After the trouble at Lake of Rage had been cleared, the gang had arrived at Mahogany Town. They spent the night at the Pokémon center and had all of their Pokémon healed, and now Ember was looking up the Mahogany Gym in the guide book.

"What does it say, Ember?" Misty asked.

"Well according to the book, the gym leader is a man named Pryce and that he uses ice type Pokémon. It also says that Pryce is as cold as ice." Ember replied.

"What does that mean?" Misty asked.

"It means that Pryce has a cold personality." Brock explained.

"I hope that Pryce will be nice enough to let me battle him." Ember prayed.

"Who will you be using?" Misty asked.

"That's easy, I'll be using Pele, Scizor and Mienshao, because Fire, Steel and Fighting types beat Ice-type Pokémon." Ember replied.

Misty smiled, "Knowing what to do as usual."

When everything was ready, the gang headed to Mahogany Gym. The Mahogany Gym looked like one of those ice skating rink buildings. When the gang got there, they realized that the gym leader wasn't there.

An elderly woman came up to the gang.

"Hello there," she greeted, "I'm Sheila, Pryce's friend. Are you here for a gym battle?"

"Yes ma'am I am," Ember responded, "Do you know where Pryce is?"

"Pryce will be up at the mountains, meditating underneath a waterfall. He does that every morning." Sheila answered.

"Oh really? Do you think you can lead us to him please? I wish to challenge him for a gym badge." Ember requested.

"Certainly." Sheila accepted.

So Sheila showed the gang the way to where Pryce was. Apparently, Sheila was very full of energy and athletic for an elderly woman. She had no trouble at all of walking up the mountain and climbing over rocks. They soon found an old man meditating under a waterfall. Ember knew that the old man was Pryce the Mahogany Gym Leader.

"Hey Pryce, you have a challenger." Sheila announced.

"Pleasure to meet you, Pryce. I'm Ember Ketchum and I'm here because I wish to have a gym battle with you." Ember requested.

Pryce stopped meditating and noticed Tesla on Ember's shoulder.

"Why is that Raichu not in its Pokéball?" Pryce asked sternly.

"It's because Tesla is my partner and my best friend." Ember replied.

"Humph," Pryce scoffed, "Having a battle with you will be pointless."

"What? Why?" Ember questioned, angry at what Pryce said.

"Humans and Pokémon being best friends is ridiculous," Pryce stated coldly, "being all emotionally with your Pokémon is not going to make you a great Pokémon trainer."

"The one who's ridiculous here is you," Ember said crossly at Pryce, "Tesla and I have been friends for almost six years, and we have grown strong together because of our friendship."

Tesla nodded in agreement, "Raichu!"

Pryce stared at Ember and Tesla. "You young ones don't know the true meaning of Pokémon training," he said, "It's discipline on your Pokémon and showing them who's boss is what I have done for the last forty years of my life."

"Look here Pryce," Ember said, "I don't know what on earth happened to you or your Pokémon forty years ago, but friendship between humans and Pokémon always prevails no matter what the situation is. And I know that because my Pokémon and I go through everything together, because we are friends." Tesla nodded in agreement.

Pryce huffed, "I shall challenge you to a mock battle here and right now. Then I shall see if you are capable of battling me at the gym." He said.

"Very well, I accept." Ember said.

Ember and Pryce took their place to battle, somewhere away from the waterfall and near a cliff. Pryce sent out Dewgong to battle and Ember sent out Tesla to battle. Sheila was the referee.

"Using Tesla is a smart move, as electric types do beat water types." Brock stated.

"Yes but Ember will still have to watch out for Dewgong's ice attacks." Misty pointed out.

"Ice Beam Dewgong." Pryce ordered.

Dewgong fired an ice beam attack from its horn.

"Use Agility to dodge!" Tesla dodged the ice beam attack.

"All right Tesla let's give the Dewgong a Focus Punch." Ember commanded.

Tesla ran up to Dewgong, with her right paw glowing white, and then she punched Dewgong really hard. The focus punch pushed Dewgong back a few feet.

Pryce snorted, "Humph not bad, kid. Let's use Headbutt Dewgong."

Dewgong charged at Tesla, getting to headbutt her with its horn. But Ember stayed calm. "Tesla, use Volt Tackle." she said.

Tesla ran over to Dewgong, with her body becoming surrounded by electricity, and then it tackled Dewgong hard which caused Dewgong to faint.

"Dewgong is unable to battle. The victory goes to Tesla!" Sheila announced.

