Bertha tossed Flygon's Poké Ball to Luther and clicked her tongue when she saw him standing there in a daze.
"What are you spacing out for?"
"When you suddenly vanished, the rest of us nearly panicked. We've been covering for you in front of Mai this whole time."
"She thought something happened to you. She's been worried sick. There's nothing left for you to do here, so get back to Lily of the Valley Island."
Cynthia rested a hand on Luther's shoulder and gently guided him toward the courtyard gate.
"Bertha's right. I'm dying to know where you've been, but that can wait until this is all over. Your part is finished. If we still needed you to handle everything, it'd make the Sinnoh League look completely incompetent. We'll take care of the rest."
"Right now, you only have one job, go back to Lily of the Valley Island."
The moment he thought of Mai, Luther had no desire to argue. He released Flygon, thanked everyone, and hurried out of Sun Heart City as fast as he could.
Watching him disappear into the distance, Flint let out a sigh.
"When is that guy ever going to catch a Flying-type that actually suits him?"
---
By the time Luther made it back to the Contestant Village on Lily of the Valley Island, it was already late into the night.
The receptionist stared at him in utter disbelief as he collected his room key. Afterwards, he made a quick call to update the tournament officials, who had been anxiously waiting for news.
He unlocked his door quietly. The room was pitch black, filled only with the faint sound of someone sleeping.
Curled up on the bed, Eevee's ears twitched. Still half-asleep, she sniffed the air and caught a familiar scent. She hopped down unsteadily, and the moment she saw Luther standing by the door, every trace of drowsiness vanished.
She almost let out a cry, but remembered Mai was sleeping. Holding it back with all her might, she happily wagged her tail and trotted in circles around Luther's feet instead.
Gengar, who had been wandering the hallway, noticed Mai's door open and rushed over. Before he could react, his vision went dark.
Darkrai stared silently down at him, its eyes delivering one unmistakable message:
'Stay quiet.'
Gengar got the hint instantly and froze where he stood without making a sound.
Luther sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching Mai's sleeping face for a long time.
He remembered the question he had asked himself when he left Hearthome City:
'Just how much strength does a person need to hold onto their own happiness?'
Everyone would probably have a different answer. But Luther had already found his.
Without even realizing it, he smiled, a soft laugh slipping from his lips.
Mai was a light sleeper. Her body stirred slightly as she slowly opened her eyes, turning toward the sound.
Moonlight streamed through the balcony window, giving her just enough light to make out Luther sitting beside her bed.
Luther was still trying to figure out what to say when Mai froze for a second, then threw herself into his arms.
At first, only quiet sobs escaped her. Then she completely broke down, crying uncontrollably.
Her whole body shook as Luther gently stroked her back without saying a word.
Telling her "don't cry" would have been the stupidest thing he could do. When someone you love is hurting, the only thing you need to do is stay by their side.
Mai wasn't stupid. Luther had been missing for over a week. She couldn't reach him by phone, and the Pokémon League staff kept trying to comfort her. From their words, their expressions, and the subtle changes in their tone, she had known something was terribly wrong.
Yet Mai had never been the type to make a scene. According to Cynthia and the others, she had never lost her temper with the staff checking on her or demanded answers from them.
She had simply kept calling Luther's phone over and over, sending one message after another into the void.
Cynthia had even apologized to Luther. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell Mai what had happened, she just hadn't known how to face her.
For an entire week, Mai had lived with nothing but fear and anxiety. The moment she finally saw Luther, the brave face she had been forcing herself to wear shattered completely.
The Milcery sleeping inside the teacup on the bedside table woke up from the commotion. She was a little grumpy about being disturbed at first, but the instant she saw Luther and Mai, she quietly picked up her teacup and headed out into the hallway.
Milcery ordered Gengar, who was still standing there as punishment, to take her somewhere she could get some proper rest.
Ever since the last time he'd been used as a punching bag by a group of angry Pokémon venting their frustration, Gengar had obediently accepted his role as Milcery's bodyguard.
Watching Gengar float away while carefully carrying Milcery's teacup, Darkrai couldn't help thinking that Mai had trained her Gengar remarkably well.
No one knew how much time passed before exhaustion finally caught up with Mai again. Still clinging to Luther, she drifted off to sleep.
It was a night none of them would forget.
---
Zero Evergreen, leader of the Hodgepodge Organization, cornered with nowhere left to run, committed suicide by poison in Hearthome City.
Senior members of the Sinnoh League were ambushed and nearly killed, reportedly by Evergreen's remaining loyalists. One of the International Police's Nine Inspectors, Inspector Sister, was also targeted in retaliation, attacked and killed at her mansion on the outskirts of Sun Heart City.
Such brazen attacks were an open provocation. The Sinnoh League had never been challenged like this before, and it responded immediately.
Using the list recovered from Evergreen, the League launched an overnight internal purge. At the same time, copies of the list were sent to the Pokémon Leagues of Kalos, Unova, and Hoenn.
After spending twenty years infiltrating the Pokémon League, the Hodgepodge Organization's embedded operatives had nowhere left to hide. One after another, they were arrested before they even realized what was happening, as the various Leagues methodically uncovered their remaining accomplices.
When Luther saw the news the next morning, he simply smiled.
For the first time in a long while, he felt completely at ease. Ever since the Moonbow Commerce incident, he hadn't dared to lower his guard. He had pushed himself relentlessly, desperate to gain enough strength to fight back and protect himself and those around him.
But starting today, everything was different.
There was no longer a wolf like Evergreen lurking behind him. There was no Hodgepodge Organization left to destroy.
He could finally look forward to a new life.
---
Mai's eyes sparkled as she listened. Everything Luther had gone through while he was missing was so unbelievable that she was completely absorbed in the story.
He had summoned the legendary Ho-Oh, earned its recognition through the Rainbow Wing, and used that blessing to bring Mira back to life.
Ho-Oh had then taken the sick Luther away, leading to his encounter with the Sea Guardian Lugia and her child, Silver.
Mai handed him a freshly brewed cup of tea, her eyes shining with excitement.
"So, when are you going back to that island to bring Mira home?"
Luther froze. Hearing Mira's name come from Mai's lips made him feel... strangely awkward.
"Flygon should be fully rested by now," Luther said. "I've also borrowed a Skarmory from the Pokémon League to help transport Mira. If nothing unexpected happens... I'll head out after lunch. She still hadn't woken up when I left, so I'm worried something might be wrong."
"I'm coming too!" Mai said immediately. "The only legendary Pokémon I've ever seen up close were Brandon's Regirock and Registeel..."
At that point, there was no way Luther could refuse. Especially after hearing her cry like that the previous night, he still couldn't shake the guilt.
(End of Chapter)
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