The true prophecy

Zapdos flew into the sky thinking about what that boy Ash said, he didn't have a reason to believe him but he felt like he did. Looking at Articuno and Moltres fighting he could see the shadows in their eyes, it's almost like what happened 'then'.

As he looked across the sea he could see that Articuno was trying to freeze it all, infact most of it was already frozen.

And that boy, he saw a ship, it was likely his and a way to get the last orb, so he decided to do something about it, he started to flap his wings the electricity under them started disappearing as then he shot an electrified [Heat Wave]

The wave moved past the ice either melting the thin parts or breaking the thicker parts, but it cleared away between Lightning Island and Shamouti Island.

Then once that was done at the speed of lighting he flashed between the other birds and hit them with a [Discharge]

As Articuno and Moltres tried recovering Zapdos scratched, "SQWWWAAAA![Brothers, what are you doing, we are meant to protect this area for our master!]"

Neither responded back, but they did stop fighting each other because now they had a common enemy, 

Deep in the water, Lugia was stirring from its slumber the vibrations caused by the birds fighting and the screams stirring but not completely waking it up, however, the water around started to circle around creating miniature whirlpools

—----

Ash and Pikachu ran down the mountain as fast as they could to see that Zapdos started to engage the other 2 birds, although he doubted he would be able to defeat both of them, but he didn't need to.

As he watched the airship finally reach the island and crash landing, the wing destroyed the shrine, and its right wing almost falling off, with that damage, the ship wouldn't be flying any time soon.

Although things didn't go as expected, he was still here, and as he started running down the mountain of Lightning Island he could see in the distance the Brave Olivine sailing closer with everyone looking out looking relieved seeing Ash.

Before the ship even landed on the island Charizard jumped off and flew over to Ash and grabbed him as he threw him on his back with Pikachu.

Once he did that the ship pulled up and Charizard flew Ash overseeing that everyone was ok, "Good to see you're all fine,"

"Ash what was that!" Liko yelled, "Why did you let us take Charizard while you stayed in that ship, you knew they were going to attack it!"

"Wait he did what now," Murdock exclaimed

"That seems incredibly dangerous," Mollie added

Melody nodded, "Yeah, how were we supposed to know you'd do that? Why did you send us out, we could have just waited!"

"You know the Tale, the hero never dies, and I am your chosen one aren't I," Ash responds with a usual carefree demeanor

Melody's eye twitch, "Enough with the chosen one stuff, this is serious,"

"So am I," Ash said as in Friede's mind things started to come together.

"No, there is no legend, this is some made-up story my people have made up where we take some poor sap and make them special for the day! There is no prophecy, this is just a super tradition we have done for years,"

"Ash, those orbs are just those glass balls, and now look around, Everything is going wrong and you're still on about being a made-up chosen one!" Melody finished finally taking a breath,

But as people were reacting differently to what Melody said, Friede spoke up, "Actually, I'm not quite sure if it is,"

They all looked at Friede in surprise as he continued, "The Titans are clearly referring to Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, and they are currently fighting, and the guardian of the birds is Lugia,"

"So you think that Lugia is supposed to come out to fix this?" Liko asked

Roy's eyes started to sparkle, "That sounds so cool!"

Melody was slightly shocked to hear this but shook her head, "Ok but let's assume you aren't talking crazy and the legend is true, the Legond says that the song will fail,"

"And thus the earth shall turn to ash," Ash added, smiling

"But how are we gonna find the chosen one if we don't even know where to look?" Melody asked, unintentionally starting to gain some hope

"But, we already have it don't we," Friede said as he walked up to Ash, "You knew didn't you,"

Ash smiled, "I've always known, since the beginning,"

Melody was confused, "EH? wait what do you mean by that,"

"The mention of the earth turning to ash has a double meaning!" Friede said as he began to recite the legend from memory

"Disturb not the harmony of fire, ice, or lightning, lest these titans wreak destruction upon the world in which they clash. Though the water's great guardian shall arise to quell the fighting, alone its song will fail, lest the earth shall turn to ash,"

"And so, unless you want the world to burn," Ash added, "Then you have to turn to me,"

For a moment they stayed silent with that realization, "So this whole time, you knew that the prophecy was real,"

"Exactly, and now what was that about a stupid prophecy, after all, you're also a part of this," Ash said looking down at Melody

"Me?" she responded,

"That ocarina, and that song, it's the same one Lugia has, which means you also need to play your part in this," Ash responded with a smile,

"I thought they were just a tradition, but this whole time it was real," Melody mumbled as she looked down at her ocarina.

Liko stepped up, "But what about now, if you're the chosen one in this, how are you going to do this?"

Ash smiled as Charizard flapped his wings, "Isn't it obvious, I'm going to Ice Island, and you guys need to meet me over at Shamouti Island,"

"But wait isn't that way too dangerous, like sure we know you are strong and all but those are legendarys!" Roy said, making them realize how hard it would be if they saw him.

"You're right, I probably couldn't even beat any of them 1 on 1 even if Zapdos is helping me, but that's the thing, I don't need to," Ash said as he got closer to Friede

"Friede, your Charizard is stronger than mine, we don't even have to have that argument here, can you stall them for me, just until I get the orb?"

Friede smiled as Cap jumped on his shoulder, "You betcha, we'll stall them for as long as you need,"

Ash nodded and threw 2 things at Friede, "You can borrow these then,"

Friede caught them and looked down at them making anyone else who peaked over also widen their eyes in surprise, it was Ash's Keystone and Charizardite X.

