The Journey Continues
Chapter 7
Welcome to the Johto Region
Johto Region - Goldenrod City
"Well, isn't it just great that you've all met up again." saidCaroline Maple through the videophone. After the obvious re-introductions, May, Dawn, and Ash had called May's parents in Petalburg City with one of the stations pay-videophones.
"Oh, Ash, I almost forgot. Max got his first Pokémon from Professor Birch yesterday!"
"No way, really? That's so awesome, Caroline! Is Max there?"
"Yes, he's just upstairs actually. Max! There's someone on the videophone for you!"
Through the videophone's microphone, someone's voice was picked up. A few seconds later, there was a loud thumping at what could only be the stairway, and Caroline stepped away from the videophone. A boy with pulled-back dark blue hair sped in front of the videophone, carefully examining the face on the other side of the screen.
"Holy cow, it's Ash! And May! And…blue-haired girl I've…never seen before…" Max flipped, almost recoiling from the videophone before putting his face closer to the screen. "May, you didn't tell me Ash was meeting up with you to travel again!"
"I didn't know until a few days ago either, Max, and besides, I didn't have a chance to have you two call each other." May explained.
"Ash! I got my first Pokémon yesterday!" Max shouted, immediately turning his focus from May to Ash.
"That's what your mom told me! So what kind of Pokémon is it?"
"It's…" Max started, holding his tongue for suspense before reaching down off-screen. He came back up and was carrying a small blue Pokémon with sail-like fins on its body, "A Mudkip!"
"Mud-kip!"
"Wow, Max, that's awesome!" Ash celebrated, leaning in to get a good look at the Mud Fish Pokémon.
"Yeah, and I still haven't forgotten your promise to have a battle with me, Ash! So look out, because I'm gonna leave on a journey pretty soon, and I know our paths are gonna cross! And then, I'm gonna beat you in a battle!"
"Ha, all right Max, dream on!" Ash accepted the challenge, bringing up a confident fist. Pikachu chimed in with a congratulatory Pika.
"Well, we're going to have to go, Max." May interrupted, "We've got to head to Ecruteak City for a Contest!"
"Aw, you're leaving already?"
"Sorry, Max." May half-apologized, "Have lots of fun on your journey!"
"Okay…bye, May. Catch ya later, Ash, and…pretty girl that I've never seen before…"
The videophone feed cut out after that, and the three Trainers all collectively exhaled, a moment of silence falling over the group.
"Did I just get hit on by a ten year-old?" Dawn asked aloud. May and Ash suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. Ash smacked his knee in the process and continued to laugh, making Dawn roll her eyes.
"Don't mind my brother, Dawn." May answered, wiping away a tear and stifling her laughter.
"So May, you said your next Contest was gonna be in Ecruteak City." Ash started, walking toward the exit of the Station with the girls, "Should we head that way?"
"Sounds good to me! Once we get out of the city we can show off our Pokémon!" May answered cheerily.
"How many Ribbons do you have now?" Dawn asked.
"I've got two so far. I got out to a great start in the Contest season!" May answered, again happily, and she pulled out her Ribbon Case to prove it, "I placed second in the Grand Festival last season, so I went out and did some hardcore training during the offseason. It's really paid off!"
"That's so awesome, May. I had hoped to compete in some of the Contests while we were here."
"You should totally do that!" May agreed. The trio exited the Station at that time, almost subconsciously heading immediately north from the building. The noise of the Magnet Train departing for Kanto overhead rocked their ears as they walked toward the terminal that would spit them out on the route toward Ecruteak City. "There's only been five Contests so far this season, so it's not too late to join!"
"Then I guess I'll just have to register for the Ecruteak City Contest, then. Wallace Cup Round 2?" Dawn suggested.
"You're on, Dawn!" May accepted the challenge, high-fiving the blue-haired Coordinator, "So, Ash, what are you going to do? I watched you in the Lily of the Valley Conference recently, but I expected you to disappear to a new Region."
"Nah, I decided to take some time off, actually." Ash answered, sounding almost a little bit down, "We faced this super strong Trainer in the semifinals, so I want to take a little time to just train myself and become stronger. Maybe next season I'll get back into competing, but for now, me and my whole team are strictly in training."
"Well, that's awesome. Once we get to Route 35, how's about you show me the new Pokémon you've caught?" May suggested.
"Sounds like a plan!"
The Trainer and pair of Coordinators continued walking in relative silence for the rest of the way, each of them taking a few moments to admire the scenery of the bustling city. Goldenrod City was the largest one in Johto, and the skyscrapers certainly attested to that fact.
The terminal leading to Route 35 eventually came up, and the travelers walked quietly through the terminal and out of the city, reappearing on a lengthy stretch of wilderness. A dirt path lined by grass stretched forward, curving in various places, but eventually heading all the same direction.
