Chapter 51 Team Portal's Leader
As they wander around the place, they find a weird-looking Slowking in front of a cave, so they decide to check it out.
Christmas Slowking: Hello, Ash and Lillie.
Ash and Lillie are surprised to see Slowking talking to them.
Ash: Okay, what are you doing here?
Christmas Slowking: I'm not allowed to let just anyone through, but Isabel sees potential in you two. I'm one of her Holiday Pokémon. I represent Christmas.
Lillie: Okay...so it is another one of the Holiday Pokemon.
Christmas Slowking: The city fits well, but it sure is cold here...I could use pants. (Ash and Lillie give Slowking a weird look) Anyway, If you've met any other holiday Pokémon, you're familiar with this process, but if not, let me explain. I will battle you, and if you win, I can turn you into me. I can turn you back at any time, but you'll only be able to access this cave if you're me.
Ash: Okay, so we have to battle you to become you...
Ash goes for Pikachu while Lillie goes for Rotom to battle the Slowking, its level is very high, but it is very slow, which gives them a chance to defeat it with ease.
Christmas Slowking: You could warm even the coldest mountains. Well done.
Then it glows and now they become two Slowking, Ash and Lillie are still weird at the process.
Ash: This is weird, I must say it again.
Lillie: I know, but let's see what this cave is about.
After getting into the cave, they find that it is inhabited by Snom, so Lillie decides to capture one and since it is nighttime, it evolves into Frosmoth. After that, they see a Delibird, and there are six gems on the floor, as well as a Piplup looking at them.
Ash: So what are we going to do here?
They see a moving sign, Ash and Pikachu quickly grab it so Lillie can read it.
Lillie: Cold! Nature! Pokemon League! Grape Soda! Hot! Lightning! What does that mean?
Ash: I don't know...
They continue to look at the cave, they find a statue that says, "Do you know the order?"
Lillie: What order? (Notices the words under the order) How should it be arranged?
Ash: Let's think of the sign and the six gems...what if they represent a color?
Lillie: Cold and Hot usually are blue and red, Lightning is yellow, Grape Soda is Purple, and Nature is green...but why is Pokemon League orange?
Ash: Because there is actually an Orange League? (Lillie looks at Ash with a weird face) Anyway, if that's the order, it is alphabetically.
Lillie: Okay, let's press it.
After Lillie presses the switch, they notice that the gems are in a different order. The Piplup is happy at the gem order, and the Delibird gives them an Assault Vest. As for the Piplup, it joins Ash's team in the end.
Ash: So we got a Piplup...
Lillie: I guess so.
Ash and Lillie's New Capture in Christmas Cave: Piplup (Event) Snom (Cave)
After changing back to their normal selves, they go back to the gym only to find it still closed.
Ash: What should we do now?
Lillie: How about we go to the top of Norall Mountain? It will be great scenery as well considering that it is nighttime.
Ash: That's a good idea.
The road to the mountain is filled with more Ice Type Pokemon, but Ash and the others already see them back in Weather Wonderland or Norall Mountain Base. The only new ones are Alolan Vulpix, which Lillie already has Snowy. On the way, they train Mienfoo and Dreepy to have them evolve into Mienshao and Drakloak.
After reaching the top of Norall Mountain, they can see the whole Ceolis Region under their sight.
Lillie: It sure is an amazing view...
Ash: I know...we really have come this far...
Their happy moment is stopped after a Pheromosa suddenly appears, along with four Team Portal grunts that surround them.
Ash: (Surprised) What? Team Portal?
Lillie: And a Pheromosa? What's going on here?
Just then, a woman comes out of the portal, and she looks very different from the other Team Portal members.
Pandora: I guess this is our first meeting. My name is Pandora, and you can probably guess from the uniforms of my friends here that I know who you are.
Lillie: What do you mean by that?
Pandora: I'm the leader of Team Portal. (Ash and Lillie are both shocked as they are facing the leader right here right now) You've been causing a lot of trouble for us. No permanent damage, but trouble nonetheless.
Ash: So you have come here to stop us, is that what you mean?
Pandora: I didn't know you were here in Norall. I really was just enjoying the scenery. But now that you're here, I'm not letting you get away without a battle. I want to know why you fight and how you fight...if you can get through this gauntlet first, that is.
Lillie: What do you mean gauntlet? You mean you are just going to have your grunts battle us?
Pandora: If I want you two to stay out of our way, I have to be persuasive, after all.
PA Ronaldo: You rocked us at the BCC, but now we'll flatten you!
He goes for both forms of Golem, so Ash and Lillie use Inteleon and Piplup at the same time. After defeating them, Piplup evolves into Prinplup.
PA Ronaldo: Agent down! Agent down!
PA Paige: Don't worry, I've got this covered!
She goes for Tentacruel and Bewear, and they continue to use the same Pokemon, and after defeating both of them, Prinplup evolves into Empoleon.
PA Paige: I need backup!
PA Cynthia: Your winning streak gets cut here!
She goes for Scizor and Bisharp, but Ash and Lillie continue to defeat them with ease.
