As soon as Dr. Mu Yin appeared, Lugia's muddled brain instantly cleared.
It's alright when it doesn't see people, but once it does, its mind inevitably recalls the days spent in the Purification Room.
For a bird-like Pokémon that flies through the skies and dives into the ocean, the Purification Room is even scarier than a bird cage; it's a box, one that prevents it from even stretching its wings.
Helplessly, the repeated dark transformations forced it to endure secretly.
Honestly, back then, Lugia couldn't even distinguish which was more painful: the alteration of its body or the torment within its heart. Fortunately, as a Legendary Pokémon, it has immense resilience, which allowed it to persist until the end.
However.
Dark transformation didn't completely heal it.
As its consciousness was once again overrun by madness, its heart shut down once more, Lugia watched as forests, mountains, and rivers were destroyed by it, those Pokémon whose homes were ruined, fleeing in panic, an uncontrollable despair welled up...
And a slight resentment towards Dr. Mu Yin.
"Woo—"
It raised its head and let out a deep, low hum forbidding the other from approaching.
But when it saw Dr. Mu Yin just stand there awkwardly with a guilty smile, after a brief silence, it lowered its head.
Lugia knew it shouldn't resent this man; he had always wanted to help it, never had any intention to harm it, the failure of purification merely showed his limited ability, the reoccurrence of dark transformation wasn't his fault.
But...
Its gaze shifted back to Baimu.
Recently, the dark transformations had become more frequent; it understood that if this continued, it was only a matter of time before it fully succumbed to darkness.
This human's appearance provided it with a new choice in its confusion.
As long as it can find the other Lugia that left a scent on him, even if it can't save itself in the end, it can use the other's power to return to the currents of this planet.
Yes.
Lugia intended to relinquish its life.
To be honest, the boundary between life and death is very vague to it; death doesn't fill it with much fear.
It just feels regretful, regretful that it may never again feel the smoothness of the air brushing past its feathers as it soars with the wind, never again experience the slickness of water flowing over its body, never witness the vitality nature brings.
Hard to let go, yet hard to endure its lingering life.
"Woo..."
Lugia urged Baimu with a low hum.
Having come to terms with its fate, it didn't want to delay any longer, it wanted to find the other Lugia soon, accept the judgment fate had for it, no matter the outcome—it could accept it—
"I brought the Purification Spray, why don't you give it a try? It might work, and it won't have any side effects either way."
The boy in front of it still didn't answer its question, instead took out a strange item, smiling and saying things it didn't want to hear.
A flame of anger rose in Lugia's heart.
It swung its long, white tail suddenly, trying to knock the item away, but Baimu held it too tightly, causing the bottle and the person to be flung several meters away.
This—
Lugia's heart quivered along with the moment he landed, its anger turned to dense confusion, it had clearly provided its needs accurately, expressed it precisely, the other could answer it very obviously.
But why wouldn't he? It's obviously just a matter of a clue, why insist on persuading it to do meaningless things?
Doesn't it know if purification works!
"Happy!"
Seeing the Trainer being flung, Blissey rushed over anxiously, while Hoopa and Dr. Mu Yin were also taken aback, quickly moving closer.
"Xiaobai, are you alright!?"
"Lord Baimu!"
"It's alright, it's just a minor bump, no big deal."
Baimu waved his hand, revealing the intact Purification Spray in his arms. He looked directly into Lugia's blue eyes, understood its turmoil and confusion, and said sincerely and earnestly:
"Lugia, I want to save you."
Dr. Mu Yin is a genius, since he can completely purify Shadow Lugia in the game, there's no reason it can't be done in the animation.
After all.
This is a world where good defeats evil, where miracles can be summoned!
No matter what ultimate Shadow Pokémon it is, as long as Dr. Mu Yin continues his research, he will definitely be able to create the ultimate purification tool!
Whether out of inner compassion, love for Pokémon, or a small wish for it to willingly return to Ore and bring abundance later.
Baimu longed to truly help Lugia, his heart didn't harbor any ill intentions towards it, pure and clean.
In that moment.
It seemed like he had grasped the step he lacked towards the Dragon's Heart, subconsciously stepped forward, placed his hand on Lugia's bewildered forehead.
Golden light flowed from his palm, pouring into the other's body.
Hoopa widened its eyes in surprise, "Huh? Xiaobai can—woo woo woo!"
It couldn't finish its sentence because Blissey, fearing it would shout and disrupt the Trainer's state, immediately dragged it down from mid-air and forcefully covered its mouth.
Hoopa was quite displeased, struggled a bit attempting to protest.
What responded to it was Blissey's stern face.
Indeed, a gentle Pokémon can be quite frightening when angry, even a fearless Pokémon like Hoopa was silenced.
Dr. Mu Yin adjusted his glasses, only wishing to capture this scene with a camera for future meticulous study, but came in such a rush that he brought nothing.