18. Future Plans

…

As soon as Lee and Pakku reached the wall surrounding the Northern Water Tribe’s main stronghold, a guard rushed forward to tell Pakku that Chief Arnook had summoned him.

The two of them parted ways. Pakku went to the palace while Lee took Manaphy to the mansion.

“I’m back,” he yelled after stepping inside.

He heard the sound of quick footsteps before Mona emerged from the living room, her hands holding sewing needles and a small piece of cloth.

Her eyes instantly fell on the prince cradled in his arms, widening in surprise.

“What is that?” she asked, stepping closer with a curious look on her face.

For a moment, Lee wondered how he should answer her question. He couldn’t say that Manaphy was a Pokémon, as that would lead to uncomfortable questions he wasn’t willing to answer—questions such as how he knew that. But calling him an animal would be the biggest understatement of the century.

“A spirit,” he finally answered. “A baby spirit.”

Mona gasped. “Really?” she asked in a whisper, looking into his eyes for confirmation.

Lee nodded softly. “I saw it born from an egg with my own eyes,” he said.

One of her eyebrows rose upward as she tilted her head. “Spirits are born from eggs?” she asked, lowering her gaze again.

“This one definitely did,” Lee said. “I don’t know about the others. Maybe it’s something unique to spirits with physical bodies.”

“Is that why both of you left in such a hurry in the morning?” Mona asked as they slowly walked toward the living room.

“Yes,” he said. “I was having dreams about the egg this little guy hatched from, and there was this part of me that was pulling me towards it. So, I told Master Pakku about it, and we went to investigate, only to encounter…”

He carefully narrated their experience from the beginning to the end. Mona listened with rapt attention, sitting alongside him at the low table. Towards the end, likely stirred by his voice, Manaphy woke up from his sleep.

“Mana?” he tilted his head, staring at him first before glancing around at the room with curiosity.

Mona smiled gently when his gaze fell on her.

Manaphy blinked twice, then let out a small, cute yawn before returning his gaze to Lee.

A bunch of thoughts about hunger bloomed in his head as the creature stared into his eyes.

“He’s hungry,” Lee announced with a chuckle as he tickled the creature on his belly with two of his fingers. Manaphy giggled.

“How do you know?” Mona asked, smiling at the adorable sea sprite. “And what does a baby spirit even eat? Should we try giving him some milk?”

Lee let out a thoughtful hum. “Yeah, that should be fine,” he said. “As for how I know, well… he’s able to share half-formed thoughts and desires.”

Mona’s brows lifted in surprise. “You can hear what he thinks?”

“Not exactly, no,” Lee shook his head. “It feels more like impressions. Feelings that aren’t my own. Hunger, happiness, comfort, curiosity, and more.” He scratched lightly beneath Manaphy’s chin, earning another delighted trill.

Manaphy reached both of its tiny fin-like arms toward his fingers and grabbed them.

Mona chuckled softly at the sight. “Alright,” she said, rising from the table. “I’ll warm some milk for him. You keep him busy until then.”

Lee nodded while keeping the sea sprite balanced in his lap. Manaphy turned in a circle, then settled against his chest with a sigh of content. A moment later, he looked up again and sent another flutter of feeling through Lee’s mind. Hunger and impatience.

“Wait for a bit, little one,” Lee said, patting him on the forehead. “Food is arriving.”

“Mana?”

“Yes, just a little while only.”

…

Pakku

“Please sit, Master Pakku,” Chief Arnook said, gesturing toward a seat in front of him.

Pakku nodded and silently sat down upon the fur cushion, his back straight, and waited for the man to speak first.

“I summoned you because your loyalty towards the tribe is unquestionable,” Arnook said, “and no one is more knowledgeable about waterbending and the spirits than you in the entire tribe.”

He sighed, looking troubled. “Something strange has happened today, Master Pakku, and it has made me ill at ease. I want your advice in relation to it.”

“I’m grateful for your trust, Chief Arnook,” Pakku said, stroking his chin. “Speak plainly, and I’ll answer as best as I can.”

Arnook nodded softly. “Sometime close to noon today, Yue came running to me from the Spirit Oasis. She told me that she witnessed the spirits stop their dance of circling each other and look to the south for a few moments. Despite her whimsical nature, I know she wouldn’t lie about something this serious.”

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Pakku’s brows drew together. His mind told him that this was somehow related to the blue spirit his student had found in the middle of the sea.

“The moon and ocean spirits have circled each other since our ancestors first found them here and decided to build this city in their honour,” Arnook continued. “There are no records of them ever breaking their pattern.”

“What else did the princess say?” Pakku asked, his tone curious. “She’s able to sense their emotions, isn’t she? Did she sense anger in them?”