AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! Here is chapter 47 of the continuing adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu as they continue their journey through the Johto region. I decided to base this chapter as a sequel to the special "Mewtwo Returns." Luna Carson had already forgotten about the incident on Mt. Quena, meaning that she probably forgot about meeting Ash and his friends as well. She does make an appearance in this chapter, though. Cullen Calix does not. And fortunately, neither does Domino (or Agent 009). Unfortunately, Taz does. Mewtwo will make a brief appearance in this chapter. The "Three on Three" track from the first Pokémon movie will make its appearance in this chapter. I don't know who composed it, so I'll give all the composers the credit: Manny Corallo, Deniz, Hughes, John Loeffler, and Ralph Schuckett. So, I hope you'll get a chance to read this chapter. Enjoy and leave responsible reviews.

TEASER: Tristan, Hillary, and their Pokémon friends go through Purity Canyon, just as Tristan's egg is about to hatch. But when Taz steals the egg, it could put him, Tristan, and his friends in real danger!

Chapter 47: PURITY CANYON

(Music Cue: Opening Title 1999-2001 (as heard at the end of "A Shadow of a Drought"))

Our heroes continue on to Ecruteak City, site of Tristan's fourth Johto League Gym match, but today, they're passing through Purity Canyon, the Johto region's greatest natural wonder.

Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi all took deep breaths and breathed in the fresh mountain air as they continued walking along the road.

"This air is the freshest I've ever experienced," said Hillary.

"Yeah, me, too," agreed Tristan. "I don't think I've ever breathed air that was this fresh before.

Even Pikachu and Togepi had to agree.

Presently, they saw dark clouds rapidly approaching from the distance.

"Uh-oh," said Tristan. "Looks like it's gonna rain."

"Not now," complained Hillary. "I was just getting to enjoy the nice weather."

Presently, they saw a lodge.

"Look! There's a place we can take shelter! Let's hurry before it starts raining!" suggested Tristan.

"Yeah!" agreed Hillary as they picked up speed and came to the front door.

Inside, a woman with turquoise hair wearing a yellow shirt heard a knock on her door. She was startled at first, but she came to the door and opened it. She saw Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi at the door just as the dark clouds enveloped the rest of the sky. "You two sure timed that out well," she said. "Please come in."

And Tristan and Hillary dashed inside before the woman closed the door.

An instant later, there was a flash of lightning and a loud crack of thunder. Soon after, it started raining hard.

"Boy, that was a close one," said Tristan. "We almost got wet."

"Wet? We almost got hit by that bolt of lightning," grumbled Hillary.

"The weather can be very unpredictable here in Purity Canyon," explained the woman. "My name's Luna Carson."

"Hi, I'm Tristan," said Tristan. "And this is my partner, Pikachu; my sister, Hillary; and her Pokémon, Togepi."

"Hi," added Hillary.

Pikachu and Togepi greeted Luna warmly.

"It's nice to meet you all," replied Luna. "And it's a good thing you came in here before the weather messed up your plans even more."

"What do you mean 'more?'" asked Hillary.

"As you know, this place is always likely to have blizzards, thunderstorms, typhoons, and all kinds of bad weather," explained Luna. "The folks who miss the bus usually wait from a week to as long as a month before they can go through Purity Canyon."

"We can't stay here for that long," said Tristan. "Isn't there a way to get across Purity Canyon?"

"Well, there are a few ways to do it, but why don't you guys have a drink while we wait for the rain to stop?" suggested Luna. She got two glasses of water, and gave each of them to Tristan and Hillary. She even got two glasses for Pikachu and Togepi.

Tristan took the first sip. He was so happy about the taste that he downed his glass of water almost immediately. "This is the best water I've ever tasted!" he said.

"Really? Let me taste it." And Hillary took a sip from her glass, and was just as happy about the taste as Tristan was. "You're right, Tristan!"

Pikachu and Togepi took their sips, and they were just as happy.

