"Litten, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This is Moltres's nest, saturated with the various flames it has collected and its profound understanding of Fire-type energy."
"If you evolve here, there is a certain probability you can comprehend the Flame of Life."
"The Flame of Life has the effect of rapidly healing your injuries. If you can grasp it, you'll be able to use flames to restore your stamina at any time during battle."
Feng Che sent a telepathic message to Litten. Litten knew that evolving here carried both immense risk and immense potential. Without hesitation, the kitten stepped across the scorching volcanic rock and reached the edge of the bubbling magma pool.
"Litten, this is your destiny. Complete your evolution here. Once you're finished, I'll come back for you."
Litten nodded with a determined gaze and leaped into the molten lava.
Good, Litten's evolution is set. Now to handle the capture of Moltres.
"Come out, Corvisquire! Guard Sabrina and ensure she isn't struck by Moltres. Aerodactyl, come out! We're joining the fray!"
Feng Che released the ancient Aerodactyl. As soon as it emerged, it prepared to let out a world-shaking roar, but Feng Che slapped it lightly on the head.
"Quiet down. Don't alert others. If you must roar, keep it down to a whisper."
Aerodactyl could only open its maw and suppress its voice, emitting a sound more akin to a kitten's mewling.
Moltres flapped its wings, and the sky was instantly filled with a rain of fire, falling like arrows from above.
"Moltres is truly a legendary Pokémon; its power is incredible."
Sabrina had Mr. Mime construct defensive barriers, blocking the fiery rain. She watched as the light walls turned cherry-red under the heat before shattering. Moltres's eyes flickered with a trace of fear; it sensed a terrifying power emanating from the young woman before it.
[Moltres: This human and her Pokémon are strong. I have to strike first. Should I just trigger a volcanic eruption and use the chaos to escape?]
If you blow up this volcano, you'll ruin Litten's chance for evolution. I have to stop that.
Feng Che, having eavesdropped on Moltres's thoughts, rapidly calculated a counter-strategy.
"Aerodactyl, use Rock Blast on Moltres!"
Finding no subtle alternative, Feng Che ordered Aerodactyl to distract Moltres, keeping the bird too busy to sabotage the crater. Moltres soon found the air filled with jagged, earthy-yellow stones.
[Moltres: What is this? Why are these rocks floating in the air?][Moltres: Where are the League Elites? I'm about to be caught and they're nowhere to be found!][Moltres: Fine, if I can't win, I'll run. I'll fake an attack with Flamethrower, then turn into a fireball and bolt out of here.]
Moltres spat a pillar of fire that split into six savage fire dragons, lunging at the two Alakazam. A milky-white protective shroud appeared around the Alakazam as they collided with the dragons. The cavern was filled with roaring spheres of flame. It became impossible to tell which ball of fire was the real Moltres.
"Not good! Moltres is trying to escape!" Sabrina shouted, her eyes narrowing. "These fireballs are just a distraction to cover its retreat!"
Sabrina hopped onto Corvisquire's back, commanding her Alakazam to track Moltres's signature.
"Aerodactyl, let's go!" Feng Che patted Aerodactyl's head. The prehistoric predator took off with incredible speed, keeping pace with Sabrina.
Aerodactyl's streamlined body is perfect for high-speed flight, Feng Che thought. I'm relieved we're out of the volcano. Why did Moltres leave its home turf? It must have feared the eruption as much as I did. If we had stayed in there and the Fire Elite had joined in, we would have had no chance.
Soon, they pursued Moltres to a parched, dried-up valley.
[Moltres: Gah! My perfect camouflage was seen through?][Moltres: This human caught up so fast...][Moltres: Fine! You want to play? Don't think I'm a weakling.][Moltres: I only ran because I didn't want the volcano to explode. Out here in the open, I have no restraints.][Moltres: It's bone-dry here—no rivers in sight. Even with her scary psychic powers, she won't win.]
Moltres calculated its odds, casting a disdainful glance at the humans behind it.
This bird thinks it's safe because there's no water, Feng Che smirked. But even in a dry valley, Froakie can find a way. Come out, Froakie!
Froakie emerged, looking at the ground with a thoughtful expression.
[Froakie: Strange... I feel a massive amount of water vapor nearby.][Froakie: This valley looks dead, but something is off beneath the surface.]
Froakie closed its eyes and pressed its palms to the earth, blue water energy rippling through its body.
[Froakie: There it is! An underground river. It's deep, but if we break the seal, the pressure will send it gushing out.]
Moltres really dug its own grave by choosing this spot, Feng Che thought, a smile playing on his lips. "Come out, Arbok (Ditto)!"
"Arbok, follow Froakie's lead. Dig into the ground and wait for my command to breach the underground river."
"Dammit! This Moltres uses its flames to constantly restore its stamina and heal its wounds," Sabrina grumbled. "Every time I land a hit, it recovers. My psychic power is being drained just defending against its heat. At this rate, I'll run out of energy before I can weaken it."
"The Master Ball is useless while it's wrapped in 5000-degree flames—it'll melt before it even touches the bird. I have to douse that fire first."
"Feng Che, do you have a way to bring it down in one go?" Sabrina sent a telepathic message.
"I have a plan," Feng Che replied steadily. "There's an underground river beneath this valley. My Pokémon are already in position. When I give the word, you look for the opening to throw the Master Ball."
Sabrina's eyes lit up with hope. "An underground river? Then Moltres is as good as ours." She reached into her belt and tossed the purple Master Ball to Feng Che. "You take it. I'll use all my psychic power to suppress Moltres. When the water hits, throw it!"
"Got it."
The Flame Tunnel
"Something is wrong. Very wrong," Enche, the Fire Elite, said as he snapped his eyes open. "It's too quiet. Even in meditation, I should hear the guards or the crackle of the crystals."
"Magcargo, use Flamethrower ahead!"
The lava snail spat fire, which struck the invisible walls of Mr. Mime's light barrier. The wall glowed red, revealing the trap.
"A trap! They're after Moltres!"
Enche's eyes widened in fury. He realized the gravity of the situation and threw a Poké Ball. "Go, Infernape! Use Close Combat!"
The fire ape burst out and shattered the psychic barrier with a single punch. The moment it broke, a wave of heat hit Enche—but it was the heat of a fading battle.
"The guards are gone... and Moltres is missing!" He ran into the nest to find it empty, scarred by battle. "I hope I'm not too late. Go, Charizard! Let's fly!"
Enche mounted his Charizard and took to the sky, desperately searching for the trail of fire.