C092 - Suicune's new avatar

It was almost sunset when Suicune acknowledged the three human helpers with a visit. The two Heatran were made to move somewhere inland, and Ho-oh was escorting them - to where Pete didn't know, only that it was north past Ecruteak City and Mount Mortar.

All of the three's pokemon were completely exhausted, same with the three trainers. As the lava started cooling down and the oversaturated fire type energy in the air started to dissipate a little, Mega Milotic could finally unleash a Rain Dance to cool down the surroundings in the forest.

Since Ho-oh only held off the ash and embers flying toward them, the team had worked their way to the wounded pokemon in a circle around the giant basin. Pete was sure Ho-oh could have done much more, but who was he to reason with a pokemon of Ho-oh's power?

Now that Suicune came, it enveloped everyone in a faint ring of mist that Pete thought might be the move Aqua Ring - a water move that restores health, though, originally only to the user. Then, the rain gained a few stages of intensity and visibly started healing the wounds of the pokemon the healing group still tended to.

"Raining Life Dew...? Legendary pokemon are really something else," Pete mumbled just loud enough that Courtney and Jasmine heard him.

The three stood up from where they had rested beneath a tree for the moment and looked over to the cliff where Suicune had appeared. This time around, the two girls weren't made to sleep like during its last visit or when Celebi 'knocked out' Jasmine after the battle against the Ariados. An ethereal voice sounded out in all three minds.

"This was not the future the guardian has foreseen. Still, I must thank you for your perseverance and kind heart," Suicune said as it appeared.

Jasmine and Courtney were immediately spell-bound by the pokemon's otherworldly beauty, while Pete was only slightly better because he already had an encouter with it. The pokemon didn't look like it had been in a battle. Its fur and banded tail were still as pristine as the day Pete had seen her last. Yet the exhaustion was unmistakeable in her eyes. Her head was slightly drooping.

"So originally, the eruption should have been caused by only one Heatran?"

Suicune looked to Pete and nodded, "These humans have deviated from their original path some time ago. Instead of focusing on one path, they have found another cave and unlocked the domain of another Heatran deeper inside the earth. Its awakening woke up the Heatran they should have originally woken."

Pete was thankful for the explanation, but he wasn't really sure why Suicune was so talkative. He looked to the girls and noticed they, same as him, didn't really mind in the end. The reality of getting schooled by one of the most powerful trainers in the world as far as Pete was aware hadn't really settled in yet. The fact that they were helping burnt and otherwise hurt pokemon for the past twelve hours didn't either.

"Ho-oh has informed me of the peril you encountered because of my... mission. I'm glad you brought help," Suicune said as it looked to Pete with a grateful glint. "The last time I mentioned that I cannot have you as my avatar, yet I can make this woman my avatar and be connected to your farm in that way. I will not treat her unfairly."

Suicune stepped in front of Courtney, surprising them all. Pete and the girls still didn't know what an avatar was, and apparently Suicune thought as much as it started explaining.

"We legendary pokemon - as you call us - are more than watchful guardians. We govern not only the pokemon related to our very nature but also hold domain over other more ethereal aspects. A domain we share the burden off with other 'legendary' pokemon," Suicune explained before it fully turned to Courtney. "I hold domain over water and ice, as well as tranquility and purity. As my avatar, our minds will be connected, allowing us to talk no matter where we are in the world. Your affinity to my domains will grow to greater heights. You may choose what you humans call 'moves' of my domain that you can freely teach to pokemon and even use them yourself, even if your affinity would not yet allow you to use them. To my understanding, that is where the idea of Technical Machines comes from."

Pete's eyes widened at the implication of something even he didn't know as someone who had a hand in the world building and started to look between Suicune and Courtney - until suddenly one thought was stuck in his head.

'Suicune's mane and Courtney's hair are the exact same color.'

"Fufu, indeed. As he pointed out, we are already connected by the color of our 'manes'," Suicune agreed with a tinkling laugh that brought smiles to the two girls. The atmosphere became a little relaxed.

Suicune waited a few moments, allowing everyone's taut nerves to unwind before it continued, "Where there are boons, there are of course obligations. They vary from protector to protector, guardian to guardian. As my avatar, I will send you to missions pertaining my two more ethereal aspects. I wander this part of the world to purify waters and soothe agitated and feral pokemon."