"Well, that sure made you happy, didn't it?" smiled Luna. "The water that goes through Purity Canyon is incredibly clean and clear, so much so that it even rejuvenates even the most weakened Pokémon."

"That's awesome," said Tristan.

"So where does all that clean water come from?" asked Hillary.

"That clean water comes from Purity River," explained Luna. "It starts out on Clarity Lake, which is on the top of Mt. Quena. All that water flows through the river and passes through Purity Canyon."

"Have you been up to the top of Mt. Quena before?" asked Tristan.

"I've been to the top of Mt. Quena before," answered Luna. "However, the mountain face is very steep to scale, and extreme weather makes it even worse. It's been left undisturbed for generations. The resident Bug Pokémon live there because they're attracted to the purity of the water.

"No wonder the Pokémon love that water," said Hillary.

Presently, outside, the rain stopped, and the sun came out again.

"I'm glad that's over," said Tristan. "That rain always ruins our travel plans."

"There's a view of the waterfall out back," said Luna. "Why don't I show you?" And she led Tristan, Hillary, and their Pokémon to the back porch of the lodge.

Presently, a flock of flying Bug Pokemon were seen overhead.

"Look at all the Butterfree!" said Tristan.

Sure enough, there were scores of Butterfree flying over the lodge, and seem to be enjoying the now pleasant flight now that the thunderstorm was over.

"I'd sure like to see the place those Butterfree are headed," said Hillary.

"They're probably flying through Purity Canyon back to Mt. Quena, which is the highest mountain in the entire Johto region," replied Luna. "Some people say that the Butterfree lay their eggs there."

"That reminds me of my own Butterfree," said Tristan as he thought back to his early days of traveling around with it.

Tristan remembered the day when he first caught a Caterpie, then spent the night in the Viridian Forest with Hillary. Next, he remembered when his Caterpie had evolved into a Metapod, and then a Butterfree soon after. Then, he remembered the time when he and Butterfree battled Taz to save a whole flock of them. Finally, he remembered when his Butterfree flew away with its new mate.

"Someday, I'll see my old friend again," said Tristan.

"I could tell that you had a real bond with your Butterfree," said Luna as she put her hand on Tristan's shoulder. "Maybe you'll see it again someday."

"Luna's right, Tristan," agreed Hillary. "It'll be back before you know it."

Pikachu and Togepi also agreed.

Tristan nodded. He missed his friend very much, and he knew that saying goodbye wasn't easy. But he knew that his Butterfree would come back to him as soon as its own journey was over. But suddenly, he noticed a light coming out of his backpack.

"What's up?" asked Hillary.

Tristan and Pikachu quickly rushed over to his backpack to see his egg glowing.

"That's the very egg Great-Grandma Rachael and Great-Grandpa Stuart gave you, isn't it?" said Hillary.

"Yes, it is," replied Tristan. "And now, this egg's about to hatch right before our very eyes."

"I'm sure that whatever Pokémon comes out of that egg will love the fresh air and clean water," suggested Luna. "Why don't we take a canoe ride down Purity River?"

(Music Cue: Surf 1999-2001)

That evening, as the sun was setting, Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi all followed Luna as they took a canoe and set sail down Purity River. Tristan carefully held on to his egg case as his egg continued to glow.

"What a beautiful night to go on a canoe ride!" remarked Tristan.

"The current's doing the work for us, and the water's so clean and clear," added Hillary.

Luna nodded in agreement.

"And it's just one of the many things the egg needs in order to hatch safely," added Tristan. Then he spoke to the egg. "Well, I hope you're enjoying this, because this is one of the many wonderful things this world has to offer when you hatch."

"I wonder what kind of Pokémon will hatch from that egg," said Hillary.

"I don't care what kind of Pokémon hatches, just so long as it's happy and healthy," replied Tristan.

"Now that's the kind of Trainer who has respect toward all Pokémon," smiled Luna.

Presently, there were lights on several trees ahead.

