Under the temptation of delicious food, Baby Lugia was easily lured ashore by Li Yuan.
Ashore, this small, underage Pokémon was at his mercy.
Now, he just had to figure out how to trick Lugia into a Poké Ball. But first, he needed to clarify something.
"Little Lugia, are you usually alone? Where is your mother?" Li Yuan asked while feeding her, fishing for information.
He had to know where Mama Lugia was to avoid getting caught immediately after capturing the baby.
Hearing "Mama," Baby Lugia stopped munching.
She remembered she had a mother.
Thinking of her mother, Baby Lugia's eyes welled up. Her expression turned helpless, and she threw herself into Li Yuan's arms, crying.
"Lu~! Lugia~! (Mama! Bad guys took Mama! I want Mama, waaah!)" Baby Lugia cried pitifully.
"Captured? What bad guys can capture your mother?" Li Yuan was stunned. Who was so awesome they could catch a Legendary Pokémon?
This isn't the anime world; Legendaries can't be caught by a net!
"Waaah! (Bad guys threatened Mama with me. If Mama didn't listen, they hit me.)" Baby Lugia sobbed.
"So you escaped from the bad guys, and your mother doesn't know yet?" Li Yuan pieced it together.
It seemed a new villain group captured Baby Lugia and used her to coerce Mama Lugia into obedience.
Worried about her child, Mama Lugia had no choice but to submit.
Given Baby Lugia's fear of humans earlier, she must have been whipped during her captivity.
"Lugi!" Baby Lugia nodded aggrievedly.
She escaped after being held for a long time. Even as a child, she was Elite-level; brute force helped her escape once she overcame the fear.
"So you want Big Brother to help rescue your mother?" Li Yuan stroked her head, conflicted.
"Lu~!" Baby Lugia nodded, nuzzling his cheek. He was the only one she trusted.
"Let me think." Li Yuan didn't agree immediately. This needed planning.
Not that he feared the villains. If Zapdos acted, villains who couldn't even hold an Elite-level baby would be crushed.
Or he could just send Baby Lugia to attack their base.
Once Mama Lugia knew her daughter was safe, she wouldn't need rescuing. A Primary Legendary could slaughter everyone in minutes.
Baby Lugia was just too scared; her first instinct was to run, missing the chance to save her mother herself.
Li Yuan hesitated not because he couldn't save Lugia, but because if he did, he couldn't capture Baby Lugia.
After being imprisoned by humans, Lugia would likely unleash her rage on him too. How could she let her daughter go with him?
But Baby Lugia was a potential Primary God! He couldn't bear to let go.
This isn't a game where Legendaries respawn. Finding one in reality is incredibly rare.
"Lu~!" Seeing Big Brother hesitate, Baby Lugia rubbed against him more affectionately.
"Hubby, just agree." Lana and Lillie couldn't bear it. Legendaries were rare, but they had Zapdos and Magearna. Invincible already.
No need for another one. Gaining Lugia's friendship was good too.
"Fine. Since you all think so, I don't lack this one Legendary." Li Yuan wasn't heartless enough to ignore Mama Lugia's plight.
He originally wanted Lana to capture Baby Lugia so the Alola trio each had a Legendary/Mythical.
Since Lana didn't care, he didn't mind either.
"Lugi~!" Baby Lugia was thrilled. She tackled Li Yuan, kissing his face repeatedly.
Too bad Lugia wasn't humanoid and was underage. Otherwise, Li Yuan would have done her on the spot.
For non-humanoid females, Li Yuan usually just installed a Silver Crest and took them down casually.
"Little Lugia, do you remember where the bad guys are? Take me there." Li Yuan said.
"Lugi!" Baby Lugia nodded.
"We'll help too." Lana and Lillie offered.
"No. It's dangerous. I can't let you risk it. Go home and wait for me. Invite Mallow too; I'll need her later." Li Yuan refused.
"Then... okay. Come back soon. We'll wash up and wait." Lana was reluctant but knew her Gym Leader strength would be a burden.
"Relax. Won't take long. Also, Little Lugia, for safety, go into my ball first. I can protect you instantly if there's danger." Li Yuan made an excuse to trick Lugia into the ball.
Baby Lugia didn't understand human tricks. She knew the bad guys' place was dangerous. A safe place to hide? She wouldn't refuse.
So, unknowingly captured, Baby Lugia nodded gratefully and patted the Poké Ball, getting sucked in.
Li Yuan smirked. Whether Mama Lugia agreed later or not, he had the ball.
Even if Mama Lugia refused to give her daughter, he had the ball.
When Baby Lugia grew up and became independent, he could just recall her~.
Thinking happily, Li Yuan released Baby Lugia and followed her to the villain base.