“Bored, bored! Play, play!”
Kellyn understood that Blue-Bird wanted to play, but with Hunter J on the loose, he was putting himself in danger by being out in the open. It was why they needed to get to Almia. Blue-Bird came to Sinnoh to look for Kellyn, and he had to get him back and check on the Luminous Crystal.
Blu hopped off the clock tower’s hand and turned upside down, flapping his wings. “Bored, bored! Play, play!”
Kellyn swore—he had never had such a complicated Pokémon.
Pikachu and Piplup rushed off together and climbed the crumbled rock tower, reaching for Blu. They strained, slipped, and soon found themselves on the hand with him.
“Piplup! Piplup!” Piplup yelled when it saw how high up it and Pikachu were.
Ash finally leaned into Kellyn and asked, “Kellyn, what is that thing?”
Well, so much for “classified” information.
“One of the two Rainbow Birds, Blue-Bird,” Kellyn explained, glancing at Ash, Brock, Dawn, and back up at Blue-Bird, who flew around Pikachu and Piplup. “He’s a Legendary Pokémon who’s been watching over the Luminous Crystal with his sister in my absence.”
“Rainbow Birds? Luminous Crystal? Sister?” Ash added. “Most of the Legendaries I’ve seen are a little… bigger.”
“You want to see big?” Blu suddenly asked from the clock tower. He swooped past Pikachu and Piplup.
They toppled onto the tower’s foundation and rolled down it to the base.
Blu hovered before Ash and pecked him on the head. “Sister in danger! Rainbow Forme: activate!”
“No, no Rainbow Forme,” Kellyn ordered. Blu needed to stay small so Hunter J wouldn’t suspect anything.
Kellyn pulled him from the sky before the others got too close and turned to them, saying, “Follow me, guys.”
Although bewildered, the others nodded and obeyed. They started back down the hill, and Ash and Dawn drew their Pokédexes, typing “Blue-Bird” into them.
“Unknown Pokémon,” both machines stated.
“You won’t find the Rainbow Birds in those Pokédexes,” Kellyn said, peering over his shoulder. “They’re from another region. I’ll let you guys come with me to the ferry stop, but after that, I need to finish this mission myself.”
“Bu-But, Kellyn,” Dawn argued, “we’re always in the mood to travel to a new region and learn about a new Pokémon.”
Brock caught up and jogged beside her, gripping his knapsack’s straps. “And I want to meet the famous Wendy!”
“You may need some help, Kellyn,” Ash chimed in, studying Blu.
Kellyn saw concern and hope in the trio’s eyes, but still said, “Sorry, guys, this is something I must do myself.” Almia was where he became Top Ranger Kellyn, so he had to do this alone.
“¡Casita, casita!” Blu squawked in Kellyn’s arms. “Help, help.” Without warning, he disappeared from Kellyn’s grip, and a light flashed in the house they were passing, about halfway down the hill.
“Huh?” Kellyn inquired, stopping and checking himself up and down.
Shouting soon came from the house, and the door swung open. A family and their Pokémon rushed outside, followed closely by Blu, who repeated, “Help, help.”
The family and Pokémon cowered against a small car parked on the cobblestone road.
Ash and Pikachu groaned, and Ash said, “A parrot. Why did it have to be a parrot?”
Now that the trio got a good look at Blu, Dawn’s face lit up, and she squealed. “Oh, my gosh! That’s the cutest little parrot I’ve ever seen!” She clenched her fists, and steam puffed out of her nostrils. “I want one!” Without warning, she grabbed Blu and hugged him to her chest. “Hi there, little guy.”
“Wait, Dawn!” Brock warned, but it was too late.
Blue-Bird shocked Dawn and Piplup like it was Dawn’s Pachirisu, and she yelled. Blu released himself, and Piplup dropped from Dawn’s shoulder, leaving her with snarls in her hair.
“Ah!” Dawn shrieked when she saw her hair. “My beautiful hair!” Anger flashed across her face. “All right, you little devil, you’ve crossed the line.”
“Yay! Yay!” Blu cheered, flying away from her toward a cliff. “Play! Play!”
Dawn chased him through the cobblestone streets, but she soon reached the cliff over the beach, and her foot slipped. “Ah!” Dawn cried when she went over and hurtled toward the beach.
“Dawn!” the others yelled behind her.
Blue-Bird appeared before Dawn hit the ground, and his blue eyes glowed. A light surrounded Dawn, and she floated back up to the clifftop.
Blu set her down beside her friends and circled her head, saying, “Help, help,” while occasionally looking at Kellyn.
Dawn’s face was ghost white, and she stood frozen. Her lips moved, but nothing escaped.
Brock chuckled and told Kellyn, “I think you need our help, Kellyn.”
Kellyn’s face dropped, and he lowered his head. He knew Ash, Brock, and Dawn were great Trainers—Riolu proved that—but… He just didn’t know.
***
Ash and his friends returned to the other side of Algarve and dipped into the Pokémon Center beside the ferry port. It was tucked under one of the tall cliffs, and boardwalks and piers led to the main port, where three ferries were moored on their own lines.
