The dying Celebi slipped into unconsciousness again. Like a withered plant, its entire body had shriveled and turned gray, and it looked as though it would not last much longer.
Everyone gathered around it, with Ash and Yukinari scrambling helplessly. Seeing its condition, Ash immediately wanted to fetch some water to moisten it, but when he turned around, he found that the lake behind him had changed.
The battle and explosion had almost destroyed the forest beside the lake, but that was not the worst of it. The dark energy had leaked out and contaminated the entire lake, making it look as though ink had spread through it. The water was no longer clear, but black and murky, looking thoroughly ominous.
"This..."
Ash gritted his teeth. His usually dull little brain seemed to suddenly click into gear, and he quickly turned toward Xia You.
"Xia You, I heard Suicune can purify water. Hurry and have it do something!"
He had not addressed Suicune directly because he knew how fiercely loyal Xia You's Pokémon were. Gardevoir, Gengar, and Jolteon were manageable-they would at least listen to Erika's commands. But with one like Red Gyarados, nobody could command it unless Xia You spoke!
He could not tell what sort of temperament this Suicune had either, so he could only ask Xia You for help first.
Erika and the others beside him thought nothing of his words. They merely looked toward Xia You with some expectation in their eyes. Yukinari, Towa, Miku, and Huai Te, however, were clearly astonished.
They looked at Xia You, then at the Suicune beside him, shock filling their hearts.
C-could this Suicune belong to this man?!
But how was that possible!
Like the other two Beasts, Suicune was noble and inviolable in the eyes of the people of