PA Cynthia: I should cut the trash-talking until I've actually won...
PA Folcrom: This is a shot in the dark, but I think I can win now!
He uses Starmie and Magneton to battle, and as usual, Ash and Lillie manage to beat them.
PA Folcrom: You made me look bad in front of Pandora!
Pandora: (Sighs at how easily the four grunts are defeated) You've definitely got endurance. But everyone has their limit, and you're facing me now.
Ash: (Mutters) This sure is dirty...
Just then, they hear a sound and an Articuno appears in front of them, and the grunts start to run away from the Legendary Pokemon.
Lillie: No way...Articuno...it's here.
Pandora: (Stares at the Pokemon and groans) Seriously? Fine, I'll take you three on at once."
Articuno: (Turns to Ash) Father asks me to help you as he knows you are fighting against the leader of Team Portal.
Ash: I see, we really need your help since our Pokemon is tired.
Then Pandora sends out two Pokemon, which are Hatterene and Froslass. Ash goes for Charizard while Lillie goes for Perrserker. With Articuno's help, the match has become a 3 versus 2.
Pandora: I don't care if you have a Legendary helping you or not. TwinkleSnow, Will-o-Wisp, Macaroni, Mystical Fire!
Both Pokemon are using fire attacks, one damaged Perrserker a lot while Articuno is burnt. Articuno uses Blizzard, and with Perrserker's Iron Head, they manage to defeat Hatterene. As for Froslass, Charizard goes for Overheat, and it defeats Froslass in an instant.
Pandora's next Pokemon is Chandelure named ChocolateDisco and Aromatisse named SecretSecret. Chandelure goes for Flamethrower and Water Type Hidden Power to defeat Perrserker, so Lillie goes for Zoroark next. And Articuno goes for Hurricane and it defeats Chandelure while Charizard goes for Steel Wing to damage Aromatisse and Zoroark delivers the Flamethrower to knock it out.
The final Pokemon for Pandora are Pheromosa named PickMeUp and a Gardevoir named PerfectStyle. Ash notices that the Gardevoir is shiny, but he doesn't mind, and Zoroark is defeated by Gardevoir's Moonblast, but Lillie goes for Melmetal, using Double Iron Bash and Charizard's Fire Blast to defeat the Gardevoir while Articuno's Hurricane defeats Pheromosa.
Pandora: (Blinks) Am I supposed to be impressed? (Recalls Pokemon) Of course, you won, Articuno was fighting with you.
Lillie: But we still win.
Pandora: I don't like surprises. Well, I like good surprises, like when all of Team Portal threw me a birthday party. There was so much cake even Delicia couldn't eat it all. But not bad surprises like this.
Ash: Delicia...she is a member of Team Portal...no wonder she knows her.
Pandora: I guess I can turn this into a learning experience, though. Don't gang up on an enemy in a Legendary Pokemon's domain. (Sighs) I said I wanted to know how you fight and why you fight, Ash and Lillie. I know how now, but why?
Ash: What do you mean by that?
Pandora: Do you think I haven't heard from you? The trainer recently takes down Team Rocket as well as the World Monarch. (Ash widens his eyes) But then again, if you think we're a shady group of criminals, I understand that. We are. But maybe you'll be interested in hearing what I have to say.
Lillie: And what are we going to learn from the boss of the criminal group?
Pandora: Since you've had a few run-ins with us, I think it's at least fair that you know what we're about. Have you heard of the Data Vault, Ash?
Ash: I have heard of this, but I don't know what it is.
Pandora: It's a place where you can find info on just about anything. Its existence isn't really a secret, but very few have ever been. Only those who have permission from this region's Guardian know where it is. You can connect the dots from here.
Lillie: You're not going to get the Guardian's permission by asking, right?
Pandora: Asking is a way not to get permission. The Guardian has to approve you on their own. But it's not like many are ever approved. We don't even know what the Guardian's criteria for approval are. Just that it's almost impossible to meet and/or extremely specific. Even world-known Professors and Champions from other regions have been turned away.
Ash: So this Guardian is really mysterious...
Pandora: Oh, you're curious about the Guardian? They haven't given us a name, but they've been here longer than the Sea Stars have. They've watched over and protected both our societies. They have long black hair, extremely pale faces, and otherworldly facial details, and they wear purple and black. I've met them. They're pretty nice. It almost makes me feel bad about what I'm doing to get there, but it's not like I have a choice. (Notices that her grunts are gone and sighs) Anyway, I guess I should go find those four. Bye.
Pandora just leaves and walks down the mountain, and so does Articuno, who flies away without saying goodbye.
Ash: Weird...Somehow I don't think that Team Portal is that evil compared to Team Rocket or others...
Lillie: Yeah...and do you think the name Pandora is familiar? I somehow feel like I have met her before.
Ash: Me too... but hey, before we leave, how about we check out the Snorunt Village? I mean, we are at the entrance.
Lillie: Sure.
Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, Ash and Lillie finally meet the boss of Team Portal and also learn about their motives. In this battle, Articuno will assist you in this battle and he is Level 90! I hope you like this chapter.