"Well, this looks like as good a place as any." May spoke up, stepping away from the group. "I'm up first!" The Coordinator grabbed a Poké Balls from her waist and enlarged them, tossing the capsule in an arc, "Flaaffy, take the stage!"
The ensuing white light brought forth a bipedal pink sheep that sported woolly wreaths atop its head and around its neck. Electricity surged through the Wool Pokémon, and it purred out a confident cry as May caught its Poké Ball back in her hand.
"Wow, May, you caught a Flaaffy!"
"Actually, I caught a Mareep shortly after the Wallace Cup, and she evolved just a few weeks ago." May corrected, "Isn't she adorable?"
"Flaaf!"
"Well, time to show you what I caught since the last time we met!" Dawn challenged, revealing three Poké Balls and throwing them into the air, "Okay, guys, spotlight!"
Mamoswine, Cyndaquil, and Togekiss spawned from their respective capsules, the third Pokémon taking to the air. Cyndaquil padded on the ground, flaring up the flames on its backside. Mamoswine mostly remained still, indifferently offering a "Mamoo" in greeting.
"I have to say Dawn, you've grown." May answered in acknowledgement, "Those are some big Pokémon."
"Hey, don't leave me out!" Ash chimed in, immediately running over to a free space in the route and grabbing some of his Poké Balls. "I had a bunch of Pokémon evolve!"
Ash threw a handful of Poké Balls, releasing Torterra, Infernape, Gliscor, and Staraptor. All four Pokémon crowed proudly, showing off their impressive collective power. Gliscor clamped its hands together while Infernape beat its chest. Torterra stamped its front feet and Staraptor spread its wings, crowing majestically.
"You two have definitely put me to shame." May applauded with a laugh, "Hey, Ash, how about a little one-on-one battle?"
"You're on, May!" Ash agreed almost immediately, "Time to break the tie we set back in the Terracotta Contest!"
May smiled at the memory. She still had her half of the Terracotta Ribbon, and had kept it on her person since she and Ash parted ways back in Hoenn. She casually opened the parcel on her hip and fished out the split Ribbon, holding it in her fingers as she carefully gazed at it.
"May, you still have your half of the Ribbon?" Ash asked.
"Oh, yeah, what about you?"
"Of course I do!" Ash whooped, unzipping a section of his bag and pulling out his half of the Ribbon. "I've kept it with me since our journey together ended."
Dawn perked up, "How did you guys get half of a Ribbon?"
May interjected to answer Dawn, "On our last day traveling together we battled in the finals of an unofficial Contest. Ash battled my Blaziken with his Sceptile, but at the end the judges found that our scores were tied. They only had one Ribbon, so Ash had Sceptile cut it in half and we kept the two pieces."
"Aw, I like that." Dawn admitted, although there was the slightest hint of jealousy in her being. She shook away the dark thought, and smiled through it. If Ash and May had had something between them, then she would've seen it when May arrived in Sinnoh for the Wallace Cup. This was nothing to be afraid of when it came to competition.
"So, May, are we gonna battle, or what?"
"You bet, Ash! Let's go!"
Ash enlarged the Poké Ball he'd chosen. He had returned all of the Pokémon that he had revealed to May, and picked which one he would be using secretly. May held her own Poké Ball, ready for the one-on-one battle. She threw the capsule out of her hand and called on her Pokémon.
"Venusaur, take the stage!"
The colossal Seed Pokémon was spit forth from the capsule, and the ground lightly shook when he landed. The huge flower in bloom on its back drank in the sunlight, and the Kanto starter Pokémon roared to make its readiness known.
"Perfect." Ash whooped, throwing his own Poké Ball, "Staraptor, I choose you!"
The proud Predator Pokémon arced in the air, its eyes zeroing in on its opponent and calming the flying-type down. Staraptor slowly lowered its altitude, beating its wings calmly to keep it airborne but remaining stationary as it did so.
"Venusaur, let's start off with Razor Leaf!"
The gargantuan Seed Pokémon called forth the sharpened leaves, sending them arcing toward the airborne Staraptor.
"Staraptor, dodge with Quick Attack!"
Staraptor's speed left behind a white trail as it avoided the Razor Leaf attack, and the Predator Pokémon flew in a large circle, awaiting the imminent command of its Trainer. "Staraptor, use Aerial Ace!"
Staraptor charged and brought forth white energy as it sped forward. "Venusaur, knock it out of the sky with Vine Whip!"
"Dodge that and keep going!"
Venusaur's damning slowness kept it from sending out a speedy Vine Whip, and Staraptor barrel-rolled out of the way of the attack before speeding forward, slicing its body across Venusaur's and dealing significant damage. The Seed Pokémon complained and took a step back, readying itself for the next round. Ash smirked, knowing that a simple flying-type attack, while it theoretically had an advantage over the grass-type, wouldn't do much to a tank like Venusaur.
