The first rumble of thunder echoed over the northern mountains.
It wasn’t particularly loud, but it was enough to make the Pokémon throughout the forest stop what they were doing.
The Pidgey abandoned the highest branches, several Caterpie hid beneath the leaves, and a group of Deerling ran toward a lower section of the valley.
Elena observed the dark clouds gathering around the mountain peaks.
“The sky was clear a few minutes ago.”
Adrian Vale didn’t answer immediately.
He was crouching in front of the tracks the white creature had left in the damp soil.
They were recent, deep, and pointed north.
Toward the mountains.
Elena’s father ran two fingers along the edge of one of the prints.
“The Pokémon sensed something before we did.”
“A storm?”
“Perhaps.”
Elena looked in the direction Absol had disappeared.
“You said Absol never appear without a reason.”
“That’s right.”
“Then we should follow her.”
Adrian stood up.
“No.”
“But she might be trying to warn us.”
“Or she could be running from whatever is approaching.”
“That still means something dangerous is coming.”
“Which is precisely why we won’t follow her.”
Elena frowned.
That morning, she had begun her first formal lesson to become one of the island’s guardians.
Her father had taught her how to recognize tracks, distinguish territorial markings, and detect signs of recent battles.
He had also explained that a guardian should never act recklessly.
Elena had listened carefully.
That didn’t mean she agreed with standing still.
“What are we going to do, then?”
Adrian pulled a small communicator from his belt.
“We’re returning to the observation post. We need to review the weather records and determine whether Pokémon in other areas are behaving the same way.”
“What about Absol?”
“If she’s trying to warn us, she’ll appear again.”
“What if she can’t?”
Adrian fell silent.
Another rumble echoed through the mountains.
This one was louder.
“Elena, we’re going home.”
She looked at the empty rock one final time before following her father.
She didn’t like abandoning a question without an answer.
Lucian often said that was one of her best qualities.
He also said it would get her into trouble someday.
Elena suspected both statements could be true.
In Pallet Town, a blue feather landed on Lucian’s face.
The boy opened his eyes.
For several seconds, he remained still, staring at the ceiling of a room he didn’t recognize.
Then he remembered the journey, the laboratory, and the conversation from the previous night.
He was staying at Professor Oak’s house.
A cheerful chirp came from near the window.
Lucian turned his head.
A small Swablu was perched on the back of a chair.
Her soft wings resembled two white clouds, while her blue body stood out beneath the morning light.
“So it was you.”
Swablu tilted her head and released another feather.
Lucian caught it before it landed on his nose.
Growlithe continued sleeping on the rug, completely unaware of the intruder.
Beldum floated beside the window and watched Swablu with its single eye.
The Flying-type Pokémon jumped from the chair and landed on top of Beldum.
The metallic Pokémon dropped several inches under the unexpected weight.
Beldum released a protesting hum.
Swablu answered with an innocent chirp.
“I don’t think it appreciates being used as a branch.”
The door opened.
“Good morning!”
Daisy entered without waiting for an answer.
She was already dressed and carried a small backpack over her shoulders.
Upon seeing Swablu perched on Beldum, she burst out laughing.
“I told you not to do that.”
Swablu spread her wings and flew over to Daisy, settling on top of her head.
“Was she the surprise?” Lucian asked.
“Only part of it.”
Daisy had received Swablu several months earlier after helping care for a group of injured Pokémon near the laboratory.
The little bird had begun following her everywhere until she eventually became Daisy’s first partner.
They weren’t an experienced battling team yet, but their bond was already obvious.
Daisy lifted Swablu and held her in her arms.
“She’s coming to the river with us today.”
Lucian sat up in bed.
“You said you would wake me up early.”
“I did.”
He looked at the clock.
“It’s five forty in the morning.”
“Exactly.”
“That isn’t early. It’s unnecessary.”
“We need to arrive before the Poliwag hide.”
Lucian pushed the blankets aside.
“That means we’re going to observe Pokémon.”
“We’re going to have fun.”
“While observing Pokémon.”
“Without taking too many notes.”
Lucian glanced toward the desk, where he had prepared a small notebook.
Daisy followed his gaze.
“How many pages?”
“One hundred and twenty.”
“That isn’t a small notebook.”
