"Then it's my birthday"

Lugia flew up towards the birds and Friede, Meteors from Charizard's move were still falling destroying the ice below, one came at Lugia but it easily swiped it away.

Once Lugia got to the altitude he swiped down at Moltres and Articuno sending them down but not out as he looked at Friede and spoke in his mind, [I will take it from here,]

Friede and his Pokemon were still wide eyes with their mouth agape seeing that Lugia, a Pokemon he had only ever read stories about was not only in front of him but talking to him, 

As Friede was processing this Lugia nodded at Zapdos as it went into a dive bomb and caught up to the 2 corrupted Pokemon, Zapdos looked at Friede and nodded as a thanks for the support then left too.

Friede was still processing everything that happened in the span of less than 10 minutes, but soon his thoughts were cut short as he looked back to the island shrines and saw the center begin to glow.

So he tapped his Charizard, who was still in his Mega-X form, "Let's go see if Ash is ok,"

Charizard nodded as Cap stood on his head and they began to fly back.

—-

As soon as Ash placed the last orb he almost stumbled back but Charizard was there and caught him, as he did that the orbs started lighting up.

Then a burst of green light started to shine around the shrine and some kind of green glowing water flowed out of the shrine, flowing through the cracks and lighting up the runes around it and turning them into crystal.

At that point Friede reatched them as his Charizard returned to base, he looked in amazement seeing the water flow out of the shrine but before he could say anything Slowking walked up again.

"Now the song," Slowking said to Melody.

Melody nodded and walked standing next to Ash as she pulled out her ocarina and started playing it. As she did, the runes around started to light up green with every note.

Far away, the legendary birds heard the song, all of them were tired from fighting each other Zapdos the most. As they started to rejuvenate Lugia back to its original strength before it had to go into hibernation

The 3 birds were doing the same, however with Moltres and Articuno as they gained their strength and their wounds closed the shadows that started to cover them disappeared, then fizzled out into the air leaving them back to normal.

The weather then returned to normal as the tornadoes faded and the sea calmed, the Ice melted and the Pokemon that were running away saw their home going back to normal.

The green water from the shine flowed out and down to the ocean below causing flowers to grow and new life to rejuvenate through the area. The three legendary birds saw this and took flight. 

Soon Lugia followed flying into the sky as the clouds parted, causing the moon to shine. Everything was going back to how it was before, and the Legendary Birds were now 100% back to normal, well this version at least.

As everyone down below was watching the spectacle Lugia came down and landed in front of them as they stared in amazement, the legendary birds looking down as they flew.

Lugia scanned as his eyes landed on Ash, "[The prophecy is complete, and the world is safe, it is all thanks to you,]"

Ash waved his hands, "It's nothing, I just did what I thought was right besides, I barely did anything, Friede and Melody did way more than me,"

"[Maybe so, but they couldn't have collected the orbs, that is an honor only you have, and you completed it splendidly,]" Lugia said.

Melody nodded as she turned to Ash, "Yeah Ash, you're the one that made me see that these rituals that my people have been doing aren't useless like I thought,"

Friede came up and slapped Ash on the back, "Yeah oh chosen one, couldn't have done this without you,"

Lugia saw Ash stubble as the shock from the slap on the back made him stumble as he still clenched his chest, "[How is that wound you suffered,]"

Ash shook his head, "It still hurts, but you closed it didn't you, so I'll live, might leave a scar through."

"Are you sure?" Liko asked, still looking worried, "You got shot through the chest soo…"

"I'm not going to say I'm fine, because I'm really not, but I'll live, I do have a medical degree remember,"

"Still, I feel like we'd feel better if you got checked up by Mollie, she may specialize in Pokemon but I think we can call a hole in the chest is universal," Friede added.

"Alright, if that'll make you all feel better," Ash agreed as Charizard who was holding him nodded flames exhaling from his nose.

Lugia nodded, "[Very well, then I wanted to speak to you about something, that ring on your finger, where did you receive it,]"

Everyone looked surprised at that but they were all also cureose since Ash's ring shined with Liko's pendent and Roy's Pokeball so they were all curious, and Melody and Slowking were just curious.

Ash gave a smile and said in the most casual tone he could muster, "Oh, Ho-Oh gave it to me,"

Everyone stayed silent for a moment as they had to make sure they weren't hearing things, then there was a collective, "EHHHHΣ(°△°|||)"

Roy looked at Ash, "D-did you say, Ho-Oh?"

"Yep, I met Ho-Oh a while ago, still have a picture too," Ash said as he pulled out his Rotom phone and scrolled until he got to the picture of Ho-Oh he took way back.

"Also saw the legendary dogs," he said as he put it away, "He was pretty chill, gave me this ring but didn't really tell me anything about it."