Dewgong fainted from the electric move, earning Ember the victory. Ember and Tesla were happy and butted fists with each other.

"That Ember is some trainer." Sheila commented.

"I know, right?" Brock said in an amused tone

"So, Pryce, now will you accept my gym battle?" Ember asked.

Pryce returned his Dewgong in a huff. "Just because you won does not mean I accept having a gym battle with you." he replied.

"What?" Ember asked, angrily.

"Pryce, you are a gym leader and since Ember wishes to battle your gym you should accepted her request." Shelia said sternly.

Pryce stared at Sheila and then Ember.

"Walk with me, Ember." Pryce requested and he started to walk through the mountain area. Ember was puzzled by Pryce's request, but she did as she was asked and followed Pryce.

Pryce led Ember to an area of the mountains, where there were entrances to some caves.

"Let me tell you something Ember," Pryce began to explain, "I was like you in my younger years; loving to go on a Pokémon journey and participate in Pokémon battles. And of course, I loved all my Pokémon like they were my family. But I changed my feelings forty years ago."

"Please excuse my curiosity Pryce, but what happened?" Ember asked, "I want to know the real reason why you don't like the fact of humans and Pokémon being friends."

Pryce looked at Ember. "Since you are eager to know, I will tell you." he said.

Pryce told Ember that in his youth, his favorite Pokémon and best friend was a Piloswine.

"We fought in many Pokémon battles and tournaments together. We were unstoppable together. But one day, everything changed when Piloswine and I faced an opponent with a Magmar." Pryce explained that his Piloswine got really hurt by Magmar's fire attacks, as Piloswine is an ice type Pokémon. And then Magmar used fire blast to finish off Piloswine, and then Pryce ran over to protect Piloswine. In the process, both Pryce and Piloswine got really hurt and burned from the fire blast attack. "While I was recovering from my burns in a cottage, Piloswine got up and left me. And that's why I don't treat my Pokémon as friends anymore, only as business."

Ember and Tesla felt sorry for Pryce for what had happened. But then Ember remembered why Piloswine disappeared.

"Do excuse me Pryce, but I have a feeling that Piloswine didn't leave you because you lost that match. I know I've only been a trainer for nearly three years now, but I do know that a Pokémon wouldn't leave its trainer because of losing a match. I think that there's something else behind Piloswine's disappearance." Ember stated.

Pryce just huffed at her.

At that moment, Tesla noticed something twinkling from inside one of the caves and ran over to the cave.

"Hey Tesla, what's wrong?" Ember asked.

Tesla led Ember and Pryce to a metal object on the ground; it was a leg bracelet for Pokémon. When Pryce saw it, he picked it up at once.

"I recognize this leg bracelet...it belongs to my Piloswine." He said with shock.

Ember looked at the cave. "Pryce, I think we should explore this cave. Since Piloswine's leg bracelet is here, I'm getting a weird feeling saying that we might find clues of your lost Piloswine. Come on let's go." She suggested.

Pryce felt uncertain about Ember's words, but he followed Ember anyway.

Ember and Pryce walked on and on into the cave. Ember was concentrating with her Psychic power to see if she could locate anything on Pryce's Piloswine. When they reached to end of the cave, they were surprised at what they saw; an ice cave.

"Wow what a cave." Ember awed.

"Rai~" Tesla agreed.

"These rocks are covered with a thin layer of ice which makes them sparkle crystals." Pryce said.

Suddenly they saw a big block of ice, with something frozen inside of it. They ran towards it and they found out it was a Piloswine. Pryce looked at the frozen Piloswine.

"It's...my Piloswine." He said, shocked.

"Pryce, are you sure?" Ember asked, surprised.

Then she noticed that the Piloswine was carrying some leaves.

"Hey what are those?" Ember questioned.

"Those herbs are for healing burns." Pryce answered and then he gasped at the realization.

"This means Pryce that Piloswine knew that these herbs would help you and came here to get them for you. But it got into trouble on the way back and ended up frozen in this block of ice. Piloswine didn't mean to disappear from you for all these years at all." Ember confirmed.

Pryce realized that he had been wrong about Piloswine and started to cry. "I'm sorry Piloswine. I should have known. Please forgive me, my friend. I'm so, so sorry." he pleaded, tearfully.

Ember was happy that Pryce now knew the real truth and that Piloswine was found again.

"Okay Pryce, let's get Piloswine out of that ice." Ember decided. Then she took out a Pokéball, "Go Pele!"