"Why does someone as powerful as you need an avatar?" Courtney asked in a quiet voice.

"In every so-called region, several of us 'legendaries' live among you. There are countless myths in our image, yet we are rarely seen. Why do you think that is, child?"

Courtney pondered the question a little and eventually said, "You are too powerful? And humans, in general, are greedy for power? If you appear regularly, humans would start wars on the chance to catch one of you? To influence you to hurt another faction?"

Suicune's eyes shone in praise as it nodded its head a little, "You hit on the essence of our choice. A long time ago, before my first birth, a being several times more powerful as us gave us guidelines that we all follow for the betterment of this world. Outside of avatars and special circumstances, we are discouraged from interacting with humans. The missions I send you to, you would be akin to my voice in the human world."

Pete noted the words 'first birth' in his mind, ever the researcher. But Courtney looked to Pete, who quickly nodded, indicating that she should choose whatever she wanted to do and finally turned to Suicune. The two knew enough about one another that Pete instantly connected her inquiring look with the unasked question 'is it okay if I do this?'

With his permission, even though Courtney knew Pete would later scold her for even asking when it was her life, she answered, "I agree to become your avatar."

"Fufu, marvelous. Then first comes the gifts," Suicune said with a pleased expression - as if her agreement washed away 12 hours of exhaustion. "Originally, I kept this stone as payment for the original mission owner when I roamed the cave system. But I get the feeling he would not mind you receiving it. I also get the feeling your Camerupt holds a deep affinity to it."

One of its bands flittered forward to Courtney, holding a mega stone. From Suicune's words, it probably either held the ground or fire typing, possibly even both. Pete was no longer surprised at seeing yet another one of those in his short life in this world and was instead simply happy for his best friend.

"Your commitment to ground type pokemon is commendable, child. I found this sand on top of a mountain that was perpetually hit by lightning. Have your pokemon ponder its nature," Suicune said next as it handed over a sack filled with pale golden sand to Jasmine.

Pete did not see where it even got the sack from. Does it have an inventory in its mane? After hearing about legendary pokemon being the source of inspiration for TMs, he wouldn't be that surprised anymore if it turned out they were the origin of the extended space bags, too.

"I have also found this egg among the Bastiodon tribe deep inside the earth that sadly could not get out in time. Take care of it for me, will you?" Suicune said next as it handed Courtney a giant Shieldon egg.

This time, Pete was sure it took the egg the same size as Suicune's own head from out of its mane with its tail. It really did have an inventory in its mane.

"This leaves me with nothing to gift you. I hope my previous payment will suffice?"

Pete immediately waved his hand, "No-no! I got a mega stone out of it as well as this amazing pendant before I even did anything. I couldn't ask for more and am very happy for the opportunity you're giving Courtney!"

"As I suspected," Suicune softly said as its two tails wrapped around Courtney. She brought the girl before it to press their foreheads together.

It was abrupt, and Pete had to fight off the urge to intervene, same as Jasmine. When they calmed down, they simply watched the process with shining eyes. Neither of them jealous of the opportunity but simply happy for their friend.

Courtney was a quiet and reserved person unless she was among close friends, so tranquility was a great aspect to represent for her. On the farm, she broke up small fights among the smaller pokemon very often, and she was very much liked by Pete's many fairy pokemon. And those loved peace and tranquility.

When the process was done, Suicune unwrapped Courtney while taking a step back. Courtney's eyes were softly shining in a pale blue. A diamond shaped tattoo in the same blue color of Suicune's fur appeared on her wrist to complete the process.

Suicune left some more words for Courtney, who mutedly nodded, likely replying over the avatar's bond the pokemon had just opened between them. Then, Suicune looked to Pete's Mega Milotic and took her with it as it jumped back down into the basin.

"Don't worry, Pete. Suicune said it wants to show Milotic something as compensation for you. They'll be back in an hour at most," Courtney quipped with a big grin as Pete watched the legendary pokemon abducting his giant mega evolved pokemon with a stunned expression.

Jasmine stepped forward to look at Courtney's new tattoo in curiosity and calmly asked, "How do you feel?"