“It’s smaller than the others.”
Daisy sighed.
“You can bring it, but you’ll only write when it’s necessary.”
“It’s always necessary to record important observations.”
“I’ll decide what’s important.”
“That condition doesn’t seem reasonable.”
“Then you can leave the notebook here.”
Lucian picked up the notebook and tucked it inside his jacket.
“I accept.”
Daisy smiled with satisfaction.
Swablu sang as if celebrating her victory.
An hour later, the two children were walking along a path south of Pallet Town.
Growlithe walked ahead of them, sniffing the flowers and the markings left behind by wild Pokémon.
Beldum floated beside Lucian, while Swablu alternated between flying over the path and resting on Daisy’s shoulder.
The morning was cool and peaceful.
“What kind of training do you do with Swablu?” Lucian asked.
“We practice flying, accuracy, and coordination.”
“Coordination for battle?”
Daisy stroked one of Swablu’s wings.
“For performances too.”
Lucian looked at her.
Daisy had spoken several times about Pokémon exhibitions and Contests.
She was fascinated by the idea of showcasing not only a Pokémon’s strength, but also its beauty, control, and personality.
“Do you still want to become a Coordinator?”
“Yes.”
“Your grandfather believes you’ll follow in his footsteps and become a researcher.”
“I can do both.”
“That would require a great deal of time.”
“You want to become a Trainer, a breeder, and a researcher.”
“I also want to restore the Starfall family and protect the island.”
“That proves my point.”
Lucian remained silent for several seconds.
“You’re right.”
Daisy tripped over a stone.
She didn’t fall, but she had to wave her arms to recover her balance.
“Are you all right?”
She stared at him with wide eyes.
“You said I was right.”
“Because you are.”
“I should have brought a recorder.”
“It isn’t that unusual.”
Daisy and Growlithe looked at him at the same time.
Lucian decided to walk faster.
When they reached the river, they found a small group of Poliwag resting along the shore.
Some floated among the aquatic plants, while others practiced their moves under the supervision of a Poliwhirl.
Daisy gestured for Lucian to remain silent.
They both hid behind some bushes.
Lucian pulled out his notebook.
She looked at him.
“This is important,” he whispered.
“Why?”
“The Poliwhirl is teaching the younger ones how to use Bubble.”
Daisy watched more carefully.
One of the Poliwag inhaled and fired an unsteady stream of bubbles.
Most of them drifted off course before reaching a rock in the middle of the water.
Poliwhirl struck its own belly and produced a series of smaller but much faster and more compact bubbles.
The Poliwag tried again.
This time, it managed to hit the rock.
“It’s correcting its breathing,” Daisy whispered.
Lucian nodded.
“And the amount of energy it puts into each bubble. The first attack used too much force.”
Daisy smiled.
“You can write that down.”
Lucian opened his notebook.
Their walk continued for almost two hours.
Daisy showed him a tree where several Butterfree gathered during spring, a shallow section of the river where Goldeen laid their Eggs, and a flower-covered field frequented by Bug-type Pokémon.
In return, Lucian helped her analyze how Swablu used Peck.
The Pokémon possessed good speed, but she lost stability just before impact.
“She shouldn’t focus only on accelerating,” Lucian explained.
“She needs to keep her body properly aligned.”
“Can you show her with Beldum?”
“Beldum doesn’t have a beak.”
“But it knows how to charge.” The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
Beldum vibrated.
Lucian felt its enthusiasm.
“All right. Use Take Down against that tree trunk, but reduce your strength before the impact.”
Beldum moved backward.
Its body began to glow as it gathered energy.
A second later, it shot toward the tree.
Instead of crashing into it directly, Beldum adjusted its trajectory at the last moment and struck the trunk from the side.
The bark cracked.
Several leaves fell on top of them.
Daisy removed one from her head.
“You told it to reduce its strength.”
“It did.”
“How much force does it normally use?”
Lucian examined the crack.
“More.”
Swablu stared at Beldum with admiration.
She then flew upward, partially folded her wings, and descended toward a bush.
Her body remained stable throughout the movement, and her beak struck a dry branch with precision.
Daisy raised both arms.
“You did it!”
Swablu flew toward her and settled into her arms.
Lucian smiled.
A blue window appeared before his eyes.
