1. Ash's Story (Part 9: Alola)

Chapter 73: The Wind That Trusts Again

Lana's egg finally began to crack during class.

At first, it was only a tiny sound under Professor Kukui's lesson, but Snowy lifted her new tails, Pikachu's ears twitched, and the whole room went quiet before any of us understood why. The egg on Lana's desk glowed softly, and Lana held both hands near it without touching the shell.

"Everyone, give it space," Professor Kukui said, though his own smile was too excited to hide.

The shell split open, and a small Eevee tumbled into Lana's arms. It looked like an Eevee, but its mane was so long and fluffy that Mallow gasped first, and Sophocles leaned forward as if he needed proof that the fur was real.

Lana stared at the Eevee with wide eyes, then smiled in the calm way she did when happiness ran too deep for shouting. "Your fur looks like soft sand. I will call you Sandy."

Sandy pressed against Lana's chest, blinking at the classroom lights. Sandy was Lana's partner, not ours, but seeing a new bond begin always made the room feel warmer. Eevee stretched one paw toward Lana's cheek, and Lana laughed so softly that even Kiawe did not tease her.

Before we left the classroom, Lana let Sandy meet each of us one at a time. Sandy sniffed Pikachu's paw, sneezed from the electric tingle, and then hid in Lana's sleeves. Pikachu patted the desk softly, and his meaning came bright and amused. "Small friend. Big fur. Brave later." Lana laughed because she understood the kindness behind it, not because Sandy looked silly.

Professor Kukui let the class celebrate for a while before reminding everyone that Lillie and I would be away for a week. Our parents had asked us to attend the annual Wind Festival in Fula City, and after the last few days of mysteries, mountains, and legends, a festival sounded almost impossible to imagine.

Our classmates gave us too many reminders at once. Mallow told us to eat local festival food, Lana asked us to look for water attractions, Sophocles wanted pictures of the power systems, and Kiawe warned me not to turn the trip into a battle challenge. I promised nothing except that we would come back safely.

By afternoon, Lillie and I were already on the tram into Fula City, watching windmills spin across the skyline. Colorful banners snapped above the streets, and the whole city seemed built to move with the wind instead of against it.

"Wow," Lillie said, leaning close to the window. "This is really lively."

"Yeah," I said. "Fula City looks amazing."

Pikachu stood against the glass and watched the windmills. His meaning reached me through the delighted flick of his tail. "This city listens when the wind speaks."

Lillie smiled without needing me to explain. "Then we should listen too."

The tram passed over a canal where paper decorations floated beside small boats. Families waved from platforms, children chased ribbon kites, and vendors shouted festival greetings over the music. It did not feel like a city waiting for a Legendary Pokémon. It felt like a city already trying to thank one.

The festival pulled us in every direction at once. We rode a roller coaster that twisted above the rooftops, explored Chinchou-shaped submarines, and stopped at displays explaining how Lugia's wind had once given the city life. The story felt familiar and new at the same time, because we had met Lugia before, but Fula City loved Lugia in its own way.

A news display showed the Eternal Flame burning before the stadium. The announcer explained that Lugia followed the flame's guidance to bring wind to Fula City during the festival.

"So Lugia brings the wind here," I said. "That is how the city keeps breathing."

Lillie watched the screen thoughtfully. "Even if we know Lugia is real, their faith in that wind belongs to them."