Lugia took a breath as it looked down, "[Yeah, that seems like something that idiot would do, so you don't know anything about what that ring truly does?]"

"Nope," Ash said

Lugia shook its head, "[I'll trust that, Ho-Oh knows what he decided to do, but in that case let me.]"

Lugia waved its wing as a silver wing fell and was guided by the wind to Ash, as soon as he caught it it turned to energy as it went into the ring giving it a more silver color now with a clear slit in the middle, with things he couldn't read that made it look like a gear-like function.

As soon as it did the top part of the ring started spinning 360 degrees multiple times as it eventually stopped and an image of Lugia, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres appeared on them glowing before fading back into the ring.

"[There, now you have access to its full capabilities, that Ho-Oh only gave you a part of what it can do,]" Lugia said

"Umm, ok, then do you mind telling me what it does?" Ash asked

Lugia gave a smile, "[That's for you to find out, but for now farewell I have some business to go take care of,]"

With that, Lugia extended its wings as it flapped and shot into the sky, behind it Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres followed flying next to their master as they went to the clouds and then started flying east.

Everyone took a breath of relief, it was finally over, Ash finally fell onto the ground lying on the newly made grass as he took a long breath.

Liko and Roy walked over and sat down on either side, "So how are you feeling now, you saved the world huh, must be pretty nice."

"I'm tired, and my chest hurts,"

"Well, I guess almost dying does that to you," Melody said as she walked up and sat next to Liko.

"Yeah….hey what time is it," Ash asked

Liko pulled out her phone, "12:03, just passed midnight, why?"

Ash put on a smile as Pikachu sat on his chest, "Then it's my birthday,"

"Happy birthday Ash," they all smiled

—-

{At the Ledge building}

Spark, Blanche, and Candela were tending to Articuno and Moltres. They have been doing better after they got rid of the last traces of shadow, but as of now, it seems like they haven't even recovered half their strength.

Spark took a breath as he stretched his arms, "Man, this is taking way too long, we've been at this for almost 6 months,"

Blanche nodded, "I agree, this is quite tedious but it is our duty to do this, but you don't have to if you don't wish to, Zapdos is fine is it not,"

Spark waved Blanche off, "Yeah Zapdos is fine, but you think I'm letting my friends have to go through this alone, come on it's like you don't even know me,"

Candela sighed as she shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah you have always been like this, just way too caring for your own good, sorry again we dragged you into this with our own stupidity,"

"It's fine, what are friends for, you would have done the same for me," Spark said smiling.

Just then Zapdos who was napping in the corner shot awake as it looked up, "SQWAAA[Something is coming,]"

Spark was the only one who could understand Zapdos, so he looked over, "What do you mean, is it a threat?"

"SQWAAA[No, its…master…]"

"Mas-wha?" Spark said in confusion seeing Zapdos act like this, just as he was about to ask if they saw something.

In the sky a large figure descended as it flapped its wings landing on the roof with them, it was Lugia who looked down, and immediately the legendary birds bowed.

"[Raise your heads,]" Lugia commanded, "[I have come to restore your strength,]"

Spark, Blanche, and Candela were shocked here, for one this was Lugia talking to them, and for another, it was frickin Lugia!

The birds raised their heads as Zapdos stayed back and Articuno and Moltres stumbled up, "[I will but first I must make sure all traces of darkness are gone, so don't resist.]"

Lugia's eyes glowed as the birds let their minds be entered and after some searching Lugia confirmed they were purified, "[Very well, now I shall restore your strength,]"

With a flap of its wings a green and purple energy flowed through the wind as it hit them and their bodies started absorbing it, after a moment the energy stopped coming and the birds looked up feeling their strength truly restored.

Lugia's eyes then went to Spark, Blanche, and Candela, "[So you 3 are the ones Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres have chosen. Very well I see that you all do not have evil hearts, so I thank you for taking care while they recovered]"

Candela started frantically waving her hands, "What, nononon, we hardly did anything, I mean you came here and did in a few seconds what we couldn't do in months!"

Lugia chuckled, "[That may be so, but you are not me, you are humans, so so what you did was impressive,]"

Then Lugia looked at the birds, "[I will be off, I must find Ho-Oh, I expect you all to now return to your original places and prepare to stabilize the waters,]"

Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres nodded in obedience ready to fulfill their master's word to the letter.

Lugia nodded and in one final word spoke up, "[Farewell, I hope that circumstances don't force us to meet again too soon,]" Then it flew away.

Shortly after Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres gave a nod to Spark, Blanche, and Candela as they went flying back to the sky after Lugia.

For a moment the 3 friends were silent, so like always Spark was the first to speak, "So ...who's up to go get some food?"

