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The peak where Kalia stood wasn't the highest, but it offered breathtaking views. In early February, the gentle sunlight illuminated the landscape, providing warmth amidst the cool breeze.
"What's that?"
At that moment, Kalia noticed a black silhouette flying towards her from afar. Despite the distance, it appeared to be heading directly in her direction.
Several other flying-type Pokémon were around, but most paid no attention to Kalia, considering she had Charizard by her side, deterring any potential intruders.
Although uncertain of its identity, Kalia grew cautious, as one could never predict if it posed a threat.
"Charizard," Kalia called out.
Lian immediately understood; he had already spotted the distant black shape. With his superior vision, he recognized what it was—a Gliscor, specifically a Shiny Gliscor with a dark body. Lian had never seen such a Gliscor before; at night, this Pokémon would likely be incredibly difficult to detect due to its coloration.
What caught Lian's attention was the person standing atop the Gliscor, seemingly a Trainer. Initially unnoticed by even Lian due to their matching black attire.
Lian swiftly ascended and positioned himself directly in front of Kalia, shielding her from potential harm. The black Gliscor was unfamiliar, its strength unknown, and given that it appeared to be targeting Kalia, caution was warranted as intentions seemed hostile.
As Lian blocked their path, the approaching figure acknowledged being spotted but showed no sign of slowing down, seemingly intent on colliding with him.
Unfazed, Lian knew that in a direct collision, the Gliscor and its Trainer would likely bear the brunt, not himself. Despite facing a rare Shiny black Gliscor, he remained undaunted.
"Who is that?" Kalia finally saw the newcomer, puzzled as she didn't recognize them. Why would a Trainer suddenly attack without provocation?
"I don't know either." Linden glanced over and shook his head; he had never seen this individual before, clearly indicating they were neither an enemy nor an acquaintance.
"Thunder, stand down!"
Just as Lian prepared to counterattack, a commanding voice echoed from behind Kalia and Linden, directed towards the black-clad Trainer in the sky.
In response, the Trainer named Thunder slapped Gliscor's reins, changing its course and flying directly upwards.
Seeing that the opponent had retreated, Lian remained unfazed but kept his gaze fixed on the figure approaching Kalia closely. Although they appeared harmless, one could never be too cautious about potential harm to her.
Suddenly, Linden recognized the person behind them and exclaimed in surprise, "Link, what are you doing here?"
Link smiled, "I called you over, so of course I'd come along. Otherwise, if anything happened to you, your dad would probably kill me."
"He is...?" Kalia asked, puzzled. She suspected this might be the individual who informed Linden about Jirachi being present in the eastern mountain range, although she wasn't sure of their relationship. Judging by the name, perhaps a relative?
"My cousin, he's the one who told me about Jirachi," Linden explained, then turned to Link and exclaimed angrily, "Why didn't you inform me that Jirachi awakens only once every thousand years? And making wishes is unexpectedly complicated! You sent me here without any details; were you treating me like a fool?"
Link shook her head, "That's why I followed along. If I had truly disclosed the situation, you likely wouldn't have come due to its complexity."
"Why did you insist on having me come?" Linden asked, puzzled yet somewhat understanding. Knowing his own nature, if he had realized how intricate the wishing process was, he indeed would not have ventured forth.
After all, he became so fearful of heights that he couldn't even muster courage to capture flying-type Pokémon anymore.
"Not something I can reveal just yet," Link replied with another shake of her head.
"Who was that person?" Linden inquired further. The black-clothed Trainer from earlier didn't seem trustworthy at all. Who wears dark attire during daylight hours? It appeared quite unusual.
"He's a Trainer from the Ellie region whom I know. Originally, I planned for him to accompany you on this adventure, but I didn't expect you to post a quest that someone else accepted," Link explained.
"I initially thought you would have given up along the way, never expecting you to reach this point," Link said with surprise. He was well aware of Linden's capabilities, and it was clearly Kalia's assistance that enabled them to progress this far.
"Thanks to Kalia, there's no need for you to accompany us, Link. Kalia and I can traverse the mountains together." Seeing Link's astonished expression brought a hidden delight to Linden, who responded with a smile on his face.
"No, it's not about me following you; rather, you'll be accompanying me. There's a place I need to go, and your help is required," Link shook his head, his demeanor turning serious.
"Where exactly?"
"Everything I told you is true. Jirachi resides deep within these mountains, and this year marks its thousand-year awakening cycle. With Jirachi, three wishes can be granted. Once we awaken it, eliminating your fear of heights should be effortless," explained Link.
"How do you know Jirachi is truly here? And why would such a secret be so easily revealed?" Kalia questioned skeptically. The existence of Jirachi, a Legendary Pokémon capable of granting wishes, seemed almost unreal. She wondered if these individuals genuinely understood how to awaken Jirachi and make their wishes come true.
"You can leave now; Linden will follow me from here on." Link glanced at Kalia and waved dismissively.
"Kalia is very strong, and my mission isn't complete yet. As for Jirachi, why don't you find it yourself?" Linden suddenly interjected. During their journey, he had realized that chasing after Jirachi seemed too uncertain. Even if Link sounded convincing, Linden no longer wished to continue with him.
"Funny, Linden. Didn't you want to cure your fear of heights?" Link frowned, puzzled by his cousin's sudden change. Linden was usually timid but obedient, always following instructions without question. This unexpected shift caught him off guard.
"No need. I'd rather try overcoming it myself. Goodbye," Linden shook his head. After facing numerous dangers together, he now considered Kalia a trustworthy friend.
Although Link was his older cousin, reflecting on past experiences, Linden felt that his cousin hadn't genuinely cared for him. He decided to rely on his own strength to bring about changes instead of blindly following Link in search of Jirachi.