Compared to the Ranger Depot, the Pokémon Center was relatively large, with glass windows and an enormous lobby.
Ash, Dawn, and Brock shuffled over to a group of telephones just off the main entrance, and Kellyn sat at one of the tables across from them.
He drummed his fingers on the table, and Blu pulled on the two tufts of hair on the top of his head.
Kellyn reached for him, but the Pokémon vanished and reappeared before his face. He landed, gave Kellyn an encouraging smile, and squawked, “Help, help,” gesturing at Ash and his friends.
Where Ash, Dawn, and Brock were, the telephone’s computer screen booted up, and an older man with short, gray hair and wearing a lab coat appeared on it.
“Ah, Ash!” he said. “It’s been a while!”
“Professor Oak, hi!” Ash cheerfully returned. “You won’t believe where we are!”
“Professor Oak?” Kellyn asked from where he sat. That was the name of the famous Kanto Pokémon Professor who invented the Pokédex. Ash and co. knew him?
Kellyn stood, took off his cloak, and moved toward the telephones.
Professor Oak, who was eating dinner, brought a chopstick to his mouth and bit into a rice ball. He chewed, swallowed, and said, “Ah, I’m intrigued. Where?”
“We’re in Algarve Town, Professor,” Dawn explained before Ash spoke.
Ash momentarily glared at her, but he lost his glare and grinned again when Oak questioned, “Algarve Town, really? May I ask what the occasion is?”
Ash nodded. “We’re going to the Almia Region to help our friend, a Top Ranger. We found a new Pokémon today, and we’re going to figure out what it is with him.”
“A new Pokémon, you say? And a Top Ranger?” Oak moved closer to the screen when Kellyn squeezed into the group.
“Oh, wow!” Both Oak’s and Kellyn’s faces brightened.
“Hi, Professor Oak.” Was Kellyn really talking to him? “I’m Kellyn, the Top Ranger.”
“Well, what do you know?” Oak said. “You’re a young Top Ranger, aren’t you? How old are you, son?”
Kellyn blushed a little and gulped. “I’ll be seventeen in a few weeks.”
Oak chuckled. “Well, I couldn’t have chosen a more perfect team to help you on your mission.”
“My—?” Kellyn cut off. It looked like he couldn’t leave Ash and his friends behind now, especially after speaking to Professor Oak.
“Now, about this new Pokémon…?” Oak’s voice trailed, and he jumped when Blu appeared before Ash and his friends. “Oh, my!”
“Help, help,” Blu chittered, flying in a few circles. He soared to Dawn and landed on her shoulder.
“Whoa!” she exclaimed.
Down below, Piplup’s face paled, and it chirped, “Piplup! Piplup!” Was it jealous?
Ash and Kellyn tried to pull Blu away from Dawn, but he maintained his grip, so Brock stepped in.
“It’s called Blue-Bird, Professor. Kellyn says it’s one of two Rainbow Birds.”
“Blue-Bird?” Oak rubbed his chin. “I’ve never heard of it.” Lowering his hand, he beamed and admitted, “I think you guys are in for a great adventure in Almia.”
“That’s what we’ve been trying to tell Kellyn,” Brock said, beginning to look excited.
Ash finally pulled Blu away from Dawn and squeezed him. “Oh, I know we are, Professor! New Trainers, Gyms, and a new Pokémon League to check out!”
“Hey! Don’t forget the Contest Halls, Ash Ketchum!” Dawn fought. “As soon as we get there, we’re going to find one.”
“Wait, Ash!” Oak quickly said. “There’s something you and your friends should know about Almia.” He looked at Kellyn for help, but before he opened his mouth, the Pokémon Center’s loudspeaker came on.
“Attention, Trainers, guests, and Rangers, the next ferry for Pueltown in Almia departs in ten minutes. Would all passengers please proceed to the dock?”
“Ah!” Ash yelped, releasing Blu. “We’re going to miss the boat!”
“Pika-Pikachu!” Pikachu announced. He jumped onto Ash’s head and batted his hat with his little paw.
“Race you to the dock, Ash!” Dawn challenged. She turned and sprinted toward the Pokémon Center’s exit. “First one there decides if we do a Contest or Gym first!”
“Oh, you are so on, Dawn!” Ash said, glancing up at Pikachu. “Right, Pikachu?”
“Pi-Pikachu!” Pikachu held up two fingers and shifted his body when Ash turned his cap backward.
He lifted his fist, closed his eyes, and cheered, “Almia Region, here we come!” Then, just like that, he rushed after Dawn, and they disappeared outside.
Kellyn, Brock, and Professor Oak remained quiet for a minute, exchanging apprehensive looks, and then Brock questioned, “Should we tell them?”
Oak chortled—“Nah”—and waved his hand. “Let them figure it out themselves.” He closed his eyes and opened them again. “Good luck, kids, and Kellyn, if you ever find yourself in a bind, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ash and his friends make a great team.”
“Tha-Thank you, Professor,” Kellyn stuttered, but his chest tightened, and a few sweat drops ran down his forehead. He thought he would be excited to return to Almia, especially with Ash and his friends, but no.
Kellyn was the furthest thing from it.
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and then Add to home screen.