"What's that?" asked Hillary.

"Oh, that's a flock of Ledian," answered Luna. "They're attracted to the purity of the water here in Purity Canyon like other Bug Pokémon."

"Those Ledian sure make the trees more beautiful," remarked Tristan.

Pikachu nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, it reminds me of mine," said Hillary. "I remember the time we spent together before it decided to work in the apple orchard."

"That's two great adventurers remembering their Bug Pokémon friends in one day," smiled Luna. "I have no doubt that you'll see them again."

Next, they saw cocoon-like Pokémon hanging from more trees.

"Those must be Kakuna," said Tristan.

Luna nodded. "Like the Ledian, the Kakuna are attracted to the pure waters here in Purity Canyon, too. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see some Beedrill around."

"You don't think they'll attack us, do you?" trembled Hillary.

"I wouldn't worry," Luna assured her. "The Beedrill won't attack us as long as we don't contaminate the water. They know we wouldn't intentionally pollute it.

Sure enough, some Beedrill flew by, but only observed them drifting downstream in the canoe.

"For Beedrill, I'd say they're pretty friendly," remarked Tristan. "Normally, I've seen wild Beedrill that act territorial."

"Now I can see why the Bug Pokémon like to call this place home," remarked Hillary. "I bet Brock would be pretty impressed about that."

"Who's Brock?" asked Luna.

"Brock's working to be the world's greatest Pokémon Breeder," explained Tristan. "He taught me some of the basics of cooking meals using a campfire."

"We met him in the Viridian Forest when we were just starting out on our journey together," added Hillary.

"I'm sure he would be very pleased to hear about this place," smiled Luna.

The sky got darker and darker as the sun sank lower in the sky, painting it in many colors.

"I guess we should think about heading back," said Tristan.

"Why don't you stay at the lodge tonight?" suggested Luna. "The fog's supposed to be really thick, and it won't clear until morning."

"Okay," agreed Tristan. "I can help cook something for dinner if you'd like."

"Yeah, Tristan always makes good food," added Hillary.

"Then it's decided," smiled Luna. "Let's paddle back to my place."

And together, they paddled the canoe back upstream back to Luna's lodge.

That night, Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi had gotten into their sleeping bags and fell fast asleep.

Tristan's egg was in plain sight on the table.

Presently, a man with a beard quietly opened the door and crept in. It was Taz, and he was looking for something. He saw Tristan's egg and decided to steal it. "The birth of a new Pokémon is very sweet," he whispered to himself. "But revenge'll be even sweeter once I poach this egg." And he carefully took the case off the table, but not before Pikachu's sensitive ears pricked up.

Pikachu opened its eyes and saw Taz about to steal the egg. It nudged Tristan as it alerted him.

Tristan slowly opened his eyes and woke up. "What's the matter, Pikachu?" He then saw Taz grabbing the egg. "Hey, that's my egg!"

Hillary slowly woke up and heard Tristan shouting. "What's going on?" She gasped in shock as she saw Taz.

"Just great," grumbled Taz. "Sorry if I woke you up."

"Give back Tristan's egg at once!" demanded Hillary.

"No way!" replied Taz. "Finders keepers, losers weepers."

(Music Cue: Lugia Appears! (as heard in the Japanese version of "Revelation Lugia"))

And he dashed out the door, got into his car, and sped away.

Luna woke up in time to see everything. "What happened?"

"Taz just broke in here and stole my egg!" replied Tristan.

"What?!" gasped Luna. She couldn't believe that someone would want to break into her lodge.

"He just left in his car!" added Hillary.

"Well, we have to get it back!" agreed Luna.

And they ran out of the lodge and went after Taz as fast as their legs could carry them. But as fast as they ran, they couldn't catch up to him. Soon, everyone had run out of breath.

"We'll never catch him like this," panted Hillary. "Now what'll we do?"

"There has to be some way to catch Taz," said Tristan. "I know!" He took out a Poké Ball and threw it. "Heracross, I choose you!"

