----
"SKREEEEEEEERRRRRR!!"
Zapdos flapped its wings, unleashing an indiscriminate storm of lightning across the area.
Ash, Team Rocket, and the others instinctively dove for cover beneath the sailboat, desperately trying to avoid the deadly bolts.
Kai, however, remained completely still, watching the spectacle unfold with a calm gaze.
As a powerful bolt streaked down toward him, Gardevoir raised her arm and formed a shimmering psychic barrier.
BOOM!
The lightning struck the barrier, exploding in a shower of sparks!
Meanwhile, the Ultra Balls on Kai's belt trembled violently. His three Legendary Birds inside seemed ready to burst free at any moment!
Kai gently placed a hand over them.
"Hold back for now," he whispered. "This isn't an attack. It's not time for you to step in yet. The real show hasn't even started."
His calm assurance settled the Ultra Balls, keeping the legendary Pokémon contained.
If his own Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres were reacting this strongly, it meant this Zapdos was something special.
It certainly looked the same as any normal Zapdos, but…
Its size was noticeably larger, and if size was anything to go by, that meant its power must be greater as well.
Zapdos circled overhead several times, scanning the area for something unseen.
Then, its wings folded in, and it descended gracefully onto the shrine at the volcano's peak.
Suddenly—
A massive pulse of electricity surged outward, spreading across the area!
Simultaneously, a strange blue mist began to spread within the volcanic crater.
Misty, Melody, and Sabrina arrived beside Kai, panting slightly from their climb up the stone stairs.
Sabrina frowned. "What's it doing?"
Kai didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he touched his hair.
It felt dry and stiff, standing on end slightly.
Static electricity.
Looking around, he noticed everyone else was experiencing the same effect their hair lifting unnaturally, their bodies tingling with a faint charge.
A realization struck him.
"It's… altering the island's magnetic field."
Melody's eyes widened in shock.
"What!?"
Kai nodded, watching Zapdos closely.
"It's trying to claim Fire Island as its own territory."
Zapdos wasn't just passing through it was conquering.
Melody suddenly looked around anxiously.
"This doesn't make sense! Fire Island belongs to Moltres! Why hasn't it shown up to drive Zapdos away!?"
Kai narrowed his eyes.
There was only one possible explanation.
"It must've been captured."
The fanatic collector from the legends…
He's already started.
Before anyone could process that thought—
Pikachu suddenly unleashed a small jolt of electricity, aiming it at Zapdos!
"What are you doing!?" Jessie gasped from behind the sailboat. "That's never gonna defeat it!"
"You idiot," Meowth sighed. "It's not an attack Pikachu's trying to communicate."
Jessie blinked. "What?"
Meowth crossed his arms smugly.
"Electric Pokémon can talk to each other through electrical pulses. Just like Psychic Pokémon use telepathy."
Kai nodded in agreement. "That's right. Pikachu is trying to ask why it's here when this island belongs to Moltres."
"But Zapdos isn't even acknowledging it…" Misty muttered.
Sure enough—
Zapdos barely reacted.
The electric pulses washed over its body, completely ignored.
But finally, after a moment, Zapdos flicked its wings and sent a small bolt of electricity back.
It was a response.
Meowth's ears twitched as he translated.
"Zapdos says… 'The master of this island is gone. If there's no master, then I'll rule it instead. This island is mine now.'"
Melody paled.
"WHAT!?"
Moltres is gone!?
This was unprecedented.
Since the beginning of time, the three legendary birds had always ruled their respective islands.
This had never happened before.
Before anyone could say more—
Pikachu's electric pulse and Zapdos's lightning strike suddenly veered upward.
Kai's eyes snapped to the sky.
Something was pulling their electricity away.
The thick storm clouds above them split open… revealing a colossal, futuristic airship descending from above.
"A ship!?"
The towering fortress loomed closer, ominous and foreboding.
From its surface, several massive rods jutted outward, crackling with energy.
It was absorbing all the electricity in the area.
Realizing this, Zapdos flared its wings, firing a massive Thunder attack at the ship!
The golden lightning struck directly but disappeared on impact.
Not a single scratch.
The ship continued absorbing Zapdos's energy, pulling in more and more.
Within seconds—
Zapdos, the God of Thunder, looked weakened.
It panted heavily, its power drained.
Kai clenched his fists.
It's happening.
Zapdos, sensing the danger, instinctively tried to flee.
But just as it launched into the air—
The ship's underside opened.
Several large metallic rings shot out—
And locked around Zapdos in midair!
Melody's eyes widened in horror.
"What the hell is that!?"
No one could answer her.
No one except Kai.
He already knew who was behind this.
Zapdos flailed, firing off desperate bursts of electricity, but the rings absorbed them effortlessly.
Kai watched silently.
This wasn't over.
Zapdos wasn't the only target.
Several of the remaining rings suddenly changed direction…
And began descending toward them.
Sabrina's hair lifted slightly, her psychic energy stirring.
She didn't hesitate.
"Should I destroy them?" she asked calmly.
Kai shook his head.
"Not yet."
He glanced up at the airship, recalling the broken fragments of the original legend.
"I think… we're about to meet the person behind all of this."
He returned Gardevoir and Jolteon to their Poké Balls.
Misty and Melody, meanwhile, were staring in horror as the rings closed in around them.
One after another, the metallic restraints latched onto their surroundings, ensnaring everything including their boat!
"WHAT'S HAPPENING!?" Misty shrieked.
Ash and Tracey tried to break free, but the rings released a powerful electrical charge, shocking everyone who resisted!
Not even Pikachu's Thunderbolt made a dent.
The restraints lifted them into the air…
Dragging them toward the fortress above.
Kai glanced toward Zapdos.
The legendary bird was caught too, struggling in vain.
This was it.
The true battle was about to begin.
----
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