Observation Log Updated
Species: Swablu
Condition: Healthy
Current Potential: Gold
Notable Affinities: Flying, physical coordination, and sound-based energy
Bond with Trainer: Developing rapidly
Note: Potential represents a Pokémon’s natural aptitude, not the absolute limit it can eventually reach.
Lucian closed the window.
Gold-rank talent was excellent.
With proper breeding resources, consistent training, and a high-quality diet, Swablu could become a powerful Altaria.
Furthermore, her natural coordination was perfect for Daisy’s ambitions.
He didn’t need to tell her everything yet.
Daisy had to learn to trust her own observations instead of relying on the information he received from the system.
“She’s talented,” he said simply.
Daisy lifted Swablu into the air.
“Of course she is.”
The Pokémon sang happily.
On Celestia Island, the rain began shortly before noon.
It wasn’t an ordinary rainfall.
Water struck the rooftops with enough force to drown out almost every other sound.
The wind shook the trees and tore leaves from the orchards.
Several workers ran to secure doors, windows, and storage buildings.
Elena stood in front of one of the observation room’s windows.
A map of the island’s northern region covered the central table.
Adrian spoke through his communicator.
“Remove the young Pokémon from the open fields. Take them to the lower shelters and keep the valley road clear.”
A distorted voice answered from the other side.
“Understood. The main breeding center has already been secured.”
“What about the Ponyta herd?”
“They moved east before the rain started.”
Adrian frowned.
The wild Ponyta lived in a meadow at the foot of the mountains.
They rarely abandoned their territory.
Elena moved closer to the map.
“The Pokémon in the forest also moved down toward the valley.”
“I know.”
“They’re all moving away from the mountains.”
“It appears that way.”
“Absol was trying to warn us.”
Adrian placed the communicator on the table.
“We still don’t know what’s happening.”
“We know it’s coming from the mountains.”
“Elena.”
“Why don’t you believe me?”
“I do.”
The answer made the girl stop.
Adrian crouched in front of her.
“I believe Absol was trying to warn us. I also believe chasing her in the middle of a storm would be a terrible decision.”
“Then what are we going to do?”
“Wait for reports from the other observation posts and prepare to evacuate the lower areas if necessary.”
A tremendous crash shook the building.
It hadn’t come from the sky.
It was deeper.
The ground vibrated beneath their feet.
Several alarms began to sound.
Adrian immediately stood and grabbed his communicator.
“Report!”
For several seconds, he received only static.
Finally, a voice answered.
“Landslide on the northern slope! Part of the main trail has been blocked.”
“Any injuries?”
“We don’t know. We lost contact with the valley shelter.”
Elena looked at the map.
The valley shelter housed several young Pokémon that were unable to survive on their own.
At that time of the year, it also contained Eggs from several different species under supervision.
Adrian picked up his coat.
“Stay here.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“No.”
“I know the trails.”
“Elena, this isn’t a discussion.”
“There are Pokémon trapped out there!”
“And I’m going to help them. You will remain somewhere safe.”
Adrian left before she could respond.
Elena stood motionless.
She listened as her father issued instructions in the hallway.
Then she heard the front door close.
The workers in the observation room were too busy checking communicators and maps to pay attention to her.
Elena looked at the northern slope again.
The main path was blocked, but it wasn’t the only way to reach the valley.
There was an old route that crossed the forest.
Her father had shown it to her that very morning.
“Don’t act recklessly.”
Adrian’s voice echoed through her memory.
Elena clenched her fists.
She didn’t want to disobey him.
But she couldn’t remain still while several Pokémon were in danger.
She took a raincoat, placed several Berries and bandages inside a bag, and left through a side door.
The rain struck her immediately.
The trail had turned into a stream of mud.
Elena advanced by holding onto the trees, following the yellow markings that identified the old path.
The wind was so powerful that she could barely keep her eyes open.
“Absol!” she shouted.
“I know you’re out there!”
She received no answer.
She continued forward.
“You tried to warn us! Now I need you to show me the way!”
There was only the sound of the rain.
Elena gritted her teeth and kept moving.
She had traveled almost halfway along the route when a tree creaked above her.
She looked up.
The trunk was tilting in her direction.
Elena tried to jump aside, but she slipped in the mud.