"Venusaur, use Vine Whip!"
This time, the attack was far faster, catching both Ash and Staraptor off-guard. The vine reached Staraptor and quickly curled around its leg, tightening like a noose and making the flying-type crow in pain. Venusaur then recalled the vine, forcing Staraptor toward him.
"Use Tackle!"
Venusaur surged forward just as Staraptor reached him, ramming his massive head into the falling flying-type. Staraptor cawed as it went flying, skidding back into the dirt on Ash's side of the theoretical battlefield.
"Staraptor, can you get up?"
Staraptor cringed, but used its wing to support itself, and pushed back up into a standing formation, screeching with pride in confirmation. "All right!" Ash whooped, "Now, let's get back in there with Quick Attack!"
"Counter with Razor Leaf!"
The flying-type raced forward, but he wasn't fast enough to deter the experienced May. Venusaur released its next volley of sharpened leaves straight for the oncoming Predator Pokémon.
"Lock back your wings and push through that attack, then use Close Combat!"
Staraptor locked its eyes on the oncoming leaves, tightening its gaze and folding its wings back to make itself as small as possible. Staraptor passed into the leaves, which scratched painfully on its feathers, but the flying-type easily pushed through undeterred. Venusaur had no second wave of defense as Staraptor reached it, and the bird then unleashed its pummeling on the Seed Pokémon.
Several swipes and kicks later, Staraptor backed away, taking to the skies again. Venusaur trembled as the effect of the swift, bewildering attack became evident.
"Venusaur, are you all right?"
"Saur!"
"Ok, let's take advantage of this sunlight!" May called, "Use Solarbeam!"
Venusaur began soaking up the bright sunlight, its massive flower glowing as it did so. Staraptor took on a defensive stance, but Ash called out to it. "Staraptor, be ready!"
A few moments later, Venusaur let loose a huge Solarbeam straight for Staraptor, who remained still.
"Dodge with Quick Attack, and then use Brave Bird!"
Staraptor tried to dive out of the way, but, surprisingly, it left too late. The Solarbeam clipped the back half of the Predator Pokémon, knocking it out of the air for a moment. Staraptor hit the ground a few times, but looked back up at the huge grass-type and took to the skies again. Blue energy conjured around the racing flying-type, and before May could give a command Staraptor collided with Venusaur, sending up a blast of smoke and arcing away from the grass-type.
The smoke cleared, and Venusaur was on its last legs, visibly wobbly after the powerful flying-type attack.
"Staraptor, get back in there and finish this with Aerial Ace!"
"Staaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr…!"
"Venusaur, go all-out with Tackle!"
Venusaur lurched forward, picking up speed almost immediately and putting its full body weight into the reckless charge. Staraptor's form faltered just a little bit on the way over, indicating injury, but it locked in its wings and proceeded with the attack. Staraptor hit first, but Venusaur kept going despite the attack, bowling over the flying-type before stumbling and tumbling to the ground. The grass-type did its best to stand, but the heavy damage that it'd already sustained proved to be too much, and Venusaur collapsed. Staraptor, meanwhile, was on the ground, trying desperately to stand with the support of its wings. It too, failed, collapsing for the last time.
"That looks like a tie to me." Dawn said loudly, effectively ending the match.
"I guess it's not time to settle the score, huh, May?" Ash asked aloud.
"Maybe not, Ash. But I'm winning next time!"
After the brief exchange, Ash and May ran over and talked to their beaten Pokémon, each Trainer caressing their Pokémon's features at some point before returning them both to their Poké Balls.
"Well, now that we're all done with that, what do you two say we head to Ecruteak City?" May called to the new arrivals.
"Sounds good to me. Dawn?"
"No need to worry! Let's go!"
Just under two days later, the trio had strolled on through the National Park and onto Route 36 and 37. Ecruteak City was directly ahead, not much more than a kilometer's walk forward.
"So what's so special about Ecruteak City?" Dawn asked, carrying Piplup in her arms like usual.
"Well, it's been a couple years since I was last there." Ash started. May chimed in with an answer.
"Ecruteak City is supposedly the city where the legendary Ho-Oh once roosted. I didn't get a chance to sightsee the last time I was here since I was headed for Olivine City's Contest last season, but the legend says Ho-Oh's tower for roosting was burned down during a battle many years ago, and it hasn't returned ever since."
"I remember seeing Ho-Oh on the first day of my journey in Kanto, back when I was ten years old." Ash commented, "And then before I decided to go to Hoenn, I saw Ho-Oh flying in the direction of the Region. I'm convinced that the legendary Pokémon is my…guardian angel, if you will."
"That's so cool…" Dawn remarked, trailing off.