Heracross emerged from the white light that shot out of it.

"Good thinking, Tristan!" commended Hillary. "I'd forgotten that you caught that Heracross at that Bug Catching Contest."

"Thanks," replied Tristan. "All right, Heracross, go find Taz!"

And Heracross flew off after it.

"We should follow, too," suggested Luna.

And together they followed Heracross to find Taz.

(Music Cue: Three on Three (as heard in the American version of "Pokémon: The First Movie" starting at 2:08))

Meanwhile, Taz was still driving down the mountain road through Purity Canyon. He didn't know about its hazards; all he thought about was getting rich from selling Tristan's egg as he chuckled to himself. "All I have to do is sell this egg on the Poké Market, and I'll get my big reward." Little did he know that Heracross was also following him.

Heracross flew off to find Tristan as fast as its wings would carry it.

Not too far away, Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Luna were all still following Taz's trail when suddenly, Heracross approached.

"Did you find him, Heracross?" asked Tristan.

Heracross nodded.

"All right, take us to him!" instructed Tristan.

Heracross nodded and led the way as Tristan and the others followed.

Back with Taz, the winds had started picking up, and his wheels were losing their grip.

Suddenly, one of the wheels had rolled off the edge of the mountain road, causing Taz to yell out.

Taz tried to reverse his car and get back on the road, but the strong winds wouldn't let him. His car teetered on the edge of falling off the cliff road. "Help me!" he cried. "Someone! Anyone! Get me outta here!"

Tristan and the others arrived on the mountain road in time to see everything and gasped in horror.

"Taz is in trouble!" cried Hillary.

"And there's my egg!" added Tristan.

Sure enough, the egg, still in its case, was dangling from the side of Taz's car.

"I have to get that egg back!" said Tristan.

"But the winds are too strong!" protested Luna.

But Tristan didn't listen. "That egg is my responsibility, and I won't allow anything bad to happen to it." He took out his Friend Ball and threw it. "Chikorita, go!"

Chikorita emerged from the white light that shot out of it.

"Chikorita, we're gonna need your help," advised Tristan. "Use your Vine Whip to grab that car."

Chikorita nodded and extended two vines from the bud necklace. Then, using its vines, it grabbed the back of the car.

"Good job, Chikorita, now hold on tight and don't let go!" instructed Tristan.

Chikorita nodded as it pulled on the car.

Heracross flew over and grabbed on to Chikorita's vines to help, but even the combined effort was still not enough to overcome the car's weight and the strong winds.

"Someone get me outta here!" wailed Taz.

"Come on, let's help!" cried Hillary as she, Luna, Pikachu, and Tristan all ran over to assist the Pokémon.

Together, they pulled as hard as they could to try and get it back on the road.

But unfortunately at that moment, another powerful gust of wind came and blew the egg case off the car, sending it plummeting off the cliff.

"Oh, no! My egg!" gasped Tristan. Wasting no time, he jumped off the cliff road and dove after it.

"Tristan, no!" cried Hillary.

But another gust of wind, much stronger than the last, caused Hillary and Luna to cover their faces and the car to roll closer to falling off the edge of the cliff.

Taz was now crying out of fear that he wouldn't live to see another day.

"Okay, we need to pull as hard as we can and get the car back up here!" shouted Luna.

And together, Hillary, Luna, and the Pokémon pulled with all their might, and slowly, but surely, they managed to get Taz and his car back to safety.

"All right! They're safe!" panted Luna.

Back with Tristan, he managed to catch up to the falling egg case as he fell. He reached with all his might until at last, he grabbed on to it. He braced himself as the ground below began to reveal itself. But suddenly, he felt his fall slowing down until at last, he stopped. Then he felt himself being lifted higher and higher.

And then, who should come to Tristan's rescue but Mewtwo, who knew Purity Canyon like the back of its head. Are you all right?

"I am now," replied Tristan. "Now let's get back up there!"