"Typhlo!" Pele appeared.

"Pele, use Flamethrower on that ice!" Ember ordered.

Pele shot a tornado of flames from his mouth and hit the ice, melting it. Soon the ice had melted.

"Okay Tesla, use Thunder Shock!" Ember commanded.

Tesla launched her electrical attack on Piloswine. But Piloswine didn't wake up.

"Again Tesla!" Ember called out.

Tesla shocked Piloswine again, but it still didn't wake up from its frozen state. Things started to look hopeless, but then Piloswine woke up.

Pryce walked over to Piloswine. "Piloswine it's me, Pryce. Do you remember me?"

Piloswine stared at the man in front of him. He sniffed at him. Then smiled and nodded, "Pilo!"

Pryce was happy that Piloswine still remembered him and hugged it, crying tears of happiness. "Real friendship between Pokémon and humans does last forever." he said.

"I take it you believe what I told you earlier, Pryce." Ember said.

Pryce smiled, "Yes Ember, I do."

Ember was relieved to hear that. But then Piloswine smiled and slightly bounced until it nearly fainted from exhaustion; it was tired and weak from being in the ice for forty years.

"Not up to speed yet huh? Use Rest, Piloswine." Pryce ordered.

Piloswine went to sleep and then started to glow blue.

"I know that move. The Pokémon, using Rest, goes to sleep and then while it's asleep it heals its energy." Ember remembered.

"That's correct. You're a clever girl, Ember." Pryce complimented.

Ember scratched the back of her head sheepishly, "Well I was Prof. Oak's assistant since I was five."

"Impressive." Pryce complimented her once more.

"We should take Piloswine to the Pokémon Center." Ember suggested.

"Good idea." Pryce agreed.

When Piloswine had recovered, Ember and Pryce walked out of the cave.

Ember and Pryce met up with the others. Pryce revealed his long lost Piloswine. Sheila was surprised that Piloswine had been found.

"This is a miracle." she said with tears in her eyes.

"Yes, it truly is." Pryce agreed.

Misty and Brock were happy for Pryce too.

"Helloooooo!"

Suddenly they heard familiar voices coming from above them. Everyone turned to the voices. It was Team Rocket.

"Team Rocket." Ember groaned.

"The real miracle is that we haven't captured Raichu yet." Jessie smirked.

"So prepare for another-" James started.

"Miracle on ice!" Meowth finished.

"Tesla, Thunderbolt!" Ember ordered.

Tesla launched her electrical attack at the Team Rocket trio which caused their balloon to explode and sent them higher into the air.

"LOOKS LIKE TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" They shouted before disappearing into the sky.

"Can't catch a break, can they?" Misty asked.

"Nope." Brock replied.

Pryce turned to Ember. "Ember, I thank you for helping me find Piloswine and for making me realize that I had been wrong about humans and Pokémon being friends."

"I'm just glad that you finally knew the real truth about Piloswine's disappearance." Ember said.

"I now agree to challenge you to a gym match Ember, but we shall have the challenge tomorrow. I need to get my Piloswine healed at the Pokémon center." Pryce explained.

"I understand." Ember said.

And so, Pryce got his Piloswine to recover in the Pokémon center and Ember and the gang spent the night at the Pokémon center.

Pokémon Caught: Heracross (Cross)(M), Furret (Maple)(F), Meganium (Levy)(F), Typhlosion (Pele)(M), Togetic (Philotes)(F), Feraligatr (Chomper)(M), Steelix (Behemoth)(M), Ampharos (Aries)(F), Girafarig (Psyche)(F), Misdreavus (Morgana)(F), Inteleon (Mystique)(F), Rillaboom (Ringo)(M), Shiny Greninja (Genji)(M), Shiny Chesnaught (Cybele)(F), Kommo-o (Iroh)(M), Goodra (Nessy)(F), Meowstic (Orin)(M), Meowstic (Bella)(F), Thievul (Jinx)(F), Zeraora (Raiden)(M), Houndoom (Lucifer)(M), Shiny Noctowl (Yoru)(M), Mewtwo (M), Alolan Raichu (Nariko)(F), Marshadow (M), Murkrow (Dolan)(M), Elekid (Veton)(F), Celebi (Moriko)(F), Shiny Corsola (Coraline)(F), Ho-Oh (Aveline)(F), Shiny Entei (Searius)(M), Shiny Raikou (Thor)(M), Phanpy (Tantor)(M)