Candela and Blanche couldn't help but chuckle as they nodded, "Sure, I think Lance recommended a good burger place nearby,"

–

Back at the Brave Olivine, when they got back they were met by Orla, Mollie, Murdock, and Ludlow who all watched everything all the way down here, well not the Lugia talking to them part but more the Ash getting shot.

Mollie walked up to Ash and with a straight serious face, "Take off your shirt,"

It took a moment to process what she said, Ash smiled, "How formal but out here in public,"

Mollie's face didn't change, "Not the time for jokes, you got shot, so take it off, I need to inspect it,"

Ash sighed as he put his bag down, "You're no fun," then he started taking off his jacket and then his shirt both of which had a visible hole in them through the upper chest.

As soon as he took off his shirt, Liko and Melody started blushing and looked away, as everyone else looked intently, for one Ash was muscular under the shirt and for another the scar left behind from the shot.

As Mollie started inspecting it Murdock looked him over, "Wow, I've heard of sleeper builds but that is ridiculous,"

"Yeah, nice muscles, what's your secret," Friede said jokingly.

Ash smiled back, "Push-ups, squats, and plenty of juice,"

Roy didn't understand that they were joking, "Wow it's that simple, ok I'll start doing it, then I'll get super strong like that,"

"Maybe do that later, but for now," Mollie finished up inspecting it, "It looks like you'll be fine, though that scar may hurt for a bit, it went straight through your chest and looks like it punctured a lung and may have fractured one of your ribs,"

"Yeah seems about right," Ash said as he put the clothes he had back in his bag and pulled out another one that was exactly the same, and started putting it on

"Wait, how are you so casual about this?" Orla asked.

Ash finished putting on his black shirt, "I was basically raised by a Dragonite, you take a guess,"

"That…. actually explains a lot," Friede said

"Yeah not my first time with broken ribs," Ash said as he put on his spare jacket, "Though I guess it's over, you guys can go into the sky again,"

"Yes we can, and this time there will be no new damage righhhttt," Orla said looking specifically at Friede.

Friede laughed it off, "Ok ok Orla, but we have one more here don't we,"

He looked at Melody, "So, Melody you want us to drop you off"

Melody still flustered from the Ash thing, "Umm, well yeah, I understand a lot now, thanks to you guys, and I have a newfound love and respect for my home island's traditions, so I want to stay here."

Liko smiled, "That's great to hear, no offense but your attitude was kinda annoying"

Melody chuckled as a mischievous smile grew on her face, "Why, cuz I tried to steal your boyfriend~"

"He's not my boyfriend!" Liko said blushing, 

Ash smiled at everyone and put on a fainting motion as he fell into Charizard's arms, "Ohh, and I thought we had something special, oh my wounded heart."

Friede smiled and went over and started fanning Ash, "Oh, Liko how could you, after he almost died and on his Birthday, how heartless can you be,"

"W-wait no, i d-didn't mean!" Liko was flustered trying to explain herself.

"No no, I understand, I suppose I have to go now," Ash said as Abra finally appeared on his shoulder.

He stopped his act and looked at Abra, "Where have you been, you would have been pretty useful like 30 minutes ago,"

Abra didn't answer she was munching on a piece of candy and slipped one into Ash's mouth,

Ash chewed on the candy and sighed, "Well I guess it doesn't matter now,"

As Liko was blushing embarrassed in the corner, Murdock looked at Ash, "You sure you wanna leave, I can bake a cake and we can have a wicked party here,"

"Thanks but if I don't go home for my own birthday my mom is gonna kill me," Ash said

Friede patted Ash's shoulder, "So this is goodbye again, we are leaving Kanto so we might not see each other again,"

Ash smiled, "Don't worry, remember as long as you're not too far away I can always find you, besides not like I'm staying in Kanto for too much longer,"

Friede smiled as he handed Ash the 2 stones, "Here, these are your's, they were fun to experience,"

Ash took them and pocketed them, "Thanks, who knows maybe you'll find one out in your journey,"

Liko fidgeted her fingers and looked at Ash, "U-um, Ash,"

Ash gave her a reassuring pat on the head, "Don't worry, I was joking,"

Liko blushed at the head pat and nodded as Ash walked over to the railing and sat on it with Clefairy and Pikachu with Abra on his shoulder, 

"See ya, next time let's do lunch!" and with that he teleported out, 

Friede smiled and turned back to Ludlow, "Hey Ludlow, turn this ship around, we gotta drop off one more,"

Ludlow nodded, "Good to see you're not kidnapping anyone again…." as he slowly started moving to the bridge.

Liko took a breath as Roy and Melody sat next to her, she looked up, "Yeah..next time,"

----

Wooo, Orange Islands Arc is over!