Disappearance of Uxie

"B, use all your power to thoroughly search this area again. Leave no corner unchecked!"

"Chiing!"

Sensing the emotions of its Trainer, Unown B fully unleashed its psychic abilities and began another round of scanning.

But that wasn't enough. To avoid missing anything, Reid took out three more Master Balls from his pocket and pressed the switches.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Three clear sounds accompanied the release of three Pokémon, appearing around him.

"C, D, E, you join in as well!"

(T/N: Quite a collection of Unowns.)

After three distinct yet synchronized responses, three more psychic waves, just as powerful as Unown B's, swept through the entire space in a thorough search.

But no matter how many times they scanned, the result remained the same—the message returned was always just one:

There was no trace of Uxie here.

Reid slowly narrowed his eyes.

He had considered the possibility that something might have happened to Uxie, which is why he specifically went to Veilstone City to acquire two small Galactic Bombs, intending to force his way in if Uxie wouldn't or couldn't open the space.

But this was entirely unexpected.

No wonder when Professor Rowan called to ask, the response was that everything was normal.

Of course, if Uxie wasn't in the lake, how could there be anything unusual?

Yet…

According to Sinnoh's myths, the lake guardian Pokémon, unlike the legends who control time and space, remained in eternal slumber in the alternate dimensions of the three lakes after bestowing humans with emotions, wisdom, and willpower.

Even if they occasionally awoke, their physical bodies wouldn't leave. Instead, they'd wander near the lakes in a unique and rare way—even among the vast Pokémon legends—by leaving their bodies in a soul-like form instead.

This was depicted in the anime when Ash, Dawn, and Brock first encountered the lake trio—in their transparent, ethereal forms.

But now, Uxie was gone.

Its soul was nowhere to be seen, and its physical form had also disappeared.

After a moment of silence, Reid began to quickly organize his thoughts.

With the Galactic Team's plans already crushed, Uxie should only leave if there were a conflict between time and space threatening the world's collapse.

But nothing like that was happening now.

Otherwise, on his journey from Rowan's lab to Veilstone City, then from Veilstone to Snowpoint City, passing through Mt. Coronet, he would've sensed something.

Excluding the Galactic Team and the temporal-spatial deities, what else could be hidden from the main plot? What could cause one lake guardian to go berserk and another to disappear?

Or… was there someone or some organization he hadn't noticed before that had quietly made a move?

But even if it was well hidden, any actions taken would surely leave traces.

With this thought, Reid pulled out the GS Ball replica containing Mesprit.

The Poké Ball didn't react. Mesprit was still in its deep slumber.

"In that case, I'll have to head to Lake Valor immediately and see if Uxie has gone there. I'll also check on Azelf's situation in the lake."

If both of them are present, it's all good.

If Uxie is absent, and Azelf hasn't gone berserk but has also vanished, then it'll be time to thoroughly investigate the entire Sinnoh region.

Just like last year, when he swept through the remnants of the Galactic Team the day after becoming Sinnoh's Champion.

However, he couldn't wait until he reached Lake Valor to take action.

While he might not fear the major or minor incidents that could happen, the common people of Sinnoh do. The Pokémon living in Sinnoh fear it, and the cities and environments of Sinnoh would also face damage.

Precautions must be taken in advance.

"The remnants of the Galactic Team in Veilstone, Lake Verity near Rowan's lab, Lake Acuity under my feet, the Mt. Coronet range spanning all of Sinnoh... All these places need to have people stationed there at all times."

Besides that, he needed to inform the Sinnoh League, Cynthia, Lucian, and the other Elite Four, to be ready for any sudden events.

Fortunately, with his influence, manpower wasn't an issue.

As Reid commanded the four Unown to exit the alternate space and "close the door" behind them, he returned to the surface of the lake.

Looking at the setting sun in the distance, he prepared to start assigning tasks.

Just then, Unown A, B, C, D, and E all simultaneously turned their bodies, their five eyes fixating in one direction as if they had sensed something.

Within seconds, a deafening roar erupted from that direction.

A mix of rising dust, chilling energy, and a familiar psychic power surged into the sky.

"This feeling... psychic power?"

And it was remarkably similar to the psychic energy Mesprit had released at Lake Verity.

"Unown!"

At Reid's command, the Unown immediately responded.

In an instant, an overwhelming surge of psychic energy burst forth from the five Unown, flooding toward the direction they had sensed.

A faint psychic feedback flowed back to Reid.

Using this "bridge," flashing images were soon shared with him.

Beyond a snowy white landscape, an ancient temple covered in layers of snow and filled with an air of age came into view.

Then, Reid once again sensed an explosive burst of energy.

And after that… another strong psychic wave emerged.

At the very end of the psychic perception, an ancient, deep, and majestic energy, buried beneath the earth, was felt.

This ancient aura engulfed the entire temple and interfered with the Unown's psychic spread, even significantly blurring their ability to "see" clearly.

But it was enough.

Two bursts of psychic power, eerily similar to Mesprit's, and nearly identical psychic attacks confirmed one thing—

Uxie was most likely there!

Although Reid didn't know why Uxie was there or who it was fighting, the fact that it was nearby was good news.

However, he couldn't let the fight go on—neither for Uxie nor for whoever it was battling.

If he resolved the lake guardians' issue only to wake up another major threat, it would be just as troublesome.

Putting most of his earlier plans on hold, Reid sent one of the Unown to the outskirts of Celestic Town.

Meanwhile, riding on the back of Salamence, Reid, along with the remaining four Unown, flew at full speed toward the ancient temple.