Mewtwo nodded as he and Tristan flew higher and higher until at last, they reached the top of the cliff at a safe distance.

Hillary was greatly relieved to see him unhurt. "Oh, Tristan, thank goodness you're all right!"

"And my egg is, too, safe and sound," replied Tristan.

Taz crawled out of the car and groveled at Tristan's feet. "Oh thank youse for saving my life! I'll never do anything bad again as long as I live. Psych!" And he jumped off the ground and proceeded to grab Tristan's egg case.

But Tristan jumped back in time and avoided him.

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself for doing something so reckless!" scolded Luna. "You should know that high winds are common along these mountain roads on Purity Canyon!"

"Yeah? So what?" retorted Taz. "I only wanted to steal the egg to get rich."

(Music Cue: Opening M01B 1997-1998)

"I think it's time we teach him a lesson for stealing my egg and putting himself in danger!" said Tristan. "Actually, let's make it three lessons! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu jumped up and unleashed a powerful bolt of electricity at Taz, scoring a direct hit on him and zapping him.

"Good lesson," Taz moaned as he fell to the ground.

Music Cue: Opening M01C 1997-1998)

"That's a good lesson, now here's lesson number two! Cyndaquil, Flamethrower!" shouted Hillary as she took out a Poké Ball and threw it.

Her Cyndaquil emerged from the white light that shot out of it, and it ignited the flame on its back and shot a powerful stream of fire on Taz, scorching him.

"Now, let's show him lesson number three and get rid of him, Chikorita!" commanded Tristan. "Use your Vine Whip attack on him!"

Chikorita extended its two vines from its bud necklace, wrapped them around Taz, spun him around and around, and threw him into the air, sending him blasting off into the night sky, screaming as he went.

DING!

"So Mewtwo was the Pokémon that saved you and your egg?" asked Luna as they conversed outside her lodge sometime later.

Tristan nodded. "It somehow knew this place...causing me to believe that this might've been its home at one point."

"How do you figure, Tristan?" asked Hillary.

"Well, as Mewtwo helped me back up, it seemed to be happy, not because I was all right, but because it was familiar with the twists and turns as well as the powerful wind gusts that keep coming here in Purity Canyon."

"That makes sense," replied Luna. "I know there was an incident that took place here some time ago, but I don't remember it now. Weird."

(Music Cue: Route 26 (as heard in "Mild 'n Woolly"))

Presently, the first rays of morning light came up over the horizon, and then, the sun came up.

"What a beautiful sunrise!" said Tristan.

"Sunrises in Purity Canyon are much more beautiful," remarked Luna.

Suddenly, the egg started to glow even more brightly.

"Look! The egg's about to hatch!" said Hillary.

Tristan took the case off, and laid it down.

Then suddenly, a shimmering tone was heard as the egg glowed its brightest yet and started to hatch. Seconds later, the egg changed shape and the light stopped, revealing a small, green reptilian Pokémon with rocky skin, and a blunt spike on the top of its forehead.

"It's a Larvitar!" said Tristan.

Larvitar saw Tristan and leaped into his arms.

"Welcome to the world, Larvitar," said Tristan. "You and I are gonna get along just fine."

"Lar, Lar, Lar!" smiled Larvitar.

"Larvitar's taken a liking to you already, Tristan," said Luna. "I know you'll raise it into a great Pokémon and a great friend."

"Thanks, Luna," replied Tristan. "We'll do our best together, right, Larvitar?"

Larvitar nodded happily as Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi proudly looked on.

A little while later, Luna was waving goodbye to Tristan and Hillary as they prepared to set off. "Bye, guys! Be safe on your journey! And take good care of that Larvitar!"

"We will! Thanks!" called Tristan as they waved back to Luna.

After rescuing Tristan's egg from Taz, it hatches into a Larvitar, who's quickly warmed up to Tristan. Soon, our heroes will traverse out of Purity Canyon and head off to Ecruteak City.

► TO BE CONTINUED