The moment the name "Azelf" was mentioned, Alakazam's psychic powers erupted violently, sending leaves from the nearby trees and shrubs swirling chaotically through the air.
Aoki showed no signs of nervousness at Alakazam's reaction - if anything, a faint smile touched his lips. He reached out to pat the protective Slowking standing before him, offering silent reassurance.
So it was indeed Azelf, the Willpower Pokémon among the lake guardians.
After several tense moments, Alakazam regained composure. Taking a deep breath, its telepathic voice resonated in Aoki's mind with undeniable authority: "Do not speak its name so carelessly!"
Aoki nodded casually. After all, they had already retrieved the Mew Blood from Mew's shrine - and Azelf stood as an equal among the legendary lake trio. Though this particular Azelf inhabiting the island appeared to be the true deity holding divine authority.
"I didn't intend to come here originally," Aoki explained, extending his right wrist to display the markings. "These four asked me to go to this island."
Unown!
Alakazam's brow furrowed upon recognizing the ancient symbols glowing on Aoki's skin. The four distinct letters shimmered with otherworldly energy.
"These meddlers again..." The telepathic voice cut out abruptly mid-sentence.
When communication resumed moments later, Alakazam's tone had shifted: "If they summoned you here, then follow me."
Aoki blinked in surprise but offered no argument. Simultaneously, he focused his own psychic energy to commune with the four Unown, attempting to discern their purpose for bringing him here. Though the Unown responded with fragmented psychic impressions, their true intentions remained obscured.
From Alakazam's slip, it became clear the Unown had appeared here before - and the Psychic-type was familiar with them.
"The egg you carry shows promise," Alakazam abruptly changed subjects, its crimson eyes fixed on the Ralts egg cradled in Aoki's arms. "This environment would nurture its growth exceptionally well. Consider leaving it here - its potential would flourish under our care."
Aoki's expression remained neutral. He'd noticed Alakazam's intense scrutiny of the egg since their first encounter - no doubt sensing the remarkable psychic potential within the unhatched Ralts.
With a polite shake of his head, Aoki declined: "I'm afraid that's impossible. This Pokémon holds great personal significance. It will become one of my most trusted partners."
Alakazam didn't press the matter, though the faint psychic resonance emanating from the egg confirmed its extraordinary latent abilities. For an unhatched Pokémon to exhibit such power was exceptionally rare.
"Prepare yourself. We teleport now." Alakazam warned abruptly. Psychic energy enveloped Aoki and his three Pokémon companions.
The warning served primarily to prevent Slowking from resisting - while Alakazam far surpassed Slowking in raw power psychic power, successful teleportation required willing participants. Any resistance could disrupt the process.
At Aoki's confirming nod, reality twisted around them. In the space between heartbeats, their surroundings dissolved and reformed.
When Aoki's vision cleared, they stood on the shores of an expansive lake - the undisputed heart of the mysterious island. The water itself seemed alive with energy; every droplet thrummed with latent power.
Most striking was the luminous pink cloud floating mere inches above the water's surface at the lake's exact center. The fluffy formation served as a resting place for the small, blue-gray Pokémon nestled within - none other than Azelf, the Willpower Pokemon.
The legendary Pokémon's form became clearer as Aoki focused: the distinctive blue crest resembling a ceremonial headdress, the massive red gem set at its forehead pulsing with barely-contained energy. Twin tails extended behind it, each tipped with crimson gemstones that marked the Psychic-type's vital weak points - knowledge Aoki possessed from obscure legends about the lake guardians.
Currently, Azelf lay curled on its cloud-bed, delicate features contorted as if plagued by unpleasant dreams. The arrival of Alakazam and the humans prompted no reaction - the deity remained lost in troubled slumber.
Alakazam assumed a deferential posture nearby, offering no explanation or introduction.
Aoki studied Azelf without restraint, though this clearly discomforted Alakazam. Meanwhile, Slowking's psychic senses reeled from the overwhelming power radiating from the sleeping legend. What had seemed like considerable psychic ability moments ago now felt laughably inadequate compared to the lake guardian's boundless energy.
Honchkrow and Weavile fared worst of all. As Dark-types, they possessed natural resistance to psychic attacks - but this became a curse when confronted with energies so potent they bypassed immunities entirely. Both Pokémon trembled violently, overwhelmed by the combined psychic auras of both Alakazam and Azelf.
Recognizing their distress, Aoki hesitated only briefly before recalling them to their Pokéballs. The pair vanished with relieved nods, grateful for escape from the psychic pressure.
With his Dark-types safely stored, Aoki returned his attention to the island's heart. If Azelf remained asleep, he would use the time to investigate. There had to be more to this pocket dimension than immediately met the eye - maintaining an entire island in a separate spatial plane suggested power beyond even most legendary Pokémon.
The four Unown symbols on his wrist pulsed faintly, their purpose here still frustratingly unclear. Yet Aoki felt certain of one thing: they hadn't led him here to perish. Whatever game the ancient symbols played, they still needed him alive.