not pray for them to return. We only want to ask for their forgiveness," Satsuki shook her head.
"Our ancestors felt pain and regret because of this. They were guilty their whole lives and died in sorrow."
Tamao's voice was low. For a long time, their only goal was to get forgiveness from Ho-Oh and Lugia.
"I see. I understand now," Damian said.
"Sir, if you can talk to Ho-Oh, please tell it we are sorry. Is that possible?"
Satsuki looked at Damian. She wanted to meet someone who could talk to Ho-Oh and Lugia.
This was why the five sisters often went out.
"If you help us, we can agree to anything you ask."
"Really anything?"
Damian smiled a little. He looked at Satsuki.
Satsuki saw Damian's look. She knew what he meant.
She pressed her lips together. She looked very determined.
"Yes. No matter what you want, even if it means serving you for the rest of my life, I am willing."
Satsuki stopped Tamao from speaking. She spoke to Damian seriously.
This matter had hurt them for a long time. Their ancestors left them with history and guilt.
Since they were children, their elders told them about this guilt. So they live with it today.
Satsuki wanted to be free. As the oldest sister, she wanted her sisters to be free too. She did not want them to live with the mistakes of the past.
Tamao looked at Satsuki. Her eyes were dim.
"That is a great decision. I respect you more now."
Damian clapped for Satsuki and praised her.
"However, I cannot promise anything. You want forgiveness, but maybe Ho-Oh and the others already forgot about this."
"Maybe they do not care anymore. But I understand. You just want to feel better in your heart."
Damian saw Satsuki was about to speak, so he changed the subject.
"I can find a way for you to meet Ho-Oh and Lugia. But whether they forgive you is up to you."
Damian thought for a moment and spoke to Satsuki.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Satsuki was very excited. She quickly poured tea for Damian and the others.
It had been many years. Finally, they had hope. This was a light for the sisters.
"I am not sure about the time right now. But I promise it will be within a year. It might even take only a few days."
Damian drank some tea. It was very good. These sisters were good at making tea.
He could use Ho-Oh's feather to call Ho-Oh right now.
But Damian was smart. He did not let his body control his brain. These five girls were very pretty, but they were not worth using a favor from Ho-Oh.
Damian was not that stupid.
"Remember what you said. When this is over, you'll be mine for the rest of your life."
Damian was not polite. He smiled and looked at Satsuki.
He did not feel bad about asking for a reward. It was a fair trade. Satsuki said it first.
She said she would serve him for a lifetime.
"Yes. If you do this, I will give my life to you."
Satsuki's voice was gentle. She thought this was a good deal.
Caitlin looked at Satsuki. She liked the woman's strength. She was giving up her happiness for her sisters.
But... she had to serve Damian!
Caitlin thought Satsuki was making a mistake. This was modern times. Why was she acting like an old story where someone serves another person?
It was silly! The old buildings in Ecruteak City are nice, but people should not offer their bodies like this!
Caitlin felt helpless. Satsuki was a beautiful and good dancer. Damian would probably like her for a long time.
Whatever. She would let Damian get used to this style. That way, he would not be tricked by other women like this later.
Caitlin tried to feel better this way.
They left the room.
"Big sister..."
Tamao bit her lip. She looked at Satsuki with many feelings.
"You did not have to do this. Our other sisters would not like this."
"Third sister, it has been too long," Satsuki sighed.
"This is a good chance. And..."
Satsuki turned to face Tamao. She touched her sister's face and smiled.
"Don't you think Damian is very handsome? Lord Ho-Oh chose him, so he must be special. I think I am lucky to be with a man like him for the rest of my life."
"..."
Tamao said nothing. She knew Satsuki was right. But this was not love.
They rested at the Ecruteak Dance Theater. Satsuki and Tamao were very kind to them.
There were too many girls at the theater. It was hard to stay there. So, they gave Damian's group a house to stay in.
At 4:30 PM, Damian and Caitlin went for a walk after eating dinner.
They walked and finally arrived at the Burned Tower.
Damian decided to go inside. Lugia used to live there.
But at the door, they heard a battle.
Damian and Caitlin went inside. Damian saw the two sides fighting and smiled.
One person had a red shirt, black pants, and a hat.
It was Ethan!
The other person had a sad face. He had red hair and wore a tight shirt with purple pants.
"Well, well~ Look who I have found."
Damian's smile got bigger. He looked at the red-haired boy and felt many things.
Silver! His own younger brother!
The battle between Silver and Ethan was almost over. Silver's Feraligatr hit Typhlosion with Aqua Tail. Typhlosion could not fight anymore.
"Dammit! It was almost enough!"
Ethan was very upset because his best Pokémon lost.
"Hmph! Almost enough? You do not know how weak you are."
Silver laughed coldly. He put his Feraligatr back in its ball and made fun of Ethan. Then he started to leave.
"You! Tell me what you mean!" Ethan ran to him. He was very angry.
"I do not talk to weak people. You are annoying." Silver was cold.
"Dammit! Why are you so mean!! You are the person who stole a Pokémon!" Ethan was very angry. He thought this guy was very rude!
The Pokémon was stolen from Professor Elm's lab!
"So what?" Silver looked at Ethan like he was a bug.
"I will do anything to become stronger. The way I do it does not matter." Silver's eyes were dark. That was what he thought.
He would become stronger by any means.
"That is not true!" Ethan thought this person had a problem.
"Hmph." Silver did not say anything more. He turned to leave.
He had to train. He also had to find his sister, Blue.
But then Silver saw two people at the door.
Silver looked closely at the black-haired boy.
Why did he look familiar? He felt a strange feeling in his heart.
Did he know him? He had no memory, but it felt like he knew him.
"It has been a long... a very long time, Silver."
Damian walked toward him with a kind smile.
"My dear younger brother~"
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