Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 60: Emotion's Tide

Lake Verity looked peaceful from above, and that made the fear worse.

After Lake Valor's empty basin and Azelf's stolen cry still echoing in my memory, seeing trees around Verity and water still shining under the afternoon light should have comforted me. Instead, it made me think of a room before someone broke through the door.

We landed near the shore and saw the battle immediately. Professor Rowan stood near the lakeside path with Professor Berlitz, Lucas, Dia, and Elena, all of them trying to hold back Team Galactic grunts while protecting researchers and frightened Pokémon.

Rowan saw us and lifted one arm. "Ash, Lillie, all of you! What timing. These Team Galactic scoundrels are after the legendary Pokémon. You have got to help Lucas."

Lucas was already battling near the cavern path, keeping three grunts from reaching the water. Dia guarded Rowan's side with a grim expression, while Elena directed a group of Shinx and Bidoof away from the fighting.

Tox moved toward an injured Starly before anyone asked. "Lucas holds the center. I will keep the evacuation line open."

Daniel stayed near him, but Gothita's Poké Ball shook at his belt. After Lake Valor and Espathra's warning, he did not ignore it. He sent Gothita out carefully, and she turned toward the lake with her ribbons trembling.

Gothita's meaning came fragile and aching. "So many feelings. Water is crying. Sky is afraid."

Lillie gripped my hand once, then released it so we could battle. "Mars must already be here."

Mars was already there waiting.

Mars stood near the cavern entrance, smiling like the chaos belonged to her. A flying boat was already lifting from the far side of the lake, and the sight made my stomach twist.

Mars turned when we reached her. "That face. It brings back bad memories. Valley Windworks, Iron Island, and now Lake Verity. I caught a whole lot of trouble for those little incidents."

"You tried to destroy Iron Island," I said. "If it were not for my dad, the island would be gone."

Mars laughed, but the sound had an angry edge. "How cute. You still think this is your little game of heroes. Not a chance. Not even a teeny one. You are all going down."

She sent out Bronzor, Purugly, and Golbat together. I sent Pikachu and Grotle, while Lillie sent Roserade. Lucas and Elena pushed back the remaining grunts so we could focus on Mars.

Lucas battled like someone who had already been pushed past worry into pure focus. His Infernape kept Mars's grunts away from Rowan, but I could see the strain in the way Lucas kept glancing toward the cavern. He was not only guarding the Professor. He was trying not to look at the boat carrying Mesprit away.

Elena's voice cut across the shore. "Keep the small Pokémon behind the rocks. Do not let the grunts use them as shields."

That made Mars's smile feel uglier. At Lake Valor, Team Galactic had broken the whole lake to reach Azelf. Here, they had let Mesprit's own heart pull it into danger. They were different kinds of cruelty, but they both treated the Lake Pokémon like objects.

Gothorita's evolution changed Daniel too. He did not suddenly become warm or dramatic, but his eyes stayed on her instead of only the battlefield. When she shook, he noticed. When the lake's pressure flared, he moved closer without crowding her.

Daniel whispered, "I used to think emotion made evidence harder to trust. Maybe I was afraid it made me responsible for more of it."

Gothorita's meaning answered with aching patience. "Feeling does not remove truth. Feeling tells where truth hurts."