"I haven't seen Ho-Oh in a while, actually, I think the last time I saw it was before I left for Hoenn." Ash continued, "Maybe we'll get lucky this time."
Before the travelers knew it, the gates of Ecruteak City were upon them. A classical-looking arch served as the gateway into the city, whose architecture was clearly inspired by traditional, perhaps ancient values. Dawn looked around in awe. There was nothing like this in Sinnoh, where tall towers and traditional architecture dominated a city. Towering over everything in the city, though, were two towers at the far end of the city. One was made of some kind of metal, and the other appeared to be on its last legs.
"What are those?" Dawn asked, pointing to the towers.
"Those are the towers that Ho-Oh roosted on." Ash explained, "The one that's all burnt up is the Burned Tower. Ho-Oh used to roost there. After it burned though, the Pokémon fled, and the city built another tower out of tin, hoping that Ho-Oh would return someday. But to this day, it hasn't."
"We should go check out the Burned Tower after the Contest!" Dawn suggested, eager to see the legend come to life.
"That sounds like a great idea, Dawn." May agreed, "Let's go find Contest Hall and register."
May, Dawn, and Ash all walked together, asking locals where the Contest Hall was. Some of them wore a disgusted look when they explained where they could find the Hall, but to be fair, most of those disgusted people wore traditional, very out-of-date robes. Eventually, the trio found the Contest Hall.
Contest Hall was huge and modern looking. The building, which was more like a stadium, looked completely out of place in the city.
"That explains why those people looked so unhappy." Dawn wondered aloud, "They probably don't like how modern this place is."
May was first in the Contest Hall, and she ran up to the reception desk. Dawn followed, with Ash in tow.
"Hi, I'm here to register for the Ecruteak Contest." May said matter-of-factly, pulling out her Trainer Card. The lady at the desk looked considerably old, and she quietly took May's card before swiping it through a machine. Data came to life on the electronic screen that the woman was looking at, and she tapped a few buttons.
"Thank you. Next!"
Dawn walked up to the desk next. "Same thing, ma'am."
The old lady took Dawn's Trainer Card next, swiping it like she did May's. "It appears that you don't have any Ribbons, young lady."
"No, ma'am, I just got here in the Johto Region and decided to compete." Dawn explained, a little nervous.
"I'll have to register you for the whole Johto Contest season." The elderly lady explained, grunting as she did so. She went to work on the machine, tapping various parts of it slowly. Dawn grinded her teeth as the woman took her sweet time. Eventually, she was finally done, and handed Dawn her Trainer Card back.
"Thank you. Next."
Dawn trotted away from the desk, rejoining Ash and May. "We should probably get some hotel rooms before the Contest tomorrow." May commented.
"Yeah, Ash and I got stuck last night in Saffron and had to share a room." Dawn joked, and Ash visibly look perturbed by the memory, making the Twinleaf Coordinator frown. However, he didn't say anything about the experience, and the group happily left Contest Hall to find a hotel.
They settled on the Ecruteak Room & Board on the western end of the city. The Burned Tower was immediately behind the small-scale hotel, and the building as a whole wasn't in the best shape, but it was the cheapest option in the city.
"Your room numbers are 108, 203, and 207." The receptionist explained as she handed the three Trainers back their Cards and then the room keys. "Enjoy your stay."
Night fell, and after a night out in the town, Dawn half-collapsed into her hotel room, the door slamming shut behind her. May's room was just down the hall, while Ash was by himself on the first floor. The wood floors beneath Dawn's boots creaked loudly as she walked across the room. Piplup waddled around and looked up to the bed, which was thankfully low to the ground. The Penguin Pokémon easily hopped up, collapsing onto the customary bedspread.
Dawn made a point to brush her teeth and undo her hair, pulling out the yellow clips in her blue hair and letting the whole of her hair fall freely down her back. Her hair was somewhat longer when she let it go free, the bulk of the hair falling down below her shoulders, though two semi-thick strands of it often fell over her shoulders and toward her torso. She discarded her beanie, changed into her nightgown, and crawled into the not-so-comfortable single bed. Piplup waddled over and joined her in slumber; Coordinator and Pokémon bundled up together.
Dawn sat for a few moments with her eyes open, as if waiting for something to lunge out of the dark at her. Her gaze fell on the window that opened to the outside. She could see the form of the Burned Tower through the window, and now that she was much closer to it, could easily pick out the crooks and tears in its stature. Her night out in the town with Ash and May hadn't taken her anywhere near the Tower, and she found herself now suddenly absorbed in the legend of Ho-Oh and Ecruteak City.
She shook the thoughts from her head in favor of sleep. She would need all of her strength for the Contest tomorrow, her first since the Grand Festival in Sinnoh.
As she closed her eyes, Dawn thought she heard the slightest noise of the beating of heavy wings, but she ignored the noise in favor of sleep, a smile on her face.