A white shadow appeared through the rain.
Absol struck the trunk with a Dark-type attack.
The wood split and fell only a few feet from the girl.
Elena covered her head with her arms.
When she looked up again, Absol was standing in front of her.
Her white fur was soaked and covered in mud.
One of her hind legs was injured, but she remained standing firmly.
“I knew it was you.”
Absol narrowed her eyes.
She didn’t appear pleased to see her.
“Don’t look at me like that. I need to reach the shelter.”
The Pokémon turned her head toward the path Elena had come from.
“I’m not going back.”
Absol growled.
“You can be as angry as you want.”
The creature once again gestured toward the return path.
“There are Pokémon trapped out there.”
Elena and Absol stared at one another for several seconds.
Finally, the white Pokémon released a frustrated sound, passed the girl, and began heading toward the valley.
Elena smiled.
“I knew you would help me.”
Absol didn’t stop, but the irritated movement of her tail made her opinion clear.
The Pokémon knew routes Elena would never have discovered on her own.
Several times, she abandoned the trail and passed through narrow gaps between the rocks.
She also stopped seconds before a branch fell or part of the slope gave way.
She didn’t predict every danger with perfect accuracy.
She felt them coming.
Thanks to her, they reached the valley without suffering any injuries.
The shelter was a stone structure situated beside a slope.
Part of its entrance was blocked by dirt and branches.
Frightened cries came from inside.
Elena ran toward it.
“We’re here!”
She tried to move one of the branches, but it was too heavy.
Absol positioned herself beside her.
“Can you cut it?”
The curved horn on Absol’s head began to glow.
With one precise movement, she split the branch in two.
Elena removed the smaller pieces and opened a gap wide enough to enter.
Several frightened Pokémon were inside the shelter: three Nidoran, two young Sandshrew, a Vulpix, and several Eggs placed inside manual incubators. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
A worker was trapped beneath a wooden beam.
“Elena… what are you doing here?”
“Helping.”
“Your father is going to kill me.”
“First, we need to get you out.”
The man’s leg was trapped, but it didn’t appear to be broken.
Elena tried to lift the beam but couldn’t move it.
Absol entered the shelter.
The Pokémon moved back when they saw her.
“She’s helping,” Elena said.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Absol approached the beam and positioned her body beneath one end.
“You won’t be able to lift it alone.”
The Pokémon looked at her.
Elena understood.
She moved beside Absol.
“On three. One… two… three!”
Absol pushed with her back while Elena lifted with all her strength.
The beam rose high enough for the worker to free his leg.
The man fell to one side, breathing heavily.
“Thank you.”
Another tremor passed through the ground.
Dust and small stones fell from the ceiling.
Absol released an urgent cry.
“We need to leave,” Elena said.
“The Eggs,” the worker replied.
“We can’t leave them.”
There were four incubators.
Elena picked up one and helped the man carry another.
Absol approached the two remaining incubators.
“You can’t carry them on your back across this terrain.”
The Pokémon gestured toward a blanket spread across the floor.
Elena understood the idea.
She placed the incubators on the blanket and tied two of its ends together, forming a type of sled.
She then secured the fabric around Absol’s body while leaving enough space for her to move freely.
“Move carefully.”
Absol gave her an indignant look.
“I know you aren’t a child. I’m talking about the Eggs.”
The Pokémon snorted.
The young Pokémon followed them out of the shelter.
Elena carried Vulpix in her arms, while the injured worker limped and guided the Nidoran and Sandshrew.
The moment they moved a safe distance from the shelter, part of the roof collapsed.
Elena stopped when she heard the crash.
If they had taken a few more minutes, they all would have been trapped.
Absol continued moving.
She didn’t seek recognition.
She didn’t wait to be thanked.
She only made sure the group escaped the danger.
Elena followed her in silence.
For the first time, she understood why so many people feared Absol.
They appeared before disasters, and instead of understanding their warnings, humans eventually blamed them.
It wasn’t fair.
They had traveled partway down the path when they heard voices.
“Elena!”
Adrian appeared between the trees, accompanied by his Arcanine and two guards.
His face showed a mixture of relief, fear, and fury.
Elena stopped.
“Hello, Dad.”