"Wait, you're letting me borrow these?" Friede asked in surprise

"The stronger you are the better it is for me, but I'll take them back after this don't you worry, so how about it," Ash said as Pikachu held onto his shoulder smiling back.

Friede chuckled, "I would have done it if you didn't offer this much, so chosen one, you ready?"

Ash nodded, "Let's do this," Charizard flapped his wings as they went into the air and started to fly

Meanwhile, Friede turned back to everyone, "Everyone get ready, we're in for some tough waters, and there's a chance you get caught in the crossfire but if you can get to the island you're going to be fine,"

Orla walked up to Friede, "You sure about this, you are about to fight a literal legendary,"

"Yeah isn't that extremely dangerous," Liko added,

Friede shook his head, "Maybe, but when have I been one to run away and besides," he started walking over to his Charizard.

"We have this," Friede said as he gave the Charizardite X to Charizard and then raised the keystone, "So partner, you ready for this,"

Charizard smiled and fire came out of his nose, "Char!"

Friede raised the Keystone "Then Charizard, Mega Evolve!" 

The ship was covered in a bright blue light as Charizard started changing his scales turning black and his fire turning blue, becoming Charizard X.

As they were watching Charizard's new form Friede jumped on top, "Alright you know the plan, so let's do this!" Charizard also flew out this time flying towards the birds.

Mollie sighed, "I can't be the only one that's getting a bad feeling,"

"I'm getting one too, but we can't do anything because we were all too weak to help," Liko added dejectedly.

Sprigatito and Cyndaquil heard that and frowned after all no pokemon liked feeling weak,

—

In the sky Friede was flying on Charizard X with Captan Pikachu holding onto his side, they were approaching the 3 birds flying however he could see that Articuno and Moltres were both attacking Zapdos.

Zapdos ironically looked the most normal, while the other 2 had a strange shadowy substance that came out of their eyes but was slowly starting to spread.

Friede was interested but he didn't have the luxury of trying to find out more, he saw Zapdos was getting tired and Articuno was charging up another attack so he chose to step in now.

"Cap!" he called out as Captain Pikachu nodded

As soon as he jumped off his body was covered in electricity and he started flying through the air sending a [Volt Tackle] to Articuno's side making the [Ice beam] that was aimed at Zapdos hit a mountain.

Before it could retaliate Charizard came in and sent a [Fire Punch] to Articuno's side and he kept going letting Friede catch Pikachu as they were now flying next to Zapdos.

Friede called out to Zapdos hoping that he wasn't crazy, "Yo, Zapdos were here to help you,"

Normally Zapdos would scoff and probably send an [Thunder] at him but given the circumstances, he didn't and gave a nod, "QUAWW! {Very well, your assistance will be accepted,}"

Friede had no idea what Zapdos said but considering he wasn't extra crispy he assumed that he was accepting it, so now it was a 2 on 2,

—-

Back with Ash, he was flying with Charizard going across the ice, he was going to Ice Island but along the way, he was using Aura in his eyes to try and find Lugia.

After all, by this point, Lugia should have gotten out and had been the one that started to stall the birds, but then again maybe it has something to do with how not all 3 of them are going crazy.

But either way that didn't matter he still had his mission as Charizard flew up to the top of the mountain and there he saw the orb inside the shrine, Ash didn't waste time and jumped off Charizard's shoulder and ran up taking the orb meaning he had all 3.

He took a look up and saw that Friede and Zapdos were working together but whatever was causing Articuno and Moltres to go shadow was making them stronger than them, so he had to move fast.

He didn't think this would work but even if there was a slight chance of Zapdos coming over here and taking him to the main shrine he had to try, he took a deep breath before yelling,

"HEYYYY, I GOT ALL 3!"

But expectedly they didn't stop to turn at him, well not immediately at least, but Zapdos wasn't coming to get him so he shook his head he didn't have high hopes.

He jumped back on Charizard as Pikachu jumped on Charizard's head, "We've got it, let's end this, take us to the top of Shamouti Island!"

Charizard nodded as fire exhaled from his nose and he flapped his wings to shoot into the sky.

It was a straight shot and the legendary birds were distracted, so absolutely nothing could go wrong, and nothing bad would happen….

—-

In the debris of the airship, at least what was left of it Lawrence III stumbled out, his pristine collection was almost ruined, and as he looked at the security cameras he saw who did it, that boy with the red hat.

To think after he collected his prize he was going to grant him the honor of working for him, well now he would never.

As he looked into the sky he saw his prize, the legendary birds but the cannon wasn't strong enough to shoot another big blast, he had one more shot in it.

But as he looked up he pulled out a telescope and noticed something, that boy was flying in the air, and in his hands were 3 orbs, one with lighting, one with ice, and one with fire.

He didn't know what they were but he could tell they probably had something to do with the legendarys.

Lawrence smiled, "Those orbs must be something to contain the birds or perhaps control them, yes, I'll take them instead and once I do I'll have my prize again."

So Lawrence took what was left of his ship and adjusted the cannon that was rendered barely more than a gun, maybe a sniper if you were generous, 

And he adjusted his aim, at the birds? No. At Charizard? No. He was aiming at Ash.

Lawrence smirked as he brought his hand to the button, "Fire." and pressed it.