“Don’t say ‘hello, Dad’ as if you went out for a walk.”
Arcanine approached and sniffed her, making sure she wasn’t injured.
Adrian did the same with his eyes.
“I ordered you to remain at the observation post.”
“The shelter was trapped.”
“You could have died.”
“But I didn’t.”
“That does not improve the situation.”
Elena lowered her head.
“I know.”
Adrian looked ready to continue, but then he noticed the injured worker, the young Pokémon, and the incubators being transported by Absol.
His expression changed.
“Did she find them?”
“She helped me reach the shelter. She also saved the Pokémon and carried the Eggs.”
Absol didn’t approach the group.
She remained several yards away, prepared to disappear into the forest.
Adrian noticed her injured leg.
“She saved you as well.”
Elena remembered the falling tree.
“Yes.”
Her father released a long sigh.
“We’ll discuss this when we return.”
“Am I grounded?”
“For so long that Lucian will have begun his journey before you’re allowed to go anywhere alone again.”
Elena opened her mouth.
“I’m not negotiating.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“You entered the center of a landslide without permission.”
“I had a guide.”
Adrian looked at Absol.
“A guide who tried to send you back.”
Elena blinked.
“How do you know?”
“Because she has more common sense than you.”
One of the guards took care of the injured worker, while Arcanine helped guide the Pokémon.
Adrian examined the incubators and confirmed that none of the Eggs had been harmed.
When Elena looked toward Absol again, the Pokémon was already walking away.
“Wait!”
Absol continued moving.
Elena ran after her.
The creature stopped at the edge of the forest.
“You’re injured.”
Absol looked at her hind leg and then turned away.
“Come with us. We can treat you.”
The Pokémon shook her head.
“I’m not going to lock you up.”
Absol watched her suspiciously.
Elena removed the bag from her shoulder and took out an Oran Berry.
She placed it on a rock without trying to move closer.
“You can leave after they examine your injury.”
The Pokémon didn’t move.
“I also want to thank you.”
Absol looked at the Berry.
“People believe you bring disasters, don’t they?”
The creature raised her head.
“But you try to warn them. Even when they fear you, you keep coming back.”
Elena smiled faintly.
“That means you’re braver than they are.”
Absol walked toward the rock.
She sniffed the Berry but didn’t eat it.
Instead, she approached Elena.
The girl held her breath.
Absol lowered her head and gently brushed her horn against Elena’s hand.
The contact lasted only a moment.
Then she moved away.
“Does that mean you’re coming?”
Absol began walking toward the group.
Elena smiled and ran after her.
Adrian waited beside Arcanine.
“We’re only going to treat her,” Elena warned.
“I won’t try to capture her.”
Her father observed the way Absol allowed his daughter to walk beside her.
“I don’t think that decision belongs only to you anymore.”
The rain began to weaken as they returned.
A small opening appeared between the clouds, allowing a ray of sunlight to illuminate the valley.
Absol raised her head toward the sky.
For the first time since Elena had found her, she no longer appeared prepared to run.
That night, in Pallet Town, Lucian suddenly woke.
Beldum floated in front of the window, releasing an uneasy vibration.
Growlithe stood beside the bed with his fur raised.
“What is it?”
Lucian closed his eyes and extended his senses.
For an instant, he perceived something far away.
Fear.
Concern.
Then relief.
The sensation disappeared before he could identify its source.
Lucian reached into his jacket pocket, where he had stored Elena’s compass.
The needle was spinning out of control.
Several seconds passed before it once again pointed north.
Lucian looked in the direction of the sea.
“Elena…”
On Celestia Island, the girl was asleep in a chair inside the infirmary.
She had tried to remain awake while Absol received treatment, but exhaustion eventually overcame her.
Her head rested on her arms beside the examination table.
Absol opened her eyes.
Her hind leg was clean and bandaged.
She could leave.
The window was open, and no human was guarding the door.
The Pokémon slowly stood.
She looked toward the forest.
Then she looked at Elena.
The girl moved in her sleep and allowed one hand to fall beside the examination table.
Absol remained still for several seconds.
Eventually, she lay down again.
She placed her head beneath Elena’s hand and closed her eyes.
For the first time in a long while, she wouldn’t have to watch for the next disaster alone.
End of Chapter 14